EFCC says Nigerian lawyers, Int’l investors colluding to loot national treasury

EFCC chair Ola Olukoyede says no mega financial fraud, especially illicit financial flows, is possible without lawyers’ collusion.

Mr Olukoyede stated this during the opening of the sixth Annual Criminal Law Review Conference in Abuja.

According to the EFCC chairman, lawyers aid in the transfer of huge funds into offshore accounts, preferably in tax havens.

“The most traumatic discovery of the EFCC in recent years was the subjugation of national interest and well-being to personal interest by lawyers who aided briefcase foreign investors to fleece the nation in dubious transactions. The P&ID scam, the Mambilla Power Project, and Sunrise issues are cases in point,” the EFCC boss said.

He said that while the anti-graft agency had had cause to prosecute judicial officers and senior lawyers, his respect for the bench and senior members of the bar remained undiminished.

“However, based on the unique experiences of the EFCC in the prosecution of corruption cases, I am particularly interested in systemic reforms in our justice delivery system that capture the process for the discipline and regulation of judicial officers, the regulation and discipline of legal practitioners, ethics, values and standards of legal practice.

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“These are essential to me because the job of EFCC is ensuring that the corrupt do not find space in our national life. When they do, to make them pay for their deeds,” said the anti-graft chief.

Mr Olukoyede urged the judiciary “to address the issue of obscene legal fees senior lawyers earn from political office holders, particularly the manner in which they collect such fees which clearly conflicts with existing statutes.”

“If a lawyer would not care about the source from which a sitting governor or any other public servant pays him millions of naira to defend him in the electoral tribunal, the lawyer must necessarily be mindful of the fact that the only proper way to collect such humongous amounts is through the financial system.

“Aside from violating money laundering regulations, hauling millions of naira of professional fees from public office holders in liquid cash as senior lawyers do is only aimed at tax evasion.

“It is needless to stress that the best act of mentoring from leaders of the bar to the younger generation of lawyers is by living out the ethical demands of the profession,” added Mr Olukoyede.

AGF Lateef Fagbemi said these challenges “demand innovative, practical and collaborative approaches to ensure” the justice system “remains robust, fair and effective.”

EFCC says Nigerian lawyers, Int’l investors colluding to loot national treasury

(NAN)

Lagos declares movement of wet sand by trucks illegal

The Lagos State Government has declared the transportation of wet sand in tipper trucks illegal, citing its adverse effects on road infrastructure.

Ekundayo Alebiosu, the Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, issued the warning on Monday, emphasizing the need to comply with road safety and infrastructure preservation laws.

“Driving tipper trucks filled with wet sand on the road is highly illegal,” Alebiosu stated in a release shared via the ministry’s social media platforms.

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He explained that wet sand significantly increases a truck’s weight, exacerbating road damage. “The excessive weight causes cracks, potholes, and ruts, accelerating the degradation of roads not designed to handle such stress,” the commissioner said.

Tipper operators were urged to allow dredged sand to dry completely before transportation and to adhere to legal weight limits to avoid penalties.

The ministry reiterated its commitment to safeguarding Lagos roads and ensuring safer transportation across the state.

Lagos declares movement of wet sand by trucks illegal

NURTW crisis deepens as S’west body says MC Oluomo no longer member

The crisis rocking the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) at the national level has become worsened with the emergency of another South-West group of the union saying Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, is no longer a member of the union.

The Zonal Chairman of the union, Olalekan Folorunsho, aka Lekan Salami, made the disclosure in a statement on Monday.

He said MC Oluomo is not qualified to hold any position within NURTW as he stopped being a member of the NURTW in 2022 after he publicly tore his union’s identity card.

This came after MC Oluomo emerged and was sworn in as national president of the union by the South-West group of union.

Former President of the union, Tajudeen Baruwa is also laying claim to the topmost position. Indeed, he recently got a court appeal judgement affirming him as the president.

This obviously promoted Femi Falana (SAN) to have urged President Tinubu to restore Baruwa as the union’s president forthwith.

Interestingly, all the principal actors in the crisis are from the South-West, a zone whose turn is entitled to produce the next president of the union.

Salami in his statement MC Oluomo had disclosed his exit from the Union after he was issued a query from the national leadership.

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“Our Constitution stipulates that a returning member must submit a formal application to the National leadership, which will be considered.

“If accepted, the member must spend at least two years before being eligible to seek any office, starting from the unit chairman level. None of these steps have been followed by MC Oluomo,” Salami said.

Salami also reaffirmed the leadership of Baruwa, stressing that his tenure was valid and has been upheld by the Appeal Court.

“The NURTW in Osun State remains under the leadership of Alhaji Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa. The government must not condone gangsterism, and MC Oluomo should be called to order,” he added.

But MC Oluomo has declared that he was not party to suit involving Baruwa.

The S’West zone of the union that endorsed his emergence also rose to defend its action and gave a number of reasons for withdrawing its support for Baruwa.

While the crisis festers, the matter may be heading for the Supreme Court for a final resolution.

NURTW crisis deepens as S’west body says MC Oluomo no longer member