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Category: News

  • Father Defiles 4-Year-Old Daughter In Abuja

    Father Defiles 4-Year-Old Daughter In Abuja

    Mrs Modupe Maduba, an Assistant Chief Intelligence Officer, told an FCT High Court in Kubwa that a 35-year-old man, Onyebuchi Ezema defiled his four-year-old daughter.

    The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), charged Ezema, who resides in Zone 9, Lugbe AirPort Road, Abuja with assault, to which he pleaded not guilty.

    Maduba of the NAPTIP said this while being cross examined by the defence counsel, Opeyemi Adeyemi at the resumed trial of Onyebuchi Ezema.

    During cross-examination, Adeyemi asked Maduba the time, date and place the defendant committed the said offence.

    He further asked if Maduba knew where the defendant’s wife kept the victim the day it happened and if it was possible an unknown person penetrated her vagina.

    The defence counsel also asked the investigator to describe where the defendant lived and if there was electricity on the day of the incident.

    In response, Maduba said the incident happened on April, 15, 2020 at Lugbe Zone 6, at night.

    “The defendant lives in a one-bedroom self contained apartment with his son whom he sleeps with in same room alongside his wife and daughter (the victim).

    “The defendant’s wife left her child with her cousin whom lives in the same village, while she went to work on the said date,” she said.

    The investigator added that she did not know if there was electricity on the day of the incident.

    Adeyemi asked if the investigator discovered any blood stain on the minor in the course of her investigation and if a finger print examination was carried out on the child to confirm if it was the defendant’s finger.

    The defence counsel asked the investigator to read out the medical report in court, if it stated that the defendant broke the victim’s hymen.

    Maduba responded that she did not see any blood stain on the victim, no finger print examination was carried out and the medical report did not state whom broke the victim’ s hymen.

    Adeyemi however applied for a no-case submission to the court.

    Following the defence counsel’s submission, Justice Asmau Akanbi-Yusuf adjourned the matter until Dec.13 for adoption of the no-case submission.

  • Tragedy As Abacha’s Daughter Is Found Dead In Maiduguri

    Tragedy As Abacha’s Daughter Is Found Dead In Maiduguri

    In a heart-wrenching incident that has sent shockwaves through the community, Mrs. Amma Buwa, daughter of Honourable Bukar Abacha, a member of the Borno State House of Assembly representing Ngala local government area, was discovered strangled to death in her Maiduguri home.

    The tragic event unfolded at approximately 6:30 pm on Tuesday evening while Mrs. Buwa’s husband was away, attending prayers at a nearby mosque.

    Upon his return, the distraught husband made the grim discovery within their residence, finding his wife’s lifeless body. Her hands and legs were bound behind her back, and her two-year-old child was crying beside her.

    The husband promptly reported this horrifying incident to local authorities, leading to the Gwange Police Division transferring the body to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital for a post-mortem examination and further investigation.

    The community is in shock, with residents gathering at the scene to offer their condolences and support during these trying times. A family source took to social media to announce that the funeral of the deceased, Mrs. Amma Buwa, will be held the following morning at the 777 Housing Estate in Maiduguri.

    It’s worth noting that less than 24 hours before this tragic incident, the Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, had taken decisive action to address security concerns in the area.

    He ordered the demolition of brothels, shanties, and makeshift bars at the Railway Terminus general area, asserting that these locations were breeding grounds for criminals responsible for killings in the metropolis.

  • Israeli-Hamas Conflict: UN Decries Civilians Casualties After School Attack

    Israeli-Hamas Conflict: UN Decries Civilians Casualties After School Attack

    The head of the UN Palestine refugee agency (UNRWA) Philippe Lazzarini has expressed concern for the safety of civilians as UNRWA school was attached

    The UN envoy said at least six people were killed when an UNRWA school being used as a shelter, was hit in the al-Maghazi camp in the middle region of the embattled Gaza Strip on Monday.

    “Dozens were injured (including UNRWA staff) and severe structural damage was caused to the school.

    “The numbers are likely to be higher. This is outrageous, and it again shows a flagrant disregard for the lives of civilians,” he said in a statement

    No place is safe in Gaza anymore, he warned, stressing that it was hit as Israeli airstrikes and bombardment continues.

    “At least 4,000 people have taken refuge in this UNRWA school turned shelter. They had and still have nowhere else to go.”

    He said that the agency has provided the coordinates of its facilities to “relevant parties” on a daily basis.

    The UN human rights office (OHCHR) issued a fresh alert on Tuesday for civilians left in northern Gaza, amid ongoing military operations in the enclave ahead of an anticipated full-scale Israeli response to Hamas’s October 7 attack.

    The past 10 days of conflict have claimed the lives of 4,200 people, forced more than one million individuals to flee their homes following an order from the Israeli authorities and left large areas in the Gaza Strip “reduced to rubble”, according to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

    Meanwhile, the Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Joyce Msuya, on Monday, briefed Member States on the Gaza crisis, and said the situation “can only be described as an utter catastrophe.”

    She added that as every hour passes, the restoration of essential supplies and services, “becomes every more critical.”

    She said the UN would continue to identify urgent solutions for getting aid into Gaza.

    UN Secretary- General Antonio Guterres will travel to the Egyptian capital Cairo on Thursday, according to his Spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric to engage with President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi on the Gaza crisis.

    In southern Gaza where a humanitarian emergency is already playing out, UN relief agencies reiterated their call for a secure and reliable humanitarian corridor to deliver stockpiled aid into the Occupied Territory.

    Both Egypt and Israel have faced multiple calls from the UN and international community to protect non-combatants impacted by the war.

    “We call for unimpeded access, safe passage for desperately needed humanitarian supplies to Gaza,” Ms Abeer Etefa, UN World Food Programme (WFP) Regional Communications Lead for the Middle East and North Africa, said.

    Some 300 tonnes of food “are either at or on the way to the Egyptian border in Rafah,” Etefa said. “That’s enough to feed around a quarter million people for one week.”

    According to OHCHR, “a large number” of women and children are among the dead in Gaza, as well as at least 11 Palestinian journalists, 28 medical staff and 14 UN colleagues.

    “It remains unclear how many more bodies may be buried in the rubble – with many families missing loved ones, terrified about their uncertain fate,” Ravina Shamdasani, OHCHR Spokesperson said.

    Echoing urgent warnings from the UN agency for Palestinian refugees UNRWA about the desperate situation in Gaza amid heavy Israeli bombardments, from the air, sea and land, humanitarians echoed deep concern that healthcare facilities had been targeted – raising concerns about medical care for the injured, including pregnant women and those with chronic health issues.

    Additionally, civilians attempting to relocate to southern Gaza have been struck and killed by explosive weapons, demanding urgent and independent investigation, OHCHR says.

    The world body has called for an immediate humanitarian pause to facilitate aid delivery and prevent further suffering.

    “Strict compliance with the laws of war and the protection of civilians is essential to prevent further loss of life in this dire crisis,” Shamdasani said. 

  • Criminal Activities: Police Arrest 298 Suspects In Jigawa

    Criminal Activities: Police Arrest 298 Suspects In Jigawa

    The Police Command in Jigawa has arrested 298 suspects for alleged criminal activities in the third quarter of 2023.

    This is contained in a statement by the Spokesman of the Command, DSP Lawan Shiisu, on Wednesday in Dutse.

    He said the Police recovered 64 rustled animals, fire arms and rescued six kidnapped victims in special operations conducted within the period under review.

    Shiisu said the suspects were apprehended for alleged robbery; kidnapping, murder, rape, vandalism, animal rustling, fraud, among others.

    He listed the suspects to include 25 robbery; 12 kidnapping, 36 murder, 25 rape, 37 theft, 15 vandalism, 17 animal rustling and five over fraud, while 126 others arrested for allegedly belonging to gang of brigands.

    The Police, he said, recovered one AK-47 riffle; one Beretta pistol, three locally-made guns, 48 live ammunitions, 20 motor vehicles/cycles, and 64 rustled animals.

    Other items recovered include 560 parcels of Cannabis Sativa and a number of narcotic substances.

    “The crime prevention strategies adopted by Jigawa Police Command in the ongoing fight against all forms of crimes and criminalities in the state during the period under review, yielded dividends, as the state remained generally peaceful as residents go about their lawful businesses without fear of molestation.

    “This feat was made possible by the proactive measures put in place by the command, whose personnel worked tirelessly to checkmate the activities of criminals for a peaceful atmosphere,” he said.

    He commended the acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, the Jigawa government and other security agencies for their support to the Command

    While reiterating commitment of the Command to protect lives and property, Shiisu urged residents of the state to support the Police in the fight against crimes. 

  • FG Reveals Alarming 41% Contamination Of Public Water Supply

    FG Reveals Alarming 41% Contamination Of Public Water Supply

    The Federal Government has pledged to end continuous contamination of drinking water sources, as no fewer than 41 per cent of the country’s public water supply were contaminated with faeces.

    The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, said this at the launch of the Nigerian Roadmap for Water Quality Management and Guidelines for Rural Drinking Water Quality Monitoring Surveillance in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Utsev said the roadmap was an opportunity to change the poor narrative of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) indices in the country.

    According to him, the 2021 WASH Normal Outcome Routine Mapping 3 shows that 67 per cent of population have access to basic water supply services, while only 13 per cent have access to safely managed drinking water services.

    He said the report revealed that contaminated water at the source and at the point of consumption stood at 68 and 70 per cent, respectively.

    Utsev, who was represented by Mrs Elizabeth Ugoh, the Director, Water Quality Control and Sanitation in the ministry, said all states had the responsibility to provide potable water for their population.

    “However, only 28 out of the 36 states have urban water supply utilities or state water agencies with 16 states having fully functional urban utilities, while 12 were partially functional.

    “About 41 per cent of all taps fed by urban water utility supply are contaminated with faecal matter.

    “A conscious effort must be made for access to improved water sources to ensure that water safety measures that minimise drinking water contamination from the source to the point of use are in place,” he said.

    The minister said the event was an opportunity for all stakeholders to ensure that sustainability was achieved, as many water supply utilities were poorly managed, leading to breakdown and abandonment.

    Mrs Zuliat Mohammed, the Desk Officer, Village Level Operation and Maintenance (VLOM), said many water utilities had not been managed sustainably, saying there is need for continuous capacity building to change the poor narrative.

    She expressed optimism that the meeting would bring out actionable plans to be implemented in states so as to encourage ownership especially at the community level.

    The desk officer added that the VLOM strategy would provide the blueprint for managing Nigeria’s drinking water quality in a sustainable manner.

    Madam Hauwa Diagne, a representative from the World Bank, said there was an urgency to accelerate access to potable water supply and sanitation services, following poor statistics nationally and locally.

    She urged states to collaborate adequately to ensure that WASH issues were addressed in a sustainable manner, saying ‘it is no longer business as usual”.

    Mr Nanpet Chuktu, the WaterAid Head of WASH, said the event was an opportunity for Nigeria to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals six, as its 2030 deadline drew close.

    He noted that climate change had led to an increase and huge threat to water quality, citing drought in northern Nigeria and excessive rainfall and flash flooding in Southern Nigeria, urging states to do more in water quality testing.

    Dr Dickson Kadiri, who gave an overview of the roadmap, said it gave clear direction for Water Quality Management in Nigeria and specified roles and responsibilities for all stakeholders.

    Kadiri however expressed optimism that states would do more by playing their parts in implementing the roadmap so as to accelerate progress in water and sanitation access and for the SDGs. 

  • Alleged N7.9bn Fraud: Court Shifts Oduah, CCECC Case To Nov 14

    Alleged N7.9bn Fraud: Court Shifts Oduah, CCECC Case To Nov 14

    The Federal High Court in Abuja has shifted the trial of a former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) in an alleged N7.9Bn fraud till November 17.

    At the last adjourned date, the full-blown trial was fixed for Tuesday, October 17, however, the matter couldn’t push through for lack of time.

    Although lawyers to the Federal Government who initiated a 25- count criminal charges against Mrs Oduah and CCECC were in Court alongside those of the defendants, the principal defendant, Senator Oduah was not present in Court.

    Mrs Oduah and the China Construction giant are facing prosecution on alleged crimes of fraud, money laundering and bribery running into N7.9bn.

    In the 25-count charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/316/2020, they were accused of conspiracy, money laundering and maintaining anonymous bank accounts with a commercial bank.

    Part of the charges are “That you China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation CCECC, between March 31 and April 1, 2014 at Abuja directly transferred N500M from your account No. 0023880295 with Guaranty Trust Bank to a private banking nominee account no.2024414450 domicile with First Bank which money you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceed of unlawful act to wit; fraud and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 and punishable under section 15 (4) of the same Act.

    “That you China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation CCECC, between March 5 and  May 30, 2014 at Abuja directly transferred N868.4 M from your account with Zenith Bank to a Private Banking Nominee account no.2024414450 domicile with First Bank which money you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceed of unlawful act to wit; fraud and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 and punishable under section 15 (4) of the same Act.

    “That you China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation CCECC, between  April 11 and 17, 2014  at Abuja directly transferred N537.2.M from your  bank account No.1011061486 with Zenith Bank to a Private Banking Nominee account no.2024414450 domicile with First Bank which money you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceed of unlawful act to wit; fraud and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 and punishable under section 15 (4) of the same Act.

    “That you, Stella Adaeze Oduah whilst being the Minister of Aviation, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Gloria Odita whilst being the Company Secretary to Sea Petroleum & Gas Company Ltd (SPGC) and an aide to the former Minister of Aviation, Nwobu Emmanuel Nnamdi, whilst being an employee of Sea Petroleum & Gas Company Ltd (SPGC) and an aide to the former Minister of Aviation, Chukwuma Irene Chinyere, Global Offshore And Marine Limited, Tiptop Global Resources Limited, Crystal Television Limited, Sobora International Limited between January 2014 and April 2014 at Abuja within the judicial division of this Honourable Court did conspire among yourselves to commit an offence to wit: ‘Money Laundering’ and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (As Amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) and (4) of the same Act”.

    “That you, Stella Adaeze Oduah whilst being the Minister of Aviation, the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Global Offshore and Marine Ltd, a Limited Liability Company registered under the Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on or about 12th February 2014 at Abuja within the Judicial Division of this Honourable Court took control of the sum of N1,629,250,000.00 (One Billion, Six Hundred and Twenty-Nine Million, Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) only and paid into the account of Global Offshore and Marine Ltd account No. 2022977296 domiciled with First Bank Plc from I-Sec Security Nig. Ltd accounts No. 2021756955 with First Bank Plc, which money you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (As Amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) and (4) of the same Act.

    Specifically, CCECC is being made to face trial for allegedly bribing Federal Government officials to the tune of billion naira through alleged transfers from its numerous bank accounts to the accounts of beneficiaries of the graft to facilitate government patronage.

    Senator Oduah, on the other hand is being prosecuted for allegedly accepting money from CCECC while she held sway as Minister of Aviation.

    Based on Court order, the trial will be conducted by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice.

    The EFCC was ordered to step aside from the trial following its involvement in some unlawful means that stalled the case for more than two years.

    Senator Oduah and eight others had pleaded not guilty to the charges on Friday, July 21, 2023, when they were formally arraigned.

  • 62m Nigerians To Get N75,000 In 3 Months – FG

    62m Nigerians To Get N75,000 In 3 Months – FG

    As part of efforts to commemorate the World Poverty Eradication Day, President Bola Tinubu has inaugurated the Conditional Cash Transfer for 15 million households.

    The President on Tuesday launched the initiative held at the Press Gallery of the State House in Abuja.

    While speaking at the occasion, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Eradication, Betta Edu, said the 15 million households represent 62 million Nigerians.

    “N25,000 would be transferred to the beneficiaries on a monthly basis for three months, which amounts to N75,000 for each of the beneficiaries.

    “In no distant time, another scheme would be launched, code-named ‘Iya Loja Funds’ which would provide soft loans of N50,000 to support petty traders.

    “In addition, at the beginning of the next farming season, farmers would be provided with incentives to boost their farm yields,” she said.

  • Legal Representation Delays Hearing in E-Customs Concession Project Suit Against FG

    Legal Representation Delays Hearing in E-Customs Concession Project Suit Against FG

    The scheduled hearing in the lawsuit filed by E-Customs HC Project Limited and Bionica Technologies Limited against the Federal Government faced an unexpected delay due to a legal representation dispute.

    The suit, which involves several government entities as defendants, including the Federal Government, Attorney-General of the Federation, Finance Minister, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Nigeria Customs Service, Trade Modernization Project Limited, Huawei Technologies Limited, African Finance Corporation, and Bergman Security Consultant and Supply Limited, is a challenge to the alleged unlawful modifications made to a concession agreement by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) under the former Comptroller General, Col. Ahmed Ali (rtd).

    During the court proceedings before Justice Inyang Ekwo, a new counsel, Pius Nnoli, unexpectedly appeared on behalf of E-Customs HC Project Limited, challenging the representation by the senior lawyer, Ahmed Raji SAN.

    The attempt by Nnoli to take over the case was met with strong opposition from Ahmed Raji, who claimed to be the lawful counsel engaged by the company.

    The legal dispute encountered a hiccup when Nnoli informed Justice Ekwo that the senior lawyer had filed a voluminous counter affidavit against his representation. He requested a short adjournment to respond and present the legal instruments by which he was engaged by his client.

    Upon inquiry by the court, Raji SAN confirmed that Nnoli was served with the counter affidavit in the courtroom, validating his participation in the case.

    Justice Ekwo decided to grant Nnoli time to respond to the counter affidavit and, with no objections from the lawyers involved, adjourned the hearing in the case until Thursday, October 26, 2023.

    The two aggrieved companies, E-Customs HC Project Limited and Bionica Technologies (West Africa) Limited, jointly filed the lawsuit to challenge the alleged unlawful and fraudulent concession of the E-custom project to African Finance Corporation.

    They narrated how they had initially proposed a custom modernization project for the benefit of the Nigeria Customs Service, which received anticipated approval from President Muhammadu Buhari on September 2, 2020.

    However, issues arose when the Nigeria Customs Service unilaterally reviewed the Federal Executive Council approval and imposed various conditions, including shareholding and governance structure.

    The companies argued that the NCS’s authority to unilaterally review the FEC’s approval was contested but to no avail.

    To their surprise, they discovered that the Nigeria Customs Service had executed a concession agreement with an unknown company, Trade Modernization Project, Huawei Technologies Company, and African Finance Corporation, in total breach of the memorandum of understanding prepared by the Attorney-General of the Federation in conjunction with the Finance Minister.

    The plaintiffs contended that Trade Modernization Project was incorporated in April 2022 and could not have obtained the necessary approvals and certificates for the E-Customs Project.

    They sought the court’s declaration that the government’s decision to enter into a concession agreement with Trade Modernization Project, Huawei Technologies Company, and African Finance Corporation was illegal and in violation of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission Act 2005.

    The companies also sought a declaration that E-Customs HC Project Limited was the rightful concessionaire approved by the Federal Executive Council in September 2020, in accordance with the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Act.

    Additionally, they requested the court to direct the Federal Government, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Finance Minister, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, and Nigeria Customs Service to consummate the E-Customs Project with the 1st plaintiff, as approved by the FEC.

    Finally, the two plaintiffs demanded that the court compel the defendants to pay them a sum of two hundred million naira as the cost of litigation.

  • Tragic Road Accident Involves FG Civil Servants En Route IPPIS Registration

    Tragic Road Accident Involves FG Civil Servants En Route IPPIS Registration

    A group of 20 federal civil servants, who were en route from Maiduguri, Borno State, to Abuja for a mandatory verification exercise related to the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) registration, were involved in a tragic road accident in Gombe on Tuesday.

    While the specific details of the accident remain unclear as of the time of this report, it was confirmed that one person lost their life in this unfortunate incident.

    The accident took place during their journey from Maiduguri to the nation’s capital.

    The Nigerian Government recently issued a directive requiring all civil servants and employees from core ministries to participate in the ongoing IPPIS registration to ensure the accurate capture of their details.

    This directive impacted approximately 17,000 federal civil servants from various regions of the country who had to travel to Abuja for registration.

    A surviving civil servant, deeply distressed by the situation, shared, “Tragically, one of our colleagues lost their life on the way from Maiduguri to Abuja for the mandatory IPPIS registration. The accident occurred in Gombe.

    This is a truly heartbreaking situation, and I will provide further updates as we receive more information.”

    The affected civil servants have been grappling with delayed salary payments, adding to their concerns and challenges during this registration process.

  • 3 Die As OPC, Amotekun Clash In Oyo

    3 Die As OPC, Amotekun Clash In Oyo

    A violent clash which erupted in Iwerele, Iwajowa Local Government Area of Oyo State, involving multiple groups including the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Amotekun, Operation Burst, Soludero, and a group of herdsmen, has resulted in three dead and many casualties.

    The cause of the conflict remains unknown.

    Confirming the clash, a prominent titled Chief in the community revealed that the turmoil began when a group of herdsmen invaded a local farm with their cattle, leading to a dispute that tragically claimed the life of the farm’s owner.

    Responding to the escalating situation, combined security forces consisting of Operation Burst, OPC, Amotekun, and Soludero were called in to restore peace to the area. 

    Reports suggest that these security operatives were ambushed by the herdsmen during their intervention efforts.

    The exact number of casualties resulting from this conflict is yet to be determined, as the situation continues to develop.