The UK Embassy in Nigeria has adopted a new visa application process, British High Commission said on Friday in a statement.
The spokesperson of the commission, Joe Abuku, described the new process as a slight change in which “Visa staff now only need electronic versions of support documents.”
The new process, which takes effect from December 5 for customers applying for a UK visa in Lagos, Victoria Island and Ikeja, would bring applicants benefits from digital improvements to the UK visa application process.
“TLSContact (responsible for UK Visa Application Centres in Nigeria) will scan your supporting documents whilst you’re at the visa application centre, and then return your original documents to you,” the statement said.
“They will then send these (electronic) documents to UKVI, with your passport and application form, and visa officers will consider your application in the usual way."
In order to avoid delays in the visa application centre, the Commission requested applicants to ensure they complied with requirement to provide all documents in A4 size, while any other documents smaller or larger than A4 should be photocopied onto A4 sized paper.
While advising all customers to remove any clips or pins from documents before submitting their application, the Commission warned that any torn, crumpled or heavily creased documents, which is difficult to photocopy, should be photocopied onto A4 sized paper before submitted, as they can’t be scanned in this condition.
Monday, 5 December 2016
UK Embassy Commission Adopts New System of Visa Application
The UK Embassy in Nigeria has adopted a new visa application process, British High Commission said on Friday in a statement.
The spokesperson of the commission, Joe Abuku, described the new process as a slight change in which “Visa staff now only need electronic versions of support documents.”
The new process, which takes effect from December 5 for customers applying for a UK visa in Lagos, Victoria Island and Ikeja, would bring applicants benefits from digital improvements to the UK visa application process.
“TLSContact (responsible for UK Visa Application Centres in Nigeria) will scan your supporting documents whilst you’re at the visa application centre, and then return your original documents to you,” the statement said.
“They will then send these (electronic) documents to UKVI, with your passport and application form, and visa officers will consider your application in the usual way."
In order to avoid delays in the visa application centre, the Commission requested applicants to ensure they complied with requirement to provide all documents in A4 size, while any other documents smaller or larger than A4 should be photocopied onto A4 sized paper.
While advising all customers to remove any clips or pins from documents before submitting their application, the Commission warned that any torn, crumpled or heavily creased documents, which is difficult to photocopy, should be photocopied onto A4 sized paper before submitted, as they can’t be scanned in this condition.
Saturday, 12 November 2016
I Would Have Become Kogi’s CSO If Audu Hadn’t Died–millionaire Robbery.
At 30, Zakeri Isiaka is a millionaire and a frightening one. In political circles in Kogi State, Saturday PUNCH learnt that a mere mention of his name sends shivers down the spines of those who are familiar with his activities.
To Kogi State indigenes, Isiaka is a dreaded political thug, who killed at will. To the police, he is a combination of a daring robber and killer but to his family, he is the husband to nine wives and a father to 15 children. But the negative descriptions are all inaccurate, according to Isiaka’s statement to the police. He said he was a freedom fighter “out to rescue Kogi State from the clutches of evil men controlling the affairs of the state.”
Asked about a number of killings which he allegedly carried out in Kogi State, Isiaka said those he was accused of killing were his political foes and criminals who were after his life.
According to a source, he got on the radar of the police when he allegedly led a gang that attacked operatives of the Inspector-General of Police Response Team in July 2016 and snatched a rifle from them.
But on October 23, a three-month operation to track him down paid off when members of the IRT cornered him on the Okene–Akure Expressway and apprehended him while he was on his way to Akure, Ondo State.
He was transferred to the Force Headquarters, Abuja, where he promptly gave a detailed account of his operations, which spanned several states.
A police source told Saturday PUNCH that Isiaka’s gang were responsible for many cases of kidnaps and robberies in Kogi and other North Central states.
When Isiaka was arrested, the police recovered 15 rifles along with several magazines and ammunition from him. One of the guns was the one his gang allegedly snatched from the IRT.
Saturday PUNCH learnt that t
he day the gang snatched the gun, operatives of the IRT were in the state to rescue a kidnap victim, Edward Amedu, being held in a forest camp by Isiaka’s men.
When the gang sighted the police team, he was said to have ordered his men to open fire on their approaching vehicle.
The police source said that in the process, two operatives of the IRT sustained bullet wounds. At the end of the operation, the IRT had lost a rifle to Isiaka’s team.
Two of his men were said to have been arrested at the time of the operation. They later led the police to where the victim was rescued.
Isiaka, a native of Odu-Ochelle in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, allegedly started off as a robber before joining militants in the Niger Delta and later became a political thug, who at a point, took control of his entire local government area.
Isiaka said he was once a farmer, who laboured for eight years till he could no longer endure the suffering and travelled to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he joined the group of militant leader, Ateke Tom.
He said, “I dropped out of secondary school and had nothing else to do but to go into farming at Iseyin, Oyo State. I did that till I went to Port Harcourt and started living with a young man. One day, I went to a joint where I normally smoked Indian hemp and saw some men discussing there. I realised they were militants involved in oil theft.
“I approached them and told them I was interested in joining them. They gave me the beating of my life. They accused me of being an informant. I was beaten for almost one week before one of them, who said he was one of Ateke Tom’s boys, finally said I could join them.
“He taught me how to handle guns and we burst many pipelines together. I was making almost N3m in each operation. After making enough money, I moved to Abuja and built a house. I bought some cars and started a car dealership. When I left the creeks, I came back with three guns, which I took to my village in Kogi.
“The sitting governor of Kogi State at the time, had given guns to thugs in the state. Because these same thugs killed my blood brothers during a disagreement, I had to keep the guns in Kogi so that I could use them to protect myself.”
Isiaka said during the 2011 governorship election in Kogi State between Idris Wada and Prince Abubakar Audu, he went home to “protect” the votes of his people.
According to him, the guns he brought back from the Niger Delta came in handy. He said despite this, one of his friends was killed during the election.
The suspect said, “After that election, I came back to Abuja and continued my business. I am a kind man, I even bought motorcycles for people as gifts. I first married three wives.
“Before the 2015 election, thugs of the Peoples Democratic Party and All Progressives Congress had a clash. I had to come back home and fight on the side of the APC. That was when the APC knew that I had become a powerful person. They realised they needed me.
“During the presidential election, Prince Audu gave me N30m to work for his party. But my younger brother, Farouk, was killed by PDP thugs in front of my father. He was picked up in his room where he slept beside his wife. They killed him and took his body away.
“When it was time for the governorship election, Prince Audu called me again and mobilised me with N20m and promised that he would make me the Chief Security Officer of the state if he won.
“He said he would make me Kogi’s youth leader and I would even be in charge of collecting revenue on farm produce in the state.
“My boys and I worked very hard. I was almost killed when I was ambushed by a PDP thug. So, I would have become the state’s CSO if Prince Audu had not died.”
Isiaka claimed that when Governor Yahaya Bello assumed office, he had made overtures to him, indicating that he could be useful to his government but got no reply.
According to him, some individuals might have scuttled his chances because of his closeness to the late Audu.
Isiaka said, “The people I fought were PDP thugs, who wanted to kill me and since APC came into power I have called on all my boys who are into armed robbery to stop because I have repented.
“Few weeks before the last governorship election, I communicated with some of my boys from Okene, who used to rob in my area. I advised them to quit because I discovered that the people of Kogi State wanted change and they were accepting what I was telling them. I knew that if APC won, my boys and I would enjoy.
“But they refused, so, I tricked them. I told them that I had a job for them and when they came to my town, I took them to a hotel. While they were inside, my boys went to where they parked their operational vehicle and stole all their guns.
“I control all the APC thugs in Kogi State and since I repented, I have been seriously against crime. Any of my boys who got involved in kidnapping, I personally arrested and handed over to the police but in most cases the police would release them after collecting money.
The police in Kogi State can confirm this. After all I did, the state governor (Bello) did not appreciate my efforts. He believes that I am still in support of Prince Audu’s son, Mohammed, but that is not true. My loyalty is to APC.”
Speaking about some of the robbery operations he was involved in, Isiaka said few weeks before the governorship election in Kogi in 2015, he and his gang robbed a vehicle carrying a huge amount of money in Abuja. He said he made over N50m from the operation and that he narrowly escaped death as one of his gang members attempted to kill him.
According to him, one Dan brought the job to him.
“He told me that some politicians were moving money around Abuja and it seemed that the money was meant for election. We planned our operation and we ambushed the driver and snatched the vehicle.
“After the operation, I kept three Ghana-Must-Go bags for myself and I gave Dan and others involved two bags to share. But while we were sharing the money, Dan, who had a gun with him, wanted to shoot me. He ended up shooting himself.”
The suspect said in another operation in Okene, Kogi State, his gang made N10m.
He said he lost seven of his rifles to the police in Niger State after they arrested his younger brother, who gave one of his guns to a friend. The friend then used it to snatch a car.
According to Isiaka, he gave the guns to his manager for safe-keeping but said when he was away for the election, his younger brother decided to rent out one of the guns to his friend.
“When my brother and his friend were arrested, he led the police to my car stand in Abuja where police seized all the vehicles in it and they also carried away my seven rifles.”
Despite his situation, Isiaka has a word of advice to the government on how to curtail crime.
He said amnesty should be offered to anyone carrying a gun in the state, saying that there are too many guns on the loose.
Source: Nairaland
he day the gang snatched the gun, operatives of the IRT were in the state to rescue a kidnap victim, Edward Amedu, being held in a forest camp by Isiaka’s men.
When the gang sighted the police team, he was said to have ordered his men to open fire on their approaching vehicle.
The police source said that in the process, two operatives of the IRT sustained bullet wounds. At the end of the operation, the IRT had lost a rifle to Isiaka’s team.
Two of his men were said to have been arrested at the time of the operation. They later led the police to where the victim was rescued.
Isiaka, a native of Odu-Ochelle in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, allegedly started off as a robber before joining militants in the Niger Delta and later became a political thug, who at a point, took control of his entire local government area.
Isiaka said he was once a farmer, who laboured for eight years till he could no longer endure the suffering and travelled to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he joined the group of militant leader, Ateke Tom.
He said, “I dropped out of secondary school and had nothing else to do but to go into farming at Iseyin, Oyo State. I did that till I went to Port Harcourt and started living with a young man. One day, I went to a joint where I normally smoked Indian hemp and saw some men discussing there. I realised they were militants involved in oil theft.
“I approached them and told them I was interested in joining them. They gave me the beating of my life. They accused me of being an informant. I was beaten for almost one week before one of them, who said he was one of Ateke Tom’s boys, finally said I could join them.
“He taught me how to handle guns and we burst many pipelines together. I was making almost N3m in each operation. After making enough money, I moved to Abuja and built a house. I bought some cars and started a car dealership. When I left the creeks, I came back with three guns, which I took to my village in Kogi.
“The sitting governor of Kogi State at the time, had given guns to thugs in the state. Because these same thugs killed my blood brothers during a disagreement, I had to keep the guns in Kogi so that I could use them to protect myself.”
Isiaka said during the 2011 governorship election in Kogi State between Idris Wada and Prince Abubakar Audu, he went home to “protect” the votes of his people.
According to him, the guns he brought back from the Niger Delta came in handy. He said despite this, one of his friends was killed during the election.
The suspect said, “After that election, I came back to Abuja and continued my business. I am a kind man, I even bought motorcycles for people as gifts. I first married three wives.
“Before the 2015 election, thugs of the Peoples Democratic Party and All Progressives Congress had a clash. I had to come back home and fight on the side of the APC. That was when the APC knew that I had become a powerful person. They realised they needed me.
“During the presidential election, Prince Audu gave me N30m to work for his party. But my younger brother, Farouk, was killed by PDP thugs in front of my father. He was picked up in his room where he slept beside his wife. They killed him and took his body away.
“When it was time for the governorship election, Prince Audu called me again and mobilised me with N20m and promised that he would make me the Chief Security Officer of the state if he won.
“He said he would make me Kogi’s youth leader and I would even be in charge of collecting revenue on farm produce in the state.
“My boys and I worked very hard. I was almost killed when I was ambushed by a PDP thug. So, I would have become the state’s CSO if Prince Audu had not died.”
Isiaka claimed that when Governor Yahaya Bello assumed office, he had made overtures to him, indicating that he could be useful to his government but got no reply.
According to him, some individuals might have scuttled his chances because of his closeness to the late Audu.
Isiaka said, “The people I fought were PDP thugs, who wanted to kill me and since APC came into power I have called on all my boys who are into armed robbery to stop because I have repented.
“Few weeks before the last governorship election, I communicated with some of my boys from Okene, who used to rob in my area. I advised them to quit because I discovered that the people of Kogi State wanted change and they were accepting what I was telling them. I knew that if APC won, my boys and I would enjoy.
“But they refused, so, I tricked them. I told them that I had a job for them and when they came to my town, I took them to a hotel. While they were inside, my boys went to where they parked their operational vehicle and stole all their guns.
“I control all the APC thugs in Kogi State and since I repented, I have been seriously against crime. Any of my boys who got involved in kidnapping, I personally arrested and handed over to the police but in most cases the police would release them after collecting money.
The police in Kogi State can confirm this. After all I did, the state governor (Bello) did not appreciate my efforts. He believes that I am still in support of Prince Audu’s son, Mohammed, but that is not true. My loyalty is to APC.”
Speaking about some of the robbery operations he was involved in, Isiaka said few weeks before the governorship election in Kogi in 2015, he and his gang robbed a vehicle carrying a huge amount of money in Abuja. He said he made over N50m from the operation and that he narrowly escaped death as one of his gang members attempted to kill him.
According to him, one Dan brought the job to him.
“He told me that some politicians were moving money around Abuja and it seemed that the money was meant for election. We planned our operation and we ambushed the driver and snatched the vehicle.
“After the operation, I kept three Ghana-Must-Go bags for myself and I gave Dan and others involved two bags to share. But while we were sharing the money, Dan, who had a gun with him, wanted to shoot me. He ended up shooting himself.”
The suspect said in another operation in Okene, Kogi State, his gang made N10m.
He said he lost seven of his rifles to the police in Niger State after they arrested his younger brother, who gave one of his guns to a friend. The friend then used it to snatch a car.
According to Isiaka, he gave the guns to his manager for safe-keeping but said when he was away for the election, his younger brother decided to rent out one of the guns to his friend.
“When my brother and his friend were arrested, he led the police to my car stand in Abuja where police seized all the vehicles in it and they also carried away my seven rifles.”
Despite his situation, Isiaka has a word of advice to the government on how to curtail crime.
He said amnesty should be offered to anyone carrying a gun in the state, saying that there are too many guns on the loose.
Source: Nairaland
Three Armed Robbers Who Terrorized Enugu Yesterday caught (Pictures)
Three notorious armed robbers who terrorized enugu state were caught yesterday after heavy gunshot exchange by the police with them. Eye witness has it that Robbers attacked from obiagu killing people snatched cars passed through Lagos street saw they were blocked everywhere around bisala and Roban stores and mistakenly ran into that Sullivan's street where they were caught in the former ssgs house.
the main guy was shot like a 100 Times didn't penetrate then an army guy cut him with a matchete. 
Saturday, 29 October 2016
EFCC To Seize Patience Jonathan’s Property Nationwide.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has begun moves to seize properties belonging to former First Lady, Patience Jonathan.
The commission started the probe in a bid to gather evidence against her, following the freezing of $20m traced to her.
EFCC has also set up a team of detectives saddled with the responsibility of identifying houses and property owned by Patience.
The operatives had been instructed from the office of the commission’s chairman to mark such houses.
The operatives are focusing attention on properties in Lagos, Abuja, Yenagoa and Port Harcourt.
“It would not be correct to conclude that the commission has halted the investigation into the activities of the former First Lady,” a source told Punch.
“The investigation is progressing and it is being handled by the office of the chairman of the commission.
“A team of operatives has been assembled to identify all her properties in the country with a focus on Abuja, Port Harcourt and Yenagoa.
“The responsibility of the team is to mark all such properties in preparation for a possible court action.”
Meanwhile Justice Babs Kuewumi of a National Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed December 7 to hear a suit filed by Mrs. Jonathan seeking to un-freeze her account.
EFCC had traced $5m to the personal account of the former First Lady. It froze the account domiciled in Skye Bank Plc last month.
Mrs. Jonathan’s troubles started when the commission froze the accounts of four companies traced to the Special Adviser to ex-President Jonathan on Domestic Affairs, Waripamowei Dudafa.
The four firms identified as Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited; Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Limited; Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company had a total of $15,591,700 in their accounts.
Source: Nairaland
These Kidnappers Release Victims, Then Abduct Those Who Brought Ransom
The long arm of the law finally caught up with members of a notorious kidnap gang operating in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on Wednesday, October 12, 2016.
The nine members of the gang, who were apprehended by the operatives of the Inspector-General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team in a five-hour raid that day, said they were so efficient in their criminal operations that they once kidnapped four victims on the same day.
The afternoon raid led to the arrest of Daniel Gabriel (33), Alaso Igodo (25), Akeodi Aselemi (34), Ayibinmotei Livinus (25), Anikuroka Marshal (33), Biebele Elijah (34) Efiye Anda (34), Daniel Lessor (31) and Isaac Reuben (27), all living within the Port Harcourt metropolis.
The police said the gang was responsible for most of the kidnappings that took place within GRA Phase 2, Port Harcourt, Borokiri General Area and YKC axis of Woji in Rivers State.
According to Punch, the string of events which led to the apprehension of the nine suspects started with the abduction of a woman identified as Mrs. Okotie, who was kidnapped few weeks ago opposite the Royal House of Grace Church in Port Harcourt.
The gang was said to have abducted her in the Mazda car they used as operational vehicle.
The victim told the police that she had told the suspects that she was not feeling fine but they did not listen to her.
Fortunately for Mrs. Okotie, the car broke down along the way and the leader of the gang named Blackie, called for another vehicle, a Nissan Primera, which arrived shortly after.
“But they did not know that we had got information about them. They were on their way to the Ornage Waterside when we intercepted them. As soon as they saw us, they fled and abandoned the woman in the car along with one of their rifles,” the source said.
Few days after the botched kidnapping of Mrs. Okotie, IRT operatives who were following up on a lead, arrested Gabriel, a taxi driver, around 2.pm on October 12.
When Gabriel, an Akwa-Ibom indigene living at Navy Market Borikiri, Port-Harcourt was taken in for questioning, he confessed that he had personally been involved in 15 kidnaps in the last few months in the state.
He then led the police to his house where five members of the gang were already planning another kidnap.
"When we got to his house, we arrested five of his gang members and from there, we proceeded to Enugu Waterfront where we arrested Anikuroka Marshal, the gang’s armourer. The suspects also identified Diobele Elijah and Akodi Aselemi as their spies who go around town scouting for victims. They confessed to have three AK47 rifles, two pistols, which they use in their operations," a police source said.
In one of the kidnaps carried out by the gang, on August 10, 2016, a pastor, Mrs. Luis Ubah and one Mr. Chika Ezenwa were abducted. The same day, the gang kidnapped a business woman, Mrs. Ubah in her store, they also grabbed another victim identified as Ezenwa who was with Ubah at the time.
The four victims were taken by the gang to the Indoki Estate Waterfront.
The source explained that while on their way to the waterfront, the gang encountered a police team and instantly opened fire on the policemen.
"Inspector David Ijosi and one Corporal Dike Ledee were injured by bullets in the attack. One was hit in the leg while another was hit in the neck and the kidnappers escaped into the Isaka creeks in Okrika," the source said.
Soon after, the gang made contact with Ubah’s husband, Bishop Prince Ubah, from whom they demanded a N50m ransom for her freedom.
During the ensuing negotiation, the ransom for the release of the bishop’s wife was reduced to N2.8m and a place was agreed on for the family to drop the ransom.
But in a dramatic turn of events, when two brothers of the bishop, Onyeka Ani and Pastor Okezie Akara, took the money to the agreed place on August 25, 2016, 15 days after Mrs. Ubah was kidnapped, the gang members decided to release her along with Ezenwa but kidnapped the two brothers instead.
The police said they then demanded another N1m ransom from the bishop for his brothers. But N750, 000 was eventually paid for their release.
The police said investigation on the scale of the operations of the gang was still on and that they were making efforts to arrest other members of the gang who are now underground.
Source: Nairaland
The nine members of the gang, who were apprehended by the operatives of the Inspector-General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team in a five-hour raid that day, said they were so efficient in their criminal operations that they once kidnapped four victims on the same day.
The afternoon raid led to the arrest of Daniel Gabriel (33), Alaso Igodo (25), Akeodi Aselemi (34), Ayibinmotei Livinus (25), Anikuroka Marshal (33), Biebele Elijah (34) Efiye Anda (34), Daniel Lessor (31) and Isaac Reuben (27), all living within the Port Harcourt metropolis.
The police said the gang was responsible for most of the kidnappings that took place within GRA Phase 2, Port Harcourt, Borokiri General Area and YKC axis of Woji in Rivers State.
According to Punch, the string of events which led to the apprehension of the nine suspects started with the abduction of a woman identified as Mrs. Okotie, who was kidnapped few weeks ago opposite the Royal House of Grace Church in Port Harcourt.
The gang was said to have abducted her in the Mazda car they used as operational vehicle.
The victim told the police that she had told the suspects that she was not feeling fine but they did not listen to her.
Fortunately for Mrs. Okotie, the car broke down along the way and the leader of the gang named Blackie, called for another vehicle, a Nissan Primera, which arrived shortly after.
“But they did not know that we had got information about them. They were on their way to the Ornage Waterside when we intercepted them. As soon as they saw us, they fled and abandoned the woman in the car along with one of their rifles,” the source said.
Few days after the botched kidnapping of Mrs. Okotie, IRT operatives who were following up on a lead, arrested Gabriel, a taxi driver, around 2.pm on October 12.
When Gabriel, an Akwa-Ibom indigene living at Navy Market Borikiri, Port-Harcourt was taken in for questioning, he confessed that he had personally been involved in 15 kidnaps in the last few months in the state.
He then led the police to his house where five members of the gang were already planning another kidnap.
"When we got to his house, we arrested five of his gang members and from there, we proceeded to Enugu Waterfront where we arrested Anikuroka Marshal, the gang’s armourer. The suspects also identified Diobele Elijah and Akodi Aselemi as their spies who go around town scouting for victims. They confessed to have three AK47 rifles, two pistols, which they use in their operations," a police source said.
In one of the kidnaps carried out by the gang, on August 10, 2016, a pastor, Mrs. Luis Ubah and one Mr. Chika Ezenwa were abducted. The same day, the gang kidnapped a business woman, Mrs. Ubah in her store, they also grabbed another victim identified as Ezenwa who was with Ubah at the time.
The four victims were taken by the gang to the Indoki Estate Waterfront.
The source explained that while on their way to the waterfront, the gang encountered a police team and instantly opened fire on the policemen.
"Inspector David Ijosi and one Corporal Dike Ledee were injured by bullets in the attack. One was hit in the leg while another was hit in the neck and the kidnappers escaped into the Isaka creeks in Okrika," the source said.
Soon after, the gang made contact with Ubah’s husband, Bishop Prince Ubah, from whom they demanded a N50m ransom for her freedom.
During the ensuing negotiation, the ransom for the release of the bishop’s wife was reduced to N2.8m and a place was agreed on for the family to drop the ransom.
But in a dramatic turn of events, when two brothers of the bishop, Onyeka Ani and Pastor Okezie Akara, took the money to the agreed place on August 25, 2016, 15 days after Mrs. Ubah was kidnapped, the gang members decided to release her along with Ezenwa but kidnapped the two brothers instead.
The police said they then demanded another N1m ransom from the bishop for his brothers. But N750, 000 was eventually paid for their release.
The police said investigation on the scale of the operations of the gang was still on and that they were making efforts to arrest other members of the gang who are now underground.
Source: Nairaland
Wednesday, 19 October 2016
"I Gave Fayose $5.377m In Cash"- Obanikoro .
Barely 24 hours after his detention, former Minister of State for
Defence, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro has implicated Governor Ayodele Fayose
in the N4.745billion wired to a company linked to him by the Office of
the National Security Adviser(ONSA).
The said cash was wired into the company, Sylva Mcnamara within seven months in 2014.
He said N2.23billion was transferred to Fayose out of the slush funds.
He said out of the sum, he handed over $5,377,000 to Fayose in cash and N1.3billion was received by the governor’s associate, Mr. Abiodun Agbele.
He admitted that the N1.3billion was flown to Akure airport in two chartered flights for delivery to Agbele.
The money was sourced from $2.1billion meant for arms from the Office of the National Security (ONSA).
Obanikoro, who opened up to EFCC detectives however said he is not the owner of Sylva Mcnamara that was used to transfer the funds to Fayose.
But he defended why the money was remitted to Mcnamara including the warding off of a plot by Boko Haram to attack Lagos.
Accompanied by his lawyer, Mr. James Onoja(SAN), the ex-Minister was confronted with a petition from ONSA which was dated November 28, 2015.
The petition was titled “Payment to companies with no contract awards or approval.”
He said having gone through the petition, he discovered that Sylva Mcnamara was No. 78 on the list of firms being investigated having “collected the aggregate sum of N4,685,000,000 between April 4, 2014 and November 13, 2014.
A top source quoted Obanikoro as saying that “the sum of N2.2billion was transferred to Sylva Mcnamara for onward transfer to Mr. Ayodele Fayose on the instruction of the NSA.
“The sum of N1.3billion cash was brought in a bullion van by Diamond Bank on the instruction of the NSA.
“In addition, the sum of N60million was converted to dollars at the rate of N168 per dollar and altogether the sum of $5,377,000 was handed over in cash by me to Mr. Fayose while the N1.3billion was received by Mr. Fayose’s associate, Mr. Abiodun Agbele in the presence of my Aide-de-Camp (ADC), Lt. Adewale who also accompanied them to the bank along with the bank officials.
“I didn’t interact with the bank officials. I called Fayose before the funds were handed over to Mr. Abiodun Agbele. I spoke to Fayose with my phone at Akure airport.”
On how the cash was transferred to Fayose, the source Obanikoro told investigators that “two flights were used to convey the money from Lagos.
The ex-Minister said he “took off with the first flight with part of the money while the second flight brought the remaining funds to Akure local airport and I directed that it should be handed over to the same person.”
The source said Obanikoro however maintained that part of the cash was used to ward off Boko Haram aggression in Lagos and in the South-West in general.
The source added: “He told us that he is not the owner of the company in question but introduced the owner, Mr. Kareem Taiwo to the NSA, Mr. Sambo Dasuki when the threat of Boko Haram became more visible in Lagos.
“He said the government wanted to “incorporate local input into the intelligence gathering and prevention of terrorist attack on Lagos and the South-West in general.”
The EFCC had discovered that Sylvan Mcnamara Limited, allegedly owned by Obanikoro and his sons, was used to launder the N4.745billion.
The company, which was incorporated in November 2011 had the following as its directors: a close aide of the ex-Minister, Ikenna Ezekwe(700,000 shares) of 51 Simpson Street, Ebute-Metta; Idowu Oshodi(299,000 shares) of 8, Prince Tayo Adesanya Street, Park View Estate, Ikoyi; and Elizabeth Adebiyi(1,000 shares) of 3, Adedoyin Street, Ijeshatedo, Surulere.
But Ikenna Ezekwe has had his accounts de-frozen by the EFCC since the slush funds were not traced to him.
A document said: “To set the stage for the use of the company for money laundering, the board of directors on May 7, 2012 passed a resolution that the company should open an account and appointed Mr. Gbolahan Obanikoro, Ikenna Ezekwe, Ms. Theresa Matuluko (Secretary) and Mr. Babajide Obanikoro as the signatories to the account.
“The board added that the signing combination be that any of the signatories can sign alone.”
According to EFCC, when it was time to illegally draw the N4.745billion from ONSA as war chest for Ekiti Governorship poll, ex-Minister Obanikoro made the account of Sylvan Mcnamara Limited available and coordinated the disbursement.
The breakdown of the disbursement was as follows: N N759, 384, 300 changed into dollars through Bureau De Change firms; N160million used to purchase cars through Balmoral International Limited; N1, 219, 490,000 ferried by Obanikoro in two flights to a branch of Zenith Bank at Plot 13, Alagbaka Estate, Akure to evacuate the cash and received by Fayose’s associate, Abiodun; balance of about N2billion withdrawn by Obanikoro and his two children in cash.
Some of the Bureau De Change companies involved in the transactions and the amounts credited to them include A.A.G.B.S OIL AND GAS (N168,000,000.00); SYLVAN MCNAMARA LTD (N167,500,000.00); NORTHLINE LTD (N835,000.00); NORTHLINE LTD (N83,750,000.00); FIVE STAR LTD N(37,600,000.00); A.B.A TRADING ENT (N268,301,500.00); VILLAGOLF BUREAU DE (N1,425,000.00); AHMAD &OMAR (N350,000.000); NORTHLINE LTD (N1,680,000.00); NORTHLINE LIMITED A (N2,325,300); REHOBOTH HOMES (20,000,0000); NORTHLINE LTD (N5,932,500.00); NORTHLINE LTD (N842,500); NORTHLINE LTD (N842,500.00).
Source: NAIRALAND.COM
The said cash was wired into the company, Sylva Mcnamara within seven months in 2014.
He said N2.23billion was transferred to Fayose out of the slush funds.
He said out of the sum, he handed over $5,377,000 to Fayose in cash and N1.3billion was received by the governor’s associate, Mr. Abiodun Agbele.
He admitted that the N1.3billion was flown to Akure airport in two chartered flights for delivery to Agbele.
The money was sourced from $2.1billion meant for arms from the Office of the National Security (ONSA).
Obanikoro, who opened up to EFCC detectives however said he is not the owner of Sylva Mcnamara that was used to transfer the funds to Fayose.
But he defended why the money was remitted to Mcnamara including the warding off of a plot by Boko Haram to attack Lagos.
Accompanied by his lawyer, Mr. James Onoja(SAN), the ex-Minister was confronted with a petition from ONSA which was dated November 28, 2015.
The petition was titled “Payment to companies with no contract awards or approval.”
He said having gone through the petition, he discovered that Sylva Mcnamara was No. 78 on the list of firms being investigated having “collected the aggregate sum of N4,685,000,000 between April 4, 2014 and November 13, 2014.
A top source quoted Obanikoro as saying that “the sum of N2.2billion was transferred to Sylva Mcnamara for onward transfer to Mr. Ayodele Fayose on the instruction of the NSA.
“The sum of N1.3billion cash was brought in a bullion van by Diamond Bank on the instruction of the NSA.
“In addition, the sum of N60million was converted to dollars at the rate of N168 per dollar and altogether the sum of $5,377,000 was handed over in cash by me to Mr. Fayose while the N1.3billion was received by Mr. Fayose’s associate, Mr. Abiodun Agbele in the presence of my Aide-de-Camp (ADC), Lt. Adewale who also accompanied them to the bank along with the bank officials.
“I didn’t interact with the bank officials. I called Fayose before the funds were handed over to Mr. Abiodun Agbele. I spoke to Fayose with my phone at Akure airport.”
On how the cash was transferred to Fayose, the source Obanikoro told investigators that “two flights were used to convey the money from Lagos.
The ex-Minister said he “took off with the first flight with part of the money while the second flight brought the remaining funds to Akure local airport and I directed that it should be handed over to the same person.”
The source said Obanikoro however maintained that part of the cash was used to ward off Boko Haram aggression in Lagos and in the South-West in general.
The source added: “He told us that he is not the owner of the company in question but introduced the owner, Mr. Kareem Taiwo to the NSA, Mr. Sambo Dasuki when the threat of Boko Haram became more visible in Lagos.
“He said the government wanted to “incorporate local input into the intelligence gathering and prevention of terrorist attack on Lagos and the South-West in general.”
The EFCC had discovered that Sylvan Mcnamara Limited, allegedly owned by Obanikoro and his sons, was used to launder the N4.745billion.
The company, which was incorporated in November 2011 had the following as its directors: a close aide of the ex-Minister, Ikenna Ezekwe(700,000 shares) of 51 Simpson Street, Ebute-Metta; Idowu Oshodi(299,000 shares) of 8, Prince Tayo Adesanya Street, Park View Estate, Ikoyi; and Elizabeth Adebiyi(1,000 shares) of 3, Adedoyin Street, Ijeshatedo, Surulere.
But Ikenna Ezekwe has had his accounts de-frozen by the EFCC since the slush funds were not traced to him.
A document said: “To set the stage for the use of the company for money laundering, the board of directors on May 7, 2012 passed a resolution that the company should open an account and appointed Mr. Gbolahan Obanikoro, Ikenna Ezekwe, Ms. Theresa Matuluko (Secretary) and Mr. Babajide Obanikoro as the signatories to the account.
“The board added that the signing combination be that any of the signatories can sign alone.”
According to EFCC, when it was time to illegally draw the N4.745billion from ONSA as war chest for Ekiti Governorship poll, ex-Minister Obanikoro made the account of Sylvan Mcnamara Limited available and coordinated the disbursement.
The breakdown of the disbursement was as follows: N N759, 384, 300 changed into dollars through Bureau De Change firms; N160million used to purchase cars through Balmoral International Limited; N1, 219, 490,000 ferried by Obanikoro in two flights to a branch of Zenith Bank at Plot 13, Alagbaka Estate, Akure to evacuate the cash and received by Fayose’s associate, Abiodun; balance of about N2billion withdrawn by Obanikoro and his two children in cash.
Some of the Bureau De Change companies involved in the transactions and the amounts credited to them include A.A.G.B.S OIL AND GAS (N168,000,000.00); SYLVAN MCNAMARA LTD (N167,500,000.00); NORTHLINE LTD (N835,000.00); NORTHLINE LTD (N83,750,000.00); FIVE STAR LTD N(37,600,000.00); A.B.A TRADING ENT (N268,301,500.00); VILLAGOLF BUREAU DE (N1,425,000.00); AHMAD &OMAR (N350,000.000); NORTHLINE LTD (N1,680,000.00); NORTHLINE LIMITED A (N2,325,300); REHOBOTH HOMES (20,000,0000); NORTHLINE LTD (N5,932,500.00); NORTHLINE LTD (N842,500); NORTHLINE LTD (N842,500.00).
Source: NAIRALAND.COM
Sunday, 16 October 2016
Hired Killer Falls In Love With Target, Demands Sex.
The
Adeyemi, who hails from Kwara State, told our correspondent that he was arrested by the police after he sneaked into the hotel, White House, and demanded that his target, simply known as Rosemary, had sex with him so he would spare her life.
PUNCH Metro gathered that Adeyemi, who dropped out of senior secondary school, was arrested by the Satellite Town Police Division last Thursday.
It was learnt that penultimate Wednesday, Adeyemi was brought by two gang members on a motorcycle to the hotel to kill Rosemary.
However, once Adeyemi laid his eyes on his supposed target, he reportedly fell in love with her and eventually attempted to rape her after she rebuffed his pleas to have sex with him.
Rosemary, however, raised the alarm.
The hotel management subsequently called the police, and Adeyemi was arrested.
Our correspondent learnt that one locally-made pistol and a live cartridge were recovered from Adeyemi, who had been transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ikeja.
The police said the suspect belonged to a three-man gang, adding that a manhunt had been launched for the fleeing two gang members.
Speaking with PUNCH Metro, Adeyemi said he gave the woman N1,500 to have sex with her, adding that he fell in love with his target.
Adeyemi, who spoke in pidgin English, said, “I was working as a casual worker at a bottling company in the Apapa area before I met the gang members in the Ajegunle area. A friend, Wisdom, had invited me to stay in his house.
“His friends, who are Eiye Confraternity members, saw me and said they had a job for me. They said the job was to kill a woman. I said I could not do such a job, but they threatened to kill me and since they had guns, I was afraid.
“Finally, I was left with no option but to do their wish. One of them, Ahmed, gave me the gun and they brought me on a motorcycle to the hotel. But when I got to the hotel room and saw the woman, I fell in love with her and I had mercy on her.
“I told her that I was sent to kill her, but since I loved her, I would just have sex with her. When she declined, I offered her N1,500, and said I would take her necklaces and wristwatch away and lie to my gang members that she had been killed. But she raised the alarm.
“Everyone in the hotel called the police, the Oodua Peoples’ Congress and other vigilance groups. The hotel management called the police at the Satellite Town division.
“When my parents heard about my arrest, they were disappointed. I told them that I was being threatened by the cult members. I did not mean to kill the lady.
Otherwise, I would have shot her and run away.”
The state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, said the command would not give criminals a breathing space in the state.
Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 24-year-old suspect, Tayo Adeyemi, who confessed to have been hired to kill a female hotel lodger in the Alakija, Satellite Town area of the state.
Source: Nairaland
Adeyemi, who hails from Kwara State, told our correspondent that he was arrested by the police after he sneaked into the hotel, White House, and demanded that his target, simply known as Rosemary, had sex with him so he would spare her life.
PUNCH Metro gathered that Adeyemi, who dropped out of senior secondary school, was arrested by the Satellite Town Police Division last Thursday.
It was learnt that penultimate Wednesday, Adeyemi was brought by two gang members on a motorcycle to the hotel to kill Rosemary.
However, once Adeyemi laid his eyes on his supposed target, he reportedly fell in love with her and eventually attempted to rape her after she rebuffed his pleas to have sex with him.
Rosemary, however, raised the alarm.
The hotel management subsequently called the police, and Adeyemi was arrested.
Our correspondent learnt that one locally-made pistol and a live cartridge were recovered from Adeyemi, who had been transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ikeja.
The police said the suspect belonged to a three-man gang, adding that a manhunt had been launched for the fleeing two gang members.
Speaking with PUNCH Metro, Adeyemi said he gave the woman N1,500 to have sex with her, adding that he fell in love with his target.
Adeyemi, who spoke in pidgin English, said, “I was working as a casual worker at a bottling company in the Apapa area before I met the gang members in the Ajegunle area. A friend, Wisdom, had invited me to stay in his house.
“His friends, who are Eiye Confraternity members, saw me and said they had a job for me. They said the job was to kill a woman. I said I could not do such a job, but they threatened to kill me and since they had guns, I was afraid.
“Finally, I was left with no option but to do their wish. One of them, Ahmed, gave me the gun and they brought me on a motorcycle to the hotel. But when I got to the hotel room and saw the woman, I fell in love with her and I had mercy on her.
“I told her that I was sent to kill her, but since I loved her, I would just have sex with her. When she declined, I offered her N1,500, and said I would take her necklaces and wristwatch away and lie to my gang members that she had been killed. But she raised the alarm.
“Everyone in the hotel called the police, the Oodua Peoples’ Congress and other vigilance groups. The hotel management called the police at the Satellite Town division.
“When my parents heard about my arrest, they were disappointed. I told them that I was being threatened by the cult members. I did not mean to kill the lady.
Otherwise, I would have shot her and run away.”
The state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, said the command would not give criminals a breathing space in the state.
Source: Nairaland
Monday, 12 September 2016
Head Of Russia's Anti-corruption Agency Is Found With $122M In CASH In His House.
The acting head of Russia's anti-corruption agency has been caught with$122 million in cash in his home, Russian media reported.
Russian police raided the house of Dmitry Zakharchenko, the deputy head of the Energy Industry Department of the General Administration of Economic Security and Combating the Corruption(GAESCC).
After coming away with the huge sum, $2.2million of which was in Euros, he was arrested on suspicion of abuse of power, obstruction of justice, and accepting bribes.
He allegedly refused to comment on the money or its origins and was charged with abuse of power, obstruction of justice and accepting bribes. He is pleading not guilty.
Russian police raided the house of Dmitry Zakharchenko, the deputy head of the Energy Industry Department of the General Administration of Economic Security and Combating the Corruption(GAESCC).
After coming away with the huge sum, $2.2million of which was in Euros, he was arrested on suspicion of abuse of power, obstruction of justice, and accepting bribes.
He allegedly refused to comment on the money or its origins and was charged with abuse of power, obstruction of justice and accepting bribes. He is pleading not guilty.
Wednesday, 31 August 2016
Godogodo Opens Up On Why He Killed Popular Hotelier, Lanre Subair
The last has not been heard of the exploits of the suspected notorious armed robber, Abiodun Ogunjobi, aka Abbey Godogodo, who held sway for more than 14 years before he was finally picked up in August, 2013 by operatives of Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos State command as he has revealed why he loved to kill policemen.
Godogodo, who recently led the police to recover seven more AK 47 rifles and other ammunition, gave insight into his exploit as king of the underworld to newsmen in Lagos yesterday. Also arrested was an arms dealer, Ikechukwu, who had been suppling arms to Godogodo in the past six years before the burst in August.
Godogodo, gave a chilling account of why and how he killed the owner of 04 Hotel in Ajah, Lagos State, Olanrewaju Subair and seven others on July 7, 2013.
In his words: " I had no intention to ever rob in that hotel because that was the place where we normally lodge after the day’s raid. However, things changed when the MD told the police that my hit man Odun was in that hotel. We were lucky that he was the only one outside the hotel when members of SARS arrested him.
" They tried to use him to trail me but failed because he used a coded language to tell me that the MD of the hotel was the one who alerted the police. I was so
angry and gathered my boys to pay them a visit. My mission was simple, an eye for an eye."
According to Godogodo, their initial plan was to kill him in the presence of his family but we were disappointed to discover that he and his family members were not at home.
"We immediately rushed to the hotel, took over the environment and forced them to show us where the MD was sleeping. I was so excited and asked my boys to allow me to execute him. I ordered them to raid and rape any woman of their choice. This was solely to revenge the life of my main man that was arrested.
" I dragged him outside and asked him to explain to me why he alerted the police. He claimed that he was not the one but I am very sure that he was the one. Odun had advised that we should stop patronising the hotel as our face is becoming familiar to people in the area.
He warned that he had overheard the MD threatening to call the police to raid our hideout.
"He pleaded for his life and even offered me N15, 000 in exchange for his life. I was so annoyed and to crown it all, he started saying some incantations. It was then that I realised that if I do not kill this man that he would surely kill me.
I shot him on the chest and he refused to die. I then finished him up on the forehead." Mission complete, Godogodo claimed that he rushed back to the hotel and asked his boys to seize fire as he was done with his main assignment.
Wednesday, 24 August 2016
EFCC Arrests Francis Ayade Over Contract Scam.
A brother to the Cross Rivers State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade has been arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, nigerianewspaper.com.ng has gathered on Wednesday.
The relation, Dr. Francis Ayade was arrested on Tuesday in connection with an alleged N2.4billion contract scam.
Ayade, Managing Director of Leophina Nigeria Limited and Hally Brown International Limited, was involved in shady deals involving diversion of public funds into his companies’ accounts.
Specifically, four different allocations from the Nigerian federal government accounts were allegedly diverted into Hally Brown International Limited’s account owned by him.
Investigations showed that Hally Brown International Limited was awarded a road construction contract to the tune of N2.4billion in 2011.
To finance the contract, Ayade allegedly took a loan of N350,000,000( Three Hundred and Fifty Million Naira only) from First Bank Plc, on behalf of Cross Rivers Rural Access and Mobility Project.
The loan, was however, never used for the contract, but transferred into the Mobility Project.
Ayade has also been implicated in alleged suspicious transactions involving Obudu Micro Finance Bank, among other allegations.
He has been offered administrative bail but still in the custody of the EFCC until he fulfills the bail conditions.
Source: Nairaland
The relation, Dr. Francis Ayade was arrested on Tuesday in connection with an alleged N2.4billion contract scam.
Ayade, Managing Director of Leophina Nigeria Limited and Hally Brown International Limited, was involved in shady deals involving diversion of public funds into his companies’ accounts.
Specifically, four different allocations from the Nigerian federal government accounts were allegedly diverted into Hally Brown International Limited’s account owned by him.
Investigations showed that Hally Brown International Limited was awarded a road construction contract to the tune of N2.4billion in 2011.
To finance the contract, Ayade allegedly took a loan of N350,000,000( Three Hundred and Fifty Million Naira only) from First Bank Plc, on behalf of Cross Rivers Rural Access and Mobility Project.
The loan, was however, never used for the contract, but transferred into the Mobility Project.
Ayade has also been implicated in alleged suspicious transactions involving Obudu Micro Finance Bank, among other allegations.
He has been offered administrative bail but still in the custody of the EFCC until he fulfills the bail conditions.
Source: Nairaland
EFCC To Seize Diezani’s Assets In America.
Ex-minister ‘acquired properties in associates’ names’
Former Petroleum Resources Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke is likely to lose some United States properties traced to her.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is probing Mrs Alison-Madueke for over $10 billion slush funds. It has initiated a process for the seizure of the assets – in line with United States laws.
EFCC Chairman Ibrahim Magu has just returned from the United States where he discussed with the authorities how to attach the properties, The Nation learnt yesterday.
In the last one year, the EFCC has traced assets and items worth about $10billion to Mrs. Alison-Madueke and her business associates, Mr. Kola Aluko and Chief Jide Omokore.
Some of the assets include an $18million peoperty (over N6.3billion at N350 exchange rate) in Abuja.
A top EFCC source, who spoke in confidence, said: “We have located some assets allegedly owned by Diezani and some of her business associates in the United States. We are already collaborating with the US Government to attach these assets.
“In fact, the EFCC chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, spent about one and a half weeks in the US to work with the relevant agencies to trace Diezani’s properties, some of which are believed to have been secured through business fronts like Kola Aluko. “We have submitted relevant documents to the US authorities in order to facilitate the seizure of the assets.”
Responding to a question, the source added: “Some of these properties were acquired through some business fronts like Aluko and Omokore. “We even have a in which houses on a street in Switzerland have been traced to an associate of Diezani.” The EFCC is working with anti-graft agencies in Britain and the United States.
“Don’t forget that the EFCC initially secured a Mareva Injunction from Justice O.O. Oguntoyinbo to freeze some foreign accounts and seize some assets linked with Diezani’s associates in the United Kingdom,” the source said.
Accounts have been frozen in some of overseas financial institutions. They include BNP Paribas (Switzerland), LGT Bank (Switzerland), Standard Chartered Bank (London),Barclays Bank (London), Standard Energy (Voduz, Switzerland), HSBC (London), Corner Bank (Lugano, Switzerland) and Deutsche Bank (Geneva).
Section 34 (1) of the EFCC Act 2004 empowers the Commission to freeze any account suspected of being used for financial crimes. The section stipulates that “the chairman of the commission or any officer authorised by him may, if satisfied that the money in the account of a person is made through the commission of an offence under this Act or any enactment specified under Section 6(2) (a)-(f) of this Act, apply to the court ex parte for power to issue or instruct a bank examiner or such other appropriate authority to freeze the account.”
The National Crime Agency (NCA) in the UK arrested and quizzed Mrs Alison-Madueke and four others on October 2, 2015 for alleged bribery, corruption and money laundering. Also the EFCC has interrogated five more suspects since her interrogation. The NCA last year obtained permission from a Westminster Magistrate’s Court to seize 27,000 pounds from Alison-Madueke and two other women.
Although NCA detectives have visited the country this year in line with the probe, it was unclear as at press time when she will be formally arraigned in court in the UK. While the UK investigation was in progress, the EFCC uncovered another $115million poll bribery scam in which the ex-minister was implicated.
But Mrs Alison-Madueke has described allegations against her as “cold-hearted” and inhuman because she is ill.
Her statement said in part: “Coming at such a critical time in my life when I am battling cancer, this poorly executed propaganda bares on its face like tribal marks, a clearly malicious attempt to victimise an innocent woman in what appears an exaggerated plot to validate and give credibility to the anti-corruption crusade under Nigeria’s new regime. “People who are battling cancer or those who have lost their loved ones to this medical condition understand what I am going through at this time.
“This is what makes me ponder at the cold-heartedness of those who will go any length to defame and destroy in the name of propaganda. What happened to our shared humanity? ”I have absolute regard for the law and believe that people who have breached the laws that govern societies should be made to face the wrath of the law.
“But in a civilized society, a responsible government owes its citizens absolute commitment to the principles of rule of action know it.law, equity, fairness and justice. I have been wrongfully and maliciously maligned and those behind this reckless “I leave them to posterity, their conscience and above all the Almighty God who is the final judge of all.”
Source: Nairaland
Former Petroleum Resources Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke is likely to lose some United States properties traced to her.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is probing Mrs Alison-Madueke for over $10 billion slush funds. It has initiated a process for the seizure of the assets – in line with United States laws.
EFCC Chairman Ibrahim Magu has just returned from the United States where he discussed with the authorities how to attach the properties, The Nation learnt yesterday.
In the last one year, the EFCC has traced assets and items worth about $10billion to Mrs. Alison-Madueke and her business associates, Mr. Kola Aluko and Chief Jide Omokore.
Some of the assets include an $18million peoperty (over N6.3billion at N350 exchange rate) in Abuja.
A top EFCC source, who spoke in confidence, said: “We have located some assets allegedly owned by Diezani and some of her business associates in the United States. We are already collaborating with the US Government to attach these assets.
“In fact, the EFCC chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, spent about one and a half weeks in the US to work with the relevant agencies to trace Diezani’s properties, some of which are believed to have been secured through business fronts like Kola Aluko. “We have submitted relevant documents to the US authorities in order to facilitate the seizure of the assets.”
Responding to a question, the source added: “Some of these properties were acquired through some business fronts like Aluko and Omokore. “We even have a in which houses on a street in Switzerland have been traced to an associate of Diezani.” The EFCC is working with anti-graft agencies in Britain and the United States.
“Don’t forget that the EFCC initially secured a Mareva Injunction from Justice O.O. Oguntoyinbo to freeze some foreign accounts and seize some assets linked with Diezani’s associates in the United Kingdom,” the source said.
Accounts have been frozen in some of overseas financial institutions. They include BNP Paribas (Switzerland), LGT Bank (Switzerland), Standard Chartered Bank (London),Barclays Bank (London), Standard Energy (Voduz, Switzerland), HSBC (London), Corner Bank (Lugano, Switzerland) and Deutsche Bank (Geneva).
Section 34 (1) of the EFCC Act 2004 empowers the Commission to freeze any account suspected of being used for financial crimes. The section stipulates that “the chairman of the commission or any officer authorised by him may, if satisfied that the money in the account of a person is made through the commission of an offence under this Act or any enactment specified under Section 6(2) (a)-(f) of this Act, apply to the court ex parte for power to issue or instruct a bank examiner or such other appropriate authority to freeze the account.”
The National Crime Agency (NCA) in the UK arrested and quizzed Mrs Alison-Madueke and four others on October 2, 2015 for alleged bribery, corruption and money laundering. Also the EFCC has interrogated five more suspects since her interrogation. The NCA last year obtained permission from a Westminster Magistrate’s Court to seize 27,000 pounds from Alison-Madueke and two other women.
Although NCA detectives have visited the country this year in line with the probe, it was unclear as at press time when she will be formally arraigned in court in the UK. While the UK investigation was in progress, the EFCC uncovered another $115million poll bribery scam in which the ex-minister was implicated.
But Mrs Alison-Madueke has described allegations against her as “cold-hearted” and inhuman because she is ill.
Her statement said in part: “Coming at such a critical time in my life when I am battling cancer, this poorly executed propaganda bares on its face like tribal marks, a clearly malicious attempt to victimise an innocent woman in what appears an exaggerated plot to validate and give credibility to the anti-corruption crusade under Nigeria’s new regime. “People who are battling cancer or those who have lost their loved ones to this medical condition understand what I am going through at this time.
“This is what makes me ponder at the cold-heartedness of those who will go any length to defame and destroy in the name of propaganda. What happened to our shared humanity? ”I have absolute regard for the law and believe that people who have breached the laws that govern societies should be made to face the wrath of the law.
“But in a civilized society, a responsible government owes its citizens absolute commitment to the principles of rule of action know it.law, equity, fairness and justice. I have been wrongfully and maliciously maligned and those behind this reckless “I leave them to posterity, their conscience and above all the Almighty God who is the final judge of all.”
Source: Nairaland
Friday, 19 August 2016
How To Start Diesel Supply Business In Nigeria.
We all know that oil and gas business is one of the most lucrative business in Nigeria. People are making billions of naira annually and the money in the industry just seem endless! Supply of Diesel also known as AGO (Automated Gas Oil) is one of the most profitable business in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
Why Diesel Supply Is A Good Business
Why Diesel Supply Is A Good Business
You know the quality of power supply we currently get in this country? It is nothing to write home about! All the giant diesel generators that power most of our industries run on diesel. MTN alone is said to have over 6,000 diesel generators that power all their base stations across the country and they run on average of 20 hours daily.
If each of those generators consumed 50littres for the 20 hours daily, that will be a total of 50 x 6000 = 300,000 Litres of diesel daily! In a month, MTN generators alone would have consumed 300,000 x 30 = 9,000,000 Litres of Diesel. What a waste!
Now multiply the above figure by all the four GSM Network operators in Nigeria, all the twenty something banks and their branches, all the factories, all the agencies and organization, all the media houses, and all the homes that runs almost 24 hours on generators! Needless to tell you that billions of litres of Diesel are avoidably burnt everyday in Nigeria.
In business and supply sense, the best product to deal on is the product that is in high demand. That makes diesel product one of the very product of choice when it comes to Nigerian oil and gas supply business.
Another good thing about Diesel supply business is that it is less complicated and less expensive compared to that of PMS besause – Diesel is easier to store and transport due the fact that it is less flammable, unlike PMS that could catch fire from a distance and requires more elaborate storage system that cost fortune.
One of the best part of the business is that you basically do not need to store the product, all you need to do is to market your customers and supply on demand, cash your money and smile to the bank! You can even do the business on a small scare without keeping an office. However, to operate on the standard we are talking about, you must get an office. Don’t get me wrong – Diesel business is a serious business and requires careful planning.
If you get it right believe me, there is millions of naira waiting for you in this business – the issue of profit is like 120% guaranteed. Go ahead and invest provided you have the required capital.
Profit Potential In Diesel Supply Business
Just like every good business, there is money to be made in Diesel supply and profit is always there. We are going to base our calculation per litres per truck. You can get 33,000 litres of Diesel from major distributors and NNPC at N2.5 at the unit cost of N78 per litres.
A truck of 33,000 liters of Diesel to retailers like Filling Stations supplied at unit cost of N88 will give you a profit margin of N10. In that case, you will be generating profit of 33,000 x N10 = N330,000 from each supply. That is the lowest profit you can make – profit for 33,000 litres are sometimes up to a million naira.
When you multiply that to how many trucks you are able to supply in a month, you will find out you are in money. The secret to success in diesel supply business in marketing. Expand your horizon, talk to as many companies and individuals as you possibly can. The more you supply, the more profit you make.
In all, a medium scale Diesel supplier that puts everything properly in place makes between 3-5 million naira monthly after expenses. Isn’t that great? 5million naira monthly is a good business by all standard, so go ahead and give it a go!
The figure above gives you idea of what is obtainable! It is by no means the final figures, prices can change and some other factor may come into play. However, everything remains relatively within the estimated range.
If you have additional information you think will add more meaning to this article, feel free to explain it in the comment section and lets expand the topic. We hope to make this article as comprehensive as possible to cover every necessary details we need in starting Diesel supply business in Nigeria.
Requirements To Start Diesel Supply Business
The requirements I’m talking about is the things you need to put in place to ensure a smooth starting of your business. Let us take it one after the other and see how it goes.
1. Register your Business – You need to Register your business either as a Business Name or Private Limited Company. Registration is very important in your business.
Some companies may not want to deal with non traceable individual. If you don’t have a registered company, you may loose out from their deals.
When your company is registered and with a permanent office, people feel more relaxed to do business with you because they know a place they can fall back to should they need to contact you physically at anytime. That is very very important in business.
Again, you have a place you refer people back to when negotiating a deal, something like – My company is Dandy Oil and Gas Ltd. Our office is at No. 123 Ahmadu Bello Way. Then people know you are serious in business. It cost about N50,000 to register a Private Limited Liability Company with the Corporate Affairs Commission.
2. Invest in Brand Equity – This is really not official requirement but very necessary if you hope to Stay Ahead of Competition in your business. Your name do not make much impression as your brand, it is the brand that people get attached to in any business. When you think of MTN what immediately flashed into your mind is the Yellow square logo – Isn’t it?
2. Invest in Brand Equity – This is really not official requirement but very necessary if you hope to Stay Ahead of Competition in your business. Your name do not make much impression as your brand, it is the brand that people get attached to in any business. When you think of MTN what immediately flashed into your mind is the Yellow square logo – Isn’t it?
In this part of the world, people tend to look down on branding while some do it very poorly. Branding is even more important than the business itself, good branding will go a long way to lift your business.
Get professional Graphic artists and brand experts to work on your company’s brand. Let them design professional logo for you and other things like your company letter head, business cards and stationary. Open a corporate account with your registered company’s name, etc. These are very very important in any business too.
The importance of these in your Diesel supply business is that when you present business proposal to your would be clients, every thing will look professional and that helps make very good first impression which is vital for winning contracts.
3. Purchase your Truck – You can always rent one from haulage companies. However, buying yours is more beneficial and cost effective at the long run. A good truck/ trailer head from Germany or anywhere from Europe cost about 9Million Naira. If you can’t get one, go for hire while you save money and buy later
Source For Diesel Supply Product
There are two major places to buy your product: From Major distributors like Mobil, Texaco, Oando,Total, Conoil, etc… They are major importers of the product and are always looking for distributors. In most cases, they always have the products available though at a higher prices.
The second one is NNPC. They are like the ultimate in terms of prices but not for availability anyway. Approach these two major sources and negotiate your way.
The ultimate when it comes to Diesel importation in Nigeria happened to be Zenon Oil. You can buy your product from Zenon.
Latest Trend! The product is said to be very cheaper in Niger Republic. Some fuel importers import their diesel from the Soraz refinery in Nigerat cheaper rate and sell to distributors within the North. If you have your own truck and logistics, you may give it a try, buying from them up North at cheaper rate especially if you are from the North. Else, you may just make do with the others (Zenon, NNPC and Major Distributors) for convenience and security.
Once you have the product aspect covered, your major assignment is marketing. Reach out for potential buyers. Make advert on the daily newspapers and online.
Now throw your questions and add what you know into the comment box and lets expand on this post. I wish you success in your journey to become a Supplier of Diesel oil product.
Monday, 15 August 2016
Civil Servant Dies In Efcc's Custody After Six Hours (pictured)
She explained that six hours after Desmond was taken into custody, he was pronounced dead.
She told PUNCH Metro that she had been calling her husband’s phone repeatedly but it was switched off as she did not know he was in EFCC’s custody in Wuse 2, Abuja.
Susanne said, “Around 3pm on June 9, my husband had gone to pick up our son from school and they both returned home. He later went out. Around 6pm, I called his line and it rang once. I tried his number several times later, but it was off.
“The next morning, I got apprehensive when he didn’t come home. However, around 3.48pm, someone called me with his phone and said my husband was in the EFCC’s custody and I should come to bail him.”
Susanne said on getting to the EFCC, she was told to go and get a man because being a woman, her husband could not be released on bail to her.
Shortly after leaving, the EFCC was alleged to have issued a press statement breaking the news of Desmond’s death.
She said, “The EFCC called me to their office to come and bail my husband while he was already at the mortuary.
“I later received a phone call from a former colleague of mine that he had read the news online that my husband was arrested for fraud and he had died.”
The widow said she was informed that her husband’s arrest was sequel to a petition written by one Uloma, his business associate.
Susanne said, “She (Uloma) told the EFCC that she met my husband on a flight in 2012 when he was on his way to the US where I went to give birth. She said my husband introduced her to a third party with whom she did a N91m transaction.”
Susanne berated the EFCC for labelling her husband a fraudster even after causing his death, adding that the anti-graft agency must clear his name.
The nephew of the deceased, Amaechi Ihezie, told PUNCH Metro that when he visited the EFCC, investigators told him that Desmond slumped and died.
He said the anti-graft agency denied Desmond bail even after it had been discovered that he did not receive any money from the transaction.
Ihezie accused the EFCC of being overzealous as the commission did not inform the Ministry of Defence of Desmond’s arrest or investigation even though he had been working at the ministry for over 10 years.
“The EFCC told me that before he died, he wrote a statement of four pages. They gave him his phone to make calls for about two hours and then nobody came to bail him and so they said they transferred him to their head office and that a few hours later, he started to complain of discomfort and slumped. They said he was rushed to the hospital and confirmed dead,” he added.
In a petition addressed to the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), the lawyer of the family, Mr. Paul Edeh, alleged a cover-up in the case.
Edeh said the EFCC had released all those, who were in detention with Desmond, on the day he died so that there would be no witnesses.
The petition partly read, “The EFCC has blatantly refused that a post-mortem examination should be carried out on the body so as not to be indicted. This may have been the reason why more than two months after Desmond’s death, no move has been made to carry out an autopsy.
“After many visits by our clients to the EFCC and the police, both agencies have maintained that Desmond died a natural death. One, therefore, wonders how both the police and the EFCC could come up with such a common position in the absence of a medical examination to determine the cause of death.”
However, the EFCC had said in a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, that the deceased allegedly fraudulently obtained N91m from an acquaintance after he tricked her into believing that he had high net worth business associates in Dubai, who were on the verge of buying NICON Insurance, and convinced her of their disposition to help her stockfish business.
Consequently, she allegedly wired N91m into an account, Mainage General Merchants, in Diamond Bank.
The EFCC added, “After the transfer of the funds, he became evasive forcing the complainant to report to the EFCC. Consequently, he was arrested in Utako, Abuja, at about 5.33pm on Thursday, June 9, 2016.
“He admitted to receiving the money from the complainant, with the additional information that he transferred N30m of the said money to Norway. But he could not explain the whereabouts of the balance of N61m.
“The suspect was detained at about 7.30pm, in the absence of anybody to take him on bail. Six hours later, he suddenly complained of discomfort and was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Source: Nairaland
Sunday, 31 July 2016
FCMB Bank Manager Commits Suicide In Front Of His Pastor (photo)
FCMB Bank Manager Olisa Nwakoby Kills Himself In front Of His Pastor In
Lekki Lagos Over N350Million Debt. Mr. Olisa Nwakoby, a manager at a
second generation bank, First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Plc on Friday
evening shot himself dead in the presence of his Priest at the Lekki
area of Lagos Island, Lagos State.
The father of a 10-year- old daughter was said to have taken his own life because of an incriminating huge loan transaction he approved in his bank.
Sources close to the family told ST at the weekend that the late Olisa was the approving officer for the loan which the beneficiary is no longer servicing and the bank was on the neck of Olisa to get the money back.
His late father, Chief Patrick Oguejiofor Nwakoby was a former chairman of First Bank of Niger Plc, a successfully lawyer , politician and a highly respected community leader before his death.
Fear over his integrity and the name of his family, which could be dented if his bank commences action against him over the loan, was too much for the vibrant banker to bear prompting him to shoot himself, our source said.
Our source did not say that there was suspicion of any foul play in the death of the banker, she also could not confirm the actual amount involved in the transaction, but she simply said “it was huge.” The case is being handled by homicide detectives attached to Area J Command, Lekki/Ajah. According to a police source.
The banks, on the fateful day he killed himself, went to meet his pastor. He told the pastor to tell his wife to take good care of his children, that what he would do in next few minutes would shock everyone. He was said to have later blown his brains out.
The source continued, “It was later discovered that he took money from the bank, N350million, and the money started creating problems for him. He killed himself.”
When the Lagos State Police spokesperson, Dolapo Badmus, was contacted, her two lines were switched off. Olisa hails from Nkwelle Ezunaka in Oyi Local Government of Anambra State and he attended Abia State University, where he bagged a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree, in Microbiology between 1990 and 1995.
Source: Nairaland
The father of a 10-year- old daughter was said to have taken his own life because of an incriminating huge loan transaction he approved in his bank.
Sources close to the family told ST at the weekend that the late Olisa was the approving officer for the loan which the beneficiary is no longer servicing and the bank was on the neck of Olisa to get the money back.
His late father, Chief Patrick Oguejiofor Nwakoby was a former chairman of First Bank of Niger Plc, a successfully lawyer , politician and a highly respected community leader before his death.
Fear over his integrity and the name of his family, which could be dented if his bank commences action against him over the loan, was too much for the vibrant banker to bear prompting him to shoot himself, our source said.
Our source did not say that there was suspicion of any foul play in the death of the banker, she also could not confirm the actual amount involved in the transaction, but she simply said “it was huge.” The case is being handled by homicide detectives attached to Area J Command, Lekki/Ajah. According to a police source.
The banks, on the fateful day he killed himself, went to meet his pastor. He told the pastor to tell his wife to take good care of his children, that what he would do in next few minutes would shock everyone. He was said to have later blown his brains out.
The source continued, “It was later discovered that he took money from the bank, N350million, and the money started creating problems for him. He killed himself.”
When the Lagos State Police spokesperson, Dolapo Badmus, was contacted, her two lines were switched off. Olisa hails from Nkwelle Ezunaka in Oyi Local Government of Anambra State and he attended Abia State University, where he bagged a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree, in Microbiology between 1990 and 1995.
Source: Nairaland
How I Refused N405m Money Laundering Offer By Governor
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Femi Falana has disclosed how he
declined a mouth-watering N405 million brief from an unnamed former
governor to help him launder funds abroad. Femi Falana Falana, whose
testimonial is contained in the current edition of ALERT, a monthly
pull-out by the EFCC, pleaded with his colleagues to be wary of briefs
from politically-exposed persons (PEPs).
Falana explained that the governor had asked him to assist in moving a huge sum of money to an undisclosed country and offered to pay him £1 million reward for his service but he declined outright.
The legal luminary said: “The governor asked me to assist him in transferring money abroad, and that I should claim it to be proceeds from sale of his property in Nigeria.
“And the price was extremely attractive. He was going to pay me a million pounds then, when money was money “The governor said he had chosen me for the shady deal, because ‘nobody will suspect you.’ “I told him, ‘Your Excellency, so it is my reputation that you want to buy with your one million pounds?’
“Some of my colleagues thought I was stupid, but those who accepted the offer later found themselves in trouble, as they were arrested and humiliated.
They were only lucky not to have been charged to court.”
He advised lawyers against being used by politically-exposed persons. He also asked lawyers not to succumb to the lure of filthy lucre to assist politically-exposed persons (PEPs) to commit financial crimes.
“Lawyers have a paramount role to play in the fight against economic and financial crimes, as they are the ones usually employed by well-heeled members of the society to help perfect documents for illicit transactions, and to cover up their tracks.”
Source: Nairaland
Falana explained that the governor had asked him to assist in moving a huge sum of money to an undisclosed country and offered to pay him £1 million reward for his service but he declined outright.
The legal luminary said: “The governor asked me to assist him in transferring money abroad, and that I should claim it to be proceeds from sale of his property in Nigeria.
“And the price was extremely attractive. He was going to pay me a million pounds then, when money was money “The governor said he had chosen me for the shady deal, because ‘nobody will suspect you.’ “I told him, ‘Your Excellency, so it is my reputation that you want to buy with your one million pounds?’
“Some of my colleagues thought I was stupid, but those who accepted the offer later found themselves in trouble, as they were arrested and humiliated.
They were only lucky not to have been charged to court.”
He advised lawyers against being used by politically-exposed persons. He also asked lawyers not to succumb to the lure of filthy lucre to assist politically-exposed persons (PEPs) to commit financial crimes.
“Lawyers have a paramount role to play in the fight against economic and financial crimes, as they are the ones usually employed by well-heeled members of the society to help perfect documents for illicit transactions, and to cover up their tracks.”
Source: Nairaland
They Want To Kill Me Because Am Black- Ejike Eleweke Cries Out
A Nigerian man who is on death row in Indonesia for drug trafficking
says the country has a morbid hatred for black people and wants to kill
him unjustly.
Humphrey Ejike Jefferson Eleweke, a Nigerian man who could face the marksmen tomorrow, Friday, July 29, 2016, after he was sentenced to death on charges of drug trafficking by an Indonesian court, says he and other Nigerians and black people on the death row, are marked for death because they are black people, The Age News reports
Eleweke, who is one of the four Nigerians who are up for execution, after the country's president, Joko Widodo, refused to grant them amnesty, have been transferred to Nusakambangan prison island where the country normally puts convicts to death, is still insisting on his innocence and has refused to sign his execution papers in protest.
The 14 death row prisoners, mostly from Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, India and Indonesia, were on Tuesday, July 26, told they had 72 hours to live, and will be tied to the stakes by Friday.
But after several last minute appeals for a stay of execution failed to sway Widodo, a human rights group, Community Legal Aid Institute, got to Elewekeand some of the convicts who said they are being killed because they are blacks and believed they had been unfairly targeted.
The Institute Director and Jefferson's lawyer, Ricky Gunawan, said the convict told him he is innocent of the crime he has been convicted of.
"The Indonesian government just hate us, they want to kill us because we are black," Elewekewas reported as telling Gunawan.
Gunawan told reporters:
"While Mr Eleweke hoped for a miracle, he was aware it was unlikely, given Indonesians blame Africans for bringing much of the illegal drugs into the country.
Mr Eleweke's trial judgement included the statement that black-skinned people from Nigeria are under surveillance by police because they are suspected of drug trafficking in Indonesia."
"His case was one of those highlighted in the Amnesty International report 'When Justice Fails', which raised concerns about his lack of access to a lawyer at the time of his arrest, torture and the impartiality of the court process."
Source: Nairaland
Humphrey Ejike Jefferson Eleweke, a Nigerian man who could face the marksmen tomorrow, Friday, July 29, 2016, after he was sentenced to death on charges of drug trafficking by an Indonesian court, says he and other Nigerians and black people on the death row, are marked for death because they are black people, The Age News reports
Eleweke, who is one of the four Nigerians who are up for execution, after the country's president, Joko Widodo, refused to grant them amnesty, have been transferred to Nusakambangan prison island where the country normally puts convicts to death, is still insisting on his innocence and has refused to sign his execution papers in protest.
The 14 death row prisoners, mostly from Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, India and Indonesia, were on Tuesday, July 26, told they had 72 hours to live, and will be tied to the stakes by Friday.
But after several last minute appeals for a stay of execution failed to sway Widodo, a human rights group, Community Legal Aid Institute, got to Elewekeand some of the convicts who said they are being killed because they are blacks and believed they had been unfairly targeted.
The Institute Director and Jefferson's lawyer, Ricky Gunawan, said the convict told him he is innocent of the crime he has been convicted of.
"The Indonesian government just hate us, they want to kill us because we are black," Elewekewas reported as telling Gunawan.
Gunawan told reporters:
"While Mr Eleweke hoped for a miracle, he was aware it was unlikely, given Indonesians blame Africans for bringing much of the illegal drugs into the country.
Mr Eleweke's trial judgement included the statement that black-skinned people from Nigeria are under surveillance by police because they are suspected of drug trafficking in Indonesia."
"His case was one of those highlighted in the Amnesty International report 'When Justice Fails', which raised concerns about his lack of access to a lawyer at the time of his arrest, torture and the impartiality of the court process."
Source: Nairaland
Thursday, 21 July 2016
OPC Gives Militants 14-Day Ultimatum To Stop Attacks.
OPC issued the threat while reacting to recent attacks by suspected militants on Imusin and Ogijo in Ogun and some riverine communities in Ikorodu area of Lagos State.
The group in a statement by Comrade Dare Adesope entitled, ‘‘Incursion of Ijaw militants into Yoruba land: Enough is enough,’’ threatened reprisal attack if the suspected Ijaw militants failed to end the incursion into the South-West at the end of the ultimatum.
According to the group, the attack in the South-West was an affront on the Yoruba nation and it would not be accepted.
The statement reads in part, “Enough of these invasions, killings and kidnapping of our people right on our own soil. We of the Oodua Peoples Congress (Reformed) have waited for this long, hoping that the government would curb the deadly acts of the Ijaw people on our kinsmen in their fatherland in Ogun and Lagos states. But, it has now dawned on us that the lives and properties of our people and, indeed, the masses are of no importance to those in authorities and the marauding militants.
“It is a known fact that we, the Yoruba, are the most contented, accommodating and tolerant among all the ethnic groups in Nigeria. We wholeheartedly welcome other tribes coming into our states either to reside or do business. But, if they want to take our hospitality for stupidity, we are ready to prove to them that the gentility of a tiger is not an act of cowardice. Before now, it was the Fulani herdsmen, now it is the Ijaw people that are on the prowl. Enough is enough
“Consequently, we are giving the Ijaw militants a 14-day ultimatum to allow peace to reign in our land. If they fail to heed the warning, it will henceforth be an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. We will prove to them that Lagos belongs to the Yoruba and not a no man’s land that they tend to erroneously claim.
“If they must care to know, we have information and facts about where their leaders’ properties are situated in the entire South-West and where their people reside in our midst as well.”
Source: Nairaland
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