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Lamido’s N712m Money Laundering Case: HEDA hails EFCC’s appeal

Anti-corrupt group, Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on its appeal of the recent judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja judicial division.

The Court discharged the former Governor of Jigawa State, Alh. Sule Lamido and his two sons, Aminu and Mustapha Lamido of corruption and money laundering charges on the grounds that the prosecution had filed the charge at the wrong judicial division of the Federal High Court.

Earlier, the EFCC had charged the former Governor and his two sons with money laundering offenses at the Abuja judicial division.

After presenting six witnesses, the anti-graft agency closed its case, and the defendants subsequently filed a no-case submission.

However, Justice Ojukwu of the Federal High Court dismissed the no-case submission, ruling that the defendants had a case to answer. Dissatisfied with the ruling, the defendants decided to appeal to the Court of Appeal.

A panel of three jurists, led by Hon. Justice Adamu Waziri, reviewed the case and concluded that the money laundering charge should have been filed in Jigawa State, where the alleged offenses were committed. Based on this finding, the Court of Appeal discharged the defendants.

In response to the judgment, HEDA Resource Centre’s Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, expressed concerns, citing a precedent set by the Supreme Court in the case of Dele Belgore.

In the Belgore case, the Supreme Court also overturned a no-case submission ruling by the Federal High Court. However, unlike the Lamido case, the Supreme Court ordered the case to be re-filed and prosecuted in the appropriate judicial division, which was Kwara State.

Suraju also highlighted another relevant case, that of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu & Ors, wherein the Supreme Court overturned the judgment of the Federal High Court due to jurisdictional issues.

In that case, the Supreme Court ordered a re-trial of the defendants, instead of discharging them.

He stressed that an appellant whose appeal is based on an application or an interlocutory appeal, and not on the final judgment of the trial court, should not be discharged by the appellate court. Such discharges could set a wrong precedent, suggesting that technical errors may lead to acquittal.

Suraju therefore called on the EFCC, as the prosecutor, to pursue further appeal at the Supreme Court. He emphasized that Nigerians cannot afford a precedent that fails to ensure consequences for money laundering, corruption, and misappropriation of public funds.

The EFCC’s response and the potential implications of further appeal will be closely watched, as the case involves high-profile individuals and raises important questions about the judicial process surrounding corruption cases in Nigeria.

08/02/2023
She Forum Africa announces regional chairs for newly instituted hubs

As part of ongoing internal re-organization efforts, She Forum Africa, a pan-Africa Women Development, Intergenerational Mentorship, Leadership & Lifestyle Community has instituted regional Hubs to deepen advocacy initiatives and strengthen women’s share of voice in local African communities.

In a statement by Founder and Chairperson of the Forum, Ms. Inimfon Etuk, “the recent composition of Regional Hubs for East, West & South Africa and a Diaspora Hub are part of internal re-organization efforts to strengthen the bargaining power of women and create a much-needed avenue for African women in local communities to own the process of transformation towards Africa we want and deserve. The Hubs are Chaired by women leaders who have distinguished themselves as formidable agents of true development in their respective rights.”

According to Etuk, Hon. Nadia Ahmed Abdalla, former Deputy Minister, Ministry of ICT, Innovation & Youth Affairs, Republic of Kenya who takes up the role as Regional Chair, East Africa Hub; Dr. Sindy Zemura-Bernard, Founder/CEO of the Southern Africa Embrace Foundation, Canada, who takes up the role as Regional Chair, South Africa Hub; and Mrs. Renee Q. Boateng, Founder, Butterflies and Pearls, Ghana, who will serve as Regional Chair, West Africa Hub. Also named is Dr. Mercy O. Umeri, Assistant Teaching Professor/MiniMPA Coordinator, Hugo Wall School, Wichita State University, Kansas, USA appointed as Chair, Diaspora Hub while Asiya Sani Suleiman, a Communications professional and “Garkuwan Mata” of Abaji has been unveiled as the Organization’s Director, Partnerships & Corporate Engagement.

She Forum Africa has as its core mission, to amplify personal development opportunities for African women through strategic mentoring and life-long learning within a home-grown, African-led initiative. In addition to advocacy on issues affecting women’s health, wellbeing and rights, her programmes are designed to assist young females, entrepreneurs and female professionals advance their careers and life goals in a traditionally male environment by providing insight into relevant skills for personal growth.

“We are constantly updating our skills through various initiatives and capacity building experiences to ensure we remain a credible, tested and preferred Partner for Organizations desirous of heightened impact in their respective spheres,” Etuk added.

08/02/2023
Modular Floating Dock: NIMASA takes over continental shipyard

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA has taken over areas leased to it by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) at the Continental Shipyard for the operations of the Modular Floating Dock.

The areas include: the Dolphin Jetty, Waterfront of the jetty adjourning the slipway, an administrative block, a construction, welding and mechanical workshop and a civil maintenance workshop, among others.

During the ceremony, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, said the handing over of the Continental Shipyard to NIMASA marks the final lap in the quest of the Agency to deploy the modular floating Dockyard.

The Director General, who was represented by the Head, Public, Private Partnership, PPP, Unit Mr. Kabiru Diso assured stakeholders that the Modular Floating Dockyard would soon be deployed since all grey areas between NIMASA and the NPA have been cleared.

“The Modular Floating Dockyard is a national asset and now that all grey areas between the NPA and NIMASA have been addressed, we are very close to the deployment of the Modular Floating Dock.

Our goal is to domicile dry-docking of vessels in the country thus saving the nation foreign exchange currently expended on dry-docking vessels outside the shores of Nigeria. The floating dock will also provide both direct and indirect employment to Nigerians with a multiplier effect on capacity development,” he said.

The Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC), had issued a certificate of compliance for an Outline Business Case (OBC) for the operation of the floating dock, while also describing it as bankable and sustainable.

The modular floating dock, which has the capacity to handle up to 10,000 Metric Tons vessels, would be run on a Public Private Partnership arrangement.

08/02/2023
Subsidy Removal: Organised labour in Nasarawa joins nationwide protest

The organised labour in Nasarawa State has joined the nationwide protest against the hike in the price of petrol in the aftermath of the Federal Government’s removal of fuel subsidy.

The unions, consisting the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), led the protest march from Total Filling Station, Lafia, to the Office of the Deputy Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe.

Speaking at the event on Wednesday in Lafia, Comrade Ismaila Oko, NLC Chairman, called on the Federal Government to reconsider the action in view of the hardship being experienced by the workers and the masses.

The NLC chair said that the Federal Government should immediately take measures that would improve the lots of Nigerians before things get out of control.

“Since the subsidy was removed, workers now spend their entire salaries on transport fares to their offices.

“Workers can no longer cater for the school fees of their children, feed their family members and meet up to other responsibilities in the family,” Oko said.

On his part, Comrade Mohammed Doma, TUC Chairman, urged the government to act fast to address the fuel hike.

He wondered why the citizens of a country that was producing petroleum would be buying petrol at an exorbitant price that the citizens could not afford.

“Our salaries cannot take care of our transportation to our offices, we are suffering,” the TUC Chairman noted.

The union submitted a protest letter to the Head of Civil Service, Ms Abigail Waya, who lauded them for conducting themselves peacefully.

Waya said that already both the Federal Government and the Nasarawa government had constituted committees to work out palliatives for the citizenry.

She promised to brief Governor Abdullahi Sule about their issues and to submit their letter to him.

08/02/2023
Stella Oketete not under our investigation- Code of Conduct Bureau

The Code of Conduct Bureau has denied reports making the rounds in some online media platforms that the Executive Director of NEXIM Bank, Stella Erhuvwu Oketete is under investigation by the Bureau.

In a statement signed by the Director Investigation and Monitoring, Gwimi S.P. on behalf of the Chairman of the Bureau, and made available to the media, he noted that the information did not in any way emanate from their office, and as such, advised the general public to disregard the information.

“The attention of the Code of Conduct Bureau, (CCB) has been drawn to the nefarious and deceptive letter with Ref No. CCB/HQ/11&M/NB/099 dated 21st March 2023 purported to have emanated from the Bureau on the above-named Public Officer being investigated by the Bureau in an online media, particularly published by the Sahara Reporters on the 29th July 2023.

“The Code of Conduct Bureau wishes to state clearly that it has no hand in the information in circulation, as such the general public should disregard the letter and it’s content,” the statement said.

NIGERIAN ANCHOR had reported that an Abuja-based human rights lawyer, Oladotun Hassan, asked the Nigerian Senate to disqualify one of the ministerial nominees, Stella Okotete, over allegations of corruption.

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Ministerial List: Police, lawyer ask Senate to disqualify Stella Okotete

Similarly, the Nigeria Police Force also ordered a discreet investigation of Okotete over alleged falsification of documents and monumental fraud.

The human rights lawyer ordered a proper investigation over the alleged use of various front companies as proxies to defraud banks of billions of naira and dollars.

The petition called for a reversal of Okotete’s appointment, stating that she was not qualified to hold such a position.

“Predicated upon our demand for the independent and conscientious thorough background investigation and profiling of the culprit’s academic credentials and sequence of events as stated in her unsubstantiated and ridiculously padded CV as follows:

“To investigate her academic profile as regards her school’s records of exams, school fees payments and NYSC certificate, as well allowance payments during years of service.

“To investigate her disqualification by the Senate and her noncompliance to Senate resolution and ruling is highly contemptuous and disobedience to the constituted authority of Senate,” the petition partly read.

The Nigeria Police Force investigation order followed a petition by Barrister Aare Oladotun Hassan Esq of Juryman Associate Chambers against the ministerial nominee to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over alleged falsification of documents, fraudulent misrepresentation of qualification to hold Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN’s) statutory position, corrupt practice, monumental fraud and misappropriation.

The lawyer in had in April, written a petition to the National Assembly through Akinyelure, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition to look into the issue of the Executive Director of Nexim Bank.

08/02/2023
Angry protesters pull down NASS Complex gate

*We’ll address your demands within 7 days- Senate

The members of the organised Labour Unions protesting the removal of fuel subsidy on Wednesday pulled down the gates of the National Assembly in Abuja.

The protesters numbering over 5,000, first converged at the Unity Fountain, Abuja, from where they matched to the Federal Ministry of Justice before proceeding to the National Assembly.

However, following the failure of the security officials to adhere and open the gate to them, the angry protesters pulled down the gates and thronged into the assembly complex to vent their anger.

The organised labour comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) are currently protesting in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Meanwhile, the National Assembly (NASS) has pledged to review and address the organised Labour demands within the next one week.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio said this when organised labour took its mass protest to the National Assembly Complex where it submitted a list of its demands on Wednesday in Abuja.

The mass protest was organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) over anti-poor and workers policies of the Federal Government.

The protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as; “We condemn increase in school fees, “Stop importation of Petrol, Revive the Refineries,” and” Increase in price of fuel responsible for inflation, poverty among others.

Akpabio, who was represented by Senate Chief Whip, Ali Ndume, assured the protesting workers that NASS was in support of their struggle.

“We have keenly followed what is going on when we realized that there was a breakdown in the discussions between the Presidency and the NLC. I want to assure you that we will find a permanent solution to this.

“Please give us one week and we will make progress and if you are not satisfied with the progress we are making, then you can take further action,” he said.

He also said that a committee had been set up to look at the demands of organized labour.

He added that by the close of the day or tomorrow, they will call the first meeting with labour to start the discussions and the engagements would continue.

“We will do our best as your representatives to come out with solutions acceptable to you and realistic enough,” he said.

Ndume also assured that the letter which contained their demands and terms of reference would be handed over to the leadership of the senate.

Earlier, NLC President, Mr Joe Ajaero said the nationwide mass protest was to express workers’ frustrations and grievances about the anti-poor policies that had brought hardship to Nigerians.

He added, ”For almost two months now, we have been engaged in discussions without fruitful motion. We got frustrated.”

He, however, said that the demands of the labour include the immediate implementation of the resolutions jointly signed with organised Labour and government.

Ajaero also called for the immediate reversal of all anti-poor policies of government including the recent hike in PMS price, school fees and VAT.

He also urged the Federal Government to fix the country’s local refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna.

According to him, release the eight months withheld salaries of the university lectures and workers.

“Accord appropriate recognition and support to the Presidential Steering Committee and the work of its Subcommittees.

“Also put a stop to in human actions and policies of government,” he added.

Also speaking, Mr Festus Osifo, TUC President called for the reduction in the cost of governance.

Osifo said that the governments was “insensitive to the plight of the masses.”

“The Nigerian masses have been battered. They have gone through excruciating pains but in all of this, we have not heard what the President has to say about the cost of governance.

“We want you in the National Assembly to show sacrifice. We want you to cut down your budget.

“We want you to buy Nigerian made cars and not imported vehicles because you are creating jobs over there and importing poverty here.

“We want you to show leadership because we elected you to work for us,” he said.

08/02/2023
Tinubu meets UK Foreign Secretary on economy, security

President Bola Tinubu is expected to meet UK Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, who is on a 4-day African visit, on Wednesday.

Cleverly, who will spend two days in Nigeria, is on a three-country visit where he is prioritising future-focused, mutually-beneficial partnership.

A statement from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office disclosed that a number of funding would be unveiled during Cleverly’s visit to make Nigeria’s agriculture sector more resilient to climate change.

It said that the funding would help more than four million people develop better farming practices and reduce harmful carbon emissions.

Cleverly’s meeting with Tinubu and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu will focus on the UK-Nigeria partnership and key common priorities.

‘’It will also include how to increase bilateral trade and investment, economic development, regional issues, and strengthened security cooperation.’’

Total trade in goods and services (exports plus imports) between the UK and Nigeria was 7.6 billion pounds in the four quarters to the end of the first quarter of 2023.

This is an increase of 48.4 percent or 2.5 billion pounds in current prices from the four quarters to the end of the first quarter of 2022.

08/02/2023
West Africa Defence Chiefs meet Wednesday to discuss Niger coup

Defence chiefs from West Africa’s regional bloc ECOWAS will meet in Nigeria’s capital Abuja for two days beginning Wednesday to discuss last week’s coup in Niger, the bloc said in a statement on Tuesday.

On Sunday leaders of the Economic Community of West African States slapped sanctions on Niger and warned they may use force as it gave the junta a week to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum.

The leaders gave the junta seven days to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum, who is being held captive.

Earlier, the junta warned it would resist any “plan of aggression against Niger” by regional or Western powers.

Meanwhile hundreds of coup supporters protested outside the French embassy in the capital Niamey.

A statement read out after the Sunday summit in Nigeria said that Ecowas had “zero tolerance” for coups.

The regional bloc said it would “take all measures necessary to restore constitutional order” if its demands were not met within a week.

“Such measures may include the use of force,” and military chiefs are to meet “immediately” to plan for an intervention, the statement added.

The Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel was at the meeting, and said Ecowas had taken a decisive action because events in Niger were concerning.

“Niger is playing a key role in fighting terrorism. If Niger stops playing this role this will give more space and more leeway to terrorists to expand in the region,” Dr Leonardo Santos Simao told BBC’s Newshour programme.

He added that “no official negotiations” were taking place between ECOWAS and the country’s military junta.

This is the first time ECOWAS has threatened military action to reverse the coups that have taken place in the region in recent years.

It last sanctioned military intervention in 2017, when Senegalese troops were deployed to The Gambia to force long-serving ruler Yahya Jammeh to leave office after he refused to accept defeat in elections.

Chad’s President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno has gone to Niamey to tell the junta to step down, Chad’s government said.

He met junta deputy leader Gen. Salifou Mody.

It is unclear whether he will hold talks with Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, the head of the presidential guards unit who has declared himself Niger’s new ruler.

The West African leaders also announced the immediate enforcement of a no-fly zone over Niger for all commercial flights, the closure of all land borders with the country, and the imposition of financial sanctions against the junta.

Ahead of their meeting, Gen. Tchiani warned ECOWAS and unnamed Western nations against stepping in.

“We once again reiterate to ECOWAS or any other adventurer, our firm determination to defend our fatherland,” the statement, which was read out on TV, said.

The coup has prompted concern that Niger, a former French colony, could pivot towards Russia.

The ousted president had worked closely with both regional and Western nations to fight militant Islamists.

Burkina Faso and Mali moved closer to Russia after their own coups.

In Niamey, some of the protesters outside the French embassy chanted “Long live Russia”, “Long live Putin” and “Down with France”, AFP news agency reports.

They also set fire to the walls of the embassy compound.

France would not tolerate any attack on its interests in Niger, and would respond in an “immediate and intractable manner”, President Emmanuel Macron’s office said in a statement.

08/02/2023
NCAA, ICAO sign Civil Aviation MasterPlan agreement

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has signed the Civil Aviation MasterPlan (CAMP) agreement with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in Montreal, Canada to foster development in the industry.

The Director-General Civil Aviation (DGCA) Capt. Musa Nuhu confirmed the development in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos.

Nuhu represented Nigeria at the signing ceremony, while ICAO’s Secretary-General, Mr Juan Salaazar signed for the international body.

CAMP is a course for senior and middle managers of the State’s Civil Aviation Authorities (CAAs) on the recovery from the impacts of COVID-19, in accordance with the relevant ICAO provisions.

Nuhu explained that the partnership with ICAO was to enable the sector to attain its full potential, while also making significant contributions to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The director-general said that the partnership with ICAO would further lead to more direct and indirect job opportunities for qualified Nigerians in various fields.

The NCAA chief said that it was high time the sector in the country played its key role of developing the nation through air travel.

Nuhu stated that the industry had played pivotal roles in the development of many countries around the world and Nigeria with the biggest economy in Africa could not operate in isolation of the others.

He said: “CAMP is a process to plan for the short, intermediate, and long term development goals through implementing policy directives and to drive change and transformation.

“Civil aviation masterplan would be critical to facilitate the growth of the sector and the deployment of required action plans.

“This is to stimulate the development and growth of the industry, thereby acting as catalysts and enabler of national economy.

“We need to have an orderly growth and development of the industry in tandem with our national aspirations.

“Economies of many countries depend almost entirely on aviation and aviation played a significant role in the development of Dubai and Emirates is its global brand.”

In a bid to ensure the development to the industry in particular and Nigeria at large, Nuhu said that all relevant stakeholders within and outside the ecosystem would be carried along.

08/02/2023
Doctor’s Kidnap: NMA takes protest to House of Assembly

Members of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) on Tuesday marched to the Cross River House of Assembly in a peaceful protest against the kidnap of a member, Dr Ekanem Ephraim.

The doctors, who came out in their numbers, wielded placards with inscriptions such as “Set Cross River Free from the Stranglehold of Kidnappers”, “Make Cross River Safe Again.”

Ephraim was abducted from her residence on Thursday, July 13 by armed men who disguised as patients.

Speaking at the Assembly Complex, Dr. Felix Archibong, Chairman of NMA, Cross River Chapter, said the situation of doctors in the state has got to the point where they were afraid of going about their daily activities.

Archibong said doctors in the state now watched their backs at all times for fear of being abducted.

“We are tired of coming out to protest every time that our member is kidnapped and after it is sorted out, another doctor is targeted and picked.

“We have given the state government enough time; we have been patient and today is the 19th day and our member is still in the kidnappers den.

“Is it a crime that doctors decided to serve in Cross River? Do they want us to leave the state?

“In the last few years, doctors have been targets of kidnappers and we need something drastic to be done,“ he said.

Responding, Mr Elvert Ayambem, House Speaker, appealed to the doctors to be calm.

Ayambem said it was sad that the kidnap of the doctor took place at the time criminal elements were granted amnesty to enable them to turn a new leaf.

He said if the criminals did not turn a new leaf after six months, they would feel the full impact of the law.

“I am speaking as the head of the legislature in the state, let us hear from the governor who is the head of the executive because there is a limit to what I can do from my position.

08/02/2023