Alleged N289m theft: Pension thief back in prison custody

From GODWIN TSA Abuja Justice Adamu Bello of a Federal High Court yesterday remanded a former Director of the Police Pension Board, John Yakubu Yusufu, at the Kuje Prison in Abuja. Yusufu was on Monday convicted by an Abuja High Court for stealing N23.3 billion. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged him yesterday for allegedly stealing N289 million belonging to the Police Pension Fund. The amount allegedly stolen by the former director is different from the N23.3 billion for which he was convicted and sentenced to two years in jail or pay a fine of N750, 000 by Justice Mohammed Talba of an Abuja High Court. Unlike his first arraignment, Yusufu pleaded not guilty to the fresh four-count charge slammed against him by the anti-graft agency. His counsel, Mayaki Theodore, made an oral application for his bail which was opposed by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), Justice Bello told the defence counsel to formally file the bail application and ordered that Yusufu be remanded at the Kuje Prison till March 1 when the matter comes up for hearing. Recall that the EFCC, which was miffed with the two-year jail, slammed a fresh four-count charge against Yusufu. In charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/14/2013, Yusufu was accused of failing to make full disclosure of his assets and liability in the SY-A Global Services Limited, a company owned solely by him and immediate members of his family, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 27(3) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, CAP E12004. Count two reads: “That you, John Yakubu Yusufu, on or about 14th February, 2012 at Abuja, in the Abuja Judicial Division knowingly failed to make full disclosure of your assets and liability in the Declaration of Assets Form filled by you, by not declaring your interest in the N250 million you lodged in a fixed deposit account with the Zenith Bank in the name of SY-A Global Services Limited, a company in which you are the sole signatory to its account and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 27(3) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment, etc.) Act, CAP E1 2004”. Count three: “That you, John Yakubu Yusufu, on or about 14th February, 2012 at Abuja, in the Abuja Judicial Division knowingly failed to make full disclosure of your assets and liability in the Declaration of Assets Form filled by you, by not declaring your interest in the sum of N10 million you lodged in a fixed deposit account with the First Bank of Nigeria Plc in the name of SY-A Global Services Limited, a company in which you are the sole signatory to its account and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 27(3) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment, etc.) Act, CAP E1 2004”. In count four, the convict was also accused of failing to declare his interest in the N29 million which he instructed one Danjuma Mele to fix in his company account in the name of Jidag Technical Services Ltd with Diamond Bank. Attached with the charge sheet are list of prosecution witnesses and list of exhibits, which comprised of statements of both the accused persons and that of the witnesses and other relevant documents, which include proof of evidence. Apart from the jail term, the former director is to forfeit 32 properties. He also forfeited N325, 187,867.18 cash. The six accused persons in the police pension scam were first arraigned on March 29, 2012, on 16-count charges, bordering on conspiracy and criminal breach of trust. The other accused were Esai Dangabar, Atiku Abubakar Kigo, Ahmed Inuwa Wada, Mrs.Veronica Ulonma Onyegbula and Sani Habila Zira. Kigo was the director of the Police Pension Office before he was made Permanent Secretary. Another accused person, Christian Madubuike, was included in the charge even as the name of Mrs. Uzoma Cyril Attang was removed from the list of accused persons due to her absence in court, she will be arraigned at a later date. All the accused pleaded not guilty to the amended charge with the exception of Yusufu, who pleaded guilty to counts 18, 19 and 20, paving the way for his convictiON SUN

2 jailed 113 yrs for kidnapping

… PAUL OSUYI, Asaba A 27-year-old clerical staff of the Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, David Wonder Erhirhie is to pay the supreme price for killing an admission seeker, Princess Chinonso Ijezie in 2009. The Delta State High Court sitting at Orerokpe in Okpe Local Government Area of the state sentenced the convict to death by hanging. The court found the convict guilty of killing the deceased, an offence punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code Law Cap C. 21 Laws of Delta State, 2006. Delivering judgement, the court said the prosecution was able to prove beyond all reasonable doubts, ingredients of the offence of murder and sentenced him in accordance with the law. “The punishment for a crime of this magnitude is death penalty. This accused person does not deserve less. I hereby sentence you to death by hanging at the neck until you be dead. May God have mercy upon your soul,” the court held. Prosecution had called six witnesses during trial, which lasted for over two years while the accused testified for himself. The convict, until the incident was a clerical staff of the provost office of the university, a position he was allegedly using to carry out series of failed admission racketeering. In the instant case, he was said to have collected the sum of N155,000 from the late Princess Ijezie to assist her secure admission into DELSU from a private university in Edo State where the deceased was already running a program. But the convict could not secure the admission and in a bid to cover up his track, he lured the deceased to his house under the pretence of refunding the money. The convict, however murdered the admission seeker and buried her remains in a shallow grave close to his house before nemesis caught up with him. Meanwhile, two persons including one David Erutere (31) and Sunday Omamuzo Ukaikwo have been sentenced to 113 cumulative years imprisonment with hard labour by a Delta State High Court sitting in Asaba for kidnapping and armed robbery. The convicts were found guilty of the charges preferred against them which include conspiracy to commit felony to wit: kidnap, kidnapping and conspiracy to commit felony to wit: armed robbery. They were also accused of demanding property with menace. The offences are contrary to Section 6 (b) and punishable under Section 1 (2a) of the Robbery and Fire Arms (Special Provisions) Act Cap R II Volume 14 Laws of the Federation, 2004. David Erutere, who hails from Ekrakra in Ethiope East Local Government Area of the state was sentenced to 45 years in jail for conspiracy to commit armed robbery and armed robbery while they both got 7 years imprisonment each for conspiracy to commit kidnapping, 3 years imprisonment each for demanding property with menace and another 10 years each for kidnapping. Sunday Ukwaikwo, who claimed to be a farmer and a native of Olomoro in Isoko South Local Government Area of the state was slammed with 25 years imprisonment for armed robbery. The convicts had conspired to kidnap and rob one Irikefe Edafe and Egwu Johnbull of their valuables including a Pathfinder Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), GSM handsets, Laptop, wedding rings and cash on two separate occasions in June 2011 at Delta Palace Road, Warri and Ubiaruku respectively and demanded a ransom of N50 million from their families before they could be released. Sunday Ukwaikwo, who was apprehended by men of the State Security Services (SSS) while trying to pick-up the agreed ransom, later led security agents to the house of his partner in crime. 0 Email Share

MASQUARADE MURDER

MOSHOOD ADEBAYO and TAIWO BANKOLE, Abeokuta Barely 72 hours after the killing of an Islamic cleric in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, police said that no masquerade was arrested in connection with the incident. Parading “Oje’’ chiefs yesterday, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikemefuna Okoye said the command did not arrest any masquerade though he confirmed that three persons had been arrested in connection with the murder. An “egungun’’ festival in Ijaiye-Abeokuta ended on a sad note on Sunday with the shooting to death of an Islamic cleric, Lateef Saliu. Okoye, who explained how the cleric he identified as Saliu and not Amusa was shot added that the late cleric was shot on the left shoulder by an adherent of the masquerade. According to him, the masquerade followers were following a masquerade along Ijaiye area of Abeokuta, which later resulted to the death of the Alfa. While disclosing that the command had started investigations of the incident, he added that three suspects had been arrested. He gave the name of the suspects as Shittu Adeyemi, 61, Waidi Babalola, 64 and Ajani Olabimtan, 40. Babalola, the Balogun Oje of Ijaiye and Aare Oje of Egbaland who is currently being detained at the police headquarters said they knew nothing about the killing. “I’m a commercial driver, but I have stopped it since my eye problem began. I live in Ota but I actually hail from Ijaiye community and I am also a chief there. I am the Balogun Oje of Ijaiye. He added: “Three days ago, the Alapinni Ijaiye came to tell me that a crime had been committed; that supporters of “Leyin Aponle” had shot one person. I was quick to add that we have warned the boy not to participate in the festival again. “Shortly after, we learnt that some Muslims had started burning the family house of Kassim. We went to report the matter to Alapinni Egba as well as the Oluwo Ibara who is our president. We were told to meet Alapinni Egba at Oke Itoku Police Station. According to him: “We got there and were asked to proceed to Eleweran. But on getting to Eleweran, the police said the Alapinni of Ijaiye and I could not go because we were suspects. But we said we are peacemakers and actually wanted to report the matter. Kassim Dada (who bore the “Leyin Aponle” mask) used to come from Lagos and we don’t know his whereabouts now,” he lamented.

TWO SONS IN POLICE CUSTODY FOR ALLEGEDLY KIDNAPPPING FATHER

BY NGOZI UWUJARE Two suspected children from hell have been arrested in Anambra State for allegedly kidnapping their father. The two brothers, Ifeanyi and Obinna, aged 44 and 33 respectively, were arrested by the State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), led by Supol James Nwafor, after they were implicated in the alleged abduction of their father, Chief Mike Onwukamuche. The two sons were said to have demanded for N5 million ransom from their father. According to investigation, the 74-year-old victim was abducted in Ojota and taken to Obosi and was allegedly held hostage for one week by the suspects. Both Ifeanyi, who was the victim’s heir and his younger brother, Obinna, according to investigation decided to kidnap their father because he did not give them money to support the upkeep of their families when they requested. The two alleged evil brothers were unmasked by their younger brother, Dr Emeka, who suspected a foul play when their father suddenly disappeared. The younger brother suspected that his elder brothers must be connected with their father’s disappearance. He followed up his suspicion with lodging a formal complaints with the SARS whose operatives swung into action immediately and effected the arrest of Ifeanyi and Obinna and their friend, who owns the house where the victim was held hostage. Ifeanyi explained his role to CrimeWatch: “ I am the first son of my father, Chief Mike Onwukamuche and I have to kidnap my father. I am a businessman, I travelled to Thailand and I was dealing on drugs before I was deported. In November 2012. I told my father that I was handicapped and that I needed some money to start a business. But despite the fact that my family was suffering he kept on promising and I have no means of livelihood. I organized with my younger brother, Obinna, who was in the same situation and we arranged with my friends to kidnap him. “The four-man gang of kidnappers including Obinna participated and kidnapped my father from Ojoto and took him to Obosi, and kept him in my friend’s house for one week.” “We demanded N5million from my father. My father is a businessman and he sells baby wears at Onitsha and he has a lot of landed property in Onitsha. But he refused to assist us. It was my junior brother, Dr Emeka who reported to the police that our father had disappeared and reported the case to the police and we were arrested”. Another suspect, Obinna explained his role: “I followed the kidnappers to kidnap my father. I asked my father to give me money to start another business because my business was not doing well. My father has enough landed property in Onitsha. “I asked him to give me N3m to start another business but he refused. We arranged with my elder brother, Ifeanyi and other kidnappers and kidnapped my father and kept him in one of the kidnappers’ house. My father spent one week with the kidnappers but my father didn’t know that I was part of those who kidnapped him.” The Onwukamuches hail from Idemili Local Government Area of Anambra State. Obinna said: “We haven’t collect the money (ransom) but we were about collecting it when men of the SARS arrested us.” Another suspect, Obi told CrimeWatch that they the victim. We carried out the kidnapping with Obinna, his son who was my friend and took him to my own house where he spent one week there. “We demanded N5million from him before the SARS came and rounded us up,” he said. The Anambra state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ballah Nasarawa told CrimeWatch that it was one of the victim’ children, Dr Emeka Onwukamuche who came to report to SARS and his brothers, Ifeanyi and Obinna who confessed to have kidnapped their father before the father was released from where he was kept. CP Nasarawa explained that they demanded for N5million and Chief Mike Onwukamuche couldn’t believe that his sons were the architects of his abduction until when the two sons confessed to him that they were the one who masterminded his kidnapping The victim expressed shock about the incident, “ I couldn’t believe it that my own first son could arranged with his younger brother to kidnap me because they wanted me to give them money to start business. They were requesting for N3m to start another business. I promised to give them but that they should be patient. I sent Ifeanyi abroad but when he got there he sold drugs and he was deported back home. Obinna was given money to do business but he squandered the money and requested for another N3m. I promised to give them the money but that they should give me more time.” He said that it was his junior son; Dr Emeka who came to his rescue by reporting the case to SARS in Awka when he saw that I had disappeared from the house. He said that he has disowned the two sons and said they should not come back to him and that they should face the consequence of their action. CP Nasarawa said that the three suspects would soon be charge to court.’

TRIBUNAL STOPS OBANIKORO

Ade Adesomoju 11 Comments Lagos State Local Government Election Petitions Appeal Tribunal has upturned the judgment of the lower election petition tribunal, which declared the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Babajide Obanikoro, as the winner of the 2011 chairmanship election in Obalende/Ikoyi Local Council Development Authority. The Justice Opeyemi Oke-led five-man tribunal, in its judgment on Thursday, unanimously declared that the state’s Independent Electoral Commission had rightly returned the Action Congress of Nigeria and its candidate, Mr. Adewale Adeniji, as the winner of the election. Obanikoro had on November 14, 2011 filed his petition at the LG Election Petitions Tribunal challenging the declaration of Adeniji as the winner of the election which was held on October 22, 2011. The lower tribunal on October 4, 2012 in its judgment nullified Adeniji’s election and declared Obanikoro as the elected chairman. However, the appellate tribunal held in its judgment that the failure of the lower tribunal to hear and determine Obanikoro’s petition within 30 days of filling it and not giving a specific order for extension of time had robbed it of its requisite jurisdiction. In the lead judgment delivered by Justice Babajide Candide-Johnson, the tribunal dismissed Obanikoro’s petition, describing it as “incurably bad”. It held that the failure of the lower tribunal to hear and determine the petition within 30 days contrary to provisions of Section 14 of the State’s Local Government Election Tribunal Law, had rendered the entire proceedings “a nullity”. The appeal panel blamed Obanikoro’s lawyers led by Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN) for their decision to withdraw their application filed on the strength of Section 54 of the LGETL, seeking 60 days extension of the petition’s life span. Describing the lawyers’ decision as “an unpardonable blunder”, Candide-Johnson said the decision had no acceptable “explanation or justification”. He said the lawyers “did not first accord priority to save the life of the election petition”. A member of the panel, Justice Kazeem Alogba, said in his supporting judgment, that the lawyers’ mistake was “a fatal somersault”. On her part, Oke said it was “a grave error”, adding that the provisions of Section 54 of the law was not “a decorative ornament” in the law book. Candide-Johnson also blamed the lower tribunal led by Justice Dolapo Akinsaya (retd.) for refusing to look into its record and accord priority to Obanikoro’s application for extension of time but preferred to hear ACN’s preliminary objection to the petition first.

0CTOGENARIAN ACCUSED OF RAPING 14 YEARS OLD

by Comfort Oseghale An 85-year-old man known to the Somolu community as Baba Yellow on Wednesday, escaped death at the hands of an angry mob when residents discovered that he had sexually molested a 14 year old girl(name withheld). Policemen attached to the Onipanu police division were said to have stopped the mob action by arresting Baba Yellow and dispersing the crowd consisting of enraged mothers and petty traders. Before the intervention of the police, the crowd had dragged Baba Yellow from his residence at George Street and booed him through the community for over an hour. A resident who identified himself as Olamide said, “The mob stripped and on the verge of lynching him when the police arrived. “It was one of Baba Yellow’s neighbours who discovered that he had been sleeping with the girl. The neighbour had seen her leaving Baba Yellow’s room and he is notorious in the community for sleeping with young girls. “The girl’s guardian was immediately informed and she raised the alarm after the girl confessed that Baba Yellow had been having regular sex with her.” The enraged guardian allegedly marched to Baba Yellow’s house, where she engaged him in a shouting match after she confirmed from his neighbours that her ward had indeed been a regular visitor to Baba Yellow’s apartment. A father of four grown-ups, Baba Yellow lives with his wife in a one-bedroom apartment. However, the wife who plies her trade at the Mile 2 market is usually away from home during the day. His victim told PUNCH METRO that she met Baba Yellow at Sunday market, Somolu where she had gone to purchase some items for her guardian. She said, “He gave me some money and asked me to come to his house. When I didn’t show up, he later came to my compound to look for me. That was how we went to his room and had sex. He has been sleeping with me for a month.” PUNCH METRO gathered that this is not Baba Yellow’s first victim. For over the 30 years he had lived in Somolu, the octogenarian was said to have served a prison term once for molesting a young girl. Sources within the Somolu community said his victims were many. A mother, who identified herself as Mrs. Biliki Usman said, “He already has a reputation here and most mothers warn their daughters to stay clear of him. Yet he manages to always get victims. There have been claims that he hypnotizes his victims. In 2005, Baba Yellow was arrested and convicted of sexually abusing a nine-year-old girl. He served three years in Kirikiri. In 2011, he was arrested by the Alade police division for sexually molesting a nine year old too. The matter was later settled and did not get to court. There had been other countless arrests. “Everyone is tired of him; he is a danger to young children and we just want him out of our community, forever.” But Baba Yellow told the angry mob that he was lured by the 14-year-old girl. He said, “Each time she comes to my house, she would undress herself and ask me to look at her breast. You can see she has been coming to me all this while on her own; she is a flirt and spoiled child.” It was learnt that the girl had been taken to Oguntolu General Hospital for medical attention. The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ngozi Braide, when contacted said, “I will get back to you when I have got the details of the PUNCH

BOKO HARAM CEASEFIRE; NIGERIA SECURITY WEIGH OPTIOND

by Fidelis Soriwei and Adelani Adepegba, Chief of Defence Staff, Vice Admiral Ola Ibrahim Chief of Defence Staff, Vice Admiral Ola Ibrahim | credits: The Federal Government on Tuesday reacted to the offer of ceasefire by a faction of the fundamentalist Islamic group, Boko Haram, by giving a condition to the sect. The condition: Boko Haram must stop its violence in the North for a period of one month. The Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Ibrahim, stated the Federal Government’s position just as the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, summoned an emergency security meeting over increased presence of foreign immigrants in the FCT. Ibrahim spoke with journalists at the opening of the 2013 seminar on National Security with the theme, Contemporary National Security Challenges: Policy Option, organied by the Alumni Association of the National Defence College, Abuja. He said that while security chiefs were excited by the development, the olive branch offered by the sect called for caution. Ibrahim said the government would only take the peace overture seriously if Boko Haram could ensure that attacks of whatever form did not take place for 30 days. He stated that security operatives would wait for the period to see if no public place, security formation and place of worship was bombed before taking the sect seriously. Ibrahim also said he was optimistic that the development would culminate in improved security in the country. He said, “You see, we must treat that with a lot of caution. You understand, there are certain objective tests that will make sense. Let’s assume we can have a long period of about one month where no bomb explodes, where nobody is shot, where nobody is beheaded, where no church is bombed, where no mosque is threatened. “If they can guarantee just one month, then we can begin to talk. You see we must take this with a lot of caution. That is what I am telling you. “We hope whatever that must have brought about this will further enhance our security and it’s like a recognition of the very futile approach to solving whatever they consider to be their problems. So we are a bit excited by it but we are taking everything with a lot of caution.” Boko Harama’s commander for Southern and Northern Borno, Muhammed Abdulazeez, had in a statement on Monday, said the sect resolved to stop its violence after a dialogue with the Government of Borno State in Maiduguri. Abdulazeez urged all Boko Haram members to lay down their arms in honour of the declaration. He said that the ceasefire had become necessary as a result of the hardship caused other Muslims and citizens of the North by the activities of the sect. He stated that security operatives were free to arrest anybody found to be fomenting trouble after the perfection of the ceasefire deal. Abdulazeez had said, “For sometime now, we the members of Jamaatul ahlil Boko Haram sunna lidawati wal jihad otherwise known as Boko Haram have recently had a meeting and dialogue with the government of Borno State where we resolved that given the prevailing situation, there is the need for us to cease fire. “We, on our own, in the top hierarchy of our movement under the leadership of Imam Abubakar Shekau, as well as some of our notable followers agreed that our brethren in Islam, both women and children are suffering unnecessarily; hence we resolved that we should bring this crisis to an end. “We therefore call on all those that identify themselves with us and our cause, to from today(Monday) lay down their arms. Let every member who hears this announcement relay it to the next member who hasn’t heard. “We have met with the Borno State Government on two occasions and the fallout of the meeting was to cease fire.” Former President Olusegun Obasanjo had in 2011 initiated a dialogue between the Federal Government and the sect. Obasanjo had visited the family of the late leader of the sect, Mohammed Yusuf, in Maiduguri, where he was received by the father-in-law of the leader, Babakura Fuggu. Fuggu was killed a few days after Obasanjo’s visit. In November last year, the sect named a former Head of State, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) and six others to mediate between it and the government. Meanwhile, the FCT Minister, Senator Mohammed, on Tuesday met with the FCT Police Commissioner; Director, Department of State Security; FCT Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps as well as representatives of Customs, Immigration and Prisons in his official residence in Abuja. Others at the meeting convened by the minister over the rising number of illegal immigrants in the FCT were the FCT Permanent Secretary, Chairmen of the six Area Councils in the FCT, as well as top officials of the FCT Administration. SUNDAY PUNCH had reported that two Nigerian affiliates of the al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb — Boko Haram and the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi Biladis- Sudan — are planning major reprisal to protest Nigeria’s participation in Mali. Nigeria has deployed forces in northern Mali to flush out the al-Qaeda-linked Islamist groups, who have taken control of the vast desert territory. Security agents had said that the sects planned to protest Nigeria’s participation in the Mali war, and had therefore brought into the country, terrorists that may be used to carry out attacks on government installations and in kidnapping high-profile persons. The FCT minister stated that the meeting was called to appraise the security situation in Abuja, adding that it was normal for the FCT Administration to take proactive measures to reduce any possibility of security breach in the territory. He emphasised that the government would not want to be taken unawares as the security of lives and property remained important to the Federal Government. The minister called for continued collaboration,and sharing of information with a view to ensuring synergy amongst all the security outfits in the FCT. While reminding them of the constant need to share intelligence , Mohammed promised to support the security agencies by procuring new equipment to ease their operations. He said, “Security agencies in the Federal Capital Territory should be on red alert to effectively take precautionary measures against any unforeseen circumstances. Residents are enjoined to be vigilant and report any suspicious movement to the security agents.” The NIS could however not be reached for comments on the alleged influx of immigrants into the FCT as its new public relations officer, Ekpedeme King, could not be reached on the phone. He did not respond to a text message sent to his phone. The Federal Government’s military intervention in the Malian crisis was part of the moves to solve the terrorism problem in the country, which is believed to have foreign backing. Speaking also on the crisis in Mali, the CDS, stated that Nigerian troops were performing very well in their peacekeeping operations in the embattled francophone country. He said that things were moving very fast in Mali and commended Western powers such as France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium and the African Union for the support they gave to ECOWAS in the challenge to free Northern Mali from the grip of terrorists. PUNCH

MAN ALLEGEDLY SHOT BY POLICE TAKES CASE TO COURT

Temitayo Famutimi The 30-year-old mechanic, Oladele Adebanjo, who was allegedly tortured and shot in the leg by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Lagos State Police Command, has sued the police for N200m damages. PUNCH Metro had reported on November 14, 2012, that Adebanjo was shot while in detention by SARS policemen over allegations that he stole a commercial bus. Adebanjo had acquired a Mazda bus model E2000 on a hire purchase agreement of N1.8m from Olatunji Adeyemi in August 2011. The bus was, however, stolen before the full payment could be made. Adeyemi, who was irked by the development, reported the incident at the Oworo Police Division before the matter was transferred to SARS where Adebanjo was allegedly tortured and shot with a pistol in the leg by Taofeek Olokode, the head of the SARS team handling the matter. In a suit with number ID/943/12 filed before Justice Bola Okikiolu-Ighile, of an Ikeja High Court, Adebanjo joined the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Muhammed Abubakar, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Umar Manko, Olokode (the Investigating Police Officer) and Adeyemi in the suit. The application filed by Adebanjo’s lawyer, Gerald Abonyi stated, “We seek a declaration that his arrest and incarceration by the 1st to 3rd respondents( IG, Lagos CP and Olokode respectively) at the prompting and instigation of the 4th respondent, Adeyemi, amounts to a gross breach of the applicant’s fundamental human rights and the Africa Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. “We seek relief in the sum of N200m against all the respondents jointly and severally for the gross violation of Adebanjo’s fundamental human rights.” Abonyi also filed with the court a copy of a letter he wrote to the Lagos CP, which stated that the missing bus had been found and urging the police command to investigate the “circumstances surrounding its recovery.” In an affidavit before the court, Adebanjo claimed that the actions of Olokede were “premeditated, deliberate and calculated to cause him permanent physical deformity”. He stated, “Since my coming out of SARS custody after being in detention for seven days, I have not been able to work due to the serious nature of the injury sustained in the hand of Olokode. “I am always in and out of hospital for the treatment of the gunshot wound and other injuries I sustained. I have been grossly, unjustly abused and stripped of all my fundamental human rights.” However, Olokode, in a counter affidavit, said Adebanjo was shot in a bid to escape from custody adding that “escaping from lawful custody after the offence of felony was enough provocation” to shoot him. Counsel to the police, Mr. Cyril Ejiofor, who represented the 1st to 3rd respondents, in a written address to the court described the facts presented by Adebanjo as “twisted, untrue and alarming” and prayed the court to “dismiss the application”. Justice Okikiolu-Ighile adjourned the case till February 7 for further hearing. PUNCH

PAKISTAN IMMUNISATION KILLING

january 30, 2013 by Agency Reporter Leave a Comment A policeman providing security for a polio vaccination team in Pakistan has been killed by gunmen near the north-western town of Swabi, officials said. The killing is the latest in a spate of deadly attacks against vaccination workers in the country, the BBC reports. In December at least eight people engaged in polio vaccinations were shot dead in Karachi and the north-west. No group has said it carried out Tuesday’s attack, but the Taliban have threatened anti-polio efforts. The militants have accused health workers of working as US spies and say the vaccine makes children sterile. Along with Afghanistan and Nigeria, Pakistan is one of only three countries where polio is still endemic. The latest attack took place on the southern outskirts of Swabi town, police say. Tuesday was the second day of an immunisation drive in the area and a two-women team were administering polio drops to children. “The team, after finishing the campaign in Kala (village of Swabi district) was heading towards a nearby village when three men armed with Kalashnikovs appeared from sugarcane fields and opened fire,” Swabi police chief Abdul Rashid Khan told AFP. He said that the two team members were unhurt and the gunmen escaped.

15 YEARS OLD GIRL SHOT BY TALIBANS UNDERGOES SURGERY

by Agency Reporter 1 Comment Malala Yousufzai Malala Yousufzai | British doctors have revealed the remarkable medical procedures which will transform the life of a Pakistani schoolgirl who was shot in the head by the Taliban, Sky News reports. There was international outrage after the Taliban shot Malala Yousufzai, 15, at point blank range in the north western Swat district, because she was campaigning for girls’ education. Following the attack last October she was flown for specialist treatment at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital. The bullet hit her left brow and instead of penetrating her skull it travelled underneath the skin, the whole length of her head and into her shoulder. The shock wave shattered the thinnest bone of the skull and the soft tissue at the base of her jaw and neck were damaged. Her left eardrum was destroyed. Within the next 10 days she will undergo two operations which will replace a missing area of skull and implant a complex electronic hearing device.

ELECTRICITY CABLE KILL TWO IN LAGOS

by Eniola Akinkuotu A high-tension cable belonging to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria on Thursday killed two occupants of a building located on Aladelola Street in Ketu, Lagos. PUNCH Metro learnt that the deceased, Yekini Osijirin and Garba Memuna, were killed after the wire fell on them. Osijirin, who is an employee of PHCN was said to have been attempting to salvage his car from burning around 5am when the incident occurred. It was learnt that it was in a bid to save him that Memuna was also electrocuted. A neighbour, who preferred to remain anonymous, said, “From what I heard, after the wire sparked, a Peugeot 404 in the compound caught fire and Osijirin rushed out of his flat to move his Toyota Corolla, which was parked close to the burning vehicle. “He accidentally touched the naked wire by the wall and he died. Memuna, who is the security guard, thought he could save Osijirin who was on the floor. He was also electrocuted in the process.” The incident caused a stir in the area as commercial motorcyclists and other residents flooded the compound to see what had happened, causing a traffic snarl in the area. Osijirin, who is a father of two, was described as an easy-going man and a devout Muslim. All efforts to speak with his family proved abortive. Memuna’s friends took his corpse for burial shortly after the incident. One of Memuna’s friends, Alhaji Isiaka Askandra, said he (Memuna) had been working in the compound for over 20 years. He said, “Memuna has four children in Niger Republic and he has been here for at least 20 years. Everyone knew him in the area because he also had a kiosk where he sold cigarettes, biscuits and other petty goods. He was a nice man. We will bury him today (Thursday). Some youths in the area, however, berated PHCN for the incident, saying that the manner with which the wires were installed was not right. One of the youths, Moses Adekunle, said, “If you look at the poles, you will notice that these high-tension wires can snap lose at any time. Just last month, a similar incident occurred on Oluyombo Street in this same area but no one died.” The Public Affairs Manager, PHCN Ikeja Distribution Office, Mr. Pekun Adeyanju, could not be reached for comment. However, a senior official who spoke to our correspondent in confidence, said efforts were being made to change electrical equipment so as to forestall a recurrence. PUNCH

LAGOS TRAFFIC LAW; TWO JAILED

by Sesan Olufowobi The Special Offences Court sitting in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos has sentenced two people to prison for driving against the flow of traffic and for assaulting government officials. Mr. Abdulrasheed Maiyaki, a 35-year-old man from Kogi State, was sentenced to 100 days imprisonment without the option of fine for driving against traffic. The other person, Mr. Tunde Mukaila, 35, who allegedly assaulted government officials in the course of their duties, was sentenced to one year in prison. It was learnt that Maiyaki was arrested by the task force officials at Mangoro, on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway on January 17, 2013. Mukaila was also accused of damaging public property, apart from beating up the government officials. Chairman, Lagos State Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit, Mr. Bayo Sulaiman, said the punishment would serve as a deterrent to other motorists. He said, “The task force would continue to arrest those who violate government’s law. And those who think they can assault government officials and go scot-free should have a rethink.”

NIGERIA TO RETRURN TOXIC WASTE SHIP TO BRITAIN

Toxic waste: Containers re-loaded, as ship awaits clearance to sail On January 12, 2013 2:23 am.. By Godfrey Bivbere In compliance with the directive by the Federal Government that the ship, M.V. Marevia loaded with two containers of e-waste be shipped back to its country of origin, the vessel was Friday re-loaded with its deadly cargo and waiting for clearance to sail back to the United Kingdom. The vessel however completed the discharge of other containers which did not contain toxic materials before it was re-loaded to commence its departure from the country. The Minister of Transport. Senator Idris Umar who visited Berth Four, Tin-Can Island Container Terminal, TICT, located at the Tin-Can Island Port to get first hand information of the situation on the matter from officials of National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, NESREA, made this known in Lagos yesterday. Some of the ship’s content being examined. Umar was informed that the NESREA was awaiting clearance from its head office in Abuja before it could clear the vessel to leave the Nigerian shores. Umar had assured that he would connect NESREA Director General, Dr. Ngeri Benebo to get current details to enable the ship embark on its return journey. However, a source close to the Tin-can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, told Saturday Vanguard that the officials of NESREA who conducted the examination yesterday morning had visited the Customs Area Controller, Tunji Aremu; earlier yesterday to brief him on the outcome of their examination. Public Relations Officer of the Command, Chris Osunkwo, confirmed to Saturday Vanguard that officials of NESREA actually visited his boss but could not say the reason for the visit. The Director General of NESREA, Dr. Benebo told Saturday Vanguard at about 3pm that she was in a meeting and promised to call back later. The Director General was called again at 4pm, 5pm and 5.30pm respectively but she declined comments, saying she was in front of the Minister’s office to brief the minister on the issue and requested Saturday Vanguard to call back again, no matter how late. But, reacting to the situation, the immediate past President of Nigeria Institute of Shipping, NIS, Sir Caleb Okoye, said it would be difficult to stop the importation of such toxic materials because there were several dubious business men who would always try to cut corners to make huge profit and advised security agencies to be vigilant to prevent such goods from coming into the country. Okoye explained that the shipping companies can not be blamed over the importation of toxic waste because they they only rely on what the owner of the goods declare. He further pointed out that the international convention to which Nigeria was a signatory does not allow for the detention of vessel unnecessarily and therefore asked government not to detain the ship more than necessary

OSHIOMOLE ACCUSES POLICE OF SHIELDING OFFICERS OVER AIDE'S MURDER

Oyerinde:Edo State governor calls for DIG's sack. The Edo State governor Adams Oshiomole has called for the dismissal of the Deputy Inspector General of police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department Peter Gana, who supervised the investigation into the murder of his private secretary, Olaitan Oyerinde. Mr. Oshiomole made this call on Thursday while delivering a key note address at the launch of the Code of Conduct and Professional Standard for officers and men of the Nigeria Police,at the International Conference Centre in Abuja. Vice-President, Namadi Sambo represented President Goodluck Jonathan at the event. Oshiomhole alleged that the DIG conducted a shoddy investigation into the death of Olaitan in what he described as "police magic" and alleged that the DIG is shielding the persons who murdered his private secretary. Oshiomole therefore expressed his dismal over the investigation and appealed to the presidency to intervene in the matter and fish out the real killers. Oshiomhole said, “I am aggrieved; I am aggrieved over the murder of my private secretary and the way in which it was trivialised. “I am saying it knowing that the Vice President is here. My secretary was murdered in cold blood and you dispatched a DIG to supervise that investigation; a DIG is a sufficiently senior officer. They came to Benin and they did what Fela (Ransome-Kuti) would have called police magic. He said the police displayed unprofessionalism when they arrested and detained an innocent civil rights activist, David Ugolor, over the grusome murder of Olaitan for two months without trial in disobedience of a court order. He therefore urged the Inspector General of Police Mohammed Abubakar to dismiss the DIG for allegedly conspiring with other officers over the shoddy job they allegedly did. He said “At the end, they went for a civil rights activist and charged him for the offence of murder.The DIG Force CID has a case to answer; it is either he is guilty of conspiracy to murder or is guilty of conspiracy to shield murderers or both. In which case he cannot wear his police uniform, he must be dismissed" Mr Oshiomole added .“The weapon that was used for the murder was used for armed robbery earlier, recovered by the police and under police custody at the time my secretary was murdered. “So, the man who murdered my secretary was in police custody, the gun used was in police custody and these are the findings of the police. “The only conclusion that can be reached is that the police ordered the murder of my private secretary. The officer wrote this in black and white. “I ask you (IG) to read it. He wrote that he has done a thorough job under a very skillful DIG in charge of Force CID and the sky is their limit. And I am asking the Vice President to report to the President that if they do not find the killers of Olaitan, he can’t expect the people of Edo State and all those who know Olaitan, to have confidence in the security agencies. “I feel terrible that as a governor, I can’t get justice.The DIG Force Investigation has no business wearing police uniform. If I as a governor cannot get justice over the murder of my private secretary ,what will happen to the anoynmous Nigerian?The country cannot be reduced to a banana republic. I owe it the responsibility to get justice for Olaitan and if I don't tell the truth,God should take my life".Mr. Oshiomole said. “The SSS paraded those who killed Olaitan, and I believed that they are the ones who killed him but the DIG from Force CID, working with another junior officer, conspired to shield the actual murderers, parading an innocent civil rights activist, detained for two months without trial in clear disobedience of court order.” the Inspector General of Police, in his reaction said. “The case is before a trial judge. It is not the duty of the Police to try the case. But I assure you we will do what is right in the matter,” Abubakar said. Earlier in his speech,the governor, had called for the scrapping of the Police Affairs ministry stating that the ministry is a duplication of responsibility as it is performing the functions of the Police Service Commission, The governor also identified impunity as being the problem of Nigeria and the police and called for a collaborative effort to stamp out the maliase which according to him has become a norm in the country. He said “One of the problems of the Nigerian state, including the police, and even in the civil service, is the culture of impunity that people do things and get away it.” The governor explained that “sometime ago, in Edo State; let me be specific, a policeman manned an illegal road block contrary to the orders of the IG. “Members of the public complained and the fact of illegal roadblock was established. It was discovered that a soldier was recruited illegally by an ASP to man this illegal road block and was extorting money. “In my view, that borders on armed robbery because the man carries arms; without the arms, he cannot subdue the road user to part with his money. “If you take money with the aid of arms, you are an armed robber. Having arrested the soldier, the army proceeded to do what a responsible force should do, dismissed the soldier. “But IG, you will be shocked to know and this is not an incident of 10 years ago, that your men in Benin, decided to shield this officer and recently, I learnt that one of them was even promoted. “While the military dismissed the soldier, the police promoted their own. How can you have discipline in such an environment? I will plead that you order the dismissal of those policemen today. “When we begin to apply the stick and carrot appropriately, the message of discipline will be clear. In his reaction to Oshiomole's call for the scrapping of the Police Ministry,Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade who heads the Ministry said Nigeria is not the first country to have a police Affairs Ministry and therefore urged Nigerians to see the good work the ministry is doing as the positive changes are evident in the Force. Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State who gave a goodwill message at the event however praised the IGP and the officers and men of the police Force for doing their best despite the challenges of underfunding and lack of infrastrusture for the police. Ajimobi said "the police is a reflection of the society. The police cannot be different from the society. No Nigerian especially the big men can say they have not in one way or the other tried to influence the police. For me the police has done very well despite the underfunding and structural challenges"Mr. Ajimobi said. Reply Reply to all Forward