₦airaland Forum

Dear Bunmi,


I remarried over five years ago after my first wife died, leaving me with three children under 10. My second wife is a business woman and is the mother my children need.

You can therefore appreciate how bewildered I felt when the phone in my office rang and there was this shrill hysterical voice at the other end asking me to warn my wife and keep her in check as she’s just discovered my wife bolting out of her matrimonial home – that her husband has confessed to sleeping with her.

She got my phone number from the wallet my wife left behind in her flight! I raced to her shop and met her crying. She confessed the man was an ex-boyfriend who’d been pestering her for a date.

She didn’t want to go with him to a seedy motel that was why she went to his house after being assured the wife was away.

I was glad she didn’t insult my intelligence by lying but I don’t know how to handle this nightmare. She swore it was the first time. I know she loves me. Why does she want to throw away all we have because of a one-night-stand?

lalasticlala

By Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti




YOUTHS of Agbado community in Gbonyin Local Government Area of Ekiti State, along with some of their elders have chased the regent of the community identified simply Bolaji Okunbobabe out of the palace of the Owa Oro.

She was alleged to have been irregularly appointed as the regent by just one of the 16 chiefs that they claimed were supposed to have done that.

The Public Relations Officer of the Agbado youths, Mr Sanya Adeoti, popularly known as Napoli, told the Nigerian Tribune on the telephone that following the demise of the traditional ruler of the community, Oba Okunbobade, on March 19, “we just woke up to learn that a Regent has been appointed for our town and this is against the tradition of Agbado.”

The youths had taken to the streets to protest the alleged irregular emergence of the regent.

Adeoti said they had written letters to the state’s Local Government Service Commission (LGSC) as well as the police, saying they had staged a protest afterwards in which they blocked a federal highway.

They had blocked the Ado-Ikare road for some hours and claimed that Chief Kayode Adeyeye, had unilaterally chosen Bolaji as Regent, allegedly sidelining 15 other “critical stakeholders”.

After the street protest against what they said was “illegal regent”, they chanted war cry and invaded the palace and chased her and her aides from the palace.

They were said to have been armed with stones and cudgels and other weapons, and forced the regent to flee the palace.
The regent could not be reached at press time while the youths sealed the palace.

Meanwhile, the community has been thrown into confusion following the alleged taking over of traditional artifacts, shrines and duties of sacrifices allegedly by four kingmakers.

The Olori Omo Owa (head of princess and princesses), Prince Sunday Adelusi, said he was not carried along in the choice of the regent accusing one of the chiefs of impersonating him.

lalasticlala

By Ismail Mudashir



The National Security Adviser (NSA) Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd) said the country’s intelligence agencies would continue to clash unless the National Security Agencies Decree 1986 is amended.

Monguno was quoted in a report of the Senate ad-hoc committee that probed the clash between officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Department of State Service (DSS) and Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA) last year.

The agencies clashed last year when EFCC operatives attempted to arrest Mr Ayodele Oke, a former DG of NIA and Mr Ita Ekpeyong, a former DG of the DSS.

The NSA while expressing concern over the lack of unity and cooperation among intelligence agencies in the country said the situation has led to, “The current state of disjointedness and disharmony amongst sister agencies. This resulted due to the National Security Agencies Decree 1986; Cap 278, Cap 278 LFN section 14 01-2 which has stripped the NSA of the power to check the other Security Agencies that have now become independent of his office due to their now ‘easy’ access to the President. Thus, there is a desperate need to streamline the Agencies and make them answerable to the NSA.”

Monguno told senators that the President was aware of the state of things and also presented evidences of instances where his duties were usurped due to lack of discipline exhibited by Security Agencies.

He disclosed that he was not aware of the EFCC chairman’s move to arrest any of the former intelligence chiefs until after the media reports and that the resistance made by the Security Agencies during the arrest cast some aspersions.

The Senate had while considering the report of the panel chaired by Senator Francis Alimikhena (APC, Edo) resolved to initiate the amendment of the act with a view to giving powers of control to the Coordinator on National Security over these agencies on behalf of the President.

Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna state, says the World Bank will not grant loan to any state if Kaduna is not included.

Kaduna is among the states which applied for loan from World Bank but while the senate approved the facility for others, it rejected the $350 million request of Kaduna based on opposition from the three senators representing the state.

But speaking while declaring open the 2018 law week of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Barnawa branch, Kaduna, el-Rufai wondered why the upper legislative chamber blocked his state when it “met all the conditions” for the loan.

Represented by Barnabas Bala Bantex, his deputy, the governor alleged that the refusal of the senate to approve the loan request had a political undertone.

The governor said the World Bank is faced with a moral issue to grant the loan to other states without Kaduna, which according to him, is most qualified for the loan.

“World Bank won’t grant loan to any state without Kaduna… the World self-service has a moral burden to deal with.

How do we handle not approving or not giving out a loan for which a state government is fully qualified and approve to others, which I wouldn’t say are less qualified? That is the moral issue facing the World Bank,” he said.

Earlier in his address, the governor said the role of the NBA is the struggle for the improvement of the socio-economic situation of the country.

He said insecurity and corruption were the main challenges facing Nigeria and called on the NBA to collaborate with the government to address the menace.

“Insecurity and corruption are the major set back to any nation. When there is corruption, it ruins the economy and retards development. Insecurity discourages foreign investors,” he said.

“For us to tackle these, there must be a synergy with stakeholders like the NBA and the judiciary.”

lalasticlala

Peter Dada , Akure


A student of the College of Education , Ikere Ekiti , Ekiti State, who was identified as Akintunde Adegunloye was reportedly found dead in his friend ’ s room on the premises of the State Specialists Hospital, Ondo town, Ondo State.

According to the Ondo State Police Command’ s Public Relations Officer , Mr Femi Joseph , the incident happened last Thursday at 10 pm .

He said the deceased left his school in Ekiti State to visit two of his friends who were pharmacists and members of the National Youth Service Corps , serving in the government - owned hospital in Ondo .

Joseph further explained that the cause of the death of the deceased was yet unknown to the police but saying the command had commenced an investigation to unravel the cause of the incident .

He said , “The deceased paid his friends a visit in Ondo , the friends were corps members pharmacists who are serving at the hospital . We learnt that the friends got home on that fateful day and found him (deceased ) dead in the room.

“ We have invited the two corps members and as I am speaking with you they are still with us , we are interrogating them on the matter. ”

The police spokesman , however, said the father of the deceased had informed the command that the family was not interested in going to court over the matter and the corpse would be released to them .

Posted By: Jide BABALOLA and Faith YAHAYA,




THE police yesterday named a 29-year-old alleged drug baron as one of the brains behind the April 5 bank robberies in Offa, Kwara State.

Adegoke Shogo, described as a mega distributor of Indian hemp, allegedly provided part of the logistics used during the operation that claimed at least 17 lives, including those of nine policemen.

Twelve more suspects, including Shogo, have been arrested by the police in connection with the robberies, Force Headquarters spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, told reporters in Abuja.

This brings to 20 the number of people so far arrested over the operation.

The police said Adegoke Shogo sponsored the attacks with “misplaced expectations of expanding his criminal and social profile.”
Among the suspects is 18-year-old Aminu Ibrahim.

He was picked up in Ilorin, the state capital.
Other suspects in the second set of arrests are Kayode Opadokun (35); Kazeem Abdulrasheed (36); Azeez Abdullahi (27); Alexander Reuben (39); Jimoh Isa (28); Azeez Salawudeen (20); Adewale Popoola (22); Adetoyese Muftau (23); Aminu Ibrahim (18); Richard Buba Terry (23) and Peter Jaba Kuunfa (25).

One of the suspects, Alexander Reuben, the police said, confessed to having been sentenced to a jail term for armed robbery and possession of weapons, including a General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG).
He was arrested in Lagos.

Moshood said of him: “Alexander is a veteran bank robber, and he was taken to court over the use and possession of various weapons including a GPMG and a military rocket launcher in 2015, but under circumstances that we have decided to painstakingly investigate, he left prison custody in 2017.

“We need to investigate whether the courts released him on bail or something else happened. We work with the judiciary, but we want the mass media to monitor criminal cases in the court the way they monitor suspects being paraded.”

Moshood said 20-year-old Azeez Salawudeen and 22-year-old Adewale Popoola were arrested in Offa with the mobile phones and SIM cards of victims of the robberies while 18-year-old Aminu Ibrahim was arrested in Ilorin.

He said one Beretta pistol and several rounds of ammunition were found in the possession of Aminu Ibrahim, Richard Buba Terry and Peter Jaba Kuunfa.

He said the arrests followed the deployment of a high-powered police investigation team, one Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC), Three units of Police Mobile Force (PMF) comprising 63 men each and various anti-robbery equipment to Kwara State to “carry out discreet investigation into the bank robberies, prevent further attacks and bring perpetrators to justice.”

He added: “The police teams engaged in massive raids of identified criminal spots/flashpoints, stop-and-search operations, visibility and confidence building patrols, intelligence gathering which led to the arrest of the suspects.

“Some of the arrests also involved serious exchange of gun fire between the police and the suspects in their various hideouts.

“The following are the suspects arrested and have admitted to the various criminal roles they played in the bank robbery attacks and are also assisting police investigation into the incident:
“Adegoke Shogo, 29 years, native of Offa Kwara State. He was arrested in Offa after the bank robbery and the attack on the police station. He is a drug baron and also an Indian hemp dealer in Offa, Kwara State.
According to intelligence gathered from cultivated and reliable informant, he is alleged to be one of the sponsors of the robbery attack and the Police Station in Offa. He has made useful statements to the roles he played in the armed robbery.

”Kayode Opadokun, 35 years, native of Offa, Kwara State. He was found to have been released from prison three months ago after serving only eight months of his sentence years for armed robbery.

A notorious armed robber and confirmed gang member of the Offa bank robbers, a Barretta pistol and six rounds of live ammunition were recovered from him, and he has admitted to the criminal roles he played in the Offa banks robbery.

“Kazeem Abdulrasheed, 36 years, native of Offa, Kwara State, a gang member from whom a victim’s phone was found. He was arrested in Offa.

”Azeez Abdullahi, 27 years, Native of Offa, Kwara State, gang member from whom a victim’s phone and SIM cards were recovered.

“Alexander Reuben, 39 years, native of Isoko LGA Delta State. He is a notorious, deadly and hardened bank robber from whom GMPGs, rocket launchers and several rifles were recovered in 2015. He was released from Prison in December 2017. He was arrested on the 11th April, 2018 in Lagos.

“Jimoh Isa, 28 years, native of Okene Kogi State indicted by technical intelligence generated on the bank robbers. He was arrested on the 11th April, 2018 in Lagos.

“Three suspects, namely Azeez Salawudeen (20 years), Adewale Popoola (22 years) and Adetoyese Muftau (23 years) from whom two phones and SIM cards belonging to victims were recovered have also made confessional statements admitting to the various roles they played in the commission of the crime.

“Aminu Ibrahim, arrested in Ilorin; Richard Buba Terry;and Peter Jaba Kuunfa. These three suspects in whose possession another Beretta pistol and Fourteen (14) rounds of live ammunition were recovered, were arrested in connection with the Offa bank robbery.

They have previously been investigated and charged to court for armed robbery and cultism. They have made confessional statements admitting to the various criminal roles they played in the recent bank robbery in Offa.”

lalasticlala

Prinzyy:
Average yoruba man is sex slave.

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE



A single mother, Mrs. Angela Okon has been duped in Lagos after she lured a 23-year old young lover, Marvelous Awazie into her home for sex romp.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Adeyemi Street in Shasha area of Lagos where Angela resided and brought Marvelous for the romp.

It was learnt that when Angela realised that Marvelous was satisfying her sexually, she asked him to come over and stay with her in the house she had rented.

While the romp was going on between them, Angela revealed her bank details and the amount of money in her account. She also gave Marvelous access to her phone.

When she left her phone to attend to other needs, Marvelous reportedly picked the phone and transferred about N110,000 from her account to his own account through internet banking and thereafter left her against Angela’s wish.

However, when Angela went to the bank to withdraw some money from her account, she was told that there was not enough money in the account to match the requested withdrawal.

She complained asking the bank management what happened to her money and she was given details of the transaction by the bank. It was then she realised that apart from the fact that Marvelous dumped her, he also defrauded her.

She reported the alleged fraud to the police at Shasha Division who trailed and arrested the suspect at Ladipo Market where he had already started business with the money.

At the police station, he reportedly admitted that he was the person that withdrew the money and used same to start clothing business.

He was charged before Magistrates court sitting in Ejigbo on Tuesday for stealing.
He pleaded not guilty.

The presiding Magistrate, Mr. T.O. Shomade granted him bail in the sum of N150,000 with two sureties in like sum.

The prosecutor, Supol Kenneth Asibor did not object his bail condition because it was a bailable offence.

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

The matter was adjourned till 7 May, 2018.

The National Population Commission (NPC) has put Nigeria’s current population at 198 million people with urban population growing at an average annual growth rate of about 6.5 per cent.

Chairman of NPC, Mr Eze Duruiheoma, stated this in New York while delivering Nigeria’s statement on Sustainable Cities, Human Mobility and International Migration at the 51st Session of Commission on Population and Development.

Duruiheoma said: “Nigeria remains the most populous in Africa, the seventh globally with an estimated population of over 198 million.

“The recent World Population Prospects predicts that by 2050, Nigeria will become the third most populated country in the world.

“Over the last 50 years, the Nigeria’s urban population has grown at an average annual growth rate of more than 6.5 per cent without commensurate increase in social amenities and infrastructure.

“It grew substantially from 17.3 in 1967 to 49.4 per cent in 2017. In addition, the 2014 World Urbanisation Prospects report, predicts that by 2050, most of the population – 70 per cent – will be residing in cities.

“The 2010 human mobility Survey report revealed that 23 per cent of the sampled population were of more females than males”.

He said the category of population mostly engaged in urbanisation and migration were young people of teenage and adolescents’ girls and boys, women of child bearing age and the working age population.

He said existing urbanisation trend coupled with internally displaced persons (IDPs) in cities, pose critical challenges to securing sustainability of our cities, including efforts to make them smart and responsive to human influx.

“The Displacement Tracking Matrix round XXI of January 2018 identified estimated 1.7 million IDPs in over 321,580 households across six states of North-East Nigeria with 40 per cent residing in camp-like settings in urban areas plus 1.4 million returnees.

“The number of IDPs represented 4.5 per cent increase compared to the 1,702,680 identified in Round XX (Dec. 2017).”

Duruiheoma said like in other developing countries, Nigerian cities hosted wide spread poverty, under-employment and unemployment at an average of 18.4 per cent, according to the National Bureau of Statistics 2017 report.

The NPC boss bemoaned the insecurity and inadequate and inequitable health care services for adolescents and women of child bearing age.

“Nigeria continues to commit to solving the challenges of insurgents in the Northeast, which has induced a high number of internally displaced persons.

“We acknowledge that women, children and particularly the girl child are often the most vulnerable in these displacements, and in this regard, we remain focused on the wellbeing of these vulnerable parts of our population.

“We are committed to providing adequate health care services, reducing maternal mortality, rebuilding safe schools and empowering our women, ensuring no one is left behind in terms of achieving sustainable development.”

Duruiheoma said these challenges adversely impacted on the quality of life and standards of living of the urban populace.

According to him, Nigeria stays committed to the twin goals of the Habitat Agenda – adequate shelter for all and the development of sustainable human settlements in an urbanising world. (NAN)

By Steve Uzoechi 


Traditional ruler of Egbelu Obube autonomous community in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State, Eze Jude Nwaogu, has initiated a legal action against Chief Uche Albert Ahanonu, who is the chief priest of the community, administering the shrine of a deity simply known as ‘Ngwu.’

The running battle between the monarch and the priest took a dramatic turn when Ahanonu petitioned Governor Rochas Okorocha to dethrone Eze Nwaogu and thereafter publicly questioned the paternity of the monarch.

The priest alleged that the monarch was not a bona fide son of Egbelu Obube and as such, was not qualified to sit on the throne.

As at the time of filing this report, the priest had been served a court summon at his residence. In a telephone conversation with our correspondent, Ahanonu confirmed the suit, while noting that he was overseas when the service was carried out.

He added: “I have briefed my team of lawyers and in the coming days at the trial, they shall by means of forensic evidence establish the truth for everyone to see. The truth is a defence in any case of defamation. We shall establish the truth.” The case is going to be heard at the High Court Owerri under suit number HOW/7/2018.

lalasticlala

Posted By: Sunny Nwankwo

https://thenationonlineng.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Abia-891x470.jpg


A three- storey building being demolished killed a woman in Abia on Monday.

The woman identified as Mrs. Precious Chizoba Okeke was hawking within the premises of the building at 160 Port Harcourt Road when the building collapsed and killed her.

Eyewitnesses said the deceased leg was still severed from her body.

The deceased’s brother, who was shocked by the incident, said “when I got to the scene, I was shocked. It was a horrible place to behold. It was when I got so close that I saw my sister lying down dead and her second leg missing.

Lanre Adewole - Lagos


The Celestial had settled that late billionaire businessman, Moshood Kashimawo Abiola would not be Nigerian president even if he won an election to the office, before he “won” the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, revealed this Friday midnight during the April edition of the monthly Holy Ghost Service at the Redemption Camp, along Lagos/Ibadan Expressway.

In his sermon entitled “Stronger Than Your Enemies Part 4”, he admonished thousands of worshippers to take prophecies seriously especially when such are coming from genuine men of God.

While refusing to reference self as a prophet, he however acknowledged that he gets to hear from God once in a while, adding that whatever came from the Almighty would definitely come to pass, whether those involved believed or not.

He then relived the prophesy he got from God before the June 12, 1993 presidential election which had Abiola and Bashir Tofa as frontline candidates, as well as late Aminu Kano who was also interested in leading the country.

According to him, “election was going to take many years back and while I was minding my business just praying and praising God, God suddenly told me that ‘son, the winner will be the loser, the loser will be the winner and Aminu Kano is the most fortunate of them all’.

“How do you explain a prophesy like this but because it was God that has spoken, it is already settled. Then, Aminu Kano died before the election could take place and you start asking the meaning of him being the most fortunate. With his death, only Abiola and Tofa contested the election.

“At that time, I was the president of PFN, (Pentecostal Fellowships of Nigeria) and pastors came to at TBS (Tafawa Balewa Square) saying, the two candidates in the election are Muslims and we are Christians, so who are we to vote for.

I said to them, well, everybody should go and vote his conscience, but this is what my Father said, ‘the winner will be the loser and the loser will be the winner’. Oh, they said to me, come-on now, two people are in an election, there will be a winner. I said that was what my Father said.

“You know the rest of the story. Aminu Kano died and was well honoured. Tofa lost the election but at least he returned to his house a free man and Abiola, the winner went to prison and you know the rest of the story”.

Abiola, presidential candidate of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), the presumed winner of the watershed election eventually died in prison custody on July 7, 1998, while being held for alleged treason by the military junta of late Sani Abacha and former Head of State, Abdulsalam Abubakar.

He was eventually posthumously declared the winner of the said election.

Speaking on the theme; Children of Conquerors, Adeboye also pointed out that regardless of the official stance of a negotiation between the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration and terrorist Boko Haram leading to the release of the abducted female students from Dapchi government college, their release was a miracle of God and an answer to the prayer collective offered at the March Holy Ghost service.

He prayed for the safe return of those still in the terrorists’ captivity.

Adeboye also urged the congregation that instead of praying for all enemies of the children of God to die, it would be great to have some of them, bowing to the God of the ones they want to destroy.

“How great will it be, if we have the leader of the Boko Haram, standing here (the altar), giving his life to Christ” he said.

Testimonies shared at the programme, which also witnessed an anointing segment, include; the raising of the wife of a pastor who died in her sleep, a couple giving birth to twins after about two decades of marriage, a muslim encountering Adeboye at Abuja airport and coming in contact with the Holy Spirit leading to his salvation, amongst many others.

By Juliana Francis, Biodun Oyeleye and Emmanuel Onani


Among victims of Thursday bank robbery attacks in Offa, Kwara State were a man and his wife, who had gone to the police station to settle their quarrel. Sources in the community told our correspondent last night that one of the partners had gone to the police station to lodge a report against the other, despite pleas by neighbours for them to settle the quarrel amicably at home.

Although their identities were yet to be known, their story was a topic of discussion among residents of the town yesterday as more facts emerged about victims of the robberies. The couple was said to have been among the civilian victims the robbers killed when they invaded the police station.

Their story came up against the backdrop of questions being asked on the whereabouts of detainees at the station after the robbers struck. While some residents claimed that the robbers killed all of them and therefore increased the number of victims, state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ajayi Okasanmi, denied such insinuations, insisting there was no one in police detention as at the time of the incident.

He said: “There was no one in detention when the robbers struck; the only civilians they killed at the station were those who came to lodge complaint as earlier explained.” One other victim has also been identified as Jamiu Adekunle Alawode, Head of Operations, at Stockup Microfinance Bank, beside Zenith Bank in the town. He was killed inside the bank.

Alawode was said to have been in his early 40s. “He was a very hardworking person and honest. We are still mourning him. In fact we are still trying to pacify his wife,” Jamiu’s elder brother, a lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication, Federal Polytechnic, Offa, told our correspondent yesterday. He said that although the deceased had worked in other places before, it was at the microfinance bank that he had begun to get settled and accomplished.

The Fidau prayers for him were said yesterday at Ijagbo. Another victim, a female police inspector, was said to be the daughter of a retired police officer in the state. Meanwhile, the National President of the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), Ambassador Usman Sheikh-AbdulAzeez, yesterday led over 30 members of the National Executive Council of the union to Offa to commiserate with the Offa community over the robbery.

Sheikh-AbdulAzeez, a retired security expert, noted that the security operatives in the state lacked sophisticated equipment that could adequately carter for any security challenges. He, therefore, asked the Federal Government to provide more security gadgets and surveillance in Kwara State to curb cases of bank robbery and other vices. Sheikh-AbdulAzeez also appealed to the Federal Government to provide such gadgets, along with qualified manpower to curb cases of bank robbery and other security problems in the state.

The IEDPU president presented the union’s condolence letter to the Olofa of Offa.
Responding on behalf of Olofa of Offa, the National President of the Offa Descendants Union (ODU), Alhaji Najeem Usman-Yasin, thanked the IEDPU for the condolence visit.
Meanwhile, the police, yesterday disclosed that 20 suspects have been arrested in connection with the Thursday bank robberies in Offa, Kwara State and killings that occurred between Wednesday and Saturday, in Donga and Bali local government areas of Taraba State, leading to the death of many and carting away of huge sums of money in the two states.

The Inspector-General of Police (IG), Ibrahim Idris, disclosed that he had dispatched high powered investigating teams to the two states. Idris added that seven AK47 rifles, four pistols, 30 ammunition and seven operational vehicles had been recovered in both states.

The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Jimoh Moshood, said that the IG had ordered deployment of three Police Mobile Force units, high powered police investigation team, Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) with 10 crew members and anti-robbery equipment to Kwara State.

Idris also deployed three additional Police Mobile Force units to Taraba State to beef up security. The deployment, it was learnt, is to prevent further attacks, arrest perpetrators and carryout discreet investigation into the Offa bank robberies in Kwara State and the killings in Donga and Bali local government areas of Taraba State.

Moshood said: “The police have arrested eight principal suspects in connection with the Offa bank robberies and 12 suspects directly responsible for the recent killings in Donga and Bali local government areas of Taraba State. “The police have also recovered seven AK47 rifles, four locally-made revolver pistols and 30 rounds of AK47 ammunition, seven operational vehicles of the armed robbers in the two incidents.”

The FPRO added that the IG had placed commissioners of police and police personnel nationwide on redalert. He had also directed 24 hours intelligence gathering and crime prevention/police visibility patrol of crisis spots, flash points and other crime vulnerable scenes in their commands throughout the country.

Moshood noted that the deployments, which were already in the two states, would cover Offa Local Government Area and its environs and other vulnerable points in Kwara State.

The FPRO also said the deployment of the three Police Mobile Force (PMF), in addition to the five PMF units recently deployed to Taraba State, would cover Donga, Bali, Lau, Gassol, Karim Lamido local government areas and other flash points in the state. He said: “The police teams will carry out intelligence gathering, raids of identified criminal spots/ flashpoints, stop and search operations, visibility and confidence building patrols, arrest of perpetrators and further investigation into the incidents.

“The immediate intervention and preliminary investigation carried out by the high-powered Police Investigation Team deployed by the IG working in synergy with the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (SCIID) in the two commands resulted in the arrest of eight principal suspects in connection with the Offa bank robberies and 12 suspects directly responsible for the recent killings in Donga and Bali local government areas of Taraba State.

“Also recovered were seven AK47 rifles, four locally-made revolver Pistols and 30 Rounds of AK47 ammunition, seven operational vehicles of the armed robbers and assailants in the two incidents.”

Moshood disclosed that in the attacks in Donga and Bali local government areas, 12 persons were arrested. The 12 have been identified as Ali Runo, Hassan Ruwo, Chindo Umoru, Yinusa Usman, Shittu Usman, Tervesee John and Terse Joseph. Others are Victor Madu, Theophilos Ajee, Hasama George, Tervise Boniface and Tijie Evarso.

The police said the 12 suspects were arrested for being part of those responsible for the killings of innocent people. “They have confessed and admitted to the various criminal roles they played in the commission of the crime and will be arraigned in court on completion of investigation,” Moshood added. He said that eight persons had also been arrested in the Offa incident, where nine policemen and eight others were killed.

The FPRO noted that the eight suspects were arrested in connection with the incident. Moshood, who didn’t disclosed the names of the suspects as he did in the Taraba State killings, added that the suspects had admitted to the various criminal roles they played in the bank robbery attacks and were also assisting police investigation into the incident.

lalasticlala

Posted By: Yusuf Alli


Fresh facts emerged yesterday that some governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and some party leaders are adamant on the retention of the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and other members of the National Working Committee (NWC) because of some personal reasons including survival for the 2019 polls.

The governors are: Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna); Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo); Yahaya Bello (Kogi); Mohammed Abubakar (Bauchi); Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun); and Simon Lalong (Plateau).

Governor Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano) who used to be pro-Odigie-Oyegun, allegedly changed his mind at the March 27 National Executive Committee meeting.

Others linked with Odigie-Oyegun are some leaders of the National Assembly; Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi, and the National Legal Adviser of APC, Dr. Muiz Banire (SAN).

But following the President’s advisory, Amaechi has opted for elective convention too.

Sources close to some of the governors said they are afraid that the congresses could be rancorous and that this can have a negative impact on the APC in next year’s election.

Extensive checks however show that this is a smokescreen.

The real motive is the fear that due to their dwindling influence, they may not produce the next executive committees of the party in their respective states.

Some of the governors are said to be upset that President Muhammadu Buhari was allegedly conceding to some national leaders of the party, especially Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Their calculation is that they are already losing out in Buhari’s kitchen cabinet.

The pro-Odigie-Oyegun governors are not happy that having invested so much in the APC national executive members they may not be there for them in the build-up to the 2019 elections.

Some NWC members were said to be seeking favours from a few of these governors and leaders including juicy contracts and trips abroad.

A highly placed source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Some of those governors rooting for Odigie-Oyegun and NWC members have virtually hijacked the structure of APC and thoroughly compromised the leadership.

“The rot began gradually as soon as the NWC led by Odigie-Oyegun was inaugurated and a thanksgiving was done.
“This was why the NWC was helpless on some issues including the now resolved June 2015 stalemate in the National Assembly over the choice of principal officers.

“Some governors have also allegedly influenced decisions of the NWC on the legality of their State Working Committees.

“There is more to the backing of Odigie-Oyegun than meets the eye. It is a case of he who pays the piper dictates the tunes. Many times, two Northern governors have bailed out the APC National Secretariat by paying the salaries of staff which is about N17million monthly.”

For instance, findings confirmed that El- Rufai is Oyegun’s favourite. Many APC watchers don’t understand the basis for the cosy relationship.

It was gathered that at a stage, Odigie-Oyegun was always using every opportunity to sing the praise of el-Rufai who he once described as “an achiever” to the envy of others.

A source said: “If you look at Odigie-Oyegun, he is fond of putting el-Rufai in strategic committees of the party. He believes that as a favourite of the President, el-Rufai is a way to Buhari’s heart.

“All interventions in Kaduna APC by the National Secretariat were mere cosmetics because el-Rufai is Odigie-Oyegun’s anointed political loyalist. It is an open secret.

El-Rufai
“And el-Rufai in turn takes undue advantage of the party to seal the hope of his opponents, especially Senators Shehu Sani and Othman Hunkuyi.

“As long as Odigie-Oyegun remains in office, el-Rufai will control APC machinery in the state and his second term ticket is assured. So, it is a case of survival in 2019 in Kaduna

“With his loyalty to the President and backing for Odigie-Oyegun, el-Rufai can be likened to a polygamist managing two wives. He was one of those instrumental to the February resolution by NEC on tenure elongation for Odigie-Oyegun and the NWC.

“The same el-Rufai dealt with the National Vice Chairman (Northwest) of APC, Inuwa Abdulkadir to check any attempt to use the zone to undermine his political aspiration.”
A source in el-Rufai’s camp however said el-Rufai’s support for Odigie-Oyegun was meant to keep the APC united for the 2019 re-election bid of the President.

The source said: “El-Rufai does not do things in half measures. He is only being a party man to the core by serving Odigie-Oyegun led NWC at any time.

“He suspects that those who want to wreck the party were behind the elective congresses and National Convention so that APC will be in turmoil before the 2019 polls.

“He also detests the attitude of some of his colleagues. For instance, the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Rochas Okorocha and the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Abdulaziz Yari invited el-Rufai and his colleagues to a meeting without any agenda on the invite. He only got to the meeting only to be confronted with the options of either tenure elongation or elective congresses and convention. He felt bad.

“All I know is that he has no differences with the President. He is not opposed to the idea of the president on the conduct of state congresses. He will not be on a different wave length with the President.”

Yahaya Bello
For his part, Governor Yahaya Bello’s second home is the National Secretariat of the party since he became the governor.
Having secured the confidence of Odigie-Oyegun and his team, the governor relates with only a factional APC in the state led by Ibrahim Ahovi.

In spite of a pronouncement by the National Working Committee, the authentic state chapter of APC being headed by Hady Ametu has been operating largely from Abuja.

It was gathered that the governor invested in the splitting of APC because of alleged desperation for a second term ticket.
Another source said: “Left to Bello, he prefers Odigie-Oyegun’s retention in order to be able to take total control of the party’s structure in the state and seal his second term ticket.

“Apart from assisting the party, the governor recently renovated the Press Centre in the APC National Secretariat. The renovation is causing ripples as those in the administration felt sidelined. But no one knows how much Bello gave to the party till date.

“Bello is close to the first family but he has spread his tentacles to APC secretariat in order to cage his opponents who may have to look for another party. His only challenge is how to win his re-election bid because Kogi East, with a huge voting strength, is waiting in the wing to reclaim the mandate conceded to it through the late Prince Abubakar Audu.”

But Bello on Wednesday made a volte face when he said: “I am an ardent supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari who has said that we must stick to the 1999 Constitution and APC Constitution. If Buhari asks me to jump into fire, I will not hesitate to jump into it.”

Simon Lalong
For Governor Simon Lalong, who is interested in a second term, he has been following the footsteps of his godfather, Rotimi Amaechi (the Minister of Transportation) who backed his election. Amaechi, who feels comfortable with any of the camps in APC, is only interested in a united APC and he wants to have a say in the party affairs to protect the interest of the President.

A source close to Lalong said: “The governor has no personal commitment to Oyegun other than being a party faithful. He has no problem to be cringing at the doorsteps of either the APC National chairman or NWC members.

“Lalong was for tenure extension to avoid the friction that comes with congresses and National Convention. He believes tension associated with elective convention can lead to bad blood which may cause the exit of some party leaders.

“He said in an election year, no party can afford a convention crisis. He also said since it was a general decision in February to extend the tenure of Odigie-Oyegun and others, it is better to abide by it.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “There is no intra-party crisis in APC in Plateau State to warrant Lalong shuttling to Abuja for party protection. We had a noise maker who everybody ignored.”

Mohammed Abubakar
Concerning the Governor of Bauchi State, Mohammed Abubakar, it was learnt that he initially supported Odigie-Oyegun because President Buhari was backing the man.

A reliable source close to him said: “My understanding which may be limited, the governor is a firm believer of Buhari and he was with Odigie-Oyegun because the president was also supporting him. It makes political sense to align with Buhari because the political climate here has shown that the President is still massively being followed.

What will following Odigie-Oyegun fetch Bauchi State or the governor?
“Locally there is a strong opinion that the state chairman of the party must go but people close to the governor want the status quo to remain. They are power brokers. A lot of people want to be party chairman but the current holder was the governor’s school mate.

Amaechi
Investigation revealed that Amaechi initially backed Odigie-Oyegun for continuity because as the Director-General of Buhari’s Campaign for 2019, he does not want any rumpus in the party.

“But immediately the President stamped his feet on elective convention, he withdrew his support for tenure elongation”.

Asked if Amaechi opted for Odigie-Oyegun to control the party structure in the state, the source added: “It is indisputable that the Minister is the leader of the party in the state.

“What we are doing is to reunite everyone including Sen. Magnus Abe who felt aggrieved at some point.”

Akeredolu
Governor Akeredolu’s preference for Odigie-Oyegun is described by a source, as a case of “one good turn deserves another.”

Having gone through stiff opposition to secure the party’s governorship ticket, the governor is said to be overwhelmed by the “fairness of Odigie-Oyegun and the NWC.”
The source said: “You know he contested for governorship primaries without the control of the party’s structure. He believes he owes the party leadership some support.

“Also, Akeredolu and his strategists feel that it is time to consolidate their grip on APC in Ondo State more so when there are still issues in court by one of the gubernatorial aspirants, Dr. Segun Abraham, at the September 3, 2016 governorship primary election.

“He believes some leaders of the party are behind the lingering court case on the primaries and he has to lean on the national leadership of APC in case of any upset.”

Amosun
To Governor Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), who is a close political ally of the President, there is no need changing Odigie-Oyegun’s NWC. He strongly suspects the anti-tenure elongation agenda is being floated by some leaders from the South-West.

A party leader said: “Although efforts were made recently by the President to reconcile Amosun and some aggrieved South-West leaders, it is still a cat and mouse game.

“His ultimate objective is to anoint his successor and he thinks the status quo can make it a reality. If a new leadership emerges, it can be a different permutation.”
Six issues which may dominate APC NEC meeting.


Six issues will largely determine the course of events when the national executive committee (NEC) of APC convenes tomorrow in Abuja on the future of Odigie-Oyegun and other members of the national working committee (NWC).

President Buhari, whose intervention seems to have punctured the move to give Odigie-Oyegun a tenure extension, will be joined at the all important meeting by other top wigs of the party.

Notwithstanding, last minute consultations are continuing by Odigie-Oyegun supporters, led by some state governors, to save the day for him.

Party sources hinted yesterday of a plot by some APC members who feel threatened by Odigie-Oyegun’s possible exit to dump the party and form a New APC.

The Nation gathered yesterday that Buhari’s speech at the last meeting of the APC NEC in which he drew attention to the illegality of tenure extension for Odigie-Oyegun and others will form the basis of tomorrow’s deliberation.

The meeting, according to party sources, will also revolve around the report of the Governor Lalong-led Committee on tenure elongation and constitutional matters; the power of the NEC to establish a committee; the composition of the National Convention Committee and the timetable for state congresses and National Convention and whether or not Odigie-Oyegun’s NWC members will be asked to resign.

Buhari at the March 27 meeting had said: “I have taken time to review and seek advice on the resolution and what I found is that it contravenes both our party’s constitution and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. While the APC constitution in article 17(1) 13.2 (b) and limits the tenure of elected officers to four years, renewable once by another election, the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) in section 223 also prescribes periodic election for party executives at regular intervals which must not exceed four years.

“Furthermore, Article 31 of our great party’s constitution provides that any principal officer wishing to re-contest, or contest for another post, must resign from his current post at least one month before the election. In this circumstance, what is expected of us, is to conduct fresh elections once the tenure of the current executives approaches its end.”

Some sections of the APC Constitution which also be discussed are: Articles17 (1), 13.2, 3 (b); 20 and 31.

Section 13.3 says: “The National Executive Committee of the Party shall be the Principal Executive body of the Party and shall perform the following functions:
1. Summon or convene the National Convention and prepare its agenda;

2. Discharge all functions of the National Convention as constituted in between National Conventions;

iii. Decision of the National Executive Committee shall be binding on all organs and all, members of the Party, except the National Convention;
1. Consider reports from National, State and Local Government Area/Area Councils Chapters of the Party and take such decisions as are necessary to protect, advance, and consolidate the gains and interests of the Party;

2. Exercise control and take disciplinary actions on all organs, officers and members of The Party and determine appeals brought before it by any member or organ of the Party;

3. Create, elect and appoint any Committee it may deem necessary, desirable or expedient and assign to them such Powers and functions as it may deem fit and Proper;

iv. Examine the actions taken or legislation proposed or passed by any Government, Legislative House or Local Government Area/Area Council and determine what further actions the Party should take;

v. Secure at all elections the return of as many Party candidates as Possible, so as to generally have control of the Legislative and Executive arms of Governments in the Federation, States and Local Government Areas/Area Council
1. Raise adequate funds for the management and sustenance of the Party;

2. Ratify the type, nature and membership of Standing Committees to be set up by the National Working Committee;

3. Approve the national budget of the Party;
Article 17 (i) says: “Except as otherwise provided in this Constitution, all officers of the Party elected or appointed into the Party’s organs shall serve in such organs for a period of four (4) years and shall be eligible for re-election or re-appointment for another period of four (4) years only, provided that an Officer elected or appointed to fill a vacancy arising from death, resignation or otherwise shall notwithstanding be eligible for election to the same Office for two terms.

“No member shall serve in the same office for more than eight ( years continuously, except a member of the Board of Trustees or a person who first came to the office by filling a vacancy.

Article 20 reads: “All Party posts prescribed or implied by this Constitution shall be filled by democratically conducted elections at the respective National Convention or Congress subject, where possible, to consensus, Provided that where a Candidate has emerged by consensus for an elective position, a vote of “yes” or “no” by ballot or voice shall be called, to ensure that it was not an imposition which could breed discontent and crisis.’

Article 31 borders on the omnibus provisions in APC Constitution which make it compulsory for Odigie-Oyegun and all NWC members to resign at least 30 days prior to the date of nomination or Party primary for the Office he or she is seeking to contest.

The omnibus provisions of the APC Constitution stipulates thus : “Provided always that in pursuit of all the provisions herein contained in this Constitution, the following shall ensure that:
1. No person shall be eligible to contest for any Party position, or be nominated by the Party to be its candidate at any election, if the person is not a member of the Party.

2. All nominations into elective offices shall be supported by a specified number of nominators from the relevant Constituencies as may be prescribed or provided for in the Party’s Electoral Guidelines.

3. Any Party office holder interested in contesting for an elective office (whether party office or office in a general election) shall resign and leave office 30 days prior to the date of nomination or Party primary for the Office he or she is seeking to contest.

lalasticlala

Linus Oota, Lafia


https://www.sunnewsonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/DAD-300x150.jpg

Stories of men who kill for love most often sound far-fetched and are frequently staples of make-believe. But recently, such a horror happened in real life when Thompson Agena cold-bloodedly took a life for the sake of winning a woman’s love. His crime leaves family, friends, and neighbours reeling with shock and disbelief because the victim was his six-year-old daughter and his only child who lost her mother exactly two years ago.


Love and tragedies

The life of Thompson Agena, 47, a native of Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, is characterized by tribulation and tragedies. Agena, who earns his livelihood as a carpenter since he completed his secondary education in Government Science Secondary School Lafia in 1988, married his wife, Cecilia, a native of Obi Local Government Area of the state in 2005 and the couple had their first child, a daughter named Mercy in 2011. Thereafter, they had a difficulty conceiving a second child until 2016 when Cecilia took in and eventually died shortly after giving birth.

A repentant Thompson Agena narrated to Saturday Sun how he lost his wife to maternal mortality on April 20, 2016. His wife’s second pregnancy was a few days overdue when he took her to the General Hospital in Lafia to be induced and he went back home to make plans for to welcome back the mother and the new child.

“I got one of my younger sisters to help her at home when she returns back, and I painted the house in bright colours. I did all I could to make sure that it was comfortable for my wife and our new baby,” he recounted.

At the hospital, Cecilia had a prolonged labour, finally giving birth to a 4.6kg baby boy, but she continued bleeding, suffering a postpartum hemorrhage, and at 1:23 am, had died of blood loss.

According to him, the hospital was out of stock of the drugs needed to stop his wife’s bleeding. “So I went out to buy them.

Nobody told me why she died,” he said.
While he had contemplated taking legal action against the hospital for negligence, he was discouraged by the futility of such action taken by some individuals in the past.

“I decided to leave it to God because nothing I do will bring her back,” he said.
A week later, another tragedy struck. The baby boy died and was buried immediately in the village.

While the circumstance leading to the death of his wife and his newborn child was beyond his control, he, however, had no excuse for indulging in the self-inflicted calamity of murdering a child.


The impossible ‘marriage condition’

A year after his wife’s demise, Agena enrolled for a part-time diploma programme at the Nasarawa State Polytechnic where he met Joy Orkuma, a native of Guma Local Government Area, Benue State. The pair fell in love, and soon after, she became pregnant.

Agena was as passionate about his newfound love as to declare his willingness to do anything in order to get her committed to marriage. Like Herodias’ daughter who asked for “the head of John the Baptizer”, Orkuma asked for the elimination of his six-year-old daughter.

In the night of February 22, Agena did her bidding. He picked his daughter who was in deep slumber and dumped her inside a well.

Her body was discovered the next day when a farmer named Joseph Kula wanted to use the well. Kula raised an alarm and neighbours rallied to recover the lifeless body from the well.

Agena, since arrested by the police and charged to court, attributed his heinous action to an overpowering love for his new girlfriend and the unbearable phobia of losing her and the pregnancy she had for him.

According to the suspect, his girlfriend argued that she wouldn’t want to raise a family with a witch around her. Agena alleged she had threatened to abort the pregnancy and quit their relationship if he failed to take action.

When Saturday Sun spoke over the phone to Joy Orkuma, currently on the run, she conveyed no sympathy about the situation.

She claimed she only suggested her incompatibility with the six-year-old whose behavior she described as unusual for a girl of her age. “I told him that if I must marry him, Mercy will have to leave,” she asserted, “[because] she always appear in my dreams each time I pass a night in her father’s house. So when I became pregnant for him, I told him that I can’t deliver a baby in the house for Mercy to kill.”

She had no misgivings speaking ill about the murdered girl whom she told Saturday Sun was not a human being. According to her, the father’s murder of his daughter was the best thing to do.

In the meantime, the scales have fallen from the eyes of the murderous father whose remorse is not about the life he snuffed but a lamentation of letting down his late wife’ that, “My wife will never forgive me in her grave. I have betrayed her trust and love for me.”

According to him, Joy Orkuma had hated Mercy from the beginning and had consistently framed stories about her. “I regretted buying into her devilish ideas,” he wailed.


A twist in the tale

The younger brother of the suspect, David Agena brought a fresh angle to the story when he told Saturday Sun that his elder brother was not the biological father of the late Mercy. According to him, the late Cecilia Agena was two months pregnant when she married his elder brother.

“We all knew what happened, but that is a long story,” he said. “I don’t want to talk about that now. No sane human being will kill his daughter because of a girlfriend, [I mean] how can you do a thing like that? Cecilia was a nice woman, godly and hard working; she loved her husband so much, in fact, they both love themselves. I don’t know what came over him.”

He gave further background about the contentious paternity.

“About three guys, including my elder brother, were dating Cecilia and when she got pregnant. It was confusing who actually was responsible. But she insisted it was my elder brother, who out of love, accepted it and got married to her. Later, we heard that he was not the one. So, there was that problem. But, my elder brother and his late wife were the best of friends. There is no reason for him to do what he has done because of a woman.”

By Olalekan Osiade and Johnchuks Onuanyim




As members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) heave sigh of relief over the resolution of the recent tenure elongation crisis that nearly tore the apart, many party faithful would be shocked to learn that it is not yet uhuru for the ruling party. This is because the crisis in the APC has shifted from the issue of tenure elongation to succession battle, investigations by Saturday Telegraph has revealed. Just a few days ago, the governors elected on the platform of the APC closed ranks and backed President Muhammadu Buhari’s option of an election to retain the party’s executives or usher in new ones at all levels.

The party’s National Executive Council (NEC) had extended the tenure of the party’s National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and other National Working Committee (NWC) members for one year, an option that the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu kicked against. Now, having settled for an elective convention to be held at all levels, another battle, a double-edged sword, which is set to cause more uproar within the party, reared its ugly head.

Presidency, govs want Oyegun to run again
While a group of governors allegedly backed by the presidency is reportedly rooting for Oyegun to retain his seat, another group, said to be loyal to Tinubu, is not just fighting to replace the chairman, but also wants to ensure that their camp produces the new APC helmsman during the June convention. A source privy to happenings within the top echelon of the party told Saturday Telegraph that with the support Oyegun had been receiving from some power blocs within the presidency and some of the state governors, he would have no choice than to vie for a second term in office.

The APC top shot insisted that some of those close to Buhari are not favourably disposed towards the names being peddled. He noted that the power bloc within the Presidency is more comfortable with Oyegun, who they believe is absolutely loyal to Buhari, an opinion Saturday Telegraph tried to confirm from the Presidency. All efforts to get the media aides to the President, Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu, proved abortive as the duo were said to be away, on a visit to the President’s country home in Daura.

Though Shehu picked his call, the line was croaky and he promised to call but did not as at the time this newspaper went to bed, while Adesina did not pick his call. The Presidency source had told Saturday Telegraph: “We can’t take chances. This is about 2019 election and we cannot gamble with those we cannot trust. The National Chairman is too loyal to the president and with him still on board; Buhari’s re-election is a done deal.

“Do you know how many governors are behind the chairman? They are not just too many; they also have the backing of people from the Presidency. “Those who want the chairman to go will be disgraced. They would be shocked because those working for the chairman in the Presidency are too big to be ignored”, the source said. “Even in the other camp, they don’t know what they want. They just want Tinubu to see them as doing his bidding but they are not tactical.

“They don’t want Oyegun, at the same time they want to produce the chairman. That’s not possible, you can’t eat your cake and have it. “If you don’t want Oyegun, negotiate with us to change him, and still pick somebody from our camp. But you want us to remove him and put your own person. Do you think we are fools? “We have agreed with them, we shall go for election during the next convention. They have won the battle but let us see how they will win the war”, he said .


Tinubu’s camp cautiously optimistic

However, an ally of the National Leader has denied that Tinubu is involved in the power play as he claims that the former Lagos governor has no candidate. “Tinubu has no candidate, he doesn’t care who emerges during the convention. He just believes in the rule of law and that is why he is insisting on an elective convention”.

But when probed further, he agreed that Tinubu, though might not be too keen on choosing a replacement for Oyegun, he is fighting that the APC National Chairman should not return. “He doesn’t want Oyegun to return, that is the truth. And he will play all his politics to ensure that Oyegun does not return. But he knows he may not be able to produce the new chairman. “The governors are in control of the party and even Buhari knows that the governors don’t want the National Leader to produce the new chairman. So, I assure you that Tinubu has no candidate”, he said.


Technical committee submits report

This is coming as the technical committee set up by the NEC of the party yesterday submitted its report, in which it partially toed the new line of the governors, recommending that an election be held. An ally of one of the committee members told Saturday Telegraph that the committee had no choice than to toe the President’s line.

Submitting the report, the chairman of the technical committee, Governor Simeon Lalong of Plateau State, said if the document is adhered to, it would douse the tension in the party. Lalong, while submitting five copies of the report to Oyegun at the party’s National Secretariat, said: “This report was accepted by all our committee members including those that have travelled back to their destinations. We did our best within short time to ensure that we get the report ready within the accepted time, so that this party can move forward.

“The task appeared not easy when it was given to us but with God on our side and the very wide consultations we made, this report has solved most of the problems that we were thinking was within the APC.

So, that is to tell you that there is democracy in the APC. “We looked at the meeting of February 27; we looked at also the passion and the commitment of Mr. President towards keeping the party as one and also cohesive. And so, at the end of the day, we made far-reaching recommendations. “We noticed that there were different interests, which is quiet usual when you have a party like this that is progressive and those interest were genuine but at the end of the day, we were able to marry those interests so that the party can move forward.

So, in this report, you will see a lot of it. “The report also contains recommendations of certain issues that we think the party should do immediately. And one of them, you have already started; that if these recommendations are going to be useful within the shortest time, the party must summon a NEC meeting. “Already we have received notices of NEC meeting for Monday, which is also in line with our recommendations and we want to assure you that at the end of the day, APC is coming back to life.” In his reaction, Oyegun thanked the committee for expeditiously concluding the assignment, saying that: “The report will lay to rest, the ghost that had been hovering over the party.” The report would be presented to members of National Executive Committee (NEC) at the meeting slated for Monday.


Fears over NEC meeting, faithful poised for war

However, there are fears that the report may not be discussed at the NEC meeting on Monday as some people have started canvassing that the NEC meeting was fixed by some APC governors and not NWC members. They also argue that the notice of the meeting did not meet the requirement of the party’s constitution. The APC constitution provides that for an emergency NEC meeting to be held, seven days notice must be given to members.
Those against the holding of the meeting argued that the notice for the NEC meeting was issued on Wednesday, indicating six days notice, which some have argued, does not meet the constitutional requirement. To this end, some party faithful are already poised for a showdown over the report, arguing that whatever the committee recommends would be dead on arrival.

They have vowed to ensure that Monday’s NEC meeting will not discuss the matter, therefore Buhari’s option that the party should go for an elective position must be upheld. Other sources close to the leadership of the party informed our correspondents that the debate might be heated on Monday because those who do not want the NEC meeting to hold are set to use the constitutional provisions to stampede the Oyegun executive.

“The meeting may not hold, we are not sure of anything for now. The truth is that, they don’t want the meeting to hold. And unfortunately, we have played into their hands because the NEC meeting did not meet the requirements of the law. “It is the same law that the president was talking about on the tenure elongation. We keep step-siding the law and that is what took us to this point. “We need to have seven days to hold the meeting but what we have is just six days. How will that work?” He queried.

The ally of a committee member, who earlier claimed to have an insight into the report said the National Chairman had beforehand warned that the wishes of the Buhari as the leader of the party, must be respected by all, therefore the committee’s report could not have favoured an extension for Oyegun’s NWC, else it would not be taken serious. According to the source, the governors who are loyal to Oyegun are bent on having him remain in office or be allowed to bring his successor, if the National Chairman chooses not to run.

“If the governors cannot get Oyegun to seek re-election, they will put another candidate to lead the party, they already have someone they are tipping”, the source said. Further speaking, he said that the governors have resolved not to allow an individual nominate the National Chairman of the party as it was the case in 2014.

“The former Lagos governor single handedly nominated Oyegun in 2014, such wont happen again. It must come from the group. The governors have said Oyegun’s successor must come from them, independent of any one person. “But Oyegun himself has decided to allow the wishes of the President to prevail. He said that he is more interested in the stability of the party than continuing in office as National Chairman. “He has said clearly that whichever way the report of the technical committee goes, we must respect Buhari’s decision because the Mr. President is the leader of the party”, the source said.

By Olusola Fabiyi and Jesusegun Alagbe

As controversy continues to trail the release of looters ’ list by the Federal Government in the last one week , there are strong indications that government is compiling fresh names of people alleged to have looted the nation ’ s treasury .

Our correspondents learnt that the fresh list might contain names of those who have yet to be arraigned in courts for corruption .
The list may also include names of former governors , ministers and even bankers.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed , had in the past said 55 persons stole N 1 . 34tn under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan. Last week , he released 29 names , who he said took money from the office of the former National Security Adviser , Col. Sabo Dasuki (retd . ).

Many of the names he released were , however, those already undergoing trial for alleged corruption while the names of members of the former ruling party , the Peoples Democratic Party , who had defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress were conspicuously omitted from the list .

The two lists contained names of those in the main opposition party , the PDP. The PDP had subsequently criticised the government , accusing it of being biased and diverting attention from its alleged incompetence.

But a source close to the Presidency , who spoke on condition of anonymity , told one of our correspondents in Abuja on Friday , that the government , through the Ministry of Information and Culture, would soon release another list .

He said that the next batch would be more comprehensive and would contain the names of those who either took money from the office of the former NSA or directly from the Federal Government before the 2015 elections.

He said the government was aware of the controversy that surrounded the release of the first two lists , adding that the names of some persons considered to be close to the government could be in the third list .

The source said , “ Between you and me , I can authoritatively tell you that we are compiling a fresh list . We won ’ t release it until we are satisfied with it . We want to be thorough. People will be shocked when we release the fresh names.

“Those who accused us of being biased will know that we know what we are doing . The first list was a fraction . When the second one came out , people were surprised . As for the next one, people will be shocked . I won ’ t say more than that. ”

Efforts made to reach Mohammed on the issue were unsuccessful as calls made to his mobile phone indicated that it was switched off .


Our list includes former governors , ministers, bankers –Sagay

However , the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption , Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), in an interview with Saturday PUNCH confirmed that the names of 55 persons that allegedly looted N 1 . 34tn under Jonathan’ s regime were not in the lists of looters released by the Federal Government .

He said he was very sure that the Federal Government would publish the names of these alleged looters . He said , “ Yes , I’ m sure. In fact , there is a paper containing all their names, the charges against them , how far their cases have gone , some of them have never been charged .
“ That list includes former governors , ministers , bankers and so on. That is another list entirely. ”

He, however , refused to mention any of the names on the list , saying , “ No, I don’ t want to mention any names for now . There are people on that list that the court declared that the EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) had no right to prosecute for technical reasons , not for substantive reasons . ”

Secondus sues Lai Mohammed , demands N 1 . 5bn damages

Meanwhile , the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus , has dragged Mohammed to court for defamation of character.

Mohammed had on Friday, last week , identified Secondus as one of those who looted the nation ’ s treasury in the first list .

He alleged that Secondus collected N 200 m from Dasuki , an allegation that was denied by Secondus , who said he was embarrassed by the minister ’ s claim .

He claimed through a letter from his lawyer, Mr. Emeka Etiaba (SAN ), that he did not collect money and asked the minister to retract his statement . He also asked for the payment of N 1 . 5 bn as damages and a public apology within 48 hours.

The letter told Mohammed to note that if he failed to meet their demand after 48 hours , “ We shall within 72 hours from today , proceed to a court of competent jurisdiction to ventilate our client ’ s rights under the law and shall further seek the protection of the court against you . ”

Having failed to meet the demand , Secondus on Friday , made good his threat and filed a suit at the High Court , Port Harcourt, Rivers State, asking the court to award the sum of N 1 . 5 bn to him as damages for humiliation, castigation , vilification attack on his person and integrity as a result of the publication.

According to a statement by the PDP National Chairman ’ s Media Office , which was signed by his spokesperson , Mr. Ike Abonyi , Secondus , in the suit numbered : /PHC/ 1013/ 2018, is also claiming that Mohammed ’ s publication is defamatory .

He, therefore, asked the court to direct Mohammed to retract the said publication and apologise to him in writing .

He asked the court to compel the minister to publish the retraction and apology in the
Nation , This Day, The Sun , The
Guardian and The PUNCH as well as on television stations like Nigerian Television Authority and Channels TV , among others, where the “ defamatory ” report was published .

Secondus is also asking the court for a perpetual injunction restraining the defendant from further publishing defamatory materials against him .

Joined in the suit are the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Attorney General of the Federation and the Vintage Press Limited , publishers of The Nation Newspapers .

Also included in Mohammed ’ s first list were a former PDP National Publicity Secretary , Olisah Metuh , who is on trial for allegedly collecting N 1 . 4 bn from NSA office; Dr . Raymond Dokpesi , who is on trial for taking N 2 . 1 bn from NSA office ; and a former Senior Special Adviser to President Jonathan , Dudafa Waripamo - Owei , who is on trial over N 830 m kept in accounts of four different companies
In the second list , the minister said based on EFCC’ s investigation , N126 bn , $1.5 bn and £ 5.5 m were allegedly embezzled through Dasuki ’ s office . He said the amounts were not part of the ongoing $ 2 . 1 bn military equipment scandal .

By Oladeinde Olawoyin




The UK anti-money laundering unit, Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca), gave authorisation for the transfer of $875 million to accounts linked to a former Nigerian oil minister and convicted money launderer in the controversial Malabu scandal, JP Morgan has said.

The shocking revelation is contained in High Court documents filed by U.S. banking giant, JP Morgan Chase Bank, last week, seen by PREMIUM TIMES London partner, Finance Uncovered.

The claims were filed by the bank to counter the massive claim for damages filed by the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2017.

Last November, the Nigerian government had quietly sued the bank for $875 million (N315 billion) in the London courts over its alleged failure to block payments made from the massive Malabu oil deal that is subject to a string of international corruption investigations.

The notorious Malabu deal, involving OPL245, involved Shell, Italian oil company ENI, a convicted money launderer and former Nigerian oil minister, Dan Etete, a former Nigeria president Goodluck Jonathan and his then oil minister, Dieziani Alison-Madueke.

The court claims were made as part of a wider drive by President Muhammadu Buhari to recoup massive sums believed to have been siphoned out of Nigeria by previous regimes.

In the civil claim issued in the High Court, the Nigerian government argued that JP Morgan had been “grossly negligent” when it was banker to a previous government.

The claim, seen by Finance Uncovered, alleged that JP Morgan did not act “with the reasonable care and skill to be expected of a bank in compliance with the laws of England and Wales” when it authorised enormous payments resulting from the 2011 oil deal.

There was an “abuse of the banking system”, the claim said, adding that JP Morgan “could and should” have done enough reasonable due diligence to discover the deal involved the “misappropriation” of up to $1.1 billion from state coffers. It, therefore, demanded that the bank repay $875 million it paid out to the money launderer, plus interest, and to account for the rest.

But in its counter claim, the U.S. bank claims it repeatedly sought consent from the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) to make the payments and instead of being told to block the transfers, the bank says it was given the green light to proceed.

Details of why that permission was granted has not been explained, but campaigners say the decision means there is “real cause for concern” about the UK’s current anti-money laundering regime.

The documents show that the green lights to make the payments in two tranches in 2011 and 2013 were given by Soca, at the time the UK’s main anti-corruption unit which reported to the then Home Secretary, Theresa May.


THE MALABU DEAL

The controversial payments, made to a front company controlled by Mr. Etete, were the proceeds from what is believed to be one of the world’s most corrupt oil deals.

As oil minister in the last week of the late Sani Abacha’s regime in 1998, Mr. Etete awarded a massive untapped oil block off the coast of Nigeria known as OPL 245 to a company called Malabu, which he secretly co-owned with Mr. Abacha’s son.

After leaving government and following several years of legal disputes, Mr. Etete decided to reject overtures from Russia and China and eventually sold the block to Shell and Italian oil company Eni in 2011 for $1.1bn.

The deal involved a series of back-to-back agreements which would make Malabu surrender all rights to OPL245 to the Nigerian government in exchange for $1.1 billion. And in parallel, Eni and Shell agreed to transfer a total $1.3 billion to the Nigerian government in exchange for OPL245.

The deal also involved the former Nigerian government of Goodluck Jonathan which agreed to act as a middleman. This meant Shell and Eni were not contracting directly with Mr. Etete. At the time of the deal, Shell and Eni knew not only that Mr. Etete controlled Malabu, but also that he had been convicted on an unrelated money laundering case in Paris in 2007.

The 2011 deal has since triggered police raids in Italy and the Netherlands, and an array of legal cases. Shell, Eni and former executives from both companies are due to stand trial on corruption charges in Italy in May.


JP Morgan’s Controversial Role

There have been concerns over JP Morgan’s role in the deal, with arguments that its London branch should never have facilitated the transfers to Mr. Etete’s Malabu in 2011 and 2013. The Nigerian government based its claim on this premise when it filed its charges last November.

For a long period of time, JP Morgan denied any wrongdoing but never provided any details on why it decided to proceed with the transfers until last week when it filed the fresh claim.

In the bank’s defence, filed by City law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, it argues that the instructions to pay Mr. Etete’s company were valid and legal and came from its client, the Nigerian government.

According to the court document, JP Morgan also admits it knew it was paying the money to a company associated with Mr. Etete and that he had a money laundering conviction.

It however argued strongly that it complied fully with UK anti-money laundering laws by raising a series of Suspicious Activity Reports with Soca for various requests to pay Mr. Etete’s company over two years.

These reports, it said, would have detailed the bank’s concerns, including any red flags about Mr. Etete, Malabu and his money laundering conviction.

It argued further that officials from Soca, which was disbanded by Theresa May in late 2013 when its much criticised operations folded into the new National Crime Agency, NCA, would then have made various checks and assessments before giving any permission to proceed.

In its court filing, JP Morgan says except on one occasion, it was repeatedly given consent by officials at Soca. It argued further that on the one occasion in July 2013 when it requested payment of $74 million, Soca refused but made a U-turn a few weeks later. The documents also claim that on two occasions, even after Soca had given consent, the payments failed because banks in Switzerland and Italy declined to touch Mr. Etete’s money.

But in August 2011, the bank secured the transfer of two payments totalling $801.4 million to Malabu accounts at two Nigerian banks.

An anti-corruption campaigner at Global Witness, which has spent years investigating the OPL245 deal, Barnaby Pace, said the revelations in JP Morgan’s new court filing raise serious questions for the UK authorities.

“If we want to stop corrupt deals happening in the future we need to address the systems that make them possible,” he said.

“There must be accountability for individuals and institutions that enable corruption in major financial centres like London.

“The failure of the UK’s anti-money laundering regime to prevent this billion dollar payment to a front company owned by a former minister and convicted money launderer is a real cause for concern.”

When probed on why the UK anti-money laundering enforcement agency allowed huge sums to pass to a convicted money launderer, the National Crime Agency, the successor organisation to Soca, told Finance Uncovered that the transaction predated the NCA’s existence.

It however refused to comment on “individual cases of litigation”.

Investigators into the deal allege that the money from the OPL245 deal was used to buy a private jet and armoured Cadillacs in the US, fine art and luxury shotguns in London, and to pay a series of kickbacks to various officials.

Finance Uncovered reported in 2017 that two Shell staff members now in the dock in Italy were believed to be former MI6 agents and that Shell had a policy of recruiting former security agents to an internal intelligence-gathering body, which had a direct line to top executives in London and The Hague.

Internal Shell documents obtained by Finance Uncovered and Global Witness revealed that a senior Shell executive received a briefing in 2010 that stated: “In country view [in Nigeria] is that the President is motivated to see [OPL]245 closed quickly-driven by expectations about the proceeds that Malabu will receive and political contributions that will flow as a consequence.”

Efforts to speak to a spokesperson for President Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential advisory committee against corruption, Bolaji Owasanoye, we’re unsuccessful.

In March, an Italian court adjourned the trial of Shell and Eni and its former executives to May. All of them have consistently denied any wrongdoing. Mr. Etete, who remains unreachable, has also denied wrongdoing.

Similarly, former president Jonathan, who is not facing trial, has also denied the claims of wrongdoing.

lalasticlala

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor & Omeiza Ajayi



The All Progressives Congress, APC, was, yesterday, fending off allegations of forgery over plans to navigate a constitutional leeway that would allow it keep track with President Muhammadu Buhari’s insistence on the dissolution of the current National Working Committee, NWC, of the party.

At the centre of the controversy is the allegation that National Secretary of the party, Mallam Mala Buni, is being compelled to backdate an invitation letter to members of National Executive Committee, NEC, for a meeting due next Monday.

The Monday NEC meeting is expected to formally renounce the earlier NEC motion for an extension of the tenure of the Chief John Odigie-Oyegun-led NWC.

Under the party’s constitution, a seven-day notice is expected to be given for a meeting of NEC.

However, the decision to hold the NEC was agreed on Wednesday, following meetings among the party’s governors, the NWC, and the President.

However, Article 25B(ii) of the party’s constitution stipulates that “National Working Committee may summon an emergency National Executive Committee meeting at any time, provided that at least seven (7) days notice of the meeting shall be given to all those entitled to attend.”

However, party officials had fixed the NEC for Monday to enable President Buhari attend the meeting before his scheduled departure to the United Kingdom.

The online newspaper, Premium Times, had reported, yesterday, that on account of the constitutional implications that some of the party’s governors were trying to compel the National Secretary to backdate the invitation letter to enable the NEC meeting meet with constitutional requirements.

Buni, according to the online newspaper, had gone underground to avoid being used in the contrivance.

Some members of the party NEC contacted on the development, yesterday, acknowledged receiving text messages inviting them to the NEC. The text messages were reportedly sent out yesterday.

A senator told Vanguard that he got his invitation yesterday afternoon.

“I just got my invitation by text message,” a senator, who is a member of the APC NEC said.

Party spokesman, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, however, acknowledged receiving a text message on Wednesday evening, still two days short of the expected notice.

He, however, demurred on the irregularity of the notice as he asked Vanguard to confirm from the party secretariat.

“Confirm from the secretariat when the invitation was sent out,” he said.

A 23 - year - old housewife , Eliza Guta , almost lost her home when she played a prank on her husband on April 1 st , popularly called ‘ April Fool ’ s Day . ’

To give her husband what she thought was a surprise , she told him their only son , Tadiwanashe Mazo , was not his biological child .

In an account by H - Metro, the Zimbabwean mother narrated the hassles she went through over what she now agrees was a ‘ silly’ joke .

She said , “I woke up in the morning without that lie in mind ; but when I saw some jokes on WhatsApp , I decided to tell a lie to my husband without giving a thought to it .

“ While we were having breakfast , I told him that I wanted to confess something which I have been hiding for the past four years since we have been married .

“ He then gave me the chance to speak and I told him , ‘ Tadi is not your son but is my ex -lover ’ s . ’

“ When I told him , he went out without saying anything . I thought he was going to come back soon .

“ He spent the whole day away and he didn’ t pick up my calls and that ’ s when I realised that he was affected by the story. ”

Her husband, Lenox Mazo , didn’ t return home , but went to his parents’ place to break the news .

His parents called his wife so they could discuss the issue.

“ When I got a call from my mother - in- law , that was when I realised how big the issue was , but I wasn’ t scared because I thought of the DNA as my defence , ” said Eliza .

Lenox ’ s parents insisted that the couple should divorce and that their daughter- in - law must repay all the money that Lenox had spent on taking care of Tadiwa .

However , one of Lenox ’ s sisters , Virginia Mazo , was aware of the entire matter, and she stepped in to save her sister- in - law. .

“ I was aware of this lie . Eliza informed me via WhatsApp after she noticed Lenox ’ s reaction ; so , I was just quiet , waiting for a time like this , and these chats proved Eliza ’ s innocence , ” said Virginia .

The conversation between the two proved Eliza ’ s innocence .

Eliza and her husband got united , but Lenox insisted on having a DNA test just to be sure .

by Femi Owolabi




Enrico Monfrini, a Swiss lawyer hired by the Nigerian government since 1999 to work on recovering Abacha loot, has denied asking for additional fees.

His denial came on the heels of a syndicated article in Nigerian media seeking to justify the duplication of Monfrini’s job by Abubakar Malami, the attorney-general of the federation (AGF).

TheCable had reported the engagement of another set of Nigerian lawyers for a fee of $17 million (about N6 billion) for a job already completed by Monfrini.

But an article apparently sponsored to discredit TheCable alleged that Monfrini was asking for an additional 20% to “complete the job”.

Malami allegedly made a counter offer of 5 percent which Monfrini rejected, and this reportedly prompted Malami to engage the services of two Nigerian lawyers — Oladipo Okpeseyi, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), and Temitope Adebayo.

In an email to TheCable on Thursday, however, Monfrini explained that there is no truth in the allegation.

“I am not asking any additional fees from the Federal Republic of Nigeria in respect of funds which I have recovered on behalf of the latter during the last 20 years,” he said, adding that any allegations against him “would just be a lie”.

Working with then-attorney-general of Nigeria, Mohammed Adoke, Monfrini traced about $321 million to Luxembourg.

The monies were recovered and kept in the custody of the attorney-general of Switzerland, awaiting final return to Nigeria.

Monfrini had, earlier, told TheCable that he did not know why Nigeria decided to appoint other lawyers.

“Upon the election of President Buhari, the newly appointed minister of justice and attorney-general, Malami, appeared to prefer using the services of other lawyers in Nigeria and elsewhere,” he had said.

TheCable had also reported how
Nigeria will be paying $17 million (over N6 billion) to the freshly engaged lawyers who would “help” with the repatriation of $321 million stolen by Abacha.

This amount is nearly thrice more than what was already paid to Monfrini for the same job.

A senior official of the ministry of justice had told TheCable that “this is a case of re-looting Abacha loot”.

“A simple letter from the office of our attorney-general of the federation to the Swiss attorney-general requesting the repatriation of the funds to Nigeria consequent upon the signing of an MoU was all that was required to consummate the deal,” the official said.

“From nowhere, Malami went and appointed another set of lawyers to do his job for him, and for few million dollars too.”
The Cable Foundation, a partner organisation of TheCable newspaper, is currently in court to seek an order of mandamus compelling the AGF to release the details of the repatriation agreements with the lawyers.

An official of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has, however, told TheCable that the anti-graft agency is closely monitoring the situation.

“If a case of duplication is established, there will be consequences. This government takes the anti-graft war as a priority, as you well know, and this particular transaction is of interest to us,” the official said.

By Ismail Mudashir



President Muhmmadu Buhari is gradually winning the battle against the confirmation of his nominees at the Senate, Daily Trust report.

There had been logjam in the confirmation of President Buhari’s nominees over the remark of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu.

The Senate had following Osinbajo’s remark on Magu, passed a resolution last year halting further confirmation of the President’s nominees not captured in the Constitution.

Daily Trust reports that the development had affected over 40 of the nominees until recently, when the lawmakers shifted ground.

So far, senators have rescinded their decision on three occasions. The first was on the confirmation of two deputy governors of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and four members of the Monetary Policy Committee.

Also, the Senate has resolved to confirm nominees of the President for the CBN governing board.

On Thursday before proceeding on Easter break, senators also resolved to confirm the President’s nominee for the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

The resolution followed consideration and adoption of the report of the Senate committee on Judiciary chaired by Senator David Umaru (APC, Niger) on the alleged resumption of office of, Anthony Ojukwu, nominated as executive secretary of the NHRC.

The committee which cleared Ojukwu of the allegation that he assumed duty through the backdoor recommended that he should be confirmed.

Umaru said, “That without prejudice to the Senate position on confirmation of nominations for appointment, the Senate may wish to urgently consider and confirm the nominee in the interest of Nigeria’s integrity and image in the comity of nations.”

Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the plenary approved that the nominee be screened.

With this development, Ojukwu and some members of the CBN governing board are expected to face confirmation hearing, when the lawmakers resume from Easter break on April 10.

lalasticlala

A house wife , Mrs Janet Mohammed , of Mandela area of Minna in Niger State on Monday poured hot water mixed with pepper on her husband Mr Alaska Mohammed after a brawl .

Mohammed told the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday on his hospital bed at Minna General Hospital that the quarrel was over their 11-month- old son’ s health .

He said that trouble started when his wife was nonchalant about the boy ’ s high fever.

Mohammed said his refusal to allow the wife take the son to church led to a brawl which was subsequently settled by his mother .

“ After my mother settled us she told me that I will regret ever laying my hands on her but I ignored the threat . As I was watching television and taking my breakfast , she splashed the mixture on me , ’’ he said .

The victim said that before family members and other neighbours could come to his aid his wife had disappeared .

Mohammmed said that the incident has been reported to the Tudunwada police division in the area .

NAN observed that Mohammed , who spoke in pains, had burns on his face and body.

Confirming the incident to NAN , the Police Public Relations Officer in the state , Assistant Superintendent of Police Muhammad Abubakar , said the matter had been reported to the police .

Abubakar said the offence was criminal .

“ We have commenced investigation into the matter although the woman in question is on the run . Whenever we arrest her we will charge her accordingly , ’’ he said .
(NAN )

lalasticlala