FIFA Appeal Committee reduces Jerome Valcke ban to 10 years

FIFA said it has reduced the bans imposed on two senior officials, including a former Secretary-General,  barred from participating in football-related activities following a corruption investigation.
Former secretary-general Jerome Valcke was handed a 12-year ban, while another official, Chung Mong-joon, was given a six-year ban in a corruption scandal at the heart of FIFA.
The scandal led to indictment of several senior FIFA officials, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
Valcke, who was right-hand man to ex- FIFA president, Sepp Blatter, was found guilty of several misconducts.

They included misconduct over sale of World Cup tickets, abuse of travel expenses, attempting to sell TV rights below their market value and destruction of evidence.
He and Chung, a former FIFA vice-president, were excluded from football after they were found guilty of breaching FIFA code of conduct.
FIFA’s Appeal Committee on Tuesday mainly confirmed the decisions taken by the body’s Ethics Committee but said it had cut Valcke’s ban from 12 to 10 years because of “mitigating factors.”
It said the ethics committee’s adjudicatory chamber had not sufficiently considered mitigating factors when assessing the Frenchman’s attempt to grant TV and media rights in the Caribbean
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/10425478/fifa-appeal-committee-reduces-jerome-valcke-ban-to-10-years

EFCC: Fayose got contracts kickback to buy mansions

Anti-graft agency states details of N1.299b case
Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose got left kickbacks from contractors and lavished the cash on mansions, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has alleged.
The governor’s N1.299 billion bank account has been frozeen. He is in court contesting the order, which the EFCC has defended. The case is coming up September 30 at the Federal Gigh Court, Ado-Ekiti.
The agency did not state how much kickback Fayose got, but it named some contractors who allegedly paid him.

Besides, said the EFCC, the properties were qcquired in other peoples’ name, among them the governor’s sister, the EFCC said.
In an affidavit in support of its freezing of Fayose’s account, the EFCC said.
The EFCC said: “That apart from fraudulently retaining the sum of N1, 219,490,000.00 being part of the N4, 745,000,000.00 stolen from the treasury of the Federal Government through the office of the National Security Adviser, the Applicant (Fayose) has also received gratification in form of kick back from various contractors with the Ekiti State Government, such as Samchese Nigeria Ltd, Tender Branch Concept Nig. Ltd, Hoff Concept Ltd, Calibre Consulting Ltd.
“That the Applicant received these kick-backs and gratification through Still Earth Ltd and Signachorr Nigeria Ltd.
“That, in turn, the Applicant (Fayose) instructed the Still Earth Ltd and Signachoor Nigeria Ltd to use the funds to acquire properties for him.
“ That in complying with the Applicant’s instruction, Still Earth Ltd and Signachoor Nigeria Ltd acquired properties on behalf of the Applicant in the name of a company known as J.J. Technical Services Ltd belonging to the applicant and his wife. Attached and marked Exhibit EFCC 08 are copies of the deeds of assignment for the said properties.
“That the Applicant also used the name of one Mrs. Moji Ladeji (the applicant’s sister) to acquire a property situate at No.44, Osun Crescent Maitama Abuja from the proceeds of the alleged offences of receiving gratification and kick.”
The agency opened up on how N1, 299,490,000.00 was wired into Governor Ayodele Fayose’s accounts by one of his associates, Abiodun Agbele, who collected the slush funds from a former Minister of Defence, Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro.
Obanikoro ferried the cash to Akure Airport in a chartered aircraft with Registration No: HS125-800 5N-BMT belonging to  Gyro Air Limited.
About N300million was put in a fixed deposit account No. 9013074033 in the name of Fayose on the 7th day of April, 2015.
But Agbele retained N263million on the instruction of the governor.
The anti-graft agency also uncovered a mansion in Abuja which Fayose allegedly bought in the name of his sister, Mrs. Moji Ladeji, after collecting kickbacks from some contractors with the Ekiti State Government, including  Samchese Nigeria Ltd, Tender Branch Concept Nig. Ltd, Hoff Concept Ltd, Calibre Consulting Ltd.
The mansion is located at No.44, Osun Crescent Maitama Abuja, one of the posh districts in the Federal Capital Territory.
Others linked to either the movement and sharing of the slush funds include Ibrahim Babajide Obanikoro; the ex-Minister’s company, Sylvan Mcnamara Limited;  two Zenith Bank officials, Mr. Alade  and Mr.Lawrence Akande;  Lieutenant Colonel A.O. Adewale;  Fayose’s company, Spotless Investment Ltd; Gyro Air Limited and De-Privateer Limited, which is owned by Fayose’s associate, Agbele.
These disclosures were contained in an affidavit deposed to by an Investigating Officer, Tosin Owobo, in the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti.
The affidavit revealed the blow-by-blow account of how the EFCC traced the arms purchase funds from the Office of the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) to Fayose’s accounts.
The affidavit was in response to an application by Fayose to the court praying for the de-freezing of his accounts by the EFCC.
The anti-graft commission said it took action after “receiving a damning oral intelligence report showing that the 2nd Respondent herein (Zenith Bank) was in custody and in fact had in its possession the sum of N1, 299,490,000.00.”
The affidavit reads:  “That contrary to the paragraphs 5-16 of the Applicant’s Affidavit in support of the Originating Summons, I know as a fact that the 1st Respondent received an oral damning intelligence report showing that the 2nd Respondent herein was in custody and in fact had in its possession the sum of N1, 299,490,000.00 (One Billion, Two Hundred and Ninety Nine Million, Four Hundred and Ninety Thousand Naira) being proceeds of economic and financial crimes.
“That upon the receipt of this intelligence, the Commission analysed it and found same to be worthy of investigation.
“That so far our investigation has revealed as follows: That between the 5th and 17th day of June, 2014 the former state Minister of Defence, Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro, in grand conspiracy with the Applicant and the former National Security Adviser, Col. M.S Dasuki (retd.) fraudulently removed the sum of N2,260,000,000.00 from the account of the office of National Security Adviser which sum was fraudulently transferred to a company known as Sylvan Mcnamara Limited with account No. 0026223714 domiciled with Diamond Bank Plc. Attached and marked Exhibit EFCC 01 is copy of the mandate of the account belonging to Sylvan Mcnamara Limited and the extract of inflows from the Office of the National Security Adviser to the said account.
“ That the principal signatory to this account is one Ibrahim Babajide Obanikoro, the son of the said former State Minister of Defence Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro.
“That on the receipt of these proceeds of crime, Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro, fraudulently conveyed the sum of N1,219,490,000.00 (One Billion, Two Hundred and Nineteen Million, Four Hundred and Ninety Thousand Naira) to Akure for the use of the Applicant.
“That before the conveyance of the funds to Akure Airport Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro, one Mr. Alade Oluseye, a staff of the 2nd Respondent was informed by his colleague in the bank, Lawrence Akande, that a particular customer of the 2nd Respondent will be bringing cash to the Akure Airport for lodgment and that since the volume of the cash is quite heavy, there will be a need for the said Alade Oluseye to use the 2nd Respondent’s Bullion Van to convey the cash.
“That on the 17th day of June, 2014 Mr. Alade Oluseye in the company of one Abiodun Agbele, a front of the Applicant, went to the Akure Airport wherein they took cash delivery of the sum of N724,500,000.00 from Senator Musiliu Obanikoro and his acclaimed Aide-de-Camp Lieutenant Colonel A.O Adewale.
“That on the 18th day of June, 2014 another sum of N494, 990,000 was also delivered to Mr. Alade Oluseye by the said Minister in the same manner.
“ That the total sum of N 1, 219,490,000 was conveyed to Akure Airport by Senator Obanikoro through a chartered aircraft with Registration No: HS125-800 5N-BMT belonging to Gyro Air Limited.”
The EFCC also confirmed how Fayose instructed, Agbele to transfer the N1, 299,490,000.00 into various accounts.
The commission said: “That on the 19th day of June,2014, after Mr. Alade Oluseye took delivery of the money being the proceeds of crime, Mr. Abiodun Agbele, the front of the Applicant, received an instruction from the applicant to collect the money and made cash deposit in the sum of N219,000,000.00 to De-privateer Ltd account No. 1013835889 domiciled with the Zenith Bank Plc. Attached and Marked exhibit EFCC 02 is a copy of the statement of account of DE- Privateer Ltd domiciled with the 2nd Respondent.
“That on the same day, Abiodun Agbele made another cash deposit of N300million being part of the proceeds of crimes to the said De- privateer Ltd’s with the 2nd Respondent(Zenith Bank)
“That on the 23rd June, 2014, N200million, being part of these proceeds of crime, was also deposited to the said De-Privateer Ltd’s account domiciled with the Respondent by Biodun Agbele whilst acting in concert with the Applicant.
“That on the 26th day of June,2014, the said Biodun Agbele on the instruction of Applicant further dissipated the proceeds of crime by depositing N137,000,000.00  into account No. 1003126654 domiciled with the 2nd Respondent in the name of the Applicant. Attached and marked exhibit EFCC 03 is a statement of account of the said account domiciled with the Respondent.
“That on the 22nd and 27th day of August, 2014 Biodun Agbele also deposited N50, 000,000.00 and N118, 760,000.00 into the said account which sum formed part of the proceeds of crime.
“That in further dissipating the proceeds of crime deposited and retained in the account referred to in paragraphs (d) and (g) above, the sum of N300,000,000.00 was put in a fixed deposit account No. 9013074033 in the name of the Applicant on the 7th day of April,2015. Attached and marked as exhibit EFCC 04 is a copy of the statement of the said account.
“That this N300, 000,000.00 (three hundred million naira) is still in the account. That on the 17th day of June, 2014, Abiodun Agbele made another cash deposit in the sum of N100,000,000.00 being part of this proceeds of crime to a company known as Spotless Investment Ltd with account No. 1010170969 domiciled with the 2nd Respondent. Attached and marked as exhibit EFCC 05 is a copy of the statement of account of the said Spotless Investment Ltd.
“That on the 23rd day of June, 2014, N 49,000,000.00 being part of the proceeds of crime, was also deposited to the said Spotless Investment Ltd Account with the Respondent.
“That there is still a balance of N89, 454,765.00 in this account, being part of the proceeds of the crime.
“ That Abiodun Agbele, whilst acting in concert with Alade Oluseye of the 2nd Respondent and the Applicant, after fraudulently receiving N1, 219,490,000.00 (One billion, two hundred and nineteen thousand, four hundred and ninety thousand naira) from Senator Obanikoro also fraudulently retained cash in the sum of N263, 000,000.00 (Two hundred and sixty three million naira) on the instruction of the Applicant.
“That we have interviewed Mr. Alade Oluseye Sunday and his colleague Lawrence Akande and have informed us in writing about how these transactions were conducted. Attached and marked exhibit EFCC 06 and 07 are copies of their statements.”
The anti-graft agency said it had also uncovered how Fayose received kick-backs from some contractors with the Ekiti State Government, including Samchese Nigeria Ltd, Tender Branch Concept Nig. Ltd, Hoff Concept Ltd, Calibre Consulting Ltd.
Part of the cash was lavished on a property at No. 44, Osun Crescent, Maitama, Abuja, which was bought in the name of Mrs. Moji Ladeji ( Fayose’s sister)
The EFCC said it decided to freeze Fayose’s accounts in line with its mandate in Section 34 of  its Establishment Act.
It also said it followed due process in freezing the accounts by applying to a court for an order of interim attachment.
The  commission said: “That the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, in the exercise of his statutory mandate contained in Section 34 of the EFCC Act, having satisfied himself that the various sums of money in the account No. 1003126654, 9013074033, 1010170969 and 1013835888 domiciled with the 2nd Respondent were made through the commission of the an economic and financial crimes, to wit: stealing and receiving gratification approached the Federal High Court Lagos Judicial Division, for an order directing the manager of the 2nd respondent to freeze the said accounts.
“That in his wisdom, Hon. Justice M.B Idris granted the 1st respondent’s application wherein an order of interim attachment was made on the aforementioned accounts. Attached and marked exhibit EFCC 09 is a certified true copy of the said order.
“ That the said order was a preservative order to prevent further dissipation of proceeds of crimes.
“ That I was informed by Rotimi Oyedepo Iseoluwa of counsel in our office, 15A, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos at about 8:40 p.m. on the 2nd day of July,2016 and I verily believe him as follows:
“That the 1st Respondent is statutorily empowered to investigate all economic and financial crimes in Nigeria.
“ That it is within the statutory powers of the 1st Respondent to preserve exhibits and proceeds of economic and financial crimes during investigation for possible prosecution.
“ That the 1st Respondent(EFCC) has statutory power to investigate the Applicant. That the 1st Respondent has not encountered the Applicant by instituting any proceeding against him.
“That the Applicant cannot use this Honourable Court as a shield against criminal investigation. That the order of interim attachment was neither directed at nor instituted against the Applicant.
“That whilst the Applicant enjoins immunity against civil and criminal proceeding being a serving governor, proceeds of an economic and financial crimes allegedly committed by the Applicant do not enjoy such privilege.
“That the 1st Respondent has the power to direct the 2nd Respondent to place a stop order on any account if it discovered in the course of its duties that such accounts are suspected to be involved in any crimes. That the Applicant will not be prejudiced should this application be dismissed.
“That it will serve the course of justice to refuse this originating summons.. That I make this counter affidavit in good faith, knowing and believing the facts deposed herein to be true and correct and in accordance with the Oaths Act of Nigeria.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/efcc-fayose-got-contracts-kickback-buy-mansions/

Tears as Mama Theatre goes home - Bukky Zainab Ajayi

With undisguised emotions, fans, colleagues and family members have continued to evoke memories of veteran thespian and broadcaster, Bukky Zainab Ajayi, who passed on in the early hours of Wednesday.
In life, she meant many things to many people.  While some celebrated the late theatre icon for her stage and cinematic performances, many extolled her religious fervour as a devout Muslim.
Incidentally, Mama Theatre, as she was fondly called in some quarters, died a few hours to the Eid-il-fitr celebration yesterday, which signifies the end of the Ramadan fast for Muslim faithful.
No doubt, it could be said that she died a fulfilled woman, as she survived Laylatul Jaaizah (Night of Prize giving), the eve of  Eid-il- Fitr. It is said that Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) would not sleep on the night preceeding the day of Eid-il-fitr in order to dole out rewards. And, in a report by Ibn Majah, Prophet Muhammed said: “Whoever stands up (in worship) on the nights preceding the two Eids expecting rewards from his Lord, his heart will not die when the other hearts will die.”  Consequently, the late Octogenarian, who converted to Islam in the 80s, could be said to have had the rare opportunity of fulfilling her spiritual needs on earth.

Whether the late actress had any premonition of her death or not, she lived her life expecting that at 82, she was moving towards meeting her Creator. So, it didn’t really matter to her that she was battling a knee problem that had confined her to a wheel chair or that she was reportedly suffering a heart-related ailment.
It was gathered that she had expressed the desire to be buried without delay, according to Islamic rites, whenever she passed on. For her, the wish was granted yesterday with clerics praying at her Surulere, Lagos home, before her remains were interred at the Atan cemetery, Yaba, Lagos by 5:30pm

Fayose bought N1.35b properties under six months in office, says EFCC

Detectives have uncovered how Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose bought N1.35billion properties within six months in office.
The five properties include four duplexes in Lagos and one in Abuja.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has summoned three more people for quizzing on Friday in respect of the ongoing investigation of the governor.
One of those invited, Oyin Daramola, who is an estate agent, is said to have told the EFCC team  that she did a legitimate business.

She said she had never been fraudulent in all her business transactions.
Besides, Dramola, two others are to present evidence of their business fidelity.
Ahead of the Friday session, the anti-graft agency has relocated Fayose’s associate, Abiodun Agbele, from Lagos to Abuja.
The governor was inaugurated on October 16, 2014 but by April 2015, he had acquired the properties in Lagos and Abuja.
The four duplexes, which were bought at $1.3m each, are located on Tiamiyu Savage Street on Victoria Island in Lagos.
Each of the mansions is a four-bedroom duplex.
According to EFCC’s findings, while chalets 3 and 4 were purchased through Siqnathor, chalets 6 and 9 were owned by Noga Hotel
The fifth duplex was bought from the Skye Bank Plc at N200million.
Although the transactions were handled by  Still Earth belonging to Oyin Daramola, the governor has refused to pay estate agency fees up till the time of filing this report.
Instead, he offered to pay fees through the award of contracts to the estate agent in Ekiti State to defray the commission on the five properties.
Agbele allegedly brokered the deals.
Another source, who was privy to the preliminary investigation, said: “They approached Oyin Daramola through Abiodun Agbele whom she knew in Ibadan.
“Upon seeing Agbele who came to seek assistance to buy the four duplexes in Lagos, it was obvious he was looking so poor and could not afford the huge cost.
“ Agbele then said his friend, who wanted the duplexes, will call her. It was then Fayose later called Oyin Daramola. We have the call logs and the transcript of the conversation or negotiation already.
“Investigation confirmed that Fayose did not pay the agency fees but only offered to give contracts to Still Earth belonging to Daramola in Ekiti State to pay the required fees.
“Unknowingly, he wanted to award the contracts for kick-back to feather his nest.”
For questioning are Daramola of Still Earth, her former accountant and a consultant, simply called Titilayo of Philberth company.
“We are going to interact with these three people on Friday as part of the ongoing investigation of the governor. We had a preliminary interface with Daramola, who was innocently manipulated by Agbele and the governor for a legitimate business,” the EFCC source said.
Daramola reportedly told the EFCC team:  “I did legitimate business, I am not fraudulent. I don’t do dirty business deals.
“You can check my background and business records, I have never been involved in shady transactions. Even the purchase of the duplexes, I made sure every process is documented without cutting corners. I have no cause to live a dubious life.”

Boy of 15 arrested over murder of Fola Orebiyi who was stabbed to death in Notting Hill after being chased by a gang of youths on bikes

A 15-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a teenager was stabbed to death by a gang of youths who chased him on bicycles in Notting Hill, west London. 

The 17-year-old, named locally as sixth form student Fola Orebiyi, was attacked in Portobello Road at around 8.45pm last night, after witnesses said a fight had broken out nearby.

He collapsed just two doors down from the shop unit which featured in the 1999 Hugh Grant film Notting Hill, and although police and paramedics, including an air ambulance, rushed to help him, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Detectives launched a murder investigation into his death and arrested a suspect, who is being questioned at a central London police station.

The victim's family were told of the tragedy and this morning said they were too upset to speak.

Witnesses said the boy had been chased into Portobello Road after a fight broke out on a neighbouring estate.

A teenager, who wished to remain anonymous, said:  'I know what happened, he was protecting a friend over a silly beef which turned violent.' 

Nigerian dies in Italy after hate attack

A Nigerian migrant was beaten to death in a racist attack by a right-wing football fan in a central Italian town, officials have said.

Emmanuel Chidi, 36, was walking with his girlfriend in the heart of the small town of Paolo Calcinora on Tuesday, when they had racial abuse heaped on them by the supporter of a local football club, the Agi news agency reported yesterday.

That led to an altercation and Chidi was brutally beaten on the head until he fell to the ground. He never recovered consciousness and died in hospital yesterday.

"As mayor of a town that is welcoming and open to integration, I feel I'm living in a nightmare," the town's mayor said.

Chidi had been living in the area for eight months and was lodged in a shelter run by Catholic charity Caritas.

His girlfriend had lost her baby after a perilous Mediterranean crossing.

Hundreds of migrants arrive daily in Italy. The Italian interior ministry said last week that a total of 70,930 people landed between January and June -- almost exactly the same number as the same period in 2015 and only slightly higher than in 2014.

The full-year total of migrant arrivals for 2015 was 153,000.

Fayose accuses EFCC of acting APC script

Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has said that President Mohammadu Buhari must start the corruption fight from his party and immediate aides since charity begins at home.
The governor said: “ The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) opinions remain their opinions and if they are so sure of whatever information they have, they should go to court and stop subjecting Nigerians to media trial. No amount of media trial from the same elements that orchestrated my removal in 2006 can erode my popularity among Ekiti people.”
Fayose said any property that may be linked to him or his company was bought legitimately and his properties were duly declared in his assets declaration form and sources of such funds were not illicit.

In a statement issued yesterday by his Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Fayose maintained that his election was funded by Zenith Bank as well as donations from friends and associates. “As a promising candidate of my party, I cannot stop Nigerians from supporting my election like every other candidates of other political, including President Buhari.” He said since the money he got for his election was from legitimate sources and not from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) as being concocted, how the money was spent remained his own business and not that of anyone.
The governor also debunked the reported allegation by the EFCC that he received bribe from any contractor in Ekiti, saying “if they have anything against me, they should keep their gun powder dry.”
He said “having failed to buy the conscience of Ekiti House of Assembly members, the APC people have become increasingly afraid of 2018 and that the agencies of the Federal Government should know that no matter how hard they try, Ekiti electorate will not be deceived by their blackmail and media trial.
“The EFCC should be told in clear terms that this is 2016 and not 2006 when impeachment notices against governors were signed on the table of EFCC operatives. Those who are teleguiding the EFCC now should also be reminded that they did more than what they are doing now in 2006, yet I was overwhelmingly voted for by the Ekiti people, eight years after the orchestrated impeachment which the Supreme Court declared illegal.”
http://guardian.ng/news/fayose-accuses-efcc-of-acting-apc-script/