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Magu To Open Defense Before Justice Salami Panel Today

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After waiting for a copy of the allegations against him, the Presidential Investigation Committee on the activities of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Wednesday agreed to give the suspended Acting Chairman of the agency Mr. Ibrahim Magu a report to enter his Defence.

The report is that of the Presidential Committee on Audit of Recovered Assets( PCARA), which contains all allegations against Magu.

But the Chairman of the panel, Justice Isa Ayo Salami extracted a commitment from the counsel to Magu, Barrister Wahab Shittu that PCARA’s report will not be leaked to the press.

Magu, who said all the allegations against him were false, is expected to open his defence today.

The suspended EFCC chairman was at the panel’s venue for about eight hours but he had a brief encounter with the team

Wearing a white Kaftan with a white cap to match, the suspended EFCC chairman took a 78-page response to the committee, bordering on a query by the AGF, PCARA’s report and other allegations in the public domain.

The committee, however, said it may accept Magu’s response only after serving him the issues in PCARA’s report.

A top source said: “After waiting for hours, the panel met with Magu for a few minutes. The committee later decided to make a copy of the PCARA report available to Magu to enable him to address all the allegations against him.

“It, however, gave a condition that PCARA report must not be leaked in any manner to the press to avoid the distraction of its activities.

“With the concession by the panel, Magu will now open his Defence from Thursday or thereabout. He will be able to tender his defence which has not been accepted by the panel because the allegations were yet to be served on him. This is a good dimension.”

A letter written to Salami’s panel by Magu’s counsel, Wahab Shittu, however, pledged that the suspended acting EFCC chairman will cooperate with the panel.

In the letter, Shittu said Magu had not at any time challenged the mandate of the panel or engaged in any boast or queried the panel.

The letter, which was submitted yesterday, reads in part:” We state for the records that we are not in a position to query the Honourable panel and certainly will never set out doing so.

“Rather, our intention was to draw the attention of the Honourable panel to persistent falsehood publications concerning our client being orchestrated consistently in the public space in a manner that could prejudice the proceedings of this Honourable panel.

“We apologize if any contrary interpretation of our intention is conveyed by the context in which the questions were raised in the referred letter. We hold the panel in the highest esteem.

“Our client wishes to place on record his appreciation to the chairman members of the panel for ordering his release from custody on the 15th day of July 2020 without any conditionalities.

“Our client appreciates this gesture given the fact that the panel has repeatedly stated that it did not order the detention of our client in the first place. Our client is grateful for the gesture.

“Our client while appreciating the panel offers full cooperation to the panel in the discharge of its assignment.

“Our client believes in the work of the committee because of his commitment to ridding the country of corruption.”

BIG STORY

Alleged N110bn Fraud: Court Adjourns Yahaya Bello, Other’s Bail Ruling To December 10

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The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned to December 10 for a ruling on the bail application by the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, and two others.

Bello had pleaded not guilty to the 16-count charges brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The former governor, along with Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, are being prosecuted as the 1st to 3rd defendants, respectively, in a fresh N110bn 16-count charge instituted against them by the EFCC.

Bello, the 1st defendant, vehemently denied the allegations before Justice Maryanne Anenih as they were read out to them.

After taking their plea, the Defendant’s Counsel, Joseph Daudu, moved an application for bail.

However, the EFCC Counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, opposed the application, arguing that it had expired in October.

Clarifying the issue, the Defendant’s Counsel stated that the only relevant application before the Court was the motion for bail in respect of the first defendant, which was filed on November 22.

Relying on all the paragraphs of the affidavit, he added that the bail application was also supported with a written address.

Justice Anenih ordered that the defendants be remanded in the custody of the EFCC.

The EFCC had filed an N110bn alleged fraud suit against the former governor.

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BIG STORY

JUST IN: Court Remands Yahaya Bello In EFCC Custody Amid Alleged N110bn Fraud Case

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The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has remanded Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi, in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Bello was arraigned on a 16-count charge related to alleged money laundering on Wednesday.

He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

 

More to come…

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BIG STORY

First Phase Of 10,800-Bed Hostel In LASU Ready — Tokunbo Wahab

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The first phase of a 10,800-bed hostel project at the Lagos State University (LASU) is now ready for inauguration, according to Tokunbo Wahab, former special adviser to the governor on education.

Wahab, who is now commissioner for environment and water resources in Lagos, describes the project as ambitious and transformative.

“ It remains one of the most ambitious and transformative projects undertaken during my time as the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education,” he wrote on X.

“It was executed through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model under a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) arrangement which involves seven reputable investors.”

Wahab commended Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos governor, for his leadership and continuous support.

“Proud of the work done here and to have been a part of this special one,” he added.

“Through the grace of God and the unwavering support and the dedication of the Lagos State Office of Public-Private Partnerships, the relentless efforts of the management staff of LASU, led by Vice Chancellor Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, and the cooperation of other key stakeholders, the first phase of this landmark project has now been completed.”

Wahab emphasized that the project showcases the state government’s commitment to leveraging public-private partnerships to address critical infrastructure needs in the education sector.

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