Crime Facts

None Of The APC Governors In The North Will Deliver For Tinubu – Former NHIS Boss

  Former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Professor Usman Yusuf is of the opinion that none of the APC governors in the North will be able to deliver for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the forthcoming election.   Professor Yusuf stated this on Monday when he appeared as a guest on Channels Television’s The 2023 Verdict. “None of the APC governors in the North, has the goodwill of the people to deliver anything to him (Tinubu)… None,” the former NHIS boss exclaimed. According to him, Tinubu’s politics has been regional (especially) in Lagos “where he is Alpha and Omega, nobody challenges him.” Professor Yusuf added that though the APC flagbearer has built people, still he has no experience as to politics within the national front.   “His inexperience is showing,” the oncologist asserted. He further noted that in the North, Tinubu is not talking to the people, opining that the APC presidential candidate is merely sub-contracting the campaign to praise singers, and APC governors. “When it comes to the campaign hosting, he only dances and leaves,” Professor Yusuf emphasized. Speaking on President Muhammadu Buhari’s professed desire to hand over to a candidate from the APC, the former NHIS boss said only the people’s wish will prevail. In his opinion, Buhari has squandered all the influence and goodwill which he had internationally and nationally and as such can see to birthing the dream of handing over to a candidate from the APC.

Suspected cultists gang-rape Rivers pastor’s wife to death

  The suspected cult members allegedly belonging to the Iceland cult were said to have abducted the woman and wife of a pastor in the wee hours of Sunday and a few hours later reportedly gang-raped her to death. It was gathered that her lifeless body was found at about 10am in the community with multiple injuries and blood stains in her private parts. Speaking to newsmen, the deceased’s husband, Pastor Lawyer Steward, confirmed the incident, saying he was informed that a known cultist accused his wife of always gossiping with his name. Steward stated, “I am the husband of Chigbejim, who was murdered yesterday by a group of boys. After raping her, they murdered her.” Asked if he had problems with anyone prior to the incident, the cleric said he was neither a cultist nor had issues with anyone. “I am not a cultist; I am an Assistant Pastor in charge of Evangelism in the Seventh Day Adventist Church Abarikpo. Everybody in my community knows I am not a cultist. “She gave birth to three children, one is late. My daughter is seven, while the little one, a boy, is three years’ old. “One boy, Sunday, a cultist, claimed he slaughtered my wife because she gossiped and spoke against him. That people told him my wife always spoke against him. “That is the reason he murdered her. He is a cultist,” said the distraught man. He revealed that the Ahoada Divisional Police Officer visited the scene on Sunday evening. Steward called on the law enforcement agencies and the government to apprehend the perpetrators and make them to face justice. “I am calling on the government to help me find those boys that kidnapped my wife, raped and murdered her. “Let the government and the police help to arrest them and make them pay for what they did to my wife,” the cleric stated. Speaking, the Public Relations Officer of Igbu Akoh Clan Youth Congress, Ahoada East LGA, Ekeakita Chinem, also confirmed the incident, saying the community had been experiencing a series of killings in recent times. “So, like we have been having a series of killings in Akoh. When they kill, nobody goes after the bad boys. No security person goes after the bad boys. “Mrs Steward was kidnapped around 1am. Only for us to find out around 10am this morning that she was lifeless after being raped. “She had bruises in her private parts, especially on her thighs. There was blood all over her body too. “So, people are living in fear, nervous that no political leader or government agency goes after them. You report or don’t report, what will happen,” he said. Asked if the matter was cult-related, Chinem answered in the negative, saying she was a married woman. He recalled, ” Late last year, we witnessed 11 killings in that same community. A member of one of the cult groups went to their camp and collected the AK-47 of their master and ran away to their community at Abarikpo. “Only for the cult leader to send his boys after him and innocent lives, about 11 persons were killed. “And till today, there is no investigation, no action was taken by the police to fish out the perpetrators from where they are hiding. Nothing at all.” Meanwhile, a group, the Centre for Basic Rights Protection and Accountability Campaign, has condemned the abduction and rape of Mrs Steward, leading to her death. The National Coordinator, Prince Wiro, called on the police to carry out proper investigation with a view to apprehending the culprits and making them face justice. Wiro stated,” It is important that the police get to work. They must carry out a thorough investigation to ensure that the culprits are arrested so that the woman gets justice.” Efforts to reach the spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, proved abortive, as she did not respond to calls put across to her. Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, had yet to reply to a text message sent to her mobile telephone as of the time of filing this report.

Tinubu’s gaffes result of campaign pressure –Pedro

  A former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Femi Pedro, has said gaffes made by the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, are mere slip of tongues as a result of pressure from campaigns. Pedro, who insisted that Tinubu is fit both mentally and physically to lead Nigeria, said mistakes are common and not unusual adding that anybody can commit such blunders. Pedro, who was the second-term deputy to former Lagos governor Tinubu between 2003 and 2007, said this during a live appearance on Channels Television’s election programme, The 2023 Verdict, on Monday. The APC flag bearer had made some gaffes during the ongoing campaigns that trended online among Nigerians on social media. Some of which are; “PDAPC,” “balablu” and “down payment for a roasted corn.” Pedro however said, “He (Tinubu) might have made few slips here and there; everybody does that. The other time (Iyorchia) Ayu on national TV said PDP should be rejected. He didn’t mean PDP, of course, but it was a slip. “When you’re on a campaign trail, the pressure, the noise, the gravitas, the general rally atmosphere, you can easily have a slip of tongue. That is not unusual and it’s not unheard of all over the world. “Asiwaju is very fit, he is fitter than me. He is energetic and he is everywhere. Asiwaju’s cognitive skill is perfect; most of the speeches we hear or read are doctored. That is the narrative that has been presented by the other opposition to make him seem unfit.” Pedro, who is also a member of the APC’s Presidential Campaign Council, said Nigerians had nothing to worry about as regards Tinubu’s health and cognitive abilities. He said, “I was with him two days ago in Abuja with other leaders. I was pleasantly impressed by his energy, his vigour; he has not been hiding. We have seen him speak before in Nigerian economic summits, town hall meetings in Kano, Rivers and Lagos.”

Nigerians must vote for southern candidate – Ezeife

  TWELVE Days to the Presidential and National Assembly elections slated for Saturday, 25th of this month, former Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife has asked Nigerians to vote for a Southern Presidential candidate. Speaking on Monday in Abuja at the Obi/ Datti International Conference, 2023 and Public Presentation of the book, Business Unusual: Postulating Peter Obi’s Presidency, Chief Ezeife that Nigerians should jettison the idea of voting for the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; the Presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso and any other candidate from the north. Ezeife who noted that the Presidential Candidate of Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi and that of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu are from the South, said however that Nigerians should jettison what he described as Bullion van Politics which he attributed to the PDP and the APC. He said, “We in Nigeria today what to go to a system that works, bullion van politics enough is enough. We do not want to be bought for four years to vote. If you take money from any politician, it is your money. When you are bought, you do not have the moral right to question those who bought. “APC and PDP played bullion van politics, we want party with people with conscience.”

Buhari meets Emefiele again in Abuja

  President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met again with the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) at the State House in Abuja. The meeting is taking place shortly after the President returned the Police Force Headquarters, where he had unveiled some patrol vehicles to be deployed for the upcoming general elections slated to commence from February 25. This is the sixth time President Buhari and the CBN boss are meeting since the introduction of the redesigned Naira notes. More details soon…

Coup allegation: Femi Fani-kayode currently being grilled by DSS

  A former minister of Aviation Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, is currently being interrogated by the Department of State Services over his claim that certain politicians are working with the military high command over possible coup. The DSS in response summoned the APC Campaign spokesman for questioning. The Public Relations Officer of the DSS, Dr. Peter Afunanya, confirmed to Vanguard on Monday that Chief Fani-Kayode was still with them in Abuja. Afunanya said: “Chief Femi Fani-Kayode has been with the DSS since 9am today 13/02/23 in response to the invitation extended to him by the Service”

Coup Allegation: Atiku Commends DSS, Says Fani-Kayode Not Acting Alone

  The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has commended the Department of State Service (DSS) for inviting the Director of Special Projects and New media of the Tinubu/Shettima presidential campaign Council, Femi Fani-Kayode, to explain his allegations and insinuations of an attempted coup being planned by the PDP flag bearer and top generals, saying that the former minister is not working alone. In a statement issued on Monday by his Special Assistant, Public Communications, Mr Phrank Shaibu, Atiku called the DSS not to leave any stone unturned in the course of the investigation. The statement said: “We commend the DSS for the swift invitation sent out to Fani-Kayode. He must be made to explain his allegation of an attempted coup being planned by Atiku Abubakar who even during the military regime never attempted to topple the government despite having the resources. “Fani-Kayode must also be made to reveal the identities of the so-called army generals who are plotting to overthrow the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.”   The Atiku spokesman, who described Fani Kayode’s attempt to withdraw his comments as an afterthought, said there is an urgent need for the DSS and Nigerian authorities to ensure that the military is not brought into partisan politics. It added: “Nigerians suffered for nearly 30 non-consecutive years battling military dictatorship. The military has since 1999 pledged its loyalty to civilian authority and returned to the barracks. Unfortunately, Fani-Kayode and others in Tinbubu’s camp have continued to prod the military by making allegations of coups and the interim government. “Fani-Kayode cannot be acting alone since he is the spokesman for Tinubu. Fani-Kayode and his ilk have been prodding the military for the last month, talking about how they plan to install an interim government. “In reaction, President Buhari set up a transition committee that will midwife a smooth transition to another government on May 29.

INEC Says Polls Will Not Hold In 240 Polling Units Across 28 States

  The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Monday that elections will not be holding in about 240 polling units across 28 States of the federation during the February 25 and March 11 general elections. The Commission also warned that it will not accept a situation where two or more party agents report to the polling units, causing confusion, adding that any agent found to be engaged in such act will be arrested and prosecuted. The poling units where elections will not hold are from one in Edo, Kwara, Rivers and Zamfara States to 38 in Imo State which has the highest. INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu who disclosed this at a regular consultative meeting with leaders of the 18 registered political parties ahead of the elections said the affected polling units has no registered voter. He said with the exclusion ot the 240 polling units, election will take place in about 176,606 polling units across the country. More to follow…

You Have A Case To Answer, Police Tell Pastor Who Stormed Altar With AK-47

  The Nigeria Police Force has said that it will investigate the pastor who mounted the pulpit carrying an AK-47 rifle. Pastor Uche Aigbe, Presiding Pastor of the Abuja chapter of the House on the Rock Church, caused a stir during Sunday Service when he mounted the pulpit with a rifle. The incident took place during the second service, which frequently has a high turnout of the congregation who come from different parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). This created a scene as the congregation tried to figure out the motive behind such. “Some people are looking for my trouble. And I came here prepared. Today, there are some pastors with the gift of divination who go about ripping people off. This is why we should carry our ‘guns’ and defend ourselves. I will particularly be coming very soon for some of you sleeping in the church,” he said as the church erupted in laughter. Twitter users had asked Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Force’s Public Relations Officer, to react to the action of the pastor. In a series of tweets, Adejobi said AK-47 rifle falls under the prohibited firearms in Nigeria and only certain law enforcement officers are allowed to do carry it. He said he had forwarded complaint over the pastor’s action to the FCT Police Commissioner to act. “But if its true, the pastor will have a case to answer. AK47??. It falls under prohibited Firearms in Nigeria, and no one bears it except an officer of the law, and not all of them have the right, selected sec operatives, but no individual has the right to bear it. “The FCT police command will investigate it, i trust the new CP FCT, CP Sadiq,.. its shocking,” he wrote.