News

Oba Of Benin Berates Ex-minister Agba For Lopsided Representation

Published

11 months ago

June 20, 2023

Editor

Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, has berated the immediate past Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba for not spreading the benefits of his ministerial appointment across the state.

The First Class Monarch expressed his displeasure when the ex-minister paid him a visit in his palace and to solicit the Benin throne’s assistance in the passage of the budget for the Benin Royal Museum, since he (Agba) had left office.

During the visit, Agba had acknowledged the role the Royal Father played which eventually gave him the privilege to be appointed as a minister by former President Muhammadu Buhari.

But responding, the traditional ruler said it was gratifying for Mr Agba to acknowledge the role he (Oba of Benin) played in Agba being appointed as a minister by Buhari.

The Oba who frowned at the way the former minister distanced himself from the Edo South Senatorial District, said: “I can’t remember if we actually saw you more than two times throughout your tenure as a minister. The first time you came, you came to complain about the flood in Benin, and now your tenure is completed.

“I would have kept certain things from the public domain, however, I am constrained to talk about them.

“We interacted once in a while; and it is true that my intervention to former President Buhari made you benefit from the office you held. We thank God for that.

“But I was also wondering about many things. As you were a beneficiary of that office – Budget and Planning, I was wondering if any of our people did also benefited from your office.

“I am stating here that anyone that benefited from your office should come to the public to thank you,” Oba Ewuare II said.

News

EFCC Trial: ‘Even The Prophets Went To Prison’ – Buhari’s Minister Comforts Self In Court

Published

5 hours ago

May 10, 2024

Editor

A former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, standing trial for an alleged N7.2bn fraud, said he was ready to go to prison just like the prophets.

Sirika, his daughter, and three others were arraigned at a Federal Capital Territory High Court on Thursday on a six-count amended criminal charge before Justice Sylvanus Oriji.

A video of the ex-minister speaking in court with his lawyers surfaced on X on Thursday.

In the video, Sirika, dressed in cream Babariga, could be heard saying, “It’s okay. Fatima, it’s okay,” while comforting his daughter.

He continued, “Even prophets have gone (to prison). Those that went, haven’t they finished theirs already?…whatever Allah says”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had accused the ex-minister, his daughter, son-in-law and Al-Duraq Investment Limited, of fraud in connection with the botched Nigerian Air project.

Meanwhile, the court granted each of the defendants bail in the sum of N100m with two sureties each.

Before the trial judge, Justice Sylvanus Orji granted the bail request of the defendants, they pleaded not guilty to all the charges preferred against them after it was read out to them.

The prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs SAN, had informed the court of an amended charge by the EFCC dated May 7, and filed on May 8, which was not opposed by the counsel for the defendants.

Sirika’s lead counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN), informed the court of his client’s bail application dated May 6.

The other defendants similarly, moved their bail applications and prayed the court to be liberal in the bail conditions.

Jacobs, on his part, told the court that all the defendants were on administrative bail and asked the court to grant bail on the condition that would make them appear for their trials.

Apart from the N100m bail, Justice Osuji added that one of the sureties must own a landed property with valid land titles in like sum within the Federal Capital Territory.

The judge also held that the sureties must depose to an affidavit of means while he barred the defendants from travelling outside the country without its permission.

He added that failure to fulfil the bail conditions would earn the defendants a stay in a correctional facility.