EFCC links Alison-Madueke in trial of ex-minister, SAN (Read full details)

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Former Minister of Petroleum, Alison-Madueke

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has named former Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke in the ongoing trial of the former gubernatorial candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN) and the former Minister of Planning, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman.

The anti-graft agency alleged that Diezani Alison-Madueke, former Minister of Petroleum, conspired with the accused to take possession of proceeds of crime.

At the resumed trial of the two accused persons, the EFCC prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, informed the court of a five-count amended charge, where the name of the former Petroleum Minister was conspicuously mentioned, and urges the court to allow the amended charge be read to Belgore and Sulaiman, for their pleas to be retaken.

The application was not opposed by counsel to the accused. Consequently, the court granted the application.

In the charges, Alison-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 forms part of proceeds of unlawful act.

They were also alleged to have taken the said funds in cash, which exceeded the amount authorised by law, without going through the financial institutions.

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

However, counsel to the first accused person, which includes Mr. Ebun Shofunde, Mr. Charles Edosanwa, Mr. Seni Adio, and counsel to Sulaiman, Chief O Ayanlaja, Ladi Rotimi-Williams, and Olatunde Busari, all Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), pleaded with the court for adjournment for the cross-examination of the witness.

Consequently, the court adjourned the matter till Tuesday (today) for cross-examination of the witness and continuation of trial.

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Witness tells court how NAMA funds were converted (Read full details)

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Ibrahim Abdulsalam

A prosecution witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ade Babatunde, yesterday narrated to the court how funds belonging to Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) were allegedly converted by some officials of the agency,

The witness, a staff of Stanbic IBTC bank, was being led in evidence by EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo in the ongoing trial of former employees of NAMA over N6.8 billion fraud.

EFCC had charged NAMA’s former Managing Director, Ibrahim Abdulsalam, alongside a former General Manager of Procurement, Olumuyiwa Adegorite and a former General Manager of Finance, Segun Agbolade. Others are a former acting General Manager of ICT, Bolaniran Akinribido, Sesebor Abiodun and Joy Adegorite.

Also charged are two limited liability companies, Randville investment Limited and Multeng Travels and Tours Limited.

The accused are been prosecuted on a 21-count charge of N6.8 billion fraud.

Babatunde, who is the first prosecution witness said that on July 13, 2015, a cash withdrawal to the tune of N3 million was made by the agency’s former General Manager in charge of Finance (Agbolade), from the account of Randville investment Ltd.

He said that on July 15, 2015, there was a withdrawal of N2.5 million from the account of Randville investment Ltd and same transferred to the account of Segun Agbolade.

He said: “On September 16, 2015, there was a credit transfer of N22 million into the account of Randville investment Limited. On September 28, 2015, a sum of N100 million was deposited in a fixed deposit account and on maturity, same was paid into the account of Randville investment Limited.

“On the same date, N28 million was transferred out of the account, but I cannot confirm the beneficiary because it was not stated on the statement of account. Still on September 28, 2015, N100 million was placed in another fixed deposit account.

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AIB releases final report on Dana plane crash (Read full details)

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Director of Operations, Captain Dayyabu Raka (left); Chief Executive Officer, Akin Olateru; Director of Engineering, Mohammed Wali, all of the Accident Investigations Bureau (AIB) during the presentation of reports  of the 2012 Dana Air crash and other air accidents in Ikeja, Lagos… yesterday.

• Faults N16m operational vote for 2017
Almost five years on, the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) yesterday released the final report on the June 3, 2012 Dana Air mishap in the Iju-Ishaga suburbs of Lagos State.

According to the document, engine failure and poor judgment of the pilots were instrumental to the unfortunate incident which claimed all 153 passengers, six crewmembers and six others aground.

The ill-fated aircraft from Abuja, according to AIB, lost the first engine 17 minutes into the flight before the second packed up five minutes to landing.

Also yesterday, the bureau faulted the N16 million vote captured in the 2017 budget for the investigation of crashes this fiscal year. Though it is to spend N2 billion in the entire 12 months.

The Chief Executive Officer of AIB, Akin Olateru, noted in Lagos that “engine number one lost power 17 minutes into the flight, and thereafter on final approach, engine number two failed to respond to throttle movement on demand for increased power to sustain the aircraft in its flight configuration.”

He added: “The inappropriate omission of the use of the checklist and the crew’s inability to appreciate the severity of the power-related problem, and their subsequent failure to land at the nearest suitable airfield, also contributed to the crash.”

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‘People in oil-producing areas are prone to cancer’

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PHOTO: Oxfam America

Again, more studies are linking crude oil products to cancer. A study suggests that with the rising cases of oil spills, pipeline destruction and gas production in the Niger Delta and over dependence on petroleum products, Nigerians are in for a massive health catastrophe.

A new study published in a journal, PLOS ONE, found that young people diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukaemia are more likely to live in areas of high-density oil and gas development compared to others diagnosed with other types of cancer. The researchers at the Colorado School of Public Health at CU Anschutz, United States, however, observed no association between non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and high-density oil and gas development.

The study is titled “Childhood hematologic cancer and residential proximity to oil and gas development.”

Lead investigator and Assistant research professor at the Colorado School of Public Health, Dr. Lisa McKenzie, said: “Over 378,000 Coloradans and millions of Americans currently live within a mile of at least one oil and gas well, and petroleum development continues to expand into residential areas.

“The findings from our registry-based case control study indicate that young Coloradans diagnosed with one type of childhood leukemia are more likely to live in the densest areas of oil and gas sites.

Besides, studies published in American Journal of Environmental Sciences found that more Nigerians are at a greater risk of developing different types of cancer due to exposure to crude oil pollutants.

The studies, which predict ‘epidemic’ of cancers in oil producing areas of Nigeria by 2025, stated that more than 25 per cent of Nigerians are at an increased risk of developing cancer due to exposure to toxic chemicals from crude oil pollution, Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). They also suggest that PAHs can be genotoxic; that is, the damage caused can be inherited.

Another study had established that crude oil, even in low quantity, could harm not just human health but that of fish. The study concluded that people of the Niger Delta are at a higher risk of cancer because high concentrations of this toxic chemical were found in the fishes they eat.

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PDP governors, BoT reject appeal court verdict

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Makarfi

• Sheriff Camp Declares No Victor, No Vanquished
• Ekweremadu Urges Calm, As Makarfi Goes To Supreme Court

Hopes of an immediate end to the legal tussle that had frustrated political activities in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) dimmed yesterday, as the Ahmed Makarfi-led faction vowed to appeal the judgment of the Court of Appeal, recognising Ali Modu Sheriff as the authentic national chairman at the Supreme Court.

Also, state governors elected on the platform of the party have rejected the decision of the appeal court.Reacting to the ruling yesterday, Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, described the judgment as “a rape on our democracy” and vowed that the party would appeal the judgment. 

Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Walid Jibrin, said all the organs of the party remain loyal to the Makarfi-led caretaker committee and would support the party decision to appeal the judgment. 

Fayose said: “If the people truly symbolise what a party is, then the machination of our detractors and the anti-democratic organs will not prevail at last.

“We commend the minority judgment of the appeal court and we believe the truth will prevail. “We thank God we have another opportunity to seek justice at the Supreme Court, which I believe will not be delayed or denied. It is a party matter that must be addressed as soon as possible.

“The party will appeal the judgment, as we believe in the ability of the judiciary to do justice.”“It is a price to pay to keep our democracy alive and opposition strengthened. We are prepared to go the whole hog,” he said.

While restating his regrets for playing a role in the emergence of Sheriff, Fayose said he acted with the best of intentions. Jibrin said members of the party nationwide should remain calm, as the party consults with its various organs.

“Whatever one does in this world, he must fear God. All evil machinations must end. The truth will prevail. Therefore, this judgment is not a threat, but it will bring us together.“I appeal to all our members to remain calm and not panic or move to any party, as all efforts will be made to ensure that the party remains PDP to the dreams of our founding fathers.”

Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, enjoined all PDP faithful not to be anxious over the ruling.In his immediate reaction in Abuja yesterday, Ekweremadu said: “There is no cause for alarm. The party leadership will meet as soon as possible to take a decision on the best way forward.

“Those dreaming about the death of the opposition in Nigeria will have to sleep much longer and still wake up to meet us much stronger, because a vibrant opposition is the beauty of democracy.”

Spokesman of the Makarfi faction, Dayo Adeyeye, announced its intention to appeal against the judgment, which he said would not stand.But a member of the Sheriff faction and a former auditor of the party in the Southeast, Uwakwe Ifeanyi Regis, urged all loyal party members to sheathe their sword and embrace peace.

He told The Guardian in Abuja that the main task ahead is that of rebuilding the party by winning back the confidence of all members.

Regis stated that the judgment was a victory for every member of the party and for democracy, adding that there is neither a winner nor a loser.

He urged all members to abide by the promise not to appeal the judgment, saying it was not a good thing for PDP that some members were already talking of forming another party.

He insisted that PDP remains a stronger party, despite its losses at the last general elections.Former Minister of Aviation and chieftain of the party and supporter of the Makarfi-led committee, described the lead judgment as a victory for President Muhammadu Buhari.

Fani-Kayode said in his twitter handle, @realFFK: “The decision by the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt to recognise Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as the National Chairman of the PDP is a victory for @MBuhari.”

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2l4fVzg

Appellate court affirms Sheriff-led PDP exco (Read full details)

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Sheriff

The Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division, has affirmed the Ali Modu Sheriff-led national executive committee as the authentic leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

But the raging leadership tussle rocking the PDP is far from over, as the former Kaduna State governor, Ahmed Makarfi-led faction has vowed to file a suit next week at the Supreme Court to challenge the verdict of the appellate court.

It would be recalled that Sheriff had gone to the appellate court to challenge the decision of Justice Abdullahi Liman of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, which affirmed the decision of the May 21, 2016 national convention of the party that removed him and other members of his executive committee from office.

Delivering the lead judgment yesterday, Justice Bitrus Sanga explained that in determining the case, he had focused on the provision of PDP’s constitution as it concerns the removal of the executive committee of the party at any level during the national convention, based on Article 47, Rule 3, which provides for a vote of confidence to be moved on any member of the executive committee of the party at any level, at any national convention.

Citing the PDP constitution, he said before any member of the executive committee could be removed by the national convention, there ought to have been at least a two-month notice of vote of confidence motion submitted to the party’s secretary at the appropriate level, who shall then circulate it to the relevant chapters, one month before the national convention or congress, as the case may be.

“Considering the way and manner the national executive working committee of the PDP was removed on May 21, 2016 by the party during the national convention, it is clear that the provision of Article 47 (3) of the PDP constitution was not observed, and I so hold,” he said.

Justice Sanga observed that there was no vote of confidence passed on the appellants (Sheriff and others) by the party during the said May 21, last year’s 2016 convention.

In addition, he noted that the two months notice that was supposed to be given to them was not given. In fact, no vote of confidence was ever passed.

According to him, the PDP, by holding the May 21, last year convention in Port Harcourt, acted in contempt of a court order, which had earlier declared that the tenure of Sheriff and 15 national officers would end in August this year.

“Because of the failure of the first respondent (PDP) to obey a legitimate court order and its own constitution, it follows naturally that the actions it took on May 21, 2016 during its alleged national convention, dissolving all its national offices and officers and appointing in their stead, a caretaker committee, is a nullity ab initio, and I so hold,” he said.

The Justice declared that the proceedings and everything done in the purported national convention held on May 21, last year have been set side, especially the reconstitution of the national working committee setting up
the purported caretaker committee, led by Makarfi.

While ordering the parties to maintain the status quo, he went further to set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court delivered on July 4, last year, which recognised Makarfi as the caretaker committee national chairman of the PDP.

Justice A.A.B. Gumel said he fully agreed with the verdict delivered by Justice Sanga.However, Justice Theresa Orji-Abadua delivered a contrary ruling on the matter.

She argued that the decision of the national convention of the PDP, based on the party’s constitution, was supreme. At such, the decision to appoint a national caretaker committee was within the purview of the power of the national convention.

She stressed that while Sheriff, as the acting national chairman, has the power to summon the national executive committee meeting, the power to convene a national convention resides with the national working committee of the party.

Justice Orji-Abadua argued that Sheriff had erroneously arrogated to himself the power to postpone the convention after he realised that he had been disqualified from participating in the electoral process.

According to her, only the national working committee has the power to postpone a convention and not Sheriff, who, after screening, curiously absented himself from the convention.

She explained that the national convention has power to remove and replace any officer of the party and faulted Sheriff’s appeal on the basis that it was hinged on the determination of his tenure. She argued that the appropriate thing he ought to have done was to have challenged his removal from office by the convention.

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