'Alooter' boy !!! Doyin Okupe docked over N702m fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Dr Doyin Okupe at the Federal High Court, Maitama.

Okupe, a former aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan, was arraigned before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu on Monday in Abuja.

He was arraigned along with two companies, Value Trust Investment Ltd and Abrahams Telecoms Ltd, over allegations of fraud.

According to a statement from the anti-graft agency, Okupe was charged with 59 counts bordering on “money laundering and criminal diversion of funds” to the tune of N702 million.

One of the counts read: “That you, Dr Doyin Okupe, being the Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan from July 2012 to May 2015, and being the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, and a signatory to the bank account of Abrahams Telecoms Ltd, on or about the 3rd October, 2014 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, directly took possession or control of the sum of N35 million, transferred to the account of Abrahams Telecoms Ltd from the account of the Office of the National Security Adviser with the Central Bank of Nigeria purporting to be for special services when you reasonably ought to have known that the said fund formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity”.

Okupe who is also a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), however, pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.

Upon his plea, the prosecuting counsel, Ibrahim Audu, asked for a date for the commencement of the trial.

But Okupe’s counsel, Tolu Babaleiye, through a motion on notice dated December 17, 2018, prayed the court to admit the defendant to bail.

He said, “The defendant will in no way tamper with evidence since the proof of evidence is before the court that means investigation has been concluded,” he said.

After listening to both parties, Justice Ojukwu granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N100 million with one surety in like sum.

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OGUN STATE : Kashamu retains guber ticket as court strikes out Adebutu’s suit

A federal capital territory high court on Monday dismissed the suit filed by Ladi Adebutu to challenge the nomination of Buruji Kashamu as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun state.

Kashamu, senator representing Ogun east and Adebutu had been at loggerheads over the governorship ticket of the PDP in the state.

In the suit, Adebutu asked the court to declare him the authentic candidate of the party for the March 2 governorship election.

While delivering judgement, Ajoke Adepoju, the presiding judge, said the case filed by Adebutu cannot be maintained to declare him the governorship candidate of the PDP.

Adepoju said although Adebutu was nominated by the national working committee (NWC) of the party, the primary election where he emerged as candidate was conducted in violation of a subsisting court judgment.

The judge held that the PDP national working committee acted in bad faith by flouting a subsisting judgment of a federal high court delivered by Ibrahim Buba.

Adepoju added that the judgment was binding on the party and must be respected to protect the sanctity of court in the interest of the rule of law.

The judge said the national working committee cannot not conduct a valid primary election without the Ogun state chapter of the party until the judgment of the federal high court has been set aside by a higher court.

Adepoju dismissed the suit in its entirety, citing the need for sanctity and judgments of courts to be protected by parties or individuals.

With the judgment, Kashamu and the candidates that emerged through the primary election conducted by the Adebayo Dayo-led faction remain the party’s flagbearers for the forthcoming election.

On Thursday, Kashamu had called on his supporters to work with Adebutu in the interest of the party.

- THE CABLE

Zlatan Ibrahimovic blasts Ronaldo for challenging Messi to play in Italy

Former Manchester United striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has criticised the challenge thrown by Juventus forward, Cristiano Ronaldo to Barcelona captain, Lionel Messi to come to Italy and test himself in another league.

Ronaldo left Real Madrid after nine years in the summer, to sign for Juventus, which all but ended his long-term rivalry with Messi.

Since leaving La Liga, Ronaldo has been continually asked to discuss Messi and earlier in the season, sent the Argentine captain a challenge.

The Portuguese said: “I played in England, Spain, Italy, Portugal, in the national team, while he is still in Spain. Maybe he needs me more.

“For me, life is a challenge, I like it and I like to make people happy. I would like him to come to Italy one day. Like me, accept the challenge.”

But reacting, Ibrahimovic told Ronaldo that a move to Juventus is no big challenge, stressing that the Old Lady is far from being a challenge as it is already a team that has been easily winning titles for years.

Ibrahimovic was quoted by Voetbal Nieuws as saying: “Cristiano is talking about new challenges, he calls it a challenge to move to a club where it is already normal to win the Serie A. Why did he not choose a club from a second division a few years ago?”

“Try to become a champion with such a second-division champion and lead them to the highest level, which is a challenge. It is bulls***, moving to Juventus is not a challenge at all.”

Meanwhile, Messi has already responded to Ronaldo challenging him to sign for an Italian team.

The 31-year-old insisted he does not need to change his current club, Barcelona.

Messi said: “Accepting Ronaldo’s challenge to join Italian football? I don’t need any change.

“I’m at the best team in the world. My challenges are renewed year after year. I do not need to change teams or leagues to set new goals. I am at home and I do not need to change.”

- DAILY POST

CJN Onnoghen: What Buhari should do – SERAP

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to instruct the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, SAN, to immediately withdraw the charges against the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen and to send any allegations of breach of asset declaration provisions of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) to the National Judicial Council (NJC) for investigation.

The organization said: “Mr Malami should then request Justice Onnoghen as the Chairman of the NJC to recuse himself so that the next most senior justice at the Supreme Court can preside over the process and set up a panel to investigate the allegations against Justice Onnoghen to ensure fairness and justice in the matter.”
In a statement on Monday by SERAP senior legal adviser, Bamisope Adeyanju, the organisation said: “We believe that enforcing asset declaration provisions would help to prevent corruption and abuse of office and ensure transparency in public officers including judges. But the government should follow due process of law, and allow the NJC to consider the allegations against Justice Onnoghen first before pushing for prosecution, should there be any relevant admissible evidence. This would help to accord Justice Onoghen his entire rights through laid down process.”

The statement reads in part: “The moral guilt or the legal guilt of Justice Onnoghen should be left for the judicial process to decide, as he is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction. For now, the fundamental question is whether he is afforded the due process of law, as he is constitutionally and legally entitled to. This is our interest in this case, and this should be the interest of every lover of justice.”
“It is the principle of due process of law which is at stake in this case, the soul and spirit of which will be endangered if Justice Onnoghen’s case continues to be heard before the Code of Conduct Tribunal. A denial of justice to one citizen is a denial of such to all. Due process here requires that Justice Onnoghe be given an opportunity to have allegations against him heard by the NJC.”
“The bringing of this case against Justice Onnoghen before the Code of Conduct Tribunal would appear to have fallen below the minimum procedural standards of legal justice, which in turn would affect the quality of justice he receives. Due process rights should not be curtailed in the interest of expediting enforcement of asset declaration provisions. The authorities have the responsibility to ensure fair treatment of judges or others who face these kinds of charges that may ultimately lead to deprivation of liberty.”

“Preventing the NJC to first hear the allegations against Justice Onnoghen would deny him his constitutionally and internationally recognized right to a fair hearing and lead to the matter being unnecessary politicised.”
“The authorities may have a strong case against him but the possibility of success is diminished if the proper procedure is not followed. The requirements of justice and success of the fight against corruption justify the fundamental need to ensure and apply due process rights in this case.”
- DAILY POST

Bisi Alimi mocks straight men who claim gays come after them

Nigerian gay rights activist, Bisi Alimi has taken to social media to mock straight men who claim gay men are coming after them.

The HIV/LGBT advocate said he finds it funny when straight men that don’t shower and wear smelly underwear claim that gay men who spent good amount of time looking good are coming after them.

Bisi Alimi, who gained international attention when he became the first Nigerian to come out of the closet on television further to say if any gay man approaches any straight man he should count himself lucky.

He advised straight men to stay with their women who can stand their smelly underwear.

He tweeted: I find it funny that straight men that don’t shower & can only boast of metallic tasting dick are claiming gay men who spent & time looking good are coming after them. You should count yourself lucky if we do. Pls stay with ur straight women who love you & your smelly underwear.

- PM NEWS

Joseph Yobo’s lovely family photos

Blind gospel singer, others arrested for defiling minors

Four persons, including a 49-year-old blind gospel singer, Anthony Okhiria, were on Monday paraded by the Edo state police command for allegedly defiling minors.

The other persons were Odaro Archimiedis (38), Shaibu Nurudeen, Endurance Okon (29).

Okhiria allegedly defiled the nine-year-old daughter of his tenant, at house number 9, Isidahomen Street, Ekpoma, Esan West local government area of Edo state.

He, however, denied having canal knowledge of the minor.

According to him, “I didn’t defile anybody. I am a musician, I sing gospel music. My senior brother inherited the house from our father, but he lives in Lagos, so, I am the one in charge.

“The mother and her four girls live in my house, their church used to lay their rent. One day, she came to tell me that the church said they are not going to pay the rent again.

“The woman did not want to pay me, she wanted to seduce me, but I did not agree. One​ day, she told me that she suspects that I like her, but I told she is not the one to tell me that I like her.

“The children also used to come into my room, doing all sorts of nonsense and I will chase than away. I reported to the woman, bit she will reply that the children are playing with me, but I told her that I don’t like that kind of play because I am a Christian.

“The nine year-old-girl sometimes comes into my bedroom while sleeping, she will be touching my legs. The mother also do come into my bedroom.

“It got to a stage that whenever I am applying body cream after bathing, this woman will come into my sitting room, see my nakedness, instead of going away, she will stay.

“One day, she just came to me and said that her nine-year-old daughter said I was sleeping with her. I was shocked.

“I feel so bad seeing myself in this mess. I did not defile her, it is a lie.” he said,” he said.

On his part, Endurance Okon was accused of defiling six-year-old Success Imen, daughter of his neighbor.

The suspect was arrested at Okada, Ovia north-east local government area.

He, however, denied having canal knowledge of the minor, saying that he only inserted his finger into her sex organ.

“I did not sleep with her, my mind did not just go that one. There are many people in my house. When she came into my room, she did not sit down, I only put my finger,” he said.

Also on parade was 29-year-old Shaibu Nurudeen, for allegedly defiling 12 year old Mariam Mohammed.

Nurudeen who was arrested at Agbede, Etsako West local government area of the state, denied committing the offence.

He said; “The girl used to live in out house about two years before, but later relocated to Benin. Two years after, they came to tell me that the girl has an infection, and that I was the one who had sex with her. I told them I did not have sex with her, she lied on me.”

- PM NEWS

35-year-old man shoots wife, two sons dead in Edo

A 35-year-old man simply identified as Uwaila, has been arrested in Benin for reportedly shooting his wife and two sons death.

The incident happened on Sunday morning at Ovbiogie Village in Ovia Northeast Local Government Area.

The suspect who said his wife accused him of having girlfriends, added that his wife threatened to also go out with other men.

Uwaila said he drove out of the house in anger and came back to see that his wife locked herself and his sons inside one of the rooms.

He said he shot through the door and the bullet hit them on the bed.

Police Commissioner, Hakeem Odumosun, who visited the scene said the suspect would be charged to court after investigation has been concluded

Officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) were said to have evacuated​ the corpses to undisclosed mortuary.

- PM NEWS

TRANSFER NEWS : Coutinho in shocking move to Chelsea

Barcelona midfielder, Philippe Coutinho will likely leave the club after just one season to join Premier League giants, Chelsea.

According to El Gol Digital, Barcelona chief, Josep Maria Bartomeu is ready to beat La Liga rivals, Real Madrid over the signing of Chelsea ace, Eden Hazard by offering Coutinho to the West London club.

The Spanish medium reports that Bartomeu met with Chelsea owner, Roman Abramovich on Sunday over the possibility of swapping Coutinho for Hazard.

The report also claimed that Chelsea are now in pole position to sign the Brazilian international ahead of Premier League rivals, Manchester United, who are also interested in the midfielder.

Coutinho has struggled at Barcelona this season, with Barca manager, Ernesto Valverde admitting that the former Liverpool star was far from happy with life at the club.

The 26-year-old, however, featured in his side’s 3-0 victory over Eibar in the La Liga encounter on Sunday at the Camp Nou.

- DAILY POST

LAUTECH school allegedly bars 55 female Muslim students over use of Hijab

Reports reaching DAILY POST from Ogbomoso town in Oyo State has it that no fewer than fifty-five (55) female Muslim students of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) International School Ogbomoso, have been barred from entering the school premises over the use of Hijab.

A senior lecturer in the school who begged not to be named told DAILY POST that the 55 students were turned down by the institution’s authority for wearing Hijab on top of their uniforms Monday morning.

He said, “Hijab Imbroglio: Welcome to LAUTECH Secondary School, Ogbomoso, Oyo state. The story was dated back to 2011 when the first request was made to the Governing Board of the School to allow our willing Muslim females Children to use Hijab as part of their school uniform in line with Islamic dictate.

“Since 2011 barely eight years ago, several letters of appeal had been written to the GC while we wait endlessly without any concrete positive response to our simple request.

“Our Muslim girls over the period have been using Beret instead of Hijab in their own case contrary to the Islamic dictate.

“While our patience overtime as law-abiding citizens was premised on our belief that the Management of the School will do the needful and give regard to the rule of law & provision of the Constitution guaranteeing fundamental human right of everybody.

“Having waited endlessly since 2011, it was decided on the 4th of January, 2019 that our willing Muslim female children should commence the use of Hijab as School resumes on 7/1/2019.”

When asked by DAILY POST to give an update on what was going on in the school, the senior lecturer said, “The Children are in the school presently, teachers are threatening. They are removing Hijab from them. The girls disagreed. They disallowed them to enter. It’s noise presently. The school is still on. Our Muslim children that used Hijab are still outside the school”.

However, Principal of the school, Mr. Ibrahim Animashaun while reacting urged the parents and the students to await the decision of the school board of governors before further action.

Animashaun who initially declined to comment until he had been asked to do so by the Chairman of the school board of governors, Professor K. Adebiyi informed DAILY POST that the status quo remains until the board comes out with its decision whether to allow or to ban the use of Hijab in the school.

He told DAILY POST in a telephone conversation that, “I don’t know because I have to discuss with the Chairman of the board first.

“The school board of governors is yet to approve the use of Hijab. And the board is looking at their letter. So we are yet to communicate them. Until we communicate with them, the status quo remains.

“We spoke with the aggrieved parents that their letter is still with the board. LAUTECH International School board of governors is looking at their letter.”

- DAILY POST

Biafra: IPOB names seven nations making up Biafra, reveals its system of government

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has released what the system of government would be in the Sovereign State of Biafra when it is finally actualized.

This was contained in a statement made available to DAILY POST on Monday signed by its Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, with the title, ‘THIS IS FOR THOSE OF US WHO DO NOT KNOW HOW BIAFRA SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT WILL BE LIKE.’

The pro-Biafra group said its constitution would be written in local languages with seven nations making up the country called Biafra.

The statement added, “During the interactive session with our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, on 12th January, 2019, OWEI KEME BRADIKUMO asked a question:

“What is the proposed CONSTITUTION of the upcoming UNITED STATES of BIAFRA. Can we get a draft copy of it in the public domain now that will be necessary before our campaign towards the pending globally accepted BIAFRA REFERENDUM?

“Response from MAZI NNAMDI KANU: Biafra will run a unique political system designed to cater for the needs of our people.

“We are going to have NATION STATES. We will have an IGBO NATION WITHIN BIAFRA. We will have an EFIK NATION WITHIN BIAFRA. We will have ANNANG NATION WITHIN BIAFRA, if they so choose. We will also have IJAW NATION WITHIN BIAFRA. We will have ISOKO NATION WITHIN BIAFRA. We will have IDOMA NATION WITHIN BIAFRA. We will have IGALA NATION WITHIN BIAFRA.

“Listen to this: THEY WILL ALL BE AUTONOMOUS. Each Nation State will control the resources in their own land. The only thing that will bind us together will be a COMMON DEFENSE POLICY, COMMON ECONOMIC POLICY, COMMON POLICY IN HEALTH AND EDUCATION. In the rest, let people develop according to the pace that they wish or they decided amongst themselves to go by.

“LAWS WILL BE DONE IN LOCAL LANGUAGES. Igbo Parliament will make their own laws in Igbo language. Ijaw Parliament will make their own laws in Ijaw language. The same thing applies to Ibibio and others. So that when people are lying to us we will know because you know lying is good in English Language. But you can’t deceive the people when you are actually speaking in the language that they understand.

“What we are going to have in Biafra will be A BRAND NEW NATION WITH NEW IDEAS AND NEW WAYS OF DOING THINGS. Our political arrangements will be geared towards addressing our core needs.

“Igbo Land will have a Prime Minister. The same thing will happen to Ijaw, to Isoko, to Urhobo, to Itshekiri. Everybody will be Autonomous from one another to develop at the pace that they like. That is the type of Biafra we are seeking to have. And that is the type of Biafra we are going to have.”

- DAILY POST

Dino Melaye: Police drag senator to court over alleged illegal possession of firearm

The Nigeria Police Force, NPF, has dragged the Senator representing Kogi West in the National Assembly, Dino Melaye before an Abuja Federal High Court over his alleged illegal possession of firearms.

In a charge filed against Melaye, the police claimed that a pump-action gun was recovered from lawmaker’s residence in Kogi State in July 2018 during a search of the property.

The police, in the charge sheet marked FHC/ABJ/CR/07/2019, said the offence contravened Section 27 of the Firearms Act.

The charge sheet read: “That you, Dino Melaye, representing Kogi West district in the 8th National Assembly, on or about the 20th day of July 2018, at about 12.30 hours under the jurisdiction of this honourable court, unlawfully had in your possession one automatic pump-action shotgun and 20 cartridges, which were recovered at your residence located in the Ayetoro Gbede area of Kogi State, when a search warrant was executed on the directives of the Nigeria Police Force at your above mentioned residence under your control and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 27(1)(a)(i) of the Firearms Act Cap F28 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”

The police also provided eight witnesses to attest to the charges which comprise six policemen and two men who were painting Melaye’s house when the policemen came to search the property.

The witnesses include: DSP Babagana Bukar, DSP Ibrahim Abalaka, ASP Abdullahi Musa, Inspector Atabo Okpanachi, Inspector Apeh Peter, Theophilus Nuhu, Matthew Anthony and ASP Mohammed Onu.

In his statement, Nuhu, who is a painter, reportedly said: “On July 24, 2018, my master, Peter, brought one Matthew Anthony and myself from Kaduna State to Kogi for painting work in which he took us to one Senator Dino Melaye’s house at Ayetoro, Gbede area of Kogi State.

“While we were doing the painting, policemen, comprising MOPOL, SARS and SCID, came in and met us in the compound and they told me they wanted to conduct a search in the compound and they started to search the compound.

“Within and around the boys’ quarters building, where some cars were parked, under the flower, a gun was observed there with many bullets, but I do not know who put the gun there.”

- DAILY POST

Video: Abuja corps member ordered to kneel down

A corps member serving in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja was reportedly ordered to kneel down by the NYSC State Coordinator for trying to leave during his address.

In an Instagram video, the corps member was seen kneeling down as ordered by the State Coordinator while others watch him.

Check out the video below:

- PM NEWS

2019: Commissioner tells parents to guide children against violence

Amidst growing political violence in Kwara, the state Commissioner of Women Affairs, Hajiya Taibat Ahmed, has urged parents to guide their children to shun violence during political campaigns.

The commissioner on Monday in Ilorin that the current trend of violent politicking in the state was worrisome and uncalled for.
“It is time for it to stop. Kwara is known as a place of peace and harmony and we have been living together in peace, so election campaign should not be a reason for violence and attack

“Many people hide under the name of politics to display their madness and personal hatred, which should not be tolerated
“The incident of Sunday inter-party fight, which resulted in damaging of properties and causing injuries on innocent people, is sad and unfair.
“Parents should talk to their children to stop this barbaric act and allow peace to reign,” Ahmed said. 

- PM NEWS

Tribunal: Onnoghen absent at CCT as Olanipekun leads legal team

Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) is leading a team of lawyers to the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Abuja in defence of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, who is being arraigned by the Federal Government for non declaration of his assets.

The CJN Onnoghen did not appear in person.

Chief Chris Uche, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, Sebastine Hon, Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume, Kehinde Ogunwumiju and A.T Kehinde are among the 45 Senior Advocates of Nigeria representing Onnoghen.

Also, 55 lawyers are in the Onnoghen’s defence team

Meanwhile, a former Director of Public Prosecution in Kano State, Aliyu Umar (SAN), is leading the Federal Government’s prosecution ‎team.

Umar was one of the senior lawyers appointed by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN), as part of government’s prosecution team in 2016.

He led the FG’s prosecution team that was to prosecute the Senate President Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu for alleged forgery of Senate rules

The charges were however, withdrawn from the court by the legal team.

- PM NEWS