Connect with us

News

CBN Scam: Court Reserves Ruling For June 15

Published

on

The Federal High Court in Ibadan yesterday reserved ruling till June 15 on bail application for 10 bank officials involved in the N8 billion CBN currency scam.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on June 2 arraigned six CBN staff, two employees of Sterling Bank and an official of Ecobank.
The bank officials are facing trial in three separate cases of abuse of office, fraudulently enriching themselves, having assets in excess of their income and presenting a false report.
According to the charge, the CBN officials on Aug. 5, 2014, failed to destroy mutilated currency to the tune of N10 million which was returned into circulation thereby causing economic adversity to the country.
At the resumed hearing of the case, Justice Ayo Emmanuel, who had listened to arguments of counsel for the prosecution and defence, reserved ruling till June 15 in the three separate cases.
The EFCC counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), had opposed the applications for bail on the grounds that if granted the accused could evade trial and thereby delay proceedings.
He said that going by the mood of the nation, cases of corruption should be expedited and pursued to logical conclusion.
The prosecution also said that if granted bail the lives of witnesses to be called in the case could be at risk.
“The witnesses should be protected as the bank of one of the suspects had to transfer some witnesses to other branches to avoid threats from him,” Jacobs said.
However, Olalekan Ojo, representing two of the accused, argued that the alleged offences committed by his clients were bail able.
The CBN officials being prosecuted are Patience Okoro Eye, Olufemi Johnson, Ilori Adekunle, Kolawole Babalola, Olaniran Adeola, Fatai Yusuf and Togun Kayode Phillips.
The Sterling Bank officials are Salami Ibrahim and Oddiah Emmanuel while Tope Akintade is of Ecobank
The offences committed, the EFCC said, contravened Sections 1(2) (b) and 10 (1) of the Recovery of Public Property (Special Provision) Act Cap R4, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
It said that the offences also contravened Section 7(2) of the Bank Employees etc Declaration of Assets Act Cap B1, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The accused persons all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Continue Reading

News

Why Wike Is Playing God In Rivers -Asari Dokubo

Published

on

A former Niger Delta militant, Asari Dokubo, has claimed that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is “playing god” in the current political crisis that has pitched him against the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
Dokubo also chided President Bola Tinubu for, according to him, handing over “Rivers and Bayelsa” to the ex-governor.
“He is now playing god. It is dead on arrival, all those things that he is doing,” Dokubo said in a video that surfaced on X.com on Monday.
He added, “I advise my friend, President Bola Tinubu; what you are doing to all Ijaw, Ikwerre people in Rivers State (sic). You took Rivers state and gave it one man”
In April, Fubara revealed that the administration has raised the monthly Internally Generated Revenue of the state from N12 billion which he met upon assumption of office to N27 billion.
Dokubo described the development as commendable while alleging that the governor only had access to N6 billion when he assumed office.
“The governor had come out to say that the IGR for Rivers State is now N27bn up from N12bn. The governor is even being economical with the truth. When the governor came in, they were giving him a paltry sum of N6bn,” he said.
Meanwhile, in another twist to the ongoing crisis, Fubara on Monday said that he would set up a panel of inquiry to look into the affairs of governance in the state.
He disclosed this during the swearing-in and administration of the oath of office on Dagogo Iboroma, SAN, as the Attorney General of the state and Commissioner for Justice.
The governor criticized recent comments by the former Attorney-General of the State and Justice Commissioner, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor, SAN, who resigned from his cabinet over a fortnight ago and urged the new Attorney-General to defend the state.
He stated, “It is not the one that while you were here… the only thing you do is to sabotage the government.
“Instead of you to close your mouth, you publicly claim that you’re a learned person to tell people that you’re the Chief Law Officer. Chief Law Officer, you were here and went to stand before a Magistrate Court.
“At that time you didn’t remember that you’re a Chief Law Officer going against the ethics of your job.”

Continue Reading

News

Investors, Tourists To Get Visa Within 48 Hours, FG Assures

Published

on

The Federal Executive Council chaired by President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a tripartite committee to streamline visa processes and acquisition for investors interested in investing in Nigeria.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, revealed this, yesterday, after the FEC meeting held at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
“Our visa processes are becoming cumbersome. The ease of doing business is also tied to our visa processes.
“Going forward, those investors, tourists would find it easy to acquire a visa within the next 48 hours,” Idris said.
The meeting which began on Monday was adjourned till Tuesday to allow for other “far-reaching” decisions, the information minister had told journalists.

Continue Reading

News

Panel To Probe Governance In Rivers Underway -Fubara …Swears In Iboroma As New Attorney-General

Published

on

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared his readiness to set up a panel of inquiry to look into the affairs of governance in the state.
Fubara disclosed this during the swearing-in and administration of the oath of office on Dagogo Iboroma, SAN, as the new Attorney General of the state and Commissioner for Justice.
The governor criticised recent comments by the former Attorney-General of the State and Justice Commissioner, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor, SAN, who resigned from his cabinet over a fortnight ago and urged the new Attorney-General to defend the state.
Fubara stated, “It is not the one that while you were here… the only thing you do is to sabotage the government.
“Instead of you to close your mouth, you publicly claim that you’re a learned person to tell people that you’re the Chief Law Officer. Chief Law Officer, you were here and went to stand before a Magistrate Court.
“At that time you didn’t remember that you’re a Chief Law Officer going against the ethics of your job.”
Addressing the new AG, the governor said, “You have a big task. As it is today in the local parlance, they say the jungle has matured. We will be setting a panel of inquiry to investigate the affair of governance.”
The governor further said there was a deliberate attempt to sabotage his administration, saying, “If we disagree, no matter how bad it is, it should be resolved.
“But it has become very clear that this disagreement there is no headway to it, and for many reasons, there is very visible evidence that there is sabotage, a deliberate attempt to sabotage this administration.
“Maybe where they are they are telling them nothing will happen, it is happening here live, we have our own legislators that are performing their duties according to the Constitution. So that record is threatened.”

Continue Reading

Trending