Operatives of the Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested 48 suspected internet fraudsters in Asaba, Delta State.

The Command, in a statement on Monday, said the suspects were arrested at different locations in Asaba following intelligence on their suspicious activities.

The suspects are Chinonso Nnemeka, Chidenbere Ekwealor, Emeka Joseph, Emmanuel Onyeka Onyeukwu, Solomon Omojewe, Miracle Ogonnaya, Pius Innocent, Ebuka Odukwe Osita, Godspower Efe, Chinedu Odiaka, Ogbemudia Wisdom, Okocha Nduka, Victor Chukwuma, Ebuka Ohika and Bright Odinakachukwu.

Others are Benjamin Kennedy, Abariowei Preye, Odinakachukwu Favour, Ofere Oghale, Micheal Okonkwo, Ezeali Stanley Chinedu, Akaluai Tega, Chibueze Obiozie, Chukwuma Chidimma, Sambo Daibra, Sunday Victor, Favour Ogaga-Oghene, Albert Oluwaleke, Agholor Omobude Simeon and Okeke Chibike.

The rest are: Bolum Ogechukwu, Dortimi Obiagulu Abariowei, Michelle Cyril, Adesioye Ajibola, Emmanuel Omezi Chinedu, Sule Courage, Daniel Samuel, Ifeanyi Nwabor, Igalawuye Ifeanyi Emmanuel, Uwaechue Chinedu Stanley and Eboh Chukwuma, Ezeali James Arinze, Clever Afokoghene, James Power, Azubudike Emeka, Okwuolise Ebuka, Odiete Timothy and Gilbert Nelson.

Items recovered at the points of arrest include nine exotic cars; three Mercedes Benz GLK 350, Toyota Camry SE, two Lexus RX 350, two Toyota Camry LE, Mercedes Benz GLA 250 4Matic, phones and laptops.

The anti-graft agency added that the suspects have made useful statements and will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has dedicated his victory at the governorship election tribunal, to the people of the state, assuring them that the victory, would spur him to serve the people with greater zeal and passion, in appreciation.

This is even as he declared that he never entertained any level of fear over the law suits against his March 18, 2023 electoral victory.

Otti stated this in a message he issued, after the election petition tribunal sitting in Umuahia, dismissed the petitions brought against him by candidates of the PDP and APC, Okey Ahaiwe and Ikechi Emenike.

Otti’s statement which was signed by Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, his Special Adviser on media and publicity, read in part; ” Even though we never entertained any atom of fear over the suit filed against us, going by the landslide victory we recorded at the polls, coupled with the sound submissions made by our team of erudite lawyers to defend our victory, I was, however, moved by the unprecedented show of love, support and solidarity from our people which is a manifestation of their appreciation of the modest achievements we have recorded so far, hence my resolve to serve them with greater zeal and passion”.

Otti also thanked the Judges for their sound judgement which, according to him, reflected what happened at the polls and what the majority of the people truly expected, maintaining that nothing enriches the legal jurisprudence and strengthens democracy more than dispensing justice to those who deserve it.

He called on his opponents to accept the judgement with humility and equanimity and join hands with him to work for the development of the state.

The Abia State Governor further promised to work for the overall well-being of all Abia citizens, irrespective of political party differences.

Operatives of the Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested 32 suspected internet fraudsters in simultaneous sting operations in Awka, Anambra State and Enugu township, Enugu State.

The suspects were identified as Stanley Okechukwu, Chukwudi Michael, Nnaife Onyedika, Nnamdi Christian, Pascal Akachukwu, Ekeme Christian Luke, Denis Chidozie and Ebuka Mmaduka.

Others are: Ekene Excellent, Emmanuel Okochi Osita, Akunne Prince Ikenna, Igwe Nnaemeka Shedrack, Nonso Henry Ozo Ekwe, Ebuka Obike Boniface, Goodluck Ameachi Ifeanyi, Hillary Chiemele Chukwudizie, Chinedu Onwuegbusi Ignitus, Onuoha Ifeanyi Anthony.

The rest are: Bassey Nnolue Jason, Chinedu Nnolue Kingsley, Okpe Matthew, Emmanuel Abonyi, Igwenagu Kenechukwu Collins, Joachim Okpe, Kelechi Ibenyenwa, David Chiemerie, Kingsley Ngwu, Ndubuisi Anthony, Collins Chidubem, Innocent Chisom, Kalu Nnachi and Chukwuemeka Henry.

They were arrested based on some credible intelligence on their suspected internet-related criminal activities, .ng reports.

Items recovered from them are phones, laptops and two cars: Lexus ES 350 and Lexus RX 330.

The anti-graft agency added that they will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

The Acting Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, on Friday stormed Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital following the seizure of various smuggled goods by the Ogun 1 Area Command.

Adeniyi, who was flanked by the Controller of the Command, Ahmadu Bello Shuaib, said the Command, in two weeks, intercepted 1,436 used pneumatic tyres, 53 sacks, and 569 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, weighing a total of 1,179 kilograms.

The Service also seized 3,149 bags of foreign parboiled rice, each weighing 50 kilograms, alongside 32 vehicles used for conveyance, among other items,” Adeniyi stated.

While addressing newsmen at the NCS headquarters in Abeokuta, Adeniyi said his presence in Ogun underscored the NCS’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding Nigeria from potential road accidents and harmful substances, “as we continue to intercept these perilous goods.”

The Acting Comptroller General expressed concern over the importation of foreign-used pneumatic tyres, otherwise known as Tokunbo tyres.

“These are ring-shaped protective coverings made of rubber and filled with compressed air, typically used in foreign countries. Regrettably, they are deemed unsuitable for our highways. A significant number of these tyres have exceeded their recommended lifespan from their manufacturing date.

“According to safety experts, good-quality pneumatic tyres are safe for use for only four years from the date of manufacturing. Any usage beyond this duration poses a significant risk to motorists and jeopardizes their lives,” he said.

Adebiyi also expressed worry over the rise in the abuse of Cannabis Sativa, commonly known as marijuana or Indian hemp, within Nigerian society, especially among the youth.

He highlighted the ingenious tactics being employed by the smugglers of weeds, including smuggling through land borders, utilizing creeks, and even resorting to smuggling via air routes.

However, the CG said he was delighted that, “our officers’ relentless efforts and unwavering dedication in Zone A, specifically the Ogun 1 Area Command, have borne fruit, leading to the interception of Cannabis Sativa” and other illicit drugs.

The seized items, whose Duty Paid Value (DPV) he said was N241,977,943, were intercepted at various locations, including Papa-Ajegunle-Ilaro road, Imasayi-Joga road, Ijebu-Ode axis, and Odogbolu bush path, along the Ijebu-Ode road in Ogun State.

He stressed that the seizures are a testament to the NCS’s renewed determination and strategic deployment of both human and material resources.

“Our commitment to protecting Nigerians from the audacious actions of daredevil smugglers remains unwavering. We are resolute in our mission to curb illicit trade, safeguard our roads from dangerous tyres, and protect our youth from the devastating effects of illicit drugs,” he said.

The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre said it has arrested two suspects over criminal conspiracy, identity theft and romance scams in Abuja.

The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

He said the arrest of the suspects was in furtherance of the matching order of the Acting Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Kayode Egbetokun, to bequeath a safer cyber space to Nigerians.

Adejobi said the suspects, residents of Panasonic Estate in Idu, Abuja, have confessed to their participation in computer-related frauds, associated with romance scams and identity theft.

The police spokesman said substantial evidence from their electronic devices had shed light on their criminal activities.

He said one of the suspects, a former student of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), claimed to have been in the music industry since 2016 and also operates a public relations company.

Adejobi said the suspect had confessed to being engaged in fraudulent activities since 2014 through Facebook.

The police spokesman said an investigation had also uncovered compelling evidence linking him to fraud and romance scams till date.

He said the two suspects were close associates, adding that the second suspect was arrested along with the first suspect.

Adejobi said the second suspect had claimed that his visit to the residence of the first suspect was for music recording purposes.

“However, he admitted to having a unique connection with a 69-year-old white woman, known as Winnie, whom he identifies as both a fan and a friend.

“This connection goes beyond casual friendship as evidence indicating a series of cash exchanges between him and the elderly woman have come to light,” he said.

Dr Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, says President Bola Tinubu has directed her ministry to reserve 10 per cent of social safety net intervention for older persons.

This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by her Media aide, Mr Rasheed Zubair, in Abuja.

It stated that the minister was speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting to commemorate the 2023 National Day of Older Persons in Nigeria.

“Mr President has directed that my Ministry should set aside 10% of social safety net intervention programmes for older persons in the country.

“The rights of senior citizens in the areas of job security, health, livelihood, agriculture and other development planning must be considered.

“Presently, older persons are said to be about 14.8 million out of the entire population, that is why the President directed that in all our social welfare interfaces older persons must be involved,” she said.

Edu assured the senior citizens of the federal government’s resolve to provide them with necessary support towards improving the quality of their lives.

“The President also directed that those who are under the poverty line must be assisted and captured in the social interventions programmes.

“We would inaugurate two of such social intervention programmes with emphasis on senior citizens because we will be providing for senior citizens who are affected by humanitarian crises,” she said.

The Governor of Benue State, Fr Hayicnth Alia, has slammed the leadership of the Dunamis International gospel centre for erecting a substandard structure.

.ng reports that the church caved in the early hours of Tuesday, killing the resident pastor, Ahmed Sunday and injuring others.

Speaking when he visited the site, the Governor expressed disappointment that he did not meet any of the leaders of the church on ground.

He said the building was poorly constructed and would be revoked.

He said the leader of the church should know the law.

“We have to locate where the leadership of the church is and to inform them that the land has been revoked because we have to save lives.

“Those living along the waterways would vacate immediately.

“So the Ministry of Works, Housing and Urban Development should step in.

“I need to know who approved this structure. We need to know the engineers or the architects who monitored this gigantic project.
“We need to stop these from happening.”

Dunamis Church is under the leadership of Dr Paul Enenche.

The Katsina State Police Command successfully thwarted a kidnapping attempt by armed bandits in Yankara village, Faskari LGA, Katsina, killing one of the hoodlums and recovered one AK47 rifle.

The heavily-armed bandits, brandishing dangerous AK-47 rifles, stormed the community around 0400hrs on Monday.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO’), ASP Sadiq Abubakar, disclosed this in a statement. According to him, immediately the distress call was received at the Faskari police division, the command’s operatives swiftly mobilised officers to the scene and engaged the criminals in a fierce gun duel, compelling them to abandon their nefarious plans and flee into nearby bushes.

ASP Sadiq also noted that the lifeless body of one of the criminals and the recovered AK-47 rifle were discovered while combing the scene of the attack. He gave the identity of the deceased suspect as Bada Yaji, 25, a resident of Dajin Dungu, Yartuwaru in Faskari LGA.

Katsina State Police Commissioner, CP Aliyu Musa, lauded the bravery and gallantry displayed by the police operatives in this operation.

He urged residents to continue to provide crucial and timely information to law enforcement agencies, emphasising its importance in preventing criminal activities.

CP Musa also urged citizens to report individuals displaying suspicious injuries, as some of the bandits may have sustained gunshot wounds while fleeing.

Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, on Monday, appeared in a London court over charges of receiving bribes in the form of cash, flights on private jets, luxury goods and the use of high-end properties in Britain in return for awarding oil contracts.

Making her first court appearance at Westminster Magistrates Court, Alison-Madueke spoke only to give her name, date of birth and address.

The 62-year-old was not asked to enter a plea.

The charges against her, read out in court, all related to events alleged to have taken place in London during her time as a minister in Nigeria.

Prosecutor, Andy Young alleged that Alison-Madueke accepted a wide range of advantages in cash and in-kind from people who wanted to receive or continue to receive the award of oil contracts which he said were worth billions of dollars in total.

This is coming a few weeks after the former finance minister in Nigeria was charged with bribery offences by the UK National Crime Agency (NCA).

Alison-Madueke was arrested in London in 2015, shortly after stepping down as minister. She has spent the past eight years on police bail, living in St John’s Wood, an expensive area of London.

She was Nigeria’s Minister for Petroleum Resources between 2010 and 2015, during the administration of former president Goodluck Jonathan.

She is the second high-profile Nigerian politician to face prosecution in Britain in recent years, following James Ibori, a former Delta State governor.

Anti-Cult operatives attached to the Obiaruku Police Division in Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State have reportedly chased a 17-year-old boy, Sylvester Watermelon, to death.

The deceased and a friend of his had just come out from a chemist shop where they went to buy drugs when the sad incident occurred on Wednesday, .ng learnt.

It was learnt that they sighted the anti-cult operatives and ran away on a motorcycle but they were given a hot chase until they rammed into a wall and fell down unconscious.

The anti-cult operatives rushed them to the station where the said friend regained consciousness. But Sylvester Watermelon died.

The Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Wale Abass, has reportedly ordered the immediate arrest of the anti-cult operatives.

As of the time of this report, it was gathered that the suspects are being detained at the Police Command in Asaba

Human Right Activist, Comrade Kelvin Ejumudo, in a statement, condemned the action of the anti-cult operatives.

He said, “This rascality by men of the anti-cult and vigilante groups attached to police formations need to be checked before it gets out of hand and leads to unrest in the state.

“No Nigerian youth deserves to die this way. An injury to one is an injury to all.”

The Delta State Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe, is yet to pick calls. Also, he has not replied a text message sent to him for confirmation of the report.

The Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Area Command, has intercepted live endangered species of African Grey Parrots, Green Parrots and a hawk with a combined value of about N6,859,832.

Comptroller Timi Bomodi, Customs Area Controller, made this known on Wednesday.

According to him, the seizure was based on credible intelligence.

The animals were intercepted at the Gbaji checkpoint en route Benin Republic.

He said, “These animals were intercepted by our officers at about 4 am today; we got the intelligence that they were being conveyed in a luxurious bus all the way from Kaduna to Lagos, with the intention to take them out of the country to sell.

“As you may be aware, this is an illicit trade of endangered species, they are valued outside the country and we have individuals that are ready to go through a lot of risks to smuggle these birds.”

Bomodi restated the commitment of the Nigeria Customs Service to curb the menace of illicit trade in the country while also noting that two suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure.

“Part of the responsibilities of the Nigeria Customs Service as a signatory to the convention on illicit trade in endangered species is to ensure trade like this does not continue and we are hell-bent on seeing that things of this nature are not circulated.

“We already have two suspects in our custody, and the normal procedure for activating seizures of this nature with special regard to how these defendants will be treated is already in place”, he emphasized.

The seized animals were handed over to the Controller, Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Services, Sanusi Magashi.

The Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Services will temporarily safeguard and nurture the animals before releasing them to the national park.

The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ’C’, FOUC, intercepted cannabis sativa, raw materials for the production of explosive devices, as well as other contraband with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1.6 billion in the South East in the last two months.

Operatives of the FOUC also arrested nine suspects in connection with the seizures within the period under review (July 25 to September 23rd, 2023).

The Acting Comptroller, FOUC, DC Kayode Kolade, stated this on Monday in a statement made available to .ng by Jerry Attah, the Public Relation Officer, Custom FOUC in Owerri, Imo State capital.

The Customs boss, who frowned at the spate of smuggling in the zone, however, said that operatives successfully recovered the sum of Fifty-Four Million, Two Hundred and Forty-four Thousand, Five Hundred and Seventy One Naira from demand notices raised based on some infractions noticed, making a cumulative sum of One Billion, Six Hundred and Thirty-Four Million, Seven Hundred and Ninety-Four Thousand, Five Hundred and Seventy-One Naira (N1,634,794,571.00) only within the months under review.

The statement added, “Other contraband items seized include 417 sacks of cannabis sativa also known as Indian hemp weighing 9,194kg and 627 compressed parcels of same Indian hemp 1kg each totaling 627kg, and 9 sacks 50kg each of explosives’ raw materials.

“Other seized items include 1,329 bags, 50kg each of smuggled foreign parboiled rice; 5 cartons of DSP cough syrup with codeine 100mg containing 1000 bottles; 1 unit of armored Bullion Van; 761 jumbo bales of second-hand clothing; 883 cartons of various.

“In addition to the seized items were unregistered/expired medicaments including tramadol; 100 cartons of various wines; 5,737 pieces of used pneumatic tires; 335 cartons of smuggled foreign tomato paste; 300 cartons of foreign spaghetti.

“Based on prompt intelligence and sting operation, the rice was intercepted along Calabar/Akwa Ibom axis and Okada/Benin expressway, the 417 sacks and 627 parcels of Indian hemp were intercepted at Okada-Benin and Ewu-Auchi Expressway respectively. 761 Jumbo bales of used clothing mostly concealed in trucks and buses were intercepted along Umeikaa/Aba Road and Okada-Benin Road.

“The 5 cartons of DSP cough syrup with codeine, and 883 cartons of unregistered medicaments were intercepted along Benin/Asaba/Onitsha Expressway.
The armored Bullion Van without customs documents and End User Certificate was intercepted along the Okada/Benin Expressway. 100 cartons of wine and 335 tomato paste were intercepted along Ewu/Ibilo axis, and 5,737 pieces of used pneumatic tyres were also intercepted along the Cross River waterside and Okada-Benin Expressway.”

Kolade further expressed concerns over the smuggling of explosives even as the country continue grappling with the challenges associated with insecurity and called on smugglers to desist forthwith in the interest of humanity or have the law to contend with.

“ More worrisome is the interception of 9 sacks 50kg each of explosive materials (fertilizer, device cables, and superpower90 chemicals). We all know the security implications if these explosive components get to their destination unchecked.

“It may interest you to know that Superpower 90 is designed for priming applications and as a column explosive in surface and underground mining and general blasting. The high detonation velocity and the robust nature of Superpower 90 make it an ideal primer for the initiation of column charge. Let us not just imagine if dynamites and landmines are detonated using these items “, he said.

He congratulated the Acting Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, on his appointment to oversee the affairs of the Service and described it as “well deserved considering his pedigree, dedication, and commitment to the service”.

“ We will all make sure he succeeds as his leadership style has started yielding positive results in our operations. I thank the Ag. Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi MFR, and the entire Management Team of the Nigeria Customs Service for their efforts so far in providing needed incentives and necessary logistics that aided our performance. To my dear colleagues, Customs Intelligence Unit, Customs Police, I must commend your prompt intelligence sharing, resilience, and tenacity that brought about this stride “, he added.

The Police in Lagos State on Thursday arraigned a 45-year-old woman, Victoria Modupe, at a Badagry Magistrates’ Court for allegedly obtaining N2.4 million under false pretence.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the defendant, without a declared address, is facing a lone charge of fraud, to which she pleaded not guilty.

The Prosecutor, ASP Clement Okuoimose, said the defendant committed the offence on Feb.13, at about 8:00 am at Pota Community, along Mowo Ikoga Road, Badagry, Lagos.

He alleged that Modupe fraudulently obtained the amount from the complainant, Momoh Musa, to help him cast and lay interlock stones at his event centre.

The defendant, however, did nothing near the purpose of her payment.

Okuoimose said the offence, therefore, contravened the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015

The trial magistrate, Mr Fadahunsi Adefioye, however, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.

He ruled that the sureties, who must be responsible citizens, should reside in Lagos State in addition to being gainfully employed in reputable companies or government establishments.

He, thereafter, adjourned the case till Oct.19, for mention.

The Labour Party, LP, has emerged as one of the biggest casualties of the ongoing State and National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal.

.ng reports that tribunals sitting in different states of the country have sacked many of the elected members of the party in Edo, Abia, Enugu, among others, over the discrepancy surrounding their membership of the party and their mode of nomination.

Rising as one of the main opposition political parties in the 2023 general elections, the LP was able to claim some House of Representatives and Senatorial seats in some states.

The milestone of the LP in the general elections was unprecedented considering that the party came from obscurity to gain popularity.

Many saw this as a revolutionary movement that captured the heart of the youths at a time Nigerians yearned for a change.

Before 2023, the Labour Party had existed for over 20 years as a pro-workers political organisation.

But it made inroads into mainstream politics within just eight months.

The party rode on the fame and acceptance of Peter Obi, its flagbearer during the general elections, by an overwhelming youth majority known as ‘Obidients’.

Obi lost the presidential election after having won 12 states, including Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

He shocked many after challenging the two previously dominant parties, the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to win a total of 6,101,533 votes.

APC’s Bola Tinubu won the contest with 8,794,726 votes, while Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP came second, securing 6,984,520 votes.

The Labour Party, however, was able to win one governorship seat, with Alex Otti emerging victorious in Abia State.

The Party clinched eight senatorial seats and 34 seats in the House of Representatives.

With this number, the Peter Obi-led political party became the third most popular party in the National Assembly.

APC won 57 Senate seats; PDP, 29; LP, eight; Social Democratic Party (SDP) two; NNPP two; YPP and APGA got one each.

In the House of Representatives, the APC had 162 seats; PDP, 102; LP, 34; NNPP, 18; APGA, four; ADC, two; SDP, two; YPP, one.

The Labour Party was successful in states such as Enugu, Abia, Imo, Delta, Anambra, Plateau and even Benue.

However, as the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunals sitting in several states end their proceedings this week, the LP has been on the receiving end.

About 552 election petitions were filed by aggrieved candidates, and while over 150 of the cases have been decided, some of the cases were withdrawn by the petitioners.

The tribunals, across the country, will end their sittings on Saturday, September 16, 2023.

The three House of Reps members whose election has been nullified by the Tribunal in Enugu State are: Hon. Engr. Chijioke Stanislaus Okereke, representing Awgu/Aninri/Oji River Federal Constituency.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declared that Okereke won the election but the Tribunal sacked him, declaring Chief Onwuegbu Anayo of the PDP as winner.

The second person is Hon Prof. Paul Sunday Nnamchi elected to represent Enugu East/Isi-Uzo Federal Constituency.

The tribunal declared Prince Cornelius Nnaji of the PDP as winner.

Also in Enugu, the Tribunal has nullified the election of Rt Hon Barr Sunday Cyriacus Umeha representing Udi/Ezeagu Federal Constituency.

The court said that he failed to properly resign his membership of the PDP before picking the ticket of the LP. It declared PDP candidate, Festus Uzor as the winner.

In Abia State three House of Representatives members, elected on the platform of the Labour Party, Ibe Okwara Osonwa, Emeka Nnamani and Munachim Alozie, have been sacked from the tribunal sitting in Umuahia.

A panel of the tribunal led by Justice Adeyinka Aderebgbe sacked the member representing Arochukwu/Ohafia federal constituency, Osonwa, for non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2022

The petition was filed by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the election, Chief Daniel Okeke.

In Lagos State, the Tribunal declared the election that produced Thaddeus Attah as the representative of the Eti-Osa Federal Constituency of Lagos as inconclusive.

Attah, Babajide Obanikoro of the APC and singer turned politician Bankole Wellington also known as Banky W of the PDP contested to represent the Eti-Osa constituency in the House of Representatives during the February 25 election.

It was, however, a different scenario in Plateau State, where the LP recorded a win as the Tribunal declared Hon. Dandereng Gideon winner of the Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency.

The Tribunal sitting in Jos sacked Bagos of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Also in Edo State, the Tribunal sitting in Benin City, on Thursday, dismissed two petitions challenging the victory of two LP candidates for lacking in merit.

Meanwhile, the Labour Party has expressed worries over how its members were being sacked by the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in many states across the country.

Reacting to the trend, the party, in a statement issued by its National Chairman, Barr. Julius Abure, opined that the issue of “membership is an internal affair of the party beyond the jurisdiction of courts.”

Speaking to newsmen on the trend, the Labour Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Aliyu Danko said that the party would do everything within the law to prove that its House of Reps members actually won their elections.

According to him, “We have seen the trend and interestingly at the Presidential Election Petition Court, we presented issues.

“But the same issues which were dealt with as pre-election matters are being used to discard some of our Reps members and we find it very appalling and unacceptable.

“At the moment, most of our members are resorting to going to the Appeal Court to challenge this particular ruling which we find erroneously unacceptable.

“Interestingly, these issues they accuse some of our Reps members of, we can say authoritatively that we have proof that these primaries were conducted and our candidates actually won their elections.

“But then, if there are orchestrated plans to reduce the number of our members at the National Assembly, it won’t work because we’ll challenge it with proven documents that we won our elections.”

Asked if there is the feeling among party members that there is a plot to weaken the party, he added, “exactly. That is what I’m alluding to.”

An accused person identified as Miracle Ezeochia has been sentenced to two years imprisonment for defrauding unsuspecting individuals on Facebook.

The Kaduna State High Court sitting in Kaduna on Wednesday convicted and sentenced Ezeochia for cheating by impersonation.

The Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had dragged Ezeochia before Justice N. U. Sadiq.

In a statement on its verified social media handles, EFCC said it received an intelligence report regarding the activities of some individuals suspected to be internet fraudsters in Kaduna, stating that the convict was subsequently arrested in a sting operation.

While analysing his device, it was discovered that Ezeochia opened Facebook and Instagram accounts with the profile pictures and names of Muhammed Malik from Qatar and Lucas James Williams, which he had used to chat with many people, one of whom he reportedly duped of $150.

According to the charge, Ezeochia, sometime in October 2022, in Kaduna, falsely presented himself as Muhammed Malik on Facebook, and, in such an assumed identity, cheated Malik Abdul Haseed of the sum of $150, an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and punishable under Section 309 of the same Law.

Having pleaded guilty to the charge, the prosecuting counsel, M.U. Gadaka, asked the court to convict him accordingly.

Justice Sadiq convicted and sentenced the accused to two years imprisonment with the option of a N150,000 fine and also ordered him to forfeit a Tecno POP 7 PRO phone and $150 to the Federal Government of Nigeria.