FEMI PAUL, IBUKUN AWOSIKA, OTHERS INSPIRE NIGERIANS AT EIL 2.0

In spite of the current downward trajectory of the Nigerian economy, it is believed that an individual can be economically buoyant by discovering, nurturing and maximising new opportunities.
This was the submission of speakers at the Excellence In Life Series (EIL) Series 2.0 held on Saturday, May 21, 2016, at the Standard Alliance Events Hall, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
With the theme, Breaking New Grounds, the speakers such as, Dr Femi Paul, who is also the Convener, Excellence In Life; Bukky George – Founder & CEO, HealthPlus Pharmacy; Ibukun Awosika, Chairman, First Bank offered valuable insights and ideas on how to spot, seize and maximize opportunities in the current economic downturn.
“Most people don’t listen until they are in the classroom. But the best lessons are taught along the way…in the ordinary course of daily life,” said Dr Femi Paul at the event.
He charges the audience to aspire to break new grounds. He said, “Ordinary people look and admire; winners look, observe and aspire.”
He further noted that “aspiration fuels Pertinent Enquiries and Propels People; admiration only generates simplistic applause and awe.”
Another speaker at the event, Bukky George, emphasised the need for an individual to explore his or her passion, noting that it is only when the individual did that he could get to the promised land. She also mentioned that it was important for people to seek to fill the gap that exists in their areas of specialisation instead of just making up numbers.
“Your promised land is where your passion lies. It is where your heart quickens, where you feel an almost supernatural hunger to intervene and improve a situation,” said Bukky George.
“Seek out a gap in a product or service delivery that you have the qualification, skill, experience, inspiration and passion to fill. Fill the gap excellently.”

COLONEL BAGS 7YRS FOR DUPING CHURCH OF N34.5M

Col. Eugene Okpala (rtd.) was recently sentenced to seven years in prison by Justice M. N. Yunusa of the Federal High Court sitting in Enugu in a case of conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretences having duped Dominium City Church, of N34.5m in 2010.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said in a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, that the 62-year-old convict was earlier slated for trial on Wednesday but the case took a different turn when the retired colonel decided to change his plea from “not guilty” to “guilty”.

Okpala was said to have in 2008, approached one lawyer, Vincent Obetta, of Igwurube Chambers and a member of Dominion City Church under the pretext of having large portion of land for sale at N40m.

The complainant, Dominium City Church, in need of a landed property to build their school, negotiated and eventually bought the land for N34.5m. The church also paid additional five percent of the sum, which is, N1.75m as agency fee to Igbwurube Chambers.

Consequently, in September 2010, the church started developing the land, but another lawyer came up to tell them that the land belonged to one Chief Philip C. Asiodu.

The statement read in part, “Investigation was launched into the matter and the convict was found culpable and was arraigned. During trial, counsel for the EFCC, I. I. Mbachie tendered 13 exhibits which were admitted in evidence and marked as exhibit C1-13.

“Having changed his plea, the defence counsel, E. O. Isinu, prayed the court to temper justice with mercy saying, his client was a first time offender.

“Justice Yunusa consequently sentenced Okpala to seven years imprisonment on each count preferred against him. The sentences are to run concurrently.”

Court Freezes Aluko, Omikore's $1.8bn Assets

A federal high court in Lagos has granted a Mareva injunction permitting the Nigerian government to freeze assets owned by two Nigerian businessmen Kola Aluko and Jide Omokore, and their company Atlantic Energy. The individuals are linked to former Nigerian oil minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke in a wide range shady business dealings that illegally transferred Nigerian oil assets to them and their companies.

Federal high court in Lagos has granted a Mareva injunction permitting the Nigerian government to freeze assets owned by two Nigerian businessmen Kola Aluko and Jide Omokore, and their company Atlantic Energy. The individuals are linked to former Nigerian oil minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke in a wide range shady business dealings that illegally transferred Nigerian oil assets to them and their companies.

The legal documents, exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters, demanded a global freeze of $1.8 billion in assets stolen by Atlantic Energy executives Kola Aluko and Jide Omokore. This development follows reports that Mr. Aluko sold his lavish Bel-Air mansion in Los Angeles, USA at a $2 million loss. Mr. Omikore has also been under intense scrutiny by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which seized a 2 million pound wristwatch from him on April 27th, 2016 and raided his Nigerian homes on October 2nd, 2015.

Atlantic Energy was granted enormous contracts from the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) under the direction of the embattled former Minister for Petroleum Resources Madueke. According to reports, when Mrs. Madueke granted Atlantic Energy contracts through the Strategic Alliance Agreements (SAA) the company did not even legally exist.

According to legal documents, available below, Mr. Aluko and Mr. Omikore stole more than $1.7 billion from the Nigerian government.

Assets specifically mentioned include three mansions in Los Angeles, two high-end apartments in New York City, properties in Santa Barbara, California; numerous properties in Lagos including 43 apartments in Banana Island, 58 vehicles, the Galactica Star yacht, and three airplanes.

FIDELITY BANK MD REARRESTED!

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Lagos has rearrested Nnamdi Okonkwo, the Managing Director of Fidelity Bank PLC, over the discovery of $153 million in new funds also laundered through the bank by former Nigerian oil minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke. Also under arrest is one of the bank’s Heads of

The two top management officials were reportedly arrested and detained at the Lagos offices of the EFCC after fresh revelations emerged that the former oil minister laundered the money through the bank for purposes of rigging the 2015 elections in favor of former President Goodluck Jonathan. 

Metuh Willing To Return N400m – Lawyer

The lawyer to the former national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh has said that his client is willing to return N400 million to the federal government

– The lawyer said Metuh has established sufficient evidence that he was not aware of the source of the money made available to him (Metuh) by the former president, Goodluck Jonathan

A counsel to the embattled former national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh has said his client is willing to return the N400 million he (Metuh) allegedly received illegally from the national security adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

Speaking to journalists in court today, May 25, Metuh’s lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu said that since his client have shown sufficient evidence that he (Metuh) did not know the source of N400 million transferred to his company account by Dasuki, he is willing to refund the said amount.

“Chief Metuh had shown sufficient evidence that he was not aware of the source of the N400 million made available to him by the former President and he has shown his willingness, since the commencement of this matter, to refund the said sum even when there is no guilt knowledge (mens rea),” Ikpeazu said.

Ikpeazu also said that having lost an application made at the Appeal Court, his client has the right to go ahead to the Supreme Court to seek justice.

“There are issues in the Appeal Court ruling the defence team is not comfortable with, after due consultation with our client, he will instruct us on the next action. The client has the right of appeal all the way to the Supreme Court,” he added.

Metuh’s appeal on the Federal High Court’s ruling against his no case submission was today upheld by the Appeal Court.

Also speaking on the dismissal of Metuh’s application to travel abroad for a spinal cord treatment, Ikpeazu said it is pertinent to note that his client’s health is paramount.

“What is important to us for now is the health situation of the defendant whose situation has continued to deteriorate. Even the constitution recognizes the fact that an accused should be alive and fit to face trial and defend himself,” he said.

Metuh has been under admission at the National Hospital in Abuja since Monday, May 23,  following his ailing health condition.

He had earlier applied for the court to release his passport and grant him the permission to travel abroad for a spinal cord treatment.

But the trial judge in his matter, Justice Abang said his court lacked the jurisdiction to hear Metuh’s application for the release of his passport and as such cannot decide on his application to travel abroad for treatment.

Abang based his ruling on the grounds that the court having made pronouncements cannot go back on its own order.

The judge also said that Metuh failed to give evidence that no teaching hospital in Abuja can handle his health issue.

I NEVER SAID I COULD FIX POWER IN SIX MONTHS - Fashola

Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Minister of Power, Works and Housing, , has denied ever saying as the then Governor of Lagos State that if given the chance, he could fix the problem of electricity in Nigeria within six months.

He said it during a programme on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Network on Tuesday urged those crediting the statement to him to stop peddling falsehood.

He said, “I have heard that I said that electricity problem will be solved in six months. I have never made the statement. Anybody who has a video of where I said this should please make it public. The point I made was when I was handing over the Lekki IPP because we had about 10 megawatts of power there.”

“Missing” N30 Trillion: Okonjo-Iweala Speaks

Former Minister of Finance Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala  in a statement issued by
Paul C Nwabuikwu, her
Media Adviser  has reacted to recent media reports that she has been compelled by a High Court to account for the missing N30 Trillion.

The press statement :

Our attention has been drawn to media reports regarding a court judgment alleged to have been entered against the Federal Government of Nigeria and Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in respect of an action by the Socio-Economic Rights Agenda (SERAP) pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act.

The High Court, according to the media reports, ordered the Federal government and Dr. Okonjo Iweala to provide information relating to N30 trillion Naira allegedly unaccounted for.

Please note the following:

- Dr Okonjo-Iweala hastens to state that she was never served with any court processes in relation to the said matter. She has not read the judgment and would therefore defer any comments on the matter. 

- However from the media reports, the case was instituted in February 2015 but was not served until July 2015 after Dr Okonjo-Iweala had already ceased to be the Minister of Finance. 

- By the date the said papers were purportedly served Dr Okonjo-Iweala was no longer a public officer and could therefore not be the subject of a request for production of any documents or information under the Freedom of information Act.

- The Court processes must have been served on others because the attention of Dr Okonjo-Iweala was never drawn to the matter in which she appears to have been sued personally. She therefore did not engage any lawyer to act for her in the matter.

- The decision of SERAP to anchor its case on a baseless and unsubstantiated allegation by former CBN governor, Professor Charles Soludo that N30 trillion – about seven times the total annual budget during the Jonathan administration – is missing confirms SERAP’s dubious motives and its role as a tool for politically motivated actors.

- It is curious that the first time Dr Okonjo-Iweala is being made aware of a matter filed against her in court is in news reports reporting the delivery of judgment. She has instructed her lawyers to take steps to set aside the judgment as it affects her.