NEWS: I Didn’t Leave Empty Treasury For Buhari​ — Jonathan

• Bakare was quoted as claiming during a recent trip to Canada that President Buhari could not appoint a cabinet for six months because “he met an empty treasury.”

President Muhammadu Buhari and Ex-President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan Wednesday stated that he did not leave an empty treasury for his successor, President Muhammadu Buhari, describing Pastor Tunde Bakare’s claims to that effect as false and untenable.

Bakare was quoted as claiming during a recent trip to Canada that President Buhari could not appoint a cabinet for six months because “he met an empty treasury.”

But in a statement by one of Jonathan’s media aides, Reno Omokri, he described Bakare’s statement as lies and a figment of both the imaginations of President Buhari and Pastor Bakare.

“The Jonathan administration left $2.07 billion in the Excess Crude Account when it handed over to the Buhari administration on May 29, 2015. This is an easily verifiable fact from both the Central Bank of Nigeria and is also available from other open sources”, Omokri stated.

“In addition to that, the Jonathan government left a foreign reserves of $29. 6 billion for the incoming government and $5.2 billion was left for the Buhari administration by way of dividend payments from the NLNG.

“Now, there is no way these huge amounts can be described as empty treasury. I challenge Pastor Tunde Bakare to disprove these figures I have given here or take me to court and I will embarrass him there and show him to be the liar that he is.”

He also disputed claims by Pastor Bakare that Nigeria no longer imports rice as untrue.

Omokri said, “first of all, even the Buhari administration has not claimed that Nigeria is no longer importing rice. What they said, which is also a lie, is that rice imports have reduced.

“But the truth is that Nigeria’s rice imports have actually increased by 60 per cent as revealed by no less an institution than the United States Department of Agriculture.

“In fact, according to the USDA, not only has Nigeria’s rice imports increased by 60 per cent, but Nigeria is projected to be the second largest rice importing nation.

“These are the exact words of the USDA “China and Nigeria are projected to remain the largest rice importing countries in 2019, followed by the EU, Cote d’Ivoire, and Iran.

“You do not have to take my word for this – google it by yourself. The last time Nigeria’s rice imports went down, according to the USDA, was in 2015 under former President Jonathan.”

Omokri added that Bakare’s claims that 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs) occupied by Boko Haram are no longer an issue means that Pastor Bakare is out of touch, saying that as he was granting that interview, Baga, Doron-Baga, Kross Kawwa, Bunduran, Kekeno and Kukawa towns are all under Boko Haram/ISWAP’s control.

“In fact, the Governor of Borno State, a notorious political enemy of former President Jonathan, was forced to hold a press conference on New Year’s eve where he confessed that the situation has deteriorated and was worse than before.

“For emphasis, the following was the front page headline in the Punch on New Year’s eve “Residents flee as Boko Haram takes over Borno communities”, Jonathan’s spokesman said.

“There has been mass movement of people out of communities in Borno State through Damaturu the Yobe State capital to Bauchi, Gombe, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kebbi and Jigawa States.”

He added that unlike the Jonathan era, the insecurity in Nigeria is almost total, arguing that “as I write this today (January 2, 2019, Aminu Bello Masari, the Governor of Katsina State, President Buhari’s own state, raised an alarm on the insecurity and breakdown of law and order in his state.”

Omokri further stated, “We are not talking of Zamfara or the North-east. We are talking Katsina. If Buhari cannot secure his own state, is it Nigeria he can secure? And then there is Zamfara State, which is becoming as bad, if not worse, than the Northe-ast.”

He said that with these unimpeachable facts it is hard pressed to understand why “Pastor Tunde Bakare cannot respect himself and the calling he claims to have, by using his mouth to speak truth instead of lying like a heathen.”

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SHOCKED as 60-Year-Old Man Caught With 'At Least 12 Soaked Sanitary Pads And Female Underwear'

• A 60-year-old suspected ritualist was caught in Akure, the Ondo State capital on Wednesday evening with dozens of female underwear.

• The suspects, whose real name was not disclosed at the time of this report, was caught at Danjuma area, along Isikan road in Akure.

One of the witnesses, Miss Adeola Oluwasegun, said the suspect was first mistaken for a mentally unstable person by the residents until he was exposed.

"We first saw the old man roaming the streets like a mentally unstable man, holding a small bag, and we thought he was begging for food or money. Later, we noticed some commercial motorcyclists shouting 'Thief! Thief!!' from afar. They dragged the bag from him, and it was discovered that he had items such as bra, panties, clothes and soaked sanitary pads in his possession.

"Many residents were angry and they gave him the serious beating of his life. In fact, they nearly lynched him before he was whisked away by some elderly people."

At least 12 soaked sanitary pads and underwears were found in possession of the suspect. It was learnt that the suspect was later handed over to officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Oladipo Samuel, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the NSCDC in Ondo State, confirmed the incident when contacted by SaharaReporters.

Samuel added that the suspect was in custody and helping with investigation and would be handed over to the Police soon.

"Truly, he was handed over to our men yesterday and he is helping our team of investigators in the office with very useful information. We would get back to you after our investigation and probably before we hand him over to the Police for proper prosecution over the case," he said.

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NEWS: 'Gan-Dollars', 'Snake In JAMB Office' And Seven Other Corruption Dramas Of 2018

• In perhaps the biggest corruption story of the year, Abdullahi Ganduje, Governor of Kano State, was seen in multiple videos collecting and pocketing dollars suggested to be bribe from contractors.

• The Governor has, however, denied the videos' authenticity. Jafar Jafar, publisher of the Daily Nigerian, who released the video, has also been sued. Days after New Telegraph newspaper named Ganduje its ‘Governor of the Year’. President Muhammadu Buhari also described him as one of the best governors in the country.

From the dismissable to the downright jaw-dropping corruption-related incidents, this year has been no less dramatic. From snakes swallowing huge cash to vanishing generators and even monkeys, here are a few interesting corruption stories that trended in 2018.

The Mysterious 'Snake' That Swallowed N36million In JAMB Office

Nigeria more or less stood still in the month of February when news broke that a snake allegedly swallowed the sum of N36million from the office of the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) in Benue State. According to the story, JAMB officials had visited the Benue State office to audit their accounts and discovered the malfeasance. 

The office clerk, Philomena Chieshie, who was in charge of the revenue generated by the state examination body, could not account for the sum of N36million generated by the state board. She disclosed that the money had been swallowed by a mysterious snake from her office. Not much has been heard of the case ever since.

And Monkeys Came For their Share Of The Millions Too...

While the seemingly outrageous news of millionaire snakes was trying to simmer down, another news broke that a certain monkey had swallowed N70million from the farm of the Chairman of Northern Senators Forum, Senator Abdullahi Adamu. In his remarks on the incident, Senator Shehu Sani, who spoke with newsmen after Senator Adamu was removed as NSF Chairman, said: “I think this country is becoming a huge joke. First of all it was the rodents that drove away the President and we now have snakes consuming about N36million, and you now you have monkeys".

NFCVB Boss, Thomas Adedayo, Arrested Over Theft Of Generator

When Thomas Adedayo resumed as Executive Director of the National Film and Videos Censors Board (NFVCB), many had high hopes for him. However, after several petitions on his high-handedness, Adedayo was eventually arrested for selling a generator belonging to the Lagos office of the Board. He was alleged to have broken the fence to gain access to the store where he carted away the Turban generator worth millions of Naira. Other items allegedly found in his house were plasma tv sets, computers and air conditioners, which were allegedly stolen from the central store in Abuja. He has also been accused of siphoning about N150 million belonging to the board running through cash lodgements in several accounts. Adedayo also allegedly sold official cars while converting other board’s asset for his personal use. He has since been arrested while he is still being investigated at the Alagbon Police Station, Lagos.

Did NNPC Divert NLNG Funds To Pay Subsidy?

President Muhammadu Buhari's administration scored another low when it was confirmed that the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corotation (NNPC) diverted NLNG funds amounting to N378billion to secretly fund fuel subsidy. 

This revelation brought to the fore how the current administration had been financing oil subsidy, which it had hitherto claimed as a scam. Aside that, the states and National Assembly were said to have never approved this payment, meaning the NNPC took a unilateral decision against the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, to use the flush funds to pay for fuel subsidy. NNPC's GMD Maikanti Baru had written to the President to approve the usage of the NLNG dividend fund to shore up the depleting strategic fuel reserves, as the NNPC could not use its own funds. 

This had happened at the height of fuel scarcity in the country between December 2017 and January 2018. According to Baru, the NNPC took immediate action on the fund when it got express order from the National Assembly to urgently end the fuel crisis.

Meanwhile, the National Assembly came out to say it never approved the move, stating that the NNPC had said it would take action on the fuel scarcity but never informed it on how it intended to do it. The Presidency has been mum on the issue, while the Group General Manager, Ndu Ughamadu, has described it as a loan taken to save Nigeria from chaos.

NEMA DG And The N33billion Not Satisfactorily Accounted For

Mustapha Mahiaja, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) boss, was indicted in the alleged mismanagement of N33billion North East Intervention Fund. The House of Representatives had called for his immediate sack after investigation revealed that the NEMA boss alongside some other government officials had mismanaged several funds meant for Internally Displaced Persons in the North-East. The House of Representatives Committee on Emergency and Preparedness Response also questioned the process of authorisation for the release of the N5.8billion fund for emergency food intervention in the North-East as well as N3.1billion emergency food intervention in the North-East in 2017 from the Consolidated Revenue Fund Account. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had approved it when he was Acting President, but the House said the move contravened Section 80(4) of the 1999 Constitution as amended. The investigation revealed that the Nigerian Government lost the sum of N33billion due to Maihaja's mismanagement but the DG has come out to dispel this claim. According to him, NEMA never received N5.8billion according to the report but only got N800million, while other funds were paid to contractors.

Joshua Dariye And Jolly Nyame Get Conviction After 11 Years

Former governors of Plateau and Taraba states, Joshua Dariye and Jolly Nyame finally secured convictions for corruption-related cases concerning their activities as governors between 1999 and 2007. After 11 years on the case, Reverend Jolly Nyame was found guilty on 27 of 41 counts filed against him by the EFCC for criminal breach of trust by misappropriating the sum of N1.64bn. He was therefore convicted and sentenced to various terms, including a 14-year jail term, which will run concurrently. Barely two weeks later, Justice Adebukola Banjoko, who had convicted Nyame, also sentenced Joshua Dariye to 14 years in prison for criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of state’s funds running into over N2billion. Just like Nyame, his case has been in court since July. Both have since appealed the judgement.

Fayose's Cat And Mouse Drama With EFCC

After enjoying years of immunity, Ayodele Fayose, former Governor of Ekiti State, finally submitted himself to the EFCC in his usual dramatic manner. With a blue shirt on which ‘EFCC I'm Here' was inscribed, he showed up at the EFCC office immediately after the end of his tenure as Governor. He was accompanied by Nyesom Wike, Governor of Rivers State, and Femi Fani-Kayode. The EFCC had been impeded in trying him by the immunity clause Nigerian governors enjoy but now, he is set to answer the many cases that have been filed against him, particularly the N1.3billion he allegedly received from Sambo Dasuki through Musiliu Obanikoro in the run-up to his election victory in 2014. He has also been investigated for several contract scams while in office. In the end, he was charged with 11 counts on conspiracy and money laundering.

The ‘Gan-dollar’ Exposé

In perhaps the biggest corruption story of the year, Abdullahi Ganduje, Governor of Kano State, was seen in multiple videos collecting and pocketing dollars suggested to be bribe from contractors. The Governor has, however, denied the videos' authenticity, claiming they were staged by his opponents to tarnish his image. Jafar Jafar, publisher of the Daily Nigerian, who released the video, has also been sued. Days after, one of the national dailies, New Telegraph, named Ganduje its ‘Governor of the Year’. President Muhammadu Buhari also described him as one of the best governors in the country when asked about the travails of the Governor. Meanwhile, there has been much back and forth in efforts by the state assembly over possible impeachment regarding the matter. A court in Kano State has also stopped the state legislature from going through with the process.

NFF's Salisu Yusuf Bribery Scandal

Salisu Yusuf, a 56-year-old assistant coach with the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), secured a one-year ban, as well as a fine of $5000 after he was caught on camera making a bribery deal with undercover journalists who had posed as agents of football players interested in securing a place on the national team. He was said to have collected as much as $1,000 as bribe to feature the players in the team.

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NEWS: Police Cut Power Supply To Dino Melaye's House

• Policemen have disconnected the building from the national grid with the view to rendering the home inhabitable.

Dino Melaye

As the hide-and-seek game between Dino Melaye, the senator representing Kogi Central District in the National Assembly, and the Nigerian Police Force continues at his residence in Abuja, SaharaReporters can authoritatively report that the power supply to the lawmaker's house has been cut off by the security operatives, who have been keeping vigil at the house.

The Police had invaded Melaye's house on Friday, over allegations he was culpable in the shooting of a police officer in July 2018.

The Police had also insisted that its officers would wait at the house until the lawmaker surrenders himself.

According to a source, policemen have disconnected the building from the national grid with the view to rendering the home inhabitable.

Speaking on the incident via phone call on Friday, the lawmaker had said he would not be intimidated by the pressure and promised to honour the Police invitation as soon as he arrives Abuja.

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I Remain PDP Governorship Candidate In Ogun — Kashamu

• Kashamu, who spoke to journalists in Lagos yesterday, explained that the Court of Appeal judgment, which many have misinterpreted to have sacked him as the PDP candidate in Ogun State was not a pre-election matter, adding that the court could not have pronounced on the nomination of candidates, let alone sacking him or anyone for that matter.

Kashamu - PDP Governorship Candidate for Ogun State

The Ogun State governorship candidate of a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Senator Buruji Kashamu, has said he remains the party’s candidate despite the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Ibadan, which set aside an order by the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, that had favoured his faction of the party.

Kashamu, who spoke to journalists in Lagos yesterday, explained that the Court of Appeal judgment, which many have misinterpreted to have sacked him as the PDP candidate in Ogun State was not a pre-election matter, adding that the court could not have pronounced on the nomination of candidates, let alone sacking him or anyone for that matter.

The governorship candidate, who expressed dismay about the reports of a section of the media, interpreting the judgment to have sacked him and other candidates, explained: “The Court of Appeal said in its judgment that the matter before it was not a pre-election matter.

Hence, it could not have pronounced on the nomination of candidates, let alone sacking me or anyone for that matter. That was not the prayers of PDP and its officers who are the appellants in the matter and so such a prayer could not have been granted.

“Some have erroneously said that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) accepted our list of candidates for the 2019 general election based on the interlocutory orders of the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, which have now been set aside and that our nomination as candidates of the Ogun State PDP has been nullified.

“That cannot be true because the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court had in a full and final judgment delivered on June 24, 2016.

“Not satisfied, the other group appealed. On May 4, 2017, the appeal was dismissed. Still not satisfied, they asked the Court of Appeal to relist the appeal. Again, on July 11, 2018, the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal in a well-considered ruling held that the appeal remained dismissed. It is the refusal by the Court of Appeal to relist the appeal that is now pending at the Supreme Court”, Kashamu stated.

According to him, the two orders granted by the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, in Suit No FHC/AB/CS/114/2018, were made in a judgment enforcement proceeding.

“The first was in relation to the national convention held between October 5 and 6, 2018. The second order was for INEC to accept process and publish our list of candidates for the 2019 general election. Clearly, the request to set aside the orders of the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, has been overtaken by events. The national convention has come and gone. INEC has also complied with the orders of court and the subsisting judgments. So, how does the decision setting aside the orders of the Federal High Court affect us?

“It should be noted that INEC, as a law-abiding institution, has since communicated its decision to recognize and deal only with the Engr. Adebayo Dayo-led Ogun State PDP Executive to the national leadership of our party.

Kashamu took a swipe at the PDP’s national headquarters for taking sides in the internal crisis in Ogun State chapter of the party.

According to him, what the party should have done was to mediate between the feuding parties with a view to finding a lasting solution to the crisis.

He said if the party was interested in winning in the state; it should be seen trying to bring the feuding parties together rather than taking sides with one against the other.

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Minimum Wage Bill: Labour Has Sets December 31 As Their Deadline

• The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress(TUC) and the United Labour Congress (ULC) resolved at the end of a meeting, yesterday, to resume the suspended strike if government fails to forward the bill to the National Assembly.

Organised Labour has given the Federal Government the last day of December as deadline to forward the new minimum wage of N30,000 Draft Bill to the National Assembly for passage into law.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress(TUC) and the United Labour Congress (ULC) resolved at the end of a meeting, yesterday, to resume the suspended strike if government fails to forward the bill to the National Assembly.

Rejecting the decision of the Federal Government to set up a technical committee on the minimum wage, labour said that it is alien to the tripartite process and ILO conventions on National Minimum Wage Setting Mechanism.

Besides, the labour leaders frowned that almost two months of the submission of the report of the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Committee, which included a draft bill, no bill has been submitted to the National Assembly.

“Finally, organised labour will not guarantee industrial peace and harmony after December 31. This serves as a statutory notice for organised labour to recall our suspended nationwide industrial action,” a part of the communiqué read.

They also added that the federal government’s plan to set up a high-powered Technical Committee, as included in 2019 budget speech read to a joint session of National Assembly, by president Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday, was diversionary and delay tactics.

The communiqué was signed by NLC’s Ayuba Wabba, Joe Ajaero of the ULC and TUC’s Bobboi Kiagama.

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Remembering Alex Badeh, His Birth, Military Training

• For his first son, Badeh bought a house at Wuse 2 at N260m, renovated it with N60m and furnished it with N90m; that’s N410m. Guess what? Badeh’s second son turned down a house worth N340m; and because of that, a second house worth N330m had to be bought for him. That’s a massive N770m!

Late Alex Badeh (middle)

Death is a leveller; it is no respecter of status or privileges. When death calls, it makes mess of human ambitions and reduces man to a mere lifeless and hopeless body, a corpse. And on Tuesday, former Chief of Defence Staff and former Chief of Air Staff, Alex Badeh, was cut down in a hail of bullets from unknown gunmen while returning from his farm along Abuja-Keffi Road.

Childhood And Education

Alex  Sabundu Badeh was born on January 10, 1957 in Vimtim, a little town in  Mubi Local Government Area of Adamawa State. His parents were peasant farmers. He attended Vimtim Primary School and proceeded to Villanova Secondary School. Having obtained his school certificate from Villanova secondary school in 1976, he proceeded to the Nigerian Defence Academy.

Military Career

Late Alex Badeh during his promotion

Badeh was admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy as a member of the 21 Regular Course on 3 January 1977 and commissioned a Pilot Officer on 3 July 1979. He attended the junior staff course at the Armed Forces command and staff college in 1988. He moved a rung higher on the ladder of his  military career when, between 1995 and 1996, he attended the senior staff course at the same institution. 

After one year at the National War College in Nigeria, he graduated in August 2006 as a member of Course 14. He went to the University of  Ibadan and earned an M. Sc. degree in Strategic Studies from the prestigious. He became the Chief  Of Air Staff in October 2012, serving in that capacity till April 2014 when he was made the Chief Of Defence Staff  by the then President Goodluck Jonathan.

Alex Badeh And The EFCC

Late Alex Badeh with the EFCC

The late Chief of Defence Staff was charged, together with Iyalikam Nigeria Limited, with a 10-count charge bordering on money laundering, criminal breach of trust and corruption to the tune of N3.97 billion by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2015. He allegedly abused his office as the CDS by using the dollar equivalent of the sum of N1.4billion removed from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force to purchase properties in choice areas of Abuja. After conducting search on a house located at No. 6, Ogun Rivers Street, Maitama, Abuja belonging to Badeh; a sum of $1million cash was recovered in his wardrobe. The EFCC presented a video evidence to a Fedearal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja presided over by Justice Okon Abang on Wednesday, February 22,2017. 

However, despite this, Badeh , through his lawyer, Lasun Sanusi,(SAN), pleaded not guilty and denied involvement in any misconduct. Upon discovery of fresh evidence, Badeh was re-arraigned by the anti-graft agency on July 4, 2018, on an amended 14-count charge bordering on money laundering, which he also pleaded not guilty to. He was scheduled to open his defence on January 16, 2019.

That Terrorist Attack in Vintim, Thought Of Conspiracy And Other Stuff

Late Alex Badeh when he is still serving

While still serving as the Chief defence Staff, in October 2014, Boko Haram fighters briefly attacked Vintim, Badeh's hometown. The attack left many casualities in its trail; people were wounded, lives lost and property destroyed. Badeh lost his cousin and his house was set ablaze. However, some people were of the opinion that Badeh was in the know of the attack even before it took place. It was widely reported in the media that Badeh sent a helicopter to evacuate his parents minutes before the attack. Badeh, however, debunked the claim by saying he had lost his parents before the attack.

With the death of Badeh, there have been insinuations of conspiracy and vendetta in some  quarters. It will be recalled that Rear Admiral Daniel Ikoli, the man probing the Arms Purchase for Boko Haram, was found dead some time last year in his room. And earlier this year, ex-intelligence Chief of the Army and Chief of Administration, Defence Heaquarters, Major General Idris Akali was killed and buried in a shallow grave in Jos.

His Sons' Lavish Lifestyle

Late Alex Badeh during his trials

One of the highlights of Badeh's corruption trial was the revelation of the lavish lifestyles of his sons. Salisu Abdullahi, a retired Air Commodore and former Director of Finance of the Nigeria Air Force, said in court in March 2016 that Badeh instructed him to buy houses for two of his sons in a highbrow area of Abuja, while he was Chief of Air Staff. For his first son, Badeh bought a house at Wuse 2 at N260m, renovated it with N60m and furnished it with N90m; that’s N410m. Guess what? Badeh’s second son turned down a house worth N340m; and because of that, a second house worth N330m had to be bought for him. That’s a massive N770m!

Unfortunately for Badeh, he is no longer alive to prove his innocence. And this is what he would likely be remember for — because in the court of the Nigerian public, officials battling corruption charges are guilty until proven innocent by the court, not the other way. May Badeh's soul rest in peace.

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Fayose’s Trial: We Moved N1.2b Cash In Three Planes, Says Witness

• Danmola Otuyena, a banker, was testifying in Fayose’s trial for allegedly receiving and keeping N1.2billion and $5million said to have been stolen from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), contrary to the Money Laundering Act.

A prosecution witness yesterday told the Federal High Court in Lagos how three aircraft flew N1.2billion from Lagos to Ekiti State for delivery to former Governor Ayo Fayose.

Danmola Otuyena, a banker, was testifying in Fayose’s trial for allegedly receiving and keeping N1.2billion and $5million said to have been stolen from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), contrary to the Money Laundering Act.

Otuyena, who headed his bank’s Cash in Transit Services Unit when the transaction occurred, said he accompanied the bullion van that took the cash to the airport.

He was the fourth prosecution witness and was led in evidence by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) lawyer, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN).

The witness gave evidence on the bank account of Sylvan Mcnamara Limited and how cash was withdrawn from it on the instructions of former Minister of Defence (State) Musiliu Obanikoro on June 16 and 17, 2014.

The witness also revealed that although Obanikoro operated the account and was the known holder, he was not the official signatory to it nor was he a director to the company in whose name the account was opened.

Otuyena said he got instructions from his boss to get the cash ready for movement to Ekiti.

“My director gave further instructions that we should move the cash to the airport. We contacted the cash in transit company that renders bullion services – Bankers Warehouse Ltd – and the cash was moved to the private wing of Murtala Mohammed Airport.

“We could not get access when we got there, so we waited outside. My director said someone would be there to attend to us.

“He spoke to a certain Gbolahan Obanikoro through my phone. He helped to process a pass and we were able to enter the airport – the bullion van and myself.

“Later, Musiliu Obanikoro came. My boss called me and spoke to him through my phone and said we should give him the cash. The cash was given to him.

“We loaded the bags of cash into the aircraft. About two or three aircraft were used to load the cash.

“My director, Premier Oyiwo, having identified Obanikoro, said I should release the cash to him. When we pay cash to beneficiaries, they sign off for collection. Obanikoro signed off for collection,” the witness said.

Asked how the cash was packed, Otuyena said: “We have bags designed in a standard way in the banking industry. We used them to package the money. We call them jumbo bags. We used the biggest sizes to pack the money. We used jumbo bags for the N1.2billion.”

Otuyena said he also got a call from his boss on June 17, 2014 to pay N200million to Malik Bauchi from the same account operated by Obanikoro.

He said he was asked to waive the identification process.

“But we contacted the account holder. Rather than pay Bauchi, the amount was paid to the account holder. We used Ghana Must Go bags for the N200million,” the witness said.

Under cross examination by defence counsel Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN) and Mr Olalekan Ojo (SAN), the witness said there was an initial instruction that the N1.2billion be paid to six persons, but that they were not available to collect the cash before it was given to Obanikoro.

He insisted that Obanikoro was the account holder and ran the company account even though his name was not stated in the account opening documents that he was the sole signatory.

The witness read a board resolution appointing Olalekan Ogunseye as the sole signatory to the account.

“I’ve not come across any other resolution appointing another signatory to the account or Obanikoro as the signatory,” he said.

Ojo asked the witness if there was evidence that Obanikoro personally withdrew the cash from the bank in view of the fact that there was no instruction to that effect in his name.

The witness said: “The narration we have in the bank statement is fund transfer. There was no entry that Obanikoro received the N1.2billion.”

On why that is so, the witness explained: “The instruction to release the cash first went to the Treasury Department, which debited Sylvan Mcnamara’s account and moved the cash to a transit account. So the entry is a default narration for the debit.”

The witness said Obanikoro was not a director to the company, and that he did not know what happened to the cash after he handed it over to the former minister.

Three other witnesses testified earlier for the prosecution: Zonal Heads, Southwest 1 and 2 of a new generation bank, Lawrance Akande and Abiodun Oshodi, and the Head of Financial Operations of another new generation bank, Olaitan Fajuyitan.

Akande said he was informed that money would be brought from the Akure airport to be paid into the accounts of Spotless Nigeria Limited (Fayose’s company and co-accused) and De Privateer Limited.

He said Fayose’s associate Abiodun Agbele called him in June 2014, saying he had a lodgment of N1.2billion to make. He said he also got a call from Fayose to that effect.

Akande said he asked Oshodi to follow the transaction, adding that they had solicited for deposits from Fayose.

“I had no reason to regard the funds as proceeds of crime. I didn’t observe any anomalies in the operation of the accounts,” he said under cross examination.

Oshodi testified that he got a bullion van that took the money from Akure airport to the bank for lodgment.

“Biodun Agbele came with a security escort, including police and soldiers, and we went to the Akure airport with the branch manager and the bullion van.

“We moved the bullion van close to the plane, and then evacuated the cash. The former minister was there also.

“Agbele supplied the accounts where the money would be lodged – De Privateer, Spotless and the personal account of Fayose,” he said.

The witness also narrated how the cash was deposited. For instance, he said a driver, Taofik, came to the bank 21 times to make some cash deposits in one day.

He said Taofik deposited N9.9million 10 times, N9.5million 10 times, and N5.5million once. Other deposits were also made at various dates, he said.

“Taofik happens to be the driver of Abiodun Agbele. The teller was filled by our former cash officer. Taofik couldn’t write,” he said.

Oshodi testified that the deposits were normal, and that he associated with Agbele because he considered him a man of good character.

“I didn’t know the source of the money. I was glad to receive the money. Until I was called by the EFCC, I didn’t find any anomaly with the money,” he said under cross examination.

Oshodi said Fayose also did not personally visit the bank to make any lodgments.

Fajuyitan said he received instruction to make the N1.2billion available, as well as the N200million, which he moved into a transit account

He said since the money came from the ONSA account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), it must be legitimate.

“My bank will not knowingly receive proceeds of crime. The bank does not regard the money as proceed of crime,” the witness said.

Fayose had pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned on an 11-count charge.

He was charged with his company, Spotless Limited.

EFCC said Fayose and Agbele, who is facing a different charge, allegedly took possession of N1, 219, 000, 000 on June 17, 2014 to fund the former governor’s 2014 gubernatorial campaign.

The commission said Fayose “reasonably ought to have known” that the money “formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: criminal breach of trust/stealing.”

The alleged offence is contrary to Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15 (3) and (4).

EFCC said Fayose, on the same day, received cash payment of $5million from Obanikoro, without going through a financial institution, the sum having exceeded the amount authorised by law.

The alleged offence, EFCC said, contravenes Sections 1 and 16 (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011.

The commission said Fayose benefitted from N4.65billion slush funds allocated by the ONSA under Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) during the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

EFCC listed Obanikoro as one of 22 witnesses who will testify in the trial.

Justice Mojisola Olatoregun adjourned until January 21 and 28 for continuation of trial.

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NEWS: President Muhammadu Buhari Failure To Obey Court Orders is a National Embarrassment – Soyinka

• Soyinka, who was the keynote speaker, also said present and past leaders have consistently abandoned recommendations made by Nigerians on different occasions on how to move the country forward and that restructuring the country is not an option but a necessity

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has described President Muhammadu Buhari’s failure to obey court orders as a national embarrassment.

It was also a day President General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, Afenifere chieftain, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, declared in Lagos that restructuring of Nigeria is now or never.

They said this at the maiden Handshake Across Nigeria summit, with the theme: Nigeria beyond oil organised by Nzuko Umunna in partnership with The Core Federalists, which was held in Lagos, yesterday.

Soyinka, who was the keynote speaker, also said present and past leaders have consistently abandoned recommendations made by Nigerians on different occasions on how to move the country forward and that restructuring the country is not an option but a necessity that will help avoid the constant bloodshed in the country and guarantee its unity.

“We want government to understand that they are part of the community and have been given a mission of carrying out the will of the people… Insecurity has reached a certain level that even when we bring experts in, they wonder what exactly they have come to do. They are given a certain problem to solve and when they arrive here, they meet another problem.

“We have had many instances of armed killer herdsmen who wreak havoc across communities in the country and, rather than show empathy to the victims, the Inspector General of Police goes there to say they were killed because they blocked the grazing routes for cattle.

“One way of stopping the bloodbath is to reconfigure the nation. States must be given maximum control over their resources. There are some who prefer to grow rice, there are others who prefer to grow religion and we know where religion has taken us, today.

“Some people will like to say it is not really religion that has gotten us to where we are. I agree with you, but, some people have manipulated religion to suit their purpose.

“Those insisting on restructuring do so because they know that there is something wrong with the state of Nigeria. Many times, Nigerians have come together to proffer solutions and the way forward for the country, but, after spending so much time and effort, nothing ever comes out of it. The recommendations are left to gather dust. How much longer shall we continue like this?

“Forgiveness is a virtue. Although I have the same temperament as my late friend, Tai Solarin, but, it is a national embarrassment that our president has refused to obey our laws. Citizens should not be the one to choose to obey laws.”

On his part, Nwodo said those campaigning against restructuring of Nigeria have painted an unfortunate and untrue picture.

He said: “The new model we propose for Nigeria recognises that revenue in the world, today, is promoted by two main sources namely, human capital development leveraging on technology to drive the critical sectors of the economy and agriculture. Nigeria beyond oil must contemplate the implementation of legislative independence to the federating units, sovereignty of mineral and oil resources to the federating units, a painstaking resolve to support all electoral processes and candidates that would bring about this change.”

Adebanjo said anyone who opposes restructuring is living in denial about the fragility of the country.

He said: “It is unfortunate that President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, do not understand each other as regards restructuring. I can understand the president’s predicament because education is necessary to comprehend what restructuring entails but, I do not know why the vice president, who is a professor of Law, does not know what it entails.

“How can the vice president say he wants devolution of powers, state police and the likes, yet, he says he does not understand what those who talk about restructuring want? If the man who is the president does not understand what restructuring is, because of his education deficiency, should the vice president not also know what it is?

“If you do not restructure, the country would break up. If you say that the unity of the country is non-negotiable, then, you do not have a choice than to restructure.”

But, Director General of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Yima Sen, who represented the convener, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, had a different view about restructuring.

He said: “As a group, NEF met several times with northern governors and northern traditional rulers over the issue of restructuring and discussions are still ongoing. But, one thing we have decided is that we are going to dialogue with our people and know what they want.

“Most often, the elite push an agenda because they think that is what those they are leading want and they usually do it out of pride and arrogance.

“We should be humble when pushing an agenda. We need to move from the level of sentiments to the scientific. It is important that, when such important issues are discussed, the elite should be humble enough to ask their people what they want and that is what we are doing.

“We are not going to decide for our people whether they want restructuring or not. We are going to ask them and listen to what they have to say.”

Chairman on the occasion, General Ike Nwachukwu, said even though the unity of the nation is sacrosanct and non-negotiable, the country cannot maximise its full potentials if it does not return to federating units.

“Although they were appointed by the government, they are responsible to the people of Nigeria.

To make INEC truly independent, there is the need to review the system of appointing its members.”

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NEWS: Buhari, APC Under Fire For 'Plagiarising' 'Next Level' Logo

• Less than 24 hours after the unveiling of the logo, it appears internet surfing rather than creativity is the anchor on which the logo rests.

President Muhammadu Buhari and his party, the All progressives Congress (APC), are under fire on social media for what appears to be the passing off of a foreign logo as theirs.

Buhari launched his 2019 presidential campaign on Sunday, titling it ‘Next Level’ on the argument that “the past few years have put us in good stead to trudge on the Next Level of building an even stronger nation for our people”.

It is not the President’s words that are currently attracting public opprobrium, though, but the ‘Next level’ logo, a striking feature of which is the creative elongation of the ‘x’ in ‘next’ in a manner as to give the pass mark to a candidate.

Less than 24 hours after the unveiling of the logo, it appears internet surfing rather than creativity is the anchor on which the logo rests.

A quick search of ‘Next Level’ will show, among others, a project of the Winthrop University-School Partnership Network in collaboration with Fort Mill School District (York 4), Lancaster County School District, and Rock Hill School District (York 3). It is a Professional Development Program grant funded by the US Department of Education and administered through the Office of English Learner Aquisition (OELA), PR/Award # T365Z160278.

‘Next Level’, in this case, means NETwork for Leading Education that Values English Learners. In recognition of students’ right to a high quality education, Project NExT LEVEL “provides professional learning opportunities for educators from pre-service to in-service to district and higher education faculty aimed at meeting the unique needs of English Learners and their families”.

One look at this logo and its similarity with Buhari’s ‘next Level’ is easy to see. The two pictures have been circulating on social media, and the comments are far from palatable.

It is not the first time Buhari and his handlers have been enmeshed in a plagiarism scandal.

In September 2016, his ‘Change Begins With Me’ speech contained several sentences that were identical to some in Barack Obama’s 2008 victory speech.

For instance, Buhari had said: “We must resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship, pettiness and immaturity that have poisoned our country for so long.”

Meanwhile, eight years ago, after his victory over Republican John McCain in the race for the White House, Obama had said: “Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long.”

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NIGER DELTA: We'll Protest Outside Nigeria To Tell The World Buhari Has Failed, Says Ijaw Youth Council

• "We are putting mechanisms in place to take our demonstrations outside this shore and tell the world that President Muhammadu Buhari has failed the Nigerian people," the IYC President said.

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has said it is putting mechanisms in place for an international campaign against the present administration.

The organisation also restated its stance that the people of the Niger Delta will not give their votes to any presidential candidate and, particularly the ruling party, the All Progressive Congress (APC), if there are no concrete agreements on restructuring the country.

In an interview with SaharaReporters, Oweilaemi Pereotubo, IYC President, said the organisation will embark on a global campaign to tell the world about how “President Muhammadu Buhari has failed the Nigerian people”.

According to Pereotubo, “I pray that Mr President will get some things right before we meet, but one thing is very important here. Whatever we are doing is within the ambit of the law. Whether we are going to protest or demonstrate, we demonstrate peacefully. We are putting mechanisms in place to take our demonstrations outside this shore and tell the world that President Muhammadu Buhari has failed the Nigerian people.”

Oweileami also noted that restructuring will develop the country and ensure improved security.

He said: “We urge Mr President to start the processes of restructuring this country because the in thing in Nigeria today is restructuring. Restructuring is a national call for Mr President, if he means well and he doesn’t want to put Nigeria in flames. Mr President should immediately kick-start the processes of restructuring this country.

“If we have a restructured Nigeria, you won’t be talking about killings in any part of the country. There is no day that passes by that people don’t die in Nigeria, because the security agencies in Nigeria are overwhelmed; they can’t do their work. If Nigeria is restructured, policing will be the responsibility of state or the region and the security situation will be addressed. And Mr President called people who are clamouring for it selfish leaders; that is unacceptable and doesn’t show sportsmanship.

“We expect Mr President to do all of these. However, should the president refuse to start the process to restructure Nigeria, the Niger Delta people will go into alliances with people from other regions and look out for aspirants or candidates who believe in restructuring this country and we will give our votes to such aspirant, not politicians that come to deceive us.

“Most politicians today are all singing the song of restructuring, and they are just singing this song to get votes. But there are a few of them who are passionate about restructuring this country. We are looking at them, monitoring their activities and very soon the Ijaw nation will gather in Port Harcourt in Rivers State and we will make far-reaching decisions."

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NEWS: Buhari Has Allowed Terrorists Like Sylva, Lokpobiri To Unleash Violence On Bayelsans, - Dickson

• "The president has allowed common criminals and terrorists such as Sylva and Lokpobiri to unleash violence on their people," Dickson stated.

Seriake Dickson, Governor of Bayelsa State, has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of allowing Timipre Sylva, a former governor of the state, and the Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, to “unleash violence” on the residents of the state.

He also expressed shock that the President has failed to take any action against the All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders, whom he accused of causing mayhem, despite making several reports and complaints to him and security agencies.

In a press statement issued by Daniel Alabrah, his Special Adviser on Public Affairs, Dickson stated that despite several security reports tabled before President Muhammadu Buhari on the activities of the accused politicians, "the president has allowed common criminals and terrorists such as Sylva and Lokpobiri to unleash violence on their people, while the Inspector General of Police is sitting in Abuja to direct investigation of a petition against the Brass Council chairman”.

The statement continued: “At the moment, they are attacking innocent people in Brass, who are members of the PDP, with people bloodied and houses burnt all in a bid to destabilise the state."

He also accused the APC leaders in the state, including Sylva and Lokpobiri, of using the security agencies to shield criminals, as well as to intimidate and harass innocent citizens.

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ELECTION NEWS: Police Embark On Show Of Force In Osun

• The policemen will also visit some flash points in the state.

The Nigeria Police Force is set to embark on a show of force as part of its activities before the governorship election scheduled for September 22, 2018.

The policemen will also visit some flash points in the state.

In a tweet via the official handle of the Nigeria Police Force, @PoliceNG, the force tweeted pictures of the DIG Joshak Habila, supervising Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Osun governorship election, addressing officers before the exercise began.

The tweet read: "Happening now in Osun State, DIG Joshak Habila, supervising Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Osun Gov Election, addressing officers and men of all security and safety agencies before embarking on Show of Force Exercise and visit to flash points in the state."

Happening now in Osun State, DIG Joshak Habila, supervising Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Osun Gov Election, addressing Officers and Men of all Security and Safety agencies before embarking on Show of Force Exercise and visit to flash points in the State pic.twitter.com/QSMGvjZxD2

— Nigeria Police Force (@PoliceNG) September 19, 2018

The Police had earlier announced that two police Patrol Surveillance Helicopters, 30 Armoured Personnel Carriers, 10 Armoured Personnel Vehicles and 300 Police patrol vehicles had already deployed to cover the state, including difficult terrains.

The election is scheduled to hold in a few days, with 48 aspirants vying for the governorship seat of the state.

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Teebillz Finally Responds To Tiwa Savage And Wizkid Dating Rumours, It Has Got People Talking

Tiwa Savage’s ex-husband and former manager, TeeBillz has finally reacted to persistent rumours of an affair between Tiwa Savage and Wizkid.

In a rambling rant on Instagram, TeeBillz claimed there was no affair because Wizkid is his ‘lil bro’ and Tiwa can’t disrespect him.

See his post below:

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For Protesting Three-Hour Wait, Sowore And Take-It-Back Movement Tear-Gassed At Ooni Of Ife’s Palace

Palace sources, who asked not to be named, revealed that the reason for the assault was that Sowore initially refused to prostrate to the Ooni to protest the three-hour delay in attending to members of the movement who had waited for the Ooni.

In what seemed like a coordinated attack, presidential aspirant and founder of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, and members of his #TakeItBack movement were tear-gassed while prostrating before the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, on Monday.

As the situation deteriorated, Sowore rushed to check up on students of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), who accompanied him to the palace. He was in the process physically assaulted by thugs within the palace premises.

Palace sources, who asked not to be named, revealed that the reason for the assault was that Sowore initially refused to prostrate to the Ooni to protest the three-hour delay in attending to members of the movement who had waited for the Ooni.

As the incident unravelled, one student and another member of the royal household collapsed due to respiratory challenges arising from the toxic fumes.

Sowore, who confronted the Ooni on the assault on his person and members of his movement, wondered why a guest would be attacked within palace premises.

Responding, the Ooni swiftly condemned the attack, saying such had never happened before in a palace in Nigeria and called for calm and restraint on both sides. He regretted the ugly incident, describing it as embarrassing. He assured Sowore of his continued support and collaboration.
Expressing shock while commenting on the incident as it was being streamed live on Facebook, Adedayo Gabriel Fatoki said: “Attack?? In the Palace? By who?”

“Thank God you guys are okay. This is highly condemnable,” Precious Umoera, another member of the public, said.

The attacks were streamed live on Facebook @Omoyele Sowore.

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SPORT: Musa The Monster As Eagles Whip Iceland To Get World Cup Back On Track

• Ahmed Musa put Nigeria ahead just four minutes on, after the ball had been won back in the Nigerian half. Kelechi Iheanacho fed Victor Moses, who sprinted forward before lobbing the ball to Musa. The Lokomotiv Moscow’s deft touch took the ball beyond an opposing defender, creating the space for a blast of the ball that Thor Halldorsson had absolutely no chance of stopping.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria scored two goals and conceded none against Iceland to record their first points of their World Cup campaign on Friday.

Coming on the back of their impressive draw against Argentina in their opening match, Iceland underlined their intentions for the match early on, Alfred Finnbogason testing Francis Uzoho with a long-range free kick only two minutes into the game.

Although the first half ended goalless, Iceland were the more purposeful side, with the Nigerians going into the break without a single shot on target.

But the Super Eagles were a completely different side in the second half and Oghenekaro Etebo could have put them ahead in the opening seconds, but his tame shot proved no problem for Hannes Thor Halldorsson in the Icelandish goal.

Ahmed Musa put Nigeria ahead just four minutes on, after the ball had been won back in the Nigerian half. Kelechi Iheanacho fed Victor Moses, who sprinted forward before lobbing the ball to Musa. The Lokomotiv Moscow’s deft touch took the ball beyond an opposing defender, creating the space for a blast of the ball that Thor Halldorsson had absolutely no chance of stopping.

Wilfred Ndidi nearly made it two shortly after, but his well-struck, deflected shot was tipped over by Thor Halldorsson for a corner.

William Troost-Ekong then got a chance to put himself on the scorers’ sheet, but the defender hurriedly headed wide when he had the time to control the ball and unleash a shot.
The next chance fell to Leon Balogun but the new Brighton defender headed over the bar despite being unmarked.

Musa was proving to be Nigeria’s talisman on the evening, as he curled in a beautiful effort that looked destined for the top of the net but only rested against the bar.

He would not be denied a minute later, though, as he outran a defender from the left flank of the field, left Thor Halldorsson in the dust and shimmied two onrushing defenders before slotting into the net. Two-nil!

Iceland wasted a chance to pull one back from the penalty spot, but the experienced Gylfi Sigurdsson blasted wide and over the bar.
The victory moves Nigeria to second place, and the Eagles will earn a spot in the last-16 if, in their final match, they are able to equal Iceland’s result against Croatia.

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