Terrorism : Fulani herdsmen kill SARS boss

The Officer-in-Charge of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Saki Unit in Oyo State Police Command, has been killed by Fulani herdsmen.

Nigerian Tribune reports that the SARS boss, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP, was killed on Tuesday night.

He was said to have been macheted to death by the Fulani herdsmen during an operation in a forest on the Saki-Ogbooro Road in Oke-Ogun area of the state.

The newspaper said police authorities in the state have confirmed the killing. - Daily Post

Money Laundering: Court Grants Ex-Nasarawa Gov’s Son N8m Bail

Justice J. K. Daggard of the Federal High Court sitting in Kano on February 7, 2018, granted Nuraini Adamu, son of former Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Adamu and one Felix Onyeabo bail in the sum of N8million each and two sureties in like sum. 

Nuraini is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes, EFCC, alongside Onyeabo for allegedly obtaining contract with forged documents.

The defendants were arraigned on January 17, 2018, on a 5-count charge of money laundering. 

Upon arraignment, the defendants pleaded not guilty and the case was adjourned to today for ruling on their bail application.

Justice Daggard granted the defendants bail in the sum of N8,000,000 (Eight Million Naira Only) each and two sureties in like sum. The sureties must have landed properties within the jurisdiction of the court and must deposit their international passports and affidavit of means with the court.

The case has been adjourned to March 28, 2018, for the commencement of the trial. 

 Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media, and Publicity

7 February, 2018

EFCC Arrests Fake American Colonel

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested one Barr. Mike Nkwocha, a self-professed Colonel of the United States Army, Richardson Obasogie for impersonating EFCC operatives to obtain $10,000 by false pretense.

The victim had petitioned the EFCC alleging that one Ladan Mustapha who claimed to be an operative of EFCC, gave him a call informing him that there was a petition against him which bordered on illegal acquisition of assets in different parts of the country and that he was currently a subject of investigation.  

Together with his partner Nkwocha, a meeting was arranged, in which $200,000 was demanded as gratification in order to “kill” the case, but $15,000 was later agreed upon as payment.  An initial payment of $5,000 cash was made to Nkwocha while he continued to pressure him for the balance of $10,000. 

However, suspecting foul play, after a retired personnel of the DSS told the petitioner that EFCC operatives don’t demand money to carry out official duties, the EFCC was petitioned.

Consequently, Nkwocha was arrested. Upon arrest, he confessed that Obasogie was the “brain” behind the fraud.

A search warrant was executed on their houses which resulted in the recovery of: letter-head papers of the United States Government, Department of State Services (DSS), National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Bayelsa State Government and one computer system.

Nkwocha and Obasogie will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded. 

Meanwhile, operatives are intensifying the search for Mustapha Lada, who is currently at large.

                Wilson Uwujaren

          Head, Media, and Publicity

                7 February 2018

Executive robber !!! EFCC Witness Reveals How Goje Forged House Approval to Secure Loan

The trial of Danjuma Goje, former governor, Gombe State and a serving Senator, on charges of financial misappropriation, came up on Tuesday, February 6, 2017, before Justice B. Quadri at the Federal High Court, Jos, with the 24th prosecution witness testifying. 

Goje is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in relation to alleged financial impropriety, including the contract on food supply to the state government house during his tenure as well as loan facilities taken from Access and Union Banks.

He is standing trial alongside Aliyu El-Nafaty, S. M. Dokoro and Sabo Muhammad Tumu.

At the sitting, counsel to the EFCC, Wahab Shittu, filed an amended 21-count charge against the defendants and they were all served, though yet to take their pleas.

Meanwhile, Chris Owobu, an operative of the EFCC and a member of the team that investigated the alleged offense gave a blow-by-blow account of how the resolution purported to have been passed by the Gombe State House of Assembly to authorize the approval of the N5billion facility from Access Bank was forged.

The PW24 stated that when Danjuma Goje was governor, he got an N5 billion facility from Access Bank without the approval of the Gombe State House of Assembly.

He added that Goje under investigation claimed that he got approval from Gombe State House of Assembly via a resolution passed by the House, but investigation revealed that on said day, the House did not sit nor pass any resolution regarding any loan as claimed by the former governor.

Owobu further told the court that it was the House that informed EFCC that the purported resolution was not from them.

 He said that the resolution, which has the name of the Clerk of the Gombe State House of Assembly, was later discovered to be forged.

“In the course of an investigation, we invited the Clerk to confirm whether he was the one who signed the resolution. His response was that there was no record of the House which had such resolution mandating the governor to access any loan from Access Bank.

“The clerk further told the investigators that the signature on the resolution was not his own, that it was forged. 

“We went further to collect specimen signature from the Clerk and send same with the one on the resolution to forensic expert for analysis. The report from the forensic expert revealed that the signature on the resolution is different from the specimen collected, thereby justifying the claim by the Clerk that his signature on the purported resolution was forged”, Owobu stated. 

Thereafter, the judge, adjourned to April 10 - 11, 2018 for a continuation of trial.

                Wilson Uwujaren

          Head, Media and Publicity

               7 February, 2018

Face of a fraudster ! Documents State Dokpesi’s Complicity In N2.1bn ONSA Fraud

The trial of Raymond Dokpesi, founder, African Independent Television and Daar Investment & Holdings Limited, in the N2.1billion ONSA fraud continued on Wednesday, February 7, 2018, before Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, with the testimony of the 12th prosecution witness, Abubakar Aliyu.

Aliyu, whose testimony started yesterday testified on series of correspondences between DAAR Investment and Holdings Limited, Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, and Twelve Media Houses, indicating that Dokpesi collected money to the tune of N2.1billion from ONSA.

Aliyu, who was led in evidence by A. O. Atolagbe, counsel to the EFCC, disclosed how analysis was carried on the proposal from DAAR Investment and Holdings Limited vis-à-vis the payment received from ONSA. 

According to him, a list of payments made in favour of some individuals and companies, which Dokpesi claimed was done in respect of the 2015 presidential election media engagements, was attached to the proposal.

The witness added that the alleged payment was diverted by the first defendant’s for personal use.

He listed the contracts as: “CWAY Tech, for the installation of water treatment in the defendant’s house in Abuja; Purchase of high capacity generator plants from Mikano for his village; Installation of security doors by Giland Nigeria Limited; Payment to Abuja Investment Company; Presidential and Vice President’s Debates and the securing of the International Conference Center, ICC, as venue for the debate."

The letter from Abuja Investment Company dated January 28, 2015 was tendered and admitted as "Exhibit J”.

The PW12 further revealed how analysis of the correspondences from ONSA showed that:

“ONSA funded the First Bank Account of DAAR Investment and Holdings Limited with money transferred from the Central Bank with the mandate dated January 21, 2015, showing A1."

“DAAR Investment and Holdings Limited is the second defendant."

"A2: transfer of N620million from ONSA in favour of DAAR Investment and Holdings Limited dated February 9, 2015."

"A3: another transfer of 500million from ONSA in favour of DAAR Investment and Holdings Limited dated March 19, 2015, totaling about N2.1billion.”

Aliyu added that analysis of the First Bank Account Opening Package confirmed that Raymond Paul Dokpesi was the owner of the said account. 

“Narrations from the statement of account clearly showed that prior to the instruction to credit the account from ONSA, a credit balance of N113, 885.25, dated January 22, 2015, was acquired from the account."

“Subsequently, monies diverted include N100million paid into the wife of the first defendant, Oluwatosin Dokpesi’s account; Gregory Osifo and Gabriel Agore, who are staff of DAAR Investment and Holdings Limited also received over N7million; N8million was used for political dues during the 2015 presidential campaign; N48million paid to Trendy Shades Nigeria Limited; N4.2million and N2.7million was used for extension of electricity installment of the AIT, Yola Office as well as N1.3million for drilling of borne hole n the Yola Office, amongst other financial transactions."

“If you recall there was a print and electronic media proposal in which the first defendant claimed they were used to carry out media activities for the presidential campaign in 2015." 

“The onus fell on EFCC to write to the various media houses some of which had fake addresses and contacts. A total of twelve media houses including Kiss FM, Hot FM, Silver Bird Communications, Punch Newspapers, Leadership Newspapers, The Guardian Newspapers, People’s Media Limited, Pilot Newspapers, Abuja Broadcasting Corporation, Kapital FM responded to the letter from EFCC”, Aliyu stated. 

The correspondences from the media houses were tendered and admitted as Exhibit K1-12 as Dokpesi’s lawyer, Agabi, raised no objection.

Thereafter, the case was adjourned to March 9, 2018 for continuation of trial.

              Wilson Uwujaren

         Head, Media and Publicity

             7 February, 2018

We’ll die in your prisons than go home – Africans dare Israel

African migrants in Israel have stated that they prefer going to prison in the European country than return to Africa.

Israeli Government has offered those who choose to leave by the end of March a cash incentive of $3,500.

The plan to force African migrants out of the country has also drawn criticism from the United Nations’ refugee agency.

Rwandans and Ugandans at Holot told Aljezera that returning to their different countries hold no prospects for them.

They said they had rather be imprisoned in Israel than embark on another journey into the unknown.

At a detention centre in Israel’s Negev desert, some of the migrants facing deportation said dying in Israeli prison would be a better option than returning.

“I won’t go there,” Abda Ishmael, a 28-year-old Eritrean, said in excellent Hebrew outside Holot, an open facility housing some 1,200 migrants and set to be shut down on April 1 as part of the government’s expulsion policy.

“Guys who were here and went to Rwanda and Uganda — we saw what happened to them,”‎ he said.

Israel is working to expel thousands of Eritreans and Sudanese who entered illegally over the years, giving them an ultimatum: ‘leave by April 1 or risk being imprisoned indefinitely’. - Daily Post

La Liga : Alexis Sanchez given 16-month prison sentence for tax fraud

Sanchez has accepted a 16-month prison sentence for committing tax fraud during his time at Barcelona.

The Manchester United forward was accused of defrauding the treasury of €1 million (£890,000) between 2012 and 2013, relating to income from his image rights.

Sanchez has reached an agreement with the prosecutor to pay the money he owes with interest.

The ex-Arsenal star is the latest football figure to be punished by Spanish prosecutors for dodging taxes.

Despite the verdict, the Chilean will not spend time in prison as he is a first offender and the sentence is less than two years.

Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Jose Mourinho and Ricardo Carvalho have all been pursued by the authorities recently.

Group asks FG to convert Sambisa forest to cattle colony

The South West Progressive Youth and People Movement (SWPYPM), a civil society group, has asked the federal government to convert Sambisa forest into a cattle colony.

The group made the call at a press briefing jointly organised with Journalists for Democratic Rights (JODER), Civil Coalition for Mandate Protection (CSC-MAP) and South West Students Movement (SWSM), in Lagos on Wednesday.

According to Taiwo Ajayi, national coordinator of SWPYPM, Sambisa forest which is located in Borno state, is a prime location that would meet the needs of cattle herders.

Ajayi said the landmass of the forest is large enough to house over 340 million cattle.

“We cannot afford to waste the entire Sambisa forest, herdsmen can take their cows there,” he said.

“Sambisa is a very large place that can house 340 million cows, they should make very productive use of that place instead of allowing Boko Haram people to stay there.”

Ajayi also expressed dissatisfaction with the response of President Muhammadu Buhari to herdsmen crisis.

“If he (Buhari) has given immunity to cattle, cows and the herdsmen, he should let us know,” he said.

“We don’t know why he cannot call them to order. The presidency should look into the issue as a matter of urgency and give it the desired urgent attention required.”

Adewale Adeoye, executive director, JODER, said government should act fast to end violent killings in the country.

“As a journalist that has covered conflict over several years, I know that this is how a country can plunge into another Rwanda,” he said.

Some members of the group wielding placards at the conference

“So if we don’t rise up to the occasion, we will have a big problem on our hands. Already people are dying like chicken. Nobody is talking about probing the issue, so at our own level as a civil society group, we said we should speak out. At least that is the best we can do since we’re not armed.”

Taiwo Adeleye, executive director, CSC-MAP, asked the federal government to look into the “cold-blooded killings” that have marred the peace in Nigeria for many years.

In his words, “the federal government has demonstrated a clear case of cold complicity as indicated in the various statements credited to the most important officials occupying some of the most strategic security institutions”.

“Civil society was in support of President Buhari in 2015,” he continued.

“It is not too late for him to change…to regain the dwindling public confidence in his administration.”

Peter Ogunsona, public relations officer of the South West Students Movement, said the body had held meetings with student union presidents of some universities in the south-west.

Ogunsona said the student unions have reached a consensus that they will not vote for the current administration in the 2019 elections if nothing is done about the Fulani herdsmen crisis.

“Youths of nowadays are fed up, nothing is even working,” he said.

“If you are not going to do anything about this Fulani herdsmen crisis, we students are not going to vote for you in 2019.”

While inaugurating some projects On Tuesday, Buhari asked Nigerians to desist from reprisal attacks and directed all security agencies in the country to “arrest and prosecute anyone found with illegal arms”. - Cable Nigeria

Husband’s killer sentenced to death by hanging

The High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Wednesday sentenced 30-year-old Victoria Gariga to death by hanging for killing her husband, Henry.

The court presided over by Justice Nayai Aganaba said the woman committed the crime on February 4, 2015 at their residence along Ebisam road in Akenfa, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

The victim, a lawyer from Sagbama local government area of the state and the convict from Brass were cohabiting for years before they legalised their union in 2014.

The union was yet to produce children before the unfortunate incident.

On the fateful day, Victoria stabbed her husband on the neck following a misunderstanding.

He was confirmed dead by doctors at the hospital.

Aganaba while reading his judgement said the prosecution called six witnesses and produced seven exhibits while the defence lawyer had only one witness who happened to be the accused person.

Aganaba, who went through his records, averred that the onus of proof rested with the prosecution in line with the three ingredients to prove a murder case.

He named the elements of murder as the actual death of the deceased, that the death was caused by the accused person and that the action of the accused person was intentional with the knowledge that death or grievous bodily harm was its probable consequence.

The judge asserted that the circumstantial evidence against the accused was overwhelming, adding that all facts confirmed she was the only person with the deceased at the time of death and the only person with the opportunity to kill him

He said Victoria committed a murder of passion caused by jealousy since the couple were obsessed with each other.

He said: “It is unfortunate that I can only pronounce the sentence prescribe by law. I wish I had the discretion to do otherwise.

“However that discretion rests with the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State. I am only left with the compulsion to pronounce the sentence prescribed by law. I hope that the person with the discretion would look at the circumstance of this case and do the needful.

“I hereby pronounce my sentence. My sentence upon you is that you shall hang on the neck until you die. May the Lord have mercy on your soul.” - The Nation

Grandfather arrested for raping three girls

A grandfather, Illiyasu Garba has been arrested for allegedly raping three underage girls in Maitumbi area in Minna, Niger state.

Two of the victims are aged 12 years while the third victim is 10 years old.

Garba who confessed to have been in the act for a long time was arrested after he raped the ten year old girl and her parents reported the case to the community head.

After reporting the case, the accused tried to negotiate his way out of the issue by offering to pay the Community Head and the parents of the girl so that the case would not be taken further.

However, luck ran out on him when a member of the community reported the case to the Niger state Child Right Agency who immediately swung into action by apprehending the accused.

The Nation learnt that Garba offered to pay off the parents with N20, 000 and give N5, 000 to the community head to bury the case.

Interrogating Garba in Minna, he admitted to have committed the offence said that he had sexual intercourse with the first and second victims who are aged 12 years a number of times, “I have slept with the first victim ten times while the second girl, I have slept with her six times. ”

Garba who said he had four grandchildren however said that he intended to marry one of the victims but her parents refused.

The accused pleaded for leniency saying that it would not happen again.

The Director General of the Child Right Agency, Barrister Mariam Kolo said that Garba had been tested medically and it was discovered that he had Hepatitis which he has infected the victims with.

She urged Community and District Heads not to try to hide such issues under the carpet but to report it as soon as it is reported to them.

Mariam Kolo said that the accused would be charged to court and persecuted while he would be responsible for the medical treatment of the victims. - The Nation

IBB, Obasanjo are expired leaders, they should stop advising Buhari on second term – Festus Keyamo

Festus Keyamo, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, has lashed out at former Presidents, Ibrahim Babangida and Olusegun Obasanjo for advising President Muhammadu Buhari not to seek reelection in 2019.

In a series of tweets via his verified Twitter handle, the Senior lawyer described both Babangida and Obasanjo as “expired leaders.”

Keyamo said expired leaders who tried all they could to extend their stay in office until they were chased out, should not advise Buhari.

He wrote: “Ironically, these expired leaders, IBB & OBJ, used all the tricks in the books to illegally extend their tenures in office until they were chased away by Nigerians, yet they’re the ones now advising Buhari to give up his LEGAL RIGHT to seek re-election. It’s hypocrisy at its best.

“The message we can take from d letters of OBJ & IBB is d urgent need 4 govt to address problems plaguing Nigeria. But d message we must reject with d messengers is their roadmap on d way forward. They’re too morally deficient to provide any political compass for this nation again.”

Obasanjo had advised Buhari against seeking re-election in the upcoming 2019 election due to the failure of the government.

Similarly, Babangida had last week asked Nigerians to vote Buhari out of office, come 2019. 

IBB, however, enjoined Nigerians to co-operate with Buhari until his tenure ends. - Daily Post

58-year-old Man in court for alleged certificate forgery

The long arm of the law has caught up with a man, Austine Adeusi, for allegedly forging a school certificate.

Adeusi is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and forgery at an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court.

Police Prosecutor, Inspector Johnson Okunade, told the court that the accused and others now at large committed the offence on June 9, 2017, at Okemeji Street Ado-Ekiti at about 10.00 a.m

Okunade said the accused who was the coordinator of a satellite school, Edo State Institute of Technology and Management Study here in Ado-Ekiti conspired together with others now at large and forged a school certificate for Mrs Osalomi Cecilia.

He said the offences contravened Section 516 (A) and 467 of the Criminal Code Cap C16 Vol.1 Laws of Ekiti State 2012.

Chief Magistrate Adesoji Adegboye granted the accused bail in the sum of N200,000‎, with two sureties in like sum.

He said each surety should pay a fine on N100,000 and that one of the sureties must be a civil servant from level twelve upwards.

The, accused, however pleaded innocence to the charges.

The court has adjourned hearing of the case until February 13 for mention.