News
How Kwara Government Was Swindled Of N227m
An Ikeja high court heard on Monday how one Mohammed Gobir and his company Mondial Defence Systems Limited stole N 227 million from the Kwara State government.
Mohammed Gobir, 55, and an indigine of Kwara state, is facing a five count charge bordering on stealing, forgery and dishonestly converting monies entrusted to him for the purchase of three units of Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) by the Kwara State government preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC) before Justice Josephine Oyefeso.
Gobir however pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Zainab Ettuh, a prosecution witness, Funmilola Adejulu told the court how a petition dated October 21, 2015 was received by the Commission from one William Ezenwa.
Adejulu, who works as an operative with the EFCC is the third prosecution witness in the ongoing trial.
The witness said the petitioner alleged that the defendant, Mohammed Gobir under false pretense obtained the sum of 45796.61USD from him under false pretense.
She further told the court that the petitioner who is a country manager of T.A.G4 Armour Nigeria limited, a sister company to The Armour Group based in USA, alleged that his company entered into an agreement to procure three units of Armour Personnel Carriers (APC) for Oyo State government and how he paid the sum of 300USD and refused to pay an outstanding of 146.964USD.
“The petitioner also alleged that while the Oyo State transaction was ongoing, the defendant informed him to produce another five APC for Kwara state government which he later reduced to three.
“We sent the identification number of the three vehicles he requested for, so as to enable him to process the end users certificate but the defendant did not pay for the three APC, neither did he pay for the balance of the Oyo State government APC.
Adejulu further told the court that the complaint was invited to come and adopt his petition and he honoured the invitation.
“We wrote to Kwara State Government, Wema Bank, RT Capital Management and the National security Adviser and they all responded.
“The Kwara state government responded to the letter dated February 25, 2016. In the letter, Kwara Government stated that the letter of contract forwarded to them was different from the ones they have in their file which was the one they gave to the defendant. They also confirmed that the dates were tampered with.
“Their letter also confirmed that they awarded a contract to the defendant to supply three units of Armour Personnel Carriers and the sum of two hundred and seventy-seven million was fully paid to him between October 2912-July 2013.
The witness further told the court that Kwara state government confirmed that Gobir did not deliver the APC and several demands for him to deliver the three units APC yielded no response from him.
“Kwara state government also confirmed that they contacted the Ministry of Justice to help them get the defendant to supply the APC or return the fund.
The prosecution witness also told the court that the defendant was invited by the commission and he volunteered a statement to her and a another team member identified as Danladi.
Adejulu said when Gobir was confronted with the petition, he responded in writing.
“He admitted that Kwara government gave him a contract and that the money was fully paid. He also mentioned that he bought the three vehicles as well as the end users certificate, while he also admitted that the vehicles were not delivered yet.
“He however mentioned in his statement that he did not engage the Armour Group to produce the three APC and that the production was being handled by a Dubai company, though he could not produce any document relating to the Dubai Company and the said APC” she said.
According to Adejulu, the commission also contacted a director in Kwara State government, one Alhaji Umar Kayode Sidiq, who reported to the commission.
“Sidiq confirmed that Kwara state government awarded the contract to Gobir at the sum of two hundred and seventy-even million naira to him and he was fully paid
“She said the director told the commission that the defendant did not deliver the APC and he was only responding via phone that he was working on it.
“The Commission also got a response from Wema bank that the said amount was received from Kwara state government and his bank statements shows that the defendant moved funds at different times to different Bureau’re changes which includes; Mua BDC, Binbahun BDC, CP Express limited and RT Capital management.
“The General Manager of RT management, Juli Ola also responded to our letter.
Juli said they received the fund from the defendant and upon his instruction, the monies were converted to dollars and transferred into his personal bank account in London.
The witness further narrated to the court how National Security Adviser also replied the Commission by confirming that the three APC identification registration numbers gotten by Gobir for the Nigerian Police, Kwara was genuine as to the end users certificate that was produced which has the defendant as the vendor.
The trial however could not go on due to the fact that the prosecution did not serve the letter which the NSA wrote to EFCC on the defendant’s counsel.
Justice Oyefeso ordered the prosecution to serve the defence counsel with the necessary documents.
She thereafter adjourned the matter until September 13, 2018 for continuation of trial.
News
Nnamdi Emeh: Suspect Facing Charges In Court, Process Independent Of Police Influence
The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to recent reports circulating in the media concerning one Mr. Nnamdi Emeh, who is currently facing trial for alleged criminal offenses.
The NPF wishes to clarify that Mr. Emeh was lawfully apprehended following credible allegations against him, which were thoroughly investigated and presented before a competent court of law.
The charges preferred against him were duly filed, and he was arraigned before the Federal High Court, Awka, in line with due process.
It is important to emphasize that the judiciary operates independently, and the court retains the exclusive prerogative to evaluate the evidence presented, determine bail conditions, and take any further necessary actions as guided by the law.
Mr. Emeh was granted bail on terms established by the court. It therefore behoves on the suspect to take steps to meet such conditions and not resort to unecessary media rampage.
The NPF reaffirms its commitment to upholding the rule of law, ensuring justice, and maintaining the highest standards of professionalism.
The Force is also mindful of its duty to investigate allegations against all persons, including its officers, and to subject any suspect to the established legal process.
While the case against Mr. Emeh continues in court, we appeal to the public to allow the judicial process to take its full course without undue speculation or interference.
We urge all stakeholders, including members of the media, to present information responsibly and to allow the legal process to determine the outcome of the matter in the interest of justice.
The Nigeria Police Force remains steadfast in its resolve to enforce the law impartially and to safeguard the rights of every individual as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution.
ACP OLUMUYIWA ADEJOBI, mnipr, mipra, fCAI,
FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,
FORCE HEADQUARTERS,
ABUJA.
16TH NOVEMBER, 2024
News
Alice Loksha, abducted UNICEF nurse, escapes captivity after 6 years
Alice Loksha, a nurse abducted by ISWAP terrorists, has regained freedom after six years in captivity.
She was abducted alongside two other female health workers on March 1, 2018, while working at a United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) facility in Rann, Kala Balge LGA of Borno state.
Speaking with journalists at Maimalari cantonment, Maiduguri, on Friday, Kenneth Chigbu, deputy theatre commander of the joint task force (JTF) Operation Hadin Kai, said Loksha was found in Geidam, Yobe state, on October 24.
He said the 42-year-old nurse had been subjected to forced marriages with two ISWAP commanders and endured dire conditions before her eventual escape.
“She was initially taken to Tumbuma, where she was held for two days,” Chigbu said.
“From there, she was relocated to Kwalleram where she spent seven months and was forced into marriage with a terrorist leader named Abu Umar.
“The marriage led to the birth of a son, Muhammad. All this happened before Abu Umar was eliminated during a gunfight with troops in 2022.
“During that fight, he was found dead, and it was alleged that his colleagues had actually eliminated him.
“Ms Alice Loksha was again forced into another marriage to another ISWAP commander named Abu Simak in 2022 before the latter was banished by his fellow terrorists to Dogon Chukwu camp.
“It was from Dogon Chukwu that she managed to escape through the Diffa axis to Geidam on October 24, 2024, where she reported to troops of the Joint Task Force on October 29, 2024.
“She has since been subjected to medical evaluation and other humanitarian support.”
FAYINA, SISTER OF LATE SOLDIER, ALSO RESCUED
Chigbu also confirmed the escape of Fayina Ali, younger sister of late Samuel Andrew, an army officer who served under the 212 Battalion.
He said Fayina was abducted by ISWAP terrorists on October 19, 2022, while travelling to Maiduguri to process the death benefits of her late brother.
“Since then, she was held captive at Kangarwa enclave for nine months before she was taken to Tumbuma, where she remained for four years under one of the terrorist leaders, Muhammad Sheikh,” he said.
“She was later taken back to Kangaruwa, where she stayed for another year before her eventual escape.”
Both women were received on behalf of the Borno state government by Zuwaira Gambo, the state’s commissioner of women affairs and social development.
News
NIDCOM rescues 13 trafficked girls from Ghana
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) says it has rescued another set of 13 trafficked girls from Ghana.
A statement on Friday by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, NIDCOM spokesperson, said this brings the total number of girls repatriated to the country over the past five months to 163.
Balogun said the girls were lured to Ghana under the false promises of employment, but were later forced into exploitative situations and bound by an oath of secrecy.
He said the girls are aged between 19 to 30, and from Ebonyi, Benue, Kaduna and Rivers states.
Balogun said the rescue operation was as a result of the combined and coordinated efforts of the Ghanaian anti-human trafficking police, the Rescue Live Foundation International, and NIDO Ghana.
The girls were handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for rehabilitation and reintegration.
Speaking on the latest efforts, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chair of NIDCOM, reiterated the commission’s commitment to protecting Nigerians in the diaspora.
Akinboye Akinsola, NiDCOM representative, who accompanied the ladies back to Nigeria, said these set of ladies surrendered themselves willingly, having heard of the earlier operation conducted in Kpone Katamanso and Tema.
Valentine Okike Uzo, senior special assistant to governor of Ebonyi state, said efforts are in place to ensure a proper rehabilitation for victims from the state.
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