Crime Facts

ENUGU: Missing children found dead at retired police officer’s home

Tragedy struck at Ugwu Ogede in Itchi, Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area of Enugu State on Monday when the bodies of three lifeless children were discovered in a car at a retired police officer’s home. The victims whose names were given as Chibugo Eze, Chinenye Eze, and Ebuka Ene, had gone to fetch water at a commercial borehole owned and located at the home of a former police officer, but did not return home alive. Also, two children, Kingsley Eze, and Mmasichukwu were equally rescued from the same car and rushed to the hospital where they were resuscitated. The parents of the children had raised an alarm when their children who had gone to the aforementioned borehole at about 8 am on Sunday to fetch water did not return home as usual. Vanguard gathered that amidst confusion and panicking, the parents of the five children raised search parties who ransacked every corner of the community but could not find the missing children. The traditional ruler of the community, HRH, Igwe Ike Oke, who confirmed the development to Vanguard described the news as mysterious. The monarch who is also the chairman of Igbo-Eze South Traditional Rulers Council said that he also mobilised personnel of vigilante and Forest Guard groups who joined in the search of the missing children. He also said, “We were almost frustrated in our search when a community member who went to fetch water heard the voice of a little child calling her name. She traced the voice to a car that had been parked for over six months in the compound where she discovered the children and raised the alarm. “We found three of the children already dead by the time we opened the car. I think they suffocated to death because the car doors were stiffed when we tried to open it at first but we engaged an artisan who forced it open. “One of the two children rescued said they went to fetch water but didn’t meet anyone at the borehole because the owner and the entire members of the family had gone to church service. “He informed us that they were about going home when three hooded men came from a hill beside the scene of the incident and abducted them into the car and left. He said they were all dressed in red cloths. He also said that the hoodlums returned at the middle of the night to take them away but they couldn’t open the car doors because they were stiffed. “We are still investigating the incident and the dead victims have been deposited in the mortuary. The owner of the house has been arrested by police,” he explained. The youth leader of Nkalegu Obukpa community where two of the victims hailed from, Ifeanyi Eze, while speaking to Vanguard about the incident described the news as shocking. The youth leader also said the stakeholders in the community are working assiduously to unravel the circumstances which led to the mysterious death of the children.

[INSIDER] IPOB: Why Nnamdi Kanu, Uche Mefor are at war

There seems to be a crack within the Indigenous People of Biafra, as the deputy leader, Uche Mefor has fallen out with his boss, Nnamdi Kanu and floated a new radio station called Biafra Human Rights and Freedom Radio (BHRFR}. Aside from the name of the radio station, which hints at a divergence of paths within the group, Mefor had earlier showed signs of a crack when he deleted his Facebook page in August. According to reports by Naija News, Mefor fell out with Kanu because he wasn’t comfortable with the idea of his former leader consistently claiming that President Muhammadu Buhari is dead and has since been replaced with one Jubril Al Sudanni from Sudan. That rumour has not only been in the public domain for a long time but has also fuelled wild speculations about the identity of the president and has been a fodder for gossip. Kanu, on his part, had said in the past that Mefor had cautioned him against peddling such rumour and flying a kite. “I keep saying this every time, my Deputy, Uche Mefor will say don’t say it, don’t say that Buhari is dead“, Kanu once said in a broadcast on Radio Biafra in February. Mefor had also clamoured for a change of approach and attitude among IPOB members but his appeals fell on deaf ears and resulted in verbal assaults from members of the group. The estranged IPOB deputy also said to have engaged his leader in a war of words over some disagreements. This is not surprising as the IPOB leader has been accused of being dictatorial, arrogant, and fraudulent by some of his former allies. It is believed that that the IPOB leader is running the organization for pecuniary gains and not in the interest of the people. Mefor has also said in a video that is currently circulating that he had been excluded from making broadcasts on Radio Biafra and that Kanu and those working with had effectively sidelined him from doing things that he had been doing before. Mefor also hinted at the floating of another radio station, aside from Radio Biafra without his knowledge. He was also asked to hand over the logging details of Radia Biafa to one Ofomma. He questioned why the IPOB leader should float another radio station and prevented him from making broadcasts on Radio Biafra. A number of our people know that there have been one or two issues from time to time. But now it has come to the zenith of it all,” Mefor said. “And I came to a conclusion. And I said, when all these back and forth were going on, that for the sake of those who died in this struggle, that I would hands off office. And then I gave him the details of Radio Biafra. “If I am a deputy to Nnamdi Kanu why shouldn’t I know that another radio station is being opened? … For me this is a humiliation of the highest order. This is an insult because when you talk about the internet/online aspect of Radio Biafra, You cannot write that story, you cannot finish it without talking about me. I worked for this thing for almost one year. “I have been blackmailed. I have been humiliated in so many ways,” Mefor said, adding that he had been portrayed as evil. However, though it is believed that Mefor resigned as IPOB leader, sources very close to Kanu said the IPOB leader secretly dismissed him because he could not condone his overbearing nature. This, according to Naija News, was done secretly to avoid raising unnecessary eyebrows. Still another source said Mefor took the decision to pull down his Facebook page and remain incommunicado because of security reasons. Still Mefor was quoted to have said in a report that Nnamdi Kanu crossed the red line after he disgraced their former African representative, George Onyibe. “What will befall Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB in no distant time will be shocking. Any ear that hears it will tingle,” the ally said.

Maina: Ndume Passes Night In Prison, Files Appeal Today

li Ndume (APC, Borno South), who was on Monday taken into custody by officials of the National Correctional Service from Kuje, FCT on the orders of a Federal High Court in Abuja, will appeal the verdict on Tuesday. Counsel to Ndume, Marcel Oru, said the appeal against the remand order will be filed on Tuesday before the Court of Appeal in Abuja. He said his client was not given a fair hearing because they had requested for documents to enable Ndume adequately defend himself. Justice Okon Abang had ordered Ndume, who was surety to the former chairman of the Presidential Pension Reform Task Team (PPRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina, to be remanded after the accused severally failed to appear in his trial over alleged N2 billion pension funds fraud. “We needed the document before the judge to defend our client,” Ndume’s lawyer said. “That has not been given to us, and fair hearing demands that this should be given to us before the court goes into the issue of forfeiture,” he said. A source close to the lawmaker said Ndume was taken to Kuje Correctional Centre around 4 pm yesterday. He said the ranking lawmaker was not reachable as his mobile phones were switched off soon after he was taken away from the court. “Ndume will be taken to the court tomorrow (today) in continuation of the trial. Since there are three options for him available, we are hoping one of them will be met for him to regain his freedom,” the source said.

2021 Budget Can’t Take Nigeria Out Of Recession – Reps

The House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology on Monday said the provisions of 2021 budget proposal might not be able to lift Nigeria out of the current recession. The committee said this after the Minister of Finance and National Planning and the Director-General of the Budget Office failed to appear before it to explain low allocations to important capital projects in the Ministry of Science and Technology and other Ministries Departments and Agencies in the 2021 budget. It blamed Nigeria’s developmental challenges on poor budgeting and allocation to the MDAs by the Ministry of Finance and Budget Office over the years. The committee’s chairman, Beni Lar, said capital projects always suffered in Nigeria’s budget as they were starved of allocations; while frivolous line items were allocated 100 percent. She said existing projects should be completed before embarking on new ones to avoid duplications and being carried forward into subsequent budgets.

19-year-old, friend nabbed for setting ex-lover’s house, girlfriend ablaze

Nineteen- year -old Jemila Ibrahim and her friend , Fatima Mohammed, have been arrested by the personnel of the Lagos State Police Command for setting her ex -lover ’ s house ablaze at the Monkey Village , FESTAC area of the state. It was gathered that Jemila and her friend stormed the residence of her ex -lover , Mohammed Yusuf , around 5. 30pm on November 18 and set it ablaze , while his girlfriend, Rabi was inside. PUNCH Metro learnt that Yusuf , who got to know about the incident, rushed home to rescue Rabi and took her to hospital, where she died on Saturday around noon . Our correspondent learnt that Mohammed left Jemila over alleged infidelity on her part. The state Police Public Relations Officer , Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on Monday , said policemen from the Satellite Division arrested the suspects , adding that the state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu , had ordered the transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Panti, for further investigation. The statement read in part, “ The duo of Jemila Ibrahim and her friend , Fatima Mohammed, of Monkey Village , who accompanied Jemila to commit the heinous crime , have been arrested by the police operatives attached to the Satellite Division of the command . “ The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State , Hakeem Odumosu , who condemned the crime , has ordered that the matter be transferred to the SCIID, Panti , for discreet investigation . The CP also vowed to go after those, who engage in crimes and social vices, and to rid the state of criminals and criminality . ” The CP , however , urged the residents of the state to avoid taking the law into their own hands .

Biden’s cabinet takes shape

U.S. President-elect Joe Biden announced a slate of Cabinet nominees Monday, including Antony Blinken as secretary of state and Janet Yellen, who would be the first woman to serve as treasury secretary. Biden’s transition team posted the nominations Monday after initially saying they would be announced Tuesday. Blinken served as Biden’s national security adviser in the Obama administration. As Biden’s foreign policy chief, he played a key role in crafting U.S. foreign policy actions in the Middle East. Analysts say Blinken is considered a moderate on foreign policy issues and will likely lead Biden’s efforts to reverse some of the Trump administration’s moves to isolate the United States from traditional allies on global agreements like the Iran nuclear deal and Paris Climate Agreement. Former Federal Reserve Chair Yellen, 74, would be the first woman to lead the Treasury Department, if confirmed by the Senate. She was the first woman to serve as Fed chair, serving a four-year term from 2014 until President Donald Trump replaced her with Jerome Powell at the end of her first term. Yellen currently is an economist at the Brookings Institution and is seen as someone capable of gaining bipartisan support. Alli McCartney, managing director at UBS, called the choice “reassuring, especially with the challenges that lie ahead including avoiding a double-dip recession and getting people back to work amidst rising virus cases,” CNBC reported. In another key diplomatic post, Biden, nominated Linda Thomas-Greenfield as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Thomas-Greenfield was assistant secretary of state for African affairs, director-general of the U.S. Foreign Service and U.S. ambassador to Liberia in the Obama administration. Jake Sullivan was named Biden’s choice for national security adviser. He was a foreign policy expert for former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in 2016 and has played a key role in formulating domestic policies for Biden during his campaign. In other Cabinet appointments announced Monday, Alejandro Mayorkas was named to head the Department of Homeland Security, Avril Haines will be Biden’s director of national intelligence and former Secretary of State John Kerry was named as a special presidential envoy on climate change. Mayorkas makes history as the first Latino nominated to lead DHS, which implements and oversees the nation’s immigration policies. He served as deputy Homeland Security secretary from 2013 to 2016 Haines served as deputy CIA director in the Obama administration before succeeding Blinken as deputy national security adviser. If confirmed, she would become the highest-ranking woman ever to serve in the intelligence community. Kerry, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, served as Obama’s secretary of state from 2013 to 2017. Since then, he has helped spearhead programming on climate change and oceans for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Ogun housewife brutalises 12-year-old boy over missing N5000

A 40- year- old housewife, Iswat Taofeek, has been arrested by the police in Adatan area of Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State for dehumanizing a 12-year- old boy living with her. Spokesperson for the Ogun Police Command, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, in a press statement said the suspect was arrested following a complaint by one of her neighbours at Adatan police station. The neighbour had gone to the Police station with the little boy whose body was full of injuries inflicted on him with a hot knife and cutlass. While the report was being lodged, the little boy fainted at the station and was quickly rushed to a hospital for medical attention. On the strength of the report, the DPO Adatan Division, CSP Samuel Aladegoroye sent detectives to the woman’s house, where she was promptly arrested. On interrogation, the suspect explained that the boy is a son to her brother-in-law and he has been living with her for some time. She stated further that she kept N5,000 somewhere in the house, but couldn’t find it and she believed that it was the boy who stole it. She said she put a knife on fire until it was red hot and used it to burn the little boy all over his body. Meanwhile, Ogun Commissioner of Police, CP Edward Awolowo Ajogun has ordered the transfer of the case to anti-human trafficking and child labour unit of the State Criminal investigation and intelligence department for further investigation and prosecution.

Yellow fever hits Benue

Dr Godwin Oyiwona, Benue Supervisory Commissioner for Health has disclosed cases of Yellow Fever disease in three Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state. Oyiwona disclosed this at the flag-off of vaccination against yellow fever on Monday in Makurdi. Meanwhile, the disease which had killed about 20 people so far in Ogbadibo, has now spread to Okpokwu and Ado local government areas. The commissioner noted that the rapid spread of the disease in the state-required immediate remedial measures to control it. According to him, the vaccination was an antidote against its spread to other parts of the state. “The flag-off is to cover 20 local government areas of the state, aside from the three local government areas that were covered last year. “Yellow Fever was discovered in Ogbadibo local government area recently and it has spread to Okpokwu and Ado local government areas. “This has prompted the state government to swing into action to see that people are vaccinated against the disease. “We need to see that every person from nine months to 44 years come for vacination.” Gov. Samuel Ortom, who flagged-off the vaccination exercise, charged local government council chairmen, traditional rulers and religious organisations to join hands in the campaign to have everyone vaccinated. NAN

CAMA to be implemented from January 1, says CAC

The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) says it will begin the implementation of Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) on January 1, 2021. CAMA, which repealed and replaced the extant Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990, was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari in August. But the law became a subject of controversy within Christendom as some clerics argued that it is targeted at churches. David Oyedepo, presiding bishop of Living Faith Church Worldwide, had said the law was borne out of the government’s jealousy for the church. In a Twitter post on Monday, CAC said it is putting every mechanism in place to commence the implementation of CAMA on the first day of 2021. “The Corporate Affairs Commission has officially taken delivery of a copy of the Gazetted CAMA, 2020 from the Clerk of the National Assembly on Thursday 19th November,2020 and is putting machinery in place to commence full implementation by 1st January, 2021”, the tweet read. The Corporate Affairs Commission has officially taken delivery of a copy of the Gazetted CAMA, 2020 from the Clerk of the National Assembly on Thursday 19th November,2020 and is putting machinery in place to commence full implementation by 1st January,2021. — Corporate Affairs Commission (@cacnigeria1) November 23, 2020 The law stipulates that religious bodies and charity organisations will be regulated by the registrar-general of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and a minister. CAMA 2020 provides that the commission may by order, suspend the trustees of an association or a religious body and appoint an interim manager or managers to coordinate its affairs where it reasonably believes that there has been any misconduct or mismanagement, or where the affairs of the association are being run fraudulently or where it is necessary or desirable for the purpose of public interest. Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo had earlier earlier counselled church leaders who are aggrieved over CAMA 2020 to approach the national assembly. Azuka Azinge (pictured) is the acting registrar-general of CAC.

Nigerian travellers to pay $15,000 visa bond as Trump introduces new policy

Nigerian visitors to the United States (US) may have to pay up to $15,000 in bonds according to a new temporary policy issued to discourage nationals of some countries with higher visa overstay rate. The President Donald Trump administration introduced the visa bond pilot programme on Monday for B-1 visas (for business travellers) and B-2 visas (for tourists) and it is expected to run for six months — December 24 to June 24, 2021. The rule will see US consular officials ask travellers from affected countries to pay a refundable bond of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000. About 15 African countries are said to be on the list. The visa bond pilot programme by the US Department of State is said to target mostly African countries with high visa overstay — the visitors are believed to have entered the country legally on student, tourist, work visas and then stay past their visa expiration date. “The purpose of the pilot program is to assess the operational feasibility of posting, processing and discharging visa bonds, in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to help assess the burden on government agencies and identify any practical challenges related to visa bonds,” the policy document read. “The pilot program is designed to apply to nationals of specified countries with high overstay rates to serve as a diplomatic tool to encourage foreign governments to take all appropriate actions to ensure their nationals timely depart the United States after making temporary visits. “The Pilot Program will run for six months. During that period, consular officers may require nonimmigrant visa applicants falling within the scope of the Pilot Program to post a bond in the amount of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 as a condition of visa issuance. “The amount of the bond, should a bond be appropriate, will be determined by the consular officer based on the circumstances of the visa applicant.” According to data from the DHS, almost 30,000 Nigerians overstayed their B1/B2 visas in 2018, ranking as the 5th country with the most visa overstays in the US. This makes Nigeria the African country with the most visa overstays. In January, the United States had imposed an immigrant visa ban on Nigeria as a result of the country’s failure to comply with its established identity-management and information-sharing criteria.