Category: News

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has adjourned the trial of Ovaioza Yunusa who was alleged to be involved in a scam of N2bn to July 12, 2023.

The presiding Judge, Justice Gladys Olotu adjourned the case because the defense parties failed to appear before the court when the matter came up Tuesday.

The Federal Government had sued Ovaioza and her company, Ovaioza Farm Produce Storage Business (OFPSB) on charges bordering on Advanced Fee Fraud.

Ovaioza along with Imu Yunusa and Goodness Omeiza were alleged to be operating as fund managers without registration by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) among others.

The SEC had in March 2022 sealed up the 27 Abeokuta Street, Garki Abuja office of the compa­ny on suspicions of illegally col­lecting money from the investing public to the tune of N2bn while not registered with the Commis­sion.

In the five count charge brought against the company and its promoters by the Feder­al Republic of Nigeria, they were alleged to have on or between the year 2020 and 2022 within the ju­risdiction of the honourable court did commit a felony to wit: with common intent conspired among themselves together with their staff to do an illegal act.

They were alleged to lure and offer for subscription an unregistered collective invest­ment scheme valued over N2bn to the unsuspecting general public including Umejiaku Chi­kodili Crystal, Omolabake Ale, Dr. Obi Sandra P., Nnaemeka Franklin Ugwoke, Fonon Ismai­la Malum, Kelechi Anayo, Nkiru Onyima, and others.

The charge reads, “That you Imu Yunusa, Good­ness Omeiza and Ovaioza Farm Produce Storage Business; all of house No. 27 Abeokuta Street, Area 8 Garki, on or between the year 2020 and 2022 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did commit a felony to wit: lured and offered for subscrip­tion an unregistered collective investment scheme valued over N2 billion to the unsuspecting general public including Ume­jiaku Chikodili Crystal, Omola­bake Ale, Dr. Obi Sandra P., Nnae­meka Franklin Ugwoke, Fonon Ismaila Malum, Kelechi Anayo, Nkiru Onyima, and others. You thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable un­der Section 54 of the Investments and Securities Act, 2007.

“That you Imu Yunusa, Good­ness Omeiza and Ovaioza Farm Produce Storage Business; all of house No. 27 Abeokuta Street, Area 8 Garki, on or between the year 2020 and 2022 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did commit a felony to wit: a conspiracy of forming a com­mon intention amongst your­selves together with your staff to do an illegal act – diversion of investment funds valued over N2 billion belonging to the investing public including, Umejiaku Chi­kodili Crystal, Omolabake Ale, Dr. Obi Sandra P., Nnaemeka Franklin Ugwoke, Fonon Ismai­la Malum, Kelechi Anayo, Nkiru Onyima, and others. You thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act, laws of the Federation of Nige­ria, 2004.”

The Senate will constitute special and standing committees before the end of this month, this is according to the new Senate Majority Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele.

Bamidele said this while briefing newsmen after his emergence as the majority leader of the 10th Senate on Tuesday in Abuja.

Bamidele said that with the emergence of the majority and minority caucuses which make up the principal officers, they would hit the ground running.

According to him, “Before long, during the month of July, we will have all the committees; special and standing committees properly constituted.

“For us, the next task is to ensure we hit the ground running so that from tomorrow, we are able to take steps that will show that we have a clear understanding of what is to be done.

“The first task ahead of us is to constitute special committees of the 10th Senate. Our rules make provision for six special committees.

“This is so that every senator can get busy based on their own professional background and can properly fit into the sector where they can add value.

“We are ready to attend to correspondence from the executive. Through the committee of the whole of the house, we will commence with the confirmation hearing of the Service Chiefs and some other appointees who had been named by the President.”

He assured that as the new leadership had emerged, it would ensure that seriousness is attached to all legislative assignments.

“By the grace of God, we will be able to make a difference that will be positive and that will be worth the effort of all of you that worked with us in ensuring that the two presiding officers emerged in a manner that was not rancorous.

“But of course, the emergence of the remaining principal officers of the 10th Senate was not an issue that was meant to be decided on the floor.

“Rather, it was an issue which on the one hand as related to the All Progressives Party (APC) needed to be decided among the critical stakeholders of the party. This was what led to the emergence of the officers.

“On the other hand, with respect to the minority parties, again it wasn’t entirely a party affair because it wasn’t a typical situation where you have one opposition party but rather six political parties were involved.

“Fifty of our colleagues were involved. So rather than it being a decision to be taken at the secretariat of political parties, it was more of a decision taken by members who were elected on the platform of the six minority parties.

“Thirty-eight of them by virtue of their signature took a decision as to who their leaders will be and of course, this was also communicated to their respective political parties and as democrats, all the presiding officers did was to follow suit because more than a single majority had decided.”

Bamidele added that it had been a no victor no vanquish situation adding that “we are happy eventually a leadership has emerged for the 10th Senate.”

The Kano State Fire Service says it saved 26 lives and property worth N17 million from 22 fire outbreaks recorded in June.

This is contained in a statement by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Service, Saminu Abdullahi, on Tuesday in Kano.

Abdullahi disclosed that nine persons died, while property worth N6.7 million was destroyed by fire during the period.

“The Service responded to 18 rescue calls and four false alarms from residents of the state,” he said.

The spokesman advised the general public to handle fire with care and continue to clear their drainage to avoid unforeseen circumstances.