News
Court Orders Former Power Minister Saleh Mamman to Enter Defence in N33.8bn Fraud Trial
The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed former Minister of Power Saleh Mamman’s bid to end his trial early, ruling that he must enter his defence in the N33.8 billion money laundering case brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Justice James Omotosho gave the ruling on Thursday while rejecting Mamman’s no-case submission. The judge held that the prosecution had presented enough material to establish a prima facie case, making it necessary for the defendant to respond to the allegations.
According to the judge, the evidence presented by the EFCC required explanations from Mamman, especially given the seriousness of the offences. He stated that the court could not stop the trial at this stage and that the defendant must address the issues raised by the prosecution.
The EFCC arraigned Mamman in July 2024 on 12 counts of money laundering and conspiracy. The commission alleged that he worked with ministry officials and private companies to indirectly convert N33.8 billion earmarked for the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydro Electric Power projects.
Mamman, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari from August 2019 until his removal in September 2021, pleaded not guilty to all charges, prompting a full trial.
After his plea, the EFCC called 17 witnesses and tendered 43 exhibits before closing its case. Mamman, instead of opening his defence, filed a no-case submission on 19 November, arguing that the prosecution failed to link him to the alleged offences. The EFCC opposed his application.
In his ruling, Justice Omotosho sided with the prosecution, insisting that a prima facie case had been established. He ordered Mamman to open his defence, noting that the court would not evaluate the strength of the evidence until the conclusion of the trial.
The judge emphasised that the ruling did not amount to a finding of guilt. He reminded the parties that the defendant remained presumed innocent until proven otherwise and that the prosecution still carried the burden of proving the charges beyond reasonable doubt.
Justice Omotosho added that allowing Mamman to present his defence was necessary to ensure fairness and to address unresolved issues before the court reaches a final decision.
News
Man in shock after lady he lodged with in a hotel in Abuja flees with his car and other valuables
A Nigerian man is currently in shock after a young lady identified as Precious Chinyere , whom he took to a hotel in the Asokoro area in the FCT for a romantic getaway allegedly fled with his car and other personal belongings on Thursday, February 5,
The distraught man and Precious had visited the hotel and opted for a short time stay. Things took a different in the evening when the man noticed Precious had left the hotel room without notifying him and took along with her some of his personal belongings including phones and laptop and also his car.
The victim immediately reported the incident to the police.
When contacted, the spokesperson of the FCT police command, SP Josephine Adeh, told LIB that the matter is currently being investigated and that efforts are being made to apprehend the suspect.
The United States Mission in Nigeria has condemned the k!lling of more than 200 civilians in recent attacks on communities in Kwara State.
Recall that terrorists launched de@dly attacks on Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday night, k!lling unsuspecting citizens.
It was gathered that the gunmen invaded the villages, opened fire on residents and burned homes.
According to reports, the de@th toll from the unfortunate incident hit 200 on Thursday night.
Reacting, the US Mission Nigeria condemned the k!lling via a post on its official X handle.
The post reads, “The United States condemns the horrific attack in Kwara state in Nigeria, which claimed the lives of more than 160 people, with the de@th toll still unconfirmed and many still unaccounted for.
“We express our deepest condolences to the families of those affected by this senseless violence.
“We welcome President Tinubu’s order to deploy security forces to protect villages in the area and his directive to federal and state officials to provide aid to the community and bring the perpetrators of this atrocity to justice.”
News
“I’ll never settle for a barber, yahoo boy or a poor man” — nail tech’s list of men she says she can’t marry sparks reactions online
A Nigerian nail technician has set social media talking after openly listing the kind of men she says she can never settle for.
In a now-viral post, she stated clearly that she refuses to “settle for less” and went on to mention professions and traits she considers a no-go area.
According to her, she can never settle for a barber, an aza man, a yahoo boy, a mechanic, an actor, a laundry man, a hype man, or a plumber. She also added that she wouldn’t marry a man with a high body count or a poor man.
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US Reacts As De@th Toll In Kwara Terror Attacks Hits 200
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