News
..confirms death of 2 doctors, 1 hospital staff
The Oyo State Ministry of Health on Thursday, confirmed the death of two doctors and another hospital staff as a result of contracting Lassa fever.
The Commissioner for Health in the state, Dr. Bode Ladipo, disclosed this in his office, while recalling the intensified efforts of the state government towards curtailing the spread of the outbreak of Lassa fever since the first case was discovered in the state in January, 2022.
He stated that the medical practitioners numbering about four were admitted into a private health facility earlier this week but the deaths of the three occured afterwards.
Dr Ladipo noted that surveillance activities have been heightened at the grassroots across the state, adding that access to care has also been provided for individuals at risk of the disease.
In his words the commissioner said: “The state ministry of health wishes to address the causes of death of health workers in the state from Lassa fever. Four health workers from a private health facility were admitted into the treatment centre in the early days of the week.”
“Upon diagnostic investigations, all four were confirmed positive for Lassa fever. Unfortunately, three of them consisting of two doctors another hospital staff died despite all efforts at caring for them by experts.”
“Nineteen confirmed cases and four deaths have been recorded so far. Surveillance activities have been heightened at the grassroots across the state. Resources have also been deployed to designated health facilities to forestall the spread of this disease across the state.
The health commissioner, however, requested prompt medical attention on anybody detected with symptoms of Lassa fever including fever, sore throat, vomiting, generalised body weakness and any other chronic health condition, while admonishing health workers to confirm with the universal safety precautions in the line of their duties.
He was also of the view that qualitative health care requires joint responsibility of all for safety and purpose.
“The public is also admonished to remain calm while ensuring adherence to strict preventive measures.”
“We implore all health facilities across the state to maintain a high index of suspicion and report all suspected cases to the LGAs or state health authorities,” he urged.
The Federal Government on Thursday approved the request by the United States of America, for suspended Commander of the Police Intelligence Response Team, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abba Kyari, to be extradited over the $1.1million wire fraud perpetrated by Abass Ramon aka Hushpuppi and 4 others
Government’s approval was made known by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) when he filed an application before the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja for Kyari’s extradition.
The application marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/249/2022 was filed under the Extradition Act.
The AGF said the application followed a request by the Diplomatic Representative of the U.S. Embassy in Abuja. The request is “for the surrender of Abba Alhaji Kyari, who is a subject in a superseding three counts indictment”
The AGF said he was satisfied that the offence in respect of which Kyari’s surrender is not political nor is it trivial.
The AGF also expressed satisfaction that the request for the surrender of Kyari was not made to persecute or punish him on account of his race, religion, nationality or political opinions but in good faith and the interest of justice.
He said Kyari, “if surrendered, will not be prejudiced at his trial and will not be punished, detained or restricted in his personal liberty, by reason of his race, nationality or political opinions”.
The AGF said having regard to all the circumstances in which the offence was committed, it will not be unjust or oppressive, or be too severe a punishment, to surrender him.
Malami said he was also satisfied that Kyari has been accused of the offence for which his surrender is sought.
He noted that there was no criminal proceeding pending against Kyari in Nigeria for the same offence.
Recall that in April 2021, a jury filed an indictment against Kyari with the approval of the U.S. District Court and demanded Kyari stand trial for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering and identity theft.
Consequently, the US Embassy requested for Kyari’s extradition saying, “On April 29, 2021, based on the indictment filed by the grand jury and with the approval of the United States District Court for the Central District of California, a deputy clerk of the court issued a warrant of arrest for Kyari.
“The arrest warrant remains valid and executable to apprehend Kyari for the crimes with which he is charged in the indictment.
“Kyari is wanted to stand trial in the United States for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering, and identity theft.
“Kyari is the subject of an indictment in case Number 2:21-cr-00203 (also referred to as 2:21-MJ-00760 and 2:21-CR-00203-RGK), filed April 29, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California.”
Kyari was accused of conspiring with a United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based Nigerian, Ramon Abbas, aka Hushpuppi to commit the crime.
The charges against Kyari reads, “Count one: Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349, carrying a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years;
“Count two: Conspiracy to commit money laundering, in violation of Title 18, United States Code Section 1956(h), carrying a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
“Count three: Aggravated identity theft, and aiding and abetting that offence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1028A(a)(1) and 2(a), carrying a maximum term of imprisonment of two years.
Vanguard
The police officer who was seen in a viral video carrying a female VIP's food tray at an event in Ilorin, Kwara state's capital, has been asked to report at the police headquarters, Abuja
The Force Headquarters which warned its operatives attached to Very Important Persons all over the country to stop serving purposes other than protecting prominent individuals from security threats said on that the viral video is being probed.
Acting Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi said the police officer has been identified and summoned to Abuja.
Adejobi who refused to provide the name of the police officer said; “He (the policeman) has been identified. He is coming to Abuja to meet us. We’ll ask question from him and take necessary action. We need to discourage such a thing because it is embarrassing the image of the Force and we can’t continue to be experiencing that kind of a thing because it is highly unprofessional.”
President Muhammad Buhari has approved the sum of $8.5 million for immediate evacuation of about 5,000 Nigerians that flee the Russia, Ukrainian war to Poland, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia.
The Nigeria's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Zubairu Dada, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the virtual Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting presided over by Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The Minister, who was flanked by her counterpart, the Minister of Humanitarian, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouk, said the approval came after a joint memo presented by both the ministries of foreign affairs and Humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development at the council meeting.
Dada said that Air Peace and Max Air airlines have been contracted to provide three aircrafts and run as many shifts as possible to facilitate the evacuation, adding that those to be evacuated include 940 from Romania, 150 from Slovakia and 350 from Poland who have registered for evacuation.
Speaking on the amount approved, Dada said, “The ministry of humanitarian affairs wrote a memo to the president seeking for funding to enable us conduct this exercise. The memo was in the tune of $8.5 million which Mr. President has graciously approved. That provision entails arrangement to evacuate not less than 5,000 Nigerians .
“Whatever happens you can be rest assured we are going to run any number of shifts that it will involved. Don’t forget it will also involve taking care of those Nigerians that may decide not to come back. It also include some assistance for the feeding that may have been done by the missions under whatever arrangements. Even the missions themselves are also in dire situations. So it’s a whole gambit of activities that are involved.”
Asked if the amount will be released immediately for the exercise, the Minister said: “That is why the evacuation flights will begin today (Wednesday).”
On students trapped in Ukrainian cities now in the hands of Russians, Dada said: “we want to believe the Russian armed forces will obey the rules of engagement. They know the rules about civilians that are caught up in situations such as this. We want to assume they will respect international laws and ensure that no harm comes to them.
“Don’t forget that even our missions in Ukraine has had to be evacuated. So if for any reason any Nigerian is left behind, we are very very prayerful, we are very hopeful that no harm shall come to them once of course they are in some shelters or whatever place they are hiding.
“Don’t forget we had also summoned both the Russian and Ukrainian ambassadors to our ministry, and we did emphasis the need for their troops to ensure that they do not do anything that will harm the lives of innocent citizens.
“We have seen video clips making the rounds about the alleged treatment that had been meted out to black people who were on queues and in buses and all that. All these we have brought to the attention of the ambassadors and we have expressed our displeasure at this development and demanded that they do something about this.”
A yet-to-be identified man and a woman have been found dead inside a Sienna vehicle along the Mowe/Ibafo axis of Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
Residents of the area said the car was seen on Tuesday, locked up with the two of them inside.
The car, with Lagos number plate, LSD 992 HH, had a helmet on the dashboard, suggesting that the owner might be an engineer or a contractor.
As people could not ascertain what led to the death of the two of them, there were speculations about the cause of their mysterious death.
A resident of the area, who simply identified herself as Jane, said, “The car has been standing here since yesterday (Monday). But this morning, people moved closer and discovered that there were two lifeless bodies inside it. We don't know what killed them.”
Another source said that they might be having sex with each other when the incident happened.
“It was discovered that a man and a woman were having sex in the car but they died opposite Nasfat praying ground," the source said.
But, one Seun Damilola countered that this couple actually didn't die while having sex inside the car.
According to him, “the man beat his girlfriend to death at their house around Akoka, drove her down to Mowe, dropped a suicide letter to his family and fed himself with poison.”
When contacted, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the incident on Wednesday.
Oyeyemi said the two did not die while making love inside the car, but it was a case of murder and suicide.
According to him, the man had visited the deceased woman, his girlfriend, somewhere in Lagos.
“The two did not die while having sex. What happened was that the girl in question happened to be a girlfriend to that man. He rented an apartment for her somewhere in Lagos. He went there to visit her. We don't know what transpired between them, but we learnt he hit the woman on the head and she slumped.
“He carried the lifeless body of the woman in his vehicle. People in that neighbourhood ran to Ilaje police station in Bariga to report. But he drove off, straight to his house at Orimerunmu. He dropped a suicide note, informing his wife that he had killed somebody. He told his wife not to bother looking for him, asking her to take care of the children. Then he left the house.
“He drove and parked near NASFAT area and he committed suicide there. We saw a container of Sniper in the vehicle, which suggested that he drank Sniper (an insecticide). He wound up the glasses and died in the vehicle.
“So, it is a case of murder and suicide, Oyeyemi explained.
The PPRO added that the corpses had been deposited in the mortuary.
Bandits have wreaked havoc in Matane, hometown of the Secretary to the Niger State Government, Ahmed Ibrahim Matane.
The village is in Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State, which has recorded multiple attacks in recent times.
Bandits invaded the village on Tuesday, setting shops, houses and other valuables ablaze.
The attackers also invaded Bamba-Lamba community, a few kilometers Eastern Kontagora.
A resident of Bamba-Lamba, Hashimu Ahmed, told our correspondent that the the bandits struck around 5pm and set the entire community ablaze.
“They surrounded the community. I was able to escape to Kontagora town with my family. They set our homes ablaze. We now live in an open place; we need help,” he said.
The State Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Internal Security, Emmanuel Umar, confirmed the attack to our correspondent.
He said several houses and shops as well as other belongings were burnt by the bandits.
Umar said he could not confirm the casualties.
The Commissioner explained that the attackers moved from one village to another, noting that security operatives have been on the trail of the bandits since Monday when they blocked Minna-Suleja road.
He said the bandits were frustrated because their only escape route to Zamfara had been blocked by the troops.
Daily Trust
Federal Government’s plan to retain the collection of Value Added Tax despite a Federal High Court ruling, hit a brick wall on Tuesday as the National Assembly rejected a proposal seeking to shift the collection of VAT from the concurrent to the exclusive legislative list, effectively leaving the decision to the Supreme Court which is hearing the matter.
A Federal High Court had last year ruled that states had the powers to collect VAT. However, the Federal Government opposed the ruling and continued to collect VAT while it projected that it will collect N2.2tn in 2022 through the Federal Inland Revenue Service.
The government of President Muhammadu Buhari also incorporated VAT collection in its Finance Act 2021 and included it in its 2022 budget, a move that put the government on a collision course with the Southern Governors’ Forum.
Also, the Federal Inland Revenue Service was reported to have lobbied the National Assembly by sending a proposal to the House of Representatives seeking to move VAT collection to the exclusive list. Although the tax agency denied this claim, the National Assembly accepted the proposal and sent it to its constitutional amendment committee.
On Tuesday, the National Assembly, voted on 68 amendments recommended by the Joint Senate and House of Representatives’ Special Ad Hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution.
44 senators vote against VAT on exclusive list, 41 in favour
A Bill for an Act to Alter Part I of the Second Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to include Value Added Tax on the exclusive legislative list failed at the upper legislative chamber
A total of 95 senators registered to vote and 85 voted. While 41 voted in favour of VAT being collected exclusively by the Federal Government, 44 voted against it while no one abstained. In the end, the bill failed because it did not meet the minimum 73 votes.
In the House of Representatives, about 209 lawmakers voted to retain VAT on the concurrent list while 91 voted for it to be placed on the exclusive list.
LASG, A’Ibom hail N’Assembly
Reacting to the development, Lagos State Government, which is a party to the suit before the Supreme Court and has passed a law on VAT collection, said the National Assembly deserves commendation.
Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotoso, said any decision that would promote federalism should be commended.
He added, “I think the lawmakers have done well. If they have said now that the states have the right to collect VAT, it is good because that has been the question that the judiciary has been asked to answer, and if the Lagos State Government and some other state governments are pushing for this, at the National Assembly it is wisdom.
“It is the right way to go. I think they deserve kudos; they deserve applause because in my own view, it is a ‘no victor, no vanquished’ situation. It is good for democracy. It is a victory for the rule of law. It is a victory for equity, for justice. It is a victory for what is right as against what is not right.”
In a similar vein, Akwa Ibom State Government said it was in support of any move that would expedite the country’s move towards true federalism.
Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Ini Ememobong, described the National Assembly act as a move in the right direction.
He said “The state government, like other forward looking private and corporate citizens, is supportive of every attempt to increase the speed of our travel to true federalism. This act by the National Assembly is a march in the right direction. The government of Akwa Ibom State led by Governor Udom Emmanuel has been at the lead of this advocacy and therefore welcomes this development.”
VAT needs further review – Gombe
However, Gombe State Government, which had previously kicked against states collecting VAT, said on Tuesday that the issue of VAT collection still needed to be reviewed further.
Commissioner for Information, Julius Ishaya, said the latest development is more complex than a lot of people understand.
Ishaya who made this disclosure to one of our correspondents said, “For us aside from passing it as a law, there will be a need for states to sit down and sort out things.
“For instance VAT is value added tax on goods and services. If you buy airtime, instead of it being done at the organisation’s head office, it is meant for them to separate it to know cards used around the Gombe area and remit the VAT to the state unlike what was obtained in the recent past.
“That is the complicated issue, there is more than meets the eye but it is not a simple thing as people expect. We will increase our productivity and other economic activities to make sure we attract value addition.”
Lawmakers reject pro-women bills
However, the gender bills failed to pass despite the fact that Aisha Buhari, the President’s wife had on Wednesday last week, stormed the Senate and House chambers in company with female ministers to lobby the lawmakers as the committee laid its report.
Also on Tuesday, Dolapo Osinbajo, wife to the Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo, accompanied by Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, observed as members of the House voted on the recommendations by the committee, and watched as the lawmakers voted against the gender bills.
The rejected proposals either failed to get the required two-third or four-fifth votes in the 360-member House or they were voted against by a majority of the lawmakers in both chambers.
In the Senate, a bill seeking special seats for women at the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly failed to scale through. While 91 senators registered to vote on the bill, 30 voted for it, 58 against it and three abstained.
Similarly, the senators voted against a bill seeking affirmative action for women in political party administration. 91 registered, 90 voted out of the figure 34 voted yes, 53 no and three abstained. The bill which was meant to guarantee inclusivity of women in governance failed as it could not garner at 73 votes needed for it to be passed.
All the bills relating to women failed to pass but for the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, who vetoed Bill 68 which proposed a 35 per cent quota for women in the presidential and state cabinets.
When the House voted on the proposal electronically, 226 members voted for it, 70 voted against it while four others abstained.
Gbajabiamila, however, pleaded with the lawmakers to allow the last remaining gender related bill to pass.
Majority Leader, Ado Doguwa, however, moved for an amendment of the clause to reduce the percentage to 20, while Babajimi Benson seconded the motion.
Instead of electronic voting on the amendment, the Speaker called for voice vote. While the nays were louder than the ‘ayes’, Gbajabiamila ruled that the ayes had it.
Other rejected proposals include Bill 13 which sought to “provide for the procedure for passing a Constitution alteration bill where the President withhold assent.” While the amendment required four-fifth or 288 votes, it failed to pass when put to vote twice.
Another is Bill 15 which sought to “provide for the procedure of removing presiding officers of the legislature.”
Also failing to meet the required votes was Bill 35 to “provide for special seat for women in the National and state Houses of Assembly;” Bill 36 to “expand the scope of citizenship by registration;” Bill 37 to “provide for affirmative action for women in political party administration;” and Bill 38 to “provide criteria for qualification to become an indigene of a state in Nigeria.”
Bill 42 which sought to “expand immunity to the legislative and judicial arms of government” also failed to garner the required number of votes.
For independent candidacy in presidential, governorship, National Assembly, state Houses of Assembly and local government area council elections, as proposed by Bill 58, 269 lawmakers gave their votes; 28 voted against the proposal, while three others abstained.
However, Bill 59 which proposed Diaspora voting failed to pass, with 58 members voting for it and 240 others voting against it.
Another proposal that required four-fifth votes was contained in Bill 64, which sought to “further define acts that constitute torture, inhuman or degrading treatment.” It, however, failed to get up to 288 votes.
Bills for LGA, legislative autonomy scale through
The House passed Bill 1 to “abrogate the State Joint Local Government Account and provide for a special account into which shall be paid all allocations due to local government councils from the Federation Account and from the government of the state.”
It also passed Bill 2 to “establish local government as a tier of government and guarantee their democratic existence, tenure and for related matters.”
Bill 9 which sought to “provide for the financial independence of state Houses of Assembly and state Judiciary” also passed.
The House also passed Bill 17 which sought to “establish the federal revenue court and the revenue court of a state.”
States get powers to run prisons, airports
Also, the House passed Bills 30, 31, 32 and 33 to move airports; fingerprints, identification and criminal records; prisons (and re-designate it as Correctional Services); railway; and power generation, transmission and distribution from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List, respectively.
Also passed was Bill 39 to “empower the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission to enforce compliance with remittance of accruals into and disbursement of revenue from the Federation Account and streamline the procedure for reviewing the Revenue Allocation Formula.”
While Bill 44 is to “specify the period within which the president or the governor of state shall present the Appropriation Bill before the National Assembly or House of Assembly,” Bill 45 seeks to require the president or governors to submit the names of persons nominated as ministers or commissioners within 30 days of taking the oath of office for confirmation by the Senate or state House of Assembly.”
The House passed Bill 46 to include presiding officers of the National Assembly in the membership of the National Security Council; approved the establishment of a ‘State Security Council’ in Bill 47; and passed Bill 55 which sought to include former Heads of the National Assembly in the Council of State.
AGF, minister of justice separated
While passing Bill 51 to establish the Office of the Accountant –General of the Federal Government separate from the Office of the Accountant –General of the Federation, the House also approved establishment of the Office of the Attorney–General of the Federation and of the state, separate from the Office of the Minister of Justice or Commissioners for Justice of the state “in order to make the offices of attorneys–general independent and insulated from partisanship.”
Independent candidacy in presidential, governorship, National Assembly, Houses of Assembly and local government council elections scaled through at the senate. 94 senators registered to vote, 89 voted in support while five voted against.
As the lawmakers voted against gender bills, Gbajabiamila had threatened that records showing how they voted would be made public.
However, the details had not been made available as of 10pm on Tuesday when this report was filed
Amendments at variance with restructuring – Sagay
Reacting to the amendments, Legal luminary, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), said the amendments were not a positive step towards restructuring but the exact opposite.
Sagay said this on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ programme on Tuesday.
The senior advocate said in a real federation, there are only two tiers of government- the federal and the state.
He said ideally, the states ought to determine the number of local governments within their domain. He said that the autonomy granted to the local governments by the National Assembly undermines the spirit of federalism.”
Punch
OGUN, Lauretta Fagbohun
Sought-After Creative Academy, a tuition free school located in the heart of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital is on the verge of shutting down it's operations due to lack of funding.
The founder of the academy, Anfela Tolulope who stated this said that the challenges of running the academy free is enormous and the support systems have become lean.
She noted that payment of salaries, buying of uniforms, educational materials, and play yard equipments have been hampered recently, which if not urgently attended to might lead to the shutting down of the school.
According to her, "We need people that can assist with the school upkeep. We are at the verge of shutting down.
"We need to be able to pay salaries to staff and stipends to our volunteers. Things haven't been so good recently with us but we believe God to come through for us.
"What we do here is about passion for the kids. We don't charge their parents any Kobo, it's all for free because we are located where the standard of living is very low so we want to be able to support these families with quality education for their children", she added
Founded in 2017, Sought-After Creative Academy, located at C2 Olorunsogo street, Saraki Adigbe Abeokuta is in need of a school bus, standard school building and other supports to keep the school afloat.
Kaduna State Government has advised residents to be vigilant as explosive devices have been planted by terrorists in various parts of the state.
The government gave the advice on Monday through a statement by the state commissioner for Internal Security and Homeland Affairs, Samuel Aruwan.
It said security agencies feared the terrorists may be planning to “discreetly place explosives in public facilities such as schools, hospitals, hotels, bars, entertainment centres, restaurants, parks, major roads and places of worship.”
The statement reads:
“Kaduna State Government wishes to issue an crucial advisory to citizens across the state, for heightened alertness to the threat of explosive devices planted in public places by terrorists.
“This follows sustained assessments by security agencies, and the possibility of terrorists looking to harm citizens, by discreetly placing explosives in public facilities such as schools, hospitals, hotels, bars, entertainment centres, restaurants, parks, major roads and places of worship.
“Security agencies are working to ensure that no harm or destruction comes to residents and facilities.
“Citizens are however urged to be alive to this threat, and to remain watchful for suspicious persons loitering, or packages seemingly abandoned in strategic places.
“Increased general awareness is strongly advised, and frequent thorough checks of premises are recommended.
“Any suspicious person or object observed must be immediately reported to the nearest security formation. The Security Operations Room may also be contacted, on the lines 09034000060 and 08170189999.
“Quarry operators are also advised to enhance security on their sites, and to ensure that explosive materials are not readily accessible to be carted away for criminal purposes. Sites will be inspected for compliance.
“Close monitoring of the situation by security agencies will continue.”
Kabala West bomb incident
Earlier on Monday Kaduna state police spokesperson, Mohammed Jalige, had confirmed an explosion in Kabala West area of the state metropolis on Sunday.
Confirming the incident to NAN, Jalige said “an explosion, suspected to be an Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) on Sunday night occurred in Kabala West area of Kaduna South Local Government Area.
“The explosion is suspected to be IED, there is no casualty recorded in the incident. There was nobody in the building when it exploded. It happened Sunday night around 21:45 p.m.
“The anti-bomb squad has been deployed to the scene to analyse the particles we got from the place,’’ he said.
Jalige promised that details of findings would be made available after investigation.
Badarawa blast
In July 2021 an explosive killed two children in Badarawa area of Kaduna.
The explosives according to the Kaduna police was placed in a Viju milk container and it exploded while the children were playing with it.
Awwal, son of one Aminu died instantly while his friend died hours later in Barau Dikko hospital in Kaduna.
PT
Officers of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested five notorious suspected cultists who have been on the wanted list of the command.
The suspects were arrested on February 22 at their hideout along Molipa Road, Ijebu Ode while allegedly planning another violent attack.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, the suspects Segun Olabiyi aka Koleje, Musa Atanda aka Musa SARS, Olorunjuedalo Adewale, Olamide Odewole and Peter Anuoluwapo Akinyemi were arrested following information received by policemen attached to Obalende Divisional Headquarters, Ijebu Ode, that the hoodlums who are members of Aiye confraternity were gathering in groups at the back of De Prime Hotel in preparation for a deadly attack.
“Upon the information, the DPO in charge of Obalende Division, SP Salami Murphy, mobilised his men and headed to the scene. And on sighting the policemen, the hoodlums engaged them in gun battle but they were subdued by the superior firepower of the policemen, which eventually led to the arrest of five amongst them, while others escaped with bullets injuries.
“Recovered at the scene of the encounter are one locally made short gun, two live cartridges and assorted charms.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects were actively involved in various cult clashes that had claimed many lives including that of a serving policeman, Sergeant Akeem Oseni attached to Igbeba Division.
“Their trademark according to their confession is to cut off the right hand of their victims after killing them.
"They also confessed to have involved in some robbery operations in Ijebu Ode and its environs.
"They added that one of their prominent leaders simply known as ‘Perth’ was killed in one of the robbery operations,” Oyeyemi stated.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Lanre Bankole, who applauded the gallantry and professional performance of his men, has directed that the suspects be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for discreet investigation.
He also charged his officers to take the battle to the doorsteps of all known criminals in the state.
More...
Armed men suspected to be members of a secret cult on Saturday invaded a burial ceremony in Ebenebe, Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State, killing 20 persons.
They also desecrated the corpse that was being prepared for burial.
It was gathered that the burial was that of a suspected leader of a cult group, named Ozo.
It was also gathered that while the corpse of Ozo was lying-in-state in his compound, some suspected cultists arrived at the scene and shot at the mourners while others scampered to safety.
A source said, “My sister was supposed to be at the burial. She and her friends had already prepared to leave Awka for Ebenebe, but the vehicle they booked to take them disappointed them.
“She and her friends were so unhappy, and they decided to go in search of another vehicle that can take them. It was in the course of going to the burial that they received a phone call that everybody at the burial had been dispersed by some gunmen.
“There is a video from the scene, which showed several persons lying in the pool of their own blood dead, while the corpse was desecrated, with its coffin lying far apart and sprawling on the ground.”
It was gathered that members of the community were wailing, while corpses littered the compound.
Anambra State Police command confirmed the incident, stating that it was a case of cult rivalry.
The state police spokesman, Tochukwu Ikenga, who responded to the message sent to his phone, said, “Yes, this morning (Saturday), there was an incident at Ebenebe. A burial was going on when some people suspected to be cultists invaded the area and started shooting.
“I do not have details of casualties now, but I will keep you informed once the picture becomes clear.
“For now, Commissioner of Police, Echeng Echeng, has despatched tactical squads comprising of various units to the area to maintain calm.”
Punch
A civil society group, the Truth and Justice League (TJL), Ogun State chapter, has called for justice over the death of a police sergeant, Leke Ogunsola.
Sergeant Ogunsola reportedly died in an accident that occurred while on duty at the Asoludero Sagamu residence of former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel.
The group, in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Olaide Babalola on Saturday, said the death of the policeman was a huge loss to his immediate family, colleagues and the Nigeria Police.
While commiserating with the family of the late policeman and praying for the repose of his soul, the group noted alleged attempts by those it described as detractors, to paint different versions of the scenario leading to the accident with the motive of casting aspersion on the name and integrity of Gbenga Daniel.
It stated: “In spite of the fact that Otunba Daniel was not at the residence when the accident occurred, mischief-makers are spinning falsehoods in the media to frame guilt on the former governor, even without hearing his own side of the story.
“Contrary to misleading media reports, TJL’s findings revealed that Sergeant Ogunsola got involved in an accident while trying to assist one of the drivers of Otunba Gbenga Daniel to close an arm of the steel gate at the entrance of Asoludero residence in Sagamu.
“From credible information gathered from other personnel at the residence, the deceased sergeant only offered to help the driver to close one arm of the gate when the incident occurred.
“Against the impression being created that the late sergeant was redrafted to serve as a gateman, including other domestic duties instead of his primary assignment of providing security, the driver actually opened the gate by himself and was in the process closing back the gate when the sergeant appeared to offer a helping hand.
“Unfortunately, the steel gate flipped back and got the sergeant badly injured in the process. It turned out those efforts at getting the sergeant proper medical attention soon after the incident did not yield positive results as the sergeant was later pronounced dead in one of the medical facilities.
“It is therefore regrettable that the unfortunate death of the police personnel has become a subject of mischief and mudslinging.
“Those whose primary interest is to trample on truth to achieve an inordinate goal of misrepresenting circumstances that led to the death of Sergeant Lekan Ogunsola would stop at nothing in their dubious narratives.
“It is rather disturbing that the truth is being assailed by deliberately twisting the scenario that led to the accident culminating in the death of Sergeant Ogunsola while on legitimate duty.”
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Saturday challenged Nigerian youths to compete with elders for elective offices in 2023, including the office of the President, instead of seeking to deny the old ones the constitutional rights to pursue their Presidential ambition.
Atiku who was the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party( PDP) in 2019, hinted that the electoral field is also opened to the younger one to "compete," however, expressed the confidence that he will get the PDP ticket for 2023 Presidential race.
The Waziri Adamawa spoke while fileding questions from reporters after a closed door meeting with his ex - boss, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in his Penthouse within the sprawling Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
The ex - Vice President who arrived OOPL at 10.10a.m. went into a private meeting with his host, saying 'I came to see my boss.'
He was silent on what he discussed with Obasanjo during the about an hour long meeting.
"I came to meet my boss. We will let you know when I declared, we will give a formal announcement.
Have I ever failed to get the ticket?
Let the youths compete with the elders. It is competition. It is democracy," Atiku said.
Atiku later proceeded to the palace of Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, in Ake, Abeokuta where he recalled his stint in Ogun State as a trained Customs Officer.
Although, Atiku did not disclose his political ambition at the palace of Alake but the revered monarch prayed that God will grant him his heart desires.
One day after armed robbers raided five banks in Uromi, headquarters of Esan North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, carting away huge sums of money in sacks, a total of N34 million has reportedly been recovered.
Bello Kotongs, Police Public relations Officer in Edo, confirmed this on Friday night.
He said the money was currently in custody of the police.
Armed gang broke into Zenith, UBA, Unity, First and Union Banks in the community, gunning down seven person, including two security personnel.
While escaping through Ubiaja axis of a neighbouring LGA after the operation, the robbers were said to have abandoned the vehicles and motorcycles used for the operation in the bush.
Some youths were said to have blocked the road which forced the robbers to abandon the items recovered by the police.
Bello said the police did the recovery in collaboration with the local vigilante.
He said on receiving the information that some vehicles suspected to have been used by the robbers were abandoned at Oruen Quaters Bush of Ubiaja in Esan South East Local Government of the State, they mobilised to the scene.
“The police recovered two small bags containing women Items, one Union Bank ATM card and Thirty four million, five hundred and ten thousand Naira cash ( #34,510,000.00).
“Other recovered items were One Red Colour Camry car with Reg.No. EZA 105 KJA, One ash Colour Camry Car with Reg. No. KWL 19 DU, One Dark Ash colour corolla car with Reg. No. UBJ 734 SZ, One Lexus 330 car with Reg. No. AAA 973 FL, One Red Q. Link M/CYCLE With Reg. No. EZA 105 QN, One Red Day Long M/Cycle With Reg. No. ENU 204 QL, used for the operation.”
Daily Trust