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How I collected $600,000 for Emefiele – CBN ex-director tells court
John Ayoh, a former Director of Information Technology at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has detailed how he allegedly received $600,000 as contract gratification for the former CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele. Ayoh, testifying in court under the guidance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), stated that he served eight years at the apex bank.
Ayoh recounted that he was contacted by the agency regarding two transactions he facilitated on behalf of Emefiele. He mentioned receiving $400,000 in the first instance at his residence in Lekki, and $200,000 in the second instance at the Tinubu Head Office of the CBN. He claimed to have been authorized to handle contract applications and to deliver successful bids.
Regarding the second transaction, Ayoh said Emefiele requested him to personally deliver the envelope containing the money to his office, rejecting involvement of a third party. Ayoh asserted that he followed these instructions, delivering the money himself.
He stated that the funds were allegedly provided by vendors responsible for implementing Netapp Storage Architectural and Infrastructural Services. Under cross-examination, Ayoh clarified that although he didn’t have duties involving running errands for Emefiele, he worked directly under him. He affirmed that Emefiele wasn’t part of the PSS but was involved in the Major Contract Tender Committee (MCTC).
Ayoh denied participating in any criminal activity and claimed he operated under duress while receiving the envelopes from the contractors. However, when asked about indicating duress in his statement, objections were raised by the prosecution, leading to arguments over the admission of the statement as evidence.
Justice Rahman Oshodi eventually admitted Ayoh’s statement into evidence, and the witness continued, alleging that Emefiele’s instructions suggested bending the rules. The case was adjourned until May 3 for further cross-examination.
Emefiele’s counsel requested his release on self-recognition, as his bail conditions hadn’t been met. The court was asked to consider extending the deadline to May 17, with no objections from the defense or prosecution. It’s worth noting that Emefiele has been under investigation since his removal as CBN governor by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu last June.
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.
We’ll be forced to export 97% of our petrol – Dangote Refinery warns
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