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Court sentences Adamawa ex-NBA Chairman, Magistrate to 3 years each, over fraud

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Court okays ex-Unity Bank Manager’s dismissal over N72m fraud

…Summons Dokubo, others over alleged diversion of slots, stipends***

A Federal High Court in Yola on Thursday sentenced a former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chairman, Binanu Esthon and Magistrate Shehu Mustapha, to three years in prison each for fraud.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Esthon and Mustapha with seven counts bordering on fraud in 2015.

Delivering judgment, Justice Bilkisu  Aliyu, held that the convicts were sentenced for stealing and defrauding 502 retired staff of the Stirling Civil Engineering Nigeria limited in Adamawa  in 2007 of N67 million.

She held that Mustapha stole money belonging to 502 retired workers of the debtor company.

“The convicts stole from workers who retired and were not paid any benefit over years.

“The second convict as a judicial officer who was in the position of authority to give the retired workers justice and reprieve, failed to do so. Rather, caused untold hardship on them.

“Mustaoha has done a great disservice to the administration of justice in general and his conduct is highly condemned,” she held.

On Esthon, she said, as counsel for the complainants, he failed in his scared duty to uphold the rule of law and ensure justice was upheld always as a lawyer.

Aliyu held that Esthon participated in causing more harm to his clients whose interest he ought to protect.

She held that the three years sentence was the maximum punishment provided for the offence of criminal conversion by Section 390 of the Criminal Code Act Cap. C38 LFN 2004 and demand for the amendment.

She ordered the EFCC to take urgent steps to recover the money for on ward payment to the retired workers.

Reacting to the judgment, EFCC counsel, Mr. Ahmad Muntaka, said justice has taken it course in the trial.

In the meantime, a Federal High Court in Yenagoa on Thursday summoned Prof. Charles Dokubo, Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty over alleged diversion of stipends meant for 75 former militants.

Also summoned to appear before Justice Awogboro Abimbola on October 4, are Mr. Isaac Ityohuma and Mr. Aroloye Brown, Director of Finance and Accounts and Head of Reintegration in the Presidential Amnesty office.

Also read:  Alleged N20.1m fraud: Ex-NBA, Ikeja chairman carried money in polythene bags

Abimbola adjourned the case until Oct. 4 for continuation of hearing after taking evidence from the ex-militants’ leader, Mr Clinton Oroupade, who was also a prosecution witness.

The defendants were dragged to court by some 75 ex-militants under the Benuwolo Camp in the 2nd phase of the scheme, who accepted the Presidential Amnesty in 2010.

The militants are demanding payment of outstanding N492 million for the 75 members of the camp from January 2011 to May 2019.

When the matter came up for hearing on Thursday, Oroupade told the court that his group was documented and allocated 75 slots but received no stipends afterward.

He tendered several documents, agreements and affidavits from prior efforts by the Amnesty office to resolve the issue by reverting 10 out of the 75 slots before the court.

However, the defence led counsel, Mr. Tamaratarei Ali-Bozi, did not object to the documents tendered.

The group urged the court to declare that the alleged fraudulent manipulation of the 75 slots allotted to Benuwolo Camp by officials of the Amnesty Office in connivance with some ex-militants as unlawful.

The militants had in their statement of claims filed by their Counsel, Mr. Richard Turner urged the court to order the Amnesty Office to revert the 75 slots of the Camp and halt further diversion of slots by the office.

 

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#EndBadGovernance: Court Admits 10 Protesters to N10m Bail Each 

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#EndBadGovernance: Court Admits 10 Protesters to N10m Bail Each 

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday admitted 10 #EndBadGovernance protesters charged with treason to a N10 million bail each with one surety each like sum.

Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling on their bail applications, agreed with the submissions of the counsel for the defendants.

Justice Nwite ordered that each of the defendants’ sureties must own a landed property in Abuja and submit the property documents to the court’s registrar.

The press reported that the Federal Government had, on Sept. 2, arraigned the protesters on counts bordering on treason, intent to destabilise Nigeria, conspiracy to commit felony and inciting mutiny, among others, which are punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code.

The Federal Government, through the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police, filed the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/454/2024 on Aug. 30 against the defendants.

10 of the 124 persons arraigned included Michael Adaramoye also known as Lenin; Adeyemi Abayomi, Suleiman Yakubu, Opaluwa Simon, Angel Innocent, Buhari Lawal, Mosiu Sadiq, Bashir Bello, Nuradeen Khakis and Abdusalam Zubairu.

It was also reported that some youths staged a nationwide protest against economic hardship in the country between Aug. 1 and Aug. 10.

The demonstration turned violent in some parts of the country, with looting and vandalism recorded in some states.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty.

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Gov. Makinde Begins Annual Leave Aug. 5; APC Begs Nigerians To Shun Protest

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Gov. Makinde Begins Annual Leave Aug. 5; APC Begs Nigerians To Shun Protest

Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has written to the State House of Assembly to inform it of his intention to embark on his annual leave.

The governor’s letter was read on the floor of the House by the Speaker, Mr Adebo Ogundoyin, during Thursday’s valedictory plenary held in honour of Mrs Yetunde Awe, the House Clerk.

The governor also indicated in his message his desire to transfer executive powers to his Deputy, Mr Bayo Lawal.

Lawal is to serve in an acting capacity in Makinde’s absence, and Makinde’s leave will begin on Aug. 5 and end on Sept. 6.

“Based on Section 190 sub-section 1, I hereby transmit that during the period indicated above, Deputy Governor Lawal shall be the acting Governor.

“I shall be back from the vacation on Sept. 7,” Makinde said in the letter.

Similarly, the House also swore in Mrs. Taiwo Muraina-Akinola, who was formerly the Deputy Clerk, as the Substantive Clerk of the House to replace Awe who is retiring from the state civil service. Her swearing-in followed her recommendation by the House of Assembly Commission.

In another development, a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun,  Mr Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has appealed to Nigerians, especially the youths, to shun the planned nationwide protest.

Oyintiloye urged Nigerians to continue to keep faith in President Bola Tinubu-led administration in its ability to revamp the economy.

The APC chieftain, a member of the defunct APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), appealed while speaking with newsmen on Thursday in Osogbo.

He urged Nigerians to see a promising future in the government’s framework capable of pulling the country out of the current economic quagmire inherited from the past administrations.

He said that Nigerians’ expectation to get dividends of democracy was high owing to their trust in the president’s pedigree as an astute manager of men and resources.

Oyintiloye, a former lawmaker, said that the government was working tirelessly to meet the expectations and yearning of Nigerians.

He said that the intention of the president by removing the fuel subsidy and merging the foreign exchange rates, among other policies was to improve the economy and not to inflict pain on Nigerians.

The APC chieftain said that Nigerians should give more time for the president to fully develop the economy, which is going through the recovery process.

“With all sense of humility and modesty, we must appreciate the people of this country for their endurance, perseverance and unflinching support as we are passing through the dark tunnel.

“But one certain thing is that after these temporary pains, we shall all live in abundance.

“Although the task is herculean, but we are gradually navigating through the storm and challenges the country is passing through.

“In the real sense of it, this present government is working tirelessly on how to stabilise the economy, foreign exchange rates, inflation, and price control.

“With the initiatives and programme designed for good governance by the president, we are getting to the coast of self-sufficiency and economic stability.

“Our people should believe in the leadership of the president and the Renewed Hope Agenda of his administration, in due course, we shall laugh last.

“I strongly believe that with a little patience from Nigerians, we shall soon live in abundance. Let’s exercise a little patience, he said.

Oyintiloye, who noted that the president felt the pains Nigerians were passing through, said that was why he pleaded with Nigerians to be patient with him. 

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NNPP: Founder, Dr Aniebonam Goes Stoic on Kwankwaso and Galadima’s Defection

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NNPP: Founder, Dr Aniebonam Goes Stoic on Kwankwaso and Galadima's Defection

…Urges Members to Remain Calm and Trust in God’s Intervention

The founder of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Dr. Aniebonam Boniface Okechukwu, has finally adopted stoicism on the defection of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Elder Buba Galadima, two prominent members of the party. 

In a lengthy statement, Dr Okechukwu expressed his disappointment and sadness over the betrayal of trust by his “friends and brothers” but urged members of the party to remain calm and trust in God’s intervention.

According to Dr. Okechukwu, the defection of Kwankwaso and Galadima is a temporary setback and a human activity that will not change the name and fate of the party. 

He described the duo as ‘men’ who were deceived by fake marabouts but hoped that they would soon realize their mistakes and return to the party.

Dr Okechukwu also called on members of the party to be patient and work hard, assuring them that God would soon intervene and restore the party to its rightful owners.

 He referenced the party’s past victory at the Supreme Court in Kano as a testament to God’s power and intervention.

The full statement by Dr. Okechukwu reads:

“My attention has been continuously drawn to the avoidable propaganda and circumstances of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Elder Buba Galadima. 

“These elder statesmen are my good friends and brothers with bad intentions. It is human, noting that no human being can be predicted. I do know that the first law of God is choice. They chose the channel of betrayal of trust.

“None of you should be worried because the New Nigeria People’s Party belongs to God, and we shall continue to work hard and serve Him. Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Elder Buba Galadima are not above God, and He shall intervene at the appropriate time.

“All you people should do is work hard and pray for Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Elder Buba Galadima for the wisdom of God and protection because they do not really know what they are doing as mortals.

“What is certain, as you people can see, is that they cannot change the name – New Nigeria People’s Party. This simply means that nothing has happened. The illegal conversion of the colour, logo, and constitution are human activities which, of course, are temporary.

“What I will advise all of you is to bear with INEC in their shortcomings, which are human and the work of the devil. What is certain is that Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Elder Buba Galadima may be agents of the devil, betrayal of trust and kindness. When God decides to call them to order, we shall all be witnesses to the heavenly divine intervention and glory.

“God did it for us in Kano at the Supreme Court of Nigeria. He shall do it again to show that He is God. You should all remain peaceful and work hard. Let us be patient with God because He shall soon intervene, and His party shall be returned to His children.

“When that happens, the logo, colour, and constitution shall be reversed in His honour and glory. No one should be worried because He with God is with the majority.

“We do know from the physical appearance of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Elder Buba Galadima at the moment that they are burdened, and we are aware that the fake marabouts are deceiving them. Let us pray for them for life and good health, politics or no politics. What is certain is that we are brothers.

“Remark – Supreme Court of Nigeria is the final judgment, and God’s decision prevails at God’s time before or thereafter. Let us remain calm in the event of extreme provocation. Our party shall come back to us, and that is the word of God”, Dr. Aniebonam Boniface stated further.

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