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We didn’t threaten to arrest Sanwo-Olu, his aides or family, says EFCC

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has asked a federal high court in Abuja to dismiss the fundamental rights suit filed in the name of Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the governor of Lagos state.

In the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/773/2024 dated and filed on June 6, Sanwo-Olu through his lawyer, Darlington Ozurumba, sought an order restraining the EFCC from harassing, intimidating, arresting, detaining, interrogating, or prosecuting him in connection with his tenure as the governor of Lagos state.

The court was also asked to make an order restraining the anti-graft agency from “seizing the properties, the international passport, and travel documents of the plaintiff or freezing the bank accounts of the plaintiff and his family members”.

Responding to the suit in a counter affidavit, the EFCC described the legal action as speculative and a “mere conjecture”.

Ufuoma Ezire, a superintendent and litigation secretary in the legal and prosecution department, said the EFCC is not investigating the governor and has never threatened to arrest him or his staff.

“That I know as a fact that the defendant invites members of the public for interview, interrogation or any engagement vide a written invitation, phone calls or text messages by any of its officers who shall introduce himself or herself by name, rank, designation, and Section to enable the invitee trace the officer easily,” Ezire said.

“That no officer of the defendant could have invited the plaintiff or his aides without furnishing them with such detailed particulars of himself.

“That contrary to the depositions in paragraphs 5 of the plaintiff affidavit, the defendant did not intimidate, harass or threaten the plaintiff or subject him to any trauma.”

He said the EFCC is not aware of the “accusation of maladministration or diversion of Lagos state’s funds” nor is it aware of “any likelihood of a breach of the applicant’s right to liberty or right to own movable and immovable properties in this case”.

“That the action of the plaintiff, in this case, is mere conjecture and speculations as there is no petition or any intel gathered before the defendant to warrant the men and officers of same to invite, threaten to arrest the plaintiff at the moment,” he added.

“That the entirety of the dispositions contained in the plaintiffs’ affidavit are not true, as the application is misconceived and brought in bad faith to mislead this honourable court.

“That the defendant is not in a position to deny or confirm the depositions in paragraphs 4 and 4(iii) as the defendant is not a party to the conversation between deponent and the plaintiff.

“That it will be in the interest of justice to refuse the reliefs sought by the plaintiff.”

Meanwhile, the Lagos state governor has since denied filing the suit against the anti-graft agency.

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NESREA seals two facilities in FCT, Kogi for violating environmental regulations

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The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has sealed two facilities in Abuja and Kogi for breaching environmental laws.

The facilities are Geld Construction Limited, located in Abaji, FCT, and Arno Energy, a charcoal production company in Okaba, Kogi.

In a statement on Wednesday, Amaka Ejiofor, NESREA’s spokesperson, said the companies were sealed for failure to conduct their environmental impact assessment (EIA).

Ejiofor noted that the facilities also failed to provide important environmental documents, including an air quality permit, an environmental audit report, and a waste management permit, necessary for maintaining standards in companies.

“The EIA provides guidance on mitigating the negative impact of a facility’s operations on the environment,” the statement reads.

“Their failure to do so led to the closure of the facilities to save human health and the environment.”

The NESREA’s spokesperson added that the facilities were also operating in an environmentally harmful manner, resulting in negative impacts on the host communities and the environment.

She said procedural measures, including the issuance of compliance notices, had been taken to force the facilities to address and rectify their violations.

Innocent Barikor, the director-general of NESREA, urged industry operators to ensure their activities and operations follow the stipulations of the law.

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Federal high court to commence Christmas vacation December 16

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The federal high court says it would go on break from December 16 to mark the Christmas holiday.

In a circular, John Tsoho, the court’s chief judge, said the Abuja, Lagos, and Port-Harcourt judicial divisions would remain open to the litigating public during the break.

Tsoho added that the court would resume proceedings on January 6, 2025.

“The vacation is pursuant to the provisions of order 46, rule 4 (c) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019 (as amended),” the circular reads.

“Only matters relating to the enforcement of fundamental rights, arrest or release of vessels and matters that concern the vacation judges shall entertain dire national interest.”

The notice added that Emeka Nwite and M. S. Liman would be judges at the Abuja division during the vacation, while Akintayo Aluko and Isaac Dipeolu would sit at the Lagos division of the court.

P. M. Ayua and A. T. Mohammed would be the adjudicators at the Port-Harcourt division pending the resumption of complete court activities.

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NAFDAC shuts down counterfeit alcohol factory in Abuja

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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) recently intensified its campaign against counterfeit alcohol, dismantling an illicit production operation in Lugbe, Abuja.

This raid uncovered large quantities of fake alcoholic beverages and expired ingredients with altered dates, underscoring NAFDAC’s commitment to clamping down on dangerous, substandard goods.

In an operation led by Mr. Shaba Mohammed, Director of NAFDAC’s Federal Task Force, enforcement teams seized counterfeit alcohol and discovered equipment used to repackage these products in reused bottles.

“This operation is part of a broader effort to target hotspots for counterfeit goods,” said Mohammed. “Lugbe has become a focal point for producing and distributing these fake alcoholic products, with bottles labeled to mimic popular brands and expiration dates altered to deceive consumers.”

The confiscated products had been packaged in residential settings, where counterfeiters relied on imitation packaging materials to produce fraudulent versions of popular alcoholic drinks.

In light of this, NAFDAC has now sealed the facility and launched investigations into those involved.

Mohammed emphasized that this crackdown marks one of many enforcement actions the agency has planned in Abuja to curb the circulation of substandard alcoholic beverages, especially as the festive season approaches, when demand traditionally increases.

The crackdown in Abuja mirrors other enforcement actions nationwide, as NAFDAC continues to monitor markets and address the surge in unregistered and counterfeit products. Mr. Tamanuwa Andrew, Deputy Director of NAFDAC’s Investigation and Enforcement in Kaduna, reported similar discoveries in Wuse Market and Mararaba, a bustling community on the border of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Nasarawa State.

“We’ve seen an increase in unregistered herbal remedies and pharmaceutical products alongside counterfeit alcohol,” said Andrew. “Our surveillance is ongoing, with the aim of clearing these products from the markets and protecting public health.”

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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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