Ex-Chief of Staff indicts El-Rufai in money laundering case – Newstrends
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Ex-Chief of Staff indicts El-Rufai in money laundering case

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Former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai

Ex-Chief of Staff indicts El-Rufai in money laundering case

Alhaji Muhammad Bashir Sa’idu, the former Chief of Staff to Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has reportedly implicated his former principal, El-Rufai, in a confessional statement linked to an ongoing money laundering investigation.

Sa’idu was arrested and arraigned on December 31, 2024, at the Chief Magistrate Court in Rigasa, Kaduna, where he was remanded in custody.

Sa’idu faces charges related to the alleged sale of $45 million in hard currency, belonging to the Kaduna State Government, at a drastically undervalued rate of ₦410 per dollar, significantly lower than the parallel market rate of ₦498 per dollar. This action resulted in a loss of ₦3,960,000,000 to the state government.

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The prosecution claims that the incident occurred in 2022 when Sa’idu served as the Commissioner of Finance under El-Rufai’s administration.

The charges also allege that the funds were laundered in violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

A security source, who spoke under condition of anonymity to The Nation, revealed that in his statement to police, Sa’idu claimed that the decision to convert the funds was made by the then-Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, rather than by the Commissioner of Finance.

Sa’idu reportedly mentioned that El-Rufai personally instructed how much money to convert and oversaw the bidding process for currency conversion, often rejecting higher bids in favour of those offering less favourable rates.

Under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, anyone found guilty of such violations could face imprisonment for a term ranging from four to 14 years, alongside a fine of up to five times the value of the proceeds of the crime.

 

Ex-Chief of Staff indicts El-Rufai in money laundering case

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Appeal Court vacates order nullifying Sanusi’s reinstatement as Emir

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3 hours ago

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January 10, 2025

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Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II

Appeal Court vacates order nullifying Sanusi’s reinstatement as Emir

The Kano State Division of the Court of Appeal, on Friday, vacated the High Court order that nullified the reappointment of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the 16th Emir of Kano.

A three-member panel of the appellate court, which delivered its judgement in Abuja, voided the June 20, 2024, decision of Justice Abubakar Liman of the Federal High Court, which invalidated the Kano State Emirates Council (Repeal) Law 2024 that facilitated Sanusi’s reappointment.

According to the appellate court, Justice Liman was bereft of the jurisdiction to nullify the steps the Kano State Government took pursuant to the 2024 Emirates Council Law.

It held that a fundamental rights enforcement suit that was filed by an aggrieved kingmaker in the state, Alhaji Aminu Babba Dan Agundi, which the high court judge relied upon to issue the order, was incompetent.

The appellant court maintained that since the originating suit was not instituted by due process of the law, it robbed the high court of the requisite jurisdiction to entertain it.

It will be recalled that the Kano State House of Assembly had on May 23, last year, enacted the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024, which the state Governor, Abba Yusuf, assented to on the same date.

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Buoyed by the law, the governor, among other things, deposed the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, and also reversed the status of the emirs of Bichi, Rano, Gaya, and Karaye emirates to that of district heads, following the collapse of their emirates into Kano Emirate.

Likewise, governor Yusuf reappointed the 14th Emir of Kano, Sanusi II, who was deposed in 2020 by his predecessor, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, who had also enacted the law that divided the Kano emirates into five.

However, dissatisfied with Sanusi’s reappointment as the head of the united emirates in Kano state, Alhaji Agundi, who was a kingmaker and the Sarkin Dawaki Babba under the divided emirates, approached the court and secured an order for the maintenance of status quo, so as to allow the deposed 15th Emir, Bayero, to remain on seat.

In his subsequent verdict on the matter, Justice Liman upheld Alhaji Agundi’s case and declared the actions taken by Governor Yusuf as null and void, a decision the appellate court faulted on Friday.

According to the appellate court panel led by Justice Mohammed Mustapha, though section 46(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, imbued the high court with the jurisdiction to entertain fundamental right enforcement cases, Alhaji Agundi suit did not fall within such category.

It held that the crux of the plaintiff’s suit was a chieftaincy related issue as he had contended that the action of the Kano State Government would affect his position as a kingmaker and also strip his place of its emirate status.

The appellate court held that the plaintiff ought to have initiated a civil action to ventilate his grievance rather than his decision to file the fundamental right enforcement suit.

Having declared that the suit was wrongly commenced and therefore robbed the court of the jurisdiction to entertain it, the appellate court held that the proper order was for the matter to be struck out for want of competence.

Even though a member of the panel, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, in his minority decision, agreed that Justice Liman acted without jurisdiction, however, instead of striking out the case, he ordered that it should be transferred and remitted to the Chief Judge of Kano state, to be heard by another judge.

Meanwhile, in another judgement, the appellate court ordered a fresh hearing of the suit the embattled 15th Emir, Bayero, filed to challenge the decision of governor Yusuf to unseat him.

The appellate court held that evidence before it established that Bayero was not accorded fair hearing by the Kano state High Court which it said conducted shoddy proceedings against him.

Justice Mustapha, who delivered the lead judgement, noted that the said proceeding was conducted without the service of hearing notice on Bayero to enable him to present his own side of the case.

He held that all courts of law are bound to ensure justice for all parties by giving them equal opportunities, adding that the manner the proceeding was conduct against Bayero, amounted to a travesty of justice.

Consequently, the appellate court remitted his case back to the Chief Judge of the Kano State High Court to be reassigned to another judge for expeditious determination.

 

Appeal Court vacates order nullifying Sanusi’s reinstatement as Emir

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Yoruba group condemns Igboho over fresh call for secession

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3 hours ago

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January 10, 2025

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Sunday Igboho

Yoruba group condemns Igboho over fresh call for secession

The Yoruba Welfare Group (YWG) has tackled  Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Igboho over his recent calls for secession, describing such agitations as baseless and unfounded.

National President of the Yoruba Welfare Group (YWG), Abdulhakeem Adegoke Alawuje, in a statement on Friday, it

dismissed Igboho’s agitation, saying it did not reflect the collective aspirations of the Yoruba people.

According to the statement, “Sunday Igboho’s actions stem from a personal agenda, not the broader interests of Yoruba land. The Yoruba Welfare Group is dedicated to promoting unity and fostering stronger relationships between Yoruba people and other ethnic groups in Nigeria.

“We therefore  urge citizens to support President Tinubu’s policies, which we believe are aimed at national progress and cohesion, not division.

“We want to caution political leaders against exploiting ethnic sentiments for personal or political gain, and we urge Nigerians across all regions to uphold equality and fairness in governance.

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While recognizing the importance of free speech, he stressed that divisive rhetoric capable of eroding trust and unity within Nigeria’s democratic framework must be firmly addressed by regional leaders.

“Nigeria’s unity is greater than any argument for separation, we therefore implore individuals like Sunday Igboho  with similar ideologies to engage in constructive dialogue to emphasis the importance of a united Nigeria.

“Yoruba Welfare Group is commited to protecting the welfare of Yoruba people and any other ethnic groups living within Yoruba regions, just as we want to  encourage socio-cultural organizations nationwide to instil values of love, peace, and unity in the younger generation, many of whom lack a deep understanding of Nigeria’s historical struggles and achievements.

“The importance of maintaining a cordial relationship between the South and North can not be overstated, particularly between the Southwest and Northern regions. It’s crucial to recognize that the political collaboration that led to President Muhammad Buhari’s victory in 2015 was also instrumental in President Tinubu’s win in 2023.

“This collaboration is a testament to the power of unity and cooperation between regions. It’s essential to preserve this tolerance and create space for dialogue to ensure peace and progress continue. By doing so, we can build on the successes of the past and work towards a brighter future for all Nigerians.

“Yoruba Welfare Group has been actively promoting unity and peace across Nigeria, transcending religious, linguistic, and ethnic divides. Their efforts demonstrate the importance of organizations and individuals working together to foster a sense of national unity and cooperation.

“We want to advise against stoking ethnic or religious tensions because such actions could lead to uncontrollable conflicts. And the pursuit of separation is a misguided attempt to cut off the head to cure a headache.

“We therefore call on Nigerians to embrace collective efforts to address the country’s challenges. Nigeria must remain united to secure a better future for all its citizens”.

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US govt returns $52.88m linked to ex-Petroleum Minister, Diezani

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3 hours ago

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January 10, 2025

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Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison-Madueke

US govt returns $52.88m linked to ex-Petroleum Minister, Diezani

The Government of the United States of America, USA, has repatriated the sum of $52. 88 million it said was traced to former Petroleum Resources Minister Diezani Madueke.

The US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Richard M. Mills, Jr, led a delegation that executed the Assets Return Agreement at the Federal Ministry of Justice Headquarters in Abuja, on Friday.

Signing the agreement on behalf of the Federal Government, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, disclosed that the $52.88m arose from the forfeiture of Galactica assets, linked to the ex-Minister and her associates.

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The AGF maintained that the development was not only a testament to the unwavering commitment of both nations to fight corruption but also signified the commitment of the USA to facilitate restitution and support integrity and accountability in governance.

“Measures have also been put in place to ensure that the repatriated funds are not only disbursed but also utilized transparently and accountably by the World Bank and IIJ, with periodic reports to be forwarded to Nigeria and the US on the implementation of the projects.

“This robust framework will guarantee that the funds are effectively used for the full benefit of the Nigerian people in line with UNCAC and the Global Forum on Asset Recovery (GFAR) principles,” the AGF added.

 

US govt returns $52.88m linked to ex-Petroleum Minister, Diezani

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