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$65 MILLION NHF FRAUD: BUHARI EX-INLAW, KUMO SAYS ICPC MADE HIM A COMMON CRIMINAL

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A former managing director of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, and ex son in law to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr Gimba Yau Kumo is angry with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other

Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for publicly declaring him wanted in connection to the $65 million fraud allegedly committed during his time as the helmsman at the bank.

In a letter he wrote to the ICPC chairman, dated 27th of May, 2021 and titled, RE: INVESTIGATION ACTIVITIES SIXTY FIVE MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS ($65,000,000.00) GOODLUCK JONATHAN LEGACY ESTATE LOCATED IN KUBWA DISTRICT, ABUJA, Mr. Kumo said publicly declaring him wanted has made him to become a common criminal in his own country in spite of having given his best as a  public servant.
He claimed that he was never served  with any letter of invitation before his name was published or declared wanted in the national dailies and social media which is contrary to Section 29, 30, 31 and 32 of the ICPC Act, 2000 and other enabling laws.
Pointblanknews.com had reported that Kumo, a son-in-law of President Buhari, and two others including Tarry Rufus and Bola Ogunsola were declared wanted over alleged misappropriation of $65 million National Housing Funds.
Mr Kumo, a former managing director of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, had in 2016 married Fatima, the president’s daughter, in Daura, Katsina State.
In the notice signed by its spokesperson Azuka Ogugua, the ICPC urged the public to provide information about the whereabouts of the wanted persons.“The persons whose pictures appear above, Mr Tarry Rufus, Mr Gimba Yau Kumo and Mr. Bola Ogunsola, are hereby declared WANTED by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in connection with issues bordering on misappropriation of National Housing Funds and diversion of the sum of Sixty Five Million dollars ($65,000,000).

“Anyone who has useful information on their whereabouts should report to ICPC Headquarters Abuja, any of the ICPC State Offices or the nearest police station.”

Kumo is yet to honour this invitation. He is insisting that until ICPC formally send an invite, he would not hand over himself.
He has however acquitted hiself of any wrongdoing insisting that the ICPC should rather investigate the  management after him whom he claimed “lacked capacity, political will and focus, hence the project was intentionally stalled and Nigerians were denied this laudable opportunities and privilege.”
According to the memo he wrote to ICPC which POINTBLANK NEWS has a copy, he said his ordeal started when the senate committee on public accounts had in April summoned him to explain the alleged irregular award of N3 billion contract when he was still at the bank.
The committee issued the summons following a query raised in a 2015-2018 report by the office of the auditor-general of the federation (AuGF) against the FMBN. According to the report, the contract was awarded in four phases and was overpaid to the tune of N3,045,391,531.97.
But in his response to the allegation, Mr Kumo said the project was started under his management team and was handed over to the new management on the 14th February, 2016 as a result of their disengagement by the Government and that while they were in charge of the project, they followed the procedures alongside the technical partners.
He response to the allegation is replicated below:
The concept and initiative on the above Estate (FMBN Legacy Estate) was a presidential initiative/directives vide Mr. Presidents letter with reference No. SH/COS/92/1/232 dated 28th August 2012, copy attached (marked as APPENDIX 1) for your ease of reference please.
The letter was conveyed to the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) vide the Honourable Minister of land and Urban development letter with reference No. PS/FMLHVD/X/HD/05/111 dated 10th September, 2012, copy attached and marked as (APPENDIX 2) for your ease of reference please.
Following the above directives, the bank sought and obtained for permission to source for funds and obtained loan both locally and internationally from the Honourable Minister of land, housing and urban development vide our letter dated 21st February 2012, copy attached and marked as (APPENDIX 3)  and approval to obtain loan from Ecobank with reference No. FMBN/MD/CE/12.2010/0106 dated 30th July, 2012 copy attached and marked (APPENDIX 4) for your ease of reference please.
HOW WE COME TO KNOW GOOD EARTH POWER LTD
Good earth power Ltd was introduced to us by Mr. Tarry Rufus MD/CEO of T-Brend Fortunes Ltd/Good Earth Power Nigeria Limited with whom the Bank had previous dealings.
In the bank quest to partner with foreign investors to deliver affordable housing to Nigerians, Mr. Tarry Rufus who happens to be the local Director of Good Earth Power Nigeria Ltd introduced the company to the Bank for the purpose of partnership to bring construction of modern, integrated and affordable housing to the Nigerian community in line with international best practices and housing being built in other developed countries across the globe.
The above is in line with the presidential directives to the bank to seek cheap private funding delivery in Nigeria. In this direction, the Bank sought for housing project finance facility in the tune of (N10, 000, 000. 00) Ten Billion Naira only)
This project is the first part (Phase 1) of an overall strategy aimed at delivery about 1,000,000 housing units with associated infrastructure (road, power, water, sewage and communication) in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt (and other capital cities in Nigeria).
While FMBN is to source for funding for Phase 1 of the Project (which would comprise 1,550 houses) GEPN is to finance and build the remaining housing units after the first phase, with FMBN providing guaranteed off-takers through facilitating mortgages for each community of houses built in accordance with the terms in the Framework Agreement. Copy of the framework agreement is attached and marked as (APPENDIX 5) and also general affordable housing agreement copy attached and marked as (APPENDIX 6).
THE PROJECT
The FMBN (Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Legacy Estate) is a Model Housing Estate Development located on Plot 4 & 5, Cadastral Zone D12, Kaba District, FCT Abuja. The development is designed to deliver all the services of a modern urban sitting. Including eight categories of residential housing types with ancillary facilities such as Schools, Shopping/Retails Centers, Worship Centers, Maintenance Facilities, Integrated Organic Hybrid Agro Facility (Nutridome) and a dedicated Power and Waste Recycling Plant.
The Estate Site is approximately Twenty Eight (28) Hectares in size with a winding stream in 12.20 hectares and designated as Plot 5 which the Southern Plot measuring 15.72 hectares and designated as Plot 4. The Site Plan and new town concept drawing copy is attached and marked as (Appendix 7) for your ease of reference.
The designated Developers Messrs Good Earth Power Nigeria Limited formally took possession of the project site on Wednesday, 5th December, 2012 and thereafter commenced work on the 20th December, 2012. The official ground breaking ceremony for the project was performed on the 4th of February, 2013 by the Honourable Minister of Lands; Housing and Urban Development with the FCT Minister jointly performed the ceremony.
The Project was programmed for 18th months and was expected to be completed and handover to the Federal Mortgage bank of Nigeria on or before 20th June, 2014. However, the project has experienced considerable delay arising from delays in the opening of letters of credits as well as in the arrival of imported materials for construction, and it was to be formally delivered in October, 2016.
As at the time I handed over the managing Director/CEO on the 14th of February, 2016, the following was the status of the project. The Project has two (2) components (A) Local and (B) Foreign.
STATUS OF THE LOCAL COMPONENT OF THE PROJECT AS AT 14/02/2016
All building approvals have been obtained from FCDA.
All compensation has been fully paid.
Land has been fully cleared and prepared.
All the foundation for construction of the steel frames have been fully done.
Both the primary and the secondary road have been fully constructed awaited overlaying.
The entire parameter fencing has been done and fully secured.
The secondary bridge has been constructed remaining the main bridge.
More than 150 Nigerian workers and 8 German, American, Italian and Indian Engineers were working effectively on site as at 14th February, 2016.
The total amount of money spent and the status of the local content of the Project as Professionally submitted verified and paid by the Project Consultants Messrs Associated Design Consultants is hereby summarized marked and submitted as ML1 to ML60 serial No. 1 – 71 for your ease of reference.
STATUS OF THE FOREIGN CONPONENT AS AT 14/02/2016
As at the time I left as managing Director/CEO the status of the foreign component is as follows:
Materials delivered, receipt and warehouse at the site UD Dollar $5,200,000.00 representing 20% of LC value of N26, 000,000.00 US Dollar.
Uncleared goods at the Nigerian Port valued $4,680,000.00 representing 18% of the LC value of N26, 000,000,00lag.
Both materials at site and in the Lagos Port is valued at $9,880,000 US Dollars representing 38% of LC value of $26,000,000.00 as open by the Central bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Value of items not delivered by the Good earth Power Ltd stands at $16,120,000.00 representing 62% of the LC value.
My letter of disengagement and copy of my handing over report on the project status, progress and picture of site is also hereby attached for your perusal.
* Pointblank News

Society

Reactions as Korra Obidi travels to Hawaii for vacation after fans donated $50,000 for legal fee

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Nigerians across social media have begun to slam popular Nigerian-American singer and dancer, Korra Obidi, as she flew immediately to Hawaii in the United States after completing her GoFundMe $50,000 target.

Obidi created GoFundMe on Friday to seek a good lawyer, adding that she wants to overturn the right of her ex-husband, Justin Dean, over their kids.

According to her, she would need money to get a good lawyer, which is why she created the GoFundMe account to meet the target of $100,000.

The account generated over $50,000 raised from over 950 donors worldwide.

“As a mother, it’s time to fight for myself and my kids,” Obidi said. She also shared her GoFundMe account details, seeking the assistance of fans and friends.

However, on Sunday, the dancer, after raising the money, said during a live session on Facebook that she had plans for a vacation in Hawaii.

Her decision has been greeted by outrage from her fans, with many alleging that the main intent of the GoFundMe was never to file a suit against the husband but to lavish on her extravagant lifestyle.

Wanda Johnson, a Facebook user, said, “She got y’all’s money, now she’s at the airport. Some of you are so weak to believe her foolishness. She is always begging, scamming, and manipulating.”

“You are gradually becoming a professional beggar on social media,” one Chigoziri Ohochukwu on Facebook opined.

“Mad that she can’t post pictures because without posting pictures she can’t make money. She needs to post pictures of her kids to make money. But she would rather go to Hawaii than see.Her children sickening and people gave her $.Or whatever was on that go find me.People needs to report the go fund me everybody needs to report to get their money back,” a user who identifies as Jennifer Lynn Russell claimed.

Nene Peters stated, “WTF you was just on here crying about you need a lawyer now, you traveling. I’m done with you wow.”

“Two days ago she was crying for donation now she is traveling,” said Hermi Matilya

Meanwhile, Bridget O’Connell said, “Yeah I’m not gonna lie Traveling to Hawaii is crazy after receiving all that money for Lawyer girl! You shoulda did that in silence.”

Also, Mary Monique Napont said, “It’s none of your business lady. She is an influencer, performer, student, and most importantly a great mother. Leave her be. You are a part of the problem. She’s not hurting you in any way. If you don’t like her, don’t follow her. It’s that simple.”

Recall that the divorce and custody battle between Obidi and Dean has been on the public scene lately. Recent developments have granted Justin the right to restrict their two children from featuring on Obidi’s online content.

She posted a plea online, accusing Dean of abuse and “gaslighting” during their marriage, claiming he is now subjecting their daughters to similar treatment.

 

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Police declare Lagos socialite wanted for murder, cyber-stalking

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The Nigeria Police Force, on Sunday, declared a Lagos socialite and blogger, Dorcas Adeyinka, wanted for alleged cyber-stalking, abduction and murder, among others.

The police urged members of the public to “arrest and hand over the suspect to the nearest police station or the office of the IGP Monitoring Unit, Force Headquarters, Abuja.”

The police further described Adeyinka as a married female Yoruba blogger from Ekiti State and Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

She is said to be approximately 1.64m tall with an oval face, tribal marks, pointed nose, wide mouth, full and white dentition, and light-skinned with black eyes.

The police added that she lives in the United Kingdom, and frequently visits Ikeja, Ogudu and Fagba in Lagos State, as well as Otta and Sango in Ogun State.

Meanwhile, PUNCH Online had earlier reported that a Chief Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 6, Abuja, summoned two social media users for defaming Adeyinka by allegedly sharing her nude photo online.

In the court summons dated Thursday, May 9, 2024, which was obtained by our correspondent, Chief Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna ordered the two defendants – Tolulope Adeoye aka Abike Jagaban, and Tolulope Odegbami aka Olowosibi – to appear in persons before the court on June 4, 2024, to answer the charges levelled against them by the complainant.

The summons followed a criminal complaint filed by the complainant’s lawyers led by Pelumi Olajengbesi of an Abuja-based law firm, Law Corridor.

The socialite accused the defendants of sharing her nude photo on social media and ridiculing her.

The application partly read, “On March 5, 2022, Abike Jagaban shared the complainant’s nude pictures on YouTube, directing her followers to different online platforms where the complainant’s pictures were/are shared and ridiculed the complainant in the process.

“The video was captioned, ‘Abike Jagaban on Dorcas Adeyinka, aka TMS Blog.’ These actions have exposed the complainant to contempt, hatred and detestation as some people can be seen making disparaging remarks against the person of the complainant in the comment section of the above-referenced post. Abike Jagaban has also bullied the complainant in another video titled, ‘How Abike Jagaban bullied Dorcas Adeyinka,” among others.”

The complainant told the court that the alleged actions of the defendants constituted criminal defamation and contravened Section 391 of the Penal Code.

Meanwhile, in suit number CR/93/2024 with motion number MN/140/2024, Magistrate Iyanna ordered the complainant to serve the defendants with the criminal summons and all other subsequent processes of the court via their social media handles or pages @Tolulope Omolara Ghaba (Facebook) and @Princess Tolulope Ajike Olowosibi (Facebook).

The magistrate adjourned the matter till June 4, 2024, and ordered that the two defendants be present in court on the said date.

 

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Even if arrest warrant was illegally obtained, Bello should’ve appeared in court – Judge

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By Taiye Agbaje

 

Abuja, May 10, 2024 (NAN) A Federal High Court, Abuja on Friday granted the application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the former Governor of Kogi, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, to appear in court for his trial.

 

Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling, held that the former governor ought to appeared before the court before making any application.

 

He insisted that even if the arrest warrant was illegally obtained, the defendant (Bello) should have still shown up in court.

 

It would be tracked that the judge had, on April 23, fixed today for the ruling on the former governor’s application to set aside the arrest warrant against him.

 

The EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, had, on April 17, moved the ex-parte application for the arrest warrant.

 

But Bello’s counsel, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, on April 23, prayed the court to set aside the arrest warrant against their client

.

He canvassed that the arrest warrant had become unnecessary since their lead counsel, Abdulwahab Mohammed, SAN, had accepted the service of the charge on behalf of the ex-governor.

 

He argued that the arrest warrant order, having been made before the charge ought to be set aside suo motu (on its own accord, without any request by the parties involved).

 

The senior lawyer argued that contrary to the submission of the lawyer who appeared for EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, that the ex-governor must be in court first before any application could be entertained being a criminal case.

 

He said that the anti-graft agency also made an application on April 18 after the warrant arrest was issued to EFCC on April 17 and that the court granted it.

 

The lawyer submitted that the arrest warrant was issued in favour of the EFCC by the court in violation of fair hearing to their client.

 

He noted that the complainant made an application for substituted service on 18th day of April after the arrest warrant had been issued on 17th day of April and today, my noble lord granted it.

 

“The court must satisfy itself that the defendant (Bello) will not be prejudiced in fairness if the warrant of arrest continues to hang on his neck, having been made before service of the charge contrary to Section 394 of ACJA,” Adeola argued.

 

He argued that justice should be a three-way traffic; that is, justice to the prosecution, the defendant and the public.

 

He said for Bello to appear in court, he must have the notion that he would get justice.

 

Adedipe also argued that the EFCC was an unconstitutional body because its establishment was not ratified by the 36 states of the federation.

 

He said that for the EFCC to become a constitutional body, the 36 states of the federation must ratify the law establishing it as against the current position, that the EFCC Establishment Act was unilaterally ratified by the Federal Government.

 

He, therefore, asked the judge to vacate the arrest warrant against the former governor.

 

But Pinheiro vehemently opposed the application.

 

The senior lawyer argued that for the arrest warrant to be vacated, the former governor must be arraigned and take his plea in compliance with Section 396 (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.

 

Delivering the ruling on Friday, the judge agreed with the argument of the EFCC.

 

He said that the order of court subsisted until it is set aside, even if there is irregularity.

 

The judge said Yahaya Bello’s staying away amounted to disregard to the sanctity of the court.

 

“Therefore, the application by the counsel for the defendant cannot be moved unless the defendant is present in court.

 

“Bello should come to court in his own not through EFCC for arraignment on the next adjourn date,” the judge declared.

 

Meanwhile, shortly after the ruling, Mohammed, who appeared for the former governor, informed the court of a motion on notice filed on May 9.

 

He said the motion prayed the court to stay further hearing of the alleged money laundering suit filed against Bello until the Court of Appeal decides a pending case relating to same matter.

 

The senior lawyer said the anti-graft agency had, by a motion ex-parte, got an order of the Appeal Court stopping the contempt proceedings filed by the ex-governor against the agency at the High Court sitting in Lokoja.

 

He said the appellate court had already fixed May 20 to hear the case.

 

He said it would be important the Federal High Court, Abuja awaits the outcome before going further with the trial.

 

But the EFCC’s lawyer, Oyedepo, disagreed with Mohammed’s submission.

 

In a short ruling, Justice Nwite refused Mohammed’s application.

 

The judge said that the matter had generated controversy all over the world and was unnecessary.

 

Reacting, Mohammed responded that the former governor was not afraid to come to court but was only afraid of his life.

 

Justice Nwite, however, said that Bello should not be misguided but should be advised to come and answer to the alleged charge.

 

“It is just a charge. It has not been proven. Counsel, it is your duty to bring him and you prepare yourselves.

 

“We thank lordship. We will take your admonition to him because that is just his fear,” Mohammed said.

 

He assured that efforts would be made to contact the former govenor to appear in court in the next adjourned date.

 

Justice Nwite consequently adjourned the matter until June 13 for arraignment.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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