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RCCG Pastor Bags 2-Yr Jail Term Over Issuance Of $1.6m Dud Cheque

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An Ikeja Special Offences Court, on Wednesday, sentenced Ayodeji Oluokun, an Assistant Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), City of David Parish, Victoria Island, Lagos, to two years imprisonment for issuing a $1.6 million dud cheque.

Oluokun was charged alongside his company, Peak Petroleum Industry Nigeria Ltd., on an amended six-count charge bordering on the issuance of a dud cheque, stealing, and obtaining money under false pretenses.

Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, in her judgment, held that the prosecution had successfully proved the charge of issuance of a dud cheque against the defendants.

Taiwo, however, discharged and acquitted the defendants of stealing and obtaining money under false pretenses.

“The defendant issued two cheques in the sum of $1.6 million to the nominal complainant, which was dishonoured because there was no fund in the defendant’s account.

“Issuance of cheque for lack of credit is a strict liable offense.

“If the defendant was truly expecting some money till the end of July 2014 as claimed by him, he would have waited till he received the money before issuing the cheque on June 24, 2014,” said Taiwo.

The judge said the first defendant knew all of these and still went ahead to issue the cheque dated June 24, 2014.

“It is hereby in the view of this court that the defendant was deliberate in issuing the dud cheque.

“He is hereby found guilty of counts one and two of issuance of dud cheque.

“The defendants, however, are discharged and acquitted of stealing and obtaining money under false pretenses as the prosecution failed to establish the facts against them,” she said.

The judge, thereafter, sentenced the first defendant to two years in prison or payment of a fine of N2 million, and the second defendant to a fine of N2 million.

She ordered the convict to make restitution of $1.6 million to the nominal complainant within 18 months.

The defense counsel, Mr. Edoka Onyeke, in his allocutus, prayed the court to grant the convict a non-custodial sentence, adding that he was a pastor and could use his pastoral work as service to humanity, through community service.

“My lord, apart from the defendant being a first offender, if he is incarcerated, he will not be able to carry out the necessary things on behalf of the second defendant so as to make the restitution easy.

“The first defendant is a pastor of a church. This is a very good opportunity for him to engage in community service instead of a custodian sentence so as to preach the word of God.

“On a final note, the defendant has promised to involve the nominal complainant in order to make the restitution,” Onyeke said.

Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Samuel Daji, however, urged the court to convict the defendants as charged.

He argued that the convict and the nominal complainant had not been on talking terms, thereby making the terms of restitution difficult to meet.

He also prayed the court to order the defendant to forfeit his property in order to pay up the debt.

“My lord, from the evidence before this court, the defendant is not committed. It has been nine good years my lord.

“A dollar was N150 at the time the loan was granted to the defendant. The defendant does not even greet the nominal complainant unless it is of utmost necessity.

“There is an evidence that the defendants never want to settle this case.

“The defense counsel said he is a pastor. My lord, the more reason he should be given a custodial sentence in order to serve as a deterrent to others.

“The court has stated mandatory sentence. We shall be asking for restitution. I shall be urging the court to order the defendant to forfeit his property so as to use it to pay his debt,” Daji said.

The EFCC counsel had submitted that the defendant issued a Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Ltd. cheque of $1.6 million payable to GOSL Nigeria Ltd.

He said when presented for payment, the cheque was dishonored on the ground that no sufficient funds were standing to the credit of the account on which the cheque was drawn.

The offenses contravened Sections 1(1) (b) of the Dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act, Cap D 11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and Section 285 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State and section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences.

BIG STORY

How The State Assembly Fuels The Growth Of Lagos And Nigeria’s Economy — Obasa [PHOTOS]

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Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Mudashiru Obasa has declared unequivocally that Lagos State and, by extension, Nigeria’s economy have benefited immensely from the progressive, proactive, and productive legislature under his watch.

Obasa made this declaration at The Expatriates Business Awards (TEBA) held Sunday, July 6, at the Grand Ballroom of the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, where he was the Chief Host.

Organised by Pun Communications Ltd., the TEBA, an evening of culture and commerce where the handshakes of diplomacy meet the heartbeats of Nigerian creativity, celebrates the significant contributions of expatriates, ethnic businesses, and migrant communities to Lagos and Nigeria.

In his rousing welcome address to a diverse audience of diplomats, industry leaders, and entrepreneurs, Speaker Obasa spotlighted the state assembly, which he had led for the past decade, as an integral catalyst to Lagos’ economic growth for enacting laws that have created an enabling environment for businesses, attract investments, and foster sustainable economic growth.

Aside reviewing and amending laws to address emerging economic challenges and opportunities, the Speaker said the Assembly plays a crucial role in promoting economic development by enacting and overseeing laws that govern public procurement like the Public Procurement Law (2021), which regulates how the state procures goods and services and promotes transparency and accountability in government spending.

There is also the Appropriation Law for resource allocation for various development projects and initiatives, and the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Law that facilitates collaboration between the public and private sectors to deliver projects like roads, power plants, and other essential infrastructure. The Speaker further mentioned the Land Use and Management Laws, which govern land use, development, and allocation, crucial for attracting investment and facilitating development projects.

To ensure the safety and security of Nigerians and foreigners alike, and boost the confidence of expatriates in coming to live and invest in Lagos, Obasa said, “We also created the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) to assist and complement the police by providing valuable intelligence for crime prevention and facilitating the arrest of perpetrators of criminal activities in the state.”

However, Speaker Obasa said that aside from the legislature, the state has benefited tremendously from being accommodating and receptive to foreigners. He recalled that this distinct nature of the state spurred a Portuguese explorer who was fascinated by the city’s strategic coastal location and trade potential to rechristen Eko as the state was then known to ‘Lagos.’

Over the centuries, Obasa noted that the incursion of expatriates into the evolving Lagos economy ensured that it enjoyed more rapid growth than any other Nigerian city, citing expatriates’ spending on housing, education, and leisure, among other areas of life as being a huge boost for local businesses.

He added, “As a centre for commerce, industry, and innovation, we have built a state where expats report a high quality of life, enjoying many luxuries not accessible back at home, and businesses and tourism thrive.

“Lagos also creates a fertile and enabling ground for expatriate involvement as their invaluable contributions span leadership in major companies, participation in key industries, contributions to professional services, and importation of international expertise.”

While acknowledging the importance of collaboration and unity in driving progress, fostering economic growth, creating jobs, and enhancing Lagos’s global standing, Speaker Obasa called for a more mutually beneficial partnership.

“This is a clarion call to our expatriates to continue playing their parts here by paying taxes and giving back to our people through veritable Corporate Social Responsibility activities. This is the only way we can have a mutually beneficial and harmonious relationship because your enterprises and initiatives are not just a boon for our state but, for all of Nigeria, Africa, and the world,” he posited.

Commending the organisers for their vision in highlighting and celebrating the impact of expatriates on Nigeria’s economy, Obasa encouraged the diverse guests to celebrate not only the winners but also the spirit of entrepreneurship.

He concluded, “Let us network, share ideas, and inspire one another as we continue to forge stronger ties within our diverse communities. Together, we can build a sustainable future that harnesses our collective strengths. With that, it gives me great honour to officially declare the Expatriates Business Awards open!

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BIG STORY

JUST IN: Several Passengers Injured As Commercial Bus Somersaults On Lagos Third Mainland Bridge [PHOTOS]

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A serious accident involving a Toyota Camry and a commercial bus, commonly called Danfo, happened on Monday along the 3rd Mainland Bridge in Lagos, leaving many passengers injured.

Reports indicate the crash took place just before Adekunle Junction, heading towards Lagos Island on Monday.

The commercial bus reportedly somersaulted multiple times after the impact.

According to a statement from the Lagos State Rapid Response Squad (RRS), there were no fatalities in the accident.

RRS officials, including bikers and patrol teams, quickly arrived at the location to provide first aid and support to the injured passengers.

Officers from the Adekunle Police Division also responded promptly and are assisting with rescue efforts, while emergency agencies have been deployed to handle the situation and ensure the safe evacuation of victims.

The statement said, “A road accident between a Toyota Camry and a commercial bus Danfo has left several passengers injured on 3rd Mainland Bridge.

The accident occurred before Adekunle Junction, inward Lagos. The commercial bus sumersualting multiple times.

RRS biker and patrol vehicles are assisting in helping on giving first aid to the injured passengers, while men of the Adekunle Police Division are equally on ground, and are providing rescue support.”

The statement also noted, “Emergency services providers have been mobilised. No life loss in the unfortunate incident.

Free flow of vehicular movement has been restored and the ill-fated vehicles evacuated from the road.”

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BIG STORY

Donald Trump Threatens Additional 10% Tariffs On BRICS, Partner Countries

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United States President Donald Trump has declared that countries aligning with the “Anti-American policies of BRICS” will face an extra 10 percent tariff.

“There will be no exceptions to this policy,” Trump stated in a Truth Social post.

His statement comes as the US begins formally notifying affected countries of the tariffs announced earlier this year, with letters and deals scheduled to roll out on Monday.

Trump has consistently criticised BRICS, an economic bloc comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

The group was initially formed to strengthen the international positions of its members and counterbalance the US and western Europe.

The bloc later expanded to welcome Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2024, with Indonesia becoming the first Southeast Asian member the following year.

In January, Nigeria joined Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan as BRICS’ ninth partner country after the creation of the partner-country category at the 16th BRICS Summit in 2024.

Nigeria has continued to pursue full membership.

Since assuming office in January, Trump has rolled out a series of import tariffs on goods from other nations, including a 14 percent tariff on Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Brazil reported that BRICS foreign ministers had expressed “serious concern at the prospect of a fragmented global economy and the weakening of multilateralism” during a meeting in Rio de Janeiro.

Brazil’s statement was not a joint declaration by the bloc, as divisions among its members have grown.

The statement also did not specifically mention the United States, whose unilateral tariffs have triggered worries over a potential global economic slowdown.

When the tariffs were initially introduced, Trump encouraged affected countries to strike deals with the US in hopes of gaining concessions.

As the tariff letters are sent out on Monday, the US president told global counterparts to “take it or leave it”.

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