June 2021 – Page 28 – Crime Facts

Post Date : June 19, 2021

Insecurity: Iwuanyanwu calls for meeting between Igbo, Northern leaders

Apparently disturbed by the present alarming insecurity in the country, the chairman of Ohaneze Ndigbo Council of Elders, Chief Emmanuel Iwanyanwu, has advocated for a meeting between the Igbo and Northern leaders. In a statement issued in Owerri on Saturday, Iwuanyanwu advised the leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo, under Prof. George Obiozor, to as a matter of urgency convoke a meeting with the view to finding out the solutions to the ugly security situation to avoid a reoccurrence of what happened in 1966. Chief Iwuanyanwu described the unfolding events in the country as extremely shocking and completely beyond any expectation and human imagination. He observed with dismay that the state of insecurity in the country had reach a crescendo where blood of innocent citizens are being wasted on daily basis in various stages of the Federation. Ahaejiagamba pointed out that the most worrisome is the recent murder of an illustrious Nigerian Dr. Ahmad Gulak from Adamawa State in cold blood while he was on a national assignment as a consultant to the National Assembly on Constitutional Review in Imo State. Chief Iwuanyanwu, while expressing sympathy to the family and friends of Dr. Gulak, the Arewas, other Northern groups and the government and people of Adamawa State, said that he had received calls from Nigerians from all walks of life over the gruesome murder of a distinguished Nigerian. He equally commiserated with all those that lost their dear ones through the insecurity situation across the states of the federation. The frontline Igbo leader recalled that over the years, Igbo people had enjoyed a very cordial relationship with all Nigerians, including the Northerners, pointing out that the Igbo, as an ethnic group are domiciled all over the country. He said: “Wherever Igbo live, they always maintain peace, harmony, obey the laws of the people and respect their customs and tradition.” Chief Iwuanyanwu, who attributed the worsening Insecurity in the country to Boko Haram, which according to him launched violent attack on Nigerian sovereignty commencing from the North East, added that Boko Haram ensured that they hoisted their flag wherever they conquered. He commended the Nigerian Government and military for stopping those Boko Haram insurgents from overrunning the entire country. A former presidential aspirant in the country regretted that in spite of the effort by the nation’s armed forces, the activities of the Boko Haram had spread virtually to all the geographical zones in the North and is fast spreading to the South. He observed that Boko Haram had been joined by ISWAP and AK-47 carrying herdsmen who had launched very severe and unimaginable attacks on many states pointing out that in most of these states, many lives were lost. He said: “We know that no patriotic Hausa or Fulani or Northern leader will ever support Boko Haram. We have refused to hold any Northern leader responsible for these killings, rather we believe it is the common responsibility of all to fight Boko Haram, ISWAP and gun weilding herdsmen.” While thanking the Northern brothers for resisting the temptation for reprisal attack as such would throw Nigeria into blood shed and war, Iwuanyanwu called on security agencies in the country to embark on a full-blown investigation into those killings to expose individuals behind the spilling of blood of innocent citizens.

Post Date : June 19, 2021

EXTRA: Baker: I made N400k a month supplying bread to bandits in Kaduna

Hassan Magaji, a suspect and bread factory owner, says he made N400,000 supplying bread to bandits in Kaduna state. Magaji, Abubakar Ibrahim, Auwal Abubakar and Ibrahim Kabiru were arrested by the police on June 8 on their way to Damari forest around Birnin Gwari and Giwa Local LGAs. At the time they were arrested, they reportedly had 150 loaves of bread at the factory. The bread factory owner said it was a relative who taught him how to bake bread. “My relative, Mustafa Magaji, who owns several bread factories, visited in 2018 and taught me how to bake cakes. I used the N21,000 that I was able to save to start the business and now I make at least N400, 000 a month,” the suspect told The SUN. “The boom in my business began when I started supplying bread to bandits. “Initially, I used to go around their camp area to sell bread in small quantities. Luckily, it was during one such movement in 2019 that I met Mohammed from Galadimawa and he bought ten loaves of bread and took my phone number. “I sold the bread N200 each instead of the regular market price which was N170. The next day, he called me and said that the bread was so sweet that I should bring 20 pieces. “The day I took 20 pieces and I met with three others who were with him that day. They told me that they would like to be buying in a larger quantity and I told them that I did not have enough cash. We agreed that they would pay the entire money before I would bake. “They started with N20, 000 worth of bread and gradually increased it to N50, 000 a day. After removing the cost of ingredients, I make as much as N150,000 in a week.” On his part, Abubakar said he started working for Magaji three months ago and did not know that selling items to criminals is illegal.

Post Date : June 19, 2021

Saraki: Nigeria needs new vision — current system not working

Bukola Saraki, former senate president, says Nigeria’s past and present policies are not working. Saraki made the comment during the presentation of “The Urgency of Now; Why Nigeria needs a Vision of Prosperity and Liberty,” a book by Seun Awogbenle. The former senate president said the “rot” Nigerians are currently facing is overwhelming, adding that the country needs a vision for the future. “Just the other day the Economists’ article on the state of affairs in Nigeria; the title of the article which was ‘Nigeria is stuck in the rot’, emphasises the need for the nation’s vision as emphasised by Seun’s ‘Urgency of Now’ book advocate for,” he said. “So what do we do? Clearly, the policies of the past and present are longer sustaining us. Clearly, the rot that we are currently in is overwhelming. Additionally, it is also apparent that if care is not taken, we may be on the road towards a dangerous path …when the nosediving economy is mixed with the ongoing insecurity and skyrocketing unemployment…. “This is why we clearly need a vision for the future. This is why moving forward, the mainstay for Nigeria’s development agenda must be anchored on human capital development for our young people.” Saraki said for the country to witness rapid development, young people must be integrated into all levels of the country’s development planning. He said the youths must push for the passing of the electoral act amendment bill to ensure that the electoral process is fair, credible and transparent. “On page four of the book, the author argues that the lead thing for our collective future must be founded on the vision and ideas of our young, on this, I wholeheartedly agree with him. As much as we realise that our nation needs the experience of its older generation, we must come to accept that we need the energy, passion, drive and determination of our young people,” he said. “It is the young people of every generation that have the fire to insist on the now. This is because young people understand that change doesn’t come by waiting for it. That is why today it gives me great joy when I reflect on the eighth senate when I had the opportunity to see the delegation from YIAGA come pushing for Not-too-young-to-run bill. “I remember that time that they were sceptical if it is possible that the bill will be passed, but I told them that it would be passed. I am happy it was one of those that we did work hard and it was passed. “If we do want the young people to participate in politics whether they are running for elections or political positions, then we must have an electoral process that gives them the opportunity to do that. Today, we have to be realistic most of our young people have not got a fighting chance in the way we play politics that is really money-driven.”

Post Date : June 19, 2021

Iran’s Raisi Elected President With 61.95% Of Vote

Ultraconservative cleric Ebrahim Raisi was declared the winner Saturday of Iran’s presidential election, a widely anticipated result after many political heavyweights were barred from running. Raisi won just shy of 62 percent of the vote in Friday’s election, according to official figures, on a voter turnout of 48.8 percent, a record low for a presidential election in the Islamic republic. “I congratulate the people on their choice,” said outgoing moderate President Hassan Rouhani, who has served the maximum of two consecutive four-year terms and leaves office in August. Raisi, 60, is set to take over at a critical time, as Iran seeks to salvage its tattered nuclear deal with major powers and free itself from punishing US sanctions that have driven a sharp economic downturn. “God willing, we will do our best so that the hope for the future now alive in people’s hearts grows further,” said Raisi, adding that he wants to strengthen public trust in the government for a “bright and pleasant life together”. The head of the Iranian judiciary, whose black turban signifies direct descent from Islam’s Prophet Mohammed, Raisi is seen as close to the 81-year-old supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has ultimate political power in Iran. Friday’s voting was extended by two hours past the original midnight deadline amid fears of a low turnout. Many voters chose to stay away after the field of some 600 hopefuls including 40 women had been winnowed down to seven candidates, all men, excluding an ex-president and a former parliament speaker. Three of the vetted candidates dropped out two days before Friday’s vote. Populist former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, one of those barred from running by the Guardian Council of clerics and jurists, said he would not vote, declaring in a video message: “I do not want to have a part in this sin.” Raisi’s victory was confirmed Saturday when he received the congratulations of the incumbent and the three other candidates — ultraconservatives Mohsen Rezai and Amirhossein Qazizadeh Hashemi, and reformist Abdolnasser Hemmati. Khamenei hailed the election saying that “the great winner… is the Iranian nation because it has risen up once again in the face of the propaganda of the enemy’s mercenary media”. – ‘Save the people’ – On election day, pictures of often flag-waving voters dominated state TV coverage, but away from the polling stations some voiced anger at what they saw as a stage-managed election. “Whether I vote or not, someone has already been elected,” said Tehran shopkeeper Saeed Zareie. “They organise the elections for the media.” Enthusiasm was dampened further by spiralling inflation and job losses, and the Covid pandemic that proved more deadly in Iran than anywhere else in the region, killing more than 80,000 people by the official count. Among those who queued to vote at schools, mosques and community centres, many said they supported Raisi, who has promised to fight corruption, help the poor and build millions of flats for low-income families. A nurse named Sahebiyan said she backed him for his anti-graft credentials and on hopes he would “move the country forward… and save the people from economic, cultural and social deprivation”. Raisi, who holds deeply conservative views on many social issues including the role of women in public life, has been named in Iranian media as a possible successor to Khamenei. To opposition and human rights groups, his name is linked to mass executions of political prisoners in 1988. The US government has sanctioned him over the purge, in which Raisi has denied involvement. Asked in 2018 and again last year about the executions, Raisi denied playing a role, even as he lauded an order he said was handed down by the Islamic republic’s founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini to proceed with the purge. – ‘Maximum pressure’ – Ultimate power in Iran, since its 1979 revolution toppled the US-backed monarchy, rests with the supreme leader, but the president wields major influence in areas from industrial policy to foreign affairs. Rouhani’s landmark achievement was the 2015 deal with world powers under which Iran agreed to limit its nuclear programme in return for sanctions relief. But high hopes for greater prosperity were crushed in 2018 when then-president Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the accord and launched a “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran. While Iran has always denied seeking a nuclear weapon, Trump charged it was still planning to build the bomb and destabilising the Middle East through proxy groups in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen. As old and new US sanctions hit Iran, trade dried up and foreign companies bolted. The economy nosedived and spiralling prices fuelled repeated bouts of social unrest which were put down by security forces. Iran’s ultraconservative camp — which deeply distrusts the United States, labelled the “Great Satan” or the “Global Arrogance” in the Islamic republic — attacked Rouhani over the failing deal. Despite this, Iran’s senior political figures, including Raisi, have voiced broad agreement that the country must seek an end to the US sanctions in ongoing talks in Vienna aimed at rescuing the nuclear accord.

Post Date : June 19, 2021

Buhari Arrives In Ghana For ECOWAS Summit

President Muhammadu Buhari is currently in Accra, Ghana participating in the 59th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government. The Summit is chaired by Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo-Addo. President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina is also at the Summit. The Presidency earlier in a statement on Friday announced that President Buhari will be joining other Heads of State of Government of ECOWAS for the mid-year statutory meeting of the regional bloc, with the exception of Mali, which was recently suspended from the group. Former President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria, ECOWAS Special Envoy, and Mediator to Mali is also at the event and expected to present a report on his latest working visit to the West African country to the summit of the Heads of State.

Post Date : June 19, 2021

Drama, as police arrest Nollywood actor who hired guns to shoot movie in Delta

An acclaimed Nollywood actor, Mike Omoruyi, is in custody of police operatives attached to the Delta State Police Rapid Response Squad, over illegal possession of arms hired for movie production. Acting Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Delta Command, DSP Bright Edafe, in a statement, said the 38-year-old movie actor was arrested June 15 after a search on him along Obiaruku/Umuedu road in Ethiope East Local Government Area of the state. According to the PPRO, one Lar rifle without a magazine, one fabricated AK-47 rifle, one Air rifle, one Pump action, one English double barrel gun and two toy guns were recovered from him. Edafe, however, disclosed that upon investigation, it was discovered that the actor actually hired the weapons from a 57-year-old Chief Otuya Josiah from Umuedu community for N50,000, adding that the chief had confessed renting out the weapons to him and further investigations were ongoing. Meanwhile, an incessant gunshots in the home of one Monday Igwe at Owa-Alero on June 16, have led to the arrest of the 28-year-old, one Frank Ewere Mafile and one Ngozi Elelegwu and the recovery of the arms and ammunition. DSP Edafe narrated that further that “On the 16/6/2021 at about 1030hrs, The Divisional Police Officer Owa-Oyibu Division acting on credible intelligence that at night time, there was incessant gun shots in Owa-Alero community around the residence of one Monday Igwe ‘m’ 28yrs. “Consequently, a combined team of police and vigilante led by the divisional crime officer stormed the premises at Ale Igwe quarters and conducted a thorough search, meanwhile, two (2) locally made cut-to-size pistols were recovered. “He confessed one Frank Ewere Mafile ‘m’ 32yrs who he claimed supplies him cartridges, Frank Ewere Mafile was arrested at his home and two (2) locally made cut-to-size pistols were also recovered from him. “His confession also led to the arrest of one Ngozi Elelegwu ‘m’ 39yrs of Anslem Street off Ogbocho road by General Hospital Owanta, one (1) locally made double barrel gun and three (3) live cartridges were recovered from him. “He admitted to have sold twelve (12) live cartridges to Frank Ewere Mafile at rate of six thousand five hundred naira (N6,500). “Monday Igwe also confessed that he bought the arms at Nnewi in Anambra State at the rate of thirty thousand naira each (N30,000.00). “All suspects have been arrested and transferred to state criminal investigation department for further investigation.” Edafe, while quoting the Commissioner of Police, Ari Muhammed Ali as currying for more supports, assured members of the public, particularly residents of the state, of the command’s determination to make the state safe for all.

Post Date : June 19, 2021

Civil servants more corrupt than politicians, Senate panel declares

The Senate Public Accounts Committee has declared that its investigations so far revealed that civil servants are more corrupt than the political class. The Chairman of SPAC, Senator Matthew Urhoghide, stated this in an exclusive interview with our correspondent in Abuja. The Senate panel, which is the only standing committee of the red chamber recognised by the Nigerian constitution, is currently scrutinising the report of the Auditor General of the Federation from 2015 to 2018. The AuGF report was based on the audit carried out on the accounts of federal ministries, departments and agencies. Urhoghide lamented that findings by his panel so far revealed that the worst form of corruption, which he tagged, “institutional corruption,” was taking place in the civil service. He said, “Let me say this, we are in a clime where accusations are quick to be made, where people are quick to to condemn, particularly against the political class. “Everybody believes that any evil that happens in Nigeria is perpetrated by the politicians or the political class but we keep telling them that all the political parties put together, in terms of membership, are not up to 10 per cent of the Nigerian population. So, we do not form the greater majority of our population as a country. “Findings by our committee have revealed that the public wealth stolen from the system were not stolen by politicians. “We have uncovered billions of naira stolen from the accounts of the MDAs. How many politicians have that kind of money? “We have been summoning accounting officers, who are civil servants, to account for the stolen funds. We are not summoning ministers. There is no way a minister could misappropriate public funds without the active connivance of the accounting officers. “The permanent secretaries, directors general and executive secretaries of the MDAs are the accounting officers “We have uncovered billions of monies spent without due regard to extant Act and regulations. We are not at war with anybody but Nigerians too, must know that the greatest misuse of public funds are perpetrated by people from the civil service. “That’s the truth and no one can controvert that. It is possible that today, in the presidency, the man who symbolises the office, the President would be blamed whereas those under him were the ones perpetrating fraud.” He expressed confidence that, “the President, who won his election on the mantra of anti-corruption, will approve the implementation of our report when it is passed on to him by the National Assembly.” He said SPAC had been able to establish a clear case of “institutional corruption being perpetrated by the MDAs.” He said SPAC had been able to establish a clear case of “institutional corruption being perpetrated by the MDAs.” Read Also Politicians’ gab of false prophecy FG stops salaries of 331 civil servants over IPPIS FG suspends salaries of 331 civil servants He said the erring agencies refused to either pay required taxes to government or were engaged in misappropriation of funds approved for them by the National Assembly. He said, “Those agencies, particularly those that has to do with non-payment of taxes are usually indicted by the Office of the Auditor General when they erred. “They ought to have collected five per cent withholding tax and 7.5 per cent Value Added Tax In terms of consultancy, they are expected to collect 10 per cent withholding tax. “Government is expecting revenue from capital expenditure in terms of withholding taxes and value added tax. “On any Federal Government capital expenditure now, we are expecting that a minimum of 12.5 per cent will return to government coffers. It is a way of ensuring that government gets money back when it is spending. “Agencies that erred were told to go and reconcile their accounts with the Federal Inland Revenue Service or pay to the Consolidated Revenue Fund.” The SPAC Chairman said the panel had come up with a new innovation which would ensure that civil servants who committed the infraction were made to refund money stolen. He said, “We also have cases of misuse of public funds and we directed those involved to go and pay. “We have decided to personalise the verdict against the individual head of an agency who stole public fund when he or she was in office and the Chief accounting officer “Any public officer who stole public funds some 10 years ago, would be contacted and made to give account, they risked being jailed if they failed to refund the money they stole while in office. There must be consequences or repercussions for certain misdeeds. “Somebody who stole N10m about years ago would have invested it and he would be richer and financially comfortable to pay now.”

Post Date : June 19, 2021

16-year-old girl ‘kidnaps self’, demands N500k from family

The Ekiti state police command says it arrested one Suluka Abimbola alongside Oluwaseun Olajide, her boyfriend, for alleged conspiracy and self-kidnapping. In a statement on Friday, Abutu Sunday, police public relations officer, said the sister of the 16-year-old Abimbola had gone to the police station in Iyin Ekiti area of the state to complain that her sibling had not returned from school. Abutu said the sister narrated that when Abimbola’s phone was called, an unknown person answered call and informed them that she was in his custody and would not release her until a ransom of N500,000 was paid. He said further investigation led to the arrest of Abimbola who reportedly confessed to the crime and said she wanted to use the money to relocate from Ekiti. “It would be recalled that on the 16/06/2021 at about 1140hrs, one Bolaji Femi of Bawa Estate, Ado-Ekiti, came to New Iyin Divisional Police Headquarters and reported that her sister, one Suluka Abimbola left home for School at Christ School, Ado-Ekiti, on 15/06/2021 and did not return home,” he said. “She further narrated that when Suluka Abimbola’s GSM number was called, an unknown person picked and confirmed that Suluka Abimbola was in their custody but would not be released until a ransom of five hundred thousand naira(#500,000:00) is paid to a particular Union Bank Account belonging to one Adisa Damilola. “The case was immediately transferred to the Anti-kidnapping Unit of the State CID where the owner of the account, one ADISA DAMILOLA ‘f’ who is also a friend to Oluwaseun Daniel Olajide, was tracked and arrested. Adisa Damilola led the Operatives of the Anti-kidnapping Unit to Alex Grace Hotel, along Housing, Ado-Ekiti, where Suluka Abimbola and her boyfriend, Oluwaseun Daniel Olajide, alongside one other accomplice, ADEFOLAJU CALEB ‘m’ 23, were lodging and were arrested. “During interrogation, Suluka Abimbola confessed to the commission of the crime as well as Oluwaseun Daniel Olajide and Adefolaju Caleb. Suluka Abimbola said she decided to conspire with the other suspects to do that in order for her to raise money from her family members to enable her relocate from Ekiti State since her Mother insisted that she goes through medical field as against her dream of becoming an Actress.” The PPRO added that Tunde Mobayo, the state commissioner of police, has directed an investigation into the incident for further action and “to serve as a deterrent to other criminally minded persons in the society.

Post Date : June 19, 2021

ASUU threatens strike over non payment of salaries, remittance of check off dues

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU), has threatened to go on strike again over the ‘blatant’ refusal of the Accountant General of the Federation, Mr Ahmed Idris to pay the salaries and remittance of check-off dues of over 1000 staff for 13 months. The ASUU chairman, University of Jos, Dr. Lazarus Maigoro, who raised the alarm in a press statement made available to reporters in Jos, accused the AGF of fanning the ember of discord between the federal government and the Union, which may lead to another round of strike action that may spell doom for the education sector. Maigoro, however, called on the federal government to prevail on the AGF to prevent any rift that may lead to the immediate closure of university gates across the country. According to him, the astonishing aspect of it all is that, despite the directive by President Muhammadu Buhari to effect the immediate payments of salaries of lecturers, coupled with the signing of the 2020 MoA, the AGF is still insisting that the lecturers must go to Abuja and register with the IPPIS. He lamented that, “despite the directive given by Mr president to pay the salaries of all lecturers, the AGF has refused to pay their salaries ranging from four to thirteen months respectively. Many of our members in University of Jos and across the country have not been paid salaries from February 2020 to date.” He said by this act, the AGF has completely violated the terms of the agreement signed between our “union and the FGN.” According to him, “Mr. Ahmed Idris, from all intent and purposes, is bent on withholding the salaries of over 1,000 members of ASUU spread across the country with more than 100 of such lecturers being members of our Branch in University of Jos.” Maigoro added that, “more worrisome is the fact that while the AGF is refusing to pay these salaries, his staff in the OAGF are busy calling the affected lecturers and insisting they have to register with IPPIS before they are paid; some are even asked to forfeit a part of their salaries in order to be paid. So it is very clear that this is a deliberate act on the part of the AGF and his staff.”

Post Date : June 19, 2021

Many Trapped As Angry Villagers Block Abuja-Kaduna Highway Over Attacks

Many travellers are currently trapped on the Abuja-Kaduna highway as angry residents have blocked the road over attacks, especially the killing of a 13-year-old girl by bandits. The tragic incident occurred at Anguwar Magaji in Chikun Local Government Area of the state. Residents said bandits stormed the house of the village head and abducted his family as well as other persons in the community. A resident of the area told Daily Trust that they were not safe at home and their farms. “We cannot go to our farms and yet they will follow us to our homes to abduct us for ransom. They killed a 13-year-old girl, a security man in the village as well as abducted other residents including the family of the village head,” he said. He explained that the residents only want security or to be allowed to protect themselves against the bandits. A witness told Daily Trust that the protesters refused to listen to the plea of security personnel who approached them. The witness, who did not want to be named, said the protesters have been out since 7:30am. “The villagers are very angry. They blocked the road and insisted that no one will pass through. When security personnel came, the men withdrew and left their women on the road.” “Some of the women are half-naked. The soldiers were just begging them to leave the road but the men cheered them on from the roadside.” The Police Public Relations Officer in Kaduna, ASP Jalige Mohammed, told Daily Trust that the State commissioner of police, Umar Muri, has directed the Area Commander to visit the scene of the protest and ensure orderliness. He said the police are trying to ensure that the road is open to allow road users access as they meet with the community leaders and the protesting youths to discuss the problem. “There is an incident along the highway but we are trying to control the situation,” he said.