YAHOO JUDICIARY !! EFCC reacts to orders stopping probe of Saraki, Okorocha, moves against judge

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has kicked against court orders stopping it from probing Sena

The EFCC, in a letter to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, accused Justice Taiwo Taiwo, who made the orders, of bias.

In the letter by EFCC’s Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, the commission requested the transfer of the cases from Justice Taiwo

Magu also prayed the Federal High Court Chief Judge to also transfer all cases involving the EFCC from Justice Taiwo’s court.

His letter reads: “Your lordship, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is the 4th defendant in the respective cases stated above which are pending before Honourable Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo of your lordship’s court.

“The commission respectfully requests your lordship to re-assign the above-stated cases and all other cases pending before Honourable Justice O. Taiwo in which it is involved to other judges of your lordship’s court.

“This application has become very necessary because of the commission’s lack of confidence in his lordship’s impartiality to dispense justice in any matter concerning it.

“Particularly more worrisome is that the said orders were made ex parte contrary to the acclaimed judicial depreciation of abuse of ex parte orders by court’s and Rule 3.5 of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which states: ‘A judicial officer must avoid the power of issue interim injunctions ex parte.”

He said the EFCC was conducting investigation on “allegations of corrupt practices by the Senate President, Olubukola Saraki, whilst as the Executive Governor of Kwara State and also as the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“It is also investigating Owelle Rochas Okorocha, the outgoing Executive Governor of Imo State for the same allegations of corrupt practices as the Executive Governor of the state.”

Magu recalled that Justice Taiwo had in the past “demonstrated obvious bias against the commission” in a matter involving former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose.

“On June 24, 2016 the EFCC applied and secured an interim freezing order from the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division wherein his Lordship, Hon. Justice M.B. ldris ordered the Manager of Zenith Bank Plc to freeze bank accounts numbers 1003126654 and 9013074033 among others operated by Mr Ayodele Foyose pending the investigation and possible prosecution of the criminal case involving the accounts.

“Your Lordship, Mr. Ayodele Foyose subsequently instituted another suit in suit number. FHC/AD/15/2016 at the Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti Judicial Division praying the court for an order directing the EFCC and Zenith Bank Plc to wheeze and make operational the said accounts.

“Shockingly, His Lordship. Honourable Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo, despite being aware of the pendency of the mower before Honourable Justice M .B ldris and his said order which were duly brought to his notice, proceeded to set it aside, thereby sitting as an appellate court over the decision of a court of coordinate jurisdiction.

“It was, however, not surprising that the Court of Appeal, on appeal, held that Honourable Justice Toiwo O. Taiwo ought not to have done what he did.

“The judgment of the Court of Appeal in the appeal no. CA/EK/8C12017. EFCC V MR. AYODELE FAYOSE is attached 03 Annexure E.

“Furthermore, when the commission was conducting investigation on acts of corruption allegedly perpetrated by some officials of the Ekiti State Government. the Attorney General of the State filed suit no. FHC/AD/CS/32/2016 against it and other persons.

“His Lordship, Honourable Justice Toiwo O. Taiwo, on January 30, 2018 in his judgment in the said case no. FHC/AD/CS/32/2016 granted wholesale all the eight reliefs sought by the plaintiff in the suit which included perpetual injunctions restraining Ekiti State officials , Ekiti State House of Assembly and banks in which the accounts of the Ekiti State Government were maintained from disclosing or making available to it any document, financial statement or information relating to the public funds and accounts of Ekiti State.

“This undoubtedly frustrated its investigation. A copy of the said judgment is attached as Annexure F.

“Though the commission is not by any means positing that His Lordship, Honourable Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo should always decide cases in its favour, even when it does not deserve it. the trend of His Lordship shows unbridled bias against it which has made it difficult for it to believe in His Lordship’s impartiality.”

- DAILY POST

Court orders EFCC to seize 6 houses, 3 filling stations belonging to suspected Kaduna oil thieves

Justice M.T.M Aliyu of Kaduna State High Court, sitting in Kaduna has ordered a temporary forfeiture of six houses and three filling stations, believed to be proceeds of economic sabotage, forgery and theft of petroleum products to the federal government.

The judge gave the order while ruling on a ex-parte motion brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC against some suspected Kaduna-based oil fraudsters.

The EFCC alleged that the affected properties were proceeds of crime by some independent oil marketers and oil depot representatives, who conspired with some staffs of the PPMC/NNPC Kaduna Depot to illegally lift petroleum products.

The affected oil marketers and oil depot representatives are: Abdulkadir Mohammed Salihu, Nurudeen Abdullahi Musa, Husseini Ahmed Abdulkarim, Ahmed Adamu, Yusuf Olaide Rauf, Ahmed Sa’ad Yerima, Agbo Otache and Bala Ibrahim.

It was further discovered that Salihu, who is a sales assistant in the Kaduna Depot and Musa, an employee of Softech Computers Limited, the consultants engaged to develop and maintain a billing software for the PPMC/NNPC conspired with other suspects and lifted petroleum products worth N6, 843, 200,519. 69, using different companies and diverted the proceeds to their personal use.

The forfeited properties are: a storey building and its appurtenances, situated at No.2 Kpak Crescent, Kurmin Mashi, Kaduna; a building referred to as Eight Block “CC”TPO, 639A; National Eye Centre, Kaduna, situated on No.5 Layin Sarki Street, Mahuta  Kaduna; a building on No.5 Rano Road, Kinkinau, Kakuri, Kaduna and twin flats on Zulaihatu Daura Close, Rigachikun, Kaduna.

- PM NEWS

EFCC docks man for N7.6m fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Kano Zonal Office has arraigned one Jamilu Sule before Justice Dije Abdu Aboki of the Kano State High Court on a four-count charge of obtaining by false pretence.

The defendant was alleged to have collected food items from a number of complainants worth N7,677,000 on credit on the guise that he would supply them to supermarkets, while he would pay in seven days time.

Investigations revealed that the defendant was in the habit of collecting goods in the name of supplying them to supermarkets but would divert the goods to his personal use.

One of the charges reads: “That you Jamilu Sule between July to August 2018 at Singer Market Kano, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud, deceitfully obtained some provisions and food items worth N7,677,000 (Seven Million, Six Hundred and Seventy-seven Thousand Naira) only  being properties of Mohammed Shariff Ahmad, Ibrahim Dauda Abdullahi and Tajuddeen Abdulrahaman, committing cheating in respect of the said goods and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 320 of the Penal Code Law and punishable under Section 322 of the same Law.”

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.

In view of his not guilty plea, prosecution counsel Micheal Ojo asked the court for a trial date and prayed that the defendant be remanded in prison custody.

The defence counsel, Mohammed Ali rather applied to withdraw the bail application he had earlier filed before the court on behalf of the defendant.

Justice Aboki granted the prayer of the defence counsel and ordered the defendant to be remanded in prison custody. He adjourned the matter to July 21, 2019 for trial.

- PM NEWS

ANOTHER 4 YEARS OF KILLING !! Bandits kill over 26 people in Katsina

Bandits have killed more than 26 people in an attack on three communities in Dan Musa, Faskari and Batsari local government areas of Katsina State.

Sources in the area revealed that bandits riding motorcycles carried out the attacks on Tuesday, Channels TV reports.

According to them, 11 persons were reportedly killed in an attack on Sabon Layin Galadima community of Faskari LGA, while five persons were killed at Mara Zamfarawa village in Dan Musa LGA with many animals rustled.

Similarly, locals told Channels TV that bandits attacked farmers on their farmlands in the afternoon in Yar Gamji village of Batsari LGA, killing 18 people with 10 others missing.

Spokesman of the Katsina Police Command, SP Gambo Isah, said those killed in Faskari were members of a vigilante group.

He said, “On the Faskari incident, a group of Yansakai (vigilantes) from Sabon Layi village, went into the forest and confronted the bandits since yesterday and did not report back. Two corpses were recovered and buried by the villagers yesterday”.

“A search party led by the DPO in Faskari recovered three other bodies inside the forest. A bandits’ camp was also discovered abandoned by the bandits. Investigation is ongoing.”

In respect of the attacks in Dan Musa and Batsari LGAs, Isah said the police were trying to get further information.

“We are trying to get the reports,” he said.

He added, “Members the community should appreciate our efforts and partner with us rather than attacking us. We are there doing all we could do to protect them including paying the supreme sacrifice. We should be appreciated for that rather than insults and attacks against us”.

Protests
Residents of Batsari, angered by the killings, embarked on a protest to the state capital today with some of them setting tyres on fire.

The residents stormed the state capital with bodies of some of the victims piled up in vehicles.

As part of the protest, they displayed the bodies to the Emir of Katsina, Abdulmumini Kabir Usman, and Governor Aminu Bello Masari, who assured them that the government will do all it can to end the killings.

- PM NEWS

YAHOO ASSOCIATE !! N400m Dasukigate: Metuh’s counsel frustrating trial – Judge

Justice Okon Abang of Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, has expressed displeasure as to the various means being employed by the defence team of the former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, in the ongoing N400 million alleged fraud by the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA.

Abang observed the various adjournments at the instance of the 1st defendant as an attempt to prolong, frustrate and scuttle the matter entirely; especially since defence team handed over the matter to A.C Oziakor.

The judge added that the major reason for employing Oziakor’s services was to frustrate the trial.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is prosecuting Metuh before Justice Abang for allegedly receiving N400 million from ONSA in 2014, to run advocacy campaign for former President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of the 2015 general elections.

The trial of Metuh was stalled Wednesday, April 10, 2019, due to absence of counsel to the 1st defendant, A.O Onsiowu.

At the resumed sitting on Monday, the prosecution counsel, S. Tahir told the court that the prosecution is ready for the continuation of the trial, adding that the 15th defence witness, who is also the 1st defendant in the matter, is in the dock for cross examination. While Counsel to the 2nd defendant, Tochukwu Onwugbufor, SAN, also informed the court of their readiness to proceed.

But Metuh’s counsel, Oziakor, who was absent in court sent a letter to the court which was served to all parties involved, seeking another adjournment because he has another matter at the State High Court Adamawa, Yola State.

He attached a copy of his flight ticket to Yola to the letter. It will be recalled that the case had witnessed four different adjournments which has always been granted.

However, the prosecution counsel, opposed the application, adding that the trial has suffered enough adjournment.

- PM NEWS

Killings fast becoming a way of life in Rivers, says senator

Andrew Uchendu, senator representing Rivers east, says killings are becoming “a way of life” in Rivers state

Uchendu spoke on the floor of the senate on Tuesday when he raised a matter of public importance.

The lawmaker said the residents go to bed believing that they are secure but people “come from nowhere” and attack them.

“It is sad for me to inform the senate of the very disturbing and deteriorating situation in Rivers state concerning the killing of innocent citizens by unknown gunmen,” he said.

“This is not the case of political killings, banditry or ethical violence. What is most disturbing is that across the length and breadth of the state, villagers and innocent citizens sleep killed in their homes at night believing that they are secure and some people will come from nowhere and invade villages.

“The most disturbing aspect of the killings is that they are not just shooting people to death or decapitating people or beheading them but they are now getting them burnt. It is unbelievable and unimaginable.

“When the inspector-general of police was here to brief us, I told him that what is going on in Rivers state is like a way of life.”

Thereafter, Senate President Bukola Saraki said a “formal motion” be brought on the next legislative day so that the matter could be looked into.

- THECABLE

2019 elections worst ever in Nigeria’s history – COCIN

Barely two months after the general elections, the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) on Tuesday described the polls as the worst ever general election in the history of the country.

COCIN equally prayed that those seeking justice will find it at the tribunals.

This was disclosed by the COCIN President, Rev. Dachollom Datiri, at the opening of the Church’s 96th General Church Council, ongoing at its headquarters in Jos, the Plateau State capital.

Datiri said, “The elections have come and gone, proving wrong apprehensions of Nigerians of potentially violent polls.

“The elections were generally peaceful, but with the drafting of the armed forces including the Nigeria army to the polling units, and the number of petitions already at the tribunals reaching 736, (as The Punch, April 5, 2019), these were the worse elections ever in the history of Nigeria.

“Let us pray that justice will be done at the tribunals”, he stressed.

On the attacks ongoing in communities in Zamfara State and Southern Kaduna, the Church said, “government must take responsibility and take action because human life is too precious to be wasted casually.

“We call on the Government of Plateau State to see to the establishment of the mobile barracks in Gashish that seem to have been forgotten.

“Gashish district of Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State is one of the worse hit when over 200 persons were attacked and killed thousands displaced last June.

“Internally Displaced Persons are hardly mentioned in our media anymore. Does that mean they no longer exist? I believe the answer is no!

“The truth is that they have been left to fend for themselves. Some have struggled to find themselves places of abode, while others have found their way into houses of relations and are squatting there.

“May I remind government that it is their constitutional responsibility to provide accommodation and relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs),” he maintained.

Speaking on government’s fight against corruption, Datiri said, “Many Nigerians are left feeling disenfranchised and disappointed that the fight against corruption promised them four years ago have not been fulfilled.

“The whole thing seems like a mirage or at best a lopsided fight targeted at the opposition.

“Government needs to demonstrate more clearly, sincerity of purpose and impartiality here,” he admonished.

On the case of Leah Sharibu and other abducted girls who are still in the custody of Boko Haram insurgents, the COCIN President said, ” Leah Sharibu is now 16 years old and has been in captivity in the hands of Boko Haram because of her faith in Christ for more than a year now.

“In a civilised society, the country would have come to standstill in the first few hours of her abduction, until she was found.”

Earlier in his goodwill message, the General Secretary of Tarrayar Ecclisiyar Kristi A Nigeriya (TEKAN), a conglomerate of 15 churches, Rev. Moses Ebuga, decried the spate of ongoing kidnappings in the country, adding that what used to be heard from afar before is now” at our doorsteps”

Ebuga said, “Close to us here is the case of CRCN Legal Adviser, Barr. L.O. Yabura, who was kidnapped on his way to Takum to attend a court case.

“So far, in the hands of kidnappers are eight other CRCN members; all yet to released.”

- DAILY POST

Reps pass bill to ban plastic bags, prescribe 3-year jail term for sale

The house of representatives on Tuesday passed a bill banning plastic bags in the country.

The lawmakers said the bill is to among other things address waste management and protect the environment.

The Plastic bag prohibition bill provides for: “An act to prohibit the use, manufacture and importation of all plastic bags used for commercial and household packaging in order to address harmful impacts to oceans, rivers, lakes, forests, environment as well as human beings and also to relieve pressure on landfills and waste management and for other related matters.”

The bill states that a retailer shall offer a paper bag to the customer at the point of sale.

It describes as an offence: failure to provide customers with paper bags, manufacturing plastic bags for the purpose of selling, and importing plastic bags “whether as a carryout bag or for sale”.

According to the bill, any person found guilty of the offences shall be liable upon conviction to a fine not exceeding N500,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to both such fine and imprisonment.

It also prescribes a fine of N5 million to companies guilty of the offences.

- THECABLE

Adewole: States have abandoned healthcare

Isaac Adewole, minister of health, has accused states of “literally” abandoning healthcare.

Briefing senators on the “poor quality” of teaching hospitals in the country, Adewole said the federal government has set a fund accessible to states in order to boost primary healthcare but 14 of them have not indicated interest.

The minister had been summoned by the lawmakers to tell them the efforts of the government in improving teaching hospitals.

“The states have literally abandoned healthcare such that everything is handled by the federal government. We cannot succeed with this,” he said.

“What we have through your support and I must commend you for approving the healthcare basic fund, it is a game changer. We have spent almost a year developing the guideline and over the last weeks, we have started a roll-out and as at the last count, 22 states have registered for the basic healthcare provision fund.

“What we have done with the fund is to structure it in a way that money will flow from central bank to the primary healthcare facilities bypassing all obstacles. Last week, we succeeded in moving out funds from central bank to the agencies and from the agencies, it will go to the primary healthcare.

“As of today, 14 states are yet to show interest in the basic health care provision fund and because senators represent the entire country, I want to quickly seek your permission to list the 14 states that are yet to register – Kebbi, Jigawa, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Gombe, Rivers, Borno, Zamfara, Ondo, Benue, Taraba, Nasarawa, Ogun and Sokoto.

“It is unfortunate because this is a game changer. There will be free ante-natal care, free delivery, take care of malaria, screen for tuberculosis, hypertension and diabetes.”

The minister said power supply is still a challenge in most of the tertiary institutions. He added that: “Some of the hospitals have water challenges.”

- THECABLE

Mourinho hints that Ronaldo has asked him to replace Allegri as Juventus manager

Jose Mourinho has revealed that a former player, has asked him to join his club, sparking suggestions he could have been speaking to Cristiano Ronaldo about becoming the Juventus manager, SportsMail reports.

There were reports on Monday that Ronaldo had asked Mourinho whom he worked with for three years at Real Madrid, to move to the Allianz Stadium this summer. 

And after Max Allegri was dismissed from his job, the Portuguese boss revealed a former player of his had been trying to convince him to join a club.

Speaking to BeIN Sports, Mourinho said: “One of the players that I have a great relationship with, he plays for a team and he told me, “You should come here next season” and I told him, “They don’t love me”.

“He told me, “You win three matches and they will start loving you”.

“This is just… we are professionals and we have respect for each other, even when we have bad reactions on the pitch, in the press conference, a player be more aggressive with another one.

“It’s people from the same industry and in the end, people respect each other.”

- DAILY POST

Aworis are real owners of Lagos, others are settlers – Oba Agbabiaka

In response to the controversy about the legitimate owners of Lagos, the Osolo of Isolo, His Royal Majesty, Oba Kabiru Agbabiaka has claimed that the Aworis are the real owners of Lagos and that other settlers are mere citizens.

Speaking exclusively with DAILY POST, the monarch disclosed that the Aworis are historically the first settlers, claiming that selfish interests and thirst for power were the basis for the recent challenge of ownership the Aworis are facing.

“Aworis are the first inhabitants of the State, Lagos is ours. Aworis are the real indigenes of Lagos State, other tribes are mere citizens and being a citizen doesn’t make you an indigene. They are two different concepts. History can’t be changed. The white men who came to Lagos then, failed to realise that there were thousands of Aworis in the bush before they made it a settlement and that’s due to their itching desire to make immediate exploitation of resources. The Benins met the Aworis in Lagos, historical fact is there to back this up. Other tribes who are laying claim to indigeneship of Lagos are doing so because of their selfish interests and desires for political clout.

“Aworis are more concerned about the progress of this state and that’s why we are in support of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Whatever he says and does, we believe in him. He has been tested and he is trusted,” he explained.

Oba Agbabiaka also declared that there is no place for ethnocentric attitude or tribalism in his domain, saying he has ensured peaceful coexistence among different tribes living in Isolo.

The Monarch said he has established mutual understanding among the tribes and made them understand the positions of individuals within the community.

“Clear understanding of positions and being in unity with all tribes are the philosophy that can bring about peaceful coexistence among all and sundry in Lagos State. Here in Isolo, we don’t discriminate. I have heads of all tribes and we hold meetings often to know how to foster our relationships and make the community progress. Ethnicity doesn’t play here and that’s why we’ve been able to enjoy great level of peace and harmony.”

Speaking about what the Igbos did during the first phase of the last elections in Isolo, Oba Agbabiaka stated that it was as a result of misunderstanding and knowledge gap that existed among their leaders, stressing that the possibility of such happening has been eliminated.

According to him, “Last time, what happened was somehow disappointing from the Igbos. But having done a lot of meeting with them, they’ve realised their mistakes and they’ve assured that such would never happen again and this reflected in their support for our candidates in the supplementary elections.

“The Igbos, just like other tribes here in Isolo, are mature and have understandings. Unlike others, if you do not consult the Igbos for help, they won’t get involved, we’ve realised this and we’ve learnt from the incident. Immediately, we consulted them, enlightened them, they cooperated and everything was back to normal. Such will never happen in Isolo again.”

- DAILY POST

Reps okays bill ending HND, B.Sc dichotomy

The House of Representatives, Tuesday passed a bill which put to an end the controversial dichotomy between Polytechnic Higher National Diploma and the Bachelor of Science degree awarded by the Nigerian universities.

This development was sequel to an adopted bill sponsored by Ali Isa and Edward Pwajok from Gombe and Plateau States respectively passed for second reading since April 2017.

The bill also seeks to end perceived discrimination against polytechnic graduates and remove the problems being faced by HND holders, especially those in the public service.

- DAILY POST

EFCC arraigns woman for N2. 1m fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Kano Zonal Office has arraigned one Hauwa Mohammed Sabo before Honourable Justice Obiora Atuegwu Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, sitting in Kano on a two-count charge of obtaining money under false pretence. .

The defendant allegedly obtained the sum of N2,150,000 from the plaintiff, Badura Kabir Idris on the guise that she would invest the amount in her gold mining business.

One of the charges read that: “You, Hauwa Mohammed Sabo (Alias Hajiya Nina), sometime in the month of November, 2017 in Kano, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N2,000,000 from Badura Kabir Idris, under the false pretence that the money was for investment into your hold mining business which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(2) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.

In view of her guilty plea, prosecution counsel, Sadiq Hussain asked the court for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded in prison custody.

Defence counsel, Ladi Oseni informed the court that she was yet to file a formal bail application and requested for an adjournment.

Justice Egwuatu remanded the defendant in EFCC custody and adjourned the matter to May 23 and 28, 2019 for the hearing of the bail application and commencement of trial, respectively.

- PM NEWS

Regular medical checkup critical to prevention of depression — Expert

A Nursing Expert, Mrs Victoria Opakunle, says regular medical checkup is critical to the prevention of depression, a mental disorder that can lead to mental illness and even suicide.

Opakunle, Head of the Nursing Unit, Kamwire Medical Centre, Ilorin, made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday.

She said that depression caused chemical imbalances in the brain, an occurrence that could lead to despondency or general apathy toward life.

According to her, symptoms of depression in youths are often overlooked or passed off as being typical adolescent turmoil.

“Suicidal tendencies do not just appear out of the blue; People usually display a number of warning signs when things seem so wrong in their lives that they’ve simply given up hope.

“Because adolescence is such a turbulent time, it may be difficult to distinguish the signs that lead to suicide from the changing, sometimes uncertain, but otherwise normal behaviour of youth.

“Though many suicidal youths appear depressed or downcast, others hide their problems underneath a disguise of excess energy.

“If an adolescent starts displaying uncharacteristic agitation and hyperactivity, it may also signal the existence of an underlying problem.

“This restlessness may take the form of confrontational or aggressive behaviour,” she noted.

Opakunle said that more obvious signs that an adolescent might be suicidal included low self-esteem and self-deprecating remarks.

She also said that some youths would even be open or write about their suicidal thoughts, adding that it should be taken seriously and not ignored with the hope that the phase would pass.

“Previous attempts at suicide are loud and clear cries for help, which demand responses before it is too late.

“It is essential that everyone takes suicidal behaviour or previous attempts seriously and get assistance quickly,” she said.

The nursing expert urged parents and guardians to watch closely on their children and wards to ensure that suicide never becomes an option.

According to her, parents and guardians should give listening ears to their children and wards without passing judgement on their feelings.

“Giving an adolescent the chance to open up and talk about his or her feelings will help relieve some of the distress of those intense emotions, and make that person feel less alone,” she said.

- PM NEWS