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Ex-Minister, Agunloye Got N5.2m From $6bn Mambila Project Fraud – EFCC Reveals
A court has been told how former Minister of Power and Steel, Olu Agunloye allegedly received N5.2 million from Jide Sotirin Abiodun, a staff of Sunrise Power and Transmission Ltd in multiple transfers and Automated Teller Machine, ATM, withdrawals.
The revelation was made by an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC witness, Adewale Agunbiade.
Agunloye is being prosecuted by the EFCC on seven-count charges, bordering on official corruption and fraudulent award of the Mambilla Power Project contract to the tune of $6 billion to Sunrise Power and Transmission Ltd.
The witness, who appeared before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, sitting in Apo, Abuja, was a Compliance Officer, formerly with Guaranty Trust Bank, GTB.
During his examination, Agunbiade revealed that GTB received an EFCC inquiry in October 2022 about customers Olu Agunloye and Jide Sotinri’s accounts.
He generated account statements and Certificates of Identification, cosigning the response letters. Exhibits showed six transactions on Sept 10, 2019, including five N30,000 ATM withdrawals and a N3.6m transfer from Jide Sotinri to Olu Agunloye.
“On page two of Exhibit 2b is the statement of Jide Sotirin Abiodun and the Certificate of Identification prepared by me on the statement of the account. On the 10th of September 2019, there were six transactions.
“The last five transactions were ATM cash withdrawals of N30,000 (Thirty Thousand Naira) each. The last transaction on 10 August 2019 was a transfer of N3,600,000.00 (Three Million, Six Hundred Thousand Naira) from Sotirin Jide Abiodun to Olu Agunloy”, he said.
Speaking further, he disclosed that Agunloye received significant financial transfers in 2019. On October 22, 2019, he got N500,000 from Sotirin Jide Abiodun. Another transfer of N1,121,000 came from Leno on November 13, 2019, also from Jide Sotirin.
Also, Agunloye’s account showed an inward transfer of N3.6 million (Three Million, Six Hundred Thousand Naira) from Sotinrin Jide Abiodun on August 10, 2019.
“As of 22 October 2019, a record of N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) was transferred from Sotirin Jide Abiodun to Olu Agunloye. On 13 November 2019, a record of N1,121,000 (One Million One Hundred and Twenty-one Thousand Naira) from Leno in favour of Agunloye Olu from Jide Sotirin.
“On 10 August 2019 was an inward transfer of N3,600,000.00 (Three Million, Six Hundred Thousand Naira) from Sotinrin Jide Abiodun. On 22 October 2019, there was an inflow of N500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) from Sotirin Jide Abiodun.
Also on 13th November 2019 was an inflow of N1, 121,000 (One Million One Hundred and Twenty-one Thousand Naira) in favour of Agunloye Olu from Jide Sotirin.”
The case was adjourned till October 21, 2024 for cross-examination.
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FG moves to allow payment in Naira to NIMASA, NPA
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The federal government is proposing the collection of charges, fines and others, by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), be in naira rather than in foreign currencies.
Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, spoke on Wednesday during a press briefing at the state house in Abuja.
According to Onanuga, the proposal is part of the economic stabilisation bills (ESBs) to be presented by President Bola Tinubu to the national assembly.
On Monday, the federal executive council (FEC) approved the economic stabilisation bills seeking amendment of tax policies.
Onanuga said the plan is part of an effort from the federal government to prioritise the use of naira and reduce pressure on the foreign exchange (FX) market.
“The second one has to do with the operating laws guiding NIMASA and Nigerian Port Authority (NPA). The amendment under that in the economic stabilisation bills is that all their fees, charges, levies, fines and other monies accruing to them and payable to those agencies will now be paid in naira at the applicable exchange rate,” Onanuga said.
“Hitherto, those agencies were charging in dollars but now collect it in naira. This government wants to put a lot of emphasis on our national currency instead of everything being dollarised in our economy.”
Since the unification of the naira on June 14, the country’s currency has significantly deteriorated, depreciating from N471.67 per dollar to N1667.42/$ in the official market as of Wednesday.
As part of its effort to reduce demand for dollars, the federal government said on October 1, it would commence the sale of crude oil in naira to the Dangote refinery and other local refineries.
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Three arrested in Benin Republic over alleged ‘coup’ conspiracy
By Francesca Hangeior.
Benin prosecutors announced that three notable individuals, including a commander of the presidential guard, have been detained under suspicion of orchestrating a “coup d’etat” in the small West African country.
The other two individuals accused of plotting a coup are a former sports minister and a businessman with close ties to President Patrice Talon.
Elonm Mario Metonou, the special prosecutor at Benin’s court for financial crimes and terrorism, revealed that the alleged coup was scheduled to occur on Friday.
“It seems the Republican Guard commander responsible for the president’s security was recruited by Minister Oswald Homeky and Olivier Boko to carry out a forceful coup on September 27, 2024,” the prosecutor stated.
Homeky was apprehended around 1:00 am on Tuesday while transferring six bags of money amounting to 1.5 billion West African CFA francs ($2.5 million) to the commander, Djimon Dieudonne Tevoedjre.
Boko, a close associate of President Patrice Talon, was arrested separately overnight from Monday to Tuesday in Benin’s economic hub of Cotonou, the court disclosed.
He had recently hinted at his intention to vie for the presidency in 2026, as Talon is barred by the constitution from seeking another term when his second term concludes.
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