Court Adjourns Emefiele’s WhatsApp Review Ruling to Sept 15

An Ikeja Special Offences Court has adjourned ruling on an application by former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele seeking forensic analysis of WhatsApp evidence in a $4.5 billion fraud case.

Emefiele is standing trial on a 19-count charge bordering on receiving gratification and corrupt demands.

Emefiele’s co-defendant, Henry Omoile, is facing a three-count charge bordering on unlawful acceptance of gifts by agents.

The duo are charged with fraud totaling $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion.

At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Emefiele, through his counsel, Mr Olalekan Ojo (SAN), requested the court to permit a forensic analysis of a mobile phone used in extracting WhatsApp messages already tendered as evidence.

Ojo said: “The defence is seeking the leave of the court to call a forensic expert to examine both the mobile device and printed conversations allegedly linked to the defendants.”

The EFCC counsel, Ms Chigozie Okezie, opposed the application.

Okezie argued that by virtue of the rules of evidence and practice, once an evidence of such nature had been admitted as an exhibit, the court became its custodian and retained it until the conclusion of the trial.

According to her, the essence of it is for the documents to remain in their original form as presented before the court.

She added that the duration of the forensic exercise was also not stated in the defendant’s application.

Okezie further noted that the defence failed to disclose the name of the forensic laboratory, the expertise, and the experience of the personnel to be used for the examination.

She said: “What is more, the defendants ought to have presented options of forensic laboratories, stating their competence for the court to pick from.

“We pray the court to nominate the director of the forensic department in the commission to select a laboratory for the exercise.

“We also urge the court to direct that the examination be conducted in the presence of a person with vast experience and knowledge, to be nominated by the prosecution.

“There should be room for proper chain of custody to ensure the device is not tampered with and is returned to the court upon conclusion of the exercise.”

After listening to the submission of both parties, Justice Rahman Oshodi adjourned the case until September 15 for ruling. (NAN)

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    NSCDC Calls for Collaboration to Tackle Illegal Mining in Nigeria

    Michael Olugbode in Abuja

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Commandant General, Prof. Abubakar Audi, has called for collaboration with security agencies to combat the cases of illegal mining in the country.

    Speaking at a high-level National Stakeholders and Civil Society Summit in Abuja, where he addressed on the need of expanded role of the Corps in combating illegal mining and protecting national asset, Audi noted that the fight against illegal mining cannot be won by security forces alone, but requires grassroots engagement, local intelligence, and community buy-in.

    At the event which was held at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, where senior officials from government, civil society, and security agencies sat to examine pressing threats including terrorism, oil theft, violent extremism, illegal mining, and human rights violations, Audi who served as the Guest Speaker, anchored his address on the theme: ‘The Role of Community Leaders and Civil Society Organisations in Tackling Illegal Mining in Nigeria’. 

    Represented by the Mining Marshals Commander; Assistant Commandant Attah Onoja, delivered remarks that drew attention from participants, and underscored the Corps’ record of success under his watch.

    Onoja said, “Under the leadership of the Commandant General, Prof. Audi, the Corps has recorded tremendous success in disrupting illegal mining operations across various states,” adding that: “This has not only safeguarded Nigeria’s mineral resources but has also positively impacted government revenue and local economic development.”

    He noted that the Mining Marshals, established during Audi’s tenure, have spearheaded intelligence-led operations against illicit resource extraction. Officials say their work—ranging from strategic deployments and arrests to seizures and prosecutions—has reshaped enforcement in a sector long plagued by criminal activity and revenue losses.

    Onoja also called for greater inter-agency collaboration, coordination and cooperation, stressing that threats such as banditry and terrorism demand collective responses. “Security challenges…require collective action and sustained policy implementation,he noted, while reaffirming the Corps’ commitment to professionalism and integrity.

    The summit agreed that Nigeria’s security institutions—including the NSCDC—must be further empowered to confront the array of crimes undermining the country’s economic stability and democratic order.

    The post NSCDC Calls for Collaboration to Tackle Illegal Mining in Nigeria appeared first on THISDAYLIVE.

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    Michael Olugbode in Abuja The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Commandant General, Prof. Abubakar Audi, has called for collaboration with security agencies to combat the cases of illegal mining in the
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    NCDMB Reaffirms Commitment to Promoting Local Content in Oil and Gas Industry 

    NCDMB Reaffirms Commitment to Promoting Local Content in Oil and Gas Industry 

    Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt 

    Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has reaffirmed its commitment to developing and promoting local content in the nation’s oil and gas industry.

    This was as the management of the NCDMB has clarified that the agency is not an interventionist agency for the Niger Delta region, but a pan-Nigerian.

    The General Manager, Corporate Communications, NCDMB, Dr. Ezeobi Obinna, made the clarification yesterday, in Port Harcourt, during the agency’s engagement with media stakeholders and youth groups across the Niger Delta.

    The agency said it has so far lived up to her core mandate of developing local capacities and capabilities without comprising standards as provided in the Act.

    Dr. Ezeobi emphasised that the agency’s primary mandate is to build capacity in the oil and gas industry and related sectors, adding that it is also saddled with the responsibility of enforcing Nigerian content provision compliance.

    Ezeobi who spoke against the backdrop of youths’ clamour for the agency’s intervention in the provision of roads and other basic infrastructure within the Niger Delta region, said such demands were outside its mandate.

    He said, “The NCDMB is a federal agency set up to build local capacities and to enforce compliance of Nigerian content in the oil and gas industry and related sectors. 

    “NCDMB is not an agency set out specifically for the Niger Delta. No, the NCDMB was not set out as an interventionist agency. When you’re talking about intervention you are saying an agency set out to focus only on Niger Delta. That is not our mandate. 

    “NCDMB is a federal government agency that is set out to do what? To build capacities in the oil and gas industry and to enforce compliance. 

    “That is, to get Nigerians to play roles in the oil and gas industry, to get Nigerians to participate in manpower, in equipment, in different things, to have everybody play a role and to see how the oil and gas industry impact will benefit other sectors, to create jobs, to have the economy grow,” he explained.

    Also speaking, Director of Corporate Services NCDMB, Dr. Abdulmalik Halilu, disclosed that over 100 indigenous companies with EPC (Exploration, Production and Construction) capabilities have made giant strides in the country, while about 15,000 Nigerians have been trained in skills such as welding, marine operations, PMT design engineering under the Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN).

    Halilu explained that NCDMB has pledged continuous support to Nigerian businesses to excel by remaining committed to the implementation of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, enacted in 2010.

    “Between 2010 when the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act was enacted, paving way for the birth of the Nigerian Content Development and Management Board, NCDMB, ease of doing business in Nigeria, especially in the nation’s oil and gas sector, was redefined.”

    On his part, General Manager Monitoring and Evaluation, NCDMB, Silas Ajimijaye, disclosed that the agency apart from efficiently delivering on its mandate, is also providing Corporate Social Responsibility support within the region.

    “Apart from delivering on our mandate, we are also doing workshops, doing training, providing support in different ways across the Niger Delta. For some media platforms we have partnership with we provide advertising support, for some we provide CSR support,” Ajimijaye added.

    The post NCDMB Reaffirms Commitment to Promoting Local Content in Oil and Gas Industry  appeared first on THISDAYLIVE.

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    Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt  Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has reaffirmed its commitment to developing and promoting local content in the nation’s oil and gas industry. This was as the
    The post NCDMB Reaffirms Commitment to Promoting Local Content in Oil and Gas Industry  appeared first on THISDAYLIVE.

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