19032019 - Sack Buhari, declare me winner, Atiku tells tribunal

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10 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2019 ALLEGED N2.2BN FRAUD: Court admits evidence against Fayose By Innocent Anaba LAGOS—A FEDERAL High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, admitted in evidence a statement made by one late Mr Justin Erukaa, who worked as Personal Assistant to Mr Musiliu Obanikoro, before his death. In a short ruling, trial judge, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun admitted Erukaa’s statement and marked it as Exhibit J in the ongoing trial of former governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose over an alleged N2.2 billion fraud. The second defence counsel, Mr Olalekan Ojo, SAN, had at the previous hearing tendered the statement, which Erukaa made to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in the course of investigating the alleged N2.2 billion fraud against Fayose. Ojo said Erukaa’s statement was relevant to the case, adding that it could be admitted in the absence of the deceased. After the judge admitted Erukaa’s statement in evidence, the case proceeded with further cross-examination of Obanikoro, who is the fifth witness to testify for the EFCC against Fayose. Fielding questions from Mr Ahmed Tafa, who stood in for Ojo, Obanikoro reiterated that he was into farming, with his farms in Lagos, Badagry and Ogun State. He also confirmed knowing a company, MOB Integrated Limited. FIRS arraigns firm, 3 others over tax evasion, assault on revenue staff LAGOS—THE Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) yesterday arraigned Fortless Global Concept Limited and Everyday Wine Shop and their representatives at the Federal Hight Court, Abuja on alleged tax evasion, obstruction of official duty and attack on staff of the FIRS on duty among other charges. In the Charge No: FHC/ ABJ/CR/48/2019, between the Federal Government of Nigeria (Complainant) and Fortless Global Concept Limited (also known as Fortless Supermarket and Stores and Chukwu Ejike (Defendants), the FIRS preferred a six-count charge bordering on tax evasion and assault on FIRS staff on duty on the defendants pursuant to Section 174 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended) and Section 47 of the FIRS Establishment Act No: 13, 2007. Similarly, in the Charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/47/2019, Asked by Tafa if he knew that staff members of MOB Integrated Limited were signatories to the bank account of Fayose’s coaccused, Sylvan Mcmanara Ltd, Obanikoro said, “I don’t know what you are talking about.” He explained again that then NSA, Col Sambo Dasuki (retd), entered into an agreement with Taiwo Kareem, who owns Sylvan Mcmanara Ltd, to use the firm’s account for the disbursement of funds for security operations in Lagos. Obanikoro said after the agreement with Kareem, he took over Sylvan Mcmanara Ltd’s account in supervisory capacity, adding that all the major decisions taken on the account were cleared with him. “There were three transactions. One was for the security of Lagos; one for election in Ekiti and for election in Osun State,” he said. When Tafa asked if “matters of elections were matters of security,” Obanikoro said, “They can be.” Asked if the Office of the National Security Adviser funded his campaign while he was vying for governorship on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Obanikoro said, “Not to my knowledge.” He said he had no records of his transactions with the NSA. He, however, said he would not be surprised if the record of the NSA showed no N2.2 billion transaction. between the Federal Government of Nigeria (Complainant) and Everyday Wine Shop (also known as Everyday Wine Shop &Bar), Mbah Sunday and Epkeha Peter (Defendants), the FIRS preferred a six-count charge also bordering on tax evasion and assault on FIRS staff on duty on the defendants pursuant to Section 174 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended) and Section 47 of the FIRS Establishment Act No: 13, 2007. Representatives of the two companies who are currently on administrative bail: Mbah Sunday and Epkeha Peter for Everyday Wine Shop and Chukwu Ejike for Fortless Global Concept pleaded not guilty to the charges. Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo of the Federal High Court 10, Abuja granted the application of the leader of FIRS prosecution counsel, James Binang and scheduled March 21, 2019 for the FIRS to prove the charges against the defendants. BRIEFING: From left; Country Director, PharmAccess Foundation, Njide Ndili; MD/CEO, Sterling Bank, Abubakar Suleiman; and founder/CEO, Premier Medical Systems Nigeria Ltd, Niyi Osamiluyi, at a press conference to flag off the Digital Health Summit in Lagos yesterday. Confusion over reports of fresh building collapse on Lagos Island •LABSCA, LASEMA dismiss reports as false •Four injured as LASG pulls down four more more distressed buildings By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Monsuru Olowoopejo LAGOS—FEW days after the Itafaji building collapse in which no fewer than 10 persons, including school children died, there was confusion in the polity, yesterday, following reports that fresh building collapse on Lagos Island, with people trapped. However, officials of Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA and Lagos State Emergency Management Authority, LASEMA, have doused tension and debunked the report as false. The rumours, which had gone wide on social media along with videos of a collapsed building on 16 Egerton Square, Oke-Arin, Sanwo-Olu meets Buhari in Aso Rock •Promises to make Lagos economic hub of black race By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Johnbosco Agbakwuru A BUJA—PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, met behind closed doors with the Lagos State Governor-elect, Babajide Sanwolu, and his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. This came as Sanwo-Olu decried the incessant building collapse in the state and said Lagos required regeneration. Speaking to State House correspondents on his mission to the State House, Sanwo-|Olu said: "I think it is important for the Deputy Governor-elect and I to have a one-on-one short discussion with the Commander-in-Chief and it is a rare privilege. It was a short one, just to say congratulations to him in his own election and he also said the same thing to us. So it is a very short courtesy visit to Mr President." He also said the incoming administration under his leadership had many good packages for the Lagos people and will implement programmes that bring about positive development and improve the quality of lives and ''ease all of the challenges that we currently have in Lagos." On the recurrent collapse buildings in Lagos, he said: "It is an unfortunate incident, even when I was in government before, I used to be the Vice L A G O S — FOLLOWING the recent invasion and harassment of members of Igbo-Ilogbo community at Ayobo, in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State, by some hoodlums over their right of occupancy, the Radio Communication Nigeria, RCN, Limited, has assured the residents that they have nothing to worry about. Chairman and Board of Director of RCN, Mr. Kola Abiola, gave the assurance at a stakeholders’ meeting, held at Isheri-Osun, Lagos. Lagos Island, where several people were said to been trapped in the rubble, generated confusion among residents as different versions of the report went viral. Some national dailies, excluding Vanguard, reported that the building that the building caved in during the demolition of adjacent building in the ongoing demolition of defective buildings on the Island. However, LASEMA General Manager, Adeshina Tiamiyu said the reports were not true. ''What happened was that during the demolition of one of the marked distressed buildings on Egerton Square, Oke-Arin, Lagos, some of the scavengers who thronged the site got trapped in the rubble of the controlled collapsed building, injuring some of them in the process. Two persons were injured in the process." It was however, gathered that four people were seriously affected, one of the victims had his legs badly damaged. An eyewitness, Mr. Akin Adeoye, said: "The incident happened when officials of Lagos State Building Control Agency, were demolishing one of the marked distressed buildings and a part of the building being demolished fell on some people at the base of the building and people got injured in the process." Another resident, Akeem Owolabi, said that while the building was being pulled down by officials of LASBCA, some scavengers sneaked into the barricaded premises to remove doors on the ground Chairman on Building Collapse. It was something that was about 10 years ago which led to us to creating an agency called Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA. It was meant to identify structures well ahead before issues like these begin to happen... "You know Lagos is a part Mr. Abiola, represented by Dr. Gabriel Oyedeji, said: “The property with register plan number RA144 dated March 25, 1977 with deed of conveyance dated March 28, 1977and registered as No 24, page 24 in volume 1260 of the Lands Registry in the office of Lagos State, belongs solely to RCN and does not form part of the late MKO Abiola’s estate.” It was gathered that the people woke up last Thursday morning when hoodlums numbering over 100 allegedly stormed the area in a commando style, brandishing dangerous floor and in the process the falling part of the building collapsed on them. The residents stated that four of the scavengers sustained injuries and were rushed to the hospital for treatment. Number of demolished distressed buildings rises to 21. Also, LASBCA officials who were at the scene said there was no collapsed building but while pulling down a structure, a scavenger tried to pick up something and was injured in the process. Yesterday's demolitions have increased the number of distressed structures removed by the state government to 21 out of the 80 marked for demolition on the Island alone. The four demolished buildings were located on the following streets: 2, of the old colony of Lagos, so it's not unexpected to see houses that are over a century old and in those numbers, we need to be sincere to ourselves and we need to be real. Sanwo-Olu also reiterated his commitment to make Lagos the economic capital of the Black Race. Sanwo- Olu said his administration will achieve the goal through provision of job and entrepreneurial opportunities for the residents. HOODLUMS' THREAT: Kola Abiola reassures Ayobo community residents By Innocent Anaba weapons and locked up the people’s houses. The management of the company, at the meeting, distanced itself from the hooligans who went to torment the legal occupants and condemned in strong terms the atrocities recently committed by the invaders, specifically on six plots in the area. He said, “In the recent development, the judgement and execution order Suit No: ID/155/86 referred to by the invaders which was specifically on six plots of land formerly trespassed by a certain Alhaji, has been reverted to the company since 1988.”
Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2019—11 Igini, Akwa Ibom REC, fumes: Says it's madness to accuse INEC of destroying electoral materials By Harris Emmanuel U Y O — T H E Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has refuted allegations by All Progressives Party, APC, that it destroyed materials in a bid to cover up the outcome of elections, which APC claimed was rigged in favour of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. By Alemma Aliu BENIN—EDO State Elections Petition Tribunal, yesterday, said it received petitions from six candidates of All Progressives Congress, APC, and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, concerning the February 23 elections, Secretary of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Mike Igini, described the allegations as porous and wicked, as there was no iota of truth in it, adding that the materials were taken to Uyo in line with the directives from Abuja and wondered why the party would cook up such lies. He said: “That is madness from the pit of hell. In any case, there is nothing like that. One of the vehicles that was bringing the materials had an accident at Abak and the Police were there at the time. “The materials were evacuated. Is that how they want to go about the whole thing? Why do they think that the results were for a particular party? “INEC had sent directives that all used and unused materials be brought for safekeeping because people could decide to burn the offices. Therefore, all those who say such things should have their heads examined.” APC leaders and stakeholders in Essien Udim had accused the electoral umpire of fraud, stating that they uncovered plans by INEC to destroy original results and other important materials used in the last polls in a desperate bid to cover up. ... as 6 NASS candidates go to election respectively, tribunal in Edo tribunal, Mr. Musa Bako, disclosed to journalists. He said the tribunal was in receipt of petitions for two senatorial candidates and four candidates of the House of Representatives, made up of three candidates of APC and three candidates of PDP. Alhaji Abubakar Momoh, PDP candidate for Edo North senatorial candidate, is challenging the victory of Mr. Francis Alimekhena, while in Edo Central senatorial district, Mr. John Inegbedion of APC is challenging the victory of Mr. Clifford Ordia of PDP. Also, APC candidates, Mr. Ehiozuwa Agbonnayima and Idiake Akhimien, of Egor/ Ikpoba-Okha and Esan West/Esan Central federal constituencies, behalf of the Ijaw ethic nationality on the situation in Rivers State. “The INC Steering Committee, therefore, wishes to dissociate itself from the partisan position expressed by Chief Asara- Igbe or by any other persons or groups regarding the situation in Rivers State. “For the avoidance of doubt, we want to restate that it is only the Chairman of INC and the President- are challenging the victories of Jude Ise-Idehen and Joe Edionwele of PDP, respectively. Similarly, PDP candidates, Ms Omosede Igbinedion and Mr. Blessing Agbomhere, are challenging the victories of Mr. Dennis Idahosa and Johnson Oghuma, both of APC, for Ovia and Etsako federal constituencies, respectively. SLOT CAR PROMO: From left—Marketing Manager, Kola Ogunwumi; Sales Head, Retail Nigeria, Fayaz Ahammed, both of Redington-Apple Business; Deputy Director/Coordinator, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Nkiru Onuzulu, and Sale Head, Nigeria, Redington-Apple Business, Sujeendra Prasad, at the first raffle draw of the SLOT-Phone-A-Car promo in Lagos. Don’t speak for Ijaw nation,INC warns politicians, others By Emma Amaize Y ENAGOA—IJAW National Congress, INC, yesterday, warned politicians and unauthorised persons to stop making statements on behalf of Ijaw ethnic nationality. The congress gave the warning in a statement in Yenagoa, Bayalsa State, by Chairman and Secretary of the Interim Steering Committee of INC, Professor Joseph Ajienka and Mike Zuokomor, respectively. They statement read: “The attention of the Interim Steering Committee of INC has been called to a recent trend of unauthorised persons making statements on behalf of the Ijaw Nation. “In particular was a recent press conference by one Chief Anabs Asara-Igbe, during which he claimed to have expressed views on General of the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, that can speak or authorise official positions on behalf of the Ijaw nation after necessary consultations along our established internal lines of communication. “INC insists the situation in Rivers State must follow open democratic processes under the expected neutral supervision of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.” Uboh raises alarm over death threats By Festus Ahon A SABA—THE candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Delta North senatorial district in the just-concluded presidential and National Assembly elections, Mrs Doris Uboh, has raised the alarm over assassination attempt on her by suspected political thugs. Addressing newsmen at Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of the state, Uboh alleged that she was attacked in her Agbor residence in the early hours of Monday, March 11, by “political thugs sent to kill me by W A R R I — POLOBUBO (Tsekelewu) community in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State has urged Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to tackle challenges of under-development in the area. National President of Polobubo(Tsekelewu) National Council, Mr. Ebilate Mac-Yoroki, said urgent needs of the community are contained in a welcome address read at an event the governor could not attend in the community, but was sent to him. members of an opposition party.” She said that the killers made their way into her compound at about 2:30a.m., adding “it was when I heard the terrifying bangs that I quietly went downstairs, called one of my girls and closed the door behind me when I heard no answer, then sneaked out of the house.” Noting that the attack was politically motivated because she stood her ground during the March 9 governorship and state House of Assembly elections, she said: “I had an altercation with the opposition party and INEC officials in my ward.” Okowa urged to address devt in oil community By Jimitota Onoyume By Perez Brisibe UGHELLI—A Warri based lawyer, Kunle Edun, is seeking the prosecution of Chairman of Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, Danladi Umar, “over his refusal to provide details of his assets in pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act 2011.” Defendants in the suit are the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, and Umar. Edun, who is the National Publicity Secretary of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, in a suit before an Abuja Federal High Court, is also seeking a declaration by the court that by virtue of the provisions of sections of He said the community is not happy that the governor could not attend (Senator James Manager, Delta South, represented him) the commissioning of projects by Delta State Oil Producing Areas Develop-ment Commission, DESOPADEC, in the area. He said: “What is important is that all our requests are speedily taken into consideration and actions are taken promptly. “We have handed our request over to our senator and we are confident he will deliver it to the governor and also follow up on them to see that they are delivered.” Lawyer asks court to prosecute CCT boss over assets the Freedom of Information Act 2011 and Article 9(1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the defendants, particularly CCB, are under a legal obligation to provide the plaintiffs, within seven days, the information requested as contained in the plaintiffs’ letter dated February 5, relating to the declared assets and liabilities of Umar and his children of 18 years and below. He also, among others, wants the court to declare that a public officer or former public officer who fails/failed to formally declare his assets and liabilities and that of his children of 18 years of age and below is not entitled to hold/remain in any public office.
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19032019 - Sack Buhari, declare me winner, Atiku tells tribunal

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