News

Don’t Sell Recovered Assets to Looters, Reps Warn EFCC

Published

9 months ago

January 4, 2023

Eric

The House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on Assessment and Status of All Recovered Loot Movable and Immovable Assets from 2002 to 2020 by Agencies of the Federal Government of Nigeria for Effective Efficient Management and Utilisation has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to prevent looters from recovering their loot in the ongoing auction of seized and forfeited assets.

The committee’s Chairman, Adejoro Adeogun, while noting that his panel had earlier recommended speedy disposal of recovered loot, especially fixed assets, expressed the possibility of looters recovering the forfeited assets by proxy.

Adeogun, however, stated that the committee would continue with its investigation despite the sales.

The EFCC on December 6, 2022, commenced inspection and auction of 649 forfeited vehicles located across nine states and the Federal Capital Territory through appointed auctioneers.

Other assets listed for auction were 15 vessels and barges in Rivers, Delta and Lagos states, about 39 mobile phones, 11 laptops and other devices.

The PUNCH had reported exclusively on December 27, 2022, that the EFCC had listed for auction 144 luxury houses and lands seized from convicted politicians, public servants, business moguls and internet fraudsters as proceeds of their corrupt practices ranging from money laundering and fraud to misappropriation of funds and fraudulent diversion, among others.

Adeogun, in an interview with our correspondent on Tuesday, however, decried that the House does not have the powers to determine how the assets should be disposed of, or to whom they should be sold.

He said, “We are aware. Part of what we wrote in our interim report is the delay in the auctioning. Some of these assets were seized seven to eight years ago. They have depreciated. It was our concern then that they were depreciating, so we advised that it should be done fast especially now that the Federal Government needs money to fund the budget. It is to make sure that they recover as much value as can be recovered.

“Look at most of the tankers and the ships that were seized. Some of them have lost up to 80 to 90 per cent of their value due to poor storage.

“Then, the enabling law allows the (anti-graft) agencies to auction directly. The EFCC is supposed to auction what it seized, subject to due process.”

Speaking on the possibility of looters buying back their loot through the auction, Adeogun said, “That is possible but we in the National Assembly have no control over that. We can’t control what they do but what we have to do is to ensure that they did the right thing.”

The lawmaker stated that the assets should not remain abandoned till another government takes power in a few months.

Adeogun stated that his committee had done “most of what we need to do,” including presenting an interim report to the House, while the comprehensive one would be laid after the general elections.

Members of the committee had initially opposed the auction of the assets at the centre of the probe.

News

Supreme Court Sets October 5 to Hear All Appeals on Nnamdi Kanu – Counsel

Published

20 hours ago

October 1, 2023

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

The Lead Counsel of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Sir ifeanyi Ejiofor, has announced that the Supreme Court is set to hear all appeals on the IPOB peader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s case on Thursday, October 5, 2023.

Ejiofor made the disclosure in a statement he personal signed and titled “UPDATE ON THE HEARING OF APPEALS ON ONYENDU MAZI NNAMDI KANU’S CASE BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT OF NIGERIA.”

The full statement reads:

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has slated for HEARING all Appeals on Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s case before the Apex Court on Thursday, 5TH OCTOBER, 2023.

Recall that on the 13th day of October 2022, the Court of Appeal, Abuja Judicial Division, delivered a Landmark Judgment in an appeal filed by Prof Mike Ozekhome, SAN,CON, OFR, Ph.D, on behalf of Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, challenging part of the Federal High Court ruling, which had retained 7 counts out of the original 15 counts against Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, after striking out eight out of the 15 count charge.

The learned Justices of the Court of Appeal, in allowing the appeal filed by our erudite Lead Counsel-Prof. Mike Ozekhome SAN, directed the Federal Government of Nigeria to immediately release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu unconditionally.The intermediate court in the Landmark decision, proceeded in the aforesaid judgement to prohibit the Federal Government of Nigeria from further detaining Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, or prosecuting him on any indictment or charge before any court in Nigeria.

On the 5th day of October, 2023, Prof. Mike Ozekhome SAN, leading Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor Esq., and others, will be exchanging the legal fireworks on behalf of Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, in urging the Supreme Court to dismiss in its entirety the frivolous appeal filed by the Federal Government of Nigeria against this landmark judgement of the Court of Appeal; and to further set aside the ruling of the Court of Appeal staying the execution of its earlier judgment.

We are very firm, and committed to our solemn belief that the wheels of justice,though grinds slowly, but grinds exceedingly fine and towards the attainment of justice at the end of the day.
Justice shall prevail,by the grace of God. And the hour is here .

We move.

Thank you and God bless you all.

News

Adeleke Cancels Independence Day Celebration in Osun

Published

2 days ago

September 29, 2023

Eric

Osun State governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has cancelled celebration of Independence Day slated for Sunday, October 1 in the state.

His spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, announced on Friday in Osogbo that the governor urged residents of the State to pray for the peace and prosperity of the country.

“Let us use the Independence Day to meditate and pray on the state of our nation.

“Our people are passing through tough times. It is time to take stock and seek divine intervention and guidance in the affairs of our nation.

“I greet Osun people and Nigerians in general as the Independence Day knocks at our doors.

“Here in Osun, we will celebrate with meditation and prayers,” he said.

News

Mohbad: Sam Larry Now in Our Custody, Police Confirm

Published

3 days ago

September 29, 2023

Eric

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested controversial Lagos socialite, Balogun Eletu, aka Sam Larry, over an ongoing investigation into the circumstances leading to the death of the singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, aka Mohbad.

The Lagos State Police Command Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the development to The Punch in a late Thursday night telephone interview.

“Yes, Balogun Eletu aka Sam Larry is now in our custody. He is currently assisting with the ongoing investigation,” Hundeyin said.

The police had earlier invited Sam Larry and singer, Azeez Fashola aka Naira Marley, for questioning over Mohbad’s demise.

The police, last week, also confirmed that pathologists had concluded the autopsy conducted on Mohbad, while they await the result.

He said, “Autopsy has been concluded. Awaiting results.” This development followed the exhumation of Mohbad by a combined team of the Nigeria Police Force and health officials.

The police had also arrested the nurse who reportedly injected the deceased singer before his demise on Tuesday, September 12.

The Punch