Corruption: EFCC arraigns ex-NIMASA boss, Akpobolokemi, on fifth charge

Economic and Financial Crimes has again arraigned a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Patrick Akpobolokemi, on 13 counts of alleged N754.7m theft.

Akpobolokemi was arraigned alongside six others on Monday before Justice Raliat Adebiyi of a Lagos State High Court in Igbosere.

The fresh charge marked LD/2181C/15 bordering on stealing and forgery was the fifth that the EFCC would be filing against Akpobolokemi between December 3, 2015 and Monday, according to The Punch.

Akpobolokemi had first been arraigned alongside nine others on 30 counts of alleged N3.4bn fraud before Justice Saliu Saidu of a Federal High Court in Lagos on December 3, 2015.

He was again arraigned on December 4, 2015 along with five others on 22 counts of alleged N2.6bn fraud before Justice Ibrahim Buba of also of the same court.

There is a pending 40 counts of alleged N34bn fraud against him before Justice Buba, where he is expected to take his plea on February 8, alongside a former Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo and eight others.

Only on last Friday, the EFCC filed another 22 counts of alleged N22.7bn fraud against Akpobolokemi, Tompolo and 11 others.

In the new 13 counts before Justice Adebiyi, Akpobolokemi was charged alongside six others.

His co-accused, with whom he was arraigned on Monday, are Ezekiel Agaba,  Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan, Vincent Udoye, Adegboyega  Olopoenia and Gama Marine Nigeria Limited.

Among other things, the EFCC alleged that the accused fraudulently converted to their personal use a sum of N346,844,680 released to them by NIMASA for the implementation of Voluntary International Maritime Organisation Member State Audit Scheme (VIMSAS).

Wizkid's camp reacts on second baby saga

Wizkid camp got across to OluFamous.Com on Monday evening about stories making the rounds online that the pop star had 'scored a second goal' and welcome a baby boy with this beautiful lady.

I stated in my report earlier that nothing has been heard from Tania Omotayo, Wizzy's girl. Anyway, the info I got from Wizkid's camp indicated why we haven't heard from her. Read their statement:

News getting to us is that Tania broke up with Wiz a while ago but both parties agreed to be friendly towards each other.

Nonetheless, she kept her distance from him and missed a lot of his events and performances over the Christmas holidays. 

She went on vacation with her friends in Dubai during his industry night event. Wizkid was probably trying to win her back when he tweeted "T baby forever" sometime ago, perhaps he was trying to work things out.

Wiz still hasn't confirmed any news about him having another child...We know he's single and he'll be releasing his EP next month.

Corruption: How Dariye diverted Plateau ecological funds – Witness

A report shown that for about nine years after he was arraigned before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, trial eventually opened on Monday in the money laundering case involving former Plateau State governor, Joshua Dariye.

The prosecution called its first witness, who told the court how Dariye allegedly diverted the state’s N1.126billion Ecological Funds.
Dariye is being tried before Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the FCT High Court.

The witness, Musa Sunday (a detective with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission), who was led in evidence by lead prosecution lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), said he was involved in the investigation into how Dariye allegedly diverted the funds while serving as governor, according to The Nation.

He told the court how Dariye allegedly applied for the ecological fund in the name of his state in 2001, but collected the money in person and diverted it.

Sunday said, upon receiving the cheque for the ecological fund, the ex-governor allegedly lodged the fund with his private banker, the Abuja Branch manager of All States Trust Bank Plc (now defunct), with instruction on how it should be disbursed.

The witness said investigation by EFCC operatives revealed that the bank manager allegedly acting on Dariye’s instruction paid N100million in the name of “Peoples Democratic Party South-west” and the funds was later traced to a company – Marine Float Nigeria Limited – allegedly owned by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

He said efforts to make Atiku to refund the money had so far failed.

Poverty, unemployment and injustice responsible for conflicts in Nigeria - President Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari said Monday in Abuja that poverty, injustice and the lack of job opportunities were mainly responsible for inter-communal and intra-communal conflicts in Nigeria.

Speaking while receiving a delegation from the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, an organization active in the promotion of peace in Nigeria, President Buhari said that to achieve enduring peace in the country, greater effort must be made to eradicate poverty and injustice.

The President described ethnic and religious conflicts in parts of the country as outward manifestations of underlying problems of joblessness, injustice and poverty.

On conflicts between farmers and herdsmen, President Buhari said that a plan to map out grazing areas will soon be presented to the Nigerian Governors Forum as a temporary solution to the frequent conflicts until cattle owners are persuaded to adopt other means of rearing their cattle.

The President commended the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue  for the relative peace that had returned to Plateau State as well as their on-going activity in Southern Kaduna.

He agreed with the Centre that dialogue was always preferable  to the use of law and order mechanisms  and force in the resolution of conflicts.

The Executive Director of the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, David Harland told President Buhari  that following their success in facilitating the  settlement of the inter-ethnic and inter-religious conflicts in Plateau State, the group had moved to Kaduna State.

He expressed the hope that the techniques used in bringing peace to Plateau State can soon be  deployed to deal with the Boko Haram insurgency and other conflicts in Nigeria.

With State House

Kaduna APC Warns Members Against Anti- Party Activities

The leadership of the APC made the statement at a stakeholders meeting on Monday.

Rising from the meeting, the Deputy Governor of the state, Bala Bantex, emphasised that the party’s constitution was supreme and must be respected at all times by every member, warning that disciplinary measures would be meted against any member that violates such constitutional provisions, according to Channel Television.

While stating that no party member is above the party’s constitution, warned members to always ensure that their utterances and activities were in line with that of the state and the national leadership of the party.

The stakeholders meeting was attended by the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, some elected State and National Assembly members and state party officials.