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Stella Obasanjo’s brother, John Abebe, arraigned for fraud

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Dr. John Abebe, the younger brother of a former First Lady, Stella Obasanjo, was on Monday arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday before the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja over allegations of fraud.

Abebe was arraigned alongside a former Head of Firstbank Plc, United Kingdom Correspondent Office, Kamoru Alade Oladimeji, before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe on six charges of conspiracy, stealing, and obtaining money under pretence.

Part of the counts against the defendants read: “That you, Dr. John Abebe and Kamoru Alade Oladimeji, on or about the 4th day of June 2013 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit; stealing the sum of N120 million worth of property of Arsenal Technologies Limited.”

“That you, Dr. John Abebe and Kamoru Alade Oladimeji, on or about the 4th day of June 2013, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit; obtaining by false pretence the sum of N120 million property of Arsenal Technologies Limited under the pretence that your property lying being and situate at 9, Magbon Close, Ikoyi-Lagos State, which you pledged as the security to the Arsenal Technologies Limited was unencumbered, which representation you knew to be false.”

“That you Dr. John Abebe and Inducon Nigeria Limited, on or about the 4th day of June 2013, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud and to gain for yourself the sum of $1,000,000.00 or its Naira equivalent from Arsenal Technologies Limited by false pretence to procure the execution of valuable security to wit; a deed of assignment between Inducon Nigeria Limited and Arsenal Technologies Limited, wherein you falsely claimed that the property lying being and situate at No. 9, Magbon Close, Ikoyi-Lagos was unencumbered and that you have full powers to assign and transfer the said property to the assignor; Arsenal Technologies Limited.

According to EFCC, the offences committed are contrary to Sections 280(1), (12), 8 (7), 285(1) and 278(1)(b) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Following their plea, the prosecutor, Sulaimon urged the court to fix a trial date and to remand the defendants in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services until the hearing and determination of the charge.

However, the defense counsel, Anthony Popo and Sam Etaifo urged the court to grant their clients bail in the most liberal terms.

While moving the bail application on behalf of Abebe, Popo told the judge that the matter before her is a commercial transaction between the first defendant and the nominal complainant, which he is ready to settle out of court.

He also claimed that Abebe had paid back the sums of $100,000 and N30 million to the complainant and had also deposited the title document of 26 acres of land and the documents of a property in London to show his seriousness to resolve the matter.

The lawyer further submitted that the defendant would not jump bail since he never violated the terms of the administrative bail granted to him by the EFCC.

The prosecutor did not oppose the application but urged the court to impose stringent terms that will ensure the defendant’s appearance in court for their trial.

In her ruling, Justice Abike-Fadipe granted the first defendant bail in the sum of N20 million with one surety in like sum.

She directed that the surety must be a resident of Lagos and must deposit the title document of a land property whose value must not be less than N20m

The judge also admitted the second defendant to bail in the sum of N10m with one surety in like sum, who must be a resident of the state.

Justice Abike-Fadipe further ordered that the defendant shall continue to enjoy the administrative bail earlier granted to them by the EFCC but if they failed after seven days to perfect the terms of the bail she granted them, they shall be arrested and remanded in prison.

She adjourned the case to December 6 for commencement of trial.

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Boosting Health Access: Lasaco Assurance Supports NYSC Corps Members’ Health Mission”

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Insurance underwriter, Lasaco Assurance Plc, has donated health recovery items to support the Health Initiative Programme of the National Youth Service Corps members serving in the Ifako Ijaiye Local Government area of Lagos State.

A statement from the firm said that the donation was to boost health development in the country.

 

Some Corps members, under the aegis of Local Government Initiative, for their first quarter Health Initiative, embarked on a project to provide health services to rural dwellers, whose access to quality health services was limited due to poverty, ignorance and superstition.

 

Lasaco Assurance supported the corps members to reach the target audience and help them overcome their difficulties in accessing quality health.

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The company’s Head of Corporate Communications, Seye Smart, who represented the Head of Strategy, Research and Communications, Dayo Adetokun, at the presentation of the gift items to the corps members, emphasised the importance of exposing the citizens to quality health and safety as that would improve their capacity, make them function well and prolong their life expectancy.

 

A healthy citizen, she explained, would contribute meaningfully to the growth of society and be useful for the development of humanity.

Leader of the LGI team, Bose Ojimi, said the programme was the group’s modest contribution to the country’s quest for improved health and safety for Nigerians and hoped that other corporate organisations would follow in the footsteps of Lasaco Assurance to offer necessary assistance to the people.

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Yahaya Bello absent as court adjourns, EFCC mulls military’s help to fish him out 

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Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja has adjourned the suit instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to April 23rd.

 

The adjournment is for substituted service and possible arraignment of Bello for alleged N84bn money laundering. At the resumed sitting, Counsel for the EFCC, Kemi Phinro, told the court that the immediate past governor of Kogi State was absent from court for his arraignment because he was being protected by someone with immunity.

 

Phinro said the former governor was whisked out of his Abuja residence by the same person with immunity. Phinro said the anti-graft agency might seek the help of the military to fish him out to come face his arraignment. Responding to this submission, Yahaya Bello through his counsel, Abdulwahab Muhammad, told the court that there is an order of the court restraining the EFCC from arresting or arraigning him.

 

Muhammad said a Kogi State High Court had on February 9, 2024 restrained the EFCC from arresting or arraigning the former governor. He added that the EFCC has appealed the ruling and the Court of Appeal was yet to decide on the matter. He pointed out that the action of the EFCC was unconstitutional and the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain any charge from

the EFCC.

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Billionaire Businessman, Tunde Ayeni’s Talk of the town Daughters Wedding

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Barr. John Olatunde Ayeni C.O.N is indeed a man of high repute with a highly cerebral nature blessed with suave, elegance and finesse. As a young man, he has carved a niche for himself as a seasoned investor and a finance person with a background in the legal profession after bagging a law degree at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria before he was called to bar. Everything he touches turns into gold. He is a man who knows the true spirit of friendship and brotherhood which has elevated him to the position he holds today. The erstwhile Chairman of Skye Bank has created his name in gold as one of the best brains to have come out of Nigeria as he sits atop several high business conglomerates.

 

One thing has remained constant for him he is a man who loves his family and will never trade anything for his family. More reason he spared no cost to ensure his daughter Abolaji Ayeni gets one of the biggest wedding Soiree with her hubby Oluwatobiloba Adeoye that will never be forgotten in a hurry. It was a rollercoaster of events that remained colourful and also further cents Ayeni’s position as a crowd puller as all his friends turned up for him to celebrate him and his family in one of their proud moments as a father.

 

Last year 2nd of December, the Groom’s family was hosted by Ayeni at an introduction ceremony at his Lagos residence and from that moment he has told his friends that; the wedding shindig would be one to remember as he is putting lots of resources into making the day a memorable one and also appreciate his daughter for making him and his wife proud parents.

 

On Thursday the 11th of April, Ayeni and his family hosted a traditional engagement wedding in Lagos Ikoyi where it was a parade of cultural aesthetics from the best Aso-Ebi to the best of Agbada and music as Yinka Aiyefele serenade the audience with his musical rendition there was an array of cuisines that guests savoured their taste buds with and lots of high-cost drinks.

On Saturday the 13th of April, Ayeni also pulled his heavyweight as the Church wedding where the couples were tied together by Pastopr Tunde Bakare’s Latter Rain Church in Oregun before the train moved to the reception at the Balmoral Hall of the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island where guests were treated like a king, the whole V.I corridor was locked down as automobiles of different kinds took over the roads.

 

It was an absolute display of wealth, opulence and splendour as the who is who in Nigeria’s business, political and socialite space were in attendance. The roll call was quite an elitist one as it was like a gathering of stars with deep pockets. The father of the bride adorned in his full Agbada was seen smiling cheerfully welcoming his guests and also making sure those who attended were given the best of treats. The food was local and continental and the wines served were vintage wines. It was like a carnival as Evangelist Dunni Olarewaju (Opelope Annionting)coroner was on the bandstand while King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall the Fuji maestro also serenaded the audience.

 

Those who attended confessed that Ayeni is not only a master planer in the boardroom he is also a master planner of soirees and a good host with a high sense of hospitality. Those spotted were; the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, Kogi State Secretary to the State Government; Mrs Ayoade Folashade, Former Governor of Ogun State Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Chairman Federal Inland Revenue Service; Dr Zacch Adedeji Former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, Former Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Niyi Adebayo, Hajia Bola Shagaya, Olugbon of Ilegbon Oba Francis Alao, Olofin of Isheri Oba Sulayman Bamgbade, Elegushi of Ikate Land Oba Saheed Elegushi, Akinshiku Dosumu Oba Otudeko, Iyaloja of Lagos Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, Mogaji Wole Arisekola, Former Fidelity Bank MD Mr Nnamdi Okonkwo, Daily Times Publisher Mr Fidelis Anosike and wife Rita Dominic-Anosike, Nkiru Anumudu, Segun Awolowo, Terry Waya, Comfort Obamuyiwa, Aisha Achimogu, Abu Abel, Abisagboola ‘Bankuli’ Oluseun and a host of others.

By: Oladapo Shofowora.

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