Nigeria is very safe - Senator Sekibo

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Navy, Senator George Sekibo, has described Nigeria as a “very safe” country. 

Sekibo made the claim at the investiture ceremony for the Fellow membership of Girne American University Cyprus, shortly after the Regional Manager (West Africa) and Partnership Advisor of the institution, Praise Folaji, said the chancellor of the institution, Serhat Akpinar, was absent because of the insecurity in Nigeria.

Folaji had cited the recent killing of United States Embassy staff in Anambra. Reacting to the claim, Sekibo who was one of the recipients of the Fellowship award, said; 

“Nigeria is very safe, that’s why all of us are here. Apart from few politicians who may have escorts or security, I believe 99% of the people here did not need anybody to escort them to this place.

“And there was no gunshot or issues of killings or kidnapping in Nigeria for the past couple of months. I say so because this is an international programme, and as a senator representing you (audience), it would be wrong for me to admit that Nigeria is not safe.

“Sometimes, events can happen anywhere. There’s no country in the world events do not happen. Nigeria is like other countries in the world. In America, even small children carry guns to kill themselves. I think we have not reached that level. So, Nigeria is very safe.”

Owner of FCMB, Otunba Subomi Balogun is dead

Founder of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and Olori Omoba of Ijebuland, Otunba Michael Olasubomi Balogun, is dead.

Balogun died in London this morning at the age of 89. His death has been confirmed by media personality, Dele Momodu, who wrote on Instagram; 

“Diamonds are forever OVATION INTERNATIONAL magazine (since 1996)... Good night CHIEF OLASUMOMI BALOGUN... Rest in Peace Sir.”

 

Man arrested for being in possession of human parts

Men of the Lagos state police command have arrested a man identified as Monday Alfred for allegedly being in possession of human parts. The suspect was apprehended on Wednesday, May 17 by a police patrol team along Ori-okuta old Shagamu road Imota in Lagos state.

The suspect and his accomplice were spotted on a motorcycle riding on top speed heading towards Shagamu from Imota. Immediately they were stopped by the police for a search, both men jumped down and ran into the bush., The police gave them a hot chase and arrested Monday Alfred of Isale-Aye Araromi Mota while the second escaped through the bush paths.

The police searched Alfred and found two cut hands suspected to be human parts inside a liquid suspected to be alcohol in a plastic bucket.  His motorcycle as well as his phone were confiscated while efforts are being made to apprehend the fleeing suspect.

Labour Party factional leader, Lamidi Apapa, fights over seat in court (video)

A factional leader of Labour Party, Lamidi Apapa, was seen fighting over a seat in court today, May 17. 

Apapa who has been attempting to take over leadership of the party since the presidential election was concluded, got a favorable court ruling last week pending the determination of the party’s leadership lawsuit by a federal high court.

In court this morning, he was spotted fighting over seats reserved by members of the party.

Eyewitnesses said he was confronting the Director General of Peter Obi’s presidential campaign council, Akin Osuntokun and others at the Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja.

Watch the video below…

 

 

 

 

Court sentences three to death by hanging for stealing phones, chargers, laptops, sandals and power banks in Ekiti

An Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti, on Monday, May 15, sentenced three persons to death by hanging for conspiracy and armed robbery.  

The defendants: Omotayo Deji, 23, Chidiebere Ifeanyi, 25, and Bolaji Usman, 28, were arraigned before Justice Bamidele Omotoso on January 21, 2020, on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy and armed robbery.

The charge reads that the defendants on “May 6, 2019, at Aba Erinfun, Federal Polytechnic Road, Ado Ekiti in Ado Ekiti Judicial Division did conspire to commit a felony, to wit; armed robbery and robbed Ademiloye Stephen, Olokuntoye Temitope and Ajayi Kolade of their belongings, such as phones, laptop computer, sandals, phone chargers and power banks valued at N186,000, as at the time of the robbery. They were armed with cutlass and wooden plank,"

According to the charges, the alleged offences contradicted Sections 6 (b), 1 (2) (a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap. RII, Vol. 14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

One of the victims in his statement to the police, said: “We were sleeping in our room at about 2:30 a.m., suddenly, I heard a loud sound on the door, immediately, we woke up, I saw the defendants armed with cutlass and wooden plank, immediately, they broke the electric bulb with the plank in their hand. They commanded us to lay face down and bring out all our money. We told them that we are students and we don’t have money, but they started beating us on our backs with sticks and cutlasses.

“Thereafter, they started collecting our phones, laptops, chargers, sandals, power banks and others I could not remember and ran away. We were later shouting for help but nobody came out.”

To prove his case, the police prosecutor, Kunle-Shina Adeyemo, called one witness and tendered statements of the victims and defendants, as well as phones among others as exhibits.

The defendants testified through their counsels, without calling witnesses. 

In his judgement, Justice Bamidele Omotoso said, "I am of the strong opinion that the prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt the offence of armed robbery against the defendants.

"They are hereby found guilty as charged and convicted for the offence of armed robbery.

“The sentence of the court upon you, Omotayo Deji, Chidiebere Ifeanyi, and Bolaji Usman is that you be hanged by the neck until you are dead, and may the Lord have mercy on your souls.” 

Kidnappers accidentally gun down their gang member while attempting to abduct father and son in Kano

 

Three suspected kidnappers, Idris Abdullahi, Tukur Yusuf, and Ilyasu Aminu, have been arrested for attempting to kidnap a man and his son in Yarimawa village, Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State. 

 

The State Commissioner of Police (CP) Muhammed Usaini Gumel, who paraded the suspects alongside others criminals, said the kidnappers stormed the residence of one Nasiru Yayaya and attempted to kidnap him and his son, Gaddafi. 

However, the son resisted, which led to a fight. While trying to shoot Gaddafi, the kidnappers shot their gang member, who died on the spot. 

 

"On 16/03/2023 at about 0100hrs, a report was received that gunmen stormed the residence of one Nasiru Yahaya, Yarimawa Village, Tofa LGA, Kano State, where they kidnapped him and his son, one Gaddafi Nasiru,” the CP said.

"In the process, the son resisted. In an attempt to shoot the son, they shot their colleague, one Umar Abdullahi, Alias Danbaba who died on the spot. The father escaped. 

 

"Also, in an attempt to whisk the son, they shot two villagers on their legs who came to offer assistance. The victims were rushed to Tofa General Hospital, and they were treated and discharged. 

 

“In a follow-up of the investigation, the following suspects were arrested; (i) Idris Abdullahi, ‘m’, 26 years of Janguza, Tofa LGA (ii) Tukur Yusuf, ‘m’, 40 years old, of Langyal, Tofa LGA, and (iii) Ilyasu Aminu, ‘m’, 25 years old, of Gargai Village, Bebeji LGA Kano State. Investigation is in progress." 

''You want us to cook you for 96 hours?'' - Nigerians to Guinness World Record Organizers

Nigerians have stormed the Twitter page of the Guinness World Records after they said they were reviewing the evidence before they can confirm if Nigerian chef, Hilda Bassey, has broken the longest cooking hours for an individual.

Hilda surpassed the record time this morning May 15. Nigerians have since been waiting for the Guinness World Record to announce her as the new record holder.

GWR in a response, said it was reviewing evidence before it before it can confirm she has indeed broken the record.

 

Nigerians stormed their page and asked them to hurry up with their review and come up with a good verdict. 

Some even threatened to ‘’cook'' the Guinness World Record if it fails to declare Hilda the new record holder.

 

BREAKING: UK Court Of Appeal Fixes Date To Hear Nnamdi Kanu’s Extraordinary Rendition Appeal

The United Kingdom Court of Appeal has fixed June 22, 2023 to hear the appeal of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu's extraordinary rendition.

Special Counsel to Kanu, Mr Aloy Ejimakor, who disclosed this in post on Twitter handle on Wednesday afternoon, commended the Kanu's family and his colleagues in the Bindmans LLP that are handling the matter.

According to Ejimakor, in an initial order, the Court ruled that “the grounds of appeal raise important issues.”

He wrote in his tweet: "Breaking: UK Court of Appeal to hear Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s extraordinary rendition appeal. In an initial order, the Court ruled that “the grounds of appeal raise important issues.”

"The appeal will be heard on 22nd June, 2023. Kudos to Kanu family & my colleagues, the Bindmans."

aloy ejimakor

@AloyEjimakor

Breaking: UK Court of Appeal to hear Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s extraordinary rendition appeal. In an initial order, the Court ruled that “the grounds of appeal raise important issues.” The appeal will be heard on 22nd June, 2023. Kudos to Kanu family & my colleagues, the Bindmans.

2:40 PM · May 10, 2023

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It was reported that Kanu remained in solitary confinement at the detention facility of the Nigeria's secret police, the Department of State Services (DSS) since he was renditioned from Kenyan in June 2021.

Although, the Nigerian government has not officially disclosed where it's security agencies abducted Kanu.

Court of Appeal, Abuja division had on October 13, 2022 discharged Kanu, of the 15-count terrorism charges brought against him by the federal government.

The appellate court, in a unanimous decision, faulted the process through which Kanu was brought before the Federal High Court to answer to a 15-count terrorism charges.
Reacting to the judgment, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, had said the appeal court only discharged and not acquitted Kanu.

The appeal court ruled that the arrest, abduction and subsequent arraignment of Kanu before a Federal High Court violated international convention on terrorism and, thus, robbed any court of law in Nigeria necessary jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

Justice Adedotun Adefope-Okijie, who read the judgement of the three-man panel, noted that there was nowhere the federal government showed it complied with the procedures for the extradition of the IPOB leader from Kenya.

The appellate court listed the conditions, according to the Organization of Africa Unity (OAU), which a state must meet to include a formal application for extradition to the host country, permission from court, and statement of the alleged offences in connection with the extradition request amongst others. The court explained that the requirements were aimed at ensuring that people were only extradited after full conviction of alleged committal of an offence and not for any other purpose.

United Nations working group on arbitrary detention and human rights violations in July 2022 issued a communication to Nigeria government demanding release of Nnamdi Kanu within six months of communication and to pay him adequate reparations. The deadline of the communication had since elapsed in December 31, 2022 and Kanu remained in solitary confinement in the DSS cell.

Several well-meaning Nigerians including Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization has severally appealed to the federal government and President Muhammadu Buhari to release Nkanu and allow a dialogue to prevail.

Nigerian Woman Trafficked To Ghana For Sex Slavery, Cries Out For Help From Captivity

It was gathered that Ola went missing over two weeks ago after she was trafficked to Ghana with her friend for prostitution by a Nigerian woman who promised to give them well-paying jobs.

A24-year-old Nigerian woman who identified herself as Oyindamola Ola, has been trafficked to Ghana by an unknown Nigerian woman and is currently being held hostage for prostitution.
It was gathered that Ola went missing over two weeks ago after she was trafficked to Ghana with her friend for prostitution by a Nigerian woman who promised to give them well-paying jobs.
A source said that Ola, who is currently being held hostage by her buyers, has now cried to be rescued from her captors.
She was reportedly able to put out a distress call via someone's phone from Ghana as her phone had been seized.
In the account shared by PIDOM Nigeria, she explained that a woman took her and her friend to Ghana after promising them a good job offer but on getting to Ghana, things changed as the woman kept her somewhere with someone and left with her friend.
She waited for the woman and her friend but they did not come back and after a day, she was informed that she had been sold for prostitution.
Ola said she resisted, insisting that she could not do prostitution, and told the people holding her hostage that the woman who brought them to Ghana promised them a decent job, which was why they followed her.
However, despite her resistance and explanations, the people insisted that she must do prostitution or pay them the sum of N500,000 before they could let her go, but Ola told them she did not have such an amount of money, and they made it clear to her that they would never let her go without paying them back the N500,000.
Ola lamented that they held her hostage, seized her phone and took her to a shrine for voodoo, where they cut a part of her hair and forced her to take an oath that she would become mad if she left for Nigeria without paying the N500,000 they paid to the woman who trafficked her and her friend.
She lamented that she wanted to return to Nigeria but she was being held in Ghana against her wish, adding that she did not know exactly where she was, nor did she know the whereabouts of her friend.
https://twitter.com/PIDOMNIGERIA/status/1656535918788980737

BREAKING: Bloodbath In Benue As Fulani Herdsmen Kill 28 Residents In Guma Local Council, Army, Police Operatives Demand Money To Find Corpses

SaharaReporters gathered that the residents were gruesomely killed by the jihadist terrorists and herdsmen in the local government area between Sunday and yesterday, Wednesday.

No fewer than 28 people have been killed by Fulani herdsmen in renewed attacks on Mbawa Council Ward in the Guma Local Government area of Benue State, North Central Nigeria.
SaharaReporters gathered that the residents were gruesomely killed by the jihadist terrorists and herdsmen in the local government area between Sunday and yesterday, Wednesday.
Sources who spoke to SaharaReporters on Thursday, accused the Nigerian Army and Police of complicity in the one-month daily attacks in Guma LGA.
A resident of the place who gave his name simply as Barnabas confirmed the ongoing attacks on the Mbawa Council Ward, regretting that soldiers and policemen brought to protect the people did nothing to stop the herdsmen wielding sophisticated weapons.
According to him, the police operatives are also demanding N100,000 to search for corpses of those killed on their farmlands.
He said "Since 2018 up till today our community and other Communities in Guma local government have been under Fulani herdsmen attacks. But now it is getting worse especially since two weeks now, we have not rested in this community.
"Between Sunday and Wednesday, they have killed 28 persons. On Wednesday being yesterday they killed seven, on Tuesday they killed eight, on Monday they killed seven and on Sunday it was six they killed. So that is how it continues, it has become a daily massacre and it is even close to Internal Displaced Camp (IDPs) in Daudu in Mbawa Council Ward and the army camp is also there. In fact soldiers can see those Fulanis with weapons and they will not do anything.
"Last week the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Guma police division; I don't know how he managed to get the Fulanis and called all our chiefs and some elders for a meeting with the Fulanis. At the meeting he told our people that the Fulanis want to come and live in our community and that we should allow them to live with us.
"Recently the same Fulanis killed 36 persons and today they are here saying that they want to come and live with the same people.
"There is military and police presence and every day, they are killing our people; not one, not two, not three. Each and every day the killing continues and the federal government and security agencies are not saying anything. This is how people are dying every day. This is genocide; they want to swipe us out.”
He added, “Among the seven persons they killed on Thursday, four of them were volunteer guards and three were our comrades. They were killed and one was found and two are still in the bush. It is now that the people are preparing to use vehicles to go for the second time to look for their corpses and security agents are here. We even went to the police station here and DPO asked that we should look for N100,000 to give them to escort us to look for their corpses."
Lamenting the complicit of the security agencies especially the military and police, Barnabas said that when they went to the bush with some soldiers and policemen to recover the corpses of those killed that at a point, soldiers asked them not to go further that Fulanis were in the forest nearby with guns.
"How did they know? For me the security agencies are accomplices in the ongoing killings in our communities," he stated.
However, SaharaReporters efforts to get the reaction of the Benue police command were unsuccessful as the Command's spokesperson, CSP Sewuese Anene, did not take calls.