BARELY two weeks after President Muhammadu Buhari signed a mutual legal assistance with the United Arab Emirate (UAE) on the reparation of funds stolen from Nigeria and the extradition of indicted officials, acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, yesterday, met with the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Mahmud Muhammad Al-Mahmud, in Abuja.
This was just as the commission arraigned three suspected fraudsters, including a fake governor of Gombe State, Sabo Sani Labara, who allegedly duped somebody of more than N.2 million, in Abuja and Effurun in Delta State.
Speaking during the meeting in his office, Magu called for strengthening of the existing relationship between Nigeria and United Arab Emirate, with a view to effectively tackling corruption within the African continent.
His words: “The fight against graft requires the collaborative support of all and sundry, most especially the international community for it to be won.”
The EFCC boss told his guest that the present administration in the country was poised to recover the nation’s common wealth looted and laundered in foreign countries by corrupt elements.
He said the commission has intelligence that the UAE is considered a safe haven by corrupt politically exposed persons in Nigeria.
“I have come to seek your support and cooperation just as we had in the case of Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha, James Ibori, among others, to get the mission accomplished,” Magu said.
In his remarks, the UAE Ambassador, Al- Mahmud, pledged the support of his country to Nigeria’s anti-graft war, saying, “No country can be an island on its own without the support of others.”
Meanwhile, the EFCC on Tuesday, arraigned two men, Festus Ozemoya and Isaac Ozemoya before Justice G.B. Briki-Okolisi of the Delta State High Court, Effurun, on a four-count charge of conspiracy, issuance of dud cheque and obtaining by false pretence money to the tune of N17 million.
The two accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges and the case was adjourned till March 16 for commencement of trial while the court ordered that they should be remanded in prison custody.
Also, hearing on a suit filed by the EFCC against former Minister of Aviation, Babalola Borishade, and four others before Justice Abubakar Sadiq Umar of the FCT High Court sitting in Abuja, was stalled yesterday, due to the request of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) for brief on the matter.
Though both parties were present in court, Justice Umar informed them that the matter could not go on as planned because the AGF requested for a brief on the case by the EFCC since the matter had been in court for about seven years.
He presented a letter dated February 2, 2016 from the AGF requesting for an adjournment of the case and records of court proceedings so far.
Consequently, the matter was adjourned to February 17, 2016 for ruling and continuation of hearing pending the decision of the AGF.
Borishade, his former personal assistant, Tunde Dairo, and two others allegedly mismanaged a N5.2 billion Aviation Safe Tower contract.
Others on trial for the alleged offence are former Managing Director of Nigeria Airspace Management Agency, Rowland Iyayi; an Australian, George Eider and Avsatel Communications.
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