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Which One Is Better: A Freedom Fighter Or A Terrorist?

Omoyele Sowore, human rights activist and pro-democracy campaigner, says whether President Muhammadu Buhari and his political acolytes like it or not, "the revolution" to bring about good governance and respect for rule of law in Nigeria will happen.

Sowore who narrated his experience in detention said he has been held out of touch with the real world despite fighting for the rights of the people.

He said, "I haven't been in touch with my lawyers. I don't know the charges they are bringing against me.

"I am not allowed to see sunshine. I've not been outside except today. I am happy people are staying strong."

Sowore added, "I have no doubt this will come to an end in favour of the Nigerian people.

"Whether you like it or not, the revolution will happen. It is only a matter time."

Sowore said his shoulder was injured the DSS operatives who abducted him in Lagos on August 3.

"I have a bad shoulder which they broke during my arrest.

"They gave me no access to telephone. No TV. No newspapers. Nothing.

"What is interesting is that Boko Haram commanders who are engaged in high level terrorism have access to telephone, TV and even cable in their cells. So you wonder which one is better: a freedom fighter or a terrorist."

Kick Off: FIFA "The Best" Award Was Rigged, Sudan Coach Alleged

Salah vote changed to Messi – Sudan coach alleges FIFA award vote manipulation

Sudan coach, Zdravko Lugarisic has claimed that he voted for Mohamed Salah as his top choice for The Best FIFA Men's Player of the Year award, only to find out that his vote had gone to eventual winner Lionel Messi, but his voting form seems edited.

Nicaragua captain: I did not vote, but result shows I chose Messi for 1st place

Nicaragua national team captain Juan Barrera said in an interview that he did not vote for the FIFA 'The Best' award, but his name appeared in the final voting list.

Egyptian FA demand explanation from FIFA over missing Salah votes

The Egyptian FA are demanding an explanation from FIFA as to why their vote for Mo Salah as FIFA Men's Player of the Year was missing

Senate commend Buhari on the temporary shutdown of all the land borders.

The Senate via voice votes after the debate , however resolved to commend Buhari on the temporary shutdown of all the land borders

Through, Most senators who contributed to the debate on a motion which reviewed the continued closure of the Nigerian borders on Wednesday condemned the Federal Government ’ s action .

They insisted that the policy was counter- productive because it was causing great discomfort to Nigerians doing legitimate businesses across the border.

The motion titled , ‘ The impact of border closure on the Nigerian economy’ , sponsored by Senator Adamu Aliero , was aimed at commending the Federal Government for the action.
However, majority of the lawmakers who contributed to the debate , thought otherwise .

A former Minister of Interior, Senator Abba Moro , said the policy had greatly increased the pains and sufferings of Nigerians.

Moro said there were 87 official borders in Nigeria but that there were about 1, 900 unofficial borders around the country.

He said it was better for the country to establish firms that would be producing products being smuggled into Nigeria .

Senator Gabriel Suswan wondered why Nigeria signed a trade agreement with other neighbouring countries and decided to close its borders.

The Minority Leader , Enyinnaya Abaribe, said the implications of the border closure was an indication that the Nigerian Customs Service , Nigeria Immigration , the National Boundary Commission, and the various military and security agencies had failed in their responsibilities .

Senator Sani Musa , in his contribution, noted that the border closure was not achieving the desired results.

He said most people who were smuggling banned products , especially rice, were using commercial motorcycles to bring the products through illegal borders.
Senator Bala Ibn Na ’ Allah, however , justified the closure and said it would enable Nigerians to formulate good policies.

Senator Emmanuel Bwacha , also said the closure was the best decision because it’ s borders on security and economy.

He said land border closure would enable Nigeria to review its security architectures and act accordingly .
Aliero had in his lead debate noted that the Nigerian economy was experiencing a lot of positive derivatives that was impacting on the country since the closure .

He said , “ Fuel smuggling has significantly reduced , thereby saving the country the scarce foreign exchange spent by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation to import fuel into Nigeria .

He also noted that the smuggling of textile and vegetable oil imported from Malaysia through the land borders which had negatively affected local production had been grounded to a halt .

The Senate via voice votes after the debate , however resolved to commend Buhari on the temporary shutdown of all the land borders to rectify the deteriorating effect on the country.

It urged the ministries of Foreign Affairs and Interior to increase diplomatic outreach to the government of the Republic of Benin, Cameroun, Niger and Chad.

They asked the Federal Government to take urgent measures to stop their countries from being used as smuggling base to perpetuate the illegal importation of unwanted goods into Nigeria .

Ekiti South Senatorial Battle: Adeyeye Heads To Appeal Court

•Files 19-ground appeal against Olujimi's tribunal victory

The battle for the Ekiti South senatorial seat has shifted to the Court of Appeal as Senator Dayo Adeyeye, has filed an appeal against the declaration of the former occupant, Senator Biodun Olujimi as poll winner.

Adeyeye filed a 19-ground appeal against the judgment of the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal which nullified his victory and declared Olujimi winner of poll held on 23rd February, 2019.

The APC candidate also assembled a team of lawyers led by a Senior

Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Dayo Akinlaja, to win back his mandate at the

Appeal Court.

In the Notice of Appeal filed on Monday at the Ado-Ekiti Division of the Court of Appeal, the Chairman of Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs is seeking two reliefs in his bid to upturn Olujimi’s victory at the Tribunal.

Adeyeye prayed the appellate court “to allow the appeal and set aside

the declaration and return of Olujimi.”

While Adeyeye ran on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Olujimi, the immediate past Senate Minority Leader sought re-election on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

The Senate spokesman urged the Court of Appeal to affirm his declaration and return by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the winner of the senatorial poll held in the district on February 23.

Respondents in the appeal are: Olujimi (1st), PDP (2nd), INEC (3rd) and APC (4th) as the Appellant is challenging the whole decision of the Tribunal.

The three-member panel of the Tribunal led by Justice D.D. Adeck, in a judgment delivered on 10th September, 2019, ordered INEC to withdraw the Certificate of Return given to Adeyeye and issue a fresh one to Olujimi.

The panel upheld Olujimi’s averments that there was no proper accreditation, there was no proper account of ballots and that the number of votes or ballots recorded is more or less than the number of accredited voters, among others.

After the Tribunal deducted votes from what the two parties scored at the election, PDP was left with 54,894 and APC was credited with 52,243.

Adeyeye in his appeal averred that the Tribunal’s verdict was a miscarriage of justice complaining that votes cast for his party (APC) were wrongfully nullified by the panel to arrive at its conclusion.

The Appellant maintained that the trial judges erred in law by relying on the evidence of Petitioners Witnesses (PWs) 1, 3 to 14, result sheets and voters registers to nullify the results of the

election at the concerned polling units and consequently deducting 2,207 votes from the votes of APC and 933 votes from the votes of PDP.

One of the errors in law of the Tribunal, according to Adeyeye, was its acknowledgment that the report of the inspection of ballot papers came about after the filing of the petition.

He contended that the Tribunal did not avert its mind to decided authorities of superior courts of the land in holding that it was proper for it to countenance the inspection report.

The Appellant claimed that the Petitioners/Respondents did not tender any ballot paper at the trial and failed to give evidence to show how the alleged alterations and mutilations of the result sheets prejudiced or affected the results of the election.

Adeyeye also picked holes in the evidence of PW 15, Chief Bunmi

Olugbade, on grounds that he (Olugbade) was not the maker of the electoral documents purportedly inspected to generate inspection report in question.

He argued that the Tribunal had no justification to accord probative value to the evidence of PW 15 on the inspection report maintaining that the Tribunal had found the evidence to be hearsay.

Adeyeye averred: “The Tribunal itself had discountenanced the evidence led by the PW 15 on Exhibits P4 to P84 on the premise that he was not there when those documents were being filled and that the documents constituted documentary hearsay in his hands.

“It was shown that the PW15 did not sign the attendance register on two days, to wit: 12/4/19 and 16/4/19 and the PW15 admitted under cross-examination that the attendance register was signed on each day of inspection.

“The Tribunal relied on speculation and oral evidence to vary the contents of the voter register. There was no indication as to what was inspected on the said two days of 12/4/19 and 16/4/19. The decision of the Tribunal occasioned a grave miscarriage of justice in this regard.

“The Tribunal itself referred to the case of Andrew & 1 Anor. v. INEC

& Ors. (2018) 9 NWLR (PT 1625) 5 where the Supreme Court held that the evidence required in an election matter is not the one which was picked up from perusing documents made by others but of eyewitnesses who were present when entries in the form were being made and could testify how the entries in the documents were arrived at.”

INEC Accepts, Truly The commission Is Not Independent

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that truly the commission is not Independent.

Head of Certified Trainer, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mrs Hajia Garba Safia, made this known during a two days Zonal Training organised for Electoral Security Personnel for Kogi 2019 Governorship Election

supported by the European Centre for Electoral support which took place in Okene, Kogi central Kogi State which ends on Wednesday.

She noted that although INEC enjoys financial autonomy and, since the amendments to the Electoral Act 2019, draws directly from the Consolidated Revenue of the Federation, yet this positive change in the funding regime of INEC, it still depends on the political will of the executive and the internal administrative processes of the Budget and Finance Ministries for early release of funds for confirming elections.

ALSO READ: Court orders final forfeiture of Kwara civil servant’s hotel

“Delays with the release of the fund can negatively impact on INEC preparations and create anxiety within the polity. In the light of increasing concerns about the rising costs of elections associated with the cost of hardware components of technology and the huge administrative costs of running elections, issues of inadequate budgets and late release of funds may pose as challenges in the electoral environment that can play out in electoral security.

She further stressed that the perception that security agencies are partial and lack neutrality in the electoral process can be a real source of discord, tension and violence in the electoral process.

She noted that the general perception that the Police, in particular, is corrupt could have implication for the level of public confidence in the institutions in the context of providing electoral security.

“However, recognising that there is no alternative to the deployment of security agencies under the control of the police in providing electoral security implies that control efforts need to be made on the part of the police and other security agencies to increase public confidence in the agencies.

“Electoral security should, therefore, be provided on the basis of professionalism of security agencies and loyalty to the nation as envisaged in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,’ she pleaded.

Fayemi Begs APC Leaders Over Imposition Of Candidates

PRESS RELEASE

FAYEMI TASKS APC LEADERSHIP ON TRANSPARENT PRIMARIES

…..I have no favourite candidate, he says
The Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has directed the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state to ensure a transparent and hitch-free process for the emergence of the party’s councillorship and chairmanship candidates for the December 7 local government election.
The Governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Yinka Oyebode, cautioned against imposition of candidates as being alleged in some wards.
Governor Fayemi said every effort must be made to ensure genuine consensus on candidates’ emergence, adding that clear primary should be the mode of selection, where consensus is impossible.
The Governor who restated his earlier position on a transparent process, said he had no preferred candidate. He also cautioned against people dropping his name in a bid to scuttle laid down procedure.
He said: “primaries must be well done in a way that even losers will know that they lost fair and square and I have no preferred candidate anywhere. Everybody should go and work for the support of their people. After all, I went through primaries even as a former Governor and leader of the party”.
The Governor also urged members of the party to show good examples to others by observing laid down rules of the party and ensuring that differences arising from the contest are resolved amicably.

Signed
Olayinka Oyebpde
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor

Ekiti PDP is one, we're solidly behind Sen. Biodun Olujimi.... Chief Odeyemi.

The leaders of People's Democratic Party in Ekiti South West Local Government under the leadership of Chief Odeyemi today held a strategic meeting to warm up the party for the forthcoming local government election, also reiterate emphatically that both at the state and local government levels, the organs of the party believes in the ideology of moving along with Sen Biodun Olujimi and other leaders in taking the party to a greater height of winning coming elections.

The meeting was presided over by the local government party chairman Hon. Idowu akinbode, fully attended by the ward chairmen (representatives), Fmr local government chairman Hon. Joseph Olowo, Hon. (Chief) Olugbade, Chief Dokun Bolarinwa, Chief Jogbodo, Hon. Tola Olowofemi and host others.

Party members were charged to come out, contest and promised maximum support towards the forthcoming election.

The whole gathering on a standing ovation credited the activeness of Bar. Bunmi Olugbade and unanimously pledged their support for the leadership of Sen Biodun Olujimi, also promised to support her with prayers to come out in a flying color at the Appeal Court.

The Director General of Sen Biodun Olujimi campaign organization Chief Sanya Adesua wholeheartedly appreciate the sitting and the common voice of the leaders.

Unilag Invitation: Buhari Said, "I Don't Know Why People Are Going Against The Invitation".

Samson Folarin

The Caretaker Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers in Lagos State, Musiliu Akinsanya, aka MC Oluomo, has reacted to the criticism that greeted his invitation to an event at the University of Lagos, Akoka.

MC Oluomo, who travelled to Abuja and did not attend the student programme, said the organisers knew why they invited him.

University of Lagos had been attacked on the social media for inviting the transport union leader to the campus.

On Twitter, in particular, many had wondered why MC Oluomo was honoured with an invitation when a former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, was barred from addressing students when he was invited for a similar gathering a few weeks earlier.

Checks by our correspondent revealed that the event was organised by the National Association of Geography Students, UNILAG chapter.

READ ALSO: After barring Sowore, UNILAG union invites MC Oluomo

Aside from MC Oluomo, several other top officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation were invited for the programme.

One of the top aides of MC Oluomo, who spoke to The PUNCH, said he did not attend or send a representative.

MC Oluomo’s aide, Jimoh Buhari, said he could not attend the event because he travelled to Abuja for an emergency meeting.

Buhari said, “I don’t know the reason people are going against the invitation because the people who invited him know what they want him to say.

If he had gone there and said something wrong, then the critical reactions would have been justified.

“Is it a crime not to be educated? Should people who did not go to school go and commit suicide?

“I think that if someone did not go to school and has a large following, it is enough reason for people to invite him to occasions.

“Those who invited him for the event had a strong reason for doing it.

“People are judging MC Oluomo based on hearsay. You don’t judge a book by its cover.

“We are also making efforts to change the negative impression people have about him.”

Gov. Fayemi Confessed, Gov. Wike is Truly Mr Project

•commissions Rumuwoji International Market

The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum and Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has declared that the frequency with which Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike churns out quality projects justifies his world acclaimed name, "Mr Project ".

Commissioning the Rumuwoji International Market built by the Wike Administration in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, Governor Kayode Fayemi commended Governor Wike for his outstanding performance.

He said: "We are proud of him (Governor Wike) . We are proud of the work he is doing in Rivers State. He is going to continue to Commission projects till 27th September. That is almost 10days from now.

"Even if it is one project per day, it will be almost 10days. Now I understand why they refer to him as Mr Project".

Fayemi said that governance is about improving the living standard of the people, noting that Governor Wike has worked hard for Rivers people.

He said: "The promise that the governor made is what he is fulfilling today. That is what government is all about. Government is about affecting the lives of our people.

"Governance is about improving the quality and condition of our society. Governance is about ensuring that we fulfil promises that we make to the people ".

He said though he is not in the same political party with Governor Wike , his duty as chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum is to support, protect and defend all governors irrespective of their party affiliations.

In his address, Rivers State Governor , Nyesom Ezenwo Wike said that he pledged to rebuild the Market and that the commissioning of the Rumuwoji Market is a fulfilment of that promise

"I made a promise to construct this market. We started this market from the foundation to its completion.

"When we make promises to the people, we are bound to fulfil the promises. Hold us accountable to our promises, because there is no need for excuses. We made a promise and we have fulfilled that promise ", he said.

He informed that the Rivers State Government has finished paying for the project.

Governor Wike established a management committee for the market, directing the committee to ensure that the market serves the people.

He announced that he will give allocation to Rumuwoji community, Rumuwoji women and other people will get their shops through open balloting.

"I will give Rumuwoji women shop allocations in this market. I advise that they should not sell their shops because we will release funds for the Rumuwoji women to ply their trade", he said.

The Governor stated that he will build a market for the Nkpolu Community as a means of improving the economy of the area.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing, Mr Joseph Amiofori said that the market has two banking halls, clinic, police post, fire station, fire hydrants, pumping station and fire alert system.

He said that the Market has 421 lock up shops, 34 open stalls and 441 concrete tables .

Mayor of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Victor Ihunwo commended the Rivers State Governor for delivering a Market of international standard to the people of the city.

Chairman of the Rumuwoji Market Association, Eze Nyeche thanked the Rivers State Governor for keeping his promise to the traders.

Simeon Nwakaudu,
Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor, Electronic Media.
18th September, 2019.

TRIBUNAL JUDGMENT: ADEYEYE'S COMMENTS : AN AFFRONT ON THE JUDICIARY

The attention of the JUSTICE PROTECTION GROUP (JPG) a group of Human Rights Advocates on Justice and Solicitors of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, has been drawn to the reaction of the Nigerian Senate's spokesperson, Prince Dayo Adeyeye on his Press address on the judgment of the Election Petition Tribunal delivered on Tuesday, 10th September, 2019 which nullified his election into the Senate at the Presidential and National Assembly elections on 23rd February, 2019 by the Justice D.D. Adeck led 3-man Panel.

The Tribunal declared Senator Biodun Olujimi as the rightful winner, having polled the highest number of lawful votes cast during the National Assembly Election to represent Ekiti South Senatorial District.

In his comments on the said judgment, Prince Dayo Adeyeye had alleged that the judgment delivered by the Tribunal was "purchased" and contained alot of contradictions.

It is our view at the Justice Protection Group (JPG) that such comments were hasty, uncouth, reckless, very unprofessional and indeed, condemnable.

As at the time he addressed the press, he was yet to read and study, the judgment of several pages . And he was never present at the Tribunal even for one day. He therefore had no opportunity of availing himself of an update on the proceedings at the Tribunal throughout.

It was therefore petulant for a personality of Prince Adeyeye, a Lawyer and a supposedly advocate of justice to make such unguarded and mouth-running comments.

As a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, for him to cast aspersions publicly, on the integrity of the Bench, which the Honourable Tribunal Judges represent, is to say the least, reckless and irresponsible.

The axiom constantly reminds us that he who lives in a glass house does not throw stones. As Legal Practitions, Bench and the Bar, we all reside in the glass House and we are aversed to anyone throwing stones at us.

Prince Dayo Adeyeye has, by his utterances, thrown stones at the Nigerian Judiciary with reckless abandonment, all because of politics.

Adeyeye should know that the onus is on who alleges to prove. This he must do against the backdrop of his petition or he should be invited by the Security Agencies to substantiate his claims. We are also sure that the Nigerian Bar Association will not close his eyes to this gross misdemeanor of our member to the Bench.

Therefore, except, until and unless Prince Dayo Adeyeye is able to substantiate this unfounded, spurious and rebellious allegation of "Purchased" judgment against the nation's judiciary, it will be difficult to convince the younger generation about the absolutism of our law and the Justice system, to which our Group is irrevocably committed and supportive

We are yet to come to terms with his basis for the wild, and compulsive allegations designed to malign the Honourable Justices of the Tribunal, despite the legal window of Appeal.

Meanwhile, While we are not holding brief for the Tribunal Judges, we challenge Prince Dayo Adeyeye to justify allegations in light of the following extracts of the Judgement :

1. Were the Tribunal Judges responsible for the failure and lateness of INEC in filing responses to the petition?

2. Owing to various degrees of irregularities, the Petitioner pleaded for the ballot papers to be re-counted, Were the Tribunal Judges responsible for the outcome of the lawful re-count of the ballot papers, in the INEC office as agreed to, by ALL concerned and in the presence of Security Agents?

3. Was Adeyeye legal team not in agreement with PW15 when cross-examined on the re-counting of the ballot papers. And on the final admission of the exhibits, the results were computed to determine the winner. Do facts and figures lie?

4. Our Learned Colleague, Adeyeye should be grateful to the Tribunal Judges instead of vilifying them, for their indulgence, in accepting his final addresses which were filed late already by his Lawyers.

As far as we are concerned, in the Justice Protection Group (JPG), the Election Petition Tribunal which adjudicated on the case between Senator Biodun Olujimi and Prince Dayo Adeyeye was incorruptible, fearless, fair and thorough.

This panel of distinguished Justices deserves accolades as unbiased umpires, worthy Ambassadors of the Judiciary and bastion of Justice.

Signed;

Oluwaseun Amire Esq.
National President

Mohammed Usman Esq.

National Secretary

Sen. Olujimi speaks, No Victor and No Vanquished

I was pleasantly shocked and relieved when eventually, the National Assembly elections tribunal sitting in Ekiti delivered judgement.

For a person who is seen as strong, all confidence evaporated when the dye was cast.

The tribunal was majorly against INEC who as the umpire, did not live up to its mandate. It is a pity that it also affected an individual.

Let me say without equivocation that Sen Prince Adeyeye is a brother and an ally. We have had to work together on many fronts. An erudite lawyer and politician who I know believes in justice and fair play. He fought for the masses as the publicity secretary of the Afenifere. I am sure he would have asked me to test my misgivings about the election if the shoe was on a different leg!! Albeit, as in the caption; there is no Victor nor vanquished.

There is only one Ekiti and one Ekiti South Senatorial district and as we strive to serve our people, skirmishes such as these will occur. Senators will go and come, the wellbeing of our constituents will remain paramount.
I salute the courage of the attorneys on the side of the respondent, they worked so hard to break our resolve. Such competence and enviable skills! Barr R O Balogun and Barr Kabir Akingbolu Esq. I salute the attorneys for the petitioner, led by Professor Wahab Egbewole SAN, KK Eleja SAN, Barr Olatawura, Oguntuase, John etc and all the erudite lawyers, witnesses esp Barr Olugbade PW15, party faithfuls and those who reported everyday to listen to the proceedings.

I also thank the tribunal judges whose mien were so tough. They were patient and painstaking. Thank you for the lesson that will make INEC a better umpire for the benefit of the people.

As we continue in our quest to give the best for our people, I enjoin that we put service before self interest.
Today, God took absolute glory and justice was served.
I wish my brother, Sen Prince Adeyeye well and i say to him: the best is yet to come.
To God be all the glory.

Ibadan Obas Drop Their Crowns, Follow Olubadan To Event

The controversies surrounding the Ibadan Chieftaincy may have come to an end as the new 21 obas attended an event with Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji without beaded crowns.

According to The Nation, the traditional leaders in Ibadan appeared as part of the entourage of the monarch to the Southwest security summit at the Internatuinal Conference Centre, University of Ibadan on Monday.

“Sighting the high chiefs without their crowns in their attendance with the Olubadan, Makinde commended the reconciliation,” the report stated.

In the entourage of the Olubadan, I can see the high chiefs.

”I think it is a positive development in Oyo State. We are talking about security here; and I think it is part of what will help overall security of the society,” The Nation quoted Makinde as saying.

On the entourage today are the Otun Olubadan, High Chief Lekan Balogun; Asipa Olubadab, High Chief Eddy Oyewole; Balogun Olubadan, High Chief Owolabi Olakulehin; the Asipa Balogun, High Chief Lateef Gbadamosi Adebimpe; the Ekarun Olubadan, High Chief Amidu Ajibade and the Ekarun Balogun High Chief Adegbola.

At the meeting are also the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; Olugbo of Ugbo land, Oba Frederick Akinruntan; Oba of Lagos, Oba Rowland Akiu and a host of other traditional rulers.

Before now, the new Ibadan obas had boycotted the palace since their crowning due to the Olubadan’s opposition to their elevation by the former governor, Abiola Ajimobi.

The story of Emmanuel Nwude who carried out the biggest scam in Nigeria

2 years ago 437108 viewsby Omotayo Yusuf

In this retro series, Legit.ng bring to you the story of Emmanuel Nwude who committed the largest fraud in the country by selling a non-existent airport to a Brazilian for $242 million between 1995 and 1998.

The rise of internet fraud commonly known as 419 is one phenomenon Nigeria has come to be associated it. Before internet fraud became a global issue, Nwude had committed one of the biggest scams in the world. Specifically, his fraud was the third largest banking scam in the world after the Nick Leeson's trading losses at Barings Bank, and the looting of the Iraqi Central Bank by Qusay Hussein.

How was Nwude able to carry out this jaw-dropping scam and convince Nelson Sakaguchi who was the director of the bank to part with so much money for the purchase of an airport?

Nwude was a former director of Union Bank of Nigeria and this position made him privy to some links, information and documents that other persons would not be aware of. He impersonated the then governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Paul Ogwuma, and connected with Sakaguchi informing him of a mouth-watering deal of Nigeria’s plan to build an airport in Abuja.

Emmanuel Nwude carried out one of the the biggest banking fraud in the world

Nwude, pretending to be the Central Bank of Nigeria governor, told Sakaguchi that he stood of chance of pocketing $10 million commission when the deal passed through. Sakaguchi paid $191 million in cash and the remainder in the form of outstanding interest.

Nwude’s accomplices were Emmanuel Ofolue, Nzeribe Okoli, and Obum Osakwe, along with the husband and wife duo, Christian Ikechukwu Anajemba and Amaka Anajemba, with Christian later being assassinated.

The criminal gang was able to convince the director of the Brazilian bank to part with the money.

How did Sakaguchi find out he was a victim of one of the largest scam in the world?

In 1997, the Spanish Banco Santander wanted to take over the Banco Noroeste and a joint board meeting was held in December of that year. Officials of the Spanish bank noted that half of the Brazilian bank’s capital was at Cayman Islands unmonitored. This raised questions as this was two-fifths of Noroeste's total value.

Investigation began and was carried out in Brazil, Britain, Nigeria, Switzerland, and the United States. Although the sale of the Bank still went on as the owners of the bank paid $242 million bill, the nak still collapsed in 2001.

The birth of the EFCC

In 2002, the then president, Olusegun Obasanjo saw to the establishment of an anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Nwude’s fraud case one of the first to be investigated and in 2004, all members of the gang were arraigned before an Abuja High Court on 86 counts of "fraudulently seeking advance fees" and 15 counts of bribery related to the case . Although they pleaded not guilty, they were warned not to attempt to bribe court officials as it was suspected that money was going round.

Nwude has become Nigeria's fraud kingpin after pulling off one of the biggest 'deals' in history

In 2005, Amaka confessed to helping Anajemba and was asked to repay $25.5 million and also sentenced to two and a half years in prison.

Nwude attempted to bribe Nuhu Ribadu, the then chairman of the EFCC, with $75,000 cash but the latter refused and Nwude was charged with attempted bribery as well as attempt to kidnap a prosecuting witness.

Following Sakaguchi's witness, Nwude finally pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five concurrent sentences of five years and was also asked to pay $10 million fine to the federal government.

He was released from prison in 2006 and filed a case to reclaim his assets insisting some of them were acquired before the criminal act. He has so far been able to reclaim $167 million.

Aftermath

A land dispute in the town of Ukpo in the Dunukofia area with Abagana community turned bloody when over 200 men invaded the community killing four policemen and the security guard at the construction site in 2016. The Anambra state government fingered Nwude as the ringleader and he was subsequently arrested and arraigned on 27 charges including murder and terrorism. He is being held at Awka prison as the court case is still on.

While Nwude’s criminal exploit was not the first in the country, it signified the rise in international financial crime and popularise the advanced fee fraud syndrome with Nigeria's name associated with it.