Crime Facts

In Bayelsa, 15 year old boy kills uncle with grandfather’s gun

  Tragedy has struck in Ogbotobo community in Ekeremor Local Government Area as a 15-year-old boy name withheld killed his uncle while playing with his grandfather’s gun. According to sources, the boy who is fond of playing with his grandfather’s gun, recreating scenes in movies where an actor or actress with gun orders others not to move had pulled the trigger on his uncle unaware that it was loaded. Sources stated that the grandfather, Mr Jamaica Konbofawei had on March 6 loaded the gun around 3 am when he heard unusual movements from bush animals around their fishing camp. However, his efforts did not yield any fruit as the animals escaped before he could kill any of them even when he tried to chase them. On his return home, the sources said Konbofawei forgot to remove the cartridge from the gun and kept it where he normal keeps the gun. On Thursday morning, the boy in question picked the gun and pointed it at his uncle, who warned him dropped it while he prepares food. However, the boy while fiddling with the gun pointed at his uncle pulled the triggered, killing the latter instantly. The loud bang attracted people to the area where they found the boy crying over the body of his late uncle. A family source who confirmed that the matter has been reported to the Police said the family is in a dilemma because the boy in question is a teenager who cannot be allowed to go to jail for his action. Credit: TheSun 

Court strikes out N1bn suit against Malami

  A federal capital territory (FCT) high court in Kubwa has struck out the N1 billion suit instituted against Abubakar Malami, former attorney-general of the federation. Malami was sued in his official and personal capacities alongside Asabe Waziri, civil servant and founder of Asabe Waziri Justice Advocacy Initiative. At the court session on Thursday, Oluyemisi Adelaja, presiding judge, struck out the case for lack of diligent prosecution. “The claimant is the one who filed the action and is required to be seen diligently prosecuting same but they are not in court and there is no reason for their absence before the court,” the judge held. “They have, therefore, been absent without reason and consequent upon Order 32 Rule 4, this case is ordered struck out for want of diligent prosecution.” The case was instituted by Cecil Osakwe, a property developer. In the suit, Osakwe accused Malami of using his office to arm-twist him into handing out two units of three-bedroom flats situated in the Maitama area of Abuja, to Waziri. The property developer added that the former AGF allegedly coerced him to hand over the property worth about N130 million to Waziri despite a subsisting court order. According to Osakwe, Malami allegedly intervened in a civil dispute between his firm and Waziri. He also alleged that Malami was behind his continuous harassment by security operatives. He said the former minister was aware that Waziri initially moved into the said property and stayed for over eight months before she was vacated from it by a court order that terminated the transaction. Meanwhile, Osakwe is facing a two-count charge marked FCT/HC/CR/244/2022, filed against him by the federal government over allegation of advance fee fraud to the tune of N130 million. The suit also alleged criminal intimidation of Waziri, and that Osakwe had threatened Waziri with injury to her person and reputation, with intent to cause her harm and even death.

FLASHBACK: In 2020, Tinubu advised Buhari to print more naira notes —now his administration complains

  By Pascal Ibe As the current president Bola Tinubu administration continues to lament over persistence economic woes inherited from ex president, Mohammad Buhari regime, it has been revealed that Bola Tinubu in 2020 asked Buhari to print more naira notes. On Wednesday, the federal government disclosed that the policy of the immediate past administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari which resulted in free printing of Naira for eight years without corresponding production is one of the major errors responsible for the country’s current economic situation. Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, said this in Abuja while appearing before the Senate Committee on Finance chaired by Senator Sani Musa. Speaking on measures to revamp the economy among other issues, Edun said the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had done a lot, including efforts to stabilise the naira against the dollar and the implementation of a more transparent social welfare scheme for the citizenry. According to him, free printing of the naira for eight years up to N22.7trillion by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari without a corresponding improvement in productive activities was one of the major errors of the past. TINUBU”s ADVICE TO BUHARI IN 2020 In March 2020, then the All Progressives Congress National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu asked the Federal Government to print more naira notes to save the economy from collapse even as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to bite harder. The APC chieftain said the United States Federal Reserve had printed more dollars bills to boost the economy. Nigeria’s health care system cannot withstand a coronavirus pandemic on the scale of America and Europe. He said Nigeria could also do the same. Tinubu added, “Already, the price of oil has fallen to less than $30 a barrel. This will bring a dollar shortfall. This does not, however, necessitate a corresponding shortfall in public sector naira expenditures. “The US controls dollar issuance. We control naira issuance as is our sovereign right. Just as America has used its sovereign right to issue its currency to stave off economic disaster, so too may Nigeria issue naira for the same purpose.” LAMENTATIONS The senator representing the Edo North Senatorial District, Adams Oshiomhole said last month said President Bola Tinubu inherited a terrible economic situation from the past administration. The former All Progressives Congress Chairman also noted that some of the decisions taken by President Tinubu’s administration were the first steps towards revamping the economy. Speaking during an interview with journalists shortly after his meeting with the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, behind closed doors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday, Oshiomole said, “The government inherited a terrible economic situation, everybody knows it. The government inherited an economy in which the total national revenue was barely enough to service our debt burden. Spending 96 per cent; which is to say every one hundred naira Nigeria earns, ninety-six kobo is to pay debt” Also, former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, said President Bola Tinubu inherited inherited a “dead economy” from the immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration. According to him, President Tinubu’s effort to solve Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges is commendable despite that he inherited a “dead economy.” Fayose slammed Buhari for “taking Nigeria backwards,” urging President Tinubu to do more and solve the country’s issues. He said, “Considering what Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the President of Nigeria inherited and our diversity, put all these together, the gentleman is trying.

Buhari, ex-SGF’s signatures forged to move $6.2m from CBN -Forensic expert

  A forensic document examiner seconded to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Bamaiyi Haruna on Thursday said the analysis conducted on the documents used to release $6.2m from the Central Bank of Nigeria in February 2023 showed that they were forged. The EFCC had alleged that on February 8, 2023, a former CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, connived with one Odoh Ocheme, who is now on the run, to obtain $6.2m from the CBN, claiming that it was requested by the SGF “vide a letter dated 26th January 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/. The anti-graft agency also alleged that Emefiele, in January 2023, forged a document titled: “RE: PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE ON FOREIGN ELECTION OBSERVER MISSIONS,” dated 26 January 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201. At the last adjourned date, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, noted that the documents did not emanate from former President Muhammadu Buhari or his office. Mustapha also told the court that the Federal Government had no business with foreign election observers. Haruna, who is the sixth prosecution witness in the matter, stated that the real signatures of Buhari and the ex-SGF were analysed with the ones in the documents were not the same. He said, “The conclusion from the analysis revealed that the disputed documents showed evidence of forgery and copying art as the pen movement form and formation of the signatures and the skill of execution were found to be different from that of the specimen signatures A to A2 and B to Bi “The form and formation of the signatures marked x and the specimen signature marked B to B1 were found to be different in respect of pen movement impulses, skill of execution, loop formation, and presence of tremors, there were individual characteristics. This is a confirmation that the author of the specimen signatures marked B to B1 does not rhyme with the signature of Buhari on the disputed document marked X. “Also, the form and formation of the disputed signatures marked X1 and Specimen signature A2 were also found to be different in respect to pen movement impulses. Initial and terminal strokes, loop formation, presence of tremors, and individual characteristics. This is also a confirmation that the author of the specimen signature marked A2 did not rhyme with the signature of Boss Mustapha on the disputed document marked X1.” Counsel for the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo(SAN), applied to the court to tender the forensic report dated January 25, 2024, and other documents attached as exhibits. Justice Hamza Muazu subsequently admitted as evident and marked them exhibits FDE. During cross-examination, Burkaa asked how would the court determine whether two signatures are similar or dissimilar. The witness urged the court to rely on the report. When asked if Emefiele’s signature was analysed, he said no. Also asked if EFCC operatives submitted the materials analysed, Haruna said, “Operatives of EFCC submitted the request to the department. ” Burkaa asked if they were the ones who pointed out the disputed signatures. He said, “The submitting authority did”. The matter was subsequently adjourned till March 11.

BREAKING: Bandits Invade Kaduna Primary School, Kidnap Many

  There was pandemonium in Kuriga town of Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State when bandits invaded LEA Primary School, Kuriga (1), and abducted dozens of pupils. The number of persons abducted couldn’t be ascertained as of press time, but residents said they were about 100. Stunned by thousands of storks flying over the sky in Gia Viễn dike, Ninh Bình – Nếm TV Head teacher of the school and some other staff are reportedly among the victims. Daily Trust gathered that the incident happened at 8:20am immediately after the assembly on Thursday. The junior and secondary school relocated to the school building inside the Kuriga town a few years ago due to insecurity concerns, abandoning their former school building located outside the town. A resident, Shitu, confirmed the incident, saying most of the pupils ran out of their classes when they sighted the bandits on the school premises. Another resident, Lawal Kuriga, also told Daily Trust that abducted victims were marched into the forest. As of the time of filing this report, there was no official reaction from the state government as the Overseeing Commissioner of the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, didn’t react to a text message sent to him. The State Police Command Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, couldn’t be reached on the phone and is yet to reply to a text message sent to him too.

Teary Emir Sanusi: I thought I would die before Wigwe

  The Night of Tributes for the late Group Managing Director/CEO of Access Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe, continued in Lagos yesterday, with the leader of the Tijjaniyya movement and 14th Emir of Kano, Mohammed Sanusi, captains of industry and political bigwigs paying tributes to the deceased. Emir Sanusi broke down thrice while paying tribute to Herbert Wigwe. Each time he broke down, Abia State Governor Alex Otti, Aig-Imoukhuede and an aide comforted him. The aide had to spread his babanriga to shield his teary face from the audience. Recall that Herbert Wigwe died in a helicopter crash, along with his wife, Doreen, son, Chizzy and former Managing Director of Nigerian Exchange Group, Abimbola Ogunbanjo, in the US. Aside from Emir Sanusi, other personalities, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, also paid tributes to the deceased. Also in attendance were Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President Dangote Group, Aigboje Aig- Imoukhuede, Chairman Coronation Group, Henry Imasekha, Chairman/CEO – Berkeley Group Plc, among other dignitaries. Speaking on the occasion, teary Sanusi said that due to Herbert’s kind gestures towards him and his family, some people believed he owned Access Bank, while Aig- Imoukhuede, and Herbert were fronting for him. He said: “It was on a Saturday, I had no idea about what happened. I came to the airport waiting for a plane and I got a call from Bola Adeshola, and we were chatting. After two sentences, he said, Lamido you haven’t heard? “About two years ago, I put all my savings into a Trust for the education of my children, I have many and my priority as a father is to make sure that when I pass away, they will have good education. I told Herbert ‘I am placing you in charge of this Trust for the education of my children because I know that even if I die and did not leave any money, you will educate my children. “I thought I would die before Herbert.” After that, he burst into tears. “When I had problems in Kano, I called him about six months before I was to leave Kano, and I said to him, ‘Herbert I know you will give all your best to solve all these problems, but I am convinced that this is what is going to happen.’ And he said to me ‘your highness, don’t worry, whatever happens, don’t worry we are here for you.’ “On the day I heard on the radio that I was dethroned, the night before it happened, I called and said I want to come to Lagos. The announcement was made at about 9am, by noon, Herbert had a plane at the tarmac in Kano. I put my family on that plane, no message, no phne call, I put them on that plane. Herbert received them, put them in a hotel, and later got them accommodation for months. When I came we stayed there. “Some people believe I own access bank and Aig and Herbert are fronting for me. They gave me the cars and the drivers, they gave me security and a private jet and they ask for nothing and they don’t talk about it. I have lived in Lagos for four years, the house my family lives in was provided by Herbert. “When I heard of his death, I said ‘in the coming weeks and months, people will get to know Herbert the human being’. They know him as a banker, as a business man, they don’t know him as a human being. He was always about others, not about himself. You can’t imagne how one human being could have been so many things to so many people. “On the day before this happened, I was on a chat group when somebopdy made a few remarks about Herbert that I found offensive and I defended Herbert. I made my point very clear that this was totally unacceptable. “A few days after Herbert died; a friend called me and sent me a message. He has sent a message to Herbert at about 3:20 am that morning (day of the crash), telling him how I had stood up and defended him and forwarded my entire message to him. ‘’Herbert replied at 3:28 am with one word ‘unbelievable’. He sent another message at 3:50 which was not delivered. From the presentation from the air traffic controllers, the crash happened at 3:30. So possibly, the last thing Herbert read was my message talking about him.

NLC demands N794,000 minimum wage for workers in South West

  The Nigeria Labour Congress has demanded N794,000 as the new national minimum wage for workers in the South West geopolitical political zone. The labour union in the South West, through the chairperson of the Lagos State chapter of the NLC, Funmi Sessi, made the demand during her presentation at the ongoing public hearing of the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage in Ikeja, Lagos on Thursday. Sessi noted that the demand was jointly agreed on by all the members of the union in the South West . President Bola Tinubu, through Vice President Kashim Shettima, inaugurated a 37-member panel on the new minimum wage in the Council Chamber of the State House in Abuja on January 30, 2024. Details later…

I’m willing to give up my office for peace in Rivers — Fubara

  Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has stated that no sacrifice is too big for him to pay for the success of the state. He added that he could give up his position to bring peace to Rivers State. The governor stated this in an interview with AIT on Thursday. Fubara further stated that there are things he could have done that would have resulted in a “total crisis”. However, his ability to restrain even when he has the power is maturity. During the interview, Fubara said, “No sacrifice will be too big for me to pay for the success of this administration. “And the reason is very simple, it’s not political love, it’s not because I want to gain any favour from anybody, my interest and love for our dear state is genuine. I’m not trying to say I want to be one man who will be there to decide the fate of all but let Rivers State remain. “My burden was not the issue of all the drama, it’s the millions of Rivers people who had made sacrifices and it looks as if their hopes are being dashed. They were the ones I was worried about. What will be their fate? It’s not about me. “If leaving this position is what I need or what is needed to bring more peace to the state, I can even tell you people to come and take it. It’s not about me. People should understand that definitely I will go but Rivers State will still remain. “I am the governor, no matter what it is, there are things I could have done and there would have been a total crisis. But your ability to restrain in the face of crisis even when you have the power to do things is maturity.” PUNCH reports that Fubara has been having a running battle with the camp of his predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. Earlier in January, Fubara declared himself as the winner of the crisis rocking the state. He said those behind the crisis wanted him out of office but since he is still in charge. He also stated that he would not fold his arms and watch anyone or any group of people trying to sabotage his government.

Man Stabs Two Women To Death At Mexico University

  A man fatally stabbed two women at a university in the western Mexico city of Guadalajara on Wednesday, a state prosecutor said. The assailant was described as a man around 20 years old. He burst onto the campus of Centro Universitario UTEG carrying a knife and a hatchet, which he used to smash several windows, said Luis Joaquin Mendez, prosecutor for Jalisco state. “There was no reason, no apparent motive,” for the attack, said the prosecutor, adding that the attacker’s “aggression was directed against the first people he saw.” A man was also wounded during the attack. Police have arrested the assailant and are also investigating his links to another woman who was found dead in a hotel on the same day. At least 852 cases of femicide were recorded last year in the violence-plagued country, according to official figures. AFP

Herder, 50 Cows, Sheep Killed In Plateau Attack

  Gunmen on Tuesday killed a herdsman, 50 cattle and sheep at Fanzo community in Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State. Alhaji Dan-Azumi, who lost 21 cattle in the incident, confirmed to Daily Trust on Wednesday that another herdsman was injured while herding in the area.   He said, “The gunmen suddenly stormed the area and started shooting. They killed one of the herdsmen and injured another. The gunmen also took away more than 50 of the cattle. Some of them died, while others were slaughtered because they already had bullet wounds. It was an unprovoked attack. However, he said the Sector Four Commander had called them to a meeting and asked them not to repeat the attack, with the assurance that the incident would be investigated. Dan-Azumi added: “We are law-abiding citizens and we call on the security in the area to thoroughly investigate the matter and bring the perpetrators to justice. We also call on the security forces to retrieve our stolen cattle. The state chairman of Gan Allah Fulani Development Association (GAFDAN), Garba Abdullahi, who also confirmed the incident, called on security agencies to identify, apprehend and bring the perpetrators to justice to serve as a deterrent to others. The spokesman of Operation Safe Haven, a security task force charged with maintaining peace in the state, Major Samson Zhakom, didn’t respond to our correspondent’s request for comment at the time of filing this report