Thebellng (2024)

09/07/2024

OBASEKI EXTENDS FREE BUS SERVICE TO NOVEMBER

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has approved the extension of the free bus scheme implemented by the state government for another five months.

With the extension, the scheme will run until November 11, 2024.

The free transport scheme was introduced in September 2023 for an initial two-month period to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal by the Federal Government on the people of the State.

Following the success of the first phase which benefited over 1.5m Edo people, the governor thereafter extended the palliative programme to February, April and later July 2024.

The free transport scheme covers all intra and intercity routes operated by the State-owned Edo City Transport Services (ECTS), including Auchi – Igarra – Ibillo–Ososo; Uzebba–Ikhin – Otuo, and Abudu-Ubiaja, Abudu-Urhonigbe and Ewohimi to Ewatto.

The intra-city routes are Ramat–Kingsquare; New Benin–Kingsquare; Kingsquare – Ekenwan Road; Kingsquare–Airport Road; Kingsquare–Sapele Road and Kingsquare – Adesuwa, Kingsquare–Ogida; New Benin – Upper Mission; Kingsquare–Ugbowo; Kingsquare–Agbor Road; Kingsquare–Upper Sokponba; New Benin – Ugbowo and New Benin–Aduwawa.

In a statement, the Managing Director of Edo State Transport Authority (ESTA), Mrs. Edugie Agbonlahor, said the extension which followed the success and feedback of the programme in nearly one year, is in furtherance of the government’s commitment to the welfare of Edo people.

According to her, “His Excellency, the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has graciously approved the extension of the free bus service till November 11, 2024.

“The decision is on the back of the success and feedback that have trailed the nearly one-year programme and in furtherance of the government’s commitment to the welfare of Edo people, especially in the face of recent economic challenges caused by the federal government's fuel subsidy removal.”

Agbonlahor encouraged all residents to take full advantage of the extended period of free bus service while assuring them of the government's commitment to ensuring the welfare and well-being of the people.

09/07/2024

S’SOUTH STATES TO UNDERSTUDY, REPLICATE EDO’S E-GOVERNANCE SYSTEM AS OBASEKI GETS COMMENDATION

South-South States under the aegis of the BRACED Commission have agreed to understudy and replicate the e-governance system emplaced by the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration of Edo State, which is driving transparency, accountability, traceability and digitization in government.

The Head of Service, Directors and Permanent Secretaries of the BRACED (Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta) Commission are meeting in Edo State for a strategy retreat, which is being held at the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy, (JOOPSA) in Benin City, Edo State.

The retreat is targeted at fostering excellence in the public service as well as improving the management and leadership of the public service across the BRACED States.

Speaking to journalists, the Edo State Head of Service, Dr. Anthony Okungbowa said Edo State is the first and trailblazer State in the area of digital governance in Nigeria.

He noted that the BRACED States have made a commitment to emulate and replicate the technological advancement achieved by Edo State in the next two years with the tag, “The Benin Declaration.”

Okungbowa noted, “We are here to learn from each other and copy the successes recorded by States as we leverage on each other’s strength to help deal with our weaknesses.

“This programme is intended to make the management and leadership of the public service across the BRACED States to be a lot better than before.

“We made commitment in the course of the programme. Our analysis in the strategic retreat zeroes in on what we have been doing in Edo State, particularly in technology as the other States have committed to coming back in two years to ensure their system replicates the successes recorded in Edo State in the area of technology which it tagged, ‘The Benin Declaration’.

“They committed that in two years’ time, their States will be like Edo State as they will ensure their systems embrace technology like Edo State did and by then have paperless governance up to the point that Edo is.”

The HOS added, “We are not remaining where we are as we are already thinking of Artificial Intelligence (AI). We are already in Edogov 2.0 as we are making progress. We hope other BRACED States leverage what we have done and run their system the way we ran ours.

“As far as digital governance is concerned, Edo is the first and trailblazer State. No State has done it before in the sub-Sahara; no sub-national in Africa has achieved what we have achieved in digital governance. Edo has demonstrated that it's possible as the State is now operating paperless, making governance easier.”

On his part, the Delta State HOS, Reginald Boyoko commended Governor Godwin Obaseki for his developmental strides, which have made Edo a reference point for other States across the nation.

He stated, “In every training exercise, there are lessons to be learnt as JOOPSA is a lesson to take home after the retreat. The level of organization is something to take home as well as the expert brought to deliver lectures which was done greatly, is worth emulating.

“Our commitment as BRACED States is to motivate workers as we also have a lot to take home in this regard. I am happy that some of my colleagues accompanied me here and we have learnt a lot.”

The Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office of Head of Service (HOS), Rivers State who represented Rivers State Head HOS Dr. (Mrs) Inyingi Sabina Iwarkama Brown said, “We are not competing against one another but working as brother States to share ideas not to reinvent but copy from the States doing well as it will help save resources than expending resources to discover the new ideas.”

09/07/2024

ABUJA COURT RULING: ADAZE ENWANTA FACES DISCIPLINARY C’TTEE FOR DELIBERATELY MISLEADING PUBLIC, MISREPRESENTING JUDGEMENT
• …may be disbarred, says legal sources

Counsel to the delegates in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/165 of 2024 (HON. KELVIN MOHAMMED & 2 ORS VS INEC & 3 ORS), Adaze Enmwanta, has been penciled down to face the disciplinary committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and other judicial consequences, it has been revealed.

He’s been sanctioned by the Legal Practitioners' Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) for granting a press conference and misrepresenting the judgment made by Hon. Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, thereby bringing the judge’s name to disrepute and deliberately misleading the public.

The sanction followed concerns raised by Akinlolu Kehinde, counsel for the Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) National Secretary, where he called on the NBA to rein in Adaze Emwanta for deliberately misleading the public on the candidacy of Dr. Asue Ighodalo, the PDP candidate for the September 21 Edo governorship election.

A legal source who pleaded anonymity disclosed that Adaze Emwenta, a close ally of the impeached deputy governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, may face punishment ranging from suspension from the bar to complete disbarment, among others.

The source said: “I have it on good authority that Adaze Emwanta has been penciled for disciplinary actions by the NBA for misrepresenting facts from the judgment of the Federal High Court Justice, Hon. Justice Inyang Ekwo, regarding the Edo 2024 election and the candidacy of Dr. Asue Ighodalo, the PDP candidate for the forthcoming poll.

“His offenses are serious breaches of legal ethics and our colleague, Enwanta may be suspended or face complete disbarment, depending on the outcome of the disciplinary proceedings. He is a lawyer and knows the consequences of his actions and the NBA is determined to ensuring that he is held accountable for his actions to prevent a reoccurrence of such unprofessional act in the future.”

“Emwanta’s sanctioning is by no means surprising coming at this time the current president of the NBA, Yakubu Maikyau, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) is putting a lot of work to sanitise the legal system and cleanse it of bad eggs. It’s obvious that errant law is going to be made a scapegoat to dissuade other legal practitioners from the dissent act which has continued to bring bad name to the profession,” another source close to the matter noted.

09/07/2024

ASUE’S CANDIDACY: CTC REVEALS NO ORDER INVALIDATING EDO PDP PRIMARY ELECTION

The Certified True Copy (CTC) of the ruling by Hon. Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Abuja Federal High Court in Suit No FHC/ABJ/CS/165/2024 has revealed that the Hon. Judge gave an order for the inclusion of 378 delegates as part of the 3 Ad-Hoc Ward Delegates to participate in the February 22 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary election.

The Judge made no pronouncement on the validity or otherwise of the candidature of the PDP, Dr. Asue Ighodalo and his running mate, Osarodion Ogie Esq, as against media reports which misled the public on the validity of the primary election.

The CTC document puts to rest the confusion that had emanated from the judgment delivered by Hon. Justice Inyany Ekwo, clearing all misinterpretations of the ruling.

In his ruling as seen from the CTC document, the judge declared that “the Plaintiffs and the other 378 delegates, whose names and election results appear on Exhibits BID 8A to 8L were elected and to allow the Plaintiffs and the 375 other lawfully elected delegates participate in the primary election of February 22, 2024.”

According to him, “A Declaration is hereby made that by virtue of the provisions of Article 50 (3) of the Constitution of the 2nd Defendant (as amended in 2017), the Plaintiffs together with the other lawfully elected delegates, whose names and election results appear on Exhibits BID 8A to 8L herein, are the lawfully elected Ward Congress Delegates in their respective wards and by virtue of which the Defendants cannot exclude them from participating as 3 Ad-Hoc Ward Delegates at the Governorship primary election of Edo State slated for the 22nd of February, 2024 or any other date."

He continued: “An Order is hereby made directing the Defendants who are bound by the provisions of Section 82 of the Electoral Act, 2022 and Article 50 (3) of the 2nd Defendant's Constitution (as amended in 2017) to abide by the outcome of the 3 Ad-Hoc Delegates Ward Congress of February 4, 2024, at which the Plaintiffs and the other 378 delegates, whose names and election results appear on Exhibits BID 8A to 8L were elected and to allow the Plaintiffs and the 375 other lawfully elected delegates participate in the primary election of February 22, 2024.

The Judge added: “An Order of Mandatory Injunction is hereby made restraining the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Defendants from unlawfully excluding the Plaintiffs and the other lawfully elected delegates whose names and election results appear on Exhibits BID 8A to 8L herein, from participating as 3 Ad-Hoc Ward Delegates in the Governorship election primaries of the 2nd Defendant slated for the 22nd of February, 2024 or any other date.”

08/07/2024

MISSING 100L STUDENT FOUND DEAD CLOSE TO MALE HOSTEL

A missing 100-level female student of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) in Enugu State has been found dead.

The deceased identified as Favour Okenyi was said to be a student in the Department of Medical Laboratory Science of the university.

She reportedly went missing on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, after attending her chemistry practical.

Her co**se was found inside a drainage at the back of the Eni-Njoku male hostel, near Akanu Ibiam Stadium on Friday evening, July 5.

The lifeless body of Favour was said to have been discovered by some students.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the university, Okwun Omeaku, said the institution’s management was shocked by the discovery.

In a statement on Sunday, July 7, Omeaku said the university management was collaborating with security agencies and the family of the deceased to uncover the circumstances surrounding her death.

According to him, uncovering the circumstances behind the student’s death would help the university to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the institution.

“The university administration is deeply saddened by the loss of our student and extends heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased for the tragic death of such a promising young student,” he said.

“We implore anyone in possession of useful information that could aid in the investigation to kindly reach out to the university administration.”

08/07/2024

HARRYSONGS ESTRANGED WIFE POSTS PICTURE OF 'SNIPER' ON IG

It seems all is not well with Alexer Peres, the estranged wife of Singer, Harrison Okiri, aka Harrysong as she posted a picture of Sniper insecticide on her Instagram story this morning, July 8.

Alexer and Harrysong have been at loggerheads after they both came online in January 2024 to reveal the end of their marriage.

Harrysong at first accused Alexer Peres of getting pregnant by another man when they were still together, then alleged that a year had passed with no intimacy between him and Alexer when she informed him of the pregnancy.

Alexer, however, denied her ex-husband’s allegations of infidelity and urged him to move on.

She accused him of domestic violence and claimed to have endured “infections” as a result of his infidelity but forgave him repeatedly because she wanted to “build a marriage

The ex-couple got married in March 2021 and have two children together.

08/07/2024

POLICE NAB DISMISSED OFFICERS WHO HIJACK TANKER IN ENUGU

The Nigeria Police Force says the suspects involved in the hijacking of a DAF SF Truck carrying 40,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) along the Ohodo-Opi Road in Igbo-Etiti LGA, Enugu State, on May 29, 2024, were dismissed police officers.

The assailants were apprehended after a meticulous operation which led to the rescue of the hijacked driver and motor boy. Among those arrested are ex-Insp. Otache Egbe, ex-Insp. Abah Solomon and ex-Sgt. James Mamah. The suspects were arrested in Anambra state.

Confirming their arrest to newsmen, the spokesperson of the Force, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said an investigation led to the recovery of significant exhibits, including two AK-47 rifles, 105 rounds of ammunition, and various security uniforms.

‘’The Police reassures that the operation exemplifies the dedication of the Force to eradicating criminal elements irrespective of their previous affiliations. The apprehended suspects have confessed to their crimes and are under investigation by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), with ongoing efforts to recover the stolen PMS. The suspects will soon appear in court for prosecution.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has emphasized the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to collaborate with all stakeholders in combating crime. He has issued a stern warning to individuals engaging in criminal activities, stressing that the law will inevitably catch up with them, and justice will be served, while urging well-meaning members of the public to support the police in the efforts to maintain safety and security across the country.''

08/07/2024

FUEL SCARCITY LOOMS AS DEPOTS SET PRICE AT 720 PER LITRE

Fuel scarcity is gradually surfacing in Lagos and other parts of the country as private depot owners have hiked the ex-depot price of petrol from N630 to N720 per litre.

Fuel stations in Lagos, Ogun and some other states have run out of stock as they refused to buy high-priced fuel from the private depots while those with the product are dispensing PMS as high as N900/litre.

In an interview with Punch, the National Vice President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Hammed Fashola, said many filling stations did not open for business because they had no fuel in their tanks. He said the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, which is the sole importer of petrol at the moment, should explain to Nigerians what was happening with the product.

“Those that shut their stations do not have fuel to sell. When you don’t have fuel, you cannot open your station. That is the problem. You know the NNPC is the sole importer of this product. I think it is in the best position to tell us what is actually going on.

Currently, independent marketers cannot buy what the private depots are selling. They are selling fuel between N715 and N720 per litre. How much will marketers sell the product? Look at the cost of bringing it to their depots; with transportation and other depot expenses, it will be too costly for them. That is why the stations are shut down. Some marketers refuse to go and buy because they know the masses cannot afford high-priced petrol in this economy. That is the situation for now,” the IPMAN leader stated.

Third parties who are private depot owners used to sell PMS to independent marketers at the rate of N630-650/litre before now, while the NNPC sells petrol to major marketers at a price below or around N600.

On many occasions, leaders of IPMAN have appealed to the NNPC to supply them with petrol directly like they do to major marketers, but the NNPC has yet to yield to that call.

Fashola appealed to Nigerians to avoid panic buying, saying they should buy what they need so that the fuel in circulation could go round. It was gathered that the major marketers sold petrol below N650 while the independent marketers sold between N750/litre and N800 /litre.

08/07/2024

PRESIDENT TINUBU RE-ELECTED AS ECOWAS CHAIRMAN

The President of Nigeria, Bola Ahme Tinubu has been re-elected as ECOWAS chairman for an extra year, amid plans to reintegrate Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso into the regional bloc.

The decision was made on Sunday, July 7 by the leaders and representatives from ECOWAS' 12 member states at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja during the 63rd Ordinary Summit.

Tinubu’s first tenure was supposed to conclude on July 9, 2024.

In his acceptance speech, President Tinubu said; “I have accepted to continue to deliver on this service with the great men and women on this democratic journey, to serve our interest and build democratic values on the structure we inherited.”

This extension will give Tinubu additional time to work towards reintegrating Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso into ECOWAS, as these nations have recently faced political instability and challenges.

Tinubu then announced President of Senegal, Bassirou Faye, as Special Envoy of the ECOWAS Commission to mediate with the leaders of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger who announced their exit from the community earlier in the year.

Tinubu said President Fayewill run the new task alongside Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar.

He said: “Having a new mandate, I will request Faye of Senegal to please become our special envoy alongside Tuggar, to do a round-the-clock work with our brothers and Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger and coordinate with me, if necessary, and with the commission.”

01/07/2024

FEMALE SU***DE BOMBER DETONATES BOMB AT WEDDING IN BORNO, KILLS SIX

A female su***de bomber has detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) at a wedding venue in Gwoza town, Borno State, killing six wedding guests and injuring sixteen others.

The wedding was held on Saturday, June 29, at Tashan Mararaba near the Fire Service in Gwoza town.

It was gathered that the female bomber was carrying a baby on her back when she stormed the venue and detonated the IED.

Speaking with reporters in Maiduguri, the state capital, the Borno State Commissioner of Police (CP), Yusuf Lawal, confirmed the attack saying it was carried out by a female su***de bomber.

Lawal said he was informed by the Divisional Police Officer in Gwoza, that at least six people were killed, with 15 others evacuated to the hospital.

The injured are said to be receiving treatment at the General Hospital in Gwoza.

The military has been forced to declare a curfew in Gwoza with immediate effect following the attack.

01/07/2024

SUPREME COURT AFFIRMS CONVICTION OF EX-MD OF BANK PHD

After a long legal battle spanning approximately 13 years, the Supreme Court of Nigeria has upheld the conviction of Francis Atuche, the former Managing Director of the defunct Bank PHB Plc.

The court’s decision was delivered by Justice Moore Adumein, confirming the rulings of both the trial court and the Court of Appeal.

The Supreme Court emphasised that Francis Atuche did not provide sufficient grounds to challenge the findings of the lower courts regarding his credibility.

The court reiterated its stance that an appellate court should not interfere with a trial court’s decision on the demeanour of a party or witness if it is supported by documentary evidence.

Atuche, along with his wife, Elizabeth, and Ugo Anyanwu, was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2011 on a 27-count charge related to a N25.7 billion fraud.

The prosecution, led by Dr Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), resulted in the conviction of Atuche and Anyanwu by Justice Lateefat Okunnu of the Lagos High Court on June 16, 2021.

They were found guilty on 21 of the 27 counts of conspiracy to commit felony and stealing, and sentenced to 12 years and 10 years in prison, respectively.

The Court of Appeal later reduced Atuche’s sentence to six years and Anyanwu’s to eight years while upholding the acquittal of Atuche’s wife, Elizabeth, due to insufficient evidence linking her to the crime.

Dissatisfied with the appellate court’s decision, Atuche and Anyanwu appealed to the Supreme Court.

Earlier this year, the apex court heard arguments from prominent Senior Advocates of Nigeria, including Wole Olanipekun, Chief Anthony Idigbe, and Prof. Fidelis Oditah, representing Atuche, while Dr Kemi Pinheiro and Sebastine Hon represented the state.

The Supreme Court’s decision brings closure to this high-profile case, affirming the convictions and sentences of Atuche and Anyanwu, and concluding the legal proceedings that have spanned over a decade.

01/07/2024

NORTH KOREA EXECUTES 22 YEAR OLD FOR LISTENING TO MUSIC AND WATCHING MOVIES

North Korea publicly executed a 22-year-old citizen for listening to and sharing K-pop music and films as part of Pyongyang’s ruthless crackdown on outside information and culture.

The man from the Hermit Kingdom's South Hwanghae province was publicly executed in 2022 for listening to 70 South Korean songs, watching three films, and distributing them, according to testimonies published in the North Korean Human Rights report released by the South's Unification Ministry on Thursday, June 27.

The report, a compilation of testimonies from 649 North Korean defectors – highlights Pyongyang's brutal crackdown on Western influence and information flow into the isolated country.

The country’s ban on K-pop was implemented under the former leader, Kim Jong-il to shield citizens from the “malign influence” of Western culture and its allies.

It was further tightened under Jong-il’s son, Kim Jong-un, who adopted a new law for the North in 2020, which prohibits “reactionary ideology and culture”.

The North has rejected criticisms of the government’s grave violation of human rights, calling it a part of a conspiracy to overthrow the leadership.

According to the report, North Koreans are routinely subjected to mobile phone inspections for contact name spellings, expressions, and slang terms.

"The government does not tolerate pluralism, bans independent media, civil society organisations and trade unions, and systematically denies all basic liberties, including freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association, and freedom of religion and belief," Human Rights Watch said about North Korea in their world report in 2023.

01/07/2024

PHOTO NEWS: MR IBU LAID TO REST

The funeral of veteran actor, John Okafor, popularly known as Mr Ibu, is took place in Enugu, on Friday, June 28, with dignitaries in attendance.

In October 2023, Ibu came out publicly to seek financial assistance after he had battled his ailment for a while. However, in November 2023, his family confirmed that one of his legs had been amputated to keep him alive.

The ceremony marked the final farewell to the actor, who died on Saturday, March 2.

28/06/2024

INNOCENT BRICKLAYER REGAINS FREEDOM AFTER 24 YEARS IN PRISON

An innocent bricklayer who spent 24 years in jail has been set free and is now sharing his ordeal.

Lukman Adeyemi, a 50-year-old bricklayer, was just 26 years old when he accompanied a friend who had been invited by police to the police station.

His act of loyalty towards his friend led to him being detained. He ended up spending 24 years in jail and was only freed on June 14, 2024.

He spent nine years in pre-trial detention, followed by an unbearable 15 years on death row.

Narrating how he was detained, he explained that when he got to the station with his friend, during interrogations by SARS Police officers, he endured severe physical and psychological torment, leading to coerced confessions for crimes he knew nothing about.

Sharing his story with Vanguard, he said: "I am Lukman Adeyemi, a native of Iwerele, Iwajowa Local Government, Oyo State. I am a Bricklayer by profession. I was 26 years old when I had this problem.

"In August 2000, after returning home from work with a friend living with me, Ismaila Lasisi, we were told that the Police came to look for Ismaila and he was asked to report himself in the station.

“I immediately decided to follow him to the station, lo and behold I was arrested and detained along with him. I was tortured to the point of death over a crime I knew nothing about, right from the police station.

"I had a close shave with the death over a murder of a woman who was hired by some ex-friends of Ismaila Lasisi to fetch water for them at the construction site. The woman left home in the morning and she never returned home.

"Ismaila Lasisi once lived with them. He begged to come and live with me after he had a misunderstanding with these people in March. I knew these people from a far distance. Our paths never crossed in life for anything. This was how I was charged to court along with these people over an offence I never had any knowledge of.

"In 2009 we were sentenced to death. We filed separate appeals but the appeal failed to the Supreme Court.

"My story of innocence to whoever cared to listen fell on deaf ears, with many questioning, ‘If you’re not one of them, why mention your name?’ ‘If truly you are innocent why can’t court free you?’

"I felt abandoned by truth itself. I spent 24 years behind bars like 24 hours, a sleepless night that lasted for two decades.

"In June 2023 one of the officers of the Correctional Service, Deputy Superintendent of Correctional (DSC) AbdulKareem Awesu introduced my case to a Pastor and I spoke with him on phone.

"On 17th July 2023, a group Centre for Justice Mercy and Reconciliation, CJMR, led by Pastor Hezekiah Olujobi visited us at the Ibara Correctional Service where they listened to all of us including the culprits who exonerated us. The organization went with all our judgement and shed light on our innocence.

"June 14, 2024, shall remain evergreen and memorable day in my life. Light shone upon me, rain fell on my head for the first time and I saw the moon for the first time.

"I never knew I could pay for the sin of another man. How could I have committed an offense and still boldly walk into a police station to report myself?

“I am grateful that the organization Centre for Justice Mercy and Reconciliation intervened on my behalf, a beacon of hope in a sea of despair. Her belief in my innocence reignited the flame of justice within me, propelling me toward the possibility of redemption.”

Pastor Hezekiah Deboboye Olujobi the Executive Director of Centre for Justice Mercy and Reconciliation, CJMR, an NGO based in Ibadan shed light on the innocence of Lukman Adeyemi and Ismaila Lasisi.

He said: "Our attention was drawn to the complaints of these two people on their claim of innocence by the Welfare Officer DCP Awesu, who invited us to come and help these people assuring us of their innocence and the effort made through the legal process without justice.

"We came down to Ibara Custodial Centre, Abeokuta, to hear from them. The two perpetrators confided in us that truly, they were the ones who committed the crime and that the two people were totally innocent of the crime. We adjusted our seats to hear them very well.

“It was a long drilling of questions on their parts. But yet they insisted on their innocence. What they said carried no weight in my ears until I read through the judgement that convicted them. We obtained their judgements from both the trial court and the Supreme Court for our review. We noticed the presentation of the state before the appellate court could never allow the court to shift ground.”

Pastor Olujobi said he observed that “while reading through their separate judgements, it was a contradiction.”

Narrating how the release of both innocent suspects was facilitated, Pastor Olujobi said: “With all the analysis and the evidence in the record, we forwarded our findings to the office of the Attorney-General of Ogun State and the Committee for the Board of Prerogative of Mercy and they considered our appeal.

"It's not about their story, it is about the fact that the record corroborated their story."

Currently, Lukman Adeyemi and Ismaila Lasisi are at the CJMR Halfway Home for recovery and reintegration process.

28/06/2024

COURT ORDERS EMEFIELE TO RETURN $1.4M BRIBE

The Federal High Court in Lagos, on Tuesday, June 25, ordered the final forfeiture of the sum of $1,426,175.14 said to be bribery proceeds linked to the immediate-past Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.

Justice Ayokunle Faji ordered that the funds be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

The final forfeiture order followed an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday. The anti-graft agency had earlier on May 29, 2014, secured an interim order temporarily forfeiting the money.

The judge ordered the publication of the court order in the newspapers to give anyone interested in the funds to appear in court and show cause why it should not be permanently forfeited.

Counsel for the EFCC, Mrs Bilkisu Buhari-Bala, said at the hearing on Tuesday that the commission had complied with the publication order and no one had come forward to claim the money. She added that the funds were proceeds of unlawful activities by Emefiele.

Buhari-Bala said investigation by the EFCC revealed that the ex-CBN governor received the dollars as kick-backs for approving forex allocation to multinational firms during the forex crisis in the country.

The EFCC lawyer said the court was empowered by Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-related Offences Act to make the forfeiture order.

The forfeiture of the $1.4m on Tuesday comes only days after the same court ordered the permanent forfeiture of choice properties worth N12.18bn from Emefiele.

In an affidavit filed in support of the Tuesday forfeiture application, an EFCC investigator, David Jayeoba, said the anti-graft agency uncovered the money through credible and direct intelligence.

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