N’Delta youths issue FG 21-day ultimatum to handover surveillance job

Niger Delta Youths today issued the Federal Government a twenty-one-day ultimatum to handover the pipeline Surveillance job to them or be ready to face the consequences of their actions.

The youths handed down the ultimatum under the auspices of Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas, HOSTCOM.

HOSTCOM National Youth President, Dennis Ariaga said, “We are not happy with President Muhammadu Buhari for not keeping to his promise to handover the pipeline surveillance to us after 10000 of us have been recruited and well trained two years ago.

He warned that, “If the government refuses to heed to our request in 21 days time then we may be forced to take some decisive actions.”

The National Exco, Board of Trustees and leaders of thought has called on President Buhari to harken to their cry to let the 10000 youths recruited and trained for the oil pipeline surveillance job to be in charge of the security issues.

HOSTCOM National Chairman, Bishop Mike Emuh in a chat with newsmen said, “We are fully behind President Muhammadu Buhari but our concern is that he has not kept to his promise to engage our youths to handle the oil pipeline surveillance job.

“The 10000 youths that we have recruited and trained to do the job have been on the waiting list for two years now.

“Also he should handover to us the 13 per cent derivation which is a legislative right for host Communities not the state and local governments.

“The error was actually committed by the regime of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo which gave the 13 per cent to the State Governors. We are appealing to President Buhari to make amends on the issue in line with the law.”

- DAILY POST

3 die as Dangote truck rams into BRT in Lagos

Three people were killed on Tuesday as a Dangote truck rammed into a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) at at Majidun area of Ikorodu, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

Two employees of Primero and a female passenger were killed in the accident.
All passengers in the bus were said to have sustained varying injuries while the BRT driver was allegedly unconscious and his leg decapitated.
Reports had it that the cement-laden truck had a brake failure and suddenly skidded into the BRT lane crushing an oncoming mass transit bus with registration number LSR228XS.

Primero’s Managing Director, Fola Tinubu confirmed that three people died in the accident.

“A Dangote truck jumped from the regular lane on to the BRT lane and hit our bus head-on. There was nothing our driver could do to prevent the accident.

The damaged BRT

“Unfortunately, we lost two of our staff and one passenger in the accident. We are working with the authorities to apprehend the truck driver. Right now our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the deceased and we are praying for full recovery for the injured,” he said.
According to him, “All our vehicles are fully insured and our passengers are also insured but that will not bring back the dead. I pray God to grant the deceased souls eternal rest and we’ll continue to investigate the accident.”

Chief Executive Officer, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu said only one mortality was recorded in the accident.
He said the bus was carrying 40 passengers seated and 20 standing passengers, adding that all the passengers on board suffered injuries.

- PM NEWS

Student remanded for attempting to commit suicide

A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Minna on Tuesday ordered that a student, Suleman Ayuba, 19, who pleaded guilty to attempted suicide by taking rat poison, be remanded in prison, pending sentencing.

Magistrate Hauwa Yusuf, who gave the order after Ayuba pleaded guilty, fixed Sept. 16 for sentencing.

Ayuba, who resides in Ungwan Daji, Minna, was charged with attempted suicide, contrary to the provisions of Section 231 of the Penal Code Law of Niger State.

Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, ASP Daniel Ikwoche, told the court that one Badamosi Abdullahi reported the matter on Aug 23.

Ikwoche said the complainant, a noodles seller, alleged that on the same day at about 7 p.m., the defendant bought some and poured a pack of poison in it and ate it.

He said that the defendant became unconscious afterward and was taken to the hospital where he was revived.

When the charges were read to him, Ayuba pleaded guilty and begged the court for leniency.

”I wanted to take my life because life is too hard for me as an orphan,” he told the court.

- PM NEWS

Internet Fraud: EFCC, FBI recover $314,000, N373m

The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, Tuesday disclosed that the collaboration between the Commission and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, has led to the recovery of the sums of $314,000 and about N373,000,000.00 from perpetrators of computer-related fraud.

Magu also explained that while the sum of $314,000 had been recovered, the sum of N373m had been traced to various commercial banks by the Lagos Zonal office of the Commission.

EFCC Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren said this in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja.

He also disclosed that the recent joint operations coordinated by the Commission had yielded 28 arrests, adding that 14 suspects had been charged and convicted.

He added, “Nine of the suspects are currently undergoing trial, while five are still under investigations.

“Over 80 cases are still under investigation from the EFCC-FBI joint operations.”

But Magu said the Lagos zone of the commission, prior to the collaborative efforts with the FBI, had independently launched a sustained operation on perpetrators of various computer-related frauds.

He said: “From 2018 to date, the EFCC had launched a sustained operation on perpetrators of various computer-related frauds, which resulted in over 200 arrests, 130 convictions and recovery of a large number of exotic cars and properties suspected to have been acquired through the proceeds of crime.

“We had independently launched intensive investigative actions against the infamous Yahoo yahoo boys culminating in various strategic raids and onslaught on their hideouts.

“Our efforts in this regard have recorded tremendous successes leading to a number of arrests, prosecutions and convictions.“

The EFCC acting Chairman, therefore, called on the media to continue to lend its voice to the fight against corruption and economic and financial crimes, saying that “no one has the monopoly of knowledge of how the fight should be fought and won.

“All the critical stakeholders, particularly the media, must continue to collaborate and cooperate with us to make the fight a success.

“I urge you to continue to help us sensitize, mobilize and educate all the critical stakeholders to continue to support the fight against economic and financial crimes. We must collectively strive to achieve the Nigeria of our dream.

“It is very critical for you to understand that you owe the youth that social responsibility of awakening their consciousness to the importance of a noble life devoid of crimes.”

- DAILY POST

COZA Scandal : Fatoyinbo in Police custody, grilled over rape allegation

Senior Pastor, Commonwealth of Zion Assembly, Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo is in the custody of the police and is being grilled over allegation of rape levelled against him by Busola Dakolo.

Dakolo had accused Fatoyinbo of raping her 20 years ago when she was still 16 years old in Ilorin, Kwara State. Fatoyinbo has denied the allegation.

Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba told the PUNCH on Tuesday that the COZA pastor was in police custody and being grilled.

“Yes, he is in our custody,” Mba said, but dodged the question on whether Fatoyinbo was being detained, saying it was too early to comment on that.

According to him, the investigation of Fatoyinbo was a proof that the police had not swept the matter under the carpet as being insinuated in some quarters.

When asked why it took so long for the pastor to be invited, Mba said the police wanted to get statements from several witnesses and then build a solid case before inviting him.

“We have done a whole lot of background investigations and spoken to a whole lot of people before now. It was a deliberate investigative procedure to bring him last. Although we may invite others later depending on how investigations go.

“We were not in a hurry to bring him because we wanted to have enough background information that would be used in interrogating him. We have done an extensive investigation,” he told the PUNCH.

Few days ago, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, said Fatoyinbo snubbed the panel set up to probe the allegation of rape against the COZA pastor.

The PFN said because he refused to appear before the panel, the probe had been declared inconclusive.

According to PFN’s National Publicity Secretary, Bishop Emma Isong, who spoke with newsmen in Lagos on Thursday, Busola and her husband, Timi Dakolo appeared before the panel while Fatoyinbo did not.

He however said the panel could not conclude its work because Fatoyinbo refused to show up despite “several invitations and efforts.”

“The panel met for over one month and interfaced with parties involved in the matter. Unfortunately, all attempts to meet with Fatoyinbo failed despite many efforts we made.”

Asked what efforts they made specifically, he said Fatoyinbo was invited through letters, calls and proxies without any success.

“Several efforts were made. Several calls were made but he rebuffed us. He shunned the invitation of the panel to defend himself.”

He said since the accused was absent, it would be impossible for the panel to conclude on its investigation.

PFN however commended the Dakolos for showing up at the panel.

“PFN appreciates the respect that Mrs. Dakolo and her husband accorded the panel by showing up and interacting with members, ” Isong said.

He expressed surprise for the Fatoyinbo snub as he had asked the body to intervene during the heat of the accusation.

However, Fatoyinbo said he shunned the panel because his lawyers advised him not to appear.

 Senior Assistant to the COZA Pastor, Ademola Adetuberu, in a statement said the legal advice was also premised on the statement by the PFN President, Bishop Felix Omobude, “where our pastor was publicly disowned”.

The statement read, “We recall that when Pastor Fatoyinbo was invited by a phone call a few days ago by Pastor Akinola Akinwale, who is the National Administrative Secretary of PFN, we explained that our pastor would not honour the invitation due to legal advice hinged on the ongoing police investigation.

“The legal advice was also premised on the statement signed by the PFN President, Bishop Felix Omobude, where our pastor was publicly disowned. Based on the foregoing, we are convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that the PFN was already prejudiced and may not conduct an impartial session.

“According to the report, Rev Omobude, who we hold in high esteem, went further to crucify our pastor without seeking to know his side of the story on the matter. With all due respect, we consider this a prejudicial position in dispensing justice and fairness.”

Fatoyinbo argued that “Even our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ was given an opportunity for fair hearing by the kangaroo panel set up with the prime motive of condemning Him to death.”

He said there was no invitation letter from the panel or the PFN, apart from a telephone call requesting him to appear before the panel, adding that a PFN officer who spoke to one of his lawyers was informed that he (Fatoyinbo) would not appear before the panel until the police investigation was concluded.

- PM NEWS 

Nigerian doctor appointed surgeon-in-chief of top US hospital

Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Ohio, the United States, has appointed Oluyinka Olutoye, a Nigerian medical doctor, as its surgeon-in-chief.

The hospital is named among the top 10 best children’s hospitals according to the U.S. News & World Report of 2019-20.

Olutoye, a general pediatric surgeon with a medical degree from Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, will also be appointed professor and the E. Thomas Boles chair of pediatric surgery at The Ohio State University (OSU) College of Medicine.

Richard Brilli, managing director and chief medical officer at the hospital, expressed joy at the appointment of Olutoye.

He said the experience of the Nigerian doctor will further advance surgical operations in the hospital.

“We are tremendously delighted to welcome Dr. Olutoye to Nationwide Children’s Hospital to further elevate the visibility and reputation of one of the best overall children’s surgical programs in the country that, through its clinical care and research, is forging the future of children’s surgery,” he said.

“Having a world-renowned fetal and pediatric surgeon join our leadership team will further advance Nationwide Children’s commitment to establishing a preeminent fetal surgery program.”

Olutoye served as co-director of the Fetal Center and the immediate past president of the medical staff at Texas Children’s Hospital.

He also served as a tenured professor of surgery, obstetrics & gynecology, and pediatrics, and chair of the faculty senate at Baylor College of Medicine, in Houston, Taxas.

In his remark, the Nigerian medical doctor said joining the hospital is an opportunity to further help children across the world.

“Nationwide Children’s Hospital is respected nationally for building outstanding integrated research and clinical programs, its seminal work in healthcare quality and patient safety, and as a leader in improving pediatric health outcomes,” he said.

“This is a very opportune time to be joining the organization as we build upon the already impressive success of our surgical services to help children around the country and increasingly around the world. I look forward to the privilege of leading and collaborating with this team in the next phase of our journey.”

Olutoye is certified by the American Board of Surgery in Surgery and Pediatric Surgery.

He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the West African College of Surgeons.

He is also a member of the American Surgical Association, the American Pediatric Surgical Association and past president of the International Fetal Medicine and Surgery Society.

The appointment of Olutoye was effective August 1st.

- THECABLE

Nigerians to pay more for US visa under ‘tit for tat’ policy

The United States has increased the cost of visa application for Nigerians.

The US Consulate announced this in a statement issued on Thursday, explaining that it was “reciprocating” the extra visa fee the Nigerian government charges American citizens.

The consulate explained that the extra cost will be applicable to only those whose visa requests were granted.



The additional fee

“Effective worldwide on 29 August, Nigerian citizens will be required to pay a visa issuance fee, or reciprocity fee, for all approved applications for non-immigrant visas in B, F, H1B, I, L, and R visa classifications,” the statement read.

“The reciprocity fee will be charged in addition to the non-immigrant visa application fee, also known as the MRV fee, which all applicants pay at the time of application. Nigerian citizens whose applications for a non-immigrant visa are denied will not be charged the new reciprocity fee.

“Both reciprocity and MRV fees are non-refundable, and their amounts vary based on visa classification.”

The consulate explained that the US law requires visa fees and validity periods are to be based on the treatment afforded to US citizens by foreign governments.

“Visa issuance fees are implemented under the principle of reciprocity: when a foreign government imposes additional visa fees on U.S. citizens, the United States will impose reciprocal fees on citizens of that country for similar types of visas,” the statement read.

“Nationals of a number of countries worldwide are currently required to pay this type of fee after their nonimmigrant visa application is approved.

“The total cost for a U.S. citizen to obtain a visa to Nigeria is currently higher than the total cost for a Nigerian to obtain a comparable visa to the United States. The new reciprocity fee for Nigerian citizens is meant to eliminate that cost difference.”

- THECABLE

Nigerian born US singer, Jidenna has revealed the reason Nigerians are known for fraudulent activities all over the world.

DAILY POST recalls that last Thursday, the FBI released full details and identities of 80 suspected fraudsters, with many being Nigerians, arrested in the United States. 

Iro, 31, and Chukwudi Christogunus Igbokwe, 38, were named as lead suspects.

The suspects were named by Mr Nick Hanna, the U.S. Attorney for Central District of California, at a news conference on Aug. 22.

Hanna said the fraud cases involved suspects conniving with federal and state agents to dupe unsuspecting victims of their money.

Reacting to the arrest of 77 Nigerians by the FBI, Jidenna said Nigerians were smarter than a lot of people, hence the reason they excel in sports and other sphere of life, including scamming.

Speaking during an interview on the Breakfast Club, Jidenna said: ”The reason Nigerians are known for scamming is not because we are bad people.

“It’s because we are smarter than a lot of people”.

- DAILY POST

Former Volkswagen patriarch, Ferdinand Piech dies at 82

The former Volkswagen chairman and legendary one-time patriarch of the billionaire clan behind the carmaker’s success, Ferdinand Piech, has died at the age of 82, dpa has reported.

Piech collapsed while at a restaurant with his wife Ursula Piech in the German state of Bavaria, she said in statement emailed to dpa by the family lawyer, Christian Schertz. The Bild newspaper initially reported his death.

He was taken to hospital where he later died.

Piech was chief executive of Volkswagen from 1993 until 2002, and while feared for his authoritarian leadership style, he was widely credited with positioning the company to become Europe’s largest carmaker.

Together with then chief executive Martin Winterkorn, Piech steered the ever-widening VW empire with a strict hand, in a hierarchical and centralist manner.

The German news magazine Der Spiegel once described the atmosphere at Volkswagen under the duo as “North Korea without the labour camp.”

Piech dominated the German automotive sector for decades, becoming the chair of VW’s supervisory board, a post he held until 2015, when he was ousted in a bitter power struggle with Winterkorn.

Winterkorn would resign six months later when it emerged that Volkswagen had been cheating on environmental testing by fitting its diesel engines with a so-called defeat device, in a scandal that rocked the company and cost it tens of billions of dollars in fines and legal settlements.

Piech angered members of his family at the height of the emissions scandal when he claimed he had alerted key VW directors in February 2015 to the affair. He agreed in 2017 to sell a large share of his holding in his family’s firm Porsche SE, which controls VW, to younger members of the dynasty.

In a frank bit of self-analysis in his autobiography published in 2003, Piech said of himself: “My need for harmony is limited.”

Born in Vienna on April 17, 1937, Piech was the grandson of Ferdinand Porsche, who invented what became the Volkswagen Type 1, known as the Beetle. Ferdinand Piech first tried to drive a car at the age of nine, but hit the garage door.

The man who lived and breathed automobiles for his entire adult life was a Renaissance man who had studied mechanical engineering, had a passion for sailing and was interested in Asian culture and Japanese ethics.

His influence on the industry was noted by many.

“Ferdinand Piech shaped the automotive branch like no other,” former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder once said of him.

While his employees feared him, calling him “the old man,” investors revered him, once referring to him as “father of the gods.”

And another of Piech’s successors as advisory board chief, Hans Dieter Poetsch, said that despite a few dark spots towards the end, “Piech set memorable milestones in the automotive industry.” dpa reported.

- PM NEWS

EFCC arrests 33 ‘Yahoo boys’ in Imo

Thirty-three suspected internet fraudsters have been arrested in their hideout during an operation by operatives of the Abuja and Enugu Zonal Offices of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in Owerri, Imo State.

EFCC made the announcement in a statement on Monday night.

The suspects are: Clinton Emere, Obinna Okonkwo, Ogochukwu Ogbonna, Joseph Udom Kousin, Prince Ewunone, Franklin Michael, Tolli Ameiche, Anderson, Berthel, David Franklin, Aboi Etealu, Chinubu Nwosu, Marizu Chidiebere, Dominic Terry Joseph, Christopher Nwosu, Peter Gift Uche.

Others are: Edinalo Ifeanyichukwu, Ndubuisi Ikenna, John Frank, Anowe Precious, Joseph Levi Chima, Samuel Oria, Tochi Mmerom, Chimezia Cleansman, Okonkwo Obinna, Uchendu Gift, Nkwodi Nnamdi, Izywa Munachi, Ekone Aniche, Opara Donald, Aniche Tochukwu, Anelka Okon and Ebizien Franklin Udochukwu.

Items recovered from them include: laptop computers, mobile phones, 2 Lexus RX350 SUV and a Toyota Solara salon car.

“The suspects have made useful statements and will be charged to court as soon as investigation is completed,” the statement read.

- DAILY POST

CL : Matchdays revealed as UEFA releases full programme

The UEFA Champions League group stage draw will take place in Monaco on Thursday, August 29 at 6pm, Central African time.

The event will be happening at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco and will be streamed live on UEFA.com.

The teams involved in the draw are as follows:

Spain:

Barcelona

Real Madrid

Atlético Madrid

Valencia

England:

Liverpool

Chelsea

Manchester City

Tottenham Hotspur

Italy:

Juventus

Napoli

Internazionale Milano

Atalanta

Germany:

Bayern München

Borussia Dortmund

Bayer Leverkusen

RB Leipzig

France:

PSG

Lyon

LOSC Lille

Russia:

Zen it

Lokomotiv Moskva

Portugal:

Benfica

UKR

Shakhtar Donetsk

Belgium:

Genk

Turkey:

Galatasaray

Austria

Salzburg

Plus the six winning teams from the play-offs.

What are the draw pots?

Only Pot 1 is known in its entirety; the other pots will be confirmed once the final six teams have qualified via the play-offs.

Pot 1
 Liverpool (holders)
 Chelsea (UEFA Europa League winners)
 Barcelona
 Manchester City
 Juventus
 Bayern München
 Paris Saint-Germain
 Zenit

Clubs’ coefficients are determined either by the sum of all points won in the previous five years or by the association coefficient over the same period – whichever is higher (under a new system introduced for 2018/19 onwards), according to UEFA.com

The 26 teams given direct entry to the group stage under the competition system introduced in 2018/19 are joined by the six winners of the play-off ties.
 The teams are split into four seeding pots.

Pot 1 consists of the holders, the UEFA Europa League winners and the champions of the six highest-ranked nations. Pots 2 to 4 are determined by the club coefficient rankings.
 No team can play a club from their own association and, based on decisions taken by the UEFA Executive Committee, clubs from Russia and Ukraine must not be drawn in the same group.

In the case of associations with two or more representatives, clubs will be paired in order to split their matches between Tuesday and Wednesday.

If a paired club is drawn, for example, in Groups A, B, C or D, the other paired club – once drawn – will automatically be assigned to one of Groups E, F, G or H.

The draw also establishes the groups for the UEFA Champions League path of the UEFA Youth League.

UEFA awards:

UEFA Men’s Player of the Year: Messi, Ronaldo or Van Dijk?

The following award winners will also be announced during the draw ceremony:

UEFA Men’s Player of the Year
 UEFA Women’s Player of the Year
 Goalkeeper of the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League season
 Defender of the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League season
 Midfielder of the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League season
 Forward of the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League season
 Season calendar

17/18 September: group stage, matchday one
 1/2 October: group stage, matchday two
 22/23 October: group stage, matchday three
 5/6 November: group stage, matchday four
 26/27 November: group stage, matchday five
 10/11 December: group stage, matchday six

16 December: round of 16 draw

18/19/25/26 February: round of 16, first leg
 10/11/17/18 March: round of 16, second leg

20 March: quarter-final & semi-final draw

7/8 April: quarter-finals, first leg
 14/15 April: quarter-finals, second leg
 28/29 April: semi-finals, first leg
 5/6 May: semi-finals, second leg

Saturday 30 May: final – Atatürk Olimpiyat Stadı, Istanbul.

- DAILY POST

Nigeria’s borders: How security agents are rubbishing govt’s intentions – Ogun LG Chairman

The Executive Chairman of Imeko-Afon Local Government Area in Ogun State, Hon. Tosin Adeluyi has accused security agents of bastardising the good intentions of the Federal Government in sanitising movements across the Nigerian border.

Adeluyi, in a statement he made available to DAILY POST on Tuesday, lauded the closure of the land border with the primary aim of increasing border security and checking the uncontrollable influx of imported food items into the country by the Nigerian Customs Service and other security personnel.

He, however, lamented the insensitivity of security agents at the border communities to the plight of farmers and traders.

According to him, “the ways and manners the security operatives carry out this exercise have denied a lot of farmers who were transporting their goods from their farms in Nigeria to other parts of Nigeria, particularly within Ogun State, access to markets.”

The local government boss expressed worries that if the farmers, who are transporting their farm produce such as: tomatoes, garri, palm oil and others, are not allowed to move their farm produce from their farms to the markets which are all within Nigeria, the actions of the security agents would economically strangulate the farmers and bastardise the federal government’s efforts on agriculture.

He added that farmers and traders are being impoverished by the day as their primary sources of livelihood are being jeopardised.

Adeluyi added, “The multiplier effect would also mean that Nigerians should warm up for increase in prices of tomatoes, yams, garri and other food items because the boarder communities in Imeko-Afon Local Government like Ilara, Idofa, Iwoye and Imeko contribute a lot to the food items being consumed in some states in Nigeria, particularly in Ogun and Lagos States.

“The farmers have protested to the Oloola of Ilara, Oba Samuel Adeluyi and the Onimeko of Imeko, Oba Benjamin Olanite, but sadly, all the pleas by these Obas to see that the innocent farmers do not suffer have fallen on deaf ears.

“It is my prayer that the border closure activities be better coordinated and the Nigerian farmers be allowed free access to Nigerian markets with their farm produce so as to avoid further loss of income to the people of Imeko-Afon Local Government area of Ogun State,” he stated.

- DAILY POST

Atiku confirms N50m donation to Obasanjo, accuses Buhari govt of attempt to silence ex-president

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, on Monday, said the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration was desperately looking for ways to implicate ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo and silence him.

Atiku made the claim while confirming that his son-inlaw, Babalele Abdullahi donated the sum of N50m to Obasanjo’s Presidential Library.

In a statement issued by his Media Office, the former Vice President insisted that his son-in-law made the contribution in full compliance of the law.

He also condemned the inclusion of Obasanjo’s name in the list of tax defaulters by the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, stressing that the move was to blackmail the former President.

The statement reads: “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is feeding members of the media with deliberate falsehoods in an attempt to cause disaffection and bad blood between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his former deputy, Atiku Abubakar, on one hand, and between former President Obasanjo and Nigerians in general.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Mallam Babalele Abdullahi, Atiku Abubakar’s son-in-law, did not donate any money in cash to the Olusegun Obasanjo Library. Yes, he did facilitate a donation of fifty million naira to the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, but so did many other individuals, including civic-minded traditional rulers, state Governors, bankers and captains of industry.

“This is because the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library is a non-governmental organisation that plays a pivotal role in promoting peace and stability in Nigeria, and that should be applauded.

“Another past leader, who did not improve himself or Nigeria after leaving office, but sat down nursing grudges and plotting revenge, former President Olusegun Obasanjo improved himself and Nigeria by authoring books, founding international think tanks and engaging in peace and capacity building efforts.

“Donations to institutions set up to promote peace in Nigeria and Africa are to be commended, not criminalised. Presidential libraries in America and other parts of the world are similarly funded by donations from civic-minded individuals.

‘’For the avoidance of doubt, Mallam Abdullahi’s donation of fifty million naira was made via a bank transfer, in full compliance with the law. He did not donate or make any payment in cash, as the EFCC is erroneously and salaciously misleading the public. Furthermore, the sources of these funds are completely legitimate and have been conclusively proven to the EFCC. It is instructive to note that even the EFCC has not once claimed these funds to be the proceeds of any illegal activity whatsoever.

“The truth is that there is desperation on the part of the current administration to rope in former President Olusegun Obasanjo into a crime as a way of silencing his voice, which they see as the preeminent critical voice against the misrule that they have foisted on Nigerians.

“This is why they asked the Federal Inland Revenue Service to falsely and libelously include his name in a published list of tax evaders, along with the names of other Peoples Democratic Party sympathisers, such as prominent international singer and pride of Nigeria, Davido, who played a prominent role in PDP’s gubernatorial campaign in Osun state, for which he is being punished.’’

- DAILY POST

EFCC traces Atiku’s laundered money to Obasanjo Library

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has extended to Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, its investigation of the laundered 150 million euros cash-for-poll by associates of former vice-president Atiku Abubakar.

It was learnt that the investigators went to the Library on August 8 to authenticate the claims by one of those under probe that he gave $140,000 (about N50 million) to one of the library officials.

According to reports, the EFCC officials, accompanied by policemen, combed some offices at the former President’s Library.

It could not be confirmed whether any document was taken away by the operatives, but nobody was arrested.

“Our operatives went to the library with some riot policemen in anticipation of possible resistance. But there was none. We did our job lawfully without any inhibition. We are still investigating the case. We are screening some documents in our possession on the matter,” an EFCC investigator told The Nation.

The Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library was opened on March 4, 2017. It is a historic, tourist and academic centre established as a national archive for the preservation of documents and materials used by the President during his tenure between 1999 and 2007.

Atiku’s son-in-law Abdullahi Babalele is being investigated alongside others for allegedly laundering €150 million. The money was believed to have been spent to influence the 2019 election in which Atiku was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate.

About €67, 950,000 was traced to ex-VP Atiku’s associate Mr Uyi Giwa-Osagie’s account, Babalele’s account, two slush firms and two Bureau de Change operators.

Babalele is expected to account for 41,900,000 euros.

Sources said of the cash credited to Babalele’s account, he gave about N50million ($140,000) to his childhood friend, Bashir Mohammed to deliver to an official at the Presidential Library in Abeokuta. The anti-graft agency is investigating why the money was taken to the Presidential Library.

Bashir has reportedly admitted that he delivered the cash to the Presidential Library.

It was learnt that Bashir was taken by detectives to the Presidential Library.

Those interrogated including Babalele, Osagie and Mohammed, are on administrative bail pending the filing of a case against them.”

- PM NEWS