Michael Chudi Ejekam, Ikeja City Mall Developer Wanted in US For Fraud.

Michael Chudi Ejekam, a real estate developer, previously entwined in at least one other real estate fraud case, finds himself in the middle of another similar action. In this case, Ejekam has been tied to former NBA star Tate George and his real estate Ponzi scheme. George recently received a 9-year prison sentence for his part in the scam and Ejekam may face similar action. 

According to Premium Herald, George and Ejekam worked on several deals together while Ejekam was employed with the Bayrock Group, headquartered in New York City but with deals in other parts of the country as well. Together, Ejekam and George pushed several fraudulent real estate deals, bilking unsuspecting investment victims of amounts numbering in the millions. In this process, they utilized Donald Trump’s name and brand in order to squeeze out higher payouts from investors.

In the midst of the George controversy, Chudi Ejekam also finds himself in another, more high-profile legal battle. In this, he sides with Jody Kriss, the former CFO of the Bayrock Group. Ejekam is believed to have fled New York and the United States for Nigeria in an attempt to escape the career and legal consequences of this lawsuit. He relocated to Lagos, Nigeria, where he worked as the West Africa Director of Real Estate for Actis. 

Actis is the developer of many of Nigeria’s largest malls and shopping complexes, and also manages several large investments in Africa. Once Actis was given word of Ejekam’s legal troubles, the trail of paperwork, and all that those entailed, he was quickly removed from employment with the company.

Ejekam’s connections to business in New York City goes back to his college days. He and Kriss were roommates at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. By all reports, Kriss and Ejekam were very close associates during their time at Wharton. Soon after Kriss was promoted to his position as chief financial officer, Ejekam came to be employed by the Bayrock Group to assist with several real estate development projects.

Bayrock Group, a successful New York City real estate development company, has partnered with Donald Trump and the Trump Organization on several high-profile real estate development and management projects. Some of those projects include the Trump SoHo and the Conrad Fort Lauderdale. 

However, some of the top Bayrock executives have driven the company into the heart of multiple scandals, even though most of the Bayrock people operated legitimately and had productive deals with investors.

Michael Chudi Ejekam and Jody Kriss are deeply entrenched in the Bayrock legal mess. For the past three years, they have been central players in a $1 billion extortion scheme against Bayrock themselves, as well as Donald and Ivanka Trump, and several dozen other high-profile individuals, law firms, politicians, and real estate companies. 

One of the law firms named in the complaint brought forth by Kriss and Ejekam is Akerman Senterfitt. This firm had employed Kriss’ father (Ronald), a former Bayrock legal advisor acting as General Counsel prior to the suit. Upon noting their name in the billion dollar suit, he was directly released from the firm.

The two attorneys representing Kriss and Ejekam in the extortion suit, Frederick Oberlander and Richard Lerner, have been referred multiple times for criminal prosecution in the case. Issues arose regarding their unethical and illegal practices in obtaining and using sealed government documents as evidence in the suit, putting several defendants’ lives in danger. 

Lerner, recently removed from his firm, Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker, and Oberlander, recently cited for animal abuse in Manhattan, are challenging the criminal investigation referrals, which were brought down by U.S. Federal Judge, Brian M. Cogan. With charges eminent, the U.S. Attorney’s office in New York’s Northern District is investigating and waiting for the appropriate time to make it official.

Real estate fraud and Ponzi schemes do not seem to be the limit of questionable business practices for Michael Chudi Ejekam and Jody Kriss. It is widely believed that Kriss has deep-seeded connections with the Persico Mafia crime family. . Allegations have also been made that Kriss has engaged in participating in money laundering for kingpins in the Russian mob while working at Bayrock and possibly beyond.

Nigeriaireporter.blogspot.com.ng  put a call across to him to get his side of the story, he was not available to pick his call and we left a message on his voice mail machine but he is yet to return our call. 

Stop Calling The 'Predator' Amina Ali's "Boko Haram Husband- Oba Ezekwesili

A former Minister of Education and #BringBackOurGirls activist, Obiageli Ezekwesili, has warned the media to stop referring to the ‘predator’ that violated abducted Chibok girl, Amina Ali, as her ‘Boko Haram husband’.
The former minister disclosed this in a post on her Twitter handle where she rhetorically asked if the media did not know that ‘Amina Ali’s parents’ did not give her out for marriage’.
Her tweets: “From now I shall call out any media house that says or writes ‘her Boko Haram husband’ for that ‘predator’ that violated Amina Ali. Get ready.
“Does the media not know that #AminaAli’s parents did not give her out for marriage? She’s a victim of abduction and sexual violence.”
The rescued girl and her parents met President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa in Abuja on Thursday.
Details of the meeting is sketchy at this time.

Excellence In Life With Pastor Femi Paul Holds This Saturday

Due to his passion for eradicating mediocrity and extolling the spirit of Excellence, Pastor Femi Paul Senior Pastor, Grace Assembly, Lagos has made The Excellence in Life Series a Bi- Monthly event featuring world class speakers. 

The next one holds this Saturday the 21st of May 2016 and speakers like Ibukun Awosika, the Chairman of First Bank PLC and Mrs Bukky George of the Health Plus Pharmacy chains will be imparting knowledge at the forum.

The Excellence  In  Life  Series is the tool by which the visionary, Dr. Femi Paul hopes to eradicate the prevalent Culture of Mediocrity and propagate in its place, the much needed Culture of Excellence.  This initiative promises to transform mindsets and inevitably optimize the potential of individuals, institutions and the nation alike.

It is not another certification course because when it comes to Excellence, you don’t tender certificates.  Excellence is simply about doing things well, and it is WAR AGAINST MEDIOCRITY!

The  major syndrome that has eaten deep into the fabric of our society is MEDIOCRITY and it is responsible for most of the pains we suffer today. We did not get to where we are in one day. It was a gradual process of letting mediocrity get the better of us and today it has become gangrenous thus becoming an uphill task to mitigate against. 

Mediocrity is clearly a negative trait we should avoid like a plague. If you do not actively REJECT mediocrity, you are unwittingly choosing it over EXCELLENCE and will be running life’s relay littered with broken dreams and failed expectations and at the end of the finishing line you will be crowned with frustrations and unhappiness. 

Thankfully many Nigerians have taken the bull by the horn and have gone all out on the fight against mediocrity. One of such Nigerian is Pastor Olufemi Paul. 

Pastor Femi Paul, a Lawyer by profession, is the Senior Pastor of Grace Assembly Churches, Lagos. He attended the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Law. He later went on to the University of London for two Masters Degrees in Shipping Law and Intellectual Property. He is also a certified graduate of the Oxford Princeton School of Petroleum Studies.  He practiced law in Lagos for many years, before moving into the Shipping & Maritime Industry.  His last foray in secular business was into the Oil & Gas Industry, after which he settled into full time ministry in 2001.

Dr. Femi Paul has delivered various papers, keynotes and workshops on Excellence In Life at several organizations, institutions and conferences around the world.  In 2015, he was honored with a Doctorate Degree by Northwestern Christian University for his excellent contribution towards Christian Education. He is also a pastor and the founder of Grace Assembly Church, a ministry committed to inspiring people and transforming lives.  

Pastor Femi Paul is mostly known for his exceptional “Spirit and Lifestyle of Excellence”. This has earned him many accolades and also inspired him to birth the vision “Life Class with Femi Paul”, and also the Excellence-In-Life Series where he shares Life Transforming Principles that shaped his life. 

Dr. Femi Paul is the Convener of the EXCELLENCE-IN-LIFE SERIES, a National Transformation Initiative aimed at eradicating the prevalent culture of mediocrity in our society. According to Pastor Femi Paul, "It is in my patriotic quest to salvage our country, build a culture of excellence and leave a lasting legacy for future generations that I present to you, THE EXCELLENCE IN LIFE SERIES!"

BEWARE! KILLER TOMATO PASTE IN NIGERIAN MARKET

The House of Representatives on Wednesday alerted Nigerians on the alleged existence of cancer-causing tomato pastes imported into the country by some unscrupulous people with a promised to unmask those behind the dastardly act.

It has therefore mandated its Committee on Health Services and Drug and Narcotics to investigate the alleged importation of the said fake, substandard and cancerous products into the country with a view to identifying them, their importers as well as promoters and distributors said to have circulated the nation's market with the products at very cheap prices.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion under matters of urgent public importance moved on the floor of the House yesterday by Hon Ossai Nicholas Ossai (PDP, Delta State).

Hon Osai while referring to a publication in a national newspaper of May 9, 2016, alleged that there was a cabal who had boasted that nothing could stop them from importing the fake and substandard tomato paste into the country.

According to him, "this ugly development of importation of cancer infested tomato paste is killing a lot of Nigerians and it is reported that this mafia group is collaborating with few indigenous manufacturers in Nigeria who are being used as a cover up to distribute the killer products."

Hon Ossai expressed worries that the "fake, substandard and cancer-causing tomato paste" has flooded the Nigerian markets with low prices, which had compelled the closing down of ingenious tomato companies in Nigeria and had led to the laying off of over 50 per cent of their workforce.

INNOSON BOSS ACCUSES GTB OF BLACKMAIL

In a swift reaction to news making the rounds accusing Innocent Chukwuma of Innoson Limited, leading indigenous automobile manufacturing company of fraud,  a press statement signed by Cornel Osigwe ANIPR, Public Relations and Media Consultant, Innoson Group has cleared him of any wrong doing as alleged by GT Bank.

"Our attention has been drawn to a news report published by various online media that the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has authorised the Attorney-General of Federation (AGF) to commence the prosecution of a Lagos businessman, Innocent Chukwuma, his company, Innoson Nigeria Limited, and four others for alleged forgery.
Ordinarily, we would not have dignified this news report with a response but in a nation where silence may be seen as an admission of guilt, we therefore come out to state the true position of things.
Although there is a charge pending against Innoson Nigeria Ltd, the charge is a trump up. To this end, the police have through its letter of 17th February 2016 discontinued the charge in order to further investigate the matter. Also, Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation through paragraph 10 of its opinion referenced DPPF 30/03/2016 contained in the policy file of the Ministry of Justice directed that the charge be discontinued and the file sent back to the police to further investigate the matter.
The court never ordered or directed the Attorney General of the Federation to take over the case since and more importantly no court in Nigeria has such power over the AGF.
Already Innoson has over N15billion judgment in its favour against Guaranty Trust Bank (who is sponsoring the charge) in suit no Fhc/AWK/CS/139/2012, suit no Fhc/L/CS/603/2006 and Appeal no CA/I/258/2011 and Appeal no CA/E/288/2014. The charge is to blackmail Innoson and to force it to forgo the judgments sums of over N15Billion.
The futility of the charge and the fact that it is a trump is demonstrated by the following:
a) GTB kept and continues to keep a register where all its customers sign for every bill of lading it collected from it. Innoson signed for all the bills of lading it collected from GTB including the ones in dispute in GTB's register. During the investigation and till date GTB failed and refused to produce the register on the ground that it was destroyed by fire that gutted its office;
b) in suit no Fhc/AWK/CS/139/2012 which was on excess and unlawful charges GTB imposed on Innoson's current account with it, GTB raised the issue of forged Bills of lading but could not establish that and Innoson got a judgment in excess of N4.7Billion against GTB therein;
c) the bills of lading which GTB is parading as forged is not more than five and the goods imported with them is not up to N100Million. The question therefore is, how did the sum become N2.4Billion?; what are contained in the containers evidenced by the Bills of lading in issue that is worth N2.4Billion.
We therefore urge the general public to disregard the news publication as this is a smear campaign to undermine the integrity of Dr Innocent Chukwuma OFR."

Arms Deal: Witness Reveals How Ex-PDP Chairman, Haliru Bello Was Paid N300m

A witness in the ongoing trial of a former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Haliru Bello, Yazidu Ibrahim, a Staff Officer, Accounts, Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA , has told the Federal High Court, Abuja, how he was instructed to pay the sum of N300 million to a company, BAM Projects and Properties Limited, owned by Bello.

Bello alongside his son, Bello Abba Mohammed, and their company, Bam Project and Properties Limited, are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for allegedly receiving the sum of N300 million from the office of the former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.). 

At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, May 18, 2016, Ibrahim told Justice A. R. Mohammed that he received a written instruction on a piece of paper to prepare a payment mandate for BAM in the sum of N300m.

Led in evidence by Adebisi Adeniyi who stood in for Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, Ibrahim further stated that the piece of paper had the account name, account number, amount and reason for payment (Payment for Safe Houses).

According to him, there were two signatories on the payment mandate: Muhammed Sambo Dazuki, a former National Security Adviser, and S.A. Salisu, Director, Finance and Administration.

 ‘‘After they have signed the paper, I would also sign before taking it to the bank (Central Bank of Nigeria),’’ he said.

Prior to giving this revelation, he had told the court that there were procedures of making payments, which included presentation of documents, approval of the documents and instructions from the Director of Finance, among others.

He stated: ‘‘Documents to be presented included are: contract documents, contract agreements, signature of the contractor and voucher.

‘‘After the documents had been presented, I would prepare the payment mandate ,which would be passed to the NSA and DFA for signing before taking it to the bank for payment.

During cross-examination by counsel to the first defendant, Solomon Umoh, SAN, the witness told the court that he did not know if there was any contract between the defendants and Office of the National Security Adviser, adding that he was not in the position to know why payments were made.

‘‘No documents for payments were made available apart from the piece of paper sent to him,’’ he added.

The case has been adjourned to June 1, 2016 for further cross- examination of the witness by counsels to the second and third defendants.

BREAKING: EgyptAir Flight With 69 On Board Disappears

One of the aircrafts in the fleet of EgyptAir has disappeared from the radar.

The flight, MS804, was operating from Paris in France to Cairo, Egypt when it disappeared from radar.

This was confirmed by the Airline.

The airline also tweeted that 69 persons were on board the missing aircraft.