Crime Facts

Igboho’s supporters stage protest in Ibadan over DSS raid

Scores of people have staged a protest in Ibadan, Oyo state capital, over the raid by the Department of State Services (DSS) on the home of Sunday Adeyemo, a Yoruba youth leader better known as Sunday Igboho. Igboho’s Ibadan home was raided on July 1, with two occupants killed. Although he escaped arrest by the DSS operatives, 13 persons found in his house were whisked away after the raid and later paraded in Abuja. The protesters on Wednesday marched to Igboho’s house and subsequently walked through major roads in Ibadan before visiting the palace of Oba Saliu Adetunji, the Olubadan of Ibadan land. Dressed in black outfits, the protesters blocked the Lagos-Ibadan expressway briefly before moving on to Challenge, Molete, and other areas of the city. The protesters included family members of those arrested and paraded by the DSS. They condemned the raid on Igboho’s house, describing it as “illegal, sad, barbaric and a return to authoritarian rule”, while demanding for the release of those who were arrested. One of the protesters who spoke with TheCable said: “What the DSS did was wrong. Why not invite Igboho if you think he has committed a crime?”

We’ve Sent Many Bandits To God – Chief Of Army Staff

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Farouk Yahaya, on Wednesday, said his men have sent many bandits to God to answer for their crimes. One of the major challenges confronting the nation presently is banditry. The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Farouk Yahaya, on Wednesday, said his men have sent many bandits to God to answer for their crimes. One of the major challenges confronting the nation presently is banditry. How angry parents chased El-Rufai’s commissioner over fresh abductions Primary schools shut in Abuja as teachers protest over June salary Speaking with state house correspondents after his elevation to the rank of Lieutenant General, Yahya said the military has been giving bandits a tough time. Asked to comment on Buhari’s directive that bandits and other criminal elements should be treated in the language that they understand, he said: “That’s what we have started doing already. Many of them have been sent to God to answer for their crimes, and we will continue to do that.” The Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor; Chief of the Air, Air Marshal Isiaka Amao; Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), Maj General Sunday Adebayo; Director-General, Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Bichi, and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, witnessed the decoration of Yahaya with the new rank. Prior to his appointment, the new army chief served as the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, a counter-insurgency operation in the North-East.

Lai risks sanction from Kwara APC after outburst against Abdulrazaq

Abdullahi Samari Abubakar, chairman of the caretaker committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara state, says disciplinary measures could be taken against Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture. On Saturday, Mohammed said he regrets supporting Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, Kwara governor, during the 2019 gubernatorial poll. The minister said under Abdulrazaq, Kwara has gotten into “one chance” — a Nigerian parlance used to refer to theft by deception. Speaking with reporters at the APC national secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday, Abubakar said the rules will apply against the minister if his utterances are found to be “disrespectful” or “causing acrimony”. “I still see the minister as a member of our party because he has not formally told us that he is moving out of the party which I doubt if he will go,” he said. “He is a minister of the federal republic of Nigeria where the APC as a ruling party is running the administration of government. “So I don’t think he will want to move out. But from those utterances he made, the party, APC as a structure, has guidelines over issues. “If we feel that what he said publicly amounts to disrespect or causing acrimony within the party, honestly, we are going to make sure the rules of the party are applied against him and any other person.” When asked if Mohammed could be suspended for his conduct, Abubakar said if his outburst warrants suspension, “definitely the rule of the party is going to apply”. “There are guidelines like I told you,” he said. “If the offense is commensurate with suspending him, or any other, definitely the rule of the party is going to apply because nobody is too big to be sanctioned.” Meanwhile, Kwara APC senators have also expressed their support for Abdulrazaq. Umar Sadiq, senator representing Kwara north, Lola Ashiru, representing Kwara south; and Ibrahim Oloriegbe, senator representing Kwara central, jointly spoke with reporters at the national assembly. In countering the information minister, Sadiq said the funds that they spent was raised by the governor. “Our governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, before he became the governor of Kwara state, was a successful person. He is from a solid family of entrepreneurs and during the election he came up with a lot of resources from his personal funds and friends and family. We didn’t lack resources to run our election,” he said. “Come 2023, because of the work done by our governor and the legislators – senators and house of representatives – the whole people of Kwara state will be sympathetic to us.” The senator said they are working to resolve the issues in the APC in Kwara.

Senate Approves Buhari’s N2.3trn Foreign Loan Request

The Senate has approved the Federal Government’s request for a $6.1 billion (N2.343 trillion) loan request. The Senate gave the approval on Wednesday after it considered a report from its Committee on Local and Foreign Debt which it earlier directed to work on the loan request. Presenting the report on the floor during plenary, the Chairman of the committee, Senator Clifford Ordia said the request is not new as it was approved in the borrowing plan when the National Assembly passed the 2021 budget noting that it would be used to fund the budget deficit. President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier in May asked the National Assembly to approve the loan request, saying it would be raised from multilateral and bilateral tenders as well as the international capital market. More to follow…

Fake lawyer arrested in Imo

The Police in Imo State have arrested a 37-year-old suspected fake lawyer identified as Mrs Princes Kate Nneoma Duruji of Akakims palace Orji, Owerri Imo State. The Commissioner of Police, Imo State, CP Abutu Yaro, disclosed this through a statement issued by Police Public Relation Officer, CSP Michael Abatham. He said that the arrest of the fake lawyer followed a fraud case reported to the command which is under investigation. The CP said that information from the palace revealed that, Mrs Duruji had been parading herself as a lawyer to unsuspecting victims when she falsely represented herself before the police as a barrister at law. Abutu said that when the fake lawyer was interrogated, she confessed to the crime which led to the recovery of a lawyer wig conspicuously displayed on the dashboard of her Toyota Camry car with registration number ABUJA ABC 460 GG. The CP said that investigation was still ongoing, adding that as soon as it was concluded, the suspect would be arraigned in court. The Commissioner of Police used the statement to appeal to the good people of Imo State to be wary of fake lawyers and advice them to ensure that, they approach genuine solicitors and advocates. He warned those whose stock in trade is to go about impersonating lawyers to desist from such act as anyone found complicit will be arrested and prosecuted forthwith.

Boko Haram Fighters Kill 18 In Adamawa

There is currently tension in Garka, a village in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State, over a Boko Haram attack in a neighbouring village. Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, hails from Garka. Residents of Garka are currently living in fear following the killing of at least 18 persons at neigbhouring Dabna village. Daily Trust gathered that the incident happened in the wee hours of Wednesday. One of the residents said half of the people living there have migrated to neighboring villages. The villager also confirmed that there are concerns that the attackers could head to Garka. A survivor, Hilda Joshua, said apart from those killed, many persons sustained injuries in the attack. He added that he managed to escape to the bush but that some of his family members and neighbours were trapped in the village. Another survivor said apart from those killed in the village, he saw three corpses lying in the bush around Kwapre, a neighbouring village. Local sources reported that military fighter jets hovered around the villages and engaged the attackers. Efforts made to reach 23 Armor Brigade Public Relations Officer, Major Mohammed Haruna Sani, proved abortive as his telephone line was out of reach as of the time this report was filed.

Dominican Republic closes border after Haiti president’s assassination

The Dominican Republic on Wednesday shuttered its border with Haiti after the assassination of the neighbouring country’s president, Jovenel Moise. The countries share a 380-kilometer (240-mile) border on the island of Hispaniola, and defense ministry spokesman Ceinett Sanchez told AFP its closure would be “immediate.” Dominican President Luis Abinader condemned the killing, saying on Twitter the crime “undermines the democratic order in Haiti and the region.” He offered condolences to the family of Moise and his wife Martine, who was wounded, and to the Haitian people. Local media said Abinader had summoned military leaders to analyze the situation on the island. Haitian Prime Minister Claude Joseph said Moise was assassinated at his home in the early morning hours by foreigners who spoke English and Spanish. Martine Moise was taken to hospital. The United States condemned the killing as “horrific” and said it was ready to assist in any investigation. (AFP)

PDP Senators, Reps back Southern govs on state police, others

Members of the Peoples Democratic Party in the National Assembly have thrown their weights behind the recent resolutions of the Southern governors. The governors had met in Lagos on Monday and demanded the inclusion of the electronic transfer of results in the 2010 Electoral Act amendment Bill 2021 and the inclusion of the state police in the ongoing 1999 constitution review. The governors also rejected the 3 per cent oil equity share for the host communities, among others. Addressing journalists in the Abuja the PDP Senators led by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe and Hon.Ndudi Elumelu, commended the governors for the courage they displayed in taking their bold steps notwithstanding their political party differences. The opposition lawmakers also pledged to remain actively committed in their legislative activities to ensure that all the demands of the governors were met in the various legislation pending before the National Assembly. Details later…

Adeosun Did Not Require NYSC Certificate For Political Appointment, Court Rules

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that former minister of finance, Kemi Adeosun did not require National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate for appointment into political office in the country. The court also ruled that she was ineligible to participate in the scheme. Adeosun resigned in 2018 after she was accused of forging an NYSC certificate. Justice Taiwo Taiwo in a judgement on Wednesday ruled that she was ineligible to participate in the scheme when she graduated at 22 because she was then a British citizen. According to the ruling, she was not supposed to present herself for the service, as at the time of graduation, because under the 1979 constitution which was in force as at that time, she was not a Nigerian citizen, either at her graduation or when she turned 30. 1979 constitution which was in force as at that time, she was not a Nigerian citizen, either at her graduation or when she turned 30. READ ALSO: Buhari, Osinbajo Decorate Farouk Yahaya As Chief Of Army Staff The court further held that the constitution does not require her to present her first-degree certificate, or any other one, including the NYSC certificate, to be appointed a minister. Justice Taiwo Taiwo added that the ministerial appointment of Adeosun, was not unconstitutional and illegal, even without presenting an NYSC certificate. The judge proceeded to grant the four reliefs sought by the plaintiff, to include “a declaration that the plaintiff, being a United Kingdom citizen as at 1989 when she graduated from the University of East London, London, the United Kingdom at 22, she was ineligible to participate in the National Youth Service Corps scheme, established by the National Youth Service Corps Act, CAP N8, LFN, 2004.” The judgment ‎was on a suit marked: FhC/ABJ/CS/303/2021 filed by Adeosun, with the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) as the sole defendant.

Imo APC crisis: Okorocha demands fresh membership registration

Efforts at reconciling the aggrieved camps in the Imo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress by the national leadership of the party may have hit the rocks. Indication emerged as certain chieftains of the party stormed the national secretariat to demand new leadership in Imo, Owerri State capital. The team led by former Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha demanded the dissolution of the Careraker Committee in the state and insisted that Dan Nwafor who was last November pronounced by a Court of Appeal be reinstated and saddled with the responsibility of conducting fresh Congresses and the membership Registration and revalidation exercise extended by two weeks in Imo State by the APC Caretaker and Extraodinary Convention Planning Committee. ‌Tribune Online checks revealed that a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Bwari, had last November, in a judgement re-affirmed Daniel Nwafor as the authentic chairman of the APC in Imo State in line with an earlier judgement of the court which recognized him as the chairman of the party in the state. Flanked by Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, Dan Nwafor, Dr. Chidinma Uwajimogu, Barr Steve Asimobi, Uche Nwosu amongst other members of his Imo APC Pioneer Group, the former governor of Imo State insisted that only ward, local and state Congresses supervised by Dan Nwafor would be accorded recognition by the group. He said: “We are here because of what is happening in Imo State. Primarily, things are not going right in the state as it affects the party. We are concerned about the upcoming congresses. Certain things need to be put in place before Congress as it affects registration and others. “There has been an issue about the elected excos of the party in the state. The elected excos have not been allowed to function. We are here to bring the party’s attention to it. And we know that our party is a law-abiding party. “A party of rule of law. We have come to ask the party to obey the court judgement that established the right excos in the state which has not been upturned by any court. “That court judgement said Daniel Nwafor executive is the authentic and elected member and the judge rules that not even the NEC of the APC can dissolve it. And the judgement has been there up to the Court of appeal. “And there has not been any other court judgement. High, appeal court judgement has shown that the authentic exco is led by him. Without him, the Congresses will be illegal. We have come to remind the party as a law-abiding party to please obey the court judgement and ensure that the court judgement on the party stands.” Senator Okorocha further declared that his group would not surrender control of the APC structures in Imo State to the incumbent governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma. “We have come a long way in building this party. I was one of the founding fathers of the party. I brought in All Progressives Grand Alliance with Congress for Progressive Change and Action Congress of Nigeria to form what was known today as APC. I was the one who gave the name APC. “I was the only elected governor from the South East that made up this party. At a time when this party’s name was taboo in the south East. Everybody that became anything in the North came in the favor of President Muhammadu Buhari. But we from the South East sees the name Buhari as taboo at that time. Most people never believe in the party. “The party should be seen to remember those who founded the party. We join the party because of justice. And it must be seen to prevail all the time at all levels. We are here to remind the party and we pray that the party will give it adequate attention that it deserves by first and foremost, allow the leaders of the party to go and register. “How can you have a congress coming without having the leaders like Senator Ararume, Chairman of the party are not registered yet? We have five Honourable members at the party and they are here. If the five members here are not registered, what are we talking about? “We are here to advise the party to do the needful. And obey the court judgment so that the world will not see our party as a party that doesn’t obey court judgment or respect court judgment.”