EFCC Arraigns Senior Air Force Officer For Allegedly Receiving N40 Million, Landrover Bribe

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday arraigned, AVM Rufus Ojuawo, in an FCT High Court, Apo, for collecting N40 million gift and a Range Rover sports car from Hima Abubakar.

Mr. Ojuawo, a former Director of Operations, Nigerian Air Force, was arraigned before Justice Mahawiya Idris on a two-count charge.

The charge says Mr. Ojuawo while in office in March, 2015, accepted a gift in the aggregate sum of N40 million from Abubakar of Societe D’ Equipments Internationaux Nig. Ltd.

It stated that the defendant also received a Range Rover Sports Supercharged car valued at N29, 250, 000 from Mr. Abubakar, who was a contractor with the Nigerian Airforce through Coscharis Motors Ltd.

The offence contravenes Section 17(a) of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under Section 17(c) of the same Act.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.

EFCC counsel Francis Jirbo applied for a date to open his case, and urged the court to remand Mr. Ojuawo in prison custody.

But Defence counsel, Ralph Ojabo, opposed the application, saying that he had an application for bail dated June 3 pending in the court.

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Ex-VP Sambo’s Aide Admits Receiving N25 Million For Election Website

A former special adviser on political matters to ex-Vice President Namadi Sambo, Abba Dabo, on Thursday told Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja that he was paid N25 million by the national publicity secretary of the PDP, Olisa Metuh, to create a website.

The money was part of the N400 million arms purchase funds allegedly given to Mr. Metuh and his company, Destra Investment Limited by the former NSA, Sambo Dasuki.

Mr. Dabo, while being led in evidence by the counsel to Economic Financial Crimes Commission, Sylvanus Tahir, told the court that he was paid the money through the second defendant’s company account, Destra Investment Limited.

Mr. Dabo, also a former spokesperson for ex-President Shehu Shagari, was a former editor of Sunday New Nigeria and Gaskiya Ta Fi Kwabo and one time deputy national chairman of the PDP (North).

According to him, the said money was for media and publicity campaign for the PDP presidential election.

Explaining how the money was expended, Mr. Dabo told the court that he created a media support system and a website called “WhatsApp Nigeria” to run media advocacy campaign for the party.

“I raised a team of facilitators and young internet experts were also employed to manage the website,” Mr. Dabo stated.

The witness further told the court that he was shocked to hear in the media that the money given to him by Mr. Metuh was part of the funds set aside to procure arms for fighting insurgency.

“Therefore, I decided to return the money to the EFCC,” Mr. Dabo said.

Justice Abang, at the instance of counsel to the second defendant, Onyechi Ikpeazu, adjourned to February 9 for further hearing.

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Ribadu Releases Statement On Dasuki Money Scandal

former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nuhu Ribadu, has denied receiving any money from the embattled former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

In a statement Tuesday, Mr. Ribadu said those trying to discreetly plant a story against him in the media should come forward with documentary evidence to suggest that he collected money from Mr. Dasuki or had made some refunds to government.

“My attention has been drawn to insinuations in certain quarters of my purported repayment of some monies I was allegedly given by the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd),” Mr. Ribadu said.

“For the record, let me categorically state that I had nothing to do with the former NSA while he was in office. I cannot remember meeting him at anytime while he held sway.

“It is therefore shocking for me to be accused of receiving something from someone I never had any relationship with, not to talk of refunding money he gave me.”

Mr. Dasuki is currently facing prosecution for his alleged involvement in a $2.1billion arms fraud when he was the NSA.

Mr. Ribadu said he did not receive any money from the former NSA either directly or through a proxy.

“There is therefore no reason for me to make any refund,” he said.

“Also, I have not been contacted by any security agency on this matter to warrant any action of that nature on my part.”

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Buhari Denies Receiving $300,000 Compensation From Jonathan For Boko Haram’s Attack On Convoy

President Muhammadu Buhari has reacted to claims he received a compensation of $300,000 from former President Goodluck Jonathan after Boko Haram terrorists attacked his convoy in Kaduna last year.

In a statement by Femi Adesina, his special adviser on media and publicity, Mr. Buhari said he received “nothing untoward, illegal or tending to corruption” from Mr. Jonathan before or after the attack.

The statement reads, “Our attention has been drawn to reports making the rounds, especially on internet-based media, that President Muhammadu Buhari received $300,000.00 and up to five armoured SUVs from the Office of the National Security Adviser in the aftermath of the attack on his convoy in Kaduna last year.

“We unequivocally deny that President Buhari received $300,000.00 or any monetary compensation whatsoever from the Jonathan Presidency or any of its officials, in the aftermath of that attack, or at any other time since then.

“While it is true that one armoured SUV and one untreated SUV were sent to the President in the aftermath of the attack, the vehicles were in keeping with his entitlements as a former Head of State under the Remuneration of Former Presidents and Heads of State (And other Ancillary Matters) Decree of 1999.

“Section 3, Sub Section 1 of that Decree provides that three vehicles will be provided for former heads of state and replaced every four years.

“There was therefore nothing untoward, illegal or tending to corruption in former Head of State Buhari and Presidential aspirant, as he then was, receiving vehicles, to which he was statutorily entitled , from the Federal Government of Nigeria.”

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Fuel Crisis: Marketers Deny Receiving Payment From Govt, Say Strike Continues

Despite the claim by the Federal Government that N156 billion was released on Thursday to oil marketers to facilitate the quick resolution of the current fuel crisis, the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), has said normal lifting of fuel will not resume till their members’ accounts are duly credited by the banks.

As at 4.35 p.m. on Thursday, the Executive Secretary, Depot & Petroleum Products Marketers Association(DAPPMA), Odufemi Adewole, told PREMIUM TIMES in a telephone interview that none of its members and their counterparts in the Major Oil Marketers Association(MOMAN), had confirmed receiving any payment.

“The money government said it was paying to marketers has not yet hit our accounts. So, there is little we can do about the situation,” Mr, Adewole said. “The money the Minister of Finance promised to pay us last February did not get into our hands till about four or five weeks later.

“If all members are not getting the money today, it means we have to wait till Monday. But, the truth is that nobody is going to call off the strike till the money is paid,” he added.

With Friday declared work-free day to mark workers’ day, it means consumers would have to grapple with terrible fuel supply crisis till next week when the payment may hit the marketers’ accounts.

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