In a bid to improve the welfare of police officers especially Inspectors and Rank and File, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Solomon E. Arase, NPM, fdc, has mandated the Police Works Department (which is made up of Architects, Civil Engineers, Electrical Engineers, Building Engineers, Estate Managers, Quantity Surveyors among others) to commence building of 500 units of modern and cost effective houses in each of the Twelve (12) Police Zones. The houses are to be completed within six months. The charge was given during a one day workshop of all Police Works officers held at the IGP’s Conference Room, Force Headquarters, Abuja.
In the course of the conference which was called to review the activities of the Department, the IGP expressed his displeasure over shoddy projects carried out in the past for the Force by some building developers at high cost. This new initiative will be driven by the relevant professional expertise within the Force and would be a continuous project.
Upon completion, a unit of two bed-room flat would be delivered to officers at a cost not above Four Million Naira (N4m) as materials would be sourced directly from manufacturers. The IGP stated further that corrupt officers will not benefit from this project. Officers will be able to acquire the houses through NPF Mortgage Bank Plc and the Bank in collaboration with National Housing Fund would finance the project with the Investment Department of the Force coordinating.
Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday June 4, 2015 arraigned Ani Paulinus Onyeka before Justice Rita-Ofili Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court, Lagos on a 2-count charge of Money Laundering.
Onyeka is alleged to have failed to declare the sum of $1,909,140 (One Million, Nine Hundred and Nine Thousand, One Hundred and Forty US Dollars) to the Nigeria Customs Service as required by law, upon his arrival at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
One of the counts reads: “that you Ani Paulinus Onyeka on or about the 10th of February 2014 at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos within the Jurisdiction of the Federal High Court while transporting in cash the sum of $1,909,140 (One Million, Nine Hundred and Nine Thousand, One Hundred and Forty US Dollars) from the Republic of Congo to Nigeria, failed to declare the sum of $1,909,140 (One Million, Nine Hundred and Nine Thousand, One Hundred and Forty US Dollars) to the Nigeria Customs Service as required under Section 12 of the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act cap F34 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and Section 2(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 2(5) of the Money Laundering (Provision) Act) 2011 as amended in 2012.”
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.
In view of the plea of the accused, the prosecution counsel, G.C Akaogu asked the court for a trial date and to remand the defendant in prison custody. In his response, the defence counsel A. A Adetunji informed the court that he had filed an application for bail and prayed the court to be allowed to move the motion for bail.
After listening to the submissions of counsel, Justice Ofili Ajumogobia adjourned the case to 8th of July for ruling on bail and commencement of trial.
The accused was ordered to be remanded in prison custody.
Inspector-General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase
