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		<title>Alleged UK fraud: ICPC files criminal charge against Ozekhome</title>
		<link>https://frontpageng.com/alleged-uk-fraud-icpc-files-criminal-charge-against-ozekhome/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Agency Report]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 18 Jan 2026 12:42:47 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Akponimisingha]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ICPC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ozekhome]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tali]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://frontpageng.com/?p=103876</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has filed a criminal charge against Chief Mike Ozekhome</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://frontpageng.com/alleged-uk-fraud-icpc-files-criminal-charge-against-ozekhome/">Alleged UK fraud: ICPC files criminal charge against Ozekhome</a> appeared first on <a href="https://frontpageng.com">Frontpageng</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has filed a criminal charge against Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, over allegations bordering on fraud in relation to a London property.</p>
<p>The ICPC, in a three-count charge filed by its lawyer, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, Head, High Profile Prosecution Department, at the Abuja High Court, accused Ozekhome of complicity in the large-scale corruption case.</p>
<p>The fresh charge, marked: FCT/HC/CR/010/26 dated and filed January 16, named the senior lawyer as sole defendant.</p>
<p>The charge was sighted on Sunday.</p>
<p>Count one alleged that Ozekhome, 68 years, of No. 53, Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja, sometime in August 2021 or thereabout in London, within the jurisdiction of the court, directly received House 79, Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX, purportedly given to him by one Mr Shani Tali.</p>
<p>The act he knew constituted a felony and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 13 and punishable under Section 24 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences, Act, 2000.</p>
<p>In count two, Ozekhome was alleged to have, sometime in August 2021 or thereabout, while being a legal practitioner and Senior Advocate of Nigeria did make a false document with a Nigeria passport: A07535463, bearing the name of Mr Shani Tali.</p>
<p>The commission alleged that the senior lawyer did this with plan to use same to support claim of ownership of property known and described as “79, Randall Avenue, London NW2 78X with intent to commit fraud.”</p>
<p>It said the offence is contrary to Section 363 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code CAP 532 Laws of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, 2006.</p>
<p>Count three accused Ozekhome of dishonestly used as genuine, a false “Nigeria passport A07535463, bearing the name of Mr Shani Tali to support claim of ownership of property known and described as ’79, Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX,’ when he had reason to believe that the said document was false.</p>
<p>The ICPC said the offence was contrary to Section 366 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code CAP 532 Laws of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, 2006.</p>
<p>In support of the charge are the list of exhibits which include a case number: REF/2023/0155 (judgment) dated September 11, 2025; extra-judicial statement of the defendant dated January 12, 2026.</p>
<p>Others are interim forfeiture proceeding in respect of House 79, Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX at the Federal High Court; a letter dated December 18, 2025; a data page of Shani Tali and any other relevant documents being awaited relating to the case.</p>
<p>The anti-corruption commission, in its proof of evidence, listed the witnesses to testify against the defendant, including Mr Wakili Musa and Mr Tosin Olayiwola, who are both investigators with ICPC.</p>
<p>Besides, a representative of Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, whose name was not mentioned in the proof of evidence, is also expected to give evidence to establish the case against the senior lawyer.</p>
<p>Others are Mr Ebenezer Nduo and Mr Blessing Monokpo who are also investigators with the ICPC, and any other vital witness by way of subpoena or filing additional list of witnesses.</p>
<p>As at the time of filing the report, the case is yet to be assigned to a judge.</p>
<p>ICPC had opened an investigation into the prominent Nigerian lawyer, Ozekhome, following a damning judgment of a London property tribunal that linked him and others to a web of fraud and forged documents.</p>
<p>The commission’s probe was triggered by a petition from Olanrewaju Suraj, head of the Human and Environmental Development Agenda, HEDA.</p>
<p>The petition had referenced the British court judgment and accused Ozekhome and several others of conspiring with corrupt Nigerian officials to procure fake national identity documents in a bid to “fraudulently claim ownership” of the North London house.</p>
<p><strong><em>Source: NAN </em></strong></p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://frontpageng.com/alleged-uk-fraud-icpc-files-criminal-charge-against-ozekhome/">Alleged UK fraud: ICPC files criminal charge against Ozekhome</a> appeared first on <a href="https://frontpageng.com">Frontpageng</a>.</p>
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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">103876</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Court orders temporary forfeiture of $378, 000, exotic car to FG</title>
		<link>https://frontpageng.com/court-orders-temporary-forfeiture-of-378-000-exotic-car-to-fg/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Agency Report]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 07 Jan 2025 17:17:09 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Akponimisingha]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[chukwuma]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ICPC]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[tetfund]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://frontpageng.com/?p=90960</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Court orders temporary forfeiture of $378, 000, exotic car to FG</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://frontpageng.com/court-orders-temporary-forfeiture-of-378-000-exotic-car-to-fg/">Court orders temporary forfeiture of $378, 000, exotic car to FG</a> appeared first on <a href="https://frontpageng.com">Frontpageng</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered a temporary forfeiture of 378, 000 US dollars and a Mercedes Benz GLS 600 Maybach to the federal government.</p>
<p>Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling, made the order after Osuobeni Akponimisingha, counsel for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, moved a motion ex-parte to the effect.</p>
<p>Justice Nwite, who granted the motion, also directed the commission to publish the notice in a national daily for interested person(s) to show cause why the cash and the vehicle should not be permanently forfeited to the federal government.</p>
<p>The judge adjourned the matter until February 20 for report of compliance.</p>
<p>The money and the vehicle, allegedly said to be proceeds of unlawful activities, were linked to Paul Chukwuma, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Fides Et Ratio Academy Limited.</p>
<p>In the motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1982/V/2024 and filed by the ICPC Chairman himself, Dr Musa Aliyu, SAN; Chukwuma, Prof Dr Klaus Stierstorfer, and Fides Et Ratio Academy Limited we sued as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.</p>
<p>Aliyu, in the motion, sought an order temporarily forfeiting the sum of 378,000 dollars being funds restricted vide Post No Debit Order placed in the Zenith Bank Account of Fides Et Ratio Academy Limited-5074703084.</p>
<p>He also sought an order “temporarily forfeiting the movable property to wit: MERCEDES BENZ GLS 600 MAYBACH” to Federal Government.</p>
<p>Besides, he prayed the court for an order directing the commission to publish a notice in any national newspaper for interested person(s) to show cause why the said property should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.</p>
<p>Aliyu further sought an order directing the anti-corruption commission to open an escrow (interest yielding) account with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, in the name of the ICPC and Fides Et Ratio Academy Limited in respect of the alleged $378,000.00.</p>
<p>Giving 10 grounds why the application should be granted, the ICPC chair said the victims of the alleged crime of the respondents is the Federal Government of Nigeria and its citizens who honestly and diligently pay their taxes as and when due.</p>
<p>He said the alleged unlawful activities of the respondents had continued to cause untold hardship on honest Nigerians, especially, students of tertiary institutions.</p>
<p>According to him, without an order of this honourable court, the applicant cannot legally recover the alleged moveable property already restricted vide Post-No-Debit Order into the commission’s recovery account domiciled with CBN for proper use for the benefit of honest Nigerians.</p>
<p>Idris Abubakar, a litigation officer, Legal Services Department, ICPC, in the affidavit he deposed to, said the commission received a petition alleging that the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) allegedly made payment to a contractor for unexecuted project.</p>
<p>He said during the investigation, it was discovered that TETFund entered into a memorandum of understanding with two companies to provide ICT services to tertiary institutions, including universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.</p>
<p>He, however, alleged that TETFund jettisoned the conditions given by the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, and went ahead to engage Fides Et Ratio Academy Limited.</p>
<p><em><strong>READ ALSO: <a class="row-title" href="https://frontpageng.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=90921&amp;action=edit" aria-label="“EFCC dismisses 27 officers over alleged fraudulent activities” (Edit)">EFCC dismisses 27 officers over alleged fraudulent activities</a></strong></em></p>
<p>Abubakar averred “that TETFund, through its Executive Secretary and under the hand of the Honourable Minister for Education, secured approval in the sums of N8,600,000,000.00; N3,550,000,000.00 and N3,100,000,000.00, and guidelines for ICT support services for universities, polytechnics and colleges of education from the then president, President Mohammadu i Buhari, GCFR.”</p>
<p>He said following the approval of the sums and guidelines, TETFund under the hand of its ICT Director, Joseph Odo, wrote a letter to all vice chancellors, rectors and provosts of public universities, polytechnics and colleges of education requesting for their readiness to commit 50 per cent of their ICT support intervention funds to the programme.</p>
<p>“TETFund, in flagrant disregard for extant procurement procedures, received proposal from Fides Et Ratio Academy Limited for capacity building ICT related course for the public universities, polytechnics and colleges: of education,” he said.</p>
<p>The officer said the academy was engaged to provide the services in two phases to the institutions vide a letter dated May 22, 2023.</p>
<p>According to him, the services to be provided by Fides Et Ratio Academy Limited was divided into two categories of online and physical.</p>
<p>He said the total cost implication under Category 1 (Online) was N3, 072, 000, 000 (three billion seventy-two million).</p>
<p>He said in Category II, the total cost implication was N740, 500, 000 (seven hundred and forty million, five hundred thousand naira).</p>
<p>He said total cost implication for Category 1 (Online) plus Category 2 (Physical) was N3, 813, 500, 000. 00 (three billion, eight hundred and twelve million, five hundred thousand naira).</p>
<p>Abubakar, however, alleged that the academy only trained 391 participants out of 502 participants under Category 2 (Physical).</p>
<p>He said the company also admitted receiving full and final payment for Category 2 in a document captioned: “Details of Total Payment Received” dated June 19, 2024, despite the evidence showing that the company only trained 391 out of 502.</p>
<p>Besides, he alleged that the academy received final and full payment for Category 1 (Online) from TETFund to the tune of over one billion naira without executing any work to justify the payment.</p>
<p>He added that evidence from beneficiary tertiary institutions revealed that the company did not carry out any online training activity in their institutions.</p>
<p>He said the MD/CEO of the company, Chukwuma, also made extra-judicial statements to the ICPC in the course of investigation explaining his own side of the story.</p>
<p>Abubakar also gave analysis of Fides Et Ratio Academy Limited account domiciled with Fidelity Bank and how monies were received in tranches.</p>
<p>He said on June 30, 2023, the sum of N550,380,780.23 was received from TETFund by the academy.</p>
<p>He said from the amount, Chukwuma made some transfers, including a deposit of N150, 000, 000.00 (one hundred and fifty million naira) on July 13, 2023, to Globe Motors Holdings Nig. Ltd for the purchase of one unit of Mercedes Benz GLS 600 Maybach for the academy.</p>
<p>Again, he alleged that on July 26, 2023, the sum of N1,503,743,850.00 was received from TETFund, and from the sum, Chukwuma made some transfers, including the sum of N150, 000, 000.00 sent to Globe Motors Holdings Nig. Ltd, for another deposit for the purchase of one unit of Mercedes Benz GLS 600 Maybach.</p>
<p>“For the over N300 million transferred to Globe Motors Holdings Nig. Ltd, Mr Paul Chukwuma claimed he had communication with his international partner, Prof. Dr. Klaus Stierstorfer, on the need to buy a car for Fides Et Ratio Academy Limited.</p>
<p>“In this regard, he presented to the ICPC investigators two separate written communications he had with Prof Stierstorfer,” he said.</p>
<p>The officer alleged that when the ICPC investigators requested Chukwuma to provide them with information on how to get across to Stierstorfer, the effort was unsuccessful till date.</p>
<p>According to him, the applicant, ICPC, is still on the trail of Prof. Dr. Klaus Stierstorfer, with a view to get him to clarify some of the claims of Mr. Paul Chukwuma.</p>
<p>The officer, who said that the application was brought in the interest of justice, said the respondents would not be prejudiced if the request was granted.</p>
<p><strong><em>Source: NAN</em></strong></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://frontpageng.com/court-orders-temporary-forfeiture-of-378-000-exotic-car-to-fg/">Court orders temporary forfeiture of $378, 000, exotic car to FG</a> appeared first on <a href="https://frontpageng.com">Frontpageng</a>.</p>
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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">90960</post-id>	</item>
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		<title>Court orders temporary forfeiture of $49, 700 recovered from ex-INEC REC</title>
		<link>https://frontpageng.com/court-orders-temporary-forfeiture-of-49-700-recovered-from-ex-inec-rec/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Agency Report]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 31 Dec 2024 06:31:45 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[ali]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CBN]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://frontpageng.com/?p=90736</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Court orders temporary forfeiture of $49, 700 recovered from ex-INEC REC</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://frontpageng.com/court-orders-temporary-forfeiture-of-49-700-recovered-from-ex-inec-rec/">Court orders temporary forfeiture of $49, 700 recovered from ex-INEC REC</a> appeared first on <a href="https://frontpageng.com">Frontpageng</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, ordered the temporary forfeiture of the sum of 49, 700. 00 US dollars allegedly recovered from Dr Nura Ali, former Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for Sokoto State in the 2023 general elections.</p>
<p>Justice Emeka Nwite gave the order after Osuobeni Akponimisingha, counsel to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, moved an ex-parte motion to the effect.</p>
<p>While the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN) was the applicant, Ali was the sole respondent in the motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1846/2024.</p>
<p>The motion, dated December 20 and filed December 24, was jointly filed by the ICPC and the Department of State Service, DSS.</p>
<p>Mr Usman Dauda, the Director of Legal, signed the application on DSS’ behalf.</p>
<p>Akponimisingha, Assistant Chief Legal Officer in ICPC, was part of the legal team that drafted the process.</p>
<p>The motion sought an order of the court temporarily forfeiting the sum of $49,700.00 “recovered from one Dr. Nura Ali during a search operation by the Federal Government of Nigeria being property suspected to be proceed of an unlawful activity.”</p>
<p>It also sought an order directing the applicant i.e., the FRN, through the ICPC and the DSS to jointly conduct a thorough preliminary investigation into the alleged unlawful activities of Ali, in respect of the moveable property sought to be forfeited and make a report to the court within 90 days.</p>
<p>It sought an order directing the applicant i.e., FRN, through the ICPC and the DSS to deposit the 49,700.00 dollars in an escrow account with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.</p>
<p><em><strong>READ ALSO: <a class="row-title" href="https://frontpageng.com/re-opening-of-warri-refinery-excited-tinubu-commends-nnpcl/" aria-label="“Re-opening of Warri refinery: Excited Tinubu commends NNPCL” (Edit)">Re-opening of Warri refinery: Excited Tinubu commends NNPCL</a></strong></em></p>
<p>The application equally sought an order directing the applicant to publish a notice in any national newspaper calling for persons whether, human, juristic or artificial, having interest in the money to show cause why it should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.</p>
<p>Giving nine grounds why the application should be granted, the applicant said the victim of the alleged crime was the Federal Government of Nigeria and innocent taxpayers which include judges of courts across the country.</p>
<p>It said the money was recovered during a search operation by operatives of the DSS at the residence of Ali.</p>
<p>“The alleged moveable property of $49,700.00 was bribe money received by Dr Nura Ali when he was the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Resident Electoral Commissioner for Sokoto State.</p>
<p>“The alleged moveable property is not the legitimate earning of Dr Ali as Independent National Electoral Commission’s Resident Electoral Commissioner.</p>
<p>“The alleged moveable property is suspected to be proceed of crime,” it said.</p>
<p>The applicant argued that INEC does not pay its staff members with United States Dollar as salaries or allowances.</p>
<p>It said the essence of the application was not to compulsorily acquire the alleged moveable property from the alleged owner, but to preserve the property from dissipation.</p>
<p>It said if the court granted the reliefs sought, interested persons including the alleged owner would be given opportunity to offer an explanation as to the legitimacy of the alleged property.</p>
<p>“Where cogent and verifiable explanation exists as to how the property was acquired, devoid of crime, the alleged owner or any other person having proprietary interest in the property will be allowed unrestricted possession of the property.</p>
<p>“This application is not in conflict with the provisions of Sections 43 and 44 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which guarantee the rights of citizens of Nigeria to acquire and own immoveable and moveable properties in any part of Nigeria,” it said.</p>
<p>When the matter was called, Akponimisingha, who appeared for the FRN, told the court that the motion ex-parte prayed the court for four orders.</p>
<p>The lawyer said four exhibits were attached to the motion, including Exhibit DSS 1 to Exhibit DSS 4.</p>
<p>He urged the court to grant the application in the interest of justice.</p>
<p>He said a search was conducted in Ali’s residence in Kano and the sum of 49, 700, 000 US dollars was retrieved from the building.</p>
<p>He told the court that Ali allegedly said that the sum of $150, 000 US dollars was given to him by the former Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, and Sen. Aliyu Wamakko.</p>
<p>The ICPC lawyer, who alleged that Ali made the disclosure in his extra-judicial statement to the DSS, said the former REC also wrote a letter to the security outfit in the bid to reclaim the money.</p>
<p>He insisted that INEC did not pay his workers or RECs in dollars.</p>
<p>Also in the affidavit in support of the motion ex-parte deposed to by Iliya Markus, a litigation officer with ICPC, he said that Akponimisingha informed him that he read through the case file and comprehended facts forming the allegations leading to the execution of the search warrant by operatives of the DSS at Ali’s residence.</p>
<p>Markus said the DSS received an intelligence report on Dr Ali on allegations of bribery received from stakeholders, i.e. politicians in the course of his official duties as INEC REC in charge of Sokoto State.</p>
<p>He said the intelligence report was processed and residence of Ali in Kano was searched pursuant to a search warrant executed jointly by operatives of the ICPC and DSS.</p>
<p>“A copy of the search warrant is hereby attached and marked as exhibit DSS 1,” he said.</p>
<p>The officer said in the course of the execution of the search warrant, the sum of $47,000.00 was recovered from the house.</p>
<p>According to him, Dr Ali also made statement(s) with respect to the search on his residence and the subsequent recovery of the alleged $49,700.00.</p>
<p>“A copy of the said extra-judicial statement is hereby attached and marked as exhibit DSS 2,” he said.</p>
<p>He said invitation letters had been written to invite persons he claimed gifted him the alleged $49,700.00.</p>
<p>“I also know as a fact that Dr Nura Ali did not report the gift of the alleged $49,700.00 to any law enforcement agency as required by extant laws of the land.</p>
<p>“Dr Ali had in the past written letters to the State Security Services requesting for release of the alleged $49,700.00 bribe money to him.</p>
<p>“Copies of the said letters are hereby attached and marked as exhibits DSS 3 &amp; 4 respectively,” he said.</p>
<p>Markus said the investigation was yet to be concluded, hence, the need for the 90 days’ application.</p>
<p>Justice Nwite, who said that the application was meritorious, granted the prayers.</p>
<p>The judge adjourned the matter until January 30,  for report of compliance on the publication in the media and adjourned until March 31 for hearing of the matter.</p>
<p><strong><em>Source: NAN</em></strong></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://frontpageng.com/court-orders-temporary-forfeiture-of-49-700-recovered-from-ex-inec-rec/">Court orders temporary forfeiture of $49, 700 recovered from ex-INEC REC</a> appeared first on <a href="https://frontpageng.com">Frontpageng</a>.</p>
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		<title>Suspended UNICAL dean asks court to quash charge against him</title>
		<link>https://frontpageng.com/suspended-unical-dean-asks-court-to-quash-charge-against-him/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Agency Report]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 16 Apr 2024 09:34:58 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[agi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Akponimisingha]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[anyanwu]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ICPC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ndifon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[omotosho]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[unical]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://frontpageng.com/?p=81989</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Prof. Cyril Ndifon, the suspended Dean of Faculty of Law, University of Calabar, UNICAL, has prayed a Federal High Court, Abuja to quash the sexual harassment charge against him. Ndifon, who told Justice James Omotosho in a further affidavit filed by his lawyer, Joe Agi, SAN, insisted that Osuobeni Akponimisingha, the Independent Corrupt Practices and [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://frontpageng.com/suspended-unical-dean-asks-court-to-quash-charge-against-him/">Suspended UNICAL dean asks court to quash charge against him</a> appeared first on <a href="https://frontpageng.com">Frontpageng</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Prof. Cyril Ndifon, the suspended Dean of Faculty of Law, University of Calabar, UNICAL, has prayed a Federal High Court, Abuja to quash the sexual harassment charge against him.</p>
<p>Ndifon, who told Justice James Omotosho in a further affidavit filed by his lawyer, Joe Agi, SAN, insisted that Osuobeni Akponimisingha, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC’s counsel handling the case, was not qualified to practise as lawyer.</p>
<p>He restated that Akponimisingha’s name is allegedly not on the roll of legal practitioners in Nigeria pursuant to Section 2 of the Legal Practitioners Act.</p>
<p>Further affidavit, deposed to by Ndifon’s co-defendant, Sunny Anyanwu, was in response to ICPC lawyer’s counter affidavit filed against their motion on notice.</p>
<p>The suspended dean, in the earlier motion dated and filed March 15, had told the court that the amended charge was incompetent as a result of the disputed identity of the anti-graft agency’s lawyer.</p>
<p>He said the development had robbed the court of its jurisdiction to entertain the matter.</p>
<p>He, therefore, prayed the court to quashed the four-count charge against him and his co-defendant, Mr Sunny Anyanwu.</p>
<p>Akponimisingha, in his counter affidavit dated March 20, accused the suspended dean and his legal team of being jealous of his academic qualifications.</p>
<p>The lawyer, who attached his Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)’s Practising Licence document dated 2016 with the counter affidavit, said he graduated from Law School.</p>
<p>He said contrary to the defence argument, the appellation “Dr” added to his name was as a result of an additional academic qualification acquired by him after he had been called to the Bar as a legal practitioner.</p>
<p>He equally alleged that the names of the lead counsel to the defendants, Joe Agi, SAN and other senior advocates appearing with him in the criminal case, were not on roll of Legal Practitioners in Nigeria with the appendage of “SAN.”</p>
<p>He argued that the fact that the appellation “Dr” was added to his name did not make the amended charge liable to be struck out.</p>
<p>Akponimisingha said he was duly called to the Nigerian Bar and had been licensed to practise law in the country.</p>
<p>“That I know as a fact that justices presiding over cases in courts in Nigeria were called to the Bar only with their given names without the appellation ‘Hon. Justice.’</p>
<p>“Therefore, the appellation ‘Hon. Justice’ added to their names by reason of their appointment as judges does not render their judgments invalid because their names do not appear on the roll call of Legal Practitioners as ‘Hon. Justices.’</p>
<p>“The name Joe odey Agi, SAN is not on the roll of Legal Practitioners in Nigeria. What exists on the roll is Agi Joseph Odey, year of call, 1985,” he said</p>
<p>Akponimisingha told the court that the present application by the defence was a delay tactics deployed to stall the smooth trial of the charge.</p>
<p>He urged the court to discountenance their plea.</p>
<p>But Ndifon, in a further affidavit deposed to by Anyanwu, a co-defendant, stated that contrary to Akponimisingha’s argument, the defence was not challenging the appellation “Dr” added to his name.</p>
<p>Rather, he said their contention was that the name “Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha is not on the roll of Legal Practitioners in Nigeria and that a search conducted on the roll of Legal Practitioners in Nigeria revealed that one Ekoi A. Osuobeni was called to the Bar in Nigeria in the year 2012.</p>
<p>“A copy of the computer print-out of the name of the said Ekoi A. Osuobeni from the Nigerian Bar Association Portal showing the names of’ Legal Practitioners on the roll in Nigeria as well as the certificate of compliance is attached as Exhibits B and C.”</p>
<p>The suspended dean contended that there was a world of difference between “Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha” and “Ekoi A. Osuobeni.”</p>
<p>According to him, both names are not the same person for the purpose of a professional register sanctioned by law pursuant to the Legal Practitioners Act.</p>
<p>He urged the court to strike out the suit in the interest of justice.</p>
<p>When the matter was called on Monday, the ICPC lawyer told Justice Omotosho that the defendant brought a letter stating that the learned silk in the matter was having another matter at the Supreme Court.</p>
<p><em><strong>READ ALSO: <a class="row-title" href="https://frontpageng.com/ondo-guber-apc-clears-olusola-oke-15-others-for-primary/" aria-label="“Ondo guber: APC clears Olusola Oke, 15 others for primary” (Edit)">Ondo guber: APC clears Olusola Oke, 15 others for primary</a></strong></em></p>
<p>Fisong Fidelis, who appeared for the defence, confirmed filing the letter before the court.</p>
<p>Justice Omotosho, who expressed his displeasure about the way the matter had degenerated, said parties had left the main issue “and are now attacking their academic qualifications.”</p>
<p>“I owe a duty to this court to protect the integrity of the legal profession. I don’t like the way this matter is going,” the judge held.</p>
<p>The judge, therefore, directed the lawyers of the parties, including representatives of Federation of International Women Lawyers and NBA, to meet with him in his chambers on Wednesday so they could take a position on the development.</p>
<p>Justice Omotosho consequently fixed April 19 to rule on Ndifon’s motion seeking an order allowing the defendants to have an independent forensic examiner to look at some of the exhibits tendered by the ICPC.</p>
<p>Ndifon was, on January 25, re-arraigned alongside Anyanwu on an amended four-count charge bordering on alleged sexual harassment and attempt to perverse the cause of justice.</p>
<p>Anyanwu, who is one of the lawyers in the defence, was joined in the amended charge filed on January 22 by the ICPC on allegation that he called TKJ, the star witness, on her mobile telephone during the pendency of the charge against Ndifon to threaten her.</p>
<p><strong><em>Source: NAN </em></strong></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://frontpageng.com/suspended-unical-dean-asks-court-to-quash-charge-against-him/">Suspended UNICAL dean asks court to quash charge against him</a> appeared first on <a href="https://frontpageng.com">Frontpageng</a>.</p>
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		<title>Alleged sexual harassment: Court sends Prof Ndifon to Kuje prison</title>
		<link>https://frontpageng.com/alleged-sexual-harassment-court-sends-prof-ndifon-to-kuje-prison/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Agency Report]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Jan 2024 15:35:43 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Akponimisingha]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[anyanwu]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[efut]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ndifon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[omotosho]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[shogunle]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://frontpageng.com/?p=78602</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>A Federal High Court on Monday ordered that Prof. Cyril Ndifon, the suspended Dean of Faculty of Law, University of Calabar, UNICAL, charged with alleged sexual harassment be remanded in Kuje prison. Ndifon, who is being prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, before Justice James Omotosho, however, pleaded not [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://frontpageng.com/alleged-sexual-harassment-court-sends-prof-ndifon-to-kuje-prison/">Alleged sexual harassment: Court sends Prof Ndifon to Kuje prison</a> appeared first on <a href="https://frontpageng.com">Frontpageng</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A Federal High Court on Monday ordered that Prof. Cyril Ndifon, the suspended Dean of Faculty of Law, University of Calabar, UNICAL, charged with alleged sexual harassment be remanded in Kuje prison.</p>
<p>Ndifon, who is being prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, before Justice James Omotosho, however, pleaded not guilty to the four-count charge.</p>
<p>The ICPC, through its counsel, Ebenezer Shogunle, had filed the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/511/23 on Oct. 30, 2023 against Ndifon.</p>
<p>In count one, the defendant was alleged to have, between June and September 2023, used his office and position to gratify himself by soliciting for nude photographs and videos from a year 2 diploma female student of the university through Whatsapp chats on his telephone number: 08037066222, contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices And Other Related Offences Act, 2000.</p>
<p>In count two, he was alleged to have corruptly requested for nude photographs and videos from a 400 level female student of the Faculty of Law with the plan of changing her project supervisor to himself in order to guarantee favourable grades for her and offence was contrary to and punishable under Section 8(1)(a) (il) of the agency’s Act.</p>
<p>In count three, he was alleged to have corruptly requested to see photographs of a 16-year-old prospective post UTME female student, as an inducement to consider her for admission into the Faculty of Law contrary to and punishable under Section 18(d) of the Act.</p>
<p>Count four accused him of causing a female student to send pornographic, indecent and obscene photographs of herself to him through Whatsapp chats on his telephone number: 08037066222 between May and September 2023, contrary to and punishable under Section 24 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition &amp; Prevention) Act, 2015.</p>
<p>These, Ndifon was alleged to have committed while being a public officer charged with responsibility for the certification of students as fit in learning and character as a prerequisite for the award of Bachelor’s degree in Law and admission into the Nigeria Law School.</p>
<p>After the charge was read to him, the embattled lecturer pleaded not guilty to the counts.</p>
<p>Ndifon’s counsel, Okon Efut, SAN, took his bail application dated January 2 and filed January 3.</p>
<p>Efut prayed the court to admit his client to bail, particularly on health grounds.</p>
<p>Besides, he informed the court that there were four other grounds why Ndifon should be granted bail.</p>
<p>Speaking from the dock, Ndifon said: “My lord, I was supposed to have an eye surgery on Glaucoma.”</p>
<p>Efut told the court that it was on the basis of his health condition that the magistrate court in Calabar admitted him to bail on October 27, 2023, after being in detention for about 22 days.</p>
<p>He said based on the medical report, the surgery was expected to be carried out on January 11.</p>
<p>ICPC Lawyer, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, opposed the application for bail.</p>
<p>He said on receipt of the process, the commission filed a counter affidavit dated and filed January 5.</p>
<p>The lawyer, who alleged that one of the counsel to Ndifon threatened the commission’s star witness on phone, said they were in possession of the call logs.</p>
<p>Akponimisingha argued that one of the cardinal reasons for granting bail was the assurance that a defendant would not interfere with the case.</p>
<p>He further alleged that the lawyer’s name was in the bail application filed by Efut and that he was also at the court sitting.</p>
<p>Justice Omotosho then asked the lawyer to come forward.</p>
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<p>“What is your name?” he asked.</p>
<p>“Sunny Anyanwu is my name my lord,” he replied.</p>
<p>The judge then asked him if he would wish to respond to the allegation by filing affidavit of facts and he responded in affirmative.</p>
<p>Anyanwu, who admitted calling Tochi Kanu on phone, said the person he called was different from the names of the four witnesses in the charge and proof of evidence.</p>
<p>“Tochi Kanu called me. When she called me, I was at Federal High Court here and I said I will call you later through a message.</p>
<p>“It was much hours later I remembered somebody called me and put a call through.</p>
<p>“At that point, there was a network issue and I was saying hello, hello and the call was cut off.</p>
<p>“And that name they (ICPC) called was not in the proof of evidence. They have four witnesses,” he said.</p>
<p>When the judge asked him his interest in the matter, he said Ndifon was his lecturer and that he came as counsel to defend him or support the defence.</p>
<p>Justice Omotosho then asked Akponimisingha the name of the person that was alleged to have been called.</p>
<p>“The name is Tochi Kanu Jane,” he said.</p>
<p>The judge therefore directed Anyanwu to file his affidavit of facts for the court to decide on the issue.</p>
<p>But Omotosho wondered why Ndifon had not gone for the surgery since October 27, 2023, when the magistrate court granted him bail.</p>
<p>Akponimisingha told the court that the medical report was served on them late and they were still verifying its genuineness.</p>
<p>Justice Omotosho, who ordered Ndifon to be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre, adjourned the matter until January 10 for hearing of the bail application and to enable Anyanwu file the affidavit of facts.</p>
<p><strong><em>Source: NAN </em></strong></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://frontpageng.com/alleged-sexual-harassment-court-sends-prof-ndifon-to-kuje-prison/">Alleged sexual harassment: Court sends Prof Ndifon to Kuje prison</a> appeared first on <a href="https://frontpageng.com">Frontpageng</a>.</p>
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