Crime Facts

Peter Obi: Our structure massive beyond conventional party structure — Labour Party

  Against the back of chiding the Labour Party (LP) and its supporters of only operating online without real-time structure, the party has come out to say its structure is massive beyond the conventional political party structure that people know. A Delta federal lawmaker representing Aniocha North-South and Oshimili North-South. Ned Nwoko and former Governor Muazu Aliyu Babangida of Niger State had swiped Labour Party and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi that they lacked the structure that could help them win the presidential election in Nigeria. The spokesperson of the party, Yunusa Tanko while speaking on Arise News, Tuesday, said whoever thinks Labour Party is only popular is missing it. He said the regular structure that people know is one where manipulation and intimidation take place. Tanko noted that the Nigerian youths and elites who stood firm in the face of quagmire waiting for a leader to take Nigeria out of shackles form the teeming support that Labour Party is leveraging on. The party spokesperson, who said that the Labour Party enjoys enabling support from the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, also informed that the party has support of 10 other political parties. He said, “If they want the conventional structures, they shouldn’t be surprised, we have time. In the next few days or months to come, those structures and the flags of the Labour Party and the movement will be flying in every nook and corner of the country. “They should also remember that no single human being can make a leader. It’s God and the God’s chosen time is now and when the people speak they speak with the voice of God Almighty and we believe God is on our side. “The Nigerian people have suffered so much in the hands of people doing political nomadism. Such people are already jittery. They believe that if change happens their dynasty and plan to continue to hold people to disdain and disrespect will be over,” he said. Tanko, who warned that Nigerians must resist an oppressive government, said the goal of the Labour Party was to help the Nigerian people including the downtrodden to become comfortable. He said, “Nigeria is for all of us, and the best of us must be given the opportunity to lead the people and that’s what you will find in this movement.”

85 days after, Buhari orders immediate rescue of Abuja-Kaduna train attack victims

  Eighty-five days after passengers on the Abuja-Kaduna train were attacked, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), ordered security and intelligence agencies to secure their release. The PUNCH reports that passengers travelling from Abuja to Kaduna by rail were attacked by gunmen who killed about eight persons with scores injured while over 60 others were kidnapped on March 28, 2022. In a statement via his official Twitter handle, Buhari said all hostages still held by the terrorist must be rescued and returned to their families alive. He said, “I have directed our security and intelligence agencies to scale up and speed up efforts to secure the safe release of all the remaining abducted Abuja-Kaduna train passengers. My directive is very clear: All hostages must be brought home ALIVE, and as soon as possible. “I welcome the safe return of the recently-released passengers, to their families and loved ones. I am reiterating my solemn pledge to the families of those still in captivity: we will not relent until every single hostage is safely back home with their families.” Since their abduction, the terrorists have released some of the hostages including a pregnant woman and Sadiq Ango Abdullahi, the son of the Chairman of Northern Elders Forum, Prof Ango Abdullahi.

2023 Presidency: Court fixes July 20 to hear suit querying Atiku’s citizenship

  The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday, slated July 20 to hear the fresh suit that is challenging the eligibility of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, to contest the 2023 presidential election. The court, in a ruling that was delivered by Justice Taiwo Taiwo, ordered substituted service of all the legal processes on Atiku to enable him to respond to the suit. It directed that the former VP, who is the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, should be served within seven days, through publication of the court processes in a national daily. It will be recalled that a constitutional lawyer, Mr. Johnmary Jideobi had approached the court, contending that Atiku is not constitutionally qualified to participate in the presidential contest. The Plaintiff, in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/751/2022, posed two legal questions for the court to determine, afterwhich he sought seven principal reliefs against Atiku, PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, who were cited as 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants in the matter. The Attorney-General of the Federation was also joined as the 4th defendant. Specifically, the plaintiff, asked the court to determine; “Whether by the combined provisions of sections 1(1) & (2), 25 and 131(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), only a Nigeria citizen by birth can contest for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?”. As well as, “Whether by the combined interpretation of sections 1(1) & (2), 25(1) & (2) and 131(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), and giving the circumstances surrounding the birth of the 1st Defendant, he can be cleared by the 2nd and 3rd Defendants to contest for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?”. Upon the determination of the questions, the plaintiff, prayed the court to declare that by virtue of Sections 1(1) & (2), 25 and 131(a) of the amended 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it is only a Nigerian citizen by birth that is constitutionally eligible to contest for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “A solemn declaration of this Honourable Court that given the circumstances of the birth of the 1st Defendant, he is not constitutionally qualified to stand for election into the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “An order of this Honourable Court disqualifying the first Defendant – Atiku Abubakar – from contesting for election to the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “A declaration that the 2nd Defendant (the PDP) does not have a candidate for the office of the President in the 2023 Presidential Election to be organised by the 3rd Defendant. “An order of perpetual injunction of this Honourable Court restraining the 1st Defendant from contesting for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or occupying the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by whatever means and throughout his lifetime. “An order of perpetual injunction of this Honourable Court restraining the 2nd Defendant from fielding or presenting the 1st Defendant as its candidate for the 2023 Presidential election in Nigeria for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Likewise, “An order of perpetual injunction restraining the 3rd Defendant from accepting and or publishing the name of the 1st Defendant as a candidate of the 2nd Defendant for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the forthcoming 2023 Presidential election”. On grounds upon which he is seeking the reliefs, the plaintiff, told the court that the 1st defendant (Atiku) acquired his citizenship of Nigeria by virtue of the 1961 plebiscite which integrated some people of Northern Cameroon into Nigeria as new citizens of Nigeria “On the 28th day of May, 2022, the 1st Defendant emerged as the Candidate of the 2nd Defendant for the 2023 Presidential election following the primary election conducted by the 1st Defendant. “Allowing the 1st Defendant to participant in the 2023 Presidential election as the Candidate of the 2nd Defendant would amount to a grave desecration of the otherwise sacrosanct and inviolable provisions of Sections 1(1) & (2), 25 and 131(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) “The 3rd Defendant is under a bounden duty to ensure that the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall not be governed, nor shall any persons or group of persons take control of the Government of Nigeria or any part thereof except in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution “The Plaintiff is an Apostle of Rule of Law, an adherent of constitutionalism, social justice crusader and defender of Rule of Law. “This suit is a public interest Litigation aimed at protecting the sanctity of the constitution being the supreme law of the land (suprema lex), to protect the public interest of seeing that constitutional supremacy as provided for in the constitution itself is enforced, adhered to and rendered not impotent or made mockery of”, the Plaintiff averred.

Full list of Ministerial-nominees

  President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday nominated seven persons for screening and confirmation by the Senate for appointment as Ministers. Senate President Ahmad Lawan read Buhari’s letter of request on the floor of the Senate in Abuja. The nominees include Umana Okon Umana (Akwa Ibom); Henry Ikechukwu Iko (Abia State); Ademola Adegoroye (Ondo State); Odum Odi (Rivers State); Goodluck Nnana Opia (Imo State); Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub (Kano State) and Joseph Ukama (Ebonyi State). 1. Henry I. Ikoh – Abia 2. Umana Okon Umana – Akwa Ibom 3. Ekumankama J. Nkama- Ebonyi 4. Goodluck Nana Opiah – Imo 5. Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub – Kano 6. Ademola A. Adewole – Ondo 7. Odum Odi – Rivers

CJN: Why I Nominated Only 8 Judges For Workshop In London

  The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Tanko Muhammad, has opened up on why he nominated only eight judges for a workshop in London. Tanko in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Ahuraka Isah, noted that the court nominated only eight people for the workshop so as to allow for smooth operations in the court back in Nigeria. “Two weeks ago, eight Supreme Court Justices were nominated for a workshop in London as the court cannot take all of them there at once otherwise the job would suffer.” He stressed that the judges will be leaving in batches as welfare is being provided for those that are yet to get. He said, “They would be going in batches. Accommodations are being gradually provided for the few that are yet to get. There is none of the Apex Court Justices without SUV and back up cars. If any of them were purchased but refurbished, the external and internal auditors are here in the court to take those that bought them up over it.” Tanko also addressed a myriad of issues affecting the court.

How Two Boys Lured Nursing Mother to Hotel, Drugged Her, Killed Her, Sold Her Baby for N150K

  Nemesis has finally caught up with two young men as Abia State Police Command has paraded them as suspects involved in the gruesome murder of a young Lady and a nursing mother, of an 11 months old baby boy and took away the baby which they allegedly sold and got N150, 000 naira reward. The lady, Chihurumnaya Udeh, a native of Edda, Ebonyi State but resident at No. 125 Umunkama Road by St. Dominic Ngwa Road, Aba had her life cut down by the two young boys after luring her to a hotel in Ogbor Hill area of the commercial nerve centre of Abia state. Addressing newsmen on Monday in her office at the Police Command Headquarters, Umuahia, the Abia Commissioner of Police, CP Janet Agbede, said the incident occurred at Merry Home Hotels, Aba on April 15, 2022. According to her, she said on the said day, two suspects Chimaobi Anyim Kalu 25, of No. 44 Nwogu Street Ngwa Road Aba, and David Ogwo Orji 21, resident at Umukanma Roundabout, Ngwa Road, connived and killed Chihurumnaya Udeh while her baby boy of about 11 months was taking away by the suspects. CP Agbede, revealed that on discovering the misnomer, the proprietor of Merry Home Hotels, Ogbor Hill, Aba, Felix Abengowe, reported to the Police that the corpse of an unidentified female with a sharp cut on her neck was found in one of the hotel rooms, a report that madet the Police swing into action. On arrival at the scene of the heinous crime, it was discovered that the suspects escaped with the deceased’s baby boy after murdering the mother. Further police investigations revealed the victim’s name, address as well as the name of the victim’s stolen son “Chimereobioma Silver” aged eleven months, CP Janet Agbede added. The Commissioner of Police said the suspects were arrested between May 15th and 16th, 2022 upon credible information and upon their arrest, it was discovered that both suspects are motorcycle riders, popularity called “Okada” and both hails from Ugwueke in Bende LGA of Abia State. She revealed that in their confessional statements, the suspects admitted to administering drug which was a mixture of yoghurt , which was spiked with 8 tablets of piriton tablets on their victim. After taking the yoghurt, she became dizzy, unconscious and slept off, before stabbing her on the neck with broken glass cup which led to instant death as they equally confessed to selling the baby for the Sum of one hundred and fifty thousand naira (N150, 000) only, which was shared equally by both suspects The CP, Abia state Command equally told newsmen that plans are underway to arrest other fleeing suspects, a man and a lady, that could lead to the recovering of the 11 months Chimereobioma Silver who was purportedly sold . Exhibits found with them included broken glass cup, black material soaked with oil paint and CCTV footage in a flash drive. The Abia state Commissioner for Police, Janet Agbede used the opportunity to harp on the need for security consciousness around hotels, schools, churches, residential areas, business premises, recreation centers as well as when driving or on transit. In their confessional statements to newsmen, Chimaobi Anyim Kalu Nwogu and David Ogwo Orji, acceded to killing Chihurumnaya Udeh while also admitting to selling her baby for the sum of N150, 000. Interacting with newsmen shortly, the parents’ of the deceased, Mr and Mrs John Udeh from Edda in Ebonyi State who could not hold their tears, called for justice to be meted to the suspects. In his reaction, the Director of Merry Homes Hotel, Mr. Felix Abengowe, regretted the sad incident at the hotel, which he described as the first shocking experience of the establishment and thanked the Abia state Government and Abia state police command for their proactive response that led to the arrests of the suspects. He said the security measures put in place at the hotel assisted in the arrest of the wicked and heartless suspects. Mr. Abengowe dismissed as unfounded and malicious falsehood, the story published by a conventional newspaper, allegging that the hotel was a ” Den of Criminals” and assured that the hotel has engaged a Legal team to challenge the newspaper house. He consoled the family of Late Ms Chihurumnanya Udeh for the sad loss of their daughter and stolen grandson and urged the Abia state police command to make sure that justice is served and insist that the wicked murders should not go unpunished by the long arms of the law. Daily News Reporters

Three Senators dump APC

  Three Senators of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have resigned from the party. The lawmakers are Senators Ahmad Babba-Kaita (Katsina North); Lawal Yahaya Gumau (Bauchi South) and Francis Alimikhena (Edo North). Whilst Babba-Kaita and Alimikhena joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Gumau pitched tent with the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). The notice of their resignation and defection was contained in three separate letters read during plenary by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, on Tuesday. Babba-Kaita’s letter reads in part: “As Senator representing Katsina North Senatorial District, I write to formally notify you of my resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC), and registration declaration for the Peoples Democratic Party. “My resignation from the APC was born out of the marginalisation of critical stakeholders by the State Government and leadership of the party in Katsina State, where small people like me do not have a chance. “I have since been joyful and graciously accepted into the fold of the Peoples Democratic Party in Katsina State.” On his part, Senator Alimikhena, noted that his decision to resign from the APC was as a result of “continuing and multifaceted crisis that has bedeviled the APC”, especially in his Senatorial District, “that has created parallel executives that has undermined internal discipline, cohesion and focus.” The defection by the three lawmakers reduces the total number of APC Senators from 70 to 67 in the Upper Chamber.

‘Market your candidate without misleading public’ — Soludo debunks claim on Obi’s $20m investment

  Chukwuma Soludo, governor of Anambra, has debunked a statement credited to him that a purported investment of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of Labour Party, in the state has yielded returns. Obi served as Anambra governor three different times from 2006 to 2014, owing to a series of legal battles occasioned by impeachment and issues on election schedule. The former Anambra governor’s presidential ambition has gained popularity among Nigerian youths on social media. In May, there were posts on social media claiming that Soludo said Obi invested $20 million in SABMiller Plc, now AB InBev, on behalf of the state and that the investment is now worth $100 million.   TheCable fact-checked the claim and rated the comment credited to Soludo as false. Over the past few days, the claim again surfaced on social media platforms, including one on a Facebook page titled, ‘Lamentations of A Bishop’, that Obi’s $20 million investment in Anambra has increased to $100 million. Commenting on the post, Soludo maintained that he never made such a statement. “Where did you read or hear me make such false statement? This fake news has been roundly debunked by my team. We can always carry on with campaigning for our preferred candidates without consciously misleading the reading public. This report is false and never emanated from me. Thank you,” the governor wrote.

Senate gets new Minority Leader, Chief Whip

  The Senate on Tuesday named the lawmaker representing the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Philip Aduda, as the new Minority Leader of the Senate to replace Senator Eyinaya Abaribe. Senator Chukwuka Utazi was also named as the Senate Minority Whip to take over Aduda’s former position. The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, announced the appointments while reading two separate letters signed by the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party Samuel Anyanwu. Recall that the seat of the Minority Leader became vacant following the defection of Senator Abaribe (Abia South) from the PDP. Details later…

CJN Replies Judges Who Accused Him Of Corruption

  Chief Justice of Nigeria, Ibrahim Muhammad, has replied the judges who accused him of corruption. Daily Trust had reported how 14 judges wrote a protest memo to Muhammad, whom they claimed had been depriving them of their entitlements. The justices said their annual foreign training, meant to enhance capacity building for the country’s judicial process, had been blocked by Muhammad. The main issues put forward by the justices in their letter through a welfare committee were; non-replacement of poor vehicles; accommodation problem; lack of drugs at the Supreme Court clinic; epileptic electricity supply to the Supreme Court; increase in electricity tariff; no increase in the allowances for diesel; lack of internet services to residences and chambers. They also claimed that while the CJN made provision for his personal staff and family members to travel abroad, only few judges have had the opportunity under Muhammad. But responding in a statement, which Ahuraka Yusuf Isah, his media aide, issued on his behalf, the nation’s number five citizen said he had managed the resources at the disposal of the apex court effectively. “The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammad would wish to confirm receipt of letter written and addressed to him by his brother Justices of the Supreme Court Bench.” “Judges in all climes are to be seen and not heard, and that informed why the CJN refrained from joining issues until a letter, said to be personal, is spreading across the length and breadth of the society. This was akin to dancing naked at the market square by us with the ripple effect of the said letter “The Supreme Court definitely does not exist outside its environment, it is also affected by the economic and socio-political climate prevailing in the country. Besides that, the Apex Court has to a larger extent, been living to its constitutional responsibility. “When a budget is made, it contains two sides, that’s the recurrent and the capital, yet all the two are broken down into items. The Federal Government releases the budget based on the budget components. And it’s an offence to spend the money meant for one item for another. Take for instance, the Supreme Court budgeted this year to re-roof and rehabilitate its complex built over 30 years ago and that is being done. The work on the extension of the complex is near completion, the esthetic lawns and cleanness of the perimeters are being well kept, and security and water supply are adequately provided for his brother Justices in their offices and residences. During the period of pandemic, a profound and extra-care was maintained to avoid causalities among them as well as the staff generally. It would have amounted to an act of irresponsibility to divert money meant for the above for otherwise. “The accusation so far, in summary is that more or all ought to have been done and not that nothing has been done; which is utopian in the contemporary condition of our country. “Before eight new Justices were appointed in 2020 onto the Apex Court bench, there was no additional budget to provide new chambers with equipped library, legal assistance, residential accommodations and logistics for them. The Apex Court has to make do with the resources at its disposal to meet their needs over time. All the Justices of this Court has at least a legal assistance, except some may opt for more. One of the CJN’s legal assistance (now Justice Aina) was appointed to Abuja FCT High Court last month, while another (Barr Ramatu) died three months back. Generally the Judiciary is looking up to recruitment of more legal assistance and other supporting staff this year. “Besides, two Supreme Court Justices died within the period under consideration. Both the four retirees and the two departed cost the court some funds in the forms of gratuities and allowances.”