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Court Discharges, Acquits Usoro, Ex-NBA Boss of N1.4B Fraud Charge

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A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Friday discharged and acquitted Paul Usoro SAN, foremost telecom lawyer and  immediate past President of the Nigerian Barr Association (NBA) of the N1.4billion money laundering charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Court Discharges, Acquits Usoro, Ex-NBA Boss of N1.4B Fraud Charge

Paul Usoro

Justice Rilwan Aikawa held the anti-graft agency failed to establish any prima facie case against Usoro that could warrant him to enter a defence.

The judge made the decision while ruling on Usoro’s “no case” submission.

He noted that the penal code, under which the NBA chieftain was charged, is not applicable to southern states, i.e Lagos and Akwa-Ibom, which were said to be the locations of the alleged offences.

“On the whole, I hold that the prosecution has failed to establish any prima facie case.

“Accordingly, the defendant is hereby discharged and acquitted,” Justice Aikawa held.

The defendant had on February 25, filed a no case submission where Effiong O. Effiong SAN, his counsel contended that the EFCC called only two witnesses and closed its case because, according to him, it knew it didn’t have any case against the defendants.

The EFCC had on February 18 closed its case after calling two witnesses.

Effiong prayed the court to allow the no-case submission.

But Rotimi Oyedepo, prosecution counsel opposed his prayer.

Oyedepo prayed the court to dismiss the no-case submission, citing the “overwhelming evidence” he said the EFCC had adduced and exhibits admitted in evidence.

He also asked the court to order the defendant to enter his defence.

The agency arraigned Usoro on December 18, 2018 before Justice Muslim Hassan on a 10-count charge.

He pleaded not guilty to all the counts.

The case was transferred to and the lawyer was subsequently re-arraigned before Justice Aikawa on a charge marked FHC/418c/18, which alleged that he committed the offence on May 14, 2016.

Also mentioned in the charge, was Emmanuel Udom, governor of Akwa Ibom State, who was described as being “currently constitutionally immune from prosecution”.

Others are Nsikan Nkan, Akwa Ibom Commissioner for Finance; Mfon Udomah, accountant-general of Akwa Ibom State; Uwemedimo Nwoko, Akwa Ibom attorney-general; and Margaret Ukpe.

The aforementioned names were described in the charge as being at large.

But on July 17, 2020 the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos struck out four of the 10-count N1.4billion money laundering charge which particularly alluded to the governor’s involvement in the alleged crime.

Thus, Udom was excluded from the proceedings.

In what was left of the charge, Usoro was alleged to have conspired to convert the sum of N1.4 billion, property of Akwa Ibom State Government, which sum they reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity.

In his testimony before the court, Abdulrahman Arabo, an EFCC investigating officer said that Udom hired Usoro who, in turn, invited other SANs to join him at the Election Tribunal where his victory was being challenged in 2015.

The EFFC witness also testified the sum of N1.4 billion legal fee paid to the SANs was drawn from the treasury of the Akwa Ibom State’s account.

Usoro vigorously denied involvement in any crime.

 


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9mobile Addresses Recent Service Outages, Apologizes for Inconvenience

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9mobile has apologized for the recent service outages experienced by its valued customers which has affected their ability to provide voice, data, internet services. “We understand the frustration these disruptions have caused and deeply regret the inconvenience.

“Our technical team has identified the root causes of the outages including a fire incident at our Main Data Centre in Lagos last night which severely impacted services especially in the Lagos and South-West.  We are grateful for the swift intervention of the Lagos State Fire Service, which helped prevent further damage.

“Prior to the fire incident, our network experienced major fibre interruptions leading to varying degrees of outages. We had a fibre cut on the backbone links in Lagos which led to a total data outage across the country.

“This was followed closely by two vandalism incidents in Lagos and Abuja, leading to total service outage in South-West and data service outage in the North.  Services have now been fully restored in the North & South-South States while restorations work is ongoing in others. We expect to fully restore services as soon as possible”

At 9mobile, customer satisfaction is remains top priority. “We value the trust you place in us and appreciate your patience and understanding during this challenging time. Customers who continue to experience issues can reach out to our customer service team via our social media touchpoints or our experience centres”.

Once again, we sincerely apologize for the disruption and thank you for your continued support.


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NAF Delegation Visits Zinox Technologies, Discuss Partnership

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A high-level delegation from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) recently visited Zinox Technologies, Africa’s foremost integrated ICT solutions company, exploring avenues for a strategic partnership to strengthen the Air Force’s operational and technological infrastructure.

The delegation, led by AVM SK Usman, Chief of Communications Information Systems (CCIS), included notable figures such as Dr. Asogbon, Strategic Consultant on Communication, Air Commodore Isah, Commander of the 041 CIS Dep, Air Commodore AI Hanidu, Director of Information Technology, Air Commodore HC Usman, Director of Electronic Warfare, Squadron Leader Bilawu, and Group Captain Oloretore, Commander of the 641 CIS Group.

During the visit, NAF representatives commended Zinox Technologies for its significant contributions to technological development across Nigeria and Africa. They emphasized the importance of collaboration in addressing critical needs, including the localization and implementation of robust data storage solutions at NAF headquarters and nationwide offices to ensure data security and accessibility, as well as deploying intelligent and advanced video surveillance systems to enhance security and operational efficiency.

Additionally, the discussions highlighted providing reliable and efficient alternative power solutions to support critical operations and establishing and equipping annex facilities to meet the NAF’s growing data storage and processing requirements. Both parties also proposed solutions to support the development of various data centres for the Air Force. These discussions underscored Zinox’s capability to meet NAF’s complex requirements, leveraging its experience and innovative technology offerings to enhance national security operations.

Zinox Technologies, known for its pioneering role in the African tech industry, has a proven track record and a rich history of impactful projects across Nigeria and the continent. The company has been instrumental in driving digital transformation initiatives, providing cutting-edge IT solutions, and supporting numerous sectors with innovative tech products.

The foremost tech company has executed several transformative initiatives, including Africa’s largest ICT voter registration rollout and impactful e-education and e-health projects in Nigeria. Zinox holds prestigious certifications such as the Microsoft Windows Hardware Quality Lab Certification and ISO 9001:2000.

Zinox’s commitment to technological advancement has earned them a reputation as a leader in the African tech ecosystem, making them a trusted partner for the NAF’s ambitious projects.

By partnering with Zinox, the NAF aims to leverage indigenous cutting-edge technology to enhance its operational capabilities and contribute to the overall development of the Nigerian Air Force. This collaboration highlights Zinox’s unwavering commitment to leveraging technology to support Nigeria’s growth and development.

 


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Nasarawa Technology Village Attracts 12Bn Investments

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Modern Shelter Systems and Services Limited, one of Nigeria’s leading real estate firms has announced that the Nasarawa Technology Village has attracted investments of N12 billion since the project commenced.

Nasarawa Technology Village Attracts 12Bn Investments

The real estate firm added that it has officially commenced feasibility studies for the Aso-Pada Toll Road, which will catalyse the development of the tech-driven innovation hub, creating value for investors and transforming lives along the Keffi-Nyanya-Abuja corridor.

With the signing of the Aso-Pada Toll Road project, Modern Shelter said it is one step closer to realising the vision of Nasarawa Technology Village, which is powered by innovation as the project will connect communities, attract investments, and unlock socio-economic opportunities while providing sustainable, affordable housing for the future.

Commenting on the development, Abdulmalik Mahdi, chief executive officer, said that “The Aso-Pada Toll Road will serve as the backbone of Modern Shelter’s Nasarawa Technology Village, bringing 1,962 homes, a tech incubation centre and more to life.

“The Aso-Pada Toll Road will not only enhance connectivity but also drive the success of our Nasarawa Technology Village project, powered by NGN12.5 billion in investments. Together, we’re creating a hub for innovation, sustainability, and opportunity,” he explained.

 

 

 


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