Tag Archives: Abakaliki

EFCC probes Ebonyi Gov. Umahi, places property under investigation.

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has sealed the property belonging to Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Dave Umahi, in Abakaliki and other parts of the state.

The anti-graft sealed the Osborn La Palm Hotel, located at Mile 50, Abakaliki and Brass Filling stations along Ogoja and Afikpo roads within the state capital.

The hotel and filling stations belong to the governor. EFCC placed a sign, “EFCC under investigation” with the agency’s eagle’s logo on the affected property.

However, business activities were still going on in the premises when visited yesterday. The hotel security guards were seen at the gate when visited.

It was learnt that EFCC operatives from the Enugu zonal office came to Abakaliki, the state capital, to place the “EFCC under investigation” sign on the entrance gate to the Osborn La Palm.

Although there was no clear reason for the action, the development might not be unconnected with the alleged N400 million arms deal former President Goodluck Jonathan allegedly gave to Umahi during the 2015 presidential election. The funds were allegedly diverted by the governor.

But, a top official of the Ebonyi State government, who did not want to be mentioned, denied the sealing of the governor’s property. He said that the EFCC’s logo on the hotel and filling station has been there for about four weeks.

He said that the hotel hosted a wedding reception on Sunday and, as such, has not been under lock and key.

He said: “Yes, there is an EFCC sticker on the properties. It is just an underinvestigation sticker. It is not as if the properties were sealed. They are still functioning. The truth is that they have been there for long. There is nothing new there.”

The EFCC had, in August, arrested three persons including the governor’s brother, Austin Umahi, and some people over a N400 million slush fund linked to the 2015 presidential campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The suspects, all staff of Brass Engineering & Construction Nigeria Limited and Osborn La-Palm Royal Resort owned by the governor, were arrested following their refusal to honour invitations by the EFCC for questioning in an ongoing investigation involving both companies.

While the younger Umahi doubles as the chairman of both companies, Chinyere Egwuche and Marbel Dikibo (the other two persons) are also signatories to the companies’ accounts.

Investigations by the EFCC revealed that the N400 million was released by the Director of Finance, PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Nenadi Usman, to the Ebonyi State chapter of the PDP for the 2015 presidential election.

The said funds were moved from a bank in Abakaliki on March 27, 2015, to another bank, where one Maxwell Umahi further moved N100 million and N300 million respectively into the accounts of Brass Engineering & Construction Nigeria Limited and Osborn La-Palm Royal Resort respectively.

One of the suspects, Egwuche, allegedly withdrew the N300 million paid into the account of Osborn La-Palm which, according to her, was used to finance further the construction of Osborn La-Palm Hotels in Abakaliki, Uburu and Port Harcourt, while the N100 million paid into the account of Brass Engineering and Construction Nigeria Limited was transferred to a certain David Umahi Faith Foundation.

Meanwhile, the EFCC has made substantial breakthrough in its ongoing investigation of some judges of the Federal High Court.

Investigation revealed that operatives of the anti-graft agency have established “overwhelming” evidence against the judges, to warrant their trials in court.

It was learnt that most of the judges under probe could not explain the huge lodgements found in their accounts.

A highly placed source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said it was mind-boggling that “one of the judges was found to (allegedly) own property in choice areas in Lagos and overseas.”

According to the source, “the commission will soon confront the National Judicial Commission (NJC) with overwhelming proof of evidence, to cause their suspension.”

He added that: “The EFCC is a thorough and professional anti-corruption agency, that recognises the rule of law, procedures and due process.

“When the commission arraigns those with whom prima facie cases have been established, the pub lic will get to appreciate the efforts and diligence put in the investigation process.”

The EFCC is investigating Justices Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, Mohammed Nasir Yunusa, Hyeladzira Ajiya Nganjiwa, Musa Haruna Kurya, Agbadu James Fishim and Justice Uwani Abba Aji.

At different times, the judicial officers had appeared at the Lagos zonal office of the anti-graft agency, for interrogation. Some senior lawyers, who were alleged to have induced judges, have either been arraigned, or quizzed.

For instance, Justices Yunusa and Nganjiwa are being investigated over allegations that they were offered bribes by Mr. Rickey Tarfa, and Dr. Joseph Nwobike, both Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs).

While Tarfa was arraigned on a 27-count charge bordering on alleged transfer of N1.5 million to Justice Nganjiwa, Nwobike is facing a fivecount charge before Justice Raliat Adebiyi of the Lagos High Court.

In another development, Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State yesterday visited a former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, in EFCC’s custody in Abuja.

A statement by the Special Assistant on Media to Fani-Kayode, Mr. Jude Ndukwe, said Fayose arrived the headquarters of the EFCC at 2:15p.m., and was received by a team of operatives.

The governor was said to have encouraged the former Director of the Goodluck Jonathan Presidential Campaign Organisation, to remain steadfast.

“The governor of Ekiti State, Peter Ayodele Fayose, joined the ever growing list of dignitaries paying solidarity visits to the detained former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode.

“The governor visited Fani-Kayode in EFCC custody on Tuesday afternoon and spent quite some time encouraging him. He arrived the commission about 2:15p.m. and was received by a team of operatives led by one Mr. Madaki.

“He later departed the commission at 4:30p.m.,” Ndukwe said.

Barring any change in plan, the EFCC will arraign Fani-Kayode today on a fresh charge of alleged corruption.

Abakaliki Rice Mill set to relocate to new site.

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The Abakaliki Rice Mill Limited has finally agreed to relocate from its present site to a new mill as directed by the state government.

The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the relocation issue pitched the company against the immediate past Ebonyi State Government, which made it seek litigation at the National Industrial Court.

The company withdrew the matter from court and decided to engage in dialogue with the present administration.

The state government has also acquired the United Nations International Development Organisation modern-rice mill located at the new site.

The House of Assembly recently passed a law to back the acquisition but under the condition of relocating to the new mill for optimum efficiency.

Joseph Ununu, the Company’s Chairman, told NAN on Sunday that the decision was taken because of the government’s “humane” approach to the issue.

Ununu said: “The present government’s relocation policy has a humane face unlike the previous one, which had no sincere plans for the relocation.

“The present government dialogued with us and made provisions in addition to creating an environment conducive for our business to thrive.”

According to Ununu, the government allowed the millers to acquire the new mill with powers to manage and make necessary refunds within six years.

He said: “The previous government in contrast ordered us to relocate within one month or face demolition and even failed to provide an operational mill for us.

“The present mill has abundant land for requisite ventures, which made the millers happy and ready to cooperate with the government.”

Ununu noted that the relocation would not be immediate because structures at the new mill are not completed though arrangements are in place for the completion.

He said: “We would relocate as soon as the structures are ready and it is imperative to note that we have commenced operation at the facility.

“We are happier because the government authorised us to retain the present structure, rehabilitate and make it a rice market, where people across the globe would purchase the produce.”

House Wife Loses Pot Of Rice To Thieves In Abakaliki

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A middle-aged woman identified as Agnes on Sunday in Abakaliki lost the pot of rice she was cooking to thieves. Some pressmen who visited Agnes’ residence behind Nnodo Secondary School, Amike-Aba on Monday report that she was still in shock over the incident.

It took repeated appeals by the correspondent to make Agnes talk, as she maintained that her husband had barred her from speaking further on the issue to avoid negative attention to the family.

“I came back from a village-meeting late on Sunday and put the rice on fire so that my family could have their dinner and eat the remnant on Monday morning. This apartment, as you can see, has no kitchen so we cook in the space in front of the house, likewise other occupants of the building,” she
said.

Agnes said that as she went inside her room to fetch some condiments, she was delayed by the attention she had to give to her crying child.

“I gave attention to my child who was crying and by the time I came out to continue cooking, the pot of rice had vanished, with the stove still enkindled.

“After I recovered from the shock, I started screaming which attracted my husband, family members and neighbours who were all as stupefied as I.

“When it was established that no occupant of the building took the pot, it dawned on us that the act was perpetrated by a thief who exploited the vulnerability of the improvised kitchen,” she said.

The woman declined further comments but her neigbour, Justin Mbam-Egbe, noted that the situation had re-awakened security consciousness among the occupants of the house.

“This is the first theft case we are experiencing and we will henceforth be security conscious to avert future occurrences,” he said.

A private security consultant in Abakaliki, Dr John Odikwa, blamed such incident on the current economic recession in the country.

“The country has degenerated to a level that people now steal pots of rice and soup and with the yuletide approaching, the society should be ready for serious security challenges.

The Public Relations Officer of the Ebonyi police command, Mr George Okafor, described the incident as funny and noted that it had not been reported to the command.

“It is difficult for such incidents to be reported but we assure the citizens of the state of adequate protection of their lives and properties,” he said.

Police Foil Attempted Jail Break In Ebonyi State

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The Ebonyi State Police Command this morning, foiled an attempted jail break as Abakaliki prison inmates staged a riot inside the prison.

 

As at press time, Police had cordoned off all roads leading to the Abakaliki prisons. Gunshots could be heard intermittently as the police tried to recover a firearm allegedly taken from one of the prison officers. It was gathered that the inmates were protesting poor treatment especially inadequate feeding.

 

Unconfirmed reports said that some losses of lives had been recorded in the incident. Another source said some of the inmates capitalised on the riot to stage a jail break and had already succeeded in creating an opening on the wall before anti-riot policemen arrived and heavily tear gassed them into submission. The prison is located beside the police headquarters, leading to prompt intervention from the police.

 

Already the commander of military cantonment and the commissioner of police have visited the area and are directing the operations to restore sanity to the prison. The police spokesman, George Okafor, when contacted, said the command was still working hard to resolve the crisis. He, however, refused to confirm if anybody was dead or not.

 

“There was an attempted jail break and the prisons called in the police. We cordoned off the area and restored normalcy to the area. We will brief you later on the issue once everything has been sorted out”.