₦airaland Forum

Four suspected armed robbers have been arrested and charged before a Lagos court for allegedly attempting to strangle a victim over N60,000.

The suspects are Hamed Sanni, 33, Ifeanyi Sunday,32, Owolabi Kolawole, 29 and Muyideen Alimi 21.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at the hoodlums’ base at Five Star bus stop along Apapa-Oshodi Expressway in Lagos.

Our correspondent gathered that the victim, Adegunwa Taiwo was driving his SUV along the expressway when the vehicle developed mechanical faults.

It was gathered that as he parked and came down to check what was wrong with the vehicle, the suspects came out from their hiding places and pounced on him.

As they attacked and searched him, there was an attempt to take the money he had with him in his pocket but he struggled with them and they decided to strangle him.

However, before they could achieve their plot, a Police patrol team arrived and the robbers were arrested and detained at Aswani police division.

They were charged before Isolo Magistrates with attempted to strangle the victim and stealing under the Criminal Code.

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They pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Mr Oje Uagbale presented facts before the court and asked the court to sentenced him accordingly.

The presiding Magistrate, Mrs O.N. Ogbe ordered their remand in prison custody and adjourned for sentence.

Howmon:
I saw a post titled "[url href="https://www.nairaland.com/3834919/dr-ismaila-farouk-blasts-osinbajo"]Dr. Ismaila Farouk Blasts Osinbajo; Says He’s No Saint[/url]"

A quick search on the google search engine reveals that nobody by the name Ismaila Farouk exists outside the report.

For a Dr. (PhD Holder) he should have at least a journal article to His name, a search on google scholar also revealed zero results, I discovered that the man does not exists.

This brings to fore the question, why create a fictional character to tarnish someone's image?

I'm not making any assertions as to the writer of the said article but the fictitious name discredits the moral of the writer as a con artist with ulterior motives.

The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has disclosed that it has opened an investigation into an allegation that Senator Dino Melaye, who represents Kogi West constituency in the National Assembly, maintains a foreign bank account in violation of Nigerian law.

An anti-corruption organization, Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC), had in a recent petition urged the CCB to investigate Mr. Melaye for a number of alleged crimes, including the operation of a foreign bank account.

In a response addressed to CSNAC and obtained by SaharaReporters, the Code of Conduct Bureau thanked the activist group for its “initiative to forward the aforementioned petition for investigations.”

The CCB’s letter, which was signed on behalf of the bureau’s chairman by Awwal Usman Yakasai, a director, also disclosed, “the Bureau is currently investigating the allegations and awaiting response on correspondences with relevant authorities that may provide further and possible evidence on the allegations and enable further necessary action on the matter.”

Mr. Melaye, who has a reputation as one of Nigeria’s most scandal-dogged senators, is also facing growing public condemnation after SaharaReporters released an audiotape in which he is heard discussing a monetary gift and other favors with Justice Akoh Ikpeme, a female judge who presided over an electoral petition against the senator. A transcript of the taped conversation revealed that the judge asked Senator Melaye to provide any funds to her in US dollars.

In response to the tape, CSNAC also urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate Mr. Melaye for his alleged bribe to Justice Ikpeme in 2015. The judge ultimately dismissed the electoral challenge to Mr. Melaye’s election.

In a petition signed by its chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, CSNAC urged the EFCC to constitute a team of forensic experts and investigators charged with investigating the audiotape and possibly prosecuting the senator and Justice Ikpeme.

lalasticlala

UnknownT:
Yahya bello wouldn't know what hit him when the Igala will chase him out from that position with their majority votes. The money he would have used to pay workers he is using to sponsor protest against Dino. He forgets easily that Power of Incumbency doesn't save them again, pay and get the support of the workers you refuse

A Lagos based pastor, Lewa Timothy of First Born Of The Spirit Ministries, Lagos, has been arrested and will be arraigned at a Lagos state magistrate court for allegedly having sex and impregnating 14 year old Chineye, the daughter of one of his members.

In an interview with LIB, Barrister Kingsley Ughe who is the General Council of the Joint Action Legal Aids, an NGO following up the case, said Chineye is a student and an ardent worshipper of the church. She became very close to the pastor so much so that he entrusted her with his protocols in the church.

According to Ughe, the parents of the girl said the pastor would lavish the little girl with new clothes, shoes, expensive phones but they did not raise an eyebrow as they thought he was being charitable. Tongues started wagging about sex romps and unholy passion between the accused pastor and little Chineye. No one believed it until on Wednesday May 31st when Chineye suddenly complained of dizziness and pains in the abdomen while in class.

Then she started bleeding. She was rushed to a hospital where during examination, she confessed to the doctors that she was pregnant and had been given some colored pills by the pastor to swallow.

Her parents were contacted and they also contacted the pastor. The accused clergyman got angry and brought in the police. He arrested the victim, her parents and some other persons…14 people in all, for “threat to life”.

According to Ughe, his organization was contacted and they immediately began legal procedures. The police according to him had initially attempted to cover up for the accused pastor. It was after they came into the scene that the police released the arrested persons and in turn arrested the accused pastor who was transferred to the Lagos state CID, Panti, Yaba Lagos yesterday.

When interrogated, the Pastor said he only had sex with her once and that was two years ago when she was 12. He has denied having sex with her in recent times.

Meanwhile Chineye has been transferred to LASUTH Ikeja late night. Ughe said he spoke with one of the doctors that battled to stabilize her last night. He confirm she is in a stable but critical condition. The extent of damage to her womb is not known yet.

Meanwhile the accused pastor will be arraigned before a Magistrate court today June 2nd.

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General Overseer and founder of a church, Set Captive Free Ministry, Prophet Samuel Ndukwu has been arrested and charged before a Lagos court for allegedly obtaining N8 million from his church member, Uche Nwoke under the false pretense of delivering him from family curses.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that instead of a deliverance, things turned into calamity as Nwoke’s two children died the same day while Ndukwu disappeared.

He was said to have and ran to Port Harcourt, River State where he was eventually arrested and brought to Lagos.

Ndukwu was arraigned before Isolo Magistrates’ court where he is now facing charges of obtaining under false pretence, stealing and threat to life of the victim.
He has been remanded in prison custody.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that Ndukwu prophesied to Nwoke that there was a family curse that was hindering the progress of his family members and there was need for the family to carry out deliverance to upturn the hindrance.

He assured him that after the spiritual deliverance, all the things the family members lost in the past because of the curses will be regained and directed him to bring the money for the deliverance work.

It was gathered that Nwoke sold all he had and gave the money to Ndukwu who performed some purported spiritual deliverance rather situation turned worse leading to the death of Nwoke’s children.

Nwoke asked to know why things turned out like that instead of getting better, the Ndukwu said he did not know what happened.

He then requested the refund of his money but Ndukwu threatened to wipe out his family if he dare asked for the money again.

The matter was reported to the Police and Ndukwu fled before he was arrested and charged to court for the alleged offence.
He pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Mr Oje Uagbale did not object to his bail and asked court to give bail condition that will enable the defendant to come to court for trial since the defendant no longer live in Lagos State.

The presiding Magistrate, Mr O.N. Ogbe granted him bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Ndukwu was remanded in prison pending when he will perfect his bail condition.
The matter was adjourned till 26 June 2017.

When P.M.EXPRESS contacted Ndukwu, he said he hails form Oboro in Ifakala town in Mbaitolu Local government Area in Imo State.

He said he started his Ministry some years ago and have church branches in Port Harcourt in River State, Enugu and Nnewi in Enugu and Anambra States before he was arrested.

lalasticlala

The Credible Technical Intelligence, operatives of the Intelligence Response Team, IRT, deployed to Lagos by IGP Ibrahim K Idris has foiled multiple bank robberies in the state by a notorious militant group led by wanted criminal, ‘America.’

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America is believed to be the mastermind of the recent abduction of the Epe School children.

The IRT leader, ACP Abba Kyari in a message forwarded to DAILY POST, Friday morning said the five key members of the notorious militant group led by America had perfected plans for massive attack on five banks in Lagos before nemesis caught up with them.

ACP Kyari said they were arrested in Ikorodu and Ajah areas of Lagos.
The development is coming barely three days after his team nabbed three members of the notorious gang in Benin, the Edo State capital.

He gave the names of the suspects as: Abiodun Olaroye, 38, otherwise known as Gbeleju, a Native of Ode Kreme Village Ondo State, Ebipatgh Tuwei, 47, better known as Segun from of Arobo in Ondo State and Benjamin Powei Aka Ben, a native of Arogbo Ondo State.

The Police Intelligent Officer said Powei was also part of the gang responsible for the killing of four policemen, Army Captain and a couple in Ikorodu last month.

Others include, Samuel Chinedu, 30 also known as Hit Man Native Of Ika North Delta State, Ikechukwu Samuel innocent of Isiagwu Village of Abia State who is a security man in one of the targeted banks.

He said, “They were all arrested in Ikorodu and Ajah areas of Lagos after several days of unrelenting follow up by IRT.

“Four of the arrested suspects are militants who were sent by their gang leader, America to survey the banks and hire two operational buses that will be used to convey the militants to and fro the creek to the banks. The fifth suspect is a security man in one of the banks targeted to be robbed.”

He gave names of the banks marked for imminent robbery by the militants as FCMB Bank in Lekki as well as GTBank, Keystone and one other top commercial bank in Ajah area of Lagos.

“All the banks were chosen because of their proximity to the River banks according to the militants arrested.

“All suspects arrested confessed to the planned bank robberies and confirmed that they were sent by their boss in the creek America to survey the five banks in Ajah and Lekki together with the bank security man who brought the job to the militants”, he added.

ACP Kyari added that efforts were still high to bring the gang leader, America to his kneels.

Mrs. Ahmed advised youth to apply for the Federal Government’s National Social Investment Programme (N-SIP).

She told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday that the government would scale up the N-SIP to accommodate more beneficiaries.

N-SIP is a federal government programme aimed at reducing poverty and improving livelihoods of vulnerable groups such as the unemployed youths, women and children.

The government says the programme has so far empowered over 1.6 million Nigerians through its four components, namely; N-Power, National Home Grown School Feeding Programme, Conditional Cash Transfer, and Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme.

The dollar yesterday crashed to N368/$ in the parallel market, after over three weeks at N382/$, representing N14 appreciation within the period.

The exchange rate, which was confirmed by Aminu Gwadabe, president of the Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), followed nearly $5 billion sustained intervention by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in the interbank market since February.

He said the effectiveness of the CBN’s dollar injections in the interbank and the stability in the market require that the regulator reviews the rate band for bureaux de change (BDCs) downwards from N360/$ to $340/$.

Gwadabe said the naira has remained stable across the board in the near term on increased dollar supply to both the official interbank window and the black market. It has been trading around N382/$ on the parallel market in the last two weeks, while at the interbank market the naira was trading at around N305.40/$.

He said there is rapid elimination of speculation in the forex market. “The creation of SMEs and exporter/investors windows are helping to stabilize the naira. Also, the $40,000 weekly dollar interventions to the BDCs are also adding to the naira recovery. The CBN has also monitored the disbursement of the dollars allocated to banks and BDCs to ensure compliance with the set guidelines,” he said.

Group Head, Global Markets at Access Bank Plc, Dapo Olagunju, said the new window allows investors to sell dollars at any rate they chose and is expected to help bring investors’ confidence into the market.

He said: “Investors /Exporters FX Window help participants execute deals as based on their own market agreement. Today, both the dollar demand and supply sides are beginning to talk to each other and there is likely to be rate convergence soon,” he said.

He added that previously, the CBN had over $4 billion forex backlog, and found it difficult to settle ticket remittances of airlines. “Today, we are seeing customers buying Business Travel Allowances and Personal Travel Allowances with ease. It has been a difficult time for banks. We also see a regulator that is ready to sanction any bank that violates its set rules,” he said during the forex seminar organized by Access Bank in Lagos.

The CBN has assured of its continued intervention in the inter-bank market.

The apex bank was determined to ensure that the gains made by it in recent times, with regards to the stability of the exchange rate, are not eroded even as the regulator maintained that the CBN would continue to make necessary interventions to ensure the stability of the naira.

It said the forex windows for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as well as for investors and exporters were yielding the desired results by providing access to forex and easing pressure on the market.

The Acting Director of Corporate Communications at the CBN, Isaac Okorafor reiterated the bank’s commitment to ensure that there is enough supply of forex to genuine customers to achieve the goal of forex rates convergence.

The CBN since February has been involved in massive interventions in all segments of the interbank market to ensure liquidity and availability of forex.

Posted by Biodun Oyeleye


Dare devil armed robbers invaded on Tuesday night a private hostel occupied majorly by female students of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, molesting them before carting away cash and property estimated at about N2 million.

The incident occurred just as the state police command confirmed the arrest of two suspected female kidnappers who specialised in using N50 notes to entice their victims.

The robbers, according to eyewitness accounts, stripped the ladies naked and locked them inside a room occupied by the only male member of the hostel, after they had removed the properties belonging to the ladies.

The incident, which occurred at about 11.00pm according to eyewitness accounts has made the ladies and other occupants to desert the hostel, located along Bukola Bukoye Street in Oyun area of the state capital. The hostel has about eight self-contained apartments and was mainly occupied by ladies apparently with means.

The robbers were said to have scaled the fancy low fence built around the house and subsequently tampered with the choke of the two small generating sets that were being used to supply light to two of the apartments, in order to increase the volume of noise from the sets and thereby prevent neighbours from hearing what was going on in the hostel.

dre11:
www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/city-news/prostitute-found-dead-in-kubwa-brothel/136258.html

Adelani Adepegba , Abuja

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A retired director of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Mr. Emmanuel Ayodele , has died after slumping as he made to join his friends at Amity Club in the Garki area of Abuja.

Ayodele , 65, described as an active member, was said to have parked his car outside the club premises and was entering the facility when he fell.

He was reportedly rushed to the Sanklin Hospital, Mabushi where he gave up the ghost on Wednesday.

A friend to the deceased , Mr. Kazeem Idowu, told Northern City News that Ayodele ’ s death shocked everyone as he did not show any sign of illness before his sudden passage.

Idowu, the Assistant Secretary -General of Amity Club described the former director as an active man of “ebullient personality ” , noting that he was loved by everyone.

He said , “Ayodele ’ s death was shocking to say the least because he was a very active person and a staunch member of the club ; he has held several positions in the club and was well respected by everyone.

“He was about entering the club when he slumped and was rushed to the hospital but unfortunately, he died . We shall miss him . ”

Members of the deceased family could not be reached for comment . His children were said to be overseas.

DEPOSIT Money Banks (DMBs) lost N2.19 billion to fraudsters last year, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said yesterday.

According to the apex bank, 19,531 fraud cases were reported for banks last year as against 10,743 recorded in2015.

CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele broke the news while unveiling the Nigeria Electronic Fraud Forum annual report in Abuja.

The Nigeria Electronic Fraud Forum NEFF stakeholders workshop on cybercrime “Tackling Enforcement Challenges under the Cybercrime Act” as its theme.

A breakdown of the actual amount lost showed that across the counter transactions of N511.07 million accounted for the highest losses.

This was followed by Automated Teller Machine (ATM) transactions with N464.5 million, internet banking (N320.66 million), Point-of-Sale transaction (N243.32 million) and mobile banking transactions (N235.17) million, among others.

Speaking on the workshop theme, Emefiele, who was represented by the CBN Deputy Governor, Operations, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu, said the challenges faced while enforcing the Cybercrime Act of 2015 had made it imperative for a review of the act.

He said: “It is now about two years into the commencement of the Act, and so it is not too early to conduct a holistic review of its implementation.

“Thus, your deliverables at this workshop should include a careful examination of the extent to which the obligations placed by the Act are fulfilled and the general assessment of any challenges experienced in compliance with the provisions of the Act.”

A 42-year old man, Aminu Umar has been arrested and charged before a Lagos court for allegedly defiling his neighbors two under-aged girls, 4, 7 at the same time on several occasions in his apartment with Bobo drinks.

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P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at 5 Salako street in Oko- Oba area in the suburb of Lagos where both the suspect and victims parents reside.

Police sources said the Kano state-born Umah who is a butcher usually return early to their house after he finished killing cows at abattoir.

While he was at home, he would lured the victims into his apartments with Bobo drinks when their parents were not around and defiled them.

This has been going on without the victims informing their parents until the recent assault on the victims, P.M.EXPRESS gathered the act was exposed when the mother of the 7-year old victim took her to the bathroom to bath her.

It was gathered that when the mother attempted to wash her private, she started crying and complained that the private was paining her since Umah put his penis inside it.

According the 7-year old victim, “Umah lured us into his room and gave us Bobo thereafter, he removed his clothes and our pants and clothes too and carried us to his bed where he will be putting his penis into our vagina”.

When the mothers checked the victims private, there was bruises showing it was really tampered, the matter was reported to the Police and Umah was arrested and charged to court.

She pleaded not guilty and informed the court that his wife was not living with him.

The presiding Magistrate, Mrs Davis Abegunde granted him bail in the sum of N1m with two sureties in like sum.

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

The matter was adjourned till 26 June 2017.

lalasticlala

The president is currently on medical vacation in the United Kingdom A report by Sahara Reporters claims President Muhammadu Buhari may return to Nigeria next week.

According to a tweet by the online newspaper, Buhari may return to Nigeria from the United Kingdom next week, “but nobody is willing to state his health condition.”

Before his departure, the president was rarely seen in public for a while fuelling speculation about his state of health.

He left the country on Sunday, May 7 after he met with the vice president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Senate president, Bukola Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara.

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE


Five operatives of State Anti–Robbery Squad, SARS have landed in trouble after they allegedly attacked and brutalized a business man and obtained N200,000 as bail with the force of arms in Lagos.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that this followed a petition written by the victim, Alhaji Fasasi Kasali Ojo to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG, zone 2 who has ordered investigation over the allegations.

The business man, Alhaji Fasasi Kasali Ojo who is the Managing Director/CEO of Asaka Auto Investment Nigeria Ltd alleged that the operatives invaded his office at Ijegun road in Ikotun area, attacked and put him inside their car booth and drove away and later detained him at the SARS office where they obtained the money from his relations before they freed him.

Ojo is presently battling with excruciating pains, physically and emotionally over the battering, dehumanization and disgrace meted to him.

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An embattled Ojo narrated that the officers led by one Alhaji Alliu and Alfa invaded his business premises in a commando style on the 15th of May, 2017, at about 11: 30am, parked their car in front of his office, brandishing firearms, shooting sporadically.

An embittered Ojo said the men came into his office and began to hit him with countless slaps, such that had caused difficulty in hearing and seeing and bundled him into the booth of their Salon Car, having tightly handcuffed him and drove off.

“They handcuffed me and threw me into the booth and drove off. An old man who came to know why I was being ruffled and manhandled as they were throwing me in the booth was chased with an AK47 by one of them”, he noted.

Alhaji Ojo said he was kept in their car booth for over 6 hours long, as they drove all the way through Badagry and back to SARS Ikeja where they eventually released him after bargaining from N1m and eventually arrived at the money they obtained from his relations.

Ojo said they took him to Badagry to the house of one of his clients, who bought a brand – new motorcycle from him in January, 2017, and whose rider returned same motorcycle a Month later, due to the warranty of 6 months on it for repair.

According to Ojo, the reason for the visit of the SARS officers became manifest when they began to slap the client and alleged that he had sold off the bike which was used for robbery actions, where two ADCs of a governor were killed.

“They attempted to link me with, of supplying armed robbers Motorcycles which they use to operate and opened their booth and called me supplier to robbery gangs, the man (my client) refuted that and told them that i am instead, a genuine bikes with business branches known to people”.

He said the men later took him to Ikeja where they claimed that they were searching for the guns taken from the said slain ADCs of a governor; pointing that after they collected N200, 000.00,
Thereafter their leader released ordered him to return to the SARS on Friday the 19th May, 2017.

He said when he arrived the SARS on Friday, Ojo said that Alhaji Aliu, the leader of the team simply asked him to go, since the missing rifles have been found.

He expressed shock over how the assault, abduction and extortion ended and seeking for justice through a petition to AIG Zone 2, Lagos seeking official intervention.

There is no response from the police as the PPRO Zone 2, DSP Dolapo Badmos could not be reached as her phone was switched off.

The trafficking kingpin with a grouse
In the coal city, three major institutions meant to be the closest to the public are widely believed to be behind the baby trafficking ring . These are the police , hospitals and Gender Affairs.

“ What you don't want hidden don’t keep it in a public place ; because somebody eventually will see it and expose it , ” a social activist based in Enugu , who spoke on condition of anonymity , told our correspondent.

“ They have been doing it successfully for so long without thinking that it will come into the open one day. They are foolish. ”

Our correspondent’ s investigations show that while the hospitals , or maternity centres , are the conduit for trafficking babies in the state , the police are the muscle men that cow oftentimes innocent and indigent young ladies into traumatic silence and abandonment of their newborns. And the Gender Affairs , found to be the heart of the syndicate , seals every deal.

“ I used to work for Gender Affairs until they did not come to my aid when police raided the hostel I used to take care of the pregnant girls and women that came to me for medical care, ” Akpudachie , the proprietor of Moonlight Clinic and Maternity tucked in the belly of the ever bustling Coal Camp , a suburban part of Enugu City , told SUNDAY PUNCH.

Corroborating Nworie and Nwedu’ s accounts, he said , “ I paid N 10, 000 for each person to be released on bail. The police and Gender Affairs people accused me of child trafficking . There is nothing like that. I don’ t know why they refused to let the girls go and give them their babies . ”
In an investigation that spanned 9th Mile , Abakpa and Coal Camp, the stamp of legitimacy seemed to be given to an illegal , inhuman and unforgiving crime.

The seventy- something - year -old man explained that he had an agreement with the Enugu State Government to run a ‘ baby factory’ officially referred to as ‘ Social Welfare Home ’ approved by the ministry.

In 2010, according to him , he got an approval to shelter pregnant young ladies and deliver them of their babies for onward transmission to the ministry which arranges for the babies ’ adoption by a teeming army of individuals seeking to adopt newborns for one reason or another.

The young mothers of the babies , who oftentimes never get to kiss their babies goodbye are given consent forms to sign , just right after delivery of their newborns, that they have given them up for adoption. In return , SUNDAY PUNCH gathered, the mothers do not get more than N 50, 000 for their ‘ labour.

For some years, Akpudachie , who refused to tell our correspondent the number of babies he had delivered to the ministry and how much he got for each delivery , noted that his relationship with Gender Affairs went sour when unexpectedly some policemen raided his hostel , which also served as his home , where would - be mothers were sheltered.

“When my house and hospital were first raided by the police, there was nothing incriminating found . The hospital is open to the public . I have been running the hospital for about 12 years. I have a medical doctor that covers for me. I am a traditional doctor, ”he told our correspondent who had visited his Coal Camp clinic without him knowing, over the telephone.

“ I used to have one Dr . Okeke and now I have Dr . Julius Dike who covers for me. There was a time I registered with Gender Affairs then later I decided not to work with them again. I registered with them in 2010. I had problem with them and decided not to continue with them . The problem I had with them was the police and they could not come to provide cover for me , ” he claimed.

When probed further if he had delivered up to 20 girls of their babies , the ‘ doctor ’ said he could not remember the number.

Arrested twice , at least in the last seven years, Akpudachie still seems to enjoy the recognition of the Enugu State Ministry of Health. He has also never been prosecuted by the police who arrested him on the two occasions for child trafficking.

Government officials and members of non - governmental organisations , who spoke on condition of anonymity said policemen from the welfare section of the police State Criminal Investigation Department usually raid so -called baby factories in Enugu in search of young, hapless pregnant ladies.

“ Once they arrest these girls , they intimidate them and charge them with child trafficking . They are often taken to a particular magistrates’ court known for handling questionable cases like this . Once the girls are arraigned , the magistrate orders that they should be remanded.

“ A couple of weeks to their delivery, the bail of the girls are perfected by an unidentified Good Samaritan . The papers are taken to the prison by Gender Affairs officials to secure the release of the girls.

From there, they will take the girls to different hospitals (welfare homes ) to be delivered of their babies , ” one of the sources told our correspondent.

Once the young women have been delivered of their babies , it was gathered, the doctors at the various hospitals not later than 24 hours ring up the Gender Affairs officials to take delivery.

“ While still trying to grapple with what they have gone through , the girls are shown a form – consent form – to fill that they have given up their babies . They are never told what’ s written in the form or given the opportunity to read it . Well , many of such girls can hardly read to the point of understanding the intent of such a form.

“Sometimes, they lie to the girls about what they are signing . The girls already browbeaten and at times manhandled by the officials and police succumb to letting go of their babies , ” another source told SUNDAY PUNCH.

Exactly where the babies end up being delivered to , nobody can tell but a doctor whose hospital is being used as part of the racket claimed that babies mostly end up in Europe. He mentioned Sweden, a country which has a long tradition of inter - country adoptions.

Swedish families have been adopting children from other countries since the 1960 s . More than 48, 000 children have found a family and a home in it . The country has the highest per capita proportion of international adoptees in the world , according to Adoption Centrum.

Adoption Centrum , an adoption organisation based in Sweden , says between 2008 and 2014 , 77 babies were adopted from Nigeria .


Enugu East Magistrates ’ Court 2 connection

January this year, Nworie ’s uncle, Uchenna, through his lawyer, Omotayo , petitioned the Chief Judge of Enugu and the state’ s Judicial Service Commission over the continued detention of his niece for more than a year.

The counsel thinks that Enugu Court 2 magistrate , one A. C. Mbah , is perverting the course of justice by remanding younger Nworie in prison since April 1 , 2016 , just two weeks after she had her baby.

“We urge his lordship to look into the matter that led to the detention of Chijindu Nworie and the co- accused, Emmanuella Nwedu, whose babies was also taken away after delivery and thereafter charged with misdemeanour and remanded in Enugu prison . All efforts by the family to secure their release have been abortive, ” the lawyer said in a petition he wrote against Mbah.

Prior to the January letter written to the chief judge and the judicial commission , Omotayo stated that the Deputy Governor of the State , Cecilia Ezeilo , had also been petitioned. No one has responded yet.

He vowed not to rest until the girls get justice and all those involved in any wrongdoing in their case are brought to book.

According to those familiar with the court and would not want their names mentioned, a particular judge is said to be known for handling trafficking cases. He is said to be part of the cartel.

“ The man is notorious for some questionable cases. He works hand - in- hand with the police. Most cases of so - called raiding of baby factories are taken to his court . The second time that the girls were taken to the court, the court had risen.

Then, the policemen that brought the girls went in to meet him. There and then, he signed their remand warrants condemning the girls to prison – which is not supposed to be the procedure.

“ If you (the magistrate ) have risen, you tell the police to bring the girls the next day. Everything must be in open court. The magistrates’ court , once it suspects you have an interest in a case as NGO or a journalist , you will be frustrated not to be able to get the certified true copy of the charge sheet. Once he realises you ’ re not a lawyer in that matter, he becomes unduly suspicious – they know that you want to do an independent investigation of the matter, ” a judicial officer who is familiar with the case said.


Habitual criminals

In some charge sheets (certified true copies with number: CME / 23C/2016 ) obtained by SUNDAY PUNCH, the judge on April 1, 2016, revoked the bail granted to Nworie based on “ the fact that they are habitual criminals.

As our correspondent found out, the only thing that qualified the girls as “habitual criminals ” was their refusal to play ball with the police and the Gender Affairs . It is no wonder that Ajie and Onwe were let off the hook immediately they gave up their babies .
Also, even though Akpudachie claimed he paid N10,000 to secure his release , the charge sheet said he was “granted bail in the sum of N2m and one surety in like sum.

When contacted about its role in the arrest and eventual imprisonment of the two girls , the Enugu Police Command told SUNDAY PUNCH that it did the needful when it suspected a criminal act had been committed by the girls.

“Suspects (Nworie and Nwedu) had allegedly conspired and bargained to sell off the babies with Ozor Akpudachie after delivery, that singular act revolves around trafficking in persons. Police (therefore ) arraigned Akpudachie alongside those pregnant girls he was keeping . Gloria (Udoka) effected arrest with the team of investigators and after investigations, arraigned Akpudachie and the four pregnant girls to face justice.

“ Police cannot collude with Gender Affairs as the duties of the police and the ministry are separate and well defined . The court can throw more light on why Chijindu Nworie and Emmanuella Nwedu are in prison custody for over a year , ” spokesperson for the police , Ebere Amaraizu , said.


Clinics as trafficking conduit

Once the police raids a so -called baby factory, they seek a court order to remand the pregnant women and release them to the Gender Affairs when the expected date of delivery of the victims draws near , as it was in the case of the four girls arrested at Akpudachie ’ s baby factory.

They are then taken to certain clinics already having a permit from the ministry to operate welfare homes, specifically to deliver women of babies meant to be taken away from them.

Apart from Akpudachie ’ s clinic, two other maternity homes discovered to be working in tandem with the ministry are Our Saviour Medical Centre ( at 9 th Mile ) and Ndubuisi Hospital and Maternity (situated at Abakpa), far away from prying eyes.

An Onitsha- based nurse , Nnenna , who once worked at Our Saviour , told SUNDAY PUNCH how the hospital colluded with Gender Affairs officials to prise Nworie ’ s baby from her.

“I was in Enugu when Chijindu was taken back to the prison after she had given birth . Immediately the child came out, I was the first person to handle the baby. They gave the child to me in the labour room . If not that my phone got spoilt I would have sent to you pictures I took of the baby. It was a baby boy . I carried him for some minutes while Chijindu was still in the labour room. I was still holding the child hoping that Chijindu would come out and have the baby.

“But the Gender people took the baby from me. I don’t know why they acted that way. It’s God that will judge people . It’ s not true that she signed any form saying that she didn’ t want the baby anymore. When I was in the hospital, they were forcing her to sign a form that she has given it to Gender people. They even promised to give her N50,000. In fact , when she refused to accept it, the doctor offered to give her additional N50,000. Chijindu did not accept their offer , ” the nurse explained.

When the hospital was visited, the medical director, Dr . Any Ichic, was not available to comment on the incident. Several calls made to the hospital were not picked.

At the NHM , a clinic housed on the ground floor of a two -storey building, there are two signboards – one announcing the name of the clinic and the other its partnership with Gender Affairs.

It was at this clinic that Nwedu and Onwe gave birth to their babies. Dr. Uchay Eneh, the proprietor of the hospital , denied any collusion with the state government and police.

“The Ministry (of Gender Affairs and Social Development ) sent them to me. In fact , they were my very first set of patients from Gender Affairs . Everything that transpired concerning the girls was documented and such information was sent to the ministry.

The agreement is that we handle the medical aspect, while they handle the administrative aspect.

“ We were to accommodate the pregnant girls, feed them and cater for their welfare. After the babies were born , they came to take the girls away leaving the babies behind . They later came for the babies , ” Eneh said.

The doctor claimed that the girls signed consent forms to give up their babies , though he could not say whether they understood what the forms contained.

“ She signed those documents . I was told at the ministry that pregnant women who want to give up their babies for adoption usually sign a form to declare such. I was told Emmanuella signed such a form. I am aware that babies delivered here are meant to be taken away by the ministry and placed for adoption. I have a permit from Gender Affairs, ” he added.

The doctor , it was also learnt , is currently embroiled in case of child trafficking being handled by the Force Headquarters in Abuja. The parents of a girl whose child was allegedly taken away from her had Eneh arrested and detained for weeks in Abuja.

According to SUNDAY PUNCH’ s findings , Gender Affairs paid NHM N 30, 000 for each baby delivered . It is about the same amount Akpudachie said he was getting from the ministry before their relationship went awry.


‘We’re ready to return the babies'

The Gender Affairs commissioner feels that she and her subordinates are doing Nworie and Nwedu a favour by taking their babies away from them.

She said , “ Those who pick up these babies for adoption don’ t pay us any money. We don’t collect a dime from the adoptees. All they pay is hospital bills of mother and child . We don’ t even collect ‘pure’ water from them. In fact , we have a committee involved in this arrangement and the members are prominent people in the government and from the private sector. ”

Speaking further , Ngwu said , “ Gender Affairs was not the one that arrested the girls. The police did . Where we came into the case was when the girls told us that they could not give birth in prison. After being delivered of their babies , we told them to go and settle whatever case they have with the police and come back to Gender Affairs with their family members and claim their babies.

“ Till now , they cannot tell us who their parents are. Let them bring their parents; nobody is taking any baby from them . We didn ’ t force them to leave their children behind . We asked them to bring their parents but they told us they are orphans. We asked them to bring a religious leader from their community, they refused . So , what do you expect us to do ?”

lalasticlala

In the last few years in Enugu State, baby factories have been busted by law enforcement agencies, but SUNDAY PUNCH investigation reveals that government officials in Enugu State are neck - deep in a baby trafficking syndicate , BAYO AKINLOYE writes


Clang ! The worn, sturdy iron door ominously closed behind her as she was led out of a dinghy cell by a female prison official . As she trudged across a coarse field where male inmates were playing football , her head remained bowed like someone being led to the gallows.

With a foreboding façade, the prison houses 1 , 994 inmates; 58 of them are females , and one of them is Chijindu Nworie.

For more than a year, 22 -year -old Nworie has been held behind bars – against her will – at the Enugu State Prison . Seating with a forlorn look inside the prison yard, the dark - complexioned woman told our correspondent about her descent from a maternity home into prison.

Nworie was working as a salesgirl when she got pregnant for her boyfriend. Out of shame and fear, she said she ran away from her uncle ’ s home , Uchenna Nworie , who is now based in Cote d’ Ivoire.

“ While looking for a clinic to take care of my pregnancy I was directed to Moonlight Hospital. There , I was introduced to a doctor; his name is Dr . Ozor Akpudachie . At that clinic I also met two other girls: Miracle Onwe and Ajie Chigozie , ” she stated.

The number of baby factories – the name given to homes where pregnant girls are kept and their babies trafficked upon delivery – has been on the rise . Even though statistics on the number of baby factories busted by the police are not available , the reports of such raids are seen in newspapers almost on a regular basis.

The United Nations Protocol on Trafficking describes trafficking in humans as “all acts related to recruitment , transport , sale or purchase of individuals through force, fraud or other coercive means , for the purpose of exploitation . ”

An estimated 12 million people are living in slavery worldwide , and about 700,000 persons are trafficked across various international borders , including Nigeria , annually.

In Nigeria, there is no reliable estimate of the number of children trafficked. According to the current Trafficking in Persons Report , published annually by the United States Government , Nigeria is a source , transit , and destination country for women and children subjected to forced labour and sex trafficking .


Bowed but not broken

Po - faced and embittered by her continued stay in prison , Nworie recalled how she and her mates were arrested by a gang of policemen and officials of the Enugu State Ministry of Gender Affairs and Social Development .

She and three other girls – who were also pregnant – were arrested on January 13, 2016.

“ The police and the Gender Affairs people lied to us that they were trying to rescue us from the hands of Dr. Akpudachie . They said the doctor wanted to steal our babies after we might have given birth . They raided the place around 2 pm . But they later accused us of trying to sell our babies.

“ We were taken to their office and later to a hospital at 9th Mile. I was eight months pregnant at the time. I was locked up in a room in the hospital for almost a month . I screamed and kicked that I didn’ t want to stay there, that I wanted to go home and deliver my baby where my family was . They didn’ t listen to me . I got tired and had to give birth there. I was delivered of a boy, ” she said.

Nworie further told SUNDAY PUNCH how she and the other girls were browbeaten and manhandled by the police and officials of the ministry , in a bid to cow them into submission with the ultimate aim of making them to give up their babies after they had given birth.

“ I was seven months pregnant at the time of my remand on January 30, 2016. On February 12, 2016, we were taken to court again and were released on bail to Dr. Akpudachie , who was also charged to court along with his wife . The judge wrote something on a paper and gave the prison officials who brought us to court.

Thereafter , we were handed over to Gender Affairs people . They went with us to the prison to pick our things.

“ Later, the four of us – Chigozie Ajie , Miracle Onwe , Emmanuella Nwedu and I – were divided into two groups. Chigozie and I were taken to Our Saviour Medical Centre at 9 th Mile by Gender Affairs . It was when I was brought back to prison along with Emmanuella that I learnt she had been taken to Ndubuisi Hospital and Maternity , ” Nworie narrated , betraying no emotion .
On March 15, 2016 , she was delivered of a baby boy.

She added , “ After I had given birth to my baby, they took him away . The Gender Affairs people said I should sign a document, collect N50,000 and forget about the baby. I said I didn’ t want any money that it was my baby that I wanted.

The doctor of the hospital promised to give me additional N 50, 000 but I rejected it . I was manhandled and threatened . They said I was going to be in prison for 10 years. I told them that it was okay as long as I had my baby. ”

Nworie stated that when her older sister, Loveth, heard about her situation and visited the hospital , she was made to wait for hours without seeing her or the doctor. Having nowhere to sleep , she went back home and returned the following day.

The next day, SUNDAY PUNCH learnt that her sister was again prevented from seeing the new mother . As it was getting late in the night , she went to 9 th Mile police station and made a complaint.
A policeman was reportedly assigned to follow her to the hospital.

“When they (older Nworie and the policeman) reached the clinic, the hospital management called in officials of the ministry and a policewoman from the state Criminal Investigation Department, Police Headquarters Enugu . Nworie was taken away and detained in the CID cell for three days, ” the President of Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network , Olu Omotayo , who is also a counsel to Nworie and Nwedu, told our correspondent.

The police then arraigned her again before the magistrate court. At the order of the court, the two girls were , on April 1 , 2016, sent back to jail.

Time in jail has not weakened the young lady ’s resolve to have her baby back . As she sat across an age - old low prison table, opposite our correspondent, she appeared determined to spend a decade in prison waiting to be reunited with her baby.


“ The police and Gender Affairs people are angry with me because I refused their money. They asked me to sign a form that I was giving up my baby for adoption. I refused . Then, they gave me another form to sign that I want to keep my baby; I signed that form. I don’t want any money. It’s my baby I want, ” she simply said.


Like Nworie, like Nwedu

Nwedu’ s story is similar to Nworie ’ s . Though granted bail on May 8 , she said her release from jail will not be complete until she ’ s reunited with her baby girl.

Few days after coming out of jail, she met with our correspondent on the premises of Enugu East magistrates ’ court, sharing her sordid story.

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•Ndubuisi Hospital and Maternity


She had her baby girl on March 12, 2016 , at Ndubuisi Hospital and Maternity .
Narrating how she and other girls were arrested, 23- year - old Nwedu said , “A co - worker , Chisom Ede, suggested to me to go to Moonlight so that a doctor could help me to take proper care of my pregnancy . The four of us were staying in the clinic which we went to at various times in December 2015 , until the place was raided in January 2016 by the police . ”
Wearied and almost inaudible , the girl sobbed intermittently as she told her story. At times she paused , lost in thought and finding it difficult to properly recall the sequence of the twists and turns that accompanied her being pregnant and seeking care in a maternity home .
“ They offered me N 50, 000 but I rejected it . I told them I had suffered enough and would not sell my baby or give her up for adoption. Even if they had offered me N 10m , I would still not have accepted . I told them all I wanted is my baby . They were angry with me ; the Gender Affairs people .
“ I was asked to sign a form saying that I didn’ t want the baby. I said ‘ no’ that I want to keep my child . They now said , ‘ OK ’ I should sign a form that I didn’ t want my baby to be taken away from me . Before then, they were threatening that I will rot in jail if I didn’ t collect the money they had offered me . They said I would spend 10 years in prison. I told them I was willing to go to jail as long as my baby is with me , ” she narrated .
The fire - and- brimstone approach of the police and Gender Affairs worked in the case of Ajie and Onwe , as the two imprisoned girls told our correspondent – they gave up their babies for a paltry sum of N 50, 000 each .
In recalling their ordeals , Nworie and Nwedu accused the hospitals where they gave birth , the police and Gender Affairs of connivance .
At the moment , the girls are expecting the state government , the National Human Rights Commission, the National Agency for the Prosecution of Trafficking in Persons and the police to help them to get justice .
Incidentally , in September 2015 , as a sign of intent to tackle the menace of child trafficking under the guise of adoption in Enugu State , Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi inaugurated a committee to ensure that the racket - hit baby adoption process in Enugu does not become a full - blown trafficking network that is now headquartered in one of the government ’ s ministries – the Gender Affairs.

“ While we acknowledge the right and the necessity for childless or benevolent couples to adopt motherless children and orphans , we believe that there is the need for strict compliance with due process , ” Ugwuanyi had said.

Although several allegations of baby trafficking have been levelled against the ministry under her watch , the Commissioner for Gender Affairs and Social Development , Mrs . Peace Ngwu, denied any foul play.

“ None of those accusations are true, ” Ngwu declared , refuting the claim that there is a racket involving her ministry , the police , the magistrate court and some select hospitals in the state.

She added , “ My ministry is an organisation of repute . We don’ t want a situation whereby young girls will come here for help and we’ ll refuse to do so because of this development . We only helped the girls out of prison to give birth. It was the police that charged them to court.

Their babies are not sold . They are being taken care of in a government facility. If the police have facility to put the girls and their babies , let the police come and take the babies . ”

Ogor , who refused to give her last name , is an assistant director in the ministry . The girls accused her of playing a prominent role in the events that led to the abduction of their babies . However, Ogor told our correspondent that she had done nothing wrong . But she also gave a pointer to the whereabouts of the baby when she said they had been given up for adoption.

She said , “I met them on the instruction of the ministry . But there was never a time I forced them to do anything they didn’ t want to do or manhandled them. I didn’ t force them to give up their babies. I didn’ t go to that extent . Ask the Commissioner for Gender Affairs who put up their babies for adoption.

“ I don’ t have anything to do with forcing the babies out of the hands of their mothers. Everything I did concerning the girls was properly documented . I have my documents. I did not force any of the girls to give up their babies. ”

The immediate past Presiding Chaplain of the Chapel of Christ the Light, Alausa, Lagos State, who was removed from his post allegedly on the orders of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode breached church protocols and had a long standing disciplinary problems with the church, letters and correspondences seen by PREMIUM TIMES have shown.

Femi Taiwo, who was removed on May 15, was also ordered out of his official quarters within 24 hours of receiving the letter.

Media reports suggested Mr. Taiwo’s removal came after his actions during an anointing service on May 14 angered the Lagos State governor’s wife, Bolanle Ambode, who was in attendance.

The reports said Mrs. Ambode waited endlessly as she joined a queue to be anointed without any preference accorded her; and that she left the church in anger after been anointed.

But a series of letters and correspondences reviewed by PREMIUM TIMES showed that Mr. Taiwo’s problems with the church predated the event of May 14.

“The point is that he (Mr. Taiwo) disregarded rules to go and meet the First Lady without authorisation, out of selfish interest,” a source at the church told PREMIUM TIMES.

In late February this year, Mr. Taiwo had paid an ‘authorised visit’ to Mrs. Ambode without the knowledge of the church’s Governing Council; but he allegedly lied to the governor’s wife that he was sent by the Council.

At the meeting, Mr. Taiwo, those familiar with the matter said, schooled the First Lady on why he should be the “alpha and omega” on anything spiritual concerning Governor Ambode and his family.

He also reportedly cited the church’s constitution repeatedly to convince the First Lady to always respect his office and powers.

“He told the First Lady that the small church inside the State House should be reporting to him. And that he would withdraw some of the staff if his demands were not granted, almost threatening the First Lady,” one official said.

Mrs. Ambode, one of our sources said, was shocked by the clergyman’s attitude, and she promptly contacted the church’s Governing Council to complain.

The Council “was shocked that Mr. Taiwo, a supposed man of God, could lie and misrepresent himself to the First Lady, and immediately queried the clergyman, demanding explanation.”

“It came to the notice of the Governing Council of Chapel of Christ the Light that you requested and held a meeting with Her Excellency on 27th February, 2017, claiming that the Governing Council mandated you to do so,” read the query signed by ‘Gbenga Solomon, a Reverend Canon and the Governing Council Chairman.

“Please, note that your action was at your behest and not the Governing Council. We learnt that you went with a copy of the constitution, explaining the content to her.

“Kindly recall that an emergency meeting was summoned on Wednesday, 1st March 2017, where you claimed that you never mentioned to Her Excellency that Governing Council mandated you. In order not to put the Governing Council in disrepute, respond in writing your position on same.”

Following the Council’s query to him, Mr. Taiwo wrote a letter of apology, dated March 10, and addressed to Mrs. Ambode stating that the purpose of his visit was not to undermine the First Lady or her office.

“I write to tender a sincere apology to you on the matter surrounding our visit to Your Excellency recently,” the chaplain wrote.

“In honesty, I have high regard for you and see you as mother to all. Your effort in building the Chapel and the State in general is highly appreciated and we pray God to continue to strengthen you the more.

“I am very sorry for any embarrassment our visit might have caused you and I plead you find a place in your heart to forgive.”

Although Mr. Taiwo apologized to Mrs. Ambode concerning the February 14 incident, he remained consistently hostile and disrespectful of the First Lady, culminating in the May 14 incident that may have quickened his removal, one of our sources said.

“The truth is that as a continuation of his hostility towards the woman, he was openly disrespectful to the First Lady at the annointing service. Yet, the First Lady waited through it and never left in anger.”

Another official said the pastor “remained perpectually angry because “another person was made a Special Adviser to the Governor on Religious Matters and assumed wrongly that as the chaplain, it was his duty to play such roles and to act as the spiritual father to the First Family.”

“He was consistently pestering the First Lady with a litany of requests, and was repeatedly advised by the Governing Council. But he does not appear to have any respect for constituted authorities as advised by the Bible.”

The source added that the Governing Council was also crossed with the pastor for allegedly converting the church’s bus to his personal use.

The chaplain failed to make amends, an official said.

Repeated telephone calls to Mr. Taiwo on Saturday night were not answered.
But The Punch, which first reported the matter, quoted the former chaplain as saying “I have tried as a pastor to live above board. It will not be right engaging the church or the government on the pages of a newspaper.”

An email to Ayo Oyadotun, the new chaplain at the church, was not replied either.

Contacted, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, declined to comment on the pastor’s removal, saying, “We don’t want to engage anyone on this matter.”

But Mr. Ayorinde had told The Punch that “the former chaplain was queried a number of times in the past for conduct unbecoming of his office.

“The culmination of various indiscretions led to the Governing Council of the church issuing yet another query that led to his being relieved of his post.

“This has got nothing to do with the First Lady. The chaplain is looking for an excuse to cover his insouciance. It’s nothing but cheap blackmail.”