University Staff Diverted N11b For Former NIMASA Boss, Akpobolokemi – EFCC Witness Tells Court

A prosecuting witness in the ongoing trial of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Joseph Nwobike, today told the Lagos High Court in Igbosere how the sum of N11, 316,295,549.29 was allegedly diverted from Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) into accounts operated by a staff of Niger Delta University (NDU), John Simon Adomene.

Nwobike is facing a five-count charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice and offering gratification to a public official, a charge he denied.

The Nation reports that the prosecuting witness, Orji Chukwuma, who is an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness, told the court that Adomene laundered the money on behalf of an ex -Director-General of NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi.

According to the prosecuting witness Chukwuma, in 2015, the commission received intelligence on “a monumental fraud perpetrated in NIMASA.”

“In the course of the investigation, it was revealed that one John Simon Adomene, a staff of Niger Delta University was used by the DG of NIMASA, Dr. Patrick Akpobolokemi, to perpetrate this fraud. Subsequently, efforts were made to trace accounts linked to John Adomene and companies linked with him,” he said.

He listed the companies to include Wabod, Global Resources Limited, Gokiad Marine Services and Boloberi Properties and Estate Limited. “We traced billions of naira in accounts and properties to these companies which were merely fronts for Dr. Akpobolokemi,” Chukwuma alleged

Accident Victim Joy Akabuike Is Out Of Coma

A reporter with Abia Fact Newspaper has just confirmed that Joy Akabuike is alive. She has regained consciousness days after the ghastly accident.

All the passengers (except her) were confirmed dead following an accident involving a commercial bus belonging to Peace Mass Transit and a truck last Sunday May 22nd in Umuahia, Abia State.

'Femi Fani Kayode Will Be Vindicated' - His Wife Precious Chikwendu Releases Statement

Read her statement below...
If life was a movie I'm sure we would have our fingers on the fast forward button to skip so many scenes that ain't just fair. But this is reality and in reality we live through it. It's a time when strength and courage comes in play and only the brave can afford both. My Lion (Femi Fani-Kayode) will walk through this webby den of lies and injustice. Persecution and trials are common, only the weak fear them. He remains brave and strong through all these and soon he will be vindicated. I stand with my husband Femi Fani-Kayode.

Gov. Ambode Launches N400m Dangote Foundation Micro-Grant Scheme For Women

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Thursday flagged off the N400 million Dangote Trust Fund Micro-Grant Scheme for 40,000 women across the state.

Ambode, during the ceremony at the Lagos House, Ikeja, said the scheme was designed to enhance the income generating capacity of beneficiaries through seed grants of N 10,000 and other accessories.

The programme will reach beneficiaries across the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas of the State.

He said:

We shall ensure that the micro-grant is administered to benefit the targeted disadvantaged and vulnerable members of our community, especially the widows and other special interest persons.

The real essence of wealth is to improve the standard of living of people around us. True wealth is measured not by the property one acquires, but by the ability to positively affect the society and lift up less privileged people.

The governor appealed to the first set of beneficiaries not to abuse the opportunity afforded them by the scheme.

“The seed grants you will receive have been provided to enable you engage in petty commercial activities and cottage business that will put food on the table for your family and not a largesse that should be spent frivolously,” Ambode said.

The governor urged members of the Micro Grants beneficiary selection committee to ensure transparency in the nomination process from the ward level.

“Nobody must be denied access to this facility on the basis of gender, political, ethnic or religious affiliation,” he said.

Ambode commended Aliko Dangote for the gesture and urged other well meaning, public-spirited individuals and corporate organisations to emulate his kind gesture.

Earlier, Dangote said the programme was targeted at a minimum of 1,000 vulnerable women in each of the 774 Local Government Areas across the country.

He said that it provided the women the opportunity to reduce their vulnerability and meet their livelihood needs.

Dangote said that due to the special status of Lagos State, the number of beneficiaries per local government was doubled to enable the programme reach out to a larger population of women.

He said that the programme was implemented in partnership with the State Government to make it inclusive.

According to him, beneficiaries will be given mobile phones in addition to the N10,000.

Dangote said that payments would be made electronically via mobile money platform and beneficiaries could redeem their cash immediately.

Photo Credit: Lagos State