Crime Facts

Why I Didn’t Reject Atiku’s Request To Serve As Running Mate – Okowa

  The Governor of Delta State and vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ifeanyi Okowa, has opened up on why he accepted to serve as running mate to the presidential candidate of the party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. Okowa in a chat on Channels Television’s Politics Today said rejecting the nomination would have been a disservice. “It would have been a disservice from my part to turn down the vice presidential nomination because I am a party man to the core and the only decison I can make at this time is to support my party to win this election because I am very confident of the fact that the PDP has a role to play in rescuing and rebuilding this nation,” he said. The vice presidential candidate noted that he is a committed member of the PDP who is concerned about the party’s role of rescuing the country. He said, “I belong to the PDP, I have committed myself to the party and I’m a party member today. As a party man governed by the rules and policy direction of the party, and having committed to be a member of that party, it is only right that I have my obedience to the party as my obedience to the people of this country. It is only fair that a christian from the south south serve as his vice.” Okowa also insisted that he is an Igbo man, adding that “the time will come when an Igbo man will become the President of Nigeria.”

I’ve no house in Wuse, Buratai roars over linkage to recovered N1.85bn

  Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, has denied having a home in Wuse, Abuja, contrary to reports that his home was raided by the operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC. Buratai in a statement signed by his Legal Advisor, OSUAGWU Ugochukwu ESQ, described the reports as smear and fabricated tale, published to tarnish his image. An Online Media (Not Vanguard), published a story titled: “EXCLUSIVE: Anti-graft Agency, ICPC Uncovers Billions In Cash Meant For Arms, Ammunition To Fight Boko Haram In Abuja Home Of Ex-Chief Of Army Staff, Buratai”, stating that N1.85 billion, was recovered from the retired army general’s house when ICPC raided his home. But putting the records straight, Buratai through OSUAGWU opined: “MY attention has been drawn to a recent publication on webpage of sahara reporters titled “EXCLUSIVE: Anti-graft Agency, ICPC Uncovers Billions In Cash Meant For Arms, Ammunition To Fight Boko Haram In Abuja Home Of Ex-Chief Of Army Staff, Buratai”which was published on23/06/2022. “I have gone through the said Publication and have interfaced with Ambassador T.Y.Buratai and can authoritatively say the content of the publication is false, concocted and malicious. “It is on record that on or about 5th April 2018 President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the purchase of equipment worth $1bn for the military through the Ministry of Defence. It is a fact that first batch of Six Super Tucano fighter jets arrived Nigeria July 22, 2021 while final batch of the 12 A-29 Super Tucano fighter jets arrived October 18, 2021. No Arms fund is ever missing contrary to some previous mischievous publications. “For the records no such amount (#850M or any similar sum) was found with Ambassador Buratai nor does he have any Aide bearing such name. Ambassador Buratai has no office or house in Wuse Abuja(address not supplied by SR) nor does he have any bulletproof cars, BMW, G-Wagon (Particulars of vehicle not also supplied by SR) worth N450m and neither is ICPC investigating any such. “We view this as an orchestrated act aimed at tarnishing the image of LT General T.Y Buratai and we shall take all legal steps to hold the publishers accountable for such grievous character assassination on the image of LT.T.Y Buratai (RTD).”

Gunmen Attack Abuja Community, Kidnap 22 Persons

  At least 22 persons have been kidnapped in a community within Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), following an attack by gunmen yet to be identified. Confirming the assault, police authorities in the FCT said on Friday that the attack took place within Rafin Daji, a boundary community Between Niger State and the FCT. Acting FCT police spokesman, Oduniyi Omotayo who confirmed the incident to Channels Television, said the gunmen attacked the community at the time farmers were cultivating their farm land. “The farmers were on their farm land working when gunmen outnumbered and kidnapped them,” the spokesperson wrote in a brief WhatsApp message. Omotayo, however, did not give much details regarding the attack and those who were abducted. Nonetheless, the police imagemaker said a combined team of security personnel have been deployed to the area and are combing it aggressively for traces of the abductors as to bring them to book and rescue the abductees. Eyewitnesses say the gunmen shot sporadically when they invaded the community, fortunately, no lives were lost. According to the witnesses, the assailants whisked away 22 farmers, burnt down two tractors belonging to the owner of a large farm in the area. Thirteen members of a family were said to be among those abducted by the gunmen. A relative of some of the victims, Engineer Ibrahim Barde said his immediate younger brothers and their families who were on their farms had barely finished their work when the gunmen attacked. “They were 13 of them on the farm including seven children between the ages of 15 and 17, three women; one just got married last year and an aged woman, my brothers and the tractor driver,” the distressed engineer explained. He gave the names of some of his relative kidnapped to include: “Ismaila Barde, Mustapha Barde, Nasiru Barde, Abdulkarim Barde, Sanusi Barde, Usman Barde, Nura Barde, Abdullahi Barde, Babawo Barde, Farida Ayuba, Hauwa Ayuba and Husai Abdullahi. According to engineer Barde, the gunmen have contacted his family but were yet to make demands. “They were asking us, how many of our families were abducted. We didn’t tell them because we suspected they trying to fish out a particular family. But they have not stated their demands yet,” he stressed. When reached for comments regarding the attack, the district head of Gurdi Ward Alhaji Bala Mohammed also confirmed the incident, but said he was yet to get details of those abducted. Alhaji Bala lamented that his people were constantly under the attack from bandits who have been coming into the FCT through Niger State. He urged the authorities to deal decisively with the situation lest it totally degenerates.

US supreme court overturns abortion rights

  The United States supreme court has ruled there is no constitutional right to abortion in the country. In a 6-3 decision on Friday, the supreme court overturned Roe v. Wade, the historic 1973 ruling that affirmed the constitutional right to abortion in the US. Courtesy of the reversal of the law, US states will now be allowed to determine their own abortion laws as they deem fit. Not less than 26 states are expected to outlaw or restrict abortion.   More to follow…

Policemen, Lecturer, Others Killed In Fresh Benue Attacks

  At least five people, including two policemen, a university lecturer and two others have been killed in separate attacks on two Local Government Areas of Benue State. Our correspondent reports that the two policemen were killed in Yelewata of Guma LGA, a border town between Benue and Nasarawa states, while the three others were gunned down at Jootar in Ukum LGA, a border community between Benue and Taraba states. A villager said that the policemen were shot and killed while their guns were carted away at about 10pm on Thursday. A witness said the Jootar killings involved three friends whose names were listed as, Fred Akaayar, a lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication at the Federal University, Wukari in Taraba State; Aondo Ayange Apever and Shiaondo Kachina. The witness told our correspondent that the three friends were unwinding at a relaxation centre in Jootar when some yet-to-be ascertained gunmen who rode on a motorcycle shot at them. The witness also said the other people at the centre were scuttled to safety in the incident which happened at 7pm on Thursday. Contacted, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Benue Command, SP Catherine Anene, said she could only confirm the Guma incident. “I received information about two policemen killed in an operation but I am yet to receive details please,” the PPRO stated in a reply to a text message sent by our correspondent. [Daily Trust]

ICPC Recovers N170m Cash, G-Wagon, Others From Military Contractor In Abuja

  The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has recovered N170 million cash, $220,965, G-Wagon and other items from a military contractor in Abuja. Azuka Ogugua, spokesperson of the commission, disclosed this in a statement on Friday. Ogugua said acting on intelligence, the commission raided a residence in Wuse 2, Abuja, where the expensive items were found. “The attention of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has been drawn to some inaccurate and concocted reports in the media about the seizure of multibillion-naira cash, dollars, Rolex watches stockpiled in an Abuja property.” “The Commission wishes to state that ICPC operatives raided a property in Wuse 2 of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, on Thursday, 16th June, 2022 between 5:00pm and 12:00am in suspicion of money laundering . Facts available for the time being indicates that the property is owned by owner of K Salam Construction Company, a military contractor. “The Commission recovered money and other items from the property viz. N175,706,500; $220,965; G-Wagon; 2022 editions of BMW and Mercedes Benz cars; customized mobile phones; several designer wrist watches, including three Rolexes, and some property documents.” The Commission said it arrested the Managing Director of K Salam Construction Company Nigeria Limited, Mr. Kabiru Sallau, adding that investigation is ongoing.

227 Soldiers Court Martialed For Various Offence

  A total of 227 soldiers involved in the fight against insurgency within the North East of Nigeria have been brought before a General and Special Court Martial set up by the military, for various cases of misconduct. The Theater Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Christopher Musa disclosed this during the inauguration of a Special Court Martial to try 29 soldiers at the headquarters of the Theatre in Maimalari Barracks in Maiduguri, Borno State. He said 4 Soldiers have been recommended for dismissal and 30 others are to be imprisoned.   The General and Special Court Martial also recommended 25 personnel for reduction of rank, 20 for loss of pay and 17 others to face severe reprimand. Major General Musa further disclosed that 10 soldiers were discharged and acquitted, 14 cases were struck off while 107 were recommended for summary trial. “What we have done is that they were recommended and forwarded to Army Headquarters. The confirming authority for the soldiers rest on the Chief of Army Staff, while the Army Council is the body to ratify the officers before the implementation,” the General explained. He further noted that the whole essence is to ensure there is justice, adding that this is why it has taken the army some time to bring the matter to the fore, lest anyone feels they have been shortchanged in one way or the other.

Peter Obi reacts To Arrest Of Ekweremadus In UK

  Mr Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate of the Labor Party of Nigeria, has reacted to the arrest of Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice Nwanneka Ekweremadu by Metropolitan Police on Thursday. JOURNALIST101 had earlier reported that the police on Thursday arrested and charged the couple with conspiracy to harvest the organs of a child brought to London by them. Peter Obi via his Twitter handle called all people of goodwill to support Ekweremadus in their “travail”. “My family and I are with the Ekweremadu’s over their travail”. “We join all men of goodwill in praying for the healing of their daughter and commit them into God’s hand for justice to be done” he tweeted. However, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his wife Beatrice, denied all charges of human trafficking and organ harvesting filed against them before a UK magistrate’s court. The couple said they did not procure a minor in order to abduct and harvest his organ, contradicting the charges filed by the Metropolitan Police at Uxbridge Magistrate’s Court, London, on Thursday afternoon. The charges were “nothing short of preposterous,” the Ekweremadus said through their lawyer Gavin Irwin, who added that the couple never “arranged transport for anyone with intention to exploit them.” Despite strongly denying the allegations, the Ekweremadus were remanded in custody until commencement of trial on July 7. Mr Ekweremadu has been a member of the Nigerian Senate since 2003. He was the Deputy Senate President between 2015 and 2019. He sought but failed to clinch the PDP ticket for governorship race in his home Enugu State. Mr Ekweremadu’s records “taken together go way beyond him being a person of good character…rather that he has led a blameless life as a public servant,” his lawyers added. Antonia Gray, a lawyer to Mrs Ekweremadu, said: “She has never been complicit or involved in any alleged illegal trafficking of any young person.” “She is a financial accountant with an unblemished record,” the lawyer added. A letter which Mr Ekweremadu wrote to the UK High Commission seeking to procure a visa for someone named David Ukpo. The December 28, 2021, letter signed personally by Mr Ekweremadu specifically said he was supporting Mr Ukpo’s visa application because he wanted him to undergo medical examinations in the UK with the purpose of donating a kidney to his daughter Sonia Ekweremadu.

Rivers Governorship Candidate Picks Tonto Dikeh As Running Mate

  Nollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh, has emerged the deputy governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the forthcoming 2023 general election in Rivers State. ADC governorship candidate in the state, Tonte Ibraye, made the announcement on Friday morning, in a statement posted on his verified Facebook page. The statement reads: “After series of consultations with leaders of our party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Rivers State and the national level, I’m glad to announce Ambassador Tonto Dikeh as my running mate for the 2023 gubernatorial election in Rivers State. “We are pleased to welcome her to the #RiversRescueMission2023 as we strive to improve the standard of living for everyone in our dear Rivers State.”

Strike: Ngige Did Not Invite Us To Any Meeting On Thursday – ASUU

  The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) says the Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige did not invite the union for a meeting. Ngige had after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday said he will be meeting with the union to continue discussions about the lingering strike embarked on by ASUU. But ASUU president Emmanuel Osodeke said the union was not informed about any meeting with the Federal Government. “We were not invited to any meeting. None of our members was invited. We have a secretariat but we never got any invitation from them,” the ASUU leader said in an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday. “The problem we have with this government, especially with the minister of labour, is that if you can tell the world that you have fixed a meeting which you didn’t, how do you expect us to believe other things you have said? “He should confirm to the world that he sent an invitation to ASUU for a meeting on Thursday.” Professor Osodeke asked the labour minister to leave negotiations with the union. “The minister of labour should leave us to deal with the minister of education. He was the one that made this matter worse to this extent,” he said. “He was the one that decided to use hunger as a weapon when he said no work no pay.” ASUU, which had embarked on the latest round of strikes since February 14, cited the government’s non-implementation of agreements reached with the union. Ngige had earlier assured Nigerians that the protracted action will be resolved soon, saying the Federal Government is determined to see public universities reopened.