Magu: We didn’t mistakenly transfer N573m into Omale’s account – FCMB

 

First City Monument Bank, FCMB, has debunked reports that the sum of N573 million was mistakenly transferred into the account of Pastor Emmanuel Omale in error.

Pastor Omale is an associate of the suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu.

The Managing Director of FCMB, Adam Nuru, was reported to have said the bank just discovered that N573 million was mistakenly posted into the church account of Pastor Omale while testifying before the Presidential Committee on Audit of Recovered Assets last Thursday.

The Presidential Committee on Audit of Recovered Assets (PCARA) had accused Magu of allegedly using Omale, founder of the Divine Hand of God Prophetic Ministry, to launder funds abroad.

The committee headed by retired Justice Ayo Salami said the former acting chairman purchased a property worth N573 million in Dubai using Omale’s name — an allegation the pastor denied.

However, FCMB, in a statement issued by its Group Head, Corporate Affairs, Diran Olojo, on Wednesday said the attention of the bank had been drawn to widely circulating stories incorrectly stating that its Managing Director, during a recent presidential hearing in Abuja, testified that the bank mistakenly transferred N573m to the account of a church and that the said error was not discovered for four years.

“We feel it is in the public interest to state emphatically that there was no transfer of N573m into this account, mistakenly or otherwise.

“To provide further clarity, during a maintenance upgrade of our systems in 2016, a defective file led to the aggregation of multiple unrelated entries into a single balance under the affected customer’s name in one of our reports,” it said.

According to the bank, this aggregation occurred only in the weekly automated report to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, saying that it had no effect on any customer’s account balance or statements and therefore was not immediately identified.

“Our Managing Director clarified to the Presidential panel that the system generated report was incorrect and that there was no mistaken transfer of N573 million. He also submitted comprehensive documentary evidence to this effect.

“We appreciate that comments may have been misconstrued and therefore believe it is important to emphatically clarify the position that there was no mistaken transfer whatsoever, as stated above.

“FCMB continues to fully cooperate with the panel, and has been entirely transparent in its reporting. We remain committed to ethical and professional conduct at all times,” the statement said.

- PM NEWS

‘Weapons being stockpiled ahead of Edo election’ — CDD raises the alarm

 

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) has called on politicians to de-escalate the tension building up ahead of the Edo state governorship election.

In its pre-election briefing, the CDD said since the start of the Edo governorship election campaign, there has been “rampant defacing or outright destruction” of campaign billboards by supporters of rival partisan camps in the state.

The centre also said foot soldiers of politicians across the state, especially in rural communities, have engaged in the exchange of verbal abuses, hate songs and chants, capable of provoking violent confrontation at a localised level.

It said its observations and interactions have suggested that there is a stockpiling of small arms and light weapons in the state, adding that there have been several minor skirmishes and near-violent incidents especially when rival party supporters are on campaign processions.

Calling for adoption of issue-based campaigns, the CDD said the dearth of engaging conversations, which will enable citizens know the candidate and party with the best governance ideas, had undermined the very essence of the electoral process.

“The CDD strongly condemns the attitude of political actors in Edo State, whose haphazard adherence to pandemic prevention guidelines was putting the lives of common citizens at risk,” it said.

“Close observation of recent campaign rallies by both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State showed the parties disregarding precautionary measures for COVID-19 prevention.”

“CDD observers noted that while some campaign rallies in Benin City, which were televised to a national audience, observed protocols such as the wearing of face masks and the observance of social distancing, political rallies in small towns and rural areas have largely ignored these requirements.”

The CDD said the activities of the two parties are suggestive of the notion that the lives and electoral objectives of politicians are more important than the health and well being of the citizen voters.

It noted the need for INEC to immediately start a strategic and effective solution to implementing its policy during the election.

It also encouraged all election stakeholders to conduct voter education programmes that communicate procedures for conducting the polls during the COVID 19 to voters.

On complaints about alleged misuse of incumbency powers which were also documented in the report, the CDD expressed worries that the struggle over the control of the Edo state house of assembly could further heighten tension in the state with the consequence of voter apathy.

CDD, in its recommendations, called for the enforcement of provisions of the electoral act to prosecute political actors seeking to undermine the election.

- THECABLE

Transfer: Arsenal to offer player, cash for Fernandes

 

FA Cup champions, Arsenal, are set to offer a player, plus cash for Sporting Lisbon’s Joelson Fernandes, Mirror UK reports.

Fernandes has a £40million release clause in his current contract with Sporting.

Arsenal is keen to avoid paying Fernandes’s clause and will bid to lower the asking price by offering one of their players in a part-exchange deal.

Mikel Arteta’s side is favourites to land Fernandes ahead of Borussia Dortmund and Juventus.

The Gunners have a host of players up for grabs this summer including midfielders, Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi.

Fernandes is attracting attention from big clubs across Europe and is the latest forward to emerge from Sporting’s renowned youth ranks – which produced the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Ricardo Quaresma and Nani.

The 17-year-old has represented Portugal at youth level.

- DAILY POST

I remain UNILAG vice-chancellor, Ogundipe insists

 

Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe has insisted that he remains the vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

This is coming after Ogundipe’s removal was announced during the meeting of the Governing Council of the institution which held at the National Universities Commission (NUC) building in Abuja today.

Seven members voted for the removal of Ogundipe while four voted against. One of the members voted that he should rather be placed on suspension.

The meeting was presided over by its Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN).

However, Ogundipe in a statement on hours later countered announcement by the registrar and secretary to the governing council Oladejo Azeez,saying the news of his removal was “untrue”.

“The attention of the University of Lagos (Unilag) management has been drawn to the ‘Notice to the General Public on the Removal of the Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos’; dated August 12, 2020 and signed by Oladejo Azeez, Esq, Registrar and Secretary to Council, stating that the current Vice Chancellor, Professor Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe, FAS has been removed from office with immediate effect,” the statement reads.

“This is untrue and a figment of his imagination. Therefore, stakeholders of Unilag and the general public are advised to disregard this mischievous disinformation about the sitting Vice Chancellor of Unilag, contained in that notice. Professor Ogundipe still remains Unilag’s Vice Chancellor.”

Ogundipe was accused of gross misconduct, financial recklessness and abuse of office.

- PM NEWS

Customs seizes $890K from 2 Lebanese, hand them over to EFCC

 

Two Lebanese, Dina Jihad Khali and Chamseddine Waell Mohmmed, have been arrested by the Customs Area Command, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, for attempting to smuggle $890,000 out of Nigeria, through the Port Harcourt International Airport.

The men were arrested on Wednesday, August 12, 2020 and handed over to the Port Harcourt Zonal office of the EFCC for further investigation.

A.B Mohammed Olayinka, Customs Area Controller, told the EFCC at the handing-over that Khali was arrested with $670,000 while Mohammed had $220,000USD.

They were both arrested while trying to board a flight to Lebanon.

Olayinka further disclosed that the money recovered from the suspects, which they failed to declare to Customs, has been deposited with the Central Bank of Nigeria, Rivers State Branch, for safe keeping.

Principal Detective Superintendent Macaulay Olayinka, who received the suspects on behalf of the Zonal Head, thanked officers of the Customs Area Command for the synergy that exists between the Command and the EFCC.

He assured that investigation will commence in earnest.

He said the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded.

- PM NEWS