Business
Contract Scam: EFCC Closes Case Against UNEC Officials
The EFCC on Wednesday at the Federal High Court, Abuja,
closed its case against UBEC officials and contractors for an alleged N787
million contract award.
Mr Wahab Shittu, counsel to EFCC, closed the case for the
prosecution after Mr Usman Tahir, a prosecution witness, concluded his
evidence.
During cross examination, Tahir, a police investigator
attached to the EFCC, said that the minutes of the 5th Board Meeting which
approved the contract was fabricated.
The witness had told the court on May 15 that the contract
awarded by UBEC to an American company “was against the rules’’.
The prosecution witness further explained that the contract
was discussed at the 5th Governing Board Meeting of the Universal Basic
Education Commission (UBEC) based on misrepresentation.
Our correspondent reports that the anti-graft body is
prosecuting four UBEC directors, an American contractor, Inter-market USA LLC and
Inter-market Nigeria.
The accused persons are Molkat Mutfwang, Michael Aule,
Andrew Ekpunobi, Alexander Cozma and Prof. Bridget Sokan,
They were said to have deceived UBEC into awarding the
contract to Inter-market, USA LLC and Alex Cozma and N636 million was paid.
Earlier in the trial. Justice Abdul Kafarati had held that
the EFCC had established a case against the accused persons.
The judge adjourned the case to June 27.
Business
Kenyan Runners Dominate Berlin Marathons
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.
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