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Police arrest couple for faking kidnap to extort N5m
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a couple for an alleged self-kidnapping scheme aimed at obtaining a N5 million ransom.
The Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Police Force, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, as he warned citizens to desist from self-kidnapping.
Adejobi added that one Albarka Sukuya in Plateau State was arrested for staging his kidnap on several occasions, and one Nnamdi Agu, also faked his kidnap in Abuja in an attempt to defraud his family.
The statement read, “In Lagos, a couple was arrested for alleged self-kidnapping scheme aimed at obtaining a N5 million ransom recently.
“The husband, Doubara David Yabrifa, a 53-year-old technician, and the wife Regina Yabrifa, a 48-year-old body massager and bone setter, were apprehended after a family member reported the purported kidnapping.
“The couple confessed to planning the self-kidnap to raise N3 million to purchase a property in Badagry, Lagos. The husband justified the act, citing financial difficulties and lack of support from relatives. Both were arrested and subsequently charged to court.
“Also, one Albarka Sukuya of Jenta Apata, Jos, has been notorious for staging his kidnap on several occasions and received ransoms from unsuspecting members of the community in Plateau State.
“Similarly, on 20th January, 2024, a young man, Nnamdi Agu, faked his kidnap in Abuja in an attempt to defraud one of his family members who resides around River Park Estate, Abuja, to make money to pay for his personal pleasures. The Police, in a swift response, foiled the staged kidnapping, and arrested the suspect.
“It is obvious that the suspect and many others leverage on the prevailing instances of kidnapping and plan to engage in such criminal and deceptive acts of staged or self-kidnapping to make money.”
The FPRO warned against the trends of self-kidnapping, stating that it is a punishable offence under the law.
He added, “The Force hereby cautions members of the public to be wary of this trend while those with intent to venture into these criminal acts should desist as the police will leave no stone unturned to cause such suspects to face the full wrath of the law.
“Equally, we vehemently encourage the media and social media influencers, bloggers, etc., to constantly verify news before broadcasting such, not to create panic and jeopardize our security arrangements.”
The PUNCH reports that the scourge of abductions which has strangulated social and economic activities in the North-West has spread nationwide as bandits and other criminal elements have moved their operations into the major cities across the country.
‘Gbajabiamila ‘Indicted’ In Probe Of Emefiele, AMCON Boss, Kuru’
Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been enmeshed in a corruption scandal.
Gbajabiamila was allegedly fingered as one of the beneficiaries of the largesse of corruption uncovered under the Chief Executive Officer of the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Ahmed Kuru, and the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.
A source in the presidency told SaharaReporters that the report of the CBN Special Investigator, Jim Obazee, exposed how Gbajabiamila allegedly benefitted from Kuru’s “largesse of Ikoyi properties from his days as Speaker of the House of Representatives”.
The source claimed that Gbajabiamila, in return, had ensured Kuru remained as AMCON’s Chief Executive after about nine years.
“President Bola Tinubu is under pressure from some political associates, whom Kuru has soiled their white robes, including the Hon Femi Gbajabiamila (President’s Chief of Staff), who has benefitted from Ahmed Kuru’s largesse of Ikoyi properties from his days as Speaker of the House of Representatives,” the source said.
The source noted that “Gbajabiamila had persistently blocked Kuru’s removal as AMCON’s Chief Executive after about nine years in office, over two terms of a democratically elected President.”
Recall that the Special Investigator’s report on the probe of Emefiele uncovered the alarming sums of public funds which went into the fraudulent acquisition of Polaris, Keystone and Union banks under Emefiele and AMCON under Kuru’s leadership.
Following the report, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) dissolved the board and management of Titan Trust Bank, Union Bank, Polaris Bank and Keystone Bank.
This followed a report submitted to President Bola Tinubu by the Special Investigator on the Central Bank of Nigeria and Related Entities, Jim Obazee.
It was reported that the decision to dissolve the boards was taken after a meeting between the CBN Governor, Yemi Cardoso, Obazee and the boards of the four banks, including Titan Trust Bank’s investors, who had earlier avoided meeting with the Special Investigator.
The platform reported in December 2023 that the office of the Special Investigator had insisted that the Chairman of Titan Trust Bank (TTB), Tunde Lemo, Cornelius Vink and Rahul Savara, must appear before it over the acquisition of the Union Bank of Nigeria.
Independent financial investigations revealed that Ahmed Kuru threw all others under the bus to save his neck by blackmailing all government officials who had benefitted from his generosity through the sharing of Ikoyi and Abuja properties.
A forensic observer noted that the special investigator’s report that did not indict Kuru raised concerns over whether it was deliberate as a result of a bargain.
[NaijaNews]
NATO signs $1.2b artillery shell deal
NATO on Tuesday signed contracts worth $1.2 billion to acquire over 200,000 155-millimetre artillery shells in the face of Russia’s invasion on Ukraine.
Members of the Western military alliance have drained their stocks sending shipments of heavy ammunition to help Ukraine’s forces battle Russia in a brutal war of attrition.
The latest deals — signed with French firm Nexter and Germany’s Junghans Microtec — are estimated by officials to cover around 220,000 shells and deliveries to NATO members will start at the end of 2025.
“It is important that our allies refill their own stocks as we continue to support Ukraine,” NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said.
The US-led alliance last year launched a plan to bolster defence production and has since inked joint procurement contracts for ammunition worth some $10 billion.
Those include a deal to buy up to 1,000 European-produced Patriot air defence missiles that was signed last month.
The European Union has also launched its own efforts to increase defence production, but the 27-nation bloc is falling far short of a target of supplying Kyiv one million artillery shells by March.
The push to refill stocks and ramp up output comes as doubts swirl over future support for Ukraine from key backer the United States.
Stoltenberg insisted that Kyiv’s supporters “will support Ukraine with the systems and the weapons and ammunition they need to prevail as a sovereign, independent country.”
He said the alliance for now did not “see any direct or imminent threat against any NATO ally” from Russia and had stepped up its eastern defences to dissuade Moscow from any aggression.
AFP
Customer files N50 million lawsuit against AEDC for billing errors
A customer has filed a lawsuit seeking N50 million in general damages over alleged erroneous billing practices from Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC).
The customer, Ugochukwu Orakwue, a resident of Kogi, filed the lawsuit, in an originating summon submitted to Justice Nicodemus Auwalu of High Court II in Lokoja, Orakwue contended that the AEDC deliberately and inaccurately billed him for electricity, refusing to read his Postpaid Meter and instead relying on inflated estimated bills.
The plaintiff petitioned the court to issue an order restraining the AEDC from continuing to issue him electricity bills based on estimation, insisting that the bills should reflect the actual reading of his postpaid meter.
Furthermore, Orakwue sought a declaration that the AEDC’s practice of issuing bills based on estimation rather than meter readings violated the regulations set forth by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), deeming such actions illegal, null, and void.
The lawsuit
An excerpt of the lawsuit reads.
- “A declaration that all the electricity bills issued to the claimant by the AEDC based on estimation starting from the bill of 19” Oct. 19, 2015, being exercise or action founded on illegality are null, void and of no legal effect or consequence.
- “A declaration that AEDC’s action of concealing the information of the claimant’s status as a metered customer by the wilful refusal to insert his meter number in his electricity bills contravenes the NERC’s regulation and therefore illegal, null and void.
- “A declaration that the defendant’s act of disconnecting the claimant’s electricity supply for nonpayment in less than ten (10) days of the bill date, without issuing a disconnection notice to the claimant’s even when the complaint filed by him against the bills remains unresolved and contravened the NERC’s regulations and therefore illegal, null and void.
- “A declaration that the claimant is entitled to be refunded the sum of N25,000 and Three Thousand Naria (N3,000) reconnection fee coercively collected from him by the defendant on July 28, 2023, before the reconnection of his electricity supply illegally or unlawfully disconnected by the defendant.”
During the recent court hearing, the AEDC’s counsel, Mr. G.D. Dubai, informed the court that discussions had commenced with the claimant to explore an out-of-court settlement.
Dubai conveyed that most of the issues raised had been forwarded to the management at the AEDC’s headquarters in Abuja for consideration.
The court, acknowledging the ongoing discussions, adjourned the case to February 22 for a report on the progress of the settlement or potential continuation of the hearing.
[Nairametrics]
Conflicting Court Rulings Spark Confusion In Rivers
There seems to be confusion in Rivers State over the two different rulings of the Federal High Court on the ongoing political crisis in the state.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor and minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, had been at loggerheads since October 2023 when members of the House of Assembly made moves to impeach him.
Justice James Omotoso nullified the 2024 budget as approved by the Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie-led House of Assembly and assented to by the governor.
However, Justice J. O. Abdulmalik, directed the parties not to take further steps, pending the determination of an application that is seeking to stop Fubara from re-presenting the already passed 2024 budget of the state before the legislative house.
While some residents, believed to be supporters of Wike, are celebrating the Omotoso judgement, supporters of Fubara are celebrating the Abdulmalik ruling.
Omotoso, in his judgement also ordered the governor to represent the budget to the legally constituted House of Assembly under the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule.
On his part, Abdulmalik, directed the parties not to take further steps, pending the determination of an application that is seeking to stop Fubara from re-presenting the already passed 2024 budget of the state before the legislative house.
The court fixed February 28, 2024 to hear the application which was brought before the court by six elders of the state.
The plaintiffs in the matter, led by a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly representing Bonny State Constituency, Hon. Victor Okon Jumbo, are; Senator Bennett Birabi, Senator Andrew Uchendu, Rear Admiral O.P. Fingesi, Ann Kio Briggs and Emmanuel Deinma.
They had through their team of lawyers led by Mr. Olukayode Ajulo, SAN, approached the court, praying it to declare seats of 27 lawmakers in the state that defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress, (APC) vacant.
In a 19-paragraph affidavit that was deposed to by the 6th plaintiff, Deinma, who identified himself as an indigene of Rivers State from Okrika Local Government Area, the court was told that sometime in November, 2023, 27 out of 32 members of the Rivers State Assembly, “without any justification or lawful excuse whatsoever, decided to defect from the PDP, being the platform under which they were elected.”
[Leadership]
Powerful Nigerians Were Behind Banditry – Alake
Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, has said the Federal Government is committed to ending illegal mining in the country’s mining sector.
Alake spoke when he led a Federal Government delegation to pay a condolence visit to the Oyo State Government over Tuesday’s explosion at Bodija estate in Ibadan.
The minister contended that powerful Nigerians were behind banditry associated with illegal mining in Nigeria.
He said a lot of banditry, terrorism and insecurity which were being associated with the mining sector were actually sponsored by illegal miners who are powerful people in the society.
“There are lots of connivance among the strata of the society —- both high, medium and low classes of the society —- in the nation’s mining sector.
“But the Federal Government is working together with the state and local governments, as well as the host communities, who have efficient knowledge of the local terrain to address the issue.
“Illegal mining is not exclusive to the high class alone, but cuts across the strata of our society. So, we are employing both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies and tactics to address the menace,” Alake said.
He disclosed that the Federal Government would await the final report of the forensic investigations into the causes, effects and possible remedy to the Bodija estate explosion.
Alake however said it was going to be after this that government would take critical decisions on the unfortunate incident.
“It would be presumptuous for the Federal Government to take any solid pronouncement or categorical announcement now.
“We will examine all the forensic analysis reports, and all the investigations from all the agencies and various intelligence arms of the security agencies.
“They are all working round the clock to provide an authentic and viable forensic report to the Federal Government.
“When the reports are ready, the Federal Government will be on a solid platform to make an informed judgment and a categorical statement.
“The final forensic report will also help the Federal Government in taking appropriate decisions concerning the victims of this ugly incident.
“Anything before then will be presumptuous and can be misleading at the end of the day,” he said.
The minister urged Nigerians to be conscious and always report suspicious movements and businesses in their environment, noting that failure to report early always lead to negative results.
“We need to be safety-conscious and develop the attitude of reporting atrocious activities in our neighbourhood.
“For example, no one will expect that such deadly explosives could be stored in an elite estate like this without suspicion,” he said.
(NAN)
AFCON: Super Eagles ready to face any team — Peseiro
Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro says he doesn’t have a preference on which country his team should face in the Round of 16 at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON.
The West Africans confirmed their place in the knockout phase courtesy of a 1-0 victory against Guinea-Bissau on Monday.
They are now awaiting the completion of proceedings in Group A to know their opponent.
Peseiro’s side could face either Senegal, Guinea or Cameroon in the next stage of the competition.
The Portuguese however claimed they are ready to take on any team.
“We’re ready for meet any team,” he said in a post-match interview.
“I am not 100% happy because we deserved to finish top of the group.
“We deserved to beat Equatorial Guinea and then we would have had nine points.”
[Dailypost]
EFCC to arraign Obiano over alleged ₦4bn fraud Wednesday
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission will arraign the immediate-past governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, on Wednesday, January 24, before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, over alleged money laundering to the tune of N4,008,573,350.
Our correspondent gathered on Tuesday that the ex-governor will be arraigned on nine count charges.
The development comes over a week after the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede vowed to review all abandoned high-profile cases, especially those involving former Governors and Ministers.
An impeccable source revealed, “We found that Obiano moved N4,008,573,350 from security votes into different accounts. The money at various times was changed into dollars and returned to Obiano by cash.”
EFCC’s lead counsel, Slyvanus Tahir, SAN, will lead eight other lawyers in the trial of the former governor
Some of the charges against Obiano include, “That you, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, whilst being the executive governor of Anambra State of Nigeria between March 2014 – March 2022, sometime between 7th February, 2018 to 18th February, 2019 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly transferred through Mr Willie Nwokoye, your then principal private secretary, the sum of N156,800.00 only from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account No: 5030050875 domiciled in Fidelity Bank Pic into the Fidelity Bank Ple Account No: 6060018819 belonging to C.I. Patty Ventures Nigeria Limited (an entity that had no business relationship with the Anambra State Government), which funds were dissipated for purposes unrelated / unconnected with the security affairs of Anambra State, which you reasonably ought to have known that such funds formed part of the proceeds of your unlawful act, to wit: (Stealing and Corruption) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) in 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.
“That you, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, whilst being the executive governor of Anambra State of Nigeria between March 2014 — March 2022, sometime between 9th August, 2017 to 4th March, 2020 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly transferred through Mr Willie Nwokoye, your then principal private secretary, the sum of N261,268,585.00 only from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account No: 5030050875 domiciled in Fidelity Bank Plc into the Fidelity Bank Plc Account No: 5600062873 belonging to Easy Diamond Integrated Link (an entity that had no business relationship with the Anambra State Government), which funds were dissipated for purposes unrelated / unconnected with the security affairs of Anambra State, which you reasonably ought to have known that such funds formed part of the proceeds of your unlawful act, to wit: (Stealing and Corruption) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) in 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.
When contacted by our correspondent on Tuesday, the EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale confirmed the development while noting that Obiano will be arraigned on Wednesday.
“Yes, we’re arraigning Obiano tomorrow,” Oyewale noted.
The ex-governor was first arrested at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos, on March 17, 2022, as he was preparing to board a flight to Houston, the United States of America.
The arrest took place at about 8.30 pm, hours after he left office as governor and, thus, lost his immunity from arrest and prosecution.
He had been on the EFCC’s watchlist for some time before he was eventually arrested over corruption allegations.
“Obiano was arrested for alleged misappropriation of public funds, including, N5 billion Sure-P and N37 billion security vote which was withdrawn in cash. Part of the funds was also allegedly diverted to finance political activities in the state,” EFCC had noted at the time.
[Punch]
Ogun Assembly Speaker, Oluomo impeached
The Speaker of the Ogun House of Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo has been impeached by 18 lawmakers out of 26 member assembly, during plenary presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Mrs Bolanle Ajayi.
The Assembly equally elected Mr. Oludaisi Elemide, who is currently representing Odeda State Constituency at the Assembly, as the new Speaker.
Vanguard reliably gathered that Adegoke Adeyanju, an APC lawmaker, representing Yewa North 1 State Constituency moved the motion for Oluomo’s impeachment, while it was seconded by another APC lawmaker, Ademola Adeniran, who is representing Sagamu II State Constituency.
It was also gathered that Adeyanju had entered the Assembly chamber with the Maze in company of other lawmakers.
Speaking to newsmen after his election as the new Speaker, Elemide explained that the people of the state should expect the best from him.
He said, “we are law abiding legislators. We want the world to know that there has been changed in leadership.
“18 members signed for me to be the Speaker. People should remain calm. We are in custody of all the authority of the House. We are saying that the new leadership will support the governor.
He clarified that Governor Dapo Abiodun knows nothing about the impeachment.
Also speaking, Mr Damilola Soneye, who is representing Obafemi Owode State Constituency, noted that the office of the Speaker is to be first among equals.
“The Speaker was impeached due to gross misconduct which bothers on high handedness, lack of focus and transparency, arrogance and poor leadership style, financial misappropriation and inciting members against themselves,” he said.
The Clerk and the Deputy Clerk, Mr Deji Adeyemo and Mrs Funmilayo Adeyemi were also at the plenary.
Security personnel, including the police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were in large numbers at the Assembly complex.
[Vanguard]
AFCON 2023: ‘Nigeria Ready To Face Any Opposition’ – Super Eagles Star, Simon Declares
After Nigeria’s narrow win against Guinea-Bissau on Monday evening, Super Eagles star Moses Simon said the Nigerian team is ready to face any opposition in the ongoing 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Naija News reports that today’s 1-0 victory against the Djurtus of Guinea-Bissau helped the Super Eagles of Nigeria progress to the Round of 16 of the AFCON.
Despite being wasteful at the match played at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, the Nigerian team still ended the Group stage match at second place behind Equatorial Guinea, thanks to a cross from Simon which was diverted into the net by Opa Sangante in the 36th minute.
Commenting on the Monday evening match, Simon said: “It was a good win for us. To make it from the group was a good one for us.”
“We are not thinking about the opponent we will be facing in the next round. I can’t even say we have any preference for a team we want to face.
“We have to be ready for all opposition if we want to win the title. Any team that we draw in the next round, we are ready for them and all other teams too,” Simon told a press conference in Abidjan.