Foundation Wants Omu Anioma Palace Listed Among Delta Tourism Destinations

The Odita Sunday Charity Foundation (TOSCF) has said that the Omu Anioma Palace Okpanam should be listed among the Delta State Tourism Destinations, describing the traditional ground as depicting of what the Aniomas are known for culturally.

The clarion call was made Saturday 27th February, 2021, when the Founder/Proprietor of the Foundation, Mr. Odita Sunday paid a courtesy visit to the Queen Mother to lend his moral support towards what she is doing to promote Anioma culture world wide.

The journalist who equally doubles as the National President of Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN), said that Omu Dunkwu is just an awesome Godsent intelligentsia for the people of Anioma, Delta and Nigeria in general.

Odita was marvelled at the ambience and aura being exhumed within the Palace and as an Image Maker par excellence, he called on Delta State Government to enlist the Palace as one of the Tourist Attractions in the State, positing that it is capable of generating revenue for the Government as people would often want to visit.

His words, "Elsewhere, people will hastily take advantage of this Palace and turn it into a world class tourism destination.

"We of Anioma extraction indeed have a tourist asset in Omu Anioma as a person, and again, the Palace is traditionally awesome and befitting for cultural tourism.

"As a Public Relations practitioner, I can see huge prospects in this traditional arena and I make bold to urge the Government to maximize the potentials of the Palace", Odita affirmed.

Responding, Omu Anioma commended Odita Sunday for visiting while appreciating him for his modest assessment.

Omu Dunkwu said if we have more of young and progressive Anioma children like Odita, there won't be need to bother knowing fully well that her vision and dream for a super great Anioma Nation would be achievable.

The US trained Media and Communications guru eulogized Odita Sunday for being one of the frontline journalists to reckon with in Nigeria.

Omu Dunkwu described the Guardian Senior Crime Correspondent as a thorough-bred investigative journalist whose works speak volume nationally and internationally.

She further commended Odita Sunday for his Charity Foundation which has continued to sincerely empower widows in Anioma and provide scholarship to our children through the Back To School Programme.

The Nneoha (Mother Without Bordgers), however, assured Odita Sunday of her ever ready support to ensure the mission of the Foundation is realisable and sustainable.

 

Navy cautions over misinformation on piracy in Gulf of Guinea

 

 By Patience Ogbo

 

The Nigerian Navy has decried the spate of inaccurate  news reports around piracy activities in Gulf of Guinea.

  In a statement by naval spokesman, Suleman Dahun today, the navy lamented the ‘inaccurate’ reports if not checked, would discourage maritime traffic as wel as heighten freight and insurance cost in the region.

  According to Dahun, “The Nigerian Navy wishes to alert the general public and the Nigerian media in particular, on inaccurate and unverified news reports on the rate of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG).  ‘These reports are a deliberate ongoing effort to discourage maritime traffic as well as heighten freight and insurance cost in the Region. A case in point is the reported hijack of a vessel, MV ODIANOSEN by a notable maritime information media source, Dryad Global,9p which turned out to be false and alarmist.

  “Notwithstanding these alarmist reports, the Nigerian Navy wishes to reiterate its commitment to partnering with all strategic and allied partners for a safer and crime free GoG. Thus, all Nigerian media organisations/agencies are please advised to be wary of any calculated attempt at tarnishing the image of the nation in furtherance of an untoward maritime agenda”.

 

 

"We Have Grown To Be A Brand In 33 Years" - Ogungbemide, Sector

 

Police arrest man for stabbing neighbour to death. 

police operatives attached to Makinde Division, Lagos State police command have arrested one Sunday Amaefula,53, of No 8 Akpaku lane, Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos State for allegedly stabbing one Chibuike Nwanne age 43, to death. 

According to Olumuyiwa Adejobi spokesperson for the Lagos State police command, investigation reveals that the deceased had an altercation with the suspect's brother, one Ifanyi Emmanuel,  his neighbour.

It was learnt that following the quarrel, the suspect allegedly  stabbed the deceased to death with bottle in their House. The deceased, who got married last year, is survived by his pregnant wife. 

 Nigeria student  who pretended to be American, convicted for love scam

A student Oluwatoyin Henry has been sentenced to six months in prison after he was convicted of a love scam.

The  EFCC, Ibadan Zonal Office, on Monday, secured the conviction  before Justice Sherifat Adeyemi of the Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan, on one count of obtaining by false pretences, .

Henry claimed to be a student of Ladoke Akintola University .

The charge read, “That you, Oluwatoyin Henry, sometime in 2019 at Ogbomoso, within the jurisdiction of this court, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum $1,200 from one Betty Mosley when you falsely represented to him that you are a citizen of United States of America by name Amanda, who is in love with him, which representations you knew to be false, thereby committing an offence.” Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, pleaded guilty to the amended charge after a plea bargain agreement with the prosecution.

Based on his plea, Henry was convicted and sentenced to six months in prison.

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The court ordered him to make restitution in the sum of $1,200 to his victim and forfeit his iPhone 11, Infinix Hot 5 and Nokia phones to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Socialist arrested for alleged theft

 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan Zonal Office on Monday, February 22, 2021, arraigned one Mary Masirat Akerele on a five count charge bordering on stealing to the tune of Thirty Five Million Five Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira (N35,520,000:00) before Justice Abiodun Akinyemi of the Ogun State High Court 4,Abeokuta.

Trouble started for the 46-years-old socialite, who resides in Aseko area of Idiroko Ogun State, when the EFCC received a petition, alleging that she collected the said sum in installments from one Alhaja Oladoja Abike for the purpose of supplying four truck-load of rice from a rice milling company at Bida, Niger state but diverted the funds.

One of the charge reads: " That you Mary Masirat Akerele (trading under the name and style of Goodness of Jesus Global Ventures) on or about the 19th day of September, 2018 at Abeokuta within the Abeokuta Judicial Division of the Honourable Court, fraudulently converted to the your own use the sum of Eleven Million Naira (N11, 000,000.00) only property of Fausia Abike Oladoja and thereby committed an offence of stealing contrary to Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 30, laws of Ogun State, 2006”.

The defendant pleaded ‘not guilty’ when the charge was read to her.

Counsel to the defendant, H. A Omikunle made an oral application for his client’s bail. However, Shamsuddeen Bashir, counsel to EFCC, opposed the application due to the defendant's failure to keep the terms of the administrative bail earlier granted her.

Justice Akinyemi adjourned the case till March 4 for determination of the bail application an ordered the remand of the defendant in the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Ibara, Abeokuta.

Court Convicts Captain

 Tuesday 23rd February 2021

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Court Convicts Captain, Company for Operating Illegally in Nigerian Waters

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court sitting in Warri on Thursday February 18, 2021 convicted one Ashiru Afeez on one count charge bordering on operating a vessel in Nigeria Territorial Waters without due registration and licence from appropriate authority.

Afeez, Captain of vessel, MT De Praise was arraigned by the Benin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and pleaded guilty to the charge prompting the prosecution counsel, Austin Ozigbo to ask the court to convict and sentence him accordingly

However, the defence counsel, Joshua Solomon, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy as the defendant was a first time offender.

Justice Nwite convicted and sentenced the defendant to a fine of N600,000.

The charge against him reads: “that you Ashiru Afeez (m) and others now at large on about 9th February, 2020 at Offshore Escravos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court was the captain on board a vessel, MT De Praise, did operate the vessel without due registration and licence from appropriate authority in Nigeria Territorial Waters and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 of the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage ) Act 5, 2003 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria and Punishable under Section 40 of the same Act”.

The Commission also arraigned Sea Dove Nigeria Limited, operators of MT De Praise Vessel for operating in Nigeria Territorial waters without due registration and licence from appropriate authorities. Justice Nwite found the company guilty of the charge and was fine one million naira. However, the judge ordered that the vessel be released to the owners.

MT De Praise and its crew members were arrested around Escravos offshore by a Nigerian Navy Ship on February 9, 2020 and subsequently handed over to the EFCC for further investigation.

 

 

Media & Publicity

19 February, 2021

 

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POLICE ARREST FOUR BOYS FOR ALLEGEDLY GANG RAPING TEENAGER

 

Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command attached to Ejigbo Division on 16th February, 2021, at about 10pm arrested 4 suspects that gand raped a  teenager in Ejigbo area of Lagos state

The survivor's mother , One Tawa Abbey, of No 200, Mafo Bus Stop, Idimu Road, Ejigbo, reported the incident to the police that her daughter (name withheld) went to buy food at Lafenwa Street,Ejigbo when a group of boys attacked the victim with dangerous weapon, threatened to kill her and forcefully had carnal knowledge of her in a room at No 33,Alhaji Obe Street Ejigbo.

The Divisional Police Officer, Ejigbo Division, mobilised his men to the scene where 4 of the boys were arrested. The suspects are JIMOH KAMORU,m, 16, LUKMAN BASIT A, m, 16, ALESHINLOYE SUNDAY, m ,16 and IFEOLUWA ALABI, m, 16. Some items were recovered from them including cutlasses and substances suspected to be Indian hemp. 

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu, has ordered the Divisional Police Officer to go after the fleeing members of the group and intensify efforts in getting Ejigbo area rid of bad boys who are fond of attacking and gang raping innocent ladies and causing pains to them. 

CP Hakeem Odumosu, reiterated the command's zeal to work with other governmental agencies and interest groups in fighting against all sorts of social vices particularly rape, defilement and domestic violence. 

The Commissioner of Police has also directed that the matter be transferred to the Gender Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba for discreet Investigation and prosecution.

LAGOS DEPUTY PPRO, DECORATED WITH SP RANK, 

----SAYS 'I AM GRATEFUL TO BE PROMOTED UNDER LEADERSHIP OF CP ODUMOSU'

By Patience Ogbo

Deputy Police Public Relations Officer (DPPRO) Lagos State Command, Matilda Umiah Ngbaronye was on Wednesday decorated with  the new rank of Superintendent of Police (SP).

The  decoration ceremony  by the Commissioner of Police Lagos State CP Hakeem Odumosu, was a joyous occasion for all the newly promoted officers

 CP Odumosu had charged the promoted officers to renew their commitment to their duty. He said '' Do not say you have been promoted and go to rest, and you will give assignment and not find out how it's been done. The higher you go, the hotter it becomes. May God make it easy for you. You are now ASP, DSP, SP, CSP, God will be with you. I pray for you."'

SP Ngbaronye said  'I am opportuned to be among the newly promoted SP. I have been in the Command for some years. I have worked with different formations in the state. Being promoted under the leadership of CP Hakeem Odumosu is what I am really grateful to God for. I am happy  and I pray for more promotion. 

Her thoughts on community policing, 'We have seen the IGP harping on community policing. Community policing is the way to achieve the desired results. It is the strategy to make it easy for us to relate well with the community"

SP Ngbaronye was enlisted  into the Nigeria Police Force on 19th April 2010.

She has   served in various capacities in Lagos State Police Command as  Crime Officer, Dolphin Estate Division, Ikoyi; General Investigation/Fingerprint Expert at the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCIID Panti; the Officer-in-Charge, Public Complainants Bureau, (PCB), after which she was deployed to African Union Mission in Somalia AMISOM where she made the country proud and excelled as the Public Information Officer (PIO).

SP Ngbaronye attended the Advanced Detective Course, (ADC), Human Rights Protection Course among others within and outside Nigeria abd has been described  as an exemplary and intelligent officer. 

Since her resumption to office as DPPRO she been , assisting the Lagos State Police Command's Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi to coordinate media engagements for the Commissioner of Police and the Command.

 

Navy reiterates zero tolerance to economic sabotage, says allegation of aiding oil theft speculative

Navy reiterates zero tolerance to economic sabotage, says allegation of aiding oil theft speculative

 

 

The Nigeria Navy (NN) has dispelled rumours that its officers and ratings aid and abet crude oil theft and invasion of herders.

  In a statement by naval image-maker, Commodore Suleman Dahun, navy insisted that it was highly committed to zero tolerance to economic sabotage and indiscipline among officers and rank-and-file in their bid to secure Nigeria’s ocean.

 According to Commodore Dahun, “The attention of the Nigerian Navy has been drawn to a news report in some newspapers captioned ‘How Nigerian Navy Aids Crude Oil Theft, Herders’ Invasion’. While the report is largely speculative, lacking in facts and substance and one-sided, the Nigerian Navy notes the attempt to substantiate and legitimise the allegations contained therein by quoting an unnamed official of an organisation called Domestic Refineries Owners Association of Nigeria, who made grave allegations of complicity against Nigerian Navy personnel. “Thus, as a responsible Service, the Nigerian Navy intends to invite members of the purported organisation to assist in identifying the NN personnel who receive bribes to facilitate the alleged unpatriotic acts of economic sabotage.

  “In this respect, the Naval Headquarters wishes to further reiterate its position on zero tolerance for economic sabotage, isolated cases of personnel complicity in illegal acts as well as its resolve to fight all forms of criminal activities in the nation's maritime domain.

  “Accordingly, the Nigerian Navy encourages anyone with useful information regarding criminals operating in the Nigeria’s maritime environment or those aiding and abetting them, to please oblige the Service such information. The information so received and the informants are assured of utmost confidentiality in handling.

  “The Nigerian Navy wishes to enjoin our media partners to endeavour to verify the information sourced from other stakeholders in the maritime industry with the Naval   Headquarters especially those that pertain to maritime security.

  “While thanking the general public for its continuous support and cooperation, the Nigerian Navy assures of its commitment to the general security and economic prosperity of the nation”.

 

 

 Navy reiterates zero tolerance to economic sabotage, says allegation of aiding oil theft speculative

 

 

The Nigeria Navy (NN) has dispelled rumours that its officers and ratings aid and abet crude oil theft and invasion of herders.

  In a statement by naval image-maker, Commodore Suleman Dahun, navy insisted that it was highly committed to zero tolerance to economic sabotage and indiscipline among officers and rank-and-file in their bid to secure Nigeria’s ocean.

 According to Commodore Dahun, “The attention of the Nigerian Navy has been drawn to a news report in some newspapers captioned ‘How Nigerian Navy Aids Crude Oil Theft, Herders’ Invasion’. While the report is largely speculative, lacking in facts and substance and one-sided, the Nigerian Navy notes the attempt to substantiate and legitimise the allegations contained therein by quoting an unnamed official of an organisation called Domestic Refineries Owners Association of Nigeria, who made grave allegations of complicity against Nigerian Navy personnel. “Thus, as a responsible Service, the Nigerian Navy intends to invite members of the purported organisation to assist in identifying the NN personnel who receive bribes to facilitate the alleged unpatriotic acts of economic sabotage.

  “In this respect, the Naval Headquarters wishes to further reiterate its position on zero tolerance for economic sabotage, isolated cases of personnel complicity in illegal acts as well as its resolve to fight all forms of criminal activities in the nation's maritime domain.

  “Accordingly, the Nigerian Navy encourages anyone with useful information regarding criminals operating in the Nigeria’s maritime environment or those aiding and abetting them, to please oblige the Service such information. The information so received and the informants are assured of utmost confidentiality in handling.

  “The Nigerian Navy wishes to enjoin our media partners to endeavour to verify the information sourced from other stakeholders in the maritime industry with the Naval   Headquarters especially those that pertain to maritime security.

  “While thanking the general public for its continuous support and cooperation, the Nigerian Navy assures of its commitment to the general security and economic prosperity of the nation”.

 

Navy denies allegation of aiding oil thieves, economic sabotage

 

 

By Patience Ogbo

 

 Nigeria Navy has dispelled rumours that its officers and ratings aid and abet crude oil theft and invasion of herders.

  In a statement by naval image-maker, Commodore Suleman Dahun, navy insisted that it was highly committed to zero tolerance to economic sabotage and indiscipline among officers and rank-and-file in their bid to secure Nigeria’s ocean.

 According to Commodore Dahun, “The attention of the Nigerian Navy has been drawn to a news report in some newspapers captioned ‘How Nigerian Navy Aids Crude Oil Theft, Herders’ Invasion’. While the report is largely speculative, lacking in facts and substance and one-sided, the Nigerian Navy notes the attempt to substantiate and legitimise the allegations contained therein by quoting an unnamed official of an organisation called Domestic Refineries Owners Association of Nigeria, who made grave allegations of complicity against Nigerian Navy personnel. “Thus, as a responsible Service, the Nigerian Navy intends to invite members of the purported organisation to assist in identifying the NN personnel who receive bribes to facilitate the alleged unpatriotic acts of economic sabotage.

  “In this respect, the Naval Headquarters wishes to further reiterate its position on zero tolerance for economic sabotage, isolated cases of personnel complicity in illegal acts as well as its resolve to fight all forms of criminal activities in the nation's maritime domain.

  “Accordingly, the Nigerian Navy encourages anyone with useful information regarding criminals operating in the Nigeria’s maritime environment or those aiding and abetting them, to please oblige the Service such information. The information so received and the informants are assured of utmost confidentiality in handling.

  “The Nigerian Navy wishes to enjoin our media partners to endeavour to verify the information sourced from other stakeholders in the maritime industry with the Naval   Headquarters especially those that pertain to maritime security.

  “While thanking the general public for its continuous support and cooperation, the Nigerian Navy assures of its commitment to the general security and economic prosperity of the nation”.

 

How :Kidnapped Punch Correspondent was freed.

Victor Nnodim a Correspondent with Punch Newspaper who was kidnapped last Thursday has been freed. His colleague Simon Ejimbi confirmed his  release.

He said "Nnodim has been freed. I just got off the phone with his wife and I was able to speak with him briefly. Thank God"

According to sources, a ransom was  paid for his release but family members are not willing to speak in that regards. 

Nnodim was kidnapped on Thursday night kidnapped in his residence in the Arab area in Kubwa Abuja.

According to his wife Oluchi, fierce looking gunmen stormed their apartment after they successfully shot into the air and scaled the brick fence surrounding the house.

She added that her husband was working on his laptop when the gunmen entered their apartment. She added that following the gunshots, her husband had asked her to take the children into the inner room. 

" They asked for money but my husband said he didn't have any on him so they ordered him to follow them. The gun men also kidnapped two of our neighbour's sons". 

Police sources said a manhunt has began to secure the release of Mr. Nnodim and the two young men. 

Nnodim began his career in journalism at the defunct 234next newspaper where he reported the Aviation beat before moving to the Punch Newspaper. 

CISLAC partners journalists to push Legislation on

 

CISLAC partners journalists to push  Legislation on Protection of Civilians 

By Patience Ogbo

Journalists covering the Defence and Crime beats have been urged to project dangers civilians face during military operations across the country. 

This admonition was given during a one day training programme organised by the Civil Society Advocacy Group, CISLAC focusing on the issue of Protection of Civilians, (PoC) and Civilian Harm Mitigation.

CISLAC Program Manager, Mr. Salaudeen Hashim said "PoC is new in the whole of Africa and if Nigeria begins to legislate and begin to design in-house mechanism that works, it will help develop Civilian Harm Mitigation infrastructure. And because we are pushing for a legislation, it becomes imperative to engage with the media, so that they can actually take this forward as a medium to begin to influence decision makers"

He  urged the media to put PoC in the front burners   in their news reportage .

“ The media has a whole lot to play in terms of influencing and advocating for a legislation on Protection of Civilians and that is why we believe in using different of their own contacts to push this conversation going forward. We can not ignore the successes the media has recorded over the years.”

“Post-independent Nigeria, the media has been very strategic and has come thus far, and I think that is not arguable and I think they’ve indeed provided a whole lot of contribution in terms or national development. PoC is new, so if Nigeria goes on to put that policy framework in place, it becomes the first in the whole of Africa to do so. And I think that those within the regime and corridors of power will want their name to go down well in history.”

 

 

How Punch Correspondent was kidnapped in Abuja. 

Okechukwu Nnodim a Punch Correspondent was on Thursday night kidnapped in the Arab area in Kubwa Abuja.

According to his wife Oluchi, fierce looking gunmen stormed their apartment after they successfully shot into the air and scaled the brick fence surrounding the house.

She added that her husband was working on his laptop when the gunmen entered their apartment. She added that following the gunshots, her husband had asked her to take the children into the inner room. 

" They asked for money but my husband said he didn't have any on him so they ordered him to follow them. The gun men also kidnapped two of our neighbour's sons". 

Police sources said a manhunt has began to secure the release of Mr. Nnodim and the two young men. 

Nnodim began his career in journalism at the defunct 234next newspaper where he reported the Aviation beat before moving to the Punch Newspaper. 

Teenage Girl Wants her surname changed after her father allegedly raped her

 

Girl wants her surname changed after father allegedly raped her. 

A 19 year old secondary school girl, Linda not real name said she  has been living with the trauma of rape experience she allegedly suffered in the hands of her father one Mr.  Akanni 

Linda who said her father raped her in 2019  added that  his threat that she would die if she exposed the crime further compounded the trauma and pain she suffered.

Following the rape, Linda is appealing to her mother to change her surname failure which she might commit suicide.

Narrating how her father allegedly raped her, Linda 19  said. 

"Sometimes in 2019, I went to stay with  my aunty, my father's sister one Mrs Modinat Akanni in Ilogbo Ifo Ogun.My father came to see his sister. There was a day he called me  into the room and immediately I got inside, he shut the door behind and pushed me. The room is in a deserted area and he used his hands to cover my mouth. He said I should not shout. Even if I shouted, nobody would have heard me. He pulled my dressed and went on to rape me. He told me that when he was done, that I should not tell anyone or else, I would die. I kept the rape to myself but I couldn't bear it any more. So I spoke up and my mother got to know. I want government to punish him for what he did to me. I want him to be jailed but my fear is that if he goes to jail, who will pay for my university education? I want government to punish him but he should be made to pay for my university education" 

Mrs Ayinde Rasheedat , mother of Linda said she brought the matter to her attention of her estranged  husband but he denied it. He said "I am  married to Mr Akanni Nurudeen an Artisan and Building contractor who  lives at Elebute, Iya Na Ilogbo Ifo local government Ogun state. We have been married for more than twenty years and the marriage is blessed with two children but our second child a boy died . We both move to Oke Aro area, suddenly my husband became irresponsible and fornicates with other people and neighbors wife,and continued to maltreat me and my daughter all the family and relatives efforts resulted to nothing and he persisted in devilish acts.

Then I have to move on with my life. I relocated to another area with my daughter, after six to ten years I introduced my daughter to her father, since he is not fulfilling  his  responsibility towards  her. 

But something terrible happened on 28th December 2019. When Mr Akanni Nurudeen  her father forcefully raped our daughter and threatened her to keep the secret or die miserably at his sister's house in Ilogbo Ifo Ogun state .I got to know this when my daughter asked  me to allow her change her surname and she became  kind of sluggish  in the house, she narrated the rape  to my sister Mrs Lateefat and she told me about it.  "

The alleged rape was reported to a human rights activist Mr. Agbodemu Musbau Ishola who  condemned the act and vowed to ensure justice is served.  He said " This is unbelievable. How can a father do this to his own child and still went on to threaten her with death? Thank God she spoke up and exposed the rape. I call on other women and girls to speak up against rape. This girl has tried to commit suicide twice since the incident if she does not get justice. We will report the matter to human rights group and the necessary action and support will be given to her"

When contacted, Mr. Akanni denied the allegation. " I never raped my daughter. This is the handiwork of my estranged wife. As I am speaking with you, I am paralysed. I was involved in a ghastly accident in November 2020  That accident had paralysed me. The allegation is false and I am hearing it from you for the first time"