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Ex-Mint Boss, Emmanuel Okoyomon To Be Extradited To The UK

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Former manager of a polymer banknote manufacturer, Securency International Pty Ltd of Australia, Peter Chapman, who allegedly bribed Emmanuel Ehidiamhem Okoyomon, a former Managing Director of Nigerian Security, Printing and Minting Company, NSPMC, (facing extradition proceedings in Nigeria), to secure a “multi-million-euro” contract, was on May 11, 2016 convicted by a Southwark Crown Court in the United Kingdom, UK.

The news of his conviction was relayed by Serious Fraud Office, SFO, to the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, who was on a visit to the SFO in London. The visit was part of efforts to strengthen cooperation between the SFO and the EFCC.

The trial of Chapman, according to the SFO, began on April 4, 2016. Among other allegations, he was said to have paid bribes in order to secure orders for the purchase of reams of polymer substrate from Securency. The total value of the bribes, he was convicted of paying to the agent was approximately $205,000.

The SFO’s director, David Green, said, “This has been a long, detailed investigation and a complex prosecution involving assistance from a wide range of jurisdictions. Crimes like this damage the UK’s commercial reputation and this conviction shows that such activity will not be tolerated.”

In expressing its delight at the successful prosecution of Chapman, the SFO expressed gratitude to the EFCC, along with other law enforcement agencies including Australian Federal Police, the National Crime Agency, the Metropolitan Police, the Central Authority of Nigeria and authorities in Brazil, the Seychelles, South Africa, Canada and Spain for their assistance in this case.

Chapman was arrested at Heathrow Airport in April 2015, having been extradited from Brazil, and was charged with six offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906 on April 30, 2015.

His co-accused, Okoyomon, who arrested by the EFCC for his role in the bribery scam, is however, currently battling to stop his extradition from Nigeria to the UK for trial. Justice E. S. Chukwu of a Federal High Court, Abuja, had on May 4, 2015 ordered that Okoyomon be extradited to the UK to face charges of corruption and money laundering.

However, Okoyomon, through his counsel, Alex Izinyon, SAN, approached the Court of Appeal, seeking for a stay of execution of the order of the court. Through his other counsel, Mike Enahoro, he had also approached a Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja, seeking to be granted bail from prison, where he had been remanded after Justice Chukwu ordered his extradition.

However, on September 11, 2015, Justice Valentine Ashi of the FCT High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja ruled as an abuse of court process, the bail application brought before it by Enahoro. The trial judge had berated Okoyomon’s counsels for deliberating employing delay tactics to frustrate his extradition to the UK for trial.

In the meantime, Okoyomon awaits the ruling of the Court of Appeal on his application seeking for a stay of execution on the Federal High Court’s order that he be extradited to the UK for trial, just as Brazil did for Chapman.

Okoyomon’s extradition is being sought by the UK government over his alleged role in the bribery allegation involving officials of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, the NSPMC and Securency International Pty Ltd of Australia between 2006 and 2008.

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Obasa Missing as Lagos Assembly Sits, Lauds President Tinubu

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The Lagos State House of Assembly convened for a crucial legislative session yesterday, but an unexpected absence stole the spotlight, the ousted Speaker Mudashiru Obasa was nowhere to be seen. The sitting, which focused on key legislative matters and a commendation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership, went on without Obasa, raising eyebrows among lawmakers and political observers alike.

New Speaker Mojisola Meranda presided over the proceedings, ensuring the session ran smoothly. During deliberations, the lawmakers took turns applauding President Tinubu for his strides in governance, particularly his economic and infrastructural policies aimed at revitalizing Lagos and Nigeria as a whole. However, whispers about Obasa’s absence could not be ignored.

Sources within the Assembly remained tight-lipped on the reason for his nonappearance, fueling speculation.

As lawmakers dispersed after the session, the big question lingered where was  Obasa? For now, the mystery remains, but all eyes will be on the next sitting to see if the seasoned politician resurfaces.

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Meet The New 47-year-old Alaafin Of Oyo, Prince Akeem Owoade

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Prince Akeem Owoade is a Nigerian and Canadian entrepreneur, philanthropist, and president of 100279 Manitoba Limited, a  real estate investment and financial services business in Manitoba, Canada.

 

Born 47 years ago to a prominent and royal family of Owoade-Agunloye in Oyo town, Prince Akeem Owoade is one of the surviving children of Pa Rasaki Ibiyosi Owoade, the descendant of Aremo Aderounmu Iyanda Owoade, Agure Compound, Oyo town in Oyo State, Nigeria.

Prince Akeem Owoade completed his secondary school education at Baptist High School, Saki, Oyo State, Nigeria in 1992. His father worked for Oyo North Agricultural Development Programme (ONADEP) helping Oke-Ogun community in boosting agricultural productivity.

aking an early interest in engineering, Prince AkeemOwoade began his engineering studies by completing his National Diploma and Higher National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from ‘The Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State (1994 to 1997) and The Polytechnic, Ibadan (1999 to 2001), Oyo State. Nigeria respectively. He did his NYSC with Nigeria Gas Company as Mechanical Intern/Planner in 2002.After the completion of his NYSC, he worked with Oceanic Bank International Plc. in Warri as a teller. (2003 to 2004).

Prince Akeem Owoade decided to further his education in the United Kingdom where he attended University of Sunderland (2008) and Northumbria University (2012)

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Panic As Governor’s Official Car Got Stolen

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Confusion and fear was the order of the day at one of the Government houses in the Southwest some days ago when one of the official vehicles of the Governor, a bullet-proof jeep allegedly disappeared from the garage.

The SUV which is said to be one of the three bullet-proof vehicles being used for the Governor’s official assignment was discovered missing.

The Governor who was out of the country on a short, rest leave was claimed to have been disturbed when he was alerted.

Sources claimed it wasn’t the first time things would get missing at the Governor’s private residence.

‘There had been series of thefts, ranging from missing cash, phones and other expensive items, it’s usually swept under the carpet. Indiscipline is the order of the day here’, a source confirmed this to papermacheonline.

The State Governor, a quiet individual who is spending his second time in office was said to have been disturbed by the occurrence that he had to cut short his leave and return home. One of his closest aides was also kidnapped recently.

 

 

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