₦airaland Forum

Michael Abimboye


The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has commended the courage and the boldness with which Ekiti State Governor, Chief Ayodele Fayose, openly declared his intention to contest the 2019 presidential election.

The body also advised the governor not to be distracted by people who have nothing good to offer the country, saying; “the nation’s problems could only be solved by leaders who walk with God and you (Fayose) have always put your trust in God.”

This was contained in a letter sent to the governor by the Christian body and signed by the National General Secretary, Rev. Dr. Musa Asake.

In the letter dated October 16, 2017 with reference number CAN/GS/IGMAILS/02/017, CAN noted that Fayose’s presidential declaration of September 28, 2017 in Abuja, could only be done by somebody with uncommon boldness and courage giving the harassment and intimidation that would surely follow.

“Unarguably, you have done what many of our politicians, Christians in particular, do not have the courage to do. This is why I agree with you, hook, line and sinker, when in your speech you said inter alia, “You are all witnesses to my commitment to this party in this difficult period, where I have demonstrated uncommon courage that makes me stand out as capable of leading our country at this time.”

“Your Excellency sir, because you are known to doing great in your leadership and that you will move this country forward, the enemies of progress are not happy with your declaration and are not sleeping well.

The devil will use many, even those who might be closer to you to try to create lies, false accusation, spread rumours, just to distract people from seeing the good leadership qualities that are in you.

“In times like this, if honest and courageous leaders like you are not careful, this can bring discouragement. Be assured that the Lord who has led you in your leadership as the Executive Governor of Ekiti State at this time, will never let you down. Your critics have the right to say whatever they want, that is to be expected anyway. No leader should expect applause from his critics,” the association said.

CAN added; “The leader that Nigeria really needs is the one that shuns the cosmetic approach because he knows it is superficial and the ” quick fix it” approach because he knows it is temporary.

The country needs a leader who has the courage to face problems honestly, the wisdom to understand them, the strength to do something about them and the faith to trust God to do the rest.”

It opined that the assignment of rebuilding the country would not be impossible for Fayose as a leader because God’s grace would be sufficient for him.

lalasticlala

The embattled Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Maikanti Baru, has canceled a dinner scheduled for Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja tonight for which his guests were to be members of the National Assembly.

The event was slated for 7 p.m., and was strictly by invitation to all Senators and Members of the House of Representatives, according to an invitation card of the dinner obtained by SaharaReporters. It was signed by the Group General Manager, Public Affairs Division, Ndu Ughamadu.
NNPC invitation to NASS members for a "Special Dinner".


the scale of the scandal involved is immeasurable, given that Baru is due to appear before the Senate Adhoc Committee charged with probing the corruption allegations leveled against him by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, concerning the award of NNPC contracts.

Senator Omotayo Alasoadura said the members of the Senate rejected the invitation after it became public earlier today.


FLASH: @NNPCgroup organizes “Special Dinner” for National Assembly members following plans to investigate Baru over Kachikwu memo scandal
pic.twitter.com/kkh9BQRuO0
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) October 31, 2017

It is unclear whether Mr. Baru intended to pay from his own pockets for the dinner, along with the usual lavish gifts for his guests, who are internationally known to take second place to none in the greed sweepstakes.

To show that NASS members were privy to the dinner and may have backed out after SaharaReporters put the invitation on Twitter, NNPC explained through Twitter that the dinner had been postponed twice, revealing that members of NASS were privy to today's dinner date with the corporation and also revealed it had similar events for publishers in Abuja.

8. It is important to note that all the @NASS Core Committees relevant to Oil & Gas Industry have agreed on Oct 31 (today) for the Dinner

— NNPC Group (@NNPCgroup)
October 31, 2017

Posted by Stanley Ihedigbo


The family of Mr. Lukmon Olowu, who was found dead inside his Toyota Corolla car on Sunday, yesterday, said there was no way he could be the lover of the lady found dead with him. Lukmon, 39, married with two kids, was a licensing agent.

According to the family, Lukmon couldn’t have been making love to the woman, identified as Promise, inside his car.

Promise was said to be from Cross River State, while her husband, Clement, a commercial bus driver, is from Edo State.
She had a child for Clement. Lukmon’s family members, who gathered yesterday at their family house at 56, Shonola Street, Ogba, Lagos, said their son was murdered.

Contrarily to earlier stories that Promise and Lukmon lived in the same compound, New Telegraph’s visit yesterday to Ogba proved that Promise lived at 48, Shonola Street, while Lukmon lived at Iju-Ishaga area of Lagos State. Lukmon’s younger brother, Idris Olowu, said Lukmon was not into any relationship with Promise.

Idris said: “ On Saturday evening, Lukmon and about six of his friends, went to a birthday party at Obawole, Iju area. After the party, Lukmon used his car to drive many of his friends to their residences, including Promise.

She also attended the birthday. Promise later called and pleaded with Lukmon to take her to her friend’s place around Excellence Hotel, located at Ogba. We understand that she called her husband, telling him that she would spend the night at her friend’s place, before she called and asked Lukmon to drive her there.

“The next thing we heard was that police called us that our brother was dead, that they had found Promise and Lukmon dead inside his car. We heard they were found naked. We all went to the police station to confirm the information.

Before the police drove the car to the station, they took pictures of their dead bodies. We saw a picture of our brother, naked and his two legs raised and placed on the dashboard. While the dead woman was half naked; she was sitting beside him at the front seat.

Her head rested lifelessly on the car seat headrest. “I can swear with my life, that my brother didn’t have anything to do with Promise. He was a responsible man, married with children. He didn’t take alcohol.

I learnt that woman was dating a guy called Femi, Promise’s husband, Clement, had warned the guy several times to stay away from his wife. Even, when the incident happened, the same Femi came to tell us that the trap was meant for him.” Idris further disclosed that Promise lived close to a beer parlour.

It was alleged that many people knew the late woman. Idris further said: “ She called her husband that night, that she would spend the night at a friend’s place. It was not the first time Lukmon had used his car to convey Promise and other people to different places after parties.

The woman always goes to party with youths living in the area because she was a friendly type.” Idris recalled that when they got to the police station on Sunday, Promise husband, Clement, said that the dead person should have been Femi, not Lukmon.

Idris said: “To my surprise, when we got to Area G Police Command, Promise’s husband said that he thought it was Femi that died. Even Femi’s phone was brought out from Promise’s handbag by her husband.”

When our correspondent visited Promise’s house yesterday evening, some of her neighbours said she had no job, but frequent the beer parlour where she used to drink beer.

One of the residents, who does not want her name mentioned, said: “The death of the woman came to every one of us as a surprise. Promise had a child and had a friend at the beer parlour joint. She used to stay at that club with her friend, drinking, whenever her husband was not around. It was at this club that some men, including the one that died with her, met her.”

The resident further said: “There was a day I warned her to stop going to the beer parlour because I had seen a situation where some of the men that came to the joint, would harass women.

That was why I warned her to stay away from the place to avoid what eventually happened now.” When our correspondent approached Clement, who wore a T-Shirt and brown trousers, he snapped: “ No! No! I can’t talk for now.” He crossed to the other side of the road and disappeared.

People in the area said that the house he entered is his grandmother’s apartment. Attempts to speak with Femi failed too.

When his phone was called, he picked and when our correspondent told him the reason for calling, he cut off and switched off.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Olarinde Famous-Cole, said that police were carrying out intensive investigations to know the circumstances surrounding the death of the couple. He added: “ We got to know about this incident barely 24 hours ago. We are still investigating. We have to carry out autopsy to ascertain the cause of their death.”

ALMUSTAQIM:
SHAME ON YOU OP,

I JUST CONFIRMED THE PROF. NEVER EVER SAID THIS.

By Taiwo Adisa And Jacob Segun Olatunji - Abuja



The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, appears to have landed in fresh crisis, following the revelations already made against him at a sitting of the Senate ad hoc committee investigating allegations raised by Senator Hamman Misau.

The IGP is scheduled to appear before the committee this week, but investigations by the Sunday Tribune indicate that the committee and some anti-graft agencies are already in possession of some documents linking the top cop with alleged mismanagement of some high-profile fraud cases, especially the one leading to the sudden transfer of a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) AbdukyariLafia from the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) to the Police Academy, Kano.

The said Abdukyari was said to have busted a number of crime cases as the head of the intelligence bureau, including a $1 million fraud case over which he was said to have rejected a $100,000 bribe offer and also busted another N2.4 billion fraud case in Akwa-Ibom, said to be linked to some top politicians.

The DCP’s sudden transfer from the FIB to the Police Academy, Kano and the refusal of the IGP to release him to the Special
Investigation Panel (SIP) on the Recovery of Public Property, which made the request through a letter by its chairman, Mr. OkoiObno-Obla in September, were said to have opened a flurry of inquests into the IGP’s handling of the Abdukyari matter.

On September 20, a businessman, Mr. Austin Ugochukwu Albert, who was defrauded of $1m, addressed a press conference in Abuja, where he alleged that the IGP summarily withdrew his case which he said was being diligently handled by Abdukyari at FIB and transferred it to the IGP Monitoring Unit.

He said that the within weeks of the FIB intervention in the case, the suspects were arrested and a court order obtained to have them detained until investigation was concluded.

He claimed that the then head of FIB, Abdukyari, in the course of the investigation was offered $100,000 bribed by the suspect, but rejected it and went ahead to arrest the said suspect. He also said Abdukyari recovered the sum of $20,000 meant to be part payment for the bribe.

Albert at the briefing said he was surprised to see that at that stage the IGP ordered a takeover of the case by the Monitoring Unit, while the head of FIB was transferred.
He also stated that the case has now been muddled up and his hope of getting justice far remote.

However, the Police High Command has dismissed all the claims of the DCP. Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Moshood Jimoh told the Sunday Tribune in Abuja that DCP “is currently being investigated over the exhibit money under his custody and which he must account for in the interest of justice and fair play to the owner of the money and the image of the Nigeria Police Force.”

The FPRO, said that the matter over the allegation he was now raising had even been taken to court which had been struck out including the petition written by the counsel of the owner of the missing exhibit money.

On the transfer of the officer to the Police Academy, the FPRO said that posting and re-posting of personnel in the police is a routine exercise for optimum performance. He further stated that it would also appear that the police was covering one of their own of the officer was not moved out while the investigation was in progress.

The Force PPRO Jimoh had also on September 19 addressed the media on September 19, at which he explained that Abdukyari was transferred from the FIB because of an ongoing investigation into a $20,000 exhibit which the DCP could not account for.

Investigations revealed that the IGP has since issued a query to DCP Abdukyari for allegedly causing him embarrassment over the $1million probe.

It was gathered at the weekend that some anti-corruption agencies and the National Assembly already have the details of some of the memos going back and forth between the Police Academy, Kano and the IGP over the Abdukyari matter.

One of the memos in the system contained a detailed account of what transpired between the IGP and Abdukyari in respect of the investigation into a N2.4 billion fraud case involving certain personalities in Akwa Ibom State.

The memo written by Abdukyari to the IGP through the Commandant, Nigerian Police Academy, Wudil, Kano State read in part:
“The correct position of the facts of the case which the Force Public Relation’s Department seeks to distort is that, A Case of Corrupt Practices, Fraudulent Diversion and Misappropriation of Funds to the tune of two billion four hundred million naira (N2,400,000,000) by some past and present serving government officials of Akwa lbom State, was reported to the bureau by a whistle blower and was successfully investigated, the funds frozen and the suspects rounded up where they confessed to the crime and admitted using companies and proxies to conceal their criminality.

“It was during the pendency of the case at the FIB, under my supervision that one Alhaji Ibrahim, a close associate of yours, negotiated with a certain lady, without my knowledge or the knowledge of the Bureau for the bail of the suspects for a sum of 100,000 Dollars and was given a part payment of $40, 000 Dollars which he claimed to have given to me. On the weight of this information, l promptly ordered for the arrest of the said Alhaji Ibrahim who was known in some circles as not only your close associate but also as your ‘brother’.

In the course of the investigation, he confessed committing the crime to the operatives of the FIB, who subsequently recovered the sum of twenty thousand Dollars ($20, 000) out of the forty thousand Dollars($40, 000) given to him by the lady to bribe me.

He further claimed to have given the other twenty thousand dollars ($20, 000) to one Alhaji Awwalu, who procured his services to be a go between in offering the bribe. In my insistence to get to the bottom of the case, I instructed the IPO to invite the lady to the station to enable operatives to obtain her statement for subsequent arraignment of the two suspects in a court of competent jurisdiction for the offences of criminal conspiracy to wit: offering gratification to a public officer in the lawful prosecution of his duty.

“This asserted so much pressure ‘on Alhaji Ibrahim who ran to you for protection if you may recall sir, on one fateful day in April 2017, you ordered Emmanuel Umar to summon me to your office. On getting to your office sir, I met Alhaji Ibrahim, one of your media consultants whose name I cannot readily remember now and Emmanuel Umar, where you instructed that l relay in his presence his role in the bribery scandal which I did to the hearing of the people present,” he stated.

Immediately I concluded, Alhaji Ibrahim responded and pleaded that he be forgiven. After so much pressure, from him and the other people present you forgave him and subsequently ordered that l suspend the investigation since you have forgiven him.

At this point, he excused us where, as the chief of criminal intelligence, I, with respect, advised that you should not allow persons with questionable character associate with you or your office due to the sensitive nature of the office of the Inspector General of Police. Whatever role your monitoring unit played under your watch in sweeping the Akwa lbom State corruption case under the carpet will be known to the world if another anti-corruption agency independent of police control takes a second look at that case.

“Consequent upon this one Jika started mounting intense pressure on me to release the exhibit money to him, claiming that he is acting on behalf of the suspects (in the case of offering gratification to a public servant in the lawful prosecution of his duties).

“l explained to Jika that the offence is not that which is compoundable by the police but at any rate, I will need to clear from you to enable me act. “The same Jika revisited the issue of the release of the exhibit when he came to my office on the 8th of September 2017 which coincided with the date the one million dollars case was transferred and l was removed contrary to the claim by CSP Moshood Jimoh that l was removed because of the exhibit of the sum of twenty thousand dollars in a case already settled by the Attorney-General is untrue.

“The twenty thousand Dollars ($20,000) in question was the money offered to me as bribe which I recovered and registered as exhibit. It is this money that the IGP wants me to return the suspects who are close associates of yours Sir, thus effectively destroying the rest of the case.

“In view of the foregoing, l sought clearance from you in writing to release the exhibit to Jika which you declined in writing, which as a seasoned Police Officer, felt that it was the right thing not to oblige such request albeit to mention here that the money in question is proceed of crime and the law is trite in this instant case that proceeds of bribe are never returned to the offerer of the bribe.

“The Police are not under the law bestowed with the powers to release the money to the suspect under whatever guise. Proceeds of bribe are usually paid to government coffers except if the case falls flat before a competent court of trial.

“On the issue of competency (sic), professionalism, and incorruptibility, l make bold to say with due respect to you sir that my track records speak for itself. For instance in the Two Billion Four Hundred and Thirteen Million Naira (N2,413,000,000) Akwa‘ lbom fraud case, I rejected an offer of bribe of the sum of Three Hundred Million Naira (N300,000,000), Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) and unspecified amount of dollars by a top politician in the state.

“I also turned down an offer of ten million Naira (10,000,000) bribe in a case of unlawful possession of prohibited firearms where operatives from the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB), under my command recovered seven magnum guns.

This singular feat earned me and the FCIlD commendation by the former president of Nigeria Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo who placed a call through Retired DIG Akanu and commended my professionalism and that of the FCIlD.

“This display of discipline, professionalism and incorruptibility by me culminated in your directives to DIG Hycent Dagala to recommend me for a special promotion from the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police to the prestigious rank of the Commissioner of Police which you approved and forwarded to the Police Service Commission for consideration. A recommendation which you later withdrew for reasons best known to you.”

By Adetutu Folasade-Koyi


Ahead of its National Executive Council (NEC) tomorrow, an influential caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is in the vanguard to remove the National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

As part of its functions, as stipulated in the APC constitution, the NEC is expected to fix a definite date for the party’s national convention.

But, the plot against Oyegun gathered momentum in recent weeks, with his kinsmen in the South spearheading the move.

Some leaders in the South West are reportedly rooting for Oyegun’s removal.

The sub-caucus of the party in the region has allegedly teamed up with a former southern governor to firm up the plot against Oyegun and have listed some sins against the national chairman.

Oyegun’s principal sin is his “perceived loyalty” to the Presidency. Other sins include “his inability to rein in APC members in the build-up to the election of principal officers in the National Assembly in 2015. Secondly, the national chairman was also unable to enforce the party’s position on candidates, even after mock elections were held and lawmakers did not toe the party line, even when it was glaring we controlled both chambers of the National Assembly.

“After that seeming indiscipline, others within the party knew they could go against the party and they would not be called to order. That was exactly what happened in Osun west senatorial district election in July. Besides, do you know that the party’s governors and influential members do not fund the party? They have distanced themselves because they believe the leadership favours a particular section to the disadvantage of others” said a party source, yesterday.

National Convener of APC Youth Solidarity Network (APC-TSN), Danesi Momoh Prince corroborated plots to remove Oyegun, in an October 27, 2017 position paper addressed to the national chairman, the national caucus and NEC, a copy of which was obtained by Daily Sun, at the weekend.

APC-TSN said the position paper was “an independent scorecard of the party’s national leadership since the party’s victory in 2015 and the task ahead in the lead-up to the 2019 polls.”

On the way forward for the party, the group acknowledged, “there have been alleged schemes to remove the party’s national chairman…because of his perceived loyalty to Mr. President. The alleged plot is aimed at achieving sinister political ends in the lead-up to the 2019 general elections. If the plan succeeds, it will allow the sponsors install their stooges and hijack the party in the lead-ups to the elections. This is a red flag that the president must take seriously and thwart.”

APC-TSN, with offices David Ebor Crescent, Apo-Abuja re-echoed misgivings on how political appointments have been handled by the party leadership.

“Many Federal Government boards, agencies and parastatals appointees, who were put in office by the immediate past administration are still in office; they are not loyal to the APC, which they feel had no hand in their emergence. There is need to quickly review these appointments and replace them with qualified APC members.

“Vacant positions should, thereafter, be quickly filled with APC members who feel frustrated because they seem not to have benefitted from the victory of their party…”

Regardless, some party leaders in the North have resolved to checkmate the southern plot against Oyegun.

Some governors in the North West zone and two, from the North East, have reportedly teamed up to thwart any move to remove Oyegun. “He steered us to win in 2015 and we believe he can do it again,” said a media aide to a North West governor close to the president.

Aso Rock is, however, quiet over the plot.

But, ahead of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting tomorrow, It was gathered that Oyegun had scheduled a flurry of meetings between yesterday and today. The meeting’s agenda was not disclosed.

Oyegun met with APC state chairmen and hours later, he met with some NEC members. The last meeting was with the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
Two crucial meetings have been slated for today and tomorrow.

The first meeting, that of the party’s national caucus, will hold at the Presidential Villa, today, at 8:00pm.

The first three meetings, a National Assembly source said, were to “put the position of the party together before the two big meetings.”

Asked whether the party’s leadership relates with Aso Rock, especially on how the party is run, he replied, “the villa is far from the party and our activities. There is uncertainty as to what the villa expects of us. We don’t even understand their body language. Nobody knows what is happening and what would likely happen at NEC tomorrow.”

An APC chieftain, Tijani Abdullah Markafi said Oyegun’s problem could probably have stemmed from his inability to decode President Muhammadu Buhari’s “body language.”

Said Markafi: “President Muhammadu Buhari’s actions or inaction towards core party affairs has not helped matters and could pose a serious problem, if he seeks reelection in 2019.

“It is quite possible that part of Chief John Odigie-Oyegun’s problem is trying to align party decisions and actions with the “body language” of president Buhari. However, while this may be healthy for the administration of the country, this would naturally go against the grains of those with presidential ambitions…”

Last Thursday, the party’s spokesman, Mallam Bolaji Abdullah dropped hints that the national convention may no longer hold this year.

Abdullah said the date of the convention could only be determined by the party’s NEC which will meet tomorrow.

Samson Folarin

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A 32- year - old official of the Nigeria Immigration Service , Benue State Command, Roland Oibe , has been hospitalised after he was allegedly attacked by a policeman in the state .

PUNCH Metro learnt that the victim and his wife had just welcomed their first child .

He was returning from where he went to buy baby food around 8 pm when the policeman allegedly threw an object at the wheel of his motorcycle on Benson Abonu Street.

Daniel was said to have fallen , breaking his jaw and a tooth .

The policeman , who was reported to be alone on the road , allegedly fled the scene of the incident .

The victim ’ s elder brother, Daniel , said Roland was rushed to a private hospital in the area .

He said , “My brother was attacked by the policeman on Monday around 8 pm . His wife had just been delivered of their first child . He went to buy baby food and was riding home when the policeman threw something at the motorcycle .

“ There is no justification for the attack . Although , there is a law banning commercial motorcycle riders from operating in the state from 9 pm , the commercial motorcycles have a grading system , which distinguish them from private motorcycles . My brother was riding a private motorcycle and he was not flagged down .

“ When I got to the scene , I gathered that the policeman had fled. We rushed him to a private hospital where he had been receiving treatment . ”

Daniel said the family of the victim went to different stations to know if the errant policeman could be identified , adding that all the divisions in the area denied posting anyone to the place .

He said the family later reported to authorities of the NIS and the command promised to get the perpetrator of the crime .

“ The attack happened in front of the NIS controller ’ s house . The NIS said they would do something . We want justice and the police should take up the medical expenses of my brother. We have spent a lot of money and the bills keep rising , ” he added .

Daniel later informed PUNCH Metro that the case had been transferred to the police command headquarters , saying the policeman had been identified and arrested.

He said the name of the culprit had yet to be released to the family , adding that the police had visited Roland at the hospital .

The state Police Public Relations Officer , Moses Yamu , said he was not aware of the incident , promising to get back after making enquiries.

He had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report .

Posted By: Stella Bamawo

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The leadership of the Nigeria Basketball Federation led by Engineer Musa Kida has expressed deep shock over the death of Daniel Daudu which occurred on Friday October 27, 2017.

The former Nigerian junior international who was part of the junior D’Tigers to the 2007 World U20 Championship in Serbia was reportedly killed in an accident when a truck carrying two trailers rolled over on I-65 near I-465 on Indy’s south side.

One of the trailers rolled into the southbound lanes, hitting the car which the late Daniel was driving in the opposite direction and was pronounced dead at the scene by the Indiana State Police trooper.

Reacting on behalf of the Nigeria basketball family, Kida described the circumstance leading to the death of the 28 year old who grew up at the Police College in Ikeja as shocking.

According to the president, the sudden death of the 2015 graduate of the University of Indianapolis has left the NBBF distraught.

“It’s a sad feeling to lose somebody so close no matter the age. Losing Daniel at the age of 28 and the circumstance which it happened is something that has left us all in shock.
“We just have to take solace in him and also rally round his family at this trying period to provide the needed emotional support to weather the storm.”

In an emotion laden voice, the international representative on the board of the NBBF, Col. Samuel Ahmedu (rtd) described the demise of the former Dodan Warriors player in an accident as a very sad one.

“Life is full of surprises, pleasant and cruel ones. The demise of Daniel Daudu in an accident in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA is a cruel one. There are many good basketball players but only a few Daniel Daudus.”

He said the late Daniel who was a member of the Dodan Warriors team at the 2006 African Club Championship was a people’s person and a kind hearted man who was ready to help everybody around him.

The founder of Dodan Warriors Basketball Programme enjoined friends and family members of the Daudus and the entire basketball family to remain strong despite the cruelty and brevity of life.

Life has shown its cruel hand but we must remain strong so that his legacies will not go unsung. The world will miss you Daniel, but we take solace that you are with the Lord. Rest in peace and catch you on the rebound,” Ahmedu concluded.

Meanwhile, the Players Representative on the NBBF board, Ejike Ugboaja alongside some US based national team players and basketball fans will be visiting the family of the deceased in Indiana.

lalasticlala

Posted By: Precious Igbonwelundu


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A retired Air Vice Marshal (AVM) and his driver have recovered dead after their Ford Explorer Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) plunged into the lagoon Saturday night.

The incident occurred around 10:55pm, by the University of Lagos (UNILAG) waterfront.

A motorist had told The Nation that: “There was a vehicle inside the lagoon. People are trapped in it. The vehicle was heading into Lagos Island.

Fishermen and LASEMA are trying to safe the occupants of the vehicle now. May God help them.”

The deceased were said to be driving inward Lagos Island, when they colluded with another vehicle on the bridge.

As a result of the accident, the SUV, it was gathered, tumbled several times before skidding into the lagoon.

It was learnt that officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and local fishermen recovered the bodies from the submerged vehicle around 2:30am.

According to a source, they both had their seat belts on and didn’t have physical injuries.

He said: “All the air bags in the vehicle came out. It was a serious accident. The burnet pulled out and the roof was flattened, which indicated that the vehicle might have tumbled at least three times before nosediving.

“The vehicle was over 75 percent submerged into the muddy part of the lagoon. When we brought it out, we had to first raise the flattened vehicle to avoid inflicting injuries on the bodies.

“The GM has been in touch with his family and officers from the Nigerian Air Force. I think the General’s family members are abroad.”

A prominent Lagosian, the AVM, it was gathered retired from the Nigerian Air Force some years ago and had since devoted his time, resources in the real estate sector.

It was learnt that the retired General came into Nigeria last Tuesday from the United Kingdom to attend a burial.

General Manager LASEMA, Adesina Tiamiyu confirmed the incident, but declined further comments on the issue.

He said: “This is a sad incident. I can only tell you that we recovered two bodies. I cannot say who they are because it won’t be fair to the families to learn about the demise of their loved ones from the media.”

Ihuoma Chiedozie , Enugu


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A 22- year - old lady , identified as Tina Rebecca Sunday, is being held by the police in Enugu for killing her uncle , one Friday Mathew .

The incident occurred in the Independence Layout area of Enugu on Thursday , October 26, 2017 .

It was gathered that the lady , Tina , a native of Ikot Udobang Ukanafon , in Akwa Ibom State , lived with the now deceased uncle in Ezilo Street , Independence Layout, Enugu .

It was further gathered that Tina was arrested by operatives of the New Haven police station , Enugu , while attempting to escape, after committing the crime .

But the lady , in her confessional statement , has described the killing as accidental .

Tina disclosed that she killed Mathew , a 48 - year - old man , while struggling to escape his attempt to have forceful carnal knowledge of her .

She said her uncle has been trying to sleep with her for a very long time .

Rebecca said she has been resisting Mathew ’ s amorous advances , but the uncle never gave up , until the matter took a tragic turn around 8 :30 pm on October 26.

According to Tina ’ s account , on that fateful night , she had sent Thank- God , her uncle’ s 10 -year - old son on an errand to buy sugar for her , and was lying down in the room , waiting for the boy to return , when Mathew , thinking she was asleep, snuck up to her bed and tried to force himself on her .

Tina said she gave Mathew a kick on his genitals in a bid to stop him from raping her.

She added that Mathew got enraged , and both of them struggled as he moved to have his way.
The girl then got hold of stone , which he smashed on Mathew ’ s head.

The uncle fell down and gave up the ghost .
“ Really, it was not my intention to kill him as I never intended to do so although he has been disturbing me sexually, ” Tina said .

Police Public Relations Officer , Enugu State Police Command, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, who confirmed the development , said minutes later , Mathew ’ s son , Thank- God , returned from the errand , only to meet his father ’ s lifeless body.

Amaraizu explained that Tina allegedly told the boy to keep quiet , to avoid attracting attention.

She was said to have promised the boy that she will take adequate care of him , after which she locked up the house and took Thank- God to the home of a relative .

After dropping the boy with the said relative, Tina ran away .

Amaraizu added that the 22-year - old lady was apprehended before she could leave Enugu.

“ When the child of the deceased came back and met the lifeless body of his father , he was allegedly warned by the suspect not to shout in order not to attract attention which would lead to her arrest .

“ She ( Tina ) promised the young boy that she would take care of him , then she immediately locked up the house and went away with the boy and dropped him at one of their aunt ’ s place and disappeared .

“ When operatives of the New Haven Division of the Enugu State Command got the report , they swung into action swiftly and were able to arrest the escaping Tina Rebecca Sunday who is now helping the operatives in their investigations, ” Amaraizu said.

According to him , “ The suspect is now regretting her action and begging for forgiveness as she never intended to kill the uncle."

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE


The forthcoming marriage between two lovers, Chima Madueke and his fiancée, Chioma Christopher has been stalled after Chioma was docked and sent to prison for allegely stealing some dollars kept inside Chima’s elder sister house.

The incident happened at Ben Bright Street in Ago Okota, Lagos where Chima’s elder sister, Rachel reside with her husband, Living stone.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that the incident happened barely one month after the couple and their family had concluded plans for the traditional marriage and church wedding back home in Anambra State.

It was alleged that Chima sent Chioma to his elder sister, Rachel from Onitsha in Anambra to Lagos to conclude plans for their wedding as agreed by both family.

When Chioma got to Rachel’s house, she was given free access to enter into their rooms including their bedroom.

Rachel was said to have sent Chioma to their bedroom fridge for her to bring out the meat which they will use to cook. When she got there, she was said to have stolen one thousand six hundred dollars ($1,600) that Rachel’s husband had kept inside the fridge and went away.

However, the theft was exposed when she went to change the money at a local bureau de change in the street. She was shortchanged and given fake dollars which resulted in altercation between her and the operator of the local bureau de change.

When Rachel’s husband later returned from work and looked for the money, he did not find it. He asked around and Chioma then confessed taking it, claiming that she did not know what came over her to steal the money.

She was handed over to the police at Ago Division and she was charged before Isolo Magistrates court for stealing.
She pleaded not guilty.

The presiding Magistrate, Mrs A.O. Adedayo granted her bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.

She was remanded in prison custody pending when she will perfect her bail condition.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that both Chima and his family have washed their hands off and cancelled the marriage.

Posted by Sulaiman Salawudeen



Indications yesterday emerged that a proxy war have ensued between the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, and some core loyalists of President Muhammadu Buhari following the controversies trailing the recall of Alhaji Abdulrasheed Maina into the Federal Civil Service.

This is coming as the Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, alleged that Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) government are culpable in the cases of corruption, maintaining that the president’s integrity claim had been rubbished by his treatment of all corruption cases involving his aides.

Maina, a former Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, had been on the run since 2013 after he was implicated in the pension fraud and declared wanted by the EFCC.

The fugitive later resurfaced at the Ministry of Interior where he was elevated to the position of a director on grade level 16.

The embarrassing discovery triggered altercations between the Minister of Interior, Brig Gen. Abdul-rahman Dambazzau (rtd) and the Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, with both denying responsibility for Maina’s reinstatement into the service.

These denials came amidst acceptance by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, that he initiated the process of Maina’s recall based on a court judgment and in public interest.

In reaction, Buhari ordered Maina’s sacking and directed an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the recall. But not seeing a public announcement of the probe report, three days after it was meant to have been submitted, Fayose queried the disposition of the president and why the probe into the matter was yet to be brought to public domain.

“The President directed the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, to submit a report on the circumstances surrounding Maina’s reinstatement to his Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, before the close of work on Tuesday.
“Today is Friday, what has happened to the report? Is the President going to use APC broom to sweep the report on Maina’s fraudulent reinstatement under the carpet just as he did to others before it?” The governor queried.

Saturday Telegraph however gathered that since fingers had been pointed at some key personalities in the Buhari administration, the case has further polarised loyalists of the president. It was learnt that most of those fingered in the Maina recall saga were the same elements that had opposed the nomination of Magu as head of the anti corruption agency. It was further learnt that the zeal with which the EFCC clamped down on Maina in the last one week might not be unconnected with the animosity between Magu and the so-called cabal who had shown disdain to Magu’s leadership of the anti-graft war.

A security source who spoke with Saturday Telegraph on the condition of anonymity said that one might not rule out the possibility that Magu was out to expose his detractors who had allegedly been found complicit in the Maina saga. According to him: “The cabal has been working against Magu and this might be his chance to pay them back by inflicting as much pain as possible on their candidate, Maina, who is now at large.

Fayose, who would not let go of his attacks on the Buhari regime, also carpeted the current administration over what he referred to as “diversionary tactics” of the government. He said: “As posited by APC’s Senator Shehu Sani, when it comes to fighting corruption in the National Assembly and the Judiciary and in the larger Nigerian sectors, the President uses insecticide, but when it comes to fighting corruption within the Presidency, he uses deodorants.”

He also alleged of a plan to release another set of Chibok Girls numbering 19 as a means of shifting the attention of Nigerians from various scandals in which the administration had lately been embroiled.

“The claimed recovery of $85 million as part of funds allegedly looted from the Malabu oil deal and conclusion of negotiation with Switzerland on the return of $321 million recovered from the late Abacha family are diversionary.”

Detailing lengthy timeline of corruption allegations, especially emanating from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the past two years, Fayose, who addressed journalists at his official residence in Ado- Ekiti, said: “Within the last one month, Nigerians have been confronted with messy revelations that gave credence to my earlier position that Buhari is either not in charge or has decided to look other ways as corruption gets perpetrated by various government officials.”

Some of the alleged corruption practices Fayose listed included alleged donation of two Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) to the wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, by Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris; and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu’s allegation of award of $25 billion contracts without following due process against the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC); Dr. Maikanti Baru.

“Like I have maintained, President Buhari is not fighting any corruption. He is hiding under anti-corruption fight to harass his perceived political foes,” Fayose said.

Saturday Telegraph made series of attempt to obtain comments from the EFCC on the reasons behinds its recent actions against Maina but these attempts met a brick wall. Spokesman for the agency, Wilson Uwujaren, did not pick the calls to his mobile phone and did not also respond to text messages on the matter.

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE


It is the desire of most ladies to get hooked to a man at certain age brackets for support, procreation and affection. But all around today, we have many single ladies with no suitors.

There are many single ladies and as well as bachelors who would want to get married, but the fear of uncertainty of the future of the union have really prevented many from doing so owing to unpredictable economic situation.

P.M.EXPRESS findings showed that there were enough women and men who really wanted to get married but it appeared both sides do not want to gamble into it to avoid devastating consequences and regrets in the future.

To some ladies, it was better to live with their parents and bear the societal stigma of being single than to marry a man with unpredictable future and also get deprived of some privileges they were getting from their family. And for some men, they preferred to remain single than to embark on the marriage journey without having the means to sustain it.

However, most women were more worried because of the period of their productivity stage which some said was between 45-50 years.

Some of the spinsters and bachelors who spoke to P.M.EXPRESS said indeed they may have wanted to marry but it was not possible due to certain factors.

Miss Karia Anumba, 41, lamented that she had lived and changed many cities in Nigeria looking for suitors but those she met were afraid because they were not sure of the future of the marriage. She revealed that she tried to convince and persuade the men she had contact with to make the move and even assured them that she would manage no matter the condition, but regretted that none of them agreed to marry her.

Anumba said she quickly relocated to Lagos from Abuja when she realized that she was gradually turning into prostitute because of the drive for marriage.

She explained that since she came to Lagos, she had engaged herself with a work and was still searching for interested men but yet to get one. She narrated that some men who were above 40 years still roamed about and do not want to get married; attributing it to fear and economic condition as most of them were jobless.

Another lady simply known as Doris, 39, (surname withheld) said that she had slept with some men in order to entice and persuade them to marry her, but of all the men she met none was ready for marriage.

They all gave the same reason that they will not be able to cope with keeping a family yet. She said that she has given up and lamented that probably she might not marry again and had left everything to fate.

Doris said she was ready to marry any man because of the pressure she was getting from her brothers’ wives who always abused her to leave the family and go and get married.

It was not only Anumba and Doris that had such experiences, some other women also expressed their frustration and blamed it on the economic situation where men were not getting jobs and were getting older without partners.

A 44-year old bachelor, Mr Tony Nweje explained that it was not that he wanted to remain single, but had to be very realistic with himself. He said he does not have a good job, accommodation and can barely feed himself. He explained that if he was to add his family members, wife and probably children and extended family, he wondered how he would be able to cope with the situation.

He suggested that the only solution was for the government to provide for the young graduates roaming the streets. He added that if there were good jobs that the men will definitely think of marriage because they will be able to cope.

40-year old Mr. Uchenna Udogu, said he was not ready for marriage because he does not want any embarrassment from anybody and had no means to sustain any marriage. He said he was not perturbed by his age, adding he will only consider marriage when he had enough means to do so.

“We know what is happening between couples in various homes when there are no resources and no reasonable man will put his head in such situation because people will say he has not married” Udogu said.

However, a female Lagos Lawyer, Barrister Sherry Osakwe said it was a serious societal problem that the government needs to address urgently. She noted that there were no jobs for young graduates to take and wondered where they were expected to get money to marry.

She said that if the issue of employment was not tackled, the society will be wasting a lot of women between 35 and above because the women were now competing with the younger ones who may be stumbling blocks for them to get suitors.

By Olayinka Olukoya - Abeokuta



There was a mild drama at the Ibara Prisons, Abeokuta, on Wednesday, when a middle-aged woman, Fatima Balogun, was arrested by the operatives of the Nigerian Prisons for hiding a mobile phone wrapped in a cellophane inside a soup prepared for her boyfriend who was remanded in the Prison.

Tribune Online gathered that Balogun was arrested at the entrance into the Prison yard while attempting to smuggle the phone into the prison.

This development was described by the State Controller of Prisons, Mr Benson Abolade, as a threat to national security, saying the action was against Prison operations.

He mentioned sharp objects, drugs, weapons, handsets as some of the items prohibited in the Prisons.

The Prisons boss said the woman would be handed over to the Police for prosecution so as to serve as a deterrent to others.

“It is an offence to bring these articles to the yard without the permission of the Prisons officials.

“The Controller General frowns at such action because he knows that it impinges on the national security and that is why he gave a tall order that Special Intelligence Unit should be formed in all the Prisons formations nationwide,” Abolade said.

Balogun upon interrogation confessed to the crime that she indeed hid a phone inside a soup for her boyfriend identified as Ganiyu Ajibode who was remanded in the Prison for armed robbery.

The suspect said, “I hid the phone inside the stew because I know they will not allow me to take it to him in the Prison. I did not know it is bad. I wrapped it in a cellophane bag. We have been together for two years. I live with my father having been abandoned by my husband who left me with two children. I regretted my action and I plead for forgiveness.”

By Kemi Busari



Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday pushed back against “absurd” attempts by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to link him to the unfolding scandal of how a fugitive returned to the country and took a senior position in public service.

Mr. Jonathan said the fact that efforts are being made to link him to the return and reinstatement of Abdulrasheed Maina underscored how “uncoordinated and rudderless” the Buhari administration has become.

“Are they saying it is President Jonathan that flew him back into Nigeria and promoted him in two levels ahead of where he was as at 2013 when he fled the from civil service?” Mr. Jonathan’s spokesperson, Ikechukwu Eze, told PREMIUM TIMES Wednesday night.

“They should stop insulting Nigerians or seeing them as fools,” Mr. Eze said.

Mr. Buhari has come under intense public backlash since last week Friday when PREMIUM TIMES uncovered Mr. Maina’s surreptitious return to civil service.

Mr. Maina was declared wanted by the EFCC on allegations of courting billions in public funds for his own use when he headed the pension reform task force.

The pension funds scandal broke out during Mr. Jonathan’s administration (2010-2015), and the government took disciplinary steps against Mr. Maina by dismissing him from service.

Mr. Maina was an assistant director at the time of his dismissal.

The presidency, in a statement by Garba Shehu Wednesday night, said top officials of the Jonathan administration benefitted from the funds Mr. Maina allegedly stole from pension funds.

“Top officials in the PDP government, from sectoral heads, to those charged with responsibility for law and order received some of these billions of naira from Maina,” the presidential spokesperson said. “We have all the transaction records and these are matters that the EFCC has been pursuing to ensure that they all have their day in court.”

Mr. Shehu also suggested that some influential officials loyal to the previous government may have been the invisible hand in the latest scandal that saw the return of Mr. Maina to the public service, despite being on the EFCC’s wanted list.

He, however, assured Nigerians that President Buhari was determined to get to the bottom of the matter of the impunity that led to Maina’s reinstatement.

“Everything will be uncovered in due course,” he said. “This just goes to show us the scale of corruption that this government is fighting. And, as we can all see, corruption keeps fighting back viciously.”

Firing back within minutes later when PREMIUM TIMES reached him for comments, Mr. Jonathan’s spokesperson said the Buhari administration officials should waste little time in bringing out any evidence of connivance between Mr. Jonathan and Mr. Maina if they have it.

“There’s no need to warn that they will bring evidence out or that everything will be revealed on a later date,” Mr. Eze said. “They should present the evidence to Nigerians now.”

Mr. Eze said Mr. Maina’s family had already disclosed how the embattled former civil servant returned to the country and secured a new position in civil service even while he was being sought by the EFCC.

“The Maina family spoke about how he returned to the country and they made it very clear that Buhari officials were the ones that orchestrated his return,” Mr. Eze said.

Emerging details since Monday have pointed to the involvement of Attorney-General Abubakar Malami, the Federal Civil Service and the Ministry of Interior as playing critical roles in the reinstatement of Mr. Maina into the civil service.

PREMIUM TIMES also confirmed that Mr. Maina was accorded top-level security detail by the State Security Service since he returned to the country months ago.

lalasticlala

A 34 year-old flight sergeant who made headlines for cheating with her neighbour’s son has eloped to the neighbour’s son.

There was commotion when Eulogy Jaya went to her lover Lovemore Nyamukapa, 24’s home with her belongings before his mother refused to accept the married woman.

Eulogy was forced to pack by her husband John Simbi after she gave birth to a baby identical to Lovemore leaving the flight sergeant with no option other than eloping to a man 10 years younger than her, impeccable sources told H-Metro.

“I want to believe that Eulogy is regretting bedding her neighbour’s son because it cost her nekuda kwekusakudzikana nemurume wake chete,” said the source.

Contacted for comment Lovemore’s mother Mbuya Nyamukapa threatened to commit suicide if the story sees the light of the day confirming the incident.

“The issue has emotionally affected me that if you publish it this will UnCloth me to the point that taking my life will be better,” said Mbuya Nyamukapa.

“It is disheartening to learn that my neighbours are ever informing you about my family zvichireva kuti mucamp medu munevanhu vanemukuhwa musadaro mukuwasha inyaya inonyadzisa iyi ndapota zvangu musaibudisa zvakare,” she said.

Eulogy’s illicit affair with Lovemore came to light after their photographs kissing each other leaked to John and unconfirmed reports were that her maid was behind the leakage after she clashed with her.

In an interview with H-Metro on the first story, John confirmed discovering the photographs saying he has since resolved the matter and forgiven Eulogy.

His forgiveness might have been waiting for the birth of the child since the photographs were discovered the time Eulogy was expecting.

Eulogy and John could not be reached for comment after H-Metro was denied entry into the Manyame Airbase Camp.

lalasticlala

By Andrew Agbese, Kaduna 


The family of Abdulraaheed Maina, the embattled former chairman of the Presidential Pension Reform Task Team, has promised to expose the cabal at the presidency who they alleged are responsible for the ordeal Maina is going through over his return to the civil service.

Addressing the media Wednesday in Kaduna, spokesman of the Maina family, Malam Aliyu Maina, who was flanked by Salihu Maina and Ladan Abdullahi, said the family is worried that the image of the entire family has been tarnished following the sealing of properties belonging to the Maina by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and promised to take legal action on it.

They said that Abdulrasheed left Nigeria following threats to his life, only for President Muhammadu Buhari to invite him to come and help his administration. 

"You must have noticed the recent attempt by some cabal to ridicule and tarnish the image of the Maina family in the media. Where our brother, Abdulrasheed Maina has been blackmailed as a fraudster. 

"The cabals have gone to the extent of marking our house in red paints with an inscription of E.F.C.C under investigation. The EFCC is wrong in their action because Abdulrasheed inherited so many properties from his late father in Kaduna and Abuja, some of them were built before he was born so how could he have acquired them fraudulently.

"The entire family of Abdullahi Maina is categorically stating that our son is not in any way a fraudster, rather he is a messiah who brought reforms into Nigerian Pension Scheme, whose effort saw the disappearance of pensioners roaming the streets of Abuja and other state capital in Nigeria. 

"It is on record that Abdulrasheed Maina's reform put to a stop the fraudulent withdrawals of huge sums from both the Nigerian Pension Board, the Nigerian Police Pension Board etc. Perhaps it is this noble efforts that made him enviable to the present administration when they came into power to convince him to comeback and assist in its "Change" agenda."

According to the family, the recent actions may have been targeted at not Maina but high above, "we are aware that all this act of calumny is not targeted against Abdulrasheed Maina alone but against the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria and the office of the Attorney General. We have contacted our lawyers Messr Mamma Nasir & Co and instructed them to act appropriately.


"We equally know that Abdulrasheed Maina is in possession of many facts that is against the cabal and interesting to the Nigerian populace, which he will disclose very soon," the family noted.

lalasticlala

Airforce1:
I won't support this wickedness ...

Why waste 10years of her life when he knw he won't marry her?
Bastard, pay her back her money .

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE


A woman, Mrs. Ifeoma Eze has landed in trouble after she allegedly used her beautiful underaged daughter to defraud suitors under the false pretence of giving her out for marriage.

She was charged before a Lagos court for marriage fraud and remanded in prison custody.

The incident happened at Mile 12 area of Ikorodu, Lagos where the suspect resides with her family.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered from neighbours that the suspect had used the same pattern to defraud many suitors and used to tell the suitors that her daughter refused but will not refund the money she had obtained from them.

It was gathered that her plans had worked in the past until she fell into the trap of a suitor who handed her over to the police for prosecution.

The suitor, Christian Okere reportedly approached Mrs. Eze and informed her of his intention to marry her daughter. She told him that it would only be possible if he would pay N250,000 in order for her to convince her daughter and the rest of the family members.

The suitor agreed and paid her the money. He then waited for them to ask him to come and perform other marriage obligations to their family.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that after Okere had waited for a long period of time, he then went to Mrs. Eze to ask to know why she had not fulfilled her own side of the agreement. She replied that her daughter did not accept.

He requested for the refund of his money as the agreement did not work out again. She said that she will not be able to refund his money because she had already spent it with the intention that her daughter will accept.

The matter was reported to the police and the suspect was arrested and detained at the station for the alleged fraud and was asked to refund the money to the complainant.

She reportedly asked to be given some time so that she will look for another suitor for her daughter who will bring the money to enable her make the refund.

The police charged her before the Magistrates court sitting in Ikeja for fraud.
She pleaded not guilty.

The presiding Magistrate, Mrs B.O.Osunsanmi granted her bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum. She was remanded in prison custody pending when she will perfect her bail condition.

The matter was adjourned till 22 November, 2017.

lalasticlala

A divorcee, Hajara Usman, on Monday sued her former husband before an Upper Area Court in Karu, Abuja for stopping her from re-marrying.

Usman, residing in Asokoro, Abuja told the court that she got married to one Adamu Abdullahi in 2011 but that they got divorced through Islamic way in 2016.

She said that while the marriage lasted, Abdullahi tortured her at the slightest provocation.

“My parents actually forced me to marry him. I never loved him and when I got into the marriage, I discovered that Abdullahi was ill-tempered.

“He usually beats me up whenever he is angry and his parents and mine warned him severally to stop it but he did not heed their advice.’’

Usman said that Abdullahi divorced her in November 2016, compelling her to leave his house immediately after pronouncing `divorce’ three times in line with Islamic injunction.

“I have long observed my compulsory Idah(waiting) period but my ex-husband has refused to allow me to marry other suitors coming for me.’’

She told the court that having finished observing the waiting period, two men had at different times indicated interest to marry her.

Usman said that the moment her former husband got wind of her wedding plans and the ceremony that followed, he came to the venue and disrupted the ceremony.

“ In April this year, the man who first indicated interest to marry me came to perform the wedding rites, my ex-husband sent a group of boys to disrupt the ceremony.

“ On another occasion, when he heard I was about to re-marry, he way-laid me and beat me up so much that I had to plead with him.

“On the day he beat me, he said he was beating me so that no man would desire me since I decided to move on and re-marry almost immediately.”

She pleaded with the court to compel her former husband to explain why he would not want her to re-marry because his actions had discouraged her suitors.

Usman also pleaded with the court to divorce her and Abdullahi formally and legally, saying that she no longer had interest in Abdullahi.

“ I want the court to issue us a divorce certificate and restrain him from coming close to me,’’ Usman pleaded.

Reacting to the statement of his former wife, Abdullahi, who also resides in Asokoro, said that it was true that they were no longer married.

He said that his grouse was that his former wife came to the court to tell lies against him.

“ Since I divorced her, according to the tenets of our religion, I had nothing to do with her.

“I have avoided her and her family because the marriage was arranged between our parents and we were never meant for each other,’’ he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the estranged couple has no child from the marriage.

The Judge, Mr Abdullahi Baba, adjourned the matter until Nov. 1 for the plaintiff to come to court with at least two persons, who witnessed the disruption of her marriage rites.

Baba said that a divorce certificate would be issued to the parties at the completion of the case since there was no more love between them and they had also been living apart.

He, however, urged the parties to maintain peace since they lived in the same neighbourhood.

lalasticlala

By Joshua Odeyemi & Abbas Jimoh



Reinstated official still wanted by EFCC

The Ministry of Interior has said the former Chairman of Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT) Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Maina was recalled through the office of the head of service.

The ministry however exonerated itself from the processes that led to his recall which was done secretly.

Daily Trust’s checks showed that Maina is still on the wanted list of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

A notice on the EFCC website said Maina is wanted “for offences bordering on Procurement Fraud and Obtaining by False Pretence,” adding that he is allegedly complicit in the “over N 2 billion Pensions Biometric Scam in the office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation. He remains at large, after charges were filed against his accomplices.”

The Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, in a statement by his press secretary, Ehisienmen Osaigbovo, yesterday, said he was responsible for the recall of Maina, adding that it was the duty of the Civil Service Commission and Office of the Head of Service of the Federation to recall a suspended staff.

The statement reads in part: “The ex- Chairman of the Presidential Task Force Team on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina was posted few days ago to the Ministry of Interior by the Office of the Head of Service on an Acting capacity to fill a vacancy created following the retirement of the Director heading the Human Resources Department in the Ministry.

“For the avoidance of doubt, issues relating to Discipline, Employment, Re-engagement, Posting, Promotion and Retirements of Federal Civil Servants are the responsibility of the Federal Civil Service Commission and Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, of which no Minister exercises such powers as erroneously expressed. 

“It is understood that Maina’s last posting was with the Ministry of Interior, and that is probably why he was re-posted back to the Ministry.

“It is therefore improper for anybody to think that a Minister could exercise such powers or influence the process of Discipline, Re-engagement, and Deployment of any civil servant to his Ministry or any other Ministry for that matter. Again Such responsibility is that of the Federal Civil Service Commission and/or the Head of Civil Service.”

The Assistant Director Communication in the Office of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHOCSF) Mohammed Manga neither answered his calls nor responded to sms sent to him by the Daily Trust.

However, sources told Daily Trust that Maina was recalled because he was never officially sacked as a civil servant. He also said there was a memo from the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice directing the reinstatement of Maina.

Maina’s reinstatement and promotion were shrouded in secrecy until the news was reported by the Premium Times, an online newspaper.

He was reinstated “administratively” according to his lawyer, Danjuma Ayeye.

The recall of Maina is still generating controversy.

lalasticlala

Posted By: Sam Egburonu,



Some mega projects worth billions of naira, which were initiated by previous governments in seven states, have been abandoned by the current state governments.

The Nation investigation in Abia, Rivers, Niger, Ogun, Plateau, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom states revealed that the projects, abandoned at different levels of execution, are left to rot away, even as some of them now harbour criminals, reptiles and other dangerous animals. Most of the projects, we learnt, were initially financed through loans, some of which are still being paid or serviced by the affected states.

For example, the Monorail Project in Rivers State, which was conceived and began by the former governor of the state, now Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, in his first tenure as governor in 2008, was designed to cover 12 kilometres at the cost of N50 billion.

It was however abandoned at the point of 2.6 kilometres when the former governor completed his second tenure in office. Sources said the work already done as at then, which was described as Phase 1A, gulped N33.9billion.

Since Amaechi left office, the project has been abandoned as the current government, led by Governor Nyesom Wike, has continuously exchanged hot words with the former governor over the project. The current government has, for example, alleged that the cost of the project, compared with similar projects in other states, was outrageous.

In Niger State, we learnt that at inception, the Minna Airport City Project was estimated to cost a whopping $600 million but when The Nation correspondent visited the state Ministry of Works, Lands and Housing and the agency handling the project to uncover how much has been expended on the project, no one was ready to give out information about it.

Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has however said pointedly that there were no resources in the state now to complete such a project, insisting that the available resources in the state will instead be channelled to other viable areas.

Another mega project abandoned in the state is the Minna Hotel. The cost of the construction of the five-star hotel was put at N19.6 billion. Although the government had issued a bank guarantee of N1.4 billion and a land worth N400 million, The Nation observed that the hotel remains as it is since former Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu left office.

Bayelsa International Hotel in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State and Enyimba International Hotel in Aba, Abia State, have suffered similar fate. Our investigation confirmed that although Bayelsa Hotel was one of the projects used by former governor Timipre Sylva to secure a N50 billion loan from the capital market in December 2009, it is still an abandoned project.

A report by the Financial Management Review Committee, chaired by the former Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Timi Alaibe, shows that the cost of the project was N13.9 billion. The report also showed that the project was rated 26 percent completion when the bond was obtained. ”

For Abia International Hotels, which was initiated by former governor Sam Mbakwe government, over 38 years ago, we learnt that another $25 million would be needed to expand and complete it.

Jos Main Market, another abandoned project, according to our sources, would need N5billion to rebuild. But the state government said it does not have such money and so has opted to engage investors under Private Public Partnership (PPP).

Some of the state governments, who vowed not to touch the abandoned projects, said they were mere elephant projects initiated by former government who may have used them to siphon resources.

Original estimated costs of the abandoned projects
*Rivers Monorail–N50b
*Minna Airport City-$600m
*Minna five-star Hotel –
N19.6b

*Abia Int’l Hotel –N6b to complete * would need about $25m to expand
*Jos Main Market — N5b to rebuild
* Bayelsa Hotel —N13.9b
* Ibom Tropicana —N33b
* Ibom Specialist Hospital (completed but shut down)—- N41b

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By CHIOMA IGBOKWE


https://www.sunnewsonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/ku-300x179.jpg

An inmate in Kuje prison, Abuja, Ifeanyi Ezenwa is in the news again over an alleged case of fraud. This time, police detectives obtained a Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) footage where Ezenwa was seen shopping in a mall at central business district, Abuja, sometime in June 2017.

Saturday Sun had on April 15, 2017 published the story of Ifeanyi Ezenwa who is in Kuje Maximum Prison, Abuja, awaiting trial over series of fraud related cases. He was declared wanted by the police when several persons especially car dealers petitioned the police alleging that one Ezenwa bought cars from them and disappeared without paying.

In the course of investigation, the police discovered that he was operating from his cell at the Kuje prison. Four exotic vehicles were later recovered from him while his wife was also arrested at that time. Also arrested were some of the boys that he was using as middlemen.

Ezenwa was said to be coordinating dangerous criminal gangs, raking in several millions of naira much more than free men.

Investigations have so far established that Ezenwa specializes in defrauding members of the public using fake bank alert. He would call a trader on the phone identifying himself as a traditional ruler, he would tell the trader that he lives out of the country and that he was going to send one of his boys to pick up goods while he would send fake bank alert to the trader’s phone.

Police investigation also revealed that he has continued defrauding unsuspecting victims despite being in prison custody. His recent successful attempt in June led to the arrest of his boy identified as Dalhatu Yahaya by detectives attached to the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Abuja.


Ezenwa’s latest exploit

Recently, investigation by the police revealed that Ezenwa defrauded an orthopedic medical store opposite the National Hospital Abuja and made away with two wheelchairs and two blood pressure machines.

He was said to have approached the store in company of some armed prison wardens and he bought some medical items which he paid for in cash. The staff of the store that could not differentiate between a prison warden and a mobile policeman assumed that Ezenwa was a very rich man who goes around with police protection.

The next day Ezenwa called the store and made orders for two wheelchairs and two blood pressure machines and he paid them in excess of N50, 000 using a fake bank alert. He then sent one of his boys, Dalhatu Yahaya, to collect the goods from the store and the ‘excess balance of N50, 000.’

On June 30, 2017, he also sent Yahaya to Elizade Motors, where he used him in stealing a Toyota Hilux from the company, after which Yahaya made away with the vehicle, which he sold for N9 million in Kano State. Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, received a report on Ezenwa’s latest activities and deployed IRT operatives led by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, who have been investigating Ezenwa in the past.

They discovered that Ezenwa and his syndicate had approached the automobile company which deals on Toyota vehicles for business. Yahaya told the company that his boss, wanted to talk to them and he handed over a mobile phone to the company’s sales manager. On the phone, Ezenwa identified himself as Dr. Sam Attah and requested for the quotation of three vehicles; a Toyota Hilux, Land cruiser and Prado SUV.

After a prolonged negotiation, Ezenwa agreed to their prices and on July 8, 2017, he sent a fake alert to the company showing that the sum of N38.9million has been deposited into the company’s bank account, but at that time the company, had just one of the vehicles in its showroom. As a result, they released the vehicle to Yahaya who fled with it. He didn’t take it to Ezenwa but went to Kano State, where he sold the vehicle for N9million. Ezenwa became angry and called Elizade Motors to give them information about Yahaya which led to his arrest.


Yahaya’s confession

At the police station, Yahaya aged 43 said that he met Ezenwa during one of his visits to the prison.

“I had gone to the Kuje prison to visit my friend, Isha Imam Geja who was a serving judge at an Abuja Upper Sharia Court. Geja introduced him to me as Igwe. It was when I was arrested that I learnt that his name is Ezenwa. The first job I did for him was at the orthopedic store where he sent me to collect two wheelchairs, blood pressure machines and N50, 000. I took the medical equipment to the prison and handed them over to a prison warden as instructed. Geja asked me to take the money to the court which was used to settle his bail.”

According to Yahaya, he did not ask for anything because he felt that he was doing his friend a favour. “They didn’t give me any money because I didn’t know that the items were bought with fake alert. If I knew then, I would have collected my own share. Later, Geja called me and told me that those items were bought with fake alert. After Geja was bailed, he called me and told me that Ezenwa wanted me to do a job for him.
He asked me to go to Elizade Motors. I called him and he spoke with them. At the end of their discussion, he told them that he wanted to buy five vehicles. I don’t know how he did it but after a while, Geja called me again that the company was ready for me. I was asked to go and pick two of the vehicles. When I got to the company they gave me just one vehicle, a Toyota Hilux.

I called Geja and told him that I will not submit the vehicle to Ezenwa if he doesn’t give me 30 percent of the value of the vehicle as share, they refused and I took the vehicle to Kano and sold it for N9million. I bought a car of N1.9 million and I spent the rest. I shared a large part of the money on my people since I was contesting an election. I felt that Ezenwa will not miss the money since he was already a big man in prison. Geja told me that he lives in a self contained house furnished to taste.”

Begging for mercy, Yahaya who is an indigene of Gombe State said that he got himself into trouble because of desperate desire to become a politician. “I am married to two wives which in this present economy is very difficult to maintain.

I graduated in 2010 from Legal Islamic Yola, Adamawa State where I got a diploma in Sharia and Civil law. I worked at Sharia Court Gombe as a driver and I resigned in 2013, because I wanted to contest an election as a local government chairman. I lost because I wasn’t a member of PDP. I came to Abuja the next year and I went into land property business with hope to make enough money and continue with my political ambition. I was carried away when I saw free money.”


Ezenwa, the VIP inmate and frequent outside trips

According to a warden who spoke on the condition that his name will not mentioned, Ezenwa lives like a king in the prison and goes out of the prison whenever he wishes.

“He is well known in Kuje prison and because most of the prison warden trusts him, they allow him to go out but in company of an armed warden.

He lives in a self contained room fully furnished inside Kuje prison with air conditioner, plasma TV, fridge and equipments that he normally uses for exercise. He is a well celebrated inmate, as he is said to slaughter cow often and shared amongst his loyalists.”

Saturday Sun learnt that sometime in June they took him to Abuja National Hospital for medical checkup and later proceeded to the store to buy all the things that he claimed that he needed.

On the visit to the shop, the owners of the shop made available to the police a CCTV footage showing Ezenwa’s visit to their shop in company of a male warden.

Well dressed in traditional attire with a red cap and walking stick, Ezenwa was seen in the company of a prison warden requesting for unidentified goods.

At the police station, the owners of the shop on realizing the fraud reported the case to the nearest police station. They told the police that they were very courteous to him because of his dressing and, most importantly, the armed security man that was standing beside him who unknown to them, was a prison warder.

After an electronic Blood Pressure Monitor, he collected the phone number of the receptionist and promised to order for more things later on. He particularly asked for the price of electrical Massage Wheel chair and was told that it is sold for N950, 000.

He also ordered the security man (warden) to pay for all the things that he bought.

The security man (warden) was the one carrying his phones and bags and addressed him as ‘chairman sir’.

As soon as he got to the prison, he called the supermarket and ordered for the wheelchair. He requested for their account number and they got a fake alert of one million naira. He called and told them that they should give the extra money to his boy who will come and pick it up.

Convinced, they told him to send someone to pick up the goods that they assumed had been paid. It was days after one Yahaya had come to collect the goods that they realized that no money was paid into their account.

On why the police command is yet to bring him out for further investigation, our police source said that letters have been written to the appropriate authorities and they are awaiting clearance in-order to bring him out.

by Oluseyi Awojulugbe


Only four states in Nigeria can pay salaries without resorting to lending, a new report by BudgIT, a civil society organisation, has shown.

The report, State of State 2017, was launched on Thursday and released to the public on Friday.

“Important is states’ ability to meet their recurrent expenditure obligation with all revenue source — a test of prudent fiscal management. Kano, Katsina, Rivers and Lagos top that portion of the index.

“In effect, only four states could meet their recurrent expenditure obligation without resorting to borrowing or tapping donor funds and other extra-budgetary revenue sources.”

In September, TheCable had reported that 11 states lost large portions of the federal accounts allocation committee (FAAC) monthly allocation to deductions .

“Bonds issued by the states are usually assisted by Irrevocable Standing Payment Orders (ISPOs), which legally empower the accountant general of the federation (AGF) to withdraw sums due to debt holders from state governments’ revenue accounts with the federal government, including interest and capital repayments,” BudgIT’s report further read.

“As about 83% of states’ revenues are collected by the federal government, what accrues to states’ coffers is the balance left after obligations to debtholders are deducted from each state’s share of revenue.

“The effect of huge debt supported by ISPOs is already eating deep into the account of Lagos, Cross River and Osun states. Osun’s net allocation is even in the negative terrain, which invariably puts more pressure on future revenue.

“Also, the index looks at the ability of states to sustainably manage their debt profiles.

The index tries to see the extent to which today’s revenue can service outstanding debts. Anambra and Yobe top the index.

“Osun trails the overall index. The state’s inability to meet its recurrent expenditure obligations, its heavy debt profile and inefficiency in the collection of internally generated revenue weighed seriously on the state.

“Kwara’s rapid improvement in its internally generated revenue helps the state’s performance on the index. Also noticeable is the 22.56%, 52.18%, 2.29% and 2.78% fall in the debt profile of Delta, Kebbi, Gombe and Ebonyi states, respectively.”

Olusola Fabiyi, Abuja


A Federal High Court , sitting in Ado - Ekiti, Ekiti State, has restrained the Peoples Democratic Party from barring the Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe - led South - West Zonal Executive Committee and the zone ’ s delegates from the December 9 National Convention of the party .

It also barred the party , its officers, and organs from allowing the Eddy Olafeso- led group to participate in the convention or submit any list as South - West delegates .
Olafeso is the South - West zonal chairman of the party recognised by the national leadership of the party .

Ogundipe , however, told journalists in Abuja on Friday , that non - compliance with the court order could affect the outcome of the December 9 national convention of the party .

He urged the National Caretaker Committee of the party led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi to “ uphold the rule of law because he ( Makarfi ) is also a product of the law. ”

Makanjuola brought the court order to the national headquarters of the party in Abuja on Friday. The court sitting had earlier taken place on Wednesday.

Named in the suit numbered FHC/ AD/ CS/ 18/ 2017 are: Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe , Chief Adepegba Otemolu, Lanre Orimoloye, Supo Ijabadeniyi and Femi Carena.

The defendants are the Independent National Electoral Commission, PDP, Senator Ahmed Makarfi , Sen . Ben Obi , Eddy Olafeso, Wunmi Jenyo , Adeola Ogunrinde and Femi Adetola .

Others are Ojo Williams , Fasiu Bakenne , Philip Aivohji , Mrs . Oluwawumi Oshinroluke , Biliaminu Ogundele , Femi , Makinde, the Inspector General of Police and Assistant Inspector General of Police , Zone 2 , Osogbo , Commissioner of Police , Ondo State , and the Department of State Services and State Security Service , Ondo State.

Specifically, the court, which was presided over by Justice Taiwo O . Taiwo , restrained the Makarfi - led executives or their agents from “ preventing the plaintiffs and other South - West delegates to the PDP national convention listed in the schedule attached to this originating summons . ”

The court listed the beneficiaries of the order as Alhaji Adewole Adeyanju and Senator Buruji Kashamu , adding that they should not be barred from attending the national convection .

The judge also said that no disciplinary action should be taken against the plaintiffs “ and other delegates of the party from the South - West Zone in order to prevent them from participating in the party ’ s national convention pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

Justice Taiwo said , “An order of interim injunction is hereby granted restraining the 5 th to 15th defendants by themselves , their servants , agents and or privies from participating in the PDP national convention scheduled to hold on the 9 th of December , 2017 or any other date during the subsistence of tenure of office of the South -West Zonal Executive Committee led by the 1 st Plaintiff as members of the South - West delegates of the party pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice . ”

Ogundipe said the Senator Makarfi - led NCC and the national leadership of the party had a duty to prevent impunity and lawlessness if they were desirous of building a new PDP that would appeal to Nigerians and win elections in 2019.

He said , “ I say this because Eddy Olafeso and his group never emerged from a valid South - West Zonal congress. The Federal High Court , Lagos , in a ruling delivered in Suit No. : FHC/ L/CS/ 605 / 2016 on the 17th of May , 2016 , the court expressly nullified the sham congress. Till date , the order has neither been set aside nor upturned on appeal.

“ It should be further noted that in a final judgment delivered on the 24th of June, 2016 , the court categorically stated that our tenure ends in October , 2018 , having been elected at a special zonal congress held on the 11 th of October , 2014 in Ibadan , the Oyo State capital . The implication of this is that my executive committee remains the only validly elected and judicially sanctioned leadership of the party in the South - West . ”

Ogundipe said if the party leadership acted in defiance of indubitable facts and the Rule of Law, “ it will contaminate the national convention ”, adding that, “ our leaders should do justice and avoid anything that can jeopardise our party ’ s chances in 2019. ”

He urged members and leaders of the party in the South - West to continue to work for the party and mobilise people for membership .

In reaction , Olafeso told our correspondent that the party was already working hard to discharge the injunction , adding that the national leadership of the party wished to reposition the PDP.

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By Musa Abdullahi Krishi


he House of Representatives yesterday alleged that the Executive Director of the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Olusegun Awolowo forged a letter from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) in order to sack some staff of the agency.

The House had last year ordered the NEPC boss to stop any disciplinary action against the affected staff, who had petitioned the Green Chamber over promotion scandal in the agency.

The lawmakers said Awolowo did not only disrespect their resolution but that he is currently in the process of sacking the affected staff, who were over 20 in number.

Daily Trust had last year exclusively reported how promotion scandal rocked the agency over the elevation of directors, deputy directors and assistant directors. Some staff of the council accused Awolowo, of bias and “promotion of staff from his ethnic group,” especially those in the directorate cadre.

The House said findings by some of its members showed that Awolowo forged a letter from the SGF’s office, which he claimed gave him directive to investigate the affected staff and sanction them.

The House resolved to constitute an ad-hoc committee to investigate the matter and report back in two weeks for further legislative action.

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE


Three suspected fraudsters have been arrested and charged before a Lagos court for obtaining N600,000 from a lady and gang raped her in the process.

The suspects were Chibueze Osuji, 37, Lawrence Nwogu, 44 and Anthony Nwadike.

The incident happened at Arida area of Idimu, Lagos where they accosted her on her way to church.

They took her to an undisclosed location were they first defrauded and then raped her.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that the victim (name withheld) was accosted by a woman who identified herself as Prophetess Patience Adams, and gave her some prophecies of impending danger on her and her family.

The ‘Prophetess” later took her to a place where the three male suspects allegedly hypnotised her before she was made to withdraw the said amount of money from her bank account with promise to double it.

She was then returned to the house in Idimu where the three men took turns to rape her.

Thereafter they asked her to come back on a later date to collect the money they promised to double for her.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that on the said date, she went to the house to collect the money but did not find anybody there.
It was then that it dawned on her that she had been duped.

The matter was reported to the police who trailed the suspects and arrested them.

They were brought before Ejigbo Magistrates court and charged for conspiracy and fraud.

They pleaded not guilty.

The presiding Magistrate, Mrs J.O.E. Ajayi granted the suspects bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.

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

The matter was adjourned till 31 October, 2017.

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By Hamisu Muhammad (Abuja) & Kayode Ekundayo (Lagos)



Banks will soon crack down on customer’s accounts following new directives from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday, on Bank Verification Number (BVN) operations and watch-list for the banking industry.

Records from the NIBSS show that there were about 45.85 million total bank accounts unlinked, but when compared with the active accounts the number dropped to 15.72 million unlinked to BVN as of February 2017.

The record further shows that as of October 8th, 2017, the total BVN issued were 30,511,506.

In a memo to the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) and Other Financial Institutions (OFIs) obtained by Daily Trust  signed by Mr. Dipo Fatokun, Director Banking and Payment System, the apex bank warned banks and OFIs to ensure proper capturing of the BVN data and validate same before linkage with customers’ accounts; ensure all operated accounts are linked with the signatories’ BVN; and ensure customer’s names on the BVN database are the same in all of his/her accounts, across the banking industry.

Some intelligence reports observe recently that some banks have relaxed the BVN linkage of some customers, a situation that will allow fraudulent transactions in the banking system, a source in the banking industry told Daily Trust.

With the new circular, the apex regulator orders banks to report confirmed fraudulent individuals’ BVNs to NIBSS for update of the watch-list database; report the BVN of deceased customers to NIBSS for update on the BVN database; render returns to NIBSS for enlisting individuals involved in confirmed fraudulent activities, with the report signed by the chief audit executives.

The new regulation also states that CBN (Banking Supervision Department) shall be granted real-time online access to the watch-list database while the chief audit executive of the customer’s bank shall be notified, where a bank needs to watch-list a customer of another bank. 

The chief audit executive of the customer’s bank, upon notification, shall investigate within one month and after confirmation of the fraudulent activity, watch-list the customer within two business days.

CBN also mandates NIBSS to ensure BVN data are stored within the shores of Nigeria and shall not be routed across borders without the consent of the CBN while users of the BVN information shall establish adequate security procedures to ensure the safety and security of its information and those of its clients, which shall include physical, logical, network and enterprise security.

Appropriate penalties shall apply to any bank that fails to enlist individuals confirmed to be involved in fraudulent activity, it said.

“Any other stakeholder who fails to perform its stipulated responsibilities shall be penalized by the CBN. A watch-listed individual shall not be allowed to enter into new relationship with any bank. A bank may choose not to continue business relationship with account holder on the watch-list. 

“Where a bank chooses to continue an existing business relationship with holders of account on the watch-list, the account holder shall be prohibited from all e-channels, such as ATM, POS, Internet Banking, Mobile Banking, including issuance of third-party cheques. 

“A watch-listed customer shall not provide reference to another customer, neither shall he/she be allowed access to credit facility or guarantee credit facilities,” the new circular directed.

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