Criminals Erected Ruga Signpost in Our Community, Says Community Leader

National President of Akpa Community Development Association (ACDA) Dr. Fidelis Otebe, has condemned the erection of Ruga settlement signpost in his community in Otukpo, Benue State, stating that it’s an act of criminality even as he rejected the intention of federal government to establish grazing reserve in Akpa land.

 

Otebe, who stated this on Sunday after consulting Akpa sons and daughters at home and the diaspora, said the people have no land to give as grazing reserve in whatever form to anybody, including Fulani herdsmen and federal Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources in Abuja.

He said the people are agrarian settlers and earned their living through cultivation of agricultural crops, stressing that the people have no land for grazing reserve and warned those with the idea to locate the grazing reserve in Akpa to stay clear from the area.

The president of the community said the people had given land to agricultural training institute in Otobi, Otukpo, multipurpose dam in Otobi, university of health sciences in Akwete which has recently been signed to take off; federal government college, federal government tourism centre for crafts, among others of which compensation were paid to the people.

He said those who brought the signpost to be erected in Akpa land were criminals and should stay clear from the area.

 

Otebe said the people were behind the state Governor, Samuel Ortom, and his deputy, Benson Abounu, in the enactment of open prohibition and ranches establishment law in the state, adding that anyone who wants to acquire land should go through state government and leaders and elders of the community.

NGE Deputy President Dies in Kano Road Crash

Former Managing Director of Kano State Radio Corporation and also Deputy President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Malam Umar Saidu Tudunwada, is dead.

He died on Sunday in a road accident at Kura town in Kura Local Government Area of the state.

Tudunwada was on his way back to Kano from Abuja where he attended Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) meeting when he met his end.

He was on the vehicle with one of his wives; a daughter and the driver when the accident occurred 30kilometre away from Kano metropolis.

The former deputy president of NGE was a media aide of former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, twice and a former Assistant General Manager with Freedom Radio Group.

In 2006, he joined the Voice of America (VOA) Hausa Service where he became an international broadcaster translating daily news bulletins from English to Hausa; translating correspondents’ reports from English to Hausa.

He returned to Freedom Radio in 2009 upon his appointment as the general manager operations and editor-in-chief in order to have a good and fair editorial judgment in news and current affairs department of the radio station.

Tudunwada cut his journalistic teeth with the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) as a news assistant in 1980; and in 1983, he left to join the Kano State Television Corporation better known as CTV 67 as a reporter/editor where he worked for close to two decades.

He was at one time a correspondent for Deutsche-Welle (Voice of Germany) Hausa Service compiling and presenting Hausa reports.

It was also learnt that other occupants of the vehicle are at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital receiving treatment.

Tudunwada was buried in Kano amid tears from colleagues and families.

Pregnant Woman, Two Others Confirmed Dead as Boat Capsizes in Lagos ... 16 others declared missing

A pregnant woman and two others have been confirmed dead in a Lagos boat capsize, just as 16 others have been declared missing.

The incident occurred on Sunday at the Badore area of Ajah as the boat conveying about 20 passengers was heading to Egbin Ijede.

According to reports, the casualty figure might be on the high side because none of the passengers wore their life jackets when the incident occurred.

While two of the passengers were said to have swam to safety, others, asides the recovered corpses, were yet to be seen.

As at press time, rescue efforts by emergency workers was still ongoing.

Confirming the incident, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), however, said it was yet unclear the number of people on the boat at the time of the accident.

LASEMA Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Femi Oke -Osanyintolu, said it was only two bodies that have been recovered so far, just as he identified one Aniyikaye Oluwaseunfunmi, aged 40.

He said: "A boat mishap occurred at Ipakan Boat Jetty, Egbin, Ijede, Investigations conducted revealed that the boat was enroute Badore (Ajah) to Egbin (Ikorodu) with between 17 and 21 passengers on board.

"The boat allegedly capsized due to overloading. It was gathered that the boat was overturned by the heavy current. Three persons were rescued  and were taken to hospital.

"Unfortunately, the lifeless body of an adult female, identified as Aniyikaye Oluwaseunfunmi, 40, and an unnamed person were found and bagged by the agency's response team.

"Rescue and recovery efforts continue for the other missing passengers  by LASEMA, LASWA officials and the Marine Police."

PDP Chieftain, Three Others Nabbed over Death of Teenage Girl in Delta

A former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, Chief Kings Okpako, and a 32-year-old man have been arrested by the police for their alleged involvement in the murder of an 18-year old in the university town of Abraka.

It was learnt that the arrest followed the discovery by residents of the mutilated corpse of the teenage girl concealed in a sack and kept in a waste dump.

A crack team of police detectives led by the divisional police officer (DPO) in charge of Abraka Police Station, Mr. Hassan Jimoh, in its efforts to unravel the mysterious death of the girl, subsequently nabbed the politician and another suspect alleged to be the 'boyfriend' of the deceased.

In another development, the police also arrested two men for alleged defilement of a two-year old infant and ten-year-old girl.

In the first incident, a 58-year man accused of having canal knowledge of a 10-year-old girl in Eku, a neighboring town of Abraka, also in Ethiope East Local Government Area of the state.

Similarly, a 52-year-old man was on June 27, 2019, arrested by the police in Ovwian-Aladja in Udu Local Government Area of the state for allegedly defiling a two-year-old girl.

The state police spokeswoman, DSP Onome Onovwakpoyewa, who confirmed the different arrests on Sunday, said the four suspects arrested in connection with the three incidents would be arraigned as soon as due investigations were concluded.

While giving details on the suspected ritual-related murder in Abraka, the state Police Public Relations Officer said: “On June 18, 2019, a sack containing a lifeless body of a teenage girl of about 18 years was found in a heap of dustbin in Abraka. On inspection of the corpse by the police, marks of violence were obvious on the deceased neck which implied she could have been killed by unknown person or persons.

''Subsequently, in the course of police investigation, the male friend of the deceased, one 32-year-old Henry Ikechukwu, who was last seen with the deceased on June 17, 2019, and had been on the run since the incident, was tracked down and arrested on June 28, 2019.''

The said known boyfriend of the deceased, on interrogation, allegedly confessed to have invited the deceased for an outing on June 17, 2019, from where he lured her and handed her over to a prominent chief in the town (Abraka), who gave him the assignment to get the deceased for him.''

 Onovwakpoyewa said the local PDP chieftain, who holds a traditional chieftaincy title, “has also been arrested, and the two suspects are presently in police custody pending investigation. They will soon appear in court immediately after the completion of the ongoing police investigation.''

Similarly, the two suspected rapists arrested in Eku and Ovwian-Aladja were equally in police custody and might be charged to court today, the police spokeswoman said.

She said the state Commissioner of Police, “Mr Adeyinka Adeleke, has advised parents to keep close watch on their under-aged female children to avoid them falling victim of rapists.”

Three incidents of alleged defilement of under-aged girls, the oldest being 10 years, have been reported in the state over a three-week period.

“The growing cases of ritual-related killings as well as rape cases including juveniles in Delta and other states in Nigeria are believed in some quarters not to be unconnected with the get-rich syndrome in the country,” she said.

A 300 level mass communication student of Delta State University, Abraka, Miss Elozino Ogege, was late last year gruesomely murdered by ritualists who pretended to be helping her secure off-campus accommodation in the town. Several persons, including a so-called herbalist or witchdoctor arrested in connection with Elozino's murder have since been arraigned.

CAN Tasks Kaduna Govt over Attack on Church, Christian Persecution

The Kaduna State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has asked the state government to fish out those behind the frequent attacks on St. Augustine’s Catholic Church in Tudun Wada area of Kaduna metropolis and bring them to justice.

The association also wondered why despite the repeated attacks on the church, the police have not been able to arrest anybody.

The latest attack  was last Friday, when some people, yet to be identified, invaded the church at about 11:30p.m. and burnt the sanctuary, setting ablaze loud speakers, chairs, vests, crucifix, altar bell and altar clothes among others.

The Parish Priest, Fr. Joshua Achiar, said the latest attack on the church is the eighth time.

However, speaking on the incident on Sunday at a special “prayer for God’s intervention on the preaching bill” at the ECWA Church in Sabon Tasha, Kaduna, the state CAN Chairman, Rev. Joseph Hayab, urged the state government to go beyond the rhetoric of being on top of the situation and take immediate action against the perpetrators condemnable act. 

“If we live in a country like Nigeria where we are supposed to freely practice our faith, is there a particular place in Kaduna that we shouldn’t reside or Christians should not have churches?” Hayab asked.

He said: “We have been working hard to reduce the problems of segregation, but things like these just keep frustrating such efforts.

”Some people are deliberately insisting that people of other faiths must not live among them or religious symbols or structures of other faiths should not be in their area.”

He said CAN is not happy with this kind of situation and called on government to do everything possible to bring the perpetrators to justice.

”We feel the government must go beyond this rhetoric of ‘we are on top of the situation’, and take action.

”Yesterday, there werea lot of calls from government officials to Catholic leaders, that is not what we want, we want action! Let the government go after these evil people. We cannot continue like this. I want to see Muslim practicing their faith in Sabon Tasha, I want to see Christians practicing their faith in Tudun Wada ...this is what we want to see,” he said.

Speaking further, he said: “We have been paying lip service that Kaduna State is peaceful when there are areas in the state that people of other faith cannot practice their faith. It is wrong.

”About two months ago, the old ECWA Church in the area suffered the same fate.

“I want to appeal strongly to the Tudun Wada community and the Muslim leaders of Tudun Wada, to let us change the story of our community.

“You heard me today that this is Sabon Tasha, a predominant Christian community, I as a Christians today would be the last person to support and encourage any Christian youth to destroy what belongs to any Muslim or destroy any mosque.

“If any Christian is arrested doing that, I will support the police to prosecute him. We should live peacefully.”

Meanwhile the state government has condemned the incident and also commended the church members for “loudly rebuking violence and bigotry by conducting their church service despite the arson attack last Friday night.”

Samuel Aruwan, the spokesman to the state Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, in a statement yesterday, disclosed that three people have been arrested in connection with the incident, assuring them that there would be diligent prosecution of anyone indicted by the investigation.

However, sources in the church revealed that the three people arrested are security guards of the church who are being detained by the police for questioning.

SEC Urges Investors of Defunct Skye Bank Shareholders to Claim Dividends

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has reinforced its earlier directives to shareholders of defunct Skye bank to claim their dividend payment.

This, the SEC said, was part of its investors’ protection programme designed to ensure shareholders get the benefits of investing in the capital market.

According to the acting Director General of SEC, Ms. Mary Uduk, in an interview in Abuja, the SEC recently released a circular to shareholders of the defunct Skye bank to claim all outstanding dividends.

She said: “We have informed shareholders of the defunct Skye bank that unclaimed dividends declared by the bank are being held in trust on their behalf. This will further help reduce the volume of unclaimed dividends in the market and boost investors’ confidence

“Investors that have unclaimed dividends are therefore advised to contact Cardinalstone Registrars to process their dividend payments.”

Uduk said the commission has also directed Cardinalstone Registrars and STL Trustees to ensure that all genuine claims of beneficiary shareholders are addressed forthwith.

The acting DG said since the company is no longer in operation, these unclaimed dividends have to be made available to the rightful owners that are the shareholders as that will go a long way in boosting investors’ confidence in the market.

“They invested in a company, and since the company has gone under, there is no reason why they should not have access to their unclaimed dividends. That is why we are calling on them to take advantage of this opportunity and claim their dividends,” Uduk stated.

Protest, Counter Protest, Rock COZA in Abuja, Lagos

 

Following rape allegation leveled against Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA) founder, Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo, on social media by popular musician, Timi Dakolo's wife, Busola Dakolo, last Friday, many Nigerians protested at the church headquarters in Abuja and it's worship centre in Lagos to call for the resignation of the clergyman as the senior pastor of the church, pending when the case would be taken before and determined by a competent court.

According to reports, as early as 7a.m. on Sunday, protesters had already arrived at the church premises in both locations carrying several placards with different inscriptions to send in their messages and demands to the public.

 It was gathered that before their arrival, heavy security presence of the operatives Department of State Security Services (DSS) and Nigerian Police Force had been stationed at the front of the church premises as the church protocol officers in a chained hands formed a barricade around the Abuja church, as a way of stopping the protesters from gaining entrance into the church premises.

 In Lagos, there were lesser presence of security operatives as protesters took turns to scream for the removal of Fatoyinbo through public address system.

It was likewise gathered that altercations ensued between the protesters and security operatives, as a result of uncivil behaviour of some of the operatives of the Nigerian police force who were accused of manhandling the protesters.

Also, the protesters at the Abuja church were seen to have wailed in a very disappointing way as the senior pastor of the church, Fatoyinbo, who arrived at the church under heavy security, some minutes before 9a.m., was given a jamboree ovation by the whole congregation who filled the church as every other Sunday service, while he mounted the podium to take the sermon for the day, with little or no recourse to what was going on outside the church.

However, Fatoyinbo has cancelled the yearly programme, ‘Seven Days of Glory’  scheduled to start by July 1, 2019, citing advice from his mentors and leaders as reasons behind the cancellation.

Some of the inscriptions written on the placards of the protesters say: ‘Rape is not a gift from God’, ‘Pastor step down’. ‘No to rape’, "The alter of God needs sanctification’, ‘I stand with Busola Dakola’, I stand with billions of victims all over the world’, ‘I stand with women who haven't even found their voices, it is never too late to tell your story, rape is rape’, ‘Pastor not Good’, among others.

 

The social media was likewise not speared, as the protest sparked up several debates and counter opinions on Twitter and Instagram. One of the respondents with the username,@ayosoginro, said: "For all those who think the energy of #COZA should be directed to politics. This is politics. The oppression of women is a part of the systems of oppression that ultimately end in the oppression of the whole country. There will be no political change without social change. Too many educated derelicts among us who just went to school but don’t think. And there’s a growing number who didn’t but because they make money they assume they are knowledgeable." 

While another user, @donsidink said: "Seriously, I'm disappointed in most people on this case i get to learn brain is scarce and understand the main reason why the politicians kept deceiving us every time because we have lot of fools than the bravery ones in this country. So he's guilty by your standards but not innocent by his members'. 

Busola has her side of the story and the pastor said his. You have chosen to believe Busola's story which is your right but COZA members can’t believe their pastor because it negates your truth. Think again.

It was likewise gathered from few of the protesters that also moonlight as members of the church that, before the end of service, the church employed the services of few Louts to counter protest. They were reported to have shown solidarity to the embattled pastor before the aggrieved members of the public initially protesting, but no confrontation was reported to have broken out between the two groups.

Insecurity: Gunmen Kill 23 Persons in Benue, Katsina

Gunmen have killed 23 persons in Benue and Katsina States in attacks on two local government areas in both states

While 11 persons were on Sunday morning killed in Okokolo village by gunmen from Abugbe village in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State, bandits reportedly killed at least 11 persons in nine communities of Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The gunmen attacked Okokolo while the locals went to churches.

Several houses were also said to have been burnt down while many people were reportedly still missing at the time of this report.

A native of Okokolo village, John Ikwulono, told journalists that there were no prior issues between the communities before the attack.

“This barbaric, unwarranted and inhuman attack occurred even when series of peace meetings have been called. Just few days before these attacks, Agbaduma community and Abugbe community, it was gathered, signed peace agreement and promised to remain peaceful and ensure that there would be no further problem among them.

Ikwulono listed those who are confirmed dead from Okokolo to include Mr. Baba Odoje, Mr. Shaidu Magaji (a retired military officer), Mr. Oloche Obiabo (Kaddo), Adehi Imaikwu and Mr. Maji Baba.

Others are Ngbede Ibrahim, Bello-Gene-Galih, Mr. Ekoja, Adams Dogara (Pastor Dogara’s son) and one Francis Idu’s wife and her two children.

While noting that bodies of some persons who were suspected to have been killed in the attack were yet to be found, Ikwulono, a former supervisory councillor of the council, said so many persons, including Mrs. Mary Adakonye, a health worker, who sustained bullet wounds in the attack, were currently receiving treatment at different hospitals in Agatu.

Ikwulono, who lamented the development, said the situation, if not properly handled, was capable of destroying the entire Agatu.

According to him, “And then, there might be no place to call Agatu in the nearest future. God forbid it anyway, but this is my candid advice to our leaders.

“I appreciate all those with genuine intentions to bring peace to the area, but those instigating crisis in the area shall know no peace for the rest of their lives.”

When contacted, the Caretaker Chairman of Agatu Local Government Council, Hon Usman Alilu, who confirmed the report, said he had directed soldiers to the area to deal decisively with the perpetrators of the crime and arrest them.

“We are on top of the situation now. Thank you for your genuine concern and your tireless efforts,” he said.

Similarly, the Benue State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sir John Ngbede, in a telephone conversation, expressed bitterness over the unfortunate situation.

Ngbede, who is an indigene of Agautu, said he had already informed the caretaker chairman to make sure soldiers arrest everyone involved in the attack to serve as a deterrent to others.

 “Even if it is a stone you find there, don’t spare anyone, pick them up and deal with them mercilessly,” the visibly angry PDP chairman said.

Efforts to get the reaction of the police were not successful at the time of filing this report as phone calls put to the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Catherine Anene, were neither picked nor returned.

Meanwhile, armed bandits have reportedly killed at least 11 persons in nine communities of Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The communities invaded by the hoodlums include Pauwa, Katoge, Danhayi, Gidan Guge, Kaurawa, Jan Bago, Kadanya, Gidan Kwaki and Lambar Kantoma.

The fresh onslaught on the communities, according to local sources, occurred last Saturday at about 6:23 p.m. when the hoodlums numbering about 70 invaded the communities on motorcycles.

But police in the state gave the number of those killed as seven, and blamed members of the communities for not informing the security operatives on time.

Confirming the development to some journalists on Sunday, a staff of the council who pleaded anonymity, said: "The bandits attacked nine villages and killed 11 persons yesterday (Saturday) evening and raped many women in the communities.

The source added that many women and children were declared missing after the invasion, saying those injured were receiving treatment in different hospitals in the state.

When contacted, the Katsina State police spokesman, SP Gambo Isah, confirmed the incident, saying seven persons were killed and two are currently receiving treatment.

"The bandits came with more than 100 motorcycles, and each of the motorcycles carried three persons armed with AK47. We got the information late, and already the bandits had laid ambush for the security operatives," he said.

The police spokesman added that security personnel had been deployed to the villages to restore peace, while the hoodlums were being trailed to their hideouts by the police and army to arrest them.

Isah appealed to residents of the state to always help the police with positive information on criminals’ hideouts for urgent interventions.

Disturbed by the carnage, hundreds of aggrieved youths at the weekend besieged Kankara town and blocked major roads leading to the council for about three hours.

The protesters alleged that both the state and federal governments were not doing enough to address banditry, kidnapping and other crimes in the state.

Obasanjo Laments Nation's Predicament, Charges Youths to Take Back Their Country

*Conferred with NYCN 'Father of the Nation' honour

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday declared that he was weeping over Nigeria’s predicament, and charged the youths to take back their country.

Obasanjo, who spoke at his Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Ogun State, while being honoured as 'Father of the Nation' by the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), said he weeps for Nigeria.

He charged the youths to take back their

country and save it from what he described as "the gradual slide to anarchy and economic hiatus."

Speaking during the conferment of the honour, the NYCN President, Nihi Oladele, and his predecessor, Ikenga Ugochinyere, who led a delegation of other youth leaders and delegates to the Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Ogun State, said their reason for conferring the title on the former president was due to his "outstanding contributions, ideas and benevolence towards Nigerian youths over the years."

Ugochinyere and the visiting youth leaders also donated N1million to the Obasanjo Library.

He noted that young people across Nigeria raised the funds in appreciation of Obasanjo's leadership.

Accepting the title, Obasanjo said he weeps for Nigeria.

He charged the youths to take back their

country and save it from what he described as "the gradual slide to anarchy and economic  hiatus."

Money Laundering: EFCC Asks Banks to Reject Payment Instruction from NDDC *Magu worried over rising digital currency-related crimes

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday directed commercial banks not to honour any payment instruction from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The directive is predicated on an ongoing investigation by the agency that unraveled diversion of funds from a domiciled account at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to commercial banks.

This is coming as the acting Chairman of  EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, lamented the surge in the digital currency-related crimes in the country, saying the commission was inundated with petitions from victims. 

A copy of a letter obtained by THISDAY and addressed to the Managing Director, WEMA Bank PLC showed that EFCC was investigating a case of fraud, diversion of funds and money laundering by the Professor Nelson Brambaifa-led NDDC.

It said preliminary investigation showed that funds from the NDDC account domiciled in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) were being diverted to commercial banks.

In view of the above, the EFCC asked commercial banks to reject payment instruction from NDDC to corporate bodies with accounts in commercial banks.

In the letter dated June 10, 2019  entitled: Investigation Activities: Re: Payment of Niger Delta Development Commission-NDDC", the agency said it was “investigating a case of fraud, diversion of funds and money laundering in which the above-named agency (NDDC) featured".

 “Preliminary investigation reveals that funds are being diverted from the above account domiciled in the CBN to commercial banks.

“In view of the above, you are requested to henceforth, reject any payments instruction from the accounts of the Niger Delta Development Commission to accounts of corporate bodies domiciled in your bank until further notice to forestall further diversion of the funds.”

“This request is made pursuant to Section 38 & 34 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004 and section 21 & 6 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, (as amended) 2011,” said the letter signed on behalf of Ahmed Lagos Zonal Head of the EFFC, Aminu Ado Aliyu.

When contacted, EFCC Spokesman, Tony Orilade, confirmed the authenticity of the document. He said the document emanated from EFCC.

Meanwhile, the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, has described as worrisome the surge in the digital currency-related crimes in the country, saying the commission was inundated with petitions from victims.

Magu raised the concern yesterday in Ibadan while delivering his speech at the opening of the 12th annual retreat for Heads of Security of Banks and Other Financial Institutions.

Themed “Fighting Financial Crimes in a Digital Economy”, the two-day retreat was organised by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, CIBN, with senior bank officials and heads of security agencies across the country in attendance.

In the speech delivered on his behalf by a senior official of the Commission, Hanafi Baba-Ahmed, the anti-corruption boss urged Nigerian bankers remain guided by the ethics of their profession in the discharge of their duties, adding that the commission, including other sister anti-graft agencies, would rely on their expertise to wage effective war against the digital currency fraud epidemic.

ICPC To Prosecute Lai Mohammed in Court Over Alleged N2.5bn Fraud

The Independent Corrupt Practice and other related offences Commission (ICPC) has asked Lai Mohammed, a former minister of information, to appear at a federal high court in Abuja over an alleged N2.5 billion fraud case involving the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

ICPC is prosecuting Ishaq Kawu, NBC director-general, over “abuse of office and money laundering”.

The commission had filed a 12-count charge against Kawu, Lucky Omoluwa and Dipo Onifade, chairman of Pinnacle Communications Limited respectively.

In a statement on Thursday, the anti-graft agency said Mohammed was invited to explain his role after it conducted a probe.

“A government White Paper that governs the execution of the DSO programme was allegedly flouted by the head of NBC,” the statement read.

“Mohammed had however admitted in a statement to the Commission that he was misled by Kawu, as opined in court by a witness from ICPC, Osanato Olugbemi.

“Olugbemi, led in evidence by counsel to ICPC, Henry Emore, also told the court that the payment of N2.5 billion from NBC to Pinnacle Communications Limited, as seed grant was suspicious because ICPC found out through its investigations that only government owned company was approved to benefit from the grant according to the White Paper.”

Citing a minute of an emergency NBC meeting, ICPC said it gathered that the final payment to the company was shrouded in secrecy.

The anti-graft agency said Olugbemi also told the court that 47 suspicious transactions were originated by the chairman of Pinnacle Communications after the receipt of the funds on June 2, 2017.

“The transactions includes payments of N363 million to one Idowu Olatunde, N274.4 million to one James Segun and N127 million to Dipo Onifade, the Chief Operating Officer of the company,” the statement read.

“He informed the court that Omoluwa refused to explained the reasons for the payments to Olatunde and James when asked by ICPC, but Onifade explained that he received the N127 million as legal fees he rendered to Pinnacle Communications Limited.

“A Bureau de Change operator, Salisu Mamman Daura, who also testified in court, said he received N167 million in two installments of N97 million and N70 million respectively, from Pinnacle Communications Limited.”

CULLED FROM THE CABLE

Shell, Communities Resolve Dispute over OML 25

Stakeholder communities of Oil Mining License (OML) 25 in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State and Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) have agreed on the procedures for the re-opening  of the oil facility.

The stakeholders communities and Shell have also agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) next Monday to be facilitated by the Rivers State Government on their respective responsibilities in the final resolution of the conflict.

This was the outcome of the meeting on Thursday between Stakeholder Communities of OML 25, SPDC, Service Commanders and officials of the state government on the directive of the state Governor, Nyesom Wike.

Representative of the Rivers State governor and Secretary of the Rivers State Government (SSG), Dr. Tammy Danagogo, directed the Solicitor-General of the state to draft a memorandum of understanding on the premise of the resolutions reached at the meeting.  He said the MOU would be signed on Monday.

Danagogo outlined the four key resolutions reached during the crucial meeting on the re-opening  of OML 25.

He said: "SPDC should pay the agreed funds into an account.  The Permanent Secretary of the Community Affairs has been mandated to ensure that the funds are transferred to the communities.

"SPDC should be able to pay the available sum latest by next Monday. Shell would pay N260million and N75million by Monday.

"The communities should within seven days of signing the resolution vacate the facility.  Also within two weeks, Shell should pay the remaining part of N1.014billion.”

The SSG added that the meeting resolved that SPDC would therefore obtain approval from NAPIMS to pay the money that accrued between 2009 and 2013.

He added that within two weeks of signing the resolution, the state government would set up a platform for Shell and Stakeholder Communities to renegotiate the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMOU).

General Manager, External Relations of Shell Petroleum Development Company, Mr. Igo Weli, said the first set of funds to the Stakeholder Communities would be paid next Monday.

He stressed that the outcome of the financial reconciliations  would be paid within two weeks of signing the resolution.

 Weli added that SPDC in line with the resolution of the meeting, would seek the approval  of NAPIMs for payment of funds for 2009 and 2013.

Chairman of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, Rowland Sekibo, said the meeting initiated by the state governor has recorded a milestone with agreement  on the funds to be paid by SPDC.

Member of the Rivers State House of Assembly representing Akuku-Toru constituency 1, Major Jack, commended the state government,  SPDC and Stakeholder Communities for building synergy which would end  in the signing of  the MOU next Monday.

Amanyanabo of Opu-Kula, King Hope Opusingi, said the people of the area are happy with the agreement reached at the meeting,  especially  the reconciliation  of the funds to be paid  by SPDC.