Crime Facts

South-south is not part of Biafra – PANDEF backs Clark, blasts IPOB

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has asked Igbo leaders to denounce the statement made by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) about Edwin Clark, an Ijaw leader. PANDEF demanded that Igbo leaders tender a public apology to Clark in the interest of “healthy relations” between the south-east and south-south. Clark had said IPOB must be dreaming if it believes the south-south region will join the agitation for the Republic of Biafra. In response, IPOB had said the Ijaw leader cannot decide on whether the Niger Delta will be part of Biafra while adding that his comment is one of the reasons ”Biafrans” are being treated as slaves. Commenting on the development, PANDEF, in a statement issued by Emmanuel Ibok Essien, its national chairman, insisted that the Niger Delta is not part of Biafra, adding that it is “puerile” for IPOB or any group to consider the region in any “arbitrary contraption”. PANDEF noted that the influence of Clark transcends the south-south zones, adding that the Ijaw leader has been playing nationalist roles to “stimulate unity, peace and development in the Niger Delta Region, and Nigeria, at large”. “It is a shame that they cannot differentiate between fact and fantasy. This stupidity would erode any sympathy they had hitherto received from the South-South geo-political zone,” the statement reads. “Let us restate, without any equivocation, that the Niger Delta Region is not part of Biafra and that no inch of the South-South Geopolitical Zone shall be part of any imagined “Republic”. “It’s rather puerile for IPOB or any other group to consider that Niger Delta Region would be part of any arbitrary contraption. If it becomes necessary for the Niger Delta people to pull out of this country, we shall do so, on our terms. “Over the years, the highly respected Chief who was a Federal Minister of Information, and Distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic, has in his capacities as an educationist, politician, public servant, lawyer, lawmaker, community leader and nationalist, continued to play vital roles to stimulate unity, peace and development in the Niger Delta Region, and Nigeria, at large. “Though PANDEF assumes no well-meaning Igbo son or daughter would sanction the aspersion by IPOB on our respected National Leader, however, we would insist that the Leadership of the Igbo Nation denounce the irresponsible statement by IPOB. “And tender a public apology to the Elder Statesman, and, indeed, the entire Niger Delta people, in the interest of healthy relations between the South-East and South-South Zones. Anything short of that would be inferred to be tacit approval of the balderdash of IPOB.”

Nothing can stop recovery of Imo properties — Uzodimma

The Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, on Saturday said nothing would stop him from the recovery of Imo properties forcefully converted to personal ownership by top political leaders in the state. The Governor said this while interacting with a cross-section of Imo Stakeholders at Eze Imo Palace in Owerri, to thank them for the restoration of peace in the state. The governor said he believed that by the time he leaves office, the same measure would be used on him should he indulge in stealing government properties. He said he would not be deterred in the recovery process of government and private individuals properties forcefully collected from them. According to Uzodimma, “As I recover Imo properties converted to personal ownership by those who have political power, back to Imo people the same awaits me when I leave office. This is why I want to reiterate before you that I did not become governor to become richer than the state after my tenure but to serve you in truth and with fear of God. This been so, I will leave no stone unturned in my efforts to recover all Imo peoples stolen wealth. “In the last couple of weeks, recoveries have been made on stolen lands, buildings and assets which hitherto were fraudulently converted to personal use by the past administration. “Among the recovered was the former Eastern Palm University now K. O. Mbadiwe University, you will also recall that insecurity was heightened in the state immediately we opened the White paper reports on lands.” Among the stakeholders that attended the meeting, the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Professor George Obiozor, Elder Statesman Chief Emmanuel Iwuayanwu, Former governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim, Senator Representing Imo North Senatorial District, Frank Ibeziem, the member representing Okigwe South, Chike Okafor, Former Presidential Candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Jerry Chukwueke. Present and former members of the National Assembly, Speakers of the Imo state House of Assembly, traditional rulers among others.

2023: CAN pushes for Christian President

The Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN) on Saturday said the next President should be a Christian to ensure balance in leadership. YOWICAN also said rotation of the office of the President will promote equity, unity and peace. It warned bandits and kidnappers to desist from perpetrating evil and put a stop to the ongoing kidnappings and killings. The Christian association also pledged collaboration with Muslims and Nigeria Inter-religious Council (NIREC) towards peace building. These were contained in a communique at the end of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of YOWICAN and read by its National Chairman, Belusochukwu Enwere. Enwere said: “The next President should come 2023 should be a Christian because the present administration, the president is a Muslim and so the President should rotate amongst the Christians and Muslims so that there will be balance in the leadership of Nigeria. “We have competent Christian leaders who can represent and manage the affairs of this country. We urge our leaders to fully participate in politics so that we can produce a good president for Nigeria. “That YOWICAN shall continue to collaborate and work in concert with brothers from the Muslim faith to pursue the desired peace, unity and progress of the nation; and more particularly under the auspices of the Nigeria Inter-religious Council (NIREC).” The CAN youths demanded the immediate release of all abductees and particularly the students of the Bethel Baptist High School Kaduna State, who have been in captivity. The NEC meeting held at the National Christian Centre on Saturday was attended by National Executive Members, Zonal Leaders, State Leaders (drawn from the 36 States of the Federation plus the FCT) and representatives from the Blocs/denominations under CAN.

Igboho: People are working behind the scenes, says Sanwo-Olu

The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has stated that people are ” working behind the scenes” concerning the arrest and trial of Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho. The governor made this known while addressing the Press at the Polling Unit 019 Ward 08, Ikoyi II, where he cast his vote during the Local Government/Council Areas election on Saturday. PUNCH Online was live at the venue and our correspondent on ground asked the governor about the presumed silence of South West governors on the arrest of Igboho. In response, the governor explained that “people” are working behind the scenes, stating that the case doesn’t have to be a public conversation. “These are very difficult times for all of us. I can assure you that people are working behind the scenes. “At occasions like this, it’s not by how many Press people you call. “I’m aware that a lot of people have responses that they are doing quietly and privately and it doesn’t have to be a public conversation. The PUNCH earlier reported that the 48-year-old activist was arrested on Monday, July 19, 2021, by the International Criminal Police Organisation at the Cadjèhoun Airport in Cotonou, Republic of Benin. Igboho was arrested with his Germany-based wife, Ropo, at the airport while they reportedly tried to catch a flight to Germany around 8 pm on Monday. Five days after the arrest and planned extradition of Yoruba Nation agitator, the six governors in the South-West geopolitical zone of Nigeria have kept mum over the matter. The governors are Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Gboyega Oyetola (Osun), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), and Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos). Efforts to get the comments of Akeredolu, who is the Chairman of South-West Governors’ Forum, proved abortive as the Ondo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo, neither took several calls to his line nor replied a text message sent to his line by our correspondent.

Army dismisses video of soldiers destroying crops

The Nigerian Army has urged the public to disregard viral video of soldiers destroying crops in farmland as an attempt to denigrate the Army. Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement, maintained that the ‘doctored’ video was deliberate propaganda by the Eastern Security Network (ESN) to portray the personnel of the Nigerian Army as enemies of the people. He said: “The attention of the Nigerian Army (NA) has been drawn to doctored video footage released by secessionist sympathisers on Youtube, featuring blurred images of some persons dressed in green camouflage destroying farmland in an undisclosed location, recently. “In an attempt to denigrate the reputation and image of the NA, authors of the video mischievously attributed the action of the persons to the military by falsely claiming they are soldiers and invariably personnel of the Nigerian Army”. The Army “however, added following a fact-finding investigation on the video by subjecting it to credible reverse image, it was discovered that the video was first published on YouTube channel “BIAFRA BOY”. ” The investigation also revealed that the image of the men in green camouflage was deliberately blurred to conceal their identity from viewers. Similarly, the authors failed to identify the location, community, or Local Government Area the incident occurred. “Given these facts, it is apparent that the video footage is deliberate propaganda by ESN to bring the reputation and image of the NA to disrepute by portraying personnel of the NA as enemies of the people. “Members of the general public are please urged to be wary of such negative propaganda materials and subject them to thorough scrutiny. We, therefore, urge the public to please discountenance the propaganda video as it is the machination of mischief-makers targeting the Nigerian military. “We reassure the general public that the Nigerian Army will continue to operate professionally regardless of all divisive propaganda. We assure all peace-loving Nigerians of our commitment to aid civil authorities in the containment of security challenges in line with constitutional provisions”.

Police handcuff Igboho despite being in cell —Benin lawyer

Ibrahim Salami, one of the Cotonou-based lawyers of Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho, has said the police in Benin Republic handcuffed the hands of the activist despite detaining him in a locked cell. Salami spoke on Saturday in a Facebook Live Interview with BBC News Yoruba monitored by The PUNCH. He said, “We are five lawyers handling his case. When we visited Sunday Adeyemo at the police station, he was not beaten but what they did that is alien to the law here is that they handcuffed him inside the police cell after locking the cell. This makes eating and movement within the cell difficult for him to the extent that someone has been helping him in this regard. “Apart from being a lawyer, I am also a professor of law at a university here in Benin Republic. Part of what we teach our students is human rights. Human rights frown at the action of the police. “I called the attention of the police commander and the prosecutor to this but still nothing changed. At the moment, Sunday Igboho’s hands are in chains at the police station. This is not good at all.” Salami also said the Nigerian Government’s representatives told the court that Igboho is a gunrunner who tried to divide Nigeria. The PUNCH had earlier reported that a Beninise court ruled on Thursday that Igboho’s Germany-based wife, Ropo, should be released unconditionally as there were no charges against her. The court, however, ruled that Igboho be remanded in police custody till the next week when sitting would resume in the French-speaking court. The two were arrested at the Cadjèhoun Airport in Cotonou on Monday while they tried to catch a flight to Germany. Igboho was earlier declared wanted by the Department of State Services for allegedly stockpiling arms, an allegation he denied. The secret police had also raided his house, killed two of his associates and arrested about 12 of them.

IPOB accuses FG of bombing ESN operatives in Enugu

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has raised the alarm over an unprovoked attack by the Army against operatives of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) in Enugu. It alleged a combined team of soldiers and security operatives on Friday, July 23, 2021, unleashed an attack against innocent ESN operatives at Akpofu Nkanu forests in Enugu State. In a statement by the Media and Public Relations, Emma Powerful, the group described the attack as unwarranted, stressing the ESN operatives did nothing to deserve the unprovoked action. It maintained the ESN had only been defending the communities in the area against incessant attacks and destruction of their farms by killer herdsmen. The statement reads in part: “The hypocritical Nigerian security agents have failed to protect Biafrans against the incursions by Fulani jihadists. “Yet instead of allowing ESN to defend our ancestral land against terrorists invasion, the Nigeria Army and other security agencies have been unleashed against innocent volunteer security outfit safeguarding the lives of Biafrans. “This is the height of wickedness. NIGERIA is aiding and abating terrorism. Fulani-controlled federal government gives tacit support to terrorists but crushes peaceful agitators. This is wickedness and hypocrisy which God must judge. “The same Fulani terrorists masquerading as herdsmen have for years been kidnapping, raping and killing locals in Nkanu and other communities in Biafra land until December 2020 when ESN was set up to flush them out of our forests. ” Now their real sponsors have come to defend them against ESN by combing the forests in hunt of ESN operatives instead of the terrorists. “Since herdsmen started their killing spree in Biafra land, has any of them been arrested let alone prosecuted by any security agency? “Yet every other day the Army and other security agencies have been hunting for ESN like wild animals. “The cowardly southeast Governors and the evil political elite will still protect them. We aware of security operatives were not ESN. The police officers were not killed by ESN.”

Desperation, wastage of Anambra tax payers money will not return Soludo to ballot – Group

Ibe Pascal Arogorn, Awka A political group, APGA Is Our Heritage (AIOH) has warned that wastage of Anambra tax payers money will not return Prof Chukwuma Soludo to the Ballot This was contained in a statement by the group’s chairman Nuel Udeozor on Saturday. The statement reads, “since the publication of INEC for the Anambra Governorship election, which contained the Name and particulars of Hon. Chukwuma Umeoji ksji as the candidate of APGA as against the godson of the Aguleri Cabal, antics have been deployed to massage their frustrations and disappointment. “The cabal have been running from pillar to post sponsoring all kinds of Media grandstanding to intimidate INEC, The Honourable Court and relegate discerning voices of the APGA party to the bottomless pit, but to No avail. Udeozor said that it is unfortunate that Aguleri Cabal in their last attempt to cry foul and mislead the public concorted a YouTube Video to lay claims to what does not exist anywhere. The YouTube video was sponsored by the cabal to discredit High Chief Barr. Jude Okeke, The Acting National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance party (APGA) as pronounced by the NEC of the party and upheld by the Honorable Court, the poor script is rather too late in time and a struggling kick of a slaughtered Horse. “Facts you must know: The video did not go past the Hotel where they assembled for the skit production, it was a ploy to siphon their principal sponsor, unfortunately who have refused to hearken to advice from elders of the party. Mr Benedict Chinedum Okoro who was contracted to stage the video was sacked as Personal Assistant by the former Commissioner for transport Dr. Christian Madubuko for questionable conduct and gross irresponsibility. “Again, The dates and documents are inconsistent with what is in the original documents, hence a poor written script for melodrama and avenue to retire Anambra tax payers money. “It’s though sad that our common patrimony was deployed to sponsor all manner of frivolous activities just to score some cheap political point; we also understand that Jude Okeke has become a nightmare to the evil cabal from Aguleri who wants to hold Anambra State treasury at ransom and hell bent on destroying APGA, hence the everyday gimmicks to discredit the Okeke led APGA after leading Victor Oye humiliation. They have free access to Anambra treasury to spend on whoever that would come forward with any story on how to attack High Chief Barrister Jude Okeke, I hope Anambra State Government can still pay salaries, pension and gratuity with the recent dance of shame going on and chasing of shadows, Only time will tell. According to Udeozor, “Mr. Benedict Chinedum Okoro have made his own millions, another script is being put together by other dubious mind to continue the bazaar at the expense of Anambra tax payers just to get the all round rejected Soludo back on ballot which isn’t feasible.

BREAKING: Low turnout in Lagos LG poll

As Lagosians go to poll on Saturday to elect chairmen and councillors for the 20 Local Governments (LGs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in Lagos State, our correspondent reports that there has been glaring apathy on the part of the citizens as many of the polling booths visited as at 9:30 am were found virtually empty of the voters, while officials of Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) were yet to arrive. At Sunday Adugun in Alausa area of Ikeja where the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, usually casts his vote, LASIEC officials were just arriving at 9:30 am, while few voters were sighted sitting, awaiting the arrival of the officials and commencement of the poll exercise. Few meters away from there, precisely at the entrance of Shoprite, Ikeja, an electoral official was already seated with all the voting materials, but no voter was sighted around. ‌More to follow…

Igboho seeks asylum in Benin Republic

Desperately wanted by the Department of State Services in Nigeria, with an international arrest warrant hanging around his neck, and facing immigration-related offences in Cotonou, the embattled Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho, is seeking asylum in the Republic of Benin, Saturday PUNCH has learnt. It was gathered that the 48-year-old activist resorted to the option after he was arrested on Monday, July 19, 2021, by the International Criminal Police Organisation at the Cadjèhoun Airport in Cotonou, Republic of Benin. Igboho was arrested with his Germany-based wife, Ropo, at the airport while they reportedly tried to catch a flight to Germany around 8 pm on Monday. Although the Cour De’appal De Cotonou ruled on Thursday that Ropo should be released unconditionally as there were no charges against her, Igboho is spending his first weekend in a police cell in Cotonou. He is being tried for migration-related issues after he was allegedly caught with a fake Beninese passport at the point of his departure to Germany through an Air France flight. “He (Igboho) was already at the airport with a passport. The immigration officers suspected his passport to be fake and so they stopped him. A passport was allegedly forged for Igboho in the Benin Republic for the purpose of the Germany trip. At the airport, they discovered he was the one,” a source familiar with the matter told Saturday PUNCH. The source, who craved anonymity, however, said although an application had been filed for Igboho as a political refugee in Germany, processes had also been completed to file another application for asylum for him in Benin Republic. “Igboho has already applied for asylum in Germany and he hopes to file a similar application in Benin Republic in the coming days,” the source said. The source also said that there was the possibility that the Beninese Government would drop the migration-related offences brought against Igboho over alleged forgery of passport. The leader of Igboho’s legal team, Yomi Alliyu (SAN), had also in a statement noted that his client could not be extradited because the 1984 Extradition Treaty between Nigeria, Benin and two other countries excluded political refugees like Igboho. Meanwhile, upon their arrest, Igboho and his wife were detained in police custody in Cotonou but the Cour De’appal De Cotonou ruled on Thursday that Ropo should be released unconditionally as there were no charges against her. The court session lasted for about six hours with intermittent breaks. The court, however, ruled that Igboho be remanded in police custody till the next date of adjournment which is likely to be next week. Credit: Punch