Alleged Money laundering: NBA President, Usoro gets court permission for foreign trips

Justice Rilwan Aikawa on Wednesday ordered that the passport of
the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Paul Usoro (SAN),
be released to him to enable him to freely travel abroad for his
foreign engagements.

Usoro, who is being prosecuted for allegedly laundering a sum of
N1.4bn belonging to Akwa Ibom State, had surrendered his passport
to the court as part of the conditions attached to the bail granted
him.

On Wednesday, the defence team, led by Chief Wole Olanipekun
(SAN), applied that Usoro’s passport be released to him, giving
assurance that the defendants would always be available for his
trial.

Olanipekun promised that Usoro would schedule his foreign trips
not to clash with trial dates.

In response, the prosecuting counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, said he
would not oppose the application for the release of Usoro’s
passport, given the undertaking by Olanipekun that the NBA
President would not frustrate the trial.

Oyedepo, however, urged Justice Aikawa to mandate Usoro to
notify the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, Ibrahim Magu, whenever he wants to travel out of the
country.

In his ruling, Justice Aikawa ordered the release of Usoro’s
passport and mandated him to ensure that Magu was informed anytime
he wants to travel out of the country.
Meanwhile, the trial was stalled on Wednesday due to unresolved
pending applications.

In the charges, the EFCC accused Usoro of laundering N1.4bn in
connivance with Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State and four
other officials of the state.

While the anti-graft agency noted that Emmanuel has immunity
from criminal trial, it applied for a warrant to arrest the other
state officials.

Air Force War College Produces 18 Graduates of Course
4

The Hounourable Minister of Defence (HMOD), Mansur Dan Ali, has
charged the newly graduated participants of the Air Force War
College (AFWC) Course 4/2018 to continue to strive for excellence
and professionalism in the discharge of their constitutional
roles.

The HMOD, who was represented by the Chief of Defence Staff
(CDS), General Abayomi Olonisakin, stated this during the
Graduation Ceremony of the Course, which held at the Nigerian Air
Force (NAF) Base Markurdi.

The 6-month Course, which was inaugurated on 10 October 2018,
had 18 participants, comprising 2 Group Captains and 14 Wing
Commanders from the NAF, one Lieutenant Colonel from the Nigerian
Army and one Commander from the Nigerian Navy.

The programme was tailored to equip participants with general
knowledge on warfare with emphasis on air power, as well as the
fundamentals of Operational Art and Air Campaign Planning.

Speaking further, the HMOD, whilst noting that the NAF and its
personnel had displayed commendable professionalism, stated that
the Service must sustain its operations to deal decisively with the
security challenges facing the Nation.

The Minister added that air power, being a critical element of
the military component of national power, has remained a formidable
force in the preservation of the nation’s territorial
integrity.

He therefore commended the gallantry of officers and
airmen/airwomen of the NAF in the ongoing counter-insurgency
operations in the country, noting that the Service has played
crucial roles in the successes recorded so far in the operations.
The HMOD also assured the Service of the current administration’s
continued support to the Armed Forces and other security
agencies.

In his remarks, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal
Sadique Abubakar, expressed his delight at how the AFWC training
had positively impacted the professional performance and service
delivery capacity of successive sets of graduates.

“These improved performances have vindicated our belief in
establishing the College to help bridge the observed gaps in
quality of officers transiting from tactical to operational and
strategic levels in the NAF”, he added. He said he was delighted
that most of these graduates had gone on to excel in subsequent
courses, including the National Defence Course. He noted that this
had reinforced his belief that the Service would benefit positively
from establishing the College through better strategic planning and
implementation of doctrines in the nearest future.

The CAS reiterated that the Service had adopted some measures
geared towards building capacity and developing the competences and
skills of personnel of all specialties. According to him,
operational capability had received a boost through the increased
turnout of pilots and other support personnel.

He observed that in 2018 alone, a total of 3,930 personnel,
including 130 pilots on rotary and fixed wing platforms, have
undergone various training programmes. This, he said, was to ensure
that the NAF fulfils its mission as well as attains its objectives
of securing the lives and properties of Nigerians in concert with
sister Services and other security agencies. Air Marshal Abubakar
therefore appreciated the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces,
President Muhammadu Buhari, whose support and exemplary leadership
in the face of compelling economic challenges made the
establishment of the College a reality.

Making some brief remarks during the ceremony, the Executive
Governor of Benue State, Chief Samuel Ortom, who was represented by
the State Deputy Governor, Engineer Benson Abonu, appreciated the
NAF for its immense contributions towards ensuring security in the
State.

He also lauded the bold initiative taken by the current NAF
leadership to establish the AFWC as well as the many other
pacesetting, landmark innovations, which he said, had enhanced the
stature of the Service and improved its operational effectiveness.
He urged the graduating participants to uphold the high standards
of professionalism for which the NAF was known in order to make
valuable contributions to national development.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Commandant AFWC, Air Vice
Marshal Charles Oghomwen, appreciated the Federal Government and
NAF Leadership for the encouragement and support that had enabled
the College to continue to broaden the knowledge and enhance the
capacity of successive sets of participants in air operations while
also providing impetus for improved inter-Service coordination
during joint operations. He advised the graduands to continue to
build their capacities even after graduation, as knowledge
acquisition was a continuous process.

One of the highlights of the ceremony was the presentation of
prizes to participants who had distinguished themselves during the
course. In this regard, Wing Commander Uchechukwu Ajaero won the
Best all Round Award for emerging first in order of merit on the
course and also won the Best in Air Power Award, while Lieutenant
Colonel Mohammed Grema bagged the CAS’ Best Sister Services
Participant Award and Group Captain Abraham Sule won the Award for
the Best Individual Research Paper.

Other dignitaries at the event included the representatives of
the Chiefs of Army and Naval Staff, members of the diplomatic
corps, representatives of the Tor Tiv and Ochi Idoma, the Vice
Chancellor Benue State University as well as several senior
military officers, both serving and retired.

IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force