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By Bash M Bash

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, secured the conviction of two Chinese nationals, Mr. Meng Wei Kun and Mr. Xu Kuai, before Justice Abubakar Mahmud Talba of the Court of Appeal Sokoto Division on Friday.

The two Chinese nationals were convicted and sentenced to prison terms each on Count 1 and Count 2 on the appeal brought against the judgment of the Federal High Court Sokoto which discharged and acquitted the accused persons on a 3-count charge bordering on conspiracy, money laundering and attempted bribery to the tune of N50 million brought against them by the Sokoto Zonal Command of the EFCC.

Delivering a unanimous judgment, Justice Talba berated the respondents that tried to frustrate the appeal through maneuverings stating that “Gone are the days of technicalities in Law”, emphasising that “Courts must allow cases to be heard on merits”.

Justice Talba determined that the EFCC had proven Count 1 and 2 of the 3 Count charge before the Federal High Court beyond reasonable doubt but agreed with the lower Court on count 3 and accordingly struck it out because a similar Charge is pending before the High Court in Sokoto State.

According to Justice Talba, “the respondents are charged with conspiracy and making a cash payment in excess of the threshold provided by the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 as amended in 2012 to Abdullahi Lawal (then zonal head of EFCC Sokoto) which was established beyond reasonable doubt before the lower court but surprisingly the trial Judge summersaulted in his judgement and recanted”.

Justice Talba added “I regret to say that the judgment is like a fiction by the trial judge who created doubts in his mind while discharging his responsibilities”. “Without doubt, the trial judge grossly misconceived that no offence was committed”

The Judge went further “Conspiracy is a distinct offence even if the commission of the actual offence is aborted, and in the instant case there exists positive cogent inescapable evidence the offence was committed”

Justice Talba, therefore, held that the appeal is “immensely meritorious” and convicted and sentenced the Chinese nationals to 3 years on each on the two counts with an option of N10 million fine each on each count.

The Justice of the Court of Appeal said “before I draw the curtain, the respondents are Chinese and an offence of this gravity in their home country attracts the death penalty yet here they are corrupting our country. The Courts of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will not condone corruption in any way; as President Muhammadu Buhari has said if we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria”.

Four persons were reportedly injured as traditional religion worshippers attacked some Muslims while praying in a mosque in Ile-Ile, Osun state.

It was gathered that the Muslim worshippers were inside the mosque on Thursday evening preparing for the 4pm (Asr) prayer when the traditionalists, who were carrying out the Pro ritual, attacked the mosque.

Saturday Vanguard learnt that traditionalists in the town had on Wednesday announced that Oro cult will be observed in some parts of Ife between 2pm to 7pm, thereby warning residents to steer clear of the areas.

Findings showed that the traditionalists thronged the mosque located at Idi-Omo, Ilare around 4 pm to disperse the worshippers who were performing ablution inside the perimeter fence of the mosque.

According to one of the worshippers in the mosque, Abdulazeez Bashir, the Oro adherents entered into the fence and started flogging worshippers with cane instructing them to leave the ablution area.

“One of them even attacked the Imam, Alhaji Abdullateef Adesiyan while coming into the mosque. He was beaten with a cane and hit him on the face with a rod.

“When I discovered that about five persons have been injured, apart from the Imam of the mosque, I had to call the Ife Chief Imam to intimate him of the happenings.

“The situation could have escalated into a big religious crisis when other Muslims began to gather around, but the traditionalists eventually ran away. The victims were later taken to hospital for treatment”, he said.

When contacted, the Osun Police Command spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola confirmed the incident, saying the investigation has been launched into the mosque invasion.

“We deployed our men to the scene and normalcy has returned to the area while we have commenced an investigation to the alleged mosque invasion.

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has called on political party leaders to restrain spokespersons from using damaging language and exchanges that could heat up the polity.

In a statement issued yesterday by its Director of Publicity and Advocacy, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, the forum said it had followed the conduct of the elections, some of which are still being planned or conducted.

He said: “The Forum is, however, concerned over rhetoric and exchanges, which raise tensions and fuel negative dispositions that threaten inter-community relations. Party leaders should restrain spokespersons from escalating damaging language and exchanges.”

He however, appealed to Nigerians to allow the judiciary to undertake its onerous responsibility in a calm and peaceful atmosphere.

While expressing worry that leaders are not exercising enough responsibility to encourage respect for the judicial process, a key element of the electoral process, the Forum reminded the judiciary that Nigerians look up to it to salvage democracy and restore the faith of Nigerians in its integrity and competence.