Crime Facts

Leah Sharibu’s parents to Buhari: Fulfil your promise, secure the release of our daughter like you did others

Parents of Leah, Nathan and Rebecca Sharibu have again appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to use the same negotiators, strategies and means used to secure the release of other school children to rescue their daughter, Leah who is still being held in captivity. The grieving parents reminded the President of the promise he made to them through a phone call that their daughter would be rescued, stating that, it has been over two years since you made that promise. Leah Sharibu was one of the 110 female students of the Government Girls’ Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State, who were abducted on February 19, 2018, by Boko Haram. Leah’s parents through an open letter to the President released by Dr. Gloria Puldu, Executive Director LEAH FOUNDATION appealed to him to keep his promise. The open letter reads, “Sir, With deep pains in our hearts but gratitude to God Almighty who commands us to be grateful in every situation, we write this open letter to you concerning our daughter, Leah Sharibu who as you well know is still in captivity in the hands of Boko Haram. “February 19th 2021 marked three years that she was abducted alongside her secondary school mates whom you were able to secure their release on March 21st 2018 barely one month after their abduction. We join Nigerians especially the parents of all recently abducted students to commend you for your prompt rescue of these students. “We therefore want to plead with you to please use the same negotiators, strategies and means used to secure their release to do so for our daughter, Leah. The Kankara boys in Katsina State regained their freedom six days after their abduction in December 2020. “The Kagara School boys alongside other passengers in Niger State regained their freedom after a week of their abduction, while the 317 from Government Girls Science Secondary School in Jangebe town in Zamfara State were released on the March 3 2021, less than a week of their abduction.” It added, “Mr. President, you have promised me on the phone that my daughter will soon be released because negotiations are going on and not long, Leah will be returned home. “But it has been over two years since you made that promise and Leah is now three years in captivity. Sir, we plead with you to put yourself in our position and assume that Leah is your daughter. How would you feel knowing that she is in captivity just because she was courageous to refuse to renounce her faith? “While others were released by the terrorists following negotiations, Leah, then 14 years, is still being held captive because she refused to renounce her Christian faith. Leah is denied her freedom for three years just for that reason. “Now that you are able to find solution to rescue those in captivity, we believe that you should be able to bring Leah and others in captivity home if you choose to do so. The whole world and indeed, the international community are waiting for you to fulfil that promise Sir.”

Teachers protest five years unpaid salaries in Rivers

Teachers in Primary and Secondary Schools in Rivers State -owned tertiary institutions are currently protesting over non -payment of their salaries running into five years. The protesting teachers , numbering over 250, with placards and banners, alleged that they have lost about ten of their colleagues due to the hardship experienced within the period . The protesting teachers , who came out with their children , as well as sympathizers from the civil society organizations in the state, said they were from Primary and Secondary Schools in the Rivers State University, the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education , and the Ken Saro –Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori. They wondered why Governor Nyesom Wike would give N 500million to the Sokoto state government over a burnt market while refusing to pay them for five years and counting. More to follow….

Minimum wage: Protesting labour unions block Lagos gov’s office entrance

Workers under the aegis of the Nigerian Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress on Wednesday protested against plans to remove minimum wage from exclusive list . The proteating workers took their agitations to the Office of the Lagos State Governor , Babajide Sanwo – Olu. They blocked the entrance to the governor ’ s office , halting activities at the seat of power in Lagos . Due to the demonstration , there is gridlock around Alausa Secretariat , Ikeja , Allen Junction, Ogba , and Agindingbi among others . Recall that a bill seeking to remove the negotiation on minimum wage from the exclusive list to the concurrent list passed the second reading in the House of Representatives on February 23. According to the sponsor , Garba Mohammed ( APC Kano) , the bill is to allow both the federal and state governments to freely negotiate minimum wage “ with their workers in line with our federalism . ” But the NLC opposed the plan , describing the bill as an attempt to undermine Nigeria ’ s working class. More to follow…

EFCC chairman, Bawa testifies in N1.4bn oil subsidy fraud trial

Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, has appeared before an Ikeja High Court to give evidence in a N1.4 billion fraud trial involving an oil company, Nadabo Energy. Bawa, before his confirmation as EFCC chairman, had earlier appeared before the court last year as a prosecution witness. The EFCC had accused Abubakar Ali Peters and his company, Nadabo Energy of allegedly using forged documents to obtain N1,464,961,978.24 from the Federal Government as oil subsidy after allegedly inflating the quantity of premium motor spirit, PMS purportedly supplied to the tune of 14,000m. The defendants had pleaded not guilty to the prosecution’s fraud charge. Bawa, in his previous testimony, had told the court that based on the investigation carried out on the defendant’s dealings with Staco Insurance Company, “the Certificate of marine insurance used by the defendant for the transaction in question was forged.” The matter was adjourned by Justice Balogun to February 10, 16, 23 and March 9, 2021 for the continuation of trial. Bawa is currently giving more evidence in the trial as at the time of filing this report. More details later.

Minimum Wage: Protesting Workers Force Their Way Into National Assemby

Nigerian workers in their hundreds stormed the National Assembly complex in Abuja, demanding the withdrawal of a bill that would remove the National Minimum Wage from the exclusive to the concurrent legislative list. About a fortnight ago, the House of Representatives introduced a bill which according to the sponsor, Hon. Garba Mohammed would allow both the Federal and state governments to freely negotiate the minimum wage with their workers in line with the nation’s federal system. This move, the protesting workers say does not work in their favour, stressing that it is an attempt by some state governors and members of the National Assembly to short-change them. The workers under the aegis of the Nigeria Labour Congress and its affiliates forced their way through the gate of the National Assembly despite attempts by security personnel to stop them. They were received by the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Sabi Abdullahi who tried to pacify the protesters who were demanding to speak with the Senate President. With both the Senate president and Speaker of the House of Representative absent, President of the NLC Ayuba Wabba again reiterated the position of the workers, saying if nothing is done to stop the bill, and ensure implementation of the national minimum wage, the organised labour will have no option than to embark on a national strike. Mr Wabba had earlier stated that the protest was to ensure that the right of Nigerian workers to enjoy the minimum wage in line with international standards, is established and not infringed upon. After the briefing, the NLC president and his TUC counterpart presented the letter of protest to both representatives of the Senate President, Sabi Abdullahi and that of the House of Representatives Ado Doguwa. In reaction, Hon. Doguwa assured he protesters that the House will give listening ears to the concerns of the workers. According to him the only justice to the bill is to kill it as requested by the workers.

Herdsmen obstruct traffic in FCT

Herdsmen have continued to move cattle on roads in the Federal Capital Territory in contravention of the ban on open grazing by the Federal Capital Territory Administration. Some of the pastoralists were seen grazing their animals at the Idu Industrial Estate, Jabi bypass and the Gwarimpa Expressway in defiance of the prohibition of open grazing of animals by the FCTA . The Director, Abuja Environmental Protection Agency , Dr Hassan Abubakar , had in an interview informed our correspondent that the FCTA would seize any livestock found grazing in the nation ’ s capital, noting that the one -month ultimatum issued to the pastoralists expired in February . He said over 100 cattle earlier seized were returned after their owners were fined by courts , adding that any herdsman found grazing his animals on Abuja streets would be penalised heavily. Hassan stated that a special team had been constituted to enforce the directive, adding that the FCT Minister , Muhammad Bello, had earmarked five locations for RUGA in Abaji, Kwali and Kuje Area Councils . But checks by PUNCH Metro over several days revealed that the herdsmen were not abiding by the directive as young children were seen leading cattle across major roads and in other places, thereby obstructing vehicular traffic . When contacted about the recalcitrant pastoralists on Tuesday, Abubakar explained that a large number of cattle , which violated the directive , had been seized and kept at a location in the Garki Area 3, adding that the AEPB would continue to sanction errant herdsmen . Asked about the planned establishment of RUGA by the FCTA , the director referred all inquiries to the Agriculture Secretariat . But the spokesman for the Agriculture Secretariat , Aliyu Zakari , denied that the FCT was building RUGA for herdsmen , adding that there were grazing reserves where the pastoralists were expected to graze their livestock. “ It is not true that we are establishing RUGA for herdsmen ; what we have are grazing reserves and those are where the herdsmen are expected to graze their animals, ” he stated.

Many Passengers Stranded As Robbers Kill Driver On Benin-Ore Expressway

There was pandemonium along Benin-Ore expressway in the early hours of Wednesday when gunmen attacked some luxury buses heading to the Eastern part of the country from Lagos. The driver of one of the buses was shot dead in the incident which reportedly happened in between two military checkpoints in Ondo State. Daily Trust gathered that two of the buses attacked belong to the Young Shall Grow while another is operated by Ifeanyichukwu Motors. The robbery attack led to the blockage of the ever-busy expressway by the luxury bus operators. An eyewitness, who spoke with Daily Trust, said the Armed robbers used a Sienna car which they snatched earlier, to block the Luxury buses which left Jibowu in Lagos on Tuesday night. According to the eyewitness, the Sienna car was conveying three passengers but the driver was pushed out of the vehicle before they used it to carry out the operation. Immediately the luxury bus drivers sighted the roadblock, they sensed that armed robbers were ahead and they attempted to retreat but they were waylaid. It was in the process that one of the drivers was killed. A passenger, who was in a bus with registration number SMK 732 XD, said the driver was killed because he refused to open the passenger cabin for the robbers to enter the bus. “The robbers were armed to the teeth. They wore army camouflage. They had already shot the driver of a Young Shall Grow Bus behind us. “The driver whose hand was pierced with bullets would be in his 50s. He must have sacrificed himself to save the passengers because he was the only person who could open the passenger cabin. “The robbers then turned to our bus. We were all lying face down. They shot our driver also in the hand but they took to their heels when soldiers were approaching. After they shot our driver, we had to jump out through the window into the bush. We all ran into different directions in the bush and I even had cut in the process.” Another witness said the soldiers claimed to have killed one of the robbers during a gun battle. “We didn’t see any corpse but they said they carried the corpse away in one of their Hilux vehicles,” the passenger said. As of the time of filing this report, thousands of passengers at both ends of the expressway were stranded as the road is yet to be opened. Editor’s Note: This photo is illustrative purpose

EXTRA: Be patient with herders, Yahaya tells southern governor

GOMBE State Governor , Muhammadu Yahaya , has tasked southern governors , as well as residents within the geographical area to be patient with herders. Yahaya stated this on Tuesday in an interview with journalists shortly after declaring open the state wide vaccination campaign against Contagious Bovine Pleuro- pneumonia ( CBPP ) in cattle and Pestes Des Petits Ruminants ( PPR) in sheep and goats, held at Gadam , Kwami Local Government Area. He said not all criminal activities were carried out by herders, adding that where they are law abiding they should be allowed to coexist in peace . “ It a problem people encounter especially our herders in the South , which is usually attached with criminal activities of some elements which are not necessarily the cattle rearers and herders. I urge them to stay in peace and live in peace wherever they are. “ I urge government down south to be patient and live with the herders especially where they are law abiding and living in peace with residents of those places . “ We need to live in peace throughout the country , so that progress will prevail , so that the economy will improve especially the livelihood of Nigerians, ” Yahaya said .

Gunmen Kidnap 55 In Katsina Villages

At least 55 persons were abducted in different attacks on Katsina villages, Daily Trust gathered. Gunmen stormed the village of Katsalle in Sabuwa Local Government Area on Monday night, abducting 30 persons, majority of whom where women. A resident of Katsalle told our reporter on phone that about 40 of the gunmen arrived in the village around 12pm on Monday, using motorcycles. “When we saw them coming, we hid, we tried to reach out to the women but it was impossible, because we could hear the cries of the children for help, there was no way we could do it, there was a house where they took ten women,” he said. On Sunday, the gunmen reportedly attacked the villages of Unguwar Tukur and Sabon Layin Mai Keke. At Unguwar Tukur, they abducted 10 women, while at Sabon Layin Mai Keke 15 were abducted. Attempts to contact the Katsina State Police Spokesman, SP Gambo Isa, were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report. However, BBC Hausa service quoted him as saying that they were waiting for the report from the Sabuwa Divisional Police Officer.

Malami: AGF office not investigating Tinubu

The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation is not investigating All Progressives Congress chieftain , Bola Tinubu, the AGF, Abubakar Malami ( SAN) , has said . Malami said this during an interview with Channels Television’ s ‘ Politics Today ’ programme on Tuesday. The AGF, however , said he could not say if the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission or the Code of Conduct Bureau were investigating Tinubu since the two agencies had statutory powers to commence probes and prosecute people . Responding to a question , he said , “ The Office of the AGF , as you rightly know , has not taken any decision , has not filed or institute any action before any court in the land relating to Bola Ahmed Tinubu . But then , within the context of the law as you rightly know , the EFCC and the Code of Conduct are all statutory bodies vested with statutory powers to act within the context of the law establishing them . So , I am not in a position to give you a precise answer. “ The Office of the AGF and its arm , which is the Director of Public Prosecutions , has not initiated any proceedings and no investigation has been instituted at its instance by any agency of government be it EFCC or the Code of Conduct Bureau . ” The EFCC had in November 2020 written a letter to the CCB requesting copies of Tinubu’ s asset declaration form .