Police arrest five in Bauchi for burglary, and cannabis possession.
The Bauchi State Police Command has conducted operations leading to the arrest…
Young man was apprehended for allegedly stealing a generator and a plasma television in River state.
It was learned that the culprit allegedly broke into a house and…
Matheus Nunes, a midfielder for Manchester City, was detained for suspected phone theft.
Matheus Nunes, a midfielder for Manchester City, has reportedly been arrested on…
Exclusive: Kogi Governor Ododo Devolves N2.2 billion Upon “Remodelling Government House” in Just Three Months, While Education and Health Receive N600 million
The Kogi State government spent N2.2 billion on "remodelling government house structure" between April and June of 2024, or the second quarter of the year, according to the budget performance evaluation of state expenditures. N962 million was allotted for the same project for the entire year, despite the development. The deputy governor's office and lodge required renovations and furnishings at a total of N200 million, with N100 million going toward each. Even though N100 million was allocated for "government house minor capital expenses," an additional N784 million was spent on them. Direct procurement was used to cover this expense. The state spent N784 million on "minor capital work," but it's unclear why it didn't also allow for free competitive bidding. While the Kogi state government categorized the N784 million it spent in three months for "minor capital works in government house" as a minor expenditure, its total expenses for six months were only N495 million for building and providing public schools for the entire state, and only N101 million for hospitals and health centers. Over the course of three months (April to June), N3.1 billion was spent on remodeling the structures of government houses, making minor capital expenditures for these buildings, and equipping and remodeling the deputy governor's office and lodge. The state administration renovated government offices and quarters throughout the state in 2023 for N1.3 billion, but only four months later it had to spend around three times as much. This development coincides with the fact that the state only invested N395 million in the capital development of water resources, N1.8 billion in the capital expenditure of education, and N1.3 billion in the capital expenditure of the environment ministry during the second quarter of the year. Corruption and claims of improper use of public monies have plagued Kogi State for years. In addition to avoiding arrests and skipping court dates, Yahaya Bello, the former governor of the state, is being tried for corruption for N80 billion.
€125,000 Scandal: Ebenezer Oduntan, a former RCCG Pastor, was found guilty on 87 counts in Naas, Ireland.
Ebenezer Oduntan, a former pastor of the City of David Church in Naas, County Kildare, was prosecuted on 87 counts of fraud and theft at the Naas Circuit Criminal Court after a three-week trial. Since 2015, the church—a branch of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), a Nigerian organization—has called Naas Enterprise Park home. Oduntan, 58, a resident of Curragh Grange, Newbridge, Co. Kildare, entered guilty pleas to 19 counts of stealing, 5 counts of fraud, and 9 counts of giving false information to the Companies Registration Office during the trial, although he rejected 54 other accusations. From 2012 to 2020, Oduntan, who was the pastor, had sole authority over the church's finances. Judge Martina Baxter characterized Oduntan's activities during sentence as a “very prolonged, premeditated and well-planned scheme,” emphasizing that because of the congregation's high regard for him, he was the only one responsible for the church's funds. In court, it was shown that Oduntan had misappropriated church finances for his own benefit. He had written himself checks for as much as €20,000 and had used parishioner monies for his wife's business and private health insurance. Furthermore, he falsified donation data in order to obtain from Revenue an amount greater than what was allowed under the Charitable Donation Scheme. Prosecution attorneys disclosed that between 2012 and 2018, Oduntan transferred five times his declared income through his bank accounts, which they attribute to the church's lack of financial controls that enabled his theft. Oduntan cut all links with the church in 2020, but despite receiving a prison sentence, none of the stolen cash have been found. Oduntan acknowledged using between €15,000 and €25,000 of the money that was taken for himself and his family during the trial. But given his delayed admission of the crime after the church's assets were depleted, the court pointed out anomalies in his regret. Oduntan's attorney emphasized his subsequent social isolation and lack of past convictions in their plea for mercy.…