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EFCC investigates Benue Governor over alleged N22bn fraud

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EFCC NIGERIA

EFCC alleges that Governor Samuel Ortom is unable to account for funds withdrawn from four government’s accounts between June 30, 2015 and March 2018

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The political travails of Samuel Ortom were compounded on Monday, July 30, after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) disclosed that it had begun probing the Benue state governor for alleged fraud to tune of N22bn. The anti-graft police also revealed that 21 members of the Benue state house of Assembly are under investigation for allegedly embezzling N375m meant for the procurement of vehicles for oversight functions. The EFCC said the investigation against the top government officials commenced as far back in 2016, The Punch reports. In detailing the accusations against Ortom, the EFCC alleged that the governor ordered the withdrawal of N21.3bn from four government’s accounts between June 30, 2015 and March 2018.

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The commission stated that the N19bn out of the money was said to be supposed to be paid to six security agencies deployed in the state to contain the clashes between herdsmen and farmers.

Gorvernor samuel Ortom

Governor Samuel Ortom

The EFCC, however, stated that below N3bn of the money was paid to the security agencies while the remaining funds could not be accounted for. The allegations against the governor read in part: “We investigated four bank accounts belonging to two Benue State Government’s agencies. The first agency is the Benue State Government House which has an account in UBA with number 1017348051 and another account in GTB with number 0027952907. These accounts received N1, 916, 635, 206 from the state’s allocation between June 30, 2015 and March 2018. “The second government agency is the Bureau of Internal Affairs and Special Services.

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The agency has an account with UBA with number 1007540119 and a First Bank account with number 2023788057. Between the same period, the accounts were credited with N19, 468, 951, 590 from the Benue State allocation.” “Investigations revealed that N19bn was withdrawn by one Oliver Ntom, a cashier. Sometimes, in a day, he would withdraw as high as N500m by cashing several cheques worth N10m each. “The permanent secretary upon interrogation said anytime security agencies requested funds, he would approach Governor Ortom who would ask him to write a memo to that effect. The permanent secretary would write and the governor would approve the money.

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Anambra Airport to Launch in April 2021

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The governor of Anambra state, willie Obiano, during a visit to Sirika in Abuja, announced that the state’s cargo airport would be inaugurated in April 2021.

The Governor of Anambra state, Willie Obiano has  announced that the state’s cargo airport would be inaugurated in April 2021.

On the Anambra airport, Obiano said the facility would be set for inauguration in April 2021 and that the state would be honoured to have Sirika perform the task.

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Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari, has signed the instruments of ratification of the bilateral air service agreement between Nigeria and the united states of America, India, morocco and Rwanda.

Minister of aviation, Hadi Sirika, announced this on Tuesday in a tweet via his official twitter handle.

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Air Peace Evacuates 312 Indian Citizens

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312 Murtala Muhammed Airport Air peace Indian citizens

Air Peace Evacuates 312 Indian Citizens

Air Peace has evacuated 312 Indian citizens from the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos to Kochi in India. After evacuating 301 Chinese citizens on Thursday.

This is just as the government of India celebrated the first direct flight from Nigeria.

According to the verified twitter account of Indians in Nigeria, @india_nigeria, the “repatriation of India nationals from Nigeria began today (Sunday) with the Lagos-Kochi Air Peace flight with 312 passengers. It is the first ever Nigerian airline to fly directly to India.”

The Indians in Nigeria commended the Nigerian government, the Indian Embassy in Nigeria and others that made the flight a reality.

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According to information from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Air Peace flight P47812 pushed back by 1:15 am Nigerian time with 312 passengers and 15 crew members and was airborne at 1:28 am.

Air Peace in a statement said that the 10-hour non-stop flight from Lagos to Kochi was operated with a B777 aircraft with registration number 5N-BWI.

The flight, operated by 15 crew members, the airline said was expected to arrive Cochin International Airport in Kerala.

The Chief Operating Officer of the airline, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Olajide, who expressed delight over the evacuation flight, thanked the Indian authorities for engaging Air Peace to operate the flight, while also giving kudos to the Nigerian government for supporting the airline in all its special flights during the lockdown.

She added that the airline alongside other relevant government agencies ensured that all the passengers complied with established health protocols before boarding.

“It can be recalled that on Thursday, May 28, 2020, Air Peace embarked on an evacuation flight of 301 Chinese nationals and flew back 268 stranded Nigerians from China on Saturday,” the statement added.

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Air Peace evacuates 301 Chinese citizens from Nigeria

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Lagos MMIA Air peace evacuated Chinese citizens

Air Peace evacuates 301 Chinese citizens from Nigeria

On Thursday night, AIR Peace evacuated Chinese citizens from Nigeria to China through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos at about 2205hrs.

The airline carried out the evacuation with its Boeing 777-300 with registration 5N-BWI which airlifted 301 passengers on board taking 24 crew members.

The Nigerian carrier evacuated the Chinese from Lagos to Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, China’s most populous, commercial city.

The evacuation which was arranged by the Chinese government took off about 10: 00 pm Nigerian time and arrived at about 1:15 pm Nigerian time on Friday.

The Nigeria carrier was also the airline that evacuated Israelis living in Nigeria late March and has been contacted by other countries for evacuation operations.

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Spokesman of the airline, Stanley Olisa confirmed the successful flight and said, Air Peace on Thursday, May 28, 2020, operated its second flight to China as “we evacuated 301 Chinese nationals back to their country. The flight departed the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos at exactly 22:05hrs to Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, China. Countries have been contacting us to evacuate their citizens.”

The Regional Airport Manager, South West, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Victoria Shin-Aba said the flight: P47807 pushed back from the Echo terminal of MMIA at 21:40hrs with 325 souls onboard – 301 Chinese evacuees and 24 crew members.

She explained that all relevant government agencies like FAAN, Nigeria Immigration Service, Port Health Services officials and others were fully on ground to success of the evacuation exercise.

Air Peace is slated to carry out more evacuation operations for other nationals living in Nigeria, as the airline and other domestic operators gear up to resume scheduled flight operations soon.

There are indications that commercial flight operations would resume early June, as the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has started auditing airlines in preparation for scheduled passenger service.

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