Money laundering: EFCC arraigns Atiku’s son-in-law

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Abdullahi Babalele, son-in-law of Atiku Abubakar, for allegedly laundering $140,000 in the build up to the 2019 general election.

Uyiekpen Osagie-Giwa, Atiku’s lawyer, was also arraigned for allegedly laundering $2 million in connection with the elections.

The duo were arraigned before the federal high court in Lagos, on Wednesday.

Osagie and Babalele were arrested after they honoured an invitation of the anti-graft agency in Lagos on Thursday.

The EFCC had said Osagie made a payment of $2 million without going through any financial institution.

The anti-graft agency said the amount exceeded what is authorised by law.

Osita Chidoka, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, had accused the EFCC of frustrating Osagie and Babalele by inviting them shortly before the August 12 and August 13 public holidays for the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.

Chidoka had asked why the agency invited them and asked him to wait till after the holidays.

“A Govt Agency arrests you for laundering your money, grants bail, seizes your passport and ask you to report regularly,” Chidoka had written on Facebook.

“Decides to charge you to court. Invites you on a Friday, aware Mon & Tues are holidays, detains you to wait for Wednesday. Why the wickedness? Why dehumanize?”

Gov. Babagana donates Sambisa forest for RUGA Settlement

Professor Babagana Umara, Governor of Borno State

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara, has donated some parts of the enclave of the Boko Haram, Sambisa forest, for the controversial Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) programme.

The governor also mobilised the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Agro Rangers and hunters to secure the large expanse of the forest and make it safe for the scheme.

The allocated area (forest) covers six council areas of Konduga, Bama, Gwoza, Chibok, Damboa and Askira/Uba.

The governor made the decision public last Monday when he hosted the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Garbai El-Kanemi, who paid him Sallah homage.

He said the deployment of agro rangers, vigilantes and hunters are to protect farmers and herders in their respective communities.

Umara told the monarch that the state government would also deploy an Emergency Rapid Response Team (ERRT), comprising of security personnel, to protect commuters and rural dwellers against Boko Haram insurgents and bandits.

According to the governor, “This administration is determined to strengthen the security architecture to encourage farming and herding activities across the state.

“We’re also distributing 80 patrol vehicles to the response team so that farmers, herders and commuters could move as well as travel within a radius of 30-40 kilometres of Maiduguri metropolis.”

Umaru said the security response team, comprises 500 troops and hunters that know the terrain of the forest.

On RUGA implementation, he said: “About 75 trained agro rangers and 300 hunters will also be mobilised next week to enable farmers cultivate their farmlands that were prevented by terrorists’ activities.

“The state government is determined to address the root causes of insurgency through improved security; fight against drug abuse and enhance food security with increased job creation among unemployed youths.”

He revealed that the state government had also embarked on vegetation and bush clearance of 187-kilometre Maiduguri-Damboa-Biu road, noting that the exercise would ensure safety of travelers and motorists to ease movements of goods and services in the state.

The governor also directed the immediate demolition of illegal structures in the metropolis, adding that the structures are suspected to be used by prostitutes and illicit drug dealers, and must be checked to sanitise the state capital.

In his response, the monarch, who commended the governor, called for an effective security measures along with the demolition of illegal hotels in Maiduguri.

INEC REC In Cross River Resigns, Joins APC

 

*To Contest Bayelsa Governorship Election

Frankland Briyai, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Cross River, has resigned his appointment to contest the November 16 gubernatorial election in Bayelsa state.

Briyai, a native of Bayelsa, had announced in June that he might contest in the election due to “pressure” from his people.

Briyai announced his resignation and made his intentions known on Thursday while addressing journalists at the INEC headquarters in Calabar, Cross River capital.

He disclosed that he would be contesting the election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“On Saturday, the 21st of July, 2019, a mammoth crowd of Bayelsans held a peaceful rally in Yenagoa, calling my humble self to contest the November 16, 2019 gubernatorial election,” Briyai said.

“I was called upon by my people; my people believe in my ability and capacity to lead. They are impressed and also believe that I have what it takes to take Bayelsa and its people to a higher ground and next level.

“They understand that I can bring back the lost glory of the state; I have to answer the clarion call by resigning today the 8th of August so that I can formerly go back to Bayelsa and register as a party member.

“I am progressive. I believe in being pragmatic and proactive and I want to contest for the governorship position under APC in Bayelsa state. The people of Bayelsa are more interested in the integrity and character of the person. My people have grown and they are now after men with credibility, with capacity.

“All politicians are not dirty; there are still many honest person involved in politics. We have a master plan that will ensure that all graduates who are from Bayelsa become gainfully employed.

“Youth restiveness will become a thing of the past; we will take young people off the streets. We have plans for agriculture, ICT and other skill and profession and a lot more. We urge the youths to eschew violence and thuggery. But when you eliminate idleness, restiveness will automatically stop.”

The development comes six days after Attahiru Jega, former INEC chairman, announced that he had joined the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).