Crime Facts

21-year-old marriage dissolved over wife’s refusal to cook for husband

A Mapo Customary Court in Ibadan on Thursday dissolved a 21-year-old union between a painter, Ojo Ayeni and his wife, Sade, over her refusal to cook food for her family for two years. Earlier, Ayeni, alleged that wife stopped cooking for him and his three children in 2018. Delivering judgment, Odunade, dissolved in the interest of peace. He granted custody of the first child to Ayeni and the last two to Sade. The judge ordered Ojo to pay N10,000 as monthly feeding allowance. Earlier while testifying, Ayeni said that anytime he reported her to her parents and family members, Sade never took him seriously. “My lord, the problem even worsened when Sade started mocking me whenever she sees me cooking for the children. “In fact, she now returns home very late in the night and has caused great division in the home. “I have developed a High Blood Pressure as a result and I would not want to resolve to self-help,” Ojo said. Responding, Sade, objected to the divorce suit and denied some of the allegations leveled against her. “Yes. I admit that I stopped cooking my husband’s meals because he accused me of trying to poison the food,” Sade said.

UNILAG Crisis: Visitation Panel Submits Report To FG

The Special Visitation Panel set up by the Federal Government to investigate the management crisis rocking the University of Lagos has submitted the report of its findings. The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, received the report on behalf of the Federal Government in Abuja on Thursday. He said the recommendations of the panel will be thoroughly scrutinized with the aim of full implementation. Shortly before presenting the report to the minister, the Chairman of the panel, Professor Tukur Sa’ad expressed optimism that the report of the panel will bring an end to the crisis that has festered in the university over the last one year. This comes three weeks after the Federal Government inaugurated the panel to resolve the lingering crisis facing the institution. While setting up the panel on August 26, Adamu warned members against interfering in the activities of the university management. He encouraged the stakeholders in the university to fully cooperate with the panel and to allow it to work unhindered. “Councils are to lay down policies while managements are to implement them, but over the past one year, the ministry has been inundated with complaints and correspondences from the management and the governing council of the University of Lagos as well as the National Assembly, on the lingering governance issues in the institution, including allegations of financial infractions and breach of responsibilities,” he said. The panel was set up to investigate the crisis rocking the university, following the earlier removal of its Vice-Chancellor, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, by its Governing Council led by Mr Wale Babalakin, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

FG approves establishment of another Anti-Corruption Agency

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the establishment of a new anti-corruption agency, Daily Times Nigeria has learnt. According to reports, the new anti- corruption Agency will engage with proper coordination of all recovered looted assets. corruption agency, Daily Times Nigeria has learnt. According to reports, the new anti- corruption Agency will engage with proper coordination of all recovered looted assets. READ ALSO: Heads of Anti-corruption agency in Commonwealth Africa… Tthe Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami while briefing state house correspondents after the FEC meeting on Wednesday, explained that assets recovered have been in the hands of several agencies and that better coordination will encourage international/overall coordination in recovering more looted assets. It is on this premise that the new anti-corruption agency named, ‘Proceeds of Crime Recovery and Management Agency’ is to be saddled with the responsibility of managing the assets that constitute the proceeds of crime in Nigeria. Malami told newsmen that the FEC has approved transmission of a bill, titled, “Proceeds of Crime Recovery and Management Agency Bill,” to the National Assembly. The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), explained that once the bill becomes law and the agency is established, it would see to proper documentation and management of such recovered assets and thereby guarantee transparency and accountability. According to Mr. Malami, an agency of this nature has become necessary in a bid to consolidate the gains achieved so far in the government’s war against corruption. “The Federal Ministry of Justice presented to Council a memo today (Wednesday). “The memo is about a Bill which seeks the approval of the Council to transmit to the National Assembly for passage. “It is the Proceeds of Crime Recovery and management Agency Bill. “It is in essence a bill that is targeted and intended to have in place a legal and institutional framework. The legal component of it is having a law and the institutional component of it is to have an agency that will be saddled with the responsibility of managing the assets that constitute the proceeds of crime in Nigeria. “What happens before now is the proceeds of crime are scattered all over, and mostly in the hands of different and multiple agencies of government inclusive of the police, the DSS (Department of State Service), EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission), and ICPC (Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission). “So, with that kind of arrangement which is ad-hoc, there is no agency of government that is saddled with the responsibility of data generation, an agency that can give you off-hand the number of landed assets, number of immovable assets, the amount in cash that are recovered by the federal government by way of interim forfeiture overweigh of a final forfeiture. “So, it is indeed over time a kind of arrangement that is not uniform and consistent. “If you have a budget item for recovered assets, this agency will now be in a position to provide information to the federal ministry of finance, budget and National Planning on-demand as to what amount is there available for budget purposes, thereby establishing the desired transparency, the desired accountability which has not been available before now,” the AGF stated.

OPINION: Whoever wins between Obaseki and Ize-Iyamu, godfatherism will still dog Edo

By Frederick Nwabufo The campaigns of the first-tier contenders in the Edo governorship election have been largely ensconced in the agitprop of godfatherism. While Godwin Obaseki, incumbent governor of the state, claims he is wrestling against the forces of recidivism who have held Edo down and who want to keep lording it over the state as godfathers, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, his challenger, struggles to shake off the tag of being a flunkey of these ‘’patrons’’. According to Obaseki, his re-election will end godfatherism in Edo. In fact, the governor said his cardinal mission in the state is to end godfatherism. But what is the plausibility of this noble quest? Will Obaseki’s re-election really sever the pharynx of godfatherism in Edo? Is he sincere about interring the remains of this atavistic scourge in our politics? Or will there be a re-alignment with the godfathers from the party on which stump he stands? On Ize-Iyamu, I think he knows he runs with a baggage. He is like a sprinter who goes into a race with heavy locker-room chattels in tow. He grapples with a credibility crisis. His proponent, Adams Oshiomhole, is his Achilles heel; so, he swedges against himself and his promoter, seeking redemption from the burden of Oshiomhole. Most of Ize-Iyamu’s public statements have been on the defensive. He never ceases to remind everyone that “the only person who is really my godfather is God himself”. In his desperation to shake off the soiled garb, he said on a programme on Arise TV in August that Oshiomhole was his “staffer”. He shrieked: “…So, for somebody like me to now describe him as a godfather or say Oshiomhole is my godfather…. On what basis? We have had history of robust engagement. We have disagreed and come back together; so, what you see is mutual respect. Oshiomhole is working for me; he is campaigning with me because he is also passionate about his party winning Edo and you can’t take that away from him.” But one thing stands clear: Obaseki cannot end godfatherism in Edo and Ize-Iyamu cannot wash himself clean from the stain of godfatherism even if he uses hyssop. They are both products of the same primitive political system and bastions of the same order. Our political process is cannibalistic; it is dog eat dog. National interest succumbs to group and individual interest in our brand of politics. It does not reward rebels or people of independent disposition. To chance on political office, you must contort your principles and personal integrity to fit into the agenda of the keepers of the political platforms, notoriously regarded as the “godfathers” The godfathers control these political platforms. They hold the reins of political progression. It is the reason I believe Obaseki cannot end godfatherism in Edo. In fact, he has only switched godfathers. Those who offered him the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket on a limb – after he was rejected by his former party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) — did so at a great cost. It is obvious to a neophyte of political readings that the “owners” of the PDP did not offer their platform to Obaseki to run for a second-term in office without some trading. The owners of the party will certainly seek to recoup their investment. The insularity of interest is supreme in our anachronistic politics. And to aver that godfathers must be localised within a state or a political entity is minimising the vulgar tentacles of godfatherism. Godfathers are like colonialists; they exist even on the fringes but with proboscis deep into the guts of every state, country, sector and institution. It is really ludicrous — Obaseki’s campaign theme of extirpating godfatherism in Edo as if a godfather(s) must come from Edo or be resident there. Interest is not locational and godfatherism defies religion and ethnicity. The alleged godfather of Oshiomhole, Obaseki’s predecessor who is catholic, is a Muslim from the south-west, and he has been since the former APC national chairman was governor in 2008 — after his political platform, the Labour Party, entered into an entente with Action Congress Party which gave him a solid structure and backing to achieve his ambition. So, Obaseki should save himself the twaddle of ending godfatherism in Edo. I believe he has projects to show for his first term in office. He should campaign on them. Latching on the godfatherism trope betrays his performance vacuity. The people of Edo want good governance – beyond replacing an old obnoxious order with a new one. Really, as long as the present political ecosystem subsists, godfatherism will remain in Nigeria. This is why we have to fight as people to liberate ourselves from the noose of these troglodytes. Whoever wins the Saturday governorship poll in Edo, the status quo will remain unchanged. Yes, I am pessimistic. I have my reasons. Frederick Nwabufo is a Journalist and Columnist Twitter. @FrederickNwabufo

My pastor trafficked me to Russia for prostitution – Victim

When Florence Abu, a hairstylist, left the shores of Nigeria in 2012 for Russia, she thought she was moving to the proverbial greener pastures. She thought the trip would be the key to unlocking a better life for her and her family. But things did not turn out as she expected. Ms Abu, an indigene of Edo State, soon realised that she had been trafficked to work as a prostitute in Russia. She alleged that she was lured to travel abroad by Endurance Ehioze, an assistant pastor with Heavenly Ambassadors Ministries, her local church, who claimed that he saw a vision of her prospering outside the shores of Nigeria. Human trafficking is a global menace and the disturbing trend is not new. According to a 2016 UNESCO report, poverty is the major reason women and children are vulnerable to being trafficked. Another report in 2018, by the Global Slavery Index, ranked Nigeria 32 out of 167 countries where persons are trafficked from. All that it took to convince Ms Abu, like other victims, was the allure of a better life abroad. Before she left for Russia, Mr Ehioze allegedly told Ms Abu to give his mother, Vivian Ehioze, her pubic hair and fingernails, which would be used for a fetish oath to ensure she does not abscond on getting to Russia. Later she was told to pay $46,000 to regain her freedom from the prostitution syndicate she was lured into or be killed if she tried to be “smart.” “I, first of all, refused the offer but he now told me that I don’t have a choice because God showed him in a revelation that my destiny is not in the country, that my destiny is outside the country and for me to achieve that aim, I need to leave the country so I can earn better money and also help my family and take them away from poverty and for me to also have a better stay.

You Will Beg Us At Last, IPOB Tells South East Govs ,Ohaneze

The Indigenous People of Biafra has said the South – East governors and the Ohanaeze Ndigbo will live to regret their alleged role in its proscription by the Federal Government . It described the proscription as the greatest mistake the Ohaneze Ndigbo and the South -East governors had made in history . IPOB alleged that the Igbo leaders by the act opened the area to constant attacks and humiliation by alleged terrorists , herdsmen , and bandits. A statement by the group ’ s Media and Publicity Secretary , Emma Powerful , on Wednesday, said current attacks and killings of the people of the area were the beginning of the ugly lessons for what it termed “ the treacherous and ignoble role of the governors and other actors in the proscription of IPOB . ” The statement read in part, “ Conniving with the enemies to get rid of IPOB , which is the only defence line of Biafra nation , is the greatest mistake made by the South – East governors , Ohaneze Ndigbo and some self -acclaimed Igbo political leaders “ It is a constant reminder of the Igbo adage that says ‘ when you kill your hero in an internal squabble , during an external fight you must remember him ’ . “ The reward of treachery is shame and eternal regret. By conniving with the enemies to get rid of IPOB that is the only defence line of Biafra nation , they have opened our land to constant attack and humiliation. ”

Ethiopian Airlines resume flights from U.S. to Nigeria

Africa’s largest airline, Ethiopian Airlines, has resumed passenger flights from New Jersey, United States, to Lagos and Abuja. This follows the recent reopening of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Sept. 5. Mr Million Legesse, Ethiopian Airlines’ Traffic and Sales Manger in New York told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the flights would operate from the Newark Liberty International Airport. Legesse said all preparations had been made, including strict COVID-19 and other health measures, for passengers’ safety and comfort. NAN reports that Ethiopian Airlines is one of the 13 that secured government’s approval to fly into the country following the resumption. According to Legesse, the indirect flights will be operated by the airline’s new Boeing B787-800 aircrafts. “The total flight time to Nigeria is about 13 hours with short connection time at Togo which is 1 hr 30 mins,” he said. “We have west African connections to other countries, Mali, Benin Senegal, Cameron, Liberia, Niger, with short connections,” he said. The Federal Government suspended international flights on March 23 as part of efforts to check spread of the coronavirus. This, in addition to travel restrictions by other countries, left many Nigerians stranded in different parts of the world. The government had to intervene by organising special evacuation flights to repatriate those on short-term visits abroad. Ethiopian Airlines operated all nine evacuation flights from the U.S. that saw the repatriation of 2,322 stranded Nigerians.

Police Foil Kidnap Attempt On Bayelsa Doctor, Arrest Five Suspects

The police authorities in Bayelsa State have foiled the kidnap of a medical doctor working at the General Hospital in Odi, Kolokuma/ Opukuma Local Government Area of the state. According to a statement issued by police public relations officer, Asinim Butswat, the state command arrested five suspects in connection with the incident. “Credible intelligence revealed that some suspected kidnappers conspired among themselves, went to the Quarters of the Doctor at General hospital Odi, on 10 September 2020, to kidnap him but met his absence,” the statement partly read. Butswat said the Commissioner of Police, Mike Okoli, ordered the Anti-Kidnapping Unit to track down the perpetrators of the crime. The suspects apprehended were Sunny Ubaka, Inerepamo Ikati, Pereowei John, Osamedike Daniel, Sambo Olawei have their age brackets between 21 and 26 years. According to the police spokesman, they all confessed to the crime, adding that investigation is ongoing. Butswat also asked residents of the state to avail the police of timely information to reduce the level of criminality in the state.

Lovers re-arraigned for alleged N17.5m charcoal fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibadan zonal office , on Wednesday , re -arraigned one Alice John and her boyfriend, Fadi Alloush , before Justice Bayo Taiwo of the Oyo State High Court , Ibadan, for fraud involving the sale of charcoal . The lovers were re – arraigned on three counts of conspiracy , stealing and obtaining the sum of N 17. 5m under false pretences . The offences were said to be contrary to Section 390 of the Criminal Code Laws, Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State . The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges, following which the prosecution counsel , Dr Ben Ubi, applied for a trial date , while the defence counsel , Olukunle Kamisi , prayed the court to allow the bail earlier granted the defendants to subsist . Justice Taiwo granted the defendants ’ prayers . “ The bail shall subsist and, in the event , where there is delay on the defendants ’ part, their bail will be revoked , ” the judge said . Justice Taiwo adjourned the matter till October 8, 2020, for trial. The defendants were initially arraigned before Justice Iyabo Yerima of the Oyo State High Court on March 17, 2020, but were re – arraigned on Wednesday following the reassignment of the case to Justice Taiwo . Between January and December 2019, the victim , Houssam Nasreddine , allegedly transferred the sum of N 17. 5m to John’ s account for the purchase of charcoal from Iwere lle , Oyo State , for exportation, which the defendant bought and loaded in containers at the Hapag Lloyd Shipping Company, Apapa , Lagos . Rather than sell the goods in the name of the rightful owner , she allegedly connived with her boyfriend, Alloush , to change the ownership of the goods and sold them off . The petitioner added that all efforts to retrieve either the charcoal or his money were frustrated by the defendants

FCTA demolishes brothels, illegal structures in Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory Administration on , Wednesday , demolished makeshift houses and brothels in Daki biyu community, Jabi District , Abuja . The operation was led by the Director, Development Control Department, Muktar Galadima , accompanied by security personnel and vigilante groups. Galadima said the operation was necessitated by the rising cases of security challenges in the FCT. The director also said the exercise was in pursuance of the 13- point Next Level mandate of the FCT Administration to ensure orderliness and sanitation in the city. He said all the plots of land occupied by the illegal inhabitants in the Daki biyu community were designed for certain purposes . He disclosed that the department would ensure that the FCT Health and Human Service Secretariat builds hospitals on the land. He said , “ This exercise is necessitated by the rising case of security challenges and in the course of our operation , we discovered some jackknives in one place called Sambisa. These can be used to lynch a person .” The director also urged allottees of the undeveloped plots in the area to develop them or risk revocation . The Daki Biyu Palace Secretary , Mr Andy Sanga, said the operation is “ very painful but we have to take it in good faith because we can’ t fight the government . ” Meanwhile, the administration has commenced the removal of illegal signage and outdoor advert infrastructure within the nation ’ s capital. The Director of the Department of Outdoor Advertising and Signage , FCT , Dr Babagana Adam , said about 2, 747 of such signage had been removed from different parts of the city.