June 04, 2015

Page 1

Newspaper of the Year

Military kicks as AI seeks trial of officers

•Gunmen abduct 45-year-old Ondo regent, three aides P7 •Ministries row over ‘missing’ N500m inauguration cash P6 •Lawan ‘ll unite APC, PDP senators, says Unity Forum P44 •Alleged N300b fraud: EFCC grills ex- Governor Sheriff P4

NEWS – Pages 2&3

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 10, NO. 3235 THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2015

•www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

CBN officials, others acquired estates in South Africa, Nigeria, court told

T

HE Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan yesterday ordered the remand of another set of eight bank officials for alleged N8 billion currency scam. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned three Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) officials and five employees of First Bank Plc over the alleged scam. The accused, the court heard, acquired assets in Nigeria and Pretoria, South Africa. The CBN employees are Kolawole Babalola, Olaniran Adeola and Togun Kayode Phillips. Their alleged accomplices are Isiaq Akao, Ayodele Festus Adeyemi, Oyebamiji Hakeem, Ayodeji Alase and Ajiwe Adegoke The commission arraigned the bank officials on a 28-count charge bordering on forgery, misrepresentation and self-enrich-

•EFCC Operatives leading the suspects in the N8billion CBN officials fraud to the court premises in Ibadan ... yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

ment before Justice Adeyinka Faji. The EFCC in the charge said that the CBN staff conspired with the First Bank employees to recycle N10 billion mutilated currency notes meant to be destroyed. The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

PART OF THE 15-COUNT CHARGE

•Conspiracy •Abuse of office •Stealing •False declaration of actual amount •Concealing of property •Fraudulently acquiring assets in excess of their legitimate and provable income. The six accused persons are facing a 15-count charge ranging from conspiracy,

abuse of office and stealing to false declaration of actual amount.

The others are concealing of property, fraudulently acquiring assets in excess of their legitimate and provable income and causing economic adversity to the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The court was told how the suspects acquired assets worth several billions of naira through fraudulent means, in excess of their legitimate income.

The assets said to have been acquired by the accused bank workers both within Nigeria and Pretoria, South Africa, were allegedly gotten by stealing N1.25billion supposed mutilated currencies meant to be destroyed and taken out of circulation. The accused persons, acContinued on page 4

•INSIDE: SENATE OKAYS LIFE FOR RAPISTS P61 BUHARI’S 15 ADVISERS APPROVED P5

Buhari vows to track and destroy ‘evil’ Boko Haram Gunmen kill French tourist

Nigerian troops to take over liberated towns

•Injure wife

P

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari yesterday vowed to destroy Boko Haram, saying “five years of the presence of the evil sect is enough”. He promised to “renew my commitment to track Boko Haram into a corner, to destroy it,” while speaking to reporters on the sideline of his visit to Niger Republic. It was his first official trip outside the country since taking the reins of power last Friday. Buhari was accompanied by some government officials, including governors, among them Borno State’s Kashim Shetttima. WILL THE His mission to Niamey, CHIBOK GIRLS which will also take him KIDNAPPED ON APRIL 15, to Chad today, is to dis-

From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

A

?

LAST YEAR EVER RETURN?

Continued on page 4

•President Buhari and his host Niger's President Mahamadou Issoufou (right) at the Niamey airport ... yesterday. PHOTO: AFP Buhari is on two-day visit to Niger Republic.

FRENCH couple, Mr. Nagnan Denis, 52, and Mrs. Nagnan Mee Lavaud Liana, 53, have been attacked by gunmen in Ebonyi State. The incident occurred around 8p.m. on Monday in Abomege, Onicha Local Government Area. Mr Denis, who was allegedly shot in the leg and macheted on various parts of his body, died on the spot. Continued on page 4

•RICE MILLERS SEEK GOVT’S INTERVENTION IN EXCESS DUTIES ROW P12


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.