Nigerian Army sacks military medical doctor for having sex with a colleagues wife

A Nigerian military doctor, identified as Lieutenant Musa Mustapha Bature has been sacked by the Nigerian Army court-martial after he was found guilty of having sex with his colleague’s wife.

Known for his notorious sex life, 38 year old Lieutenant Bature from Kebbi state, reportedly took advantage of one of his colleague's wife who came to him for consultation...

While in his office, he sexually stimulated the newly married woman and then had sex with her. He asked her to come to his house in the evening to collect an ointment for her ailment and then had sex with her again.

The woman, out of guilt, reported the matter to the barrack's chaplain who forwarded her complaint to his superiors. At the Army court-martial on Wednesday, June 29th, Bature was found guilty on a two count charge of illicit sexual relationship and unprofessional conduct.

He confessed to the crime at the court marshal. His fate would be finally decided by a military council, which statutorily ratifies such sentences. Among the punishment prescribed for such offences includes jail term and dismissal from service with dishonour.

Gunmen Aduct Sierra Leonean Diplomat, Demand $40m Ransom

Gunmen have demanded the sum of $40m as ransom for the kidnapped Sierra Leonean diplomat, Nelson Williams who was said to have been abducted yesterday along the Abuja Kaduna Expressway. The victim, a Deputy High Commissioner, was said to be on his way to a military graduation in Kano State when he was kidnapped.

Victim

Sierra Leonean Information Minister Mohamed Bangura announced the kidnap of the envoy from the capital, Freetown.

While the minister did not say a ransom was demanded by the kidnappers, staff at the embassy however disclosed that the kidnappers almost immediately contacted the embassy to demand the sum of $40m for the safe return of the Deputy High Commissioner.

According to report the victim was taken at gunpoint from his vehicle between Abuja and Kaduna. The report also had it that the victim as at the time of the kidnap was traveling in convoy with an armed police escort. Recall that only last week, three Australians, two Nigerians, a New Zealander and a South African were traveling in convoy with armed police officers when they were attacked by gunmen in Calabar, Cross Rivers State.  The incident witnessed the killing of a Nigerian driver, while five of the hostages were injured. The victims were all workers of an Australian construction company.

Though they have since been released, however it is yet to be known how much was paid for their release if any was paid.

With the kidnap of Williams in less than two weeks after the Calabar incident, the menace of kidnapping is said to be have reared its ugly head making nonsense of whatever the nation may have achieved recently in driving out insurgency in the land

DSS Alerts of Plot to Attack Parks, Worship Centers Across the Country during Salah

The Department of  State Service (DSS), has raised the alarm over plans by the extremist groups to attack public and worship centers across the country during the Salah celebration.

DSS Officals

The DSS in a statement signed yesterday by Mr. Tony Opuiyo, also disclosed that they had arrested some suspected leaders and members of the various insurgent groups as well as kidnap kingpins.

“Also, this Service wishes to alert the general public to be wary of suspicious packages and persons, as celebration of the Eid-el-Fitr approaches.

“The Service is availed of intelligence which indicates threat by extremist elements to attack selected locations across the Federation, particularly parks and congregations of worshippers, in order to further their cause,” Opuiyo stated.

He stressed that some “States of the of the Federation have witnessed spate of kidnapping incidents perpetrated by criminal elements in a bid to further their selfish pecuniary and/or criminal interests”. “In furtherance of security measures initiated to checkmate this trend, series of special tactical operations were carried out by this Service, where successful arrests of masterminds of these criminal gangs were made by the Service, while their hide-outs were decimated.”

According to him, the measures being put in place had yielded results, especially in a bid to stem the activities of vandals in the Niger Delta, with the arrest of one Selky Kile Torughedi on June 17, 2016, in Calabar, Cross River State. He claimed that Torughedi was an ex-militant and suspected member of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), and was arrested for planning to assassinate one MB Yahaya, a serving military officer. “Torughedi, who is a close associate of Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), had already conducted surveillance at the residence of Yahaya in Kaduna, preparatory to his plot when he was intercepted. He is also fingered as a sponsor of pipeline vandalism in some States in the South-South region. Suspect is currently assisting the Service, with critical leads,” he stated.

In a related operation, Opuiyo said that the Nigerian Secret agency also arrested one Christian Oluba, who is acknowledged and known as ‘Sensor’, another suspected militant with the NDA. He said that ‘Sensor’ was arrested while perfecting plans to carry out explosive attacks on critical oil and gas pipelines, including critical storage points. He said that “sequel to increasing threat posed to public peace by the activities of the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB), this Service arrested one Chidiebere Onwudiwe, a graduate of Mechanical and Chemical Engineering and known member of IPOB, on June 22, 2016”.

He claimed that Onwudiwe and his associates within and outside the country, were planning to carry out coordinated attacks against religious bodies/edifices, Police-Check Points and the computer village in Ikeja, Lagos State, with Improvised Explosive devices (IEDS). “The suspect was apprehended while making logistics supplies for their nefarious plan,” he said.

Concerning the apprehension of suspected kidnap masterminds, Opuiyo said that the DSS on June 7, 2016,  along Murtala Muhammad Bridge, along Lokoja-Abuja Highway, in Lokoja, Kogi State, nabbed one Kabiru Shuaibu, the ring-leader of a kidnap gang, comprising his accomplices: Haruna Saleh, Tukur Shuaibu and Abdulmumuni Adamuna.

He said that the suspects were part of a criminal gang which had been terrorising innocent citizens in the Northern region of the Federation.

Opuiyo said that during their arrest, a locally-made pistol, seven  cartridges, 14 mobile phones and six hundred and fifteen thousand naira (N615,000) were recovered on them.

Part of the statement read: ” On June 8, 2016, one Reuben Akinbehinje aka Chairman, the ring-leader of a notorious kidnap syndicate, was arrested by this Service in Akure, Ondo State, along with five  other members of his gang namely; John Imoleayo Uche, Seun Lajuwon, Seun Iseoluwa Akintayo, Lateef Fayemi Hammed and Saheed Oyewo.

The Akinbehinje gang has been the brain behind the kidnap of two Catholic nuns in the State and other criminalities such as armed robbery, hijack and diversion of fuel tankers and cult-related activities in Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Lagos and Kwara States.

“Similarly, on June 12, 2016, this Service arrested one Ifeanyi Michael Onyike, a suspected kidnap kingpin at D-line, Port Harcourt in Rivers State. Onyike was involved in the kidnap of Ebere Chinda, wife to Igo Chinda, the Personal Assistant (PA) to the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi.”

Further to this tactical offensive, Opuiyo said,  on June 25, 2016, in one of the North-Western States, one Sani Abdullahi, and his three accomplices, namely Rufai Tukur Abdullahi, Najeeb Abubakar and Abdullahi Ahmed, were apprehended by the Service.

He said the group had concluded arrangements to embark on serial kidnap of high-value targets in Katsina State, before their arrest.

According to him, the “gang has hitherto been terrorising the North-Western States of Kano, Katsina, Kebbi and Zamfara”.

In another development, he said,  on June 19, 2016, at Langtang North LGA in Plateau State, the DSS in liaison with the military and Police, arrested one Nanpon Sambs (aka Yabam), an illegal arms dealer.

He claimed that “Sambs is a member of a notorious black market arms syndicate led by one Peter Nehemiah (aka Adagyo) which operates in the State.

“A Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) launcher and circuit charger were recovered from a Toyota Highlander SUV belonging to the suspect.”

Opuiyo stated that “the Service will continue to deploy every window within its constituted mandate to ensure the security and safety of all law-abiding residents and citizens wherever they reside”.

He however, called on the general public to be security-conscious and to report any suspicious persons/groups or activities to relevant security agenciesThe Department of  State Service (DSS), has raised the alarm over plans by the extremist groups to attack public and worship centers across the country during the Salah celebration.

The DSS in a statement signed yesterday by Mr. Tony Opuiyo, also disclosed that they had arrested some suspected leaders and members of the various insurgent groups as well as kidnap kingpins.

“Also, this Service wishes to alert the general public to be wary of suspicious packages and persons, as celebration of the Eid-el-Fitr approaches.

“The Service is availed of intelligence which indicates threat by extremist elements to attack selected locations across the Federation, particularly parks and congregations of worshippers, in order to further their cause,” Opuiyo stated.

He stressed that some “States of the of the Federation have witnessed spate of kidnapping incidents perpetrated by criminal elements in a bid to further their selfish pecuniary and/or criminal interests”.

“In furtherance of security measures initiated to checkmate this trend, series of special tactical operations were carried out by this Service, where successful arrests of masterminds of these criminal gangs were made by the Service, while their hide-outs were decimated.”

According to him, the measures being put in place had yielded results, especially in a bid to stem the activities of vandals in the Niger Delta, with the arrest of one Selky Kile Torughedi on June 17, 2016, in Calabar, Cross River State.

He claimed that Torughedi was an ex-militant and suspected member of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), and was arrested for planning to assassinate one MB Yahaya, a serving military officer.

“Torughedi, who is a close associate of Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), had already conducted surveillance at the residence of Yahaya in Kaduna, preparatory to his plot when he was intercepted. He is also fingered as a sponsor of pipeline vandalism in some States in the South-South region. Suspect is currently assisting the Service, with critical leads,” he stated.

In a related operation, Opuiyo said that the Nigerian Secret agency also arrested one Christian Oluba, who is acknowledged and known as ‘Sensor’, another suspected militant with the NDA. He said that ‘Sensor’ was arrested while perfecting plans to carry out explosive attacks on critical oil and gas pipelines, including critical storage points.

He said that “sequel to increasing threat posed to public peace by the activities of the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB), this Service arrested one Chidiebere Onwudiwe, a graduate of Mechanical and Chemical Engineering and known member of IPOB, on June 22, 2016”.

He claimed that Onwudiwe and his associates within and outside the country, were planning to carry out coordinated attacks against religious bodies/edifices, Police-Check Points and the computer village in Ikeja, Lagos State, with Improvised Explosive devices (IEDS).

“The suspect was apprehended while making logistics supplies for their nefarious plan,” he said.

Concerning the apprehension of suspected kidnap masterminds, Opuiyo said that the DSS on June 7, 2016,  along Murtala Muhammad Bridge, along Lokoja-Abuja Highway, in Lokoja, Kogi State, nabbed one Kabiru Shuaibu, the ring-leader of a kidnap gang, comprising his accomplices: Haruna Saleh, Tukur Shuaibu and Abdulmumuni Adamuna.

He said that the suspects were part of a criminal gang which had been terrorising innocent citizens in the Northern region of the Federation.

Opuiyo said that during their arrest, a locally-made pistol, seven  cartridges, 14 mobile phones and six hundred and fifteen thousand naira (N615,000) were recovered on them.

Part of the statement read: ” On June 8, 2016, one Reuben Akinbehinje aka Chairman, the ring-leader of a notorious kidnap syndicate, was arrested by this Service in Akure, Ondo State, along with five  other members of his gang namely; John Imoleayo Uche, Seun Lajuwon, Seun Iseoluwa Akintayo, Lateef Fayemi Hammed and Saheed Oyewo.

The Akinbehinje gang has been the brain behind the kidnap of two Catholic nuns in the State and other criminalities such as armed robbery, hijack and diversion of fuel tankers and cult-related activities in Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Lagos and Kwara States.

“Similarly, on June 12, 2016, this Service arrested one Ifeanyi Michael Onyike, a suspected kidnap kingpin at D-line, Port Harcourt in Rivers State. Onyike was involved in the kidnap of Ebere Chinda, wife to Igo Chinda, the Personal Assistant (PA) to the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi.”

Further to this tactical offensive, Opuiyo said,  on June 25, 2016, in one of the North-Western States, one Sani Abdullahi, and his three accomplices, namely Rufai Tukur Abdullahi, Najeeb Abubakar and Abdullahi Ahmed, were apprehended by the Service.

He said the group had concluded arrangements to embark on serial kidnap of high-value targets in Katsina State, before their arrest.

According to him, the “gang has hitherto been terrorising the North-Western States of Kano, Katsina, Kebbi and Zamfara”.

In another development, he said,  on June 19, 2016, at Langtang North LGA in Plateau State, the DSS in liaison with the military and Police, arrested one Nanpon Sambs (aka Yabam), an illegal arms dealer.

He claimed that “Sambs is a member of a notorious black market arms syndicate led by one Peter Nehemiah (aka Adagyo) which operates in the State.

“A Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) launcher and circuit charger were recovered from a Toyota Highlander SUV belonging to the suspect.”

Opuiyo stated that “the Service will continue to deploy every window within its constituted mandate to ensure the security and safety of all law-abiding residents and citizens wherever they reside”.

He however, called on the general public to be security-conscious and to report any suspicious persons/groups or activities to relevant security agencies.

NDLEA arrests South Africa-based Evangelist over N1.4bn drugs

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency says it has arrested a 52-year-old evangelist, John Arinze, over his attempt to export N1.4bn worth of narcotics to South Africa. It said the drugs, made of 92kgs of methamphetamine and 73kgs of ephedrine, were detected inside two containers of foodstuff meant for export to South Africa at the Apapa Seaport in Lagos.

 

Arinze and seized  drug

A statement by the NDLEA spokesperson, Mitchell Ofoyeju, on Friday said the suspect, who is a Nigerian based in South Africa, was under interrogation following an intense undercover operation by the agency and that he had confessed to the crime. He added that sniffer dogs belonging to the agency detected the drugs during screening operation.

The statement partly read, “During examination of the containers marked MSKU 388274-1 and MSKU 424717-0; anti-narcotic officials detected 20kg of Methamphetamine and 50kg of Ephedrine inside the first container. Also, 72Kg of Methamphetamine and 23Kg of Ephedrine were detected in the second container. The total weight of the drugs is 165kg.

“Officers successfully traced the illicit consignment to a fifty-two year old man who claimed to be an evangelist by name John Vincent Arinze who was arrested in his hotel room in Lagos. A Mercedes Benz sport utility vehicle belonging to him was also impounded at the time of arrest. The suspect hails from Ara village, Nise in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State. John who had lived in South Africa for over a decade accepted ownership of the illicit shipment.”

The statement noted further that the drugs were hidden inside packs of melon, concealed in foodstuff and cosmetics such as gaari (cassava flakes), noodles, food seasoning, yam powder, some  alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, pepper, milk, herbal hair cream and cereals.

Other items in the container were said to include hair cream, bags of melon, kegs of palm oil, beans, biscuits and sardine.

The suspect was said to have told the operatives in his statement that he made a “big mistake” by taking over the business of his late wife, who was into drug trafficking.

“I am an evangelist living in Durban South Africa. My late wife was into drug trafficking before she died few years ago. I made a mistake venturing into her business. It is my fault,” he was quoted as saying.

According to the statement, the Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Col. Muhammad Abdallah (retd.) said the seizure would have a positive influence on the campaign against narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in the country.

Abdallah was quoted as saying “This is a product of careful planning and meticulous tracking of narcotic drugs movement. The consignments were closely monitored by our undercover agents and intercepted at Apapa Seaport, Lagos following the detection of narcotics by NDLEA sniffer dogs during screening operation. This will definitely have a positive influence on Nigeria’s drug control efforts.

“I am very happy with the success recorded in this operation. The Agency will remain painstaking and professional in the fight against illicit drug production, trafficking, abuse and prosecuting offenders. We hope to unmask the drug syndicate behind this shipment and make more arrests soon.”

The statement said the suspect would soon be charged to court.

PDP crisis won’t end till 2019 –Sheriff

Factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has warned that the crisis rocking the party may prolong till 2019. He said there were signs that the courts might not be able to restore sanity to the former ruling party.

Ali Modu Sheriff

He, therefore, called on state governors, leaders in the party and other stakeholders to find political solutions to end the protracted crisis in the party. The former governor of Borno State spoke at a press conference in Abuja on Friday.

He was represented at the briefing by his deputy, Dr. Cairo Ojugboh, who said the reprieve granted his faction by Justice Okon Abang, that it must be the one to present candidates for the Edo and Ondo states’ elections coming up later in the year was proof that Sheriff was the authentic leader of the party.

Ojugboh said, “There’s no faction in the party. Stop calling Sheriff factional chairman. The National Working Committee is one. The reason is that, the court said that it is only Sheriff that can sign and submit names of candidates for Edo and Ondo states’ elections. “We are now appealing to the leaders of the party and its governors to cooperate with Sheriff so that he can organise a proper convention to return power to the people. “The court cases won’t end until 2019. The court may therefore not be able to solve the crisis. So we need political solution to end the crisis.

“Justice Abang has said there’s no room for caretaker in the party constitution. This is a special appeal to the governors, (and) the leaders to look at the situation passionately and solve the matter.

“The only way through which the party can solve the problem and for it to move forward is for the people to sit together and solve the problems.”He said that while Sheriff was ready to make peace, he nevertheless added that the party must respect the rule of law.“Court can’t solve the problems of the party,” Ojugboh said.

“The earlier they behave well, the better for them. The party won’t rely on the governors for funds and all that anymore. We don’t need their money. The corruption issue we are having is because governors were bringing money to run party. “We don’t need the governors’ money to run the party again.”

Meanwhile, the National Caretaker Committee of the party, which is headed by Senator Ahmed Makarfi, has said that the injunction granted to the Sheriff group was in error.

The spokesperson for the caretaker committee, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, stated this while reacting to the claim by Sheriff in Abuja. He said the reprieve was granted in error and that it had no effect.

He said, “The injunction granted to the Sheriff group by Justice Abang is of no effect. We believe it was granted in error by misrepresentation to his lordship.

“Two judgements given this week by two justices of the FCT High Court and Federal High Court are to the effect that Sheriff was never even a chairman of the PDP. “He was described as a busy body in one of the judgements. How can the court then grant an injunction to a busy body that has no locus in the party?

“Cairo Ojugboh is trying to hold on to the last straw for relevance. He was part of the stakeholders group in Abuja who were vehemently opposed to Sheriff.

“Now he claims to be his ardent supporter. Where lays his credibility? These people will keep on shopping for all manner of court orders. But they will fail in the end.”

Ex-Adamawa acting gov, Fintiri, gets N500m bail

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday granted bail to a former Acting Governor of Adamawa State, Umaru Fintiri, who was remanded in Kuje Prison on Thursday, in the sum of N500m. Justice Ahmed Mohammed held that the bail should be guaranteed by two sureties in the sum of N500m each.

Fintiri

This followed Fintiri’s arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on five counts of money laundering involving about N1.9bn alleged proceeds of corruption.

The EFCC had on Thursday arraigned Fintiri along Mayim Constructions and Properties Limited (the second defendant). Shortly after Fintiri pleaded not guilty to the charges, Justice Mohammed heard his bail application but remanded him in Kuje Prison to await the court’s ruling on the bail application on Friday.

Ruling on the bail application on Friday, Justice Ahmed dismissed the objection by the prosecution to the bail application, noting that it failed to show reasonable cause why the defendant should not be granted bail. The judge rejected the claim of the prosecution counsel, Mr. Peters Aso, who had alleged that the accused would likely jump bail. The judge held that the claim by prosecution did not hold water as the defendant did not jump the administrative bail granted him by the EFCC before his arraignment.

Other conditions attached to the bail included the seizure of his passport by the court pending the period of his trial. The court also ordered that each of the two sureties to be produced by the defendant must have proofs of ownership of property in Abuja. The sureties were also to deposit title deeds of the property with the court alongside two recent passport photographs.

The judge fixed October 6 for commencement of trial.

In the charges numbered FHC/ABJ/CR/131/2016, and filed on June 16, 2016, the EFCC alleged that the accused committed the money laundering offences between October 2, 2014 and July 2015.

In counts 1 and 2, Fintiri was accused of indirectly disguising the origin of a sum of N220m (N80m and N120m) on October 2, 2014.

He was said to have committed the offence in the two counts by transferring the sums of money from account number 0313000301 with Ecobank Plc and operated by Timeplex Nigeria Limited into another account-5742019591-domiciled with the same bank and operated by Mayim Construction and Properties Limited.

The prosecution alleged that Fintiri knew the sums of money to be part of proceeds of an unlawful act of ‘bribery and corruption’, stating that the alleged offences were contrary to section 15(2), (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2012 and punishable under section 15(3) and (4) of the same law.

He was also accused of committing a similar offence in count 4 by indirectly concealing the origin of the aggregate sum of N550m on October 9, 2016.

Lagos to jail street hawkers, buyers

The Lagos State Government said on Friday that it had begun a total enforcement of the law prohibiting street trading and hawking. The state government said that the law would be implemented in every part of the state.

The state governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, said during a live programme on Television Continental that the renewed enforcement was in line with Section One of the Lagos State Street Trading and Illegal Market Prohibition Law 2003. The governor, while sympathising with the family of a street hawker who was knocked down by an articulated truck while trying to evade arrest from officials of Kick Against Indiscipline  along Maryland Bus stop on Wednesday, regretted that the situation led to the destruction of public assets.

 He said, “It is not in our DNA to allow someone to just die by road accident or the way it happened in respect of the incident. But beyond the fact that we lost one person while crossing the road as a result of evading arrest by KAI officials, I need to tell Lagosians that over 49 buses were actually destroyed and it is costing us like almost N139m to put those buses back on the road.”

The governor added that the state executive council consequently resolved to enforce the law, which according to him, makes hawkers and buyers liable of the offence.

Ambode said, “The issue is we need to enforce our laws because we already have a law in respect of that and then there is a clause in it which says the buyer and the seller are both liable and that we are going to fine them either N90, 000 or a six month jail term.

“What we are doing on traffic is that we are introducing new strategies to eliminate traffic, but Lagos, being a cosmopolitan city, you cannot totally eliminate it but now this is the case, in the next few days, you will see on the street of Lagos signs that will be warning you that buyers and hawkers should be aware that there are consequences.”

He said his administration had also concluded plans to roll out a campaign which would warn motorists and hawkers of the restrictions and the penalty for defaulters.

Court asks INEC to reject candidates from Makarfi-led PDP

‎ The crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is far from over, as a federal high court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to recognise candidates who emerged through primaries conducted by the caretaker committee led by Ahmed Makarfi.

Ahmed Markafi

Delivering his ruling on Thursday, Okon Abang, a justice, recognised the faction chaired by Ali Modu Sheriff, and restrained INEC from accepting list of candidates for the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo from any other faction apart from that of Sheriff.

Abang also directed the electoral body not to acknowledge all the exercises carried out by the Makarfi faction, annulling primaries and congresses.

The judge said the interlocutory orders are to subsist pending the determination of the substantive suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/439/2016 filed by Benson Akingboye in Ondo and Johnson Agbonayinma, Edo.

Both men are asking the court to determine the real faction of the PDP between the one led by Sherrif and that by Makarfi.

Buhari vows to rebuild Niger Delta

President Muhammadu Buhari says his administration will “rebuild Nigeria, including the Niger Delta region”, and he has solicited “patience and understanding” from the Nigerians.

Receiving a delegation of Niger Delta dialogue and contact group, led by Alfred Diette-Spiff, the Amanyanabo of Twon Brass, Bayelsa state, at state house on Thursday, Buhari pledged that under his watch, Nigeria would witness judicious utilisation of resources.

“We intend to rebuild this country, so that our children and grandchildren will have a good place they can call their own. A lot of damage has been done, so I want you to tell the people to be patient,” he said.‎

“When you get together with other leaders, please pacify the people. We will utilise the resources of Nigeria with integrity and rebuild the country.”

The president said the gazette on the Niger Delta amnesty programme by the Umaru Yar’Adua administration was being studied with a view to determining what had been fulfilled. He promised that whatever is left would equally be addressed.

“I want to get as much intelligence as possible on the situation in the Niger Delta. I have encouraged law enforcement agencies to contact leaders like you in order to have enough information to deal with the issues once and for all, “the president said.

He sympathised with investors who borrowed lots of money to invest in the Niger Delta region but have been unable to recoup their investments, due to insecurity.

He used the occasion of his audience with the group to reiterate his appeal to those who perpetrate violence to embrace peace and give government a chance.

The leader of the Group, King Alfred Diette-Spiff, said the group was made of peace-builders, dedicated to peace and stability in the region

Wales set up Euro Cup 2016 semi-final clash with Portugal, beat Belgium 3-1

Belgium drew first blood in 13th minute when Radja Naiggolan sent a long-range powerful shot past Wales goalkeeper giving the team lead.

However, Wales came back strongly and drew level when Ashley Williams headed in on the half-hour.

In opening minutes of second half, it was Hal Robson-Kanu who struck with a marvellous turn and finish writing his name into Welsh football history with his stunning individual effort.

The Dragons downed Belgium 3-1 in the Euro 2016 quarter-finals after Sam Vokes added a third to earn Wales their first major semi-final in history. Wales will now meet Portugal in the semi-final of Euro 2016..

Angry Ogun pensioners lock commissioner in his office

Aggrieved pensioners in Ogun state yesterday locked the state Commissioner for Finance, Adewale Osinowo, inside his office at the government house at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, over their two months unpaid pensions.

The pensioners, under the aegis of the Association of Local Government Pensioners in the state, stormed the office complex and demanded to see the Commissioner. When he refused to come out and attend to them, the pensioners forced their way into the government house and locked the entrance into his office.

The pensioners said they were angry that the state government had refused to pay them their May and June pensions. According to them, about 60 members of their association had died in the last few weeks owing to the non availability of their pensions. The commissioner later attended to them and promised that their pension would be paid immediately.

21 AIGs retired – for being seniors of new IG

The police service commission has approved the retirement of Joseph Mbu, an assistant inspector general of police (AIG), and 20 officers who were senior to Idris Ibrahim, the new acting IG, before his appointment.

Ikechukwu Ani, spokesman of the commission, disclosed this in a statement, saying Mike Okiro, chairman of the PSC, congratulated the retirees.

Below is the list of those affected:

Bala A Hassan

Yahaya Garba Ardo

Irmiya F Yarima

Danladi Y Mshebwala

Tambari Y. Mohammed

Bala Magaji Nasarawa

Musa Abdulsalam

Adisa Bolanta

Mohammed J Gana

Umaru Abubakar Manko

Lawal Tanko

Olufemi A. Adenike

Johnson A Ogunsakin

Adenrele T. Shinaba

James O. Caulcrick

Olufefemi  David Ogumbayodemm

Edgar T Nanakumo

Kalafite H. Adeyemi

Patrick D Dokumor

Mbu Joseph Mbu

Sabo Ibrahim Ringim

Idris was appointed on June 21, following the retirement of Solomon Arase, who clocked the mandatory age of 60

FRSC issues traffic alert for travellers who intend to use Lagos-Ibadan expressway from today to Sunday

The Federal Road Safety Corps, Lagos Sector Command has issued a statement alerting motorists who intend plying the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway between Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd July, 2016 to either move early or take alternative route to avoid being trapped in traffic as a result of the various religious activities that will take place along the major expressway.

According to a statement by the corp, the Redeemed Christian Church of God (Holy Ghost Service) and NASFAT Annual Ramadan Vigil will hold simultaneously today July 1st 2016 while Mountain of Fire Ministry will also hold its monthly power must change hands program on Saturday 2nd July, 2016. This coupled with the on-going rehabilitation work of the road makes it inevitable that there will be heavy volume of traffic considering the number of worshippers that will be participating in these programs.

The Corps therefore advices motorists who do not wish to attend the program to seek alternate routes In and Out of Lagos.

Alternative routes suggested are as follows:

- Lekki – Epe – Ijebu Ode to link Sagamu or Ibadan

- Lagos – Abeokuta Expressway through Sango Otta – Owode – Sagamu Interchange

- Ikorodu – Odogunyan – Sagamu – Ibadan

Motorists are hereby advised to Corporate with FRSC officials as well as other traffic Management agencies that have been deployed to control traffic during the programs. Already the Corps has deployed 20 patrol vehicles, 5 Ambulances, 2 heavy duty tow truck and 200 Officers and men to control traffic during the three days programme.

In the case of any emergency, motorists are advised to call FRSC Toll Free line 122.

SIGNED

HYGINUS OMEJE

SECTOR COMMANDER

FRSC LAGOS STATE

FG declares Tuesday, Wednesday as public holiday

The Federal Government has declared July 5 and 6, 2016, as public holiday to mark the Eid-el-Fitri celebrations.

Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd.

The Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd.), who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, on Thursday in Abuja, urged all Muslim faithful and Nigerians in general “to extend the spiritual benefits of Ramadan, which are love, peace and justice to their daily living and through these, contribute to the development of the nation.”

A statement by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Bassey Akpanyung, said Dambazau also urged Nigerians to use the opportunity of “this spiritual rejuvenation to reflect on the imperative of unity and peaceful co-existence in strengthening the bond of togetherness for a strong and virile nation.”

The minister, while wishing Nigerians a peaceful celebration, urged total support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s avowed determination to bequeath to the nation an enduring political legacy.

Money laundering: You have a case to answer, court tells Ohakim

The former governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, on Thursday, failed to persuade the Federal High Court in Abuja to quash the three-count criminal charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, preferred against him.

Ikedi Ohakim

 The court, in a ruling by Justice Ademola Adeniyi, held that the former governor who piloted the affairs of Imo state between May 2007 and May 2011, has a case to answer pertaining to the charges against him. The charges border on money laundering, abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds. Justice Adeniyi held that the anti-graft agency successfully established a prima-facie criminal case against the defendant that would warrant him to enter his defence before the court.

 Consequently, Ohakim’s no-case-submission was dismissed by the court which ordered the former governor to open his defence on October 10. The charge against Ohakim arose from his alleged purchase of the property at 60, Kwame Nkrumah Street, Plot No 1098, Cadastral ZoneA04, Asokoro District, Abuja with cash payment of $2.29m which was said to be dollar equivalent of N270m in November 2008. The property, according to the agency, was acquired with funds the defendant allegedly laundered from Imo state treasury.

 He was also accused of failing to declare the property as part of his assets when asked by the EFCC to do so. The prosecution said the erstwhile governor violated section 15(1)(d) and section 14(1)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004. Ohakim was said to have paid for the property in cash.

N750m car scam: Ortom lauds EFCC over arrest of Benue speaker, 14 lawmakers

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, yesterday commended operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for investigating the Speaker and other members of the state House of Assembly for allegedly misappropriating N750 million meant for purchase of official cars.

Gov Samuel Ortom

The governor said his government would not condone any act of criminality or defend anyone who had a hand in fraud. Recall that the Speaker of Benue State House of Assembly, Terkinbi Ikange; his deputy, James Ikefe; the Majority Leader, Benjamin Adanyi; Deputy Majority Leader, Nick Eworo; the Minority Leader, Sule Audu and 10 other members were arrested and detained on Monday in Abuja by the EFCC.

It was gathered that though they were let off the hook via bail on Wednesday evening after spending three days in detention, another seven members had been summoned by Commission to appear for questioning today (Friday). Answering questions from State House Correspondents after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential Villa, Abuja, Governor Ortom said in a matter of corruption, no one would be spared. Ortom also vowed to recover N107 billion looted from the state treasury by the government of Governor Gabriel Suswam. He said: “Yes it is a good thing, it is part of the process. They are under investigation by the EFCC. From day one I brought up a slogan that ‘if you chop money, money will chop you. “We have to be careful and I have sent signals to all that nobody is above the law. If you do wrong, you will go your own way. As far as I’m concerned, they are under investigation. Let’s see the outcome we would have. As far as I’m concerned, my government will not shield anybody who is corrupt and who is found wanting. From myself as governor and every other lieutenant, we are opened to scrutiny.”

The governor however regretted that some people were peddling rumours of cash transfers against his government. “There is freedom of information bill and people are allowed to get information from these sources. The only thing is that there is no point telling lies and peddling falsehood against leaders. Like I heard somebody said we transferred 2.4 billion dollars to an account. Which account, where is the money? Money that I don’t have to do local government election, or to pay salaries. If I have it wont I pay them? So it is allowed. “EFCC is an agency that is charged to investigate and where somebody is found culpable you prosecute. So they are free to do their job in Benue State. I have given them free hand: ICPC, EFCC, and even for me I am doing independent prosecution of those who are corrupt,” he said. He stated that already, some indicted persons had agreed to return N355 million to the state government. He said:

 “The justice Kpojume commission came out with a report that N107 billion should be retrieved from 52 persons including the former governor and I am leaving no stones unturned to ensure that we recover this money because we need it for the development of Benue state. “Already someone who was indicted has already offered to refund N355 million which we gave the approval in council  on Wednesday. With that we are not interested in prosecution. The exco exonerated him, once he pays in the money, he has his clean bill.”

Governor Yahaya Bello stranded in Kano enroute Saudi Arabia over expired visa

Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello was on Thursday stopped from traveling to Saudi Arabia for a lesser hajj at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport as his travel visa had expired.

According to SaharaReporters, the governor had boarded the Saudi Arabia bound aircraft and sat on his reserved seat while his aides were busy processing his travel documents only to ‎discover that his visa has expired.

Shortly after the discovery of the expired visa on his passport, the visibly disappointed governor had no alternative but to disembark from the aircraft.

Thereafter, it was gathered that Mr. Bello proceeded to the Kano State Government House, where he spent the night

I am still the governor, Ikpeazu tells Ogah

Despite Thursday’s award of a certificate of returns to Uche Ogah, Okezie Ikpeazu — the man who was “disqualified” from office by an Abuja-based federal high court — says there should be no confusion about who is governor of the state.

Speaking through Enyinnaya Appolos, his media aide, after Ogah received a certificate of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Ikpeazu urged his supporters to remain calm, saying: “I am still the governor of Abia state.” “I have received with concern, report of the purported issuance of Certificate of Return to Mr. Uche Ogah by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as governor of Abia State, despite the pendency of a notice of appeal and motion for stay of the execution of the orders made by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja,” read the statement.

“Our laws are clear on this matter. No one may be issued with a certificate of return let alone be sworn in as governor, when there is a subsisting appeal and application for stay.

“I want to appeal to Abians to remain calm and law abiding in the face of this provocation. Unless and until the appellant courts have conclusively resolved the appeal, the status quo remains; I am still the Governor of Abia State.”

Earlier on Wednesday, Ikpeazu had filed an appeal against Monday’s judgment. In a notice of appeal filed by Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), he raised five grounds of appeal upon which he asked the court of appeal to set aside the judgment and orders of the high court.

The notice of appeal reads: “The trial judge erred in law when he ordered as a consequential order that the appellant vacates his office‎ as the Governor of Abia state immediately when there was no jurisdiction in the Federal High Court to remove, vacate the occupier of the office of the governor of a state or order the removal of such officer after the unsuccessful challenge of the result of the election at the Tribunal and swearing in of the appellant as the governor.”

He said that the only power, authority and order exercisable by the federal high court was to disqualify the candidate from contesting the election based on section 31(6) of the Electoral Act 2010.

He also faulted the judge when he held that he did not pay his tax for the years 2011, 2012 and 2013, when due, when he was a public officer whose tax deduction was under Pay As You Earn (PAYE) scheme where tax deductions were from the source of his monthly salary by the tax authorities who issued all the tax receipts and certificates.

He said the Abia state board of internal revenue services that issued him with the tax certificates had not declared the certificates forged and that the trial court did not invite the issuing authorities to give evidence in the course of the trial.

He argued that Ogah was not a staff of the Abia board of internal revenue and did not invite any staff of the board to testify ‎that the tax certificates were forged.

He accused the trial judge, Abang of violating his right to fair hearing by embarking on judicial investigation without giving him the opportunity to address the court on the issue.

The notice of appeal also states: “The learned trial judge erred in law when he held that the appellant presented false information to the Independent National Electoral Commission by his ingenous meticulous study and investigation of documents filed in courts ‎in the recess of his chambers and thereby violated the right of the appellant to fair hearing.”

Similarly, his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), also rejected the judgment and filed a separate appeal.

You lack power to summon me, AGF tells Senate

The ongoing war of attrition between the Presidency and the Senate got messier yesterday.

Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice Mr. Abubakar Malami said the Senate lacked the power to summon him for questioning.

The AGF, who was invited by the Senate to appear before its Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, said he was not answerable to the Senate.

He said the Senate did not appoint him and, therefore, lacked the jurisdiction to summon him.

 The Senate fired back that it may be forced to issue a warrant of arrest against the AGF for his refusal to honour its invitation.

The Special Assistant to the President on Prosecution attached to the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. Okoi Obono-Obla, who represented the AGF, was walked out of the meeting room.

The altercation took place yesterday at the Senate Meeting Room 3 31.3, 3rd Floor, New Senate Building, National Assembly Complex, Abuja.

‘SLAP IN THE FACE': AGF snubs senate a second time

Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation (AGF), on Thursday failed to appear before the senate committee on judiciary, human rights and legal matters — an action the upper chamber dubbed “a slap in the face”.

This is the second time he has failed to honour the invitation of the senate over a charge of forgery he filed against Bukola Saraki, senate president, and Ike Ekweremadu, deputy senate president, at an Abuja high court.

Although, he sent a representative, the committee did not give him audience.

David Umaru, chairman of the committee, expressed displeasure over Malami’s action, saying: “The purpose of this hearing was to defend Nigeria’s democracy but the attorney-general has faulted the invitation of the senate again.”

Also speaking, a member of the committee, Chukwuka Utazi, described the action of the AGF as a slap in the face of the senate.

“This is a slap in the face of the senate as the AGF has refused to appear before the committee after being summoned,” he said. “We just want to ask the AGF a few questions to clarify all these issues, but he has failed to respond to our invitation.” The committee chairman said that he would report to the senate for a next line of action.

Last Tuesday, the upper legislative chamber had summoned Malami, but he failed to honour the invitation. On Tuesday, the senate summoned him again to appear before it on Thursday, but he did not show up.

A letter from the committee summoning Malami read: “I write with reference to your (AGF) correspondence on the above subject matter with Ref HAGF/NASS/ZOIG/Vol.1/24, dated 23rd June, 2016, whereby you requested for an adjournment of the meeting of the committee, which was supposed to hold on Thursday, June 23, 2016, to enable you prepare your response.

“The committee has considered your request and having regard to the reason adduced, acceded to the request for an adjournment. Accordingly, the meeting is now scheduled to hold on Thursday 30th June 2016 at 12 noon prompt.

“The venue is Senate Meeting Room 31.3, 3rd Floor, New Senate Building, National Assembly Complex. You are by this letter invited to appear before the mentioned place above‎.”

Saraki and Ekweremadu are facing charges of criminal conspiracy and forgery instituted against them by the AGF at an Abuja high court

Ikpeazu obtains court order to stop Ogah’s swearing-in

An Abia state high court has issued an order restraining Uche Ogah from being sworn in as the state governor. The order came just as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) issued a certificate of return to Ogah on Thursday.

The order was the result of an ex parte application filed by Okezie Ikpeazu, governor of the state, against the ruling of a federal high court in Abuja removing him from office.

In the application, Ogah was listed as first defendant; INEC as second defendant, and the chief judge of Abia state as third defendant.

A copy of the order seen by TheCable read: “It is hereby ordered: That an order of injunction is hereby made restraining the second defendant from issuing a certificate of return to the first defendant while the claimant remains in office in accordance with section 143 (1) and (2) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) and pending the determination of the motion on notice.”

“It is further ordered: That the third defendant or any other judge of the court or any judicial officer are hereby restrained from swearing in the first defendant while the claimant remains in office in accordance with section 143 (1) and (2) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) and pending the determination of the motion on notice.”

The order was signed by C H Ahuchaogu, the judge.

Also, in a motion of ex-parte order, the court restricted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from issuing a certificate of return to Oga.

The order reads: “an order of injunction restraining the 2nd defendant (INEC) from issuing a certificate of return to the 1st defendant (Ogah) while the claimant (Ikpeazu) remains in office in accordance with section 143 (1) & (2) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and pending the determination of the motion on notice.

“An order of injunction restraining the 3rd defendant (Chief Judge of Abia State) or any other judge of the court, or any judiciary officer from swearing in the 1st defendant (Ogah) while the claimant (Ikpeazu) remains in office in accordance with section 143 (1) & (2) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and pending the determination of the motion on notice.”

On Monday, Okon Abang, justice of the federal high court, Abuja, ordered INEC to issue Ogah, who was a second runner-up in the 2015 PDP Abia state governorship primary, a certificate of return after he held that Ikpeazu was not fit to be governor.

INEC complied with the order on Thursday.

Abia Governorship: INEC Issues Certificate Of Return To Uche Ogah

INEC’s Director of Publicity, Oluwole Osaze-Uzi, says this follows an order by the Abuja Federal High Court mandating  INEC to immediately issue Certificate of Return to Mr. Uche Ogah who came second at the last Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries in Abia State.

A court in Abuja, on Monday asked INEC to cede the Certificate of Return issued to Mr Okezie Ikpeazu, to his opponent.

Giving his ruling, Justice Okon Abang, said that on the account of fake tax returns during the primaries, Dr. Ikpeazu was never qualified to run in the PDP primaries as a governorship candidate.

The judge also ordered the Chief Judge of the state to swear in Uche Ogah, his opponent in the December 2014 governorship primaries in state as the substantive Governor of Abia State.

Alleged forgery: Resign, SGF advises Saraki, Ekweremadu

As the controversy surrounding the alleged forgery of the senate standing order by Senate President Bukola Saraki and his deputy Ike Ekweremadu lingers on, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, David Babachir Lawal, in a statement he signed and released yesterday June 29th, asked the principal officers of the Senate to resign their positions or go and face trial peacefully.

Babachir likened Saraki and Ekweremadu's trial to that of a former Speaker of the House of Reps who resigned from office after he was found guilty of certificate forgery. Part of his statement reads; “Since the arraignment of the President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki and, his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, before the Federal High Court on Monday, June 27, 2016, the two leaders of the Senate have issued two separate press statements conveying messages that are far from being complementary to the person and government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Senator Saraki, in his statement, clearly insinuated that Mr President is not in control of his administration and that a cabal now runs the federal administration. On the part of Senator Ekweremadu, he insists that President Buhari is exhibiting dictatorial tendencies that can derail our democracy. From their statements, the two leaders of the Senate also gave this erroneous impression that by their arraignment, it is the entire Senate and indeed, the legislative arm of government that is on trial.

They want the public to believe that their prosecution is utter disregard by the executive arm of government for the constitutional provisions of separation of powers and that preferring the forgery case against them is a vendetta exercise. Since this case is in court, the judiciary should be allowed to do its job.

However, it is important to emphasise that this case involves only the four accused persons and should not be presented to the unsuspecting public as involving the entire Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The complaint leading to the forgery investigation was reported to the police by some aggrieved senators, who specifically accused certain persons. It is not the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that is involved and definitely not the House of Representatives. To bring the national assembly as a body into this court case is totally unwarranted. It can only be for other purposes and reasons outside the investigation and legal proceedings.

A case of forgery is usually preferred against individuals. This is not different. As was the case with a former speaker of the House of Representatives, who was accused of certificate forgery, what he did was to resign, honourably. The matter did not even go to court. In that particular case, it was never orchestrated as a matter for the National Assembly. The individual involved did not drag the entire legislature into the matter.”he said

Adamawa singer who was kidnapped after releasing anti-corruption song speaks from hospital bed

Popular Adamawa based musician, Ado Daukaka, who went missing on Saturday June 25th after he released his controversial new song titled "Gyara kayanka" condemning some politicians in the state, has recounted his ordeal in the hands of his abductors. Ado, who was found unconscious at a farm in Lamurde village in the state yesterday, was rushed to the hospital where he is receiving medical examination.

 Narrating his experience in the hands of his abductors, he said:

“They asked me why I sniff around other people’s affairs, which clearly shows that my kidnap had to do with my work as a singer. I was never physically harmed by my captors, but I was quite traumatized by being abducted and held captive” he said

IPOB elders disown Avengers, MASSOB

The Supreme Council of Elders of Indigenous People Of Biafra on Wednesday disowned the Niger Delta Avengers and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra. “Preachers of violence might be infants or non-existent during the 30-month Nigerian Civil War,” the group  said.

The Deputy Chairman of  IPOB’s  Supreme Council, Dr. Dozie Ikedife, stated this at a press conference in  Nnewi, Anambra State on Wednesday. Ikedife was reacting based on the claims by some IPOB and MASSOB  members that the groups were aligning with the Niger Delta militants as well as  other militants in the country.

 The IPOB chief said there was no such  a thing, adding that he witnessed  the Civil  War  and saw  how millions of people,  especially from the South-East,  were slaughtered and properties  destroyed.

He insisted that he would certainly not support any war because  any life lost would not be replaced, but properties could be replaced.

The ex-Ohanaeze  President said, “The IPOB group I belong to is governed by the Supreme Council of Elders. There is a faction led by Nnamdi Kanu that abuses the elders, preaches violence and ethnic hatred. “We do not believe in that. The MASSOB led by Ralph Uwazuruike from its  inception preaches non-violence based on the  philosophy of the late Indian leader, Mahatma  Ghandi. “If the militants have been blowing up pipelines, I don’t see how my group that has been following legal and diplomatic process will align with them. We have quite a different philosophy and modus operandi towards the issue of self-determination.

“The two factions of the IPOB  and the  two factions of MASSOB are all talking about self-determination of the indigenous people of Biafra. But their approach is not the same.“The aim may be one but the method differs. We have not and cannot depart from dialogue, legal and diplomatic process and of course you know we are in court with the Federal Government over this issue of self-determination.”

On the prevailing economic hardship in Nigeria, Ikedife said,  “It  is  a worthy sacrifice for the citizen to endure the hard living conditions now and enjoin a better future later. He added, “I see the current hardship as darkness before the break of the daylight.

“We have now discovered that the economy was so badly managed before now that it requires some efforts, sacrifice and patience to get it right again.”

Attack on oil installations: We can’t pay salaries anymore, Okowa cries

GOVERNOR Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, has said the impact of the renewed destruction of oil assets in the state producing environment has gone so bad that the state is now unable to pay salaries regularly anymore.

The governor, yesterday at the Government Office Annex, Warri, where he convened a stakeholders meeting on, “Creating A Peaceful Atmosphere for the Development of Delta State and the Niger Delta Region,” said: “The larger Nigerian government has been in financial crisis over dwindling oil prices. Increased production would have helped cushion the impact but instead we are faced with destruction of oil assets. “Dealing with dwindling oil prices and destruction of oil assets, we are now producing just half of our quota.

 And we are all really worried because of the greater effect is on Delta State. Before now we receive up to N20 billion monthly, but what we have  now is so low. Last time we got N3.4 billion. Last month what we received has dropped to N3 billion. We now get 1/7th of what we use to have.” The governor said, going by the current financial position, the state was no longer in a position to pay salaries regularly just as Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, has also nosedived. “We met a wage bill of N7.4 billion. Our workforce has been unchanged. With biometrics and rationalization, we trimmed that to about N6.8 billion.

 With the situation, we have in our hands, we are not in position to pay workers regularly anymore. “If we produce our normal volumes, we won’t have it this bad. We have had to reduce support to the councils. And apart from poor income from Federation Account, IGR has also gone down because money is not circulating. “I do know that we were receiving reasonable Pay As You Earn, PAYE of up to N1.5bn and N1.6bn monthly. That has gone down. We should realise there’s a challenge. Political office holders, traditional rulers should build peace. Delta State has been on the news for the wrong reasons and that’s not where we want to be,” Okowa added.

Student, two others to die for robbery

Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo of Ikeja High Court, yesterday, sentenced three persons, Wasiu Arepo, an aluminum products manufacturer; Oluwaseun Idowu, a driver, and Ganiyu Hassan, a student and commercial motorcycle rider, to death by hanging.

 The convict were found guilty on a four-count charge of armed robbery and murder contrary to Section 402 Subsection 2(a) of the Criminal Code Law of Lagos State, 2011, and Section 319 subsection 1(a) of Criminal Code Law of Lagos State, 2011. According to the prosecution, the convicts committed the offence on February 5, 2011 at Aleke village, Imota at 2a.m. The convicts were said to have stormed the house of one Mrs Adijatu Bakare and her husband, Abubakar, and demanded the money Abubakar withdrew from bank a day before.

 During the process one of the accused persons, Arepo, shot Abubakar in the chest after which they ransacked the house and carted away N15,000 and other valuables. He reportedly died on his way to the hospital. Meanwhile, it was reported that two hours after the incident, the convicts were caught in a nearby community by the vigilante group in the area after the wife of the victim reported the matter at Imota Police Station and was able to identify one of the convicts. During trial, the convicts had denied involvement in the incident, claiming they were at home on the night. Justice Akapo, while delivering his judgment, said the prosecution had proved the case beyond doubt that the convicts committed the crime