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I Received $600,000 In Bribes For Emefiele, Says Ex-CBN Director

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In a session at the Ikeja Special Offences Court in Lagos on Monday, Mr. John Ayoh, a former Director of Information Technology at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), unveiled details of allegedly receiving $600,000 in bribes from contractors on behalf of the ex-governor of the apex bank, Godwin Emefiele.

Ayoh, who served eight years in the CBN, disclosed this while under examination by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN).

He mentioned receiving a letter from the agency regarding two transactions he facilitated for Emefiele.

Ayoh, the Head of the Procurement and Support Services (PSS) Department, testified that he received $400,000 in the first envelope at his Lekki residence and $200,000 in the second envelope at the Tinubu Head Office of the CBN.

He further explained that his role included receiving applications for contract awards and selecting successful bidders.

He clarified that the initial part of the transaction took place at his residence in Lekki Phase One, while the second envelope containing money was received at the Tinubu Head Office of the CBN.

He said: “The man to deliver the second transaction came to our office in Lagos and I informed the governor but he said he did not want to see a third party that I should bring the envelope myself.

“I complied with the instruction and went to his office and delivered it. I complied with the instruction and went to his office and delivered it.

“Mr John Adeola was the one I sent my address to and he came to my house. He is the governor’s assistant and the total money I received on his behalf was $400,000 and $200,000, respectively.”

The witness revealed to the court that the vendors responsible for bringing the money-filled envelopes were overseeing the implementation of Netapp Storage Architectural and Infrastructural Services.

During cross-examination by the first defense counsel, Mr. Olalekan Ojo (SAN), he stated that although his duties did not explicitly involve running errands for Emefiele, he worked directly under him.

Ayoh affirmed to the court that Emefiele was not part of the Procurement and Support Services (PSS) but rather a member of the Major Contract Tender Committee (MCTC).

He further stated that he had never facilitated any criminal activity.

Ojo inquired if the witness mentioned in his statement that he was coerced to assist in accepting gratification.

The witness said: “I do not remember the exact word that I used and I did not write in my statement that I opened the two envelopes on the two occasions to check the total sum of money.

“I wrote a statement and it implied that the money in the envelopes was given to me to influence the award of contract.

“I did not take part in the decision of the MCTC but I recommended that the award be given and I was not bribed.

“I was invited by the EFCC on Feb. 17, I was not arrested but I returned home on administrative bail.”

The witness informed the court that he operated under duress when receiving the two envelopes from the contractors.

The defense counsel then asked if he indicated in his statement that he was acting under duress while running errands for the first defendant.

The prosecution objected to the question, arguing that the witness’s statement was not presented before the court.

The defense counsel requested that the defendant’s statement be admitted into evidence.

Justice Rahman Oshodi admitted the witness’s statement, consisting of three pages, into evidence after deliberations between the counsels.

The Senior Advocate reiterated that the witness’s statement clearly indicated that he acted under duress.

The witness confirmed to the court that instructions from Emefiele implied bending rules.

Following the proceedings, the judge adjourned the case until May 3 for the continuation of cross-examination.

Emefiele’s counsel requested the court to release the defendant to him on self-recognition as he hadn’t met with his bail application yet.

The Senior Advocate, however, urged the court to ensure that the defendant meets the requirements before May 17.

The second defense counsel didn’t object, and the prosecution left the decision to the court’s discretion.

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House of Reps Launches Investigation Into Osun Crisis

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Reps asks Nigerian Army to secure its FOBs HQ of 2nd Division Garrison in Ibarapa, Oyo State

The House of Representatives has stepped into the security crisis in Osun State, resolving to set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the situation.

The move follows a motion by Honourable Bamidele Salam, who called for urgent intervention to prevent further violence.

The crisis erupted after a controversial Court of Appeal ruling allegedly reinstated local government chairmen and councillors elected under the All Progressives Congress (APC), who had been removed by the current administration.

READ ALSO: Osun Crisis: APC Gains Upper Hand, Takes Control Of 14 LGAs

Their attempted return to office sparked violent clashes in Osogbo, Ikire, and Irewole local government areas, leading to at least six deaths, including that of a reinstated council chairman, Remi Abbas.

In response, the House has urged security agencies to take immediate action to restore peace in the state.

However, political tensions remain high, with both the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition APC trading blame over the violence.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, called for the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in Osun State.

“I will suggest that perhaps it will be necessary for the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency. It has gotten to that stage where hapless people coming from farms are attacked by uncontrollable PDP thugs,” he said.

However, Osun State Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi, dismissed the call, accusing the APC of orchestrating the crisis.

“I call on our amiable president to reject the call of Honourable Basiru and his cohorts. That is exactly what they are targeting; they deliberately caused mayhem in this state.

“We are going to publish the names of our members that have been killed. There is no Court of Appeal that restored them; we urge them to toe the line of peace,” Alimi added.

 

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Osun Crisis: APC Gains Upper Hand, Takes Control Of 14 LGAs

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Four gang-killed two in Osun, destroy N8M properties

 

The political turmoil in Osun State appears to be simmering down with the All Progressives Congress (APC) having its officials gain control at 14 of the state’s 30 Local Government Area (LGA) Secretariats.

On the ground findings as at the morning of Wednesday show that Chairmen, Councillors said to be elected on the platform of the APC in the October 15, 2022, Local Government Area (LGA) election in the state had resumed in not less than 14 LGA secretariats.

The affected LGAs include, Ila, Ede South, Ife Central, Ife East, Ife North, Ilesa East, Ilesa West, Boripe, Oriade, Obokun, Ejigbo, Iwo, Ayedire and Boripe.

Driving the point home, former Special Adviser to the governor on education, Jamiu Olawumi, declared that as at about 10am, the chairmen and councilors had resumed at 14 LGA secretariats.

He affirmed that neither the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), nor the citizens, nor other political parties had resisted the elected officials of the APC.

ALSO READ: Atiku Bombs Tinubu Over Violence In Osun State

He commended the Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke for showing maturity in restraining his people from disrupting the peace of the state and urged him to order them to retreat totally, instead of hanging around to instill fear into the minds of the citizens.

In his words, “We have 14 as of 10 am. They are Ila, Ede South, Ife Central, Ife East, Ife North, Ilesa East, Ilesa West, Boripe, Oriade and Obokun.

ALSO READ: Adeleke Raises Alarm Over Plot To Destabilise Osun State

“Ejigbo, Iwo, Ayedire and Boripe. Security was top-notch. Members of the police tactical team, an armed squad of civil defence, and DSS are all present around the secretariat. We commend Governor Adeleke, but that is not enough.

“They should take away thugs they brought here. They have them in town. If you move around, you will see different faces that you have not seen here. They should not encourage those militants and cultists to kill the Osun people.

“It is dawn on them that the judgment is enforceable. The governor should make an attempt to see the President, Chief of Staff to the President or the IGP. He should do that much for us so that the vision of developing Osun within his current tenure will be achieved.

“Our chairmen and councillors are ready to work with him, though they are different tiers of government,” Olawumi said.

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BREAKING: Kyari Rubishes Fuel Quality Talks As Mere Drama, Bad Marketing Antics

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Nigeria is not refining crude locally – NNPC GMD

 

. . . Insists NNPC Ltd Didn’t Import Products This Year
. . . Says Importation A Standard Industry Practice Worldwide

The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Mele Kyari has flayed talks about the existence of sub-standard fuel in Nigeria, describing it as unfortunate drama and bad marketing practice.

Kyari, who was speaking while fielding questions at a fireside chat during the 60th Nigeria Mining & Geosciences Society (NMGS) Conference in Abuja said the NNPC Ltd, and indeed the country does not have any issues of quality in the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol across the country.

“The talk around fuel quality is unfortunate and a very bad marketing practice. It’s all drama and entertainment and as we know, drama has a way of entertaining the people,” Kyari stated.

ALSO READ: Atiku Bombs Tinubu Over Violence In Osun State

He said Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) has quality standards which are obtainable in every country and there are no two countries that have the same standards.

Citing an example, Kyari said in Europe, oxygenate (a fuel additive) has to be introduced into PMS otherwise it will solidify the tank in people’s cars. But if the same fuel additive is introduced into cars in Nigeria, it turns to water once it gets into contact with air.

In essence, Kyari said, what is required by law to be introduced in one country, it is also required by law not to be introduced in another country.

He added that in the case of Nigeria, the country has standard regulatory agencies such as the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the Nigerian Midstream & Downstream Regulatory Agency (NMDPRA), whose job is to ensure that every product that comes into this country meets the required products specifications and standards.

“I believe these regulatory agencies are doing their job. They have not come back to tell anyone that we have substandard products in the country,” Kyari told the audience.

The NNPC Ltd helmsman said the Company has already taken the necessary legal and security steps to ensure that people (behind such video) don’t mess up the country.

He said the implications of such acts are not only on NNPC Ltd anymore but more about messing up the whole country.

Kyari, who maintained that people can have their frustrations, cautioned that falsehood should never be extended into business.

The GCEO also debunked reports claiming that NNPC Ltd has imported 200 million litres of fuel in February this year.

“These are just lies, because we didn’t even import products within that window that the report was published. All the mischief about aligning this fictitious importation with the so-called low-quality fuel are just baseless,” he stated.

He explained that importation is a normal practice in the Industry, as every country imports petroleum products, including the United States.

He said Nigeria has supplied petroleum products to countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which doesn’t mean that there are no refineries in those countries.

Earlier in an address, Kyari charged members of the Nigerian Mining & Geosciences Society (NMGS) to embrace new technologies and foster a culture of continuous improvement in order to maximise the nation’s natural resources and generate more revenue for the country.

The Conference, which has as its theme “Transformation of the Mineral, Energy, Water, and Construction Sectors through Innovation”, focused on conversations around mining industry reforms, policy enhancements, and broader public appreciation of geoscience’s role in national development.

 

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