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Mrs. Jonathan in Fresh Trouble over $15.5m

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Detectives have stepped up the probe of former First Lady Mrs. Patience Jonathan by retrieving her service records from the Government of Bayelsa State.

According to the Nation, the retrieval of her records is part of the screening of her salary and emoluments as a retired permanent secretary to determine whether her earnings could match the 13 assets traced to her.

Besides the assets, the former First Lady is laying claim to $15.5m in some domiciliary accounts.

The anti-graft agency has written the Rivers State Ministry of Lands and Survey for details on some assets linked with the former First Lady and a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

But officials have blocked access to the documents.

Some of the officials may be investigated for obstructing justice, a source said last night.

It was unclear yesterday whether or not the said officials were acting on orders.

A source close to the investigation said there was no where in the records where the ex-First Lady earned foreign exchange as emoluments and estacodes amounting to over $15.5million she is claiming to own.

An EFCC source said: “This agency has retrieved the original service records of the ex-First Lady from Bayelsa State. Preliminary analysis of her records revealed a lot of discrepancies including issues regarding special promotions given to her which were faulted even by the Office of the Head of Service.

“More importantly, from her records, especially her pay packet of N700, 000, there is nowhere she earned as much as $1million not to talk of over $15million, which she is claiming ownership of.

“We have to go through her records and pay slips to prove that the $15million in question was undeserved and should be seized by the court. All her official estacodes and emoluments were not up to the amount being claimed.

“As far as we are concerned, she has questions to answer in line with Section 7 of the EFCC Act.”

Section 7 of the EFCC Act says: “The commission has power to (a) cause any investigations to be conducted as to whether any person, corporate body or organisation has committed any offence under this Act or other law relating to economic and financial crimes.

“(b) Cause investigations to be conducted into the properties of any person if it appears to the commission that the person’s lifestyle and extent of the properties are not justified by his source of income.”

It was also discovered that although she retired on October 15, 2014, the voluntary retirement was approved on 12th May, 2015.

But detectives are trying to analyse her pay slip to know if she received salaries for eight months after her notice of voluntary retirement.’

“If she did receive salaries within the eight-month period without any refund, she might be liable for another offence. A letter acknowledging her voluntary retirement was specific that any extra salary after notice of retirement ought to be paid,” the source said.

A 12th May, 2015 letter signed by Mrs. Biobelemoye Charles-Onyema, the Permanent Secretary of the Civil Service Commission, confirmed the acceptance of the retirement of the ex-First Lady.

The letter from the Bayelsa State Civil Service Commission to the ex-First Lady said in part: “I am directed to refer to Establishment Circular No. 7/1999 of 5th October, 1999 and to inform you that the Civil Service Commission at a meeting held on 12th May, 2015 approved your voluntary retirement from the Bayelsa State Civil Service as a Permanent Secretary (Consolidated Salary with effect from 15th October 2014.

“I am further directed to inform you to handover all government properties in your possession to the most senior director in your ministry and report to the Permanent Secretary, Establishment, Training and pensions Bureau, Governor’s Office, Yenagoa with your appointment papers and other relevant documents for processing of your retirement benefits.

“Any salary earned after 15th October 2014 will be deducted from your gratuity.”

Meanwhile, the anti-graft agency has written the Rivers State Ministry of Lands and Survey for details on some assets linked with the former First Lady in Port Harcourt.

But the ministry’s officials were said to have blocked access to the relevant documents by the EFCC.

Of 13 properties allegedly linked with the ex-First Lady, eight are said to be in Port Harcourt.

The assets in Port Harcourt  are former Customs Service officers mess; two duplexes on 2/3 Bauchi Street; landed property with blocks at Ambowei Street; three Luxury apartments of four bedroom each at Ambowei Street;  and Grand View Hotel on Airport Road.

The assets in Yenagoa include two marble duplexes at Otioko GRA by Isaac Boro Expressway;  Glass House on Sani Abacha Expressway, which is housing Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring  Board; Akemfa Etie Plaza by AP filling Station, Melford Okilo  Road; and Aridolf  Resort, Wellness and Spa on Sani Abacha Expressway.

Another top EFCC source, who spoke in confidence, said: “We have officially written the Ministry of Lands and Survey for details on some of the assets of the ex-First Lady and a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke  in Port Harcourt but they have not been forthcoming.

“Up till now, they have not made relevant documents available to the EFCC. It is a kind of blocking of access to these land titles which are vital to our investigation. We don’t know whether or not they are acting on orders from above.

“We are hopeful that the officials will cooperate with us. But it is certainly a punishable offence to obstruct investigation by EFCC and other  anti-crime agencies.”


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Adeleke Describes Adenuga’s Contribution to African Economy as Unquantifiable

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Senator Ademola Adeleke, the Osun State Governor, has described the Chairman of Globacom, Dr. Mike Adenuga, Jr., as an icon who has made enormous contributions to the development of Nigeria and Africa.

Speaking when he received the Public Sector team from Globacom in his office at Osogbo recently, the governor also commended the positive impact the company has made in the telecoms industry in terms of innovation and pricing.

He described Dr Adenuga as a great believer in Nigeria “whose impact on the Nigerian and the African economy cannot be quantified”.

Adeleke assured the Globacom team led by Niyi Odejobi of his government’s readiness to explore areas of business partnership with the company. “Be rest assured that this partnership is already a reality. We just need to work out the details”, Senator Adeleke noted.

He urged telecommunications companies to strengthen ties with the state government, adding that “the subnational entities are where your market is. Even though the regulatory body is national, your market base remains the states and the local governments. You must deliberately prioritize partnership with the state government.

“The telecom community must understand that giving full support to the states in terms of payment of right taxes and corporate social responsibility is an investment in your market. The more robust the state governments are, the more buoyant your market will be,” the governor said.

In his own remarks, Odejobi pledged Globacom’s support for the growth and development of Osun State, adding that it would deploy various internet and digital infrastructure to promote governance and businesses in the state.


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Foodstuff Store introduces Innovative Recycling Program

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Foodstuff Store, an AgriTech company on Wednesday announced the introduction of its innovative recycling program. The expansion of the corporate mission to include waste management and recycling solutions underlines the company’s commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.

Foodstuff Store is providing a way by which their customers who are provided with wholesome and fresh food products directly from farmers can now dispose of their plastic wastes as an added service, thereby reducing their ecological footprint.

For every waste item delivered for recycling by customers, they’ll receive a credit that can be used for a next purchase at the Foodstuff Store.

Not only will this ensure a contribution to a cleaner environment, but it will also provide a way to incentivise their efforts towards adopting sustainability practices.

“We are thrilled to offer our customers a convenient way to recycle and contribute to a cleaner Nigeria and a cleaner planet,” says Diana Tenabe, Chief Operating Officer at Foodstuff Store. “By offering rewards for recycling, we hope to incentivize eco-conscious behavior within our communities in Nigeria.”

Nigeria faces a significant challenge with plastic pollution. The prevalence of single-use plastics, which is caused by widespread use of sachet water pouches, plastic shopping bags, and take-away containers, leads to massive waste generation. There are also recycling capacity challenges in Nigeria, where only a small percentage of plastic waste gets recycled.

Additionally, indiscriminate disposal of plastics and other waste materials contributes to overflowing landfills with plastics, clogged drainages that lead to flooding, and harming marine life.

Foodstuff Store believes that by working together with its customers, it can create a positive impact on the environment. This new program allows customers to enjoy the quality products and services they expect from Foodstuff Store, while also contributing to a more sustainable future.


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Edenlife Opens the first Homemade Outlet Store in Oniru, to open 49 more Across the Country 

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Homemade by Eden, the food retail business of Nigerian home concierge startup, Edenlife has marked a significant step towards National expansion with the launch of its first Outlet store in Oniru, Lagos State. This move signals the company’s commitment to bringing its signature homemade meals directly to consumers across the country.

Commenting on the launch of the Oniru Outlet, Nadayar Enegesi, CEO of Edenliife stated, ‘’At Eden Life, it’s in our DNA to adapt and meet the evolving needs of our consumers.

The new outlet store by Homemade exemplifies this commitment. These outlet stores will deliver delicious, home-cooked meals to its customers and create job opportunities in logistics and tech support, driving local economic growth.

By sourcing fresh ingredients from smaller Nigerian farms, we strengthen the agricultural sector and ensure a reliable supply chain. And there’s more to come we have plans to launch mobile kitchens in other strategic locations across the nation.

It’s a win-win situation – our customers enjoy a taste of home, we create jobs, empower local businesses, and contribute to a stronger Nigerian economy.’’

The establishment of these outlet stores translates to new job opportunities in logistics and potentially tech support for the mobile units. Additionally, the focus on fresh, local ingredients could encourage partnerships with smaller Nigerian farms, strengthening the agricultural sector and supporting local food production.

This localized approach to food delivery keeps money circulating within communities and fosters a more sustainable economic ecosystem.

Speaking at the launch event on Friday, May 10, 2024, Orafiri Adoki, Business Lead of Homemade stated that some of Nigeria’s food culture has not been fully explored.

She stated, “Nigeria has such a rich culture around food, which has not been explored to its maximum. So, with the launch of the Homemade outlet, we hope to introduce some of the meals Nigerians are used to at home while providing creative and innovative ways to enjoy these meals,” .

As Nigeria’s e-commerce sector continues to evolve, Eden Life’s innovative approach positions the company as a frontrunner in driving industry growth and reshaping consumer expectations. By providing a seamless omnichannel shopping experience, Edenliife not only captures market share but also cultivates meaningful connections with Nigerian consumers.

Nigeria’s e-commerce industry has been experiencing a boom in recent years, driven by factors like increasing internet penetration, smartphone adoption, and a growing young population. The e-commerce market in Nigeria is estimated to be around USD 8.53 billion in 2024.

It is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.82% during the forecast period (2024-2029), reaching approximately USD 14.92 billion by 2029. E-commerce is expected to continue its strong growth trajectory in Nigeria, presenting immense potential for e-commerce platforms like Edenlife to capitalize on the rising demand for convenient and affordable food options.


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