News
Reps panel dismisses petition alleging plot by DSS, EFCC to rearrest Emefiele
A house of representatives panel has dismissed a petition on an alleged plot by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Department of State Services (DSS) to rearrest Godwin Emefiele, former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The committee on public petition threw out the petition at a hearing on Thursday because it is subjudice.
THE PETITION
In a letter dated November 27, the Centre for Social Justice Equity and Transparency (CESJET), a civil society organisation (CSO), had petitioned the house of representatives, over an alleged plot by the EFCC and DSS to “forcefully remove” Emefiele from the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS).
The petition was presented before the lower legislative chamber by Philip Agbese, an All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker, from Benue.
The group claimed that the antigraft agency and the secret police were plotting to rearrest Emefiele as soon as his bail conditions were perfected.
On November 18, Emefiele was arraigned before a federal capital territory (FCT) high court on a six-count charge bordering on procurement fraud.
The former CBN governor was accused of using his position to confer a corrupt advantage on Sa’adatu Yaro, a staff of the bank, by awarding a contract for the procurement of 43 vehicles worth N1.2 billion between 2018 and 2020.
The vehicles included 37 Toyota Hilux at the cost of N854.7 million, one Toyota Avalon at the cost of N99.9 million, one Toyota Landcruiser V8 at the cost of N73.8 million, two Toyota Hilux Shell Specification at the cost of N44,200,000.
He was also alleged to have awarded Yaro a contract for the procurement of two Toyota Landcruiser VXR V8 worth N138 million.
Emefiele pleaded “not guilty” to the amended charge and was later granted bail in the sum of N300 million.
The court granted him bail but demanded that he must produce two sureties in like sum.
According to the court, the sureties must have certificates of occupancy and titles of properties within the Maitama district in Abuja.
He was also mandated to deposit all his travel documents with the registrar of the court and must remain within the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).
Emefiele is still in prison because he has been unable to meet his bail conditions.
THE HEARING
At the hearing on Thursday, Sylvanus Tahir, EFCC’s director of legal and prosecution; Nwakeze Emmanuel, NCS assistant comptroller-general of correction in charge of operations, appeared before the committee while DSS was not represented.
Addressing the panel, Tahir asked the lawmakers to dismiss the petition because the matter is in court.
He said Emefiele’s lawyers could approach the court to seek redress if there is such an alleged plot.
“There is a subsisting criminal charge against Mr Godwin Emefiele. I am wondering whether it is appropriate, given the fact that it borders on a subsisting court matter— for this committee to by way of a public hearing, delve into the matter. More so that Emefiele is heavily represented by very senior lawyers in this matter, including senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN),” he said.
“And this petition did not emanate from them and in any event, we believe if the allegation has substance as the petitioners would want this committee to believe, it would have been ventilated before the honourable court in which this case is pending because they are alleging a case of contempt.
“If it is a case of contempt as it is being alleged, I thought the appropriate forum to ventilate that issue should be before the honourable court other than bring it before this committee given the subjudice nature of this case,” he said.
On his part, Emmanuel said he was not aware of any plot to rearrest Emefiele.
“As far as we are concerned, we are not aware of any alleged attempt to forcefully release Emefiele. Emefiele is still in our custody,” he said.
After deliberations, Michael Etaba, chairman of the committee, dismissed the case for being subjudice.
News
Internal Security: Police EOD Recovers Explosives, Prevents Calamity In Borno
As IGP Commends Officers, Assures of Continuous Strides in Ensuring Safety, Security
The Nigeria Police Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit has again successfully recovered unexploded military ordnances in Maiduguri on 22nd November 2024, following reports from vigilant residents.
Acting swiftly, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal – Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) team was deployed to secure the affected areas.
All ordnances were safely evacuated without any loss of life, injury, or property damage, and normalcy has been restored.
In the Dala Kacchallah area, the operatives recovered six (6) unexploded projectiles and one (1) mortar bomb near an uncompleted building.
Reports indicate that the items, washed ashore by recent flooding, were abandoned by local scavengers. Similarly, at the Gwange Riverbank, a military hand grenade was discovered.
In both instances, the EOD-CBRN team safely removed the ordnances, declared the areas safe, and conducted explosive risk awareness campaigns to sensitize residents.
Commending the professionalism and prompt response of the EOD-CBRN Unit, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D, NPM has assured Nigerians of the Force’s commitment to ensuring public safety and security.
The IGP also noted that the EOD team in Borno State has been consistent in responsiveness and professionalism in preventing series of calamities as many IEDs have been safely recovered in many instances within the state. Investigations are ongoing to trace the origins of the recovered items and to prevent future occurrences.
The Inspector-General of Police urges members of the public to refrain from handling suspicious objects and to promptly report such discoveries to the police.
The Nigeria Police Force remains steadfast in its mandate to protect lives and property across Maiduguri and its environs.
ACP OLUMUYIWA ADEJOBI, mnipr, mipra, fCAI
FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
FORCE HEADQUARTERS, ABUJA
23RD NOVEMBER, 2024
News
Fire guts LAUTECH teaching hospital
Property worth millions of naira were on Saturday destroyed at the Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, as a result of a fire incident.
The incident, which happened around 5 am in a paediatric consultant’s office, affected electronic gadgets, engines, books, office equipment, roofs, and others worth millions of naira.
A credible source told our correspondent that the fire incident was suspected to have started from an electric spark.
It was learnt that about 16 patients had to be quickly rushed out of the ward.
However, in a statement sent to PUNCH Online in Ibadan, the state capital, on Saturday, the Public Relations Officer of the institution, Ogunleye Omotayo, said no life was lost in the fire incident.
The statement read, “The management of the institution wishes to state that the fire incident that occurred early this morning (Saturday), as carried by some news media, was put out without any remarkable damage to the hospital.
“Noting that no human damage was recorded in the incident, the management wishes to state that Investigation is still ongoing with regard to the cause of the incident.
“At the moment, light has been restored, and work activities have resumed in the section where the fire incident took place.
“The management wishes to thank all staff, the state Fire Service, and all other well-wishers for their concerns and prompt response. The fire incident raised no cause for alarm. Everyone is advised to go about their normal daily activities without fear.”
News
Nothing wrong having a Christian as Alaafin of Oyo, says Oladigbolu
Rahman Oladigbolu, a Nigerian filmmaker, says he sees no reason why the Alaafin of Oyo cannot be a Christian.
Two years ago, Lamidi Adeyemi, Alaafin of Oyo, died at the Afe Babalola Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, after battling an undisclosed illness.
He was 83 years old and had been on the throne for 52 years — the longest-reigning Nigerian monarch at the time.
Since his death, the throne has been vacant.
Speaking in an interview with Rudolf Okonkwo, Oladigbolu, a prince in the Oyo kingdom, said religion should not be a factor in the selection of the next Alaafin.
“In Oyo, where I came from, we are trying to select a new king. It has been the tradition for some decades that the Alaafin of Oyo will be a Muslim,” he said.
“Now, we have some Christians among the people vying for the position, and there are discussions about whether Oyo can have a Christian Oba. Of course, if you can have a Muslim Alaafin, I see no reason you can’t have a Christian Alaafin.
“The whole point should be to ensure that people would not be talking about religion in issues like this, but it is difficult because of the agenda of people wanting to impose their religion on others.
“So these are where all the problems still lie, and until we’re able to understand it, I don’t see how we can move forward.”
Oladigbolu said education and enlightenment are necessary to solve division caused by religion.
“It is only enlightenment that can carry people to the point where religious considerations no longer matter in societal affairs,” he said.
“When people are enlightened to the point where it doesn’t, then it won’t.
“But today, they still see each other from their religious prism because even the behavior of people that occupy positions in society gets influenced by religion.”
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