Former GMD NNPC Wants His Seized Money Back

N3bn Loot: Give Me Back My Money, Yakubu Tells Court
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Erstwhile Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mr. Andrew Yakubu, has asked a Federal High Court sitting in Kano to order the Federal Government to return to him, over N3billion that was found in his home in Kaduna.
Yakubu, in a motion on notice with suit number FHC/ICN/CS/24/2017, filed by his lead counsel, Mr. Ahmed Raji, SAN, asked the court to set aside the forfeiture order that granted FG ownership of the money which was discovered by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on February 9.
Specifically, he wants the court to set aside the order and return the $9,772,800 and £74,000,000 which he said belongs to him.
The former NNPC boss insisted that the court lacked the jurisdiction to grant FG ownership of his money.
According to him, the court, was bereft of the territorial jurisdiction to entertain the motion that culminated to the forfeiture order since it related to a crime that was alleged committed in Abuja.
Raji, SAN, contended that going by section 45 of the Federal High Court Act, an offence should be tried only by a court exercising jurisdiction in the area or place where the offence was committed.
“No aspect of the perceived offence in respect of which the Order of February 13, 2017 was made, was committed within the Kano judicial division of this Honourable Court”, Raji argued.
He further maintained that FG lacked the locus-standi to seek the interim order of the court granted on February 13.
“By Section 28 of the EFCC Act, only the commission, i.e. the EFCC has the vires to seek an order for the interim forfeiture of property under the Act.
“The power of this Honourable Court to make interim forfeiture order(s) pursuant to sections 28 & 29 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act, 2004 (herein after referred to a “EFCC Act”) is applicable ONLY to alleged offences charged under the EFCC Act and not to offences cognizable under any other law.
“The ex-parte order of this honourable court dated February 13, 2017, was made in respect of alleged offences under the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission Act (herein after “ICPC Act”) and not the EFCC Act as prescribed by section 28 & 29 thereof.
“The conditions precedent to the grant of an interim forfeiture order under sections 28 & 29 of the EFCC Act were not complied with by the Applicant (FG) before the Order was made”, he submitted.
Besides, he argued that the combined effect of sections 28 and 29 of the EFCC Act was that a charge alleging infractions against the provisions of the EFCC Act ought to be brought against a suspect before the powers of the court under cections 28 & 29 of the EFCC Act, to order interim forfeiture of property, could be activated.
He insisted that without a formal charge, no prima-facie evidence could be established in order for the provisions of section 28 and 29 of the EFCC Act to be activated.
“In the instant case, no charge was brought against the Respondent/Applicant before the provisions of section 28 and 29 of the EFCC Act were activated to grant the ex-parte Order of February 13, 2017”, he stated.
Yakubu was Group Managing Director of the NNPC between 2012 and 2014. He was sacked by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan for alleged insubordination and corruption.
EFCC operatives raided his house situated in Sabon Tasha, Kaduna State, following a tip-off by a whistle-blower. The agency disclosed that it discovered the sum of $9.7m and £74,000 that Yakubu hid in a fireproof safe inside the house.
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THE SM JURY TO HOLD AT THE U.S EMBASSY-REGISTER NOW 6TH FEBRUARY 2017.

The Panelists to speak at the fourth of the SM Jury has been unveiled. For the first time, American Investor and Managing Director of Tech-Stars in Atlanta, Tyler Scriven will join Nigerian thoughts leaders to impact knowledge during the Social Media Week on Tuesday 28th February, 2017 at the Information Resource Center of the U.S Embassy in Lagos.

MIRAL PHARM REDEEMS PLEDGE OF 2MILLION NAIRA WORTH OF FIRST AID BOXES TO APLSCD

                                                             By Augustus Bill

Miral Pharm. Ltd. One of the leading pharmaceutical companies in Africa has set the pace of becoming the first indigenous pharmaceutical company to throw their strong weight behind the cause of the sickle cell sensitization campaign after they redeemed their pledge of over 2 million naira worth of Surgically equipped first Aid Boxes to the sickle cell group.

The company, who are also the manufacturers of Ravimal, an anti-malaria drug, has confirmed the possibility, and set the path of a strong partnership between social service groups and pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria.

Entreating a word to politicians of Anambra North extraction

Rowland Odegbo

Perhaps there is no better time than now to appeal for understanding among disparate political interests in the state, especially those in Anambra North senatorial zone. This appeal becomes necessary in the light of the current scramble for the 2017 governorship position among politicians from the zone. 

ANAMBRA 2017: IT IS NOT BY HUMAN MIGHT

By Ifeanyi Afuba

How will the contest of Anambra State’s 2017 governorship process play out? The predictions are gradually coming and expectedly, some are profound, some pedestrian. In this regard, one observes that a highly, if not, absolute materialistic conception of Nigeria’s politics is widely shared by ordinary citizens and politicians alike. But it is my submission that this interpretation is stunted and misguided to the extent of seeking to divinize man, mortalize God as well as ousting his jurisdiction in the temporal affairs of man. 

APC Revalidation Exercise Update in Anambra

Following the commencement of the APC registration/ re-validation exercise in Anambra, it can be reliably gathered that certain big wigs interested in vying for the party's flag in the forthcoming guber polls in the state have been succesfully registered by the Chris Akomas led team.

The exercise which was flagged off on Friday, the 27th of January 2017 commenced first with the registration of stakeholders by the panel.

Eminent personalities like Senator Dr. Chris Ngige, the Minister for Labour, Engineer Bart Nwibe, Chief George Moghalu, Dr. Obinna Uzoh, Hon. Tony Nwoye and Senator Andy Uba were formally registered as members of the APC

Senator Ngige, the leader of the party had his membership revalidated  by the commitee when they called upon him at his Alor Country home . Next was Chief George Moghalu, " present  National Auditor of the party and a gubernatorial hopeful. Moghalu had his membership revalidated as he alongside Nwibe have been long standing party faithfuls.

This was then followed with
revalidation of Engineer Bart Nwibe's membership of the party, Nwibe  a guber hopeful and a prominent stakeholder of the party had his membership revalidated at exactly 2. 15 am.

The exercise however confirmed the stories making the rounds that Senator Andy Uba, a sitting senator who had won his election on the platform of the PDP was set to cross over into the APC. Prior to his registration which took place at exactly 4 a.m in the early hours of the 28th of January, there were speculations making the rounds that the Uga born senator was set to dump his old party for the APC in order to enable him contest for the party's flag.

Although the process is still ongoing, one does not need a prophet to foretell that with the registration/ revalidation of these pg big wigs, the guber primaries of the APC will surely be no childs play.

Ex Deputy Governor urges youth to build character

Former Deputy Governor of Abia State Dr Chris Akomas, has called on

the youths in Anambra State to be good ambassadors of their state in
all their endeavours, by combining both character and learning , even
when no one is watching



Akomas  spoke to a cross-section of young nominees for the

registration exercise of APC in Awka , at a training session organized
by the party in Olivia Montage Hotels, Awka  yesterday.

Obiano and Okorocha Media War Thickens

By Johnbosco Ubasie

The war between Govs. Willie Obiano and  Rochas Okorocha has become intensified with Okorocha calling Obiano a fool. Okorocah spoke through one of his on-line aides, Mr. Abel  Ibe. It will be recalled that Obiano said that Okorocha has not provided inspirational leadership to be taken seriously by anybody.

Anambra moves on digitalization ...... embarks on aerial Photography

Aeroprecisa Company has completed and presented a comprehensive multispectral Aerial Photography of Anambra state.The project done at a high resolution of 10cm, was geared towards digitalization of the entire state, having a record of 4850 Square Km.

Obiano is a fool and crook - Okorocha

By Johnbosco Ubasie

The war between Govs. Willie Obiano and  Rochas Okorocha has become intensified with Okorocha calling Obiano a fool. Okorocah spoke through one of his on-line aides, Mr. Abel  Ibe. It will be recalled that Obiano said that Okorocha has not provided inspirational leadership to be taken seriously by anybody.

His full release reads:

“We have followed the politics of Anambra State. We all are aware how Obi bObiano is a fool and crook - Okorocha
led himself to impose Gov. Willie Obiano on the people of Anambra State against all opposition. Even Chief Victor Umeh opposed that and had to be paid close to 1 Billion Naira to accept.