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UK Anti-Fraud Agency Charges Former Glencore Traders Linked To Bribery Of Nigeria’s NNPCL

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The UK’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has charged five former Glencore oil traders with conspiracy to make corrupt payments in West Africa, including Nigeria. The individuals charged are Alex Beard, Andrew Gibson, Paul Hopkirk, Ramon Labiaga and Martin Wakefield.

According to the SFO, the charges relate to corrupt payments made to benefit Glencore’s oil operations in the region.

The SFO in a statement on Thursday said it had charged Alex Beard, Andrew Gibson, Paul Hopkirk, Ramon Labiaga and Martin Wakefield with conspiring to make corrupt payments in order to benefit commodities giant Glencore’s oil operations in West Africa.

It said, “The five individuals, all former employees of the company, have been charged in connection with the awarding of a range of oil contracts variously spanning Cameroon, Nigeria and the Ivory Coast from 2007 to 2014.

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“Andrew Gibson and Martin Wakefield have also been charged in relation to the falsification of invoices to Glencore’s London office marked as service fees to a Nigerian oil consultancy from 2007 to 2011.”

A hearing is scheduled for 10am on Tuesday, September 10, 2024 at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

Director of the Serious Fraud Office, Nick Ephgrave QPM, said: “Bribery damages financial markets and causes lasting harm to communities.

“Today’s action is an important step towards exposing overseas corruption and holding those who are responsible to account.”

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In May, the Nigerian government announced that Glencore, a British mining and trading company, would pay a $50 million penalty to Nigeria for bribery. This was disclosed by Attorney General Fagbemi in Abuja during a ministerial update. The payment is part of a settlement agreement between the government and Glencore.

According to the government, Glencore and its subsidiaries paid over $52 million to intermediaries in Nigeria, intending to bribe officials.

Meanwhile, Glencore has agreed to pay a total of $1.5 billion to resolve investigations in the US, UK, and Brazil, with $1.06 billion going to US and Brazilian agencies.

In 2022, Glencore pleaded guilty to corruption and market manipulation charges in the US and UK, acknowledging bribes paid to secure business in eight countries, including Brazil and South Sudan. The company agreed to pay approximately $1.5 billion to resolve the investigations.

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A Glencore spokesperson confirmed the charges, stating that the company had cooperated with the UK’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and resolved its investigation in 2022.

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JUST IN: Again, APC loses battle to disqualify PDP candidate, Ighodalo in Edo guber poll

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By Ojomah Austin.

 

The APC suit filed at the federal high court in Abuja seeking to oust Ighodalo from the gubernatorial race was dismissed on Friday evening by Justice Peter Lifu.

An eleventh-hour attempt by the All Progressives Congress, APC to get the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Asue Ighodalo disqualified from the Edo State Governorship election has been dismissed.

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The Judge agreed with Ighodalo’s lawyer, Chief Akinlolu Kehinde that the suit was frivolous, baseless, and unwarranted and was thrown out.

In his judgment in the suit, Justice Lifu rejected the prayer of the APC to use another judgment of the same court that had queried the validity of the primary election that produced Ighodalo to kick him out of the race.

In a suit marked THC/ABJ/CS/165/2024, Justice Inyang Ekwo had on July 4 held that PDP was wrong in excluding 378 delegates from its February 22 primary election that produced Ighodalo.

Although Justice Ekwo did not categorically declare the primary election invalid, the APC cashing in on Ekwo’s finding, filed a fresh suit to disqualify Ighodalo on the strength of the alleged unlawful exclusion.

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However, Justice Lifu upheld the submission of the senior lawyer that the federal high court cannot sit as an appellate court in its own judgment.

The Judge also agreed that APC was a busybody and meddlesome interloper by dabbing into the internal affairs of PDP.

Besides, Justice Lifu also upheld the argument of Kehinde SAN that the high court judgment being used to press for Ighodalo’s disqualification had since been voided and set aside by the Court of Appeal in Abuja.

The Judge subsequently dismissed the APC’s disqualification request on the ground that it lacked merit and substance.

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The APC had sued the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, Asue Ighodalo and PDP as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.

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Tight security in Benin as Edo governorship election draws near

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By Ojomah Austin.

 

A large number of officers from the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have been mobilized across the city, causing traffic congestion in several areas.

Security personnel were spotted at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Benin, securing strategic locations, with some awaiting further deployment to other parts of the state.

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This follows the recent deployment of 35,000 police officers to maintain law and order during the elections, With less than 48 hours to the Edo State governorship election.

The NSCDC also deployed 6,433 officers, while the Defence Headquarters has stationed soldiers to ensure a safe environment for voters.

In addition, authorities have implemented a “show of force” with security agents patrolling key areas.

In anticipation of the election, the Edo State Government declared Friday a work-free day to allow voters to travel to their polling units.

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Meanwhile, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) held a prayer session in Benin, calling for peace and the election of a credible leader who will govern with integrity.

INEC has also commenced the distribution of sensitive electoral materials to all 18 local government areas, ensuring readiness for Saturday’s vote.

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New video of Zinoleesky gets tongues wagging

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……“E remain small make breeze blow am away”

By Ojomah Austin.

 

Nigerian singer, Zinoleesky stirs a buzz online due to a recent video of him circulating on social media.

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In the video, Zinoleesky dons a white shirt alongside black trousers as he brags about being worthy to be used as a Valentine’s gift.
Reacting to the video, netizens commented on his skinny appearance.

Famous musician, Oniyide Azeez, better known as Zinoleesky trends online due to a new clip serving the rounds on social media.

In the video, the ‘Element’ hitmaker is spotted wearing a white shirt and a stylish black trouser. While being filmed, Zinoleesky bragged mightily about his looks.

He reiterated that he could be used as a Valentine’s gift to any girl.

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The video generated a buzz online with a large number of netizens commenting on his thin body shape. Some swiftly leveraged it to make fun of the artiste.

One @janicekate_x wrote: “E remain small make breeze blow am away 😂.

soromotoochukwu wrote: “I like how music can take you to another place. For example, this restaurant is playing Zinoleesky so now I’m going to a different restaurant.”

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dave.dexter27 wrote: “Make breeze sha no blow as we wan deliver the valentine gift😂😂😂.”

oluwatamilore_xx wrote: “Bro,drank all the whole slimming tea and nothing is left to slim down.”

isco_west_whil wrote: “Chaii dem don set this Guy up for dragging again😂😂.”

scheargoon wrote: “Try put stone for your pocket guy”

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bouncequotes wrote: “My boy 😂😂😂😂 slim daddy for dem girls.”

just_eniola_olayemisi wrote: “No be your fault zino, u no just get choice that to continue to dey craze 🥺 I feel for u my bro.”

zaza_mula112 wrote: “Zino Dey enjoy, while seyi vibe Dey cry under record label 😂😂.”

jamesmike7837 wrote: “See person be like broom stick😂.”

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sheis_shuga wrote: “Who Dey decive you werey 😢😢see as u slim like who get HIV 😢😔🙄🥺Dooh.”

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