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ICPC probes ex-Delta lawmaker, Ndudi Elumelu, for alleged ‘fraud’, seals property

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2 weeks ago

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The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, is said to be investigating Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, the immediate-past lawmaker representing Aniocha and Oshimili Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, for alleged diversion of government property, The Witness reports.

It is reliably gathered that the anti-graft agency is probing the former minority leader of the Green Chamber for allegedly diverting constituency projects and converting the same to personal use while he was in the House.

As part of its investigation, the ICPC has sealed Elumelu’s multi-million-naira office building in Asaba, Delta State.

A source told our correspondent that the massive edifice was a project the former lawmaker allegedly facilitated to the constituency but converted for personal use. The project was tagged: Asaba Massacre Monument Center.

When contacted, ICPC Spokesman, Demola Bakare, told The Witness via a text message that “A project facilitated by Hon. Ndidi Elumelu, former HoR member, and which was executed by the Federal Cooperative College Oji River, Enugu State was tracked under the phase 7 CEPTI exercise.

“The project is the construction and furnishings of Asaba Massacre Monument. ICPC Delta tracking team discovered that the project has not been handed over to the government after completion, which would thus necessitate commencement of further investigation. Further investigation will commence any moment after the collation of all tracking reports from all tracking teams,” he said.

Elumelu did not respond to inquiries as at press time.

Recall, ICPC had said it intercepted and recovered the sum of N30 billion meant for constituency projects in one year.

The anti-graft agency said it made the recoveries from items listed in the budget which were reportedly diverted by some lawmakers. The ICPC added that they were uncovered under the Constituency and Executive Projects Tracking Initiative (CEPTI) phase 7, 2024 which was carried out between December 2023 and December 2024.

Ndudi Elumelu was first elected into the House of Representatives in 2007 and was re-elected in 2011. During his first two terms, he was chairman of the House Committee on Power from 2007 to 2010 and chairman of the House Committee on Health from 2011 to 2015. In 2014, he contested for the governorship primaries of Delta State which he lost, thereby losing his seat at the house to Joan Onyemaechi Mrakpor.

In 2019, he returned to the House of Representatives for a third term.

In February 2023, he lost the house of representatives election to the Labour Party candidate, Ngozi Okolie.

Source: The Witness

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Alleged Forgery: EFCC Set To Arraign Oba Otudeko, Ex-First Bank MD Bisi Onasanya For N12.3Bn Fraud

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3 days ago

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January 16, 2025

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Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed Monday, January 20, 2025, for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to arraign the Chairman of Honeywell Group, Chief Oba Otudeko and a former First Bank Managing Director Stephen Olabisi Onasanya for allegedly looting N12.3billion naira from First Bank.
Otudeko – former Chairman of First Bank of Nigeria, FBN Holdings – and Onasanya are to be arraigned alongside a former board member of Honeywell Soji Akintayo and a firm, Anchorage Leisure Limited connected to Otudeko.
According to the EFCC, the four committed the fraud in tranches of N5.2billion, N6.2billion, N6.150billion, N1.5billion and N500million, N6.2bbillion and N2.09 Billion between 2013 and 2014 in Lagos.
The 13-count charge, filed by EFCC counsel Bilikisu Buhari on January 16, 2025, further claimed that the defendants made and uttered forged documents to deceive the bank.
Otudeko, Onasanya, Akintayo and Anchorage will be brought before Justice Aneke, to whom the case, registered as FHC/L/20C/2025, has been assigned.
Specifically, count 1 accused the defendants of conspiring “to obtain the sum of N12.3Billion from First Bank Limited on the pretence that the said sum represented credit facilities applied for by V-TECH DYNAMIC LINKS LIMITED and Stallion Nigeria Limited, which representation you know to be false.”
In Count 2, it was alleged that the defendants, on or about the 26th day of November 2013 in Lagos, “obtained the sum of N5.2 Billion from First Bank Limited on the pretence that the said sum represented credit facilities applied for by V TECH DYNAMIC LINKS LIMITED which representation you know to be false.”
The 3rd count claimed that the defendants, between 2013 and 2014 in Lagos, obtained N6.2 Billion from First Bank Limited on the pretence that the said sum represented credit facilities applied for and disbursed to Stallion Nigeria Limited, which representation you know to be false.”
In the 4th count, they were accused of conspiring to spend the N6,15 Billion, out of the monies.
According to the Commission, the offences contravened Section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and are punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
Counts 5 and 6 read: “That you, CHIEF OBA OTUDEKO, STEPHEN OLABISI ONASANYA, SOJI AKINTAYO AND ANCHORAGE LEISURE LIMITED on or about 11th day of December 2013 in Lagos, procured Honeywell Flour Mills Plc to retain the sum of N1,5 Billion, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of your unlawful activities to wit: Obtaining by False Pretense and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(c), 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
“That you, CHIEF OBA OTUDEKO, STEPHEN OLABISI ONASANYA, SOJI AKINTAYO, AND ANCHORAGE LEISURE LIMITED on or about the 17th day of December 2013 in Lagos, converted to the use of Honeywell Flour Mills Plc the sum of N500 Million Naira Only which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of your unlawful activities to wit: Obtaining by False Pretense and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2 (b)) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”
Other charges are as follows:
“Count 7. That you, CHIEF OBA OTUDEKO, STEPHEN OLABISI ONASANYA, SOJI AKINTAYO AND ANCHORAGE LEISURE LIMITED on or about the 3rd day of September 2013 in Lagos and within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence to wit: uttering a forged document – titled “Letter of Application” with the intent that it may be used by the First Bank in the belief that the said document is genuine and emanated from V-Tech Links Dynamic Limited, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3(6) of the MISCELLANEOUS OFFENCES ACT, Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under Section 1(2)(c) of same Act.
“COUNT 8: That you, CHIEF OBA OTUDEKO, STEPHEN OLABISI ONASANYA, SOJI AKINTAYO AND ANCHORAGE LEISURE LIMITED on or about the 3rd day of September 2013 in Lagos and within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court uttered a forged document titled “Letter of Application” with intent that it may be used by the First Bank in the belief that the said document is genuine and emanated from V-Tech Dynamic Links Limited, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(2)(c) of the MISCELLANEOUS OFFENCES ACT, Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under same Act.
“COUNT 9 That you, CHIEF OBA OTUDEKO, STEPHEN OLABISI ONASANYA, SOJI AKINTAYO AND ANCHORAGE LEISURE LIMITED on or about the 3rd day of September 2013 in Lagos and within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence to wit: making false document titled “AUTHORIZATION TO ISSUE INVESTMENT CERTIFICATE TO FIRST BANK” with intent that it may be used by First Bank in the belief that the said document is genuine and emanated from V-Tech Links Dynamic Limited, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3(6) of the MISCELLANEOUS OFFENCES ACT, Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under Section 1(2)(c) of same Act.
“COUNT 10: That you, CHIEF OBA OTUDEKO, STEPHEN OLABISI ONASANYA, SOJI AKINTAYO AND ANCHORAGE LEISURE LIMITED on or about the 3rd day of September 2013, in Lagos and within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court made a forged document titled “AUTHORIZATION TO ISSUE INVESTMENT CERTIFICATE TO FIRST BANK” with Intent that it may be used by the First Bank in the belief that the said document is genuine and emanated from V-Tech Links Dynamic Limited, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(2) (c) of the MISCELLANEOUS OFFENCES ACT, Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under same Act.
“COUNT 11: That you, CHIEF OBA OTUDEKO AND STEPHEN OLABISI ONASANYA on or about the 31st day of October 2014 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court procured Abiodun Olatunji and Raymond Eze to transfer the sum of N6,200,000,000 (Six Billion, Two Hundred Million Naira Only), to STALLION NIGERIA LIMITED’s account number “2015708429” domiciled with First Bank, which sum you reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activities to wit: Fraudulent False Accounting and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 18 (c) and 15(2 (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
“COUNT 12: That you, CHIEF OBA OTUDEKO AND STEPHEN OLABISI ONASANYA on or about 11th day of December, 2013 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court procured Abiodun Olatunji and Raymond Eze to transfer the sum of N2, 090, 000,000 (Two Billion, Ninety Million Naira Only), from STALLION NIGERIA LIMITED’s account number “2015708429” domiciled with First bank, to Emmerado Logistics Limited’s account number “0688985010” domiciled with First City Monument Bank, which sum you reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activities to wit: Fraudulent False Accounting and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 18 (c) and 15(2 (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
“COUNT 13: That you, CHIEF OBA OTUDEKO on or about the 3rd day of September 2013 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court whilst being the Chairman of First Bank Plc indirectly had a personal interest in a loan facility sought for by V Tech Dynamics Links Limited in the sum of N6,150,000,000.00 (Six Billion, One Hundred and Fifty Million Naira Only), which interest was not declared to the Bank and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(1) BANKS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ACT 2004 and punishable under Section 18(2) of same Act.”

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Certificate Scandal: We don’t have your record as a lawyer. – Supreme Court To Ex Speaker Obasa….

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4 days ago

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January 15, 2025

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More trouble may be brewing for the former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, as the Supreme Court of Nigeria has revealed that there was no record of him as a lawyer in their registry.

 

 

The apex court keeps records of all certified lawyers allowed to handle cases in any Nigerian court.

 

Obasa’s profile on Wikipedia and the Lagos Assembly’s website describes him as a lawyer and solicitor of the Federal Republic of Nigeria even though there is no mention of where he practiced or a case he handled.

 

He is also described on the Assembly’s website as graduating from the Nigerian Law School in 2007, a year after he obtained a Bachelor of Law degree from the Lagos State University.

 

But in a response to an enquiry on the subject matter on July 24, 2020, the Supreme Court categorically stated that Obasa’s name was not found on the numerous rolls of legal practitioners kept with it.

 

 

The letter signed by one Gertrude B. Karenton-Mordi on behalf of the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court and seen on Monday, said, “This is to inform you that we have checked our records and cannot find the name: MUDASHIRU AJAYI OBASA on the nemerous Rolls of Legal Practitioners kept in this honourable court.

 

 

MUDASHIRU AJAYI OBASA is at liberty to come to the honourable court with his call to bar and qualifying certificates for enrollment.”

 

Interestingly, this is not the first time that the 47-year-old Lagos Assembly Speaker will be linked to a scandal — this merely adds to a long list of alleged wrongdoing Obasa had been discovered to be involved in.

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National Sports Festival: FG, Enugu govt sign host state agreement

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5 days ago

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January 14, 2025

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The Federal and the Enugu State Government have signed the host state agreement in respect of the 2026 National Sports Festival billed to hold in the South East State.

The agreement, which was signed by the Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Hon. Bukola Olopade for the FG and Governor Peter Mbah for Enugu State, on Tuesday, now awards Enugu State the full hosting rights for the 2026 edition of the National Sports Festival.

Speaking at the signing ceremony at the Government House, Enugu, Governor Peter Mbah thanked the Commission and other sports stakeholders for the confidence reposed in the state and his administration to stage the event, assuring that it would discharge its hosting responsibilities in a way that would leave a lifelong memory and experience on the athletes and all lovers of sports in Nigeria and beyond.

“We also appreciate the value and significance of this award. I want to commend the commission for finding Enugu worthy of being the next host of the 23rd National Sports Festival. We are going to discharge ourselves creditably.

“As you know, we like to be a role model as a state that gained preeminence over 115 years ago. We will not want to let our forebears down. We will live up to that standard.

“We have already set forth at dawn. Immediately that announcement was made, we mobilised our team. We are already working on revamping the Awgu Games Village and a whole lot. We have decided to deliver a brand new Games Village. We are also completely renovating the stadium to brand new.

“We are making sure that by the time you come here by the end of this year, you are going to be highly impressed. It is not revamping, rebranding or re-equipping, but we are also going to build additional facilities to the existing one.

“We are looking forward to having a word-class experience befitting the sports men and women, making our hosting a lifelong memory and experience,” he stated.

Earlier in his address, Hon. Olopade said the commission was encouraged by Enugu’s bid, available facilities, improved security in the state, and Governor Mbah’s determination to turn around the sports and social infrastructure to grant Enugu the right to host the event after the 22nd edition to be hosted by Ogun State.

The National Sports Commission boss added that the hosting would boost investment and tourism in the state before, during and after the event.

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