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Alleged N650m fraud: PDP chieftain, Otiti, loses bid for foreign medical trip

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The Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday dismissed the plea by a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mrs. Olanrewaju Otiti, to travel abroad to get treatment for a liver-related ailment.

Otiti, who is standing trial for an alleged fraud of N650m, had pleaded with the court to order the release of her passport so that she could travel to America to receive treatment for a liver-related ailment.

Her lawyer, Akinola Oladeji, had told the judge that his client has “two cysts on the left and one on the right,” adding that the condition could not be treated in Nigeria.

But Justice Muslim Hassan, in a ruling on Wednesday, said the politician failed to prove that her ailment could not be treated in a Nigerian hospital.

The judge observed that the medical report which Otiti attached to her application was “a mere computer-generated document without any foundation of authenticity.”

He said he was afraid that if allowed to travel, Otiti might not return to face her trial and “it would be difficult to secure her arrest in the United States of America.”

Justice Hassan said he found Otiti’s application lacking in merit, saying, “and same is hereby dismissed.”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had, while opposing the application, described Otiti as “a flight risk.” But the defence counsel, Oladeji, protested that the anti-graft agency was being unfair to his client.

Oladeji said Otiti had been suffering from the liver-related ailment for long, stressing that she was abroad receiving treatment when the EFCC first telephoned her to come and make a written statement.

Oladeji said out of respect for the law, his client abandoned her treatment in the US and returned, adding that after making the statement, she returned to the US to resume the treatment, only for the EFCC to, again, invite her, an invitation which she again obliged.

“For the EFCC to call her a flight risk is a most unfair statement. We have stated that the ailment she’s suffering from is a liver disorder,” Oladeji said.

He had informed the court about a medical report from the University Teaching Hospital in Ibadan, which, according to him, stated that the PDP chieftain had “two cysts on the left and one on the right,” adding that the condition could not be treated in Nigeria.

“This is just a confirmation that the operation can only be done in the United States of America.

“We have stated that her complete medical history is with the hospital and, indeed, she was referred there from Nigeria,” Oladeji added.

Justice Hassan, after rejecting Otiti’s application on Wednesday, adjourned till May 16, 2018 for continuation of trial.

Otiti is facing 24 charges of money laundering alongside a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Jumoke Akinjide, and Senator Ayo Adeseun.

The trio were arraigned on January 16, 2018.

The EFCC, in the charges, accused them of collecting N650m from a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, in the build-up to the 2015 general elections.

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BREAKING: Tinubu, Starmer Meet as £746m Port Investment Deal Set for Signing

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President Bola Tinubu is currently meeting with United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer in a high-level bilateral engagement aimed at strengthening ties between Nigeria and Britain.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Monday, said the meeting will culminate in the signing of various Memoranda of Understanding and agreements, including those on trade, investment, defence, and cultural cooperation.

The statement said the meeting reinforces Nigeria’s commitment to deepening bilateral relations, attracting foreign investment, and modernising key infrastructure to support economic growth.

It added that a major highlight of the visit was the signing of a £746 million financing agreement between UK Export Finance, the Nigerian Ports Authority, and the Federal Ministry of Finance.

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The statement said the deal will fund the refurbishment of two key maritime infrastructures — the Lagos Port Complex (Apapa Quays) and the Tin Can Island Port Complex.

The President and the First Lady had earlier been the guests of their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle.

Tinubu was accompanied by a high-profile delegation, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi; Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Idris Mohammed; and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu.

Other members of the delegation include Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole; Minister of Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani; Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa; National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu; and Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed.

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Breaking: Senegal Lose AFCON Crown as CAF Declares Morocco Winners

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Morocco have been officially crowned champions of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after the CAF Appeal Board overturned the result of the final against Senegal. The decision comes after extraordinary scenes in Rabat where the Lions of Teranga walked off the pitch in protest, leading to a retrospective 3-0 forfeit victory for the host nation.

In a detailed statement, the CAF Appeal Board confirmed that the appeal lodged by the FRMF was “declared admissible in form and the appeal is upheld.” This landmark ruling effectively strips Senegal of what would have been their second continental crown, rewarding the hosts for a match that descended into chaos during extra time.

The roots of the controversy lie in a heated moment deep into stoppage time when Morocco’s Brahim Diaz went down in the box. While the referee initially waved play away, a VAR review resulted in a spot-kick for the hosts. This sparked a furious reaction from the Senegalese bench, with head coach Pape Thiaw instructing his players to return to the dressing room in a protest that lasted several minutes.

The CAF Appeal Board found that “the conduct of the Senegal team falls within the scope of Articles 82 and 84 of the Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations.” By leaving the field of play, Senegal was deemed to have infringed on the regulations, leading to the administrative 3-0 defeat. The ruling sets aside the previous CAF Disciplinary Board decision and confirms that the protest lodged by Morocco has been fully upheld

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NRC Confirms 26 Injured in Mid-Route Train Incident, Says Opeifa

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Mo No fewer than 26 passengers and onboard personnel sustained varying degrees of injuries following a train incident along the Abuja–Kaduna rail corridor on Monday.

The incident, which occurred at about 9:16 a.m. near Asham Station, involved the KA-2 service travelling from Rigasa to Idu. According to an interim report released by the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), a loud bang was heard as the power car and a trailing locomotive collided with one of the coaches.

Preliminary findings indicate that the incident may have been caused by a fault in one or more couplers, leading to a possible disconnection within the train formation. However, authorities confirmed that none of the coaches derailed.

The train had earlier departed Rigasa Station at 7:15 a.m., arriving at Jere slightly ahead of schedule before departing a few minutes later after an additional locomotive was coupled to improve operational resilience.

Following the incident, affected components—including a locomotive, power car, and one passenger coach—were detached from the train to allow the journey to continue safely.

A total of 481 people were onboard at the time, including passengers, crew members, security personnel, vendors, cleaners, and other service providers. Of the 459 passengers booked for the trip, 429 were confirmed to have boarded.

Despite the disruption, the train resumed movement at about 9:42 a.m., arriving in Kubwa at 10:10 a.m. and terminating at Idu Station at 10:39 a.m., with an overall delay of approximately 38 minutes.

The NRC stated that injured persons included passengers, staff, and security personnel, although details of the severity of injuries were not fully disclosed.

Train services on the route were later restored the same day, with subsequent trips resuming operations, albeit with delays. The Managing Director of the NRC, Kayode Opeifa, was onboard one of the recovery services to monitor the situation.

The corporation assured the public that a full investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the incident and to prevent future occurrences.

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