He testified for less than three minutes. But former President Donald Trump still broke a judge’s rules on what he could tell a jury about writer E. Jean Carroll’s sexual assault and defamation allegations and he left the courtroom Thursday bristling to the spectators: “This is not America.”

Testifying in his own defense in the defamation trial, Trump didn’t look at the jury during his short, heavily negotiated stint on the witness stand. Because of the complex legal context of the case, the judge limited his lawyers to asking a handful of short questions, each of which could be answered yes or no — such as whether he’d made his negative statements in response to an accusation and didn’t intend anyone to harm Carroll.

But Trump nudged past those limits.

“She said something that I considered to be a false accusation,” he said, later adding: “I just wanted to defend myself, my family and, frankly, the presidency.”

After Judge Lewis A. Kaplan told jurors to disregard those remarks, Trump rolled his eyes as he stepped down from the witness stand. The former president and current Republican front-runner left the courtroom during a break soon after, shaking his head and declaring to spectators — three times — that “this is not America.”

Carroll looked on throughout from the plaintiff’s table. The longtime advice columnist alleges that Trump attacked her in 1996, then defamed her by calling her a liar when she went public with her story in a 2019 memoir.

While Trump has said a lot about her to the court of public opinion, Thursday marked the first time he has directly addressed a jury about her claims.

But jurors also heard parts of a 2022 deposition — a term for out-of-court questioning under oath — in which Trump vehemently denied that he had any sexual encounter with Carroll or even knew her, calling her “sick” and a “whack job.” Trump told jurors Thursday that he stood by that deposition, “100%.”

Trump didn’t attend a related trial last spring, when a different jury found that he did sexually abuse Carroll and that some of his comments were defamatory, awarding her $5 million. This trial concerns only how much more he may have to pay her for certain remarks he made in 2019, while president. She’s seeking $10 million.

Because of the prior jury’s findings, Kaplan said Trump now couldn’t offer any testimony “disputing or attempting to undermine” the sexual abuse allegations. The law doesn’t allow for “do-overs by disappointed litigants,” the judge said.

Even before taking the stand, Trump chafed at those limitations as the judge and lawyers for both sides discussed what he could be asked.

“I never met the woman. I don’t know who the woman is. I wasn’t at the trial,” he cut in from his seat at the defense table. Kaplan told Trump he wasn’t allowed to interrupt the proceedings.

Jurors weren’t in the room at the time. Trump was the last witness, and closing arguments are set for Friday.

Carroll, 80, claims Trump, 77, ruined her reputation after she publicly aired her account of a chance meeting that spiraled into a sexual assault in spring 1996. At the time, he was a prominent real estate developer, and she was an Elle magazine advice columnist who’d had a TV show.

She says they ran into each other at Bergdorf Goodman, a luxury department store close to Trump Tower, bantered and ended up in a dressing room, teasing each other about trying on lingerie. She has testified that she thought it would just be a funny story to tell but then he roughly forced himself on her before she eventually fought him off and fled.

The earlier jury found that she was sexually abused but rejected her allegation that she was raped.

Besides Trump, his defense called only one other witness, a friend of Carroll’s. The friend, retired TV journalist Carol Martin, was among two people the writer told about her encounter with Trump shortly after it happened, according to testimony at the first trial.

Trump lawyer Alina Habba confronted Martin on Tuesday with text messages in which she called Carroll a “narcissist” who seemed to be reveling in the attention she got from accusing and suing Trump. Martin said she regretted her word choices and doesn’t believe that Carroll loved the attention she has been getting.

Carroll has testified that she has gotten death threats that worried her enough to buy bullets for a gun she inherited from her father, install an electronic fence, warn her neighbors and unleash her pit bull to roam freely on the property of her small cabin in the mountains of upstate New York.

Trump’s attorneys have tried to show the jury through their cross-examination of various witnesses that by taking on Trump, Carroll has gained a measure of fame and financial rewards that outweigh the threats and other venom slung at her through social media.

After Carroll’s lawyers rested Thursday, Habba asked for a directed verdict in Trump’s favor, saying Carroll’s side hadn’t proven its case. Kaplan denied the request.

Even before testifying, Trump had already tested the judge’s patience. After he complained to his lawyers last week about a “witch hunt” and a “con job” within earshot of jurors, Kaplan threatened to eject him from the courtroom if it happened again. “I would love it,” Trump said. Later that day, Trump told a news conference Kaplan was a “nasty judge” and that Carroll’s allegation was “a made-up, fabricated story.”

While attending the trial last week, Trump made it clear — through muttered comments and gestures like shaking his head — that he was disgusted with the case. When a video clip from a Trump campaign rally last week was shown in court Thursday, he appeared to lip-synch himself saying the trial was rigged.

The trial had been suspended since early Monday because of a juror’s illness. When it resumed Thursday, the judge said two jurors were being “socially distanced” from the others.

Trump attended the trial fresh off big victories in the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday and the Iowa caucuses last week. Meanwhile, he also faces four criminal cases. He has been juggling court and campaign appearances, using both to argue that he’s being persecuted by Democrats terrified of his possible election.

Adams Oshiomhole is forever lamenting his imposition of Obaseki as his successor, says Ize-Iyamu.

Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu has ridiculed the reported preference of Governor Godwin Obaseki for Asue Ighodalo as his successor as governor of Edo State, saying that there is a popular clamour around the state against a ‘stranger’ coming to the saddle of governance again.

He noted that the governor’s quest is inhibited by crisis in the  Peoples Democratic Party, PDP with Obaseki at war against his deputy, Philip Shaibu, and the mainstream of the party as represented by the Legacy Group in the PDP.

Speaking in an interview on Thursday, the APC governorship hopeful said that Senator Adams Oshiomhole is forever lamenting his imposition of Obaseki as his successor.

Ize-Iyamu spoke in an interview on Arise News Television.

While observing that the failure of the present governor has inspired him into the race, he said:

“The non-performance of the present governor gives me an edge. If the governor had done so well and was also bringing somebody that is also well known, then you would say considering how he has performed and who he is bringing, it is going to be difficult to challenge him.

“But you also know that the PDP, I am sorry to say, is a divided house. He is fighting with his deputy, he is fighting with the Legacy Party and he is trying to introduce somebody that they don’t know to be the flagbearer of the party.”

Asked on who the person that is being brought from outside? Ize-Iyamu pulled back, saying:

“You know I am not in PDP and at my age, I must be too careful not to speculate too much. So, I cannot categorically say, but we hear all kinds of names.”

Challenged that Obaseki came from outside to win the election and who may have succeeded in office, the APC governorship hopeful said:

“Obaseki was an imposition that Comrade is till today regretting.

“Obaseki is not a good example of somebody who came from Lagos and won but I am telling you that on the streets today, in every town and city they are saying that whoever they want to support as governor is somebody who has lived among them, somebody that they know, somebody that they trust.

“That is the opinion. All my feedback is that never again will they support somebody that they don’t know. They want to support somebody that has lived among them, somebody that they can trust, somebody that is accountable, somebody that will respect them, not somebody that comes from outside the state and wants to govern them,”

He, however, affirmed that there are people in the diaspora who have given a good account of their interest in the state.

“There are people who live in the Diaspora who have invested much in the development of our state. They live in the Diaspora, but they own houses in our state.

“A man who wants to govern you in your state must show beyond being an indigene or citizen of Edo State must show that he has invested in Edo State.”

Ize-Iyamu in the interview also stoutly defended his decision to contest the governorship primaries despite the agitation for zoning saying that his section of Edo South has never produced a governor, senator, party chairman or any political stalwart of repute.

Besides, he said that his area in Orhinmwon Local Government Area, despite being a major gas producer for the country, was much in darkness.

He, nevertheless, pledged to step down his aspiration which he said is very popular if the ticket is zoned outside Edo South.

EFCC ARRAIGNS HARUNA GORA PAMA AND KADIRI JAMES ON TWO-COUNT CHARGES OF MONEY LAUNDERING AND OBTAINING BY FALSE PRETENCE TO THE TUNE OF N36, 247, 937.72

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Maiduguri Zonal Command, on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, arraigned the duo of Haruna Gora Pama and Kadiri James, before Justice Tijjani G. Ringim of the Federal High Court, Maiduguri.

They were arraigned on  two-count charges of money laundering and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N36, 247, 937.72 (Thirty Six Million, Two Hundred and Forty Seven Thousand, Nine Hundred and Thirty Seven Naira, Seventy-two kobo).

Count one of the charge reads: “That you, Haruna Gora Pama, Kadiri James and Peter Katuka, Freedom, Monday Ekoja George, Abdulmajid Khamis, and David Potter (all now at large) sometimes in June 2022, at Maiduguri, Borno State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did conspire amongst yourselves to do illegal act, to wit: conspiracy to commit money laundering and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21 of the Money Laundering ( Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 (as amended) respectively.”

Count two reads: “That you, Haruna Gora Pama, Kadiri James and Peter Katuka, Freedom, Monday Ekoja George, Abdulmajid Khamis and David Potter (all now at large) sometimes in June 2022, at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, directly converted the aggregate sum of N 36, 247, 937. 72 (Thirty Six Million, Two Hundred and Forty Seven Thousand, Nine Hundred and Thirty Seven Naira, Seventy-two kobo) which you ought to know that it formed part of proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: obtaining money under false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18(2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”

The defendants pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to them. Thereafter,   prosecution counsel, Faruk Muhammad prayed  the court for a trial date and for them to be remanded in a Correctional Centre.

Justice Ringim remanded them in a Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter till February 1, 2024 for trial.

Media & Publicity

January 25,  2024

COURT VACATES CONTEMPT ORDER AGAINST OLUKOYEDE

Justice Abubakar Hussaini Musa of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT,  High Court on Thursday,  January 25, 2024 vacated an earlier order of the court directing the Inspector-General of Police to arrest the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,  EFCC, Ola Olukoyede for disobeying the ruling of the court directing operatives of the Commission  to vacate a property at Number 6, Aso Drive, Abuja.

The judge upheld the submission of the  EFCC Counsel,  Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN,  that Olukoyede “is an officer of the law and respecter of the rule of law,  with fervent commitment towards moving the EFCC towards enhanced professionalism and accountable conducts, could not have willfully ignored or disobeyed the order of the court.

Oyedepo further told the court that, “I am here to assure my Lord  that Mr. Ola Olukoyede who is now the Executive Chairman of  the EFCC, whose appointment was confirmed by the Senate of Federal Republic of Nigeria on the 18 October, 2023 and being a legal practitioner of many years at the bar may not knowingly disobey the order of the court”.  He prayed the court to vacate the contempt proceedings against the EFCC’s boss, assuring that all the issues involved between the parties in the suit would be resolved.  Defence counsel,  Adeyemi Pitan,  did not object to the submissions of Oyedepo.

Responding, Justice Musa stated  that “I knew that the EFCC Chairman was not aware of this, that is why I want the Chairman to come”.  He, thereafter, vacated the order and purged Olukoyede of the contempt proceedings.

He also adjourned the matter till February 7, 2024 for hearing of the substantive suit.

Media & Publicity

January 25,  2024

EFCC ARRAIGNS EX-ANAMBRA GOV. OBIANO FOR ALLEGED N4BN FRAUD

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Wednesday, January 24, 2024  arraigned a former governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano before Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

He was arraigned on nine- count charges bordering on money laundering, diversion of funds, stealing and corruption to the tune of N4billion.

 Count one of the charge reads: “That you, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, whilst being the Executive Governor of Anambra State of Nigeria between March 2014 – March 2022, sometime between the 16th February, 2018 and 9th March, 2018 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did make cash transaction through a non-financial institution by instructing one Uzuegbuna Okagbue, your then Chief Protocol Officer / Deputy Chief of Staff to transfer the aggregate sum of N223,371,000 (Two Hundred and Twenty Three Million, Three Hundred and Seventy One Thousand Naira only)  from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account No 5030050875 domiciled at Fidelity Bank Plc into Connought International Services Limited, Fidelity Bank No 5540007709 ( a non-financial institution) which was converted to the equivalent of $600,000.00 (Six Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) and collected in cash from one Ayuba Tanko and handed over to you in cash by the said Uzuegbuna Okagbue and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) in 2012 and punishable under Section 16 (2) (b) of the same Act.

Count four of the charge reads: “That you, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, whilst being the Executive Governor of Anambra State of Nigeria between March 2014 – March 2022, sometime between 13th February 2018 to 2nd March 2022, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, indirectly transferred through Mr Willie Nwokoye, your then principal private secretary, the sum of N1, 206, 760,310 Billion ( One Billion, Two Hundred and Six Million, Seven Hundred and Sixty Thousand,  Three Hundred and Ten Naira only)  from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account No: 5030050875 domiciled in Fidelity Bank Plc into the Fidelity Bank Plc Account No: 5600251033 belonging to Moment of Peace Ventures (an entity that had no business relationship with the Anambra State Government ) which funds were dissipated for purposes unrelated / unconnected with the security affairs of Anambra State, which you reasonably ought to have known that such funds formed part of the  proceeds of your unlawful act, to wit: (Stealing and Corruption) and you thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 15 (2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) in 2912 and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act”.

 He pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to him.

In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, Slyvanus Tahir, SAN,  asked for a trial date while praying the court for the remand of the defendant in a Correctional Centre pending the date of the trial.   Counsel to the defendant,  Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN,  drew the attention of the court to a bail application before the court.

While ruling, Justice Ekwo thereafter  asked the prosecution to provide  the particulars of the administrative bail  granted the defendant by the EFCC, stating that the court will adopt the terms of the bail.

He also ordered that the defendant’s passport and traveling documents be kept in the custody of the court and the Nigeria Immigration Service be notified of the arrangements.

Additionally, Justice Ekwo ordered the defendant  not to travel outside jurisdiction without the permission of the court and adjourned  the matter to March 4, 5,6 & 7, 2024 for trial.

 Media & Publicity

January 24,  2024

Tinubu’s administration owes Nigerians an explanation for the NNPC $3.3bn emergency loan. 

In what appears to be a landmark economic decision of the Bola Tinubu-led administration, the Federal Government last year, precisely on August 16, 2023 through the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) secured a $3.3 billion emergency crude repayment loan, which according to the NNPC, was to help give support to the Naira and stabilize the Foreign Exchange market.

The curious thing about this transaction is that up till now, the Federal Government continues to keep mum about it, and the only information available to the public on the mega deal is coming only through unofficial sources from the NNPC.

The deal is supposed to be a crude-for-cash loan arranged by the African Export-Import Bank.

According to information available, a Special Purpose Vehicle called Project Gazelle Funding Limited is driving the deal, and it was incorporated in the Bahamas.

The SPV is the borrower while the NNPC is the sponsor, with an agreement to pay with crude oil to the SPV in order to liquidate the loan at an interest rate that is a little over 12 per cent.

What is even more confounding about this deal is why the Federal Government would register a company in the Bahamas, knowing full well the recent scandal of the Paradise Papers that involved that country.

Curiously also, Nigeria’s current Barrels Produced Daily (BPD) is 1.38 million, and according to the Project Gazelle deal, Nigeria is to supply 90,000 Barrels of its daily production, starting from 2024 till it is up to 164.25 million barrels for the repayment of the loan.

Now, this is where the details get disturbing because Nigeria’s benchmark for the sale of crude per barrel in 2024 is $77.96. A simple multiplication of that figure by 164.25 will give us a whooping $12bn.

It is on this note that we are calling on the Federal Government to speak up on this shady deal.

It is inconceivable that the Federal Government will lead the country to take a loan of $3.3b with an interest rate that is not more than 12 per cent, but with estimated repayment amounting to $12bn.

That is a humongous differential of about $7b between what is in the details of the deal on paper and what indeed is the reality.

There are questions to be answered on the integrity of this deal, and we earnestly request the Federal Government to talk directly on these cloudy details behind the deal.

We therefore demand, on behalf of the ordinary people of Nigeria, that the Federal Government provides answers to the following questions.

1. Has the Federal Government accessed the loan?
2. Is the loan in the government’s borrowing plan as approved by the National Assembly?
3. Who are the parties to the loan, and what specific roles are they expected to play?
4. What are the conditions to the loan, including tenor, repayment terms, the collateral, and the interest rate?
5. And, lastly, why register an SPV in the Bahamas knowing the recent scandal of the country’s notoriety for warehousing unclean assets?

Signed:

Atiku Abubakar

Vice President of Nigeria, 1999-2007

25th January, 2024.

LAGOS MULLS INVESTMENT IN AIRLINE OPERATIONS

• Sanwo-Olu Renders Stewardship At Town Hall Meeting, Lists Scorecard In Lagos West

Lagos State has mulled the idea of establishing an airline for passenger operations just as the State prepares for the groundbreaking to commence the construction of its own airport in Lekki.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu disclosed the plan, on Thursday, at the Lagos West Senatorial District People’s Town Hall Meeting, where he rendered stewardship and presented a catalogue of achievements recorded by his administration in the West of Lagos.

A former Permanent Secretary and retired Auditor General for Local Government in Lagos, Pa Muhammed Hassan, believed the State was ripe to own an airline; he threw the poser to the Governor.

Responding, Sanwo-Olu noted that the plan had been in the pipeline for months, with the State already finalising the financing model for the project. What is being considered, the Governor said, is the Federal Government’s approval and operational contingency for the airline.

This drew commendations from the citizens, who attended the Town Hall meeting held at Balmoral Convention Centre on Sheraton Link Road, Ikeja.

At the no-holds-barred meeting, Sanwo-Olu and his Deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, mounted the stage to take feedback from the citizens, who asked difficult questions, gave an applause and shared suggestions going forward.

The Governor said the input from the public was necessary to guide his Government’s decision on planned programmes and interventions before their implementation.

Listing projects and interventions taken in Lagos West, Sanwo-Olu pointed out that his administration had completed and opened 42 new roads projects and two flyovers in the District, with the combined length of the infrastructure spanning over 72 kilometres.

He said the last four and half years had seen Lagos taking a leap forward in its socio-economic and development trajectory, but the Governor said he was resolute in doubling his efforts to keep the State on the sustainable growth path as his second term progresses.

He said: “Over the last five months, Mr. Deputy Governor and I have been working to put a concise plan together for the establishment of an airline, but we did not make the plan open because of the need to get adequate knowledge about the operational procedures of airlines. The business plan is viable and there is no issue about financing. The conversation has gone to an advanced stage but we need to get the proper information on operations before we go ahead to implement the plan.

“In Lagos West Senatorial District, infrastructure development has been our priority since we came in. Over the last four years, we have completed over 70 kilometres of new roads and over two kilometres of bridges. These include Pen-Cinema Bridge, Ikeja Flyover, and over 42 roads we have completed in Alimosho, Ifako, Agege, Ikeja, Mushin, Amuwo Odofin and  Badagry. We also have over 30 ongoing road projects which are at various stages of completion within this district.”

Sanwo-Olu assured Lagosians that his administration would be raising the pace of its development strides, as he pledged to double the efforts to deliver twice the number of projects and programmes achieved in his first term.

The Governor said the senatorial district was also the major beneficiary of the intracity railway development projects of his administration, with Lagos West hosting major passenger hubs of Blue Line and Red Line trains.

He said the new General Hospital being constructed by his administration in Ojo axis was at an advanced stage of development, saying its completion would further improve health care access in the district.

To further enhance security and safety in Lagos, Sanwo-Olu disclosed that his administration would be releasing additional patrol vehicles and work gadgets to raise surveillance and capacity of security agencies to respond to emerging threats.

He urged the citizens to be law-abiding and support measures introduced by the Government to maintain law and order. The Governor said it would not be enough to enforce obedience to laws, adding that the Government would ensure laws are fair and just to all.

He said: “We are in talks with you, the citizens, today because we believe the Government does not know it all. The feedback and inputs we are taking away from here will help us to cater for your needs and wellbeing better. On our part, we will strive to make it easier for you to be law-abiding. It is not enough to say the laws must be obeyed, we must also ensure that the laws are clear, fair and just.

“When people break the law and don’t do the right thing, they make governance a lot more difficult for us. We must discharge our civic responsibility and fulfil our obligations as citizens. When we do this, it reduces the cost of governance and saves resources that will enable us do a lot more. While we appreciate your suggestions, we are also encouraging you to ensure that all citizens do the right thing at all times.”

Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, likened the event to an Annual General Meeting where stakeholders in an entity would have opportunity to discuss with the leadership, noting that the move was to engender an all-inclusive government in which citizens would have an input.

He said the Town Hall meeting would have taken off during the Governor’s first term, but for the several unanticipated occurrences, including COVID-19 pandemic, which stalled the plan.

“The conversation continues with the citizens on the Lagos project. Today, Lagos West Senatorial District leads the way; other districts will take their turns of the Town Hall meeting where they will have unfettered discussions with the Governor,” Omotoso said.

The meeting was attended by various stakeholders among the Lagos electorate, including members of civil society, political parties’ supporters, people living with disabilities, youth activists, socio-cultural groups, artisans, traders and religious leaders.

Also in attendance were members of the State’s cabinet, All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders and members of Governance Advisory Council (GAC) from the senatorial district.

SIGNED

GBOYEGA AKOSILE

CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY

25 JANUARY 2024

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