Jonathan Appointed ECOWAS Special Envoy to Mali

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July 14, 2020

Former president Goodluck Jonathan has been appointed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as a Special Envoy to lead the sub-regional body’s mediation mission in Mali.

Jonathan’s appointment was communicated to him in a letter signed by the President of ECOWAS Commission, Jean-Claude Kassi Brou.

“Given your position as the former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the great role and contributions your tenure offered to the maintenance of peace, security and stability in our region, I have the honour, in consultation with the Chair of the Authority, H.E. Issoufou Mahamadou, President of the Republic of Niger, to communicate to you, the decision to appoint you as ECOWAS Special Envoy for the socio-political crisis in Mali,” the letter read.

The former president is to engage in consultations with all relevant stakeholders involved in the ongoing dispute in Mali to ensure that a common ground is found in the search for peace.

As a Special Envoy, Jonathan is to facilitate dialogue with all principal stakeholders in Mali, including President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, opposition leaders, civil society as well as religious organisations, towards resolving the worsening socio-political situation in the West African country.

Speaking ahead of his scheduled departure for Bamako tomorrow, the former president promised to do his best to ensure that the mission achieves the desired result.

He also thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for the support of the Nigerian Government, including providing an aircraft and other logistics needed to make the assignment successful, said a statement by Jonathan’s Media Adviser, Ikechukwu Eze.

Jonathan had led peace missions to many crises-ridden nations in the past. He’s expected to deploy his enormous goodwill within the continent to facilitate the process of restoring peace in the troubled nation.

Mali has been hit by protests, sparked by the outcome of parliamentary elections in March and April, perceived discontent over the government’s handling of the country’s jihadist insurgency and worsening economic situation.

Idowu Sowunmi

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Bayelsa Governor rejoices after Supreme Court verdict

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B.O.B Echoload

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July 14, 2020

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Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, Tuesday celebrated and commended Justices of the Supreme Court for their uprightness.

He described the verdict of the Supreme Court as the triumph of democracy.

Diri, who spoke to journalists in Abuja shortly after the apex court dismissed the appeal filed by Chief Ndutimi Alaibe against his victory at the September 3, 2019 governorship primary election of the Peoples Democracy Party (PDP), explained that the incident has deepened democratic ethos in Nigeria.

The governor noted that the judiciary remains the last hope of the common man in the country.

“Clearly and transparently, the Justices have displayed uprightness. They have also displayed that the Supreme Court is indeed the last court in Nigeria.

“I want to appreciate them and I believe and pray that God will continue to guide them, use them to do justice to all manner of people,” he said.

Diri also appreciated Bayelsans home and abroad as well as lovers of the state government for their prayers and promised not to fail them.

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Energy: Omoboriowo II, Karim, Campbell, others appointed into African Energy Chamber’s Advisory Committee

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Tobiloba Kolawole

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July 14, 2020

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The Chairman and Chief Eexecutive Officer, Genesis Energy Group, Akinwole Omoboriowo II; Chief Executive Officer, Shoreline Energy International, Kola Karim; Chief Executive Officer, Energy & Natural Resource Security, Inc., Derek Campbell; and others have been appointed into the African Energy Chamber’s United States-Africa Committee to serve on its Advisory Board and support the development of stronger energy cooperation and investment between the US and Africa.

Other members appointed by the African Energy Chamber include: Chief Executive Officer, Azimuth Energy Investments LLC, Reginal ‘Reg’ Spiller; Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Africa Fortesa Corporation, Rogers Beall; President, Kearney Africa, Jude Kearney; Managing Director for Africa, Millenium Challenge Corporation, Alicia Robinson-Morgan; General Manager (Africa), Pioneer Energy, Ann Norman; and Chief Economist, American Petroleum Institute, Dean Foreman.

In their personal capacities, the members of the US-Africa Committee have gathered several decades of experience in government and the private sector from both sides of the Atlantic, and share a passion for Africa and its development.

The decision of the African Energy Chamber was borne out of the belief that the potential for capital, expertise and technology transfers between the US and Africa was being under-exploited.

The US-Africa Committee is the first committee on the African Energy Chamber’s Advisory Board to be announced.

The chamber has put together leading industry experts, executives and public representatives to support several initiatives over the course of 2020 and 2021, such as local content development, natural gas and energy transitions, the promotion of an enabling environment and the expansion of exploration activities.

“The largest but also most recent discoveries in Africa were made by bold and capable American companies who have proven time and again that betting on Africa bears fruits.

“At times when the continent seeks to develop much stronger gas value chains and attract investment into midstream and downstream infrastructure, we need to look back at the United States and develop stronger partnerships.

“As Africa embraces energy transition, a substantial part of the capital needed to develop cleaner energy solutions also lies with American companies and institutions,” said the Executive Chairman at the African Energy Chamber, Nj Ayuk.

African Energy Chamber added that while Power Africa remains to date the most successful initiative to develop Africa’s energy sector by tapping into American capital and technology, more could be done in light of the continent’s continued energy poverty.

The chamber noted that from exploration to gas infrastructure, and from power technology to energy funding, the United States remains a global leader that has much to bring to Africa under the right partnerships and joint-ventures that could support local content development and jobs creation.

Idowu Sowunmi

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$8.5 Scam: Alleged internet fraudster, Ikenna Onwuzruike returns to court

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Tobiloba Kolawole

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July 14, 2020

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The trial of alleged internet fraud kingpin, Omwuzuruike Ikenna Kingsley, who was nabbed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) continued on Monday, July 13, 2020.

At the resumed hearing of the matter, which is before Justice A. T Mohammed of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the prosecution presented its first witness, Abbas Suleiman, an Assistant Detective Superintendent (ADS) of the EFCC, before the court.

While being led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, MT Iko; Suleiman told the court how the Commission, on receiving an intelligence on the alleged fraudulent activities of the defendant, commenced investigation which later led to his arrest in Umuahia, Abia State.

He stated that, the defendant was arrested with items such as a Samsung Galaxy Phone, iphone 11, black Dell laptop, 3 Nigerian international passports and an Accura car.

He also said the defendant was taken to the Port Harcourt office of the EFCC, where he volunteered his statement in writing under caution.

Furthermore, Suleiman disclosed that in the course of investigation, letters of investigation activities were written to the Egypt Embassy, Thailand Embassy, United States Embassy and some banks, such as United Bank for Africa, UBA, Polaris and Ecobank, who all cooperated.

The prosecuting counsel, Iko, thereby sought the permission of the court to tender the letters of investigation activities in evidence and were accepted and marked as Exhibit A1 to E respectively.

The defendant, Kingsley, is being prosecuted on eight -count charges bordering on conspiracy, impersonation, forgery, possession of proceeds and obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of Eight Million, Five Hundred and Two Thousand Dollars ($8,502,000.00).

He allegedly represented himself as one Jeff Sikora, President/CEO of Prime Trust Credit Union Bank in the United States of America, USA and used the false identity to defraud his victims, including an Egyptian who was defrauded of the sum of $6,500,000.00 on the pretext that he was a beneficiary of Inheritance Funds in a fixed deposit account of Prime Trust Financial Bank.

The defendant also received the sum of Two Thousand United States Dollars ($2,000) which was transferred to him by his syndicate member, one Obi Taxas, who is now at large, as part of his cut from the heist.

Meanwhile, Justice Mohammed adjourned the matter to 16th and 17th July, 2020 for continuation of trial.

One of the counts against the defendant read: “that you Onwuzuruike Ikenna Kingsley (aka Jeff Sikora) on or about the 28th day of December, 2019, at Umuahia, Abia State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court with intent to defraud did obtain the sum of $6,500,000.00 (Six million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) through web transfer from one Mr. Selah Elnagar Ali Ahmed, a citizen of the Arabic Republic of Egypt with the pretence that he is a beneficiary of Inheritance Funds in a fixed deposit account of Prime Trust Financial Bank, USA, a pretext you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act”.

Tobiloba Kolawole

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There are chat evidences against Mompha’s accomplices – EFCC’s forensic expert says

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Tobiloba Kolawole

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July 14, 2020

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal Office has presented the first prosecution witness, Nuru Buhari, in the trial of the duo of Kayode Phillips and Hamza Koudeih, both of whom are alleged accomplices of Ismaila Mustapha, popularly known as Mompha before Justice Muslim S. Hassan of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos.

This was disclosed by the agency via Twitter late Monday.

The defendants, who are high-valued targets in Organized Cyber Syndicate Network, OCSN, were arraigned on November 28, 2019 on 25-count charges, bordering on conspiracy and money laundering.

The charges against the defendants, who pleaded not guilty, thus setting off their trial, read: “That you, Kayode Phillips (a.k.a Voice of the King) and Hamza Koudeih (a.k.a. HK), sometime in May, 2019 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired among yourselves to commit an offence to wit conversion of the aggregate sum of $7, 069, 000 (Seven Million, Sixty-nine Thousand United States Dollars), £1, 000, 000 (One Million Pounds) and €80,000 (Eighty Thousand Euro), which sums you reasonably ought to have known form part of the proceeds of fraud and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 18 (a), 15 (2)(d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”

At the last sitting, Buhari, who is a forensic expert with the EFCC, while being led in evidence by prosecution counsel, A.O. Mohammed, gave a detailed account of the findings he made on the computer hard disk and two mobile phones, recovered from Philips, the first defendant.

These, he said, included the lead document and transfer instructions to some people.

“My lord, I also found in the phones, chats between the first defendant and some other people, where he was discussing how to market each lead document to them,” the witness stated.

They were tendered and admitted in evidence by the court after a failed opposition to their admissibility by Olutade Falana, counsel to the first defendant.

Justice Hassan however adjourned the matter till July 20 and 21, 2020 for ruling and continuation of trial.

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[Just In] Bayelsa Election: Supreme Court strikes out Timi Alaibe’s suit challenging Duoye Diri’s Candidacy

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Tobiloba Kolawole

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July 14, 2020

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Timi-Alaibe-and-Douye-Diri — L-R: Governor of Bayelsa State, Duoye Diri; plaintiff,Timi Alaibe

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has struck out Timi Alaibe’s appeal challenging the candidacy of Duoye Diri as the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the November 2019 election in Bayelsa State.

Having lost a previous suit at the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal, Alaibe lay claim to the authentic candidacy of the PDP.

On Tuesday, the court dismissed the case stating that the case brought before it was a pre-election matter.

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Ogun warns contractors on quality of work in delivering 952 school projects

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Tobiloba Kolawole

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July 14, 2020

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Ogun State Government has charged the engineers saddled with the responsibility of monitoring ongoing projects of schools in the State to ensure that the contractors deliver a long lasting and quality work.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Primary and Secondary Education, Mrs. Ronke Soyombo made this charge Monday during a meeting with the engineers under the State Universal Basic Education Board(SUBEB), on the specifications of their duties as regards government projects, held at Governor’s Office Press Centre, Oke-mosan, Abeokuta.

Mrs. Soyombo while reiterating the scope of their assignments which includes; assessment and monitoring of government projects, use of quality materials that will stand the test of time, she reiterated that engineers must have a good grip of the situation of things with the projects in their areas and to also carry along the principals and head teachers of all those schools.

“The safety of the students must be put into consideration while building, we must work together to achieve great success and we need you to avail us of all the schools in your care, which ones have we finished and which do we still need to work on, all these data must be made available for transparency”, she advised.

The Special Adviser appreciated the engineers and all other stakeholders for their efforts since the inception of the projects, she said that the results achieved so far is due to their efficiency and effectiveness, while also advising them to not relent in giving their best to the projects.

Mrs. Soyombo advised community leaders to join hands with the contractors and engineers for support and easy access to the schools in their communities, they should see it as a way of supporting the government’s Building our Future Together agenda.

In his earlier remarks, SUBEB Board Secretary, Mr. Olalekan Kuye, said the purpose of the meeting is to ensure excellent services were carried out and delivered and to also reiterate and intimate engineers of what their roles should be in the course of their supervision.

In their submission, some of the engineers, Mr. Obadiluwa Gabriel and Engineer Adeboyejo appreciated the present administration for the opportunity given to them to serve, promising that they would increase their efforts to deliver a better job while they also called on the government to look into some of the challenges they are facing.

Jacob Damilola & Ayoola Obadimu

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BREAKING: Virtual court sittings are not unconstitutional – Supreme Court replies Lagos, Ekiti

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Tobiloba Kolawole

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July 14, 2020

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The Supreme Court of Nigeria has struck out suits by Lagos and Ekiti states, challenging the legality of virtual court sittings.

The Attorney-General of Ekiti State, Mr Olawale Fapohunda had in the suit asked the court to determine the constitutionality of a directive issued by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubaka Malami, to the Heads of Courts at Federal and State levels, as it relates to the conduct of virtual proceedings in court, and whether such is not a violation of federalism as provided in the 1999 Constitution.

Also, Fapohunda wanted the apex court to determine if the directive issued in line with the National Judicial Council is not a violation of the constitutional provisions on fair hearing as it relates to the conduct of criminal trials in public.

Furthermore, Fapohunda asked the court to set aside or strike down directives to the extent that they purport to be binding on the Ekiti State High Court for being inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

However, in a unanimous judgement, Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour declared that as at today, virtual court sittings are not unconstitutional.

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Video: Ooni Adimula of Ife charges youth to be steadfast in culture

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Tobiloba Kolawole

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July 14, 2020

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Ooni-of-Ife — Ooni Adimula of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi

The Ooni Adimula of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi has charged young Nigerians to be steadfast in culture and heritage.

This charge was made over the weekend when the Monarch hosted in his palace, the Royal Court of the Kingdom of Ife (Ile-Oodua), some youths, a social media entertainer and actor, Debo Adebayo, widely known by the stage name Mr Macaroni and Big Brother Naija star, Seyi Awolowo.

According Oba Ogunwusi, young people must never forget their culture and heritage: “It is the greatest asset and wealth that we all must embrace”.

The Monarch, who reiterated his passion and commitment to mentoring young Nigerians said: “Over the past four years of my ascension to the Throne of my forbearers, one of my core Royal mission has been to reconstruct the worldview of our young populations as I instill in them new cultural attributes through beliefs, values, practices, norms, tradition, heritage and understanding extraordinary corpus moments in African history.

“It was an audacious moment, imprinting ambitious ideas for greatness in their minds as well as stemming up their spirit to share in my vision of rewriting our stories, celebrating our ancestor’s achievements and recording their challenges of the past for the generations ahead”, Oba Ogunwusi said.

In a statement posted on Instagram, Mr Macaroni expressed excitement and appreciation of the warm reception by the His Imperil Majesty.

“Honor of my life to have spent an incredibly exciting and overwhelming day with the Alayeluwa, Arole Oduduwa, Olofin Adimula!! His Imperial Majesty, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi (Ojaja II) The Ooni of Ife!!

“He showed me so much love, I was speechless!! Totally unbelievable!!
Thank you for this moment sir and for showing how ready you are to invest in the Youths! This for me is priceless!!! May your reign be long and prosperous!!! Kabiesi oooooooooooo”, Mr Macaroni stated.

Also sharing via Instagram, his experience with Oba Ogunwusi and appreciating the Monarch’s gift, Seyi Awolowo said: “The king freakied (credited) our accounts while he cracked the entire palace up.

“Not seen a king like this before… may you live long and prosper”, He stated.

Video via Twitter @OoniAdimulaIfe

Tobiloba Kolawole

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Mandela’s youngest daughter, Mama Zindzi, dies at 59

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Tobiloba Kolawole

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July 13, 2020

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Mama Zindzi Mandela, South Africa’s Ambassador to Denmark and youngest daughter of struggle icons, Nelson Mandela and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, has died at the age of 59.

She died on Sunday night at a hospital in Johannesburg, but the cause of her death has not been ascertained as at press time.

She’s survived by her four children: Zoleka, Zondwa, Bambatha and Zwelabo and her husband Molapo.

Confirming the unfortunate incident, the Mandela Family, in a statement, said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Mama Zindzi Mandela, youngest daughter of the late ANC (African National Congress) stalwarts Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.

“She is survived by her children and grandchildren. Memorial service and funeral arrangements to be announced in the course of the week.”

Also, Nelson Mandela Foundation was heartbroken by the news of the passing of Mama Zindzi.

The foundation said: “We have been shocked to wake to the news of the untimely passing of Zindziswa Mandela. On a day when we are marking the anniversary of another terrible moment – when Madiba’s son Thembekile died in a car accident in 1969. Zindzi was someone we had come to know well and to love. She was our friend.

“Our thoughts are with her family and friends.

“Zindzi will be remembered for a rich and extraordinary life, marked by many iconic moments. The years she spent banished with Mama Winnie Madikizela-Mandela to the small town of Brandfort. That summer’s day in February 1985 at Jabulani Stadium when she read to the world Madiba’s rejection of President Botha’s offer of a conditional release from prison.

“We will also remember her as a special soul. She worked with the Foundation on many projects over the years, for instance the book Hunger for Freedom, by author Anna Trapido. We valued her generosity, her warmth and her sense of humour. She was always patient in responding to our requests for information and other forms of assistance. And we admired her strength in dealing with life’s challenges and tragedies.

“Madiba’s personal archive speaks to this strength, as well as to the nature of her relationship with her father. Just two examples as illustration. In a 1969 letter from prison, Madiba noted that her ‘heart is sore because I am not at home and wants to know when I will come back.

“In a 1987 letter to Zindzi, Madiba told her that he had heard from an acquaintance that she was as strong as a rock. He went on: ‘That is just the kind of remark a father would like to hear about his beloved child. I literally swelled with pride and satisfaction. That remark reached me at the right time, shortly after you had just gone through a rather harrowing experience.

“He ended the letter: ‘Tons and tons of love darling, and a million kisses.

“We join with many in saying hamba kakuhle to an outstanding South African. We will miss you Zindziswa; you who were named after the daughter of that great South African poet S.E.K. Mqhayi. We will miss you Ambassador Mandela. Lala ngoxolo Madiba, Zondwa, Ngqolomsila, Sophitsho, Yem-yem,” Nelson Mandela Foundation said, in a statement by Luzuko Koti.

President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa also offered his condolences.

“I offer my deep condolences to the Mandela family as we mourn the passing of a fearless political activist who was a leader in her own right. Our sadness is compounded by this loss being visited upon us just days before the world marks the birthday of the great Nelson Mandela.

“Zindzi Mandela was a household name nationally and internationally, who during our years of struggle brought home the inhumanity of the apartheid system and the unshakeable resolve of our fight for freedom.

“After our liberation she became an icon of the task we began of transforming our society and stepping into spaces and opportunities that had been denied to generations of South Africans,” Ramaphosa said.

The Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in his tribute, said: “Saddened to hear the news about Zindzi Mandela passing. I am sending my deepest condolences to the Mandela family and the people of South Africa. Zindzi was an inspirational leader and we all will miss her greatly.”

Idowu Sowunmi

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