Author: taiye agbaje

Don tasks FG on revamping Ajaokuta Steel Coy to boost economy
Don tasks FG on revamping Ajaokuta Steel Coy to boost economy
Economy
By Taiye Agbaje
Prof. Osita Agbu of the Department of International Relations and Diplomacy, Faculty of Management and Social Sciences, Baze University Abuja while delivering his inaugural lecture.
Abuja, June 28, 2024 (NAN) Prof. Osita Agbu has urged the Federal Government to revitalise the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited to boost the country’s economy through industrialisation.
Agbu of the the Department of International Relations and Diplomacy, Faculty of Management and Social Sciences, Baze University Abuja, gave the advice while delivering his inaugural lecture at the institution in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the lecture was titled: “Technology and International Relations: Backward and Forward Linkages In Steel Development and Nigeria’s Foreign Relations.”
According to him, we cannot make progress if we don’t embrace science and technology.
He said coming from Africa where issues of primordialism and spiritualism hold sway, it was high time the country directed its attention to bringing the company back to life.
“Look at other countries of the world that have industrialised and make progress, you see that there is a whole lot of attention on scientific issues that you don’t have to be living in the past.
“Yes, you can preserve your culture but you need to embrace the present and move into the future,” he said.
Agbu said it was against this backdrop that he researched on the topic..
“Almost everything of used value that can make a country to develop or make a person to improve their civilisation comes from the use of iron and steel industry.
“And that is why I took us back to the various industrial revolutions we have had, up to the 5th Industrial Revolution, to show the importance of iron and steel industry in the development of mankind and the things that we use.
A cross section of management staff of Baze University Abuja, including the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kathleen Okafor, during the inaugural lecture.
“It is people who can conquer their environment by use of technology and it is iron and steel that are able to make such progress and have industrialisation.
“If you are unable to do that, you are going to remain years behind.
“So that is why I focused on what we have on the ground; the Ajaokuta Iron and Steel.Industry.
“What are its various constraints and problems right from Inception, the cold war politics around it, the coming of the company from the Soviet Union and what we have been able to achieve.
“And I have been monitoring that project for three decades, and without that project coming on stream, we cannot be able to lay the foundation for industrialisation in Nigeria.
“Yes, there are mini steel but they are just a few; they can’t even satisfy the domestic market, not to talk of exportation.
“So, we really need to do something very drastic about the country being able to have control over the production of iron and steel.
“If we can do that and allow this to sip into other sectors of our economy, you will see what will happen to our economy .
“People will be engaged, people will be able to produce, the country will have greater influence among the comity of nations, etc,” he said.
The professor said any country that wants to be industrialised must be organised and discipline.
He said it was unfortunate that Ajaokuta Steel Company had gulped about $8 billion dollars to build since its inception and till date without much to show for it.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Kathleen Okafor, in an interview, enumerated some.of the takeaways from the lecture.
“This is telling us to disabuse our minds of political considerations when we are positioning investment institutions.
“We should also be concerned with short and long term benefits to the country.
“We should be aware of the presence of neocolonialism, where the super powers are not relenting in recolonising us in one way or the other; not recolonising us as a country geographically but our minds.
“We should also be able to think and implement,” she said.
Okafor said issues of corruption that had stalled development should be tackled.
According to her, the impact on us is horrendous and it was high time we pursued development with a passion and aggression.
“In terms of technology, we need to upscale, we need people with integrity and those who are prepared to be heroes for industrialisation,” she said.
According to the VC, it is not only about the leaders but individuals are needed who have the right minds to champion development.
“Education or research alone can’t take us there.
“When we researched, we have to look at the future, we need to continue; feeding research outcome to the society, to government for policy making and for implementation,” Okafor concluded.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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edited by Sadiya Hamza
June 28, 2024
Absence of judge stalls trial of MTN Nigeria CEO, others
Absence of judge stalls trial of MTN Nigeria CEO, others
Trial
By Taiye Agbaje
Abuja, June 27, 2024 (NAN) The trial of Mr Karl Toriola, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd; and others was, on Thursday, stalled due to the absence of the trial judge.
Although the matter was fixed for the arraignment of Toriola and other, Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court, Abuja was not in court.
The matter was, however, adjourned until Sept. 26 for the defendants’ to take their plea.
Other defendants in the charge are MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd; MTN Senior Executive Officer, Nkeakam Abhulimen; Fun Mobile Ltd, a telecommunications service provider; and Yahaya Maibe, its CEO as 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th defendants respectively.
Toriola is named as 2nd defendant in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/111/2024.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the prosecution; the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) had, on May 14, accused Toriola of evading service of court documents in the alleged copyright infringement charge.
Justice Ekwo had adjourned the matter until today to allow the prosecution effect service of the court papers on the MTN CEO.
But the case, which was listed as number one on the cause list, could not proceed.
NAN reports that on June 22, a musician, Maleke Moye, who is the nominal.complainant in the suit, had raised alarm over alleged plan by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, to take over the ongoing trial of the telecommunications company and its CEO.
The musician said that the minister’s directive for the prosecuting agency, NCC, to hands off the trial and forward the case file to his (AGF) office portends impending dangerous precedence.
NAN reports that in the three count-count charge dated March 19 and filed March 20 by Emeka Ogbonna on NCC’s behalf, the prosecution alleged that the defendants, between 2010 and 2017, “offered for sale, sold and traded for business, infringed musical works of Maleke Moye, an artiste, without his consent and authorisation.”
The commission alleged that the defendants used Maleke’s musical works and sound recordings with subsisting copyright, known as “caller ring back tunes” without the authorisation of the artiste.
The musical works and sound recordings of the musician allegedly infringed upon include “911, Minimini-Wana Wana, Stop Racism, Ewole, 911 instrumental, Radio, Low Waist, and No Bother.”
The defendants were also alleged to have illegally distributed the musical works to their subscribers, without authorisation, thereby infringing on the rights of the artiste.
In the third count, the defendants were alleged of having in their possession, the musical works and sound recordings of the artiste, other than for their personal or domestic use.
The copyright commission said the alleged offence is punishable under Section 20 (2) (a) (b) and (c) of the Copyright Act, Cap. C28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004..(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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June 27, 2024
Edo: Court orders INEC to publish Asamah’s name as LP deputy governorship candidate
Edo: Court orders INEC to publish Asamah’s name as LP deputy governorship candidate
Judgment
By Taiye Agbaje
Prince Kadiri Asamah, SAN
Abuja, June 27, 2024 (NAN) A Federal High Court, Abuja on Thursday, affirmed the nomination and substitution of Prince Kadiri Asamah, SAN, as deputy governorship candidate of Labour Party (LP) for the Edo governorship election fixed for Sept. 21.
Justice Emeka Nwite, in a judgment, agreed with the argument of the party’s lead counsel, Johnson Usman, SAN, that the LP had complied with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 and other regulations in nominating Asamah as its running mate for the poll.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the party had, on Feb. 23, conducted its governorship primary election for the state where Olumide Akpata won as party’s standard-bearer.
Akpata subsequently nominated Olayinka Faith Alufohai as his hus running mate.
Alufoha, however, withdrew her nomination on March 8 and deposed to an affidavit of withdrawal in support of her letter of withdrawal which she submitted to the party.
Consequent upon her withdrawal, Akpata nominated Asamah as his new running mate whose name and personal particulars were submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and uploaded on its portal on April 15.
However, INEC refused to publish Asamah’s name.
Dissatisfied with the electoral umpire’s decision in not publishing his name, LP and Akpata, through their Counsel Johnson Usman, SAN, filed a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/556/2024 to sue INEC as sole defendant.
They prayed the court to direct INEC to accept and publish the name of Asamah as the deputy governorship candidate of the party.
Delivering the judgement, Justice Nwite agreed with the argument of Mr Usman, SAN, that Alufohai, having withdrawn her candidature, the LP had the right to submit another name as party’s running mate.
The judge held hat the LP submitted the name of Asamah as deputy governorship candidate within the time provided by provisions of Sections 29 (1), 31 and 32, 84 of the Electoral Act, 2022.
The judge, therefore, said that INEC had no latitude to reject the name.
Consequently, he ordered INEC to accept and publish the name of “Kadiri Yusuf Asamah, SAN, as the running mate/deputy governorship candidate of Labour Party for the forthcoming Edo State Governorship Election fixed for 21st September, 2024.”(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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June 27, 2024
Ex-Kogi governor Yahaya Bello, seeks transfer of case to Lokoja
Ex-Kogi governor, Yahaya Bello, seeks transfer of case to Lokoja
Case
By Taiye Agbaje
Abuja, June 27, 2024 (NAN) The immediate-past Governor of Kogi, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has sought the transfer of his trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to the Federal High Court (FHC), Lokoja Division.
Bello, who made the application in a letter to the Chief Judge (CJ) of FHC, Justice John Tsoho, said that he preferred to be arraigned in Lokoja, being the place the alleged money laundering offence was committed.
Counsel to the former governor, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, made this known on Thursday when the matter came up before Justice Emeka Nwite.
At a resumed hearing, Adedipe informed Justice Nwite that a letter requesting for the transfer of the trial had already been delivered to the CJ for his administrative decision.
The senior lawyer said the request for Lokoja was due to the fact that the court had territorial jurisdiction to hear the matter.
Adedipe said that the legal team of the ex-Kogi governor was still awaiting the response of the CJ on the request for transfer of the case to Lokoja.
“Although the letter requesting for transfer of this matter to Lokoja, was written by Yahaya Bello’s lead counsel, Abdulwahab Mohammed SAN, I am however under obligation to draw the attention of this honourable court to the issue,” Adedipe said.
Adedipe said the prosecution had been notified and their opinion had been sought via a letter dated June 14 from the CJ’s office.
The letter, addressed to EFCC Counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, was signed by the Special Assistant to the Chief Judge, Joshua Ibrahim AJI, Esq.
“You will find attached the copy of a letter by counsel to the defendant on the above subject matter, dated 10th June, 2024.
“I am directed by His Lordship, the Honourable, the Chief Judge, to forward the letter to you for your response within 6 (six) days of receipt,” the letter read in part.”
However, the request for transfer was vehemently opposed by the EFCC’s lead counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, who described the request as an attempt to frustrate the trial.
The EFCC lawyer pleaded with Justice Nwite to hold Adedipe and Mohammed, the two senior advocates in the defence team, responsible for their inability to produce their client in court, despite the undertakings they made.
The EFCC lawyer also requested that the two SANs to be cited for contempt of court.
Meanwhile, Justice Nwite adjourned the matter until July 17, for arraignment of the former governor and ruling on the request of EFCC to cite the two senior lawyers for contempt.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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June 27, 2024
How I managed Anambra security vote account under Obiano, ex-banker tells court
How I managed Anambra security vote account under Obiano, ex-banker tells court
Trial
By Taiye Agbaje
Abuja, June 26, 2024 (NAN) A former commercial bank staff, Mr Ugochukwu Otubelu, on Wednesday, revealed how he managed the security vote account under ex-Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra government.
Otubelu, who said he is now a businessman, told Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court, Abuja that he was with the bank between Nov. 2, 2008 and March 24, 2023.
“I worked in Awka Regional Branch at Nmamdi Azikiwe University.
“I was a relationship officer, I recruit customers, manage their account and approves loan facilities for customers of the bank.
“The branch I worked is a regional branch and the Marketing Department is divided into Consumer Marketing, Commercial Banking and the Public Sector,” he said.
Otubelu, who was led in evidence by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s counsel Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, as 3rd prosecution witness (PW-3), said he worked in the Public Sector Department of the bank.
He said he was told by the bank’s compliant unit that the EFCC was investigating the state and the security vote accounts of Anambra which he managed.
He said the commission asked him to get details of six accounts including that of Youdoo Ventures, Nazdal Ventures, Moment of Peace Ventures and Easy Dia.ln Limited and C.I Party Ventures Nigeria Limited.
He said he had met with ex-Gov Obiano before in the course of managing the security vote account.
The PW-3, however said that the signatories to the security vote account were the former Principal Secretary to the ex-governor, Willy Nwokoye, and the Accountant, Theophilus Nweze.
“I interface with them mostly on daily and weekly basis in processing their transactions.
“I correlate between the bank and them and in processing their transactions, I give them feedback on those transactions.”
He said he goes to the principal secretary’s office every week and he tells him the transactions to be done for the week.
“He will give me instruments through cheque for the transaction to be processed on behalf of that security vote account.
“After every week, I do go to his office to balance the account via the money that came into the security vote account and what it is needed to be done for that week,” he said.
On how the transaction was done, Otubelu said Nwokoye sometimes issued cheques and they at times, took the cash to him.
He identified the documents submitted to the EFCC numbering 215 and was marked as exhibits after Tahir tendered them.
But Obiano’s counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, reserved his objection until final address in line with court directive.
Otubelu, who admitted that funds from the security votes account went into the six companies’ account, said the money did not go to the account holders.
When being cross-examined by Ikpeazu, the witness admitted that the state government was neither part of any of the six accounts nor did it open them.
He also said that the state government did not directly operate the six accounts.
He said the six accounts were used for discreet security transactions.
When asked on what he understood by the expression , “discreet security transactions,” Otubelu said; “As at the time the accounts were needed, there were a lot of insecurity in the state to the extent that we, the bank workers, do not go to work.
“There was high tension of insecurity all over the state.”
“AmI right to say that the security operatives did not operate regular bank accounts?” Ikpeazu asked.
Responding, the witness said: “In the course of my duty, the security agencies were basically paid in cash.”
The PW-3 admitted that on few occasions he took cash to the former governor, it was usually during his meeting with the security operatives.
“The service chiefs are always there; the army, the navy, the DSS director, civil defence, vigilante and others,” he said.
He admitted that the vigilante groups in the state were established by the communities and churches.
He, however, agreed that the state government participated in their funding and expenses as security operatives.
The witness admitted that in the course of operating the six companies’ accounts, no part of the state government money went to the benefit of the companies and their directors.
“Not even a kobo because the transactions done for the week will be reconciled with the Principal Secretary,” he said.
After re-examination, Otubelu was discharged from the witness box.
The EFCC also called Hayatu Hadejia, a Bureau De Change (BDC) operator as 4th prosecution witness (PW-4).
Hadejia told the court that he is a businessman, who runs BDC companies.
He said he had five companies and was invited by the EFCC as part of its investigations into the financial activities of the government of ex-governor Obiano.
After given his testimony and was cross-examined by Obiano’s lawyer, Justice Ekwo discharged him from the witness box and adjourned the matter until Oct. 7, Oct. 8, Oct. 9 and Oct. 10 for continuation of trial.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Obiano was Anambra governor between March 2014 and March 2022.
The former governor, in a nine-count charge, was alleged to have among others, misappropriated over N4 billion from the state’s treasury.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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June 26, 2024
Lawyers threaten to sue I-G over alleged harassment of colleague
Lawyers threaten to sue I-G over alleged harassment of colleague
Suit
By Taiye Agbaje
Abuja, June 26, 2024 (NAN) A group of legal practitioners, under the aegis of Lawyers of Conscience, on Wednesday, threatened to sue the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over alleged incessant harassment of their colleague, Mr Victor Giwa.
The lawyers, who called on the I-G to call his men to order, also urged the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to wade into the matter by calling Mr Egbetokun to refrain from such act.
Mr Maxwell Opara, while speaking to newsmen on behalf of the group, threatened to sue the I-G “in his personal capacity as Kayode Egbetokun, if he fails to act accordingly.”
Narrating how the issue started, Opara said a staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mrs Asabe Waziri, who bought a multi-million naira property in the Maitama District of Abuja, led to series of litigations.
According to the lawyer, Waziri was alleged to be instigating the police to carry out unlawful acts in respect of cases pending before courts of competent jurisdictions.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the purchase of the multi-million naira property by Waziri was said to have attracted several court cases before the FCT High Court.
The court had ordered her eviction from the property due to her alleged faceoff with other property owners in the apartment as well as financial dispute in the purchase of the assets.
Upon the order of the court, Waziri was evicted from the property by bailiffs of the Abuja High Court.
Dissatisfied with the order, she challenged her eviction in court, and the suit is still pending.
Meanwhile, Opara accused Mrs Waziri of resorting to self help with the alleged unlawful use of police to achieve what she could not achieve in the open court.
The lawyer said that the police had no business dabbling into a pure civil transaction of property purchase.
He added that the police as a law abiding institution should allow the matter to be fully determined by the court instead of acting as a court of its own.
Opara insisted it was wrong of Mrs Waziri to use the police to harass Victor Giwa, who was counsel to the property developer, Abbey Signatures Ltd.
The lawyer warned the I-G and his officers to desist from taking laws into their hands.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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June 26, 2024
Again, court adjourns suit seeking Ganduje’s sack to July 5 for hearing
Again, court adjoirns suit seeking Ganduje’s sack to July 5 for hearing
Suit
By Taiye Agbaje
Abuja, June 26, 2024 (NAN) A Federal High Court, Abuja has again adjourned the suit seeking the removal of Dr Abdullahi Ganduje as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) until July 5.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, on Wednesday, adjourned the matter to allow the plaintiff respond to a fresh application filed by Ganduje to challenge the competence of the suit.
Upon resumed hearing, plaintiff’s lawyer, Benjamin Davou, told the court that Sanusi Musa, SAN, who appeared for Ganduje, had just served him with a fresh motion.
He said he would need time to study it on whether to respond to the application.
Musa did not oppose Davou’s application for adjournment.
Justice Ekwo, consequently, adjourned the matter until June 5 for hearing.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the judge had, on June 13, fixed today for hearing after Davou applied to respond to the notice of preliminary objection and counter affidavit served on him by Ganduje’s lawyer.
The plaintiff, the North Central APC Forum, led by Saleh Zazzaga, had filed the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/599/2024.
In the suit, they queried the propriety of Ganduje’s appointment as the Chairman of the APC when he is not from the North Central geo-political zone.
Listed as defendants in the case are Ganduje, the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The plaintiff wants the court to, among others, restrain Ganduje from further parading himself as the chairman of the APC.
It also prays the court to issue an order directing INEC not to accord recognition to all actions taken by the APC, including congresses, primaries and nominations, since Ganduje became APC Chairman on August 3, 2023.
The plaintiff is contending among others, that Ganduje is occupying the office of the APC chairman illegally, not being from a state in the North Central geo-political zone.
It argued that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the APC breached the party’s constitution when it appointed Ganduje, from Kano State in the North West geo- political zone to replace Sen. Abdullahi Adamu from Nasarawa State in the North Central geo-political zone.
It also argued that Ganduje’s appointment to replace Abdullahi was contrary to Article 31.5(1) f of the APC constitution and ultra vires the powers of the NEC of the party.
The plaintiff added that by the true interpretation of Article 31.5(1) of the APC. Constitution 2013 (as amended), the party is bound to comply with the procedure for the replacement of an officer in the event of a vacancy and ought to appoint a member from Nasarawa State in the North Central geo- political zone into the office of the chairman of the party.
It wants the court to among others, declare that by Article 20(1) of the APC constitution 2013 as amended, Ganduje cannot be appointed as the National Chairman of the party other than through democratic conducted elections and that his current occupation of the office is illegal.
It equally seeks a declaration that by the provisions of Article 13 of the APC constitution 2013 (as amended), the party’s National Convention is the final authority of the party which has the power to elect or remove national officers of the party including the national chairman of the party.
The plaintiff also wants a declaration that the party’s NEC lacked the power to appoint any person to the office of the Chairman, among others.(NAN)(www.namnews.ng)
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June 26, 2024
Cleric threatens legal action against persons linking him with US visa job
Cleric threatens legal action against persons linking him with US visa job
Legal
By Taiye Agbaje
Abuja, June 26, 2024 (NAN) The lead Pastor of the Resurrected Assembly (GROM) Worldwide, Prize Aluko, has threatened to institute a legal action against persons behind a website or portal in the name of “Caregiver Visa Sponsorship Jobs in United States of America (USA).”
Aluko, in a statement issued and made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja, said he had no relationship or affiliation with any website or portal in such name.
An unidentified group was alleged to have published the picture of the clergyman on a portal, “Caregivers Portal” with the title: “Caregiver Visa Sponsorship Jobs in United States.”
The said portal was said to contain information on 45, 000 visa opening with work permit available to interested individuals ready to work as caregivers in the US with no agent fee.
Reacting, Aluko distanced himself and the church from the said website and portal while expressing shock by the usage of his picture in the publication.
He described the act as an embarrassment to both the church and himself.
The cleric urged members of the public to disregard any such message and to be “aware of scammers and fraudulent transactions on that platform.”
He said the church would not hesitate to take legal action necessary against those behind the act if his picture was not immediately pull down from the platform.(NAN)(www.nanews.ng)
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June 26, 2024
2 witnesses testify as EFCC opens case against ex-Gov Obiano
2 witnesses testify as EFCC opens case against ex-Gov Obiano
Case
By Taiye Agbaje
Abuja, June 25, 2024 (NAN) Two witnesses testified on Tuesday at a Federal High Court, Abuja as Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) opened its money laundering case against former Governor of Anambra, Willie Obiano.
A commercial banker staff, Mr Tochukwu Aloysius Nnadi, and an Onitsha-based business woman, Mrs Chinwe Patricia Egbunam, were led in evidence as 1st and 2nd prosecution witnesses by EFCC’s lawyer, Mr Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, before Justice Inyang Ekwo.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Obiano was Anambra governor between March 2014 and March 2022.
The former governor, in a nine-count charge, was alleged to have among others, misappropriated over N4 billion from the state’s treasury.
When the matter was called, Nnadi, the 1st prosecution witness (PW-1), told the court that he was a bank manager at Awka, the capital of Anambra.
The witness said: “My lord, as part of our responsibilities, we manage customers’ accounts and interface with various security and anti-graft agencies in terms of enquiry on a customer’s account.
“We usually comply by providing the requested information.
“I know the defendant in this matter. He is the immediate past governor of Anambra State.
“In April 2022, I was informed by our compliance unit that I was needed at EFCC in respect of activities of the past administration of Anambra State.
“I went there with two of my colleagues. The EFCC told me that my invitation was in respect of an ongoing investigation.
“I was told that it was because I was the manager of the branch that handled most of the financial activities of the then state government.
“The state government maintains various accounts with our bank and one of such accounts was for security votes.”
According to him there was really nothing special about the security votes account.
“It was like every other account that we managed for the state government.
“The account was mostly funded by the office of the Accountant General of the state and bulk of the funds came from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state.
“Payments into the account was made on weekly basis and all transactions out of the account were always based on the advice of the account operators.
“The payments we made out of the account were to various entities and corporate organisations.
“We supplied documents containing names of all the beneficiaries to the EFCC,” the witness added.
However, he declined request by the prosecution counsel, Tahir, to mention names of some of the beneficiaries in the open court.
Nnadi said doing so would amount to a breach of his “oath of secrecy.”
He said the accounts were mostly funded every week.
“Cash withdrawals, manager’s cheques, transfers and drafts were instruments that were used to remove the funds, based on instructions from the operators of the accounts.
“Some of the documents I submitted to the EFCC, included the certified true copies (CTCs) of the statements of account, cover letter for the statements of account, packages used to open the account, as well as certificates of identification for each of the accounts,” he said.
Meanwhile, the bundle of documents from the bank, totaling 794 pages were tendered and admitted in evidence by the court as Exhibit PW-1 (A1- A 794)
Another bundle of documents dated June 1, 2023, showing the debits that were made from the accounts, were also admitted in evidence.
Obiano’s lawyer, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, said his client would reserve his objections to the Exhibits and raise them in his final address.
When the witness was asked to read to the court, from the exhibit, some of the names on the list of beneficiaries of funds that were transferred out of the account, he mentioned; “Moment of Peace Ventures, Easy Diamond Integrated Links and Nasda Ventures.”
When being cross-examined, Nnadi told the court that all the transactions that involved his bank, were done in compliance with the mandate on each account.
He said the mandates were also in accordance with the banking practice.
Shortly after Nnadi concluded his evidence and was dismissed, Mrs Egbunam.mounted the box and testified in the matter.
She told the court that she is a trader that specialised in “Turkey wears.”
She told the court that she had on May 20, received a call that she was needed at the EFCC office over some funds that passed through the account of her company, C.I. Party Ventures Nigeria Limited.
“When I got to the EFCC, I told them that I did not know anything about the money but that I knew that I told my account officer, Mr. Ugochukwu Otibelu, to help me to upgrade my account to enable me to meet requirement of the Embassy of Turkey.
“It was to upgrade the account to enable me to be able to travel and the upgrade was for him to help me and post money into my account.
“My account officer accepted my request and collected my company account and cheque.
“However, at the EFCC, I was told that about N156. 8 million passed through my account from the Anambra State Government,’ she said.
While being cross-examined, the witness told the court that the arrangement was for her account officer to facilitate the inflow of funds into her company’s account.
She told the court that she did not touch the money that was wired into the account as it did not belong to her.
More so, the witness told the court that the directors of the company’s account were her family members.
“Outside the fact that the defendant was the governor of Anambra State, I never had any dealings with him,” she added.
Asked to tell the court about the security situation in the state while Obiano held sway as governor, the witness said: “I currently stay in Anambra. There is usually no movement in the state every Monday because of a sit-at-home order.
“I know ESN and IPOB and they operate fully in Anambra State.”
She said during Obiano’s tenure, the former governor worked with organisations and churches to maintain peace in the state.
“This was because churches, organisations and even mosques were under threat during that period,” the witness added.
Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter until Wednesday for trial continuation.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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June 25, 2024
Alleged money laundering: Court adjourns Ali Bello, co-defendants’ trial
Alleged money laundering: Court adjourns Ali Bello, co-defendants’ trial
Adjournment
By Taiye Agbaje
Abuja, June 24, 2024 (NAN) A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, adjourned the alleged money laundering trial of Ali Bello and his co-defendants until Sept. 24 for trial continuation.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu adjourned the matter after defence counsel, Nureini Jimoh, SAN, concluded the cross-examination of the EFCC 2nd prosecution witness (PW2), Olomotane Egoro, and was re-examined by the anti-graft agency’s lawyer, Abbas Mohammed.
Justice Egwuatu, who discharged Egoro, an Access Bank Complaint Officer, from the witness box, adjourned the matter until Sept. 24 and Sept. 26 for trial.
It will be recalled that the EFCC, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/573/2022, is prosecuting Bello and three others on an alleged N3 billion fraud charge.
While Bello is the 1st defendant, Abba Adaudu, Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege and Iyadi Sadat are 2nd to 3rd defendants respectively.
Earlier when the matter was called, Jimoh, who appeared for 2nd to 3rd defendants, applied for Exhibits E to N.
While cross-examining Egoro, the witness told the court that though he was not working at the Access Bank branch in Abuja, he said he was stationed in Abuja in 2023 because of the proximity to law enforcement agencies.
He said he was never in the Lagos branch or head office of the bank.
Egoro had, at the previous hearing, said Ali Bello neither lodged nor withdrew money in the bank statements tendered in the proceedings.
Egoro stated this while being cross-examined by Bello’s counsel, Abdullahi Aliyu, SAN, before Justice Egwuatu.
The witness had admitted that majority of the transactions he earlier identified from the accounts belonging to the 2nd to 4th defendants which were suspected to be proceeds of money laundering from the LGAs or Kogi were actually proceeds from a loan of N2 billion accessed from the bank by the 4th defendant’s company.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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edited by Sadiya Hamza
June 24, 2024