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Alleged N43.5m Fraud: Court Places Lien On Bank Accounts of NOGASA Boss, Fatuyi Phillips

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•Granted bail

Justice Mojisola Dada of an Ikeja Special Offences Court on Thursday directed that a lien should be placed on the bank accounts of the Chairman of the Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria (NOGASA), Lagos Zone, Fatuyi Yemi Philips.

The judge also placed a lien on the bank accounts of his company, Oceanview Oil and Gas Limited.

Justice Mojisola Dada arrived at the decision after handing down her ruling on the bail application initiated by the NOGASA boss.

The court equally granted him bail in the sum of N20 million with two sureties in like sum who must be resident within jurisdiction and must present three years’ evidence of tax payment.

Fatuyi Yemi Philips was also directed by the court to submit his international passport to the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

In arguing the NOGASA Chairman’s bail application dated April 7, 2022, his counsel, O. O Ajanaku said, “We urge your lordship to admit the first defendant applicant to bail and for such other orders as your lordship may make.”

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Ajanaku further argued that the defendant, by the provision of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), is presumed innocent of all charges until proven otherwise.

In opposing the bail application, EFCC’s lawyer, I.N. Ubabudu, urged the Court to dismiss same.

The matter has been adjourned till June 17, 2022, for trial.

It would be recalled that the court had on April 7, 2022, ordered the remand of Fatuyi Yemi Philips in the prison custody of his choice after being charged alongside his company, Oceanview Oil and Gas Limited by the EFCC in charge no ID/17098C/2021.

The NOGASA Chairman was remanded in prison custody of his choice following his arraignment before Justice Mojisola Dada on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence contrary to the provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Fraud Related Offences, 2006 and on allegation of stealing contrary to Section 285 (1) of the Criminal Code Law Cap 17 Vol. 2 Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

Count one of the charges reads: “Fatuyi Philips and Oceanview Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited, on or about the 28th day of September 2016, at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, obtained the aggregate sum of N43,502,000.00 (Forty-Three Million Five Hundred and Two Thousand Naira) from Elochukwu Okoye, and Elebana Unique Ventures Nigeria Limited, on behalf of WAPCIL Nigeria Limited, under the false representation that you would sell to WAPCIL Nigeria Limited $98,870,00 (Ninety-Eight Thousand United States of American Dollars), a representation you knew to be false.”

Count two of the charge reads: ” Philips and Oceanview Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited, on or about the 28th day of September 2016, at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court stole the sum N43,502,000.00 (Forty-Three Million Five Hundred and Two Thousand Naira) property of WAPCIL Nigeria Limited.”

Upon his not guilty plea to the charge, the EFCC counsel, S.O Daji asked for a trial date, but the Defence counsel who held brief for Augustine I. Ogbodo, Mr Charles Ugbonna informed the court that the first defendant had filed an application for bail on 7th April 2022.

But the Commission’s lawyer urged the court to exercise discretion in granting the defendant’s prayer.

Justice Mojisola Dada then upheld Daji’s submission that the application was not ripped for hearing.

Crime

Guinea-Bissau former president’s son, Malam Bacai Sanha Jr jailed in US for trafficking drugs to fund coup

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The son of a former president of Guinea-Bissau was sentenced to more than six and a half years in prison for involvement in a transnational heroin trafficking conspiracy, the US Justice Department announced Tuesday.

Malam Bacai Sanha Jr, 52, planned to use the proceeds to finance a coup in the West African country that would lead to his eventual presidency and establishment of a “drugs regime,” according to the statement released by the US Attorney for the Southern District of Texas.

“Malam Bacai Sanha Jr. wasn’t any ordinary international drug trafficker,” said Douglas Williams, special agent in charge of the FBI Houston Field Office. “He is the son of the former president of Guinea-Bissau and was trafficking drugs for a very specific reason – to fund a coup.”

Sanha was a leader and organizer in the heroin trafficking conspiracy and was involved in its importation from Europe to the United States, according to the statement.

He was arrested along with a co-conspirator after arriving in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, in July 2022. They were extradited to the United States shortly afterwards.

In September 2023, Sanha pled guilty “to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance for the purpose of unlawful importation,” according to Tuesday’s statement.

Guinea-Bissau has had a history of military coups interspersed with periods of democratic rule – though elected leaders managed to serve a full term since the country gained independence from Portugal in 1974.

Sanha’s father, Malam Bacai Sanha, was initially installed by a junta as interim leader in 1999 before he lost the election the following year.

He won the presidency in a 2009 election but died while seeking medical treatment in Paris in January 2012 before completing his term.

His son, known as “Bacaizinho” in Guinea-Bissau, has served in several government roles, including as an economic advisor to his father.

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Crime

Court sentences Chinese to death for killing Nigerian girlfriend

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The Kano State High Court has sentenced a Chinese national, Frank Geng-Quangrong, to death by hanging for the murder of his girlfriend, Ummukalthuum Buhari.

Recall that Quangrong allegedly killed his erstwhile girlfriend, Buhari, following a misunderstanding.

We had reported that Quangrong was accused of culpable homicide in the death of his girlfriend, Buhari, but denied killing her intentionally and pleaded with Justice Sunusi Ado Ma’aji of the Kano State High Court to temper justice with mercy.

In his testimony on Tuesday, Quangrong claimed that he stabbed his girlfriend in self-defence after she allegedly grabbed his testes in September 2022.

“I didn’t kill Ummulkhulsum intentionally but stabbed her in self-defence after she grabbed my testes,” Ouangrong said.

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Crime

Four arrested as police raid fake drinks factory in Lagos

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Policemen attached to the Isokoko Division of the Lagos State Police Command have raided a house in Agege where fake drinks are being produced.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this in a video shared on his X handle on Thursday.

According to Hundeyin, during the raid, four persons believed to be the masterminds behind the illegal distillery were arrested, and fake drinks were recovered among others.

His caption read, “Officers of Isokoko Division, acting on credible information, raided a house in Agege where fake alcoholic drinks were being produced.

“The police arrested four people behind the illegal distillery and recovered fake drinks, empty bottles, and labels of different brands. Investigation is ongoing.”

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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