Compel EFCC, ICPC to probe Wike, applicants ask Court

A Federal High Court has been asked to compel the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) to probe the Rivers spending during the tenure of ex-Governor Nyesom Wike. The suit, filed by Sir Precious Elekima and a group, Incorporated Trustees of Peoples Life Improvement Foundation (PLIF), also urged the court to direct the Inspector-General of Police to step into the matter. In the suit marked: FHC/PH/CS/199/2023 filed on May 30 in the Port-Harcourt division of the court, the applicants averred that Wike allegedly diverted huge funds belonging to the state. Elekima and the PLIF said their resort to the court was a result of the alleged failure of the I-G, the EFCC and the ICPC to act on their petition dated May 23, 2023, which had since been submitted to them. Elekima and the PLIF want the court to among others, declare the 1st to 3rd respondents (the IGP, the EFCC, and the ICPC) have the statutory duties and powers to investigate their petition against Wike and some named bankers in Rivers “and to prosecute any of them found to have contravened any law within their respective statutory mandates.” They equally want the court to issue “an order of mandamus directing the 1st to 3rd respondents to investigate the criminal allegations made to them against the 4th to 16th respondents (Wike and the banks) in the said petition and prosecute them or any of them found culpable of the said criminal allegations.” Elekima and the PLIF claimed that they possess information and documents showing that huge funds were diverted from the Rivers’ coffers during Wike’s tenure. They stated that in the course of their official activities, they became aware and have reason to reasonably suspect and believe that the 4th respondent in his capacity as governor, fraudulently withdraw N117 billion belonging to the Rivers Government. This, they said, is in excess of the threshold permitted by extant laws and financial regulations with intent to misappropriate and divert same and did, in fact, divert same for his personal benefit.” Elekima and the PLIF added that they “reasonably suspect that the 4th respondent, in conspiracy with other officials of the Government of Rivers State and 5th to 16th respondents fraudulently withdrew, laundered and embezzled huge funds from the Rivers State internally generated revenue collected and domiciled in several accounts with the 5th to 16th respondents.” They alleged that they “reasonably suspect that the 4th respondent also diverted and fraudulently misappropriated huge public funds belonging to the Government and people of Rivers State to his private use. Filed along with the suit for judicial review, is a motion ex-parte in which they are seeking leave to apply for an order of mandamus and for service of originating summons on the 1st to 3rd respondents in Abuja. Rivers banks listed in the suit are: Access Bank, Ecobank, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Fidelity, Guaranty Trust, Unity Bank, Union Bank, Wema, Zenith, First Bank and Heritage Bank.

Alleged Misconduct: NAPTIP sacks Deputy Director, 4 officers

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has dismissed five of its personnel, including a Deputy Director, for alleged misconduct. This is contained in a statement issued by Mr. Vincent Adekoye, a Press Officer of the agency on Wednesday in Abuja. Adekoye said the misconduct ranged from corruption, demanding and receiving bribes from suspects and relatives, and leaking confidential information to suspects. Others are alleged violation of oath of secrecy; stealing and alteration of official records and absent from duty without Official leave. He said that these offence are all contrary to provisions of the Public Service Rules and other extant laws and regulations. He said that two other officers were demoted by two ranks for soliciting for bribe from a suspect of human trafficking, while one officer was demoted by one rank for negligence of duty. He said that the disciplinary actions followed the approval of the Governing Board of the agency at its meeting on May 25. Adekoye said that at the meeting, the board considered and ratified the decision of the agency’s Senior Staff Committee (SSC) which earlier sat on the disciplinary matters in accordance with the Public Service Rules and other extant laws and regulations.

Police dismiss Sergeant over N98,000 extortion

The Police Command in Lagos State has announced the dismissal of Sergeant Ekpo Shimuyere attached to Shogunle Division for extorting a young man of N98,000. The command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin told newsmen on Wednesday that the Provost Department of the command had already derobed the dismissed sergeant. According to him, the dismissed sergeant collected the phone of his victim and used a POS operator to transfer N98,000 out of the N100,000 in the young man’s bank account. Hundeyin said that the action of the policeman was contrary to the ethics of the profession. “Police got the complaint from the victim and the officer denied the crime when he was contacted. The command placed him under detention so that he will not tamper with the evidence. “We wrote to his bank and obtained his statement of account. We were able to trace the money to where the POS operator transferred it to before transferring the money to the officer’s account. “We followed due process to get his account. The victim was invited in the course of investigation, and he testified. “The POS operator was also invited, and he said the officer requested him to transfer the money from the victim’s account to another one,” Hudenyi added. He said that the Sergeant was consequently subjected to Orderly Room trial in line with extant laws. “The Commissioner of Police, Lagos Command, Mr Idowu Owohunwa, have reviewed the orderly room procedure of the officer with Force No. 461654, attached to Sogunle Police Division and have approved the punishment of dismissal from the Force,” he said. Hundeyin said that the commissioner warned officers and men against any form of corruption, stressing that the dismissal was to serve as a deterrent to others. He further warned that the command would continue to punish any police officer found to have engaged in unprofessional conduct.

Adegoke’s Murder: Hotel receptionist bags 2-year jail term

The Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo has sentenced Miss Adedeji Adesola, the receptionist that received the late Timothy Adegoke when he lodged in the Hilton Hotel, Ile-Ife in the evening of November 6, 2021, to two years imprisonment for altering the receipt issued to the deceased. Adesola’s sentence was pronounced at the sitting of the court on Wednesday by Osun State Chief Judge, Adepele Ojo. She was said to have fabricated another receipt for the purpose of concealing traces of Adegoke’s lodgement at the hotel. The presiding judge, Justice Adepele Ojo, had on Tuesday, found Adesola guilty of doctoring the hotel receipt issued to the deceased, fabricating another, and concealing evidence charged against her. They further said the two years should start counting from the first day she was detained since the commencement of the matter. On Tuesday, the court convicted the founder of Hilton Hotel, Ile-Ife, Ramon Adedoyin, and three staff of the hotel of conspiracy to murder and murder of the post-graduate student of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU). Chief Judge of Osun State, Justice Oyebola Ojo, had on Tuesday sentenced Dr. Rahman Adedoyin, owner of Hilton Hotel in Ile-Ife, to death by hanging, over the murder of Timothy Adegoke. Adedoyin, alongside six of his hotel workers — Magdalene Chiefuna, Adeniyi Aderogba, Oluwole Lawrence, Oyetunde Kazeem, Adebayo Kunle and Adedeji Adesola — were docked on an 18-count, including conspiracy to commit murder and unlawful killing of Timothy Adegoke. Other counts included an attempt to commit a felony, administering an extrajudicial oath, tampering with evidence, manufacturing evidence, indecent tempering with the deceased body, and interference with the deceased body among others. The court, however, discharged and acquitted three defendants, Magdalene, Chiefuna (2nd defendant), Oluwole Lawrence, (4th defendant), and Adebayo Kunle) 6th defendant), on the charges preferred against them. Justice Ojo, in her judgement, convicted Adedoyin on charges 1, 2, 3, 7, 9, 15 and 16 which border on conspiracy to commit murder, murder, unlawful killing, conspiracy to administer extra judicial oath, indecent tempering with the deceased body, tampering with evidence and manufacturing of evidence. She also convicted the 3rd and fifth defendants, Adeniyi Aderogba and Oyetunde Kazeem, on counts, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 8. According to her, there was no direct evidence linking the convicts to the killing of Adegoke but added that the circumstantial evidence against them is strong and compelling against them. She sentenced Adedoyin to 10 years jail term on counts 1 (conspiracy to commit murder), and death by hanging on counts 2 and 3, (murder and unlawful killing of Timothy Adegoke).

Hoarding: NSCDC reads riot act to fuel marketers

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has warned petroleum products markerters against making life difficult for citizens by hoarding and hiking the pump prices. The Commandant of the Corps in Zamfara, Mr Muhammad Muazu, issued the warning in a statement by the command’s Public Relation Officer, Mr Ikor Oche, and made available to newsmen in Gusau on Wednesday. According to him, the Corps has observed with dismay the unwarranted artificial scarcity of petroleum products created by marketers sequel to President Bola Tinubu’s pronouncement of the removal of subsidy on the products. Muazu described the act as sabotage and attempt to scuttle the smooth take off of the new administration in the country. He explained that NSCDC was saddled with the responsibility of ensuring a free supply of petroleum products to the right destination without diversion or hoarding. The commandant therefore assured that the Corps would deal with any filling station found hoarding or causing artificial scarcity in accordance with the law. He warned all petroleum dealers to desist from making life unbearable for the citizens.

Police arrest 2 suspects over boy’s death

Police in Lagos State have arrested two men for allegedly stabbing a 13-year-old boy to death over rubber slippers ownership. The command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the arrest on Monday. Hundeyin said that the incident happened on Sunday at about 6.00 p.m. at Iganmu, under the Bridge. He said the Ijora Badia Police Division got the information from a concerned member of the public that some youths were mobilising themselves to cause mayhem at Iganmu area. The spokesperson said that the crisis was caused by the alleged killing of 13-year-old boy identified as Ekene. Hundeyin said that a patrol team immediately went to the scene and met the victim in the pool of his blood. “Information at the scene indicated that the victim was allegedly stabbed by two boys over a minor issue concerning ownership of rubber slippers. “It was also gathered that the suspects escaped from the scene after committing the crime. A credible Intel was emplaced which led to the arrest of the duo of Ahmed, 28, and Umaru Abubakar, 18. “The victim was examined, while a deep hole suspected to be injuries sustained from stabbing was seen on the right side of his chest. He was immediately rushed to Ajeromi General Hospital for urgent medical attention. “However, he gave up the ghost while receiving treatment. Corpse was evacuated to Yaba General Hospital for preservation and autopsy,” he said. The image maker said that the scene was photographed, while suspects were taken to the station for interrogation, where they confessed to the crime. Hundeyin said that the mother of the deceased, Mrs Chizoba Agu of Railway Line, Ijora Badia, came to the hospital and identified the deceased as her son. He said suspects would be transferred to the State Central Investigation Department, Panti for discreet investigation. 

May 29: Police announce traffic diversions in Abuja

The police in the Federal Capital (FCT) on Friday announced traffic diversions in Abuja ahead of the May 29 Presidential inauguration ceremony slated to hold at Eagle Square. The diversion is contained in a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer in the FCT, SP Josephine Adeh, on Friday in Abuja. She said the diversion points are Goodluck Jonathan Expressway by Court of Appeal, Deeper Life Junction, Bond/Total Filling Station, POWA/FCDA Junction, Finance Junction by ECOWAS/Women Affairs and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Other diversion points are Eagle Square (Phase 1 & Phase 11), Kur Muhammad Way / National Mosque, Abia House, NITEL Junction by Ademola Adetokunbo and Gana Junction/Transcorp. “Traffic will also be diverted at Bayelsa House by Federal High Court, Aso Drive, Ceddi Plaza, NNPC Twin Tower and NNPC/NBS,” she said. She said the Command had also deployed human and material resources across the nooks and crannies of the FCT to ensure a safe and peaceful Inauguration. Adeh said the deployment consists of all Intelligence and tactical assets at the disposal of the command, solidified with inter-agency collaboration. She said the idea was to ensure a peaceful atmosphere during the inauguration and to avert any form of threat on the nation’s democratic process Adeh said the operational deployment was characterised by visibility policing across the territory, stop and search duty, intelligence-led raids on black spots, surveillance and vehicular/foot patrol. “The command equally wishes to notify the public of proposed fireworks scheduled to take place on the eve of the inauguration, midnight of May 28 at the City Gate and the Millennium Tower, to usher in the new administration. “The fireworks will be carried out by Messrs Innate Arts and Media,” she said.

We’ve never had it so bad like under Buhari- MACBAN, COPAN

*Say Nigeria lost over N500bn to farmers-herders’ conflicts; Buhari failed Cattle breeders in Nigeria have expressed displeasure at the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration as it concerns the security of lives and property during his tenure. They claim that Buhari, who claims to be a cattle breeder, ought to have brought cattle breeders and farmers together with a view to finding an amicable solution to the persistent conflicts that had led to loss of several lives in virtually all states of the federation. At a joint press conference, the Cattle Breeders however, expressed hope that incoming administration will restore peace between herders and farmers. The joint press conference was attended by the National President, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Dr. Baba Othman Ngelzarma; President General, Fulbe Global Development and Rights Initiative (FGDRI) Dr. Salim Musa Umar; Vice President, Tabital Pulaaku International Nigeria Chapter, Alh Auwal A. Gonga under the umbrella of Pastoralists Association of Nigeria (COPAN). Dr. Salim Musa, who spoke at the forum demanded that the incoming President look into activities of security agents in charge of these areas and mandate them to do more in protecting innocent people who are continuously harassed by the activities of those described as criminal vigilante and bandits. COPAN called on the security agencies to identify, arrest and prosecute all those involved to serve as a deterrent to other criminally minded individuals. While calling on elected officials at all levels of government to be responsive to factors that may escalate insecurity in the country, the coalition also urged pastoral communities in the states to exercise restraint in the face the calamity that has befallen them. Responding to questions, Alh. Auwal Gonga urged the incoming administration to establish the Federal Ministry of Pastoralist Affairs to manage issues around this aspect of the economy, in line with global best practices, and as obtainable in most neighbouring countries and other ECOWAS member countries. According to them, the ministry will be charged with the responsibility of harmonizing and managing the affairs of both farmers and pastoralists, instead of leaving it in the hands of security agencies whom he said have shown themselves to be biased. Concluding, the MACBAN president said; “You see, wether we are happy he’s going or not, one thing is clear: “It is on record that after eight years of his (Buhari) administration, over N500 billion was spent on agronomy and nothing was spent on livestock farmsteads.  “And we have never had it so bad like when Buhari was in government. “This is the worst era for the Nigerian pastoralists – we’ve never had it so bad like this time.”

Civil Defence nabs 5 suspected phone snatchers in Kano

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kano State Command has arrested five suspected phone snatchers, the command’s spokesperson, Mr Ibrahim Idris-Abdullahi said on Wednesday. Idris-Abdullahi, who listed the suspects as: Faisal Usman, 28, Mansur Isa, 38, Abdullahi Bashir, 25, Ahmed Ibrahim, 21and Zulkifil Bello, 25, said they specialise in stealing and snatching of phones. “The suspects operate and engage in a dastardly act around Sabon Gari, Fagge Local Government Area of the state, where they steal and snatch handsets belonging to innocent people. “Men of the corps intelligence and investigation department are on the trails of the suspects’ accomplices one Mr Sunday and Abdullahi) whom they used to sell the phones and Sim cards to,” he said. The spokesperson said that items, which include three mobile phones and a bunch of keys, were recovered from the suspects. He said investigation was ongoing, adding that once completed, the suspects will be charged to court. He said that the command would sustain the fight against phone snatching, crimes and criminality, as well as the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure.

Assault: Why police released Seun Kuti on bail

Afrobeat musician, Seun Kuti has been released on Tuesday night on bail, from the detention of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Lagos. The development was confirmed by his attorney, on Tuesday night. Nigerian Anchor gathered that his release was based on the fulfilling of his bail conditions which were perfected since last Thursday but the Police still kept the afrobeat singer until Tuesday. “Yes, Ṣeun Kuti has just was released minutes ago. “His bail conditions have been perfected since last Thursday, but the police asked for an extension of his remand until today (Tuesday),” his lawyer is quoted as saying. The Chief Magistrate, Adeola Olatunbosun, had extended Kuti’s remand until Tuesday, May 23 following an application by the police. Court records show that a Sabo-Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State last week Thursday granted an application by the police for an extension of remand of Seun Kuti until Tuesday (today), to enable the police to conclude its investigation, and for the advice of the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecution. The police had told the court that the two days remand extension that was earlier granted was not enough for it to conclude its investigation. Responding to the police’ application, the magistrate said, “I will grant the extension. Matter adjourned to May 23, 2023, for DPP’s advice,” the document exclusively obtained by our correspondent on Monday revealed. Meanwhile, legal counsel to the musician, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, told The PUNCH that his client’s (Seun Kuti’s) bail conditions had been met last Thursday. However, our correspondent gathered that police lawyers went to court on Thursday to get a remand extension without notifying the musician’s legal counsel. “The police lawyers came to court on Thursday without informing Seun’s lawyers. When the matter was called for mention, a young lawyer who was in court, pleaded with the magistrate to stand down the matter for about five minutes for Seun Kuti’s legal counsel, Olumide-Fusika, SAN, who had rushed down from Ikeja, to arrive. “But the magistrate refused, and extended Seun’s detention till Monday,” a source privy to the development revealed to our correspondent on Thursday. Our correspondent gathered that the lead counsel to the police, Simon Lough, SAN, moved the application, noting that the extension was to allow further investigation into the case. Kuti is charged with assaulting a police officer during an altercation on Saturday, May 13, on the Third Mainland Bridge, in Lagos. The police charged him with slapping an inspector after he drove dangerously on the bridge, and deliberately blocked a moving police vehicle. Kuti was arraigned last Tuesday, during which the Chief Magistrate earlier ordered his remand for 48 hours, and held that the defendant be admitted to bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like sum, at the end of the 48-hour remand. However, following a second arraignment last Thursday, the magistrate adjourned the case until May 23 for mention and directed the prosecutor to duplicate the case file and forward a copy to the state director of public prosecutions for advice. Reacting to the development during an interview with our correspondent, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, noted that the musician’s bail conditions had been met, while insinuating that the court’s decision for the four days remand extension would, however, be respected. Olumide-Fusika said, “There’s no comment on the four-day extension. It’s a court decision, we’ll wait and see. “However, Ṣeun Kuti’s bail conditions have been met from our side. But since there’s a court decision extending for four days, the presiding magistrate did not sign off until after then.”