I governed Abia with my money - Orji Kalu

Orji Kalu, former governor of Abia, says the state never had the alleged N7.6bn he was accused of laundering when he was governor between 1999 and 2007.
In his testimony at a federal high court in Lagos on Tuesday, the former governor said he governed the state with his own money in the first six months of his assumption.

He is standing trial alongside Ude Udeogu, an ex-commissioner for finance in Abia and Slok Nigeria Limited, his company, bordering on money laundering to the tune of N7.6 billion.

Kalu, who is the chief whip of the senate, allegedly committed the offence between August 2001 and October 2005 while in office as governor.

Responding to a question from Awa Kalu, his lawyer, during cross-examination, the former governor said there was no way he could have stolen “what was not in existence”.

He said it was difficult for him to run the state with the allocations from the federal government, adding that he spent his own money to run Abia for the first six months.

“Abia state didn’t have such amount. Even the day I was leaving, we borrowed money to pay salaries. Abia state didn’t have even a billion naira in any account at the time I was governor,” Kalu said.

“The monthly allocation of Abia state when I took over in June 1999 was N168 million. It was averaging between N168 million and N172 million monthly. The first month that I came in, there was even no money to buy diesel. I spent my own money to run the state for six months.

“In the year 2000, monthly allocation was between N170 million and N189 million. In 2001, it came to about N302 million to about N380 million. I can recollect in 2002, it was almost the same and in 2003 when the revenue allocation was changed, we were having about N400 million.

“The highest money I got as governor came from 2004 when we had about N1 billion and from that time up till May 2007 before I left, what we had was N1.6 billion.

“Throughout my stay in office, I never owed salary and pension. When I took over as governor and before I left, we moved it up to N500 million. It was from this that we were able to do a lot of things.”

Pastor Biodun in police custody over rape allegations

Detectives are presently questioning the founder of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly, Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo, over the rape allegations levelled against him by Busola, a photographer and wife of popular singer, Timi Dakolo.

The Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba, said this during an interview with The PUNCH on Tuesday.

Responding to a question, Mba said, “Yes, he is in our custody.”

When asked if the pastor was being detained, the Force spokesman said it was too early to say.

He also said the investigation of Fatoyinbo was proof that the police had not swept the matter under the carpet as was being insinuated in some quarters.

When asked why it took so long for the pastor to be invited, Mba said the police wanted to get statements from several witnesses and then build a solid case before inviting him.

The police spokesman said, “We have done a whole lot of background investigations and spoken to a whole lot of people before now. It was a deliberate investigative procedure to bring him last. Although we may invite others later depending on how investigations go.

“We were not in a hurry to bring him because we wanted to have enough background information that would be used in interrogating him. We have done an extensive investigation.”

Mrs. Dakolo accused him of raping her 20 years ago while she was still a teenager.

EFCC speaks on Oyo-Ita probe

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, is not influencing ongoing investigation of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita.

EFCC’s spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said this in a statement in Abuja on Monday.

The EFCC is investigating Mrs Oyo-Ita over alleged N3 billion contract scam, abuse of duty tour allowance, money laundering, among others.

According to Mr Uwujaren, “the attention of the EFCC, has been drawn to reports by a section of the media”.

“The reports are insinuating that the ongoing investigation of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation by the commission was instigated by Chief of Staff to the President, Alhaji Abba Kyari.

“The commission wishes to state that there is no truth in these claims, and urges the public to disregard the reports as the handiwork of mischief makers.

“For the avoidance of doubt, investigation by the EFCC is evidence-based.

“Most often, they are triggered by petitions or intelligence.

“In the case of the HoS, Oyo-Ita’s investigation, it was prompted by intelligence received by the commission,” he said.

Mr Uwujaren further said that the EFCC was an independent agency created by law to fight corruption without fear or favour.

“In the discharge of its mandate, the commission does not take instructions from extraneous bodies neither will it lend itself to be used to settle scores by anyone.

“The commission again wishes to appeal to the media to be circumspect in their reportage and not lend themselves to actions that can befuddle the activities of the commission,” he said.

NAN

EFCC arrests 33 suspected internet fraudsters in Imo

Thirty three suspected internet fraudsters were on Monday August 26 2019, arrested at their hideout in an early morning operation by Operatives of the Abuja and Enugu Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in Owerri,  Imo State.

The suspects are Clinton Emere, Obinna Okonkwo, Ogochukwu Ogbonna, Joseph Udom Kousin, Prince Ewunone, Franklin Michael, Tolli Ameiche, Anderson, Berthel, David Franklin, Aboi Etealu, Chinubu Nwosu, Marizu Chidiebere, Dominic Terry Joseph, Christopher Nwosu, Peter Gift Uche, Edinalo Ifeanyichukwu , Ndubuisi Ikenna, John Frank, Anowe Precious, Joseph Levi Chima, Samuel Oria, Tochi Mmerom, Chimezia Cleansman, Okonkwo Obinna, Uchendu Gift, Nkwodi Nnamdi, Izywa Munachi, Ekone Aniche, Opara Donald, Aniche Tochukwu, Anelka Okon and Ebizien Franklin Udochukwu.

Items recovered from them include laptop computers, mobile phones, 2 Lexus RX350 SUV and a Toyota Solara salon car.

The suspects have made useful statements and will be charged to court as soon as investigation is completed.

NYSC DG tells corps members to inter-marry

Ibrahim made the call on Monday when he paid an unscheduled visit to the NYSC permanent orientation camp in Wamakko, Sokoto State.

The NYSC DG made the call when he inspected the camp facilities and interacted with corps members, staff and military personnel deployed to train corps members.

Ibrahim reminded the corps members that the main objective of the scheme was to promote unity among Nigerian youths especially graduates.

He warned corps members against the use of social media fake news and hate speeches.

Ibrahim called on them make use of social media to spread good news and not bring hatred and disunity.

“You should see your selves as one family irrespective of where you come from, establish the sprit of oneness right from the orientation camp and if possible marry your selves,’’ he said.

According to him, NYSC always encourage marriages among corps members especially inter tribe marriage adding that the headquarters will support any inter tribe marriages.

He assured corps members of their welfare and safety throughout their stay in the state.

”We work hand in hand with all  security agencies to ensure your security is guaranteed”, he said.

Ibrahim cautioned corps members against incessant unauthorised journeys  and warned them that no corps member was  allowed to travel without the consent of the management.

“If you have reason to travel seek the consent of your state coordinator and your employer’’ the DG warned corps members.

He further urged all corps members to take all camp activities especially skills acquisition programs seriously in order to become employers of labour after their service year.

Ibrahim expressed satisfaction over the cleanliness and condition of the camp and urged authorities to sustain it. (NAN)

Stop using security agencies to silence Nigerians, Soyinka tells FG

Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, has asked the Federal Government and the security agencies to stop trying to muzzle Nigerians anytime they come together to exchange ideas.

He stated that such a step could signal fear on the part of government and that such reduces the people and the government itself.

The News Agency of Nigeria reported that Soyinka spoke in Badagry on Saturday at the unveiling of an art gallery in commemoration of his 85th birthday.

The police, Nigerian Army and the Department of State Services on Monday in Lagos sealed off the venue for a symposium where Soyinka, rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, and others were to speak on the security issues in the country.

Police vehicles were positioned around the venue located at Oregun, Lagos. The programme tagged ‘Democracy, state repression and the state of insecurity in Nigeria’, was organised by Coalition for Revolution.

But speaking on Saturday, Soyinka, who thanked Femi Coker Art Gallery in Badagry for organising the event, said, “It is important to send strong message to this government and to the security services to stop trying to muzzle people when they come together to exchange ideas.

“You’re reducing them as human beings and you’re also reducing yourselves as human beings, because it means you’re afraid to listen.”

Soyinka also cautioned Nigerians not to believe everything they read on social media. He said they should instead take such online materials “with a pinch of salt.

He said, “Be very, very careful what you believe even when you read such materials in social media or sometimes in newspapers because in this country, we have a most fertile multiplier effect.

Man loses wife to pastor who wedded them

John Kanyua, a businessman in Kenya, has lost his wife to the pastor who presided over his wedding.

According to NAIROBI NEWS, Leah Wambui, his wife, had reportedly fled with the pastor, abandoning a 26-year union that produce five children.

The newspaper said the relationship between the duo began when Kanyua and his wife started attending the pastor’s Joy Springs Church in Juja farm, Kiambu county in the state, and that the pastor appointed Wambui an assistant pastor.

Agnes Wangivi, the pastor’s wife of 34 years and mother of three, had rejected the appointment, all to no avail.

“I strongly objected the appointment, but he was determined to have his way. I confronted Leah and threatened her not to play games with my husband. She looked innocent, and I gave in,” she said.

Wangivi said the bond between the duo blossomed and the pastor began to invite Wambui for family dinners, in the absence of her husband.

“This is when I started questioning their friendship. I confronted Kanyua to keep his wife away from my husband, but he seemed blindfolded. My husband developed cold feet on his family and ran away to Leah in 2015,” she said.

Kanyua narrated that the matter got out of hand when the pastor would visit his house in the morning and spend the entire day locked with his wife inside the house.

He said it was at the time that he sought interventions from the local administration and members of the clergy.

The businessman vowed to take actions in order to get his family back from the pastor.

“This fueled the issue further as the pastor later ran away with my wife and children and rented a house in a nearby market where they live,” he said.

“This is unacceptable and I wouldn’t sit back and watch someone take my family. If the government does not intervene, I will choose my ways. It has taken me a lot to grow the family all those years. I will not allow the wedding to continue. I can also seek legal redress. Let her stop soiling her name and ask for forgiveness, then I will take her back.”

Meanwhile, Wambui’s parents had reportedly contacted Kanyua to accept repayment of the dowry he paid to them, to pave way for the new wedding of their daughter, an offer he refused.