Crime
Alleged $6b Mambila Project Fraud: Witness On How N5.2m Was Wired To Agunloye
Adewale Agunbiade, a prosecuting witness in the trial of former Minister of Power and Steel, Olu Agunloye, has told the Federal Capital Territory High Court, sitting in Apo, Abuja, how the defendant allegedly received N5.2million from Jide Sotirin Abiodun, a staff of Sunrise Power and Transmission Ltd in multiple transfers and Automated Teller Machine (ATM), withdrawals.
Agunbiade gave the account on Monday, September 23, 2024, before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie.
The witness, a Compliance Officer, formerly with Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), but now with Jaiz Bank Plc, while being led in his examination-in-chief, by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, disclosed that “On October 2022, GTB received an investigation activity inquiry from EFCC in respect of the account of two customers, Mr Olu Agunloye and Mr Jide Sotinri. My team received the requests on behalf of the bank, following which I generated the statement of account via the system used by me at the time. I also prepared the Certificate of Identification, following my review of the statement against the records of the bank. I cosigned the cover letter of the responses.”
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Upon identifying and confirming the letters from EFCC in respect of the said accounts, marked Exhibit 1a and 2a and GTB’s responses marked Exhibit 2a and 2b, “On page two of Exhibit 2b is the statement of Jide Sotirin Abiodun and the Certificate of Identification prepared by me on the statement of the account. On the 10th of September 2019, there were six transactions. The last five transactions were ATM cash withdrawals of N30,000 (Thirty Thousand Naira) each. The last transaction on 10 August 2019 was a transfer of N3,600,000.00 (Three Million, Six Hundred Thousand Naira) from Sotirin Jide Abiodun to Olu Agunloy”, he said.
Speaking further, he disclosed that “As of 22 October 2019, a record of N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) was transferred from Sotirin Jide Abiodun to Olu Agunloye. On 13 November 2019, a record of N1, 121,000 (One Million One Hundred and Twenty-one Thousand Naira) from Leno in favour of Agunloye Olu from Jide Sotirin. Exhibit 1b is an account opening belonging to Agunloye Olu. On 10 August 2019 was an inward transfer of N3,600,000.00 (Three Million, Six Hundred Thousand Naira) from Sotinrin Jide Abiodun. On 22 October 2019, there was an inflow of N500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) from Sotirin Jide Abiodun. Also on 13th November 2019 was an inflow of N1, 121,000 (One Million One Hundred and Twenty-one Thousand Naira) in favour of Agunloye Olu from Jide Sotirin.”
The case was adjourned till October 21, 2024 for cross-examination.
Agunloye is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on seven-count charges, bordering on official corruption and fraudulent award of the Mambilla Power Project contract to the tune of $6billion (Six Billion US Dollars) to Sunrise Power and Transmission Ltd.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has withdrawn the arrest warrant issued against Ezekiel Thankgod, the former manager of renowned gospel singer, Mercy Chinwo.
Biztellers reports that Thankgod is facing allegations of involvement in a $345,000 fraud case.
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The arrest warrant had been issued by Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court on January 16, 2025, following an ex parte application by the EFCC seeking to compel Thankgod’s appearance in court.
During a court session on Friday, EFCC counsel, Mrs. Bilikisu Buhari, applied to withdraw the warrant, stating that the charges had already been served on Thankgod’s lawyer, Mr. Monday Ubani, SAN, during open court proceedings.
She argued that the warrant was no longer necessary.
Justice Owoeye granted the application and formally vacated the bench warrant.
Oba Otudeko, Chairman of Honeywell Group, appeared in the Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday to challenge charges of N12.3 billion fraud.
Biztellers reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed a 13-count indictment against Otudeko, along with Olabisi Onasanya, former Managing Director of FirstBank Plc., Soji Akintayo, a former board member of Honeywell, and Anchorage Leisure Ltd.
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During the proceedings, the defendants’ lawyer, Mr. Bode Olanipekun (SAN), raised an objection, stating that the charge had not been properly served to Otudeko or his co-defendants.
Olanipekun emphasized this issue as a reason for protest in court.
The EFCC has accused the individuals and the company of fraudulently obtaining N12.3 billion under false pretenses.
More to follow………..
Crime
Arrested Boko Haram Suspects: Adeleke Commends Security Operatives, Assures Safety Of Residents
Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has commended the personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS), on the successful operation, that led to the arrest of 10 suspected members of Boko Haram/Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Ilesa, Osun State.
Gov Adeleke expressed his feelings in a statement on micro-blogging site, X, on Saturday.
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According to the statement, Gov Adeleke hailed the alertness of security operatives, to eliminate the threats posed by the suspected terrorists, which gives further assurance that our security agencies are up to the task of sustaining peace and security of every part of Nigeria.
He particularly commended the intelligence gathering of the personnel of the State Service, who have painstakingly monitor the activities of the suspected criminals and moved swiftly to cut off their dastardly act.
“This is a welcome development and a big relief, not just for us as a government but to the people of the state and Nigeria in general. I commend the security operatives for their alertness and intelligence driven operation. We have absolute confidence in our security forces to keep protecting us”, Gov Adeleke declared.
He assured that his administration will continue to cooperate with security agencies and support their operations to ensure maximum protection of lives and property of Osun people, noting that this remains top of his priority.
“As the Chief Security Officer of Osun State, I will continue to give priority to issues of security of my people. I will continue to support efforts of security agencies to guard against any breakdown of law and order in any part of Osun. We will sustain the good relationship and collaboration that currently exists between our administration and the security agencies in the state” the Governor noted.
Gov Adeleke enjoined residents of Osun to continue to be watchful, and report any suspicious activity in their neighborhoods to relevant security agency, while assuring that Osun will continue to be a peaceful state under his watch.
“I hereby call on my people to continue to live in peace and harmony and be at alert to report any suspicious activities or behavior around them to the relevant security authorities. Together, we will ensure that Osun remains the most peaceful state in Nigeria” he concluded.
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