As court grants Naira Marley bail application while the condition is to look for N2 million for release bail, social media company Twitter has suspended the official account of the ‘Why’ crooner today, this could be linked to ongoing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission over a credit fraud case
Twitter has not issued any official statement to that regard, but everything linked to his current fraud case with the Nigerian government.
Tom Awhana, the former Head of Chambers for the Law Office of Mr. Mogbeyi Sagay, a late Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) was on arraigned on Friday at an Ikeja Special Offences Court for stealing N188.7 million belonging to the law firm of the late senior lawyer.
Awhana was arraigned alongside Paul Okoro a former lawyer in the law firm who is also accused by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of stealing N3.6million from the firm.
Awhana and Okoro pleaded not guilty to a joint charge of conspiracy to steal.
Okoro denied the charge of stealing while Awhana pleaded not guilty to a 16-count charge of stealing.
According to the EFCC, Awhana was the Head of Chambers of the law firm of Mogbeyi Sagay and Co. from 2010 to 2018.
Sagay his Principal, died in 2012.
He was made signatory to the law firm's Zenith Bank Account alongside three administrators of the late SAN's estate.
It was allegedly mandated that three persons out of the four administrators can withdraw from the bank account with the cheque booklet of the Zenith Bank account in Awhana's possession.
The prosecution said that unknown to the staff of the firm, other administrators and the consultant to the law firm, Awhana opened other secret bank accounts in the name of Mogbeyi Sagay (SAN) and Co. in FCMB, Union Bank and Heritage Bank Plc.
The first defendant (Awhana) is alleged to have diverted drawn cheques into those secret accounts. He is also alleged to have from 2012 to 2017, stolen a total of N188.7 million belonging to Mogbeyi Sagay (SAN) and Co.
Okoro, the second defendant, is alleged by the prosecution to have from Oct. 14, 2012 to June 28 2013, stole N3.6 million belonging to the law firm.
According to the EFCC, the offenses contravene Sections 287 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos 2015.
Following the plea of the defendants, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, the lead prosecuting counsel for the anti-graft agency, requested for a trial date adding that the court should impose stiff bail conditions on the lawyers.
"I have discussed with my learned friends, I will leave it to my lordship to impose bail conditions that will make the defendants available in court throughout this trial," Oyedepo said.
Ms. Oluwaseun Olusiyi, the defense counsel to Awhana, via a bail application dated May 17 asked the court to grant him bail in self recognizance.
"The first defendant is a legal practitioner of high repute and negotiations towards an amicable resolution are underway with the complainant. He was the Head of Chambers of the firm," Olusiyi said.
Mr. K. U Ani, the counsel to Okoro the second defendant in his bail application dated May 17 also asked the court to grant him bail on self recognizance.
"The second defendant has fractured his legs and is depending on medical treatment. I ask that ypu grant him bail on self recognisance My Lord," he said.
Justice Mojisola Dada in a short ruling noted that settlement talks were ongoing between the complainant and the defendants.
She ordered that as a bail condition, Awhana and Okoro should submit their international passports to the court.
"The defendants shall however submit their international passports pending the determination of this suit.
"They shall be remanded in prison custody till the perfection of their bail condition. This case is adjourned until June 4 for trial," she said.
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Advance Fee Fraud Section, Abuja Headquarters in collaboration with men from the Benin Zonal Office in an operation on Friday 17, 2019 arrested 22 suspected internet fraudsters during an early morning raid at Sapele, Delta State.
Working on intelligence reports, the suspects, who are between the ages of 18 to 30 years, were smoked out from their hideout in an early morning operation.
A day earlier, the operatives from Abuja had arrested two suspected internet fraudster in Ughelli, Delta State.
Items recovered from the suspects include lap top computers, iPhones, phones, ATM cards and three exotic vehicles. The cars are Benz C350, Benz ML 350 and Chrysler 300.
The raid on the internet fraudsters is one in the series by operatives of the Commission in line with the directive of the acting Executive Chairman of the Commission, Ibrahim Magu to rid the entire country of internet fraud and cyber crime.
The suspects have made useful statements and will be charged to court as soon investigations are completed.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has filed an 11-count charge on credit card fraud against Naira Marley (real name Azeez Fashola).
This is coming after the singer’s team released a statement saying he was arrested with an item that wasn’t his at his apartment in the early hours of last Friday, his birthday.
Punch reports that the charges were were filed before a Lagos State High Court and the singer is facing in hail if found guilty.
He is said to be arraigned on Monday, May 20th.
The charges read in part:
That you, Azeez Adeshina Fashola, aka Naira Marley, and Raze (still at large), on or about the 11th day of December 2018, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired amongst yourselves to use Access card 42658840359191132 issued to persons other than you in a bid to obtain gain and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 27(1)(b) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act 2015 and punishable under Section 33(2) of the Same Act.
That you, Azeez Adeshina Fashola, aka Naira Marley, and Raze (still at large), on or about the 10th day of May 2019, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, with intent to defraud possessed, counterfeit card 4921819410257431 issued to Timea Fedorne Tatar and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 33(9) of Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act 2015.
According to the EFCC, some of the credit cards bore the names: Nicole Louise Malyon and Timea Fedorne Tatar.
See the charge sheet below:
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday told Senate President, Bukola Saraki not to be afraid if he has no skeletons in his cupboard.
The commission insisted that it must go on with the probe on the tenure of Saraki as governor of Kwara State between 203 and 2011.
A statement issued by the EFCC’s spokesperson, Tony Orilade, said the commission had the sacred mandate of eradicating corruption from the system without protecting any sacred cow.
The statement said the commission would conduct a legitimate forensic inquiry into Saraki’s tenure as a governor.
The EFCC said it had taken note of the reactions of Saraki to the commission’s inquiries regarding his earnings as Kwara State governor as well as on the quality of his financial stewardship in the Senate, saying that while it was his prerogative to ventilate his views on the matter as he deemed fit, the commission took great exception at the desperate attempt to cast a slur on its investigative activities by portraying Saraki as a victim of persecution.
The statement said the commission found the attempt by Saraki to tie its inquest to his International Human Rights Commission, IHRC appointment and his approaching life out of power as misleading, knowing too well that the background to its current inquiries reached several years back.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the EFCC is obligated by law to enthrone probity and accountability in the governance space and has supremely pursued this duty without ill-will or malice against anyone. It is in the interest of the public and for Saraki’s personal good, that he is not only above board, but be seen at all times to be so,” it stated.
It added that Saraki’s probe was guided by the overriding public interest, saying that all the instances in which the EFCC have had cause to sleuth into his financial activities either as a former governor or President of the Senate were driven by overarching public interest and due process of the law.
“Against the background of the possession of indicting petitions and other evidence available to the EFCC, even Saraki will agree with the commission that putting him through a legitimate forensic inquiry is the legitimate route to establish his integrity as a public servant. The distinguished Senate President has no need to fret so long as he has no skeletons in his cupboard,” the EFCC said.
Former Governor of Ekiti state, Mr Ayodele Fayose, who reported to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja on Tuesday, on the commission’s invitation, is still in its custody.
But, the commission has declined comment on the issue, preferring the media await developments on it.
Head of Media and Publicity of the commission, Mr Wilson Uwajeren, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja that there was “nothing to report at the moment”.
“If there is anything, I will get across to you,” he said.
While reporting at the EFCC on Tuesday, Fayose had said that he was there to keep his promise to honour the commission’s invitation and to respond to any allegation against him.
The former governor, whose tenure ended on Monday, was accompanied to the EFCC by Rivers Governor, Mr Nyesom Wike and former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode.
He had at the commission’s office said
“I am here in line with my promise that I will be here on the 16th of October.”
A senior lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), had told NAN on Thursday that the EFCC had no right to keep Fayose beyond 24 hours without charging him.
He said that it was either that the commission charged the former governor to court or free him so as not to foul the law.
According to the human rights lawyer, the EFCC has no right to keep him for over 24 hours.
He said
“If they have done that by obtaining a Magistrate Court’s order that will be in the form of a holding charge, which has been declared unconstitutional and illegal by the Supreme Court.
“Holding charge is illegal. It is unconstitutional.’’
Ozekhome said that the section of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) permitting a magistrate to detain a suspect for 14 days was illegal.
He explained that any action outside the provisions of Section 35 of the Constitution, which specifically provided for 24 hours, was illegal and unconstitutional.
He said that the ACJA allowed for detention of a suspect for 14 days, but that Section 35 of the Constitution made it clear that a person could only be detained for 24 hours.
“So, when there is a clash between the statute, like the ACJA, and the Constitution, the Constitution prevails by virtue of Section 1(3).
“If they have gotten an order for two weeks from the magistrate court, it is unconstitutional,” Ozekhome stressed.
He, however, disclosed that efforts had begun to secure the release of Fayose.
According to Ozekhome, Fayose’s lawyers are already taking steps to enforce his fundamental human rights by getting him released.
“Yes, his lawyers will go to court to enforce his fundamental human rights.”
NAN
The outgoing Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has said he is ready to face the investigation team of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
According to a media report, the EFCC had already set up a special team to grill the governor for allegedly receiving over N1.2bn from a former National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki (retd.) through a former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro.
Fayose, who said he had a clear conscience, told the commission to expect him in its office on October 16, a day after the expiration of his tenure.
“He who has clear conscience fears no foe. The EFCC should still expect me at 1pm next Tuesday,” he said.
Fayose spoke on Wednesday during the inauguration of a new school he built in his Afao-Ekiti home country as part of his legacies projects in the state.
At the event, he asked workers to collect their outstanding four months’ salaries from the incoming governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi. He said the funds he could have used to pay them as expected had been withheld by the Federal Government ahead of Fayemi’s resumption.
“They paid other states Paris Refund, they didn’t pay Ekiti; Fayemi should help me pay the money.
“They didn’t pay Ekiti N2.2bn Budget Support Fund; my promise is fulfilled but the money is in the hands of the government, they should help me to pay.”
The governor told the gathering that he did not borrow money from anywhere to fund any of the projects.
“With all these legacy projects, I didn’t borrow any dime. I do not owe any debt, if they say I owe, they should show evidence of the transaction.
“Besides, no governor can borrow without the knowledge of the Ministry of Finance and the Debt Management Office.”
Fayose urged the incoming administration not to neglect the school or abandon any legacy project. He said the school named Gifted Academy International would receive students from Ekiti and outside on 50:50 ratio.
“The school is equipped with modern equipment, laboratories, furniture and Closed-Circuit Television for surveillance,” he said.
Indications have emerged on how embattled Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, who is battling an impeachment notice served on him on Monday allegedly diverted about N29billion state funds into his personal use.
Colossus Gists learned that investigation by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the last three years following distressed intelligence reports and petitions over alleged fraudulent activities revealed that Governor Ortom has not only presided over a corrupt administration but a House of Assembly deeply emersed in corruption.
Reliable source from the EFCC stated that the investigation was triggered off by an intelligence report that Ortom had through his aide allegedly withdrawn N8billion state fund from the treasury. Surprisingly, however, it was discovered that about N19bn was diverted through cash withdrawals by government officials. It was further revealed that between June 1, 2015 and February 30, 2016, an additional sum of N8billion was diverted by state government officials from four separate state government bank accounts specifically marked as security vote and maintenance of security.
The EFCC source added that the security operatives are trying to unravel how Benue State Government House account No. 1017348051 with UBA, a sister Benue State Government House account No. 0027952907 with Guaranty Trust Bank GTB was easily manipulated.
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