₦airaland Forum

Billionaire Iranian businessman Babak Zanjani has been sentenced to death for corruption, justice officials say.
He was arrested in December 2013 after accusations that he withheld billions in oil revenue channelled through his companies. He denies the allegations.
Zanjani, 42, was convicted of fraud and economic crimes, a judiciary spokesperson said at a press briefing.
One of Iran's richest men, Zanjani was blacklisted by the US and EU for helping Iran evade oil sanctions.
Two others were sentenced to death along with him and all were ordered to repay embezzled funds. The ruling can be appealed.
Zohreh Rezalee, a lawyer for Zanjani, told the BBC the verdict was politically motivated and an appeal would be lodged.
"We believe that Babak Zanjani in this case is just a debtor," the lawyer said.
Who is Babak Zanjani?
Played a key role in helping Iran get around sanctions to sell oil abroad during the presidency of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
From Dubai, he controlled a global network of more than 60 companies involved in everything from cosmetics to air travel and banking
Accused of impropriety after Hassan Rouhani , a moderate who pledged to tackle high-level corruption, became president in 2013
Born in Tehran, attended a Turkish university and became a driver for Iran's central bank head in 1999, when he started out in currency exchange
Said he was worth $13.5bn but was reported to have significant debts
Downfall of a billionaire
Zanjani had acknowledged using a web of companies in the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Malaysia to sell millions of barrels of Iranian oil on behalf of the government since 2010.
Before his arrest, Zanjani had argued that international sanctions were preventing him from handing over $1.2bn still owed to the government.
But at his recent trial, prosecutors said he still owed the government more than $2.7bn in oil revenue.
He was taken into custody a day after President Hassan Rouhani ordered his government to fight "financial corruption", particularly "privileged figures" who had "taken advantage of economic sanctions" under the previous government.
'Corrupt parasites'
The trial, unusually, was held in public, AFP news agency reports.
In a 2013 interview with the BBC , Zanjani played down his political connections in Iran, saying: "I don't do anything political, I just do business."
Zanjani has said he is worth about some $13.5bn.
For years things worked well for the businessman who appeared in photos with some high-ranking officials and was not shy of showing off his wealth, such as private jets and luxury cars, Amir Azimi of BBC Persian reports.
But when the local media started to report on his wealth, he came under the spotlight and under suspicion.
The death sentence could have wider implications for Iran's economy, where many were involved in finding ways to avoid the sanctions, our analyst adds.
International sanctions on Iran were lifted in January after a watchdog confirmed it had complied with a deal designed to prevent it developing nuclear weapons.
Oil minister Bijan Zanganeh has urged foreign investors to avoid middlemen, whom he describes as "corrupt parasites".
Zanjani was convicted of "corruption on earth", the most serious offence in Iran's criminal code.
Other wealthy individuals have been executed after being found guilty of similar charges.
In May 2014, businessman Mahafarid Amir-Khosravi was hanged after being convicted of embezzling billions of dollars.

definitely UBA.

why is that these people from that region always claim victimization at any slightest instant? You all didn't wait for the DSS to give reasons for his arrest first before complaining.

I trust my people, we don't condone corruption. If you are caught, u must face trial and be punished. The Yoruba air force officers are examples. #proudlyomooodua.

tubouncen:
What is so special about him going through the event ''programe'' again

I rushed to see if na ''olosho'' him carry for leg... Shior

only an ignorant fool will not appreciate the efforts of Mr tony elumelu in raising African entrepreneurs.

babafirst:
And under GEJ a big blessing abi?

Abeg help me ask this clueless wailer again.

[quote author=BeClever post=43347121]NIGERIA IS A ZOO!![/quote

If your country is a zoo, that makes u an animal!!! because u live in Nigeria. Fool!!!

shafanik:
I can't see agriculture or mining sectors. Why cant they participate?


What has happened to energy sector?

In this 21st century where power shortage is so hard for govt to tackle , at least renewable energy could have been added to the list of qualified sectors.


Instead what I see is entertainment, tourism...

agriculture and agro processing is there.

912:
The Trap has caught another rat! No eater of our yam will go free.

point of correction. the trap has caught another he-goat!!!

good!!!

if its a head shot, 2 dies first.

SeverusSnape:
Trash. Off point. Rubbish.

e pain am!!!.... IPod tout!!!

SeverusSnape:
Trash. Off point. Rubbish.

e pain am!!!.... IPod tout!!!

tiger28:
****Why won't the economy go to the dogswith BILLIONS being investigated everyday??it's soooo pathetic how some Nigerians have become sympathetic towards looting because of ethnic or party affiliations. Meanwhile, most of their families are living in ABJECT poverty.....really pathetic! !

so true!!! its so shameful for some group of people to shamelessly support corruption because of their hatred for the north and south west. they should face the reality, Jonathan adminstration milked us dry and PMB will fish them out. so they better face the reality or continue to wail because it won't stop PMB being reelected in 2019!!!..

their region is one of the under developed in Nigeria under GEJ tenure, the 2nd Niger bridge is still a myth. All their roads have been washed off by erosion. even most of them can't live in their hometown!!! because there are no jobs there.... yet they will still support corruption blindly. Una never suffer, e just dey start. until u guys start thinking straight, u will continue to be the backbenchers.


#Godblessbuhari
#GodblessNigeria
#PMBtill2023

Firefire:
Continuation of APC media propaganda...
Every new week, a brand new propaganda from the coven of APC.

a wailer knows how to do only one thing... TO WAIL.

this is impressive. where is your base?

scobyy2007:
The funny thing is that some people still think no money was stolen and that GEJ's leadership was just the best!!!

you mean the wailing wailers?

Pavarottii:
Thank God u didn't say GEJ was a thief, in all of ur message. And u didn't forget to put it. But consciously u know he is not a thief. They should jail all those that stole under their ministries or military. But leave my GEJ. Out of it.

he gave them a level playing ground. No politician was jailed during his 6 years tenure. GEJ is the father of all thieves.

yes amosu and adigun are from the south west, I am a Yoruba man but we don't condone corruption. we want them to face the full wrath of the law.

let the south Easterners learn from us. they should stop supporting corrupt thieves because of tribalism. Its is shameful.

McMayowa:
This is what happened when you choose fulani man to be your president.

Baba and his Sojourns so far .
1) Niger Republic (May 2015).
2)United Kingdom (May 2015)
3) Germany (June 2015).
4) South Africa (June 2015).
5) .CHAD (June 2015)
6) USA (July 2015).
7) Benin Republic (August 2015).
France (September 2015).
9) Ghana (September 2015).
10) India (October 2015).
11) Sudan (October 2015).
12) Iran (November 2015).
13) France (November 2015).
14) USA (November 2015).
15) South Africa (December 2015).
16) Benin Rep. (December 2015).
17) UAE (January 2016).
18) Kenya (January 2016).
19) Ethiopia (January 2016).
20) France (February 2016).
21) United. Kingdom (February 2016).
22) Egypt (February 2016).
23) Saudi Arabia (February 2016).
24) Qatar (February 2016)

(around the world in 80 days )

#WakawakaBuhari

that's where your kinsmen has diverted our monies to. He is visiting the countries to recover the loot.

Treasury bills is better and more profitable.

MrEverest:
The man is a pure efulefu, he is hated even by his own people due to his fuulishness & stup!dity. Respected & dignified Igbos like Innoson, Chikason, Tonimas, Ibeto etc have seen the bigger picture & are investing at home but this selfish & irresponsible man built such industry in D same place they threatened him with lagoon drowning! How many have Dangote, Otedola or other Yorubas built in the East? Imagine if he had built that at Nnewi, Onitsha Or Aba as other sensible Igbos did! Just like Zik, he choose to love his enemies while they plan to kill him! Id!otic man.

and who will buy the products in the south east? because most Igbo don't even live there!!!!.... if you want him to invest there, then all igbos should relocate home so that there will be market for his products.

truth is all you IPOD flat heads will only continue to WAIL. your clueless GEJ ruled for 6 years. PMB's tenure is less than a year. I stand with buhari!!!..... no matter how much you all wail, he will be reelected 2019!!!... if you can't handle it, Go and die!!!

I wonder how Igbos will rule Nigeria with this blind love for corruption due to ethnic hatred...... They never will.



#Istandwithbuhari
#hatersshoulddrinksniper

what is the price range of these shirts?

123papas:
why should it be defatted?

defattening will increase the protein density of the maggots.

they said all selected applicants will be contacted on d 12th. I guess they have done their selection.

you are right farm tech, maggots can be substituted for soybeans in animal feed. consider defatting it. so that it will contain pure protein.

IVORY2009:
Another propaganda to keep the masses busy for the main time.

Why declear the accused guilty before the courts, dis EFCC self

wailer spotted!!!

Eledan:
Don't let deceive ourselves, PDP finished and almost bankrupt Nigeria.

but those foolish wailers will disagree. Tribalism has blackened their thinking.

Holywizard:
God bless de boy... HE IS A HERO

your details will be forwarded to DSS.

darkenkach:
Little Dare is a hero..

terrorist on the loose!!! seun pls forward his details to DSS. you just might be saving lives!!!

Great Yabatech, the first and still the best!!!

APCcrimes:
May God bless GEJ for this TSA initiative!

an initiative he never had the balls to implement.

gunuvi:
@op, how is the picture going to save us from this present situation bubu has put us now. Or is it the past picture that is important to us now?

the present situation he put you or the present situation your shoeless ex president put u. wailers will continue to......... WAIL