Television Nigerian

As part of a strategy to combat instability, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Tuesday that the US would give West African countries an extra $45 million, bringing the total funding under the program, which has been in place for a year, to almost $300 million.

In a four-nation tour of African democracies, Blinken met separately Tuesday with President Bola Tinubu and Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara.

The trip was to discuss US-African partnerships over trade, climate, infrastructure, health, security and other issues. It follows a summit in Washington with African leaders in December 2022.

Blinken sought progress combatting coups and extremism in West Africa in talks with two key leaders, as he pointed to Ivory Coast as a model.

AFP reports that while in Abidjan, Blinken hailed Ivory Coast’s stand against last year’s coup in Niger and its approach of “building security together” by investing economically to combat extremism in northern areas bordering Mali and Burkina Faso.

“I have to applaud the approach that’s been taken by Cote d’Ivoire – working with communities, listening to communities, making sure that their security forces understand the needs, the concerns of communities,” Blinken said alongside Ouattara.

“I think that can serve as a very powerful model for other countries,” he added.

“We spent a lot of time discussing mutual security challenges,” Blinken said. “We appreciate Ivory Coast’s leadership in the fight against extremism and violence.”

“We have increased military training by 15 times and are investing in civil protection in Ivory Coast,” Blinken added, according to Reuters.

Blinken promised to boost cooperation on the ground with Ivory Coast, largely through training of its security forces.

Last year was marred by security challenges in Africa including a major coup that toppled democratic leadership in Niger. This is just as terrorists also continue to strike in Nigeria such as the Christmas Eve killing of close to 200 people in Plateau and most recently the kidnapping epidemic plaguing the country.

In a lawsuit brought against surgeon Anuoluwapo Adepoju, who is on trial for allegedly botched buttock enlargement surgery, a Federal High Court in Lagos postponed its decision on Tuesday.

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission brought Adepoju to court (FCCPC).

A five-count charge against her and her clinic, MedContour Services Ltd., centers on the latter’s alleged failure to honor an invitation for an inquiry into issues following body surgery.

On July 17, 2020, she appeared in court again wearing her medical costume.

Following the adoption of each party’s final addresses in November 2023, Justice Mohammed Liman scheduled a Tuesday hearing for decision.
But the judgment was not ready on Tuesday as earlier scheduled, and the court informed parties that a new date will be communicated to parties soon.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the defendant is charged by the Federal Competition and Consumers Protection Commission (FCCPC).

She had pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail on self recognition.

Justice Liman was however, subsequently, transferred out of the Lagos Division of the court, but he still presides over the case on a fiat.

Trial commenced in the suit with the prosecution calling several witnesses, and thereafter closed its case

The defence on its part, filed a no case submission on grounds that no case had been established against the defendant by the prosecution to warrant her entering her defence.

Justice Liman had in a ruling delivered on April 7, 2022 rejected the no case submission filed by the defendant.

Liman had ruled that the evidence so far tendered before the court, satisfies the elements of the criminal charges pending against her.

The court had, consequently, ordered the defendant to open her defence.

The case however, suffered several adjournments on different dates, for various reasons.

On May 5, 2023, the defence began defence and called the first defendant as sole witness.

The defendant was led in evidence and also cross examined after which the court adjourned the case until June 21, 2023, for adoption of written addresses.

On June 21, 2023 the court did not sit and the case was then adjourned until July 17, 2023, and again adjourned until Oct. 24, 2023, and then Nov. 20, 2023.

On Nov. 20, 2023, the adoption of addresses by counsel was held virtually and judgment fixed for Jan. 23 (today)

A new date for judgment will now be communicated to parties.

In the five-counts charge brought against the defendants, the prosecution alleged that the first defendant failed to appear before the FCCPC in relation to investigation into a reported failed buttocks enlargement surgery.

It was claimed that the defendant disregarded the April 15, 2020 summons from the Commission.

In accordance with the Commission’s notice of investigation dated April 14, 2020, the prosecution further claimed that the first defendant failed to present papers that were demanded of her and refused to do so without acceptable justification.

It was claimed that the defendant impeded and hindered the Commission’s inquiry into the subject matter.

The FCCPC Act, 2018, sections 11(1)(a), 33(1)(a), 110, 113(1)(a), and 159(4) are all violated by the offense, according to the state.

In the event of a last-minute change of plans, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is scheduled to arraign Willie Obiano, the immediate past governor of Anambra State, on Wednesday, January 23, before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, regarding allegations of N4,008,573,350 in alleged money laundering.

The former governor will be charged with nine counts, according to a source who spoke on Tuesday.

According to reports, Obiano transferred N4,008, 573, 350 from security votes into other accounts. The money was converted into dollars at different points and given back to Obiano in cash, the individual said.

In the former governor’s trial, eight additional attorneys will be led by Slyvanus Tahir, SAN, the chief attorney for the EFCC.
Some of the charges include: “That you, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, whilst being the executive governor of Anambra State of Nigeria between March 2014 – March 2022, sometime between 7th February, 2018 to 18th February, 2019 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly transferred through Mr Willie Nwokoye, your then principal private secretary, the sum of N156,800.00 only from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account No: 5030050875 domiciled in Fidelity Bank Pic into the Fidelity Bank Ple Account No: 6060018819 belonging to C.I. Patty Ventures Nigeria Limited (an entity that had no business relationship with the Anambra State Government), which funds were dissipated for purposes unrelated / unconnected with the security affairs of Anambra State, which you reasonably ought to have known that such funds formed part of the proceeds of your unlawful act, to wit: (Stealing and Corruption) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) in 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.

“That you, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, whilst being the executive governor of Anambra State of Nigeria between March 2014 — March 2022, sometime between 9th August, 2017 to 4th March, 2020 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly transferred through Mr Willie Nwokoye, your then principal private secretary, the sum of N261,268,585.00 only from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account No: 5030050875 domiciled in Fidelity Bank Plc into the Fidelity Bank Plc Account No: 5600062873 belonging to Easy Diamond Integrated Link (an entity that had no business relationship with the Anambra State Government), which funds were dissipated for purposes unrelated / unconnected with the security affairs of Anambra State, which you reasonably ought to have known that such funds formed part of the proceeds of your unlawful act, to wit: (Stealing and Corruption) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) in 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.”

Remember that on March 17, 2022, while he was getting about to board a flight to Houston, Texas, the former governor was initially taken into custody at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport in Lagos.

Hours after he resigned as governor and thereby lost his protection from arrest and prosecution, the arrest occurred at approximately 8:30 p.m.

Prior to his final arrest due to accusations of corruption, he had been placed on the EFCC’s watchlist for some time.

“Obiano was taken into custody due to accusations of embezzlement of public monies, involving the cash withdrawal of N37 billion from the security vote and N5 billion from Sure-P. According to the EFCC at the time, some of the money was also purportedly used to bankroll political activities within the state.

President Bola Tinubu can never condone the stealing of public assets, as Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has reiterated.

In reference to the recently released White Paper, he addressed the accusations made by the Osun All Progressives Congress, or APC.

The state’s APC leaders had appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the security services to free the state from the anarchist grip of Governor Adeleke and the Peoples Democratic Party, or PDP, in power.
It was recalled that on January 18, 2024, the Osun State Government released a White Paper about traditional rulers and the recovery of public assets purportedly taken by political appointees during the Adegboyega Oyetola government.
According to Governor Adeleke in a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, “the President has always commended him for clearing the mess he met in Osun, while also emphasizing that President Tinubu abhors looting of public assets.

“I have interacted with President Tinubu a lot of times, and I know he appreciates my effort in cleaning the many messes I encountered in Osun.

“From the actions of the President, he has shown he is a man of due process and, as such, will never support looting of public assets. It’s now unfortunate that Osun APC is showing acts that are contrary to the President’s style of governance

“Moreso, I formed an Asset Recovery Committee at the beginning of our government, and I informed most people who owned government properties that they needed to surrender them.

“As requested by the state’s good citizens, this is the committee’s report that I am currently handling.”

Even though there were obvious reasons to do so, Governor Adeleke revealed that he has not brought any political opponent before the anti-graft agency, despite his claims to have been running the state without political affiliation.

While pleading with the state’s appointees of the previous administration to restore all government properties under their supervision, Adeleke issued a warning, saying his administration would spare no effort to retrieve any stolen government property.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a few Nigeria Automobile Technicians Association members against the Magaji Sani-led organization.

According to Judge Mobolaji Olajuwon, the plaintiffs filed their lawsuit beyond the legally permitted time frame.

All of the association’s board of trustee members were replaced in 2014 by Michael Omonayi, the association’s former president, who was elected in 2013.

This didn’t go down well with some members of the association.

THE ROUND TABLE: IBADAN EXPLOSION; CLARION CALL FOR SAFETY, SECURITY, STANDARDS IN MINING0:02 / 1:01

The aggrieved members of the association on February 12, 2019, instituted at the federal high court in Osogbo, where it was later transferred to Abuja.

At the time, Sani had become the president and in 2021 re-elected by members loyal to him but he was a product of the said BoT.

The aggrieved members in their suit alleged that the replacement of all the BoT members without a resolution at the national delegate conference was unconstitutional.

They, however, urged the court to declare the sack of the BoT members as null and void.
It partly read, “Declaration that the replacement of all Trustees without a resolution at the National Delegate Conference as a precondition of appointing new trustees of the Plaintiffs’ Association is unlawful, illegal, unconstitutional null and void, and ultra-vires the Defendants.

“A declaration that the purported replacement of all the Trustees of the Plaintiff without publication in a prescribed form in a daily newspaper circulating in Lagos and a national newspaper is ultra-vires the powers and functions of the “Defendant and, therefore, unconstitutional, illegal, arbitrary, reckless, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.

” An Order of this court setting aside all steps taken so far by the Defendants to replace all the Trustees. ”

Delivering judgment on the matter on Monday, Justice Olajuwon held that the case was not filed within the 28 days allowed by the law.

“The plaintiffs have a right to raise objections to the appointment of the trustee but they ought to done so within 28 days when the replacement of the BoT members,” the judge held.

The judge subsequently dismissed the suit.

The Nigeria Automobile Technicians Association is a national professional body of micro, small, and medium-scale auto repairers in the informal economy.