Ahead of the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, no fewer than 25 State Governors have adopted Senator Godswill Obong Akpabio, and Senator Jibrin Barau, as the Senate President and Deputy Senate President of the 10th Assembly respectively.
The governors are also mobilising Senators-elect across the three major parties: the All Progressives Congress (APC), People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) to back the adopted candidates.
Among others, the 25 pro-Akpabio Governors include the Governors of Kwara, Nasarawa, Benue, Ogun, Oyo, Lagos, Ekiti, Osun, Kogi, Rivers, Cross Rivers, Kaduna, Borno, Ebonyi and Ondo States.
The governors, majority of whom are of the APC-controlled States, maintained that they were vehemently upholding the unanimous decision of the ruling party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
The Governors added that the APC NWC has made the most profound decision that will promote institutional stability and the peaceful conduct of legislative proceedings in the 10th National Assembly in the next four years.
Specifically, when Akpabio visited Governor Yahaya Bello in Kogi State, the governor described the aspirations of Akpabio and Barau for the positions of the Senate President and Deputy President of the 10th Senate respectively as his personal project.
He also stated that Akpabio, a former minister of Niger Delta Affairs, was his role model, adding that the Senator’s uncommon style of governance as Governor of Akwa Ibom State, endeared him to want to be like the former governor.
The Kogi governor said he will work to achieve the stability of the President Bola Tinubu Presidency.
Also, the Ekiti State governor, Biodun Oyebanji, said Senators-elect and other stakeholders in the state were behind the candidacy of Senator Akpabio to succeed Ahmad Lawan as the next Senate President.
He said, “in Ekiti State, we are committed to a united National Assembly and we are also committed to the decision of the National Working Committee of the APC with respect to the zoning and you can attest to the fact that all the senators are here with me just to have dinner with Akpabio.
“We are supporting his aspiration as directed by the national body of the party. We are in this together, we are not only supporting, we will identify with him publicly and that is what I have done.
“All Ekiti senators and the leaders, all the former governors – we are in the same boat. We respect the sanctity of the party and we appeal to all contenders to also follow the advice of the National Working Committee.”
The governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullaahi Sule, had also said that APC governors from the North have resolved to support President Bola Tinubu’s choice of National Assembly presiding officers.
Sule told the aspirants: “We cannot in any way fight the choice of Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We cannot in any way fight the choice of our party.”
Governor Babajide Sanwo in Lagos State said he hoped the 10th Assembly would be about “Shaping new course, breaking records” to surpass and improve on the antecedents of the 9th Assembly.
He described the group of Senators-elect across party divides as “a well thought out group.”
Also, a source close to APC Governors pointed out that they were looking forward to a most peaceful, stable, result-oriented and highly productive Senate in the 10th Assembly.
He stressed that based on the demands of governance in Nigeria at the moment, both the Executive and the Legislature must have a cordial and stimulating working relationship.
The source maintained that rapid development and economic stability were only foreseeable in an atmosphere of shared vision and cordiality between the Tinubu administration and the leadership of the 10th National Assembly and other critical stakeholders of the political process.
The source said they detest the despicable situation that reared its ugly head between 2015 and 2019 where the Saraki-led Senate was constantly at loggerhead with the Buhari-led Federal Executive Council.
He added that the messy imbroglio contributed to the situation where salient policy proposals which emanated from the executive were either delayed or thrown overboard on the platter of sheer politics of acrimony, bitterness and high handedness.
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in Ilorin, Kwara State, have arrested 20 suspects over offences bordering on cybercrime.
The arrest is the second of such in the last month in Ilorin.
It will be recalled that on May 4, 2023, operatives of the EFCC, Ilorin Zonal Command, arrested 62 suspected Internet fraudsters, including a convict, Raji Babatunde, whom the commission had last year secured his conviction over a similar offence.
Spokesman of the commission, Wilson Uwujaren, in a statement, yesterday, said the latest arrest, which followed credible intelligence, took place at Egbejila, Airport Road and Offa Garage area, all in Ilorin.
The suspects, according to the statement, include “Habeeb Abubakar, Abiola Abiodun, Atitebi Samuel, Emmanuel Oborirhwoho, John Adamson, Mayowa Victor, Oluwafemi Ola, Abdullahi Isiak, Orji Roland, Martinson Adegboyega and Kolawole Temidayo.
“Others are Orimadegun Ishola, Tijani Quadri, Adebisi Kazeem, Umar Abdulkareem, Adebisi Teslim, Okunlola Ayomide, Quadri Lekan, Ukueni Great and Adeyeye Usman.
“Items recovered from them upon arrest include different brands of phones, laptops and exotic cars.
“The suspects will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of the ongoing investigations.”
Alleged N1.35bn Fraud: Court Of Appeal Reserves Judgement On Ex-Governor’s, Lamido No-Case Submission
AdminThe Court of Appeal in Abuja on Tuesday reserved judgement in a case filed by a former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, to seek the dismissal of the money laundering charges against him.
Mr Lamido appealed against a ruling of the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissing his no-case submission and affirming that he had a case to answer in the N1.35 billion money laundering charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC has been prosecuting Mr Lamido and two of his sons and their companies before the Federal High Court on 37 counts of money laundering.
Mr Lamido allegedly abused his position as governor between 2007 and 2015 and laundered several sums of money, which he reportedly received as kickbacks from companies that the Jigawa State Government awarded contracts under his leadership.
EFCC had called over 16 witnesses before closing its case last year.
Afterwards, the defendants opted for a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution had not placed sufficient materials before the court to warrant them entering their defence.
But the trial judge, Ijeoma Ojukwu, dismissed the no-case submission and ordered the defendants to open their defence on 8 to 11 November 2022.
Dissatisfied, Mr Lamido went on appeal. The appeals arising from the case were heard on Tuesday, after which the Court of Appeal adjourned for judgement on a date to be communicated to the parties.
EFCC captured the highlights of the proceedings in a statement on Tuesday.
READ EFCC’S FULL STATEMENT:
EFCC Press Release
Alleged N1.35bn Fraud: Appeal Court Reserves Ruling in Sule Lamido’s No Case Submission
The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has reserved ruling in the appeal by a former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, challenging the decision of the Federal High Court dismissing his no case submission. The former governor, his two sons, Aminu and Mustapha, Aminu Wada Abubakar, and their companies, Bamaina Holdings Ltd and Speeds International Ltd are standing trial before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja on a 37-count amended charge of money laundering to the tune of N1.35 billion fraud.
Lamido allegedly abused his position as governor between 2007 and 2015 and laundered several sums of money which he received as kickbacks from companies that were awarded contracts by Jigawa State Government under his leadership.
The trial which commenced in 2015 has seen the Commission calling over 16 witnesses before closing its case. Rather than open their defence, the defendants opted for a no- case submission, arguing that the prosecution had not placed sufficient materials before the court to warrant their defence.
But Justice Ojukwu, threw out the no-case submission, and upheld the submissions of EFCC’s counsel, Chile Okoroma, that Lamido and the other defendants had a case to answer and ordered them to open their defence at the next adjourned date of the matter, which was November 8 to 11, 2022.
Dissatisfied, Lamido proceeded to the Appellate Court on appeal. The appeals were considered today, June 6, 2023, after which the Court of Appeal adjourned for judgment on a date to be communicated to the parties.
Meanwhile, hearing in the substantive case before Justice Ojukwu is scheduled to continue on June 19, 21 and 22, 2023.
Count thirteen of the charge reads: “That you, Alhaji Sule Lamido (while being the Governor of Jigawa State, Nigeria), on or about March 2nd, 2012, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court in your account in the name Bamaina Holdings (also referred to as Bamaina Holding Limited) domiciled at Unity Bank Plc. Kano, converted the aggregate sum of N61,919,000.00 being the value of four Sterling Bank Plc Cheques nos. 04981304, 04981305, 04981307, 04981308, three Diamond Bank Plc Cheque nos. 32909551,32909548, 32909550 and four Bank PHB Plc Cheques nos. 24444376, 24444374, 24444375 and 24444372 paid by Dantata & Sawoe Construction Company Nigeria Limited which represented the proceeds of bribery and corruption to wit: using your position as a public officer for gratification by purportedly obtaining contracts for companies in which you have interest from Dantata & Sawoe Construction Company Nigeria Limited which was awarded contracts by Jigawa State Government with the aim of concealing their illicit origin and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(1) (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 and punishable under section 15(1) of the same Act”
Count Thirty-two reads: “That you, Alhaji Sule Lamido (while being the Governor of Jigawa State, Nigeria), Aminu Sule Lamido, Mustapha Sule Lamido, and Bamaina Company Nigeria Limited on or about 3rd of April 2012 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court retained in the account of Bamaina Company Nigeria Limited domiciled with Skye Bank Plc Kano the sum of N57,000,000.00 transferred from the account of Bamaina Holdings (also known and referred to as Bamaina Holdings Limited) at Unity Bank Plc Kano which fund you knew represented the proceeds of illegal act of Alhaji Sule Lamido who used his position as a public officer for gratification by obtaining purported contracts for Speeds International Limited, Gada Construction Company, and Bamaina Company Nigeria Limited from Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company Nigeria Limited, a company which was awarded contracts by the Jigawa State Government and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 17(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 and punishable under Section 17 of the same Act”
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
06/06/ 2023
A private Nigerian Airline, Air Peace Ltd, has sued the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) before the Federal High Court in Lagos over the alleged disruption of its operations by the unions and its officers.
The airline is asking the court to award it N1 billion as general damages, N450 million as special damages and N250 million as exemplary damages.
The suit was brought before the court pursuant to Order 6(6)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Order 28 Rules 1 & 2 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019, and the inherent jurisdiction of the court.
Also joined in the suit as defendants are the President of NLC, Joe Ajaero; the President of TUC, Festus Osifoh; the Sec-Gen. of NLC, one Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja and the General Secretary of TUC Comrade Nuhu Toro.
Air Peace is asking the court for a declaration that given the very sensitive nature of aviation ordinarily, and particularly in the current climate of pervasive fear of insecurity over long-distance travels within Nigeria by other modes of transportation, the defendants’ calculated precipitation of grounding all the plaintiff’s flights throughout Nigeria for the singular reason that it is responsible for the majority of air-passenger and goods flights in the country in order to cause substantial nationwide paralysis, constitutes condemnable sabotage of the national economy and security.
The plaintiffs also asked the court for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants by themselves, their agents/servants/privies or otherwise, howsoever, from repeating/continuing the acts of intimidation and coercion against it.
In documents put before the court, the airline, through their lawyer, Senior Advocate Of Nigeria, Chijioke Okoli, stated that on May 3, 2023, its employees on duty were confronted by a noisy mob which invaded their offices, check-in counters and work areas at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos and the Murtala Mohammed Airport Terminal 1 (MM1) premises, essentially disrupting their work; disorganising and upturning tables, unplugging and pushing away desktops and personal computers used for employment by the employees, some of whom sustained injuries in the melee.
The airline also claimed that from the songs they sang and the instructions that the apparent leaders loudly issued during the disruption, it immediately became clear that the mob causing the disruptive scene were members of the NLC and TUC, some of whom got into violent altercations, injuring some of its customers and staff who voiced their frustrations at the disruption and frustration of their travel plans by the defendants’ antics.
They also stated that the defendant’s actions had inevitable ripple effects on their operations in other airports in the country, including the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, and Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri, all of which the plaintiff’s scheduled flights could not take off from or land at.
The airline says it later learnt that the defendants, had some grouse against the Governor of Imo State, Chief Hope Uzodimma, and to “punish him”, decided upon a total shutdown of Imo State beginning from Wednesday, May 3, 2023, as was stated among other things in their joint communiqué of May 1, 2023.
“That Lagos is the operational hub and nerve centre of the airline operations, and a direct consequence of the defendants’ malicious and unlawful invasion of its work areas/offices and forcible prevention of its functions, as detailed above, was the cancellation of its flights billed for different destinations,” it said.
“Several Air Peace staff suffered physical molestation and incurred bruises which led to their psychological trauma and hospital visitations for treatments, with some having to be excused for some days’ absence from work to recover.”
In addition to the financial losses, Air Peace says it has also suffered a grave injury to its business reputation, not only in the eyes of its flying customers but also in those of the general public and its investors.
It said its lawyers wrote letters, dated May 12, 2023, to the defendants demanding that they promptly make amends for their unjustifiable, grievous and malicious injuries to it, but which demand they have disregarded and are instead threatening more disturbance and harm to its operations.
“That the defendants threatened and intend, unless restrained by the Honourable Court, to continue to intimidate and coerce the Plaintiff’s servants and customers and consequentially cause it more harm and losses,” it added.
Air Peace therefore concluded that the defendant’s conduct in the circumstances of this suit and leading to its significant losses are egregiously malicious, scandalous and most deserving of reproach by the award of general, special and exemplary damages which they put at N1.7bn.
The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has granted the former Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state the permission to travel abroad for medical treatment.
The court permission comes without objection from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Recall that Fayose is standing trial on 11 counts bordering on money laundering and stealing to the tune of N6.9bn before the court.
But, at the proceedings on Tuesday, the 12th prosecution witness, a former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro completed his testimony in the case.
Obanikoro, who began giving evidence on January 31, answered questions during cross examination by the defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo
While answering questions, Obanikoro reiterated the role played by one of his aides, Justin Erukaa (now deceased).
Meanwhile, in an earlier testimony before the court, Obanikoro had said that he sent Erukaa on errands, including to collect over $1million and that Erukaa came to meet him in Ekiti.
The court had admitted in evidence the statement made by the late Erukaa before his death.
The monies in issue in the case were said to have originated from the Office of the former National Security Adviser (ONSA), Sambo Dasuki for the purpose of prosecuting the 2014 Ekiti State Governorship Elections.
The former minister had also reiterated his earlier testimony that he was not privy to any discussion between Fmr. Gov Ayo Fayose and the former NSA.
Justice Chukwuejekwu Aneke has adjourned further proceedings in the trial till July 18 and 19.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the list of candidates eligible to contest the governorship elections in Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo states, fixed for November 11, 2023, by the Commission.
According to the statement signed by Barrister Festus Okoye, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, 18 political parties are fielding candidates in Kogi state, 17 in Imo state and 16 in Bayelsa state.
The Commission appealed to political parties and their candidates to stick to official dates stipulated for the commencement and conclusion of campaigns, in line with provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.
Making reference to weekend ugly incidents involving the convoys of chieftains of two political parties, the electoral umpire cautioned against violence.
“We urge parties and candidates to conduct their political activities with civility and decorum as peaceful electioneering heralds a peaceful election. Political parties and candidates have a responsibility to de-escalate tension ahead of the elections.”
The statement reads in part:” At its regular meeting held today Tuesday 6th June 2023, the Commission approved the final list of candidates for the three off-cycle Governorship elections scheduled to hold in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states on Saturday 11th November 2023.
“The decision is in line with the provision of Section 32(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 which requires the publication of the list not later than 150 days to election day i.e. Friday 9th June 2023 following the period for voluntary withdrawal and substitution of candidates by political parties under Section 31 of the Electoral Act 2022.
‘The final list has been uploaded to the Commission’s website and social media platforms. The same will be published in our state and local government offices in the affected states on Thursday 8th June 2023 ahead of the statutory deadline of 9th June 2023.
“The list shows that all 18 political parties are fielding candidates in Kogi state, 17 in Imo state and 16 in Bayelsa state. The list also shows that two political parties are fielding female candidates in Bayelsa state, one in Kogi state and none in Imo state.
“The Commission wishes to remind political parties and candidates that in line with the timetable and schedule of activities for the three elections, the campaign in public officially commences on Wednesday 14th June 2023 in line with Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 and ends on 9th November 2023 i.e. 24 hours prior to election day.
“Regrettably, the ugly incident last week involving the convoys of two political actors in Kogi State resulting in the destruction of vehicles and other properties ahead of the commencement of the campaign is worrisome. We urge parties and candidates to conduct their political activities with civility and decorum as peaceful electioneering heralds a peaceful election.
“Political parties and candidates have a responsibility to de-escalate tension ahead of the elections.”
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has explained why it suspended its planned strike scheduled to hold on Wednesday against the removal of petrol subsidy by the Federal Government.
The Congress said the strike was shelved in obedience to the ruling of the National Industrial Court (NiC) which restrained Labour from proceeding with the strike.
Justice O. Y. Anuwe issued the order while ruling on an ex-parte motion by the Federal Government through the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and moved by Director, Civil Litigation, Federal Ministry of Justice Mrs Maimuna Lami Shiru.
The Congress noted that it also took the decision to suspend the planned strike to allow negotiations to flow freely and enable final agreement during or after the June 19 negotiation round with the Federal Government.
The NLC made these known in a communique jointly signed by its President, Joe Ajaero and General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja after an emergency National Executive Council meeting on Tuesday in Abuja.
The NLC served a strike notice due to commence tomorrow, the day after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his inauguration address declared that “fuel subsidy is gone.”
The presidential announcement led to a knee-jerk reaction from petrol marketers, who immediately shut down filling stations and hiked product prices.
The order by Justice O. Y. Anuwe will remain in force pending the hearing and determination of a motion on notice dated June 5.
The judge said her action was informed by the argument by the Federal Government’s lawyer that the strike if allowed, will cause incalculable damage to the nation.
The NLC, however, frowned at the ruling of the NIC for its “continuous weaponization of the instrument of exparte injunction in favour of the government against the interests of Nigerian workers in defiance of the position of the Supreme Court on the use of this instrument.”
It directed all affiliates and state councils to suspend further action and mobilisation until the outcome of the final negotiations with the federal government.
The communique reads: “An emergency National Executive Council (NEC) of the Congress which was called to discuss the outcome of the Dialogue between the NLC and the Federal Government on the Petroleum Products Price hike after extensive deliberation observed that:
“Whereas the previous NEC-in-Session had ordered a nationwide withdrawal of Service and mass protest over the Petroleum Price hike by the federal government;
“Whereas the federal government was in breach of the 2023 Appropriation Act, the NLC will not encourage lawlessness on its part;
“Taking into account that the federal government has procured a Court injunction restraining Congress from proceeding with the proposed nationwide strike as the NEC-in-session had ordered to begin, Wednesday, the 7th of June, 2023;
“Recognising the willingness of government for continuous engagement through dialogue and to offer reasonable palliatives in due course to cushion the effect of its policies and some levels of understanding reached
“Considering the mood of the Socio-polity last elections and the need to pursue national stability and;
“Consequently, the NEC-in-session resolved as follows; to commend and applaud the diligence of the Congress’ leadership in carrying out the assignment given to it by NEC.
“To demonstrate to the federal government the need to comply with the Laws of the land especially as it concerns obedience to the rulings of the Courts and their brazen disregard to the 2023 Appropriation Act
“To therefore support and accept the decision of the leadership of Congress to suspend the proposed strike action in compliance with the flawed rulings of the NIC and also allow negotiations to flow freely and enable final agreement during or after the 19th June, 2023 negotiation round with the federal government
“To however register in strongest terms its disgust and disapproval with the ruling of the National Industrial Court (NIC) for its continuous weaponization of the instrument of Exparte injunction in favour of Government against the interests of Nigerian workers in defiance of the position of the Supreme Court on the use of this instrument.
“All Affiliates and State Councils of Congress are hereby directed to suspend further action and mobilisation until the outcome of the final negotiations.
“To commend all Affiliates and State Councils on their robust mobilisation towards a successful nation-wide strike action and to also remain vigilant in case there is a need to continue.”
Ogun Gov Election: FG Files Adebutu, Zenith Bank Plc And Its Managing Director For Alleged Vote Buying
AdminFollowing their alleged role in facilitating vote buying, the Federal Government has charged the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 18 governorship election in Ogun State, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, a leading Deposit Money Bank, Zenith Bank Plc and its Managing Director, Dr Ebenezer Onyeagwu, to court for conspiracy, bribery and money laundering.
According to the charge sheet of the case with no AB/10C/2003 filed at the High Court of Ogun State, Abeokuta Division and dated June 2, 2023, Adebutu, along with Messers Ogunbona Hammed, Tiamiyu Waliu, Egunsola Owolabi, Sanni Adegoke, Hon Dare Lukman Ogunleye, Dayo Fasina, Wasiu Enilolobo and Malik Badmus, is being prosecuted by the Federal Government on a four-count charge, namely one count of criminal conspiracy contrary to Section 121 of the Electoral Act, 2022, bribery contrary to Section 121 of the Electoral Act, 2022, and two counts of undue influence contrary to section 127 of the Electoral Act, 2022.
The charges were filed by the Director, Public Prosecutions of the Federation, M.B Abubakar; the Assistant Chief State Counsel, Aderonke Imana and Senior State Counsel, Bagudu Sani, on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
On his part, Onyeagwu, along with one Celestina Appeal and Zenith Bank Plc, was charged with failing to report suspicious transactions on verve cards with the inscription Dame Oladuni Memorial Endorsement Scheme for Less Privileged between February and March 2023 and thereby committing an offence contrary to section 7(1) (a) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022; and failing to verify the identity of customers carrying out electronic transactions on verve cards with the inscription Dame Oladuni Memorial Endorsement Scheme For Less privileged, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 37 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2022.
According to the particulars of the offence, Adebutu and the co-accused “on or about 18th of March at Ibara, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire among yourselves to corruptly give gifts in form of verve prepaid cards which had inscribed on them ‘Dame Caroline Oladuni Adebutu Memorial Endorsement Scheme for Less Privileged’ in order to induce voters to endeavour the return of PDP candidates during the Gubernatorial and State Assembly elections in Ogun State.”
Adebutu was further accused of providing 200,000 prepaid verve cards loaded with N10,000 each and inscribed with the same name “for the purpose of corruptly influencing voters to vote for PDP candidates” during the said elections.
It would be recalled that Adebutu had recently left the country following security agencies’ uncovering of a vote buying plot linked to him during the March 18 polls in Ogun State and the invitation extended to him to clarify issues.
The PDP candidate had however alleged that he left the country following threats to his life.
This was despite the fact that in the letter made available to security agencies investigating his alleged criminal activities, Adebutu had indicated that he travelled abroad to seek medical care, and had given no indication of threat to life.
Sources within the security circles alleged that in order to perpetrate electoral fraud, Adebutu had contacted Zenith Bank and caused over 200,000 prepaid Verve bank cards preloaded with N10,000 each to be printed and delivered to him shortly before the Match 18 election.
This action, they had maintained, constitutes a violation of Section 121of the Electoral Act (2022) which prescribes 12 months’ imprisonment for any “person who directly or indirectly, by his or herself or by any other person on his other behalf corruptly makes any gift, loan, offer, promise, procurement or agreement to or for any person, in order to induce such person to procure or to endeavour to procure the return of any person as a member of a legislative house or to an elective office or the vote of any voter at any election.”
Security sources indicated that contrary to Adebutu’s claim that the cards were issued during his mother’s burial, they were actually issued few days to the election, raising the obvious question of collusion by Zenith Bank with a politically exposed person to perpetrate electoral fraud.
Also, the statements by some polling agents that were arrested confirmed that he gave them the cards to manipulate the March 18 polls.
The scheme was described as carefully orchestrated and unprecedented electoral fraud made out of desperation after losing the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections using game-betting platforms and POS operators.
Adebutu and his agents were said to have distributed the cards throughout the over 5000 polling stations and positioned POS operators at the same so each voter could receive money at the POS terminals.
The cards were said to have been funded on the 16th and 17th of March directly from Adebutu’s account with Zenith Bank, with the lawmaker paying over N2bn directly from his account.
Checks at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) also showed that the foundations in whose name the PDP candidate carried out his criminal activities were fictitious.
A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, ordered Godwin Emefiele, Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to appear before it on July 19 over a 53 million dollar-judgment debt arising from the Pars Club refund.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, who gave the order during the hearing of a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1193/2017, insisted that the court would not hear Emefiele’s motion for stay until he appeared in court.
Justice Ekwo had, on Oct. 20, 2022, ordered the CBN governor to appear in court on Jan. 18 over his alleged refusal to obey the order of the court for the payment of the judgment debt in favour of a legal practitioner, Joe Agi, SAN.
However, on the Jan. 18, proceedings could not go on as scheduled when the matter was called, prompting the court to subsequently adjourned the case till March 20.
Mr Agi had dragged Linas International Ltd, Minister of Finance and CBN to court as 1st to 3rd judgment debtors respectively, following an application for garnishee made by him as judgment creditor in the case.
Upon resumed hearing on Tuesday, Agi’s counsel, Ayodele Arotiowa, informed that on the last adjourned date, the court made an order that Mr Emefiele should appear in court on the next date and that the order had not been obeyed.
Audu Anuga, SAN, who appeared for Emefiele and CBN, reminded that the court did not sit on the last adjourned date.
“There is an intervening circumstance which we have brought to the attention of the court by filing of affidavit of fact,” he said.
The judge then asked when the appeal was filed by Mr Anuga.
“The appeal was filed on the 28th day of October, 2022,” the lawyer responded.
He said besides the appeal, they also filed a motion for stay.
Mr Anuga, who said that the appeal had been entered, said that was why they filed affidavit of fact.
Arotiowa said though they had been served with the processes, they had also responded.
Mr Anuga told the court that they had pending application to set aside those order nisi.
Justice Ekwo then said that it was because of the order he made that Mr Emefiele should appear in court that prompted them to go on appeal “so that he does not appear in this court.”
“That is exactly what you have done. So, we, the trial court cannot do our job?
“I am not going to hear you on any application until Mr Godwin Emefiele appears in court.
“Therefore, I am going to give a date for you to report to the court in the compliance with the order of the court.
“Upon being aware that the motion for stay of execution is a live matter in this court, this court shall not hear that application unless and until Mr Godwin Emefiele who has been ordered to appear in court appears in court,” the judge declared.
He adjourned the matter until July 19 for report.
NAN reports that the dispute stemmed from an alleged $70 million judgment against Linas International Ltd for the lawyer’s (Joe Agi) assistance with the Paris Club refund.
Emefiele was said to have only released $17 million, leaving an unpaid balance of $53 million.
The court had on Jan. 23, 2020, ruled that Emefiele must appear “to be examined on oath, since the date of the said garnishee order absolute, to pay the balance of 53 million dollars now due and payable under the said garnishee order absolute and also show cause why you should not be committed to prison for default in payment of the said sum”.
In October 2022, Agi through his counsel Isaac Ekpa and Chinonso Obasi, filed another application against Linas International, Minister of Finance and the CBN.
He sought for an order directing the Inspector-General of Police to arrest Mr Emefiele and bring him to court alongside his lawyers, Damian Dodo, Audu Anuga, all Senior Advocates of Nigeria, and Ginika Ezeoke, Jessica Iyoke, Abdullahi Afolayan, and Olayemi Afolayan.”
[NAN]
The Securities and Exchange Commission filed an emergency motion in Washington, D.C. federal court Tuesday evening, asking a judge to freeze the assets of Binance’s U.S. platform and repatriate both fiat currency and crypto held by the service’s customers.
The freezing order only applies Binance’s two U.S. holding companies, not to the non-U.S. regulated international exchange. The order would apply to dozens of accounts held at Axos Bank, the defunct Silvergate Bank, Prime Trust, and other institutions.
Two foreign entities also controlled by Zhao, Sigma Chain and Merit Peak, served as conduits for billions of dollars of customer money that was improperly commingled with Binance’s funds, the SEC has alleged.
The SEC filed suit against Binance and Zhao on Monday, alleging on thirteen separate counts that the exchange and Zhao had worked to defraud investors, improperly commingle funds, and operate as an unregistered broker, dealer, and clearing house.
The emergency restraining order was necessary, the regulator argued, to “prevent the dissipation of available assets for any judgment, given the Defendants’ years of violative conduct, disregard of the laws of the United States.”
The order also compels Binance’s founder, Changpeng Zhao, to “show cause why a preliminary injunction” against Zhao and his two holding companies “should not be entered.” The restraining order would also prevent all three entities from destroying evidence.
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Accuses Nigeria’s Tingo Group Of Financial Discrepancies
Tingo Group Inc, a self-described “agri-fintech” company with operations in Nigeria and headquartered in the U.S. where it is listed, has come under fire following investigations that allege wide-ranging fraud and malfeasance, according to weetracker report
The company—the subject of a March 2022 report by WT highlighting spurious claims and fuzzy details around the substance of its business—is alleged to be operating an “exceptionally obvious scam with completely fabricated financials,” according to well-known short-seller Hindenburg Research which released explosive findings Tuesday while revealing it had taken short positions on the now-plummeting stock.
Tingo first went public in August 2021 on the OTC market, per the Hindenburg report, through a reverse merger with a Thai company that originally intended to acquire a third-tier crypto exchange. In December 2022, Tingo entered the Nasdaq by closing another reverse merger with a listed Chinese fintech company. The new executive setup had Darren Mercer as Group CEO; Dozy Mmobuosi as CEO of Tingo Group Holdings LLC/Founder of Tingo Mobile Limited and Tingo Foods PLC; and Hao (Kevin) Chen as Group CFO.
The company was renamed Tingo Group Inc and the ticker changed from MICT to TIO on February 27, 2023. Tingo had a recent peak market value of ~USD 3 B as of May 22, which has tanked to below USD 100 M at the time of publishing. At various periods, short-sellers who have been circling the company over several months shared with WT that they suspected Tingo to be an overvalued sham enterprise.
Tingo was founded in 2001 and is led by Mmobuosi Odogwu Banye (AKA Dozy Mmuobosi), CEO of the key holding company entity who drew significant coverage in the media earlier this year for his attempted takeover of newly-promoted English Premier League club, Sheffield United; a deal that ultimately fell through reportedly due to question marks over his finances.
The firm, which claims to have several business segments focused on providing mobile phones, payments, food processing and an online food marketplace for farmers primarily located in Nigeria, has over the last few years projected an image of progress and impact that has proved difficult to substantiate. Further findings now put forward by Hindenburg Research allege Tingo is a brazen fraud in its entirety.
Last year, WT discovered discrepancies in several claims made by members of Tingo’s leadership past and present, as attempts to verify stated achievements and milestones returned responses refuting them. The alarm bells were set off when TingoPay (part of Tingo Mobile) claimed in 2021 to have launched a partnership with Stanbic IBTC Bank, a major local bank. Two days after Tingo’s announcement, the bank put out a statement calling Tingo’s claim false and that it had “NOT concluded any agreement with Tingo International in respect of any payment system whatsoever”
Additionally, Tingo’s claims of capturing some 14 million persons via fieldwork and leasing 9 million mobile phones to farmers as of 2014, as well as talk of setting up two mobile phone assembly facilities in Lagos and Abuja in 2013 which churned out 30 minion devices, proved either bogus or extremely embellished upon investigation.
Further claims by the CEO and other executives that suggest Tingo has leased up to 30 million phones to individuals in the Nigerian agric scene over the course of its existence were rebuffed by officials who participated in a government-assisted programme that Tingo may have been piggybacking on. Named farmers cooperatives through which Tingo claims to be reaching millions of farmers via an online marketplace platform denied any knowledge of or association with Tingo when WT reached out. Field officers in Nigeria’s key agric zones also noted claims of 20,000 Tingo agents pushing its services at the grassroots to be unfounded.
New findings by Hindenburg Research highlight a raft of issues. In April 2023, Tingo’s Co-Chairman Christophe Charlier wrote a public letter to Dozy, filed with the SEC, saying he could not approve the company’s annual report and felt it “necessary to recuse myself by resigning” due to “many critical questions, comments and recommendations” that went “unanswered and unheeded”, the report says.
In addition, it was noted that Tingo’s food division is 7 months old, yet claimed to generate USD 577.2 M in revenue last quarter alone, representing 68 percent of total reported revenue. If accurate, its claimed 24.8 percent operating margins would exceed those of every major comparable food company, Hindenburg notes.
However, Tingo has no food processing facility of its own. Rather, it claims its explosive revenue and profitability is derived from acting as a middleman between Nigerian farmers and an unnamed third-party food processor.
In February 2023, the company held a groundbreaking ceremony for a planned USD 1.6 B Nigerian food processing facility of its own. It was found that the rendering of the planned facility, featured in Tingo’s investor materials and on a billboard at the ceremony, is actually a rendering of an oil refinery from a stock photo website.
Following its groundbreaking, Tingo reported in a May 2023 SEC filing that it made “significant progress” on the facility, including laying “the foundations of its numerous buildings”. Hindenburg says its team visited the site a week later and found zero signs of progress; it was empty except for the plaque and billboard commemorating the groundbreaking ceremony, surrounded by weeds.
Further Tingo claimed its mobile handset leasing, call and data segments generated USD 128 M in revenue last quarter (~15 percent of total), claiming these services are provided through an agreement with Airtel in Nigeria, even as the type of license they claim did not exist until June 2023. Also, WT recently obtained a statement from Airtel denying any ties to Tingo.
“Airtel Nigeria does not have any MVNO arrangement with any company called Tingo Mobile,” reads the email from an executive in charge of investor relations at Airtel Africa.
Tingo now claims its payment group has a point of sale (PoS) system and other merchant products. Hindenburg says it found that pictures of Tingo’s claimed PoS system were taken from a different PoS operator’s website, with a Tingo logo photoshopped over them. The report by Hindenburg also lists several other issues related to Dozy’s questionable background history, shoddy financial reporting, an obscure online marketplace, and purported international operational divisions.
While there has been no communication from Tingo’s leadership following the development, Block & Leviton, a law firm that previously sued Elon Musk over his Twitter stake, has announced an investigation into Tingo Group for potential securities law violations, opening its resources to anyone who purchased Tingo Group, Inc. stock and has lost money, whether or not they have sold their investment.
The National Water Resources Bill, 2023 faced a setback during Tuesday’s Senate plenary when its consideration for concurrence was postponed.
The decision to stand down the bill came after Senator Gabriel Suswam, representing Benue North East senatorial district, raised a point of order seconded by Senator James Manager, representing Delta South senatorial district.
Suswam cited order 85 of the Senate Rules, which states that senators must be provided with the details of the provisions of any bill listed for concurrence.
He argued that without access to such information, the bill could not be adequately assessed.
Manager echoed the importance of transparency and called for full disclosure of the bill’s contents. He noted that the bill, as presented, only contained a title and lacked comprehensive provisions.
In 2020, the House of Representatives passed the bill amid concerns regarding its intent and purpose.
The initial bill sought to transfer the control of water resources from the states to the Federal Government, but was rejected by governors.
Clause 2 (1) of the supposed revised legislation states that: “The right to the use, management and control of all surface water and groundwater affecting more than one State pursuant to item 64 of the Exclusive Legislative List in Part 1 of the Second Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, and as set out in the First Schedule to this Bill is vested in the Government of the Federation to be exercised in accordance with the provisions of this bill.”
It adds: “States may make provisions for the use, management and control of water resources occurring solely within the boundaries of the state in line with regulations and guidelines made pursuant to this Bill on policy and principles of Integrated Water Resources management.”
The summary of the bill reads: “This Act repeals the Water Resources Act, Cap W2 LFN 2004; River Basin Development Act Cap R9 LFN 2004; Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (Establishment) Act, Cap N110A, LFN,2004; NationaI Water Resources Institute Act Cap N83 LFN 2004; and establishes the National Council on Water Resources, Nigeria Water Resources Regulatory Commission, River Basin Development Authorities, Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, and the National Water Resources Institute.”
The proposed bodies, if established, will “provide for the regulation, equitable and sustainable development, management, use and conservation of Nigeria’s surface water and groundwater resources.”
The candidate of the Labour Party in the February 25 presidential elections, Peter Obi, has reacted to the recent removal of Petroleum Subsidy by the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.
Obi in a series of tweets posted on his verified Twitter page on Tuesday, said his approach to the subsidy removal would have included palliative measures to cushion the harsh economic effects that the removal of the subsidy regime would bring.
The LP candidate said he would have adopted the “tooth pain” removal analogy to provide succour to Nigerians as prices of petroleum products rise.
He reiterated his support for the removal of the subsidy regime adding that the statistical analysis he conducted shows that Nigeria is not consuming the amount of fuel it subsidizes.
Obi said, “I’ve actually been in support of the removal of subsidies right from the President Goodluck Jonathan era, when I was a member of the Economic Management team.
“If you have followed me very well right from the time I was a member of Jonathan’s economic management team, I consistently maintained that subsidy should be removed because I see it as organized crime.
“People were just stealing the resources of the country and I showed it empirically in my statistical analysis that we were not consuming the amount of fuel they claimed we consumed.
“I also gave them the “tooth pain” removal analogy that if you approach a dentist to remove a painful tooth, he will apply a local anesthetic to numb the area around the tooth so you do not feel pain. It’s not the same thing as pulling the tooth forcefully, the pain you feel will be different. For me, I will go with the approach of the dentist, while supporting the removal of the tooth because I wouldn’t want to go through the pain of a forceful removal.
Continuing further, the LP candidate drew attention to his campaign manifesto where he itemized how monies saved from the removal of the subsidy regime will be utilized.
“If you read my manifesto you will see clearly how I planned to remove subsidies. I will govern with the people and show them statistically and empirically what we are going to save, and what we are going to do using the savings to better the suffering masses.
“The problem in Nigeria is that often government tell the masses to suffer and sacrifice, for a better future; but in future things gets worse.
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) has approved N130m for each polytechnic in Nigeria as a zonal intervention fund.
This was confirmed by the Director of Infrastructure of the Fund, Buhari Mika’Ilu, at the TETFund/NBTE sensitisation workshop on the 2023 Zonal Intervention on Skills for Rectors and Directors of Skills in Beneficiary Polytechnics, which was held in Abuja on Tuesday.
Mika’Ilu said that the fund is aimed at reinvigorating skills acquisition in polytechnics across the country, adding that it would integrate the efforts of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) in increasing the capacities of polytechnics to deliver on their mandate.
“Funds are allocated in line with the provision of the Establishment Act and guided towards addressing critical and essential needs of the beneficiary institutions for the improvement of quality and maintenance of standards in the tertiary educational institutions.
”NBTE has been at the forefront in championing the need to have skills in the educational system in Nigeria. It is in response to this that the fund has prioritised the 2023 zonal allocation to polytechnics to be geared towards reinvigorating skills acquisition in the polytechnics across the country,” he said.
He said the money would be used mainly for acquiring, installing, and testing new training equipment and materials within the institutions.
”This is to further consolidate the efforts of NBTE in increasing the capacities of polytechnics to deliver on their mandate. Therefore, the sum of N130,000,000 only allocated to each polytechnic has the main focus of procurement, installation, testing, training, and commissioning of relevant training materials,” he said.
He explained what some of the previous years’ intervention funds were used for. In 2017, funds were focused on building and upgrading toilet facilities while in 2022, funds were used in the procurement of new ICT facilities for the institutions.
“In the year 2017, the Fund focused the zonal intervention on the “Student Dignity Project”. Hence, the intervention was used to upgrade and standardise all lavatory facilities or provision of new ones where necessary in academic areas of institutions, also shuttle buses (coaches) were procured for students’ use among other projects.”
“Most recently, the 2022 intervention was used for the deployment of ICT facilities within the institutions in line with the guidelines developed by the Fund. This is essential to increase the capacities of institutions to function effectively and deliver their programmes online.
”The Fund has allocated a total of N60,290,000,000.00 for zonal intervention for the year 2023 to all the two hundred and nineteen beneficiary institutions of which, the sum of N9,230,000,000.00 is allocated to polytechnics,” he said.
He added the intervention, a post-research activity, had created an opportunity for academic staff in Science and Technology Programmes to fabricate equipment, thus promoting skills development in the Polytechnics.