No Harm Must Befall IPOB's Lawyer, Ejiofor—Igboho Blows Hot Over Military Invasion Of Barrister's House

Yoruba freedom fighter, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has warned that no harm must befall Ifeanyi Ejiofor, counsel for the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Igboho made this known in a statement issued on Wednesday by his spokesperson, Olayomi Koiki.

Ifeanyi Ejiofor

In the statement, the Yoruba agitator noted that Ejiofor is not only a lawyer for IPOB and its leader, Nnamdi Kanu but also Igboho and the Yoruba agitators.

It was stated that the lawyer, who is a personal lawyer of former aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, stood on many occasions for the Yoruba agitators.

Igboho reiterated his former stance that an attack on IPOB or the people of the South-East is an attack on him and other Yoruba agitators.

"We stand shoulder to shoulder with them in this battle," he said.

The freedom fighter, therefore, warned that should anything happen to Ejiofor, anyone involved in the attack will not go scot-free.

The statement read, “Chief Sunday Igboho has waited for days for a possible reaction from the relevant security agencies on the reason for the bloody and violent invasion on the Anambra state country home of Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor's but all to no avail.

“Those that attacked his home tried to assassinate him and in the process, they killed his personal assistant and several other people in his home and burnt their bodies to ashes. They did this as Barrister watched the whole episode helplessly from where he hid in his home.

”For the records, Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor is not only the lawyer to IPOB and Mazi Nnamdi Kanu but also a lawyer to our leader Chief Sunday Adeyemo and our group. He is also a personal lawyer to our dear brother and highly respected uncle, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, former Minister of Aviation and he is a friend and supporter of the sons and daughters of Oduduwa.

"On many occasions, he has stood in for us and our members, and today we are standing in for him. We have said it before and we say it again that any attack on IPOB or the people of the East is an attack on us. We stand shoulder to shoulder with them in this battle.

"It is on the strength of these hard facts that we wish to warn the relevant security agencies that if anything onward happens to Barrister Ejiofor that the consequences will be serious, and no one directly or indirectly connected with this desperate hunt for innocent life, will go scot-free.

"We know the individuals who are funding this whole thing and we wish to put it on record that this is the second time they tried to take our lawyer's life. It must be the last. Such an attempt must never happen to him again.

“We demand that all Barrister Ejiofor's domestic staff that were abducted during this bloody attack on his peaceful home be released by the security agencies without further ado.

“We counsel for peaceful co-existence. Let wise counsel prevail."

Biafra Republic Will Be Free Even If You Kill Many Of Us—Nnamdi Kanu Tells Nigerian Government

Kanu, who had on several occasions, accused the Nigerian Army and police operatives of killing IPOB members as a means of quelling the agitation reiterated that no amount of killings can halt their agitation.

Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has said that the alleged continued assaults on members of the group and people in the South-East cannot stop the actualisation of the sovereign nation of Biafra. 

Kanu, who had on several occasions, accused the Nigerian Army and police operatives of killing IPOB members as a means of quelling the agitation reiterated that no amount of killings can halt their agitation.

Meanwhile, the security agencies in the South-East had also named the IPOB members and its security wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN) as the brains behind several attacks and killings of their men as well as destruction of government facilities.

Kanu, who is calling for a referendum to allow the secessionists decide whether to be part of Nigeria or a separate nation, said killings would not solve the problem.

According to him, the actualisation of Biafra would still take place despite the alleged killings.

He made the remark on Thursday in a tweet via his official Twitter handle.

 “At the end of this tortuous journey, history will record that referendum, NOT bullets, determined their fate.

“It matters not how many they kill; one outcome is inevitable, Biafra MUST emerge a FREE nation. The sooner the Caliphate understand (sic) this inevitability, the better for all," Kanu said on Twitter.

EFCC To Prosecute Orji Kalu All Over Again – Bawa

Abdularasheed Bawa

 

Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Abdulrasheed Bawa has said former Abia State governor, Orji Uzor Kalu will be prosecuted by the agency all over again.

The anti-graft agency boss also said he is not perturbed over the threats to his life and he is determined to prosecute the many pending cases under trial.

Bawa disclosed this on Thursday while addressing journalists during the weekly ministerial chat at the State House in Abuja.

He gave insight into ongoing prosecutions, challenges, and increasing cases of financial crimes since his assumption into office 100 days ago.

He also clarified reports accredited to him concerning the involvement of a Minister in the laundering of about $37 million into real estate. He disclosed that he simply made reference to an old case involving a former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Madueke.

The EFCC Chairman further disclosed that since his first 100 days in office, the agency has been working on a number of proactive strategies including a special control unit against money laundering, established particularly to address non-designated financial institutions including car dealers, real estate, jewellery dealers, among others.

Bawa said he is confident that when the unit is fully established, corruption will significantly decline in the country.

He then added that the agency is equally working towards the development of a biometric ownership database to address money laundering.

According to him, most proceeds of crime are laundered through real estate and have become a huge challenge. He gives examples of property acquired especially in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt where billions of naira are laundered through this means.

He, however, declined to disclose actual perpetrators or the properties involved.

He revealed that since his assumption, a number of recoveries have been made including N6billion, $161million, £13,000 pounds, €1,730 among others.

Internet fraudsters numbering 1,502 have also been apprehended between January to June 2021and efforts are underway to file about 800 of them. A hundred cases will be filed in court.

Culled from Channels.

Gunmen Kidnap Four Chinese Rail Workers, Kill Police Officer In Ogun

Four Chinese railway workers working on the Lagos-Ibadan railway have been kidnapped.

A police officer attached to them was also killed during the attack which was carried out on Wednesday around Kila, a village between Ogun and Oyo states.

Eyewitnesses said the gunmen were dressed in black kaftan when they stormed the site of the rail project at Adeaga/Alaagba and killed the policeman while struggling to abduct the Chinese workers.

They were reported to have laid an ambush in the surrounding forest for the expatriates.

Confirming the incident on Thursday, the police public relations officer in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi said the victims were ambushed around the area by eight gunmen.

He added that the tactical team of the command has been mobilised to ensure the rescue of the abducted victims

“The gunmen numbering about eight were said to have invaded Adeaga/Alaagba village, near Kila, in Odeda local government area of the state,” the police spokesperson said.

The police spokesperson said until the arrest of the perpetrators nobody can ascertain the identities of the victims.

He, however, promised that the kidnapper would be hunted and brought to justice, to serve as a deterrent to others.

Court Sentences Former Bank PHB Boss, Francis Atuche To Over 6 Years In Prison

A Lagos High Court sitting in the Ikeja area has sentenced former managing director of defunct Bank PHB, Francis Atuche to over 6 years in prison.

In a judgment that lasted over 10 hours, Justice Lateefat Okunnu convicted Atuche alongside a former Chief Financial Officer of the bank, Ugo Anyanwu.

The two were convicted on at least 6 of a 27-count amended charge of conspiracy to commit a felony and stealing brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

While Atuche who was found guilty on counts 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 23 of the charge would serve a 6-year term for each count,  Anyanwu will serve a 4-year jail term for counts 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 22 and 24 of the amended charge.

They are to serve their jail term consecutively. This sentence is coming after a trial that lasted over 12 years.

In delivering her sentence, Justice Okunnu held that the EFCC successfully proved its case against the convicts beyond a reasonable doubt.

The judge rejected claims by the defendants suggesting that they were merely professionally negligent.

She specifically held that Atuche and Anyanwu abused their powers, ignored established rules and regulations thereby putting the bank and depositors’ funds in danger.

The court also came to the conclusion that the convicts corruptly took advantage of their positions to confer on themselves undue financial benefits without regard to the health of the bank.

“The convict stole from the bank and depositors and because of their action, taxpayers money was used to bail out the bank”.

Justice Okunnu held that she had considered the plea of the convicts, but there must be consequences for wrongdoing, adding that sentences are not just for punishment but also for deterrence.

She also ruled that the defendant should make restitution of the amount stolen from the bank. They are to pay back the sum of N25.7billion to the Federal government to replace the funds stolen from the public to bail out the bank.

According to the Judge, they are to serve their jail terms at the Kirikiri maximum correctional facility in Lagos.

Atuche’s wife cleared

Justice Okunnu however, cleared Atuche’s wife on the charge of conspiracy and stealing.

According to the judge, the EFCC failed to link her to the crime and insisted that suspicion no matter how strong can not take the place of fact.

The judge held that it was not proven that she was aware of the source of the funds she received into her account from her husband and she had no powers to take any decision to influence the transaction.

Charges

The EFCC had alleged that between November 2007 and April 2008, the accused persons stole about N25.7bn belonging to the bank.

The anti-graft agency had also claimed that of the total N25.7bn, they stole about N14.7bn by fraudulently describing it as a loan to some companies and subsequently converted the said sum to personal use.

The Commission had listed the companies as Future View Securities, Extra Oil Limited, Resolution Trust and Investment Limited, and Tradjek Nigeria Ltd.

The EFCC also alleged that another N11bn stolen by the defendants was used to purchase about 984,375,000 units of Bank PHB shares for themselves.

According to the commission, the sum used for purchasing the shares was described as a loan to some companies including, Guesstrade Services, Sentron Trading, Montrax Investico, Claremount Management Ltd., Trenton Trade, and others.

In proof of its case against the accused persons, the EFCC called 12 witnesses who gave oral evidence. It also subpoenaed 6 others to present some documents which were admitted as exhibits by the court.

JUST IN: Gunmen Abduct Students From Federal Government College In Kebbi

Gunmen suspected to be bandits have stormed Federal Government College, Birnin-Yauri in Kebbi State and abducted an unspecified number of students.

The police in Kebbi confirmed the attack to Channels Television.

The abduction is the latest in a series of school kidnappings that have rocked the country in recent times.

In late May, about 200 students of an Islamiyya school in Niger state were abducted by gunmen.

The abductors usually demand a ransom before students are released.

Some 14 students and staff of Greenfield University in Kaduna were released in May after parents reportedly paid over N150 million ransom and bought eight motorcycles for the bandits.

The Federal Government has denied ever paying ransom to release kidnapped persons and has discouraged the idea.

The government has also repeatedly promised to end the abduction of students across the country.

The school kidnappings have persisted as the country continues to battle several security challenges, including but not limited to an insurgency in the North-East, banditry in the North-West, secessionist agitations in the South-East and Fulani-Herdsmen crises across the Middle-Belt and several South-West states.

 

More to follow . . . 

Twitter Suspension: Ubani Drags FG, Others To Court, Says Action Unlawful

 

Former Second Vice President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Monday Ubani, has dragged the Federal Government of Nigeria, before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos State, over the indefinite suspension of microblogging app, Twitter, describing the suspension as unlawful and a violation of his fundamental right to freedom of expression.

The Lagos-based lawyer in his application asked the court to set aside the indefinite suspension, ban, sanction or other punishment whatsoever imposed on Twitter, him (the Applicant) and other Nigerians and any social networking service by the Respondents and their agents.

He also asked the court to direct the Federal Government to immediately revoke, withdraw and rescind their indefinite suspension or ban of Twitter or any other social networking.

It would be recalled that the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed had announced the suspension of Twitter in Nigeria. The government has also threatened to arrest and prosecute anyone using Twitter in the country, while the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has asked all broadcast stations to suspend the patronage of Twitter.

Joined in the suit alongside the Federal government (1st Respondent) are; the Attorney General of the Federation, The Minister Of Information and Culture and the Nigerian Communication Commission as 2nd, 3rd and 4th respondents respectively.

Ubani, in the application filed before the court on Wednesday, is seeking “A declaration that the indefinite suspension of Twitter by the 1st, Respondent (FG) without an order of a competent court of jurisdiction is unlawful and violates the fundamental right of the Applicant to freedom of expression, freedom to hold opinions and receive and impart ideas and information without interference as guaranteed by section 39(1)(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and Article 9(1) and (2) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (CAP 10) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990.

“A declaration that the instruction given to the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) by the 4th Respondent to stop Nigerians (including the Applicant) from getting access to Twitter violates the fundamental right of the Applicant to freedom of expression, freedom to hold opinions and receive and impact ideas and information without interference as guaranteed by section 39(1)(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and Article 9(1) and (2) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (CAP 10) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990.

“A declaration that the directive given to the security operatives and the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPP) by the 3rd Respondent to arrest and immediately prosecute users of Twitter in Nigeria (including the Applicant) infringes on the fundamental right of the Applicant to freedom of expression, freedom to hold opinions and receive and impact ideas and information without interference as guaranteed by section 39(1)(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and Article 9(1) and (2) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (CAP 10) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990, and a gross violation of Section 36(12) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) which forbids any act or omission to be referred to as a crime unless a written law says so.

“An order by the Court setting aside the indefinite suspension, ban, sanction or other punishment whatsoever imposed on twitter, the Applicant and other Nigerians and any social media service provider by the Respondents and their agents.

“An order directing the 1st Respondent to immediately revoke, withdraw and rescind their suspension or ban of Twitter or any other social media service providers in Nigeria as same violates sections 39(1)(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and Article 9(1) and (2) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (CAP 10) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990.

“An order directing the 4th Respondent to immediately revoke, withdraw and rescind the formal instruction given to ALTON to suspend access to Twitter in Nigeria as same violates sections 39(1)(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and Article 9(1) and (2) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (CAP 10) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990.

“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the Respondents and their agents from unlawfully imposing sanctions and other punishment, including criminal prosecution or doing anything whatsoever to harass, the Applicant, Nigerians, Twitter and any social media service provider in Nigeria.

Man Dies During Sex With Friend's Ex-wife In Delta

The deceased went to the lady's house for s*x, but died in the act.

A popular bush meat seller in Ogharefe Mr. Victor, popularly known as Pay Cash has reportedly died while having sex with his friend's ex wife identified as Julie in Oghara, Delta State. 

According to Warri Aproko Special, the deceased went to the lady's house for sex, but died in the process. 

A source revealed that Julie is a divorcee and her former husband is a good friend of the deceased.

It was learnt that Julie's former husband had solicited the assistance of Victor to help him beg his wife in order to settle the rift between them, which had led to their divorce. 

"Julie and Victor's wife fought sometime ago when she discovered that her husband was dating Julie," The source added.  

JUST IN: Hoodlums burn houses of ex-Imo AG, Assembly member

Unidentified hoodlums who reportedly disguised themselves as local vigilante groups in the early hours of Wednesday stormed the private residence of the immediate past Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Imo State, Chief Cyprian Akaolisa and set the building ablaze.

The Nation gathered that the multi-million naira and ultra-mordern building which is situated at Ebenato ward in Orsu Council Area of the State in the ancestral home of the ex Attorney General was completely reduced to rubbles with explosives.

It was learnt that the faceless hoodlums later vanished into thin air after pepertrating the dastardly act.

Akaolisa, who confirmed the sad incident in a telephone chat with newsmen said “I am shocked that some criminal elements could be so callous to commit such atrocity which is man’s inhumanity to man.”

In the same vein, the member for the Orsu state constituency in the state House of Assembly, Hon. Ekene Nnodumele is equally counting his losses over a similar recent fire disaster that gutted his private building in his community.

The fire was reportedly set by unknown gunmen who terrorised Ebenato Ward in Awo Idemili in the early hours of Wednesday.

The Special Assistant to the lawmaker, A. Nwadikwa who confirmed the incident in a phone call said Nnodumele’s security man was also beheaded by the arsonists.

“There was heavy gunfire in Ebenato in Awo Idemili by unknown persons who also attacked the home of the lawmaker,” he said.

Contacted, the Commissioner of Police, Abutu Yaro admitted knowledge of the incident saying he has sent his men there for on the spot assessment of the incident.

Gunmen Hit Back, Kill Alleged Military Informant Behind Death Of ESN Commander, Ikonso: See Photo

The victim, whose name had yet to be ascertained, was gunned down in a village between Imo and Anambra states.

unmen have shot dead a middle-aged man alleged to be one of the informants used by the Nigerian Army to give away the late commander of the Indigenous People of Biafra’s Eastern Security Network (ESN), Ikonso Don.

SaharaReporters learnt that the victim, whose name had yet to be ascertained, was gunned down in a village between Imo and Anambra states, where he was believed to be hiding.

Sahara Reporters obtained the graphic images of the corpse of the victim, who was shot dead along a footpath in the village while the gunmen escaped from the scene. 

“The victim is alleged to be the informant the military and the police used in getting Ikonso’s location and in killing him. Some said the informant was also a member of the ESN but others said he was a former IPOB member, renounced them and came to the village to hide. But he has now been killed,” a source stated.

SaharaReporters had on April 26 reported that the Nigerian Army ‘s operation against the ESN and IPOB in Awomama Village in the Oru East Local Government Area of Imo State led to Ikonso Don’s death, who was an ESN top commander.

The army and the police intelligence team had killed Ikonso, known as Vice President, and six other IPOB commanders during the raid.

The army had confirmed that an officer and three policemen were also shot dead by the ESN during the gun battle on Saturday.

The then Director, Army Public Relations, Brig Gen Mohammed Yerima, had released a photograph of Ikonso with IPOB Leader, Nnamdi Kanu, as well as of the shrine where the ESN and IPOB fighters reportedly gathered in Oru East.

The army spokesman had revealed that they had been on the trail of Ikonso and other ESN commanders for weeks before he was finally captured.

“The IRT and DSS teams along with troops of 82 Division of the Nigerian Army have been on the trail of the terror group since the unfortunate attacks on the Imo State Police Command and the Owerri Correctional Center on April 5. 

“The said Ikonson Commander, who was the mastermind of those attacks in addition to multiple attacks in the South-East and South-South regions, was neutralised along with six of his top Commanders,” the military had said.

Sources had also told SaharaReporters that Ikonso was also given away by some of his photographs shared on the social media as well as by some of his friends, who had been in touch with security agencies for weeks, if not months.

“Ikonso Don was a well-known hardcore IPOB member. When the ESN was launched, he joined and participated in several operations, rising to later become a commander. He was going to his village in Umuoma alongside other ESN members when they were ambushed.

“He was targeted and killed after some of the Igbo he was fighting for gave out his details to the security forces,” a source had explained.

“His photographs were also shared on social media by a friend and he was given away as the ESN commander. That was the same place his photograph with Nnamdi Kanu was obtained,” another source revealed.