Chelsea Football Club has announced that Graham Potter has departed the club, saying that the coach has agreed to collaborate with the Club to facilitate a smooth transition.
The club in a statement on Sunday also announced that Bruno Saltor will take charge of the team as Interim Head Coach.
In his time with the Chelsea, Potter has taken the club to the quarter final of the Champions League, where they will face Real Madrid.
“Chelsea would like to thank Graham for all his efforts and contribution and wish him well for the future,” the statement from the club said.
Co-controlling owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali were quoted to have said, “On behalf of everyone at the club, we want to thank Graham sincerely for his contribution to Chelsea. We have the highest degree of respect for Graham as a coach and as a person. He has always conducted himself with professionalism and integrity and we are all disappointed in this outcome.
“Along with our incredible fans, we will all be getting behind Bruno and the team as we focus on the rest of the season. We have 10 Premier League games remaining and a Champions League quarter final ahead. We will put every effort and commitment into every one of those games so that we can end the season on a high.”
Who is Bruno Saltor?
Bruno Saltor Grau is a former Brighton player. He has been in coaching since retiring at the end of the 2018/19 season and joined Graham Potter in moving to Stamford Bridge in 2022.
The Spaniard, who is considered a legend at Brighton, spent a successful seven years on the South Coast. He guided the club as captain to a first promotion to the top flight in 34 years.
He signed for Brighton from La Liga side Valencia in 2012 and went on to make 39 Premier League appearances between 2017 and 2019.
He surpassed 10 years of service with the Seagulls in June 2022, having been appointed part of the club’s coaching staff in 2019, after he hung up his boots.
He then followed Potter to the Blues after a near 18-year senior football career. With Potter now leaving Chelsea, he has been asked to take over as interim head coach.
This is a verbatim presentation of the controversial telephone call between Peter Obi and Pastor Oyedepo. By Christopher Raphael April 2, 2023 Reading Time: 2 mins read
Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, is under fire for declaring the 2023 presidential election a religious war.
In a leaked audio that went viral on Saturday, Peter Obi was heard begging David Oyedebo of the Living Faith Church for support.
Mr Obi asked Mr Oyedepo to help spread the message to his followers in the southwest and northcentral states.
The leaked audio has since generated heated conversations and controversies on social media with many Nigerians condemning Peter Obi for championing religious-driven campaign in a multi-dimensional country like Nigeria.
Read the conversation word for word below:
Peter Obi: Good morning Daddy.
Bishop Oyedepo: Praise the Lord, how are you Sir?
Peter Obi: Fine Daddy, good morning Sir.
Bishop Oyedepo: Amen, in Jesus name we are going to get bright results.
Peter Obi: Thank you Daddy, when I hear these your calls and prayers, Daddy it’s very dear to me. Like I keep saying if this works, you people will never regret the support
Bishop Oyedepo: Amen! Amen! We look forward to God’s intervention.
Peter Obi: Thank you, Daddy, I need you to speak to your people in South West and Kwara, the Christians in South West and Kwara, this is a religious war.
Bishop Oyedepo: I believe that… I believe that… I believe that… You know I did a release ‘Nigeria Going Forward’ and I am coming with the second one today. I wanted it out when they won’t have any time to do damage control. But in the name of Jesus this would be a success. You know what I said in today’s own? A sickling nation like Nigeria will require a strong and healthy personality. I said anyone whose source of wealth could not be verified should not have access to governance. So all we are doing is appealing to the conscience of people to know where to go. But I want to assure you, in the name of Jesus, that the result will be favourable.
Peter Obi: Thank you Daddy.
Bishop Oyedepo: So relax yourself don’t be apprehensive. Are you in Lagos or Abuja?
Peter Obi: I am in Onitsha now
Bishop Oyedepo: So you will be there for the election?
Peter Obi: Yes Sir
Bishop Oyedepo: Very good, that is where to be, I say all Nigerians have an equal stake, nobody has the right to claim that he is dashing something to someone, we are coming out of it, so how is the east generally?
Peter Obi: East is okay. East is correct.
Bishop Oyedepo: And the Middle Belt?
Peter Obi: It is okay, Middle Belt is okay but places like Kogi, Kwara and Niger are worrisome places.
Bishop Oyedepo: We will get to Kwara
Peter Obi: Fantastic, I went to Kwara and visited Olofa of Offa who told me that nobody had ever come here, with you no problem but the Christian community in Kwara and Niger, and I am also working in Kogi same way.
Bishop Oyedepo: Okay then I will target this clip to them; I will make sure it gets them.
Peter Obi: Thank you I will be looking forward to the release as well, please send it to me.
Bishop Oyedepo: Okay I will do that, God bless you.
Peter Obi: Thank you, Daddy.
Debunk every other articles saying contrary to this.
Here are some of the best ways to grow your hips and butt naturally:
1.Resistance Training:
Resistance training or weightlifting is a highly effective way to build muscle mass in your hips and butt area.
Some of the best exercises for building your hips and butt include squats, lunges, deadlifts, and hip thrusts.2.Cardiovascular Exercises:
Cardiovascular exercises like running, cycling, or swimming are great for burning calories and reducing body fat. Reducing your overall body fat percentage can help to reveal the muscle tone and definition in your hips and butt.3.Healthy Eating Habits:
Eating a balanced diet with a focus on protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates can help to support muscle growth and development. Foods like lean meats, fish, eggs, nuts, seeds, and whole grains are great sources of nutrients that can help to fuel your workouts and build muscle mass.4.Adequate Rest and Recovery:
Adequate rest and recovery are critical for muscle growth and development. When you work out, you create tiny tears in your muscle fibers, and it is during rest and recovery that your muscles repair and grow stronger. Make sure to take rest days and prioritize sleep to ensure that your body has enough time to recover.5. Consistency:
Consistency is key when it comes to building muscle mass in your hips and butt. Aim to exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet, and prioritize rest and recovery. It may take some time to see results, but with consistent effort, you can achieve your desired physique.Growing your hips and butt naturally is possible with consistent effort, healthy habits, and a focus on muscle-building exercises. By following the tips outlined above, you can achieve your desired physique without resorting to surgery or growth syrups/pills. Remember to always prioritize your health and safety, and consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new exercise or nutrition program
Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, a veteran actress and film goddess from Nigeria, has shared why she hasn’t been acting recently.
Omotola Jalade, better known by her screen name Omo Sexy, has been hot on the silver screen for more than two decades. She has appeared in a number of big films, including Blood Sister, Ije, Last Flight to Abuja, Alter Ego, Games Women Play, Lockdown, and many more.
In a recent interview, the actress who recently sparked controversy by sharing a private picture of herself and her husband in bed discussed her lengthy break from acting as well as some of the challenges she encountered.
In her words:
“I slowed down for many reasons. You know we started a long time ago, I think people forget that I have been in the industry for 28 years. So sometimes, you have to re-organize yourself. I can’t continue to pump out movies the way I have and not grow. So I’m growing. And what that means is that I need time to do other things. I have adult children, I’ve had to take care of that. I’ve had to also move back a little bit and also grow my businesses. I have a studio in Lagos, Nigeria. I’m also into real estate. And I’ve recently relocated to the United States. I have businesses there also that I have to grow.
So once an actor, always an actor. I will be coming back to the screens when I think it’s time and I prefer to do projects that are actually meaningful, other than just doing projects just because we want to be working you know. I’ve done that when I was younger. So you’ll see me back on the screens very soon, by God’s grace with projects that I know are worth my time.”
I started having kids at 19 — Omotola narrates her ‘flex’ as son picks her from airport Omosexy has opened up to her fans that many of them can’t understand her journey and why she feels so excited that her son picked her up from the airport.
The movie star who sparked shocking reactions for sharing her bedroom photos with her husband has been in Nigeria for four months majorly to take part in the elections.
Omotola Jalade who revealed she has relocated abroad with her family, finally returned to London and one of her sons, Michael picked her up from the airport.
Sharing a video of her excited self in her son’s car, she stated that she started having kids at the age of 19, and Michael was born when she was 24. She wrote:
“Kiddo is grown… he’s now picking me up in his own car! They actually sent him to pick me up…. Yup! Honeyboy… we free! Started having kids at 19 so you don’t understand my journey… had micky age 24 so hey # let me feel young Againnnnnnnnnn.
He even selected my kinda playlist To serenade me… oh yeah.”
Video of Mandy kiss, Nigerian Based Olosho president has Been trending where she captioned “Wahala be like bicycle. I’m tired of being a nuisance, from now onwards no more Olosho vibes and content again, no more ISU obo , no more drama I don’t want to be In anyone’s business, I just want to be happy”
Watch Video clip 👇👇👇
Fans and gramers are left confused as at why Olosho President in Nigeria Mandy kiss reveals she has officially hanged her boots. See reaction and comments of fans below 👇 👇 👇
What’s your say on this.? Drop a comment on our comment section below.
Expanding your customer base is an essential part of running a successful business. It’s not just about getting more sales, but also about building a community of loyal customers who will keep coming back to your business.
However, attracting new customers can be a daunting task, especially if you’re not sure where to start. In this blog post, we’ll explore 10 proven strategies that will help you attract more customers and expand your client base.
From optimizing your website and social media presence to offering promotions and focusing on customer service, you’ll learn how to attract and retain customers and grow your business. By following these strategies, you’ll be able to take your business to the next level and achieve long-term success.
1. KNOW YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE
When it comes to attracting more customers and expanding your client base, knowing your target audience is a critical starting point.
Identifying your target audience means understanding who your ideal customer is. You need to know who they are, what their needs are, what motivates them, and how they consume information. This knowledge will help you tailor your marketing efforts, product offerings, and customer service to meet their specific needs and wants. One way to get started is to create buyer personas. A buyer persona is a fictional representation of your ideal customer, based on market research, data, and observations. This persona includes demographic information such as age, gender, income, and education, as well as psychographic information such as values, interests, and behaviors.
Once you have a clear understanding of your target audience, you can create targeted marketing campaigns that speak directly to their needs and wants. This allows you to connect with potential customers on a deeper level and build stronger relationships with them. Knowing your target audience is the foundation for any successful marketing strategy. By understanding your ideal customer, you can tailor your efforts to attract and retain more customers and expand your client base.
2. OFFER EXCEPTIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE
Offering exceptional customer service is one of the most effective strategies to attract and retain customers. Customers want to feel valued and appreciated, and providing them with top-notch service can do just that. Exceptional customer service means going above and beyond to meet their needs and expectations, and showing them that you genuinely care about their satisfaction.
To offer exceptional customer service, you need to train your staff to be knowledgeable, friendly, and responsive. They should be able to answer any questions your customers may have, and handle any issues that may arise with speed and efficiency. Your staff should also be empowered to make decisions that benefit the customer, such as offering a discount or a free product.
Another way to offer exceptional customer service is to personalize your interactions with customers. Use their names, remember their preferences, and offer recommendations based on their past purchases. This will make them feel valued and appreciated, and they will be more likely to return and recommend your business to others.
In addition to providing exceptional customer service in person, it’s also important to offer excellent service online. Respond promptly to customer inquiries, address complaints and concerns, and engage with your followers on social media. By providing exceptional customer service both online and offline, you will create loyal customers who will be your biggest advocates and help you expand your client base.
3. BUILD A STRONG LINE PRESENCE
In today’s digital world, building a strong online presence is crucial for any business looking to attract more customers and expand its client base. This begins by creating a professional website that is both mobile-friendly and easy to navigate. Your website is your virtual storefront, so it’s important to make a good first impression by showcasing your products or services in an engaging and informative manner.
Another important aspect of building a strong online presence is optimizing your website for search engines. This means incorporating relevant keywords into your website’s content, meta descriptions, and image tags to improve your search engine rankings. By doing so, you can increase your visibility and attract more traffic to your website.
In addition to your website, social media platforms are a great way to build your online presence and engage with customers. Create profiles on popular social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and regularly post updates, promotions, and interesting content that will catch the attention of your followers.
Building an email list is another effective way to stay connected with your customers and expand your client base. Offer incentives like a discount or freebie in exchange for signing up, and send out regular newsletters or promotional emails to keep your subscribers engaged.
Overall, building a strong online presence requires a combination of a well-designed website, search engine optimization, social media engagement, and email marketing. By implementing these strategies, you can attract more customers and expand your client base with ease.
4. COLLABORATE WITH OTHER BUSINESSES
Collaborating with other businesses is an excellent way to attract more customers and expand your client base. By partnering with non-competing businesses that share your target audience, you can expand your reach and increase your visibility to potential customers who may not have heard of your business before.
For example, a local coffee shop could collaborate with a nearby bookstore to offer a discount on coffee for customers who purchase a book, or a fitness studio could partner with a healthy meal delivery service to offer a discount on meal plans for their members.
Collaborations can take many forms, from joint advertising campaigns and events to cross-promotional social media posts and email newsletters. By working together, both businesses can benefit from increased exposure and reach a wider audience.
It’s important to choose your collaborators carefully and make sure that their values align with yours. You should also clearly define the terms of the partnership and ensure that it’s a win-win situation for both businesses. A successful collaboration can lead to long-term relationships and a loyal customer base.
5. PROVIDE VALUE WITH YOUR MARKETING EFFORTS
Providing value with your marketing efforts is key to attracting and retaining customers in today’s competitive market. Customers want more than just a sales pitch, they want to know what sets your brand apart from the rest and they want to feel like they are getting value for their money.
One way to provide value is by creating content that educates or entertains your audience. This could be in the form of blog posts, videos, social media posts, or even podcasts. By creating content that resonates with your audience, you can build a loyal following who will look to your brand as a trusted source of information.
You can also provide value by offering free trials, samples, or demos of your product or service. This allows potential customers to experience your brand without committing to a purchase. If they find value in what you offer, they are more likely to become paying customers in the future.
Another way to provide value is by offering exclusive deals or discounts to your email subscribers or social media followers. This not only rewards your loyal customers but also encourages new customers to sign up for your newsletter or follow you on social media.
Overall, providing value with your marketing efforts is all about putting the needs and wants of your customers first. By doing so, you can attract more customers and expand your client base while building a strong brand reputation.
6. USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO YOUR ADVANTAGE
Social media is an incredibly powerful tool that businesses can use to attract new customers and expand their client base. With billions of active users across various platforms, social media provides businesses with a unique opportunity to engage with their target audience in a more personal and authentic way.
One effective way to use social media to your advantage is by creating a strong and consistent brand presence across all platforms. This means utilizing the same brand colors, logos, and messaging to create a cohesive and recognizable image for your business.
Another strategy to attract more customers through social media is by creating and sharing high-quality content that resonates with your target audience. This content can include blog posts, videos, infographics, and other forms of visual media that showcase your expertise and provide value to your followers.
Additionally, social media offers businesses the opportunity to engage with their followers directly through comments, direct messages, and other forms of communication. Responding to comments and messages in a timely and personalized manner can help build trust and foster a sense of community among your followers.
Finally, social media advertising can be a highly effective way to reach new customers and expand your client base. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram offer sophisticated targeting options that allow businesses to reach highly specific audiences based on demographics, interests, and other factors.
By using these strategies and leveraging the power of social media, businesses can attract more customers, expand their client base, and ultimately achieve greater success in today’s digital age.
7. OFFER PROMOTION AND DISCOUNT
Offering promotions and discounts is a great way to attract more customers and encourage repeat business. People love to feel like they are getting a good deal or saving money, and promotions and discounts can be a powerful marketing tool to help you achieve this goal.
You can offer discounts to first-time customers to incentivize them to make a purchase. You can also offer promotions for bulk purchases or for customers who refer their friends to your business. These promotions can be advertised through social media, email marketing, or even printed materials such as flyers or posters. One common promotion is a “buy one, get one free” offer. This encourages customers to make a purchase in order to receive an additional item for free. Another popular promotion is a percentage discount, such as 10% off the total purchase price.
It is important to remember that promotions and discounts should be used strategically. Offering too many promotions can devalue your product or service and may even lower your profit margins. So, make sure to carefully plan your promotions and discounts to ensure that they are having a positive impact on your business.
8. ATTENDING NETWORKING EVENTS
Attending networking events can be a great way to attract more customers and expand your client base. These events provide an opportunity to meet new people, promote your business, and learn from others in your industry. Networking events can be anything from small, intimate gatherings to large-scale conferences and seminars. Each type of event offers its own unique advantages.
At these events, you can exchange business cards, share ideas, and gain valuable insights into your industry. By attending these events, you can also learn about new trends and best practices that can help you improve your business. You can also leverage social media platforms like LinkedIn to find relevant events in your area and connect with potential customers or clients.
When attending networking events, it’s important to come prepared. Bring plenty of business cards and any promotional materials. Dress professionally and be ready to introduce yourself and your business. Keep in mind that networking is about building relationships, not just collecting business cards. Take the time to listen to others and show a genuine interest in their business. Follow up with people you meet after the event to solidify the relationship and stay top of mind. By attending networking events, you can give your business a boost and attract more customers.
9. ENCOURAGE REFERRALS AND POSITIVE REVIEWS
Encouraging referrals and positive reviews is a great way to attract more customers and expand your client base. Word of mouth is still one of the most effective marketing strategies out there, and happy customers are more likely to recommend your business to their friends and family.
One way to encourage referrals is to offer incentives to your current customers for referring new ones. This could be a discount on their next purchase, a free gift, or even cash back. Make sure to promote this referral program on your website, social media, and in your newsletters. Positive reviews are also incredibly important for attracting new customers. Make it easy for your customers to leave a review by setting up profiles on review sites like Yelp, Google My Business, and Facebook. You can also send follow-up emails after a purchase asking customers to leave a review. Make sure to respond to any negative reviews in a professional and helpful manner.
Finally, don’t be afraid to showcase your positive reviews on your website and social media channels. This will help build trust with potential customers and show them that others have had a positive experience with your business.
10. CONTINUOUSLY EVALUATE AND ADJUST YOUR STRATEGIES
As a business owner, it is essential to continuously evaluate and adjust your marketing strategies to remain competitive in the market. What worked for your business a year ago may not work today, and you may need to change your strategies to attract more customers and expand your client base.
One way to evaluate your marketing strategies is to track your success metrics. These metrics can include website traffic, social media engagement, conversion rates, and customer retention rates. By analyzing these metrics, you can identify your strengths and weaknesses and adjust your strategies accordingly. Another way to evaluate your marketing strategies is to conduct market research. This research can help you understand your target audience better, identify their pain points, and tailor your marketing messages to address their needs.
You can also keep an eye on your competitors and their marketing strategies to stay ahead of the game. In conclusion, continuously evaluating and adjusting your marketing strategies is crucial in attracting more customers and expanding your client base. Whether through tracking success metrics or conducting market research, staying on top of your marketing game can help your business thrive in today’s competitive market.
We hope you enjoyed our article on 10 proven strategies to attract more customers and expand your client base. Whether you’re a small business owner or a large corporation, these strategies can help you reach new audiences and grow your customer base. With the right marketing techniques and customer service practices, you can attract new customers and turn them into loyal clients. We encourage you to try out these strategies and see how you can adapt them to work for your business. Remember, attracting new customers is just the beginning – it’s important to keep them engaged and happy in the long term. Thank you for reading, and we wish you all the best as you work to grow your business!
Since the return to democracy in 1999, the Nigerian polity has witnessed a flagrant abuse of power by politicians tasked with presiding over the affairs of the citizenry.
Billions of naira that could otherwise have been used to better the lives of the citizenry have been stolen, and siphoned into private pockets. Many of such politicians have escaped the law. Nonetheless, some scared cows often fall on the wrong side of the law in what becomes cautionary tales for their contemporaries, who also act with impunity.
Though some public office holders have been convicted and jailed for corruption, may Nigerian believe that this is a very small fraction, compared to the number who have abused, and still abusing public trust. Here is a profile of nine Nigerian politicians entrusted with power and access to the people’s treasury, but they misused it, and were convicted by competent courts of law for abuse of office/power:
JOLLY NYAME A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in 2018, ordered the refund of monies diverted by former Taraba State governor, Jolly Nyame, after sentencing him to 14 years in prison.
The former governor was charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly diverting N1.64 billion in May 2007.
In a 41-count charge of fraud, the commission accused Nyame of spearheading the fraudulent transfer of funds from the Taraba State treasury to a company, Saman Global for the purchase of office equipment and stationeries that were never delivered.
He was also accused of fraudulently enriching himself and abusing public trust.
In a lengthy judgment which lasted over five hours, the judge, Adebukola Banjoko gave a holistic overview of the testimonies given in court which resulted in the judgement.
His appeal to the Court of Appeal of Nigeria had his jail term reduced to 12 years. Further miffed by the said decision, he appealed to the Supreme Court of Nigeria challenging the jurisdiction of the Federal Capital Territory High Court to have entertained the case, craved for the further reduction of the 12 years sentence as well as the 100 Million fine imposed on him by the Court of Appeal of Nigeria.
At the Supreme Court, the appeal against the imposition of fine succeeded but the Supreme Court affirmed the 12 years jail term.
Hon. Justice Amina Augie held that the Court of Appeal of Nigeria was gracious enough to have reduced it to 12 years as a first time offender.JOSHUA DARIYE A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting at Gudu, in 2018, convicted and sentenced the former Governor of Plateau State, Joshua Dariye to 14 years imprisonment for diverting public funds to the tune of N1.126billion.
Dariye who was governor of Plateau State from 1999 to 2007 and at a time Senator representing Plateau Central, was found guilty on 15 out of the 23-count criminal charge the EFCC preferred against him. The court said it was satisfied that the defendant, being a public officer that had full dominion and control of ecological funds the Federal Government released to Plateau State in 2001, converted and diverted same for his personal use.
It held that the ex-governor criminally misappropriated funds and acted in violent breach of public trust and his oath of office. On appeal to the Court of Appeal of Nigeria, the Court reduced the 14-years sentence for the offence of Criminal Breach of Trust to 10 years and reduced the two years sentence for CriminalMisappropriation to one year. On further appeal to the Supreme Court of Nigeria, the apex court however, upheld Dariye’s concurrent conviction and sentence by the trial court and the Court of Appeal for the offence of Criminal Breach of Trust but proceeded to quash his conviction and sentence in relation to the offence of Criminal Misappropriation. In April 2022, the Council of State led by President Muhammadu Buhari approved the pardon of Dariye and Nyame.JAMES IBORI James Onanefe Ibori, was another convicted felon who was a former governor of Delta State after he was convicted on fraud and money laundering charges in the United Kingdom.
Ibori who was the governor of the oil-rich state from 1999 to 2007, was sentenced to 13 years in prison for money laundering by a London court after pleading guilty to the charges.
The headline by Guardian UK a day after the sentencing, reads; “James Ibori, a petty thief who eventually became one of Nigeria’s richest men,” subtly captured the Nigerian predicament where criminals became political figures despite their known infractions.
Ibori was sentenced after admitting to fraud of nearly £50 million which the judge described as probably “ludicrously low” going by the standard set by Nigerian politicians.
“In the light of other matters, perhaps that is a ludicrously low figure and the figure may be in excess of £200m, it is difficult to tell,” Judge Anthony Pitts of the Southwark crown court had said.
“The confiscation proceedings may shed some further light on the enormity of the sums involved.”
During the trial, Ibori pleaded guilty to 10 offences relating to conspiracy to launder funds from the state, substantive counts of money laundering and one count of obtaining money transfer by deception and fraud.
At the sentencing hearing, the prosecution told the court how Ibori, once a “petty thief with his hand in the till” at the DIY store Wickes, amassed a portfolio of six properties outside Nigeria worth £6.9m at a time he was being paid £4,000 a year as state governor in the Delta region.
The properties in London included a flat in St John’s Wood, a house in Hampstead, and one in Regent’s Park. He also had a £3m mansion in South Africa, and properties in Texas and in Dorset, near to where his children attended private school.
Ibori also bought a fleet of luxury cars, and in three years, ran up £920,000 on his American Express Centurion card – a card only available to the super-rich, Wass told the court. In 2005, Ibori instructed a London solicitor to buy a private jet costing $20m.
The Metropolitan police also estimated that Ibori embezzled $250m (£157m) of Nigerian public funds.
It was also discovered that as governor of Delta State, Ibori had racked up credit card bills of $200,000 a month and owned a fleet of armoured Range Rovers, and was arrested while negotiating to buy a private jet.Late DSP ALAMIEYESEIGHA The late Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha, entered the fray as a convicted politician who called the shots as governor of Bayelsa State where he governed from 1999 to 2005.
In 2005, Alamieyeseigha was detained in London on charges of money laundering after the Metropolitan police found over £1 million in cash in his London home.
Following further investigations, another cash stash of £1.8 million ($3.2m) were found both in the apartment and in different bank accounts. He was also found to own four homes in London worth more than £10 million.
The investigations also revealed that he had embezzled his state’s funds to the tune of £32 million from monthly federal allocations in six years.
Alamieyeseigha then pulled off a stunt when he jumped bail in December 2005 and escaped from the United Kingdom by disguising himself as a woman
His problems were compounded when he was impeached on allegations of corruption on December 9, 2005.
On July 26, 2007, Alamieyeseigha pleaded guilty before a Nigerian court to six charges of fraud, money laundering and corruption and was sentenced to two years in prison on each charge after spending two years in detention, but because the sentences were set to run concurrently and the time was counted from the point of his arrest, his actual sentence was relatively short.
However, many of his assets were ordered to be forfeited to the Bayelsa State government.
But in a face saving interview, Alamieyeseigha said he only pleaded guilty due to his age and would have fought the charges had he been younger.
He was released just hours after being taken to prison due to time already served and on March 12, 2013, then President Goodluck Jonathan incurred the wrath of Nigerians by granting Alamieyeseigha a presidential pardon which was heavily criticised by many NigeriansFAROUK LAWAN Former member of the House of Representatives and Chairman of House Ad-hoc committee on Fuel Subsidy Probe, Farouk Lawan, also got his hands burnt when he was sentenced to seven years imprisonment in 2021 over a $3 million bribery scandal that rocked the Committee.
Lawan was convicted by a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory after he was found guilty of receiving the sum of $3 million from the Chairman of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd, Femi Otedola, to give his company a clean bill of health in the fuel subsidy probe the House of Reps initiated on 2012.
In the judgement delivered by Justice Angela Otaluka, the court found Lawan, by then four-term lawmaker representing Bagwai/Shanono Federal Constituency of Kano State, guilty of fraud, soliciting and receiving bribe as well as money laundering.
The court held that Lawan, founder of a group called “Integrity Forum” in the House, had acted in breach of section 17 (1) (a), section 8(1) (a) (b) (ii), and section 23 (i) of the Corrupt practices and other Related Offences Act, 2000, and committed an offence punishable under section 8 (1) 17 (1) and 23(3) of the same Act.
He was promptly handed a seven-year jail term on counts 1 and 2 of the charge, and five years on count 3.PETER NWAOBOSHI Delta State Senator, Peter Nwaoboshi also falls into the category of Nigerian leaders who ran foul of the law and had to be hauled off to prison.
The embattled Senator was in 2022, sentenced to seven years in prison by the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal for money laundering after it was established that he had used his companies, Golden Touch Construction Project Limited and Suiming Electrical Limited, to launder money.
Nwaoboshi, who represented Delta North senatorial district in the National Assembly, was convicted on a two-count charge of fraud and money laundering.
The court also ordered that his two companies be wound up in line with Section 22 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2021.
According to the spokesperson of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, Nwaoboshi was prosecuted following several allegations of fraud and misappropriation of funds levelled against him.
The anti-graft spokesman said in 2021, the lawmaker was accused by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) of using 11 companies as fronts to secure for himself a N3.6 billion contract in the commission.
But the contract was not executed while the money was not refunded.
The then NDDC spokesperson, Charles Odili, had described the contract as the “biggest single case of looting of the Commission’s resources.”
While the case was still ongoing, Nwaoboshi defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) but that did not save him from being handed a jail term.ALBERT BASSEY The Senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East senatorial district at the National Assembly, Albert Bassey Akpan, ran into troubled waters towards the end of 2022 when a Federal High sitting in Uyo, the state capital, sentenced him to 42 years imprisonment for money laundering.
Senator Bassey who was also the governorship candidate of the YPP in the 2023 election, was convicted by Justice Agatha Okeke after he was found guilty of a six-count charge of money laundering preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC had dragged Senator Bassey to the court on allegation of receiving a vehicle valued at N204 million as a bribe from companies linked to one Olajide Omokore, a contractor who executed a N3 billion contract for the Government of Akwa Ibom State while he was Commissioner for Finance and Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Direct Labour Coordinating Committee.
The offence, according to the EFCC, contravened Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act. LUCKY IGBINEDION Former governor of Edo State, Lucky Igbenedion made history as the first Nigerian ex-governor to be convicted of looting public funds and money laundering.
Shortly after his tenure, in 2008, the EFCC dragged him to court on a whopping 142 counts of corruption amounting to $24 million using front companies.
During the trial, Igbinedion entered a plea bargain with the commission and refunded a fraction of the amount he was said to have embezzled. He was later to be released on the strength of the plea bargain.JAMES BALA NGILARI James Bala Ngilari is another ex-governor who was convicted for looting public funds.
Ngilari was the governor of Adamawa State for only seven months until May 2015 when he was convicted of awarding a contract for the procurement of 25 vehicles at a cost of N167 million without following due process.
Ngilari was found guilty of five of the 17 charges levelled against him in September 2016 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and was sentenced to five years imprisonment without an option of a fine. His conviction was however, shortlived as he was to be acquitted by the Court of Appeal.
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