metro
Malami, Falana disagree on court order unfreezing #Endsars promoters’ accounts
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria to immediately unfreeze 20 bank accounts linked to protesters and promoters of #EndSARS.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed gave the order after the withdrawal of a suit instituted against them by the CBN through its counsel, Michael Aondoakaa (SAN).
But the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and the #Endsars promoters’ lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) have sharply disagreed on whether the FG could be compelled to comply with the court order or not.
Malami, in an interview with Channels TV, said the Federal Government was not wrong to freeze the bank accounts of 20 #EndSARS campaigners, adding that “the decision to comply with the court order or not is not a decision that is a product of intimidation.”
Falana, however, said on Thursday morning also in an interview with the TV station that the CBN could not appeal the court judgment.
When the matter came up on Wednesday, Aondoakaa told the court that he had discussed with the counsel for the defendants and in the spirit of reconciliation, his client was withdrawing the suit.
Justice Mohammed then struck out the suit.
He stated, “All processes filed deemed to have been withdrawn in the spirit of reconciliation, the suit is hereby struck out. The order of November 4, 2020, freezing the accounts of the respondents is hereby set aside. An order is made de-freezing the accounts of the respondents immediately.”
The CBN had in an ex parte application filed on October 20, 2020, asked the court to freeze the accounts of the respondents which was granted by Justice Mohammed.
The court order was addressed to the head offices of Access Bank, Fidelity Bank, First Bank of Nigeria, Guaranty Trust Bank, United Bank of Africa and Zenith Bank.
The court directed the banks to freeze all transactions on the accounts on the list annexed to the CBN’s application as an exhibit for a period of 180 days pending the outcome of investigation and inquiry by the bank.
The 180 days lapsed last week.
Some of the bank accounts holders were Bolatito Oduala, Chima Ibebunjoh, Mary Kpengwa, Saadat Bibi, Bassey Israel, Wisdom Obi, Nicholas Osazele, Ebere Idibie, Akintomide Yusuf, Uhuo Promise and Mosopefoluwa Odeseye.
Also on the list are Adegoke Yusuf, Umoh Ekanem, Babatunde Segun, Mulu Teghenan, Mary Oshifowora, Winifred Jacob, Victor Solomon, Idunu Williams, and Gatefield Nigeria Limited.
Malam, however, said, “The decision to comply with the court order or not is not a decision that is a product of intimidation; government cannot be intimidated, government cannot in anyway be compromised as far as the exercise of its constitutional powers is concerned but that does not mean the government is perpetually inconsiderate.
“The bottom-line is that the public interest matters most in whatever decision the government arrives at, as far as compliance or non-compliance with the orders or judgments of the court is concerned. Intimidation is out of it, threats are out of it; constitutionality is the bottom-line.”
Falana urged the CBN to focuson its business of banking and refrain from jumping into the political terrain.
He also said his clients would drag the Federal Government and the CBN to court for trampling on their rights by unlawfully freezing their accounts last October.
metro
Missing Delta varsity female student found dead, two suspects arrested
Missing Delta varsity female student found dead, two suspects arrested
Two suspects are in the custody of the Edo State Police Command in connection with the disappearance and death of a 200-level undergraduate of Delta State University of Science and Technology, Agbor, Miss Faith Omodon.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the inhabitants of Iru Egbede community in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State had, on March 30, reported the sudden disappearance of their daughter who was studying Business Administration at DELSU.
The father of the missing girl, Edward Omodon, had told our correspondent that his daughter was last seen on March 30, after she left home for the farm on a motorcycle. He said the incident occurred when the community was holding their national conference.
“We usually have the Iru National Conference at this time of the year. We were seated inside the community hall when we heard loud wailing outside that my daughter was missing. She had left for the farm earlier that morning with a motorcycle, taking her breakfast in a flask with her,” he said.
However, our correspondent gathered on Sunday that the community’s vigilante group arrested and handed over two suspects in connection with the disappearance.
READ ALSO:
- NAF airstrikes kill scores of terrorists in Borno, Niger enclaves
- Edo 2024: Muslims demand fair representation in govt
- Fubara: I have moved on with governance despite political pressure
Speaking with PUNCH Metro on the incident, on Sunday, the National Youth Chairman of Iru- Egbede, Donald Isioma, disclosed that the suspects were arrested on Saturday afternoon.
He said the two were arrested when the phone of the deceased was tracked and traced to the suspects.
Isioma added, “The police have recovered the phone from the suspects and the motorbike Omodon rode to the farm on the day she went missing.
“One of the suspects who is a member of the community has confessed that they had killed the girl while being interrogated at the Okpaihe Police Station before the case was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Benin.”
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, said information concerning the arrest had yet to reach him but promised to get back as soon as he contacted men of the SCID. He had yet to do that as of the time of filing this report on Sunday evening.
Missing Delta varsity female student found dead, two suspects arrested
metro
NAF airstrikes kill scores of terrorists in Borno, Niger enclaves
NAF airstrikes kill scores of terrorists in Borno, Niger enclaves
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Sunday said the air components of Operations Hadin Kai and Whirl Punch in the North East and North Central killed many terrorists in airstrikes in Borno and Niger.
The Director, Public Relations and Information, NAF, AVM Edward Gabkwet, disclosed this in a statement.
Gabkwet said the air components had continued to obliterate terrorists and destroy their structures, equipment and mobility, thereby limiting their ability to attack ground troops and innocent Nigerians at will.
He said that in the North East, the air interdiction was on May 3 authorized and conducted over Chinene, a location tucked inside the Mandara Mountain.
He said terrorists had been observed to be emanating from various locations and assembling ostensibly for a meeting.
According to him, seven gun trucks were also observed parked under trees within the same location.
Gabkwet said the aircraft bombarded the assembly area and tree coverings and destroyed their weapons and mobility.
He said that the Battle Damage Assessment revealed that the strikes were successful as several terrorists were neutralised and logistics destroyed.
READ ALSO:
- Edo 2024: Muslims demand fair representation in govt
- Fubara: I have moved on with governance despite political pressure
- FG begins disbursement of N50bn grant to small business owners
He said similar airstrikes were conducted same day by the air component of Operation Whirl Punch in a pre-emptive air strikes over terrorists hibernating at Allawa village, near Shiroro town in Niger.
The NAF spokesman said the mission was conducted following credible intelligence which revealed the migration of terrorists into the village after the mass exit of locals for fear of their safety.
He said the terrorists had, on May 1, stormed the deserted Allawa community in Shiroro Local Government Area and torched the Central Primary School.
“In the evening of the same day, another group of terrorists also arrived at the location, wielding AK-47/49 rifles after invading Galapai village in Galadima Kogo District of Shiroro.
“Accordingly, to prevent further occupation as well as pursue the terrorists from the location, the air component scrambled a formation of its platforms to attack the location.
“On arrival at the location, several terrorists were sighted and engaged effectively.
“Furthermore, following credible intelligence as well as detailed aerial observation, which confirmed the presence of their cache of arms hidden inside Allawa Forest, the air component further carried out air strikes at the location,” he said.
Gabkwet also said that the NAF carried out air strikes North of Arugbana and Temakiri in the Niger Delta, where illegal refining sites were observed and destroyed.
He said through this action, the capabilities of oil thieves to continually sabotage and destroy oil pipelines were minimised.
NAF airstrikes kill scores of terrorists in Borno, Niger enclaves
(NAN)
metro
Why five Ondo kidnappers slept off after abducting pastor’s wife – Police
Why five Ondo kidnappers slept off after abducting pastor’s wife – Police
Akure —Police detectives have arrested five suspected kidnappers, who slept off after abducting a pastor’s wife and two other persons.
The suspects reportedly slept off after taking hard drugs. Vanguard gathered that the three victims escaped after their abductors slept off.
The suspects include Garuba Mumuni, 27; Yusuf Tale, 21; Kabiru Muhammed, 16, Shaibu Umar and Adamu Mohammed, 22.
Police source said the suspects were arrested by men of the Ofosu Division after the victims identified one of them.
According to the police, “A case of kidnapping was reported at Ofosu Division, that a pastor’s wife and a member were kidnapped in the church while the third victim was kidnapped while picking snails on the farm.
READ ALSO:
- Atiku alleges conflict of interest in Lagos-Calabar coastal highway contract
- Presidency silent over Tinubu’s whereabouts after official trips abroad
- Shettima away to Texas for US-Africa Business Summit
“The victims, however, escaped from their assailants at different dates after they had taken hard drugs and slept off.
“Through intelligence, on May 1, 2024, five among the six kidnappers were arrested by men of Ofosu division and have been identified by the victims as part of the gang that abducted them.
The state Police Commissioner, Abayomi Oladipo, said the suspects would soon be charged to court.
Oladipo added that one Adetokunbo Adesina, who claimed to have been hired to kill over 500 persons, was also arrested after his last victim paid him N110,000.
Why five Ondo kidnappers slept off after abducting pastor’s wife – Police
Ikeja Electric cuts tariff for Band A customers
Canadian mayor praises Lagos under Tinubu at event honouring Peter Obi
Boniface scores as Leverkusen continue unbeaten season with 5 -1 win at Frankfurt
-
Entertainment1 day agoNollywood veteran Shan George weeps as fraudster clears ₦3.6m from her account (VIDEO)
-
International1 day agoGaza: Thousands rally for hostage deal as ceasefire talks continue
-
Sports1 day agoRonaldo’s hat-trick leads Al Nassr to 6-0 victory over Al Wehda
-
metro22 hours agoDSS seals Plateau clinic over patient’s death
-
News2 days agoUpdated: NNPC blames fuel scarcity on panic buying, hoarding, marketers disagree
-
News2 days agoDon’t host US, French military bases in Nigeria, northern leaders warn Tinubu
-
Entertainment3 days agoSanwo-Olu appoints KWAM1’S daughter as aide
-
News3 days agoI never said I’m a billionaire— Ex-Anambra CP
You must be logged in to post a comment Login