TheNewsGuru

Tag: Scam

  • If by now you think coronavirus is a scam, I wish you well, SGF tells doubting Nigerians

    If by now you think coronavirus is a scam, I wish you well, SGF tells doubting Nigerians

    The Federal Government has once again emphasised the seriousness of the outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on (COVID-19), Mr. Boss Mustapha, who emphasised the seriousness on Wednesday, spoke on the perspective in some quarters, where COVID-19 is believed to be a hoax.

    The PTF also defrayed the claim being spread through the social media that members of the task force were being paid N500,000 daily sitting allowance, saying no member of the body had received any payment for their time and efforts since it was constituted

    Mustapha responded to a question from one of the journalists at the event, talking about some parts of the country where there is the belief that the COVID-19 was an idea and not a real disease with capacity to infect or cause death.

    According to him, the outbreak is not a joke, scam or hoax, but a real disease, which had killed thousands of people across the world, refering to a story of a Nigerian medical practitioner, who recently lost the battle against the disease in the United Kingdom.

    “The Coronavirus is not a joke. Please, take it very seriously and listen to the government. Please stay safe and protect your loved ones, nothing is more important.

    “Listening to this, I think we’ve gone past the stage, however ignorant a person is, wherever you live in Nigeria, for you to begin to assume that this is a scam, a hoax or a joke and I think those of you in the media have the responsibility for driving this point.

    “This is not a joking matter, we’ve gotten to the stage where we are beginning to see some of the things that are happening in other climes.

    “So, we ought to take it with every element of seriousness and for those that think it’s a hoax or a scam, I wish them well, but for those of us who believe that we ought to do everything humanly possible to contain this spread or limit the infection or mortality, we will continue to work day and night and that is why I solicit your support and cooperation in this particular endeavour”, Mustapha said.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, described reports that members of the task force had been receiving half a million naira daily as sitting allowance as fake news, which should be disregarded.

    According to him, no member of the task force had received anything as payment for their efforts. Rather, they had been the ones who had been expending their resources to carry out a national task.

    “The issue I want to take on is that of the sitting allowance of half a million naira, paid to each of the members of the task force. You will remember that each time I come here, since I tested negative for Coronavirus, my other major problem has been fake news.

    “As soon as I got that information, I consulted with my colleagues here whether I’m not a member of the task force and I asked them whether they’d received their own and they said no.

    “What bothers me is that since about 2 O’clock this afternoon I’ve been receiving text messages to send money to people; that they were broke, they had no money and I began to wonder, why today? Apparently, they are acting on this fake news that we receive half a million naira everyday.

    “The truth of the matter is that no member of the committee has received one penny, either for sitting or sleeping allowance, not even when we went to Lagos yesterday.

    “So, you see this fake news is targeted at one thing alone: to distract the government from the more serious problem and task of containing and combating fake news.

    “I want to say loud and clear; no member of the committee receives a penny as sitting allowance. Everybody sacrificed his time, energy and even sometimes his resources”, Mohammed said.

  • FBI arrests Nigerians, others over $30m Atlanta-based scams

    FBI arrests Nigerians, others over $30m Atlanta-based scams

    The FBI and other US Federal agents have arrested twenty-four individuals, among them Nigerians, for their involvement in a large-scale fraud and money laundering operation that targeted citizens, corporations, and financial institutions throughout the United States.

    Two of the Nigerians, Afeez Olaide Adeniran and Blessing Ojo face a separate charge of wire fraud. The indictment alleges that Adeniran defrauded a homebuyer of $40,000 intended for a real estate transaction.

    “The indictment alleges that due to a computer intrusion and false invoicing scam, Ojo caused a media company in California to send payments totalling $89,140 to a bank account controlled by one of the defendants. In total, the victim sent $646,840, as a result of the fraud”.

    Using Business email compromise schemes, romance fraud scams, and retirement account scams, among other frauds, the suspects duped numerous victims into losing more than $30 million, the Department of Justice, Northern District of Georgia announced on Friday.

    The arrests followed a similar crackdown by FBI on scores of Nigerian fraudsters in California and some other parts last August.

    “Fraud schemes, like the ones perpetrated and facilitated by these defendants, inflict considerable losses on citizens, companies, and the financial system,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak.

    “Some of these schemes target the elderly and often deplete the victims’ entire life savings. These arrests affirm the Department of Justice’s commitment to prosecuting those who prey on our most vulnerable citizens.”

    “The FBI would like to thank our numerous federal, state and local law enforcement partners who helped make these arrests possible,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “There is no way we can make the victims of these schemes, many who have lost their life savings, whole again. Hopefully the arrests and pending prosecutions will at least give them solace that someone is being held accountable for their losses.”

    According to U.S. Attorney Pak, the indictment, and other information presented in court: The defendants served as money launderers for other individuals throughout the world who conducted cyber-enabled fraud, including business email compromise schemes, romance scams, and retirement account scams, targeted at companies and individuals across the United States.

    The defendants and co-conspirators facilitated BEC schemes, romance scams, and retirement account scams by receiving and distributing fraudulent funds throughout the United States and the world. Over the course of the conspiracy, the defendants and their co-conspirators laundered over $30 million in fraud proceeds. The defendants created multiple sham companies that did not have physical premises, earn legitimate income, or pay wages to employees. In turn, the defendants opened business bank accounts at multiple financial institutions to facilitate receipt of the fraudulent money. The defendants also opened personal bank accounts to receive fraudulent funds, often using false identities and victims’ identities. After funds were deposited into the defendants’ bank accounts, the money was quickly withdrawn from the accounts and circulated among the defendants.

    The following individuals have been charged with money laundering conspiracy:

    Darius Sowah Okang, a/k/a Michael J. Casey, a/k/a Richard Resser, a/k/a Thomas Vaden, a/k/a Michael Lawson, a/k/a Matthew Reddington, a/k/a Michael Little, 29, of Stone Mountain, Georgia;
    Dominique Raquel Golden, a/k/a Desire Tamakloe, a/k/a Mellissa Moore, a/k/a Nicole Nolay, a/k/a Raquel Roberts, a/k/a Maria Henderson, a/k/a Raquel Golden, 29, of Houston, Texas;
    Blessing Oluwatimilehin Ojo, a/k/a “Timmy,” 34, of Nigeria;
    George Kodjo Edem Adatsi, 36, of Atlanta, Georgia;
    Desire Elorm Tamakloe, a/k/a “Chubby,” 25, of Smyrna, Georgia;
    Solomon Agyapong, a/k/a “Gumpe,” 31, of Marietta, Georgia;
    Afeez Olaide Adeniran, a/k/a “Ola,” 31, of Atlanta, Georgia;
    Francesco Benjamin, a/k/a “B-More,” 30, of Atlanta, Georgia;
    Jonathan Kojo Agbemafle, a/k/a “Skinny,” 26, of Kansas City, Missouri;
    Joshua Roberts, a/k/a “Onyx,” 28, of Houston, Texas;
    Hamza Abdallah, a/k/a Reggie Lewis, 30, of McDonough, Georgia;
    Prince Sheriff Okai, 26, of Mableton, Georgia;
    Kelvin Prince Boateng, 24, of Atlanta, Georgia;
    Monique Wheeler, 29, of Atlanta, Georgia;
    Matthan Bolaji Ibidapo, a/k/a “B.J.,” 27, of Colorado Springs, Colorado;
    Stephen Abbu Jenkins, a/k/a “Face,” a/k/a Steven Abbu Jenkins, Steven Jenkins, Steve Jenkins, 53, of Atlanta, Georgia;
    Kahlia Andrea Siddiqui, 28, of Chamblee, Georgia;
    Alexus Ciera Johnson, 26, of Mableton, Georgia;
    Abubakar Sadik Ibrahim, 26, of Mableton, Georgia;
    Emanuela Joe Joseph, 34, of Lawrenceville, Georgia;
    Obinna Nwosu, 26, of Douglasville, Georgia;
    Ojebe Obewu Ojebe, 27, of Atlanta, Georgia; and
    Gregory Thomas Hudson, 38, of Powder Springs, Georgia.

    Darius Sowah Okang is also charged with one count of bank fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft. The indictment alleges that Okang created a bank account in a retirement scam victim’s name, which was then used to deposit approximately $288,000 in funds fraudulently withdrawn from the victim’s retirement account.

    In addition, two related cases charging additional defendants with various counts of bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, money laundering, and conspiracies to commit these offenses are currently pending in federal court in Atlanta.
    These defendants include:

    Benjamin Ibukunoluwa Oye, 26, of Sandy Springs, Georgia;
    Tyler Keon Roussell, 25, of Atlanta, Georgia;
    Christopher Akinwande Awonuga, 27, of Fayetteville, Georgia;
    Casey Broderick Williams, 26, of Covington, Georgia;
    Macario Lee Nelson, a/k/a “Mac,” 24, of Atlanta, Georgia;
    Chadrick Jamal Rhodes, 28, of Atlanta, Georgia;
    Chadwick Osbourne Stewart, 40, of Atlanta, Georgia;
    Oumar Bouyo Mbodj, 28, of Kennesaw, Georgia;
    Seth Appiah Kubi, 60, of Dacula, Georgia;
    Ahamefule Aso Odus, 27, of Atlanta, Georgia;
    Paul Chinonso Anyanwu, 27, of Hampton, Georgia;
    Egale Veonzell Woods, Jr., 41, of East Point, Georgia;
    Chineda Obilom Nwakadu, 25, of McDonough, Georgia;
    Chukwukadibia Ikechukwu Nnadozie, a/k/a “Chuka,” a/k/a Michael McCord, 27, of Fayetteville, Georgia;
    Uchechi Chidimma Odus, a/k/a “Uche,” 23, of Atlanta, Georgia;
    John Ifeoluwa Onimole, 27, of Powder Springs, Georgia; and
    Oluwafunmilade Onamuti, a/k/a Mathew Kelvin, 26, of Duluth, Georgia.
    Members of the public are reminded that the indictments only contain charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove each defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, U.S. Secret Service, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations are investigating this case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly K. Connors, Russell Phillips, and John Ghose are prosecuting the case.

  • The scam in the Biafra agitation process, By Michael Owhoko

    The scam in the Biafra agitation process, By Michael Owhoko

    By Michael Owhoko

    Where is the map of Biafra? This is the question I have often asked the promoters and sympathizers of the Biafra cause, and up till this moment, their responses have been feeble, vague,evasive and suspicious, failing to provide specific drawingshowing a clearly defined territorial area called Biafra.

    Why is the map of a potential sovereign state like the Republic of Biafra not being courageously and freely displayed like the way the flag is presented? Recurring sight of the Biafra flag raises consciousness of it. Once Biafra is mentioned, a mental picture of the flag pops, showing the rising sun along with the eleven rays symbolizing the provinces in Biafra. But where is the map?

    I am asking this question because of concerns being raised by neighbours sharing boundaries with the South East states to the South, specifically, the Niger Delta Region. The fears of the Niger Delta people stem from its minority status and experience in the first separatist agitation and subsequent declaration of the former Eastern Region of Nigeria as an independent state of Biafra.

    At the time, the present day, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers and Bayelsa states were part of the former Eastern Region while Delta and Edo states known as Midwest Region were capturedby the Biafra forces and declared Republic of Benin, even though, in their hearts, the region was part of Biafra despite theprevailing plural identities.

    Indeed, this was the only reason why these states were sucked into the Biafra struggle without known prior consultation and consensus. However, to allay the fears of the minorities and reassure them that they were safe within the Biafra union, Late Lt-Col Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu then appointed Late Major-General Philip Effiong, a minority from the present day Akwa Ibom State, as second-in-command in the Biafra hierarchy.

    The geo-political setting of the country has since metamorphosed from the four-regional structure to six-geo-political grouping in consonant with ethnic, linguistics, cultural, historical, contiguous boundaries and affinity, leaving the Igbo in the South East geopolitical zone and, the minorities in the South-South or Niger Delta geopolitical area.

    The present day agitation for the sovereign state of Biafra, both the faction led by the Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra (MOSSOB) and the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) and their leaders, have at different events, expressed that the South-South geo-political zone or Niger Delta region is part of Biafra.

    This position is stripped of respect for minorities and a demonstration of might in the quest for territorial expansion. How do you conscript an unwilling people from another region to be part of your conceived independent state without prior discussions and agreement on the form, organization and modality of administration? Even if this is an effect ofhallucination, how then can you be trusted?

    It is this fear of domination and territorial ambition by the major ethnic groups that led to the setting up of the WillinkCommission in 1957 to look into the fears of the minorities who were scared of the imbalance of the three-regional political structure, and this led to the creation of the fourth region, the Midwest in 1963. By the body language, the Biafra gladiators are provoking a reenactment reminiscent of the old political structure.

    Perhaps, the drivers of Biafra are still living in the past, unable to come to terms with reality that the Niger Delta is now a different geo-political area with its distinct political aspirations. Perhaps, they are being misled by the word, Biafra and, the symbol of the Biafra flag.

    The name, Biafra, has its origin from the Bight of Biafra, now Gulf of Guinea, a Portuguese name representing the West Coast from where waters flow into the Atlantic Ocean. Biafra, still conjures false sense of one region based on the old four-regional structure. The word, Biafra, no longer has geographical and historical relevance to the present South-East geopolitical area, but the South-South geo-political grouping.

    The rising sun on the Biafra flag with the eleven rays representing the eleven provinces of Biafra under the old Eastern Region, is also misleading. The Niger Delta region is no more part of the South-East geopolitical zone. The moment the old four-regional structure was dismantled and replaced with the six-geopolitical zones, the eleven provinces ceased to exist, and therefore can no longer be reflected on the Biafra flag, particularly when previous political affinities had also been terminated.

    Unfortunately, the continued use of the symbol on the flag creates false sense of one region in the minds of the protagonistsof Biafra with the eleven provinces. It is time to recreate the map; otherwise, it is a scam.

    Under the current dispensation, each geopolitical zone has its distinct socio-economic and political aspirations, which are nowat liberty to develop at their paces. This does not, however, exclude two or more geopolitical areas from forming an alliance in furtherance of their social, political and economic ambition, if they so wish, but this should be preceded and predicated upon a willful truce negotiated from a position of equality and respect for one another.

    Governance is easy if one has nothing to hide. The process becomes complex and difficult when there are hidden motives induced by entrenched interests and cover up. Why are the drivers of the sovereign state of Biafra not making the Biafra map public and visible? We see the flag, but where is the map? Or is this a strategy to smuggle the Niger-Delta region through the backdoor into the Biafra dream?

    As minorities, the South-South geo-political area also has a right to assert itself, particularly, in line with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) as adopted on September 13, 2007 within the context of their dignity, culture and survival as a people. Besides, the United Nations Charter in Article 1 also recognizes the right of a people to self-determination for the realization of their cultural, economic, social and political dreams.

    It was on the basis of this that President Muhammadu Buhari, as a military Head of State in 1984, supported the aspirations and right of the Sahrawi people for self-determination and independence despite the opposition of the Morocco’sgovernment. Buhari’s position then was based on the resolutions of the African Union (AU) on Western Sahara at the time.

    The Niger Delta is no longer a kindergarten region. It has all the resources required to deliver on its responsibilities as an independent state, if it so desires in line with the wishes of the people. Thus, the scramble for the region by other regions for purposes of annexation is exercise in futility. If in the event that emerging development in the country makes separatist agitation inevitable in the future, the Niger Delta region is capable of governing itself as an independent sovereign state.

    It is the right of people to pursue their collective aspirations, particularly if they believe their common interest is being violated or endangered in a federation. The Biafra people have a right to pursue their dreams, but this should be done within the context of their territorial boundaries without any intention or ambition of annexing other regions or any part thereof as part of its geographical area. It is this element that makes the current agitation for the sovereign state of Biafra a scam.

    Most countries that have attained independence today started with a struggle for self-determination, a process aimed at controlling their socio-economic and political destiny. Once a decision is reached among a people to form a state, implicitly, there must be a delineated territory agreed as a sovereign boundary, and a government capable of meeting the needs of the people that could also interface with other countries.

    Once this is settled, the next natural thing to do is to draw up a map depicting the proposed independent territory, even before aflag and other paraphernalia are developed. This has been the trend in the struggle for self-determination. Apart from sensitization, the map and the flag are used as symbols of appeal to shape and drive sentiments and collective aspirations of the people.

    This same process was adopted by countries that had gained independence and those that are still in the trenches for independence. Thus, from Scotland to Catalonia, from Hong Kong to Siberia, from Tibet to Luhansk and from Crimea to Quebec, this is the pattern and trend.

    Biafra needs to review its strategies and restore confidence among neighbouring boundaries, otherwise, a case of territorial ambition and annexation are implied, a discernment that is capable of thwarting and rendering its efforts unfeasible.

    Michael Owhoko

    Michael Owhoko is a journalist, author and public relations consultant who has mostly worked in the banking, oil and gas, and media industries. He is the author of The Language of Oil and Gas; Career Frustration in the Workplace; Nigeria on the Precipice: Issues, Options, and Solutions; The Future of Nigeria; and Feminism: The Agony of Men. He is also the publisher of Media Issues, an online newspaper that can be found at www.mediaissuesng.com.

  • Alleged $2.1bn arms scam: Absence of Fani-Kayode stalls trial continuation

    The absence of the former Aviation Minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, stalled the trial continuation.

    When the court registrar called the case, though Fani-Kayode’s lawyer, Ahmed Raji, SAN, was in court, the former minister, who is the sole defendant in the suit with number: FHC/ABJ/CR/140/2016 before Justice John Tsoho, was conspicuously absent.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had, on Nov. 10, 2016, arraigned Fani-Kayode for allegedly receiving N26m from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

    Some fresh money laundering charges were earlier filed against him by the EFCC before the same court in Abuja.

    The anti-graft agency, in the fresh case, filed a five-count charge in which it accused the defendant of diverting N26m allegedly received from the ONSA while Col. Sambo Dasuki (retrd.) was in office.

    The anti-graft agency also accused him of handling the said N26m without going through financial institution as required under the Money Laundering Act.

    At the resumed trial on Tuesday, the EFCC lawyer, Mohammed Abubakar, told Justice Tsoho that the commission was ready for trial continuation.

    However, Counsel to the former minister, Raji, apologised to the court on Fani-Kayode’s behalf.

    He explained that the defendant was unaware of the new date because the court did not sit in the last adjourned date.

    According to him, we were not aware of the case coming today because this matter was not adjourned.

    He said the information on the new adjourned date came from the court registry.

    “My Lord, I apologies on behalf of the defendant,” he said.

    He, however, told the court that the prosecution had agreed with him to adjourn the matter till March subject to the convenience of the court.

    Reacting, Abubakar, who was unhappy, said it was the duty of the lawyer to inform the defendant of the new adjourned date.

    He, however, urged the court to note that the adjournment was not at the EFCC’s instance but the instance of the defence.

    Justice Tsoho, then, adjourned the matter till March 10 and 11 respectively for trial continuation.

  • N24bn Pension Scam: Maina opens a can of worms

     

     

    …Ropes two former EFCC bosses

    Faisal Abdulrasheed Maina, the former chairman of the Pension Reforms Task Team accused of embezzling N24 billion has reportedly started confessing.

    Vanguard reports that a top EFCC source who asked not to be named claimed that Maina was already disclosing how he allegedly spent the money. The money was reportedly meant to be used to pay off millions of the federal government’s retirees across the world.

    However, Maina and his team reportedly diverted the money and shared with other government officials with the claim that they were travelling all over the world to verify the biometric of the retired Nigerian workers.

    In the list of the alleged ‘beneficiaries’ submitted by Maina are a former Inspector General of Police, Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), a Permanent Secretary in the Presidency, a controversial Head of Service of the Federation, Director of Budget of the Federation, two ex-chairmen of the EFCC and ICPC and others.

    The source reportedly said that the alleged beneficiaries may be summoned by EFCC even though many of them have left public service.

    The list is reportedly submitted with the bank details of the alleged beneficiaries and the amount they collected for their alleged trips.

    It should, however, be noted that Maina reportedly submitted the list not to indict the ‘beneficiaries’ but as an evidence that the money was utilized appropriately.

    It was gathered that most of the alleged beneficiaries are no longer in government or public service but they might be summoned to account for the public funds.

    The source claimed that Maina has also denied many of the payments and ownership of most of the houses traced to him.

    The Niger Republic also alerted the federal government to the discovery of $1.7 million cash found in an apartment in its capital Niamey.

    The money which is about N610.3 million was found in an apartment linked to Maina.

  • Alleged N90bn scam: Stop shielding corruption, Timi Frank tells CAN President after Osinbajo visit

    Alleged N90bn scam: Stop shielding corruption, Timi Frank tells CAN President after Osinbajo visit

    A political activist and former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank on Saturday called on the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Dr. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle to stop denigrating Christians in Nigeria.

    Frank in a statement in Abuja also urged Dr. Ayokunle to face his priestly duties instead of using his sacred office to aid and abet corruption.

    He said it was a mortal sin for the CAN head to portray the highly reverred Christian body in the country as being pro-Corruption through his recent comments.

    It could be recalled that Ayokunle, visited Osinbajo in Abuja on Friday and later spoke with reporters at the Christian Ecumenical Centre, where he met with top members of CAN.

    He declared Osinbajo innocent of the N90billion allegation against him without proof and vowed to mobilise Christians against any act to destroy the works of the Vice President.

    Frank said: “As a Christian, I am ashamed of the attitude and character of this present CAN president in the person of Rev. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle.

    “CAN in its original form represents the body of Christ and Ayokunle ought to have known that it owes the citizenry or at least God, an obligation to win souls, be good ambassadors of the church and crusade for good governance.

    “As a supposed shepherd of the nation’s Christian body, if two of your sheep have a misunderstanding, I think you ought to have heard from both parties before taking a position.

    “I am however not surprised because like pregnancy evil cannot be hidden under tainted cassocks and collars.

    “I have heard from not a few reliable quarters that he often goes cap in hand before politicians in the name of praying for them.

    “It is shameful that the CAN President has turned the body of Christ into a political pressure group.

    “At least, even if it is now a political party, he ought to have allowed its spokesman to speak on behalf of the organization.

    “A President of CAN who could not get to interview the COZA pastor in view of the yet to be proved rape allegations against him, now deemed it expedient to defend fraud allegations against the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo,” he said.

    He added: “I have not seen the CAN president visit Plateau or Benue States and other cities in Nigeria where a lot of Christians and innocent Nigerians are being gruesomely murdered by herders.

    “Let the CAN President visit grieving Christian families in affected villages or for once speak out against oppression and bad governance in the country instead of banding himself together with queer characters to grant press conferences in support of corruption.

    “The CAN president ought to know that it is utterly reprehensible to turn a sacred priestly body into a partisan vehicle for alms solicitations.

    “People like Chief Femi Fani-Kayode and Patience Jonathan have been falsely accused in this country but CAN never interfered in any manner.

    “Also, where was Ayokunle when Prof. Yemi Osinbajo accused ex-President Goodluck Jonathan of sharing N150billion within two weeks prior to the 2015 general elections – an allegation that was widely reported by the media?

    “Could it be that Mr. CAN President, sorry, Chairman of CAN Political Party (CANPP) took part in the illegal disbursements of taxpayers’ funds at FIRS?

    “Let him tell Christian leaders who elected him how much Osinbajo and Fowler gave him to organize such an ignominious press conference.

    “These are men of doubtful character that must be urgently tamed before they inflict further harm on the reputation of Christians in this country.

    “The character of this man is highly suspect but I apologize on behalf of all well-meaning Christians and their leaders for this attempt by Ayokunle to stain their garments.

    “Late Martin Luther King jr. was a religious leader, who used his position to fight for the oppressed and downtrodden in society.

    “Let Ayokunle learn from such noble men how to be a voice for the voiceless in Christendom.

    He called on CAN to immediately take steps to bring on board a leadership that truly embodies the aims and objectives of the body.

    “This CAN president is a no show and I urge the governing body of CAN to act swiftly to correct the evil impression or else the present CAN leadership would henceforth be regarded as the servants of mammon rather than servants of God.

    “Very soon, God would expose him and every other person that is bent on giving CAN and by extension Nigerian Christians a bad name,” he said.

    He called on Osinbajo to steer clear of Mr. Ayokunle and his band as they are only out to benefit from his predicament.

    “As a learned gentleman, I humbly advise Prof. Osinbajo, not to take the intervention from CAN as an endorsement. Let him be wary of characters who are out to drag him into further trouble,” he said.

  • Drop re-election bid, clear your name in 9 Mobile, Keystone Bank scams, PDP tells Buhari

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organisation has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to drop his re-election bid over his alleged involvement in the acquisition of shares in a telecom giant, 9 Mobile and Keystone Bank.

    The President, the main opposition party said, no longer has the moral standing to seek re-election until he addresses the allegation.

    The presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar had, in a statement on Wednesday, accused Buhari of soiling his hands in the alleged acquisition of shares in 9 Mobile and Keystone Bank Plc.

    Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Thursday, spokesman for the PDP Campaign, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the President should perish the thought of going ahead with his campaign without clearing his name.

    Stating the issue borders on Buhari’s integrity, Ologbondiyan urged the President not to bring his exulted office into disrepute.

    The campaign said: “The PDP Presidential Campaign challenges President Buhari to explain how his family members came about the sum of N1.032 trillion for this scandalous acquisition.

    “Nigerians are not interested in mere rhetoric or attempts by the Buhari Presidency to divert public attention from the issue at hand, but demand that President Buhari, who hitherto prides himself as Mr. Integrity, squarely addresses these grave issues in person.

    “This is not an issue for President Buhari’s aides to howl about in the media, it touches directly on his person, particularly his perception as a symbol of the Talakawas. He must therefore address them on this issue.

    “It is a norm that he who comes to equity must come with clean hands. President Buhari and his family members have entangled themselves in corruption.

    “Mr. President’s hands can no longer be said to be clean, until he proves otherwise.

    “The PPCO wants Nigerians and the whole world to note that President Buhari’s refusal to personally address this matter means consent.

    “We, therefore, dare President Buhari to put forth a denial on this disclosure by our candidate and we will spare no thoughts in furnishing the public with details of his corrupt activities within and outside Nigeria.”

    It added: “Our party has full details of how persons related to President Buhari, by consanguinity and affinity, have been paved the way to loot trillions of naira from government agencies for corrupt acquisition of shares in major companies, purchase expensive property within and outside Nigeria, as well as to finance their very luxury lifestyles, under Mr. President’s cover.

    “In fact, no Nigerian has made more money in the last three and half years than relations of President Buhari, many of whom have found themselves controlling stupendous wealth frittered from our economy, yet our President is asking Nigerians to get ready for more hardship in the coming year.”

  • NYSC member Chibuzor planning £12.5m scam arrested

    NYSC member Chibuzor planning £12.5m scam arrested

    Ogbonna Victor Chibuzor, a serving member of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC was charged today with attempting a scam that would have fetched him £12.5 million from his targeted prey.

    But the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arrested him before he completed the sting operation.

    He was arraigned before Justice A.M. Liman of the Federal High Court, Enugu on a five-count charge bordering on intent to defraud, and possession of fraudulent documents contrary to Section 6 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.

    Ogbanna’s arrest was sequel to series of raids carried out by operatives over the past one week in which several suspected online fraudsters in their early 20s, were arrested having been found to be living a flamboyant lifestyle, not commensurate with any visible means of livelihood.

    Analysis carried out on the computer of the suspected fraudster revealed certain incriminating documents intended to be used in swindling gullible Nigerians and foreigners alike.

    Further investigations disclosed that Ogbanna uses his e-mail address activitygeneral@hotmail.com to send unsolicited emails to his victims using fake or stolen identity to legitimize his nefarious activities.

    One of the documents was addressed to one Alan Christopher of BG Group Plc, Thames Valley Park, Reading, RG6, Berkshire, United Kingdom, with a rider “Your attention is needed” and a second paragraph talking about a £12,500,000 (Twelve Million Five Hundred Thousand Pounds Sterling) unclaimed contract fund.

    Another document found with the accused was a purported “Contract Award Certificate” to one Michael Morgan of 101 Brooklyn, New York, United State of America, on “Directing and Fixing of Oil Spillage” in the Niger Delta signed by the Chairman, Contract Tender Board and Chairman, Legal Department of Chevron Nigeria.

    He pleaded “not guilty” to the charge preferred against him occasioning his counsel E.O. Isiwu to move a motion for bail.

    The application was opposed by prosecuting counsel, Innocent Mbachie.

    The presiding judge, however, granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N500, 000 and one surety in like sum.

    The surety, he ruled, “must have a landed property in Enugu which must be verified by the Commissioner of Lands”.

    Ogbonna is to be remanded in prison custody until he fulfils his bail conditions.

    The case has been adjourned till January 30, 2019.

  • Alleged N5.8bn scam: Resign, submit yourself to trial – HURIWA urges Osinbajo

    The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has called for the comprehensive reorganization of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA.

    This follows the indictment of Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbanjo and the Director General of NEMA in a N5.8 billion scam by the House of Representatives.

    HURIWA also frowned at the ongoing squabble between the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Osinbanjo over the indictment.

    HURIWA wondered why extensively damaging criminal allegations are being turned into a political wrestling match instead of the relevant agencies of government at the centre and the National Assembly to activate mechanisms to reform the corrupt infected system.

    The association noted that, “Nigeria does not have the luxury of time to engage in political gymnastics by the political actors given that there are several national emergency situations that have happened all over the nation with thousands of Nigerians becoming internally displaced with no effective remedial redress mechanisms both at the centre and the federating units.”

    In a statement signed and made available to journalists by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Affairs Director, Miss Zainab Yusuf, HURIWA asked the Vice President and the Director General of NEMA to resign immediately or be suspended for three months or sent on compulsory leave pending the holistic determination of the subsisting allegations.

    The association said, “They should subject themselves to transparent and open investigative activities by a combined team of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Offences Commission (ICPC); Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC); and the Code of Conduct Tribunal so as to ensure hitch-free probe of the extensively damaging allegations.”

    HURIWA said, “EFCC alone can not guarantee a transparent given the affinity that exists between the acting Chairman of EFCC and the Vice President.”

    HURIWA further applauded the All Progressives Congress, APC, dominated Federal House of Representatives for not capitulating to partisan pressure and undermine the investigation.

    HURIWA, however, affirmed that the enabling Act setting up the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, needed to be reworked fundamentally to insulate the office from the institutionalized political interferences of the presidency given that the Vice President is listed as the Chairman of the governing body of the agency.

    Besides, HURIWA has tasked the National Assembly to take up the national assignment of reforming the enabling Act that set up NEMA so as to provide for the appointment of a technocrat with no political affiliations to head the National Emergency Management Agency because of the strategic national functions that such a sensitive institution is created to perform.

    The Rights group lamented that over the years, NEMA has been used as a politically manipulated national cake by the party in power to reward the patrons of the political party just as the Rights group stated that the current management is the worst because of the fact that the Director-General was basically rewarded for his contributions to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “We commend the visionary speaker of the Federal House of Representatives and the committee which began and completed the legislative probe of the monumental scandals within NEMA and has uncovered a spectacle of fraud and deliberate disobedience of the due process governing public procurement. Those indicted must be dealt with appropriately.

    “This is a clear case of criminality and must not be reduced into the traditional brickbats between PDP and APC. The right thing must be done so as to properly refocus NEMA to deliver services qualitatively and equitably to all sections of Nigeria instead of the current position whereby it operates like a pro-North East agency.

    HURIWA recalled that the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness offered insight into why it indicted Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on the alleged diversion of N5.8 billion meant for emergency intervention in the northeast.

  • N500m scam: Court admits two PDP chieftains to bail of N50m each

    N500m scam: Court admits two PDP chieftains to bail of N50m each

    A Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday admitted Clement Faboyede and Modupe Adetokunbo, chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party, to bail in the sum of N50 million each.

    Faboyede, the Ondo State Chairman of the PDP, is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on alleged N500 million laundering charge.

    The EFCC arraigned Faboyede on June 29 alongside Adetokunbo, the Director-General of the party’s Campaign Organisation in the state, during the 2015 general elections.

    They are facing three counts bordering on money laundering and had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    On July 10, both the defence counsel, Mr Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) and prosecuting counsel, Mr. Ekene Ihenacho, had respectively argued their application in favour and in opposition to the bails of the accused.

    Justice Muslim Hassan had then reserved ruling on their submissions until Thursday.

    Delivering his ruling on the resumed date, the court listed factors to be considered in deciding a bail application to include the nature of the charge, the severity of the punishment, and the likelihood of the accused committing further offences.

    The court held that the sole issue for determination was whether or not, the accused were entitled to bail pending trial, bearing in mind that the essence of bail is to ensure their attendance for trial.

    The judge then held that bail was deserving in the circumstances, and consequently, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N50 million each, with one surety each in like sum.

    The court held that the sureties must either be federal or state civil servants, not below grade level 15 or must be landed property owners within the court’s jurisdiction.

    The sureties were directed to deposit the title documents of the property and two passport photographs each, at the court’s registry, which must be verified.

    The accused were also ordered to deposit their international passport at the court’s registry, while the prosecution was given a week to authenticate the documents submitted by the sureties.

    The court subsequently, adjourned the case until Sept. 17 for trial.

    The accused were said to have committed the offences on March 27, 2015.

    They were said to have conspired to accept a cash payment of the sum of N500 million, which exceeded the amount allowed by law, without going through any financial institution.

    The offences contravened Sections 16, 16 (2) and 18 of the Money Laundering (prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended by Act No.1 of 2012).