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Asset forfeiture: Again, Federal High Court Refuses To Hear EFCC’s Stay of Execution Application against Yahaya Bello

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Asset forfeiture: Again, Federal High Court Refuses To Hear EFCC’s Stay of Execution Application against Yahaya Bello—Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court in Lagos, on Monday, refused to entertain an application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, seeking a stay of execution of the ruling that lifted a forfeiture order on some assets linked to the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.

The judge adjourned the hearing of the application indefinitely because the matter is now before the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal.

Justice Oweibo had, on April 26, 2023, struck out a suit by the EFCC seeking the final forfeiture of the properties on the grounds of provisions of Section 308(1) of the Constitution.

The Judge had held that “given Section 308 of the Constitution, which provides immunity to a sitting governor from any civil/ criminal prosecution, the court lacks jurisdiction to entertain the matter”, and the suit was struck out.

When the matter was called on Monday, the EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), informed the court that he had filed an application dated April 27, 2023, seeking a stay of execution of the ruling pending the outcome of the appeal on the case.

But in his response, counsel to the Kogi State governor, Akoh Ocheni, asked the court to strike out the application because the anti-graft agency failed to comply with the rules of the court, which mandates it to file a written address along with the application.

Ocheni also informed the court that the matter was now before the Court of Appeal as records of proceedings have been transmitted to the upper court.

He argued that the lower court lacked the jurisdiction to continue to hear the application.

After listening to the lawyers, Justice Oweibo adjourned the matter sine die to await the appellate court’s decision.

The judge had earlier on February 22, granted a temporary forfeiture order following an exparte motion filed by the EFCC seeking to seize 14 properties located in Lagos, Abuja and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Governor Bello, however, filed a Notice of Intention to oppose and an application seeking the vacation of the interim forfeiture order.

The Governor, through his lawyer, Abdulwahab Mohammed (SAN), also argued that the property listed were not proceeds of unlawful acts, as they were acquired long before he was elected as Kogi State Governor and could not have been received from Kogi State funds.

He further submitted that the case was in flagrant disobedience to a state high court order, which restrained the Economic or government agency from taking action that may lead to the forfeiture of the properties.

He added that the interim forfeiture order was obtained by either suppression or misrepresenting facts by the Commission.

The governor also said that the proceeding of the Crime Act could not take effect in retrospect as the property in dispute was acquired before he became Kogi state governor.

He said the validity of the Crime Act is being challenged at the Supreme Court.

In his response, the counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), maintained that the applicant had placed sufficient materials before the court to convince the court to vacate the order.

The judge held that given Section 308 of the Constitution, which provides immunity to a sitting governor from any civil/criminal prosecution, the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

The court, therefore, struck out the suit for lack of jurisdiction.

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Manchester City Found Guilty of 114 Financial Charges as Sanctions Remain Undecided

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Manchester City Found Guilty of 114 Financial Charges as Sanctions Remain Undecided—-An independent commission has reportedly ruled against Manchester City on all but one of the Premier League’s financial charges, but sanctions are yet to be decided as the club prepares to appeal.

Manchester City have reportedly been found guilty on 114 of the 115 financial charges brought against them by the Premier League, according to reports from The Athletic and The Times, in a major development that could have significant consequences for English football.

The verdict comes more than three years after the Premier League formally charged Manchester City following a lengthy investigation into the club’s finances.

An independent commission is understood to have reached its decisions on the allegations, which cover several seasons dating back to the 2009-10 campaign. City have consistently denied wrongdoing throughout the case.

However, no sanction has yet been decided.

Reports indicate that Manchester City are expected to appeal the findings, meaning the long-running case is now moving into another stage. Sky Sports reports that the process is moving towards an appeal, while the Premier League has declined to comment because the proceedings remain private and confidential.

What Were Manchester City Accused Of?

The Premier League’s original case against City included allegations that the club failed to provide accurate financial information over a nine-year period.

The charges included alleged failures to accurately report revenue, operating costs and sponsorship income, as well as allegations concerning payments made to players and managers.

The Premier League also accused City of breaches relating to UEFA’s Financial Fair Play regulations and its own Profitability and Sustainability Rules.

A separate set of allegations concerned the club’s alleged failure to cooperate with the Premier League’s investigation.

The case was formally referred to an independent commission in February 2023 after a Premier League investigation that lasted several years.

City Maintain Their Position

Manchester City have repeatedly rejected the allegations and continue to maintain their position that the process has not yet been completed.

Following reports of the verdict, a City spokesperson said the Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements still to be completed and subject to strict confidentiality. The club also reiterated its previous position from February 2023.

The Premier League has also refused to publicly confirm the reported findings.

A league spokesperson told Reuters: “It’s a confidential process, we’re not commenting at all.”

Sanctions Yet to Be Decided

Despite the reported guilty findings, Manchester City have not been punished at this stage.

The exact sanctions, if any, will depend on the next stage of the proceedings. Possible punishments discussed during the case have included financial penalties and sporting sanctions, but no specific punishment has been confirmed.

That means there is currently no confirmed points deduction, relegation, expulsion or stripping of previous titles.

Any such outcome would have to come through the formal disciplinary process and could also be affected by City’s expected appeal.

Appeal Could Extend the Case

The reported verdict is therefore not necessarily the final word on the matter.

Manchester City are expected to challenge the findings, with Sky Sports reporting that the inquiry is moving towards the appeal stage.

The original hearing lasted 12 weeks, concluding in December 2024, after which the independent commission spent considerable time considering the extensive evidence.

The case has become one of the most significant financial disputes in Premier League history, with the outcome potentially affecting the club’s sporting and financial standing.

For now, the key development is the reported 114 guilty findings from 115 charges.

But with sanctions still undecided, the verdict not publicly released by the Premier League and an appeal expected, Manchester City’s lengthy financial case is far from over.

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Unlocking Website Potential: How Emdash Theme Can Transform Your Online Presence

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In today’s digital landscape, a strong online presence is no longer optional – it’s essential for success. Your website serves as the virtual storefront of your business, and first impressions matter. A poorly designed or outdated website can deter potential customers and damage your credibility. This is where selecting the right WordPress theme becomes crucial, and I’ve found Emdash to be a particularly powerful and versatile option.

Emdash theme stands out for its clean design, user-friendly interface, and extensive customization options. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or a novice user, Emdash makes it easy to create a professional-looking website that reflects your brand identity. Its responsive design ensures that your website looks great on any device, from desktops and laptops to tablets and smartphones. In a world where mobile browsing is increasingly prevalent, this is a non-negotiable feature.

One of the most significant advantages of Emdash is its flexibility. It offers a wide range of pre-built templates and layouts, which can be easily adapted to suit your specific needs. Whether you’re building a blog, an e-commerce store, or a portfolio website, Emdash provides the tools you need to get the job done. The theme is also highly customizable, allowing you to change colors, fonts, and other design elements to match your brand aesthetic.

Beyond its aesthetic appeal, Emdash is also designed with performance in mind. It’s optimized for speed and SEO, ensuring that your website loads quickly and ranks well in search engine results. This is crucial for attracting organic traffic and improving your online visibility. A slow-loading website can frustrate visitors and lead to high bounce rates, which can negatively impact your search engine rankings.

Furthermore, Emdash boasts excellent documentation and customer support. If you ever run into any issues or have questions about the theme, you can rely on their comprehensive documentation or reach out to their support team for assistance. This is a valuable asset, especially for those who are new to WordPress or website development.

In my experience, Emdash has been a game-changer for many of my clients. It has allowed them to create stunning websites that effectively showcase their products and services. It’s a theme that strikes the perfect balance between design, functionality, and ease of use. If you’re looking for a WordPress theme that can help you transform your online presence, I highly recommend giving Emdash a try. You can find more information about the this theme at https://emdashtheme.org.

In today’s digital landscape, a strong online presence is no longer optional – it’s essential for success. Your website serves as the virtual storefront of your business, and first impressions matter. A poorly designed or outdated website can deter potential customers and damage your credibility. This is where selecting the right WordPress theme becomes crucial, and I’ve found Emdash to be a particularly powerful and versatile option. Emdash theme stands out for its clean design, user-friendly interface, and extensive customization options. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or a novice user, Emdash makes it easy to create a professional-looking website that reflects your brand identity. Its responsive design ensures that your website looks great on any device, from desktops and laptops to tablets and smartphones. In a world where mobile browsing is increasingly prevalent, this is a non-negotiable feature. One of the most significant advantages of Emdash is its flexibility. It offers a wide range of pre-built templates and layouts, which can be easily adapted to suit your specific needs. Whether you’re building a blog, an e-commerce store, or a portfolio website, Emdash provides the tools you need to get the job done. The theme is also highly customizable, allowing you to change colors, fonts, and other design elements to match your brand aesthetic. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, Emdash is also designed with performance in mind.

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