23-year-old man remanded for allegedly stabbing father to death

An Ebute Meta Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Thursday ordered the remand in prison of a 23-year-old man, Rasheed Shitta, for allegedly stabbing his father to death, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

The Magistrate, Mrs Adeola Adedayo, remanded Shitta in Ikoyi Prisons and ordered that the case file should be sent to the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions for advice.

Adedayo adjourned the case until April 24.

Shitta, who resides at No. 23, Dada St., Majidun in Ikorodu, near Lagos, is facing a charge of murder.

His plea was not taken.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp. Chinalu Uwadione, told the court that Shitta committed the offence on April 14 at 1.00 a.m. at Oriokuta, Imota community in Ikorodu.

Uwadione said that the defendant stabbed his father, Muda Shitta, 73, to death with a knife while he was asleep.

According to the prosecutor, the offence contravenes the provisions of Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Section 223 stipulates death penalty for offenders.

- PM NEWS

Publish details of Buhari’s assets, SERAP writes CCB

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has written to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to make public, asset declaration submitted to the bureau by successive presidents and governors from 1999 to 2019. 

This comes after the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) found Walter Onnoghen, suspended chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), guilty of false declaration of assets.

In a freedom of information (FoI) request signed by Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP’s deputy director, the civil society organisation asked the CCB to urgently provide information on asset declaration submitted by the public officials.

“While we welcome the judgment by the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Justice Walter Onnoghen, we now urge the CCB to extent its mandates to enforce constitutional provisions on asset declarations by public officers to cover elected officers and to vigorously pursue the prosecution of any such officers who use their powers either as presidents or state governors over public funds to enrich themselves,” the letter read.

“While judicial corruption is bad, the level of corruption involving many politicians since 1999 and the entrenched culture of impunity of perpetrators is equally appalling. Publishing the asset declarations of elected public officers since the return of democracy in 1999 to date would improve public trust in the ability of the Bureau to effectively discharge its mandates. This would in turn put pressure on public officers like presidents and state governors to make voluntary public declaration of their assets.

“SERAP is concerned that many politicians hide behind the fact that members of the public do not have access to their asset declarations to make false declarations, and to cover up assets illegally acquired in corruption or abuse of office. The CCB can use the opportunity presented by the Onnoghen judgment to increase the accountability of politicians through the asset declaration provisions if it is not to be accused of witch-hunting the judiciary.”

SERAP is specifically seeking information on “details of asset declarations by successive presidents and state governors between 1999 and 2019, including details of declarations made immediately after taking offices and thereafter, and for those who have left public offices, at the end of their term of office.”

Standing on the provisions of the FoI act, 2011, SERAP said it would take appropriate legal action against CCB if it fails to provide the information within 14 days.

It is not clear if the act establishing the CCB mandates it to make publish asset delegation of public officials, there are provisions, however, for the bureau to take and retain custody of assets declarations.

- THECABLE

Man bathes wife with acid for seeking divorce

Mrs. Añurika Chinwuba, a mother of two in her late thirties, has been bathed with a liquid substance suspected to be acid by her husband, Mr. Onyeachonam Chinwuba, who allegedly opposed his wife’s demand for divorce.

According to the Anambra State Commissioner for Children and Women Affairs, Lady Ndidi Mezue, the victim, who had sought divorce, accusing her husband of living a questionable life, was with her husband in the Ministry of Children and Women Affairs, Awka, Tuesday and earlier Wednesday where their differences were being resolved.

According to the Commissioner and other eyewitnesses, including the mother of the victim, it was after they left the Ministry that the husband brought out a bottle containing the harmful substance, which he hid in his clothes, and poured the content on the victim, causing serious burns on her face down her body.

The victim was then rushed to the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, where the Commissioner, Lady Mezue, had already visited and promised to support her.

The doctor treating the victim, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told journalists who visited the hospital that the substance had caused severe damage to the woman’s skin.

He said the patient had received treatments and would be taken to the plastic surgery unit for further medical attention.

The husband, who is already in the police custody, is a native of Mmiata-Anam, in Anambra West Local Council Area.

- DAILY POST

Barcelona coach, Ernesto Valverde names ‘best manager’ in world football

Barcelona coach, Ernesto Valverde has identified Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola as the “best manager” in world football.

Valverde said this on Friday while reacting to Manchester City’s Champions League exit.

Guardiola’s men were knock out of this year’s Europe top-flight tournament on Wednesday night by Tottenham Hotspur.

But Valverde believes Guardiola is currently the best manager without any doubt.

Speaking ahead of Barcelona’s La Liga fixture against Real Sociedad on Saturday night, Valverde was quoted by Marca as saying in Friday’s pre-match press conference: “He [Guardiola] is the best manager in the world without any doubt.

“Regardless of whether he has fallen in the Champions League.”

- DAILY POST

Biafra: Prophet Nwoko reportedly murdered after series of threat to his life

A popular prophet, Anthony Nwoko, has been allegedly murdered in cold blood in Enugu, according to The Sun.

Nwoko who was a close ally of leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, prayed for him and the group in their struggle to achieve Biafra.

The newspaper reports that the prophet was killed by unknown assailants last Sunday night at his apartment located at No. 18 Ezebinugwu Street, beside Bright Land International School, Ugbene 2, in the Trans-Ekulu-Abakpa axis of Enugu.

However, nothing about Nwoko’s death was heard days after because he lived alone.

According to the report, his death became known when a neighbour noticed that the door of his apartment had remained open; peeped in and saw the man in the pool of his blood.

The attention of the caretaker of the compound was called, who immediately alerted the police, who responded to the scene.

No official report has come from the Enugu State Police Command, but the newspaper added that they had initially arrested occupants of the compound.

Before his death, Nwoko had taken to his Facebook page to speak about his relationship with Kanu.

He said their relationship went sour after the IPOB leader made him relocate from Lagos to Enugu only to abandon him.

His last posts on Facebook were at about 1:40 pm on April 14, where he uploaded various online reports of his views on Biafra agitation, including video clips from Kpakpando TV.

He had in press conferences on January 8 and March 18, 2019, respectively, accused Kanu and some other pro-Biafra campaigners of turning the agitation into a money-making venture.

Nwoko had raised the alarm that he was receiving death threats from members of the IPOB over his bribery allegations against their leader, Kanu.

The cleric had claimed that Kanu not only collected huge sums of monies as bribe from the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, ahead of the February 23 election but planned to return to Nigeria to “consolidate on his Biafra propaganda if Atiku had won”.

“They have been calling me with different lines, making different phone calls, threatening my life. They are calling me fake because I stand by the truth. I went to Kuje prison to pray for Nnamdi Kanu and the next court case he was released.

“I went to Affara-Ukwu to tell him the way forward; he did not listen. Many people are not listening to the voice of God and they want me to be that way. Prophet Nwoko says no. I will never compromise.

“Even if they kill me, I will return with the light of heaven. I am not afraid of the people of the world. I am telling Uche Mefor and IPOB to stop threatening my life. Let me put this straight to everyone: I am ready to die standing by the truth because that is why Jesus Christ came for.

“If everybody will keep quiet, this nation will be destroyed. If everybody will keep quiet, Biafra will not come. Let people know the truth.”

The prophet hailed from Umuahia in Abia state.

- DAILY POST

Police rescue woman captured by ‘Yahoo Boys’ for ritual

The Nigerian Police have rescued a woman captured by internet fraudsters, popularly known as ‘Yahoo Boys’ for ritual in Asaba, Delta State.

It was gathered that the woman was coming from the market, when she boarded a tricycle, popularly known as Keke NAPEP, with two young men joining her from both sides, leaving her in the middle.

Luck ran out for the suspected gang  as they met their Waterloo when their supposed victim signalled that she wanted to alight at a particular junction.

The driver refused to stop, thereby forcing her to raise the alarm which attracted mobile policemen on patrol and sympathizers who chased after them.

It was gathered that the suspected yahoo boys used charmed on her which made her temporarily lose consciousness.

However, the prompt response of the Nigerian Police on patrol saved the woman and as the police got the suspects arrested, TVC reports.

 - PM NEWS

EFCC must probe Saraki, Dogara over Legislative aides’ pay – Group

Some National Assembly Legislative Aides have called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe the leadership of the 8th Assembly over payments due to the aides.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, the aides under the aegis of Concerned Legislative Aides of 8TH National Assembly, urged the anti-corruption body to act on the petition which it had.

The statement jointly signed by Barr. Chinedu Nwokeukwu and Mr Sunday Chuba stated that the petition bordered on alleged diversion of funds meant for the payment of their entitlements.

The group particularly asked the EFCC to investigate the Clerk to the National Assembly and the presiding officers of both chambers of the law making arm of government.

They decried that despite promises and assurances, the EFCC had yet to commence investigation into the alleged diversion, stressing that the commission should have swung into action by now.

“The non-investigation has clearly emboldened our traducers in making the final kill before the end of the 8th National Assembly on 10 June, 2019.

“Concerned legislative aides are reliably informed that plans are afoot to tamper with the May 2019, salary – being the last salary of 8th Assembly aides, and deductions of up to N100,000 and above are being planned on the severance package of each legislative aide.

“We hereby implore the EFCC to take the bull by its horn and speedily investigate the said allegation and ensure that the diverted monies are duly refunded and paid to 8th Assembly aides before the expiry of the 8th National Assembly,” the group said.

According to the petition to the EFCC, the group explained that the presiding and principal officers of both chambers were entitled to additional aides in the guise of Special Advisers and Special Assistants employed on their behalf by the National Assembly Management.

The petition further explained that it was for the reason that the National Assembly Service Commission employed five aides each for 109 Senator and 360 Member totaling 2,345 aides.

It added that the aides were employed on a short term basis and entitled to allowances as applicable to other public servants and a severance package of 300 per cent of their annual basic salary at the end of the four year tenure of their principals.

‘’Part of the allowance is the Duty Tour Allowance (DTA). Each SLA from Level 15-17 is entitled to the sum of N100,000 while other category of aides receive the sum of N75,000 every quarter.

The aides decried that the leadership of the current National Assembly was not like previous ones where the Senate Presidents and the Speakers ensured that aides were paid their full entitlements.

‘’We are hereby alleging criminal diversion of these yearly appropriated legitimate entitlements.

‘’Out of the 13 quarters DTAs owed legislative aides of the 8th National Assembly since June 2015, only two quarters have been paid to us.

“There has been no training for the past three and half years despite the budgetary allocations for this item,” it said.

The petitioners added that the aides had employed different means to appeal to the National Assembly’s leadership and had to resort to the petition when the appeals seemed to have fallen on deaf ears.

- PM NEWS

Snakes chase Liberian President, George Weah out of office

Snakes have been found in Liberian President George Weah’s office, forcing him to work from his private residence, the BBC has learnt.

Press secretary Smith Toby told the BBC that on Wednesday two black snakes were found in the Foreign Affairs Ministry building, his official place of work.

All staff have been told to stay away until 22 April.

“It’s just to make sure that crawling and creeping things get fumigated from the building,” Mr Toby said.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosts the office of the president, so it did an internal memo asking the staff to stay home while they do the fumigation,” he said.

The office of the president has been based in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since a fire in 2006 gutted the nearby presidential mansion.

“The snakes were never killed,” Mr Toby said. “There was a little hole somewhere [through which] they made their way back.”

Police and presidential security were seen guarding Mr Weah’s residence in the capital Monrovia. A fleet of vehicles including escorts jeeps were parked outside.

Mr Toby said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs started to fumigate on Friday.

“That building’s been there for years now, and [because of] the drainage system, the possibility of having things like snakes crawling in that building was high,” he said.

The president is definitely returning to his office on Monday after the fumigation whether or not the snakes are found and killed, Mr Toby said.

- PM NEWS

60m Nigerians are illiterates – Perm Sec

Mr Sonny Echono, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, says nearly 60 million Nigerians are illiterates, assuring that literacy centres will reduce the high percentage of illiteracy in the country.

Echono made this known on Thursday at the Federal Government College Otobi, during the inauguration of a pilot Literacy Centre for the North Central Geo-Political Zone.

The permanent secretary expressed regret that the illiteracy rate among the youths and adults is high, saying that the literacy level at the lower cadre of the colleges is also alarming.

According to him, Literacy Centres to be established in 104 Federal Government Colleges (FGCs) are aimed at reducing the high rate of illiteracy at the low cadre of the staff of the institutions, stressing that the Federal Government designed the literacy programme to cater for them and others in the host communities.

He said literacy was both a social and human right issue and called on the learners at the pilot centre to remain committed and take their studies with all seriousness.

According to him, the essence of scheme is to fit into the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) especially SDG number four which highlights inclusive and equitable quality education and promotion of long learning opportunities.

He explained that the programme would equip its beneficiaries with literacy and numeracy skills to be able handle challenges of life.

An officer from the office of the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari, on SDGs, Mr Stephen Ojo, commended the foresight of the education ministry in designing the programme and promised to provide technical support to the ministry towards its success.

He emphasised that the scheme would help build capacities and skills of all the participants.

The principal of the school, Mr Amudipe Gabriel, commended the permanent secretary for his doggedness in ensuring that the programme began in earnest and for making his school the centre in the zone.

The Coordinator of the programme, Mrs Abisode Olayiwola said the response from learners in the school and host community far exceeded the instructional materials made available.

“We targeted 40 learners but what we had was twice that number, we are impressed by the turnout. We will make arrangements for all of them.”

- PM NEWS

8 Nigerian ATM robbers sentenced to death in UAE

Eight Nigerians, all men, have been sentenced to death in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE) for a string of robberies at money exchanges and cash machines (ATMs) across the emirate in December 2016.

The ninth Nigerian, found guilty for possession of stolen money was sentenced to six months imprisonment.

He will be deported after serving his prison term.

The Gulf News reported that the Nigerian denied the charge against him and said that one of the accused’s brothers asked him to transfer Dh60,000 to an account in Nigeria.

All the convicted Nigerians were not identified by both the Gulf News and Khaleej Times, all local newspapers, which reported the trial.

A total of 20 suspects were initially held for attacking security guards in four violent attacks at ATMs and money exchanges across Sharjah in late 2016. Out of 20 suspects, nine were convicted.

Some of the accused confessed to their crimes while others denied the charges levelled against them.

The verdict was handed down by Judge Majid Al Muhairi of Sharjah Criminal Court on Wednesday.

The eight-member gang attacked security trucks and entered establishments by force and threatened and assaulted staff and members of the public with bladed weapons in a spate of robberies, three of which were carried out on the same day on December 18, 2016.

The gang — who were all in the UAE on visit visas — were said to be highly organised and plotted a string of orchestrated attacks to ambush security trucks that were transporting money boxes to and from ATMs, and at least one money exchange in Sharjah.

The first robbery took place at a Dubai Commercial Bank ATM on King Abdul Aziz Street where Dh340,000 was stolen. Then two days later they attacked an ATM in Al Safeer Mall in Al Nahda fleeing with Dh700,000, and an ATM in Muweilah where they stole Dh710,000. A fourth attack at a money exchange office near National Paints was foiled by police.

The gang of 20 were arrested in record time but police confirmed that only a portion of the stolen money — almost Dh1.8 million — had been recovered, as the gang members had divided the money among themselves and transferred it to their home country.

Suspects were taken into custody in cooperation with police in Dubai, Ajman and Fujairah.

The gang committed the heists at the busiest times of day when streets were crowded, which added to the confusion and enabled them to escape, said police.

In each robbery the assailants struck quickly before police could arrive, the attackers however could not evade security cameras and police were able to recognise the suspects through surveillance footage captured at the exchange house in the mall.

Video footage showed the suspects attacking security guards, making off with cash, and in one of the robberies slashing the hands of a security guard with a knife before running away with money boxes.

Police believe the suspects had monitored and tracked the security trucks used to transport money for a period of time before launching the attacks.

A prosecutor told Gulf News on Thursday that as per the law, a group of people who threaten the life of others while committing robbery are subject to the death sentence, however an appeal is expected to be launched and the sentences could get downgraded to life imprisonment.

The trial appeared unconnected with the arrest of five Nigerians in March this year, who robbed a Bureau de Change operator of Dh2.3 million (N225.4 million) in Sharjai, Dubai.

The suspects were identified as Chimuanya Emmanuel Ozoh, Benjamin Nwachukwu Ajah, Kingsley Ikenna Ngoka, Tochukwu Leonard Alisi and Chile Micah Ndunagu.

The five Nigerians reportedly barged into the BDC on March 20 and smashed the glass barrier between the customers and the staff, stole the money in multiple currencies and fled.

Two employees at the exchange were injured as they resisted the robbers. One of them managed to notify the police. The Sharjah Police coordinated with forces from Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah and Ajman to nab the suspects from four emirates within 48 hours after the robbery was committed.

A top police official said the suspects came to the UAE on visit visas on March 18.

*Reported by Gulf News