Tuesday, 16 January 2018

FCC moves to seize fresh Patience Jonathan’s $8.4m, N7.3bn

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has started a fresh move to seize funds in 15 bank accounts linked with the wife of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience.
The funds, which the EFCC is seeking to seize, include a total of $8,435,788.84 and over N7.35bn.
The EFCC had on Monday morning appeared before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of the Federal High Court in Lagos with an ex parte application, seeking the temporary forfeiture of the funds.
The move was, however, interrupted by a train of Senior Advocates of Nigeria led by Mr. Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) and Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), who challenged
the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the ex parte application.
The SANs told the judge that the funds, which the EFCC seeks to seize, were already subject of litigation.
But counsel for the EFCC, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, maintained that the SANs had no right of hearing in the court, since his application was ex parte, wondering how they got wind of the move by the anti-graft agency in the first place.
He urged the judge to disregard their appearance.
The judge upheld Oyedepo’s submission, following which the SANs left the courtroom.
But in view of the development, the judge adjourned the case till January 23, 2018 and directed the EFCC to file an affidavit to convince her that there were no pending lawsuits relating to the funds sought to be forfeited.
In the said ex parte application, the EFCC listed Patience Jonathan and five firms and one Esther Oba as respondents.
The firms that were listed as second to sixth defendants were Globus Integrated Services Ltd., Finchley Top Homes Ltd., Am-Pm Global Network Ltd., Pagmat Oil And Gas Ltd. and Magel Resort Ltd.
The ex parte application was backed by a 15-paragraph affidavit deposed to by an investigator with the EFCC, Huleji Tukura.
Tukura claimed that investigation by the anti-graft agency revealed that the funds found in the bank accounts linked to Patience emanated from the coffers of the Bayelsa State Government and that the funds were moved at a time when the former First Lady served as a permanent secretary in one the ministries in the state.
According to Tukura, Patience first opened a First Bank account and then “procured” the then Senior Special Assistant to former President Goodluck Jonathan on Domestic Affairs, Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, to fund the account with “proceeds of unlawful activities.”
Tukura averred, “That the said Dudafa Warripamo-Owei procured one Festus Isidohomen Iyoha and Arivi Eneji Peter, who were domestic (members of) staff attached to the State House, Abuja, to deposit the funds, reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities, into the account of the 1st respondent (Patience).
“That in depositing the funds into the account of the 1st respondent, the said domestic staff, in a bid to conceal their identity, deposited the funds, reasonably suspected to be proceeds of an unlawful act, into the 1st respondent’s account, using fictitious names.
He added that another $4,036,750.00  reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities, were deposited into account No. 2022648664 domiciled in First Bank Plc in the name of the 1st respondent.
Tukura stated that on September 28, 2016, the 1st respondent, in dissipating the property sought to be forfeited, transferred $3,640,794.72 to the 1st respondent’s account No. 2031277178 domiciled in First Bank Plc.
He added, “That on the 5th day of October, 2016, the 1st respondent withdrew the sum of $1,000,000.00 cash from the said account leaving the balance of the sum of $3,645,013.73 which sum we are urging this honourable court to forfeit in the interim to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
“That as at the time the various sums were deposited into exhibit EFCC01, the 1st respondent was a serving permanent secretary in the employment of the Bayelsa State Government.
“That the funds sought to be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria are not the 1st respondent’s lawful earnings but are rather reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.”
The investigator further explained that the companies mentioned in the application were not into “any legitimate income-yielding business venture” but were rather incorporated at the Corporate Affairs Commission for the purpose of warehousing proceeds of unlawful activities for the former First Lady.
He claimed that every now and then domestic servants at the Presidential Villa were sent to deposit money into the company’s accounts for Patience.

PUNCH.
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday passed a damning verdict on the perpetrators of killings in Benue State, saying the killer herdsmen will be made to face the wrath of the law. Declaring that the culprits of the massacre won’t escape justice, Buhari called on the government and people of Benue State to exercise restraint in the their reactions to the recent attacks on some communities in the state. Speaking when he received a delegation of political leaders, traditional rulers and elders of the state led by Governor Samuel Ortom at the presidential villa, President Buhari said all those involved in the conflict that culminated in loss of lives will not escape justice, including any illegally armed militia in the state. The president commiserated with all the victims of the attacks and the families who lost loved ones and properties, noting that the government will make efforts to ameliorate the situation of all the victims. A statement by his special adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, quoted the president as saying relevant agencies had been directed to start catering for the humanitarian needs of the affected people. His words: “Your Excellency, the governor, and all the leaders here, I am appealing to you to try to restrain your people. I assure you that the Police, the Department of State Security and other security agencies had been directed to ensure that all those behind the mayhem get punished. “I ask you in the name of God to accommodate your country men. You can also be assured that I am just as worried, and concerned with the situation’’. The President told the delegation that his administration had already begun a process of finding lasting solution to the perennial challenge of herdsmen conflict with farmers and communities around the country.

Read More at: https://leadership.ng/2018/01/16/killer-herdsmen-will-not-escape-justice-pmb/
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday passed a damning verdict on the perpetrators of killings in Benue State, saying the killer herdsmen will be made to face the wrath of the law. Declaring that the culprits of the massacre won’t escape justice, Buhari called on the government and people of Benue State to exercise restraint in the their reactions to the recent attacks on some communities in the state. Speaking when he received a delegation of political leaders, traditional rulers and elders of the state led by Governor Samuel Ortom at the presidential villa, President Buhari said all those involved in the conflict that culminated in loss of lives will not escape justice, including any illegally armed militia in the state. The president commiserated with all the victims of the attacks and the families who lost loved ones and properties, noting that the government will make efforts to ameliorate the situation of all the victims. A statement by his special adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, quoted the president as saying relevant agencies had been directed to start catering for the humanitarian needs of the affected people. His words: “Your Excellency, the governor, and all the leaders here, I am appealing to you to try to restrain your people. I assure you that the Police, the Department of State Security and other security agencies had been directed to ensure that all those behind the mayhem get punished. “I ask you in the name of God to accommodate your country men. You can also be assured that I am just as worried, and concerned with the situation’’. The President told the delegation that his administration had already begun a process of finding lasting solution to the perennial challenge of herdsmen conflict with farmers and communities around the country. President Buhari recalled that the Inspector General of Police had been directed to relocate to the state to provide security for lives and properties, even as he urged all Benue indigenes to trust the security agencies by reporting all suspicious cases of movements in the state. Speaking to State House correspondents after the meeting, Governor Ortom who maintained that Benue does not have land for cattle colonies as proposed by the federal government reiterated his call on the federal government to arrest leaders of Miyetti Allah association. He said, “As for the solution to the problem, we are open to suggestion from the federal government to find how we can find a lasting solution. The minister of agriculture happens to be a son of the soil. There are many options that are put on the table. “Like I told you the last time I came here, I did not understand what colonies meant. Today, I was privileged to meet him and he did explain to me that a colony is many ranches restricted in one place. “So for us in Benue State, there is no 10,000 hectares. We have no 10,000 hectares to allow for that kind of a thing to take place. So, people are free. Other states have the land but we in Benue State we don’t have and that was what led to us enacting this law”. He also warned against reprisal attacks, pointing out that in Benue State there is no room for anyone taking the law into his hands. “It is expected that even when you are offended or someone violates the law, the best thing to do is to report; by that they will be able to mete out sanctions on such people. But when you take laws into your hand you are inviting anarchy and we will not accept this”, he added. Ortom also disclosed that the delegation made a strong appeal to President Buhari to arrest perpetrators of the Benue massacre, the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, insisting that they are not above the law. He said, “And until this time I speak to you, they are still issuing out threats and it is not just anti-grazing law. It is occupation because the manner in which they come and invade and take over the land is something. I am not sure we are willing to join issues with anyone. We are law-abiding citizens; we are not going to let our people go out of control. “We believe in the leadership of Mr President because he is a disciplined and upright man and we believe he will be able to sanction these people. He did assure us that there is no room for impunity and that the law of the land must take its course. The IGP was in the meeting; he directed the IGP to arrest those who perpetrated this act and prosecute them according to the law. “He (Buhari) assured us that he would do everything possible to ensure that Benue State lives peacefully and there is no further killings. So, basically that is why we came to see Mr President. On reports that he wrote a letter to the president and did not get any response, Ortom said, “Like I said, the president renewed his directive to the IGP in our presence, that those perpetrating this act should be arrested and prosecuted. “And I believe that attention was given to my letter. I was told that it was being processed and I hope by now it’s been processed and that action will be taken now that the entire delegation from Benue State is here and Mr President is directing the IG that something should be done about this matter because we cannot allow lawlessness and we cannot allow impunity”. Ortom observed that when people violate the law and they are not sanctioned it becomes a problem, just as he dismissed insinuations that the state government is arming militia groups in the state. He explained: “It is not true. I see that as a distraction completely from the main issue that we are talking about. These people were not even arrested in Benue State. If we are being killed in the magnitude that we saw and we had weapons of what I saw in the media, I know that five AK 47s can sack a whole community. “So, if we had such weapons and I as governor my local government had been attacked and people killed, property destroyed and so on, will I go and sponsor militia in Taraba State? Then you should go back to history. “From 2015 when I took over I organized an amnesty programme which saw the disarmament of over 800 youths and more than 700 weapons were turned in which were destroyed in the presence of security men and the UN and the committee on small weapons and light arms from the presidency. So, it is not true; it is false. It is meant to turn facts away from the reality that is happening on ground”. On whether there are plans to have vigilantes in the state, he replied: “We are in the process of doing that but we have livestock guards in place. That is what the prohibition of the open grazing and establishment of ranching stipulates, that we should have livestock guards and we are considering having that in place”. He further explained that the meeting was at the instance of Benue stakeholders and not Mr. President calling them to a meeting. He said, “As the father of the land, we felt that let us interface with him, not just coming from the governor but from the stakeholders and also to send the message that I am not just on my own when people try to accuse me of promulgating a law which they don’t believe in”. When asked about the message from Benue people to the president, he said “We need assurance from Mr President; we are part of his constituency in the country. As you know, Nigeria is a federation and Benue State is part of the federating unit. There is division of labour; there are specific responsibility given to each of the tier of government as enshrined in the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria. “So, we don’t have powers over the security of this country except the federal government. It is expected that the federal government will support us to enforce our laws and the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”. On his part, the Tor-Tiv, Prof. James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse, said his entire domain had been thrown into mourning due to the incessant attacks. “We want you to put an end to the gruesome situation’’, he added. Also present at the meeting were former Senate president, David Mark; former Benue State governor, Sen. George Akume and Sen. Barnabas Gemade. Others include Sen. JK Waku; Gen. Lawrence Onoja (rtd); Brig. Gen. John Atom Kpera (rtd); former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Michael Aondoakaa; Speaker of Benue State House of Assembly, Terkimbir Kyambe; Benson Abounu and other members of the National and State Assemblies from the state. Benue Leaders Reject Cattle Colony Meanwhile, Benue Leaders led by the state governor, Samuel Ortom, to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday rejected the setting up of cattle. The delegation maintained that Benue does not have land for cattle colonies as proposed by the federal government. They also reiterated their call on the federal government to arrest the leaders of Miyetti Allah Association.

Read More at: https://leadership.ng/2018/01/16/killer-herdsmen-will-not-escape-justice-pmb/
Killer Herdsmen Will Not Escape Justice – PMB Published 7 hours ago on January 16, 2018 By ISAIAH BENJAMIN, Jonathan Nda-Isaiah President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday passed a damning verdict on the perpetrators of killings in Benue State, saying the killer herdsmen will be made to face the wrath of the law. Declaring that the culprits of the massacre won’t escape justice, Buhari called on the government and people of Benue State to exercise restraint in the their reactions to the recent attacks on some communities in the state. Speaking when he received a delegation of political leaders, traditional rulers and elders of the state led by Governor Samuel Ortom at the presidential villa, President Buhari said all those involved in the conflict that culminated in loss of lives will not escape justice, including any illegally armed militia in the state. The president commiserated with all the victims of the attacks and the families who lost loved ones and properties, noting that the government will make efforts to ameliorate the situation of all the victims. A statement by his special adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, quoted the president as saying relevant agencies had been directed to start catering for the humanitarian needs of the affected people. His words: “Your Excellency, the governor, and all the leaders here, I am appealing to you to try to restrain your people. I assure you that the Police, the Department of State Security and other security agencies had been directed to ensure that all those behind the mayhem get punished. “I ask you in the name of God to accommodate your country men. You can also be assured that I am just as worried, and concerned with the situation’’. The President told the delegation that his administration had already begun a process of finding lasting solution to the perennial challenge of herdsmen conflict with farmers and communities around the country. President Buhari recalled that the Inspector General of Police had been directed to relocate to the state to provide security for lives and properties, even as he urged all Benue indigenes to trust the security agencies by reporting all suspicious cases of movements in the state. Speaking to State House correspondents after the meeting, Governor Ortom who maintained that Benue does not have land for cattle colonies as proposed by the federal government reiterated his call on the federal government to arrest leaders of Miyetti Allah association. He said, “As for the solution to the problem, we are open to suggestion from the federal government to find how we can find a lasting solution. The minister of agriculture happens to be a son of the soil. There are many options that are put on the table. “Like I told you the last time I came here, I did not understand what colonies meant. Today, I was privileged to meet him and he did explain to me that a colony is many ranches restricted in one place. “So for us in Benue State, there is no 10,000 hectares. We have no 10,000 hectares to allow for that kind of a thing to take place. So, people are free. Other states have the land but we in Benue State we don’t have and that was what led to us enacting this law”. He also warned against reprisal attacks, pointing out that in Benue State there is no room for anyone taking the law into his hands. “It is expected that even when you are offended or someone violates the law, the best thing to do is to report; by that they will be able to mete out sanctions on such people. But when you take laws into your hand you are inviting anarchy and we will not accept this”, he added. Ortom also disclosed that the delegation made a strong appeal to President Buhari to arrest perpetrators of the Benue massacre, the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, insisting that they are not above the law. He said, “And until this time I speak to you, they are still issuing out threats and it is not just anti-grazing law. It is occupation because the manner in which they come and invade and take over the land is something. I am not sure we are willing to join issues with anyone. We are law-abiding citizens; we are not going to let our people go out of control. “We believe in the leadership of Mr President because he is a disciplined and upright man and we believe he will be able to sanction these people. He did assure us that there is no room for impunity and that the law of the land must take its course. The IGP was in the meeting; he directed the IGP to arrest those who perpetrated this act and prosecute them according to the law. “He (Buhari) assured us that he would do everything possible to ensure that Benue State lives peacefully and there is no further killings. So, basically that is why we came to see Mr President. On reports that he wrote a letter to the president and did not get any response, Ortom said, “Like I said, the president renewed his directive to the IGP in our presence, that those perpetrating this act should be arrested and prosecuted. “And I believe that attention was given to my letter. I was told that it was being processed and I hope by now it’s been processed and that action will be taken now that the entire delegation from Benue State is here and Mr President is directing the IG that something should be done about this matter because we cannot allow lawlessness and we cannot allow impunity”. Ortom observed that when people violate the law and they are not sanctioned it becomes a problem, just as he dismissed insinuations that the state government is arming militia groups in the state. He explained: “It is not true. I see that as a distraction completely from the main issue that we are talking about. These people were not even arrested in Benue State. If we are being killed in the magnitude that we saw and we had weapons of what I saw in the media, I know that five AK 47s can sack a whole community. “So, if we had such weapons and I as governor my local government had been attacked and people killed, property destroyed and so on, will I go and sponsor militia in Taraba State? Then you should go back to history. “From 2015 when I took over I organized an amnesty programme which saw the disarmament of over 800 youths and more than 700 weapons were turned in which were destroyed in the presence of security men and the UN and the committee on small weapons and light arms from the presidency. So, it is not true; it is false. It is meant to turn facts away from the reality that is happening on ground”. On whether there are plans to have vigilantes in the state, he replied: “We are in the process of doing that but we have livestock guards in place. That is what the prohibition of the open grazing and establishment of ranching stipulates, that we should have livestock guards and we are considering having that in place”. He further explained that the meeting was at the instance of Benue stakeholders and not Mr. President calling them to a meeting. He said, “As the father of the land, we felt that let us interface with him, not just coming from the governor but from the stakeholders and also to send the message that I am not just on my own when people try to accuse me of promulgating a law which they don’t believe in”. When asked about the message from Benue people to the president, he said “We need assurance from Mr President; we are part of his constituency in the country. As you know, Nigeria is a federation and Benue State is part of the federating unit. There is division of labour; there are specific responsibility given to each of the tier of government as enshrined in the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria. “So, we don’t have powers over the security of this country except the federal government. It is expected that the federal government will support us to enforce our laws and the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”. On his part, the Tor-Tiv, Prof. James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse, said his entire domain had been thrown into mourning due to the incessant attacks. “We want you to put an end to the gruesome situation’’, he added. Also present at the meeting were former Senate president, David Mark; former Benue State governor, Sen. George Akume and Sen. Barnabas Gemade.

Read More at: https://leadership.ng/2018/01/16/killer-herdsmen-will-not-escape-justice-pmb/
Killer Herdsmen Will Not Escape Justice – PMB Published 7 hours ago on January 16, 2018 By ISAIAH BENJAMIN, Jonathan Nda-Isaiah President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday passed a damning verdict on the perpetrators of killings in Benue State, saying the killer herdsmen will be made to face the wrath of the law. Declaring that the culprits of the massacre won’t escape justice, Buhari called on the government and people of Benue State to exercise restraint in the their reactions to the recent attacks on some communities in the state. Speaking when he received a delegation of political leaders, traditional rulers and elders of the state led by Governor Samuel Ortom at the presidential villa, President Buhari said all those involved in the conflict that culminated in loss of lives will not escape justice, including any illegally armed militia in the state. The president commiserated with all the victims of the attacks and the families who lost loved ones and properties, noting that the government will make efforts to ameliorate the situation of all the victims. A statement by his special adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, quoted the president as saying relevant agencies had been directed to start catering for the humanitarian needs of the affected people. His words: “Your Excellency, the governor, and all the leaders here, I am appealing to you to try to restrain your people. I assure you that the Police, the Department of State Security and other security agencies had been directed to ensure that all those behind the mayhem get punished. “I ask you in the name of God to accommodate your country men. You can also be assured that I am just as worried, and concerned with the situation’’. The President told the delegation that his administration had already begun a process of finding lasting solution to the perennial challenge of herdsmen conflict with farmers and communities around the country. President Buhari recalled that the Inspector General of Police had been directed to relocate to the state to provide security for lives and properties, even as he urged all Benue indigenes to trust the security agencies by reporting all suspicious cases of movements in the state. Speaking to State House correspondents after the meeting, Governor Ortom who maintained that Benue does not have land for cattle colonies as proposed by the federal government reiterated his call on the federal government to arrest leaders of Miyetti Allah association. He said, “As for the solution to the problem, we are open to suggestion from the federal government to find how we can find a lasting solution. The minister of agriculture happens to be a son of the soil. There are many options that are put on the table. “Like I told you the last time I came here, I did not understand what colonies meant. Today, I was privileged to meet him and he did explain to me that a colony is many ranches restricted in one place. “So for us in Benue State, there is no 10,000 hectares. We have no 10,000 hectares to allow for that kind of a thing to take place. So, people are free. Other states have the land but we in Benue State we don’t have and that was what led to us enacting this law”. He also warned against reprisal attacks, pointing out that in Benue State there is no room for anyone taking the law into his hands. “It is expected that even when you are offended or someone violates the law, the best thing to do is to report; by that they will be able to mete out sanctions on such people. But when you take laws into your hand you are inviting anarchy and we will not accept this”, he added. Ortom also disclosed that the delegation made a strong appeal to President Buhari to arrest perpetrators of the Benue massacre, the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, insisting that they are not above the law. He said, “And until this time I speak to you, they are still issuing out threats and it is not just anti-grazing law. It is occupation because the manner in which they come and invade and take over the land is something. I am not sure we are willing to join issues with anyone. We are law-abiding citizens; we are not going to let our people go out of control. “We believe in the leadership of Mr President because he is a disciplined and upright man and we believe he will be able to sanction these people. He did assure us that there is no room for impunity and that the law of the land must take its course. The IGP was in the meeting; he directed the IGP to arrest those who perpetrated this act and prosecute them according to the law. “He (Buhari) assured us that he would do everything possible to ensure that Benue State lives peacefully and there is no further killings. So, basically that is why we came to see Mr President. On reports that he wrote a letter to the president and did not get any response, Ortom said, “Like I said, the president renewed his directive to the IGP in our presence, that those perpetrating this act should be arrested and prosecuted. “And I believe that attention was given to my letter. I was told that it was being processed and I hope by now it’s been processed and that action will be taken now that the entire delegation from Benue State is here and Mr President is directing the IG that something should be done about this matter because we cannot allow lawlessness and we cannot allow impunity”. Ortom observed that when people violate the law and they are not sanctioned it becomes a problem, just as he dismissed insinuations that the state government is arming militia groups in the state. He explained: “It is not true. I see that as a distraction completely from the main issue that we are talking about. These people were not even arrested in Benue State. If we are being killed in the magnitude that we saw and we had weapons of what I saw in the media, I know that five AK 47s can sack a whole community. “So, if we had such weapons and I as governor my local government had been attacked and people killed, property destroyed and so on, will I go and sponsor militia in Taraba State? Then you should go back to history. “From 2015 when I took over I organized an amnesty programme which saw the disarmament of over 800 youths and more than 700 weapons were turned in which were destroyed in the presence of security men and the UN and the committee on small weapons and light arms from the presidency. So, it is not true; it is false. It is meant to turn facts away from the reality that is happening on ground”. On whether there are plans to have vigilantes in the state, he replied: “We are in the process of doing that but we have livestock guards in place. That is what the prohibition of the open grazing and establishment of ranching stipulates, that we should have livestock guards and we are considering having that in place”. He further explained that the meeting was at the instance of Benue stakeholders and not Mr. President calling them to a meeting. He said, “As the father of the land, we felt that let us interface with him, not just coming from the governor but from the stakeholders and also to send the message that I am not just on my own when people try to accuse me of promulgating a law which they don’t believe in”. When asked about the message from Benue people to the president, he said “We need assurance from Mr President; we are part of his constituency in the country. As you know, Nigeria is a federation and Benue State is part of the federating unit. There is division of labour; there are specific responsibility given to each of the tier of government as enshrined in the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria. “So, we don’t have powers over the security of this country except the federal government. It is expected that the federal government will support us to enforce our laws and the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”. On his part, the Tor-Tiv, Prof. James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse, said his entire domain had been thrown into mourning due to the incessant attacks. “We want you to put an end to the gruesome situation’’, he added. Also present at the meeting were former Senate president, David Mark; former Benue State governor, Sen. George Akume and Sen. Barnabas Gemade.

Read More at: https://leadership.ng/2018/01/16/killer-herdsmen-will-not-escape-justice-pmb/

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