Crime Facts

Panic as jubilant soldiers kill woman in Imo farm

There was panic on Thursday evening along Owerri – Onitsha expressway in Eziama Obiato Community in the Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State after stray bullets fired by some jubilant soldiers at an army checkpoint at Ukwu Orji killed a woman, Mrs Chikaodi Ofoegbu A source in the community told our correspondent that the 45 year-old mother of four and a native of Umuagha village in Eziama Obiato Community, was farming in her farm, near the military checkpoint when the bullet hit her. The killing of the woman who the source said was peacefully disposed that flared nerves in the community. According to eyewitnesses, the officers were jubilating over the safe return of one of their colleagues, who was thought to have been dead following the Easter Monday’s attack on the army checkoint by unknown gunmen. The source said “The reappearance of the missing officer led to jubilation amongst the soldiers who started shooting repeatedly, thanking God for the safe return of the soldier. “Unfortunately, one of the bullets touched and killed the woman in her farm nearby. The woman was subsequently rushed to the general hospital, where she was confirmed dead.” The president general of the community, Goodluck Ebereowo, who spoke to our corespondent on the phone confirmed the incident. The community leader told our correspondent that he had directed the Chief Security Officer of the community to investigate the incident and get back to him on or before Friday morning for an official response by the community. The Interim management chairman of Mbaitoli Local Government Area, John Eke, when contacted told our correspondent that he had not been briefed, officially. The LGA boss said that he was awaiting an official complaint from the community. The Public Relations Officer of the 34 Artillery Brigade, Obinze Owerri, Captain Babatunde Zubairu, did not take calls put to his phone by our correspondent. He had yet to respond to a text message sent to his mobile phone as of the time of filing this report. Credit: THE PUNCH

Garba Shehu: Adeosun’s certificate forgery worse than Pantami’s past views on terrorism

Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, has argued that the certificate forgery by Kemi Adeosun, ex-minister of finance, is more of a crime than the earlier support for terror groups expressed by Isa Pantami, minister of communications and digital economy. Speaking during a Channels TV programme on Friday, Shehu said the presidency’s response “would have been different” if Pantami had forged his certificate like Adeosun did. Adeosun resigned as minister in September 2018 after it was reported that her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) exemption certificate was forged. Pantami, on his part, had expressed extremist views in support of ideologies of terror groups such as Al-Qaeda and Taliban during his lectures as an Islamic scholar in the 2000s. Although he has recanted the views, there have been heightened calls for his dismissal, with some Nigerians arguing his position as minister of communications is a sensitive one. The presidency, however, defended him on Thursday, accusing the minister’s enemies and some information and communications technology (ICT) companies of being behind the “smear campaign” against him. Asked why the presidency let Adeosun go but is quick to defend Pantami, Shehu said the latter’s case only involved people probing his thoughts during the said lectures. “In the second case which is that of Pantami, you are probing the thoughts, what is called ‘McCarthyism’; you search the inner recesses of the minds of individuals, bring out things they have said or they are about to say or you think they would say and use that against them,” he said. “If Pantami had forged certificate before coming into office, the attitude would have been different. “We don’t remain in the same position, don’t assume that things cannot change. If the one who created you gives it to you that from being bad, you can become good, what says you should deny some other persons this right?”

Politicians Funding Banditry To Run Down Buhari’s Govt, Says Uzodinma

Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, has accused politicians of funding banditry to run down the present administration. He made the allegation on Friday while briefing reporters shortly after a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The governor who condemned the recent attacks by armed bandits on communities, especially in the northern part of the country, challenged the security agencies to urgently reveal the names of their sponsors. He also condemned the call for secession, stressing that criminals particularly in Imo were a combination of individuals within and outside the state. “What people are doing is to sponsor crisis to the extent that those funding banditry are politicians and I challenge and call on the security agencies to make their names available to the press because what they want to do is to distract a government that is focused,” the governor said. He told reporters that it was necessary for Nigerians to offer more support for the Federal Government to weed out sponsors of crisis and enemies of progress in the country. Governor Uzodinma stated that since the inception of the present administration about six years ago, it has been fulfilling its promises of providing infrastructure, jobs, and social interventions, among others to the people. He, however, said it was not out of place to criticise a government for not doing well, noting that he would be one of the first set of people to call it out. “This country is blessed by God. From 2015 to date, I thought what the problem would be people saying there is no job creation, that people are not feeding, that salaries are not being paid, that infrastructure is going down, that social interventions are not approved by the government, but these things are available. “A pass mark for the government of President Muhammadu Buhari. A situation where you will leave the ethical way of playing politics to sponsor banditry to bring down a government, we should rise up and condemn it – all of us,” the governor said.

Despite FG’s ₦15bn Offer, ASUP Vows To Continue Strike

National President of ASUP, Anderson Ezeibe insists that the union’s proposed strike must commence till all demands are met by the Federal Government. The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has vowed to continue with its nationwide industrial action despite a ₦15bn offered by the Federal Government. ASUP had commenced strike on April 6 declared a strike, demanding the implementation of a new salary scheme for polytechnic lecturers. ASUP had explained that its decision to the down tool was to draw the attention of the government to the nine basic needs of the union, adding that the need to release the 10 months in arrears of the new minimum wage owed its members in Federal Polytechnics and the implementation of same in the several States yet to implement the new minimum wage. But briefing journalists on Friday in Abuja, ASUP’s President, Anderson Ezeibe, said the strike will still continue. “Our union received offers from the government during the meetings for the release of an infrastructural revitalisation fund of ₦15billion for the sector and this is in lieu of the NEEDS Assessment report of 2014,” he said. “Following the considerations of the offers as presented, the National Executive Council of our union yesterday resolved to sustain the strike action until the unresolved details in the offer as presented are sorted out in the meetings expected in the coming days.” Speaking further, Ezeibe said two out of three scheduled meetings with the Federal Government have held and some of the demands met, including the release of ten months’ salaries arrears for members among others. The demands met include the reconstitution and inauguration of the governing council of all federal polytechnics which were dissolved in 2020. ASUP’s president explained that the strike will only be suspended after seeing the actual implementation of some of those offers by the FG.

EFCC arrests Bitcoin vendor, others in Oyo

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibadan Zonal Office, on Friday arrested a Bitcoin trader, Ayomide Adebowale, for his alleged involvement in cybercrimes. Adebowale and four others were arrested at two locations at Elebu Area in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. The suspects, whose ages range between 21 and 37, were said to have been arrested sequel to intelligence received by the Commission on their alleged involvement in internet-related crimes. The names of the other four suspects are given as Philip Gabriel, Mayowa Jolaoso, Babatunde Adeyinka and Abiodun Emmanuel. Items recovered from them include two cars, laptops, phones and some documents suspected to contain false information. Wilson Uwujaren, Head, Media and Publicity said, “They will be charged to court as soon as the investigation is completed.”

Three abducted students of Greenfield University, Kaduna, found dead

Gunmen who kidnapped students of Greenfield University have shot dead three of the abducted students. It is recalled that the armed bandits on Tuesday night kidnapped some students at the institution located at Kasarami village off Kaduna-Abuja Road in Chikun Local Government Area. A statement issued by the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, on Friday, said the bodies of three students were found on Friday in Kwanan Bature village, a location close to the university. According to the statement: “The remains of the three students have been evacuated to a mortuary by the Commissioner, Internal Security and Home Affairs and Force Commander, Operation Thunder Strike, Lieutenant Colonel M.H. Abdullahi. “Governor Nasir el-Rufai has also described the killing of three students as sheer wickedness, inhumanity and an outright desecration of human lives by vile entities. “According to the governor, evil would not triumph over God-given humanity. He appealed to citizens to come together against the forces of darkness challenging national security and the very existence of the Nigerian State. “The governor, on behalf of the government and people of Kaduna State, sent deep condolences and empathy to the students’ families and the university community, as he prayed for the repose of their souls.”

Boko Haram defies Ramadan, invades Geidam LGA of Yobe

Suspected armed members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect on Friday invaded the Geidam Local Government Area (LGA) of Yobe state wreaking havoc, as residents scampered for safety. Sources and fleeing residents have said. The insurgents invaded the town with several gun trucks at about 5 pm. Geidam is the home town of the immediate past Governor, now Senator Ibrahim Gaidam. The town is about 200km from Damaturu, the Yobe State capital and one of the border towns between Nigeria and the Niger Republic. It also shares a boundary with Borno State from the north. The town has been attacked by Boko Haram several times leading to loss of lives and property. Confirming the incident, Executive Chairman of Geidam, Hon Ali Kolo told our Correspondent that the armed insurgents attacked the community at about 5 pm and they are still much holding ground at press time. “Yes, I received a distress call this evening that my Local Government Council is under Boko Haram attack. “Right now I am in Damaturu for an official engagement and had planned to return back tomorrow (Saturday), only to receive this bad news. “Presently, I learnt the insurgents are still wreaking havoc as residents flee for safety. “I am appealing to all and sundry to Pray Allah (God) protect the innocent and may peace be restored in our fatherland “. Kolo stated. Details later…

Buhari overrules DPR, restores ownership of four oil blocks to NNPC

Presidentl Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Friday, approved the restoration of the leases on four Oil Mining Licences to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. The oil licences affected are OMLs 123, 124, 126 and 137. The Department of Petroleum Resources had on March 30, 2021, revoked the licences belonging to the federation. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, disclosed this in a statement titled ‘President Buhari restores ownership of OML 123, others to NNPC.’ Shehu said the President had directed the DPR to retract the letter of revocation of the leases. According to the presidential aide, Buhari also directed the NNPC to utilise contractual provisions to resolve issues in line with the extant provisions of the Production Sharing Contract arrangement between the corporation and Addax. The statement read, “In line with the current administration’s commitment to the rule of law, fairness and enabling a stable business climate for investment, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the restoration of the leases on OMLs 123, 124, 126 and 137 to the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, which is in production sharing contract with Addax Petroleum, a company wholly owned by Government of the People’s Republic of China on the blocks. The leases belonging to the Federation were revoked on March 30, 2021. “This development reaffirms the commitment of President Buhari to the rule of law and sanctity of contracts. “While directing the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR to retract the letter of revocation of the leases, the President also directed NNPC to utilise contractual provisions to resolve issues in line with the extant provisions of the Production Sharing Contract arrangement between NNPC and Addax. “The restoration of the blocks to NNPC will boost the organisation’s portfolio, thereby making the Corporation to, in the long run, boost its crude oil production and in turn increase the revenue it generates to the Federation Account.”

UK outlines how ‘persecuted’ Biafran activists can apply for asylum

Under a policy document that has now been withdrawn for review, any member of Biafran separatist groups wishing to apply for asylum on the ground of “political persecution” must be physically present in the UK, TheCable can report. The applicant must also not be considered a security risk to the UK. TheCable had, in an exclusive report, revealed that the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) had released new guidelines to its decision makers on how to consider and grant asylum applications by members of Biafran secessionist groups. Asylum is to be granted to “persecuted” members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which has been designated as a terrorist organisation by the Nigerian government, and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB). The Nigerian government has kicked against the decision while IPOB has declared that what it wants is an independence referendum not an asylum. Although the UK has said that it is bound by certain conventions to protect those in need, the decision is seen as a kick in the teeth for the Nigerian government. The policy document has now been withdrawn for review with an update expected shortly. BURDEN OF PROOF In the ‘Country Policy and Information Note Nigeria: Biafran secessionist groups’ seen by TheCable, the UKVI, a division of the Home Office, stipulates that the credibility of every application must be assessed under ‘Asylum Policy Instruction’. The policy states: “An asylum claimant will be granted asylum in the United Kingdom if the Secretary of State is satisfied that: he is in the United Kingdom or has arrived at a port of entry in the United Kingdom; he is a refugee, as defined in regulation 2 of The Refugee or Person in Need of International Protection (Qualification) Regulations 2006; there are no reasonable grounds for regarding him as a danger to the security of the United Kingdom; having been convicted by a final judgment of a particularly serious crime, he does not constitute danger to the community of the United Kingdom; and refusing his application would result in him being required to go (whether immediately or after the time limited by any existing leave to enter or remain) in breach of the Geneva Convention, to a country in which his life or freedom would threatened on account of his race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership of a particular social group. The subsisting policy on “assessing credibility and refugee status” has been in place since 2015 and applies to those applying for asylum and refugee status. A claimant who makes an asylum claim and then leaves the UK will no longer be considered. The burden of substantiating a claim lies with the claimant who must establish that they qualify for international protection, the guidelines state. Paragraph 339 of the UK Immigration Rules emphasises the burden on the claimant to provide evidence and the duty of the caseworker to assess the information put forward “in co-operation with the person”. The UKVI says its caseworkers must “examine, investigate and research the available evidence and, if appropriate, invite submission of further evidence, although the caseworker may well be in a better position than the claimant to substantiate aspects of the account”. WEIGHT OF EVIDENCE Evidence to be considered in dealing with asylum requests includes: Screening Interview (SIR) Statements made to an Immigration Officer prior to the claim being made, or information supplied when they applied for a visa Preliminary Information Form (PIF) Asylum interview (SEF – Statement of Evidence Form) Other evidence submitted by the claimant, e.g. written statements, newspaper or internet articles, witness statements from family or associates, police or medical reports, political party membership cards Country of origin information (COI) Files relating to previous applications by the claimant or their relatives Passports: where available, checked for entry/exit stamps, visas, to confirm the claimant’s immigration status and history ‘Section 8’ type conduct prior to asylum claim being lodged When considering the weight to attach to any overseas documents (for example, official certificates or arrest warrants), the claimants are required to show that those documents can be relied on. Caseworkers are to “assess whether a document is one on which reliance can be placed after looking at all the evidence in the round”. In practice, this means that “a document must be considered together with other evidence, oral and written, that goes towards establishing the particular material fact”. RELEVANT LEGISLATION The Nigerian government is unhappy with the UK because Biafran separatists are officially classified as terrorists. However, there are legal statutes upon which Nigeria’s former colonial masters might have based its decision. The UKVI says the 1951 Refugee Convention is the primary source of the framework of international refugee protection, originally limited to persons fleeing events occurring before January 1, 1951 and within Europe. The 1967 Protocol gave the convention universal coverage and has since been supplemented in the European Union and other regions “by a subsidiary protection regime, as well as via the progressive development of international human rights law”. Another is the European Council Directive 2004/83/EC which was transposed into UK law through The Refugee or Person in Need of International Protection (Qualification) Regulations 2006 and the Immigration Rules. Other statutes are: Part 11 of the Immigration Rules setting out the provisions for the consideration of asylum claims and reflecting UK obligations under the Directives; and section 8 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004 which requires decision-makers to take into account the claimant’s conduct when applying the benefit of the doubt to unsubstantiated material facts Source: The Cable.

US Dollars: CBN directs banks, forex dealers to accept lower denominations

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed Deposit money banks (DMBs) in the country to accept both Old series and lower denominations of United States Dollars (USD) that are legal tender for a deposit from their customers. In a circular on Thursday signed by the Director, Currency Operations Department (CBN), Ahmed Umar, the apex banking sector regulator expressed concern that in recent times, it has been inundated with complaints from members of the public on the rejection of old/lower denominations of US Dollar bills by deposit money banks (DMBs) and other authorized forex dealers. The regulator, therefore, instructs that DMBs/authorized forex dealers should “henceforth accept both old series and lower denominations of United States Dollars (USD) that are legal tender for a deposit from their customers. “The CBN will not hesitate to sanction any DMB or other authorised forex dealers who refuse to accept old series/lower denominations Of US Dollar bills from their customers.” In addition, all authorised forex dealers according to CBN are advised to desist from defacing/stamping US Dollar Banknotes as such notes always fail authentication test during processing/sorting.