Crime Facts

FG Appoints Mikel Obi As Youth Ambassador

The Federal Government has appointed erstwhile Super Eagles Captain, John Mikel Obi as Youth Ambassador to inspire young Nigerians to strive for excellence. The appointment which took place at the NOC secretariat, National Stadium, Surulere Lagos on Friday is another of the Minister’s initiatives geared towards driving a vibrant youth for national development. Speaking at the event, Minister of Youth and Sports Development Mr Sunday Dare, described the former Chelsea legend as a role model whose lasting legacies in football development have continued to have a positive impact on youths in the country. The minister promised to support Mikel’s vision and the vision for sports development in the country and also assured the Stoke City midfielder of the Federal Government’s unalloyed support whenever he chooses to invest in the country. “Time will not permit me to say much about Mikel’s success as a footballer. He is our legend and a role model who has continued to impact the lives of youth positively. “It is my pleasure to appoint you as Nigerian Youth Ambassador. It’s a new portfolio and your role as youth ambassador will be made known to Nigerians,” the minister asserted. In his response, Mikel expressed delight with his new portfolio and promised to work with the sports ministry to foster youth development in the country. “I feel highly honored to be appointed as Youth Ambassador of this country, it is a great feeling. I am happy with this partnership and I promise to do my best to encourage and inspire the youths towards national development not just in football but in other sports like Basketball, Boxing among others”, said Mikel. The event was followed by a tour of the National Stadium, Surulere which is undergoing rehabilitation. The minister stated that a lot of effort had been put into the rehabilitation of the stadium with much emphasis on the pitch, scoreboard, tracks, and the spectators’ stand. He stressed that the ministry had also partnered with a private organisation to change the seats of the 45, 000 capacity Stadium to a standard one. “A lot has been put in place to ensure that the stadium returns to what it used to be. The seats are no longer in line with FIFA standard, but we have partnered a private organisation to have modern seats in place,” Dare said.

Drug test should be made compulsory before wedding – NDLEA boss

The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa has urged parents to ensure that their sons or daughter in-law passed through a drug test before allowing wedding to hold. Through this, the NDLEA boss said the meance of drugs in the society can be curtailed. Brig. Gen. Marwan made the disclosure at a stakeholders meeting with critical stakeholders held in Lokoja by the Chairman of NDLEA, lamented that drug abuse has led to majorly the causes of insecurity in the country. He said just like churches insisted on HOv/Aids test for couples, drug test should also be approved before couples tied the knot. He said parents of both the family should not only demands for such test but be involve in the process so as tonforstall any chance of doctoring with the outcome of the test. He said the process will also saves the couple’s from future marital abuse. He likewise attributed drug abuse to the major cause of Insecurity in Nigeria, described it as a National tragedy that has become the nation’s number one problem. The Chairman pointed out that bandits, kidnappers and several many other persons engaged in issues of insecurity in the country are usually on drugs, says it has become a problem every Nigerian must all join hands together to tackle. Brig. Gen. Marwa says the time for all hands to be on deck and work collectively in steaming the negative trend caused by drug abuse in the country is now, says the NDLEA is resolved to reduce to its bearest minimum incidences of drug abuse. He said the NDLEA is working majorly to fight against accessibility to drugs by ceasing and destroying the intake of carnabis sativa. He added that the NDLEA is equally committed to fighting the scourge of drug supply chain and to discourage the users of the drugs. He described the drug demand consumption level of the country as alarming, insisting that all stakeholders have critical roles to play in bringing down the demand for consumption of drugs in the country. Brig Gen. Marwa urged parents to be observant of their children and wards, also said religious leaders should use their platforms to preach against the dangers of drug intake and abuse. He described parents particularly mother’s, religious leaders, as having the responsibility and burden to check drug intake and abuse, said for the country to come out of the present insecurity it has found itself, the intake and abuse of drugs must be a priority of all. The Chairman commended the initiative by State Government to establish three rehabilitation centres in their state’s, said the NDLEA is also working towards establishing one per geo political zone of the country. He disclosed that the NDLEA is working towards the establishment of Court to try persons involved in drug abuse, assured that it would soon come on board in the country. He assured that the NDLEA is now well positioned to change the negative drug abuse trend in the country, said the coming would work assiduously to ensure that the future of the present and coming generation is not destroyed. Earlier, the Kogi State Commander of NDLEA, Commander of Narcotics, Alfred Adewumi, commended the repositioning of the NDLEA by Brig Gen Buba Marwa towards fighting the drug abuse syndrome to the bearest minimum, said the scourge has negatively impacted the society. He said the Command in the State is not resting on her oars in the fight against use of illicit drugs in the State. Stakeholders at the meeting including the persons living with disabilities, NCWS, NURTW, and others at the meeting promised their resolve to work with the reinvigorated NDLEA to reduce drastically the incidences of drug intake and abuse.

Adesina: Obasanjo should mind his utterances

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, says former President Olusegun Obasanjo contributed to the current chaos in the country, adding that the ex-military general should mind his utterances. He stated this on Friday in a piece titled, ‘Nigeria’s Unity And All The Iberiberism’. Adesina wrote, “The sabre-rattling about Nigeria’s unity and the possibility of disintegration has got to the point of Iberiberism (an Igbo word which could mean stupidity). Some people have no other business than doomsday predictions of a crumbled, collapsed Nigeria, as if they actually fast and pray for that eventuality. “When Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was President between 1999 and 2007, they predicted that he was going to be the last President of a united Nigeria. It didn’t happen. When Umaru Yar’Adua came, they said he was too sick to hold Nigeria together. The country stood. “Under Goodluck Jonathan, they said the man was too weak, and different components of the country would soon say, ‘to your tents oh Israel.’ Nigeria survived. And for six years under Muhammadu Buhari, they have not changed their songs. The Somaliasation of Nigeria was on the way. The Fulanisation of the country would be the final death knell. But Nigeria lives. It trudges on from day to day, month to month, and will surely survive.” founding president, Kenneth Kaunda Death threats: Nothing must happen to EFCC Chairman Bawa, says HURIWA Pictorial: Tinubu returns to Lagos after trip abroad Adesina said though some people dwell on negativity, “some fathers of the land will not fold their hands and see Nigeria go down”. “Fortunately, we have one of them as President now. The young Muhammadu Buhari spent 30 months in the frontlines as a young army officer, fighting the war of unity. And he has said it: we will not be around and watch Nigeria go down. Never. We will rather speak to insurrectionists in the language they understand. And what of Olusegun Obasanjo, a civil war hero. Despite all that he has contributed to the current upheavals by his actions and inactions, words and bile, he says it is idiotic to wish Nigeria disintegration now. Good. But let us put our money where our mouth is. Let Baba mind his thoughts, and his language,” the presidential spokesman added. “Nigeria will survive. The polity will endure. And the component parts will live together in amity and brotherhood. Any other option is Iberiberism,” he concluded. Obasanjo, a military head of state from February 1976 to September 1979, was Nigeria’s democratically elected president between May 1999 and May 2007.

President has power to extend IGP’s tenure ― Court

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Friday dismissed the suit challenging the legality of the three-month tenure extension which President Muhammadu Buhari gave the immediate past Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu. An Abuja based legal practitioner, Maxwell Okpara had, in his suit which has the President and three others as defendants, prayed the court to declare the continued stay of Adamu as IGP, as illegal and unconstitutional. Delivering judgement in the suit on Friday, the trial Judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed held that the President who is vested with the constitutional powers to appoint a serving Police Officer as IGP, in consultation with the Police Council also has the power to extend the tenure pending when a substantial IGP to avoid creating a vacuum. According to the Judge, Police Act the Constitution are clear on the appointment of IGP but are silent on the extension of the tenure of the IGP, but however added that “Since the President has the power to appoint Inspector General of Police, in consultation with Police Commission, he has the power to extend the tenure to avoid a gap, pending the appointment of a substantial IGP. “The Constitution and the Police Act did not forbid it,” Justice Mohammed held and added that the Plaintiff abysmally failed to prove that President Muhammadu Buhari has no power to extend the tenure of the former IGP, Adamu for three months. “The suit of the Plaintiff failed and it is accordingly dismissed,” the court held. Earlier, the Judge dismissed the Preliminary Objection challenging the eligibility of Plaintiff to file the legal action as well as the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit. The Plaintiff, through his counsel, Ugochukwu Ezikiel told newsmen that the judgment of the trial court will be tested at the Court of Appeal. Besides President Buhari, the former IGP Adamu, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, (SAN) and the Nigeria Police Council are joined as defendants in the suit. While Plaintiff urged the court to declare the continued stay of Adamu as IGP, as illegal and unconstitutional, the Defendants, prayed the court to dismiss the suit for want of merit. Mr E V Elodimuo who represented President Buhari, the AGF and the Nigeria Police Council, argued that the decision to retain Adamu as the IGP was not in breach of either the 1999 Constitution, as amended, or the Police Act. He urged the court to uphold the preliminary objection the 1st, 3rd and 4th Defendants raised against the suit. Specifically, President Buhari, who is the 1st Defendant, said he retained Adamu in office as the IGP, in the exercise of the executive power that was conferred on him by the Constitution. He said the Constitution empowered him to appoint a serving Police officer as the IGP, in consultation with Police Council, stressing that neither the Council nor the Police Service Commission, have not disclosed that Adamu is no longer a serving police officer. In a five-paragraphed counter-affidavit he jointly filed with the AGF, President Buhari, described the case of Plaintiff as “frivolous, unmeritorious and undeserving of the court’s attention” and urged the court to dismiss it “with heavy cost”. Likewise, Adamu’s lawyer, Dr Alex Iziyon (SAN), while urging the court to dismiss the suit, argued that going by section 136 of the Nigerian Police Act, his client, could remain in office as the IGP till 2024. The IGP, who attained the maximum 35 years in service on February 1, but got a three-month extension of his tenure by President Buhari on February 3, argued that his tenure never elapsed. He said the new Nigeria Police Act gave him a four-year tenure which would only expire in either 2023 or 2024. According to him, his tenure will lapse in 2023 if counted from 2019 when he was appointed as the IGP, or 2024, if counted from 2020 when the new Nigeria Police Act came into force and prayed the court to dismiss the suit. Okpara had, in his suit, contended that by virtue of section 215 of the Nigerian Constitution and section 7 of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020, Adamu could not validly continue to function as the IGP having retired as a member of the Nigeria Police Force as from midnight of February 1, 2021. The plaintiff, among other things, prayed the court to restrain Adamu from exercising any form of command or control over the Nigeria Police Force. He equally sought an order of court mandating President Buhari and the Police Council to immediately appoint a new IGP, in line with the provisions of section 7 of the Nigeria Police Act. More so, Plaintiff asked for, a declaration that by the combined effect of the provisions of section 215 and 216 of the 1999 constitution and section 7 of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020, the 2nd Defendant (Adamu), cannot lawfully continue to function as the IGP, not being a serving member of the Nigeria Police Force as from midnight of February 1, 2021, and therefore all actions taking thereafter are illegal, null and void and constitute a breach of the constitution and the Police Act.” As well as, “Declaration that the failure of the 1st (Buhari) and the 4th (Police Council) Defendants to appoint an Inspector-General of Police as at February 1, 2021, constitutes an abdication of their duties under section 215 of the 1999 constitution and section 7 of the Police Act.”

El-Rufai Sacks 99 Political Appointees

Governor Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna State says the government has begun to implement its rightsizing policy by disengaging 99 political appointees. He, however, stated that the state government had yet to disengage any civil servant as only agencies connected to the local government system have disengaged staff. The governor who briefed reporters on Thursday listed those affected to include the 23 local government councils, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), and the Primary Health Care Board. He explained that the disengaged political appointees constituted 30 per cent of the total number of political office holders in the state. ‘’So far, 99 political appointees have lost their jobs, but we have not commenced rightsizing civil servants,” said Governor El-Rufai. He added, “We want to be fair with regards to civil servants. We had earlier promised that before we reduce the size of the civil service, we will start with political appointees, and we have done that.” The governor stated that the rightsizing of civil servants would still go on as planned because of dwindling revenues that were accruing to the state government from the federation account. He added that rightsizing commenced with political appointees because their details were clearly known, making it more straightforward to disengage them. Governor El-Rufai clarified that civil servants whose veracity of data had raised questions have been given a chance to clear the doubts before any action would be taken. He disclosed that the government has employed 11,000 more workers in the health sector, Kaduna State University, as well as primary and secondary school teachers across the state. The governor also faulted the claims that the salaries of political appointees accounted for the bloated personnel cost of the state government. ‘’In March 2021, the salaries of these political appointees amounted to N259 million, while civil servants were paid N3.13 billion aside from costs related to state contributions to pension, accrued rights, and other personnel costs. “So, it is false to insinuate that political appointees are the ones that guzzle most of the state’s resources,” he stated. Governor El-Rufai added, “Kaduna State cannot continue to use 84 per to 96 per cent of our revenues to pay salaries of less than one per cent of the population. “The rest of our people – all 99 per cent of them, need better schools, hospitals, water supply, roads, markets, and support for agriculture to make a living outside the government.” He also promised that the state government would not reverse the N30,000 minimum wage that it has started paying.

Enugu villagers set man’s houses ablaze for killing teenager

Angry youths in Ikem Ogor community in Isi-Uzo council area of Enugu State have set ablaze houses belonging to the family of one Lawrence Ezeoha popularly known as ‘Oshionwu’ for allegedly killing a mentally deranged teenager. The 70 year-old Oshionwu, was said to have shot dead the mentally deranged 19 year-old boy identified as Ifeanyi and popularly known as ‘Agudo’ on Wednesday for accusing him of being responsible for his mental ill health. The deceased according to village sources, was said to be riding commercial motorcycle otherwise known as (Okada) before his mental illness started few months ago. It was learned that trouble started when Agudo allegedly strayed into Ezeoha’s compound Wednesday morning and refused to leave the compound. Angered by the deceased refusal to leave his compound, Oshionwu, who the deceased had constantly accused of being responsible for his mental illness, went inside his house, took his dane gun and shot him on the chest. One of the villagers told our correspondent, “Some boys took him to Ikem General Hospital but on arrival to the hospital, he was pronounced dead by doctors on duty. “This development angered the youths of the community and they quickly mobilized themselves, went and razed down houses belonging to him and that of his son. “So the youths wanted to kill the man too but he quickly rushed to the police before they arrived. Left with no other choice, they destroyed everything in his house and set it ablaze. They also went and set ablaze the house his son newly constructed.” When contacted on telephone phone, the State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Daniel Ndukwe said he had not been briefed about the incident.

Voters’ registration to resume June 28 –INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission has declared its readiness to resume the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration scheduled for June 28. This was made known on Thursday by the INEC Deputy Director of Voter Education Division, Mary Nkem, at a roadshow on the CVR organised by the commission in Abuja. According to Nkem, the exercise would be taking place from 9 am to 3 pm from Monday to Friday, excluding weekends. “It will involve two processes, that is, online pre-registration and physical registration. “ So, people can sit in the comfort of their homes and login details for registration. “Then go to any of our local government or state office to capture their biometrics and photographs; or you appear physically at any designated register,” she said. She also said that the commission would come up with the guidelines for the collection of permanent voters’ card. At the road show were INEC staff members from the voter education and publicity department, members of the National Youth Service Corps, among others. The road show was to create awareness and to mobilise eligible voters in Abuja for the resumption of the exercise. “It is also to let FCT residents know those who are being targeted in the exercise; those who have turned 18 after the last registration exercise, or those who are more than 18 years but have never registered. “This exercise is also for those who have issues with their accreditation during the past elections, those who have issues with their Permanent Voter Cards or their biometric details,” Nkem explained. (NAN)

Buhari Tasks MTN To Reduce Data Prices For Nigerians

President Muhammadu Buhari has urged the MTN Group to make available top-of-the-range service to its Nigerian subscribers and at cheaper rates. The president made the call when he received in audience members of the board of MTN Group, led by its President and Chief Executive Officer, Ralph Mupita, at the State House, Abuja, on Friday. Buhari said: “I congratulate you on your appointment as the Group President of MTN. I wish you all the best. “Nigeria is your most lucrative market in Africa, Asia and the Middle East as well as the source of a third of the income of the entire MTN Group. “As such, we urge you to offer top-of-the-range and affordable services to Nigerians. “As we seek to make broadband widely available and affordable, we urge MTN to continue to support our efforts by expanding high-quality connectivity to Nigerians in un-served and under-served areas.” Indigenous content The president also called on the group to support the implementation of the National Policy for the Promotion of Indigenous Content in the Nigerian telecommunications sector. “I recently unveiled and launched the National Policy for the Promotion of Indigenous Content in the Nigerian telecommunications sector. “I call on MTN to support the implementation of this policy and, train and engage more Nigerians in your company. “In particular, we will like you to continue to support our efforts by improving the quality of service and enabling a downward price review of the cost of data and other services, in view of your large market in Nigeria. “We also urge you to step up your corporate social responsibility programmes and support research and development that will enhance your services in Nigeria.” Enabling environment He assured his visitors that his administration was doing everything possible to make Nigeria investor-friendly by addressing identified challenges. “We are implementing a number of policies and programmes to ensure that institutions like MTN have a conducive environment for doing business in Nigeria. “Our massive jump in the Global Ease of Doing Business Ranking is proof that our efforts are yielding results. “We have identified and addressed the key challenges that affected the growth of the digital economy sector. “I am happy to note that the right of way charges have now been pegged at a maximum of N145/linear metre. “I have given directives for the protection of critical national infrastructure and this has addressed the issue of vandalism of such infrastructure. “Service providers should always appreciate the efforts of government and not undermine it,” he said. Buhari expressed delight that the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector was doing very well despite the global economic downturn. He noted that the ICT sector was the fastest growing sector in both the fourth quarter of 2020 and the entire year 2020, based on the report by the National Bureau of Statistics. “The sector’s 14.70 per cent double-digit growth rate played a principal role in supporting our country to exit the recession, triggered by COVID-19 pandemic. “The growth rate of the sector exceeded four times the next fastest-growing sector of the fourth quarter of 2020, which had a growth rate of 3.42 per cent. This is truly commendable,” the president said. (NAN)

ESN suspects’ll be charged for murder, says Imo CP

The Imo State Commissioner of Police, Abutu Yaro, has said that his command would arraign arrested members of the Eastern Security Network linked to the Indigenous People of Biafra for murder. The CP told The PUNCH that the suspects who he said were unleashing violent crimes on the state would not be allowed to go uncharged. He said that the law was very explicit on the activities of the group, adding that razing public infrastructure and killing of security operatives were an act of terrorism. Yaro disclosed that the legal department of his command would commence the persecution of Stanley Osinachi, who was caught penultimate Sunday when gunmen came to attack the state police command headquarters for the second time and others who were terrorising the state. The CP informed that he had moved his Tactical Units to the hinterlands to combat the hoodlums whom he said had shifted bases to the villages. Yaro said, “The law is very explicit on this. We will charge them for murder. Their activities are terrorism. They were unleashing violent crimes on the state until we decimated them in three explosive battles in the last six weeks. “I have moved my Tactical Units to the hinterlands because they have relocated to the villages because of the defeats they suffered at our hands in the last three explosive battles in the last six weeks.”

Brother Bawa, take heed before Magu happens to you

By Frederick Nwabufo officer to lose puissance is by maintaining public performance. Having the spotlight on your head could be capricious – because soon you become addicted to the thrills and frills of the centre stage. You speak for excitement and adulation; you become a show horse; a lone actor in your own film. And you must keep performing. Abdulrasheed Bawa, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is a decent young man. He is obviously bubbling with the zeal and commitment to wrestle corruption to the ground. I watched his appearance at the senate in February. He acquitted himself well. He showed smarts, articulation, and robust knowledge of his job. The appointment of Bawa as EFCC chairman is perhaps President Buhari’s most strategic and judicious appointment. Bawa cannot be faulted on competence, commitment, or the capacity to deliver. He is the right fit for the job. However, Bawa’s recent ‘’bow wow’’ utterances may be untoward for the figure he cuts in the eyes of many of his admirers. When you become given to loose talking, you become vulnerable to gaffes. The EFCC chairman said a few days ago that a certain female minister connived with a bank managing director to launder $37 million. He said the minister invited the bank MD to her house to chaperone $20 million in cash for a property. Please note that he said ‘’female minister’’, not ‘’former minister’’ in the interview with Channels TV on Wednesday. Owing to that clanger or ambiguous comment, the worker bees in the rumour factory went to town with fables of serving female ministers and sleaze. Some even did a derisory montage of these serving female ministers. Bawa later put lucidity to his comment when he named the ‘’Dame of the loot’’. He said at a media briefing on Thursday that he was referring to former minister of petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke. Where is Diezani? Bawa had previously said the EFCC recovered $153 million, N14 billion worth of jewellery and 80 assets from Diezani. The EFCC under Magu made similar staggering revelations. Why is the former minister not on trial for allegedly emptying Nigeria’s treasury into her private till? Since 2015, the EFCC has been on the Diezani case but this woman is yet to meet with fate. It appears the EFCC enjoys flagellation. It excites the agency to always regale Nigerians with tales of the ‘’Diezani loot’’. But why is she not being brought to reckoning for her alleged crime? Diezani is having the longest laugh, I suppose. She is holed up in London and biding her time – waiting for the Buhari administration to leave. It is less than two years before the end of this administration; I think it will be one of Bawa’s biggest achievements, if Diezani is magicked into Nigeria and made to confront her deeds. What Diezani’s seeming invincibility confirms is that the hand of the law is not strong enough. Though I understand the diplomatic impediments involved in her extradition, anyone who steals from Nigerians in such a cannibalistic magnitude should be made to pay personal penance. BringbackDiezani. A federal high court in Lagos on Friday cleared Peter Nwaoboshi, a senator from Delta state, of a N322 million fraud charge. The judge, Chukwujekwu Aneke, put the blame for her unsettling decision on the EFCC. She said the agency bungled the case. She held that the EFCC failed to prove the elements of the offences for which it charged the senator. She also said the agency’s case crumbled because “bank officials were not called to testify”. The prosecution of suspects is one of the areas Bawa should strengthen at the EFCC. There should be diligent prosecution. There have been allegations that the anti-graft agency purposely bungles cases of certain high-profile suspects. In the past, the commission was alleged to put up performances in the media only to work in cahoots with suspects in court. I hope Bawa’s time at the EFCC will be less of theatrics and more of conviction — of those eviscerating Nigeria from the udder. Bawa should be wary of certain awards. Ibrahim Magu, his predecessor, was a man who loved awards. Almost daily, Magu was receiving awards from all sorts of people and organisations. He was happy to smile and hold up a plaque even if from hazy associations. I noticed the ‘’award wraith’’ is circling around the EFCC again. The EFCC chairman is less than six months on the job and already the ‘’award contractors’’ are nigh. Bawa should not let himself get distracted. He should not be under pressure to put up performances. And he must not submit to political influences. He is brilliant; he should let his job do the talking. Take heed lest you stumble, Brother Bawa. By Fredrick ‘Mr OneNigeria’ Nwabufo Twitter @FredrickNwabuf