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Emefiele Allegedly Awarded Contracts to Family Members’ Companies

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Emefiele Allegedly Awarded Contracts to Family Members' Companies

Emefiele Allegedly Awarded Contracts to Family Members’ Companies

Mr Michael Agboro, a prosecution witness, has alleged that the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, awarded contracts to companies owned by his wife and brother-in-law.

Emefiele is facing a 20-count amended charge brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before a High Court in Maitama, Abuja. The charges include criminal breach of trust, forgery, conspiracy to obtain by false pretence, and obtaining money by false pretence during his tenure as CBN Governor.

The EFCC alleges that Emefiele forged a document titled “Re: Presidential Directive on Foreign Election Observer Missions” dated January 26, 2023, with reference number SGF.43/L.01/201, purporting it to be from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

Additionally, Emefiele is accused of using his position to confer unfair and corrupt advantages on two companies, April 1616 Nigeria Ltd and Architekon Nigeria Ltd.

Agboro, an investigator with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), testified and was cross-examined by Emefiele’s counsel, Mathew Burkaa, SAN.

When asked if Emefiele conferred unfair and corrupt advantages on himself, Agboro responded, “He conferred on Saadatu Yaro, who is a public officer working under him. He also conferred on his wife and brother-in-law.”

Regarding whether Emefiele alone could award and approve contracts, Agboro confirmed that the contracts were approved by the defendant. He also stated, “The difference is that the defendant was an employee of CBN,” when asked about the distinction between CBN and Emefiele.

Agboro admitted that their investigation was limited to Emefiele, his wife, relatives, and associates. Their findings revealed that Emefiele was not a director, shareholder, or account signatory in either April 1616 Nigeria Ltd or Architekon Nigeria Ltd. Additionally, there was no evidence of any payment made to Emefiele by these companies during his tenure at the CBN.

When questioned about whether they interviewed CBN personnel to verify if the two firms executed their contracted jobs, Agboro confirmed that they did. However, he could not recall if this was included in their final report.

Agboro, led in evidence by EFCC counsel Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, on March 11, tendered several documents, including company registration documents and contract award and payment records related to the two firms. The documents showed that a director of April 1616, Saadatu Yaro, is a public officer with the CBN, while Emefiele’s wife, Margaret Omoyile, and his brother-in-law, Mac Congo, were directors in Architekon.

Justice Hamza Muazu adjourned the case until Tuesday for the re-examination of the witness.

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Crime

Police arrest two for allegedly selling newborn twins in Lagos

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Police arrest two for allegedly selling newborn twins in Lagos

Police arrest two for allegedly selling newborn twins in Lagos

The Police Command in Lagos State says it has arrested two women, Ujunwa Una and Chinelo Igbechionwu over alleged sales of newborn twins.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed this in a post he shared on his X handle @benHundeyin on Friday.

He said that the police apprehended the suspects based on a tip-off by a concerned citizen.

“The suspects were arrested by patrol officers from Ojodu Division stationed at Berger bus stop, an entry point into Lagos State, who had earlier been alerted about the suspects by a good Samaritan.

“The suspects were found with two newborn baby girls, approximately six days old, while travelling from Abia State on Sept. 9.

“Investigations revealed that the suspects were en route to deliver the babies to one nurse in Lagos State whom the mother of the babies promised to link them up with only after they had arrived in Lagos.

“Upon questioning, the suspects confessed to the crime, stating that they were paid the sum of ₦150,000 for transportation of the babies to Lagos.

“The suspects added that the mother of the babies sold the babies because she could not give them proper care, ” Hundeyin said.

The image maker said that the case was transferred to the Gender Unit of the Command, from where the newborns were placed in the custody of a motherless babies’ home for proper care and medical evaluation.

According to him, an investigation is ongoing to arrest other conspirators.

The spokesperson said that the arrested suspects were arraigned on Thursday.

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Crime

Police rescue kidnap victim held inside ‘Ghana-Must-Go’ bag

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Police rescue kidnap victim held inside ‘Ghana-Must-Go’ bag

Police rescue kidnap victim held inside ‘Ghana-Must-Go’ bag

The Police Command in Rivers has rescued a teenager, who was kidnapped in Enugu and transported to Port Harcourt in a ‘Ghana-Must-Go’ bag.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Olatunji Disu, announced this during a news conference in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

Disu said that the teenager, aged 16, was repeatedly raped by her kidnappers after being taken to Port Harcourt.

He said that the crime was uncovered when officers at Abuloma Police Station received credible intelligence regarding the suspicious movement of one of the suspects.

“Upon receiving the information, operatives were swiftly dispatched to the area, and they arrested one male suspect.

“Officers rescued the teenage girl (name withheld) who had been held against her will by the suspect.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect lured the teenager from her residence in Garki, Enugu, placed her in a ‘Ghana-Must-Go’ bag and transported her from Enugu to Port Harcourt,” Disu said.

The police chief added that, upon arriving in Port Harcourt, the victim was taken to the residence of an alleged internet fraudster.

He said that the alleged fraudster and another suspect repeatedly had carnal knowledge of the teenager.

“The victim has undergone medical examination and treatment, while the suspects are in our custody,” he said.

Disu said that a manhunt for other suspects had been initiated.

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Crime

70-year-old man bags six months in prison for stealing mats

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70-year-old man bags six months in prison for stealing mats

70-year-old man bags six months in prison for stealing mats

A Shari’a Court sitting at Rigasa, Kaduna on Thursday sentenced a 70-year-old man, Jibril Musa to six months in a correctional facility for stealing mats belonging to mosques.

The Judge, Malam Mukhtar Aliyu gave the judgement after Musa pleaded guilty to the offence bordering on criminal trespass and theft.

The Judge stated that the convict had appeared before him in the past for the same offence where he was released with the condition that he would not repeat the crime.

The convict had pleaded for leniency, promising not to steal again but his prayers were not considered due to his history of theft.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp. Sambo Maigari stated that Aminu Al-hassan, a village head in Rigasa reported the matter at the Rigasa police division on Sept. 9.

He said that the convict entered a mosque located on Dan Galadima Road and stole the mats.

Maigari added that the man also went to another Mosque located at Bakin Dogo and stole more mats and sold them to one Aisha Abdullahi.

On her part, Abdullahi stated that she bought the mats for N1,500 without knowing they were stolen goods.

She pleaded for leniency because she had been an honest businesswoman and did not know that an old man like Musa would steal.

The Judge adjourned the matter until  Sept 18 for judgment on Abdullahi

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