N2.4b scam: Court remands contractor in Kuje prison

A contractor, Olugbenga Obadina has been arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on charges of criminal breach of trust and money laundering.

Obadina was sued alongside his firm, Almond Projects Limited on an eight-count charge, bordering on criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering to the tune of N2.4b.

The prosecution alleged that Odadina received N2. 417 billion paid into his company’s account in tranches, between 2013 and 2015.

The money according to the prosecution was paid from the Office of the National Security Adviser, under retired Col. Sambo Dasuki without a contract award.

The offence, according to the prosecution, contravened Section 15(2), (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended, and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

The prosecution also alleged that Obadina in April 2014 in Abuja, directly took possession of N648 million paid into the account of Almond Projects Ltd.
Obadina also in February 2015, directly took possession of N510 million paid into the account of Almond Projects, from the account of the Office of the National Security Adviser, all without contract awards.

However, Obadina pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.

Following the not guilty plea, EFCC counsel, Aso Larry Peters, requested for a trial date while urging the court to remand the accused in prison custody.

Chris Uche, counsel to the accused person prayed the court to grant the defendant bail, as he had a pending application to that effect, which had been served on the prosecution.

Presiding judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, however, ordered the accused to be remanded in Kuje prison till July 18 when his application for bail would be ruled on.

NAN

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Boko Haram: M-NJTF repel attacks in Baga

Troops of the Multi-National Joint Task Force, M-NJTF on Friday neutralized attacks by Boko Haram insurgents in Baga.

A statement signed by Col. Muhammad Dole,  Chief Military Public Information Officer of the M-NJTF and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN said that the troops inflicted heavy casualties on the terrorists.

"In continuation with conduct of Operation GAMA AIKI by Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in its Area of Operation (AOO), the troops of sector 3 in Baga, (Nigeria) had successfully repelled Boko Haram terrorists attacks and cleared more villages around Kangarwa and Doron Naira villages.

"A total of 25 x BHT were feared died, 2 x Trucks mounted with AA guns and one was captured.

"Also among seized weapons were, 1 x 60mm Mortar, 2 x RPG tubes, 12 x AK 47 rifles, 1 x LMG, 1 x GPMG, assorted ammunitions of various caliber, including a vehicle.

"During the encounter some terrorists were killed, 2 x AK 47 rifles and 3 x Motorcycles, 7 x Jericans of PMS, as well as assorted drugs were recovered.

"Also, during all these combat operations, the Sector lost 1 x officer and a soldier, with 7 soldiers wounded in action.

"The wounded personnel were swiftly evacuated to the nearest medical centre for treatment,’’ the statement said.

It added that the troops of Sector 1 at Makary area (Cameroon) were continuing to dominate the villages and other areas already cleared of terrorists.

"Unfortunately during one of the fighting patrols around general of Mordasse, Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded on patrol team and wounded 5 personnel and damaged one of the vehicles.

"Both the wounded personnel and vehicle were safely evacuated and the wounded are in stable condition. The cohesion and the fighting spirit of the troops remain high."

NAN

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DSS operatives shoot and kill mother of 5 in Kaduna

Hell was almost let loose in Kaduna on Wednesday when an operative of the Department of State Services, DSS shot to death, a female traveller on the Abuja-Kaduna highway.

An eyewitness account has it that the mother of 5 was hit by a bullet fired by a DSS operative at the commercial vehicle she was traveling in for disobeying an order to stop at the Kakau and Sabon-Gaya Toll Gate.

Following the unfortunate shooting, members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW and and other other angry motorists blocked the toll gate, making vehicular movement impossible.

According to another eyewitness who said that the incident happened at about 2pm, the 6 man team of DSS operatives had been aiming at another vehicle but missed their target and hit the one in which the victim was traveling with her children, killing her instantly.

The timely intervention of the Kaduna State Police Command prevented a breakdown of law and order.

The Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Adamu Ibrahim, said that the offending DSS operatives have been arrested by the police.

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CAN condemns Abuja killing of female preacher

Rev Yakubu Pam, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN in Northern Nigeria has condemned the slaughter of Deaconess Eunice Olawale Elijah of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG in Kubwa by suspected Muslim fundamentalists.

Mrs Elijah was on her usual early morning evangelism round when she was attacked and killed last Saturday.

Pam in a statement he issued in Jos noted that the killing was coming on the heels of similar killings in Kano and Niger states where a man and a woman, both Christians were hacked to death by suspected Islamic extremists.

He lamented that religious extremists in the north have resorted to killing Christians at will under one guise or the other.

Pam called on the Buhari administration to bring the perpetrators of the evil killings to book and prevent similar crimes from happening.

He condoled with the widower, Pastor Olawale Elijah and the General Overseer of the RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye on the unfortunate and untimely demise of the female evangelist.

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Russia 2018: Super Eagles to play top quality friendlies

The soon to be appointed Super Eagles gaffer has been assured of top quality friendly matches in preparation for the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 qualifying matches.

The General Secretary of the Nigerian Football Federation, NFF, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi told footballlive.ng that the FA was determined to make the team's recent poor form in qualifying for major competitions a thing of the past.

The NFF is set to appoint a substantive coach for the senior national team before the month runs out. The front runners to the coveted position include interim coach, Salisu Yusuf, Frenchman Paul Le Guen and Belgian, Tom Sainfiet.

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Tinubu's wife called me a dog - Dino Melaye

Senator Dino Melaye has addressed the Senate Press Corps on Tuesday's altercation between him and Senator Oluremi Tinubu during a closed-door session of the Senate.

Melaye said that he was provoked into using violent language on Mrs Tinubu after she called him a dog and a thug.
The Kogi senator anchored his address on his honor as a Christian, a father and a senator.

“I have never been a coward; I will not start an apprenticeship programme now on how to become a coward.

“Whatever I say anywhere, I can boldly repeat everywhere. When I stood up, and I made my submissions that day in the Senate, all I did was to pacify my colleagues and ask that the case in court be withdrawn because already, there is a resolution of the Senate that the rules of the Senate were not forged, and since there was a resolution of the Senate that the rules of the Senate were not forged, I said all those who have gone to court should go and withdraw their names from court and that if at the end of the day, they refused to withdraw their names from court, we should penalise them by suspending them. I said that.

“But I did not use any insolent, abusive, degrading or mannerless language. So, there was no reaction from any of our colleagues as regards my presentation.

“After I had spoken, many other senators spoke, and I did not mention the name of any senator while I was making my presentation. Unfortunately, Senator Oluremi Tinubu got up and was recognised to speak, and immediately she started speaking, she specifically mentioned my name, even when in my presentation I did not mention anybody’s name.

“I only appealed to the sensitivity of my colleagues and asked them to withdraw their case from court and reminded them that there was a resolution of the Senate that the rules were not forged. But because of reasons only known to Senator Oluremi Tinubu, she got up, and the first thing she said was that she’s being harassed in this chamber by Senator Melaye.

“I kept quiet at that point; she went ahead to say that why will she come here and be threatened by senators and there was a large chorus from senators saying ‘how, when, where’.

“At that point, I was still very calm. She got up again and said that this thug must be tamed. At that point, I got up, and I told her that she is very stupid.

“The next statement from her was that you are a dog. She called me a dog, and when she called me a dog, I stood up, and I reacted and told her that this is not Bourdillon and that she should look at my face, I am not one of those senators who normally come to prostrate to them in Bourdillon.

“I told her I am from Kogi State, I am not from Lagos State and that there would never be a day I will come to you for political assistance. These were my words, and she went on shouting dog, thug.

“I want to tell you, gentlemen of the press, that for every reaction, there must be an action. When I got up to address my colleagues, she was not the only senator there. If I had used insolent language or foul languages, you know the type of senators we have. They would have reacted, and some of them would have even addressed you guys by now to say Dino insulted us.

“But because she acted in the manner she did, not one senator stood up in her defence when I was tongue-lashing her. Even the senators from Lagos were there. Senator Ashafa was there; he didn’t stand up from his seat.

“It is not true that anybody circled her because there was no need to. I did not leave the spot I was sitting. I didn’t get up from my seat.”

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PMB with Alake of Egbaland at State House Abuja (Photo)

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday received the Alake of Egbaland, His Majesty Oba Michael Aremu Adedotun Gbadebo 111, at the State House, Abuja.

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