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12/03/20

A former Senate President and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim, has said Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, needs psychiatric and psychological evaluation and help, going by his "dangerous" moves in the state, including some alleged sinister plan to kill him (Anyim).

The former SGF noted on Thursday that the governor visited his home alongside some high-profile people on  November 20, and begged him to leave the Peoples Democratic Party and join the All Progressives Congress with him, but he (Anyim) kicked against such idea.

Pius Anyim

Anyim said this was one of his offences in Ebonyi.

The battle between Umahi and Anyim, who were both stalwarts in the PDP, had reached a peak three days ago when the governor on Tuesday sacked all his appointees from the former SGF’s Local Government Area – Ivo LGA – as well as Anyim’s kin from his government.

The former Senate President stated these in an open letter to the governor, which he also copied to the President, Muhammadu Buhari, the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the State Security Service and the Chief of Defence Staff.

He said based on the alleged plan to assassinate him, he is inviting the security agencies “to note this plan, and I want to assure Governor Umahi that my blood is not available for him in pursuit of his ambition.”

Anyim, who was Senate President between 2000 and 2003, said, “People who know Gov. Umahi know that he usually starts this way whenever he is hatching a sinister plan. He raises dust, makes wild allegations and accusations against people to divert the attention of the public before he strikes.

“I believe that Gov. Umahi needs help. He was not in this shape when I picked him. His present behaviour is certainly not normal. I want to advise his brothers to seek psychiatric and psychological help for him before it is too late. 

“The only offence we committed is that we refused to follow Gov. Umahi in his political adventure. Gov. Umahi may have been told that he needs to kill a high-profile person to achieve his mad ambition.

“Security agencies, the Attorney General of the Federation and judges, should note; I fully understand that what Umahi meant by saying to me 'this will be the last fight I will fight' is that he will kill me so that I will not live to fight again.

“While I invite the security agencies to note this plan, I want to assure Gov. Umahi that my blood is not available for him in pursuit of his ambition. I want to ensure the street dinner Governor that no amount of blackmail or intimidation will compel any of us to follow him. 

“Gov. Umahi should know that there is a record of those who died mysteriously, violently, and those who just disappeared since he became governor of Ebonyi State. On my part, I will continue to pray for him to recover from his delusion.” 

Read the full letter below:

OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNOR DAVID UMAHI ON HIS WILD, INFANTILE, AND UTTERLY SENSELESS ACCUSATIONS AGAINST MY PERSON

Copy: 
   
1.   The President, Federal Republic of Nigeria 
2.   Inspector – General of Police 
3.   Director – General, State Security Service 
4.   Chief of Defence Staff 
 
In a widely circulated media briefing on the 27th November after a formal Ebonyi State security council meeting, Governor Umahi stated as follows: 

“I want the media to note, that I reported an allegation that some Ebonyi people are engaging cultists and according to them some IPOB Members to start killing and causing crisis in Ebonyi State in the name of fighting Ebonyi State Government and the governor and their leader is Senator Anyim Pius Anyim and their members are Dr. Sam Egwu, Senator Obinna Ogba, Mr. Ali Odefa and others…...The same Senator Anyim Pius Anyim fought the former Governor Sam Egwu and many people were killed. 
…...I have also directed Security Agencies to ensure the implementation of policies on tinted glasses of vehicles in the state, the use of a siren and then their police escort…. If they try to fight the State, this will be their last fight, they will not fight again”. 

1.   I would not have bothered to respond to this gibberish by a sinking man but for the compelling need to put the records straight and forewarn the public about the sinister plans of a man who personifies everything ignoble, shameless and despicable.  
 
Gov. Umahi is pitiably delusional. He is a prisoner of his greed and inordinate ambition. Here is a drowning man looking for who to drag down with him. Gov. Umahi has made his worst mistake after his latest misadventure by taking on me and other noble and respectable sons of Ebonyi State who have served and continued to serve our dear State with resolute commitment, dedication and integrity. 
 
2.   The case at hand is his defection to APC on the 19th of November, 2020. The discerning public knows that he has been on the plan for a long time and when he decided to consummate it, he suddenly concocted an accusation against PDP, that PDP was not willing to zone Presidency to the South East. When he spews these allegations, he would not even mind whether they make sense or not. He did not have the mental capacity to reason that no party in less than two years into a new term would bring the next election unto the front burner. That even in APC where he has gone to, the issue of next election is not yet on the table as doing so would distract the government.  

 
3.   People who know Gov. Umahi know that he normally starts this way whenever he is hatching a sinister plan. He raises dusts, makes wild allegations and accusations against people just to divert the attention of the public before he strikes. It is public knowledge that Gov. Umahi had been planning his defection to the All Progressive Congress, APC for a long time. In his delusion, he believed his own lies that he is the only man who matters in Ebonyi State. He did not consult with anybody notable before consummating his defection to APC. After his defection, no person of note followed him.  

4.   Unable to contain and manage the unsavory reactions from the public he ran to my home in the company of some high-profile people, on the 20th of November 2020, and pleaded with me to defect to APC, saying that if I do, others will follow suit. I pointed out to him that his approach has made it almost impossible for anybody to defect. He pleaded with me that if I cannot defect now, I should not attend any PDP meetings, and I said no, I must attend PDP meetings as long as I am in PDP. He realized that he could not persuade anybody when he saw the crème of Ebonyi Elders and citizen that gathered for the inauguration of PDP Caretaker Committee. He could no longer sleep and declared war on every one who has refused to defect with him.  

5.   I would not have taken his present spew of baseless allegations seriously, but because I suspect he is under a spell and perhaps something is pursuing him. He may have been told that he will need to kill before he would achieve his present enterprise and so to build up a scenario for him to kill, he will need to spew allegations of killings even when they make no sense. I have no doubt that Governor Umahi may have been told that he needed blood to accomplish his present enterprise, otherwise how can a man in his 6th year as Governor of a State suddenly realise that a former President of the Senate, a former Governor of the State and two-time serving Senator Dr. Sam Egwu, Senator Obinna Ogba, two time serving Senator, are now cultists and IPOB members. Something is wrong somewhere.  
It is obvious that either something is pursuing Governor Umahi or that he is pursuing something. For those who know him well, please notice that his lips have shifted out of shape and his eye balls shrinking. Something is pursuing Gov. Umahi.  

Gov. Umahi’s modus operandi are well known and his moves are easily predictable. The three examples below will elucidate this point: 
 
1.   The case with Pastor Ephraim Ononye 

Pastor Ononye was the pastor to Gov. Umahi’s campaign organization in 2015. Midway into his term, he requested the pastor to start praying for the next term. The pastor declined to be part of his second term agenda. He was so enraged that he walked the pastor out. The following day he accused the pastor of murder and that he was running an illegal school. He unleased security agents against the pastor. The pastor’s school with about 900 pupils was closed till today. On the 2nd of June 2017 while the church was having a night vigil with some widows, he sent security agents to go and close the church. They manhandled and threw the women out into the rain and seven days later, one of the women died. That wicked act has continued to hunt Governor Umahi till date. It is obvious that the spirit of error has come upon him. Gov. Umahi was told that the only way he could win the election was if he ate on the street. Governor Umahi quickly organized a State Banquet on the street at Udensi roundabout and Ebonyi people attended without knowing that it was a ritual dinner. Only Gov. Umahi knows how many Ebonyians that have died mysteriously after that dinner. 
 
Gov. Umahi is the only governor in Nigeria that organizes dinner on the street. Since I got to know the reason behind the street dinner, I stopped attending his functions. After he won the election, he arranged for his close associates to reconcile the pastor and himself. When he was asked why he did not keep his promises, he replied that he was not God that keeps promises. 
 
2.   The case of Prof. Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh 

Professor Odo was the first of the three SSGs he has had so far. When Prof Odo could not fit into his various schemes, he decided to resign with a widely publicized resignation letter. Governor Umahi was so offended and hit back by setting up a committee to probe the Agric loan disbursement committee which the former SSG chaired. The former SSG responded by writing to EFCC to thoroughly and properly investigate the Agric loan saga as he was ready to provide all information relating to the purported loan transactions. When Governor Umahi realized that the former SSG was not intimated but ready to spill the beans, he backed down and nothing till today is heard of that committee. He had since reached out to the former SSG for a truce but the man rebuffed him. The public should be aware of Gov. Umahi’s use of wild allegation as a weapon. I’m sure if the former SSG had agreed to a peace meeting he would have apologized and if you ask him why do you lie, he will say that he is not God that speaks the truth. 

3.   The case of Charles Otu 

Charles Otu is a journalist in Abakaliki, he wrote an article that was offensive to the Governor. On the 3rd of June 2017 while he was at a newspaper stand, a bus with the inscription “Akubaraohia Youth Vanguard” pull up and at gun point he was dragged into the bus and taken to one corner of Government House, Abakaliki where he received severe beatings until he passed out and they dropped him on the street, up till today, Mr. Otu is yet to regain his full composure. When Gov. Umahi boasted to the two journalists, he accused of offensive articles that “if they think they have the pen that he will show them that he has  KOBOKO”. Charles Otu’s treatment is what Gov. Umahi meant by KOBOKO. The two journalists, Mr. Chijioke Agwu and Mr. Peter Okutu should thank their God that the public outcry that greeted the Governor’s outburst saved them from the Koboko treatment, who knowns whether they would have come out alive as many never did. But for lack of space, the examples can go on and on. 

The purpose of this response is to alert the public and the security agencies in particular on the schemes of Gov. David Umahi so that they will read him upfront and be wary of him and his allegations. Accordingly, all concerned should note as follows:  
 
a.   I believe that Gov. Umahi needs help. He was not in this shape when I picked him. His present behaviour is certainly not normal. His behaviour and utterances are strangest whenever he puts on the costume for the new enterprise – an oversized white Agbada and an elongated red hat that over sizes his head. I want to advice his brothers to seek psychiatric and psychological help for him before it is too late. 
 
b.   The only offence we committed is that we refused to follow Gov. Umahi in his political adventure. We do not know when belonging to parties of one’s choice has become an offence against a Governor or means fighting a Governor.  

c.   It is clear that Gov. Umahi may have been told that he needs to kill a high-profile person in order to achieve his mad ambition. Ebonyians should be wise and those he is preparing to use for the killings should know that after using them he will also plan to kill them to cover his track. Examples abound. 
 
d.   Security agencies, the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Judges should note that Gov. Umahi had boasted as follows: 
 
-  That one of the gains of his defection is that he has been promised absolute use of the security agencies for all that he desires to do. 

-  That the Hon. Attorney General of the Federation is his friend and will soon visit Abakaliki the second time and that he will use him to deal with those opposed to him using the EFCC. 

-  That he will extensively use the courts to not only make it impossible for PDP to function in the state but also to frustrate those opposed to him including sending them to prison. My advice is that all those concerned should be wary of Gov. Umahi so that he will not taint their soul and ruin their careers, because all his actions and schemes have black sides. 

e.   To notify the public that I fully understand that what Umahi meant by  “this will be the last fight I will fight”, is that he will kill me so that I will not live to fight again. While I invite the security agencies to note this plan, I want to assure Gov. Umahi that my blood is not available for him in pursuit of his ambition. 

f.   To assure the street dinner Governor that no amount of blackmail or intimidation will compel any of us to follow him. 

g.   Gov. Umahi should know that there is a record of those who died mysteriously, violently, and those who just disappeared since he became governor of Ebonyi State. 

On my own part, I will continue to pray for him to recover from his delusion. 
 
God bless Nigeria. 

ANYIM, PIUS ANYIM, GCON
Former President of the Senate 
Former Secretary to Government of the Federation

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A top delegation of the Cameroonian Armed Forces on Thursday visited the Borno State Government House, Maiduguri, and met with the state governor, Prof Babagana Zulum, over Saturday's gruesome massacre of at least 70 rice farmers in Zabarmari community.

This visit is coming 48 hours after the state governor noted that one of the recommendations his state had put forward to the Federal Government was to consider hiring mercenaries to dislodge the Boko Haram terrorists from the region since the Nigerian military appeared to be overwhelmed.

Another recommendation that Zulum gave was for the regional forces, Cameroon, Chad and the Niger Republic to collaborate on waging war against the Boko Haram terrorists.

At the meeting, the governor urged the Cameroonian delegation on the need for Nigeria and Cameroon to team up to defeat the Boko Haram terrorists.

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A former Kaduna State Senator and public analyst, Shehu Sani, has berated the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, over his projection that the Boko Haram insurgency could last for another 20 years in the country.

Sani said the army chief's statement suggested someone who was bankrupt of fresh ideas and strategies and who should, therefore, tender his resignation.

Shehu Sani

The senator wrote on Twitter, "When the protesters needed you, you were not there; when you needed the protesters, they are not here. 

"Telling our people that the insurgency will last 20 years after repeated misleading claims of victories attests to the failure of those saddled with the responsibility of leading the fight.

"It also signifies the resignation and bankruptcy of new ideas and strategies." 

See Also Military Terrorism May Persist For Another 20 Years In Nigeria – Buratai

The Chief of the Army Staff, on his verified Facebook page, three days after the Boko Haram terrorists killed scores of rice farmers in Borno State, warned that the insurgency could last 20 more years in the country.

Buratai had written, "There is the likelihood of terrorism persisting in Nigeria for another 20 years. 

"It only depends on the level of escalation and the appropriate responses by all stakeholders, both civil and military authorities.

"Citizens' responsibility is equally important and imperative. All must cooperate to contain the lingering insecurity. Let there be collective action and responsibility." 
 

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Heavy gunshots on Thursday rocked the old parade ground in Abuja, venue of the national convention of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).

NANS, the umbrella body of students of tertiary institutions in Nigeria, is currently holding a convention to elect a new set of national leaders.



A source, who spoke to SaharaReporters, said not less than 20 students sustained wounds from gunshots and machete after thugs loyal to a factional coordinator of the association in Zone D (Southwest) began attacking delegates.

He said, “They have stopped accreditation already, you know we have factions in Zone D. If you see the boys one of the coordinators brought to the convention ground, even the DSS ran away.”
 

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Students and educators at five schools of nursing in Delta State have protested against the proposed strike by the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives.

The schools include School of Nursing, Agbor; School of Midwifery, Sapele; School of Midwifery, Asaba; School of Nursing, Eku; and School of Nursing, Warri.

File Photo
The peaceful protesters, led by the principals of the five schools on Thursday, to the Nigeria Labour Congress secretariat in Asaba, condemned the association's motive for industrial action.

Nduka Egwulu, principal of School of Nursing, Agbor, said that the association had demanded, among other issues, the reversion of transfer of lecturers in the state, adding that such demand was "a purely civil service matter."

Other principals who joined the protest argued that the proposed strike would further disrupt the academic calendar after the COVID-19 lockdown.

They pointed out that internal issues within the association could be resolved through other diplomatic channels rather than embarking on strike.

Leaders of the students' union governments of the schools said the planned strike would cause further hardship.

"Any strike, as proposed, will mean that all students' activities will be altered, and this could mean that we will spend more than three years in school. We oppose any attempt and by any person or group of persons towards causing problems through a strike or by any other means that will lead to the extension of our course duration," said one of the students' representatives.

Addressing the protesters, the Delta State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Goodluck Ofobruku, said the state government had invited organized labour for deliberations on issues that affect nurses and midwives in the state.

Ofoburuku, who appreciated their concern for uninterrupted nursing education in the state, said the complaints by the state chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives would be a win-win resolution of the issues.

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Nineteen months after assaulting a nursing mother, Senator Elisha Abbo, has again been caught on video slapping a young man repeatedly in his hometown in Adamawa State.

Abbo, representing the Adamawa North Senatorial District, was seen assaulting a young man in a video posted by a Twitter user, @Jacfelixchidama.

The Senator first came to limelight in 2019, when he was captured in a video beating a female attendant, Osimibibra Warmat, at a sex shop in Abuja.

The assault was done in the presence of an armed policeman who, rather than protect the victim, arrested her. 

The police later arraigned Abbo before a Magistrate Court in Zuba, on a one-count charge of assault.

Despite video evidence of the incident, Abdullahi Ilelah, the Magistrate, upheld the no-case submission filed by the lawmaker and dismissed the case.

However, Warmate instituted a separate civil suit at the FCT High Court and on September 28, Samira Bature, the presiding Judge, convicted Abbo and ordered him to pay N50 million as compensation to her.

Meanwhile, the latest video has sparked outrage on social media.

@Tonfiyo wrote; “This guy. What’s wrong with this guy.”

@Djkelexray said, “That's what we get when justice is not being served. He keeps doing more and thinks he is above the law, We have some bad leaders in Nigeria and the good once have to remove them before he eat them up!”

@TesswhyteT wrote, “This man and assault is 5&6. See his nonsense fried hair.” 

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‘Fisayo Soyombo, an investigative journalist and former Editor of SaharaReporters, has been named winner of the Local Reporter category of the 2020 Kurt Schork Awards in International Journalism.

Soyombo won the award for his undercover investigation on Nigeria’s criminal justice system funded by TheCable and the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR).

‘Fisayo Soyombo,

Now a freelance journalist, Soyombo spent two weeks in detention — five days in a police cell and eight as an inmate in Ikoyi Prison — to track corruption in Nigeria’s criminal justice system, beginning from the moment of arrest by the police to the point of release from prison. 

To experience the workings of the system in its raw state, he adopted the pseudonym Ojo Olajumoke and feigned an offence for which he was arrested and detained in police custody, arraigned in court and eventually remanded in Prison. 

The judges — comprising Tina Rosenberg, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and journalist; Christiane Amanpour, CNN’s Chief International Anchor; Jeremy Bown, BBC’s Middle East Editor; Lindsey Hilsum, International Editor of Channel 4 News; Peter Maass, Senior Editor at The Intercept; and The New Yorker’s Jon Lee Anderson — commended Soyombo’s “vivid and compelling three-part series” which exposed “the everyday corruption and abuses of Nigeria’s criminal justice system”.

This was the third time in six years, the others being 2014 and 2016, that Soyombo had been short-listed for the Kurt Schork awards, which recognise excellence in courageous reporting of conflict, corruption, human rights transgressions and other related issues.

Pakistani journalist Shah Meer Baloch and Syrian journalist Kamiran Sadoun were also named winners of two other categories — Freelance and the recently-introduced News Fixer award — respectively. The three winners will each receive a cash prize of US $5000.

Nigeria’s Philip Obaji was among the eight finalists for the Freelance category won by Baloch, while TheNation Newspaper’s Olatunji Ololade, one of Nigeria’s most decorated journalists, was a finalist in the Local Reporter category won by Soyombo. 

The latest international recognition for Soyombo is a continuation of a stellar year for the investigative journalist, who, this year alone, has either won or been short-listed for the Fetisov Journalism Awards (Outstanding Investigation category), the West Africa Media Excellence Award (Investigative Reporting category), the WJP Anthony Lewis Prize for Exceptional Rule of Law Journalism, the One World Media Awards (International Journalist of the Year category) and the People Journalism Prize for Africa (PJPA). 

Soyombo, a three-time winner of the Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting, has won numerous other awards at home and abroad.

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Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s request for more time to produce a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, to face her money laundering charges.

The judge had on July 24, 2020, issued criminal summons against the ex-minster to appear in court to face trial. But Diezani, who is believed to have left the country for the United Kingdom shortly after leaving office in May 2015, had refused to heed to the summons.

Diezani Alison-Madueke

Due to the ex-ministers failure to honour the summons, the EFCC on October 28, 2020, urged the court to issue a warrant for her arrest.

But the judge declined the request, citing the commission’s failure to enforce the criminal summons she had earlier issued against the defendant.

She said the criminal summons ought to be sufficient for the commission to process her extradition to Nigeria to face her trial.

On Thursday, EFCC’s prosecuting counsel, Farouk Abdullah, pleaded for more time to enable the anti-graft agency to enforce the summons issued against the former minister.

Abdullah said, “The prosecutions have taken steps to ensure that the orders are complied with. That has not come to fruition yet, but steps have been taken.“Because of this, may I humbly apply that this matter is adjourned to enable the prosecution to comply fully with the order of the court.”

The judge then adjourned the matter till March 3 for the report of the prosecution’s effort to produce the defendant in court and for possible arraignment.

The EFCC had alleged that Diezani escaped the country shortly after her tenure as the Minister of Petroleum Resources got wind of the plan to charge her with various offences.

The commission on November 11, 2018, filed the 13 counts of money laundering to justify the bid to have her extradited to Nigeria.

Diezani was accused of among others in the charges that she unlawfully took into her possession, the sums of $39.7m and N3.32bn when she reasonably ought to have known that the money formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activities.

She was said to have purchased choice landed assets with the money using different fronts as the owners.

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Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton have volunteered to take a coronavirus vaccine on camera if it helps promote public confidence.

Obama, in an interview with SiriusXM radio, said he would be inoculated if top US infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci signs off on a Covid-19 vaccine.

Former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

“If Anthony Fauci tells me this vaccine is safe and can vaccinate, you know, immunize you from getting Covid, I’m going to take it,” Obama said.

“I promise you that when it’s been made for people who are less at risk, I will be taking it,” he said.

“I may end up taking it on TV or having it filmed, just so that people know that I trust this science, and what I don’t trust is getting Covid,” Obama said.

Freddy Ford, Bush’s chief of staff, told CNN the former president also wanted to help promote vaccination.

“First, the vaccines need to be deemed safe and administered to the priority populations,” Ford told CNN.

“Then, President Bush will get in line for his, and will gladly do so on camera.”

Angel Urena, Clinton’s press secretary, told CNN the former president would also be willing to take a vaccine in public on television.

Vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna-NIH are expected to be approved by US authorities shortly, and a top science official said Wednesday the United States hopes to have immunized 100 million people by the end of February.

 

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The Divisional Police Officer of Zuba division in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Wellington Omorogieva, has threatened to 'deal' with an Islamic cleric, Ismaeel Gbadamosi, and his wife, SaharaReporters has gathered.

The threat, according to sources, followed an interview granted to SaharaReporters by Gbadomosi's wife where she alleged that police officers from the division broke into their house around 10 pm on Tuesday, behaving precisely like kidnappers.

See Also Police "Police Are Working With Kidnappers"—Woman Narrates Encounter With Police Who Broke Into Her Home Through Ceiling

According to the woman, when the officers led by one Isah Dahiru could not gain access to their home through the door, they broke the ceiling and jumped inside.

"Last night, around 10om, we put on the generator because I was marking sone students' exam scripts. My husband had slept. I heard a bang on the gate, thinking it was a neighbour. Maybe the electricity company has restored light. Suddenly I heard continuous sounds as if they were using stones on the entrance to force it open. I quickly woke him up that armed robbers were breaking our door.

"They started shouting that we should open the door, that they would shoot us, kill us, that they had rifles and cutlasses. My cousin ran to lock the door with the key. My husband was holding the doorknob because they were hitting it with an iron to break it. My children and I were crying. They were pointing their torches inside the house. Many of them were at the door. Some were at the window trying to remove the burglary.

"Then I followed them and started shouting to the neighbours that they were kidnappers. Their vehicle was parked at a long distance to my house. We saw other people in their car. I was still insisting they were kidnappers. So I took a bike to follow them to the station to establish they were policemen.

"The DPO tactically tried to give Isah Dahiru a room to turn the case, but the man was gullible. He admitted that my husband was arrested for no reason as they were looking for cocaine dealers. The DPO pleaded and that he was ashamed of what happened. He pleaded that he would discipline them internally.

"See, these police officers are working with the kidnappers, because like 10 of the boys that followed them were Fulani dressed like Boko Haram fighters. They broke other people's ceiling and doors too," the woman had said in the interview published by SaharaReporters.

But a police source said Omorogieva, who was transferred to the division three weeks ago, was infuriated over the publication.

"He was furious; he called some officers and told them he would deal with the man and his wife. He told them he had received different calls from people including a commissioner for police," the source said.

Also speaking to SaharaReporters, a relative of the teacher confirmed that the family had been told to leave their house for security reasons.

He said, "The DPO reported them to two prominent people in Zuba community. It was those people that called them to go and beg him over the interview. He told them he would deal with the family, especially the wife.

"We have advised them to vacate the house now for security reasons."

When contacted, the DPO, on hearing the reporter was from SaharaReporters, dropped the call and refused to answer subsequent calls put across to him.

Police Broke Into My House Through Ceiling, Arrested My Husband, Woman Narrates Her Experience WATCH VIDEO: Police Broke Into My House Through Ceiling, Arrested My Husband, Woman Narrates Her Experience Human Rights Police News AddThis :  Featured Image :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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The Divisional Police Officer of Zuba division in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Wellington Omorogieva, has threatened to 'deal' with an Islamic cleric, Ismaeel Gbadamosi, and his wife, SaharaReporters has gathered.

The threat, according to sources, followed an interview granted to SaharaReporters by Gbadomosi's wife where she alleged that police officers from the division broke into their house around 10 pm on Tuesday, behaving precisely like kidnappers.



According to the woman, when the officers led by one Isah Dahiru could not gain access to their home through the door, they broke the ceiling and jumped inside.

"Last night, around 10om, we put on the generator because I was marking sone students' exam scripts. My husband had slept. I heard a bang on the gate, thinking it was a neighbour. Maybe the electricity company has restored light. Suddenly I heard continuous sounds as if they were using stones on the entrance to force it open. I quickly woke him up that armed robbers were breaking our door.

"They started shouting that we should open the door, that they would shoot us, kill us, that they had rifles and cutlasses. My cousin ran to lock the door with the key. My husband was holding the doorknob because they were hitting it with an iron to break it. My children and I were crying. They were pointing their torches inside the house. Many of them were at the door. Some were at the window trying to remove the burglary.

"Then I followed them and started shouting to the neighbours that they were kidnappers. Their vehicle was parked at a long distance to my house. We saw other people in their car. I was still insisting they were kidnappers. So I took a bike to follow them to the station to establish they were policemen.

"The DPO tactically tried to give Isah Dahiru a room to turn the case, but the man was gullible. He admitted that my husband was arrested for no reason as they were looking for cocaine dealers. The DPO pleaded and that he was ashamed of what happened. He pleaded that he would discipline them internally.

"See, these police officers are working with the kidnappers, because like 10 of the boys that followed them were Fulani dressed like Boko Haram fighters. They broke other people's ceiling and doors too," the woman had said in the interview published by SaharaReporters.

But a police source said Omorogieva, who was transferred to the division three weeks ago, was infuriated over the publication.

"He was furious; he called some officers and told them he would deal with the man and his wife. He told them he had received different calls from people including a commissioner for police," the source said.

Also speaking to SaharaReporters, a relative of the teacher confirmed that the family had been told to leave their house for security reasons.

He said, "The DPO reported them to two prominent people in Zuba community. It was those people that called them to go and beg him over the interview. He told them he would deal with the family, especially the wife.

"We have advised them to vacate the house now for security reasons."

When contacted, the DPO, on hearing the reporter was from SaharaReporters, dropped the call and refused to answer subsequent calls put across to him.
WATCH VIDEO: Police Broke Into My House Through Ceiling, Arrested My Husband, Woman Narrates Her Experience
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Justice Ayo Oyebiyi of Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo on Thursday discharged and acquitted a nurse, Alfred Aderibigbe, who was charged with the murder of late Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke.

Aderibigbe was arraigned at Osun State High Court on June 8, 2018, where he pleaded not guilty to the murder charge preferred against him.

Isiaka Adeleke

According to Daily Trust, Senator Isiaka Adeleke during his lifetime was suffering from 'gout', a form of arthritis characterised by severe pain and the nurse treated him at his residence before he died on April 23, 2017.

The state government, however, set up a coroner's inquest into his death and the coroner which was led by Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara indicted the nurse for administering an overdose of drugs on the late Senator and recommended the nurse for prosecution.

When the nurse was arraigned at Osun State High Court on June 8, 2018, he pleaded not guilty to the murder charge preferred against him.

The prosecuting team from the state Ministry of Justice, led by Acting Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Mr Dapo Adeniji, called nine witnesses and tendered several exhibits during the trial.

One of the witnesses, the Chief Medical Director of Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Prof Akeem Lasisi, told the court that Adeleke died of a drug overdose.

Also, the Consultant Pathologist, who carried out an autopsy on Adeleke's corpse, Dr Taiwo Sholaja, told the coroner that the late politician died of a drug overdose.

However, counsel to the accused, Soji Oyetayo told the court that none of the witnesses and investigating police officer visited the scene of the crime to retrieve a doctor's prescription which was in the custody of the deceased before he died, saying that the evidence on how the deceased died was conflicting, mixed-up and inconclusive.

He further stated that the deceased was in emergency need of medical attention when he invited the defendant to treat him.

Ruling on the case, Justice Ayo Oyebiyi said the Prosecution Counsel failed to prove his case beyond a reasonable doubt and now discharged and acquitted the defendant.

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Justice Ayo Oyebiyi of Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo on Thursday discharged and acquitted a nurse, Alfred Aderibigbe, who was charged with the murder of late Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke.

Aderibigbe was arraigned at Osun State High Court on June 8, 2018, where he pleaded not guilty to the murder charge preferred against him.

Isiaka Adeleke

According to Daily Trust, Senator Isiaka Adeleke during his lifetime was suffering from 'gout', a form of arthritis characterised by severe pain and the nurse treated him at his residence before he died on April 23, 2017.

The state government, however, set up a coroner's inquest into his death and the coroner which was led by Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara indicted the nurse for administering an overdose of drugs on the late Senator and recommended the nurse for prosecution.

When the nurse was arraigned at Osun State High Court on June 8, 2018, he pleaded not guilty to the murder charge preferred against him.

The prosecuting team from the state Ministry of Justice, led by Acting Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Mr Dapo Adeniji, called nine witnesses and tendered several exhibits during the trial.

One of the witnesses, the Chief Medical Director of Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Prof Akeem Lasisi, told the court that Adeleke died of a drug overdose.

Also, the Consultant Pathologist, who carried out an autopsy on Adeleke's corpse, Dr Taiwo Sholaja, told the coroner that the late politician died of a drug overdose.

However, counsel to the accused, Soji Oyetayo told the court that none of the witnesses and investigating police officer visited the scene of the crime to retrieve a doctor's prescription which was in the custody of the deceased before he died, saying that the evidence on how the deceased died was conflicting, mixed-up and inconclusive.

He further stated that the deceased was in emergency need of medical attention when he invited the defendant to treat him.

Ruling on the case, Justice Ayo Oyebiyi said the Prosecution Counsel failed to prove his case beyond a reasonable doubt and now discharged and acquitted the defendant.

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The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of N235m “warehoused” in the bank accounts of Invictus Oil and Gas Limited and Invictus Investment Limited.

Wilson Uwujaren, the spokesperson for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.



Justice Abdullah Liman had on March 23, 2020, ordered the interim forfeiture of the money domiciled in First City Monument Bank (FCMB) following an ex parte application dated December 18, 2019, filed by the EFCC.

The judge also ordered the anti-graft agency to issue a notice in a national newspaper asking anyone opposed to the forfeiture of the money to come before the court and show cause why it should not be permanently forfeited.

Owing to no opposition, the commission on June 2, 2020, filed a motion seeking the final forfeiture of the money to the federal government.

Moving the motion on November 12, 2020, I. Sulaiman, counsel to the EFCC, asked the court to grant his prayers for final confiscation of the money.

“In his ruling, Justice Liman granted the applicant’s prayers and also ordered the final forfeiture of the money to the Federal Government,” the statement said.

Okeke, who was in 2016 celebrated by Forbes as one of Africa’s most outstanding entrepreneurs under the age of 30 and described by the magazine as “proof that there is hope for Africa” was arrested in August 2019 by the American Federal Bureau of Investigation as the ringleader of a cybercrime syndicate.

The syndicate had defrauded some American citizens to the tune of $11m “through fraudulent wire transfer instructions in a massive coordinated business email compromise scheme.

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SaharaReporters has obtained several documents that indicted some deep-pocket syndicates who allegedly defrauded and swindled an Ibadan-based businessman and managing director of the Citadel Oracle Concepts Limited, Benjamin Joseph, of N170 million Federal Inland Revenue Service contracts.

The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Federation, Abubakar Malami, has refused to prosecute the suspects, despite a prima facie case that has been established in the reports by the Special Enquiry Bureau of the Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department of the Nigeria Police Force, Abuja.

Abubakar Malami

The CIID had investigated the allegations contained in Joseph's petition of July 3, 2014.

In one of the reports with No. 3000X//FHQABJSEB/Vol.41 of April 7, 2015, the suspects were recommended for prosecution and to be charged for conspiracy, forgery and fraud over their role in the diversion of contracts.

Among the suspects was the chief executive of Zinox Computers, Leonard Ekeh.

The contract for the supply of laptop computers by the FIRS was awarded to Citadel Oracle Concepts Limited belonging to the complainant in 2012 was fraudulently diverted by the syndicates.

The minister was said to have deliberately frustrated the case in an attempt to shield the eight suspects listed by a Deputy Inspector-General of Police's investigation report.
 Names of those to be prosecuted included Chief Leo Stan Ekeh, Princess Kama Onyeoma, Chief Onny S.O Igbokwe, Mr Chris Eze Ozims and Folashade Oyebode.

Others are Charles Adigwe, Obilo Onuoha and Deborah Ojeabu.

The suspects were alleged to have connived and forged the complainant's company documents, signature and letterhead paper to divert the contracts fraudulently.

The suspects opened bank accounts with the Access Bank in the complainant's company's name with which the payments were received from FIRS for the execution of those contracts.

As required by law, the perpetrators needed a board resolution of Citadel Oracle Concept Limited to open the account. Since they were executing the contract fraudulently behind the company, they could not approach the company for board resolution. So, they forged it.

Igbokwe and Kama were alleged to have taken a board resolution to the IT Company, Zinox/Technologies Distribution Limited, to supply the laptops which they were, in turn, to supply to FIRS in the name of Citadel.

Igbokwe is the chief executive of a Port Harcourt-based IT company, Ad'mas Digital Technologies Limited, as well as Pirovics Engineering Services Limited, while Kama, his ally, allegedly conspired and facilitated the fraud.

In a letter titled "Police Interim Report" dated October 19, 2020, with reference number CB.4099/X-SQD/D.Dept T.2 /FHQ/ABJ/VOL. 4/116 by the Commissioner of Police X- Squad Section, Amechi Elumelu, to the DIG of the Police Force Criminal Investigation Department, the letter recommended the prosecution of the suspects.

The letter recommended to the Director of Public Prosecution to prosecute the suspects given the overwhelming evidence of culpability of the suspects. The report also directed ACP Simon Lough, the prosecutor, to withdraw from the case filed against the complainant.

An interim police report dated October 19, 2020, pointed out that Simon Lough had flouted several directives, signals and verbal directives by the DIG FORCID ordering him to transfer the case file to the X squad.

The report recommended ACP Simon Lough to withdraw the case against the complainant immediately and transfer the case file to the X squad section, given the overwhelming evidence of culpability of the suspects.

It stated further that the suspects should be charged as advised by the Director of Public Prosecution.

In a letter obtained by SaharaReporters with reference No. DPP /ADV/1009/14, the report recommended to the Director of Public Prosecution to take over the prosecution of the case from the police in light of the prima facie evidence against the suspects.

Meanwhile on May 8, 2015, the complainant, Joseph, again petitioned a former Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, shortly after his appointment over the lukewarm attitude of the police to prosecute the suspects.

But instead of charging the matter to court and prosecuting the suspects, the police instead charged the petitioner, Joseph, for "providing false information in his petition against the suspects."

Joseph was subsequently arraigned before a Federal Capital Territory High Court on a one-count charge of 'false petitioning' to frustrate the case of identity theft, impersonation, forgery and criminal conversion of contracts against the suspects.

At the resumed hearing of the case on Thursday, November 26, the petitioner opened his defence after a series of adjournment.

It was gathered that Joseph had met the Attorney General and Minister of Justice on this matter for more than eight consecutive times on the need to prosecute the suspects, but he kept dribbling him since 2015.

The suspects are still walking free on the streets despite the overwhelming evidence.

The complainant through his lawyer, Bob James, had written another petition dated October 23 to the Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Adamu, and demanded the sum of N1 billion damages against ACP Simon Lough and the Nigerian Police Force or face legal action.

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