The Lagos Zonal Command of the EFCC, on Wednesday, March 30, 2022, secured the conviction and sentencing of an internet fraudster, Etegene Japheth,to six months imprisonment before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Special Offence court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.

Japheth was arraigned on a one count amended charge bordering on possession of documents containing false pretence.
Japheth (aka Mr. Tim Graw and Tom Cruise), on or about the 16th day of February 2022 in Lagos, had in his possession several documents containing false pretences, one of which is a record of his conversation with several unsuspecting victims via his email address: tomcruise3705@gmail.com, wherein he represented himself as Mr. Tim Graw and Tom Cruise in order to obtain gift cards and money from them, a representation he knew was false.

He pleaded "guilty" to the charge when it was read to him.

Officials of Lagos Rapid Response Squad (RRS) have arrested three notorious Awawa members in order to reduce the rising crime and violence in Agege.

The suspects are: Abubakar Mohammed (26), Nofiu Odusanya (19) and Idowu Daramola (22).

The Commander, Rapid Response Squad (RRS), two weeks ago directed the squad’s Decoy Team to gather intelligence on some of the people behind the increasing crime and violence around Agege and effect their arrests.

The team has arrested three suspects. They are part of the seven dreaded members of Awawa Cult and brains behind some of the violence and crimes around Agege in recent times. The trio were equally fingered in night and dawn robberies in Agege.

Abubakar Mohammed, popularly known as Yaba, who was recently released from prison is reputed for ‘okada’ robbery and has been in and out of police custody several times.

Nofiu Odusanya, a.k.a Alhaji Horror was arrested for been complicit in the gruesome matcheting of one Babatunde while being also involved in night and dawn robberies in Agege.

Idowu Daramola alias Magnet, is a popular pickpocket and phone snatcher as well as dusk and dawn robber around Capitol Road, Agege.

Meanwhile some community stakeholders have called on CSP Yinka Egbeyemi to assist the community in keeping away the three suspects from the community in order to reduce the crime in the area.

The three suspects have been taken to court for prosecution.

While recording a stampede scene at the entrance of the M.K.O Stadium, d military (3 army & several policemen) attacked me, flogged d hell out of me & broke my phone despite identifying myself as a journalist with my accreditation hung around my neck. #NGAGHA

I was not given a chance to express myself as slaps landed on my face. In my over 12 years in this profession, I have never been this humiliated.

Double tragedy! Im devastated

The zeal to work has disappeared and I don't know where to start. I just hope we don't record any casualties. Organisation zero, crowd control zero. Nigeria, we love disgracing ourselves.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former governor of Lagos state, has cancelled the colloquium organised in commemoration of his 70th birthday.

The chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said the event could not continue in the wake of the attack on a train heading to Kaduna state from Abuja.

TheCable had reported how the train was attacked by gunmen in the Kateri-Rijana area of Kaduna on Monday night. The train was said to have almost reached Rigasa, its final stop.

Speaking shortly after his arrival at the colloquium on Tuesday, Tinubu said he cannot be celebrating and rejoicing amidst a national tragedy.

He asked the attendees to “go home and pray” for the victims of the attack.

The presidential campaign posters of the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi and that of the Central Bank Governor, Dr. Godwin Emefiele flooded the Eagle Square, the venue of the ongoing National Convention of All Progressive Congress (APC) in Abuja. 

Other aspirants posters displayed at the convention venue are that of Former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the current Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi.

It would be recalled that Tinubu, Rochas Okorocha  and  Governor Umahi have so far

signified their intentions to run for Presidency under the platform of APC.

The duo went as far as informing President Muhammadu Buhari of the quest to vie for the highest seat in the country.

Both Rotimi Amaechi and Godwin Emefiele are yet to come out openly to declare their intention on the platform of APC. 

The posters of the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo was also placed at strategic locations in and around the convention venue.

Osinbajo’s posters did not indicate any political party but urged the public in the caption to be on the look out.

In another development, delegates for the convention are still trooping in the Eagle Square ahead of the commencement of the convention proper.

BREAKING: Troops of Operation Desert Sanity on clearance patrol in Sambisa Forest, Borno State, have uncovered the wreckage of crashed Alpha Jet aircraft (NAF475) that went off the radar with 2 crew members on 31 March 2021. Further exploitation ongoing.

Barely 24 hours to the scheduled national convention of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Friday, approached the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, praying it to invalidate the outcome of the convention.

PDP, in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CR/389/2022, equally urged the court to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from recognizing, communicating with, dealing with or having any business whatsoever with the APC as a registered political party.

Cited as 1st to 5th Defendants in the matter, are; INEC, All Progressive Congress, APC, Registered Trustees of APC, All Progressives Congress Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), National Chairman, APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee.

Specifically, PDP, is praying the court to determine; “Whether upon a consideration of section 223(2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as altered, the leadership of the 2nd Defendant (APC) can be made up of only 13 members as presently constituted by the 4th Defendant and forwarded/registered with the 1st Defendant, and if answered in the negative, whether the 2nd Defendant has any valid leadership, properly so called, forwarded/registered with the 1st Defendant in compliance with section 222(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as altered) and whether any act done by the said leadership is valid and founded in law.

“If the answer to the 2nd and 3rd legs of the issue in paragraph 1 above is further in the negative, whether the 2nd Defendant is not liable to be de-registered as a political party pursuant to sections 222 (a), 223 (2) (b) and 225 (a) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as altered)”.

Upon determination of the legal questions, PDP, prayed the court for; “A declaration that by the express provisions of section 223 (2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as altered), the leadership of the 2rd Defendant cannot be made up of only 13 members as presently constituted by the 4th Defendant and forwarded/registered with the 1st Defendant.

“A declaration that the 2nd Defendant has no valid leadership, properly so called, forwarded/registered with the 1st Defendant in compliance with section 222(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as altered).

“A declaration that all the prior actions and subsequent actions undertaken by the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Defendants are null and void and of no effect whatsoever.

“A declaration that the 2nd Defendant is liable to be de-registered by the 1st Defendant as a political party pursuant to section 222 (a), 223 (2) (b) and 225A of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as altered.

“An order de-registering the 2nd Defendant as a political party having failed to meet the requirements of section 222(a), 223 (2) (b) and 225 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as altered.

As well as, “An order of perpetual injunction restraining the 1st Defendant, either by itself or through its officers, employers, assigns, privies or agents from recognizing, communicating with, dealing with or having any business whatsoever with the 2nd Defendant as a registered political party”.

Meanwhile, no date has been fixed for hearing of the suit.

Seventy-five people kidnapped from Yar Katsina community in Kekun Waje district of Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State have been released by their captors, Daily Trust gathered.

The freed residents were abducted in two major attacks on the community in the past two months.

The armed criminals had earlier kidnapped 61 residents, then 36 days later, they raided the community and abducted 15 more people.

“The armed men, however, held a six-year-old girl identified as Ummi and told her parents that they had adopted her because they like her.

“The parents were not among those kidnapped.

“One of them said he had not born any child in his life as such he would adopt the girl.

“She has become his daughter as he promised to take good care of her. The girl is still with them.

“The residents had to pay N4 million before the victims were released.

“The freed victims have already reunited with their families. Part of the conditions the criminals gave was that the vigilantes must disarm,” a resident identified as Sadiq said.

The spokesman of the state police command, SP Muhammad Shehu, could not be reached for comment at the time of filing this report.

Update! Maduka Okoye out of the clash against Ghana due to illness, he has been replaced by Enyimba FC goalkeeper, John Noble. Get well soon Maduks! #SoarSuperEagles

Update! Samuel Chukwueze has arrived. 20 players in camp…Ekong, Balogun, Ajayi, Aina, Onyeka, Ighalo, Akpeyi, Musa, Etebo, Iheanacho, Abdullahi, Uzoho, Simon, Dennis, Aribo, Bassey, Bonke, Omeruo, Sanusi, Chukwueze #SoarSuperEagles

*EKITI STATE POLICE COMMAND*
21/03/2022
*PRESS RELEASE:* _Ekiti State Police Command arrests Mother, Son for Conspiracy to wit Abduction, others._

Sometime in March, 2019, the victim, a 15year old girl, left home for an extra moral lesson in preparation for her WAEC but did not return home, which was unusual of her.

2. The victim's parents subsequently reported a case of their missing daughter to the Police but all efforts made by the Police and her family members to know her whereabout proved abortive.

3. However, on 15/3/2022, that is about three three(3) years later, the victim's mother received a credible information about her daughter's whereabout. She then alerted the Command's Juvenile Welfare Center (JWC) of the State CID who then swung into action and traced the missing girl to the house of one Mrs Ademiloye Felicia.

4. The victim was immediately rescued while Mrs Ademiloye Felicia and her son, Adewumi Ademiloye were subsequently arrested for further investigation.

5. Investigation revealed that the victim was lured by Adewumi Ademiloye into his mother's house on that fateful day and drugged.

6. The victim revealed that after consuming the drugs given to her by Adewumi Ademiloye, she could not remember to go back home. She stated that she is now a drug addict due to the amount of drugs consumed within this period of three years.

7. According to the victim, Adewumi Ademiloye had series of sexual intercourse with her and has given her to different men on many occasions each time he does not have money who had sex with her and paid Adewumi Ademiloye an amount ranging from ten thousand naira (#10,000) to twenty thousand naira (#20,000).

8. Further investigation revealed that the victim is about 8mouths pregnant but has not been registered in any Heath Care Center or visited any hospital for Antinatal Care.

9. During interrogation, Adewumi Ademiloye confessed to the commission of the crime and will be charged to court alongside his mother for conspiracy to wit abduction, rape and child exploitation.

Meanwhile, the victim has been taken to Ekiti State Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Ado Ekiti for medical attention.

ASP ABUTU SUNDAY
POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICERS
*FOR:* COMMISSIONER OF POLICE
EKITI STATE COMMAND

Different units of the Nigeria Police Force have blocked all entrances into the Cross River State House of Assembly.

They have also turned back staff members of the Assembly. They were cautioned not to loiter around.

DAILY POST reports that they took positions as early as 6 a.m., Tuesday, according to eyewitnesses.

The different units included the anti-kidnapping and cultism squad and the regular policemen, armed to the teeth.

They have also occupied the Assembly’s premises.

It is suspected that the security build up is as a result of the judgment delivered at by a Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Taiwo Taiwo, which sacked 18 lawmakers from the State and two in the House of Representatives for crossing from the PDP to the APC on May 20, 2021.

Some of the policemen are also seen standing close to Governor Ben Ayade’s office, which is a few metres away.

Motorists and innocent passers-by are having difficult time meandering through the crowd of security men, their vans and other onlookers.

The ruling APC had said they had applied to the Court for stay of execution of the judgment, while they had proceeded to the Appeal Court.

KDSG declares 24-hour curfew in Jema’a and Kaura LGAs

Following advice from security agencies, the Kaduna State Government has declared a 24-hour curfew in Jema’a and Kaura local government areas with immediate effect.

This is to assist the security agencies to stabilize the situation, save lives and property and enable the restoration of law and order in these areas.

Security agencies have full authorization to enforce the curfew. Government appeals to all residents of Jema’a and Kaura local government areas to cooperate with the security agencies in the urgent task of restoring peace and upholding law and order.

Government condemns the violence and all acts of lawlessness that have occurred in the area.

Further updates will be issued as necessary.

Samuel Aruwan
Commissioner, Internal Security and Home Affairs
21st March 2022

France has frozen the assets of the Bank of Russia in the amount of 22 billion euros, said the country's Minister of Economy and Finance Bruno Le Maire.

"We have frozen the assets of the Central Bank of Russia in the amount of 22 billion euros. In addition, we have frozen assets in the accounts of private individuals in French institutions in the amount of 150 million euros," he said on the radio station RTL.
According to him, France has frozen real estate in the country in the amount of half a billion euros - this corresponds to about 30 properties or apartments owned by Russian citizens .

"In total, this is almost a billion euros, or rather 850 million euros, which have been frozen," Le Maire said.

On February 24, Russia launched a military operation to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine. The armed forces say they are only targeting military infrastructure and Ukrainian troops. There are casualties on both sides.

After that, many Western countries announced large-scale sanctions against Russia, primarily against the banking sector, including the Central Bank, and the supply of high-tech products. In addition, many brands have announced the termination of work in the country.

The Kremlin called these measures an economic war like no other. At the same time, the authorities stressed that they were ready for such a development of events and would continue to fulfill social obligations. The Central Bank is taking measures to stabilize the situation on the foreign exchange market.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov noted that Western companies that refuse to work with Russia did so under enormous pressure, but Moscow will solve all the problems with the economy that the West creates for it. According to Vladimir Putin, the policy of containment and weakening of Russia is a long-term strategy of the West, and the sanctions have dealt a serious blow to the entire global economy. The President also said that the United States and the European Union actually defaulted on their obligations to Russia, freezing its foreign exchange reserves.

FORMER Vice-President Atiku Abubakar will on Wednesday, formally declare his intention to vie for the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to contest the 2023 presidential election. A statement on Friday signed by the chairman of the technical committee of his campaign group, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, said the event is scheduled to hold at the International Conference Centre, Abuja at 11 am.

Atiku picked the PDP nomination form on Thursday at the cost of N40 million. The former vice president has been embarking on consultations in the past few weeks to garner support for his aspiration. Atiku, in the course of his consultations, had met with the PDP caucus in the National Assembly, the PDP Board of Trustees among other stakeholders.

His declaration is coming ahead of the setting up of a 37-member committee that is expected to make recommendations to guide the party on zoning of the various elective positions. The PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) had on Wednesday announced the setting up of the committee with two weeks deadline to turn in its recommendations.

However, the national leadership of the party had yet to set up the committee as of the time of filing this report. According to the party’s NEC, membership of the committee will be drawn from the 36 states of the federation and the federal capital territory.

A day after the substantive National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee CECPC, Gov. Mai Mala Buni, the acting National Chairman of the CECPC and Niger state Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello has insisted on the sack of the National Secretary, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe.

Bello also denounced the recomposition of the national convention sub-committees by Gov. Buni, saying the earlier inaugurated sub-committees remain in place.

Spokesman of the Bello-led CECPC, Barr. Ismae’el Ahmed told Vanguard that he notices for Akpanudoedehe’s sack was arrived at on March 8 by a majority of the members of the committee who passed a vote of no confidence on the erstwhile secretary of the committee.

The notice has 10 of the 12 members of the committee signed including Senator Ken Nnamani, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, Senator Yusuf Abubakar Yusuf, Prof Tahir Mamman, Senator Abba Alli, Chief David Lyon, Hon Akinremi Olaide, Mrs Stella Okotete, Barr Ismaeel Ahmed and Dr James Lalu.

The Bello camp said it relied on Article 27 (v & vi) of the party constitution.

That section of the constitution states; “Subject to ratification by the National Convention or Congress an Officer shall be relieved of his post at any time if a vote of ‘No Confidence’ is passed on him by two-thirds of members of the relevant Party organ.

“Pursuant to this Constitution, where a vote of ‘No Confidence’ has been passed on an Officer, the relevant Party organ shall appoint another person to act in his place pending ratification by the National Convention or Congress”.

Ahmed said; “the CECPC has reaffirmed its position regarding the sack of Senator Akpanudoedehe and maintained that the final list of Convention planning sub-committees signed by the Director of Organisation following the directive of the caretaker committee remains the final and authentic list.

Responding to news reports making rounds on a purported list of subcommittees for the National Convention single-handedly signed by the already sacked Senator Akpanudoedehe, Barr Ismaeel Ahmad who has been briefing the media since the sack of Senator Akpanudoedehe reiterated that the CECPC never approved the list and in fact has no record of such list. He, therefore, informed that party members and the media should ignore the falsehood being spread by sacked Senator Akpanudoedehe.

According to him, the approved final list was the outcome of extensive consultations with all the stakeholders and follow up at ensuring a decent list that is representative and inclusive is put together and the same has since been issued.

“The laughable action of sacked Senator Akpanudoedehe is therefore considered an affront on the committee which was duly constituted in line with provisions of the party’s constitution and NEC of the party.

“Seeing the unpopular actions of Senator Akpanudoedehe it is now obvious that he might be surreptitiously working to derail the party, cause internal friction capable of causing the further crisis, but the committee against all his antics is determined to forge ahead and ensure the national convention holds as scheduled and approved devoid of any untoward actions”, Ahmed stated.

1. Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo hereby apologizes to all Anambra people, friends and guests who attended his inauguration this morning as the Anambra State governor for the breach of protocol. The breach was caused by improper communication which itself arose from a personal issue between the two parties involved in the breach.

2. Steps are being taken to resolve the misunderstanding and restore the parties to their previous relationship. Anambra State has over the years been known for a huge stock of social harmony, and the stock will increase substantially in the years ahead as part of the concerted effort to accelerate the state's development.

3. God bless Anambra State, the Light of the Nation.

Signed

Joe C. Anatune
Head, Soludo Media Media.

*Purported APC NEC Meeting Canceled*

As directed by the National Chairman of the APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning (CECPC) and Governor of Yobe State, H.E. Mai Mala Buni, a purported emergency meeting of the  Party's National Executive Committee (NEC) slated for Thursday, March 16, 2022 is hereby cancelled.

SIGNED:
*Sen. John James Akpanudoedehe Ph.D*
National Secretary
APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC)
16th March, 2022

Ahead of 2023 Presidential election, the National leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has asked the Senate Caucus of the party to support his lifetime ambition to be the President of Nigeria.

Speaking on Wednesday when he met with the APC Senate Caucus at the New Senate wing, the former Governor of Lagos State said that having served as a state Chief Executive Officer and as a Senator, he has the experience and capacity to be the President of the Country.

Asiwaju Tinubu who promised that he will not step on the toes of President Muhammadu Buhari, but to step into his shoes as the President of Nigeria.

The APC National Leader was received by the APC Senators as led by the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan in room 301.

Tinubu who hailed the National Assembly for sustaining the nation’s democracy, said that the interest of women is necessary, adding that APC is doing its best to include the interest of women.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, yesterday, disclosed that he refused to make former Lagos State Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu his running mate in 2007 because of his preference for the South East.

At a meeting with members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja, Atiku made it clear that when he defected to Tinubu’s then Action Congress (AC) in 2006, he was given some conditions before he got the presidential ticket for the 2007 election. According to him, the topmost was to pick Tinubu as running mate.

Atiku said he rejected the request and picked Senator Ben Obi from Anambra State because of his belief in the South East.

In his words, “When I joined the Action Congress (AC), which my friend, Bola, set up, he gave me a set of conditions for giving me the ticket. He said that I should make him vice president. I said no, I am not going to make you vice president; instead I took Ben Obi.”

“When I got the ticket again to run under the PDP, I took another Obi (Peter Obi) coincidentally. So, there is absolutely no reason why they should say that there is a deliberate attempt to exclude the South East in political participation or power sharing.”

The consumer price index, which measures the rate of increase in the price of goods and services, rose to 15.70 percent year-on-year in February 2022.

With the development, it means that the headline inflation rate slowed down in February when compared to the same month in the previous year.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said this in its Consumer Price Index (CPI) report for February 2022 released on Tuesday.

The rate is 1.63 percent points lower compared to the rate recorded in February 2021 (17.33) percent.

Dear esteemed customer, we regret to inform you of a total system collapse on the national grid at 10:40 am today, leading to outages across our network. We are closely monitoring the situation with our TCN partners to determine the cause and a timeline for resolution.

We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience as we will keep you updated on the situation.

Thank you for your understanding.
#PowerUpdate #EkoElectricity #EmpoweringQualityOfLives

NOTICE OF GENERAL SYSTEM COLLAPSE

The Enugu Electricity Distribution PLC (EEDC) wishes to inform her esteemed customers in the South East of a general system collapse which occurred this morning, Monday, 14th March, 2022 at 10:40 am.

This is the reason for the loss of supply currently being experienced across the network.

Consequently, all our outgoing feeders are out and supply to our customers in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo States are affected by this development.

We are on standby and awaiting signal from the National Control Centre (NCC) for restoration of supply.

Signed:

Emeka Ezeh
Head, Corporate Communications, EEDC

PUBLIC NOTICE

Dear Esteemed Customer,
We experienced general outage across AEDC network around 10:40am today due to a system collapse which occurred on the national grid. Appropriate measures are now being taken to restore normal supply as quickly as possible.

We sincerely Apologise for the inconvenience.

AEDC

COLLAPSE OF NATIONAL GRID

We regret to inform you that the power outage being experienced in our franchise States is due to System collapse of the national grid which occurred around 10:40am.

Power supply shall be restored as soon as the National grid is powered back.

Our sincere apologies for any inconvenience.

Signed

Abdul-Azeez Abdullahi
Head, Corporate Communication (Kaduna Electric)
14/03/2022