An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday remanded a 28-year-old man, for allegedly breaking into a cemetery and stealing iron rods used to cover a corpse in a grave, valued at N1.1 million.
The defendant, Mubarak Kajola, whose residential address was not disclosed, was arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on illegal trespass, stealing and possession of firearms.
He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp. Funmi Akinleye, told the court that the defendant ”illegally, improperly and indecently” broke into the Ayobo Cemetery and interfered with dead bodies.
She said that the defendant on Aug. 11 broke the slabs used in covering dead bodies, and stole the iron rods which belonged to Ayobo-Ipaja Local Council Area valued at N1.1 million.
The prosecutor told the court that the defendant was armed with a plastic mock rifle.
Akinleye said that the offences contravened sections 165(b), 280(1), 287, 312 and 312 (a)(b).
The Magistrate, Mrs Oyenike Fajana, ordered that the defendant be remanded at the the Kirikiri Correctional Center.
She adjourned the case until Aug. 17 for facts and sentencing.
The Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar, Prof. Cyril Ndifon, has debunked allegation of high handedness, and sexual harassment, levelled against him by some students of the Faculty, saying that the protest was masterminded by some persons in the faculty, who had sworn to do everything possible in order to pull him down.
Ndifon made the remark in Calabar, in a telephone conversation with our correspondent shortly after the President of the Law Students Association of Nigeria, LAWSAN, UNICAL branch, Benedict Otu, led some students to protest against Ndifon.
Denying any wrongdoing, Ndifon described the allegations as lies that were cooked from the pit of hell just to tarnish his image.
He said, “Since I defeated some persons in an election that was keenly contested, to emerge as Dean of the faculty, it hasn’t been easy. I had skipped several booby traps.
“These allegations are baselessly masterminded by my detractor, who had vowed to ensure that my image is dragged to the mud just because I won the faculty elections twice.
“If you look at the placards you will discover that the placards have one person’s handwriting. Again how come the protesters know that we were holding a meeting with the Vice Chancellor if it is not the handiwork of an insider.
“We were supposed to hold a meeting with the Vice Chancellor to enable us iron out important issues troubling us in the faculty, while the meeting was on-going, we were told that some students were outside with placards, protesting against me, demanding that I should be unseated.
“From what am told, LAWSAN President, Benedict Otu, cajoled some students that they were to go for a meeting with the Vice Chancellor at her office, only to dish out placards bearing false representations about the Dean, and asked his colleagues to chant slogans that berated my personality.
“This won’t work. Colleagues of mine who are bent on tarnishing my reputation just to destroy me. The question is where are the victims of sexual harassment.
“Can someone harass girls without the ladies coming out to raise the alarm that they were sexually harassed?
“For Christ sake, I don’t teach Year 2 B or Year one students, so I don’t know why they have chosen to drag my name to the mud. This was why I said earlier that the allegations were lies, cooked from the pit of hell, just to destroy a reputation that I had spent decades building."
Recall that some students in the Faculty of Law carried placards to the Vice Chancellor’s building protesting against what they described as high handedness of the Dean.
Other issues which the protesters accused the Dean of includes, sale of law journal, lecturers not showing up in class to lecture students and sexual harassment allegations.
However, the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Florence Obi, who addressed the protesting students called for calm and assured students of the university authority’s willingness to get the situation addressed.
She said that university management was ready to keep its doors open for all to access if need be, stressing that the authority would do everything possible to get the matter resolved.
In her reaction to the issue, a student of Law Faculty, Miss Agatha Ayeni, expressed sadness over the protest against the dean, stressing that the LAWSAN President, Comrade Otu, took a group of gullible students out to protest against the wish of the leadership of the faculty because he didn’t meet up with two third major requirement before a protest is carried out.
Another law student, Sylvester, (surname withheld), who regretted participating in the protest, stated that he and other colleagues were cajoled to go for a meeting with the Vice Chancellor at her office, only to see placards bearing false representations about the Dean.
He said, “Also,we have heard of law journal but did not hear anything like sexual harassment. I think this is a manipulation of gullible students to achieve self-serving interest.”
Another law student, Emmanuel Williams, who condemned the protest, stated that allegations of sexual harassment was a blackmail to pull down the Dean.
He said, “The question is if Ndifon has been accused of sexual harassment who is/are the victim(s)?
“We are all law students and taught how to seek redress. Can these so-called victims raise an alarm, rather than keeping mute?”
It will be recalled that, in 2015, a young lady accused him of rape. The randy Dean was suspended and later cleared him of the allegations and recalled him to his position as Dean in 2017.
We are tired of servicing Professor Ndifon - Law students protest
Cyril Ndifon, UNICAL's first Professor of Law, was in August 2015 suspended by the Institution, after been accused of sexually assaulting a 20-year-old 400-level student in his office.
Ndifon sued the Institution and lost the case at the Calabar Division of the National Industrial Court on September 21, 2016.
Attempts by Ndifon to stop the ICPC from the case also met a brick wall as Justice Inyang Ekwo dismissed the suit he filed on March 02, 2017.
Surprisingly, he was reinstated to his position as Faculty Dean in December last year.
Law Students Association of Nigeria LAWSAN, UNICAL Branch protest against Prof. Cyril Ndifon, Dean of the Faculty of Law. Accuse him of corruption and sexual assault.
A member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Presidential Campaign Council, Adetokunbo Pearse, has said that President Bola Tinubu is just a bookkeeper, describing his economic policies, especially on petrol subsidy removal as a disaster.
Pearse who spoke while featuring on a Channels TV programme, on Monday, said Nigerians desire to know the actual landing cost of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly known as petrol.
He said instead of destroying the economy with total subsidy removal, President Tinubu should have thoroughly scrutinised the Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, over the fluctuations in landing cost.
He said, "We should go back to reviewing what is happening in NNPCL. This whole issue has to do with corruption in that industry; unless the President goes there, we will not get the benefit of the oil that is produced in this country.
"The question of the price of oil is what we are talking about. How do we get the price of oil to the point where it is affordable and will not destroy the economy? That is the issue. How do we do that? Go to NNPCL, Mr President, and find out what is going on there.
"The only way to solve a problem and the problem is this, the cost of petrol pump price is too expensive for our economy. Now, how do you bring the price of oil to the point where it is affordable? What do you do? Go to NNPCL and find out the wastage, the inefficiency, and the corruption there, and if you curb that, we will not have this problem, it will be reduced.
"Democracy is a job in progress, the president doesn't know everything. Frankly, I am very disappointed in Tinubu, very disappointed. I thought he understood economics. Now, I have realized he is just a bookkeeper. A bookkeeper is an accountant - he collects money and counts it but to develop a business, to develop an economy takes a business mind.
"Somebody who has run the industry before - employers. Employees understand the give and take of business. Evidently, he (President Tinubu) doesn't know it and he is not listening to advice because what is going on now is a disaster."
He stressed that investigating the NNPC will expose the reality.
“When you go to the NNPCL, you find out that the landing cost is so low to the price that is given. The landing cost at one point was N50 per litre, now it’s about N150 per litre.”
The chieftain of the PDP and Lagos State Coordinator, Atiku/ Okowa Presidential Campaign Support Group, explained that the emergence of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the repair of local refineries ought to reduce the landing cost of the product in contrast to the position of the NNPCL boss' comment.
“One of the reasons I said we need to go to NNPCL is this: Kyari said on this platform that even when Dangote oil comes fully on board, the price of pump fuel will not reduce – even with the production of oil in Port Harcourt and elsewhere. That man needs to be investigated.
“Of course, if you refine your oil here, the man is already telling us that even when it is refined here, it is still not going to go down and you and I know that if we have our refineries and we are refining the product here, the price should be more competitive,” he argued.
SaharaReporters had reported that President Tinubu in his inaugural address on May 29, 2023, declared that fuel subsidy is gone.
Shortly after, the pump price of fuel rose by about 150% from N210 to about N400 and above. Now the price has skyrocketed to N630 per litre and above.
Crossdresser Idris Okuneye popularly known as Bobrisky has lost his father, Kunle Okuneye.
A son of the deceased, Debola Okuneye, who confirmed the news to The PUNCH, Monday, said, "Yes, my father died this morning and we are making preparations for his burial."
The PUNCH also spoke to a friend and colleague of the deceased simply known as a Lastborn.
Lastborn, who is the Secretary of the Beach Nigeria Enterprises, a car hire service situated at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, where then late Okuneye worked as one of its directors, also confirmed that the deceased will be buried according to Islamic rites by 4 pm today.
'Yes, you saw it. It's true, he will be buried by 4 pm today," Lastborn confirmed.
Okuneye, a native of Ijebu-Igbo in Ogun state, will be laid to rest in his hometown.
Recovers 2.7 million pills of Tramadol, 62.29kg Cocaine, Ephedrine, Loud; seizes over 13tons of skunk in 4 states
Three major illicit drug syndicates were taken down by operatives of a special unit of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in intelligence-led operations across parts of Lagos state, leading to the arrest of a baroness and four other kingpins with multi-billion naira worth of Cocaine, Opioids and Loud recovered from their hideouts.
A female head of one of the syndicates, Faith Ebele Nwankwo was arrested on Wednesday 9th August at her residence, House 6, C close, 3rd Avenue, Festac area of Lagos shortly after she returned from a warehouse at Plot 3432 Sola Akinsola Street, Divine Estate, Amuwo Odofin where she loaded eight cartons of tramadol 225mg into an unmarked white Honda Pilot SUV.
A search of her residence and the warehouse led to the recovery of Two Million Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand (2,750,000) pills of tramaking, a brand of tramadol 225mg and 250mg packed in 39 cartons weighing 1,916 kilograms. The drugs and the SUV were recovered while the suspect was taken into custody.
In another operation targeted at a group of transnational syndicate involved in importation, exportation, distribution, and dealing in Cocaine and Canadian Loud, operatives of the same Special Unit of the Agency on Friday 4th August tracked the drug syndicate to Atlantic Nominee Estate in Lekki- Ajah area of Lagos where a blue Toyota Highlander SUV was loaded with 8.49kg of cocaine and 10.3kg Canadian Loud for distribution by the duo of Urama Chinemelum Precious, 32, and Adelakun Ilelabayo Oluade, 55. A follow-up operation at the residence of Chinemelum at House 7, Road 7, Lagra estate, Eti-Osa, Lagos led to the recovery of additional 18 blocks of Loud weighing 18.5kg.
The following day, Saturday 5th August, operatives of the Special Unit went after another syndicate involved in importation, distribution and diversion of ephedrine hydrochloride, a precursor chemical used for the production of methamphetamine, following intelligence that members of the cartel were planning to divert 25 kilograms of the substance.
Two members of the syndicate: Udeh Vincent Ogbonna, 53, and Okonkwo Ifeanyi Uzozie, 50, were arrested at a commercial bus terminal in Jibowu, Yaba, Lagos where they were attempting to send the concealed substance to the South East. A body search conducted on the two suspects led to the recovery of Three Thousand ($3,000) US Dollars found on Udeh Vincent Ogbonna.
In operations across four other states of Ogun, Ondo, Edo and Nasarawa, NDLEA operatives recovered over 13,391.8 kilograms of skunk. No fewer than 1,955kgs of the illicit substance packed in 139 jumbo bags and stored in the warehouse of a wanted notorious drug dealer, Lekan Jimoh (aka Konmo Konmo) in Ado Odo Ota area of Ogun state were recovered in the early hours of Saturday 12th August in collaboration with officers and men of the Nigerian Army.
In Ondo, Ogbu Paul Odey, 30; Daniel Osidi, 34; John Iyage, 41; Friday Simon, 28; and Friday James, 24, were arrested in connection with the seizure and/or destruction of over 10,325.5kgs of cannabis sativa in Iju and Ala forests, in Akure area of the state between Wednesday 9th and Thursday 10th August.
While 22-year-old James Aga was arrested during the raid of an uncompleted building on the outskirts of Utese town in Ovia North East LGA of Edo State on Friday 11th August with 10kg skunk, 976kg of the same substance was recovered from the building in addition to the recovery of four motorcycles. In an earlier operation in Utese forest on Tuesday 8th August, at least 46.545kgs of skunk were recovered and 1.581146 hectares of cannabis farms destroyed while two suspects: Onyelunisue Azuka, 48 and Abraham Ayomide, 30, were arrested.
In Nasarawa state, 49-year-old Umar Abdullahi, was arrested on Friday 11th August with 64.8kgs of cannabis sativa in Doma LGA, while NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI, on Wednesday 9th August intercepted a 4.5kg consignment of Loud coming from the United States at a courier firm in Lagos.
In his reaction to the clinical dismantling of the three drug syndicates and arrest of their kingpins, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) commended the officers and men of the Special Unit for being pro-active and pragmatic in the operations. He also applauded their colleagues in Ogun, Ondo, Edo and Nasarawa Commands as well as those of DOGI for their zeal and professionalism. He charged them and their compatriots across the country to remain vigilant and focused.
Femi Babafemi Director, Media and Advocacy NDLEA Headquarters Abuja Sunday 13th August 2023
Do not drag us to war! Nigeria and Nigerians will bear the full brunt of this unpopular, anti-people, pro west imperialist war. Most especially, Northern Nigeria, which is dealing with enough problems already. Dialogue and diplomacy are the only ways to go, especially as it was a bloodless coup.
Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is set for a long spell on the sidelines after sustaining an ACL injury in training.
Courtois reportedly left training in tears after picking up the injury, according to Spanish journalist Miguel Diaz. Los Blancos later confirmed that the former Chelsea stopper had suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
Following tests carried out on Thibaut Courtois, the player has been diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. The player will undergo surgery in the coming days.
The Belgian star is now set to miss the entirety of the 2023/24 season. It leaves Real Madrid in disarray in the goalkeeping department with the start of the new La Liga season just days away.
India-bound ‘couple’ excretes 184 wraps of cocaine, woman hides drug in private part
As NDLEA intercepts heroin, meth consignments concealed in beads, soap bars, MP3 player going to New Zealand, Greece, Hong Kong
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested a fake couple: Mr. Ilonzeh Kingsley Onyebuchi and Mrs. Ilonzeh Roseline Nonyelum purportedly going for medical treatment in India for ingesting 184 wraps of cocaine weighing 3.322 kilograms with 100grams of the drug also concealed in the woman’s private part.
The two suspects were intercepted at the Screening Point 1, Terminal 1 of the international wing of the Lagos airport on Tuesday 1st August 2023 while attempting to board an Ethiopian airline flight to India. Though their travel documents show consistency in their names and depict them as a couple, an NDLEA officer however decided to subject them to body scan. The scan confirmed they both ingested drugs as a result of which they were later placed on excretion observation at the Agency’s facility.
While their travel documents identify the man as Ilonzeh Kingsley Onyebuchi and the lady to be Ilonzeh Roseline Nonyelum, preliminary investigation revealed that the intending passengers were not a couple but obtained the travel documents in the same surname to beat security checks at the airport. The lady later gave her real name as Ngogbike Nkechi.
During her interview, she confessed that she was recruited in her church in Aba, Abia state where she lives. The suspect, Ilonzeh Roseline Nonyelum (aka Ngogbike Nkechi) stated further that she is a divorcee, and that Kingsley with whom she was travelling is not her husband but connected only for the purpose of the illicit drug business trip.
She revealed that her arranged husband, Kingsley brought the pellets of cocaine to her in her room to ingest in the hotel where they were both lodged in separate rooms the previous day Monday 31st July.
After their arrest, a thorough search conducted on her led to the discovery of a big size wrap of cocaine that weighed 100 grams she inserted into her private part. She confessed that she was promised Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) upon successful delivery of the drug in India.
In his own statement, Kingsley who was into clothing business in Onitsha, Anambra state, claimed he was promised Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000) after a successful delivery of the drug in India. A further search of the Agency’s crime data base revealed that Kingsley also obtained his travel documents with fake identity for the trip. Indeed, it was established that he was arrested by NDLEA operatives at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja on 19th March 2022 for ingesting 100 wraps of cocaine weighing 2.243kgs upon his arrival from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on board an Ethiopian airline flight. His travel documents then contained his real name: Uwaezuoke Ikenna Christian.
After his arrest at the Abuja airport on 19th March 2022 along with another suspect, Iro Elvis Uche who also ingested 65 wraps of cocaine with a gross weight of 1.376kgs, Uwaezuoke was subsequently arraigned before Justice Zainab Abubakar of the Federal High Court Abuja with charge number: FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2022. He was eventually granted bail by the court pending the conclusion of his trial. He is still on the court bail when he was arrested at the Lagos airport for a similar offence on Tuesday 1st August.
While Ilonzeh Kingsley Onyebuchi (aka Uwaezuoke Ikenna Christian) excreted a total of 82 wraps of cocaine with a gross weight of 1.822kgs in five excretions, Ilonzeh Roseline Nonyelum (aka Ngogbike Nkechi) egested 101 wraps in four excretions with a bid size wrap of the substance recovered from her private part, all weighing 1.50kgs.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI, attached to courier companies in Lagos have intercepted various quantities of Dextromethorphan mixed with heroin; Methamphetamine; Dimethyl Sulfone and Cannabis concealed in different objects going to Europe.
While 272 grams of dextromethorphan mixed with heroin going to Greece were recovered from white neck beads; 665 grams of cannabis being shipped to Hong Kong were hidden in bars of Dudu Osun black bathing soap; with 261 grams of Dimethyl Sulfone going to New Zealand hidden in reels of weaving threads and 1.5kgs of Methamphetamine also going to New Zealand neatly packed in an MP3 player after all the parts were removed and the substance stuffed as replacement.
In Kano state, a woman and four men: Ladi Peter,47; Umar Salisu, 38; Ahmed Naheeb, 36; Ibrahim Umar, 42, and Musa Suleman, 43, were arrested in connection with the seizure of 977.7 kilograms of cannabis sativa from them by NDLEA operatives along Zaria-Kano road, Kwanar Dangora on Friday 4th August and Monday 31st July. In the same vein, 2,445 kilograms of cannabis sativa were recovered from the warehouse of a fleeing suspect, Usman Nar at Madinatu area of Jere LGA, Borno state on Saturday 5th August.
No fewer than 57,450 pills of tramadol, rohypnol and exol-5 as well as 4,082 bottles of codeine-based syrup were recovered from a suspect, Joseph Usman in a commercial bus coming from Onitsha, Anambra state to Abuja along Abaji-Abuja highway on Friday 4th August.
In his reaction to the seizures and arrests of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) commended the officers and men of MMIA, Kano, FCT and Borno Commands of the Agency as well as those of DOGI for their diligence, vigilance and professionalism in the discharge of their responsibilities. He charged them and their compatriots across the country not to rest on their oars.
Femi Babafemi Director, Media and Advocacy NDLEA Headquarters Abuja Sunday 6th August 2023
Apparently worried by the turn of events with the Organised Labour protest, President Bola Tinubu is meeting with their leaders at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Those in the meeting with Tinubu are the Presidents of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Joe Ajaero and Festus Osifo respectively.
The meeting comes just hours after the unions followed through on their plans to protest the economic hardship triggered by the discontinuance of petrol subsidy by the Tinubu’s administration.
As NDLEA secures conviction of 1,445 drug traffickers in six months
A 34-year-old South American man from Suriname, Dadda Lorenzo Harvy Albert, who was arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Port Harcourt, Rivers state for bringing into Nigeria 117 parcels of cocaine concealed in extra-large latex condoms factory packed inside bottles of 100ml body spray, has been convicted and sentenced to 13 years in prison.
The suspect who claimed he departed his country, Suriname, located in the North Eastern coast of South America on 2nd April for Sao Paulo, Brazil and from Sao Paulo to Nigeria on Friday 7th April, 2023 on board Qatar Airways flight in search of his long-lost Nigerian father whom he called "Omini", was arraigned before Justice E.A. Obile of the Federal High Court 2, Port Harcourt on 1st June on two counts of importation and unlawful possession of 9.9kgs cocaine in charge number FHC/PH/181C/23.
The Surinamese however pleaded guilty to the two-count charge and after the review of the facts of the case on Thursday 20th July, he was convicted and sentenced to 13 years imprisonment on both counts without an option of fine. In his ruling, Justice Obile declared that You Dadda Lorenzo Harvy Albert is hereby sentenced to 13 years imprisonment without option of fine on Count 1 and Count 2 also. And both shall run concurrently.
The trial judge also ordered the forfeiture of the sum of Ninety ($90) United States Dollars and Ten (R$10) Brazilian Real recovered from the convict at the time of his arrest to the Federal Government. The court equally refused the application by Lorenzos Counsel for him to be deported back to his country. As a result, the convict is now serving his term of imprisonment at the Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The successful prosecution and conviction of Lorenzo is one of the One Thousand Four Hundred and Forty-Five (1,445) drug cases concluded at the Federal High Court across the country between January and June 2023 by the Directorate of Prosecution and Legal Services of NDLEA with the trial of a total of 11,166 other drug suspects ongoing in court. Out of the 1,445 convicts, 221 of them are female while the balance of 1,541 are male.
Of the 11,166 pending cases, 10,626 of them are men while the rest, 540 are women. The 1,445 convicts and 11,166 suspects who are still facing trial were arrested and charged to court over the seizure of 555,953.70 kilograms of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, cannabis, tramadol and others linked to them between January and June 2023.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) commended officers and men of the prosecution department for a job well done. He charged them to remain committed to diligent prosecution of all pending cases in court, adding that conviction and sentencing without the option of fine is a strong deterrence to offenders and anyone contemplating going into any crime.
Femi Babafemi Director, Media & Advocacy NDLEA Headquarters Abuja Wednesday 2nd August 2023
A member of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the North-west National Vice Chairman of the party, Comrade Salihu Lukman, has resigned his position from the party.
In a resignation letter signed Wednesday, July 26, 2033, Salihu Lukman, said he will remain a member of the party with the hope that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will continue to tow the path of Justice.
The letter appreciated the APC leaders in Kaduna, especially former governor Nasir El-Rufai and others.
Davido has unfollowed Isreal ‘DMW’ Afeare on Instagram shortly after his logistics manager issued an apology to the Muslim community on his behalf.
The Afrobeats singer had provoked widespread criticism following the controversial music video of his newly signed artiste Logos Olori.
In the short clip for the song titled ‘Jaye Lo’, some men dressed in white Jalabiya could be seen dancing in front of a mosque.
Although Davido took down the video on Monday, some Muslims still demanded a public apology from the singer.
Some youths recently took to the streets of Maiduguri, Borno state capital, to register their displeasure with Davido and set a large banner of the singer on fire.
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) also called on the Department of State Services (DSS) to probe Davido.
In the wake of the backlash, Isreal took to social media to apologise to the Muslim community on Tuesday.
The singer’s logistic manager said the video was purely for entertainment purposes, adding that they are “sorry for presenting it wrongly”.
“Let me specially apologise to my Muslim brothers and sisters, on the video my oga posted, as a result of him wanting to lift up somebody, which is one of his hubbies,” the now-deleted Instagram post reads.
“It was purely an entertainment effort wrongly presented. Make una no vex. Love you all.”
Although Davido has remained silent on the matter — despite the widespread backlash, checks showed that the singer unfollowed his aide on Instagram.
Isreal, on the other hand, is still following Davido on the social media platform.
Insecurity in Abia: Two police officers killed, Government vehicle burnt, as Otti’s Commissioner escapes - Police Report
Abia State Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Dr. Chimezie Ukaegbu, yesterday escaped death, as his convoy was attacked in Aba.
A police officer attached to Ukaegbu, who was former Special Adviser on Trade and Commerce to Governor Alex Otti, was killed and a vehicle belonging to Abia State Ministry for Trade, Commerce, and Investment, was burnt.
A release by the Abia State Command of the Nigerian Police, signed by ASP Maureen Chioma Chinaka, for the Commissioner of Police, added that a police inspector was also killed.
The full statement reads:
“At approximately 4 PM on Tuesday, 25/07/2023, a distressing incident occurred at SAMEC, located near Faulks Road in Aba. A group of hoodlums launched an attack on the convoy of the Commissioner for Trade, Commerce, and Industry during the honorable commissioner’s familiarization tour to markets in the Aba metropolis. The convoy was en route to Ekeoha shopping plaza when the armed assailants opened fire.
“Regrettably, amidst the chaos, two police officers lost their lives in the line of duty. A police constable who was part of the security convoy, was fatally shot. Additionally, a police inspector who was not initially part of the convoy but happened to be on a separate assignment with a police Hilux, also met the scene and tragically lost his life. Furthermore, the hoodlums set ablaze a vehicle belonging to the Ministry for Trade, Commerce, and Investment.
“The Commissioner of Police assures the public that every possible effort will be exerted as discreet investigations are ongoing to ensure justice is served. We condemn this cowardly act of violence and remain steadfast in our resolve to bring the perpetrators to justice.
“We urge the public to remain calm, vigilant, and cooperate fully with law enforcement agencies. Any information, regardless of how insignificant it may seem, could prove pivotal in identifying and apprehending the culprits responsible for this heinous act.
“In conclusion, we emphasize our unwavering commitment to pursuing justice and upholding the triumph of good over evil.
“Together, as a united community, we shall prevail against such senseless acts of violence.”
SIGNED
ASP Maureen Chioma Chinaka LLB Anipr For the Commissioner of Police Abia State Command July 26, 2023
A coalition of chairmen of political parties and civil society organisations (CSOs) has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for “strengthening the integrity of the 2023 elections” with technologies.
In a communique on Monday, the group passed “a vote of confidence” on Yakubu Mahmood, chairman of INEC, for “putting everything on the line to push through the technological innovations and reforms”.
The communique was signed by Kenneth Udenze, national chairman of Action Alliance (AA); Uchenna Nnadi, national chairman of Action Peoples Party (APP); Isaac Udeh, national chairman of National Rescue Movement (NRM); Dan Nwanyawu, national chairman of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP); Lawal Nalado, national chairman of Accord (A); and Ezenwa Nwagwu, chairman of Partners for Electoral Reforms.
The group said the victory recorded by several political parties in the national assembly election “speaks directly to the integrity and credibility of the poll”.
The coalition said the introduction of the bimodal voters’ accreditation system (BVAS) and the INEC result viewing portal (IREV) “is playing out in the various tribunals to prove the actual outcomes of the elections”.
“The roundtable observed that in the house of representatives, members from minority parties are in the majority in the house, showing a truly representative house as voted by the people,” the communique reads.
“The roundtable agrees that this speaks directly to the integrity and credibility of the election and commended the commission for performing well in this regard.
“The political roundtable reviewed the technological innovations introduced by the commission, including the bimodal voters’ accreditation system (BVAS) and the INEC result viewing Portal (IREV) and commended both innovations as having helped to strengthen the integrity of the elections.
“The political roundtable reviewed the pre-election internal discipline mechanism adopted by INEC which helped reduce internal wrangling within the political parties and the tendency for factionalisation of the political parties.
“The political roundtable reviewed the pre-election processes by the political parties and agreed that political parties and political actors were responsible for a vast majority of the tension and concerns about the election, and INEC conducted itself creditably in this area.
“The political roundtable reviewed the preparations and pre-election logistics deployment by INEC and agreed that the commission was punctual in meeting up and completing all its activity checklist on schedule, including logistics deployment of non-sensitive and sensitive materials.
“The political roundtable reviewed the role of the BVAS and the IREV in the electoral process and commended the roles the deployment of both innovations is playing in the various tribunals to prove the actual outcomes of the elections.”
Lead counsel to Endsars petitioners, Adeshina Ogunlana, has faulted the position of the Lagos state government in the leaked memo approving the mass burial of 103 EndSARS victims.
On Sunday, a leaked memo addressed to the Lagos State Ministry of Health indicating that the State Government approved N61,285,000 for the mass burial of 103 persons identified as 2020 EndSARS victims went viral on social media and sparked outrage.
The Lagos State Government, however, responded to the leaked memo and maintained that the victims to be buried are not from the controversial Lekki Tollgate shooting.
Reacting to the development on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday, Ogunlana said the Lagos State Government is being clever by half.
“Government is being clever by half and they are not telling the absolute truth. Yes, I agree with the position that the 103 bodies were said, not all of them were picked up from Lekki toll gate and its environs.
“To use the word the pathologist used at the panel, that is professor Obafunwa, he said bodies were scavenged, and corpses were picked from different places. But around the area of Lekki Toll Gate, they were corpses too, some of them were dumped at the General Hospital, Lagos Island and all that.
He further condemned the government for saying that there were no named citizens from the Lekki Toll Gate, arguing that the 103 about to be buried by the government have no names as well.
“For the government now to be saying oh no there is no named citizen, the question I want to ask them is this, even the 103 corpses that they want to dispose of, do they have any names? There was no name.
“The bodies that were taken around the environment of Lekki toll gate when Baba Fafunwa was speaking, he at least identified three that were perforated with missiles,” he said.
The legal practitioner, however, corrected the impression from some quarters that all 103 bodies were from the Lekki Toll Gate, saying that is also not correct.
“People saying that the 103 is proof that actually 103 people were killed at the Lekki toll gate is a very grave error and I will not join anybody saying that.
“But to say that there was no body recovered in the environs of the Lekki toll gate incident of 2020 is completely wrong,” he said.
Ogunlana asserted that government was attempting to “profit from the cruel loss of lives” by approving as much as over N60 million for the mass burial.
“Even now the system of government that we have in Lagos State and by extension Nigeria is showing that they want to profit by cruel loss of lives.
“How could you say that you have approved N61 million to bury 103 degraded bodies in a mass grave? People that are unidentified, people that nobody came up to claim and all that, I mean that is horrendous,” Ogunlana lamented.
There has been controversy over the number of deaths recorded during the EndSARS protest, resulting in the governor setting up an inquest led by Justice Doris Okuwobi.
Since the protest in 2020, both the Lagos Government and the Federal Government have consistently denied any mass killing during the EndSARS protests.
The memo is coming over two years after the widespread protest across the country. The Lagos Government has yet to comment on the leaked memo.
Thousands of Nigerians across the country took to the streets to protest police brutality and called for far-reaching reforms, particularly with regard to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the police.
The weeks-long protests, which gained international attention, culminated in the controversial shooting of protesters at the popular Lekki Tollgate in Lagos, one of the rallying points for those who partook in the demonstrations.
Nigerian music star, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has deleted the much-controversial music video of his signee, Logos Olori, After receiving a lot of negative feedback.
The 45-second video which was posted on Saturday, featured some men wearing white jalabia and caps, and dancing in front of a mosque. Olori also sat on a speaker mounted on the roof of the building. This and the fact that the singer mentioned the word— Alhamdulillah (praise be to God)— did not go down well with some of their fans, especially Muslims, who condemned it.
Davido posted the video on Instagram with the caption, “Allow me to re-introduce Logos Olori with his new single, ’Jaye Lo.’ Let us run it up one time! Let’s take over the world. DMW.”
Davido came under fire from many Muslims on social media after posting the video on his Twitter page.
They accused the singer of disrespecting Islam by mixing their religious rites and rituals with song and dance.
Davido finally caved to pressure and deleted the video two days after receiving criticism, despite the musician having remained largely mute on the subject and offering no formal apologies.
Checks on the singer page on Monday showed that the controversial video had been deleted.
The factional National Working Committee (NWC) of the Labour Party, led by Lamidi Apapa, has extended felicitations to Peter Obi, the party’s flag bearer, on the occasion of his 62nd birthday. However, in a surprising turn of events, the NWC expressed regret for fielding Obi as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2023 election.
According to the faction, Peter Obi, instead of representing the varied interests within the party, chose to align with a specific faction. In a statement issued by Comrade Abayomi Arabambi, the Suspended National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, the NWC urged Obi to reflect on becoming a statesman who represents the collective interests of Nigerians rather than being seen as a regional bigot.
The statement highlighted that while celebrating Obi’s birthday, the party expects him to contemplate the significance of his role as a statesman and the responsibilities it entails. The faction emphasized that his popularity was derived from the love people have for the Labour Party and the representation he provided to the citizens.
However, the faction expressed concerns about recent developments, citing actions that undermined the discipline for which the Labour Party is known. They pointed out instances where Obi went to the Presidential Electoral Tribunal as a non-member of the party and relied on a “non-party agent” to defend his alleged stolen mandate, which they found regrettable and laughable.
“The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Labour Party (LP) felicitates with its popular presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Gregory Obi, on his 62nd anniversary.
“In wishing him well, we want him to state that we regret fielding him on the platform of the party, in the light of recent development particularly actions that undermined the discipline the Labour party has been known for.
“The Lamidi Apapa-led National Working Committee of the Party hereby charges the celebrant to, on this occasion of thanksgiving to God, to be reflective of the Nigerian interest, which he seeks to serve.
“It is indeed worrisome that even though he went to the Presidential Electoral Tribunal as a non-member of the Labour Party and lied severally that there was a time they issued subpoena to INEC for all those document and maintained that they, they were unable to pay all the documents they seek to tender, kicks regret in our party stakeholders.”
In conclusion, the faction wished Peter Obi well on his 62nd birthday but stated their regret for fielding him as their presidential candidate and asserted that such a decision would not be repeated in the future. They hoped that this occasion would serve as an opportunity for Obi to reflect on becoming a better Nigerian, transcending ethnic divisions, and embracing a more inclusive approach to governance.
The All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, and its Enugu State governorship candidate, Frank Nweke Jr.has withdrawn the petition filed against the Enugu State governor, Peter Mbah challenging the outcome of the March 18 governorship election in the state.
The petitioners’ counsel, Prof. Race Achara while addressing the tribunal said his client wished to make an oral application to withdraw the petition which had its suit number as EPTEN/GOV/07/2023 from the court.
Replying to the petitioners’s application, Counsels to the first, second and 3rd respondents told the court that they had no objection to Nweke’s application.
In a short ruling,.Chairman of the tribunal, Justice M. K Akano struck out the petition.
Also the Labour Party Governorship candidate Chijioke Edeogah has closed his petition against Governor Peter Mbah.
Counsel to the petitioner Valerie Azinge ( SAN) after the Fourth Subpoena was discharged from his cross examination, hinted the court of the development
Labour party had earlier planned to present 37 Witnesses and 4 Subpoena in their witness deposition, but was only able to call 30 witnesses and 4 Subpoena
The court adjourned sitting to 18th July for INEC to open his case.
NDLEA investigating shooting incident involving officers in Delta
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has said that it is investigating a shooting incident involving its officers during the raid of a drug joint at Okpanam area of Asaba, Delta state, where unfortunately a young person was hit by a stray bullet as a result of which he eventually died while undergoing treatment in the hospital.[/b]
The Agency in a statement on Saturday 15th July said the Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has after receiving initial briefings from the Delta state command of NDLEA, set up a panel of top officials from the national headquarters in Abuja to immediately proceed to Asaba for an on the spot investigation of the unfortunate incident with a view to establishing the actual facts of the case.
This follows initial incident report, which reveals the following:
“A team of NDLEA operatives carried out an intelligence-based raid of the joint of a notorious drug dealer located at Okpanam area of Asaba at about 1600 hours on Thursday 13th July and in the process of the operation, a Toyota Camry 2008 model, light blue colour at the scene suddenly zoomed off and knocked down one of our officers who is currently in critical condition, undergoing treatment in a hospital.
“In a bid demobilize the car and prevent it from escaping, another officer fired a shot aimed at the tyre of the car, which eventually escaped. While the injured Officer was rushed for treatment, the officers got reports of a stray bullet hitting a young person and immediately located the father of the victim, followed him to the hospital and supported in facilitating his treatment but unfortunately died in the process.
“We’re in touch with the family to provide necessary assistance while we conclude our investigation of the incident. We will like to assure the family and members of the public that we’ll get to the root of the case and take necessary action(s).”
Femi Babafemi Director, Media & Advocacy NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja Saturday 15th July 2023
Barely 24 hours after the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) directed all commands and formations of the Agency to begin an immediate clampdown on illegal sale and use of nitrous oxide, otherwise known as laughing gas following its abuse by people who use it for recreational purposes, operatives have intercepted over 64, 863.5 kilogram consignments of the gaseous substance at the Apapa seaport in Lagos and in Imo state.
Following credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives at the Apapa seaport on Wednesday 12th July intercepted two containers marked MSKU 7626856 and MSKU 7689448 suspected to contain cartons of Nitrous oxide and plastic pressure release nozzles imported from China. As a result, a joint examination of the containers was carried out by NDLEA officers, men of the Customs Service and other stakeholders the following day, Thursday 13th July.
During the search of the two containers, a total of 522 cartons of Nitrous Oxide, containing 16,366 packages weighing 64,852kgs were recovered along with the paraphernalia for recreational use. The importer of the consignment, 30-year-old Stephen Eze and his agent, Michael Chukwuma were thereafter arrested and detained for further investigation.
In the same vein, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Owerri - Onitsha expressway in Imo state on Thursday 13th July intercepted three cartons containing 18 canisters of the same substance weighing 11.5kg heading to Port Harcourt, Rivers State. A swift follow up operation was conducted in the stadium road area of Elekahia, Port Harcourt same day leading to the arrest of the owner of the shipment, 24-year-old Tonye Kalio.
While commending the officers and men of the Apapa Port, and their Imo state Command counterparts for being pro-active and swift, Marwa said the clampdown on illegal sale and use of nitrous oxide will continue nationwide to protect young Nigerians from the devastating effects of abusing the substance and in the overall interest of public health. He commended the cooperation of other sister security agencies and stakeholders towards achieving the set objective.
Femi Babafemi Director, Media & Advocacy NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja Friday 14th July 2023
I’m grateful to my distinguished colleagues for the honour of being elected as the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) at the 63rd Ordinary Session that took place today in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau.
The development is a noteworthy affirmation of Nigeria’s continued leadership in the sub-region and the African continent. As Chairman of the important coalition, I renew my dedication and that of our nation to the cause of peace and progress as we foster the collaboration and commitment required to tackle trans-border issues of security, economic growth and sustainable development.
The Code of Code Bureau, CCB, has denied reports that the Department of State Services, DSS, raided its offices to cart away alleged incriminating documents on President Bola Tinubu.
The agency, in a statement by Daniel Okafor, Director of Education and Advocacy Services, described the claim was false.
The statement partly reads, “The attention of the Code of Conduct Bureau has been drawn to a publication on Friday 7th July, 2023, in Sahara Reporters, claiming that the DSS raided offices of anti-corruption agencies, specifically the CCB, ICPC and EFCC, and carted away documents affecting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his associates.
“While the CCB would have preferred to ignore the write up given the unprofessional manner the story was put together, doing so will give the tale some value and help the writers achieve their aim of misinforming and misleading the general public about an event that happened only in their minds.
“The CCB wishes to state unequivocally that at no time did the DSS or any apparatus of the Federal Government of Nigeria carry out any raid or search for incriminating documents on the President and his associates at its Head Office in Abuja or any of the offices in the States and the FCT.
“It is also necessary to state clearly that at no time since this government assumed office on 29th May, 2023 was any directive received from the Federal Government of Nigeria to cover up any matter regarding the President and his associates as conveyed by the publication.
“The general public is therefore urged to disregard the publication as fake news because it has no iota of truth and evidence.
“The CCB however reassures the Nigerian people that as a foremost anti-corruption agency, it will continue to discharge its functions as contained under paragraph 3 of Part 1 of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.”
As NDLEA busts skucchies factory in Ogun; arrests Church officials, 2 ladies in Fentanyl syndicate raid in Delta
No fewer than 4,560 kilograms of skunk have been seized in interdiction operations in Lagos, Adamawa and Osun by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, who also raided a skucchies factory in Ogun and arrested four members of a drug syndicate including two church officials; female staff of a courier company and another lady, involved in trafficking lethal opioid, fentanyl in Delta.
The bust of the fentanyl cartel operating from Warri, Delta state is coming barely a month after two members of another syndicate: Odoh Collins Oguejiofor and Oliver Chigozie Uzoma were arrested at Ogbogwu market, Onitsha Head Bridge, Onitsha South LGA, Anambra State following months of intelligence-led investigation of the syndicates behind the dangerous drug, which is 100 times more potent than heroin and currently responsible for over 70% overdose deaths as well as a major contributor to fatal and nonfatal overdoses in the United States.
Two officials of Christ Mercyland Deliverance Ministries (aka Mercy City Church), Warri, Delta state: Adewale Abayomi Ayeni, 39, and Ebipakebina Appeal, 41, linked to two intercepted consignments of the illicit drug have been arrested in Warri. While Ayeni is one of those managing the prayer call centre of the church, Ebipakebina is in charge of movement of international guests from the airport to the church.
Two female accomplices also arrested in Warri in the course of investigating the intercepted shipments include Naomi David, 28, who is a staff of United Parcel Services (UPS), and Stacy Njideka, also known as Nkiruka, 27, who is a business associate of Ayeni.
Meanwhile, operatives of the Agency on Wednesday 5th July, intercepted a Toyota Hilux vehicle marked EPE 863 XD along Ngurore-Mayo Belwa road, Adamawa State. A search of the van with two occupants: Kelvin Efe, 51, and Christian Ogaga, 42, shows that 118 cartoons of Indomie Noodles packs were used to conceal 544 blocks of compressed cannabis sativa, weighing 408kg hidden in a false compartment and meant for distribution in Yola, Mubi and Gombe.
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives on Saturday 1st July arrested a suspect, Segun Odeyemi conveying 89 jumbo bags of skunk with a total weight of 3,842kg in his truck around Eleganza area of Ajah, Lekki, while in Osun state an abandoned J5 Peugeot bus marked AAA 521 SQ with bags of fresh pepper used to conceal 25 bags of cannabis sativa weighing 300.5kg was recovered along Akure-Ilesa expressway after its occupants sighted NDLEA officers on patrol on Friday 7th July.
In the same vein, operatives in Ogun state on Thursday 6th July, raided a skucchies factory at Ajaka Sagamu where a suspect, Adekunle Adekola was arrested. Exhibits recovered from the premises include: 10kg cannabis; 1,356 litres of skucchies; 20 litres of codeine; seven deep freezers; a set of firman generator; and two gas cylinders among others.
While commending the team of NDLEA officers tracking the fentanyl opioid syndicate in Nigeria for the success of the operations so far, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) also gave thumbs up to their counterparts in Adamawa, Lagos, Osun and Ogun for the arrests and seizures of the past week. He charged them and their compatriots across the country to continue to set their eyes on the goal of ridding the nation of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.
Femi Babafemi Director, Media & Advocacy NDLEA Headquarters Abuja Sunday 9th July 2023
I just wanted to send this farewell message to all Manchester United supporters.
I would like to express my unwavering gratitude and appreciation for the love from the last 12 years. We’ve achieved a lot since my dear Sir Alex Ferguson brought me to this club. I took incredible pride everytime I pulled on this shirt, to lead the team, to represent this institution, the biggest club in the world was an honour only bestows upon a few lucky footballers.
It’s been an unforgettable and successful period since I came here. I didn’t think from leaving Madrid as a young boy we would achieve what we did together.
Now, it’s the right time to undertake a new challenge, to push myself again in new surroundings.
Manchester will always be in my heart, Manchester has shaped me and will never leave me.
🏆 Premier League 🏆 Europa League 🏆 FA Cup 🏆 League Cup (x2) 🌟 PFA Team Of The Year (x5) 🧤 PL Golden Glove (x2) 🏟 Most games by a goalkeeper 🧱 Most clean sheets in Utd's history
The Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Nasir Kwarra, on Thursday, revealed that President Bola Tinubu will announce the new date for the national population and housing census that was postponed last April.
This followed a meeting with the president at the Presidential Villa, Abuja where the Commission provided him an update on its activities so far.
Briefing correspondents after the meeting, Kwarra said the Commission has submitted its report to the president who will take a decision on the new date after studying it.
The NPC boss affirmed that the Commission, which has already expended N100 billion from the N200 billion requested so far, is likely to incur additional expenses because of the delay in the conduct of the exercise.
On the meeting with the president, he said: “We briefed him fully on the level of our preparedness, the outcomes that we envisage and I’ll like to say that Mr President has graciously approved to support the Commission in the conduct of census and our preparatory activities, though we’re not stuck at all, but he has given us the courage and the impetus to upscale our preparation.
“So, we’ll continue our preparations and we’ll hear from him eventually, the date that the census will take place because we’ve made a submission to him that he will study before getting back to us.
“But as for the assurance of support, he has given that to us and we thank him immensely for this for also realizing the importance of data for the purpose of national planning and development.”
Crime › Man Breaks Into Cemetery In Lagos, Steals Iron Rods From Grave by chisomkachy(op): 8:53pm On Aug 16, 2023
