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Court Orders Interim Forfeiture Of NOK University ‘Linked To Ex-civil Servant’

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A federal high court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of NOK university, a private institution located in Kaduna, said to be linked to one Anthony Hassan, identified as a former director of finance and accounts, federal ministry of health.

In a ruling on an ex parte motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/688/2022, and filed by Ekele Iheanacho, counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Zainab Abubakar, the presiding judge, ordered that the institution be temporarily forfeited to the federal government.

According to NAN, the judge also ordered the interim forfeiture of the Gwasmyen water factory, Gwasmyen event center, and Gwasmyen international hotel, all said to be linked to Hassan.

The court ordered the EFCC to publish the interim forfeiture order in a national newspaper within 14 days for interested parties to show cause why the affected property should not be permanently forfeited to the federal government.

The matter was thereafter adjourned till October 5.

In an affidavit deposed to by Adaora Oragudosi, an investigating officer with the EFCC, the commission alleged that Hassan diverted public funds with which he acquired the identified assets.

Oragudosi alleged that the former director diverted the funds running into billions of naira through the government integrated financial management information system (GIFMIS).

GIFMIS, an IT-based system for accounting and budget management, was designed by the federal government to actualize integrated and automated information systems and promote modernized fiscal processes.

The EFCC investigating officer alleged that Hassan, in his position as the director of finance and accounts, had the final approving authority for all payments made on the GIFMIS and Remita platforms of the federal ministry of health.

“The respondent, as the DFA in the federal ministry of health, appointed projects accountants to handle specific projects and this entails payments being made into their personal accounts from the GIFMIS platform for disbursement to the beneficiaries towards the execution of the projects,” she said.

“While acting as the DFA in the federal ministry of health, the respondent diverted public funds using some of the staff of the finance and account department, who include Data Nanbam, Musa A. Musa, Yar’dua Maikudi, Abubakar Sadiq Bulama, Alhassan Yahaya and Yusuf Barde Ajiji.

“Between 2016 and 2019, the above staff of the ministry of health referred to in paragraph 4 (xxviii), who received funds into their bank accounts as project accountants for the execution of various projects through the GIFMIS platform, handed over the sum of N1,309,508,877 to the respondent for the latter’s personal use.

“The respondent received these diverted public funds either in cash or through bank transfers or indirectly through third parties.

“Whilst being a civil servant, the respondent also incorporated and personally operated other companies named Kyus Enterprises Ltd, Kyus Hotels Ltd, and Kyus Oil & Gas Ltd.”ivate University ‘Linked To Ex-Civil Servant’

BIG STORY

JUST IN: President Tinubu, Shettima, Governors, Other VIPs To Pay Toll At Airports

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As part of the Federal Government drive to boost its revenue, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has mandated that President Bola Tinubu, Vice President, Kashim Shettima, Governors and other dignitaries henceforth pay the required fees at tollgates whenever they use the nation’s airports.

The approval was made days after it was revealed that at least 82 percent of airport tollgate revenue is lost through non-paying Very Important Personalities (VIPs).

 

More to come…

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How Content Creator Was Shot Dead On Set In Abuja Over N2,000

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A fast-rising Nigerian content creator, Chidike Emmanuel, has been murdered by gunmen in Mpape, Abuja.

It was gathered that the skit maker was among six persons attacked by the gunmen last Saturday in the federal capital territory.

According to The Cable, source familiar with the incident said that Emmanuel was killed at the location of a project he was supposed to feature in.

The insider disclosed that the gunmen initially demanded money in order to allow them to shoot at the location.

The content creator was said to have given the armed men N2,000. However, what transpired that led to the shooting of the cast members remains unknown.

It was gathered some of the cast members who ran for safety suffered injuries.

Some users close to Emmanuel took to X to mourn the deceased while demanding justice.

“Chidike Emmanuel Obinna I have known you since 2018 You are such a calm and kind soul You couldn’t attend my wedding because you were far away but you sent me your gift #Justiceforchidi,” Helen wrote.

On her part, Rakeli added: “Obinna Chidike Emmanuel, please don’t die please. Pick my calls, reply my chat and tell me all that I am hearing is a lie. Biko I am loosing my mind”.

Efforts to reach Josephine Adeh, the FCT police spokesperson, to comment on the matter have been abortive.

Calls and messages to Adeh’s phone have not been responded to, as of the time of this report.

The development comes a few weeks after Junior Pope passed away after a boat accident on the River Niger in Asaba, Delta state.

The actor and some crew members were heading to a movie location when the boat accident occurred.

His family disclosed that the actor’s final rites will be held on May 17.

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Police Arrest Man ‘Strapped With Bomb’ Inside Bank In Plateau

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Security operatives have apprehended a man strapped with Person Borne Improvised Explosive Device (SPBIED) inside a bank in Plateau.

The individual was arrested at a bank in Dadin Kowa town, which is in Jos South LGA of the state, according to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency journal that focuses on the Lake Chad region. According to the article, the incident happened on May 13.

Makama was informed by intelligence sources that the individual intended to set off the explosives at the bank, but a vigilante officer noticed him and alerted the authorities.

According to the publication, an enraged mob encircled the suspect after he was captured and demanded that he be murdered.

Makama could not confirm if the suspect is connected to the fighters of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP).

The publication added that the suspect is in the custody of the police and currently undergoing investigation.

Nigeria has been battling insurgency for two decades, with suicide bombings, displacement of entire communities and kidnapping for ransom by the terrorists, recorded in that span.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said about 83 children, mostly girls, were used as human bombs in 2017 alone.

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