…Remands Goje, 4 Others In Prison Pending Meeting N200 Million Bail

A federal high court sitting in Lafia, Nasarawa state has ordered a former governor of the state, Aliyu Akwe Doma and eigth other accused arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC over money laundering charges to be remanded in the Commission’s custody till tomorrow.

The order by the court presided over by Justice Marcel Awokulehin followed bail applications filed by counsel to all the accused and the counter application filed by the lead prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro,SAN opposing the bail bid.

The former Nasarawa governor was docked today, Tuesday October 18, 2011 on a 17 count criminal charge of laundering stolen state funds totalling over N15 billion. He was arraigned along with Senator John Dangoyi, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, Timothy Anthony Anjide, Dauda Egwa, Suleiman Ibrahim, Broworks Ltd and Green Forest Investment Ltd while charges filed against two other accused, John Aigbakhode and Incapint Nig Ltd who are still at large were stepped down.

At about 9.30am, the accused brought in from Abuja under heavy security by EFCC operatives were called into the dock to take their plea. One after the other, they all pleaded not quilty to the charges after which the defence team led by Lateef Fagbemi, Charles Edomosoran and M.I. Ameh, all SANs informed the court of their pending applications for bail for the accused.

In his response, the prosecution counsel, Pinheiro informed the court that he was served 10 applications between Monday and today, and as such would need the court to step down for three hours to enable him file his response opposing all the bail applications. The trial judge aligned with the position of the prosecution after which the court went on a recess and resumed sitting at 2pm.

At the resumed sitting, the prosecution filed his application opposing the request by the accused to be granted bail. Justice Awokulehin who had earlier assured both the prosecution and the defence of his preparedness to give the case expeditious trial, thereafter adjourned to Wednesday October 19, 2011 when he would rule on the applications and counter applications filed by both sides in the case.

He therefore ordered that all the accused be returned to the EFCC custody in Abuja.While the court session was ongoing, hundereds of youths gathered in two camps metres away from the court premises armed with placards and chanting anti and pro Doma songs. There were however hundreds of security agents including soldiers, SSS and police on ground to contain them.

Some of the charges against Doma and others read: “That you Aliyu Akwe Doma (Former Governor of Nasarawa state), Timothy Anthony Anjide and Dauda Egwa between January 2007 and December 2009, in Lafia, Nasarawa State within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court converted the sum of N5, 000, 000,000 (Five Billion naira Only) property of Nasarawa state Government being proceeds of an illicit act to wit: Concealing its illicit origin and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 14(1)(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2004 and punishable under Section 14(1) of the same Act.

Count 2 “That you Aliyu Akwe Doma (Former Governor of Nasarawa state), Timothy Anthony Anjide and Dauda Egwa between January 2009 and December 2009, in Lafia Nasarawa state within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court converted the sum of N1, 000, 000,000 (One Billion naira Only) property of Nasarawa state Government being proceeds of an illicit act to wit: Concealing its illicit origin and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 14(1)(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2004 and punishable under Section 14(1) of the same Act”

Count 3 “That you Aliyu Akwe Doma (Former Governor of Nasarawa state), Timothy Anthony Anjide and Dauda Egwa between January 2010 and December 2010, in Lafia Nasarawa state within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court converted the sum of N274,000,000 (Two hundred and Seventy four million) property of Nasarawa state Government being proceeds of an illicit act to wit: Concealing its illicit origin and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 14(1)(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2004 and punishable under Section 14(1) of the same Act”

Meanwhile, a former governor of Gombe State, Senator Danjuma Goje, and four others who are facing an 18 count charge of money laundering and diversion of public funds preferred against him by the EFCC, was on Tuesday, October 18, 2011, admitted to bail on stringent conditions by a Federal High Court, sitting in Gombe.

In his ruling on the bail application, Justice Babatunde Quadri said that all the five accused persons are to present two sureties each in the sum of N200 million. The sureties are also to have properties in the metropolis of Gombe and the properties which must be supported with a letter from the Ministry of Land must be free from any encumbrance. The court also ruled that the sureties who must also deposit their international passport with the Court Registrar must be able to produce three years Tax Clearance. They are however to be remanded in prison custody until the fulfillment of the bail conditions.

The other four accused persons   arraigned with Goje are; Alhaji Sabo Mohammed Tumu, former  Gombe State Government House food supplier; Alhaji Aliyu Ubadone El-Nafaty former Executive Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board, Gombe; S. M. DOKORO;  proprietor of S. M. Dokoro and M. Dokoro Gombe.

…As Ex-Governor Withdraws No-Case Application.

A former governor of Gombe State, Senator Danjuma Goje, on Monday, October 17, 2011 bowed to the superior arguments of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, as he hurriedly withdrew an application to quash an 18 count charge preferred against him by the Commission based on the ruling of a Federal High Court sitting in Gombe asking him to defer his bail application until the consideration of his no-case submission.

Counsel to the EFCC, Wahab Shittu, told the court that bail application for Goje and four others arraigned over the charges bordering on abuse of office;  awarding contracts without budget provision and obtaining by false pretence and misappropriation to the tune of N52 billion, should not be heard since “ he has brought an application before the court seeking the quashing of the charges imputed to him”.

Counsel to Goje and his co-accused, Adeniyi Akintola, SAN, had approached the court with two applications: one for the quashing of the charges preferred against them and the other for bail. However, he became thoroughly flustered by the argument of the EFCC counsel who insisted that consideration for bail should not be placed before the court simultaneously with a no-case submission.

The other four accused persons   arraigned with Goje are; Alhaji Sabo Mohammed Tum, former  Gombe State Government House food supplier; Alhaji Aliyu Ubadone El-Nafaty former Executive Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board, Gombe; S. M. DOKORO;  proprietor of S. M. Dokoro and M. Dokoro Gombe.

The five accused persons were docked before Justice Babatunde Quadri for offences ranging from conspiracy to obtain by false pretence contrary to section 8 of the advance fee fraud and other related offences act, concealing the genuine ownership of two properties in London and conspiracy to award contract/awarding contract without budget provision; an offence which is punishable under section 22 (4) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.

The five accused persons however pleaded not guilty to the charges when it was read to them. Counsel to EFCC, Wahab Shittu then asked the court to fix a date for their trial. However, counsel to the accused persons,  Adeniyi Akintola, after withdrawing the first application for the quashing of charges preferred against Goje, told the court that he had filed an application for bail. 

 In his ruling, Justice Quadri adjourned the case till tomorrow, October 18^th, 2011 for ruling on the bail application. He then ordered that the accused persons be remanded in the custody of the State Security Service, SSS.

Some of the charges  against them read :

Count 1.

COUNT ONE That you, ALHAJI DANJUMA GOJE ‘M’, former Executive Governor of Gombe State, Nigeria; sometimes between May 2003 and May 2011, in Gombe within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, with attempt to convert, conspired with others to conceal or disguise the sum of N5, 000,000,000.00 (Five Billion Naira only) property of Gombe State Government, which was, or in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, represented proceeds of an illegal act, contrary to Section 17 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition Act) 2004 and also punishable under Section 14 of the same Act as amended, modified and retained under Sections 15, 16, 17, 18 & 19 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (As Amended).

COUNT TWO That you, ALHAJI DANJUMA GOJE ‘M’, former Executive Governor of Gombe State, Nigeria sometimes between May 2003 and May 2011, in Gombe, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, committed an offence to wit: converted the sum of N5, 000,000,000.00, (Five Billion Naira only) property of the Gombe State Government and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 14 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition Act) 2004 and also punishable under section 14 of the same Act as amended, modified and retained under Sections 15, 16, 17, 18 & 19 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (As Amended).

COUNT THREE That you ALHAJI DANJUMA GOJE ‘M’, former Executive Governor of Gombe State, Nigeria; ALHAJI SABO MOHAMMED TUMU ‘M’ being Gombe State Government House food supplier; and others, between May 2003 and May 2011 within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, with attempt to convert, conspired among yourselves and others to conceal or disguise the sum of N1, 920,000,000.00 (One Billion, Nine Hundred & Twenty Million Naira only) property of Gombe State Government, which was, or in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, represented proceeds of an illegal act, contrary to Section 17 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition Act) 2004 and also punishable under Section 14 of the same Act as amended, modified and retained under Sections 15, 16, 17, 18 & 19 respectively of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (As Amended).

COUNT FOUR That you ALHAJI DANJUMA GOJE ‘M’, former Executive Governor of Gombe State, Nigeria; ALHAJI SABO MOHAMMED TUMU ‘M’ being Gombe State Government House food supplier; between May 2003 and May 2011 within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, committed an offence to wit: converted the sum of N1, 920,000,000.00 (One Billion, Nine Hundred & Twenty Million Naira only) property of Gombe State Government, being an illegal act to wit: concealing its illicit origin and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 14 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition Act) 2004 and also punishable under section 14 of the same Act as amended, modified and retained under Sections 15, 16, 17, 18 & 19 respectively of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (As Amended).

Finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala got tremendous applause Weeekend as she was put in the shoes of late sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo by former Abia state governor Orji Uzor Kalu.

By our reporter, Ughelli

The Niger Delta Women Peace and Development (NDWPD), Non Governmental Organization, with a vision to empowering Women, promoting enduring peace, conflict mediation in the Niger Delta region as well as girl-child education and ecological imperatives, has joined other relevant NGOs and government agencies on the crusade against the global menace called climate change.

Delivering her speech, Wednesday at the Niger Delta Women’s Tribunal/Climate Justice Hearing, with the theme “Women and climate Justice: Strengthening Voices, Search for Solutions in the Niger Delta, Nigeria” held at Wiltrice Hotel, Ughelli, Delta state, national President ofNDWPD, Princess (Mrs.) Caroline Usikpedo-Omoniye, MCIA, bemoaned the rate of damaged caused by the menace and the activities of multinational oil companies in the region.

According to the group “One of the most disturbing ironies in the Niger Delta today is that the pipelines are laid across farms, waterways, fishing grounds communities and living quarters. Not enough care is given to the technical integrity of the pipes, so they corrode, burst and cause a deluge of oil spills, fires that consume plants and human lives especially women and children. Adaptation to climate change is therefore no longer a secondary and long-term response option only to be considered as a last resort. It is now prevalent, and for those rural communities in the Niger Delta like Burutu, Forcados, Foutorugbene already vulnerable to the impacts of present day climate hazards, and urgent imperative especially the rain seasons in the Niger Delta where economic activities are halted due to high flood, causing food insecurity, affecting education activities and human rights.”

Usikpedo-Omoniye while enumerating some of the problems faced in the region to include oil spill, food security, change in vegetation and gas flaring, she however noted that the devastating impacts of these incidents on the farmlands, crops, economic trees, creeks, lakes, fishing equipment is such that the people can no longer engage in productive farming and fishing as they us to do adding that “ Several major rivers are heavily polluted and also farmlands are under acid rain and oil spills. Oil canals and network of pipelines is making it impossible and dangerous for women to undertake economic activities on it.”

In communiqué issued and signed by eight man communiqué committee, Mr. Efik Surveyor, Chief Mrs. Whegbere (JP), Mrs. Martha Iweh Okoro, Mrs. Benedicta Ekemiafor, Mr Okezi Odugala, Mr. Kolawale Lawal, Mr. Omonode Kejekpo and Mrs. Onose Martha at the end of the one Niger Delta Women tribunal and climate Justice and made available to the press, noted that one of the most disturbing ironies in the Niger Delta today is that the pipelines are laid across farms, waterways, fishing grounds communities and living quarters. Not enough care is given to the technical integrity of the pipes, so they corrode, burst and cause a deluge of oil spills, fires that consume plants and human lives especially women and children. They further noted that adaptation to climate change is therefore no longer a secondary and long-term response option only to be considered as a last resort but now prevalent, and for those rural Communities in the Niger Delta like Burutu, Forcados, Foutorugbene already vulnerable to the impacts of present day Climate hazards, and urgent imperative especially the rain seasons in the Niger Delta where economic activities are halted due to high flood, causing food insecurity, affecting education activities and human rights.

According to the communiqué the aim of the Climate Justice Hearings is to up-scale local solutions and bringing the voices of those most affected  women and traditionally excluded groups to influence negotiations and plans of action on climate change at the national as well as the international level during COP17 and Rio+ 20.  

“After an exhaustive testimony by five women and others from different communities in the Niger delta region, namely; Foutorugbene , Forcados, Orogun and Burutu Communitie of diverse ecological problems namely flooding, seasonal climate changes, sever heat which has affected their fishing and farming work i.e their main traditional occupation, they have noticed that they are more than 30yrs fishing and farming experiences has shown negative yield production which has impacted adversely their social economic life; no more food crop for domestic consumption, no more income from farm product, sales to train their children and assist their family, no infrastructure in this oil bearing communities most especially health care centre which has lead to death from persons who falls ill from diseases aftermath of climate change problems. Educational activities are put on hold because flood has destroyed the community school premises and distorted yearly academic calendar.” They noted.

All testifiers called on pro active actions from government and international organization towards saving the environment from devastation and poverty as they are more vulnerable to climate change.

They  called on the entire Niger Delta women, the organizer of the program (NDW) to take their plight to , the UNFCC COP 17 durban, south Africa and let the international body come to their rescue to mitigate and adapt to climate change problems as a means of sustaining their livelihood which is farming and fishing.

They also called on the Nigeria government to address as a matter of urgency the climate change problem to save their life and generation yet unborn, they wonder if they are part of the country with their contribution through oil and gas exploration in their different communities in the Niger delta region.

The participants at the climate change tribunal therefore recommend that; the complaints should be taken to the respective authorities at the local, state and federal government levels, all the concern expressed should be well represented at the forth coming UNFCC COP 17 and the Rio+20, the international community should come to their rescue with meaningful support such as finance, capacity building, sensitization, awareness creation and adaptive techniques, the climate change tribunal should be carried out periodically across the various communities in the Niger Delta, advocacy visits should be embarked on upon with outcome of the Climate Change Tribunal to the Niger Delta State Houses of Assembly, the Traditional Rulers Council, the Ministry of Environment, including the line Ministries and all the concern oil/gas companies, all Stakeholders and communities members should embark on massive tree planting exercise in their respective communities to serve as risk preparedness measures as well as the Niger Delta States Government should put in place early warning signal at community level to take care of emergency response.

The Anambra state Police Command yesterday arrested the Managing Director of one Iheanyi Ezuma Foundation, Ihiala, Ihiala LGA, Mrs Ngozi Ezuma and three members of her staff for not being able to explain how  30 pregnant teenagers came into her motherless babies ‘home .

The command raided of the home on a tip-off from a concerned neighbour on their activities.

Four of them have so far put to bed since their evacuation to Awka yesterday at the Enugu-Ukwu General Hospital while two others were already in labour, as at press time yesterday.    

Surprisingly twenty-seven of the girls were said to be secondary school dropouts while three claimed to be students of Alvan Ikoku College of Education Owerri  /

Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Emeka Chukwuemeka who confirmed the arrests, said that investigations are on the matter and to unmask all those directly or remotely connected to the syndicate. He said the command may also hand over the girls back to their families once the y are traced and willing.

He warned randy men and boys to desist from luring under-aged girls to avoid ruining their future, and all illegal motherless babies homes and Orphanages to desist from operation or face the full wrath of the law. 

He sais,”People should stop taking advantage of these innocent girls for business rather than going into Charity work they registered for …’’.

Mrs Ezuma disclosed that the teenage girls were brought to her foundation with the consent of their parents and guardians, and that they were helping the girls out purely on compassionate grounds. She said they encourage their families to allow the young girls with pregnancy to carry them to term instead of abortion. She said that the foundation’s major trust included providing love and care for the pregnant teenagers and home to the homeless.

Ezuma pointed out that the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development was aware of their operation as they had earlier taken away a 15month old baby from their. The Ministry allegedly acknowledged that the baby was undergoing fostering process and that the documents about the baby and pictures of those that brought the baby are intact as it was never a business deal between the ministry and Mrs Ezuma but an official process of fostering a child.

The petition to the police had alleged that flashy vehicles and under age girls always seen around the building gave away their operations as being suspicious and therefore alerted the police to check on the activities behind the scene in the building.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr Mrs Ego Uzoezie with the Permanent Secretary and other staff including Director of Child Development Mr Emeka Ejide visited that home to seal it off in May.

Dr Uzoezie then alerted the Commissioner for Health Prof Amobi Ilika to place surveillance on the hospital as it is undermining public health.  Her ministry too placed the alleged illegal ‘compassionate home’ under surveillance for closing down.

Writes from National Assembly Abuja