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N3.1bn fraud: $15.8m was delivered to Suswam residence – Witness

Published

3 months ago

September 29, 2024

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Former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam

N3.1bn fraud: $15.8m was delivered to Suswam residence – Witness

In an ongoing trial of former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, at the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, a key witness has testified to converting and delivering $15.8 million in cash to the ex-governor at his residence.

According to Dele Oyewale, Head of Media and Publicity for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the witness, Abubakar Umar, detailed how in 2014 he received N3.1 billion from Suswam, which he converted into dollars and delivered in cash.

Suswam, along with his former Commissioner of Finance, Omodachi Okolobia, is facing 11 counts of money laundering in connection with the alleged misappropriation of N3.1 billion.

The money was reportedly derived from the sale of Benue State’s shares through the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited and facilitated by Elixir Securities Limited and Elixir Investment Partners Limited.

Testifying on Thursday, Umar, the sixth prosecution witness, revealed how the sum of N3.1 billion was transferred to him by Suswam’s proxy, a woman, in several tranches between August and October 2014. He told the court how he converted the funds into dollars, at an exchange rate of N197 per dollar, and delivered the equivalent amount of $15.8 million in cash to Suswam at his Maitama residence.

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“One day in 2014, when I was in the office, the former governor of Benue State asked me to meet him in his house in Maitama, Abuja. I went and met him together with one fair woman. He asked me to give the woman my account number, which I did. On the 8th of August, N413 million was transferred to my account,” Umar told the court.

He continued, “I called the former governor, and he told me to change the money to dollars. Three days later, I had the equivalent amount ready and delivered it to him at his Maitama residence, close to the Jumat Mosque. We confirmed the money together.”

Umar testified that the transfers continued in similar fashion, with the largest single tranche being N1.068 billion, transferred on October 17, 2014. In total, N3.1 billion was sent to him, which he converted to $15.8 million in cash and delivered in installments to Suswam’s residence.

The witness, while being led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, acknowledged that he had no written records or receipts for the transactions, relying only on his discretion and trust from both parties involved.

Justice Lifu adjourned the trial until October 4, 2024, for further hearings.

This testimony forms part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of corruption and financial mismanagement during Suswam’s tenure as governor of Benue State. Both Suswam and his co-defendant have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Dele Oyewale, Head of Media and Publicity for the EFCC, issued a statement confirming the adjournment of the trial.

N3.1bn fraud: $15.8m was delivered to Suswam residence – Witness

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Man steals goat for daughter’s naming in Ogun

Published

12 hours ago

January 4, 2025

Trends Admin

Man steals goat for daughter’s naming in Ogun

A suspect, Akintoye Wariss, has been arrested by the Odeda Division of the Ogun State Police Command for allegedly stealing and slaughtering a Savannah he-goat, worth N200,000, for his daughter’s naming ceremony.

Omolola Odutola, the spokesperson for the police command, confirmed the arrest, which occurred on January 2, 2024, in the Odeda region of Ogun State. Waris was arrested alongside an accomplice, Ajayi Yusuf.

The two men are accused of breaking into a farm in the area to steal the goat. They reportedly waited until December 25, when the farm owner, identified only as Mark, had taken his cattle out to graze.

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Odutola shared that when Mark returned and discovered one of the goats missing, a search was launched in the community. Villagers soon reported seeing the suspects riding a motorcycle with the missing goat and heading toward Olodo town.

The police acted swiftly on the tip-off, deploying detectives who successfully captured the suspects early on January 2, 2025.

During questioning, the suspects allegedly admitted to the crime, detailing how they stole, transported, and slaughtered the he-goat on December 27, 2024. They also revealed that the goat was used for the feast at Waris’s daughter’s naming ceremony in Olodo.

The two suspects are now in police custody and are undergoing further investigation at the Divisional Crime Branch. Odutola assured the public that the suspects would face prosecution once the investigation concludes and that any new updates on the case would be shared accordingly.

Man steals goat for daughter’s naming in Ogun

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Privatise Port Harcourt, Warri refineries, PETROAN tells FG

Published

13 hours ago

January 4, 2025

Trends Admin

Port Harcourt Refinery

Privatise Port Harcourt, Warri refineries, PETROAN tells FG

The Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has requested the Federal Government to privatise the Port Harcourt and Warri Refineries in 2025 to firms for efficiency and reduction of government spendings.

It made the request in a document titled: “To whom It may concern,” which The Nation obtained from Abuja on Saturday.

The document was signed by the National President, Billy Hary; Secretary, Barr Adedibu Aderibigbe, and Public Relations Officer, Dr Joseph Obele.

In its recommendations, the association said: “Based on PETROAN’s observations, the following recommendations are made to

ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of the downstream sector in 2025:. “Privatization of Nigerian-Owned Refineries: Privatize Nigerian-owned refineries, such as the Warri and Kaduna refineries, to reputable private companies to improve efficiency and reduce government spending.”

It further noted that privatisation of the plants would foster a competitive market by encouraging new entrants and promoting a level playing field to prevent monopolies and ensure fair pricing.

It said it would enhance transparency and accountability.

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PETROAN also requested President Ahmed Tinubu to save the businesses of 10,000 oil and gas marketers with N100billion intervention.

This followed the perceived job losses due to the removal of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) petrol subsidy.

The document said: “PETROAN request for a grant of ₦100 billion from President Bola Tinubu to help prevent the closure of 10,000 marketers’ businesses.

” The request is in response to the threat of job losses that would result from the removal of the fuel subsidy.”

PETROAN also urged the government to address cross-border smuggling of petroleum products by collaborating

with neighbouring countries to strengthen border security and prevent

smuggling, and also utilize digital tracking systems to monitor petroleum

products from refineries to retail outlets.

The association further asked the government to prioritise local refineries’ access to crude oil to boost Nigeria’s refining capacity and reduce reliance on imported petroleum products.

Privatise Port Harcourt, Warri refineries, PETROAN tells FG

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How I escaped death after my 14-year-old bride poisoned my meal – Jigawa man

Published

13 hours ago

January 4, 2025

Trends Admin

How I escaped death after my 14-year-old bride poisoned my meal – Jigawa man

A 34-year-old man has shared the story of how he narrowly escaped death while his friend lost his life after his 14-year-old bride poisoned their meal two days after their wedding.

Kamisu Haruna recounted that the incident occurred on December 22 at his home in Albasu village, Jahun Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

According to Haruna, after marrying Zahra’u Dauda on December 20 in Kiyawa Local Government Area, he brought his young bride to his residence.

Two days later, as the wedding guests had departed, Zahra’u reportedly sent some of her friends to deliver food to him and his companions around 10pm.

“On Sunday night (December 22), after the wedding guests had dispersed to their various homes, my friends were preparing to take me to the bride’s room. Suddenly, we saw her friends coming towards a nearby shop where we were sitting. They came with cooked spaghetti with beef and said the bride sent them to give us the food.

“While eating the food, we noticed a taste of chemicals and stopped eating, suspecting the food was poisoned. Then we started feeling stomach ache.

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“We took milk, but our condition kept worsening. We were rushed to the hospital where my friend, Muhammad Alpha, was confirmed dead,” the groom narrated to a reporter who visited the village.

Haruna alleged that his wife had been influenced by her former lover, who he claimed supplied her with the poison.

“After the wedding in Kiyawa, she (the bride) told me she would go back to her town to collect her belongings. It was there that her former boyfriend gave her the poison and asked her to put it in my food,” he alleged.

The groom also denied accusations of coercing his bride into the marriage, maintaining that Zahra’u genuinely loved him but was misled by her ex-boyfriend due to her inexperience.

“Everyone can testify that we are true lovers. What happened is just our destiny and due to her little experience of life.

“She is still my wife even though her action led to the death of my friend. We prayed for the repose of his soul, and the law enforcement agencies should do justice for all of us,” Haruna said.

Jigawa State Police spokesperson, Lawan Adam, confirmed the incident, stating that Zahra’u, a resident of Bagata Gabas village, conspired with her former lover, 22-year-old Lawan Musa of Bagata Gabas Yamma village, to poison her husband’s food.

“The husband and his two friends ate the food together, and as a result, they both developed stomachaches.

“Victims were rushed to the hospital, where one of the groom’s friends was confirmed dead by the medical doctor on call. The case is under investigation,” the police spokesperson said.