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Alleged $150M Abacha loot: CISLAC, TI urge Nigerian, France Govt to uphold assets recovery laws
By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, and Transparency International, TI-France chapter,have jointly called on Nigeria and France to uphold asset recovery laws ahead of the return of $150 million looted by former Nigerian head of State, Sani Abacha.
In a statement co-signed by the CISLAC Executive Director, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, and Sara Brimbeuf,Transparency International TI’s Head of Illicit Financial Flows Program in France, the CSOs urged Nigerian government to be vigilant about misappropriation of funds.
The upcoming return of $150 million from France to Nigeria was announced during the launch of the Global Forum on Asset Recovery, GFAR, Action Series.
The anti-corruption watchdogs, in the statement titled: ‘$150M Abacha Loot: Time for France and Nigeria to Uphold Asset Recovery Laws’, posed questions about the commencement of negotiations between France and Nigeria, the criteria for selecting projects or programs funded by the returned funds, and the inclusion of civil society organizations in the return process.
“France, despite not having returned confiscated assets previously, has recently established a legal framework for asset restitution, emphasizing transparency and accountability principles.
“The statement emphasized that the impending restitution presents an opportunity for both France and Nigeria to implement their respective legal frameworks, ensuring transparency and accountability in the return process, with active involvement from civil society organizations,” the statement noted.
The CSOs noted that Nigeria’s extensive experience in asset return, having recovered over $4 billion from different jurisdictions over the past three decades.
“While commendable for efforts in repatriation, Nigeria faces challenges in the transparent and accountable management of these assets.
“The recent adoption of the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act 2022 is seen as a positive step, assigning roles and responsibilities to relevant institutions and providing a provision for civil society to monitor implementation.
“The return process is part of proceedings initiated in the United States in 2014, where a court entered judgment forfeiting approximately $500 million linked to money laundering involving Abacha’s corruption.
“As part of the same proceedings, an agreement was secured in February 2020 for the return of $311.7 million, proposed for financing road infrastructure projects,” the statement noted.
The statement stressed the significance of the upcoming restitution, portraying it as an excellent chance for both France and Nigeria to demonstrate commitment to transparency and accountability in asset recovery, setting a model for other destination countries.
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Baltasar Engonga: Wife of Equatorial Guinea ANIF boss sextape with another man leaked
Wife of the sacked Director General of Equatorial Guinea’s National Financial Investigation Agency, ANIF, Baltasar Ebang Engonga, has been caught in extra-marital affairs.
Video footage emerged of Engonga’s wife having an intimacy with another man.
This was disclosed by popular social critic, Martins Ortse aka VeryDarkMan via an Instagram post on Saturday.
Sharing pictures of the Engonga’s wife from the video footage, VeryDarkMan said: “Just when I thought it was all over about this Equatorial Guinea man, the whole thing is getting more interesting. I just saw a video of his wife and another man, if you watch this video; it’s crazy. If you see how another man was na*cking his wife.”
Engonga was recently caught with about 400 sex tapes with several women during an investigation into a fraud case.
The leaked videos have continued to generate controversy via the social media space.
Reacting, First Lady Constancia Mangue Obiang expressed outrage over the scandal during a meeting with Prime Minister Manuel Osa Nsue.
Mrs Obiang called for immediate government intervention to uphold the dignity of Equatoguinean women and protect their privacy in the digital age.
Following the discovery, Engonga was relieved of his duty and subsequently arrested. He was remanded in prison on Friday.
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Three police officers arrested for torturing student to death in Kwara
Three police officers, who allegedly beat a student of the Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, Suleiman Olayinka to death at Tanke Bridge in Ilorin, the state capital, have been arrested and detained.
The spokesperson of the state police command, DSP Ejire Adeyemi Toun, disclosed this in a statement in Ilorin on Friday.
Reports said that the incident occurred on Tuesday around 2 p.m. when the victim got off a motorcycle and was approached by three officers who then dragged him to the ground.
An eyewitness claimed that the victim had arrived to collect N1,000 he had already transferred to a Point of Sale (POS) operator, intending to give the money to the rider who brought him.
“I was with him, as soon as he got the money, the officers came out of a tricycle and dragged him to the ground. The victim kept asking what offence he had committed, but they didn’t let him speak,” the source said.
The witness further explained that the victim pleaded with the officers, informing them that he was asthmatic, but they ignored his pleas.
In a reaction on Friday, the spokesperson said, “the Kwara State police command is aware of this unfortunate incident which led to the sudden death of Suleiman Olayinka (M) 27yrs.
“A complaint of cheating and criminal breach of trust was reported against the deceased. Police detectives were immediately detailed to investigate the case.
“Meanwhile the officers involved in the incident have been identified, arrested and detained for further investigations as regards the death of the suspect.
“Further updates will be provided promptly as investigations unfold,” the statement added.
News
400 sex tapes: Equatorial Guinea’s Baltasar remanded in prison
The former Director-General of the National Financial Investigation Agency in Equatorial Guinea, Baltasar Engonga, has been remanded in Malabo’s Black Beach Prison, Saturday PUNCH has reported.
The embattled former anti-graft chief was arrested days ago for allegedly recording over 400 sex tapes involving the wives of prominent figures in the country.
This scandal surfaced during a fraud investigation into the 54-year-old economist, resulting in an impromptu search of his home and office by ANIF officials, who reportedly discovered several CDs that revealed his sexual encounters with different married women.
As the footage leaked online, causing a media uproar, Equatorial Guinea’s President, Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, dismissed Engonga.
According to Decree No. 118/2024, dated 4th November, the dismissal was due to “irregularities committed in the exercise of his functions, as well as inappropriate family and social conduct for the performance of public duties.”
A viral video surfaced on social media on Friday, showing Engonga handcuffed on both hands and legs during a court appearance.
Confirming the situation, French online blog Afrikmatin reported that Engonga, who was officially removed from his role on November 6, 2024, was subsequently chained and transferred to Malabo Central Prison.
He faces charges of corruption and embezzlement.
Additionally, online newspaper UGStandard reported that the sex tapes began circulating on social networks while Engonga was already held at Malabo’s notorious Black Beach Prison on charges of embezzling public funds, as reported by state television, TVGE.
In a fact-checking report published Wednesday, Dubawa verified that Engonga had indeed been taken into custody on corruption charges and is currently being held in Black Beach Prison.
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