February 2021 – Page 25

Post Date : February 16, 2021

ESN, MNK, AMOTEKUN, IGBOHO, ET AL ARE CREATIONS OF FAILED POLITICAL LEADERSHIP

ONWUASOANYA FCC JONES Nnamdi Kanu is arguably the most popular Igbo man alive today. The ordinary people look up to him as a kind of Messiah and a prophet who has filled a gaping vacuum of leadership left by the Southeast political leadership, while the Igbo political elite have become afraid of him. The Igbo political elite are careful to condemn the activities of the IPOB leader, not because they are comfortable with his styles but because they are not oblivious of the unfavorable boomerang any reprimand on the self acclaimed Biafran liberator might have on their electoral chances. It is also becoming increasingly unsafe to speak out against the Afara born prince, because both his online soldiers and the dangerously armed ESN may not spare anyone who speaks against their “Supreme Leader”. For the Yoruba, Sunday Igboho has become more valuable and better respected than all the Southwest governors, Southwest traditional leaders and the political elite of that region put together. It would be easier for the people of Southwest and other Yoruba speaking parts of the country to obey Sunday Igboho’s directive than when a combination of all the Yoruba leadership structures come together to give a directive. Shettima Yerima of the Arewa Youths wing commands a lot of respect, but seems to be in line with the established religious, political and traditional leadership of Northern Nigeria. However, the Miyetti Allah, Shekau, bandits, terrorist Fulani herdsmen, civilian JTF, hunters and other self-help and criminal groups have either overrun the North or are being tolerated by Nothern elite for whatever reasons. These groups, individually and collectively have held the once peaceful Northern Nigeria hostage and our political leadership seems helpless in the situation. This horrendous situation demonstrates the embarrassing cracks in our national political and security firmament. But more than security, it is our political leadership that has failed. The people have lost confidence in the ability and even willingness of our political leaders to take steps to protect them, hence, their shifting loyalty to unconventional and even illegal organizations and lawless individuals. Nigerians are not so gullible as to not to understand that these individuals and extremist groups are outlaws and could be dangerous, but the dereliction of those whose lawful duty it is to protect lives and properties of Nigerians have left us with no option. As bad as the situation is in the country at the moment, our politicians are more interested in politically correct actions than patriotic actions that would save our country, while some activists and social commentators are either more interested in the applause of the crowd or afraid of attracting the ire of the radicals. But the truth remains that Nigeria’s imminent descent into full blown chaos can only be averted if those who should talk stop keeping mute and if those who are talking start gauging their words well before they put them out. This is no time for politically correct speeches not is it time for inflammatory utterances from any quarters. Except for few political leaders who have been categorical in condemning acts of violence and criminality by any group of Nigerians, others have maintained what I may describe as irresponsible silence in the face of obvious affronts on our union. Some activists and critics have also allowed their emotions to get the better part of them, thereby knowingly or unknowingly stoking the fire of insurrection and encouraging these criminal elements to continue to resort to self-help. However in all this, one man takes the whole responsibility and that is the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. It is the President’s failure to provide the right kind of leadership that has dragged our nation to this precipice of riotous rancour. He is the prime culprit for condoning the excesses of these Fulani herdsmen over the years. He has left people with no option but to conclude that he is the grand enabler of the terrorist herdsmen. What else are we expected to think, when our President keeps quiet while leaders of the Miyetti Allah group come out in the open to threaten Nigerians? How would an average Nigerian not lose confidence in the ability of the President to reign in these marauders when women are raped, homes are razed, farmlands are destroyed and hardly does any of the Fulani terrorist herder brought to book? Why wouldn’t Nigerians be frustrated when a sitting governor would openly defend the arms bearing Fulani herdsmen and our President keeps mute? I didn’t witness the last civil war, but I have read enough books and listened to chilling stories about that war to know that it is not an experience anyone would want repeated. Unfortunately, things may get to a point where no one can do anything about it, if far-reaching and sincere interventions are not immediately taken by those whose responsibility it is to do that. Wole, the Nobel Laurette had raised an alarm about the imminence of a civil war, retired military top rankers and other prominent Nigerians who should ordinarily know more than we do have spoken out at different times about their fears for Nigeria’s continued unity. Aren’t the breakpoint tensions across Nigeria’s ethnic divides palpable enough? Today, we have ethnic based militia groups in almost every part of the country whose members openly wield high caliber ammunition and kill mostly innocent citizens with hardly any evidence that they are visited with the commensurate resistance of the law. Our situation may best be described as a reign of terrorists and criminals. Bandits, terrorists, criminal herders and kidnappers seem to have overwhelmed our security agents and the people may have been forced to place their fate in the hands of these militia groups, thereby affording the needed support to operate in various localities across the country. At no time in the last 20 years or more has our country’s heterogeneity become so profoundly pronounced, than at this time. The South/North dichotomy and the Christian/Muslim differences are so nakedly felt at

Post Date : February 16, 2021

EXPOSED: How Nigerian senator Stella Oduah, Chinese firm, others embezzled N5billion in five months

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has indicted a senator, Stella Oduah, and the Nigerian subsidiary of Chinese construction giant, CCECC, in alleged fraudulent cash transactions of about N5billion over five months in 2014, PREMIUM TIMES reports. PREMIUM TIMES reported that the EFCC could not arraign the nine defendants in the 25-count charge at the Federal High Court in Abuja on February 9, because the defendants had not been served the relevant court documents. The judge, Inyang Ekwo, then adjourned the proceedings till February 22. CCECC, FG and Oduah The China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) Nigeria Ltd is the Nigerian subsidiary of the parent CCECC established by the Chinese government to execute international contracts and economic cooperation. The firm, which has enjoyed decades of patronage from the Nigerian government, is handling major infrastructural projects, such as the construction of railways and major roads under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. It signed contracts for the construction of airport terminal projects with the Nigerian government during the tenure of Ms Oduah as Minister of Aviation. Ms Oduah, who now represents Anambra North in the Nigerian Senate, was removed as the Minister of Aviation by then President Goodluck Jonathan on February 12, 2014, following a scandal over N255million armoured cars which she made the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), an agency under her supervision as Minister of Aviation, buy for her at inflated prices. The web of transactions, which the EFCC has now characterised as money laundering – in the fresh charges, started on February 5, 2014, about a week to Ms Oduah’s sack as aviation minister. The transactions continued till five months after. EFCC’s charges On December 17, 2020, EFCC filed a total of 25 counts against Ms Oduah (1st defendant), CCECC Nigeria Limited (9th defendant) and seven others comprising persons and firms. One of the other defendants in the case, Gloria Odita (2nd defendant), is said to be an aide to Ms Oduah when she was Minister of Aviation. She is said to be the company secretary of Sea Petroleum & Gas Company (SPGC) Limited, a firm founded by the former minister. The rest of the defendants are an employee of SPCG and aide to Ms Oduah, Nwobu Nnamdi (3rd defendant), Chukwuma Chinyere (4th defendant), Global Offshore and Marine Ltd (5th defendant), Tip Top Global Resources Limited (6th defendant), Crystal Television Limited (7th defendant), and Sobora International Limited (8th defendant). The EFCC, in the 25 counts, accused them of conspiracy to commit money laundering, transferring, taking control and taking possession of proceeds of fraud, aiding and abetting money laundering and opening anonymous bank accounts. Specifically, the prosecution alleged in two of the 25 counts that Ms Oduah and Ms Odita opened anonymous “Private Banking Nominee” dollar and naira accounts with First Bank, thereby committing an offence contrary to section 11(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable under section 11(4) (a) of the same Act. PREMIUM TIMES’ review of the charges showed that CCECC Nigeria Limited allegedly transferred over N2.5billion into the naira account of Private Banking Nominee between March 31 and June 6, 2014. In seven of the counts where CCECC is indicted singly and along with Ms Oduah and Ms Oditah, the company was accused of conspiring with the women to commit money laundering, and directly transferring to Private Banking Nominee account various sums of money totalling N2,583,385,246 which it “reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity to wit: fraud…” The prosecution alleged for instance in Count 17, that CCECC Nigeria, “on various dates between March 5, 2014, and May 30, 2014” in Abuja “directly transferred the sum of N868409,349.00 from your account with Zenith Bank Place to Private Banking Nominee Account 2024414450 domiciled with First Bank Plc, which money you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: fraud…” It alleged in another count that Ms Oduah and Ms Odita, on various dates between March and May 2014, “took control of the sum of N1,225,347,524 transferred from China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) Nigeria Ltd bank account with Zenith Bank Plc to Private Banking Nominee Account No 2024414450 domiciled with First Bank Plc, which money you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: fraud…” It also alleged that under similar circumstances, Ms Oduah and Ms Odita, between March 31 and April 1, 2014 in Abuja “did take control of N500,000,000 directly transferred from the GTB account number 0033880295 account” belonging to CCECC to “Private Banking Nominee account number 2024414450 domiciled with First Bank Plc.” Many other counts centred on transactions involving over N2.4billion which flowed out from I-See Security’s bank account but with nothing to do with CCECC. In one of the other counts, for instance, Ms Oduah and Ms Odita, the duo who featured most prominently in the charges, were said to have, on February 26, 2014, used their “positions to transfer the sum of N838,000,000 from Broadwaters Resources Limited account number 2023201064 with Frist Bank to Sobora International Ltd account number 2022354121 also domiciled with Frist Bank Plc” when they reasonably ought to know that the money was part of proceeds of fraud. The prosecution similarly accused the two of using their “positions” to transfer “the sum of N1,629,250 from I-See Security Nig. Ltd account number 2021756955 with First Bank Plc to Global Offshore and Marine Ltd account number 2022977296 also domiciled with First Bank Plc” on February 12, 2014. It also alleged that Tip Top Global Resources Ltd on April 17, 2014 “took possession of N780,000,000 transferred from account number 0042101097 with Diamond Bank Plc from Global Offshore and Marine Ltd account number 2022977296 domiciled with First Bank” under fraudulent circumstances. In the same vein, the EFCC alleged that Nwobu Nnamdi, Chukwuma Chinyere and Crystal Television Limited on April 28, 2014 “did take control of the sum of N840,613,092.28 transferred to the account of Crystal

Post Date : February 16, 2021

Many Herdsmen Being Prosecuted For Alleged Killings — Presidency

The Presidency yesterday said many herdsmen were undergoing trials and prosecuted in several parts of Nigeria for alleged killings and criminal activities. A presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, said this on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, monitored by our reporter. H was reacting to reports that the President Muhammadu Buhari’s silence on the farmers-herders crisis parts of the country was bolstering and shielding crimes allegedly committed by herders. Shehu challenged the Nigeria Police Force to publish names of herders undergoing trials. He also said the president was not complicit in the herdsmen crisis. “The president is more than concerned of the ongoing situation, he is fully conscious of the fact that it is the responsibility of his government to work with Nigerians to secure lives and stop the ongoing crisis whether they are kidnappings or the new line of ethnic violence. He condemns it and he does not support it. “Having spoken against it, it follows that all security agencies must take their line of action from the president’s remark and do that which is necessary which is to stop the escalation of the violent attacks being witnessed in some parts of the country and ensure that it does not go beyond where it has been recorded.” Shehu described comments made against the president as “uncharitable”, stating that the rise in criminal activities was because the military was overstretched as “they are active in at least 34 of the 36 states of the federation.”

Post Date : February 16, 2021

Okorocha tried to dupe Imo of her varsity —Govt alleges

Imo State government yesterday, graphically painted a picture of how the former governor of the state, Owelle Rochas Okorocha attempted to dupe the people of their university after N20 billion of public funds had been invested in the institution by the state government. In a world Press conference in Owerri, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy Hon Declan Emelumba said the current government moved to recover Eastern Palm University, Ogboko from Okorocha when it became obvious that the former governor wanted to fraudulently appropriate the institution to himself. Displaying documents including approval from the National Universities Commission to authenticate the state ownership of the university, Chief Emelumba asked Okorocha to apologize to Imo people for attempting to steal their commonwealth. According to him,”this is one of the most elaborate and devious scam to dupe an entire state of their patrimony using the instrumentality of state power” He said that “from the acquisition of the 101 hectares of land where the said university is located,it was made clear that it was for the permanent site of Imo State University. The government subsequently paid N58 million as compensation to the owners of the land. The money was paid through Moneke and Legal Practitioners of No 5 Emeka Emebo close, Idado, Lekki Peninsula, Lagos”. Chief Emelumba recalled that even the former governor told Imo people in 2012 that he was building a permanent site for Imo State University in Ogboko and that the land was being acquired to host the permanent site, only for him to turn around to try to convert it to his private university. “The approval by NUC expressly stated that Eastern Palm University is the 42nd state university in Nigeria. No where was it designated as a private university’”, the commissioner clarified. In the letter sighted by our correspondent with reference number NUC/ES/529/Vol103 dated 13th April,2016, the NUC confirmed that Eastern Palm University is a state university. It read in part” this is to inform Your Excellency that with effect from 13th April 2016, Eastern Palm University in Ogboko Imo State is formally recognised as the 42nd state university and 143rd university in the Nigerian university system” Chief Emelumba also disclosed that between 2013 and 2019, government funds totalling N20 billion had been expended in building the university. ” These were tax payers money and the records are there. How can anyone with conscience claim that the people funded a private university for him?” The commissioner said government was shocked when Okorocha started laying claim to the university based on a fraudulent public private partnership arrangement.

Post Date : February 16, 2021

COVID-19: NAFDAC Receives Dossiers For Chinese Vaccine, Others For Evaluation – Minister

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has received dossiers for Chinese vaccine and three others for evaluation amid the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic in the country. This is according to the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, who addressed reporters in Abuja on Monday during a briefing by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19. He identified the COVID-19 vaccines as Sinopharm Vaccine of China, Sputnik V vaccine of Russia, Covishield or Astra Zeneca manufactured under license by Serum Institute of India and Covaxin by Bharat vaccines of India. “The National Agency For Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has received dossiers for Sputnik V vaccine of Russia, Covishield or Astra Zeneca manufactured under license by Serum Institute of India, Covaxin by Bharat vaccines of India and the Sinopharm Vaccine of China, for evaluation and validation for use in Nigeria. Some of them are nearly ready for results,” he said. “It is important to stress that all covid19 vaccines carry a certain amount of risk and any vaccines not approved by the Federal Ministry of Health through its Agencies cannot be used in Nigeria. “The government will not be responsible for the safety or efficacy of vaccines given outside the framework of the Government. All the needs of Nigeria have been carefully calculated by NPHCDA and it is possible to accommodate all interests in the framework.” The Minister also announced the donation of 100,000 AstraZeneca or covishield vaccine doses by the Indian government. Speaking on the Ebola outbreak in Guinea, Ehanire said the Ministry of Health is closely monitoring the situation and other disease of public health concern. He explained that “Nigeria’s Port Health Services have been put on alert on land, sea and Air borders and all major hospitals have also been put on notice to alert health workers to have a keen index of suspicion and to check patient travel history, especially at Outpatient departments, and report concerns to infectious disease focal persons and the State epidemiologists without hesitation.” According to him, stricter infection prevention and control measures, including Personal Protective measures, must be taken immediately there is reason to suspect. “Nigeria is willing to send experienced volunteers from our Centres of Excellence on Viral haemmorrhagic fever, to support WHO measures to contain Ebola resurgence in our West African subregion. “It is important to protect the subregion from the catastrophic burden of dealing with two severe diseases of public health concern,” he added.

Post Date : February 16, 2021

We Are Not In A State Of War’ – Ohanaeze Asks Soldiers To Leave Orlu

Ohanaeze Ndigbo General Assembly Worldwide has called on soldiers to leave Orlu, Imo State. The President General of the group, Onyeachonam Onuorah, who called for calm, appealed to soldiers to vacate the town. The group’s statement read in part, “It is condemnable for Governor Hope Uzodinma to lock up people in their houses for weeks without making provisions that will cushion the effects of hunger, health challenges and other untold hardship the imposed curfew has caused in the affected communities. “We hereby caution IPOB and MASSOB to stop making unguarded statements that end up endangering the lives of Ndigbo. “We are not at war with the Nigerian Government and those instigating actions capable of degenerating the already tensed situations in the country to civil war should desist from such with immediate effect. “Why are the South East governors dying in silence? The silence of our South-East governors is no longer golden. You cannot provide your people with security, you cannot take a decision and stand by it. “Ohanaeze Ndigbo General Assembly Worldwide will demand for the resignation of all the South East governors since they have all resolved to die in silence. Some are even abroad and imposing curfew from there, this madness must stop.” Governor Hope Uzodimma had in January imposed curfew in 10 local government areas of the state after a clash between security operatives and members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), a security apparatus set up by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The clash happened after some soldiers were attacked for allegedly assaulting some youths in the town. The soldiers were said to have returned later at night, only to meet stiff resistance from personnel of the IPOB security outfit. Editor’s Note: This picture was used for illustrative purposes

Post Date : February 16, 2021

Students suffer power, water problems as varsity strike continues

The strike by non – academic unions in public universities has taken its toll on the institutions as they battle filth and struggle to keep services such as electricity and water supplies functional . The PUNCH correspondents, who visited the universities on Monday , reported that although teaching was going on , the strike by non -teaching staff had thrown up various problems in the institutions . For example , while refuse has piled up at male and female hostels of the University of Calabar, Cross River State , students of the University of Jos are battling with stoppage of water and electricity supplies . Their colleagues at the University of Nigeria , Enugu campus confided in The PUNCH that they contributed N 500 per room to pay cleaners they brought from outside to clean their hostels . Recall that the non – academic unions on February 5 began a nationwide strike over non -payment of their minimum wage arrears, rejection of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System and opposition to the Federal Government ’ s sharing formula for earned allowances, which gave the Academic Staff Union of Universities N 30bn. The PUNCH correspondent, who visited the University of Calabar’ s hostels noticed that toilets , bathrooms and surroundings were dirty . On Monday , the veranda of Hall 4, which is a male hostel also known as Malabo, and the surroundings of Hall 6, which is a female hostel, were not clean as cleaners had shunned work since the strike started . At the male hostel , a 100 level Computer Science student , who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated , “ Since the strike began , our hostel toilet and the one at e – library have not been cleaned. ” A 400 level Banking and Finance student , who also resides at Hall 4, complained about the dirty toilets and bathrooms. A 200 level Education /Chemistry said , “ Everywhere is dirty as you can see. The cleaners have not been coming to work because of the strike . ” The institution ’ s Public Relations Officer , Mr Effiong Eyo, said , “ The students ’ sanitation committees in hostels have been activated . They are in charge of cleaning the hostels for now . Management through the Dean of Students Affairs has provided materials for cleaning to the various hostels. The exercise is being moderated by the office of the Dean of Students Affairs. This will continue till the strike is called off. ” At the University of Jos , it was learnt that apart from water scarcity at Naraguta , Abuja and the Village hostels , all the campuses had been without electricity since the strike began. When one of our correspondents visited the Blocks A and B of the Naraguta hostel on Monday , students lamented the difficult situation they were going through as a result of the strike . Some of the students , who were seen with buckets of water , were returning from a nearby secondary school opposite the hostel where they had gone to fetch water. A 300 Level English Literature student among them , who declined to give his name, said , “ This ( water scarcity ) has been the situation since we resumed . We also don’ t have electricity . Every day , we go outside to beg for water. We cannot use the hostel toilets because the whole place is in a mess and we have to wait till night to do that thing ( defecate) in the nearby bush . If you go to Abuja and Village hostels , the situation is the same. ” The Students Union Government president of the university, Biringmiap Peter , said he no longer slept in the hostel due pressure from students . “ There are lots of challenges to be addressed. Students even accuse me of covering up for the management which is not true” , he said Some lecturers lamented that the strike had affected the teaching of science courses . “ You can’ t teach some subjects without experiments and the lab attendants who should be available with the necessary materials have locked their offices . So , the situation is really frustrating , “ one of them lamented. The University Deputy Registrar , Information and Publications, Abdullahi Abdullahi , when contacted declined to comment on the issues describing them as “ union matters . ” He said “ I cannot comment on the strike because the issues concern the unions and not the university. ” At the Enugu Campus of the University of Nigeria , some students , who spoke to one of our correspondents decried the filthy state of the hostels. Some of them said they paid cleaners to clean their hostels. A student , Oforkansi Gabriel , said the situation in the hostels was unbearable . According to him , the student leader in the hostels brought cleaners from outside and students contributed money to pay them . He stated, “ Our own governor ( student leader ) has tried because he went out of his comfort zone to bring cleaners , pay them for the job but we all contribute money . “ Without that , I don ’ t think anybody can stay in this hostel because the situation is quit unbearable . ” “ The people doing the cleaning are external cleaners the students pay . We pay N 500 per room . You count the number of the rooms in the hostels and multiple it by the amount. ” Another student , Ogechi Ani , said , “ We pay cleaners to help us clean the hostels. The strike is not affecting the students badly. We are attending our classes and we are still doing what we want to do. The lecture halls are open for lectures. ” Also , the Director of Transport , Students Union Government , UNEC, Comrade Chukwu Obaji ,

Post Date : February 16, 2021

COVID-19: Nigeria records 574 new infections, total now 146,928

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has recorded 574 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 146,928. The NCDC disclosed this on its official Twitter handle on Monday. Nigeria also recorded eight COVID-19 deaths, raising the total fatality in the country to 1,761. “On the 15th of February 2021, 574 new confirmed cases and 8 deaths were recorded in Nigeria. “Till date, 146,928 cases have been confirmed, 123,009 cases have been discharged and 1,761 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. “Kwara (98), Lagos (81), Edo (59), Ondo (44), FCT (41), Kano (34), Ogun (33), Kaduna (29), Osun (28), Enugu (23), Rivers (18), Delta (16), Akwa Ibom (15), Bauchi (12), Imo (10), Borno (8), Niger (8), Kebbi (7), Nasarawa (5) Gombe (3) and Ekiti (2),” the NCDC said.

Post Date : February 16, 2021

El-Rufai: Nigeria’s security agencies need superior weapons to fight insecurity, not prayers

Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna, says Nigeria’s security agencies need superior weapons to fight insecurity and not prayers El-Rufai spoke on Monday during the town hall organised by the national security adviser — the meeting had in attendance governors from the north-west region and traditional rulers. While announcing the rescheduling of the meeting, el-Rufai appreciated the service chiefs for their commitment to ending insecurity, and expressed the hope that the meeting will come up with a roadmap to end the security challenges in the country. He noted that security should be the number one priority of the government and collective responsibility of all citizens. “This town hall meeting is not complete without other stakeholders because of the short notice. So, we agreed that this north-west be reconvened in the next two weeks. The date will be announced by the NSA and COAS,” he said. “Bandits now have the audacity to attack the military men. Bandits have become vulgar. Those who are not informed believe nothing is being done to deal with them. “We need to support our security agencies not with prayers, but with superior weapons. Security is a collective responsibility. “All of us, the governors, are going round, talking with stakeholders to calm people down.” Simon Lalong, chairman of the Northern Governors Forum (NGF), urged Nigerians to learn to live in peace, irrespective of religious and ethnic differences. “I came to add my voice on behalf of the entire northern governors. When looking for peace, we have no religion other than peace. We are determined to work for peace in the north and the entire country,” Lalong said. On his part, Aminu Masari, governor of Katsina state, said government will keep working until everyone is secured. “Security is community-based. All of us must go back to our community to ensure the security of the areas,” he said. “It is our responsibility to provide security. We take responsibility to protect the people, irrespective of tribe, religion and where they come from.” In his remarks, Babagana Monguno, national security adviser, said some Nigerians believe that the country has come to a dead end, owing to the rising insecurity in the nation. Monguno noted that though security is the responsibility of the government, tackling insecurity requires a multifaceted approach. He added that President Muhammadu Buhari is deeply worried about the issue and determined to end the menace. “Buhari is worried and deeply concerned over wanton killings, not only in the north-west but in the whole country,” Monguno said. “We have a lot of suspicious people undermining government efforts. Some of us are spiritual in our thinking. Some believe that we have come to a dead end. “This is not the end of time as predicted in the Bible. It is in the book of Matthew that when you see brothers killing brothers, son killing father, nations fighting nations, the end of time has come. But this is not the issue with our country. “It is true that security is the fundamental responsibility of government. Insecurity requires a multifaceted approach to overcome it. With the new service chiefs, there is a new dimension to ending insecurity “President Buhari is determined to end insecurity in the country. All the tiers of government must cooperate on security. “It is possible that other people outside the government are sabotaging government’s efforts, but the government will not give up.” A couple, Ebiesuwa Abayomi Fredrick and his wife, Tinuola Idayat Oyegunle, have been sentenced to 40 years imprisonment each. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State today, February 15, 2021, found them guilty on all four counts of conspiracy and obtaining by false pretense brought against them by the Ibadan Zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The couple, in a classic advance fee fraud scheme, fleeced one Dunni Olateru Olagbegi N53, 713, 260.00 (Fifty-Three Million, Seven Hundred and Thirteen Thousand, Two Hundred and Sixty Naira) in cash and bank transfer through a spiritual cleansing gambit in order to avoid the calamitous consequence of mysterious sudden death having heard conversation by a syndicate about a Ghana- Must –Go bag stuffed with United States Dollar bills in the boot of a car. She was also tricked into bringing funds to cleanse supposed USD bills. The victim had sometimes in May 2013, boarded a taxi cab with three other passengers who, unknown to her, were members of a syndicate of fraudsters. As soon as she entered the vehicle, she heard the three other supposed passengers arguing about a Ghana-Must-Go bag filled with US Dollars in the boot of the car. Moments later, one of the syndicate members told her that she must be cleansed to avert sudden and mysterious death having heard their discussion. She was taken to an unknown destination, where she subsequently started giving the defendants, and the other members of the syndicate (at large) various sums in cash and bank payment totaling N53, 713, 260.00 (Fifty-Three Million, Seven Hundred and Thirteen Thousand, Two Hundred and Sixty Naira) to buy instruments for the cleansing of United States Dollar notes, which she allegedly sourced from the sale of her properties in both Ibadan and Lagos. In the course of the investigation, It was discovered that over N9m ( Nine Million Naira) was paid into the second defendant, Tinuola Idayat Oyegunle’s account domiciled in one of the third generation banks; apart from other funds traced to the first defendant, Ebiesuwa Abayomi Fredrick’s account. It was also discovered that the first defendant built Victoria East Park Hotel & Suite located at Igbogbo, Ikorodu, Lagos State from the proceeds of the crime. In his judgment today, Justice Abdulmalik found the couple guilty of the four-count charge and sentenced both of them to 10 years imprisonment on each of the four counts. However, while Ebiesuwa’s prison term takes effect from June 19, 2017, when he was arrested, Tinuola’s time in the Custodial Centre will start counting from May 26, 2017, when she was arrested.

Post Date : February 16, 2021

Customs Seizes N870m Drugs, Others In South East, South South

Officials of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone C of the Nigeria Customs Service in the South-South and South-East, have seized N870 million worth of drugs and other contraband. The operations which started January 1 – 31, 2021 led to the seizure of 1,024 cartons of unregistered pharmaceutical products, 1,046 bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each, 290 cartons of imported Eva soap, 62 jumbo bales of used clothing, and a 2018 Toyota Corolla. Also seized were 1,024 cartons of unregistered Colcap medicament imported from China The Controller FOU Zone C, Owerri, Yusuf Lawal, in a statement said officers of the unit trailed the 1,046 bags of foreign parboiled rice to a warehouse in Port Harcourt from where they were evacuated to the Customs warehouse in Owerri. He said: “Our concern now is to unravel those behind the importation, their accomplices and their antics of scaling through unapproved routes. The negative effects of unlicensed drugs in the wrong hands cannot be overemphasized. “The drugs were intercepted along Ofosu-Benin Expressway based on shared intelligence. Equally, 290 cartons of soap were also intercepted along Aba-Owerri Road based on intelligence.”