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Court fines EFCC N10m for unlawfully declaring Christ Embassy pastor wanted

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A federal high court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state, has fined the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) N10 million for unlawfully declaring Οyinmiebi Biribena, a pastor, and his wife Beatrice, wanted.

Isa Dashen, presiding judge, gave the declaration while ruling on a matter marked FHC/YNG/CS/132/2022 filed on June 10, 2022, by the applicants seeking the enforcement of their fundamental human rights.

The couple had amongst several reliefs, sought a declaration that a publication made by the commission on June 8, 2022 via Guardian Newspaper on page 36, declaring them wanted without a valid court order, constituted a “breach of their fundamental rights to personal liberty, freedom of movement, right to private and family life and dignity of human person as guaranteed by Sections 34(1), 35(1) 37 and 41(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As amended), and Articles 4, 5, 6 and 12(1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap A9, Laws of the Federation, 2004”.

Biribena is the pastor in charge of Christ Embassy Church in Kumasi, Ghana.

The judge agreed with the applicants and granted all the reliefs sought.

The judge also made an order directing and compelling the EFCC to offer a public apology to Biribena and Beatrice, for the “unlawful and unconstitutional” publication.

He also gave an order “restraining the EFCC from inviting, harassing, arresting and detaining Οyinmiebi and Beatrice Biribena, pending the determination of a suit marked FHC/YNG/CS/125/2022”.

However, instead of the N100 million sought by the applicants, the judge awarded N10 million as exemplary damages against the EFCC and Wilson Umujaren, former spokesperson of the commission.

Although the judgment was delivered on March 22, 2024, the certified true copy was obtained on April 30.

Meanwhile, in a sister case marked FHC/YNG/CS/125/2022 between Bliss Multinational Perfections Limited and Οyinmiebi Biribena vs the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Dashen, while ruling on the originating summons filed on June 7, 2022, granted some declarations in favour of the applicants against the EFCC.

The judge declared that “by virtue of the provisions of Sections 49 and 50 of the Nigeria Co-operative Societies Act, 1993, Cap C.35, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; and Section 51 of the co-operative Societies Law of Bayelsa State Cap C11, 2006, members of Baraza Multipurpose Co-operative Society cannot report any dispute arising from transactions between themselves and the Co-operative Society, to any security agency or resort to any court of law without first reporting to the Registrar/Director of Bureau of Co-operative Societies, Bayelsa State”.

The judge further declared that the “EFCC cannot interfere in any dispute between members of Baraza Multipurpose Society arising from the registered business objects of the co-operative society”.

He declared that by the provisions of the EFCC Act, 2004, the commission “is not empowered to wade into disputes borne out of civil transactions arising from the registered business objects of the cooperative society and that by the provisions of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act, 2004, the EFCC cannot seize properties belonging to the plaintiffs which are clearly not proceeds to crime”.

Dashen gave a declaration that the “seizure and sealing of Bliss Multinational Perfections Limited’s property situated at No. 1 Otiotio road, Yenezue-Gene, Yenagoa, Bayelsa (known as Bliss Emporium) not being proceeds of any crime, by the EFCC is wrong, unlawful and ought to be returned”.

He also declared that the “seizure and sealing of the jointly owned property of Bliss Multinational Perfections Limited and Οyinmiebi Biribena, situated at No. 57, Green Villa Road, Biogbolo, Yenagoa, Bayelsa state, not being proceeds of any crime, by the EFCC is wrongful, unlawful, and ought to be returned”.

He ordered that the applicant’s bank accounts should be unfreezed.

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FCCPC seals warehouse with mislabelled, expired products in Ekiti

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The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) says a warehouse selling harmful products in Ekiti state was raided and sealed on Wednesday.

In a post on X, FCCPC said the raid was carried out after receiving intelligence reports that there were unsafe and expired products in the warehouse located in Ado-Ekiti.

After confirming the reports, FCCPC said the place was sealed.

“Following intelligence reports, our operatives raided a warehouse suspected of selling harmful products, including vegetable oils, cereals and other fast-moving consumer goods,” the commission said.

“During the raid, the FCCPC found evidence of expired goods still on the shelves, deceptive labels on products, fake barcodes, and repackaged, potentially unsafe products.

“The warehouse is now sealed, and the owners along with a supplier are being investigated. Appropriate enforcement actions will follow.”

The commission said it would remain vigilant in protecting consumers and ensuring a fair marketplace in Nigeria.

On April 18, FCCPC raided two 4U Signature supermarkets in the Wuse area of Abuja.

The supermarkets were accused of overcharging customers by implementing prices different from those listed on the shelf tags.

Four days after the supermarket was sealed, FCCPC summoned the owners of Royal Choice, a Chinese supermarket in Abuja, for allegedly refusing to sell to Nigerians.

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Sanwo-Olu’s deputy chief of staff, Gboyega Soyannwo dies at 55

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Gboyega Soyannwo, deputy chief of staff to Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, is dead.

Soyannwo died on Wednesday after a brief illness, at the age of 55.

In a statement, Gbenga Omotoso, the commissioner for information and strategy in Lagos, said Sanwo-Olu commiserated with the family of the late deputy chief of staff.

The Lagos governor said he had lost a “brother and a servant of the people”.

“With deep sorrow, the Lagos State Government announces the passing of the deputy chief of staff (DCoS) to Mr Governor, Mr Gboyega Soyannwo,” the statement reads.

“Mr. Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on behalf of the government and people of Lagos, sends his condolences to the Soyannwo family.“

Soyannwo was appointed as the deputy chief of staff to Sanwo-Olu in 2019. He was reappointed in 2023.

He was born on October 3, 1968.

He had his primary education at the Corona School Victoria Island, Lagos, from 1974 to 1980 and proceeded to Kings College for his secondary education from 1980 to 1985.

He obtained a B.Sc. in economics from the University of Lagos.

He started his career at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in 1992 as a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

He also worked in some financial institutions in Nigeria before joining the public service.

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Faulty aircraft: Tinubu should travel by road or use commercial flight, says rep

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Ali Isa, a member of the house of representatives, says President Bola Tinubu should travel by road or use commercial flights for official engagements.

Isa, the minority whip and a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) representing the Balanga/Billiri federal constituency of Gombe, spoke on the floor of the green chamber on Wednesday.

Isa was contributing to a motion sponsored by Satomi Ahmed, chairman of the house committee on national security and intelligence, on the need to probe the status of the presidential fleet.

Recently, Tinubu reportedly used a chartered aircraft from the Netherlands to Saudi Arabia after the presidential jet developed a fault.

Early this month, Vice-President Kashim Shettima also cancelled his trip to the United States due to a fault developed by the presidential jet.

Shettima was to represent Tinubu at the 2024 US-Africa business summit.

‘TINUBU SHOULD TRAVEL BY ROAD’

Isa said the president and the vice-president can travel by road or fly commercial airlines when they are going on official engagements.

“Mr Speaker, since an issue has been raised, I would advise that the president should suspend using the presidential aircraft; if there is a need he can use either commercial or chartered aircraft,” the lawmaker said.

“And another option that will also help Nigerians is if the president can travel by road. Nigerians will have hope that our roads will be repaired.”

Benjamin Kalu, the deputy speaker who presided over the plenary, said the president should not travel by road.

“Are you saying, Mr president, the number one leader should travel around by road?” Kalu asked.

But Kingsley Chinda, the minority leader, corroborated Isa’s position that the president can use commercial aircraft.

“I have not seen anything wrong with a public office holder using public aircraft. The prime minister of the UK uses British Airways. It is commercial,” Chinda said.

“We should be thinking of how to resuscitate the Nigerian Airway.

“British Airways is not a British Air Force; it is a British private company. If we have planes in the presidential fleet, they should be maintained, and the president and vice president can use them.

“If for any reason we have failed to maintain them, it is not for it to be discussed on the floor of the house.”

However, Sada Soli, a member from Katsina countered Chinda, saying that the UK prime minister uses a special British Airways plane.

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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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