₦airaland Forum

Karlovich:
evil ewedu sipping skull miner, afonja and charms are like bread and butter

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE


A young lady, Bisola Awoniyi has not come to terms with what happened to her after she reportedly ate ‘suya’ meat bought for her by a couple, Daniel Egbeyinka and his wife, Omolara and thereafter transferred N275,000 in her mother’s bank account to the couple.

The incident happened at Church Street in Onipanu area of Mushin in Lagos where they reside and attended the same church.

The couple has been arrested and charged before a Lagos court for the alleged conspiracy and fraud and remanded in prison custody.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that the lady met the couple at their church, they became friends and even attended choir practices together as members of the church.

However, she did not know that the couple had another motive for coming closer to her.

It was gathered that on the day the incident happened, the couple visited the victim at her parents’ house and brought the ‘suya’ meat which they gave her to eat.

According to her, after eating the ‘suya’, she noticed that she was no longer herself and they then ordered her to transfer all the money her mother had in her bank account and she did.

The scam became open when her mother received alert on her phone and discovered that all the money in her account had been withdrawn and she then raised alarm.

It was then the victim realised herself, told the mother what happened when she was not around and how the couple brought ‘suya’ she ate.

Daniel and his wife were eventually traced and asked to refund the money but they refused and said it was a gift from the victim.

The matter was reported to the police and the suspects were arrested and charged to court for stealing under the criminal code.
They pleaded not guilty.

The presiding Magistrate, Mr G.O. Ogunkanmi granted them bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.

They were remanded in prison custody pending when they will perfect their bail condition.

The matter was adjourned till 8th of September, 2017.

Posted by DOMINIC ADEWOLE


The arrest of some police gangsters in Delta State on June 21, 2017, has left unsuspecting members of the public wondering about the kind of friendship the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has established with them.

This was what the ringleader of the suspected criminally-minded police officers that were recently arrested in the state, had to say when they were caught.

“Since I was dismissed from the Nigeria Police Force some years back, life became worse for me. My family and I found it difficult feeding. I cannot pay my siblings school fees. That was how the hard way became the only way for me. My heart was troubled. So, I thought of hijacking a petroleum truck that will fetch me good money to meet my needs. I sold the idea to my friends, who are in service and they bought into it. That was how it all started.”

This was the shocking confession of one Kingsley Ochei, a 37-year-old dismissed policeman, who hails from Ekuoma Community in Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State.

He was the ringleader of a five-man gang of serving policemen, namely, Sergeants Nwankem Ebonzim ( F/No. 413318), 37, Prince Innocent Obaseki (F/No. 441254), 45, of No. 79, Okpe Quarters, Abavo, in Ika; Micheal Chima attached to 31 PMF, Ogwashi-Uku in Aniocha South council area of Delta State,(F/No. 375631) Sergeant Christopher Onyegho attached to Special Protection Unit, Base 5 Benin City, Edo, State and one Ndubuisi Okolie, 29, also from Ekuoma, who hijacked a truck, with registration no. DELTA 960, loaded with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), from one Ifeanyi Okeke, a 35-year-old man, of Umuosime Village, Nkpor, Anambra State.

The truck was heading to Onitsha in Anambra State with the consignment, which he lifted from Oghara, Ethiope West Council Area of the state.

Kingsley’s shocking revelation did not only indict men of the Force on the burning issue of bribery and corruption, it confirmed the speculation of suspecting members of the public about how policemen were collaborating with robbers and leasing out their riffles to them for criminal operations.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Zanna M. Ibrahim, who expressed displeasure that his men ran down the avowed ‘Quick Response’ and ‘combat readiness’ of the command when he paraded them at the command headquarters in Asaba, lamented that the ‘police’ bandits ambushed the victim at Alifikede, around Agbor, the boundary between Edo and Delta states, in Ika axis of the Big Heart State, having pretended to be men of Anti-Vandal Team.

“They hijacked the truck, handcuffed the victim and his conductor, pushed and abandoned them in the bush and took the truck with the product to Abavo community in Ika South L.G.A of Delta State, sold the product to one Prince Innocent Obaseki, the fourth suspect and later abandoned the hijacked truck along Ute-Okpu road in Ika North East L.G.A of Delta State.

“Fortunately, the telephone handset of the kingpin of the gang named Kingsley Ochei, a dismissed Police Officer was recovered at the scene. SARS men immediately swung into action and arrested Ochei. He confessed and mentioned other five suspects listed above and subsequently they were equally arrested”, the CP said.

South South Focus investigations revealed that the dastardly act of Ocheu and his cohorts had since it was committed on June 21, 2017, aggravated the fears in indigenes and residents of the state, especially those that have been robbed in similar circumstances on that route, about the criminal tendencies in some of those that have been recruited into the Force.
On interrogation, the gang leader confessed that he was thrown out of the Force after he committed some undisclosed acts of indiscipline.

“Life has not been the same for me” he stressed. Continuing he said that, “the whole thing became worse for me. All my colleagues that I relied upon to be of help and assistance to start up a business failed me. Since I have nothing to fall back upon because every eye was on me as a dismissed policeman, and I have a family to take care of. Many thoughts started crossing my mind.

“When things are terribly rough at times, I will call on some of my colleagues when I was in service, if they are on patrol, I will hang on with them. If anything comes out, they will share little for me to keep life going.”

While the CP assured the public that the serving policemen will be internally disciplined, dismissed and subsequently prosecuted, Kingsley maintained that it was frustration that led him to the crime.

Hear him again, “As I said before, frustration of life forced me into this crime. Devil tempted and lured me into armed robbery. I beg for forgiveness.”

He swore that his gang had not laid hand on any of their victims since they formed their gang, saying, “We don’t kill. We have not killed anybody. We only hijack trucks loaded with petroleum products.”

He said he has always had smooth operations because of the ‘gallantry’ performance of his gang members.
“With the presence of my serving colleagues, we usually find our way to any petrol station where a friend is and we sell the products and share the money”, Kingsley confessed.

The kingpin, who vowed not to lie but say the truth because the game was up, further confessed that they had successfully hijacked many trucks and sold their products at the rate of N1.8 million, N2 million and N3 million respectively, depending on their quantity. “We share the money among ourselves, and with my share, I am able to fend for my family.”

However, the alleged receiver of the stolen products, who runs a petrol station at Abavo, claimed to be a benefactor to the dismissed policeman. “Yes, he is my friend. He normally visited my station and from time to time, I dash him money because of his pitiable condition. In most cases, I dash him from N5,000 or N10,000 and above.

“On a particular day, he told me in confidence that he has some products given to him, and because he is a close friend, without asking about the source, I bought it from him. He has sold products to me for about three times without any problems until this last one that led to our arrest.”

Although, journalists were prevented from interrogating the serving officers for the reason that they were already facing what the CP described as “Departmental Trial”, he (CP) assured the public that the suspects would not escape disciplinary action before they are dismissed and prosecuted.

The CP lamented that the suspects handcuffed the driver and the conductor, pushed them out of the truck along the thick bush of the Benin-Agbor-Asaba Expressway.

The CP said after selling off the product to their buyer at Abavo, they abandoned the truck along the Ute-Okpu road.

“But nemesis caught up with the kingpin of the gang. His GSM phone was recovered at the scene of the crime. Immediately operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) swung into action and arrested the dismissed officer, whom upon interrogation, confessed to the crime and revealed the other five gang members, including the serving policemen.”

By MIke Mswati


* She had visited the male student’s hostel for a bedroom marathon

* Her moans attracted a crowd of onlookers

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Boys will, indeed, always be boys! The pictured lady had to endure the indignity of riotously being cheered and praised by a crowd of rowdy college mates as she made a ‘walk of shame’ from a male students’ hostel where she had allegedly gone for an afternoon romp.

It is reported that the poor lady had visited a campus stud who subjected her to a ‘bedroom marathon’ that saw her enjoy and moan so loudly that she attracted the attention of male students in neighbouring rooms.

Some of the students applauded her for what they called ‘great service delivery’ and urged her to be visiting more often. To them, she was a great source of entertainment, or so they thought.

While the ‘amorous congress’ went on, the young men gathered one by one outside the room where the noises were emanating from. All of sudden, a huge crowd had formed, bringing business at the establishment to a halt.

Curious about who the lady was, they waited in awe for her to emerge and burst into cheers and taunts immediately she stepped out of the room.

The lady was escorted out of the hostel by a cheering crowd, as some took photos and recorded videos of her ‘walk of shame’.

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By CHIOMA IGBOKWE

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“It is my destiny to become a kidnapper, stop asking me why I did it. It is true that my parents are rich cattle rearers, I have no excuse except that it is the wish of Allah,” retorted Abduraham Ahmed, a Fulani herdsman who was obviously irritated by the repeated query as to why he decided to abandon cattle rearing for a career in abduction.

He is among several kidnap suspects recently arrested by operatives of the Special Tactical Squad (STS) deployed by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to check the wave of kidnap and robbery attacks along the corridors of Kaduna, Kano, Kogi and Niger states’ highways in the past months. His other accomplices netted by the team, headed by an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Yusuf Kolo, are Mohammed Mujumu, Umar Garba, Jabbi Mohammed, Suleiman Mohammed, Ali Bello, Habu Mamoni and Jubril Musa.

The arrest of members of the gangs, who had unleashed terror on hapless residents and travellers in these areas showed that most of the deadly attacks were carried out by erstwhile herders, many of whom, investigations also revealed, acquired arms and abandoned their pastoral trade for the more lucrative business of grabbing humans for ransom.


Arming for new role

Saturday Sun learnt that the suspects sold off their cattle and used the money to buy AK47 rifles and then formed themselves into kidnap rings. Their modus operandi, a police source in Abuja privy to their arrest said was to pick their victims from the major highways and move them into their hideouts deep in the thick forest.

When not engaged in criminal activities, the guns come handy in communual clashes between the herders and the local population, which, they pillaged.

Months ago, there was a clash between the herders and another tribe in Daura forest in Niger State. During the unrest, the herdsmen who were heavily armed destroyed the community. A joint task force deployed to quell the crisis was ambushed by the armed herders who succeeded in killing a mobile policeman and a National Security and Civil Defence Corps operative.

They slaughtered them and made away with their rifle, which was among those recovered in the recent raid.

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The operation has curbed the wave of attacks in these axis, especially Lokoja where the kidnap menace has reduced drastically due to regular patrols of the black spots by the special task force. “So many of them (suspects) are now in our custody while some have been charged to court,” a police source told Saturday Sun .
It was learnt that one of them, Ahmed had been arrested in the past and charged to court, but went back to crime when released on bail.

The suspect was re-arrested in Niger State with some of his gang members and found with one AK47, seven live ammunitions, one locally made pistol and two cartridges.

According to the police, Mujuma was picked up with seven other members of his gang, while Bello and Mamoni were arrested while trying to collect ransom from their latest victim. Bello was found with one AK49 rifle, and an AK47 rifle that belongs to the operative of the NSCDC. Also recovered from Bello and his gang were 50 cows and three AK47 rifles.

Yet another suspect, Musa an indigene of Niger State was tracked down and arrested after his gang’s latest raid in which their victim was killed.

Hideouts, a no-go area for security agents
Security agents said one of their major challenges was their inability to penetrate and comb the forest where these killer herdsmen had turned into their hideouts.

Among these are the Samnala forest in Kaduna, Daura forest in Niger and Toto or Falgore forest hedged between Jos and Bauchi, as well as Sambisa forest. Similar thick forests exist in Nasarawa and Kano, the sources said.

“It is too massive and occupied by mostly Fulani herdsmen. They know the terrain and thus, it will be suicidal, just walking into the forest to search for the hideouts. We are concentrating on preventing them from leaving the forest to come and pick innocent victims,” a top police officer told Saturday Sun , noting that the strategy seemed to have paid off. “We succeeded in Lokoja; we have driven most of them out of Kaduna. Now they are in Niger and with our success story, they will all be arrested.

Kaduna is a no -go area for kidnappers at the moment. The IGP has deployed different task force including STS and Intelligence Response Team (IRT) to that zone,” the source added.


Inside their enclave

Ahmed and some of his gang members in exclusive chats with
Saturday Sun , opened up on their journey into the world of crime and their escapades.

Looking calm, but defiant, the gang leader told Saturday Sun that he was not bothered by his arrest. “It is my destiny that is why I found myself in crime. My parents can be said to be very rich, because they have more than 100 cows and my wife and children lack nothing. I do not have access to physical cash, but I don’t lack anything. So it’s only Allah that can say why I am a kidnapper,” he said.

He disclosed that his gang initially operated on Kaduna -Abuja highway, but moved to and concentrated on Niger State, when other groups relocated to that zone to operate. Ahmed said: “We do not have informants; we just pray everyday for a successful raid and move out. We either throw sharp instruments on the road, so that the vehicles’ tyres would burst or use cars to block the highway. As soon as we picked our victim, we would take them deep into the forest and keep moving them till they pay the ransom.”

He said security operatives are finding it difficult to end kidnapping in that zone (Kaduna-Abuja), because the bush where they (kidnappers) normally camped was huge and full of heavily armed herdsmen.

“The truth is that you will find it difficult to know who a kidnapper is amid those herdsmen. Everyone is armed with AK47 for security reasons. It is not about kidnapping, but protecting our cows from rustlers. That huge forest is not under the control of any security agency, we are not protected by anyone, so we formed our own security outfit. It is a case of the survival of the fittest, every son in the family is trained to handle AK47 and if there is an invasion we will protect our own. In that bush there are clashes among herdsmen and cattle rustlers that no one knows about and which people die.

“It was when everybody became armed and ready for any attack that the bad ones among us decided to come out of the bush and start kidnapping. They succeeded and pride themselves about their success. They were spending money recklessly and bought cows to expand their flock.

“In the forest, you are respected by the number of cows you own. As expected the youth got attracted to that lifestyle and gradually joined them. Every family has weapons to protect themselves, so where to get AK47 is not an issue.

“Since the bush is filled with armed men, security agencies are afraid to venture into the bush. Any security agent who dares to come into the forest will try to take your guns from you and leave you unprotected.

This is why our elders who, though are not in support of what the younger ones are doing, prefer to remain silent and resist any attempt to invade the forest.”

Ahmed said that the forest had become too hot (due to increase in criminal activities) and elders were warning the youths to stop kidnapping. “The elders are not happy that government had noticed what was going on. They are afraid that government will throw bomb in that area if those involved in kidnapping do not stop. They have formed vigilance groups among us to checkmate the activities of kidnappers. This is why some of us relocated back to Niger State.”

The kidnap kingpin said his parents encouraged him to leave the forest in Kaduna and join his brothers to guard the family’s cattle in Niger, but regretted: “Unfortunately, it appears that my destiny is to become a criminal, that’s why I met bad people again. It was during one of the kidnap incidents that we collected N5million that police traced and arrested me.”

Ahmed said that he invested proceeds from the crime in buying more cows and improving the lifestyle of his family. “We are not encouraged to have bank accounts because it is seen as a waste of money. It is better to invest in cows which will be sold and in the process double your money.
I bought some cows, improved the living condition of my wife and children. I can’t extend it to my parents, because my father is an honest farmer and does not encourage evil. If I give him money, he will know the source. I was preparing to marry another wife after this failed operation,” he disclosed.

When he was arrested by the police and charged to court earlier in Kaduna, Ahmed had managed to escape from the law, as some of his gang members, who were already free helped to hire a lawyer who arranged bail for him, which he jumped and later ran to Niger State to continue his nefarious activities.


Fated to be kidnappers

That taking to crime was a decree of fate for them is a refrain that ran through the tales of the suspects. Mohammed Mojuma, an illiterate from Sabon Daji in Niger State said that like every child in his clan, he was expected to be a herdsman, but inevitably found himself in the circle of criminals. His words: “My parents are successful cattle rearers and I was made to join them as it’s the only trade in our tribe. I was determined to graduate and own my own cows. But, I mistakenly found myself amid criminals. I was among those contacted to work as vigilantes to reduce kidnapping.

Unfortunately, the leader of our group encouraged me to participate once in a while. It was while we were trying to pick the ransom that police arrested us. It is the wish of Allah that I will end up this way and I do not question it,” Mojuma said.

He said he took part in the operation to raise money to celebrate the last Ramadan festival, adding that: “Secondly, the vigilante work was not paying much. What they normally do is that if there is crisis, they will give us N1,000 each to risk our lives. I was only comfortable with it because they gave me access to guns which I sometimes use for kidnapping.”

Another suspect, Mohammed, caught with two AK47 rifles charged at Saturday Sun reporter: “Madam, stop asking me where I got the AK47, it is sold in the market. What my brothers told you is the truth, everyone has a gun and it’s strictly for protection. It is important to buy a gun first before buying cows. If you choose to use it for another purpose, that is your own business.
We are afraid of a lot of things. Among us (herdsmen) there are criminals who want to snatch your cow or steal from you. We don’t have police in the forest; if you like call them, no one will come to your rescue.

“As for kidnapping, I was broke and decided to join them. Unfortunately, I did not consult the Islamic cleric for prayers. If I did, he would have warned me to stay away. There are so many of us who are into it and police has never arrested them. I am so unlucky, as for the gun, no one should accuse me because it is necessary for security reason.”


The challenge

The challenge to security agents now appears to be how to locate and curb the access of these violent and criminally minded herders to the arms market, as well as mop up the ones already with those freely compounding the security problem in various parts of the country.

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Oladeinde Olawoyin


Indications emerged on Friday that two construction companies handling rehabilitation and expansion works on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Reynolds Construction Company and Julius Berger, threatened to abandon work on the road.

According to details of memorandum and annexes presented by the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, at the hearing organised by the House of Representatives’ Investigative Committee on Breach of Privilege, Violation of Appropriation Act and Incitement of the Nigerian Public on Friday, the companies threatened to abandon the project due to poor funding.

Mr. Fashola had been invited by the committee to, among other concerns, clarify statements credited to him alleging that the lawmakers had worrisome knowledge of the budget process.

Earlier in June, the minister had accused the National Assembly of slashing N21 billion off the N31 billion vote for the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway.

“We were asked to complete those abandoned projects; the budget of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway was reduced by the National Assembly from N31 billion to N10 billion. We are owing the contractors about N15 billion and they have written to us that they are going to shut down,” Mr. Fashola had said.

But details contained in some of the documents presented by the minister, Friday, showed that the two construction companies handling the rehabilitation of the road had indeed threatened to suspend works on the road.

According to a letter signed by the division manager of Julius Berger, W Loesser, which was received by the ministry of power, works and housing on June 5, the company expressed concerns over the state of funding of the road project.

“Honourable Minister, it has become evident that the required adequate funding for the continuation of the project is not available,” the letter read in part.

“We trust you will understand that therefore and as a consequence of the unacceptable financial risk to Julius Berger Nig. PLC we are left with no choice than to immediately commence suspension of the works on the project, as earlier notified.”

Similarly, Reynolds construction said it was worried about the worsening financial situation of the road project.

“At the moment, the outstanding debts for approved certificates for certified works stands at N7, 829, 277, 294,” the company said in a letter dated June 2.

“It is noted that the 28-day window allowed for payment of the certificates by Clause 60.4 of the conditions of Contracts (“CC”) had long expired. In addition, there is another certificate (No. 19) of N1,108,334,258 under processing.

“Thus, making a total of N8, 937,611, 552. The mounting debt profile on this project is worrisome,” it lamented.

Both Julius Berger and Reynolds are handling the first and second sections of the road, respectively.

With the budget already signed into law, a supplementary budget or virement of funds which has legislative approval would be required to adequately fund the road project.

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Toks2008:
I would rather die poor rather than scam anyone in any manner.

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE



A pregnant woman, Mrs Chioma Nologu has been battered and stripped by her neighbour, Eloyahu Edozie for allegedly sprinkling some substance procured from her spiritual father over witchcraft attack allegedly planned to harm her by his co-tenants.

The neighbour, Edozie has since been arrested and charged before a Lagos court for assault and remanded in prison custody.

The incident happened at Salimon Ayinda Street, off Governor’s Road in Ikotun area where both the suspect and victim reside in Lagos.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that the embattled woman went to a church where she was told that her co-tenants wanted to harm her through her pregnancy and the cleric prepared some substance and gave her to sprinkle around their compound that had about 10 tenants.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that she was directed to sprinkle the substance for 21 days before she will enter labour room to deliver her baby otherwise that she might die in the process.

However, when she carried out the directives of her pastor for two days successfully, she encountered problem on the third day.

It was gathered that Edozie’s wife had a bad dream concerning their two children and informed her husband which they suspected might be as a result of the ritual by the victim.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that on the third day when she woke up in the morning to continue the sprinkling of the substance, Edozie confronted her, collected it from her, mixed it in the plastic with water and threw it away.

He also attacked, battered her, tore her clothes and she was naked before their neighbours intervened and she ran into her house.

The assault was reported to the police and Edozie was arrested and charged before Isolo Magistrates court for the alleged assault under the Criminal Code.
He pleaded guilty.

The presiding Magistrate, Mrs A.O Adedayo granted him bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.

He was remanded in prison custody pending when he will perfect his bail condition.

The matter was adjourned till 22nd of August 2017.

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Two women are in hospital with broken bones after a party with a man went wrong.

The first woman suffered broken bones in her feet and legs after she toppled 10 feet from a balcony as she reached orgasm.

Her naked friend screamed and ran down the stairs to help her, slipped, and broke bones in her own arm and neck .

Medics arrived at the apartment where the embarrassed man explained what had occurred.

Police said the female victims of the sex- game - gone- wrong were both naked.

The man in the party told policemen that, “ During the lovemaking, there was a positional quarrel , with one of the ladies leaning against a balcony railing, which led to her plunge. ”

Police added that it was an accident and that no charges will be pressed.

“ The names and ages of the victims will not be released, to spare them from embarrassment, ” police said.

The incident happened in the little town of Bad Breisig, Germany.

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Abdulwahab Isa and Kunle Azeez


Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, disclosed this while providing fresh insight into the telco’s operations at the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting in Abuja yesterday. According to Emefiele, the advisers have also been appointed to chart a way for new investors for the troubled telecom firm. Already, the CBN governor said potential investors had shown interest and that expression of interests would be opened with advisers advertising the bidding process to the business community.

“The company’s Advisers have been appointed to provide a process for major investors to intervene in the company and take it over. Potential investors have shown interest, so what would happen is that, these interests would be made opened; the advisers would advertise for RSP, everybody can conduct their due diligence after that.

The best will win. Therefore, we are not moved at all for the change,” he said. He also explained that the intervention by the apex bank and the telecoms regulator was done to avert possible job losses as well as protecting the interest of stakeholders.

It would be recalled that the company changed its name from Etisalat to 9Mobile after its foreign partners pulled out. 9Mobile has been facing some financial crises since Mubadala Development Company of United Arab Emirates, the company’s largest shareholder, pulled out its investment from the country.

Mubadala, an Abu Dhabi Government-owned investment and development company, controls about 70 per cent of the shares in Etisalat along with Etisalat UAE mobile, with Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services (EMTS), promoted by Hakeem Bello- Osagie, owning the remaining 30 per cent. Although reports from NCC revealed that Etisalat had been attracting more subscribers porting from other networks to its network, it has, however, lost over 3.5 million subscribers.

However, Emefiele said in spite of its seeming challenge at the moment, 9Mobile recorded N16 billion revenue in June this year.

“The issue is that, whereas the regulators, the NCC and the CBN, in this case, businesses and companies that operate in the telecoms market, should operate profitably, but we also expected that whatever decision they take should not be such that would affect other stakeholders in that industry.

“We all know that Etisalat is one of the four biggest telecommunication firms in Nigeria, with a subscriber base of over 20 million; and of course, we also know that the revenue base of the company is also very robust.

“It is important that we should not just allow any creditor who feels disadvantaged, to take a decision that hurts other important stakeholders that operate within Etisalat.

“That was what the NCC and the CBN observed that the activities and the attempt by some creditors were going to leave a dismemberment of that company and we could not allow the millions of subscribers to be running helter-skelter without services, and that we could not allow 4,000 or more employees of this company to just run in disarray because something wrong has happened,” he added. Emefiele explained the reason why NCC, supported by the CBN, decided to intervene.

“We only came in to say, ‘please gentlemen, we understand all your interests in this company either you are a creditor or stakeholder, let’s take things easily so that we do not hurt the interest of others who also have interest in this company,” said Emefiele while justifying the intervention.

According to him, “the intervention has been positive, and Etisalat has retained its subscriber base. Its 4,000 staff have continued their work and, indeed, the revenue for the month of June has remained stable at not less than N16 billion.

“A lot of people, who were watching from the sideline thought that Etisalat’s revenue was going to drop drastically and that there was going to be slide to subscriber base, but that was not the case.

“The intervention through the institutionalisations of an interim board, headed by the regulators, I must say here is temporary and our plan is that it should not take more than maximum 90 to 180 days.”

Also, Mr. Adebayo Shittu, the Minister of Communications, yesterday said the Federal Government stepped in to the crisis to save Nigerian employees as well as subscribers. Shittu, in a statement issued by Mr. Henshaw Ogubike, the Deputy Director, Press in the ministry, said the Federal Government would not fold its hand and allow the company to die, in view of its economic importance to the nation.

According to him, about 20 million Nigerians subscribe to the network, many are employed by it, Nigerian banks are stakeholders, hence the government’s quick intervention to rescue the company from creditors determined to take over the company.

The minister assured the management that the Federal Government would always support the telecommunication sector by providing an enabling environment for the industry to thrive. Earlier, Mr. Boye Olusanya, leader of 9Mobile management team, commended the minister for the role he had played to ensure that the company did not fold up.

Boye requested the minister to also intervene in the areas of multiple taxation, foreign exchange, Right of Way (RoW) and security of infrastructure that would ease operations in the sector.

According to NCC, 9Mobile subscribers have crashed from 22 million to 18.5 million as at the end of May this year.

Apparently realising the financial difficulty being faced by Etisalat (now 9Mobile), following its $1.2 billion loan crisis, advisors have been appointed for the mobile telecommunication firm to scout for major investors for the company.

The appointment of the advisers was made by the new board at the telco in collaborations with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Communications Commis-sion (NCC).

The regulators said the processes for new investors to take over the telecommunication firm are expected to be completed between 90 and 180 days. The investors will take over the troubled telecoms company for proper operation and financial turnaround. Governor of the Central

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The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Usani, said that the chief executive officers of the oil firms said in a meeting he attended that the report of a directive issued by Osinbajo to the oil firms was a rumour.

Okechukwu Nnodim, Abuja


The Federal Government on Tuesday announced that two communities in Kaduna State recently recorded two straight years of uninterrupted supply of electricity.

It said the Gnami and Pakau communities enjoyed uninterrupted power from the 90- kilowatt Solar PV off - grid system installed in the areas, as the villages were far from the reach of the national power grid.

The Permanent Secretary in the power arm of the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Louis Edozien, said the feat was achieved through the renewable energy project of the ministry, which provides access to electricity for rural dwellers, using solar powered systems.

Edozien, who was represented by the ministry's acting Director , Renewable Energy, Farauk Yabo, disclosed this when delegates from the Economic Community of West African States visited the two communities to mark the end of the regional training workshop on improvement of policy and regulatory framework for clean energy mini - grids.

The permanent secretary said the project was in line with the administration's drive to provide electricity to rural communities that might not in the distant future have access to power supply because of their distance from the national grid.

In a statement from the ministry, Edozien explained that the 40KW solar PV mini -grid at Gnami village consisted of power generation and distribution systems, house installation systems, and street lights and metering systems, adding that it was currently supplying uninterrupted electricity to 100 households.

He stated that the 50KW solar PV renewable energy micro utility at the Pakau community was providing power to about 300 households.

According to Edozien, the REMU facility operates on a mobile electronic payment system with provision for at least 10 business and commercial customers .

Speaking on behalf of the communities, the village head of Gnami, Mr. Ibrahim Yerima , according to the statement, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government and assured the delegates that the facilities would be well protected and put into proper use.

In another development, the Transmission Company of Nigeria announced that it had restored electricity supply to Birinin Gwari and Yauri in Kaduna and Kebbi states, respectively.

It said power supply was restored in the areas at about 5 :10pm on Monday, 11 days after the collapse of tower number 183.

In a statement signed by the General Manager, Public Affairs , Seun Olagunju , the TCN said that its 132 kV transmission tower 183, between Tegina and Kontagora in Niger State, collapsed at about 7am on July 13, due to severe flash flood caused by heavy rainfall, which eroded the base of the tower.

It also stated that power supply to the Kontagora sub - station would be restored as soon as the repair on the station ’ s circuit breaker was completed.

The TCN stated that it had inaugurated a new 40MVA transformer at its 132/33kV transmission sub - station at Mayo - Belwa as part of efforts to improve power supply.

By Levinus Nwabughiogu


ABUJA-Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday said that the only justification for the prefix “Excellency” attached to the names of elected government officials and other dignitaries was to build a virile society for the people.

He also stated that the occasion strife between different arms of government was unnecessary as nothing beneficial could emanate from it.

Speaking in Abuja while declaring open the 16th Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding Officers (Africa Region),(CSPOC), the Acting President called for energy between the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary.

He said that the cooperation was necessary for the good of any country and its people.

He said :”So while we speak of our legislative halls as hallowed chambers, our courts as temples of justice, and the executive villas as corridors of power, all suggestive of grand but isolated institutions. The reality for the majority of our peoples is the misery of the slums and the indignities of powerlessness.

“So, while we describe ourselves as Excellencies, distinguished and honorable the vast majority our people would in their most polite moments say that they see neither excellence nor much honour in their own lives.

“The leadership positions we occupy is a short lease that providence and the electorate have given us to shape the present and determine the future of millions and the generations that will be born to them, it would be foolish indeed to think that it is an occasion for self aggrandizement or the pursuit of selfish interests.

The responsibility that privilege and power place upon us is to do our utmost to change the current bleak narratives and projections for our nation and the world.

“It is therefore my submission that the burden that the privilege of leadership places upon us is that our tenured positions in the executive and legislature must not be wasted on conflicts and division. The problems are too grave, the lives and livelihoods of millions depend on our cooperation we cannot afford to fail.”

Citing example of an affinity between the legislature and tjr executive arms in Nigeria, Osinbajo said that the cooperation has brought about self-sufficiency in rice production amongst others.

“And we will be self-sufficient in rice production by the end of 2018. Again because we chose to work together the National Assembly at the request of the Executive appropriated N500 billion for the largest social investments programme in sub-Saharan Africa.

“The fund allows us to engage 500,000 young graduates in our N-Power scheme, to give cash transfers to a million of the poorest in our society and to extend micro-credit to a million market women, artisans, and small businesses.

“It enables us to begin a social housing fund in the sum of N1 trillion with government putting in N100 billion annually.

“The executive and the legislature in the worst days of insurgency also worked together to ensure that adequate provision was made for the military including prompt passing of virements when initially budgeted funds ran short.

“We decimated the Boko Haram as a fighting force, and ensured that they control no part of Nigerian territory,’’ Osinbajo said.

Similarly, the speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubo who is the chairperson of the Forum said that cooperation between the executive and legislature was imperative for the development of any country. He stated that Africa countries needed to build strong institutions to ensure good governance.

“Africa is in a hurry to develop, it is in a hurry to vanquish poverty, ignorance and disease. Our people have no patience for squabbles between various organs of government and it is the duty of the Presiding Officer to ensure that the Legislature supports the Executive for good governance to thrive while maintaining its relative independence.

“We have been told that Africa does not need strong men but strong institutions. Unfortunately, Africa has been home to strong men who paradoxically relished in building weak institutions to keep them stronger.

“Yet all of Africa’s problems be they corruption, socio-Political, economic, etc can only be solved by strong institutions. It is therefore the duty of Parliaments across Africa to free our people from the shackles of strong men by ensuring that strong institutions replace the later thereby ending this pervasive curse on the African continent once and for all.”

In his goodwill message, Saraki commended the founders of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association(CPA). He pledged the support of the national assembly in building a strong Africa.

He said: “It has been forty-eight years since CSPOC was formed. Without doubt, a lot of progress has been recorded in terms of advancing the frontiers of democracy and good governance in Africa and in the entire Commonwealth family.

This Conference should provide us opportunity for stock taking. Just how much political progress has been attained in Africa? How do we explore democracy as a potent tool to eliminate extremism and expand liberty and development?

Fortunately, the ideals which Speaker Lamoureux enunciated have been codified in our constitution. We therefore have a template for measuring democratic progress or lack of it, on the continent of Africa.

“Mr. President, Distinguished Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen. We recognize that there is wide spread public distrust of public institutions. We also recognize that there is a lot of public misconception and misperception about the functions and contributions of the legislature to development.

Indeed, very few in our society are aware of the numerous legislative interventions aimed at responding to national economic challenges, addressing poverty and rebuilding infrastructure. This has led to a high turnover of legislators after every electoral cycle.

Accordingly, it is our responsibility to step up public enlightenment on the relevance of our responsibilities and our contribution to nation building.

“As you are no doubt aware, the legislature is the only arm of government that conducts its business in the open. This perhaps accounts for the special interest that its activities have generated.

In Nigeria for example, purchase of a single car for a legislator is likely to generate so much heat in the media and the public arena whereas, a non-elected minister of government can move about with a convoy of cars and retinue of Aides without similar interest.

I however do not consider this as a disadvantage but a call to higher service and accountability. I am convinced that we shall not disappoint our citizens who have placed high expectations on us.

“Let me on behalf of the National Assembly of Nigeria; renew our unflinching commitment to our partnership and collaboration with the other arms of government. Let me also reiterate our evolving goal of taking lawmaking back to the people especially.

We are fostering this commitment with proactive engagements with civic groups, professional bodies, international development partners and various stakeholders with the sole aim to impact our people’s lives positively.

As we have articulated in both the Senate and House Legislative Agenda for the 8th National Assembly we are committed to accountability and transparency at all times.”

The conference held at ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja had its theme as “Presiding officers in a changing society”.

It is attended by presiding officers from different 11 African countries. The countries included Bostwana, Cameroon, Ghana, Lesotho, Namibia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. Others are South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

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CYRIACUS IZUEKWE


A father of three kids identified as Kola has reportedly committed suicide after he borrowed N60,000 to purchase a motorcycle but was unable to pay back the Micro Finance Bank he borrowed the money from.

The incident happened at Popoola Street, Abule Odu bus stop in Egbeda, Lagos where he resides with his family.

The deceased was said to have bought Hippo stain remover and drank after he failed to meet up with the time to pay the money he borrowed from LAPO Microfinance company.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered from residents that Kola’s business collapsed and he went to the Bank and asked for loan with conditions attached on how he will be paying the money back.

The conditions included that he will be paying certain amount of money until he finished paying.

It was learnt that Kola was unable to repay the debt as he entered into an agreement with the bank following pressures from the family.

He was said to incurring certain expenses, and at the end there will be no money to pay the bank and the interest was reportedly increasing on daily basis.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that while Kola was still not complying, the bank seized the motorcycle and he became jobless. It was gathered that the bank was still putting pressure on him to pay the balance and the interest accrued due to his default.

P.M.EXPRESS learnt that when the pressure became unbearable for Kola, he decided to take his life.

On the day the incident happened, it was gathered that the bank threatened to carry all his house property and hand him over to the Police.

It was then that Kola secretly bought Hippo stain remover, drank and died inside his room on top of his bed.

When his family who went to the church returned, they found him dead with the empty Hippo plastic container beside him.

When our correspondent visited the area, the residents confirmed the incident and expressed shock over what happened.

According to the residents, the matter was reported to the police while the corpse has been deposited in an undisclosed hospital from where it will be taken for burial after the necessary rituals.

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Acting President Yemi Osinbajo says it will be suicidal to threaten Senate President Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the house of representatives.

Osinbajo said this jocularly while speaking at the conference of speakers and presiding officers of the Commonwealth in Abuja on Tuesday.

Declaring the event open, the acting president said the media focus too much on the conflict between the executive and legislature.

He cited a newspaper report, which said he threatened the leaders of the national assembly, as an example of how the Nigeria media are fixated on the conflict between the two arms of government.

“On a lighter note, I don’t know the experiences of presiding officers from other nations present here on the relationship between the executive and the legislature by the press and the social media,” he said.

“Here in Nigeria, what makes news is conflict between the executive and the legislature. The more dramatic is it, the more newsworthy it becomes.

“If you follow things in the media, you’ll be confronted by the exclusive and breaking news stories, reporting several different issues of conflicts between the executive and the legislature.

“I’ll pick just one. There’s one of our popular newspapers that had the caption: ‘Acting President threatens leadership of the national assembly.’

“Now, if you see the combined sizes of the senate president and the right honourable speaker compared to mine, it’ll be a suicidal to threaten either of them let alone the two of them.”

A mother, Monsurat Ayinde , who allegedly recruited some thugs to beat her child's teachers in a secondary school, was on Monday charged before an Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Adeola Adelaja , however, released her on bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Ayinde, 40, whose address was not provided, is facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, assault and breach of peace.

She, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Prosecutor , Insp . Sunday Eigbejiale had told the court that the accused committed the offences on July 20 at 11:00 a.m. at Saje High School in Abeokuta.

According to him, the woman engaged some thugs, who stormed the school and beat up six teachers.

Ayinde, according to the prosecutor , took the retaliatory action because a teacher flogged her child, leaving her with bruises.

The accused hit a teacher, Mr Monsuru Kusimo, on his left eye and injured him , he said.

He said the accused conspired with others still at large and caused a breach of peace by the school by disrupting its activities.

The offences contravened Sections 249, 351, 355, and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ogun, 2006.

The magistrate adjourned the case until Aug . 22 for hearing.
(NAN )

From Kemi Yesufu, Abuja


Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Sani Jaji, has alleged that some powerful forces have been putting immense pressure on the House to influence the outcome of the investigation by the committee into the $43million loot discovered in a flat in Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos.

He said in a statement yesterday, that pressure and unsolicited advice were coming from different quarters all aimed at influencing the report of his committee.

He, however, vowed that the House would get to the root of the matter, adding that Nigerians deserved to know the truth.

He claimed: “There have been attempts on me as the chairman of the committee and members of the committee on what direction the investigation should take and the possible outcome of the report.

“There has been a lot of frustration but this has not in any way affected us because we remain committed to our cause.

“Though there is no monetary inducement but these pressures are in form of text messages and physical contacts about what we should do, what we should not do, that we should dwell on this and not on that.

“They say this or that agency has a reputation that should not be put on the line, so we should not go beyond certain extent but we tell them that our determination is to safeguard the name and integrity of our institutions.

“But we tell them it is not fair to castigate an entire agency for the wrongdoing of an agency and that is why we want to protect our institutions by getting to the roots of these infractions and expose the individuals responsible.

“In continuation of the mandate given the committee by the House, we just met with the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, in relation to the $43million discovered in an apartment in Ikoyi and the meeting was very fruitful.

“We have been meeting with relevant stakeholders concerned in this matter before now, having met with Magu, it is our resolve to pursue this matter to a logical conclusion because more revelations are coming out.

“It should be understandable that we cannot come out with some of these facts now since the investigation is not concluded yet. It is our mandate to find out the owner of that apartment and the ownership of the money, notwithstanding that the Nigerian Intelligence Agency (NIA) has laid claim to both.

“Notwithstanding the sensitivity of the assignment, the EFCC has been able to give us some important information in relation to the money.”

Jaji said the committee would meet with the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele and the suspended Director-General of the NIA this week.

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Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, on Friday condemned Nigerian public officials who send their children to schools abroad, saying it is wrong for government functionaries to educate their children outside Nigeria.

The governor’s comment appears to have been directed at President Muhammadu Buhari, Senate President Bukola Saraki and other top Nigerian officials, including fellow state governors, whose children recently graduated from or are in universities abroad.

Mr. Fayose urged the affected officials to emulate him, saying all his children are products of Nigerian universities,
Mr. Fayose, who was at Covenant University, Ota, in Ogun State, to witness the graduation ceremony of one of his sons, Ayorogbayimika Fayose, told journalists that there was no reason children of public office holders should study in universities outside Nigeria, except in cases where courses they are interested in are not offered in Nigerian
universities.

The governor’s Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, quoted Mr. Fayose as saying, “We talk and do. Whatever we say is what we practice. Apart from the fact that none of my children attended schools abroad, I have never travelled out of the country for Medicare.

“Even though the views of people like us might not be popular among the powers that be because we say the truth and act the truth, we won’t stop telling them what they do not like to hear and one of such is that the only way to improve the standard of education in the country is for children of holders of public office to experience what children of ordinary Nigerians are experiencing in schools in the country.

“During my first tenure as governor, I took my son from a private school and enrolled him in SUBEB Model Primary School in Ado Ekiti.

“Today again, I am here to witness the graduation of my son and I make bold to say here that none of my children attended tertiary institution outside Nigeria.

“That should be the spirit not a situation where someone is the minister of education in Nigeria and his children are schooling abroad. And by enforcing this too, we will be saving Nigeria a lot of foreign exchange being wasted on medical and academic tourism.”

While condemning what he described as the hypocrisy of some Nigerian leaders, especially those in the All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Fayose said; “Even children of President Muhammadu Buhari that they told us lived a modest life attended universities abroad.

Shouldn’t President Buhari have lived by example by enrolling his children in universities in Nigeria?”

While reiterating his commitment to the uplift of education in Ekiti State, Governor Fayose added, “We are after quality education and we want to maintain our position as leaders in the education sector.

We are first in NECO examinations and we are among the best in WAEC and the only industry in Ekiti State is education and we can’t afford to let it depreciate.”

The governor also called on parents, corporate bodies and others to support the government in the task of improving the standard of education in the state.

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By Seun Opejobi


Former Special Assistant to ex-President, Goodluck Jonathan on New Media,Reno Omokri, says charges accrued by the presidential jet parked in London airport can pay 2,000 Nigerian workers.

Omokri, who made the claim on his Facebook page also described as a joke, the statement credited to the presidency that retention of the presidential jet in London airport is for prestige.

The former Presidential aide wondered if British Prime Minister, Theresa May, who has no official jet lacks prestige.

According to Omokri, “As at today, the amount of charges our Presidential jet has accrued at London Stansted Airport could have paid 2,000 Nigerian workers going by the lowest parking rate charged by Stabsted.

“Why is the jet even there? This joke of a Presidency in their statement justified parking the Presidential jet at London’s Stansted by saying it was for ‘prestige’ reasons.

“British Prime Minister, Theresa May has no official jet. Maybe she has no ‘prestige’ even though Britain manufactures jets and Nigeria does not!”

The retention of the Presidential jet that conveyed Buhari to London on his second medical trip has been a source of controversy, as some Nigerians wondered why the jet has not returned to the country.

In an attempt to douse the controversy, Buhari’s spokesperson, Garba Shehu recently said the Presidential jet was retained in London due to “protocol, national security, diplomacy and prestige.”

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lollypeezle:
If you like pay dowry on the whole family, She gat no love for you again.

But how come you guys filed for DIVORCE when you're actually not MARRIED? KO YE MI

Gbenga Adeniji


https://punchng.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/05092045/Badoo-churches-neww.jpg

Suspected members of the Badoo cult early Friday morning killed two lovers in their apartment in Ogun State.

A source told our correspondent that the heads of the victims were smashed.

The incident happened at a storey building located on Hassan Abiodun Street, off Ojodu Berger, in Ifo Local Government Area of the state.

Many of the residents could not be consoled as policemen from Ojodu Abiodun Division took away the remains of the deceased for onward transfer to the General Hospital Sagamu.

Many of the residents wailed as the corpses were brought out of the room and wrapped in wrappers.

A resident told our correspondent that the victims were to be officially married in December.

“The lady recently lost her father and the man she was to marry only came on a visit.
She was a tall, beautiful lady and was also pregnant, ” the resident said.

It was gathered that their assailants tore the window net to gain entry and thereafter smashed the lovers’ heads.

Another resident said none of the tenants knew what happened until daybreak.

The resident said, “There is a police officer who lives next door to the deceased's Boy's Quarter. He did not hear anything. It is very sad and this development will create panic in the area. ”

Our correspondent observed that the police station is a stone's throw from where the murder took place even as residents said vigilantes patrol the street every night.

The police also arrested a man who tried to take a picture of their van and the vehicle the victims were put in.

As of 111 am the occupants of the building were still crying at the frontage.

The spokesperson for the police in Ogun, ASP Abimbola Oyeyemi, could not be reached for comments as his mobile indicated that it was switched off.