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EFCC re-arraigns Ladoja for diverting public funds

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday re-arraigned former Oyo State Governor Rashidi Ladoja for allegedly diverting the state’s funds.

The re-arraignment followed an amendment to the charge by the commission.

Ladoja was charged with converting N4.7 billion from the state treasury to his personal use.

He was re-arraigned along with his former Commissioner for Finance Waheed Akanbi on 11 counts of money laundering and unlawful conversion of public funds.

In the amended charge, EFCC added that Ladoja allegedly “compelled” a broker to sell the state’s shares.

EFCC alleged that the former governor allegedly did not remit N 1.9 billion realized from the sale of the shares.

The commission told the court that the money allegedly went to Ladoja, his family and friends and was not refunded.

EFCC had closed its case before the amendment, but rather than open their defence, the defendants opted to file no-case submissions.

Moving the no-case submissions on Monday, Ladoja’s lawyer Mr Bolaji Onilenla said EFCC did not make out a prima facie case against his client.

An EFCC investigator, Abubakar Madaki, had testified that the shares, worth N6.6billion, were sold without the state executive council’s resolution.

According to the investigator, Ladoja engaged Fountain Securities as a portfolio manager to sell the shares at a discounted rate, adding that the shares were acquired by McLace Securities.

But, Onilenla faulted Madaki’s evidence, arguing that the evidence he gave should have been given by the banks concerned.

He said documents tendered by the prosecution through Madaki ought to have been certified and tendered by the banks and were therefore invalid.

The lawyer said there were no complaints by the state that the shares were sold illegally.

“We urge the court to hold that there is no prima-facie case against the first defendant and we court to discharge and acquit him accordingly,” Onilenla said.

Counsel for Akanbi, Mr Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), said what the prosecution witnesses said in their evidences were not sufficient to ask the defendants to enter a defence.

“We urge the court to uphold the no-case submission of the second defendant,” the SAN said.

But, prosecuting counsel Olabisi Oluwafemi urged the court to order the defendants to open their defence.

He said the evidence given by the prosecution witnesses raises several questions for which the defendants should be called upon to answer.

EFCC accused the defendants of converting N1,932,940,032.48 belonging to Oyo to their personal use through the Guaranty Trust Bank account of a company, Heritage Apartments Limited, despite knowing that it was proceed of crime.

The prosecution said Ladoja removed £600,000 from the state coffers in 2007 and sent it to Bimpe Ladoja in London.

Ladoja also allegedly bought an armoured Land Cruiser jeep with N42 million for himself using public funds.

EFCC said he converted N728,600,000 and another N77,850,000 at different times in 2007, and allegedly transferred N77, 850,000 to Bistrum Investments, which he nominated to help him purchase a property named Quarter 361 in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

The alleged offence, EFCC said, contravenes sections 17(a) and18 (1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004, punishable under sections 14(1), 16(a) (b) and 18(2).

Ladoja and Akanbi pleaded not guilty.

Ladoja was governor from May 29, 2003 to January 12, 2006 when he was impeached. On November 1, 2006, the Appeal Court Ibadan, declared the impeachment null and illegal.

The Supreme Court upheld the decision on November 11, 2009, and Ladajo resumed office on December 12, 2006. He, however, lost a re-election bid.Justice Mohammed Idris adjourned until November 12 for hearing.

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Opeifa request for the state government to assist the Railway Police and Otti, thanks Tinubu for picking the best material to rewrite Nigeria Railway history

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Gov. Otti describes Opeifa as a thorough-bred professional ready to rewrite Nigeria Railway history
Lauds President Tinubu for picking the best material to reposition Nigeria’s oldest corporation

A deserving commendation came the way of the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Dr Kayode Opeifa, as the Abia State Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, described him as an exceptional professional, most suitable to lead the Nigeria’s oldest surviving public corporation.

Governor Otti spoke on Wednesday, at the Government House in Abia State, during a business visit by the MD/CEO of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, as part of his familiarization tour of the Eastern District of the Corporation.

According to Governor Otti: “I have had so many engagements with past leaders of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, you are clearly different and knows the job”. He thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing Dr. Opeifa to lead the Nigerian Railway Corporation, expressing assurance at his ability to deliver.

He thanked the MD/CEO for promising to synergize with the Federal Ministry of Transportation, and the State Government to see that the transformation of the transportation system in Umuahia is achieved. According to the Governor, “Umuahia Bus terminal is progressing rapidly and we felt that it is important to replicate what we have in Paignton, United Kingdom in Umuahia, by linking the train station with the Terminal to enhance intermodal transportation services.

The Governor stated that he was very happy to see that the MD/CEO is committed to taking the track from Aba to Enugu and even beyond. He recalled, with nostalgia how the train had served the people of the state and regretted the downward trends of rain services across the entire South East.

On the MD/CEO’s request for the state government to assist the Railway Police in the state, Governor Otti promised that his government will provide mobility for Aba Railway Police.

He added that the state government is always ready to support the Federal Government institutions as users of such federal institutions are people of the state, adding that his administration cannot differentiate between federal and state government workers.

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Airlin Advocacy Commissions Jos Office, Targets 7m Members By Next Elections,Says Mohammed Gamawa

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During the inauguration ceremony, the National Chairman of Airlin, Mohammed Gamawa, delivered a keynote address, emphasizing the organization’s commitment to educating Nigerians on their civic rights and responsibilities.

According to Gamawa, Airlin aims to bridge the gap between citizens and the principles of the rule of law by fostering a society where people understand not only their rights but also what is expected of them by the country.

“Our goal is to foster interaction among Nigerians, promote respect for the rule of law, and ensure citizens know their rights and civic responsibilities — such as voting to elect future leaders not based on materialism but based on integrity and competence,” Gamawa stated.

He added that understanding and exercising one’s franchise, especially during elections, must go hand in hand with being law-abiding and fully aware of civil responsibilities.

As part of its mission, Airlin is currently targeting 19 states in Northern Nigeria, with Jos becoming the 15th state to be commissioned.

The ceremony also featured the appointment of state and local government coordinators who will help drive the organization’s grassroots advocacy efforts.

With a current membership base of 2.1 million Nigerians aged 18 and above, Airlin projects a significant growth trajectory, aiming to reach 7 million members before the next general elections.

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Nothing new in FBI report on Tinubu, says Onanuga

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Senior Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga has dismissed a report of a United State (U.S.) court ordering two law enforcement agencies to release information on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during a “purported federal investigation in the 1990s.”

In a tweet on his verified X handle, Onanuga told those agitated by the directive that there would be nothing revealing in the anticipated report.

In an April 9 ruling, District Court for the District of Columbia Judge, Beryl Howell ordered the Department of State, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to release the information to Mr. Allan Greenspan.

The information being sought by Greenspan was classified as “confidential information” generated during a “purported federal investigation in the 1990s.”

Judge Howell said that protecting the information from public disclosure “is neither logical nor plausible.”

Commenting on the ruling, Onanuga said: “There is nothing new to be revealed. The report by Agent Moss of the FBI and the DEA report have been in the public space for more than 30 years. The reports did not indict the Nigerian leader”, Onanuga said yesterday.

He said that counsel to the President have been “examining the ruling”.

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