Crime Facts

Electoral Act: CUPP commends Buhari

  .Says, ‘Now, INEC has no reason to fail’ Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has in glowing words commended President Muhammadu Buhari for Friday’s signing of the Amended Electoral Act. The spokesperson for the Coalition, Barr. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere said the President showed courage and must have defied some vested interests and pressures, to finally give Nigeria the needed tool to revolutionise the country’s electoral process. He added that the signing into law of the Amended Electoral Act comes with immense benefits and plugs several loopholes that had hitherto hampered Nigeria’s electoral process from the pre-election, election proper, through the post-election processes. Ikenga Imo who spoke in Owerri, the Imo state capital said: “What the President has done today has wide positive implications for our electoral system. For once, we are going to have the opportunity for full electronic accreditation of voters. We are all witnesses to how the non-legalization of that provision has hampered election litigation at the tribunal in 2015 and 2019. Thoses clauses there now allows that if there is a dispute, you just revert to the print-out for the electronically accredited number of voters. “By this law, election results can be electronically transmitted and there will be no need for snatching or stuffing ballot boxes anymore. “We must also commend INEC because even before the signing of this law, the INEC Chairman started tinkering with electronic means of improving our elections like the BVAS which has been used in Anambra and some other places. “Now INEC has no reason to fail because the President and this law have given the Commission enough legal instrument to perfect whatever they have been working on to improve our elections.” The spokesperson of Nigeria’s leading opposition coalition noted that the new law also gave effect to early release of election funds to INEC, gave room for early campaigns, early and adequate time for party primaries, and further leaves ample time for litigation before the election proper. He added that parties have from now till about 17th August to conduct their primaries and would have about six months thereafter to settle disputes from the primaries and submit their list of candidates for election. He urged political parties especially the opposition parties serious about winning elections, to ensure they field their best candidates who have the acceptability needed to win elections, as there will be no corners to cut and no room to manipulate the election process. He continued: “And I need to add that those provisions that forbids electoral officers from tampering and falsifying election results will come into full force as there are such things as time stamps on electronically captured election data which will make it easy to catch offenders and ofcourse their journey to prison will be smooth and seamless. “So Nigerians, we have a lot of reasons to celebrate but we must remain vigilant and keep our eyes open throughout the implementation process of the Act to ensure that some incorrigible political players and some compromised agencies, will not derail the implementation of the Amended Electoral Act.”

BREAKING: Russian troops enter Ukraine’s capital — move to topple Zelenskyy

  Russian troops have entered Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine — a day after the invasion of the country on the order of Vladimir Putin, president of Russia. The troops are reportedly moving to seize the capital and topple the government. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had said he was the target of the Russian invasion, vowing not to abandon his country. More to follow…

BREAKING: Court convicts kidnap Kingpin Evans, 2 others

  An Ikeja High Court, Lagos, presided over by Justice Hakeem Oshodi has declared Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike (alias Evans) and two others guilty of kidnapping. Vanguard had reported that the premises of Ikeja High Court, Lagos, was under tight security as Justice Oshodi was currently delivering judgment in the conspiracy and kidnapping charges brought against Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike (alias Evans) and five others. Details coming.

BREAKING: Buhari signs Electoral act Amendment Bill 2021

  President Muhammadu Buhari has signed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2021 into law. The signing ceremony held at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Complex. It was witnessed by Vice President Yemi Osibanjo; Senate President Ahmad Lawan and Speaker Femi Gbajabiamiala among other dignitaries. On January 31, 2022, the National Assembly transmitted the reworked amendment bill to the President for assent. Buhari consequently forwarded it to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), for legal advice.

Russia Bans UK-Linked Planes From Its Airspace

  Moscow on Friday banned all UK-linked planes, including transiting flights, from its airspace after its flagship carrier Aeroflot was prevented from flying over Britain following the Russian attack on Ukraine. “A restriction was introduced on the use of Russian airspace for flights of aircraft owned, leased, or operated by an organisation linked to or registered in the UK,” the Rosaviatsia aviation authority said in a statement. The ban took effect from 11:00 am Moscow time (0800 GMT), it said, and included flights transiting through Russian airspace. It said the decision was taken “as a response to unfriendly decisions of the UK aviation authorities”. London banned Aeroflot from using British airspace on Thursday. It also froze the UK assets of Russian titans in banking and arms manufacturing, in sanctions announced after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched an attack on Ukraine. Rosaviatsia said it had sent its British counterpart a proposal to “hold consultations” on Thursday and that it had received “a negative reply” on Friday. Invading Russian forces reached the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Friday. Putin defied a barrage of international sanctions and pressed on with the invasion, which he announced in the early hours of Thursday.

UEFA moves UCL final from Russia to France

  The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has moved the 2022 Champions League finals from Russia. The decision was taken at Friday’s emergency meeting of European football’s governing body. The Champions League final which was scheduled to take place at Gazprom Arena in St Petersburg on May 28 will now play in Stade de France in Saint-Denis, Paris. This was based on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Thursday. Yellow Card Ads UEFA confirmed this in a statement on Friday. The statement reads: “The UEFA Executive Committee today held an extraordinary meeting following the grave escalation of the security situation in Europe. “The UEFA Executive Committee decided to relocate the final of the 2021/22 UEFA Men’s Champions League from Saint Petersburg to Stade de France in Saint-Denis. The game will be played as initially scheduled on Saturday 28 May at 21:00 CET. “UEFA wishes to express its thanks and appreciation to French Republic President Emmanuel Macron for his personal support and commitment to have European club football’s most prestigious game moved to France at a time of unparalleled crisis. Together with the French government, UEFA will fully support multi-stakeholder efforts to ensure the provision of rescue for football players and their families in Ukraine who face dire human suffering, destruction and displacement. “At today’s meeting, the UEFA Executive Committee also decided that Russian and Ukrainian clubs and national teams competing in UEFA competitions will be required to play their home matches at neutral venues until further notice. “The UEFA Executive Committee further determined to remain on standby to convene further extraordinary meetings, on a regular ongoing basis where required, to reassess the legal and factual situation as it evolves and adopt further decisions as necessary.”

Ganduje has many corruption cases to answer, says anti-corruption committee

  The Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) says Abdullahi Ganduje, governor of Kano, has several corruption cases to answer. Sadiq Radda, executive secretary of the committee, said this on Thursday at the 26th Anti-Corruption Situation Room (ACSR) assessment held in Abuja. TheCable had reported in October 2021 how Hafsat, wife of Ganduje, was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged fraud. Hafsat was said to have been arrested following the petition by her son, Abdulazeez, who claimed his mother was involved in bribery and fraud. Radda said he was surprised by how Ganduje’s son reported his mother to anti-corruption agencies for alleged fraud. He said the governor “has many cases to answer while in office and even more after leaving office”. “You can see in Kano, Ganduje has many cases to answer while in office, he will answer more out of office and sadly for the first time in Nigeria a son is taking his mother to the EFCC,” Radda said. Femi Falana, senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who was at the event, said the Buhari administration was losing the war against corruption. He said the ministry of justice has been unable to successfully prosecute any anti-corruption case, and that the ministry undermines the steps taken by other entities to ensure justice.

Suspected Ritualist Caught With One-Year-Old Child In Ogun

  The Ogun State Government-owned security outfit, the So-Safe Corps, arrested a suspected ritualist with a one-year-old child in his possession. It was gathered that the suspect, Alani Sunday, was arrested during a routine patrol at Tolase village, Odeda Local Government Area of the state. A statement by the Spokesperson of the So-Safe Corps, Moruf Yusuf, on Friday explained that the suspect was nabbed “while he was attempting to escape with a child of about one and a half year old.” According to him, Sunday had confessed to the corps that he took the kidnapped child to his accomplices, who are kidnappers and ritualists. “Upon interrogation by the Ilugun Special Squad of the Corps, Alani Sunday, who claimed to be an indigene of Ogun State, confessed that he was taking the child to his other co-kidnappers/ritualists,” Yusuf explained. He added that an Automated Teller Machine Card (ATM card) and a handset were found on the suspect. He stated further that, “the suspect and the items found on him were transferred to the Nigeria Police Force, Odeda Divisional Headquarters for further investigation and likely prosecution.” Daily Trust reports that there is a rising cases of money rituals, as no fewer than five incidents were recorded in the last one month. On Wednesday, civil society groups in the state, demonstrated against the rising cases of money rituals related killings, kidnapping, among others. Speaking on the incidents, Governor Dapo Abiodun vowed to take stringent measures against those engaging in kidnapping, ritual killings, cybercrimes, and other heinous crimes in the State.

2023: I’m competent, capable to rule Nigeria —Tinubu

  Oil mogul Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs has declared for Rivers governorship race. He made the declaraction on arrival at Pot Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa from Abuja on Friday morning. He expressed optimism he will win the contest because of hid enomous good works in the State. The business tycoon is the first person to publicly declare interest in succeeding Governor Nyesom Wike Details Shortly…

2023: I’m competent, capable to rule Nigeria —Tinubu

  PRESIDENTIAL aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, yesterday, said he is capable and fit to pilot the affairs of the country to greatness, if allowed to rule in 2023. Speaking during his visit to the palace of the Ooni of Ife and Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, in Osun State, he said Nigeria is endowed with both human and natural resources, adding that the country only needs the right person to harness its potentials for greatness. Tinubu said: “Nigeria has a great resource base, both human and material, but we need to harness it to become valuable and move the country to prosperity. Our nation is endowed and I promise, if you push me forward, I will move it from potential to prosperity.” The former Lagos State Governor said youths have the right to political leadership too but will have to work for it by developing strong character and leadership traits. He said: “We are not saying it is not the turn of youths. You will be president, but you have to work for it. You have to demonstrate the quality, character and intelligence to govern people, manage people.” On his visit to the monarchs, the APC National Leader said their support to become President is germane, saying after supporting President Muhammadu Buhari since 2013 for the seat, he, Tinubu, is ready to step into his shoes. He said: “We went around the country in 2013 to campaign for Buhari. Again in 2019, we stood with him and he won. He will soon finish his tenure. I am saying they should not just leave the post, they should hand it over to me. I cannot demand it alone. I must seek your assistance. If monarchs in the region unite and ask for it, if we ask for the presidency gently that they should hand it over to us, I am ready to take over. “I am competent, capable and fit to pilot the affairs of the country to greatness.” Responding, the Ooni of Ife and the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland at their respective palaces described Tinubu as a special breed, whose speciality is in identifying and nurturing talents is unrivalled. Ooni, while praying for the success of his ambition, invoked the spirits of his forefathers to lead the battle and guarantee the success of the project.