Arrest Prof Ajewole’s killers, ASUU tells Tinubu, IGP

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Ibadan (UI) Chapter, has urged the Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba, to assist the Oyo State Police Command with all logistics needed to unravel and arrest the killers of Prof. Opeyemi Ajewole. This is contained in a release signed by the Chairman, UI Chapter of ASUU, Prof. Ayo Akinwole in Ibadan on Thursday. Ajewole, until he was gruesomely gunned down by yet-to-be-identified assailants in the evening of Monday, 5 June 2023, was a lecturer in the Department of Social and Environmental Forestry Development. The union also implored President Bola Tinubu to take passionate interest and ensure the security system unmasks the faces behind the murder of the professor. “The heart of every ASUU-UI member is bleeding so profusely as if pierced by swords. “Our bones shook so tremendously as if our marrows were naked in the tundra region. “We condemn in totality the gruesome murder of our comrade, Prof. Opeyemi Ajewole and charge the security operatives to track down and apprehend the perpetrators of this dastardly act, with a view to unraveling the motive behind the incident, as well as bringing the perpetrators to book,” UI ASUU Chairman said. According to Akinwole, the only tribute which the death of Ajewole deserves is that his killers are brought to justice and that Nigerians’ lives should matter to the Tinubu presidency He noted that “Prof. Ajewole’s gruesome murder again reminded us of how valueless human lives had become in our clime“. The ASUU chief maintained that “death lurks in all imaginable and unimaginable corners of this country and comes cheaply. “The Nigerian populace is constantly assailed by terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, assassination, hunger, unemployment, and many more insidious exterminators of our individual and collective dreams. “The situation of the Nigerian academics is even doubly precarious; they are prophets without any honour at home,“ he said. Akinwole said that despite the immense contributions to national growth and development and recognition in the international circle, Nigerian academia is scorned and shabbily treated at home. “It is, therefore, disheartening that academics who cultivate, preserve, and disseminate knowledge for the advancement and development of the society will become victims of societal malady to such an extent as to be targeted for elimination. “The union wishes to use this teary occasion of Prof. Ajewole’s sudden death to call on the Nigerian state to resolutely tackle the problem of insecurity in the country, apprehend the killers of Prof. Ajewole and punish them most appropriately,“ the ASUU boss said.

Nigeria Air: HURIWA calls for Sirika’s arrest over alleged fraud

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called for the arrest of the immediate past Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, over what it described as the “fraudulent” Nigeria Air. This is contained in a statement signed by the group’s National Coordinator, Mr Emmanuel Onwubiko, and made available to newsmen in Owerri on Wednesday. HURIWA, a human rights advocacy group, said that the hurried unveiling of Nigeria Air by Sirika on May 26, the last official day of the Muhammadu Buhari administration, was suspicious. The group called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to swing into action and probe the former minister now that the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Aviation had separately declared that the project was a fraud. “The Interim Managing Director of Nigeria Air, Capt. Dapo Olumide, told legislators on Tuesday that the aircraft paraded as Nigeria Air plane belonged to Ethiopian Airlines and not Nigeria, whereas Sirika paraded the aircraft as being owned by Nigeria. “This is a fraud of the highest order and the lawmakers have labeled it so, including the suspension of all activities regarding the sham called national carrier. “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) must swing into action now that both the upper and lower chambers have declared the project as a fraud. The anti-graft agency must swiftly arrest, investigate and prosecute the ex-minister if found culpable. “There are a lot of questions that Sirika must be made to answer, including the whereabouts of the N85 billion splurged on the project. “In fact, aside that the so-called national carrier has not secured a single aircraft for its operations, it has also failed to secure Air Operating Certificate (AOC) from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) “, he said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Government had in July 2018 unveiled the much-awaited new national carrier during the Farnborough Air Show in London. In eight years, the Buhari administration with Sirika as the arrowhead spent over N85 billion on Nigeria Air, as shown in data by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and Compilation of Budgetary Allocations between 2016 and 2023. At separate meetings with the Interim Managing Director of Nigeria Air, Capt. Dapo Olumide, on Tuesday, the Chairman of the Senate Aviation Committee, Sen. Biodun Olujimi and the Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation, Nnolim Nnaji, both agreed that the launch of Nigeria Air was a fraud. Olumide admitted that the Boeing 737-800 aircraft used to unveil the country’s national career was a legitimate chartered flight from Ethiopian Airlines. He said the aircraft returned to Ethiopian Airlines after the unveiling.

Man docked for stealing speaker from Mosque

3[]li=- A 20-year-old man, Halifa Sani, was on Wednesday docked in a Kano Sharia Court in Kano for allegedly stealing a speaker and cable from a Mosque worth N70,000. Sani, who lives in Gadon Kaya, Kano is charged with theft. The Prosecution Counsel, Inspector Abdullahi Wada, told the court that the case was reported on June 2, at the Gwale police station by Malam Nura Muhammed, who is also the complainant. Wada said the defendant stole the speaker, property of Usman Ibn-Affan mosque worth N50,000 and a cable worth N20,000. The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge. The Judge, Malam Umar Lawal-Abubakar, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N10,000 with one surety who should be a blood relation. Lawal-Abubakar adjourned the matter until June 22, for mention.

NDLEA recovers 390kg illicit drugs in Kano, Kaduna, others, in 5 days

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) recovered 390kg of illicit drugs in Kano, Kaduna, Borno and Oyo states in raids conducted between May 30 and June 3. Its spokesman, Mr Femi Babafemi stated on Sunday in Abuja that two suspects, Ma’aruf Rabiu and Abubakar Mustapha were arrested on May 30 on Zaria-Kano Road in Kano State. They were in possession of 260 blocks of Indian hemp weighing 39.4kg, he stated. He added that another suspect, Auwal Ibrahim was nabbed with 38kg of Indian hemp on May 31 on Kaduna-Abuja Road. “Also on May 31, a 35-year-old female suspect, Bilkisu Isiya, was arrested at Birnin Yero, Kaduna in possession of 5.6kg Indian hemp,’’ Babfemi stated. He stated also that one Abubakar Usman and Adamu Yusuf were arrested at Bargu village in Shani Local Government Area of Borno on June 3 with 165 blocks of skunk weighing 140.7kg. He added that their arrest was effected with the support of the military deep inside an insurgents’ environment. “A female suspect, Hauwa Ibrahim, 25, was also nabbed in Bargu village with 6.4kg of skunk. “Another suspect, Alhaji Abubakar, 27, was arrested at Njimtilo checkpoint, Borno with 4,200 ampoules of Pentazocine injection and different quantities of psychotropic D5 and exol-5 tablets. “A 30-year-old suspect, Iroko Wasiu was arrested at a drug joint at Sabo Aba-Owolowo on Oyo-Ogbomoso Expressway on May 30 and 31.2kg of cannabis was recovered from him. “Two suspects, Deji Adelabu, 35, and Mutiu Salau, 37, were nabbed on May 31 in Sabo area on Oyo-Ogbomoso Road and at Awuro Dada area in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State, respectively. “They had a combined weight of 8kg Indian hemp on them,’’ Babafemi stated. 

Women Arise marks 27 years Kudirat Abiola remembrance

Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, President, Women Arise, has saluted the efforts of the late Kudirat Abiola who fought for the return of democracy to the country. In her tribute on Sunday to the pro-democracy activist who was killed 27 years ago, Okei-Odumakin described Kudirat as “a rare Amazon” that is greatly valued. Kudirat Abiola was the wife of the late winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola. “Her memory is as lucid as the vision of all the glorious compatriots whom we were favoured to rub shoulders with in the face of fire. “Those who have gone ahead as the pantheon builds. The finest across generations of a beleaguered country. “Among such is Kudirat situated. In the strong spirit of duty and commitment to justice,” Okei-Odumakin said. According to the Human Right Activist said, though it has been 27 years since Kudirat Abiola was killed, the death is still fresh in the minds of pro-democracy activists. Okei-Odumakin said that her total dedication to justice still retained in memories. “It is evergreen and as fresh as the day. “The late Kudirat Abiola was killed fighting for justice, for defining womanhood, dignity and humanity. “She walked right, would not run nor flinch but was killed for asking for justice,” she said. Okei-Odumakin told the people not to forget those who fought for justice and democracy. “Some swam in sweat. Some bled and some died. Kudirat died among others who have taken seats in Valhalla,” she said.

Police gives N61m to deceased officers’ families

The Nigeria Police Force on Friday in Lafia presented cheques valued at N61 million to families of officers who died on duty in Nasarawa State. A statement by Mr Ramhan Nasel, the spokesman of the Nasarawa Command of the Force, said that Mr Mohammed Baba, the Commissioner, presented the cheques. The statement indicated that families of 106 officers benefitted from the gesture. “The gesture is an initiative of IGP Family Welfare Scheme, Group Personal Accident and Group Life Assurance aimed at improving the living standard of the benefiting families,” it added. Nansel quoted Baba as sympathising with the beneficiaries and appreciating the Inspector-General of Police for his love and support for the families of deceased officers and others  injured in the course of duty. Baba urged the beneficiaries to use the token judiciously to cater for the families. 

Tinubu holds first meeting with Service Chiefs

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday met with the Service Chiefs at the State House in Abuja. The routine meeting in the previous administrations is the first since President Tinubu’s assumption of office on May 29, 2023. Those in attendance at the President’s first engagement with heads of the nation’s security and intelligence agencies include the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Farouk Yahaya; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amao; and the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba. Others are the Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS), Yusuf Bichi; and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai Abubakar. Tinubu, during his inaugural speech on Monday, promised to prioritise security, amongst other pressing areas. He said, “We shall defend the nation from terror and all forms of criminality that threaten the peace and stability of our country and our sub-region.” “Security shall be the top priority of our administration because neither prosperity nor justice can prevail amidst insecurity and violence. “To effectively tackle this menace, we shall reform both our security doctrine and its architecture. “We shall invest more in our security personnel, and this means more than an increase in number. We shall provide, better training, equipment, pay, and firepower,” he added.

Leaked Exams: 56 rogue website operators set for prosecution- WAEC

The West African Examination Council (WAEC) has identified 56 rogue website operators that leaked its West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations (WASSCE). The Head of National Office, Nigeria (HNO) Mr. Patrick Areghan, made this known on Thursday in Abuja while monitoring of the examination in some Government Secondary Schools. Areghan said that the identified rogue website operators would be prosecuted by the police in due course. According to him, some dubious supervisors are responsible for some of these malpractices during examinations. ”We have a regulation to release papers to supervisors one hour before commencement time to enable them to go from the collection point to the administrative point because of distance in some schools. ”But what they do is to snap the question papers and send to their syndicate groups. You now begin to ask questions about what they are trying to achieve with it. ”Candidates are already in the exam hall and you are posting the questions. Sometimes, they change the front of the questions and add 2023 for exam questions of 2020. ”Some gullible parents and students will go for it and destroy themselves because there is no way they can get our questions,” he said. The WAEC head said that the council had put in place technology to detect any form of maleficence from any location. ”I am happy to announce that so far in this exam, we have made a lot of arrests. We made arrests in Ibadan, Maiduguri, Abeokuta, Osogbo, Umuahia, and many other states. ”In all, we have made arrests of no fewer than 15 persons comprising candidates, supervisors, school proprietors, and others connected with the malpractices. ”Supervisors are our problems because they make a lot of money from this. The exam is taking place in over 21,000 secondary schools in Nigeria with only 2,000 staff strength, how many centres are we going to man? ”These supervisors are teachers given to us by state ministries of education and when they come, they make it a business. ”We are not in control of social media, small boys post questions for advertisement and ask candidates to subscribe on their websites and then they give them fake questions,” he added. He, therefore appealed to candidates, teachers and parents to maintain the ethics of examination to have a good and sound educational system, saying that all hands must be on deck to fight the monster called examination malpractice. Also, the WAEC Board Chair, Hajiya Binta Abdulkadri, expressed worry with the involvement of school principals in the exam malpractices. Abdulkadri, who is also the Director, Senior Secondary Education, the Federal Ministry of Education, commended the council for the deployment of technology to nap perpetrators of examination malpractice. Meanwhile, the principal, Government Secondary School, Kubwa, Mr Musa Zuru commended the progress made by WAEC saying that schools in FCT operate zero tolerance for examination malpractice and urged other schools to key in. A total of 1,621,895 candidates are sitting for the examinations across the country in over 21,000 secondary schools.

Police neutralise terrorists, rescue kidnapped victim in Katsina

The police said its operatives neutralised two people on the wanted list of the police in Katsina State. This is contained in a statement issued by the new Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Abubakar Aliyu in Katsina on Thursday. ”On May 29, at about 0300hrs, terrorists/bandits in their numbers, armed with AK 47 riffles, attacked the residence of one Yahaya Usman of Tani village,  Bindawa Local Government Area of the state. “They inflicted a deep knife cut to his head in an attempt to kidnap him.” Upon receiving the report, Aliyu said the operatives attached to the Bindawa divisional headquarters led by the DPO promptly responded. “They engaged the suspected terrorists in a fierce gun duel and successfully foiled the kidnap attempt and rescued the victim,” he said. He said two corpses of the suspected terrorists were recovered. The police, he said, also recovered one AK 47 riffle with five rounds of 7.62mm at the scene belonging to the suspects. “During the course of the investigation, the corpses were later identified to be those of Sani Kokaya and Ummara, all of Kaita local government area of the state. “They are notorious terrorists/bandits and arms smugglers who have been on the command’s wanted list,” he said.

NSCDC arrests 3 black marketers, impounds crafted vehicles

The Niger Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has arrested three suspected ‘black marketers’ for fabricating huge extra tanks in their vehicles. The Public Relations officer of the corps, DSC Nasire Abdullahi, stated this while addressing news on the arrest in Minna on Wednesday. He said that the command had also impounded four vehicles used for the operation. According to him, the Anti-Vandal Squad of the command, acting on credible intelligence on Tuesday, arrested four vehicles at the mega station of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) in Minna. “It was discovered that the vehicles were fitted with special constructed fuel tanks,” he said. He said  the suspects are, Ismaila Mohammed, 27, Ibrahim Usman, 42 and Idris Adamu, 39. The spokesman said that the driver of one of the vehicles escaped and efforts were on to arrest him. Abubakar said that the suspects would purchase the PMS at the Federal Government regulated price of N196 per litre, and sell to the public at  N250 and N300. He said that the activities of the suspects was causing untold hardship for members of the public. Abdullahi said that one of the vehicles, a Toyota Corolla carried  500 litres of PMS in a fabricated constructed tank with 14 jerry cans measuring 25 litres. He said that the second vehicle, a Toyota car  also carryied an inbuilt tank of 500 litres, while the third, a Jetta car carried constructed 200 litres with a normal 70 litres removed from another vehicle. Abubakar said that the fourth vehicle whose driver escaped  carried inbuilt tank measuring 1,000 litres. He said  that the Manager of the NNPC mega station has been invited for questioning. Abdullahi said that after diligent investigations the suspects would be arraigned in court. He said that the corps would not relent in its task to protect the critical assets of the country. “The NSCDC will continue to keep 24 hours surveillance in all government facilities in Niger. “The corps will clampdown on vandals and other economic saboteurs,” he said. Ibrahim Usman, one of the suspects said that he ventured into the business because he has no job. Usman who has two wives and 13 children,  said that they normally  tip the fuel pump attendants at NNPC to get the PMS. “We give them N2, 000 to N3,000 to sell fuel to us. “I cannot steal to take care of my family, so I have to go into buying and selling of fuel,” he said. President Bola Tinubu had on Monday announced the end of fuel subsidy, making the NNPC and other filling stations to increase the pump price between N537 and N600 per litre across the country.