Crime Facts

Cryptocurrency: Senate summons CBN gov, DG SEC

The Senate on Thursday, summoned the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria , Godwin Emefiele , and Director General of the Security and Exchange Commission, Lamido Yuguda, over the decision of the CBN to ban the use of cryptocurrency in the country . The decision was taken following a motion by Senator Istifanus Gyang and Tokunbo Abiru , titled , “ CBN decision to stop financial institutions from transacting in cryptocurrencies and matters arising therefrom. ” The Senate asked its committees on Banking , Insurance , and other financial institutions, Capital Market, and that of ICT and cybercrime to summon Emefiele and Yuguda. The CBN governor and DG SEC are expected to brief the panels on the opportunities and threats of the cryptocurrency on the nation ’ s economy . The Senate President , Ahmad Lawan, asked the joint committees to listen to Emefiele and Yuguda, and submit their report for the consideration of the Senate in plenary within two weeks. Leading the debate on the issue, Gyang noted that the CBN issued a directive stopping all financial institutions from transacting in cryptocurrencies. He said the CBN decision was a follow up to its earlier directives in January 2017 and February 2018 which forbade banks not to use , hold , trade and/or transact in cryptocurrencies. He further noted that the decision of the CBN was said to have been predicated on the need to safeguard the Nigerian economy from the adverse effects of the Cryptocurrency regime which are unregulated digital or virtual currencies that are issued by anonymous entities and secured by cryptography . Gyang described cryptography as a method of encrypting and hiding codes that prevent oversight , accountability and regulation upon which the CBN said its use in Nigeria violated and contravened existing law as only the CBN was authorised by law to issue legal tender; He expressed concern that cryptocurrency by nature was anchored on anonymity , obscurity and concealment of its patrons and actors . He said such practise was making it difficult if not impossible, to trace , track and uncover those that may deploy it for ignoble and illegal usage such as money laundering , terrorism financing , drug purchase, cybercrime, among others . He explained that the action and directive of the CBN had attracted sharp reactions from Nigerians and had become a topical subject of national discussion. He said , “ Cryptocurrency is both an opportunity and a threat , hence the Senate has a responsibility to ensure that the nation and citizens do not miss out on the opportunities that Cryptocurrency offers . “ In the same vein , the Senate intervention could mitigate and prevent likely consequential effects on the nation ’ s economy and security .

IGP to arraign Ohakim over ‘threat to circulate nude photos’ of a lady

The office of the inspector-general of police (IGP) will on February 15 arraign Ikedi Ohakim, former governor of Imo state, over alleged harassment of one Chinyere Amuchinwa. The former governor is to be arraigned alongside one Chinedu Okpareke before Taiwo Taiwo, federal high court judge, on a five-count charge bordering on cybercrime. Okpareke was earlier arrested and detained in connection with the alleged offences but was released upon fulfilment of his bail conditions. According to the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/287/2020, the accused persons were said to have threatened to release a nude photograph of Amuchienwa, if she fails to drop the charges of attempted kidnap against them. In the charge dated November 25, 2020 and signed by M.O. Omosun, a lawyer, the police alleged that Ohakim and Okpareke “knowingly and intentionally transmitted communication through a computer system or network to harass and bully Amuchienwa”. According to the police, the offence is punishable under Section 24(1)(a) of the Cybercrime Act 2015. Some of the charges reads: ”That you Chinendu Okpareke ‘m’ 49, and Dr Ikedi Ohakim ‘m’ and others now at large on the 13th day of August 2020 within the jurisdiction of this court did conspire among yourselves by knowingly and intentionally send messages by means of computer system or network in a grossly offensive, pornographic, nude of an indecent obscene and menacing character of one Chinyere Amuchienwa ‘f’ and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 27 (1)(a) of the Cybercrime Act 2015. ”That you Chinendu Okpareke ‘m’ 49, and Dr Ikedi Ohakim ‘m’ and others now at large on the 13th day of August 2020 within the jurisdiction of this court did conspire among yourselves to cause annoyance and criminal intimidation to one Chinyere Amuchienwa ‘f’ and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 27 (1)(a) of the Cybercrime Act 2015. ”That you Chinendu Okpareke ‘m’ 49, and Dr Ikedi Ohakim ‘m’ and others now at large on the 13th day of August 2020 within the jurisdiction of this court did conspire among yourselves by knowingly and intentionally called and threatened one Chinyere Amuchienwa ‘f’ that if she does not drop the first information charge of attempted kidnap against by it and others at large, the nude pictures of the said Chinyere Amuchienwa ‘f’ will be posted to CNN and all over the world and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 24 (1)(a) of the Cybercrime Act 2015.” Ohakim is also standing trial before a federal capital territory (FCT) high court in Maitama on a three-count charge bordering on criminal defamation against Amuchienwa.

OccupyLekki: We won’t allow another protest in Nigeria again, says FG

….Lagos govt warns protesters The Federal Government has said it will not allow the destabilization of Nigeria and the perpetration of violence in the country under the guise of #EndSARS protest. This was stated by the Minister of Information and Culture , Lai Mohammed, at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday ahead of a planned protest at the Lekki tollgate in Lagos on Saturday . Mohammed said Nigerian activists have linked up with their foreign counterparts , including subversive elements , with a view to destabilising the country. This is contained in a text of his speech from the conference shared on the official Twitter handle of the Ministry of Information and Culture, titled ‘ Perpetration of Violence under the guise of EndSARS: Never again – FG . ’ The Minister was quoted to have said , “ As you may be aware, some EndSARS proponents have given notice of their plan to return to Lagos – Lekki Toll Gate to be specific – on Saturday , February 13th 2021. “ The ” Occupy Lekki Toll Gate ” flyers have been circulating online , with the proponents threatening that ” Lagos will burn ” again . “ Let me be clear: While peaceful protests are the constitutional rights of Nigerians, violent protests are not. At this time , the chances that any peaceful protest will be hijacked are very high . “ Based on the intelligence at the disposal of the Federal Government , some Nigerian activists have linked up with others outside Nigeria , including subversive elements , with a view to destabilizing the country. We cannot and must not allow this to happen . ” The #OccupyLekkiTollGate campaigners are kicking against the decision to reopen the tollgate under the control of the Lekki Concession Company. The decision was made last Saturday by the Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses. Don’t cause trouble, Lagos warns protesters The Lagos State Government has urged youths not to protest at the Lekki tollgate on Saturday, February 13. The Lagos State Commissioner for Information , Gbenga Omotosho, made the appeal during an interview on Arise TV on Thursday. Some youths had threatened to hold a fresh protest at the Lekki tollgate over plans to reopen it for operations . It was gathered that they have begun to mobilise on social media with #RevolutionNow and #OccupyLekkiTollGate , with the matter trending as number one and three on Twitter . Information on the online posters showed that the protest is planned to start at 7 am on Saturday, February 13, 2020. Some of the posters have inscriptions such as “ No justice , no reopening” , and “ Occupy Lekki tollgate ” among others . Meanwhile, some youths have also announced plans to organise a counter- protest at the Lekki tollgate on Saturday , February 13. The counter-rally , which is trending on Twitter as #DefendLagos and #DemNoBornYourPapaWell, is to protest against protesters of #OccupyLekkiTollGate . The poster of counter- rally shared on social media showed that it is holding at the same venue and time as the one planned by the #OccupyLekkiTollGate protesters . But Omotosho appealed to the protesters not to “ cause trouble ” in the state, adding that there is nothing to warrant a fresh protest in the state. He said , “ We all saw what happened in October last year . How some of the iconic buildings in Lagos were razed . We saw how human lives were wasted , including policemen and nobody prays for that kind of thing to happen in Lagos again . Because of that, the Lagos State Government has been suing for peace . “ We have been meeting traditional rulers, youth organisations, civil societies , and people we think can influence things for us not to have the kind of thing that happened in October last year . As it is now , Lagos will require peace to grow our economy . We need peace for Lagosians to display their creative skills . “ Nobody wants to go back to the scene of October 2020. We are appealing to both sides not to cause trouble in Lagos so that we can continue to focus on the economic and social issues that are facing us . “ We have COVID – 19, all manners of things that are coming up that the state government is tackling. This is going to be a big distraction . We are appealing to both sides . Lagos belongs to all of us . ”

Imo PDP Decries Governor Uzodinma’s Additional Loan of N9 billion

The attention of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State has been drawn to the action by Imo State House of Assembly (IMHA), granting the request by Governor Hope Uzodinma for a fresh additional loan facility of about N9 billion from Fidelity Bank Plc. And without any recourse to unnecessary equivocation, our Party totally condemned both the request for the loan and its approval by the House. This was contained by the party’s state publicity secretary Ogubundu Nwadike made available to Crimefacts.news “It must be stated that with this fresh loan, the borrowing profile of the State through the governor has risen to an alleged over N64 billion since January 2020, when the Supreme Court made him governor, ” Nwadike noted. “It may be recalled that our Party at a time raised the alert and alarm that Governor Uzodinma was frantically seeking for a N20 billion bond loan. We reported then that after his failed attempts to get any bank to facilitate the bond loan request, the governor got Fidelity Bank Plc to be considering the facilitation of the loan request. Stressing further, “Our Party sees a very strong connectivity that the bank may have decided to grant the undesirable loan with the collateral of the 13% derivation refund fund as a façade and an alibi, and for bank guarantee to warrant releasing the N9 billion loan. “Coming at a time the Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ISOPADEC) is boiling over with protests and office lockdowns for Uzodinma’s non-payment of salaries and allowances, with total suspension and even abandonment of physical infrastructural development of ISOPADEC communities, this loan of N9 billion becomes an untimely and a misplaced borrowing adventure, which will certainly engender enough sorrowing for Imo people of this generation and those yet unborn. “Truth is that Governor Uzodinma cannot continually run Imo State on borrowed funds. There is a dire need for the State’s Chief Executive Officer to devise plausible ways of growing the State’s economy sustainably, without near total dependence on ill-advised borrowings. “The situation becomes most worrisome when statutory allocations to the State from the federation account has remained regular and unfailing. It’s even worse with the draconian multiple taxations and levying of Imo people. “This Party feels that it is too baffling why Governor Uzodinma continually shops around for all manners of loans to borrow, despite the average N15 billion monthly allocations from the federation account plus the average N2 billion IGR, and average N2 billion which he claimed to save from ghost workers and ghost pensioners monthly. “Unfortunately, despite all the alleged near N250 billion total revenue that has accrued to the State since January 2020, Governor Uzodinma still falls short on non-payment of salaries and pensions, and non-implementation of the N30,000 new minimum wage. “This State is still sadly taunted with having some of the worst roads in Nigeria. Imo is still the unemployment capital of Nigeria. It is still counted among the highest cost of living States in Nigeria. The healthcare sector has collapsed, while the education sector is comatose, He alleged. “In spite, of the huge revenue allocations, IGR and loans, poverty, lack, hunger, disease, sickness and death are still rife in Imo State. That’s part of the precarious story of the State under Governor Uzodinma’s watch as at the moment. The big question now is: “To what use are Imo revenue put to?” “However, Imo PDP would dutifully implore well-meaning Imolites to join the organized opposition to dissuade Governor Uzodinma from his crave and penchant for borrowing, as such policy decision unfortunately mortgages the future of Imo State and Imo people. He must work out other ways of generating revenue other than going and borrowing for developing the State and empowering the people. This Party feels that by so doing that would be beneficial to the State and people, than obnoxious borrowings.

Lateef Jakande, Lagos First Civilian Gov, Dies At 91

The First Executive Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, is dead. Jakande passed on Thursday morning in Lagos at the age of 91, one of his sons, Deji, confirmed in a telephone chat with our correspondent a while ago. He was a former journalist who became governor of Lagos State in Nigeria from 1979 to 1983, and later was Minister of Works under the Sani Abacha military regime (1993–98). Jakande popularly called “Baba Kekere” left many indelible footprints as Governor of the state especially in the area of infrastructure development focusing largely on the provision of low cost houses for the people. Several low cost estates were named after him. His government constructed over 30,000 housing units. The former Governor who celebrated his 91st birthday on June 23rd, 2020 within his four years in office established the Lagos State University. Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who celebrated him at the time described Alhaji Jakande, as an elder statesman worth celebrating for his life of consistent commitment to public service. The Governor said Alhaji Jakande popularly referred to as ‘Baba Kekere’ brought a lot of development to Lagos State as governor between October 1,1979 and December 31, 1983 in line with the five cardinal programmes of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), founded by the late sage and former Premier of the Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. He also described the former Minister of Works as epitome of honesty, dedication and service, who used his elevated positions for the betterment of the people he served, especially during his tenure as governor of Lagos State. Sanwo-Olu said Alhaji Jakande was one of the few Lagosians and Nigerian leaders who contributed immensely to the growth and development of the State and the entire country by delivering dividends of democracy to the people. He said the former governor left with impeccable records in Lagos State “and that is why till date he remains a reference point for governors, not only in Lagos but across the country. He said: “Alhaji Jakande’s administration introduced housing and educational programmes that targeted the poor, building new neighbourhood primary and secondary schools and providing free education for all.” More details coming!

Imo PDP Condemns Brutalization Of Journalist By Governor Uzodinma’s Brother

The reported attack, assault and brutalization of Mr. Precious Nwadike, an Imo-based journalist and publisher, has been frowned at and totally condemned by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State. The Party has interpreted the action as another evidence of the sustainable subtle gagging and infringement of the freedom of the press by the current regime in the State. The party’s state publicity secretary, Ogubundu Nwadike said this while briefing journalists in Owerri , Imo state capital . Nwadike said, “From the verified information, this Party noted that Mr. Nwadike was deliberately manhandled by aides and agents of the current regime. That conclusion was based on the fact that it is an abuse of the fundamental rights of a citizen, for even security operatives to mete out physical assault and battery on a citizen even when he contravened a law and was not evading arrest. “Our Party also feels that it is unlawful for a traffic offender to be pounced upon and brutalized by agents of government to the extent of getting broken bones, bodily sprains, bruises and dislocations. From the eye-witness accounts, which corroborated the narrative of the victim, Mr. Nwadike, he only drove in an area where he did not know that he should not drive, because of the supposed road work in the area. “It was further confirmed that on being ordered to drive back and out of the road construction area, he complied only to be rushed at and severely beaten up by men identified as aides and agents of the current regime. It was that unlawful act of attacking the citizen in that manner that makes our Party hold the current regime culpable of complicity in the entire sad episode. According to Nwadike, “This Party wondered whether the fate that was visited upon Mr. Nwadike would have been visited upon any other citizen under the same circumstances. Or was he pummeled to pulp because he is a journalist and publisher, who has been writing and publishing articles that posit opposition to some of the notable poor performances by Governor Uzodinma? “However, our Party strongly believes that Mr. Nwadike must have been deliberately victimized because he is a journalist and publisher who exposes the preponderant negative scorecard of Governor Uzodinma. All odds favour that argument. And Imo PDP finds it unacceptable. “It is pertinent to point out that right from day one of the current regime, there has been an undisguised hatred and malice for the opposition media. It is such that a little after this regime’s 100 days in office, for merely exercising his freedom of speech, Mr. Ambrose Nwaogwugwu, the then Director-General, Imo PDP New Media, was arrested, detained, charged to Court, arraigned and detained at the Nigeria Correctional Service at the orders of Governor Uzodinma. That media operative was detained for a total 26 days before he was released on bail by a Court. To us in PDP, that was war against freedom of the press and freedom of speech by the governor. “The building that houses the offices of “Trumpeta Newspaper”, a prominent Imo-based tabloid was attacked and marked for demolition by aides and agents of Governor Uzodinma because the newspaper publishes stories about the areas of non-performance by the governor. Incidentally, one of the co-owners of the newspaper, Hon. Henry Ekpe, happens to be a the Deputy National Financial Secretary of PDP. Our Party saw that as an instance of gag and muzzle of the press by Governor Uzodinma. “There has been threats upon threats directly and indirectly made by the governor with his aides and agents to media and publicity operatives of the organized opposition in the State that is led by the PDP. This attack on Mr. Precious Nwadike will conveniently make the list of established physical assaults on opposition journalists in Imo State. And the purpose must be to intimidate the press in the State against playing its constitutionally stipulated roles. “This Party, while expressing gross displeasure and disappointment at the continued intimidations, harassments, and physical attacks on opposition media and their operatives by the current regime, reiterates that freedom of speech and freedom of the press are constitutional rights of Nigerian citizens. Oppressing and suppressing citizens, particularly journalists and media practictioners by the current regime is unlawful. “Imo PDP, therefore, charges Governor Uzodinma to rein in his aides and agents, and tutor them on the need to tolerate and accommodate free press, dissenting opinions, and opposition in general. No administration or regime can do without opposition. “On the other hand, the governor with his aides and agents must respect fundamental rights of citizens. Under the circumstance, a violation of traffic laws, orders and directives, should result in arrest and fine, or arrest, prosecution, fine, and ultimately imprisonment as may be applicable in the laws of the land. Physically assaulting a citizen is never a democratic option in a democracy. “Finally, Imo PDP advises that the manhandling and brutalization of Mr. Precious Nwadike be duly investigated to unravel the remote and immediate reasons for his ordeal in the hands of the aides and agents of Governor Uzodinma. At the end, anybody and everybody implicated for taking the laws in their own hands should be brought to justice and be made to face the full wrath of the law. Democracy abhors dictatorship, lawlessness and impunity, ” he added.

Customs order men to invade markets for smuggled rice, other contraband

The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Colonel Hameed Ali (rtd), has directed the CGC Strike Force to invade warehouses and markets across the South-West for smuggled foreign rice and contrabands smuggled into the country. Speaking, on Wednesday, against the backdrop of the seizure of 1,930 bags of 50kg smuggled rice which were evacuated from various warehouses in Lagos and Ogun State, the co-ordinator, CGC’s Strike Force, Zone A, Lagos, Deputy Compt. Ahmadu Bello Shuaibu said the directive was to boost the local production of rice in the country. Shuaibu who lamented the high rate of cargoes that are falsely declared as machinery in other to evade Customs duty and levy said the unit generated N708millon in the last two weeks. According to him, 1,227 rolls of chiffon textiles materials, 18 pallets of perfumes, cosmetics and bags, 2,064 cartons of electric bulbs as well as 1,810 cartons of alcoholic and non-alcoholic wines were all seized and will be forfeited to the Federal Government. He said: “1,930 bags of 50kg of foreign parboiled rice were seized in two weeks. This is to ensure that the country is rid of smuggled foreign parboiled rice as we have instructions of the Comptroller General of Customs, Col Hameed Ali (rtd) that markets and warehouses of smugglers should be raided and smuggled rice evacuated. “Due to the heat from the unit, smugglers have found it difficult to move smuggled foreign rice from the border in large quantity but in batches through motorcycles also known as Okada, but we have restricted them and stopped their operations.” Speaking on the infraction, the strike force coordinator said: “We have various degree of infractions on cargoes that were seized. Cargoes such as perfumes, non-alcoholic wines, electric bulbs, footwears, bags and shoes that were falsely declared as machinery and washing machine. “Perfumes, non-alcoholic wines, electric bulbs, textiles are dutiable but foreign footwears, bags are banned because we have factories investing heavily and employing Nigerians to produce, so we must encourage them to do more and must not discourage them through importation of those items into the country.” Shuaibu further stated that the falsely declared cargoes have been seized outrightly and will be forfeited to the Federal Government. “We are still appealing to our stakeholders that they should work hand in hand to ensure proper declaration and they should join hands and change their habit. Perfume is dutiable but once it is falsely declared, it is liable to seizure. Also, non-alcoholic wines are liable to seizure, we have factories that produces wines so, we should patronise them to boost the economy.” “Chiffon materials brought in as sealing machines when we have textiles companies all around the country closing down. Though it is dutiable but because it was falsely declared, it remains seized.” Disclosing why importers prefer false declaration to honest declaration of cargoes, Shuaibu said machinery pay five per cent customs duty and are not levied while other luxury goods like perfumes, non-alcoholic wines have high Customs duty with import levy.

Senators to Buhari: Issue Executive Order to flush out criminals, ban open grazing

The menace of farmers-herdsmen clash, banditry and killings took the front burner in the Senate, on Wednesday. A motion sponsored by 106 senators decried the pervasive insecurity across the country. Senator representing Ondo North and Deputy Senate Leader, Ajayi Borofice, who was the lead sponsor of the motion, “General Insecurity in Nigeria,” expressed concern that the security challenges have led to “issuance of and counter issuance of eviction notices by some ethnic entrepreneurs and groups posing as ethnic nationalists and champions.” Majority of the senators asked the Federal Government to take firm steps to halt the activities of herders destroying lives and properties across the country. In unison, they specifically asked President Muhammadu Buhari to proclaim Executive Orders to flush out criminals, masquerading as herders from our forest reserves. In his contribution, Senator representing Kogi West, Smart Adeyemi, asked the Federal Government to be courageous enough to seek help from foreign nations. Alleging international conspiracy against Nigeria, Senator Adeyemi who declared that a lot of Nigerians have been victims of the menace of herders advised President Buhari to place the challenge of Insecurity above the fight against the pandemic, Coronavirus. His words: “With the rate at which the security situation is going in the country, it will not be out of place for Federal Government to look for foreign support if we can no longer maintain law and order. This is where international support to fight the security challenges comes in.” Former Nasarawa State governor and Senator representing Nasarawa West, Adamu Abdullahi, however, accused the Ondo State governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, of infringing on the nation’s constitution by allegedly asking people from a certain section of the country to leave his state. “I find it difficult to believe that in 21st century that a governor of a state who has taken an oath to preserve and protect the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, protect the rights of residents, will come openly to ask people who are not indigenes of the state to leave. “We see in the social media houses of people being burnt who are not from the states where the burning is taking place. We have to commend the Governor of Edo State who came out to say he will protect anybody, any Nigerian who is in the State. I believe very strongly that we will make better sense if we set up a committee to find out the truth or otherwise allegations of killings by state governments,” Abdullahi said. His submission was however countered by Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who argued that criminals in forest reserves, not Nigerians doing legitimate businesses were being asked to leave forest reserves in Ondo state. He said: “Ordinarily I didn’t want to say anything until I heard certain things on this floor. I am an Ibo man and our people say when the traditional healer is making medicine for the herb you don’t find pepper nearby because any pepper that goes into the herbs it means that medicine would not work. “I want to talk specifically on the matter whether people were being sent away. No Nigerian is being sent away from anywhere, criminals are being sent away from the forest reserves where they are. So when we now come here and say some people are sending people away, you send the wrong message. “The message is simple, the Police IG has told us these are criminal elements coming from outside Nigeria and what we should ask ourselves is that if somebody is a criminal and he is in the forest what is he doing inside the forest. “We want to differ over matters of this nature to please whatever. What I want to say is simple: we either solve this problem and in order to solve the problem the desire is that all criminal elements that are coming into this country from wherever they are must be flushed out.” Senator representing Ekiti Central, Opeyemi Bamidele, spoke in a similar vein as he submitted that the position of the Ondo State governor, Rotimi Akeredolu was not an infringement on the national constitution. He appealed to his colleagues to play down on primordial sentiment, show patriotism to save Nigeria which he noted was drifting. “My call is that Patriot that lives in every one of us, this is the time for it to lead us. Section 43 of our Constitution which gives the right to every Nigerian allows you to live, but ownership of land is properly addressed by the Land Use Act. Even though I have a right to live in every part of the country, I don’t have a right to trespass on lands. It isn’t the right of anyone to trespass on land that belongs to another person. “The Governors of Enugu, Oyo and other affected states must take charge of security in their States. Criminals must be called their proper names.” Senator Biodun Olujimi asked for a national emergency to address the security challenge in the same manner the health scourge, COVID-19 was being given attention by the federal government. She said: “We are living in denial on the state of insecurity in the country. And I think that it is necessary we declare a state of emergency on the country’s security like we did with the COVID-19 because insecurity has more casualty figures in Nigeria than COVID-19. “We are part of the system, we must do something drastic, we must declare insecurity as a national emergency so that everybody can work on it as we are working on COVID. The deaths figures that are coming out of insecurity are higher than the figures that are coming out of COVID. So why are we just pretending this thing is not there.? Like I said before, posterity will not forgive us if we don’t do the right thing.” Senator representing Ogun West, Tolulope Odebiyi (Ogun West), accused the Federal Government of indifference to the plight of Nigerians at the mercy of herders. “President Buhari should

Customs Intercept Illegal Drugs Worth N819m In Imo

The Nigeria Customs Service Federal Operations Unit Zone C Owerri has intercepted 1,024 cartons of contraband drugs with duty paid value of N819 million. According to the Area controller of customs FOU Zone C, Yusuf Lawal, the drugs which were Intercepted along Ofosu-Benin expressway were identified as Colcaps Medicament, illegally shipped into the country from India without NAFDAC certification. While also displaying some other seized items like bags of foreign rice, vehicles and second-hand clothing, Controller Lawal said the men of the Nigeria Customs Service FOU Zone C are readily prepared to fight the menace of smuggling in the zone. He advised smugglers to look for other means of livelihood and desist from economic sabotage.

Gov Bello: It Was Fani Kayode that Approached Me For Defection To APC

The Kogi State Governor , Yahaya Bello , has said a former aviation minister, Femi Fani -Kayode, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress. In a video shot during an APC event in Kogi and shared on Wednesday, Bello said the defection was one of his achievements as the head of the youth mobilisation committee for the party’ s membership registration and revalidation. “ Our brother and friend , Chief Femi Fani – Kayode , has joined our party in good faith . He is joining our party to come and add his own positive energy and make contributions to ensuring that APC is a party to beat . “ Remember , Chief Femi Fani -Kayode is a foundation member of the All Progressives Congress… Now he has decided to join our party, approched me and by the mandate giving to me by our party, I must not segregate , ” the governor said . The Kogi State Commissioner for Information , Kingsley Fanwo, in an interview with our correspondent in Lokoja , said the statement credited to the governor was true. “ It is a video and it is clear, ” said the commissioner in a short reply to our correspondent’ s enquiry about the viral video. However, Fani -Kayode said that he was still a member of the PDP.