₦airaland Forum

Ogbonnaya Ikokwu , Umuahia

Police operatives attached to the Ndiegoro Police Division in Aba , the commercial hub of Abia State , have arrested one Enyeribe Nkwocha for allegedly abducting one Sandra ( not real name) and turning her into a commercial sex worker.

Narrating her ordeal , the victim said , “ He told me that God said he should use me for missionary work and that he will be saving any money I will make from preaching in his friend ’ s account and he will use it to build a church for me because he saw that I have the gift of prophecy.

“ He said God told him I should not marry and have children ; whenever a man wants to marry me , he will ask me to forget about him . He has been taking me from one hotel to the other and using me to make money.

“ He made me to forget about my family since then . I believe he used charm on me because he forced me to swear to an oath with him right inside the taxi when he kidnapped me . So I stopped communicating with my parents. ”

She added , “ But last Christmas , he collected N 20, 000 from me , making it about N 100, 000 I have given him . After some days, I started realising myself and asked him if the money I had been giving him was not enough to build the church he promised to build for me.

“ He then told to go back to my family. But he warned me not to tell them about the gift of prophecy he told me about and that if I did, they would poison me. That was how I started thinking about how my family members would poison me and then I regained my consciousness.

But the suspect denied turning his victim into a prostitute , saying , “ She is my girlfriend that I met in Bayelsa State . At a time, I wanted to get married to her but she refused to marry me. So , I married another woman and I didn ’ t tell her that I got married.

“ When she found out that I was married , she got offended: that was what caused the problem we are having now . ”

The commissioner of Police in the state, Mr . Adeleye Oyebade, confirmed the arrest of the suspect.

Suspected Boko Haram sect members have launched attack on a military base and burnt much of Sasawa town located 27 kilometers to Damaturu, the Yobe state capital.

Details of the attacks were still sketchy by press time due to lack of telecommunications network.

Daily Trust gathered that the attack happened around 6:00pm yesterday when the assailants stormed the village in three Hilux vans and two motorcycles, and dislodged the military men in the area.

A source who escaped from the town told Daily Trust that the town was razed by fire. The source said, “They burnt down the entire town and we learnt that three security vehicles have been seized by the insurgents, but no death has been reported so far.”

The Police Commissioner, Yobe State command, Sumonu Abdulmaliki confirmed the attack but said he could not give details

“All I can confirm to you is that Sasawa came under attack yesterday by the insurgents but there is no further detail for now. The town has no means of communication at the moment so I don’t have any details of the current situation,” he said

This incident is coming barely four weeks after the insurgents attacked military formations in Buniyadi and Kumuya base, both in Gujba Local Government Area of the state.

Scores of Women lawyers in Bayelsa State were weekend thrown into tears following the police arrest of a 50 years old Father over alleged sexual abuse and having canal knowledge of his 12 years old daughter for Four years.

Also arrested was a 46 years old man over alleged abduction of a 12 years old girl and having canal knowledge of her.

Leadership gathered that the secretariat of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) was thrown into a mournful mood over the double cases of defilement of two 12 years old girls recorded.

According to officials of FIDA, FIDA Bayelsa Secretariat was filled with tears as a man, his wife and 12-year old daughter stormed our office seeking for justice as their daughter was mercilessly defiled by a 46 years old man.

According to him, the daughter was sent on an errand to buy an item just opposite his house and the suspect pounced on his daughter. The suspect has already been arrested and detained in police custody.

The State Chairperson of FIDA, Dise Ogbise-Erhisere,the Public Relations Officer, Barr. Bilkisu Odoko and the FIDA financial Secetary,Barr. Boma Miebai could not hold back their tears but reassured the victim and her parents that they will get justice.

In the same vein, a man has also been arrested for allegedly defiling his 12-year old daughter. According to his daughter, he has been on it for over 4 years. He has been arrested.

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

A Lagos court has declared wanted a 45-year old man, Raphael Emmanson who allegedly obtained N450,000 from a lady, Miss Chinedu Chukwu under the false pretence of marrying her and to procuring visa for both to travel abroad as husband and wife.

The wanted man not only duped Chinedu of the said amount, he also made the victim to lose her fiance and job with a pharmaceutical company and then fled.

It was gathered that Chinedu suffered her fate after she met Emmanson at a park in Abuja where he pretended to be stranded and she decided to assist him.

Emmanson, who is from Okigwe in Imo State, deceived Chinedu by telling her that he came to Abuja to procure visa to travel abroad but was stranded and needed a place to sleep till the next day that he purportedly had an appointment with an embassy.

She took pity on him and drove him to her house after explaining to her fiance what happened.

Chinedu said when Emmanson got to her house and she introduced him to her fiancé.

However, they became friends and after a while he ensured that she collapsed her relationship with her fiancé after he promised her marriage and that both will travel abroad.

It was through that deceit that he managed to obtain the money from her to procure visa.

After she gave him the money, the suspect bolted away and ran to Lagos.

Asides that the victim lost her fiance to the deceit of Emmanson, she also lost her job because part of the money taken off her was her company’s money.

After searching for him for several months, Emmanson was eventually arrested in his hideout in a hotel at Shasha area by the police.

Upon his arrest, it was discovered that the suspect is married with two children.

He was later taken to Ejigbo Magistrate’s court where he was charged with obtaining under false pretence and stealing under the Criminal Code.

He pleaded not guilty.

The presiding Magistrate Mr J.O.E. Adeyemi granted him bail and remanded him in prison custody pending when he will perfect his bail.

However, when he was released from custody, Emmanson ran away again and has not appeared in court to face trial.

Consequently, the court declared him wanted and ordered for his arrest while the matter was adjourned till 27 March 2017.

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

Two men, Taiye Ajani and Afeez Ajao have landed in trouble after they and their group engaged in a bloody fight at a popular hotel over a female commercial sex worker.

The two randy men were arrested and charged before a Lagos court from where they were remanded in prison custody after they damaged property of the hotel located in Akesan area of Lagos worth over N1.5million.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that fighting broke out between the two suspects after they had disagreement over one of the sex workers in the hotel.

However, the disagreement turned into a serious fracas and their friends, who were there for a binge joined in the free-for-all. Many customers who were in the hotel were attacked and sustained various degrees of injury during the fight which lasted for several hours.

Also the hotel properties including a Toyota Sienna van parked outside were damaged before the police was contacted to contain the menace. Before the police. who raced to the scene arrived, the main suspects had fled.

The management, who reported the incident to the officers at Igando police division, identified the suspects as the brain behind the fight.

They were trailed and arrested in their various hideout and detained at the station for interrogation, thereafter charged before Magistrate’s court sitting in Ejigbo for the alleged offence under the Criminal code.

They pleaded not guilty.

The presiding Magistrate. Mr Akeem Fashola granted them 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 13 February 2017.

BY ADE ALADE, Abuja and ABDULLAHI HASSAN, Zaria


More than six months after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC launched investigation into alleged diversion and misappropriation of over N530 billion allocated for procurement and operations in the Nigerian Army between 2007 and 2015, the Commission appears finding it tough with Army Generals under probe. As a result, the acting Chairman of the agency, Mr. Ibrahim Magu has come under immense pressure to back down.

The AVM Jon Ode (Rtd)-headed Presidential Committee on the Audit of Defence Equipment Procurement in the Armed Forces (2007-2015) had in a statement on Thursday July 14, 2016 recommended a number of serving and retired military officers for further investigation.

Among those listed for investigation are 18 serving and retired military personnel, 12 serving and retired public officials and 24 chief executive officers of companies involved in military procurement during the period under review. According to the statement, all were either accounting officers or played key roles in the Nigerian Army procurement activities during the period under review.

Those listed for further investigation include two former Chiefs of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. O.A. Ihejirika (Rtd) and Lt.-Gen. K.T.J. Minimah (Rtd); former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs II, Dr Nurudeen Mohammed and three former Permanent Secretaries in the Ministry of Defence – Mr. Bukar Goni Aji, Mr. Haruna Sanusi and Mr. E.O, Oyemomi.

Also, the CEOs to be investigated include Col. Olu Bamgbose (Rtd) of Bamverde Ltd; Mr. Amity Sade of Dolyatec Comms Ltd and DYI Global Services and Mr. Edward Churchill of Westgate Global Trust Ltd. According to the Committee, the total amount spent for procurement and operations within the period were N185, 843,052,564.30 and $685,349,692.49.

Investigations by Saturday Sun reveal that, unlike in the cases of the Navy and Air force where indicted military chiefs were promptly investigated and arraigned in courts, the EFCC has come under immense pressure over the indicted Army chiefs, “as a result of which clues and leads in the investigation are not successfully followed to the end.”

A highly placed source in the Commission told Saturday Sun in Abuja on Thursday that “the Army Generals, whether serving or retired appear not ready to allow the Army face what the Navy and Air force have gone through with some of their chiefs now facing trial over defence procurement, and so they continue to build a wall of defence round themselves so that the case against some of them and their contractors won’t go to court.”

The source further revealed that the latest of such moves was from a highly influential former Defence Minister (Names withheld), who had also been a Chief of Army Staff during past military regimes.

Saturday Sun gathered that the EFCC last week arrested and detained a former Chief of Logistics at the Army Headquarters, Major General Daniel Kitchener; in furtherance of the investigation of a former Chief of Army Staff under President Goodluck Jonathan. The Army chief, it was gathered was questioned over procurements allegedly handled by him, Gen. Kitchener, who is a relation of the first wife of the former Defence Minister. Some of the procurement overheads include ammunition for Darfur operation, supply of training kits and equipment; purchase of 16MG and 29 RPG and 10 Grenade Launchers; repair of seven assault craft; repair service and upgrade of 29 Suncraft ; purchase of 15 Freefall Parachutes; buying of MRAP vehicles with maintenance containers; order of Radio Technologies Equipment; purchase of 10 APCs by DICON; 51 GPMG and sustenance of Operation Zaman Lafiya; emergency procurement of Combat Equipment for Ongoing Ops; Operation Internal Security; Quick Response Group and Forward Operation Bases; HE Type Mortal and purchase of bullet proof vests.

It was also learnt that after some three days in EFCC detention, the influential Army General was said to have put a call through to Magu to demand the immediate release of his brother-in-law. “With such call from such a powerful person, the Chairman had no option but to ask us to free the suspect, who was already cooperating with us, immediately and unconditionally”, the top official stated.

“The fact is that Nigerians won’t understand why the investigation of the Army contracts is taking too long, unlike that of the Navy and Air force. I just told you now some of the challenges but with the tenacity of the Chairman, we will crack this one too, it’s a matter of time. The Chairman came under worse pressure over the oil subsidy scam, yet we got it that, the Army Generals’ case won’t be an exception”, the source added.

N5B traced to Army General’s daughter’s account

Saturday Sun had on September 24 last year revealed in an exclusive cover report how over N5 billion was traced to the bank account of a daughter of one of the retired Army Generals being investigated by the EFCC.

A top official of the anti-graft agency had said that the discovery was made by a team of operatives in the Intelligence and Special Operations Section of the Commission, saddled with the responsibility of carrying out further investigation of those indicted in the Third Interim Report of the Presidential Committee on the Audit of Defence Equipment approved by President Muhammadu Buhari in July.

In the process of investigating the tenures of two former Chiefs of Army Staff, Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika and Lt. General Kenneth Minimah, the immediate past Chief of Accounts and Budget, CAB at the Army Headquarters in Abuja (Names withheld) who served the two Army Chiefs also came under scrutiny. Although the General bears Northern Muslim names, he is from Ibadan, Oyo state. His middle name is Iyanda.

The source further said that following the discovery of suspicious cash deposits in an account in the name of the first daughter of the Army General in a new generation bank, a lien was placed on the account by the EFCC. The young lady who is under 30 recently got married (Names withheld). The account officer, a lady who manages the account was subsequently invited by the EFCC. She spilled during interrogation.

Her confession led to the invitation of the General’s daughter towards the last week of August, last year.

The source stated that she pleaded for more time to enable her attend to her infant child. The young nursing mother eventually turned up with her mother, baby, husband and lawyer. And for two days, she faced interrogation though she was not detained because she is a nursing mother.

A summary of criminal infringements already established against her and her father borders on conspiracy and money laundering. “Details of the account show that cash deposits of about N10 million were consistently paid into the account sometimes five or six times a day. The money so far deposited into that account and another in London should well be over N5 billion”, the source added.

Investigators also discovered that even though the lady was still a student in the United Kingdom, hundreds of thousands of Pound Sterling were wired into the bank account of a London based firm’s bank account for her. The firm, Carrington Whyte Consulting with Flat 4, Grove End Gardens 33 Grove End Road NW8 9LL London, as its address, was curiously registered around June 2014 and shortly after; the funds began to hit its bank account from Nigeria in torrents.

Though the Army General’s daughter is currently on administrative bail, she is however, expected to report back for further interrogation. “We had to study her last statements, juxtapose them with our findings and draw up fresh questions for her and with which we confront her”, the source explained. It was further gathered that apart from procurement contracts fraud, the retired Chief of Accounts and Budget along with the two indicted COAS will have to explain how billions of excess funds in Army salary accounts were diverted, withdrawn in cash and shared when they are eventually confronted by investigators, when and if EFCC is able to wriggle out of the current pressure to back down on the Army contracts probe.

The realm of indictment

According to the Committee, the total amount spent for procurement and operations within the period were N185, 843,052,564.30 and $685,349,692.49.
It found that the Nigerian Army Contracts awarded by the Ministry of Defence for the period under review were often awarded without “significant input from end-user (Nigerian Army) and to vendors who lacked the necessary technical competence”.

“As an example, 3 contracts with a total value of N5, 940,000,000.00 were awarded to DYI Global Services Ltd and Doiyatec Comms Nig. Ltd (owned by the same individuals) for the procurement of military hardware including 20 units of KM-38 Twin Hull Boats and 6 Units of 4X4 ambulances fitted with radios. The committee found that the 2 companies collected N5, 103,500,000.00, representing 86% of the total value of the 3 contracts worth N5, 940,000,000.00, but only performed to the tune of N2, 992,183,705.31,” the report said.

The committee also found that a contract worth N169, 916,849.77 for the procurement of 53 Armoured Vehicles Spare Parts, with 90 days completion time, is yet to be completed five years after.

With respect to contracts awarded directly by the Nigerian Army, the Committee found that many of the contracts were characterized by “lack of due process, in breach of extant procurement regulations and tainted by corrupt practices.

“In this regard, a review of the procurement carried out by Chok Ventures Ltd and Integrated Equipment Services Ltd established that between March 2011 and December 2013, the 2 companies exclusively procured various types of Toyota and Mitsubishi vehicles worth over N3,000,000,000.00 for the Nigerian Army without any competitive bidding.

”Though the committee found no credible evidence of delivery of the vehicles, the vendors were fully paid based on job completion certificate authenticated by the then Chief of Logistics. Also, analysis of the various bank accounts of the 2 companies showed transfers to individuals related to then Chief of Army Staff,” the report said.

Relations rise in defence of Gen. Kitchener

Daniel Kitchener, is a retired Major General who hails from Wusasa in Zaria local a government area of Kaduna State. According to some residents of Wusasa community, Gen. Kitchener is not as popular in the community like his other siblings. Mr Ibrahim Jocob, a resident of Wusasa told Saturday Sun “this is the first time I am hearing about Daniel Kitchener, I know his brothers; Dr Stephen Churchil Kitchener, Samuel and the late Isaiah Kitchener’’.

Another resident Mallam Lawal Musa said “I know him in person, though he rarely comes to Zaria except there is an occasion, I know he has been generous and approachable. General Kitchener had influenced the construction of Wusasa Town Hall donated by General T.Y. Danjuma and also donated money to most development projects in Wusasa’’

Some of Gen. Kitchener’s relations who spoke to Saturday Sun on condition of anonymity confirmed his arrest. “You know we don’t know the details of why government arrested him , we were only told that he was implicated in the Arms deal worth billions of Naira’’, a female relation said.

She however said that “Throughout his career in the military, he was never found wanting in any assignment not to talk of Arms deal, that is why he is not popular, I know his enemies are after him, and God would not give them a chance’’.

Another close associates of the family said ‘’ I wouldn’t want to comment on the charges, but my brother would be vindicated and the truth would be revealed soon. Fraud is not in his character, he has been a true Christian who adheres to the teaching of Jesus Christ.

A 40-year-old man, Ayan Olubunmi, has been remanded in prison custody by an Ado Ekiti Chief Magistrate’s Court for uploading nude pictures of his former girlfriend, Monica Asare after an encounter in a hotel. Police prosecutor, Joseph Ebuseremen, told the court that Olubunmi, a resident of Aisegba- Ekiti in Gbonyin Local Government Area, committed the offence on January 12, 2017 in the community.

Ebuseremen disclosed that Olubunmi invited Asare to a hotel for discussion and thereafter drugged her and took pictures of her unclothedness which he uploaded on social media. He alleged that, the accused committed an offence of cyber-stalking and domestic violence against Monica.

Ebuseremen said the woman was Olubunmi’s ex-girlfriend, and had told him that she wanted to settle down, since the accused is already married.

According to the police prosecutor, the accused committed an offence punishable under Section 24 of Cyber Crime (prohibition prevention, E.T.C) Act Laws of Federal Republic of Nigeria 2015.

The prosecutor applied that the accused be remanded in prison and that his charge has been sent to the Federal High Court, since the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the case. The plea of the accused was not taken, while his counsel, Babatunde Falade, applied that the accused be remanded in the police cell pending the date from the Federal High Court.

Chief Magistrate Idowu Ayenimo consequently remanded the accused in prison custody pending the receipt of the new date of his arraignment in a Federal High Court. The case was adjourned the case to March 3 for mention.

lalasticlala

Skye Bank has announced the voluntary resignation of some of its Executive Directors from the services of the bank.

The Directors, who had served in Executive Management capacity for nearly two years, have been part of the new Board of the bank, which came into being following the July 4, 2016 intervention of the Central Bank of Nigeria and subsequent re-constitution of its Board.

The Directors who resigned are Idris Yakubu, Markie Idowu, Abimbola Izu and Bayo Sanni.

In order to ensure a smooth leadership progression and service delivery to its customers, the following senior officers, all General Managers, have been re-assigned to oversee the affected directorates: Segun Opeke will oversee the Lagos Commercial Directorate, comprising Corporate, Commercial and Retail; Ayo Abina will supervise the South Directorate; while Femi Aribaloye will oversee the Risk Management Directorate accordingly.

The new appointments takes immediate effect.

The Group Managing Director of the Bank, Tokunbo Abiru, thanked the Executive Directors for their service to the bank, noting that they had contributed immensely to the successful leadership transition which commenced last year.

One of the Executive Directors, who spoke under anonymity, noted: “Having put in some time in the bank, resignation from service is not new in the industry.

“New structures will always create new opportunities and challenges.

“I think this is the right time to step aside for others to also contribute to the growth of the Bank.”

The Bank has also announced that the new development does not in any way affect the smooth running of her operations as the Bank continues to deliver banking and other ancillary financial services to its customers across the country.

Skye Bank is one of the eight banks described by the regulatory CBN as a Systematically Important Bank on account of its size, market share and financial interconnectedness in Nigeria and the West Africa sub-region.

lalasticlala

By Kehinde Akinyemi, Abeokuta

"I was also rumored to have died almost 12 times. I don't know what they derive from doing so, but, they should seek for forgiveness.


Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo has described those behind the rumored death of President Muhammadu Buhari as wicked, callous and treacherous.

In a release issued by his Media Aide, in Abeokuta on Friday, stated that Obasanjo said instead of embarking on such "worrisome" declaration, all that the President needed "are our prayers and best wishes, which will ginger his morale to come back more stronger and better."

Obasanjo who cautioned against politicization of every situation in the country, recalled that he has also been victim of such rumored death while in Office as the President, declaring, "no normal human being will wish an elderly person dead irrespective of their differences.

"If you don't like him, wait for another election, not going about to say he is dead. No matter his health situation, we should pray for him to recover quick and come back more stronger and better. For anyone wishing him dead, such person or group of persons are callous, wicked and treacherous.

"I was also rumored to have died almost 12 times. I don't know what they derive from doing so, but, they should seek for forgiveness.

"Even if we know that the President is sick, he is in a better position to know what to say or what to do and not wishing him dead. We should just stop politicizing everything, especially with the elderly in the country."

A section of the social media had claimed that President Buhari had died in London, UK following his illness last week.

The President who had travelled to London on a 10-day vacation is expected back in the country next week.

lalasticlala

Samson Folarin

A chicken roost built by a Lagos resident, Segun Irein , has put his family into trouble.

Segun and his wife , Sola, allegedly beat their neighbour , Idowu Solaja, to death over the roost at their house on Babs Lawal Street in the Ikorodu area.
PUNCH Metro learnt that Idowu , a chartered accountant , whose house backed the roost , had complained to the couple that he was being disturbed by the chickens.

However, the Ireins allegedly attacked him .
The victim was said to have been later taken to a hospital by residents. He , however , died shortly after.

His corpse was deposited in a morgue while the couple were arrested by the police.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the 51-year - old was responsible for the welfare of his wife and four children.

When our correspondent visited the community on Thursday, he met a crowd of residents and landlords discussing the death.

An in-law to the deceased , Jimoh Ayandokun, said Segun was first rearing pigs, adding that after a series of complaints by the victim , he stopped the business.
He said , “ Idowu had complained several times about the smell of the pigs.

“ It took nine months and the intervention of the landlord association before he stopped rearing the pigs.

“ After that matter was resolved , there was peace in the community and in December 2016, when the suspect’ s wife had a party, the deceased attended. ”

The deceased elder sister , who did not want to be identified , said Idowu had taken one of his children to school on Monday when he saw some chickens being fed in the roost at Segun’ s house.

She said , “ He went to the house and knocked at the door repeatedly , but nobody answered him . He banged harder and the man ’ s wife , Sola, came out and asked him what he wanted from them again.

“ Idowu insisted on speaking to her husband . The man came out and they started exchanging words.

“ Because the doorstep was elevated above the ground where Idowu stood, it was easier for Segun to grab Idowu by the neck.

“ In the ensuing scuffle , they both fell down. The wife picked a stone and hit Idowu in different parts of the body . ”

PUNCH Metro learnt that a passerby, who saw the incident, raised the alarm as residents rushed to the scene to separate them.

Our correspondent was told that the victim , who was drenched in blood, drove himself to the Igbogbo Police Division where he reported the attack .
He was reportedly issued a letter to go to a hospital for treatment.

Our correspondent learnt that Segun attempted to flee the community, but was held back by residents
“ But he later disappeared through the back door.

“ His wife , however , assured us that he also went to report at the Igbogbo division, ” a landlord, who did not identify himself, said.

PUNCH Metro gathered that Idowu was treated and given some drugs for the injuries he sustained in the eyes.

He was reportedly called by some residents, who appealed to him to drop the case against the couple.
He allegedly left the hospital for the police station, where he wrote a statement to withdraw the case.

However, shortly after he got home, he allegedly slumped and died.

“ He was screaming , ‘ I hope I am not about to die ’ . This was around 8pm. He then collapsed.

“ We put him in his Toyota Corolla and drove him to a private clinic in the community, where the doctor confirmed him dead.

“ We took the corpse to the police station and the couple were arrested. We suspect that he was stabbed with a poisoned sharp object during the fight, ” another resident said.

The victim ’ s wife , Modupe Solaja, who said they had been married for over 20 years , called for justice .
Modupe said she had yet to inform their first child who was an undergraduate at the Adeleke University in Osun State.

“ My husband was planning to pay her school fees of about N 1. 2m this weekend. I am a full time housewife . How will I cope with the school fees of four children ? Don ’ t let me suffer for nothing, ” she said .

The state Police Public Relations Officer , SP Dolapo Badmos , confirmed the incident, adding that the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yaba.

She said , “ The man became unconscious after the fight and was rushed to a hospital where he eventually died . The two suspects are in custody, while the corpse has been deposited in a morgue for autopsy . ”

A demented police officer attached to VIP Protection Unit of the Uganda Police Force, Godfrey Sabiti, has committed suicide after shooting his wife dead following the discovery that he tested positive for HIV Virus.

A Facebook user from that country, Basudde Sam , posted the sad story on his page and narrated how Sabiti, a resident of Nsambya Barracks, killed his wife before turning the same gun at himself after he allegedly tested positive for the virus.

Confirming the incident, the Kampala Metropolitan Police Deputy spokesman, Paul Kangave , said in a statement:
“We have recovered the test results of HIV for the wife, Akol and the children except for the man. These reads negative.

We suspect that the man must have found himself positive and took a wrong decision. He planned it since he took all the family members for HIV test on January 24, 2017.”

Sam added that this is the second police officer to kill himself in two months after Patrick Oloya, a Field Force Unit (FFU) personnel attached to the Pader Central Police Station, shot himself to dead after locking himself inside his uniport house at the police barracks in December 2017.

Okechukwu Nnodim , Abuja

Workers of the Transmission Company of Nigeria on Wednesday afternoon grounded activities at the firm ’ s Abuja headquarters for some hours in protest against the alleged removal of the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer , Dr. Abubakar Atiku, by the Minister of Power , Works and Housing , Mr . Babatunde Fashola.

The workers, who carried various placards urging the minister not to destroy the power sector , gathered at the entrance to the TCN building singing solidarity songs against the alleged move by Fashola .

The TCN had at a press briefing before the protest stated that the power market owed it about N 100bn as arrears of wheeling charges.

The debt, according to the TCN , arose largely as a result of the poor performance of the power distribution companies with respect to revenue collection.

It was observed that the protesting workers refused to work for about two hours, as they explained that last week , Fashola asked the TCN managing director to hand over to a new transitional chief executive officer , Mr . Usman Mohammed, without following laid down procedures.

Speaking on behalf of the workers, the Abuja Chapter Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Electricity Employees, Mr . Wisdom Nwachukwu , read a letter that was signed by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry , Mr . Louis Edozien , and dated January 31, 2017, which was addressed to the Minister of Finance requesting for the secondment of Mohammed as the transitional CEO of TCN with effect from February 1, 2017.

Nwachukwu stated that this was refuted by the two unions at the TCN , as he argued that President Muhammadu Buhari had directed Fashola to stay action on the move to remove Atiku, adding that the current boss of the transmission company was more competent than Mohammed.

He said , “ We are against the impunity perpetuated by Fashola and his permanent secretary , and we will resist this with the last drop of our blood. Between the minister and the President , who runs this country ? Why should the minister flout an express order from the President on this matter ?

“ Also , how can you bring an accountant to come and run a technical company like the TCN and ask a competent engineer to leave office for someone who , even if promoted to the highest level in this company , will not exceed the post of an assistant general manager ? This will not happen and if they think they can force their way, we will show them what we are made of . ”

However, the Special Assistant to Fashola on Media , Mr . Hakeem Bello, told our correspondent that after speaking with the permanent secretary on the matter , it was established that the basis for the protest by the unions was unnecessary as there had been plans by the Federal Government to restructure the TCN following the exit of Manitoba Hydro International.

“ The memo that recommended that the contract of Manitoba be allowed to lapse also recommended that there should be a reversion plan that will allow the TCN to perform to its optimum structure, ” Bello stated.

He added that the memo was also taken to the President , notifying him that after the exit of Manitoba, there would be a period of restructuring and that someone from one of the international financiers of the TCN would have to come and rectify the non -technical , financial and managerial issues.

“ The person was sent on secondment as an interim CEO for the TCN from the African Development Bank to rectify a lot of the non -technical , managerial and financial issues preventing the TCN as an organisation from functioning to its peak levels . He has a clear mandate to restructure and address a lot of the issues affecting the company, ” Bello added.

Before the protest by the TCN workers, Atiku had told journalists that the power distribution companies were not collecting enough revenue to drive the industry and that this was severely limiting the operational performance of the sector.

He said , “ Payment for TCN services in the market has gone down from 55 per cent to 30 per cent in the recent past, and with that , funds coming to the TCN in the form of revenue have also reduced .

“It will interest you to note that the TCN was being paid an average of 33 per cent of the total invoice sent to the Market Operator between January and September 2016 , which further reduced to 27 per cent in the month of November 2016 .”

For six hours, 19-year-old Rilwanu Akintunde was beaten, handcuffed and locked inside a teargased room for allegedly stealing N90,000.

His torturers were his mother, Mrs. Akintunde, her brother Kayode and a policeman identified as Titus.

Rilwanu alias Rado denied collecting the money said to belong to his mother, a hawker, but his attackers didn’t believe him. Unable to bear the torture, the teenager passed out and was rushed to Richland Hospital, Arepo, where he was confirmed dead on Sunday evening.

His torturers secretly buried him at his mother’s site at Sotel, not knowing that their action would draw the wrath of the residents of Oriola Street, Ibafo and environs.

The youths in the area went berserk after discovering that the money, for which Rilwanu was tortured to death, was later found in his mother’s closet.

Wielding cutlasses, bottles sticks and fire, the mob, it was gathered stormed Kayode’s residence; chased all the tenants away and vandalized his properties.

Inscriptions such as “Rado was a good son born by a stupid mother” were seen on the walls of the building whose roofs, doors and windows have been destroyed.

When The Nation visited the Ogun communityTuesday, residents were clamouring for jungle justice to all the culprits.

It was gathered that Kayode and his police friend Titus have since fled the neighbourhood, while the deceased’s mother and Kayode’s wife were arrested by policemen from Ibafo Division, who visited the place Tuesday.

According to residents, Rilwanu’s killers might have had another motive for their action because the teenager was neither a thief nor troublesome.
His friends, it was gathered produced an obituary for him, which they pasted not far from the community mosque.

The deceased’s wife, Damilola Owoigbe, who had their eight-month-old son on her arms, demanded justice against his killers.

She said: “I want all those responsible for my husband’s death to be arrested and jailed for life. They killed him for nothing. Rado was never a thief.

Everyone in Ibafo love him. He was a peaceful person. He was an apprentice at a tailoring shop because he wanted to make life better for us and for his two siblings.

“Their father is dead. Their mother sells bottled water in traffic. She was the one who went and told her brother on Sunday morning that Rilwanu stole her N90, 000. Then, her brother, Kayode sent his wife to call his police friend, Titus and they all tortured him to death.

“I was not there. I was in my mother’s house. But I was told that the policeman brought handcuffs and teargas, which they used on him. I was also told that blood was all over his body. Now, I am confused because I don’t know who would take care of our son.”

A source who refused to be named told The Nation that the said policeman works at Area G Command, Ogba, Lagos.

Contacted, the Ogun command spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi confirmed the incident, but said he was unaware if Titus was a policeman.

He said: “The information I got is that the woman, the boy’s stepfather and his friend tortured him to death.

They said the woman complained that her N90,000 was missing and she accused her son. Then, she told the boy’s stepfather, who sent his wife to contact a friend of his. They all tortured the boy to death and secretly buried him. The woman later saw the money
“At the moment, the two men involved are on the run but the women have been arrested. They have been transferred to the homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID). The Police Commissioner Ahmed Iliyasu has ordered that the fleeing suspects be arrested.

“I am not aware that one of them is a policeman. But be assured that they will be fished out and dealt in accordance with the law.”

From T imothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri

Government’s clampdown on Boko Haram symphatisers has paid off. The military has arrested two prominent politicians and a traditional ruler duying a raid in Borno State. Their identities were withheld.

The politicians, who are known in government circle,were arrested early this week by detectives and troops from Operation Lafiya Dole, the counter-insurgency military team. One of them who is also an as Islamic spriitualist, had fled the state when he learnt military men were on his trail. He was fleeing to one of the North Central states, but was arrested along Maiduguri-Jos Road, another source claimed.

The second politician was said to be a thug often called ECOMOG in Borno and an aide to some politicians in the state. “He is in military net now,” the source disclosed.

A traditional ruler from a Borno community and two popular Islamic clerics were among those arrested following intelligence about their alleged link with Boko Haram. “More revelations are coming and more people may be arrested in days to come,” a military personnel claimed.

Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen. Lucky Irabor, confirmed the arrest, but did not give further details. He also would not confirm the identities of the arrested persons, insisting that doing so will jeopardise investigation. “It is true we have arrested some people. They may be known faces. We started picking them one by one. We’re taking them now and we are still investigating them so I can’t give you any detail,” he told Daily Sun.

In a related development, a graduate of University of Maiduguri and a security volunteer was yesterday killed in a suicide bomb attack on a mosque in Maiduguri, Borno’s capital.

Mr. Salisu Ali Marte had attempted to prevent a male suicide bomber from entering a mosque at Dalori Quarters located few metres from the University of Maiduguri campus when the bomber detonated the device, killing the young man. He was said to be one of the volunteers providing security for the mosque.

He was waiting for his call-up letter from National Youth Service Scheme (NYSC) when the tragedy occurred.

The suicide bomber blew up himself near a mosque at Dalori quarters at about 5:22 am yesterday while some Muslim faithful were observing their early morning prayers, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and police said. Marte died while preventing the bomber from accessing the mosque.

Police spokesman, Victor Isuku, a Deputy Superintendent, in a statement, said the deceased was an operative of Civilian JTF.

“At about 5: 22 hours, a male suicide bomber detonated IEDs strapped to his body near a mosque at Dalori Quarters situated along Maiduguri/Konduga/Bama road, killing himself and a Civilian JTF operative who was preventing the suicide bomber from getting close to or access the mosque where many faithfuls in the locality were observing their early morning prayers,” the police disclosed.

The attack came barely two weeks after twin blasts killed five persons including a professor of veterinary medicine, Aliyu Manu, in a mosque near the University of Maiduguri.

By Musa Abdullahi Krishi


Nigerians may pay additional N5 on petroleum price if the current National Roads Fund bill before the House of Representatives is passed into law.

The N5 increase is part of recommendations of a technical committee set up by the House Committee on Works, chaired by Rep Toby Okechukwu (PDP, Enugu).

The technical committee, chaired by Chris Okoye, was in November given the task of drawing a report to be reviewed and considered by the House.

The National Road Fund, when established, is to serve as a repository of revenues from road user-related charges and other sources for financing to be managed and administered for routine and periodic maintenance works on Nigerian roads.

Thus, as part of the sources for the fund, the committee recommended that “fuel levy of N5 chargeable per litre on any volume of petrol and diesel products imported into Nigeria and on locally refined petroleum products.”

Other sources the committee recommended include, toll fees not exceeding 10 percent of any revenue paid as user charge per vehicle on any federal road designated as a toll road; international vehicle transit charges; inter-state mass transit user charge of 0.5 percent deductible from the fare paid by passengers as well as surcharge of 0.5 percent chargeable on the assessed value of any imported vehicle into the country.

The other sources of funding as recommended by the committee are lease, license or other fees which should be 10 percent of the revenue accruing from such or other fees pertaining to non-vehicular road usages along any federal road; grants and loans and gifts of land, money or other property.

The fund is to be managed by a governing board with a managing director as the head of the fund.

However, the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) opposed the recommendation on the N5 fuel levy. The institute, which was part of the technical committee, submitted a minority report to the House works committee.

By Damilola Oyedele in Abuja

There is anger in the North-west caucus of the House of Representatives following its alleged endorsement of President Muhammadu Buhari’s presumed interest for the presidency in 2019.

Although the president still has over two years to serve his term and has not indicated any intention to re-contest the position in 2019, the leader of the 94-member caucus, Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, had after a meeting last Wednesday told newsmen that the caucus had unanimously endorsed Buhari, who is from the zone, to bid again for the presidency in 2019.

Doguwa said: “2019 will come and we are also going to be there; we will be able to engage it as it comes. I want to tell you that Nigerians can’t afford to miss Mr. President in 2019 as it comes.”

THISDAY however gathered that members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party were not happy with the impression that the caucus had endorsed the president.

The five-member PDP caucus, all of them from Kaduna state, Hon. Yakubu Barde, Hon. Gideon Gwani, Hon. Simon Arabor, Hon. Shehu Garba and Hon.
Sunday Marshall Kaltung, were up in arms at the weekend.

The Minority Whip, Barde, confirmed that the caucus did not endorse Buhari for the 2019 presidential polls.
“I am of the PDP, so that is not possible. PDP has its own candidate for the polls and we would soon present the candidate,” he told THISDAY in a telephone interview yesterday.

Also speaking, Kaltung corroborated Barde by saying the issue of endorsement of Buhari never happened.
“I can tell you categorically that it never featured in our discussions at the meeting, so if anyone says we endorsed anyone, it is a big lie,” he told THISDAY.

A PDP member who spoke off the record said the main issue discussed at the caucus meeting was the under-representation of the zone in the 2017 budget.

The source said: “Many of our roads are becoming death traps, and we want to see how we can strategise to attract more infrastructure to the region. We also want more attention for security.”

He said it would be funny for anyone to endorse the President at this time, explaining that lawmakers needed to be sensitive to the mood of Nigerians.
According to him: “The President is being bashed in the public space for the hardships Nigerians are dealing with, so to support him for 2019 would be like insulting the citizens.”

Another PDP member said no member of his party could be seen as endorsing Buhari for 2019.

Also some members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) insisted that the endorsement of the President, was not discussed at the meeting which had lasted for about three hours.

An APC member told THISDAY that to publicly endorse Buhari in the face of the hardships being experienced by Nigerians, would amount to “absolute bad timing.”

The member from Kaduna State, who asked not to be named accused the Chief Whip of misrepresenting the caucus.

“He just misrepresented our position and misinformed Nigerians. Yes, we commended Mr. President for improving the security situation generally, but that was it. In fact we also discussed that while the security situation is improving in the North-east, it is getting worse in our zone. This is because the North-east has been getting all the attention,” the lawmaker said.

Another lawmaker said Doguwa simply used the statement to slight Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, the former Governor of Kano state, who is also believed to be interested in the nation’s top post.

“Doguwa is bringing Kano politics into our general caucus position. Kwankwaso’s interest in running for president in 2019 is visible, even if he has not publicly said so. And we all know the serious infighting in Kano APC. Doguwa just used that statement to throw a jab at his erstwhile mentor. We did not send him to make any endorsement,” the lawmaker said.

Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has denied trending allegations in the media of alleged $10m money laundering involving him and a US-based Ika-born actress, Georgina Onuoha.

In a statement by the Delta State Commissioner of Information, Mr. Pat Ukah, the governor described his involvement as "ridiculously tasteless and mischievous", adding, "This can only be part of the unrelenting campaign of calumny and the ceaseless peddling of pernicious propaganda against the person and office of the Delta State Governor."

Quoting copiously a national newspaper headline, "Girlfriend defrauds Gov of $10m", Mr. Ukah wondered why the newspaper report and subsequent media reports strove to link Delta State Governor, Sen Dr Ifeanyi Okowa with the said story.

"It is instructive to state that The Nation, quoting sources from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) reported that a serving governor from the South - South region, allegedly diverted $10M from the bail out fund for his state, without mentioning anybody's name.

"We are appalled by the attempt to link Governor Okowa with the story by online media. For the record, the state government has severally in the past given account of how the bailout fund the state got from the Federal Government was used. We will not repeat ourselves here. Governor Okowa is a responsible family man and a well respected public figure," the State Commissioner of Information stressed.

Ukah maintained that the governor will not be distracted by any form of organised and orchestrated blackmail from any quarters, but will continue to deliver on his promises of good governance and prosperity for all Deltans.

However, he sounded a note of warning. "If those who are bent on carrying out their devious and dubious campaign of calumny against the governor refuse to stop this infamous trade of theirs, we reserve the right to take any action deemed appropriate to seek redress."

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CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

A 36-year old woman, Nkiruka Okani who was battered and starved of sex for two years as punishment by her husband Raymond Okani, has threatened to commit suicide over torture and maltreatment.

In her text message to her sister, Nnenna who contacted P.M.EXPRESS, stated clearly that she has concluded plans to leave this world over the trauma she was going through as caused her by her husband.

“It seems that you don’t understand what I am passing through over here, I want to leave this world so that every thing will end. Bye bye, See you in the next world, thank you for the ones that you have done, May God bless you,” Nkiruka’s text reads.

According to Nnenna, after Nkiruka sent the message, her phone was switched off and her whereabout unknown, these have raised suspicion that she might have committed suicide.

“What would make Nkiruka to contemplate to take her life was a known fact before the police and the judiciary in Lagos State,” her sister said.

An Nsukka-born Nkiruka, who married Raymond from Abagana town in Anambra State seven years ago, had suffered and endured constant beating and sex denial for two years by her husband.

The latest, P.M.EXPRESS gathered was the recent assault and abduction of their three children to unknown place by Raymond.

She alleged that her husband’s female boss snatched him away from her.

She claimed that since her husband and his boss started dating, he has not touch her and now he has abducted their three children who are her only consolation in their seven years of marriage.

It was learnt that in the last three days, friends, relations have sent search parties to locate her but with no result neither the police at Gowon Estate was willing to assist.

Her 41-year old husband Raymond was last week charged before a Lagos court for allegedly battering Nkiruka after denying her sex as punishment for two years at 511 Road, Gowon Estate in Egbeda, Lagos where they reside.

His arrest and arraignment followed a petition to the police by a human right group who had tried every means to settle the matter but instead getting worse due to the man’s constant assault on Nkiruka.

Maureen Ihua -Maduenyi

The Murtala Muhammed International Airport Command of the Nigerian Customs Service on Friday handed over two seized civil model Bell helicopters imported into the country by unknown persons to the Nigerian Air Force.

The NCS said the helicopters were handed over to NAF for failure by the yet -to - be-identified importers to produce end user certificate from the office of the National Security Adviser.

The NCS said this was in contravention of Section 36 ( 2) of the Customs and Excise Management Act and that the seizure was effected on November 7, 2016 in line with section 46 of CEMA.

Customs Area Controller, Frank Allanah, told journalists that the value of the two helicopters and other accessories was over N 9. 7bn.

He said , “ The helicopters were flown in as a consignment with Airway Bill Number 17232444403 into the country through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

“ The choppers were detained at the Skyways Aviation Handling Company Limited shed pending fulfillment of all legal requirements for the importation. ”

He said the chopper would be useful to the Nigerian Air Force in the fight against insurgency as the chopper were specially designed for such operations .

Speaking during the hand over the chopper , the Chief of Air Staff , Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar , said the choppers and accessories would be taken to the NAF hangar at the Lagos Airport for full examination in collaboration with Customs officials.

He described the handover as a milestone as the configuration of the aircraft was fitted for military combat operations .

He said the handover had presidential approval adding that all legal issues had also been considered.

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Abuja – A 17-year-old school dropout, on Friday told a Jikwonyi Customary Court, Abuja, that her sister’s husband forcefully had sexual intercourse with her, and two other sisters.

The teenager who resides in Minna, gave the testimony as a witness in a divorce petition filed by her elder sister, Janet Suleman, against her husband Philip Ogho.

“When I was living with my sister, her husband attempted to sleep with me, but I never agreed. Whenever I refused, he beats me.

“One day he asked me who I am, that he can’t have sex with me, that he has sexed my other two sisters living with them,” she testified.

The witness said that her sister’s husband kept on maltreating her until she gave in to his request.
“He kept on beating me, then one day I could not bear it again, so I allowed him to sleep with me.

“He threatened to deal with me if I tell my sister. I didn’t tell my sister, but I told the other two he had sex with,” she told the court.

She told the court that she left her sister’s house because her sister’s husband kept coming to have sex with her every night.

The Court’s President, Everyman Eleanya, however, ordered that a hearing notice be placed at the Ogho’s residence because of his continued absence in court since the commencement of hearing in the case.
Eleanya adjourned the case till Jan. 31 for hearing.

The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has vowed to be a “thorn on the flesh” of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC-led Federal Government, stressing that Nigerians are tired of them
.
Fayose made the declaration at the Expanded National Caucus of the PDP in Abuja on Thursday.

He said he would continue to express his mind and would not even mind if the Federal Government withdrew his police guards.

“I will continue to leak their secrets. I will remain a thorn in their flesh. Anything they want to do, let them come. If they want to carry their police, let them carry their police. I don’t care,” he said.

The Chairman of the PDP’s Governors’ Forum, urged members of the PDP to remain steadfast and not to be intimidated by the spate of “arrests, incarceration, intimidation, provocation by the party in government.”
Fayose insisted that Nigerians were already yearning for another change because of the APC’s alleged poor handling of the nation’s economy.

He said, “The whole country is not only tired of the ruling party, they want another change. If not for the constitution, they want the change tomorrow.”

Lamenting that Nigerians don’t seem to learn from the past, Fayose said, “the same party that has been rejected by Nigerians is the party that people seem to be defecting to.”

The Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum faulted the current anti-corruption fight of the ruling party.
He said, “Nigerians are tired of the story of corruption, especially when you find how people that are fighting corruption are busy stealing cows and are running after those people alleged to have stolen squirrel.”

Stressing that “the ruling party has caused hunger,” the governor said it was evident that Nigerians had made a mistake by voting the APC, but said that opportunity was coming soon to correct it.

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

A Police Sergeant, Mr Igweson Patrick has been hospitalised after one Chukwudi Joseph attacked and rained blows on his mouth while he went to effect an arrest following a distress call in Ajegunle, Lagos.
The incident happened at 139, Uzor street in Ajegunle, Lagos.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that his mouth was badly damaged such that he could not properly eat and drink.

The suspect, Joseph has been arrested and charged before Apapa Magistrate’s court with assault by inflicting injury on Patrick’s mouth.

Trouble started when one of the local government health worker identified as Bright Akinpelu went to Joseph’s house to effect environmental sanitation monitoring.

Joseph then attacked Akinpelu who contacted the police for rescue mission.

However, when Patrick who was detailed to visit the scene for maintenance of peace and order in the area and possible effect arrest was also attacked.

When Patrick got there, he was reportedly attacked by Joseph who rained blows on him and was bleeding profusely from his mouth.

He was rushed to the hospital for treatment. Before then, other officers were mobilised and arrested Joseph.

He was charged with assault and he pleaded not guilty.

The presiding Magistrate, Mr M.A. Etti granted him bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety in like sum.

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

The matter was further adjourned till 13 February 2017.

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The 94 members of the House of Representatives from North West geopolitical zone yesterday passed a vote of confidence on President Muhammadu Buhari.

Rising from a meeting that lasted for about three hours, the lawmakers said they were confident that Buhari would take Nigeria out of the current hardship.

Addressing journalists after the meeting, leader of the Caucus in the House and Chief Whip, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, said Buhari has done a lot and should be supported.

“We have passed a vote of confidence on Buhari’s administration. We also did same for the leadership of the House under Speaker Yakubu Dogara. We have confidence in our president and we have no regret about that,” he said.

Asked if their action was ahead of 2019, Doguwa said: “2019 will take care of itself. But we can assure you that Nigerians can’t do without Buhari in 2019.”

He said they also resolved to press more for additional projects to the zone in the 2017 budget as they believe the North West has been allocated few capital projects.

“We as a caucus have agreed to look at the budget. We came to the conclusion that they allocated only few projects. We believe that the region should be given more than what it gets. We resolved to attract more projects to our zone individually as representatives of the people.

“We have also discussed the issue of insecurity in the zone. We want to make sure that the security of lives and property of the region are paramount. We have agreed to raise the issue with the Federal Government so that the insecurity in the region could be tackled,” he said.

President Muhammadu Buhari has not cleared the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir David Lawal, of allegations of corruption made against him by the Senate, a top Presidency official said last night. The source told our correspondent that Buhari’s letter to the Senate rejecting its recommendation to remove and prosecute the SGF is not an indication of the president’s attitude or ultimate decision on the substantive allegations against Lawal.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, clarified that Buhari, in his letter, explained why he could not accede to the request by the Senate based on the circumstances, clearly leaving open the conclusion of the matter by other means.

A committee of the Senate chaired by Senator Shehu Sani (APC, Kaduna) had accused Babachir of misappropriating funds meant for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the northeast. The source stated that Buhari said he could not accede to the recommendation of the Senate on grounds of lack of fair hearing and that the resolution was signed by a minority of the Senate panel and that the panel report itself was an interim report.

According to the source, this does not mean that President Buhari is done with the investigation of the said allegations or that he has condoned such alleged corrupt actions by the SGF.

The source explained: “What this means is that the president wants to be able to handle the matter on his own terms, based purely on proper adherence to extant public service rules and procedures relating to abuse of office by public officers.

“If he is going to discipline his own appointee, he would rather do it properly, not railroaded. No one should be in doubt of the resolve of Mr. President to sustain his long-held reputation for integrity and his zero-level tolerance for corruption. But things must be done properly, and seen to be so. And that is what the president is keen on ensuring.”

By Chris Ochayi

ABUJA—The National Assembly, has rejected the subsidy and tariff hike proposed by the power operators and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC.

The Senate Committee on Power announced the rejection of the proposal when it’s Chairman, Senator Ben Bruce led the members on oversight function to the commission in Abuja.

The committee described the lack of power supply and demand for increase in tariff or subsidy as factor of monopoly created in the power sector.

Briefing newsmen shortly after the meeting, Senator Bruce said, “What I don’t want is for us to leave NEPA as a monopoly and create other monopolies with GENCOs or DISCOs and that is what we have had. Instead of having government monopoly, we now have monopoly in the private sector.

“For instance, if you want power in Benin, it is not that you have an option. There is only one Disco in Benin, only one Disco in Lagos, only one DISCO in Abuja. You don’t have other DISCOs to compete with, you only have one.

“So, if they tell you the rate is N100, it is N100 that is my problem. Two, if there is going to be an increase, I am familiar with increase of 3%, 5% annually. I am not favour as a Nigerian citizen of a 200 percent increase, the same way I am not in favour of a 200 percent increase in petroleum or any product.

“Nigerians are suffering enough and because Nigerians are suffering, I cannot in good conscience say to the average consumer of power in the village you are going to have a 300 percent increase and the argument they make is that it is the only way there would be power.”

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The Federal Government on Wednesday ordered the payment of N150 billion Petroleum Equalization Fund (PEF) owed petroleum marketers in the country.

The move is aimed at thwarting the imminent threat to steady fuel supply in the country.

The order for the payment was given at a meeting between the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari and key players in the petroleum downstream sector.

The N150 billion is said to be the bridging cost for the delivery of petroleum products across the country.
The National Secretary of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Zarma Mustapha, briefed State House correspondents at the end of the closed-door meeting, which lasted about two hours.

He said: “The meeting had nothing to do with increase in petroleum pump prices.

“We looked into the issue of diesel and kerosene and as a matter of fact government is tackling the issues.

“The other issue is the issue of franchise which is the petroleum equalization fund which marketers are owed up to about N150 billion. That issue has been resolved. The government has directed that our monies must be paid and I am assuring you that with the payment of this money there is no cause for alarm.

“We are assuring our marketers that they should go back to their normal business as their outstanding money will be paid in few days.”

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The Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, has warned its Pastors and members against using the church platform to participate in Ponzi schemes.

A memo issued by the General Secretary of the church, Pastor Johnson Odesola, to all Pastors in charge of regions and provinces, threatened disciplinary actions against defaulting members.

According to the memo, the doctrine of the church does not support get rich quick schemes.

The memo reads partly: “Please be informed that the doctrine of the church does not support get rich quick schemes, gambling, betting, etc in any form.

“God is and remains our supplier by the application of biblical principles of working diligently with our hands.

“All senior pastors are hereby authorised to ensure no one uses the pulpit or any platform of the RCCG to promote any such schemes.”

This is coming at a time when Apostle Johnson Suleiman of the Omega Fire Ministries, OFM, Worldwide, fired one of his Pastors , Joseph Aiyedun, for using the ministry’s name to participate in popular money doubling scheme, Mavrodi Mondial Movement, MMM.

Angela Nwaka, who represents Aniocha South constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, is said to have landed herself in a serious criminal offence over her alleged involvement in a fake Nigeria Customs Service recruitment exercise.

The lawmaker, through her media aide, Patrick Ogbogu had issued a statement on a purported Nigeria Customs Service recruitment exercise and posted same on his Facebook timeline calling on youths of Aniocha South constituency to apply for the job.

The release on Patrick Ogbogu's facebook entitled "Job Opportunity For Aniocha South Youths," read:

"Unemployed graduates of Aniocha South origin are kindly advised to avail themselves of this job opportunity as advertised by the Nigeria Customs Service and better your lives. Interested persons should apply using the website please.Signed Hon. Angela Nwaka, MP, DTHA."

The press statement which was accompanied with a purported Nigeria Customs Service recruitment advertisement and the picture of the lawmaker, warned that the exercise was strictly for only indigenes of Aniocha south constituency. A social media aide to governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Lilly Udeze Okolugbo and other supporters were among those said to have been recruited by the lawmaker to convince her unemployed constituents to apply.

On reading through the statement which emanated from the office of the lawmaker accompanied with the purported Customs recruitment advertisement, a SaharaReporters correspondent contacted the Nigeria Customs Service headquarters in Asaba, but an official who pleaded that her name should not be mentioned as she was not permitted to speak on behalf of the service, described the purported Customs recruitment advertisement as nothing but a fraud.

"Its a scam, its a fraud," she said.

Also contacted on the issue, an official in the zonal office of the Nigeria Customs Service in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, who similarly pleaded for anonymity, told SaharaReporters that the service is not recruiting. He also characterized what is going on now on social media as a scam, warning Nigerians not to fall victims.

Nonetheless, an investigation by SaharaReporters revealed that hundreds of Aniocha South constituents have already fallen victim of the scam. One source told SaharaReporters that so many of the unemployed youths of the local government have been duped of their hard-earned money following the call by the lawmaker.

An unemployed graduate from the constituency who simply gave his name as Okolo, said his attention was drawn to the statement signed by his representative and he followed all the guidelines in the Customs advertisement but before he could learn that the whole thing was a scam some aides of the lawmaker had collected the some of N10,000 from him.

"I am not only the victim, there are so many other unemployed youths from Aniocha south constituency who also fell victims and [were] scammed,” Okolo said. “So many of us were scammed."

It was however learned that following a series of petitions against Ms. Nwaka, security agents may soon step into the matter and arrest her for questioning.

Contacted, Ms. Nwaka who was mute for several seconds, claimed that she was alerting people that the recruitment was a scam, but when asked about the signed statement pasted by her media assistant, she dropped the call.

As of the time of filing this report, the lawmaker's media aide had deleted his bosses' statement and the Customs recruitment advertisement from his Facebook timeline.

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

A 31-year old man Eddy Friday has been arrested and charged before Apapa Magistrate’s court for allegedly giving his wife, Jane human bites in her ear, during a fight at their residence in Lagos.

The incident happened at 5 Lawani Street, Olodi Apapa, Lagos where they reside.

Some part of Jane’s left ear was bitten off which caused her severe injury and was rushed to a hospital where she was being treated.

The matter was reported to the Police who arrested Friday and charged him with assault under the Criminal Code.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered the couple had been having constant fighting in the compound over undisclosed disagreement before the incident happened.

Our correspondent also gathered the latest fight between the couple which led to Jane sustaining injury on her ear started in the evening of that day.

The wife was said to be having upper hand before Friday grabbed her ear and bite it and eventually dislodged her.

When Friday was arraigned before the court, he pleaded not guilty.

The presiding Magistrate, Mr M.A. Etti granted Friday bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.

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

When Friday was being taken to the prison custody, the wife lamented that she was no longer interest in prosecuting her husband and wanted him to be released.

By then it was already too late as the matter had been adjourned to a further date for hearing.

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