Money Laundering: EFCC Begins Trial Of Ex-Aviation Minister, Fani-Kayode

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday commenced the trial of a former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, at a Federal High Court, Lagos.

Fani-Kayode is standing trial on an amended 40 counts bordering on money laundering.

At the re-arraignment of Fani-Kayode on Monday, the prosecutor, Mr. Festus Keyamo, called his first witness, Mr. Okechukwu Okeke, to give his testimony.

Led in evidence by the prosecutor, Okeke, a relationship officer with the First City Monument Bank Plc, told the court that the accused maintained an account with FCMB, adding that his account had become dormant.

He alleged that the account of the accused was first domiciled with First Atlantic Bank before it was acquired by Fin Bank which was later acquired by FCMB.

According to the witness, as a relationship officer with the bank, he had the account history of customers.

He said he was given a letter by the legal department of his bank to verify the account history of the accused.

The witness, however, told the court that although the account was inactive, he still had details of transactions stored in the computer.

At this point, the prosecutor then tendered a statement of account of the accused between August 2008 and September 2012.

He informed the court that he was unable to produce the statement of account of the accused between 2004 and 2008 when he served as a minister.

He said he had written a letter to the bank to obtain the statements, and was told to come back in one week.

The Defence counsel, Mr Ifedayo Adedipe, did not oppose the submissions of the prosecutor.

Following this development, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia adjourned the case to March 18 for continuation of trial.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Fani-Kayode was first arraigned in December 2008 on a 47 counts.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge and Justice Ramat Mohammed granted him bail in the sum of N200m with two sureties in like sum.

He was re-arraigned with Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako as the trial judge following the transfer of Mohammed out of Lagos Division.

NAN also reports that Fani-Kayode was again re-arraigned the third time on February 11, 2013, with Justice Ajumogobia taking charge following the transfer of Murtala-Nyako. (NAN)

2015: Eket Senatorial District Supposed To Produce Next A/Ibom Gov But… – Akpabio

Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State on Monday said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will decide if the 2015 governorship election in the state will be open to all the aspirants from the three senatorial districts.

Akpabio spoke in response to a question posed by Senator Effiong Bob, who sought to know where Uyo Senatorial District belonged in the 2015 power equation.

He described Uyo, the state capital, as a special senatorial district.

The governor spoke during the on-going town hall meeting of the Etinan Federal Constituency in Etinan council of the state.

The governor argued that if Uyo Senatorial District does not contest in the primaries of the ruling PDP, it will contest on the platform of the opposition party.

Akpabio said: “In 2015, if PDP were to speak in clear conscience, it can no longer say that two senatorial districts are going to contest. By 1999 till 2015, two senatorial districts have tasted power.

“Uyo Senatorial District under former Governor Victor Attah. Ikot Ekpene Senatorial district under Governor Godswill Akpabio. The only senatorial district left is Eket Senatorial District, therefore the party will speak.

“If the party wants to open it up for the three senatorial districts so be it. Even in 2007 it was still open to the whole state. The main opposition that I had was from Uyo. Uyo is very enlightened. It is the capital of Akwa Ibom.

“Even if we go 2015, if the candidate of the state is not from Uyo senatorial district, the next person from the opposition will be from Uyo. I hope you know that. Uyo cannot fail to contest election. It is a fact. This one that Senator Effiong Bob is asking where is Uyo, Uyo knows that it will contest election.

“Whether you like it or not Uyo will contest. If Uyo does not contest the primaries of the PDP, Uyo will contest in the opposition. Even the opposition leader if we had any today, is he not from Uyo? The reality is that Uyo is too important and nobody can ignore Uyo. Uyo will never be left out of government. At what stage can you leave Uyo out?”

Akpabio, who is Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, explained that after the town hall meeting, the stakeholders and elders of the state will sit and decide on how to zone positions.

His words: “After this town hall meeting, the next thing we will do is to sit down as stakeholders and elders and attempt to zone positions so that when we bring it out you will know that if this person takes governorship, another person takes deputy governor.

“Those who are going to be aspirants must sign the MoU that this sharing formula approved by the circus of our party is what they will adhere to then immediately after that we will make our pronouncement”.

President Jonathan’s Visit Fails To ‘Facilitate’ Release Of His Uncle From Kidnappers

The visit by Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan last weekend has failed to secure the release of his foster father by gunmen, who abducted the president’s relative for ransom.
SaharaReporters has learned that the kidnappers may have fulfilled an earlier threat to kill the hostage if their terms were not met. This development has heightened anxiety in the community.
Bayelsa Police Command has, however, dismissed rumors of the death of Chief Nengite Nitabai, the 70 year old uncle of President Goodluck Jonathan  being held in the kidnappers’ den.
Mr Hilary Okpara, Commissioner of Police in Bayelsa, described the rumors as “wicked lies,” adding that Police are closing in on the hoodlums who abducted the septuagenarian 15 days ago.
Okpara, who failed to prove that the 70 year old was still alive, said that six suspects, including a traditional ruler believed to be the father of the leader of the kidnapping gang, was arrested in connection with the abduction.
Members of the president’s family had offered a ransom sum of N30 million which the abductors  rejected. They are demanding N500 million to release the president’s uncle, and derided the family offer as “paltry.”
The family was said to have sought the intervention of the President, who returned to Otuoke on Thursday, and left on Friday, after a brief meeting with family members.
The kidnappers had threatened to kill the hostage if the ransom was not paid.
The visit of Jonathan last weekend had raised hopes that the abducted Nitabai would be freed within days.  The president was expected to augment the N30 million to meet the N500 million sum demanded by the kidnappers.

Nigerian Government Seeks Secret Trial Of 3 Boko Haram Suspects

The Federal Government on Monday asked an Abuja Federal High Court to conduct “secret trial” for the three men charged with alleged links with the Boko Haram insurgents.

A Chief State Counsel, Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, Jones Nebo, who made the application, said it became necessary to protect the identity of its witnesses.

Three accused persons, Mohammed Yunus, Musa Umar, and Salami Abdullahi were arraigned on an eight-count charge bordering on terrorism.

They were arrested and detained in October 2013, for allegedly holding various meetings aimed at carrying out insurgency across the country.

Ms. Nebo also said that the prosecution’s motion was brought pursuant to Sections 33 and 34 of the Terrorism Prevention Act 2013, as amended, and Section 115 of the Evidence Act.

She argued that the application complied Sections 36 and 203 of the Criminal Procedure Act which supported the non-disclosure of identities and names of witnesses.

Hassan Liman, James Ocholi, and Abdul Mohammed, counsel to the first, second and third accused respectively, opposed the application. They urged the court to dismiss the application, contending that it lacked merit.

Mr. Ocholi said “this application is in conflict with Section 36 (4) of the 1999 Constitution, which pertains to fundamental rights and fair hearing.

“Fundamental rights, public hearing and fair hearing cannot be separated. “It is easier for a person to tell a lie in secret than in public as there will be nobody to correct them in secret, and also where there is no publicity, there is no justice.’’

The judge, Gabriel Kolawole, adjourned the case to March 18 for ruling.

Jonathan’s Predecessor Gave Us Dud Cheque For Enugu Airport – Senator Eze Monday

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Works, Senator Ayogu Eze, Monday, revealed 

that one of President Goodluck Jonathan’s Predecessor, whose name he refused to 

mention once issued dud cheque to Igbo leaders for the upgrading of Akanu Ibiam Arport, 

Enugu to international status.

Eze, who was in Onitsha for the ground breaking ceremony of the second Niger Bridge by 

President Goodluck Jonathan said before the coming of President Jonathan, other presidents 

had always treated the people of South-East like outcasts despite their contribution to nation building.

He said it took Jonathan to come on the saddle for the Enugu Airport to be named an international airport.

“My leader, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremeadu is here, at one time, he led a delegation to your(Jonathan) predecessor to see how we can get the federal government to make Enugu airport an international airport, and we were surprised when the man feigned ignorance that he did not know the airport was still a local airport.

“We were all surprised at that. He later gave us a cheque which we could not cash”, Ayogu said.

He thanked President Goodluck Jonathan for all his efforts in ensuring that the three “Rs”, declared

 after the Nigeria-Biafra war, which had for long remained only in theory, was now being 

demonstrated through the reconciliation, rehabilitation and reconstruction of the South-East.

Minister In Private Jet Mess As Aviation Professionals Petition Jonathan

Aviation experts under the aegis of the Concerned Aviation Professionals (CAP) have sent a petition to President Goodluck Jonathan, detailing what might be considered an embarrassing allegation over the activities of an unnamed Minister.

The group accused the minister of spending not less than N10 billion of public fund on maintaining a private aircraft in the past two years.

It would be recalled that the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has been accused of similar allegations in the past. It is not known if the latest allegation refers to her or another minister in the present administration, which has become notorious for turning a blind eye to alleged cases of corruption against its officials.

The aviation professionals in a recent letter to the president titled “Re: Mindless waste of Nigeria’s resources: Who owns this Challenger 850 Aircraft marked OE-ILA?” signed by Chairman, Abdul Malik Masaya, and Secretary, John Obande Anihinru, asked the presidency to as a matter of importance, beam its searchlight on the ownership, maintenance and usage of the aircraft marked OE-ILA, parked at one of the private hangers in a Nigerian airport in the last two years.

The group, which said it is worried that the “Super Minister, who is one of the celebrated members of the Federal Executive Council, parades fluke, erroneous and complete misrepresentation of the reality in the concerned ministry as successes of the past years”.

They accused the said minister of sinking 500,000 Euros, about N130 million, monthly to maintaining the aircraft since it surfaced under mysterious circumstances at the airport in 2012.

They prayed: “Sir, we have details and impeccable records which confirm that the ‘Super Minister’ has been frittering away the scarce resources of Nigeria in maintaining the Challenger 850 aircraft in the last two years. The incontrovertible evidence we have is that the Minister has been committing 500,000 Euros (N130 million) monthly to maintain the aircraft in the last two years. Thus, in two years, the Minister has committed the sum of N3.120 billion to keep the jet which is used for personal use and that of the Minister’s family alone”.

The aviation professionals added, “We make bold to say that the amount above is just a tip on the iceberg. Several other billions have been wasted flying the jet around the world obviously for leisure by the Minister and solely members of the immediate family. Our records showed that the amount already wasted by this Minister and members of the family on trips that are in no way beneficial to Nigeria runs into not less than N10 billion. The worst of all Sir, is the fact that an agency of government is paying all the billions used to maintain this jet”.

The group revealed that a subtle crisis is currently brewing in a notable government agency following the recent discovery that some of its directors allegedly spent several billions on the mystery jet. The professionals urged the federal government to establish the real owner of the mystery aircraft and demand explanation on why public funds is spent on maintaining it.

They observed, “We are aware of a war that is now brewing in the lucrative government agency when some directors got wind of the huge funds being channeled into maintaining the Minister’s private jet. We want you to investigate sir, who entered into the contract for maintaining the Challenger Jet on behalf of Nigeria. Is it a formal or informal contract? Why is Nigeria paying for the jet?

“We cannot comprehend the sense in keeping a plane solely for the use of a Minister, especially when the plane is not part of the Presidential fleet. We also know that Mr. President will promptly and readily oblige the Minister the use of any of the Presidential jets if it becomes imperative for the minister to embark on official trips on behalf of the government. Details at our possession include the series of flights the Minister had engaged in with the said plane in the last two years. The details include the different locations, time and date of the flights as well as the dates the plane returned to Nigeria at each instance. In fact we can confirm to you that the plane has been in use since July 2012”.

The aviation professionals are seeking to know if the unnamed minister was above the law and asked that “a thorough probe of this allegation should start from the FAAN, NCAA and NAMA. The agencies have records of all the trips the Challenger 850 jet made on the payroll of one of the nation’s top revenue earning agencies”.

Obi Leaves N75bn In Anambra Coffers

Outgoing Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi yesterday presented his “End of Tenure Report” to people of the state, saying his administration has left N75 billion in the coffers for the incoming administration. He, however, excluded giving account for one year, saying it was the period covering his illegal impeachment from office.

Speaking at the Women Development Centre, Awka, the state capital, venue of the televised event attended by members of the Federal Government Economic Management Team of which he is a member, led by business mogul and Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, who chaired the event, among others, Obi said the money included N25 billion investment for the state.

Obi broke down the savings by informing that expected bank balances as at March 14 would be N11.5 billion; federal government approved refund is N10 billion; foreign currency investment of (US$155m) N26 billion.

He gave account of the investments made by the state in some projects being executed including INTAFACT (N3.5 billion); Nigeria independent Power Project (N9 billion); Orient Petroleum Resources PLC (N4 billion); Onitsha Hotel (N1 billion); Agulu Lake Hotel (N1 billion); Awka Shopping Mall (N0.9 billion), Quoted investment portfolio (N350 million), among others.

Obi explained further that his administration received about N620 billion and N20 billion from Federal Allocation and interventions from donor agencies and development partners respectively. He noted that in spite the state’s low revenue profile, his government was able to complete over 801 kilometers of roads that gave access to all parts of the State and opened up rural areas.

He also noted that his administration’s partnership with the Church transformed and repositioned the education and Health sector to meet the needs of the people.

In his speech, the incoming Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, assured that his administration would build on the foundation laid by Obi and sustain his interventions in schools and hospitals as well as attract people in Diaspora and other investors to set up businesses in the State.

In his remarks, Chief Anyoku said the occasion was a celebration of success in governance that brought recognizable transformation in all sectors through indisputable prudent and judicious use of public resources.

The coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala said she was proud of the governor and his achievements in office.

She recalled that unlike other politicians, Obi did not abandon projects started by his predecessors; he attracted viable foreign direct investments, encouraged and empowered indigenous investors and industrialists to grow and expand.

Other notable speakers such as Dangote, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, among others, eulogized Obi, saying he had indeed rescued the state and laid a solid foundation for a better Anambra.

Information Nigeria had earlier reported that the event which forms part of activities lined up towards Gov. Obi’s eventual hand-over to his successor on March 17, was organized by the Anambra State Elders Council, led by Dr. Dozie Ikedife.

Eto's poses like an old man to make fun of age falsification story

After scoring a goal against Spurs at yesterday's match, Chelsea footballer Samuel Eto'o celebrated the goal by posing as an old man, (pictured above) making fun of recent reports that he's closer to 40 than the 32 he's claiming. He also showed that he bears no hard feelings to his coach Jose Mourinho who was caught on camera saying he believes the Cameroonian striker is 35 and not 32.

"I didn’t suggest the celebration but I knew about it. We thought it was good because the best way to defuse the situation is to make fun of it." Jose Mourinho said of the pose

Whether 32, 35, or 39, Samuel Eto's has consistently shown he's still a force to be reckoned with. He will celebrate his 40th birthday...oh sorry...his 33rd birthday tomorrow March 10th.