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Gov Aiyedatiwa Appoints 28 SSAs, 316 SAs

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has appointed 28 Senior Special Assistants and 316 Special Assistants.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ebenezer Adeniyan, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.

He said the appointments were spread across the 18 Local Government Areas, 33 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) and 203 Wards in the state.

“In continuation of efforts to enhance governance and service delivery to the people of the State, the Governor of Ondo State, Hon Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has approved the appointment of new Senior Special Assistants (SSAs) and Special Assistants (SAs),” the statement read.

“While congratulating the new appointees, the Governor urged them to bring to bear their wealth of experience and dedicate themselves to serving the people of the State.”

The appointment comes two months to the Ondo State governorship election where Aiyedatiwa is seeking a fresh term in office.

Aiyedatiwa became governor following the death of Rotimi Akeredolu in Germany on December 27, 2023.

The new appointees are:
SENIOR SPECIAL ASSISTANTS (SSAs)

1 HON. OMOTAYO ABIDAKUN

2 HON AKINTOYE ALBERT

3 AKINDELE ADENIYI

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4 HON FOLAWE SIPASI

5 MICHEAL BOLODEOKU

6 HON ISIAKA ELEGBERUNIBON

7 CHIEF LADI TENABE

8 BARR FOLAJIMI OLASEHINDE VICENTE

9 BAR CLEMENT KOLAPO OJO

10 HON SOLA OLUYEDE

11 SOLOMON ELEFOLA

12 BARR. AJIMOTOKIN OLUSEGUN

13 EWATOMILOLA EMIOLA

14 AKINROTOYE OLAFUSI KEHINDE

15 HON OLAMIGOKE BUSAYO FRANCIS

16 ADESEMOYE ADEDAPO OLASEINDE

17 MRS MORENIKEJI ALAGA

18 ALEX OLADIMEJI

19 OLOWUJUNI SHEDRACK

20 NICHOLAS AKINBIOLA

21 HON. SOLOMON ADEJARE ADEYEFA

22 OLUYEMI FASIPE

23 BAYO OLATUNJI SEGEDE

24 PHILEMON EBIESUWA

25 ABIDEMI IWAJOMO

26 GBAMILA TAIWO

27 AKIN OMOJUWA

28 HON DARIJIMI LOGO

SPECIAL ASSISTANTS (SAs)

1 SOLA NERI

2 HON OLANIYI ENI-OLOTU

3 ADEOLU IWAKUN

4 HON MAKINDE OLANREWAJU

5 OMOTAYO VINCENT OLIBAMOYO

6 HON BUNMI OLAWOYE

7 MRS RONKE TASHILANI

8 HON IDEBI MICHAEL

9 ALHAJA RAFAT AHMED

10 HON IDEBI MICHAEL

11 HON NAJEEM ADEGBOYE

12 MR FADOJU SUNDAY OLANIYI

13 DR ADEMOLA ADEGBOYE

14 ALIU OLALEKAN

15 ROBERT AKINKUNMI

16 FELIX ESAN

17 SOLA ADEGBOLA

18 TOYIN BENSON

19 OLORUNTOBA MICHAEL SUNKANMI

20 BOSEDE SAMA

21 HON SHOLA ALAJO

22 RABIU OLUWASEGUN KAYODE

23 ABEGUNDE TAYO

24 OMOLAYO TOPE

25 OLASUNKANMI AKINROGBE

26 OLADIMEJI OLANREWAJU

27 OLABODE ANIMASAHUN

28 MRS OLAYINKA O. ANUNOBI

29 MRS FAMUSIWA ODUNAYO

30 MR WALE THOMAS

31 MR JIMOH YINUS

32 MRS FUNKE ARUNA

33 TOLU ILORI OGUNBADEJO

34 OLALEYE OLADIMEJI AJEGUNMA

35 MAXWELL OMOSUWA

36 AZEEZ OLATUNDE OLAYINKA

37 OLADIMEJI OKEYEMI OLUWAKEMI

38 IJASAN WILLSON OLARINDE

39 OMOLARA AKINROGBE

40 OLABISI BALOGUN

41 OROFIN OGOOLUWA

42 SIJU OMONOJO

43 RT. HON DAISI ODOGUN

44 DR. OMOTOSHO SALIU ADEWOLE

45 MRS. ADEJORE LYDIA

46 ELIJAH AKINLOYE BALOGUN

47 DAVID GODSPOWER ILAYE

48 HON CENSUS OGBARO

49 TOPE GLORY MESHACK

50 HON BUNMI OSABIYA

51 TUNDE OWANIKI

52 JUSTINA MAFOLABOMI

53 JOHN IFEOLUWA AWODEYI

54 SALIU MUMUNI

55 OSENI MUYIDEEN

56 AIDI FATAI

57 ROTIMI EKUNDAYO

58 AGUDA SUNDAY

59 LATEEF BALOGUN

60 UARUDEEN ABDULASIS

61 FOLASHADE BALOGUN

62 OGUNMODEDE MAGARET ATINUKE

63 SALIU ADEYEMI

64 RAZAK TAIWO IBILOYE

65 LATEEF AHMED

66 OLUGBENGA AJAYI

67 MRS YINKA OGUNLEYE

68 FAUSATBALOGUN

69 HON ADE PELEMO

70 ROTIMI KAREEM

71 OGUNGBEMI FASANSI KEHINDE

72 ENAS MOHAMMED

73 ADEOLA R. FYNCH

74 OLATUNBOSUN OGUNLEYE

75 OLAGUNJU OLASEHINDE

76 ALHAJA F. I. GIDADO

77 ABIODUN KIKIOWO

78 HON JULIUS MESHE

79 PRINCESS OREOLUWA AGBAYEWA

80 LAWRENCE OWOLANKE

81 ANTHONY MAYOWA OGUNMODEDE

82 ALADE MARGRET ABIOLA

83 AKOSILE OYENIYI OYEYINKA

84 MR AMIMI JULIUS FOLUSO

85 DAPO ADEPOJU

86 AKINTOYE OLATUNJI

87 OLAJIDE OLABISI-OJO

88 MR FALEYE SUNDAY

89 EWAJANE SAMSON KAYODE

90 TITI OPARINDE

91 MR JIMOH TOSIN

92 MR LATEEF BALOGUN

93 MUYIWA ADEBAYO

94 REV TAYO ABISOLA

95 OJO AJAYI

96 OLAWALE EDDO

97 PAUL ADENIYI

98 OLAYINKA JOHNSON MODUPE

99 HON DELE FAGORIOLA

100 YEMISI ALADESAYE

101 SODIQ WILLIAMS

102 HON IDOWU AKINSOLA

103 TUYI FATUKASI

104 AYODELE ADEWOLE

105 AJULO OLAWALE

106 MR OMOSEKE OLAWALE

107 OMOTUNMISE TOKUNBO

108 MICHEAL AFOLABI

109 MRS OBAYA

110 TOPE ALUKO

111 DAMILOLA ABBEY

112 ADEFISOYE HAMMED

113 MR ADEUTI OLUMIDE

114 MR OLAWOLE SUNDAY

115 HON HENRY OLATUJA

116 OLONIMOYO OLUBUNMI

117 MR ADEGUNLOYE FIOYE

118 AKINYO TOBI

119 HON BIYI AYANNOLA

120 AKINIOYE LANRE

121 JOSIAH ADEWOLE

122 HON OMOKINSUN SUNDAY

123 AKINDE ABIMBOLA SILAS

124 ENIOLA ISAAC

125 OLANEGAN OLADIMEJI

126 ADEREMI OYEWOLE

127 ENGR AKIN AKINBAMIDO

128 PASTOR MARCUS ADEOTI

129 MR ANDREW ADENODI

130 JIMOH IBRAHIM

131 DR ANTHONY ENIOLA

132 COMRADE OMOTAYO

133 HON FATAI OLUGUNA

134 OMOLERE AKINRINMADE

135 MRS MOPELOLA DINYO

136 MRS RALIAT ADENIKE OLAWOYE

137 JOHNSON OLAWOLE AKINLOSOTU

138 ADEBOYE TAOFEEK EWENLA

139 ADEALA ADEMULEGUN

140 ABIOLA FAYEHUN

141 MR FOLAMI RICHARD AKINTEWE

142 CHIEF MRS GRACE AKINRIBIDE

143 TAOFEEK AZEEZ

144 HON IFEOLU LASAN

145 MR BANKOLE ADEGBULUGBE

146 HABIB YEKINI

147 WALE AYEJUNI

148 PIPE IKOTUN

149 AKINTUNDE JOHN FOLAJIMI

150 FLORENCE OLAWOYE

151 OYETUNDE MUKAILA AKEREKORO

152 MRS BOLAJOKO OYEDELE

153 ALHAJI RASHEED OLAWOYE

154 AGBOOLA LEPE

155 ALABA ORIRETAN

156 HON AKINSUNMI DAYO

157 HON AROWOLO MOSES ILEMOBADE

158 MR. OLUFEMI BABATUNDE

159 MR ADEYEMI AREMU

160 MRS TOLA ADEYEMI

161 ENGR JIMI AKINRINMADE

162 SOLA AKINMEJIWA

163 MR OLALEKAN OLAYINKA

164 MR ADEGEYE KEHINDE PAUL

165 SALAUDEEN WAHEED

166 TOPE AKINNEYE

167 OLAWUNMI SEYI

168 HON WALE AKINKUOTU

169 JOSEPH KOKUMO

170 HON OBANLA KEHINDE SAMUEL

171 CHIEF MRS YEMI AJONIBODE

172 CHIEF MALOMO BAYODE OJO

173 HON FAFUNMILADE TILEEWA

174 SHABA BABATUNDE

175 HON AZEEZ AWE ELI

176 BAWA AKINSANYA

177 OLAYODE EMMAN JAYEOLA

178 PRINCESS FOLAKEMI OGUNSILE

180 MR ALU OJO EMMANUEL

181 BODE AWE

182 SEIDU FATAI OYEWOLE

183 OLORUNFEMI CHRISTOPHER

184 UMAR MUSLIU BOBOYE

185 AKEJU AGUNLOYE

186 AGBI STEPHEN OMOBAMIDELE

187 OLUMIDE AWOLUMATE

188 MRS AIYEGBUSI BRIDGET ADUNNI

189 OLOWOMUKE OMONIYI

190 HON AYENIYI OLAYEYE

191 HON BORIRE SUNDAY SOLA

192 SUNDAY OTEKAYE

193 OYEPITAN SUNDAY

194 FEMI OLADOKUN

195 AYETIRAN OLAJIDE PETER

196 ODOLE VICTOR

197 ADEBAYO AUGUSTINE

198 FEMI JOHNSON

199 IKUYINMINU IBIKUNLE

200 IKULALA SEUN

201 MORAYO JOSEPHINE ITIOLU

202 ADETARAMI OLOWOLAFE

203 BIDEMI ABAYAGBON

204 SEGUN LEMAN

205 ANDREW IDOWU EDEMA

206 MRS OLAWUNMI MEDAHUNSI

207 KUNLE OROKOTAN

208 PRINCESS AGBEKE CECILIA OROJO

209 MR OMOYELE ABRAHAM

210 HON (CHIEF) RAPHAEL ABEJOYE

211 RT. HON DOYE OLAJIDE

212 HON IKUPOLUYI AJINDE

213 MR FAMOUS GUNTEI

214 COMRADE TIEWEI EBIMOTIMI AKINS

215 HON BARR CORPORAL E. NANAOPIRI

216 BARR EDDY KPILIBOH

217 COM.JAPHET EREGHA

218 HON IJI WARERE

219 OMOMOFE KOLEDOYE

220 BARR LEKAN OBOLO

221 BLESSING MEFUN

222 ALORE OMOSUYI

223 BARR AKOJE TOPIC

224 PRINCESS YEMISI IJI AYEOLA

225 WILLIAMS EBI

226 TIMI SOBUJON

227 TAYO KUPOLUYI

228 MR AWENE ODIGHIMIYENTIMI

229 BARR BISI AYENI

230 AJOBIEWE DAVID

231 OTERUKU SUNDAY

232 AROGUNDADE SEGUN

233 OMOLORUN CHRIS

234 BIOLA BALOGUN

235 SOLOMON OGUNNIYI

236 BARR. PETER ALABA OJO

237 OMOBA ADEDAPO ABIOLA

238 OLANIKE ADAMS

239 OLADOTUN ADESIDA

240 GIDEON OMOJOLA

241 OGUNLEYE JOSHUA

242 MRS (CHIEF) BUKUNMI AKEJU

243 MR ADEBAYO CYRIL

244 HON GBOGI EMMANUEL

245 AYODELE ADEYEMI

246 HON JEROME ABIODUN

247 OLUMIDE AKOMOLAFE

248 MRS YEMI AKEJU

249 BIOLA CHRISTIANA IJIMAKINWA

250 MRS. OYINKANSOLA WILLIAMS AROLOYE

251 MR. SUNDAY OLALUBI

252 MR FALADE AYODELE

253 CHIEF ABULOYE BANJI

254 BARR ASANI BAKARE

255 DARE AJAYI

260 MR KUNLE ADU

261 MR. TUNDE ADEGBONMIRE

262 MR. AYODEJI ORIKOGBO

263 MR. GBENGA ADU

264 ADEGUNLEHIN JOSHUA

265 IFEDAYO AYODELE FEMI

266 AANU OBEBE

267 AKOSILE ESTHER

268 DR. AKINBOLADE OMOSUWA

269 CHIEF ALADEKUGBE SOLA

270 HON. ADEBUSOYE JOSHUA .O

271 OLUWAROTIMI ILUYEMI

272 AYODELE JOHNSON

273 SAYO OGUNMADE

274 CHIEF OLATUNJI JOHN

275 SEGUN OMOYOFUNMI

276 NELSON MAFO

277 TALE ADEBAWO

278 SINA AKINMADE

279 SUNDAY AROGBO

280 YETUNDE ADEFUWA

281 DAVID OBAJULAYE

282 LAWSON AKINTOKUN

283 EVANG OLADOKU MOYEYE

284 BOSE OLOWODARA

285 EGBOWON BAYO

286 DR BELLO TITUS ABIODUN

287 OLATINPO OLANIYI OLUKAYODE

288 AMINU VINCENT

289 HON FEMI AGBEDE

290 MR GABRIEL ENIALOLA AYIMORO

291 MR. TEMITOPE SHABA

292 ELDER ADEGBOLA RUFUS

293 MR GBODE OJO

294 MRS OJULAYO IRETI IDEHEN

295 HON AJAYI JOHNSON ADEDAYO

296 MRS IRETI IDEHEN

297 TIMOTHY KOREDE

298 AREMO CHRISTOPHER

299 DESMOND KOLAWOLE

300 BUSAYO OGUNYEMI

301 HON. JEROME OLORUNYOLEMI AKINLOYE

302 MR. TOYIN ADEPOJU

303 FADARE AKINTOMIWA BABTUNDE

304 HON ADENUGBA A. LAWRENCE

305 HON. FADAMITAN SINA KUNLE

306 KEHINDE OMOYELE

307 PASTOR IGE SUNDAY ADETOYE

308 CHARLES ADEDEJI

309 KEHINDE TAIWO

310 FADARE AKINTOMIWA BABATUNDE

311 AKINBOYEDE BOSE

312 ADEDINNNI MICHEAL OLUWATOSIN

313 KOLA DAVIS

314 MRS AKINMUSOLA ELIZABERTH BOSEDE

315 THICK DEBO OBAZUAYE

316 EMMANUEL GBOTEMI IGIOWO

National

Reps reject bill seeking six-year single tenure for president, governors

The House of Representatives on Wednesday rejected a bill seeking a six-year single term for Nigeria’s presidency.

The bill, sponsored by Ikenga Ugochinyere (PDP, Imo) and 33 others failed to pass second reading on Thursday during a debate on its general principles.

The bill also canvasses the rotation of the presidency among the six geopolitical zones of the country.

35 legislators had in June under the auspices of Reformed-minded Legislators, said the proposition would lead to a reduction in the cost of governance.

Ugochinyere, added that the move would unite the country and ensure a seamless transition and unprecedented development for the country.

The proposed legislation seeks to alter Sections 76, 116, 132, 136, and some others of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

According to the general principles of the bill, “these amendments was to ensure inclusive governance and to curb wastages occasioned by four year periodic elections.

“The bill among others seeks amendment of Section 132 of the Principal Act by inserting a new subsection (2), deleting the extant subsection (4) and renumbering the entire section accordingly to provide that an election to the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be rotated between the North and the South regions of the country every six years.

“Other amendments include, Section 76 of the Principal Act is altered by inserting a new subsection (3) as follows; (3) For the Purposes of Section (1) of this section, all elections into the offices of President, Governors, National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly shall hold simultaneously on the same date to be determined by the Independent National Electoral Commission in consultation with the National Assembly and in accordance with the Electoral Act.

“Section 116 of the Principal Act is amended by inserting a new a subsection (3) as follows; For the purposes of subsection (1) of this section, all elections into the offices of President, Governors, National Assembly, State Houses of Assembly and Local Government Councils shall be held simultaneously on the same date to be determined by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in consultation with the National Assembly and in accordance with the Electoral Act.”

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National

NAFDAC alerts Nigerians on fake products

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has released a fresh warning on the risks of unregulated products, especially as the festive season approaches.

The warning came after the agency uncovered a warehouse stocked with unregistered and expired supermarket products in Oke-Afa, Okota, part of Lagos State.

According to the Agency on X (formally Twitter), a NAFDAC team acted on intelligence and raided the facility, apprehending operators offloading a 20ft container filled with unregistered carbonated drinks. “A further inspection revealed over 14 rooms packed with unregistered and expired products, some of which were contaminated by rats, indicating poor storage conditions.”

The agency said the facility is currently placed on hold for further investigation and asked the management to provide sourcing evidence such as the Global Listing for Supermarket Items (GLSI) certificate.

It then encouraged consumers to report suspicious activities to any NAFDAC office and remain vigilant by ensuring their product sources are verified, particularly during the coming festive season.

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National

ICPC tracks N610 billion projects in 22 states

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has kicked off phase 7 of the Constituency and Executive Project Tracking Exercise.

The tracking of the constituency and executive projects is an initiative of the Commission that began in 2019, focusing on how well money allocated to critical sectors of education, health, agriculture, water resources, and power, amongst others, by the government is utilised.

The 7th phase, involving 1500 projects with a total project value of N610 billion, commenced on Monday, November 18th, 2024, in 22 states across the 6 geopolitical zones.

The states are Kwara, Niger, Kogi, FCT, Kebbi, Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Borno, Lagos, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Cross River, Delta, Imo, Abia and Enugu State.

The phase 7 tracking exercise will cut across agencies of government, including intervention agencies such as North-East Development Commission (NEDC), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Rural Electrification Agency (REA), National Primary Health Care Development Authority (NPHCDA), Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) and Ecological Fund Office.

The objective of the exercise is to deepen adherence to due process in the execution of government projects, improve value for money, and entrench the culture of compliance with the scope and specification as contained in the contract documents.

The ICPC tracked a total of 1,900 projects valued at N500 billion naira in phase 6 of the exercise across 24 states of the nation’s 6 geopolitical zones.

The projects were tracked within the focal sectors of Education, Water Resources, Agriculture, Power, Health, Energy, and Roads.

These projects in the 6th phase were awarded to 1,355 contractors in 176 MDAs.

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National

FG awards contracts for Calabar, Ebonyi, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, Abuja highways

President Bola Tinubu has approved the restructuring of his media team

The Federal Government has signed a contract with Infiouest International Limited for the construction of the Calabar-Ebonyi-Benue-Kogi-Nasarawa-Abuja Superhighway to boost the country’s transportation ecosystem.

Speaking during the signing ceremony in Abuja, Minister of Works, David Umahi, thanked President Bola Tinubu for his inclusive leadership and the distribution of the dividends of democracy.

Umahi also explained that the Legacy Project is strategic for boosting transportation along the economic corridors of the South East and North Central, noting that it would stimulate trade along the regions and foster inter-regional cohesion, cooperation, and collaboration.

He noted that the project will create a seamless movement of goods and services between the Southeast and Northern routes of the road and further the road infrastructure revolution master plan in keeping with the tenets of inclusive leadership in the country.

According to Umahi, the Federal Ministry of Works has also signed a contract with Infiouest International Limited for the construction of Enugu/Abakaliki/Ogoja Highway (Africa Trans-Sahara route) cutting across Cross River, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa States and terminating in Apo in Abuja.

The Works Minister argued that the project will consist of the reconstruction of the existing jointed, asphalt concrete and laterite surfaced road pavements from Ndibe beach, traversing through Eke Market.

Others, Abaomege, Onueke, Achiagu, Umuoghara/Onu Nwafor, Ukwuachi, Ishieke, Odomoke before terminating at Mbeke in Ebonyi is the third Project spanning 118.85km and it is to be constructed on Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP).

He assured that the four projects are not just transformational but also critical investments that would turn around the socio-economic fortunes of the country, stimulate diversification, and enhance a more sustainable transportation ecosystem.

Umahi therefore thanked Mr. President for carrying on the execution of the inherited road projects across the 6 Geo-Political zones, including the South East, believing, Lagos – Calabar 750 kilometers sections 1 and 2, construction already are going on very well.

“Despite legal action, the project is a must. We’re supporting Mr. President to have that project accomplished. It is an investment. Very soon, we are starting 3A and 3B in Cross River and Akwa Ibom,” Umahi said.

The Minister argued, “There is Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, 1,068 kilometers. Two sections are already ongoing. The biggest of the project is the Kebbi section, 258 kilometers. It’s ongoing. We’ve flagged off, and we have paid the first mobilization fee.”

Speaking after signing the contract, the Managing Director of the company, Mr. Joseph Abou Jaounde promised to justify the confidence reposed on them, saying, “We have to carry on with this goal, and we have to prove that we trust in the right place.”

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National

Alia approves ₦75,000 minimum wage for Benue workers

 Gov. Hyacinth Alia of Benue has approved a minimum wage of ₦75,000 for workers in the state.

Alia in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Tersoo Kula, announced the new wage after he met with organised labour representatives on Monday in Makurdi.

The governor said that the new minimum wage would take effect in November 2024.

He stated that the remaining three months of the five-month backlog of salary arrears promised workers would be paid as budgeted in the 2024 budget.

He emphasised that the arrias would be paid along with the new minimum wage.

“We decided to set the wage at ₦75,000, fully aware of the other concerns raised by organised labour during the negotiations.

“These concerns included a minimum wage of N30,000, wage awards, transportation allowances, tax relief, and work-off days, among others.

“Recall that the President had approved the sum of N70,000, which we have decided to exceed, considering the concerns raised by organised labour regarding our ability to pay,” he said.

Alia restated his administration’s commitment to serve the common man and stressed that he would do everything legitimately possible to ensure that Benue workers were properly taken care of.

The governor added that his motivation to ensure the arrears were paid was to alleviate the effects of hardship on workers.

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Lagos court jails NOGASA chair 21 years for N43.5m fraud

Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on Monday, November 18, 2024, convicted and sentenced Fatuyi Yemi Philips, an erstwhile Chairman of the Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria (NOGASA), to 21 years imprisonment for an N43.5 million fraud.

The Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Philips, alongside his firm, Oceanview Oil and Gas Limited, on April 5, 2022, on a two-count bordering on obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of N43,502,000.00.

Count one read: “Fatuyi Yemi Philips and Oceanview Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited, on or about the 28th day of September, 2016, at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, obtained the aggregate sum of N43,502,000.00 from Elochukwu Okoye and Elebana Unique Ventures Nigeria Limited on behalf of WAPCIL Nigeria Limited under the false representation that you would sell to WAPCIL Nigeria Limited $98,870.00, a representation you knew to be false.”

Count two read: “Fatuyi Yemi Philips and Oceanview Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited, on or about the 28th day of September, 2016, at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, stole the sum of N43,502,000.00, property of WAPCIL Nigeria Limited.”

He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, which led to his full trial.

In the course of the trial, prosecution counsel M.S. Owede tendered several documentary evidences and called five witnesses to substantiate the allegations against him and his company.

The defence, on its part, called three witnesses during the trial.

Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice Dada held that the prosecution proved its case against the defendants beyond reasonable doubt.

Consequently, the judge sentenced Philips to 14 years imprisonment on count one and seven years on count two, without the option of a fine.

The sentences are to be served concurrently.

The judge also ordered the second defendant, Oceanview Oil and Gas Limited, to pay a fine of N500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) in respect of count one and another N250,000 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) in respect of count two within 30 days or be wound up.

The court further ordered the convicts to make restitution in the sum of $90,202.00 or the prevailing Naira equivalent to the nominal complainants.

Phillips’ journey to the Correctional Centre began when he collected the sum of N43,502,000 from Elochukwu Okoye and Elebana Unique Ventures Nigeria Limited on behalf of WAPCIL Nigeria Limited, with a false promise of selling its dollar equivalent ($98,870.00) to them. He neither returned the naira nor the dollar equivalent to the petitioners.

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