EFCC re-arraigns ex-Air Force chief, Umar over alleged fraud -Bridget Chiedu Onochie

Former Chief of Air Staff, Mohammed Dikko Umar

Court resumes trial of Fayose’s associate
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday re-arraigned former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Mohammed Dikko Umar, before the Federal High Court, Abuja over alleged N4.8 billion fraud. Umar was alleged to have used funds he siphoned from accounts of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) between September 2010 and December 2012 to acquire six choice properties in Abuja, Kano and Kaduna states.
But the defendant who was earlier docked before the Federal High Court in May 2016, had pleaded not guilty to the charge brought against before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba.


Consequently, his lawyer, Mr. Hassan Liman (SAN) had applied for his release on bail. Liman prayed the court to allow his client to go home on self-recognition as he was previously allowed to do by Justice Binta Nyako, who was formerly in charge of the case.
In a bench ruling, Justice Dimgba directed the defendant to surrender his international passport as well as produce two sureties who must also own landed properties in Abuja.
The court has fixed February 13 and 16 for commencement of trial.
Meanwhile, the on-going trial of Biodun Agbele, an associate of Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose resumed yesterday with the first prosecution witness, Sunday Alade, admitting to have served in the inauguration committee of the governor’s administration.
Alade, who is a manager at the Akure branch of Zenith Bank Plc, told the Federal High Court, Abuja under cross-examination by Agbele’s counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) that his appointment to serve in the committee was communicated to him in a letter dated September 9, 2014.
The witness in November last year gave a breakdown of how the sum of N1.2 billion was paid into Fayose’s account in different tranches.
Justice Nnamdi Dimgba adjourned the matter till today for continuation of trial.

Culled from Guardian

Donald Trump to announce plans to build wall on Mexican border and more hardline immigration moves-Steve Robson

It comes after reports the Trump administration will also restrict immigration from Muslim countries in Africa and the Middle East

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Mexicans build symbolic wall around US embassy as Trump takes power

Donald Trump is to announce his infamous plan to build a wall on the US-Mexico border along with a series of hardline immigration policies this week.
The President's team in the White House is preparing to rollout a series of executive orders around immigration and national security.
The key moves will include details on two of Trump's most controversial campaign pledges; building a wall on the Mexican border and reducing immigration from Muslim countries.
Trump tweeted last night: "Big day planned on NATIONAL SECURITY tomorrow. Among many other things, we will build the wall!"

Big day planned on NATIONAL SECURITY tomorrow. Among many other things, we will build the wall!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)

Trump shows the Executive Order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) (Photo: Getty Images North America)

According to the Washington Post, several 'Angel Moms' - mothers who've lost a family member to crime committed by an illegal immigrant - could be present at Trump's announcement.
Later in the week Trump will sign several executive orders restricting immigration to the United States from Muslim countries, it is believed.
The new President will restrict access to the US for refugees and some visa holders from countries including Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, it has been claimed.
The report came via Reuters who spoke to several congressional aides and immigration experts briefed on the matter.
The announcement will be made on Wednesday at the US Department of Homeland Security.

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Muslim campaign groups said they were preparing for the details of the order - but indicated Trump may face a legal fight.
Ibrahim Hooper, spokesperson for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, told BuzzFeed: "We are preparing for the inevitability of what kind of ‘Muslim ban’ will be implemented, and we’re working with coalition partners to develop a strategy to defend rights and religious freedoms.
"Everybody is poised, waiting to see what the language is of this version of the Muslim ban, and we’ll go from there.
"Because until you see the specific language it’s difficult to react."
During his campaign, Trump promised to temporarily ban all Muslims from entering the United States as an apparent measure to combat terrorism.
"Donald J Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on," he said at the time.

Trump pledged to build a wall along the border with Mexico during his presidential campaign (Photo: Reuters)

He later appeared to backtrack when the pledged disappeared from his website.
Trump then suggested he would target specific countries rather than a religion which claims more than 1.6billion people worldwide.
"When I am elected, I will suspend immigration from areas of the world when there is a proven history of terrorism against the United States, Europe or our allies, until we understand how to end these threats," Mr Trump said in a June 2016 speech.

Donald Trump signs anti-abortion advice law in one of first acts

But following the Berlin terror attack in December, Trump's hardline stance returned.
"You know my plans all along and I’ve been proven to be right," he told reporters.
"100 per cent correct. What’s happening is disgraceful."

Source: Mirror

Reps say N145 fuel pump price “fraudulent” By Ifreke Inyang

The House of Representatives on Monday, critized the current pricing system of premium motor spirit by the Petroleum Products Price Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), describing it as “fraudulent”.
The lawmakers insisted that Nigerians should not buy petrol for more than N70 per litre.

The arguments were canvassed when an ad hoc committee of the House on the Review of Pump Price of Petrol, opened a public hearing at the National Assembly in Abuja.
The PPPRA, Nigerian Ports Authority and Nigerian Customs Service officials were all quizzed by the committee.
“In the 2017 budget, which is before us, PPPRA has a proposal of another N500m for regulation, monitoring and supply of petrol,” Chairman of the committee, Nnana Igbokwe said.
“This budgetary provisions have already taken care of the purpose for which you charge 30k on the template, yet Nigerians continue to bear the burden by paying N145 per litre,” Igbokwe added.

“This has left Nigerians in a situation whereby they still pay for lightening services for smaller vessels that go to Cotonou or Lome to offload products from mother vessels.
“PPPRA will then add the cost to the pump price and ask Nigerians to pay,” Igbokwe added.

 Culled from Daily post

Gambia's exiled leader 'virtually emptied' the coffers

Former president Yahya Jammeh plundered state coffers in his final weeks in power, a special adviser for Gambia's new leader says.

Video: Safety fears despite regime change in Gambia

By Alex Crawford, Special Correspondent in Dakar, Senegal

Gambia's outgoing leader, Yahya Jammeh, has been accused of emptying the country's banks of 500m Gambian dalasis (£9.2m) in the last two weeks of his reign.

"The coffers are virtually empty," said Mai Ahmed Fatty, one of the coalition's key leaders and special adviser to the new President, Adama Barrow.
He said talks with the country's Central Bank staff had shown a huge gap in the nation's finances with evidence that Mr Jammeh had loaded his private jet with millions of Gambian dalasis on his way into exile in Equatorial Guinea.
"Within a period of two weeks alone, nearly 500m dalasis were withdrawn by the former President - that's a lot of money," he said.

Video: Former president of Gambia leaves the country

Mr Fatty went on to urge the thousands of Gambians who fled to safety in neighbouring Senegal to return home.
But he insisted Mr Barrow was "not an ordinary Gambian any more" by way of explanation about why the newly inaugurated leader was still in the Senegalese capital Dakar under heavy security.
The new President wants to return to Gambia "very soon", Mr Fatty said, but would do so only once the security conditions are more stable.
Mr Fatty said Mr Barrow was still awaiting pledges of loyalty from the security services in the country and had urged ECOWAS troops now in the Gambian capital, Banjul, to remain for the foreseeable future to ensure stability (ECOWAS is the West African economic regional bloc which has taken the lead in the Gambian crisis).

Video: Sky's Alex Crawford speaks to the new Gambian leader

When Mr Jammeh was finally flown out of the country late on Saturday night, soldiers and police were seen crying on the tarmac.
The leader who ruled Gambia for 22 years is believed to have surrounded himself with mercenaries and security service agents in his last few days.
Mr Jammeh had at first accepted the results of Gambia's December election but did an about-turn a few days later, refusing to go after claiming the electoral commission had mishandled the poll.
His decision to impose a state of emergency the day before he was due to cede power prompted travel agents to instigate an evacuation from the country of holidaymakers - several thousand of whom were from Britain.

Image Caption: Many Gambians have been celebrating in the streets since Mr Jammeh's departure

There was much tension swirling around on Sunday after it emerged the former leader had agreed with ECOWAS and the African Union that his departure from Gambia was only temporary and he could return at "any time of his choosing".
The Barrow administration appeared to be furious at this "agreement" which they insist they were not party to and felt no duty to honour or respect.
Many Gambians want to see their former leader held to account for a string of human rights abuses he is accused of as well as systemic and prolonged pilfering from the national purse.

Culled from Sky News