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Alleged N400m fraud: Court cautions I-G in charge against Andy Uba

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A Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja, on Thursday, cautioned the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police in the charge filed against Sen. Andy Uba, and two others, over allegations bordering on N400 million fraud .

Justice Inyang Ekwo gave the warming after I-G’s lawyer, M.C. Anthony, relied on the FHC (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019, in a motion ex-parte filed to seek an order for substituted service of the charge on Uba and his co-defendants.

When the matter was called, Anthony, who announced appearance for the prosecution, told the court that he was holding brief for another counsel.

Justice Ekwo then asked him if he was a private or government lawyer and Anthony responded that he was a government lawyer.

“You cannot hold brief for a government officer in court,” the judge told him.

Justice Ekwo further observed that on Nov. 13, 2024 when the matter was heard, though Anthony appeared in court in company of another lawyer, he did not inform the court that he held a brief of his colleague.

“You were in court on 13th of November, 2024 with Mohammed Gajo,” he said.

When the judge asked him what the ex-parte motion was all about, he said::”My lord, the motion is seeking a leave for substituted service of the charge and other processes on the 1st to 3rd defendants/respondents.”

When the judge asked him under what law was the motion ex-parte brought, he said their application was predicated on Order 6, Rule 5(b), d(I), 5(e), and 8 of the FHC (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019.

The judge, therefore, asked Anthony if the case was a civil or criminal matter, and the lawyer responded that it was a criminal matter.

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Justice Ekwo, then, told him that being heard under the law is supported by the law and that what would authorise him (Anthony) to file the motion should be pursuant to Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.

“So does this apply?” he asked rhetorically.

According to the judge, this is based on law and it is not exercises in vacuum.

“You have to go and put your house in order,” the judge said and adjourned the matter until Feb. 18 for hearing of the motion ex-parte.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the I-G, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, sued Andy, the former Senator representing Anambra South, and two others.

The I-G, in a two-count charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/538/2024 filed before Justice Ekwo, joined Crystal Uba and Benjamin Etu as 2nd and 3rd defendants respectively.

The charge, dated Oct. 8, was filed on Oct. 10 by Abdulrashid Sidi in the Legal/Prosecution Section at the Police Force Headquarters, Abuja.

In count one, Uba, Crystal, Etu and Hajiya Fatima now at large, sometimes in 2022, were alleged to have conspired amongst themselves to commit the offence.

Una and others were accused of obtaining by false pretence, by making a presentation to George Uboh that they had perfected ways for the appointment of the Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to any interested persons who could afford N400 million.

“A presentation which you know is not true and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related offences Act, 2006.”

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In count two, the defendants and Fatima, who is at large, were alleged to have conspired amongst themselves with intention to defraud and induce George Uboh by making a presentation to him that they had perfected way to give an appointment of the post of Managing Directorship of NDDC to any interested person who could afford the sum of N400 million.

The offence is contrary to Section 1 (2) and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related offences Act, 2006,” the count read in part.

Uboh, in a letter dated April 5, 2023, and addressed to the I-G, said the petition was based on documentary and voice recording.

According to Uboh, the evidence is overwhelming and irrefutable.

No fewer than six witnesses had been listed to testify against the ex-lawmaker and others.

Justice Ekwo, in the last adjourned date, had adjourned their arraignment until Feb. 18, 2025.

The adjournment followed a complaint by Anthony, who appeared for the I-G, that the defendants had been evading the service of the court documents despite being given administrative bail.

Anthony told the court that they had been on the matter since 2023.

He said the defendants obtained a fundamental rights enforcement order which had prevented the police from bringing them to court.

The lawyer said it was until after the order was lifted that the defendants were finally charged before the judge.(NAN)

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160 communities face gully erosion threat in Anambra– Official

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The Managing Director of Anambra State Erosion, Watershed and Climate Change Agency (ANSEWCCA), Prof. Philip Phil-Eze, has said no fewer than 160 communities in the state were at the risk of gully erosion menace.

Phil-Eze said this at a one day sensitisation workshop on the use of “Local Knowledge to Combat Erosion” in Awka on Friday.

The workshop was organised by Environment Development Initiative for Africa (EDIA), a non-governmental organization on environmental sustainability in collaboration with ANSEWCCA

Phil-Ez who presented a paper titled “Expanding Interventions in the Control of Soil Erosion in Anambra State Through Local Action” said the state was one of the most degraded and erosion-ravaged landscapes in Africa.

He said soil erosion was as a result of a number of factors including natural and man made, and called for pragmatic local remedial measures and approaches towards preventing the menace by nipping it in the bud.

According to him, 160 communities out of the 179 communities in the state are facing erosion hazards.

“Natural causes of erosion menace include intensity of rainfall, flood/runoff, lithology (loose soil type), topography and scarce vegetation cover.

“Man-made causes include the culture of negligence, cutting down trees, indiscriminate waste disposal, lack of harvesting rainwater, sand mining, modern roofing styles and interlock tiles, inadequate knowledge of the environment, lack of involvement of the local communities in erosion control.

“Others are poor termination of drainage channels, wrongly terminated or diverted channels by contractors during construction, land use patterns in buildings and developments without plans to accommodate erosion and unhealthy farming practice,” he said.

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Phil-Eze warned residents to desist from unhealthy environmental practices which had the potential to exacerbate the menace.

The Director of Research and Publication for EDIA, Prof. Emma Ezenwaji, said the objective of the exercise was to encourage positive behavioral attitude towards environmental sustainability.

He said the capacity building workshop was timely and critical considering the fact that Anambra was a serious concern in terms of erosion, flooding and other environmental hazards.

According to him, this event is engaging, interactive and participatory to ensure effective transfer of needed knowledge and skills.

Commissioner for Environment, Dr Felix Odimegwu, commended the organisers of the programme which he described as ‘a timely intervention’.

Odimegwu who was represented by Mr Tochukwu Obodogha, the Permanent Secretary, said prevention was the best approach in erosion control.

According to him, the administration of Prof. Chukwuma Soludo prioritises environmental sustainability, and the ministry would continue to encourage environmental best practices in the state. (NAN)

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Troops nab 49 suspected crude oil thieves, destroy 22 illegal refining sites – DHQ

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The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says the troops of Operation Delta Safe, have in the last one week apprehended 49 perpetrators of oil theft and destroyed 22 illegal refining sites.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Markus Kangye, made this known in a weekly report of ongoing military operations by the Armed Forces of Nigeria, on Friday in Abuja.

Kangye said the troops had during the week foiled oil theft worth an estimated sum of N869.2m.

The breakdown, according to him, indicates 325,990 litres of stolen crude oil, 24,645 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and 19,500 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and 1,600 litres of engine oil were recovered.

“Additionally, troops discovered and destroyed 86 crude oil cooking ovens, 181 dugout pits, 25 boats, a speedboat, 18 storage tanks, 316 drums and 22 illegal refining sites.

“Other items recovered include generator set, jack, galvanised pipes, pumping machines, drilling machines, tricycles, motorcycles, mobile phones and 18 vehicles,” he said.

Kangye said the military, in collaboration with other security agencies, had continued to demonstrate bravery, discipline, and professionalism in the face of evolving security threats.

He said the troops neutralised several insurgents, rescued hostages, apprehended suspects, and recovered arms and ammunition during the week.

“Our operations have continued across various theatres of operations comprising the North East, North West, North Central South-South and other regions where criminals seek to disrupt peace and stability.

“Troops remain committed to their constitutional responsibility of safeguarding the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of Nigeria, as well as ensuring the safety and security of all citizens.

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“Between April 3 and April 10, troops recovered huge quantities of assorted arms including various kinds of machine guns, RPG tubes, automatic weapons as well as locally fabricated guns and Improvised Explosive Devices.

“Additionally, a huge cache of assorted 7.62mm and 9mm ammunition, as well as live cartridges were also recovered,” he said. (NAN)

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2 out of 445 mass housing developers met FCTA conditions – Official

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Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has said only two out of the 445 mass housing allocations met its terms and conditions.

Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the FCT Minister, Mr Lere Olayinka, disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja on Friday.

Olayinka said that the Mass Housing Programme was initiated in 2000 as public-private partnership (PPP) approach to providing affordable housing for FCT residents.

He, however, said that from the inception of the programme till date, out of the 445 mass housing allocations granted, only two developers had successfully met the terms and conditions.

Olayinka stated that a new operational framework for titling of mass housing and sectional interests had been developed to make the exercise efficient, effective and diligent.

This, according to him, is in line with the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike’s vision to restore confidence in the administration of lands in the FCT.

“Currently, the holders and occupiers of properties within the various mass housing estates in the FCT do not pay bills, rents, fees and charges to the government.

“This is despite having held and occupied properties for decades.

“To address the problem, the FCT minister had recognised the urgent need to issue titles to the beneficiaries of mass housing and sectional interests.

“All applications for titling are to be made by the subscribers and developers to the Department of Land Administration for processing,” he said.

The spokesman said that the processing of titles for mass housing and sectional interests would commence on April 21, in line with the new operational framework.

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He explained that the measure was part of the broad and comprehensive reforms on land administration in the FCT, as approved by the minister.

Olayinka said that the reforms, which would become operational from April 21, would cover specific areas like conditions of grant of statutory Right of Occupancy (RofO) and contents of the statutory RofO bill.

Others, he said, would include contents of Letter of Acceptance/Refusal of offer of grant of RofO, titling of mass housing and sectional interests as well as regularisation of area council land documents.

The crux of the sweeping reforms in the FCT land administration, according to him, is to ensure regularisation of land allocation in area councils and the title of mass housing properties in favour of buyers.

He added that land allottees were also expected to develop their allocated land within two years.

On his part, the Director of Land Administration, FCTA Chijioke Nwankwoeze, said that the development would be very beneficial to house owners in estates.

Nwankwoeze pointed out that people with mass housing documents cannot use the documents for any business transaction aside just owning the houses.

“In the coming months, you will see housing owners in the various estates in FCT holding Certificates of Occupancy issued by FCTA,” he said. (NAN)

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