₦airaland Forum

Gunmen have killed a police orderly and abducted Mr Maiwada Galadima, Paramount Chief of Adara Chiefdom in Kachia, Kaduna State and his wife.

The incident took place in Kaduna-Kachia road on Friday, Mr Ibrahim Yakubu, son in-law to the Chief, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Yakubu explained that the Chief and his wife were taken away while returning to Kachia from Kaduna.

“The Kidnappers stopped the Chief’s vehicle at the military check point at Idon and shot his Police Orderly.

“Immediately, they took the Chief and his wife into the bush leaving behind two of his drivers, his daughter and a granddaughter,” he said.

Efforts to get police confirmation proved abortive as Mr Yakubu Sabo, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Kaduna Police Command was yet to pick telephone calls.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has obtained a remand order from a Federal Capital Territory High Court to keep former Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State for two weeks, The PUNCH can confirm.

The remand order, it was learnt, is subject to renewal which implies that Fayose could spend longer than two weeks in custody.

A reliable source said, “We have obtained a court order to hold Fayose for at least two weeks pending investigation. He could be released earlier or later than two weeks depending on the outcome of investigation.”

Fayose is under probe for allegedly receiving N1.3bn from the Office of the National Security Adviser through a former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, during the build-up to the 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State.

However, sources within the commission revealed to The PUNCH that Fayose was also under probe for allegedly receiving kickbacks from government contractors through his aide, Abiodun Agbele, who is currently standing trial for fraud.

The EFCC source said, “We have many cases against Fayose being handled by three different teams. We cannot just arraign him immediately. We want to do a thorough job before taking him to court.”

Meanwhile, the lawyer to Fayose, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), told The PUNCH on the telephone that if the EFCC failed to release the former governor on Thursday (today), the commission would be sued for breaching Fayose’s fundamental human rights.

Ozekhome said the EFCC began investigating Fayose over two years ago and that he wondered why the agency would decide to hold him for over 24 hours.

He said the commission could not force Fayose to write any statement as he reserved the right to remain silent.

The senior advocate said any move to obtain a remand order would amount to illegality because the Supreme Court had made that clear.

The lawyer said since Fayose’s accounts had been frozen and his properties seized by the commission, there was nothing for the ex-governor to tell the EFCC as the matter was already in court.

Ozekhome added, “His lawyers will consider approaching the court for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights if he is not released on Thursday. Section 35 and 36 of the constitution are clear on this.

“He is not a flight risk. He willingly submitted himself to the EFCC even earlier than the time he was supposed to come. What the EFCC is doing is nothing but media trial.

“From the way they have been chasing Fayose in the last three years, one would have expected that the EFCC would have completed its investigations and would arrest him immediately his tenure expires and charge him the next day but that is not the case.

Woman allegedly impersonates CLAM founder, defrauds church member
“They want him to write a statement by force and then use the statement against him instead of using their own evidence.”

Charge Fayose to court, PDP tells EFCC

On its part, the South-West Zone of the Peoples Democratic Party on Wednesday warned the EFCC not to detain Fayose for more than 48 hours before charging him to court.

In a statement issued by the Publicity Secretary of the party in the zone, Mr Ayo Fadaka, the party said, “It is now going to 48 hours that he submitted himself to the agency and he is still being held incommunicado, this development proves that the claim by the EFCC that it is actually working in public interest is a lie. It is merely playing a partisan card as attested to by its unfortunate tweet in the immediate aftermath of the Ekiti election.

“We, therefore, hold firmly that if Fayose is not charged to court immediately to answer to whatever charges against him, then it will be very clear that the Buhari administration is merely using the EFCC to intimidate, harass and punish him in the most unjust manner.”

My govt a blessing, says Fayose…insists he didn’t take loan

Meanwhile, Fayose has said the statement credited to Governor Kayode Fayemi that his administration was an error is a mere political statement that shouldn’t be taken seriously.

He said the Ekiti people knew that his first and second administrations were never an error but rather ones that brought unparalleled blessings and development to the state.

Fayose reacted through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, in a press release issued in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday.

He said, “If Fayemi said the administration of Fayose is an error, then the road projects, the High Court Complex, the Adunni Olayinka Women Development Centre, the new Governor’s Office, the Ministry of Finance building, the flyover bridge, the construction of chalets and renovation of buildings in the Government House, among others, are errors.

“The old Governor’s Office used by Governor Fayemi during his first tenure was built by Fayose and now that providence has bestowed a second term on his shoulder, he will operate from the new Governor’s Office also built by Fayose. Are these errors as well?”

Canada has legalised marijuana for recreational use, making it the largest country with a legal national pot market.

Cannabis will now be sold in stores and ordered online, with the drugs posted to customers' homes.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made legalising the drug a 2015 election promise in a bid to take the market away from organised crime.

"We're not legalising cannabis because we think it's good for our health. We're doing it because we know it's not good for our children," Mr Trudeau said.

"We know we need to do a better job to protect our children and to eliminate or massively reduce the profits that go to organised crime."

Canada is only the second nation after Uruguay to legalise the drug, although countries such as Portugal have decriminalised it - meaning those caught with the drug face civil punishment, such as a fine

A Lagos politician, Abayomi Sofumade, has demanded justice for allegedly being shot in the leg by a policeman in the Itunpate area of Ikorodu, Lagos State.

Abayomi, aka Bush, who had been admitted to a hospital since the incident occurred on Monday, October 8, 2018, said the bullet broke his left leg.

PUNCH Metro gathered that Abayomi, who was a former Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the Ikorodu Local Government Area, said he was about leaving for his house around 8pm after visiting his mother at Itunpate when the incident happened.

The 36-year-old said he had advised eight policemen arguing with a motorcyclist by the roadside to take the matter to their station when one of the policemen allegedly shot him.

The Lagos State indigene said, “I was about entering my car after visiting my mother when a policeman that I know sighted me and greeted me. Not far from him, I noticed some policemen arguing with a motorcyclist. I moved closer and asked them what happened. I was told that the motorcyclist broke the windscreen of a policeman’s car.

“I saw eight policemen arguing with him; I advised them to go to the police station to settle their differences. As I made to leave, one of the policemen shot me. I tried to grab one of the cops but they ran away. If not for some people and my brother who took me to a hospital, I would have bled to death.”

The politician said the policeman who allegedly shot him and others were from Igbogbo Police Station adding that the Divisional Police Officer of the station, who visited him, said the officers were on illegal patrol.

He said, “When the DPO and DCO of the Igbogbo Police Station came to visit me; they said they were at the station the night the incident happened and that they did not hear anything about it. They also said they were not aware that the policemen went out, and that the patrol was illegal.

“I can identify all the policemen; I want the government to intervene and punish the erring cop. The bullet broke my leg and they had to put POP. I am not sure if I can walk normally again.”

Abayomi’s brother, Femi Sofunmade, said when he heard the commotion outside the family house, he did not know that his brother who had been shot was the reason.

The 30-year-old said, “We did not know what was going on and never thought he (Abayomi) would still be around. It was later that some neighbours rushed in to tell us that my brother had been shot.

“I rushed outside and met him in a pool of blood. The policemen took off immediately they shot him.”

Abayomi’s mother, Modinat Sofumade, said the policeman who allegedly shot her son denied it when she visited the station to lodge a complaint.

The 75-year-old said, “When I got to the station on the night of the incident, I saw the policemen involved and confronted them. They quickly drove out of the station. The officers I met at the counter around 9pm said the DPO was not around. I went back there the following day around 8am.

“When I saw the DPO, he ordered an officer to call those involved; the officers denied shooting my son. The one who shot him said he was at his church the night the incident happened. He lied; in fact, I want justice so that other trigger-happy policeman will learn.”

Abayomi’s elder brother, Yomi Shofumade, said the family had spent a lot of money on medical bills, adding that the DPO of Igbogbo Police Station, who promised to foot the medical bills of his brother, failed.

“It is clear that the men were on illegal duty. The policemen have been begging us; they even promised to pay the bills charged by the hospital, but they have yet to do anything,” the 50-year-old said.

When our correspondent visited the hospital, the doctor who attended to Abayomi, confirmed that he had a fracture in the leg.

The doctor who declined identification, said, “He has a fracture of about four centimeters deep. But the X-ray conducted on the leg showed that there is no bullet residue inside.

“People said there was gunshot; but it is not the bullet that caused the fracture he sustained. It could, however, be secondary because the gunshot could trigger a reaction that caused the fracture. It should take a week or two weeks for the wound to heal but the POP would remain for three months because the fracture is deep.”

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Chike Oti, said there was no gunshot.

He explained that Abayomi, who was a victim of circumstance, had wanted to make peace between the police and some motorcyclists before he sustained the injury.

He said, “What happened was that a policeman who was on his way to work passed where some motorcyclists were. One of the motorcyclists stoned his car and shattered the windscreen. The policeman chased the motorcyclist and eventually caught up with him. The policeman was alone and other motorcyclists came to rescue their man from him.

“The policeman feared that they were about to mob him, so he called the station and some policemen arrived at the scene.

“There was a shouting match between the policemen and the motorcyclists. So when the politician saw them, he came there to make peace because he knows the policemen.

“However, the stick that these violent motorcyclists wanted to use on the policemen landed on the politician’s leg and he fell into the gutter.

“There was no gunshot because the policemen were not armed and they had no reason to shoot him because he was there to make peace. They did not even shoot the motorcyclist that broke the windscreen of the car.

“The accusation has no logic. However, the Commissioner of Police has ordered a thorough investigation into the matter.

A Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Osogbo has granted bail to a commissioner II at the Osun State Local Government Service Commission, Mr Olakunle Muhammed; and a businessman, Rasheed Bakare, who are standing trial in connection with alleged advanced fee fraud involving the Majority Leader of the State House of Assembly, Mr Timothy Owoeye.

The police had arraigned Muhammed and Bakare on October 10 on the allegation of defrauding the lawmaker which led to the release of the nude video.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Olusegun Ayilara, had ordered that the two accused be remanded in police custody.

The counsel for the accused, Mr Ajibade Shitu, during court proceedings on Tuesday, prayed the court to grant bail to his clients.

He said the offence allegedly committed by his clients was a bailable one.

He said, “Every person is entitled to personal liberty. The offence allegedly committed by my clients is bailable and I want to urge the court to do the needful.

“My clients are reputable citizens of this state and they won’t jump bail.

They have property and are well known in the state. They cannot run away.”

But the prosecutor, the State Chief Principal Counsel, Mr Moses Faremi, raised an objection to the bail application.

Faremi said, “The defence counsel has refused to state the reasons why the accused should be granted bail.

“He did not prove it to the court whether the accused have ailments and he did not provide evidence to support the fact.”

The magistrate, however, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N1m each with two sureties each in like sum.

He said, “One of the sureties must be working in the Federal Civil Service Commission and the other must be a reputable citizen who has landed property in the state.”

Recall that the police had arraigned eight persons for kidnapping, armed robbery and other offences in connection with the lawmaker’s case and they were remanded in prison.

The immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, finally honoured an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday after losing his immunity from prosecution and arrest.

After leading Fayose to the interrogation room, it was learnt that he was asked to write a statement explaining how he spent N1.3bn he allegedly received from the Office of the National Security Adviser through a former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, during the build-up to the 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State.

The commission also asked him to return the money.

A source at the EFCC, however, told our correspondent that the former governor refused to admit to collecting the money.

He said, “We have treated Fayose with respect since he arrived in our office. We asked him about the money he received from Obanikoro and when he would return it but he is denying everything.

“He said in his statement on oath that he never received any money despite the overwhelming evidence. The man is refusing to cooperate despite the overwhelming evidence we have.”

It was learnt that as of 7 pm on Tuesday, the former governor was still writing his statement.

The funds allegedly traced to Fayose were said to be part of the N4.7bn allegedly handed to Obanikoro by the then National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.)

While about N1.3bn was given to Fayose, another N1.3bn was also handed over to the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State in 2014, Senator Iyiola Omisore.

The funds were said to have been transported from Lagos to Ekiti State by air.

Since the investigation began in 2015, the EFCC has interrogated over 20 persons.

Apart from Obanikoro and Omisore, others interrogated by the EFCC include Captain Ahmed Borodo, the pilot whose plane was allegedly chartered by Obanikoro; Aide-de-Camp to Obanikoro, Lt. Olumide Adewale; and Fayose’s aide, Abiodun Agbele (who is standing trial for allegedly receiving the funds on behalf of Fayose).

Others interrogated include bureau de change operators and senior bank executives.

“Despite the statements made by all these people indicating that Fayose received money, the man is still denying the allegations,” an EFCC detective said.

However, Fayose’s lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), said Fayose would not compromise himself in the name of administrative bail.

Ozekhome said Fayose’s accounts had already been frozen by the commission and was already in court over the matter.

On whether Fayose would return the money as demanded by the EFCC, Ozekhome said, “Which money are they saying he should return? Has he said any money is with him? They won’t dare tell him to return the money.

“Fayose is not like other Nigerians that the EFCC will bamboozle and force and blackmail to make refunds. Why tell a man to refund the money he has not admitted to receiving when the matter is in court?

“If they offer him an administrative bail with no strings attached, which is not a Greek gift, then he should take it.”

Earlier in the day, before entering the EFCC premises, Fayose and scores of his supporters had created a scene at the entrance of the commission.

Fayose, who wore a blue shirt with the inscription, ‘EFCC, I am here’, and a blue pair of trousers with a blue face-cap to match, arrived at the Tunde Idiagbon House, Wuse 2, which is the former headquarters of the EFCC, around 1 pm.

The former governor, who clutched a backpack and a small duffel bag, was accompanied by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State; a former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode; his lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), and several of his aides and supporters.

Addressing reporters before making his way into the EFCC, Fayose said, “I am here in line with my promise that I will be here on the October 16.

“And, as I said to the EFCC, they should await my arrival. This morning, they have been to my house; they cordoned off my street, which I feel was unnecessary. It was unwarranted.

“When a man says he is coming, Nigerians should be given benefit of the doubt.

“I had led Ekiti, and the best I could give, I have given. Therefore, every question, whatever they need to ask today, I will be able to respond appropriately.”

Also speaking, Governor Wike said he accompanied Fayose in order to warn the EFCC to respect his rights.

Wike added, “He wrote a letter to the EFCC that he will submit himself on October 16. He is hale and hearty and I believe that EFCC should know he is well. Our fear from the present report that we have is that he may be harmed.

“But, let Nigerians know that he came by himself to the EFCC without anybody harassing him. So, that is why I brought him here today.”

In his remarks, Fani-Kayode said the EFCC should remember that their actions were being monitored by the international community and they should not abuse Fayose’s rights.

Ozekhome asked the EFCC not to keep Fayose for more than 24 hours as failure to release him would be an abuse of his rights.