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The trial of Resorts Express Concept Nigeria Limited before Justice D. U. Okorowo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, continued today, Tuesday, January 10, 2023, with the prosecution counsel Bala Sanga, presenting the first witness. Resorts Express Concept Nigeria Limited is facing trial alongside Directors of the Company, Giovanna Beccarelli and Corrado Fantoli, (both currently at large) on an eight count-charge bordering on money laundering and failure to comply with the money laundering requirements At today’s trial, prosecution counsel, Bala Sanga, informed the court that the prosecution was ready to commence examination in chief with the first witness, Ibinabo Mary Amachree, a staff of the EFCC and deputy director, Special Control Unit against Money Laundering, SCUML The witness informed the court that on October 25, 2021, they received a letter from the EFCC requesting to know the compliance status of the defendant. The witness informed the court that on October 28, 2021, they resp

Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has stated that if he is re-elected as governor, the state will experience more positive developments under the Omituntun 2.0 mantra. The governor, who stated this while addressing party faithful in Ogbomosoland maintained that he has delivered on his promises to the people of Ogbomoso, adding that he will consolidate on the achievements so far recorded when re-elected on March 11, 2023. The governor, who spoke at Oja-Igbo in Ogbomoso, Ahorodada, Tewure , Olokoto and Ikoyi-Ile in Oriire local government areas, on Monday and Tuesday, urged the residents of Ogbomoso North,Ogbomoso South and Oriire local councils to vote for him and the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogbomosoland in the National Assembly and state Assembly elections. A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted the governor as saying that he would do more if re-elected on March 11, 2023.  The governor, while addressing a massive c

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, 10 January, 2023, expressed displeasure with  the antics of counsel to Trinity Biotech Nigeria Limited, Michael Ajara, accusing him of attempting to delay trial. Trinity Biotech Nigeria Limited, one of the over thirty companies associated with $9.6b Process and Industrial Development, P&ID, fraud, is facing a six count amended charge bordering on money laundering and failure to comply with the money laundering requirements alongside directors of the company: James Nolan(at large), Adam Quinn(at large) and Gerrard Nash(also at large) , before Justice D.U. Okorowo of the Federal High Court Abuja. At the resumed hearing today, defence counsel, Michael Ajara approached the court to order the prosecution counsel to avail the defence with the processes of the trial and adjourned the matter to enable them to get acquainted with the case. But prosecuting counsel, Bala Sanga prayed the court to discountenance the submission of

The Conflict Research Network, West Africa (CORN West Africa) on Tuesday alerted the federal government and security agencies that terrorism will threaten the conduct of 2023 elections in northeast Nigeria except proactive context specific security plan is designed for the zone. This was part of the recommendations given at the Conflict Research Network (CORN) West Africa Research Colloquium webinar themed “Nigeria Decides 2023: Conducting Elections in Context of Political Violence and State Fragility”.   Conflict Research Network West Africa (CORN West Africa) is a knowledge platform and academic community for scholars based in institutions in West Africa who are working in the field of peace, security, and political violence with a growing network of more than 150 members across 35 institutions in West Africa.   Speaking on the topic, “Election amid Terror: Terrorism and the 2023 Elections in Nigeria’s North East”, Dr Babayo Sule of the Department of International Relations, Federal

The Gwagwalada Division of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has ordered court processes to be served on Olori Halimat Tejuosho and her company, Haleems Nigeria Limited, for allegedly defrauding her financier of N436.3m earmarked for the execution of a building contract awarded by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs. Upon securing a contract for construction of 500 units of houses at Karshi FCT, Abuja, in May 2021, Ms Tejuosho approached Emmanuel Suku to partner with her as a financier and asked him for an initial advance fee of N300m and another N136.3m paid in tranches to her personal and company accounts. According to Suku, he was entitled to 30 per cent of the contract deal valued at N4.47 billion per the agreement of his partnership contained in a police investigation report. He was aghast when he eventually discovered the project had been at a standstill through a WhatsApp video call he had with his brothers at the site. "That no work has been done on the pro

Hoodlums who claimed to be masterminds for the kidnap of 31 Edo train passengers on Saturday have allegedly demanded N620m ransom for their release. Benson Odia, an activist and Executive Director, Esan Youth for Good Governance and Social Justice, said the kidnappers made their demands on Monday and that they want N20 million for each victim. “I can tell you that the kidnappers have demanded N20m, totalling N620m. This is absurd and I don’t know where poor people will be able to raise that amount of money,” he told PUNCH. But the spokesman of Edo State Police Command, Chidi Nwabuzor, could not confirm it. Odia’s claim came before the Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, disclosed that six victims had been rescued out of 31. The commissioner said in a statement, “Following the directive from Governor Godwin Obaseki that the kidnappers that attacked the train in Igueben on Saturday be smoked out of their hiding and the persons abducted be rescued, w

All Progressives Congress Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has strongly condemned Saturday's abduction of train passengers in Edo State.  Tinubu, in a press statement through his Media Office, described the abduction of  31 passengers who were waiting to board train at Igueben Station to Warri as another sad episode in the security challenges facing the country, Tinubu said Nigeria would prevail against the agents of darkness. The APC Presidential candidate sympathised with the victims who are still held captive by the attackers and urged the Federal Government, Edo State Government and Local authorities to work with the security agencies on quick action to secure the release of all the victims. "I condemn the mindless attack and abduction of innocent train passengers in Edo State by terrorists on Saturday. From available information, the security agencies are working hard to rescue the victims. I urge more collaborative efforts by the Federal Government, Edo

Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, founder of African Movie Academy Awards, AMAA, is dead. According to reports, she passed away at St. Nicolas Hospital in Lagos after falling into a coma on Saturday. A popular filmmaker Zik Zulu broke the news. Few of other colleagues of the deceased who visited her in the hospital couldn't believe the sad news. They maintained she was merely in the ICU. “Our President, Peace, has passed. As at Saturday, she was reported to be in coma at Saint Nicholas. But now her family has confirmed her transition. May the memory of her life be a blessing. Rest in peace, dear Peace, Zik Zulu writes on a Nollywood platform. Award-winning producer, Obi Emelonye also confirmed her passing-on on his social media handles even though the family was trying to be courteous with releasing the information. Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, in her lifetime, wasn't only the founder of AMAA Awards, she was also president of the Association of Movie Producers (AMP). Her contributions to the indust