4 killed in Ibadan-Oyo Expressway auto crash
Four persons lost their lives to an auto crash on the Ibadan-Oyo Expressway on Saturday while many others were injured as the bus involved in the accident somersaulted several times. Unit Commander of the FRSC at Atiba, Oyo, DCC Bayode Olugbesan, blamed the accident on over speeding and overloading. Olugbesan said the 14-seater bus was carrying 20 persons when the accident occurred. He said corpses of the dead had been deposited at the mortuary of the State Hospital, Oyo. “The bus, conveying all-male passengers was travelling toward the northern part of the country when the accident occurred,’’ he said. “The bus was designed to carry 14 passengers, but was loaded with 20 passengers,’’ he noted. Olugbesan appealed to road users to be careful while driving, and to avoid over speeding, overloading and night travels.
Paul Edeh emerges new Benue FA Chairman
Naija Ratels Football Club proprietor, Barr Paul Edeh was on Saturday in Makurdi elected Chairman of the Benue State Football Association (BSFA). Edeh polled 28 votes to defeat his rival, Mr. Godwin Uwua, former Super Eagles Assistant Coach, who garnered one vote at the end of the elective congress. 29 delegates from the 23 local government areas and other statutory representatives in the state voted in the election. Edeh said after the election, that his vision was to take football in the state to a higher pedestal, in line with international best practices. “My vision for Benue FA is anchored on a tripod encapsulated in the FIFA Forward Programme 3.0 “They include increased investment in football development, more impact through the achievement of football development objectives, and continued oversight to ensure that all funds are used responsibly. “Under my watch, I will ensure that the Local FAs are empowered and given what is due to them,” he said.. The Board under my watch will advocate that each Local FA develops its framework for developing the game in their local communities. “I will see how local FAs will operate with so much vigour and commitment to developing the game at the grassroots,” he said. The chairman said the board would focus on grassroots football, women’s football, welfare for footballers, training of coaches/referees, and encouraging education and sports. He, thereafter, announced a donation of N10 million and a Sienna minivan for the cash-strapped BSFA. The new 11-member board was elected unopposed and subsequently sworn in. The election was monitored by Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) executive board members, and FA chairmen among other stakeholders. Edeh, a philanthropist and leading supporter of female football in Nigeria replaced Mrs. Margaret Icheen, who served for three terms before her election as an Executive Board Member of the NFF.
Oil Theft Allegations: Produce evidence, Navy tackles Asari Dokubo
The Nigerian Navy has described as spurious, the allegations by ex-Niger Delta militant leader, Asari Dokubo, that some cabals in the military are involved in oil theft in the region. Dokubo made the claims when he visited President Bola Tinubu in Abuja on Friday. Reacting to the accusation, the Director of Naval Information, Commodore Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, on Saturday challenged Dokubo to produce evidence and names of those behind the criminality. Ayo-Vaughan said the Nigerian military, and the navy in particular, had been at the forefront of fighting crude oil theft at all levels in the country. He said that while crude oil being stolen from pipelines was being refined in the creeks for the local market and the local buyers, it was also being stolen by criminals from offshore at sea. “You remember the case of Mt Heroic Idun that was made to pay fines to the Nigerian government after they were arrested and brought back from Guinea Bissau, Malabo Island, and made to face court orders. “It demonstrated the will of the Navy to go as far as even beyond our waters to arrest a ship that attempted to load without a license, without due approval in April last year. “I was there physically on board one of our ships at FOT in Onne when the navy launched Operation Dakatarda Barawo, which means ‘stop the thief’ in Hausa. “Stop the thief that is stealing the nation’s natural resources, the hydrocarbons. “Nigerian Navy has been fighting crude oil theft, taking the fight to the creeks and as I speak to you, our men are battling in the creeks. “So, what I will just say is, Asari Dokubo is seeking some form of relevance and whatever. “He alleges that there is a cabal of military people that are involved in crude oil theft, let him bring the names. “Nobody is afraid of getting the names of those involved in crude oil theft. “You cannot make such spurious allegations and think that we will just sweep it down the carpet,” he said. Ayo-Vaughan said neither the Chief of Defense Staff nor the Chief of Naval Staff will condone such act. According to him, the Nigerian navy will not be distracted by the allegations and will continue to be actively involved in the fight against crude oil theft and resources in the Niger Delta. “So for anybody to say that there is a cabal of military officers, the only simple thing to do is bring the evidence, bring the names,” he stressed. The Navy spokesman said that the efforts of the Nigerian military in the Niger Delta was the reason Nigeria regained top spot in oil production in the month of May among oil producing countries in Africa, as confirmed by OPEC, NUPRC and others.
IGP deploys newly promoted Frank Mba, Bala Ciroma, others
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Usman Baba Alkali has approved the deployment of the two newly promoted Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIG), Frank Mba and Bala Ciroma to departments. The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja. He said Mba had been deployed to head the Department of Research and Planning while Ciroma was deployed to head the Department of Training and Development Adejobi said Mr Hafiz Inuwa, a DIG had also been redeployed to head the Department of Logistics and Supply. According to Adejobi, with the recent elevation, Ciroma has become the supervising DIG for the North-East and Mba, the supervisory DIG for the South-East Geo political zone. The police spokesman said the IGP also approved the posting/redeployment of 17 Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) to various commands and formations. He said the posting are Abubakar Lawal, AIG Zone 10 Sokoto, Abdul Umar, AIG Zone 15 Maiduguri, Williams Adebowale, AIG Zone 7 Abuja, Shettima Zanna, AIG Armament FHQ Abuja, Ebong Eyibio Ebong, AIG Zone 17 Akure and Adepoju Ilori, AIG Maritime Lagos. Others are Okon Effiong, AIG FCID Annex Kaduna, Echeng Echeng, AIG Zone 9 Umuahia, Susan Horsefall, Commandant Staff College Jos, Bankole Sikiru, AIG DFA FHQ Abuja, Oladimeji Olanrewaju, AIG Zone 11 Osogbo and Odama Ojeka, AIG FEDOPS FHQ, Abuja. Adejobi said other AIGs deployed are Shehu Gwarzo, AIG Forensic, Yekini Ayoku, AIG R&P, FHQ Abuja, Yahaya Abubakar, AIG FCID Alagbon Lagos, Umar Sanda, AIG Zone 1 Kano and Ede Ayuba, AIG CTU FHQ Abuja. Adejobi said the Police Boss urged the senior police officers to continue to entrench professionalism and respect for rights of citizens in their new places of assignment. He also called on the officers to pursue the task of ensuring public safety and security in their areas of responsibilities with renewed vigour.
Internet Fraud: EFCC arrests FMC staff, 50 others in Ogun, Oyo
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibadan Zonal office, has arrested a staff of Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta in Ogun, and 47 others for alleged involvement in internet fraud. This is contained in a statement signed the commission’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren and made available to newsmen on Friday in Ibadan. 48 suspects were arrested in Ogun and three others in Oyo State. Uwujaren said that the suspects were arrested on Wednesday at the Idi-Aba area of Abeokuta, following intelligence on their alleged fraudulent activities. He said that items recovered from the suspects included seven exotic vehicles, several mobile phones, laptops, Apple wristwatches, among others. Uwujaren said that two suspects were arrested the same day at the Idi-Igba area of Ibadan in Oyo state, and two cars and other valuables were recovered from them. He said that the Oyo State Command of the Nigerian Police also arrested and handed over a cybercrime suspect to the EFCC. Uwujaren said that the suspect was arrested at his house on suspicion of involvement in fraudulent activities. He said that a Honda Civic car and mobile phones were also recovered from him. Uwujaren said that all the suspects would be charged in court after the completion of an investigation.
Police rescue 6 abducted UniJos students
The Police Command in Plateau has rescued six out of the seven students of the University of Jos that were kidnapped by gunmen on Monday. DSP Alfred Alabo, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, disclosed this in a statement in Jos. According to Alabo, five of the students were rescued, while one escaped from the kidnappers’ den unhurt. ”The Police command is pleased to announce to the general public that six of the seven victims who were kidnapped on June 13, have regained their freedom. ”The command swung into action immediately after the incident was reported, worked tirelessly in collaboration with its Anti-Kidnapping unit, family members of the victims and the community to secure the release of the victims. ”Five of the victims were rescued, one escaped from the kidnappers den, while one victim is still in captivity,” Alabo said. He said that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Bartholomew Onyeka, has ordered the Area Commander Metro, and the Divisional Police Officer Nasarawa Gwong, to ensure that the seventh victim is rescued unhurt and the perpetrators arrested. The victims were abducted from their hostel which is located off campus on Monday night in Jos while preparing for their second semester examinations.
Customs seizes N22.8m smuggled items in Adamawa
The Adamawa and Taraba Area Command of Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), has seized smuggled items with Duty Paid Value of N22.89 million in the last six weeks. The Area Comptroller, Salisu Abdullahi-Kazaure, made this known while briefing newsmen in Yola on Friday. According to him, the command made 16 seizures from May 6 to June 16. Abdullahi-Kazaure said the siezed items included 494 bags of NPK fertiliser, 14,980 liters of petrol in Jerry cans and drums, and three vehicles used for smuggling activities. Others, he said, were 90 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice from Cameroun and 960 pieces of foreign soap. He explained that the siezed petroleum product would be auctioned, in accordance with NCS Standard Operating Procedure. Abdullahi-Kazaure said though fertiliser was not a contraband, it was siezed because some criminals were using it to manufacture Improvised Explosive Devices.
Human Trafficking: NAPTIP arrests 2 suspects in Abuja
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), has arrested two suspects, Awulonu Franklin and Joseph Ukaluo, in Abuja over alleged human trafficking. The Director-General (DG) of the agency, Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi, disclosed at the weekend that officers of the agency busted the trafficking syndicate on Friday, June 9, at about 11:00 hours. She said that the suspects are part of the syndicate that specializes in moving young female Nigerians, between the ages of 16 to 26, to India for sexual exploitation and possible organ harvesting. Waziri-Azi said that a sting operation was conducted after several days of undercover activity by operatives of the agency. She said two female victims, aged between 16 and 22, were rescued just as they were being taken to the Embassy. According to him, the victims narrated their pathetic story of how they were lured by the syndicates. The DG disclosed that the victims were forced by the suspects to swear to an oath of allegiance in two shrines, located in Delta and Imo. Waziri-Azi stated that one of the victims also revealed how her very close friend who has already been trafficked to India was subjected to having sex with a minimum of 10 men daily. She further said that the agency was on the trail of the suspects’ accomplices in India. The DG said that the two suspects, who claimed to be operating a mobile tour company as at the time of their arrest, were found in possession of 28 passports. She said some of the passports indicated that the victims were from Ghana, the Republic of Benin, Niger Republic, and other countries. Waziri-Azi listed other materials found in the possession of the suspects as Laptops, phones which are under forensic examination, and other equipment related to the commission of the crime. She disclosed that a total of 10 letter-headed papers belonging to different companies were also recovered from the suspects. The DG said that the agency had placed the hotel where the victims were harboured on red alert as money was paid on behalf of the victims. The DG called on the media to assist the agency by championing the awareness campaign against human trafficking in order to reduce the menace. She said the agency had collaborated with many organisations and governments in order to launch a fresh angle to the fight against the crime. However, Franklin believed to be a prime suspect in the offence, denied involvement in trafficking, saying he only operates a travel and tour company through which he had assisted many people. He said that some of the passports recovered in his possession belonged to some of his clients traveling to study in some countries, including a University in India. “My company is registered as ‘Endless travel and tour agent’, and I have been in this business since 2018,” he said. Ukaluo also said that he knew Franklin as a travel agent and nothing more than that, adding that they had both lived in the same neighborhood for many years. Mr. Daniel Atokolo, Director, Investigation and Monitoring Department, told journalists that an investigation is ongoing into the matter. According to him, the investigation will involve a forensic examination of all the properties recovered from the suspects.
NJC dismisses petitions against Justice Mary Odili, 25 others
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has dismissed petitions written against a retired Supreme Court Justice, Mary Ekaego Peter Odili, and 25 other Judicial Officers. They were accused of professional misconduct in the discharge of their duties. Justice Odili escaped being investigated by the Council on the ground that she had retired as a Judicial Officer while 25 other petitions were thrown out for various reasons ranging from lack of merit, lack of diligent prosecution, withdrawal, being subjudice and for the subject Judge having retired from service. However, seven State High Court Judges indicted by the NJC’S investigation Committee are to face probe panels that would determine the level of their culpability. A statement by the NJC’S Director of Information, Mr Soji Oye on Friday in Abuja explained that the petition against the judicial officers were dismissed at a meeting presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola. The dismissed petitions were written against Hon. Justice Mary Peter Odili, Rtd Justice of the Supreme Court, Hon. Justices A. R. Barka, James G. Abundaga, O. O. Olasumbo Goodluck, Ibrahim A. Andetur-Yangsto all of the Court of Appeal. Others are Justices F. O. Liman, A. R. Mohammed, H. A. A. Dashen, Peter Lifu, F. O. G. Ogunbanjo, A. Lewis Allagoa, D. E. Osiagor all of the Federal High Court. Others are Justice Theresa O. Diai, Chief Judge, Delta State, Hon. Justices S. B. Belgore, K. N. Ogbonnaya Jude Onwuegbuzie and Edward Okpe of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Also escaped the NJC hammer are Justices Joseph I Acha, Vesty O. Eboreime, both of High Court, Edo State, Hon. Justices Thelma Adanna Achom, Elvis A. Ngene of the Ebonyi State High Court, Hon. Justices A. B. Usman, M. M. Abubakar of Bauchi State High Court, Hon. Justice O. A. Opesanwo of the Lagos State High Court and Justice Oladiran Akintola of Oyo State High Court, The rest are Justice Gegele A. Hammed of Kwara State High Court, Justice K. N. Udobong of Akwa-Ibom State High Court, Justice B. C. Iheka, Imo State High Court, Justice M. A. Zandai High Court, Borno State, Justice Mohammed Shinkafi of Zamfara State High Court, Justice R. S. Ladoja of the Kaduna State High Court and Justice M. S. A. Mohammed of the High Court of Niger State. At the meeting, the NJC came up with a policy barring Judicial Officers from switching henceforth from High Court of Justice to the Customary Court of Appeal and vice versa. The only exception allowed is when a new Customary Court of Appeal is established in a State and Judges who indicate interest to go to the Customary Court of Appeal will be allowed to proceed. Under the new policy, once established, the candidates for the headship of the Court must be drawn from that Court only, even if all the Judges of the Court are junior to their counterparts in other Courts. Meanwhile, the Council recommended 37 Judicial Officers for appointment to the President and seven Governors as Justices of the Court of Appeal, Heads of Court and Judges of the High Court and Customary Courts of Appeal. Those going to the Court of Appeal are: Justices Asma’u Musa Mainoma, Paul Ahmed Bassi, Hannatu Azumi Laja-Balogun, Binta Fatima Zubair, Hadiza Rabiu Shagari, Peter Chudi Obiora, Okon Efreti Abang, Jane Esienanwan Inyang and Lateef Adebayo Ganiyu. Justice Dije Abdu Aboki was recommended for appointment as Chief Judge of Kano, Daniel Iyobosa Okungbowa for Edo and Matilda Abrakasa Ayemieye.
Presidential Election results’ collation marred by corruption, Dino Melaye tells Tribunal
The National Collation Agent of the People’s Democratic Party PDP in the February 25 presidential election, Senator Dino Melaiye, on Friday told the Presidential Election Tribunal that collation errors by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) led to the declaration of President Bola Tinubu as the winner. Melaye informed the Court that he left the National Collation Centre at the International Conference Centre in Abuja when the alleged deliberate errors became unbearable and intolerable to him. He testified as a Star Witness for former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar whose joint petition with PDP is seeking the nullification of Tinubu’s declaration as winner of the 2023 Presidential election. Led in evidence-in-Chief by Atiku’s lead counsel, Chief Chris Uche SAN, the witness said that he refused to sign the final collated results so as not to be part of corruption and malpractices that allegedly engulfed the collation exercise. Melaye insisted that the results which INEC acted upon to declare Tinubu as winner of the February 25 presidential election “was wrongly computed by INEC”, adding that, “I didn’t endorse it, because I don’t endorse a fraud. He also told the court that besides himself, many agents of the PDP in the presidential election did not also sign the results at various levels. While responding to questions from Tinubu’s lawyer, Chief Akin Olujimi, SAN, the witness argued that “failure of transmission of what has been recorded is an infringement of the law”. He pointed out that the electronic transmission of results from the polling units to the IReV is a very important aspect of the election process, arguing that with IReV, the election circle cannot be said to have been completed. “Result is transmitted from polling units before you move to the ward collation center”, he explained, adding that what was brought was at variance with what transpired at the state level. Meanwhile, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Mr Peter Obi on Friday tendered additional video evidence to support claims that INEC assured of electronic transmission of results of the 2023 general elections. Meanwhile, hearing in both petitions have been adjourned till Monday, June 19.