₦airaland Forum

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested a Brazil returnee, Udechukwu Ekene Theophilus at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos for ingesting 60 big wraps of cocaine.

The suspect who was arrested during inward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight from Sao Paulo, Brazil via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at the D-Arrival Hall of the Lagos airport on Sunday 21st January 2024, initially refused to undergo body scan, raising health concerns in a desperate bid to evade arrest.

When he was however offered other options, he accepted to be placed on excretion observation and shortly after he was ushered into NDLEA observatory, he excreted the first set of cocaine pellets, after which he expelled a total of 60 wraps of the class A drug weighing 1.279 kilograms in five excretions. In his statement, Udechukwu claimed he ingested the consignment in Brazil and was to discharge everything at the airport in Addis Ababa but could only excrete 15 pellets which he handed over to another member of his syndicate before his connecting flight to Nigeria was called.

In the same vein, NDLEA operatives at the Lagos airport on Tuesday 23rd January recovered a total of twelve (12) cartons of tramadol 225mg containing five hundred and ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred (599,900) pills weighing 385.40kg from an overstayed cargo at the SAHCO import shed of the Lagos airport after a joint examination with other agencies.

The tramadol consignment had come into the country in two batches on KLM Royal Dutch Airline flights from Karachi, Pakistan between 27th July and 1st August 2023. They were however placed under watch by NDLEA operatives since then.

Not less than 822 kilograms of cannabis sativa hidden in a fuel station located at Ashipa community along Badagry-Seme road were recovered by operatives of the Seme Special Area Command of NDLEA, while a suspect Sani Audu, 35, was arrested with 111.3kg of same substance at Maigatari town in Jigawa State on Tuesday 23rd January.

In Yobe state, two suspects: Mohammed Usman and Adamu Ma'azu were arrested on Saturday 27th January with 49 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 50kg at Damaturu motor park, Damaturu, while the duo of Paul Obor, 38, and Dennis Fuokorighe, 48, who were arrested on Wednesday 24th Jan. at a Navy check point, Itobe, Ofu LGA, Kogi state with 318 compressed blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 190.8kg concealed in a gold colour Honda Accord Car marked RBC 449AE, were handed over to the Kogi state command of the Agency on Friday 26th Jan. by men of the Nigeria Navy Ship, Lugard, Lokoja.

In Kano, a suspect, [b]Shamwilu Idris, 29, was arrested at Gadar Tamburawa area on Thursday 25th January with 271kg cannabis following the seizure of an abandoned 28.1kg of same substance at Rijiyar Lemo area of the state on Wednesday 24th Jan. [/b]Another suspect, Abubakar Haruna Salisu, 24, was nabbed at Kotun Wambai, Yan Awaki, area of Kano on Friday 26th January with 600 bottles of codeine-based syrup while a total of 1, 306 blocks of cannabis weighing 886kg seized by the Police at Kwanar Dangora, area of the state were transferred to the Agency on Wednesday 24th Jan.

A total of 87 compressed blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 73kg as well as 21, 346 pills of tramadol and 3,800 tablets of diazepam were recovered from a suspect, Musa Galadima on Friday 26th January when his DAF truck marked GME 971 XD was intercepted at Lafiyawo, along Gombe - Bauchi road by NDLEA operatives. In Plateau state, Aminu Ubanta, 35, was nabbed on Saturday 27th January with 5.355kg cannabi at Layin Zana area of Jos.

Meanwhile, an ex-beauty queen, Ms. Aderinoye Queen Christmas also known as Ms. Queen Oluwadamilola Aderinoye has been declared wanted by the Agency after she escaped from her Lekki, Lagos residence when NDLEA operatives raided her apartment at Oral estate, Lekki on Wednesday 24th January following credible intelligence she deals in illicit substances. The suspect was Miss Commonwealth Nigeria Culture 2015/2016 and founder of Queen Christmas Foundation. Recovered from her home during the search witnessed by the estate officials include 606 grams of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, an electronic weighing scale, large quantities of drugs packing plastics, a black RAV 4 SUV marked Lagos KSF 872 GQ, and her picture frame among others.

Two members of an international drug trafficking syndicate: Sunday Michael Owoborode, 52, and Valentine Anene were arrested the next day Thursday 25th January at Edu Orita, Ogun state where Valentine was being prepared to travel with some drugs to Qatar same day on board a Qatar airline flight from Lagos. At the time of their arrest, 1.8kg cannabis, electronic weighing scale and other illicit substances were found on them. In another interdiction operation by operatives in Lagos, a 50-year-old Sunday Adediran, was arrested on Wednesday 24th January with 20kg cannabis sativa found in one of the rooms in his house at Mushin Olosha.
With the same vigour, the various commands of the Agency across the country
continued with the War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, advocacy campaign in the past week. Some of them include: WADA sensitisation lecture for students of Government Day Primary and Secondary School, Jiddel Michika, Adamawa state; students of Soltab Comprehensive College, Abeokuta, Ogun state; pupils and teachers of Sangotedo Primary School, Ajah, Lagos state; pupils and teachers of ADS Basic Primary School 1&2, Ogbomoso, Oyo state; students and teachers of Farfanu Malami community secondary school, Magama Jibia, Katsina state; and WADA advocacy visit to His Royal Highness, Dr. Gibson Nwabueze Nwosu, Eze Uzu 11 of Awka, Anambra state, among others.
While commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Lagos, Seme, Kano, Gombe, Kogi, Plateau and Jigawa Commands of the Agency for their outstanding feats in the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) equally applauded their counterparts in all the commands across the country for intensifying their WADA advocacy lectures thus creating a balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction activities.

Femi Babafemi
Director, Media & Advocacy
NDLEA Headquarters Abuja
Sunday 28th January 2024

A former chairman of the council of traditional rulers in Imo State, Samuel Ohiri, has said that the police did not secure his freedom from kidnappers; rather, he paid ransom to secure his release.

The monarch, who was kidnapped from his residence on June 6, 2023, in the Orodo Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State, was released after 13 days in captivity.

Meanwhile, the Imo police command had claimed that it secured Ohiri’s freedom in collaboration with other security agencies.

But speaking with journalists on Friday, the monarch said he was released after ransom was paid to the kidnappers, TheCable reports.

He was quoted him as saying that “Contrary to what the police said about my release, there is no hiding the fact that the state police never played any role.

“I actually do not want to speak on this but I am doing it just to set the records straight.

“I am not disputing the fact that the police may have made efforts towards my release but I am talking what I know.

“It was my relationship with God and the help from my family people that made it possible. Although, that was after we paid ransom.”

Ohiri, who recounted his experience, said that he “saw hell” in captivity.

He said, “I came back home to celebrate Christmas and New Year with my people in Obi-Orodo. Then on the 6th of January, I decided to visit one of my old boys and senior students of Emmanuel College Secondary School in those days.

“But when I was coming back after visiting my friend around 8:30pm; I met able-bodied men in front of my palace gate, who came in their vehicle.

“They double-crossed me and forced me into their vehicle. My cousin’s brother smartly introduced himself as my driver and they set him free. They now blindfolded me and zoomed off to an unknown destination.

“I was first kept in an uncompleted building before I was transferred to another location. Within the twelve days I spent in their den, I saw hell.

“It looked so much as if they had some scores to settle with the traditional rulers and politicians, but luckily for me, their leader came out and ordered them not to torture me, that I am a decent man.

“Negotiations began between my people and the kidnappers which eventually resulted in setting me free after we paid the first and second ransom.

“They later took me and another victim to Eziama Obiato, a community in Mbaitoli LGA, along Owerri-Onitsha expressway, at night after I spent twelve days in their dungeon.

“And from there I found my way back to Owerri at Asumpta Cathedral roundabout where my people came and conveyed me back to my palace.”

The Edo State Government wishes to draw the attention of the general public, particularly, Organizations and Business entities operating in the State to the provision of S.21(1) of the Edo State Health Insurance Commission Law, 2019, which makes it mandatory for Organizations in Edo State with a minimum of five employees to enroll their staff into the State Health Insurance Scheme.

The State Government’s action is borne out of her urgent desire to uphold the promotion of the vision of achieving Universal Health Coverage through the discharge of necessary obligations to her citizenry towards their improved health status while ensuring compliance with all ethical practices.

In light of the foregoing, all organizations in Edo State, which fall into the above category, are by this notice advised to comply with the provisions of the State Health Insurance Law, 2019, by ensuring enrolment of their Staff into the Scheme on or before 1st March, 2024, as failure to do so will attract necessary legal action.

The Federal Criminal Investigation Department, Alagbon, Lagos, has arrested Onyeabuchi Okafor, son of popular Nollywood actor John Okafor (a.k.a. Ibu) for alleged N50 million fraud against the actor.

The department arrested Onyeabuchi alongside a woman identified as Jasmine Okekeagwu for the alleged fraud.

The department’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Aminat Mayegun, confirmed the arrest on Thursday in a statement.

Mayegun alleged that the actor’s son and the woman conspired and defrauded the actor of N50 million donated for his medical treatment.

She said that the department had also recovered the said amount allegedly stolen from the actor’s medical fund raising bank account.

The image maker said that, on Sept. 6, 2023, the defendant received a petition from Diamond Waves Law, on behalf of Mrs Stella-Maris Okafor (the actor’s wife), alleging the fraud.

According to the official , investigation into the case established that, as part of efforts to fund the actor’s medical bills, he launched a public fund-raising initiative and attracted donations from many people of goodwill into a designated account.

Mayegun said that the actor’s wife, Stella-Maris, was initially managing the funds to defray the medical bills of her husband and sustain their family.

“However, along the line, the duo of Onyeabuchi Okafor and Jasmine Okekeagwu manipulated Mrs Okafor, took possession of the actor’s phone and hacked into the banking details.

“They, thereafter, re-installed the mobile banking applications of the actor on the phone of Onyeabuchi Okafor preparatory to the perfection of their preconceived fraudulent plans, and wiped off the banking applications originally installed on the actor’s phone.

“They, thereby, took direct and full charge of banking activities of the actor in relation to the funds being donated by members of the public in support of his medical care,” she said.

Mayegu added that through the alleged fraudulent act, Onyeabuchi and Okekeagwu started transferring funds from the actor’s public fund-raising account to Onyeabuchi’s personal bank account.

She alleged that forensic analysis of the duo’s illicit financial dealings established that a total N50 million was successfully and criminally transferred from the account before their arrest.

The spokesperson said that investigation also revealed text message, via WhatsApp, between Onyeabuchi and Okekeagwu detailing, stage-by-stage, how they allegedly conspired and committed the fraud.

”It was also established that the two suspects, Jasmine and Onyeabuchi, had a sham marriage at the Ikoyi Marriage Registry, with plans to escape from the country to the UK, where they intended to settle with their proceeds of crime.

“They already applied for UK Visa in furtherance to this plan, prior to their arrest.

“During investigation, the stolen N50 million was traced to the bank account of Onyeabuchi.

“It was discovered that they had squandered a total of N5 million on questionable transactions, while the balance N50 million was recovered from him.

The official said that the suspects were charged to court on Thursday.

Justice Abubakar Hussaini Musa of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court on Thursday, January 25, 2024 vacated an earlier order of the court directing the Inspector-General of Police to arrest the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede for disobeying the ruling of the court directing operatives of the Commission to vacate a property at Number 6, Aso Drive, Abuja.

The judge upheld the submission of the EFCC Counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, that Olukoyede “is an officer of the law and respecter of the rule of law, with fervent commitment towards moving the EFCC towards enhanced professionalism and accountable conducts, could not have willfully ignored or disobeyed the order of the court.

Oyedepo further told the court that, “I am here to assure my Lord that Mr. Ola Olukoyede who is now the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, whose appointment was confirmed by the Senate of Federal Republic of Nigeria on the 18 October, 2023 and being a legal practitioner of many years at the bar may not knowingly disobey the order of the court”. He prayed the court to vacate the contempt proceedings against the EFCC’s boss, assuring that all the issues involved between the parties in the suit would be resolved. Defence counsel, Adeyemi Pitan, did not object to the submissions of Oyedepo.

Responding, Justice Musa stated that “I knew that the EFCC Chairman was not aware of this, that is why I want the Chairman to come”. He, thereafter, vacated the order and purged Olukoyede of the contempt proceedings.

He also adjourned the matter till February 7, 2024 for hearing of the substantive suit.

A Magistrate Court in Lafia on Thursday granted bail to the 38 protesters arrested by the police in Nasarawa State for alleged conspiracy, unlawful assembly and disturbance by fire.

DAILY POST reports that the police had on Jan. 19 arrested the protesters for blocking Lafia/Jos road after the Supreme Court judgment that affirmed the victory of Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State.

The police said the protesters comprising, eight men and 30 women, had violated the peace accord signed by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and All Progressives Congress, APC, ahead of the Supreme Court judgment.

The magistrate, Mohammed Abdullahi-Lanze, granted the defendants bail after hearing the bail application filed by their counsel.

The magistrate, however, directed that each of the defendants must get a surety not below the position of a director with the state or federal government, who must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

He also said each surety must submit his or her identity card, N2 million, letter of first appointment and statement of account to the court.

He, therefore, adjourned the case to Feb. 27 for hearing and directed that all the defendants must be present in court on the date.

The Nasarawa State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Labaran Magaji, who earlier took over as the prosecuting counsel, withdrew all the three counter applications.

The counter applications had been filed by the police who were prosecuting the matter before it was taken over by the Attorney-General.

Magaji said the offences committed by the defendants were bailable and as such, the state had withdrawn the counter applications earlier filed to save the time of the court.

The Peoples Democratic Party and the Labour Party, on Wednesday, demanded an explanation as President Bola Tinubu departed Abuja for France on what the Presidency described as a private visit.

The PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, stated that the insecurity and the state of the nation’s economy made it the worst time for Tinubu to embark on a foreign trip.

This was as the spokesman for the LP 2023 Presidential Campaign Council, Yunusa Tanko, alleged that there was a hidden agenda for the trip and mentioned that the President was sick.

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday departed Abuja for Paris, France, for a private visit.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, revealed this in a statement titled ‘President Tinubu travels to France.’

Although the statement did not state the reasons for the visit, Ngelale said, “He will return to the country in the first week of February, 2024.”

Wednesday’s visit was Tinubu’s third to France since he assumed office eight months ago.

On June 20, 2023, three weeks after assuming office, Tinubu opened his foreign schedule in the city he last visited as President-elect, Paris, the French capital.

During his four-day stay, the Nigerian leader participated in the Paris Summit for the New Global Financial Pact, to “review and sign a New Global Financial Pact that places vulnerable countries on the priority list for support and investment, following the devastating impact of climate change, energy crisis, and after effect of the COVID-19 pandemic,” a statement signed by then-Special Adviser, Special Duties, Communication and Strategy, Dele Alake, read.

In September 2023, the President spent nine days with world leaders in New York, USA, at the 78th United Nations General Assembly, which began on September 19, his first UNGA as President.

Afterward, he proceeded to Paris, France, where he remained for five days, arriving in Abuja on September 29 ahead of Nigeria’s 63rd Independence Day anniversary on October 1.

Reacting, the PDP scribe, Abdullahi, in a phone interview with one of our correspondents on Wednesday, challenged the Presidency to come clean regarding the President’s travel to Paris, France.

He said, “The feelers we are having are that he (Tinubu) has gone for medical treatment as usual because that is where his doctors are. So, we challenge the Presidency to come clean and explain to us the details of his ailment.

“Though he’s been around for some time. We commend his decision to stay back, but we also would want it to be sustained. For now, we are wishing him well but we are asking his handlers to come clean and tell us what exactly is disturbing him, what he has gone for, and how he intends to avoid incessant trips because the machinery of state and the life of over 250 million Nigerians are in his hands.

“We will be concerned as Nigerians because the state of the nation is appalling economically, politically, security-wise, the nation is under siege. This is the worst time for a leader who understands his responsibility or mandate requires of him. These are not the best of times for Nigerians, they are living on imagination first of all from the economic angle. Nigerians are also in palpable tension from the security angle. Nigerians are equally disturbed about even the uncertainty from the political angle.

“What is the state of the nation? What is their presidency, going to shun out for them? How is the implementation of the budget? All of those things are shrouded in mystery. And at a time that we need our president to be around and discharge the functions of his office, as he has sworn to do. We’re not getting him at any time we want him.”

The LP spokesman, Tanko, described President Tinubu’s travel as unacceptable.

According to him, “We are back to another Muhammadu Buhari, who prefers to travel than to lead. The fact is that President Tinubu has a health challenge and they are trying to cover up the health issues. The last time we saw him was when he was in Imo. And I noticed that his hands were shaking. That is to tell you that probably his state of health called to question.”

He continued, “So the fact remains that when you see it shady exit of the President without detailed information, then you must question it. That means that there’s a hidden agenda somewhere.

“So as far as we are concerned, this is completely undemocratic and it is unacceptable. Nigerians deserve to know details about his travels. And at the same time, he must transmit power considering the level of insecurity in the country at the moment.”

PRESS RELEASE
POLICE FOIL ASSASSINATION PLOT, ARRESTS LG CHAIRMAN FOR PLANS TO ELIMINATE BENUE SPEAKER

Reaffirms Commitment to Prevention of Crimes

The Nigeria Police Force, through the diligent efforts of its operatives, has successfully apprehended two suspects involved in an alleged assassination plot. The arrested suspects include a Chairman of one of the Local Government Areas of Benue State.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the Local Government Chairman allegedly contracted a militia with the sinister intention of eliminating the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Hon. Aondona Hycenth Dajoh. The operatives of the Force Intelligence Department – Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) swiftly swung into action upon receiving credible intelligence regarding the planned assassination.

Both suspects are currently in police custody and are actively cooperating with investigators in the ongoing inquiry. The Nigeria Police Force remains resolute in its commitment to upholding the safety and security of citizens and public officials.

The arrested suspects will face the full weight of the law, and the Nigeria Police Force reassures the public of its unwavering commitment to maintaining law and order, and prevention of crimes at all levels.

ACP OLUMUYIWA ADEJOBI, mnipr, mipra, fCAI,
FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,
FORCE HEADQUARTERS,
ABUJA
22nd January, 2024

Operatives of different special units of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have intercepted large consignments of Cocaine and Colorado, a strong strain of cannabis, concealed in containerized household items and vehicles imported from Durban, South Africa and Canada at the Tincan Seaport in Lagos.

Following coordinated intelligence and months of tracking of the containers by three special units of NDLEA, the illicit drugs along with arms, ammunition and sundry military effects were seized during joint examination of the three containers by the Agency’s officers and their counterparts from Customs Service and other security agencies between Thursday 18th and Friday 19th January 2024. Some of the Agency’s sniffer dogs were also deployed to help identify locations and bags used in concealing the illicit items.

Some of the items recovered from the containers include: 1, 274 parcels of Cocaine and Colorado with a total weight of 884.09 kilograms; four pistols; 197 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 49 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, 275 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition, 14 rounds of 9mm ammunition and sundry military personnel effects as well as some chemicals in kegs. With the exception of 32.5kg shipment of Colorado that came in used vehicles from Canada, the rest of the items were found in two of three containers that arrived the Tincan port from Durban, South Africa onboard a vessel marked MSC RESILIENT III and discharged on New Year eve, 31st December 2023. A suspect linked to one of the containers, UACU 5348336, bearing the 32.5kg Colorado, 41-year-old Akara Chibugo has already been tracked and arrested by NDLEA operatives.

Two vigilant freight agents and a traveler escaped being roped into two drug trafficking operations by desperate traffickers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos. The two agents were contacted to send a consignment of 1kg cannabis concealed in tins of Milo beverage to Turkey but chose to submit the shipment to NDLEA checks before processing the cargo. The psychoactive substance was later discovered to be hidden inside the shipment.

In the same vein, NDLEA operatives on Friday 19th January arrested one Okosun Paul Punitt, the consignee of a consignment of tramadol concealed in a bottle of dietary supplements, which a staff of Pathfinder International Ltd, Ajuzieogu Mac-Elvis Ugochukwu attempted sending through an intending passenger on Ibom Air to Accra, Ghana at the Lagos airport on Tuesday 16th January. A video of the face-off between the passenger and Ajuzieogu later went viral after the vigilant passenger suspected the consignment contained illicit substances. Both Ajuzieogu and the exhibit were later transferred to NDLEA on Thursday 18th January by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN for investigation. Preliminary findings by NDLEA showed the parcel contained 50 pills of tramadol 225mg concealed in a bottle of dietary supplements. A follow up operation by the Agency led to the arrest of Okosun upon his return from Ghana on Friday. He has in his statement confirmed ownership of the drug.

In Kano, no fewer than five million six hundred and fifty three thousand (5, 653,000) pills of tramadol 250mg and exol-5 were seized from three suspects. While Nura Abdullahi, 38, and Tahir Muhammad Mukhtar, 42, were arrested at Bacharawa area of Kano with 5, 404,000 pills of tramadol 250mg on Sunday 14th January, Yusuf Umar, 50, was nabbed at Gadar Tamburawa area of the state the previous day Saturday 13th January with 249,000 tablets of exol-5 by NDLEA operatives.

In Lagos, two suspects: Ali Abubakar and Murtala Sani were arrested at Ojodu Berger area on Tuesday 16th January with 110kg of cannabis sativa while 69kg of same substance was recovered from the hideout of a fleeing suspect in Akerele, Surulere same day. Not less than 2, 800 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup were recovered by NDLEA officers on Saturday 20th January during a raid operation at Aleyita FCT, Abuja. The suspected owner of the consignment, Jideofor Sochima is still at large.

While a total of 100, 510 pills of opioids were seized from a suspect, Ike Emmanuel, 35, on Thursday 18th January at Dan-Anacha village, Taraba state, NDLEA operatives in Abia state arrested 60-year-old Joseph Isiguzoro, as well as Emmanuel Eugene and Malachi Ndu in parts of Abia state with 34,200 pills of opioids. Isiguzoro was equally found with monetary exhibit totalling Two Million Eight Hundred and Eighty Five Thousand and Forty Five Naira (N2,885,045) only.

The War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, advocacy campaign of the Agency continued in equal measure in schools, markets, worship places and others across the country in the past week. Some of them include: WADA sensitization lecture at Federal University of Technology, Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom; Federal Government College, Ijanikin, Lagos; Edusoko University, Bida, Niger state and WADA advocacy lecture at Community Secondary School, Bichi, Kano state, among others.

While commending the officers and men of Tincan, MMIA, Abia, Taraba, Lagos, Kano and FCT Commands as well as the special units of the Agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) urged them and their compatriots across all formations of the Agency to remain focused and resolute in pursuit of the corporate goal of winning the war against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria. He further charged them to maintain the flame of collaboration with other law enforcement agencies and stakeholders in their areas of responsibility.

Femi Babafemi

Director, Media & Advocacy

NDLEA Headquarters Abuja

Sunday 21st January 2024

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun is set to launch a Special Intervention Squad (SIS), to curb the activities of kidnappers in some parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He said the special operations, when launched, would be deployed to all Area Councils in the FCT.

For weeks now bandits have been kidnapping and Killings residents of Bwari Area Council.

The Explosion In Ibadan, the little I know so far.

On my show on @freshfmibadan this evening, I interviewed my senior colleagues who went to the site of explosion and the Special Adviser to Gov. Seyi Makinde on Security Matters, retired CP Fatai Owoseni. Here are the little updates so far

1. No one could authoritatively say what the nature of the explosion is
2. The impact is felt at about 500m radius
3. The explosion happened around Dejo Oyelese Close, Off Adeyi Avenue, Old Bodija
4. There's no need for anyone to go there to see what's happening. Security operatives are there and rescue workers. It's good that they should have clear access to rescue people as some may be buried under rubbles
5. Oyo State governor has instructed hospitals to admit anyone that's brought in from the explosion site and start attending to them immediately
6. All residents in the affected areas are advised to leave their house this evening, just in case of secondary explosion.
7. All hotels are to allow people who come in from the explosion site and around it. The state government will settle them.

Tainkyu

Head Coach of the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire, Jean Louis Gasset says his team is confident of clipping the wings of the Super Eagles of Nigeria in their epic clash on Thursday in Abidjan.

The coach said this on Tuesday at a news conference, ahead of the match on Thursday in Abidjan.

He said the technical team has done it’s home work and has a perfect plan on how to neutralise the strength of the Super Eagles, which lies in their potent attack force.

“Regarding our second match, we know the strengths of Nigeria, they have an impressive offensive armada.

“They have the best African player in their squad, but against them, we will have to raise our game, and I know my players will do it because I know you have to win that first game to be released,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Elephants of Cote D’ivoire defeated Guinea-Bissau in their opening match by 2-0, to shoot to the top of Group A with three points.

While the Super Eagles struggled to a 1-1 draw against lowly rated Equatorial Guinea in their opening encounter to sit third on the table, jointly on one point with Equatorial Guinea.

The match will take place at the 60,000 capacity Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan.

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have intercepted a large consignment of Canadian Loud, an imported strong synthetic strain of cannabis, packaged in 324 bags with a gross weight of 111.2 kilograms in Onikan area of Lagos Island while being conveyed for distribution in an unregistered Grand Caravan vehicle by a 42-year-old suspect, Taofeek Yusuf.

The arrest of Taofeek and seizure of the imported consignment late in the night on Friday 12th January 2024 following credible intelligence came on the heels of the arrest of another drug trafficking suspect, Godwin ThankGod the previous day Thursday 11th January by NDLEA officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos. The Milan, Italy-bound Godwin was intercepted while attempting to board a Royal Air Maroc flight with quantities of codeine-based syrup and rohypnol concealed in his luggage.

The suspect who is a regular flyer was arrested during a search of his luggage at the Departure Gate of Terminal 2 of the airport. The search to the discovery of five cartons consisting 50 bottles of codeine syrup and 300 tablets of rohypnol.

In the same vein, NDLEA operatives at the SAHCO import shed of the import on Friday 12th January recovered 30,000 packs of tramadol 225mg consisting 300,000 pills. The consignment, which came from Karachi, Pakistan on KLM Royal Dutch Airline, with airway bill number 074-62674964, was taken into custody following a joint examination with other security agencies at the airport.
Meanwhile, various quantities of tramadol and cannabis sativa concealed in soles of sports canvas shoes going to Oman as well as another consignment of tramadol and rohypnol hidden in spices heading to the United Kingdom were intercepted at two courier firms in Lagos by NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operation and General Investigation, DOGI, on Tuesday 9th January.

Operatives in Oyo state on Thursday 11th January raided a clandestine skuchies factory operated by Oyadeji Dimeji, 28, in Moniya area of Ibadan where 76.6kg of cannabis sativa, 134 grams of tramadol, 93 grams of rophynol and 50 litres of already produced skuchies, a liquid mixture containing various types of psychoactive substances, were recovered.

In Ondo state, four suspects: David Iyoragie, 34; Adams Idowu, 28; Ibrahim Audu Abdullahi,54; and Ayomide Henry Ayuba, 20, were arrested at De Rock View Hotel, Gadson Junction off Ado- Ekiti Road, Igoba, Akure North LGA on Friday 12th January with 524.5kg cannabis. Another suspect, Aniekeme Eyibio, 26, was also nabbed at Ala forest, Akure North LGA where 293.5kg of the same psychoactive substance and a Dane gun were recovered from him.

While 67-year-old Franklin Eze was arrested at Otuo, Owan East LGA, Edo state on Thursday 11th January with 454 blocks of cannabis weighing 311kg loaded in his Lexus salon car marked EBM 812 AA, Abdullahi Shuaibu, 43, was nabbed by NDLEA operatives on Tuesday 9th January at Ayangba, Dekina LGA Kogi state with 43 blocks of compressed cannabis, weighing 22kg and three pinches of methamphetamine.

In Katsina state, a suspect, Danladi Adamu aged 24 was nabbed on Wednesday 10th Jan. with 25.5kg cannabis sativa during a buy and bust operation at Kurmi Primary School in Malumfashi metropolis, while operatives in Gombe arrested Sulaiman Mohammed at Lapandimtai, Kaltungo, with 47 blocks of same substance weighing 30kg concealed in two sacks of groundnut.

The War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, advocacy campaign of the Agency continued in equal measure in schools, markets, worship places and others across the country in the past week. Some of them include: WADA sensitization lecture for students and staff of Unity High School Senior, Abeokuta, Ogun state; King George College, Imeke, Badagry Lagos as well as students and staff of Yusuf Bala Usman College of Legal Studies, Daura, Katsina state; WADA sensitisation lecture for youths of Wamakko LGA, Sokoto state; WADA advocacy visits to the Emir of Hadejia, Alhaji Adamu Abubakar Maje, Jigawa state; and the Chief Judge of Borno State, Justice Kashim Zannah.

While commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Ondo, Edo, Oyo, Lagos, Kogi, Katsina and Gombe Commands as well as those of DOGI for the arrests and seizures of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) urged them and their compatriots across all formations of the Agency to maintain the offensive action tempo and strive to surpass previous records while maintaining a balance with their drug demand reduction efforts.

Femi Babafemi
Director, Media & Advocacy
NDLEA Headquarters Abuja
Sunday 14th January 2024

FEMALE SOLDIER’S CLAIM OF MALTREATMENT BY SENIOR OFFICERS: NIGERIAN ARMY TO INVESTIGATE

The Nigerian Army (NA) has been inundated with audiovisuals making the rounds on social media of the unprofessional conduct of a female soldier in mufti, who claimed to have been maltreated by some senior officers. It is instructive to state that considering the gravity of the allegations, NA as a disciplined force will conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.

It is crucial to point out that contrary to the claims made in the video, the soldier in question has not exhausted the laid down procedure for seeking redress in the NA. This is aside Human Rights and Gender Desks established in Army Headquarters and across NA formations, where complaints about human rights and gender issues are also entertained. The NA remains a professional force that self regulates and conducts its activities in adherence to established rules and ethics, while upholding the highest standards of discipline amongst personnel. We therefore encourage all personnel to always utilize the established channels for addressing grievances and concerns as a member of a noble and disciplined force.

We assure the general public that the NA as an institution is committed to upholding the integrity and morals of its personnel and as such appropriate actions will be taken based on the findings of the investigation.

We urge the public to allow the investigative process to take its course and refrain from making hasty judgments. The NA remains dedicated to serving our nation with honor and integrity.

ONYEMA NWACHUKWU
Major General
Director Army Public Relations
12 January 2024

Chidi Amadi, the Chief of Staff to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has resigned.

The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joseph Johnson, confirmed Amadi’s resignation to The PUNCH on Wednesday.

Johnson said Fubara would announce a replacement for Amadi, a loyalist of ex-governor Nyesom Wike, at the appropriate time.

“The former Chief of Staff, Hon Chidi Amadi, has resigned. The governor will announce another Chief of Staff at the appropriate time.

“It is the prerogative of the governor to appoint when he wants it. He will tell us and we will announce it and you will also get the release to that effect,” he said.

Efforts to reach Amadi were unsuccessful as he neither answered several calls put across to his mobile line by our correspondent nor replied to WhatsApp and text messages sent to him on Wednesday night.

Amadi is Wike’s kinsman from Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State. His resignation brings to 10, the number of Wike’s loyalists who have left Fubara’s administration since the beginning of the political crisis between Fubara and his estanged political godfather, Wike. Amadi’s resignation comes on the heels of calls on Fubara to appoint a former factional Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Edison Ehie, as Chief of Staff.

On January 3, the Ijaw Youth Council, Worldwide, called on Fubara to appoint Ehie as the Chief of Staff in compensation for standing by the government at the height of a plot by 27 lawmakers loyal to ex-governor Nyesom Wike to impeach Fubara.

The PUNCH reports that the plot to impeach Fubara led to the factionalisation of the Rivers State House of Assembly, with Ehie leading four members, while Martin Amaewhule, led 26 pro-Wike lawmakers.

In December, Fubara shunned the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers and presented the 2024 budget to the five-member Ehie faction, which passed the budget on December 13.

However, following the intervention of President Bola Tinubu, Fubara, as part of an eight-point resolution reached at Aso Rock in Abuja, was asked to recognise the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers and take the budget back to them for passage.

Weeks after the Abuja meeting, Ehie resigned his membership of the House of Assembly, writing the Independent National Electoral Commission that he ceased to be an Edo lawmaker.

Though Ehie did not give any specific reason for resigning, Fubara, speaking days later, said Ehie’s exit was part of calculated moves to give peace a chance and resolve the political crisis engulfing the state.

On Tuesday, the Amaewhue-led Assembly, during its plenary at the Assembly quarters along Aba Road, Port Harcourt, called on Fubara to bring the 2024 budget for fresh passage, saying the state was being run without a budget.

But as of Wednesday, Fubara had yet to comment on the request of the lawmakers, even as no state government official had reacted to the statement which may signal another round of crisis in the state.

No Room For Political Opportunists in Labour Party

STATEMENT FROM THE LABOUR PARTY

The leadership of the Labour Party like most Nigerians read in the social media the purported resignation of the former Director General of our Presidential Campaign Council, Dr. Doyin Okupe from the Labour Party. Ordinarily, we wouldn’t have responded but because of media attraction it has been generating since yesterday. Needless to say, that after the general election, a few members of the party had left while many others have also joined the party. It is within the rights of any Nigerian to associate with any political parties of their choice.

In the letter said to have been addressed to our National Chairman, Barrister Julius Abure, which is yet to be received, Okupe cited ideological conflict as the reason he left Labour Party, he also addressed Labour Party pejoratively as a “Special Purpose Vehicle”.

This response wouldn’t have been necessary if Okupe had left quietly or perhaps claim ‘personal reasons’ for his actions but by way of him demeaning a party believed to have won majority of votes by Nigerians but was denied victory by the Nigerian system was clearly a mischief carried too far.

Okupe is aware that the Labour Party is ideologically rooted in the left of the center, and he admitted that he has been a rightist and a Liberal Democrat all his entire life, one wonders what he was looking for in a party that is diametrically opposed to his ideological leaning. What kind of political harlotry was he exhibiting by finding no qualms in jumping from one party to another with such ease.

His exit from Labour Party is not in any way surprising to us. In a true character of traditional politicians who moves from place to another, he was in PDP, from PDP to APC and then Labour Party and we won’t be surprised if he goes back to his vomit and embrace either APC or PDP all over again. It is all about where food is ready.

Labour Party is an ideological party, it has a clear-cut ideology which supports equal opportunity and social justice. It is specifically not a place for people like Doyin Okupe. Our system in Labour Party does not support political opportunists. The system will naturally expose such political characters and eject them. [u] I ask again, had Labour Party declared winner of the presidential election, will Okupe remain with the party or jump ship in adherence to his ideological leaning.

We must recall that Okupe was forced to abdicate office halfway into the campaign because of the baggage’s he came with from the other party where he served. The courts whipped him into early political menopause, so he really didn’t contribute much into the Labour Party’s success in the 2023 electoral voyage, however we are glad he acknowledged that we offered him shelter.

Finally, the leadership of the Labour Party wishes him well in his future political adventure. We will however remain positive that a new Nigeria is still possible.

SIGN

Obiora Ifoh
National Publicity Secretary
Labour Party

09-01-2024

Suspended Minister Of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, arrives EFCC headquarters in Abuja.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has denied involvement in the N438.1 million consultancy contract between New Planet Project Limited and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

The PUNCH reports that President Bola Tinubu, on Monday, directed the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, to investigate all financial transactions involving the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

Dr Betta Edu was the minister in charge of the ministry until the President suspended her on Monday.

The PUNCH reports that Edu came under criticism after a leaked memo on December 20, 2023, revealed that she directed the Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, to transfer N585m to a private account owned by one Oniyelu Bridget, who the ministry claimed currently serves as the Project Accountant, Grants for Vulnerable Groups.

However, some sections of the media report that a company owned by the Minister of Interior was allegedly paid N438.1 million by Edu as consultancy services.

“The company, New Planet Project Limited was one of the numerous consultants awarded contracts from N3 billion given out by the suspended minister for the National Social Register contract,” it stated.

Reacting, Tunji-Ojo while appearing on Channels TV Politics Today, on Monday night revealed that he founded the company 10 years ago, but resigned from directorship in 2019 when he contested for House of Representatives.

The Minister of Interior, who described the report as shocking, said he is just a shareholder in the company and not involved in the day-to-day running of New Planet Project Limited.

He said “I have to say this, I saw it and I was shocked because the company in question was a company, where I was the director.

“About five years ago, I had resigned my directorship. Yes, I founded the company 10 years ago. In 2019 and when I got to the House of Representatives, when I won the election precisely, I resigned. I resigned 4th of February 2019 with a Certified True Copy of Corporate Affairs Commission as far back as 2019 to prove this.”

Tunji-Ojo, who said he came into public office knowing fully well that Nigerians would ask questions, charged relevant agencies to probe the contract processes.

He added, “I do not run the company. I don’t have any knowledge of the contract. I am not a signatory to any account. I am not a director of the company.

“The company is a limited liability company, which is a private entity. So if the company is a private entity, of course, I am still a shareholder, and to the best of my knowledge public service rule does not prohibit public officers from being shareholders.

“What public service rule says is that you cannot be a director, of which I had resigned about five years ago.

“I have no business with it, absolutely no business. Because I am not involved in the day-to-day running of the company. I do not pursue jobs for the company. I do not bid for the company. I am not a signatory to the company’s account. I am not involved.

“So the company is an entity on its own. If then, the question should be was the job given to the company? If the answer is yes. Then the question is did they follow due process? It is a yes. Did the company deliver on the job? If it’s a yes. Then number three is that they did deliver in line with the agreement of the contract? If it is a no, then they should be sanctioned by the book”.

The Labour Party (LP) has said that a former Presidential spokesman to ex-presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, Dr Doyin Okupe, has always been a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) man.

The National Publicity Secretary of the LP, Mr Obiora Ifoh, told Daily Trust on Monday that Okupe should not be where his ideology would be confused.

He was reacting to Okupe’s resignation from the LP in a letter dated Monday 8 January 2024.

“Yes, we received the letter from Dr. Doyin Okupe, tendering his resignation as a member of the Labour Party. We want to say that we wish him very well in his pursuit of his political career. We in the Labour Party cherish the moment we had with him.

“After a short time, December 2022, when he had cause to leave the campaign based on some legal issues, we thank him for the contributions he made when he was the chairman of the DG of the campaign.

“We wish him very well. We want to say that he is saying that he is leaving because he is a Liberal Democrat, while the Labour Party is a Social Democrat.

“It is also a good thing because he is not expected to be in a territory where his ideological bent will be confused or different. He has always been a PDP man, so the Labour Party expects that he will return to anywhere he wants to be.

“We wish him all the best in his future political pursuit. Though we saw the letter on social media but we have not received it officially,” Ifoh said.

Daily Trust reports that Okupe in December 21, 2022 resigned as Peter Obi’s Campaign Director over conviction for corruption.

His resignation as the Director General (DG) of the LPs Presidential Campaign Council, followed money laundering conviction by a Federal High Court, in Abuja.

Okupe had, following his conviction, subsequently paid the sum of N13m, after Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu found him guilty of receiving over N200m cash from former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki.

Okupe paid the N13m fine, just few hours to the deadline given by the court. He was replaced by Chief Akin Osuntokun.

Okupe was a National Publicity Secretary of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC). He was once detained under General Sani Abacha, and subsequently disqualified from participating in United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) primaries.

He was also a governorship aspirant of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State.

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi has reportedly deposed some traditional rulers in the state.
This was announced by Bello during a media parley after the Executive Council Meeting in Lokoja on Sunday.

He said the monarchs were deposed after going through all the required procedures and adhering to our traditional and chieftaincy laws, rules, and regulations.

Bello said: “His Royal Highness, Alhaji Abdulrazaq Isah Koto, the Ohimege-Igu Koton-Karfe, who is also the chairman, Lokoja/Kogi local government area traditional council is hereby removed and to be deposed to, Rijau Local Government Area of Niger state.”

He further added that “His Royal Highness, Sam Bola Ojoa, the Olu Magongo of Magongo, is removed and to be deposed to Salka, Magama Local Government Area of Niger State.”

His Royal Highness, Samuel Adayi Onimisi, the Obobanyi of Emani, is removed and to be deposed to Doko, Lavun Local Government Area of Niger state.”

On the deposition of Onimisi, Governor Bello said the title “OBOBANYI OF IHIMA” which reads on the promotion letter, upgrading the stool to first-class status, “was done without cognisance to the fact that the title; “OBOBANYI OF IHIMA” is a subject of litigation and the court of law is yet to arrive at the possible final decision, as such, the Government have however received several petitions, calling attention to the need to revert and maintain status quo, until the court of law decides.”

“To this end, the stool is hereby reverted to “OBOBANYI OF EMANI” as the present occupant remains deposed.”

The governor also said His Royal Highness, Boniface Musa, the ONU-IFE in Omala Local Government is to be suspended indefinitely.

Following appropriate government involvement to address the persistent disputes that have plagued the selection process, the government thus announces the appointments of the future occupants on the following seats.

That: Alhaji Ahmed Tijani Anaje, who is the OHI OF OKENWE, is hereby appointed as the OHINOYI OF EBIRALAND as well as Alhaji Ibrahim Gambo Kabir is hereby appointed as the MAIGARI OF LOKOJA, and Alhaji Dauda Isah, is hereby appointed as the MAIYAKI OF KUPA

Mallam Saidu Akawo Salihu was also appointed as the OHIMEGE-IGU KOTON- and he is to be turban immediately.

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos on New Year day, Monday 1st January 2024 intercepted a consignment of Colorado, a very strong strain of cannabis, concealed in boxing kits imported from the United States of America.

A weeklong intelligence-led operation to get the receiver arrested was consummated on Saturday 6th January following the successful tracking and arrest of 38-year-old Olorunfunmi Saheed Olakunle who distributes the dangerous psychoactive substance to dealers across Lagos state. The consignment had arrived the country on Monday 1st January via Cairo on Egypt Airlines flight marked as boxing kits.

According to Saheed, he delivers such consignments to different recipients whenever his childhood friend, US-based Sagir Salami sends them. The latest shipment has a total weight of 1.80 kilograms.

Meanwhile, a 28-year-old female supplier of ammunition to bandits, Bilkisu Suleman came top on the list of twelve (12) other suspects arrested by NDLEA operatives in new year interdiction operations in Kaduna, Lagos, Niger, Kogi, Kano, Borno, and Osun states.

Bilkisu was arrested on Wednesday 3rd January by NDLEA officers on patrol along Zaria Kano expressway in possession of 249 rounds of 7.62 mm live ammunition concealed in a black nylon bag kept in her ladys handbag.

She was on her way to deliver the ammunition to an identified bandit in Kakumi village, Katsina state when she was nabbed after which she was transferred to the Kaduna state command of the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation.

The military authorities at the Bonny camp cantonment in Lagos on Tuesday 2nd January transferred a suspect, Francis Suru, 37 and 63 jumbo bags of Ghana Loud, a strain of cannabis, weighing 2,104.2 kilograms and a truck to the Lagos state command of NDLEA.

The suspect and the drug exhibits were earlier intercepted by NDLEA officers on 12th December 2023 close to the gate of the military cantonment in Bonny Camp, Victoria Island. Some armed escorts however resorted to sporadic shooting to obstruct the operation, a development which attracted soldiers from the cantonment, who eventually intervened and took custody of the consignment and suspect before transferring them to the Agency.
In the same vein, NDLEA operatives in Niger state on Thursday 5th January during a stop and search operation along Suleja-Kaduna road intercepted a J5 bus coming from Ondo state to Zaria, Kaduna state with twenty-three (23) bags of cannabis sativa weighing 219.5kg. Two suspects: Umar Musa, 26 and Isachiru Abubakar were arrested in connection with the seizure.

While a female drug trafficker, Queen Onyema, 27, was arrested on Saturday 6th January in a commercial bus enroute Abuja along Okene-Lokoja expressway with 12 compressed blocks of cannabis weighing 4.6kg and 0.046kg designer drugs concealed in an indomie carton, another suspect Mubarak Sani, 20, was nabbed at Gadar Tamburawa area of Kano on Monday 1st January with 445.9k kilograms of the same psychoactive substance.

In Borno, four suspects: Zanna Alhaji Dala, 32; Musa Umar, 21; Mushe Ibrahim, 23, and Shehu Idris, 19 were arrested at Pomfomari bye pass area of the state with 60kg cannabis.

Also, in Osun, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Osogbo-Ode Omu road on new year day, Monday 1st January intercepted a consignment of illicit drugs sent through waybill from Lagos to Osogbo. A follow-up operation led to the arrest of Ibrahim Olawale, 43. The drugs recovered include: cannabis sativa 10.8kg; Loud 150grams; Colorado 19grams; Molly 5grams totalling 10.974kg. A digital scale, N18,000 monetary exhibit and customized wrapping papers for Colorado were also seized.

NDLEA Commands across the 36 states and the FCT equally continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitisation lectures in schools, communities, work places and others. Some of these include: WADA sensitisation lecture for students of Nurul Huda Community Islamiyya school, Farin Yaro, Katsina; members of first aid group of Jamaatul Izalatul Bidia Waiqamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS) at Ajilari community school, Gomari, Maiduguri, Borno; WADA sensitisation lecture at the 2024 Oke Afo youth day, Olorunda LCDA Lagos and WADA advocacy visit to the Emir of Gaya, Alhaji Aliyu Ibrahim Gaya by the Kano state command of the Agency.

Commending the arrests and seizures of the past week by officers and men of the MMIA, Lagos, Niger, Kogi, Kano, Borno, and Osun Commands, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) charged them and their compatriots across all formations of the Agency to continue to remain vigilant and double their drug demand reduction as well as drug supply reduction efforts in the new year.

Femi Babafemi
Director, Media & Advocacy
NDLEA Headquarters Abuja
Sunday 7th January 2024