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BREAKING: Alleged N19.4bn fraud: Court grants Sirika, brother N200m bail

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Justice Suleiman Belgore of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, on Thursday, granted the former minister of aviation, Hadi Sirika, and his brother, Ahmad Abubakar Sirika, bail in the sum of N100 million each and 2 sureties.

One of the sureties must own a landed property in the Federal Capital Territory, in like sum.

The court also held that the defendants are not to travel outside the shores of Nigeria without the permission of the court.

While delivering the ruling on the bail application, Justice Belgore held that “I see no reason to depart from the conditions granted by my learned brother”.

He then went ahead to grant them bail in the same condition as Justice Sylvanus Oriji, of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja.

Ruling on the motion on notice for the 1st defendant, Hadi Sirika, the court held that “The prosecution filed no counter affidavit. He is already on administrative bail, he met all the bail applications, he continues to abide by the bail conditions, he has never been convicted of any criminal offence in Nigeria, he is a recipient of National honours, he has an aged mother he is catering for an investigation in the case has been completed.

“It is my resolution that this applicant deserves to be admitted to bail and I so do,” Justice Belgore declared.

Concerning Sirika’s brother, ruling on the motion on notice, brought pursuant to Sections 158, 156 and 135 of ACJA, where he requested a sole relief (bail).

The trial judge granted him bail in the same terms and conditions as the 1st defendant (Sirika).

The Sirika brothers, and the company, Enginos Nigeria Limited, are facing a ten-count amended charge bordering on contract fraud to the tune of N19.4bn.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had accused Sirika of conferring undue advantage on his brother and his company, Enginos Nigeria Limited.

The contracts for which the sums were paid for, were also said to be undone with no trace of work done to date.

After the duo were docked, the EFCC had read out the charges to them, which they pled not guilty to.

Sirika’s lawyer, Micheal Noma (SAN), appealed to the court to grant his client bail.

Likewise Ahmad’s lawyer, Mahmud Magaji (SAN). He pleaded with the court to grant the 2nd defendant bail as he is a responsible citizen of Nigeria.

Noma said, “We urge your lordship to please grant the defendants bail.”

Magaji while putting out his grounds on why his client should be granted bail said, “The second defendant filed an application seeking the indulgence of this honourable court for bail.

“The said application is dated and filed May 20, 2024. We have served the complainants. The application is brought pursuant to Section 168, Section 162 and Section 163 of the ACJA 2015.

“The application is praying for the following orders. The order of this honourable court asking the defendant to bail pending the hearing and determination of this trial.

“Our application is predicated on 10 grounds. The application is also supported by an 18-paragraph affidavit. My lord the 2nd defendant himself, deposed to the affidavit. we seek to rely on all the deposition herein on page 8. We pray your lordship to grant all the deposition”.

Ahmad through his lawyer further appealed saying, “We urge your lordship to grant the application as prayed. The prosecution has not filed a counter. That to me shows the prosecution wants to quickly prove their case on the 2nd defendant.

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A renowned Edo son, General Godwin Osagie Abbe is dead.

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A renowned Edo son, General Godwin Osagie Abbe is dead.
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He died some hours ago after a protracted illness, a family source has confirmed.

Born 10 January 1949 in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria he was a retired Nigerian Army Major General and former Defence Minister of Nigeria.

Before then, he served as the Nigerian Minister of Interior.

Godwin Abbe joined the military in 1967 as a private, and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in July 1968, and subsequently promoted Colonel in 1986. He served during the Nigerian Civil War.

He was a graduate of the United States Army Infantry School Fort Benning, Georgia, Ghana Armed Forces Staff College and the National Institute for Policy and Strategic studies, Kuru.

Gen Abbe was the military governor of Akwa Ibom State 1988–1990) and Rivers State (1990–1991).

He then became General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division Nigerian Army; Commander, Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) and Commander, National War College. He retired in 1999 with the rank of Major General.

May His Gallant Soul Rest With The Saints🙏 — in London, United Kingdom.

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Anambra State Govt. Rescues 13 Children From Traffickers, Arrests Suspects

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Anambra State Govt. Rescues 13 Children From Traffickers, Arrests Suspects

By OCHA Brigade Media

13 children have been rescued from suspected child traffickers in Otolo Nnewi by a joint taskforce of Operation Clean And Healthy Anambra, OCHA Brigade and Anambra State Ministry of Women Affairs.

The joint taskforce also confiscated fake documents that aided the trafficking.

The children were found malnourished and have been denied education.

Report say that the trafficker adopts and sold children to people from different parts of the country.

The suspected trafficker, Angela Okechukwu and her collaborators were also arrested.

Speaking, the Managing Director of OCHA Brigade, Comrade Celestine Anere who frowned at the poor health condition the children who are aged between two and twelve years are subjected to, assured that the state government will continue to crack down on all sorts of illegality and warning all criminal minded individuals to relocate from the state or face the full wrath of the law.

Some of the residents of the community, Ikechukwu Nnabuike and Ifechukwu Okoro recalled several interventions they had made against the woman but fell on deaf ears and appreciated the state government for the rapid intervention to end the unlawful act.

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Nigerian Army Announces Massive Promotion Of 108 Officers

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The Nigerian Army has announced the promotion of 108 senior officers, including 35 Brigadier Generals elevated to the rank of Major General and 73 Colonels promoted to Brigadier General.

The Army Council approved the promotions on Thursday, as announced in a statement by Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, on Friday.

Among those promoted to Major General are Brigadier Generals A. Garba, Acting Provost Marshal, and U.M. Alkali, Deputy Chief of Administration at the Directorate of Veteran Affairs. Others include A.G.L. Haruna, Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, and I.A. Ajose, Acting GOC 8 Division.

Similarly, officers elevated from Colonel to Brigadier General include Col. S.M. Iliya, Commander 43 Engineers Brigade, Col. O. Igwe, Commander 78 Supply and Transport, and Col. N.S. Onuchukwu, Chief Medical Director at 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, among others.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, congratulated the newly promoted officers and urged them to justify their elevation through exemplary leadership, innovative strategies, and unwavering loyalty to their oath of allegiance and the Nigerian Constitution.

He emphasized the importance of tackling contemporary security challenges and maintaining the trust placed in them by their elevation.

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