The Nation Newspaper

Tag: UK

  • Nigerian teenager shot dead in UK

    An 18-year -old Nigerian, David Adegbite, has been shot dead by a gang at a car park in Barking, East London.

    According to reports he was ambushed and shot in the head while visiting friends at St Ann’s estate, where he formerly lived.

    According to his friends, Adegbite was “in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

    “He was such a smart guy, really clever and good at math. He was due to start university.

    “He was no gangster or drug dealer; he was a good family guy. He always talked about how much he loved his mother and wanted to make her proud.

    “He was popular with everyone. I just can’t believe there are people out there in London with guns, you expect it in America but not here,” an 18-year-old, who gave her name as Mary, told the UK Evening Standard.

    UK authorities arrested two 20-year-olds in connection with the death. One was released on bail pending further enquiries while the second remained in police custody.

    Before his death, Adegbite had dreamed of studying at Middlesex University in the United Kingdom.

  • Ibori appeals UK conviction

    Ibori appeals UK conviction

    Former Delta State Governor James Ibori has appealed his conviction by a British court.

    Southwark Crown Court jailed for 13 years for fraud after admitting 10 counts of conspiracy to defraud and money laundering.

    Ibori has since been released.

    A statement from Ibori’s Media Assistant, Tony Eluemunor, said the former governor’s counsel informed the Southwark London court last Friday that he had filed an appeal on Ibori’s behalf.

    He said the court adjourned proceedings on the second confiscation hearing indefinitely.

    According to him, the original three-week confiscation hearing before Judge Pitts in September 2013 was unable to make any finding of theft from Delta State.

    He said the British Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has, since last February, been undertaking a mammoth disclosure exercise, adding that so far, substantial material evidence of police corruption and misconduct has been disclosed.

    He said CPS allegedly gagged the media from reporting on the disclosure.

    Eluemunor said: “David Rose of the London Mail and Sunday newspaper as well as other reporters  have made applications in open court for the release of this material.

    “Mr. Rose, for instance, argued it is in the public interest to do so, as the Ibori and linked cases are said to have been corrupted by Metropolitan Police corruption, prosecution misconduct and significant non-disclosure of key material which undermines the convictions.

    “A BBC report of July 2, 2016, titled ‘Ibori lawyer awarded £20,000 by Crown Prosecution Service’ mentioned police and prosecution’s misbehavior as well as their massive misleading of the courts.

    “According to the report, ‘the extraordinary payment is just the latest twist in a legal case that has led to investigations into allegations of police corruption and a cover-up of key evidence’”.

    Eluemunor said there was evidence of cover-ups which will all be presented on appeal.

    For instance, he said Mr. Lambertus de Boer, one of the bankers jailed in the Ibori case, also alleged underhand dealings that led to Ibori’s conviction.

    “De Boer, who has maintained his innocence, claimed that he is a victim of the same DfID-funded corrupt Metropolitan Police Service (“MPS”) and Crown Prosecution as was Bhadresh Gohil, a co-defendant in the V-Mobile transaction and have appealed against their convictions,” the spokesman said.

    Eluemunor alleged that the Metropolitan Police’ dishonesty began early in the proceedings, adding that transcripts reveal as early as October 2007 in the original restraint proceedings that an officer was openly caught lying during cross examination at the Southwark Crown Court.

    “What is, however, clear is that the degree of mischief, created by the Met police, has been considerable.

    “Ibori’s appeal is expected to follow the arguments Mr. Gohil and De Boer opened even as it will open several new ones. The truth will now all unravel,” Eluemunor added.

  • UK okays Diezani’s trial for ‘money laundering’

    UK okays Diezani’s trial for ‘money laundering’

    Four others to face prosecution in June  

    EFCC takes more proof to London

    All is set for the trial of a former Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, and four others  in London for alleged corrupt practices.

    The trial has been fixed for June and more evidence were hauled to the United Kingdom at the weekend.

    Part of the evidence are the proceedings of a Federal High Court in respect of the order of  final forfeiture of $153million allegedly traced to the ex-minister.

    It was also learnt that one of the suspects had been found at a hideout in London and placed under surveillance.

    There have been reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was negotiating with Mrs. Alison-Madueke. The EFCC yesterday said it was not engaged in any secret negotiation with her.

    According to a source in the anti-graft agency, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, the agency is set  for the trial.

    The source said: “The UK investigators have gone far on the allegations against Diezani. From the records made available, the ex-minister and four others will face trial as from June.

    “We have taken more evidence to the UK, including all court records relating to the final forfeiture of $153million. We have a huge pile of documents.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “In fact, one of the suspects on the radar of investigators has been located in London and he is under surveillance.” He declined to name the suspect.

    On the reported negotiation with the former minister, the source said: “There is no basis to negotiate with the ex-Minister in view of the overwhelming evidence at our disposal. You should ask yourself what purpose the negotiation will serve.

    “The EFCC is set for the trial of the ex-minister at home and abroad. It is curious to be talking of a curious negotiation with someone who has a prima facie case to answer.

    “The ex-minister has forfeited $153m; we have had far-reaching investigation on her involvement in the $115m poll bribery scandal; we have seized some of her choice properties and she has consistently maintained that she is ready for trial. So, what is the basis for negotiation when we have a good case?”

    The National Crime Agency (NCA) on October 2, 2015 arrested Mrs. Alison-Madueke and four others  for alleged bribery and corruption and money laundering.

    The former minister, whose movement has been restricted to the UK, remains under investigation.

    The NCA found some of the ex-minister’s brothers and other business partners complicit in the money laundering allegation. She was arrested with her brothers.

    Messrs Abiye Agama and Somye Agama are Mrs Alison-Madueke siblings who operate some UK-based businesses hurriedly shut them after the NCA and the EFCC searchlight became intense.

    The two brothers are directors of Hadley Petroleum Solutions Limited, a company the authorities believe was  used for money laundering. The other directors are Ugonna Madueke and Abu Fari.

    The company was registered in June 2013 in Manchester, but was dissolved less than two years later last  February without filing any account.

    Abiye, 33, a point man of the firm, is a computer engineer and manager. He was a director in 11 other companies. He resigned from seven of them.

    According to EFCC records, some of the assets  linked with Mrs. Alison-Madueke are:

    • A block of six units service apartments on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi
    • Six units terrace flats in Yaba, Lagos Mainland
    • Twin four-bedroom duplexes in Lekki Phase I
    • Two duplexes on Banana Island
    • A duplex in Asokoro District, Abuja
    • A mini-estate in Mabushi, Abuja
    • A set of 12 terrace duplexes at Omaremi Street  in Port Harcourt
    • Large expanse of land at Oniru, Victoria Island in Lagos
    • A multi-billion Naira estate in Yenagoa
    • Two apartments in Dubai marked as J5 Emirates Hills (30million Dirham) and  E146 Emirates Hills valued at 44million Dirham
    • A hotel in Port Harcourt under investigation
    • $37.5m mansion on Banana Island in Lagos.

    But Alison-Madueke had disputed some of the slush funds and assets  attributed to her including the $153million.

    She said: “I have up till now chosen to maintain my silence and not to respond to inaccurate press reporting. However, given the level of deliberate inaccuracies, I am now forced to respond because it is clear that the EFCC is taking advantage of my silence to try me by media and to convict me in the eyes of the public on false reports.”

    “First and foremost, whilst the reasons for my being out of the country are public knowledge, the principle of fair hearing demands that I should have been notified of formal charges if truly there was a prima facie evidence or indictment against my person linking me with the said issue, so as to ensure that I had adequate legal representation. This was never done.

    “I wish to state that I cannot forfeit what was never mine. I do not know the basis on which the EFCC has chosen to say that I am the owner of these funds as no evidence was provided to me before the order was obtained and they have not in fact served me with the order or, any evidence since they obtained it.

    “I do not therefore, understand how the EFCC can in the same breath say that the monies in question are mine. If they had evidence that the monies were mine then they would not /should not, have used the procedure which applies only to funds of unknown ownership. If indeed they used this particular legal procedure because they did not know who owned the monies, then how can they now be falsely attributing the ownership to me.

    “Let me re-state categorically as I have always maintained, for the record, I have not and will never steal money from or defraud the Federal Government of Nigeria.

    “ I am willing to respond to any charges brought against me that follow duly laid down procedures.”

  • Cross River, UK firm to set up Construction Academy

    Cross River, UK firm to set up Construction Academy

    The Cross River State Government is partnering with a United Kingdom (UK) based firm, Schools Company, to set up a construction and fabrication academy.

    The planned Royal Academy for Construction and Fabrication will be the first of its kind in Africa to focus mainly on hi-tech and heavy industrial fabrications and construction.

    Speaking after sealing the deal with the UK firm in Calabar, Governor Ben Ayade said: “The Royal Academy will be the first of its kind in Africa that will focus mainly on hi-tech and heavy industrial fabrications and constructions.”

    He added that apart from the academy, the state would set up a British-Canadian International School in Obudu and a teachers’ training Institute to be sited in Obubra to complement the upcoming schools.

    “This is the greatest thing that Cross Riverians have been waiting for because it is going to develop a new set of workforce that is skillful and intellectually equipped for the 21st century construction and fabrication,” Ayade hinted.

    He added: “By setting up this great institution, Cross River State is preparing a background that will create a new story and a new narrative for the new Africa that all will be proud of,” assuring that, “in the next few years, the state shall be the leading light in construction.”

    Leader of the team and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Schools Company UK, Mr. Elias Achilleos, said the concept and design of the proposed schools are fashioned after the United Kingdom’s schools standard bearing in mind the climatic condition of Nigeria and promised to put up the best training facilities in the state.

    “This is a great project to the people of Nigeria and Calabar in particular and I sue for support from all the stakeholders for the successful implementation of these projects that will turn out the very best in construction and fabrication works for this country.

     “Our goal is to see this facility up running with the best equipment and best trainers that build the few trades’ men for Nigeria in the next 18 months.”

  • Buhari to rest more in UK

    Buhari to rest more in UK

    President Muhammadu Buhari is staying back in the United Kingdom because he needs more rest, the Presidency said yesterday.
    But there is no cause for alarm, presidential spokesman Femi Adesina said.
    Speaking with State House reporters, Adesina said: “The President wants Nigerians to know that he appreciates their prayers, he appreciates their concerns and their goodwill. He has added that there is really no cause to worry.
    “He is the one who owns the body and there is nobody who will know his body more than him and he says no cause to worry.
    “It makes sense to say that maybe from the results of the tests, further rest has been recommended”.
    The statement did not say how long the rest will last.
    “I speak for somebody. I do not speak for myself. So it is what he tells me to say that I say and the statement transmitted to me is that the President needs to rest for some further time,” Adesina said
    On the possibility that the President will speak directly to Nigerians, he said: “What he has just done is to speak to Nigerians.”
    Asked to speak on the President’s state of health, Adesina said: “Don’t you know that the Hippocratic Oath even forbids a doctor from speaking about the condition of his patient, except the patient authorises it? It is only the patient himself who can speak about what he is going through.
    “This is the person going through these series of tests and rest and he says no cause to worry. Let us believe that.”
    On why reporters trying to see the President in UK are being prevented, he said “I do not consider that as harassment. Presidents are not hijacked and interviewed. Those things are scheduled. So I do not consider that as harassment.”
    Reacting to the possibility of the president spending months in the UK, the media adviser said: “What we have just said is what I will want us to believe. The President said he needs to rest further; the same President that communicated that to us, when it is time for him to come, he will also communicate to us.
    On the claim that the President has lost his voice, he said.
    “Those people need to prove it. He spoke with President Trump. Did Trump say he did not speak with the Nigerian President? Anybody can allege anything.
    “My message to Nigerians is that let us learn to believe our leaders. This is a man we elected into office and he says no cause to worry; let us believe him.”

  • Corruption: UK gets evidence against Diezani

    Corruption: UK gets evidence against Diezani

    The United Kingdom (UK) is now in possession of a pile of evidence against former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke,courtesy of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission

    (EFCC).
    Mrs. Alison-Madueke is earmarked for trial for corruption.
    The inventory,The Nation gathered authoritatively yesterday,contains at least 15 choice assets in Nigeria and abroad.
    These include a block of 6 unit service apartments on Awolowo Road,
    Ikoyi,Lagos;six units of terrace flats in Yaba, Lagos;twin four-bedroom
    duplexes in Lekki Phase I ,Lagos;two duplexes in Banana Island,Lagos;a duplex in Asokoro District, Abuja;a mini-estate in Mabushi, Abuja;a set of 12 terrace duplexes at Omaremi Street, Port Harcourt;a large expanse of land at Oniru, Victoria Island in Lagos;a multi-billion Naira estate in Yenagoa,Lagos;two apartments in Dubai marked as J5 Emirates Hills (30million Dirham); E146 Emirates Hills valued at 44million Dirham;a hotel in Port Harcourt under investigation.
    Attached to the inventory were video clips of the properties,sources said.
    A team of EFCC detectives was on standby yesterday to proceed to London to interrogate the ex-minister.
    Sources familiar with her investigation by the EFCC told The Nation that all the evidence gathered by the anti-graft agency on Diezani had been handed over to UK investigators.
    The Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu accompanied by some detectives took the evidence to the National Crime Agency in the UK.
    “The evidence includes an inventory of more than 15 choice properties at home and abroad, her account status, documents and vital video clips,” the source said.
    “The evidence was taken to London in preparation for her trial. In fact,
    one or two persons indicted in the fuel subsidy scandal are already in
    detention in the UK ahead of her trial.
    Responding to a question, the source added: “We are also sending some EFCC detectives to the UK to interrogate Diezani on some issues. We need to obtain her statement too on certain allegations against her in Nigeria.
    “We learnt that she has substantially ‘recovered’ and we want our team to interview her in London.
    “When the trial begins, Nigerians will have a full insight into our
    findings against the ex-minister.”
    Continuing,the EFCC source said: “We have placed some of these properties under temporary asset forfeiture. We are still investigating some properties allegedly bought by the ex-minister through some proxies.
    “But we have submitted a documentary on all these assets to investigators in the UK. We also discovered a box which was full of jewellery and expensive wrist watches in one of the properties with price tags.
    “Some detectives who visited Nigeria from the UK inspected this box which we may transfer to the UK.
    “On the $115million poll bribery scandal, we have video clips of how
    electoral officials and politicians were hauling cash from banking halls.
    EFCC does not engage in personal vendetta. Nigerians will know the truth at the end of the trial either in Nigeria or in the UK.”

  • UK envoy to EU resigns

    The United Kingdom’s ambassador to the European Union, Sir Ivan Rogers, has resigned.

    Sir Ivan, appointed to the job by former Prime Minister David Cameron in 2013, had been expected to play a key role in Brexit talks expected to start within months, the BBC reports.

    The government said Sir Ivan had quit early so a successor could be in place before negotiations start.

    Last month the BBC reports that he had privately told ministers a UK-EU trade deal might take 10 years to finalise, sparking criticism from some MPs.

    Ministers have said a deal can be done within two years.

    Labour said Sir Ivan’s departure was “deeply worrying” and Prime Minister Theresa May must be prepared to listen to “difficult truths” about the likely complexity of the Brexit process.

  • US, UK, EU, France worried over Rivers re-run election

    US, UK, EU, France worried over Rivers re-run election

    Developed countries have expressed concern over Saturday’s re-run election in Rivers state.

    UK, US, French, and EU Heads of Mission in Nigeria in a Joint statement Friday called on the leadership of all political parties and their supporters to allow for peaceful election.

    They urged party leadership and their supporters not to use or incite violence.

    Paul T. Arkwright – British High Commissioner to Nigeria; W. Stuart Symington – United States Ambassador to Nigeria; Denys Guaer – French Ambassador to Nigeria and Michel Arrion – EU Head of Delegation to Nigeria all signed the statement.

    The envoy stressed that the leaders of all parties are accountable for the actions of their members and

    They also encouraged INEC and the security forces to perform their duties responsibly and impartially.

    They also urge all parties to respect the electoral process and raise any grievances peacefully and through official channels.

    The statement reads: “We note with concern the rising tension in Rivers state ahead of elections on 10 December. We call on the leadership of all political parties and their supporters in Rivers state to allow elections to go ahead peacefully.

    “We encourage INEC and the security forces to perform their duties responsibly and impartially. We urge all parties to respect the electoral process and raise any grievances peacefully and through official channels. We stress that the leaders of all parties are accountable for the actions of their members and we encourage them to urge their supporters not to use or incite violence.

  • Nigerian students in UK raise funds for

    Nigerian students at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom (UK) have held a cultural festival to mark Nigeria’s 56th Independence anniversary. The event was part of the activities lined up to celebrate the National Day.

    The event tagged: Colour Me 9ja, was organised by Nigerian Students Society (NSS) to promote Nigeria’s diverse cultures. It was attended by some notable Nigerians in the UK, including Dr Kelechi Anyikhude, Mr Ikpe Abanga, Mrs Adebukola Adegbulugbe and Ramo Ayoka. Representatives of groups, such as Angel of Youth, Majestic Marvina and Arsenal Fan TV were present at the event.

    The students raised money to support those in the Internally Displaced Camps (IDPs) across the country on the occasion.

    During the cultural ambassador contest held to showcase the country’s rich heritage, the students, clad in flamboyant traditional attires, danced to entertain the guests. The contest was anchored by Manager of Events and Logistics, Ubokbong Nmah.

    Akinkunmi Busari, a Master’s student of Engineering, won the contest.

    Miss Amanda Umobi, NSS’ first woman president and a 300-Level Law student, said the event was held to foster unity among Nigerian students in the UK. She enjoined the students to support the President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s drive to change the country.

    She said: “We must collectively look at ways we can help move Nigeria forward, whether we are at home or in diaspora. We must support our government to make our country better. This is the reason for this fund-raising. The total money raised will be added to the money we are expecting to raise through ‘Go Fund Me’ to support the IDPs.”

    NSS Vice President Mr Victor Enedu advised President Buhari to consider engaging more youths in his administration. He said: “Youths are the drivers of positive change if they are well-engaged. If youths are seen as tomorrow’s leaders, they must be equipped with right leadership values to engage the future for sustainable development.”

    A poem titled: My Lagos, which told the story of business activities in Nigeria’s commercial nerve-centre and the dichotomy between the highland and the mainland was composed and delivered by the society’s Public Relations Officer, Tinoye Adeniyi-Taiwo.

    The event ended with dinner, where guests were served local delicacies supervised by the Society’s Hospitality Manager, Miss Fiyiann Olatoye, and General Secretary, Ojoside Ugbaje.

  • Afro Model Awards: UK searches for Nigerian models

    NIGERIAN models and designers desirous of raising their game and taking it global may have that opportunity on their laps already as organisers of Afro Model Awards, UK beam their search light on African talents.

    Established in 2011 by three partners, Afro Model Awards seeks to recognise, acknowledge and reward excellence of models, agencies, personalities, designers, and innovators throughout the fashion and style industry.

    Although the event features a lot of white and mixed race from countries like Barbados, Jamaica, among others, the award is expanding to feature more African talents. According to co-founder, James Durodayo Jegede, who is of Nigerian/Jamaican origin, the award is specifically created for black talents.

    “We created it to suit the black anatomy with categories like Best Behind which is one of the most talked-about in Afro Model Awards. The process is transparent and can be followed on www.afromodelawards.com. Our winners have leveraged on the fame from the Afro Model platform for international breakthrough appearing in videos for renowned pop stars like Nicki Minaj,” he explained.