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Alleged N80.2b fraud: Yahaya Bello’s lawyer claims client’s trial is political
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The lead lawyer to former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, Joseph Daudu (SAN), has claimed that the trial of his client was political, adding that it has nothing to do with money laundering.
Daudu made the assertion at the resumed hearing on Wednesday in Bello’s money laundering trial before a Federal High Court in Abuja.
Bello is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 19-count charge relating to money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of public funds estimated at ₦80.2 billion.
Daudu made the claim in reaction to remarks made during Wednesday’s proceedings by prosecuting lawyer, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), who alleged that what happened in the manner Local Government Areas in Kogi State made payments was stealing by disguise.
In the course of proceedings, the seventh prosecution witness (PW7) Olomotane Egoro (a Compliance Officer with Access Bank) said the defendant did not serve as a Local Government Chairman in any of the Local Governments in Kogi State.
Egoro noted that the contracts in respect of which payments were made were awarded by Local Government Chairmen for various purposes to contractors, as shown in statements of the bank accounts of some companies tendered and admitted as exhibits by the court.
The witness, who was being cross-examined by Daudu, stated that there was no mention of the degendant’s name in any of the local government transactions under investigation.
Looking through the bank statements, the witness said the name, Yahaya Bello did not appear, either as a sender or a recipient of Local Governments’ funds.
He confirmed that on the face of Exhibit 33(11), the entries in the transactions between the local governments and Keyless Nature Limited were consistent with normal banking transactions.
The witness denied knowing the purpose for which all the payments were made, adding that he did not know, from the bank statements, whether there was any business or contractual relationship between the local governments and a firm , Keyless Nature Limited.
The witness noted also that a customer had the right to spend his money anyhow he liked unless there was an issue of fraud.
PW7 admitted that in respect of transactions in Exhibit 33(11), his bank was not under court order and have no report of fraud.
The witness said the payment made into one Fayzade Business Enterprise was an inflow from Okene Local Government Area.
He added that the purpose as stated was for the supply of reading materials.
He listed the purposes of payments from Ogorimagongo, Okehi, Omala and Yagba LGAs as education materials (N4.4 million); medical items (N7.5 million); Sporting equipment (N10.8 million); and medical consumables (N12.2 million), respectively, among others.
The purposes of other payments ranged from agrochemicals to farm inputs and also medical consumables, according to the witness.
Further hearing in the case resumes on Thursday before Justice Emeka Nwite.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Affairs, Senator Aliyu Wadada has promised to revive the committee’s activities after acknowledging concerns over its prolonged inactivity.
Wadada spoke on Thursday at the end of the committee’s meeting in Abuja.
Specifically, the chairman admitted that the committee had been underutilised, noting that it had met only once in the last three years.
He, however, said issues responsible for the situation had been identified during a closed-door session and would be addressed.
“Of course I feel concerned about it, but when we got into the details in a closed-door meeting, we got to know where the problems are, and they will all be taken care of. The committee will be as active as it should always be,” he said.
Commenting further, the chairman said the committee would focus on its core mandate of promoting and strengthening legislative relations between Nigeria’s National Assembly and parliamentary bodies across the world.
According to him, the committee will deepen engagement with regional and international legislative institutions, including the ECOWAS Parliament, the Pan-African Parliament, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), and other parliamentary organisations.
He disclosed that a new work plan had already been developed to guide the committee’s activities.
He added: “The direction is basically around the responsibilities of the committee, which is to promote and deepen legislative relationship within Nigeria and with other legislative bodies around the world”.
The chairman added that the committee’s first major activity would be a courtesy visit to the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament in Nigeria as part of efforts to strengthen inter-parliamentary cooperation.
SINL NIgeria Online reports that Senator Wadada assured that the public would be kept informed of the committee’s activities as the new work plan is implemented.
The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has revealed that the minimum monthly salary of Nigerian soldiers has increased to N100,000 after the Federal Government reviewed their welfare package.
Musa made the disclosure during an interview with News Central ahead of his appearance on the NC Exclusive programme.
He said the adjustment was part of efforts by the government to improve the living conditions of military personnel.
Executive Branch
The former Chief of Defence Staff, however, said the country’s defence sector still requires more funding despite the improvement in soldiers’ earnings and welfare.
He stated that the current defence budget remains inadequate, adding that more resources are needed to effectively support the armed forces and their operations.
Musa explained that soldiers who previously earned about N49,000 monthly now receive at least N100,000 following the salary review carried out by the government.
The minister also called for tougher punishment for kidnappers, saying stronger measures are needed to reduce the increasing cases of abduction across Nigeria.
Remodelled Abuja City Gate To Be Commissioned Today, Thursday, July 9
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Senator Wadada promises to deepen legislative ties, stop inactivity
Just in: FG jerks up salaries soldiers to N100k monthly
DAY 22 of Projects Commissioning in the FCT
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