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Court finds Metuh, firm guilty of first count in N400m fraud trial
The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, convicted a former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Olisah Metuh, and his firm, Destra Investments Limited, of the first of the seven counts instituted against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Ruling on the first count in his judgement, Justice Okon Abang ruled that a former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, unlawfully transferred the sum of N400 million to the defendants in November 2014, The PUNCH reports.
The judge ruled that Metuh and his firm reasonably ought to have known that the sum of N400 million paid to them formed part of the proceeds of the unlawful activity of the ex-NSA because they had no form of a contractual relationship with the ONSA.
According to the judge, Dasuki transferred the money to the defendants “in breach of public trust”.
He dismissed the contention of the defence who argued that the defendants could not be convicted for the money laundering offence because Dasuki, who is currently being prosecuted, had yet to be convicted for the predicate offence of breach of trust and corruption.
The judge said, contrary to the argument, “the predicate offence and the money laundering offence are intertwined”.
“The success or failure of the predicate offence does not determine the success or failures of the money laundering offence,” the judge added.
The PUNCH reports that after finding the defendants guilty of the first count, the judge is analysing the evidence tendered in respect of the second count.
SOURCE PUNCH NEWS NIGERIA
CBN warns banks against misleading customers on domiciliary account
The Central Bank of Nigeria has cautioned Deposit Money Banks against misleading their customers on transactions carried out through domiciliary accounts in the country.
The apex bank gave the warning in a letter dated February 24, 2020, and posted on its website on Monday night.
The letter signed by the apex bank’s Director, Trade and Exchange Department, Dr. Ozoemena Nnaji was addressed to all banks.
The letter reads in part, “Following different interpretations of operations of domiciliary accounts. It has become imperative to clarify the operations of domiciliary accounts as contained in the CBN Foreign Exchange Manual Memorandum 25 provisions under reference.
“For the avoidance of doubt, all provisions of the CBN Foreign Exchange Manual has not changed and remains in effect.
“Consequently, all ordinary domiciliary account holders can utilise cash deposits not exceeding $10,000 or its equivalent by telegraphic transfers to fund eligible transactions.
“As a result, all deposits money banks are advised to desist from misguiding their customers. Please ensure strict compliance.”
The CBN had on Sunday said that it had not prohibited the acceptance of foreign currency cash deposits by Deposit Money Banks.
The Director, Corporate Communications, CBN, Isaac Okorafor, had clarified the uncertainties surrounding the operations of domiciliary accounts in Nigeria.
He said, “The bank has not prohibited the acceptance of foreign currency cash deposits by Deposit Money Banks.
“Only electronic fund transfers into domiciliary accounts can be transferred from such accounts while cash deposits into such accounts can only be withdrawn in cash also.”
Okorafor therefore urged stakeholders and other interested parties to always endeavour to seek clarification on issues and avoid speculative tendencies which were detrimental to the financial system
SOURCE PUNCH NEWS
The Gambia Senior Government Official in Senegal for border talk
Senior government officials are currently in Dakar, Senegal to meet the Senegalese authorities for border crisis talks, a government source has confirmed to The Point.
The delegation includes Dr. Mamadou Tangara, Foreign Affairs minister, Mohamed D.S. Jallow, the secretary general and the head of the Civil Service, Bai Lamin Jobe, minister of Works, Lamin Jobe Minister of Trade and Yankuba Sonko, minister of Interior.
It could be recalled that recently a Gambia Transport Service Corporation (GTSC) bus was refused entry from Senegal at the Karang border. Also, few weeks earlier, another Gambian bus was attacked leading to injuries of some passengers who had to return to Gambian territory.
Meanwhile, The Gambia Transport Union (GTU) at a press conference last week threatened to impose a ban on all Senegalese commercial vehicles in retaliation for the twin incidents.
The president of the GTU was quoted as saying “Effective 19 February no Senegalese commercial vehicle will be allowed to enter The Gambia. And we do not care whether the vehicle is on transit or not. All we are doing is to also protect our interest as a country. So the transport union in partnership with the drivers and vehicle owners starting from Wednesday 19 February 2020 will put stop to all Senegalese commercial vehicles entering the Gambia.”
However, before any action, the government asked them to halt implementing their decision as they were sending a delegation to Senegal for the border crisis talk.
SOURCE THE POINT NEWSPAPER
child murdered by boyfriend In The Gambia
Police have arrested a woman over the murder of her 4 year old child;
According to sources the suspect is currently detained at the Bundung Police Station. Investigation continues and her boyfriend who is believe to be the culprit is on the run.
The woman was married before the incident but later got divorced. she decided to live her husband’s house and stay with her boyfriend along with her four year old daughter. Said our reliable source.
It is also revealed on the point daily newspaper that The boyfriend who is currently on the run has always beat up the little child and inflicted her with injuries.
On the day of her death, the man had beat up the child to an extend she was admitted at the Bundung Maternal and Child Health Centre. She later refereed to Kanifing General Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
At the time of going to press, police were still hunting for the suspect who is believed to be on the run.
Our source further added that when the lady was arrested she attempted to cover her boyfriend, saying “she was responsible for the death of her child. However, after a marathon investigation by the police, it was realized that the boyfriend was the principal suspect in the case.”
Gunjur-Berending scuffle, murder suspect arrested
Police have arrested Buba Drammeh who is accused of killing Buba Jammeh, a former staff of Brikama Area Council (BAC) during a communal land dispute between the people of Gunjur and Berending in March 2019.
Police spokesperson, ASP Lamin Njie, confirmed the development on the police Facebook page. ASP Njie says the suspect is currently under custody helping investigators on their investigation.
The suspect, he went on, was arrested by personnel of the Anti-Crime Unit of The Gambia Police Force.
‘Buba Drammeh is arrested in connection with the Gunjur-Berending shooting incident which led to the death of Mr. Jammeh.’
The office of the IGP, he added, wishes to commend efforts of members of the public for providing vital information leading to the suspect’s arrest.
“The public will be duly informed about the outcome of investigations and individuals with relevant information about the incident are encouraged to come forward to assist with investigations.”
SOURCE POINT NEWSPAPER
Lesotho’s PM Thomas Thabane seeks immunity over murder of ex-wife
Lawyers for Lesotho’s prime minister have told a court that he cannot be charged over the murder of his estranged wife because his position makes him immune from prosecution.
PM Thomas Thabane’s then-wife, Lipolelo Thabane, was shot dead in 2017.
The case has now been referred to the High Court. His current wife has already been charged with the murder.
Mr Thabane would be the first African leader to be charged with domestic murder while in office.
The case has shocked many in the small landlocked kingdom which is entirely surrounded by South Africa.
In Monday’s hearing, defense lawyer Qhalehang Letsika said: “My client cannot be prosecuted while in office but he is not above the law.”
The presiding magistrate referred the case to the High Court, which will be sitting as the Constitutional Court when it hears the case with a panel of at least three judges.
Mr Thabane, 80, missed a court appearance last week because he went to South Africa for medical treatment.
He rejected reports that he had fled the country. In January, his wife Maesaiah Thabane also went to South Africa after police issued a warrant of arrest against her.
Mr Thabane has said he would step down in July, resisting pressure from his own party to leave office immediately.
Thabane still in charge – for now
Lesotho is a constitutional monarchy and while the constitution is explicit that the king cannot be charged with a crime, it is unclear on the fate of the prime minister.
It has been reported that Mr Thabane wants to seek immunity for himself and his current wife Maesaiah Thabane who has already been charged with Lipolelo Thabane’s murder but it is not clear what that would mean for the murder case.
Prosecutors argue that everyone is equal before the law and Mr Thabane should be no exception.
The country’s top legal minds – a full bench of judges in the High Court – will need to decipher what the law allows. What is not in doubt is that this case will test Lesotho’s laws and the independence of the judiciary.
Mr Thabane has been embarrassed and weakened politically – some within his All Basotho Convention (ABC) want him to leave office immediately to face this murder debacle on his own.
But he is presumed innocent until proven guilty and until the matter gets finalised, he will continue running the country, at least until his party can agree on a successor.
How did the murder take place?
Lipolelo Thabane was gunned down at close range on the side of a dirt road while returning to her home in a village near the capital, Maseru.
She was involved in bitter divorce proceedings with Mr Thabane when she was killed.
At the time, the prime minister was living with Maesaiah, who is now 42, as if she were his wife.
But Lipolelo had already won a separate legal battle to be recognised as First Lady, rather than Maesaiah.
Maesaiah accompanied Mr Thabane to his inauguration, following his estranged wife’s death.
Two months later she and Mr Thabane got married in a Roman Catholic ceremony.
Maesaiah was charged with her rival’s murder on 5 February, and is out on bail of about $67 (£52).
She has also been charged with the attempted murder of a family friend Thato Sibolla, who was with Lipolelo at the time of the shooting and is expected to be a key witness in the murder case.
Maesaiah has not yet been asked to enter a plea.
SOURCE BBC NEWS
Forced sterilization of women in South Africa exposed
Dozens of HIV-positive women in South Africa have been sterilised without their consent or were pressured to agree just before giving birth, an official inquiry has found.
State hospitals had violated the dignity of the women and “forced sterilisation subjects women to inhumane conditions and torture”, the Commission for Gender Equality said, when releasing its findings.
The commission, which is a statutory body, concluded a five-year investigation into 48 cases brought to its attention by two civil rights groups, Reuters news agency reports.
It found that doctors in some state hospitals had sterilised women about to have Caesareans
, telling them that carriers of HIV should not have children and they risked death if they had another baby.
“In some instances, complainants were given the forms while they were in extreme labour pain and were told that they would not receive medical assistance until they had signed the forms,” the report said.
The commission added that it was difficult to conclude the investigation because patients files had “disappeared” from hospitals.
Commission chair Tamara Mathebula said it was “not clear how widespread this problem is in South Africa, but we are hoping that the recommendations of our investigation will open the lid to matters that are not yet known in full”.
Health Minister Zwelini Mkhize had requested an urgent meeting with Ms Mathebula to discuss the report, his department was quoted by Reuters as saying.
FROM BBC NEWS AFRICA
Youth protest in Cameroon over Macron’s insult to their leader
Scores of youths in Cameroon protested outside the French embassy in the capital, Yaoundé, over “insulting” remarks made by French President Emmanuel Macron on President Paul Biya.
This is after a video went viral on social media over the weekend of President Macron telling a Cameroonian activist in Paris that he had pressured Mr Biya to release opposition leader Maurice Kamto – who was eventually freed from jail after nine months in October 2019.
In the video, the French President was also heard saying that there were “intolerable human rights violations” taking place in Cameroon – a remark that came days after 22 people were killed by gunmen wearing military uniforms in Ngarbuh village in the country’s North-West region.
“I will call President Biya next week and we will put maximum pressure so that the situation ends,” Mr Macron told the activist.
The remarks have not been taken kindly by authorities in Yaoundé.
“We are comfortable with our president. He is a man of peace,” shouted one protester.
“France has no lessons to give Cameroon and Macron must apologise for insinuating that our president is his stooge,” said another.
And another simply carried a placard asking Macron to have respect for his elders, emphasising the fact that Cameroon is a sovereign state.
Civil activist Yvone Mumah Biya said the authorities were behind the protest.
“This is political manipulation. Somebody somewhere thinks they have not done their job well, and they think they can go and mobilise these youths,” she told the BBC.
SOURCE BBC NEWS
‘At least 20 dead in Mozambique cholera outbreak’
At least 20 people have been confirmed dead following an outbreak of cholera in the northern gas-rich province of Cabo Delgado, the state-linked Noticias newspaper reports.
The Mozambican health authorities are reported to have declared the outbreak in the three districts of Macomia, Mocimboa da Praia and Ibo.
The provincial director of health, Anastacia Lidimba, said the outbreak began on islands off the Cabo Delgado coast, where people have taken refuge in unsanitary conditions to flee from attacks by Islamist insurgents on the mainland.
She said the situation was bad on Matemo and Congo islands.
Dr Lidimba said so far 273 cases of the water-borne disease have been diagnosed.
Teams of doctors and medicine have been sent to the affected areas.
FROM BBC NEWS
Naomi Campbell hits runway at Nigerian designer debut
British supermodel Naomi Campbell closed the show on Monday during the debut of Nigerian designer Kenneth Ize at the Paris Fashion Week.
The Lagos-born fashion designer’s collection in Paris is inspired by his childhood memories of going to church with his mother, the state-owned France 24 reports
that images of Naomi Campbell striding down Ize’s runway in a traditional Nigerian fabric, known as Asoke, caused a media frenzy.
The show’s organisers shared a video on Twitter of Naomi Campbell on Ize’s runway.
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