BIG THIEF !!! How we recovered N2.4b, $115,000 from ex- NAF chief – EFCC

The Federal High Court in Lagos heard on Wednesday how the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recovered N2.4 billion and $115,000 from former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu.

An EFCC investigation officer, Tosin Owobo, told Justice Mohammed Idris that Amosu returned the N2.4b via bank drafts at the agency’s Lagos and Abuja offices.

Owobo said his team also recovered $115,000 in one of Amosu’s residences.

Amosu is standing trial alongside former NAF Chief of Accounts and Budgeting, Air Vice Marshal Jacob Adigun and a former Director of Finance and Budget, Air Commodore Olugbenga Gbadebo.

They were accused of diverting about N21 billion belonging to NAF.

They pleaded not guilty to the charges.

An initial plea bargain talks with EFCC broke down after the defendants reportedly refunded some money to the Federal Government.

At the resumption of proceedings on Tuesday, the prosecution counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, led Owobo in evidence.

When Oyedepo enquired whether the EFCC had recovered anything from the N21 billion allegedly stolen by the defendants, Owobo answered in the affirmative.

He told the court that money, cars and landed property were seized from the defendants.

Owobo said: About N100million was recovered from the third defendant Air Commodore Gbadebo. Funds were also left over in St Solomon’s UBA account, recovered through the first defendant’s wife.

“About N383 million was recovered through the first defendant’s wife. The first defendant (Amosu) also refunded two bank drafts of N2.4 billion to our Lagos and Abuja offices. We recovered $115,000 in one of the first defendant’s residences.”

Owobo listed the recovered vehicles to include a bulletproof Lexus LX 570, a bulletproof Landcruiser Sports Utility Vehicle and a Toyota Avalon.

He added: “Various landed property and buildings were recovered from the second defendant.”

The case continues on April 18. - The Nation

40 NGOs want $20bn Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project cancelled

Forty non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have signed a declaration calling for the cancellation of the proposed $20 billion Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project.

The NGOs made up of national and international groups want the project cancelled in the “interest of the people and the planet”.

Some of organisations are Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Nigeria; Peoples Advancement Centre, Nigeria; Association for the Taxation of financial Transactions and Aid to Citizens (ATTAC), Morocco; Justica Ambiental, Mozambique; OilWatch and Friends of the Earth.

The project was first announced in November 2016 following a meeting between Mohammed VI, King of Morocco and President Muhammad Buhari on the sidelines of the UN Climate Summit COP22 in Marrakech, Morocco.

Both countries subsequently signed a joint venture agreement during the Moroccan monarch’s visit to Abuja the following month.

In a statement released in Calabar, Cross River state, the NGOs said the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline which is tagged “The Wonder of Africa” should instead be called “The Wounding of Africa.”

According to them, though the project “aims to serve 12 countries on the African continent and some 300 million potential consumers, with a possible extension to Europe,” it will eventually be a financial “deathtrap” as it will cost far more than the projected $20 billion.

They also said the pipeline construction, a continuation of the West African Gas pipeline (WAGP), would have adverse effects on the environment if it pulls through.

“In December 2016, an announcement was made of a nearly 5,000 km Nigeria-Morocco offshore gas pipeline which at today’s prices will cost an estimated $20 billion. In reality, the actual cost will likely be much higher,” the statement read.

“While the acceleration of global warming exceeds all expectations and greenhouse gas emissions have set a new record in 2016, the construction of this pipeline can only go in the direction of an increase of extraction and consumption of fossil resources, the main causes of global warming.”

In 2002, a similar agreement between Nigeria and Algeria, the Trans-Saharan Gas Project (TSGP) was proposed- but it did not see the light of day.

The proposed gas pipeline worth $30 billion, was to pass through a 4,300 km route through the Sahel, to Niger and Algeria all the way to Europe- to meet increasing gas demands by the European Union. - Cable Nigeria

My wife aborted pregnancy without my consent - 58-year-old Man

A driver, Kasali Raji, has urged an Agege Customary Court to dissolve his 24-year-marriage with his wife, Toyin, over alleged lack of love and unfaithfulness.

‎Raji told the court that he was tired of his wife’s attitude to family matters.

The petitioner said that he had to move out of his matrimonial home in 2017 because he no longer loved his wife.

“I stopped having sexual intercourse with my wife over seven years ago.

“I have not been living with my wife for the past 15 months now,” he told the court.

Raji said that his wife refused to have another child after the birth of their only son, who is now 22 years old.

“There was a time my wife got pregnant but aborted it without my consent; when l challenged her, she told me not to disturb her.

“I prayed the court to dissolve this marriage in the interest of peace,’’ he said.

The respondent, Toyin, 47, denied the allegations, saying that she was not ready for the divorce.

Toyin told the court that she was still in love with her husband.

She, however, said her husband was an inconsiderate person, who wanted her to carry another pregnancy nine months after she gave birth to her first child.

“After I gave birth to our only son, nine months later, my husband forcefully had sex with me in spite of my health condition.

“When I discovered l was pregnant, I had to abort it because of my health and our economic situation at that time.

“We couldn’t afford to take good care of our child or even feed ourselves,’’ she said.

The respondent also alleged that for the past one year her husband had stopped eating at home.

“He later stopped coming home and only sends money to his son whenever there is a need for it,’’ she said.

The court President, Mrs. Ibironke Elabor, said that since the respondent was still in love with her husband, the court would give both parties an opportunity for reconciliation.

The case was adjourned until April 23 for alternative dispute resolution.

Teenage housemaid remanded in Kirikiri for allegedly smashing wine bottle on boss’ head

An Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Lagos on Monday ordered that a housemaid, Susan Samson be remanded at Kirikiri Prison for allegedly attempting to kill her boss.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs A.O. Adegite, ordered that 19-year-old Susan should remain in custody until she perfected her N500,000 bail with two responsible and gainfully employed sureties in like sum.

One of the sureties must be a senior civil servant above Grade Level 14 who must also own a landed property within the court’s jurisdiction.

In addition, each of the two sureties must deposit N100,000 into the account of the Chief Registrar of the court.

The Prosecutor, Insp. Cousin Adam, told the court that the accused on March 5 in Ejigbo attempted to murder her employer, Mistura Ogundipe, 58, by repeatedly smashing a big bottle of Fidossi Spumante wine on her head.

Adam said that the accused had also stolen assorted beverages and wines valued at N200,000, belonging to her employer.

The offences, according to the prosecutor, contravened Sections 230, 245 and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The accused however pleaded not guilty.

Magistrate Adegite said that the case file should be duplicated and forwarded to the State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP’s) for advice.

The case was adjourned until April 30 pending legal advice. - Daily Post

Transfer news : Arsenal and Man United boosted in hunt for Italian international

Arsenal and Manchester United target Andrea Belotti is set to have his asking price lowered by Torino after a rather disappointing season in Serie A.

Belotti currently has a release clause of £88 million, but after just nine goals in 25 appearances this season, Torino are ready to lower their asking price for the 24-year-old, according to Tuttosport, as per a report from talkSPORT.

Arsenal were keeping tabs on the striker last summer and are said to be back in the frame, along with United and multiple teams from Germany and Spain.

It is surprising that Arsenal are still in the hunt for Belotti after signing Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang this season, and despite neither being in the best form, they are both undoubtedly two high-quality strikers.

Arsenal’s signings may all depend on whether Arsene Wenger is still at the club next season, as speculation continues to mount surrounding whether or not he will see out his contract.

Wenger, though, will want to keep his cards close to his chest until the end of the season as he focuses on saving Arsenal’s dismal season by winning the Europa League. - Read Sport

PL news : Zola hoping that Conte remains at Chelsea

Gianfranco Zola says Chelsea need to sort out their problems regarding Antonio Conte’s future at the club. The former Blues star believes that the Italian is still the man to take the club forward and lead them to greater things.

Conte has had to deal with reports and rumours for many months now regarding an imminent exit from Stamford Bridge after a highly disappointing title defence.

Despite the poor season, Zola thinks that Conte should be allowed to see out the remainder of his contract, which is due to expire in 2019.

Talking to talkSPORT, Zola said:

“I really hope not, because I think he is an asset for the club. At the moment there are certainly some problems. If the club and manager want to continue, and I think that will be good for the club, they should sort [the problems] out because the competition out there is so incredible.”

Chelsea have endured eight defeats in the Premier League this season, including losses to Burnley, Crystal Palace, West Ham. They have also taken heavy defeats at Watford and at home to Bournemouth in successive games.

The Blues have also been eliminated from the Champions League and are currently five points adrift of Tottenham in the final Champions League place.

Conte has been heavily linked with vacating the managerial position for former Barcelona boss Luis Enrique, who is currently without a club.

The ex-Juventus boss will undoubtedly be looking to remain in charge next season so will be pushing his team on to achieve a strong finish to the season, with a semi-final against Southampton in the FA Cup surely in Conte’s mind. - Read Sport

2015 : ‘INEC suspends 205 staff over roles in elections’

The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has suspended 205 staff over various unwholesome roles in the 2015 general elections.

INEC’s Chairman, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, disclosed this in his keynote address at national colloquium organised by the Independent Service Delivery Monitoring Group ( ISDMG ) on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said that the interdiction, recommended by INEC’s Appointments, Promotion and Discipline Committee ( APDC ), was the highest so far.

Mahmud said that constructive criticisms from the public had helped the commission to get better in delivering its mandate vis-a-vis conducting credible elections.

He said that commission’s electoral officers were already in the field working towards the success of the 2019 elections.

“We have to put the right people in place as electoral officers and assistant electoral officers for the 2019 general elections.

“The credibility of an election depends on the credibility of the election manager; the credulity of the election manger depends on the credibility of the staff.

“The APDC recommended the interdiction of 205 staff found culpable in various roles they played arising from the 2015 general elections—this is the highest number of interdictions since the history of the commission.

“We have within the some of the most patriotic staff in the country; but anybody found wanting will be dealt with accordingly.’’

He said that the introduction of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) had increased voter registration.

The INEC boss listed the top states in CVR as Rivers, Anambra, Borno, Delta, Lagos, Cross-River, Osun, Enugu, Kano and Plateau.

Mahmud said that the commission had conducted elections in 179 constituencies so far, adding that of only five had been challenged in court which attested to the credibility of the elections.

He said that at present, INEC had received over 100 additional applications for new political parties, while nine had met the criteria.

“We may end up having up to 80 political parties for the 2019 general elections,’’ he said.

The INEC chairman gave an assurance that the 2019 elections would be better than that of 2015.

Earlier in his speech, Dr Chima Amadi, the Executive Director, ISDMG, said that INEC had been the most responsive of all government agencies involved in the election value chain.

He said that INEC had been taking advice and constructive criticisms and adjusting its activities to reflect same while such could not be said about others within the chain.

“The security agencies continue to behave true to type and are even getting worse, while political gladiators horn their manipulative stock-in-trade.

“However, we are resolved to take them to task with the same resilience that we used in getting INEC to act properly.

“For the 2019 elections, the ISDMG will be deploying cutting edge technology to the field to ensure that history is properly documented,’’ he said.

The highlight of the event was the unveiling of a book/report titled: “INEC Beyond 2015, Overview, Challenges and Prospects.’’

The report was written by Amadi, Faith Nwadishi, MacDonald Ekemezie, Abdul Mahmud, James Ugochukwu and Atambi Ade.