Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has grilled the Head of Asset Recovery and Management Unit, Ministry of Justice, Ladidi Mohammed, over allegations of fraud.
Naija News understands that the EFCC had detained and questioned Mohammed, who is a close ally of the Attorney-general and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, for days over allegations of fraudulent sale of recovered assets running into billions.
Mohammed, who was granted administrative bail on Thursday, was back at the anti-graft commission on Friday for further questioning.
Sources told The Cable that Mohammed had told operatives of the EFCC that she acted under ministerial instructions in disposing of some assets which were forfeited to the federal government by persons undergoing corruption trials, but she could not tender any documented evidence to back her claims.
It was gathered that the Commission is investigating dubious transactions involving Nigerian assets that Mohammed is accused of selling off under suspicious circumstances.
Malami had reportedly secretly granted a company and its attorneys a multibillion-naira assets recovery contract.
A former Inspector-General General of Police (IGP), Tafa Balogun, was on Thursday confirmed dead at a hospital in Lagos.
Family sources confirmed the death of Balogun at a hospital located in Lekki, Lagos, on Thursday night.
Tafa Balogun is infamous for his corruption trial and his conviction.
Here are important things you should know about the late Balogun:
1) He was born on August 8, 1947 at Ila-Orangun in Osun State.
2) He was at a time, the Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to former Inspector-General of Police, Muhammadu Gambo.
3) He was a member of cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Course 3
4) He was also a Deputy Commission of Police Edo State, the pioneer Commissioner of Police in Delta State. He was also CP in Rivers and Abia states.
5) He was a fellow of the premier highest military institution in Nigeria, the National War College
6) He was named the 21st Inspector-General of Police on March 6, 2002
7) On April 4, 2005, Balogun was arraigned at the Federal High Court, Abuja for stealing and laundering of over $100 million in his three years as Inspector General of Police from the Police treasury.
8) He collapsed on his seat on June 29, 2005, at the Abuja High Court.
9) After pleading guilty to eight of the 56 count-charges directly affecting him, he was convicted and sentenced to six months in each of the charges, which ran concurrently.
10) He was released on February 9, 2006 after serving his sentence.
Genesis Global Ikeja Unusual August Praise Set for Sunday 7th
Come Sunday 7th of August 2022 has been set aside for Genesis Global to present ‘Unusual Praise’ which will hold at Ikeja Center.
According to the world famous prophet of God, Israel Oladele Ogundipe known as ‘Genesis’ when speaking with his media aide Oluwaseun Fabiyi, says the Unsual Praise would no longer be as usual because it would surely take another dimension as every inherited curses shall be broken with this intention of showing gratitude and appreciation to God Almighty ‘This Sunday’s special praise will take another realms of praising God extremely and it will be viewed live on every social media as top Nigerian celebrities and great anointed men of God will be in attendance as God’s name shall be manifested.
Some of the Top popular Nigeria Gospel artistes who will be there to showcase their talents giving quality worship and praises to God includes Testimony Jaga and Sir Judah from USA as the Unsual Praise memorable evening service which is targeted to come up between 4pm till 8pm at plot 6 Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi opposite Chicken Republic Ikeja, Lagos.
Prophet Israel therefore stand on behalf of the Church, Genesis Global worldwide as he beseech everyone to put on the garment of praise and their dancing shoes because there will be showers of blessing upon everybody who will be attending this special Unsual Praise
It’s going to be a convergence of top gospel singers and popular celebrities as one of their own, Segun 02, Church Choir, Sir Judah, Testimony Jaga will be staging a live show come 7th August. This is to offer worship and praises to the Lord which is tagged ‘Unsual Praise’ says the man of God.
Barely few days to the much anticipated and much talked about Unsual Praise, all Genesis Global worshipers are already given Unsual testimonies especially those in the evangelism department, and this to show and proved to as many who would be attending will definitely meet the powerful hand of God in a miraculous way.
The Unsual Praise thanksgiving will begin with the anointed man of God, prophet Israel Genesis who will be serenading his congregants with music performance to show appreciation to God for keeping him alive following his overcoming all odds/afflictions that would have jeopardised/cut short God’s glory and his ministry.
“It’s the only way of thanking God for His guidance and protection over me, family and the entire Genesis Global family He said.
Oluwaseun Fabiyi media aide
The All Progressives Congress, APC, has named the Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, as the Director General of its Presidential Campaign Council.
Lalong is the Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum.
The APC Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, made the revelation to State House Correspondents after meeting President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja for a closed-door meeting on Thursday.
“We are here to see Mr. President to brief him and to get his approvals of plans that we are having regarding our campaign outfit,” Adamu said when asked by journalists.
He added: “And once we have his approval, we intend to make major disclosure. We’re on the same page with the Presidential (candidates) and the individuals who will play various roles in the campaign.
“The DG of the campaign is seated by my right here. Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State.
“We have a spokesperson in the person of Festus Kenyamo. The deputy spokesperson is Hannatu Musawa. This is what we came to discuss with the President.”
He revealed that the choice of Lalong was based on his ability to do the work required to ensure victory for the Tinubu-Shettima ticket in next year’s presidential elections.
“He has the ability to do it. The party leadership has seen that he is capable of running the affairs of the campaign outfit,” he noted.
President Muhammadu Buhari , on Wednesday, came under heavy criticism over the approval of N1, 145,000,000 for the purchase and supply of 10 Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles to Niger Republic.
The revelation was made by an investigative journalist, David Hundeyin, who tweeted that he obtained a document from the Budget Office in Nigeria which showed that the President made the approval for the purchase of the vehicles to the neighbouring country.
Hundeyin also attached a picture of the document to validate the claim that the President approved the release of the money to a company, Kaura Motors Nigeria Limited, on February 28, 2022.
The document read in part, “Being release of funds in the sum of N1,145,000,000 to the office of the Accountant General of the Federation IFO Kaura Motors Nig. Limited for supply of 10 numbers Toyota Land Cruiser V8 Vehicles to Republic of Nigeria vide Mr. President approval on page 83 dated 28/02/2022.”
Defending the purchase of the vehicles, the Federal Government said that the move was to enable the country to safeguard its territory in the best interest of Nigeria’s security.
Fielding questions from journalists after the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, said it was not the first time Nigeria was supporting her neighbours.
She explained the President had a responsibility to take such decisions in the best interest of the country.
“This is not the first time that Nigeria has supported Niger, Cameroon or Chad, and the President makes an assessment as to what is required, based on the request of their President and such requests are approved and the interventions provided is to enhance their capacity to protect their own territory as it relates to security also to Nigeria,” Ahmed said.
CSOs knock FG
However, Nigerians had been criticising the Federal Government for disbursing funds to purchase the vehicles for another country amid other pressing needs, including the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities and the harsh economic realities in the country.
The Country Director, Transparency International, Auwal Rafsanjani, said the gesture showed that the current political leaders were not sensitive to the plights of Nigerians.
“It shows a lack of priority for development in Nigeria. Otherwise, our universities have been closed down for months, how much is ASUU asking for to stop the strike, how much is needed to modernise our health sector and also improve the lives of Nigerians? But the current leaders just want to accumulate tax payers’ money for personal use,” he said.
Also reacting, the chairman, Human and Environmental Development Agenda, Olanrewaju Suraju, said the amount the vehicles were purchased was outrageous.
He said, “With the level of insecurity and the lack of resources in the country, the next thing we could think of is to purchase vehicles for the Niger Republic. There is nothing bad assisting sister countries in their time of need but this is wrongly conceived.
“Also, it is nearly impossible that those vehicles would cost that amount,that deserves to be investigated. The anti-corruption agencies should investigate this.”
The Nigeria Police Force has directed its strategic officers across the country to commence intense visibility policing operation with a focus on crime mapping across the country.
The Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba gave this directive on Wednesday during a meeting with the Force’s Strategic Police Managers.
The managers including the Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, Commissioners of Police, and the Force Management Team met with the IGP in Abuja to deliberate on strategies to curb the growing incidences of insecurity.
The chief boss expressed concern over the proliferation of arms in sub-Saharan Africa which has consequently led to an increase in security threats within the nation, notably the attack on the Kuje Correctional Facility in Abuja.
“The IGP equally directed all strategic police managers to commence an immediate special visibility policing operation across all Commands taking into cognizance crime mapping, and massive deployment of operational and intelligence assets and manpower,” a statement by the Force said.
The statement signed by the Force Spokesperson, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi acknowledged the compliance level of strategic managers in identifying vulnerabilities at custodial facilities in their respective areas and complementing the Correctional Service in upscaling security in and around such facilities to forestall further security breaches.
Similarly, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, on Wednesday said the Armed Forces was working round the clock to implement several new strategies to halt the various security challenges in Nigeria.
Irabor said this while delivering a lecture at the National Defence College on the topic “National Security and Development: Strategic Options for Nigeria’’ on Wednesday in Abuja.
He disclosed that the Armed Forces were working on upgrading the intelligence management procedures of the defence and security sector to strengthen the overall security architecture in the country.
In addition, Irabor urged the media not to become a tool of criminals by promoting terrorists’ agenda, but to uphold the interest of the public while carrying out its duties.
He said, “The media should report on such incidents in an independent and authentic way, but not allow itself to be made the tool of criminals
“The German Press Code for example says in reporting actual and threatened acts of violence, the press should carefully weigh the public interest in information against the interest of victims and other people involved.”
Wema Bank Press Release: Formal Statement on Purported Forgery of Cheque and Inappropriate Arrest warrant on Managing Director
Mr Ademola Adebise, Managing Director Wema Bank Plc
The attention of Management of WEMA BANK PLC has been drawn to the trending news in the media to the effect that a Magistrate’s Court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, had issued a warrant for the arrest of our Managing Director, MR. ADEMOLA ADEBISE, in connection with a Garnishee proceeding for the payment of a judgement-debt on behalf of the Bayelsa State Government.
WEMA BANK PLC would like to use this medium to refute the allegations and dismiss the gross representation of facts in regard to the material facts, and the apparent breach of the principles of fair hearing before such order of the court was entered against our Managing Director.
WEMA BANK PLC wishes to state that, contrary to the facts presented before Her Worship, Mrs. Elizabeth Jones, the said set of five cheques for the total sum of N50m issued in protest based on pending applications before an Abuja High Court then, were in favor ofthe Chief Registrar FCT High Court, not in favour Barrister. George Haliday who is now claiming the proceeds of the cheques. It is important to note that those cheques were not signed by MR. ADEMOLA ADEBISE and had not assumed the position of the Managing Director of the bank at the material time the cheques were issued in favour of the Chief Registrar.
Furthermore, we would like to state that the five cheques issued in protest by our Bank were not dud cheques as alleged by the complainant. The cheques have only not been cleared for payment because of the subsisting Appeal at the Court of Appeal Abuja on the Garnishee proceeding which has now been decided in favour of the bank. It was after Barrister George Haliday lost at the Appeal Court that he resorted to a Magistrate Court in Abuja to lodge a complaint about issuance of dud cheques. It is very worthy of note that the judgement debt against Bayelsa State Government, which Barrister George Haliday attempted to enforce by a garnishee proceeding, thereby leading to the issuance of the cheques in question had been settled by Bayelsa State Government via a Terms of Settlement between Barrister. George Haliday and the Bayelsa State Government at the Supreme Court.
WEMA BANK wishes to state that the warrant for the arrest of MR. ADEMOLA ADEBISE is in violation of his fundamental rights to fair hearing as he was never personally served with any process to appear before the Magistrate Court, neither was he represented in court. We are a law-abiding corporate citizen; if there was any court summon properly served on the Managing Director for his appearance in court, he would have done so without fail. But, in this case, there was no such service extended to him or any court processes personally served on him to appear in court until a warrant of arrest was issued in absentia. We view the arrest warrant as being an infringement on his fundamental rights.
We, therefore, refute and dismiss in their entirety the allegations of dud cheque and forgery levelled against our Bank and the Managing Director. We also dismiss the inappropriate issuance of bench warrant on our Managing Director. We are already engaging in legitimate actions to seek redress and bring all the perpetrators of these unprofessional conducts and heinous criminal act against our Managing Director and the bank to book.
The Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, on Wednesday morning met with all Commissioners of Police and other senior officers in the country.
It was gathered that the meeting, which was conveyed as a result of the rising insecurity in the country, would map out strategies to combat criminals.
Also, the documentation and streamlining of the operations of commercial motorcycle and tricycle riders across the country will be discussed.
The crisis rocking the Osun State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken a new twist as the party Chairman in the state, Gboyega Famodun, has accused supporters of the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, of working against the incumbent governor, Gboyega Oyetola.
Aregbesola’s faction had planned to embark on a protest in Osun and Abuja over the alleged poor leadership of Oyetola.
Reacting, the State Chairman of APC, in a statement on Tuesday, condemned the protest against the state leadership of the party and the administration of Governor Oyetola.
Famodun said the protesters lack the moral right to effect any solution on the challenges within the party, stating that it is on record that they worked massively and collectively against Oyetola in the just concluded Osun State Governorship election.
According to him, the protesters should take their agitation for restructuring of APC to Adeleke’s house since they worked for him.
He said: “When I heard that the supporters of the immediate past governor of our state, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, were protesting, I thought my memory was playing me falsely as they cannot insulate themselves from whatever might be the current plight of the APC in Osun State.
“Assuming but not conceding that there are challenges within the party, protesters should be told that they lack moral right to either suggest or effect any likely solution as it is on record that they massively and collectively worked against Oyetola.
“If I may ask, at what point did it occur to you that the political party that you had abandoned for about three years which you have been working against needs restructuring.”
Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, has backed the six weeks ultimatum given to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), by some federal lawmakers to find a solution to terrorism or be impeached.
Soyinka spoke on Tuesday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, during an interactive session organised to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Abeokuta Club.
The session, which had a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana; the Registrar of the Joint Administration and Matriculation Board, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede; a lawyer, Gbenga Adeoye; a businessman, Ogo-Oluwa Bankole; and the spokesman of the Electricity Distribution Companies, Sunday Oduntan, as panellists, had as its theme “Good governance or mis-governance: The contract called democracy.”
The PUNCH reports that senators and members of the House of Representatives elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party had last week handed down the ultimatum over lingering insecurity in the country.
Soyinka, who was the session’s moderator, noted that the President should be impeached because he had breached the contract of democracy.
He said, “Democracy indicates a contract, that is why the candidate puts on a manifesto. On the basis of that manifesto, the candidate is either accepted or rejected.
Soyinka Backs Lawmakers On Buhari‘s Impeachment
“Very often, the grounds for breach of contract, I think we all agree, is mis-governance and one of the ways of breaking this kind of contract we know even before the duration of a contract is known as impeachment.
“The reason we will go by some legislators to impeach the President who is the head of government. In fact, one cleric has gone even further. He believes that the impeachment should take place not in the legislative home but in the bush with the kidnappers and he appealed to the kidnappers to quicken the process by impeaching the President and take him away and some of his aides and one or two governors.”
Soyinka, however, threw the question to the gathering whether the President should be impeached or not and majority of the people who comprised members of the club and other dignitaries raised their hands that Buhari be impeached.
He also faulted a situation where Buhari, who he said had performed abysmally to the point that lawmakers are considering impeachment, will decide who succeeds him at the end of his tenure.
He added, “In any democracy, any president, prime minister or whatever is entitled to one vote. We are not saying we should disenfranchise somebody because they are on top of governance.
“They had their right to campaign for any candidate they like but there is nothing in any constitution that I know of, in any democratic constitution, which says that the head of government should appoint his or her successor.
“I am not aware of it and this is a head of governance who is generally agreed, I believe, as having failed, having misgoverned to the point that impeachment is being considered.
“I hear the governors go to this individual, go to this failure and say to him ‘please give us your successor.’
“Many of us in this country, including governors, including chairmen of local governments, what comprehension they have of this process called democracy because what these governors are telling us is that after a failure has occupied a seat of government for eight years, that failure should give us another failure for another eight years.”
Soyinka urged the governors to stop desecrating democracy by enthroning a dynasty of failure.
Falana, in his remarks, corroborated Soyinka’s submission on the need to stop the abuse of democratic process.
He decried the imposition of leaders on Nigerians.
Oloyede, in his submission, urged Nigerians not to focus on the faults of the Federal Government but concentrate on the state governments’ involvement in the failure.
