₦airaland Forum

The leader of a cult group who was arrested arrested over the weekend by the operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of Lagos State Police Command in has said that no amount of gun – shot can penetrate his body.

The cult suspect, Andrew Awalebi, 35, who belonged to Eiye Confraternity, was arrested on Friday morning at a beer parlour in company of three other cult members around 8:00 a.m.

Two other members of the cult group, Adegoke Adeleke (30), Kehinde Adebogun (31), were also picked up early Saturday morning at an hotel in Ikorodu.

Awalebi, from Ilaje Local Government, Ondo State was given out by Michael Thompson of the same Eiye Confraternity as a cult leader. Thompson was arrested a night before for robbery in National Stadium Surulere, Lagos.

Awalebi, who disclosed that he worked with a popular land owner in Lekki stated that he earns N40, 000:00 monthly from the property dealer for helping to protect his landed property in the axis.

He told investigator that the gun – shot protective charm was specially prepared for him by an herbalist in Ijebu – Isiwo, Ogun State to save him from gunshots of land grabbers in Lekki.

He added “I was initiated into Eiye Confraternity in 1996 by Banji Omisore and later in 1997 I was promoted as its topmost leader after the death of Omisore.

“We are eight member cult group. We meet very early in the morning or late at night. I have been arrested by Special Anti – Robbery Squad sometimes ago when my cult group caused mayhem in Jakande Estate, inflicting injuries on passers-by in the area,”he disclosed.

Arrested alongside Awalebi were Michael Thompson (24), Adegoke Adeleke (30), Kehinde Adebogun (31), Koffi Kwame (17), Daniel Olayiwola (36) and Tosin Issac (26) as they all confessed to be members of Eiye Confraternity.

While confirming the arrest, the image maker of Lagos Police Command, Superintendent of Police, SP Dolapo Badmus, warned parents and guardians to be wary of their children and wards’ behaviors.

“Charity begins at home. But this should end there. Parents should help police to tackle cultism in their respective localities. They should endeavor to report to the nearest police station around them if they suspect movements of their children, this will help the Police to nip the cultism to the bud,” she advised.

The cult suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigative Department (SCID), Panti for prosecution.

An eleven-year-old girl, Blessing (not real name) gang-raped by two boys in Abia State who also broke one of her legs, is appealing to the President’s wife and non-governmental organisations to take up her case, writes GBENGA ADENIJI

Eleven-year-old Blessing (not real name) is no longer the girl she used to be. Once cheerful and the joy of her mother, she is now a shadow of herself. Managing to say hello to visitors in the hospital, she burst into tears as she tried to recount how she was gang-raped and beaten up by two young men in her village. As she narrated the nightmare, Blessing kept making a plea: “Bring the boys who raped me to justice.”

Blessing, who managed to talk with our correspondent on Monday as she lay on a bed at the Police Clinic at Bende Road, Umuahia in Abia State, said she would be happy if the wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, could help her to get justice.

“We are poor and have nobody to help us. The police haven’t helped us. So, I think Mrs. Buhari is the one who can help me to get justice. After they raped me, they were still moving around freely and no one could do anything to them,” Blessing said.

“I also want NGOs to come to my aid. They should help me to get justice by arresting those who raped me. They are walking freely. They are even threatening my family members especially my mother. The police have not also been able to offer help even when my mother ran to them for help,’’ she said, staring at some of the people standing close to her bed stand.
Some of the visitors shed tears while others looked her with pity.

Her mother, Mrs. Ejike, with teary eyes, sat on the edge of the bed, affectionately caressing one of her daughter’s legs.

Blessing let out intermittent screams as she tried to adjust one of her legs to sit upright.
‘‘She cannot walk with one of her legs again. Two animals in human skin raped my daughter and did not stop at that, they also damaged her right leg with an iron,’’ her mother said, sobbing.

How it happened

Blessing covered her face with her two hands and launched into a narration of what happened to her.
She said in a soft, low voice, ‘‘I was at home when one of my friends came to call me last Sunday (June 26). She brought a salad and said we should eat together. I obliged. It was around 8pm and while we were eating the salad not far from my house, a boy came and asked what we were doing at the point we stood. We initially didn’t answer but when we noticed that he was getting angry we showed him what we were eating.’’
Blessing stated that he thereafter told them that they should follow him to see the high chief of the community to explain what they were doing outside their homes by 8pm.

‘‘We showed him the remaining salad but instead, he started dragging us away. When we got to a road that leads to where the high chief lives, he dragged us through another road. We then asked him why we had to take that road and he told us that the high chief was waiting for us in a house on that road, ’’ said Blessing who was trying hard to conceal the pain she was feeling in the leg.

She added that when they arrived at a house, the boy later identified as Ikechukwu Mbakwe, knocked at the door which was opened by two men. One of them left immediately while another boy, Ifeanyi Mbakwe, also known as ‘Fire’, stayed with them in the room.
The little girl said they instantly asked where the high chief was and they were told to remain calm as they would announce their arrival to him.

She cried, adding, ‘‘Ikechukwu went out and returned with two bottles of stout offering the content to us to drink. That was when I stood up to ask where the high chief who he said summoned us was. He became violent and said we should drink the stout. We were forced to drink it. That was all I could recall until I woke up the next day and saw that I was naked. Both of them had raped me all through the night.’’

The girl who is a primary six pupil in one of the schools in Umuosu Okaiga Nkwoegwu in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State, where she hails from, further said Ifeanyi walked into the room as she was covering her unclothedness.

‘‘He wanted to sleep with me again and I refused. I shouted at him and told him that he raped me with his friend. But he pushed me away to have his way. That was when I held him and he took a metal and hit me with it. He said he would kill me if I didn’t allow him have sex with me. As I tried to stand up, he hit my right leg with the iron. He continued hitting it till I could no longer walk.

“He later pushed me out and ran away. I was crying when some members of a vigilance group came to my rescue. They heard my story and took me to the village square that early morning. I want justice. I want those who molested me to be arrested and killed. They also wanted to kill me,’’ said the chubby girl in a pale, frail voice.

A mother’s pain

Blessing’s mother could no longer contain her urge to speak as her daughter rounded off her conversation with our correspondent.
Mrs. Ejike noted that on June 26, she visited one of her husband’s relations but she was unable to get a tricycle on time to take her home.

She said, ‘‘When I eventually got home, I discovered that my second daughter was not at home. I have four children; my first child is a female while the third and last children are males. Blessing who is the second child will be 12 years on July 23. I searched everywhere for her but later thought she visited my sister as she always did only for her to return from the place and inform me she went there.

“I tried my sister’s mobile number that day but it did not connect. I could not go to her place that night because it was not nearby. As it was getting late, I returned home when I didn’t see her and decided that I would visit my sister the following day which was a Monday. I was very worried but I was sure she was with my sister.’’

Mrs. Ejike explained that the following day around 6am as she set out to go to her sister’s place, someone knocked at her door, shouting that she should come out.

‘‘Since I was already dressed to go out, I did not waste time before I opened the door and the person turned out to be a distant friend in the area. She told me to follow her to the village square which was not far from my house. When I got there, I saw my missing daughter on the floor writhing in pain. She could not walk.

“Members of the vigilance group who assisted her to get to that spot said they saw her in front of a house crying and decided to bring her to our area when she told them she lived there. They said a boy who ran away before they got there raped her and broke one of her legs with an iron when she refused to allow him have more sex with her after they had gang-raped her a night before,’’ Mrs. Ejike said throwing her hands up in the air.

Trying to fight back tears, she stated that she was heartbroken seeing the pitiable state of her daughter, writhing with pain on the floor.
She noted, ‘‘I tried carrying her but I could not. It was a man in the village who used his vehicle to take her to our home. The people who were at the scene at that time of the day were many.’’

Mrs. Ejike explained that the two men that raped her daughter have since fled the village.
‘‘I did not know them. It was when this incident happened that I learnt they are from the same village with me. The other girl was not injured and her parents said she was not molested. I reported the matter to the police at Afugiri Police Station.”

According to the distraught mother, the police were of no help to her. “When I did not get a positive response from the police, I went to meet a lawyer who I know has been taking up cases for the poor. The most annoying thing is that one of the fathers of the suspects came to threaten me to desist from the case or be dealt with. Is it because I have no money? I will fight for my daughter’s rights with the last blood in my veins, ’’ she added.

On Wednesday, Mrs. Ejike, who said her husband travelled to Lagos before the incident, moved Blessing out of the hospital because she could no longer afford to pay the bills.

‘‘There is no money to continue with the treatment in the hospital. I have to take her away. She sobs everyday but I told her not to cry anymore because I know that God will wipe her tears. I try to cater for my children with the little I have. I cannot believe what happened to her. It is still like a dream and the perpetrators are walking freely, ’’ Mrs. Ejike said to our correspondent on Thursday.

Seeking justice

Speaking to SUNDAY PUNCH, the lawyer who Blessing’s mother contacted, Mr. Jasper Ejimofor, said he was particularly pained that the suspects hijacked the victim from her house and gang-raped her.
Ejimofor said when the matter was brought to his attention, he immediately wrote a petition to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 9, Umuahia, Abia State and the state’s commissioner of police.

Noting that there was no response from either of the two, the lawyer added that he was reliably informed by the police that one of the suspects‑Ikechukwu, was planning to leave the country through Lagos.

He stated, ‘‘But we have been assured that he would be arrested together with his accomplice. It pained me that the suspects prearranged such a heinous crime.’’
He also said the two suspects were not from the same parents but from the same clan.

A copy of the petition obtained by SUNDAY PUNCH read in part, ‘‘On June 26 during the hours of 8pm, two boys named Ikechukwu Mbakwe and Ifeanyi Mbakwe who are also natives of Umuoso Okaiga Nkwoegwu in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State intercepted a girl of 11 years who was in front of her house with other children.

‘‘The boys, using the threat of death on the girl, forcefully took her to a building belonging to one of the uncles of Ikechukwu Mbakwe who lives in the city and thereafter raped her. The boys heartlessly used an iron to break the girl’s leg to prevent her from running away. The mother reported the matter at Afugiri Police Station where she further mobilised the officers to arrest the boys.
‘‘It is therefore our plea that you use your good offices to investigate the heinous crime against the young, innocent girl to ensure that the boys are brought to justice.’’

Commenting on the matter, a child protection consultant and Executive Director, Media Concern Initiative, Dr. Princess Olufemi-Kayode, who condemned the act, lamented the poor response of the country to emergency situations despite its abundant human and natural resources.

She also noted that by now, the rapists should have been apprehended and made to face the law.
The criminal justice psychologist further said efforts should made by the government to protect the citizens against any form of abuse regardless of gender or status.

Olufemi-Kayode said, “Most times, it is always the vulnerable who suffer most in our society. I hope the daughter and mother get help. They will be in distress at the moment. I also hope the governor of the state will rise up to help them. It is a sad story, very sad.’’
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Abia State Police Command, Mr. Nta Ogbonnaya Nta, confirmed the incident.

He added that the police had intensified a search for the suspects who he said were on the run.
Nta said, ‘‘The matter was reported at the police station three days after the incident. The suspects have fled but we have launched a manhunt for them. Abia police do not condone such indecent assault. We also advise parents and residents to always report cases to us promptly so we can move into action swiftly.’’

But Mrs. Ejike disagreed with Nta that she reported the matter late, adding that she did that on the Monday her daughter was found.
“All I want is for Mrs. Buhari and NGOs to come to our aid. The police have not helped us and the relatives of my daughter’s rapists are threatening us. Is this life?” she said.

Okechukwu Nnodim, Abuja

The deregulation of the downstream oil sector and the increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit from N86.5 per litre to N145 have led to the reduction in the consumption of the product by 30 per cent across the country, the Federal Government has said.

This is coming as the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, formally handed over the position of Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation to Dr. Maikanti Baru, at the corporation’s headquarters in Abuja on Friday.
President Muhammadu Buhari had on Monday approved the appointment of Baru as the new GMD of NNPC.

Speaking at the ceremony, Kachikwu, who outlined some achievements recorded during his 11-month tenure as GMD, stated that Nigeria currently produces between 1.9 to 2.3 million barrels of crude oil daily, adding that the government was working hard to clear the over $6bn joint venture cash call obligations to international oil companies.

He said, “We undertook deregulation at the time nobody thought it was possible and if there’s anything we leave for this industry, it must be the legacy of that deregulation.

“Today our consumption of fuel has gone down by 30 per cent; we have no queues in the filling stations; we have one and a half months of self sufficiency; we have strategic reserves in place that we are putting together and we have a funding scheme to enable the downstream to be able to adequately fund itself.

“We have succeeded in removing subsidy and saving over N1.4tn for this country on a yearly basis. We have reduced upstream contracting period from the average of between two and half years to between six and nine months and we have started a massive commercialisation of every aspect of our business.”

Kachikwu said the NNPC has been able to cut operational cost by 30 per cent, adding that Nigerian refineries had started working for the first time in about 10 years, “but still not at the capacity that we want.”

He added, “We need to find a structure, and we have started, in which private funds will come into the refineries and we will be able to rebuild our refineries to 90 or 100 per cent capacity.

“I’ve already made a commitment that by 2018, 60 per cent of refined products importation will stop and by 2019 we must become a net exporter of refined petroleum products. I am happy to announce that in our May results, for the first time in the history of this company, the NNPC made a profit of N270m.”
On JV cash call funding, he said this had been one major challenge.

The minister said, “We are still in the process of covering that gap and paying the arrears of over $6bn and covering up the year-to-year demands of close to about $5m to $6m. We are at the thresholds of finalising negotiations on that and I think we should be almost at the point of sign-off in the next one week.

“This will fundamentally change the upstream business in terms of providing funds and it will remove the delays we’ve had in terms of being able to get upstream developments. And hopefully it will inject 100 per cent performance in upstream and hopefully increase your barrels from present 2.3 million barrels to upward trajectory of three million barrels over the next few years.”

He said the corporation was able to contribute 100 per cent to FAAC two months ago, up from about 60/70 per cent, adding that the NNPC was able to pay for the first time, 100 per cent cash call contributions last month.

Kachikwu, who described the Niger Delta issues as “a big elephant in the room,” stated that the government was trying to devise a model that would address the challenge in the region once and for all.

He said, “We are trying to find a model that works finally for this country on the Niger Delta issue. The work is for everybody, it is not just solely mine, but it is on my door-step and we need to find those solutions so that we can have peace. It is key that we get all the stakeholders in the region in order to ensure development.”

While speaking on talks with militants in the region on the sidelines of the event, the minister said, “We are working on it and I need to meet with Mr. President for I just returned and obviously there’s a lot more engagement that is required. There are gaps that seem to have developed and I need to understand what issues warranted that. But we will work towards closing those gaps.”

When asked to state when the Forcados crude trunk line would become operational, he replied, “By the end of July.”

Kachikwu promised to work with the new GMD and thanked President Mohammadu Buhari for the opportunity given him to manage the corporation.

He said, “It is surprising that in the 11 months, I’ve managed to serve as GMD of NNPC, as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, as OPEC President, as the President of APPA and I’ve just been appointed the Chairman of NNPC board; all in 11 months. There are not many people in the world who would have those opportunities within that time frame or be given that opportunity by a leader. So we all have the President to be very thankful to.”

On his future role as minister, he said he would work on the Petroleum Industry Bill, gas terms, restructuring of other parastatals and the country’s upstream business.

He also said that he would look at the regulatory overhaul of the entire sector, as many regulations in the industry were outdated.

One Ogbole Pius, has accused the police for the death of his father, Mr Francis Ebonyi Ogbole.

Pius, an indigene of Benue State resident in Lagos state, said some officers of the Lagos State Police Command killed his father after his refusal to bribe them.

On his Twitter handle @flawpajun, the embattled man wrote: “Mr Francis Ebonyi Ogbole was travelling to Benue State yesterday (Wednesday) for the burial of his junior sister.

“On his way to the Iddo park, Oyingbo, Lagos State, escorted by his children which makes four people in the car, they were stopped by stop-and-search policemen with metro police van registration number KSF-176 EE.

“The policeman requested for all the necessary papers which he presented, then he was entering his car when a policeman, Sergeant Matthew Oche with force number F/NO-372727, said no he can’t leave now cause the back glass of his car is tinted.

“Mr. Francis, however told him that it was because it still early and dark, around 5:30a.m, that the glass is not tinted, but the policeman was looking for a way to extort money from him.

“Out of anger, the policeman pushed him and he fell, broke his head and died instantly.”

When DAILY POST contacted the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, she said the matter had not been officially reported at the command.

The PPRO added that the command will begin investigations immediately a complaint is filed.

lalasticlala

A Tanzania- based Nigerian Footballer, Mr. Seriki Muktar Adebayo , who was arrested for drug trafficking by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA ), yesterday , said he had no choice than to embrace drug trafficking. Adebayo, 26, was nabbed with 2.070 kgs of heroin onboard an Ethiopian Airline flight from Mozambique. He said: “After a fruitless search for a football club in Tanzania for some months, I moved to Mozambique. Still, I could not secure a club .

In the process, I exhausted my money and was stranded. I was so disappointed and frustrated that I needed to return home. At that point, I had no choice than to agree to smuggle drugs. I regret my action.”

Also arrested alongside Adebayo was Rita Godfrey, 46. She collected 1.525 kgs of cocaine while at the airport in Dubai, on her way from Spain. The wraps of cocaine were packed inside duty- free polythene bag. She was intercepted during inward screening of passengers, on an Emirate flight from Dubai. Rita said that she was promised N500,000 to smuggle the drugs from Dubai.

She added: “I’ m a trainee fashion designer living in Spain. I had financial problem and was introduced into drug trafficking by a friend. They told me that somebody would give me the drug while on transit in Dubai. While at the airport, a man approached me and asked if I was Rita. He introduced himself; he said he was from my friend and gave me the drug in a duty free bag.

I was surprised when the drug was discovered here because it was not hidden at all. I never checked it. I just kept it in my bag the way it was given to me. ”
The Chairman of NDLEA, Colonel Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (rtd.), promised to dismantle drug syndicates in the country. Abdallah gave the assurance as the Agency released its scorecard at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos between January and June 2016.

He said that 63 suspected drug traffickers were arrested with 484.11kgs of drugs. Suspected drug barons also abandoned 336.090kgs of the seized drugs. Abdallah said that Nigeria would continue to subscribe to the principle of shared responsibility and international collaboration in dismantling drug cartels .

He added: “The Agency is maximising the benefits of Airport Communication Programme (AIRCOP) by coordinating joint international operations. We will continue to build capacity in risk analysis, drug detection methodology and tracing of illicit drug proceeds.

This is aimed at identifying and dismantling criminal networks. ” The NDLEA boss noted that the Agency reacted swiftly to new tactics of drug trafficking by intercepting 22.530 kgs of drugs originating from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

“As an intelligencedriven Agency, we realised the sudden use of Dubai as a transit point for cocaine originating from South America and successfully arrested 13 suspects with 22.530 kgs of cocaine coming from Dubai,” said Abdallah.

According to the airport commander, Mr . Ahmadu Garba , those arrested include 46 males and 17 females. The breakdown of drugs are as follows; Cocaine, 35kgs , Heroin 8.460 kg , Methamphetamine 54 . 4 kg, Ephedrine 6.120 kg, Cannabis 5.470 kg and Psychotropic substances 374.630 kg.

Twenty suspects were nabbed attempting to export drugs while 25 were caught importing drugs into the country.

Eighteen suspects were apprehended during follow- up operations. Ten suspected traffickers were caught importing 7.695 kgs of cocaine from Brazil while 13 other suspects were arrested with 22.530 kgs of cocaine from Dubai . The three abandoned seizures include 25kgs of methamphetamine going to South Africa, 311kgs of tramadol originating from India and 0.090 grammes of cocaine from Brazil.

An Abia State Polytechnic student, identified only as Abel, has killed the landlord of one of the students’ lodges in the Immaculate area of Aba, Abia State.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Abel, a final year student of the Department of Architecture, allegedly stabbed the victim in the stomach during a disagreement at the lodge.

Our correspondent was told that the landlord had ordered that no female visitor was allowed to spend the night in the lodge.

The suspect was alleged to have breached the rule and was challenged by the landlord, which led to a fight between them.

In the ensuing scuffle, the suspect was alleged to have grabbed a knife and stabbed the victim in the stomach, before taking to his heels.

The landlord reportedly died on the spot.

His remains were recovered by the police and deposited in a mortuary.

A student of the institution, who identified herself only as Beatrice, explained that the caretaker of the lodge was the first to notice the breach of the rule, adding that he informed the landlord.

She said the landlord barged into the room and met Abel and his girlfriend naked, which caused the fight.

She said, “The incident happened around 9pm on June 29. The deceased had made a rule that no student living in the lodge should bring a lady to pass the night there. He also made it a rule that every visitor, be it male or female, must leave before night falls.

“However, the suspect brought home a female guest in the evening and both of them went inside his room. The caretaker of the lodge saw them and waited for them to come out, but they didn’t. He then put a call through to the landlord, who hurriedly went to the building around 9pm.

“On arrival, the landlord barged into the student’s room where he met both the lady and the student naked. Instead of excusing himself, he attacked the student with punches. The lady quickly grabbed a wrapper and ran out of the room into another student’s room in the lodge.

“As the confrontation continued, the student stabbed the landlord with a knife, put on his boxers and fled that night, leaving the landlord dead in his room.”

It was learnt that the incident threw the community into confusion as the matter was reported at a police station in the area.

The police were said to have launched a manhunt for the suspect with his picture posted at strategic areas in the school.

When contacted, the Abia State Police Public Relations Officer, Nta Ogbonnaya, confirmed the murder, but said he could not tell what transpired between the suspect and the deceased.

He said the case file had been transferred to the State Department of Criminal Investigations, adding that the police would get the fugitive.

He said, “Yes, there is a case of murder involving a student of Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, who stabbed his landlord in the stomach. I cannot, however, tell what happened between them. I also don’t know the name of the landlord and the suspect. As I speak with you, the case file has been transferred to the SDCI and we are working with the school authorities to get the details of the suspect.

“I, however, want to advise him that he should submit himself to the police voluntarily. I assure that wherever he decides to go, we will get him and he will face justice.”

Efforts to reach the school authorities were abortive as the official telephone line on the school’s website was switched off.

A text message sent to the line had also yet to be replied to as of the time of filing this report.

A 12 year old houseboy, identified simply as Peter, has been blinded by his ‘madam’ at the Ikeja area of Lagos State. It was gathered that residents, who could no longer stand the violence meted out on the boy by his ‘madam,’ decided to raise the alarm. The latest cruelty meted out on Peter, leading to injuring in his eyes, was said to be over improper washing of kettle.

The yet to be identified woman resides at No. 14 b, Olu Akerele Street, Balogun Bus Stop off Awolowo Way, Ikeja. According to neighbours, how Peter, a Togolese, was employed by the woman was not clear.

What is clear, however, is that Peter was always being subjected to constant beating. A resident, who gave her name simply as Tayo, said: “We feared the unexpected with the manner the woman used to beat the boy. He has a deep sore on his leg. When I asked him about it, he said it was from burnt from fire. He said the swollen eye was caused by beating from his madam for not washing a kettle properly.“ He has been subjected to violence for a long time. You know everybody used to mind his or her business in the compound.

When I saw the boy last, he was looking sickly. Hence I decided to seek help from the appropriate agency.” Another resident, who pleaded anonymity, said the woman was well known for being violent. He said everyone on the street used to keep the woman at arm’s length . He added: “If the boy comes to watch television with them in the parlor, he would be beaten.

On school days, you will see the boy leaving home around 9.30a.m . This is an ideal case of child abuse and child labour. We need the intervention of child protection network in his case.”

When our correspondent visited the compound to seek the woman’s response, the gate was not opened after repeated knocking. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Dolapo Badmos, was yet to respond to a text message sent to her mobile line on the issue at press time.

Olaleye Aluko

A company driver, Moruf Haruna, has died after he was allegedly kicked in the stomach by an officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency in the Abaji area of Kogi State.

PUNCH Metro learnt that 40-year-old Haruna, who worked for Vintage Transport and Logistics, was allegedly manhandled by the officer when an NDLEA team stopped his vehicle for a search in the Abaji area.

Our correspondent gathered that Haruna, a father of five children, and another company driver, identified only as Fatai, had left the Ojota area of Lagos State on Friday, in two separate trucks.

The drivers were said to be conveying food products to Jos, Plateau State, and Abuja, respectively.

PUNCH Metro learnt that on Saturday, at about 5am, Haruna was stopped around Abaji, about 30 kilometres from the Federal Capital Territory by the NDLEA officers.

The officers were said to have ordered Haruna to produce his papers, which he did, and afterwards asked him to open the truck for a search.

Our correspondent gathered that Haruna was allegedly reluctant, during which one of the NDLEA officers, whose name had yet to be ascertained, kicked him in the stomach.

He reportedly fell and became unconscious.
PUNCH Metro was told that the NDLEA officers took him to a hospital in Abuja for medical treatment but he died on Monday, a few hours after he was discharged.

Haruna’s ‘motor boy’, identified only as Matthew, told our correspondent that there were seven NDLEA officers at the checkpoint, adding that the NDLEA officer that kicked his boss also stamped his legs on Haruna’s stomach.

He said, “We were going to Jos around 5am on Saturday. The NDLEA officers were seven and their leader held a gun. Others held clubs. One of them stopped our truck and we tried to park by the roadside. While doing that, he hurled insults at us.

“When my boss (Haruna) came down, the officer first beat him with a club. My boss told him there was no reason for the abuse as we were carrying lawful goods. The officer got angry and kicked him in the stomach.

“He fell and the officer ‘marched’ on his stomach. It was when they noticed he was not moving that they decided to rush him to a hospital.

“He died in Jos on Monday around 4am. I am still at the hospital as an autopsy will be conducted on him.”
The Managing Director, Vintage Transport and Logistics, Lekan Akinkiitan, said Haruna had worked with the company for 10 years before the tragedy.

He said, “Two of our drivers left on that Friday. Haruna was to deliver goods at Jos, while Fatai was heading for Abuja; but the two men left together. We transport United African Company products. The waybill and other documents were intact. Neither of the drivers carried unlawful goods.

“When he got to the Abaji area, about 30 kilometers from Abuja, he was stopped and tortured by the NDLEA officials. When he passed out, the officials rushed him to a hospital in Abuja.

“In fairness, the NDLEA paid his medical bills and he was discharged on Monday. But when he got to Jos, his health failed again and he died.

“Haruna was not an irresponsible driver. He had worked for the company for about 10 years. He had a dependant father, mother, wife and five children. I am shocked how he passed away suddenly after the NDLEA’s torture.”

The NDLEA spokesperson, Mitchell Ofoyeju, said Haruna sustained injuries during the search – when he tried to resist the officers from doing their lawful duties.

Ofoyeju added that after first-aid treatment was given to the driver, he was discharged and the agency had not been briefed that he had died.

He said, “The driver initially refused to stop. When he did, the officers demanded to search his vehicle but he refused.

“He resisted them from doing their lawful duty. In the process, he had an injury. As a responsible organisation, we decided to take him for treatment.

“We have not been briefed that he is dead. We will have to confirm that. The agency is going to investigate the cause of his death because we respect citizens, as we are an agency paid by taxpayers’ money.”

Friday Amobi, Port Harcourt

Hundreds of youths in Rivers State on Tuesday took to the streets of Port Harcourt in protest against the incessant attacks on oil facilities in the Niger Delta.

The youths who came together on the aegis of National Youth Council of Nigeria, Rivers State branch, also protested against cultism and other social vices in the state.

The protest followed the increase in attacks on oil facilities, oil theft and cult-related activities in the region.

The youths marched from First Artillery to Azikiwe road in Port Harcourt with placards bearing several inscriptions such as ‘We need peace in the Niger Delta’, ‘Attacks on oil facilities must stop’, ‘Support Belemaoil to restore peace in the region, and ‘We don’t need cultism’.

The President of NYCN in Rivers State, Mr. Sukubo Sara-Igbe, said the protest became necessary because of the rise in the cases of kidnapping and other criminal activities in the state.

He said the activities of vandals were affecting the economic wellbeing of the region, calling on aggrieved youths not to resort to destroying pipelines and other oil facilities.

Sara-Igbe, while thanking Belema oil for providing 520 jobs for youths in the state, warned the youths to desist from cultism, pipeline vandalism and every other activity that would threaten peace in the area.

“We are making this protest so that youths will shun armed robbery, oil theft and embrace peace so that investors can come in and invest in the state and in the region,” he said.

“Rivers youths are now on their feet to protect those investors that will come into the state. We do not want our youths to be disturbing investors.”

The Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, yesterday claimed that unnamed individuals have concluded plans to doctor the Police report on the investigation of allegation of forgery leveled against the leadership of the Senate.

Melaye who is also Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT), alleged that the plan was aimed to indict Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu.

The Kogi West Senator in a statement circulated in Abuja claimed that “those behind the sinister plot are scheming to forge a police report different from the one signed by DIG Dan’Azumi J. Doma in other to justify and prove a case of forgery against the Senate President and the Deputy president.”

He said it was necessary for members of the public to be aware of the ‘unlawful plan’.
He said, “We have our own sources and we have been reliably informed that the prosecution having realised that there is a big hole in their case against Saraki and Ekweremadu who were not mentioned in the police report, are now trying to doctor the report and include the names of both presiding officers of the Senate.

“We are aware of that development and we want members of the public to know the level of desperation that these people are ready to go to nail the Senate President and his Deputy.

“It is because of this plan that they refused to include the police report in the process they filed in court.

“We have said it repeatedly that the government and specifically, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Abubakar Malami has no case against our presiding officers.

“They filed the case to distract the two men, embarrass them, force a change of leadership and eventually cow the Senate, in particular, and the National Assembly, in general.

“The forgery case is the height of desperation by some elements to bring down the legislature. Malami has a personal agenda to achieve an objective for which he has been hired as a counsel by a few aggrieved Senators.

“Now, a court has affirmed our claim that he is abusing his office and that there is a conflict of interest involving him.

“The said police report is already in the public space. The media has published it verbatim. We will be watching them to see how they will smuggle Saraki and Ekweremadu’s names into it.

“This is the height of desperation and we will continue to monitor developments on it. It is clear those who initiated this forgery suit against the leadership of the Senate know that they have made a mistake. They should cut their losses and discontinue the error.

“To think that they will now use forgery to justify a false case of forgery, further their abuse of the court process as well as abuse of office and think we will be looking at them will not be possible.

“We will call on the courts to continue to play their role as the last resort for every man who wants justice at all times and in all circumstances.”

Olalekan Adetayo, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday said he knew the appropriate ways to deal with those opposing his ongoing anti-corruption war.

He said anybody who attempted to deter his administration from fighting corruption would suffer the consequences.

Buhari, who spoke in English and Hausa languages handed down the warning during the breaking of Ramadan fast, Iftar, he organised for some categories of people inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The President regretted that the elite were self-centred and were only thinking about themselves.

“Whoever deter us from fighting corruption will suffer the consequences. It is unfortunate that the elite are self-centred and they only think about themselves.

“Be assured that we care about you at all times. This government is concerned about your welfare and we will work hard to improve it,” Buhari told his guests that included the physically challenged, the Internally Displaced Persons, taxi drivers, commercial motorcycle riders, artisans such as butchers, hairdressers, barbers, tailors, members of the Buhari Support Organisation, President’s neighbours in Lobito Crescent, and junior workers in the headquarters of the All Progressives Congress.

The President said his government was conscious of the disadvantaged members of the public.

An IDP, Musbau Diti, who spoke on behalf of others, urged the President to do more to alleviate the sufferings of people in the different IDP camps across the country.

He also urged Buhari to set up a commission for persons with disabilities.

The dinner was preceded by a prayer session which Buhari attended with his guests before they broke their fast.

The President personally served some of the physically challenged persons before he returned to his seat to break his fast.

Buhari was joined at the dinner by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal; the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Muhammed Bello, and some presidential aides as well as top government officials among others.

Embattled President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, was absent at the event.

Saraki is said to have travelled to Saudi Arabia for the lesser Hajj.

He was however represented by the Senate’s Deputy Chief Whip, Senator Alimikhena Francis.

Hundred of street traders were on Monday arrested in different parts of Lagos metropolis by men of the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI), for hawking on the streets.

The State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, had last week Friday announced the enforcement of law banning street trading and hawking.

Ambode, who was speaking on a live TV interview, warned that the law stipulate six months jail term or N90,000 fine for offenders.

The governor said that the renewed enforcement is in line with Section One of the Lagos State Street Trading and Illegal Market Prohibition Law 2003 which restricts street trading and hawking in the metropolis.

Our reporter who went round the metropolis to monitor the enforcement reported that men of the KAI were picking up streets hawkers' for allegedly violating the law.

The traders were picked up in areas like Mariland, Oshodi, Ikeja, Ojota among other areas in the metropolis.

At the Ikeja railway line, our reporter observed as a woman was led into a waiting van.

Also at the Alausa office of KAI, our reporter saw many street traders who were arrested by men of the organization.

It would be recalled that riot broke out last week in Maryland following the killing of a hawker by an articulated vehicle.

Following the killing some buses under the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) scheme belonging to the state government were allegedly destroyed by hoodlums, who thought one of the buses killed the hawker.

According to the governor, 49 buses which worth N139 million, were destroyed by the hoodlums.

Crude prices edged up in Asia on Monday, building on recent gains with Brent holding above $50 after Nigerian militants claimed fresh attacks on the country’s oil infrastructure.

Prices see-sawed last week, plunging in the immediate aftermath of Britain’s shock decision to leave the European Union but rallying after central banks worldwide vowed support to financial markets.

At about 0630 GMT, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate was up 33 cents at $49.32, while Brent rose 35 cents to $50.70.

Analysts said trading would likely be light Monday owing to the Independence Day holiday in the United States.

The commodity rallied at the end of last week as news filtered through of an attack on a restaurant in Dhaka, which compounded worries about terrorism days after suicide bombers hit Istanbul airport.

On Sunday a Nigerian rebel group claimed five attacks on the country’s oil and gas infrastructure, threatening to scupper efforts to boost production.

The Niger Delta Avengers have been bombing pipelines in a bid to win the delta region a bigger share of crude revenue and political autonomy. The attacks have hit output from African largest oil producer.

“Supply disruptions in Nigeria are now becoming an ongoing issue,” Hong Sung Ki, a Seoul-based commodities analyst at Samsung Future, told Bloomberg News.
“Things look better one day and worse the next day.”

EY Services oil and gas analyst Sanjeev Gupta dealers were keeping an eye on the release Friday of US economic data, including on employment in the world’s top oil consuming nation.
AFP

lalasticlala

By Obinna Chima and Nume Ekeghe

Trading on the recently introduced Nigeria Interbank Foreign Exchange (NIFEX) has revealed huge volume of activities by both commercial and merchant banks with competition among the financial institutions heightening as they seek to satisfy their clients.

The returns on forex utilisation and source of funds (purchases) for the week ended June 24, 2016, which was published by banks last week, also showed that forex demand for the payment of school fees and other invisibles such as personal travel allowance (PTA) and business travel allowance (BTA), that used to be dominant activities, have all thinned out. On the other hand, dollar sales to customers for the importation of industrial raw materials and other visibles dominated activities.

Unlike the previous reporting format where banks were only expected to publish how the forex they purchased from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) are utilised, the new system requires the banks to publish all their forex sales to customers, other sources of funds as well as how those funds are utilised.

Forex consumption is a function of the volume of business a bank does, particularly with the larger corporates and manufacturing firms that use huge chunks of forex. The NIFEX showed the volume of forex traded by banks as they facilitate forex transactions for their clients and in turn make profit from the bid-ask spread.

The returns on forex utilisation and source of fund published by Zenith Bank Plc put the volume of its activities in the week under review at $391,435,283.88. The bank transacted forex business with a total of 1,045 customers during the week. Some of Zenith Bank’s biggest customers were Access Bank Plc -$1 million; Union Bank Plc -$2 million; Dangote Group, and Boulous Enterprises Limited, among others.

Also, Stanbic IBTC Limited put the volume of its activities in the week under review at $332,835,935. The bank transacted business on the NIFEX with a total of 642 customers. Its biggest customers included Prudent Energy Services Limited whom it sold about $14 million to; and Dangote Cement Plc about $26 million, among others.

For Union Bank Plc, the bank which purchased a total of $70,671,666.98 from the CBN, sold a total of $57,946,243 to its customers which in all were 260 (both corporate and individual).

Access Bank Plc’s returns put the volume of its transactions on the NIFEX last week at $657,128,853. The bank transacted business with a total of 934 customers who bought the greenback for the importation of pharmaceutical products, credit card payments, and for the importation of numerous industrial materials.

Similarly, while First City Monument Bank Plc (FCMB) bought a total of $87,693,240 from the central bank and other sources on the NIFEX, it sold $87,119,764 to its customers, majorly for the importation of industrial raw materials.

In the same vein, Diamond Bank Plc’s returns on forex utilisation showed that the bank sold a total of $67,717,460.85 to 451 customers. However, during the week, the bank purchased a total of $67,717,460 from the CBN, Union Bank and First Bank, among others.

Also, United Bank for Africa Plc’s (UBA) returns on forex utilisation put the volume of its forex activities at $406,871,338.03.
This is just as the volume of transactions executed by Fidelity Bank Plc was put at $244,513,202.34. The bank transacted business with 1,007 customers on the NIFEX.

Keystone Bank Limited also recorded a total of $9,156,730.32.

The merchant banks were not left out as the new forex structure also showed an increase in the volume of their activities in the market.

For instance, Rand Merchant Bank’s publication put the amount of forex it sold to its customers at $18,222,890, while it purchased a total of $18,222,890 from forex sources in the market.

Similarly, Coronation Merchant Bank sold $5,428,873 to its customers, just as its returns showed that it purchased $10,883,646 from the CBN and other sources in the market.

The Lagos State Police Command has alerted residents on the new antics of criminals, particularly at night, before carrying out their nefarious activities.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Dolapo Badmos, issued the alert in an interview on Sunday in Lagos, against the backdrop of recent robbery attacks on residents.

She said the criminals, in an attempt to rob or kidnap their victims, now engaged in switching off running power generating sets or turned on tap water, to lure them out.

Badmos, therefore, advised residents not to come out at night, if they noticed that taps within their compounds were opened or when their generators suddenly stopped working.

“Residents should be careful when they discover that their generators stop working or notice water gushing out from their taps, at night.

“They should watch carefully before going out. If they notice strange movements, they should call the nearest police station.

“This is why residents are advised to know the telephone numbers of the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) or station phone numbers close to them,’’ she said.

Speaking to some residents in Ikorodu, Egbeda, Iyana-Ipaja, Agbado Oke-Odo and Ikeja areas of the state, they shared their experiences of how criminals used the tricks to attack their homes.

Mr Tunji Ajayi, a victim and resident of Agbado/Oke-Odo LCDA, who narrated his experience, said the criminals made away with his generator set, after switching it off.

“When they could not gain access into my house, they became frustrated, they then decided to take away my generator.

“I left my generator on at night as usual, but at about 2 a.m, the generator suddenly went off.

“I took my time to observe what must have happened through the window before stepping out, but suddenly, I heard footsteps, so I decided to stay back.

“When the criminals realised that I was not coming out immediately, they decided to take away my generator,’’ he said.

Another victim, Mrs Adenike Okubanjo, a resident of Egbeda area, said she left her generator on with the intention of putting it off at about 10 p.m, but slept off.

“I later woke up at midnight after the generator had gone off, although I knew there was enough fuel to last till the morning.

“Even at that, I decided not to go out until morning, but only to be woken by a neighbor and informed that some armed robbers came into the compound.

“The neighbour told me how the robbers followed him into his house when he came out to check his generator, after it suddenly went off,’’ she said.

A resident of Iyana-Ipaja, who simply identified himself as Michael, also disclosed how he almost fell victim to the criminals’ tricks, but God saved him.

“Usually, I put on my generator set from 7.30 p.m to 11 p.m. on daily basis. I guess, these suspected criminals had been watching me.

“On this particular day, I was about going to put it off, when I heard footsteps.

“I decided to stay back, after which, the hoodlums started threatening me to open the door, but I refused and started to scream and they fled,’’ he said.

For Mr Pius Bamidele, a school teacher in Ikorodu, he said the criminals, after taking some of his valuables, also beat him up for not having enough cash on him.

Bamidele said the hoodlums gained entrance into his home after opening the tap in his compound.

“When I heard water coming out of the tap at about 1.30a.m, I wondered who could be fetching water and would have left the tap open at that time of the day.

“As soon as I came out, one the robbers pointed a gun at me and walked me into my apartment, where they made away with some of my property,’’ he added.

lalasticlala

By Chidi Obineche

THE intrigues and melodrama in the leadership tussle in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP is believably the most protracted and acerbic in the nearly two decades of the existence of the party. Hitherto, most crises in the party were resolved in record time, a situation that fuelled the notion of “family affair” allusion.

Although in 2005, about 21 state chapters of the party were embroiled in intractable feuds the party at the national level had been largely insulated from schisms and other forms of combustible confusions.
Several reasons have been adduced for this. Former national deputy chairman of the party, Chief Olabode George says “the harmony and cohesion was because the dreams of the founding fathers and their realization always diminished and foreshadowed whatever grievances there were. These dreams were noble and bordered on a party that must toe the path of honour to achieve growth, strength, stability, and lead the country unfettered.” A member of the Board of Trustees, BOT of the party corroborates him, but adds that “the vision of the party as the largest party in Africa was the abiding force.

We knew the evil effects of allowing too much trouble in the party. And don’t forget we were in power with very feeble opposition. So, when trouble came we faced it, and often we defeated it.”

A former minister of foreign affairs Alhaji Wali Aminu contends that there was an overriding passion by all and sundry in the party to focus on building the nation’s fledgling democracy. “The onus was on the party to deepen our democracy and leave behind a legacy in the sands of time. It was like an unwritten ethic, and this formed the vision with which the party ruled the country.” Aminu, further says even the spat the former president , Chief Olusegun Obasanjo had with his deputy, Atiku Abubakar was managed in such a way that it did not blow out of proportion until the latter left the party.

“ There were innate fears of an implosion that never came. Several people talked and wrote about an imminent implosion. But it never came to be, until we left power 16 years after.

They also spoke about the party being made up with strange bed fellows. In Nigeria, ideological parties have hardly made it. Ideology is an idealistic thing. People are more concerned with issues of survival; food, money.” he opines. Atiku in his treatise on democracy in his famous “The Atiku Interviews,” which were put in pamphlets, observed that the “ building blocks of democracy were embedded in the dreams and vision of the party”, and that deepening democracy in Nigeria required the collective efforts of all in and outside the party, to achieve.”

He romanticized the concept of democracy and averred that disagreements are common features of a civil society which invariably nurture and sustains democracy. So where did the party go completely off track?

Why is the once self-acclaimed largest party in Africa besieged with a feud of immense dimension that is threatening to tear it into shreds and perhaps route it out entirely?

How the rain began to beat the party

Since it lost power in the March 28 presidential elections, it has been behaving like a rain beaten chicken, lacking in ideas and cohesion. Initially, after overcoming the shock of its defeat, it tried to forge a semblance of unity. It issued statements suggestive of simulated courage. The high command of the party tried to commit itself to a recovery process, by driving courageously in hope, rekindling the embers of the lofty dreams of the founding fathers, and setting fresh attainment goals.

The clarion call was that the opposition party, the All Progressives Congress, APC which sent it packing would soon come to harm, and crash. The bugle was blown that APC came with a grand rainbow coalition which historically will not stand the test of time as they would as soon they test power turn against themselves like the fabled ‘ Ali Baba and the 30 thieves’.

They imagined that their conquerors lacked the wherewithal to put forward the best for the nation, and stay on course to further the interest of the people and deepen democracy the way they did in more than 16 years. To compound matters for the party its leading lights took a flight into reticent hibernation, afraid of their shadows and unwilling to comment on issues or provide a shade for the badly beaten and horrified members. While their leaders were in apparent hiding, opportunism, characteristic of Nigerian politics took hold of the party members. In droves, they oscillated into the APC.

So much were the defections that most members of the victorious party warned the party hierarchy to desist from receiving decampees from the PDP. Till date, there is no letup.

Enter the APC

In the ensuing melee to remain focused and retake power in 2019, classical mistakes have been made. Afraid that the growing clampdown on leaders of the party by the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the sudden loss of voice and esteem within the public space may have provided a ready arsenal for the final vanquishing of the party ahead of the 2019 general elections, Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, and his Ekiti State counterpart, Ayodele Fayose contrived a scheme in conjunction with a few others to foist former Borno State governor, Ali Modu Sheriff on the party as national chairman.

The plot was to use him to complete the tenure of the former national chairman Adamu Muazu, who was forced out after the defeat in the elections. The former deputy national chairman Uche Secondus who held sway for months after Muazu’s exit came under a fusillade of verbal and legal onslaughts by some leaders of the party from the North-east who contended that the slot he occupied belonged to the North-east. Secondus is from the South-south, while both Adamu, and Sheriff are from the North-east.

As opposition to Sheriff mounted within the party as he mounted the seat, reprieve came when a consensus was reached to limit him to a three months tenure, within which he would organize a convention and step down. That was a costly misstep. Sheriff went to work, disbanded critical organs of the party, reorganized the subsisting zoning formulae and, effectively shifted the office of national chairman to his North-east zone.

Things moved fast rancorously with many people alleging foul play and accusing the ruling APC of seizing the opportunity provided by the crises to plant Sheriff, and ultimately destroy it. Former presidential adviser on inter – party relations who is now the Secretary of the caretaker committee, Chief Ben Obi, in the heat brouhaha told Sunday Sun
that “We know whose hand is in this. The APC is using him to cause problems and kill our party. We will not allow that to happen.”

Things came to a screeching head at the Port Harcourt convention of the party organized by Sheriff last month when a well-oiled coup sent him packing. A caretaker committee headed by former Kaduna state governor, Senator Ahmed Makarfi. Sheriff, who unsuccessfully tried to postpone the convention stormed out, and has since deployed all forms of theatrics and legal fireworks to take back the position. At the last count there at least 11 court cases pending in courts in Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt on the issue.

The former Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase had brokered several peace meetings to no avail. Supporters of both factions had severally camped out at the Wadata plaza national secretariat of the party, itching to occupy it. Despite the allegations of meddlesomeness, the APC as a party has yet to react to react to it. Last Wednesday, a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Apo, Abuja sacked Sheriff . The court held that Sheriff’s ascension to office was unlawful as it was based on amended provision of the PDP constitution illegally introduced in December 2014.

Though it did not specifically mention Sheriff’s name, it made an order restraining all persons who became national officers of the party by virtue of the amended article 47, rule 6 of the party’s constitution from further parading themselves in the said capacities (national officers).

Sheriff has since dismissed the judgment, while Markafi’s group expectedly hailed it.

The judgment has opened a fresh vista in the leadership tussle in the party, Obi in an interview with journalists said: “We expect more positive court rulings in the days ahead in favour of our party. It is time for them to face the truth and retrace their steps. We believe that truth must be upheld; we want all hands to be on deck to chart the way forward.”

A quick glance at the prevailing fracas cannot give much hope of a quick resolution. The two contending factions are digging in, and baring more fangs. The once vibrant party is at the crossroads, lying prostrate and not knowing which way to go.

Is this the final death blow? Will the party rise again from this ash of despair and confusion.? The days ahead will tell.

A team of Operation Burst comprising operatives from the Nigerian Army, Department of State Services and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has arrested the suspended chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Saki inter- state branch, Alhaji Kazeem Aderibigbe popularly known as Kazeem Iwo, over an alleged illegal possession of arms, ammunition and weeds suspected to be marijuana.

Sunday Tribune learnt that the NURTW chairman was arrested at about 2:00a.m. on Saturday at his residence, Challenge Area, Saki, alongside his personal guard, Mr. Akeem Kolapo a.k.a. Stainless, his night guard, Mr. Nasiru Oyebisi and the NURTW Ajegunle motor park cleaner, Mr. Ibrahim Olubuse.

Items recovered from Aderibigbe’s residence included one single barrel gun, a locally-made pistol, a cutlass, cartridges, wraps of marijuana, a number of syringes and needles, as well as a military cardigan and a police camouflage uniform.

Parading the suspects before newsmen at Operation Burst’s office along Oje-Owode road, Saki, the Commanding Officer of 244 Recce Battalion, Asabari Barracks, Saki, Major Ibrahim Mohammed, said that the operation was as a result of intelligence reports received that the Kazeem Iwo led-faction of NURTW was threatening to cause mayhem in Saki following his removal by the local government security committee headed by the council chairman, Mr Kareem Kasali Adegoke.

It was gathered that the suspects had been taken to Operation Burst’s headquarters in Ibadan for further investigation.

Sunday Tribune’s findings revealed that the local government had asked Aderibigbe to move the NURTW’s motor park from Ajegunle area to another place allocated to it, but he had refused to do so, leading to the take-over of the new park by another faction of the union.

lalasticlala

Below is the full text of the judgment of the president of the Martial Court on the matter, exclusively made available to PREMIUM TIMES:

Brigadier General Raji:

“ This Honourable court as composed has listened to all parties in the matter, including the addresses by the counsels on both sides. The court is therefore well acquainted with the facts to enable it arrive at the decision of the learned judge advocates. It is my privileged to announce the decisions of the court in this matter.
“Count-1:- The Accused is charged with having sexual relations with the service personnel spouse, punishable under section 79 of the Armed Forces Act. CAP A20 Law of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

The issue for determination:
This honourable court is required to determine whether the accused has committed the offence by having sexual relations with a service personnel spouse.

The court finds in the affirmative; the accused confessed to the offence in the presence of witnesses.

Decision:- The court therefore finds the accused guilty Count One as charged.
“Count-2:- The accused is charged with the disgraceful conduct of an indecent nature punishable under section 93 of the Armed Forces Act, CAP A 20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004

The Issues for Determination: This honourable court is required to determine whether the accused has committed the offence of disgraceful conduct of an indecent nature. The particulars of the offence were by the accused being the unit Regimental Medical Officer, committed an act of gross indecency with his patient –
Prosecution witness 2 – by fingering of her vagina under the pretext of conducting medical examination without the presence of a chaperon. In our opinion, the prosecution failed to proof that the vaginal examination was a pretext for fingering the patient and not the necessary procedure in the treatment of pelvic inflammatory disease. He could have verified this by seeking the opinion of an independent medical practitioner. If the prosecutor has been able to prove that the vaginal examination was a pretext of fingering the prosecution witness-2, they might have been able to sustain a charge of disgraceful conduct of an indecent nature.

“In the opinion of this honourable court, the prosecutor was only able to prove that the accused person conducted a vaginal examination on a patient of opposite sex in the absence of a chaperon. Conducting an intrusive procedure such as vaginal examination in the absence of a chaperon contravenes the code of ethics of the medical and dental council of Nigeria under the rules of professional conducts for medical and dental profession.

“We conclude there that the accused acted unethically. The matter should be referred to the Nigeria Medical Association.

However, by contravening the ethics of his profession, the accused person acted in a manner unbecoming of a gentleman capable of bringing the Nigeria Army into disrepute. He conducted himself in a manner prejudicial to good order and service discipline; and therefore contravened section 103 of the Armed Forces Act. The court therefore invoked section 142 of the Armed Forces Act, finds the accused person guilty of the alternate offence of misconduct of prejudice to the service discipline.

“At this point, before sentence is passed, we will like to hear mitigations on behalf of the accused, if any.”

In a move to help the accused get a soft landing, his lawyer Major Femi Oyebanji (rtd) presented his somehow impressive Record of Service that was obtained from the office of the military secretary, Army, to help mitigate the already known punishment for his conviction.

“Here is a brief of Lieutenant MM Bature, N/14543”, said Major Oyebanji. “Lieutenant Musa Mustapha Bature was born on 21 May, 1977 at Yawuri, and hails from Yawuri local government area of Kebbi state. He was granted a direct short service commission on 10 August, 2012 on the rank of Lieutenant, with seniority on the same rank on 10 August 2012. He is of the medical corp, Courses attended: Nil.

He holds a bachelor of medicine and bachelor of surgery.

Summary of Course report: Nil.

Promotion history: Nil

Appointments held within the periods he has served:
– RMO 81 Battalion

– RMO 19 Battalion

– He was posted to HQ 2 Div for Jurisdiction on 18 April 2016.

“Command Experience:- As RMO 19 Battalion he was described as a calm and articulate officer who was noted to have good grasp of service knowledge and unit regimentation. He was said to have rehabilitated some wards that were said to have been in bad state in the unit MRS. He was noted to have conducted series of lectures and enlightenment programmes on scourge of Ebola virus disease. He was observed to have paid much attention to the troops health conditions and issues of public health and sanitation were properly addressed. He was also reported to have ensured proper functionality of the MRS by making drugs available for personnels and their families. He was commended for his community service by extending medical services to the local populace whenever authorised and this gesture was seen to have improved the unit’s civil-military relations.

“Operational Experience:- As RMO LIbat One… he was said to have set up a medical station for the unit and properly managed all health related cases brought before him.

He was noted to have establish contact with the SHQ medical cell and was able to take series of assistance to the troops, especially for referral cases. In the mission area, he was reported to have organised periodic fumigation of the unit locality. He was noted for carrying out free bi-weekly consultancy services for the locals and host communities to foster civil-military cooperation in the unit’s AOR. He was remarked to have been appreciated by the local communities.

“Disciplinary Records:- He was posted to 2 Div for jurisdiction on allegation of sexual related offences.
“Miscellaneous: He is married and blessed with a child. He enjoys reading and watching movies.

The defence counsel further pleaded with the president of court to give the convicted officer a lesser or no punishment at all as he argued that his sack may permanently affect his future career.

A Nigerian Army court-martial on Wednesday dismissed a Regimental Medical Doctor after he was found guilty of having sex with his fellow officer’s wife, military officials have told PREMIUM TIMES.

The court slammed a two-count charge of illicit sexual relationship and unprofessional conduct on Lieutenant Musa Mustapha Bature, and accused him of taking advantage of a colleague’s wife who was supposed to be his patient.

The court-martial sat at the Adekunle Fajuyi Cantonment of the 2 Division, Ojo, Ibadan in Oyo State.

The 38-year old officer, whose fate would be finally decided by a military council, which statutorily ratifies such sentences, reportedly confessed to the crime, and pleaded with military authorities to give him corrective punishment rather than a terminal one, PREMIUM TIMES was told.

Sources familiar with the trial said the accused, a native of Kebbi State, had a notorious history of sexual indiscipline in his four years of service. His conduct was recently brought to the attention of the army authority.

The doctor’s offence, namely indecent professional misconduct and having sex with a fellow soldier’s wife, contravene Sections 79 and 93 of the Armed Forces Act CAP A20, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. The law prescribes jail term and dismissal from service with dishonour.

Delivering his judgement, the President of the Court Martial, Brigadier General Raji, who is also the Commander of 52 Division Signals, said the court opted for a lesser sentence of dismissing the doctor because the convict was a young officer who got commissioned into the Nigeria Army only in 2012.

He said in his sentence: “Given the level of treachery and the betrayal of trust you displayed by having sexual relation with your colleague’s wife, the court is tempted to award you a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The Court has however looked that you were only commissioned to the Nigerian Army in 2012, you may therefore not be well grounded in the traditions of the Nigerian Army.

Ignorance, however, does not excuse your despicable behaviour. So therefore, the court sentences you as follows:-
“On Count 1, dismissal with disgrace and dishonour. On Count 2, dismissal from the armed forces.

“Note that these sentences are subject to confirmation by the Army Council and the sentences are to run concurrently.”

According to revelations made during the court-martial, the officer’s last sexual escapade involved the wife of a fellow officer whom he took advantage of when she visited his clinic for consultation on a gynaecological case.

Officials said after seeing the newly-married woman from Yobe State, whose identity they asked should be protected, the doctor insisted on conducting a more detailed examination of her.

Our sources say the young doctor disregarded prescribed medical ethics requiring that such examination be carried out in the presence of a chaperon.

The officer’s wife served as one of the prosecution witnesses in the case. In her testimony, according to details obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, the woman gave a detailed account of how the doctor sexually stimulated her before they had sex in the man’s office.

She told the court that the doctor later invited her in the evening of the same day to his house so she could pick an ointment he earlier prescribed for her treatment. There, they engaged in another round of intercourse, she narrated.

The young woman said she reported to the barrack’s chaplain after becoming crushed by the weight of her guilt.

The suspect in his statement said that he made a big mistake by taking over the business of his late wife. "I am an evangelist living in Durban South Africa. My late wife was into drug trafficking before she died a few years ago. I made a mistake venturing into her business.

Ifeanyi Onuba,Abuja

The Federal Government in a bid to reposition the entertainment industry has inaugurated a committee to review and restructure the N3bn project Nollywood grant.

The fund was set up to solve the main challenges impeding the growth of the Nigerian movie industry.

So far, the federal government through the project has implemented specialist training programmes in Nigeria and abroad in which 247 practitioners have been trained to improve their technical and professional capacities in the entertainment industry.

Also, a total of 113 film projects, employing 2,436 people, have been co-financed through grants from the fund at the cost of N799m, while an Innovative Film Distribution Programme has been designed to support viable solutions in film distribution and the prevention of privacy.

The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, while inaugurating the committee on Friday in Abuja during a meeting convened to brainstorm on how to address the challenges of the sector said time had come for investors in the sector to start getting returns on their investment.

She said the desire to reposition and restructure the fund was borne out of the need to stimulate investments in the entertainment industry owing to its job creation potentials.

She said, “This grant program was conceived to support the industry and its a reflection of the importance of the entertainment industry on the Nigerian economy.

“What we ve come here to do is to look at the outstanding parts of the program as yet unimplemented, to review them to ensure that they are still appropriate where the industry is today and where our objectives lie for the industry.

“We want to ensure sustainability. We don’t want to give out money to Nollywood. N3bn is not enough if we are going to give out money. What we need to do is to find a sustainable way to support Nollywood.

“We will be inaugurating a committee to review the program, restructure it if necessary and to come up with an implementation plan with measurable and demonstrable deliverables and outcomes so that we ensure that we get maximum value for the industry and for the Nigerian people.”

The minister challenged operators in the sector to be more firm in tackling the issue of piracy adding that most of the people who had worked hard to come up with creative movie don’t get to benefit from their investments owing to piracy.

She added, “We need to improve distribution to ensure that the investments to make a film actually get the desired return.

“What do we do about piracy. How can we make this fund to make sure that we cut down the opportunities for those who simply sit back and wait for others to invest and then cream off the profit.”

Present at the workshop are representatives of the key stakeholders in the Nigerian Film industry, such as the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, the leadership of Nollywood, the Actors Guild, Film and Videos Censors Board, the Nigerian Film Corporation and the Nigerian Copyright Commission.

youngest85:
pictures or.....

Senators this afternoon walked out President Muhammadu Buhari’s Adviser on prosecution, Chief Okoi Obono Obla, who represented the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Mallami, during a hearing on the Senate Rules forgery case.

The Senate had penultimate Tuesday summoned Mallami over the forgery suit following a motion sponsored by Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi West).

Obla, who is attached to the Ministry of Justice, represented Mallami, but the
Chairman of senate committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator David Umaru, asked him to leave, saying, "we invited the AGF not you, so please excuse."

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, outgoing Clerk to the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa and the Deputy Clerk, Ben Efeturi, are being tried at the FCT High Court.

Samson Folarin

a Lebanese and bureau de change operator, Aly Sayad, has been accused of absconding with $487,700 (about N170m) in the Victoria Island area of Lagos State.

It was learnt that three businessmen had approached the suspect in his office on Idowu Taylor Street, Victoria Island, to help them change $487,700 to naira.

He was alleged to have left the men in the office after collecting the money, saying he was going to the bank to transfer the naira equivalent to their various bank accounts.

After waiting for hours, the victims were said to have gone to the bank where Sayad claimed he was going to do the transaction, but could not find him.

He was alleged to have fled with the money.
The case was reported at the Bar Beach Police Division, where a manhunt was launched for the suspect.

A police source told PUNCH Metro that the incident happened on Tuesday, adding that the complainants approached the police after searching for Sayad for seven hours.

He said, “The three men actually met at the Lebanese man’s office where they gave him money totalling $487,700 which they wanted to change to naira. He told them to wait for him that he would be going to the bank to deposit the dollars and transfer the naira equivalent into their bank accounts.

“The three businessmen waited until banking hours were almost over. They decided to go and check him around 3pm, but they didn’t find him in the bank. After checking at other places without result, they reported the matter to the police.”

The Police Public Relations Officer, Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the incident, adding that nobody knew the address of the suspect.

Badmos, a Superintendent of Police, said, “We are on his trail. The unfortunate thing is that nobody knows his address. We have transferred the matter to the State Department of Criminal Investigation, Yaba, for further investigation. We will surely get him.”

Afeez Hanafi

the corpse of a policeman, Sergeant Godspower Okoro, has been deposited at the Mainland General Hospital, Lagos State, for an autopsy to unravel the cause of his death.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Okoro, who was attached to the Alausa Police Division, was found dead in his rented apartment on Baale Street, Ojodu Berger, around 8am on Sunday.

It was gathered that the policeman had returned from duty around 7pm on Friday, reportedly drunk and did not go out until he was discovered dead two days later by his girlfriend.

The girlfriend, who had allegedly complained about his bad drinking habit, reportedly planned to take him to a church that morning.

Most residents were afraid to speak about the incident when our correspondent visited the residence on Tuesday.

However, the landlord’s wife, who identified herself simply as Iya Nimota, said she last saw Okoro around 7pm on Friday when he returned from work.

The woman, who spoke in Yoruba, said except for being drunk most times, the deceased was jovial and peaceful.

She added that Okoro and his girlfriend, whose name had yet to be ascertained, had a misunderstanding on Friday after he was allegedly drunk.

She said, “I don’t know what caused his death but I know he drank a lot. When he returned from work that Friday, he was drunk. I saw him when he arrived.

“He was supposed to go for a morning duty on Saturday but I learnt he called his superior that he was weak and would not be able to go. It was his girlfriend who came on Sunday that found him dead. She raised the alarm and called for help.

“She said she had a disagreement with him on Friday when they met in Alausa because he was tipsy. She said she wanted to take him to a church for prayers on Sunday when she saw his corpse.

“My husband went to report at the Ojodu Police Station and some policemen came to remove his corpse. Nobody was arrested. He was friendly. Heavy drinking was his major problem.”

Another resident, who did not want his name in print, said the policeman had been cautioned several times to reduce his drinking to no avail.

“He was drunk on that Friday. He fell on the street when he was about to reach home and some people lifted him up. They wanted to take him home, but he refused.

“When he initially moved in here four years ago, he was not drinking. His friends cautioned him to reduce his drinking habit. If he had a wife, probably he would have changed,” he added.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed Okoro’s death, adding that a postmortem would be carried out on his body to ascertain the cause of his death.

She said, “At about 10am on Sunday, Sergeant Godspower Okoro attached to the Alausa division was found dead in his room on Baale Street. Detectives from the Ojodu divison visited, examined and photographed the scene. No mark of violence was found on the body.

“The corpse was removed and deposited at the Mainland General Hospital for autopsy.”

lalasticlala

The Presidency has left the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) to determine Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai’s fate, following the outcry over his $1.5 million Dubai property.

PRNigeria, the military under-cover media machinery, yesterday said the government investigated and cleared Lt.-Gen. Buratai over his assets.

Although the platform was silent on whether it was the Ministry of Defence or the DHQ that cleared Gen. Buratai, it said the nature of his offshore investments was based on capital market principles of shareholding.

Gen. Buratai has been under attack for allegedly buying two property in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The property are allegedly owned by the top soldier and his two wives.
A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The Presidency has asked the Defence Headquarters to handle issues on some assets traced to Lt.-Gen. Buratai and his wives in the UAE.

“The DHQ will determine his fate on whether or not he has violated any law and if he has to be sanctioned or not.

“Whatever the DHQ’s findings will be forwarded to the commander-in-chief. Let the military conduct its findings in line with its rules and regulations.”

But, according to PRNigeria, the government looked into the allegations against Buratai and cleared him of any fraudulent deal.

It said the discreet probe of Buratai indicated that he and his wives only bought shares in some companies instead of wholly owning the property
The PRNigeria said: “The capital market principle that governed the property in issue, as it was found by investigators, was akin to having shares in companies instead of wholly owning the property.

“The government, after investigating a recent media report over the acquisition of propertiys in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) by General Buratai, discovered that he and his wives invested as “shareholders” like many other persons in the property mentioned in the publications and were not the sole owners.”

Chief of Army Staff Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai has described those accusing him of corrupt enrichment as cyberspace terrorists.

He said he would defeat them like he did Boko Haram terrorists.
The military chief spoke with reporters in Abuja yesterday.

Gen. Buratai said: “I am not supposed to comment on this, but for clarity sake, my take on the issue is that we have already defeated the terrorists on land, and they have migrated to the cyberspace and Internet, but I want to assure the Boko Haram that have migrated to the cyberspace, that we would follow them to the cyberspace and defeat them.”

He said he was not deterred by “the campaign of calumny against” him and his office. He advised the media to always put national interest above personal issues.

On the Chibok girls, the COAS said: “You have been told that two of the Chibok girls have been rescued. The most important thing is that those who have been rescued were all abducted from Chibok, either in school or not. I know as it is now, the issue of the Chibok girls has been politicised, and we are not deterred by this politicisation of this issue. Our own task is professional, and we are working hard to ensure that we rescue the girls wherever they may be.

Anybody who we rescued is as important as the Chibok girls. We are gathering more information on where these girls are; they may have been scattered, or are in one place. Our aim is to ensure they are rescued, and every other person that is held hostage is rescued. We are still searching for them, and if they are alive, we will rescue them.”

The Army chief added that no part of the country is under the control of the terrorists.
“When we say that the terrorists have been defeated and they are not holding any territory, have they come out to say that they holding any territory? None of them will claim they are holding any territory.

Secondly, if you see the landscape of the Northeast, it is large. Many people are scattered in many communities, and they prefer to stay in their communities. Some of them are being terrorised in their locations because they prefer to stay in their communities. These terrorists would come at night to terrorise them, and go away.

Gen. Buratai said due process was followed in the retirement of officers of the Army. He hailed some of them that have decided to go to court, and said the Army would meet them in court.

He said the military would remain apolitical, and not allow the recent statement on coup lie low, as anyone trying to destabilise the democracy would be making a mistake.

By Emma Amaize

WARRI- FORMER militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, complained to President Muhammadu Buhari, Tuesday, that the military had not returned his symbol of authority as the chief priest of Egbesu Shrine, Oporoza, Gbaramatu Kingdom, removed from the traditional temple about a month ago.

Tompolo in an open letter to the President said that the incident occurred about 31 days ago when soldiers invaded Oporoza in his absence in search of him on allegation that he was behind the bombing of oil facilities in the region.

Besides the abomination, he said they also placed the traditional ruler of Gbaramatu kingdom under house arrest for one week.

He asserted: “As I said in my previous publications, the military made away with the symbol of authority of the Gbaramatu people from the Egbesu Shrine, which I am the Chief Priest. They also made away with other valuables worth several millions of naira from the community.”

“The most annoying one is the purported arrest of 10 young promising men, most of whom are orphans, who are secondary school students sitting for the West African Senior Secondary School Examinations (WASSCE) and other palace staff, and labeled them as members of the Niger Delta Avengers.

“As I write you now, these innocent young promising men are still with your military for no reason. This is truly man’s inhumanity to man in our own country. We are presently being treated like conquered people because of crude oil,” he said.

He appealed to the President “to please kindly direct your army to return the looted items, including the symbol of authority, and also release those innocent young men to continue their academic programme, even though they have missed the WASSCE for this year.”

“Mr President, remember, there is no condition that is permanent. I have kept faith in this country. I have contributed in no small measure to the development of this country. It is my prayer that God Almighty should preserve me and meet you again to tell you my side of the numerous stories you have been inundated about me,” Tompolo said.

He added: “This was how they arrested Chevron Nigeria Limited Staff on routine duty in Kokodiagbene community of Gbaramatu kingdom, and labeled them members of Niger Delta Avengers. It took spirited effort by leaders of the kingdom and other well -meaning Nigerians to convince the military, that the arrested men were not involved in pipeline destruction.”

His words: “Mr President Sir, please permit me to quickly recall a similar incident that occurred in May, 2009, when this same military invaded several communities in Gbaramatu kingdom, under the command of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

Traditional worship centres were desecrated, properties were looted and above all, the multi-billion naira ultra-modern magnificent palace of the Pere of Gbaramatu kingdom was burned down, and his golden crown was stolen by the military.
“

Tompolo went on: “As peace loving people, the kingdom approached the courts and demanded compensation for the unlawful invasion and destruction of property, in which the court awarded 99 billion naira in favour of Gbaramatu kingdom. After seven years of that sad incident, the Federal Government is yet to pay the compensation.”

He added: “This incident also led to the declaration of the Presidential Amnesty programme for peace to reign, as the government found out that military action is not the best way to address the Niger Delta question and the rest become a history in the life of those who led that invasion. I believe Mr President should learn a lesson from the 2009 military invasion and do the needful.”

“Your Excellency Sir, as they say, wonders shall never end, I am still in a great shock as the only developmental project, Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, established by the previous administration in 2014 in the coastal area of the Niger Delta region to meet the yearnings and the aspiration of the people, is yet to commence academic session. Even though all is set for University’s take off,” he said.

Investors in the country’s capital market recorded a loss of N278bn on Monday as concerns that the market might plummet due to the decision of Britain to leave the European Union heightened.

Some traders said there was the worry that the Brexit might slow foreign interest in the market.

The Nigerian Stock Exchange market capitalisation on Monday dropped to N10.248tn from N10.526tn, while the All-Share Index also declined to 29,840.23 basis points from 30,649.66 basis points recorded on Friday.

A total of 40 stocks recorded losses, while 16 made the gainers’ chart.
The market recorded a turnover of N4.027bn from 375.221 million shares traded in 4,229 deals.

United Capital Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Forte Oil Plc and Seplat Petroleum Development Company Limited were the top five losers on the chart.

United Capital’s share dropped by N0.22 (7.94 per cent) to close at N2.32 from N2.52, while that of Zenith Bank lost N1.04 (6.12 per cent) to close at N15.96 from N17.
Stanbic IBTC also closed at N16.15 from N17, losing N0.85 (five per cent), while Forte Oil posted a decline of N10 (five per cent) to close at N190 from N200.

The share price of Seplat Petroleum fell to N331.60 from N348.97, losing N17.37 (4.98 per cent).

Other losers were Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, Oando Plc, Ikeja Hotels Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, Flour Mills Nigeria Plc, AG Leventis Nigeria Plc, Sterling Bank Plc and Unity Bank Plc, among others.

Analysts said the stocks began the week on a negative footing as sell-offs across board prevailed. Asian markets shrugged off Friday’s global sell-off, while the European markets slid further as investors continued to weigh the impact of Britain’s decision. United States futures pointed to a lower open.

The NSE ASI and NSE 30 lost 2.63 per cent and 2.43 per cent, putting year-to-date returns at +4.19 per cent and +3.24 per cent, respectively.

The value of transactions was above May averages by 70 per cent, while the volume of transactions was below May averages by five per cent.

Fidson Healthcare Plc, Julius Berger Plc and GlaxoSmithkline Consumer Plc led the gainers chart, advancing by 9.91 per cent, five per cent and 4.97 per cent, respectively.

On Monday’s trading result, analysts at Vetiva Capital Management Limited said in the firm’s daily report, “Although we note the impact of broader downbeat global market sentiment, we believe today’s losses were largely fuelled by profit-taking across a handful of large cap stocks following the strength of the gains recorded in recent sessions. We think there’s still some room for profit-taking, and thus see a likelihood for another negative close in the session ahead.”