Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Friday 7th February 2020
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 07/02/20
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Nigerian Government Slashes Visa Fees For United States Citizens
The Nigerian Government has slashed its visa application charges for citizens of the United States from $180 to $160.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the old amount comprised $160 as visa fee and $20 as “processing and expedient fees”.
According to the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Mr Muhammad Babandede, the reduction followed a review of the US’ visa reciprocity policy for Nigeria.
Babandede stated this in a February 5 memo marked NIS/HQ/CGI/806/7 and addressed to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In August 2019, the US Government imposed additional visa fees on Nigerians in retaliation for the “treatment afforded to US citizens” by the Nigerian Government.
The policy required successful applicants for nonimmigrant US visas in the B, F, H1B, I, L, and R categories to pay between $80 and $303 as reciprocity fees.
This is in addition to the normal visa application fees of between $160 and $190.
“The total cost for a U.S. citizen to obtain a visa to Nigeria is currently higher than the total cost for a Nigerian to obtain a comparable visa to the United States.
“The new reciprocity fee for Nigerian citizens is meant to eliminate that cost difference,” the US Embassy said in a statement on its website then.
In his letter, the NIS urged all Nigerian missions in the US to immediately implement the new visa charges payable by US citizens, and “discontinue charging processing or expedient fees”.
“Our Missions are to issue up to two years multiple entry visa to frequent short visit travelers on request in line with reciprocity,” he said.
A senior official of the Nigerian Consulate in New York, told NAN that the “processing and expedient fees” of $20 was for online application and payment services rendered by a private firm.Babandede’s letter came a day after the President Muhammadu Buhari launched the Nigeria Visa Policy 2020 which, among others, increased the country’s visa classes from six to 79.
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Nigerian Government Announces Budget To Prevent Coronavirus Outbreak
The Nigerian Government has announced that it will spend N620m to monitor, detect and contain the deadly Coronavirus.
This was disclosed by Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Health.
According to him, the fund would come directly from the service-wide vote.
He stated that the move was in a bid to prevent an outbreak of the disease in the country and further protect citizens.
Ehanire further disclosed that government promptly released the sum of N313m to combat Lassa Fever and prevent an outbreak.
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Lagos Government Prosecutes 95 Persons For Crossing Highway
A total number of 95 persons have been prosecuted by the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps from January 2020 till date.
Corps Marshal of the agency, Akinpelu Gbemisola, stated that the arrest was in line with the Environmental Sanitation Protection Law 2017 by the Special Offences Court of Lagos State (Mobile Court).
Gbemisola also decried with dismay the unfounded rumour circulating on the social media that the Lagos State Government had directed LAGESC officials not in uniform to arrest people crossing highways, saying that every LAGESC officers on lawful duty must be officially dressed in the agency’s uniform with their name tags boldly on it.
She however, warned imposters extorting money from members of the public in the name of LAGESC to desist from such act as well as rumour peddlers to abstain from misleading the public with wrong information.
She said it was an offence for people to endanger their lives by crossing the highways.
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Afe Babalola, Soyinka, Others To Speak At Lecture On Knowledge-Based Society
Afe Babalola, Wole Soyinka
Afe Babalola, Wole Soyinka
Eminent Nigerian scholars, digital and social entrepreneurs and relevant stakeholders in education, research and innovations industry will on February 19, 2020 converge at a lecture to discuss on the needs for the Nigerian Government to shift focus from the traditional economy to building a knowledge-based economy and society.
The lecture organised by a Yoruba Intelligentsia group, the Voice of Reason Advocacy for Social Development Foundation, will be chaired by Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), Noble laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, as special guest of honour.According to a statement by a member of the Publicity Committee for the event, Chief Olufemi Kufo, government must create room for innovation if the country was to develop at a fast pace.
Kufo added that Nigerians are looking forward to having a country where citizens can compete at the global stage.
He said, “While we consistently push towards a restructured Nigeria, we need to let the government and relevant stakeholders understand that this is the era of ideas, innovations, creativity and digital communications, therefore, there’s need to fund research and innovations in this country if not, danger looms.
“We are putting this event together to free up the creative energies of the people of Nigeria especially the younger generation and domesticate responsibility and accountability.
“We want a Nigeria where people, through innovations, can creatively compete with global economies against the current trend of consuming without building.”
The statement further adds that all vice-chancellors and rectors of government-owned universities and polytechnics in Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states including Babcock University have been specially invited as special guests to the event.
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President Buhari’s Judicial Reforms Adviser, Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu, Indicted For Illegally Diverting Public Funds
Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu, adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Judicial Reforms, has been indicted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for allegedly receiving monies illegally from former Attorney-General of Nigeria, Mohammed Adoke, and Damian D. Dodo.
Ibekaku-Nwagwu is fingered to have received part of a N150m largesse from Adoke paid as kickbacks by Dodo.
The monies transferred through Sterling bank account: 000811505, was diverted in 2011 without an appropriation act of the National Assembly.
The offence is punishable under section 19 of the corrupt practices and other related offences act, 2000.
She is mentioned in a seven-count charge instituted by the EFCC for the Federal Government of Nigeria against Adoke currently in EFCC detention, Dodo and Abdullahi Ahmed Yola.
The charge reads in part, “That you Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) and Abdullahi Ahmed Yola on or about 8th of September 2011 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court while being public officers used your position as Attorney-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice to confer corrupt advantage of the total sum of N8.6m on public officers to wit: Mohammed Bello Adoke, Peter Akpe, Mrs Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu, Victoria Umoren and Fatima Audu when you approved the payment of the sum which payment was cash backed from the sum of N150m received into Sterling Bank PLC account no 000811505 from Damian D. Dodo (SAN) without appropriation of an Act of the National Assembly and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 19 of the corrupt practices and other related offences act, 2000.”
This is however not the first time Ibekaku-Nwagwu has been indicted for corrupt practices.
In November 2019, she was indicted by a Federal High Court in Benin for allegedly diverting funds from international development partners.
Justice Fumnilayo A. Ajayi, the presiding judge, had ordered the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), to disclose records of local and international donations and grants to the Open Government Partnership process.
Justice Ajayi made the order following a petition from FoI counsel in Suit No. FHC/B/CS/103/18.
She is alleged to have diverted thousands of pounds donated by DFID and other donors on her failed senatorial ambition.
She however, continues to serve in President Buhari’s cabinet despite the weighty allegation.
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Man Arrested For Killing Wife In Bayelsa
A 30-year-old man identified as Monday Uwem has killed his 26-year-old wife and buried her in a shallow grave in the kitchen of their house located at Aparama Fishing Camp, Okumbiri Town, Akassa, Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. State Police Command confirmed this on Thursday in a statement released in Yenagoa, the state capital.
Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Butswat Asinim, said investigation had commenced into the murder.
He said, “The deceased was allegedly killed by her husband, one Monday Uwem, 30 years old, at their residence at Aparama Fishing Camp and buried her body in a shallow grave in their kitchen.
“The suspect who confessed to the crime was arrested and detained for further interrogation and Investigation.”
Neighbours were said to have uncovered the crime, apprehended the man and handed him over to the police.
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JUST IN: Robbers Attack Banks In Ondo, Kill Policemen
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Scene of the attack.
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Scene of the attack.
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Suspected armed robbers have attacked some banks in Ile Oluji under Oke Igbo Local Government Area of Ondo State.
A trader, Mrs Remilekun Araola, revealed that the robbers gained entry into the bank through the use of dynamites. She disclosed that no fewer than four persons have been killed in the robbery attack.
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According to her, two policemen whose identities are not known, were part of those killed by the robbers.
“We have called the police to immediately report the robbery incident because it is like a war zone.
“They have been able to attack two banks in the town.
Scene of the attack
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“They killed two policemen and two other traders who are very closer to the banks”, she said.
Femi Joseph, spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, confirmed the attack in a chat with our correspondent.
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“The details are not yet clear to us but our men have been deployed to the scene,” he said.
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Court Sentences Amobi Okoye To Six-year Imprisonment For Hiding Cocaine In Stomach
A Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday sentenced to six years imprisonment an Italy-bound traveller, Amobi Okoye, who hid cocaine in his stomach.Justice Jude Dagat convicted Okoye for attempted unlawful export of 1.030 kilogrammes of cocaine following a six-year trial.The sentence, which was without an option of fine, took effect from judgment day. The judge held that prosecution counsel, Mrs Juliana Imaobong Irubochi, successfully proved the National Drug Law Enforcement case against the defendant “beyond reasonable doubt.”He said the defence put up by the defendant was “not strong enough” to free him from the charge.Justice Dagat noted that the defendant admitted being promised $4,000 if he successfully delivered the cocaine to one ‘KC’ in Italy.Besides sentencing Amobi, Justice Dagat forfeited the convict’s passports to the Federal Government and ordered that the drugs be destroyed if there is no appeal against the judgment.Okoye was arrested on or about February 7, 2014 at the departure hall of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, during outward clearance of an Alitalia flight to Italy.The cocaine was said to have been discovered in his stomach at Screening Point 2 of the airport.He was arraigned on a one-count charge of unlawful export of the said banned drug.Mrs Irubochi said the offence contravened Section 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.Amobi pleaded not guilty and was admitted to bail.During the trial, the prosecutor called nine witnesses and tendered 12 exhibits, including the convict’s two ECOWAS passports; sample of the drug; an Alitalia E-ticket; boarding pass; the bulk of the seized drug, his confessional statement, among others.At the close of the prosecution’s case, the convict testified in his defence against the charge.
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JUST IN: INEC Fixes Date For Edo, Ondo Governorship Elections
The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed dates for the Edo and Ondo states 2020 governorship elections.
The commission announced this on Thursday, fixing 19th of September 2020 and 10th of October 2020 for Edo and Ondo states respectively.
In the timetable for the election activities for Edo State governorship election, INEC stated that conduct of primary election and resolution of disputes arising from primaries would be between 2nd of June to 27th of June while campaign would kickstart on the 21st of June.
INEC fixed 17th of September for the end of campaign, stating that “Section 99(1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) provides 90 days for the commencement of campaigns by political parties and end of same 24 hours before polling day.”
For Ondo State, the commission fixed 2nd of July to 25th of July for the conduct of primary election and resolution of disputes arising from primaries “to enable political parties democratically nominate candidates for the election as required by Section 87 of the Electoral Act 2010.”
The electoral commission fixed 8th of October for the end of the campaign while the election would be on the 10th of October.
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How Ex-Zenith Bank Staff Authorised N700m Fraudulent Transactions -Witness
The trial of Omotola Fawehinmi, an employee of Zenith Bank Plc standing trial for an alleged N700m fraud, continued with the first prosecution witness, Prosper Eyitayo, narrating how the defendant authorised the fraudulent transactions.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is prosecuting Fawehinmi before Justice Chuka Obiozor of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, on a five-count charge of forgery and failure to carry out due diligence.
One of the counts reads, “That you, Omotola Fawehinmi sometime in February 2015 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, aided the forgery of a document titled “Transfer of funds via RTGS-1014152125,” dated 19th of June 2015 to the prejudice of Zenith Bank Plc, who in the belief that the said document was signed by Uka Chidi Udo, was induced to debit the account of Mobilng Huil Service Ltd to the tune of N394,916,175.66 and you thereby committed an offence, punishable under Section (C) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act. CAP M17 Laws of the Federation 2004.”
He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when he was first arraigned on August 1, 2019, thus setting the stage for the commencement of his trial.
Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, Eyitayo told the court that the bank received some instructions to debit the account of Mobilng Huil Services Limited with certain sums of money, which were confirmed by the defendant.
Eyitayo said, “Exhibit B1, comprises five transfer instructions, purportedly emanating from Mobilng Huil Services Limited that the bank relied on to move money out of the account of Mobilng Huil Services Limited and these debit transactions are reflected in the Statement of Account in Exhibit A.
“In June 22, 2015, there was a debit in the account of Mobilng Huil Services Ltd in the sum of Three Hundred and Ninety-four Million, Nine Hundred and Sixteen Thousand, One Hundred and Seventy-five Naira, Sixty-six Kobo (N394,916,175.66).
“Likewise, on the 31st of August 2015, there was a debit in the account of Mobilng Huil Services Limited to the tune of One Hundred and Fifteen Million Naira (N115m). On the 28th of August 2015, there was a debit on the account of Mobilng Huil Services Limited in the sum of One Hundred and Forty Million Naira (N140m).
“Also in September 2016, the sum of One Hundred Million (N100M) was debited from the account of Mobilng Huil Services Limited.
“All these transactions were confirmed and authorised by the defendant, Omotola Fawenhimi.”
Eyitayo further told the court that the defendant was no more in the services of the bank, adding that he had been dismissed because of a case of fraud that was perpetrated on an account he was managing.
The matter was been adjourned for continuation of trial.
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