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Court to hear EFCC’s application for final forfeiture of funds linked to Patience Jonathan

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The Federal High Court in Lagos had earlier placed an interim forfeiture order on the $5.78million and N2.4billion seized from some firms linked to a former First Lady, Patience Jonathan.

The Federal High Court in Lagos, on Monday, fixed October 7 for hearing in the forfeiture proceedings concerning $5.78million and N2.4billion seized from some firms linked to a former First Lady, Patience Jonathan.

The judge, T. G Ringim, adjourned the case to hear an application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the final forfeiture of the funds, the agency’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, said in a statement on Monday.

A non-conviction-based forfeiture proceedings are targeted at funds or assets strongly suspected to be proceeds of crime with the person or entity from whom they are seized having no legitimate explanation for their acquisition.

Mr Wilson said the funds warehoused in Skye Bank Plc and Ecobank Plc had earlier been placed under an interim forfeiture order issued by a now retired judge of the court, Mojisola Olatoregun.

“Following an ex-parte application by the EFCC, Justice Olatoregun had, on April 26, 2017, ordered the temporary forfeiture of the money.

“Dissatisfied with the order of the trial court, Mrs Jonathan alongside other respondents, LA Wari Furniture and Bathes, had first approached the Court of Appeal and subsequently the Supreme Court to set aside the order of the lower court.

“However, both the appellate court and the apex court affirmed the order of Justice Olatoregun,” the statement read in part.

It added that before the conclusion of hearing on the EFCC’s motion for the final forfeiture regarding the funds, Ms Olatoregun retired from the bench in 2019.

As a result of her retirement, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court re-assigned the matter to a new judge, Chuka Obiozor, for hearing.

Mr Obiozor, however, could not hear the case before his transfer to the Benin Division of the Federal High Court.

The case is now before Mr Ringim.

EFCC’s lawyer speaks

At the resumed hearing before Mr Ringim on Monday, EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, gave a brief background of the case.

“This matter is a non-conviction suit instituted before your learned ‘brother’, Justice Olatoregun now retired, where we prayed for the final forfeiture of the sum of $5,781,173.55, warehoused in Skye Bank Plc and N2,421,953,502.78, property of LA Wari Furniture and Bathes in Ecobank Plc.

“It was instituted and an interim order was granted on April 24, 2017, upon which it went up to Supreme Court and an application for its final forfeiture was moved. But the trial judge didn’t deliver the judgment before retiring.

“It was upon that fact that the file was transferred to the registry, where it was re-assigned to the former judge and subsequently your Lordship,” Mr Oyedepo said.
Defence team speaks

Mrs Jonathan’s lawyers, Ifedayo Adedipe, and Gboyega Oyewole, both Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), said the case was scheduled for a mention because it was its first time of coming up before the new judge.
The firms’ lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, a SAN, who urged the court to adjourn the case, said he intended to file an application challenging the constitutionality of the entire proceedings.

He prayed the court for “a long adjournment” to enable him to file the said application.

In his response, Mr Oyedepo, EFCC’s lawyer, opposed the request.
He said by virtue of the provision of section 17 of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, the only step remaining in the proceedings is the hearing of the motion for final forfeiture.

He urged the judge to look at the record of the proceedings of February 17, 2021, to show that the former judge had already adjourned the hearing of the motion for final forfeiture till April 13.

He added that the February 13 proceedings could not hold because of the strike embarked upon by the members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).

He added that should the court be willing to grant the request for an adjournment, it should be for the motion of final forfeiture.

Judge’s ruling

In his ruling, Mr Ringim adjourned the case till October 7, saying whatever application parties filed would be heard along with the motion for final forfeiture.

He gave Mr Ozekhome, who said he planned to file an application, to do so within 14 days.

He said, “In my humble opinion, there is a procedure to follow in this type of application, which cannot be truncated.

“The court cannot adjourn the matter because of an application, which is yet to be filed.

“However, due to the nature of the application, as hinted by the second respondent, the court will not shut the application out.

“This court will adjourn for the hearing of the motion for final forfeiture that is pending.

“Consequently, the second respondent is hereby ordered to file the application, if any, within 14 days from today, and the plaintiff will have one week to respond.

“It will be heard alongside the motion for final forfeiture.”

Mr Ringim further adjourned the proceedings to October 7, 2021.
Another $15.5 million linked to Mrs Jonathan

We reported how the Court of Appeal in Lagos, in May, upturned the conviction of four companies with bank accounts holding $15.5 million that was linked to Mrs Jonathan.

A panel of the Court of Appeal had set aside the conviction of the defendants on the grounds that they were denied fair hearing.

With the decision of the Court of Appeal, the trial of defendants in the case will start afresh at the trial court, lawyers involved in the case had told us

 Culled from the Premium Times Nigeria

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Stephcynie’s “No Lie”: A Soulful Anthem Redefining Love

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With a feature on Billboard.com and placements on Netflix television, Stephcynie is an artist poised to enchant listeners once again with her latest single, “No Lie.” With its chill, romantic sound, and Stephcynie’s sultry vocals, “No Lie” is a soulful anthem that redefines love.
Stephcynie Shares Soulful New Single ”No Lie” Featuring S-Wrap | Stereofox  Music Blog
The song’s lyrics delve into the joy and security of being with someone who allows you to be fully yourself. Picture the harmonies of H.E.R and Snoh Alegra blending seamlessly with the seductive delivery of Jill Scott and SIR – that’s the addictive vibe you’ll experience. Stephcynie’s genre-melding style incorporates jazz phrasing with her smoky voice, showcasing her vocal versatility and offering a refreshing musical perspective. She’s an empowering songwriter, skilled at transforming life’s challenges into motivating musical narratives.
At a BPM of 134, “No Lie” sets the perfect mood for celebrating the beauty of true connection. Produced by the talented Daniel Sauls (known for his work with Lauren Daigle) and featuring word hip hop artist S-Wrap, the song is a testament to Stephcynie’s ability to seamlessly blend classic influences into a modern, genre-defying musical hybrid.
Stephcynie’s resiliency, determination, and undeniable talent have cemented her status as an in-demand vocalist with a solid foundation in the music scene. From her Billboard features to collaborations with industry heavyweights like Eric Church and Christopher Cross, Stephcynie consistently pushes boundaries and exceeds expectations.
No Lie” marks the beginning of Stephcynie’s journey to greatness. With her commanding stage presence and resilient artistry, she’s destined to inspire the next wave of musicians.

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Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.

In the suit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, Emilio Garcia said that after a night out in 2022 in Ibiza, Spain, he was in an SUV with the hip-hop star when she began having sex with another woman right next to him. He was unable to get out of the moving car, and would have been in the middle of nowhere in a foreign country even if he was able. Garcia was “embarrassed, mortified and offended throughout the whole ordeal,” according to the lawsuit.

Alex Spiro, Megan’s lawyer, said she would fight the lawsuit in court.

“This is an employment claim for money — with no sexual harassment claim filed and with salacious accusations to attempt to embarrass her,” Spiro said.

The next day Megan told Garcia never to discuss what he saw and berated and fat-shamed him, the lawsuit said. The complaint also said Garcia, who had already considered quitting because he was overworked and underpaid in a hostile work environment aggravated by Megan’s possessiveness and abusiveness, was misclassified as an independent contractor but treated as an exclusive employee.

Garcia raised those issues in the conversation with Megan, and was fired the following day after four years of working for her, the suit said. He has since filed a job discrimination complaint with the California Civil Rights Department.

The lawsuit, first reported by NBC News, names as defendants Megan, whose legal name is Megan Pete; her companies Megan Thee Stallion Entertainment and Hot Girl Touring; and her label, Roc Nation. A defense response has yet to be filed. There was no immediate response to an email seeking comment from a representative of Roc Nation.

Garcia is seeking financial damages to be determined at trial, alleging he has suffered severely both emotionally and physically because of his treatment on the job, the firing and having to witness the scene in the SUV.

Megan, 29, was previously involved in major legal drama — and underwent a torrent of online abuse — as the victim of a shooting by rapper Tory Lanez, who a jury found fired at her feet on a street in the Hollywood Hills in 2020. She testified at the trial where jurors convicted Lanez of three felonies and a judge sentenced him to 10 years in prison.

Already a major rising artist at the time of the shooting, Megan has since become one of hip-hop’s biggest stars. She won a Grammy for best new artist in 2021, and she had No. 1 singles with “Savage,” featuring Beyoncé, and as a guest on Cardi B’s “WAP.”

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Body of O.J. Simpson to be cremated this week; brain will not be studied for CTE

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April 15 (UPI) — The body of O.J. Simpson, who died last week at the age of 76, is to be cremated, a lawyer representing the ex-football superstar’s estate said, adding his brain will not be donated for research.

Malcolm LaVergne, Simpson’s longtime attorney and executor, told the New York Post that his client’s body is to be cremated Tuesday in Las Vegas.

He said Simpson’s family also gave a “hard no” to scientists seeking to examine the former running back’s brain for chronic traumatic encephalopathy, which is better known as CTE.

CTE is a rare and little understood brain disorder that is likely caused by repeated blows to the head. According to the Mayo Clinic, CTE results in the death of nerve cells in the brain and the only way to definitively diagnose it is with an autopsy of the organ after death.

Memory and thinking problems, confusion, personality changes and erratic behavior, including aggression, depression and suicidal ideation, are among CTE’s symptoms, the Alzheimer’s Association said.

The disease has been found in those who play contact sports, including football and hockey.

LaVergne confirmed to NBC News on Sunday that at least one person has called seeking Simpson’s brain.

“His entire body, including his brain, will be cremated,” he said.

Simpson died Wednesday following a battle with cancer.

Known by the nickname “The Juice,” Simpson was a NFL superstar during the 1970s, which made him a household name that propelled him into film and television during the next decade.

But his stardom would come crashing down in the mid-1990s when he was accused of killing his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman.

His high-profile trial lasted months, but ended with his acquittal.

In 2008, he was found guilty on a dozen charges, including kidnapping and armed robbery, and was paroled in 2017 after serving nine years of his 33-year sentence.

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