Nelson Ugwuagbo

Following the death of group managing director and chief executive of Access Holdings, the former Nigerian minister of Finance and current director general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi; and the group MD/CEO of NGX Group, Temi Popoola, among others, have expressed their condolences over the death of group managing director, Access Holdings Plc, Herbert Wigwe in a helicopter crash in the United States of America at the weekend.

This is even as the board of Access Holdings Plc may soon begin to hunt for a helmsman after the tragic demise of its group managing director, Herbert Wigwe, in a helicopter crash in the United States of America.

The group had, in an earlier statement, yesterday, noted that it will soon name a successor to Herbert Wigwe in acting capacity.

It is expected that the board of the financial conglomerate will officially notify the regulators on the first day of business and would convene a board meeting to begin to consider the options for a replacement for the late GMD.

The board of directors is expected to convene a meeting to discuss the situation and decide on the next course of action. Whilst they may appoint an interim replacement pending the appointment of the substantive GMD, there is also the option of appointing a permanent replacement.

In many cases, there may be a designated deputy or an interim successor in the bank’s leadership structure. If the managing director had a clear succession plan in place, this individual may step in temporarily to ensure continuity and stability.

Presently, the board of the bank is constituted by the chairman, the group managing director, four non-executive directors, one independent non-executive directors and two executive directors. The most senior after the chairman is the current managing director of the banking subsidiary, Roosevelt Ogbonna.

Ogbonna, before his current role, was Access Bank’s deputy managing director since 2017 prior to which he had been appointed executive director, Commercial Banking Division, in October 2013.

He was appointed the managing director of the bank with effect from May 2, 2022. He is a through-bred professional with over two decades of banking experience having joined Access Bank in 2002 from Guaranty Trust Bank.

With the guideline on tenure as released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) last year, which fixed the tenure of deputy managing directors and executive directors (ED) of a bank at a maximum period of 12 years, Ogbonna currently has two years on the board.

Banking sources told news correspondents that to ensure stability and continuity, Ogbonna may be favoured by the board as an interim GMD to stabilise the corporation before it shops for the substantive one later.

Also to be put into consideration are the two camps that hold sway on the board. Recall that Access Bank was bought by Herbert Wigwe and his business partner, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede. It is, however, not sacrosanct that the replacement would be from within the Corporation itself.

Commenting on the demise of Dr. Wigwe, Mr. Abubakar Jimoh, chairman of Access Holdings said: “The Access Family has suffered a major loss with the passing of Dr. Wigwe who was a great friend and fine gentleman. He had a prodigious intellect, admirable personal qualities, and vast business experience which he brought to bear on the Access Family and for which we owe him a debt of gratitude.

“In line with the Company’s policy, the Board will soon announce the appointment of an acting group chief executive officer even as we remain confident that the Access Group will build further on Dr. Wigwe’s legacy of growth and operational excellence.”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has declared Margaret Emefiele, wife of a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, and three others, wanted for money laundering.

Mrs Emefiele, Mr Eric Odoh, Anita Omoile and her husband, Jonathan Omoile, were declared wanted Friday night for allegedly conspiring with the former CBN Governor “to convert huge sums of money belonging to the Federal Government of Nigeria and committed felony to wit: obtaining money by false pretences, and stealing, contrary to and punishable under Sections 411, 287, and 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.”

Details of their alleged money laundering offences were revealed by the EFCC in a mugshot portrait of the four suspects late Friday night.

The document read, “Emefiele, Odoh, Mr and Mrs Omoile, wanted by the EFCC. The quartet of Eric Odoh, Margaret Emefiele, Anita Omoile and Jonathan Omoile, are wanted by the EFCC for offences bothering on economic and financial crimes. Any information on their whereabout? Please contact the nearest EFCC Command or the nearest police Station,.”

An EFCC document entitled “Arrests and Recoveries,” which was earlier exclusively obtained by our correspondent, revealed that the former CBN Governor, Emefiele, is being prosecuted by the EFCC for ₦ 1.8bn and $6.2m fraud.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has for the third time amended the criminal charges it filed against Emefiele.

In the latest amended charge taken before Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on Thursday, the EFCC accused Emefiele of impersonating the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to illegally obtain $6.2m.

According to the amended charge marked CR/577/2023, Emefiele, on February 8, 2023, connived with one Odoh Ocheme, who is now on the run, to obtain $6.2m from the CBN, claiming that it was requested by the SGF “vide a letter dated 26th January 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201.”

According to the EFCC, Emefiele allegedly claimed that the SGF requested the CBN to release “a contingent logistic advance in the sum of $6,230,000.00 in line with Mr. President’s directive.”

The EFCC said Emefiele made the claim despite knowing that it was false, “and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”

Still in the amended charge, the anti-graft agency alleged that Emefiele, in January 2023, forged a document titled: “Re: Presidential.directive on foreign election observers mission”dated January 26, 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201.

He said to have allegedly connived with the fleeing Ocheme to commit the “illegal act to wit: forgery.”

Furthermore, Emefiele was accused of conferring corrupt advantage on his wife, Omoile Margret, and brother In-law, Omoile Macombo, by allegedly awarding a contract for the renovation of a portion of the CBN Governor’s residence in Lagos to the tune of N99.8m.

The anti-graft agency alleged that the contract for the renovation of the CBN Governor’s lodge, located at No. 2 Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, was awarded to a company named Messrs. Architekon Nigeria Limited, “wherein the duo are directors and majority shareholders.”

The EFCC said Emefiele’s alleged action was a violation of Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.

The amended charge sheet contains a total of 20 counts against Emefiele.

The judge adjourned till Friday for Emefiele to take his plea on the amended charges.

In the original charge filed against him in August 2023, Emefiele was accused of perpetrating procurement fraud to the tune of N6.5bn.

He was then charged alongside a female CBN employee, Sa’adatu Yaro, and her company, April 1616 Investment.

The EFCC later amended the charge by reducing the counts to six, removing the names of Yaro and April 1616 Investment, and reducing the quantum of the alleged procurement fraud to N1.2bn.

Emefiele was arraigned on the second charge on November 29, 2023, and he pleaded not guilty.

The EFCC subsequently opened its trial and had so far called three witnesses before the latest amendment.

The armed bandits, who recently kidnapped women accompanying a newlywed bride to her matrimonial home at Damari, Sabuwa LGA of Katsina State, have threatened to remarry the bride and sell off the other women.

LeadingReporters gathered that the daredevil bandits had on Thursday last week, attacked the bride and those accompanying her, around the Sabuwa area while travelling in an open van.

The gunmen killed at least four members of a vigilante group during the unfortunate attack.

At least 55 wedding guests were abducted during the attack and the victims have since then been held hostage, according to villagers.

However, in a video clip currently in circulation on social media, the killer bandits were sighted threatening to marry the bride and sell the other captives if ransom was not paid on time.

LeadingReporters learnt that the assailants had contacted families of the victims, demanding N100 million as the only condition to free the captives.

In the video clip, a gang leader, clad in police uniform, claimed responsibility for the abduction, saying nobody can rescue the women.

“I am the one who abducted them, and I will never release them until ransom is paid. And if there is anyone who thinks they could rescue them, they should try it,” he said.

Over 150 suspected armed herdsmen have attacked Agojeju-odo in Bagaji-Odoh District of Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State, killing four persons.

The lawmaker representing Omala State Constituency in the Kogi State House of Assembly, Hon. Umar Yahaya disclosed this on Wednesday in Lokoja shortly after submitting a report on the attack to Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Usman Ahmed Ododo.

Yahaya, who condemned the incident, described the recent attack in his constituency as one too many.

According to the lawmaker, “At about 3:30 pm on Tuesday, the 30th of January 2024, the peaceful community of Agojeju-odo in Bagaji-Odoh District of Omala LGA was attacked by Fulani herdsmen numbering over 150.

“The militant herdsmen took the village by surprise and were shooting sporadically as they invaded the village in a broad daylight through the eastern part of the town.

“During the attack, a sick woman who was on admission in a local private clinic (St. Peter Clinic) was slaughtered. Two men namely: Mr. Attai John Idagboyi and one Mr. Daniel Shuaibu were also gruesomely murdered.

“The remains of a man was also found butchered in the bush, bringing the total number of the dead to four. That’s one woman and three men.

“They came in through Bagana in Omala LGA which borders the Agatu area of Benue and Umasha community in Nasarawa States.

“The Bagana community has been under attack for a long period now and some of our people have not been able to return home for many years now due to the incessant attacks by these Fulani herdsmen militants.”

He requested the governor’s support in directing the State Commissioner of Police and other heads of Security Agencies to be deployed to provide armed security personnel to the affected area.

Continuing, Yahaya said, “The presence of military or armed personnel will scare the militants away pending further long term measures to prevent reoccurrence or possible solutions.”

He also appealed to the governor to direct the State Emergency Agency to provide relief materials to the victims in Bagana and Agojeju-Odo.

The Intelligence Response Team of the Nigeria Police Force has smashed a notorious bandit group in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, led by one Isa Dei-Dei.

A statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said the operation, which was carried out on Monday. led to a gun battle between the officers and the killer bandits.

According to the statement, the notorious Isa Dei-Dei was neutralized during the gun duel, while other members of the syndicate managed to escape with gunshot injuries.

The Force PRO called on the general public, particularly medical practitioners, to raise an alarm if a patient is seen with gunshot wounds.

“We therefore urge members of the public, especially medical practitioners, to call our attention to anyone or patients seen with gunshot wounds for further investigation”, he said.

Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday nullified a criminal charge preferred against a former Chief of Air Staff, Adesola Amosu, and two others over alleged N21.5 billion money laundering.

LeadingReporters gathered that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had re-arraigned the defendants on an amended 13-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N21.5 billion.

Justice Aneke on Tuesday upheld a preliminary objection by the defence counsel challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the case on the grounds that the defendants were serving officers of the military at the time.

It had argued that the defendants were, therefore, only subject to trial by a court martial, since they were still officers during the period.

The wife of the slain Olukoro of Koro Ekiti in Kwara State, General Segun Aremu-Cole (retd), and two others who were kidnapped have reportedly regained their freedom.

They were said to have been released late on Monday.

“The news just received from home confirms that Olori and the girl have been released and have returned to Koro about 30 minutes ago,” the Asiwaju of Koro, Chief Samuel Ayobola told National Pilot

The monarch was killed by the kidnappers as he prepared to have his dinner on February 1, 2024.

The gunmen were said to have stormed the palace at about 9 pm and after killing the monarch, they took his wife and two others in the palace with them.

Initially, the abductors demanded a N100 million ransom, which was reduced to N40 million.

Details later…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested the General Overseer of Faith On The Rock Ministry International,  Theophilus Ebonyi, over allegations of defrauding church members and other Nigerians.

EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, who made this known in a statement on Monday in Abuja, said the pastor was arrested for allegedly using fake grants from the Ford Foundation to the tune of N1,319,040,274.31.

The statement read, “Ebonyi was arrested for defrauding his victims, comprising non-governmental organisations and individuals by advertising an intervention project through his NGO, Theobarth Global Foundation, claiming that the Ford Foundation was offering a grant of $20 billion to assist the less-privileged in the society.

“He allegedly beguiled his victims to subscribe as beneficiaries of the phoney grant by asking them to pay for registration forms and clusters.

“Through this arrangement, Ebonyi allegedly raked in N1,391,040, 274.31.

“His subscribers are innocent and unsuspecting Nigerians and NGOs across the country.”

Oyewale said investigations by the EFCC showed that the Ford Foundation had no arrangement, grant, relationship, or business with the general overseer.

“The Foundation pointedly disclaimed him and his NGO, stressing that it had no link whatsoever with them.

“The commission has also traced five properties he acquired as proceeds of his criminal dealings.

“Ebonyi is still reportedly reaching his subscribers on some social media platforms to market his spurious grant from Ford Foundation.

“He would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded,” he said.

Yet-to-be-ascertained number of travelers from Umuahia, Abia States, in two luxury buses have been kidnapped in Inyele Eteke in the Olalamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State.

Our correspondent gathered that the incident happened on Friday, February 3, 2024.

A social media influencer, Chude Nnamdi, who broke the news on his X handle, said that the two buses belong to GIG and ABC Transports.

Chude said that his wife was in one of the hijacked buses but could not ascertain the number of persons in the two buses.

The Kogi State Police Command, while confirming the incident, also could not ascertain the number of people in the buses.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP William Aya, said  the area commander who led his team to the area saw the two buses but did not see the occupants and, therefore, could not ascertain the number of people on the two buses.

“Yes, the incident happened, but the DPO, local vigilantes, and hunters have been in the bush in an effort to rescue the victims” Aya said in a statement issued on Monday in Lokoja.

The PPRO added, “The CP has deployed additional Tactical Squad consisting of Quick Response Unit, Police Mobile Force, Counter-Terrorism Unit, as well as conventional police personnel to the area to continue with the bush combing and to ensure all victims are rescued unhurt.”

“The report reaching me this morning is that a GIG and ABC transport buses heading to Abuja were hijacked by kidnappers yesterday in Kogi State.

“The GIG bus left Umuahia at 7:30am and was hijacked at Kogi State. GIG company said they have contacted security services and they are tracking them. The kidnappers phoned this morning via my wife’s phone and were demanding N15 million,” Chude said.