DasukiGate: How Metuh transferred N21m to Anenih

The Nation, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said that a former Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Anthony Anenih, benefited from the N400million allegedly received by the party’s spokesman, Olisa Metuh.

EFCC accused Metuh of receiving the N400m from “an unlawful activity” of the immediate past National Security Adviser (NSA), Mohammed Sambo Dasuki.

The commission said its investigation also revealed that Metuh allegedly transferred $2million, through one of his agents, Nneka Nicole Ararume, to Sie Iyenome and Kabiru Ibrahim of Capital Field Investment, an organisation it found not to be a financial institution.

These are contained in a seven-count charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/05/2016, filed yesterday by  EFCC, against Metuh and his company – Destra Investment s Limited – before the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The EFCC was silent on why Metuh gave Anenih N21,776,000 and for what purpose.

The commission, which was also silent on what investment Metuh made with the $1m, said it will lead evidence to that effect at trial.

EFCC’s lawyer Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) said the commission will arraign Metuh on the charge once the court indicates its readiness.

Also yesterday, Justice Okon Abang of the Fedarl High Court, Abuja rejected

Metuh’s application to compel the EFCC to immediately respond to his fundermental rights enforcement suit.

Justice Abang, in a ruling, said the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules allow a respondent five days to respond.

He rejected the application by Metuh’s lawyer, Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), to abridge the time within which the EFCC could file its response to his (Metuh’s) suit.

Count one of the charge reads: “That you, Olisa Metuh and Destra Investments Ltd on or about November 24, 2014 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court took possession of the sum of N400m paid into the account of Destra Investments Ltd with Diamond Bank Plc account number 0040437573 from the account of the Office of the National Security Adviser with the Central Bank of Nigeria without contract award when you reasonably ought to have known that the said fund formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity of Colonel Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (retd), the then National Security Adviser to wit: criminal breach of trust and corruption and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended in 2012) and punishable under section 15(3) of the same Act.

Metuh and his company are in count two accused of Converting the “N400m which sum was transferred from the account of the Office of the National Security Adviser with the Central Bank of Nigeria without contract award, which you claim to have received for political activities of the Peoples Democratic Party when you reasonably ought to have known that the said funds form part of an unlawful activity of Colonel Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (retd), the then National Security Adviser (to wit: criminal breach of trust and corruption and thereby committed an offence to Section 15(2) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended in 2012) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”

They are in count three accused of retaining the N400m “on behalf of PDP for its campaign activities by concealing the fund in your account with Diamond Bank Plc when ought to have known that such funds form part of an unlawful activity of Colonel Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (retd), the then National Security Adviser (to wit: criminal breach of trust and corruption) and you thereby committed an offence contrary  to section 17(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended in 2012)”

They are in count four said to have “sometime between November 2014 and March 2015 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, having reason to know that an aggregate sum of N400m, directly represented proceeds of an unlawful activity of Colonel Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (retd), the then National Security Adviser (to wit: criminal breach of trust and corruption) in respect of the said amount used the said fund for the campaign activities of the Peoples Democratic Party and other purposes and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) and (4) of the same Act.”

Metuh and his company are accused, in count five, of making a cash payment of $1m around December 2, 2014 “through your agent, Nneka Nicole Ararume, to one Kabiru Ibrahim of Capital Field Investments,  a non-financial institution,  and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended in 2012) and punishable under Section 16(2)(b) of the same Act”.

In count six, the duo are accused of making “a cash payment, through your agent, Nicole Ararume, to one Sie Iyenome of Capital Field Investment, to the tune of $1m and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act as amended in 2012 and punishable under section 16(2)(b) of the same Act”

In count seven, the duo are said to have transferred “N21,776,000, being part of the sum of N400m which directly represented the unlawful activity of Colonel Mohammed Sambo Dasuki, the then National Security Adviser, to wit: breach of trust and corruption, to Chief Tony Anenih and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended in 2012 and punishable under section 15(3) of the same Act.”

In an earlier proceedings, Justice Abang, after listening to arguments from Adedipe and Jacobs, in relation whether he could abridge the time for EFCC to respond to Metuh’s fundamental rights application, held that Adedipe was wrong to have attempted to stampede the EFCC to respond to Metuh’s suit.

The judge observed that since the law allows a respondent in a fundamental rights application to respond within five days, his court could not compel the EFCC to respond before the five days, having been served on January 13.

The judge, in a ruling, allowed EFCC to have its five days and adjourned till January 20 for the hearing of Metuh’s main fundamental rights enforcement suit.

Manchester United Transfer News: Islam Slimani Linked With Move to Old Trafford

Manchester United needs a striker to help Anthony Martial and Wayne Rooney, and it may have found a solution in an Algeria international.

The Sun Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen. United has not had a natural goalscorer since.

Its greatest in the 21st century, of course, was Ruud Van Nistelrooy, who scored 150 goals in five seasons at United, the vast majority of which were struck from close range.

Slimani has a long road to travel before he can ever be considered in the same breath as Van Nistelrooy, but he does appear to be what United needs to jog itself from its moribund ways. This would be a fine move for all concerned.

Robert Lewandowski's wife posts shirtless snaps of Bayern Munich star on Instagram

Robert Lewandowski might be one of the best footballers on the planet right now, but he's not above being embarrassed by his loved ones on social media like the rest of us! 

The Bayern Munich forward has had a spectacular 2015, with the highlight being his five-goal performance against Wolfsburg in September, which has since resulted in him being handed FOUR Guinness World Record certificates for the incredible match, which saw him come off the bench to hit five goals in a shade under nine minutes. 

He also finished fourth in the voting for this year's Ballon d'Or award, which was presented to Lionel Messi on Monday evening withCristiano Ronaldo and Neymar rounding out the top three. 

Some might be disappointed by failing to bag the award, but Lewandowski's wife took to social media to share her pride that her husband was the fourth best player in the world.

But...she chose to show that pride by putting up a side-by-side picture of the star as a skinny youngster in his best mock bodybuilding pose and a more recent picture of him without his shirt after a recent game looking every inch the world-beating, dedicated athlete his performances suggest that he is.

Doesn't he look sweet?

Mechanic sentenced for lighting estranged wife on fire with a blowtorch

A ex-mechanic turned maniac who lit his estranged wife on fire with a blowtorch in 2013 and then tried to do the same to his former boss was slammed with 35 years to life behind bars on Thursday.

Carlos Diaz’s actions “were calculated, were callous and frankly, judge, they were cold-blooded," Assistant District Attorney Randolph Clarke Jr. argued at Diaz's sentencing.

Clarke, who recommended an even stiffer sentence of 50-to-life, argued that Diaz was supremely selfish for the Inwood attack and that “instead of taking responsibility for his failed marriage, he took revenge.”

“This defendant did not care about anything or anyone but himself,” the ADA added.

Diaz was found guilty at trial in December of attempted murder, assault, attempted assault and attempted arson.

Diaz's attorney Erin Darcy had argued that Diaz's problems stemmed primarily from untreated mental illness — but Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Gregory Carro was not swayed. He said that while Diaz may suffer from psychiatric issues, his terrifying conduct was deliberate and intentional.

"I fully also believe he understood his actions and they were wrongful and intentional," Carro said.

Darcy said a 20-to-life sentence would have been appropriate. Diaz is set to be deported to the Dominican Republic upon his release from prison.

Darcy said that on the surface and prior to his arrest, Diaz appeared to be a functional, hard-working man who supported his family and cared for his two children.

But the reality was a much different picture, she argued.

Looking closely, "you would see a very mentally ill man deteriorating rapidly, untreated, undiagnosed, suffering year after year," the lawyer said.

Diaz, through a Spanish interpreter, expressed remorse.

“I regret what happened. My heart is broken,” Diaz said. “I am not that.:

Cathy Zapata, his former wife, gave emotional testimony at the trial about the pain she suffered during and after the incident.

Diaz left her suffering in a parking lot when he left her ablaze and went to a body shop he used to work at. There, he tried to harm his former boss — but his attempt was foiled.

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Singer Celine Dion's husband, René Angélil, dies after cancer battle

Celine Dion's heart will have to go on without the love of her life, husband Rene Angelil.

René Angélil, the husband of award-winning Canadian singer Celine Dion, died at the age of 73 after a long battle with cancer, Dion announced.

"It's with profound sadness that we are announcing that René Angélil, 73, died this morning at his Las Vegas home after a courageous battle with cancer. The family wishes to mourn in private," her website said. "Other information will be provided in the next few days."

The 73-year-old Angelil, who guided the French-Canadian singer to superstardom, "passed away this morning as his home in Las Vegas after a long and courageous battle against cancer," a rep told People Magazine in a statement.

Angelil, who was 26 years his wife's senior, had originally been diagnosed with throat cancer in 1999 and staved off the disease twice before.

                                       DENISE TRUSCELLO/WIREIMAGE

Celine Dion and Rene Angelil endured plenty of scrutiny because of their age difference and the Angelil's professional role in her life, but their marriage was strong. 

Dion immediately cancelled the scheduled Saturday and Sunday shows of her Las Vegas residency at the Caesars Palace in the wake of the news — but planned to return for the Feb. 23 show, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.

The "All By Myself" singer returned to her residency in August after taking a year off to take care of her husband as he underwent aggressive treatments.

She told USA Today at the time of her return that Angelil's dying wish was to "die in my arms."

Sources close to the singer told the gossip site TMZ that the death was unexpected, since the businessman felt better in recent weeks.

During their high-profile courtship, the couple endured plenty of scrutiny because of their age difference and the Angelil's professional role in her life. But the romance proved to be as strong as the lyrics of a Dion ballad since their 1994 marriage.

He stepped down as her manager in June 2014.

Angelil leaves behind three children with Dion — René-Charles and twin 5-year-old boys Nelson and Eddy — and three other adult children from a previous relationship.