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Alleged money laundering: EFCC increases charges against ex-Gov. Fayose’s ally, Agbele

Published

2 months ago

March 12, 2024

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) has increased the alleged money laundering charge preferred against Abiodun Agbele, an ally of the former Ekiti Governor, Ayodele Fayose from 11-counts to 24-counts.

The EFCC had in 2016 arraigned Agbele, and five others at the Federal High Court, Abuja on an 11-count charge bordering money laundering to the tune of N1. 2 billion.

The money was said to be part of N4.7 billion allegedly transferred from an account belonging to the Office of the National Security Adviser, (NSA) in the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN).

In the amended charge, Agbele, Sylvan Mcnamara Limited, De Privateer Ltd, and Spotless Investment Limited were listed as the first to fourth defendants.

The EFCC accused Agbele of indirectly accepting N1.2 billion cash through an official of Zenith Bank in Akure from Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro on behalf of Ayo Fayose in June 2014 without going through a financial institution.

The anti-graft agency said the offence was contrary to Section 1(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011(As Amended) and punishable under the same act.

The agency also accused Agbele of aiding De Privateer to commit an offence by taking possession of N200 million which formed part of N1.2 billion, a proceed of money laundering on behalf of Ayo Fayose contrary to Section Section 18(A) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 18 of the same act.

When the fresh charges were read to Agbele on Tuesday, he maintained his earlier not guilty plea.

Meanwhile, Mr Aliyu Mukadas, a former staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN) and a prosecution witness in the case, in his testimony told the court that the apex bank paid a total sum of N4.15 billion to Sylvan Mcnamara Limited.

Mukadas, while being led in evidence by counsel to the EFCC, Mr Wahab Shittu, SAN narrated how the money was paid in tranches to Sylvan Mcnamara Limited.

He told the court that the money was paid through the company’s Diamond Bank account.

The witness confirmed that the National Security Adviser, (NSA) maintained an account with the CBN meant to fund security operations and not elections.

“We effected payments to all ministry or departments. The office of NSA is one of the agencies that has an account with the CBN.

“The purpose of the NSA account is for security operations, not for election purposes.

“We paid N200 million to Sylvan McNamara Limited through Diamond Bank.

“We also paid N2 billion, N700 million, N1 billion and N225 million into Sylvan McNamara Limited,” the witness told the court.

When asked if he knew what the money was used for, Mukadas who said he worked with CBN for 30 years at its Abuja branch and banking services department where he retired in 2023 said he was not aware.

During cross-examination by Agbele’s counsel, Mr Lekan Ojo, SAN, the witness confirmed that the payment mandate was verified before the payments were made.

When asked if the payment mandate showed the purpose for which the funds were to be paid to the company he said it was for ” services rendered.”

He added that he had no suspicion that the money was for fraudulent purposes.

Testifying earlier, former Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank, Mr Peter Amagbo denied that the bank funded Gov. Ayo Fayose’s re-election campaign.

“We did not fund election for Ekiti.

I have never seen Agbele before. I met Fayose once as MD/CEO. My second meeting with him was as ex-governor during a friend’s father’s funeral,” the witness said.

According to Amagbo, the Bank had a business relationship with Ekiti even before Fayose became governor of the state and the relationship was maintained during his tenure.

When asked if he knew whether the bank had promised to assist Fayose’s re-election campaign, he said that as the head of the management of the bank, his approval was needed for that and the chairman knew that the bank did not sponsor elections.

The trial judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba adjourned further hearing in the matter until May 2.

NAN reports that some of the fresh charges read,” That you Abiodun Agbele on or about June 16, 2014 in Akure within the jurisdiction of this court, indirectly accepted cash in the sum N1.2 billion through officials of Zenith Bank, Akure Branch from one Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro, on behalf of one Ayo Fayose without going through a financial institution and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(a) of Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011(As Amended) and punishable under Section 1503) of the same Act.

“That you Sylvan Mcnamara Ltd on or about June 16, 2014 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this court aided Abiodun Agbele, and Spotless Investment Limited by deploying Sylvan McNamara Limited Diamond Bank Account No. 0026223714 domiciled in Diamond Bank, Lagos, to commit an offence, to wit:

” Money laundering of N1.2 billion in cash which sum formed part of the funds transferred from the office of the National Security Adviser’s account domiciled in Central Bank of Nigeria into Sylvan McNamara Limited’s Diamond Bank Account No. 0026223714 domiciled in Diamond Bank, Lagos, on behalf of one Ayodele Fayose contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011(as amended) and punishable under Section 17(b) of the same.”

News

FAAN starts sales of E-Tags at airports

Published

51 mins ago

May 18, 2024

NewsDirect

The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said it has started the sales of e-tags at airports.

FAAN confirmed this in a statement on Friday. “Following the presidential directive that all citizens are mandated to pay for e-tags at all the 24 federal airports across the country, we wish to inform the general public that the e-tags are available for sale from Friday, 17th May 2024 at the following locations,” it said.

“Lagos: Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos, Terminal 1, 5th Floor) Office of HOD Commercial. Contact: 08033713796 or 08023546030.

“Abuja: Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, HOD Commercial Office (General Aviation Terminal) Contact: 08034633527 or 08137561615.”

News

FG, Labour to reconvene next week over minimum wage negotiation

Published

54 mins ago

May 18, 2024

NewsDirect

The Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage will reconvene on Tuesday, May 23 to further negotiate a reasonable new minimum wage for workers, after the organised labour walked out of the negotiation on May 15.

An invitation letter sent to the labour leaders by the chairman of the committee, Bukar Goni, states that the other members of the committee have agreed to shift grounds from the N48,000 proposal which was made on Wednesday.

The letter appealed to the labour leaders to speak to their members and attend the reconvened meeting next Tuesday.

The organised labour comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have proposed a new minimum wage of N615,000, which is way higher than the N48,000 proposal by the government.

The organised private sector, on the other hand, proposed an initial offer of N54,000. After dumping the talks, the labour leaders addressed a press conference where they expressed their anger over the Federal Government’s offer.

They blamed the government and the private sector for the breakdown in negotiation.

The Federal Government had failed to present a nationally acceptable minimum wage to Nigerians before the May 1 Labour Day.

The situation has forced labour to be at loggerheads with the government. In the wake of the tussle, the NLC President Joe Ajaero insisted on the N615,000 minimum wage, arguing that the amount was arrived at after an analysis of the economic situation worsened by the hike in the cost of living and the needs of an average Nigerian family of six.

Ajaero and labour leaders have given the Federal Government a May 31 deadline to meet their demands.

On January 30, Vice President Kashim Shettima inaugurated the 37-member tripartite committee to come up with a new minimum wage.

With its membership cutting across federal, and state governments, the private sector, and organised labour, the panel is to recommend a new national minimum wage for the country.

During the committee’s inauguration, the Vice President urged the members to “speedily” arrive at a resolution and submit their reports early.

“This timely submission is crucial to ensure the emergence of a new minimum wage,” Shettima said.

The 37-man committee is chaired by the former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Goni Aji.

News

Tinubu appoints governing board members for 111 tertiary institutions

Published

3 hours ago

May 18, 2024

NewsDirect

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointments of at least 555 persons to serve as Pro-chancellors/Chairmen and members of Governing Boards of 111 federal universities, polytechnics and Colleges of Education.

This followed Tinubu’s assent to a list of nominees selected by the Ministry of Education.

It was signed by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack.

“The inauguration and retreat for the Governing Councils will take place on Thursday, May 30 and Friday, May 31, 2024, at the National Universities Commission, 26 Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja. Both events will commence at 9:00am daily,” said Walson-Jack.

When contacted for confirmation, the Presidency said the list emanated from the Ministry of Education.

“This is from the Federal Ministry of Education…they make the nominations and forward them to the President to sign. But they are at liberty to release it from their end,” the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, told our correspondent on Saturday.