ENGINEERS FAROUK AHMED, GBENGA KOMOLAFE RESIGN, PRESIDENT TINUBU NOMINATES SUCCESSORS TO THE SENATE FOR APPROVAL. (PHOTO). #PRESS RELEASE.

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 STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE   ENGINEERS FAROUK AHMED, GBENGA KOMOLAFE RESIGN, PRESIDENT TINUBU NOMINATES SUCCESSORS TO THE SENATE FOR APPROVAL President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has asked the Senate to approve the nominations of two new chief executives for the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).   The requests followed the resignation of Engineer Farouk Ahmed of the NMDPRA and Gbenga Komolafe of the NUPRC. Both officials were appointed in 2021 by former President Buhari to lead the two regulatory agencies created by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).   To fill these positions, President Tinubu has written to the Senate, requesting expedited confirmation of Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as CEO of NUPRC and Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as CEO of NMDPRA.   The two nominees are seasoned professionals in the oil and gas industry.   Eyesan, a graduate of Economics f...

ALLEGED N1. 4BN FRAUD: COURT ADJOURNS PROFESSOR UCHE EDWIN'S TRIAL TILL MAY 20.(PHOTO).#PRESS RELEASE.


 Alleged N1.4bn Fraud: Court Adjourns Professor Uche Edwin’s Trial till May 20


Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos has adjourned the trial  of Prof. Uche Chigozie Edwin,  a defendant that allegedly defrauded maize farmers the sum of  N1.4billion,   till May 20, 2024, just as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC opened its case presenting its first witness. 

 

The EFCC had on Thursday, February 15, 2024 re-arraigned Edwin, alongside his companies, Visionary Integrated Consulting Limited, NEMAD Associates Limited and Revamp Global Enterprise,  on 11-count charges bordering on conspiracy, retention and conversion of funds to the tune of N1,473,367,046.04 (One Billion, Four Hundred and Seventy-three Million, Three Hundred and Sixty-Seven Thousand, Forty-six Naira, Four Kobo).

 

One of the counts reads: “That you, Professor Uche Chigozie Edwin , Visionary Integrated Consulting Limited, Nemad Associates Limited and Revamp Global Enterprise, sometime in 2021, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Court conspired amongst yourselves to use the sum of N1, 473,367,046.04 (One Billion, Four Hundred and Seventy Three Million, Three Hundred and Sixty Seven Thousand, forty six Naira, Four Kobo), property of the Maize Growers, Processors, and Marketers Association of Nigeria (MAGPAMAN), which sum you

 reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful activity to wit: fraud and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”


He pleaded "not guilty" to the counts.

At the resumed sitting on March 13, 2024, prosecuting counsel, C.C. Okezie called the first prosecution witness (PW1), Mary Kugbe, a compliance officer with United Bank for Africa, UBA. 


In her evidence, Kugbe told the court that although she did not know the defendant personally, she was aware that he maintains an account with the bank through his company, Visionary Integrated Consulting Limited (2nd defendant).


“Sometime in 2021, we received a request from the EFCC, requesting for the statement of account and account opening packages of the 2nd defendant”, she said.


“We obliged them and forwarded all the documents. The document forms part of the records of the bank and also came from the bank."  She further identified the said documents in open court.


Okezie, thereafter, applied to tender the letter dated September 27, 2021, along with its attachment. The documents were admitted by the court and marked as exhibits. 


Justice Dipeolu  adjourned  the matter till May 20 and 21, 2024, for continuation of trial.

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