Perm Sec tasks stakeholders on collaboration, innovation to safeguard environment

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

The Permanent Secretary federal ministry of environment,Mahmud Kambari, has tasked environmental stakeholders to collaborate,innovative and be committed to safeguarding our environment for generations to come.
Kambari made this known at the 17th technical session meeting of the National Council on Environment(NCE), yesterday in Abuja .
He said the theme : “Environment Financing: Need to Mobilize More Windows for Generating Adequate Resources in Support of Environmental Sustainability Efforts”, is apt resonate deeply with the priorities of the renewed hope agenda of this administration.
While lamenting that one of the foremost challenges confronting our sector is the issue of funding.
“Despite the undeniable significance of environmental preservation to human well-being, successive administrations have struggled to allocate resources commensurate with the scale and urgency of environmental challenges.”
Also, the PermSec explained how crucial the session is , he said this is a platform that provides relevant key players and experts in the environment sector to engage in preliminary deliberations on the diverse memoranda submitted to the Council for consideration”.
On arraignment, Tigran Gambaryan pleaded not guilty of the alleged offences before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Before the arraignment, Justice Emeka Nwite had in a brief ruling dismissed the objection by Gambaryan to taking plea on behalf of Binance on the ground that he was not its representative and had no written authority to do so.
The court held that Gambaryan had in an affidavit claimed to be representative of the Company and transacted businesses on its behalf in Nigeria.
The anti-graft agency through its counsel, Ekele Iheanacho said the offences which were committed between January 2023 and December 2023 in Abuja were contrary to and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Count one alleged that the defendants between January 2023 and January 2024 in Abuja carried out specialised business of other financial institution without valid licence.
The offence is said to be contrary to Section 57(1) and (2) of the Banks and Other Financial, Institutions Act, 2020 and punishable under Section 57(5) of the same Act.
Although the foreign national pleaded to be remanded at the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, the plea was turned down by Justice Nwite.
The Judge subsequently ordered that the defendant be taken to Kuje Prison on remand.
Meantime, the matter has been adjourned till April 18 for hearing of the defendant’s application for bail and May 2 for trial of the charges.