Seun Kuti retracts allegation on P&ID fraud, tenders apology

Seun Kuti, Afrobeats musician and son of legendary Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, has apologised to Bolaji Ayorinde over a defamatory statement he made against the senior lawyer.

In a video posted on social media,  Seun accused of Ayorinde passing information to Process and Industrial Development (P&ID), while representing Nigeria during arbitration proceedings over their disputed gas contract.

The musician boasted that he was ready to meet Ayorinde in court over the controversy surrounding the P&ID gas processing contract case.

Following the development, Ayorinde dragged Seun before Oyo State High Court sitting at Ibadan.

But at the hearing of the suit on April 18, 2024, the parties involved informed the court that they had met and adopted the terms of settlement dated 15/4/2024 and filed the same date.

They urged the court to adopt the terms of settlement as the judgment of the court.

Justice K. Olawoyin adopted the term of settlement as the judgment of the court.

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The court said: “In view of the foregoing and in accordance with the expressed desire of the parties in this suit as confirmed by the respective counsel in court, I hereby enter the foregoing terms of statement as the judgment of the court.”

However, Seun said that the statement he posted on his Instagram Handle @bigbirdkuti on October 31, 2023, against Chief Ayorinde were “not true and unfounded and stand retracted”.

He said “It is not true that the claimant (Chief Ayorinde SAN) leaked confidential documents to the adverse side in the P & ID Vs. Nigeria arbitration matter or in any way conducted himself in any unethical or corrupt manner in his work as legal Practitioner for Nigeria in the said case.

“It is not true that the claimant deliberately planned with the opponent to lose in the P & ID Vs. Nigeria Arbitration Matter and sabotaged the interests of Nigeria in the case.

“It is not true that the claimant committed Treachery against Nigeria in the said P & ID Vs. Nigeria Arbitration Matter.

“It is not true that the claimant charged $197 million for a case in which the claimant intentionally sabotaged his country, Nigeria.

“Having now conceded that my allegations are untrue and unfounded and that I have unjustifiably impeached the character and reputation of Chief Ayorinde, SAN, I hereby publicly recant and retract my aforesaid untrue imputations against Chief Ayorinde, which stood to damage the hard earned good name and good will of Chief Ayorinde’s character.”

Seun Kuti retracts allegation on P&ID fraud, tenders apology

Terrorist negotiator Tukur Mamu seeks transfer out of DSS custody to Kuje prison

Terrorist negotiator, Tukur Mamu, who is standing trial for terrorism offences has applied to the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to transfer him out of the custody of the Department of the State Service (DSS) to the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.

Mamu asked Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo to vary the remand order against him for a remand at the prison instead of the DSS custody.

During the trial Monday, Mamu through his lawyer, Abdul Mohammed, SAN, told the court that the order of the court made on December 19, 2023 that he be allowed access to his personal physician for medical treatment was not complied with by the DSS.

In his motion on notice argued by his lawyer, the former terrorist negotiator claimed that he was allowed access to the physician once during which a report of comprehensive medical examination to be carried out on him was submitted to the DSS.

Since the submission of the report, Mamu alleged that the physician had not been allowed to access him and that he needed urgent surgical operations in any hospital in the county.

Ganduje probe: Kano commission invites public for information

The Kano State Judicial Commission on the Recovery of Misappropriated Public Properties and Assets has called on general public to provide it with useful information that will assist in discharging its assignment.

The chairman of the commission, Justice Faruk Adamu, made the call during its inaugural sitting, held at the Audu Bako Secretariat in Kano on Monday.

Newstrends recalls that the commission of inquiry was inaugurated by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State to probe Misappropriated Public Properties and Assets from May, 2015 to May, 2023 in Kano State under administration of former governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

In his speech, the chairman said the commission was not established to witch-hunt or persecute anybody but on fact finding mission.

“In addition, I would like to call on any person that has any useful information or input that will assist the Commission in its assignment to send it in writing for verification, after which he or she may be asked to appear before the Commission to testify in person. Note again that the Commission is here to serve and protect the interest of the public,” he said.

Mr Adamu assured the parties involved that the commission would be just, and give fair hearing to them.

According to him, “The Commission was not established to witch-hunt or persecute anybody. Rather, it is on a fact-finding mission and at the end of our findings we will submit a set of recommendations to the State Government for possible implementation.

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“I wish to assure all and sundry that the Commission will be just and give fair-hearing to all the parties involved, be it individuals, companies, agencies or entities.

“In addition, I would like to call on any person that has any useful information or input that will assist the Commission in its assignment to send it in writing for verification, after which he or she may be asked to appear before the Commission to testify in person. Note again that the Commission is here to serve and protect the interest of the public.

“I would like to appeal to the general public and the media in particular to give the Commission the utmost maximum support and cooperation possible and also to appeal to them to avoid the temptation to politicize the work of the commission for doing so would ultimately be detrimental to the success of the fact-finding mission of this Commission,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the Chairman said the 12-member panel has a 10-point terms of reference which includes as follows: “To review the sale, disposal or allocation of all government owned properties, institutional buildings including school buildings, government hospitals, praying grounds, historical and cultural sites and monuments, graveyards, and other open land or spaces within Kano Urban Area or other urban lands in other part of the Country belonging to Kano State from 29th May 2015 to 29th May 2023;

“To review the sale, disposal or allocation of all government-owned offices, houses, workshops and any other public building or land belonging to the State or local government council anywhere and outside the state/local government from 29th May, 2015 to 29th May, 2023;

“To provide a comprehensive inventory of all such affected properties, to determine the cost or value at which such sales, disposal or allocation were made and also provide the estimated current market value of such properties;

“To determine the individuals, companies, agencies or entities to which such sale, disposal or allocations were made whether such properties have changed hands and if so to whom;

“To determine if any abuses have been perpetrated in the process of such sale, disposal or allocations and identify the officials or persons responsible for such abuses;

“To determine the role of government ministries, departments and agencies or particular government officials in the process of such sales, disposal or allocations and determine their responsibility or culpability in any abuses or breaches of relevant laws and regulations;

“To make recommendations on the recovery of any government properties or institutional buildings found to be improperly sold, disposed off or allocated to any individual, company or entity,” among others.

Ganduje probe: Kano commission invites public for information