Crime
High Court Rejects EFCC’s Additional Proof Evidence On Emefiele

High Court Rejects EFCC’s Additional Proof Evidence On Emefiele
High Court rejects EFCC’s additional proof evidence on Emefiele. Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court Abuja, has rejected the additional proof of evidence brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, in the alleged procurement fraud trial brought against him.
Delivering ruling in a motion on notice filed by Emefiele to object to the action of the EFCC, Justice Muazu held that the Commission had on February 12, 2024, first filed additional proof of evidence against the former CBN governor to accommodate the evidence of a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha and one Bamayi Haruna Mairiga.
The judge, who noted that the charge against Emefiele was filed since August 14, 2023 and his plea taking on November 16, 2023, said that the action of the EFCC would amount to denial of fair trial because the former governor of CBN was not confronted with the new evidence during investigation as required by law.
Justice Muazu further added that the action of EFCC amounted to trial by ambush and a clear case of fishing for evidence in the trial that commenced since November 28, 2023.
Justice Muazu pointed out that allowing the additional proof of evidence after the charge had been amended severally was prejudicial to the defendant, as his right to fair hearing is being breached.

Emefiele
The judge held that the position of the law is that the charge was filed upon the completion of investigation and prima facie case established against any defendant in a criminal matter, adding that in the instant case, the contrary is the case.
The judge however, declined to strike out the charge for being a product of incomplete or ongoing investigation and therefore speculative as claimed by Emefiele.
Justice Muaza said that the charge cannot be struck down because both the defendant and the prosecution had joined issues with each other and trial almost completed.
Crime
NDLEA Intercepts Indian Woman With 72 Parcels Of Heroin At Kano Airport

NDLEA Intercepts Indian Woman With 72 Parcels Of Heroin At Kano Airport
NDLEA intercepts Indian woman with 72 parcels of heroin at Kano airport. Mr Babafemi said the class A drug consignment weighing 11 kilogrammes was recovered from her luggage after a thorough search.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a 42-year-old Indian lady at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, with 72 parcels of heroin.
A statement by NDLEA’s director of media and advocacy, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday in Abuja said the prohibited substances were factory-sealed in wafer wraps and packaged as chocolates.
Mr Babafemi said the class A drug consignment weighing 11 kilogrammes was recovered from her luggage after a thorough search.
He said this followed credible intelligence during an inward clearance of Qatar Airways flight QR1431 from Bangkok, Thailand, via Vietnam and Doha at the arrival hall of the Kano airport on Friday, March 14.
Mr Babafemi said the arrest of the suspect signified a growing attempt by drug trafficking organisations to hire white ladies and foreign nationals to move illicit drugs through the Nigerian borders.
“A bid that vigilant NDLEA operatives have consistently frustrated with the aid of modern technological tools and proactive intelligence,“ he said.
In another interdiction operation in Kano, NDLEA officers on Thursday, March 20, arrested a 45-year-old male suspect with a 50-litre steel gas cylinder at Gadar Tamburawa, along Zaria- Kano road.
“Based on credible intelligence, welding tools were later used to cut the giant cylinder, after which 50,000 pills of tramadol 225mg concealed in it were extracted.
“Meanwhile, a 40-year-old male was nabbed at Gunduwawa area of Kano on Wednesday, March 19, with 27kg skunk, a strain of cannabis,” he said.
Mr Babafemi said another female suspect was arrested with 424 bottles of codeine-based syrup in theLungun Bulala Yalwa area of the state on Tuesday.
He said operatives arrested two male suspects with 67.5kg skunk in Mushin, Lagos State, and 100.8kg of the same psychoactive substance was recovered from the store of two fleeing suspects in the Anifowoshe area of Mushin.

NDLEA
“Another suspect was also arrested in Apapa with 4.5kg skunk, 600 grammes of tramadol 225mg, and 30 litres of codeine syrup on Tuesday.
“Another suspect also was arrested the same day in the Ikotun area of the state with different quantities of cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine,“ he said.
Mr Babafemi said NDLEA commands and formations nationwide continued to intensify their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy sensitisation.
He quoted the NDLEA chairman, Buba Marwa, as commending the officers and men of MAKIA, Lagos, and Kano commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures.
Crime
SEC Warns Again Violation In Capital Market Says No Hiding Place

SEC Warns Again Violation In Capital Market Says No Hiding Place
SEC warns again violation in capital market says no hiding place. The director-general said the SEC was committed to ensuring all market participants understood the commission’s responsibilities.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) says there is no hiding place for violators in the country’s capital market.
The director-general of SEC, Emomotimi Agama, gave the warning in a notice to operators on Sunday. Mr Agama said in the notice that market operators engaging in unscrupulous activities would not be allowed to go unpunished.
He described investors’ protection as a fundamental principle for the commission, noting that the Investments and Securities Act (ISA) 2007 clearly outlined the objectives of securities regulation.
Mr Agama said the ethics of regulating or registering a securities market operator is in the principle of the fit and proper person’s test.
”A fit and proper person’s test means that you satisfy all of the requirements that have been laid down in the ISA 2007 and in other regulations that the SEC has brought out to make sure that this happens.
”So, clearly, for us, it is getting people to understand that there is no hiding place anymore for anybody that has an intention to defraud Nigerians and to defraud anybody that is investing in this market,” Mr Agama stated.
He said the recent revocation of licences and suspension of operators not registered with SEC “is only a tip of the iceberg as to what we intend to do this year.”

SEC Warns Again Violation
”We believe strongly that a protected investor is a powerful investor, and we will do everything within the powers of the SEC and the Nigerian law to make sure that we deter unscrupulous persons who are involved in trying to defraud Nigerian investors,” Mr Agama said.
The director-general said the SEC was committed to ensuring that all market participants understood the commission’s responsibilities.
He said compliance and information disclosure were important to the capital market operation, describing them as the fundamental objectives of securities regulation.
Mr Agama urged existing and prospective market participants to work closely with the commission to foster market development.
Crime
Ekiti LG Chairman Urges Residents To Protect Electricity Transformers From Vandals

Ekiti LG Chairman Urges Residents To Protect Electricity Transformers From Vandals
Ekiti LG chairman urges residents to protect electricity transformers from vandals. Mr Omojola warned that vandalised transformers could leave communities in darkness for months.
The Chairman of Ikole Local Government, Bayo Omojola, has urged residents to be security conscious and protect electricity transformers in their communities from vandalism.
Mr Omojola spoke during an interview on Sunday in Ikole-Ekiti.
He said that communities currently enjoying uninterrupted electricity supply were those whose transformers remained in good condition.
“It is important for every resident of Ikole-Ekiti and other communities under the council to take responsibility for protecting their transformers from vandals,” he said.
Mr Omojola warned that vandalised transformers could leave communities in darkness for months, as seen in other areas where residents had to wait for government intervention.
He stated, “We have heard of several communities where transformers were vandalised, leaving them without electricity for months until the state government stepped in. We do not want to fall victim to such incidents.
That is why I am urging traditional rulers, chiefs, and youths to be proactive by setting up security measures to protect these installations. Government and BEDC alone cannot secure the transformers for us. Residents must take responsibility to prevent unnecessary power outages.’’

Ekiti LG Chairman
Mr Omojola noted that the cost of a transformer and its cables was about ₦8 million, meaning any damage would have serious consequences for the affected communities.
He urged members of the landlords’ associations to take active steps in safeguarding transformers in their neighbourhoods.
He advised that any individual caught attempting to vandalise a transformer should be arrested and handed over to the police for prosecution.
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