News
Ex-Anambra Gov, Obiano loses bid to stop trial in N40bn fraud charges
Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected the application filed by former Anambra State Governor, Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, aimed at dismissing the N40 billion money laundering charges leveled against him by the Federal Government.
In his ruling delivered on Thursday, the Judge dismissed all grounds presented by Obiano in support of his application.
Obiano had sought the dismissal of the 9-count charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), arguing that there was no correlation between the evidence provided by the EFCC and the accusations against him. He also claimed that there was no testimony indicating his involvement in the disbursement of security votes and other funds of the Anambra State Government, and that he cannot be held responsible for the actions of state government officials under the principle of vicarious liability.
His motion was based on various legal provisions including the Constitution and the Administration of the Criminal Justice Act 2015.
However, Justice Ekwo ruled that Obiano’s requests were premature and lacked merit. He emphasized that the determination of whether Obiano is linked to the alleged offenses can only be ascertained through a proper trial.
Obiano faces charges of money laundering amounting to N40 billion, and the Judge has scheduled June 24 to 27 for the commencement of the trial.
Furthermore, Justice Ekwo granted Obiano permission to travel abroad for medical treatment for 60 days. However, he ordered Obiano to sign an undertaking to return to Nigeria after treatment and to surrender his passport within three days of his return.
Dangote Refinery has announced that it will need to export 95-97 percent of its Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) due to low interest from Nigerian marketers. The refinery, which processes 650,000 barrels per day, revealed that only 3 to 5 percent of petrol marketers are purchasing its fuel.
Devakumar Edwin, Vice President of Oil and Gas at Dangote Industries Limited, shared these details during an X Space session hosted by Nairametrics on Wednesday. He highlighted the challenges facing both the Dangote Refinery and Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
Edwin explained, “I’m selling 2 to 3 percent to small traders who are willing to buy, while the remaining 95 to 97 percent has to be exported,” referring to the local sales of the refinery’s products.
This situation arises as the NNPCL’s deadline for adjusting the Dangote Refinery’s fuel distribution approaches without a clear plan in sight. It is worth noting that while Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, has announced the refinery’s initial petrol rollout, its distribution to marketers is contingent upon NNPCL’s decisions.
The final sixteen teams for the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia have been determined following the conclusion of the group stage.
In recent matches, Ghana triumphed over New Zealand with a score of 3-1, and Japan secured a 2-0 victory against Austria.
As a result, Japan has advanced to the Round of 16, joining the other 15 teams in this knockout stage.
The Round of 16 matches are scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
The full lineup for the Round of 16 is as follows:
- Spain vs Canada
- Brazil vs Cameroon
- Colombia vs South Korea
- Mexico vs USA
- North Korea vs Austria
- Germany vs Argentina
- Netherlands vs France
- Japan vs Nigeria
The Nigerian Army has refuted claims of widespread resignations among its soldiers due to issues like corruption and low morale.
In a statement, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, dismissed these reports as unfounded.
A news outlet had alleged that numerous Nigerian soldiers were resigning because of corruption and low morale. However, the statement condemned these allegations as misleading and a deliberate attempt to create discontent and undermine the Nigerian Army’s reputation and the dedication of its personnel.
Major General Nwachukwu clarified that, similar to other military organizations worldwide, service in the Nigerian Army is voluntary rather than mandatory. This means that personnel have the freedom to resign following established procedures.
He explained that the resignation process allows personnel to prepare and manage their entitlements, including pensions and gratuities, as outlined in the Harmonized Terms and Conditions of Service (Officers/Soldiers).
Contrary to the report’s implications, the statement emphasized that Nigerian Army personnel are highly motivated, and their welfare is a priority under the leadership of Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja.
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