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Certificate forgery: Court remands Bayelsa senator, Benson Konbowei in prison

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11 months ago

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Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, Abuja, on Thursday, remanded serving Senator Benson Konbowei in the Kuje Correctional Centre.

 

The Bayelsa Central senator is being tried by the police on three counts bordering on forgery of the National Youth Service Corps exemption certificate.

 

He was arraigned on Tuesday and pleaded not guilty.

 

The court on Thursday granted the senator N50m bail but ruled that he should be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the perfection of the bail conditions.

 

 

In the charged marked: CR/028/2023, the Inspector General of Police accused Konbowei of fraudulently forging a document titled ‘Certificate of Exemption’ with number 000256454 and dated July 4, 2008.

The police said the senator acted contrary to the provisions of sections 366,156 and 158 of the Penal Code Act CAP 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 and was liable to punishment under Section 364 of the same Act.

 

Upon his arraignment earlier on Tuesday, the senator pleaded not guilty to the charges.

 

 

 

The court allowed him to go home and fixed the hearing of his bail application for Thursday.

 

 

 

At the resumed hearing on Thursday, the prosecution counsel, Rubben Egwaba, vehemently opposed Konbowei’s bail application.

 

 

 

Egwaba said the prosecution was concerned that if released on bail, the senator would interfere with his trial.

 

 

 

“When the charge was filed, the defendant took several steps to interfere with the matter. He also wrote a lot of petitions against me to truncate the matter. We urge my lord to refuse the application,” the prosecutor said.

 

 

 

However, Konbowei’s lawyer, Gordy Uche ( SAN), urged the court to grant his client bail, assuring the court he would not jump bail.

 

 

 

Justice Christopher Oba, in his ruling, said, “The law is settled that bail is the discretion of the court. Taking a look at the matter it is not a capital offence.”

 

 

 

He, therefore, granted the senator N50m bail with two sureties in like sum.

 

 

 

The judge said the sureties must own landed properties with Certificates of Occupancy in the Federal Capital Territory.

 

 

 

The judge, however, ordered that the senator be remanded in the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions.

 

 

 

He declined an oral application by the defendant’s lawyer to write an undertaken to produce the senator in court till he perfects his bail.

 

 

 

The judge subsequently adjourned the matter till June 24, 25 and 27 for hearing.

 

 

 

As of the time of filing this report, the senator had yet to meet the bail conditions.

 

 

 

Earlier at the resumed trial, a former senator, Moses Cleopas, while being led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, admitted to writing the defendant’s primary school and discovering some inconsistency in his certificate.

 

 

 

Egwaba sought to tender the letter a

nd the response as exhibits, but the defendant’s lawyer objected.

 

Source: The Punch

 

 

 

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Shettima, Dangote, others join Otedola for groundbreaking ceremony of First Bank headquarters

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32 mins ago

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March 6, 2025

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Vice President Kashim Shettima, on Wednesday, led other eminent Nigerians to the venue of the groundbreaking ceremony of First Bank’s new 40-storey headquarters at Eko Atlantic City in Lagos.

The Vice President was received by Femi Otedola, businessman and chair of the First Holding Company.

Mr Shettima attended the ceremony alongside Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun; Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa; former Senate President, Bukola Saraki; the founder of Dangote Industries, Aliko Dangote; co-founders of the Chagoury Group, Gilbert and Roland Chagoury; Deji Adeleke; among other dignitaries.

The project, set to become Nigeria’s tallest building, marks a significant milestone for the financial institution.

The bank said that the groundbreaking ceremony signifies the beginning of a transformative journey that reinforces FirstBank’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and customer satisfaction.

It added that the new headquarters is designed with sustainability in mind, featuring a green-certified building that reduces operational costs and positions FirstBank as a leader in sustainable banking practices.

Olusegun Alebiosu, CEO, FirstBank Group, said, “We are proud to mark this significant milestone in our journey towards excellence. Our new Head Office is envisioned as a world-class structure that represents our dedication to innovation, customer satisfaction, and sustainability. We believe that this development will play a crucial role in fostering economic growth and development across Africa, creating long-term value for all our stakeholders.”

The vice president, who represented President Bola Tinubu at the event, expressed the commitment of the Tinubu administration towards industrialisation, innovation, sustainable development, and growth.

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Alleged pension fraud: Detained Abia woman gives birth, govt takes custody of baby

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1 hour ago

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March 6, 2025

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One of the civil servants, who was arrested in 2024 for allegedly stealing pension funds belonging to Abia State, Miriam Azubuike, has delivered a baby boy.

The accused person, who has been in prison custody, delivered her baby in a government-owned hospital.

SOCIETY REPORTERS gathered that the Abia State government reportedly took care of the medical bills of her delivery and some other post-delivery needs.

Mrs Azubuike and some other defendants were arraigned before a Federal High Court in Umuahia for various charges but were granted bail in 2025 with different bail conditions.

However, the defendants, including Mrs Azubuike, were unable to meet the bail conditions.

Meanwhile, some friends to the female defendant, who spoke under anonymity, appealed to the Abia State government to release her on bail to take care of the new baby while her trial continues.

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JUST IN: Natasha submits another sexual harassment petition against Akpabio

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1 hour ago

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March 6, 2025

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Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing the Kogi Central senatorial district, on Thursday, submitted a new petition to the Senate, accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment.

This petition, unlike her previous one, was signed and authored by one of her constituents, Suberu Yakubu.

Natasha filed the petition in accordance with Order 40 of the Senate Standing Rules.

Akpabio, who was presiding over the plenary, rebuffed attempts by about three senators to block Natasha from submitting the petition.

The Senate President, however, asked Natasha if the subject of the petition was not already before a court, to which she replied, “No, sir.” She was then asked to submit the report to the Senate.

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