by Admin | Jul 8, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI A former governor of Jigawa State, Senator Saminu Turaki, was arrested on Tuesday by agents of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He was picked up at an Abuja venue holding a public presentation of a book on Brigadier Zakariya Maimalari, the first regular combatant officer in the Nigerian Army. Before the arrest, Mr. Turaki had been declared wanted for failing to present himself for trial since 2011 on a 36-count charge of corruption before the Federal High Court, Dutse. The court had issued a warrant directing the Inspector General of Police or his officers, as well as the EFCC, to arrest the former governor and bring him to court. Justice S. Yahuza gave the order after Mr. Turaki consistently failed to attend his trial. But attempts to execute the warrant failed, as Mr. Turaki remained elusive. On May 19, 2016 operatives of the EFCC, acting on a tip-off, stormed the 16 Denis Osadebey Street Asokoro, Abuja home of the former governor, but he slipped through their hands. Mr. Turaki faces multiple charges bordering on criminal conspiracy, stealing, money laundering and misappropriation of public funds. SOOURCE: SAHARA...
by Admin | Jul 5, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI Kwara State Police Command arrested nine persons for organising Indian hemp (Igbo)festival in Ilorin over the weekend. Vanguard gathered that the suspects, whose names could not be ascertained at the press time, were of secondary school age. It was also gathered that the suspects had circulated posters informing intending members about the event and rebuffed calls by prominent citizens and organisations to call it off. Sources at the Adewole Divisional Police Station, Ilorin, told journalists yesterday that the culprits were rounded up in Aiyetoro and Asa-Dam area of Ilorin. Sources added that the suspects will soon be charged to court as the Police complete investigations on their involvement in the act. Contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police Ajayi Okasanmi, confirmed the incident. Okasanmi said: “I just received the report and I cannot confirm the number of those that were arrested. “The incident happened within the jurisdiction of the “D’ Division under Adewole Divisional Police Station, Ilorin.” Okasanmi, however, reiterated that the Command will continue to ensure crime prevention to make the residents live in peace and harmony. SOURCE: THE...
by Admin | Jul 5, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered an interim forfeiture of the sums of N500m and $500,000 said to have been looted from the Paris Club refunds made by the Federal Government in favour of the 36 states of the federation. The sums of money, said to have been recovered from two firms, First Generation Mortgage Bank Limited, and Gosh Projects Limited, were allegedly linked to Governor of Zamfara State and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Abdulaziz Yari. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission alleged that the sums of money were fraudulently diverted from the NGF’s bank account on the instruction of Yari. The commission also alleged, in an affidavit filed in support of its ex parte application seeking the interim forfeiture of the sums of money, that the N500m was diverted to offset Yari’s personal loan obtained from the First Generation Mortgage Bank Limited. It also alleged that the second firm, Gosh Projects Limited, utilised most of the proceeds of the alleged loot, transferred to it for the purchase of building materials for Yari’s 100-room hotel project in Lagos. Gosh Projects was also said to have used part of the looted funds for the purchase of treasury bills and transfers to offshore accounts. Our correspondent learnt on Tuesday that Justice Nnamdi Dimgba made the interim forfeiture order of the sums of money to the Federal Government in a ruling delivered on June 30, 2017. The judge also ordered that any person(s) or body with interest in the funds must, within 14 days of the publication of the interim order of forfeiture in any national...
by Admin | Jul 5, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI The prosecutor for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Rotimi Oyedepo, in a cross examination session at the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja, grilled Joseph Nwobike on charges of perversion of the course of justice and unlawful gratification of public officials. Mr. Nwobike, who took the witness stand to give testimony in his own criminal trial on Tuesday, answered a series of questions that the prosecution asked to prove that the embattled senior advocate gratified justices and other court clerical staff of the Federal High Court. The EFCC also claimed that Mr. Nwobike engaged in sending illegal text messages to four registrars of the Federal High Court in a bid to unduly influence his cases being tried by the judges. Mr. Nwobike, however, denied all the allegations. The prosecutor asked the senior lawyer if he had forwarded some names to one Mr. Baruwa, a clerk of the Federal High Court, to monitor in the event that the commission preferred charges or instituted any action against them. Mr. Nwobike denied ever engaging the clerk in such a manner. To further prove the charges, Mr. Oyedepo showed the court an exchange of SMS texts between Mr. Baruwa and Mr. Nwobike. In one of the messages sent by Mr. Baruwa, he acknowledged receiving the “golden handshake” of the lawyer and prayed for “more grease on his elbow.” “You received and read a text from Mr. Baruwa saying, ‘Thank you sir, Kelani gave me your special package.’ On June 3, 2015 at 10:10 a.m., you received a text from Mr. Baruwa saying ‘Good morning sir, I just got a...
by Admin | Jul 5, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Kano State has seized 39,224.109kg of assorted drugs in the last one year, it was learnt yesterday. Commandant Hamza Umar, who spoke during the 2017 United Nations drug-free day, themed: “Listen First”, said the seized drugs included Cannabis Sativa (6,451.976kg); psychotropic substances (3,2715.166kg); cocaine (358.3g); heroin (8.5g); methamphetamine (31.8kg) and ephedrine (24.8kg). According to him, over 768 suspects were arrested, of which 505 were counselled, 68 rehabilitated and 240 convicted. He said: “The drugs are found there, the abusers and dealers are stationed there, while the resources to fight this monster are also based there. Therefore, the support and involvement of the various groups in the community is necessary. “Having reviewed our arrest and seizure statistics from January to June, we noticed a decrease in supply and consumption of the class “A” drugs, otherwise known as hard drugs (cocaine, heroin and cannabis sativa). “Ironically, we noticed an increase in the use of syrups and pentazocine injection. The command noticed there is serious increase in drug-related crimes, and has taken necessary and needed steps to curtail it. “It is also important to mention that the government has raised a 16-man committee to coordinate plans and strategies aimed at curtailing the trend.” SOURCE: THE...
by Admin | Jul 5, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, says the swap of Boko Haram prisoners to secure the release of the second batch of 82 abducted Chibok schoolgirls was a political decision, not that of the military. Featuring on BBC Programme, Hard Talk on Tuesday, the Army Chief said the Federal Government, at that time, believed that the decision to swap the prisoners for the girls was the best. According to Buratai, “As far as I am concerned, we performed our own role for the safe passage of the abducted Chibok girls. “The Boko Haram terrorists’ swap for the Chibok schoolgirls was a political decision, not a military decision. It is in the best interest of the nation and based on the circumstances, the government felt it was the best course. “Personally, I think it has its own advantages; the message is to rescue the Chibok girls. “I do not think anyone has said the Boko Haram has been eliminated. Terrorism is something that is resilient.” Buratai noted that the inability of the Boko Haram insurgents to attack the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and other northern states as they did before May 2015, showed they had been defeated. “Before May 2015, the Boko Haram insurgents were even in Abuja, Kano and Kaduna. They were operating even to the South. We had to stop them. “For the past one and a half years, we have not had any attack in Jos, Abuja, Kano and many other places, not even as close as Gombe State. “They are only concentrated within certain areas in Borno and Yobe states.” SOURCE:Daily...
by Admin | Jul 4, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI The Federal Government has made public details of how two military personnel – Wing Commander Ishaka Yakubu and Lt.-Commander Akinbamidele Odunsi – worked with two bankers to allegedly divert N339m from the Military Pension Board (MPB) in February 2016. The bankers’ are Mrs. Violet Ogoegbunam (the manager of a bank on Kuforodua Street, Wuse Zone 2, Abuja) and Mrs. Abidemi Aderemi Kolade (a relationship manager at the bank). They were said to have diverted N339,374,478.58 from the MPB, under the pretext that the money represented payments to some “supposed next of kins to dead military pensioners as death benefits”. Wing Commander Yakubu is said to be a cashier with the MPB. Lt.-Commander Odunsi is described as an Assistant Director, Computer, with the MPB. This information formed the substance of a four-count charge filed on behalf of the Federal Government by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The charge, filed on May 31, 2017, was endorsed by Steve Odiase of the Legal and Prosecution Department of the EFCC in Abuja. The two bankers are named in counts 1 and 2, relating to conspiracy and obtaining by false pretence in respect of the alleged N339,374,478.58 fraud. Yakubu and Odunsi ar named in the four counts, and charged with obtaining by false pretence, and abuse of office in respect of N190m which they allegedly received from the N390m. According to the EFCC, the offences of obtaining money under false pretence were said to be contrary to section 1(i) (a) and punishable under section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud...
by Admin | Jul 4, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI YENAGOA— AUTHORITIES of the Joint Task Force, JTF, in the Niger Delta codenamed Operation Delta Safe, have said that their operatives have uncovered a local arms manufacturing hideout in Arhavwarien Kingdom, Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State, leading to the arrest of 18 suspects. In a related development, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, yesterday, disclosed that about 500 illegal refineries were shut down in the Niger Delta in the last six months. •Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas He said that illegal refineries operating at various locations in the creeks of the Niger Delta region were traced and shut down within the period, just as he commended the efforts of his men for the feat. Ibas, who spoke in Abuja, while receiving the Managing Director of Nigerian Port Authority, Hajiya Hadiza Usman, who led her organisation’s top management team on a courtesy visit to the Naval Headquarters, Abuja, lauded naval personnel for their commitment to security and safety of the Nigerian maritime domain. He said that the number of the refineries shutdown by his organisation was far more than what was recorded in the past two years. He said, “What is happening is that once you focus on the activities of pirates and other criminals in the maritime sector, you see them run away and begin to struggle for survival in other areas. To some extent, we have been able to curtail them and their nefarious activities in the maritime sector.” “In the last six months, we have been able to shut down about 500 illegal refineries and this is more than what has...
by Admin | Jul 4, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI No fewer than 123 suspected drug dealers have been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Bayelsa State. According to the Bayelsa State command of the agency, illicit drugs weighing 81.95 kilogrammes were also confiscated from suspects in the state. This was disclosed by the NDLEA Commander in the state, Abdullahi Abdul, during a press conference at the agency’s secretariat in Yenagoa. Abdul, who said the arrests and seizures were carried out between January and June 2017, noted that 85 males and 38 females arrested were. According to him, a breakdown of the seizures indicated that cannabis was 74.615 kg, cocaine – 0.011kg, heroin – 0.059kg, and psychotropic drug – 7.265kg. The commandant revealed that during the period under review, they were able to convict three drug suspects – one male and two females – with various prison terms ranging from 18 to 20 months. He added that another seven suspects – two females and five males – were being remanded in prison custody for various drug trafficking offences. Abdul lamented that the major handicap of the Command was logistics that would enable the NDLEA to cover all the nooks and crannies of the state, particularly the coastal areas and the hinterland. The commandant, however, said that the agency was working assiduously with the Bayelsa State government to facilitate their operations in every part of the state. He said: “In Bayelsa State, the major thing that worries us here is the use of psychotropic substances which are mostly abused by youths. We are trying our best to curtail the usage of these substances and...
by Admin | Jul 4, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI The police in Abuja have detained one Usman Adamu as a suspect in the death of a young woman, Joy Odama. According to a statement released earlier today by a police spokesman Jimoh Moshood, Mr. Adamu is being detained as the police continue their investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ms. Odama’s death in the suspect’s apartment in Abuja. Apart from Ms. Odama’s death, another young woman in the suspect’s residence, Victoria Ezekiel, fell gravely ill but was resuscitated at the Federal Medical Center in Jabi, Abuja. The police spokesman disclosed that the Mr. Adamu’s investigation for culpable homicide began after a law firm representing Philomena Odama, the mother of the deceased young woman, wrote a petition to the Inspector General of Police. In the petition, dated January 5, 2017, Mrs. Odama urged the IGP to order an investigation into her daughter’s death in Mr. Adamu’s apartment. The late Joy Odama was a second-year student of Mass Communication at Cross River State University of Technology. The police statement said she “died mysteriously in the flat of Alhaji Usman Adamu located at Ibro Quarters, Karmo, Abuja on 21/12/2016.” According to the police report, on December 18, 2016, one Elizabeth Okpata James asked Ms. Joy Odama to go with her to Mr. Adamu’s house along with another woman, Martha Hassan. The report added that Mrs. Philomena Odama later met Mr. Adamu “who promised to offer her a job with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC).” On December 20, 2016, the suspect requested that Joy Odama come to his apartment to help take care of his ill house-help while...
by Admin | Jul 4, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Monday ordered Patience Jonathan, the wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, to pay N50, 000 to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission after she withdrew her suit against the EFCC. Patience had in February sued the EFCC for the alleged breach of her fundamental human rights. She asked Justice Saliu Saidu to declare that the freezing of her $20m bank accounts and those of her relatives by the anti-graft agency as a gross violation of her rights to fair hearing and to own property. Mrs. Jonathan asked the court to rule that the ransacking of her family property by the officials of the EFCC was illegal and also demanded the payment of N2bn in damages. The plaintiff through her counsel, I. A. Adedipe (SAN), had prayed the court to restrain the EFCC from infringing on her right. Counsel for the EFCC, Kayode Oni, faulted Mrs. Jonathan on her prayers before the court, arguing that her suit was “an abuse of court process.” At the resumed hearing of the matter on Monday, Sammie Somiari who represented Mrs. Jonathan addressed the court on a notice of discontinuance of the suit, saying that he had “an instruction of his client to discontinue the matter.” He said that an application had been filed before the court to that effect. In response, Oni submitted that Patience had a right of discontinue the case, but pressed for a charge of N500,000 as the cost of filing processes in response to the suit. The judge refused to grant the EFCC’s N500,000 request. Justice...
by Admin | Jun 1, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI A Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere on Thursday issued a warrant of arrest on one of the 10 persons standing trial for their involvement in the March 8, 2016 collapse of a building in Lekki Gardens. At least five persons were killed in the incident. Justice Sybil Nwaka ordered the arrest of Shola Olumofe, who is the second accused person in the case. The court had earlier dismissed Olumofe’s motion challenging its jurisdiction. Also listed in the case are – Richard Nyong, Henry Odofin, Molabake Mortune, Omotilewa Joseph, Marius Agwu, Lekki Gardens Estate Limited, Get Too Rich Investment Limited, HC Insight Solutions Limited. and Artech Insignia Limited. The judge adjourned the accused persons’ arraignment till June 14. The accused persons, excluding Olumofe, were brought to court on May 24 but were not arraigned because of Olumofe’s application, challenging the court’s jurisdiction to try the case. Olumofe, through his counsel, Chief Richard Oma Ahonaruogho, challenged his inclusion in a six-count multiple charge of failure to obtain building approval and involuntary manslaughter. source: the...
by Admin | Jun 1, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI A Gudu Upper Area Court on Thursday sentenced a 27-year-old Mechanic, Osama Mohammed to four months in prison for attempted car theft. Mohammed of Masaka, Nasarawa State was convicted for attempting to commit an offence of car theft and being in possession of a master key. The Judge, Alhaji Umar Kagarko sentenced Mohammed to two months in prison with an option of N50, 000 fine on the charge of attempted car theft. He also sentenced Mohammed to two months in prison without an option of fine for the charge of possessing a master key and ordered that he should be given seven strokes of cane. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that both sentences were passed by the judge after Mohammed pleaded guilty to the offences and begged for mercy. Kagarko, however, warned Mohammed to desist from committing crime and be of good behaviour. Earlier, the Prosecutor Fedelix Ogubwe told the court that Yemi Omotayo of Gudu District, Abuja reported the matter at the Garki Police Station on May 26. He said the plaintiff parked his car along UTC, Area 10, Abuja for some business transactions on the said date. The prosecutor said when the plaintiff returned, he noticed Mohammed attempting to force open his car with another key, with the intention to steal the car but was arrested. He said the offence contravened Sections 287 and 319 of the Penal Code. source: the...
by Admin | Jun 1, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI A man who worked with others to kidnap his father has been arrested. The suspect was paraded by the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Odude, along with others on Wednesday. Mr. Odude said that the kidnapping of the suspect’s father took place at Igboora in Ibarapa Central Local Government Area on May 17 at about 6 p.m. “The suspect said he got a share of less than N1 million in the ransom collected although he confessed that his father never offended him,” he said. He said that the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigation was completed. Similarly, six suspects said to be involved in the kidnapping of popular Ibadan-based oil magnate and Chief Executive Officer of Bovas Oil and Gas Limited were also paraded. Items recovered from the suspects included firearms, nine vehicles, one motorcycle, N1.2 million, musical instruments, knife and phones. source: premium...
by Admin | Jun 1, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI The Joint Task Force (JTF) deployed to the Niger Delta says it has destroyed a hideout used by kidnappers in Bayelsa and killed four suspected sea robbers in crossfire. Maj. Abubakar Abdullahi, Spokesman of the JTF, christened Operation Delta Safe, confirmed the development in a statement made available to the Newsmen on Thursday in Yenagoa. Abdullahi said that the JTF also recovered two AK-47 rifles during the two operations. “Troops of Operation DELTA SAFE on Tuesday ambushed a gang of sea robbers along KM-45 AWOBA Waterways in Rivers State. “During the ambush operation, four robbers met their waterloo. “Items recovered include 2× AK-47 rifles, quantity 3× AK-47 magazines, quantity 22 ammunitions and one speed boat mounted with one 200 Horse-Power engine. “In another development, troops patrol along Bayelsa waterways acting on information, raided a sea pirates hideout along FORUPA-LOBIA waterways. “However, sea pirates on sighting troops advance fled the hideout, and left behind 3× fiber boats and one 75 Horse-Power engine. “The hideout was subsequently destroyed instantly while the troops continue with their patrols,” he said. The spokesman said that the Commander Operation DELTA SAFE, Rear Admiral Apochi Suleiman, commended law abiding citizens for their support by providing timely and useful information to troops. He appealed for more cooperation from inhabitants of Joint Operation Area. He assured the communities, oil companies and other stakeholders of OPDS resolve to protect oil and gas infrastructure. He said that the military would stop at nothing to prevent and deter crude oil theft, sea robbery, pipeline vandalism and other form of criminalities in the region that could impact negatively on the...
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