Federal Govt. Recovers Over $14million in Unpaid Oil Royalty from Jide Omokore's Firm

President Muhammadu Buhari's federal government has succeeded in compelling the Chairman of Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Nigeria Limited to cough out over $14 million, being crude oil royalty which his company failed to remit to the federal treasury.

 

According to high ranking federal officials who exclusively disclosed to Premium Times, the President Buhari-led federal government has succeeded in compelling the Chairman of Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Nigeria Limited, Jide Omokore to cough out over $14m, being crude oil royalty which his company failed to remit to the federal treasury.

 

Administration insiders familiar with the development revealed that the funds were supposed to have been paid between 2011-2012 by Atlantic Energy which was, in controversial circumstances, awarded oil assets by the Goodluck Jonathan government shortly after it was incorporated in 2010.

 

Sources said the money was finally paid into the Federal Government’s account with JP Morgan Chase on January 29, after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission waded into the matter of recovering taxes due to the Federal Government.

 

A source at the EFCC said on Wednesday; "The investigation of tax defaulters in the dollar-soaked oil industry is continuing. Those who failed to willingly pay up stand the risk of arrest and prosecution for tax fraud."

 

It can be recalled that the operatives of the EFCC had on January 27, questioned Omokore, an ally of former President Jonathan in connection with a series of multi-billion dollar crude export deals.

 

Omokore could not be reached for comments on Wednesday, but his company recently issued a statement saying it was getting back on course after submitting its plan to settle outstanding financial commitments to the Nigerian authorities.

Nigerian Comedian, Julius Agwu Hangs-out With Crippled Beggars (Photos)

Rib-cracker Julius Agwu has hit the headlines after giving some street beggars a sense of belonging at a recent encounter.

Julius Agwu (middle) and the beggars

  

Comedian cum Actor, Julius Agwu  seems not to be leaving any stone unturned concerning his upcoming show titled 'Life As I See It' on the 7th of February as he has pulled a publicity stunt.

 

The former Rivers state gubernatorial aspirant hit the streets to pally with physically-challenged beggars. He was spotted in the midst of two handicapped beggars yesterday morning. Apparently, Julius wants to bring them to his show to also have fun like other privileged Nigerians.

Some of the stars listed to perform on day are ace songstress, Lady Onyeka Onwenu, Timi Dakolo, Banky W, Waje, Efya, Bez, Mimicko, and popular juju act, Yinka Ayefele and other.
 

While guests and other fun seekers will be treated to jaw dropping jokes by British comedian, Eddie Kadi, Okey Bakassi, Senator, Dan D Humouros, Seyi Brown, Buchi, Oyinbo Princess, among several others.

The double-header concert will take place at the prestigious Eko Hotel and Suites, on Sunday, February 7, 2016 while the subsequent event will hold in Abuja on Valentine’s Day.

 

See more photos:

 

 

 

From a Bread Seller to a Model - Inspirational Story of a Lagos Girl Who Featured in Tinnie Tempah's Shoot

The moral of this story is that when God remembers to bless you, no matter where you are, He will surely locate you. Read this story shared by TY Bello and get inspired.

 

An inspirational story has been shared by top celebrity photographer, TY Bello. Few days ago, she shared a picture from a photo-shoot she did for UK-based Nigerian rapper, Tinie Tempah, with a bread seller photo-bombing him in the streets of Yaba metropolis in Lagos.

 

She captioned it: "BEAUTIFUL MISS X: WHO IS SHE.? Every one has been asking if this lady is a model. It was just perfect coincidence. She just happened to be walking by while I photographed. It happened so fast. She definitely SHOULD be a model. I'm happy to help her build a portfolio if she's interested. She's so beautiful and photographed so well. I'll find a way to track her down somehow . You guys can also help."

 

Fastforward to yesterday, after meeting Jumoke, the superstar singer and photographer shared her picture and video, its so inspirational, check on it below;

 

 

In a twinkle of an eye, the bread seller was turned to a superstar model, below is how TY Bello narrated it;

 

Presidency Slams Reports That Buhari Has Achieved Only One of His Many Campaign Promises

President Buhari has dismissed the report that he has achieved only one of his very many campaign promises.

 

Muhammadu Buhari

 

The Presidency responded to reports that President Buhari has only achieved 1 out of his 222 electoral promises . 

 

The Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, reacted by saying that the president has successfully blocked the leakages in the system within the last seven months he has been in office.

 

He said: “Doesn’t the President deserve credit for this and other efforts to confront the monster of corruption?

"He is making good strides towards improving governance by tackling corruption. Till date, a good number of persons believed to have collectively stolen billions from taxpayers have been arrested and are facing the courts.

“We are working with our allies across the world from Britain and America to France and Germany to China and the UAE to source, locate and repatriate misappropriated funds.

 

“So far, an escrow account has been opened for money that is being returned. This is only the start. The return of stolen funds is important, but it is just as critical to ensure that those who seek to steal realise that no longer will there be such impunity in Nigeria.”

 

He also condemned recent false reports by the Centre for Democracy and Development adding that the centre was mischievous to attribute promises President Buhari did not make during his campaign.

 

He said: “The latest CDD episode is a shocking reminder to their failed attempt to hold the President to ‘100 promises in 100 days’ which disastrously crashed on the head of the proponent.

“The elevation of the act to a new high of 220 promises is a knee-jerk reaction that seeks to play to the gallery and score points against the President.”

N11.5bn fraud: How Bishop and Bank MD Planned to Defraud 64,000 Customers

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has dragged a bishop of a church and a former bank manager accused of defrauding customers the sum of N11.5 billion naira to court.

 

A Federal High Court sitting in Jos, the Plateau State capital, has been told how Bishop of Maranatha Church, Jonas Katung and a Bank Managing Director of Dadin Kowa Microfinance Bank Limited, Mr. Irmiya Jatau, planned to defraud about 64,000 customers of the defunct Covenant Fadama Cooperative Society to the tune of N11.5 bn.

 

The court however ordered the remand in prison of Jatau over N11.5bn fraud. The accused were slammed with 24 counts before Justice Musa Kurya. Joined with them in the charge are one Okewole Dayo and Dadin Kowa Microfinance Bank Limited.

 

In one of the counts filed against the accused, the EFCC alleged that sometime in 2012, they “did conspire with yourselves to commit money laundering contrary to Section 18 (a )of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011, as amended by the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.”

 

The EFCC also accused them of transferring the sum of N50m from Covenant Fadama Cooperative Society account to a First Bank account, with number 2003050001625, into the Dadin Kowa Microfinance, First Bank account Number-2016452671.

 

This sum, the count said, represented proceeds of unlawful acts and amounted to an offence contrary to Section 15 (25) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, as amended by the Money Laundering amendment (Prohibition) Act 2012 and punishable under Section 54 of the same Act, among others.

 

However, when the charges were read to them, a little drama ensued. While all the accused pleaded not guilty, Bishop Katung was caught in two worlds. First he pleaded guilty to one of the counts before suddenly making a reversal and pleaded not guilty.

 

Having earlier been granted bail by the court earlier on December 9, 2015, Katung was let to walk free while all the others were remanded in prison custody.

 

The case was adjourned till March 7 for further hearing.

Nollywood Actress, Ini Edo Shows Off Her Collection of Designer Shoes in Closet (Photos)

From stilettos boots, moses sandal to other creative designer shoes and more, top Nollywood actress, has flaunted a collection of shoes in her large closet. She's surely balling!

 

In a new Instagram snap, multi-award winning Nollywood actress, Ini Edo, has showed off her vast collection of fabulous designer shoes.

 

The University of Calabar Theatre Arts graduate shared the picture of her shoes which ranges from stilettos boots, moses sandal to other creative designers on her page and captioned it "#shoegame"

 

 

Ini Edo who owns a celebrity nightclub, 'Mimz', in Lekki, Lagos, also owns multi-million naira super cars, Range Rover Envoque, Mercedez G-wagon and more in her growing car collection.

 

It can be recalled that Ini Edo who began her film career in 2000, and has featured in more than 200 movies since that time, revealed that distance, irreconcilable differences, and incompatibility are the factors that largely contributed to her failed marriage.

 

In her words, "No mat­ter the indifference or incompatibility, if you’re together in love, a lot of things can actually work out. Howbeit, you don’t get to work things out when there is no contact. When you are with someone, and you can’t agree on certain things or find a common ground, I think being together could have actually helped us to understand each other better," she reiterated.

PDP's Olisa Metuh Arrives Court for the First Time Without Prison Officials or Handcuffs (Photo)

PDP's spokesperson Olisa Metuh has been seen in court for the first without prison officials or handcuffs on his wrists.

 

Olisa Metuh

 

The National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh has arrived the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja for the continuation of his ongoing trial, Daily Post reports.

 

Metuh for the first time since the trial began walked into the court room without the presence of Prisons officials and handcuffs.

 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had arraigned Metuh on a seven count charge of money laundering.

 

The anti-graft agency is accusing him of collecting the sum of N400m from the former National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd), money which it alleged was part of the funds meant for the procurement of arms for the military.

 

Metuh had denied this, saying the money he got from the past administration was for a job he did for the former President, Goodluck Jonathan.

 

He, however, did not disclose the nature of the job.

 

Since the commencement of the trials, the prosecution led by Sylvanus Tahir has produced six witnesses who have all testified about their various roles in the alleged transfer of funds from the former NSA to Destra Investiments Limited, a company owned by the embattled PDP spokesman.

 

He was recently granted bail by Justice Okon Abang of the same court, but owing to his inability to meet his bail conditions, his counsel filed an application for an adjustment in the bail terms.

 

He walked out of Kuje prison last week after meeting the condition of his bail terms.