The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, will on Thursday, July 11, arraign a former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, before Justice J. K. Omotosho for alleged N33 billion money laundering offences.
According to an insider at the commission, Mamman would be arraigned on a 12-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit money laundering and possession and use of known proceeds of criminal conduct.
The charge documents signed by the prosecution counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, and others, which were sighted by TVN read that counts 1-2 border on conspiracy to commit money laundering; counts 3-4 border on money laundering by cash payment in excess of the lawful limit;
count 5 borders on purchase of landed property with cash payment; while counts 6–12 border on possession and use of known proceeds of criminal conduct.
The investigation spanned from 2019 to 2022 when he was a minister under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
BREAKING: EFCC to arraign ex-Power Minister Saleh Mamman for N33bn money laundering
BREAKING: EFCC to arraign ex-Power Minister Saleh Mamman for N33bn money laundering
Prepare your defence, Kaduna Assembly tells El-Rufai’s aides
The Kaduna State House of Assembly on Wednesday asked aides to the immediate-past governor of the state, Malam Nasir El-Rufai to prepare towards defending themselves before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Commission or court.
The state Assembly expressed concern over the former political appointees’ futile attempt to ‘rubbish’ the probe report which indicted the former administration’s alleged mismanagement of N423bn state funds.
The Punch reports that El-Rufai’s former aides said that Sani’s administration has been drawing from the various foreign loans facilitated by the immediate-past government in the state.
The ex-officials dismissed accusations that the El-Rufai government drew down the loans before it exited office in May 2023, just as they described as unfair and irresponsible the allegation by the Kaduna State House of Assembly that the former government mismanaged N423bn state funds.
However, the Kaduna Assembly through its Adhoc Committee Chairman, Henry Magaji, in a statement issued in the state capital on Wednesday, insisted that the committee did a thorough work which unearthed a monumental heist allegedly perpetrated by the former administration in the state.
Magaji, who is also the Deputy Speaker of the House added that an attempt to rubbish the work of the committee won’t work, urging El-Rufai’s former aides to deploy their energies towards preparing their defence before the EFCC, ICPC or court as the case may be.
According to him, the House in line with its constitutional mandate and in response to public demand, carried out a thorough probe into the humongous debts incurred by the immediate past administration without commensurate projects.
He said the house dug deep and unearthed the monumental heist carried out in the state in the guise of project execution which revealed a litany of poorly executed projects, abandoned projects, and projects that exist only in the imagination of “executive scammers.”
Magaji said, “The attention of the Kaduna State House of Assembly has been drawn to a press conference addressed by some senior political appointees of the immediate past administration of Malam Nasir El-Rufai. In the press conference, the former political appointees made strenuous efforts to pick holes in the report of the Probe Committee.
“They resorted to name calling and wild allegations on the motivations for the House Probe. We wish to state as follows: The press conference was just a rehash of the vituperations and innuendoes heaped on us by the former political appointees in their first press briefing.
“There was nothing new that should warrant our response. They failed to address the main issue, which is the systematic and coordinated cornering of the resources of Kaduna State through phoney contracts and outright looting.”
He added that the former governor’s aides failed to address the main issue which was the systematic and coordinated cornering of the resources of Kaduna State through phoney contracts and outright looting.
He stated, “The State House of Assembly, in line with its constitutional mandate and in response to public demand, carried out a thorough probe into the humongous debts incurred by the immediate past administration without commensurate projects.
“We dug deep and unearthed the monumental heist carried out in Kaduna State in the guise of project execution. Our findings revealed a litany of poorly executed projects, abandoned projects, and projects that exist only in the imagination of executive scammers.”
He added, “We have called on anti-corruption agencies to step in and invite indicted persons for questioning. It is the anti-corruption agencies that can either validate or disprove our findings, not individuals who spent their days in public office cornering the common patrimony of the people of Kaduna State and mortgaging the future of its children and grandchildren.
“We urge the former political appointees to deploy their energies towards preparing their defences before the anti-corruption agencies, and eventually the courts. The House of Assembly is not in a battle of wits with them. We have done our duty to the people of Kaduna State. Let them answer to the charges of malfeasance, abuse of office, disrespect for the law and due process levelled against them.
“We are currently in court with the head of the indicted administration, Malam Nasir El-Rufai over the issue of fair hearing. We shall not comment on the matter because it is sub-judice. We stand for the rule of law and due process. The few political appointees who have been making desperate but futile moves to denigrate the House and cover up the alleged fraud perpetrated by the previous government represent no one but themselves.
“If they genuinely have the interest of Kaduna State and are truly men and women of integrity, they would have applied themselves to developing the state instead of participating in the alleged pilfering of its scarce resources.”
Recall that an ad-hoc committee set up by the state House of Assembly to investigate all finances, loans and contracts awarded under the immediate-past governor had indicted El-Rufai and some of his appointees of siphoning N423bn state funds.
The Assembly, while adopting the report of the 13-man panel, asked the state governor to refer El-Rufai, his finance commissioner and other aides to relevant security agencies for investigation.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission subsequently set up a panel to investigate the alleged fraud.
Edo strengthens gender policy with GIZ partnership, training
The Edo State government and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit on Wednesday said they are working together to begin the Gender Policy implementation in the state.
This was reached at a two-day workshop for the Edo Gender Technical Working Group organised by the Skill Development for Youth Employment, a GIZ subsidiary.
SKYE’s Helen Igboka said a capacity-building workshop was held ahead of the state Gender policy implementation.
She said that the gender policy development process began in 2022 and was launched in 2023 by Betsy Obaseki, the wife of the state governor.
Igboka noted that following the successful validation phase of the policy development process, the policy was now poised for comprehensive implementation across the state.
She noted that the workshop was a critical milestone in empowering relevant stakeholders, using the Edo Gender Technical Working Group as a vehicle, with the necessary skills to mainstream gender policy in a transformative way.
She added, “The workshop is expected to culminate in strengthening capacities among Technical Working Group members to support the ongoing gender mainstreaming efforts and facilitate community engagement.
“By the fourth quarter of 2024, the TWG anticipates delivering its inaugural annual report, showcasing progress towards a more inclusive and gender-responsive Edo,” she added.
The State Commissioner, Ministry of Gender and Social Development, Mrs Christabel Omoh, said the workshop would ensure measurable progress and impactful outcomes.
Participants participated in sessions on gender transformative approaches, policy implementation framework, monitoring, and evaluation strategies, among other topics.
CNN plans to launch paid streaming service, cut 100 jobs
CNN, which has struggled amid the decline of the US cable broadcasting industry, plans to launch a new paid streaming service and to cut about 100 jobs, the company’s CEO said Wednesday.
The network, which once set the pace in cable news, aims for its new $1 billion-plus subscription news product to launch before the end of 2024, Chief Executive Mark Thompson said in a memo to staff.
“We are creating best-in-class, subscriber-first products that provide need-to-know news, analysis and context in compelling formats and experiences,” Thompson said.
“This starts with our first subscription product launching before the end of 2024.”
CNN had unveiled a short-lived for-pay streaming service in 2022 before quickly pulling the plug due to the merger between CNN parent company WarnerMedia and Discovery.
About a year later, Chris Licht was replaced as CEO by Thompson, formerly of the BBC and the New York Times, following criticism of the network’s editorial direction.
Under the new plan, CNN aims for its initial “need-to-know” subscription product to be followed by “want-to-use” paid offerings centered on lifestyle journalism, Thompson said.
CNN also plans to merge three separate newsrooms for US newsgathering, international newsgathering and global digital news into a single organisation.
As a result, the company expects to eliminate about 100 jobs out of the 3,500-person global workforce, Thompson said.
Ratings for CNN in the United States have lately lagged those of rivals Fox News and MSNBC. CNN hosted the first US presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump on June 27.
AFP
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Suspect arrested for vandalising Kano transformer, stolen items recovered
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Kano State Command, has arrested a suspected vandal, identified as Abdulrahman Auwal, of Layin Tankin Magi, Kura Local Government Area of the state.
The Public Relations Officer of the command, SC Ibrahim Idris Abdullahi, confirmed the arrest in a press statement on Tuesday.
According to the statement, operatives from the Garun Malam Divisional Office apprehended the suspect, while vandalising transformer fittings and an electric pole at the Dakasoye village, Garun Malam LGA.
The recovered items included eight rods, three NEPA insulators, 43 quarter rods, three long nuts, and an aluminium rod, including a hammer and chisel.
The suspect, according to the statement, has confessed to the crime and will be charged in court on completion of investigations.
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Livestock ministry: Moving cattle by rail from North to resume soon – NRC
The Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, on Wednesday, disclosed plans for herders to start moving their cattle from the Noth to other parts of the country through rail.
NRC said the movement of cattle from the North to the Southern part of Nigeria via rail will start soon.
Fidet Okhiria, the NRC Managing Director, disclosed this while appearing on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief breakfast show.
He said the movement of cows and other goods would resume with the Warri-Itakpe route.
He said the NRC would modernise the movement of goods in the country “so that when they come by road from the north, they can move them by rail to South-South Warri”.
“We’ve built 15 wagons for livestock and maybe in the next month or two, they would be deployed from Itakpe to Warri to drive the economy.
“You are not developing transportation because you want to make profit in terms of naira and kobo but the profit will come indirectly if we can move goods and link cities,” he said.
This is coming less than 24 hours after President Bola Tinubu announced the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development to cater for the lingering crisis between herders and farmers.
Livestock ministry: Moving cattle by rail from North to resume soon – NRC
Toyin Abraham faces backlash for action against trolls who cursed her over Tinubu’s support
Nollywood actress, Toyin Abraham, is under fire on social media platforms after she reported trolls who cursed her for supporting President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 general election to the police for cyberbullying.
Abraham, during the 2022 election campaign period, had declared her support for Tinubu while assuring her fans that the President had reeled out his ‘Renewed Hope’ action plans that would address some of the nation’s problems and she was convinced that he would perform.
Aside from the popular Nollywood actress, other Yoruba movie stars also declared their support for Tinubu and campaigned vigorously for him.
However, since his emergence on May 29, 2023, the country’s economy has nosedived.
On the inauguration day, Tinubu declared that his administration would no longer subsidise fuel.
His decision has made the price of the Premium Motor Spirit rise from N185 to over N600.
Also, as part of his government’s reforms in the financial sector, the naira has embarked on a continuous free fall against the dollar after the Central Bank of Nigeria floated the currency to move towards market-determined interest rates.
This action has led to the instability of the naira to the dollar in the FX market, making it sell for between N1,200 and N1,500.
Both decisions — naira floating and subsidy removal — which are some of the factors that determine economic growth, have sent more Nigerians below the poverty level.
Meanwhile, netizens have singled out Abraham because she had always defended her political choice, with many expecting that she would one day tell the public how Tinubu intended to address the various problems confronting Nigeria as a country.
In one of her replies to an X user identified as #Lati, she noted that she had moved on to pursue her career as an actress and was not in government or politics.
She also regretted having chosen to remain open to politics during the elections.
“I have faced my life and my career because I am not a politician and I am not in government. I have learned my lesson never ever to be open with my political choice again,” the actress wrote on X.
Despite her explanations, netizens have not stopped calling her out as the country’s woes deepen.
A user on X, who identified as #YVRLO, directed harsh comments towards Abraham and her family, including wishing harm upon her son.
This led Abraham to take legal action. “It is not an abuse of power; it’s a fight against cyberbullying,” Abraham’s spokesman said. “Everyone must understand that actions have consequences, especially online.”
Recently, another X user, who identified as #Ayo, accused Abraham of using Tinubu’s money to do a hair transplant for her husband.
He wrote, “Mrs @Toyin_Abraham walai aiye e ti ta!! (sic) You collect Tinubu money use fo hair transplant for your husband…stoopid fool.”
Abraham, however, reported him to the police for cyberbullying, and he was arrested.
Following that, a user, Ajebo Danny, opined, “Hello @Toyin_Abraham, you will have to send the police to pick all of us. You are shameless.”
The actress replied, “You can abuse me and call me names; it is fine, and as I said, I will accept and take it in cos I’m in the public eyes, but cursing my kids and lying is what I won’t accept, and lastly I NEVER and will NEVER arrest anyone’s mum. I made a report on cybercrime as a citizen.
“I made my report at cybercrime cos the threat to life and curse and threta on my family were beyond what I can take. As for me, abuse me, insult me please, say anything to me please,” she added.
Danny further called the attention of the public to report Abraham’s new movies on Netflix if she refuses to release the arrested troll, noting, “If Ayo is not released today, we will start mass reporting Toyin’s Instagram page and then move to sending mails to Netflix
“These are the official Netflix emails: Netflix Nigeria: [email protected]
[email protected]. Netflix Global: [email protected]. “
One Bayo Otedola said, “Dear @elonmusk, I hope you can see what @toyin_abraham1 has done to people using your platform for free speech. I hope you’re aware that she uses the Nigerian Police force to arrest innocent citizens. Or is free speech not a thing anymore? #FreeAyo.”
Iran court sentences two to death for robbery
An Iranian court has sentenced two convicted robbers to death after finding them guilty of the capital offence of “enmity against God”, the judiciary said on Wednesday.
A third defendant was sentenced to 25 years in prison for his part in the April 8 robbery on a north Tehran highway, the judiciary’s Mizan Online website said.
“Branch 28 of Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced two of the defendants in the case to death on the charge of Moharebeh (enmity against God) through using cold weapons in order to take people’s property and create insecurity,” Mizan said.
All three convicts can appeal to Iran’s Supreme Court.
Iran executes more people a year than any other nation except China, according to human rights groups including Amnesty International.
Norway-based Iran Human Rights said at least 249 people, including 10 women, were executed in Iran in the first six months of 2024.
AFP
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Rescue abducted Kaduna journalists, families, NPAN tells FG
The Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria has charged the Federal Government to ensure the rescue of two Kaduna-based journalists, Abdulgafar Alabelewe and AbdulRaheem Aodu, who were abducted alongside their families by bandits at the weekend.
Alabelewe of The Nation newspapers and Aodu of Blueprint newspapers were kidnapped from their homes in Dahjonu Community, Millennium City area of the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The incident was confirmed by one of the victims’ family members, Taofeeq Olayemi, who disclosed that bandits invaded the community around 10:30 p.m. and carried out their operation after shooting indiscriminately.
It was reported that Abdulraheem’s wife was abandoned in the bush by the bandits because of her health condition.
The NPAN President, Kabiru Yusuf, expressed the association’s concern over the unfortunate incident in a statement on Tuesday as he appealed to the Federal Government to facilitate the rescue of these victims.
Yusuf said, “The Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria is concerned over the safety of Messers Abdulgafar Alabelewe and Mr. AbdulRaheem Abdu, the Kaduna state’s correspondents of The Nation and Blueprint newspapers, respectively, who were abducted last weekend.
“More worrying is the prolonged silence from their abductors, who seized the journalists along with members of their families, including wives and children. The trauma induced on both their biological and professional families by this condemnable event, is better imagined.
“We call on the Federal Government to ensure the safe return of the journalists and their families, by deploying all the necessary security assets at its disposal.”
Yusuf also pleaded with the abductors to ensure the victims were not hurt and returned home safely.
He also sympathised with the families of the journalists as he wished for their safe return.
FCMB Group Plc Holds Analyst and Investor Forum
First City Monument Bank Group Plc on Monday July 8, 2024 held an Analyst & Investor Forum in Lagos. The event was attended by top management executives of the group, as well as business, financial analysts and investors.
See photos from the event below:
From left: Group Chief Executive, FCMB Group Plc, Mr. Ladi Balogun; Executive Director, Coverage & Investment Banking, Mr. Femi Badeji; Group Managing Director, Futureview Group, Mrs. Elizabeth Ebi and Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer, FCMB Group, Mr. Gbolahan Joshua, during the Analyst & Investor Forum organised by FCMB Group on July 8, 2024, in Lagos.
From left: Executive Director, Coverage & Investment Banking, FCMB Group Plc, Mr. Femi Badeji; Group Chief Executive, Mr. Ladi Balogun and Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Gbolahan Joshua, during the Analyst & Investor Forum organised by FCMB Group on July 8, 2024, in Lagos.
READ ALSO:FCMB Group’s profit rises 192.6% in Q1 2024
Cross section of analysts during the Analyst & Investor Forum organised by FCMB Group Plc on July 8, 2024, in Lagos.
Cross section of investors during the Analyst & Investor Forum organised by FCMB Group Plc on July 8, 2024, in Lagos.
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