A yet-to-be-identified personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, who frequents a betting spot, on Friday, assaulted a shop owner, Mrs. Joy Owolabi, at the Nanmwa Junction, Abattoir Area, Jos South local Government, Plateau State. The attack left her with injuries, including an eye swollen shut. The incident happened few metres away from NSCDC office, and although the victim had reported the incident, the organisation is yet to apprehend the personnel and his accomplice. It was gathered that sometime last month, the said personnel (whose name Mrs. Owolabi does not know) came to a betting spot next to the victim’s shop and parked his official motorcycle in front of her shop, blocking the entrance. She called his attention to it, urging him re-park the motorcycle, but she was ignored and an argument ensued. It was gathered that sometime last month, the said personnel (whose name Mrs. Owolabi does not know) came to a betting spot next to the victim’s shop and parked his official motorcycle in front of her shop, blocking the entrance. She called his attention to it, urging him re-park the motorcycle, but she was ignored and an argument ensued. Last Friday, the personnel returned to the betting shop with his colleague and parked his motorcycle in the manner that the woman earlier complained about. The incident led to an exchange of words between him and the shop owner. He punched the victim, pushed her to the ground and started flogging her with a wire, as neighbours and passers-by watch helplessly. None could rescue the woman as both NSCDC officers were armed. ‘I couldn’t enter my shop’ Narrating her ordeal, Mrs. Owolabi said, “I was in my shop on September 2. At about noon, I saw two men in uniform, from the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps; they rode into my shop. One stood by the roadside and the second one came to the entrance of my shop. “They came with an official motorcycle. When the man parked, blocking the entrance of my shop, I told him please, help me re-park this motorcycle because the way it is parked, I cannot enter the shop. “My neighbour, who is the betting manager also came out and saw the way the man parked the motorcycle; he started pleading with the man to re-park it. “As we were talking, the man punched me in my left eye and I fell to the ground. “As I was trying to stand up, he punched me in the second eye. He started flogging me with a wire. “They came in armed so people were afraid of coming to my rescue. So when this thing was going on, people were just watching. “After flogging me, the two of them left with the motorcycle. When they left, I locked my shop and went to their office, which is not far from my shop, to report.” Eyewitness Another shop owner, who did not want to be mentioned, added, “This is somebody’s wife that this boy beat like an animal because he is wearing a uniform. “We were scared of going close for fear of being shot. “It appears that the boy is on something. Apart from getting justice for the woman, he should be fished out and punished to save the woman in his life. “It could be that is the manner he is flogging her at home.” He appealed that the NSCDC should not sweep the incident under the carpet in the guise of not being able to identify the culprit. “The owner of the (betting) shop that he used to enter can help to identify him,” the eyewitness added. At the time of this report, the victim was still receiving treatment at a hospital in Jos. Meanwhile, it was also gathered that the victim was asked to return on Monday (tomorrow) as all personnel on a motorcycle would be presented for her to “identify” who assaulted her. However, the State NSCDC Public Relations Officer, DSC Madaki Longbit, said he was not aware of the incident but would find out on Monday. His words: “I was not informed. Friday was a busy day for us and I was not at the Command. “But give me till Monday (tomorrow) to confirm, I will get back to you.” Vanguard

  The Ogun State House of Assembly Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo, is to be arraigned in Lagos on Monday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over alleged financial crimes, an impeccable source within the anti-graft agency confirmed to our correspondent Saturday night. The source, who pleaded anonymity, noted that the agency was leaving no stone unturned in its bid to arraign the Chief lawmaker, adding that some political actors had been making efforts to stall the arraignment. He said, “We’re leaving no stone unturned concerning this Oluomo’s matter. He will be arraigned in court in Lagos State on Monday or later in the week, as we’re currently preparing charges against him. “We’re arraigning him in Lagos because it’s a jurisdictional matter. Some highly placed personality are doing everything to frustrate his arraignment, but he’s expected to go explain or defend himself in court on Monday.” The Speaker was arrested by officials of the EFCC at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Thursday morning and secretly flown to Abuja, and was still in the custody of the anti-graft agency, Saturday night. He was said to have been on the wanted list of the commission following his failure to honour the EFCC’s invitation several times. Oluomo and others (yet to be named) were accused of forging signatures and financial documents belonging to the state Assembly. The EFCC National and South-West spokespersons, Mr Wilson Uwujaren and Mr Dele Oyewale, did not respond to their calls nor responded to WhatsApp and text messages from our correspondent, Saturday night. A member of the Ogun State House of Assembly representing the ruling All Progressives Congress, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, however, confirmed the situation. He said, “The information you got is correct. Our speaker was arrested by officials of the EFCC earlier this morning. From what I gathered, he was alleged to have been involved in misappropriation and embezzlement of funds.” It was further gathered that the absence of the Speaker prevented the House from observing its last Thursday sitting. Our correspondent learnt that the Deputy Speaker, Akeem Balogun, who is statutorily saddled with the responsibility of conducting the businesses of the Assembly, also could not convene the sitting of the House. When our correspondent visited the Assembly complex on Thursday, staff members of the Assembly were seen gathering in groups and discussing in a hushed tone. A source at the Assembly confided in our correspondent that the Speaker’s refusal to honour the EFCC’s invitation was premised on the existing litigation instituted by the Assembly earlier in January this year at the Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, against the agency. Speaking on the development, the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Yussuf Adejojo, said the Speaker’s arrest might have prevented the lawmakers from observing its sitting. The PUNCH had also reported that Oluomo was granted bail on Friday.

  Abia State Governor, Dr.Okezie Ikpeazu has vowed to sue the member representing Isiala Ngwa North State constituency in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Ginger Onwusibe, over alleged threat to his life. Onwusibe, who dumped the PDP for the Labour Party where he is contesting for the Isiala Ngwa North/Isiala Ngwa South federal constituency seat in the 2023 election, was alleged to have threatened the Governor’s life at an event in Obingwa council area. However, the lawmaker has denied the allegation insisting that he never threatened Ikpeazu’s life. Onwusibe was last week invited by the Police in Abuja over the allegation. Head of Media and Publicity, Ginger Onwusibe Campaign organization, Ihesinachi Okite, explained that his boss, on arrival at the police headquarters in Abuja, was informed that a petition was written against him by a lawyer on behalf of Governor Ikpeazu. He said; “Ginger told them that he never threatened the governor and demanded to see the video. They claimed they didn’t have the video.” In a statement by Ikpeazu’s Chief Press Secretary, Sir Onyebuchi Ememanka, Ikpeazu stated that he will pursue his legal rights against Onwusibe to a logical conclusion at the courts. Ikpeazu vowed that he would no longer allow the situation to continue as no reasonable citizen will watch his personal security come under threat of imminent danger and do nothing, let alone, an elected Governor of a State. “The attention of the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has been drawn to the recent incidence of unwarranted attacks on his person, his family and indeed, the office of the Governor of Abia State by certain persons in the State. “In some instances, some of these persons have openly threatened to attack the Governor and members of his family. It is on record that since his assumption of office in May 2015, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has exhibited unparalleled tolerance and accommodation in the discharge of his duties as Governor. He has consistently ignored all those whose stock in trade has been to practically poke their fingers on his face for no just cause. “In the last 7 years and some months of his Governorship, there have been little or no negative incidents between the office of the Governor and individuals, except where there have been manifest attempts to undermine his person and office. “However, it appears that this disposition of the Governor has been misconstrued by some persons who now, at the slightest reason or even for no justifiable reason whatsoever, embark on a public display of unprecedented insults, abuses and threats to the life of the Governor and members of his family. “Consequently, let it be known that the Governor will henceforth activate all known and relevant laws in every single statute book in this country to protect his person, his family and the office of the Governor of Abia State from any further acts that attempt to put him or his family at risk of any kind. This new approach will either validate the lies peddled against the Governor or put a stop to them henceforth. “In specific terms, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu wishes to make it categorically clear that he shall pursue his legal rights against Hon. Ginger Onwusibe to a logical conclusion in Courts of Law,’’ the statement read in part.

  The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said that its personnel had not started carrying any form of fire arms whether on patrol or on other official duties. The Acting Corps Marshal, FRSC Mr Dauda Biu, said this in a statement by the Corps Public Education Officer (CPEO) FRSC, Mr Bisi Kazeem on Sunday in Abuja. Biu said that the information had become very pertinent following the image of an operative who was captured on camera carrying firearms in a position that suggested he was on official duty. “The viral report should be disregarded in totality as it’s just an old and recirculated image of an overzealous staff who posed with a rifle belonging to a sister agency’s staff in admiration and ignorance in 2018. “The said staff has since been punished according to existing maintenance of discipline of the Corps. “Officials do not currently carry arms and we advise members of the public to disregard the image being recirculated, ” he said. The FRSC boss further called on the public to desist from believing such fake images as the Corps continued in commiting itself to making the roads safer for all.

  Gov. Hope Uzodimma of Imo has restated that the commitment of the Igbo people to the unity of Nigeria remained sacrosanct. The governor made the remark at a maiden lecture series organised in honour of elder statesman, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Imo Council, in Owerri. Uzodimma described Iwuanyanwu as a detribalised strong, lucid and articulate national figure who, even at 80, had continued to demand a united, peaceful Nigeria. He further described the Igbo as a peace-loving people whose commitment to nationhood was without a doubt, hence their ability to thrive in all parts of the country where they were residents. The governor advised Nigerians to embrace peace and eschew all activities capable of jeopardising the country’s unity. “Iwuanyanwu has stayed strong, lucid and articulate at 80 because most of his life has been dedicated to service of God and humanity, a reflection of the Igbo quest for Nigeria’s unity, which we, in spite of obvious misrepresentations, continued to uphold. “Ndigbo believes in living and letting live, there is no better way to assert our unity. We must, therefore, not resort to war in a bid to fight marginalisation. We must eschew violence, and embrace peace and unity. “We may have our flaws as a race but a man cannot live in a land he loathes and remain progressive in his business and other endeavours. We love Nigeria dearly and this, is without a doubt,” he said. The Guest Lecturer and former President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Nnia Nwodo, described the celebrator as a quintessential model for today’s youths. He called for devolution of power for a better Nigeria, adding that a restructured Nigeria would give each geo-political zone sovereignty over their production and a sense of belonging. “No attempt should be made to force Igbos out of political relevance; we are as qualified as other Nigerians and Nigeria needs all of us now. “We must stop brooding over what has happened to us in the past, we can still make a country. Our industry and acceptability are evidence of our preparedness to serve and our quest for Nigeria’s unity is unswerving,” he said. Responding, Chief Iwuanyanwu commended the dignitaries and the organisers for honouring him. He, however, expressed worry over the treatment of the Igbo people in the country and called for a restructured Nigeria to correct the perceived injustices meted on them, such as the creation of more council areas and state police. In his remarks, Chairman of the Chapel, Mr Chris Njoku, thanked Iwuanyanwu for coming to the aid of journalists in the state, irrespective of the “tasking nature of the profession”.