Justice A. T. Mohammed of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has ordered the remand of Ridge Koripamo in prosecution custody for alleged conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretences.
Koripamo was re-arraigned alongside his daughter, Esther Tombara Krukrubo and their Company, Priko Nigeria Ltd, on Friday July 15, 2022 by the Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, on an amended eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence.
One of the count reads:
“That you Esther Tombara Krukrubo, Priko Nigeria Ltd, Ridge Koripamo, sometimes in May, 2021at Port Harcourt, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did obtain the sun of One Hundred Million Naira (100,000,000.00) from one Tupere Bruno by false pretence under the guise of execution of contracts awarded by Fullview Management Ltd. and National Agricultural Mechanization Cooperative Society (NAMCS), which pretext you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) & (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.
Another Count Charge reads:
“That you Esther Tombara Krukrubo, Priko Nigeria Ltd, Ridge Koripamo sometimes in May, 2021at Port Harcourt, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did obtained the sun of Sixty Million Naira (60,000,000.00) from one Tupere Bruno by false pretence under the guise of execution of contracts awarded by Fullview Management Ltd and National Agricultural Mechanization Cooperative Society, (NAMCS) which pretext you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) & (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act2.”
They all pleaded “not guilty” to the charges preferred against them by the prosecution.
In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel, I. Agwu prayed the court to fix a date for commencement of trial and that the defendant be remanded in a Correctional Centre pending hearing of bail application of the 3rd defendant.
Counsel to the defendants, Donald Atogbo informed the court of his application for the bail of the 3rd defendant. However, it was strongly opposed by the prosecution on the basis that, he was just served on Thursday, July 14, and he needed time to respond.
Justice Mohammed ordered that, the 3rd defendant be remanded in the custody of the prosecution until the next adjourned date when the court will hear his bail application.
The Judge also ordered that the 1st defendant who was earlier granted administrative bail upon arraignment on March 22, 2022 should continue with it.
The matter was adjourned till Wednesday July 20, 2022 for hearing of bail application and continuation of trial.
Koripamo, together with his daughter, Krukrubo and their company, Priko Nigeria Ltd, ran into trouble when a petitioner alleged that they defrauded her of the sum of N160million through a phony contract deal. It was also discovered that the petitioner transferred funds to the defendants in tranches of One Hundred Million Naira (N100, 000,000.00) and Sixty Million Naira (N60, 000,000.00), into their company’s account domiciled in Wema Bank.
Media & Publicity
18 July, 2022
EFCC Arraigns Man for N2m Land Racketeering in Maiduguri
The Maiduguri Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, July 18, 2022, arraigned one Al-amin Idris before Justice Musa Mustapha of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri on one count charge of cheating to the tune of N2,000,000.00 (Two Million Naira).
The count reads, “That you, Al’amin Idris, sometime in March 2022 at Maiduguri, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, induced Ngeram Palnam Dauda to deliver to you the sum of N2, 000,000.00 (Two Million Naira) under the guise that the said amount represents payment for the purchase of a purported plot of land no. 14 with Right of Occupancy no. BO/26124/6 laying and situated at Damboa Road, Opposite CBN Quarters and plot No 121 with Right of Occupancy BO/14512/7 laying and situated behind Road Safety Commission respectively, Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Maiduguri Borno State and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 320 (a) and Punishable under Section 322 of the Penal Code Cap 102 Laws of Borno State.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him by the EFCC.
Consequently, counsel for the prosecution, Mukhtar Ali Ahmed, prayed the court for a trial date to enable him present witnesses to prove the case against the defendant.
Justice Mustapha however admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N3m with one surety in like sum. The surety must have a landed property within Maiduguri Metropolitan Council. The case was adjourned till August 1, 2022 for commencement of trial.
Media & Publicity
18 July, 2022
18 – 07 – 22
PRESS RELEASE
Eze Joins Buhari, Other Great Nigerians to Congratulate Governor-elect, Adeleke for a Victory Well Deserved …Extends a Warm Felicitation to PDP and Atiku …Commends INEC for Restoring Public Confidence in the Electoral Process and Firmly Establishing that Power Truly Belongs to the People …Describes Outcome of Election as a Wake-up Call to the APC and a Pointer to Wike’s Insignificance in the Scheme of Things …Counsels APC Leadership to Put Her House in Order and Avoid a Calamitous Electoral Outing in 2023.
As political analysis and sundry reactions continue to trail the defeat of Gov. Gboyega Oyetola of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) by his rival, Sen. Ademola Adeleke of the People’s Democratic Party in the just concluded guber polls in the State of Osun, an APC Chieftain, erstwhile National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New People’s Democratic Party (nPDP) and member of APC Legacy Projects Media Team, Chief Eze Chukwumeka Eze, has joined President Muhammadu Buhari and other high-spirited individuals and Nigerians of goodwill to extend a warm felicitation to the Governor-elect, the PDP family and the entire good people of the ‘Land of Virtue’ for translating their love for the personality of Sen. Adeleke into electoral victory and reinvigorating the firm poise of President Mohammadu Buhari in a transparent and credible electoral process in the country.
In a statement made available to media houses in the country’s capital, Abuja, the APC chieftain lamented that his earlier counsel to the APC party on the country-wide electoral value of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential Candidate of the PDP, its effect and imminent implication on the Osun election and the way forward, fell on deaf ears.
He described Alh. Atiku Abubakar as a clinical tactician and a revered strategist whose political pedigree worths very huge electoral fortune for any political family he belongs and dismissed claims by some leaders of the ruling APC who likened the ex-Vice President to their wives who could always be dealt with, describing the proponents of such fanciful fantasy as jokers. He hinted that Atiku Abubakar is battle-ready and would fight like a wounded Lion in the 2023 elections, having failed to clinch the Presidency in previous attempts and knowing that this is the last attempt for him to occupy Aso Rock.
Eze regretted that instead of the APC leadership to carefully study his counsel on the matter, they went to sleep and in fact, adopted the watery opinion of Senator Adamu, the APC National Chairman, who merely asked the APC Campaign Organisation for the Osun guber poll to go and do whatever that is possible to win the election and let the opposition go to court. Today, ‘planlessness’ has led us to losing Osun, with the caliber of party bigwigs and and a battalion of federal appointees’ Eze lamented.
Eze further linked the embarrassing defeat of the APC to PDP’s Adeleke to the incautious comment credited to the leader of the party and Presidential Candidate, Sen. Ahmed Bola Tinubu, who bragged during the campaign finale of the party that “members of the Labour Party will labour to death”, with brazen disregard to the feelings and sensibility of the electorates to whom power belongs. He said the harsh comment sparked reactions and media rage across the country, painting the APC as a party that has very little or no regard to the power of the suffering electorates.
Restating his abhorrent posture on crying over spilled milk, the party Chief categorically hinted that “it is better we put our house in order if we are to survive the PDP onslaught come 2023 or else we will bid Aso Rock goodbye.”
By this victory, Chief Eze said Alh. Atiku Abubakar and the People’s Democratic Party have proven the irrelevance of Gov. Nyesom Wike and his marauding political compadres who have constituted themselves into demi-gods, without whose membership and support the PDP will go into extinction.
He said Wike’s reluctant posture on the Osun election is another factor that helped Sen. Adeleke and the PDP to clinch victory.
“Had Wike joined in the campaign, Ademola and the PDP would have lost, because the people of Osun were ready to vote individual and to see Wike, a wasteful wrongdoer who has misappropriated billions public funds, frolicking with their preferred candidate would have wrecked his chances of victory because most conscious voters would have definitely withdrew their support.
Having worked under Atiku for several years, Chief Eze said he knows the former Vice President as a deadly strategist who may look calm but very calculative.
Congratulating Sen. Adeleke for a well deserved victory, the party chieftain urged the Governor-elect to be magnanimous in victory, put the people of Osun as his major priority and set up a government that will truly work for the future and progress of the State
From the records, Mr Adeleke, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled over 400,000 votes to unseat his closest challenger, Governor Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressive Congress (APC).
Mr Oyetola trailed behind with over 375,000 votes in the exercise .
Eze highlighted that with the new Electoral Act in operation, the determination of INEC and the unbiased stand of President Buhari, those election thieves who may still be relying on the defunct regime of rigging to win election in 2023, will definitely be disappointed because the will of the people will determine the outcome of every elections.
Eze commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for their professionalism, Security agencies for ensuring a peaceful atmosphere and particularly the good people of Osun for responding through the ballots, with the timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people.
Ends
Signed
Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze,
APC Chieftain, member of APC Legacy Projects Media Team & former National Publicity Secretary, nPDP
18 – 07 – 22
Protesting pensioners not retirees of Delta govt – Aniagwu
Delta Government on Monday said protesting pensioners in the state are not retirees of the state government but primary school retirees under the local government councils.
Briefing journalists in Asaba, Mr Charles Aniagwu, Commissioner for Information, stated that the protests targeted at maligning and impugning the reputation of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa was politically motivated.
According to him, the leader of the protesting retirees is Mrs Helen Ejie, APC Delta North Woman Leader and accused her of misleading the public on whose responsibility it was to pay the pensioners.
“We have it on good authority that the incessant protests emanating from a section of pensioners in the state have become politically motivated.
“The leader of the protesters is Mrs Helen Ejie, a retired teacher from Iyiatu Primary School, Utagba-Ogbe in Ndokwa West. She retired in 2016 and is the coordinator of APC women in Delta North.
“We have seen some stage-managed protests by individuals who ordinarily are supposed to appreciate what the state government has done.
“It is public knowledge that primary schools are under the local government councils in terms of how they are remunerated and how they operate.
“Sometime last year, this same woman led a few persons contrary to the reality of what we are doing they come to Asaba, rub themselves on the ground, pour invectives on the governor in line with what those who have asked them to go and demonstrate.
“They will begin to shout and cast aspersions on the person and office of the Governor. I have never seen where somebody will work in UAC and proceed to LEVENTIS to receive salary.
“What we have always done is to assist them because we believe that they are Deltans and you can recall in 2015 when we came into office, we met over seven months salary arrears owed local government council staff and primary school teachers.
“We assisted them to clear up that arrears and even when we got bailout from the federal government we gave them a grant of N3billion which aided in clearing the backlog,” he said.
On the issue of pensions, Aniagwu said the state government didn’t employ the staff but assisting because the local government councils are not in a financial position to do so at the moment.
“In the area of pensions we have also assisted them to pay, as at when we came they were getting N150m to tackle pensions and we upscaled it to N300m and to fastrack it further, we increased it to N500m monthly.
“We have so far cleared Local Government Pensions to early 2018 and Primary School Teachers owed several years of arrears of pension to August 2016.
“We have said that in addition to the N500m monthly grant, when we access the N150billion bridging finance we will release the sum of N10billion as grant to offset part of the pensions owed these pensioners by the local government councils.” he said.
On the constant attacks on the governor by a former member of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Evance Ivwurie, the Information Commissioner said it was a mere politics of bitterness and hatred.
He said Ivwurie failed to return to the State Assembly on account of not being popular among his people and had since resorted to insulting the governor for no just cause.
“He went about alleging that several funds have been taken and misappropriated but let me put it on record that all the loans we obtained are properly directed to areas they were meant for.
“As a government we will remain steadfast and stay on course in delivering our promises to Deltans,”
Aniagwu also took a swipe on Minister of State For Labour and Employment, Chief Festus Keyamo over an uncharitable comment on the state-of-affairs in the state.
He reminded Keyamo that students who were supposed to be in school are still at home because of lingering ASUU strike that the federal government failed to resolve.
“We need to remind Festus Keyamo that in Delta, our universities are working while the ones that belong to the Federal government are still at home.
“We remind Festus Keyamo that our children who are supposed to be in school are still at home and we urge him to work seriously with his senior colleague to ensure that the issues raised by ASUU are resolved as soon as possible,” he stated.
Delta Assembly Kicks off Review Process Of 5th Alteration Of 1999 Constitution At Retreat In Asaba
The Delta State House of Assembly on Monday, 18th July 2022, began legislative action on the review of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 Fifth Alteration Bill.
To kick start the process, the Speaker, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, led Members and selected Management Staff of the Assembly on a two day Retreat to critically examine the bill, ahead of deliberations on the floor of the House.
In his opening remarks, the Speaker who is also the State PDP Governorship Candidate, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, said the Retreat was to set in motion, the legislative process that will culminate in the resolution of the House towards the Fifth Alteration of the 1999 Constitution.
He explained that the two chambers of the National Assembly, had in the review, considered sixty eight amendments in the Fifth Alteration Bill, adopted forty four of them, which were transmitted to the thirty six States’ Houses of Assembly for further legislative actions.
“My dependable Colleagues, it is indeed a great pleasure for me and the leadership of the Seventh Assembly to be part of history in the Fifth Alteration of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.
“It is also my pleasure to welcome you all to this very vital Retreat put together by the leadership of the House to enable us set in motion the legislative process that will culminate in the resolution of the House towards the Fifth Alteration of the 1999 Constitution”.
“The National Assembly, that is, the Senate and the House of Representatives, had in review of the 1999 constitution considered 68 (Fifth Alteration) Bills but passed only 44 of them. These 44 Bills have been transmitted to the 36 States’ Houses of Assembly for further legislative actions”, the Speaker who is also the National Deputy Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria stated.
He pointed out that it was therefore a duty to carry out necessary legislative processes required by the Delta State House of Assembly on the bill and transmit back to the National Assembly.
According to him, the exercise is in compliance with Section 9 subsection 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as Altered.
Rt Hon Oborevwori stated that the forty four amendments passed by both Chambers of the National Assembly dealt specifically with issues of development, governance, politics and the economy, stressing that more powers will be devolved to the States in the journey to true federalism.
“The exercise we are commencing today is in compliance with Section 9 subsection (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as Altered).
“Expectedly, these 44 Bills passed by both Chambers of the National Assembly deal specifically with issues of development, governance, politics and the economy. That means, more powers will devolve to the States in the journey to true federalism.
“We therefore have a duty to carry out necessary legislative processes required for the bills to be considered and to transmit back to the National Assembly, our position on the 44 Bills”, he noted.
The Speaker emphasized that the assignment deserves diligence and commitment, and urged Members to use the opportunity to showcase the vibrancy of the Delta State House of Assembly.
He said there was a strong need to build consensus on the Constitutional issues, stating that they must get it right for the benefit of the people and for the unity of the country.
The Speaker who disclosed that seasoned and time- tested Resource Persons were assembled to walk them through the forty four Bills in the course of the Retreat and urged members to see it as an opportunity to acquire fresh knowledge and expand their horizons.
“The leadership of the House has assembled seasoned and time- tested resource persons to walk us through the 44 Bills in the course of this Retreat. I urge members to see this as an opportunity to acquire fresh knowledge and expand our horizon. We are being presented with a chance to make history and so let us therefore seize the moment.
“I must emphasize that an assignment of this magnitude deserves diligence and commitment. So, as we embark on this very important legislative duty, let us use this opportunity to showcase the vibrancy of the Delta State House of Assembly to build consensus on constitutional issues that will impact the lives of the people of our great country. We must get it right for the benefit of our people and the unity of our country” the Speaker said.
The Clerk of the House, Mrs Lyna Ocholor, recalled when the leadership of the National Assembly invited Clerks of the 36 States Houses of Assembly in the country for discourse on the Alteration Bill and directed immediate attention on it at their various states.
Mrs Ocholor stated that they were enjoined to look into the 44 amendments for further legislative actions.
She disclosed that the three guest speakers at the retreat participated actively in the exercise, which make them eminently qualified to handle the deliberations and take them through to enable them vote on the bills.
The retreat later entered into technical sessions.
Why SCUML Suspends Issuance of Certificates
The Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering, SCUML is aware of the difficulties currently being experienced by successful applicants for the SCUML Certificate. This development was caused by the suspension of the issuance of certificates to successful applicants by the SCUML. The move is an administrative measure designed to bring the agency to full compliance with its statutory responsibilities and obligations under the new Money laundering Act, 2022.
The law fundamentally altered the existing regulatory framework and substantially invalidates the certificates issued by SCUML, which did not reflect its new status as an agency fully domiciled in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
It therefore became imperative to suspend the issuance of the old certificates until a new one that takes into account the new regulatory environment is printed. Being a security document, there are processes involved in printing the new document.
However, SCUML is delighted to announce that the procurement process for the production of the new certificates have been concluded and, a very soon, successful applicants will begin to receive notification to collect their certificates as machinery have been set in motion to ensure that the backlog is cleared with dispatch.
This clarification should guide the public understanding of the situation as it relates to SCUML certificates. The delay is purely administrative and has nothing to do with inefficiency as imputed in some quarters
SCUML empathises with genuine applicants for the difficulties of the past few days but assures that all arrangements have been made to ensure that the process is returned to the established order of prompt and excellent service delivery.
Media & Publicity
16 July, 2022
PRESS RELEASE
LAGOS REVENUE HOUSE READY IN SEPTEMBER – SANWO-OLU
- Governor inspects pace of work on two multi-agency buildings
The comprehensive renovation of Revenue House of the Lagos State Government will be completed by the end of next month, with the contractor putting finishing touches on the imposing edifice located in Alausa, the seat of Government.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday, led an on-the-site inspection of the ongoing renovation work at the eight-storey building formerly known as Elephant House, promising that the building would be open for use fully by September.
Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, and some members of the Executive Council joined the Governor on the inspection.
The Revenue House is a multi-department office complex being put up to accommodate all revenue-generating agencies of the State Government under one roof.
Lagos Inland Revenue Service (LIRS) will be occupying substantial space in the building, while other agencies, including Lagos State Lottery and Gaming Authority, Motor Vehicle Administration Agency (MVAA) and Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LAASA) among others will share the rest of the space in the complex.
Keeping the revenue agencies under a roof, Sanwo-Olu said, is an idea to improve their individual capacity for overall efficiency and collective delivery of their mandates. The Governor said the edifice would offer a one-stop-shop revenue services for individuals and organisations paying taxes to the Government.
He said: “The importance of this Revenue House is that it houses the significant number of our core revenue-generating agencies, with LIRS being the major occupant of the edifice. The whole idea of putting them in one office complex is for them to share facilities together and improve on their individual capacity.
“More importantly, the single-office complex will offer our citizens and organisations a one-stop shop to come in and complete a lot of statutory transactions in this building, which include licence renewal, issues about vehicles, tenement rate, land assessment and general land administration. This is why I am interested to see how faster we can finish this project.”
Sanwo-Olu noted that the renovation work was a bit longer than he had anticipated, but said making the renovation work comprehensive would make the usage of the building to last longer.
The Governor, however, expressed satisfaction on the pace of work, noting that significant number of furniture required in the edifice had been supplied ahead of the completion of the renovation.
What’s left to be done, Sanwo-Olu said, included general cleaning of the interior, exterior painting and fixing the electrical sources.
“By the end of next month, the contractor said the work would be completely done. We will wait patiently by the end of next month, which we hope staff of the agencies would be moving in their numbers,” the Governor said.
Sanwo-Olu also inspected the ongoing construction of a nine-floor multi-agency building being developed in front of the State Government secretariat in Alausa.
SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
18 JULY 2022
Osun Election: EFCC Arrests Four for Vote Buying at Oshogbo
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, arrested four persons for offences bordering on vote buying during the governorship election which held on Saturday, July 16, 2022 in Osun State.
The suspects are Yekini Nurudeen Abiodun, Jimoh Kazeem, Adeyemo Bahir and Abidogun Ismail.
They were arrested by operatives of the EFCC at different polling units following credible intelligence while trading vote for cash in Oshogbo, the state capital.
Three of the suspects were arrested at Polling Unit 002, Ward 2, Ababu, Isale Osun, Oshogbo except for Abiodun that was nabbed at Unit 2, Isale Agbara, Oshogbo.
The suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of the ongoing investigations.
Media & Publicity
17 July, 2022
WIKE PRESENTS 2021/2022 NPFL TROPHY TO RIVERS UNITED FC
Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has presented Rivers United Football Club with the 2021/2022 Nigeria Professional Football League trophy in Port Harcourt.
The governor made the presentation after the match day 38 clash between Rivers United Football Club and Gombe United at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium on Sunday.
Present at the presentation of the trophy were the Minister of Youths and Sports, Sunday Dare, President, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer League Management Company, Mallam Shehu Dikko and Davidson Owumi.
It will be recalled that Rivers United were confirmed as winners of the 2021/22 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) on June 26 following Plateau United’s defeat by Akwa United.
Governor Wike had before the presentation of the trophy charged Rivers United, which will be representing the country at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League next season to work assiduously for the continental prize.
The governor assured the Rivers United team and its coaching staff of the resolve of the State government to render every required support that will make the club excel during the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League next season.
Governor Wike disclosed that the State government will ensure that Rivers United players and its management are made comfortable in Port Harcourt.
He announced the reward of One Million Naira for each member of the team for defeating Gombe United.
Ifeajika congratulates Unobunjo, Delta NAWOJ Chairperson
Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, has congratulated Comrade Sonia Unobunjo on her emergence as the 5th Chairperson of Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Delta State chapter.
Unobunjo defeated her only opponent, Comrade Anthonia Mowah, in the election held in Asaba at the weekend, with 107 votes against Mowah’s 46 votes.
In the congratulatory message, Ifeajika wished the newly-elected NAWOJ chairperson and members of her executive a successful tenure.
He expressed optimism for a sustained cordial working relationship between his office and NAWOJ.
“On behalf of my colleagues in the Governor’s media team, I convey our hearty and warm felicitations to you on your election as the Chairperson of Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Delta State chapter.
“I have followed your leadership trajectory and contributions to unionism in the journalism practice in Delta, and I’m not surprised that your colleagues in the state chapter of the association found you worthy to lead them.
“As a thorough professional, it’s expected that you will ensure that the tenets of journalism are upheld at all times by practitioners in the state.
“This, certainly, will protect the nobility and integrity of the profession and ensure that credibility is not compromised in any circumstance.
“May God Almighty guide you in your service to your members, the state and nation,” he stated.
