• Hot Source
• Uncategorized
• October 10, 2025
• 5 views

Ex-NSITF boss, Ngozi Olejeme arraigned over alleged N1bn fraud

A former board chairman of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF, Ngozi Olejeme, has been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for alleged alleged N1 billion fraud before an Abuja Federal High Court. The spokesperson of the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, who disclosed this in a statement on Friday, said she was
Ex-NSITF boss, Ngozi Olejeme arraigned over alleged N1bn fraud

A former board chairman of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF, Ngozi Olejeme, has been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for alleged alleged N1 billion fraud before an Abuja Federal High Court.

The spokesperson of the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, who disclosed this in a statement on Friday, said she was arraigned on an 8- count charge bordering on converting, transferring, procuring and taking possession of proceeds of unlawful activity to the tune of N1 billion.

According to the statement, “Count one of the charge reads, “That you Mrs Ngozi Olejeme while being the Board Chairman of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) sometime in February 2012, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court indirectly converted the sum of N321,600 .000 (Three Hundred and Twenty One Million, Six Hundred Naira) paid into the Sterling Bank plc account of ADIN MILES INTERNATIONAL LTD in 9th of February 2012 knowing that the funds constituted proceeds of unlawful activity and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2) (b) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011(As amended by Act No.1 of 2012).”

Count 5 of the charge read, “That you Mrs Ngozi Olejeme while being the Board Chairman of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) on or about the 9th of February, 2012 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court procured Chuka C. Eze to convert the sum of $2,000,000 (Two Million Dollars) into Naira for payment to ADIN MILES INTERNATIONAL LTD when you knew that the said $2,000,000 constituted proceeds of unlawful activity and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18© and punishable under Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition Act, 2011 (as amended by Act No 1 of 2012).”

The statement said she pleaded not guilty to all the charges when read to her which prompted the prosecuting counsel, Emenike Mgbemele, to ask the court for a trial date to call 14 witnesses.

However, defense counsel, Emeka Ogbogulo, SAN, called the attention of the court to a bail application, praying the court to grant the defendant bail till trial date.

Justice Nwite released the defendant to her counsel and adjourned the matter to November 17, 2025, for hearing of bail application.

Ex-NSITF boss, Ngozi Olejeme arraigned over alleged N1bn fraud

• Hot Source
• Uncategorized
• October 10, 2025
• 0 views

Certificate scandal: It’s wrong to ask DSS to screen public office nominees – Onoh

Denge Onoh, former South-East spokesman to President Bola Tinubu, has exonerated the Department for State Services, DSS, of any blame regarding the screening of the former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji. Speaking with journalists in Abuja, Onoh stressed that the act of consistently asking nominees for public office to go for DSS
Certificate scandal: It’s wrong to ask DSS to screen public office nominees – Onoh

Denge Onoh, former South-East spokesman to President Bola Tinubu, has exonerated the Department for State Services, DSS, of any blame regarding the screening of the former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja, Onoh stressed that the act of consistently asking nominees for public office to go for DSS screening is wrong and a total abuse of the functions of the organization which he said should be stopped immediately.

He urged Nigeria to step up to a globally accepted practice and grow beyond the third world country practices.

According to him, involving the DSS was a practice by the military junta because the Constitution was suspended, adding that the unconstitutional act became normalised and continued by the democratic government.

“It is not the constitutional duty of the Nigerian Department of State Services (DSS) to screen the educational qualifications of a president’s nominee for public office,” Onoh maintained.

The former presidential spokesman emphasised that the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) does not assign such responsibility to the DSS, but instead, the Constitution outlines distinct roles such that the President nominates individuals for offices like ministers (under sections 147 and 154), and the Senate conducts the formal screening and confirmation process to assess suitability, including qualifications.

“Educational credentials for such nominees are typically verified by the issuing institutions (e.g universities) or through Senate inquiries during hearings, not by the DSS.”

“The DSS’s core functions focus on internal security, counterintelligence, and protecting senior officials such as preventing crimes threatening national security.

“The Nigerian Constitution does not explicitly detail DSS duties but embeds them within broader executive powers (Section 5). It does not include vetting educational qualifications as a statutory obligation,” he stressed.

Certificate scandal: It’s wrong to ask DSS to screen public office nominees – Onoh

• Hot Source
• Uncategorized
• October 10, 2025
• 1 views

Lagos orders fresh probe into Lekki land forgery case involving developer, lawyer

A new dimension has surfaced in the protracted Lekki land dispute, as the Lagos State Ministry of Justice has ordered the police to reopen investigations into alleged forgery and willful property destruction involving a real estate developer, Alex Ochonogor, and his lawyer, Ademola Owolabi. The directive followed a second police report, signed by Deputy Commissioner
Lagos orders fresh probe into Lekki land forgery case involving developer, lawyer

A new dimension has surfaced in the protracted Lekki land dispute, as the Lagos State Ministry of Justice has ordered the police to reopen investigations into alleged forgery and willful property destruction involving a real estate developer, Alex Ochonogor, and his lawyer, Ademola Owolabi.

The directive followed a second police report, signed by Deputy Commissioner of Police Mohammed Dahiru, which had previously exonerated Ochonogor and Owolabi of all allegations.

In a letter dated August 22, 2025, and signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP, Adeshola Adekunle-Bello, the Ministry instructed the Force Criminal Investigation Department, FCID, Annex, Ikoyi, to revisit the case, question additional witnesses, and reassess key evidence.

The correspondence, addressed to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, FCID, specifically named Dr Obidigwe Eze and Major Hamza Al-Mustapha as crucial witnesses whose earlier statements should be re-evaluated in light of fresh information.

Ochonogor was recently arraigned before a Lagos State High Court sitting in Tafawa Balewa Square alongside lawyers Ademola Owolabi and Adebayo Akeju, on charges bordering on forgery of land documents and unlawful demolition of structures in Lekki. The defendants pleaded not guilty and were granted bail.

Unhappy with the earlier police findings that led to their indictment, Ochonogor and Owolabi petitioned the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, alleging bias, abuse of power, and a compromised investigation.

Their petition prompted a fresh probe, which cleared them of wrongdoing and confirmed that the demolition in question had been officially sanctioned.

According to the latest police findings, on July 12, 1994, the Lagos State Government issued a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O No. 36/36/1994w) for Block 133, Plot 10, Lekki Peninsula Scheme 1, to Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, then Chief Security Officer to late Gen. Sani Abacha.

Investigators also revealed that Ochonogor was introduced to the property in 2015 through an estate agent, Donatus Eze of Trust Dede and Property Nigeria Limited.

Engineer Peter Omotosho, of Archbond Builders Ltd, confirmed that the demolition notice was properly issued and published by the Lagos State Government in 2009.

The police also discovered that the deed of assignment presented by the complainant, allegedly signed by Al-Mustapha and Abdul Fatai Alao Thomas, was forged, while the Registrar of Titles verified that the memorandum of loss related to the property was genuine and duly registered.

Justice Serifat Sonaike adjourned the case to October 13, 2025 for further hearing.

Lagos orders fresh probe into Lekki land forgery case involving developer, lawyer

• Hot Source
• Uncategorized
• October 10, 2025
• 5 views

‘I’m a golden minister’ – Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, on Thursday described himself as a golden minister. Wike said he was a governor when Rivers clocked 50 years and now he is a minister when the FCT will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year February. The Minister disclosed this during the flagging off ceremony
‘I’m a golden minister’ – Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, on Thursday described himself as a golden minister.

Wike said he was a governor when Rivers clocked 50 years and now he is a minister when the FCT will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year February.

The Minister disclosed this during the flagging off ceremony of the construction of Collector Road CN2 (Emmanuel I. Ogala Street) from Arterial N16 (Yemi Osinbajo way) to N20 (Wole Soyinka way) including road ILS 5 within Katampe District.

He noted that such a feat is an indication that God loves him, adding that nobody should be envious.

Wike said: “So please do all you can when Abuja would attain the golden age of 50 years, it’s done.

“Some of us have been very lucky. We are golden governors and now golden ministers, it’s not everybody that will be that lucky.

“Some of you were governors when your state was not up to 50 years, some were council chairmen when it did get up to that age but we became a governor when our state attained that golden jubilee and now we are minister when FCT will attain that golden jubilee. So you ask yourself, are we not so loved by God?

“Well you may sit on my seat but that does not mean you are loved specially like you are loved by God.”

‘I’m a golden minister’ – Wike