Crime Facts

35-year-old man in Police net for stabbing girlfriend’s brother in Ogun

  Operatives of Ogun State Police command have arrested 35-year-old Dada Taiwo, for allegedly stabbing his girlfriend’s brother, Damilola Momoh, on the neck with broken bottle in Agbado, in Ifo local government area of the state. The suspect stabbed Damilola, aged 34, during an argument over a phone the victim borrowed. Confirming the arrest of Taiwo on Sunday, the command’s spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, said the incident was reported to the Agbado Division by Olaife Momoh, the girlfriend of the suspect. Odutola stated that the victim had been rushed to Overcomer Hospital in Agbado for medical treatment and investigation is ongoing. She said, “On the 21th of July, at about 2am, a woman named Olaife Momoh, residing at 11 Sowemimo Street, Akera, Agbado, Ogun State, reported to the station that her boyfriend, Dada Taiwo of 34 Crossing Road, Agbado, aged 35, had a dispute with her elder brother, Damilola Momoh, aged 34, over a phone her brother had borrowed. “During the argument, the suspect, armed with broken bottle, stabbed her brother in the neck, causing severe injuries and profuse bleeding”. Odutola, however, warned against uncontrollable anger and advised young people to report any incidents to the nearest police station to avoid taking the law into their own hands.

Biden ‘Must Resign’ As President ‘Immediately’ – House Speaker

  Joe Biden must resign as president “immediately,” the top Republican in Congress said Sunday after the US president announced he was abandoning his bid to retake the White House amid intense pressure over his age. “If Joe Biden is not fit to run for president, he is not fit to serve as president. He must resign the office immediately. November 5 cannot arrive soon enough,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson in a statement. Chaotic period for US – The end finally came shortly after Biden had been diagnosed with COVID-19, forcing him off the campaign trail and into isolation in Rehoboth Beach. Biden’s decision to pull out also caps a tense and chaotic period in the US election, with Trump having survived an assassination attempt at a campaign rally on July 13. Biden joins a small club of US presidents who have decided to throw in the towel after just one term, with the last being Lyndon Johnson in 1968 — a year also marked by political turmoil and violence. Johnson’s replacement as nominee, then-vice president Hubert Humphrey, went on to lose heavily to Richard Nixon. But Democrats are counting on Harris to fare better, and hoping that she can prevent convicted felon Trump from making a sensational comeback to the Oval Office. In recent weeks, the Biden campaign has reportedly been quietly carrying out a head-to-head survey of voters measuring how she matched up against Trump. While Harris struggled to make an impact in her first years in the White House, she has emerged in the last year as a strong performer on the campaign trail on key messages such as abortion rights. The former prosecutor has also made much of her life story as the first woman in US history to hold the vice presidency, as well as the first person of Black and South Asian origin. Barring opposition from her party, Harris is now set to be nominated at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on August 19 in what promises to be a dramatic moment — and a heartrending one for Biden. Biden took office in January 2021 pledging to heal the “soul of America” after four turbulent years under Trump and the shock of the January 6, 2021, Capitol assault by his supporters. Overcoming a reputation for verbal flubs, Obama’s former vice president pushed through a massive COVID recovery plan and a green industry scheme. US allies welcomed his pledge that “America is back” following Trump’s trampling on international alliances, and his strong support for Ukraine as it battled Russia’s 2022 invasion. But he faced criticism over the catastrophic US withdrawal from Afghanistan and inflation that meant overstretched Americans ignored otherwise positive economic numbers. Behind it all were the ongoing concerns about his age with a series of senior moments, including tripping up the stairs to Air Force One and falling off his bike, contributing to the doddery image played up by Republicans.

BREAKING: President Biden resigns from seeking second term

  United States President Joe Biden announced Sunday that he is dropping out of his reelection battle with Donald Trump, in a historic move that plunges the already turbulent 2024 White House race into uncharted territory. “While it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term,” Biden said in a letter posted on X. AFP Details soon …

IN DETAILS: Imo Chief Judge sued Imo Assembly — 1 hour after recommendations for her removal

  By Pacasl Ibe The Imo State House of Assembly has revealed that the embattled Chief Judge of the State, Hon Justice Theresa Chikeka sued the Assembly one hour after it’s had concluded resolution for her removal on July 17, 2024. This latest disclosure by the house committee on Judiciary and Information chairman, Barr Ikenna Ihezuo on Saturday, followed a statement by Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Owerri branch few days ago. In the statement, the Nigerian Bar Association, Owerri branch stated that the recommendation for the removal of the Chief judge of the State , Justice Theresa Chikeka was unconstitutional. The Chairman and Secretary of the NBA Owerri branch, Chief Chris U. Ihentuge and Daniel O. Odiba noted that the hastened action by the Imo State House of Assembly purporting to recommend to the governor for the removal of the Chief Judge of Imo State, was unconstitutional. The statement reads in part, ”We read the rather unfortunate and disturbing news of the purported recommendation of the Imo State House of Assembly for the removal of the Chief Judge of Imo State, Hon Justice Theresa Chikeka. It has been reported on various media platforms that the House of Assembly of Imo State, today the 17th July, 2024 voted in favour of the recommendations of the House adhoc committee for the removal of the Chief Judge and the same has been presented to the Governor. ”It was also confirmed that the House of Assembly had on Thursday, 11/7/2024 invited the Chief Judge to appear before the Adhoc Committee the following day of Friday the 12/7/2024 to answer to the petition written against His Lordship. The Hon. Chief Judge responded to the invitation letter citing reasons for His Lordship’s non-appearance. The disclosed that the Bar also independently investigated and verified that the Chief Judge, Hon. Justice T. E. Chikeka had approached the Federal High Court, Owerri in an action against the Attorney General of Imo State; Hon. Speaker, Imo State House of Assembly; Imo State House of Assembly and the National Judicial Council as the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Defendants respectively. ”The Federal High Court issued an Order of Interim Injunction restraining the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Defendants from inviting, or continuing to invite or summon the Chief Judge or in any manner,giving effect to the 3rd Defendant’s letter of invitation to the Chief Judge or howsoever directing His Lordship to either appear before the 3rd Defendant or respond to any invitation from the House of Assembly pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice. The NBA said it confirmed that the irder was served on the House of Assembly. Continuing, ”Against the foregoing background, the Executive Committee of the Bar promptly conveyed an expanded Advisory Committee meeting on Wednesday (17 of July, 2024) and resolved as follows: 1.That the hastened action by the Imo State House of Assembly purporting to recommend to the Governor for the removal of the Chief Judge of Imo State, is unconstitutional and against the now settled position of the law in ELELU-HABEEB & ANOR v. AG FEDERATION & ORS (2012) LPELR-15515 (SC) ,where the Supreme Court held inter alia that the removal of a Judicial Officer including, the Chief Judge mustbe on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council. 2.That the Imo State House of Assembly must respect the principle of lis pendens and also obey the positive order of Interim Injunction of the Federal High Court in respect of the subject matter. 3.That the Bar as a defender of the Rule of Law, shall closely monitor the unfolding events and react appropriately as the situations and occasions may demand. 4.That the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Y. C.Maikyau, OON, SAN be immediately briefed on these developments with a view to taking further actions. ”We shall keep members of the Bar and the public posted on further developments in this matter,” the statement concluded. NBA Statement Embarrassing, Misconceived — Imo Assembly In a statement on Saturday, the House of Assembly committee chairman on Judiciary and Information, Barr Ikenna Ihezuo lamented that the NBA resolution, with respect, is shocking, embarrassing, hasty, and misconceived as it creates the inevitable impression that the authors are not familiar with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution. “The attention of the Imo State House of Assembly (Hereinafter referred to as “the House”) has been drawn to the *”RESOLUTION OF NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION, OWERRI BRANCH, ON THE PURPORTED RECOMMENDATION OF THE IMO STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY FOR THE REMOVAL OF THE CHIEF JUDGE OF IMO STATE”* published on 17th July 2024 and signed by the Chairman, Chief Chris U. Ihentuge and the Secretary, Daniel O. Odiba, ACArb. “The House received a petition dated 14th June 2024 and signed by Comrade Ndubuisi Onyemaechi, Director of Investigation of Civil Society Engagement Platform (CSEP) with the caption “PETITION AGAINST THE CHIEF JUDGE OF IMO STATE, HON. JUSTICE THERESA CHUKWUEMEKA CHIKEKA FOR AGE FALSIFICATION, WHICH IS A GRAVE CRIMINAL OFFENCE AND AN ACT FOR WHICH MANY OTHER JUDGES AND SOME ARE CURRENTLY BEING PROSECUTED BY THE INDEPENDENT CORRUPT PRACTICES COMMISSION (ICPC)”. “The petition above was referred to a Four Man Committee headed by Hon. Barr. Ikenna Ihezuo, Chairman, Committee on Judiciary and Information for proper investigation and detailed report, and for which the Honourable Chief Judge of Imo State, Hon. Justice Theresa Chukwuemeka Chikeka was invited amongst relevant persons and institutions. “The Secretary to the Chief Judge of Imo State on 10th July 2024 refused to acknowledge the letter of invitation by the Committee dated 10th July 2024, addressed to the Chief Judge of Imo State with the excuse that she was not authorized to receive such a letter. The Committee made a phone call to His Lordship, and she was informed of the said letter. His Lordship promised to receive it personally in the office the next day. Thereafter, the Secretary to His Lordship, on 11th July 2024, accepted the said letter of invitation at 3.11p.m. As the Committee was waiting to

THE INSIDE STORY: Deserted Community In Imo, A New Abode For Terrorists

  Obiefula Emesibe (Not real name) is a young adult and an indigene of Ezioha in the Mbaitoli Council Area of Imo state. Around two months ago, he had a misunderstanding with his brother over a television set and his brother reported him to the group of gunmen who have now become the only governing authority in Ezioha. Some call them “Umuoma” while others popularly call them “Unknown Gunmen”. The brother alleged that Obiefula took away his television set. They summoned Obiefula and in the course of ‘adjudicating’ the matter, they beat him until he dropped dead. When they realized he was dead, they simply called his brother who reported the case to come and carry his brother’s corpse. Case closed! This is just one of the many grueling and cruel occurrences in Ezioha community since strange men bearing arms and fetish charms invaded the community and under the guise of Biafra self-determination struggle, took the people captive while unleashing the worst kind of subjugation, intimidation and dehumanizing terror on the people of Ezioha. Presently fear and unspoken terror pervade Ezioha community as most of the voices calling for help are calling from outside Ezioha, particularly those who had fled the community to other safe zones. Haven for Bandits Following the destruction of many camps and hideouts of terror gangs in Imo state by security forces, many of the dislodged and fleeing gunmen, have found their way to Ezioha, which is fast becoming a safe haven for bandits from across the South-East. The criminal camp in Ezioha is fast growing in size, structure and sophistication. Findings indicate that the Ezioha terror camp had been there for almost two years while carefully keeping under the radar, but has received a major boost with the sudden influx of gunmen from Orsu, Agwa, Okigwe, Orlu and even Ebonyi and Anambra state, thereby strengthening their fighting capability and consequently causing an upsurge the spate of armed robbery, kidnapping, arbitrary killings and all manner of violent crimes around the area. Firm Control With the use of intimidation, fear and fetish manipulations, the hoodlums in Ezioha somehow wield firm control over the people and their community. In Ezioha today, these gunmen constitute the law, jury and judge in the community – they are the only ruling authority. Under their watch, nobody dares report any matter to the Police, or take any dispute to court. They adjudicate over land matters, debt matters, family feuds and any other dispute they may fancy. Their judgment is final and cannot be appealed. The willful violation of their pronouncements or judgment may lead to summary execution. It is no longer news that these gunmen engage in ritual practices, with many alleging incidents of human sacrifices; and often times, it is their practice to plant their fetish shrines all over the place and use the instrument of fear to further subjugate the people. For instance, a certain source and indigene of the community, who had earlier wanted to air his opinion on the horrible situation in Ezioha, suddenly backed out at the last minute, declining to talk on the excuse that the gunmen were diabolic and would find him out. He had said: “No, I cannot continue with this. If I say anything here, they may kill my kinsmen and burn our houses. They practice witchcraft and voodoo, and will use that to detect who spoke and what I said.” That is how bad it has become. Deserted Community Not a few indigenes and residents of Ezioha have fled the community for safety. So many others who live outside the community, no longer bother to come home. Schools, Churches and markets have all shut down as people continue to leave the community in droves. Social activities have been grounded to a halt and if for any reason, anybody has the courage to conduct the burial of a loved one in the community, they will only be able to do that with the approval of these gunmen and after a prescribed fee has been paid. Due to the activities of these hoodlums, Nkwo Ezioha Market (Popularly known as Nkwo Otura) has been abandoned; their only Primary School is shut down, with other small churches in the community deserted except for the Catholic Church in Ezioha where one hardly sees anybody on Sunday. “Sometimes you see just one vehicle, other times, you see a solitary ambulance parked within the church premises on a Sunday morning. “As at February, during the campaigns for House of Assembly election, no campaign train ventured into the community and not one political poster was pasted anywhere in the community as such things were abolished by the gunmen”, said a community source. The fear of these gunmen remains palpable in Ezioha and its environs. Those who remain in the community, are largely treated like captives to the extent that whenever they are crossing the checkpoints mounted by these hoodlums in their community, they are made to pay a certain fee before they are allowed to pass. Unchallenged and emboldened Apparently emboldened by their unchallenged onslaught on the people of Ezioha, Umunoha, Ukwukwu, Awomamma, Umuaka and other neighbouring communities, these gunmen have continued to wreak havoc on many communities in Mbaitoli, Njaba and Owerri Metropolis with a string of assassination, abduction, kidnapping and other violent crimes. This band of gunmen are no longer hiding away in their forest camp, but have continued to inflict pain beyond their hideout in Ezioha and even into the very heart of Owerri, the state capital of Imo state. Within the last two months, they abducted a family heading to Owerri from Ihitte Uboma. They threw the father out of the vehicle and whisked the wife and a six-month old baby away. They took them all the way to their camp at Ezioha. They did not release the mother and child until ransom was paid in full. A similar fate befell a petrol filling station owner, who they abducted at the Orji area of Owerri.

Dangote faults quality of imported diesel, demands investigation

  The President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has claimed that substandard petroleum products are being imported into the country and sold to unsuspecting Nigerians. Dangote made the claim on Saturday during the visit of the leadership of the House of Representatives, led by the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, and his deputy, Benjamin Kalu, to the Dangote Refinery in Lagos State. The business tycoon said there was a need for an investigation to be carried out to determine if there are some saboteurs in the oil sector or to find out if there are ulterior motives to demarket his business. Africa’s richest man also said the best way to determine the quality of products being imported and sold to Nigerians is by going to the filling stations and buying and testing them. Mohbad’s father appeals for Nigerians’ help in unraveling cause of son’s death0.00 / 0.00 He said, “The most important thing, Your Excellency, is to note that the imported one they are encouraging, is the spec in the test, but in certain cases, when you check (independently), different results will show.” Refuting the allegation made by the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed, that petroleum products from his refinery are substandard, Dangote said his products are better than imported ones, and they comply with the highest standards. Dangote, who provided evidence to back up his claim, said diesel bought from two filling stations and that from his refinery was tested at the refinery’s laboratories using the ASTM D4294 method. The Dangote Group President said the diesel, which was one of the best in terms of quality at the time the refinery started, had a sulphur content of between 600 parts per million and 650 ppm. While stating that the quality of his diesel has improved as the sulphur content has reduced to 87 ppm, Dangote added that by next Monday, it will reduce to 50 ppm. He further said the result does not only proof the reality of products from his refinery, but it also shows that substandard petroleum products are being imported into the country. Dangote noted that the sulphur content of the diesel bought from the two filling stations was over 1,800 ppm and 2,600 ppm, respectively. He said, “Our quality is about 600 to 650 ppm and is one of the best in terms of quality at that time when we started. But as of today, we’re at 87 ppm. “I want to plead with the regulator to come at any time, whether Sunday or Monday or take the sample, and I guarantee you before he gets here, our ppm will be even below 10. “When we’re coming here, His Excellency, the Speaker said, can we please wait to pick up samples from two filling stations? And also when we get into our plant, they will pick a sample to check the results. The results are actually out, and I’m going to share the same results with you. “The sample from TotalEnergies’s diesel showed 1,829ppm sulphur concentration. The sample from Matrix Retail showed 2,653 ppm. Matrix was 61 below 66, and Total is 26 flashpoint. Our flash point showed 96. If you want to do the rest, we can run it at any given time. “Today I want to announce to Nigerians that our parameters today are extremely, very good parameters. By the end of next week, we should be on 50 ppm and by August, it should be down to 10 ppm.” He also called on the House of Representatives to investigate the quality of laboratories being used by the NMDPR to test imported products and compare that with the one at his refinery. Dangote informed the lawmakers that he was also open to independent testing of his refinery’s products as that would only attest to their quality while exposing the problem with some of the products being sold by other players in the sector. The businessman also dismissed monopoly claims, insisting that the Dangote Group did not receive any special incentive when the refinery was being built. He also announced that the company would abandon its plans to enter Nigeria’s steel industry to prevent accusations of attempting to monopolize the market. Dangote explained that going into the steel industry would involve encouraging the importation of raw materials from overseas, which contradicts the firm’s core mandate. He said, “You know, about doing a new business which we announced, that is, the steel. Actually, our own board has decided that we shouldn’t do the steel because if we do the steel business, we will be called all sorts of names like monopoly. And then also, imports will be encouraged. So we don’t want to go into that.” Dangote, however, urged other Nigerians to invest in the industry to help boost the country’s economy. He added, “Let other Nigerians go and do it. We are not the only Nigerians here. There are some Nigerians with more cash than us. They should bring that money from Dubai and other parts of the world and invest in our own fatherland.” Speaker Abbas said going by the presentation and the contradictory claims, there was a need for an investigation. “I don’t know how we have this contradiction of two players representing the public and private sector. I think it is something we need to investigate further to find out if there are ulterior motives,” he said.

NDLEA Uncovers Illicit Drugs Hidden In Incense Candles, Ladies’ Wears

  Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have uncovered illicit substances in Lagos. The items – consignments of Cocaine and Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis – were concealed in incense candles, game packs, dry hibiscus leaves and ladies’, NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi said. According to a Sunday statement, the hard drugs were meant to be smuggled in and out of Nigeria through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA). Babafemi said some suspects were apprehended “A businessman, Abdulwahab Owolabi Alebiosu was on Thursday 18th July 2024 arrested at his Horizon Court, Lekki, Lagos residence after a consignment of 40 parcels of Loud weighing 20.30 kilograms hidden in packs of chessboards, scrabbles, checkers, and poker set, brought in from Canada on a British Airways flight was intercepted at the SAHCO import shed of the Lagos airport during a joint examination of the cargo with men of Customs Service,” the statement read. “A search of his home also led to the recovery of more exhibits including some drug paraphernalia, such as a weighing scale, and cannabis potency test kit, while four vaping machines were recovered from his business premises on Admiralty Way, Lekki. A Mikano black truck with registration number FST 657 HP was also recovered from his house. “In the same vein, NDLEA operatives at the NAHCO export shed of the MMIA on Friday 19th July intercepted two jumbo bags going to Pakistan. The bags contained dried hibiscus leaves, dried bitter leaves and other food items, which were used to conceal four parcels of cocaine and 14 parcels of Loud, both weighing 1.360kg. Further investigations led to the arrest of a businesswoman, Eze Queen Ogechi who claimed she was sending the illicit consignment to Pakistan on the instruction of her brother, Eze Nnamdi Promise based in the South Asia country. “Also at the Lagos airport, NDLEA operatives attached to Terminal II, Departure Gate of the MMIA, on Thursday 18th July intercepted a male Beninese passenger, Orobi Adoubi Amen, travelling with a bag containing some female native dresses. The suspect was going to Dubai via Accra, Ghana on an Air Peace Airline flight and a connecting flight to Dubai, UAE on Emirates Airline. A thorough search of the bag revealed eight parcels of Loud weighing 2.10kg were concealed in the ladies’ native wears. The suspect claimed he was given the consignment for a fee of N600,000 on successful delivery in Dubai.” On his part, the NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) commended anti-narcotics officers for the seizures. He said that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country are well appreciated, urging them not to rest on their oars but continue to intensify ongoing drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts

58 More Trafficked Nigerians Rescued In Ghana – NIDCOM

  Another group of 58 Nigerian women and children have been rescued from human traffickers in Ghana, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has said. The Chairman of Nigerians In Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) Board of Trustees in Ghana, disclosed this to the NiDCOM boss, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, when she stopped by to visit the trafficked victims at their location in Accra. The latest rescue comes a month after the Nigerian government rescued at least 10 Nigerian teenage girls, ages between 15 and 16, from human trafficking and prostitution. This was contained in a statement on Saturday by NiDCOM’s Head of Media and Public Relations, Abdur-Rahman Balogun. According to the statement, the rescued victims comprised 47 Nigerians of Kano State origin, five from Katsina State, two from Jigawa State and four from Kaduna State. The latest figures bring the total number of rescued Nigerians in Accra in the last three months to 105, Balogun noted. “A total number of 58 new set of Nigerian women and children were rescued from Human Traffickers in Ghana thus bringing the total number of rescued Nigerians in Accra in the last three months to 105,” the statement read. “Chief Callistus Elozieuwa, Chairman, NIDCOM Board of Trustees in Ghana disclosed this to the NIDCOM Chairman/CEO, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, when she stopped by to visit the trafficked victims at their location in Accra. “The rescued women and children are on their way back to Nigeria where they will be properly profiled and counselled by NAPTIP, reunited with their families and rehabilitated by their various state governments.” He stated the earlier rescued girls had been repatriated to the country. The victims were said to have been lured to Ghana with promises of a better life but were instead forced into prostitution. Editor’s note: This photo is for illustration 

Hold state governors responsible for 2023 election violence, court orders INEC

  The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to hold state governors, their deputies and others to account over cases of electoral violence, bribery, vote-buying, and conspiracy during the 2023 general elections.‏ According to a statement issued by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, on Sunday, the court ordered INEC to ensure “the appointment of independent counsel to investigate cases of electoral violence and other electoral offences against state governors and their deputies during the 2023 general elections.” The court also ordered INEC to “to promptly, thoroughly and effectively investigate cases of electoral violence and other electoral offences committed during the 2023 general elections and to identify suspected perpetrators and their sponsors and ensure their effective prosecution.” The judgment was said to have been delivered last Thursday by Justice Obiora Egwuatu following a mandamus lawsuit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/583/2023, filed by SERAP. Justice Egwuatu also ordered INEC “to swiftly prosecute all arrested offenders in the 2023 general elections in the custody of the Nigeria Police Force, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and other law enforcement agencies.” In his judgment, Justice Egwuatu held that, “I have compassionately evaluated the depositions in the affidavit of SERAP and I have no reason not to believe the depositions more so when there are documentary evidence in support of the depositions.” Justice Egwuatu also stated that, “In the circumstances therefore, I find merit in the application. The sole issue of whether this Court ought to grant the relief of judicial review and orders of mandamus is resolved in favour of SERAP. Accordingly, I grant the prayers sought.” The judgment, dated 18 July, 2024, read in part, “Being citizens of this great country, SERAP and its members have the legal interest whose enjoyment or enforcement directly or substantially depends on the performance of public duty by INEC. “In requesting the performance of the public duty imposed on the electoral body, SERAP has demonstrated a great zeal of patriotism. “The substance of SERAP’s grouse is the violence associated with elections in Nigeria which tends to prevent citizens from exercising their franchise during elections, thus preventing credible election and in the long run credible leaders.” The judge said there is no gainsaying the fact that electoral violence and the associated crimes committed during elections in Nigeria is a great bane to the development of this country both democratically and economically. “SERAP has also shown vide exhibit A8, a letter addressed to INEC requesting amongst other things the appointment of independent counsel to investigate allegations of electoral offences, including bribery, conspiracy, and undue influence against state governors and their deputies during the 2023 general elections.” “Exhibit A8 is thus a distinct and clear demand for the performance of the duty made by SERAP. The electoral body till the date of filing the action failed to, refused and or neglected to carry out or perform the duty requested by SERAP.. “There is no doubt that the Electoral Act 2022 creates some electoral offences. Sections 123, 124, 125, 126 127, 128 and 129 are some of the provisions of the Electoral Act that created some specific electoral offences,” he added. He pointed out that the trial of offences created by the Electoral Act are done in a Magistrate Court or a High Court of a state in which the offence is committed, or the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. “By Section 145(2) of the same Act, prosecution for the offences shall be undertaken by legal officers of INEC or any legal practitioner appointed by INEC. Clearly therefore, the law imposes on INEC the performance of a public duty. “Section 24(d) and (e) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] recognizes the rights of citizens to take steps towards advancing the community where he resides. “The section provides that ‘it shall be the duty of every citizen to-(d) make positive and useful contributions to the advancement of progress and well-being of the community where he resides; (e) render assistance to appropriate and lawful agencies in the maintenance of law and order,” Justice Egwuatu said. He further stated that by the provision of order 34 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019, the court is empowered to grant an order of mandamus, prohibition or certiorari in the manner set out in the order. “On an application for judicial review, any relief mentioned in rule 1 of order 34 may be claimed as an alternative or in addition to any other relief so mentioned if it arises out of, relates to or is connected with the same matter. “An order mandamus lies to compel the performance of a public duty at the instance of a person who has sufficient legal interest in the performance of that public duty.   “Where a public duty is imposed on a public or government body, authority, department or official and the authority, department or official refuses or fails to perform that duty, an order of mandamus would issue to compel that body, authority, department or official to carry out that duty in respect of a person whose interest is directly and substantially affected by the refusal or failure to perform that duty,” the judge averred. He opined that the entirety of the facts deposed to by SERAP were not controverted by INEC, stressing that it is trite that depositions in affidavit on material facts resolve applications in court. On his part, SERAP deputy director said, “This ground-breaking judgment is an important milestone for Nigerians’ right to free and fair elections, and for victims of electoral offences in their search for justice, truth and reparations for the crimes which took place during the 2023 general elections.” “Justice Egwuatu’s judgment now provides a binding precedent for INEC to immediately pursue justice for those who suffered egregious abuses in Nigeria’s 2023 general elections. We commend Justice Egwuatu for his wisdom and courage, and his landmark decision. “Respecting and implementing Justice Egwuatu’s

Love scam: How American woman defrauded me into marriage as 4th husband – Ezenwa

  In a shocking tale of dating app deception, Mr. Obinna Ezenwa has come forward to share his harrowing experience of being scammed by an American woman he met online. This is coming after the said woman had allegedly made efforts to intimidate and scandalize Obinna’s name and reputation. He met Kymberly Stalvey Ann Shepard on a dating app in October 2018. After conversing for a while, Kymberly surprised him by brandishing a flight ticket to Nigeria in November. She arrived in Lagos on December 28, 2018, and the couple decided to purchase a car together to travel around cities and villages. Ezenwa took Kymberly to his village in Imo State, where she met his family and friends. The relationship progressed, and in January 2019, Ezenwa and Kymberly had a court marriage in Owerri Municipal Council, surrounded by loved ones. However, unknown to him, Kymberly had been previously married to three other men, including a Nigerian, while he is her fourth husband. After returning to the US in January 2019, Kymberly informed Ezenwa that she would not be able to file the necessary paperwork for him to join her, as she had already sponsored two people and the US immigration would not allow her to do so again. This revelation prevented Obinna from legally immigrating to the US as previously agreed with Kymberly. Kymberly’s alleged deception did not end there. In the middle of 2019, she told Ezenwa that he would have to find alternative means to come to the US, as she would not be able to sponsor him. When pressed for an explanation, Kymberly shocked Ezenwa with the confession that her previous marriages, including one to a Nigerian man living in Georgia, were still legally valid when she married Ezenwa. Despite the betrayal and manipulation, Ezenwa forgave Kymberly due to his genuine love for her, but his attempts to obtain a US visa on his own were unsuccessful, leading to further conflict in the relationship, as Kymberly accused him of trying to dump her. With the unsuccessful attempts to obtain a US visa, Kymberly became increasingly temperamental and began stalking Ezenwa on social media, questioning his friends about him and even creating fake accounts to tarnish his reputation. In February 2020, Kymberly allegedly returned to Nigeria for a second visit and during her stay, Ezenwa discovered that she was communicating with another man, claiming he was her ex-husband. Upon her return to the US, Kymberly’s behavior worsened, and she eventually blocked Ezenwa on all means of communication. In February 2021, Kymberly used the anti-kidnapping squad in Owerri, Imo State, to have Ezenwa arrested through a man she met online. He spent three nights in police custody before his release, as the police were unable to substantiate any charges while his accusers abandoned the case in the Police and fled. According to Ezenwa, Kymberly’s allegations of extortion against him were all trumped up claims, to get back at him. He explained further: “I’m the victim in this matter. A woman I took to my village and to my parents, but didn’t know she was playing me for a fool. All she wanted was to sexually exploit me, which is clearly what she had been doing in the three previous marriages she had.   “She is 62 and was already an expert in coercing men into marriage and ‘importing’ them from foreign nations to the United States where she seeks to call the shots and enslave the men for her sexual satisfaction. “Kymberly hid her previous marriages from me, but unfortunately for her, she could not file papers for me to join her as agreed and my own efforts yielded no result too. That was when I learnt that she had filed papers previously for other husbands and couldn’t file for me because she had reached the lawful limit. “Thinking she would lose me, that was when the monster in her emerged and she began to say and do all manner of things to malign and intimidate me. Joining her in America is something that could have worked out with time, but she was so desperate that she was willing to destroy the marriage, my name and everything because things did not go her way.” Obinna later moved to the UK to pursue his MSc, but in January 2022, Kymberly allegedly made a defamatory publication against him in a Nigerian national daily, prompting Obinna and his lawyers to file a defamation lawsuit against her and the newspaper, which is still ongoing. The estranged couple is also embroiled in a divorce case, with the court processes served on Kymberly since February 2022. In an alleged desperate effort to taint Obinna, Kymberly and her allies petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), making wild allegations and claims, riddled with injurious falsehood, against Obinna. “Without any form of due diligence; without prior invitation or efforts to hear from me, the EFCC on April 2024, declared me wanted on the basis of the false claims and allegations leveled against me by Kymberly and her proxies in Nigeria, an action I consider defamatory and malicious, for which I have since filed a suit, seeking redress against the EFCC in court. The petitioner has my number and my email and must have made it available to the commission. These same people were calling my lawyer and still could not drop an invite for me through my lawyer or call me directly before declaring me wanted.” Reacting however, the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale insisted that the Commission must have made efforts to reach Ezenwa before declaring him wanted. His words: “It is not possible that the EFCC will declare anybody wanted without first making efforts to reach the person. We are a professional and global organization, so there is no way we would not have explored all available options to reach him before declaring him wanted. Well, if he feels maligned or defamed and has gone to court to seek redress, we shall meet him