N2.2b ‘fraud’: Ex-ICC man to try Supreme Court chiefs-Eric Ikhilae

•Supreme Court, Abuja - judicial-administrative heart of the superstructure of Capitalism Nigeriana

The Federal Government has hired a former International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor, Charles Adeogun-Philips, to lead its team of lawyers to prosecute the Supreme Court Registrar and others for alleged N2.2b fraud.

But the arraignment of the three senior officials of the apex court was put off yesterday by Justice Abba Mohammed of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Jabi, Abuja because one of the Supreme Court officials, Muhammed Sharif, was absent.

The Federal Government on November 3 filed a nine-count charge against Chief Registrar Ahmed Saleh, Sharif and Rilwanu Lawal (who are both officials of the court’s Account Department.)

They are charged with conspiracy and criminal breach of trust for allegedly diverting N2.2billion belonging to the apex court and receiving gratification as public officers.

The three officials are also accused of receiving N74.4m gratification from contractors between 2009 and 2016.

The contractors from which they allegedly received the gratification are Willysdave Ltd., Welcon Nig. Ltd., Dean Musa Nig. Ltd., Ababia Ventures Ltd. and MBR Computers Ltd.

On November 8, Justice Mohammed granted a request by prosecution lawyer Hajara Yusuf for time to produce the three defendants in court for arraignment, following which the court adjourned till November 17 for arraignment.

Saleh and Lawal were in court. Sharif was absent.

Garba Tetengi (SAN), who announced appearance for Sharif, said he was ill and was on admission at the hospital. He sought an adjournment, which other defence lawyers – Abdulhakeem Mustapha – SAN – (for Saleh) and I.K Sanusi – SAN (for Lawal) did not object.

The Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), Mohammed Umar, who led the prosecution team, later yielded proceedings to Adeogun-Philips, who spoke for the prosecution.

Umar said the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), had in exercising his powers under Section 174(1) of the Constitution, elected to engage an international lawyer to conduct prosecution in the case.

Adeogun-Philips said he was unhappy that Tetengi could not provide any document to show that Sharif was on admission in the hospital.

Justice Mohammed rescheduled the arraignment for December 15.

Culled from Nation

Igbo leaders seek audience with Trump- By Moshood Adebayo

A pan Igbo socio- cultural group, Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF)  is seeking audience with American President-elect, Mr. Donald Trump, just as it has sent a congratulatory message to him on his victory.
ADF is a corporate body of intellectuals, clergy, traditional rulers, businessmen, politicians, women and youth of Igbo origin who are working to overcome the state of endemic corruption, political and economic marginalisation in the country.
In a November 12, 2016 congratulatory letter and signed by Prof. Uzodinma Nwala, president and Prof Nath Aniekwu, secretary, respectively, the group said Trump’s role in global affairs and his importance in the world can not be over emphasised.
In the letter, the group described the Igbo Nation as one of the three biggest ethnic nationalities that were brought together with several others for the administrative convenience of the British Colonial Regime to make up the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 1914, mainly to serve British interest.
It alleged ethnic exclusion, genocide, systemic alienation of the Igbo Ethnic Nationality in the Nigerian Federation, a situation which it said had worsened since the end of the Biafra war in 1970.
‘’We Igbos have no sense of belonging in the political contraption known as Nigeria today. We have also been severally unable to fulfil our legitimate aspirations as a people in the country as a result of its lopsided hegemonic and corruption–driven contrivance.
‘’Igbos are found across the globe, being a great cosmopolitan people with the immense God-given gift of an entrepreneurial spirit and culture. Since the second decade of the last Century, Igbos have emigrated in large numbers to the United States where they found a second home in search of education and attracted by the spirit and practice of self-actualisation, acknowledgment of merit, embodied in the American Dream and the core essence of American democracy; themselves being children of a society that is traditionally republican and democratic in practice well before the inception of the British colonial rule’’.
ADF said Trump’s victory “represents a hope for a new world order in which America shall chart an independent foreign policy, especially in Africa, devoid of British colonialist manipulation and interests.”
While collectively praying  for Trump’s  success through God’s blessings, ADF offered fervent prayers   for his  administration to help usher in a new world order, and reverse America’s pro-British policy in Africa.
‘’ADF looks forward to and will eagerly embrace a new American foreign policy under your leadership that recognises the inalienable fundamental rights of Peoples to the protection of their ancestral homes, their lives, property, religion and their faith, to equity and justice and, above all, their right to self-determination’’.
The group recalled that many prominent Igbo leaders and intellectuals were brought up in several American universities including the late Africa’s most famous pan-Africanists,  Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe , renowned world Bank Executive Director, Ngozi Okonjo—Eweala, China Achebe, Professor Barth Okechukwu Nnaji and several others.
It also expressed the hope that under Trump’s  leadership,  Igbo citizens who wishs to live and work in the USA would  be guaranteed protection and freedom under law by your administration.

Sun

As Osinbajo, SGF, Saraki, Dogara meet… APC govs angry with Buhari

Over ambassadorial nominees, board appointments
 Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye and  Fred Itua, Abuja

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday met with Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, six All Progressives Congress (APC) governors from the six geopolitical zones and the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Babachir David Lawal.
Osinbajo represented President Muhammadu Buhari who is currently attending the 22nd Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), also known as COP-22, in Marrakech, Morocco.
The governors at the meeting were Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger) and Jubrilla Bindow (Adamawa).
At the parley which took place at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the governors expressed displeasure with Buhari’s refusal to consult them. They were angry over non-reconstitution of federal boards as well as the controversial ambassadorial nominees’ list, which has seen two nominees rejecting the offers.
Before Buhari left the country, Saraki had met with him thrice over his request for approval to get $29.9 billion loan.
The Senate had recently rejected Buhari’s request for the facility.
It also described the 2017 to 2019 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) forwarded by President Buhari for approval as “empty.”
The MTEF is yet to be approved by the Senate.
Saraki, when approached by State House Correspondents to speak on what transpired at the meeting, said: “ I am sure the VP will issue a statement. But nothing of great alarm. It’s all for good governance, inclusion and collaboration with all arms. The states are here, National Assembly executives just came up with ideas on how to make things work even better, that’s all.”
No official statement on the meeting was issued at Press time.
But a source at the meeting said Osinbajo, who tried to calm the governors, assured those in attendance that critical stakeholders in the party will be carried along in any future major appointments.
According to the source, the meeting was part of President Buhari’s ongoing peace moves to reconcile aggrieved members of the ruling party.
He told Daily Sun what transpired: “There was a meeting at the Villa today (yesterday), chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. The Senate President, Bukola Saraki was there. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara was there. The Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Babachir David Lawal was also there.
“There were six All Progressives Congress (APC) governors from the six geopolitical zones. Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun state was there for the South-west; Governor Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari of Zamfara state was there for North-west; Rochas Okorocha of Imo State was there for the South-east; and Governor of Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger state was there for North-central.
“The two main things discussed were appointment of federal board members and the ambassadorial nominees recently sent to the Senate. The President is beginning to adopt a more collaborative approach.
“The President has now decided to reach out to stakeholders in the party on major issues. Going forward, he wants to ensure that everyone is carried along. Almost everyone was represented at the meeting.
“The governors complained about recent appointments made by Buhari and questioned why they were not carried along. The governors, Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives have been assured that they will be carried along.
“The issue of loan request did not come up. The major issue is board appointments and governors complained about the ambassadorial nominees,” he said.

Source: sun