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N2.7bn fraud: Court grants Sirika, daughter, in-law N100m bail each

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A Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, on Thursday granted the former Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Hadi Abubakar Sirika, bail.

The court also granted his daughter, Fatimah Hadi Sirika and in-law, Jalal Hamma bail.

Sirika, his daughter, son-in-law and Al-Duraq Investment Ltd, were charged to court over alleged N2.7bn fraud in connection with the botched Nigerian Air project by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Before the trial judge, Justice Sylvanus Orji granted the bail request of the defendants, they pleaded not guilty to all the charges preferred against them after it was read out to them.

Sirika was docked on a 6-count amended criminal charge before Justice Oriji.

The prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs SAN, had informed the court of an amended charge by the EFCC dated May 7, and filed on May 8, which was not opposed by the counsel to the defendants.

The defendant’s lead counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN), who is Sirika’s counsel, informed the court of his client’s bail application dated May 6.

The other defendants similarly, moved their bail applications and prayed the court to be liberal in the bail conditions.

Jacobs, on his part, told the court that all the defendants were on administrative bail and asked the court to grant bail on the condition that would make them appear for their trials.

After listening to all the parties, Justice Orji granted the bail application to each of the defendants in the sum of 100m with two sureties each.

He added that one of the sureties must own a landed property with valid land titles in like sum within the Federal Capital Territory.

The judge also held that the sureties must depose to an affidavit of means while he barred the defendants from travelling outside the shores of the country without its permission.

Justice Orji added that failure to fulfil the bail conditions would earn the defendants a stay in a correctional facility.

He said, “I admit the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendant to bail in the sum of 100 million each with 2 sureties of like sum.

“One of the sureties must have a landed property within the Federal Capital Territory.

“The defendants must not travel outside the country.

“Any of them who is unable to fulfil the bail conditions will be remanded in the correctional centre.”

The trial was subsequently fixed for 10, 11 and 20 June.

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Tinubu appoints Ajuri Ngelale as climate action envoy, sets up committee on green economy

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President Bola Tinubu has established the presidential committee on climate action and green economic solutions.

Tinubu will lead the committee as the chairman, while Balarabe Abbas, minister of environment, will serve as the vice-chairman.

In a statement on Sunday, Segun Imohiosen, director of information in the office of the secretary to the government of the federation (AGF), said the president also appointed Ajuri Ngelale as the special presidential envoy on climate action.

Ngelale is the special adviser to the president on media and publicity.

The committee is expected to “coordinate and oversee all policies and programmes on climate action and green economic development”.

The statement added that the committee will also “identify, develop, and implement innovative non-oil & non-gas climate action initiatives”.

The committee will coordinate the activities of relevant federal government institutions towards the “attainment of all agreed climate action and green economic objectives and non-oil/non-gas ambitions”.

FULL LIST

(1) President Bola Tinubu – Chairman

(2) Balarabe Abbas Lawal (Minister of Environment) – Vice-Chairman

(3) Ajuri Ngelale (Special Adviser) – Secretary/Special Presidential Envoy

(4) Lazarus Angbazo (CEO, InfraCorp) – Member

(5) Salisu Dahiru (CEO, NCCC) – Member

(6) Michael Ohiani (CEO, ICRC) – Member

(7) Aisha Rimi (CEO, NIPC) – Member

(8) Aminu Umar-Sadiq (CEO, NSIA) – Member

(9) Yusuf Maina-Bukar (CEO, NAGGW) – Member

(10) Abdullahi Mustapha (CEO, ECN) – Member

(11) Abba Abubakar Aliyu (CEO, REA) – Member

(12) Uzoma Nwagba (CEO, CrediCorp) – Member

(13) Khalil Halilu (CEO, NASENI) – Member

(14) Fatima Shinkafi (CEO, SMDF) – Member

(15) Bala Bello (Deputy Governor, CBN) – Member

(16) Lolade Abiola (UN SE4ALL) – Member

(17) Teni Majekodunmi (NCCC Adviser) – Member

(18) Representative, Federal Ministry of FCT – Member

(19) Representative, Federal Ministry of Finance – Member

(20) Representative, Federal Ministry of Power – Member

(21) Representative, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment – Member

(22) Representative, Federal Ministry of Water Resources – Member

(23) Representative, Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Food Security – Member

(24) Representative, Federal Inland Revenue Service – Member

(25) Representative, Nigeria Customs Service – Member

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Man dies while watching football in Lagos bar

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A yet-to-be-identified middle-aged man has died while watching football at a local bar along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.

It was gathered that the incident happened on Thursday, May 16.

The deceased, who was a regular customer in the open bar, was said to have walked in, sat down, and started to watch a football match until he fell asleep.

Efforts to wake him when the match ended, however, proved abortive as he was found motionless.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, who confirmed the incident, said it was reported at the Elere Police Division.

He said, “The owner of a bar located along Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway reported at Elere Division that at about 6:15 pm on Thursday, one of his male customers in his 50s, whose name and address are yet unknown, came into the open bar to sit and watch television.

“He was later observed to be sleeping on the chair and in an attempt to wake him up, it was discovered that he was lifeless. The scene was visited by detectives of the division, and the deceased was seen lifeless on the chair without any mark of violence.

“The body has been removed to the Mainland General Hospital mortuary, Yaba, Lagos State for autopsy. Efforts to trace his family are in progress.”

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LASEMA rescues young man who mistakenly fell into Lagos lagoon

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The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) says it has rescued a man who “mistakenly fell” into the lagoon.

Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, LASEMA permanent secretary, told NAN that the agency received a distress call around 7am on Friday.

Oke-Osanyintolu said the man reportedly fell into the lagoon at Falomo bridge.

“Following the distress call, LASEMA activated the state’s emergency response plans with the swift arrival of LASEMA response team from Lekki zone at the incident scene at 8:02am,” NAN quoted him as saying.

“On arrival of the team at the incident scene, investigations revealed that the man had been resuscitated, and had identified himself as Segun Amoo.

“He narrated how he mistakenly fell into the Lagos lagoon at the aforementioned location.”

Oke-Osanyintolu said information obtained from Lagos State Water Authority (LASWA) revealed that Amoo was seen struggling for survival inside the lagoon.

The LASEMA permanent secretary quoted LASWA officials as saying: “Our staff had, around 11.00 p.m. yesterday night, observed Amoo struggling for survival in the lagoon waters after he fell off the bridge, thereby leading to the LASWA rescue team’s response.

“Amoo was rescued by the LASWA officials and subsequently stabilised by the agency’s pre-hospital care paramedics.

“He provided vital information about himself after resuscitation, stating that his home address is at Ilaje-Bariga, Lagos.

“He also clarified that he was not suicidal while narrating how the incident of his fall off the bridge occurred.”

Oke-Osanyintolu said the LASEMA response team proceeded to the victim’s home address for further investigations, where the rescue team handed over the victim to his relatives.

He said the victim’s brother claimed that the family had been searching for him for some time.

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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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