Court Fixes February 19 For Judgement On Saraki’s Ikoyi Houses.

Upon being served with the interim forfeiture order, the former senate president, through his counsel, Kehinde Ogunwunmiju (SAN), approached the court to discharge the temporary order.

Justice Muhammed Liman of the Federal High Court Lagos has fixed February 19, 2021, for judgment in a suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the total and final forfeiture of two properties belonging to the former Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki.

Justice Liman fixed the date on Tuesday after all parties adopted and argued their final written addresses.

Saraki, a two-term governor of Kwara, is being investigated by the anti-graft agency, which alleged that while serving as governor between 2003 and 2011, he withdrew over N12 billion cash from the account of the Kwara government and paid same into his accounts domiciled in Access and Zenith Banks through one of his assistants, Abdul Adama.

The court had on October 21, 2019, while granting an exparte application brought before it by the EFCC and argued by its counsel, Nnemeka Omewa, ordered the interim forfeiture of the two properties located on 17 and 17b, McDonald Road, Ikoyi, Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State, which were said to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activity.

Upon being served with the interim forfeiture order, the former senate president, through his counsel, Kehinde Ogunwunmiju (SAN), approached the court to discharge the temporary order.

The judge, however, declined to discharge the interim order. Instead, he ordered the parties to show cause why the two properties should be forfeited to the Nigerian government.

The court commenced hearing on the motion for final forfeiture of the said properties on February 6, 2020.

During the final forfeiture application hearing, the EFCC called three witnesses and tendered several documentary evidence, which the court admitted.

The anti-graft agency claimed the properties were obtained with loans from GTBank and repaid with Kwara State funds.

But Saraki told them that he was already a successful businessman before he came into politics. He told the court that EFCC must prove that the properties were proceed of an unlawful act.

At the resumed hearing of the matter on Tuesday, the EFCC’s counsel, Omewa, while citing a plethora of authority, said the agency had successfully established that the money used by the former senate president in acquiring the two properties sought to be forfeited was bought through illicit funds.

However, Saraki’s counsel, Ogunwunmiju, urged the court to dismiss the EFCC’s motion on the ground that the agency had failed woefully to prove its case against his client.

Ogunwunmiju also asked the court to discharge earlier interim forfeiture placed on the two properties.

The EFCC, in an affidavit attached with the motion for final forfeiture of the said properties, deposed to by one of its investigators, Olamide Sadiq, alleged that the former senate president acquired the two properties with proceeds of unlawful activity.

EFCC presents first witness against Mama Boko Haram in alleged N41.7m fraud case

The trial of Aisha Alkali Wakil alias ‘Mama Boko Haram’ who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on a fresh three count criminal charge of conspiracy, inducement and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N41, 777,750.00 commenced before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri Tuesday, January 26, with the prosecution calling its first witness, PW1, Bilkisu Muhammed Abubakar, who was allegedly induced by the defendants to execute over N41m supply contract for Complete Care and Aid Foundation, owned by Wakil, but refused to pay.

Led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Mukhtar Ali Ahmed, the PW1 narrated how supplies contracts were awarded to her by Mama Boko Haram and Tahiru Alhaji Saidu Daura, the chief executive officer and programme manager respectively of Complete Care and Aid Foundation and Complete Care respectively.

According to the witness,: “I worked as a volunteer in the Organisation for two years during which I was engaged to make supplies of beverages and toiletries to the NGO and later to the home of Wakil, even though I told them I was not a contractor.

“I supplied to Complete Care and Aid Foundation office two sets of televisions, two sets of telecom, nine stabilizers, thirteen extension wires, cutleries, three electronic kettles, two gas cylinders, toiletries, beverages, bottled water, amongst others for thirteen (13) months.

“I was also buying lunch for Wakil and her daughter, one Khadija Alkali, for four straight months.

“I was asked by Wakil and Daura to write down whatever item I supplied to them. Subsequently, I also furnished the house of Wakil based on request by her; I supplied everything in the house”.

PW1 further told the court that: “I supplied one Italian bed, a complete set of show glass, two centre tables, one Italian dining table and one cushion chair to her husband. She also asked me to supply four beds, five big mattresses and sixteen pillows to be used by her husband and children.

“I also supplied food flasks, electronics, gas cooker, one deep freezer, two industrial fans, four rechargeable fans, three sets of bed side carpets to Aisha Alkali Wakil, her husband and children. I supplied ten ready-made clothes and ten veils as well.

“Wakil also directed me to transfer money to one Ekechukwu Modo to buy her foodstuffs from Enugu. I transferred money in five tranches to Modo’s First Bank account and to one Harira in Malaysia for the purchase of Arabian gown.

“My lord, during the naming ceremony of Wakil’s grandchild, I supplied all the things needed to the tune of N1.5M”.

The witness further revealed that, Mama Boko Haram, after much pleading paid the sum of N10m into her account for every item supplied and services rendered but refused to pay the balance of N31.7m.

The prosecution counsel, Mukhtar Ali Ahmed tendered the Letter of Award of Contract for the supplies, Store Certification, Notification of Delay in Payment, Letter of Introduction and Authorization for the transfer of N1.5M which were all admitted in evidence by the court.

Forty different receipts issued to Bilkisu, tellers and a hand writing documents of items bought by the vendor were also admitted in evidence.

Justice Kumaliya, after listening to the testimony of the PW1, ordered that the proceedings recorded by the court be transmitted to the defendants for study and cross examination of the prosecution witness due to the absence of their counsel.

The trial was adjourned till February 15, 2021 for cross examination of prosecution witness.

Mama Boko Haram was arraigned alongside Tahiru Saidu Daura, and Prince Lawal Shoyede, Programme Manager and Country Director respectively of Complete Care and Aid Foundation (Non-Governmental Organisation).

One of the counts reads: “That you Aisha Alkali Wakil, Tahiru Saidu Daura and Prince Lawal Shoyede whilst being Chief Executive Officer, Programme Manager and Country Director respectively of Complete Care and Aid Foundation (Non-Governmental Organisation) sometimes in June 2018 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly induced one Haija Bilkisu Mohammed Abubakar of Ihasan Venndor Services, to deliver to you; House Furniture, electronics and food items worth N34, 593, 000.00 (Thirty Four Million Five Hundred and Ninety Three Thousand Naira) only under the guise of executing a contract for the supply of the said items to Complete Care and Aid Foundation (Non-Governmental Organisation) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 320 (a) and Punishable under Section 322 of the Penal Code Cap 102 Laws of Borno State.”

Turnah, ex NDDC MD’s adviser, others re-arraigned for fraud, money laundering

A former Special Adviser to a one time Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dan Abia, Mr. George Turnah was on Monday re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for faud and money laundering charges to the tune of N2.9 billion.

Turnah was re-arraigned alongside Ebis Orubebe and Uzorgor Silas Chidiebere and nine companies on 23 count charge bordering on fraud, abuse of office, obtaining under false pretence and money laundering.

A statement by the EFCC spokesman, Wilson Iwajuren gave the names of the companies arraigned alongside Turnah before Justice Mohammed Turaki of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, by the Port Harcourt zonal office of the EFCC, to include El- Godams Global Services Ltd., Turnoil and Gas Nigeria Ltd., Kolo Creek Petroleum Development Ltd., Celtic Pride Consult and Events Ltd., Yenagoa Mall Ltd., the Incorporated Trustees of Concerned Niger Delta Initiative, Akara Boro Marine Services Ltd., Sugarland Integrated Farms Nig. Ltd and Geohan Telecommunications Nig. Ltd.

The statement reads in part: “Count 6 of the charge reads: “that you George Turnah Alabh, Uzogor Silas Chidiebere, El-Godams Global Services Ltd., Turnoil and Gas Nigeria Ltd, Kolo Creek Petroleum Dev. Ltd, Celtic Pride Consult and Events Ltd, Yenagoa Mall Ltd, The Incorporated Trustees of Concerned Niger Delta Initiative, Adaka Boro Marine Services Ltd, Sugarland Integrated Farms Nig. Ltd, Geohan Telecommunication Nig. Ltd and others at large, on or about the 24th day of November, 2014, at Port Harcourt, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did take possession of the sum of Seven Hundred and Eight Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N708,500,000.00) which you reasonably ought to know that the monies is obtained by a false pretence from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) purportedly for the purpose of providing quick win jobs for 300 youths and women groups and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under 15 (3) of the same Act”.

“Count 23 of the charge reads, “that you George Turnah Alabh in 2014 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did receive the sum of $1000,000.00 (One Million United State Dollars) (at the exchange rate of N184 to a Dollar) cash from one Umar Lawal of Hakuri Global Concept exceeding the statutory limit without going through a financial institution and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 16 (2) (b) of the same Act”.

“They pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to them. Prosecution counsel, I. Agwu, adopted the subsisting evidence on record, praying the court that “we shall not be calling any other witness or any other prosecution witness who earlier testified before this court.”

The statement further disclosed that the Defense counsel, Professor Amuda Kaneke, SAN, prayed the court that the defendants be allowed to maintain the bail earlier granted them.

He also prayed the court for an adjournment so as to enable him study the new amended charges before proceeding with his defense.

Justice Turaki, while granting the two prayers of the defense counsel, adjourned the matter till 15, 16 and 17 of March, 2021.

Shepherd Bushiri: “MY RIGHT TO LIFE IS MORE IMPORTANT…”

Fugitive Malawian pastor, Shepherd Bushiri, has said he doesn’t mind losing his palatial home in South Africa after a magistrate ordered it to be seized.

“My right to life is more important than any asset in this world,” the self-declared prophet said in a Facebook post.

A magistrate had ordered Bushiri and his wife, Mary, to hand over the title deed of the South African property when they were granted bail on charges of money laundering and fraud.

The couple deny the charges.

It emerged last week that they had fled to their home country of Malawi. The pastor said he had made a “tactical withdrawal” because they feared for their lives.

The home, which is near the capital, Pretoria, is valued at 5.5m South African rand ($350,000: £260,000), according to local media.

South Africa has issued an arrest warrant for the couple, and wants Malawi to extradite them.

Prophetess In Police Net For Fraud

The Ogun State Command of Nigeria Police has arrested a Prophetess of Celestial Church of Christ, Oluwakemi Sotonode, also known as Marvelous Parish for allegedly obtaining money running to millions of naira from many people under false pretense.

In a statement released and signed by the command spokesperson, Abimbola Oyeyemi said the self-styled prophet of CCC Marvelous model parish, Obada-Oko has been on the wanted list of the Command for quite some-time now when a petition was received by the Command from one Idris Ilyas on the 11th of November 2019 in which he reported that the suspect contacted him to supply Kaolin stone to a company, and when he did, the suspect went to the company, received the sum of #1.2million on his behalf and converted it to her own use. “Also, on the 30th of September 2020, the same prophetess collected the sum of #200,000 from one Olabangboye Olalekan under the pretense that she will sell a plot of land for him at Obada-Oko area of the State but disappeared after collecting the money

“Likewise in April this year, the same suspect contacted one Kehinde Ojekunle ‘F’ to supply Kaolin worth of N300,000 to a company and she went behind her, collected the money on her behalf and converted it to her own use’.

“In March 2020, the same suspect obtained the sum of N670,000 from one Gbolagade Damilola under the pretense of supplying her 40 bags of rice but she ran away since then”.

“On the strength of these complaints, the Commissioner of Police, CP Edward Ajogun directed the officer in charge of the Public Complaint Bureau to ensure the arrest of the so-called prophet. “The team embarked on an intelligence-based investigation which yielded positive results on Tuesday, 6th of October 2020 when she was apprehended in her hideout. “On interrogation, she admitted collecting all the money stated above but she has not been able to give any reasonable account of it all.

Oyeyemi said the Commissioner of Police, CP Edward Ajogun has ordered a thorough investigation of the suspect and that she should prosecuted accordingly