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Princess Toyin Kolade Asks Court To Clear Her Name In $32million Fraud Case

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Top businesswoman and Iyalaje Oodua, Princess Toyin Kolade has began moves to clear her name and that of her company in an alleged $32million fraud case.

The amiable society lady who has consistently declared her innocence since the story broke has instructed her lawyers to file application seeking to quash criminal charges which is being heard by Justice Peter Lifu of Federal High Court, Lagos.

Her lawyer, Mr Dele Adesina SAN had filed a motion before the court asking the court to quash the charge preferred, against the Princess Kolade who is the 7th and her company, Fisolak Global Resources, the 10th Defendants/Applicants. In the alternative, he seeks the court to strike out the names of the 7th and 10th defendants in the charge for the following reasons:

According to the learned silk, the Charge and the proof of evidence failed to disclose any prima facie case and/or link or connect the 7th and 10th Defendants/Applicants to the commission of the alleged offences charged.

The Police Investigation Report Issued by the Commissioner of Police, Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, Annex, Lagos which formed the basis of the Criminal Prosecution did not implicate the 7th and 10th Defendants/Applicants in any way or form.

The Police Investigation Report sufficiently cleared the 7th and 10th Defendants/Applicants from the commission of the alleged offences.

The 7th Defendant/Applicant is a clean, clear and responsible personality in the Society and it will be unfair and unjust to drag her name and that of her Company (the 10th Defendant/Applicant) doing a lawful business into a criminal trial for offences they know nothing about.

The essence of this objection is to terminate the proceedings without this Honourable Court dissipating unnecessary energies to consider this unworthy and fruitless matter as it relates to the 7th and 10th Defendants/Applicants.

The justice of this case demands that the names of the 7th and 10th Defendants/Applicants be struck out from the charge.

The 7th and 10th Defendants/Applicants shall rely on the charge together with all other processes, Statements, Reports and documents filed by the prosecution in this case for the hearing of this application.

In a 24 paragraph affidavit deposed to by Abdul-Malik Abdul-Mutalib, a lawyer in Adesina’s law firm, the defendants have been doing clearing Business at the NPA for many years without any blemish or stain whatsoever. “The Defendants/Applicants are Natural and Corporate Citizens doing honest, lawful and responsible clearing business with sustained credibility in Nigeria.

In this particular case, the defendants averred that they were never privy or parties to the loan application, negotiation and agreement as they were not the parties that applied for the facility granted by either the Access Bank or the FCMB, neither were they beneficiaries at any point in time of the said facilities.

He averred further that the defendants were contacted by the eighth defendant, Metal Africa Steel Products to clear their goods it imported. The consignment bears the name of Metal Africa Steel Products Limited (the 8th Defendant) as the Consignee of the goods to be cleared, and by the ordinary course of business, the name of the consignee must be processed in the Pre-Arrival Reassessment Report (PAAR).

“Form C 16 titled “The Combined Certificate of Value and Origin” (CCVO), which is invoice number CF/96954 of 7th April, 2016 confirms the name of the 8th Defendant as the Consignee of the Steel Billets.
The consignment did not bear the Name of Access Bank Plc or any bank at all. The usual trade practice in clearing business at the Port Authority is that if a consignment is in the name of a Bank, no clearing agent or person has the right/power to clear such consignment without express order or authorization of such Bank as the consignee.

Since the documents were not in the name of the bank, there is no way the 7th and 10th Defendants could have known. Indeed there is no way any clearing agent would have known it belonged to a bank.

He therefore urged the court to grant the prayers saying that “the whole essence of the Administration of Criminal Justice System is to prosecute genuine suspects and or offenders and not to persecute the Innocent such as the 7th and 10th Defendants/Applicants. “the purpose of justice would be defeated if the 7th and 10th Defendants/Applicants are compelled to stand trial in this case for offences that the 7th and 10th Defendants/Applicants know nothing about and for which indeed there are no links connecting the 7th and the 10th Defendants/Applicants to the commission of the alleged offences”.

The office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) had dragged Princess Kolade, her company, Fisolak Global Resources Limited, and nine others before the court on charges bordering on Conspiracy, Obtaining by false pretence and fraud of $32 million USD.

Other defendants in the charge are; four India Nationals, Prem Garg, Devashish Garg, Bhagwan Simgh Rawat and Mukul Tyagi and two Britons, Marcus Wade and Andrew Fairie, said to be at large.

Also, four companies: Metal Africa Steel Products Limited, Wilben Trade Limited, Fisolak Global Resources Limited and Kannu Aditya India Limited, were also charged before the court on the alleged offences.

 

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Diamed Partners Hospital for Humanity to Perform 20 Free Heart Surgeries

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By Eric Elezuo

The Diagnostic and Medical (Diamed) Centre located in Lagos, is partnering with the Hospital for Humanity, a US-based 501(c)3 organization, and a registered Nigerian NGO, dedicated to providing free open-heart surgeries to children with heart conditions, to conduct free open heart surgeries for 20 beneficiaries.

This gesture is targeted at members of the host community, who can not afford the bill.

According to media broadcast by the management of HFH, the “Hospitals for Humanity has performed almost two hundred open heart surgeries in the last ten years here in Nigeria.”

They noted that the reason the Hospital for Humanity is in Lagos is “because we are happy to partner with the new hospital called Diamed Center here in Lagos and this partnership is dynamic because it brings together an organization who has successfully completed her open heart surgeries and a new organization to perform the surgery on site.”

The hospital added that “We select the patient based on the severity of their congenital heart disease, so they have been seen by their own Pediatric Cardiologist and voluntaries come from all over the world, we have an executive team who have come from Asia, we have nurses and doctors who come from the US.”

Lending credence to the functionality of the Hospital for Humanity programme, one of the heart doctors, Njem Josia informed that “So far we have taken three patients, and we are hoping to take several victims.”

Also speaking, the Executive Director of Hospitals for Humanity, Dr. Myna Shegog, commended Diamed for the partnership, and for being a dynamic health organisation while soliciting donors to continue to contribute to the project so that much more victims of heart related ailments could be reached out to.

She said, “So because we are a non profit organization, 501C3 as it’s called in the United States. All of our capital comes from donors, donors like yourself, so ask for donations because that’s what sustains our program. People’s generosity will even do one heart surgery so because of the generosity of people like you, we are able to do this heart surgeries, we are able to pay for rooms and boards for families when they come to Nigeria so that is what your donation go towards, we are providing free heart surgeries to those in need.

“So Diamed Center is a dynamic organization we have been able to partner with as this is not just a one time thing as this collaboration will last for a long time.”

Diamed Centre, located in Lekki, Lagos, began operations earlier in 2024, has continued to be in the forefront of providing first class health care.

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Tunde Bakare Celebrates Legacy Year, Thanks God @70, Launches New Book

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By Temidayo Adewole

November 11, 2023, marked a significant milestone in the life of Pastor Tunde Bakare, the Serving Overseer of The Citadel Global Community Church, as he celebrated his 70th birthday. The day was filled with gratitude, praise, and festivity, reflecting the pastor’s life of service, leadership, and dedication to God’s kingdom.

The celebration began with a heartfelt thanksgiving service at The Citadel Global Community Church. The sanctuary was packed with members of the congregation, dignitaries, family, and friends, all gathered to honor Pastor Bakare’s life and legacy.

As the service commenced, Lady Evangelist Yinka Alaseyori led the congregation in soul-stirring worship, setting the tone for a spirit-filled celebration.

Afterwards, the Bible reading was taken by Fisayo Bakare, one of the daughters of the Pastor Bakare.

The likes of  Former Governor of Awka Ibom Victor Ata, Former Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, Former governor of Ogun State, Olusegun Osoba, Mr Jimi Agbaje, Professor Ibe kachuwku and many others paid glowing tributes to the birthday boy.

A short documentary of the life of Pastor Tunde Bakare was broadcast for the guests just as relatives, close friends and more special guests Pastor including Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Bishop Wale Oke, and Pastor Paul Adefarasin. They separately highlighted Pastor Bakare’s contributions to nation-building, leadership, and community development, acknowledging his unwavering commitment to serving God and humanity.

There was also prayers for the Celebrant by Pastor Oladele, Bishop Wale Oke and Rev. Dr Babajide.

There was afterwards the unveiling and launching of the Celebrant book titled “The Last But Definitely Not the Least” led by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Governor of Ogun State,  Prince Dapo Abiodun, assisted by other dignitaries.

The vote of thanks was given by the Celebrant, Pastor Bakare, who reflected on God’s faithfulness throughout his life, sharing personal testimonies and experiences that highlighted his journey.

In his words (My father has 22 children and I am the 22nd and I’m the only one alive with 22 grandchildren).

He also said (I was trained by 3 Generals In the ministry, Pastor Kumuyi Taught me Holiness, Pastor Adeboye taught me about Faith) He emphasized the importance of gratitude, humility, and service, encouraging the congregation to remain steadfast in their faith.

After the thanksgiving service, guests proceeded to the church’s event center for a grand reception. The atmosphere was filled with joy, laughter, and warmth as friends, family, and well-wishers gathered to celebrate Pastor Bakare’s life.

The reception featured a cake cutting ceremony, gift presentations, musical performances by renowned highlife artist King Sunny Ade. and photo exhibitions showcasing Pastor Bakare’s life and ministry. Dignitaries, including politicians, business leaders, and clergy, took turns to felicitate with Pastor Bakare, praising his selfless service and leadership.

Pastor Bakare’s family members, including his children and grandchildren, presented a heartfelt tribute, expressing their gratitude for his love, guidance, and example.

In his response, Pastor Bakare thanked God, his family, and the church for their unwavering support. He reiterated his commitment to serving God’s kingdom, emphasizing that his life’s work was far from over.

As the reception drew to a close, Pastor Bakare was surrounded by loved ones, basking in the joy and appreciation of a life well-lived.

The 70th birthday celebration of Pastor Tunde Bakare will be remembered as a testament to his enduring legacy, a life marked by faith, service, and dedication to God’s kingdom.

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Quality Service Delivery: Bowen’s VC Commends Globacom’s Strides

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Globacom has received commendation from the Vice Chancellor of BOWEN University, Iwo, Osun State, Professor Jonathan Oyebamiji Babalola, for consistently delivering digital services to the university over the years.

This acclamation was made by Professor Babalola during a business meeting in his office at the University of Iwo in Osun State, when he hosted a team from Globacom’s Enterprise Business Group.

The VC conveyed how much he enjoyed working with Globacom and encouraged the company to keep up its uninterrupted services to the academic community.

In order to help the university fulfill its mission of creating better products and advance the frontiers of academic development, he also asked Globacom to support BOWEN University through a number of CSR initiatives.

Speaking at the meeting, Adeniyi Odejobi, the Enterprise Business Lead, Globacom, said that the company has been a major telecommunications service provider in Nigeria, providing telephony and digital solution services for millions of people across the country as well as enterprises, small and medium-sized businesses, large corporations, public sector organizations, and universities. It is also a digital solutions company.

According to Adeniyi, Glo has been at the forefront of revolutionary changes in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector for more than 20 years and is largely to be commended for democratizing the use of telephones and telephony services across the country over the years. “Because of Globacom, every Nigerian today can afford a telephone line”, he noted.

According to Adeniyi, Globacom also evolved a good number of innovations that have aided revolutionary developments in the Nigerian telecom sector, such as Globacom’s fully owned international submarine cable, Glo 1.

In order to advance the university, Adeniyi urged it to deepen its collaboration with Glo in order to offer digital services such as Glo LMS, Toll-Free Data, and Mobility services.

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