EFCC arraigns impostor for N10million scam

A suspected fraudster and member of a syndicate, Edward Abiodun, was on Wednesday arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, before Justice Beatrice Iliya of Gombe State High Court, Gombe, on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy, impersonation and obtaining money by false pretence.
The accused person and his alleged accomplices, Murtala Bello and Esther Momoh (who are now at large), had allegedly claimed to be staff members of the EFCC, Abuja office, in order to dupe one Umar Bello.
The complainant alleged that Bello had, on March 13, 2015, phoned him, assuring him that the syndicate could ‘kill’ the purported petition written against him, if he could pay the sum of N10 million (Ten Million Naira).
Consequently, Mr. Bello was said to have sent the phone number of Mr. Momoh who claimed to be a Principal Detective Superintendent, PDS, with EFCC to the victim for further discussion on how the money could be paid to them.

How we shared N5million ransom — Olu Falae’s suspected kidnappers

 Three of the suspects arraigned for kidnapping Olu Falae, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation – Abubakar Auta, Bello Jannu and Idris Lawal – on Thursday confessed that they received N100,000 each as reward for their involvement in the operation out of the total of N5million collected as ransom.
The suspects, who spoke to reporters in Hausa shortly before their arraignment at the Ondo State High Court in Akure, had denied the charges filed against them in court.
Mr. Auta served as middle man during the negotiations on the ransom demanded.
They however revealed that besides what they collected, the balance of the N5million had been taken away by their leader, identified as Baba Uro, who is still at large.
The suspects said they were not Boko Haram members, but were brought in to execute the kidnapping of Mr. Falae by a member of the gang who is yet to be arrested.
A police source however disclosed that a total sum of N832, 900 was recovered from Mr. Auta, who had the money in the boot of his car when he was arrested in Niger State.
He said the police identified three other suspects who are still on the run and that efforts were underway to arrest them.
“We have also recovered the motorcycle they used in carrying their victim through the bush,” the police source said.

Tribunal upholds Governor El-Rufai’s election

The Election Petition Tribunal in Kaduna on Thursday night upheld the April 11 election victory of Governor Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai of the All Progressives Congress.
The Chairman of the tribunal, Justice A. A. Adebara, in over six-hour judgment that dragged through the night, dismissed the petition filed by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Polycarp Danladi, on the ground that it lacks merits and facts to establish non-compliance.
Tension had heightened in the state as delivery of judgment, expected to start around 9am,however commenced at about 1:45pm and lasted till 7:09pm.
Mr. Danladi had petitioned the tribunal challenging the election that brought in Mr. El-Rufai as governor of the state.

Reuben Abati, Femi Adesina in war of words over Jonathan, Buhari

Former President Goodluck Jonathan’s Adviser on Media, Reuben Abati, has dismissed the widespread view that the former president lost the last election because of incompetence and cluelessness.
Mr. Abati said in his first major interview in the October/November edition of The Interview out next week, that Mr. Jonathan was, “a victim of power game” and the vicious propaganda of the opposition.
“All they could focus on,” he said, “was trying to discredit the president. They called him clueless, they said he was incompetent, they said he was a drunkard!”

Fayose challenges Buhari to prosecute Yobe REC for allegedly taking N15m bribe

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to prosecute the Yobe State Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Abu Zarma, for allegedly receiving N15 million as bribe to influence the Yobe State governorship election.
The governor said it was only when that is done that the president’s fight against corruption could enjoy the needed credibility.
“If nothing is done on a case as clear as that of the INEC REC, Nigerians can as well kiss President Buhari anti-corruption fight goodbye,” said the governor in a statement by his spokesman, Lere Olayinka.

Ministerial Screening: Again, Senate postpones Amaechi’s confirmation hearing

he Senate in Nigeria has again postponed the screening of former Rivers state governor, Rotimi Amaechi and other candidates that have been tapped to join President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet as ministers.
The Senate announced it was postponing the screening session via a post on its Twitter handle, Thursday morning.

How Alamieyeseigha died – Bayelsa Government

The Bayelsa State Government has officially explained the cause of death of a former governor of the state, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.
Mr. Alamieyeseigha, 62, died on Saturday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.
The Bayelsa State Commissioner for Information, Esueme Kikile, Sunday, told PREMIUM TIMES how the late former Governor died€.
“Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha died of complications arising from high blood pressure and diabetes which affected his kidney,” Mr. Kikile said. “He had chronic kidney disease which was aggravated by the sudden rise in his blood pressure and the long diabetics,”

How NNPC officials stole billions using failed electronic management contract

An enterprise resource solution for accountability in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC’s business processes, turned a spin project for crooked top officials to steal billions, a report reveals.
The project, which had 86 weeks completion time-line, has dragged for more than three years, after gulping almost double the contract sum originally approved by the Nigerian presidency, with nothing to show.
The resource solution is called SAP Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP).
It is an electronic management solution deployed by most global organisations to monitor real-time operations of a network of subsidiaries and affiliates irrespective of their locations.