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REVEALED: Why Ogah Is Desperate To Become Abia Governor, The Immunity Clause.

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New and curious facts have revealed that the main reason Mr. Uche Ogah is desperate to be the governor of Abia State is to secure immunity against his prosecution for some pending criminal charges.

Latest findings have also exposed the fact that the recent constitutional cum legal crisis in the state owes largely to the litany of criminal charges against Ogah, whose only escape route might be to emerge the governor of Abia State, protected against any form of prosecution following Section 308 of the constitution which guarantees his immunity.

Although there are concerns about alleged conspiracy theories from high places, the most disturbing, according to sources, is the arbitrary use of the judiciary to realise what amounts to an anathema to constitutionalism and the rule of law.

On Thursday, June 16, 2016, the police in Lagos had arraigned Ogah, his company, Masters Energy Oil and Gas Limited, before a Tinubu Magistrate Court on a three-count charge bordering on forgery and conspiracy preferred against the defendants by the police.

The police said Ogah forged a Memorandum of Understanding between Masters Energy Oil and Gas Limited and Mut-Hass Petroleum Limited sometime in March 2011. That he (Ogah) and some other persons said to be at large were also accused of forging the signature of one Mrs. Bridget Adeosun. The alleged forgery was reportedly committed in Ikeja, Lagos.

The police said a bank aided Masters Energy Oil and Gas Limited to open an account in the name of Mut-Hass Petroleum to perpetrate a fraud without applying its internal control procedures in the opening of the account. The police claimed also that the said bank allowed the said account to be opened sometime in 2011 at its regional office in Palmgrove area of Lagos, in breach of the provisions of the Financial Institutions Act 2004.

Ogah was arraigned before a Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Kikelomo Ayeye, by a police prosecutor, ASP Henry Obiazi, who told the court that the offences contravened sections 363 (3)(u), 408 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The charges read in part, “That you, Masters Energy Oil and Gas Limited, Uche Ogah, and others at large sometime in March 2011 at Ikeja, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to wit: forgery.

“That you, Masters Energy Oil and Gas Limited, Uche Ogah, and others at large, on the same date, time, place and in the aforementioned magisterial district, did forge the signature of one Mrs. Bridget Adeosun and a document known as MoU between Mut-Hass Petroleum Limited and Masters Energy Oil and Gas Limited, with an intent that it may be in any way used or acted upon as genuine.

“That you, Deji Somoye, and others still at large, sometime in August 2011, at the bank’s regional office, Palmgrove, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did knowing that Masters Energy Oil and Gas Limited design to commit an offence, failed to use all reasonable means to prevent the commission or the completion of the crime.”

Although Ogah and his co-accused pleaded not guilty to the charges and were admitted to bail in the sum of N200,000 each with one surety each in like sum, he is billed to return to court on August 4, 2016, for the commencement of trial. It is against this backdrop that Ogah is pushing, albeit through subterranean means, to be governor of Abia State.

Presently, there is a legal lockdown in the state pending the hearing of the appeal filed by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu. But the Abia State debacle is believed to present yet another sad episode in the democratic evolution of the country, with critical institutions being used as canon folders.

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Former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello Now In Our Custody — EFCC

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has revealed that former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, has been detained in the agency’s custody for allegedly misappropriating over N110 billion in public funds.

The EFCC stated that the former governor appeared at its headquarters after months of ignoring invitations and avoiding court summons related to fraud connected to his administration.

EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, on Tuesday said that Bello had been detained and would be questioned about the allegations against him.

According to reports, Bello responded to the EFCC’s invitation on Tuesday, arriving at the EFCC office with his lawyers, but without his successor, Governor Usman Ododo, who had reportedly been shielding him from arrest.

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Libya Arrests Four Nigerians Over Drug Trafficking, Health Risks [VIDEO]

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Libyan authorities have arrested four Nigerians in Sabha and Bani Walid on charges related to drug trafficking and testing positive for infectious diseases.

The arrests were announced on Monday by Migrant Rescue Watch, an advocacy group, through a post on X (formerly Twitter).

In Sabha, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) conducted a raid at the residence of two Nigerian suspects and seized 1,200 hallucinogenic pills along with other illicit substances. Both suspects were handed over to the Sabha Security Directorate for further investigation.

In a statement, Migrant Rescue Watch confirmed: “CID in Sabha carried out a raid on a reported location and arrested two Nigerian drug traffickers. During a search of the premises, police found 1,200 hallucinogenic pills and other illicit drugs. Both individuals were transferred to the Sabha Security Directorate.”

In a separate incident, two Nigerians, a male and a female, were detained in Bani Walid during a routine health screening after testing positive for infectious diseases.

The Directorate for Combating Illegal Migration (DCIM) in Bani Walid transferred the suspects to Tripoli, Libya’s capital, for further processing and eventual repatriation to Nigeria.

Migrant Rescue Watch’s statement read, “DCIM Bureau in Bani Walid transferred two Nigerian #migrants (female and male) who tested positive for infectious diseases to Tripoli for repatriation.”

Bani Walid, located south of Tripoli, is known as a transit hub for migrants attempting to cross into Europe. Libyan authorities continue to crack down on illegal activities and enforce public health measures within the region.

 

Watch video below:

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Two US-Based Nigerians Bag 30-Year Jail For $3.5m Romance Scam

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Two Nigerians, Anthony Ibekie and Samuel Aniukwu, have been sentenced by a United States federal jury to a combined 30 years in prison for defrauding US citizens of $3.5 million.

The sentencing was announced in a press release made available on the US Department of Justice website on Monday.

According to the statement, Ibekie and Aniukwu deceived their victims by claiming they had received substantial inheritances that required money to be claimed. The duo would then ask the victims to send money with the promise of reimbursement once the inheritances were secured.

The statement also highlighted that the pair carried out romance scams, building online relationships with their victims to gain their trust, only to later demand money.

It read, “An undercover law enforcement investigation has resulted in federal prison sentences for two Nigerian nationals residing in the Chicago suburbs who conducted online inheritance scams and other fraud schemes.

“Using aliases, Anthony Emeka Ibekie and Samuel Aniukwu communicated with victims throughout the United States, convincing them they had received substantial inheritances and needed to send money to individuals associated with the defendants in order to claim it.

“In addition to the inheritance scam, the pair carried out an online romance scam that involved communicating with victims via social media and dating websites, building trust with the victims through a purported online romance, and convincing them to send money to a predetermined recipient. Aniukwu and Ibekie also orchestrated a ‘business email compromise’ scam that targeted corporate email accounts.

“The fraud schemes were uncovered by a covert law enforcement investigation. The scams resulted in losses to victims of at least $3.5 million.”

The statement further noted that after facing at least 14 charges, Ibekie and Aniukwu pleaded guilty to the accusations. As a result, Ibekie was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Thursday, while Aniukwu received a 10-year sentence on November 8.

The statement continued, “A federal jury earlier this year convicted Ibekie, 59, of Oswego, Ill., on all 14 counts of wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, making false statements to a bank, and passport fraud. U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger on Thursday sentenced Ibekie to 20 years in federal prison.

“Aniukwu, 50, of Romeoville, Ill., pleaded guilty last year to wire fraud and money laundering charges. Judge Seeger on Nov. 8, 2024, sentenced Aniukwu to 10 years in prison.”

Meanwhile, an accomplice of Ibekie and Aniukwu, US citizen Jennifer Gosha, is set to be sentenced on December 18 following her guilty plea.

“A third defendant, Jennifer Gosha, 52, a U.S. citizen from Oak Park, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to charges of wire fraud and making false statements to a federal agent. Gosha is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Seeger on December 18, 2024,” the statement concluded.

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