N450m fraud: EFCC amends charges against Belgore, joins Madueke

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Diezani Alison-Madueke

There was a twist on Monday in Lagos in the ongoing trial of Mohammed Belgore (SAN), and a former Minister of National Planning, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman for alleged N450 million money laundering as the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison-Madueke, was joined in the suit.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s prosecutor had amended the five-count charge and joined Allison-Madueke, as an accused in the case at a Federal High Court, Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN reports that Allison-Madueke was charged in absentia alongside a one-time governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Belgore and Sulaiman.

Belgore and Sulaiman were first arraigned in February before Justice Mohammed Aikawa on a five-count charge bordering on money laundering.

At the resumed trial of the two accused persons on Monday, the prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, informed the court of an amended charge in which the name of Allison-Madueke had been joined as an accused.

Allison-Madueke was, however, described as being “at large” in the new charge.

Oyedepo then urged the court to allow the amended charge to be read over to Belgore and Sulaiman who were present in court for their pleas to be taken afresh.

The application was not opposed by defence counsel as the court ordered the plea of the accused to be taken. The accused again entered a “not guilty” plea. Upon their plea, the prosecution called on its first witness, Mr Timothy Olaobaju, a banker.

Led in evidence by Oyedepo, the witness informed the court that sometime in April 2014, a cash lodgement of about 115 million dollars was made lodged into the account of Allison-Madueke.

He said that subsequently on March 27, 2015, the accused issued payment instructions to convert the said sums into Naira, and paid to some beneficiaries including Belgore and Suleiman.

He told the court that the duo received the sum of N450 million and filled the payment form to acknowledge receipt.

The prosecutor tendered the form filled by the accused in evidence, urging the court to admit same as exhibit. Justice Aikawa admitted the form in evidence, and accordingly marked them as Exhibits 1 and 1a.

Furthermore, the witness told the court no cheque was issued in respect of the funds, adding that the the accused signed the form on March 26, 2015, while they received the money on March 27, 2015.

Meanwhile, counsel representing the accused — Mr B. O. Shofunde (SAN), and Chief O Ayanlaja (SAN) — urged the court to grant an adjournment to enable them cross-examine the witness.

Consequently, the court adjourned the case to March 14 for cross-examination of the witness and continuation of trial.

In the five counts, Allison-Madueke was alleged to have conspired with Belgore and Sulaiman on or about March 27, 2015, to directly take possession of the sum of N450 million which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of proceeds of unlawful act.

The accused were also alleged to have taken the said funds in cash which exceeded the amount authorised by law without going through a financial institution.

Belgore and Sulaiman were also alleged to have paid the sum of N50 million to one Sheriff Shagaya without going through any financial institution.

The offences are said to have contravened the provisions of Sections 1(a), 15, 16(d) and 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2nlJQBP

Thousands return home after fleeing Chile forest fire

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Picture released on March 12, 2017 by Aton Chile shows firefighters working to put out a forest fire in Valparaiso.<br />Chilean authorities decreed red alert in Valparaiso and Vina del Mar for several forest fires. / AFP PHOTO / ATON CHILE / Raul ZAMORA / Chile OUT /

Some 6,000 people began returning home Monday after a forest fire forced their evacuation over the weekend, sweeping through central Chile and destroying more than a dozen dwellings, local authorities said.

The blaze began in forested areas of Vina del Mar, a popular resort area in the Valparaiso region, about 120 kilometers (75 miles) west of Santiago, where hundreds of poor families live in illegally-built houses of wood and tin.

According to Ricardo Toro, the director of the National Emergency Office (ONEMI), no one was killed or injured in the blaze.

The cities of Valparaiso and Vina del Mar had been put on alert as the fire tore through 230 hectares (570 acres) in just a few hours, amid strong winds and soaring temperatures.

Police and army personnel had helped people carry their personal belongings in vehicles, while firefighters and forest brigades fought the flames to keep them from reaching camps.

Authorities said additional brigades and helicopters would be sent Monday to continue fighting the fire.

Regional authorities meanwhile had suspended Monday classes in the city of Vina del Mar, where 10 families who lost their homes were being housed in shelters.

Officials had announced an investigation to determine the cause of the blaze.

The fire came three months after a large blaze hit Valparaiso, destroying more than 100 homes and leaving about 20 people injured.

Earlier this year, forest fires ravaged southern Chile, killing 11 people and destroying large swaths of land.

Fires are common in Chile’s parched forests during the southern hemisphere’s summer. Most are caused by human activity.

Fire activity this year was worse than usual because of a drought attributed by environmentalists to climate change.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2nlNn3f

Boxers train under mango tree in Delta, says Okorodudu

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Jerry Okorodudu, Nigeria’s boxer in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, has condemned how existing and up-and-coming boxers train under a mango tree in Asaba, Delta.

Okorodudu said this was due to the absence of a boxing gymnasium in Delta that could enhance the promotion of the sport.

He siad this on Monday in Lagos that the boxers usually trained under a mango tree at a corner beside the Asaba Township Stadium.

“It is a shame for Delta not to have a standard boxing gymnasium where its boxers can use for practice; instead the boxers and their coaches train under a mango tree.

 

“I am calling on the present administration in Delta State to visit this issue, and pay adequate attention to the plights of existing and upcoming boxers,” he said.

He said that such a problem should not be identified with a state that had produced boxers that had represented the nation at in international competitions.

“Many of the country’s boxers at the Olympics were from Delta State. We are a force to reckon with also at national championships.

“The records are there for anyone that wants to verify.

“We have William Azanor, (56kg) in 1980 Moscow Olympics, Christopher Ossair, (60kg) two-time Olympian, 1980 Moscow and 1984 Los Angeles, in which I also featured.

“Joe Orewa (52kg) and Peter Konyegbachi also represented the nation at the 1984Olympics, while Gabriel Onoko, (52kg) was in Barcelona Olympics.

“The most recent boxer is Efe Ajagba ( +91kg) category who was at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

“With all these stars, Delta should have a standard gymnasium,’’ he said.

The Brisbane Commonwealth bronze medalist was optimistic that the state would produce more boxers that would make the country proud at national and international scenes, if provided with a modern gymnasium.

Such gymnasium must be equipped with modern facilities such as a boxing ring, boxing bags, assorted guards and coaching/training pad to enhance their training, he said.

The post Boxers train under mango tree in Delta, says Okorodudu appeared first on Vanguard News.

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Zidane hopes Jese fulfils potential, but doesn’t haunt Real

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Real Madrid's French coach Zinedine Zidane / AFP PHOTO / GERARD JULIEN

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane hopes Jese Rodriguez rediscovers the form that once made him the star of Madrid’s academy, but only after his return to the Santiago Bernabeu with Las Palmas on Wednesday.

Jese left Madrid for French champions Paris Saint-Germain on a five-year deal in August for a reported 25 million euros ($26.8 million).

However, he scored just twice in 14 appearances and quickly fell down the pecking order for PSG’s Spanish coach Unai Emery before joining home town club Las Palmas on loan in January.

“I like him a lot as a player and a person, and I hope that from Thursday it goes well for him at Las Palmas,” Zidane said on Tuesday.

When the Canary Islanders pushed the boat out to bring the 24-year-old forward back to La Liga at the end of January, qualifying for Europe was the aim.

Instead, Las Palmas have lost all four games to Granada, Sevilla, Malaga and Real Sociedad since signing Jese to slip to 12th and cap his miserable season for far.

A move away from Real was supposed to relaunch his career after the devastating effect of a cruciate knee ligament injury that cut short his breakthrough season in 2013/14 when Zidane was Madrid’s assistant coach to Carlo Ancelotti.

At the time Jese was one of the brightest young talents in world football with goals against Barcelona, Valencia, Athletic Bilbao and Villarreal that campaign putting him on the verge of a call-up to Spain’s 2014 World Cup squad.

Despite going onto to make 94 appearances in all for Madrid, his career at the Bernabeu never recovered as he lived in the shadow of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale and was also ultimately usurped by the likes of Lucas Vazquez for first team opportunities.

“He is a high quality Spanish player who has always shown enormous potential,” added Zidane.

“It didn’t go as he would have wanted at PSG, maybe he did not have all the minutes to show what he could do.

“I wish him is all the best from Thursday, and hope that he regains his form because he is a great player.”

Substitutes Isco and Alvaro Morata made a huge impact as Real came from 2-0 down to beat Villarreal 3-2 on Sunday and could be rewarded with a start on Wednesday as Zidane promised to rotate his squad once more.

Gareth Bale started the Real fightback by scoring on his first start for three months and the Welshman has been included in Zidane’s 19-man squad despite suffering a knock late on at the Ceramic Stadium.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2luP5hf

Naive not to be Messi-dependent, says Luis Enrique

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Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi / AFP PHOTO / JOSEP LAGO

Barcelona boss Luis Enrique insists his side’s reliance on Lionel Messi is perfectly normal when you have “the best player in the world” on your side.

Messi has kept Barca’s La Liga title challenge alive with late winners in 2-1 wins over Leganes and Atletico Madrid in their last two outings to take his tally for the season to 35 goals in as many games.

However, Barca have still to tie down Messi’s long-term future at the Camp Nou. The five-time World Player of the Year has just over a year to run on his contract with talks over a new deal ongoing.

“It would be naive to think we wouldn’t depend on the best player in the world,” said Enrique on Tuesday.

“Hopefully we can depend on him for many years to come.”

Victory at Atletico eased somewhat the mounting pressure on Enrique after a 4-0 thrashing at Paris Saint-Germain two weeks ago left the Catalans on the verge of bowing out at the last 16 of the Champions League for the first time in 10 years.

In particular, his tactical shift from Barca’s traditional possession based game to a more direct style designed to get the best out of a superstar front three of Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar has been criticised.

However, Enrique insisted ahead of Sporting Gijon’s visit to the Camp Nou on Wednesday, that possession is only a means to an end.

“The key to having possession is not just to have it for the sake of it, but to have possession as a means of reaching a goal, and the goal is winning games,” he added.

“If the opponent sits back and allows long passages of play in possession they don’t leave you spaces to find gaps.

“If they decide to press high and leave space then it doesn’t make sense too not take advantage of that and in two touches overcome the press to score a goal.”

Enrique hopes to have Javier Mascherano and Arda Turan back from injury for the visit of struggling Sporting, who sit two points off safety in 18th.

And with tougher tests against Celta Vigo and the return leg with PSG to come in the next week, Enrique is expected to make sweeping changes from the side that started against Atletico with the likes of Jordi Alba, Ivan Rakitic and Andre Gomes also set to return.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2m8AV9p

Vigilantes turn kidnappers in Enugu

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The Police Command in Enugu State has arrested two members of vigilance group in Nimbo, Uzouwani Local Government of Enugu State, for alleged kidnap of Enechi Ejiofor on Dec. 13, 2016.

The command’s spokesperson, SP. Ebere Amaraizu, made this known to newsmen in Enugu on Thursday.

Amaraizu said the suspects abducted Ejiofor, a Special Assistant on Security Matters to Uzo Uwani Local Government Area Chairman, in December on his way to an official assignment at Ugwuiyi Ekoro was still missing.

He said that the kidnappers demanded N10 million ransom on Dec.14, 2016 from the family but later reduced it to two million which one of the suspects collected.

The police spokesperson said that the two suspects were helping the operatives in their investigations.

He said that the first suspects revealed that they allegedly collaborated with the community vigilance group to kidnap the victim.

Amaraizu said that the first suspect, who claimed to be a Nollywood actor, said that he played a big role in monitoring the victim’s movement because he knows him very well,’’ he said.

The police spokesperson said that the suspects claimed not to know the whereabouts of the victim, saying that some vigilante members known as Ratty, Miri and Earthquake, whom he did not know their real names, knew better.

The second suspect also said that it was the first suspect, his friend that lured him into the group.

Amaraizu said that first accepted being involved in the kidnap as a full member of the vigilante while the second suspect just joined the group.

The post Vigilantes turn kidnappers in Enugu appeared first on Vanguard News.

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Islamic scholar renews call on Boko Haram to end violence (Read full details)

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PHOTO:AFP

An Islamic scholar, Malam Abdullahi Abubakar, on Sunday, advised Boko Haram members to end the violence and embrace peace if they truly believe in Islam.

He gave the advice at a workshop on Deradicalisation, Counter-Terrorism and Migration in Maiduguri. Abubakar, also a lecturer at Bayero University Kano (BUK), said killing of innocent souls and destruction of property was contrary to Islamic teachings.

He condemned the Boko Haram ideology of trying to establish a wholly Islamic State, adding that “the Boko Haram group should re-consider its thought and revisit its methodology by following the right teachings of Islam.

“Islam is based on four foundamentals; they are justice, mercy, wellbeing and wisdom and anything contrary to these is against Islamic Shariah.

“Boko Haram members claim that Muslims who do not join their group are non Muslims, which is contrary to the concept of justice in Islam because in Islam, there is no compulsion to any religion.”

Abubakar then urged individuals having interest in the group to have a rethink as Boko Haram was evil. He said “they slaughter people and rape women all in the name of religion, this is certainly not part of Islam.

“Muslims must seek knowledge to be able to perform the religion in accordance with the teachings of the Holy Prophet.” The scholar explained that the workshop was packaged by the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) to sensitise participants on the true teachings of Islam.

Mr Ikponmwosa Omoigiade, the CDD Project Coordinator, said the event was aimed at strengthening the capacity of communities and religious leaders in counter narratives to extremist views and perspectives toward the prevention and countering of radical views capable of breeding terrorism.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 80 participants comprising clerics, youths and women took part in the workshop, supported by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the Japanese Government.

Vía Uzomedia http://ift.tt/2kH3xoC

We are working night and day to make life easier – VP Yemi Osinbajo to protesters

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Acting president Yemi Osinbajo has assured ‘I stand with Nigeria’ protesters that their voices have been heard, and that the government is working round the clock to make life easier.

He made this known via his official Twitter handle. He wrote;

“To those who are protesting, WE HEAR YOU loud and clear.

To those who are on the streets protesting the economic situation & those who are not, but feel the pain of economic hardship, we hear you.

You deserve a decent life and and we are working night and day to make life easier.”

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Unbelievable! Meet 66-year-old herbalist with 48 wives, 200 children, says there was darkness the day he was born (photos)

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66-year-old herbalist identified as, Simon Odo Okoro popularly known as Onuwa, has divorced his 48 wives, as he vows never to marry again.

However, Onuwa, who calls himself King of ‘Satan’ broke his vow not marry again by quickly remarrying one of the youngest of his divorced wives, an 18 year old Chidinma.

He explained that the girl lured him to marrying her.

Onuwa said: “The girl who lured me to marry her returned from the United States.

She told me to marry her so that she would take care of me as an old man. She is from Enugu State. However, a month after the marriage was consummated, she told me to sack the youngest one, Chidinma and I became furious with her because that was not why I married her. I beat her and she left.”

– 66-year-old herbalist with his youngest wife

Vanguard disclosed that, on the allegation that some of his children (whose names were not disclosed) not only slept with some of his wives but planned to kill him, he said that he would disown any of his sons involved in criminal activities.

However, Odo spoke in an interview with the South East Voice at his palatial home at Aji, Enugu Ezike in Igboeze North Local Government Area of Enugu state. Onuwa who was armed with an Onward note book where names of his wives and over 200 children were listed according to their dates of birth said that his first son, Emeka was born on December 15, 1969.

He added saying: “I was born in 1947 on the day they had an eclipse of the sun and the moon. There was darkness in the afternoon on the day I was born.”

It could be recalled that, one of the most extraordinary octogenarians living anywhere in the world today is Alhaji Pa Bello Abubakar Masaba, the man with 97 wives and over 190 children .

Vía Uzomedia http://ift.tt/2j4TnPk