₦airaland Forum

Yanju Uwala in Abeokuta

The Ogun State Police Command, on Tuesday paraded six suspected armed robbers operating in military camouflage, along the Sagamu-Benin Expressway, and also announced the arrest of herdsmen who allegedly attacked a family and raped their 16 year old daughter.

Penpushing reports that, the Commissioner, Edward Ajogun explained that the command received a distress call informing them about a gang of armed robbers who were dressed in military camouflage along the Sagamu-Benin expressway at Ijebu-Ife, and also dispossessing motorist and commuters of their valuables.

‘Upon getting the information, a team of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) was asked to join forces with the patrol team of Ijebu-Ife division and confront the dare devil men, and on sighting the policemen, the hoodlums engaged them in a gun battle which lasted for about 30 minutes, at the end of which one of the hoodlums was shot dead while others escaped with gun-shot injuries’.

Penpushing further reports that among the suspects arrested on the 4th September, 2020 at about 2:30am were; Vincent Magnus, Elias John, Ikechukwu Alore, Ifeanyi Emmanuel, Chibueze Kingsley and Chigozie Michael.

‘Among exhibits recovered from them includes; One Military vest, One Military nose mask, one army head-warmer, 3 complete pairs of military camouflage, One military camouflage bag and 3 mock guns fabricated with black cello-tape’, Ajogun said.

Penpushing reports that also paraded were two herdsmen who attacked a family in Afowowa village while grazing their cattle, and they were also alleged of robbing the family cash sum of N140, 000, and raped 16 year old daughter of the family.

The Commissioner while parading the suspects at the State Police Command Headquarters, Abeokuta, said that the command has ensured that means of fighting crime and quick response to distress call do not give criminals any breathing space across the length and breadth of the gateway state.

Penpushing also reports that, he, added that it is the resolve of the Command to take battle to the doorstep of criminals, stressing that the effort is yielding positive results part.

“This is a strong signal to all would be criminals that Ogun state is not going to be comfortable for them. We are more determined and resolute than ever before to give hoodlums, miscreants and those who are not ready to tow the line of peace’, he said.

“The law abiding citizens of the state should be rest assured that their security is guaranteed all the time and they should always trust and have confidence in the ability of the command to attend to their security needs at all times” Ajogun stated.

Newboss:
There is absolutely nothing in the articles linking Atiku to FinCEN. No where did it imply that

By Adedapo Adesanya

Nigerians have been cautioned by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) against the use of illegal GSM boosters.

According to the telecommunications industry regulator, the use of GSM boosters can only be used when they are done through a licensed network operator.

GSM boosters are radio devices with the capability of receiving and transmitting telecommunication signals. These devices, the NCC says, have the capability of interfering with other radio frequency equipment.

“The attention of the Nigerian Communications Commission has been drawn to the fact that GSM Boosters are being illegally used by individuals in Nigeria. Individuals desirous of using GSM Boosters should note that they can only do so in conjunction with licensed network operators,” a statement signed by NCC’s director of public affairs, Mr Ikechukwu Adinde, said.

The commission warned that interference with telecommunication signals is a punishable offence in Nigeria and should be taken seriously.

“Members of the public should note that wilful interference with any wireless telegraphy is an offence under Section 16 of the Telegraphy Act, 2004. The commission will not condone any flagrant breach on this law.

“Accordingly, monitoring mechanisms have been put in place and anyone caught using GSM Booster without obtaining approval of a duly licensed network operator will face arrest and prosecution,” the commission warned.

The commission called on patriotic Nigerians with useful information regarding the illegal use of GSM Boosters should contact the agency on 09-4617000/7351 or send an email to cme@ncc.gov.ng.

Rukaiyatu Abubakar is one of four current wives of Atiku Abubakar, vice president of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007. In 2006, Nigerian anti-corruption investigators accused Atiku Abubakar of fraudulently diverting $125 million of state revenue to private interests. U.S. prosecutors also alleged that a Louisiana congressman tried to bribe Atiku Abubakar to help a Nigerian technology company. Atiku Abubakar has never been tried in court and denies wrongdoing. Rukaiyatu Abubakar has not been accused of wrongdoing.

On March 5, 2012, Rukaiyatu Abubakar’s Guernsey Trust Company Nigeria sent more than $1 million to a company in the United Arab Emirates, Tanjay Real Estate Brokers. (GTCN exists to “manage a blind trust” for Atiku Abubkar’s benefit, according to documents received by the U.S. Senate.) Habib Bank Limited in New York filed a suspicious activity report, citing Atiku Abubakar’s history of alleged corruption, after its Dubai office received the payment. The bank’s Dubai branch explained to the office in New York that the payment was to buy an apartment and that the Dubai branch was “unaware of any existing relationship or affiliation between Tanjay and the Abubakar family.”

Habib Bank reported the transactions because they “crossed multiple high-risk jurisdictions” and because “public sources revealed that there have been numerous investigations of Mr. Abubakar … linking him to corruption allegations.”

SARs reflect the concerns of compliance officers and are not necessarily indicative of criminal conduct or other wrongdoing. The Abubakars didn't respond to an ICIJ request for comment sent to Atiku Abubakar's spokesman.

Akor Joseph in Kano

A middle aged man, Umar Abubakar has been allegedly stabbed to death during a heated argument at a tea joint in Aisami quarters, Gwale Local Government Area of Kano metropolis.

Penpushing report that the deceased was reported attacked with a sharp iron by a suspect identified as Auwal Balarabe, but the victim died at Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital after being rushed by the police for treatment.

The Kano State Police Command Public Relations Officer DSP Haruna Abdullahi Kiyawa who confirmed the incident disclosed that, the suspect had been arrested and in custody for further interrogation.

Penpushing further reports that, Kiyawa said the commissioner of police has directed for discrete investigation that the suspect would be charged to court for prosecution, while in a related development the police said it has arrested one Haruna Ya’u popularly known as Dangaru for murder.

The Police spokesman said the suspect allegedly killed his friend identified as Sani Ibrahim following heated exchange over N500 at Dan Tsinke Quarters of Tarauni Local Government Area on Monday, August 16.

https://penpushing.com.ng/man-stabbed-to-death-over-tea-in-kano-state/

Olalekan Adetayo, Abuja

The governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, on Thursday expressed his support for the hike in electricity tariff and fuel pump price.

Abiodun made his position known on the increases that have attracted knocks from Nigerians in an interview with State House correspondents after a meeting he had with the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

On the price of fuel, the governor said it was not possible to enjoy lower price when the price of crude oil is low and still expect to enjoy same price when the price of crude goes up.

“First, you want to enjoy lower prices when the prices of crude are low and then not want to pay for a slight increase when there is an increase in price of crude.

“The price of crude is directly proportional to the price of refined products. So, I believe that is what is happening at the moment,” he said.

On electricity tariff, he said Nigerians must decide what they want.

The governor said, “We all complain that we are not generating enough electricity and we all complain about the fact that we don’t have the right infrastructure to transmit electricity, we complain about the fact that the distribution companies do not seem to be efficient.

“The problem is because, perhaps, the pricing is not right.

“If you want people to invest in production of gas, in gas floatation, which our turbines and our power plants rely on, we must ensure that the entire value chain is profitable.

“This is because if one part of it is not profitable, that means there will be a shortfall in one of the value chains if we don’t have enough investment.

“So, if you don’t have enough investment in gas gathering, if we don’t have enough investment in gas transportation, we will not have enough gas supply to sustain the quantum of generation we require as a government or as a nation.

“And when we don’t have that, we don’t have enough that will be transmitted to our homes and the transmission grid, and then, we continue to complain.”

While expressing the hope that the National Electricity Regulatory Commission will implement the necessary regulation of the stakeholders, Abiodun added, “But truly, we must begin to pay what we need to pay so that we can have the right amount of investment in the entire value chain of the electricity industry.”

Daud Olatunji, Abeokuta

The organised labour in Ogun State on Wednesday gave the State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, a 14-day ultimatum over the non-payment of the negotiated new minimum wage.

Rising from an emergency meeting of the State Organised Labour held at the Nigeria Labour Congress’ State Secretariat, Abeokuta, the labour leaders, threatened industrial action if the governor failed to address the issues within the period given.

The union lamented over what it called the dysfunctional Contributory Pension Scheme, totalling 134 months deducted from workers’ salaries and unremitted; non-promotion of staff since 2018 and unpaid leave allowances to all employees, both of the State and of the Local Governments since 2015.

This was contained in a letter addressed to the governor titled “Declaration of Trade Dispute.”

The letter dated September 2, was jointly signed by the State Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Bankole Emmanuel; the Vice Chairman of Trade Union Congress, Akeem Lasisi; the Chairman and the Secretary of Joint Negotiation Council, Folorunso Olarewaju and Adebiyi Olusegun respectively.

Other issues by the labour leaders are, non-restoration of payment of gross salary and the zero remittance of the National Housing Fund deductions to the Federal Mortgage Bank.

The union which accused the government of insincerity to its commitment described the issues as “recurring and over – flogged”.

The statement reads, “It is quite obvious that the State government has chosen to situate the welfare of its employees to the sphere of afterthoughts. Nothing could capture this our stance better than the deliberate distancing of policies that clearly would have improved workers lot. Viewed dispassionately, we hold the belief that the State government has no clear cut roadmap for solving any issue (s) or matter (s) that bother (s) on its personnel welfare.

“We, therefore, request of the State government to, without further delay, set the machinery in motion to address all of the items within fourteen (14) days from the date above failing which the State Organised Labour will call out its members for full industrial action. The State Organised Labour has demonstrated enough maturity and respect to the development and growth of the state. It is now the turn of the State government to reciprocate.”

In his reaction, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Communications, Remmy Hazzan expressed the government’s commitment to paying the minimum wage.

Hazzan said, “The issue of the new minimum wage is not contentious, it’s been agreed and the state government has said that it is already committed to paying on that date.

“We as a state are committed to any promise we have made in every single sector including the welfare of the workers. We are not a government of empty promises and I doubt it that the workers said that.”

Samson Folarin


There was confusion on Saturday at the Great Salvation Christian Centre, aka Father’s Church, on Ako Aro Road, in the Ifako-Ijaiye area of Lagos State, after a man, Iberemu Osadebe, disrupted an ongoing wedding in the church.

He claimed that the bride, Gloria, was his wife.

PUNCH Metro gathered that Osadebe had a traditional wedding with Gloria after they had a son togther.

He, however, became sick for about five years, during which time he sold most of his property to seek a cure.

The Imo State indigene was said to have later travelled to his hometown in Isiala Mbano, where he continued the treatment.

Our correspondent gathered that he was on the sick bed when he received information that his wife of 20 years would be getting married to another man on Saturday, August 29, 2020.

The 43-year-old was said to have developed high blood pressure, which affected his speech.

He returned to Lagos on Friday, a day to the wedding, and reported his plan to disrupt the wedding at the Agbado Police Station.

Upon arriving in the church around 11am, some of the church leaders, who recognised him, appealed to him to let the matter go, which he rejected.

Some members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, who were said to be colleagues of the new groom, identified as Henry, were also invited to mediate.

Our correspondent, who witnessed the occasion, noted that the church adjusted the wedding programme after sensing the building tension.

Fervent prayers were offered against intruders and plots to interrupt the wedding.

The church’s pastor was about to join the new couple when Osadebe’s family members marched to the pulpit and revealed that the woman was already married and could not be joined in holy wedlock.

IG pledges police neutrality, professionalism in Edo, Ondo elections.

Gov poll: Aggrieved ex-Ondo SSG reunites with Akeredolu
Security guards on the premises, however, bundled them out of the church, as pandemonium broke out in the assembly.

The guards later mounted a defence at the church’s entrance, while Osadebe and his family protested and demanded an end to the ceremony.

Osadebe, who spoke to PUNCH Metro amid stutters, said he was shocked that his wife betrayed him.

He said, “I was in a relationship with my wife for 20 years; we had a child together in 2011. My mother objected to our union because she is not from my tribe, but I said I loved her.

“When my mother died and I wanted to travel for the burial, my wife said she would not follow us, because it is a taboo in her tradition for a woman, whose bride price has not been paid, to go on such a journey. She also refused to release my son.

“When I got to the village, the elders were angry that I did not come with my wife and son as my mother’s first child. They fined me N40,000. After that disgrace, I vowed to pay her bride price.

“I immediately sold the land I had for N1m, and I sent N500,000 to her account to keep for the purpose. In 2017, we went to her family and paid N280,000 for the bride price. They demanded groundnut oil, tubers of yam, among other things, which we valued at N60,000 and paid.”

The former bus driver said when he took ill, he travelled to his hometown for treatment, adding that his wife refused to follow him.

He alleged that while he was sick, his wife called and lamented that she and their son were starving, adding that he instructed that his bus be sold and the proceeds given to Gloria to start a business and pay the son’s school fees.

Osadebe said he was shocked when his relatives called to inform him that his wife was remarrying.

He noted that though he still loved the woman, he had decided to let her go, but not without the release of his son and refund of the bride price.

A family member of the husband, Richard Ikere, claimed that he was part of the delegation that paid Gloria’s bride price in her hometown in Uromi, Esan North-East area of Edo State.

Ikere alleged that Gloria started seeing the new man while her husband was still in Lagos.

“When I heard that she was getting remarried, I called my brother in the village and asked if he was aware. He said no, but that while he was receiving treatment in March 2020, someone brought a letter to him and he kept it.

“He said when he later checked, he found out that it was a divorce letter. How can a court dissolve a marriage without hearing from the man? That was when I asked him to come down to let people know that he is still her husband. And if she wants to leave, she should release his son to him.”

Ikere said Osadebe was blinded by love, saying his wife took advantage of his sickness to contract the new marriage.

“It was after he discovered that his wife wanted to remarry that he started to stammer. He was pained that a woman he loved so much betrayed him. It is unfair. A man sold his land, vehicle and other property, and yet you’re not satisfied,” he added.

The wife of the church’s founder, Prophetess Ebube Evans, said she knew both Gloria and Osadebe, adding that the couple visited the church about two years ago while seeking a solution to the husband’s paralyses.

She said Gloria later told the church that her husband withdrew his membership because his health condition had improved.

Evans stated, “After a while, the woman complained to me that the man had started selling their property. We later discovered that the man was using her to beg for alms at Ogba bus stop. We observed that by 6pm, she dropped their son in church and returned around 11pm. She lied to passersby that she was stranded and needed money to return to her house in Ekiti. The money she made was what they were using to feed and survive.

“She later complained that the man used the little she made from the alms to drink alcohol and smoke at a joint.”

Evans said the church advised her to stop begging for alms, adding that her husband, however, became angry, sold all their property and left for the village.

She added, “For the period he was away, nobody asked after the woman or her child. We fed her and sent the boy to school.

“At a point, she became very ill and needed a surgery. The church raised money for the treatment.

“They were sent out of their house because the man owed two years’ rent; I gave her one room in my flat. Nobody gave us anything. Would you say the marriage was still on, when you didn’t value the woman and her child?

“The woman is an orphan. She was living with me when this young man (Henry) showed up and said he wanted to marry her. I was happy for her, knowing the church’s burden would reduce.”

The prophetess explained that when the remarriage came up, her husband demanded a formal divorce note.

She insisted that the court dissolved the union and Osadebe was served.

According to her, the church held the wedding because the court also ruled that the new couple could go on with their life.

“The woman suffered with him when he was completely incapacitated. Whenever he soiled his body, the woman cleaned him up and bore all the pains. None of his family members showed her love after he left. And now, they want to destroy her new marriage. Is that not wickedness?” she queried.

Our correspondent obtained the purported divorce letter dated March 23, 2020.

It was discovered that the two-page document was a summons, as the couple were asked to appear before the Ojo Customary Court on April 1, 2020.

PUNCH Metro gathered that due to the outbreak of coronavirus, the sitting could not hold.

Osadebe said he had yet to receive any other letter since then.


Gloria, according to the court papers, sought divorce on the grounds of “drunkenness and smoking, lack of care, stubbornness and no more love.”

She also claimed that her husband paid N25,000 for her bride price.

It was learnt that after the trouble caused by the husband in the church, the woman had not returned for service, as her telephone lines were switched off.



Efforts by our correspondent to reach her were abortive, as her line was off.


https://punchng.com/drama-as-man-family-disrupt-lagos-church-wedding-say-bride-already-married/

Sodiq Ojuroungbe

The workers in Ogun state have expressed concern over an alleged unconcerned attitude of the state governor, Dapo Abiodun to their plights and demands.

The workers lamented that the governor allegedly keep making unfulfilled promises since he became the governor of the gateway state.

PLATFORM TIMES reports that the chairman of the Joint Negotiating Council, Folorunsho Olanrewaju while addressing newsmen in Abeokuta lamented that despite meeting with the state government on different occasions, their demands have not been met.

Olanrewaju complained that the governor did not fulfill his promise that he will pay all outstanding debts of his predecessor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

The JNC chairman noted the present administration since emmergence has not paid gross salaries to workers in the state.

He lamented, “even before Prince Dapo Abiodun came in, he has specifically promised that all debt he is meeting will be paid, but we are surprised at this hours that about eight months of the global deduction are being outstanding which has not been paid.

“What we are even demanding is that gross payment, not net payment and government is used to this type of payment. We are not animals, we are demanding for our rights and it is our rights.

“It is very unfair on the part of this government because he came, he addressed the Labour, we believed in what he told us and we agreed in principle; that was why most of us supported his election. Despite that, we are still where we are today, it is very unexpected.”

Speaking on payment of minimum wage, the JNC chairman said the state government failed to pay the workers despite promising to begin the payment in August.

He added,” it is sadden enough that up till this hour, the state government has not deem it fit to say a single word or when to start the payment of minimum wage; it is only empty empty promises.

“The meeting we had about two months ago with the government, it was equally mentioned and we told the Head of Service that we want payment to start in August, but right away those that receive their salaries received the whole rate without any mention or information from the government to the Labour on the minimum wage.

Meanwhile, the worker threatened to embark on industrial action if the state governor fails to reverse the new Pension Reform Law 2020.

Olanrewaju insisted that the new law was allegedly hurriedly passed by the state House of Assembly without their consent.

He noted that the decision of the state government to enact such law without the consideration of the Labour leaders is immoral and unconstitutional.

He described the new Pension Reform law as an attempt to allegedly maltreat the senior citizens in the state.

The JNC chairman however said failure to reverse the law within seven days will lead to industrial action by the workers in the state.

He further said, “it is equally a bad motion because if the issue is not address now, when are they going to address it. That is why we are saying if in the next seven days, there was not a reversal of this evil law, we will be forced to call for industrial actions. If all of these demands are not meant, there would be industrial unrest in the state.”

paltielx:
Go for Nokia 3.2

NightFood:
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Explain