Billionaire, Arthur Eze Accused Of Using Policemen, EFCC Operatives To Evict Another Late Brother’s Family, Onyeka Eze

 

A Nigerian billionaire, Arthur Eze, has allegedly forcefully evicted another son of his brother, Prince Onyeka Eze and his family from their house using the police to carry out the operation after claiming ownership of the property.

SaharaReporters gathered that Arthur stormed the property located at No. 2 Victor Nwodo close GRA Enugu by Ubakwu street GRA ,Enugu State alongside armed policemen and ordered Prince Onyeka and his family out without allowing them to carry any of their properties while laying claim of ownership to both house and everything inside.

Arthur claimed to be acting on the purported final forfeiture order secured by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC) from the Federal High Court.

Meanwhile the execution was illegally carried out since notice of appeal and motion for stay was served on the parties involved and the matter is still pending at the Supreme Court.

But the Federal High Court Enugu through the Deputy Chief Registrar, Ekperobe Femi in a letter dated 31st March 2023 addressed to Onyeka’s lawyer, Gabriel Onovo, confirmed the Notice of Appeal and Motion for Stay filed by the lawyer.

The letter which was a response to the request by Prince Onyeka’s lawyer requesting for the confirmation of writs of execution in respect of judgement in Suit No FHC/EN/CS/83/2021 Economic and Financial Crimes Commission V Olisaebuka Okwuchukwu Eze & Anor and Suit No. FHC/EN/CS/84/2021 Economic and Financial Crimes Commission V Onyeka Nnadozie Eze & Anor the court.

The letter read in part “ In summary, the execution was carried out by the Registry of the Federal High Court In company of men of the Police Force Enugu Command on 29th March, 2023”

Recall that Arthur in November 2020 dragged his two nephews, Olisaebuka Okwuchukwu Eze and Prince Onyeka Eze before a Federal Capital Territory High Court and Federal High Court after he accused them of fraudulently diverting his fund for private gratification.

It was gathered that Arthur personally invaded the premises of Onyeka’s house with armed policemen who forced their way into the building through the fence and threw out the occupants and their properties.

In a CCTV exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters Arthur was seen when he got out of his car and ordered the policemen to enter the premises via fence and ejected the family.

He also supervised the policemen when he ordered them to collect rent from the tenants occupying some of the properties belonging to Olisa and Onyeka in both Enugu and Abuja.

Arthur had in a letter he personally signed threatened the tenants with police when he asked them to discontinue paying rent to Prince Olisa and Prince Onyeka telling that he has taken the ownership of the properties citing an order of final forfeiture made by the Federal High Court, Enugu Division in Suit No. FHC/EN/CS/83/21 (EFCC V. OLISÄEBUKA OKWUCHUKWU EZE & ANOR).

The letter read in part “ In view of the above therefore, the status quo is that I am in physical possession of the properties by virtue of the execution of the Order of final forfeiture of the Federal High Court; I am therefore your Landlord and not Prince Olisa Eze.

“It is equally pertinent for you to know that Prince Olisa Okwuchukwu and Prince Önyeka Nnadozie Eze are presently standing trial over a criminal charge at the FCT High Court Abuja and Federal High Court preferred against them which Arthur is using EFCC to prosecute.

“Recall that I had already held a meeting with all the tenants in the property subject of this letter, in which I benevolently waived off twenty percent off each tenant’s rent. It will therefore be in your best interest to maintain that cordiality.

“In that regard therefore, I hereby give you notice to pay your due rent by raising a draft in my name(Prince Arthur Ikpechukwu Eze) after which you should promptly submit your proof of payment to the chambers of my Solicitors (OLI & PARTNERS), at No. 3A Onoh Crescent, CRA, Enugu.

“Take further notice that your strict adherence to, and compliance with the foregoing instructions will determine your continued tenancy in the property”

A source under the condition of anonymity said, “Prince Arthur Ikpechukwu Eze, What a shame that you want to start collecting rent from your nephew, Prince Olisa Eze’s tenants. Does it mean that Arthur Eze can’t sustain himself without rent?”

The billionaire had recently raised an alarm when he petitioned Enugu State Police Command accusing his nephew,Prince Olisa of planning with some people to kidnap and assassinate him with others.

The police who are also doing his bidding declared Prince Olisa wanted and in the process arrested some persons over the allegation. The case was charged to court but was later thrown out for lack of evidence while those arrested were discharged.

A source who spoke to SaharaReporters said the billionaire had continued to victimize and frustrate his nephews despite the olive branch of forgiveness and reconciliation he extended to them during their later grandfather’s memorial service held 24 December,2023 at St Mary’s Anglican Church ,in Ukpo, Oranto village, Anambra.

SaharaReporters had on September 2, 2022, reported how Arthur led some armed policemen and evicted Prince Olisa and his family from their residence located at No. 5 Ifeanyi Ararume Street, Mabushi Abuja with the claim of taking the possession of the property.

Meanwhile a letter from FCT High Court denied the illegality and insisted that Prince Olisa Eze & family was never evicted by the court.

– Source: SaharaReporters

Uncovered! How Ex-Bank Of Industry MD Olukayode Pitan Was Arrested, Detained

On 19 October 2023, the presidency announced the appointment of Olasupo Olusi as the new managing director and chief executive officer of the Bank of Industry (BOI).

In that announcement, presidential spokesperson Ajuri Ngelale said Mr Olusi’s appointment followed the voluntary resignation of his predecessor, Olukayode Pitan.

Mr Pitan’s sudden departure surprised many clients of his bank and some players in the nation’s financial sector, especially given that his second term of five years only began on 27 May 2022. But because Mr Pitan’s exit happened at a time when President Bola Tinubu was busy ousting appointees put in place by his predecessor, some people speculated at the time that Mr Tinubu possibly requested the BOI CEO to voluntarily step down so he (President Tinubu) could put his own man in that position.

There was no official disclosure or media report of any other undercurrents that triggered Mr Pitan’s resignation.

But more than three months after that episode, PREMIUM TIMES can now, for the first time, report the circumstances that led to Mr Pitan’s departure from the nation’s oldest, largest and most successful development financing institution.

Our findings indicate that the drama culminating in the banker’s exit from the bank began suddenly and unfolded quickly. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had, around the period, received intelligence alleging mismanagement of public funds by the leadership of BOI, then led by Mr Pitan. After days of discreet investigations, EFCC operatives moved against Mr Pitan on 16 October 2023. That day, he was arrested in Lagos and flown to Abuja, where he was interrogated and detained.

The banker remained in detention until 18 October, when the anti-graft agency granted him administrative bail. The following day, 19 October, the presidency announced Mr Pitan was resigning and that he was being replaced by Mr Olusi, a former World Bank economist and development finance expert.

Neither the government nor Mr Pitan disclosed that some transactions during the banker’s leadership at the 60-year-old real sector lender were being scrutinised by the EFCC and that, on that account, he had either offered to resign or compelled to do so. In the press statement announcing his resignation and appointment of a replacement, Mr Pitan was not accused of any wrongdoing.

More than three months after Mr Pitan was released on bail, no charges have been brought against him, and the EFCC appears reluctant to disclose details of the financial matters for which he is being investigated. When contacted Tuesday, Dele Oyewale, the head of media and publicity at the anti-corruption agency, promised to run a check and revert to this reporter on the case status. He has yet to do so as of the time of filing this report. He also has yet to respond to subsequent calls and text messages sent to him.

However, those familiar with the matter said that while in detention, Mr Pitan was questioned over BOI’s handling of a $750 million loan the bank got in 2018 from foreign banks to support small and medium-sized businesses across the country.

The loan was arranged by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and sourced from a syndicate of 16 lenders, including Afreximbank itself, the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development, British Arab Commercial Bank Plc and four Nigerian banks based in the UK. The facility was granted at a single-digit interest rate for five to seven years.

The loan was arranged to enable the BOI to bridge the funding gap for MSMEs, estimated at N700 billion, Mr Pitan told journalists during Afreximbank’s 25th Anniversary and annual general meeting in Abuja in 2018. He also said the facility was meant for companies operating in the creative industry, manufacturing and gender-based businesses to help reduce the unemployment rate in the country and create wealth for small and medium-scale entrepreneurs. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) guaranteed the loan, which was disbursed to beneficiaries through commercial banks.

]This publication learned that the EFCC is now scrutinising the handling and disbursement of the loan following allegations of sharp practices by some whistleblowers. The informants, our sources said, claimed that rather than promptly disburse the fund to beneficiaries, some BOI officials initially placed it in fixed deposit accounts and earned returns before passing it to the CBN on maturity.

Our sources said about 130 private accounts linked to the matter were being investigated. At the same time, Mr Pitan was also questioned about the source of a certain N211 million traced to his Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) account.

When PREMIUM TIMES contacted Mr Pitan this week, the banker declined to provide details of his encounter with the EFCC and the issues that led to his arrest and detention. He, however, denied any wrongdoing in handling the $750 million loan. “All foreign proceeds into BOI are transferred to CBN,” he said. “The proceeds of the $750 million were paid into CBN in full. CBN has repaid Afreximbank in full as the loan has expired.”

When asked to respond to concerns on the loan management under his watch, Mr Pitan said, “I want you to know I will never engage in the type of activities false information peddlers who don’t mean well for me and the bank are feeding you.”

In response to a question about a particular N211 million in his account, the top banker said he was “a senior member of staff and eligible to various facilities including mortgage loan etc.”

BOI’s Head of Corporate Communications, Hadiza Olaosebikan, declined to comment for this story when contacted by PREMIUM TIMES. “I’m sorry I can’t answer any questions,” she said by telephone.

However, an official of the bank, who asked not to be named because he is not a spokesperson for the organisation, told this reporter that the $750 million loan was not mishandled in any way. “What happened was that when Tinubu came, his people wanted to remove Pitan from office at all costs and put their own man there,” he said. “So they came up with that allegation and got the EFCC to harass Pitan out of office. The man was forced to resign which is unfortunate.”

But Mr Pitan said he was not forced to step down. “Mr Pitan resigned voluntarily from BOI,” he told this reporter. “His letter of resignation was accepted. The official communication from FGN confirmed that.”

The man Pitan Olukayode
Mr Pitan was appointed managing director of BOI in May 2017 by former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who acted as Nigeria’s president when then-President Muhammadu Buhari vacationed in the UK. Mr Buhari reappointed him in March 2022 to serve a second tenure of five years.

Mr Pitan is an ordained pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), in charge of Region 51 (Tabernacle of David) of the church, headquartered in Ajah, Lagos.

During a banking career spanning over 30 years, he was an executive director at Unity Bank and an executive director at FSB International Bank Plc.

He was also chairperson of the Association of Nigerian Development Finance Institutions and the director representing West Africa on the Board of the Association of African Development Finance Institutions.

– Source: PREMIUM TIMES

EFCC raids BUA’s Lagos over alleged Forex deals with CBN

 

Personnel of Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have besieged the BUA Group head office located at PC 32, Churchgate Street, Victoria Island, Lagos State.

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According to reports, the search by the anti-graft operatives in BUA office is still ongoing as of the time of filing this report.

BUA Group is owned by billionaire businessman, Abdul Samad Rabiu.

It had been reported that the EFCC is probing the foreign exchange allocations made to about 52 companies, including BUA Plc and Dangote Plc, during the tenure of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele

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It was gathered that the EFCC had written to the companies directing them to supply documents supporting the allocation and utilization of foreign currencies to them in the last 10 years.

The EFCC letter to the companies is part of ongoing investigation into alleged preferential Forex allocations to individuals and organisation.

Investigators had in the past months accused the CBN of favouring and enriching some individuals and companies through non-transparent allocation of foreign exchange to them.

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EFCC: Unlicensed foreign exchange dealer, Chike Agada arrested for N2bn fraud

Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested an unlicensed foreign exchange dealer, Chike Agada for alleged N2 billion fraud.

EFCC in a statement said Agada, a native of Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, was declared wanted by the Commission on Wednesday, October 11, 2023.

He was declared wanted for obtaining money by false pretence and stealing by conversion to the tune of N2 billion.

The 37-year-old was arrested at a residence in the Bourdillion, Ikoyi area of Lagos on Monday, October 16, 2023 during a sting operation by operatives of the Commission, following credible intelligence linking him to the alleged scam.

Upon arrest, a mobile device was recovered from him.

He will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded, EFCC said.

Exxon Mobil Chairman, Richard Laing’s gross exploitation of Nigerians uncovered

He has barely spent three years as Chairman & Managing Director of ExxonMobil affiliate Companies in Nigeria, but Richard Liang’s catalogue of atrocities including abuse of court processes and gross exploitation of Nigerians will make anyone shudder.

About six months into his headship of Exxonmobil affiliate companies like Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria (Offshore East) Limited, a federal high court in Abuja ordered Laing’s arrest after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, argued that he refused to appear over an investigation into an alleged fraudulent pipeline project concerning his company. Liang’s portfolio covers

The EFCC said the investigation related to the alleged fraudulent creation of procurement orders worth more than $213 million as part of a pipelines project. Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court compelled Laing to appear before anti-graft investigators. Typically, not much was heard about the case again.

In the industry, however, tales abound of Laing’s oppressive and draconian leadership, and corrupt practices. Matters have now got to a head as the Petroleum & Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) Mobil Producing Nigeria Branch, has downed tools.

A communiqué issued by the workers’ union last Wednesday highlighted some of the Laing-led management’s atrocities to include; “Unilateral implementation of company processes against CBA provisions, abuse of agreed disciplinary procedures, insistent on a 28/28 rota schedule as a basis to negotiate, forced requirement to shift early retirement age to 50 years of age/15 years of service against industry practice and even when they have concluded to divest, and refusal to address the worsening personnel manning levels.”

Other transgressions as listed in the communiqué include; “Refusal to address the health-threatening catering issues and living conditions in Field locations, dilapidated facilities, lack of will to conclude negotiations, imposition of expats ex-service men as security personnel against the requirement of the Nigerian State, non-implementation of three out of four resolutions reached at the mediation by NUIMS in Abuja on September 13, 2022.”

The union stated that all efforts to mediate failed due to “management’s deliberate refusal to follow reasonable guide from well-meaning Nigerians including mediation from National PENGASSAN and the NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS) Limited to redress above listed matters.”

To underscore its seriousness, the joint leadership of the Branch Executive Council (BEC) and Chapter Executive Councils (CEC) met and issued a 7-day warning, which lapsed Thursday, April 12. Should the management not soften its stance or address the allegations highlighted, the union instructed fellow workers not to log on to their system to do any company work whether at home or in their office locations, and that all maintenance folks should not submit any maintenance report nor render any service.

Further, “Stop all contractor work, projects and vacate them from worksite; this includes foreign expat and local contractors in all departments and most especially in field work locations.
“All Field and Console operators should not participate in any of the following: daily report, energy component, production reports, meetings, and any other report. All field-based office workers should not log on to their system to do any company work.

“All members shall withdraw services in Lagos, Abuja, Eket, QIT field office locations, Joint Venture Operations (JVO) / Offshore locations and Deepwater Operations covering Erha and Usan. No member should participate in Export and Offloading activities.”
As you read, the Scotland-born Laing has still not addressed the agitations of the workers.

The Capital NG

EFCC to arraign former Lagos Commissioner, Supo Shasore over money laundering

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed money laundering charges against a former Attorney-General (AG) and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State, Supo Shasore.

Sashore was Lagos AG from 2007 to 2011.

The charges which were filed before the Federal High Court, Lagos was signed by one of the EFCC’s lawyers, Bala Sanga.

The court has fixed the arraignment of the former Lagos AG for October 20 before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke.

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READ Fuji Music Icon, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal Bags MON National Honours Award

Count one of the charge sheet said that Shasore on or about November 18, 2014 induced one Olufolakemi Adetore, in accepting cash payment of the sum of $100,000 without going through a financial institution.

In count two, Shasore was alleged to have made cash payment of the sum of $100,000 to Olufolakemi Adelore through Auwalu Habu and Wole Aboderin.

In counts three and four, the former Lagos AG was said to have induced and also made cash payment of the sum of $100,000 to one Ikechukwu Oguine without going through a financial institution.

The anti-graft agency alleged that the sums which exceed the amount permitted by law constitute an offence contrary to sections 78(c); 1(a) and 16(1)(d) and 18(c) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under section 16(6) and 16 (2)(b) of the same Act.

Supo Shasore (SAN) was the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, during the tenure of Babatunde Fashola as Governor of Lagos State.

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Sterling Bank CEO, Abubakar Suleiman quizzed over Kogi N20bn

he bank’s officials were grilled for several hours by the EFCC on the matter and going by their statements, heads may roll soon,”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has grilled Abubakar Suleiman, the chief executive officer of Sterling Bank Plc and two other top officials of the lender over the controversial ‘hidden’ N20 billion said to allegedly belong to the Kogi State government.

The anti-graft agency had reportedly in August 2021, said that it had credible intelligence that funds suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities were in an account domiciled in Sterling Bank Plc with the name of Kogi State Salary Account and account No. 0073572696. The money was a bailout fund to the state meant to pay workers’ salaries but allegedly diverted to an interest-yielding account. The state government, however, vehemently denied the allegation. But the EFCC insisted the diverted money had been recovered and transferred to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), a transaction reportedly acknowledged by the apex bank. (newsheadline247.com)

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N450m Diezani Bribe: Ex-Minister, Sarah Ochekpe, two others to bag 6-Year Prison sentence

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Gombe Zonal Command, on Tuesday, February 22, 2022, secured the conviction of a former Minister of Water Resources in the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Sarah Ochekpe and two others, Evan Leo Sunday Jitong and Raymond Dabo, deputy director for Goodluck/Sambo 2015 election campaign and former Acting Chairman of PDP, Plateau State respectively.

The Ochekpe and two others are expected to spend 6 years in prison following their alleged involvement in the N450 million fraud.

Recall that the EFCC, Gombe Zonal office had on Monday, January 22, 2018 arraigned the trio of Sarah Ochekpe, Evan Leo Sunday Jitong and Raymond Dabo before Justice H. M. Kurya of the Federal High Court ,Jos, Plateau State, on two-count charge bordering on money laundering.

They were alleged to have received the sum of N450million out of N23billion brought to a Bank through cash and wire transfer by some oil companies and former Petroleum Resources Minister, Diezani Alison Madueke, to influence electorates and the outcome of 2015 Presidential Election.

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Investigations showed that after receiving the money in their custody, the Bank’s headquarters used its state branches to channel the distribution of the election loot through CBN to individual states of the Federation.

 Specifically, on March 26, 2015, the sum of N450million was withdrawn from CBN by the Bank Jos main branch and it was handed over to the defendants in cash after they signed for collection.

Though the defendants claimed that they handed over the money to late Senator Gyang Pwajok, the Plateau State PDP Governorship candidate in 2015, they failed to provide any evidence to support their claim.

Count one of the charge reads:

“That you, SARAH RINGIM OCHEKPE, EVAN LEO SUNDAY JITONG, RAYMOND DABO and MRS DIEZANI ALISON MADUEKE  ( NOW AT LARGE) sometimes in March 2015 at Jos, Plateau state of Nigeria within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without going through the Financial Institution, did conspire amongst yourselves to accept cash payment of the sum of Four Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (N450,000,000.00) from MRS. DIEZANI ALISON MADUEKE through Fidelity Bank Plc which sum exceeded the amount authorised by Law and thereby committed an offence contrary to the provisions of Section 18 (a), Section 16 (1) (d) of the Money Laundering  (prohibition) Act 2012 (as amended) and Punishable under Section 16 (2) (b) of the same Act.

The anti-graft agency, however, on Tuesday, February 22, 2022, secured the conviction of Sarah Ochekpe, Evan Leo Sunday Jitong and Raymond Dabo. The trio are to spend at least six years in prison.

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Fraud Alert! EFCC grills NIRSAL MD, Aliyu Abdulhameed over N5bn wheat project scandal

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has interrogated the Managing Director of the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), Aliyu Abdulhameed, over the alleged wheat scandal.

Sources at EFCC and NIRSAL informed that Abdulhameed was quizzed last Friday and Tuesday this week, according to Daily Trust.

However, the MD had repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

Men of the EFCC had last week reportedly visited the NIRSAL office in Abuja and invited several top officials for questioning on their roles in the wheat project scandal.

Those earlier quizzed included the Assistant Head of Finance, the Head of Procurement and his assistant as well as all consultants working with NIRSAL.

Also invited, according to sources, were directors of three companies guaranteed loans for the N5.6bn wheat project for farmers in Kano and Jigawa States in 2018.

The companies are Mainframe Agricultural Investment Limited, Forest Hill Agricultural Development Limited and Woodfarm Agricultural Limited.

Their invitations were sequel to an investigative report on how the multi-billion naira loan guaranteed by NIRSAL for three companies for the cultivation-to-harvest of 20,000 hectares of dry season wheat the two states was allegedly diverted for other purposes by the investor companies in connivance with NIRSAL officials.

Following the report, the head of NIRSAL’s Project Monitoring Reporting and Remediation Offices, Steven Ogidan, alongside all the consultants, was also said to have spent almost a week at the EFCC.

Ogidan, who oversees the PRMO’s in all the states of the federation, was said to have been interrogated and asked to go and await further invitations.

SOCIETY: Details: How New Olubadan’s Daughter, Yinka Balogun Allegedly Broke Amen Estate Owner’s Home

Just In: Medview Airline boss, Muneer Bankole in EFCC net over Hajj fund fraud

The Managing Director of Medview Airline, Mr. Muneer Bankole, has been arrested and detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested and detained over an alleged hajj fund scam.

The Medview air boss is expected to account for over $900,000 in connection with Hajj operations.

According to information gathered, the transactions between Bankole and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) took place in 2019.

It was also gathered that, Mr Bankole, who was invited by the EFCC, arrived at the commission’s complex at 11 am on Monday.

“The MD was invited by the anti-graft agency over a case of alleged diversion of 50 per cent of funds paid to him by the National Hajj Commission and additional $900,000 USD for the airlift of pilgrims in 2019.

“He allegedly received the funds as mobilization but did not execute the contract.”

Wilson Uwujaren, the Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, has reportedly confirmed the arrest.

CORRUPTION: Revealed! NCDMB Boss, Wabote Has No Filing With Code of Conduct Bureau, Lied To U.S Court, May Face Tribunal

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VON DG, Osita Okechukwu detained over N1.3bn fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Saturday, 29 January, detained the Director-General of Voice of Nigeria, Osita Okechukwu.

Okechukwu reportedly arrived at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja around 1:30 pm on Saturday, following an invitation regarding a case of alleged conspiracy, abuse of office, and misappropriation of public funds.

He is said to be undergoing questions for allegedly embezzling N1.3 billion, and is still in the custody of the EFCC.

The EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren who reportedly confirmed the invitation of the VON chief executive, however, declined to provide further details.

NEWS: EFCC, ICPC, other govt agencies have no Powers to freeze bank accounts without court order – Judge

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Alleged N2.1bn fraud: Court summons ex-Health Insurance boss Femi Thomas

 A Federal High sitting in Lagos on Thursday summoned the former Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Dr. Olufemi Martins Thomas, who is standing trial for an alleged N2.1billion fraud.

Justice Ayokunle Faji made the order following Thomas’ absence at the resumption of proceedings in the case on Thursday.

Thomas is standing trial alongside Kabiru Sidi, a Bureau De Change operator, on an amended seven-count charge bordering on money laundering brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The matter has suffered several adjournments since March 30, 2020 when the court dismissed Thomas’ no-case submission and ordered him to open his defence.

At the commencement of proceedings yesterday, Thomas’ counsel Kunle Gbolahan was in court, but the second defendant’s lawyer was not.

An angry EFCC counsel Mr. Ekele Iheanacho, who noted that the day’s proceedings was for the 1st defendant to open his defence, blamed the defence for the several delays in proceedings.

According to the prosecutor, the defendants seemed to always come up with one reason or the other to abort proceedings.

He lamented that he had to travel to and fro Abuja for each court date, accusing the defendants of holding everyone to ransom.

He stated that he would have applied for the revocation of the defendants’ bail, but for the explanation of the counsel to the 1st defendant who approached him in the morning explaining that they were not aware of the day’s trial date.

He threatened to make a formal application for revocation of the defendants’ bail and issuance of bench warrants for their arrest on the next adjourned date of 24th November 2021.

Defending himself, counsel to the 1st defendant apologised to the court for Thomas’ absence, adding that he was only aware of the 24 and 26th November dates and not the day’s proceedings.

Responding, the Judge warned the defendants not to take the court for granted.

He said the court would issue a summons to be served on the defendants for the next hearing date adding that their failure to attend court would leave the court with no other choice than to revoke their bails.

The court directed the prosecutor to serve the defendants with the summons and adjourned till December 3, 2021.

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EFCC grills billionaire businessman, Obi Cubana

 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reportedly invited and detained a popular socialite and entrepreneur, Obinna Iyiegbu, widely known as Obi Cubana.

It was gathered that the Anambra-born business tycoon arrived at the headquarters of the EFCC at Jabi, Abuja at about 12 p.m. on Monday.

Several reports maintained that he was still being interrogated by operatives of the commission as of Monday night.

Though allegations against the socialite were sketchy as of press time, information gathered indicates that his case borders on alleged money laundering and tax fraud.

EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, is yet to make any official statement on the matter

Flamboyant entrepreneur Obi Cubana, in July, held a lavish funeral for his mother, Ezinne Iyiegbu, in Oba, Anambra State.

Since the talk-of-the-town burial, Obi Cubana has become an inspirational grass-to-grace figure appearing in interviews where he told stories of how he started in a one-room apartment as a fresh graduate undergoing the mandatory national youth service in Abuja in 1999

He told BBC Pidgin that he started as an estate agent and made his first N1 million through a house furnishing contract he got at that time.

Today, he sits atop sprawling investments in entertainment, hospitality, real estate, among others.

He was recently voted the 2021 Man of the Year by Nigerians both at home and in the Diaspora in a 14-day Leadership Excellence Awards voting by Nigerians via online platforms, monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). 

NEWS: Alleged Multibillion-Naira Fraud: Interpol declares Addy Ltd CEO, Adams Uju wanted

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