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EFCC: Why we dropped money laundering charges against Bobrisky

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says the money laundering charges against Bobrisky were dropped lawfully.

 

Bilikisu Bala, the prosecutor, on Monday, told a joint committee of the house of representatives investigating allegations of corruption against some officers of the commission and the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS)) that charges of money laundering dropped in the trial of the crossdresser were lawful and in compliance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).

 

Bala, the prosecutor who handled Bobrisky’s trial, revealed that the charges were dropped following the special control unit against money laundering’s (SCUML) disclosure that the crossdresser’s firm Bob Express wasn’t a designated non-financial institution, business and profession (DNFIBP).

 

“We initially raised six count charges bordering on Naira Abuse and Money Laundering against Okuneye based on his confessional statement that his firm, Bob Express, was not registered with SCUML and was not rendering returns to it. Counts 1-4 were on Naira Abuse while counts five and six were on money laundering. Okuneye’s confession that he didn’t register his firm, Bob Express with SCUML and not rendering returns to it informed the money laundering charges initially included in the six-count charges,” the prosecutor said.

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“However, when we wrote to SCUML on the status of the firm, the Unit responded that it was not a Designated Non-Financial Institution, Business and Profession, DNFIBP. We cannot lawfully sustain the charges in all sincerity. We, therefore dropped them and relied on the four counts on Naira mutilation to which Okuneye had pleaded guilty.”

 

Bala dismissed claims of financial inducement in dropping charges maintaining that no such thing happened.

 

“There is simply no basis for that. The Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, allows amendment of charges. It is a professional practice. It is laughable for anyone to attribute our decision to monetary issues,” she said.

 

“Why did we write to SCUML if we didn’t want to include the charges? We wrote to be lawfully guided and when the Unit responded that the firm had not breached any law, on what basis should we have retained the money laundering charges?”

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EFCC transfers Bobrisky to Abuja for interrogation

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Embattled social media personality and crossdresser Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, who was re-arrested on Thursday night, will face interrogation on alleged bribery and corruption in Abuja.

Bobrisky, according to an official of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, would be flown to Abuja today (Friday).

The controvwrsial crossdresser was stopped and removed from an Amsterdam-bound KLM flight at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and detained by immigration officers late Thursday night while attempting to leave the country for London, the United Kingdom.

The popular cross-dresser posted on his Instagram page to alert followers about the arrest, stating that he had sustained injuries during an altercation with the immigration officers.

Bobrisky alleged that the EFCC was responsible for his detention.

He wrote, “Nigerians help me, EFCC just arrested me. I’m badly injured.”

However, according to sources, his arrest was due to his failure to honour several invitations by the commission following his allegations against the EFCC.

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Bobrisky had, in a voice note shared by a controversial social critic, Martins Otse, aka VeryDarkMan, allegedly said he bribed EFCC officers with N15m to drop money laundering charges against him.

Although the EFCC denied the allegations, it set up a committee to investigate the matter.

At a press briefing on Thursday, the Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwajaren, had hinted that Bobrisky could face a fresh charge from the commission if the allegations against the EFCC were false.

Uwujaren stated that one could be charged for giving false information to the EFCC, let alone making false allegations against the commission.

However, a top source in the commission told our correspondent on Friday that Bobrisky was picked up to prove his allegations against the EFCC.

The source said, “We have arrested him in Lagos today and will be flown to Abuja today. He accused us of bribery and corruption; we invited him severally, but he did not show up. He who alleges must be ready to prove. Those allegations are too weighty to allow slide.

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“Also, remember that he has also refused to show up at the National Assembly on the matter. We are left with no other choice than to pick him up so that he can substantiate his claims. And that is what we have done. “

EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, confirmed Bobrisky’s arrest.

“Bobrisky is on his way to Abuja as we speak,“ he added.

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Marketers can’t lift petrol without NNPC approval – Dangote refinery

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The Dangote Petroleum Refinery says it has not received any payment from the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) for refined petroleum products.

 

In a statement on Thursday, Anthony Chiejina, the company’s group chief branding and communications officer, told IPMAN that the refinery cannot be held accountable for payments made to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), adding that no approval has been received from the national oil firm on the sale of petrol to marketers.

 

On October 29, Aliko Dangote, founder of the Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), said the refinery currently holds over 500 million litres of petrol, but oil marketers are not buying the product.

 

In a counter-response, the IPMAN said its members had been unable to load petrol from the Dangote refinery for days.

 

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on October 30, Abubakar Garima, IPMAN’s president, said the association has paid N40 billion to the NNPC, but still cannot source the product.

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In the refinery’s latest statement, the organisation said it currently has no direct dealings with IPMAN.

 

“Although discussions are ongoing with IPMAN, it is misleading to suggest that they (IPMAN members) are experiencing difficulties loading refined products from our Petroleum Refinery, as we currently have no direct business dealings with them,” the refinery said.

 

“Consequently, we cannot be held responsible for any payments made to other entities.

 

“The payment in mention has been made through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), and not us.

 

“In the same vein, NNPCL has neither approved nor authorised us to release our Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to IPMAN.”

 

Dangote refinery reiterated its ability to meet the nation’s demand for all petroleum products, including petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel.

 

The Chiejina said the refinery is capable of loading 2,900 trucks per day and has also been evacuating petroleum products by sea.

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He advised IPMAN to register with the refinery directly and make direct payments, noting that there is “more than enough petroleum products to satisfy the needs of their members”.

 

“It is instructive for all stakeholders to refrain from making unfounded statements in the media, as that could undermine the economic re-engineering efforts of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Chiejina said.

 

The company also encouraged all stakeholders to collaborate and heed Tinubu’s advice, promoting a unified approach rather than engaging in media conflicts and unnecessary propaganda.

 

On October 10, IPMAN had asked the NNPC to sell PMS to its marketers at the Dangote refinery rate or refund the oil marketers’ money.

 

During the television programme, the president of IPMAN said the marketers’ monies have been with the national oil company for three months.

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News

Good morning! Here Are Some Major News Headlines In The Newspapers Today: Five found dead in Edo as police begin probe into suspected food poisoning

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1. The Police in Edo State have confirmed the death of five and the arrest of one person in connection with food poisoning at Afashio-Uzairue in Etsako West Local Government Area. Edo Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Moses Yamu, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said the food poisoning occurred on October 26, causing panic among residents.

 

2. Oyo State Police Command has confirmed 10 persons dead and eight others injured when a building collapsed in Jegede, Ibadan, the Oyo state capital. Oyo Police spokesman, Adewale Osifeso made this known in a statement.

 

3. The National Economic Council (NEC) has recommended the withdrawal of the Tax Reforms Bill from the National Assembly to President Bola Tinubu to allow for wider consultations. Disclosing this to journalists at the end of the 145th NEC meeting at the State House, Abuja, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, said this formed part of resolutions reached at the meeting.

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4. Minister of Works, David Umahi, has said he will take the responsibility for any poorly constructed roads in the country under the current administration. Umahi explained that the federal government had no excuse not to finish the road projects embarked upon, noting that the ministry was not afraid to wield the ‘big stick’ by terminating the contracts of any erring companies.

 

5. The National Economic Council (NEC), on Thursday, disclosed that about 34 states, 217 local government areas were affected by the recent flooding in the country, adding that 321 persons also lost their lives. The Council also said 1,374,557 persons were affected, 740,743 displaced nationwide while 2,854 persons were injured and 281,000 houses, 258,000 cultivated farmlands were also destroyed by the ravaging flood.

 

6. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says a former minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation, Betta Edu, is still under the investigation of the anti-graft agency despite permanently exiting the cabinet of President Bola Tinubu.

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7. Governors of the 36 states of the federation have expressed dismay over the lingering crisis in the petroleum industry, saying it is shameful that despite being a member of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Nigeria still imports petrol. Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma, made the expression while briefing newsmen in Abuja.

 

8. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau found the wreckage of the helicopter that crashed last Thursday into the Atlantic Ocean while conveying workers of the Nigerian National Petroleum Limited from Port Harcourt. This was contained in a statement issued by the Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs Bimbo Oladeji, on Thursday.

 

9. The Commissioner of Police in Abia State, CP Danladi Isa, on Thursday, confirmed the death of an employee of a new generation bank identified as Mr. Victor Udensi and two others in Umuahia, assuring that the perpetrators would soon be brought to book.

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10. No fewer than 15 people were reportedly killed in a renewed attack by gunmen suspected to be armed herders at Anyiin in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State. The attackers were reported to have invaded the town on Wednesday around 6:32 pm killing people.

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