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Tag: Shehu Sani

  • Witness explains how ex-Kaduna senator, Shehu Sani hurriedly returned $25,000 to ‘victim’

    Witness explains how ex-Kaduna senator, Shehu Sani hurriedly returned $25,000 to ‘victim’

    The trial of Senator Shehu Sani, who represented Kaduna Central in the 8th Senate, continued yesterday before Justice I.E Ekwo of the Federal High Court Abuja with the tenth prosecution witness, (PW10) Bako Aliyu, providing more details on how Sani allegedly extorted Alhaji Sani Dauda, the Chairman, ASD Motors.

    Yesterday’s trial was initially slated to review the audio evidence which captured Senator Sani’s voice, allegedly extorting $25,000USD (Twenty-five Thousand United Stated Dollars) from Dauda.

    However, due to a systems glitch, the interpreted English version of the conversation could not be played, prompting the judge to ask PW10 Bako Aliyu, an investigator with the EFCC, to continue giving evidence on his involvement on the case.

    Aliyu, in his evidence, recalled his previous testimony of how the defendant took advantage of Alhaji Duada, following the issues he had with the Nigeria Police, to extort him of $25,000USD, claiming he was going to offer the money as a bribe to the Chief Justice of the Federation, then EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu and some operatives of the Commission.

    He said the Chief Justice and the former EFCC Chairman denied receiving any bribe from Sani, with the Chief Justice publishing his denial in two National dailies.

    “There was evidence of a request of money from the defendant, asking the complainant for money to bribe the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Ibrahim Magu, and some EFCC staff,“ he said.

    Upon learning that the matter was before the Commission, the witness said the defendant hurriedly returned the money to the complainant, begging him to change the statement he had volunteered to the EFCC.

    Aliyu also faulted Sani’s claim that the $25,000USD he gave ASD was part payment for the purchase of a brand new Peugeot 508 saloon car.

    “My lord, our investigation shows ASD does not transact any business in Dollars. Moreover, the managing director of ASD motors is the one responsible for sales of vehicles, not the Chairman, “he said.

    Justice Ekwo thereafter adjourned the matter to March 16, 2021, for the continuation of trial and cross-examination of PW10.

    Sani is facing prosecution by the EFCC on two counts of criminal charges, bordering on name-dropping, influence-peddling, and obtaining the sum of $25,000 USD (Twenty-five Thousand United States Dollars) under false pretense.

    He allegedly obtained the said sum on the pretext that he would use it to bribe the Acting Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, to shield the complainant from EFCC’s investigation and prosecution.

  • Alleged $25,000 bribe: EFCC plays conversation between Shehu Sani, CEO of ASD in court

    Alleged $25,000 bribe: EFCC plays conversation between Shehu Sani, CEO of ASD in court

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday in a Federal High Court, played an audio recording in the trial of a former senator, Shehu Sani, charged with alleged 25, 000 dollar .

    At the resumed hearing, the EFCC played the audio recording, which is in Hausa language, said to be a conversation between Sani and the complainant, Alhaji Sani Dauda, owner of ASD motors in Kaduna State.

    The EFCC lawyer, Mr Ekele Iheanacho led Mr Bako Aliyu, the 10th prosecution witness in evidence to play the audio recording in court.

    Iheanacho told the court that Aliyu had the conversation translation in English but the tape could not played back due to technical difficulties.

    Aliyu, an EFCC investigator, told the court that investigation showed that there was evidence of financial transaction between Sani and Dauda.

    He also said that the former EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Magu was interviewed orally in the course of investigating the matter but that there was no written statement from him.

    Iheanacho also tendered a proforma invoice for the purchase of a Peugeot 508 vehicle at the cost of N17.5 million through Aliyu which was admitted in evidence.

    Under cross examination by Sani’s Counsel, Mr Abdul Ibrahim, SAN, the witness, told the court that the 25,000 dollars was handed over to the EFCC by Dauda, the complainant and not by Sani.

    Ibrahim said that the invoice was in relation to a transaction involving the purchase of a car since the complainant is a car dealer.

    The trial judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo adjourned the matter until March 16 for continuation of cross examination.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sani is being prosecuted by the EFCC on two counts charge, bordering on obtaining money by false pretense.

    NAN also reports that the prosecution has so far called 10 witnesses out of the 14 it had listed, to prove its case against the former lawmaker.

  • Senator Sani, Niger State Governor fight dirty over Kagara school

    Senator Sani, Niger State Governor fight dirty over Kagara school

    Niger State Governor, Abubakar Bello on Sunday fought dirty with former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani over the state of Government Science College in Kagara, where 27 students were kidnapped recently.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Senator Sani is an old boy of the college located in Rafi Local Government Area of the State.

    Bandits abducted 42 persons, including the 27 students, three workers and 12 members of their families from the school recently.

    Photos taken from the school following the abduction of the students, the workers, and their families showed the rotten state of the school.

    On Sunday, Senator Sani asked the State Governor via Twitter to rebuild the school and rename it after the young student who was killed by the bandits when they stormed the school.

    “Dear @abusbello and @GovNiger ,rebuild Government Science College Kagara and rename the school after the young student who was killed by the bandits when they stormed the school,” Senator Sani tweeted.

    However, the tweet appeared to have not gone down well with Governor Bello, who rebuked the Kaduna Senator.

    “Thank you Distinguished @ShehuSani, one of our goals has always been to provide protection and conducive learning environment for our School Children, although one would’ve thought your wise counsel was put to better use when you represented the people of Kaduna Central, either ways. We appreciate and welcome your Kind and Wise pieces of advice always,” the Governor replied.

    Senator Sani, Niger State Governor fight dirty over Kagara school

    Senator Sani quickly responded saying: “Within four years of my stewardship I was able to build 7 primary health care centers in Kaduna Central and 9 Buildings we purchased used as schools & orphanages.Your attention and action is very much needed in Kagara;that school shouldn’t be your image”.

    When asked what he has done for the school as an old boy, Sani responded by saying: “Years ago, I renovated the school Library and donated computers and Books; At a time I renovated one of the hostel and donated beds. I gave financial donations through the old boys club. All these can be verified from either the school or the old Boys Association. Bro Abu,do something”.

  • Shehu Sani: ‘Dear Northern Youths, leave Kukah in Sokoto… fight Bandits in your ‘shokoto’

    Shehu Sani: ‘Dear Northern Youths, leave Kukah in Sokoto… fight Bandits in your ‘shokoto’

    Senator Shehu Sani has urged Northern Youths to channel their agitation towards the fight against banditry and leave Bishop Matthew Kukah alone.

    Shehu made the remarks in reaction to reports where some Northern Youths and groups asked for the arrest and prosecution of the Bishop over comments he made about the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Shehu via his Twitter account said, “My Dear Northern Youths;leave the Kukah in Sokoto and fight the Bandits in your shokoto.”

    Part of Bishop Kukah’s Christmas message read…“This government owes the nation an explanation as to where it is headed as we seem to journey into darkness. The spilling of blood must be related to a more sinister plot that is beyond our comprehension. Are we going to remain hogtied by these evil men or are they gradually becoming part of a larger plot to seal the fate of our country?

    “President Buhari deliberately sacrificed the dreams of those who voted for him for what seemed like a programme to stratify and institutionalise northern hegemony by reducing others in public life to second-class status. He has pursued this self-defeating and alienating policy at the expense of greater national cohesion.

    “Every honest Nigerian knows that there is no way any non-northern Muslim President could have done a fraction of what President Buhari has done by his nepotism and got away with it. There would have been a military coup a long time ago or we would have been at war. The President may have concluded that Christians will do nothing and will live with these actions.”

  • VIDEO: 23-year-old boy finally ties knot with 46-year-old American lover in Kano

    VIDEO: 23-year-old boy finally ties knot with 46-year-old American lover in Kano

    23-year-old Isa Suleiman and 46-year-old American Janine Sanchez have finally been pronounced as husband and wife.

    Both were pronounced married in an Islamic marriage rite that held at the Barracks Mosque in Panshekara, Kano State.

    The wedding was attended by many Nigerians including a former Kaduna senator, Shehu Sani.

    After the marriage ceremony, Suleiman and Janine were seen with Senator Sani at a restaurant in Kano in a video that has since gone viral. See video below:

    Recall that Suleiman fell in love with Janine after they met on Instagram last year.

    Earlier this year before the outbreak of the COVID-19 in Nigeria, Janine took the risk of travelling from her home country, America to Panshekara in Kano State to meet her lover.

    She did not bother about the difference in age or religion or race. Unconfirmed reports have it that Janine took care of her flight tickets and other expenses for that trip.

    Suleiman, an operator of a Barbers Shop, paid N50,000 dowry to the bride in accordance with Islamic rites to formalise the marriage contract.

    Hundreds of friends, well-wishers and family members of the groom attended the wedding prayer at the Panshekara Juma’at Mosque in Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State.

    The groom said he was happy to witness his wedding to Sanchez, whom he said he loves with deep affection.

    He recounted how he met Sanchez on Istagram about a year ago and became friends, adding that he did not see age or race as a barrier to their union.

    “I was cruising on Instagram and saw her profile. I found out that some scammers were trying to defraud her of her hard earned money.

    “So, I sent a message warning her that those boys were not to be trusted and she should be careful with them that is how we started communicating,” he said.

    On her part, Janine said she felt “relieved” to be united in matrimony with her Nigerian lover.

    She said she was elated to be finally married to Suleiman after delays caused by the restrictions on movement of persons, occasioned by the COVID-19 lockdown across the globe.

    Janine said: I had a flight ticket to fly to Nigeria from England, but it was cancelled a day after because the country was on lockdown then.

    “So, everything was delayed, the airports in Nigeria were shut for a long time, it delayed everything, that is why it took me so long to get back here for the wedding.

    “We have a planned Court wedding and immigration procedures to attend to after two weeks.

    “I will go back to the U.S. and after a couple of months he (the groom) should be able to immigrate to the U.S.”

    Janine who was dressed in light green lace attire said although she felt hot in her traditional wedding gown, the dress was beautiful.

    “I like my dress it’s pretty. I also like Samovita and Egusi cuisine, we do not have things like that in America,” she said.

    Janine, a divorcee and mother of two, resides in Linden in California.

    “I have two children, a boy and a girl from my previous marriage. I and my ex-husband have joint custody of our kids, which is why I cannot take them away from their father.

    “I like the people here, they are very friendly and welcoming.

    “The children here love me, they embraced me warmly and enjoy playing with my hair. And the people are very busy and hardworking.

    “Although, I was not looking to date anybody younger than 30, but Isa is matured for his age, when I talk to him I feel like I’m talking to somebody my age,” she said.

    The Groom’s Father, Isa Panshekara, said he had no regrets that his son took a foreign lady as wife.

    Panshekara said the bride’s parents had sent him a consent letter, endorsing their approval for the union.

    He said that he would continue to encourage them to be happy and have a blissful marriage.

    Also commenting, Sen. Shehu Sani, a family member of the groom, described the marriage as a “unifying force” between races and faiths.

    “The union is a testimony that northern Nigeria is not just about banditry, terrorism and insurgency.

    “You can find love in the north for Chinese, Indians, Arabs and people all over the world, who think of the north as simply a place of extremism and intolerance.

    “This is a clear example of a union that would inspire other young people to find love. Northern Nigeria is a home of handsome, beautiful people which one has already won Jinnie’s heart,” Sani said.

  • #ENDSARS protest: Revolution is coming, Shehu Sani warns

    #ENDSARS protest: Revolution is coming, Shehu Sani warns

    Former senator representing Kaduna central,Shehu Sani opines that the protest against police harassment and brutality is a message to those in power that a revolution is imminent.

    In the last one week, there have been protests across the country over police brutality, especially by the special anti-robbery squad (SARS).

    Although Mohammed Adamu, inspector-general of police (IGP), announced the dissolution of SARS, the protests have continued.

    In a statement on Wednesday, Sani said apart from the police, the governance and the country as a whole needs to be reformed.

    “The nationwide protests is a message to those in power and authority that a revolution is impending in an atmosphere of social, economic and political inequities and infamy,” the former senator said.

    “Even though the trigger of the protest was police brutality, police reforms are not enough to address the underling and provocative factors that compelled the mass of the youths to the streets.

    “The political class have for long toyed with the lives and future of our youths who were left with no option but to revolt.

    “Systemic plunder and theft of the national resources, mass unemployment, collapse of public education, widening gap between the rich, false and pretentious change mantra and the poor and stupendous and brazen display of wealth by the children of the rich and those in high public offices to the contempt of the children of the poor grievously inflames the anger of the revolutionary youths on the streets.

    “The protest by the Nigerian youths have lit up our National space and recharge the conscience of the nation. We must admit the fact that the political class have taken the poor and the downtrodden for granted for long.

    “The End SARS protest is conscience in motion. The opposition, the trade unions and the parliament have failed Nigerians until the Youth took their destiny to their hands.

    “As long as the government at all levels and the nation will continue to be run for the benefit of the few and their immediate families, this kind of uprising is just the beginning.

    “The use of sponsored thugs to attack unarmed protesters in Abuja stands condemned. Thugs cannot and must not stop the wheel of conviction.”

    Sani added that “Nigerian leaders” enslave the poor and spit on their children.

  • Magu operated EFCC like a cult group – Shehu Sani

    Magu operated EFCC like a cult group – Shehu Sani

    A former member of the National Assembly, who represented the Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the 8th Senate, Shehu Sani, has accused the suspended chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, of running the anti-graft agency like a cult.
    Magu is currently being probed by a presidential panel over allegations of misconduct, which may not be unconnected with his indictment by an alleged memo believed to have emanated from the Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.
    The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) suspended the embattled EFCC boss on Tuesday, obviously to pave the way for a thorough investigation.
    Sani, who is currently having a major crisis with the anti-graft agency, however, took to his Facebook page on Wednesday to celebrate the arrest and trial of Magu.
    He alleged that Magu actually made use of some officers to carry out wicked operations and report solely to him.
    Sani’s post read, “Contrary to the facade you see from the outside, the EFCC has been run by an inside cult called “the Magu Boys” or “the Chairman Squad.
    “They are a select cream of vicious and cruel officers who operate exclusively and with impunity and only report directly to their boss.
    “The inside cult is the dark and immoral aspect of the agency engaged in persecution, blackmail, frame-ups, and cruelty.
    “The cult has been the wheel behind the ordeal of their embattled Boss.
    “Until they are rooted out from the agency also, I believe a lot of revelations will be coming out from other marginalized and honest officers in the so-called anti-corruption agency.”
  • I did not give Shehu Sani bribe, witness tells court

    I did not give Shehu Sani bribe, witness tells court

    Alhaji Sani Dauda, a prosecution witness, on Tuesday, denied giving Sen. Shehu Sani bribe.
    Dauda made this known in a Federal High Court,Abuja, while being cross-examined in the ongoing trial of Sani over alleged bribery and advanced fee fraud,
    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) slammed a two-count charge on Sani bordering on name-dropping, influence-peddling and obtaining the sum of 25,000 dollars from Dauda under false pretence.
    Dauda, answering questions from the defence counsel, Mr Abdul Ibrahim, SAN, through an interpreter, told the court that he knew that bribery was a crime in Nigeria.
    When Ibrahim asked the witness if he gave Sani bribe to give anyone, the witness said that “Sani didn’t tell me that it was for bribe”.
    The witness also told the court that the EFCC pressured him into handing over the $25,000 Sani returned to them to serve as exhibit.
    The witness told the court that after he reported the matter to the EFCC, Sani returned the amount of 25,000 dollars to him.
    He added that nobody saw when he gave Sani the money just as no one was with him when Sani returned the money.
    According to the witness, the EFCC asked me to hand over the money to them but I told them that I will not because it is my money.
    “They insisted but I told them no but they pressured me saying that it is to be used as exhibit.”
    When asked by Ibrahim if the 25,000 dollars was recovered by the EFCC, Dauda told the court that Sani brought the money to his house.
    Earlier, led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Mr Abba Mohammed, Dauda told the court that Sani had received $10,000 from him to give to the Mr Ibrahim Magu, Ag. Chairman of EFCC.
    “So the total money I gave him (Sani) is 25,000 dollars and since the day he collected the money I have not seen him. I have been calling him and I couldn’t get him.
    ” I sent him a text three times and he didn’t answer me so I called one of my friends, Murtalla and we went to see the Chief Judge of Nigeria (CJN).
    “The CJN said that he didn’t know anything about the matter and that he doesn’t know Shehu Sani.”
    Testifying further, the witness told the court that he ran into Magu aboard a flight from Dubai and while discussing, the EFCC boss denied any knowledge of the issue.
    He formerly petitioned the anti-graft agency and was asked to record any conversation he had with Sani from then on, which he did.
    The witness, told the court on Monday, that the former senator asked him to give N1 million each to four judges to ”help” his case just as he asked him to give N1 million to an EFCC prosecutor to help his brother-in-law.
    Justice Inyang Ekwo adjourned the matter until July 8 for continuation of trial.

  • Shehu Sani blasts FG for charging Nigerian returnees

    Former Senator from Kaduna, Shehu Sani has reacted as Nigerians returning home due to coronavirus pandemic are told to offset their two-week quarantine bill on arrival.

    The Nigerian government in a revised guideline asked returnees to pay for their two weeks stay at isolation centers.

    Before Friday, the returnees were only required to pay for their flight back home while the government took care of them for two weeks in their various isolation centres.

    But in the letter by the Embassy of Nigeria in Bangkok, Thailand, which was signed by the Head of Chancery, Nicholas P. Uhomoibhi, and dated May 14, each returnee is to pay N297,600 for quarantine and feeding in Nigeria.

    Reacting, Sani condemning the move, saying the federal government should not expect patriotism from Nigerians outside the country if they have to pay to be evacuated.

    His tweet reads: “If distressed Nigerians in Diaspora have to pay to be evacuated and have to pay for isolation centers when back home, then we should formally paste a Cheque Book on our National flag and affix a Bank note to our Coat of Arms.

    “Expect no patriotism from a man abandoned by his country.”

  • Buhari’s woeful failure compelling Nigerians to appreciate Jonathan’s disastrous administration – Shehu Sani

    Buhari’s woeful failure compelling Nigerians to appreciate Jonathan’s disastrous administration – Shehu Sani

    Shehu Sani, a former Kaduna Central Senator, on Sunday said the President Muhammadu Buhari’s has failed Nigerians woefully.

    Sani lamented that indices on ground point to the fact that Buhari and the ruling class may have failed because they underestimated the problems facing the country while at the same time making impossible promises.

    In a statement he posted on his Facebook page on Sunday, the former lawmaker also berated the immediate past administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

    He said Nigerians won’t easily forget that Jonathan’s administration was a total disaster.

    Sani, however, observed that Buhari’s administration compelled Nigerians to appreciate Jonathan’s government better.

    According to Sani: “The present leadership in the country has woefully failed. We have said this even when it was a taboo and more dangerous to say it; but the regime that it succeeded was also a disaster that must not easily be forgotten.

    “However, it’s actually this Government that compels our citizens to appreciate the last Government comparatively.

    “It’s either that the President and the ruling elites underestimated or oversimplified the depth of the problems of the country and made impossible promises in order to rise to power, or that the people expected too much from a new ruling elites with a limited capacity to govern or with a different agenda other than the one publicly advertised.

    “One bitter truth we always prefer to ignore is that almost eighty percent of those who ruined the country in its first fifteen years of democratic experience, migrated with their old habits and new uniforms to the messianic side, and we unreservedly called it a change.”