Tag Archives: Seized

Ekiti Govt Signs Peace Pact With Herdsmen, Releases Seized Cattles

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As parts of efforts at ensuring seamless herdsmen operation in Ekiti, the state government and Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) yesterday signed a peace pact after fine-tuning grey areas in the enforcement of the Anti-Grazing Law in the state.

This came as governor, Ayodele Fayose, ordered the release of nine cows of the member of the group seized by the operatives of the recently inaugurated Ekiti Grazing Enforcement Marshals for contravening grazing law.

The governor stated that the move became necessary so as to cement the relationship between the government , crops farmers and the Fulani herdsmen in the state.

He however,however maintained that the approved grazing period 7am to 6pm as stipulated in the law stands and that anyone who contravenes this will be dealt with.

At a stakeholders’ meeting held at  the government house with the leadership of Miyetti Allah in Ekiti and the southwest , traditional rulers and the Fulani community on Thursday, the governor also directed that all cattle rearers operating in the State are to register with the traditional rulers of their host communities.

He further stressed  that the free registration must be done within the next 14 days, after which the registered names would be forwarded to the state government for data keeping.

Credit: leadership

Why We Took Over Jonathan Cousin’s Firm – Army

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The Nigerian Army has explained why the men of the Army Headquarters Garrison, Mogadishu Cantonment, Abuja, took over the premises of a company belonging to Mr. Robert Azibaola, a cousin of former President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday.

The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said that the land in question belonged to the Army.

Usman said the Army decided to take over the property because the service did not want any further encroachment on the property.

He stressed that the Nigerian Army would not tolerate any encroachment on its land.

“The said property is on Nigerian Army’s land and the Army will not allow anybody to encroach on its land.

“Consequently, the property has to be sealed to prevent further encroachment,” he stated.

Soldiers had taken over the premises of Kakarta Civil Engineering Limited, owned by the former President’s cousin, located along the Kubwa/Asokoro Expressway on Saturday.

The company shares boundary with the Luigi Barracks of the Nigerian Army.

Meanwhile, a Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), on Sunday, called on President Muhammadu Buhari, to caution the Nigerian Army for alleged arbitrary use of its powers and use of brute force on innocent citizens. Falana made this call in a statement, which he made on the heel of the invasion of the premises of Kakarta Civil Engineering Limited on Saturday.

The lawyer said the Army took possession of the property, owned by Azibaola, without a court order.

He said, “Sequel to the illegal action of the Army of occupation, the innocent workers in the company have been sent to the unemployment market. Although the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has charged Mr. Azibaola to court for alleged criminal diversion of $40m from the office of the National Security Adviser, he pleaded not guilty to the charge and has been granted bail.

“The implication of the plea is that he is presumed innocent until the contrary is proved by the prosecution.

“Therefore, if the Nigerian military authorities had wanted to dispossess him of the property in question, they ought to have applied for a court order. But by taking over the property under the pretext that it constitutes a threat to a nearby military barracks, the military authorities took the law into their hands.

“The forceful seizure of the property should not be tolerated in a civilised society which operates under the rule of law.”

MDAs To Benefit From Properties Seized From Looters

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The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun said the Federal Government plans to relocate some of its Ministries, Agencies and Departments (MDA) into some recovered looted properties.

Adeosun said this on Friday in Abuja while briefing newsmen after the Steering Committee of the Efficiency Unit meeting.

The Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers had been advocating for adequate utilisation of confiscated properties.

Adeosun said that the move to relocate the agencies was to reduce waste since these properties were empty and thereby save government from paying rent.

The issuance of price guidelines and initiatives for reducing expenditure on rent on office and residential buildings will be the primary focus areas of the efficiency unit in coming months.

You may want to know that the average annual expenditure on rent for a three year period of 2012 to 2014 was N3.55 billion.

And to achieve that, we are already looking at using properties that were forfeited from recoveries and moving some of our agencies to occupy those properties rather than paying rent,’’ she said.

Adeosun said that the Efficiency unit had already recorded success in cutting government overhead cost in areas such as travels, welfare, honorarium, sitting allowance, training, adverts and publicity as well as refreshments.

Major savings are expected when on-going engagement with the Bureau of Public Procurement on the pooling of MDAs demands for standard products such as vehicles, computers, diesel and others.

We plan to secure large discounts from suppliers and the issuance of Price Guidelines are developed and implemented.

Price Guidelines will ensure uniformity in the price at which MDAs purchase items, as well as transparency and value for money in the procurement process.’’

Adeosun said she was working with the states to ensure that they all established Efficiency Unit since 47.32 per cent of revenue that accrued to the federation goes to the states and local governments.

She enjoined relevant stakeholders to collaborate with the unit to ensure it achievd its mandate of cutting cost and improving the efficiency of government.

Credit: Guardian

Court Rejects Kanu’s Request For His Seized Passports, Money

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A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday dismissed an application by leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra and founder of Radio Biaf?ra, Nnamdi Kanu, for the release of certain items, including his British and Nigeria passports, which are in the custody of the Department of State Service.

Justice James Tsoho dismissed the application made orally by Kanu’s lawyer, Mr. Chuks Muouma (SAN), who had sought the release of the items because they would not be needed by the prosecution since they were not listed as part of exhibits to be tendered.

Apart from the passports, other items which Muouma sought to be released to the IPOB leader who is currently in detention at Kuje prison along with his two co-accuse, are cash sums of $2,200 and N87,000.

Justice Tsoho, in dismissing the application for lacking in merit, insisted that the fact that the items were not listed as possible exhibits did not foreclose the possibility of their being later used by the prosecution as exhibits.

?He then adjourned the case till February 19 for the hearing of an application by the prosecution for protection of its witnesses.

Credit: Punch

Why UK Govt Seized £27,000 From Diezani

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The British government, yesterday, seized £27,000 from the embattled petroleum ex-minister, who was granted conditional bail by the National Crime Agency, NCA, last week.

The British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC, reported that £5,000 and $2000 were also seized by the NCA from Beatrice Agama, Diezani’s mother.

According to a BBC report monitored in Abuja, the NCA had approached the Westminster Magistrate’s Court on Marylebone Road, London, and obtained the order to seize the said sum until April next year.

The NCA is said to have applied for the seizure of the money in accordance with Section 295 of Proceeds of Crime Act 2012, POCA.

In response, the court ruled that the money could be held for six months.

But the NCA declined to comment on when and where the money was seized from the former Nigerian minister.

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N2.8 Billion Worth Of Drugs Seized At Lagos Airport- NDLEA

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has said that it seized narcotic drugs weighing 455.215 kilogrammes between January and June this year at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

In a statement on Tuesday, the agency said that the drugs, whose street value is estimated at N2.8 billion, was seized alongside US$2.5 million cash.

According to the NDLEA,? 75 suspected drug traffickers and money launderers – 62 males and 13 females – were arrested in connection with the seizures.

“The intercepted money includes $2.1 million dollars seized from a bureau de change operator which had been transferred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation,” the anti-narcotics agency said in the statement issued by Mitchell Ofoyeju, its spokesperson.

“Fifteen (15) arrests were recorded on Emirates airline being the most preferred flight for those apprehended. Qatar airways had eleven (11) arrests, Ethiopian airline followed closely with eight (8) arrests and Etihad airways seven (7) arrests.”

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Enugu Tampered With Property Seized From Ex-Governor- EFCC

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has alleged the Enugu State Government tampered with the assets of companies associated with the former governor of the state, Chimaroke Nnmani.

A complaint has been issued to the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.

The companies in question are Rainbownet Nigeria Limited, Cosmos FM, Capital City Automobile Nigeria Limited and Renaissance University Teaching Hospital.

The companies, which had last month pleaded guilty to a ten-count amended charge EFCC brought against them, are alleged to have failed to comply with lawful inquiry made by the commission.
Their assets are central to the review of facts of the four companies linked to the ex-governor which was fixed for Thursday.

Counsel to the EFCC, Kelvin Uzozie, told the court that he was still working to get a schedule of all the assets and properties of the companies.

He told the court that in the course of preparing the schedule it was discovered that some of the assets and properties had been taken over or tampered with by the immediate past government of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime.

“We discovered that most of the properties have been allocated to their friends, family members or political office holders. We are interested in getting all the assets as there was an interim forfeiture order by the court on the assets and properties. We believe it is not right for anybody no matter how highly placed the person may be to tamper with properties that are before the court. We want the properties to be harmonized,” said Uzozie.

Nnamani, who was governor for eight years until 2007, was first arraigned before Justice Tijani Abubakar in 2007.

The ex-governor was docked alongside Sunday Anyaogu, his then aide, and some firms linked to them are alleged to have conspired with other accused persons to launder funds from the state treasury, especially monies meant for the local government areas of Enugu state.

Justice Mohammed Yinusa has adjourned the case against the companies to July 7.

Credit: CAJ News