SNR YAHOO EXECUTIVE !! Zamfara: How Yari spent N252bn without record – Probe committee

A Transition Committee set up by Gov. Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State has alleged that ex-Gov Abdulaziz Yari, misappropriated the sum of N251,951,849,482.50.

This was revealed to journalists on Monday by the Chairman of the Transition Committee and immediate past Deputy governor of the state, Mallam Ibrahim Wakkala.

Wakkla said: “My committee while trying to ascertain the liabilities left behind by the immediate past administration of Hon. Abdulaziz Yari, collected and went through the report submitted by a transition committee earlier set up by former Gov. Yari.

“We discovered from Yari’s committee that the sum of over N250 billion cannot be accounted for.

“This included liabilities from a total of 462 ongoing projects which stands at N151, 190,477,572.02 and unremitted National Housing Fund (NHF) and unpaid workers’ gratuity of N1, 431,645,305.99.

He said that the outgone administration, which released the sum of N2 billion for the payment of gratuity to retired workers only paid N400 million to retired Permanent Secretaries, while the remaining balance of N1.6 billion had remained unaccounted.

“We have not concluded our investigations because we know that many facts are still coming up”, he added.

Wakkala vowed that the committee would not hesitate to invite all the suspects to come an answer queries about their deeds including Yari.

“We must not leave any stone unturned even though I worked with the governor for eight years which does not prevent me from exposing corruption,” he said.

The committee head said findings would be submitted to the governor for more action.

Reacting to the allegations, Special Adviser to the former governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Dosara, described them as “baseless and do not hold water”.

Dosara who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on phone from Saudi Arabia, said, “please wait for my return very soon, I will come and give you the correct version of what is on ground.”

=DAILY POST

MTN launches 4G+ in Lagos, PH and Abuja

MTN Nigeria has launched 4G+ in Lagos, Abuja and Port-Harcourt, Rivers state capital.

According to a statement by the telecoms giant, it is aimed at delivering a “premium experience” to more people across the country.

Explaining its features, MTN said the 4G+ service “runs on 4G LTE Advanced Technology using a combination of the recently acquired 800 MHz spectrum and 2600 MHz”.

“The added spectrum and advanced technology extend the reach and capacity of MTN’s data network in Nigeria and enables speeds of up to 200 Mbps,” the statement read.

“This means a 30-minute HD video could take as little as three minutes to download on 4G+, while the same video would take around eight minutes to download on standard 4G.

“The service is immediately available and will deliver much higher broadband speeds, a more consistent connection and significant improvement in indoor coverage.”

Commenting on the launch of 4G+, Mazen Mroue, chief operating officer, MTN Nigeria, said the company’s customers across the country should expect better internet experiences.

“It’s about the customer. We put the customer at the heart of everything that we do,” he said.

“The launch of 4G+ represents a natural evolution from MTN’s already fast and reliable 4G network and further demonstrates the company’s commitment to continued investment in technology that caters to the present and future needs of its customers and country.

“As MTN, we believe that everyone deserves the benefits of a modern connected life. With this enhancement, our customers in covered locations can expect faster downloads and uploads, and better browsing and streaming experiences.

“The successful launch of our 4G+ network is a momentous occasion, which advances our quest to provide world-class service to our customers.”

The firm said to enjoy the service, its customers need an “MTN Standard 4G SIM” and a compatible device, with upgrades for non-4G cards available across its outlets nationwide.

- THECABLE

Man allegedly commits suicide in Bayelsa

A middle-aged man, identified as Mr. Oliver Osieme, has allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself to death in his home at Etegwe community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The deceased, who hailed from Anambra state, was said to have allegedly killed himself at the afternoon hours of Monday when the wife, who is a trader and other close relations, had gone out, DAILY POST gathered.

A close relation said nobody was in the house when the incident happened since they had all gone out for their daily business, but that the incident was discovered when a younger in-law to the deceased came back from school to notice that the house was locked.

According to him, “Everybody went out including the wife, but the wife’s younger sister came back from school and noticed the doors to his room and the apartment was locked: knowing that he’s always at home since he lost his job as a truck driver due to the faulty truck, she kept on knocking, then she went to the window if she can gaze from the back, that was how she saw him (deceased) hanging in his room.

“It’s a sad experience; nobody would have thought such thing would have been planned by him, the police had just taken his corpse with them, if you came earlier you would have seen it, a young man that was full of life,” he added.

When DAILY POST visited the home of the deceased, the whole community was in a mourning mood as people were seen going into the apartment of the deceased to see the wife, as others gathered around discussing the incident in hushed tones on Tuesday morning.

Our correspondent tried to see and speak with the wife but a close relation to the wife said she cannot respond to questions now as she was still in shock over the demise of her husband.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Bayelsa State Command, DSP Asinim Butwats said that the matter was yet to be brought to his attention as he was not even in town but he was going to confirm the information and revert.

- DAILY POST

Chartered accountant, lover found dead in Lagos

Lagos State Police Command has opened investigation into the death of a chartered accountant Rasaki Balogun, 56, and his alleged lover.

Balogun was found lifeless around 8am on June 20 by his wife Akorede at his 16, Taiwo Oke Street, Victory Estate in Ejigbo.

Police spokesman, Bala Elkana said Monday that a team of detectives led by Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Ejigbo visited the scene and found the bodies covered in blood with the unnamed woman laying on a knife.

“The man is said to be living alone in the house while his family lives in a different place. Identity of the mistress is yet to be established as he was said to have picked her about two days before the incident from unknown location.

“The crime scene was sealed off for forensic analysis while the corpses were evacuated to hospital for autopsy.

“Homicide detectives from the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Yaba have taken over the case on the instruction of the Commissioner of Police Zubairu Muazu.

“Investigation is ongoing to unravel the circumstances surrounding their death,” he said.

- DAILY POST

Transfer News : Arsenal sign Nigerian goalkeeper, defender

Arsenal have signed a new deal with Nigerian players: Ovie Ejeheri and Daniel Oyegoke, ahead of next season.

According to Allnigieriasoccer, the Gunners signed the new deal with Ejeheri and Oyegoke at London Colney on Monday.

Ejeheri is a goalkeeper while Oyegoke is a right-back.

The duo will play for Arsenal’s U18s in the 2019-2020 season.

Arsenal finished outside of the English Premier League top-four last season.

Unai Emery’s side were defeated by Chelsea in the UEFA Europa League final last term.

-DAILY POST

Woman who posed as Sanwo-Olu’s aide to get visas arrested in Lagos

A woman has been arrested for posing as a staff of the Lagos State Governor’s Office at the Italian Embassy in a bid to secure visas for some persons.

She was arrested at the weekend following an intelligence on the usage of the Governor’s Office for unauthorised purpose.

A statement Monday night by Gboyega Akosile, Deputy Chief Press Secretary to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, advised members of the public not to deal with anybody on consular affairs.

It read: “The suspect (name withheld), via an e-mail sent to the Embassy of Italy in Lagos allegedly posed as an official of Lagos State government and sought the country’s visas for some unsuspecting Nigerians.

“The embassy however wrote to the Governor’s office to authenticate the claims, which were later found to be false.

“The letter from the Italian embassy led to further investigation and her subsequent arrest and interrogation.

“Although, she denied the allegation claiming that her email was hacked, the Lagos State Governor’s office has sent the matter to the appropriate security agencies for appropriate action.

“In the meantime, the office has warned members of the public not to deal with any persons who parade themselves as government representatives in consular matters.”

- DAILY POST

Ayeni’s trial resumes October

The trial of the former Chairman of Skye Bank Plc, Tunde Ayeni over alleged N4.5billion fraud charge slammed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, will resume 10 October.

Justice Valentine Ashi of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Apo, Abuja, on June 24, 2019, gave the new date on Monday.

Ayeni is being tried for alleged criminal breach of trust, along with Timothy Ajani Oguntayo, for allegedly conspiring at different times to fraudulently divert depositors’ funds domiciled at Skye Bank Plc for personal use.

At Monday’s proceedings, the lead defence counsel, Wole Olanipekun, SAN, prayed for an adjournment to enable the defendant interface with the prosecution for the parties involved to make reconciliation easy.

“My lord, the defendant is taking sincere and positive step of reconciliation of the issues arising from the transaction leading to this charge. My Lord, we owe a duty to inform the court and at the same time ask for time for reconciliation in the interest of the state, as well as the defendant.

“Therefore, our humble application is for adjournment for this matter, while the first defendant continue to interface with the prosecution and every party involved to make the reconciliation work”, he said.

Earlier, the court took EFCC’s application on why the Commission refused to release the first defendant’s international passport. According to the prosecution counsel, Siraj Saeda, SAN, there is an ongoing investigation on the matter.

After listening to both lawyers, Justice Ashi, ordered the EFCC to submit the defendant’s international passport to the Court Registrar within 48 hours of ruling and thereafter, adjourned the case till October 10, 2019, for continuation of hearing.

- PM NEWS