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United States authorities have travelled the cause of a helicopter crash which led to the death of of Group Chief Executive Officer, Access Holdings Plc, Herbert Wigwe.

Speaking during a media briefing on Saturday night (3am Nigerian time, Sunday), a National Transportation Safety Board member, Michael Graham, said preliminary reports suggest that a wintry weather condition was among the factors that contributed to the chopper crash that killed Wigwe.

Wigwe, his wife and son were onboard the helicopter when it crashed in California near the Nevada border on Friday, February 9, 2024.

Also on board was the former group chairperson of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc, Abimbola Ogunbanjo.

Graham said officials were on the scene to gather perishable evidence adding that the team was “methodically and systematically reviewing all evidence” and considering all potential factors to determine the probable cause of the crash.

He noted that although the information provided was only preliminary, witness reports suggested that a wintry weather condition was among the factors that contributed to the accident.

“The crew consisted of a pilot in command and a safety pilot. The accident flight was operated by Orbic Air LLC as a Part 135 charter flight,” Graham said.

“Witness reports of the weather conditions at the time of the accident suggest rain and a wintry mix.

“The helicopter was not equipped with a cockpit voice recorder or a flight data recorder. This helicopter was not required to be equipped with those types of recording devices,” Graham added.

Asked about more information on the passengers, Graham stated there were no details but added that “any names will be released through the coroner’s office” without specifying a time frame.

He added that the NTSB would look into the chopper’s airworthiness; maintenance and structure of the helicopter, operations, meteorology, and air traffic control.

“Parties to the investigation include the FAA and Orbic Air LLC. As the investigation continues, other parties could be named,” he said.

“The BEA — the French aviation accident investigation agency — will serve as an accredited representative because France is a state of the manufacturer of the Airbus helicopter and the Turbomeca engine.”

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 Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has announced a scheduled six-hour power outage on Saturday for parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

This outage is necessary to conduct annual preventive maintenance on the 132kV line 1 at both Gwagwalada and Apo Transmission Substations.

According to Ndidi Mbah, the spokesperson for the commission, the maintenance will occur from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Consequently, there will be a power interruption at the 132/33kV Kukwaba Transmission Substation during this period.

Areas affected by the outage include parts of Lokogoma, Kabusa Garden, TradeMore, Pyakasa, Aherita, Chika, Games Village, Stadium, Wuye, Utako, Life Camp, and Idu.

Mbah apologized to customers for any inconvenience caused by the outage and assured them that power supply would be restored after the maintenance work is completed.

It’s important to note that the TCN Gwagwalada-Kukwaba-Apo 132KV Transmission Line 1 in the Abuja axis was previously vandalized by suspected vandals in December, leading to disruptions in power supply.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, has issued a fine of N10.5 billion to be paid by all eleven Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) for their non-compliance with the mandated capping of estimated billing for unmetered customers across the country.

This was contained in a statement signed by the management of the commission and dated February 8.

According to the statement, the Discos have defied the mandated credit cap for unmetered customers, opting instead to levy arbitrary charges on them.

NERC noted that this action is in violation of Section 34(1)(d) of the Electricity Act of 2023.

The statement reads in part,

“In response to this and the bid to safeguard customers from arbitrary billing by DisCos, the Commission, pursuant to Section 34 (1)(d) of the Electricity Act 2023 (EA 2023) has issued the Order on Non-compliance with the capping of estimated bills which stipulates the following:

Credit Adjustment to Customers: Discos are to issue credit adjustments to all overbilled for the period of January to September 2023 by the March 2024 billing cycle.

Public Notice: DisCos have been directed to publish the list of credit adjustment beneficiaries in two national dailies and on their website no later than 31st of March 2024.
Regulatory Sanctions: the commission shall deduct a sum of N10, 505, 286,072 from the annual allowed revenues of the eleven (11) DisCos during the next tariff review, to determine future non-compliance with the energy caps approved by the Commission.

“The commission reaffirms it’s commitment to regulatory compliance and consumer protection with the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.”

The Joint Senate Committee On Finance, Banking, Insurance and Financial institutions is currently having an interactive session with the Economic Management Team over the recent fall of the naira.

Leading reporters reports the Economic Management Team includes officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) led the governor, Yemi Cardoso.

The committee had on January 31 summoned the CBN governor to appear before it.

The move comes amid pressing concerns about the state of the economy and the sharp decline of the naira in the foreign exchange market.

The Senate is seeking answers and solutions from Cardoso and his team to stabilise the currency and restore confidence in the economy.

More to follow…

In the wake of several sudden deaths reported during a recent football match between Nigeria and South Africa, medical experts in the country are cautioning hypertensive individuals against participating in activities that may induce excitement or put excessive pressure on the heart.

Speaking on the matter, Dr Salau Ibrahim, a consultant cardiologist at the Federal Medical Centre in Jabi, highlighted potential causes for the sudden collapses, suggesting strokes, sudden heart attacks, or stress-induced heart problems as likely factors.

Dr. Ibrahim emphasized that age, coupled with existing health issues such as heart problems or kidney complications, necessitates careful consideration of activities that may stress vital organs.

“The major causes of such sudden deaths are stroke or heart attack. Regular checkups and lifestyle modification are crucial. If you have any background comorbidity like hypertension or diabetes, ensure you take your medications regularly,” Dr. Salau told Leadership newspaper.

Another expert, Dr Ramon Moronkola from the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), linked the deaths to possible strokes resulting from cardiac arrest and heart or brain issues.

Dr Moronkola explained that emotional surges, such as those experienced during intense football matches, could lead to a sudden increase in adrenaline and blood pressure, posing a significant risk to individuals with underlying cardiovascular diseases.

In addition to individuals with pre-existing conditions, those with genetic predispositions may also be at risk of abnormal heartbeats triggered by emotional surges, potentially leading to fatal outcomes, cautioned Dr. Moronkola.

The Deputy Bursar of Kwara State University (KWASU) Malete, Alhaji Ayuba Olaitan Abdullahi, on Wednesday night died while watching the semi-final match between Nigeria and South Africa in the ongoing AFCON competition.

Nigeria won the tension soaked match against South Africa by four goals to two which was decided by penalty kick after a 1-1 draw at extra time of the match.

Sources said that the deputy bursar died after he went to watch the match at a sports center in Sango-Kulende area of Ilorin metropolis very close to his house where the incident occurred.

According to the source, Ayuba watched the game till the end of the extra time when he felt uncomfortable and was rushed to a private hospital in the area where he gave up the ghost.

“The deputy Bursar watched the Nigeria/South Africa match from the beginning till the end of the extra time and when it was the time for penalty kick, he complained that he was feeling dizzy, so he said he needs to go back home and rest not knowing that his blood pressure had gone up.

“So on getting home, he collapsed and he was rushed to private hospital in Sango from where he was referred to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) and before he could be attended to, he died”, the source said.

He was buried on Thursday morning according to Islamic rites.

A statement issued later by the University and signed by Dr Saedat Aliyu, announced the death of Mr. Ayuba Olaitan Abdullahi of the bursary department.

“Janazah will hold this morning, and his remains will be interred at the Hausa Muslim cemetery, Apata Yakuba, Oyun area, Ilorin, at 9 am.

President Tinubu has approved the immediate release of 102,000 metric tonnes of rice and maize from the National Food Reserves in order to enhance the availability of food in the country.

The president’s directive comes days after a series of protests in some states against the high cost of food items.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this in a chat with journalists at the State House following a meeting of the Special Presidential Committee on Emergency Food Intervention on Thursday.

Idris also noted that the government has suggested importing any deficiencies that may arise after the distribution of the food items.

The minister indicated that the government will take suitable actions against individuals stockpiling food.

He emphasized that during emergencies, it is necessary to implement immediate actions to guarantee the availability to Nigerians.