FAAN arrests man for carrying pistol in luggage Our Reporter February 11, 2013 1 Comment » FAAN arrests man for carrying pistol in luggage By LOUIS IBA The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) says it has caught an airline passenger with a pistol in his luggage at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. Yakubu Dati, spokesperson for FAAN, said the passenger originally commenced his flight into Nigeria from the city of Maryland before connecting the Nigerian bound airplane from Atlanta Georgia, USA. He said the passenger arrived MMA about 4.00pm last week aboard Delta Airlines. Dati said the passenger claimed that the gun was brought in from the USA for his personal protection while in Nigeria, stressing that he also claimed to have declared the gun to the airline before checking in his checking luggage at the airport of departure. “The pistol did not pose any threat to any passenger at the time of seizure. Aviation Security personnel of the Authority have continued to work hand in hand with other security agents to ensure the security of lives and property at all the airports nationwide, in line with the Transformation agenda of the government in the aviation industry. In a related development, another passenger who checked in on an Aero Contractors flight from Lagos to Port Harcourt at the weekend was apprehended by Aviation Security (AVSEC) officers at the MMA2 terminal for possessing firearms. The pistol was discovered in his checked –in luggage. The passenger said he bought the pistol from the United States for personal protection during his holiday in Aba, Abia State where he would spend his holiday. The passenger tendered the receipt for the purchase of the gun but has since been handed over to the security agents for further investigation. In another case of increased alertness by FAAN’s Security personnel, two Hungarian citizens, Miss Szabone Balatoni Hajnalka and Miss Porge Szabina were apprehended by intelligence officers in the Directorate of Aviation Security last week on their arrival on a Virgin Atlantic Airways flight from London. The two passengers, who did not appear to have any genuine reason for being in the country, were later handed over, with their Nigerian accomplice, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for further investigations. SUN

By ALEX AKAO The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ Ikeja – Lagos, has intercepted a package of 436 cartridges illegally imported into the country. The deadly consignments were detected mid-last week, concealed in packs of confectionaries, during a routine check on a commercial vehicle at Gbaji Checkpoint along Badagry-Seme Express Way. Public Relations officer of the Unit, Uche Ejesieme, who broke the news, said the suspected owners on sensing danger during the process of profiling by the arresting officers in order to ascertain the real owners of the exhibit, jumped into the nearby Lagoon. He said and all efforts to catch up with them proved abortive, but assured that they would be fished out ultimately. He said the development was spurned by renewed vigor of the Controller of the Unit, Comptroller Dan Ugo, acting on the Comptroller General Dr. Abdullahi Dikko Inde’s directives to step up its Anti-smuggling activities to check the influx of Arms and Ammunitions through the Land Borders. He said the directive was necessary following security and intelligent reports that some unscrupulous elements were up to some negative acts, hence extra vigilance was commenced by the operatives stationed at the land borders. According to him, the situation had called for concerted efforts so as to guard against influx of Arms and Ammunitions especially with the recent insurgencies in most West African countries. He stated that the borders in the South-West and beyond will be thoroughly monitored in all ramifications so that unscrupulous elements will not use it for such illicit transactions. The Controller, he said, had promised that the unit will not relent in its statutory function of effectively policing the borders with a view to ensuring a tight security as well as the use of intelligence gathering in order to nip in the bud the notorious activities of these trans-border criminals. SUN

FG UNCOVERS GHOST WORKERS

A CLEAR picture of the assets of Nigeria all over the world may soon emerge as President Goodluck Jonathan Wednesday set up a special inter-ministerial committee to verify them. The committee, announced by Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, at the end of the fifth meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) this year, is expected to go round the world and verify Nigeria’s assets, including those owned by the country’s missions abroad under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the major Federal Government operators in the maritime sector, the Nigerian Ports Authority and the Nigerian Navy. The committee is headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, with representatives of the Federal Ministries of Finance, Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE) and Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP) as members. Other members include the representative of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) and the Special Adviser to the President on Performance Evaluation, Prof. Sylvester Monye. Besides, in the last quarter of year 2012, that is between September and December, the government raised a total revenue of N2.413 trillion, which it also distributed amongst the three-tiers of government in the country. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) disclosed this in its fourth quarter economic report released Wednesday. The apex bank report is designed for the dissemination of financial and economic information on the Nigerian economy on current basis. The report analyses developments in the financial, fiscal, real and external sectors of the economy, as well as international economic issues of interest. The report is directed at a wide spectrum of readers, including economists and financial analysts in government and the private sector, as well as general readers. Also, the FEC was told during its session that under the Federal Ministry of Finance Integrated Payroll and Personal Information System (IPPIS), a total of 45,000 ghost-workers had been discovered during the implementation of the scheme in 251 Federal Government Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs). Altogether, a total of 153,019 workers were audited in the 215 MDAs as at January 2013. Minister of State for Finance, Yerima Ngama, told journalists at the end of the Council meeting that the IPPIS was introduced to enhance efficiency in personnel cost planning and budgeting. Under this policy, which was opposed by unions in the MDAs, personnel cost is based on actual verified number of staff and not estimates. Ngama stated that a total of 321 MDAs were yet to be captured on the IPPIS scheme. He added that the Federal Government had established the Treasury Single Account (TSA) as a unified structure of government bank account that gives a consolidated view of the cash position of the MDAs. Already, a total of 92 MDAs are currently on the TSA. By the end of next month, 97 MDAs based in Abuja will be added to the TSA scheme. Giving an overview of the execution of the tasks assigned to the ministry, Ngama stated that the Federal Government was planning to increase its capital expenditure to 60 per cent while reducing recurrent expenditure to 40 per cent. And just before the commencement of the Council meeting, President Jonathan announced a cash gift of N5 million to the Nigerian Football Supporters’ Club for their “unparalleled support” for the Super Eagles throughout the AFCON tournament. The announcement followed the presentation of the cup to the Council Chambers, Presidential Villa, Abuja. Jonathan had on Tuesday night at the reception for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals rewarded the players and coaches with cash gifts, lands in Abuja and national honours. The President announced a cash reward of N10 million for the Head Coach Stephen Keshi and N5 million to other coaches and players. The team’s technical officials are to receive N2 million cash each. Also, while Coach Keshi was conferred with a national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), his assistants – Daniel Amokachi and Ike Shorunmu – and team captain, Joseph Yobo, got the Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR). The remaining players of the victorious team received the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) national honours. The players and officials were decorated with the national honours by President Jonathan after the announcement. Next >

ECOWAS SIGNS PACT ON PEACE AND SECURITY

IN an apparent move to be on top of the security challenges in the sub-region, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as well as a Project Implementation Agreement (PIA) with about 10 training institutions. The institutions are peace and security bodies recommended by sub-regional experts for upgraded collaboration as part of efforts to strengthen their capacities to meet the security demands of the area. In this regard, the ECOWAS Commission said Wednesday in Abuja that a key objective of the MoU is “to strengthen the training pillars of the ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF), ECOWAS institutions, Member States and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) for the prevention and resolution of conflicts in the region, and to develop a full range of training at all levels, cutting across a broad spectrum including military, police, civilian and humanitarian issues” It explains further that the move is in tandem with the regional Peace Support Operations (PSO) concepts and the need for effective capacity building, particularly with reference to the recommendation of the fourth Defence and Security Commission meeting which held in Cote d’Ivoire in August last year and called for the establishment of “Tactical, Operational and Strategic training facilities within the region” According to the document embodying the MoU released yesterday by the ECOWAS Commission, the training institutions are to operate as regional PSO training for the strengthening of the ESF training pillars with support from ECOWAS in their staffing, curriculum development and any other areas as needed. They are also mandated to develop their curriculum on PSO in consultation with ECOWAS, taking into account the National, ECOWAS and African Union (AU) priority training needs regarding the ASF. Furthermore, it was agreed that where appropriate, ECOWAS “shall provide technical inputs into the development of the curriculum in response to regional needs, consistent with the Standardised Training Modules (STM) developed by the United Nations Department for Peacekeeping Operations (UNDPKO) Integrated Training Service.” The Project Implementation Agreement (PIA), on the other hand, takes into cognisance relevant provisions of the Regional Protocol on Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peacekeeping and Security, as well as the Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance relating to the role of the Armed Forces, police and the security forces in the democracy within the region. The purpose of the PIA it was explained yesterday is to set out the modalities for the relationship between ECOWAS and the Training Institutions with respect to the implementation, by the latter, of the European Union support to selected West Africa Training Institution Project, which aims to develop the capacities of the stakeholders on peace and security matters. The EU supported project to the training institutions falls within the Africa Peace Facility under the 10th European Development Fund. The project is being coordinated by the ECOWAS Peace Fund. < Prev Next >

COMMUNITY SUES GOVERNMENT FOR NEGLECT

FOR alleged acts of betrayal leading to the loss of their ancestral home at the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroun, the returnees of Uruan Local Council Area of Akwa Ibom State have instituted an action at the Federal High Court, Abuja against the Federal Government, claiming damages in the tune of N30 billion. In a writ of summons and statement of claim filed by Ukeme Ekpenyong of Wole Abidakun and Co. Law Firm, the plaintiffs include Bassey Augustine Efiong, Silas Clement Etim, Efiong Bassey Ekanem and Imaobong Edem Efiong (suing for themselves and on behalf of Bakassi Returnees of Uruan Local Council Area extraction. Named in the suit as first to sixth defendants respectively are the Federal Government, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the National Assembly, Cross Rivers State government, Akwa Ibom State government and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The plaintiffs seek against the defendants the following reliefs: • a declaration that the defendants acted outrageously, recklessly, atrociously and unconscionably in their handling of the Bakassi Peninsula hand over issue; • a declaration that the defendants betrayed the fiduciary relationship between them and the plaintiffs by not acting in the best interest of the plaintiffs vis-avis the handing over of Bakassi Peninsula to the Republic of Cameroun; • a declaration that the plaintiffs were vulnerable as far as the issue of the handing over of the Bakassi Peninsula by the 1st defendant (FRN) is concerned and the defendants took undue advantage of the plaintiffs’ vulnerability thereby recklessly inflicting severe emotional distress on the plaintiffs; • a declaration that the failure of the sixth defendant (INEC) to register the plaintiffs in the voters register has deprived the plaintiffs of their voting rights both in the April 2011 general elections and the July 2012 local council elections; • an order directing the 1st, 4th and 5th Defendants (FG, Cross Rivers State government and Akwa Ibom State government respectively) to immediately provide basic amenities like schools, health centres, potable water, proper accommodation and means of transportation in the plaintiffs’ new settlements; and, • an order directing the 6th defendant (INEC) to immediately commence the registration of eligible voters in the plaintiffs’ new settlements. The plaintiffs are also seeking N20 billion as general damages and another N10 billion for the footing of exemplary damages. Justice Mohammed Abubakar has fixed hearing in the matter for March 6, 2013. GUARDIAN

GUNMEN KIDNAP FLOUR MILLS MANAGER

THREE gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram members on Tuesday attacked the premises of the Nigerian Flour Mills in Maiduguri, Borno State, and kidnapped its Administrative Manager, Malam Umar Baba Mai Salati, at gunpoint and whisked him away in his vehicle to unknown destination. Also, some gunmen attacked Bama and Damboa towns and the Gombouru ward in Maiduguri metropolis, killing four residents, including an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The hoodlums also shot the Secretary to the House of Assembly at his Damboa farm on Tuesday. The armed kidnappers, according to an eyewitness, were three in number. They pretended, at the Flour Mills gate, as if they were waiting for someone, before forcefully whisking Salati away. A security guard in the company said yesterday that, “shortly after he (Salati) came out of his office around 6.15p.m, one of the assailants pointed a gun at him and told him to stop. It was then that all the three gunmen entered his car and directed him to zoom off to unknown destination.” Another eyewitness told The Guardian that Salati was picked up and whisked away at gunpoint while on his way home shortly after he closed from office. Confirming the incident yesterday in Maiduguri, the Borno State Police Commissioner, Abdullahi Yuguda, said the police were on top of the situation, as security agents have launched investigation to fish out the culprits. “We have preliminary information on the kidnap of Salati. This information could assist us in trailing the suspects, as this is the seventh incident and latest kidnap in this state,” Yuguda said. Damboa, according of the Joint Task Force (JTF), had been severally attacked, during which 18 local hunters were killed at one of the markets for allegedly selling pork. According to an eyewitness and resident of Damboa, Yohanna Isa, the Assembly Secretary, Alhaji Imu, was trailed by the gunmen on two motorcycles to the farm in the morning and shot in the leg and chest after he was sighted at a distance. He was rushed to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) by the JTF and police for treatment. Yohanna said: “We were shocked yesterday when the gunmen on motorcycles terrified our people here with sporadic gun shots into the air. The farmlands were deserted as the people working on the farm fled to adjourning villages for safety.” In Bama, 78 kilometres southeast of Maiduguri, some gunmen shot dead the NSCDC officer at his residence at about 8.25p.m on Tuesday, while in Gambouru ward, another gang of suspected Boko Haram members shot dead three residents and injured a12-year old child with stray bullets. Confirming the separate incidents in Maiduguri, the Police Commissioner, Yuguda, told newsmen that there were multiple attacks and killings at Bama, Damboa and in an area of Gambouru ward, where three residents and NSCDC personnel were feared killed. He said none of the assailants was arrested. GUARDIAN

Nigeria Police Force Declares Alhaji Abdulrasheed Maina Wanted The Nigeria Police Force hereby declares wanted, this 1st day of February, 2013, Alhaji Abdulrasheed Maina of the Customs, Immigration and Prisons Pension Office (CIPPO), for failing to appear before the Senate Joint Committee on the Investigation of Pension Funds. It will be recalled that the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria had on 13th December, 2012, issued a Warrant of Arrest, mandating the Inspector-General of Police to arrest and produce Alhaji Maina before the Senate Joint Committee on the Investigation of Pension Fund. Since then, the subject has gone into hiding, making it difficult for the Police to execute the warrant. Consequently, the Inspector-General of Police has directed all AIGs in-charge of Zonal Commands and State Commands Commissioners of Police to spread their drag-nets to all nooks-and-crannies of their respective areas of jurisdiction, in search of Alhaji Maina. He has also directed all operatives of Federal Intelligence Bureau (FIB), Force and State CID to join the man-hunt. The IGP wishes to appeal to well meaning citizens and the general public with useful information on the where-about of Alhaji Abdulrasheed Maina, to kindly volunteer such information to the nearest Police Station, Formation or email policemonitor@npf.gov.ng, for necessary action. CSP FRANK E. MBA DEPUTY FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER, FOR: FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER, FORCE HEADQUARTERS, ABUJA News Flash Nigeria Police Force Declares Alhaji Abdulrasheed Maina Want.. Date: 03/02/2013 Nigeria Police Tightens Security At The Nation’S Borders Date: 29/01/2013 IGP Orders The Redeployment Of Senior Police Officers Date: 13/02/2013 The Nigeria Police Intensify Onslaught Against Criminals Date: 12/02/2013 IGP Congratulates Super Eagles For Lifting AFCON Cup Date: 12/02/2013 Nigeria Police Force Declares Alhaji Abdulrasheed Maina Want.. Date: 03/02/2013 Nigeria Police Tightens Security At The Nation’S Borders Date: 29/01/2013 IGP Orders The Redeployment Of Senior Police Officers Date: 13/02/2013 Join Us [Join us on facebook] Copyright © 2012, Nigeria Poli

Lagos sacks 35 senior officials over certificate forgery On February 14, 2013 · In News 12:30 am 0 By OLASUNKANMI AKONI & MONSOOR OLOWOOPEJO LAGOS—LAGOS State Government has sacked 35 of its civil servants, including senior executive officers, for securing employment into the State Civil Service with forged certificates, even as the appointments of 13 others were terminated for absenteeism. Other offences of the sacked workers included misappropriation of funds, diversion of government money for personal use, defrauding the public, loss of government’s vehicles and absence from duty without permission. It will be recalled that last year, the state government dismissed 174 officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, for corruption, overzealousness and others. Vanguard gathered that those sacked were on grade level 07 to 12. They include senior traffic officers, traffic superintendents, higher traffic superintendent, traffic officers II, higher statistics officer, senior accountant, senior executive officer, among others. Most of the affected workers were discovered to have gained employment into the civil service with forged certificates during certificate verification carried out by the government. The list of the sacked public officers was contained in a journal published by the state government. It was also gathered that the affected staff had since been issued sacked letters before their names were published by the Office of the Head of Service in the publication. It was gathered that the affected public servants were made to face the Personnel Management Board, PMB, the disciplinary body of the state government, which recommended their immediate sack. Head of Service, Adesegun Ogunlewe, had earlier warned that the government would not tolerate acts of indiscipline and corruption among civil servants as government was bent on repositioning the civil service to meet up with the standard befitting of a mega city like Lagos. Meanwhile, the Lagos State House of Assembly, has directed Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Mrs. Florence Oguntuase, to Implement the house resolution on the payment of salary arrears of the 24 Lagos veterinary doctors from 2003 to 2010. The house gave the directive following earlier summon and appearance of Oguntuase on the floor of the House to make clarification over the resolution of the House on the salary arrears. VANGUARD

Lagos has zero tolerance for crimes and criminals – Ipaye On February 14, 2013 · In Law & Human Rights 12:40 am 0 By Abdulwahab Abdulah Mr Ade Ipaye is Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice. In this interview, he spoke on the security problems facing the country; implementation of the state traffic law among others. Excerpts: What informed the decision for magistrate courts in the state to sit weekends from this year? It is to make justice accessible to the people of the state. People arrested on Friday do not need to spend the weekend in prison or police custody, just because the magistrate courts are not sitting to hear their cases or grant them bail. For instance, on environmental sanitation Saturdays, it is not unusual for defaulters to end up in custody. With Saturday sitting, such cases can be processed immediately. By doing so, we decongest the prisons, police cells and lighten the weekly cause list of magistrate courts. To that extent, we speed up the administration of justice. Most importantly, we promote justice and give the arrested person a fair chance to vindicate himself as early as possible. Would the magistrate court handle specific cases weekend? All the cases they normally take during the week, they will have exactly the same jurisdiction on Saturday as they have during the week. I expect that they will take a lot of bail applications also. What achievements have you recorded with Community Service as a means of sentencing by magistrate courts for minor offences? Lagos State Government pioneered the community service as a sentencing option and with the necessary structures put in place, have gradually increased its use as a means of punishing minor offenders and deterring crime without locking them up in prisons or disrupting their lives. *Mr Ade Ipaye *Mr Ade Ipaye In January alone, a total of 207 community service orders were completed. These are 207 individuals that could have increased the population of our prisons and aggravated conditions there. Able bodied beggars and street traders are included in this category. We are now engaging the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation with a view to referring appropriate cases for vocational training after they must have completed their period of community service. This will further encourage constructive engagement of our vibrant workforce and reduce crime rate in our society. What impediments have the state been facing in the course of implementing the new Lagos Traffic Law 2012? I must say first, that we are seeing a remarkable level of compliance and this has improved the traffic situation as well as the security and safety of Lagosians. You would be surprised at the number of arrests made daily. If you know where we were coming from, you will know that we are making progress. For instance, as we have less motorcycles on the road, it becomes easier to identify and arrest defaulters. However, I must say that we do not have enough Policemen out there. That is a general problem, not peculiar to traffic law enforcement. And, unfortunately, we still see some policemen and military personnel violating the restriction. This is, however, being dealt with. We have the commitment of their superior officers that the law will be enforced and they are doing their best. The Road Traffic Law has continued to generate controversy. I need to clarify the allegations that commercial motorcycles operating on roads outside the prohibited list are, being arrested. What I found is that they still operate without crash helmets, riders card or proper plate numbers. Many of them still carry more than one passenger, among others. All of these are contraventions of the law for which they can be arrested. Be that as it may, we have recorded 60 percent reduction in crime as compared to the pre-Traffic Law era and no new deaths. There had been a 35.9 to 70 percent reduction in the number of vehicles apprehended from November to December. There are indications from the state Police Commissioner, that over 6,972 commercial motorcycle were seized by law enforcement agents between September last year till date. There had been this debate on the crushing of such motorcycles. What is your reaction to this? We are obliged to hold them for a while as the defaulters may be prosecuted and the machines may be required as evidence. Also, whether we intend prosecution or not, any alleged defaulter, who says he has a defence must be given the opportunity to come before a Judge or Magistrate. We cannot dispose of the motorcycles unless we have given a reasonable opportunity to the owner or riders to make his case or to face prosecution as the case may be. When the motorcycles are well and truly abandoned, the state reserves the right to dispose of them in the most reasonable manner. Crushing is just one of the options that may be considered. How would you assess human rights situation in Lagos State? Never better. All of the programmes I had highlighted in my previous interviews, that is Office of the Public Defender, Citizens Mediation Centre, Public Advice Centre, Consumer Rights Unit, among others are all geared towards human rights protection or enforcement. Making their services free means that even the poor and the vulnerable are given access to justice. All our vocational centres are concrete institutions for the realisation of rights. People are given the opportunity of learning a trade and living a productive life. Our free health screening, immunisation and healthcare programmes are also very relevant. The right to life must be interpreted to mean the right to live a healthy life, so are our programmes on the environment. Even where we clear illegal developments and take the hard decision to displace people sometimes, it is so that the great majority might have a functional drainage or a clean environment; or so that the displaced people would not unnecessarily endanger themselves, such as when they set up businesses and residence rights under high tension power lines or when they dwell in totally unsanitary conditions. If you look at all these efforts and institutions, such as our Office of Disability, Child Rights Centre, among others, you will fully realise that this government is doing so much for human rights, hence our decision to commemorate the day along with our friends. How would you rate administration of justice in the state in the last one year? We are making steady progress. Improved cooperation in the sector and dedication of key stakeholders have yielded a safer and fairer Lagos in 2012. Crimes happen, but the important thing is that they are detected and the criminals are prosecuted. At the moment, about 650 cases are being prosecuted by the ministry in various courts. In addition to that, a lot of cases are prosecuted daily by the Police at the Magistrate courts. 753 reports of various investigations reached us for legal advice in 2012 and we exceeded the 70 percent mark in dealing with them. In 2013, we shall be stepping up our prosecution to ensure Lagosians that criminals will not go unpunished. What are your achievements in the administration of justice? There is so much to talk about. Our Civil Procedure Rules, which had already become a model in the country, has been further revised and the High Court will take effect this year. Apart from the courts, the Lagos State Citizens Mediation Centre dealt with over 18,000 disputes last year. Can you imagine a Lagos without that unique avenue to resolve disputes free of charge? Of course, we also have the Multidoor Courthouse, the Office of the Public Defender, Public Advice Centre, Consumer Rights Protection Unit, among others. On the criminal aspects, we now have increased co-operation in the sector with the activation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Committee, which has the Chief Judge, Attorney General, Commissioner of Police and Comptroller of Prisons as members. We meet quarterly to consider issues of prison decongestion, criminal prosecutions and monitoring of detainees among other issues of mutual concern. We also established a sub-committee, where representatives of all the concerned agencies meet more regularly to discuss and resolve problems. You have seen already what is going on with prison decongestion with the Chief Judge and the Ministry of Justice taking active part. That is clearly unprecedented. With the establishment of Community Service as a sentencing option, the gains are enormous. Lagosians have been complaining of delays in prosecuting cases in the state. What is your reaction to this? Lagos State Government is mindful of the need to create a safe and conducive atmosphere for productive activities, hence the close attention we are giving to environmental offences like refuse dumping, street trading, begging among others. People in Lagos with legitimate accommodation and business or other engagements have nothing to fear, but we shall continue to round up and prosecute others, who are involved in illegitimate activities. In particular, I wish to mention the fact that abandoned vehicles and abandoned property create a safe haven for criminals and criminal activities, hence the need to remove or sanitise them. I do not need to stress that security is an issue which we must all take seriously. Litigants and their lawyers have been crying out over delays in the issuance of legal service. What does this portend? The Ministry of Justice has been up and doing in the issuance of legal advise. Most time, case files relating to some of the cases are not forwarded to the ministry on time to deal with. However, as a way to further promote fairness in our criminal justice system, we established a system, where all persons remanded in prison custody, usually at the instant of Police investigators, while Directorate of Public Prosecution, DPP’s advice is being awaited must be notified to the office of the Attorney-General. This will enable us prioritise their cases, as against those of defendants, who had been granted bail. This will further ensure that people are not locked up for long periods of time awaiting prosecution. In January 2013, the Legal Advisory Unit in DPP’s office received a total of 40 case files from the Police and had issued 65 legal advices. Similarly, in December 2012, we received 57 files and treated 97. This means that the Unit can now cope with its monthly inflow as well as consistently reduce the backlog of files that it had in 2012. It also indicates that we are moving nearer to our target of ensuring that legal advice was issued within 30 days of receiving a complete report of investigation into any case. In January, the DPP’s office completed the prosecution of a 36 year old father, Friday Obot, who flogged his son to death. He was convicted for manslaughter and sentenced to four years imprisonment. I think this is a reminder to parents to be mindful of the possibility of causing injury or death to their children and ward in the course of punishment. Also we had the Court of Appeal upheld the conviction of Rev. King. At the High Court, the appellant was earlier found guilty on charges of attempted murder and murder and sentenced to death by hanging. During the period under review, the Office of the Public Defender intervened in the pathetic case of an 11 year old girl, who was allegedly defiled by a pastor. The pastor was alleged to have procured abortion for the girl three times in 2012. OPD promptly got the pastor arrested and he had since been charged to court. The growing incidence of rape and defilement of minors justify a warning to parents. I cannot but mention the case of Hope Okafor, a commercial sex worker, who was charged with murder for allegedly killing a client, Abiodun Sarumi. The client acting under the influence of alcohol assaulted Okafor and she stabbed him in self-defence. OPD represented her at the trial and succeeded in convincing the court to reduce the charge from murder to manslaughter. Comments are moderated. Please keep them clean and brief. VANGUARD

Dickson signs Bill on death sentence for kidnappers in Bayelsa On February 14, 2013 · In News 12:56 am By Samuel Oyadongha Yenagoa — Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayels State, yesterday, assented to the bill passed by the state House of Assembly, prescribing death sentence for the offence of kidnapping in the state. Tagged Bayelsa State Kidnapping and Allied Offences Bill 2013, it empowers the governor to accent to the death warrant of any person or group of persons convicted for the act of kidnapping and other related offences in the state. Dickson, in Yenagoa, during the signing of the Bill into law, warned those involved in acts of kidnapping to stay clear of the state because he would not hesitate to sign their death warrant. *Gov Seriake Dickson *Gov Seriake Dickson He said: “If you are involved in any act of kidnapping, let me warn you today, don’t come near Bayelsa. We have put measures in place. I have, commissioned 15 fast moving patrol boats for use by our security forces to ensure maritime security and safety. “If you try that, whether it is sea-piracy or kidnapping, we are going to get you. We will make it difficult for you to succeed and whoever you are and wherever you are operating from, we are going to get you. “I am aware that the security agencies have made several arrests and most of the young men and women, who are involved in the recent kidnappings that took place are currently in custody. “Any of them found guilty of the offence will be dealt with in accordance with the law. Today, with this bill having been signed into law, we have entered a new phase in terms of the provision of the legal framework that will support our fight against kidnapping and related offences. “It is morally indefensible for young people, for whatever reason, to go under the cover of darkness, armed with illegal weapons, to terrorise villages and old people in their homes and then forcefully abduct and rough handle old people and take them as an article of trade.” …. To inaugurate BDIC Board Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, Professor Edmund Daukoru and other notable dignitaries have been appointed into the board of Bayelsa Development and Investment Corporation, BDIC, which will be inaugurated today by Bayelsa State governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson. The inauguration of the BDIC Advisory Board, according to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, is aimed at repositioning the economy of the state and ensure diversification from oil and gas sector of the economy. The statement added that the move was in fulfillment of Governor Dickson’s vision of diversifying the state’s economy beyond oil and gas, coupled with his drive to stimulate private sector participation and the need to attract capital, both local and foreign. It said that this informed the administration’s initiative to send a Bill to the state House of Assembly establishing the Bayelsa Development And Investment Corporation, BDIC. Members of the committee are: Governor Seriake Dickson, Ambassador Lawrence Ekpebu, Chief Duate Iyabi, Chief Ayakeme Massah, King Amalate Johnny Turner, King Edmund Daukoru, Ambassador Godknows Igali, Chief Francis Doukpola, Dr. Daru Owei, Air Vice Marshall Samuel Atti (rtd),Ambassador Emmanuel Otiotio, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Maduaeke, HRM King Alfred Diete- Spiff, among others. VANGUARD

Man with charms caught in Alaafin’s palace On February 14, 2013 · BY OLA AJAYI IBADAN — AN uninvited man, who reportedly laced himself with charms, was arrested within the Palace of Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III. The intrusion was said to have held princesses and other people living in the expansive premises spellbound. According to information gathered, the stranger sneaked into the palace around 6a.m. The stranger was said to have been arrested before he was able to fulfil his mission. Unknown to the suspect, as soon as he jumped into the compound, the palace guards were said to have spotted him. After he reportedly failed to respond to all the questions put to him, he was handed over to the police at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, of the Oyo Police Division for further interrogation. The policeman in charge of SARS, Sola Aremu, confirmed the incident. VANGUARD

One killed as robbers attack bank, police station On February 14, 2013 · BY GBENGA OLARINOYE OSOGBO — Tragedy struck in Ode-Omu, Osun State, Tuesday, evening when a gang of robbers invaded the community, attacked a first generation bank and the police post, killing one person in the process while several others were wounded. According to sources, the armed robbers numbering about nine, who came in three vehicles, on arrival at the town attacked the police post located on the outskirts of the community before proceeding to the bank. It was further gathered that two members of the gang on arrival at the bank went inside the banking hall while the rest strategically positioned themselves around the bank. At the end of the robbery, about N10 million and $6,000 were said to have been carted away. Police sources told our correspondent that one passer-by simply identified as Tirimisiyu was hit by the robbers’ stray bullet and died on the spot while others sustained various degrees of injury. The state police command confirmed the incident, saying the manager of the bank told the police that the robbers carted away N10 million and $6,000 . According to the command’s Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Folasade Odoro, the DPO Gbongan on hearing about the incident moved to the scene of the robbery with a team of patrol men, adding that the robbers had escaped before their arrival. VANGUARD

IGP REDEPLOYS SENIOR POLICE OFFICERS

Abubakar redeploys senior police officers By Patience Ogbo A statement on Wednesday by the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, said the redeployment was in line with the ongoing efforts to reposition the force Mohammed Abubakar The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, has redeployed several senior police officers. The redeployment, which was with immediate effect, affects mainly Commissioners of Police. A statement on Wednesday by the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, said the redeployment was in line with the ongoing efforts to reposition the force. Mba said in the statement: “The deployment is part of ongoing efforts to reposition the Force for greater efficiency, particularly, as we commence our sojourn into the year, covers both some newly promoted officers, expected to inject fresh ideas into the system, and other senior officers swapping strategic command positions. “The IGP charged the newly deployed officers to adopt proactive and aggressive crime-fighting strategies and to continually initiate policies and programmes that would strengthen the essential values of policing and best practices in law enforcement which include: transparency, accountability, respect for fundamental human-rights of citizens and the promotion of strong professional ethics in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Conduct for the Force. “The IGP equally enjoined the officers to rededicate themselves to the service of humanity and to ensure that no stone is left unturned in efforts at tackling violent crimes, as well as corruption in all ramifications, headlong.” Officers affected by the redeployment were: S/NO. RANK NAME POSTING 1. CP SABO RINGIM KEBBI 2. CP MUSA A. DAURA KANO 3. CP MOSES SABA-NDAGI EBONYI 4. CP JOHNSON A. OGUNSAKIN KWARA 5. CP T. E. IBITIBITUWA ENUGU 6. CP HILARY OPARA KOGI 7. CP JUBRIL O. ADENIJI TARABA 8. CP MOHAMMEDA. INDABAWA OYO 9. CP MOHAMMED KATSINA IMO 10. CP USMAN TILI ABUBAKAR ABIA 11. CP OLUFEMI D. OGUNBAYODE FCT 12. CP DORATHY A. GIMBA OSUN 13. CP FOLUSO A. ADEBANJO EDO 14. CP MBU JOSEPH MBU RIVERS 15. CP A. K. SHODIPO CROSS RIVER 16. CP PATRICK DEY DOKUMOR ONDO 17. CP JAMES O. CAULCRICK, fsi POLICE DETECTIVE COLLEGE, ENUGU 18. CP STEVEN AUDU ADMIN ‘F’ DEPT. FHQ. 19. CP WILFRED OBUTE COMDT. POLICE COLLEGE, KADUNA 20. CP FELIX UYANNA COMDT. POLICE COLLEGE, OJI 21. CP A. J ABAKASANGA INFO-TECH/ADMIN 22. CP AMBROSE AISABOR ADMIN ‘A’ DEPT. FHQ. 23. CP CHINWEKE ASADU, fsi CP LEGAL 24. CP ADEBAYO AJILEYE CP AIRPORT 25. CP ADAMS AUDU CP CTU 26. CP JOHN OPADOKUN CP PMF 27. CP SHERIFAT DUSU OLAJOKU CP PORT AUTHORITY 28. CP SALIHU GARBA CP PROVOST 29. CP MOHAMMED J. GANA, fdc CP SARS 30. CP BENJAMIN U. ONWUKA DEP. COMDT. PSC, JOS 31. CP MARKUS K. DANLADI ADMIN ‘E’ DEPT. FHQ. 32. CP AHMED IBRAHIM CP TRAINING FHQ. 33 CP ISAAC EKE A DMIN ‘B’ DEPT. FHQ.

My fiance poured hot stew on me – Woman February 14, 2013 by Comfort Oseghale 9 Comments A 27-year-old woman, Mary Sunday, has been in the hospital bed at Igbobi Orthopaedic Hospital seven months after she was allegedly attacked by her fiancé, Corporal Isaac Gbanwuan, with a pot of boiling stew and a lighted stove. It was learnt that Sunday had lost her ears due to the attack. Before the attack, which took place in August 2012, Sunday, was to report for training at the Police Academy, Kano as a cadet officer. Still nursing severe burns to her neck, chest and upper arms, Sunday can barely sit or walk straight. She holds her head stiffly and talks with difficulty as she recalled the events that led to her present state to PUNCH Metro on Wednesday. She said, “I have known Gbanwuan for a while, while I was still a student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, but it wasn’t until our marriage introduction in 2011 that I moved in with him at the Pedro Police Barracks, Lagos. “On the day I was assaulted, Gbanwuan and I went to see our doctor. We had some health issues. While we were on our way back home, I made a phone call. Immediately we got home, Gbanwuan started querying me. He accused me of keeping lovers and claimed the person I called was my lover. “I tried to explain to him that it was my sister I called, but Gbanwuam was not listening. He began to beat me,” Sunday said. Unable to take it any more, Sunday said she ran into the kitchen of a neighbour with Gbanwuan giving pursuit. He allegedly broke into the kitchen where he continued to assault Sunday. She said, “Then to the horror of those who tried to intervene, Gbanwuan seized his neighbour’s cooking stove on which was a pot of boiling stew, emptying the entire contents on me. “I don’t know for how long I was unconscious but I was later told that I was in a coma for seven days. I learnt the stove also exploded after Gbanwuan threw it with the boiling soup at me. “I was first rushed to a private hospital at Bariga before I was eventually transferred to Igbobi hospital. “I couldn’t tell my family for a while because I could not use my hands; they were sort of stuck to my chest. It was after much treatment, that I was able to use my hands and call my family.” Sunday’s lawyer, Mr. Moses Kassim, told PUNCH Metro that a petition had already been sent to the Police Provost Office and the Commissioner of Police. He said, “We have still not received any response from either of them. Gbanwuan is yet to be arrested despite the fact that Sunday’s family reported the case at the Pedro Police Division. “While Sunday is confined to a hospital bed, Gbanwuan is still at his duty post at the Ebutte Ero division, showing no concern for her condition.” Copies of the acknowledged petition received by the Provost Office and Commissioner of Police were dated January 17, 2013. When PUNCH Metro contacted Gbanwaun, he denied causing any harm to his fiancée. He said, “What Sunday has told you are all lies. She has been going about saying all sorts of things about me. “That is how she wrote a petition through her lawyer to the Lagos State Police Command. Anyway, the matter is already being investigated by the command.” When our correspondent sought his opinion on how Sunday got her injury that had kept her in the hospital, the policeman said, “I don’t know what to tell you. Like I said, the matter is being investigated. The Lagos Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Damascus Ozoani, said he was yet to be fully briefed on the issue. He said, “I don’t have all the facts right now. Let me investigate and I will respond to the story.” But Sunday said she was more concerned with getting well. She said, “All I want is the money to treat myself. My doctors are afraid to tell me how much because they don’t want me to be worried, but I have overhead them discussing several times. “There is a deep wound in my chest which has to be treated and then my neck has to be operated on because it has been stiff since the incident and then there is the matter of my upper arms. “The doctor, who attended to me at the first hospital I went to in Bariga, told me that I would have to go to India to have my ears reconstructed because they melted. He said I would need N5m. “Gbanwaun’s family has abandoned me. They did so immediately my family reported the matter to the police. My mother is dead and my father is aged. Coping with my daily treatment here is a struggle for my siblings. PUNCH

PASTORS ARRAIGNED FOR SWINDLING VISA SEEKER BY PATIENCE OGBO Policemen attached to the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Adeniji Adele ,police station in Lagos have charged two pastors to the Igbosere Magistrate Court on a two-count charge of felony, obtaining money by false pretense and stealing, The pastors Sunday Omogbehin and Olawale Adeniyi , were arrested for allegedly swindling a man simply identified as Ojomo of N6 million. The pastors allegedly collected the money last year to conduct spiritual cleansing on Ojomo to enable him travel out of the country . It was gathered that the suspects allegedly held false prayer sessions for Ojomo where they told him that his inability to secure a visa is due to a foul odour from his mouth and therefore needs to be delivered from mouth ordour. According to the police, the suspects took their victim through hellish deliverance and prayer sessions and in their bid to get money out of him they concocted lies that the “alleged foul odour" from Ojomo’s mouth is a spiritual affliction which will need cash to procure several spiritual condiments to break the yoke . Ojomo, a resident of Aguda in Lagos State fell for the trap as he had made series of efforts to obtain a Canadian visa to no avail. He therefore bought the story by the pastors and paid N6 million in installment to the pastors but in spite of this move, he still could not get the visa . The cat was let out of the bag when he suspected that he had been swindled and reported the matter to the police who promptly arrested the pastors. A Police source at the Adeniji Adele police station said “The complainant claimed he met these pastors last year .He said he was hypnotized and brain washed as the pastors made requests each time there was no head way for the young man and collected more money from him. They told him that they needed this money to buy this and that ingredient and the man will bring the money to them but when he goes back for his visa, he will face more challenges but the pastors will demand more money from him to conduct more deliverance and prayer sessions so that was how the money got to that huge amount as the man kept paying” . The police source added that Ojomo is not the only victim of the pastors. The court granted bail to the pastors at the sum of N250,000 each but the pastors were remanded in custody as they could not fulfill their bail condition.

Two Nigerian journalists brutalised by South African police Posted by: Segun Ogunjimi on February 13, 2013 in Sports Leave a comment Two Nigerian journalists covering the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) were kicked, dragged on the ground, threatened with cocked guns and forcibly detained for two hours by officers of the South African police in Johannesburg on Tuesday afternoon. Debo Oshudun, Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) for Central and Southern Africa and John Joshua Akanji, a Deputy Editor of The Sun Newspapers were onboard a taxi on their way to cover the departure of the AFCON winners Super Eagles when shortly after they both alighted, they were surrounded by no less than 20 fully armed South African police officers who threatened to shoot them after they insisted they were Journalists. The duo, who narrated their story to SportingLife, were grateful to God for sparing their lives. “I thank God we are still alive because we could have been shot, knowing the type of (extra-) judicial killings in South Africa. I have never been in that situation in my life. I was dragged on the floor, kicked and brutalised. I and John Joshua-Akanji were disposed of our phones, my keys and we couldn’t contact anybody. We were detained for two hours and I was really traumatised throughout the time the police dealt with us and still imagining it up till now. “The police claimed that they stopped our car because the taxi we were in had a number plate with two different characters. Immediately they stopped us they removed the number plate. They lied that they had been trailing us,” Oshundun told SportingLife in Johannesburg on Tuesday afternoon. Joshua-Akanji had to miss his South African Airways flight due to the torture he received from the South African Police. The Sun Newspaper Deputy Editor also narrated his ordeal to SportingLife in Johannesburg yesterday. “I was in a trance. I thought I was acting out a movie. I never thought it was for real. I have never seen a thing like this in all my life. But I am happy to be alive to tell the story”, the visibly shaken journalist disclosed. 20 policemen, who had already cocked their guns and pointed them to my head and my colleague Oshundun’s, were shouting ‘I will shoot you, I will shoot you. Who are you? Do you think you are special? I will blast your brains off’”, Joshua-Akanji revealed. Lieutenant Colonel M. F. Tshabalala station commander, Sandringham Command South African Police Service, SAPS, later apologised for the treatment meted out on the Nigeria Journalists. It took the intervention of the Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg to secure the release of both men. There are no indications yet, if the Journalists will press charges against the South African Police. The two journalists however commended Hope, the South African taxi driver for daring his country’s police by rising to the defence of the Nigerians. “These men are responsible journalists that have come here to cover the AFCON. They are like brothers to me. I ate and dinned with them. They have been wonderful to me as a South African. Why are you treating them this way? It’s not fair! it’s not fair!”, Hope is said to have cried out while the policemen were brutalising the West Africans. NATION

EKO LION CLUB PRESIDENT SLUMPS, DIES

BY PATIENCE OGBO The members of Eko Lions’ Club in Lagos State are grieving. This follows the sudden death of their president Mr Shefiu Daramola, who reportedly slumped and died at the Ikotun area of the state last week. Oluwadare Abimbola, a member of the club said Mr. Daramola had gone to a bank to withdraw some cash on February 6, but suddenly slumped and died at the ikotun Bus stop. |”our president went to carry out some banking transactions and had spoken with his wife, Kudirat, a few minutes to 2.00 p.m. The wife, however, got a call about an hour after speaking with her husband, from his phone, that her attention was needed at Ikotun bus stop where her husband had slumped. On getting to the spot, she and some good samaritans rushed him to a nearby private clinic and were advised to take him to the Ikeja General hospital, where he was later confirmed dead” It was gathered that Mr Daramola was buried in his house at Plot 6, Olajide Daramola Avenue, Ijegun, Lagos, according to Islamic rite the next day . it was also gathered that Mr. Daramola had planned to moved to his own house when he died . He is survived by a wife and a nine-year-old daughter.

18 alleged oil thieves in EFCC’s custody Written by Lanre Adewole- Lagos Tuesday, 12 February 2013 00:00 The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday, said it had taken custody of 18 persons arrested by the Joint Task Force (JTF) over alleged oil theft. A statement issued by its spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, said, “the Joint Task Force (JTF) of 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Benin City, has handed over 18 suspected oil thieves to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and possible prosecution. “The suspects were arrested at different locations in series of operations between October 2012 and January 2013. The command alleged that the suspects were arrested with different trucks, tankers, buses, cars, drums, jerry cans and pumping machine with which they transfer products and substance suspected to be adulterated kerosene and illegally refined automotive gas oil. “The suspects include Shedrack Ofosa, Mudia Owin, Ovie Joseph, Nnamdi Albert, John Abuja, Lucky Egbegbe, Andrew Anthony, James Aker, Kadiri Aloysius, Paul Ojo, Oduwere Edobor, Esene Osaghale, Abubakar Isah and Steven Omoghwigho. Others are Lucky Francis, Lucky Imuetinyan, Henry Ikweke, and Victor Ohweokeovwo, while Lucky Okorie, Dodo Mohammed, Bose Osaji were arrested in Warri and Benin by the EFCC operatives in connection with the alleged offences. The suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded,” Uwujaren said. TRIBUNE

Why Nigeria’s criminal justice system is weak - Agbakoba Written by Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare and Matthew Asabor -Lagos Tuesday, 12 February 2013 00:00 FORMER president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Olisa Agbakoba, on Monday, attributed the inadequacy of existing laws as the cause of the seeming helplessness of Nigeria’s criminal justice system. According to him, the system appeared to be overwhelmed by the level of corruption in the country, because existing laws were old and weak. Agbakoba, while speaking with journalists during the second Federal High Court Judges Forum, organised in Lagos by the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON), added that this was why some court pronouncements appear controversial. He further argued that the sentence handed down to John Yusufu, who was convicted of the police pension fund scam, was because the nation’s criminal laws were old. Agbakoba recommended a comprehensive overhaul of the nation’s laws, to enable the country to cope with today’s reality, while lauding the initiative behind the forum, which was meant for the judges to closely examine the newly introduced AMCON Practice Direction 2013. He explained that the forum was part of efforts to further educate the judges on ways of better dealing with AMCON cases and ensuring that they were speedily dealt with. While unveiling the practice direction at the opening session of the forum, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, urged judges to treat AMCON and other related cases with dispatch. TRIBUNE

COURT REMANDS TWO WAZOBIA FM JOURNALISTS

TWO journalists and one other person were remanded in the police custody over a seven-count charge that included criminal conspiracy, abetment, inciting disturbance, intentional insult, defamation of character, obstruction of public servant in discharge of his duties, among others. Chief Magistrate Ibrahim Bello of Magistrate’s Court 17 Gyadi-Gadi ordered for the continued detention of Yakubu Musa Fagge, Mubarak Muhammad Sani of Wazobia Radio. And the other person was Abubakar Rabo Abdulkarim. The defendants pleaded not guilty of all the count charges. Their defence counsel, Musa Adamu Aliyu, applied for the bail of the defendants, citing relevant sections of the constitution and other cases. The prosecutor, Sergeant Sadiq Na-Abba, pleaded that the defendants should not be granted bail on the basis that the police were still investigating the case. The defence counsel assured that the defendants, when granted bail, would not interfere with police investigation. Chief Magistrate Bello ordered that they remain in police detention for the next two days, pending his ruling on the application of bail. He added that they should be given unconditional access to their families, their lawyers and all other constitutional guarantees. It would be recalled that last week Wazobia Radio, Kano, aired a programme locally referred to Sandar Girma (mixed-grilled programme), where the producer of the programme, Yakubu Musa Fagge, gave an account of how their reporter was manhandled by the aides of one traditional ruler and the interim management officer of one local council areas in the state. The said event took place in Abubakar Rabo’s residence, who rejected polio vaccinators to vaccinate his children. The dramatic encounter was aired by Yakubu Musa, where he warned that he would start disclosing what polio was all about to the hearing of the public. Coincidentally, two days after that programme, unknown gunmen killed nine female polio vaccinators. That also led to the arrest of the above-mentioned people, including the Head of Programmes of the Wazobia Radio station, Mallam Muhammad Sulaiman Gama. But Gama was released two days after their arrest. Meanwhile, the Jigawa State Police Command has challenged local council authorities along the Nigeria/Niger border towns to be more concerned on security by assisting security operatives in such domain with the useful information. The Commissioner of Police in charge of the command, Mr. Theophilus Kayode, who was speaking with Chairman of Birniwa Local Council Area, Alhaji Ali Idris Diginsa, during a working visit to the council headquarters at the weekend, appealed to the chairman to construct a fence for the Divisional Police Station in the local council headquarters. Kayode said it is not wise for the police station building to be left in the open space where it is exposed to security risk, adding that considering the current security challenges, it is instructive and expedient to provide conducive working environment for security operatives to be able to serve the people well. Also, the Niger State government has disbursed the N25 million donated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to victims of December 2011 bomb attack at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Madalla, Suleja area of the state. The church got N5 million while 47 victims whose property were destroyed by the blasts, shared the balance of N20 million. Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Alhaji Mohammed Shaba, handed over cheques to the beneficiaries on Monday at the church premises, explaining that the delay in the disbursement of the money was due to communication gap. Some victims got as much as N1 million while others got N500,000 and N350,000 according to the volume of losses. Minna Branch Manager of the bank, Alhaji Mohammed Danguzau, represented the CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, at the occasion. Danguzau expressed happiness that the donation got to the victims, adding that the delay was not intentional but due to communication error. He said the money was given out since March last year. He said CBN, being a responsible cooperate entity, has always come to the aid of disaster victims in the country and, therefore, advised the beneficiaries to make good use of the donations in re-establishing the businesses destroyed by the blast. Speaking on behalf of the victims, Mr. Emmanuel Ehiche thanked CBN for the gesture, adding that they appreciated the quick intervention from the state government and the CBN governor. The church priest, Rev. Father Isaac Achi, appealed to all those concerned to eschew bitterness and accept whatever amount of money they got from the CBN donations. He, however, maintained that the distribution of the money has put to rest the lingering crisis over the money resulting from the delay in the disbursement. The priest thanked the Niger State government and the CBN for assisting the victims morally and financially. < Prev Next >

Youths protest the killing of a medical practitioner in Ahiazu Mbaise, Imo State WHEN Dr. Emmanuel Chinonyerem Nwishi of Eziala Ogwu, Nguru, Aboh Mbaise Local Council of Imo State graduated from Abia State University, Uturu, with flying colours, in Medicine, he had high hopes of practising the profession with passion and serve humanity. These hopes, however, were dashed, on Monday, February 5, 2013. He was shot and killed by hoodlums as he returned home from the hospital, with his new car, Camry Spider, with Registration Number ABJ 628AT. Born in the 1970s, the late Nwishi had established a clinic known as Chinemerem Clinic, located at Ahiara Junction, Ahiazu Mbaise Local Council. He was also known and loved very well by his people because of his devotion to his duty. According to sources, “It was on Monday, February 5, at about 9.00 p.m., After Nwishi had closed for the day after attending to his patients and decided to go home in his new car, Camry Spider, with Registration Number ABJ 628 AT, that he was shot. Reports had it that two young men, riding in a motorcycle, were trailing him. He diverted into a popular television viewing centre at Nkwogwu Nguru Market Square in Aboh Mbaise Local Council, a few meters to his country home, just to avoid them. “The men were said to have accosted him, demanding for the key to his vehicle. Within seconds, he was shot by the men, who dispersed into thin air. Nwishi slumped in his own pool of blood. “He was rushed to a nearby hospital but unfortunately, the hospital’s management rejected him. “He was taken to Holy Rosary Hospital, Emekuku, Owerri North Local Council of Imo State. By this time, he had gone into comma and later died. Until his death, he was undergoing a specialist course in Family Medicine at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri. His elder brother, Chief Tony Nwishi, who spoke with some sympathizers, said their hopes were dashed. Said he: “We have lost an amiable brother, the people’s doctor. We are devastated by this ugly incident. Our brother was not a politician. He was not a businessman. We are wondering why he was killed in such a manner. We are handing everything to God that those who committed such crime would be exposed.” Meanwhile, scores of rampaging youths from the area, staged a peaceful protest on Tuesday, carrying various placards and leaves, protesting the gruesome killing of one of their illustrious sons. They also asked the government and the law enforcement and security agencies to quickly fish out his killers. The protest allegedly, later, turned violent along the ever-busy Owerri- Umuahia Road. Vehicles were smashed and some property torched by the protesters. The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in the area, Mr. Fidelis Amadi, said the matter had been reported to the state command for necessary action, adding that: “it was a murder matter, which required the cooperation of the public in supplying the police with information to track down the killers.” Community leaders in the area have appealed to the youths not to destroy property or cause more harm, since the late doctor was man of peace. GUARDIAN

POLICE ACCUSE MTN OF PERJURY,FALSIFICATION

• Seek prosecution of telecoms’ firm A FRESH vista was opened Tuesday in the controversy dogging suspended President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Isa Salami, over alleged communication with some leaders of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which allegedly led to his compromising some election matters. The police Tuesday indicted the telecommunications giant for suppressing crucial evidence in the matter. The indictment was contained in a copy of the report of police investigations into allegations of manipulation of the call data records relating to some phone lines allegedly belonging to Justice Salami and some ACN leaders. Dated February 8, 2013 and titled “Police Investigation Report on A Case of Conspiracy, Forgery and Perversion of the course of Justice by MTN Nigeria Ltd,” the copy of the report signed by a Commissioner of Police, Ali Amodu, said that the police found that MTN failed to release some of the call data which would have helped to ascertain the discussion between Salami and the said politicians. The police report agreed with Olagunsoye Oyinlola, whose petition to the Minister of Police Affairs alleged that the telecoms’ firm deliberately withheld components of the call data records of Justice Ayo Salami, Alhaji Tunji Ijaiya, Lai Mohammed and several other ACN chieftains to frustrate investigation. Consequently, it recommended that “MTN Nigeria should be prosecuted for an attempt to suppress evidence in this case as provided by Section 167 (8) of the Evidence Act.” In part, the police report reads: “Request was made to MTN to furnish the particulars of the following subscriber numbers and the company responded thus: 08034004887 belongs to Justice Isa Ayo Salami; 08034240000 belongs to Bola Ahmed Tinubu (registered incidentally in the name of MTN Director, Tunde Folawiyo (Lagos State Governor); 08034010700 belongs to Alhaji Tunji Ijaiya. “Matthew Okoromi, a Senior Subscriber Fraud Analyst in MTN’s employ, confirmed that the CDRs obtained by Area ‘G’ Command, Ogba, Lagos (which one Rotimi Odusola of MTN repudiated before the National Judicial Council’s Special Investigative Panel) actually emanated from the telecoms’ firm. “Subscriber No. 08034010700 which belongs to Alhaji Tunji Ijaiya of 8, Aderemi Adeleye Road, GRA, Ilorin, appears to have been used as a link between 08034301111 (Lai Mohammed), 08034240000 and 08034004887 (Justice Isa Ayo Salami of Plot 11, New Bussa Close, Area 3, Garki, Abuja) as there was exchange of calls between Justice Ayo Salami and Alhaji Tunji Ijaiya on one hand and Tunji Ijaiya with the other mentioned subscribers on the other. “While call logs earlier released to Area ‘G’ Command, Ogba, Lagos, spanned a period of five calendar months, MTN claimed its historical data storage capacity was limited only to three months. The report also highlighted the fact that incoming calls were missing from the call data records forwarded to both the SSS and NSA.” According to the report, “a legal advice received from the Legal Section of the ‘D’ Department (FCID), Abuja dated February 8, 2013, opined that MTN Nigeria should be prosecuted for suppressing evidence in this case as provided by Section 167 (8) of the Evidence Act, please.” Meanwhile, an action brought by former Governor of Ekiti State, Chief Segun Oni, asking Justice Adamu Bello of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, to revoke the operating licence of MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd, owing to its alleged manipulation of call data records of the same Justice Ayo Salami and some ACN chieftains has been fixed for mention on February 25. MTN has been under intense investigation following a petition by Oyinlola and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Osun and Ekiti State chapters, accusing the telecommunications giant of altering call logs detailing the interaction between Salami and some ACN leaders when he presided over election petitions. They accused Salami of favouring candidates of the ACN between 2009 and 2010 after being induced by the party leadership as a result of the telephone interactions. The petition was written to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP). He immediately mandated the Commissioner of Police (CP) Ali Amodu-led Special Task Force to investigate the allegations. In the petition entitled “A Case of Perjury Against Mr. Rotimi Odusola, Senior Manager, Commercial Legal, MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd”, Oyinlola requested the police to investigate allegations of false evidence by MTN officials before the National Judicial Council (NJC) panel, which initially dismissed the ‘call logs’ presented to the panel as not authentic. Responding to the petition, MTN officials claimed the company gave out several SIM cards to the Lagos State Government a long time ago and provided the police with photographs of supposed current users of the telephone lines. However, while providing additional information to the police, Oyinlola’s principal witness, Mr. Adeolu Oyinlola, claimed that MTN was being economical with the truth. He stated categorically that it was the fact of the telephonic interactions between and among ACN chieftains, its lawyers, Salami and his bosom friend, Tunji Ijaiya, which MTN desperately tried to cover up from the NJC’s Special Investigative Panel, that led it (MTN) to manipulate the call data records it transmitted to the panel, through the law enforcement and security agencies. Both numbers, Mr. Adeolu Oyinlola claimed, belong to Tinubu; one registered in the name of the ACN leader’s aide, Gbadegesin Ademola, while the other was registered in the name of Tunde Folawiyo, who is a director at MTN. Consequently, the police have asked MTN to produce the documents (driver’s licence, utility bill, crossed cheque, passport photographs) it collected from the supposed owners of the two controversial lines, prior to accepting them on the telecoms company’s post-paid platform. Following the testimony of the communication giants, NJC absolved Salami and the other justices of the election tribunal of any ethical breach. The call logs disowned by the MTN were allegedly sourced from Area ‘G’ Police Command in Lagos during investigation, making former Governors Oyinlola and Oni to suspect that the MTN was acting a script to pervert the course of justice. Subsequently, Oyinlola went to court, claiming that MTN deliberately released incomplete call data to the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the NJC in order to protect Salami and certain politicians accused of unethical communications during the trial of appeals arising from the governorship elections in the two states. MTN had hitherto denied the ownership of a line said to belong to Tinubu, which was reportedly used to interact with Salami. But as the matter progressed, the telecommunications giant recanted and admitted to the police that the former governor owned the line. Two MTN officials — Rotimi Oghenerume and Rotimi Odusola — accompanied by a lawyer, Rotimi Oguneso from Ibrahim Abdullahi and Company, represented the firm at the Police Force Headquarters in Abuja as part of the ongoing investigation into the petition that the company perverted the course of justice by doctoring Salami’s call data records, which it submitted to the NJC. They told detectives attached to the Special Task Force (STF) set up by the Inspector-General of Police (IG) that Tinubu owned the phone number, which they earlier claimed belonged to one ‘Tunde Folawiyo’. The second number identified as one of Salami’s callers and his friend, Tunji Ijaya, was also said to belong to one Gbadegesin Ademola, identified as Tinubu’s personal assistant. The telecoms’ officials, who were later released on bail, were said to have had a hard time explaining to the investigators why the numbers were registered in the names of persons other than the real users, which was seen as an attempt by the company to cover up the identity of the real subscribers. The investigators had earlier been told by MTN officials that one Abdusalam Rasheed owned the line attributed to Tinubu. The police team had reportedly obtained a court order compelling MTN to produce all the documents used in registering the phone lines of several persons fingered in the call logs saga. Odusola, who testified before the NJC and is also facing allegations of perjury for giving false evidence in his affidavit before the court, admitted that his company provided the call logs to the Area ‘G’ Police Command. Odusola also claimed in his statement on oath that the MTN system could not store more than three months in call records. He was, however, confronted with call data records provided by his company which spanned five months, prompting him to plead that the situation could only be explained by the technical officials of the company. In addition, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) was reportedly served with a court order to release the biometric data of the owners of the two lines.

Crime fighting: Police raise bar for college entrants On February 13, 2013 · BY EVELYN USMAN KANO— Minister of Police Affairs, Mr. Caleb Olubolade, has said that henceforth, sound academic qualification and character would be the major conditions for admission into the Nigeria Police Academy, as part of effort to restructure the Force. Olubolade, who made this known during his visit to the Police Academy, Wudil, Kano State, weekend, said the era where people maneouvered their ways into the Police academy was gone, even as he gave contractors handling building projects at the academy a 12-day ultimatum to complete them. The minister who was accompanied by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar , stated that prospective candidates into the academy must be Nigerian citizens between 18 and 22 years old and must not be less than 5.6ft for males and 4.4 ft for females. Such candidates, he said, must possess a minimum of six credits in the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) or the National Examinations Council (NECO) at not more than two sittings, including a credit in English and Mathematics, with subjects relevant to the candidate’s chosen field of study. He stated that results obtained earlier than 2007 would not be accepted, adding that prospective candidates must also obtain satisfactory scores in written examination and oral interview. This, he explained, was aimed at ensuring that the academy graduated only qualified students that would project the image of the force in a positive light. While inspecting on-going projects at the academy, he directed that the projects be completed before the end of February to accommodate fresh cadets whose selection he said was near completion. Although the contractors attributed the slow pace of work to lack of funds, the minister assured that funds would be made available as long as they (contractors) were ready to work. The Inspector-General of Police, on his part, acknowledged effort by the Police Affairs Ministry to improve the quality of officers produced by the academy, assuring that the police management team would do everything to support the minister to achieve this goal. VANGUARD

Six cops, LASTMA official arrested over extortion On February 13, 2013 · BY IFEANYI OKOLIE LAGOS — In a bid to curb the excesses of policemen in the Lagos State Police Command, six policemen were, weekend, arrested by operatives of the Commissioner of Police X Squad for extortion. Also arrested were two impersonators who wore Police uniform to escort a lorry and an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency, LASTMA for allegedly extorting money from a motorist. Vanguard gathered that the policemen were arrested at Oyingbo and Gbagada areas of the state while allegedly extorting money from motorcycle and commercial bus operators. Police sources who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the operatives who were ordered by the state Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, to rid the state of corrupt policemen, stormed Oyingbo, where they caught two Traffic Wardens and a conventional policeman attached to Area ‘C’ Command, at Oyingbo Bus-Stop, extorting money from commercial buses and lorry operators. Three other policemen were caught allegedly extorting money from motorcycle riders within streets of Gbagada. He also added that the arrested policemen will be tried by the provost department of the Command, while the impersonators will be charged to court. “ We have handed over the LASTMA official and the money we caught him with to LASTMA authority for prosecution and we will charge the impersonators to court. But the six policemen will have to stand trial at the Provost Department with 17 others and if they are found guilty, they may be discharged from the service,” the source said.

Former Rep escapes assassination On February 13, 2013 · BY CHIDI NKWOPARA OWERRI — A former member of the National Assembly, Mr. Patrick Ndubueze, narrowly cheated death when a two-member gang of suspected assassins attacked him in Okigwe. Vanguard investigations revealed that Ndubueze arrived his residence along Okpara Road, Okigwe, alighted from his vehicle and was about knocking at the gate when the armed hoodlums surfaced. An eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, said the hoodlums were operating on a motorcycle, adding that only the supposed passenger was armed. “The gangster shot at the former lawmaker but miraculously missed his target. The man (Nwabueze) quickly pounced on the suspected assassin and a scuffle ensued,” the eyewitness said. According to the eyewitness, the hoodlum managed to extricate himself from the grip of the lawmaker and quickly jumped into the waiting motorcycle manned by his colleague in crime. When journalists contacted the former lawmaker, he wondered why anybody or group of persons would want to eliminate him. “What have I done to anybody? Why would anybody or group of persons want to eliminate me? The whole thing sounds like a fairy tale but it is true. I thank God I am alive to tell the tale of my life,” Nwabueze said. VANGUARD

JTF impounds two oil vessels, barges in Bayelsa On February 13, 2013 · YENAGOA — The Joint Task Force, JTF, code named Operation Pulo Shield, yesterday, impounded two oil vessels and barges along the Akassa waterways in Otokolomobio near Oloma and Bonny Island of Bayelsa and Rivers States. Also raided were 23 illegal refineries located along the Ughoton River in Okpe and Saghara pipeline inlet channels of Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State. No fewer than 52 suspects allegedly involved in various oil related crimes were arrested and are undergoing preliminary investigation. The Joint Task Force in a statement, yesterday, in Yenagoa by the Head of the Joint Media Campaign Centre, Lt-Col. Onyeama Nwachukwu, said the oil vessels identified as MT Sophia and MT Everest 1 were intercepted while carrying out illegal oil bunkering activities in the region. The vessels are currently anchored at the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Jetty, Bonny Island, Rivers State under the close watch of the military personnel. According to Onyeama,”a similar raid was alsJ carried out along Ughoton River in Okpe and Saghara pipeline Inlet Channel in Warri South, Delta State where 23 illegal oil refineries were destroyed. “The JTF also arrested five wooden barges, popularly known as Cotonu boats, conveying stolen petroleum products. The boats were arrested along Ugbokoto community in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State and Obi Creek at Ikomogbemi, Otua, Tebidaba and Akassa communities in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. “During these raids, which were carried out between January 19 and February 8, 2013, 52 suspects involved in various oil related crimes were arrested and are currently undergoing preliminary investigation before being handed over to prosecuting agencies. 2 JTF operatives killed “Within this period also, four JTF soldiers on escort duty on board Sterling Global Oil were attacked in an ambush by suspected sea robbers on February 5, 2013. Two JTF operatives were killed in action in the fire fight that ensued while two sustained injuries. The JTF is presently carrying out cordon and search of suspected hideouts to fish out the perpetrators.” VANGUARD JTF nabs kidnap kingpin Meantime, Joint Military Task Force, JTF, Monday, apprehended one suspected notorious kingpin of a kidnap gang terrorizing Ughelli and its environs in Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State. BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA & FESTUS AHON The suspected kingpin identified as Kennedy Itoje, 37, a native of Iyede in Isoko North Local Government Area of the state was arrested by men of the JTF who were on a routine stop and check at Ogor along the East/West road at about 6pm in a Mazda car on his way to Yenagoa. According to a dependable source, the kidnap kingpin and his group were responsible for many of the kidnap cases in the area. The group was also allegedly responsible for the kidnap of Mrs Kate Okogu, Mrs Ighoroje, Madam Ovibi, Rev Israel Unutame and other high profile personalities in the area. Briefing newsmen on the arrest, Commanding Officer of the 222 Battalion, Ughelli, Lt Col Attahiru Rasheed said the suspect, Kennedy Itoje, had been on their wanted list and had been evading arrest.

Police arraign Ogun monarch, others for stealing plantain February 9, 2013 by Segun Olatunji, The police have arraigned the Baale of Imedu-Nla in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, Chief Jimoh Adebayo, at an Owode-Egba Chief Magistrate’s Court for allegedly stealing a bunch of plantain from a church. The police alleged that the monarch, in company with two others, scaled the fence of the church where they allegedly stole the bunch of plantain valued at N2,000. The police also alleged that one of the accused threatened and chased the pastor of the church with a cutlass when the latter saw them. Police prosecutor, Sergeant Evidence Onyenmaobi, told the court that the accused, along with two others, including 70-year-old Wahab Atenreti and Surajudeen Ayenreti, 35, allegedly connived to steal the bunch of plantain within the premises of Jubilee Baptist Church in the area on December 31 last year. The prosecutor argued that the offence contravened Sections 516, 390 (9) and 86 (2) of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State, 2006. The baale and the two others, however, pleaded not guilty to the three counts of conspiracy, stealing and threat to life. Counsel to the accused, Mr. Ade Agbolade pleaded with the court to grant his clients bail and gave the assurance that they would not jump bail. Chief Magistrate Emmanuel Adekunte granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000 each with two sureties each in like sum. Adekunte adjourned the matter till March 21 for further hearing. PUNCH

Lagos seals off 43 shops, arrests traders February 11, 2013 by Sesan Olufowobi Lagos State Government has sealed off 43 spare parts shops and arrested eight dealers over failure to register the businesses with the government. The spare parts shops, which are located in Maza Maza, Mile 2 area of the state, were shut by the enforcement unit of the Lagos State Motor Vehicle Administration Agency, in conjunction with officials of the state’s task force. A statement on Sunday by the agency said the MVAA had earlier closed the spare parts shops, adding that their owners broke the seal and resumed their trade. Spare parts dealers are supposed to pay an annual registration fee of N50, 000 while auto dealers are to pay an annual registration fee of N100, 000. The statement said, “It has been observed that many spare parts and auto dealers have been defaulting in the payment of the annual registration fees, while a series of sensitisation and talks to get many of them pay the annual fees had been unsuccessful. “When the MVAA officials got to the shops to re-effect the closure of the shops, they were attacked by some spare parts dealers. “Task force officials came to the rescue of MVAA personnel as they arrested eight people for breaking government’s seal and assaulting its officials. “Other attackers fled on sighting task force officials. The shops were later sealed off.” The Chairman of the task force, Superintendent of Police Bayo Sulaiman, said the arrested dealers would be arraigned at the state Special Offences Court. PUNCH

Appeal Court reserves judgment on Daily Times acquisition The Court of Appeal in Lagos has reserved judgment on the appeal filed by Folio Communications Limited and four others. Folio and other appellants are by their appeal challenging the judgment of a Federal High Court, Lagos, which in 2010 nullified their acquisition of the majority shares in Daily Times of Nigeria. The Justice Amina Augie-led appeal panel, reserved the appeal for judgment after hearing parties, saying the judgment day would be communicated to them when ready. The judge, who delivered judgment against the appellant at the trial court, Justice Okechukwu Okeke, had held that Folio Communications belonging to Fidelis Anosike and his brothers, did not pay for the majority shares of DTN. Okeke held that that it was unlawful for the company to still parade itself as a shareholder of DTN. The judge, who also reverted the shares acquired by Folio Communications, declared the company’s purpported acquisition of Daily Times to be null, void and of no effect whatsoever. A Daily Times shareholder, D.S.V Limited, had sued the appellants at the lower court complaining of “gross and illegal sale of DTN assets”. According to an affidavit in support of the suit, the deponent, Chinedu Oranuba, said Folio Communications had emerged, the preferred bidder for the Federal Government shares in DTN without sufficient resources to immediate payment for the shares. He alleged that the appellant resorted to borrowing the sum of N750m for the purchase of the newspaper, adding that as soon as the Bureau of Public Enterprise handed over the business and undertakings of DTN to Folio Communications, the appellants started to sell the assets of the newspaper other shareholders. The Federal Government, represented by NICON Insurance, was said to be having 96.05 per cent of DTN’s shares before the government’s privatisation programmed. The appellants appealed against Justice Okeke’s judgment, praying the appellate court to set aside the judgment on the grounds that judgment was delivered without addressing the issue of jurisdiction raised by the appellant.

N672m fraud: Court grants Lagos Speaker’s aide bail February 11, 2013 by Agency Reporter A Lagos State High Court sitting in Igbosere, on Monday granted bail to Oyebode Atoyebi, the Personal Assistant to the Lagos State House of Assembly’s Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, over alleged N672 million fraud. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Justice Deborah Oluwayemi granted bail to Atoyebi, based on the bail earlier granted him by the State Chief Judge, Justice Ayotunde Philips, on self-recognition. Oluwayemi had revoked Atoyebi’s bail, while the bail application for the first defendant, Olayinka Sanni, was refused. Sanni was also remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The duo of Atoyebi and Sanni, a former Regional Manager of Intercontinental Bank (now Access Bank Plc), alongside a company, Sidaw Ventures, were arraigned on Jan. 25 on an eight-count charge. The charges include stealing, conspiracy, forgery and intent to defraud. They were alleged to have stolen N672 million belonging to Murhi International Ltd, a customer of the bank. The EFCC said the accused allegedly perpetrated the fraud between Sept. 22, 2010 and April 18, 2011. At the resumed hearing of the case on Monday, Oluwayemi granted Atoyebi bail on the condition earlier specified by the chief judge. Atoyebi’s lawyer, Mr Abiodun Onidare, thanked the judge for granting him bail. NAN also reports that the EFCC’s lawyer, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, was, however, absent in court. The case has been adjourned to Feb. 14 for commencement of trial.

Man arraigned for allegedly stabbing trader over N10 cigarette February 11, 2013 A 21-year-old businessman, Ifeanyi Anakwe, on Monday appeared before an Oshodi Magistrates’ Court in Lagos. He was charged with stabbing a petty trader, Hassan Umaru, with a broken bottle, over N10 cigarette. Anakwe, who resides at No. 71, Salami St., Mafoluku, Oshodi, is standing trial on a charge of assault. The prosecutor, Cpl. Kehinde Olatunde told the court that the accused committed the offence on Jan. 25, on Salami Street, Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos. He said that the defendant assaulted Umaru by stabbing him with a broken bottle on his left eye, which caused him bodily harm. According to the prosecutor, Anakwe was in the habit of buying cigarettes from the petty trader on credit. “On that fateful day, he came and took a N10 cigarette and promised to come back and pay as usual, but the complainant insisted on collecting his money on the spot,” Olatunde said. The prosecutor said that the refusal of Umaru prompted Anakwe to bring out a N1,000 note to pay for the cigarette and he also demand for his balance. “But immediately the defendant collected the balance of N990, he took to his heels without giving the complainant the N1,000. “The complainant chased the defendant to his house to collect his N1,000, but upon entering his room, Anakwe slammed the door and bolted the lock. “But the complainant forced open the door and when he entered, the defendant beat him up, broke a beer bottle and stabbed him on his left eye,” the prosecutor said. Olatunde said that the offence contravened Sections 171 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State, 2011. The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him. The magistrate, Mr Akeem Fashola, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case to Feb.19. You may also like -

POLICE DENY KILLING MASSOB MEMEBRS

CITING falsehood, the Anambra State Police Command Monday refuted allegations in some newspapers (not The Guardian) by the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) that some of the 19 corpses recovered at the Ezu River, Amensea, in the state, were murdered by its operatives. The state Commissioner of Police, Ballah Nasarawa, at a press briefing said that MASSOB was making the allegation because the Command had succeeded in checking its excesses in the state. MASSOB had petitioned the United Nations (UN) and President Goodluck Jonathan, alleging the gruesome murder of nine of its members by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Awkuzu, Anambra State. The movement said nine members arrested at its Onitsha office by security agents on November 9, 2012 include Basil Ogbu, Michael Ogwu, Sunday Omogo, Philip Nwankpa, Eze Ndubisi, Ewuka Eze, Obinna Ofor, Joseph Udoh and Uchechukwu Eguofor. But Nasarawa said: “The attention of Anambra State Police Command has been drawn to a publication in some newspapers that the corpses recovered at River Ezu are those of some MASSOB members allegedly arrested and killed by security agencies. I want to use this medium to emphatically and categorically refute this baseless and malicious allegation in its entirety. …At no time did my command arrest persons bearing the names mentioned in the publication. Our records are there to speak for us.” He wondered why “since the corpses were recovered from the river on January 20, 2013, and some were deposited at Amaku General Hospital Morgue, Awka, from January 20 to 28, 2013. The faceless MASSOB members did not deem it fit to go and identify them only to come with unfounded allegation three weeks after.” According to him, all suspected criminals arrested under the guise of MASSOB were duly charged to courts for prosecution, adding that as of now, many have been remanded in prison custody facing trial. GUARDIAN

Army chief blames report of ethnic cleansing on mischief makers Posted by: Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja on February 12, 2013 in Featured, News 2 Comments The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.Gen. Azubike Ihejirika has denied the report of ethnicity in postings and appointments in the Nigerian Army, saying it is the handiwork of mischief makers within the Army. At a briefing in Abuja yesterday, Ihejirika described those behind the allegation as disgruntled elements projecting their personal grievances under ethnic and parochial banners. He described the sponsors of the report as faceless groups spreading deliberate falsehood in an attempt to destabilise the Army and create chaos in the country. Ihejirika said: “The motive of the writers appear to destabilise the Nigerian Army and negatively affect its cohesion thereby creating chaos in the country. “It is a great disservice to the nation for anyone to choose through deliberate falsehood to link the routine activities of promotions and postings in the Nigerian Army with ethno-religious consideration. “These faceless groups, if they had no ulterior motives, would have sought to air their grievances through official channels of communication which are available for redress by any genuinely aggrieved persons over any policy or actions of the Army. The Army chief went on: “It is however surprising that some few media chose to celebrate this calculated attempt by some frivolous, unpatriotic and unscrupulous elements aimed at insinuating that the recruitment, promotion, retirement and recent deployment of senior officers in the Nigerian Army were ethnically motivated. For the avoidance of doubt, there is no ethnic or religious consideration in this routine exercise in the Nigerian Army” Ihejirika said the recent postings and promotions in the Army were done on hard work and merit, against parochial interests that dictated the exercise in the past. According to the Army chief, recruitment, promotion and retirement were done with the approval of the Army Council made up of the President (represented by the Defence Minister), the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Army Staff. Apparently referring to the ethnic and religious prisms with which public policies and institutions are viewed by certain segments of the public, Ihejirika said the tendency for some people to latch on to these sentiments could be very tempting. “Nigeria, just like every other nation, has its own fault lines. Unfortunately, some people have chosen to hang on these fault lines to cause disaffection in the Nigerian Army. “When we commenced operations against Boko Haram in Maiduguri, some people started circulating text messages to the effect that the Chief of Army Staff had deployed an Igbo commander to avenge the killing of Igbo during the civil war even though the operation was co-ordinated by the Defence Headquarters. He said: “I appeal to those behind this campaign of calumny to settle their political scores elsewhere. The Army is not just a public service. It is a public institution that should be protected by all. “Serving in the Army is a sacrifice and I will not give an officer who I know is disloyal a strategic position just to satisfy him. If some people are complaining because they missed their promotion, I also missed my promotion in the past; from Lt. Col to Colonel . But here I am today as Chief of Army Staff”, Ihejirika said. The Army chief also alleged that the former Infantry Commander Jaji, Maj. Gen Muhammed Isa (rtd) got intelligence report a day before Boko Haram attacked Defence and Staff College in Jaji. Ihejirika said Isah had sought for extension of service at the point of retirement but that his request was not granted by the Army Council which approves such privileges for officers of his cadre. “At the point of retirement, Isah sought extension of service, saying that he still had much to offer the Army. But the Army Council did not sit before his retirement date was due”. The Army chief said Isah failed to take the necessary precaution prior to the Jaji bombing, stressing that the former commandant was away at an Army conference in Asaba when he was supposed to be at his duty post, thereby leaving his flanks open. “Isah did not take actions that he was supposed to have taken. He did not give instruction to his subordinates on what to do. Instead, he went to attend a conference in Asaba when there was trouble at his duty post. “Even the GOC 1 Division could not attend the conference as a result of the situation on ground. I was surprised to see Isah in Asaba and I made it clear to him that he was expected to be at his duty post instead of attending the conference”, Ihejirika added. The Army chief said those that attacked the convoy of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero in January had been arrested, adding that three assault riffles were recovered from the house of one of the suspects when security agents searched his residence. The Chief of Army Staff, however, admitted that delay in effecting the retirement of senior officers who are due for retirement might have been one of the reasons for misgivings in the Army. He attributed the delay to the fact that the Army Council that approves such retirements only sits quarterly and that some cases may not come up for review until it sits. Ihejirika also said a policy he introduced when he became the Army chief may have inadvertently be responsible for the recent unsavoury developments in the Army. The thrust of the policy is that senior officers whose promotion coincides with their retirements are always allowed to get their promotion, which automatically extends their retirement dates for a few months for them to enjoy their promotion. The policy, he said, was approved by the former Minister of Defence, Dr. Mohammed Bello Haliru. Print Friendly

ROT IN POLICE COLLEGE IKEJA NEEDS URGENT SOLUTION

THE horrible state of the Police College, Ikeja in Lagos State, as depicted in the television documentary broadcast on Channels Television, tells a distasteful story about the country’s foremost training centre for its law enforcement officers. The documentary highlighted an untold decay of infrastructure and an environment not even fit for reforming law breakers, let alone grooming law enforcers. The rot shown in the documentary was so striking that it left no room for further explanation of the poor psyche and unprofessional attitude of the average policeman in the country. It would be unrealistic to expect anything less than a brutal mentality of police officers trained in that kind of environment. Rational behaviour is most unlikely from men trained under dehumanising and degrading conditions. The documentary was a real eyesore and a bad advertisement of the Nigerian police, nay, the Nigerian state! It was a situation that called for urgent and decisive government intervention. On that score, President Goodluck Jonathan’s impromptu visit to the college, following the documentary was appropriate. A presidential visit, in the circumstance, was ordinarily a welcome relief from the monumental ineptitude and indifference of the past. If well handled, the country can profit immensely from such unscheduled visits to other agencies and parastatals of government. Not only were police authorities caught unawares, the prospect of last-minute cover-up were eliminated. The high score on this front was exemplified by public commendation of the initiative. It is surprising, however, that it took the President a television documentary to discover the sordid state of the police college. Worse still, what should have been a plus to the government assumed negative connotations when the President seemingly squandered the attendant goodwill and instead, read politics into the documentary. The President reportedly claimed that the broadcast was meant to discredit his government, wondering and demanding to know how the TV station gained access into the college. This is at once petty and worrisome. In this age, propelled by an unprecedented revolution in information and communication technology, such a question was totally unnecessary. It portrays an unhelpful mindset that should be discarded forthwith. Furthermore, the documentary and the President’s visit raise several other important matters, not only about the Police College, but also governance and national security. First, the use of the college for social events, particularly wedding ceremonies, could be a weak link vis-a-vis college security. The recent breach of security in the Army barracks in Kaduna represents a good example. While some may contend that using the barracks for social events could be a viable strategy of promoting stable civil-military or civil-police relations, the security implications of such a window should be given adequate measure. Moreover, it seems that the ultimate driving force for such a strategy, in this particular case, was mere commercialisation and profiteering. Second, as a result of the documentary, critical eyebrows are now being raised about the use to which budgetary allocations to police training institutions have been committed over the years. It certainly is important to appreciate the public interest, as well as Nigerians’ demand for accountability. Third, it is also an indictment of all oversight agencies, including the legislature, the Police Affairs Ministry and Police Service Commission (PSC) that are supposed to ensure adequate compliance with police statutory and regulatory norms. For instance, what has happened to the age-long Police Weekly Inspection? There are lessons to be learned from the entire episode. The current state of the Police College is dehumanising and totally unacceptable. Those responsible for the neglect, or connected with it, one way or the other, should be made to answer immediately, and an end must come to the rot. There is also an urgent need to restore dignity to police training colleges across the country. This requires immediate intervention by all stakeholders, most especially governments at all levels (federal, state and local), civil society and corporate organisations. All renovations should be carried out by independent contractors; and a system must be developed for adequate monitoring of budgeting and implementation to ensure accountability. A ‘sick’ police force can only be produced by a ‘sick’ training institution. What is more, that cannot be an asset to national security and, above all, to democracy. Next > Author of this article: EDITOR the GUARDIAN