N16 million scam: Court arraigns former police IG

Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi of an Abuja High Court on Friday dismissed an application by former Inspector General of Police, Sunday Ehindero, which urged the court to stop Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) from a
rraigning him.
Justice Oniyangi also dismissed similar application filed by the suspended Commissioner of Police in charge of Budget at the Force Headquarters, John Obaniyi.
The judge further refused to vacate the leave granted the ICPC to arraign the duo.
The duo had filed separate notices of preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court as well as the leave granted the ICPC to file charges against them.
They had prayed the court to quash the six counts preferred against them by the anti-graft agency. The ICPC had filed a charge of alleged corrupt embezzlement of N16 million against them.
The ICPC said the amount was the interests generated from N567 million donated to the Nigeria Police by the Bayelsa State Government for the purchase of arms, ammunition and riot control equipment.
The accused persons could be imprisoned for seven years if convicted.
Delivering his ruling, Justice Oniyangi held that the anti-graft agency had, by the proof of evidence before the court, successfully established a prima facie evidence against the accused to warrant their being put to trial.
“Prima facie evidence has been shown by the ICPC through the exhibits and statements of witness to proceed with trial,” he said.
Justice Oniyangi also held that the ICPC was competent to prosecute the accused, adding that the ICPC Act 2000, under which the duo were charged, was a valid law.
He said that the submission of Mr Ehindero’s counsel, Mike Ozekhome, that the ICPC Act 2000 was a non existing law, was not tenable.
He said that the offence the suspects were charged with were known to written laws, stressing that it was not correct to say the ICPC was charging the accused under non-existent law.
The judge further held that the commission is empowered to prosecute offences which fall under the penal and criminal codes.
Justice Oniyangi, therefore, dismissed the objections and subsequently ordered that Misters Ehindero and Obaniyi be arraigned.
After the ruling, Justice Oniyangi read the charges to accused persons who pleaded not guilty.
Justice Oniyangi, refused to grant bail to Misters Ehindero and Obaniyi on liberal terms as made in an oral application by Mr Ozekhome.
He granted them bail in the sum of N10 million each and one surety in like sum and ordered that the surety must swear to an affidavit of means.
He also said the accused persons should be detained in prison if they failed to meet the bail conditions.
Justice Oniyangi adjourned the case to 12 November for accelerated hearing.

CBN suspends introduction of N5000 note

Reeling from a barrage of public anger, disagreement and threats, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has buckled under pressure and suspended the planned introduction of the N5000 note following a directive from the presidency.

Illustartion of the planned N5000 with leading female activists.

This is coming after the presidency through the Special Adviser to the president on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, on Thursday declared that President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered that the planned introduction of N5,000 be put on hold.
The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) had also on Thursday, called for the immediate sack of the governor of the CBN, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi over the planned introduction.
Announcing the change in policy, a statement by the director of corporate communications of the apex bank, Mr Ugochukwu Okoroafor however explained that “it is indeed within the powers of the bank to print new currencies as provided in Section 19(1) of the CBN Act 2007.”
The statement further explained that “It also provides that such introduction of the Naira denominations shall be approved by the president upon recommendation of the board.”
“In line with this provision, the CBN had  proposed and obtained the approval of the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to embark on the currency restructuring exercise, codenamed ‘Project Cure’ on December 19, 2011″
“The CBN hereby informs the general public that the president, on Thursday, September 20, 2012, directed that further action on the approved restructuring exercise be stopped.”
“In full compliance with the provisions of the law, the CBN hereby announces that further action on the said restructuring exercise has been stopped, until such a time Mr. President may direct otherwise” the statement read.
It also emphasized that no contract has been awarded by the CBN in connection with the printing and minting of the new currency notes and coins.
“Consequently, no currency note or coin has been printed or minted under the proposed exercise”, the statement added.
And confirming this directive, the president’s spokesman Dr. Reuben Abati stated that the decision to suspend the exercise is to enable the central bank to embark on more enlightenment campaigns.

BOKO HARAM FOUNDER INFORMATION LINK OUT

A London-based charity organisation, Al-Muntada Trust Fund, has been accused by a British member of parliament of funding Boko Haram in Nigeria, according to a report released by British newspaper The Guardian on Sunday.

David Alton, a member of the House of Lords, raised concerns about the Al-Muntada Trust Fund's activities with Foreign Office minister, Lord Howell, in July, as well as with the United Kingdom's Charity Commission and the Metropolitan police.

However the charity commission stated that while it was aware of concerns regarding Al-Muntada's affiliations with Boko Haram, it was unable to confirm whether those concerns were directly related to the London-based Al-Muntada, since there were several other charity organisations registered under the same name, according to The Guardian. Nevertheless, the London-based Al-Muntada is notorious for being a platform for radical clerics, The Guardian reported. Nigerian state security also has concerns with Al-Muntada allegedly funding Boko Haram, according to Nigerian media reports.

TINUBU WANT SENATE SCRAPPED

Former Lagos State Governor and leader of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Bola Tinubu, has made the call for the upper arm of  legislature to be scrapped. Mr Tinubu, who More...

N5000 NOTE: NBA CALL FOR THE DISMISSAL OF CBN GOVERNOR

The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) has called for the immediate sack of the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi over the planned introduction of the N5,000 note. NBA’s More...

DOWNLOAD THE NIGERIA POLICE RECRUITMENT FORM HERE

The Nigerian Police Service Commission (PSC) has released the ICT Application Form for the on-going recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force as Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and Cadet Inspectors.

The recruitment started last week and the PSC directed candidates to download the ICT Form which was nowhere to be found on the PSC website.

NIGERIA POLICE FORCE ICT RECRUITMENT FORM - APPLICATION FORM

To view the NPF vacancies, click the links below:

1.) Nigeria Police Force ICT Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Recruitment 2012

2.) Nigeria Police Force Cadet Inspectors Recruitment 2012


Nigeria Police Service Commission NPF Forms

Follow the links below to download the forms.

1.) Nigeria Police ICT Cadet Inspectors  and ASP Recruitment - Application Form - Click here to download

2.) Nigeria Police Force General Duty Cadets ASP and Inspector Form :  Click here to download

DO YOU NO THAT NIGERIA POLICE ACADEMY, WUDIL. HAVE BEEN UPGRADED INTO DEGREE AWARDING INSTITUTION so interested candidate should visit the school website for more detail you can follow the link provided on this page. and note the entry will be close by 7th of September, and the exam is coming up on the 15th of September.