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Akingbola To Forfeit N626bn, 8 Houses, Others – EFCC
The Mareva order granted against the wanted former Group Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank Plc, Mr. Erastus Akingbola, would see him forfeiting, temporarily, to the Federal Government, about N626 billion, eight houses, nine companies and 12 bank accounts.
This is even as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) again sealed off his property at 2, Bedwell Road Ikoyi, Lagos on Wednesday.
Commission’s spokesperson, Mr. Femi Babafemi, confirmed the sealing off of the property.
The Mareva order issued by a London court and a federal high court sitting in Lagos covered all his properties worldwide.
All the items listed by the commission were covered by the order.
His property at 12, Ruxcon Road, Ikoyi, Lagos was sealed off on Tuesday which signaled the commencement of the execution of the Mareva order.
In the Mareva sum contained in the order, N346 billion was listed in local currency while 1,085,575 British pounds was also listed as alleged proceeds of crime.
The order restrained Akingbola and members of his family from coming in contact with the said property until it is lifted.
In the schedule 11 of the order, assets listed included, property at Milverton Road, Ikoyi, 26, Chester Terrace London, 8 Connaugh Street, London, 65 Gove-End Road, London, Amazing Grace Plaza, Ligali Ayorinde Street, Victoria Island among others.
Companies listed in the order included Tropics Securities, Tropics Property, Tropics Holdings, Summit Finance Company, Tropics Finance and Investment Company, Yankuri Nigeria Ltd, Regal Investment, Bankinson Nigerian Ltd and Associated Discount House Ltd among others.
Some of the bank accounts included accounts with numbers 0001200000029420, 0001210000005334, 0111-001-000352735 and 0111-001000- 352745 domiciled with Intercontinental Bank.
Fifteen cars and five dogs were found on the property sealed off on Tuesday.
In the property listed in his name in the court order, he is said to own 10 properties in Ikoyi ansd Victoria Island, Lagos alone.
The commission’s guards now watch over the seized property.
It was also gathered that the commission’s chairman, Mrs Farida Waziri had written to all banks where Akingbola has accounts for the transfer of same to the government.
Other banks where he has accounts included Access Bank, Zenith Bank, Skye Bank, Fidelity Bank and Intercontinental U.K.
Security agencies abroad where Akingbola has properties and bank accounts, had also been contacted for the same measure of treatment for the former banker.
While the Lagos order was granted on the last day of 2009, the London court had granted its, on 23rd December, 2009.
Some of the assets to also be frozen were Nos 17, 18, 19, 20 on Finchey Road, London as well as the property located at 26, Chesire Terrace, London.
Properties said to have been owned by him in Accra, Ghana and Dubai, United Arab Emirates, were also listed for forfeiture.
The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Oceanic Bank, Mr. John Aboh, has said the bank concluded staff rationalisation exercise December last year, stressing that it has no plan to sack any of his workers in the new year.
Speaking against the backdrop of insinuations that the bank had carried out fresh disengagement of staff, Aboh explained that it was unfounded and a premeditated attempt by people to derail the consistent progress being recorded by the bank.
According to him, last year rationalisation was to drive operational efficiency in the organisation, noting that it had become imperative to alert customers and shareholders on true situation.
“I urge our esteemed customers, shareholders, and the entire banking public to disregard such reports. Oceanic Bank is making steady progress with its recovery efforts and the trends before us show promising prospects and enhanced value creation for all stakeholders.”
The Oceanic Bank boss explained that prior to the bank’s staff rationalisation exercise, the bank was expending over N4 billion monthly on salaries and wages to a workforce of over 20,000 people.
“We had to implement the painful process of staff rationlisation to streamline the workforce along the line of the current business realities otherwise we will be deploying depositors’ funds to sustain the bloated workforce. The vision we have is to grow the business to ensure consistent value creation for our customers and shareholders.”
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.