DR CONGO PRESIDENT PARDONS COUP PLOTTERS OF AMERICAN ORIGIN. (PHOTO).

-
Image
 DR Congo president pardons coup plotters of American origin    President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Felix Tshisekedi has granted a presidential pardon to several coup plotters of American origin, who had been sentenced to death, according to official sources, Xinhua reported. Marcel Malanga, born in Utah, United States, and two other Americans who were sentenced to death last September, "will not be executed, as the death penalty is commuted," said Tina Salama, spokesperson for the DRC presidency late Tuesday. Tshisekedi has ordered the commutation of Marcel Malanga's sentence to life imprisonment, said Salama, adding that the measure also applies to the other American nationals convicted. Thirty-seven alleged coup plotters were convicted and sentenced to death in September last year by a Kinshasa military court in a trial against the failed coup. The coup plotters attacked the residence of Vital Kamerhe, then vice-prime minister, before targeting the ...
Post a Comment

UPDATE: EFCC ARRAIGNS YAHAYA BELLO FOR ALLEGED N110. 4BILLION FRAUD. (PHOTO). #PRESS RELEASE.

-


 EFCC Arraigns Yahaya Bello for  Alleged N110.4billion Fraud


The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday arraigned a former governor of Kogi State,  Yahaya Adoza Bello before  Justice Maryanne Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court, Maitama, Abuja.

 He was arraigned alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, on a 16-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and money laundering to the tune of N110.4billion.


Count eleven of the charge reads: “That  you Yahaya Adoza Bello, Umar Shuaibu Oricha And Abdulsalami Hudu sometime 2022, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, whilst having dominion over the state's treasury, dishonestly used the total sum of Five Million, Six Hundred and Ninety Eight Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty Eight Dirhams for the acquisition of a property located at Hotel Apartment Community: Burj Khalifa, lying, being and situate at Plot 160, Municipality NO 345-7562, Sky View Building No.401, Floor4, Dubai U.A.E”.


Count sixteen reads: “That Yahaya Adoza Bello sometime between 2017 and 2018, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, had under your control the total sum of N677, 848,000 (Six Hundred and Seventy Seven Million, Eight Hundred and Forty Eight Thousand Naira) unlawfully obtained from BESPOQUE BUSINESS SOLUTION LIMITED”.


They all pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them.


Following their pleas, EFCC counsel, Kemi Pinheiro SAN, informed the court of the prosecution's readiness to commence trial. However, counsel for the first and second defendants, Joseph Daudu SAN, moved an application for bail for his clients.  Pinheiro opposed the application arguing that it predated the arraignment of the defendants and was therefore premature, hasty and procedurally flawed.


Daudu  had clarified that the bail application before the court was dated November 22, 2024, and urged the court to admit Bello to bail.  "My Lord, the application is supported by a written address and exhibits, including Exhibit A, which demonstrates that the first defendant responded to the court’s public summons. His appearance today signifies his commitment to stand trial." He cited Sections 378(2) and 371 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) in support of the bail application.


In response, Pinheiro reminded the court that “ the bail applications only become relevant after arraignment when the court assumes full jurisdiction over the defendant. The application before your Lordship was filed on November 22, before the defendant submitted himself to the court's jurisdiction this morning. This renders the application hasty and incompetent."  The EFCC’s counsel  also highlighted Bello's alleged history of disregarding court summons and judicial processes. "The records before this court demonstrate bad conduct. The first defendant has treated previous court orders with disdain, including failing to appear before the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal. This conduct punctures  his claim of good behaviour and commitment to justice."


Pinheiro further emphasized the gravity of the allegations, stressing that, “this case involves over N130 billion in public funds, alleged to have been used to acquire properties across Abuja and other locations. Given the defendant’s political influence, granting bail poses a significant risk to the integrity of the trial."


Counsel to the third defendant also moved for bail, arguing that the application was competent and should be granted. 


However, Pinheiro opposed, pointing out that the third defendant, who served as a cashier during the alleged fraud and is now a permanent secretary, remains in a position to influence witnesses or repeat the offense.


"My Lord, witnesses in this case are civil servants and subordinates of the third defendant. His continued liberty poses a significant risk to the trial process," he said. Similarly, Pinheiro opposed bail for the second defendant, is still in government service, stating: "My Lord, the 

second defendant is still the Director General at the Government House, the same office implicated in this case. His position creates a likelihood of further interference in the investigation and trial."


Justice Anenih ordered that the defendants be remanded in EFCC custody and adjourned the hearing of the bail applications to December 10, 2024.  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

INNOSON GIVES OUT BRAND NEW IVM G5 AND SALARY FOR LIFE TO THE MAN WHO PROPHESIED ABOUT HIS VEHICLE MANUFACTURING IN 1979.(PHOTO).

-
Image
Innoson Gives Out Brand New IVM G5 and Salary For Life To The Man Who Prophesied About His Vehicle Manufacturing In 1979.  Last Saturday, July 22nd the Chairman of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Ltd, Chief Dr Innocent Ifediaso Chukwuma OFR gave out a brand new Innoson IVM G5 to Mr Ikechukwu Osakwe popularly known as Osabros who prophesied to him in 1979 that he would be the first man in Africa to manufacture vehicles and sell to different African countries.  The prophecy was given at the period the then Innocent Chukwuma could not boast of a car, talk less of manufacturing one. According to Dr Chukwuma during the presentation of the car, he recalled on how Mr Ikechukwu Osakwe all the way from Kano blocked him at the front of his house early in the morning and told him he has a message for him.  Mr Osakwe went on to narrate a dream he had about him, how he saw in the said dream his vehicle manufacturing company known as CAP PLC. "He told me that CAP means Chukwuma ...
Read more

SHAKIRA COVERS WOMEN'S HEALTH MAGAZINE,APRIL ISSUE.

-
Image
             Gerard Pique,welcomed their first child into the world last year January.Shakira told the magazine that ''I think it takes two to keep it passionate in relationships,a lot of laughter and a lot of fun moments together,that's essential but also affinity,you know.You have to be compatible.I'm really happy where i am right now,with the person that i'm with right now.He seems to want the same things i want,and that's very important''.More pictures below.                                                                                                                    
Read more

ACTOR BABA IJESHA APPEALS FIVE-YEAR JAIL SENTENCE FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT. (PHOTO).

-
Image
 Actor Baba Ijesha appeals five-year jail sentence for sexual assault Nollywood actor Olanrewaju James, known as Baba Ijesha, has filed an appeal against his conviction for the sexual assault of a minor. He has requested the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, to overturn the ruling of the Lagos State High Court, which sentenced him to five years in prison. The conviction was handed down by Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo (retd.) of the Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court on July 14, 2022 to Baba Ijesha. Baba Ijesha through his counsel Kayode Olabiran on Tuesday, told the appeal court that his client was set up and that he acted according to a script that he was invited to act on by his colleague. “The Appellant was set up. The Appellant is an actor. He acted in a script that he was invited to act by his colleague (PW1), Damilola Adekoya,” he said. The Director of Public Prosecution, Dr Babajide Martins, urged the court to dismiss the appeal for lacking in merit and also a misc...
Read more