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Witnesses reveal how Jang diverted N6.3bn Plateau funds

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The trial of Jonah Jang, a former Governor of Plateau State, who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, before Justice Daniel Longji of the Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos on a 12-count charge of abuse of office and misappropriation of funds continued on Tuesday, October 30, 2018 with prosecution witnesses – Mudashiru Olaitan and Uchenna Igwe, providing graphic details of how the Senator diverted funds meant for Small and Medium Enterprises in the state.

Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, the two witnesses testified to the effect that Jang moved the funds to an account other than that approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria and thereafter presided over the dissipation of the monies.

First to testify is Mr Olaitan, a director, Development Finance Department of the CBN.

He told the court that Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Development Funds, MSMEDF, is one of the initiatives by the CBN to improve access to finance by micro small and medium enterprises at single digit interest rate. He explained that the Plateau State government under Mr Jang applied to the CBN to be part of the scheme in 2014.

“We processed it and the funds were disbursed to the state through the account provided by the state government,” he said.

Before the disbursement, the witness recalls that the General Manager of the Plateau State Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency, PLASMEDAN, Sylvester Dabo wrote to the CBN asking that the funds be paid into an account different from the one provided by the state government. There was also a counter letter from the state government asking the apex bank to pay the money into its nominated account.

He said N2billion was disbursed around March 2015 but observed that the money was not disbursed to beneficiaries which made the apex bank to threaten to recall the funds.

Mr Olaitan was emphatic that the funds was diverted as it was not disbursed to beneficiaries. He also told the court that PLASMEDAN does not exist, either in staffing or structure.

The second prosecution witness PW2 Uchenna Igwe, a senior manager with Zenith Bank, was the manager of Beach Road branch of the bank when the money was paid by the CBN.

“While I was in Jos my bank had a business relationship with the state government”, he told the court..

He further told the court that, the state government have two different accounts with the bank namely; Plateau State Project Account and Plateau State Small and Medium Enterprise Development, PLASMEDAN account.

He told the court that the moment the account was credited, he alerted the state government and was directed to move the funds from PLASMEDAN account to another account. From that point, he said, “ there was no disbursement to any beneficiary; we only got mandate to transfer the money as follows,

“On the 25th March 2015 , N50million was transferred to Government House account; N150million, N2million, N3million, N5million, N150million , N15million, N26.2million, N11million to Office of the Secretary to the State Government, OSSG Cabinet Office; N8.3million to Government House, Cabinet Office and another N609million to Centralized Salary Account.

“On the 26th March, 2015, N55million was transferred to Plateau State House of Assembly, PSHA, account; N68million, N150million, N32millin and another N150million was transferred to OSSG.

“On April 24,, 2015 there was a withdrawal of about N150million x 7 times from the Office of the Secretary to the State Government”, he said.

He noted that all the transfers were made after the inflow of the said N2billion.

Mr Jang is accused of misappropriating state funds to the tune of N6.3billion.

He is being prosecuted alongside a cashier in the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Yusuf Gyang Pam, who was also accused of using his office for personal enrichment to the tune of N11.5million.

Specifically, Mr Jang allegedly embezzled funds released to the state by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, for disbursement to Small and Medium Enterprises in the State under the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Funds, MSMEDF, two months to the end of his tenure as Governor in 2015.
The matter which was earlier slated for trial, July 17, could however not go on as the prosecution’s witnesses were absent in court.

Henry Ejiga, who stood in for Rotimi Jacobs, counsel to the EFCC, had told the court that the prosecution had challenges in bringing the witnesses to court due to the security concerns in the state.

It would be recalled that on June 23, 2018 crisis broke out in city that led to the loss of many lives, destruction of properties and disruption of peace and order in the state.

Justice Longji adjourned the matter to October 31, 2018 for continuation of trial.

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Organiser unveils speakers, panelists for the 2024 Industry Summit

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The organiser of the Industry Summit, an annual gathering for professionals and experts in brand marketing, finance, sustainability, and entertainment, has announced the speakers for the fifth edition of the summit in Lagos.

 

 

 

The event themed: Sustainable Marketing for Growth would feature the marketing director of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Emmanuel Oriakhi as keynote speaker while the head of unit, sustainability at Access Bank, Mrs. Omobolanle Victor-Laniyan and manager brand, strategy & communications at Stanbic IBTC, Ms. Rita Akao would feature as guest speakers.

 

 

 

The summit, which is scheduled to hold on Friday, May 3rd, 2024 at the Marcelina’s Place Ikeja GRA, Lagos would feature some exhilarating panel sessions with some of the contemporary professionals in the Nigerian brand and marketing industry.

 

 

 

The panelists include; Ms. Chioma Mbanugo, Head of Marketing PZWILMAR, Mr. Abiodun Coker, Team Member Media, UBA, Mrs. Mabel Adeteye, Head, Brand & Marketing Communications, Wema Bank PLC, Mr. Kevin Olumese, Marketing Communications Specialist, and Mr. Adeola Kayode, Head, Brands & Creative Services, 9mobile Nigeria.

 

 

 

Others who have confirmed participation are Ms. Aisha Anaekwe, Head, Brands & Comms, Coronation Group, Mrs. Victoria N’dee Uwadoka, Public Relations, Public Affairs & Sustainability Lead, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Mr. Samson Adeoye, Public Relations Manager, Airtel Nigeria, Mrs. Oluwatosin Odiagbe, Marketing Manager, Simba Solar and Ms. Arinola Shobande, Head of Marketing, Showmax.

 

 

 

While Oriakhi would be speaking to the topic, ““New Age Marketing – Catalyzing Transformation Through Value Chain Innovation, Technology, Analytics & Sustainability”, Victor-Laniyan and Akao would present papers on the topics; “Aligning organizational objectives with sustainable marketing for the good of the people, society and business, and “Reimagining Sustainable Growth Through Green Marketing” respectively.

 

 

 

In the press statement signed by the Publisher of The Industry Newspaper/Convener of The Industry Summit/Awards (TIES), Mr. Goddie Ofose, he said that “The 5th edition of the Industry Summit is focusing on sustainable marketing, which is a purpose-driven practice that works to orientate businesses, brands and society towards a sustainable future, influencing appropriate awareness, aspiration, adoption and action across economic and sociocultural systems by taking necessary accountability for its impacts and opportunities.”

 

 

 

“In today’s ever-evolving world, debating whether to incorporate sustainability into business strategy is no longer an option. Considering a values-driven approach when developing business strategies can be vital to long-term success” he said.

 

 

 

Therefore, we have carefully selected these professionals and experts to deliberate on the subject matter, highlight challenges and proffer solutions where private and public sectors could take lessons from and improve upon whatever they have been doing,’ Ofose added.

 

 

 

The Industry Summit/Awards is a brainchild of The Industry Newspaper Limited, publishers of The Industry Newspaper (theindustry.ng) and 789marketing.ng.

 

 

 

The summit is designed to bring together industry leaders across the continent in all sectors in the quest to rev up conversations that will move the Nigeria business, economy and communication industry forward.

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IBEDC records 1,459 energy theft cases in January, February

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The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company said it has recorded 1,459 cases of energy theft by its subscribers between January and February 2024.

This was disclosed in a press statement signed by the firm’s Chief Key Accounts Officer, Mr. Johnson Tinuoye, on Tuesday.

IBEDC added that it is actively pursuing investigations and legal actions against individuals and businesses involved in the theft in collaboration with the Federal Government Special Investigation and Prosecution Task Force on Electricity Offences.

Identifying the cases, IBEDC said they included various offences such as meter bypass and illegal meter tampering, which resulted in significant financial losses amounting to hundreds of millions of naira for the company.

The statement read, “We want to send a clear message to our customers that energy theft will not be tolerated. Our collaboration with the Federal Government Special Investigation and Prosecution Task Force on Electricity Offences underscores our commitment to ensuring a fair and just electricity distribution system.

“Energy theft not only undermines the integrity of our operations but also deprives IBEDC of the revenue necessary to provide quality services to our customers.”

Tinuoye emphasised that under the Electricity Act, energy theft is now recognised as a criminal offense, carrying severe penalties including imprisonment stressing, “In the Osun region, two individuals were apprehended for stealing energy through meter bypass and illegal connections. Their cases have been formally charged in court for prosecution.”

IBEDC further urged customers to refrain from engaging in any form of energy theft, emphasising that the consequences can be severe, as there is no room for negotiation with the SIPTEO Task Force team, which is actively patrolling and investigating instances of energy theft for prosecution.

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Copyright Breach: NCC Drags MTN, Others To Court Over Musician’s Works

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The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has filed criminal charges against MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd. and four others over alleged copyright infringement.

The charge with number FHC/ABJ/CR/111/2024 filed in the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court was obtained by journalists on Monday.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the four other defendants in the case include the chief executive officer of MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola; Nkeakam Abhulimen, Fun Mobile Ltd.; and Yahaya Maibe.

In the three-count charge, NCC alleged that the defendants, between 2010 and 2017, “offered for sale, sold and traded for business’’, infringed the musical works of an artiste, Maleke Idowu Moye, without his consent and authorisation.

The commission alleged that the defendants used musical works and sound recordings of Mr Maleke with subsisting copyright as caller ringback tunes without the authorisation of the artiste.

The musician’s musical works and sound recordings allegedly infringed upon included 911, Minimini-wanawana, Stop Racism, Ewole, 911 instrumental, Radio, Low Waist, and No Bother.

The defendants were also alleged to have distributed the musical works to their subscribers without authorisation, thereby infringing on the rights of the artiste.

In the third count, the defendants were alleged to have in their possession, other than for their private or domestic use, the artiste’s musical works and sound recordings.

According to NCC, the alleged offences are contrary to and punishable under section 20 (2) (a) (b) and (c) of the Copyright Act, Cap. C28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The case has yet to be assigned to any judge, and no date has been fixed for the mention.

Meanwhile, no official statement has been released by any of the defendants as at the time of filing this report, while all efforts to get reactions from MTN by New Telegraph proved abortive.

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