FEATURED

When Business Between Umahi, Abuja Businesswoman Went Sour

Published

2 years ago

18/09/2022

Her company, Andrew Bishopton Limited and partners bidded for a job as a consultant to help the Ebonyi State government recover the excess deductions/charges on foreign/local loan facilities and other hanging funds via a letter dated 6th October 2015. Halfway into the assignment and having recovered some funds for the state, the assignment was suspended. Payment of the agreed fees to the consultants has been a sour issue in the deal. ROLAND OGBONNAYA writes

It was an assignment all the partners were looking forward to, one that will be mutually beneficial, and at the end of the day, the partners will go home smiling. However, the subsequent disturbing bickering over the payment and non-payment of agreed fees, have cast a dark shadow on the entire deal.

In a letter dated 6th October 2015 and signed by the then Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Dr. Dennis UdeEkumankama, Andrew Bishopton Limited and partners were appointed by the Ebonyi State government as a consultant to recover excess deductions/charges on foreign/local loan facilities and other hanging funds on behalf of Ebonyi State.

In the agreement, “the consultants shall detect, pursue and facilitate through Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Debt Management Office (DMO), Federal Ministry of Finance and other agencies and corporations’ payments to Ebonyi State Government arising from all cases of excess/unwarranted deductions made on any foreign/ local and other financial transactions as it concerns the principal. The scope of the assignment shall cover all excess deductions on London Club.”

However, last week, Dr. Jackie Ikeotuonye, an Abuja-based businesswoman, financial consultant and the Chief Operating Officer (CEO) of Andrew Bishopton Limited, Abuja, accused Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, of threatening her life and therefore called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Usman Baba for protection even as she debunked all the “false allegations against her by the State Government”. She went further to say that the petition to the IGP has become necessary because she has temporarily abandoned her residence as she believed some unknown faces are stalking her. She said categorically that her life is in danger.

Jackie is the daughter of the late prominent legal luminary, Chief ABC Ikeotuonye, one of the first three Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN). She told Saturday INDEPENDENT during the week that is not safe since her company and partner took the Ebonyi Government to court for the failure of the government to pay her the agreed fees in accordance with the terms of the contract signed before the commencement of the assignment.

Dr. Ikeotuonye said the Ebonyi State Government engaged her company, Andrew Bishopton Limited, and partner, Mauritz Walton Nigeria Limited to recover money wrongly deducted by the federal government on foreign loans from the state government between 1995 and 2002. This appointment, according to her was followed by a consultancy services agreement signed between the state and Andrew Bishopton on the 17th of November 2015 where it was stated that the State would pay the company 25% of the sum reconciled, recovered, and paid into the account of the State by the Federal Government.

The State government, she added, went further to introduce Andrew Bishopton to the relevant government agencies Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Debt Management Office (DMO), and the Federal Ministry of Finance (FMoF) as contained in the agreement to enable us to have access to the relevant departments and information during the assignment. “The assignment commenced in earnest, without any form of financial mobilisation or upfront payment from the State. The governor during the first meeting made it clear through his commissioner for finance that he was not going to mobilise us for the job.

“The company had to seek other avenues to finance the assignment. And this led to the joint partnership with Dr. Mauruis Ibe of Mauritz Walton Nigeria Limited who bore the bulk of the expenses incurred during the assignment. As the assignment progressed, reports were submitted to the state. After the assignment, the company sent another letter dated February 9th, 2016 to the Debt Management Office to update them on the progress of work done and the outcome of the work done on behalf of Ebonyi State.

“The DMO in a letter dated August 01, 2016, requested the state to attach all relevant documents to back up their demand for a refund. All these documents were duly provided to the state by my company. Meanwhile, on completion of the assignment, the Governor sent in two demand letters to the Minister of Finance for the repatriation of the reconciled amount of $119, 419,427.59 being over deductions on the account of Ebonyi State Government Foreign loans service. Another letter was also sent to the Director General, Debt Management Office.”

Dr. Ikeotuonye, in the petition to the IGP however emphasised that the total sum of $119,419,427.59 was recovered by her company and partners for the state government, noting that the Ebonyi State government defaulted in the payment of the consultancy fees agreed between the state government and the consultants, which prompted the companies to drag the state government to court.

Andrew Bishopton Limited’s boss said immediately after the first tranche of the money was paid to the Ebonyi State government, the State government sent in “their so-called letter of disengagement by saying we never did any work since the appointment was given. They also quoted a letter from DMO telling them they do not work with individual consultants.

“The Governor specifically mentioned in his demand letters that what he was asking for was premised on the report submitted by Andrew Bishopton Limited. Yet, they claimed we did nothing. It might interest you to know that Ebonyi State sadly has an antecedent for disengaging consultants at the point of payment for services.

“The first tranche of payment made to the State was N8, 385, 035,086.72 based on the Governor’s forum payment schedule. We then sent in a demand for our fees of N2, 096, 258, and 771. 68 in a letter dated December 11th, 2016 because we noticed that the state reneged on the agreement to provide an irrevocable standing order conveying 25% of all money recovered by the consultant and have the fund domiciled in the then Skye Bank.

When some Highly placed people intervened the Ebonyi State government agreed to pay us N50,000,000.00, but transferred N42, 000, 000:00, then compelled her to sign that she would make no further demands hence we had no option but to approach the Federal High court, which gave judgment in our favour and further freezed the state government’s bank accounts,” Dr. Ikeotuonye narrated.

Miffed by this, on the 31st of August 2022, armed men numbering about 10 in number from both Ebonyi Police Command and Garki Police Station “stormed my house at Brains and Hammers Estate in Apo Abuja, with a warrant of arrest purportedly from a magistrate court in Ebonyi that I was under arrest for defrauding the Ebonyi State Government to the tune of N50m.” The same N50m (though N42m was transferred) that the Governor compelled her to receive as “Final payment” is what has been referred to as a trumped-up charge of “defrauding the Ebonyi State Government”.

She however said that this was done to give a legitimate covering to her arrest and transfer to Ebonyi. “The articles published by the State labelling me a “fraud” has become an issue of libel against the Ebonyi State Government, which has just been filed in a Federal High Court. I was embarrassed, humiliated and treated like a common criminal in the process of taking me to Ebonyi State.”

On arrival, she was shoved straight into the Governor’s Office where was under duress compelled to sign some documents to vacate the Federal High Court judgment in Port Harcourt. For fear of her life, she said signed the document and was released after four days.

“Since then Governor Umahi, instead of making effort to pay us the fees owed us despite intervention by governors and other prominent Nigerians, has been after me insisting that I must go to Port Harcourt, and file an application to set aside the judgment. I have been strongly advised against this by legal experts. The Governor, rather than appeal the judgment or pay us, is hounding me.”

When contacted, the Special Assistant to Ebonyi State Governor on Media and Strategy, Chooks Oko, said that the police are handling the issue and the garnishee order vacated, “that’s why I was surprised by your request.”

Efforts to reach the Ebonyi State Command for a response were not successful before press time as nobody could take responsibility in responding to the issues the traumatised businesswoman wrote in her petition to the IGP.

FEATURED

Group Calls For Protection Of Journalists In Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi States

Published

5 months ago

10/11/2023

Theleadnews

The Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has urged for necessary measures to protect journalists and other media workers during this weekend’s off-cycle elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi States.

The group sent the request to the federal and state governments, as well as law enforcement and security agencies, stressing that the role of journalists in disseminating information about the electoral process is critical to ensuring free, fair, and transparent elections.

In a statement issued ahead of the elections in Lagos and signed by the Communications Officer, Media Rights Agenda, Idowu Adewale, MRA also urged journalists to be cautious and to use its existing hotline (08138755660) to report any threat or attack they may encounter during the process, as well as any obstacle.

Adewale said in the statement: “Given the pattern of heightened attacks on journalists and the media during previous elections, including the recent 2023 general elections, as well as the tense political climate in the three states in the lead-up to the elections, measures must be taken to ensure general security during the elections and provide adequate protection for journalists covering the elections.”

“Access to information allows citizens and other members of the public to have the information they need about political and electoral processes, facilitating effective public participation in elections,” he says.

“Journalists and the media play an important role in ensuring residents and other members of the public have access to information and may participate in the process.

“As part of efforts to preserve the integrity of the polls, it is also critical that the safety and well-being of these interlocutors be assured and safeguarded.”

Lamenting the increased number of attacks on journalists in the run-up to the off-cycle elections, as well as earlier this year in the run-up to the general elections, he emphasised that “a free and vibrant media is fundamental to a healthy democracy, and journalists must be able to carry out their duties without fear, coercion, or violence.” During this vital phase, MRA stands ready to assist them and assure their safety.”

CRIME

Police Nab Husband, As Mother Of ‘Mummy Be Calming Down’ Boy Takes Own Life

Published

5 months ago

10/11/2023

Theleadnews

Men from the Edo State Police Command are said to have detained Mrs. Toluige Olokoobi’s husband after he allegedly murdered her.

Olokoobi was the mother of Oreofeoluwa Lawal-Babalola, the tiny boy whose video went viral in 2020 after he pleaded with his mother, “Mummy be calming down.”

Oreofeoluwa rose to prominence on social media after a video of him crying in an attempt to confidently appeal to his mother, who chastised him, went viral.

The film inspired Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who used it to deliver an Eid-el-Kabir appeal to Muslims and Lagos people in general to remain calm during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Following that, the youngster and his family met with the governor, who praised his bravery and poise.

While little has been heard about the family in three years, heartbreaking news broke on social media on Tuesday that the boy’s mother had committed suicide.

According to an X user, Olokoobi committed suicide in Benin, the capital of Edo State, for unknown reasons.

The X user, who stated that he was present at the site on Monday afternoon, went on to say that she had refused to disclose her difficulties with anyone before committing herself.

“The woman in the viral Mummy Calm Down video has just committed suicide here in Benin,” he stated in an email.

“She refused to discuss her problems with anyone.” She abandoned three children for her husband, including the well-known Mummy Calm Down boy.”

Meanwhile, confirming Olokoobi’s death in a chat with BBC Pidgin, the spokesperson of the Edo State police command, Chidi Nwabuzor, said her husband has been arrested and detained for questioning.

Nwabuzor said the husband reported the matter to the police.

The police spokesperson quoted the husband to have said that “he came home from the market when he saw his wife hanging with rope on her neck”.

Nwabuzor said she was rushed to the hospital and then to the mortuary after she was confirmed dead. (Adapted from a Vanguard report).

CRIME

Anambra: CP Aderemi Adeoye Decorates Promoted Officers With New Ranks

Published

5 months ago

10/11/2023

Theleadnews

The Anambra State Police Command Headquarters Conference Hall was a hive of activity Thursday as CP Aderemi Adeoye took turns decorating around 18 promoted officers of the command with their new titles.

The delight of some of the officers whose wives assisted the CP in decorating their husbands with their new ranks knew no bounds, as their husbands duly saluted their wives and the CP for their new positions and responsibilities.

Obi Innocent, one of the officers elevated to the rank of Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), whose wife joined CP Aderemi Adeoye in adorning him with his new rank, said it was wonderful that the Inspector General of Police thought him worthy.

CSP Obi Innocent, the officer in charge of the Legal Department at Zone 13, Police Zonal Headquarters Ukpo, stated that his new rank was a call to service and that he would do his best to uphold the charge given to them by CP Aderemi Adeoye to respect and protect the citizenry’s fundamental rights in the discharge of their new assignments.

Charity Akharame, who was honoured with the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and was the only female officer among the 18 promoted officers decorated with new ranks, said it was not an easy feat but she was grateful to be among those who were decorated with their new ranks.

DSP Charity Akharame, the officer in charge of stores in the Anambra State Police Command, recalled how she began as a Police Constable and worked her way up to her current position as Deputy Superintendent of Police.

She stated that as a very disciplined police officer, she would follow the Police Commissioner’s directions regarding respect for all and sundry in the fulfillment of her constitutional obligations.

Jane-Frances Obi, one of the spouses of the officers elevated to the level of CSP, stated that being the wife of a police officer was not an easy assignment. As a result, she recommended any lady who is married to a police officer to be patient and understanding because the job is quite demanding.

Jane-Frances Obi, whose husband is Innocent Obi, the officer in charge of the Legal Department at Zone 13 Ukpo, believes the promotion is a reward for years of being patient, understanding, and standing in for them when they are not present.

Meanwhile, Emenike Chinenyenwa, who was decorated with the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) and presented a vote of appreciation, expressed deep gratitude to the IGP and the Chairman of the Police Service Commission for considering them worthy of being adorned in their new ranks.

ACP Emenike, the officer in charge of Medicals, stated that the elevation comes with increased responsibility and that they will work harder in their new tasks.

CP Aderemi Adeoye praised the current promotion winners in his remarks, noting that two aspects make the police career very interesting and eventful. He stated that one is for promotion and the other is for positions.

CP Adeoye, on the other hand, urged the newly honored officers to develop more empathy, compassion, care, and dedication in the performance of their jobs.

The police chief insisted that newly promoted officers must first recognise that they share the same humanity as others, and as a result, they must treat all people with dignity and protect their fundamental human rights at all times.

CP Aderemi Adeoye stressed that without the enormous roles of spouses, they wouldn’t have been successful in their careers. He therefore congratulated all the promoted and prayed that God gives them good health to enjoy the new ranks and the energy to discharge the responsibilities of their new offices.