Crime
Trial of ex-SGF Lawal, 5 others for alleged N544m fraud begins
The trial of a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal and five others began on Wednesday in an FCT High Court in Jabi, Abuja.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) called its first witness.
The prosecution witness, a relationship manager in the Sales Department, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mohammed Babansule, tendered the statement of account of one of the companies, Josmon Technologies Ltd., the sixth defendant.
Some other documents tendered by the bank official were the Certificate of Incorporation, Memorandum of Understanding, AEDC receipts, Letter of reference, International passport page of Apeh Monday, the fourth defendant and board resolution to open an account, all for the sixth defendant.
Babansule while giving evidence in chief had said that the statement of account for the sixth defendant was generated from computer system of the bank, printed, signed, endorsed and certified by the bank before sending same to the EFCC.
The witness also confirmed comparing the printed statement to be the same with the one in the bank’s system.
When asked by Uket, the prosecutor, the condition of the system as at the time the documents were printed, Babansule replied, “The system, both computer and printer were in good condition and working properly.”
After the documents were tendered to the court and the defendants counsel did not object to any of them, the judge proceeded to Mark them as exhibits.
The defendants counsel, Akin Olujimi, first defendant counsel, Sunday Itodo, second defendant counsel, Napoleon Idenala, counsel to third defendant, Ocholi Okutepa, counsel to the fourth and sixth defendants and M.E Oru , then all took turns to cross examine the witness.
He was also asked to confirm if those institutions were the ones that could issue original copies of any documents that emanated from them.
He was equally asked if it was the bank that noticed an unusual inflow and outflow of the six defendant’s transactions and reported to the EFCC.
He answered in the negative and then in the positive to the above questions.
At the end of the cross-examination by the defendants counsel, Uket attempted to re-examine Babansule in regards to whether or not the bank had the photocopies of the documents he tendered, but his line of question was objected to by Itodo and the objection was sustained by the court.
Justice Charles Agbaza, discharged the witness and adjourned the matter until Jan. 21, for continuation of trial.
The other defendants in the case are: Hamidu Lawal, Lawal’s younger brother, Suleiman Abubakar, Monday Apeh, and two companies – Rholavision Engineering Ltd and Josmon Technologies Ltd.
The defendants were first arraigned before Justice Jude Okeke of the FCT High Court, Maitama, Abuja on Feb. 13, 2019, however the case had to be transferred to Justice Agbaza following Okeke’s death.
This development led to the re-arraignment of the defendants on Nov. 30,2020,on 10 amended counts charge bordering on fraud, criminal conspiracy diversion of over N544 million and diversion of over N544m belonging to the Federal Government.
The offences the EFCC alleged the defendants committed during the time Lawal was the SGF and that he allegedly awarded contracts to these companies in which he had interests.
Crime
NDLEA intercepts N7.3bn codeine consignment in Lagos
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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), on Sunday said it intercepted 6,125 cartons of codeine syrup worth N7.3 billion in Rivers.
This is contained in a statement signed by NDLEA’s Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi on Sunday in Abuja.
Babafemi said that the intercepted cartons contained 1,050,000 bottles of the opioid worth over N7.3 billion street value, at the Port Harcourt Ports complex, Onne, Rivers l.
According to him, the seizure made from six containers on Saturday, is the third of such in the past four weeks.
He said that the drugs were seized following credible intelligence and diligent tracking of the consignments from their port of departure by a special operations unit of NDLEA.
Babafemi also said that the operatives worked in partnership with the Port Harcourt, Ports Command of the agency and other security agencies.
This, he said, included the Nigeria Customs Service for a 100 per cent joint examination of the targeted containers.
“At the end of the joint examination of the six containers, a total of 6,125 cartons containing 1,050,000 bottles of codeine syrup weighing 157,500 kilograms were recovered, “he said.
Babafemi further said that NDLEA officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, (MMIA) Ikeja, Lagos, arrested two passengers travelling to Doha on a Qatar Airways flight at the screening point of terminal 2.
He said that the arrest came after they tested positive to ingestion of illicit substances on Friday.
“The suspects: Aikhomoun Daniel (alias Oladapo Olanrewaju) and Ayigoro Omobolaji were thereafter taken into observatory custody.
“While Daniel excreted a total of 90 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.022kg in six excretions, Ayigoro discharged 60 wraps of the same Class A substance with a total weight of 662grams in five excretions.
“Further investigation revealed that Aikhomoun Daniel actually stole the identity of his late uncle who was once based in Germany.
“This is a decision he claimed he took to get a Schengen visa to enable him free access to Europe, while his real name is Oladapo Olanrewaju, “he said.
Crime
Police arrest robbery suspect in Lagos, recover firearms
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Operatives of Lagos Police Command have arrested a suspected armed robber in Idimu area of the state.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the arrest in a post he shared on his X handle @benHundeyin on Sunday.
He said that the suspect was arrested on Sunday during a patrol of the axis(Idimu)
“Today, at 3: 00 a.m. at Pipeline Street, Idimu, the suspect was arrested by officers from Idimu Division.
“When searched, one locally made pistol and one live cartridge were recovered, ” the spokesperson said.
According to the image maker, investigation is ongoing on the matter
Crime
Troops nab 47 suspected rail track vandals in Kaduna
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