The former acting Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Anamekwe Nwabuoku and one Felix Nweke have said that they have started refunding N1 6 Billion public funds they stole and begged a Federal High Court, Abuja to give them more time to conclude the refund of the total amount .
Nwabuoku and Nweke are facing the 11-count money laundering charge preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).
They asked Justice James Omotosho yesterday, July 10, to suspend their arraignment until another date to perfect the refund.
Nweke’s lawyer, Emeka Onyeaka, told the court that there was a new development in the case, saying that his client had taken steps toward settling the matter.
The lawyer said that Nweke had made substantial refunds of the money traced to him by the anti-graft agency.
“The 2nd defendant has taken steps, as there is a communication to the commission via-a-vs the alleged offences on making refund.
“The commission is in receipt of the money and promised to communicate to us.
“Upon being served with the charge on Monday, we communicated with the commission and we are asked to tarry for their administrative procedure.”
He said that since a substantial amount had been refunded, if his client is arraigned, such action would affect the trial.
He, therefore, prayed the court to grant them an adjournment in order to take further step on the administrative procedure.
Maduakolam Igwe, who appeared for Nwabuoku, aligned with Onyeaka’s submission, saying that his client had equally taken the same steps and that a substantial amount had been refunded.
“We have written to the commission on this. The 1st defendant has also made some refunds.
“May I adopt the submission of my learned friend to tidy up the administrative procedure.”
Counsel who appeared for the EFCC, Ogechi Ujam, acknowledged that though the commission was in receipt of a proposal letter, but that “no negotiation has been made, no settlement has been done and no agreement has been reached by parties.
“In the circumstance, we urge this honourable court to allow us to arraign the defendants.”
However, Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter to October 14 for arraignment.
Nwabuoku and Nweke, a former Deputy Director in the Ministry of Defence, are being prosecuted for alleged money laundering offences to the tune of N1.6 billion.
While Nwabuoku is the 1st defendant in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/240/24 dated May 20 and filed on May 27 by Ekele Iheanacho, Nweke is the 2nd defendant.
They were alleged to have perpetrated the act while Nwabuoku served as the Director of Finance and Accounts in the Ministry of Defence between 2019 and 2021.
Nwabuoku was appointed acting AGF on May 20, 2022 under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari after Ahmed Idris was suspended as AGF over alleged N80 billion fraud.
He was, however, removed in July 2022, few weeks after he assumed office.
The EFCC alleged that Nwabuoku, Nweke, Temeeo Synergy Concept Limited (at large), Turge Global Investment Limited (at large), Laptev Bridge Limited (at large), Arafura Transnational Afro Limited (at large) and other persons (at large) converted funds which are proceeds of unlawful activities to personal use.
The offence is contrary to Section 18 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as (amended by Act No. 1 of 2012) and punishable under Section 15(2) (b) and (3) of the same Act.
In count two, Nwabuoku, Felix, Temeeo Synergy Concept Limited (at large), between September 2019 and October, 2020 in Abuja, indirectly converted the sum of N262, 602,897.27 (Two Hundred and Sixty Two Million, Six Hundred and Two Thousand, Eight Hundred and Ninety Seven Naira Twenty Seven Kobo).
The money was alleged to have been paid into the Zenith Bank account of Temeeo Synergy Concept Limited (at large), with account number: 1016901286, knowing that the funds constituted proceeds of unlawful activity.
The offence, the EFCC said, is contrary to Section 15(2) (b) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended by Act No. 1 of 2012), among other counts.

Source: The Eagle Online.

Officers of the Special Operation Unit of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have bursted cartel controlled by a suspected drug baron, 49-year-old Kelechi Monday Nwaobasi and his 50-year-old elder sister, Ms. Chinwe Rose Nwaobasi.

A statement today, July 10, by the NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi said that the cocaine and methamphetamine consignments worth over N4.1billion in street value were seized from the hideout of the duo in Aba, Abia state.
The statement said that the special operation, conducted on 13th and 14th June, 2024 at 3B, Boundary Avenue, Aba and a residence along Ohia road, Ohia, Abia State followed months of intelligence gathering, leading to the arrest of the ring leaders and the combined seizure of 20.76 kilograms of cocaine and methamphetamine from them.
It said that the operatives in Lagos state also uncovered an expansive warehouse stocked with a large consignment of codeine-based syrup, located at Comfort Oboh area of Kirikiri, where four persons connected with the importation and distribution of the opioid were arrested during an intelligence-led raid on the facility.
According to the statement, those arrested include Kingsley Amanambu Obumneke, 38; Emeka Emmanuel, 48; Bornaventure Ugochukwu, 59 and Martin Dike, 56, while a total of 82,000 bottles of the opioid worth more than N600 million in street value, Toyota Tacuma truck and two buses used for distributing the substance were recovered from the premises on 10th June 2024 when NDLEA officers conducted the operation. It said that two days after, on 12th June, operatives intercepted another suspect, Ibrahim Abdulhamid with 29,100 pills of tramadol and other opioids as well as 3.9 litres of codeine syrup at Alaba Suru, Ojo local council area of the state.
“A total of 230,600 pills of tramadol 225mg and 200mg were recovered from the duo of Yasir Rabi’u, 23, and Abubakar Ado, 30, who are major distributors of illicit drugs in Kano and Jigawa states, when they were arrested on Monday 10th June at Gadar Tamburawa area of Kano.
“In the same vein, another suspect, Hassan Abdullahi Ali, 25, was nabbed with 150 bottles of codeine syrup at Kofar Nassarawa area of Kano on Tuesday 11th June.
“In Ogun state, NDLEA operatives on Monday 10th June seized 390kg of cannabis and arrested the trio of Muhammad Sani, Nura Mohammad and Samaila Rabe during an early morning raid at Ibese area of the state, while officers on Wednesday 12th June bursted a skuchies making factory at Sabo area of Shagamu town where seven suspects were arrested.
“They include Kareem Jamiu; Oriyimi Ayo; Bamidele Wasiu; Rasheed Olarewanju; Ramota Lawal; Amudalat Olarewanju and Adeniyi Omotosho.
“Exhibits recovered from them include 387 litres of skuchies; 70 litres of industrial codeine; 25kg cannabis and different quantities of tramadol, rophynol, diazepam, as well as various equipment used in the production of the new psychoactive substance.”
The statement said that not less than 10, 534.78 kilograms of cannabis were destroyed on 4.213912 hectares of farmland on Wednesday 12th June when NDLEA officers raided Uhen forest in Ovia North East council area of Edo state where four suspects: Frank Ishoku, 38; Clifford Ossai, 49; Vanger Timothy, 30; and John Peter Oluwaseyi, 30, were nabbed and 16kg processed cannabis was recovered for the purpose of prosecution.
“In a similar development, 18,425kg of the same psychoactive substance on 7.37 hectares of farmland was destroyed by NDLEA operatives supported by personnel of other security agencies in the thick forest of Ise Ekiti, Ekiti state on Friday 14th June.
“In Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, two suspects: Muhammad Abba, 33, and Samson Ehizogie, 42, were arrested with 3,550 bottles of “Akuskura”, a new mixture of psychotropic substances, by operatives during a raid on Friday 14th June at Garki Area 10 and Dutse Suokale, both within the FCT.
“While Emmanuel Ogechi, 24, was nabbed with 11,200 pills of tramadol on Wednesday 12th June along Otukpo-Enugu road, by NDLEA operatives in Benue state, Anayo Onwe, 40, was arrested with 62.4kg cannabis sativa at Nteje just as 1kg of methamphetamine belonging to a fleeing suspect, in Oraifite, both in Anambra state was seized.
“In Kwara state, Muhammed Musa, 24, was arrested with 33kg cannabis at Bode-Saadu, Jebba, while Shokuro Adeola, 59, was nabbed with 11.5kg of same substance along Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Oyo state.
“With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.
“These include WADA enlightenment lecture for students and teachers of Mind Builder College, Oyo town, Oyo state; students of Demonstration Secondary School, Kabba, Kogi; students of Government Secondary School, Bunkure, Kano; students of Command Day Secondary School, Ede, Osun; students and teachers of Khulafau-Rashideen Islamic School, Babanna, Niger state; and students of Aggrey Memorial Modern School, Arochukwu, Abia state, among others.”
While commending the officers and men of the Special Operation Unit, Lagos, Ogun, Kano, Ekiti, Oyo, Kwara, Anambra, Benue and FCT Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, retired Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa, said that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country are well appreciated.
He urged them not to rest on their oars but continue to intensify ongoing drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.

Kano South Senator, Kawu Suleiman Abdurrahman, has presented a bill for the creation of ‘Tiga State’, which is to be carved out from Kano State.
The bill was presented on the floor of the Senate today, July 10.
Titled: “Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Alteration) Creation of Tiga State Bill, 2024 (SB.523)” the bill underwent its First Reading immediately it was presented today.
Recall that the upper legislative chamber was recently presented with a bill, sponsored by Delta North Senator, Ned Nwoko, for the creation of Anioma State in the South-East, to bring the zone to be at par with other geo-political zones, which have six states.
There are also bills for the creation of Orlu State, sponsored by Senator Osita Izunaso and a member of the House of Representatives, Ikenga Ugochineyere, and Etiti State, sponsored by Amobi Godwin Ogah, representing Isikwuato/ Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia State and four others representing the affected communities.
Some lawmakers are also seeking the creation of additional states from Lagos and other states across the country.

Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, has compared the level of hunger in Nigeria today to the situation in some war devastated countries.
Senator Ndume, in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, warned that unless steps are taken against widespread hunger in the country, malnutrition would affect many in Nigeria and it has already affected children in the Northwest.
He said that a UN report had warned that 82 million Nigerians would find themselves hungry without food in the next five years.
”We are afraid one day a person may go to the market with money and be confronted with a situation where there won’t be food to buy.
“We have information from Katsina. If hunger persists, the children will suffer most, the children lack food for healthy growth.
“This is a situation you find in places where there is war or famine. We’ve seen how it happened in Niger and South Sudan where children have died. Now the situation is rearing its ugly head in Nigeria.”
Senator Ndume expressed worry that previously, government used to store food in Food Banks for emergency needs, but now it’s no more.
“This is a matter of serious concern and something should be done quickly about it.”
When he was asked why he would not meet the President and talk to him over such matters privately instead of talking to the media, Senator Ndume alleged that it is extremely difficult now as ”even some Ministers cannot see the President.“
According to him, even some members of Tinubu’s cabinet cannot see the President talk less of the lawmakers who would have liked to see him and discuss issues pertaining to their constituencies.

Senator, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Senator Natasha Natasha H Akpoti-Uduaghan has promised to pay the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) for the registration of 2,500 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) owners in the district.
The registration will be done on the spot at the rate of N11,000 for each person.
Senator Natasha, who struck a partnership with CAC yesterday, July 9, when the CAC officials, led by the Head, FCT Zonal Office, Bello Muftau, met with her in her National Assembly, office Abuja, said that the partnership is aimed at supporting small business owners.
It is also to enable the beneficiaries fulfill the government’s registration requirements and promote business growth and development in the region.
She said that the registration drive is expected to commence soon, with a special conference planned to bring together, key players in the business ecosystem to forge synergy and collaboration.
She said that the special conference would create synergy and collaboration towards business growth and development, like regulatory bodies, Bank of Industry and others.
She encouraged CAC to strengthen its education and sensitization efforts to inform business owners about the importance of registration and the benefits of compliance.
Responding, the CAC team, led by Mr Bello Muftau, lauded the partnership as a significant step towards promoting the ease of doing business in Nigeria, in line with the Commission’s mandate under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020
He added that the commission has put measures in place to promote the ease of doing business through simplification of the registration process, reduction of registration costs, reduction of costs, sensitisation, improvement of digital infrastructure, and incentives, amongst others.

President Bola Tinubu has appointed appointed former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, as Co-Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Implementation of Livestock Reforms
The Committee, which was inaugurated today, July 9 in Abuja, is to address obstacles to agricultural productivity and open up new opportunities which benefit farmers, herders, processors and distributors in the livestock-farming value chain.
President Tinubu, at the inauguration, said that the implementation of the reforms will require the collective efforts of members of the committee, drawn from the public and private sectors, state governors, and all Nigerians.
“From here, I will appeal to everyone to remove every iota of partisan politics from this. I will assume the chairmanship of the committee as President and appoint Professor Attahiru Jega as my deputy or co-chair.
“This is not about politics; this is about opportunity. This is about our nation. While I may be absent, Jega will preside and continue to promote our objectives.”
The President said that a Ministry of Livestock Development will be created to further explore the potential in the area.
“When we have great opportunities in our states, why should Nigerians continue to experience conflicts?
“With the calibre of people that are here, this presents a unique opportunity also to delineate and establish a centric ministry called the Ministry of Livestock Development. It will give us the opportunity so that our veterinary doctors can have the necessary access to research and cross-breed. We can stop the wanton killings.”
The President said that the traditional method of livestock farming will need to be reviewed and repositioned with the support of stakeholders, which include state governments, in order to open up new opportunities for growth and prosperity.
He said that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) will ensure the removal of all legal obstacles to the implementation of the reforms, while the Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani will provide support with automation.
“Modern technology is available to us. We are ready to work. I said at the beginning, with you, all of you, the solution is here, and we must run with it. Any law that might inhibit the promotion and actualization of our objectives, the Attorney-General is here, please give it a priority; and the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning is here; create a budget for it to grow, and the Minister of Finance is here as well to work out the money.”
The President said that the reforms will be comprehensive and collective, even as he sought the support of all stakeholders.
“We need to provide the incentive to enable Nigeria to finally take advantage of livestock farming; dairy products and cold-chain logistics collectively offer substantial commercial and economic advantages. We have seen solutions and opportunities. With these adversities that have plagued us over the years, I believe that prosperity is here – in your hands.
“The dairy industry contributes significantly to nutrition and food security by supplying essential proteins and vitamins, through milk and its derivatives, such as cheese, yoghurt, and butter. Efficient cold-chain logistics is crucial in maintaining the quality and safety of these perishable goods from farms to markets, thereby reducing food waste and ensuring a steady supply.
“This sector will boost agricultural productivity, enhance export opportunities and stimulate economic growth by fostering a robust value chain that benefits farmers, processors, herders, distributors, and consumers alike.”