Crime Facts

Disregard Reports About Suspension Of Our National Convention – APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged the general public to completely disregard “fake news” on the reported suspension of the planned national convention of the party. Emerging reports by certain media outlets suggest that the convention, which is slated for February, has been moved to now hold in June. APC spokesman, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, in a statement on Wednesday noted that dates for party activities such as meetings, primaries, congresses, national conventions are communicated through well-known official channels and not through ‘sources’. “The faceless authors and sponsors of fake news on APC activities, in this case, the planned National Convention are simply bent on causing confusion and fomenting crisis through misinformation. “We should not enable them,” Senator Akpanudoedehe advised. He added that “As a focus-driven, process-oriented political party, the APC Caretaker Committee under the leadership of Governor Mai Mala Buni will not be distracted by self-serving antics of these sponsors of fake news. “The APC Caretaker Committee is already embarking on nationwide consultations with Party stakeholders to prepare the ground for a rancour-free National Convention. To this end, the sub-committee on budgeting and other substructures will be set up in due course”. The party through its spokesman appreciated the continued support of well-meaning members and leaders as the APC Caretaker Committee undertakes the immediate task of addressing contestations within the Party, litigations, fallouts of recently-conducted Congresses and generally reposition the Party ahead of the National Convention.

Kanu’s trial: IPOB writes British Commission to send Delegates next week

The legal team of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has written to the British High Commission, requesting that the commission should send delegates to monitor the court proceedings on the leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, coming up next week 18 January 2022. The Lead Counsel to IPOB, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, disclosed this to Vanguard in Owerri, on Wednesday. He said their request was to ensure that their client, Kanu would be given a fair trial, adding that the British government owes it as a “sacred duty” to ensure that Kanu who is a British citizen gets a fair and just trial. He also raised an alarm alleging that Kanu’s case has a “political undercurrent.” As captured by Vanguard from Ejiofor’s statement, “We act as Barristers and Solicitors to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, we write this request to Her Excellency, on behalf of our client and with his consent and authority, may we respectively notify Her Excellency, criminal proceedings in respect to the 7-count amended charge preferred against our client and pending at the Federal High court division in Abuja, is due to continue on the 18th, 19th and 20th of January, 2022. “Given the foregoing, may we gratefully please request Her Excellency to send representatives of the High Commission to observe the proceedings of the court on those adjourned dates and on any other date to which further proceedings in the cause may be adjourned until the matter may be disposed of. “The need to ensure that our client is giving a fair trial has compelled us to make this request. The British government owes our client, a British citizen, a sacred duty to ensure that the whole process of his trial is fair and just in all circumstances. “It must be remembered that his purported indictment on criminal charges has a political undercurrent. This fact impels all truly democratic countries of the world.”

2023: Tinubu Doesn’t Have Our Support For Now – Adebanjo

The leader of pan Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, has said the former governor of Lagos, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has the right to contest the 2023 presidential election. On Monday, the former governor of Lagos met President Muhammadu Buhari to inform him of his intention to run for the 2023 presidency. However, Adebanjo stressed that the group will not queue behind any candidate until the restructuring of the country, saying the present constitution must be changed before the 2023 election. He said, “Your man has every right to contest the election, he is not disabled, so what is the big deal about that? “We are not contending who is the President now because we don’t believe in the constitution that we have. Until that constitution is changed, then we will talk on where the President will be. “We have no candidate now until that constitution is changed because I don’t want to go on uncharted sea that is the implication now. “You must believe in the constitution before you say I want to be a part of it. I am not going to be part of the constitution or election that operates a military constitution. That’s the bone of contention and which President Buhari himself has not disputed. The constitution we have is a military one.”

God spoke to me about contesting presidency, says Umahi

On Tuesday, Umahi disclosed that he had informed Buhari of his intention to contest the presidency. The Ebonyi governor’s announcement came about 24 hours after Bola Tinubu, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said he had informed Buhari that he was interested in running for president. Speaking on Tuesday in an interview on Channels Television on if he had always nurtured a presidential ambition, the Ebonyi governor said he made his intention public after God spoke to him. “Life is very dynamic and God speaks to me. So, it is progressive and I think that I spoke when God asked me to speak. This is what I believe,” he said. “You know naturally, based on what God is doing for us in our state — the economic indices we have achieved by God’s special grace — a lot of people believe that we can have a kind of the same feat accomplished at the federal level if given the opportunity. “Of course, you talk to God, God talks to you and this is prayer and then you listen to God. I think that I’m at peace with this decision. “It is not about God telling you ‘you will win or not win’. When you have prayed and made certain decisions and you are at peace with that, then you can be sure God is with you. “The outcome of it also depends on God. God has His own programmes for everybody. I think that God’s programme for me as far as this matter is concerned will be made manifest. So, I put my trust in him as far as this is concerned. Don’t forget God owns this life and that sleeping and waking up is a miracle.” ‘ONLY GOD KNOWS IF I WILL BE BUHARI’S PREFERRED CANDIDATE’ Last week, Buhari, in an interview, had said he would prefer to keep the name of his preferred successor secret. Speaking on the development, Umahi said he hopes that God will make it possible for him to become the president’s “favoured” candidate. “I’m not a mind reader and I’m not God. There is no way I will know what is in the mind of Mr President,” he said. “My bible tells me ‘the heart of the king is at the palm of the Lord. He turns it anywhere he willeth’. If it pleases God, he will put me in the heart of Mr President and I could become that favoured candidate. For now, he has not told me and I can’t read his mind.”

BREAKING: Many feared dead as gunmen invade Plateau village

Fresh attacks at Ancha village, Bassa local government area of Plateau State have claimed yet to be ascertained number of lives. Property of the villagers were also razed in the incident which occurred on Tuesday night. Confirming the incident, the Operation SAFE Haven, OpSH through the Military Information Officer, Major Ishaku Takwa said, “In the late hours of Tuesday 11 January 2022, troops of OPERATION SAFE HAVEN received a distress call of an attack on Ancha Community in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau. “The troops responded swiftly and mobilized to the village. On reaching the community, the attackers had fled the village. Houses were destroyed and some villagers lost their lives during the attack. Troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN are on the trail of the assailants and details of the pursuit would be made available later…” However, the State Governor, Simon Lalong described the incident as “another sad tale in the unending cycle of violent attacks in the area which has continued despite several measures taken by Government,” and ordered security agencies to “ensure that they fish out the attackers at all costs.” However, the State Governor, Simon Lalong described the incident as “another sad tale in the unending cycle of violent attacks in the area which has continued despite several measures taken by Government,” and ordered security agencies to “ensure that they fish out the attackers at all costs.” A statement by the Governor’s Director of Press and Public Affairs, Makut Macham said, the Governor “has again expressed deep sadness over another attack in Ancha village which left many dead and properties destroyed. The attack is another sad tale in the unending cycle of violent attacks in the area which has continued despite several measures taken by Government. “He ordered security agencies to ensure that they fish out the attackers at all costs, as bringing such perpetrators to justice is the only way to halt the barbaric killings. “The Governor asked the GOC 3rd Armoured Division and Commander Operation Safe Haven; The Commissioner of Police; Department of State Services; Operation Rainbow and other security organs in the State to utilize intelligence available from survivors and other sources and ensure that the perpetrators of this and other attacks are apprehended and exposed.” He directed the Plateau State Emergency Management Agency and the Peace Building Agency to “move in and assess the damage as well as offer immediate humanitarian interventions.” Meanwhile, the Governor has praised security forces for “bursting a kidnap group and rescuing some victims in Barkin Ladi,” describing the action as “heartwarming and a prove that criminals will not be allowed to rest in Plateau State.”

BREAKING: Ebonyi PDP Publicity Secretary slumps in court

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Publicity Secretary in Ebonyi State Nwoba Chika Nwoba has slumped in court. Nwoba slumped around 3 pm when he was brought to the Magistrate Court 3 inside the Ebonyi Judiciary Headquarters Abakaliki by the Police on Wednesday. He had been in police detention since Sunday when members of Ebubeagu Security outfit handed him over after arrest. He is being accused of spreading fake news on social media, a crime punishable under the controversial cybercrimes law signed into law last year. The PDP in the State had claimed that he was beaten by Ebubeagu officials who arrested him before the Police rescued and placed him under arrest. The Police had failed to arraign him on Tuesday despite bringing him to the court premises. His lawyer complained on Tuesday that the Police had refused him medical treatment despite the injuries he sustained from the alleged beating. When he was brought to court on Wednesday, he slumped as he was about entering the court. Efforts to resuscitate him failed, forcing the Police to rush him out of the court premises possibly to a hospital. However as journalists prepared to leave to file their reports, he was brought back by the Police. At the time of this report, he was still in the car in a slumped state under the sun. His lawyer, Luke Nkwegu told reporters the police claimed to have been ordered to bring him back to the court and arraign him dead or alive. It was gathered that the court was waiting for the Magistrate to appear for his arraignment. Details shortly…

N6bn Fraud: Court remands Mompha in EFCC custody

A Lagos Special Offences Court in Ikeja has remanded social media celebrity, Ismaila Mustapha, also known as Mompha, in custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, pending the hearing of his bail application in the N6 billion fraud charge filed against him. The EFCC, on Wednesday, arraigned Mompha and his company, Ismalob, before Justice Mojisola Dada on an eight counts fraud charge. The defendants were accused of conspiracy to launder funds obtained through unlawful activity, retention of such funds, transfer of funds for a suspect Olayinka Jimoh a.k.a Nappy Boy, and unlawful transfer of funds for a record label, among others. The sums named in the charge are N5,998,884.653.18, N32million, N120million and N15,960,000, totalling over N6billion. The EFCC also alleged that Mompha concealed his interest in expensive wristwatches and other movable assets valued at over N70 million. Mompha pleaded ‘Not guilty’ to the eight counts while Islamob Limited (represented also by Mompha) pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the first six counts. After his plea, prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo requested for a trial date. The defendant counsel, Gboyega Oyewole(SAN) however informed the court that they had filed a bail application and same had been served on the EFCC. Responding to the bail application, Mr. Oyedepo asked for time to file a response. After entertaining submission of counsel’s, Justice Dada adjourned till January 18, to hear and rule on the bail application.

Oil ownership: Adebanjo says Obasanjo’s statement ‘catalyst for Nigeria’s breakup’

Chief Ayo Adebanjo, leader of Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, on Wednesday, criticised former President Olusegun Obasanjo, for saying that oil found in the Niger Delta region constitutionally belonged to Nigeria. Adebanjo, at a press briefing in Lekki, Lagos, expressed disappointment that 84-year-old Obasanjo cited Nigeria’s “flawed” constitution to make the “provocative statement” with “magisterial authority”. The 93-year-old Afenifere leader also unequivocally backed 94-year-old leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Ijaw National Congress, Chief Edwin Clark, that people oil produced in the Niger Delta states belonged to the people of the region and not to the people of Nigeria. Adebanjo’s speech was titled, ‘Obasanjo provocative statement, catalyst to Nigeria’s breakup: Niger Delta resources don’t belong to Nigeria’. He went on a trip down memory lane and gave a perspective on constitutional evolution in Nigeria, insisting that the current 1999 Constitution must be changed to reflect fiscal federalism, regional autonomy and resource control. The nonagenarian said, “Before the issue degenerates therefore into disputation between two respectable elder statesmen (Obasanjo and Clark), I owe a duty to our founding fathers to throw some light on the historical constitutional evolution of the country to help us move Nigeria forward. “With my recent interaction with Gen. Obasanjo, I can appreciate his passion for a united Nigeria. But a united Nigeria does not exist from his own perspective and understanding only. Nigeria has existed before he became the President of the country with our founding fathers with equally great passion if not greater passion for a united Nigeria. “Our colonial masters brought the various ethnic nationalities together through various constitutional reforms under a unitary form of government from 1914 to 1950 under Macpherson Constitution when Nigeria was divided into three regions namely Northern Region, Western Region and Eastern Region. “The Macpherson Constitution which was supposed to last five years under a unitary system collapsed in 1953 following a motion by the late Chief Anthony Enahoro for self-government for Nigeria in 1956. The then Colonial secretary Sir. Oliver Lyttleton later known as Lord Chandos summoned the political leaders, our founding fathers, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Ahmadu Bello and Chief Obafemi Awolowo to Lancaster House in London. “It was at this conference that the defects in Macpherson Unitary Constitution were dissected and they settled for a Federal Constitution which became operative in 1954 with the establishment of the three autonomous regions headed by a Premier. “The provision of this Federal Constitution with some amendments was incorporated in the 1960 and 1963 Independence Constitution. The residual powers in the constitution reserved for the federating autonomous regions. Revenue allocation was agreed to be on derivation which you now refer to as resource control with the payment of 50% (section 140, 1963 Constitution) to the region where the revenue was derived. It was a two tier Federal system with the State government being co-ordinate and not subordinate to the Federal Government. “This was the peaceful co-existence position of the unity of the ethnic groups until 1966 when the military took over the government and abrogated the constitution agreed to by our founding fathers and set up the present 1999 constitution. The obnoxious provisions of this constitution have been the cause of instability in the country.” Continuing, Adebanjo added, “When General Obasanjo asserts that the Niger Delta Resources is not owned by Niger Delta but Nigeria, is the General suggesting that God created the resources in Niger Delta when Nigeria came into existence in 1914, or it was there before the amalgamation? “It is the amalgamation and the decision of our founding fathers to live together under the conditions agreed to in Independence Constitution that make other parts of Nigeria to lay claim to the resources of Niger Delta. The question of the protection of Niger Delta resources against external forces by the Federal government is not a big deal but a responsibility assigned to the Federal Government under the Federal System. “I will therefore passionately appeal to General Obasanjo to join hands with the other patriots to bring pressure to bear on President Muhammad Buhari to ensure the change of the present fraudulent constitution by restructuring the present unitary constitution to the federal system agreed to by our founding fathers before the 2023 elections to enable the nation to move forward peacefully in unity and progress.”

‘Those asking why I haven’t completed bridge project don’t have cars’ — Ikpeazu lashes out at critics

Okezie Ikpeazu, governor of Abia, has lashed out at those asking why it is taking long for his administration to complete the construction of a bridge in the state. The construction of Aba-Osisioma flyover is said to have begun in 2017 — over four years since his administration commenced the project. In a recent interview he granted to a radio station in Abia, Ikpeazu said the people did not ask him to construct the bridge but he embarked on the project because he saw a need to. The governor said those asking about the project do not have cars, adding that people who do not have cars have no business with a flyover. “Are you the one that asked me to build the flyover? I started the flyover on my own because I saw the need for it,” he said after he was asked about the project. “Most of the people demanding updates on the flyover don’t have vehicles, they are moving about with legs. “What business does those walking have with the flyover? They should be happy that we are almost done with the flyover. We are currently working on the stone base of the flyover.”

Man calls out Loan App after they put out an obituary declaring him dead for not paying back

A customer has called out a loan app after they put out an obituary declaring him dead. The customer named Chinedu Azuwuike said the repayment of the loan was overdue for only 5 days and he came online to see an obituary with his name and face on it. The obituary announced that he “died” on January 4, 2022, and will be buried towards the end of the month Chinedu has vowed never to pay them back for the sick stunt they pulled. “If I pay them, let this obituary be real,” the debtor swore as he called out the loan app.