News

EFCC Increases Charges Against Fayose’s Ally To 24

Published

2 years ago

March 12, 2024

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has increased the charges against Abiodun Agbele, an ally of a former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, from 11 to 24.

The EFCC had in 2016 arraigned Agbele, alongside a former Minister of State for Defence, Musliu Obanikoro; Sylvan Mcnamara Limited; Lt. A.O Adewale; Tunde Oshinowo and Olalekan Ogunseye (all at large) at a Federal High Court in Abuja on 11 charges of money laundering to the tune of N1.219bn.

The money is part of N4.7bn allegedly transferred from an account belonging to the Office of the National Security Adviser in the Central Bank of Nigeria.

In the amended charges, Agbele, Sylvan Mcnamara Limited, De Privateer Limited, and Spotless Investment Limited were listed as the first to fourth defendants.

The EFCC accused Agbele of indirectly accepting N1.219bn cash through an official of Zenith Bank in Akure from Obanikoro on behalf of Fayose in June 2014 without going through a financial institution.

The EFCC said he committed an offence contrary to Section 1(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011(As Amended) and punishable under Section 1503) of the same Act.

The EFCC also accused Agbele of aiding De Privateer to commit an offence to take possession of N200m which formed part of N1.219bn, a proceed of money laundering on behalf of Ayo Fayose contrary to section Section 18(A) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 18 of the same act.

When the charges were read to him during the proceedings on Tuesday, he pleaded not guilty.

At the resumed trial, a former Central Bank of Nigeria official, Aliyu Mukadas, had while being led in evidence by counsel for the EFCC, Wahab Shittu told the court that a total sum of N4.15bn was paid to Sylvan Mcnamara Limited’s account.

At the proceedings in November 2023, a former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro while giving evidence in the court stated that Sylvan Mcnamara Ltd’s account “was created to deal with the issue of Boko Haram in Lagos, the account was created by Taiwo Kareem and was used for the purpose of disbursing funds for election.”

Mukadas stated that money was paid in trances to the company’s Diamond Bank account.

The retired CBN staff also confirmed that the National Security Adviser maintains an account with the apex bank meant to fund security operations and not elections.

He said, “I worked with CBN for 30 years at its Abuja branch and banking services department where I retired last year.

“We effected payments to all ministries or departments. The Office of National Adviser is one of the agencies having an account with the CBN.

“The purpose of the NSA account is for security operations, not for election purposes.

“We paid N200m to Sylvan Mcnamara Limited through Diamond Bank.
We also paid N2bn, N700m, N1bn and N225m into Sylvan Mcnamara Limited.”

When asked if he knew what the money was used for, Mukadas replied that he was not aware.

During cross-examination by Agbele’s counsel, Lekan Ojo (SAN)
Mukadas confirmed to the court that the payment mandate was verified before the payments were made.

When asked if the payment mandate showed the purpose for which the funds were to be paid to the company, the retired CBN official said, “For services rendered.”

He, however, said he had no suspicion the money was for fraudulent purposes.

Another witness called by the EFCC, a former Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank, Peter Amagbo denied the bank funded the Ayo Fayose’s re-election campaign.

He said, “We did not fund election for Ekiti state. We didn’t have any meetings with my chairman and Fayose. I have never seen Agbele before. I met Fayose once as MD/CEO. My second meeting with him was an ex-governor during a friend’s father’s funeral.”

Amagbo informed the court that the bank was with the state before the emergence of Fayose and sustained that during his tenure.

He said, “We had a relationship before Fayose and it was maintained during his time. ”

When asked if he was privy to all conversations or interactions between Fayose and the bank he said, “No. The governor deals with people in their location.”

When further asked since he was not privy to the conversation between Fayose and the bank, he was not in the position to know if the bank had promised to assist Fayose.

Amagbo said, “I am the head of the management of the bank. The chairman is a part-time member of the management. He needs my approval to do that and he knows that we do not sponsor elections.”

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, however, adjourned the matter till May 2, 2024, for the continuation of trial.

News

Newswatch Co-founder, Dan Agbese, Is Dead

Published

28 minutes ago

November 17, 2025

Editor

Dan Agbese, the veteran journalist, columnist and one of Nigeria’s most influential media figures, has died at the age of 81.

In a statement issued on Monday, Okibe Agbese, speaking on behalf of the family, said the renowned writer passed away earlier in the day.

“Chief Dan Agbese transited to eternal glory this morning, Monday, November 17, 2025,” the statement reads.

The family added that burial arrangements would be announced in due course.

Born on May 12, 1944, in Agila, Ado LGA of Benue state, Agbese became a towering voice in Nigerian journalism, widely admired for his incisive satire and enduring contributions to media development.

He served as editor of the Nigeria Standard and the New Nigerian newspapers before being appointed general manager of Radio Benue, Makurdi.

A co-founder of Newswatch magazine, Agbese later became its editor-in-chief, a role he held until April 2010.

Until his passing, he maintained weekly columns in Daily Trust and The Guardian, remaining an active and respected commentator on national affairs.

He also co-managed a media consultancy with Ray Ekpu, Yakubu Muhammed and Soji Akinrinade, continuing his commitment to mentorship and professional excellence.

Agbese is survived by his wife, Rose, six children and seven grandchildren.

News

Legal Practitioner Backs Conversion Of ATBU To Conventional University

Published

42 minutes ago

November 17, 2025

Editor

A legal practitioner in Bauchi state, Barr. Jibrin Jibrin, on Monday, expressed support for the conversion of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi to a conventional University.

It could be recalled that Shehu Buba, senator representing Bauchi South Senatorial District sponsored a bill seeking to alter ATBU’s status and in October, the Senate passed the second reading of the bill seeking to amend the ATBU act to remove technology from the institution’s name and convert it into a conventional University.

However, the management of the university alongside the institution’s alumni association and staff unions, dissociated themselves from the move at the Senate to convert the university from a technology-based institution to a conventional university.

They argued that the management was neither consulted nor informed at any stage of the legislative process adding that the development came to the university as a shock.

Meanwhile, Barr. Jibrin who explained that Bauchi state, despite being the most populous state in the Northeast geopolitical zone, remained the only state without a conventional federal university, highlighted some of the benefits the conversion of the university could bring to the state,

“By expanding ATBU’s mandate to include a full range of disciplines like Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, Education, Arts, and Humanities, the university will become a major national training ground for the next generation of professionals across all sectors of national life.

“Transforming ATBU into a conventional university will ensure fair distribution of educational opportunities and bring Bauchi State into alignment with the national educational framework.

“A conventional university serves as an anchor institution for regional development and expanding ATBU will attract a greater number of academic and non-academic staff, generating employment.

“It will also stimulate the local economy through housing, commerce and services, encourage public-private partnerships in research, innovation, and community development as well as reduce the educational migration of students to distant states, thereby saving families and governments significant costs,” he said.

According to him, empirical evidence from institutions like the University of Maiduguri and Federal University, Lafia showed that university diversification significantly boosts small-scale enterprises, healthcare services, and real estate development in their host communities.

Jibrin, a former Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Bauchi branch, further stated that it was the view of many people that by converting ATBU to a conventional University, opportunities and means of promoting the already attained legacy of innovation would not only be sustained but also be improved upon.

“This is because it is a statement of fact that in the whole of Northern Nigeria, the leading Universities in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics otherwise known as STEM consist of both conventional and specialized universities.

“I call on the political class, the traditional institution, the academia and other stakeholders in the state to rise in solidarity with authorities concerned towards the success of the exercise,” he said.

News

198 UNIBEN Students Bag First Class

Published

1 hour ago

November 17, 2025

Editor

A total of 198 students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN ) Edo State, bagged a First Class degree out of 14,083 students to be awarded first degree at the institution’s 51st Convocation and Founder’s Day ceremony.

Vice Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, disclosed this on Monday in Benin at a pre-convocation press briefing.

He said 4,217 students bagged a Second Class Upper, 7, 928 got a Second Class Lower, while 578 bagged a Third Class degree.

Omoregie said the result was indicative of the seriousness of staff and students to ensure that the institution marched on with vigour.

He said 15 new approved programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC) would commence in the 2025/2026 academic session.

Prof. Omoregie said the Veterinary Medicine programme which earlier suffered an accreditation hiccup before he assumed office had been accredited by the NUC.

According to him, “The wheel of progress is on course and moving steadily in the University of Benin. This administration is poised to deliver on its mandate of effective, practical teaching, sound learning, result-oriented research and impactful community service.

“We must applaud the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for establishing NELFUND, and by so doing significantly reducing the financial stress of students in the process of acquiring tertiary education. We enjoin students and their parents to take full advantage of the federal government’s benevolence in instituting the fund.”

Prof. Omoregie disclosed that Nigeria’s Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, would deliver the Founders’ Day lecture with the topic, “Reforms for a Shared Prosperity”.

The UNIBEN VC said Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and Former Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, would deliver the Convocation Lecture on the theme, “Making Our Universities Great”.