National Archives | Page 4 of 6

Court Jails Man One Month for Non-declaration of $40,000 at Airport in Lagos

Our Reporters1 month ago1 month ago05 mins

Justice A.O.Owoeye of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday, April 4, 2025, convicted and sentenced one Igboezue Emeka to one month imprisonment for money laundering. The convict was arrested on February 12, 2025 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos by operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, for false currency declaration to the tune of $40,000( Forty Thousand United States of America Dollars). The NCS had, on the same day, handed him over to the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos for further investigations and prosecution. Consequently, he was arraigned on Friday on one-count charge bordering on money laundering. The charge reads: “That you, IGBOEZUE EMEKA, on or about the 12th day of February, 2025, at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, within the Lagos Judicial Division of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, failed to make a declaration of the sum of $40,000.00 USD (Forty Thousand United States Dollars) to the Nigerian Customs Service and thereby committed an offence contrary to the provisions of Section 3(3) of the Money Laundering Act, No. 14 of 2022 and punishable under Section 3 (5) of the same Act.” He pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him. Following his guilty plea, prosecution counsel, Nnaemeka Omewa, called on Michael Olayemi, an operative of the EFCC, to review the facts of the case. Olayemi told the court about the events that led to the investigation of the defendant, saying “ At 1.20p.m. on February 12, 2025, we got an intelligence report from the Nigerian Customs Service that it intercepted the defendant with the monetary exhibit of the sum of $40,000. “Upon this, I detailed one of my team leads whom I supervise, Lanre Michael, to go and pick the individual and the exhibit from the Nigeria Customs at Murtala Mohammed Airport”, he said. Continuing, he said: “At about 4pm, he reported with the defendant, the monetary exhibit and the defendant’s international passport. The defendant was in possession of two phones with which he called his lawyer and relatives. “In the presence of his relatives, he volunteered his statement under words of caution, where he admitted that he was travelling via Qatar Air to Seoul, the capital of South Korea. “He also stated that he was accosted by Customs Officers, where he was asked if he had any currency on him to declare, to which he said “No “. In his further evidence, Olaremi told the court that “The statement warranted me to invite the personnel of the Nigeria Customs Service, Ogar Sadin John. “John, in his statement, said that when he accosted Igboezue, he claimed that he had no money. He, however, said he was skeptical. “Upon searching him, he found the money hidden in one of his shoes in his hand luggage.” He added that the monetary exhibit was registered with the exhibit keeper , while the suspect was served with an administrative bail. Omewa, thereafter, sought to tender the defendant’s statement and the monetary exhibit recovered from him. The Judge admitted the documents and marked them as exhibits. Justice Owoeye thereafter found Igboezue guilty and sentenced him to one month imprisonment, with effect from the date of his arrest on February 12, 2025.

Court Orders Final Forfeiture of Abuja, Kano Properties

Our Reporters1 month ago1 month ago05 mins

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Thursday, April 3, 2025 secured a final forfeiture of two properties to the federal government before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja. The properties are located in FCT, Abuja and Kano state. Both properties which are linked to Aminu Sidi Garunbabba, a senior staff of the Federal Inland Revenue Services, FIRS are a four bedroom terrace masonite with boys quarter, situated in Barumark Groove Estate, Plot 667 Cadastral Zone BO3, Wuye District, Abuja and the other at N0 5 Lodge Road, Kano State. The order was given following a motion ex-parte for their final forfeiture, dated March 16, 2022 and filed by the Commission, through its counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, pursuant to Section 44(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Section 17 of Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Offences Act, No 14, 2006. The court had on February 16, 2022, granted an interim forfeiture order of the properties and directed the publication of the order in a national newspaper to make for any interested party to show cause as to why the properties should not be finally forfeited to the federal government. Moving the motion for the final forfeiture order at Thursday’s sitting, the prosecution counsel informed the court that the property was reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities. However, the defence counsel in a preliminary objection, raised concerns that a public officer cannot be investigated and prosecuted when an ongoing administrative disciplinary action is yet to be concluded. Justice Egwatu after listening to the submissions of the counsel dismissed the objection and granted the request of the prosecution for a final forfeiture. The judge held that the matter was a non-conviction based forfeiture which is different from a criminal charge that targets an individual and the simultaneous actions do not amount to abuse of court process. “This case targets properties suspected to be proceeds of crime, the two cases are different. A criminal case requires proving beyond reasonable doubt while in this case, only a suspicion suffices. Both actions can go on simultaneously and one cannot abate the other. The parties are different, the target in both cases are different, one is proved beyond reasonable doubt and the other is reasonable suspicion. The issues are also different, a person cannot be allowed to benefit from illegitimate acts. The respondent failed to show any reasonable cause that the funds used in purchasing the property is from his legitimate earnings, so the request for final forfeiture is granted” The journey to the final forfeiture started with EFCC’s intelligence that unraveled the corrupt activities of staffers of FIRS who conspired among themselves and defrauded the Service of millions of naira under the guise of Duty Tour Allowances for non-existence trips.

Senator Abbo: I Lost My Senatorial Seat Due to Judicial Banditry

Our Reporters2 months ago2 months ago04 mins

Former lawmaker representing Adamawa North in the Senate, Elijah Ishaku Abbo, has alleged that he lost his senatorial seat in the 10th Senate due to what he described as “judicial banditry.” Abbo made the claim during an interview on Arise News Channel’s PrimeTime show on Wednesday night, monitored by our correspondent. He accused the judiciary of manipulating the 2023 election outcome against him. “I lost my senatorial seat through judicial banditry because there is no law that backs what happened,” Abbo asserted. “I believe the judge knows what she did, and that is why she had to send Ken Nnamani to my house to come and beg me.” According to Abbo, former Senate President Nnamani’s visit was a confirmation of irregularities in the judicial process. “And it’s true, Ken Nnamani is still alive,” he added, emphasising that the former Senate President could corroborate his claims. The former federal lawmaker further criticised the court’s decision, particularly the cancellation of election results in two out of five local government areas of Adamawa North without ordering a rerun. “A situation where a judge said that an election that took place in five local governments, and she cancelled the election in two local governments, disenfranchised two local governments, 263 polling units, and did not order a re-election as the law stipulates—that is not the law, that is robbery, that is a coup against democracy,” he maintained. Abbo also alleged that the judge was pressured to rule against him, claiming that the judicial system was compromised. “Of course, she was pressured, and I have stated it time and time again. Unfortunately, I petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC), but the NJC has become a body that only punishes small judges—Magistrates and High Court Judges—but cannot punish big Judges,” he said. Expressing frustration over what he described as a lack of accountability in the judiciary, Senator Abbo advocated the dissolution of the NJC, arguing that it had failed in its duty. “They should dismantle the NJC, they are doing nothing,” he declared. “I am advocating that the NBA should be the one punishing judges by passing a vote of no confidence on erring judges,” he added. LEADERSHIP recalls that the Court of Appeal in Abuja had, on October 16, 2023, nullified Abbo’s election and declared Amos Yohanna of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the rightful winner of the February 25, 2023 senatorial election in Adamawa North. Read Also:https://trendbrio.com/akpabio-to-abbo-you-are-bitter-and-desperate-for-political-relevance/

VP Shettima Heads To Dakar To Represent Tinubu At Senegal’s 65th Independence

Our Reporters2 months ago2 months ago01 mins

The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has departed Abuja for Dakar, Senegal, to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the country’s 65th Independence Day Anniversary celebrations. Senegal celebrates its Independence Day on April 4 each year, commemorating its freedom from French colonial rule in 1960. The day is marked by national pride, with ceremonies, parades and cultural events. The Vice President’s attendance at the annual event is in honour of an invitation extended to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by the Senegalese President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, following the strong mutual relationship between Nigeria and Senegal. The independence Day celebrations will be held at the Place de la Nation in Dakar, with President Faye playing host to Vice President Shettima and other distinguished guests from across Africa and beyond. The Vice President is expected to return to Nigeria tomorrow after the one-day event.

Akpabio Petitions IGP Over Alleged Assassination Claim by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

Kogi Govt Calls Akpoti Uduaghan Allegations Baseless Urges Security Action

Our Reporters2 months ago2 months ago02 mins

The Kogi State Government has dismissed allegations made by suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan, calling them false and an attempt to manipulate public opinion. Kingsley Fanwo, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, said the government took note of a now-deleted post on Akpoti Uduaghan’s Facebook page, where she claimed that Governor Usman Ododo, former Governor Yahaya Bello, and Senate President Godswill Akpabio should be held responsible if anything happened to her. Fanwo accused her of trying to incite unrest in Kogi Central by violating the state’s ban on political gatherings, asserting that her visit to the area was intended to cause violence. “Governor Ododo has no interest in the suspended senator’s political theatrics. Her baseless claims are an attempt to stir controversy and distract from her disregard for the law,” he said. Fanwo also accused Akpoti Uduaghan of ignoring security directives and causing disturbances in the state, claiming her actions aligned with intelligence reports about a planned disruption of peace in Kogi Central. He called on security agencies to monitor her “reckless utterances and inflammatory actions,” emphasizing the government’s commitment to law and order. “Kogi State remains peaceful under Governor Ododo, and we will not allow anyone to disrupt our progress,” Fanwo stated. He also warned that Akpoti Uduaghan would be held responsible if her actions led to violence in the state.

Tinubu Embarks on Working Visit to Paris

Our Reporters2 months ago4 weeks ago01 mins

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart for Paris, France, today on a short working visit. During the visit, the President will appraise his administration’s midterm performance and assess key milestones. He will also use the retreat to review the progress of ongoing reforms and engage in strategic planning ahead of his administration’s second anniversary. This period of reflection will inform plans to deepen ongoing reforms and accelerate national development priorities in the coming year. Recent economic strides reinforce the President’s commitment to these efforts, as evidenced by the Central Bank of Nigeria reporting a significant increase in net foreign exchange reserves to $23.11 billion—a testament to the administration’s fiscal reforms since 2023 when net reserves were $3.99 billion. While away, President Tinubu will remain fully engaged with his team and continue to oversee governance activities. He will return to Nigeria in about a fortnight.

Tinubu Reconstitutes NNPCL Board, Appoints New Chairman, Group CEO

Our Reporters2 months ago2 months ago07 mins

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a sweeping reconstitution of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited board, removing the chairman, Chief Pius Akinyelure and the group chief executive officer, Mallam Mele Kolo Kyari. President Tinubu removed all other board members appointed with Akinyelure and Kyari in November 2023. The new 11-man board has Engineer Bashir Bayo Ojulari as the Group CEO and Ahmadu Musa Kida as non-executive chairman. Adedapo Segun, who replaced Umaru Isa Ajiya as the chief financial officer last November, has been appointed to the new board by President Tinubu. Six board members, non-executive directors, represent the country’s geopolitical zones. They are Bello Rabiu, North West, Yusuf Usman, North East, and Babs Omotowa, a former managing director of the Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas( NLNG), who represents North Central. President Tinubu appointed Austin Avuru as a non-executive director from the South-South, David Ige as a Non-executive director from the South West, and Henry Obih as a non-executive director from the South East. Mrs Lydia Shehu Jafiya, permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, will represent the ministry on the new board, while Aminu Said Ahmed will represent the Ministry of Petroleum Resources. All the appointments are effective today, April 2. President Tinubu, invoking the powers granted under Section 59, subsection 2 of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, emphasised that the board’s restructuring is crucial for enhancing operational efficiency, restoring investor confidence, boosting local content, driving economic growth, and advancing gas commercialisation and diversification. President Tinubu also handed out an immediate action plan to the new board: to conduct a strategic portfolio review of NNPC-operated and Joint Venture Assets to ensure alignment with value maximisation objectives. Since 2023, the Tinubu administration has implemented oil sector reforms to attract investment. Last year, NNPC reported $17 billion in new investments within the sector. The administration now envisions increasing the investment to $30 billion by 2027 and $60 billion by 2030. The Tinubu administration targets raising oil production to two million barrels daily by 2027 and three million daily by 2030. Concurrently, the government wants gas production jacked to 8 billion cubic feet daily by 2027 and 10 billion cubic feet by 2030. Furthermore, President Tinubu expects the new board to elevate NNPC’s share of crude oil refining output to 200,000 barrels by 2027 and reach 500,000 by 2030. The new board chairman, Ahmadu Musa Kida, is from Borno State. He is an alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he received a degree in civil engineering in 1984. He also obtained a postgraduate diploma in petroleum engineering from the Institut Francaise du Petrol (IFP) in Paris He started his career in the oil industry at Elf Petroleum Nigeria and later joined Total Exploration and Production as a trainee engineer in 1985. Musa became Total Nigeria’s Deputy Managing Director of Deep Water Services in 2015. Last year, he became an Independent Non-Executive Director at Pan Ocean-Newcross Group. Apart from his oil industry career, Ahmadu Musa Kida is a former basketballer and the president of the Nigerian Basketball Federation(NBBF) board. Ojulari, the new NNPC Limited Group CEO, hails from Kwara State. Until his new appointment, He was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Renaissance Africa Energy Company. His Renaissance recently led a consortium of indigenous energy firms in the landmark acquisition of the entire equity holding in the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), worth $2.4 billion. Like Kida, Ojulari is also an alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He worked for Elf Aquitaine as the first Nigerian process engineer to begin a stellar career in the oil sector. From Elf, he joined Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd in 1991 as an associate production technologist. Apart from working in Nigeria, he worked in Europe and the Middle East in different capacities as a petroleum process and production engineer, strategic planner, field developer, and asset manager. In 2015, he became the managing director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO). During his career, he was chairman and member of the board of trustees of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE Nigerian Council) and a fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers. President Tinubu thanked the old board members for their dedicated service to NNPC Limited, particularly their efforts in rehabilitating the old Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, which enabled them to resume petroleum product production after prolonged shutdowns. He wished them well in their future endeavours.

Kano Commends FG and Edo’s Swift Response to Uromi Killings

Our Reporters2 months ago2 months ago04 mins

The Kano State Government has commended the Federal Government and the Edo State Government for their swift response in managing the aftermath of the gruesome killing of 16 Kano indigenes in Uromi, Edo State. Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, expressing deep sorrow over the tragic incident, lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Edo Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, for their prompt intervention, which included dispatching delegations to Kano in a show of solidarity and concern. “We extend profound appreciation to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and His Excellency, Governor of Edo State, Sen. Monday Okpebholo, for the visit of Federal Government delegation and that of the Governor of Edo State in a show of solidarity and concern over this tragic incident,” Yusuf stated. In a statement on Tuesday by Kano Commissioner of Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, Yusuf reiterated his demand for justice and stressed the importance of transparency in the legal proceedings against those responsible. “Justice must not only be done; it must be seen to be done. The people of Kano, and indeed all Nigerians, deserve to see those responsible for this massacre brought to justice publicly,” he said. Yusuf also commended Okpebholo’s engagement with the Hausa community in Edo State to prevent further escalation of tensions.He particularly acknowledged the Edo State Government’s commitment to compensating the bereaved families, urging that the compensation be executed without delay. “The compensation which the delegation promised is a commendable step, but it must be executed without delay to support the grieving families who have lost their breadwinners,” he noted. The swift intervention by the Federal Government, according to Yusuf, underscores its commitment to the security and protection of all Nigerians, irrespective of their state of origin. Residents of Torankawa, the hometown of most of the victims, also voiced appreciation for the concerted efforts of the Federal and Edo State Governments in addressing the matter. Both Governors pledged to ensure a thorough and transparent justice process to prevent such an unfortunate incident from recurring anywhere in the country. The Kano State Government reaffirmed unwavering commitment to justice, vowing to closely monitor the situation to ensure that the victims’ families receive the compensation and support they deserve.