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UK Freezes Erastus Akinghola’s Assets Globally
A United Kingdom Court in London has ordered a temporary forfeiture of all assets, both identified and unidentified, belonging to the wanted former group managing director and chief executive officer of Intercontinental Bank Plc, Mr. Erastus Akingbola.
The order, known, as Mareva order, covers all assets traceable to him globally, including his investments, cash in bank accounts and property, among others.
It was granted on December 23, 2009.
The order is used to preserve assets in a situation where there are fears that the other party in a case may waste or dissipate the assets in contention.
It was gathered that the temporary forfeiture order was jointly sought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the new management of Intercontinental Bank, following a tip-off that he was in the process of moving £3.3 million about N858 million from Isle of Man, an Island in the Caribbean to London.
His total investment in the Island is said to be about N12 billion.
The Island is known in the banking world as the safe haven for bankers to hide slush funds.
Before the move by the commission, Akingbola was alleged to have moved a huge sum of money from his investment in the Island to purchase some property in London.
In the Mareva order, which is now in the possession of the anti-corruption agency, property allegedly bought by Akingbola during the initial cash movement reportedly included houses on numbers 17, 18, 19, 20 on Finchey Road, London, as well as the property located at 26, Chesire Terrace, London.
EFCC, which is set for the implementation of the order, was said to have moved in particular for the all-covering order to stop Akingbola from dissipating the assets, which the commission claimed were proceeds of crime.
The commission was said to have convinced the court to grant the global order after it was able to provide evidence that he had initially moved monies from the Island to buy property in London.
In the charge filed against him in a Federal High Court in Lagos by the commission, which is being used to push for his extradition, the property traced to him were described as proceeds of the alleged crime he committed with shareholders’ funds, while at the bank.
Commission’s spokesperson, Mr. Femi Baba-Femi could not be reached on his mobile phone for comments on the development.
Four top management staff of the bank arrested over another alleged N12 billion fraud involving Akingbola are still being detained on court order by the commission.
The affected top officers included Akin Fabunmi, Financial Controller; Toyin Odesilo, Head, Domestic Operations and Toyin Oyelade, Treasurer.
It was gathered that they allegedly removed N12 billion from the bank’s General Legal Account in November and gave some to Akingbola.
According to information from the commission, the affected bank top shots had in November moved N2 billion to a subsidiary of the bank {names withheld}, from where it was moved to a bureau de change where it was converted to Pounds Sterling and wired to Akingbola’s domiciliary account with the bank before it was finally wired to another account of his in the United Kingdom.
He was said to have successfully withdrawn the money before the commission was called into the alleged scam.
In the same month, another N10 billion was reportedly moved by the same people into the accounts of some companies owned by Akingbola domiciled with Access Bank Plc, before it was finally paid to Access Bank to defray the N10 billion debts Akingbola and his companies owed the bank.
Five non-executive directors of the bank were recently fingered in another alleged fresh N50 billion scam.
The money, which was said to have been shared among the five directors, was believed to be part of the missing N1 trillion in the sector.
It was gathered that while N1.2 billion was shared by the five former directors in March, 2008 as bonus, another N1.8 billion was shared among them in the same month.
The commission’s sustained investigation into the books of the troubled bank was said to have uncovered another fresh N31 billion allegedly laundered by Akingbola while at the helms of affairs in the bank.
In May 2009, the probe report stated that Akingbola allegedly used his own registered company, Tropics Properties Ltd, to launder over N13 billion investors’ funds.
The first payment made into Tropics account was N4.5 billion, the second being N4.4 billion, while the third was N4.06 billion.
Happy Birthday Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON
Honourable Minister Federal Capital Territory
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We’ll Drive Tinubu’s Vision in Rivers With Vigour – Fubara …Inaugurates Dualized Ahoada/Omoku Road ….Debunks Rift With RSHA
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has stated that he will lead Rivers people to galvanize support for President Bola Tinubu to drive the vision and objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda in the State with vigour.
The governor, who joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on Tuesday, explained that his decision to join the APC was not for personal interest but for the overall benefit of Rivers State.
Fubara disclosed these while inaugurating the extension of the dualized Ahoada/ Omoku Express road in Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
He commended the contracting firm, Julius Berger, for timely delivery of the project, saying the project is a campaign promise fulfilled which will bring economic benefits to the people and tackle issues of insecurity associated with the route.
He said his administration has remained focused in delivering democratic dividends in the state despite facing glaring challenges.
The governor thanked the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas for their continuous support, and urged his supporters to remain steadfast and also support President Tinubu who he said, has demonstrated love to Rivers State as a father.
Fubara denied having rift with the Rivers State House of Assembly, stating that his meeting with the lawmakers was stalled as a result of delay in the agreed meeting to be convened by former Governor Nyesom Wike and other stakeholders for him to meet with the state lawmakers.
“I have made every effort to meet with the Assembly members, but it is not within my leadership to initiate the meeting process.
“The arrangement was for my leader, Wike, and the elders led by Anabraba to call for a meeting with the the lawmakers.
“I’m a gentleman and principled. I can’t go behind to call them when we’ve already agreed. Whoever that tell them that I don’t want to meet with them, or I rejected proposal meant for them isn’t saying the truth,” Fubara said.
The Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry Works, Mr Austin Ezekiel-Hart, who gave the project description, said the delivery of the project was a fulfillment of long time dream by the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas.
He said the road was previously a single lane and has now been dualised to 14.6 meters wide, complete with solar-powered streetlights with drainages.
He said the road significantly would reduce travel time between Ahoada and Omoku while improving economic activity in the region.
In his welcome address, Chairman of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area, Hon. Chuku Shedrack Ogbogu, described the road as a symbol of unity, oneness, and development, thanking the governor for fulfilling his campaign promises.
On his part, the Managing Director of Julius Berger, Engr. Peer Lusbash, said the project was awarded to his company in 2023 with a completion period of 18 months which was achieved in best quality.
He added that Julius Berger enjoyed a good support from the Fubara administration, and assured to complete all ongoing projects being handled by Julius Berger on specification, especially the Ring Road project which is a legacy project.
Rivers State, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, has reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring good healthcare for the people of Rivers State.
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?Governor Fubara stated this when he played host to the Country Director of UNICEF, Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef and her management team in Port Harcourt, last Tuesday.
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?The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba, said he would continue to provide the necessary facilities in order to ensure accessible and good health care for all Rivers people.
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?”We are constructing new zonal hospitals across the State. The Ahoada Zonal hospital will be commissioned in December and others are near completion.
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?”We are grateful to UNICEF for all they have done and believe we can always work together to care for the vulnerable in the society. We appreciate your physical presence, and believe that your staff working remotely, can also do more virtually. We have a capable Commissioner of Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, to help foster our relationship, communication and greater collaboration,” he said.
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?The Country Director for UNICEF Nigeria, Ms. Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef, assured Governor Fubara of UNICEF’s support to the programmes of the State Government. She appealed that health facilities such as the Oxygen Plant at Eleme Local Government Ares and the New Born Care Units be solarized.
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?”Be assured that UNICEF will continue to work and support the programmes here in Rivers State. We have seen the Oxygen Plant at Eleme LGA which has been effective because of the Public Private Partnership. We appeal that the plant be solarized.
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?”I commend your leadership of the State and assure that we are here to support your effort and assure you that you can count on our support and partnership. Rivers State is one of the states we can showcase how things are working so others can learn,” she added.
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