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Rivers State Begins Prosecution Of Amaechi Over $50m Fraud

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Rotimi Amaechi

Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi is in more trouble as the Rivers State government has finally slammed a nine-count charge of stealing, cheating and conspiracy on him.
In a suit marked PHC/CR/2022, filed on the 7th of June, the Nyesom Wike led Rivers State also listed the Governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Tonye Cole, Sir Augustine Wokocha, Dr Chamberlin Peterside, Sahara Energy Resources Limited, NG Power-HPS Limited and Cenpropsaroten Hotel Management as the former governor’s co-defendants.
According to the statement in the charge sheet signed by C.F. Amadi, the Director of Public Prosecution for the Attorney-General of Rivers State, in count one, the state said Amaechi and his co-defendants “sometime between 2011 and 2012 at Port Harcourt within the Port Harcourt Division of the High Court of Rivers State did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to stealing the sum of $274,563,599.59USD”.
The document said the money was a proceed from the sale of 70% equity held by the Rivers State Government in the power generation asset at Omoku Gas Turbine, Eleme Gas Turbine and Afam Gas Turbine Phase 1to NG Power-HPS Limited.
In Count two, the state alleged that Amaechi and his co-defendants within the same period “stole the same amount of money being proceeds from the sale of 70% equity belonging to her in the power generation assets at Omoku, Trans-Amadi, Eleme and Afam Gas turbines.
The state in count three said Sahara Resources Limited, NG Powers-HPS Limited within the same period with intent to cheat agreed to purchase from Rivers State Government 70% equity held by the state in the power generation assets in the four turbines in the sum of $302,960,000USD.
The state said the companies actually took possession, management and control of the said power generation assets upon payment of the initial sum of $274,563,599.59USD, but refused to pay the outstanding balance of $28,400,000USD due to the state.
In the count four, the state alleged that Amaechi and his co-defendants within 2011 and 2012 conspired by fraudulent means to affect the market price of the four power generation assets of Rivers State.
She said the defendants offered the assets for sale exclusively to Sahara Energy Resources Limited, NG Power-HPS Limited (subsidiary of Sahara Energy Resources Limited) and Tonye Cole (Director) instead of by means of open competitive bidding prescribed under section 52 (3) of Rivers State public procurement law number 4 of 2008.
The state further in count five alleged that Amaechi, Sahara Energy, Cenpropsaroten Hotel Management and Cole within the same period “did conspired by fraudulent means to affect the market price of Olympia Hotel, Port Harcourt by offering the said Olympia Hotel, Port Harcourt for concession exclusively to Sahara Energy Resources Limited and Cenpropsaroten Hotel Management (subsidiary of Sahara Energy Resources Limited) and Tonye Cole (Director) instead of by means of open competitive bidding prescribed under section 60 (1) of Rivers State Public Private Participation in Infrastructure Development Law number 5 of 2009.
Rivers also in count six accused Amaechi, Sahara Energy, Cenpropsaroten Hotel Management and Cole of conspired among themselves to commit felony by stealing $1million being concession fee the defending companies paid to Rivers State Government for the concession of Olympia Hotel for a period of 40 years.
The state in count eight alleged that Amaechi and Sahara Energy about December 1, 2014 conspired among themselves to commit felony by stealing the sum of $53,095,602.05USD from Rivers State USD account number 006489429 with Access Bank, Bank road Branch, Port Harcourt.
The offence were said to be contrary to section 421, 422, 516A and 383 of the Criminal Code Law, Law of Rivers State of Nigeria, 1999.

 

Credit: The Street Journal

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Parrot Xtra Publisher Celebrates Hassan Fatungase At 60

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 Publisher of Parrot Xtra Magazine/PMParrot.com, Olayinka Agboola has sent out expressive greetings to his long-time friend and brother, Alhaji Hassan Taiwo Fatungase, former Bakers’ World, Ikeja, Lagos Director on the occasion of his 60th birthday anniversary.

 

In a statement  personally signed by Agboola, former Nigeria Coordinator for Ovation International Magazine described Alhaji Hassan Fatungase as the most selfless Nigerian he has ever encountered.

Agboola continued, “Hassan is not only selfless, he is intelligent, forward looking, hard-working, vibrant, resourceful, compassionate and above all, very God-fearing.”

The Ibadan-based media entrepreneur then went ahead to submit that the astute technocrat is a man who appreciates human beings and the value of friendship.

“Those who attended the University of Lagos with him in those days will attest to it that ‘Fatuu’, as he used to be called then would sacrifice anything to keep a working-relationship.

 

“Even when he joined one of the five-star hotels in Abuja in the early 90s, it did not take long before he was promoted to become the very first African to occupy a managerial position before he joined the Bakers’ World family business in Lagos. His records are still there till today.

Feats At Bakers’ World

“While running Bakers’ World located on Allen Avenue in Ikeja, Lagos, journalists, broadcasters, creative young Nigerians and others were encouraged by him. The records are also there for people to verify. There is almost no big name in the entertainment/media industry in Nigeria today that has not directly and/or indirectly benefitted from Hassan’s large-heartedness. As a matter of fact, he used to settle quarrels when differences and ‘head-on-collisions’ were reported to him!”

Agboola also went ahead to describe how the celebrant of the day has been faring since he became the chairman of Abimbola Awoliyi Estate, Oko-Oba in Lagos where he presently lives.

“Hassan is team-player and a man who keeps improving in good-naturedness even as a semi-retired bureaucrat. Residents of Awoniyi Estate will tell his story better. Since he became the chairman some three years ago, living standards have since improved.

“Together with other executive members, the Estate has been winning awards as one of the best in the whole of Lagos State. Solar lights, good roads, fibre-optic-source of internet, faultless security architecture and enhanced sociability…and other achievements have been recorded by the Fatungase-led team.”

Agboola, who was also a pioneer staff at Thisday Newspaper concluded “Dear friends and colleagues, please join me to pray for this quintessential lover of fairness and equity. May Allah continue to be with him, grant him sound health, more prosperity, divine protection and long life. May his wonderful family comprised of ‘Iyalaje’ Doyinsola and the children- Tomisin, Ahmed, Ibrahim and Idris continue to enjoy divine grace too. Happy birthday to our Director at Parrot Xtra Media Network, many happy returns of this day, September 26.”

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‘our silence is not an act of cowardice’ Olugbon Replies Obasanjo

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-Ayotunde Ayanda
The Olugbon of Ile-Ogbon, Oba Francis Alao has reacted to the recent public ridicule where former President Olusegun Obasanjo ordered some Oyo monarchs to stand up.
Some people interpreted it as a reprisal of an attack from the Olugbon, Oba Francis Olusola Alao against the former President in a radio interview where the monarch condemned Chief Obasanjo for opposing the ambition of President Bola Tinubu.
Chief Obasanjo was unapologetic as he defended his actions claiming the monarchs disrespected the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.
The Olugbon in  his response  called  it  an internal issue and hinted it will be addressed in the Oyo Council of  Obas next meeting.
Below is the message from the Olugbon’s palace…
The outburst of former president Chief Olusegun Obasanjo against traditional rulers in attendance at the inauguration of the Iseyin Campus of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) on Friday September 15  has generated anger and varied responses from true sons and daughters of Oduduwa in all sections of the society.
First and foremost, I will like to emphasize that the inauguration ceremony was a huge success while the road and campus projects represent another milestone in the development strides of Governor Seyi Makinde who has been working hard to take Oyo State to the next level of development.
All the royal fathers involved understand the pain caused by the incident and appreciate the well-placed reactions.
I wish to state that the incident is an internal affair which will be properly reviewed at the next meeting of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs.
Let me assure all Yoruba, and other well-meaning Nigerians who have respect for the traditional institution, and who feel concerned about the incident that our silence since Friday is not an act of cowardice. When we sit down with the Governor, and hold our next meeting, we will review and respond appropriately.
Our Governor respects us, and traditional rulers in Oyo State also hold him in high esteem.
I, therefore, sue for calm over this issue.
We want everybody to apply decorum in line with the Omoluwabi ethos for which Yoruba are greatly respected. Ile Yoruba land shall remain peaceful. Our unity is sacrosanct. These ethos must reflect in our day-to-day activities.
Let it, however, be well noted that traditional rulers in Oyo State have no regret in supporting Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Governor Seyi Makinde in the last election, and will be willing to support them even in the future.
This is the clear position of monarchs in Oyo State. Any other information from anywhere that is contrary to this should be disregarded.
E-signed:
Oba Francis Olushola Alao
Olugbon of Orile-Igbon
Deputy Chairman,
Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs
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‘go and make us proud’ Dollar Construction Boss, Idowu Lamidi Tasks New FIRS Boss, Zaccheus Adedeji

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Construction guru, Idowu Lamidi has praised the appointment of Zaccheus Adedeji as the acting Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service.
Lamidi who is the Chairman of Dollar Construction described Adedeji’s appointment as the right peg in the right hole.
While speaking with journalists in his Abuja office, Lamidi praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, claiming all the appointments he has made so far as an indication of what he wants to achieve and finding the best hands that would make his job easier.
The real estate guru whose company owns the Dollar Estate in Ibadan called Zaccheus a very intelligent man that will turn around the FIRS.
‘not many of us were surprised when the announcement came, we all know what he achieved as the Commissioner for Finance under the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi. He is a brilliant man and he has proved what he is capable of doing at all times. We are happy that President Bola Tinubu is a promise-keeper and he is generous to us in Oyo State. No one can fault any of his appointments because these are qualified people. I wish Mr Adedeji the best and also call on God Almighty to always be with him’.  says  Lamidi.
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