₦airaland Forum

A 29-year-old fun-seeker identified simply as Francis has drowned while swimming at the Pop Beach Club in the Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the incident happened on Thursday at about 12pm while the victim was holding a birthday hangout with his friends.

It was gathered that the late Francis and three others left their colleagues while the celebration was going on and went to the sea to swim.

An eyewitness told our correspondent on Sunday that some of the lifeguards close to the sea raised the alarm after they sighted the four of them struggling to swim against the tide.

The eyewitness said, “The celebrant came with 11 friends including the victim around 12 pm. They were having fun when about four of them went to swim in the beach. After spending about 30 minutes swimming, we could no longer see them again. The next moment we saw them, they were already struggling in the water. That was when we alerted the lifeguards who went into the sea to rescue them. They were only able to rescue three of them.”

Efforts by the lifeguards to rescue the deceased victim were unsuccessful as he was already too weak to swim.

“After they searched for the remaining one and could not find him, the management went to the police station to report the incident. By the time a team of police arrived, the management had also gone to hire local divers who came to begin another round of search for the missing person. The search lasted till the evening but he was not found,” the eyewitness added.

PUNCH Metro, however, gathered that the remains of the deceased were later found on Saturday.

A police source in the community said, “His body was washed to the shore of the sea on Saturday morning. And immediately people saw it, they alerted the management.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident.

He said, “It happened. The body was recovered two days after the incident and the corpse has been deposited in the morgue.”

The Special CBN Investigator, Jim Obazee, has summoned the Chairman of Titan Trust Bank, Babatunde Lemo, in connection with the acquisition of Union Bank of Nigeria Plc by TTB.

The TTB chairman, a former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, was directed to report at the Department of Force Intelligence opposite the Force headquarters, Shehu Shagari Way, Abuja on Thursday, where he is expected to be questioned over the UBN acquisition.

Lemo was further instructed to come along with the promoters of TTB, Messrs Cornelius Vink and Mr Rahul Savara, to meet with the team of special Investigators.

Lemo was invited in a letter dated December 24, 2023, and signed by the Head of Operations, Office of the Special Investigator, DCP Eloho Okpoziakpo.

Obazee had in his report alleged that some persons were used as proxies by a former CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, to set up Titan Trust Bank and acquire Union Bank.

Obazee, who was appointed special investigator in July, 2023, submitted his final report tagged, ‘Report of the Special Investigation on CBN and Related Entities (Chargeable offences) to the Presidency on December 20, 2023.

In two separate reports on the acquisition of UBN and Keystone Bank submitted to President Bola Tinubu last Wednesday, the Special Investigator also alleged that Emefiele used proxies to acquire Keystone Bank without evidence of payment.

‘’When we carried out investigation, we discovered that some persons were used as proxies by Mr Godwin Emefiele to set up Titan Trust Bank and acquire Union Bank therefrom, all from ill-gotten wealth.

‘’We were able to secure some documents and investigation reports will lead to the forfeiture of the two banks to the Federal Government. We have completed our investigation on this acquisition and have also held meetings with the relevant parties except for Mr Cornelis Vink (that is currently hospitalised in Switzerland).

‘’Otherwise, we are on the verge of recovering these two banks for the Federal Government,’’ Obazee claimed in his letter.

Following media reports on the UBN deal, Lemo in an interview with Sunday PUNCH insisted that the acquisition of the bank followed due process and met all regulatory requirements, including that of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Central Bank of Nigeria.

He insisted that the establishment of Titan Trust Bank and the subsequent acquisition of Union Bank were transparent and duly verified by the relevant regulatory bodies.

However, in furtherance of the investigation into the UBN deal, and in response to Lemo’s defence, the investigator in the letter titled, RE: CBN investigation activities: Invitation for a follow-up meeting with the Special Investigator,’ took the TTB chairman to task on his defence.

The letter read, ‘’Please, refer to your discussion with the Special Investigator earlier today regarding the offensive defence that your good self issued in PUNCH newspapers, on behalf of TTB which you chair, as well as the email you sent to the Special Investigator today wherein you tried to provide clarification on your reaction to the report on TTB.

‘’The defence seems contrary to the statements, made under caution, by the persons connected with these transactions, including your good self, before the Special Investigator at the Department of State Service in August 2023.

‘’In the said newspapers, you referred to both Cornelius Vink and Rahul Savara as “prominent global entrepreneurs and having thriving businesses in Nigeria…”

‘’In your email as well as your earlier discussion with the Special Investigator, you suggested that both of them be invited to provide clarification on their share ownership and given seven days to make such clarification; failure which they will forfeit their shares to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

‘’We are surprised at your request with regard to these two shareholders. They were given this opportunity via a letter to them dated 28th August 2023 (copy attached as Appendix 1).

‘’Instead of honouring the invitation and providing the requested documents, we received a letter from the Company Secretary of Union Bank, Somuyiwa Sonubi, dated 1st September 2023, informing the Special Investigator that Mr. Cornelius Vink was out of the country on medical grounds and that both “Messrs Vink and Savara will be available for the meeting as soon as they are in Nigeria which will be soon” (copy attached as Appendix 2).

‘’Up until this offensive defence that you put in the public domain, the Special Investigator has neither heard from them nor received the requested documents.”

However, when The PUNCH examined the letter written by Union Bank to the Special Investigator (referenced Appendix 2 above), the lender stated it was submitting all “the documents/information requested for in printed and electronic formats for ease of your review and analysis” alongside the letter.


As of press time, The PUNCH could not independently verify why the special investigator did get the documents as claimed above. Also, our correspondent could not verify if the Special investigator replied the Union Bank to demand explanation as to why the documents claimed to have been submitted alongside the letter were not attached.

Meanwhile, in the latest letter summoning Lemo for a follow-up meeting, the Office of the Special Investigator said, ‘’Accordingly, you are hereby invited to come along with Messrs Cornelius Vink and Mr Rahul Savara to meet with the Team of Special Investigators by 2pm on 28th December 2023 at the Department of Force Intelligence, Opposite Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Shehu Shagari Way, Area 11, Garki, Abuja; without fail or excuse. ‘’

The letter added, ‘’Please, inform them to come along with all the documents/information requested from them by the letter to Mr Cornelius Vink dated 28th August 2023 (attached herewith as Appendix 1). You will also be required to make additional statements to your earlier statement on that day.

‘’Kindly note that if Messrs Cornelius Vink and Rahul Savara refuse to attend this meeting and provide/defend the requested documents/information, it will be construed that they have decided to forfeit their purported shareholdings in TTB and Union Bank of Nigeria; irrespective of which vehicle that they are using to own the purported shares.

‘’Should you also refuse to attend the meeting to provide additional statement to your earlier statement made in August 2023, it will be construed that you misled the Nigerian public with your reaction in the PUNCH Newspapers today which has gained wide publicity in both electronic and print media.’’

The investigator explained that the invitation was to further ensure that ‘’it is beyond reasonable doubt that the Federal Government of Nigeria has given you a fair hearing.’’

Meanwhile, It is unclear whether without a court ruling, the Special Investigator’s Office has the powers to make investors lose their shareholding should they fail to attend the meeting for whatsoever reason.

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Monday defended the peace deal initiated by President Bola Tinubu between him and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, over the crisis in the state.

Fubara, in a broadcast on Monday, said the resolution brokered by the President to resolve the crisis was not a death sentence, adding that it would ensure lasting peace in the state.

He expressed his commitment to the implementation of the peace agreement in such a way that would restore political stability in the state.

But the Peoples Democratic Party National Working Committee in its reaction warned the governor against implementing the agreement he signed without the input of the party (PDP) on whose platform he was elected.

The PUNCH reports that the crisis rocking the state took a new turn on December 11, 2023, when 27 members of the state House of Assembly defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress.

At the instance of Tinubu, Fubara on December 18 signed an eight-point peace agreement with Wike, who is the Federal Capital Territory, in a move to end the political crisis in the state.

However, the PDP officially joined a suit seeking to declare vacant the seats of the lawmakers who defected from the party to the APC.

The party vowed to vigorously pursue the case despite Tinubu’s peace meeting with Rivers State political stakeholders.

Peace deal

But speaking on the peace pact during his Christmas Day broadcast, the governor pledged to implement the agreement without compromising the interest of the people of the state.

Fubara said, “By this singular effort, our dear President has demonstrated that he loves Rivers State and cherishes nothing short of a reign of perfect peace in our State with his presidential peace proclamation on the 18th of December 2023. Mr President’s Peace Proclamation has naturally elicited mixed reactions from our people and across the country.

“As a principal participant in the entire saga, I have taken some time to study the terms therein and have come to the conclusion that the peace pact is not as bad as it may be portrayed by those genuinely opposed to it.

“It is certainly not a death sentence. I reaffirm my acceptance and my commitment to implementing both the letter and spirit of the declaration in such a way and manner that will restore political stability to our dear state without compromising the collective interest of our people and our cherished and shared democratic values.”

The governor also confirmed that he had released the allowances of the lawmakers and that the defected lawmakers had withdrawn their ‘purported’ impeachment.

He stated, “Both parties have demonstrated some goodwill in the implementation process with the withdrawal of the purported impeachment notice on their part and the release of hitherto withheld allowances of the members of the State House of Assembly by the Government.

“I have said before there is no price too much to pay for peace and with the realization that the worst peace is better than the best war.

“We will strive to make peace with all segments and interest groups without surrendering our freedom nor jeopardizing the interest and well-being of the good people of Rivers State who graciously entrusted us with their cherished mandate.”

He added he would toe a path that would best advance and protect the collective interest of the state and its people.

The governor said, “Let me, therefore, crave your kind understanding and call on you to have confidence in the process we are embarking upon to find lasting peace in our state as we are confident that we can achieve stability and progress without endangering the collective interest of our people.”

He commended President Tinubu for his intervention that has brought some lasting peace to the political crisis in the state, stating that the effort showed that Tinubu loves Rivers State.

He pledged that 2024 would witness a speedy transformation of the state with the completion of several projects and programmes, such as the sections of the Port Harcourt Ring Road, the Andoni section of the Unity Road, the Ahoada-Omoku Road, the Emohua-Degema Road and the commencement of many other laudable projects, both in infrastructure and human capital development, as outlined in our 2024 budget.

PDP fumes

But the PDP NWC in its reaction faulted Fubara’s plan to implement Tinubu’s peace deal.

The party Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, in an interview with The PUNCH, said the peace pact could not be implemented.

He said “ First and foremost the governor is an adult and he was the Rivers State governorship candidate of the PDP in the last election, now the governor of the state. But the issues at stake that President Bola Tinubu bothered himself with are bigger than him. They are also bigger than the governor because they are constitutional issues.

“ The question of the seats of the defected lawmakers being vacant is a clear constitutional issue, not at the wishes and discretion of President Tinubu or any other person. It is a clear constitutional matter.

“ Also, the PDP constitutionally owns the votes, so I don’t see how Governor Fubara will tell the PDP that because he met with the President in Aso Rock, the PDP should not take charge of its votes. As we speak the PDP is in court, the votes belong to the PDP, not to Fubara or the Villa.

“The one within the governor’s purview is to pay salaries and allowances of the lawmakers to the date their seats become vacant. I am sure the governor knows his limit.”

On his part, a former National Secretary of the PDP, Senator Ibrahim Tsauri cautioned that the governor would be committing a political blunder to implement a peace pact against his party’s stand.

The member of the PDP National Executive Council noted said the implementation would be morally right, but politically incorrect.

Tsauri stated “As a complete gentleman, he went there and signed the agreement, even though without the consent of the party. So implementation will be made by him and not by the party. But certainly, it won’t be in the interest of the party.

“ The PDP will not allow itself to be dragged into that trap, but he failed to consult the party. If he implements it, he is in trouble, if he doesn’t, is in trouble. Implementation of the agreement is like jumping into awaiting problems. And if he fails to implement it, he is going to enter the Federal government’s trouble. So, either way, is trouble for him.”

Also, a former PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus, in a statement on Monday by his Media Adviser, Ike Abonyi, in Abuja, on Sunday, urged the political class to be wary of actions that might constitute a threat to our nascent democracy and national security.

Abonyi quoted his principal as saying, “With particular reference to the crisis in Rivers State, the former PDP boss contended that the intervention of President Bola Tinubu must be by the spirit and letter of our constitution for it to be implementable.

“There are creative ways a political conflict can be resolved if and when the President acts like a statesman and the President of all Nigerians.

“Mr President would have violated this sacred role if he acted in such a way and manner that gave an unconstitutional advantage to his political party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, and an individual political godfather.

“This is the scenario the unenforceable agreement reached at the instance of Mr President purports to foster.”

He urged well-meaning Nigerians to call on the President and other stakeholders to act in the interest of peace in Rivers State and “ensure genuine, unbiased, generally acceptable, and enforceable reconciliation of the crisis.”

Former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, IBB, has said that his initial plan in life was to become a civil engineer. He noted that the decision by the then government of Northern Nigeria that youths of his time should be enlisted into the Nigerian army changed the course of his destiny.

Babangida spoke in a live radio programme anchored by the Federal University of Technology, FUT, Minna campus radio, ‘Search FM’, on Saturday morning.

Babangida said on completion of primary education, he went to Bida Provincial Secondary School and, after six years, joined the Military Training College, Kaduna, almost immediately.
Responding to how joining the military shaped the rest of his life and what informed his decision to enlist as cadet officer, IBB said: “Well, maybe to understand the background, at about that period there was a deliberate government policy.

“At that time there were not a lot of people from the North who were in the military. So it took a deliberate policy to go around and invite the younger generation from secondary schools, (government colleges) to come and join the military. And that’s what started our career in the military.”

The Civil War

On the experience and lessons of the Nigerian civil war, the former President said: “It’s not a very nice experience, I must say.

“First of all, you had people you went to school with, people you trained with, people who were your friends, suddenly, as a result of the war, you find yourselves facing each other on opposite sides.

“So that’s the uniquely sad aspect of a civil war and I pray it never happens again.”

“I wanted to be a civil engineer”, Babangida replied when asked what he would have become if the deliberate policy by the northern government did not alter his plans.

On his leadership style that has attracted, and still attracting both good and bad compliments IBB said: “Just like any other style, you are placed in a leadership position your job is to lead people.

“You develop a situation where people look up to you to provide certain solutions to their problems or to their fear; whatever it is.

“And you stand out as the person who will be able to do that. So you have to study human beings, you have to read about them and you have to be very compassionate.


“It is not very comfortable but then we had to do it. The purpose was to unite the country to keep it as one not to break it.

“Sometimes ruthlessness gets things done but there are a lot of ways you have to develop so that you’ll be able to achieve certain things. Others you plead with, some you coerce and so on and so forth”.,

He added that leaders and leadership is all about taking responsibilities for perceived rights and wrongs in the administration.

“What I want to be remembered for”
Babangida said part of what he would wish to be remembered for “is that I served the country the best I could.

“It may not be to your satisfaction but to the best that I could. I leave that to history to judge and I related fairly well with the people of the country. I had no problems with them and I got to know the country more as I was well travelled. I made friends all over the country and I thought that was one of the greatest achievements”.

Recall that IBB led the country as a Military President from 1985 to 1993. He, thereafter, “stepped aside” after the debacle of the 1993 presidential election.


… youths
The former leader adviced younger generations on the need to try as much as possible to know and understand the country, Nigeria because they are going to lead the country in the future.

“You have an opportunity now as young people, get to know the country, study the country, the people and if you are able to do that or to understand that, basically I think that will go a long way to prepare you for the eventual leadership of the country”.

Speaking on whether or not the biopic, ‘Portrait of a General’ by Nollywood is an accurate representation of events of his time, IBB said, “Well, as a military man a man who practiced both in war and peace time I would have corrected one or two places.

“But I think what they (Nollywood) are trying to project is a food for thought that could give us the room for improvement.”

Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, IBB, commended the entire Search Media crew and the management of FUT, Minna led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Farouk Adamu Kuta for setting the pace for campus radio to thrive in Niger state.

A former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Uchechi Secondus has urged President Bola Tinubu to act as true statesman in his intervention in the political crisis in Rivers State.

The PUNCH reports that Governor Similayi and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, after a truce meeting with President Tinubu on December 18, agreed to an 8-point resolution.

The resolution amongst others mandated Fubara to re-present the 2024 appropriation bill he had earlier presented to the four-member state House of Assembly to the full House.

Secondus, however in a Christmas message on Sunday signed by his media aide, Ike Adonyi, noted that Tinubu’s intervention must not violate the tenets of the constitution.

The statement read in part, “With particular reference to the crisis in Rivers State, the former PDP boss contended that the Intervention of President Bola Tinubu must be by the spirit and letter of our constitution for it to be implementable.

“There are creative ways a political conflict can be resolved if and when the President acts like a statesman and the President of all Nigerians.

“He insisted that Mr President would have violated this sacred role if he acted in such a way and manner that gave an unconstitutional advantage to his political party, the APC, and an individual political godfather. This is the scenario the unenforceable agreement reached at the instance of Mr President purports to foster!”

Secondus, however, enjoined other Nigerians to clarion call on the President and relevant stakeholders to act in the interest of peace in Rivers State and “ensure genuine, unbiased, generally acceptable, and enforceable reconciliation of the crisis”

Coolsat:
Emeka just go resurrect issue wey don die so as to promote movie but the woman has decided to be in the mud with him this time around. Na the kids I pity most in all of these kos their mental health is already messed up. Africans no dy care about mental health of children so parents are allowed to toy with their brains, sad sha.

As for Emeka and his ex wife all they need is healing.

PrincessofDSS:
I don’t believe in Christmas

spencekat:
People were don dey live together since come get children join.

DrDoc:
Emefiele is a financial terrorist ans should serve ten life times behind bar

Zonefree:
You later smash the IT girl?

Franktom247:
Who is CRA OP abeg

Kogi Governor’s Nephew, Ali Bello Drags American International School Abuja To Court After Paying $760,000 Advance School Fees

SaharaReporters earlier reported that Ali Bello acting on behalf of the governor had entered into an agreement to pay the advanced school fees of the governor’s four children until graduation in the school.


The nephew of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, Mr Ali Bello has sued the American International School, Abuja (AISA) over a breach of contractual Agreement for Prepaid School Fees Until Graduation duly executed in 2021.

He is seeking among others N100million in damages against the school authorities for refunding the sum of $760,910.84 paid to the school account towards the education of Governor Bello's children to a third party, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) without any court order or his consent

SaharaReporters earlier reported that Ali Bello acting on behalf of the governor had entered into an agreement to pay the advanced school fees of the governor’s four children until graduation in the school.

However, barely one year after, the EFCC wrote the school and demanded that the money amounting to $760.910.84 should be refunded to a nominated account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The school, however, reportedly paid the money to the said EFCC account with CBN without any court, thereby jeopardising the education of the said children as the institution had threatened to terminate the children's education with the school if they failed to pay their tuition fees henceforth

SaharaReporters reported that Governor Bello's nephew, Ali and two others, are currently being prosecuted by the EFCC over a N3billion fraud.

Bello was arraigned alongside two others at the Federal High Court on 18 count charges of money laundering and misappropriation of about N3 billion.

Other co-defendants in the charge are: Abba Adauda, Yakubu Adabenege, and Iyada Sadat, Rashida Bello now at large.

Now following the breach of the agreement, Ali Bello has dragged the Incorporated Trustees of American International School Abuja before a Federal Capital Territory High Court in suit No: FCT/HC/CV/2574/2023, to declare that the fees paid by His Excellency, Yahaya Bello, cannot be forfeited or refunded to the government while in office as a governor, having not violated any law.

In the suit which commenced through Originating Summons, Bello's through his lawyer, Zekeri Garuba Esq of Ahmed Raji & Co. formulated questions for determination before the court and sought for seven reliefs.

The three questions formulated for determinations are: "Whether upon a consideration of the 'Agreement for Prepaid School Fees Until Graduation' duly executed on 23rd August 2021 by the Claimant and the Defendant, parties are not legally bound by same?

"Whether without an order of Court, the Defendant can resile from its obligations as contained in the 'Agreement for Prepaid School Fees Until Graduation' duly executed on 23 August 2021, on account of a mere "Request for Refund" from a third party, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

"Whether the Defendant by its unilateral action to wit; attempting to honour/or honouring the request for refund from a third party, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of balance of future fees paid by the Claimant and the Bello Family pursuant to the Agreement executed on 23/08/2021 without an Order of Court or instructions of the Claimant is not in breach of the said agreement between the parties."

In determining the questions, the Claimant (Ali Bello) demanded for a payment of N100 million in damages against the school for the breach of the contractual agreement.

Among the Reliefs sought are: "A declaration that there is a binding contract between the Claimant and the Defendant in respect of prepaid school fees until graduation.

"A declaration that the Defendant cannot lawfully and unilaterally grant the "Request for Refund and pay over to a third Party, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission or anyone howsoever described, the of $760.910.84 or any other sum paid pursuant to the Agreement for Prepaid School Fees until Graduation except in accordance with the said Agreement or upon an Order of Court.

"A declaration that any refund/payment of the sum of $760,910.84 (Seven Hundred and Sixty Thousand, Nine Hundred and Ten Dollars, Eighty-Four Cents) or any other sum made to a third party, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission or any other person, however described pursuant to any 'Request for Refund or howsoever described without the Order of a Court or agreement of the Claimant is in breach of the 'Agreement for Prepaid School Fees until graduation' executed on 23/8/2021

"A declaration that the fees paid by His Excellency Yahaya Bello cannot be forfeited or refunded to the government, any of its institutions or anybody however described while in office as Governor.

"AN order of perpetual injunction restraining the Defendant, whether by itself, its Trustees, members of staff, agents, privies, representatives and or any person howsoever described, from giving effect to any "Request for Refund" and/or paying over the sum of $760.910.84 or any other sum paid pursuant to the Agreement, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission or anybody or account howsoever described, except as ordered by a Court of competent jurisdiction and or as agreed by the parties.

"AN ORDER mandating the Defendant to forthwith refund to accounts provided by the Claimant, the sum of $760,910.84 (Seven Hundred and Sixty Thousand Nine Hundred and Ten Dollars, Eighty-Four Cents) OR

"AN ORDER compelling the Defendant to continue to perform its obligations and render the services agreed and as contained in the 'Agreement for Prepaid School Fees until Graduation until the refund of the sum of 5760,910.84 is made to the Claimant.

"General Damages of One Hundred Million Naira (N100, 000, 000.00) against the Defendant."

naija4life247:
No need of protest nah. Let them just tell their kindergarten governor to ignore the peace accord, and let the fight begin. Asiwaju Tinubu is in Lagos doing party after party, he will not intervene. If you like, kill yourselves and destroy your state, City Boy will not interfer in family affairs. It was your so called Elders that publicly called on Tinubu to help them settle your family matters, if not, the City Boy wouldn't have put mouth.

So as it is now, you can go and declare war in your state, City Boy will not say a word. But if you start trouble in your state, it is you people that will beg him to intervene again. That time, it will be a State of Emergency, and you will see one of Nyezom Wike's boys being appointed as the Sole Administrator. Una go Explain Tire, because No Evidence