News

Summary from Nigerian Newspapers for today

Published

2 years ago

August 19, 2022

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1. Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has struck out a suit seeking nullification of submission of the name of Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the last July 26 election. The judge on Thursday struck down the suit on the ground that the plaintiff lacked the locus standi to institute the case.

2. President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, as well as relevant agencies to address the threats posed by explosive remnants in the North East. The President issued the order on Thursday on the occasion of World Humanitarian Day 2022 in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

3. The Kaduna State Government, on Thursday, said security operatives have cleared the camp of a notorious bandit, Lawal Kwalba, in Rafin Dawa and recovered 27 bags of fertilizer in the Dende general area of Chikun Local Government. Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Kaduna State, in a statement, said troops also recovered some batteries, one motorcycle and two mobile phones.

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4. The Minister of Finance and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, has disclosed that Nigeria spends N18.69 billion daily on petroleum subsidies. She stated this on Thursday when she appeared before the House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating oil subsidies.

5. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has disclosed that from next week, Nigerians will be able to transact on eNaira wallets through the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data code on mobile phones. Godwin Emefiele, the CBN Governor, disclosed this at the Grand Finale of the 2022 eNaira Hackathon in Abuja, on Thursday.

6. A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, fixed October 12 for hearing, a suit seeking disqualification of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu from 2023 election on alleged certificate forgery. Justice Obiora Egwuatu fixed the new date to enable parties in the suit complete filing of their processes and exchange the same as required by law before the adjourned date.

READ Summary from Nigerian Newspapers today

7. The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has said Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State did not stop the sit-at-home order in the State. Emma Powerful, the spokesperson of IPOB, said the group cancelled the sit-at-home order on the advice of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

8. The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has given a reason why its meeting with the Federal Government of Nigeria ended in a deadlock earlier this week. ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, in a statement on Thursday said ASUU rejected the Federal Government’s offer because it is “miserable”.

9. The Lagos State Government has extended the ban on commercial motorcycles, (okada) to four more Local Government Areas and five Local Council Development Areas. The Commissioner for Transport, Dr Frederic Oladeinde, confirmed this on Thursday.

10. Speaker of House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has said that what transpired during the meeting between former president Olusegun Obasanjo and the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, assures of the latter’s victory, come 2023. Gbajabiamila made the statement on Thursday while speaking at the Surulere Local Government Area APC meeting in Surulere, Lagos.

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News

Court grants EFCC order to freeze 1,146 accounts over ‘unauthorised foreign exchange’ transactions

Published

2 hours ago

April 29, 2024

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A federal high court in Abuja has granted an interim order to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to freeze at least 1,146 bank accounts belonging to individuals and companies over “unauthorised foreign exchange” transactions.

The commission is also investigating the individuals for “money laundering and terrorism financing”.

Emeka Nwite, the presiding judge, granted the order while ruling on an ex-parte motion moved by Ekele Iheanacho, counsel to the EFCC.

The court also ordered the commission to conclude the investigation within 90 days.

“That an order of this honourable court is hereby made freezing the bank accounts stated in the schedule below which accounts are owned by various individuals who are currently being investigated in a case involving the offences of unauthorised dealing in foreign exchange, money laundering and terrorism financing to the extent that the investigation will be for a period of 90 (Ninety) days,” the judge ruled.

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NAN reports that though the ruling was delivered on April 24, the certified true copy was seen on Monday.

The motion by the anti-graft agency was brought under section 44 (2) and (K) of the 1999 Constitution; section 34 of the EFCC Establishment Act 2004; section 7(8) of the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022 and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.

The commission said, “the bank accounts in respect of which the reliefs are sought are subject matters of investigation by the EFCC in relation to money laundering and terrorism financing”.

“That preliminary investigation conducted thus far reveals that the bank accounts are linked to persons who take advantage of the virtual cryptocurrency exchange platforms to illegally manipulate the value of Naira and launder proceeds of unlawful activities,” the agency added in the motion filed before the court.

“That there is a need to preserve the funds in the identified bank accounts pending the conclusion of the investigation and possible prosecution.”

READ Newspaper Headlines: 10 highlights of the day

Nwite consequently adjourned the matter until July 23 for mention.

Some of the account names mentioned in the attached schedule are Akitoye Adeyemi Ayomide with GTBank account number: 0165110025; Clyp Trading Ltd, Titan Trust Bank account number: 0000331101; Clyp Consulting Ltd, Providous account number: 9401374554; and Toyetech Platforms Ltd, Titan Trust Bank account number: 0000134962.

Others are Winx International Platforms Ltd, Titan Trust Bank account number: 0000135055; Shutterscore Trading Platforms Ltd, Access Bank account number: 1532363954; Tradecillion Trading Ltd, Stanbic IBTC account number: 0045672922; and Nsofor Nmamdi, GTBank account number: 0449088666

Kora Payments Network Ltd-Operations, UBA account number: 1022242089; Renderstack Technologies Ltd, Zenith Bank account number: 1210355120; Korex Payments Ltd, Globus account number: 5000007837; and Awe Microfinance Bank Ltd, Providous account number: 5400760781; and Victor Asuquo, Opay Digital Services Ltd account number: 9020132068.

Others are Akingbade Sabit Juwon, ECONANK account number: 3442053006; Nsofor Nnamdi, Union Bank account number: 0140460572; Asuquo Samuel, First Bank account number: 3153199542; Oty Ugochukwu Stanley, FCMB account number: 4039304011; Oty & Sons Global Concepts, Fidelity Bank account number: 6060410145; and Pelumi Ayandoye, Wema Bank account number: 0234852277; and David Ajala, Fidelity Bank account number: 5090680780, among others.

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Published

2 hours ago

April 29, 2024

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The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) says it does not have access to petroleum products.

Queues resurfaced in fuel stations amid petrol scarcity, which led to an increase in transport costs.

On April 25, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited attributed the situation to logistics issues, assuring Nigerians that “they have been resolved”.

Speaking on Monday during Channels TV’s the Morning Brief breakfast programme, Billy Gillis-Harry, PETROAN president, said there is still a delay in supply to retail outlets.

“Well, from my perspective as a retail outlet owner and representing all the retail outlet owners who are members of PETROAN, I can tell you that our challenge is that we do not have access to the product,” he said.

“So, once the product is available in all the depots, and we are being issued our products, we will certainly complement NNPC’s efforts to make sure that all the stations are wet and we are doing that consistently.

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“Even in this season, at this time, NNPC in the last few weeks have squeezed in loading barges to encourage everyone including the NNPC stations and Petroan members and even IPMAN members and we are taking products bit by bit to our various stations.”

He said NNPC is making frantic efforts to solve supply issues, adding that the association is also mounting pressure on the system to ensure that there are petroleum products.

News

Court knocks FG for lack of diligent prosecution in Tukur Mamu’s terrorism financing case

Published

5 hours ago

April 29, 2024

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A federal high court in Abuja has reprimanded the federal government for lack of diligent prosecution in the charge filed against Tukur Mamu, publisher of Desert Herald newspaper.

At the court session on Monday, David Kaswe, prosecution counsel, was not in court despite having entered his name on the cause list, indicating his presence.

Abdul Mohammed, Mamu’s counsel, urged the court to stand down the matter to await Kaswe’s return.

However, the prosecution lawyer was still not in court when the case was called again after the judge had delivered a judgment.

Inyang Ekwo, the presiding judge, expressed surprise over “the miraculous disappearance” of the federal government’s lawyer in court.

“I am also aware that the prosecution was in court this morning, but as to the miracle of the disappearance of the prosecution as at the time this matter comes up for hearing is beyond my understanding,” Ekwo said.

“This antic of the prosecution is only being tolerated in today’s proceeding.

“If the prosecution demonstrates that they are not ready to prosecute this matter either diligently or expeditiously, the court will make the right decision at that point.”

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MAMU ASKS TO BE TRANSFERRED TO KUJE PRISON

Mamu’s lawyer moved an application to transfer his client to the Kuje correctional facility.

He said the prosecution had already responded to the motion.

In the application, the defence counsel said the Department of State Services (DSS) has refused to obey a previous court order which directed that Mamu should be allowed access to his doctors.

He said Mamu would get proper medical attention in Kuje prison.

“This application is brought so that we will take the defendant to the prisons because they always obey court orders there so that if we go there, he will have access to his medical officer,” he said.

“It is completely within the discretion of the court and we do not want to bring an application for contempt as that will take time.

“Therefore, we want the court to vary the order and the defendant will stay in the Kuja correctional facility. That is what we are asking for.”

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The judge adjourned the matter until May 20 for ruling on Mamu’s application.

BACKGROUND

Mamu is standing trial for allegedly aiding the terrorists who attacked the Abuja-Kaduna train in March 2022.

After his arrest in 2022, the federal government said $300,000 was found in his possession.

He was arraigned in March 2023 by the office of the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) on a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism.

However, in March, he pleaded not guilty to all the counts and denied having allegiance to the terrorists.

Mamu is alleged to have received $120,000 as ransom payments on behalf of the Boko Haram terrorist group.

The monies were said to have been received from families of hostages kidnapped during the train attack.

He was also accused of exchanging voice note communications relating to the hostages with one Baba Adamu, a Boko Haram spokesperson.

The federal government also tagged the $300,000 found in Mamu’s possession after his arrest, as terrorist funds.

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Mamu, an aide to Ahmad Gumi, a popular Islamic cleric, was involved in negotiations for the release of the passengers abducted during the attack on a Kaduna-bound train.