EFCC Invites Skye Bank MD Over N6.3bn, And The Recovering of $2.33m in a Separate Operation

Following Skye Bank's alleged failure to adhere to the government's directive on the movement of funds to TSA in money deposit banks, the EFCC has invited the Managing Director of the bank.

 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has invited the Managing Director of Skye Bank, Timothy Oguntayo, over the bank’s alleged refusal to remit N6.3 billion to government’s Treasury Single Account.

 

The anti-graft body also invited the bank’s chief compliance officer following the bank’s alleged failure to adhere to government’s directive on the movement of funds to TSA in money deposit banks.

 

Sources at the EFCC told Premium Times that the two top executive officers were invited when it was found that government funds were still being concealed in two separate accounts in the bank.

 

The money belonged to the defunct Presidential Implementation Committee on the Alienation of the Federal Government Landed Property.

 

The authorities of the bank were said to have overlooked the huge deposits in its TSA compliance arrangement despite the accounts being dormant since 2011.

 

“There is strong suspicion that the funds were covertly hidden from the government as only the bank and members of the committee that had long wounded up operation are aware of its existence,” a source said.

 

The committee which had B.B. Awojide as Secretary, operated from Room 4A, on the third floor of the Federal Secretariat, Phase1.

 

Both accounts have already been blocked by the EFCC, while investigations continue.

 

Meanwhile, the source said the commission also recovered $2.33million from one of the suspects in the arms procurement contract scandal in the Office of the National Security Adviser.

Ben Bruce, Ekweremadu, Melaye & Other Senators Accompany Saraki to CCT Trial (Photos)

Senate President, Bukola Saraki in company of at least 30 senators, are present at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) where his trial for alleged false declaration of assets continues.

The senate president arriving in CCT for his today

 

Nigeria's Senate President, Bukola Saraki made an appearance at 9:56am this morning in company of at least 30 senators at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Abuja where his trial for alleged false declaration of assets continues.

 

According to TheCable, some of the senators present are; Ike Ekweremadu, Abdullahi Sabi, Stella Oduah, Hope Uzodinma, Shehu Sani, Dino Melaye, Sam Anyanwu, Ben Murray-Bruce, Shehu Sani, Stella Oduah, and many more.

 

A cross section of senators who accompanied the senate president

 

This is the fourth time the senate president will appear at the CCT. The first time was on September 22, 2015 after the tribunal had issued a bench warrant for his arrest. He was accompanied to the tribunal by at least 50 senators on that day.

 

On the same day, he was docked but he pleaded not guilty to 13 counts of false declaration of assets brought against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

 

The second time was on October 21, 2015, when he was accompanied by at least 81 senators to the tribunal. And the third time was on November 5, 2015, when his lawyers – Joseph Daodu and Mahmud Magaji, withdrew from the case in protest of the decision of the tribunal to continue the matter despite an appeal against the constitution and jurisdiction of the tribunal at the supreme court.

66 Lawyers Represent Bukola Saraki at CCT Trial Today (Photos)

Senate President Bukola Saraki is being represented by 66 lawyers, among whom are seven Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), in his ongoing trial for alleged false declaration of assets at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

According to a report on The Cable, Nigerian Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki was represented by 66 lawyers, among whom are seven Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), in his ongoing trial for alleged false declaration of assets at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

 

It was revealed that some of the lawyers are Kanu Agabi (SAN), lead counsel; Mahmud Magaji (SAN) and Alphonsus Ogar.

 

 

Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), who is the counsel to the federal government, at the hearing of the case on Friday, told Danladi Umar, the judge, that he was ready to present his witnesses, but Agabi told the court that there was a motion that must be ruled on before the commencement of trial.

 

In protest, Jacobs said: "This is a deliberate attempt to scuttle this trial. So that this matter will not go on. Today’s business is trial. That’s my submission."

 

Saraki in the accused box during his trial at CCT

 

Jacobs further said that he had not been served with the motion, and urged the court to discountenance it, and order the calling of witnesses. He argued that the defense counsel was employing tactical means to stop the trial.

 

However, Agabi apologized to Jacobs for not serving him the motion personally, and asked for the indulgence of the court because he was new to the case.

 

 

After listening to the arguments of both counsel, Danladi admitted that Agabi was new to the case, and as such should be given some room to prepare his defense. He adjourned the matter to March 18 for hearing of the motion and the substantive suit.

 

Meanwhile, the senate president reportedly arrived at the CCT trial earlier today with up to 30 senators.

Olajumoke Shares Stage With VP's Wife, Dolapo Osinbajo (Photos)

Former Agege bread-seller, Olajumoke Orisaguna continued with her streak of luck as she speaks at an event which featured Dolapo Osinbajo who is the wife of the Nigerian Vice President, Prof.Yemi Osinbajo.

Olajumoke Orisaguna speaking at the event

 

The Women of Excellence Convention took place yesterday in Abuja and Olajumoke was one of the participants at the event which also featured the wife of the Vice President, Dolapo Osinbajo.

 

Its been a great year for the mother of two as she has become a household name in the showbiz industry.

CBN Suspends Top Officials After Uncovering Massive Fraud

The Central Bank of Nigeria made a startling discovery of a major massive fraud taking place in the apex bank.

Governor of Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele

 

The Central Bank of Nigeria has announced on Thursday that it has uncovered a highly sophisticated massive plot to defraud the bank by some people.

 

This was revealed in a statement issued by the Acting Director, Corporate Communications, Isaac Okoroafor.

 

Okoroafor revealed that preliminary investigation is ongoing to uncover the real people behind the plot and says some personnel within the apex bank had been placed on suspension.

 

The statement reads, “A highly sophisticated plot to defraud the CBN by some criminally minded elements has been uncovered and aborted by the bank.

“Although preliminary investigations so far have not revealed any accomplices within the CBN, the management has decided to place all key personnel involved in the transaction on suspension.

“This is to ensure a full and unfettered investigation. This incidence has been reported to the relevant authorities.”

 

It assured investors and all stakeholders that security within the bank is still intact and everything is under control.

New Photos of the Stunning Model Take the Internet by Storm

Olajumoke Orisaguna cannot stop thrilling fans as this set of new photos of the young woman has once again, stunned fans.

 

 

Olajumoke who has consistently stunned Nigerians by posing in amazing photo shoots which have shown just how called she was to be a model, has done it again.

 

The model, in these new photos from Mania Magazine's shoot, shot by Kelechi Amachi-Obi, looks totally different and fresh with a smooth and resilient air around her.

 

Below are some Behind The Scenes photos from the Mania magazine's shoot:

 

 

 

 

Goodluck Jonathan's Government Spent N2.2bn on Prayers Against Boko Haram - Ex-NNPC Chief Reveals

A new allegation has been made against ex President Goodluck Jonathan as the trial of those involved in the arms deal scandal, continues.

 

Goodluck Jonathan

 

Aminu Baba-Kusa, a former Executive Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has informed a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, that the immediate past President, Goodluck Jonathan spent over N2.2billion on prayers against Boko Haram.

 

According to Daily Post, Baba-Kusa said Jonathan spent the huge amount on special prayers in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia in his bid to ouster insurgency, adding that the disbursement was through the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA.

 

The former Executive Director of NNPC who is standing trial alongside the immediate past National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd) in relation to the diversion of funds meant for the procurement of arms made the disclosure in his statement of witness filed before the court.

 

Baba-Kusa in the statement said the money was released in two tranches of N1,450,000,000 and N750,000,000. 

 

Baba-Kusa said, “I approached the former NSA and discussed Boko Haram problems and I suggested there is need for prayers and he considered and accepted in 2013 when he first came to office.

“I personally sponsored many people locally and some few to Saudi Arabia. Some monies were later paid into our companies, which we paid to some of the mallams.

 

“I then arranged to recover my personal expense which I put into our own businesses.

“We have been spending a lot from our businesses and personal accounts. Money paid through UBA, First Bank and ECOBANK. For Acacia Holdings Limited(A/C 1017330319-UBA); ECOBANK(0122012650); and First Bank(Reliance Referral Hospitals Limited A/C 2022394057). The total amount is N2,200,000,000 from October 2014 to April 2015.”

 

He added, “I used some of the mallams to organise in Abuja, Zaria, Kano, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Kaduna and Saudi Arabia covering 2013 to 2015.”

“I give them funds as required from time to time, ranging from N500,000 to N30million, depending on their needs, traveling, sadaqat and others for local expenses and travels to Saudi Arabia for Umrah and Hajj.

“I reminded the NSA many times before payments were made. We grew up together with the former NSA with common friends in ABU.

“Most of the payments in cash were meant to give out cash to people that have been organizing prayers. Some transfers to Acacia to other banks were for logistics and also to some mallams in cash.”

 

Baba-Kusa who noted that the prayer contract was not documented stressed that the contract proposal was verbal.

 

“The proposal made to the former NSA was not documented by him or myself. The verbal proposal to him was for prayers to overcome Boko Haram within the shortest possible time.

“The engagement for prayers by organizing some people to be praying was not formally written down.

“There was no amount of money agreed on. I said to him, I will start organizing, which he agreed and said he will see what he would give at a later time,” he said.