News
Emefiele: Witness Confirms $6.2m Payment For Foreign Election Observers
A Deputy Director in charge of Branch Operations in the Central Bank of Nigeria, Onyeka Ogbu, on Monday, told a Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama that he was aware of a $6.2 million payment request for international election observers.
The former governor of the bank, Godwin Emefiele, is standing trial on an amended 20 charges bordering on criminal conspiracy, conferring undue advantage, and breach of trust among others preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
He was accused of impersonating the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to illegally obtain a sum of $6.2m.
READ ALSO: Police Arrest Three With Hard Drugs, Another With Gun In Delta
The anti-graft agency alleged that Emefiele, in January 2023, forged a document titled: “Re: Presidential directive on foreign election observer missions” dated January 26, 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201.
At the resumed proceedings, Ogbu who is the prosecution witness, said the request was made on January 8, 2023.
He noted that he reviewed the documents and subsequently gave approval for disbursement, which was then executed.
Ogbu said, “On January 8, 2023, a request for payment of $6, 230, 000 was brought to my attention by the Banking Services department.
“Ours is to make payment, we don’t have the power to approve.
“Having gone through the documents and satisfied, I minuted on it and sent for processing and disbursement which was complied with.”
READ ALSO: CBN’S Incomplete Exhibits Stalls Emefiele’s Trial Over Alleged $6m Procurement Fraud
All documents were identified, but certain pages were absent.
This led the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), to request a temporary halt for the issue of the missing pages to be addressed.
The defendant’s counsel, Matthew Burkaa (SAN), however, objected, adding that the prosecution is bound by the evidence presented in the documents.
He said adjournment is better to allow the prosecution to get all the certified true copies and also for the witness to be cross-examined.
After listening to their submissions, Justice Hamza Muazu adjourned till Tuesday for the continuation of trial.
News
Edo To Dredge Ikpoba River For Revenue, Flood Control
Edo State government has proposed the dredging of Ikpoba River to curb flooding and exploring potentials for enhancing revenue generation in the state.
The state Commissioner for Mining, Hon. Andrew Ijegbai, disclosed this when he led a delegation on an inspection of the river in Benin City.
According to him, the initiative was to find a lasting solution to the incessant challenges of flooding and river overflow on the busy road.
He added that his team was on the ground to assess the condition of the river to get a firsthand observation of its impact on communities near its bank.
READ ALSO: Controversy Over Pregnant Woman Buried Alive In Edo
Also speaking, Director of Mining in the ministry, Mr. Omoruyi Ihianle expressed the state government’s determination to turn challenges into successes.
He stated that the primary objectives of the project were to generate revenue for the state government through mining and to mitigate flooding in the host communities.
“As a government, we have found a way of converting our challenges until success.
“As a result of the silted river channel, the host communities have been suffering from flooding, hence the Edo State Government is stepping in to desilt while raising revenue for the State Government,” he said.
News
JUST IN: Ex-Eagles Goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, Is Dead
Peter Rufai, the former Super Eagles goalkeeper, has died.
Waidi Akanni, a former teammate and associate, confirmed the legendary goalkeeper’s death to TheCable on Thursday.
Rufai, affectionately nicknamed Dodo Mayana, died at 61 after a reported battle with long-term illness.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria also announced the demise of the former goalkeeper on the team’s official X account.
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“Forever in our hearts, Dodo Mayana. We mourn the passing of legendary Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, a giant of Nigerian football and a 1994 AFCON champion,” the post reads.
“Your legacy lives on between the sticks and beyond.”
Rufai is regarded as one of the best football goalkeepers Nigeria has ever produced. He was the Eagles’ first-choice goalkeeper when Nigeria won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
He also represented Nigeria at the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the US and the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France.
Rufai had over 60 caps for the Super Eagles over the course of a decade with the team.
News
AMCON Sells Ibadan DisCo For N100bn
The Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) has announced the sale of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) for N100 billion.
AMCON’s Managing Director/CEO, Gbenga Alake, disclosed this at a media parley on Thursday.
Apart from IBEDC, AMCON also manages other distribution companies, including the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), Benin Electricity Distribution Company, Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, and Kano Electricity Distribution Company.
READ ALSO:IBEDC Throws Ogun Industrial Estate, Others Into Darkness Over Debts
Alake said, “Today, I announce to you that Ibadan DisCo has been sold. When we came in, it had already been sold, but we renegotiated the price and got almost double of what it was initially going to be sold for.”
Regarding ongoing legal issues, Alake stated, “We have sold it, and whatever is still happening in court, we will face it.”
However, officials of IBEDC did not respond to inquiries about the sale.
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