by Admin | Jul 17, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI A Video showing 10 distraught women, believed to be the ones kidnapped in a raid by the militant group on a military/police convoy in Borno State some weeks ago. Following the incident, which took place a few kilometres outside Maiduguri, on Damboa Road, the Nigeria police refuted claims by Boko Haram that some police officers had been killed or abducted by the terror group. Although the two women who speak on the video, which was sent exclusively to SaharaReporters, do not introduce themselves as police personnel, one Amina Adam Gomdia, speaking in eloquent Hausa, describes five of the women in their midst as public servants who are also breadwinners in their families. Gomdia introduces herself as a lecturer at the Federal College of Fisheries, Baga. It is not clear if the other women, who appear to be too shocked to speak, with some of them in tears, are police women or wives of police officers. But it would be recalled that the convoy they were travelling in when they were attacked was carrying the corpse of a police woman who had earlier been killed by the terrorist group. The second woman who speaks on the video gives her name as Deborah Philipus. She says that right from the minute they were abducted, Boko Haram has taken care of them, including treating their injuries, and that they have not lacked food, water or other necessities. “We are grateful to you,” she says, referring to Boko Haram, “but the Government of Nigeria should not say we were not abducted, indeed we were abducted,” she says. SaharaReporters learned she lost...
by Admin | Jul 17, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI aware that his elder brother visited Nigeria, insisting that his client did not owe him any obligation to report his movement within and outside Nigeria. The fugitive’s $3000 withdrawal was reportedly the last of the $115,000 that was paid into his account by Shell Petroleum for the Videofied project executed by Continental Alarm. “This man refused to honor our invitation, claiming he was suffering from renal disease, but he was well enough to go to Ecobank to withdraw the last dollar from the contract proceeds he is accused of diverting criminally,” one EFCC source said, adding that the fugitive’s arrogant behavior earned him inclusion on a watch list. Our correspondent learned that Mr. Nwasike remains in the EFCC’s custody following his arrest. One source disclosed that the fugitive was arguing that he should be let go on account of his purported ill health, a claim considered spurious by EFCC agents, considering the suspect’s past conduct. “This is a man who has shown disdain for the commission by refusing to respond to our invitation, and now that he has been apprehended, he comes up with the claim of sickness. We consider him a flight risk as he has shown both a determination and ability to run and also hide,” one source said. Mr. Nwasike, who hails from Ogidi in Anambra State, was disengaged by Shell apparently on account of acts of impropriety. He also reportedly met the same fate when he worked for Global Energy. SOURCE: SAHARA...
by Admin | Jul 15, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, who is reportedly out of the country, has instructed that the Commission should challenge the court order stopping the Senator Dino Melaye‘s recall process. In a statement released on Saturday, INEC said Yakubu is not, “succumbing to blackmail,” that was rumoured to have come from the Senate. “It may be of interest here to note that the INEC chair is out of the country. “He left last weekend and was not part of the meeting (some days ago) where the decision was taken to obey the court order. “He had however earlier sought and agreed with legal advice and instructed that the Commission should challenge any court order and the competence of the action when word got out last week that Senator Dino Melaye had filed a suit trying to stop his recall. “If indeed there was a threat of blackmail (overt or otherwise), Prof Yakubu from his words and action isn’t succumbing to it. “In any case, he isn’t a sole administrator and all 12 members of the commission have a say in decision making and there’s a consensus in our approach to challenge the Senator’s suit. INEC should be allowed to do its work, regardless of the outcome,” the statement...
by Admin | Jul 15, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI The Kogi State government announced on Friday that it had uncovered an N8.4 billion fraud at the Kogi State University, Ayangba. The Director-General, Media and Publicity to the state governor, Kingsley Fanwo, told journalists in Lokoja that three suspects had been arrested in connection with the fraud. “The suspects perpetrated the fraud by including names of ghost workers into the payroll of the institution. “They (suspects) work in the accounts department of the school and committed the fraud by stealing N100 million per month over a period of seven years,” Mr Fanwo said in a briefing, shortly after the weekly executive council meeting. He said the fraud was discovered during the just concluded staff screening exercise. Mr. Fanwo said the suspects had been handed over to the police for investigation and prosecution. He said the government would soon establish “international markets” at Kabba, Ankpa and Adavi to boost the Kogi economy, adding that contracts for the projects hand been awarded with work expected to commence in September. He said the council also approved the contract for the construction of the office of the state-owned newspapers, “The Graphic.” Mr. Fanwo said the council also took a decisive look at the menace of erosion in some parts of the state and set up a committee to work with the State Emergency Management Agency to tackle the problem. (NAN) Source: Premium...
by Admin | Jul 15, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI The Oyo State Police Command has arrested a 37-year-old woman, Bukola Ogun, who planned her own kidnap and demanded N10million ransom with a view to scaring her husband to relocate her and their two children to the United States of America. Bukola was said to have connived with a three-man gang, including a cousin, to orchestrate her own kidnap. Three armed hoodlums reportedly stormed the residence of the supposed victim at Elesun Street in Oluyole, Ibadan, on July 4, 2017 around 7.45pm, and took her away. After leaving the scene, the woman was said to have lodged herself in a hotel at Imalefalafia area of Ibadan, where she was for three days. But the husband, who was unaware that his wife masterminded the kidnap, informed the police, who later arrested two suspects, Kayode Adepoju, 37, and Olalekan Anafi. Adepoju is Bukola’s cousin. The state Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Odude, paraded the suspects along with other persons arrested over offences ranging from armed robbery to stealing and other crimes, at the state police headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan yesterday. Ogun’s husband has dual citizenship of Nigeria and the United States, and had lived in the US for many years before he relocated to Nigeria. It was further gathered that the husband, who is a salary earner in Nigeria, had begun the process of relocating his family to the US. The wife, who has two children for her husband within the past six years of their marriage, was said to have considered the process too slow. Bukola, in an interview with newsmen, said: “I just woke up one day and thought...
by Admin | Jul 15, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI The immediate past Transition Committee Secretary of Jos North Local Government of Plateau State, Hon. Shehu Usman, on Saturday denied reports making the rounds in media circle that the Simon Lalong-led APC administration is owing the recently sacked appointed Management Committee officials of the 17 Local Governments six months salaries and allowances. Usman denied the allegations in a chat with journalists in Jos. It would be recalled that there were reports credited to an immediate past Management Committee Chairman, who complained that the sacked Local Government officials are being owed six months salaries and allowances. However, debunking the allegations, Usman who was the Organizing Secretary of Plateau Local Government Secretaries forum, said “Governor Lalong is not owing us any kobo.” ”The Governor is very sensitive to the plight of citizens of the state and our welfare was properly taken care of . “It is rather unfortunate that some of the dissolved Transition Committee Chairmen would spread this kind of rumours”. “Most of the sacked Transition Committee Chairmen ran their various Local Governments like it was a personal business most of them don’t consult their subordinate before taking any decision affecting their various councils”, he lamented. “Most Local Government in the state have the financial muscle to pay themselves salaries, anybody that says that the government of Simon Lalong is owing us six months salaries and allowances is been economical with the truth”. “The dissolved Transition Committee members should be gratefully to Governor Lalong and (APC) for considering them first for the appointment and for allowing them stay for close to two years in office without interfering in...
by Admin | Jul 15, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI The US Department of Justice has gone to court seeking the forfeiture and recovery of approximately $144 million of Nigerian assets allegedly laundered in and through the United States. The department filed a complaint alleging that Nigerian businessmen, Kolawole Akanni Aluko and Olajide Omokore, conspired with others to pay bribes to former Minister for Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke. In return for these improper benefits, Alison-Madueke allegedly used her influence to steer lucrative oil contracts to companies owned by Aluko and Omokore. The complainants alleged that the proceeds of the illicitly awarded contracts were subsequently laundered in and through the US. and used to purchase various assets subject to seizure and forfeiture, including a $50 million condominium located in one of Manhattan’s most expensive buildings – 157 W. 57th Street – and the Galactica Star, an $80 million yacht. “The United States is not a safe haven for the proceeds of corruption,” Acting Assistant Attorney General Blanco said. According to the U.S. government, Aluko, Omokore purchased millions of dollars in real estate in and around London for Alison-Madueke and her family members, then renovated and furnished these homes with millions of dollars in furniture, artwork and other luxury items purchased at two Houston-area furniture stores at Alison-Madueke’s directive. In return, Alison-Madueke allegedly used her influence to direct a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to award Strategic Alliance Agreements (SAAs) to two shell companies created by Aluko and Omokore: Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Nigeria Ltd. and Atlantic Energy Brass Development Ltd. (the Atlantic Companies). Under the SAAs, the Atlantic Companies were required to finance the exploration...
by Admin | Jul 15, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI Former Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice Innocent Umezulike, was, on Friday, arraigned before Justice A.O Onovo of the Enugu State High Court. The arraignment was accompanied by drama, as journalists, who arrived the court early, had a hard time before being allowed to take photographs and make video recording. At about 8:50am, a journalist approached the Court Registrar, Mrs. Mbah, seeking permission to take photographs. She, however, asked him to seek permission from higher authorities. The journalists began taking pictures and making video recordings, but were yelled at by lawyers, including Messrs. Gab Agu, Ofoma Agbo and Emmanuel Onyibor, who asked them not to do so. This led to an angry exchange. The journalists, however, insisted that they have the right to take photographs before the commencement of the court sitting. The court began sitting at 9:25am, with Messrs Wahab Shittu and N.T Ukoh representing the prosecution in the suit (No: EHC/ 74C/ 2017). Justice Umezulike, who is facing a four-count charge of corruption, was represented by Messrs. Agu G. Agu, G. Ofoha Agbo and G.C Nwafor. In his preliminary remark, Mr. Agu requested the court to allow the Justice Umezulike to sit, saying Mr. Shittu should know that the defendant bears the title “Honourable Justice” and that it was improper to have stripped him of the title in the charge sheet. Mr. Shittu replied that the prosecution has no intention to strip the defendant of his revered title. He applied to have the title affixed to his name and stated that he is prosecuting the case with reverence to the defendant. The court granted the...
by Admin | Jul 15, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI Court documents filed by the US Department of Justice in Houston have revealed that Nigeria’s former oil minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke tried to warn Kola Aluko and Jide Omokore, her business partners against lavish spending, including splashing millions of dollars on a yacht. “If you want to hire a yacht, you lease it for two weeks or whatever. You don’t go and sink funds into it at this time when Nigerian oil and gas sector is under all kinds of watch,” she said to Aluko in a recorded conversation. But her warning was not heeded as Aluko went on to buy Galactica Star, a luxury yacht, for $80m. The yacht, a stupendous luxury on water, was once rented by Jay Z and his wife, Beyonce for close to a million dollars during a holiday last year. It also once hosted Beyonce’s 32nd birthday in 2013. Both Aluko and Omokore are alleged to have paid bribes between 2011 and 2015 to Diezani who ensured that shell companies owned by the businessmen received billion-dollar contracts to sell Nigeria’s crude oil. The oil swap contracts were a controversial barter arrangement which saw Nigeria use middlemen to sell crude oil in exchange for refined products. With local refineries under-performing, oil swap deals were used to shore up local demand for petroleum products. Between 2010 and 2014, under Diezani’s watch, Nigeria was estimated to have channelled over 352 million barrels of oil worth a total of $35bn into oil swap deals. But with the contracts mostly opaque, Nigeria reportedly lost more than $900m in crude oil swap deals between 2009 and 2012. The...
by Admin | Jul 15, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI Following the mind boggling seizure of two 40ft trucks of substandard drugs intercepted by the Federal Operations Unit, FOU, of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, the Director of Investigations, National Agency for Food, Drugs, Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Mr. Ejiofor Kingsley, has said that importers of fake and substance drugs into Nigeria will get life imprisonment once the National Assembly approves a bill by the agency seeking for such punishment. He disclosed this in a chat with Sunday Vanguard, during the inspection of the Customs warehouse at Ikeja, where the Customs Area Controller, CAC, of the Unit, Comptroller Mohammed Uba Garba, handed over 1,442 cartons of drugs seized by his officers through intelligence network in Lagos. Kingsley also the Chairman of Taskforce on counterfeiting drugs said, “Now 15years imprisonment or a fine of 500.000 is the current punishment for such offence, and it is not severe enough because taking fake drugs is like giving people poison. Imagine if the officers of FOU had not intercepted this huge quantity of substandard drugs, the dangers innocent Nigerians will be exposed to in buying such drugs. At present, we have over 60 cases fake drugs related issues in court. In Port Harcourt recently we had similar seizure of substandard drugs. In 2017 alone, we have recorded seizures of fakes drugs worth over N11billion. You can see the huge quantity and the health implications involved in this deadly act”. Also speaking, the CAC said, “The seizure of the fake drugs was made possible through the resilience of our officers who foiled the antics of smugglers notwithstanding their methods of concealment. This shows...
by Admin | Jul 12, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned judge of the National Industrial Court (NIC), Justice Agbadu Fishim, for allegedly collecting N4.65 million from seven Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs). The judge, who was arraigned before Justice Raliat Adebiyi of an Ikeja High Court, was however granted bail on self-recognisance. Justice Fishim was arraigned on a 19-count charge of unlawful enrichment. EFCC’s prosecutor Rotimi Oyedepo alleged that Justice Fishim received an aggregate of N4.65 million from seven Senior Advocates of Nigeria, one other Lagos-based lawyer and a law firm between 2013 and 2015. Oyedepo claimed the money was paid into the judge’s First Bank account, numbered 3008199491. He said the judge could not give a reasonable explanation of how the money came into his First Bank account. Justice Fishim, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges. His counsel, Prof. Amuda Kehinde, pleaded that his client be granted bail in self-recognisance. Kehinde argued that his client is a sitting judge and would not jump bail. He said he was served with the court papers yesterday about 5p.m and he responded immediately. “He is a sitting judge and he has a lot to lose, if he decides to jump bail,” Kehinde said. Oyedepo did not oppose the bail application. He, however, asked the court to attach conditions to the bail such that the defendant would be mandated to attend trial. Justice Adebiyi granted bail to Justice Fishim and directed him to deposit his international passport with the court registrar. “It is the discretion of the court to grant bail to the defendant. It should be noted that the...
by Admin | Jul 12, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI Residents of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital have been thrown into confusion as bomb explosion ripped the city Tuesday night. Residents said the explosion was heard around Molai Kura, an outskirt along the Maiduguri, Damboa road. DAILY POST reports that the development has forced some residents to flee their homes. Although there is no official report as at the time of filling this report, sources hinted that the first explosion, which went off around 10:15 pm, was followed by another one. He added that at an interval of one hour, the third explosion was heard. A call was put through to some residents around Jiddari Polo area, who told our correspondent that they were also confused as nobody knew from where the explosion was coming from. Our correspondent also reports that security vehicles were moving towards Molai general area, as soldiers were seen passing in front of the Bakassi IDP camp, and heading towards the NNPC mega station, along Molai road. Detail later… SOURCE: DAILY...
by Admin | Jul 12, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI It was the end of the road for a suspected armed robber and leader of a cult group, who had been on the wanted list of the police for five years, when he was shot dead in Anambra State last week. The suspect, Chukwuezugo, alias Zion, who was shot by a rival cult group in Obosi, Idemili LGA, was among suspected criminals whose cases were announced during the parade of over 100 suspects arrested for armed robbery, child theft, cultism and human trafficking by the Anambra State Police Command yesterday. Addressing journalists at the command headquarters in Amawbia, Commissioner of Police, Garba Baba Umar, said the deceased’s accomplice, Okagbue, alias Hajia, in whose shop he was murdered, had been arrested and was now assisting the police with information that could lead to the arrest of other accomplices. Umar said the police got a distress call over gunshots and promptly dispatched policemen to the area, where it was discovered that the victim had been on the wanted list of the police since 2012 for armed robbery, cultism and drug peddling. Giving a breakdown of the successes recorded under a short period, the CP said one Oluchi, 24, was arrested on July 8, 2017, for stealing a two-month-old baby, in connivance with her friend, Nchedochi, 26. Umar said the duo sold the baby to a woman, popularly known as First Lady, now at large. The CP disclosed that the suspect, in order to conceal her crime, reported to the police station under false pretence that she left her baby in the custody of a woman, who absconded with it....
by Admin | Jul 12, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI The Nigerian Army on Tuesday said six Boko Haram suspects were killed after a gun batlle with soldiers along the shores of Lake Chad. The spokesperson of the 8 Task Force Division in Borno State, Timothy Antigha, said the six suspected terrorists were killed in two separate operations carried out by soldiers in the division on Tuesday. He said the operations were part of the ongoing efforts “to rout Boko Haram terrorists in its area of responsibility”. Mr. Antigha, a colonel, said the 7 Brigade Special Task Force, under the 8 Task Force Division, effectively dislodged the Boko Haram fighters who had been gathering in Dawashi Gari village, in an area bordering Lake Chad, with the suspected motive of plotting some attacks. “In an engagement this morning, gallant soldiers of the division killed 4 terrorists, while others fled, abandoning their motorcycles, which were recovered and destroyed, to prevent their being used to perpetrate terror on innocent villagers,” he said. “Similarly, as part of the theater wide and ongoing clearance operations, troops of 145 Bn, 5 Brigade, 8 Task Force Division have cleared Gashigar, Asaga, Bukarti and neighbouring villages. “In the process, troops made contact with terrorists in Kanama village and killed 2 terrorists, arrested 2 more, while 1 AK 47 rifle, 4 magazines and 4 motorcycles were recovered.” The Nigerian Army has achieved large success in its efforts to rout the Boko Haram from Borno and other parts of the north-east, dislodging the terror group from most of the territory it once controlled. Despite the efforts, however, the insurgents, whose activities have caused the death of about...
by Admin | Jul 12, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI A middle-aged man, Ibrahim Shaibu of Tudun Nasira in Minna, the Niger State capital, has admitted to disguising himself in hijab to dispossess people of their money and phones. Shaibu was arrested by the police last week for allegedly snatching mobile phones and other valuables from some residents. It was learnt that Shaibu met his waterloo when he robbed one Adamu Usman of cash and handset on Okada Road, at Gbednaye, Maitumbi. Northern City News gathered that the suspect inflicted knife injuries on his victim’s palms while struggling with him. The suspect told our correspondent in an interview on Tuesday that he had been terrorising Maitumbi and its environs for the past five years. He said, “Robbing people has become my hobby which I find extremely difficult to stop. At times, I will dress in a normal way as a man before I rob people but now, for fear of being identified easily, I have resorted to putting on a hijab before any operation.” Shaibu blamed lack of employment for his criminal activities, noting that the economic hardship in the country compelled him to engage in crime. READ ALSO: Landlord tackles Christ Embassy over rent arrears, electricity bill “Wearing hijab is the easiest way to rob people because it is difficult in this part of the country to suspect a woman to be an armed robber,” he...
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