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Tag: Yakubu

  • $9.7m, £74,000 found in my house are gifts – Ex-NNPC GMD

    $9.7m, £74,000 found in my house are gifts – Ex-NNPC GMD

    Former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Andrew Yakubu, who is standing trial for money laundering charge, yesterday told the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja that $9.7 million and £74,000 found in his house in 2017 were parts of monies people gave to him as gifts.

    Yakubu, who opened his defence in the ongoing trial, said he received the monies in tranches of not more than $10,000 and not more than £5,000. The former NNPC boss, while testifying, told the court that people gave him monetary gifts on occasions such as birthdays, thanksgiving services, and other celebrations he hosted after he left service.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had, on the strength of a tip-off by a whistleblower, raided the defendant’s guest house situated at Sabon Tasha, Kaduna State, and recovered alleged loot which was in foreign currencies. EFCC said it discovered the sum of $9.7 million and £74,000 that Yakubu hid in a fireproof safe inside the house. Following the discovery, a Federal High Court in Kano, on February 13, 2017, issued an interim order that forfeited the recovered monies to the Federal Government.

    Though the anti-graft later preferred a six-count criminal charge against Yakubu who was GMD of the NNPC between 2012 and 2014, the trial court, on May 16, 2019, struck out counts 5 and 6 of the charge based on a no-case-submission that was made by the defendant. Likewise, following an appeal by the defendant, the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal further struck out counts 1 and 2 of the charge and ordered him to open his defence with respect to only counts 3 and 4 of the charge. At the resumed proceeding at the trial court yesterday, the defendant mounted the witness box to narrate his own side of the story.

    Led in evidence by his counsel, Ahmed Raji (SAN), the defendant said: “Yes my lord, I confirm that the monies were contained in a safe taken from my property. “As I stated in my statement with the EFCC, the money found in the safe is mine. The money was not received in bulk. It was received in tranches of not more than $10,000 and not more than £5,000.

    “Substantial part of that amount was given to me after I left service. It was given to me on such occasions as birthdays, thanksgiving services, and other celebrations that I hosted after leaving my office. “I also hosted marriages of my daughters.

    In fact, over 98% of the money came from gifts. “The purpose of keeping the money was to think of business ventures I will embark on, but it was not my intention to go into business investment without going through a financial institution. “Since the money was given to me unexpected, I kept the money in safety, in a safe, pending when I decide on specific business venture to embark on. And as soon as the decision is crystalized, the business would be funded through the financial institutions.

    “For over 25 years, I had reason by virtue of my schedule to travel to many parts of the world. I was entitled to estacodes in United States dollars. “Any saving I made during the trip, I came back and saved. The other 2% of the funds recovered from my safe was from such savings I made from travels.

    “The prevailing rate of dollar at that time was average of N150 to a dollar and N250 to pound sterling. That was about the bank rate at that time. “When I was asked the time frame within which the safe was placed in the location, I told them that it was within 2010 to 2014.” While being cross-examined by the prosecution counsel, M.S. Abubakar, Yakubu told the court that he joined NNPC in 1980 and became the Managing Director of a subsidiary of NNPC Warri Petrochemical & Refining Company in 2007. “I was appointed the Executive Director in charge of Exploration and Production in 2011 at NNPC headquarters.

    “I became the Group Managing Director of NNPC in 2012 and retired in 2014.” He said his brother, Bitrus Yakubu, was present when EFCC conducted the search at his house in Kaduna from where the safe and money was found. Attempt by counsel to the EFCC to cross-examine on a document before the court, marked as Exhibit-J, was resisted by the defence counsel who insisted that it related to counts of the charge that were struck out.

    The trial judge, Justice A. R Mohammed, later adjourned the case to July 22 for prosecution counsel to respond and for further cross-examination of the defendant.

  • $9.8m fraud: Court declines to halt Ex-NNPC GMD Yakubu’s trial

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has declined to halt further proceedings in the trial of former General Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Andrew Yakubu over alleged money laundering offences involving about $9.8million.

    Justice Ahmed Mohammed, in a ruling on Wednesday, noted that although both parties have filed appeals before the Supreme Court, whose outcome would likely impact the case before him, he is constrained, by virtue of the provision of Section 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), to continue with hearing in the case as ordered by the Court of Appeal.

    Justice Mohammed noted that the provision of Section 306 of the ACJA and the decision of the Supreme Court n the case of Olisa Metuh v. the Federal Republic of Nigeria have effectively outlawed the grant of stay of proceedings in criminal cases on grounds of the filing of an interlocutory appeal.

    The judge noted that although both parties in the case were dissatisfied with the April 24, 2020 judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja and has since appealed the decision; the court cannot do otherwise but to comply with the provisions of the law.

    He then adjourned till July 8 for the defendant to enter his defence in respect of counts three and four, which are now left in the original six counts charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Yakubu was arraigned on March 16, 2017 on a six-count charge of failure to make full disclosure of assets, receiving cash without going through a financial institution, which borders on money laundering and intent to avoid a lawful transaction under law, transported at various times to Kaduna, the aggregate sum of $9,772,800 and £74,000.

    The EFCC said the money was recovered by its agents from a safe allegedly hidden by the defendant in a house in a community Kaduna State.

    On October 17, 2018 the prosecution closed its case after calling its seventh witness, Suleiman Mohammed (an EFCC operative) who gave evidence regarding how the commission’s officials, on February 3, 2017, recovered $9,772,000 and £74,000 stashed in a huge fire proof safe in a building belonging to the defendant, located at Sabon Tasha area of Kaduna State.

    At the conclusion of the prosecution’s case, the defendant made a no-case submission, which Justice Mohammed partially upheld in a ruling on May 16, 2019.

    The judge struck out two of the six counts contained in the charge and ordered Yakubu to enter defence in relation to the remaining four counts.

    Justice Mohammed said: “I agree with the defence counsel that the prosecution has failed to prove the essential element of transportation of money on counts five and six. I accordingly discharge the defendant on counts five and six.

    “Even though I am tempted to discharge the defendant on counts one to four, I am however constrained to ask the defendant to explain how he came about the monies recovered from his house.

    “Fortified with my position, the defendant is hereby ordered to enter his defence in respect of counts one to four.”

    Rather than enter his defence as ordered by the court, Yakubu appealed to the Court of Appeal, Abuja.

    In a judgment on April 24, 2020, the Court of Appeal partially upheld Yakubu’s appeal.

    A three-man panel of the appellate court held, among others, that the prosecution was unable; by the evidence it led at the trial court, to establish a prima facie case against the defendant in relation to counts five and six.

    The Court of Appeal then struck out counts five and six from the charge and ordered the case be returned to the trial court for Yakubu to enter defence in respect of the remaining two counts – counts three and four.

    At the mention of the case on Wednesday, prosecution lawyer, Mohammed Abubakar said both parties have appealed to the Supreme Court, and that both appeals at the Supreme Court have been entered and briefs of argument filed

    Abubakar said the appeal by the defendant is marked: SC/CR/223/2020, while that of the prosecution is marked: SC/CR/241/2020.

    He added: “By the provision of Section 306 of the ACJA 2015 and the EFCC Establishment Act 2004, application for stay of prosecution shall not be entertained where there is an interlocutory appeal.

    “However, in the instant case, whatever decision the Supreme Court might arrive at will affect this case in one way or the other.

    “However, I am not making any application for stay of proceedings in view of the provision of Section 306 of the ACJA,” Abubakar said.

    Responding, lead defence lawyer, Ahmed Raji (SAN) objected to the court staying proceedings in the case.

    Raji referred to the provision of Section 306 of the ACJA and the Supreme Court’s decision in the Metuh v. FRN case and said: “I am therefore not surprised when Mr. Abubakar said he is not applying for stay of proceedings. I commend him.

    “I would have loved to get a stay of proceedings, because my appeal has great chances of succeeding, which would have made it unnecessary for the defendant to enter defence in respect of the two remaining counts.

    “Therefore, as a member of the Inner Bar, I owe it a duty to act, at all times, in accordance with the state of the law.

    “We are therefore compelled to comply with the subsisting order of the Court of Appeal, mandating the defendant to state his side of the story in respect of counts three and four,” Raji said.

  • Court rules on ex-NNPC GMD, Andrew Yakubu’s no case submission May 16

    Court rules on ex-NNPC GMD, Andrew Yakubu’s no case submission May 16

    The Federal High Court, Abuja, has fixed May 16, for ruling on the no case submission entered by Andrew Yakubu, former Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in relation to his trial.

    The trial judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed fixed the date on Wednesday after counsel to Yakubu, Mr Ahmed Raji, SAN, and the prosecutor, Mr Ben Ikani adopted their written addresses on the no case submission.

    Yakubu was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on a six-count charge bordering on failure to declare assets and money laundering.

    The EFCC had on February 3, 2017, raided Yakubu’s house, located on Chikun Road, Sabon Tasha area of Kaduna South Local Government Area of Kaduna State, where it claimed to have recovered 9,772, 800 dollars and 74,000.00 pounds.

    When EFCC closed its case after calling seven witnesses, Yakubu, rather than open his defence, elected to file a no-case submission claiming he had no case to answer.

    He argued that the essential elements of the charge brought against him were not proven by the prosecution to warrant him entering a defence.

    He maintained that the evidence led by the prosecution’s seven witnesses did not establish a case against him to require him to defend himself.

    He prayed the court to strike out the charge and discharge and acquit him.

    Meanwhile the court also adjourned until April 1, to rule on an application by Yakubu seeking leave of the court to travel abroad for medical treatment.

  • Arrest warrant on INEC chairman still stands, says judge

    Arrest warrant on INEC chairman still stands, says judge

    The Abuja division of the Federal High Court has declared that the warrant of arrest it issued against the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, ‎still subsists and remains valid.

    The court, therefore, insisted that the police must arrest and produce Yakubu in court on August 16, the next adjourned date.

    Justice Stephen Pam had on August 1 ordered the police to arrest and produce the INEC boss in court to explain why he should not be committed to prison over alleged disobedience to order of the court.

    ‎The bench warrant against the INEC chairman followed his failure to appear before the court on three occasions to defend himself in the contempt charge brought against him by Ejike Oguebego and

    Chuks Okoye, Chairman and Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Anambra State respectively.

    The police were supposed to produce Yakubu in court on August 8, going by the first order of court. However, the INEC chairman was not present on the said date, forcing the court to adjourn to August 14, while again affirming its earlier order of August 1.

    When the matter came up yesterday, the INEC chairman was not in court to show cause why he should not be committed to prison over contempt of court allegation. His counsel did not also appear or sent a message to the court on why they were not in court.

    Counsel to the plaintiffs, Kanayo Okafor, however, informed the court of the ruling of the Abuja division of the Court of Appeal on August 13, which ordered a stay of execution of the warrant of arrest as well as the proceedings at the trial court.

    In a short ruling, Justice Pam held that the court was a court of record and as such would require the ruling or judgment of the appellate court, adding that there was no proof of such decision of the higher court before him to be guided by.

  • INEC determined to conduct credible, conclusive election in Anambra – Yakubu

    The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Mahmood Yakubu, has assured Nigerians that the commission under his leadership will ensure it conduct a credible and conclusive election in Anambra.

    Mr. Yakubu who gave the assurance while speaking during a dialogue session with Covil Societies (CSO) said INEC is ready to make the Anambra governorship poll the first conclusive election after a long period of time.

    Tweeted on the official handle of the electoral commission, @inecnigeria boss said ‘We are determined and full of confidence’

    The governorship elections in Anambra State will hold on November 18.

    He furthers,

    “We have modified and customised the Form-60E to enable officials paste election results at various polling unit after collation.

    “In Sokoto, this weekend we will be piloting the electronic collation platform; but not to be used for declaration of result. Prof. Mahmood

    “We have reviewed the regulations and guidelines for the recall process; you can also find the [ Frequently asked Questions] FAQs for the recall process on our website. ”

  • Corruption: Yakubu spits fire, says ‘We might get rid of everybody in INEC before 2019 elections’

    The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu on Tuesday said the Commission under his leadership might overhaul the entire system in order to kick out the corrupt officials before the 2019 general elections.

    The INEC boss noted that the commission will continue to cooperate with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to fish corrupt officials in the within its fold.

    Yakubu also disclosed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was already probing the commission’s officials in 20 states over alleged electoral fraud.

    He said this during a quarterly consultative meeting with journalists in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Regarding the prosecution and probe of 205 of its officials for allegedly receiving part of the N23bn reportedly disbursed by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani-Alison Madueke, the INEC boss said he would continue to cooperate with the EFCC.

    Yakubu said the last report given to him by the EFCC involved 16 states. He said the EFCC was already probing INEC officials in 20 other states

    He said, “I want to say that this is the first time in the history of our elections that in one fell swoop, 205 officials were disciplined based on the interim report we received from the EFCC covering 16 states.

    “Under the terms and conditions of service what we can do is to interdict them which means placing them on half salary and suspending them from work until their innocence or guilt is established. The last report covered 16 states and only last week I heard they had started prosecuting them.

    “However, after receiving the report, we had a discussion with the EFCC and told them that for the outstanding 20 states, they should not submit any interim report to INEC but just prosecute them.

    “Once they are taken to court, we activate the provisions of the terms and conditions of service. Whatever we need to do we will do even if it means getting rid of everybody in the commission and recruiting afresh for the purpose of the 2019 elections. We are committed to doing so.”

    Giving a breakdown of the Continuous Voter Registration conducted between April and September 2017, the INEC boss said about 667, 103 persons registered to vote in the South-South geopolitical zone. The zone comprises Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers states.

    The South-West came in second with 532,172 persons registered to vote while the North-West, which has seven states, had a combined 477, 056 registered voters.

    The North-Central came in fourth with 374, 923 while the South-East which has five states recorded 352,942 voters.

    In the North-East, 350,398 registered within the same period.

    Rivers State recorded the highest number of registered voters at 151, 398 while Lagos came second with 144, 076. Ondo recorded the lowest number with 29, 766.

    In total, about 2, 786, 405 persons registered to vote between April and September. However, only 108, 752 had come forward to claim their cards.

    Yakubu said eight million voter cards remain unclaimed.

    Yakubu lamented that out of the eight million PVCs were unclaimed nationwide, Lagos accounted for about one million.

    He said, “Some of you will also recall that Lagos has recorded the least collection of PVCs not in terms of numbers but in relation to the numbers that registered. Out of the eight plus million PVCs still uncollected nationwide, over a million are uncollected in Lagos.”

    The INEC boss said the voter apathy in Lagos was worrisome as various strategies employed by INEC seemed not to be working.

    He said the last two by-elections in Lagos had recorded very low turnout.

    The INEC chairman said the commission was ready for the Anambra governorship election which comes up next month.

    He said over 6,000 smartcard readers would be used for the election

    The INEC boss said the commission would not be discouraged by the legal obstacles it was facing in the process of recalling the Kogi-West lawmaker, Senator Dino Melaye.

    Yakubu said constituents had the right to recall anybody they wanted to in a democracy.

    The INEC boss also warned politicians seeking to run in 2018 and 2019 to stop campaigning as this was in contravention of the Electoral Act.

     

  • Andrew Yakubu gets bail to travel abroad for medical treatment

    The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday granted Andrew Yakubu, former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation permission to travel abroad for medical treatment.

    Yakubu was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission on a six-count of money laundering and false declaration of assets.

    At the resumed hearing of the case, the defendant, through his counsel, Mr Ahmed Raji (SAN), begged the court to allow him travel to the UK to complete his medical treatment.

    Raji informed the court that the defendant was undergoing medical treatment before he was summoned by the EFCC to return to the country.

    He also pleaded with the court to order the release of the defendant’s international passport which was deposited with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court as part of his bail conditions.

    In his response, counsel to EFCC, Mr Ben Ikani, said he would not object to the application since it was based on health ground.

    While leaving the request to the discretion of the court, Ikani, however, urged the trial Judge to release the passport to Raji, the defendant’s lawyer.

    In his ruling, Justice Ahmed Mohammed said he was disposed to granting the motion since it was not opposed by the prosecution.

    Consequently, he granted the defendant three weeks permission to travel to the UK for completion of his medical treatment.

    The court held that the three weeks period would commence from May 25.

    It directed that one the sureties must file a separate affidavit agreeing to be held liable should the defendant fail to return to Nigeria to face his trial.

    Before adjourning the trial till July 6, Justice Mohammed directed Yakubu to surrender his international passport with the Deputy Registrar of the court on his return to the country.

    The defendant was granted bail to the tune of N300m with two sureties in like sum.

    Yakubu was arrested following a tip-off by a whistle-blower.

    The EFCC raided his guest house situated at Sabon Tasha, Kaduna State and discovered $9.7m and ‎£74,000 hidden in a fireproof safe.

    (NAN)

  • Future elections will be better than 2015 –INEC

    Future elections will be better than 2015 –INEC

    The Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said the commission was committed to making future elections in the country better than the 2015 exercise.
    Yakubu made the pledge when he received the new United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Stuart Symington at INEC headquarters on Wednesday in Abuja.

    He expressed gratitude to the U.S. Government for its commendation of the 2015 polls.

    According to him, you have noted that the elections were well organised and were of international standard and accepted, contrary to situation in the past where there were protests on the street after elections.

    “After the 2015 elections, there were jubilations on the streets and this further underscored the achievement of the commission and the steps that Nigeria has taken towards consolidating its democracy.

    “We appreciate your kind words; 2015 was a defining moment for Nigeria elections, but we want to assure you that the commission is conscious of its responsibility and we are committed to making future elections even better.

    “It is for that reason we are have taking some steps in ensuring that the 2019 general elections are better that 2015 general elections,’’ Yakubu said.

    He said that one of the steps being taken was proper planning.

    “We have been planning ahead for 2019 general elections and beyond, and we have done so in many other areas in two ways.’’

    He disclosed that the commission would, from next week, commence the process of implementing its “2017-2021 Strategic Plan’’.

    The chairman said that the commission would also clean up voter register, conclude ongoing continuous voter registration in 774 local governments before the 2019 general elections, and continue the exercise later.

    He also listed the fixing of specific dates ahead of the 2019 general elections as well as deepening the use of technology as other steps being taken to improve on the country’s electoral system.

    Yakubu pledged that the commission would continue to work more closely with the US embassy to strengthen the country’s democracy and electoral process.

    “There is a lot we share in common with the US in terms of our democratic evolution. America practices presidential system, Nigeria also practices the presidential system.

    “Many people don’t also realize that the Nigeria presidential democracy is second only to the US in terms of the size of registered voters.

    “As I speak today, Nigeria has 70 million registered voters, and US is the only country that practices presidential democracy that has more registered voters than Nigeria,’’ he added.

    Earlier, Symington had said that his visit to INEC was to learn how Nigeria conducted its elections, and commended the commission for the success of 2015 general elections.

    He said that conducting widely accepted elections had helped Nigeria to play a leading role expected of it in Africa.

    Symington said that majority views across the globe on the 2015 general elections was that the elections were conducted in the atmosphere of peace imposed by wind of hope and shaped by the certainty of comfort.

    “So, the combination of peace, hope and comfort seems to me a sort of key that is needed, going forward,’’ he said.

    He, however, listed good relationship and confidence between the leaders and the followers as some of the key factors required for good governance across the globe.

  • Yakubu sues EFCC, wants immediate release of $9.8m, £74,000 seized from him

    Yakubu sues EFCC, wants immediate release of $9.8m, £74,000 seized from him

     

    A former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Engr. Andrew Yakubu, has sued the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, seeking the immediate release of the $9.8million and £74,000‎ recovered from him last week .

    Yakubu instituted a suit at the Federal High Court, Kano requesting it to set aside the order of forfeiture granted to the Federal Government last week by the court.

    He said the court had no jurisdiction to grant the order.

    The suit was filed by Yakubu’s counsel, Ahmed Raji (SAN).

    Raji argued that the court lacks the territorial jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

    He said the crime was committed in Abuja, which is outside the territorial jurisdiction of the court in Kano.

    In the motion on notice with suit number FHC/ICN/CS/24/2017, Raji argued that by Section 45 of the Federal High Court Act, an offence shall be tried only by a court exercising jurisdiction in the area or place where the offence was committed.

    In his submission, Raji maintained that: “No aspect of the perceived offence in respect of which the Order of 13th February, 2017 was made, was committed within the Kano judicial division of this Honourable Court.

    “By Section 28 of the EFCC Act, only the commission, i.e. the EFCC has the vires to seek an Order for the interim forfeiture of property under the Act.

    “The power of this Honourable Court to make interim forfeiture Order(s) pursuant to Sections 28 & 29 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act, 2004 (hereinafter “EFCC Act”) is applicable ONLY to alleged offences charged under the EFCC Act and not to offences cognizable under any other law.

    “The ex-parte Order of this Honourable Court dated 13th February, 2017, was made in respect of alleged offences under the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission Act (hereinafter “ICPC Act”) and not the EFCC Act as prescribed by Section 28 and 29 thereof.

    “The conditions precedent to the grant of an interim forfeiture Order under Sections 28 & 29 of the EFCC Act were not complied with by the Applicant before the Order was made.

    “In the instant case, no charge was brought against the Respondent/Applicant before the provisions of Section 28 and 29 of the EFCC Act were activated to grant the ex-parte Order of 13th February, 2017.”

    TheNewsGuru.com recalls that a Federal High Court sitting in Kano presided over by Justice Zainab B. Abubakar last Tuesday ordered the forfeiture of the sum of $9,772,00 (Nine Million, Seven Hundred and Seventy Two Thousand United States Dollars ) and £74,000 (Seventy Four Thousand Pound Sterling) recovered from Yakubu to the Federal Government.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Federal Government has however said the recovered loots from both the former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alinson-Maduekwe and the former NNPC GMD, Andrew Yakubu will be invested on its social intervention programmes.

  • We’ll spend loots recovered from Diezani, Yakubu to feed the poor – FG

    The Federal Government has said it will spend loots recently recovered from former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke and former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Andrew Yakubu on its social intervention programmes.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that a Lagos Federal High Court, on Thursday ordered the forfeiture of of about N34bn linked to former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

    TheNewsGuru.com also reports that a Federal High Court sitting in Kano presided over by Justice Zainab B. Abubakar on last Tuesday ordered the forfeiture of the sum of $9,772,00 (Nine Million, Seven Hundred and Seventy Two Thousand United States Dollars ) and £74,000 (Seventy Four Thousand Pound Sterling) recovered from Yakubu to the Federal Government.

    According to a report by The Punch, a top government official who spoke on condition of anonymity said the $9m recovered from Yakubu and the $153m forfeited Diezani, would be immediately used to fund the welfare scheme for the poor.

    The official said the money would be used in paying the N30,000 monthly stipend to beneficiaries of the N-Power scheme, the job creation programme of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration; as well as the school feeding programme.

    In the official’s words: “The National Economic Forum has been meeting and we are looking at the idea of investing the recovered funds on the social intervention programme which will gulp hundreds of billions of naira.”

    The Federal Government is also on a mission to recover at least N399bn and $6.62bn in cash and assets from the high profile cases being prosecuted across the country.

    Documents made available from the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption showed that at least 45 high-profile corruption cases had been taken to court.

    The cases stated in the document exclude the $153m recently forfeited to the Federal Government by Alison-Madueke; the $9m case involving Yakubu; the prosecution of a former Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission, Emeka Mba (N2.8bn); as well as all retired military officials (N40bn).

    Some of the high-profile cases stated in the document include an alleged N36bn case involving a former Governor of Jigawa State, Saminu Turaki; a fraud case involving a former Governor of Gombe State, Senator Danjuma Goje (N25bn), and a former Governor of Nasarawa State, Aliyu Doma.

    Other prominent cases listed include the Chairman of Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited, Jide Omokore, who is standing trial for an alleged $1.6bn fraud; a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Patrick Akpobolokemi, who is standing trial before two different courts for alleged N1.6bn fraud and N754.7bn fraud.

    The committee also listed the case of the President, NLNG Staff Bonny Co-op Investment and Credit Society Limited, Julius Peters, who is being tried for an alleged N207bn fraud.

    The committee defined high-profile cases as cases in which any of the suspects is “a politician, public officer or judicial officer; a person elected or nominated to a public office or position and where the subject matter of the case involves government property or funds.”