Photos: Students of Auchi Polytechnic protest the killing of fresh graduate by vigilante group

This morning, students of Auchi Polytechnic are protesting the death of Uloko Lawrenta Apaume, a fresh banking and finance graduate who was shot dead by a member of the vigilante group.

The students who have blocked some major roads in the vicinity are pleading that word be put out for these vigilante groups to be stopped from using guns as this is not the first time this type of incidence is happening.








One of the students prtesting tells 9FZ that, 'note that the last time students protested over the management high handed attitude, these vigilantes were brought into school to oppress us'

See more photos from the protests below...

'My talent is as big as my ass' - Ghanaian curvaceous actress, Moesha Buduong brags (Photos)

One of Ghana's endowed celebrities, Moesha Buduong has come out to brag about being an expensive actress whose talent is as big as her curvaceous ass.

The curvy model and actress in a new interview with Live FM, said she is not popular in Ghana because her talent is too big and the movie directors and producers cannot use her in movies.

According to her, they can't exploit her potentials because the Ghanaian market is just not too good for her.

“My talent is as big as my ass. I am an expensive actress. and people do not know my value and worth. that is why I get very few roles to play in Ghanaian movies. 'I said I am going to bring the Oscars to Ghana, and I will do just that. But the Ghanaian market is just not good for me”. She said.

See more of the curvy actress below..

N/Delta Militants Call Off Ceasefire, Threaten to Resume Bombings

After several months of respite, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), yesterday said it was calling off a ceasefire agreement it had with the federal government to halt the bombing of oil and gas infrastructure in the Niger Delta region.
The group also vowed that unlike its operation in 2016 when it pledged not to shed any blood, including that of Nigerian soldiers, the impending fight would be “bloody and brutal”. 

Members of the NDA who succeeded in cutting Nigeria’s oil export by at least half last year, in the violent group’s heady days, said they were returning to the creeks because the government at the centre had failed to develop the region and forge a new vision as promised by President Muhammadu Buhari. 

A statement posted on its website yesterday and signed by its Spokesman, ‘Maj. Gen.’ Murdoch Agbinibo, also took the Edwin Clark-led Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) as well as other leaders of the region to the cleaners, maintaining that the group had lost faith in PANDEF’s ability to get the federal government to develop the region. 

But in a bizarre twist, NDA also took on Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, whom they accused of trying to intimidate them to stop their proposed destruction of critical infrastructure in the Niger Delta. 

It denounced the group, Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA), which had recently named some elders from the region to negotiate on their behalf, insisting that the RNDA was a group of “political jobbers”, bent on ripping off the Niger Delta people.

 It said: “The Intelligence Unit of the NDA has gathered from our sources in the Nigerian Government that the operatives of the said Reformed Niger Delta Avengers are some fraudsters from the Niger Delta region working with government functionaries like the office of the Director General of DSS, office of National Security Adviser and office of the Minister of Transport. 

“The chain of Niger Delta fraudsters which is being led by one Richard Akinaka, Mike Loyibo and Famous Daunumugha and a host of others; has vowed to stop at nothing until they help the Nigerian Government to jeopardize the sincere efforts of the Niger Delta People at Economic, Social and Political freedom”, the group said. 

NDA declared that it was not surprised that Clark and his group were not able to achieve anything under this current government, insisting that the government at the centre was only interested in oil flowing from the region.

 NDA said: “The elders of the Niger Delta, PANDEF, we warned you against the antics of the Nigerian Government, yet you requested a chance to broker a new vision for our people.

 “We told you and the rest of the world that the Nigerian Government is only interested in our oil wells and not our well-being, yet you told us the signs are different this time around. 

“Instead of allowing us to continue our quest to bring the Nigerian economy to our targeted zero daily production, which recorded huge success; you threatened us with Tompolo to stop the struggle; out of respect for elders and not to the threat of Tompolo, we adhered to the call and halted our strike actions hoping you (PANDEF) would keep your own side of the bargain.”

While mocking PANDEF, they urged the elders’ group to point out any achievement since they heeded “your retrogressive call”, maintaining that the destruction of the facilities was sanctioned “by our ancestors and the Almighty”. 

Also in an attack on Tompolo, an ex-militant leader who is currently in the wanted list of the federal government, the NDA leadership said it was no longer ready to heed “uninspiring advice” from him or anybody else from the region once the destruction resumes.

 “We have since lost faith in you (Tompolo) and PANDEF and have vowed never to heed any such retrogressive call or advice from you in the future. 

“The recent disruption of the PANDEF 4th National Assembly by the Nigerian government is the final evidence we needed to conclude that the federal government reserves not even an iota of respect for you (Tompolo) and the Niger Delta Elders. 

“The position of the Nigerian government is made emphatically known to the Niger Delta people that its only interest remains the flow of oil from our region to the Central Bank of Nigeria. We want to make it known to the PANDEF and the Nigeria government that our call for halt on “Operation Red Economy” is officially over,” the Avengers vowed. 

For a start, the group said it had just concluded the headcount of its operatives across the country, and expressed pleasure that all “operatives are intact and focused; ready to implement instructions from the High Command of the NDA in the going (sic) few days.” 

It said the group was aware of a major project being carried out by the federal government in collaboration with some oil companies, vowing to crumble the business. 

“We are aware that Egina FPSO built in South Korea by Samsung to be operated by Total Nigeria is one of the biggest FPSO built in South Korea, and has started it’s voyage to the oil fields of the Niger Delta to further exploit us while our concerns are left unattended. 

“We are presently tracking and monitoring its movement; and God willing, it shall not operate successfully amidst the return of the fury of the Niger Delta Avengers,” NDA said. 

It also sent a warning signal to oil companies operating in the region, promising to destroy any obstacle on the group’s way to victory. 

“Message to the oil companies: our next line of operation will not be like the 2016 campaign which operated successfully without any casualties; this outing will be brutish, brutal and bloody. 

“We shall crush everything we meet on our path to completely put off the fires that burn to flare gas in our communities and cut every pipe that moves crude away from our region. We can assure you that every oil installation in our region will feel the warmth of the wrath of the Niger Delta Avengers,” the militants said. 

Reacting to the allegation, Akinaka dismissed the statement as bunkum, insisting that he had no links with the said Reformed Niger Delta Avengers or any government agency linked to the said allegation.

He said the security operatives  knew who was doing what in the region but would not shy away from what would develop and empower the people of the Niger Delta.

Akinaka admitted belonging to Pan-Niger Delta Youth Leadership Forum and being the Chief Executive Officer of Grassroots Initiative for Peace and Social Orientation which pursues peace in the region. 

Akinaka said: “Avengers seeks to blackmail the government of the day for their selfish interest as there is no basis for the hostilities carried out by them. As a people, we sacrificed our struggles on the altar of the political ascension of one man, who’s reign has nothing to show for in the region. I am an objective young man who will not co-toe to the selfish sentiments of greedy people.

“The problem with those avengers and their promoters is that Richard Akinaka is an independent-minded young man who will call black black. This publication is not far from blackmail again to secure security contracts for themselves on the project mentioned by them in their statements. I know I will be blackmailed by those whose activities are affected by my objective views. They should be prepared for more.

“I am not working for any government official but as a man who has identified leadership failure as the bane of growth of my region, and as such, has decided to do what I can with my ability to hold leadership accountable and push for a better Niger Delta. I challenge them to just give me one history of fraud in my name.

“Rather than exercising their energy on destroying oil installations and our environment, they should redirect their supposedly love of our region to tackling the leadership failure that has bedeviled us.”

Undergraduate delivers triplets in Calabar

An undergraduate in the Abia State College of Health, Science and Management Technology, Aba, Felicia Ifeanyi, on Friday, gave birth to a set of triplets at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.

Felicia, a resident of Uhet in Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State, said she did not expect to give birth to triplets, adding that they were gift from God.

Her excited husband, Okechuku, told Southern City News on Friday that God gave them the babies without them asking for them.

The joyous mother, whose husband is jobless, however, said she does not have the wherewithal to cater for the babies.

She, therefore, called on government and well-meaning individuals and corporate organisations to come to their rescue.

Felicia said, “I just started schooling last year in Abia State College of Health, Science and Management Technology in Aba when I found out I was pregnant. I am very happy for this bundle of joy that God has given to me but I do not know how we are going to take care of these children in terms of feeding because I am not working.

“I will be happy if the government can come in and assist us even if it is by empowering us in any kind of business just to take care of their needs.”

In his comment, Okechuku said, “When she did her scan in Aba, where she is schooling, my mother advised that we register at the UCTH in Calabar and that was how we came here.

“I feel very excited because this blessing was not what I expected. God has given them to me free of charge and this is what other people are looking for. So, it is a thing of joy for us.

“We need assistance from government or individuals who are willing to help. I do not have any history of triplets in my family and even my community. This is the first time such blessing has come to us.”

Four matches to watch this weekend

Man. Utd v Tottenham @Old Trafford@12:30pm on Oct 28

Manchester United is the second team after Liverpool, against whom Spurs have not had the rub of the green in recent times, but those times may be changing. In recent time, this might just be the first time Spurs travel to Old Trafford as favourites because they have won all four away matches this season, scoring 12 goals and conceding just two. United meanwhile have won all four home matches, scoring 14 and conceding none. Jose Mourinho, despite the 2-0 win over Swansea in the Carabao Cup, is under pressure, especially from the fans for what they see as the negativity in team tactics. Against Spurs, United have to play on the front foot but how scarier can Old Trafford be compared to the Santiago Bernabeu, where Spurs fought Real Madrid to a draw?

Current Form: Man. Utd [W-L-W-D-W-W]; Tottenham [L-W-D-W-W-W]

Head to head

Sun    14/05/17     PRL    Tottenham    2 – 1 Man. Utd

Sun    11/12/16     PRL    Man. Utd     1 – 0  Tottenham

Sun    10/04/16     PRL    Tottenham    3 – 0 Man. Utd

Sat    08/08/15     PRL    Man. Utd      1 – 0  Tottenham

Sun    15/03/15     PRL    Man. Utd      3 – 0  Tottenham

Prediction: Man. Utd 1-2 Tottenham

Bayern v RB Leipzig @Allianz Arena@5:30pm on Oct 28

The war of attrition continues as Bayern host Leipzig, three days after their penalty win at the Red Bull Arena. Leipzig believe they were hard done by the referee, Felix Zwayer, who chose to send off Naby Keita, for a pull on Robert Lewandowski. Keita will be back for this one and expect another brutal contest with Arturo Vidal in the middle of the pitch. The goal Bayern conceded on Wednesday was the first they have conceded under returnee manager, Jupp Heynckes. As it was on Wednesday, Leipzig will press very high up the pitch, putting Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng under constant pressure while Bayern will try to break in through the flanks with the new captain, Arjen Robben, and Kingsley Coman. Do not miss this one!

Current Form: Bayern [W-W-W-W-D-L]; Leipzig [L-W-W-W-W-L]

Head to head

Wed   25/10/17      DFB   RB Leipzig    1 – 1P Bayern

Sat    13/05/17     BUN  RB Leipzig    4 – 5  Bayern

Wed   21/12/16      BUN  Bayern         3 – 0  RB Leipzig

Prediction: Bayern 3-1 Leipzig

AC Milan v Juventus @San Siro @5pm on Oct 28

Similar score lines in midweek, AC Milan and Juventus cannot afford to drop points with the way Napoli and to a lesser extent, Inter Milan, are going about collecting points. A 4-1 away to Chievo must have lifted spirits in Milan as Juventus, with Paulo Dybala in superb form, also put SPAL to the sword with a 4-1 spanking. Milan manager, Vincenzo Montella, will be without two of his more influential players; Leonardo Bonucci is unavailable to face his former team because of the red card received against Genoa while Giacomo Bonaventura is out through injury. The ‘Old Lady’ also have their own injury problems with Max Allegri losing Blaise Matuidi, Medhi Benatia, and Stefano Sturaro, for Saturday’s encounter.

Current Form: AC Milan [W-D-D-L-L-W]; Juventus [W-W-W-L-D-W]

Head to head

Fri     10/03/17      SEA   Juventus      2 – 1  AC Milan

Wed   25/01/17      COI   Juventus      2 – 1  AC Milan

Fri     23/12/16      SUC   Juventus      1 – 1   AC Milan

Sat    22/10/16       SEA   AC Milan      1 – 0   Juventus

Sat    21/05/16       COI   AC Milan     0 – 1   Juventus

Prediction: Milan 1-2 Juventus

Atletico v Villarreal @WandaMetropolitano @5:30pm on Oct 28

The resolute defending by a Diego Simeone-led side is almost back and for the visit of the Yellow Submarine on Saturday, Diego Godin and his fellow defenders need to be at their sharpest. Villarreal are just coming into form, spurred by the goals of Cedric Bakambu even though they lost 1-0 to Ponferradina last Wednesday in the Copa del Rey. Meanwhile, Atletico were held 1-1 by Elche, a third division side. This match should be won by the odd goal.

Current Form: Atletico [W-D-D-D-L]; Villarreal [W-D-W-W-D]

Head to head

Tue    25/04/17     PRD    Atletico       0 – 1  Villarreal

Mon    12/12/16     PRD    Villarreal     3 – 0  Atletico

Sun    21/02/16     PRD    Atletico       0 – 0  Villarreal

Sat    26/09/15     PRD    Villarreal     1 – 0  Atletico

Wed   29/04/15     PRD    Villarreal     0 – 1  Atletico

Prediction: Atletico 2-1 Villarreal

How Boko Haram killed 15 Nigerian soldiers in two attacks

More details have emerged of the daring Boko Haram attack on a military base near Damaturu, the Yobe State capital on Tuesday.

NEWS reported the attack on the base in Sasawa village, near the Yobe State capital.

Although the army is yet to provide details of the attack, a spokesperson confirmed it on Tuesday.

“Yes, there was an attack and we repelled it,” Kayode Ogunsanya, a colonel, and spokesman of 3-Division Jos, said, adding that “there were casualties on both sides.”

Efforts to get Mr. Ogunsanya to provide more details on Friday were unsuccessful. He did not return calls or respond to text messages.

The Commissioner of Police in Yobe State, Abdulmaliki Sumonu, also confirmed to journalists that the village was attacked on Tuesday night.

“The attack happened on Tuesday night; we are still working on the details,” Mr. Sumonu said on Wednesday.

Top military insiders have now told NEWS that at least one officer and 10 soldiers were killed in the attack.

Seven other soldiers who were also part of the attacked troops are still unaccounted for, our sources said.

We have details of the officer, a lieutenant, who died in the unfortunate incident but this newspaper is concealing his identity as we are not sure his family has been appropriately informed of the development.

A large cache of arms including two gun trucks, communication radios and small arms were also carted away by the Boko Haram fighters.

“Large quantity of foodstuff were also carted away by the Boko Haram,” an official said.

Boko Haram has in the past weeks amassed large quantity of arms after attacks on military formations or during ambushes on troops, our sources said.

One source, a top military officer, was worried that the captured ammunitions are those the insurgents will use in carrying out further attacks on troops.

“Sadly, the Boko Haram has amassed large quantity of arms, ammo and high calibre weapons from the army within one week”, the source said.

“These same equipment would be used against own soldiers and civilians. They brutally attacked the soldiers and escaped neatly into their hideouts.”

However, while the Sasawa attack is the most recent, military sources told NEWS it was the second such attack within one week on soldiers fighting the Boko Haram in the North-East.

On October 18, at about 12 noon, members of the terror group attacked an army convoy led by the Commanding Officer of 81 Battalion, a lieutenant colonel (name withheld), along the Damboa-Maiduguri road.

The soldiers were said to be on their way to Maiduguri from their base in Bulabulin.

Stay Update for More on 9jafreezone.blogspot.com

NGO Celebrates Nigerian Girl Child On International Day

Considering the obstacles- cultural, social, religious and institutional- stacked against the Nigerian girl child, a non governmental organization, Child Love and Protection Advocacy Initiative(CLAPAI), has celebrated the girl child during the World girl child celebration recently.

To mark the occasion, which is held every October 11, CLAPAI organized a programme dubbed ‘Project Pad a Girl for Free’.  Mrs Kyenpiya Nyaban, founder and chief executive officer of the orphanage home, based in Jos, Plateau State, said the ideas behind the program was to give girls free sanitary pads for their menstruation periods so predating men would not take advantage of their inability to purchase such to exploit them.

The founder of the orphanage home, which is located in Zarazong Village in Jos East Local Government Council Area, said the event, which was a huge success according to her, would have been impossible but for MMM’s financial intervention. She used the occasion to call on public-spirited Nigerians and corporate bodies to extend their hands of fellowship to the orphanage.

The highlight of the event was the reading of a poem entitled ‘A Girl with a Book’,whose central theme is that an educated girl child is ambitious, inquisitive, outspoken and proud of her sexuality, and therefore, cannot be intimidated, abused or sexually exploited.

Elated by the event and the free sanitary pads given to her, Jessica Gomut, thanked the orphanage and its funding partner, MMM, for the timely intervention, saying “ I won’t be buying pads anytime soon. That means I am going to save some money which will be used for something else. I am grateful to CLAPAI.”

Over 500 girls benefitted from the free pad donation by the orphanage which was funded by MMM, an online non-investment, not-for-profit community where participants freely provide financial assistance and also receive, with their spare money without any expectation of any profit whatsoever.

In recent times, the scheme has been providing assistance to the less-privileged in the society such as people sacked from their homes by flood, internally displaced persons living in various camps across the country, provision of educational materials to pupils e.t.c.

Search continues for Russian helicopter missing in Arctic

Emergency services on Friday continued to search for a Russian helicopter that went down with eight people on board off the coast of Norway’s Svalbard archipelago in the Arctic, Norwegian rescue crews said.

Norwegian authorities said Russia would join the search, calling it “a race against time” to find any survivors as chances dwindled with the cold temperatures.

Temperatures in the region hover around 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit) this time of year and searches become more difficult because of the twilight that lasts much of the day

Russia said it was sending a transport plane with personnel and supplies, which is due to arrive in the afternoon.

Since Thursday, a sea patrol plane, a Danish aircraft, two Norwegian helicopters and several vessels have been searching the area.

A small robot submarine was deployed overnight to investigate an area where an oil patch and bubbles were observed, but “it hasn’t yielded any results yet,” the head of the rescue operation Tore Hongset said.

Rescuers asked for a second, more suitable, robot from the Norwegian army to be deployed.

The aircraft, a Russian Mil Mi-8, went down in the afternoon two or three kilometres from Barentsburg, a Russian mining community in the archipelago.

Its eight occupants, five crew and three scientists, were all Russian nationals.

“The chances of finding people alive fade considerably over time,” Hongset said.

“But we’re continuing. This morning, we’re maintaining our search for possible survivors, who could be on a floating object such as a survival raft.”

Norway was afforded sovereignty of Svalbard, located around 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) from the North Pole, under the 1920 Treaty of Paris.

Nationals of all signatory states enjoy “equal liberty of access and entry” to Svalbard and its waters.

As a result, Russia operates a coal mine in Barentsburg, a community home to several hundred Russian and Ukrainian miners.

In 2008, another Mil Mi-8 crashed near Barentsburg, killing three of its nine occupants. Yet another crash near Pyramiden of the same type of helicopter left two dead in 1991.

2019: It’s not optional, Buhari must run, says support group

The Buhari Support Group (BSG), an amalgamation of about 189 different support groups that worked for President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressive Congress (APC), has said the president has no option than to contest the 2019 elections.

The leader of the group, Abu Ibrahim and Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan, who were in the Presidential Villa to meet with Buhari, to intimate him of the activities of the group, said they believe in his philosophy.

Ibrahim said though the issue of 2019 did not come up at the meeting, the group believes Buhari can ensure the progress, stability and prosperity of the nation.”

He said, “Well, we came here as members of the national committee of the BSG. This is an amalgamation of about 189 support groups that had worked for Buhari and the APC to win the 2015 elections. We have been holding meetings, discussing the problems of this country. So, we thought it was high time we met with the president to intimate him of the activities of the group.

“We discussed with him about the plans to improve the situation in Nigeria. Mr President was very pleased with our programmes.”

Asked if the group was trying to convince him to contest the 2019 presidential election, Ibrahim said, “Well, that didn’t come up actually. We only discussed the programmes of the organization and problems of the group. But we didn’t go into the 2019 elections.”

Asked if the group is going to encourage him to, Ibrahim said, “Yes. Because l believe in his philosophy and l believe he can solve the problems of this nation. He can ensure the progress, stability and prosperity of this nation.”

Lawan, on his part said it is not enough to help a party win election but also to support the government of the day to succeed.

“You know it is not enough to help in elections like most of us did. It is important that we continue to support the president and his administration across the nation as a group, this is what we will continue to do. We will continue to identify with and support all the programmes that this administration has set forward. And l believe that we have every justification to be happy because, the president campaigned on three major pillars of anti- corruption, fighting the insecurity in the country and revitalizing the economy. It has been a very good journey so far and also we believe that Mr. President and Nigerians have a future beyond 2019. What he has started, by the grace of God, he should be able to complete, up to 2023.”

Asked the areas Buhari could improve upon ahead of 2019, Lawan said, “Well, we have issues we think that the administration will be dealing with very successfully, now that we have economic recovery and growth plan which encapsulates everything we need to move Nigeria forward.

Now that Nigerians have continued to show love for Mr. President, l believe that we are going to achieve those things that we set for ourselves at the moment. I also believe that the future is bright and by the grace of God, by 2019, we would have achieved so much in this administration and Mr. President will have no option but to continue the good work he has started.”

Malabu Oil Deal: Finally, FG Recovers $85m from UK

Concludes arrangement with Switzerland for return of $321m Abacha Loot

Tobi Soniyi in Lagos, Adedayo Akinwale and Alex Enumah in Abuja

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, Thursday said Nigeria had recovered $85 million from the Malabu Restrained Funds in the United Kingdom.

Malami spoke in Abuja at the Pre-Global Forum on Asset Recovery (GFAR) and Consultative meeting with the theme: ‘Building an Enduring Framework for Asset Recovery in Nigeria,’ preparatory to GFAR slated for December in Washington DC where he also said the federal government had concluded negotiations with the government of Switzerland for the return of $320 million recovered from the family of former Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha.

The $85 million was seized at the request of Italian prosecutors who were also investigating the deal. The money was part of the OPL 245 largesse not yet distributed.In 2015, a British judge, Justice Edis of the Southwark Crown Court refused to release $85 million to Malabu, a company controlled by former Minister of Petroleum, Chief Dan Etete.

Etete approached the British court and asked that the money be returned to him having sensed that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari was yet to find its feet on international legal matters.
But Justice Edis declared that he was not sure the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan acted in the interest of Nigeria when it approved the money to Malabu.

“I cannot simply assume that the federal government of Nigeria which was in power in 2011 and subsequently until 2015 rigorously defended the public interest of the people of Nigeria in all aspects,” he ruled.

The Jonathan administration controversially approved the transfer of $1.092 billion from Nigeria’s JP Morgan account in London to Nigerian accounts controlled by Malabu.

The former AGF, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, and the former Minister of State for Finance, Alhaji Yerima Ngama, signed the documents approving the transfer to Malabu.

But Malami said Thursday that the money had been released to Nigeria.
“I am also pleased to inform that Nigeria has just recovered the sum of $85 million from the Malabu Restrained Funds in the UK,” the AGF said.

He lamented that the recovery and repatriation of stolen wealth stashed abroad continued to be very tedious despite several bilateral and multilateral agreements entered into between Nigeria and other jurisdictions.
He noted that even when the provisions of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption oblige state parties to facilitate the return of stolen assets to victim states, countries including Nigeria are saddled with some challenges.

According to him, “My office has also put in place necessary machinery to hold bilateral talks with countries of interest during the Global Forum on Asset Recovery. These countries include the United Kingdom, Island of Jersey, Guernsey (and other UK Territories), United State of America, Canada, Switzerland, South Africa, Panama, United Arab Emirates, Northern Island and The Gambia.”

On monies looted by the late Gen. Sani Abacha, he said: “We have indeed concluded the negotiation with Switzerland on the return of $320 million recovered from the late Abacha family. I am pleased to inform that the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) were involved in the negotiation of the Memorandum of Understanding.

“Most importantly, the CSOs will be involved in monitoring the use of the funds. With the conclusion of the negotiation, parties hope to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the GFAR and repatriation will follow within weeks as agreed by the parties.”

Malami stressed that Nigeria was willing to support the transparent return of stolen assets, while also calling on the international community to improve on the procedure for faster return of our assets to enable us to meet the sustainable development goals.

He said his office has coordinated the preparations bringing on board all government agencies which mandates fall within the purview of asset recovery.

The minister of justice, therefore, used the forum to reiterate the need for the international community to ensure the implementation of the measures considered and adopted at the London Anti-Corruption Summit in May 2016 which includes: easing the legal technicalities and procedures associated with recovery and repatriation of stolen funds; reducing opportunities and incentives that enable stolen funds to be placed in banks, or laundered through property acquisition and investment in offshore locations, among others.

Meanwhile, the civil society organisations (CSOs), African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), Social-Economic and Accountability Project (SERAP), and Open Government Partnership (OGP), have called on the United States (US), United Kingdom (UK) and Switzerland to ensure criminal convictions for foreign bribery and harbouring of developing countries’ looted assets.

The civil groups also said that tracing, tracking and repatriation of looted assets should be given accelerated attention and not bogged down with legal complications by harbouring countries as being experienced by Nigeria.
The Executive Director, ANEEJ, Rev. David Ugolor, said the US, UK and Switzerland should urgently repatriate all looted assets in their countries for the Nigerian government to finance development.

The Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Eric Mayor, said his government and the government of President Muhammadu Buhari were committed to fighting corruption, adding that the Swiss government changed her legislation in the last decades in order to avoid that stolen monies could be deposited in their banks.

He said Switzerland was the first country to give the looted money back to Nigeria, especially $722 million stolen by the Abacha family in 2005.

“The Swiss justice nevertheless continued its investigation and discovered that other assets were still around and froze hundreds of millions of naira deposited by the Abacha family in other banks, this time not in Switzerland but in Luxembourg,” Mayor noted.

Also, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, H.E Paul Arkwright, said the UK understood the frustration that delays and slow progress could bring in certain cases in the UK, but assured Nigerians that the UK government was doing everything it can to accelerate those processes within the rule of law.

“Because there is no shortcut when it comes to law, but we recognise the importance of managing some challenges and expectations. Clear, honest communication is vital in order to build the confidence and trust of citizens in the recovery process and indeed in the fight against corruption.

“The Proceeds of Crime bill here in Nigeria is expected to provide the legislative framework to ensure greater accountability and transparency around asset recovery. The UK is keen to see the swift passage of this bill and stands ready to support its implementation,” he added.

In a related development, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Thursday failed to arraign Adoke, Etete and seven others before the Federal High Court in Abuja, over their alleged complicity in the controversial sale of Oil Prospecting Licence (OPL) 245, otherwise known as Malabu oil.
The others who were not in court were Aliyu Abubakar, ENI SPA, Ralph Wetzels, Casula Roberto, Pujatti Stefeno, Burrafati Sebestiano and Malabu Oil and Gas Limited.

They were accused of conspiring and defrauding the federal government of $1.1 billion in a shady oil bloc deal.
Specifically, Adoke was accused of playing a major role in the alleged fraudulent deal that saw the transfer of ownership of Malabu Oil to two multinational oil companies, Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company and Nigeria Agip Exploration Ltd.

When the matter was called Thursday, the EFCC could not go ahead with the arraignment due to the absence of Adoke and Etete in court, forcing trial judge, Justice John Tsoho, to adjourn the trial till February 15, 2018.

Prosecuting counsel, Johnson Ojogbane, informed the court that the situation remained the same since the last adjourned date of June 16. He said: “My Lord, my situation has not improved since the last time I came to court.
“The process of getting the defendants to appear in court to face arraignment is very cumbersome, but it is ongoing.

“We are hoping that very soon the process will be concluded.”
He, however, pleaded for a further date to enable the federal government complete the process of ensuring that the defendants are in court for arraignment.

Responding, Justice Tsoho adjourned to February 15, 2018, for arraignment.
Thursday’s sitting would be the third failed attempt by the prosecution to arraign the defendants in court.
On April 3, 2017, the federal government had approached the court with a request for guidance on whether or not to issue an arrest warrant against Adoke.

The prosecution counsel stated that Adoke and some of the defendants are residing outside the shores of Nigeria, making the service of the writ of summons on them difficult.

Justice Tsoho pointed out that if Adoke had already been arraigned before the court and had attempted to evade trial, it would have been proper to issue a warrant of arrest.

“Once a person has been arraigned before a court and is attempting to escape, then it becomes necessary to issue a warrant of arrest, the judge said.

But in this case, the court stated that Adoke has not been arraigned, adding that the matter is still being investigated.

The matter was later adjourned to June 16, but again, the arraignment could not hold due to the absence of Adoke in court.

It was then adjourned to Thursday, yet the arraignment was stalled.
The charges are part of an international collaboration to ensure that all those who took part in the $1.1 billion OPL 245 scandal are brought to justice.

In a bid to get to the root of what transpired in the oil bloc scam, the federal government had in December 2016, filed a charge against Adoke, Etete, etc.

In March 2017, the federal government instituted another charge against Adoke and those involved in the OPL 245 Oil bloc deal.

In the charge filed in March 2017, count one stated that the accused persons conspired contrary to Section 26 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 to defraud the federal government of billions of naira.
The offence is punishable under Section 12 of the same Act.

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