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Nigerian national deported from US for fraud; Uche Ben Odunze buys PDP form, set to contest house of reps seat

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11 months ago

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An ex-convict from the United States identified as Uche Ben Odunze is contesting a seat in the House of Representatives for Orlu/Osu/Oru/Imo East Federal Constituency on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Forty-one-year-old Mr Odunze, who claims to be a commercial property manager was sentenced to prison on January 17, 2013, under the name Uche Ben Odunzeh for defrauding the American Centre for Medicare and Medicaid System (CMS).

According to report, Mr Odunze had lied to the U.S. government to claim remuneration for supplying sophisticated high-end wheelchairs (K0011) when his company, Emerald Medical, only provided cheap and basic wheelchairs to beneficiaries of the Medicaid health programme.

The deportee was paid $6,157 per K0011 spec wheelchair, almost twice the price of the basic chairs he supplied, earning himself a whopping $232,470 more than the actual cost of the equipment delivered.

In addition to the chair scam, Mr Odunze also swindled the U.S. government to the tune of $44,913 for adult incontinence items (diapers, briefs, liners, disposable underpads and gloves) that he did not deliver to Medicaid beneficiaries.

Guilty of the one-count charge of defrauding the foreign government, Mr Odunze opted for a plea deal that reduced his sentence to 19 months, forfeiture of $277,383 to the American government and deportation because he had been living illegally in the U.S. before his arrest and conviction. He was also slammed with three years of supervisory release.

Following his return to Nigeria, Mr Odunze started promoting himself as a real estate investor and received flowering places in a section of the Nigerian media. But he stayed away from contesting political positions until now, apparently acquainted with the constitutional provisions that allow criminals to run for office after 10 years of their conviction.

Section 66 (1) (a) of the Nigerian Constitution said: “No person shall be qualified for election to the Senate or the House of Representatives if within a period of fewer than 10 years before the date of an election to a legislative house, he has been convicted and sentenced for an offence involving dishonesty or he has been found guilty of a contravention of the Code of Conduct.”

The National Assembly elections have been fixed to hold on February 25, 2023, according to a timetable released by the electoral office INEC. Mr Odunze’s sentence will be 10 years on January 17, 2023, roughly six weeks before the date of the election.

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Ex-Skye Bank chairman Tunde Ayeni speaks on paternity scandal with former lover, Adaobi Alagwu.

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3 days ago

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March 24, 2023

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Former chairman of the board of directors of the defunct Skye Bank (now Polaris Bank) Tunde Ayeni has debunked a report that he reunited with his ex-lover Adaobi Alagwu.

Ms Alagwu, 30, a female lawyer based in Abuja, was said to be Ayeni’s daughter’s classmate when their relationship began.

The lawyer, it was gathered, wants him to admit he is the father of the baby girl she has and take responsibility for her.

Ayeni, however, admitted in a statement released by his media office that his affair with Alagwu set his family backwards and that he would not like to revisit his romance with her.

He said, “Ordinarily, the recent series of media reports linking my name with a lady, Adaobi Alagwu, should not deserve a response from me since the section of the media that is feasting on the issue seems to be uninterested in fact-finding, but mere sensationalism.

“But, given the possibility of even some discerning readers placing some value on the story, this short clarification and disclaimer become necessary.

“I wish to state that, indeed, Ms. Adaobi Alagwu and I had a relationship, which has since ended and, as well-meaning Nigerians can imagine, it was a mistake that has caused my family much pain which I regret and do not wish to continue reliving as a section of the media continues to make me do.”

On the paternity of Alagwu’s child, the businessman explained that the issue “is being resolved and will be resolved in due course but whichever way it is resolved, will never mean a rekindling of the ended relationship between myself and Ms. Alagwu.”

Last year, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) pulled back the N25.4 billion fraud case it filed against Ayeni and Skye Bank’s former managing director, Timothy Oguntayo.

The commission’s move followed an out-of-court settlement which the duo struck with the agency involving the forfeiture of about N15 billion in cash and assets.

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Tony ELUMELU Celebrates 60th Birthday with Symposium

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3 days ago

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March 23, 2023

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The Group Chairman, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Tony Onyemachi Elumelu, CFR, clocked 60 years on Wednesday March 23, 2023 and in commemoration of this event, a symposium was held in his honour at the Tony Elumelu Amphitheatre in UBA House.

The symposium tagged ’60 for 60’ was attended by 60 young beneficiaries of the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme, friends and colleagues.

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Seplat Sues Retired Founder Orjiako For Fraudulent Use Of Company’s Letterhead

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3 days ago

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March 23, 2023

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Seplat Energy Plc has cut ties with founder, A.B.C. Orjiako and Amaze Limited for transacting on behalf of the company without the approval of the board after retirement.

The energy company said it has also commenced legal action against its retired founder and Amaze Ltd.

The company made the disclosure in a filing seen by THE WHISTLER on Thursday and signed by Mr. Basil Omiyi, Independent Chairman, on behalf of the entire Board of Seplat Energy PLC.

The company said, “Seplat Energy Plc (Seplat Energy or the Company) announces the termination with immediate effect of the Consultancy Agreement between the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary and its co-founder, Dr. A.B.C Orjiako, acting through Amaze Limited.

“Under the Consultancy Agreement, Dr. Orjiako was obliged to provide defined assistance with certain external stakeholder engagements following his retirement from the Board after the 2022 Annual General Meeting in May 2022.”

Orjiako first resgined in November 2021, eight days after Zenith Bank Plc received an order from a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos blocking Seplat from transacting with its embattled founder, Orjiako.

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