COVER
EFCC Arrests Adoke in Abuja on Voluntary Return
By Orkula Shaagee, Abuja
A former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke arrived Nigeria yesterday after he was released by the Dubai authorities following Nigeria’s request for him to face fraud charges.
Adoke’s flight, which departed the Emirati commercial capital at about 11 am, touched down at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja at exactly 3:45 pm.
He was accompanied by INTERPOL officers on Emirates Airlines.
Upon his arrival, he was immediately picked up by EFCC operatives and transferred into a Toyota bus marked RBC 931 BV while reading a book he brought from Dubai.
The former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation was arrested by Interpol in Dubai, United Arab Emirates last month in connection with fraudulent allocation of the Oil Prospecting Licence 245 in 2011 and other forms of offences involving the sum of about $1.2 billion, forgery of bank documents, bribery and corruption.
Adoke was arrested shortly after arriving in Dubai on November 11 where he had travelled for medical evaluation after a court warrant for his arrest was vacated in October.
In a motion, M/763/19, filed by his counsel, Mike Ozekhome (SAN) Adoke sought an order of the court striking out his name as a defendant in a case pending before the court.
The former minister hinged the prayer, among others, on the fact that he had secured a judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, against the Attorney-General of the Federation, representing the Federal Republic of Nigeria in which he was completely exculpated with respect to the facts and circumstances relating to the Malabu Oil scam.
The former minister filed an originating summons on May 24, 2017 seeking the determination of “whether having regard to the provisions of section 5 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, the executive powers of the Federation are vested in the President to exercise same directly or through a minister of the government of the Federation.
Second, “whether by the combined reading of section 5 (1); section 147 (1); section 148 (1) and section 150 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, the plaintiff herein while serving as a Minister of the Government of the Federation could exercise the executive powers of the federation vested in the President as directed by the President.
Third, “whether the plaintiff while serving as a Minister of the Government of the Federation can be held personally liable for carrying out the lawful directives and/or implementing the lawful approvals of the President.”
He then prayed the court to grant him six reliefs relating to the above issues for determination.
On October 25, Justice Senchi vacated the arrest warrant based on prayers from Adoke’s lawyers who argued that the order was wrongfully procured.
The judge also asked the EFCC, which seeks to prosecute Adoke, to serve him the court papers by substituted means.
In her ruling that day, the judge, after hearing the submissions of all the counsel, and upon perusal of all the affidavits in support of their motions, made the following orders:
“The arrest warrant issued for the arrest of the 4th-9th defendants in charge No FCT/HC/CR/124/2017 and to be executed by the police and the Interpol is declared null and void and of no effect whatsoever.
“Accordingly, the order of 17th April 2019 issuing a bench warrant on the 4th-9th defendants is hereby set aside and vacated.
“It is further ordered that the case be adjourned sine die until the prosecution takes the required procedural steps to effect service on the defendants herein.”
He has been on self-exile since 2015, accusing the EFCC of trying to humiliate him and maintaining that he did no wrong in the OPL 245 affair.
He has consistently been denying links to alleged fraud and has been on self-exile since vacating office in May 2015.
It will be recalled that arrest warrants were issued on Adoke and Dan Etete – two former Nigerian ministers and an Eni manager over the sale of offshore oilfield OPL 245 by Malabu Oil and Gas in 2011.
Dan Etete, former petroleum minister, ex-attorney general Mohammed Adoke and Eni manager Roberto Casula “are to be arrested anywhere they are found”, the EFCC had said in a statement.
Eni called the move “disproportionate and detrimental” to the rights of its manager.
“These warrants seem to have originated from the failure by the Nigerian Judicial Authorities to notify and serve the pending proceedings to the Eni managers as per international procedure for the last two years,” it said in a statement.
The $1.3 billion deal spawned legal cases, spanning several countries and involving Nigerian government officials and senior Eni and Shell executives.
Eni and Shell jointly acquired the field from Malabu, which was owned by Etete. A case in Milan alleged that roughly $1.1 billion of the total was siphoned to agents and middlemen.
The Milan court convicted middlemen Emeka Obi, a Nigerian citizen, and Italian Gianluca Di Nardo of corruption, but Shell and Eni have denied all wrongdoing.
The EFCC, in a statement, had said the defendants had repeatedly failed to appear before the court in Abuja and that the Nigerian police, INTERPOL and any other law enforcement agencies would have the authority to arrest the men.
The Interpol, yesterday said it has no case against Mr Adoke, but the arrest in Dubai last month only carried out on behalf of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
“We have a red notice for him and we have instructions to arrest him upon arrival in Nigeria,” Umar Garba, head of Interpol Nigeria office yesterday.
Garba added, “We have carried out those instructions diligently and professionally.
“We have been in touch with the EFCC which is the Nigerian law enforcement organisation that is interested in Mr Adoke. We are going to hand him over immediately after debriefing him.”
Legal Gridlock delayed his Return – Ozekhome
But his counsel, Mike Ozekhome (SAN) said in a statement that Mr Adoke returned to Nigeria voluntarily following legal gridlock.
Parts of the statement read: “On the morning of Tuesday, 11th of November, 2019, our client arrived Dubai, United Arab Emirate (UAE), for a scheduled medical check-up. While he was undergoing immigration checks, he was informed that Interpol had a Warrant to arrest him. He was shocked to his bones and marrow. This is because although a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had issued a Warrant of Arrest against our client on the 17th of April, 2019, following an exparte application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the same Court had duly vacated the said arrest warrant Order on the 25th of October, 2019, following our challenge of the exparte order, and after robust court argument between EFCC (government) counsel and my humble self. There was therefore no existing arrest warrant on which the Interpol’s arrest was made. This was well reported by the media.
“Our client duly showed Interpol officials copies of the certified Court Order by Hon. Justice Danlami Z. Senchi. He also showed them the 17th of April, 2018, judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, delivered by the Hon. Justice Binta Nyako, to the effect that our client could not be held liable for obeying lawful presidential directives on the OPL 245 transaction.
“The Interpol officials, however, said only the Warrant of Arrest was communicated to them by the Federal Government, and not any of these overriding court processes.
“The vacation and setting aside of the warrant of arrest order made by Honourable Justice D. Z. Senchi was curiously not communicated to the Interpol or the UAE authorities.
“But, they insisted that they could only deal with the Nigerian government, which must first communicate to them, the said vacation and setting aside of the warrant of arrest. Our client told them that he was ready to return to Nigeria on his own accord after his medicals; yet, they still kept him in illegal custody for over one month, after running into a legal logjam.
“It was very clear to them that the Government of Nigeria did not have any legal basis or grounds to extradite Mr Adoke back to Nigeria. Adoke, based on our legal advice, has therefore decided to break this unnecessary logjam and simulated stalemate that are already causing Nigeria international embarrassment by buying his own ticket to return to Nigeria voluntarily and peaceably, instead of going to another country of his choice.
“It must be pointed out that, Mr Adoke had been out of Nigeria voluntarily since May, 2015, upon the expiration of his tenure as Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice. In his undertaking before the Dubai authorities, Adoke signed as follows:
“I would go to Nigeria authorities to solve my problem, and without any stress or pressure from Dubai Police or anyone.” He was not then under any investigation, nor charged before any court of law by the EFCC or any other anti-graft agency howsoever.
“It was only on 21st December, 2016, nearly one and half years after he went to the Netherlands to pursue his masters (LL.M) degree programme in Public International Law, with specialization in International Criminal Law, at the University of Leiden, the Netherlands that the EFCC charged him before the FCT High Court on his alleged role in the OPL 245 transaction.
“Our client verily believes he has done no wrong in merely carrying out his statutory duties. Indeed, his houses in Kano and Okene in Kogi state were extensively searched even in his absence, with the EFCC finding nothing incriminating against Adoke.
“While our client is thankful to the Almighty God for seeing him through this unwarranted humiliation despite its debilitating impact on his health, he hereby reiterates, for the umpteenth time, that he is not and has never been afraid to face trail in Nigeria, over any perceived role he played in the OPL 245 transaction.
I Did Nothing Wrong – Adoke
“He believes he did no wrong. The extent of his involvement as the Chief Law Officer of the Federation at all material times, he insists, involved in merely giving out well founded legal to the then government of the day regarding the transaction, as the then Attorney General of the Federation and the Chief Law Officer.
“He had advised the then to implement the extant and subsisting consent court judgement of a court of Law, which had been voluntarily agreed upon and consented to between the Government of Nigeria and. He had advised the then president to implement the Consent Judgement of a court of law which was voluntarily agreed to between the Federal Government of Nigeria and Malabu Oil and Gas Ltd, over the OPL 245 dispute of 2006.
“He insists that there was no abuse of office howsoever on his part as Attorney General of the Federation. He has repeatedly said and he now reiterates it again and again that he did not collect one kobo or any sum howsoever, from the oil and gas transaction. He stands by this truism,” the statement said.
By David Torough, Abuja
The 22 All Progressives Congress (APC) governors yesterday adopted President Bola Tinubu as the sole presidential candidate of the party for the 2027 general elections.This was even as the leaders of both the Senate and the House of Representatives expressed their full support for Tinubu’s second term, stating that the country is currently on a path of growth and progress.
The Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF’s) Chairman and governor of Imo State, Sen. Hope Uzodimma, spoke on behalf of all the governors at the National Summit of APC at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja.The governors also passed a vote of confidence in President Bola Tinubu.The Vice Chairman of the PGF and Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, joined Governor Uzodimma on the podium to second the motion for the adoption of the President as APC presidential candidate for 2027 poll.Thereafter, Uzodimma put the motion to vote before the participants at the National Summit.Those present were Vice President Kashim Shettima; Senate President, Godswill Akpabio; members of the National Assembly; serving and former governors, and APC members from across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.They, through voice vote and standing ovation, adopted President Tinubu for a second term in office come 2027.Uzodimma said the governors were united in their support for Tinubu’s re-election bid.He said: “That for Nigeria to get to her destination faster in prosperity, that the president should be used and adopted as our flag bearer for the 2027 presidential election, for a second term in office.“That the governors produced by our All Progressives Congress are hereby charged to take responsibility to market our federal government policies, occupy the political space in their domains, and take responsibility for winning all elections in their states come 2027.“It is therefore my humble pleasure, with total humility, to Almighty God to move that this August assembly adopt and concur the position of progressive governors that Mr President carries our flag 2027 and governors take responsibility for delivering this mandate. I’m so move as a motion.”Governor Sani seconded the motion: “I rise to second the motion as ably moved by the chairman of Progressives Governors Forum, the governor of Imo state, His Excellency, Hope Uzodimma, that this August gathering pass a vote of confidence on our able and amiable president, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as a sole candidate of APC come 2027 general election.NASS Leadership Endorses Tinubu for 2027 ElectionThe leaders of both the Senate and the House of Representatives have expressed their full support for President Bola Tinubu’s second term, stating that the country is currently on a path of growth and progress.Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who moved the motion on Thursday during the APC National Summit at the State House banquet hall in Abuja, acknowledged that the 2023 election posed significant challenges for President Tinubu.Joined by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, among others, Akpabio expressed optimism about the future.He predicted that Tinubu would secure even more states in the 2027 elections, stating that he sees a clear shift in momentum in the President’s favour.Akpabio remarked that despite the challenges, President Tinubu is actively working to reposition Nigeria.The Senate President stated that with opposition parties, particularly the PDP, in disarray, President Tinubu should be re-elected in 2027 as the sole candidate.Akpabio’s position was fully supported by other National Assembly leaders, with no dissenting voices.APC Endorses Tinubu for 2027 Presidential RaceThe All Progressives Congress has endorsed President Bola Tinubu as its flag bearer in the 2027 presidential elections.The Party’s National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, announced this yesterday, on behalf of its National Working Committee, at its National Summit held at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja.The endorsement came hours after APC governors and lawmakers cast a vote of confidence on the president and endorsed him for a second term.‘Sweep them Clean,’ Bring More Opposition Members – TinubuPresident Bola Tinubu has welcomed the gale of defections in the ruling All Progressives Congress, saying he expects more opposition party members to join his party.The President said this at the APC National Summit on Thursday in Abuja.In his speech, the President said he is happy about the wave of defections into the APC and urged the ruling party’s leadership to bring in more opposition members.President Tinubu also slammed critics who accused his government of installing a one-party state due to the recent gale of defections. He said those defecting to the APC should not be blamed because they were in a sinking ship.The President said, “You don’t blame people bailing out of a seeking ship, when they have no life jacket. I am glad of what we have and I’m expecting more to come. That’s the game. We are in a constitutional democracy; don’t forget the freedom of movement and freedom association is not criminally punishable. Welcome to the progressives, sweep them clean.”Earlier, the APC National Working Committee members led by the party’s National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, endorsed President Tinubu for a second term.The endorsement followed the National Assembly’s declaration of support for the President as their sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election.Sen. Godswill Akpabio, the President of the Senate, moved the endorsement, which was seconded by Hon. Tajudeen Abass, the Speaker of the House of Representatives.Defect with Me to APC or Resign, Gov Eno Tells Commissioners, OthersAkwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has directed all commissioners and political appointees in his cabinet to either defect with him to the All Progressives Congress, APC, or resign from their positions.The directive was reportedly issued during an ongoing State Executive Council (EXCO) meeting on Thursday, where the governor openly confirmed his decision to leave the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, for the APC.Sources present at the meeting disclosed that Governor Eno made it clear that his defection should come as no surprise to any of his appointees, stating:“Anybody who claims he is not aware of my intention to leave the PDP is still living in the 18th century,” he said.He explained that his decision to align with the APC was driven by his admiration for the leadership style of President Bola Tinubu, adding that he wants to work more closely with the Federal Government.The governor issued a stern warning to his appointees, saying he has “nothing to negotiate” with anyone unwilling to follow his political direction.“Apart from elected officials like House of Assembly members and Local Government Chairmen, I have nothing to negotiate with you,” Eno declared.“Let me tell you, anybody who believes that when I leave the PDP he will use the party structure to fight me is lying, because I will still control the PDP structure.”As of the time of filing this report, the State Executive Council meeting was still in session, with further developments expected in the coming hours.Nigerian Voters, not Govs ‘ll Decide Tinubu’s Fate in 2027 – WabaraOn the contrary, former Senate President and the Chairman Board of Trustees, BoT, of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Adolphus Wabara, has said that the Nigerian electorate, and not a few governors, will decide the fate of President Bola Tinubu in 2027.Senator Wabara was reacting to the adoption of Tinubu by APC governors as their sole candidate for the 2027 presidential race.However, he commended the governors for giving the President the right of first refusal, which he acknowledged “is a global practice and tradition”. But he added that being the flag bearer of the ruling party does not translate to automatic victory at the pool.Senator Wabara recalled that in 2015, PDP’s presidential flag bearer, President Goodluck Jonathan, was a sitting President but lost to the then opposition APC’s candidate.The former Senate President told the APC governors to allow President Tinubu’s work to speak for him.He said that the Nigerian masses “Who on a daily basis, feel the impact of the APC-led Federal Government, are the only ones to decide the President’s fate in 2027”.The PDP BoT Chairman argued that “it’s too early to overheat the polity with 2027 elections when INEC has not lifted the ban on campaigns.He “advised APC governors to rather concentrate on how to make life affordable for Nigerians, who are battling to survive the hardship inflicted on them by APC’s maladministration”.The former Senate President accused the APC of foisting one party system on Nigeria. He warned of the grave danger such drifting poses to the country’s democracy.
From Attah Ede, Makurdi
Gunmen suspected to be armed herdsmen have reportedly killed four persons, including two soldiers in a renewed attack on a community in Apa Local Government Area of Benue State.The latest attack had led the residents to flee to Ugbokpo headquarters of Apa LGA where they are taking refuge.
Some locals who spoke to DAILY ASSET yesterday identified the attacked communities as Ikobi which is located just a few kilometres away from Ugbokpo, the headquarters of Apa local government area. According to residents, the incident happened on Wednesday at about 3:30AM when the assailants invaded the community in a commando style, ambushing the soldiers who were conducting surveillance in the area and allegedly killing two of them.An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told DAILY ASSET through text message on Thursday that “The herdsmen, yesterday (Wednesday) attacked and killed four persons including two soldiers and made away with the military’s two AK47 and one SMG Gun, at Ijaha Ikobi, in Apa Local Government Area of Benue”.He gave the names of the civilian victims (Natives), who were killed to include; Ocheje Ngbede Sani and Aduba Paul Ogboyi, while names of the two soldiers killed as at the time of filing this report, were yet to be unknown.He lamented that the current security situation in Benue State called for concern of everyone and the entire Nigeria.The source insisted that both military and other paramilitary ought to have taken over the whole surrounding bushes in Apa and Agatu, to clear the insurgents and free the areas for farmers to farm peacefully.”This is a wakeup call to “Mopol 80″ stationed at Odugbo, to rise up to their responsibilities and face the criminal herders headlong and clear the bushes in Apa and Agatu axis and even other parts of zone C. Enough is enough! No one has a monopoly of violence”, he said.”We pray for the souls of the innocent farmers and Gallant Officers who were killed at Ijaha Ikobi in Apa and the souls of others, rest in peace Amen,” he added.Council’s chairman of Apa local government, Adam Ochega Ogwola confirmed the incident to newsmen in Makurdi on Thursday, describing the killing of the soldiers and innocent civilians as quite disturbing.”Yes, I can confirm that two soldiers and two other civilians were killed by herders.”At about 3:30am yesterday I received a call that there was an attack in the Ikobi community and when I called some people, there was no response from them. Later I heard that two soldiers were killed. So this morning, they discovered the bodies of the two civilians.”The attack took place at Ikobi community in Apa. The situation is relatively calm now. Soldiers and police are there to carry out their investigation to ensure that normalcy returns to that community.”Because of the culture of our people, you don’t normally keep accidental dead bodies in the mortuary. We are in the period of hit and run herders. When it happens we may not allow the corpse(s) to stay beyond 24hrs. So, they have been buried while the bodies of the late soldiers have been moved from that community. But I don’t know whether they are in a mortuary in Ugbokpo or in a mortuary in Makurdi”, the chairman stated.Effort to get confirmation from the Benue State Police Command proved abortive as the spokesperson for the command, Catherine Anene could not respond to calls and texts messages as at the time of filing this report.
By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced a fresh cut in the pump prices of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) nationwide.The new rates now range from N875 to N905 per litre, depending on location.A breakdown of the revised prices shows, Lagos: N875, South-West N885, North-East: N905, North-West & Central: N895, and South-South & South-East: N905Prices indicate a N15 reduction per litre across all regions and partner retail outlets, applying to all major fuel marketers in partnership with the refinery, including MRS, Ardova, Heyden, Optima Energy, Techno Oil, and Hyde Energy.
Before the new price template, Lagos residents paid N890 per litre, while prices rose to N920 in the North East and South-South regions.Lagos residents will now pay N875, while those in the North East and South South will pay N905 per litre with the new adjustments.“Our quality petrol and diesel are refined for better engine performance and are environmentally friendly,” the company stated in the notice.The development comes after the 650,000 Lekki-based refinery on Monday said the naira-for-crude deal allowed it to reduce the price of petrol at the pumps.In a statement signed by its Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina, the company said the decision to maintain price stability reflects its unwavering commitment to supporting the Nigerian economy and alleviating the burden on consumers from the increase in fuel prices by maintaining price stability.The company affirmed that the prices of petrol will remain affordable and stable.
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