₦airaland Forum

Etim Ekpimah

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested a 15-year-old girl from Mbiaya, in the Uruan Local Government Area of the state for concealing a locally-made pistol that belonged to her boyfriend, Mr. Ofonime Eton, 23.

The teenager, who is a student of Itam Secondary School, in Itu, was said to have concealed the firearm in her handbag when the police intercepted a tricycle she and her boyfriend boarded.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Murtala Mani, said during a press conference in Uyo on Wednesday that when the teenager discovered that the police team on duty was about stopping the tricycle for a search, he quickly passed the gun to the teenager, who concealed it in her bag.

When asked how she came about the firearm, the girl stated that they were returning from a vigil on November 6 when the police came around their tricycle, seized the gun and arrested them. She revealed that her boyfriend was a cultist but she had not seen him with a gun before that fateful day.

“We were on our way back home from a vigil which a friend invited us to. When he (Eton) saw the police, he passed the gun to me; I collected it. So, when the police came, they collected the gun from me and arrested both of us,” she confessed.

On his own part, Eton said he finished secondary school last year. The 23-year-old said he was a member of a cult known as KK.

He said, “My girlfriend was not aware that I was carrying a gun. I was wearing a pullover and when we were coming back in the morning, she was feeling cold so I decided to give her the pullover and the gun was inside the pullover.”

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Cordelia Nwawe, also said two ladies were arrested for being in possession of hemp.

She said the two ladies were those who actually helped their brother, Anietie Simon, now at large, to sell and move the cannabis to customers.

One of the suspects, Miss Ono Simon, 18, from Idedep in the Ibiono Ibom LGA, who graduated from secondary school last year, said neither she nor her elder sister, Blessing Simon, had been involved in the illicit trade.

She said it was her elder brother, Anietie, who owned the illicit drug.

According to her, Anietie, who rented the house in which they lived, came in when they were not around and dropped the hemp in a sack where Blessing’s dirty clothes were kept.

By Esther Onyegbula
A 28-year-old suspected cultist who was arrested along side four others in Oshodi area of Lagos, has revealed how he was able to evade police arrest after they (police) invaded their hide out. They visibly disturbed, suspected cultist said he had to scale a fence to escape from the hot zone.

According to the father of two who identified himself as Rasheed Oseni, “I have been living on the streets for three weeks. It was when I heard gunshots that I scaled the church fence. I removed all my clothes and laid down beside a man inside the church.

I was arrested inside a church after I jumped the fence to evade police arrest that night. I live on the streets because I don’t have accommodation.”
Crime Alert learned that operatives of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department,SCIID Panti, Yaba, made a break through following the arrest of five notorious cultists in Oshodi area of the state. Their arrest, according to reports, came after the gang unleashed mayhem in Oshodi while attacking a rival cult group; an ugly trend that has assumed a frightening dimension in recent times.

According to Police sources, the cultists were arrested by the Police in different parts of Oshodi with charms, cutlasses, and a military emblem which they used during their operations. Crime Alert gathered that while Rasheed Oseni scaled through a church fence to evade arrest, another suspect, Yulsuf Ganiyu, who had machete wounds in different parts of his body reportedly jumped into a canal when police officers were searching for him.
Suspects account: In his defense, 28-year-old Yusuf Ganiyu, who had machete wounds on his feet and hands told Crime Alert that he was sleeping when he heard sounds of gunshots. “I was sleeping at Olayia Street at Mafoluku area of Oshodi when I began to hear sounds of gunshots.

Motorcycle accident
When the officers came to my house, they didn’t see me because I had escaped. I jumped into a canal to escape their arrest but I had to come out when they attempted to impound my motorbike. I started smoking Indian hemp last year.” Yusuf said he sustained the wounds on his feet and hands via a motorcycle accident.

Denying the allegation, another suspect, Uzoma Nwampa, 23, who was among the gang that attacked police officers with broken bottles said; “ I am from Abia state. I am a Bricklayer. I live at Abayomi Street, Oshodi. I was arrested on October 26 at about 2am. I wasn’t feeling too well so, I took drugs and slept in the shop. It was when I was sleeping that I was arrested.”
Another suspect, Monsuru Adegbesan, 39,said; “ I am a meat seller and an Okada rider. I sell at Ogunolokon market. I don’t have a house. I sleep on top of my bike at night because I don’t want them to steal my motorbike. I had a deflated tire, that was why I didn’t work that evening. I didn’t know that cultists have been fighting since morning.”

In his own account, Tope Adeymi, 25,said; “I am a conductor. I live at Ijoko area of Ogun State. I have a six month old baby. I have been a conductor for two years. But I have not been able to raise money to get an apartment in Lagos. Usually after working, I go back to Ogun State.”

lalasticlala

A 68-year-old man from Ibam Edet Community in Ini Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, identified simply as Ete Ibam , has allegedly lost his life mysteriously, few weeks after raping his sister's daughter.

According to those in the know, Ete Ibam who lived with his family in the Ori-Oke area of Ogudu, Lagos State, died on Thursday, November 5, just hours after he was taken back to the village after all medical treatment and tests could not decipher what the problem was with him.

A member of the Ibam Edet Social Club in Ogudu narrated how Ete Ibam met his death to Pulse.

"Ete Ibam's death is really a mystery but he led himself to such a gory death. What actually happened stemmed from the fact that he raped his sister's 18 year-old daughter and the girl laid a curse on him.

The mother of the girl lives in Ikorodu but the girl decided to leave home and go to Ogudu to live with her uncle.

According to the girl, on the night of the incident, she was sleeping in the room when her uncle forcefully had sex with her while holding a knife to her throat.

The girl then went naked and poured curses on him and not up to a month, Ete Ibam fell sick.

He started drying up and we took him to many hospitals but nothing was detected. It was at a church that a prophet said it was the curse the girl laid on him and she was told to remove the curse which she did.

People from the village who heard what he had done, told him to come home and appease the gods but he refused until the sickness became worse and he was taken home but immediately he stepped into his father's compound, he slumped and died."

lalasticlala

Olaleye Aluko
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested four lecturers of the Lagos City Polytechnic, Ikeja for their alleged involvement in examination malpractice in the institution.

Our correspondent learnt that the State Department of Criminal Investigation, Yaba, arrested the lecturers last Thursday and detained them for about three days before releasing them on bail.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Joe Offor, a deputy superintendent, who confirmed the arrest, noted that the police only released the lecturers on bail, as investigation into the matter was still ongoing.

Offor also did not disclose the names of the suspects.
He added that the registrar of the institution had brought the matter to the attention of the police.

He said, “The registrar of the school reported the case against them. The allegations preferred against them bordered on forgery, theft and manipulation of examination results. Our men at SDCI arrested and detained them at Yaba. Based on issues arising from our findings, the police decided to release them on bail. Meanwhile, we are still investigating the matter.”

A reliable police source told our correspondent that the lecturers were accused of falsifying the results of a student of the institution who had relocated overseas.

The source added that the action of the lecturers elicited a protest from other students.
The source said, “A student of the institution, who travelled out of the country and was unavailable for exams, was said to have made a distinction in the school, while other students had average grades. This led to a protest among the students, and it got to the ears of the management.

“The management then reported the matter to the police, and the concerned lecturers were arrested.”
When our correspondent visited the polytechnic on Monday, the security official at the reception said the rector was unavailable for comment.

The official added that the school authorities would get across to our correspondent on the matter through a phone call.
He said, “The rector is in a management meeting. He is the only one who can talk to you on the matter. You can drop your contact. He will get back to you after the meeting.”

Meanwhile, as of the time of filing in this report, by 6pm on Monday, the rector had not called our correspondent.
One of the students, who identified himself simply as Femi, noted that the arrest of the lecturers’ was the issue at stake in the institution for some days now.

Cyriacus Izuekwe
A 46 -year old man, Dayo Akala has been arrested and charged before Isolo magistrate ’s court for allegedly defrauding his late friend , Obiora Samuel in Lagos State western Nigeria .

The incident happened at 96 Adeshina street , Ijeshatedo , Lagos where both reside and met .

According to police , Akala allegedly deceived and obtained four vehicles , two Toyota Camry cars , Toyota Sequire and Sienna bus from his friend , late Obiora Samuel with the false pretence of assisting him to sell them.

The landing cost of those items is estimated at N 3 million.

Obiora obliged him as a way of assisting him and handed the vehicles to him without the original papers following an arrangement that if he gets a buyer , he would release the paper to him for sale .
However , few weeks after the transaction, Obiora suddenly died .

After his demise, Akala cashed in on his death and forged the vehicle documents, sold them and escaped .

Unknown to him , the late Obiora duly informed his wife of the transaction before he died and gave her the original documents of those vehicles .

After the burial , the wife went to Akala to know whether he had sold any of the vehicles , he denied any transaction with her late husband who was his friend.

The matter was reported at Ijeshatedo police division and Akala subsequently arrested and interrogated him .

During the interrogation, he opened up and revealed that he had sold the vehicles with forged documents and offered to refund the money which he failed to fulfill .

He was charged to court with three count charge of obtaining under false pretence, criminal conversion and forgery under the Criminal Code but pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor , Inspector Abass Abayomi urged the court to take note of the nature of the matter while granting him bail as he Akala had written an undertaken but failed to comply.

The presiding Magistrate , Mrs O. A . Adedayo granted him bail in the sum of N1 m with two sureties in like sum.

The court also ordered that ten per cent bond must be paid into Court registrar’s account .

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

The matter was adjourned till 16 December 2015.

From Emmanuel Adeyemi Lokoja
A suspected leader of a notorious armed robbery gang, Nasim Aliu has confessed that he got his power from a magical tortoise.
Aliu was arrested with the fetish tor­toise by the operatives of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the Kogi State police command after several months of trailing his movements.
Aliu who hails from Agheva Obehira in Okehi Local Government Area of the state said he had operated for more than 12 times with the magical tortoise but expressed surprise how the operatives of SARS arrested him cheaply.

He spoke to Daily Sun: “Yes, I am a leader of a robbery gang which robbed on major highways in Kogi and Edo States, we had operated for more than 12 times Successfully without being caught and the success of these robberies was as a result of the protection of this tortoise.
“Anytime I wanted to go for robbery operation, I would consult the tortoise who will tell me whether the robbery would be successful or not. After saying some incantation to it, the tortoise would speak and tell me to go or not to go.

“In serious operation, I would hang the tortoise on my chest, covering it with my shirt and anytime I did that ,it helped to protect me from bullets. No enemy’s bullets can hit me any time I hang it on my chest.”
Aliu who looked ruffled, touched the tortoise in the presence of our cor­respondent and retorted, “but you my great magical tortoise, you failed to tell me that the police were around the corner of my house, you failed to speak and you failed to give your usual signs.” He looked up and said: “It is now that I believe this adage ‘every day for the thief, one day for the owner.”
Speaking on the arrest, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Emmanuel Ojukwu said Aliu and his gang members had been terrorising innocent motorists for a long time, saying they specialised in robbing along Lokoja/ Okene, and Okene/Auchi/ Benin high ways.

He said the suspect had earlier been arrested but escaped from police custody and was one of the criminals that escaped a jail break at Kotonkarfi about two years ago.
The CP said since then, his men had been trailing the suspect until they have a major breakthrough re­cently when through a tip-off they were able to trace the suspect’s to his residence.
He said when his men from SARS led by the commander, Ayeni Olu­wadare, a Deputy Superintendent of Police invaded the residence of the suspect around 2 am, the suspect hid himself in the ceiling of his house, and it took the police several hours before they could pin him down and arrested him.

The CP said the suspect has made useful statements to the police and his men were already on the trail of other gang members, some of who he said had fled the area on hearing that their leader has been arrested.
He said as soon as the police complete their investigations, the suspect would be arraigned in court for prosecution.

lalasticlala

Exponental:
Islie... OK,, u mean it's a lie abi? no wahala.
Oya... say the truth!

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State on Saturday described the tribunal judgement which sacked the Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku of the Peoples Democratic Party , PDP , as a ridiculous political judgement that can never stand before men of good conscience and God.

Fayose , who maintained that there was a conspiracy by the All Progressives Congress( APC ) led federal government and a section of the judiciary against the People’ s Democratic Party ( PDP ) , called on the Supreme Court to save the country from impending anarchy .

In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media , Lere Olayinka , the governor wondered how a tribunal could make conduct of the PDP primary that produced Governor Ishaku in Abuja an issue when the tribunal itself sat in Abuja .

He said : “how does the emergence of party candidate , which is the clear internal business of the party and a pre - election matter concern the APC and the Election Tribunal?
“Isn’ t it funny that it is no longer about election rigging , but technicality of how PDP candidates emerged even when no one in the PDP went to court to challenge how Governor Ishaku emerged as the PDP governorship candidate ?

“If insecurity could make Taraba State Tribunal sit in Abuja and not in Jalingo, how then can it be justified that the same tribunal that sat in Abuja nullified the governor ’ s election because the primary election that produced him too was held in Abuja ?

“Is it not being manifested in this President Mohammadu Buhari led APC government that what is good for some people may not be good for others even though we operate the same constitution ?

“To me and the teeming supporters of the PDP , this judgement is one that must not be allowed to stand . It is a clear miscarriage of justice and we will seek redress from the court of men and the court of God.”

While reiterating his commitment to speaking the truth in the overall interest of Nigerians , Governor Fayose said ; “If everybody is persecuted and intimidated to submission , I will remain resolute in my resolved to always say the truth before men and God. ”

lalasticlala

laykhorn:
See, both situations may be non-existent. I've not been outta Nigeria and infact maybe not out of SouthWest except Edo and Delta and Abuja. But we knw how it goes, the world is a small place. Internet has made it smaller. I have relatives in that City who would give anything to have a better place in Nigeria.

Are there times we ask questions and don’t deserve to be answered? Maybe this is one of such times as I thought I was having fun and I’m now in a fix.

I am a mother of three, presently pregnant with my fourth child.

My husband thinks he is the father of my unborn child but in the real sense of it, the child is his father’s.

As you read, please I want a fair advice on how to go about this. My first daughter is also not my husband’s child. His friend who was his best man at our wedding is the father.

It all started when I and my husband had some marital issues and I went to his family, who is a widower to complain. One thing led to another and his father got me laid.

My sex life took a new turn since then as I always went to him when I was down emotionally. We would make ‘sweet’ love and I go back home like nothing happened.

In the course of that, I got pregnant and I wanted to abort it but my father-in-law threatened to kill me if I did.

Now I am 8months gone and I am devastated. My husband has even gone shopping for ‘our’ unborn baby and whenever I look at him, I feel so ashamed of myself.

Do I break the news to him before the baby is born or do I wait till I put to birth?

On the contrary, his father wants me to keep it a top secret between us but as the days go by, I lose my strength to hold on to it.
I have been happily married to my husband for 12 years.

What do I do now? In my dreams, I see my father-in-law trying to kill my husband and I can’t take it anymore.

Please advice me on how to get out of this mess.

Oyind17:
The lady is a good and respectful Lady for not insulting him

laykhorn:
Were you there when this man was sleeping with his daughter

missojugo:
Your comment is exactly why 99% of rape victims dont report rape....People will always find ways to tear their story apart and end up blaming them for getting raped...sad

laykhorn:
Well, you should be proud of your Homosexualism, Gangsters, Carnage and all other vices from your newly adopted Hometown

Oyind17:
whatever the man is a he goat that can't control himself.

Oyind17:
That man is a he-goat

Afeez Hanafi
Academic activities in Gaskiya College in the Ijora area of Lagos State were paralysed on Wednesday after a pupil in Senior Secondary School 2, Saka Ahmed, aka Ejo (snake), allegedly stabbed his senior, Saheed Jimoh, to death.

PUNCH Metro gathered that 19-year-old Jimoh, who was a school prefect, had punished Ejo on Tuesday for an offence which had yet to be ascertained. They were said to have fought each other outside the school premises after the closing time.
It was gathered that Jimoh was about entering the school when Ejo, who was said to have been lurking around a food canteen near the school, ambushed him and stabbed him with a knife in the chest.
He reportedly fled the scene, leaving Jimoh for dead in a pool of blood. It was said that he gave up the ghost shortly after he arrived at a private hospital where he was rushed to.
It was learnt that the incident was reported at the Amukoko Police Division.

The deceased’s uncle, Mr. Shakiru Oluayo, who lives on Adejiyan Street, Amukoko area, said Jimoh was brought to Lagos in 2005 by his mother to continue his studies.
Oluayo said his nephew had initially decided not to go to school on the fateful day but rescinded his decision because he did not want to miss classes. The uncle added that Jimoh’s mother had yet to be informed of the incident.

He said “Saheed (Jimoh) was a school prefect. I do not know what happened between him and the boy (Ejo) that made Saheed to punish him. He was supposed to be in SS3 like Saheed but he had to repeat a class.
“I learnt that as my nephew was coming to school that morning, the boy was waiting for him at a food canteen near the school gate. He attacked him all of a sudden and stabbed him in the chest.

“For the past 10 years he had been living with me, he was easy-going and decent and all our neighbours can attest to that. In fact, he did not want to go to school on that fateful day but he later said he would go so as not to miss a practical class he was to have because he was a science student.”
An eyewitness, Kayode Aderibigbe, told our correspondent that it was too late for Jimoh to run to safety by the time he knew the assailant came after him.

He said, “He (Ejo) had been waiting for Jimoh. He brought out a knife from his bag. Saheed ran when he saw him with the knife but ejo chased him and stabbed him. I followed the pupils who rushed him to the hospital but he was confirmed dead on arrival. The police can trace Ejo.”
The school security guard, who declined to give his name, turned down our correspondent’s request to speak with the principal when our correspondent visited the school.

He said, “You cannot see the principal now. Come tomorrow (today). The principal and teachers have been to the hospital where the pupil was taken to. Besides, the incident did not happen inside the school.”
Some parents who also learnt of the incident besieged the school but were not allowed to enter.
A mechanic in the area, who identified himself only as Joshua, said he saw Jimoh and ejo fighting on Tuesday.

“I was there when they were fighting yesterday (on Tuesday) after they closed from school but I did not really know what led to it. In my observation, Jimoh subdued him during the fight. I guess he (Ejo) later went to attack him with a weapon since he could not win in a fair fight,” he said.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Joe Offor, confirmed the attack. He said a manhunt had been launched for the suspect.

He said, “According to the information we have, the pupil was stabbed by the school gate with a knife by a fellow student of the same school, who is at large.
“The victim was confirmed dead at the hospital. Investigation is ongoing.”

It was my father that helped me out of the bathroom and took me inside.
When I got inside he gave me Garri to drink and before I knew what was happening. He removed my wrapper and had sex with me.

The Senate on Wednesday rejected motion for the payment of N5 , 000 monthly allowance to unemployed youths in the country.
The motion was sponsored by Senator Philip Aduda (PDP FCT ) but was greeted with shouts of ‘’ no , no ’’ when he tried to expatiate on it .

Even, attempts by the Minority Leader , Godswill Akpabio, to second the motion were disrupted by the rowdiness created by the “ no ” shouting of some senators opposed to it.
Intervening, President of the Senate , Bukola Saraki, posed the question but the senators responded along party lines.
While Peoples Democratic Party (PDP ) members yelled ‘’ aye ’’ in favour of the motion , All Progressives Congress (APC ) senators, who were in majority, rejected it.
However , a motion calling for the probe of the utilisation of Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P ) funds by the immediate past administration was adopted by the senators.

Mover of the motion , Sen . Babajide Omoworare , prayed that every naira spent by the past government on SURE-P and other poverty alleviation programmes should be accounted for.
When the President of the Senate put the question, it was supported with a loud “ aye’’ from the APC wing of the chamber, with no dissenting voice from the PDP side.
In his remarks, Saraki urged the senators to take the issue of unemployment very seriously and not play politics with it.

“We should stay above party line on this issue that is so important . We have seen growth in the last years but this has not translated to employment.
“Government alone cannot do it; the private sector has a role to play and the enabling environment must be created , ” he said.

lalasticlala

A 31 year old man, Husseni Elisha have been arrested and charged before Magistrate ’s court sitting in Ejigbo for allegedly impersonating mobile police officer and mounted road block to extort money from motorists in Lagos State, Western Nigeria .

He confessed that he did so to raise money to pay his pregnant wife medical bill who recently delivered a baby boy.
The Adamawa state -born Elisha was arrested at Mosalasi bus stop, Egbeda area where he mounted the road block causing traffic gridlock and forcefully extorting money from motorists and motorcycle operators .

While he was carrying the illegal extortion, a patrol team from Area M Idimu command apprehended him and asked to know why he was doing so.
He introduced himself as a mobile policeman and presented a police identity card which was later discovered to be fake .
On preliminary investigation , the team discovered that he was not a police man and subsequently arrested and took him to the command.

He confessed that he was not a police man, saying he made his papers in WAEC exam with credits and applied to join the airforce and police but did not make the cut.

He said he decided to come to Lagos six years ago to set up a business but again was unable to do that due to fund.
He said he decided to impersonate and was using it to extort from motorists before he was arrested.

On the day he was arrested , Elisha said what prompted him to embark on serious extortion was that his wife delivered and there was no money to pay their medical bill and feeding.

According to police , Elisha was caught wearing mobile police uniform, identity card and warrant and was using it to extort money from motorists and motorcycle operators.

He was charged to court for the alleged offence on a three count charge under the Criminal Code.
He pleaded not guilty .
The presiding magistrate , Mrs J .O.E Adeyemi granted him bail with two sureties in like sum.

He was remanded in prison custody at Kirikiri pending when he perfect his bail condition.

The matter was adjourned till 5 December 2015.

lalasticlala

A man, Charles Oyibo, is currently on the run in
Enugu after beating his wife, Angela, to death.
It was learnt that the beating took place on September 30, at Aku, in Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State.

It was also gathered that on the fateful day, Charles pummeled his wife, Angela, over a yet to be ascertained matter, leaving her unconscious.
The woman was rushed to an undisclosed hospital, but she was not able to regain full consciousness, until she died on October 22.
Our correspondent gathered that the husband, Charles, ran away immediately his wife, Angela, was confirmed dead.

The spokesman for the Enugu State Police Command, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, who confirmed the development, said preliminary investigations revealed that the husband, Charles, was in the habit of beating his wife.
Amaraizu said the police had started hunting for Charles.
He said the man would be brought to book.

lalasticlala

From Taiwo Amodu, Abuja

His emergence as Senate President had unnerved certain leaders of the party, who perceived his insistence to seek the exalted office as the height of obduracy and his ultimate victory, a threat to their grip on the ruling party.
The party leadership had endorsed the duo of Senator Ahmed Lawan and George Akume as Senate President and deputy senate president, respectively, but the Like Minds Senators in the Red Chamber who
craved for autonomy for National Assembly ensured victory for Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu.
While Saraki and his Like Minds Senators relished their victory, the aggrieved party leaders recoiled into their shells, smarting for showdown. To those calling for ceasefire, for the sake of amity in the progressive camp, the aggrieved leaders squealed over the election of Senator Ike Ekweremadu as deputy senate president, which they argued cast a slur on the monumental feat achieved by the All Progressives Congress, (APC) in the last general elections. To rub salt into APC’s injury, the Peoples Democratic Party, went to town proclaiming that the election of Senator Ekweremadu showed it political astuteness, taunting the ruling party as inexperience.

Acting national chairman of the erstwhile ruling party, Uche Secondus let the cat out of the bag on the power game and intrigues that led to Senator Ekweremadu’s victory as he had told chieftains of the party at its 57th National Executive Committee meeting that the latter as Deputy Senate President remained a major achievements of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) National Working Committee, (NWC).
Immediately I took over as the Ag. National Chairman, the NWC inaugurated the Ike Ekweremadu-led Post-Election Review Committee to undertake a comprehensive evaluation of the problems of the Party with a view to making recommendations for moving the Party forward.
In our drive to revive the Party after the elections, the National Secretariat in conjunction with the PDP Caucus at the National Assembly organized a Retreat in Port Harcourt for our legislators.
It was a forum, which was used to train and mobilize our legislators to excel in our new role as the leading opposition Party. Happily, that initiative became a huge success. Today the PDP as an opposition Party has become the driving force in the National Assembly and our own Senator Ike Ekweremadu is the Deputy Senate President, a feat unprecedented in the political history of Nigeria.’’

To the aggrieved camp, in the ruling party, no meaningful progress can be made by a president who had made a commitment to retrieve the nation from the abyss it has sunk without the cooperation of a progressive minded National Assembly leadership.
An indication that they were not ready to let go was the invitation extended to Senator Bukola Saraki by the Code of Conduct Tribunal to answer a 13-count charge allegation on falsification of assets in 2003. Recall that before his appearance before the CCT, his wife Toyin Saraki had been a guest of the anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over some money laundering allegations.

Enters Ministerial screening
Ahead of the screening of ministerial nominees recently conducted, there were insinuations that the Senate President would use the exercise as a political bargain: delay, or frustrate the process, in order to compel President Buhari to ensure soft-landing for him over pending trial before the CCT.
But the Senate President swiftly dismissed the insinuation as unfounded and assured Nigerians that the Senate would conduct the exercise with fairness.
“The screening of ministerial nominees will be handled by me and my colleagues with all sense of responsibility and in adherence to the provision of the constitution. We will be fair to all and be guided by the interest of Nigeria. The screening will be devoid of sentiment and it is not an opportunity for anybody to settle scores. We are equally eager for us to make a positive difference in our polity and Nigerians will be able to judge us whether we acted in their best interest or not.’’
To the admiration of Nigerians, the Senators conducted themselves maturely, considering the seriousness they brought to bear on the exercise . The Senate President also left no one in doubt about his mastery of parliamentary skills and intrigues, considering his moderating role in ensuring the confirmation of former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi as ministerial nominee without supplanting the debates of the issues involved.
What almost stalled the confirmation of the former Rivers State governor was a petition brought before the Senate by Senator George Sekibo. The petition signed by one, Livingstone Wechie on behalf of the Integrity Group requested the Senate to reject the nomination of Rotimi Ameachi as a Minister on the grounds of alleged corruption, criminal breach of trust, unlawful enrichment and conversion of over N70 billion Rivers Peoples Money when he served as Executive Governor of the State between 2007 and 2015.

According to the group, details of the N70billion allegedly stolen by Ameachi as Executive Governor of the State, had already been forwarded to EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) for the needed investigation and prosecution .
The Integrity Group further argued that its stance against the former Rivers state governor was not premised on witch-hunt or mischief. “ We shall not relent and we will not stop at nothing to support the Nigerian Senate and the National Assembly in the fight against corruption, particularly in ensuring that anyone no matter how highly placed, is brought to justice. “Our evidence and facts against Ameachi on afore stated allegations remain incontrovertible,” they further submitted.
The petition was referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions and its report was presented by its chairman , Senator Sam Anyanwu last Thursday before Amaechi’s confirmation.
Despite intensive lobby and entreaties by the leadership of the Senate, the PDP senators led by former Akwa-Ibom governor and Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio were determined to frustrate the confirmation of the former Rivers state governor, as they insisted that the recommendation of the Senator Anyanwu Committee that Rotimi Amaechi nomination be stepped down be adopted.
The recommendation of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions read in part: “Since the ministerial nominee had gone to the Court of Appeal to challenge the content of the petition and the White Paper of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry, the Senate is unable to recommend consideration of his confirmation.
“That the Senate do consider and adopt the recommendation as proposed by the committee.’’
Daily Sun checks revealed that Senator Saraki was the rallying force for the APC senators during the ministerial screening exercise, as it was later confirmed by the national publicity secretary of the party, Lai Mohammed who further noted in a press statement that the APC senators for the first time spoke with one voice after the Senate leadership tussle.

Also speaking in similar vein, a member of the party national working committee who craved for anonymity told Daily Sun that the recent screening of ministerial nominees afforded the embattled Senate president, an opportunity to assure the party leadership of his commitment to ensure an harmonious relationship with the executive arm of government.
‘’The Senate President has shown that he is a loyal party man who enjoys the respect of his colleagues across party line and that he can be relied upon to rally the Senate behind party positions. Also, he has proved that there is nothing the President wants from the Senate that he cannot help him to get. It is now incumbent on the Senate to reciprocate this new gesture and help to consolidate new cooperation between executive and legislature.

‘’He should open a new window of peaceful relationship between the
NASS Leadership and the Presidency and we are sure the gesture will be imbibed by other powerful forces in the APC who are aggrieved by the manner the leadership emerged. This is however not possible except the external influences being brought on the Saraki case cease. The President should find political solution to the issue as many believe everything about the case smacks of politics. The President should help to create conducive atmosphere for unity to thrive in APC, National Assembly and in the country.’’

A 30-year-old graduate, Daniel Yosua, who was paraded by the Lagos State Police Command, along with some hoodlums said he was made to give his statement at gunpoint at a police station when he went to report a street fight.

Yosua, a native of Okpara, Delta State, stated that he was arrested and detained at the Mile 12 Police station after he had gone to report the fight on Sadiku Street in the Mile 12 area where he resides.
It was learnt that Yosua and two others were arrested by the police on Friday before they were moved to the Ketu division for onward transfer to the State Department of Criminal Investigation, Yaba, for further investigation.

Yosua who spoke with newsmen while been paraded for robbery, said police officers held gun to his head while forcing him to write the statement at the station, shortly after he went to report a fight.

He said, “It was on Friday, October 9, on my street in the Mile 12 area. The street fight started at about 8pm. My friends and I were in a shop discussing when we heard bottles breaking a few metres away. We quickly ran inside the compound of one of my friends.

“That was where I hid while the thugs fought on my street. After about 10 minutes, I came out, and found out that one of my friends, Bisi Olateju, was injured. I then told others that I was going to the police station to report the fight. I went to the Mile 12 Police Post to make the report.

“When I was going back home, one of the police officers, a woman, said I should be on the lookout, and bring anyone who was among those fighting.

“I then rushed my friend, Olateju, to the hospital. As I stepped out of the hospital premises, one of the hoodlums, who learnt I went to the station to report, came around to make trouble.

“After much noise, he was beaten by some other persons, and we all went to the police station. The hoodlum was slightly injured in the mouth. When we got to the station, to my surprise, I was arrested and detained.

“I told the policemen that I was the one who came earlier to report the street fight. One of them just pointed a rifle at me, and said I should begin to write a statement. That was how I was detained.

“Later on, I was transferred with the hoodlum to Ketu division and then to SDCI, Panti. I had never been involved in violence. I made a mistake of going to the police to report the incident.

“A policeman, Adeyemi, who is attached to Ketu division, is the mastermind of my ordeals. My family members had gone to explain to him on several occasions, but he would not listen.”

Two suspected armed robbers, arrested by detectives attached to the Lagos State Police Command, have claimed that the manager of a company contracted them to rob his boss of N40 million at Oshodi area of Lagos. The suspects, Saheed Ogunseye (32) and Joshua Adetola (26), said the manager, now at large, hired them to rob his boss, after a failed initial attempt.

They added that the manager had earlier hired a gang to rob his female boss, but when it failed, he started looking for another gang and finally found and hired them. The suspects explained that they attacked the woman’s shop located at Oshodi Market on a day she was planning to travel to the United States. The men confessed that the robbery and subsequent location of the money inside her car boot was given to them by the victim’s manager.

Ogunseye said: “Before we were called to come and carry out the operation, we learnt that the manager had earlier contracted a gang to carry out a similar operation, but the gang failed. He later called my partner, Adetola, who invited me. The two of us went to rob her at her shop on the agreed day. I did not go with a gun.

I collected the money using charms. “When I was contacted for the operation, the manager gave me a gun, but I told him that I did not need a gun. I do not use guns. I have a charm which I believe in. I controlled the woman and collected the money from her with the charm.”

Recalling how they robbed the woman, Ogunseye said when they got to her shop, she was about to leave. Ogunseye approached and commanded her to handover the money to him. Immediately she obliged. He added: “She opened the boot of her vehicle and handed over the money.

The money was neatly packed inside a ‘Ghana-must-go’ bag. I escaped with the money. Unfortunately Adetola was nabbed by some of the traders in the market.” Stating his own side of the story, Adetola said: “When the manager brought the deal to me, I knew I could not carry out the operation alone.

I contacted Ogunseye to assist me with his charm. I knew he had charm. I regretted my action. God should forgive and have mercy on me. I do not want to die as a sinner.” The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, said Ogunseye used part of his share of the money to buy a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV).

The police chief disclosed that the manager took the lion’s share of the money. He said: “The manager of the businesswoman, who is at large, would soon be arrested by the police. The two suspects would soon be charged to court.”