EFCC INTERCEPTS $2.8M FROM TWO MONEY LAUNDERERS AT ENUGU AIRPORT

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday intercepted $2.8million from two people suspected to be money launderers at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

This was disclosed in a statement issued by the EFCC acting spokesman, Tony Orilade, and made available to newsmen.

He said, “the suspects, namely Ighoh Augustine and Ezekwe Emmanuel, allegedly working for a company: Bankers Warehouse, were nabbed based on intelligence report.”

EFCC said upon their arrests, they were caught with consignments of two suitcases, containing $1.4 million each, totalling $2.8 million, at the departure lounge of the airport while about to board an Arik Air evening flight to Lagos.

The statement read, “During interrogation, the suspects confessed that they have been in the business of conveying cash for “some notable banks”, for over six years and were in the process of doing same for Union Bank Plc, located at New Market, Onitsha, Anambra State, when they were caught.

“the suspects further confessed that they had so far carried out such assignments, “four times this year.

“They are presently giving useful information to operatives of the Commission, and will be charged to court soon.”

POLICE DECLARES MELAYE WANTED OVER ATTEMPTED HOMICIDE

Senator Dino Melaye, has officially been declared wanted and placed under arrest by the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, for attempted culpable homicide.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Ag. DCP, Jimoh Moshood, which was sent to Post-Nigeria, on Friday evening.

The statement reads in full:

SENATOR DINO MELAYE IS BEING ARRESTED BY THE POLICE, TO ANSWER TO THE CASE OF ATTEMPTED CULPABLE HOMICIDE, ON THE SHOOTING OF A POLICE OFFICER, SGT. DANJUMA SALIU, WHILE ON DUTY, BY SENATOR DINO MELAYE AND HIS ARMED THUGS, IN KOGI STATE, ON 19th JULY, 2018.

The Police Operatives currently at the residence of Senator Dino Melaye, are to effect his arrest, to answer to the case of attempted culpable homicide, on the shooting of a Police Officer, Sgt. Danjuma Saliu, attached to 37 Police Mobile Force (PMF), while on duty at a stop and search point, along Aiyetoro Gbede, Mopa road, in Kogi State.

The above offence was committed by Senator Dino Melaye and his armed thugs, in Kogi State, on 19th July, 2018, when they shot and wounded a Police Officer, Sgt. Danjuma Saliu, attached to 37 Police Mobile Force (PMF), while on duty at a stop and search point along Aiyetoro Gbede, Mopa road, in Kogi State. The Police Officer is yet to recover from the gunshot injury he sustained during the attack, and still under intensive medical care.

The Police Investigators have written the Clerk of the National Assembly, for Senator Dino Melaye to report at the Kogi State Police Command, CIID, Lokoja, for him to answer to these offences against him under investigation at the Kogi State Police Command, but he has bluntly refused to report himself to the Police.

The Police Operatives will continue to be in wait at the residence of Senator Dino Melaye, until he surrenders himself for arrest. The offence for which Senator Dino Melaye is being investigated is capital in nature, and not compoundable.

The Force will not tolerate attack on its Personnel, by any individual, no matter how highly placed. The law must take its course.

Members of the public will be kept informed on further development in the investigation of the matter.

Ag. DCP JIMOH MOSHOOD FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER FORCE HEADQUARTERS ABUJA.

Arik Air Notification of Flight disruption 

Posted by Lateef Lawal

Arik Air said that there would be a slight disruption of its flight during the Christmas period.

This was contained in a statement issued by the airline yesterday.

The development has been attributed to some operational issues and adverse weather conditions in the coastal areas, especially Benin, Enugu, Asaba and Warri.

The airline said:"Therefore some flights may either be rescheduled or cancelled, subject to aircraft and airport closure time constraints". 

"We regret the inconveniences this disruption will cause our customers and want to assure them of our sincere efforts to reducing the impact to the barest minimum. 

"Our staff shall contact customers affected by this disruption, making alternative arrangements for them or refunds as the case may be. 

"Arik wishes to assure that it considers the safety of customers and crew as paramount. Arik will therefore only operate safe and secure flights. All hands are also on deck to make all flight experiences pleasurable", the statement concluded.

Tina Beloveth Powerful: Fraudster forms new college in Nigeria.

Tina Beloveth Powerful has been on the run since she failed to turn up for sentencing after being found guilty of fraud at Milton Keynes Magistrates' Court.

A fraudster who skipped court bail after being found guilty of running a bogus business school has started a similar venture in Nigeria.

Tina Beloveth Powerful, 50, who was found guilty of fraud and false advertising in July 2015, claims the case against her was later expunged.

She unexpectedly contacted the BBC to back Theresa May in the Conservative leadership contest on Wednesday night.

Thames Valley Police confirmed a warrant for her arrest was outstanding.

Nothing had been heard of Powerful since June 2016 when she claimed she wanted to be Nigeria's first female president.

On Wednesday, she contacted a BBC reporter on Facebook from Nigeria, wishing them a "Merry Christmas" and saying Mrs May should be given time to "finish what she has started".

Powerful then claimed she had been given a "police discharge certificate" clearing her of her case.

She added she would return to Milton Keynes, where she was "one of the builders of the local community".

When Powerful sent the BBC a copy of the document, it was actually a "notification of decision to release without charge" relating to her arrest for failing to turn up at court for sentencing.

Powerful said she was now "championing the cause of good leadership in Nigeria and beyond".

The BBC discovered she is running a new business school in the Nigerian city of Enugu.

Powerful ran her fraudulent Everest School of Transformational Management from her flat in Milton Keynes

Powerful first came to prominence in 2013, when her Havard School was sued by American university Harvard.

The case was settled out of court, but a BBC investigation found the school, which changed its name to the Everest School of Transformational Management, was offering courses without the correct accreditation.

Milton Keynes Council Trading Standards launched its own investigation, resulting in Powerful being found guilty of "dishonesty".

She failed to turn up to court for sentencing three times before leaving the country.

The BBC discovered she formed another business school in Bedford while on trial.

The BBC asked Thames Valley Police what was being done to bring Powerful to justice, but the force had not replied at the time of writing.

President Buhari warns Governor Amosun against anti-party activities

President Muhammadu Buhari has reportedly warned Governor Ibikunle Amosun to desist from anti-party activities as details of their meeting have emerged. 

The duo met on Monday, December 10, in Abuja and according to Daily Independent, the president sternly warned the Ogun governor not to engage in activities that may affect the party. 

The president reportedly frowned at Amosun’s statement that while he would support the All progressives Congress (APC) in the presidential election, he will not support the candidate of the party, Dapo Abiodun, in the gubernatorial contest. 

President Buhari reportedly told Amosun that he requires total loyalty from him urging him to learn to sacrifice personal interest for the collective interest of the party.

Abdulsalami Abubakar Adekunle Akinlade who is Amosun’s preferred governorship candidate left the APC for the Allied People’s Movement (APM), a move Governor Amosun endorsed. 

According to source, “From the feelers we got, the president did not mince words in telling Governor Amosun that as the national leader of the party, he will not support any form of anti-party activities. 

He told the governor that he cannot put one leg in APC by saying he will support him, while putting another leg in APM declaring support for another governorship candidate.

“The president told him he cannot claim to be working for the APC while all his foot soldiers have left for the APM and the governor also gave them maximum support.

“From what we are getting, this is the president’s final warning to Governor Amosun as the party’s campaign will kick off soon. Don’t also forget that the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) has since penciled down the governor for punishment after rebuffing the reconciliation meeting set up to reconcile aggrieved members.”

Another source said Amosun was in a dilemma about whether to support APC or APM. “I believe the governor is in a dilemma now and we expect him to make a very important decision in the coming days." 

Meanwhile, the APC governorship candidate in Ogun state, Dapo Abiodun, on Tuesday, December 11, said Governor Ibikunle Amosun will be part of his campaign team, in spite of his (Amosun) grouses against the party. 

Abiodun stated this while addressing a press conference at his Iperu-Remo home, where he presented his running mate, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, and his manifesto for the 2019 governorship contest. 

He said: “Of course, the governor of Ogun state is the leader  the party. And when I am flagging off my campaign, it is the incumbent governor that would help me flag it off. I don’t have any doubt in my mind that the issues of misunderstanding would be resolved soon. 

“I am sure the governor of Ogun state will help me in flagging off my campaign. And I am sure he will raise my hands up as the governorship standard bearer of the party in the state.”

 

OPC NEC ENDORSES OSINBOTE, NEW NATIONAL PRESIDENT

Prince Osinbote, New National President, Oodua People's Congress(OPC).

The National Executive Council(NEC) members of the Oodua People's Congress(OPC) yesterday formally endorsed Prince Osibote Oodua as the new President of the  sociocultural group after the demise of the erstwhile founder and life president, Dr Frederick Isiotan Fasehun last Saturday, 1, December, 2018.

His endorsement came about after members of the NEC exhaustively his candidacy and his antecedents in the development of the Congress in the past. 

The NEC meeting held at the Century Hotel, Okota was Chaired by the Deputy President, Alhaji Wasiu Afolabi, who national executives on the choice of Prince Osinbote, popularly called " Osin-Koboko " by the late Dr Fasehun.

It was after the discussions that a motion for his endorsement was moved by the 1st Vice President of the Congress, Comrade Lateef Lawal and seconded by the National Financial Secretary, Alhaji Kazeem Lawal. All NEC members subsequently adopted the motion and the Deputy President, Alhaji Wasiu Afolabi a.k.a Askari, proclaimed Prince Osinbote as the new National President of OPC.

Prince Osinbote who is a native of Ijebu-Ife, Ogun State is an astute businessman.

He was later introduced to State Chairmen and their executives from Lagos State, Ogun State, Oyo State, Osun State, Edo State, Kwara, Ondo state, Ekiti State and Kano State including other members of the Congress who were present.

In his short acceptance speech, the new President commended members of the national executive council of OPC who believed in his leadership capability by endorsing him to lead the Congress after the demise of Dr Fasehun last Saturday.

He enjoined all the leaders of the Congress from Zonal, Local Government, States and National levels to ensured the continued entrenchment of discipline among the rank and file of the Congress including respect for contituted authorities at all levels as laid down by the late founder, Dr Frederick Fasehun.

He also assured that with the support of all members of OPC, in pursuance of the ideals of the organization, he would not rest on his oarse in taking the Congress to higher heights.

Press Release by Comrade Lateef Lawal, 1st Vice President (Administration), OPC