News

Emefiele Fulfills Bail Conditions, Secretly Released From Kuje Prison – Whistler

Published

5 months ago

December 23, 2023

Embattled former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele has finally fulfilled his bail conditions and has been released from Kuje Prison secretly, THE WHISTLER has gathered on Friday.

A source in the prison who revealed the ex-CBN governor’s release via a text message said, “Emefiele was released quietly in Kuje prison at 3pm today after fulfilling his bail conditions secretly.”

The source further said, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is still looking for him to arrest him,” and that’s “why he was released secretly.”

He said everything was done secretly in active connivance with the prison officials who perfected the plan and hid him from visitors who were visiting the facility.

The former CBN top man was unable to fulfil the bail conditions over fears that the government may come after anyone who would stand as his surety.

It’s not clear at the time of going to press who came to his rescue as one of his lawyers, Maxwell Opara told THE WHISTLER, “I can’t confirm that to you unless I speak with the brother.”

Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court had granted the CBN bail on November 8.

He was re-arraigned on a six-count charge bordering on procurement fraud on November 18 and remanded in Kuje Prison.

He was accused of corruptly enriching himself as CBN governor by using Sa’adatu Yaro, a staff of CBN, to award a contract for the procurement of 43 vehicles worth N1.2 billion between 2018 and 2020.

According to the charge sheet, the vehicles included 37 Toyota Hilux at the cost of N854.7 million, one Toyota Avalon at the cost of N99.9 million, one Toyota Landcruiser V8 at the cost of N73.8 million, two Toyota Hilux Shell Specification at the cost of N44,200,000.

After pleading “not guilty” to the amended charge, he was granted bail in the sum of N300 million with sureties who must have certificates of occupancy and titles of properties within the Maitama district in Abuja.

On Wednesday, Jim Obazee, the special investigator probing CBN and related entities, in a final panel report titled ‘Report of the Special Investigation on CBN and Related Entities (Chargeable offences)’ that was submitted to President Bola Tinubu accused the former CBN boss of using Ways and Means advances by the CBN to enrich himself.

Abubakar Umar, the spokesman of the Kuje Prison did not respond to inquiries made via calls and a text message.

Headline

Prince Harry visits sick Nigerian soldiers in Kaduna

Published

3 hours ago

May 11, 2024

Alero Danjuma

Prince Harry and his team visited the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna to interact with wounded soldiers who are receiving treatment.

The Duke of Sussex is in Nigeria with his wife to champion the Invictus Games, which Harry founded to aid the rehabilitation of wounded and sick servicemembers and veterans.

Nigeria joined the Invictus Community of Nations in 2022 becoming the first African country to join.

Prince Harry’s visit to Kaduna came 68 years after his late grandmother Queen Elizabeth II visited the state during the time of the late Premier of Northern Region Sir Ahmadu Bello.

News

Senate approves death penalty for drug traffickers

Published

2 days ago

May 9, 2024

Alero Danjuma

Senate on Thursday, May 9, approved the death penalty for those convicted on the charge of drug trafficking in the country.

The punishment prescribed in the extant NDLEA Act is a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

The resolution of the Senate followed its consideration of a report of the Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters and Drugs and Narcotics, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

The Chairman of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights & Legal Matters presented the report during plenary, Senator Mohammed Monguno (APC-Borno North).

The bill, which passed its third reading, aims to update the list of dangerous drugs, strengthen the operations of the NDLEA, review penalties, and empower the establishment of laboratories.

Section 11 of the current act prescribes that “any person who, without lawful authority; imports, manufactures, produces, processes, plants or grows the drugs popularly known as cocaine, LSD, heroin or any other similar drugs shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to be sentenced to imprisonment for life” was amended to reflect a stiffer penalty of death.

Although the report did not recommend a death penalty for the offence, during consideration, Senator Ali Ndume moved that the life sentence should be upgraded to the death penalty.

During a clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, put the amendment on the death penalty to a voice vote and ruled that the “ayes” had it.

But Senator Adams Oshiomhole objected to the ruling, saying that the “nays” had it.

He argued that matters of life and death should not be treated hurriedly, but Barau said it was too late, as he failed to call for division immediately after his ruling.

The bill was subsequently read for the third time and passed by the Senate.