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EFCC grants Obiano bail after five days in detention

Published

2 years ago

March 21, 2022

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Former Anambra State governor, Willie Obiano, has been granted bail by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

This was disclosed by the Chairman of the anti-corruption Agency, Abdulrasheed Bawa.

Obiano, who is under investigation for N42 billion fraud, has been in EFCC custody since Thursday when he was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos State, while attempting to leave for the United States.

But speaking to journalists on the sideline of the 5th Annual General Assembly meeting of the Network of National Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa in Abuja on Monday, Bawa explained that the commission was waiting for him to perfect his bail.

Asked why the commission has kept the former governor in its custody, beyond the period allowed by the constitution, Bawa said, “Nothing political about the arrest of the former Anambra State Governor, Wille Obiano. He has been granted bail.”

The anti-graft agency boss insisted that there was nothing political about Obiano’s investigation.

READ Nigerian defrauds Asian-American lady of over $475, 000

“There is nothing political about the investigation. You know what the EFCC stands for.

“We investigate crimes, we look at people that have committed crimes and we link it up together and then we go to court.

“That is all we have been doing and that is what we will continue to do.

“We have been accused of media trial. But we will continue to do our investigations professionally, ” Bawa said.

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UPDATED: Tinubu appoints Jim Ovia as chairman of education loan fund

Published

6 hours ago

April 26, 2024

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President Bola Tinubu has appointed Jim Ovia as the chairman of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesperson, announced the appointment of Ovia, chairman of Zenith Bank, in a statement on Friday.

Ngelale said Tinubu believes that Ovia will bring his immense wealth of experience to ensure that no Nigerian student suffers a paucity of funds in the quest for tertiary education.

On April 3, Tinubu signed the student loans amendment bill into law to provide Nigerians with quality and accessible education.

The law will allow Nigerian students in tertiary institutions to access low-interest loans for tuition and other academic needs.

Subsequently, the president appointed Akintunde Sawyerr as the managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) of the fund.

Tinubu also appointed Frederick Oluwafemi Akinfala as the executive director of finance and administration, while Mustapha Iyal will serve as the executive director of operations of NELFUND.

READ 800,000 PVCs remain uncollected in Oyo –REC

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JUST IN: Tinubu appoints Jim Ovia as chairman of education loan fund

Published

8 hours ago

April 26, 2024

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President Bola Tinubu has appointed Jim Ovia as the chairman of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesperson, announced the appointment of Ovia, chairman of Zenith Bank, in a statement on Friday.

More to follow…

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ICPC detains TETFund boss ‘over questionable N7.6bn project’

Published

12 hours ago

April 26, 2024

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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has detained Sonny Echono, executive secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

Demola Bakare, ICPC spokesperson, confirmed the development on Friday.

Bakare said that Echono was invited by the anti-graft agency on Thursday.

“The executive secretary of TETFund is here with us. He has been invited for questioning. He is still in custody. He was invited yesterday.” Bakare said.

“He was invited on Thursday. He has not been released. He’s still with us. Investigation is still ongoing.”

It was earlier reported that TETfund awarded two contracts to Fides Et Ratio Academy and Pole Global Marketing (PGM) within two months at the cost of N3.8 billion respectively without the approval of the federal executive council (FEC), which is required for the contract size.

The contract was to provide capacity building course and learning management systems to about 2 million students across higher institutions in the country.

READ Emefiele ‘printed N684.5m notes with N18.9bn’, says EFCC in fresh charge

In a rejoinder, TETFund said it did not award N7.6 billion contracts to two companies without due process.

The agency said it was wrong to say they were contracts, whereas they were ICT projects implemented under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) which doesn’t require competitive bidding in public procurement.

TETFund further said its disbursement guidelines were approved by the president on the recommendation of the “Fund’s Board of Trustees and concurrence of the Honourable Minister of Education in line with the TETFund Act 2011″.

In an interview with TheCable, Echono said there was no form of irregularity in the N7.6 billion project.