Crime
BREAKING: EFCC Presents More Witness Against Fayose In Alleged N6.9bn Fraud Trial
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Friday, July 19, 2024, presented its 14th prosecution witness, PW14, Sahibu Salisu, a former Director of Administration and Finance, Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), in the trial of alleged N6.9bn fraud involving a former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose.
Biztellers reports that Fayose and his company, Spotless Investment Limited, were standing trial before Justice Chukujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The Lagos Zonal Command of the EFCC had, on Tuesday, July 2, 2019, re-arraigned Fayose and Spotless Investment Limited on an 11-count charge bordering on money laundering and stealing to the tune of N6.9bn ( Six Billion Nine Hundred Naira).
The defendants had first been arraigned on October 22, 2018 before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun.
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At the resumed sitting on Friday, Salisu told the court how he paid the sum of N200m and another N2 billion to a firm, Sylvan MacNamara, for security purposes on the instruction of a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd).
Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, the PW14, who disclosed that he served as the Director of Administration and Finance between 2011 and 2015, explained the process of payment, thus, “Once the NSA gave approval for payment, we processed it accordingly. The payments we made were mainly for operational activities.”
On the roles of the NSA Office, he said, “The roles of the NSA Office are purely about the security of the entire country. And any money expended on security was expected to be retired.”
When shown a document tagged Exhibit S, which was the payment voucher raised for the fund, he admitted, “It is the payment mandate raised by me as the Director of Administration and Finance on the NSA’s instruction. The first figure was N200 million in favour of Sylvan McNamara and it was paid to the company’s Diamond Bank account. It was the NSA who gave me the account details.”
He said though the NSA did not tell him the purpose for which it was meant, the memo raised and the mandate payment showed it was for physical security infrastructure.
“All the payments made from the Office of NSA were supposed to be for security activities and security structures,” he said.
On who signed the payment mandate, he said, “I will sign my own part as signatory B. Thereafter, I would take it to the NSA for final signature, which was approval. Then, I would take the mandate to the Central Bank of Nigeria for payment.”
Giving further testimony on the exhibit S, he said the former NSA and him appended their signatures on it.
According to him, the payment was made and there should be retirement, after the purpose for which money was paid for had been completed.
He, however, stated that “Up till I left the office, I could not say whether or not the money was retired.”
When asked about the exhibit S1, which was payment to Sylvan McNamara to the tune of N2 billion dated June 13, 2014, he said: “We paid the amount of N2 billion to Sylvan McNamara on the instruction of the NSA. I was not a signatory to this account, so I am not in a position to know whether it was retired after payment. The NSA and former Permanent Secretary, Mr. Ibrahim Mahe, would be able to know whether it was retired or not”.
Salisu, under cross-examination by the counsel to the first defendant, Ola Olanipekun, SAN, testified that all payments made by the NSA office were made through the bank and they had to raise the mandate before it was done.
When asked if the former NSA told him that the N200m and N2bn were for security purposes, he said: “No. The NSA never informed me that the money was for security purposes and the NSA never complained about this payment.”
Three suspected members of a notorious kidnapping gang allegedly linked to the August 2 attack on St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Inoyi-Affa, in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, have been arrested by security operatives.
The suspects were apprehended during a joint operation involving the Department of State Services, Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, Enugu State Forest Guard and other security personnel.
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One suspected kidnapper was reportedly killed during a gun battle with the security forces, while four AK-47 rifles and ammunition were recovered from the gang.
The development was disclosed on Monday night when Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, visited the state DSS headquarters to inspect the arrested suspects.
Representing the governor, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said two of the three victims abducted during the August 2 attack had regained their freedom.
The victims, identified as Seminarian Lawrence Igbo and Emmanuel Onwudi, reportedly identified the arrested suspects as the individuals who abducted them.
“There was one fatality in this process. It was one of the criminals that died in the process of apprehending them,” Onyia said.
He added that the arrested suspects would face the full weight of the law.
The SSG said the state government would continue to strengthen its security architecture and collaborate with security agencies to prevent criminal activities across Enugu State.
He warned criminal elements that the state would not provide a safe haven for their activities.
Onyia also cautioned residents against assisting or providing information to criminal groups, stressing that anyone found collaborating with such groups would be investigated and prosecuted.
“We will find you also, just as we have found these people, and we will prosecute you as part of this evil operation and this evil syndicate,” he warned.
The SSG commended the DSS, Nigerian Army, Police, Enugu State Forest Guard and other security agencies for their efforts in apprehending the suspects and recovering the weapons.
He further assured residents that investigations were ongoing and that the government would continue to pursue those involved in criminal activities in the state.
The Osun State Police Command has released the state Commissioner for Environment, Mr Mayowa Anjorin, on bail following his arrest over an alleged shooting incident during a political procession in Ilesa.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the commissioner’s release to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday.
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Ojelabi said Anjorin was released at about 1:00 p.m. after being granted bail.
“The commissioner has been released. He was released around 1.00 p.m on bail,” the police spokesperson said.
He, however, disclosed that an Amotekun operative arrested alongside the commissioner remains in police custody.
“The Amotekun operative arrested alongside the commissioner and the gun found with him (the Amotekun operative) are still with us,” Ojelabi added.
He stressed that investigations into the incident were still ongoing.
The commissioner’s arrest followed an alleged shooting during a political procession in Ilesa on Saturday.
According to the police, suspected armed men allegedly arrived in a government vehicle, alighted and fired into the vicinity of the ongoing political procession.
The suspects were reportedly dressed as personnel of the Osun State Security Network Agency, popularly known as the Amotekun Corps.
The incident reportedly left three people with gunshot injuries. The victims were taken to hospital for medical treatment.
Meanwhile, the police said investigations would continue to establish the circumstances surrounding the shooting and the roles of those arrested.
The Jigawa State Police Command has arrested nine suspects in connection with separate incidents of deadly violence, including a fatal market clash, attacks on security personnel, and a homicide case in different parts of the state.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Shi’isu Adam, disclosed the arrests in a statement issued in Dutse, describing them as part of the police’s ongoing efforts to maintain law and order across Jigawa State.
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According to Adam, two suspects were arrested over the violent unrest that broke out at Gujungu Market in Taura Local Government Area on July 26.
“The disturbance reportedly began following a misunderstanding between a soldier and one Biniya Alhaji Ibrahim, 25, of Miga Local Government Area, at the market,” he said.
The police spokesperson explained that the disagreement escalated into violence after the soldier allegedly stabbed Ibrahim.
“During the altercation, the soldier allegedly stabbed Biniya with a knife, resulting in injuries from which the victim was later confirmed dead by a medical doctor,” Adam stated.
The incident reportedly triggered chaos in the market as hoodlums allegedly attacked a police station, fired bows and arrows at security personnel, and set two thatched shops ablaze.
Adam said intelligence-led operations led to the arrest of two suspects identified as Muhammed Muhammed, 22, of Gagarawa Local Government Area, and Faridu Mohammed, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing suspects.
In a related development, six more suspects were arrested for allegedly attacking two vigilante members with sticks and cutlasses during the same disturbance.
“As a result of the assault, one vigilante member sustained fatal injuries and was certified dead by a medical doctor, while the second victim is currently responding to treatment at a medical facility,” the police spokesperson said.
The six suspects were identified as Isiyaku Abdulkarim, 55; Yahaya Habu, 31; Ibrahim Abubakar, 30; Audu Mamman Janare, 30; Ya’u Duga, 65; and Mamman Musa, 20, from Taura, Gagarawa, Kaugama and Jahun Local Government Areas.
Police also recovered six cows believed to have been abandoned during the unrest.
In another incident, the command arrested 20-year-old Saminu Ibrahim of Gidan Gona Village, Ringim Local Government Area, over the alleged fatal stabbing of another 20-year-old during a dispute in Dabigel Village.
According to the police, preliminary investigations revealed that an argument between the two youths degenerated into violence, during which the suspect allegedly stabbed the victim in the chest with a sharp metal object locally known as “Danbuda.”
The victim later died while receiving treatment at the hospital.
“Acting swiftly, police operatives arrested one Saminu Ibrahim, 20, of Gidan Gona Village, Ringim Local Government Area, in connection with the incident,” Adam said.
He added that the suspect would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Dutse for further investigation before being arraigned in court.
Meanwhile, the police said a stakeholders’ engagement involving Miyetti Allah, traditional rulers, community leaders, religious leaders, security agencies, youth representatives and other relevant stakeholders is ongoing to address the root causes of the Gujungu Market violence and prevent a recurrence.
Adam said the Commissioner of Police commended officers and other security personnel for their swift response to the disturbances and reassured residents of the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property.
The command also urged members of the public to remain calm, law-abiding and continue providing timely and credible information to support ongoing investigations.
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