The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Tijani Inda Bashir.

  • INEC staff made voluntary statement – EFCC

    INEC staff made voluntary statement – EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday denied forcing an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) official, Christian Nwosu, to make a statement.

    The INEC official claimed that he did not make the statement voluntarily.

    He was arraigned before Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos.

    An EFCC investigator, Tosin Owobo, said Nwosu made his statement on his own volition.

    Nwosu and Tijani Inda Bashir were accused of receiving N30 million bribe from former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, to rig the 2015 general election.

    They were arraigned alongside Yisa Adedoyin, who pleaded guilty to receiving cash payment of N70,050,000.00 from Mrs. Alison-Madueke.

    Mrs. Alison-Madueke is also named in the charge, but is said to be “at large.”

    Adedoyin was convicted following a plea bargain with the EFCC in which he agreed to pay a fine of N10million and forfeit his illicitly-acquired assets.

    Nwosu pleaded guilty at first and entered a plea bargain with EFCC, but Justice Idris rejected the agreement because it was not severe enough.

    It was agreed that Nwosu would forfeit the assets he acquired with the bribe money and pay N500,000 fine.

    After rejecting the plea bargain agreement, Justice Idris gave Nwosu the option of changing his plea to not guilty, or accepting a heavier sentence, including N10million fine as provided in the law.

    When the defendants were re-arraigned, Nwosu changed his plea to not guilty.

    Nwosu claimed he was coerced, intimidated, threatened and induced by the anti-graft agency to make the statement that indicted him.

    Justice Idris then made an order for trial within trial to test the voluntariness of Nwosu’s statement.

    Owobo explained that the statement volunteered by Nwosu was obtained under standard practice without inducement, intimidation or threat.

    He said the defendant came to the Commission’s office in Lagos on December 28 last year to make statement on the charge preferred against him, and after making statement, he was granted administrative bail on self-recognisance.

    “The defendant walked to our office alone. My team and I had a discussion with him on the allegations leveled against him and after our discussion, we asked him whether he will like to make statement and he said ‘yes’.

    “Nwosu’s statement was obtained under standard practice without inducement, intimidation or threat. After making statement, he was granted administrative bail on self-recognisance,” Owobo said.

    The trial within trial continues on Thursday.

     

  • Diezani ‘bribed’ INEC officials with N264m to rig polls – Witness

    Diezani ‘bribed’ INEC officials with N264m to rig polls – Witness

    The Federal High Court in Lagos heard on Wednesday that two Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) employees, Christian Nwosu and Yisa Adegoyin, allegedly received N264million from former Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, to rig the 2015 general elections.

    A prosecution witness, Timothy Olaobaju, said the money was paid to Nwosu and Adedoyin in cash.

    He stated these while being led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, in the trial of Nwosu and Tijani Inda Bashir before Justice Idris.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) accused the duo of receiving gratification from the former minister.

    Adedoyin had pleaded guilty to the charge and was convicted following a plea bargain.

    Olaobaju, who was his bank’s head of operations in Ilorin, Kwara State, said he paid the Nwosu and Adedoyin the cash based on Mrs. Alison-Madueke’s instructions.

    He said: “I was the Head of Operations for Ilorin Branch where I had cause to meet Nwosu and Adedoyin. Sometime in 2015, there was a meeting between our Managing Director and the former Petroleum minister during which she explained that some companies and individuals would come to the bank to pay some money into some accounts.

    “The companies were Northern Belt Limited, Actus Integrated Limited, Midwestern Company and one Mr. Leno Laitan. In addition, she said certain individuals would bring some cash to be kept for her.

    “A total sum of $89million was paid into the accounts. A cash sum of $25million was brought, totaling $114million. The money was kept in the bank pending her instruction as agreed.

    “On March 26, 2014, we got instruction that the money should be converted to naira. After it was converted, it was about N23billion. There was a list of beneficiaries that was sent, to be paid across the 36 states of the federation, including Kwara. I handled the transactions in my branch.”

    He said the defendants came to his office to collect the cash payment, and that he only acted on instruction.

    “There was an instruction that Nwosu and Adedoyin be paid N264, 880,000. The instruction came from the head office based on instruction from Mrs. Alison-Madueke and they were paid. They signed a receipt of payment for the money they collected,” Olaobaju said.

    The witness said after the defendants were paid, they left with the cash and did not pay it into any account.

    Under cross examination by defence counsel, Obinna Okereke and Nelson Imoh, the witness said he did not know the purpose of the payment.

    “The only instruction we had was that they should bring means of identification and should be paid. They even waited for the money to be released to them. We did not know the purpose of the payment,” he said.

     

  • Judge dismisses request to transfer INEC officials’ case

    Judge dismisses request to transfer INEC officials’ case

    Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday refused to transfer the case of two Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials, Christian Nwosu and Tijani Inda Bashir, who were accused of receiving bribe, to another judge.

    The judge rejected an application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that he should hands off the case having rejected Nwosu’s plea bargain agreement.

    Justice Idris held that since the defendants were re-arraigned on an amended charge and pleaded not guilty, Nwosu’s earlier plea of guilty no longer matters.

    The defendants were accused of receiving N30million bribe from former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, to rig the 2015 general election results.

    They were arraigned alongside Yisa Adedoyin, who pleaded guilty to receiving N70.050 million cash payment from the former minister, who is named in the charge but is “at large.”

    Nwosu pleaded guilty when he was first arraigned, but Justice Idris rejected a plea bargain agreement he reached with the EFCC on the basis that it was not “appropriate.”

    Justice Idris gave Nwosu the option of changing his plea to not guilty, or accepting a heavier sentence, including N10million fine as provided in the law.

    Nwosu changed his plea to not guilty when he was re-arraigned.

    EFCC’s lawyer Rotimi Oyedepo, said based on Section 270 (15) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, the judge should return the case-file for re-assignment to another judge, as he could be accused of bias later, having rejected the plea bargain agreement.

    But, Nwosu’s lawyer, Victor Opara, said since the judge had rejected the plea bargain agreement for not being in compliance with the law, it indicated that there was no plea bargain.

    However, Justice Idris held on Wednesday that since the defendants were re-arraigned on an amended charge, it was as if they were arraigned for the first time.

    “I agree with the view that the prosecution having amended the charge and fresh plea taken by the first defendant in line with the ACJA, the court is being enjoined to commence fresh proceedings as if he has been arraigned for the first time.

    “Section 217 (1) and (2) of the ACJA says: ‘Where a new charge is framed or alteration made to a charge under the provisions of section 216 of this Act, the court shall call on the defendant to plead to the new or altered charge as if he has been arraigned for the first time.

    “‘The court shall proceed with the trial as if the new or altered charge had been the original charge,” the judge held.

     

  • Alleged bribery: EFCC wants judge to withdraw from INEC staff trial

    Alleged bribery: EFCC wants judge to withdraw from INEC staff trial

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday asked Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos to withdraw from the trial of two Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) employees accused of receiving bribe.

    Christian Nwosu and Tijani Inda Bashir were accused of receiving N30million bribe from a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, to rig the 2015 general election results.

    They were arraigned along with Yisa Adedoyin, who pleaded guilty to receiving cash payment of N70, 050,000.00 from the ex-minister.

    Alison-Madueke is also named in the charge, but is said to be “at large.”

    Adedoyin was convicted following a plea bargain with EFCC in which he agreed to pay a fine of N10million and to forfeit his illicitly-acquired assets.

    Nwosu pleaded guilty at first and entered a plea bargain with EFCC, but Justice Idris rejected the agreement on the basis that it was not severe enough.

    It was agreed that Nwosu would forfeit the assets he acquired with the money and pay N500,000 fine.

    After rejecting the plea bargain agreement, Justice Idris gave Nwosu the option of changing his plea to not guilty, or accepting a heavier sentence, including N10million fine as provided in the law.

    When the defendants were re-arraigned, Nwosu changed his plea to not guilty.

    EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, said on Monday that based on Section 270 (15) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, the judge ought to return the case-file for re-assignment.

    The section reads: “Where the defendant has been informed of the heavier sentence, the defendant may withdraw from his plea agreement, in which event the trial shall proceed de novo before another presiding judge or magistrate, as the case may be.”

    Oyedepo said should the trial continue before Justice Idris, the judge could later be accused of bias and violating the law.

    “I urge my lord to remit the case to the Chief Judge for re-assignment to another judge,” the prosecutor said.

    But, Nwosu’s lawyer, Victor Opara, said since the judge had rejected the plea bargain agreement, it amounts to there being no plea bargain.

    Besides, he said Nwosu had pleaded not guilty to a “new” charge, adding that transferring the case to a new judge would be a waste of time.

    Opera undertook not to raise the issue of bias at any point in the proceedings, including on appeal.

    Justice Idris adjourned till May 24 for ruling on the matter.

  • Court convicts INEC staff for accepting N70m bribe from Diezani

    Court convicts INEC staff for accepting N70m bribe from Diezani

    The Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday convicted an employee of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for accepting over N70million bribe from former Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, to rig the 2015 general election results.

    Justice Mohammed Idris convicted Yisa Adedoyin for receiving cash payment of N70,050,000.00 after he pleaded guilty to an amended charge.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) re-arraigned him along with Christian Nwosu and Tijani Inda Bashir.

    They allegedly collected N264.88million bribe on March 27, 2015 from the former minister ahead of the election.

    Nwosu had earlier pleaded guilty to the charge and was convicted for receiving N30million bribe.

    But, Justice Idris rejected his plea bargain agreement with the EFCC which involved payment of N500,000 fine and forfeiture of properties acquired with the money.

    The judge said Nwosu should either accept a heavier sentence, which includes N10million fine, or change his plea.

    When the defendants were re-arraigned on Wednesday, Nwosu changed his plea to not guilty.

    Adedoyin, who earlier pleaded not guilty, changed his plea to guilty.

    Mrs. Alison-Madueke, said to be at large, was named in the charge.

    Prosecution counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, urged the court to convict Adedoyin following his plea and to accept the plea bargain agreement reached with him on May 2.

    It was agreed in the plea bargain that Adedoyin would forfeit a parcel of land measuring 100ft by 100 at Taoheed Road, Budo-Osho Village, Ilorin South Local Government Area in Kwara State.

    “That a fine of N10million is proposed to this Honourable Court to be imposed on him upon his conviction on count four of the amended charge.

    “That in paying the fine of N10million, the defendant shall raise a draft of N5million in addition to the sum of N5million already recovered from him,” the agreement reads in part.

    Reviewing the facts of the case, Oyedepo said EFCC received an intelligence in late 2004 that Mrs. Alison-Madueke received gratification from various oil companies such as Northern Bet Oil and Gas, Auctus Integrated Company and an oil magnate Adesanya Laitan.

    “The total sum received was $115,010,000. It was kept in the custody of a bank which received instructions to convert the sums to naira and distribute to the 36 states and the FCT.

    “Our investigation established that the second defendant (Adedoyin) in conjunction with the first defendant (Nwosu) signed a receipt for N264,880,” Oyedepo said.

    He tendered the receipt and Bashir’s statement in evidence.

    “We discovered that though he signed for a total of N264,880, we found as a fact that he received N70,050,000 from the third defendant.

    “Out of the N70million, he only benefited N28million, which has been forfeited. The property he acquired with it has been recovered. We have the deed of assignment and plan,” Oyedepo said.