News
Army General jailed seven years for stealing, forgery
Army General jailed seven years for stealing, forgery
A military special court martial on Tuesday sentenced Major General Umaru Mohammed, a former group managing director of Nigerian Army Properties Limited (NAPL), to seven years imprisonment.
According to the NAN, the court also ordered the convicted senior officer to refund $ 2.17 million and N1.06 billion which is the money he stole from the company.
He was found guilty of 14 out of the 18 charges bordering on forgery, misappropriation of funds, and conspiracy, among others.
James Myam, president of the court, said the sentence was based on the provisions of the criminal code Act cap C38 laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004, and section 174 of the Armed Forces Act cap 20 laws, 2004.
On count one which borders on stealing, Mohammed was found guilty and sentenced to five years in prison and to refund $1.04 million to NAPL.
The court also found the officer guilty on count two and sentenced him to five years imprisonment, in addition to paying $400,800 to NAPL.
On count three, Mohammed was sentenced to five years imprisonment and to refund $85,400 while count four also attracted five years imprisonment with an order to pay back $35,300.
On count five, the former NAPL boss was sentenced to five years imprisonment with an order to pay $55,500 to the NAPL.
Count six also attracted five years imprisonment with an order to pay back $46,500.
The court however discharged and acquitted him of the charge in count seven, but sentenced him to seven years imprisonment on count eight, while the remaining charges he was convicted of, attracted five and two years imprisonment.
The court turned down the request of the defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo, to move his client to a custodial centre instead of a military detention facility.
His sentence would run concurrently, said the court.
News
Three senior govt officials arrested over alleged illegal citizenship for foreigners
Three senior govt officials arrested over alleged illegal citizenship for foreigners
The Kano State government said three of its top civil servants have been apprehended for engaging in citizenship racket.
The indicted government officials were arrested by the State Public Complaint and Anti-corruption Agency.
According to the anti-graft agency, the three senior officials allegedly recommending Nigerian citizenship to illegal migrants.
Speaking to newsmen on Thursday in Kano, the chairman of the agency, Muhuyi Magaji, disclosed that the suspects collected bribes from the foreign nationals for the the illegal activity.
He alleged that the suspects planned to write letters of recommendation to the Federal ministry of internal affairs, using government letter-headed papers.
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He named the suspects as Kabiru Shehu of the ministry of information; Hassan Aminu from Office of the state Head of Service; and one AMusa Falgore, a retired staff of the information ministry.
“These are senior officials of Kano state government conniving to write fake letters recommending illegal aliens to secure Nigerian citizenship.
“We have arrested them. They are giving us useful information. We will keep interrogating them and at the end, if found wanting, they will be prosecuted.
“We will not tolerate this kind of unpatriotic action from senior government officials.
“This government abhors corruption, and we will do everything possible to ensure that anybody found neck-deep in corruption is exposed,” Mr Muhuyi said.
Three senior govt officials arrested over alleged illegal citizenship for foreigners
(NAN)
News
Group protests alleged imposition of Imam in Osun
Group protests alleged imposition of Imam in Osun
A Muslim group in Inisa, Odo-Otin Local Government area of Osun State, has threatened to embark on mass protest over alleged imposition of Imam on the community’s central mosque.
The mosque had been without leadership since the demise of the imam, his deputy, and third in command, within the space of two months, in 2020, following the crisis over succession plan.
However, in December 2023, Osun State governor, after observing Juma’at prayer in the mosque, adopted one Hakeem Jamiu as the imam.
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But a Muslim group in the town, Inisa Muslim Elites Association, IMEA, while addressing newsmen in Osogbo, yesterday, described the governor’s action as an affront on Islamic teachings and provided guidelines on the appointment of an imam.
Fielding questions from journalist, Imam Raji Oladejo said the Muslim Ummah in the town are ready to lay down their lives to the dictates of the religion on the matter and would not succumb to any imposition from any quarter.
His words: “We have called the attention of every stakeholder on this matter over the illegalities of those who imposed an imam on us in Inisa. We have repeatedly stressed the need to follow due process, and a case is still in court.”
Group protests alleged imposition of Imam in Osun
News
FG paid $500m to terminate Ajaokuta Steel contract – Minister
FG paid $500m to terminate Ajaokuta Steel contract – Minister
The Minister of Steel Development, Alhaji Shuaib Abubakar on Thursday disclosed that the Federal Government paid the sum of $500 in order to terminate the concession agreement on Ajaokuta Steel Company.
The minister, who disclosed this during an interactive session with the House of Representatives Committee on Steel Development in Abuja said the government was working assiduously to find a solution to the Ajaokuta Steel imbroglio.
He said, “It is a problem that has persisted for 45 years. We have gone to China to come and invest in the steel company including setting up a new plant and we have gone to seek financing”.
According to him, the challenges had changed as new technology had come up and there had been innovations and there had been discussions around it but it had not been finalised.
“Funding is a big challenge to the Ministry of Steel Development. Steel industry will be the bed rock of industrialization if we have proper funding.
“I am still at a stage where to find a solution to the Ajaokuta Steel Company.
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On the $2 billion being requested to revive the moribund steel company, the minister said it was just a preliminary calculation, adding that the figure might not be up to that.
According to him, this is an estimate that may not be accurate at the last decimal point. It is just a process that will allow us to arrive at the right destination.
“The president has asked me to find a solution to Ajaokuta, so the figure will change pending the outcome of the technical audit.
“It’s clear to Nigeria that for this to happen we need funding and all the help we can get from the two chambers, this is why we need. I need all your support to make this a reality.”
Abubakar also disclosed that the nation spends $8 billion annually to import steel into the country, saying that it is in the best interest of Nigeria for the Ajaokuta Steel Company to work.
He noted that the revival of Ajaokuta Steel will cost money, and we have written a 10 year document for the revival. We will present the document to Mr President.
He said that it was in his own interest for Ajaokuta Steel to work, adding that he is from Kogi State and must push for such interest
Chairman, House Committee on Steel Development, Hon. Zainab Gimba, the urged the ministry to provide it with all the procurement process and other responses demanded by the committee
The committee said that Ajaokuta had remained a nightmare to many, adding that now that the minister had accepted to superintend over it, Nigeria expected more from him.
FG paid $500m to terminate Ajaokuta Steel contract – Minister
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