CEO in court for using N10m mistakenly deposited to his account

One Olukunle Owolabi, the Chief Executive Officer of an oil and gas company,  was on Tuesday arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate’s Court, sitting at Igbosere, for allegedly using the N10m mistakenly deposited into his bank account.

The man, who resides in Ogudu GRA, Lagos, is facing a 1-count charge of fraud preferred against him by the Police.

The defendant, 53, alongside his company, was charged before Magistrate F. O. Botoku.

The prosecutor, Chinedu Njoku, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on April 5.

Njoku said the incident occurred at 2, Tinubu Street, Lagos Island.

According to him, at about 11a.m the defendant fraudulently converted N10 million belonging to a bank, which was deposited into his account by Telecorev Nigeria Limited on March 31.

The prosecutor told the court that the defendant’s account was last used by him in 2016.

He said he suddenly got an alert from the bank, he transferred the entire money into his account in another bank and used it in paying off his debts.

The defendant, during his arraignment, told the court that on March 31, he received an alert of N10 million.

Olukunle said he thought the money was from one of his customers or debtors.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Magistrate Botoku granted him bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like sum.

She said the sureties must be gainfully employed and show evidence of payment of tax to Lagos State government with verification of addresses.

Botoku, however, adjourned the case to December 19 for a mention.

The offence, he said is punishable under section 285 (5a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

99 percent importers evade duty - Nigeria customs

The Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd) Thursday said that 99 per cent of the nation’s importers are non-compliant with the customs duty and charges.

According to him, the importers are unpatriotic to Nigeria even when they pay duty to other countries they deny theirs its dues.

Ali, who was speaking as the Chief Host at the public presentation of the book “Appraisal of Crime of Smuggling in Nigeria,” in Abuja, pointed out that the belief of a typical Nigerian, is that he does not owe his country any obligation.

Narrating his encounter with an importer, who settled all the charges for two cars  in Benin Republic and Niger Republic and evaded Nigeria’s, he said that  “somebody picked up two cars from Benin Republic, when he landed in Benin he paid every charges, he move them to Niger, and paid every charges he is supposed to pay.

“But those cars are destined for Nigeria. When he now comes to Nigeria, he decided to take an un-costumed route and brought those cars to Nigeria. And when we did apprehend those vehicles the question I asked him is why are you so unpatriotic?

“You could pay to Benin Republic, you could pay to Niger, and then coming to your own home, you don’t want to pay. He said the duty is too high.

“And I said then why did you buy the two cars in the first place?  This is the mentality of the Nigerian; he does not believe that he owes anything to his own country.”

The country, he said, cannot make progress in a situation, where people are not complying with the law and unfortunately, all that Nigerians think is how to circumvent the law.

He commended the author of the book, Musa Omale for not allowing his knowledge, experience and writing skills to die.

The customs boss noted that the book has made the job of the NCS easier and enjoined all the stakeholders to buy and read it.

He assured the author that the Nigeria Customs Service will deploy copies of the books to its libraries and commands.

Speaking with journalists, immediate past president of Association of Nigerian License Customs Agents, Chief Ernest Elochukwu noted that book is an exposure of the dimension of smuggling and the laws that are in place to tackle it.

He said that the fight against smuggling can also be viewed from other angles like the creation of an enabling environment that does not promote smuggling.

This, he said, government can achieve that by making sensible policies in terms of what it bans and does not ban.

He submitted that “when there is so much of ban in the list of items that could be imported into the country, especially if they are essential items, the issue of smuggling becomes inevitable.”

Meanwhile, the author said that what motivated him is that he has been in the Customs for past 26 years and as an experience officer about the level of damage of smuggling to the economy and decided to turn his research for PhD on smuggling into a book.- The Nation

20 Nigerian girls sold off in Libya

A Nigerian returnee from Libya has spoken of how 20 Nigerian girls were sold off as slaves in Libya.

He also gave a chilling account of how he and others were fleeced and transported to Libya with a promise of better life in Europe, only to land in penury and end up in jail in the north African country.

Many of the returnees, who are camped in Benin-City, the Edo State capital, look skinny and exhausted. Some of the women are carrying babies, whose fathers are not known.

Alex Otoide is one of the 168 Nigerians evacuated from the north African country, and are currently being rehabilitated by Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki.

The governor has promised to train them in skills required to reintegrate them back into the society.

Otoide said he witnessed the sale of 20 Nigeria girls in the prison where they were all kept.

“They sold about 20 girls in the night. I saw it. It was God that saved me.”

Recounting his ordeal, he said: “I left Nigeria with N500,000. I spent six months in Libya jail after the man that took my money ran away.

“We were 55 that travelled from here to Libya, 25 people died in the desert.

“More than seven people died from hunger and thirst inside the prison.

”Can’t you see how I look lean and hungry? I need to go for treatment.”

He said a fellow whose name he gave as Charles also a Nigerian, collected the N500,000 from him.

Apart from persuading them to travel, he also collected money in addition to running a transit camp in Libya for those travelling illegally across the Mediterranean to Europe.

Some of the deportees said Charles collected money for the purpose of taking them to Europe only to abandon them in Libya.

They claimed that Charles had several bank accounts with different names through which he collected money from victims.

He is also accused of running the Libyan camp where Nigerians are kept for days without food.

Another returnee Osas Blessing said Charles is among those nicknamed “burgers” or “connection man” on the Libya route.

He said: “I gave Charles N450,000 but when I got to Libya he increased it to N600,000. He is very wicked. He does not care for human life. He is a Benin man. He will say if you die you die. He pushed us into the sea at the wrong time.

“I heard he just left Nigeria with new passengers to Libya. He has frustrated many Nigerians.”

Another returnee who refused to give his name said another Nigerian known simply as “Biafra” was responsible for many atrocities committed against Nigerian migrants in Libya. - The Nation 

David Silva extends contract with Manchester City

Silva is set to remain as the Premier League leaders' creative fulcrum after signing a contract extension running until 2020.

He has dazzled since joining City from Valencia in 2010 and the Spain international is widely regarded as one of the finest players in the club's history.

Txiki Begiristain, City director of football,  welcomed the news by hailing Silva as "the best creative midfielder in English football" and the numbers produced by the 31-year-old throughout this decade certainly add weight to that claim.

Really??? APC rep vows not to seek re-election — because ‘we didn’t achieve much with 2017 budget’

Babale Bashir, a member of the house of representatives, says he has no intention of seeking re-election into the lower legislative chamber.

Bashir said this on Wednesday on the floor of the house while contributing to the debate on the 2018 budget.

The lawmaker, who represents Minjibir/Ungogo constituency of Kano state, said the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration achieved little “with the capital aspect of the 2017 budget”.

He wondered what would be said about the lawmakers’ work when they leave parliament.

While noting that the APC entered a social contract with Nigerians in 2015, the lawmaker said the party had up to 2019 to deliver to deliver on its promises.

The lawmaker said the ruling party should use the 2018 and 2019 budgets to fulfill its promises to Nigerians.

“Let me inform the house that I have no intention of coming back. We didn’t achieve much with the capital aspect of the 2017 budget. In 2015, we entered a social contract with Nigerians. When we leave here, what would be said about what we have done,” Bashir said.

“Because of poor revenue generation, the question is what have you done to increase revenue generation, yet Mr President came and talk about the huge chunk voted for capital expenditure, we need to make a distinction between administrative and developmental component of the budget

“Some ministries spend N300 million out of the N500 million voted for capital project on administrative training.

“Another issue we need to look at is the projected oil production of 2.5 million barrel per day, and the current oil price of $62, we need to ask ourselves, why is the oil price currently at this price?

“There are two reasons; geo-political upheaval in the Middle-East. If today we have some peace in this region, the oil price would come down, and the second reason is the little peace we are having in the Niger Delta. If today there is any crisis in the Niger delta then we are going to have a drop in the production volume.

“I have not seen any step taken by the government to address this uncertainty, yes there is the Ogoni clean up.

“This is a clarion call for us to do the needful, we have till 2019 to deliver the promises we made to Nigerians. So this budget and 2019 budget is the only hope we have. We need to shine a microscopic light on the budget where ever there is capital development.” - Cable Nigeria

Pictured :33-year-old Woman declared wanted for human trafficking

One woman, Perebi Otubo, has been declared wanted for allegedly trafficking Nigerian girls to Dubai, United Arab Emirates for commercial sex work.

The woman who hails from Bomadi, Delta State returned to Nigeria in July 2017 after serving a jail term in Dubai for same offences.

Agents of the National Agency for the prohibition of Trafficking in Person have said Otubo, allegedly belonged to an international syndicate which trafficked girls to Dubia and Abu Dhabi.
Other members of the syndicate have been arrested by NAPTIP and are facing prosecution in the court.

The manhunt was confirmed by the agency’s Head, Press and Public Relation Officer, Josiah Emerole who said Otubo belonged to an international trafficking ring that traffic girls to Dubai for the purpose of prostitution.

“Otubo is wanted for human trafficking. She has been linked to an international trafficking ring that specialises in trafficking young girls from Nigeria to Dubia and Abu Dhabi in UAE for sexual exploitation.

“She was recently jailed in Dubai for human trafficking. She was released in July 2017 and is currently at large, hiding somewhere in Nigeria.

“Her accomplices and recruiters in Nigeria have been arrested by NAPTIP and her currently facing prosecution in court.

“We want the public to assist us in locating her.”

The Director-General of NAPTIP, Julie Okah-Donli urges travel agents to be mindful of the clause in their contact agreement, adding that the penalty for aiding and abetting human traffickers upon conviction was ‘a jail term and a fine of not more than N10m’.

OMG !!! Pregnant woman, six others crushed to death in Ogun state motor accident

More than seven people, including a pregnant woman, were crushed to death on Tuesday in an accident at a mechanic village along OGTV/Ajebo road in Abeokuta.

It was gathered that a white Volvo truck with registration number: KJA 731 XP had break failure and lost control which led to a head-on collision with a blue bird car with registration number: ED 638 EKY.

Ogun Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Clement Oladele, confirming the incident said the accident happened on tuesday night.

The FRSC boss said, “The truck with registration number: KJA 731 XP had break failure and lost control which led to a head-on collision with the blue bird car with registration number: ED 638 EKY, coming from opposite direction.

“The truck was coming from OGTV road going into Abeokuta, while the car was going to Mile 6.

“The accident involved nine people – seven males, one female and one child, but five males, one female and one child died in the accident.The only dead female victim was pregnant.”

“The driver of the truck who caused the accident is at large, he fled the scene of the accident.”Oladele added.

The sector commander added that the corpses of the victims were taken to Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, mortuary, and the injured ones admitted at the hospital.

Arsenal boss praises Ozil 'fight'

 Wenger thinks Mesut Ozil is "showing he can fight" after he played a starring role in Arsenal's 5-0 win over Huddersfield on Wednesday.

Arsenal laboured for fluency and precision after claiming the early lead, but eventually took full control in the final quarter.

The striker, Ozil dominated the late proceedings, ending the night with two assists and a goal of his own.

"Nobody has to convince us he's a great football player," said Wenger, of Ozil, whose contract with the Gunners expires next summer.

"Everybody knows in the stadium he's a great football player, but at the moment as well he shows he can fight.

"Our job is to encourage people to fight, but I think he always covered the distances in games, but he's at an age where he's more mature and understands what is more important and what is less important.

"Everybody wants to be acknowledged for his quality, and the judgements are sometimes harsh in a footballer's job. But overall I believe the majority of people here love him, and always loved him.

"When you look at the percentage of possession during a game, no matter what the game is, he always wants the ball. He never hides, he's always available.

"If you are dominated you touch the ball less, but when you win the ball, he always wants the ball."

Although Arsenal were comfortable winners against Huddersfield, they suffered a blow as Alexandre Lacazette went off injured.

The Germany international will miss Saturday's clash against Manchester United with a groin injury. - Sky Sports

Failed nation !!! Again, Kogi civil servant commits suicide

47 year-old Abdullahi Uye Zhiya from Oguma in Bassa Local Government of Kogi State has killed himself by intentionally drinking a dose of substance suspected to be poisonous chemical.

His frustration may not be unconnected to the non-payment of his salaries of about twelve months.

Close family sources told DAILY POST that for over one year, life had not been favourable as everything turned for the worst for him.

Another family source confirmed that he was a hardworking man, and that ” because he had been without salary for several months, his situation became unbearable.”

It was gathered that many relations have been reaching out to him in terms of help, but it was not sufficient as he decided to end it in death.

Another version of his story from some of his relatives indicated that the deceased may not have taken his life because of his economic challenges, but that there seemed to be other challenges which he refused to disclose.

According to the source, “We suspect that what happened has a spiritual undertone. The deceased at some point became withdrawn, but even when we asked he was never forthcoming.”

The deceased as the chief store officer at the State Universal Basic Education office in Oguma was described by his colleagues as an easy going man who avoided trouble. - Daily Post

Shocking !!! Kidnappers kill man of God

Some gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have killed a Pastor identified as Oluwafemi Komolafe along the Benin-Ijebu Ode Expressway at Ore in the Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State.

Komolafe was travelling with his son, Timilehin when the suspected kidnappers struck.

The incident was disclosed by the Ondo State Police Commissioner, Mr. Gbenga Adeyanju while speaking with journalists in his office on Wednesday.

Adeyanju disclosed that Timileyin has been rescued alongside two other travellers by men of his Command.

He said, “The man (pastor) was travelling with his son when the kidnappers stopped them on the road, they shot the man and took the boy away.

” Our men engaged the hoodlums in a shootout but they escaped. We even lost one of our men who went for the operation.

“After the incident, our men with the assistance of the local hunters combed the whole area. We attacked the hoodlums and we were able to rescue the three victims in their den.

” The boy whose father was killed and two other travellers who were going to Lagos from Port Harcourt were rescued successfully. ”