₦airaland Forum

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE


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The police at Ikotun Division have arrested two women and detained them at the station while the third suspect escaped, for their unruly behaviour by publicly fighting over a man for sex in Lagos.

The incident happened at a popular joint at Governor’s Road by Landmog Bus Stop in Ikotun area of Lagos State. The suspects identified as Amaka, Chioma and Blessing were said to have engaged in a public brawl after a customer who came to drink at the joint indicated interested to take a woman home.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that the three women indicated interest at the same time and were said to have scrambled for the man to the embarrassment of other customers at the joint. However, the scrambling turned to full blown fight and fracas after the man chose Blessing to the astonishment of Amaka and Chioma.

It was gathered that Chioma and Amaka protested and told the man that he cannot take Blessing because men had been sleeping with her for some days while the two of them have not had any sex for days and had not made any money for those days. They reportedly suggested that the man should agree to take the three of them at the same time since he could afford to take care of them.

The man agreed but Blessing rejected the idea and said she was not ready for such arrangement because she would deliver the services the man would want alone. The argument resulted in hot exchange words and degenerated later to a fight among the three women.

Some of the properties at the jointed were damaged during the fight. The manager of the joint then had to contact the police and the suspects were arrested and taken to the station.

At the station, the suspects told the police that Blessing had taken the few customers that came to the joint to solicit for sex at their own detriment and she had refused sharing the only man that agreed to take three of them for the romp.

When P.M.EXPRESS visited Ikotun Police Division, the suspects were still detained there but the DPO was not around to comment on the matter.

However, police sources said the suspects will be charged to court for their alleged conduct in the area. P.M.EXPRESS also gathered that Blessing has been on the run after the fight, while the man in question abandoned them and settled for another woman.

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Kenneth Ofoma and Ola James


Two native doctors have been arrested in Enugu and Delta states for trading and trafficking in death. One of them, Felix Akor, was arrested for allegedly hiring assassins to kill Onyemaechi Eze in Enugu State, who he suspected used diabolical means to kill his wife’s siblings.

Akor was arrested along with one of those he hired to kill Eze. Another doctor was arrested in Delta State for being a member of ritual killer gang. The gang tricked a commercial motorcycle rider to a certain location, killed him and cut off his vital organs. The alleged killer, hired by Akor, is identified as Idoko Onyekachi of Ifuroka Amalla in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State.

Eze was alleged to be diabolically responsible for the alleged mysterious death of two siblings of Akor’s wife, Blessing and John.

While fielding questions from police, Onyekachi confessed to taking part in Eze’s murder. Onyekachi said Akor, a native doctor, hired him and his gang for N200,000 and allegedly instructed them to assassinate Eze.

The Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ebere Amaraizu, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said that Onyekachi was arrested by operatives of the Udenu Police Division, in partnership with members of the public.

He said: “The suspect, who fled after committing the offence, was arrested on September, 16, at Inyi in Igboeze North Local Government Area of Enugu State through a well-coordinated operation borne out of intelligence gathering.”

Amaraizu disclosed that Onyekachi, with others still at large, murdered Eze on July 5, over a yet to be established issue/issues. They escaped to avoid being nabbed.

The image maker said that the suspect was now assisting operatives in their investigations. Amaraizu also disclosed that Onyekachi had given insight on how he and the gang allegedly collected the N200,000 from Akor to carry out the assassination.

He added: “The native doctor, Akor, has been arrested by police operatives and is now assisting with investigations.”

Similarly, the Delta State Police Command gunned down a member of a ritual killing group known as ‘Ghana Buggers’ in the metropolis. The yet-tobe- mentioned native doctor is part of the gang.

According to the police, the Ghana Buggers ritual killers were linked to the death of a commercial motorcycle rider. The motorbike rider’s organs were removed and his corpse dumped in an undisclosed area on Sapele-Warri Road.

The commercial motorcycle rider was said to have met his untimely death after two members of the ritual killer group asked him to take them Amukpe area of Sapele.

He was overpowered, killed and his body dumped after his organs were harvested. The suspects were later tracked and arrested.

It was alleged that a member of the gang died in a shootout with soldiers. The native doctor, who is presently in police custody, is undergoing interrogation, while another surviving member, Emmanuel Ogbotor, was rushed to Central Hospital, Sapele after sustaining bullet wound in the shootout with soldiers.

There was heavy security around the hospital premises, with a crowd trying to catch a glimpse of Ogbotor. Police source said the suspects were arrested by soldiers of the 19 Battalion after a tip-off by men of the local vigilance group. One of the kidnappers died during the gun duel, while others were overpowered and taken to police station.

Recently, two suspected members of a kidnapping gang were identified and gunned down in Sapele, two weeks after the release of the wife of a Seplat Petroleum Company executive that was held in kidnapper’s den for 42 days.

Ritual killings appear to be on the increase in Sapele, Oghara, Jesse and its environs, with several persons allegedly killed in the aforementioned areas.

The situation compelled the monarch of Jesse Kingdom and women to invoke a curse on perpetrators of such crimes. The women’s action was said to have stemmed from increasing reports of murdered farmers and commercial cyclists. The victims were believed to have been killed by the ‘Ghana Buggers’ group.

By Richard P. Ngbokai, Kano


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‘’Advise your father to divorce your mother and marry me’’ Hadiza Gabon reacts to twitter follower
Hadiza Gabon has reacted angrily to the calls on her to get married asking one of the callers to advise his father to divorce his mother and marry her.

She reacted to a call on her twitter account @AdizatouGabon when one of her followers advised her to get married.

She said her reaction was informed by similar calls anytime she posts new picture on her twitter handle.

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Oyetunji Abioye


Four commercial banks in the country are operating with too many non- performing loans on their books and with liquidity ratios below the minimum requirement , two members of the Central Bank of Nigeria ’ s Monetary Policy Committee have said in statements on the bank ’ s website.

The two MPC members, Dr . Doyin Salami and Prof . Balami Dahiru Hassan, did not name the lenders, but said the four banks together were equivalent to at least one Systemically Important Bank.

Their statements were part of those of eight members of the MPC published late on Tuesday.
According to Hassan , financial sector stress tests showed that the Capital Adequacy Ratios for the nation ’ s banking industry worsened to 11 . 51 per cent in June, from 12. 81 per cent in April, as against a regulatory minimum of 15 per cent for banks with international licences.

He said , “ The financial performance indicators showed that when the four outlier banks were removed , the CAR , NPLs ratio and the Liquidity Ratio are all above the prudential requirement .

“ The banking sector liquidity ratio showed that all DMBs registered above the minimum of 30 per cent Liquidity Ratio with the exception of four outlier banks . The stress test , therefore , shows that the Deposit Money Banks are less resilient to shocks . ”

Hassan stated that the NPLs stood at 15. 07 per cent in June compared with the five per cent regulatory limit .

Salami , on his part, said the ratio stood at 8 . 17 per cent when excluding the four lenders in question .

He stated , “The Financial System Stability Report by the CBN staff highlights one of the biggest challenges with, which the central bank must grapple.

“ At slightly over 15. 0 per cent , the portfolio of the NPLs as a proportion of the total loan book of banks remains above the regulatory maximum and continues to rise . Whilst the CBN staff continue to note that once the figure is discounted for the impact of ‘ four outlier banks ’ , the NPL ratio drops to 8 . 17 per cent . ”

The International Monetary Fund had urged Nigerian policymakers to quickly increase the capital of undercapitalised banks and put a time limit on regulatory forbearance after it said last month that four banks were under - capitalised .

Union Bank of Nigeria Plc on Wednesday started a N 50bn share sale to existing shareholders to enhance its regulatory and working capital .

A number of mid - size banks are seeking to raise fresh capital but the economic challenges facing the country may have delayed their plans.
Salami told our correspondent in a telephone chat that his MPC statements were things he stood by and believed in.

Asked if he had additional explanation , he said , “I don’ t believe in stating half - truths . If you have read my statement in the past two years or more , you would have seen that. ”

Reacting to the development , the Managing Director of Afrinvest Securities , Mr. Ayodeji Ebo , said 2016 was a very tough year for the banking sector and this led to increased NPLs in the banks ’ books.

He said the economic challenges led to default in loan obligations by many companies .

These, he added , impacted the liquid assets of many banks , leading to low liquidity ratio and high NPLs.

In its latest report titled , ‘ Nigerian banks : Survival of the fittest ’ , Renaissance Capital , an investment bank , said , “We believe that the focus for the banks that have struggled in this environment is to clean up their loan books and strengthen their capital positions .

“ In our view, the biggest risk to both the NPL clean - up process and capital is the currency , as most of the banks continue to use the official rate (N 305 /$ ) to market their foreign currency exposures.

“ We acknowledge that current market valuations remain depressed for the tier - 2 banks , although the year - to - date share price increases and the improved macro outlook should make these banks more willing to engage in discussions around a capital raise. This , in our view , will drag out the prospect of an RoE recovery .

“ For the entire banking sector , we believe that there is a risk to NIMs in FY 18 given the scope for monetary policy easing . We expect that general business activity will also start to slow down in 2 H18, ahead of the 2019 general elections. All of these factors could contribute to a delayed recovery for some of the banks . ”

Ebo also expressed optimism that following the exit from recession , many banks would record improvement in their loan books before the end of the financial year .

Some economic analysts said low liquidity ratios in the four banks at the end of the second quarter might be corrected by the end of the third quarter.

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Posted By: Precious Igbonwelundu



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Policemen have demolished three shrines located in Agbowa area of Ikorodu, Lagos.

They also arrested the owner of one of the shrines in whose premises a couple were rescued on Tuesday night.

The Acting Police Commissioner in the state, Imohimi Edgal, who led broadcast journalists to the shrines on Wednesday, said their (shrines) demolition was part of efforts to ensure complete clampdown on ritualists and fraudsters, who establish such places for criminal purposes.

According to Edgal, the police received intelligence report of illegality at the demolished shrines, adding that they had the backing of all the traditional rulers in the district to pull down individually owned shrines.

Edgal said from findings, the police discovered that most of the people who had been declared missing or fallen victim to operators of “one-chance” buses usually ended up at shrines in that axis, where they are fleeced or murdered.

He said: “We had the backing of all the traditional rulers in Ikorodu to demolish individually owned shrines that are used to perpetrate crime. Some of those shrines are used for ritual purposes. Others were established by fraudsters with the intent to commit crime.

“So, these three we have demolished were identified through police and community partnership. We received information from members of the community and we carried out our own findings too.

“I can tell you that as of Tuesday night, when we were still surveying the places, a husband and wife were rescued in one of the shrines. They fell victim to these criminals and they had been told they would be killed. They were very grateful when the police came to their aid.

“We have arrested an owner. I use this opportunity to appeal to the public to have confidence in the police. They should provide us with valuable information that would lead to the rounding up of all those criminals.

“I want to still assure them that under my watch, their confidentiality is guaranteed. No one would know information came from them. Just as we have gotten these ones, we will get all others and rid Lagos of such criminals.”

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Ade Adesomoju , Abuja


A Federal High Court in Abuja , on Wednesday, struck out one of the nine counts of $ 1 . 6 bn crude oil fraud instituted against businessman , Jide Omokore , and five others.

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, in a ruling , struck out the eighth count after hearing an application by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources , Mrs. Diezani Allison - Madueke , who had alleged that she was indicted in the particular count, yet was not given the opportunity to defend herself.

The six , named as defendants in the case included, Omokore , his two companies, Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited.

The other defendants are a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company , Victor Briggs; a former Group Executive Director , Exploration and Production of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation , Abiye Membere ; and a former Manager, Planning and Commercial of the NNPC, David Mbanefo.

Posted By: Yusuf Alli


EFCC in court to seek forfeiture of N1.823b Paris Club refund

Armed with evidence of alleged diversion of the London-Paris Club refund, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has applied for the forfeiture of over N1.823billion by some consultants hired by the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF).

Besides, a suspect, Mr. Ifeanyi Okafor, has told EFCC detectives that he was a “fictitious consultant” to the NGF, which paid him $3 million from the loan repayment to states.

He said his company, Mountain Crest, was hired by the Governors Forum for an unexecuted consultancy job, it was learnt yesterday.

Apart from  Ifeanyi, four other consultants have been invited for interrogation by the anti-graft commission.

According to a source, who pleaded not to be named in order not to jeopardise the probe, the commission has approached the court for the forfeiture of the following: N1. 230billion by Melrose General Services Company; N500million by a governor; and $1million and N100million paid to Gosh Project by Mountain Crest Limited.

The source said: “We have gone to court on some payments made to some consultants by the NGF. We filed two applications before the court, but we could not secure final forfeiture because the court was on vacation and the matters were adjourned till October.

“Our detectives found that N3.5billion was paid to Melrose General Services Company but only N1.2billion was discovered when the investigation of the diversion of the London-Paris Club refund started. We have initiated a court process for the final forfeiture of the N1.2billion to the Federal Government. We need to perfect the forfeiture with a court order.”

Of the cash given to some entities through Melrose, N220 million has been recovered into the Federation Account.

“The Managing director of Xtract Energy Services, a company that deals in Forex Trading, confirmed that Wasp Networks Limited transferred N170, 000,000 on the 16th January 2017 to Xtract Energy Services Limited’s FCMB account for the purchase of $350,000 which he later transferred into Wasp Networks Stanbic IBTC US dollar domiciliary account,” the source said, adding.



“Wasp Networks has returned to the EFCC the N200million paid to the company by Melrose General Services.

“Melrose General Services Company paid N20million to Thebe Wellness Services. The managing director of Thebe Wellness Services confirmed that N20million from Melrose General Services Company was a loan which was to be used as an investment in Thebe Wellness Services.”

On the $3million traced to a company, Mountain Crest Limited, the source said one Ifeanyi Okafor had admitted that the consultancy  contract was fictitious.

The source added: “About $3million was paid into the corporate  account of Mountain Crest Limited by the NGF.  From  the cash, $1million was remitted into the account of a company, Gosh Project. We have succeeded in recovering $500,000 which we transferred to the government’s account. But we have applied to the court for the final  forfeiture of the money.

“Out of the balance of $500,000, we got another N100million from Gosh Project. The recovered cash was part of what was invested in Treasury Bills. Another share of the money is being used for a hotel project in Lekki, Lagos State.”

Responding to a question, the source said: “The EFCC is going to recover the remaining $2million and it will charge the company and all those involved to court with corrupt payment,  aiding and abetting diversion of public funds.”

Okafor was said to have submitted letters from the NGF appointing Mountain Crest as a consultant, but, he later confirmed that the  $3million contract was fictitious.

“There are clues that the $3million consultancy job was given to Mountain Crest Limited to launder funds for another governor,” the source claimed, adding that “four consultants, apart from Ifeanyi, will also face trial soon”.

On the diverted N500million, which was linked with a governor through a mortgage bank, the source said:  “The EFCC filed an ex-parte motion on 19th June 2017 for the Interim Forfeiture of the cash and our request was granted by   Justice Nnamdi  Dimgba  of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

“All we  are waiting for is an order for the final forfeiture of the money by the governor who we cannot prosecute now. Certainly, the governor will face trial after the completion of his second term in office.”

Asked of the next stage of the investigation, the source said: “We are investigating the utilisation of the London-Paris Club refunds by states. Also, in addition to the 5% paid by states to the centralised NGF account, some state governments further engaged consultants, with some paying  2.5% and 15% of the collectible fees to these consultants.

“We will look into the books of all the states but we are looking at the payment  to consultants in five states at present. They are Bauchi, Delta, Abia , Cross River and Nasarawa.

“Our team will review the list of consultants,  how much was paid to them, who actually benefited and we will determine whether or not there was evidence of corrupt payments.”

Following protest by states against over deduction for external debt service between 1995 and 2002, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the release of N522.74 billion (first tranche) to states as refund pending reconciliation of records.

Each state was entitled to a cap of N14.5 billion being 25% of the amounts claimed.

The second tranche of N243, 795,465,195.20 was disbursed to states in July.

The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, said the payment of the claims would enable states to offset outstanding salaries and pension which had been “causing considerable hardship”.

The governors sought for the refund to states and local governments at a meeting with Buhari on May 24, last year.

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PrecisionFx:
The news is false Sir.

A total of 13 registered political parties in the country have agreed to collapse into one mega party to be known as Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), the interim national chairman of the proposed party, Dr. Onwunbuya Breakforth, has said.

Briefing newsmen yesterday, in Abuja, Breakforth said the merger was coming as a result of the ‘failure’ of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to rescue Nigerians from the various challenges bedeviling the nation. 

He, however, declined to mention the names of the parties, saying their names would be made public when INEC announced the registration of the new party.   

“This movement has been consulting with different political parties and 13 of them have agreed to come together and merge as one mega party. It’s a merger not alliance. We are going to merge like the ACN, CPC, ANPP, New PDP and part of APGA merged to become APC and seized power in 2015.

“We have approached INEC for registration of the 13 parties as Freedom and Justice Party and the commission has already approved the name and our logo. We have met all the requirements and INEC has 30 days by law to do this. 

“The arrangement is that each of the 13 political parties will organize a national convention and the decision to collapse into the mega party would be taken at the convention which remains the highest decision-making body of all political parties in Nigeria. 

“Our decision to merge is premised on the fact that there is no need having too many political parties that cannot win elections. So we are forming a merger that is bigger than that of the APC. 

“Our plan is that after 2019, there will be no more PDP or APC because the APC is a party with a head but without body, while the PDP has body without a head,” he said.

He claimed that Nigeria’s exit from recession as announced by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) recently was a “paper work aimed at deceiving Nigerians”, saying that it has no effect on the poor man on the street.

Juliana Francis



Six people were killed while several others were injured when two rival gangs clashed on Lagos Island.

Witnesses claimed that the men were killed by a man identified as Falapa during the clash between Okepopo boys and Onola boys. It was learnt that in the last one week, when the renewed clash of mistreats started on the Island, Falapa had killed six men with his English gun, superior to the Dane gun carried by rival group.

Witnesses said Irabor, Mustapha and four others, whose names were not yet known, were killed.

“Falapa vowed after the last clash with Onola boys early this year, where three of his gang members from Okepopo were killed, that he would surely avenge their death. To make his plan successful, he bought a new gun and has been looking for opportunity to execute his mission.

“He succeeded during celebration of the 155th anniversary of Epetedo existence where a local musician came to perform in the area.

Falapa and his gang members pursued Onola boys who left the area about 3.30a.m. and attacked them at Tokunbo Street where two persons were killed.

“On Friday night, Irabor, a member of Onola youths, was also shot dead at Atiko area on the Island, while Mustapha was shot dead on Sunday afternoon at Branco Street.

Two other members were shot dead at Okepopo area when the Onola boys went for a reprisal on Monday morning,” a witness said.

The incessant killings have led to the closure of many shops and markets at Itafaji, Evans, Branco, Olushi, Atiko, Onola, Okepopo, Massey Apatira, Smith and other adjacent streets on the Island. Residents were packing out in some of the areas yesterday.

Police from the Area ‘A’ Police Command, Lion Building, in the early hours of yesterday, raided an undisclosed hotel where some gang members of Falapa hid after operations.

Two of Falapa’s lieutenants, ‘Semo and Segun Playboy,’ were arrested among other suspects.

The state Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, on Thursday, assured Lagos-Island residents that he would bring an end to neighbourhood crimes and cultism. Edgal gave the assurance during a Town-Hall Stakeholders Security Meeting hosted by the Area ‘A’ Commander, ACP J. O. Akinyede, at Lion Building, Lagos.

He said: “We continue to have neighbourhood crimes and cultrelated violence and for this reason, I have, with immediate effect, ordered Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers to reach out to traditional rulers, CDAs and other voluntary groups.

We will set up vigilance group in Area ‘A’ Command to reach out to inner streets and neighbourhoods to restore peace in the community.”

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Sulaiman Salawudeen ADO-EKITI

Students of College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State, yesterday embarked on violent demonstration to protect alleged rape of a female colleague (names withheld) by a commercial bus driver.

The 200 Level student was allegedly raped by a commercial bus driver conveying her back to school along College- Igbara Odo way on Sunday.

The lady, said to be having malaria, had left the campus for medication in town. But while she was returning to school about 8p.m.the driver, popularly called Akoto, suddenly stopped the bus on the way and raped her.

Enraged, students of the college, who got wind of the incident, took to the streets yesterday to protest the assault.

The students blocked the Ado-Ikere-Akure Road, which caused disruption of traffic flow for several hours.

Those travelling to Akure had to return to Ado-Ekiti to prevent being caught in the web of violence which engulfed the town.

The protest also disrupted commercial activities at Odo- Oja area of Ikere-Ekiti as many of the traders hurriedly closed shops to prevent looting of their wares.

It was learnt that the lady has been taken to the hospital for treatment. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Alberto Adeyemi, confirmed the incident.

He said rape was the highest point of criminality which would not be tolerated.

The PPRO added that normalcy had returned to the town and that the police had launched manhunt for the alleged rapist.

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE


A 27-year old man, Patrick Azubuike has been arrested and charged before a Lagos court for his involvement in sexual assault on a 21-year old young lady. He got her pregnant and tried inducing her with killer drug for abortion.

The incident happened at Ajanlekoko Street in Kirikiri town, Lagos where they reside.

However the victim concealed the alleged rape because of the stigma and shame, and so it resulted in pregnancy. When the suspect knew about it, he claimed that he had a medical idea; brought and induced her with a substance to terminate the pregnancy.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that the killer drugs caused the victim complications, she bled heavily from her private part hand and was then rushed to a hospital.

It was learnt the victim then opened up at the hospital and revealed that it was what Azubuike did to her that caused the whole problem.

The matter was reported to the police and Azubuike was arrested and charged before Ikeja Magistrates court. Azubuike was charged with three count charge of sexual assault by penentration, administering obnoxious drugs on her and impersonation under the Criminal Code.

He pleaded not guilty. The presiding Magistrates, Mrs O.A. Layinka granted him bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum. He was remanded in prison custody pending when he will perfect his bail condition. The matter was adjourned till 11th of December, 2017.

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From NGOZI UWUJARE

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Detectives at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Kogi State Police Command, are hard-pressed trying to unravel how a monkey allegedly shot dead by a 65-year-old hunter, Clement Etila Ekele, transformed turned into his 45-year-old younger brother, Monday Ekele.

The tragic incident happened on July 16, this year at Ikaka village in Ibaji Local Government Area, Kogi State, as the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Wilson Inalegwu told Sunday Sun.

On the ill-fated day, Monday, the deceased, went to the farm about 5.00am. Three hours later, about 8.00am, Clement also went to the farm with his double barrel gun. At the farm, he saw a monkey on a tree and shot it. The monkey fell down.

When he ran to the foot of the tree to pick up the monkey, Clement said that what he saw was the dead body of his brother.

At the headquarters of the Kogi State police command where he has been detained while investigation into the matter is in progress, 65-year-old Clement, who hails from Ibaji Local Government Area of the state recalled the experience this way: “I hunt for monkeys. I have never had any misunderstanding with my younger brother, Monday Ekele. On that day, he went to the farm before me. Later I also went to the farm with my gun. There, I saw a monkey on the tree.

I shot the monkey but when I wanted to carry the dead monkey, it changed into my younger brother. I didn’t know what came over me; I couldn’t understand myself. I ran back to the village and I started drinking beer and rejoicing. Later, I told my friend Anthony that I shot my younger brother dead.”

He spoke further: “The gods I worship failed me because I refused to perform certain sacrificial rites. They became angry with me; I have been a hunter for years, I never shot anybody. Why must I kill my own brother? We live together, our houses are opposite each other. I have been having misunderstanding with the people in my community. They only envy me.”

When his friend broke the tragic news to the villagers, some of the people rushed to the police to report the incident as the deceased was the chairman of the local vigilance group.

In the quest to learn more, Sunday Sun visited Ikaka village and met Ali Ibrahim, who shed light on the tragic incident.

Ibrahim told Sunday Sun that the suspect, Clement, believed so much in charms and had been terrorizing the villagers with his prowess in diabolic practice.

“When we heard that he shot his brother, Monday, who was the chairman of the vigilance group. Before this incident happened, he would always threaten to deal with anybody that crossed his path.

He often carried out the threat. So he has been a terror to us. People in our village were so afraid of him, and were under some kind of bondage when he was around. As it is now, we don’t want him to come back to the village again. He has dealt with several of his opponents,” Ibrahim said.

The officer in charge of the Homicide Section, Kogi Police Command, Supol Mohammed Balarabe, disclosed that detectives who visited the home of the suspect, found the dane gun allegedly used by Clement to commit the alleged crime.

Meanwhile, the deceased has been buried while the suspect is awaiting arraignment in court by the police, for murder.

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By Bennett Oghifo in Lagos, Chineme Okafor in Abuja and Alike Ejiofor in Lagos


The federal government has handed over the Apapa to Oworonshoki end of the Lagos – Ibadan Expressway, a 35 kilometres long highway to the Dangote Group to rebuild using concrete, and as well getting a recompense in the form of 10-year tax holiday, the Minister of Power, Works, and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has disclosed.

Speaking at the Businessday Road Construction Seminar yesterday in Lagos, Fashola, explained that the contract for the road network comprising Creek Road, Liverpool Road, Marine Beach all the way to Mile 2, Oshodi, Oworonshoki, to the Lagos end of the Toll Gate on the Ibadan Expressway was signed with the Dangote Group on September 12, 2017.

Fashola, said to encourage the Dangote Group to embark on the project which the government is still waiting for its designs, the government has approved an upward review of a tax incentive to the group to 10 years.

“I am pleased to inform you that, we have just concluded an agreement using the tax incentive order to hand over the Apapa area comprising Creek Road, Liverpool Road, Marine Beach to Mile 2, Oshodi, Oworonshoki to the Lagos end of the Toll Gate on the Ibadan Expressway to Dangote Group for construction using concrete on Tuesday, 12th September 2017,” said Fashola.

He further stated: “We have also just concluded and signed an agreement with NLNG to construct the Bodo – Bonny Bridge at the cost of N120.6 Billion with NLNG and Federal Government sharing the cost 50-50. The contracts were signed on Wednesday, 13thSeptember 2017.

“We inherited a tax incentive policy for individuals to benefit from tax remission, to recover investment made in public infrastructure like roads, which other members of the public can utilise.

“This government has thought it fit to review the five-year limit on that tax order to a ten-year period to sustain private investment in road infrastructure, because it is a long-term asset,” he added.

Continuing, he stated: “As for the agreement with Dangote, we are now awaiting the design of the 35km stretch excluding the portion that has been completed, about 7km, by the previous administration around Mile 2 area. From the design, we will determine the cost and the scope of works which we hope can be executed quickly.

As this government promised, we will solve the Apapa and Port congestion problem.”

Fashola equally noted that the government would restore toll plazas on Nigerian roads it is currently reconstructing. He noted that the fares for the toll gates could be paid using cards to minimise instances of cash payments.

“We have also concluded traffic surveys on 51 major highways and now have current traffic data on these roads and we can project vehicular traffic movement for tolling and concession purposes.

“We have concluded preliminary designs for the plazas, and we are now looking at how to incorporate technology such as using contact cards, installing fibre optic, using GSM to enable people pay with minimum use of cash,” he explained.

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By Steve Uzoechi and Okeqwo Kenechukwu


Leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Ralph Uwazurike, yesterday said activities of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) were contrary to the rule of engagement of the Biafra struggle.

Uwazurike, who expressed the view in Owerri warned that unless hands were on deck, the activities of the IPOB leader, Mr Nnamdi Kanu, may lead to an unplanned war contrary to the primary objective of the Biafra struggle.

He said the interest of the Biafra movement was to secure the interest, lives and property of Igbo people and not to start another war. Uwazurike said Kanu’s major interest was to destroy the agenda of MASSOB, saying that the hallmark of any freedom fighter was to submit to being arrested.

The MASSOB leader, who expressed apprehension on IPOB’s activities, blamed the federal government for Kanu’s popularity, insisting that “if the government had ignored Kanu, the situation would not have escalated.’’ He, however, called on Igbo leaders to condemn the activities of IPOB as it had no agenda.

He said: “A real freedom fighter submits to arrest but Kanu has told his members to burn down the country if he is re-arrested, a true indication that he was paid to destabilise MASSOB. “The IPOB has no agenda and I advise Igbo leaders to condemn its activities.

“Nnamdi Kanu has no agenda and he is only thriving on the relevance given to him by the government. “I recruited him and I know his capacities and he is not a leader. “I have 25 steps towards actualising Biafra and Kanu does not have even one agenda.”

In Onitsha, Uwazuirike assured his members to discountenance threat by IPOB that there would not be an election in Anambra come November 18, describing it as an empty threat as no group was capable to stop the election.

He said he and MASSOB members would resist any attempt by anybody or group under any guise to truncate the Anambra State governorship election, urging the Anambra electorate and Biafrans in the state to work towards a free, fair and credible election on November 18.

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By Evelyn Okakwu

The anti-graft agency, EFCC, on Wednesday confirmed that plans were in place to extradite a former petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

Several Nigerians have called for her extradition from the UK, after different corruption allegations were levelled against her.

Properties worth billions of Naira linked to her have since been forfeited to the federal government, many permanently.

Speaking on Wednesday while addressing journalists, civic groups and others, the EFCC acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu, confirmed the moves to extradite Mrs. Alison-Madueke.

“I want you to know that nobody will go unpunished. We are even seeking to extradite Diezani, but investigations are still ongoing,” Mr. Magu said.

“We have reached a level where nobody can stop us in the fight against corruption, but we all must realise that we are all stakeholders, and this fight is for the future generation.”

He added that all Nigerians must play their roles, “because EFCC can only do its best; but we must support the agency, and the law should take its course, policies should be strengthened, and punishment must be meted out in good time.”

Mr. Magu also blamed recent separatist agitations in Nigeria on corruption.

“Every evil that is happening now is caused by corruption: agitations, strikes, whatever. Corruption has chased our good human resources out of the country. It is the duty of this generation to correct the evils caused by corruption.”

The anti-graft chief also spoke on corruption among members of his organisation.

“I want you to tell us if there is corruption in the EFCC,” he said. “It makes no sense if people are fighting corruption and they are corrupt. So, tell us, don’t keep quiet.”

By Willie Danjuma GOMBE



The Special Adviser/ General Manager of the Gombe State Environmental Protection Agency (GOSEPA), Alhaji Nasiru Haruna has confirmed and explained the reason behind the removal of posters and billboards of President Muhammadu Buhari on the streets of Gombe, saying he got the clearance from the Gombe State office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The opposition All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state had over the weekend, accused the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) government in the state, led by Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of political persecution and infringement on their rights to political association.

The party, however, gave a 10-day ultimatum to the state government to return the billboards removed, after which APC said that its members have become more apprehensive of the political bias of the state government and the violence foisted on them by the State Marshals, which is likely to cause breach of public peace in the state.

But, the GOSEPA General Manager, who is also the Chairman of the State Task Force Committee on Environmental Sanitation and Other Related Matters, said the governor consulted extensively with INEC before the removal of the posters and billboards. “Please go to INEC and find out if it is already time for electioneering campaigns.

We have laws, and you can go and confirm from INEC. Before the government constituted this committee, I was fully aware that the governor had directed the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) to get some clearance from INEC before the committee was inaugurated.

I believe the government did it. So that question should be passed to the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of INEC in the state, who will enlighten you more,” he said.

Nasiru added: “We have removed that poster and I am ready to exhibit it to you now, His Excellency directed that any joint poster should be removed. He has respect for the President and Gombe his constituency, but anybody who makes joint posters and place such without authority should remove those posters.

“It is not true that we are harassing the opposition party by removing their posters. Even, anybody, who join poster with the governor, we do remove their posters. If you want to contest under any party, do your own poster and follow due process.”

He said part of the mandates of the seven-man Committee on Task Force, include enforce or remove of any illegal or unauthorised bill boards, banners, notice boards, posters and their likes across the state.

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Samson Folarin

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Two suspected cult members in Ogun State say they sell human hands for N 5 , 000 each to raise funds for their operations .

The men, Oluwaseun Odueh ,
aka Cleff ; and Wasiu Adejumo ,
aka Bomber, both members of the Eiye Confraternity , were arrested by operatives of the Zonal Intervention Squad in the Ibogun area of the state.

The suspects , who were also accused of being robbers , were arrested along with three herbalists , including a traditional ruler, who allegedly bought the hands of the victims .

The herbalists , Ifatona Akanni , aka Ajana Oro ; Isiaka Ajani and Oko Musa, said they had bought seven hands from the cult members , adding that each was bought for N 5 , 000 .

Those killed by the men were identified as one Tunde, who was beheaded at the Cherubim and Seraphim Church Railway Line , Ogba Ayo , Ijoko , in 2016 , with his two hands cut off .

Also killed were one Lateef , Kehinde and Yinka , in the Ijoko area between 2016 and January 2017. The hands of the men were cut off .

The police said on May 28 , 2017 , three men were also killed at Candozo Hotel , Fadahunsi , Ijoko , around 8 pm , while in June 2017, two people were killed at Ogba Ayo Junction and Agoro Junction , Ijoko, with their hands missing .

One of the suspected cult members , Odueh , said all the victims were members of the Aiye Confraternity , a rival cult, adding that they were killed during reprisals.

He said their hands were sold to herbalists to raise funds for the activities of his gang.
He said , “Supremacy clashes between the cults started about six years ago in Ijoko .

The Aiye cult killed our members , Godogodo , Fele , Callous
and others. Each time they killed them , they cut off their hands . We had to retaliate by doing the same thing to them .

“ Initially , we were throwing away the body parts . But when we realised that we needed money for our activities , we decided to make enquiries on what we could do with the body parts . That was how we started cutting off their hands and selling them. I have been involved in the murder of four members of the rival cult. ”

The 32 - year - old said he became a cult member due to the oppression he suffered as an undergraduate of a university in Ogun State , adding that he joined the gang in his community when he finished from school.

The second suspect, Adejumo , who also confessed to be an Internet fraudster (yahoo yahoo) , said he was part of the squad that killed two members of the Aiye cult he identified as Kehinde and Lekan Welder.

The 30 - year - old said a fight between two leaders in the Ijoko area led to the increase in cult killings in the community.

“ We killed Kehinde and Lekan
Welder because they killed our members and cut off their hands.

They killed Fele (Sunday ) and Callous , a final year student of the Federal University of Agriculture , Abeokuta . They also killed
Godogodo and Rati . We sell the hands to herbalists , ” he added .

One of the herbalists , Musa, said he had bought three hands from the cult members , adding that he had paid N 10, 000 and was owing them N 5 , 000 balance .

He said , “ I am a herbalist . I also consult Ifa and Opele for my clients . I met these boys when they came to worship Ogun at my shrine and since then, they had sold only three hands to me ; both dry and fresh.

I use the hands for asiri bibo (fetish blessing ) . I bought each hand for N 5 , 000 . I gave them N 10, 000 , and owed a balance of N 5 , 000 . ”

The second herbalist , Akanni , 53, said he had bought two hands from the men for the same purpose .

When our correspondent asked how he knew the part was useful for the purpose and who his clients were , he parried the questions, saying the charm didn’ t work.

The third herbalist , Ajani, who is the baale of Ososun village , in the Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, said the cult members introduced themselves to him as land speculators , adding that they later brought two hands which he bought for N 10, 000 .

The Zone 2 Police Public Relations Officer , SP Dolapo Badmos , said Odueh was the first to be arrested.

She said , “ Odueh was arrested on August 23 by the ZIS team during a patrol at about 2 pm in the Ibogun area of Ogun State. On interrogation, he confessed to belonging to the Eiye Confraternity and said he was also a member of an armed robbery gang. We subsequently arrested other members of the gang.

“ The police recovered three locally - made cut - to - size guns, seven live cartridges , and human parts processed into concoctions and powder for fetish use from the suspects .

“ The Assistant Inspector -General of Police , Zone 2 , Adamu Ibrahim , has ordered that the suspects should be arraigned in court. ”

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Chidiebube Okeoma, Owerri


Youths numbering over 200 on Tuesday set ablaze the palace of the traditional ruler of Obollo Autonomous community in the Isiala Mbano Local Government of Imo state , Eze Edwin Mbaeyi .

A source in the community, who simply identified himself as Collins told our correspondent that the palace was burnt over the refusal of the monarch to coronate one Chief Chijioke Njokuocha as the traditional prime minister of the community after the death of his father , Chief Samuel Njokuocha .

According to the source , the monarch ’ s preference for one Chief Jasper Nwachukwu angered the youths who had gathered to witness the coronation of Chief Njkuocha.

The youths took laws into their hands when the event failed to hold .

He said , “Our traditional ruler has insisted on making Chief Jasper Nwachukwu our traditional Prime Minister as against the rightful owner. The position of the prime minister in our community is hereditary.

“ After the death of our prime minister , Chief Samuel Njokuocha , our custom , and tradition demand that his first son , Chijioku Njokuocha , should be coronated .

This issue started since 2016 and our traditional ruler has remained adamant and wants to go against the culture and tradition of our people . Even the office of the governor on conflict resolution had mandated him to coronate the rightful person but he vehemently refused .

After much persuasions, he agreed to do the coronation today (Tuesday) after he had boycotted it one month ago. To the chagrin of the people who had gathered with much excitement to witness the ceremony he declined . The youths were embittered.

They had no other option than to set the palace ablaze after the monarch had fled “.

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Juliana Francis

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Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja, have arrested a cleaner for attempting to defraud a company of N500 million. The cleaner, Sylvester Ahuja, was said to have initially stole N2 million from the company. Ahuja was arrested at 911 Hotel, Warri in Delta State.

Police said the suspect, sometime in April, hacked into the email of a Lagos-based company, posing as the managing director and instructed the firm’s accountant to disburse N2 million into his Access Bank account. Ahuja, using similar gimmicks in June, requested the payment of N500 million into a Zenith Bank account.

The company detected this and quickly alerted the police. The RRS operatives, in their investigations, discovered that the initial N2 million was with-drawn with a debit card belonging to Ahuja. Ahuja, however, denied hack-ing into the account of any company, insisting that his friend, Emmanuel, was behind the fraud.

The suspect explained he met Emmanuel, a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member at his work place in April. He said: “Emmanuel is serving in Warri. He told me around April that he was stranded and that somebody was going to send money to him. He asked me to allow him to use my Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card because he couldn’t locate his own.

I released it to him with my Personal Identity Number (PIN). He told me that I should alert him whenever I received credit alert on my phone and I did.

“I expected these transactions to have been completed after two days. After almost a week, I saw him and I requested for my ATM, he told me he was still using it. After that, I asked him again, and he told me that he had misplaced it.

That was how he didn’t return the debit card again. My salary came and I approached the bank. I was told my account was having issues. That was the moment I got to know my account was used for fraudulent transactions.

“Since the episode, I have not been able to trace Emmanuel. I was informed when I started haunting for him that he was out of Warri.” The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Olarinde Famous-Cole, said that investigation was on going and that the suspect had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID), Panti, for further investigations.

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Posted By: Simeon Ebulu


Stamp Duty charges on bank transactions may have yielded trillions of naira, but the revenue is unremitted to the Federation Account, The Nation has learnt.

The fate of the revenue, which is believed to have risen to over N7trillion as at 2015, has pitched the Nigerian Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS) against the School of Banking Honours (SBH), an institution registered by the Nigerian Copyright Commission. The SBH is spearheading the recovery and remittance of the funds into the Federation Account for sharing by the Federal Government and the 36 states.

SBH’s Project Consultant/Acting Rector Tola Adekoya said based on findings from the research arm of SBH, he raised a Demand Notice dated 10th March, 2015, entitled, “Stamp Duty On Electronic Transfer Receipts (2013-2014)” on NIBSS for N7.719trillion as accruing and unremitted revenue to the Federal Government and the states.

He was invited by NIBSS for a discussion, but Adekoya is yet to honour the invitation.
“That invitation is traceable to the Demand Notice of 10th March 2015 that SBH raised on NIBSS as Stamp Duty of N 7.7 Trillion due to 36 states and the Federal Government on electronic cash-less transfers which turned over an aggregate N160 Billion daily in just five states of the federation in early 2013, as reported by Central Bank Nigeria (CBN),” Adekoya said.

He told The Nation that from all indications, that figure may have risen close to N20trillion. He said: ”Further reports revealed that the Stamp Duty revenue has now increased to N 20trillion (in local banks), or $53.3 billion (in foreign banks) in four years to 31st March, 2017, and out of which less than one per cent was later swept into a dedicated account with Central Bank of Nigeria, in 2016.”

To him, the matter of diverted public fund should be of serious concern to the public in view of the amount that is in contention and the involvement of agencies and persons allegedly denying governments of such huge revenue collected from the unsuspecting banking public and for appropriate disciplinary action to be taken.

By its Memorandum of Association, the SBH is approved to research into banking operations, and collaborate with banks and government on banking matters. It is empowered to represent government in the suit under its Copyright Certificate No. LW1023 dated 27th September 2012, and titled, “50-Naira Stamp Duty for Government on Electronic Cashless Transfers and Manual Bank Teller Deposits”.

Adekoya said the alleged diversion of public funds should be of serious concern to the public in view of the amounts involved, and the culpability of agencies and persons that have been denying government of such huge revenue collected from unsuspecting banking public, for appropriate disciplinary action.

He said the SBH had approached the CBN in 2012 to partner on the research outcomes that would absorb retrenched and ex-bankers to lead its young emerging bankers on practical part-time banking jobs at a lower career level that is branded as “Shadow-Banking”.

“SBH clarified that Shadow-Banking products would birth other Shadow Industries to absorb the youth in high volume, until vacancies exist in their target career sectors, and for which they could be employed,” Adekoya said, adding that the SBH offer was turned down by the CBN, hence the body later aligned its job creation activities with CBN’s Financial System Strategy (FSS) 2020, but the CBN did not complement this, either, he stated.

Undeterred, Adekoya said, “the Institute then proceeded with a proposal to Nigerian Postal Services (NIPOST) on 20th April 2012 to increase its internal revenue by exploring a narrow window provided for affixing adhesive stamp on banking receipts in Stamp Duties Act 2004, and a Master Services Agreement was signed by both parties on 14th September 2012”.

“The institute then reverted to CBN on its first research work by a letter dated 27th September 2012, titled, “Revenue Collection for Government through Banks”, requesting for approval to engage banks and other financial institutions as collecting agents on the stamping and remittance of Stamp Duty on manual and electronic transfer receipts from N1,000 ( inclusive of all those from below N500,000 that CBN had earlier set as limit for banks) into government coffers,” the report said.

The SBH got approval letters from the CBN. Its two defined roles were firstly to affix N50 stamp as evidence of Stamp Duty Paid on bank receipts, as covered by the Master Services Agreement with NIPOST, and secondly to sweep Stamp Duty Revenue to government, as duly covered by the Copyright Certificate No. LW1023.

Based on the CBN approvals, the institute secured written commitments from three banks to lead other banks on manual stamp duty collection for government.

Adekoya said since “NIBSS needed no such circular on electronic stamp duty collection for the government, because it runs a central operation, it joined the institute at a press conference on 4th January 2013 to support the government’s revenue project, and was engaged as the ‘official sweeping agent’ for government on 7th January 2013.”

He said the government directed that the only thing we should not charge stamp duty on is naira currency. “We went to Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS), which is the firm maintaining the portal for cash-less policy for all the banks. By January 2013, we were ready to run it. Since 1993, NIBSS has not remitted any stamp duty to the government,” Adekoya, said.

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Last week , one of President Muhammadu Buhari ’s ministers , Aisha Alhassan, voiced her support for the 2019 presidential ambition of one of the President ’s strongest rivals . BAYO AKINLOYE profiles Alhassan and other public officials who dared or defied Nigerian presidents.

Your Excellency , ” the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development , Aisha Alhassan , began in a video that went viral on social media last week . “ Our father and our president by the grace of God come 2019 . Before you are your people , your supporters for life , and the people of Taraba State; they are here to pay homage and to greet you on the occasion of Sallah and for all that Allah has done for you because Allah has raised your status . ”

The fair - skinned , bespectacled minister was not addressing President Muhammadu Buhari . Buhari hasn ’ t signified an intention to run for reelection. However , his associates have been dropping hints of a possible run for reelection while supporters are clamouring for the same .

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar , the man Alhassan was addressing at the event , has not hidden his intention to contest the presidency again , possibly during the 2019 presidential poll.

Therefore , Alhassan ’ s mellifluous voice and salutary words, which later caused much disquiet within the corridors of power, must have sounded like good music to Abubakar .

It was the same tone of voice she used in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation , Hausa Service a few days after . She spoke with such verve and boldness . During the interview, Alhassan who is also known as Mama Taraba, reiterated her support for Atiku and his ambition .

“ Since I was in the civil service, His Excellency , Atiku Abubakar , has been my mentor and godfather . He has remained so even now that I have joined politics . There is a reason for every political relationship.

“ Baba Buhari has not told anybody that he is contesting in 2019 . I can assure you that today , if Baba Buhari says he is going to contest , walahi tallahi (I swear by Allah ), I will go and kneel down before him and say , ‘ Baba , I am grateful for the opportunity you have given me to serve as a minister in your administration but Baba , like you know , Atiku is my godfather .

“ If Atiku says he is going to contest – but he too has not said he will contest… Why I said (Atiku) is ‘ our President come 2019’ is that we expect that he will contest . But if he contests , I will go and do what I just told you I will do . ”

Alhassan was equally daring as she assessed the possible consequences of her bold support for Atiku.

She said , “ Those who are saying I will be sacked will be put to shame . Even if I am sacked , it is Allah ’ s will; I never lobbied for it . It was Allah who gave it to me . ”
Her comments were met with silence from the Presidency ; neither Buhari nor his spokesmen have reacted to her statements.

Her position has made the ruling All Progressives Congress to press the panic button with its National Working Committee calling for a meeting to be held on September 11.
However , Mama Taraba is not the first minister or public official to dare or defy a President .


Lokpobiri dared Buhari too

In this dispensation , the dare-or - defy posture seemed to have begun with the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development , Senator Heineken Lokpobiri , jetting out of the country in January this year without any approval to do so .

Buhari had in 2016 directed his aides and other top officials of the Federal Government to get approval from him through the Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari , for trips outside the country.

The junior minister , who had written a letter dated December 28 , 2016 , to the President through Kyari , travelled out of the country without getting a reply to his request .

Reportedly, Lokpobiri ’ s request was turned down – but he was said to be already in faraway China when the response to his letter came on January 9 , 2017.


Onagoruwa’ s derring - do

Speaking up against maximum ruler, Late Gen . Sani Abacha , during his infamous reign as Nigeria ’ s Head of State, was a risky business left for those in the opposition.

Olu Onagoruwa , a lawyer with impeccable records as a human rights champion, first did the unspeakable when he threw his weight behind Abacha ’ s government in 1993 by accepting to be its attorney general and minister of justice .

Barely one year after , Onagoruwa had turned into an activist in government . He condemned and dissociated himself from eight decrees the dictator had issued.

Onagoruwa addressing a press conference said the decrees would “sweep away our liberties . ” He threatened to resign.
Unlike Alhassan and Lokpobiri in the current administration , Onagoruwa was given the boot .

Prior to the press conference where he lashed out against the decrees, the firebrand minister had enraged Abacha by issuing a letter ordering the release of Turner Ogboru who was incarcerated for a crime allegedly committed by his brother, Great Ogboru .


Entered Akunyili

Late Prof. Dora Akunyili, said to be close to the then-President Umaru Yar’ Adua’ s family , particularly his wife , swam against the tide when she circulated – to the dismay of other ministers during a Federal Executive Council meeting – a memo requesting that then- Vice President Goodluck Jonathan should be declared the acting president .

She was instantly accused of betrayal. But she stood her ground .
“ I want to start my humble submission by stating that I am a 100 - per - cent loyalist of President Yar ’ Adua . President Yar ’ Adua is very dear to me just as he is to all of you . We are all aware of what has been happening in Nigeria , especially as it concerns the issue of making the Vice President an acting president .

“ What went wrong ? We love our president but we should remember that he is not infallible . Before he left Nigeria he had a moral and constitutional obligation to officially inform the Senate and hand over the mantle of leadership to the Vice President pending his return and recovery .

That did not happen . Yes , the mistake has been made by our boss and brother. Mr. President is ill and did not choose to be sick. But while we continue to pray for his recovery , we should try to right the wrong he did .

“ We need to do what is morally right and constitutional for the president to officially hand over to the Vice President to function as acting president. If he does not , we can evoke whichever aspect of the constitution that should make the Vice President an acting president. If we fail to act now , history will not forgive us . I rest my case , ” Akunyili had argued .

Her clarion call was supported by Senator Bala Mohammed of the Nigeria Integrity Group , who was later rewarded by Jonathan as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory .

Sanusi suspended for speaking out
As a former CBN governor , Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was suspended for speaking out against what he perceived as gross financial impropriety by some government officials and the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation .

He had written to former President Goodluck Jonathan months before accusing the NNPC of failing to remit $ 49. 8 bn (about N 8 tn ) from the sales of crude oil for 19 months .

That letter , according to political observers , was interpreted as indicting the president of being negligent or complicit of the goings- on in the oil firm .
Jonathan would later wield the big stick and ordered the indefinite suspension of Sanusi for daring to look him in the eye .


Tukur too

Hamman Tukur , a former Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, had a running battle with former President Olusegun Obasanjo , who was also the Minister of Petroleum, about the money the NNPC ought to have remitted to the federation account .
According to Tukur , the accounts of the organisation was unaudited since 1999 until 2006 .

Tukur also claimed some top officials of the corporation were involved in a N 502 bn shady practice of producing crude oil in excess of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries’ quota for the country.
He also accused the corporation of unclear accounting of about N 555 bn between December 2004 and April 2007.

The RMAFC boss noted that the nation might have lost the sum due to lack of transparency and accountability in the NNPC ’ s computation and payment procedures.

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Peter Dada, Akure


Some unknown gunmen on Sunday kidnapped a man identified as Moses Yakubu, his fiancee and five friends and family members in Akunnu Akoko, Akoko North- East Local Government Area of Ondo State.

It was gathered that the couple and members of their families, whose identity were unknown at the time of this report, were abducted on their way to Akure, the Ondo State capital, for their wedding ceremony.

Yakubu and his fiancée were to hold their engagement ceremony in Akure on Sunday but the event could not hold following the incident.

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE


A 39-year old woman simply known as Ogechukwu who had been duped huge sums of money and jilted by 8 men finally got a man who married her.

The new suitor identified as Mr Jude proposed to her within two weeks and in the third week, they went to their town Ihiala in Anambra State where both hails from, consummated their relationship and came back to Lagos.

They are now living happily at their three bedroom apartment at Ijegun in the outskirts of Lagos.

P.M.EXPRESS contacted Ogechukwu, she confirmed the marriage and was grateful to God that she finally had a husband.

Narrating her ordeal in the hands of men, Ogechukwu said her battle for husband started about 10 years ago and she had contacts with eight men who broke her heart that nearly killed her. She said the men not only took her money but dumped her and used her money to marry other women.

It was gathered that Ogechukwu had a flourishing business and was not getting younger as her parents were worried about her marital situation. She said her mother had summoned severally, asked her to get married and to bear children.

Not minding that fact that she was successful in her business, she said her life was not complete without a man. She took the advice of her mother and by then there were so many men pestering her, so she decided the make a choice.

She narrated that the first guy he chose was a complete fake person. When she agreed to the relationship, she discovered that he was jobless and she decided to cover him up and gave him about N4m for importation of clothes.

She said after collecting the money, that was the last time she saw him for over 5 years. The second and third person equally came the same way; they obtained her money and used it to marry other women as wives.

She said at a time, she gave up but her mother encouraged her to continue searching that the right person will surely come.

She also tried another guy who convinced her to prepare documents for him to travel abroad and when he settled down over there, she will come over.

She decided to try him and procure the documents. But he travelled and later called and told her that he had gotten married over there and thanked her for assisting him and that was all she got.

The rest that came after did similar things. She then decided to forget anything about getting a husband and even made up her mind to adopt a baby before the present husband came.

She said she did not believe him until he started showing signs that he was really serious and even went to her village to talk to her parents who advised her to accept.

She said when they carried out the necessary tests she accepted. The man then told her that he was ready for proper marriage and that they should travel and do the traditional wedding which they went for.

He did not request for money like others but took care of all the expenses and even gave her money daily as husband which amused her.

Ogechukwu told P.M.EXPRESS that said she has really found a man that loves her, was happy with the marriage and confirmed being pregnant for her husband.

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Posted By: Kunle AKINRINADE


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Tragedy struck in Keffi area of Nassarrawa penultimate Wednesday after a man identified as Hamisu allegedly beat her cousin, a woman by name, Aminat Abdullahi to death, three days to her wedding.

Hamisu, who is a younger brother to Aminat’s mother was said to have loaned his sister a sum of N100 which she did not refund as agreed.

According to sources, a visibly upset Hamisu visited his sister’s residence to collect the debt.

Aminat’s mother, however, rebuked Hamisu’s visit to her residence in the early hours of the day over a ’paltry’ N100 debt.

Her comment drew Hamisu’s anger prompting him to rain abuses on his sister.

The situation degenerated into an altercation during which Aminat rushed out of their residence and reprimanded Hamisu for unguarded remarks.

Hamisu who could not stand his younger cousin’s remarks allegedly seized her and punched her till she fell into a coma.

Sources said all efforts made to revive the bride-to-be failed and she was confirmed dead by doctors at a hospital she was rushed to for treatment.

A source said: ‘’Hamisu was talking rudely to Aminat’s mother when she (Aminat) confronted him and asked him to stop harassing her mother.

Her (Aminat) comments drew the wrath of Hamisu who landed several punches on her following which she slumped and could not be revived.

‘’Hamisu tried to run away but Aminat’s mother held him by his trousers until the arrival of policemen who took him away to their station. It was unfortunate that the girl was killed just three days away from her wedding.’’

Hamisu was taken to a nearby police division in Keffi.

Contacted, the State’s Police Commissioner Mr. Bello Abubakar said the case was not reported to the police.

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CYRIACUS IZUEKWE


A 12-year old house girl, Gloria Ukanam has reportedly turned her madam’s bedroom to a live porn centre as she peeps through the opening in the door while she’s having sex with her husband in the night.

The girl was caught, thoroughly beaten and sent away by her madam over the act. The incident happened at Chris Idowu Street, off Idimu Road in Ejigbo area of Lagos where they reside.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that the girl’s secret was leaked when she told their neighbour who was her age mate that her madam used to shout and cry in the night whenever she was making love with her husband.

She revealed that the noise always woke her up and she will be peeping them through the door opening till they finished because the light was always on.

It was gathered that her age mate then told her mother what Ukanam said and her mother in turned informed the couple about what was happening. They eventually set trap for her and caught her.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered the couple (name withheld) lived in a room and parlour apartment with an adjoining door between the two rooms. The couple’s children used to sleep in the parlour with Ukanam while the couple slept in the other room.

It was while in the other room as husband and wife that Ukanam used to wake up and watch them. When they got the information, they reportedly trapped Ukanam around 1.am when they suddenly opened the adjoining door and met her standing there.

They asked her what he was doing in front of the door at that hour when she had slept around 10.pm but she could not explain.

They accused her of being a witch who always came to attack them in the night but she denied. She eventually opened up and told them that she was only peeping at them. She reportedly told them that madam’s noise usually woke her up and she was tempted to peep to know what was happening.

And that she has been doing so since she started living with them for over 14 months.
The madam broke down in tears and descended on her. Very early in the morning she took her to the person that brought her to them as house girl.

When our reporter visited the house, the couple were not around to comment. However the residents confirmed the incident but frowned at the conduct of the house girl. One of the residents confirmed that the house girl has been sent back to the person who brought her to the couple.

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By Fredrick Nwabufo



The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has arrested one of its drivers, Nasiru Isa, for allegedly burgling a sealed house owned by Alex Badeh, former chief of defence staff.

In January 2016, the EFCC sealed off some pieces of property in Abuja owned by the former defence chief, who is facing trial for allegedly diverting funds meant for the military.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC spokesman, said Isa was part of a robbery syndicate which specialised in breaking into property sealed off by the anti-graft agency.

He said a policeman, Aliyu Ismaila, is also a member of the gang.

According to him, other members of the gang are Abubakar Jibrin, Abdulsalam Ado, Ibrahim Babangida, Reuben Dauda, Hassan Aliyu, Sani Yusuf and Murtala Mohammed.

Uwujaren said the suspects were caught in the act of breaking into Badeh’s property.

“On August 30, 2016, operatives of the EFCC, as part of monitoring activities on the sealed property, had gone to the site to execute a search,” he said.

“However, members of the syndicate took to their heels on sighting the operatives of the anti-graft agency. A carpenter, Yakubu Muhammad, who was hired by the syndicate, was left behind and was subsequently arrested by the operatives.

“The carpenter, who has been cooperating with operatives, confessed that he was not in the know of the illicit activity, as he was only brought in by the syndicate to assist with the use of his carpentry tools to break into the property.”

The EFCC spokesman said investigations showed that some people moved about 12 bags believed to contain items linked to money laundering into the property after it was sealed off.

“Investigations revealed that one of those in the know about the goods was the brains behind the scheming to steal them. The syndicate decided they would need to subdue the security man at the property, which would mean they would need to involve security personnel in the syndicate,” he said.

“Subsequently, Isa was contacted. To further beef up the security aspect of the crime, he also contacted his friend, Ismaila, who came for the ‘operation’ fully armed. In perpetrating the crime, Dauda had posed to be a senior official of the EFCC, while Jibrin posed as an Intelligence police officer in the inspector-general’s office.

“However, on August 30, 2016, they were caught in the act of breaking into the property, having successfully overpowered the security guard at the entrance of the property.”

A similar incident had happened in one of the Abuja residences of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

In July, policemen guarding the property burgled it, stripping it bare.

The suspects were later dismissed from the force, and are currently facing burglary charges.

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Eniola Akinkuotu, Abuja


Governor Nasir el - Rufai of Kaduna State says President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Aisha Alhassan as a minister despite complaints by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress .

El - Rufai lambasted the Minister of Women Affairs for being disloyal to the President , adding that she was never a Buhari supporter but a loyalist of former Vice - President Atiku Abubakar .

The governor said this while speaking with State House Correspondents at the Villa on Friday.

El - Rufai said Alhassan did not also vote for Buhari during the APC presidential primary.

He advised Nigerians not to be surprised or shocked at her outburst .

He, however, said her retention or otherwise as a cabinet minister should be at the discretion of the President.

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE


A 24-year old man, Charles Okoro has been arrested and charged before a Lagos court for allegedly stabbing his rival, Emeka Ojukwu to death at a popular night club over lover.

The incident happened at Tanza nite club located at Bayo Oyewole Street, Ago area of Okota, Lagos.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that the suspect had disagreement with the victim over a woman during clubbing activities.

The disagreement resulted in exchange of words and fighting between the duo.

It was gathered that during the squabble, Okoro went to the club kitchen, brought out a knife and stabbed Ojukwu severally.

The victim bled profusely and was rushed to a hospital where he eventually died.
The corpse was deposited at the morgue for autopsy report.

The club management held and handed Ojukwu over to the police at Ago Division who detained him at the cell after interrogation.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that when the report came to the police that Ojukwu died eventually at the hospital, the matter was transferred to SCIID Panti, Yaba for further investigation.

Okoro however admitted that he stabbed him but it was not his intention to kill him.

He was charged before Ebute Meta Magistrates court for murder under the Criminal Code.

His plea was not taken, rather the presiding Magistrate, Mrs O.A. Fowowe-Erusiafe ordered him to be remanded in prison.

The court also ordered that his file should duplicated and sent to DPP for advice.

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Peter Dada , Akure


https://punchng.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/07013518/pastors-house.jpg

The pastor's house



The Ipinsa community in the Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State has accused a pastor, identified as Abiodun , of involving in fetish activities in the town.

It was gathered that sequel to the development, the traditional ruler of the community, Oba Omoniyi Olufunmilayo , on Tuesday ordered that Abiodun ’ s land in the community and his house located in the Ayedun area of Akure , should be sealed up.

Abiodun was accused of burying a coffin and some other fetish items on his piece of land in the community.

A source said after discovering what the pastor did on the land , the community asked him to remove the items, but he refused .

The source said , “ The failure of the pastor to remove the fetish items on the land prompted the people of the community to take action against him .

“ The Akapinsa of Ipinsaland , Oba Omoniyi Olufunmilayo , ordered that palm fronds should be placed in front of his house and the land , which traditionally means that the house has been sealed up until
kabiyesi reverses the order . ”

According to the source , the land and the house will remain sealed up until the pastor digs up and removes the items he buried in the land .

When contacted on the telephone , Oba Olufunmilayo said he would not make any comment on the development on the telephone .

He said , “If you want to talk to me , come and see me in my palace . ”

The pastor was said to have left the community and his whereabouts was unknown as of the time of filing this report.

By Johnchuks Onuanyim


The ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC), and the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may have kick-started their campaigns ahead of the 2019 general elections, as both parties boasted at the weekend to capitalise on each other’s weaknesses in wooing voters at the forthcoming election.

For the PDP, members said they would present to Nigerians the failure of the APC-led government to deliver on its promises as a reason for the electorate to reject them and bring the former ruling party back to power in 2019.

National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, said the party was confident it would defeat the PDP because its selling point would be the alleged mess the opposition party made of governance while it was in power for 16 years.

Oyegun, who spoke with New Telegraph in an exclusive interview, said Nigerians would be reminded of how decadent the economy was before APC took over from PDP in 2015.

According to Oyegun, there would be no reason why Nigerians would want to return to the years of impunity and brazen misappropriation of the nation’s commonwealth by a few individuals.

The APC helmsman said that the major achievement of the party has been clearing the mess left by the PDP, adding that before the 2019 general elections, the party in power would have fulfilled a lot of its promises to Nigerians and would present same to them.

His words: “Well, we are only at the mid-term and we still have another two years or one year plus for the effect of APC policies to fully manifest. And as they manifest, we have no doubt at all that our stock with the public will continue to grow and continue to improve.

“The beauty of what is happening is that the public recognises that we had a difficult challenge; the public recognises that the economy and the nation were virtually run aground; bankrupt. The public knows this, but they would still complain because there is a bit of hardship in the land.

“So, people are mistaking complaints of the present hardship with a rejection of the party in office. No. They are two different things. They are groaning because they are hungry and it is our duty to fix that, but they also know that it cannot be fixed overnight, but that would not stop them from groaning.”

The APC national chairman said the efforts of the Buhari-led government would soon be bearing fruits after years of damage of the PDP government.

“So, we are mixing so many things. The people know that the APC is working on over-drive to rebuild the ruins of the economy; to create an economy that is dependent on what we produce; to create an economy that can even export some of what we produce; an economy that would be making impact on the people of the country. They know it and it has started to manifest.

“Just to mention one, agriculture. This year, we are becoming self-sufficient in the crop which everybody wants to eat – rice – and by next year, we would be talking about the same in other grains, tubers (cassava, yam, etc).

So, agriculture is going to be a major selling point because by the time the elections come, the situation in the country would have been eased or changed and the same goes for infrastructure.

“By the time we come for elections in 2019, everybody would see the progress being made by APC government. Some might not be completed, but the Lagos-Ibadan axis would be a major real railway network of the nation.

The impact will also manifest. Some of the lines may not be running, most would be running. People will see the works that are being done and the expenditure would, of course, go round the economy of the nation.

“We have everything to be hopeful and depend on. We will campaign on our reports and remind people of the mess that this country was in. That is why we are confident that we would win 2019,” Oyegun said.

But in a counter argument, the PDP said that it will not only be presenting a stronger posture at the next elections but was poised to defeat the APC in 2019.

Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, who disclosed the campaign strategy of the PDP in an exclusive interview with New Telegraph, said that the party’s campaigns would be centred on how the APC had failed Nigerians by ditching all the promises it made to them in the build up to the 2015 polls.

He enumerated the failures of the APC to include its inability to restructure Nigeria as captured in its manifesto and pronounced by its leaders during the electioneering for the 2015 polls.

Fayose dismissed the claims by the APC of rebasing the economy and making progress in governance in the last two years.

According to the governor, there is no promise made by the APC during the campaigns leading to the 2015 general elections that has been fulfilled by the party.

“APC came to power with promises such as restructuring Nigeria, but today what is the situation? Promises of drastically bringing down the exchange rate of the naira to the dollar; promise of giving Nigerians stable power supply; promises of creating jobs for the teeming Nigerian youths; promises of giving security and more were made by the APC government. These promises were not kept and many more persons have died under the watch of this government than during the 16 years of PDP government.

“The economy was moving with foodstuffs affordable to Nigerians with $1 to less than N200 exchange rate. But the APC government came with the lies that they can do better and destroyed all and brought the economy to its knees. We will bring all these to the fore of Nigerians when the time comes.

“The issue of restructuring that the APC is looking the other side today was one of their strongest campaign points for the 2015 general elections. We will tell Nigerians that it would be wrong to entrust this country back into the hands of people who don’t keep their words,” Fayose said.

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