EFCC accuses Ikuforiji of 57 illegal cash transactions

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday told a Federal High Court, Lagos that there were 57 illegal cash transactions involved in the money laundering charges it preferred against the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, and his aide, Mr. Oyebode Atoyebi.

At the commencement of the trial on Thursday, the first prosecution witness,  Mr. Adeniyi Adebayo, who is an EFCC investigator, said the cash transactions were above the threshold prescribed by the Money Laundering Act.

Both Ikuforiji and Atoyebi are being prosecuted by the EFCC for 54 counts of allegedly receiving over N600m from the Lagos State House of Assembly without passing through a financial institution between April 2010 and July 2011.

The EFCC said the alleged offence contravened Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011.

Adebayo, who was led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Chief Godwin Obla (SAN), said the anti-graft agency in June 2011 received a petition which “was a complaint of siphoning of public funds against the first accused person (Ikuforiji).”

Anambra supplementary election to hold November 30 – Jega

NEC to announce Anambra supplementary election date today

The Independent National Electoral Commission will meet today (Friday) to pick a date for the supplementary election of the Anambra State governorship poll.

Kayode Idowu, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman,  Prof. Attahiru Jega, confirmed this in an interview with The PUNCH on Thursday night.

He said, “Today (Thursday’s) meeting was just a meeting where the field staff debriefed the commission on the last election and not just for the choice of a date for the supplementary election. The 12 national commissioners of INEC and the Chairman will meet tomorrow (today) and it is likely that a date would be fixed for the Anambra state governorship election.”

I haven’t lost my form, insists Mba

Sunday Mba insists that his form has not dropped despite failing to start for Nigeria in recent games.

Mba was the hero of the African Nations Cup where he scored not only the goal that eliminated the highly-fancied Côte d’Ivoire at the quarter-final stage, but also the one that decided the championship game.

Since then, however, he has dropped to the bench and did not feature at all in the last two games.

But the Rangers midfielder told KickOffNigeria.com that his form had not dropped.

“I’m still the same player, I’m still playing my normal game and I’m still doing well.

“Somehow, I can’t say why I’m not playing but I believe the coach wants to change the team, wants to try something else.

“But I’m still part or the team and whenever I’m called upon, I will do my best and prove myself very well,” he said.

Outrage as Senate makes U-turn on Stella Oduah

THERE was outrage on Thursday as the  Senate rescinded its resolution to have  the Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah,   appear  before  its members over the  October 3 Associated Airlines’ plane crash in Lagos.

Oduah  is now to appear before the Senate Committee on Aviation alongside the Chief Executive Officers of  the aviation agencies under her ministry.

The Senate Leader,  Victor Ndoma-Egba,  who moved a motion for the lawmakers to have a rethink on the invitation of the minister, had  argued that the  action was based on the Senate Standing Order 53 (6) which empowers  it to reverse its decisions.

He also explained that   the decision  was earlier  reached at an  executive committee meeting of the Senate last week.

Senator Ganiyu Solomon, who seconded the motion,   said,  “At  the executive session last week, the senators were unanimous in the decision  that  the resolution should be rescinded and that the minister should rather face the aviation committee.”

There was however  deafening silence when  the Senate President, David Mark,  called for  comments from the senators and none of them offered any contrary opinion.

When  Mark   requested votes from his colleagues on whether to approve or reject the prayers contained  in the motion,  all of them voted in support.

Friends deserted me when I was sick – Paul Play Dairo

Bouncing back after a seven-year break, Paul Play Dairo recalls the medical challenge that affected his career, writes JAYNE AUGOYE

After a seven-year hiatus, ace music producer and artiste, Paul Play Dairo, is working towards staging a big come back. Having dropped a total of five singles since March, he says the response has been massive. In spite of the seeming lull in album sales, the RnB star who says he is up-to- beat with current trends in the music scene, still intends to drop a ‘luxury’ album.

“The idea is basically to fill in the gap since my last album and also sample people’s opinion. Thankfully, the online comments have been encouraging. So far, I have recorded 20 songs and some of them have already been released as singles. I am currently tidying my gospel and each track has an element of Nigerian flavor and pop.

“The bulk of the money is no longer coming from album sales because these songs are already online and people are downloading them. Music business is now streamlined to performance and endorsement. I am still going ahead with the limited edition album which will be expensive because that way I will be able to control and monitor the sales and distribution,” he discloses.

Governor Fashola donates four buses to Nigerian Prison Services

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola yestreday November 11th donated four buses to the Lagos Command of the Nigerian Prison Services. Pictured above presenting the keys to the Controller of Prison, Lagos State Command, Mrs. Catherine Nkolika Ononye at the Lagos House, Ikeja, yesterday.

NCAA To Sanction Aero For Maltreating Passengers

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has commenced proceedings to sanction Aero Contractors over its shoddy treatment of passengers last Saturday.
Passengers who were to travel by the airline’s 5pm flight from Abuja to Lagos were reported to have been delayed until midnight after which it peremptorily cancelled the flight.
There was no explanation whatsoever about the reason for the cancellation of the flight. To make matters worse, the pilot was alleged to have tactfully switched off the aircraft’s engine and sneaked out of the aeroplane with the cabin crew, leaving the passengers behind.
The Director General of NCAA, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, has instructed the Director of Consumer Protection (DCP), Adamu Abdullahi, to immediately commence proceedings towards imposing appropriate sanctions on Aero Contractors.