EXCLUSIVE: Kyari's Death: Aso Rock Cabal Religated As New Power Force Springs Up

By The Nation 

A fresh power play is covertly in place in the Presidential Villa with a new force trying to dismantle the hitherto powerful cell, otherwise called “The Cabal.” Since the illness and eventual death of the late Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari, it has been difficult for some members of ‘The Cabal.’

Besides the redeployment of the Permanent Secretary of the State House, Mr. Jalal Arabi, the access accreditation tag of a prominent member (names withheld) was withdrawn to enable the power broker apply as a visitor; a candidate nominated by the Secretary of ‘The Cabal’ to coordinate an agency was removed; and most members do not have firsthand information of the goings-on in the Villa again.

A source told SENTRY that a “new force is emerging and everyone is being careful to avoid belonging to a wrong camp.” There will be more details later in the coming weeks on those now calling the shots

The 4 Invaluable Lessons I Learned In Prison - Orji Kalu

By News Proof 

A former governor of Abia State and the embattled chief whip of the Nigerian Senate has narrated his ordeals and some lessons he described as invaluable while in prison. 

 

He said his five months in jail afforded him the opportunity of learning “invaluable lessons” about Nigeria and the citizenry.

Kalu, who is representing Abia North Senatorial District at the red chamber, stated this while reacting to a Supreme Court judgment delivered in his favour on Friday.

The apex court, in a unanimous decision by a seven-member panel led by Justice Amina Augie, held that the Federal High Court in Lagos acted without jurisdiction when it convicted Kalu, his firm, Slok Nigeria Limited and a former Director of Finance in Abia State, Jones Udeogu, in December last year.

It further held that trial Justice Mohammed Liman was no longer a judge of the Federal High Court as of the time he sat and delivered the judgment that convicted the defendants for allegedly stealing about N7.1bn from the Abia State treasury when he was governor.

Kalu said, “The past five months have been quite a profound period for me. As challenging as that period has been, it has provided me an opportunity to learn invaluable lessons about our country, our peoples, our justice system, and the true meaning of love. I mean love for family, love for our country, and love for humanity.”

He, however, expressed delight that the Supreme court judgment affirmed his right to a fair hearing and equal protection of the law.

BREAKING: Supreme Court Frees Former Gov., Orji Kalu

The Supreme Court, on Friday, quashed the judgement that convicted and sentenced the former governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor-Kalu, to 12 years imprisonment.

The apex court, in a unanimous decision by a seven-man panel of Justices led by Justice Amina Augie, held that the Federal High Court in Lagos acted without jurisdiction when it convicted Kalu, his firm, Slok Nigeria Limited and former Director of Finance in Abia State, Jones Udeogu.

It held that trial Justice Mohammed Liman was no longer a judge of the Federal High Court as at the time he sat and delivered the judgement that convicted the defendants for allegedly stealing about N7.1billion from Abia state treasury.

According to the Supreme Court, Justice Liman, having been elevated to the Court of Appeal before then, lacked the powers to return to sit as a High Court Judge.

It held that the Fiat that was issued to him by the Court of Appeal President pursuant to section 396(7) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act was unconstitutional.

Consequently, the apex court vacated the judgement that convicted the defendants and ordered a fresh trial of the defendants.

On December 5, 2019, a Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday sentenced Orji Kalu, to 12 years’ imprisonment for N7.2 billion fraud and money laundering.

The court convicted Kalu, now a senator, on all the 39 counts preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission charge.

Kalu was charged alongside a former Commissioner for Finance, in the state Jones Udeogo, and his company, Slok Nig. Ltd.

While Kalu and his company were found guilty of all the 39 counts, Udeogo was convicted on 34 counts and sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment

Culled from Vanguard 

Abacha Loots: US exposes 2 top European countries still in custody of another tranches of $167m, $152m

Just a week after aiding Nigeria to repatriate $311m (N118bn) stolen by the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, the United States says there is a separate $319m (N121bn) Abacha loot in the United Kingdom and France, fresh report according to Punch suggests. 

The US Embassy in Nigeria said in a statement on Wednesday that there is $167m in stolen assets in France while there is a separate $152m  in the UK which is being challenged in court.

The statement read in part, “The funds returned last week are distinct and separate from an additional $167m in stolen assets also forfeited in the United Kingdom and France, as well as $152m still in active litigation in the United Kingdom.”

Bloomberg had reported that the repatriation of the $152m (now $155m due to interest) to Nigeria is being challenged by the UK and the US because of alleged plans by the Nigerian government to give $110m out of the money to Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu, a known associate of the late Abacha.

Nigeria is seeking the approval of a UK court to take ownership of the assets before returning 70 percent of the proceeds to Bagudu under the terms of a 2018 deal, according to Bloomberg.

Nigeria’s Attorney-General, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has, however, denied ever entering a deal with Bagudu but court papers say otherwise.

The UK government’s National Crime Agency is also “opposing the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s application,” according to a motion filed by Bagudu’s brother, Ibrahim, to the District Court for the District of Columbia in the US capital on March 30.

The US Department of Justice said in February that its Nigerian counterpart is hindering its efforts to recover the allegedly laundered money from the UK.

Bagudu was part of a network controlled by Abacha that “embezzled, misappropriated and extorted billions from the government of Nigeria,” according to the US Department of Justice.

While successive Nigerian governments have repatriated billions of dollars looted by Abacha, who died in office in 1998, the current regime of Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), said it is prevented from assisting America’s ongoing forfeiture efforts by an agreement between Bagudu and a previous government in 2003.

Abacha is estimated to have stolen as much as $5bn during his five-year rule

That 2003 settlement, which was approved by a UK court, allowed Bagudu to return $163m to Nigeria “without admitting to wrongdoing,” according to US court filings.

Bagudu was elected a senator in 2009 and the governor of Kebbi State six years later.

What Il-Giornale, an Italian Newspapers reported about the purported death of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu?

An Italian interpreter should help please

2023 Presidency: Ohaneze furious, denies seeking help from Gowon, Tinubu, others

By Dansu Peter 

The leadership of Ohanaeze NDIGBO, the socio-political organization of the igbos has denied reaching out to any group or individual to intervene on Igbo behalf.

Though desirous of having presidency of Igbo extraction come 2023, butthe Igbo apex cultural organisation frowned   at  a report described as spurious  made by some miscreants that Ndigbo are reaching out to people that would help facilitate bid for  an Igbo man to  become president  in 2023. 

The name of President Muhammadu Buhari, former military president, Gen. Gowon, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, were some  allegedly dropped as some prominent Nigerians being sought to help in paving the way for Igbo presidency.

A statement signed by the national publicity secretary, Prince Uche Achi-Ogbaga, said  Ohanaeze Ndigbo had never at any time approached any individual or group to help Ndigbo produce a Nigerian president come 2023.

“The attention of the apex Igbo cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has been drawn to a spurious news item alleging that it had chosen a former Head of State, Retired General Yakubu Gowon, to spearhead the campaign for the emergence of a president of Igbo extraction in 2023.

“Equally mendacious is the story that Ohanaeze leadership was planning to have an interface with some prominent political figures in the country towards achieving the same objective.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide hereby informs the general public that at no time were the aforementioned situations ever contemplated or was there any meeting at which they were tabled for consideration, let alone any action being taken or a press statement issued on that.

“The purported actions exist only in the imagination of the miscreants and enemies of the Igbo nation who are the purveyors of the unfortunate concoctions.”

 

How we're selecting beneficiaries of Covid-19 cash transfer palliative - Lagos Govt.

By News Proof 

The selection of beneficiaries of the Federal Government's cash transfer palliative to ease the effect of lockdown has begun in Lagos State. 

The state government said that the exercise had begun following a four-day training program for selected Local Government Councils staff on the modalities for carrying out the shortlisting exercise in various regions across the state.

Mrs. Yetunde Arobieke, the state's Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment revealed that the exercise was designed to include education of indigent people on the deadly coronavirus pandemic and that the facilitators’ training had been by experts from the federal government.

Arobieke, who confirmed the shortlisting exercise while speaking to newsmen on Friday, stated that the program was being implemented through the administration of questionnaires which were prepared in line with World Bank standards.

She added that a total of 33 states of the federation had keyed into the shortlisting exercise and that the concept would help identify deserving beneficiaries and enable residents to benefit from the apex government initiative.

The commissioner expressed the satisfaction of the government on extension of the conditional cash transfer palliative program to the state, saying that disbursements would cushion the negative economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic on Lagosians.

She assured the people of the governor’s commitment to ensuring wellbeing of Lagosians and said that the registration exercise had been possible due to Sanwo-Olu’s insistence that residents also benefit from the federal government initiative.

Gov. Fayemi appoints man who denied son entering to his house without Covid-19 tests after sneaking to Ekiti

By Dansu Peter 

Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has appointed a man, Mr. Adeoye who denied his son entering to his house after sneaking into the  state from Lagos.

The man who many see as a disciplinarian was appointed as Ekiti state Covid-19 ambassador by the governor.

Governor Fayemi made the announcement this afternoon on his Facebook page.

"This afternoon, I appointed Mr. Adeoye, father of the young man who sneaked into the state, as a COVID-19 Response Ambassador in Ekiti State. He will help to propagate the message as a member of the COVID-19 Task Force @Ekiti_COVID19 in the State," the post read