News

Anambra’s money paid into private firms’ accounts, witness tells court

Published

3 months ago

June 27, 2024

A Federal High Court in Abuja heard yesterday that funds in the Security Vote Account of the Anambra State government were moved into private companies’ accounts.

A prosecution witness, Ugochukwu Otubelu, said this while testifying at the resumed hearing in the money laundering case involving former Governor Willie Obiano.

He was led in evidence by prosecuting lawyer, Sylvanus Tahir (SAN). Otubelu, who said he used to be a banker, told the court that he managed the state’s security vote account as an Account Officer.

Otubelu identified the private companies as Nazotal Ventures; C. I. Party Ventures Nigeria Limited; Moment of Peace Ventures; Youdoo Ventures and Eazy Diamond Limited.

According to him, the companies were among the entities whose accounts he managed.

When asked whether there were ever inflows to the companies’ accounts from the Security Vote Account of Anambra State, Otubelu said yes.

Asked what happened to the funds thereafter, he said: “It was used to process transactions for the Principal Secretary to the defendant.”

He also told the court that the money did not go to the owners of the accounts.

Earlier, the witness identified Obiano’s Principal Secretary, Willy Nwokoye, and the Government House accountant, Theophilus Nwez, as signatories to the security vote account. According to him, Nwokoye gave directives on how funds in the account should be disbursed.

Otubelu also said he knows Obiano and has dealt with him on some occasions, including taking cash to him in both naira and dollars.

He added: “Still on the transactions of the Principal Secretary, he gives instructions on who payment should be made to. Sometimes, he instructs us to take cash directly to the defendant.”

Under cross-examination by defence lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), Otubelu said the Anambra State government was not part of the account, it did not open the accounts and did not operate them.

On whether it was his idea that accounts of the six companies should be used for the instructions given by the Principal Secretary, Otubelu said no. He insisted it was the Principal Secretary who requested for the accounts for discreet security transactions

Another witness, Hayatu Adejo, a bureau de change (BDC) operator, said he was shown evidence that one of his companies – Connaught Nigeria Limited – received funds from Anambra State government.

According to him, the funds were paid into his account by a colleague, one Ayuba, who he sold dollars to.

He said: “I sold dollars to one Ayuba and he asked for my bank account details which I gave him. When the payment was done, I handed the dollars to him, but the payment narration said ‘MC Payment’, meaning Mangers Cheque Payment.

“That is why I did not know the money is from any state account.”

Under cross examination, Adejo denied ever dealing with Obiano.

Further hearing in the case was adjourned till October 7.

News

Rupture In PDP Governors’ Forum deepens

Published

1 hour ago

September 20, 2024

Austin Ojomah

By Ojomah Austin.

The evolving fall-out, which comes barely days to the contentious National Executive Committee (NEC) of PDP, followed a back and forth between the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike and the Governors forum, who declared support for Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara to be made leader of the party in the state.

After a meeting with some members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) in Bauchi on Wednesday, Governor Mohammed, said “According to our party’s constitution, any leadership vacancy should be filled by someone from the region where it originated,” stressing that Damagum would be replaced soon considering that he hails from North East and not the North Central.

Same day, Makinde, during the groundbreaking of the upgrading of Ladoke Akintola Airport, Ibadan, to an international airport, which was attended by another set of NWC members, led by Damagum, said he would support whatever decision the Damagum-led NWC would take to reposition the party.

Damagum, who is considered a close ally of Nyesom Wike, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, was appointed acting national chairman after the removal of Iyorchia Ayu in June 2023.

Meanwhile, the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP led by Senator Adolph Wabara, met with members of the National Assembly caucus in Abuja.

The close door meeting comes barely hours after the BoT met with Wike in Abuja.

While Wabara refused to comment on the essence of the meeting with the lawmakers, it was noticed that most of the lawmakers didn’t honour the invitation.

News

Tears As Man Takes Own Life Over Tinubu’s Govt Hardship

Published

1 hour ago

September 20, 2024

Naijablitznews

By Mario Deepromoter

Sad development in Marika village, Kiyawa Local Government, Jigawa, where a 40-year-old man, Jibrin Adamu, committed suicide by hanging himself.

According to eyewitnesses, Adamu’s lifeless body was discovered in a classroom at Miftahul Khairat Islamiyya and Primary School Gurdiba on Thursday.

Police spokesperson DSP Lawan Shiisu Adam confirmed the incident, stating that preliminary investigations revealed Adamu had struggled with mental health issues.

“Police received a report on Thursday that at about 1830hrs, a tragic incident was reported at the Command headquarters that one Jibrin Adamu ‘m’ age 40yrs of Jigawar Maroka village, Kiyawa LGA has committed suicide by hanging himself over the ceiling at Islamiyya school,” the Police spokesperson told Daily Post.

The Jigawa State Commissioner of Police, CP AT Abdullahi, has instructed officers to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.

News

Just in: Dangote Petrol Now Available at N765.99 Per Litre

Published

1 hour ago

September 20, 2024

Naijablitznews

By Mario Deepromoter

11plc, Total Energies, AA Rano, and other marketers have begun lifting Dangote Petrol through Nigerian National Company (NNPC) Trading Limited for N765.99 to retail outlets nationwide.

Findings showed some petroleum marketers who were able to complete their payment process on the NNPC trading payment portal commenced the lifting of petrol earlier this week under the existing agreement between marketers and the refinery.

Tunji Oyebanji, managing director, 11Plc confirmed to BusinessDay on Thursday evening that some marketers have started lifting the products at N765.99 from Dangote Refinery through NNPC who remain the sole off-taker of product.

“We were among the first marketers to complete the payment on the NNPC portal. We have no direct arrangement with the refinery,” Oyebanji said.

It was gathered that NNPC Retail, 11plc, Total Energies, A.A Rano are among the marketers that have picked up products from the refinery.

He added, “We don’t know the contractual financial arrangement between NNPC and the refinery but what I can confirm is we are buying at N765.99 from NNPC to lift Dangote petrol”.

Efforts to get the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) to confirm if its members have picked up products at the Dangote Refinery proved abortive at the time of writing this report.

See also Nigeria’s Petrol Landing Cost Revealed
Adedapo Segun, executive vice-president, downstream at NNPC said marketers cannot purchase petrol directly from the refinery because the product is still sold at a subsidised rate.

“That is the same thing happening with Dangote. I said earlier that Dangote is a company and it is going to sell at market price,” he told Journalists.

According to Segun, “The market value of PMS is still higher than what N766 or N765 or N799 that NNPC is selling.

“The situation has not changed there. So, NNPC’s off-taking is only because the others would not buy at the price Dangote will be willing to sell, which is reasonable.

“As soon as the price allows for it, you will see the marketers go to Dangote and buy.”