The fiasco over Senator Dino Melaye’s fraudulent claims of possessing several degrees and certificates has continued to escalate as SaharaReporters learned today that the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) has discredited the senator’s assertion that he possesses a degree from the UK university. The university stated that it had absolutely no evidence that the senator received any formal education at the reputable university. LSE, which is based in London, is one of the higher institutions of learning where Mr. Melaye claimed that he had earned one certificate or another.
In an email to SaharaReporters, Candy Gibson, a Senior Media Relations Officer at LSE, stated, “We have checked our records and can find no evidence of Dino Melaye having any degree qualification from the London School of Economics and Political Science.”
Mr. Melaye, who runs no known form of business but flaunts his material possessions, especially such expensiveautomobiles as Bentley and Lamborghini, had claimed that he obtained seven degrees from several institutions, including Harvard and LSE. Under scrutiny, the senator’s academic claims have been exposed as bogus after a colleague of his, Senator Ali Ndume, urged the legislative body last Tuesday to probe Mr. Melaye’s educational records.
On various sites, including the official Senate online page as well as such social media forums as LinkedIn and Twitter, Mr. Melaye claimed that his educational profile includes degrees from seven universities. He created the impression that he earned three degrees from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Zaria, his first university where he purportedly graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Geography. Among his discredited or questionable academic claims are the assertion that he studied at the University of Abuja for a Masters in Policy Analysis, and received degrees from the London School of Economics and Political Science, Harvard University and a post-graduate degree from the University of Jos.
SaharaReporters has confirmed that at least two of these claims are outright falsehoods. The registrar’s office at Harvard University noted in a statement that while Mr. Melaye completed a week-long leadership seminar in November 2016, he did not graduate from the university. Then, just today, the London School of Economics and Political Science responded to our correspondent’s inquiry by stating unambiguously that there was no proof on the institution’s database that Mr. Melaye obtained any degree qualification from the school.
At one point, officials at ABU indicated their plan to make a statement on whether Mr. Melaye completed his coursework in the Department of Geography. However, they may have abandoned the plan following resistance from key officials of the Geography Department who insist that the senator never met the criteria for graduation.
Since last Tuesday when SaharaReporters broke the report that Mr. Melaye’s academic claims were hollow, the flamboyant senator tweeted a threat to sue the website for N5 billion.
Examination officers at the Department of Geography, where Mr. Melaye spent almost eight years as a student, told our correspondent that the senator never fulfilled his course requirements to graduate. They accused then Head of Department of Geography, David Ogbonna, of cooking up results to enable Mr. Melaye to evade course requirements, which included mandatory courses required for graduation.
SaharaReporters learned that since the certificate scandal broke, some top officials of ABU had been pressuring the staff of Geography Department to certify that Mr. Melaye graduated with a third class. A source at the Geography Department told our correspondent that such a certification would be fraudulent.
NDLEA operatives apprehended one Roland Chukwudi Tochukwu, 37, with 2.045kg of heroin imported from Nairobi, Kenya. Another suspect, Maduka Nnemeka Peter, 39, was also caught attempting to export 1.555kg of cocaine to Dubai from Lagos.Read more after cut... NDLEA operatives apprehended one Roland Chukwudi Tochukwu, 37, with 2.045kg of heroin imported from Nairobi, Kenya. The NDLEA disclosed that the suspect also possessed a fake ticket indicating that he was traveling from China. NDLEA spokesman Mitchell Ofoyeju said that he intentionally carried the fake travel ticket from China to circumvent security checks. “Preliminary investigation by the anti-narcotic agency revealed that Tochukwu deliberately replaced his ticket with a fake one showing that he was coming from China instead of Nairobi,” Mr. Ofoyeju said. “This was intended to place him on a low risk profile, but his expectations were dashed as the heroin concealed inside his luggage was detected during a screening of passengers on an Ethiopian Airline flight.”
Commenting on the arrest, NDLEA Commander at the Lagos airport, Ahmadu Garba, added that drugs are more expensive in Asia, so passengers from Asian countries are generally not suspected to be trafficking drugs from there. “The suspect wanted to distract the attention of officers by presenting himself as coming from China while he actually took off from Nairobi. This is because it is economically unwise to bring narcotics from China where the price is far higher than here in Nigeria,” Mr. Garba said. Another suspect, Maduka Nnemeka Peter, 39, was also caught attempting to export 1.555kg of cocaine to Dubai from Lagos. “Heroin weighing 2.045kg was found inside the luggage of Tochukwu while Maduka also concealed 1.555kg of cocaine in his luggage on his way to Dubai on an Etihad flight,” he said. Mr. Tochukwu, a trader in Onitsha who is married with three children, confessed that he was introduced to the illicit business by his friend. “This was the plan of my friend who introduced me into drug trafficking. I sell clothes in Onitsha, but my business is as good as dead due to the economic recession,” he said. “My friend that I contacted for financial assistance requested that I bring a bag containing heroin from Nairobi. The fake ticket was the plan of my friend who assured me that I will never be caught.”
Mr. Peter, an automobile parts dealer based in Aba with his wife and two children, also decried his involvement in the dastardly act. He claimed that he lost goods worth N4 million naira a few years ago and since the loss, his life has been difficult. Mr. Peter confessed that he would have been paid N200,000 by his sponsors if he succeeded with the exportation of the drugs out of the country, stressing that he had planned to use the proceeds to solve family problems. NDLEA Chief Executive Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd.) assured that the agency would continue to work hard and remain vigilant in its counter-narcotics mission. "We are always ahead of drug barons because of our commitment to training and security vigilance in detecting and nipping every subterfuge in the bud. The agency will continue to sustain its dominance over drug cartels,” Mr. Abdallah stated. The suspects, both Anambra State natives, will be charged to court.
A Nigerian pastor, Pastor Gabriel Atansuyi, has begged for justice after alleging that the Nigeria Police are trying to cover up the death of his gospel artist son, Ifedolapo. According to Punch, Atansuyi had in a statement on March 8, 2017, accused the police of killing his son while in custody, and attempting to pass it off as suicide.Read more after cut... Narrating how his son was killed, Atansuyi a woman named Tessy had accused him [Ifedolapo] of selling her iPhone without her consent. She reported the incident to her boyfriend, one Wale, who brought ‘his boys’ to beat and torture him before he was handed over to Police officers at the Jankara Police Post, Oko Awo where he died. In a post on his Facebook Page, the cleric said the Office of Public Defender has taken over the matter, adding that he was offered a car to agree that Ifedolapo committed suicide. He wrote, “On 9th March 2017 Thursday I was asked by my Human Rights activist that, we are at the point of negotiation, that do I want okada or car.
“On Monday 13th March 2017, the I.P.O. asked me that what do I need after we had argued for almost 30 or 40 minutes trying to convince me that it’s not the Police that killed my son while the D.P.O Adeniji Adele Mr Ayodele was recording with his phone but yet I insisted that it was Police that killed my Son. But they insisted that I [should agree that it was not] the Police that killed my son, I kept shut.” Atansuyi said the police did not arrest or detain anyone involved in the circumstances that led to his son’s death. He said, “I noticed their collaboration together against me because Police were involved. Assuming the Police were not involved in the matter, the perpetrators would have been detained. “I went with a lawyer on Monday 20th March 2017, then the story changed, they asked the others to go and asked only me to wait behind because their Oga wanted to see only me, but I had to leave quickly to avoid them, that they can do anything.
“I went to the mortuary yesterday, Tuesday 21 March, 2017 by 5:00 pm to collect the death certificate so I could bury my son, I was there, they said the person in charge is not around that I should come tomorrow which is today Wednesday 22 March, 2017. “I got there in the morning, I was asked to produce my ID card, I quickly rushed down to a business centre to do the ID. “On getting there I went with a lawyer from O.P.D office Surulere, who requested the result of the autopsy but she was not given, and I was asked to get my International Passport or driving license or voters card or National ID card. “Then I asked is that all they needed, they said including original receipt of the body, I said I didn’t have any receipt, they said it is with the Police, unless I go and get it from the Police officer, that they won’t be able to give me the body of my son.” See Pastor Atansuyi Facebook recent post below:
Seven people have been arrested in London, Birmingham and elsewhere in the country (Picture: SWNS)
Seven people have been arrested and six addresses raided in London, Birmingham and elsewhere in connection with the Westminster terror attack, Mark Rowley, the Met’s senior anti-terror officer, has said.
Officers stormed a flat in Birmingham late on Wednesday night, with West Midlands Police directing inquiries about the operation to the Metropolitan Police.
He spoke as MPs were returning to Parliament in a show of defiance.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has said the working assumption is that the Westminster attack is linked to Islamic terrorism.
Sir Michael said investigators were working around the clock.
He said: ‘They have been working right through the night, looking into his background, how he got hold of the vehicle, where the vehicle has been in the last day or two, and who may, or may not, have helped him.’
Police confirmed that four people died including PC Keith Palmer and the attacker (Picture: Reuters)
Asked if he was known to police, Sir Michael said: ‘I can’t confirm that, you will have to ask the police that.’
The Met Police initially refused to comment on the raid’s connection to the bloody assault on Westminster, but one witness told the Press Association: ‘The man from London lived here.’
Acting deputy commissioner of the Met Police Mark Rowley said: ‘It is our believe that the attacker acted alone during the Westminster attack yesterday and was inspired by international terrorism.
‘To be explicit – we have no specific information about further threats to the public at this time.’
The House of Commons and the House of Lords will sit at their normal times on Thursday, despite the parliamentary estate playing unwilling host to the attack the previous day.
A total of 29 people were killed in the attack (Picture: Reuters)
Police had previously said that five people had died in the attack, however that number has been revised down to four.
A total of 29 people have been injured and seven of them are in a critical condition. Police said that a man woman in her 40s and a man in his 50s had both been killed.
The police officer who was killed has been named as PC Keith Palmer, a member of the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Squad.
He was killed as he tried to stop the attacker at around 2.30pm yesterday.
The woman has been identified as Aysha Frade, a Spanish teacher on her way to pick her two children up from school.
The suspect, who was armed with two knives, injured around 40 people as he mowed down pedestrians with a car on Westminster Bridge before crashing at the railings in front of Parliament.
Police statement on Westminster attack
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Police refused to say whether it was connected to the London terror attack (Picture: Caters)
Police at the scene in Birmingham where a flat has been raided (Picture: Caters)
Bursting through the gate to the Palace of Westminster, he stabbed Pc Palmer before being shot dead by armed officers.
Theresa May praised the bravery of police officers on Wednesday night as it was announced Westminster would attempt to run as smoothly as normal.
In a statement from Downing Street, the Prime Minister said: ‘Any attempt to defeat those values through violence and terror is doomed to failure.
‘(Thursday) morning, Parliament will meet as normal. We will come together as normal.
The raid happened at around 11pm yesterday (Picture: Caters)
A witness said ‘the man from London lived here’ (Picture: Caters)
Arrests made in police raid in Birmingham
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‘And Londoners – and others from around the world who have come here to visit this great city – will get up and go about their day as normal.
‘They will board their trains, they will leave their hotels, they will walk these streets, they will live their lives.
‘And we will all move forward together, never giving in to terror and never allowing the voices of hate and evil to drive us apart.’
Donald Trump was among world leaders to offer their support.
Shortly after 1.30am UK time, the US president tweeted: ‘Spoke to UK Prime Minister Theresa May today to offer condolences on the terrorist attack in London. She is strong and doing very well.’
Counter-terror detectives will continue searching for clues to how an armed attacker brought destruction to London.
Several people have been arrested as a result of the raid in Birmingham (Picture: SWNS)
(Picture: SWNS)
Speaking outside Scotland Yard on Wednesday night, Acting Deputy Commissioner Mark Rowley, the Met’s senior anti-terror officer, said police believe the suspect was ‘inspired by international terrorism’, and they believe they know who he was.
Paying tribute to Pc Palmer, who had served the police for 15 years, Mr Rowley said: ‘Today in Westminster we saw tragic events unfold, and our thoughts are with those who lost loved ones, those who were injured and all those affected by this attack.
‘One of those who died today was a police officer, Pc Keith Palmer, a member of our parliamentary and diplomatic protection command. Keith, aged 48, had 15 years’ service and was a husband and father.
‘He was someone who left for work today expecting to return home at the end of his shift, and he had every right to expect that would happen.’
The attack has delayed the Queen’s planned visit to the new headquarters of the Metropolitan Police.
A picture taken through the door of the flat in Hagley Road, Birmingham (Picture: SWNS)
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said the decision had been taken to postpone the engagement in light of the attack.
Stories of heroism and bravery emerged from the incident, which brought central London to a standstill and closed transport networks around the capital shortly after 2.30pm on Wednesday.
Paramedics fought to save Pc Palmer, and his attacker, on the floor of the cobbled courtyard in front of Parliament, with Foreign Office minister Tobias Ellwood among those who rushed to help.
Mr Ellwood, who lost his brother in the Bali bombing, could be seen pumping the officer’s chest then standing above him, his hands and face smeared with blood.
Investigations continue today near the Houses of Parliament (Picture: Reuters)
Terror struck at the heart of British democracy yesterday (Picture: PA)
Armed officers, some in plain clothes and wearing balaclavas, swarmed around the yard feet from where MPs had earlier attended Prime Minister’s Questions.
The knifeman’s attack left a trail of destruction as paramedics tended to victims on the bridge and at the gate.
One woman hit by the attacker’s car before he reached Parliament was confirmed dead by a doctor at St Thomas’ Hospital. Others on the bridge suffered ‘catastrophic injuries’.
Another woman who fell into the Thames was rescued and given urgent medical treatment on a nearby pier.
A party of French schoolchildren were among those targeted on the bridge, while four students from Edge Hill University in Ormskirk were also hurt – two described as ‘walking wounded’, and another couple said to have minor injuries.
Romanian and South Korean tourists were also caught up in the tragedy.
Mark Rowley's statement in full
Good morning – I am here to update you on our ongoing counter terrorism operation following the horrific attack in Westminster.
Greater clarity is now developing regarding the casualty figures as we have now collated information from the public and five hospitals – the latest figures I have are that there are currently four dead and 29 people were treated in hospital.
We are still collating numbers of walking wounded and of those in hospital sadly 7 of them are in a critical condition.
Tragically the deaths included PC Keith Palmer who was protecting Parliament, and two members of the public – a woman aged in her mid 40’s and a man aged in his mid 50’s.
The fourth man of course was the terrorist who was shot dead by armed police at the scene.
Hundreds of detectives have been working through the night and during that time I can confirm we have searched six addresses – and made seven arrests. The inquiries in Birmingham, London and other parts of the country continue.
It is still our belief – which continues to be born out by our investigation – that this attacker acted alone yesterday and was inspired by international terrorism.
To be explicit – at this stage, we have no specific information about further threats to the public.
Clearly our investigation is ongoing – developing all the time – and is focused on his motivation, his preparation and associates.
I do recognise that the media are making progress in identifying the attacker – I would continue to ask that his name is not published whilst we are at such a sensitive stage in our investigation – and as I state still conducting arrests and searches.
The large and complicated crime scene remains in place and our work there continues – I would like to thank everyone for their support and patience as we finish this work.
As people are out and about on the streets of the Capital this morning they will see more police officers on duty – armed and unarmed – and a mix of British Transport Police and the City of London.
We have cancelled some leave and increased some duty hours and are working to make sure that we can out in force to reassure the public.
We must not allow terrorists to create discord, distrust and fear.
The police stand with all communities – later today a meeting of faith leaders will be held here at New Scotland Yard.
Whilst our work to investigate and understand what happened yesterday continues with vigour – we must also reflect.
I want to thank the public for their support and all their good wishes – I know it is appreciated by all those men and women who are out there today protecting us.
Finally, I would also like to ask the public for their continued help and continued vigilance and if you see anything that causes you concern or raises your suspicions do not hesitate to call us – 0800 789 321 – or in an emergency 999.
Senator Dino Melaye
