₦airaland Forum

Clement Idoko - Abuja



A Presidential Panel has revealed that over 400 names of past and present public servants linked to ownership of suspicious property in Maitama district of the Federal Capital Territory are under investigation.

Special Assistant to the President on Prosecutions and Head of Special Investigation Panel for Recovery of Public Property, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, made this known in Abuja at the official launch of Properti Tracka platform, an initiative of the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ).

He said the fight against corruption by the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari was total and that public officers have to be engaged on how they acquire their wealth.

He insisted that there was nothing unconstitutional about the Executive Order 6 recently signed by the President, saying anybody who has not stolen money to acquire assets should not be jittery by the executive order.

He said the Panel is also investigating public office holders who have assets outside the country, saying United Kingdom has been very cooperative in this regard.

Obono-Obla, added that the new law activated in UK, “Unexplained Wealth Order” has strengthened the effort of the Panel to recover stolen assets in the country in cash and landed property.

“Thank God there is a law in UK that has strengthen our hands. The law is known as unexplained wealth order. That law says if you have property that is above 50 thousand pounds, you have to explain where you made the money to acquire that property.

“We have Nigerians who have properties in London, landed property, worth 20 million pounds. One of them I am investigating was a Group General Manager of NNPC who has a piece of property in London worth over 800 thousand pounds,” he said.

He commended the Executive Director of ANEEJ, Reverend David Ugolor, for partnering with the Federal government in tackling corruption through improving transparency in property ownership.

Obono-Obla, said: “Fighting corruption should not be responsibility of President Muhammadu Buhari alone. It should be the responsibility of everyone of us. National Assembly, the civil society, because this country has suffered tremendously because of corruption.

“I have already 400 names of some past and present public office holders who have property in Maitama district alone in my data that we are investigating and I will make them available to you.

“All of us have the duty to ask some Nigerians mostly present and past public office holders, some of them with massive estates, let them come and tell us how they make the money.

“For instance, if I earn less than N7 million a year, and at the end of my tenure I have property that is more than N200 million or one billion naira, you must find out how I make my money. It cannot be from my legitimate earnings.

“Most of these people who have properties in Maitama and Asokoro are public servants, earning less than N2 million a year. Where do they get the money? If they cannot explained where they made the money from, it means that is a proceed of corruption.

“That is the question we have not been asking. We have to engage our public officers. They must tell us where they make their money from to build massive estates all over Abuja.

“The money they would have used to invest in our schools, social infrastructure and so on are siphoned to build massive estates nobody is living all over Abuja,” he said.

He recalled how a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Apo, Abuja, recently ordered temporary forfeiture of 86 luxury vehicles, together with four houses and a quarry plant in Abuja, belonging to a civil servant.

The luxury vehicles were allegedly seized from the Director of Finance and Account in the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing.

He noted that all the 86 exotic vehicles were brand new and that 23 of them were armoured plated, adding that there was no evidence that the National Security Adviser authorized him to import the vehicles.

He said: “We first wrote to the Accountant General of the Federation to give us how much this director has earned from 2007 and 2017 and they gave us the figure that the man has earned about N30 million.

“But this man has 86 vehicles. I am not talking about toy vehicles, we are talking about exotic vehicles and 23 of them were armoured plated X Class Mercedes 200. One of those vehicles is going for about N250 million and we had Jaguar and so on.

“The vehicles where warehoused in Jabbi and we went there we saw the vehicles, brand new vehicles. There was no evidence of payment of import duties, there was no evidence that he was given authority by the National Security Adviser to bring them into the country.

“So, if he had earned N30 million in those years, where did he get the money to buy those vehicles. It means the money must have come from the treasury of Nigeria.

“There was evidence that he had other properties in Nigeria and abroad. All these assets have been seized from him. That is the only way we can stop public officers from stealing; when you take over their assets and that is why some people are very uncomfortable with the Executive Order issued by Mr President.

“I am happy that you are working towards that line, in order to track down these properties illegally acquired,” he said.

He said there is chronic and scandalous poverty in the country because of corruption, saying those entrusted with the responsibility of running the country were selfish and self-centred.

Obono-Obla, said the country has tremendous resources that could take care of everybody but said most public officers were not interested in the general welfare of the people.

A lady, Miss Mariam Amuche, has trapped her lover, one Destiny Ayo Adeleke, who specialised in using fake bank alerts to deceive shop owners after making purchases with sex in Lagos.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that Mr. Adeleke went to a shopping complex located at Ikota in Lekki in the Ajah area of Lagos and bought Tecno Camon 8-pro phones valued N377,500.

After they had agreed on the price, he claimed that he had no cash on him and wished to pay through bank transfer from his phone. He was given the company’s account details to credit the said amount. He pretended that he had credited their account and showed an account debit alert from Zenith Bank account number 2110746005 bearing his name.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that the owner of the outlet did not doubt him because he had already introduced himself as a legal practitioner. So he released the items to him and requested for his phone number.

However, it was later discovered that the bank alert was fake. When the owner of the outlet contacted the phone number which Adeleke had dropped, it was unreachable and the account number was said to be nonexistent.

The scam was then reported to police operatives at FSARS and in connection with the police in the area they located Adeleke’s lover. His lover, Mariam, was apprehended and was asked to help locate the suspect.

It was gathered that Mariam then contacted Adeleke, pretended that she was having a strong feeling for sex and wanted to meet him to satisfy her emotions. Adeleke fell into the trap and was arrested by the police operatives upon his arrival.

This was confirmed by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Imohimi Edgal, who paraded him at the State Command.

The police boss said that the police recovered some exhibits which included lawyers’ gown and wig, 2 Tecno phones, One iPhone and 10 sim cards belonging to different networks. The CP said that during interrogation Adeleke confessed to the crime and said that he had sold the phones to buyers he met online.

Edgal said investigatiosn were still going on to understand the suspect’s modus operandi and to unravel the crimes he may have committed with the various sim cards recovered from him. He said that the suspect will be charged to court after the conclusion of the investigations.

Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, said on Thursday that a plan has been hatched by the Federal Government to stop him and six other governors from seeking re-election next year.

Ishaku stated this he hosted former Vice President Atiku Abubakar at the State Government House in Jalingo.

He said: “I have been told on good authority that seven of us (governors) have been enlisted to be stopped from coming back in 2019.

“That all arsenals, whether airplanes, guns and whatever means shall be used to wrestle power from us by hook or crook.
“I told them they are not God.

“It was God’s willing that I am in the saddle as governor today.

“Everyone desires that Nigeria should be one. We must continue to keep the country united.”

He urged Atiku to do something about “election rigging” in the country.

The governor said there were dysfunctional units in the system that should be repaired for the country to move forward.

“I am the governor and chief security officer of my state, but in reality, I am helpless in terms of security.

“I am handicapped, I am a toothless bulldog,” Ishaku added.

He urged the National Assembly to expedite action on the establishment of state police.

Ishaku also faulted the anti-graft crusade of the current administration, saying “corruption is not all about money.”

He said: “Corruption is not all about funds. If someone steals N100 million and you jail him for 100 days and another person kills 100 innocent people with AK47 and you allow him to go free, it is the worst form of corruption.”

by Oluseyi Awojulugbe

A report by the administrative panel of enquiry set up by the minister of labour and employment has shown that staff of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) spent N5.7 billion on pay TV subscription and fuel allowance.

NAN reports that Chris Ngige (pictured), minister of labour and employment, received the report on Wednesday.

Ishaya Awotu, the chairman of the panel, said that there were irregular allowances totalling N5.7 billion paid to staff and management.

“These allowances were paid without the approval of the National Salary, Incomes and Wages Commission,” he said.

“Some of the allowances were management staff allowance, staff education allowance, DSTV subscription allowance, and dressing allowance.”

The others were generator and motor vehicle fuelling allowance which were not provided for in the Condition of Service of the fund.

Awotu said the internal audit department of the fund did not audit the accounts between 2013 and 2017, which violates section 1701 of the financial regulations.

“There were several transfers of funds in bank accounts without authorisation and approvals. The sum of N15,737,757,697.91. was transferred from one account to another.

“Evidence to show the approvals and payment vouchers authorising the transfers were not presented to the panel.

“The panel observed that N2.9 billion was expended on computerisation and other related lCT equipment.

“Despite this expenditure, not much was achieved on computerisation of the Fund”
According to the chairman, various taxes worth N2, 650,731,225. 93 were deducted without remitting to the appropriate authorities.

Ngige said another committee would be set up to implement the recommendations of the committee.

“This is not my report, but a report of the Federal Government of Nigeria. Those findings, especially about overseas trips which were unauthorised will be dealt with.

“This report will be fully implemented and areas of lapses corrected. Many government organisations have gone under because of situations like this.”

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE



A 38-year old arrested suspect, Mr. Walter Ogwu, has expressed satisfaction having to go back to prison after a court in Lagos ordered him to be remanded in custody.

He had pleaded guilty before Isolo Magistrates court for stealing and was expected to be jailed before the prosecutor; Mr. Oje Uagbale, asked the court for a short adjournment to enable him present the facts before he will be sentenced.

The excited Delta State-born Ogwu said he was used to the prison condition and had gone to prison several times for stealing before the last arrest. He frankly explained why he preferred to stay in prison for now; he wants to have some rest and know if God will also change him to become a normal person in the society.

He traced his stealing habit to some years ago after he had completed his training as an apprentice mechanic and started his own in Ajegunle area of Lagos where he resided with his parents.

Ogwu said that he was surprised that he was not getting any job despite the fact that he was good in repairs. That made him to take to stealing and it became a habit he found difficult to curb. He also revealed that he went from place to place to steal but his last operation was at Okota where he was nearly mobbed after he stole a phone and attempted to escape.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that Mr. Ogwu was apprehended after he went into a retail office at Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos and stole a phone belonging to one Miss Lydia.

He was unlucky as he was captured by the CCTV camera and was forced back to the office. The video was replayed and he was asked to identify the person that stole the phone. He admitted to the crime, they were beating him before the police arrived, rescued and detained him at the police station.

He was brought before the court on Friday and he pleaded guilty.



https://pmexpressng.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/walter-prison.jpg
Walter Ogwu inside the court


The prosecutor, Mr. Uagbale, made the application for adjournment in order to present the facts.

Thus, the Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O.A. Teluwo ordered that Ogwu be remanded in prison and adjourned the matter to 16th July 2018 for facts and sentence.

When our correspondent asked Ogwu if he had contacted his parents in Ajegunle, he said that he will not contact them because they had known about his bad habits and were tired of him. He reiterated that if he gets the opportunity to be a changed person, he will change to the surprise of his family.

By Stanley Ihedigbo and Naomi Ugbiedah



https://newtelegraphonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Vera.png

An 18-year-old human trafficking victim, Deborah, allegedly lured into prosititution, has revealed that she used to sleep with more than seven men every day at Wagbas Hotel, located in the Ajah area of the metropolis.

Two people, Mr. Ikechukwu Egbulefu (27) and Vera John (26), who operate the Wagbas Hotel, were alleged to have tricked Deborah, Helen (22) and Chinwendu (18), into prostitution, after promising to help them get decent jobs.

Deborah said that she was lured into the act two months ago. She explained that by the time she realised she had worked into a trap, she couldn’t leave.

She had become trapped. When she got sick and tired of the lifestyle, she confronted John and begged her to return her home. John allegedly gave her N2,000 for transport from Lagos State to Akwa- Ibom State.

Deborah said: “I was tired of the whole thing. Men slept with me every day. Each of those men paid N2,500 after having sex with me.

Whenever they pay, I hand the money over to Aunt Vera. When Vera noticed that I was tired of the game, she started threatening me. Vera and Ikechukwu said that I must make N30,000 every day and give to them. Yes, N30,000 was my target.”

The state Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, said that the command received information that Egbulefu and John were involved in human trafficking.

According to him, the suspects used to bring girls from other states such as Imo, Akwa-Ibom and Rivers states to Lagos for prostitution. He said: “On the strength of the information, Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) operatives were directed to investigate and arrest the suspects involved.

Investigation led to the arrest of Egbulefu and John at Wagbas Hotel, Ajah, Lagos. The victims confessed that the suspects lured them to Lagos with a promise of a job and better living.

They also narrated that they were taken to a shrine in Epe and made to take an oath that they would not abscond from the hotel.
The painful aspect was that after sleeping with various men, they surrendered the proceeds to John.” Narrating her own story, Chinwedu said that she came to Lagos with the hope of being a sales girl, but ended up as a sex worker. She said: “I met Vera in our town and later became friends.

Vera told me she would help me to get a good job in Lagos as a salesgirl. A few days later, she came to me that there was a salesgirl job for me in Lagos. I joined her without informing my parents.

When I got to Lagos, she told me that there was no salesgirl job. She said that the available job was prostitution. I told her that I wasn’t interested and she said she wouldn’t help me with money back to my village.

“I had no option than to stay with them. Vera took us to a herbalist, who asked for our pubic hair. We were also made to take an oath not to run away. If we abscond, we would run mad.

Since then, she had been collecting money from us whenever we had sex with men. Each time we complained to her about pains, she wouldn’t listen.

The only thing she does for us is to feed us.” Reacting to the girls’ allegation, John said: “I took them to the herbalist to know the kind of job they could do that would yield money for them.

I told them before coming here that this was the kind of job they were going to do and they accepted. Other four girls left, but they choose to stay and do the work.”

A 60-year-old married man, Salisu Nuhu on Tuesday dragged his girlfriend to court over her refusal to marry him.

The complainant told the Magajin Gari Sharia Court II in Kaduna that the girl, Janet Baru had professed love to him and promised to convert to Islam so that they could get married, but later denied him after collecting huge amount of money from him.

He added that the defendant connived with her friend, Juliet to dupe him of N30, 000 after making him believe that she would marry him.

“I have been dating Janet for four years now and each time I visit her, I normally give her N1,000 or N2,000, and I have never touched her.

“Her friend Juliet asked me to give Janet N40,000 to show my seriousness about marriage, but I was able to give her N30,000”, he said.

He added that she requested him to meet her people in Benue which he declined but instead paid N5000 transport fare for her brother to come to Kaduna.

Mr Nuhu explained that he had given Janet N45,000 during Christmas with a clothing material worth N8,000 and N2,000 for sewing.

He therefore prayed to court to assist him in retrieving all the monies he spent on her.

The defendant on her part, said they had only dated for a year and was only aware of receiving N75,000 from him out of the monies he mentioned.

Janet told the court that she did not refund the money because he gave it to her as a gift not dowry.

The Judge, Musa Sa’ad, after listening to both parties adjourned the case to July 17, for ruling.
(NAN)

Posted By: Robert Egbe


Over 50 Nigerian students are being wrongly detained in police stations in Cotonou, the Republic of Benin’s commercial capital, their parents claimed yesterday.

They alleged that their children were unlawfully arrested by Béninoise police and kept in inhuman conditions – some since seven days ago – without being told their offences or charged to court.

According to them, 50 others were arrested, tried and jailed without their families’ knowledge.

In a July 9 petition made available to The Nation , the distraught parents sought President Muham-madu Buhari’s intervention through his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Diaspora affairs, Hon. Abike Dabiri– Erewa.

Their representative, Mr Femi Akinwande, said the Béninoise police had been picking up any Nigerian student with a white person’s picture, a Google code, or any internet-related item on his phone.

Many of the students, he claimed, were being held at a police station in Gendarmerie Ablangadan, Cotonou.

He listed some of their names as: Matthew Longgapp, Bayo Ridwan Oyenuga, Tari Ibori, Samuel Akinwande, Dunchi Daniel Dennis, Steven Porobunu, Chukwudi Ezeanyom Valentine, Peter Ochani, David Nicholas Esu, Michael Porobunu, Emmanuel Chukwuneke, Tomi Ogunleye and Jacob Oluwatobi

Akinwande, the Managing Director (MD) of FEMAK Markalyn Nigeria Ltd, said his son, Samuel Akinwande, alias Pastor, a 400-level Computer Engineering Student at the Houdegbe Northern American University, Cotonou, was arrested seven days ago, without charge.

According to him, the intervention of Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Republic of Benin had failed to resolve his son, or any other Nigerian student’s plight.

According to Akinwande the arrests which had been going on “for some time” began following the country’s enactment of a law “banning any form of gangsterism, cultism, hooliganism, Yahoo-Yahoo and Badoo activities.

“As a result of this, the Police swung into action arresting both culprits and non-offenders as long as they are Nigerians.

The police, he said, arrested his son during his siesta along with 12 others.

Akinwande said: “He was rudely woken up to be arrested. On getting to the police station, a police officer told me that they had to arrest people irrespective of what they were doing.

“Another police officer confirmed to me that over 50 Nigerians are still in custody not knowing what fate will befall their future, let alone told me what their exact offences were. 50 others were said to have been judged already and serving their jail terms without their families being aware.

“At the police station, the officers also said that they would arrest any student, who, on collecting their phones or laptops, they find a white person’s picture, a Google code, or any internet-related item, that will make them to consider such students guilty. In fact, some of the students are already slated to appear in court on Tuesday, July 10th 2018.

“The officer said they were forced to act in haste given that Nigerians are vaster in knowledge than them. It is also common knowledge that they are not as computer literate as Nigerians, given that it takes about four days after arrest for them to decipher what they found in the phones or laptops of those arrested.

“Yet, the situation persists. Some of the arrested students spoken to by their parents attested that the indiscriminate detentions were stated clearly by the police in their reports. Even the police confirmed it.”

He urged Mrs Dabiri-Erewa, to, on behalf of all the parents, intervene “so that our wrongly arrested children and students can get released to continue their education.

Lois Ugbede

Some leaders of a faction of Nigeria’s ruling party, APC, on Monday afternoon gathered in Abuja to sign a memorandum with opposition parties for the 2019 general elections.

The Reformed APC (R-APC) members were led to the Monday event by their leader Buba Galadima.

PREMIUM TIMES last week published how the R-APC announced itself . The faction is believed to have the backing of Senate President Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara. The actions of the faction have been condemned by the APC leadership.
On Monday, Mr Galadima met with leaders of opposition parties like the PDP and SDP to sign the memorandum of understanding.

Apart from Mr Galadima, others at the Monday meeting from the PDP include Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, a senator, Dino melaye, and Akwa Ibom State Governor; Emmanuel Udom,
A former senator, Ben Obi, who briefed journalists, said the parties gathered to sign a memorandum for a coalition that will take over power in 2019 and esnure the defeat of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC.

He described the 2019 election as a battle between light and darkness, saying the coalition is the light that has come to rescue Nigeria.

He said the signing of the memorandum is a signal to the ruling APC and the international community that they are ready to take over power in 2019.

lalasticlala

Hundreds of persons from Dutse constituency beat and held hostage Bala Yargaba, the council chairman of Dutse Local Government Area in Jigawa State.

They accused the council chief of non-payment of polling unit development fund meant for disbursement.

After the initial manhandling of Mr Yargaba by the mob, he was able to maneuver his way into the local government secretariat.

The angry mob then cordoned the premises of the local government secretariat and stopped the council chairman from moving out.

Security officials including police and soldiers later arrived the scene.

By Musa Abdullahi Krishi



Federal lawmakers from Plateau State have clashed over the allegations by one of them that 300 people from the state were trained on how to kill people in faraway Israel.

Rep Ahmed Idris Wase last Tuesday told the House during a debate on the recent killings of over 200 people in some parts of the state that some politicians were behind the killings.

The lawmaker had said that: “I was opportuned to be a member of the transition committee when this government came to power in Plateau State. I want to say this, that the security are not doing their work. They’re the causes of this matter, whether we like it or not.

“Mr Speaker, I want to inform this House and Nigerians that about 300 people were trained in Israel, I say 300 people. It’s there in our report; we gave it to government to work on it, to find out who were sent for that training. I can tell you Mr Speaker, to date, nobody has been traced.

“I want to tell you sir. There’s a company in Nigeria, today in Plateau State, that’s working. They did importation of about four trailers, but four containers were missing.

When we traced as a committee on what were in those containers, to God who made me sir, we were told they were taken to a person’s house, a high politician. I’ll give you the name of the company; it’s a security firm in Israel,” he said.

However, other lawmakers from the state including Senators Jonah Jang and Jerry Husseini as well as Reps Gyang Pwajok, Johnbull Shekarau, Timothy Golu, Solomon Maren, among others said Wase was economical with the truth.

They wondered why he kept the information to himself for the past three years, saying he was only trying to add more salt to injury.

They said during a press conference in Abuja that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris should not waste time to investigate Wase over the state.

Our correspondent gathered that the differing positions taken by both Wase and the other lawmakers were already causing bad blood among the Plateau lawmakers.

Greenarrow01:
Thanks
I wanna go back to school next year...
I still have a semester left.. is it possible?
I left about 2 years or so ago

John Charles


All may not be well in the Benue State chapter of the All Progressives Congress as there are strong indications that Governor Samuel Ortom may likely dump the party anytime soon .

Our correspondent reliably gathered that the decision of the governor to quit might not be unconnected with the alleged plan to stop him from contesting the governorship race in the ruling APC .

It was gathered that the Presidency was not happy with the governor for confronting of the Federal Government on the killings in the state and had reportedly decided to replace him in the forthcoming governorship election .

The plan , according to a source , is said to have been executed at the APC’ s top level by a leader of the party in the state , Senator George Akume.

An impeccable source told our correspondent that a one - time House of Representatives member, Mr. Emmanuel Jime , who was denied the ticket of the party in 2015, was being considered to fly the party ’ s flag in 2019 .

The source cited the party ’ s recent national convention as a pointer to what is to come as T- shirts , posters and customised table water , bearing Jime ’ s name as well as mobile toilets bearing Jime ’ s posters for the Benue governorship election flooded the Eagle Square , Abuja.

Akume, whose influence had helped Ortom become governor in 2015 , controlled the party structure from ward to state levels in the just concluded congresses .

Ortom had recently told journalists that he came to the party without a structure in 2015 , hence he was not bothered about the development .

However , SUNDAY PUNCH learnt that Ortom had constituted his campaign team at ward and local government levels comprising the names of his loyalists who were detailed to prepare for any eventuality.

One of the aides to the governor told our correspondent in Makurdi on Friday that members of the campaign team were those earlier pencilled to take control of party structure at ward and local government levels but who were denied.

He added that the same people were to take control of the campaign team which would be used when the governor decides to move.

The source said , “It is true that we don’ t want to take any chances because it is clear that the chances of our principal to fly the APC ’ s flag in the forthcoming election are very slim .

It is no longer news that the governor does not control the party ’ s structure and there was a glaring signal at the national convention in Abuja a few weeks ago where our governor was reduced to a mere spectator.

“ His name was not even mentioned for introduction by the master of ceremony .

His days in the APC are numbered ; he is just waiting for the appropriate time to move. The campaign team we have constituted is in preparation for the plan to move. ”

According to the source , the only delay for Ortom ’ s defection is the uncertainty around the party he is moving to .

“ There is no specific party for now . That is why the governor is taking his time . But he is already establishing contact with the Social Democratic Party . Some of his supporters are already in the SDP , while chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party are also prevailing on him to join them . ”

When contacted , the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Terver Akase , debunked the plans of his principal to defect.

“ There may be disagreements between the two leaders , which is natural, but that has been put to rest. The issue of defection is not on the ground at all for now , ” Akase said .

Similarly, the state chairman of the party , Abba Yaro , denied the alleged plans of the governor to defect, saying “he is going nowhere. ”

When asked of the party ’ s plan to bring Jime as an alternative to Ortom , the party chairman said , “ There is nothing like that.

All those things he did at the Eagle Square in Abuja is a way of exercising his freedom . Let him come to Benue and tell us . ”

By Dapo Akinrefon, Johnbosco Agbakwuru




PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, reacted to the victory of the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, at the Supreme Court on the allegations of non-declaration of some of his assets.

The President, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said that the country’s judicial system, no matter the challenges it was facing, was truly working and no one should be allowed to undermine or break it.

President Buhari in the statement said,
“I have seen many instances where individuals and groups seek the destruction of the judicial institution in the foolish thinking of saving their skin, instead of going through the painstaking process of establishing their innocence.

“In the case of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, I have seen him take the tortuous path of using the judicial process. He persevered, and in the end, the highest court of the land, the Supreme Court, says he is not guilty as charged.

“This is what I have done in the three elections in which I was cheated out, before God made it possible for me to come here the fourth time I ran for the office.”

The President said the Senate President’s journey from the lowest to the highest court of the land provided an important example that all Nigerians should emulate.

But Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay, SAN, says he is surprised by the Supreme Court verdict that cleared Senate President. Bukola Saraki of assets, declaration charges at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT.

Sagay, who spoke when Sunday Vanguard sought his reaction to the verdict, yesterday, said: “The answer is not what I can comment on meaningfully and rationally because I have not read it.

It is a technical thing, one has to see the evidence and the law the court applied before one can pass any judgement. So, I am waiting to get a summary of the judgement at least to have an idea.

The only thing is that I am a little bit surprised at the decision, but that is nothing when you haven’t seen the evidence, the legal arguments the court used to arrive at its decision. So, I can’t say anything right now.”

When asked whether he suspected a foul play in the verdict, he chuckled, saying: “Even if I suspect it, I will never say it on phone but I don’t know. I am just surprised but at times, only those who have details can come to an accurate decision . I don’t want to jump into any conclusion because I have not read it.”

Tony Okafor



A mild drama occurred at the Anambra State Election Tribunal on Friday when a lawyer , Mr . Nkem Ekweozor , broke into tears while handling a senatorial election matter.

Ekweozor , who was the candidate of the Mega Progressive Peoples Party in the January 13 Anambra senatorial rerun election , represented himself in a petition he filed against Senator Victor Umeh declared winner of the poll by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

But half way during his cross -examination of Umeh , Ekweozor could not continue as he lowered his face and began to cry , cleaning his face with a white handkerchief.

Noticing the situation, the chairman of the tribunal , Justice H. A. Olusiyi, asked , “ What is happening here? You are crying.

What for? Oh, my God , a lawyer crying in court ? This is unusual . How will all these people in court see you ? Do you think they will hire you tomorrow to defend them? I have not seen a thing like this before ; a lawyer crying in court?

“ Counsel this not the right thing to do . We (lawyers ) are trained not to be emotional . This is not the final court; if you don’ t get what you want here, you can go upstairs . Lawyers don’ t cry . ”

Responding, Ekweozor apologised for his outburst , saying , “ My Lord I’ m sorry for this . I was crying for justice . My opponents here want to intimate me . My lord , I am weeping for justice . I am sorry. ”

However , Umeh , who represents Anambra Central Senatorial district , denied that irregularities marred the election that made him a senator .

He stated this during a cross -examination at the tribunal , adding that the election was a walkover for him as he defeated his opponents overwhelmingly.

Ekweozor had, while cross -examining Umeh , accused him of screening himself to emerge the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance in 2014 when he was still the national chairman of the party .

But in his response, Umeh said he was not a member of the APGA screening committee during the exercise .

The matter was adjourned till July 12 for adoption of addresses .

lalasticlala

Ita Enang, senior special assistant to the president on national assembly matters (senate), has attributed the high level of insecurity in the country to the “collapse of Libya and Mali”.

Speaking when he hosted students of the Nigerian Law School, Abuja on Friday, the presidential aide said the policy of the ECOWAS free movement protocol is having a negative effect on Nigeria.

The policy allows citizens of ECOWAS states to move freely in and out of any country in the region.

Making reference to the crisis in Plateau state, Enang said “What is happening now is not just ethnic or inter ethnic conflicts, it is pure terrorism. This terrorism is not caused within but without.

“They come in with arms. Whenever there is war or the collapse of any nation state, you will have a collateral effect.

“We are suffering not from ethnic problems, internal to Nigeria, but from the effects of the collapse of neighbouring countries like Libya and Mali.

“Under that protocol, you are to allow them so long as they are Africans.

“Our survival, unity and security of citizens are threatened as a country by this free movement and those who come in with evil intention.”

Enang said the federal government is doing everything within its powers to tackle insecurity.

He said the country is also considering reviewing the application of the ECOWAS policy as in order to reduce the effect of persons coming in to do havoc.

“This is because your country must be safe before you can be a member of the regional body,” he said.

He urged the students to have hope in the country, assuring them that things would get better.

“I urge you to come out and get involved in active politics and support the Federal Government, because this administration means well for the country,” he said.

By Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja


The leadership of the new splinter group in the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Reformed All Progressives Congress has vowed that no one would win the presidential election in 2019 without its endorsement.

The group, which support base is mainly from the New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) political bloc in the APC, last Thursday formally declared its existence and listed several national and state officers of the faction.

Speaking on Arise Television network yesterday, the National Chairman of rAPC, Buba Galadima said that one of the reasons for the emergence of the faction was the failure of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration to fulfill the promises made to the people.

On what would happen if APC ignored their group, Galadima said: “Anybody that neglects us is doing so at his own peril and I want to say here that no one would become the president of Nigeria in 2019 without the support of the rAPC.”

The rAPC Chairman said that the only way President Buhari could get the support of Nigerians for his second term bid was if he “performs and is able to deliver dividends of democracy according to the party’s manifesto.”

Galadima, who is regarded as a very close ally of President Buhari’s until lately, said the president betrayed him by abandoning him and others who were part of the political struggle to make him president.

He said the president had disappointed those of them that gave him support because he was unable to perform.

He said that President Buhari had reneged on their campaign promises to better the lives of poor Nigerians.

“He betrayed me on the agreement to better the lives of Nigerians, to bring reconciliation to Nigerians, to build the economy, to build the infrastructure,” he said.

An apparently embittered former National Secretary of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) accused President Buhari of betraying him by abandoning those of them that struggled with him to become president.

“We brought him into partisan politics, we made all the sacrifices to make him what he is, everyone out of the 34 left, except the two of us up till 2015, and we had departure points.

But the most important thing is that I was the founder and the national secretary of the Congress for Progressive Change, a platform on which he contested in 2011, and I had to forfeit and resign that position to bring about the amalgamation of what is now called the APC.

“So, that is a big sacrifice and I was one of the nine signatories that signed the memorandum of understanding dissolving our parties and recommending the APC to INEC for registration,” he said.

Galadima also spoke of the integrity tag that President Buhari flaunts, saying that his performance in office has helped Nigerians to assess him.

“I was with General Buhari from 2002 till date and a couple of us, about 35 of us, introduced him into partisan politics, which took us hell to convince him to come into politics. Thank God we did that, if General Buhari had died that time, Nigerians would have thought he was a saint and they would have been going to his grave to worship him in death,” he added.

lalasticlala

Posted By: Emma Elekwa, Onitsha



A 35-year old woman was allegedly beaten to death by a couple over scuffle she had with their children in Okpo village, Ekwulobia, in Aguata local government area of Anambra State.

The deceased, identified as Uju, said to be related to the couple, Mr and Mrs Okafor, reportedly gave up the ghost following series of flogging by the suspects.

The Nation gathered that the children of the suspects were playing football within their compound in the evening of the fateful day when their ball suddenly fell into the deceased’s pot of soup, which she seized.

“Okafor’s children rushed immediately and reported the matter to their mother who did not take it lightly, as she hurriedly went over to Uju’s apartment and pounced on her,” one of the neighbors said.

The neighbor, who preferred anonymity added that while the fight ensued, her (Okafor) husband, who got wind of the incident, rushed to the scene and teamed with his wife to flog the deceased.

According to the source, the beating persisted until the deceased collapsed and lost consciousness, adding that she was later rushed to Dionye Memorial Hospital where she was confirmed dead by the doctor.

Reacting, the chairman of the community, Chief Peter Odika, confirmed the incident, describing it as abomination.

He explained that the deceased was Mr Okafor’s second cousin, adding that the village would meet, while they wait for the police to conclude its investigations.

“The accused will be made to undergo certain cleansing rites in order to appease the gods of the land and to avert whatever curse such an abominable act could attract,” he added.

When our correspondent visited the town, some angry women from the village were seen protesting against the act, chanting “it is an abomination, an abomination has occurred.”

Efforts to get the reaction of the state police spokesperson, Mohammed Haruna, was unsuccessful, but a police officer who preferred anonymity, said the suspects were presently cooling off in Ekwulobia Police station.

lalasticlala

By Emma Amaize



POLICE in Delta State have apprehended a 29-year-old suspect, Chukwuma, who heartlessly hacked a 12-month pregnant woman to death in collusion with another fleeing accomplice buried her remains in a soak away pit at Asaba and sold the baby for N350, 000 to the proprietor of an Orphanage Home in Benin City, Edo State.

The suspect sold the innocent baby through his girlfriend, Blessing, 25, resident in Enugu state to the Orphanage proprietor, Dr. Samuel on Uwagboe Street, Benin City, both of whom are already in police custody.

Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, Muhammad Mustafa, who confirmed the arrest of the suspects to Saturday Vanguard, said: “One Chukwuma Ehiwoguru, 29 years was arrested in connection with a case of conspiracy/threatening violence.”

“Upon interrogation of the suspect, he confessed to have killed a woman unknown having a 12-month-old baby in connivance with one Saturday, surname unknown, who is now at large.

“He further stated in his confessional statement that the woman’s 12-monht old baby was sold to Dr. Dibia in Benin City, Edo state, who is said to run an orphanage for the sum of N350, 000 by his girlfriend, one Blessing, 25 years of Obolo-Afor, Enugu state.

“The woman was said to have been buried in a soak away at No 3 Dickson Okwosa street, Asaba,” he added.

lalasticlala

By Mojeed Alabi



The Professor of Management Accounting at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Richard Akindele, who was recently dismissed for sexually harassing a postgraduate student of the institution, Ms. Monica Osagie, has said he was only trapped by the student.

In his reply to query issued to him by the university, which was exclusively obtained by New Telegraph, Prof. Akindele explained that the five rounds of sex demand from Monica, as revealed by the leaked audio conversation between them, was a deliberate attempt to discourage the student and at the same time invite her to his office to obtain evidence.

The embattled professor, who also submitted screenshots of earlier WhatsApp conversations including nude pictures allegedly belonging to Ms. Osagie exchanged between them, said the student had, sometimes in November 2017, sexually harassed him in his office by pulling off her dress and revealing her body from chest to toes.

According to the WhatsApp messages presented by the lecturer, which New Telegraph also obtained through a source, Ms. Osagie had allegedly initiated conversation with the lecturer at about 5:52a.m. on Sunday, February 25, 2018, declaring her interest in the lecturer, and sent him seductive messages, including nude photos. Akindele wrote: “I know the lady in the audio recording to be an MBA regular student.

I recall sometimes in November 2017 when she came to my office in company of some of her other MBA students/colleagues to inform me they failed a course that I took with another lecturer and pleaded that they should be upgraded. But I informed them that it was not possible because the result has been submitted and approved by the department.

They left my office, but the lady returned alone to my office some few minutes after they had left begging me to upgrade her to an “A.” She confessed that she did not fail the course, but that she had two other courses in the Department that she failed (not any of which that I am involved) but that she would need an “A” in my own course to boost her CGPA to get to an average of 50 to enable her obtain an MBA Degree. “I promptly turned down her request.

She knelt down and held my legs pretending to be begging me, but was actually romancing me. I shouted at her to stop her madness, but she immediately stood up, raised her gown up to cover her face and I noticed she was not wearing any pant. “I was afraid she could shout to attract other people and it may be difficult for me to defend myself of sexual assault.

So I had to gently tell her to calm down and that we will do it five times on another day and place to which she agreed and gently left my office.

I had to do that to save myself from any possible accusation of sexual assault which may be difficult to prove if she had shouted on that day.

Of course, she attempted calling me at other times and seeing me after that day, but I kept avoiding her. “Since then, she kept sending messages to me regularly describing how good she is in bed and how badly she needs to sleep with me and get an “A” in the course, all of which I resisted.”

Akindele explained that the day the leaked phone call was recorded, he had deliberately played along because on the said day, two unknown vehicles with unidentified men and a lady suspected to be Ms. Osagie had trailed him from OAU campus to Moro Campus, where the MBA programme was being run.

He said: “On that fateful morning, I left my office on campus for Centre for Distance Learning (CDL), Moro to go for the MBA lecture. As I was driving out of the university, I noticed two vehicles following…
I was somehow scared and wondered what the occupants in the cars were up to. While still wondering, my phone rang and it was the lady in question calling, but I did not pick.

When the phone rang the third time, I picked and sensing danger with cars behind me, I decided to play along with her request, and that was what led me to demand five times of sex and for her to come to my office.

“I have evidence and proof that she naked herself and harassed me sexually and I have a naked picture she sent to my WhatsApp contact, pressing that she wanted to have sexual intercourse with me.
I have known this lady to be a bad behaved lady and as if she is a psychotic person….” Akindele said if truly he had wanted to sleep with the student, he would not have demanded five times of sex rounds at a go, saying dating a girl would not ordinarily begin with the request for five times.

[b]The dismissed professor said it was only unfortunate that the girl was faster in implicating him. In the screenshots of WhatsApp messages of February 25 allegedly exchanged between Prof. Akindele and Ms. Osagie, which was exclusively obtained by New Telegraph, the conversations went follows:

Ms. Osagie: So ure awake by dis tym. Dis will b a good time to giv u a Mouth Gig

Akindele: Yes. Meaning?

Ms. Osagie: Suck ur cock.

Akindele: Haa

Ms. Osagie: Stop saying haa. So wen u are wit a woman u just climb on her nd finish?

Akindele: Huuuu

Ms. Osagie: Just saying. Maybe we can try d 69 position 1 day.

Akindele: Meaning

Ms. Osagie: Dis one is ur assignment google and find out wat it means.

Then Prof. Akindele sent two pictures wishing her happy Sunday and saying good morning. But enraged by these messages from the lecturer, the student replied as follows:

Ms. Osagie: Are u kiddin me.
I thought u were goin 2 send me pictures of a man suckin a girl’s pussy while she sucks the man’s dick.

Akindele: Ok.

Ms. Osagie: No, it is not okk, let me send u mine but you won’t show anybody ooo

Akindele: Ok.

Ms. Osagie: Promise?

Akindele: Yes. Following this pledge, Monica sent in pictures of her private parts and was followed by other conversations.[/b]

But Monica has refused to comment on the matter, querying reasons behind the introduction of the evidences at this stage.

Speaking through her counsel and the Executive Director, Women Advocates, Research and Documentation (WARDC), Dr. Abiola Akiode-Afolabi, Osagie accused the media of attempting to wage a media war against her, saying she had been traumatised enough to warrant another round of public disgrace. According to Akiode- Afolabi, the university has exonerated Osagie after reviewing all evidences tendered before it, and so would not tolerate any fresh facts, which she described as an afterthought.

She said: “Which fresh facts again? Did you see the school’s conclusion? Because the school came to the conclusion that she did not harass the man. Where did you now get your own facts? I hope it is not that the media want to feed fat on this story.

“But if you have facts, disclose now but we won’t hesitate to go to court o. This is because the girl has been embarrassed a lot and so if you people bring it up again and embarrass her, we would not take it lightly. She cannot comment on this matter any longer because the case is even before the court. So she cannot start denying anything. If you guys have anything, bring it out.

“The school did a fact-finding of three levels and came to the conclusion that she didn’t harass anybody. “I am aware of all these messages you are saying, but please check your facts very well and look at the time you want to be bringing them out.

So I am not going to speak to you on this, if you have your facts, bring them out and we will reply at the appropriate time. If we need to go to court, we will go to court.” Meanwhile, efforts to speak to Osagie herself proved abortive as her line has remained permanently switched off.

But in his response to enquiries from New Telegraph, the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede,confirmed that the institutions received the seductive messages by Ms. Osagie to Prof. Akindele as part of the lecturer’s responses to his query, but that they were not sufficient enough to exonerate him.

According to Ogunbodede, the evidences showed that the two were found culpable, but that in the circumstance, there was a weaker partner and a stronger partner. He said: “Prof. Akindele provided information that Ms. Osagie sent him nude pictures, but the panel did not consider that as sufficient justification for his actions and inaction.”

The OAU VC added that all laid down procedures were followed before reaching the conclusion. Asked why the university maintained silence on the allegation against the student, the Vice-Chancellor explained that the panel had also considered punishing Ms. Osagie, but found out that she was no longer the university’s student because she had overstayed on her MBA programme and so had lost her studentship.

The VC said: “Let me tell you that the university was not silent on the lady. If you read the press release, you would see that we really mentioned something relating to her in the report, but lecturers are supposed to act ‘in loco parentis’ for students.

Even though Prof. Akindele provided the nude pictures, the right thing for him to do would have been to report her to appropriate authorities. And even as a stronger partner, Prof. Akindele had every right to discipline the student.

“And honestly, if our student had also been found culpable, the ideal thing would be to discipline the student. But in this case, this lady is no longer with us. The lady came for a programme, but she did not complete her programme within the stipulated time, and so she is not a registered student of our school. As at the time the issue came up, she was trying to resolve her failed courses, but could no longer come in to register. So the situation would have been different if she was our student.

But in this case, the lady is not entitled to our certificate.” Meanwhile, New Telegraph has learnt that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has intervened on the matter. Both Professor Akindele and Osagie had been invited by the ICPC. The anti-graft agency has conducted forensic audit on all evidences tendered by the two parties.

Posted By: Yusuf Alli,






A plot to stop President Muhammadu Buhari from seeking re-election on account of age and other excuses has been uncovered, The Nation learnt yesterday.

Some senior lawyers have been engaged “to embarrass the President” ahead of next year’s election, a source in the Presidency said, pleading not to be named because he is not allowed to talk on the matter.

The Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) plan to file many cases to compel Buhari to step aside, having attained more than 70 years age limit for certain public offices.

The plot is said to have the support of some leaders of opposition groups and “those hell-bent on halting Buhari’s presidential ambition”.

A source said: “The lawyers include Senior Advocates who are now raising funds from some prominent Nigerians, who have openly expressed their opposition to President Buhari’s second term ambition.

“While the position of the Constitution does not disqualify anyone on the basis of age as the senior lawyers are planning, the whole point of the case is to embarrass the president as the election draw near.

“Funds are being raised from some opposition groups’ leaders and individuals to go to court and argue that the President ought to be disqualified on age basis.”

The plan, a source said, is to argue that because certain public officers, including judges, have to retire at age 70, no one above that age should be allowed to contest.

But while some lawyers are ready for the brief, others have opposed the plot.

The source added: “Already, some of those approached are read to support the cases financially and now the lead senior lawyers are mobilising several other lawyers to file series of legal suits and cases to argue on why the President should be disqualified from running.”

“But there are also a number of some of those approached who are concerned that the plot by a few of the senior lawyers is not likely to be effective and might only be a ploy by the senior lawyers to raise money for themselves.”

A source in government said: “We have unearthed a big plot to initiate frivolous suits to frustrate the President from realizing his second term ambition.

“We are also monitoring those behind this plot, which borders on ‘ambition’ to make money. They have made some of those opposed to the President to believe that Buhari can be stopped in court.

“But let them go and read sections 130, 131, and 137 of the 1999 Constitution very well. They cannot disqualify Buhari on account of age. They want the court to interpret some parts of the constitution and apply it to Buhari.”

Sections 130 and 131 read: “There shall be for the Federation a President. The President shall be the Head of State, the Chief Executive of the Federation and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation.

“A person shall be qualified for election to the office of President if; he is a citizen of Nigeria by birth; he has attained the age of 40 years; he is a member of a political party and is sponsored by that political party and he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent.”
Section 137 (1), among others, says: “A person shall not be qualified for election to the office of the President if-

(a) subject to the provisions of Section 28 of this Constitution, he has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of a country other than Nigeria or, except in such cases as may be prescribed by the National Assembly, he has made acceleration of allegiance to such other country; or

(b) he has been elected to such office at any two previous elections; or

(c) under the law in any part of Nigeria, he is adjudged to be a lunatic or otherwise declared to be of unsound mind.

(d) he is under a sentence of death imposed by any competent court of law or tribunal in Nigeria or a sentence of imprisonment or fine for any offence involving dishonesty or fraud(by whatever name called) or for any other offence, imposed on him by any court or tribunal or substituted by a competent authority for any other sentence imposed on him by such a court or tribunal

(e) within a period of less than 10 years before the date of election to the office of President, he has been convicted and sentenced for an offence involving dishonesty or he has been found guilty of the contravention of the Code of Conduct …
… (I) he has presented a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

By Onyekachi Eze Abuja 


Baring any change in plan, former members of the Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) may likely leave the All Progressives Congress (APC) before Thursday this week.

Leader of the group, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, had, in a statement on Sunday, said the group would announce its next political move before the end of this week.

But a PDP source disclosed that the party is expecting a declaration from the group before Thursday this week.

The nPDP had, in a letter dated April 27, accused the APC leadership and President Muhammadu Buhari of sidelining, harassing, intimidating and victimising its members.

Since then, the group had met with Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and the APC leadership, but Buhari has refused to discuss with them.

The PDP source told New Telegraph that the group had perfected plan to leave APC on June 23, the date of the party’s national convention, but for disagreement between the members.

“The plan was to address a press conference that day and announce their movement en masse to PDP, but there was a security report. The thing leaked and they had to put the plan on hold.

“They could also not agree to move that day. Some of them wanted it delayed but people like (Senator Musa) Kwankwaso said ‘no!'” the source explained.

Kwankwaso visited Atiku Abubakar on the night of APC convention in what the former vice president’s media office explained as a Sallah visit.

Senator Dino Melaye also stayed away from the convention.

The former Kano State governor, over the weekend, declared that he would help PDP beat Buhari in 2019, though he has not formally declared for the party.

The source, however, disclosed that a glitch in the group’s movement might be the expected judgement on the President of Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, coming up on July 16.

“We were thinking that it (the defection) will be delayed until after the judgement. But going by Baraje’s statement, it may be soon than expected,” he said.

PDP has set up a contact and mobilisation committee headed by former Cross River State governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, which is yet to submit its report to the party leadership.

It was believed that the delay is in connection with the discussions with new members expected to join the party.

Oluwatosin Omojuyigbe



An oil marketer, Kolade Azeez , has accused five policemen attached to the Lagos State Police Command of extortion .

Azeez, who is the Managing Director of Azkol Oil, alleged that the policemen stormed his company in Ore, Ondo State , and arrested the manager for allegedly buying aviation products .

The marketer told PUNCH Metro that the policemen, who were led by the Isolo Divisional Crime Officer , allegedly claimed that the Inspector -General of Police , Ibrahim Idris , was aware of their mission .

He said the policemen forcefully took N 5 m from his company , adding that the IG , whom he later met at an airport in Istanbul , Turkey , denied the operation .

Although the DCO and three of the cops had been reportedly identified and arrested, the 47-year - old said his money had not been refunded .

He said , “On November 19 , 2016 , my manager bought kerosene at the rate of N 193 per litre and on January 9 , 2017 , five policemen came to my company and claimed that they were working directly with the Inspector - General of Police .

“ The policemen arrested my manager and took him to the police command headquarters in Benin, Edo State. They said the IG sent them to arrest him for buying aviation product and to recover the money of the product we bought . This was despite the fact that it was only kerosene that we bought . ”

Azeez, who noted that his manager had just undergone a surgical operation at the time of his arrest , explained that he called a business partner to assist in complaining to the Edo State Commissioner of Police .

He said the Edo State CP claimed not to be aware of the arrest and advised him to settle his differences with the policemen.

The Osun State indigene said when he approached the cops ; he was mandated to pay N 320 per litre, although he bought the kerosene for N 193 per litre.

“ They took N 5 , 088 , 000 to release my manager. When I returned to the country in February 2017 , I went to report at a police station in Ore.

“ In March 2017 , I reported at the Federal Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department , Alagbon , Ikoyi , but nothing was done .

“On October 14 , 2017 , I travelled out again and had a stopover at Istanbul , Turkey , where I saw the IG , who also had a stopover . I approached him and explained everything to him and he denied sending the men.

“ He told me that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police was coming to meet him at the airport . He handed me over to the Lagos CP, who promised to take up the matter, ” Azeez said .

Azeez said the Lagos CP, Edgal Imohimi , invited him to the command headquarters in Ikeja , where he wrote a statement , adding that two police teams were detailed to look into the case .

He noted that based on the investigation carried out, it was discovered that the policemen were allegedly led in the illegal operation by the Divisional Crime Officer of Isolo Police Station , Bukar Mohammed .
The managing director said Imohimi invited his company ’ s manager, who identified three of the cops in the CP’ s office .

“ We discovered that the policemen, who claimed to be from Abuja , were actually attached to the Lagos State Police Command. They tried to dodge their faces, but my manager identified them and they were arrested . A car was also recovered from them.

“ On April 25, the CP invited everybody, but he was unable to see us . When I called the CP, he directed me to the police officer investigating the case . When I called the officer , he said he was still on it . At a point , the officer said he had been transferred from the unit . Since then , I have not heard anything about the case , ” he added .
Azeez, who said he wanted justice in the matter, demanded that his money be refunded .

When contacted, the DCO said he lead a team to the filling station , but refused to comment further .

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer , CSP Chike Oti , who confirmed the arrest of the policemen , said the cops had been absolved of blame.

He said , “ When a policeman is accused of an offence and it is investigated and found wanting , he will be punished .

“ The policemen were arrested , interrogated and it was discovered that they had finished their job and the matter charged to court; so they were released.
“It is a case of people who bought stolen petroleum product at a ridiculously low price and the case was referred for investigation .

“ Whenever such a thing happens , the police are duty-bound to go after such people and quite a number of them were arrested and the matter was charged to court.

“ The policemen did not have any reason to come after them in the first place, if not that somebody came and reported that a tanker driver who was supposed to take the product to Kano State diverted it to Ondo State.

“ If the complainant said what he bought was kerosene ; to an ordinary person , he would never know the difference between an aviation fuel and kerosene ; it is only an expert that would tell him because the two smell and look alike . ”

But Azeez denied the claim that the matter was charged to court, adding that all the marketers arrested paid a certain amount to the policemen.

He, however, urged the police to come forward with the proof that the matter was charged to court, stating that it was just an excuse to frustrate the case .

A Russian man has filed for divorce after a blazing row with his wife over whether Lionel Messi is better than Cristiano Ronaldo.

According to a report in newspaper 'Argumento I Fakti' the football-mad couple – named only as Arsen and Lyudmila – fell out when he celebrated Argentina's victory over Nigeria.

And he decided to pack up his things and leave when his missus continued to insist that Portuguese star Ronaldo was a superior talent to Messi.

It was the latest in a series of arguments about football and the relative merits of the world's two best players.

But this time, Arsen decided that the marriage was over and the next morning he filed for divorce at the courts of the city of Chelyabinsk in the Urals.

After telling the newspaper that the couple had fallen in love when they met in a bar whilst watching the 2002 World Cup, he said: “Since the beginning of the World Cup, she mocked Messi and said he couldn't even score a penalty against Iceland.

“I could not contain myself and told her what I thought about the vain Ronaldo, the Portuguese national team and all the clubs she likes.

“Then I took my belongings and left her forever.”