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January 25, 2025 Alleged $6bn Mambilla Fraud: Court Approves EFCC’s Request to Amend Charges Against Agunloye

Alleged $6bn Mambilla Fraud: Court Approves EFCC’s Request to Amend Charges Against Agunloye

Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal High Court, FCT, sitting in Apo, Abuja, has granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) permission to amend charges against former Minister of Power, Olu Agunloye, and ordered him to take his plea.

Agunloye faces a seven-count charge from the EFCC, alleging official corruption and the fraudulent award of the $6 billion Mambilla Power Project contract.

During the July 1, 2024 proceedings, EFCC's Prosecution Counsel, Abba Mohammed (SAN), requested the court to accept the amended charges and mandate the defendant to enter a plea, citing Sections 216 and 217 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

However, Agunloye’s defense counsel, Adeola Adedipe (SAN), opposed the motion, arguing that the EFCC must formally seek the court’s permission before amending charges.

In Thursday’s ruling, Justice Onwuegbuzie dismissed the defense’s objections, referencing the Court of Appeal decision in Bovoa v. FRN & Anor (2017). The judge clarified that the amendment was not designed to disadvantage the defendant but to ensure justice.

“The arguments of the learned counsel to the defendant are hereby discounted." I hold that the application is liable to succeed. Accordingly, the application is granted as prayed, and the defendant is ordered to take his plea on the amended charge,” Justice Onwuegbuzie ruled.

The court adjourned the case to February 3, 2025, for Agunloye to take his plea on the amended charges.

READ ALSO: Alleged $6bn Fraud: Agunloye Asks Court To Decline Jurisdiction

January 25, 2025 Police Arrest Two Suspects Linked to Kidnapping of Ex-AIG Odumosu’s Wife

Police Arrest Two Suspects Linked to Kidnapping of Ex-AIG Odumosu’s Wife

Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command arrested two more suspects on Friday in connection with the kidnapping of Mrs. Folasade Odumosu, wife of retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Hakeem Odumosu.

The suspects, identified as 27-year-old Agbojule Smart and 30-year-old Keleke Michael, were apprehended by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police Special Squad. The Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the arrests in a statement issued from the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

According to the statement shared on the Nigeria Police Force’s X (formerly Twitter) handle, operatives recovered two locally fabricated rifles, 11 live cartridges, and ₦2.25 million, reportedly part of the ransom paid.

The statement read:
In response to the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, to pursue fleeing suspects linked to the abduction of Mrs. Folasade Odumosu, operatives of the Lagos State CP Special Squad arrested Agbojule Smart, 27, and Keleke Michael, 30, in the early hours of Friday, January 24, 2025.

The suspects, caught attempting to flee Lagos State, confessed to being part of a four-member gang, two of whom were neutralized earlier. Recovered from them were ₦2,250,000, two locally fabricated rifles, and 11 live cartridges.”

The Inspector-General commended the operatives for their swift and gallant efforts, urging them to maintain their high standard in combating crime. Muyiwa Adejobi reiterated the police force’s commitment to public security and its goal to reduce crime to the barest minimum while fostering peace across the nation.

READ ALSO: Police Rescue Wife of Retired AIG Odumosu from Kidnappers

Mrs. Folasade Odumosu was abducted last Thursday near the entrance of her residence in Arepo, Owode Local Government Area, Ogun State. The kidnappers reportedly dragged her out of her Lexus SUV and took her to an unknown location through a swampy area.

She was rescued on Wednesday during a successful operation led by Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo. During the operation, some of the kidnappers were neutralized, and Mrs. Odumosu was safely reunited with her family.

 

Police Arrest Two Suspects Linked to Kidnapping of Ex-AIG Odumosu’s Wife
Police Arrest Two Suspects Linked to Kidnapping of Ex-AIG Odumosu’s Wife
January 24, 2025 Tinubu Appoints APC Chairman Ganduje and Others as Board Chairpersons and CEOs

Tinubu Appoints APC Chairman Ganduje and Others as Board Chairpersons and CEOs

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed new board chairpersons and heads for 42 federal organizations, including strategic agencies and councils. Among the appointees are Abdullahi Ganduje, the Chairman of the All-Progressives Congress (APC), who will now serve as the Board Chairman of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, and Senator Bashiru Ajibola, the APC National Secretary, as the Chairman of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC).

Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, disclosed these appointments in a statement issued on Friday.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of board chairpersons and a secretary for various federal institutions, alongside a new Managing Director for the Nigerian Railway Corporation and a Director-General for the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI),” the statement revealed.

The President also appointed Sulaiman Argungu, former Deputy Governor of Kebbi State, as Chairman of the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Company. Additionally, Senator Magnus Abe, a long-time ally of Tinubu, was named Chairman of the National Agency for Great Green Wall.

Highlighting the scope of these roles, Onanuga noted that the President directed all appointees to respect the non-executive nature of their positions and not interfere with the day-to-day management of the organizations.

Full List of Appointments:

  1. Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria: Abdullahi Ganduje – Chairman
  2. National Sugar Development Council: Senator Bashiru Ajibola – Chairman
  3. Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Company: Sulaiman Argungu – Chairman
  4. National Agency for Great Green Wall: Senator Magnus Abe – Chairman
  5. Nigerian Railway Corporation: Dr. Kayode Isiak Opeifa – Managing Director
  6. National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI): Raji Kazeem Kolawole – Director-General

Other appointees include chairpersons for educational institutions, healthcare facilities, environmental agencies, and energy councils, reflecting a broad restructuring across critical sectors.

The appointments take immediate effect, with the aim of strengthening governance, boosting organizational performance, and fostering national development.

All board chairpersons were explicitly instructed not to interfere in the management and operations of their respective organizations, ensuring clear boundaries between governance and administration.

This announcement reinforces President Tinubu’s commitment to efficient governance and leveraging capable individuals to advance Nigeria’s developmental goals.

January 24, 2025 NAPTIP Rescues Nine Pregnant Women from Baby Factory in Abuja

NAPTIP Rescues Nine Pregnant Women from Baby Factory in Abuja

The capital of the country, Abuja, has seen the rescue of nine pregnant women from a baby factory.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) announced on Thursday that its officials had rescued the victims.
The baby factory is located on one of the expansive estates in the Ushafa neighborhood of the Federal Capital Territory, according to a statement from NAPTIP spokesperson Vincent Adekoye.

Adekoye claims that the institution was raided after a concerned individual provided a tip.
According to the statement, "a suspected trafficking agent who has not yet been identified locked up the victims in a rented apartment inside the estate after recruiting them through an online platform."

In the meantime, a well-known Abuja bishop who sexually assaulted a member's daughter in March 2023 was found guilty and sentenced by NAPTIP.
He said that the rapist bishop was given a 20-year prison sentence without the possibility of a fine by a Federal High Court in Gudu, which was presided over by Justice Adebiyi Osolo.
Kenneth Duke, a 52-year-old bishop, is credited with founding a well-known church on the Dantata Zuba Expressway.

In order for his wife to enroll the 12-year-old victim in a skills-acquisition program, he raped her on March 6, one day after she had arrived at his house.

"NAPTIP brought the 52-year-old inmate, a native of Cross River State, to court for raping a 12-year-old girl (name withheld), who was his church member's daughter and was placed in his family's custody.""The defendant was arraigned before Court 16 on 02/11/2023 on a two-count charge for the offense of rape and intentionally causing emotional and psychological abuse on the victim in case no: CR/702/2023 Federal Republic of Nigeria vs. Bishop Kenneth Duke," Adekoya said.
According to Adekoya, Binta Adamu-Bello, the Director-General of NAPTIP, praised the judiciary for the historic ruling.

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