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N4bn fraud: EFCC calls two witnesses to testify against Obiano
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Tuesday, opened its case at the Federal High Court Abuja in the money-laundering suit brought against the immediate past Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano.
The anti-graft agency presented a total of two witnesses in today’s trial.
A bank manager, Mr Tochukwu Nnadi, who entered the witness box as the first prosecution witness, PW-1, told the court that sometime in April 2022, the EFCC invited him and told him it was in respect of an ongoing investigation.
He was the manager of the branch and handled most of the financial activities of the past state government.
Nnadi told the court that he was a bank manager at Awka, the capital of Anambra State, where he managed customers’ accounts and interfaced with various security and anti-graft agencies in terms of inquiry on a customer’s account.
He also disclosed that he knows the defendant, the immediate past governor of Anambra State.
He explained that the state government maintains various accounts with the bank he works for, and one such account was for security votes.
He claimed the security vote account was just like every other account that they managed for the state government, and there was really nothing special about it.
He said, “The account was mostly funded by the office of the Accountant General of the state and bulk of the funds came from Internally Generated Revenue, of the state”.
He added that payments into the account were made on a weekly basis, and all transactions out of the account were always based on the advice of the account operators.
“The payments we made out of the account were to various entities and corporate organisations,” he said.
He claimed documents containing the names of all the beneficiaries had already been submitted to the EFCC.
However, he refused to mention the names of the beneficiaries in the open court, when he was asked to by prosecution counsel, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, SAN.
He said it would amount to a breach of his oath of secrecy.
He said the accounts were funded every week and cash withdrawals, Manager’s cheques, transfers and drafts were instruments that were used to remove the funds, based on instructions from the operators of the accounts.
He added that “Some of the documents he submitted to the EFCC included the certified true copy of the statements of account, cover letter for the statements of account, packages used to open the account, as well as certificates of identification for each of the accounts.
The court admitted in evidence 794 pages of documents from the bank, which was tendered as Exhibit PW-1 (A1- A 794).
Also, another set of documents dated June 1, 2023, showing the debits that were made from the accounts, were also admitted in evidence.
After Nnadi, EFCC presented another witness, PW-2, an Onitsha-based businesswoman, Mrs Chinwe Egbunam, who informed the court that she is a trader specialising in Turkish wear.
She told the court that on May 20, she received a call that she was needed at the EFCC office over some money that had passed through the account of her company, C.I. Party Ventures Nigeria Limited.
She explained that when she arrived at the anti-graft agency office, she told them that she didn’t know anything about the money.
She said her account officer, Mr Ugochukwu Otibelu, only helped her to upgrade her account to enable her to meet the requirements of the embassy of Turkey, based on her request to him.
“It was to upgrade the account to enable me to be able to travel and the upgrade was for him to help me and post money into my account.
“My account officer accepted my request and collected my company account and cheque.
“However, at the EFCC, I was told that about N156. 8 million passed through my account from the Anambra State Government.”
She, however, said she did not touch the money that was paid into the account as it did not belong to her.
She also claimed that the directors of the company account were her family members.
She added that she does not know the governor personally.
“Outside the fact that the defendant was the governor of Anambra State, I never had any dealings with him.”
She was also asked by the prosecution to tell the court what the security situation in Anambra was like when Obiano was governor.
She said “I currently stay in Anambra. There is usually no movement in the state every Monday because of a sit-at-home order. ESN and IPOB operate fully in Anambra state.
“During the tenure of the defendant, there was serious insecurity in Anambra State, and I know that the government worked with organisations and churches to maintain peace in the state.
“This was because churches, organisations and even mosques were under threat during that period,” she said.
The defence lawyer, Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, said they would reserve objections to the exhibits and raise them at their final address.
Justice Inyang Ekwo adjourned further hearing until Wednesday, June 25.
Obiano was the governor of Anambra State from March 2014 to March 2022.
He is facing a nine-count charge brought against him by EFCC.
Obiano is accused of defrauding the state to the tune of N4 billion from the state treasury account.
The monies were said to have been stolen from Anambra State’s Security Vote Account, which was converted into dollars and given to the defendant in cash.
The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has lamented that the northern part of the country is grossly lagging behind in terms of development particularly in education and agriculture, causing the region to suffer significantly.
Sanusi said this on Saturday at the 50th anniversary of the visit of the founder of Faidha Tijjaniyya in West Africa, Sheikh Ibrahim Nyass, in Jos, Plateau State.
The Emir, who was the guest speaker at the event, said the North had failed to capitalise on its huge population, noting that significant percentage of people from the region are mostly agrarian farmers who lack the requisite knowledge on modern agricultural technology.
He urged stakeholders in the North to invest in education and agriculture for the betterment of the region and its people, adding that the north must wake up.
Delivering a lecture on the imperative of harmonious coexistence in a multi-ethnic/religious setting, the Emir recalled that 50 years ago, late Sheikh Ibrahim Nyass, visited Nigeria from Senegal on the invitation of the then former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, to foster peaceful coexistence among the Muslims and non-Muslims in the then Benue-Plateau State.
He added that his grandfather, Muhammadu Sanusi I, received Sheikh Nyass under the permission of the then Governor of Benue-Plateau State, J. D Gomwalk.
While commending the present administration in the state for its support and commitment towards activities of Muslim community, Sanusi urged Muslims in the state to complement the efforts of the state governor to achieve sustainable peace and development.
News
Agidigbo FM denies organising Oyo’s tragic children’s party sponsored by Ooni’s ex-wife’s foundation
Agidigbo FM, a prominent private radio station, has disclaimed involvement in the ill-fated children’s festive party that tragically resulted in multiple deaths on Wednesday morning in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.
The tragedy which struck on Wednesday morning at the Islamic High School in Bashorun, Ibadan when a stampede occurred during a children’s Christmas party.
The station’s management clarified they were not sponsors or organisers of the event, contrary to initial reports. It identified the organiser as WINGS (Women In Need Of Guidance and Support), whose founder is Queen Naomi Silekunola Ogunwusi, the ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi.
Eyewitnesses report that many children were trampled in the chaos, with several others injured and currently receiving treatment at the University College Hospital in Ibadan.
The exact number of fatalities and injuries is still unknown, but the incident has sent shockwaves through the community.
Reacting in a press statement shared via his personal X profile, Governor Seyi Makinde also confirmed the multiple deaths during the stampede as reported by SaharaReporters.
He added that the organisers of the event had been arrested and that an investigation was ongoing to unravel the cause of the tragedy.
Queen Naomi Silekunola Ogunwusi, the former wife of the Ooni of Ife, was a key organiser of the tragic children’s festive party. Additionally, Agidigbo 88.7 FM, owned by Oriyomi Hamzat, had actively promoted the event in the days leading up to the devastating incident.
A press statement signed by Olayinka Abdul Wahab, Director of Programmes at Agidigbo FM on Wednesday evening, however, denied the involvement of Oriyomi and its organisation in the planning of the event.
The statement reads: “This is to inform the general public that the management of Agidigbo FM, Ibadan, received the news of the tragedy that heralded the children’s fun fair at Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan, organized by the WINGS foundation with great shock and wholeheartedly commiserate with the families involved.
“Amidst the tragedy, the news making the rounds says that Agidigbo FM is the organizer of the children’s funfair. However, the management wishes to state that Agidigbo FM is not the organizer of the event but one of the media outfits used to promote the event.
“Upon receiving the notice that a mammoth crowd had assembled before 5 am this morning at the venue, Agidigbo FM, the people’s voice, used all media strategies to sensitize the populace with jingles and public service announcements, from that time that people should stop going to the venue of the funfair.
“The organizers of the event also did all they could to ensure that the tragedy was curtailed by deploying security apparatus, medical officials, and other relevant agencies to come to the aid of those affected by this tragic event.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has arrived in Lagos for the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Tinubu arrived at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, at noon on Wednesday, December 18.
Tinubu had earlier today presented the 2025 Appropriation Bill to the 10th National Assembly in Abuja.
His arrival was disclosed in a post via the X handle of his Special Assistant on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, on Wednesday, December 18.
The caption reads: “President Tinubu arrives in Lagos where he will spend the Christmas. He is received by H.E #jidesanwoolu and members of the Lagos Executive Cabinet.”
Upon arrival at the Lagos airport, Tinubu met his ‘longtime friend’, Abiodun Ayo Yinka (a.k.a Papa Ajasco).
Disclosing this, Olusegun wrote: “Beautiful moment between PBAT and his long-time friend, Mr Abiodun Ayo Yinka (a.k.a Papa Ajasco) at the Presidential Wing of the Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.”
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