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Emefiele to forfeit another $1.4m on court order
Emefiele to forfeit another $1.4m on court order
The Federal High Court in Lagos, on Tuesday, ordered the final forfeiture of the sum of $1,426,175.14 linked to the immediate-past Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.
Justice Ayokunle Faji ordered the final forfeiture of the funds to the Federal Government.
The final forfeiture order followed an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday.
The anti-graft agency had earlier on May 29, 2014, secured an interim order temporarily forfeiting the money.
The judge ordered the publication of the court order in the newspapers to give anyone interested in the funds to appear in court and show cause why it should not be permanently forfeited.
At the Tuesday hearing, counsel for the EFCC, Mrs Bilkisu Buhari-Bala, said the commission had complied with the publication order and no one had come forward to claim the money.
According to her, the funds were proceeds of unlawful activities by Emefiele.
Buhari-Bala said investigation by the EFCC revealed that the ex-CBN governor received the dollars as kick-backs for approving forex allocation to multinational firms during the forex crisis in the country.
The EFCC lawyer said the court was empowered by Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-related Offences Act to make the forfeiture order.
The forfeiture of the $1.4m on Tuesday comes only days after the same court ordered the permanent forfeiture of choice properties worth N12.18bn from Emefiele.
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The forfeiture order was granted by Justice C.J. Aneke.
In an affidavit filed in support of the Tuesday forfeiture application, an EFCC investigator, David Jayeoba, said the anti-graft agency uncovered the money through credible and direct intelligence.
“Part of the said funds, which represent the proceeds of Godwin Emefiele and his cronies’ unlawful activities, are retained in the accounts now sought to be forfeited.
“Uzeobo Anthony and Adebanjo Olurotimi were procured by Godwin Emefiele and used to conceal, retain and disguise funds reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
“Between 2021 and 2022, when accessibility to forex in Nigeria was difficult, several international entities operating in Nigeria had to resort to different means to source forex.
“Both Uzeobo Anthony and Adebanjo Olurotimi used to collect bribes and gratification on behalf of Godwin Emefiele to get approval for accessing forex.
“One of the entities paid a total sum of $26,552,000.00 into the account domiciled in Titan Trust account number 2000000500.
“The said credits came into the account on the 9th of November 2021: $6,450,000; 15th of November 2021: $6,050,000.00; 16th of December 2021: $5,400,000.00; 23rd of December 2021: $652,000, 31th January 2022: $3,000,000.00 and on the 21st September 2022: $5,000,000.00.
“The investigation traced the funds to having been fixed into interest-yielding accounts, dissipated and laundered through a foreign account in Mauritius, and transported back to Nigeria under disguise.
“Of the total sum of $26, 555, 000.00 received by Donatus Limited, the balance standing in the said account as of today is $1,426, 175. 14.
“It is the balance in the account that the applicant seeks to forfeit to the Federal Government of Nigeria, which has been traced to be the proceeds of unlawful activities of Godwin Emefiele and his cronies.
Emefiele to forfeit another $1.4m on court order
News
Executive Order: NAFDAC praises Tinubu for advancing drug and health security
Executive Order: NAFDAC praises Tinubu for advancing drug and health security
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for signing an executive order to strengthen drug and health security in Nigeria.
In a statement on Saturday, NAFDAC Director-General Prof. Moji Adeyeye highlighted that the executive order is designed to transform Nigeria’s health sector. The order focuses on increasing local production of healthcare products, reducing healthcare equipment and consumables costs, and promoting local investments.
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Prof. Adeyeye emphasized that this move paves the way for a sustainable and high-quality healthcare system for all Nigerians. She noted that the executive order demonstrates the administration’s dedication to transforming the health sector and aligns with the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) and the Presidential Initiative on Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC), which was approved in October 2023.
Prof. Adeyeye also mentioned that NAFDAC has been implementing measures to enhance the local manufacturing of drugs and other health commodities over the past six years. She stated that the Tinubu administration has created an environment where local manufacturers can excel and compete effectively.
Executive Order: NAFDAC praises Tinubu for advancing drug and health security
News
Food Security: Saudi Arabia plans farm equipment manufacturing plants in Nigeria
Food Security: Saudi Arabia plans farm equipment manufacturing plants in Nigeria
Senator Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture, announced that Saudi Arabia has shown interest in establishing manufacturing plants in Nigeria for farming equipment.
Kyari disclosed this in a statement on his Twitter account on Saturday following a meeting with stakeholders from the Middle Eastern state. He highlighted that the objective is to enhance Nigeria’s agricultural sector through mechanization by locating these plants within the country.
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Additionally, Kyari mentioned that Saudi Arabia has committed to purchasing 200,000 metric tons of red meat annually from Nigeria and one million tons of soya. He emphasized that this initiative will bolster the agricultural sector and the nation’s production capacity.
News
Release Nnamdi Kanu now, Peter Obi urges FG
Release Nnamdi Kanu now, Peter Obi urges FG
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the last general election, Peter Obi, has called on the Federal government to release Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Speaking to journalists at his residence in Onitsha, Anambra State, Obi described Nigeria as being on the brink of failure and emphasized the importance of upholding the rule of law. He called on the Federal government to release Nnamdi Kanu promptly, citing court rulings that granted him bail.
“My take on Nnamdi Kanu is that I don’t see any reason for his continued detention, especially as the courts have granted him bail. The government must obey the court. The rule of law is an intricate asset that we must cherish and live with. I use this same opportunity to plead with the federal government to ensure that all those who are in similar conditions are released and discussed. We are in a democracy, and we should not be doing things that are arbitrary and not within the law.
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I want to use this opportunity to say that all those who are being held because of one protest or the other should be released. Whether it is freedom fighters, End Sars protesters, or even because of freedom of speech, be it journalists, let them all be released immediately.
We are a democratic country, and people have rights under the constitution to express themselves freely. They also have the right to peaceful protest, and we must listen to them. We must listen to those who say they are not happy, that is why it is a democracy. We should stop acting dictatorial and behave as if this is not a democratic country.” he said
Release Nnamdi Kanu now, Peter Obi urges FG
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