Crime Facts

Suspected ritualist matchets elderly woman to death in Delta

  OLOMORO community, Isoko South Local Government Area, Delta State, was Monday, thrown into confusion as an elderly woman was reportedly matcheted to dead by a suspected ruitualist. The deceased, whose identity could not be ascertained at press time, it was gathered, was sleeping in her house in the Ukoli quarter of the community when she met with her untimely death.   Sources said the woman said to be in her eighties, was found in a pool of her own blood in the early hours of today with some parts of her body missing. The development caused pandamonium in the area as women thronged the streets of the community protesting the gruesome murder of the octagenarian. “The woman was killed this morning and the community is accusing a boy of killing her because they found the woman’s handbag in his possession. ALSO READ: Money ritual in Nigeria’s ‘Zazoo Republic’ “On seeing the bag with him, they beat the boy to stupour. In the process, the police came in and put the situation under control,” a source who craved anonymity, said. Another source lanented that “It is painful that these days, people can no longer sleep with their two eyes closed because of killings here and there majorly for ritual purposes. The government now can no longer guarantee citizens security of their lives and properties.” Confirming the incident, Police Public Relations Officer of the State command, Mr Bright Edafe said: “A woman was killed but none of her body part was missing.” Saying that the police had deposited the body of the woman in the mortuary, Edafe noted that “from what we discovered, the suspect that killed the woman is mentally deranged.”

Dowen college: Sylvester was beaten by bullies, sister tells court

  Sylvester Oromoni was beaten by bullies at Dowen College, the immediate elder sister of the late student, Amanda, has told the Coroner’s Inquest Court of Lagos State. Amanda, who was a student of Dowen College in the Lekki area of the state, in her witness statement before the court, said in October 2021, a student of the college, one Favour Benjamin, approached her and informed her that Sylvester told him and others in their room that he had seen her nakedness. “As a result of this statement, I became angry and started yelling at my late brother and I broke down and started crying. “My brother said he had to say so, so that they could stop beating, bullying and flogging him.” Amanda said she and her sister Anita subsequently requested a change of room for Sylvester. Amanda said she told her elder brother, Keyness, and he was “very upset and made plans to visit the school because of this issue but I told him that the school had already suspended the boys.” “I actually thought the boys were suspended because when Joseph Aisagbonhi came to apologize, he was flaunting a paper in his hand which I felt was a suspension letter but I later discovered it was not. “Even when I later discovered that they were not suspended and I eventually wanted to call my parents, Mrs Celine (a school official) did not allow me to call them.” The PUNCH had earlier reported that the Coroner, Magistrate Mikhail Kadiri, ordered journalists and other members of the public out of the court on Monday before Amanda’s testimony. Sylvester’s died under controversial circumstances in November 2021 and his death went viral following a social media post by his cousin, Perry Oromoni, who alleged that some senior pupils of the school beat him up in his hostel because he refused to join a cult. But the school denied the claim, stating that the boy complained of leg pains following an injury he sustained while playing football. The state government ordered the indefinite closure of the school pending the outcome of an investigation into the matter. However, legal advice by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, Adetutu Oshinusi, cleared the suspects.

Court to hear Nnamdi Kanu’s fundamental rights suit Feb. 28

  A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, fixed Feb. 28 to hear a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by the Leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu. Justice Taiwo Taiwo fixed the date after counsel to the Department of State Services (DSS), Idowu Awo, informed the court that his clients had a counter affidavit which had not been served on Kanu. Awo, at the resumed hearing prayed the court for more time to effect the service of the application on Kanu’s lawyer, Maxwell Opara. But Opara described the request of the DSS lawyer as an attempt to continue to subject his client to solitary confinement and other inhuman treatments. He argued that the counter affidavit by the DSS was already filed out of time. He said even though the application was dated Jan. 28 and counsel to the DSS has his contact, it was not served on him until now. Also the lawyer to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Simon Enock, informed that he had filed a motion for an extension of time to regularise their counter affidavit. The application was neither opposed to by counsel to the IPOB leader, Opara nor the DSS lawyer. Justice Taiwo, who noted that the matter was coming before him for the first time, fixed the matter until Feb. 28 for hearing. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Kanu, through his lawyer, Opara, had in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1585/2021, sued the Director-General of DSS and the office as 1st and 2nd respondents respectively. He also joined the AGF as 3rd respondent in the suit dated and filed Dec. 13, 2021. In the originating motion, his lawyer prayed the court to declare that the respondents while carrying out their lawful duties should abide by the provisions of Chapter 4 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Africa Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act; as regards the rights of citizens of Nigeria. Opara also urged the court to declare that Kanu, even though a detainee, was entitled to enjoy his freedom of thought, conscience and religion as guaranteed by thr law. He sought: “A DECLARATION that the applicant, even though a detainee, is entitled to the enjoyment of his right to dignity of human person as guaranteed under Sections 34(1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). “A DECLARATION that the respondents action in continuing to keep the applicant in their detention facility, without transferring him to Kuje Correctional Centre, is subjecting the applicant to mental torture given that it is not the place designated for keeping awaiting trial inmates,” among others. The lawyers then asked the court to make an order directing the respondents to immediately allow Kanu access to facility and material for the practice of his religion and an order directing them to remove him from solitary confinement, among others. But the DSS, in a counter affidavit deposed to by Hamza Pandogari, which was dated and filed on Jan. 28, disagreed with Kanu. Pandogari averred that Kanu was arrested by personnel of the 1st and 2nd respondents upon reasonable suspicion of his engagement in acts of treason and terrorism by propagating violence against the people of Nigeria under the guise of succession. The officer said Kanu was the leader of the proscribed organisation known as the IPOB. He stated that he was currently standing tial on a 15-count charge before Justice Binta Nyako. Pandogari, who said that though Nyako earlier admitted Kanu to bail sometime in April 2017, he jumped the bail but was rearrested to continue his tral. The officer said contrary to laragraph 4 (a) and (b) of Kanu’s affidavit, “there is no such order of court that applicant should have unrestricted access to the medial practitioner of his choice while in 1st and 2nd respondent’s custody.” He also said contrary to the information, Kanu was receiving adequate and quality medical attention when necessary; “The applicant enjoys direct and unrestricted access to medical practitioners who are experts in their various field of medical practice. He averred that Dr O. FASAN, Consultant, Cardiologist from the National Hospital, Abuja; Dr, A OHUNMWANGHO, a Consultant Gastroenterologist, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, and Prof. MBAKWE, Consultant CARDIOLOGIST, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, were among list of experts who had been attending to Kanu’s health.   “That apart from the regular routine medical checkup, applicant gets promptly the required medical attention, upon any request or complaint by applicant relating to his health,” he said. According to the officer, the applicant (Kanu) has never missed his trial based on health grounds. He said contrary to the information, the DSS had never tortured Kanu either physically or mentally while in its custody. “That while in custody, applicant enjoys several privileges including but not limited to entertaining a total number of six visitors of his choice every week, three each on Monday and Thursday, the days set out by the court as applicant’s visiting days ” he added. Also in a counter affidavit deposed to by Zekeri Friday, the AGF said he did not violate or infringe on any fundamental right (s) of the applicant on account of the facts giving rise to the application as deposed to in the whole paragraphs of the affidavit in support of the application.” Friday, who averred that Kanu was not in position to professionally determined the competency or otherwise of the medical practitioner attending to him in DSS custody said the security agency “has a medical clinic well-equipped with highly trained medical personnel that have been attending to the medical needs of the applicant while he remains in the custody.” He also denied that Kanu was being detained in solitary confinement. According to Friday, he is being detained in a standard and hygienic facility. (NAN)

Two More Bodies Recovered After Trinity Spirit Oil Vessel Explosion

  Two more bodies have been recovered from the deck of the FPSO Trinity Spirit oil vessel which was engulfed in fire at the Ukpokiti Terminal on Wednesday. This was confirmed by managers of the vessel Shebah Exploration & Production Company Ltd (SEPCOL) in a statement on Monday. SEPCOL confirmed on Sunday that one body had been found dead and three other crew members found alive. Ten crew members were said to have been onboard at the time of the explosion. The whereabouts of four crew members remain unknown.   “We have made incident reports to the police and relevant authorities to assist the ongoing investigation, and due process to establish the identities of the dead bodies is under way,” the Monday statement signed by SEPCOL CEO Ikemefuna Okafor said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of all the victims of this unfortunate incident, and we are on hand to provide support to them as required. “Thus far, the potential total number of the crew members accounted for is six, including the three persons who were found alive last week. “Our priority remains focused towards establishing the whereabouts, safety, and security of the four crew members still missing. “Furthermore, our efforts are geared towards cleaning up the area to minimise any damage to the environment and seeking to ascertain the exact cause of the explosion. “We thank the following organisations who have been of tremendous assistance since the unfortunate incident happened; Clean Nigeria Associates, Chevron, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), NIMASA, and the communities, particularly the fishermen who helped with the initial rescue. “Our Crisis Management Team will continue to monitor developments in the investigations and update all stakeholders with new information accordingly. We appeal to members of the public to keep away from the area and contact the company with any information that may assist our investigations.”

Abducted Jonathan’s cousin regains freedom

  Jephthah Robert, cousin of former President Goodluck Jonathan, who was kidnapped on January 24, has been released by his captors. Robert, who spent 14 days in the kidnapper’s custody, was abducted in front of his residence at Biogbolo-Epie suburb of Yenagoa, the state capital. Austin Ekeinde, a media aide to the victim’s younger brother, Azibaola Robert, confirmed his release in a statement on Monday. He said: “We give all the thanks to God for the safe return of our brother Jephthah Robert Yekorogha, from the kidnappers’ den.” Details shortly…

ISWAP Fighters, Families Surrender To Army In Borno

  One hundred and four fighters of the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) and their family members have surrendered to the 25 Task Force Brigade of the Nigerian army in Damboa, Borno State. Deadly assaults on the terrorists by the military have forced the family members of the fighters out of their hiding.

Uzodimma has willfully denied workers, pensioners salaries – Imo PDP

  The Imo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Monday accused the state governor, Hope Uzodimma of denying the civil servants and pensioners their entitlement in the state. The PDP, State Publicity Secretary, Emenike Nmeregini, stated this to newsmen in Owerri, while reacting to the Uzodimma’s second year anniversary claims. It was PDP’s stand that, “Last year alone, the regime accessed over N59 billion loans from foreign and domestic sources. This year, 2022, Senator Uzodinma has perfected plans to borrow an additional N61 billion. When added to well over N103 billion which has come to the local government areas from FAAC under Uzodinma, the N105 billion which has come to the State also from FAAC, the N24 billion which the State has internally generated and the N10 billion which represents the 13% Oil Derivation, it is heartbreaking that there is nothing in Imo to show for the monies. “This is not the Imo State we envisioned for our children. Within the years under review, Senator Uzodinma has had neither a well-researched policy nor direction in the various sectors of the state. This is the calamity that has befallen our State. 13% Oil Derivation, it is heartbreaking that there is nothing in Imo to show for the monies. “This is not the Imo State we envisioned for our children. Within the years under review, Senator Uzodinma has had neither a well-researched policy nor direction in the various sectors of the state. This is the calamity that has befallen our State. READ ALSO: 2023: Uzodimma behind EFCC coming against me — Okorocha alleges “Our party notes with great pain that within two years, Senator Uzodinma has made our state, Imo, the unemployment capital of Nigeria. It is noteworthy that the relevant rating board, the Presidential Business Enabling Environment Council, has consistently placed Imo at the lowest rung of the ladder in terms of ease of doing business in Nigeria. Worse still, within two years, our state ranks highest in the South East in terms of infant and maternal mortality rates.” “Imo has collapsed under Gov. Uzodinma. In the past two years, Senator Uzodinma has willfully denied workers and retirees their salaries and pensions. When workers staged protests, they are tagged fake and brutalized by agents of the government. “Also, the local government system has been completely emasculated, defunded and stripped of autonomy, thus, giving way for mass misery at the grassroots. We wish to encourage the people of Imo State to keep the spirit alive. This regime must expire very soon to give way to PDP led government for the good of the people,” Uzodimma said.

2023 Presidency: Tinubu interested in serving Nigerians, not making money – Support group

  The Tinubu Support Group says the All Progressives Congress leader, Bola Tinubu, is interested in serving Nigerians and not making money. The Head of Media and Publicity of the group, Tosin Adeyanju, stated this in a telephone chat with The PUNCH on Monday. Adeyanju also said the two-term former governor of Lagos State is physically and mentally fit to occupy the office of the President in 2023, adding that the Jagaban of Bourdillon “works like a machine”. He was reacting to a statement by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Afe Babalola, who last Thursday, educated voters on qualities to look out for before adopting or voting anyone to become Nigeria’s next President. Babalola had advised voters that the candidate must demonstrate that “he is willing and prepared to serve the nation without earning salaries, as it was the case between 1960 and January 15, 1966”. On age, Babalola had explained that any candidate for the post of Nigeria’s President should not be more than 60 years old so that if he has the opportunity of serving two terms of four years each, he would still be leaving office before he turns 70. “The President should not be a person who will be looking for medical treatment from hospital to hospital around the world. “He must be so healthy that he should be able to work for a minimum of 14 hours a day,” the senior lawyer had said. Reacting, the spokesman for the pro-Tinubu group said leadership should not be tied to age, noting that most of the Presidents in the world are over 60 years old and are doing excellently well. He said, “I don’t think leadership has anything to do with age. Most of the leaders across the world like the United States are above 60 and they are doing well. We can see what (79-year-old US President Joe) Biden is doing, creating jobs for the American people. So, for anybody to use age as a yardstick for leadership, I don’t think it is right.” Adeyanju also said the 69-year-old APC leader has the capacity to work 24 hours per day. “Asiwaju has the capacity to work 24 hours a day, he works like a machine. The man has energy,” he stated. “This man (Tinubu) has lived for others. God has blessed him. Earning salaries is not important to him but making lives better for people. His priority is service to the Nigerian people and the country. “Our focus now is the primary but I can tell he is not interested in making money but service to the people and to give dividends of democracy to everyone in the country,” he noted. The PUNCH had reported that the APC presidential hopeful returned to Nigeria on Sunday about 10 days after he travelled to the United Kingdom. Tinubu had also stayed in the United Kingdom for over three months in 2021 when he underwent surgery and therapy for knee injury. He, however, returned to the country in October of the same year and travelled to some parts of the country to meet political juggernauts and stakeholders ahead of the next election. Tinubu had declared his presidential ambition on January 10, 2022 when he visited the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), in Aso Rock. The former governor of Lagos had described his presidential ambition as a “lifelong dream”, saying there is nothing wrong with a kingmaker becoming a king.

Bitcoin price rises above $42,000 — highest in three weeks

  Bitcoin price on Monday rose above $42,000 for the first time in three weeks. In January, the digital currency fell as low as $33,000 from an all-time high of $68,990 recorded in November 2021. According to CoinMarketCap cap, Bitcoin rose 3 percent to $42,708 as most cryptocurrencies trade on the green line. The Bitcoin cryptocurrency began its rapid rise from $37,500 on February 3 and has since remained significantly more positive. Over the weekend, Ethereum, the second-largest crypto, maintained its gains above $3,000 in two weeks. Similarly, most major altcoins are rising steadily. Dogecoin (DOGE) climbed 6 percent to $0.156532, while Shiba Inu (SHIB) rallied 21 percent, representing $0.000027. The crypto market cap has increased by $60 billion to $1.950 trillion in a few days. Analysts predict that Bitcoin may steal the show this week, pumping aggressively while other digital currencies rally alongside. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has warned Nigerians against trading in virtual currencies, including bitcoin, ripples, litecoin. The apex bank claimed that they are largely used in terrorism financing and money laundering, considering the anonymity of virtual transactions.

2023: A third force is coming — it will be authentic, says Pat Utomi

  Pat Utomi, professor of political economy, says Nigeria needs a new political movement “driven by ideas” ahead of the 2023 general election. Speaking in an interview on Sunday Politics, a Channels TV programme, Utomi said the new political movement which will be formed soon will be made up of renowned Nigerians, civil society organisations (CSOs) and labour unions. “There are these two juggernauts (APC and PDP) and there is a third one coming,” he said. “They are actually not two juggernauts but one people who call themselves different names. Now, we want to create another group that is more authentic, more focused on the people. This is the group that we are putting together. “The so-called major parties that exist currently are two sides to the same coin. Let us call that one-party, it is meant for personal wrangling. If you are tired of what is given in this group, move to the other group. “I think Nigerians have had enough of that. We need another real political movement driven by ideas. So, the conversation has been how to bring together a number of people to front what I call the ‘Coalition of the Willing and the Dispossessed’. “It is an amazing array of Nigerians. By the way, for the first time, civil societies are ready to be inside of the arena. They played as civil society in the past but civil society is coming in. Think of all the major leaders of the civil society, whether it is Femi Falana, Oby Ezekwesili — they are all part of this arrangement. “The labour as I told you, the NLC president made a full and total commitment that they would bring the labour movement into what we are founding. People like Dr Usman Bugaje, former Governor (of Kano State) Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, and on and on. We are fully committed to this process.” In 2020, Utomi, Ghali Na’abba, former speaker of the house of representatives; Olisa Agbakoba, a prominent lawyer; Femi Falana, human rights lawyer; Oby Ezekwesili among other prominent Nigerians unveiled a political movement named National Consultative Front “aimed at driving reforms” in the country.