metro
NDLEA grills socialite, Obi Cubana, for alleged drug links
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on Thursday grilled socialite, Obi Iyiegbu, popularly known as Obi Cubana, for his alleged link to the illegal narcotic business, The PUNCH has learnt.
The PUNCH reports that Iyiegbu, who is the Chairman, Cubana group of companies, was grilled for about five hours at the Abuja headquarters of the NDLEA before he was granted bail and asked to return at a future date.
Impeccable sources told our correspondent that suspicious payments were made into Cubana’s account by three convicted drug dealers from Malaysia, Nigeria and India.
Operatives of the NDLEA and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have now widened the probe into Cubana and his business network based on the premise that he may be involved in the drug business.
“Obi Cubana arrived at the NDLEA office around 9am and responded to questions for some hours before he was granted bail at 2pm. There are suspicions that he may be a drug kingpin. Some convicted drug dealers paid funds into his account.
“We have been able to establish three of such payments. One of the persons that paid money into his account was convicted in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; another one that was convicted in New Delhi, India; also paid money into his account while a third person that was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and convicted in 2017, also paid money into Cubana’s account,” said a source.
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The socialite was allowed to go home in order to get some documents which would be presented to the NDLEA.
Cubana who has been in the nightclub business since 2006, grabbed international headlines last July when he organised a lavish funeral for his mother, Ezinne Iyiegbu, in Oba, Idemili South local government area of Anambra State.
The event attracted several entertainers and renowned politicians from across the country including embattled Nigerian super cop, Abba Kyari. Other entertainers that graced the event include- Davido, D’banj, Kcee, Poco Lee and Ubi Franklin/ The guest list also had Nollywood stars and early callers like Kanayo O. Kanayo, Alex Ekubo and Williams Uchemba.
But the highlight of the event was the ostentatious display of wealth as evidenced by the donation of about 400 cows to Cubana as well as the ‘naira rain’.
In what seemed like a bid to outdo one another, Cubana’s associates sprayed him with bundles of new naira notes. In one of the videos that went viral, two guests were seen having a playful cash fight as they threw wads of money at each other, while other guests laughed.
In another viral video, wads of N50, 000 are thrown at Cubana while he juggles them like a football. The event became the most talked about party of 2021 as it trended on social media for several months. After the funeral, Cubana continued to show off his wealth, posting photographs of his trips to exotic locations on private jets.
As his celebrity status blossomed, he was honoured by several dignitaries. In October last year, he was a guest at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre to launch a book titled, ‘ Leadership Principles for Junior Commanders in the Military’ authored by Col. Chukwu Obasi.
He also built a church, The Good Shepherd Anglican Church in his hometown late last year.
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When questions about the source of his wealth began to crop up, Cubana told the BBC that he came to Abuja for his National Youth Service Corps programme in 1999 and served at the National Assembly.
He said he went into the real estate business where he got a contract to furnish houses. The socialite added that he got a contract with the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company and later ventured into the hospitality sector where he has made billions of naira.
The 46-year-old has since opened branches of Cubana club in about five states including Imo, Lagos, Rivers, Enugu and Abuja. But the authorities were not satisfied with his explanation.
Cubana, who had hitherto kept a low profile, subsequently became a subject of investigation by the Nigerian government.
In November 2021, he was detained by the EFCC for three days as part of investigations into alleged money laundering, tax fraud and other financial crimes before he was released with a condition that he would continue to report back for questioning.
Other associates of the socialite who have been questioned by the authorities for their flamboyant lifestyle include: Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest; and the Chairman, Five Star Group, Emeka Okonkwo aka E-Money.
The Spokesman for the NDLEA, Mr. Femi Babafemi, refused to comment when The PUNCH sought his reaction on Thursday.
An aide to the socialite, Chioma Nwachukwu, however, refused to comment on the matter when she was contacted by The PUNCH.
“There is no comment on the matter now,” she simply said.
Punch
metro
We need $10bn annually for five years to revive power sector – Minister
We need $10bn annually for five years to revive power sector – Minister
A total of $10 billion is needed yearly in the next 10 years to revive the nation’s power sector, Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has said.
He said this when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Power for investigative hearing over the recent electricity tariff hike by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
The minister said, “For this sector to be revived, government need to spend nothing less than 10 billion dollars annually in the next 10 years.
“This is because of the infrastructure requirement for the stability of the sector.
“But government can not afford that. And so we must make this sector attractive to investors and to lenders.
“So for us to attract investors and investment, we must make the sector attractive, and the only way it can be made attractive is that there must be commercial pricing.
“If the value is still at N66 and government is not paying subsidy, the investors will not come. But now that we have increased tariff for a Band, there are interests being shown by investors.”
He urged the lawmakers to support the process of paying the debt owed operators across the value chain of generation, transmission and distribution.
metro
Woman arrested in Ogun after husband commits suicide
Woman arrested in Ogun after husband commits suicide
In Ogun State, one Opeyemi Lateef has died after he ingested a poisonous substance suspected to be ‘Sniper’, the police have said.
The deceased was said to have been found by his wife, Gift Monday, rolling on the floor writhing in severe pain while he was pointing to a bottle on the floor.
The incident happened on Wednesday in the Abeokuta Area of the State.
The deceased was reportedly rushed to Royal Grace Hospital at Soyoye Rounder, Abeokuta, for medical care but was later move to the General Hospital in Ijaye, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, after it was discovered that his health continued to deteriorate.
According to Punch, he died in the latter hospital and buried at his family house in Abule Otun Lafenwa, Abeokuta, according to Islamic burial rites.
Meanwhile, the deceased wife is in police custody over the death of her husband.
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The spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident.
He said an investigation and interrogation were ongoing, and that the deceased’s wife was in their custody in connection with the case.
She said, “On 24/4/2024, at about 08.00 hrs, one Funmilayo Lateef, ‘F’, of Abule Otun reported at the station that she received a phone call from one Gift Monday, ‘F’, her brother’s wife, that her brother now deceased, Opeyemi Lateef ‘M’, drank Sniper.
“He was rushed to Royal Grace Hospital at Soyoye Rounder, Abeokuta, for medical treatment. On getting to the hospital, she found her brother admitted, and he was not responding to treatment; his condition was critical.
“Hence, the doctor referred him to the General Hospital Ijaye at Abeokuta. She stated further that it was at the General Hospital in Ijaye, Abeokuta, that he was confirmed dead. His corpse was brought home according to Islamic rites to Abule Otun at Lafenwa, Abeokuta, their family house.”
Odutola noted that the investigation and interrogation had started, as three witnesses had made statements about the deceased, pointing to the Sniper bottle when asked what was wrong with him and when they saw him in pain
Woman arrested in Ogun after husband commits suicide
metro
Ex-Kwara finance commissioner arraigned over alleged N1. 22bn fraud
Ex-Kwara finance commissioner arraigned over alleged N1. 22bn fraud
On Monday, the Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Ademola Banu, a former commissioner for Finance in Kwara State, before Justice Evelyn Anyadike of the Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin, for alleged money laundering and misappropriation of state funds worth N1.22 billion.
The defendant was accused to have, among other things, conspired to siphon the abovementioned sum under the administration of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed between May 2011 and May 2019 when he was the Commissioner for Finance.
Banu was to be arraigned alongside his former principal, former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed on February 23, 2024, but when the case came up, he was absent in court and had no legal representation, prompting the court to issue a bench warrant against him upon the application by counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN).
The court on the said date took the plea of the former Governor Ahmed on the 12-count charge preferred against him and his finance commissioner by the EFCC and adjourned till Monday, April 29, 2024, while ordering the prosecution to produce Banu for trial.
At the resumed sitting on Monday, the two defendants – Abdulfatah Ahmed and Ademola Banu, who were listed as first and second defendants, were present in court.
When the case was called, A. A. Ajibade, SAN announced appearance for Ahmed, Gboyega Oyewole (SAN) appeared for Banu, while the prosecution team was led by Rotimi Jacobs (SAN).
Jacobs informed the court that the second defendant, who was unavailable at the last sitting when his co-accused was arraigned, was finally in court to take his plea.
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“My Lord, at the last adjournment, the first defendant (Governor Abdulfatah) took his plea, but the second defendant (Banu) was not available in court that day, causing your Lordship to issue a bench warrant against him.
“Following the order of the court, counsel to the second defendant called me and explained that he would produce his client before the court today (Monday), which he has done. I pray the court to allow the charge to be read to him,” Jacobs said.
In response, Banu’s counsel, Oyewole, prayed the court to discharge the bench warrant earlier issued against his client, which Jacobs did not oppose.
In a short ruling, Justice Anyadike vacated the bench warrant against the second defendant, setting the stage for his arraignment. Therefore, he was ordered to enter the dock to take his plea.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.
Following his plea, his counsel, Oyewole, moved a motion for the bail of his client.
He prayed the court to grant the application on liberal terms, citing the medical conditions of the client as reasons.
Jacobs, however, did not oppose the application in view of the earlier ruling.
Justice Anyadike admitted the second defendant to bail in the sum of N20m with two sureties in like sum, who must have landed property within the jurisdiction of the court.
The judge ordered that the sum of N5m must be paid as bond into the litigation account of the Federal High Court by the defendant, which will be returned to him after the final determination of the case or forfeited to the federal government in the event the defendant jump bail.
The judge also ordered the defendant to deposit his international passport with the court, adding that the defendant must not travel without the permission of the court, but may apply to get it on medical reasons if the need arise.
Thereafter, the judge ordered the defendant to be remanded in the custody of the EFCC pending the perfection of his bail conditions.
The case was eventually adjourned to June 25 and 26, 2024, for trial.
Ex-Kwara finance commissioner arraigned over alleged N1. 22bn fraud
(Leadership)
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