Alleged Fraud: How Emefiele Moved Millions To Wife, Witness Tells Court

Published

11 months ago

July 10, 2024

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Alleged Fraud: How Emefiele Moved Millions To Wife, Witness Tells Court—-On Tuesday, the Ikeja Special Offences Court heard testimony regarding former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele’s alleged transfer of millions of naira to his wife, Margaret.

Assistant bank manager Mrs. Ifeoma Ogbonnaya testified before Justice Rahman Oshodi, revealing that millions of naira were also transferred in multiple tranches to various company accounts.

Emefiele is currently facing trial for abuse of office and alleged fraud involving $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion. He is being tried in three separate courts in Lagos and Abuja, alongside his co-defendant Henry Omoile.

In a separate case, the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has adjourned a ruling on Emefiele’s application for permission to travel abroad. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) opposes the application, fearing that Emefiele might abscond if he gains access to his international passport.

During the Lagos trial, prosecuting counsel Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) led Mrs. Ogbonnaya in evidence. Ogbonnaya, a former business relationship manager, explained that she managed accounts through which substantial funds from the CBN were transferred. She stated, “The accounts are for Mrs. Margaret Emefiele, the ex-CBN governor’s wife. The companies sent transfer instructions to my email, and Margaret Emefiele is the beneficiary and owner of the money.”

Ogbonnaya detailed the companies involved, including Amswinh Resources and Solution, Limelight Dimensional Service Limited, Omec Support Service Limited, and Mango Farm. She added that all transactions were confirmed by Mrs. Emefiele before processing and that she received instructions through email, phone calls, and WhatsApp.

The trial continues today, with detailed transaction records admitted into evidence.

EFCC Opposes Emefiele’s Travel Request.

The FCT High Court has scheduled a ruling for July 16 regarding Emefiele’s request to travel abroad for medical reasons. He faces a 20-count amended charge, including conferring corrupt advantages, conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, forgery, and obtaining by false pretence totaling $6.23 million.

Emefiele’s lawyer, Labi-Lawal, argued for the release of his client’s passport to facilitate a trip to the United Kingdom for medical care. However, EFCC’s lawyer, Muhammad Omeiza, countered that no medical report had been provided to substantiate the claim. Omeiza also emphasized that even if there was an ailment, no evidence suggested it couldn’t be treated in Nigeria.

Furthermore, Omeiza argued that releasing Emefiele’s passport would alter his bail conditions, describing him as a flight risk with co-conspirators abroad.

He cited two aides, Anita and Tony, currently in the UK, suggesting Emefiele might be tempted to flee while facing trials in three different courts.

(Nation)

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Tragedy at Akala Express: Stray Bullet Kills A Student In Ibadan

Published

3 weeks ago

May 20, 2025

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Tragedy at Akala Express: Stray Bullet Kills A Student In Ibadan—-Nigeria Police officer on Tuesday kill an innocent teenager with a stray bullet while on his way for WAEC Examination.

Eyewitnesses report that the secondary school student, simply identified as Taiwo, was said to have been hit by a stray bullet allegedly fired by a yet-to-be-identified police officer during a high-speed chase.

The incident, it was gathered, occurred around Gbagi Market Road in Ibadan as the officer pursued a fleeing vehicle, suspected to be conveying internet fraudsters, popularly called “Yahoo boys.”

Sources said the officers, in an attempt to scare the suspected fraudsters, shot into the air, but that the bullets fired hit the student, who was riding on a motorcycle with his twin brother.

The boy was on his way to take the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) examination at the time of the incident.

He was a candidate in the ongoing WAEC examination for SS3 students.

In response to the tragedy, market traders and sympathisers in protest took the boy’s lifeless body to protest the action of officers at the Oyo State Secretariat, demanding justice.

As of the time this report was written, security personnel have been stationed at the entrance of the government secretariat to control the crowd.

Ibadan-based radio station, Splash FM, said the student was killed by police officers who opened fire while in pursuit of a Hilux vehicle.

“Unfortunately, a stray bullet struck the student, who was in his father’s car, resulting in his death. The incident has sparked outrage and calls for an immediate investigation into the actions,” the report noted.

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Biafran Political Activist Simon Ekpa To Be Repatriated For Supporting Nnamdi Kanu, Witness Tells Court

Published

1 month ago

May 2, 2025

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Biafran Political Activist Simon Ekpa To Be Repatriated For Supporting Nnamdi Kanu, Witness Tells Court—A prosecution witness, identified as PW-AAA, on Friday, said that Simon Ekpa would soon be brought from Finland to Nigeria to face trial for supporting Nnamdi Kanu in the agitation for Republic of Biafra.

PW-AAA, one of the Department of State Service (DSS) operatives that arrested Kanu in 2015 at a Lagos hotel, told Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja in the ongoing trial of Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The witness, whose real name was not mentioned because of security reasons, stated this during cross examination by Kanu’s counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN.

Earlier, the Federal Government also tendered more items recovered from Kanu and admitted as exhibits by the court.

These include one black laptop, two multi mix transmitters, one mini white Apple iPad with a pouch, one grey Apple iPad with a pouch, one grey MacBook with a pouch, one grey MacBook with case, one mini drone sound wave speaker, and two mini white speakers.

Others are one large computer mouse, one white adaptor, one laptop adaptor and one carton bag with laptop, two 3G modems, two Glo modems, one Glo Hawaii modem, one MTN modem, one Etisalat modem, one flash drive and one camcorder.

These also included one hand recorder in a black pouch, one MacBook Pro adaptor, one Mic stand, one Phillips headphone, one radio sharp mic with cord, one pro sound mic with cord and one 4G LTE modem.

Others are a bunch of cards, one power adaptor for mixer, one Easy Blaze white modem, one Samsung phone,1 black Motorola phone and one Nokia phone.

Also found on him are “one black Samsung phone, one black phone, 1 D-Link black modem, one 8GB flash drive, one extension wire adaptor, one pair of shoes, one belt, one pair of ciderwood sneakers and one footwear.

“One black Softech wristwatch, two singlets, one sealed Hermes perfume, one Trinket, one Pokham perfume, one Fredrick Peckham wristwatch, one Diesel wristwatch, one Alexander Christy collection wristwatch, one Club wristwatch.

“Others are a bank MasterCards, copies of documents, one copy of IPOB complementary card, documents tagged IPOB, one white clipper, one bottle of medicine, one Oman perfume, one Mini scented oils, one empty black purse.

“Others are one Nigerian passport bearing the names Okwu Kanu Nwannekaibeya Nnamdi Ngozichukwu and one British passport bearing the name Okwu Kanu Nwannekaibeya, one black purse, one passport holder, one card holder, one box of Rocarden wristwatch and four bundles of cords.”

While being cross examined, PW-AAA said no weapon was recovered from the IPOB leader during his arrest in Lagos.

He also said that no arms was recovered from the lady arrested along with Kanu.

He said though the recovered items might not be ordinarily offensive, the intention of the defendant might be otherwise.

PW-AAA also told the court that he did not analyse any of the items recovered because his mandate was to effect arrest and obtain statement from Kanu.

Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter until May 6, May 7 and May 8 for continuation of cross examination.

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