How Police Rescued Lagos Woman Raped and Robbed along Lekki Road by Facebook Lover, Friends
NewsmakersNG
http://www.newsmakersng.com/how-police-rescued-lagos-woman-raped-and-robbed-along-lekki-road-by-facebook-lover-friends


Segun Atanda/

The police in Lagos have told how a woman was robbed and gang-raped off the road in Lekki when she was out on a date with a Facebook friend.

Lagos State police spokesman, CSP Chike Oti, told NewsmakersNG details about police investigation report that showed how the woman (names withheld) connected with the Facebook friend from hell in July 2018.

The Facebook friend, who was described by the police as a rapist and armed robber was identified as one Richard Samuel Gbenga.

Oti told NewsmakersNG: “They interacted a couple of times, getting to know each other. However, on August 4, 2018, the said Richard Samuel Gbenga invited the young woman for a dinner and she accepted. She further told him where they would meet before taking off for the dinner.

“The suspect arrived at the agreed take-off point in a Toyota Camry saloon car registration number JJJ 406 DL driven by one Ayo Salau, a member of his robbery gang.

“On their way to Lekki, they pulled over at a lonely spot. Armed with cutlasses, they ordered her to take off clothes or be killed. Seeing she was naked, they took turns to rape her after which they robbed her of her wristwatch and cash.

“The moment the hoodlums left, the victim raised the alarm and gave a description of their car. Police operatives attached to...http://www.newsmakersng.com/how-police-rescued-lagos-woman-raped-and-robbed-along-lekki-road-by-facebook-lover-friends/

NewsmakersNG
http://www.newsmakersng.com/dcp-abba-kyari-loses-4-men-in-kaduna-ambush/
Segun Atanda/

Four officers attached to the Intelligence Response Team of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), led by DCP Abba Kyari, have been killed in an ambush while pursuing kidnappers in Kaduna State.

The police identified the slain officers as “AP/No. 148333, Inspr. Benard Odibo; AP/No. 181539, Inspr. Mamman Abubakar; AP/No. 192938, Inspr. Haruna Ibrahim, and F/No. 267815, Sgt. Emmanuel Istifanus.

Police authorities in a terse statement told NewsmakersNG today how the...http://www.newsmakersng.com/dcp-abba-kyari-loses-4-men-in-kaduna-ambush/

NewsmakersNG
http://www.newsmakersng.com/day-of-reckoning-as-suspected-thief-jumps-to-death-in-escape-bid/

CSP Chike Oti/



Every day is for the thief; one day is for the owner, says an African proverb that has a familiar ring with the story of a suspected criminal who allegedly jumped to his death today while trying to escape after stealing from a car in Lagos.

The late Daniel Ekwerekwu’s story was told by the Lagos State police spokesman, CSP Chike Oti, in a statement today.

Oti says in the statement: “If Daniel Ekwerekwu an indigene of Aguleri, Anambra State, (going by the voter’s card recovered from him), knew what fate had in stock for him at the early hours of today 12/08/2018, perhaps, he might have chosen another day to go vandalising people’s cars.

“Nemesis caught up with the said Daniel Ekwerekwu at Okungade Street, Mende-Maryland, Ikeja, where he went on a perilous mission of car vandalisation to wit stealing of car body/engine parts.

“However, at about 0604hrs, one of the owners of the cars being vandalised woke up to prepare for church service only to see Daniel vandalising his car.

“He raised the alarm which attracted a police patrol team from Anthony Police Division on neighbourhood patrol, as well as neighbours. They chased after the thief who ran into a building. He tried to scale the fence but unfortunately for him, his hands slipped off the wall and he landed on a cemented floor breaking his skull as a result.


“When the police searched his trousers’ pocket, they recovered a voter’s card bearing his name and picture.

“He was taken to Mainland Hospital, Yaba, where he was confirmed dead. The body was thereafter deposited at the hospital’s morgue for autopsy.

“The Commissioner of Police on...http://www.newsmakersng.com/day-of-reckoning-as-suspected-thief-jumps-to-death-in-escape-bid/

NewsmakersNG
http://www.newsmakersng.com/fidelity-bank-releases-video-of-violent-customers-attacking-security-guards-restates-commitment-to-peaceful-operations/

Fidelity Bank has debunked claims being circulated on social media that one of its managers ordered the beating of customers at a branch in Lagos.

The bank in a statement signed by its Divisional Head, Brand and Communications, Mr Charles Aigbe, says no official of the bank ordered such alleged assault.

The statement, which is supported by an attached CCTV footage of its ATM gallery at Alagbado Branch, insists that Fidelity Bank does not encourage any form of violence.

It says: “Following the unfortunate incident on the video currently in circulation on the above subject, we have obtained the attached CCTV footage at the ATM area which captures the full incident.

“As can be seen in the footage, a security personnel observed the boys ‘shoulder surfing’ and upon his enquiry, they attacked him twice, leaving him with a bleeding eye before the intervention of the police.

“Whilst reiterating that no official of the bank ordered the assault as alleged, we do hereby state categorically that Fidelity Bank does not encourage any form of violence.

“As a responsible corporate citizen, we...http://www.newsmakersng.com/fidelity-bank-releases-video-of-violent-customers-attacking-security-guards-restates-commitment-to-peaceful-operations/

NewsmakersNG
http://www.newsmakersng.com/nass-invasion-dankwambo-charges-nigerians-to-protect-democracy/
Segun Atanda/

Gombe State governor, Alhaji Hassan Dankwambo, has urged Nigerians to be prepared to protect democracy against obvious threats from anti-democratic elements.

Dankwambo’s charge followed Tuesday’s invasion of the National Assembly by security forces, led by the Department of State Services (DSS).

Dankwambo in a statement, which he personally signed, decried what he described as the “forceful take-over of the National Assembly Complex by some renegade officials of some security agencies as an ignominious assault on the rules of decency, a rude violation of the principles of separation of powers and, ultimately, a violent assault on our democracy”.

Dankwambo further stated: “What happened should set alarm bells ringing in the heads of every patriotic Nigerian and every friend of Nigeria that our nation is being taken to the precipice and the agents of destruction are very much at work.

“It is just alright that Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has acted decisively by relieving the Director General of the State Security Service of his job with immediate effect. But it must be noted that this is not enough comfort. All of the officers involved in today’s egregious act, as well as their directing superiors, have committed an act of treason against the people of Nigeria who, irrespective of political divides and partisan fault lines, have a common goal of ensuring the sanctity of our democratic institutions.
Such officers and men must, therefore, be brought to justice.

“I am also putting it on record that all Nigerians must now be vigilant. A certain tyranny is on the loose and dictatorship is on the prowl, out to devour our democracy.

“Disagreements and differences of opinions are enriching ingredients of participatory government. But to push such to the level of turbulence, using the apparatus of the state to intimidate, and potentially seeking the violent death of democracy is unacceptable.
The passions of desperation for power must never be allowed to overcome the voice of the people and this budding tyranny must be resolutely resisted with the utmost resilience for which Nigerians are renowned.

“The principle of separation of powers is a carefully thought-out design for checking the excesses of all arms in...http://www.newsmakersng.com/nass-invasion-dankwambo-charges-nigerians-to-protect-democracy/

NewsmakersNG

Row over Lopsided Appointments at Federal Character Commission as Chairman’s Tenure Expires

http://www.newsmakersng.com/row-over-lopsided-appointments-at-federal-character-commission-as-chairmans-tenure-expires/

Pat Stephen/



Disquiet now pervades the headquarters of the Federal Character Commission over alleged refusal of the acting Executive Chairman, Dr Shettima Bukar Abba, to leave office four days after the expiration of his tenure.

Abba, a federal commissioner, who hails from Borno State, emerged as acting chairman in January 2016 for a two-year term and his tenure ended on July 31, 2018, but has since remained in office, an action that is allegedly causing disquiet among commissioners and staff, albeit leading to stagnation of work.

NewsmakersNG learnt that It was expected on July 31, 2018, that the outgoing Chairman Dr Shettima Bukar Abba, would hand over to the most senior commissioner as directed by a Secretary to the Government of the Federation via Circular Ref. No.SGF.50/S.11/C.2/268, titled “End of Tenure Processes for Heads of Extra-Ministerial Departments, Directors General, Chief Executive Officers of Parastatals, Agencies, Commissions and government-owned companies and succession guideline.”

Aggrieved stakeholders told NewsmakersNG that instead of leaving office, Dr Abba remained and has even appointed the Labour Union Chairman, Idris Abdullahi, at the commission as his Special Assistant in order to cause division among union members.

Commission staff are calling on the Federal Government to prevail on the chairman to comply with extant laws and vacate office immediately.

But Dr Abba, in a telephone interview said since his tenure elapsed a couple of days ago, he had not performed any duty and had cleared his office in preparation to leave, having completed his term.

Section 7 (3) of the Federal Character Commission Establishment Act, Chapter F7 of the Laws of the Federation says that “During the Chairman’s absence on leave or if the Chairman is not available or is unable to perform his functions, the President may appoint any member of the commission to act as chairman for a specified period.”

Following the expiration of Abbas’ tenure, the substantive Secretary to the Commission, Barr. Bello Tukur, who is from Taraba State, recently appointed by the President from the same Geo-Political Zone with the outgoing Chairman, has directed that no files be given to the outgoing chairman because his action on such file would be null and void.

The current composition is...

http://www.newsmakersng.com/row-over-lopsided-appointments-at-federal-character-commission-as-chairmans-tenure-expires/

...ect to the confirmation by the Senate, by virtue of Section 2(2) of the Federal Character Commission (Establishment Etc) Act.

Since its inception in 1996, the Northern Region has consistently produced the substantive and/or Acting Chairman in this order:

(1) Alhaji Adamu M. Fika – Executive Chairman 1996-2001 – Yobe State



(2) Alhaji Bello Kafar Bai – Executive Chairman – 2002-2007 – Katsina State



(3) Prof. Shuaibu O. Abdulraleem – Executive Chairman – 2008-2014 – Kwara State



(4) Alhaji Ari Gwaska – Ag. Executive Chairman – 2012-2014 – Nasarawa State



(5) Alhaji Lawan Futua – Ag. Executive Chairman – 2013-2014 – Katsina State



(6) Alhaji Muhammed Bello Alkali – Ag. Executive Chairman – 2014-2015 – Kebbi State.

NewsmakersNG
http://www.newsmakersng.com/orji-kalu-loses-bid-to-stop-n7-6billion-fraud-court-sets-september-deadline-for-ruling/

Matilda Omonaiye/

Things didn’t work according to plan today for former Abia State governor, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, as his lawyers failed to convince a Federal High Court in Lagos that he had no case to answer concerning an alleged N7.6billion fraud.

Justice Mohammed Idris dismissed the no-case submission filed by Kalu, in response to the N7.6billion fraud charges pressed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The judge, in his ruling, said Kalu had some explanations to make particularly on certain documents tendered by the EFCC as exhibits in evidence against him.

The same fate befell similar no-case submissions filed by Kalu’s co-defendants.

The ex-governor is facing 39-count charge alongside his company, Slok Nigeria Limited and Ude Udeogu, who served under him as the Director of Finance and Accounts at the Abia State Government House.

The judge disagreed with them in...http://www.newsmakersng.com/orji-kalu-loses-bid-to-stop-n7-6billion-fraud-court-sets-september-deadline-for-ruling/

NewsmakersNG
http://www.newsmakersng.com/ui-names-theatre-after-wole-soyinka/

Ololade Adeyanju/

The University of Ibadan today renamed its Arts Theatre after Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka.

The university also named the Practical Theatre as Geoffrey Axworthy studio.

Axworthy was the founding Director of the School of Drama of the university in 1962.

Soyinka was also the founding head when the school was transformed into a full Department of Theatre Arts in 1970.

Speaking at the unveiling of the theatre, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, said the event marked a landmark in the history of the university.

The vice-chancellor said the two iconic figures had played significant roles in the development of the department and the growth of performing arts in the country.

According to him, the quest to rename the theatre after Soyinka received the approval of the Senate at its meeting in October 2017.

“But the honour being conferred on Prof. Wole Soyinka today belongs to a special class.

“ Not only is he being honoured during his lifetime, he is physically present to receive it in good health of body and mind, ” he said.

According to him, the theatre was constructed in 1956 to provide a forum for performances and other forms of entertainment.

“Now that the Arts Theatre is being renamed, we are hopeful that the new vision for Wole Soyinka Theatre will be realised sooner than later with the active support of benevolent philanthropists and well-meaning corporate organisations,“ he said.

In his remarks, Soyinka said he was happy to be in the university, adding that he was in a familiar environment with lots of memories.

“This is a place of memories for me, I also felt contented co-honouring me with Geoffrey Axworthy who fought so hard to make the department what it is today.

“It is very easy to forget pioneer, but I have to say that our successors here have a sense of history, so, I must thank you all for this,“ he said.

The Nobel Laureate, however, urged the lecturers and students of the department to continue to make it great with creative production.

“You all should try and have fun like we used to and continue to make the department great with creative productions,” he said.

Dignitaries at the event included Prof. Femi Osofisan, John Pepper Clerk, Dr Kolade Musoro and Chief Gbenga Arulogun.



http://www.newsmakersng.com/ui-names-theatre-after-wole-soyinka/

NewsmakersNG

After three months of legal considerations, marijuana has now been legalized in Georgia.

NewsmakersNG learnt that the country’s constitutional court announced the decision today.

According to a report JAMNEWS in Tbilisi, the decision was in response to a lawsuit by the leaders of the political party “Girchi” (“Pinecone”) Zurab Japaridze and Vakhtang Megrelishvili who were advocating for the legalization of marijuana and liberalization of Georgian drug laws for many years.

According to the court’s ruling, using marijuana will only be punished if it carries a danger for other people. Specifically, it cannot be used in educational institutions, public transport or any other public places.
Reggae superstar, the late Peter Tosh, used his music to...
http://www.newsmakersng.com/georgia-legalizes-marijuana/

NewsmakersNG

Segun Atanda/

Some fans are finding it hard to believe that ace-broadcaster, Funmi Iyanda, is still a cheesecake as she clocked 47 on July 27.

The filmmaker, lawyer, wellness entrepreneur and self-styled Chief-Witch got tongues wagging when she posted an eye-popping picture of her bombshell boobs still looking like a mound of golden cherries on Instagram.

One Ejiro Fadiniyi Orimoloye, a Facebook Fan reacted to the well-carved bronzed features in the iconic picture that was shared by one of Funmi’s admirers on the social media platform thus: “Are these twin towers for real or have they gone under the knife? Almost didn’t recognize her. Pretty.”
NewsmakersNG reveals more on Funmi Iyanda...http://www.newsmakersng.com/facebook-fan-wonders-if-funmi-iyandas-boobs-are-real-as-chief-witch-posts-bombshell-pictures-on-47th-birthday/

EFCC Arraigns Obasanjo’s In-Law, John Abebe, for Forgery …Suspect Remanded in Ikoyi Prison
NewsmakersNG
Dr John Warimeme Abebe, a brother to a late Nigerian First Lady, Stella Obasanjo, landed in Ikoyi Prison today after he was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for forgery.

Abebe appeared before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on a four-count charge bordering on forgery, fabricating evidence, using fabricated evidence and attempt to pervert the course of justice.

He was charged by the Lagos zonal office of EFCC headed by Mr Akan Esima.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Dr. John Warimeme Abebe, on or about the 22nd day of June, 2010, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, knowingly forged BP Exploration Nigeria Limited’s letter dated 30th November,1995 to Inducon (Nigeria) Limited by inserting in page 2 of the said letter the following words: “Also note that the ‘Buy-Out Option’ only applies to the pre-production stage of the NPIA. The $4m buy-out is thus irrelevant from the production of oil in any of our fields” and purported same to have been issued by BP Exploration Nigeria Limited and committed an offence contrary to Section 467 of the Criminal Code Cap C17, Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2003.”

Another count reads: “That you, Dr John Warimeme Abebe, on or about the 22nd day of June 2010 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, knowingly used a fabricated evidence in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/224/2010 Between Dr. John Abebe, Inducon Nigeria Limited And Statoil Nigeria Limited, before the Federal High Court, which evidence was admitted and marked exhibit BB in the said suit and committed an offence contrary to Section 120 (2) of the Criminal Code Cap C17, Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2003.”

The defendant...http://www.newsmakersng.com/efcc-arraigns-obasanjos-in-law-john-abebe-for-forgery-suspect-remanded-in-ikoyi-prison/

NewsmakersNG
http://www.newsmakersng.com/my-money-or-your-life-police-chief-cage-business-partner-for-months-victims-wife-wants-igp-to-save-hubbys-life/

Ronke Kehinde/

Since December 2017, a Sagamu-based timber merchant has been living in a police cell in Taraba State on the orders of his business partner who is a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP).

When the going was good no one heard about the lucrative timber trade that the merchant, Niyi Olanrewaju, and his business partner were running.

NewsmakersNG learnt that business was so good that the officer made N23million gain in two transactions; then the third transaction ran into stormy weathers during the rainy season when he made his lowest investment of N5.75million.

The supply turned out to be of poor quality and money was lost, but the officer would not take the bad with the good.

“He prefers my husband to die in prison rather than lose his money,” Bola told NewsmakersNG.

Olanrewaju was at different times detained in Taraba and Gombe states. It took several days and lots of efforts before NewsmakersNG could reach him in the gulag, where he is allegedly kept by the DCP.

The policemen in Taraba gave Olanrewaju about five minutes to speak with NewsmakersNG on a cellphone.

Olanrewaju told NewsmakersNG that he was sourcing the timber from Taraba.

His business relationship with the DCP began, when they met in November 2016, in Taraba.

According to Olanrewaju, the DCP had issues with his former business partner at that time.

“He was dealing in timber, also known as Madrid. He commissioned me in November 2016, to sell the wood for him,” Olanrewaju said.

He added, “The first transaction was N9 million, which went well. He got N13 million in return. The second was N7 million, and he got N10 million in return.

“But the problem started during the third transaction. He gave me N5.75 million. It was during the rainy season. The wood I got was not of the same quality as the previous ones. What they were offering for it was at a loss. It wasn’t profitable so he demanded his money.

“I had to return the wood to the forest where I bought them but I was told I had to wait before I could get back the money. I was still waiting when he ordered that I should be arrested.”

Olanrewaju was first arrested on December 16, in Taraba State by SARS officers and he was released on December 31, 2017, when they allegedly realized it was not a criminal case.

Then, the officer brought in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The police abruptly stopped the conversation before Olanrewaju could go further. But his wife later completed the story.

She said that her husband was re-arrested on April 3, 2018, by EFCC operatives.

“He was taken to Gombe State by the EFCC officials. They asked him to bring N2million to gain his freedom. His lawyer whose husband works with EFCC told him not to pay any money. When they saw that he was not cooperating, they transferred him back to Taraba State,” Bola said.

According to Bola, all efforts by...http://www.newsmakersng.com/my-money-or-your-life-police-chief-cage-business-partner-for-months-victims-wife-wants-igp-to-save-hubbys-life/

NewsmakersNG

Dipo Kehinde & Alex Otudor/


In 1997, a militant known as the Lion sneaked into Nigeria with some rebels through the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), in Lagos.

He went through security check points like a hot knife through butter.

Foday Sankoh was the leader of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) who used to cut the limbs of those who get in his way during a dehumanizing war that claimed the lives of over 50, 000 people in Sierra Leone and inspired the film – Blood Diamond by American actor, Leonardo DiCaprio.

Sankoh knew his way around Nigeria.

He was trained as a rebel in Libya, after receiving military training in Nigeria and the United Kingdom as a corporal in the Sierra Leonean army.

Sankoh seemed to have friends in high places that facilitate his movement in Nigeria.

But that day in March 1997 was not his day.

It was a day when the path of the Lion crossed that of a Nigeria Police Officer known as the Tiger.

The Tiger, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Damian Nkem Okoro, was the Intelligence Officer at the MMIA then. The Very Important Personality (VIP) being guarded through the Airport aroused his curiosity, and he bravely stepped in, intercepted Sankoh and asked for his identity.

When Sankoh disclosed his identity, Okoro said: “Sir! You’re under arrest.”

Sankoh was shocked. He tried to negotiate his passage as he was moving with loads of cash and some armed guards, but Okoro stood his ground and brought him in.

At first, Sankoh was placed under arrest and immediately transferred to Abuja on the orders of the then Head of State, the late Gen Sani Abacha. Then, he was kept in prison by the Federal Government.

Sankoh’s arrest was Okoro’s first claim to fame. He received commendation from Gen Sani Abacha, for his tact, ability and courage.


Other intelligence and investigative breakthroughs in later years made Okoro a celebrity in Nigeria, where he won many awards and also received a medal for his courage and intelligence from former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, after he arrested Lagos-based Internet fraudsters who killed Cynthia Osokogu, a postgraduate student of Nasarawa State University and daughter of a retired General, Frank Osokogu. Okoro was also commended for rejecting N15million offered to release the killers on bail. He again successfully prosecuted the killers and got death sentences for them.

Before then, he had received the IGP Ibrahim Coomasie Award for Brilliant Investigation and Courage; award from the Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the late Gen. Musa Bamaiyi for dedication and tact, when he recovered hard drugs worth several millions of naira at the airport. He won the Best Area Commander in Nigeria award in 2013 at a ceremony in Ghana, and he was acclaimed as the Best Forensic Investigator in West Africa at an event organized by Security Watch Africa, in South Africa, among other recognitions.

As the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) in charge of the Area ‘E’ Command in Festac Town, where he busted the Osokogu case, Okoro also cracked several cases including that of a 26-year-old Ijeoma Nwachukwu, who was killed by a jealous lover in a hotel at Abule‑Oshun area of Lagos, and that of Lizzy Njideka Nzewi, a mother of four and the Managing Director of Edmark International, a networking company.

Lizzy was also killed by a 31-year-old lover-boy, Kenechukwu Williams, at her Green Estate home in Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos.

The lover-boy, who stole her ATM card and Range Rover Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), fled to Ghana and Ivory Coast, he was pursued across the border by Okoro with support from INTERPOL, and the killer was nabbed as he was attempting to flee from the West African country, where he had had a thanksgiving at a church on his arrival.

While in Festac Town, Okoro also recovered N30million from armed robbers and handed it over to the owner, a trader from Onitsha.

He also smashed a gang of kidnappers terrorizing Lagos from Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire and arrested killers of a Customs Comptroller, Ody Nweze.

Encounter with Evans

Okoro was the first officer to confront the notorious kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike aka Evans, on the day the gang attempted to kidnap the owner of Young Shall Grow Motors in Festac Town. Two police officers were killed in the encounter, and the businessman was seriously injured with a shot close to his heart.

Okoro and his team killed two members of Evans gang and recovered two AK 47 rifles, over 400 rounds of ammunition, and 12 loaded magazines.

Okoro, a graduate of University of Lagos, Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomoso, and Imo State University, Owerri, bagged a degree in Law (LLB), a Masters degree in Business Administration (MBA) and a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration.

He had also received training at the Egyptian Police Academy and at the Israeli Intelligence Agency, Mossad. He is one of the few police officers in Africa to read Maritime Law, specializing in Customs documents, Import papers and Ship/Shipping processes, which gave him an added advantage in cracking complicated imports/ Customs/clearing and forwarding related landmark cases at the sea and air ports.

In 2016, when the...http://www.newsmakersng.com/police-promote-tiger-that-caged-a-lion/

NewsmakersNG
Pat Stephen/



The police in Lagos are building a case against a bricklayer accused of laying a 5-year-old girl in his neighborhood.

The bricklayer, Archibong Koko, allegedly defiled the girl, who strayed while the mother was asleep.

The victim’s mother said she was asleep when the girl left her room.

She didn’t know what had happened until she saw her daughter not walking properly, so she questioned her and the girl talked.

The victim was taken to the hospital where the doctor confirmed that she was violated and her hymen was ruptured.

The suspect however denied the allegation.

He said, “I am a bricklayer. I know the girl and her parents but I did not rape her. She did not come to my room. I am innocent of the allegations.”

Parading the suspects, Lagos State commissioner of police (CP), Imohimi Edgal, said “On 24/06/2018 at about...http://www.newsmakersng.com/police-arrest-bricklayer-for-allegedly-defiling-girl-5/

NewsmakersNG

By Hafsat Abiola-Costello/



Twenty five years after June 12: Our Long Wait for Justice is Ending

I had expected that the handover from military rule to democracy would be held on the 12th of June.

That would have signaled the completion of a circle that began with a dream deferred.

That became one fulfilled.

But I waited in vain.

The handover was set for May 29, a date pulled out of thin air, signifying nothing.

Then I thought that the chief beneficiary would ask the country to observe a minute of silence,

In memory of MKO, Kudirat, Alfred Rewane, Umaru Yar’Adua, Bagauda Kaltho, the thousands of students, the tens of journalists, traders and politicians who lost their lives fighting to actualise an unjustly annulled election.

Again, I waited in vain for he started his inauguration speech…

And nothing was said.

The first four years passed and it became clear that the goal was to erase the name of the man whose sacrifice paved the way for our democracy.

Those four years set the tone.

And I got tired of waiting

As it slowly became clear that to wait was to wait in vain.

I stopped expecting my country to do the right thing by my father and instead began to understand why Nigeria struggles to find patriots among its leaders.

Until today.

Today when President Muhammadu Buhari gave an executive order to declare that June 12 was Nigeria’s Democracy Day;
To confer on MKO the title of GCFR, an honour reserved for presidents of the Federal Republic of Nigeria;
To confer on Gani Fawehinmi, the dogged fighter for justice, and my father’s running mate, Babagana Kingibe, the title of GCON, the second highest in the land;
And in one day, demonstrated to my bruised heart that integrity, fairness, honour were alive and well in a country for which both my parents had sacrificed their lives.

There are no words that...http://www.newsmakersng.com/democracy-day-mko-abiolas-daughter-hafsat-sings-buharis-praises-in-epic-poem-condemns-obasanjo/

NewsmakersNG
http://www.newsmakersng.com/coming-to-america-atiku-visits-u-s-this-week-newsmakersngs-exclusive-report/

Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu/

After much ado about Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s avoidance of American trip over the years, the former Vice President of Nigeria and current presidential aspirant is set to visit the United States (U.S.), this week, in a bid to silence his political opponents.

For years, political opponents have dared Atiku to visit the U.S. where they claimed that law enforcement agents are waiting to arrest him over alleged money laundering and other financial crimes.

NewsmakersNG’s Managing Editor in Atlanta Georgia, Mrs Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu, has however sent a report that preparations are in top gear by various groups and organisations to receive Atiku in the American city this week.

There is no known indictment filed against Atiku in any U.S. court, eight years after a Senate Report in the country detailed money laundering activities against him, including being a recipient of a bribe by Siemens.

The U.S. Senate Permanent sub-committee on Investigations was chaired by Senator Carl Levin.

But U.S. diplomats in Nigeria have said nothing negative about Atiku’s status.

Atiku was not the only foreign Politically Exposed Person (PEP) probed by the committee. Others on the list included Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, now the 48-year-old son of Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mbasogo, the President of Equatorial Guinea, late President of Gabon, Omar Bongo and three Angolan PEP accounts, involving an Angolan arms dealer, an Angolan government official, and a small Angolan private bank.

The committee submitted its report on February 4, 2010; three years after Atiku had left office.

The report allegedly revealed violations of U.S. laws by Atiku and his fourth wife, Jennifer Douglas. It also included revelations about Siemens bribe paid into one of the accounts.

After being taunted for years, Atiku told the Publisher of The Boss Newspapers, Mr Dele Momodu in an interview last December, that he was unable to visit the U.S. because the embassy denied him visa.

The question came up again in a BBC Hausa Service interview in April.

Atiku was asked how he intended to be Nigeria’s president without visiting the U.S.

He told the interviewers that it is not a constitutional provision that one must visit the United States of America before becoming the President of Nigeria.

Atiku, who was Vice President to former President Olusegun Obasanjo from 1999 to 2007, had confirmed that he was denied a U.S. visa when he wanted to travel to that country.

He said that the...http://www.newsmakersng.com/coming-to-america-atiku-visits-u-s-this-week-newsmakersngs-exclusive-report/

NewsmakersNG
http://www.newsmakersng.com/child-abduction-wande-coal-sheathes-sword-as-lawyers-human-rights-activists-fight-for-baby-mama/

Ronke Kehinde/



Nigerian pop singer, Oluwatobi Wande Ojosipe aka Wande Coal, appears to have sheathed his sword after a spat with his ex-lover, Temitope Ogunnusi, as lawyers and human rights activists show interest in their feud.

Wande Coal and his mother, who were accused of child abduction, have called for a peace meeting with Temitope’s family.


Temitope, in an earlier report by NewsmakersNG had accused Wande Coal and his mother, Mrs Omolara Oluwayemisi Ojosipe, of abducting the child she had for the singer 10 years ago.

Temitope, who was an ingénue teenager then, said that the child was only two when he was trapped and forcefully separated from her by Wande Coal’s mother, who allegedly felt she was not educated enough for the singer.

After the publicity blitz on the story and Wande Coal’s reaction in which he described Temitope as a liar and accused her of giving the child to another man, the African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA) and the President of Women Arise for Change Initiative, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin alongside some lawyers, have shown interest in Temitope’s case.

Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin: Ready to fight for Temitope’s rights.
Dr Odumakin said: “Temitope actually has the right of regular access to her son. In fact she should be allowed to see him regularly and she should be carried along in all the child’s welfare and upbringing. It is a violation of her right, the way she was shut out from the family of Wande Coal. My advice for her is to seek redress in a competent court of law.

“She has a very good chance in the court. The good thing is that she is in Lagos where there are family courts that handle such cases. I know she can get a judgment for access, if not custody. I am also optimistic that with a good lawyer she can even get compensated so that she could live a good life.”

Dr Odumakin has some words for Wande Coal and his mother.

“My advice to Wande Coal and his family is to allow Temitope unfettered access to her son and also a compensation for her. She should not be treated as an outcast,” she said.


Reacting to Wande Coal’s allegation that...http://www.newsmakersng.com/child-abduction-wande-coal-sheathes-sword-as-lawyers-human-rights-activists-fight-for-baby-mama/

NewsmakersNG

Pat Stephen/

A man who claimed to have been a medical doctor with Eko Hospital was today unmasked by the Police in Lagos as the brain behind a series of hacking into bank accounts, including that of Hollywood star, John Travolta.

Twenty-eight-year-old Dr Michael Thompson Williams told reporters at a police parade today how he expertly deployed modern technology to steal from bank accounts or intercept transactions.

He made so much money and bought himself a Posche car for N28million.
Lagos State commissioner of police (CP) Imohimi Edgal, accused Williams of hacking into bank accounts and stealing over N100million.

According to Edgal, Williams used “http tunnel.com to generate a fake bank credit of N28million into the account of a car owner, Abidogun Adewale on March 23″.

He said, “On March 23rd 2018, my office received a complaint that there exists a syndicate that goes to car shops, buys a car, configures a computer programme that would send a fake payment alert to the seller and by so doing, obtains a car under false pretences. Such was the case of one Abidogun Adewale whose car shop played host to the leader of this syndicate by name Michael Thompson Williams who bought a Porsche car at a price of N28,000,000. He, thereafter, requested for the seller’s bank account number and made it look like he had paid him via the fake account.”

Edgal added that investigation revealed that the suspect also had softwares that could shutdown Close Circuit Television (CCTV) of any establishment for 67 minutes for him to commit crime.

He said: “The suspect requested for the seller’s bank account number and made it look like he had paid him through the fake alert to his phone using HTTP tunnel.com. The suspect drove the car away unknown to the seller that he had been scammed. Based on the complaint, a manhunt was launched on the fleeing suspect and he was arrested in Lekki.

“During interrogation, he confessed to have committed the crime. He also.led detectives to Asaba, Delta State, where the stolen porsche car was recovered.

“He also led detectives to Owerri, Imo State, where two Toyota Camry Saloon cars he stole in similar manner were recovered.

“The suspect has a good mastery of cyber environment and he creates a credit card through Cyber Ghost 12. When the credit card matures, it is then funded through a hacked swiss account. He manipulates any transaction anyone is doing through swiss account and wires the fund to his contrived credit card.

“This is possible with the aid of Cyber Ghost 12, a virtual private network. He further stated that through the credit card, he bought softwares he needed to...http://www.newsmakersng.com/2018/05/21/nigerian-medical-doctor-makes-fortune-through-cyber-crime-robs-hollywoods-john-travolta/

NewsmakersNG
Segun Atanda with NAN/

Celebrity blogger, Linda Ikeji, is five months pregnant, says her sister who shared the news.

And guess what? The expected baby boy is going to be riding in a brand new Bentley Mulsanne which Linda says she has ordered just for him.

Laura Ikeji first shared the news on Instagram today with a picture of her pregnant older sister.

The 37-year-old blogger later confirmed the news on Twitter.

“OMG! The most amazing thing has happened to me! I am going to be a mum. My greatest dream realized!,” she wrote on Twitter

She then offered baby bump photos of her five-month old pregnancy on her blog.

She says she is expecting a baby boy. Writing with emotions about her boundless joy, Linda also promises to have a baby shower soon.

Linda’s pregnancy post is trending on Twitter and some followers are asking what has happened to her celibacy campaign.

http://www.newsmakersng.com/2018/05/20/whodunit-linda-ikeji-is-5-months-pregnant/

NewsmakersNG

Dipo Kehinde/

When a Lagos lawyer stabbed her sleeping husband to death at dawn yesterday, ripped his stomach open, sliced off his penis and placed it in his right hand, everybody wondered why an accomplished legal practitioner would commit such blood-curdling murder.

The couple got married after the deceased divorced his first wife, who had a daughter for him. The child is schooling in the UK.

NewsmakersNG’s investigation today has revealed the challenges that the 3-year-old childless marriage of 47-year-old Mrs Udeme Otike-Odibi and 50-year-old Mr Symphorosa Otike-Odibi had been facing for over a year.

Detectives digging into the murder case found that the couple were living together but far apart.

They also found that Udeme had a plan to bolt after the murder as she had procured a UK Visa a month ago.


Udeme at a hospital with her wedding ring still in place after she had allegedly murdered her husband.
The police have obtained her statement and seized her passport today. They have also revisited the crime scene today to conduct further search in the house, following the directives of the Lagos State commissioner of police, Mr Imohimi Edgal, who had involved Crime Scene Detectives from the homicide section of the SCIID and Forensic experts in the investigation.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in charge of the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department (SCIID), Panti, Yaba, Mrs Yetunde Longe, who is handling the investigation told NewsmakersNG that there had been reports of domestic violence and the couple were not talking to each other for a long time, even though they were living under the same roof at Diamond Estate, in Sangotedo area of Ajah, in Lagos.

A neighbour had told the police yesterday that Symphorosa called him on phone in the night before he was murdered, complaining that the wife was threatening to kill him with a knife. The said neighbour, however, warned him to be careful. The deceased also called his mother and his younger sister complaining of threat to his life that night.

The wife, who is from Akwa Ibom State, is a well trained lawyer like her husband who allegedly hailed from Delta State.

Udeme’s LinkedIn profile also revealed that she is not just a brilliant lawyer, but a financial guru, who had worked in banks, the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) and had been a player in the Oil & Gas industry.

But investigations showed that she has not been happy in her marriage and had been actively trying for a child.

NewsmakersNG learnt that the scar on her belle is a testimony to a fibroid operation she had some time ago.

Udeme has indicated on her LinkedIn page that children are uppermost among the three causes she cares about. The others are education and poverty alleviation.

Cool, calm, and collected, according to some of her friends, Udeme’s mind allegedly snapped when she suspected that her husband was having an affair.

As the relationship began to drift apart, Udeme allegedly turned into a virtual recluse, and nobody suspected that the still water was running deep.

NewsmakersNG today visited the couple’s law firm, Johnson Bryant, at 3, Oyewo Close, off Kudirat Abiola Way, in Ikeja where a condolence register has been opened, but the place was deserted save for the presence of a few staff members who were still too shocked to speak much.
It was however revealed that...http://www.newsmakersng.com/2018/05/04/exclusive-why-brilliant-lagos-lawyer-dulled-her-pains-with-hubbys-bloody-murder/

NewsmakersNG
Ronke Kehinde/

“Please, let me see my son!” This has been the cry of a mother for eight years in Lagos, and only God knows how much longer she would have to wait for her prayer to be answered.

Temitope Ogunnusi’s 10-year-old son, Joseph, was only two when he was separated from her by the parents of a Nigerian pop star who allegedly felt she was not educated enough to be the wife of their son, Oluwatobi Wande Ojosipe aka Wande Coal.
Temitope told NewsmakersNG that she was 16, when she met the popularly singer at Jubilee Estate, near Otedola Estate, at the Lagos end of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, in 2008, and they took to each other like duck to water. Wande Coal was 23 then.

As the relationship waxed stronger, the lovebirds were seen together everywhere.

Temitope revealed that Wande Coal promised her heaven and earth, and his bed became their playground until he inadvertently scored a goal in one of the matches.

When Temitope told Wande that he was going to be a father, Wande rejected the pregnancy.

“Do you want to kill my career?” he allegedly asked Temitope.

He denied paternity of the baby and left the neighbourhood so Temitope would not see him again.

Temitope said that she went ahead with the nine-month course alone, and gave birth to a bouncing baby boy.

Supported by her family and friends, she held the naming ceremony and named her son Joseph

Joseph turned out to be a spitting image of Wande Coal.

Temitope said that people who were not even in the know also acknowledged the speaking likeness with her son and Wande Coal, when in contact with the boy.

When asked if any of Wande Coal’s friends was aware of the love affair when it was blooming, Temitope mentioned another Nigerian Pop Star, Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo aka D’Banj.
She said, “D’Banj was aware. He was close to Wande Coal, and he was the person I first complained to when the pregnancy was rejected. D’Banj was shocked. He said ‘No, Wande cannot deny this’.”

The news of Joseph travelled round and came to the knowledge of Wande Coal and his parents. His Mother, Mrs Omolara Oluwayemisi Ojosipe, arranged to see the baby, and she was allegedly amazed at the resemblance. That was in 2010, when Joseph was just one and half years old.

Shortly after that, Wande Coal’s parents allegedly...http://www.newsmakersng.com/2018/04/15/exclusive-wande-coal-in-abduction-mess-dbanj-mentioned-as-witness/

NewsmakersNG

…Lagos Landlords May Lose Property for Harbouring Suspects
Segun Atanda/

Four suspected internet fraudsters living large in the Lekki area of Lagos have been caught in the dragnet of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Investigations by NewsmakersNG revealed that several exotic cars and charms were seized from the suspects during a sting operation last Saturday.
When contacted, the Lagos Zonal office of EFCC confirmed the arrests and identified the suspects as: Ale Daniel, Tunde Badmus, Adams Tunde Adedeji and Ajiboye Gbenga.
NewsmakersNG learnt that they were arrested in the Lekki area of Lagos for various offences bordering on cyber crimes and money laundering, following intelligence report received by the Commission about their activities.
“Items recovered from the suspects, who are living flamboyantly without known sources of income, include exotic cars and charms,” the agency revealed.
Speaking on the renewed clampdown on Internet fraudsters, the Lagos Zonal Head of EFCC, Mr Akanninyene Ezima, said: “It is to checkmate the activities of these undisciplined elements who want to reap where they did not sow. By this action, we are also sending a red alert to the so-called yahoo-yahoo boys that engaging in fraudulent deeds does not pay.”
Ezima urged landlords, particularly in gated communities, to...http://www.newsmakersng.com/2018/04/12/busted-lekki-big-boys-in-efcc-net-for-internet-fraud-lagos-landlords-may-lose-property-for-harbouring-suspects/

More pictures

NewsmakersNG
Segun Atanda/

Ondo State’s First Lady, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, has received some bashing on Facebook for posting article in support of increment in tuition fees at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA).

Mrs Akeredolu’s effort to justify her husband’s position with the post on her Facebook page set off a firestorm on the page.

The governing council of AAUA had increased tuition fees by 500 percent, taking it from N30,000 to N180,000.

Gov Rotimi Akeredolu also shared, on his Facebook page, his wife’s post titled ‘AAUA and Indispensability of Fee Hike Regime’.

Here are some of the reactions on the Facebook page: http://www.newsmakersng.com/2018/04/10/akeredolus-wife-draws-firestorm-on-facebook-defending-hike-in-aaua-fees/

NewsmakersNG

Segun Atanda/

A British journalist, Carole Cadwalladr, is telling the world that Israelis, allegedly financed by former President Goodluck Jonathan, have hacked the e-mail account of President Muhammadu Buhari.

In a series of twits late last night, the 48-year-old journalist, using the Twitter handle – @carolecadwalla, started her post with this caption: “Nigeria, your President was hacked. @MBuhari”.

Citing what she called the Cambridge Analytical Files, Cadwalladr claimed that hackers offered personal data about Buhari and PM of St Kitts and Nevis.

Cadwalladr’s claims were also published in The Guardian of UK last night. Here is the excerpt:

The data analytics firm that worked on the Donald Trump election campaign was offered material from Israeli hackers who had accessed the private emails of two politicians who are now heads of state, witnesses have told the Guardian.

Multiple sources have described how senior directors of Cambridge Analytica – including its chief executive, Alexander Nix – gave staff instructions to handle material provided by computer hackers in election campaigns in Nigeria and St Kitts and Nevis.


A man stands in front of electoral campaign posters in Lagos, Nigeria, in 2015. Photograph: Joe Penney/Reuters
They claim there were two episodes in 2015 that alarmed members of staff and led them to refuse to handle the data, which they assumed would have been obtained illegally.

SCL Elections, Cambridge Analytica’s parent company, denied taking possession of or using hacked or stolen personal information from such individuals for any purpose in either campaign.

The revelations are the latest to focus attention on Cambridge Analytica, whose activities are being investigated in the US by the special counsel Robert Mueller as part of his inquiry into possible Russian collusion in the 2016 US presidential election.

The firm is under pressure to explain how it came to have unauthorised access to millions of Facebook profiles. Politicians in the US and UK have accused it of giving misleading statements about its work, and the information commissioner has demanded access to the company’s databases.

In all, the Guardian and Observer have spoken to seven individuals with knowledge of Cambridge Analytica and its campaign in Nigeria in early 2015.

Hired by a Nigerian billionaire to support the re-election of Goodluck Jonathan, Cambridge Analytica was paid an estimated £2m to orchestrate a ferocious campaign against his rival, the opposition leader Muhammadu Buhari. Jonathan lost out to Buhari in the presidential race. There is no suggestion Jonathan knew of the covert operation.

Staffs working on the campaign say in early 2015 they met Israeli cybersecurity contractors in...http://www.newsmakersng.com/2018/03/22/israelis-hacked-buharis-e-mail-says-british-journalist-deal-sealed-with-2m/

NewsmakersNG
http://www.newsmakersng.com/2018/03/16/young-arebamen-the-tough-cop-who-arrested-the-law-dies-at-72/

Ronke Kehinde/

As a Commissioner of Police (CP) in Lagos State, Young Emmanuel Arebamen’s handcuff was no respecter of persons, not even the LAW.

He arrested and paraded several law enforcement agents and traffic wardens for bribery and extortion, and slammed the cuffs on a magistrate who allegedly asked for bribe and was given marked money.

The charismatic, combative, seasoned anti-corruption campaigner, who made his mark as the preeminent people’s policeman, died in his sleep at about 10 pm on Wednesday, March 14.

He was 72.

Arebamen, who was appointed as the Lagos State CP by IGP Tafa Balogun in 2002, had also served as the Force Public Relations Officer, between 1997 and 2000, and as the Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA) when Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) were governors.

Arebamen fought and suppressed bank robbers in Lagos and...http://www.newsmakersng.com/2018/03/16/young-arebamen-the-tough-cop-who-arrested-the-law-dies-at-72/

NewsmakersNG
http://www.newsmakersng.com/2018/03/13/igp-never-disobeyed-presidents-orders-insiders/

Pat Stephen/

Details have emerged on how the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Ibrahim Idris, discharged his duties after receiving a presidential directive, on January 9, to relocate to Benue and redeploy Special Forces to arrest the mayhem in the state.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive followed the January 1 killings of over 70 villagers in Logo and Guma areas of the state, which sparked nationwide outrage.

According to insiders in security circles, the President had asked the IGP to focus on the farmers-herders attacks in Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba, Adamawa and Kaduna states, where repeated attacks had been reported.

One of the insiders said that the IGP did not disregard the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari because he immediately moved to Makurdi and carried out the President’s instructions to the letter.

He said, “The president’s directive was not only to move to Benue, but to restore order and forestall further attacks on villagers by suspected herdsmen in all the areas affected. In doing this, he immediately redeployed forces to the most sensitive areas, and after due consultation with the Governor and other stakeholders who accused the Nasarawa State governor of sponsoring militias to go and attack Benue people, the IGP had to visit Lafia, in Nasarawa, where he also addressed stakeholders.

“As he was moving to Nasarawa, he left a Deputy Inspector-General of Police behind in Benue. He arrived in Makurdi on January 10 and met with Gov Samuel Ortom on January 11. He also met with former governor, Mr Gabriel Suswam. He spent three days touring the state, and he held talks with Benue political and religious leaders. He also visited camps of the internally displaced persons in Logo Local Government Area and the trouble spot at Rijiim.

“He later moved to Nasarawa and spent some days there, then returned to Logo where people were killed. He addressed the IDPs there. He also moved to Donga in Nasarawa. He was criss-crossing the two states, and he only left there to attend the Armed Forces Remembrance Day, while the DIG stayed behind in Benue.”

A security analyst and former Director at the State Security Service, Mr Mike Ejiofor, had described the IGP’s actions as realistic.

He said that the...http://www.newsmakersng.com/2018/03/13/igp-never-disobeyed-presidents-orders-insiders/

NewsmakersNG
http://www.newsmakersng.com/2018/03/06/police-service-commission-elevates-galadanchi-ojajuni-dolapo-badmos-411-others/
Segun Atanda/

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has announced the promotion of 414 Senior Police Officers, including the Ekiti State deputy commissioner of police, Mr Dasuki Galadanchi (CP), former Lagos police spokesman and Principal Staff Officer to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Olubode Ojajuni (ACP) and Zone ‘2’ police spokesperson, Mrs Dolapo Badmos (CSP).

Three Commissioners of Police (CP) were promoted to the next rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police AIG); four Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCP) to Commissioners of Police (CP) and twelve Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACP) were elevated to Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCP).

According to Ikechukwu Ani, the Head, Press and Public Relations at PSC, the promotions were...http://www.newsmakersng.com/2018/03/06/police-service-commission-elevates-galadanchi-ojajuni-dolapo-badmos-411-others/

NewsmakersNG
Pat Stephen/

Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has completed an elaborate ritual of Internal Investigation into a housing scam allegedly perpetrated by its past leader, Mr Deji Elumoye and the President, National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Mrs Ifeyinwa Omowole.

Here is the full report submitted today by the NUJ Mowe (Abaren)/Pen-Jewel Land Committee set up by the new NUJ Chairman, Lagos Council, Dr Qasim Akinreti, to probe the suspected crimes involved in the deal:


REPORT OF NUJ MOWE (ABAREN)/PEN-JEWEL LAND COMMITTEE

This committee, comprising of ten members, was inaugurated on the 27th of October 2017 by the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Lagos State Council, Dr. Qasim Akinreti.

APPEARANCES

Six key players in the Abaren village Mowe land / NUJ/NAWOJ Pen Jewel Estate Project honoured our invitations and appeared before the committee. They are the immediate past Chairman of NUJ Lagos Council, Mr. Deji Elumoye, the President of NAWOJ and initiator of Pen Jewel Estate scheme, Mrs. Ifenyinwa Omowole, the former Chairman of NAWOJ, Lagos, Mrs. Dupe Olaoye- Osinkolu, the former Treasurer of Lagos Council, Mrs. Kehinde Ajayi, representatives of Prime Waterview Holdings; representative of the Surveyor and the traditional land owners (Omonile), Chief Suraj Akinrogun Salami, that helped the Union to buy the land.

Unfortunately, the Treasurer of NAWOJ, Mrs. Tosin Odusola failed to honour the committee’s invitations on more than two occasions. Following a letter written to her employer by this Committee, we got assurances by her General Manager (GM) that she would appear before the committee upon her return to her duty post, as she was on pilgrimage to Jerusalem. She never did.



APPEALS

We got a letter of appeal from Mrs. Grace Ademu, the widow of a former Secretary of the FRCN Chapel, Mr. Sunday Ademu. The late Ademu paid N42, 000 as part payment for the land before he died in 2008. The widow pleaded with the Council to allocate her half a plot of land in lieu of the amount.

The committee also got a letter from Chief Suraj Akinrogun Salami, the agent/facilitator of the MOWE land, requesting for the payment of his finder’s fee of N4.5 million, (on the N90 million paid for the land) being the statutory five (5) percent commission charged on any real estate transaction exceeding N1 million. This money, he explained, has lingered since the regime of Wahab Oba, then chairman of NUJ Lagos Council.

OTHERS

Throughout the period this committee worked for the Council on the Abaren Village Mowe land fact-findings, we never got any form of allowance, monetary or otherwise, from the Council. Neither was this committee given any money, nor stationery for its work. In instances where we invited people to appear before us, like the omo onile and the surveyor, who both reside in Abeokuta, Ogun state, the committee raised money for their transportation within itself. We however admit that occasionally, the NUJ Lagos Council Chairman, Dr. Qasim Akinreti, bought us food and drinks, especially on days when our sittings went late into the night.



FINDINGS/OBSERVATIONS

1. The total value of the Pen Jewel estate scheme is valued at N1.6 billion, as contained in a letter from the developer to the NUJ/NAWOJ.

2. The NUJ/NAWOJ has remitted N73 million to the developer as counterpart funding.

3. The committee observed that from the MOU signed with the developer, the ENTIRE NUJ Lagos Council land at Abaren village in Mowe, Ogun state, measuring about 56.753 hectares, was conceded to the developer. Technically, this presupposes that the NUJ Lagos Council no longer have a single plot of land in Abaren Village, Mowe.

4. Mr. Deji Elumoye, the immediate past Chairman of the Lagos NUJ Council agreed in his statement to the committee that he bought extra land for the NUJ Lagos Council in Abaren Village, Mowe, Ogun State.

5. Mr. Elumoye agreed that he paid the sum of N2 million for the extra land he bought for the NUJ Lagos Council in the afore-mentioned location. Sadly, he was unable to tell the committee the number of plots or acres or hectares he bought with the N2 million.

6. That there is no evidence/document to show that the immediate past leadership of the NUJ Lagos Council under Mr. Elumoye bought the additional land in Mowe as claimed.

7. That the Council is unable to produce receipts of purchase of the land in Abaren Village in Mowe. No trace of this in any file in the NUJ Lagos Council secretariat.

8. That the NUJ Lagos Council under the past administration lacked proper administrative acumen, especially the Council Secretary, who was unable to keep proper records of the secretariat activities.

9. Receipts for purchase of land were issued to some members especially the EXCO members of the last dispensation years after allocations were concluded. The committee also observed that those involved claimed to have paid cash to the same EXCO on the 1st of March 2015, which happen to have been a Sunday. There is no evidence that the amount collected was deposited into the Union’s account.

10. That about sixty people who have no land with the NUJ were allowed to participate in the PEN-JEWEL scheme. These include people who had land with Labour Writers and Exco members who hitherto had no land in the NUJ scheme.



11. The committee noted that three subscribers to the PEN-JEWEL Estate were refunded their foreign currency but wondered why the same gesture was not extended to others who indicated interest to withdraw from the project.



12. Money collected for perimeter fencing of the Mowe land cannot be properly accounted for. It was observed that part of the money was used for “OTHER PURPOSES” outside what it was meant for and without any form of approval by the contributors of the money. It should be noted that the money for perimeter fencing is NOT NUJ Lagos Council’s money but that of subscribers to the Mowe land project; hence, the NUJ Lagos Council had no right to use it for anything else.



13. That the names of some subscribers who paid for the perimeter fencing were not captured in the list submitted by the Council to the Committee. E.g The Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) paid a lump sum of N2. 040 million to the Council for perimeter fencing. This was not captured in the Council record.



14. The Gate house and perimeter fencing built by Mr. Elumoye on the Mowe land is anything but a sham. In total, it is less than the fencing for a plot of land.



15. That Mrs Ify Omowole unilaterally brought in Primewaterview Holdings Limited as replacement for the South African developer with which subscribers were convinced to enlist and pay in dollars for the Pen Jewel scheme.



16. That no due diligence was done on Primewaterview Holdings Limited’s (developer) track record in developing or building AFFORDABLE MASS HOUSING.



17. That the entire process was shrouded in secrecy as subscribers were not adequately briefed about the project. For instance, subscribers entered the scheme with their full plot of land but will only get a three-bedroom bungalow built on 325 square meter. This means half of their plot of land is lost to the promoters of the scheme.



18. That the MoU signed by Primewaterview Holdings Limited, NAWOJ, represented by Mrs. Ify Omowole, and Lagos NUJ Council, represented by Mr. Deji Elumoye, is suspicious as no witness signed on both sides, just as the Counsel of the three parties did not sign the MoU.



19. That the MoU is skewed in favour of the developer, Messers Primewaterview Holdings Limited.



20. That the representatives of the subscribers, Mrs. Ify Omowole and Mr. Deji Elumoye, surreptitiously ‘sold’ the subscribers into ‘slavery’ with the MoU they signed.



21. That congress or subscribers were not carried along or briefed on the content of the MoU before it was signed on their behalf.





22. That Mrs. Ify Omowole, did not seek professional advice on such magnitude of project before embarking on it. That she also acted unilaterally throughout the process of the project. There is no proof of collective decision on the project by Mrs. Omowole and her cabinet. No minutes of meetings showing decisions taken; no written document of instructions for actions regarding the project.



23. That there was a frivolous and suspicious withdrawal of subscribers’ money deposited in UBA Plc by Mrs. Ify Omowole, amounting to US$227, 000 on March 31, 2016.



24. That Mrs. Ify Omowole did not inform any member of her cabinet of her intention to withdraw subscribers’ US$227, 000 deposited in UBA plc on March 31, 2016.



25. That Mrs. Ify Omowale did not give convincing reason(s) for her single-handed withdrawal of subscribers’ money lodged in UBA Plc amounting to US$227, 000 on March 31, 2016.



26. That Mrs. Ify Omowale’s excuse for the withdrawal does not hold and is unacceptable. She had said she withdrew the US$227, 000 because of the falling exchange rate and also to pay the developer (Primewaterview Holdings Limited) the advance of subscribers’ counterpart funding. This does not hold given that as at the time of withdrawal of the money by Mrs. Ify Omowole, there was no signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NUJ/NAWOJ Pen Jewel Estate and Primewaterview Holdings Limited as developer because the US$227, 000 was withdrawn four (4) clear months before the signing of the MoU; hence no need to pay counterpart funding at that time. Also, the excuse that the US dollar was losing value at that time is unacceptable as the Nigerian naira further crashed to almost N500 to a dollar as at the time of signing the MoU.



27. That there was a case of “EXPIRED”US Dollars amounting to US$27, 610.



28. That Mrs. Ify Omowole confessed to giving the US$24, 000 out of the ‘EXPIRED’ US$27, 610, to a car dealer to use for transactions in America after she claimed she was unable to convert the said currency to naira as it was rejected by banks here.



29. That Mrs. Ify Omowole claimed that the said car dealer was unable to spend the US$24, 000 in the American market.



30. That the car dealer eventually agreed to change the US$24, 000 at N150/$1, amounting to about N4 million. This is very curious because if the money could not be spent in America, why would the car dealer agree to change same to naira? Is he a santa claus?



31. That there is no record that the proceed from the expired US$27, 610 was paid into the account of NAWOJ or Pen Jewel estate project.



32. That Mrs. Ify Omowole has not given account of the payments made in the local currency, that is, naira, to NAWOJ by subscribers to the project.



33. That Mrs. Ify Omowole declined to submit or bring to the Committee ALL the statement of account of NAWOJ in connection to the Pen Jewel project, even after a letter was sent to her for same.



34. That on November 10, 2017, at 10:15 am, Mrs. Ify Omowale had a print out of the NAWOJ UBA Dollar account printed. The period printed was from January 12, 2015 to March 31, 2016.



35. Following from (43) above, that Mrs. Ify Omowole may have deliberately attempted to interfere with the Committee’s findings because the US dollar account print-out she submitted to the Committee only read from January 12, 2015 to July 29, 2015. Therefore the withdrawal of US$227, 000 on March 31, 2016, was not captured in what she submitted to the Committee even though she had the account printed out by UBA covering the withdrawal in question.



36. That the Committee however went the extra mile to get a copy of the account statement capturing Mrs. Ify Omowole’s withdrawal of the US$227, 000.



37. That there is a NAWOJ Cooperative account held in secrecy and operated by Mrs. Ify Omowale and Treasurer of NAWOJ, Mrs. Tosin Odusola. Through this account, the principals have made “SUSPICIOUS PAYMENTS” to some people in connection with transactions on the Pen Jewel scheme.



38. That NAWOJ has no cooperative society, hence, why did an account have to be opened in such a name.





39. That the developer, Primewaterview, showed no commitment to the project. No money has been invested in the project by the developer, going by the breakdown of expenses incurred so far on the project which he submitted to the committee. So far, the developer has only spent money he got from the subscribers’ contribution amounting to N78 million.


Read More: http://www.newsmakersng.com/2018/03/02/anatomy-of-a-fraud-nigerian-journalists-on-self-cleansing-mission/

NewsmakersNG
Matilda Omonaiye/

The race for President Muhammadu Buhari’s job in 2019 is getting more and more interesting as contenders emerge.

The latest contender who has thrown his hat in the ring is Rev King.

Yes. His Holiness, Chukwuemeka Ezeugo aka Rev King – the General Overseer of Christian Praying Assembly (CPA), who Justice Joseph Oyewole at a Lagos High Court tried for murder of a church member, Ann Uzoh, and condemned to death by hanging in 2007. The judgement was upheld by the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division and finally affirmed by Justice Sylvester Ngwuta of the Supreme Court in 2016.

While marking Rev King’s birthday yesterday, a leading member of his church exclusively told NewsmakersNG that the condemned preacher is contesting the 2019 Presidential elections on the platform of the newly registered Grassroot Development Party of Nigeria (GDPN).
According to the Brazil-based church leader, Rt Rev Ernest King, many Nigerians have been going to the prison in Sokoto to mount pressure on Rev King to come and contest and deliver the country.

He said: “This is the man that has...

Read more: http://www.newsmakersng.com/2018/02/27/rev-king-wants-buharis-job/

NewsmakersNG
Segun Atanda/

Barely one month after two officials of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) were arraigned for allegedly stealing N40.5million from customers accounts, another staff was again arraigned today over the theft of N124million from a depositor’s account...
http://www.newsmakersng.com/2018/02/12/again-fcmb-staff-steals-multi-million-naira-from-customers-account/

NewsmakersNG
http://www.newsmakersng.com/2018/02/07/police-debunk-fake-story-reveal-how-truck-driver-crushed-19-robbery-victims-on-sagamu-benin-expressway/

Segun Atanda/

About eight years after a truck driver narrated how he crushed 19 victims of armed robbery to death on Sagamu-Benin Expressway, mischief makers are creating fresh panic in the public by circulating a picture of the accident scene and telling people that herdsmen are killing travelers along the road.

The coordinated propaganda which is also accompanied by the voice note of an alleged victim calling on travelers to stay away from the road, as well as a fake letter from a school asking students to go on a break because of the alleged mass killing which the police have described as a “lie from the pit of hell”.

Three statements were issued, today alone, to debunk the rumors being peddled on social media. One came from the Zone ‘2’ police headquarters in Lagos, two others from the police headquarters in Ogun and Lagos states.

NewsmakersNG has however nailed the lie with a 2010 video interview of a truck driver who actually ran over the victims on July 31, 2009, when he was in a state of panic.

Osayande Idahosa said that he ran over the passengers, who were being robbed on the rainy night of July 31, 2009, because he thought they were logs placed on the road by armed robbers as he viewed them with panic from a distance.

The victims were travelling in a luxury bus, marked XF 285 AKD. The bus, with 41 passengers, was hijacked by bandits at a spot between Federal Government College, Odogbolu and Babcock University, on the Ijebu-Ode–Sagamu Expressway. They were asked to lie face down on the road, where they were crushed by a Scania lorry, marked XN 808 BEN, during a robbery that lasted for about 10 hours, claiming...http://www.newsmakersng.com/2018/02/07/police-debunk-fake-story-reveal-how-truck-driver-crushed-19-robbery-victims-on-sagamu-benin-expressway/