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$2.9m fraud: Court releases Ohakim’s travel passport
By John Chuks Azu
A Federal High Court in Abuja has released the International Passport of former governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim, who is facing charges of concealment of assets.
Justice Nnamdi Dimgba yesterday ordered the release of the passport to enable Ohakim travel overseas for medical treatment.
The judge directed him to return the document within 48 hours of his return from the one month trip expected to end August 31.
Ohakim’s counsel, Gordy Uche (SAN) had brought the application, informing the court that the trip was part of Ohakim’s routine medical checks. The application was not opposed by EFCC counsel, Festus Ukpe.
Ohakim was in July 2015 charged on a three count charge of concealment of ownership of property valued at $2.9m. The case has been adjourned to October 19.
Illegal retirement: Army General asks court to void his dismissal
By John Chuks Azu
A Major General, Ijioma Nwokoro Ijioma has sued the Nigerian Army, and three others, before the Industrial Court of Nigeria in Abuja over alleged illegal retirement from service.
In an originating summons by his counsel, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), Ijioma wants the court to set aside his compulsory retirement on the grounds that it did not follow due process and is consequently “illegal, invalid, wrongful, unlawful, unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.”
Ijioma claims that he was dismissed via a letter dated 9th June, 2016 titled: ‘Compulsory Retirement NA Officer Major General Ijioma Nwokoro Ijioma (N/8304)’ made pursuant to the provisions of Paragraph 09.02c (4) of the Harmonized Terms and Conditions of Service for Officers of the Armed Forces (HTACOS) 2012 Revised.”
Ijioma, who joins the Minister of Defence, Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Army Staff as defendants, also wants the court to award an aggregate sum of N6 billion against the defendants as punitive, exemplary and aggravated damage, and an apology in three national newspapers.
Ijioma was among the 35 senior officers dismissed on June 9, 2016 on allegations of indiscipline and involvement in arms deals.
But in his affidavit in support of the motion, he averred that there was no report of indiscipline against him in the Charge Sheet AB 252, adding that there was no General Court Martial, as required by the service laws, for his trial before the dismissal. No date has been fixed for hearing.
N2.4bn armsgate: Court orders suspect’s bio data capture
By John Chuks Azu
A Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the ‘suspect’s recording’ of a man who allegedly received the sum of N2.4 billion from former NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki for non-existent contract.
Olugbenga Obadina, the managing director of Almond Projects Ltd, was on July 15 charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with receiving the money from Dasuki in tranches between 2013 and 2015 without contract award.
EFCC counsel, Larry Peters Aso in objection to the bail application by defence counsel, Gordy Uche (SAN), seeking liberal bail conditions for the defendant, asked the court to refuse it on the grounds that the defendant had been plotting to flee the country and escape justice.
In his ruling, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba directed Obadina to deposit his international passport with the court registrar and subject himself to suspect recording with the EFCC in compliance with Section 15 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
The process involves capture of suspect’s bio data, fingerprint impressions, photograph and other means of identification.
“The bail will only be approved upon the receipt of a letter from the EFCC that the Defendant has provided his fingerprints and other biodata to the EFCC in line with Section 15 of the ACJA,” he said.
Justice Dimgba also ordered Obadina to produce the sum of N500 million bail bond and two sureties of in the amount, who must be property owners in Maitama, Apo Legislative Quarters and Wuse II, all in Abuja and Victoria Island and Ikoyi Districts in Lagos.
Justice Dimgba ruled that the sureties, who may be private businessmen or public servants, must produce evidence of tax payment for three years.
Before adjourning the suit, the judge ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison custody pending the fulfillment of the bail conditions.
The case has been adjourned to September 30 and October 4 for hearing.