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Access Bank’s Herbert Wigwe, Two Others Charged For Stealing N2.6billion

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The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank Plc,  Mr Herbert Wigwe is in a big mess.

The top banker and two others have been dragged to court in Ogun State for alleged stealing and fraud said to be over N2billion.

The meat of the matter is that the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Nigeria Police Force, Milverton Ikoyi-Lagos, has preferred N2.6billion fraud charged against Mr. Herbert Wigwe, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank Plc, his bank and two others before an Ogun State High Court, Sagamu, on 21 counts criminal charge.

Herbert Wigwe: Access Bank, MD/CEO

The Boss gathered that Wigwe and Access Bank Plc are facing a five count charge alongside with 41 year-old Alawode Oluseye and Bayo Adesina before Justice N. I. Agbelu of Ogun state high court Sagamu.

The allegations border on conspiracy, fraudulent betrayal of trust, fraudulent conversion, stealing and false representation.

SFU in the charge marked HCS/010/19 alleged that the Access Bank boss and others, sometimes on June 2017, at the premises of Metal Africa Steel Products Limited, Kilometer 16, Ikorodu/Sagamu road, Ewe Jagun, Ogun State, conspired among themselves to have alleged to have unlawfully effected the selling of 23, 754.413 metric tonnes of Steel Billets, belonging to BMCE Bank International Plc company for N2,572, 500, billion, to Africa Steel Products Limited.

The Boss reports that Wigwe and other defendants were also alleged to have obtained the sun of N2,572,500 billion from Africa Steel Mills Limited by false representation that they were the owners of the said Steel Billets.

SFU also alleged that Wigwe and other defendants in 2017, forged Bill of Ladings number: MJINLOS150007’1A’; MJINLOS150007 ‘1B’; MJINLOS150007 ‘1C’; MJINLOS150007 ‘2A’; MJINLOS150007’2B’; MJINLOS150007 ‘2C’; MJINLOS150007 ‘2C’; MJINLOS150007 ‘2D’; MJINLOS150007 ‘2E’; MJINLOS150007 ‘2F’; MJINLOS150007 ‘2G’; MJINLOS150007 ‘2H’; MJINLOS150007 ‘2I’; MJINLOS150007 ‘2J’; MJINLOS150007 ‘2k’; MJINLOS150007’2L’ andMJINLOS150007’2M’, which they claimed were issued on January 9, 2016.

The offences according to the Police prosecutor,a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) E. Jackson are contrary to and punishable under Sections 518(6), 434, 383(1)(f) and 390(9), 516 and 464 and 467 of the criminal Code of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.

The offence is also said to have contravened Section 1(1)(a) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other related offences Act No. 14 of 2006.

We gathered that during their arraignment, only one of the defendants who was present in court pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

However, lawyer to the defendants, Edoka Dox Onyeke informed the court that his clients are exploring means of settling the matter with the complainant out of court.

Consequently, Mr Onyeke pleaded with the court for a short adjournment. The matter was then adjourned for report of settlement.

STATEMENT 0F OFFENCE..1st Count
Conspiracy to effect an unlawful purpose, to wit: an unlawful sale of Steel Billets property of BMCE BANK INTERNATIONAL PLC, contrary to Section 518 (6) of the Criminal Code of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.

PARTICULARS 0F OFFENCE ‘That you HERBERT WIGWE ‘M’, ALAWODE OLUSEYE ‘M’, BAYO ADESINA ‘M’ AND ACCESS BANK PLC on 22 day of June, 2017, at the premises at Met Africa Steel Products Limited, Km 16, IkorodulSagamu Road, Ewe Jagun, Ogun State, Within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired among yourselves to effect unlawful purpose to wit: the unlawful and unauthorised sale of 754.413 metnc tonnes of Stee| Billets, property of BMCE BANK INTERNATIONAL PLC without Its permission or consent.

STATEMENT 0F OFFENCE…..2nd COUNT Fraudulent Disposal of Trust Property, contrary to Section 434 of the Criminal of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.

PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE That you Herbert Wigwe ‘M’, Alawode Oluseye ‘M’, Bayo Adesina, ‘M’ and access BANK PLC on 22nd day of June, 2017, at the muses d m African Steel Products Limited, Km 16, Ikorodu/Sagamu Road, Jagun, Ogun State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud converted 23,754.413 metric tonnes of Steel Billets property of BMCE Bank International Plc, to your own use and unlawfully sold same without the authority of BMCE International Bank Plc.

STATEMENT OF 0FFENCE…3rd Count Stealing of Money, contrary to Sections 383 (1)(f) and 390 (9) of the Criminal Code of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2005. ‘

Particulars of offence: “that you Herbert Wigwe, ‘M’, Alawode Oluseye ‘M’, Bayo Adesina, and Access Bank Plc, sometimes in June, 2017, in Ogun State, within the jurisdictions of this honourable court, Unlawfully sold 23, 754.413 metric tonnes Steel Billets, property of BMCE Bank International Plc to African Steel Mills Nigeria Limited for N2,572,500,000.00 and fraudulently converted me money to your own use and benefit.

Statements of offence … 4th Count: Conspiracy to commit a felony to wit: stealing of 23,754.413 metric tonnes of Steel Billets, property of BMCE Bank International Plc, contrary to Seam 516 the Criminal Code of Ogun State, 2006.

Particulars Of Offence: “That you Herbert Wigwe, ‘M’ Alawode Oluseye ‘M’, Bayo Adesina, and Access Bank Plc, between 2016 and 2017, at Ewe Jagun, Ogun State, Within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired among yourselves to sell 23,754.41 metric tonnes of Steel billets property of BMCE Bank International Plc.

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Breaking: Wike Plans to Attend Thursday’s PDP NEC Meeting

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By Eric Elezuo

The immediate past Governor of Rivers State, and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, may have concluded plans to attend the much advertised National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), billed to hold on Thursday, in Abuja.

Impeccable source, who is in the know, told The Boss that the minister, whose membership of the PDP is yet to be revoked even as he frolicks with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and serving in the President Bola Tinubu government as a minister.

The Source told The Boss that Wike’s impending presence at the NECeeting on Thursday is not unconnected with plans, already hatched with some governors, to weaken the opposition PDP.

“Yes, we have on good authority that FCT minister, Wike is planning to attend the NEC meeting tomorrow all in a bid to weaken the fabrics of the PDP, and pave the way for the continuation of the Tinubu administration come 2027, and by extension, relapse Nigeria to a full blown one party state.

“From every indication, Wike and his co-travellers, are bent on unleashing the same crisis ravaging the third force, Labour Party, and Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso’s Nigerian National People’s Party (NNPP) on the PDP for the APC to remain the only political party in the country, and ensure that Tinubu has no challenger, come 2027,” the Source said.

It would be recalled that Wike has boasted over and again that there’s no opposition against Tinubu’s re-emergence in 2027, and that they have made sure of that. He has been compensated with the Ministerial job after he withdrew support for his party, and supported the APC and Tinubu to emerge as national government.

The Source further revealed that in the attempt to actualize the intended one party  state, a lot of funding is ongoing to ensure that concerned stakeholders are ‘settled’ handsomely.

Wike, prior, during and after the 2023 general elections, has been floating in between the two major political parties; the APC and the PDP. While he claim to still be a member of the PDP, he is functioning as a minister in an APC government, mocking the inability of his party to discipline him.

Political stakeholders have concluded that the outcome of Thursday’s PDP NEC meeting will determine the path Nigeria’s political trajectory will take, and that it may portend the end of multi-party system and political democracy if Wike succeeds in his plan.

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Bribery, Corruption: APC Suspends National Chairman, Ganduje

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The All Progressives Congress ward in Ganduje, Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area, has suspended the party’s National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje.

The party ward legal adviser, Halliru Gwanzo, announced the suspension while addressing newsmen in Kano State on Monday.

Gwanzo cited allegations of bribery against Ganduje levelled by the Kano State Government as the reason for the suspension.

“We decided to suspend Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje from the party due to the seriousness of the allegations against him,” Gwanzo said.

Meanwhile, efforts to contact the Chief Press Secretary to the APC National Chairman, Mr Edwin Olufo, failed as his mobile phone was unreachable.

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Akpabio Commits to Collaboration with Tinubu, Governor Umo Eno

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The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has stated his commitment to working closely with Nigeria’s President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Governor Umo Eno to ensure the delivery of democratic benefits to the people of Akwa Ibom State.

Akpabio stated this in his country home, Ukana, Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom, while briefing his constituents on the journey so far as their representative in the red chamber.

He assured the people of Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District of his commitment to their welfare in appreciation of their total support for him, President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in last year’s election.

The Highpoint of the constituency briefing was the distribution of over 10,000 bags of rice and other essentials for his constituents from the wards, to the local governments.

A statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, quoted Akpabio as saying, “I am here once again, to thank you for standing by me, our President and the party, before, during and even after last year’s elections. I have come to say thank you and also bring Renewed Hope to you all.

“As the President is doing his own, the Senate President is also doing his bit and being complemented by the state governor, Akwa Ibom would be the better for it. We have finished elections and politics, we are now into governance. The governor of the state must touch you, because he is the governor of all the people in the state irrespective of political affiliation.

” As I am touching you now from the political angle, I will also touch the state without any political party affiliation. Most of the projects we are putting in place would be used by people resident in the state. Relax, things are getting better.”

The former Governor of the state, assured his constituents that his current position as the Senate President would be used for the development of the state in collaboration with the President and the Akwa Ibom State Governor.

Hear him: This Senate President is not the one that would be fighting the state government. I will collaborate with , I will collaborate with , to make the state better for us all. We cannot be out of government for a long time. You have to go to a government that carries you along”

Akpabio promised to work for his constituents and Nigeria with all his strength, noting that, “as the President of the Senate, I am for the Southern region and the entire country. I may not come here regularly to tell you what I have been doing for you, but you will be feeling the impact on way or the other. Our unemployed youths would be gainfully employed. I will construct a mini stadium in all the local governments in the district, for our youths to develop their sporting potentials. ”

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