Headlines
Police Gives Okunbo Clean Bill of Health, Tunde Ayeni Kicks
Tunde Ayeni, a former chairman of the board of directors, Skye Bank Plc, has kicked against a police report dismissing the allegation he brought against Hosa Okunbo, his former business partner.
In a petition to both the police and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ayeni had accused Okunbo of gross mismanagement and criminal diversion of company funds.
Ayeni had claimed that Okunbo, who had been his business partner since 2003, deceived him and took over control of the company — Ocean Marine Solutions Limited — while he was undergoing a court trial, which he claimed had distracted him.
In a letter by the inspector-general of police (IGP) monitoring unit, addressed to Augustine Alegeh, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Okunbo’s lawyer, the police said Ayeni’s accusations are baseless.
“From the foregoing, it is pertinent to state that the allegations of stealing and criminal diversion of company funds as alleged by the complainant — Dr. Tunde Ayeni — against the suspect, Capt. Hosa Wells-Okunbo, could not be established as there was documentary evidence that was provided by the suspect — Capt. Hosa Wells-Okunbo — which clearly shows that Capt. Hosa Okunbo has lawfully acquired Dr. Tunde Ayeni’s interest in Ocean Marine Solutions Limited (OMS) for the valuable consideration of N2,000,000,000.00 (Two Billion Naira) only,” part of the letter read.
The police added that “the allegation of criminal diversion of company funds is baseless, malicious and false as it hasn’t been proven by the complainant”.
But reacting, Femi Falana, counsel to Ayeni, said the IGP monitoring team has not done much on the matter.
The lawyer explained that the parties had earlier reached a resolution until police said it had a report.
“Contrary to media report, the Monitoring Unit of the Inspector-General of Police has not commenced investigation into the allegations contained in the petition of Tunde Ayeni against his business partner, Capt Hosa Okunbo. Apart from inviting Tunde Ayeni to adopt his petition, the Monitoring Unit of the Inspector-General of Police has not taken any other step in the matter,” Falana wrote in a statement on Monday.
“Specifically, Capt. Okunbo has not been invited to react to the said petition. To that extent, the petition has not been challenged in any material particular.
“Meanwhile, both parties have since agreed to explore an amicable resolution of their business dispute. Consequently, the lawyers of the parties have held fruitful discussions in respect of the claims and counter claims of their clients. The IGP Monitoring Unit has been fully briefed of the progress made so far in the matter.
“However, in a desperate move to frustrate the amicable resolution of the dispute, the IGP Monitoring Unit is alleged to have produced a “report” of an investigation that has not been conducted. As if that was not enough, the ‘report’ was addressed to Capt Hosa Okunbo’s lawyer and circulated to media houses. But up till now, the IGP Monitoring Unit has not deemed it fit to furnish us with a copy of the ‘report’.”
Falana added that Mohammed Adamu, inspector-general of police, has been asked to assign the petition to another team of officers to conduct a thorough investigation into the allegations.
TheCable
Headlines
Abiola Cannot Be Recognised As Former President; He Was Never Sworn-in – Gen Ishola Williams
By Eric Elezuo
One of the prime actors of the June 12, 1993 incidents, General Ishola Williams, has said that much as Chief MKO Abiola wrong was created having won the election, and denied victory, he cannot be recognized as a former President of Nigeria.
Gen Williams made his revelation while speaking as a guest on Channels television socio-political programme, Inside Source.
He maintained that only those who were sworn in that recognised as former presidents, and Abiola was never sworn in.
“Abiola cannot be recognised as former president because he was never sworn in.
The General, who said that he resigned from the army as a result of the wholesome reception given to General Sani Abacha, when he overthrew Chief Ernest Shonekan-led Interim National Government, contrary to expectation, also picked flaws in the narratives given by former Military President Ibrahim Babangida, in his recently launched book, A Journey In Service.
Williams rose in the army to become the Commandant of Army Signals, Commander of Training and Doctrine (TRADOC) and Chief of Defence Training and Planning, from where he resigned.
Headlines
Breaking: Supreme Court Recognises Martin Amaewhule As Rivers Assembly Speaker, Orders CBN to Stop Releasing Funds to State
By Eric Elezuo
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has in its ruling on Friday recognised Hon Martins Amaewhule as the authentic speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, mandating him to urgently resume sitting with elected members of the assembly.
The apex court also ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria to stop releasing to the Rivers State government until a proper assembly is constituted.
Details soon…
Tension escalated at the Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday as impeached Speaker Mudashiru Obasa made a dramatic return to reclaim his position.
Accompanied by heavily armed men, Obasa stormed the Assembly complex in a bold move that has thrown the State’s legislature into turmoil.
In a stunning turn of events, security details assigned to the substantive Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mojisola Meranda, were abruptly withdrawn on Thursday morning, clearing the path for Obasa’s controversial comeback.
Sources revealed that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) ordered the withdrawal of all security operatives attached to Meranda, leaving her exposed in the midst of an intensifying power struggle.
The Speaker’s Special Adviser on Information, Mr. Victor Ganzallo, expressed concern over the security vacuum created by the withdrawal of personnel.
“In the early hours of Thursday, we woke up to the startling news that all security details assigned to Madam Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, had been withdrawn.
This includes the police and DSS officers, leaving her exposed to threats amid the ongoing speakership crisis,” Ganzallo stated.
He further called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as the State’s Chief Security Officer, to intervene urgently to prevent a complete breakdown of law and order within the Assembly.
“The withdrawal of security personnel has left the Assembly naked and vulnerable at a critical time. Urgent action is needed to restore order,” he pleaded.
With the speakership battle taking a dramatic new turn, political watchers are keenly observing how the crisis will unfold in the coming days.
