The Division of the FCT High Court on Thursday ordered that the former board chairman of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Ngozi Olejeme, be remanded in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s ( EFCC) custody, until Friday.
The judge, Maryam Hassan, gave the order after listening to both counsel submissions on the defendant’s bail application.
She therefore directed that the defendant should be in the EFCC’s custody pending the ruling on the application for bail on Friday.
Ms Olejeme is standing trial over alleged case of criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, diversion of public funds and money laundering.
She was alleged to have committed the offence between 2012 and 2015, when she was the board chairman of the NSITF.
The nine-count charge bordering on mismanagement, giving false statements, taking kickback from contracts and diversion of NSITF funds into personal accounts and companies she had interest in, formed the basis for the defendant’s arraignment.
One of the charges alleged that the funds were diverted through the award of suspicious contracts to proxy companies.
The offence according to prosecution contravened the provisions of sections 8,19 (1) (b) (1), punishable under the Corrupt Practice & other Related Offence Act 2000 and Section 17, (1) (2), 39 of EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004 and punishable under the same section.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against her.
With the defendant pleading not guilty, the prosecution counsel, Steve Odiase, prayed for a date for hearing to enable prosecution to prove her case against the defendant.
The defendant counsel, Paul Erokoro, SAN, therefore informed the court of the bail application dated and filed on October 18 before it.
Mr Erokoro submitted that the application was supported by a 20-paragraphs affidavit attached with six exhibits.
He also informed the court that his client was not a flight risk, as she voluntarily returned to Nigeria when she heard that the prosecution wanted to question her.
Mr Erokoro further stated that his client had been reporting to the Commission’s office as she was questioned and released on bail in 2017.
The counsel equally urged the court to grant his client bail on self-recognisance or in the alternative, in the most liberal terms.
He said the bail application was predicated on medical grounds as the defendant has been diabetic and hypertensive for 30 years.
In addition, the counsel said that the defendant has had four major surgeries in the U.S. and South Africa.
He further stated that the defendant four months ago suffered a heart failure and got infected with COVID-19 virus in September.
He submitted in addition that the defendant had been scheduled for another follow-up surgery for November in South Africa.
Mr Erokoro said the defendant’s recent medical report from a medical facility stated that she required close medical monitoring as her medical status can lead to a medical emergency.
Mr Odiase, on his part, responded that he was not opposing the bail application, but opposed the granting of bail on self-recognisance as submitted by the defence counsel.
He said that there was no consideration for bail on self-recognisance in Section 165 (1) of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
He urged the court to grant the defendant bail with reasonable surety.
The court therefore adjourned until Friday to rule on the bail application.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Wednesday, issued the guidelines for the implementation of the Tertiary Institutions Entrepreneurship Scheme (TIES).
According to the document, the scheme was pursuant to the CBN Act, 2007 and “as part of its policy measures to address rising youth unemployment and underemployment.”
The TIES, the bank said was in partnership with Nigerian polytechnics and universities to harness the potential of graduate entrepreneurs (gradpreneurs) in Nigeria.
“The Scheme is designed to create a paradigm shift among undergraduates and graduates from the pursuit of white-collar jobs to a culture of entrepreneurship development for economic development and job creation.
“The Scheme thus aims to provide an innovative financing model that will create jobs, enhance the entrepreneurial ecosystem and support economic growth and development,” it said.
TIES has been designed to enhance access to finance by undergraduates and graduates of polytechnics and universities in Nigeria with innovative entrepreneurial and technological ideas.
Specific objectives of the Scheme include: To provide an enabling environment for co-creation, mentorship and development of entrepreneurial and technological innovations; Fast track ideation, creation and acceleration of a culture of innovation-driven entrepreneurship skills among graduates of polytechnics and universities in Nigeria; Leapfrog entrepreneurial capacity of undergraduates and graduates for entrepreneurship and economic development in partnership with academia and industry practitioners; and Boost contribution of non-oil sector to the nation’s GDP.
Activities to be covered under the Scheme shall include innovative start-ups and existing businesses owned by graduates of Nigerian polytechnics and universities in agribusiness – production, processing, storage and logistics; Information technology – application/software development, business process outsourcing, robotics, data management; entertainment, artwork, publishing, culinary/event management, fashion, photography, beauty/cosmetics; and Science and technology – medical innovation, robotics, ticketing systems, traffic systems, renewable energy, as well as, waste management.
There would be two classes of participant, with tier 1 receiving N5 million with a tenor of five years at 5 percent interests, (9 percent ) as from March 2022 and moratorium of 12 months.
Tier 2 candidates could receive as much as N25 million under similar terms.
According to the CBN interest payment and principal repayment shall be made on monthly or quarterly basis by the obligor depending on the established cash flow cycle and in line with the approved repayment schedule.
It said that under the scheme, “Five top Nigerian polytechnics and universities with the best entrepreneurial pitches/ideas shall be awarded grants, with the best receiving N150 million.
From second to fifth, the grants would be N120 million, N100 million, N 80 million and N 50 million, in that order.
The CBN urged interested Nigerian polytechnics and universities to apply to participate in the national biennial entrepreneurship competition, outlining brief details of the project, potential impact and evidence of originality.
Seven leaders of the Cape Town zone of the Neo Black Movement of Africa, also known as “Black Axe,” and an eighth man who conspired with a Black Axe leader, were charged with multiple federal crimes relating to Internet scams they perpetrated from South Africa, Acting U.S. Attorney, Rachael A. Honig, has announced.
According to the US Department of Justice, Perry Osagiede, aka “Lord Sutan Abubakar de 1st,” aka “Rob Nicolella,” aka “Alan Salomon,” 52; Enorense Izevbigie, aka “Richy Izevbigie,” aka “Lord Samuel S Nujoma,” 45; Franklyn Edosa Osagiede, aka, “Lord Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela,” aka, “Edosa Franklyn Osagiede,” aka “Dave Hewitt,” aka, “Bruce Dupont,” 37; Osariemen Eric Clement, aka, “Lord Adekunle Ajasi,” aka, “Aiden Wilson,” 35; Collins Owhofasa Otughwor, aka, “Lord Jesse Makoko,” aka, “Philip Coughlan,” 37; and Musa Mudashiru, aka “Lord Oba Akenzua,” 33; all originally from Nigeria, are charged by superseding indictment with wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy, spanning 2011 to 2021. One defendant remains at large.
The intercept Perry Osagiede, Franklyn Osagiede, Clement, and Izevbigie were also charged with wire fraud. Perry Osagiede, Franklyn Osagiede, and Otughwor were charged with aggravated identity theft.
Toritseju Gabriel Otubu, aka “Andy Richards,” aka “Ann Petersen,” 41, also originally from Nigeria, is charged by separate indictment with wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering conspiracy, spanning 2016 to 2021.
“Americans are too often victimized by criminal organizations located abroad who use the Internet to deceive those victims, defraud them of money, and, many times, persuade the victims to wittingly or unwittingly assist in perpetuating the fraudulent schemes,” Acting U.S. Attorney Honig said.
“The public should be on guard against schemes like these. And, more importantly, anyone thinking of engaging in this kind of criminal conduct should understand that the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our partners will find them and bring them to justice, no matter where they are.”
Secret Service Office of Investigations, Assistant Director Jeremy Sheridan, added, “Transnational organized criminal networks continue to victimize U.S. citizens and threaten the financial infrastructure of the United States.
“The Secret Service, alongside our partner agencies, work tirelessly in its global investigative mission to dismantle these groups and arrest those who lead them. We are proud to be a part of the international law enforcement mission to combat all forms of financial crimes and thank all those involved in this investigation. The U.S. Secret Service extends its gratitude to the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service for its assistance.
“Foreign nationals who think they can hide in another country or cyberspace while preying on our citizens need to know one thing.
“The FBI has a global footprint and will use every resource available to protect the American people. The strong working relationship among our federal and international law enforcement partners allows us to reach across geographical boundaries. In other words, anyone who thinks they can avoid American justice simply by operating outside the United States should rethink their strategy.”
According to documents filed in these cases: Perry Osagiede, Izevbigie, Franklyn Osagiede, Clement, Otughwor, and Mudashiru (the “Black Axe defendants”) were all leaders of the Neo Black Movement of Africa, also known as “Black Axe,” an organization headquartered in Benin City, Nigeria that operates in various countries.
According to documents filed in these cases: Perry Osagiede, Izevbigie, Franklyn Osagiede, Clement, Otughwor, and Mudashiru (the “Black Axe defendants”) were all leaders of the Neo Black Movement of Africa, also known as “Black Axe,” an organization headquartered in Benin City, Nigeria that operates in various countries.
The Black Axe is organized into regional chapters known as “zones,” and the defendants were all leaders within the Cape Town, South Africa, Zone. Perry Osagiede founded the Cape Town Zone of Black Axe and worked as its zonal head, along with Izevbigie. The Black Axe defendants and other members of Black Axe took part in, and openly discussed, fraud schemes amongst their membership.
From at least 2011 through 2021, the Black Axe defendants and other conspirators worked together from Cape Town to engage in widespread internet fraud involving romance scams and advance-fee schemes. Many of these fraudulent narratives involved claims that an individual was traveling to South Africa for work and needed money or other items of value following a series of unfortunate and unforeseen events, often involving a construction site or problems with a crane.
The conspirators used social media websites, online dating websites, and voice-over-internet protocol phone numbers to find and talk with victims in the United States while using many aliases.
The conspirators’ romance scam victims believed they were in romantic relationships with the person using the alias and when requested, the victims sent money and items of value overseas, including to South Africa. Sometimes, when victims expressed hesitation in sending money, the conspirators used manipulative tactics to coerce the payments, including by threatening to distribute personally sensitive photographs of the victim.
The conspirators used the bank accounts of victims and individuals with U.S.-based financial accounts to transfer the money to South Africa. On certain occasions, the conspirators convinced victims to open financial accounts in the United States that the conspirators would then be permitted to use themselves. In addition to laundering money derived from romance scams and advance-fee schemes, the conspirators also worked to launder money from business email compromise schemes. In addition to their aliases, the conspirators used business entities to conceal and disguise the illegal nature of the funds.
Otubu also engaged in romance scams and used the victims of those scams to obtain money and to launder the proceeds of business email compromises back to South Africa. Otubu conspired with an individual identified in the criminal complaint as Co-conspirator 1, who was a founding member and leader of the Cape Town Zone of Black Axe.
The wire fraud conspiracy and wire fraud charges each carry a maximum term of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. The money laundering conspiracy charge carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greatest. The aggravated identity theft charges carry a mandatory term of two years in prison, which must run consecutively to any other term of imprisonment imposed on a defendant.
Seven defendants were arrested in South Africa yesterday by the South African Police Service. Those defendants had their initial appearances in South Africa and are awaiting extradition to the United States on these charges. Both cases are before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp in Trenton federal court.
The United States Mission to Nigeria has urged #EndSARS protesters to take a political approach to addressing their demands.
The US said this in a Facebook post on Wednesday while also expressing support for ongoing police reforms.The post read,
“Today is a day to reflect on the loss of life and property during last year’s #EndSARS protests. We appreciate the work done by the various judicial panels and look forward to the implementation of recommendations and compensation to victims of police brutality. We support ongoing police reform efforts.
“We encourage those who demonstrated for change to engage politically to achieve it.”
Protesters took to the streets of major cities on Wednesday to mark the one-year anniversary of the #EndSARS protests of October 2020.While the protests were without hitches in Abuja, policemen in Lagos arrested several protesters at the Lekki toll plaza.
A 14-year-old minor (name withheld) on Wednesday in a video played during proceedings at an Ikeja Special Offences Court said that Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James alias Baba Ijesha, told her he was her boyfriend.
The video was a recording of the child forensic interview conducted on May 15 by Mrs Olabisi Ajayi-Kayode, a child expert and the Executive Director of the Cece Yara Foundation.
The video was played during the cross-examination of Ajayi-Kayode by the defence counsel, Mr Babatunde Ogala (SAN).
The teenager, during the interview, described the interaction she had with the 49-year-old actor on April 19 when she met him at her foster mother’s home.
He was invited following revelations that he had defiled her seven-years ago and unknown to him, a Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) camera had been set up in the home.
The minor in the interview said when Baba Ijesha came into the home, he initially acted like he was having a phone conversation and that he began checking the apartment to know whether anyone was home before he approached her.
“He said you’re a smart young girl, my baby. Do you have a boyfriend? I said no and he said since you do not have a boyfriend now that you’re much more mature, you’re now mine, I am your boyfriend.
“He said I used to teach you some things when you were small. I asked him what things so that I could record him with my phone.
“My phone was under the throw pillow because I thought he wanted to confess to what he did seven years ago but I was unable to record him.
“He said don’t you remember me and you used to play together, I used to teach you some things when you were small. Me and you had a contract and I asked him what contract?
“He asked me to sit on his legs and I said no and he said you that when you were small, you were not afraid. Now you’re afraid,” the minor said in the interview.
The teenager told Ajayi-Kayode that Baba Ijesha, during the April 19 incident, began touching her sexually and he had asked her to bring him some water.
“When I went to the kitchen, he also followed me and it was at this point that my mother and the other men (CCTV company staff) came in,” she said.
Earlier, the minor narrated to Ajayi-Kayode what transpired when the Nollywood actor allegedly defiled her seven-years ago.
She said that the first incident occurred when Baba Ijesha came to visit her sick foster mother when she was a seven-year old. She said she was sitting on the carpet watching cartoons while he sat on the couch.
She said the defendant asked her to remove her underwear and that he brought out his private part and asked her to wriggle her waist while sitting on his lap.
“My concentration was on the cartoon I was watching, I couldn’t remember how long I was on his laps before I felt some wetness.
“He cleaned himself with a handkerchief and he asked me to clean myself up and I went to the bathroom to clean myself up with a towel,” she said.
The minor said that the defendant told her not to tell anyone about what transpired between them.
The teenager told Ajayi-Kayode that next day, Baba Ijesha came to her home with some fruits for her foster mother and she was asked to pick up the fruits from his car.
“The car was parked at a T-junction and there was a wall and a gutter there and no one was on the other side. The fruits were on the back seat and he opened the door in front and asked me to take the fruits.
“When I stretched to pick the fruits from the back seat, he put the car keys into my private part and at the same time, he was trying to kiss me. After this incident, I did not see him again until seven-years later,” she said.
During the interview, the child expert gave the minor a male and a female doll to depict how the defendant allegedly molested her seven years ago.
The child gave a demonstration of how the molestation happened with the observation of Ajayi-Kayode.
Actress and comedienne Ms Damilola Adekoya alias Princess, the foster mother of the minor and Nollywood actress, Ms Iyabo Ojo were present in court to observe proceedings.
Justice Oluwatobi Taiwo adjourned the case till Thursday, October 21, for continuation of trial.
The Lagos state police command has said that contrary to reports, it has not permitted anyone to stage a street protest to commemorate one year of the #EndSARS protest on October 20.
In a statement released today, Tuesday, the command says it will only allow indoor or virtual ceremonies to commemorate the day. The statement reads:
”The attention of the Lagos State Police Command has been drawn to a post being circulated on the social media insinuating that the police in Lagos have agreed to allow street protests in commemoration of the one year EndSARS anniversary on 20th October, 2021.
“On the contrary, the police will only allow an indoor and virtual event in commemoration of the EndSARS anniversary and will provide adequate security at the venue (s) if known. This is in recognition of rights of every Nigerian to express his or her interest.
“We wish we could permit such street protests. However, intelligence at our disposal has revealed plans by some faceless groups or individuals to stage an anti-EndSARS anniversary protest in the state same day.
“In view of the conflicting interest between the pro and anti- EndSARS anniversary groups and threat to cause mayhem, the Command once again warns both groups against any form of street protest between now and 20th October, 2021 and beyond.
“It is acknowledged that citizens have the right to peaceful protests. However, in this instance having carried out a critical security assessment and intelligence report at the disposal of the Lagos Command in respect of the planned protests and attendant implications on public safety, the Command considers it inappropriate to allow such protests to hold. It will not stand aloof and allow breakdown of law and order which the protests may cause.
“To avoid a recurrence of the gory protests of last year during which some innocent Nigerians including police officers were gruesomely murdered, private and public property plundered and maliciously destroyed, the police will not abdicate their responsibilities of protection of lives and property by allowing such avoidable incident happen again in the state
“Therefore, in the interest of security and public safety, the Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu, wishes to warn the organisers of the protests that the police will deploy all legitimate means to stop or neutralise the planned protests.
“Parents, guardians are admonished to warn their children against participating in the protests. Similarly, youths and other individuals or groups planning to take part in the protests are further warned in their own interest to shelve the plan.”
Eight former students’ union leaders of the Lagos State University (LASU) have been inducted into the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN).
In a statement by the association’s chairman, Nurudeen Eniafe, and secretary, Olalere Owoseni, in Lagos on Tuesday, the move is part of the rebranding effort to correct the notion that the association consists of uneducated and never-do-well personalities.
The statement lauded the association’s National President, Musa Mohammed, for his efforts in ensuring that the association was sanitised at all times.
“The emergence of Alhaji Musa Mohammed, fondly called Alhaji Mollar, as the National President, represents the turning point of the old public narrative from negative to positive, for arguably the most vibrant trade union in Nigeria.
“We want to commend the national president of the union for cleansing the system and giving student leaders a room to direct the affairs of chapels of the association.
“In the same vein, we want to also appreciate the astute and impeccable role of our father, his royal majesty king Adeshina Raji, the Oniba of Iba Kingdom, who, in his pleasant disposition, gave us his support,” it noted.
The statement quoted a recent report by a media organisation that the Lagos chapter of the National Road Transport Workers Union, generated annual revenues of N123.08bn.
It attributed this to the induction of Nigerian graduates into the association, to offer their expertise.
The induction took place during the inauguration of the LASU chapter of the association.
The inducted students’ union leaders were; Nurudeen Eniafe, Akamo Babatunde, Samuel Olalere, Macarthy Olatunji, Ayomide Bakare, Oladele Omotayo, Isaiah Kuku and Osho Oladele.
Organisers of #EndSARS memorial protest have resorted to car procession to mark the first anniversary of last year’s #EndSARS nationwide protests.
This is despite the Lagos State Police Command warning against any form of #EndSARS protest on the basis that the State cannot afford a repeat of the destruction brought about by hoodlums who hijacked the protests of last year.
The organisers urged those who will partake in the memorial protest to come with their cars.
In one of the fliers seen by The Nation, the organisers urged the protesters to come en-masse as there would be a car procession around the Lekki toll gate and environs.
They advised protesters to stay in groups and also stay in their various vehicles for safety reasons.
The procession is scheduled to hold from 8am till 10am.
One of the artistes, who identified with the protesters, Folarin Falana popularly known as Falz in a post said: “We must never forget. We’re rolling up in cars tomorrow to drive through the tollgate.
“We know their way, so a procession of cars is the safest option to minimize police harassment. We have rides for people that need.”
A frontline member of the Feminist Coalition, which coordinated the protests last year, Ms Feyikemi Abudu said: “#EndSARSMemorial People were shot, injured and killed as they waved flags & sang. To memorialise them, we’re driving through the toll tmrw.
“We know them, so cars are to limit harassment. If you don’t have a car, txt the number. There’s space. Will be there at 8. Join if you can.”
