News

Emefiele, wife not beneficiary of money paid into companies’ accounts – Witness

The trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele continued on Wednesday with EFCC’s 5th prosecution witness testifying that neither the ex-CBN governor nor his wife was a beneficiary of the inflow of money paid into three companies’ accounts mentioned before the court.

The witness, Mrs Ifeoma Ogbonnaya, who is also a manager at Zenith Bank under cross examination on Wednesday by Emefiele’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), also inform the court that the bank did not obtain the documents, board resolution or any document portraying Emefiele and his wife as beneficial owner of the accounts of the companies-Limelight, Comec and Answin Limited.

She confirmed that none of them was named in the account opening mandate, to sign banking instructions on the accounts, adding that one Madam Augustina was the signatory and not Mrs Emefiele.

Ogbonnaya said the customer’s instructions to honour transactions on any of the accounts did not emanate from the Emefieles, as the instructions were always in writing.

She was asked to confirm that the instructions the banks must honour were those given by the account holders and none other.

She was given the account opening package of Limelight Limited to confirm the signatories of the company.

Ogbonnaya confirmed that the signatories were Stephen Ogwa and Patricia Esan, while the shareholders of Limelight Limited were Omoile Augustina Onuwa, Oriekose Augustina and Ibrahim Taofeek as the document from CAC confirmed.

She added that the Emefieles were not shareholders neither were they directors of the companies, reiterating that she never attended any board or management meetings of these companies, apart from managing them.

Having looked through the account opening package, Ogbonnaya confirmed that there was no document that showed the names of Margaret Emefiele and Godwin Emefiele or link them to the companies because they were not involved in any authorisation of the transactions.

She said all the money paid into the accounts of the companies by the CBN were not authorized by Emefiele.

The presiding judge, Abdulraham Oshodi adjourned the case till October 28, 30 and 31, 2024 for continuation of trial.

News

Bauchi SSG resigns, Gov Mohammed announces replacement

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG) of Bauchi State, Mr Ibrahim Kashim has resigned with immediate effect.

The State Governor, Bala Mohammed has accepted the resignation and announced Mr Aminu Gamawa as his replacement.

This is contained in a statement by Mr Mukhtar Gidado, the Special Adviser to the governor on Media and Publicity in Bauchi on Friday.

Until replacing Kashim as SSG, it was gathered that Gamawa was the Chief of Staff, Government House. He was directed by the Governor to take over as SSG with immediate effect in an acting capacity.

“Governor Bala Mohammed has accepted the resignation of the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Ibrahim Kashim with immediate effect .

“The Chief of Staff, Government House, Bauchi, Mr Aminu Gamawa, has been directed to take over from him in an acting capacity.

“Governor Mohammed, on behalf of the government and the people of Bauchi State, thanked him for the services he rendered to the State and wished him well in his future endeavors,” the statement reads

News

U.S. returnee arrested at Lagos airport for duping 139 Australians

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a suspected online fraudster known as Osang Otukpa for allegedly duping 139 Australians to the tune of eight million Australian dollars.

Otukpa was arrested by EFCC operatives in a stakeout at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, after arriving from the United States of America on December 6.

“Otukpa goes by five aliases, namely: Ford Thompson, Oscar Donald Tyler, Michael Haye, Jose Vitto and Kristin Davidson.

“He scammed his victims by luring them on social media to invest in his rogue cryptocurrency investment platform, Liquid Asset Group (LAG).

“The proceeds of the alleged crimes were routed to his bank accounts through a global cryptocurrency exchange platform,” a statement by EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale on Friday in Abuja reads.

Oyewale said that the suspect would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.

News

Ex-kogi Deputy Speaker is dead

The immediate past Deputy Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Hon Enema Paul, is dead.

He died of an undisclosed illness in Abuja at a private hospital in the early hours of Saturday.

Before his death, Hon Paul was the member representing Okura State Constituency in the current 8th Assembly in Kogi State.

Hon Paul stepped down as Kogi State Deputy Speaker on health grounds, and he was later replaced by the member representing Ibaji State Constituency, Hon. Comfort Ojoma Nwuchiola.

Meanwhile, the Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Aliyu Umar Yusuf, has commiserated with the family of the former Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Enema Paul, whose demise was announced early Saturday.

This is contained in a press statement signed and made available to journalists in Lokoja by the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Yabagi Mohammed.

He described the deceased Assembly member as a friend, temperate, humble, team-playing, committed lawmaker, and public servant.

According to Rt Hon Umar, the former Deputy Speaker was a man who exemplified commitment to the unity of the state, having demonstrated a genuine desire to enhance pro-people legislation for overall development.

He noted that the late Enema Paul was also a devoted Christian who saw beyond religion and whose godliness and commitment to family values were unquestionable.

The Speaker prayed to God to grant the immediate family and members of the current and immediate past Assembly the fortitude to bear the huge loss.