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Suspected armed robbers on Tuesday, raided a government hospital, Diete Koki Memorial Hospital, in Bayelsa state carting away cash and valuables belonging to doctors on duty and patients.

The bandits scaled the perimeter fence of the state-owned health facility from the back to gain entry.

A medical doctor, Awudumapu Okeleghel said the gunmen were two in number and they took him unawares as he was returning from his call room, Punch reports.

“My belongings and those of patients from the labour ward and their family members were all taken by the criminals,” he said.

The Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Emmanuel Fetepigi, described the act as barbaric and unfortunate.

He said the management would collaborate with the Ministry of Health to ensure that measures were put in place to forestall future occurrences.

Meanwhile, the security guard at the hospital, James Benini, stated that it was the second time they have had burglars on the premises as a generator battery had been stolen before.

The spokesman for the State Police Command, Asinim Butswat, said the incident had not yet been reported to the police.

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Suspected armed robbers on Tuesday, raided a government hospital, Diete Koki Memorial Hospital, in Bayelsa state carting away cash and valuables belonging to doctors on duty and patients.

The bandits scaled the perimeter fence of the state-owned health facility from the back to gain entry.

A medical doctor, Awudumapu Okeleghel said the gunmen were two in number and they took him unawares as he was returning from his call room, Punch reports.

“My belongings and those of patients from the labour ward and their family members were all taken by the criminals,” he said.

The Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Emmanuel Fetepigi, described the act as barbaric and unfortunate.

He said the management would collaborate with the Ministry of Health to ensure that measures were put in place to forestall future occurrences.

Meanwhile, the security guard at the hospital, James Benini, stated that it was the second time they have had burglars on the premises as a generator battery had been stolen before.

The spokesman for the State Police Command, Asinim Butswat, said the incident had not yet been reported to the police.

Insecurity News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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The country suffered a devastating Covid spike in April and May but looser pandemic curbs still drove growth.

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Millions of homes remain without power across New Orleans and the wider region following Hurricane Ida.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has refused to hear a fresh bail application filed by former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina.

The vacation judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, held that the application was contentious and as such could not be heard during the court’s vacation.

File Photo: Abdulrasheed Maina

He, therefore, refused to hear the bail application which was moved by Maina’s counsel, Mr David Iorhemba and returned the case to Justice Okon Abang, who has been the trial judge in the substantive case, to hear the bail application after the court’s vacation.

Andrew Ocholi, counsel for the prosecuting agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) opposed the application, saying he had filed a counter-affidavit and a preliminary objection to show that Maina was no longer entitled to bail, The Punch reports.

Maina is being tried alongside his firm, Common Input Property and Investment Ltd, on 12 counts of laundering over N1 billion, among others.

They were first arraigned on October 25, 2019, following which Justice Abang ordered that Maina be remanded in the Correctional Centre at Kuje, pending a hearing of his bail application.

After perfecting his bail conditions, Maina was released from the correctional centre in July but had his bail revoked on November 18, 2020 after he jumped bail.

Maina had, on January 20, 2021 approached Justice Abang for another bail following his rearrest for jumping the first bail.

At a resumed trial in February 2021, he told the court that his leg might be amputated if not granted bail to have adequate medical care.

His counsel, Sani Katu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said his client was taken to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, because of his worsening health condition and the medical report was exhibited in the bail application.

The lawyer, who said that Kuje Correctional Centre where Maina was kept did not have the facility to attend to his state of health, added that if not granted bail, his leg might be amputated.

But Justice Abang ruled on February 28, 2021 that Maina’s bail application was without merit and that he failed to place sufficient materials before the court to convince it that he deserved another bail.

The judge held that after violating the conditions of the bail granted him earlier, Maina did not deserve to be admitted to bail again.

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The Federal High Court in Abuja has refused to hear a fresh bail application filed by former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina.

The vacation judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, held that the application was contentious and as such could not be heard during the court’s vacation.

File Photo: Abdulrasheed Maina

He, therefore, refused to hear the bail application which was moved by Maina’s counsel, Mr David Iorhemba and returned the case to Justice Okon Abang, who has been the trial judge in the substantive case, to hear the bail application after the court’s vacation.

Andrew Ocholi, counsel for the prosecuting agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) opposed the application, saying he had filed a counter-affidavit and a preliminary objection to show that Maina was no longer entitled to bail, The Punch reports.

Maina is being tried alongside his firm, Common Input Property and Investment Ltd, on 12 counts of laundering over N1 billion, among others.

They were first arraigned on October 25, 2019, following which Justice Abang ordered that Maina be remanded in the Correctional Centre at Kuje, pending a hearing of his bail application.

After perfecting his bail conditions, Maina was released from the correctional centre in July but had his bail revoked on November 18, 2020 after he jumped bail.

Maina had, on January 20, 2021 approached Justice Abang for another bail following his rearrest for jumping the first bail.

At a resumed trial in February 2021, he told the court that his leg might be amputated if not granted bail to have adequate medical care.

His counsel, Sani Katu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said his client was taken to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, because of his worsening health condition and the medical report was exhibited in the bail application.

The lawyer, who said that Kuje Correctional Centre where Maina was kept did not have the facility to attend to his state of health, added that if not granted bail, his leg might be amputated.

But Justice Abang ruled on February 28, 2021 that Maina’s bail application was without merit and that he failed to place sufficient materials before the court to convince it that he deserved another bail.

The judge held that after violating the conditions of the bail granted him earlier, Maina did not deserve to be admitted to bail again.

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Ifeanyi Ejiofor, one of the lawyers representing the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has alleged that officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) harass and intimidate the IPOB leader’s counsel during their visit to him in detention.
 
The lawyer said Kanu’s lawyers are “practically stripped naked” by DSS operatives “searching for incriminating materials during a court-ordered visit.”
  Ifeanyi Ejiofor
Ejiofor revealed this in a statement on the update of the lawyers’ visit to Kanu on Monday, stressing that “it is no longer safe” for them to visit the pro-Biafra secessionist agitator.
 
Last week, SaharaReporters published how the secret police offered slippers to the legal representatives after ordering them to remove their shoes, and reading glasses when they visited Kanu.
 
“Lawyers on this visit were searched in a manner akin to a situation where hardened criminals are being searched for possible incriminating substances and objects.
 
“They were traumatised not only because they were inhumanly treated as criminals on the investigation, but the lawyers were further dehumanised after this embarrassing and unwarranted frisking, by being allowed to wear only slippers, after being divested of their shoes, reading glasses and writing materials, to visit their client,” Ejiofor said partly in a statement last week.
  See Also Human Rights Lawless Department Of State Services Orders Nnamdi Kanu’s Lawyers To Remove Shoes, Eyeglasses, Others During Visit 0 Comments 5 Days Ago
Speaking about a recent visit, Ejiofor said the lawless actions of the DSS operatives were aimed at usurping justice for his client, Kanu, insisting that the IPOB leader should be transferred to a prison facility.
 
The statement partly read, “It is pertinent to note that the harassment, intimidation, and manhandling of our lawyers by the DSS officials during the visit still continued, despite our protest last week.
 
“Lawyers were ‘practically stripped naked’ while searching for incriminating materials during a court-ordered visit.
 
“We, therefore, do not mince words in stating that it is no longer safe as it stands today for us who are visiting our Client.
 
“This hostile treatment is becoming exceedingly intolerable and unacceptable in the prevailing circumstance.
 
“We are now more apprehensive of the fact that no trial will commence in the circumstance, we presently find ourselves until our client, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is transferred to the correctional centre.
 
“He cannot be tried for a one-way stereotyped conviction in the manner, the Federal Government is presently pursuing this. To deny us, his lawyers writing materials and for the visits to be conducted under the atmosphere of fear and intimidation is highly unacceptable and condemnable.
 
“The script currently being played is a clear demonstration of the Federal Government strategy to deny him a fair trial, and we cannot accept it, under no circumstance. We understand the game and the dancing pattern.”
 
Speaking about Kanu, he said, “Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was visited yesterday and in his usual practice, he extended his compliments to his millions of supporters. He is indeed eternally grateful for the overwhelming support and show of solidarity.
 
“We crave for more prayers and urge you all to continue to remain law-abiding and peaceful in the conduct of your affairs. Be assured that with truth and God on our side, we will win the battle in court overwhelmingly.
 
“We shall continue to keep you posted as the event unfolds, but be assured that we will have reasons to rejoice in no distance time, Umuchineke.”

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Ifeanyi Ejiofor, one of the lawyers representing the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has alleged that officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) harass and intimidate the IPOB leader’s counsel during their visit to him in detention.
 
The lawyer said Kanu’s lawyers are “practically stripped naked” by DSS operatives “searching for incriminating materials during a court-ordered visit.”
  Ifeanyi Ejiofor
Ejiofor revealed this in a statement on the update of the lawyers’ visit to Kanu on Monday, stressing that “it is no longer safe” for them to visit the pro-Biafra secessionist agitator.
 
Last week, SaharaReporters published how the secret police offered slippers to the legal representatives after ordering them to remove their shoes, and reading glasses when they visited Kanu.
 
“Lawyers on this visit were searched in a manner akin to a situation where hardened criminals are being searched for possible incriminating substances and objects.
 
“They were traumatised not only because they were inhumanly treated as criminals on the investigation, but the lawyers were further dehumanised after this embarrassing and unwarranted frisking, by being allowed to wear only slippers, after being divested of their shoes, reading glasses and writing materials, to visit their client,” Ejiofor said partly in a statement last week.
  See Also Human Rights Lawless Department Of State Services Orders Nnamdi Kanu’s Lawyers To Remove Shoes, Eyeglasses, Others During Visit 0 Comments 5 Days Ago
Speaking about a recent visit, Ejiofor said the lawless actions of the DSS operatives were aimed at usurping justice for his client, Kanu, insisting that the IPOB leader should be transferred to a prison facility.
 
The statement partly read, “It is pertinent to note that the harassment, intimidation, and manhandling of our lawyers by the DSS officials during the visit still continued, despite our protest last week.
 
“Lawyers were ‘practically stripped naked’ while searching for incriminating materials during a court-ordered visit.
 
“We, therefore, do not mince words in stating that it is no longer safe as it stands today for us who are visiting our Client.
 
“This hostile treatment is becoming exceedingly intolerable and unacceptable in the prevailing circumstance.
 
“We are now more apprehensive of the fact that no trial will commence in the circumstance, we presently find ourselves until our client, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is transferred to the correctional centre.
 
“He cannot be tried for a one-way stereotyped conviction in the manner, the Federal Government is presently pursuing this. To deny us, his lawyers writing materials and for the visits to be conducted under the atmosphere of fear and intimidation is highly unacceptable and condemnable.
 
“The script currently being played is a clear demonstration of the Federal Government strategy to deny him a fair trial, and we cannot accept it, under no circumstance. We understand the game and the dancing pattern.”
 
Speaking about Kanu, he said, “Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was visited yesterday and in his usual practice, he extended his compliments to his millions of supporters. He is indeed eternally grateful for the overwhelming support and show of solidarity.
 
“We crave for more prayers and urge you all to continue to remain law-abiding and peaceful in the conduct of your affairs. Be assured that with truth and God on our side, we will win the battle in court overwhelmingly.
 
“We shall continue to keep you posted as the event unfolds, but be assured that we will have reasons to rejoice in no distance time, Umuchineke.”

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Retired Nigerian Navy Commodore, Kunle Olawunmi, who visited the Military Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) in Abuja on Tuesday had a 'friendly chat' with his colleagues, SaharaReporters has learnt.
 
SaharaReporters had reported that Olawunmi arrived at the DIA headquarters earlier on Tuesday over his comments during an interview on Channels TV last Wednesday.

The DIA had declared Olawunmi wanted for exposing in the interview how President Muhammadu Buhari's administration refused to probe high profile politicians whom Boko Haram terrorists named as their sponsors.
The agency had asked Olawunmi to come to its headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday with his passport.

A source had earlier told SaharaReporters that the former Navy commander arrived at the agency's office in company with his lawyers - Femi Falana (SAN) and Abubakar Marshall - on Tuesday.

“Navy Commodore Kunle Olawunmi has arrived at the military DIA in Abuja. He was accompanied by his lawyers,” the source told SaharaReporters.

See Also Breaking News BREAKING: Retired Navy Commodore Kunle Olawunmi Arrives Defence Intelligence Agency After Being Declared Wanted Over Channels TV's Anti-Buhari Interview 0 Comments 6 Hours Ago
“They initially declared him wanted but downgraded it when the plot was leaked.”

But in a recent development, a top source told SaharaReporters that Olawunmi only visited for a friendly chat.

“I confirm that it was a friendly chat between Commodore Kunle Olawunmi and his colleagues. The chat ended a few minutes ago. The friendly chat was held in strict compliance with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.”

The Defence Intelligence Agency is the primary military intelligence agency of Nigeria.

Following the declaration by the DIA that Olawunmi was wanted, a top source had said, “The agency has declared retired Navy Commodore Kunle Olawunmi wanted for spilling the beans over Boko Haram sponsors in the Buhari regime. They asked him to come with his international passport on Tuesday to the DIA office in Abuja.”
 
SaharaReporters had last Wednesday reported what Olawunmi said when he featured on Channels Television’s ‘Sunrise Daily’ breakfast programme.
 
He had condemned the attack by bloodthirsty bandits on the Kaduna campus of Nigeria’s foremost military university, the Nigerian Defence Academy, where two military officers were killed and another kidnapped.

The Professor of Global Security Studies had said, “It is an aberration; you don’t attack the Nigerian Defence Academy and get away with it. In 2017, I carried out an investigation by the Minister of Defence that wanted me to check what was going on with the training and the security there (NDA). I remember I spent about a week in the NDA with the commandant and the staff but something struck me: every Friday, the gate of NDA is thrown open and everybody has access to pray in the mosque.
 
“On Fridays, you are going to see the same thing happening across all military formations in the country. If you go to Defence Headquarters, I served at the Defence Headquarters as the Deputy Director, Defence Administration, between 2015 and 2017, throughout my two years at Defence Headquarters, I received visitors twice because of the strict security architecture there but every Friday, the gate of the Defence Headquarters is thrown wide open for everybody to come in and observe Juma’at.
 
“That is the time the terrorists have the time to profile our security environment. It has always been the case. I have served the military intelligence for the past 35 years. Our problem is religion and socio-cultural.”
 
Olawunmi had added that he was a member of the Intelligence Brief at the Defence Headquarters during the leadership of the then Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin (retd.).
 
The intelligence expert said he told the then CDS that the centre of gravity of the Boko Haram insurgency ravaging the North-East and spreading to other parts of Nigeria was the sponsor.
 
“I told General Olonisakin then that the centre of this problem cannot be solved the same way we solved the problem of the Niger Delta. The Niger Delta problem was solved during (Ex-President Umaru) Yar’Adua basically by me and I told them that we can’t use that same template for Boko Haram.
 
“I told General Olonisakin to look at the centre of gravity of the problem. I was made a member of the committee in 2016-2017 including former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru that died.
 
“I told them that the centre of gravity of Boko Haram in Nigeria is the sponsors of the programme. It was beyond us because the job we needed to do was kinetic but we cannot resolve the issues of sponsors of Boko Haram that were in Buhari’s government that we know them. That was why we couldn’t pursue that aspect that could have resolved the issue because we need to arrest people.
 
“Recently, 400 people were gathered as sponsors of Boko Haram, why is it that the Buhari government has refused to try them? Why can’t this government bring them to trial if not that they are partisan and part of the charade that is going on?
 
“You remember this Boko Haram issue started in 2012 and I was in the military intelligence at that time. We arrested those people. My organisation conducted interrogation and they (suspects) mentioned names. I can’t come on air and start mentioning names of people that are presently in government that I know that the boys that we arrested mentioned. Some of them are governors now, some of them are in the Senate, some of them are in Aso Rock.
 
“Why should a government decide to cause this kind of embarrassment and insecurity to the sense of what happened yesterday (Tuesday at the NDA)?”
 
Olawunmi had also said that the Department of State Services (DSS) had tremendous information on terrorists but could not do anything because of the body language of the President.
 

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Retired Nigerian Navy Commodore, Kunle Olawunmi, who visited the Military Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) in Abuja on Tuesday had a 'friendly chat' with his colleagues, SaharaReporters has learnt.
 
SaharaReporters had reported that Olawunmi arrived at the DIA headquarters earlier on Tuesday over his comments during an interview on Channels TV last Wednesday.

The DIA had declared Olawunmi wanted for exposing in the interview how President Muhammadu Buhari's administration refused to probe high profile politicians whom Boko Haram terrorists named as their sponsors.
The agency had asked Olawunmi to come to its headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday with his passport.

A source had earlier told SaharaReporters that the former Navy commander arrived at the agency's office in company with his lawyers - Femi Falana (SAN) and Abubakar Marshall - on Tuesday.

“Navy Commodore Kunle Olawunmi has arrived at the military DIA in Abuja. He was accompanied by his lawyers,” the source told SaharaReporters.

See Also Breaking News BREAKING: Retired Navy Commodore Kunle Olawunmi Arrives Defence Intelligence Agency After Being Declared Wanted Over Channels TV's Anti-Buhari Interview 0 Comments 6 Hours Ago
“They initially declared him wanted but downgraded it when the plot was leaked.”

But in a recent development, a top source told SaharaReporters that Olawunmi only visited for a friendly chat.

“I confirm that it was a friendly chat between Commodore Kunle Olawunmi and his colleagues. The chat ended a few minutes ago. The friendly chat was held in strict compliance with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.”

The Defence Intelligence Agency is the primary military intelligence agency of Nigeria.

Following the declaration by the DIA that Olawunmi was wanted, a top source had said, “The agency has declared retired Navy Commodore Kunle Olawunmi wanted for spilling the beans over Boko Haram sponsors in the Buhari regime. They asked him to come with his international passport on Tuesday to the DIA office in Abuja.”
 
SaharaReporters had last Wednesday reported what Olawunmi said when he featured on Channels Television’s ‘Sunrise Daily’ breakfast programme.
 
He had condemned the attack by bloodthirsty bandits on the Kaduna campus of Nigeria’s foremost military university, the Nigerian Defence Academy, where two military officers were killed and another kidnapped.

The Professor of Global Security Studies had said, “It is an aberration; you don’t attack the Nigerian Defence Academy and get away with it. In 2017, I carried out an investigation by the Minister of Defence that wanted me to check what was going on with the training and the security there (NDA). I remember I spent about a week in the NDA with the commandant and the staff but something struck me: every Friday, the gate of NDA is thrown open and everybody has access to pray in the mosque.
 
“On Fridays, you are going to see the same thing happening across all military formations in the country. If you go to Defence Headquarters, I served at the Defence Headquarters as the Deputy Director, Defence Administration, between 2015 and 2017, throughout my two years at Defence Headquarters, I received visitors twice because of the strict security architecture there but every Friday, the gate of the Defence Headquarters is thrown wide open for everybody to come in and observe Juma’at.
 
“That is the time the terrorists have the time to profile our security environment. It has always been the case. I have served the military intelligence for the past 35 years. Our problem is religion and socio-cultural.”
 
Olawunmi had added that he was a member of the Intelligence Brief at the Defence Headquarters during the leadership of the then Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin (retd.).
 
The intelligence expert said he told the then CDS that the centre of gravity of the Boko Haram insurgency ravaging the North-East and spreading to other parts of Nigeria was the sponsor.
 
“I told General Olonisakin then that the centre of this problem cannot be solved the same way we solved the problem of the Niger Delta. The Niger Delta problem was solved during (Ex-President Umaru) Yar’Adua basically by me and I told them that we can’t use that same template for Boko Haram.
 
“I told General Olonisakin to look at the centre of gravity of the problem. I was made a member of the committee in 2016-2017 including former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru that died.
 
“I told them that the centre of gravity of Boko Haram in Nigeria is the sponsors of the programme. It was beyond us because the job we needed to do was kinetic but we cannot resolve the issues of sponsors of Boko Haram that were in Buhari’s government that we know them. That was why we couldn’t pursue that aspect that could have resolved the issue because we need to arrest people.
 
“Recently, 400 people were gathered as sponsors of Boko Haram, why is it that the Buhari government has refused to try them? Why can’t this government bring them to trial if not that they are partisan and part of the charade that is going on?
 
“You remember this Boko Haram issue started in 2012 and I was in the military intelligence at that time. We arrested those people. My organisation conducted interrogation and they (suspects) mentioned names. I can’t come on air and start mentioning names of people that are presently in government that I know that the boys that we arrested mentioned. Some of them are governors now, some of them are in the Senate, some of them are in Aso Rock.
 
“Why should a government decide to cause this kind of embarrassment and insecurity to the sense of what happened yesterday (Tuesday at the NDA)?”
 
Olawunmi had also said that the Department of State Services (DSS) had tremendous information on terrorists but could not do anything because of the body language of the President.
 

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A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has ordered the interim forfeiture of the funds and properties traced to Abidemi Rufai, the suspended aide of the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, who is facing wire fraud charges in the United States of America.
 
The court order, which was granted on Tuesday, covers Rufai’s property located at 11, Omodayo Awotuga Street, Bera Estate, Chevy View, Lekki, Lagos, and funds in his accounts domiciled in Sterling and Zenith banks.

Rufai, who served as the Deputy Director-General of the Dapo Abiodun Campaign Organisation in the last governorship election in the state, was arrested in May 2021 at the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, US, on a criminal complaint of wire fraud for his scheme to steal over $350,000 (about N158 million) in unemployment benefits from the Washington State Employment Security Department, the acting US Attorney, Tessa M. Gorman, announced.
 
He made his initial appearance in court on Saturday, May 15, 2021, in New York.
 
Justice Tijjani Ringim made the order sequel to an ex parte motion filed and argued by a counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ebuka Okongwu. See Also Corruption EXPOSED: How Governor Abiodun’s Aide, Abidemi Rufai, Changed Name To ‘Sandy Tang’ In Alleged $350,000 US Employment Scam 0 Comments 2 Weeks Ago
 
The EFCC joined Rufai, his firm, Omo Mayodele Global Investment, and Sterling Bank PLC as the first, second and third respondents in the suit.
 
Okongwu told the judge that it was essential for the court to grant the prayer of interim forfeiture to preserve the remaining and prevent further dissipation of the defendant’s funds in his Sterling Bank account.
 
He then furnished the judge with an affidavit sworn to by an EFCC investigator, Usman Abdulhamid, detailing the agency’s investigation of Rufai in collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
 
Justice Ringim, in a bench ruling, granted the EFCC’s order as prayed in the motion paper.
 
“I am satisfied by the averment in the affidavit deposed to by Usman Abdulhamid and the legal submission of the counsel that this application should succeed and the same is accordingly granted as prayed,” the judge held. See Also Corruption How Governor Abiodun’s Suspended Aide, Bidemi Rufai, Has Been Committing Fraud For Years—FBI 0 Comments 4 Weeks Ago
 
The judge also ordered the EFCC to publish the order within 14 days from Tuesday for any interested party to show cause why the funds and property should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
 
Justice Ringim adjourned further proceedings till December 1, 2021.

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A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has ordered the interim forfeiture of the funds and properties traced to Abidemi Rufai, the suspended aide of the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, who is facing wire fraud charges in the United States of America.
 
The court order, which was granted on Tuesday, covers Rufai’s property located at 11, Omodayo Awotuga Street, Bera Estate, Chevy View, Lekki, Lagos, and funds in his accounts domiciled in Sterling and Zenith banks.

Rufai, who served as the Deputy Director-General of the Dapo Abiodun Campaign Organisation in the last governorship election in the state, was arrested in May 2021 at the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, US, on a criminal complaint of wire fraud for his scheme to steal over $350,000 (about N158 million) in unemployment benefits from the Washington State Employment Security Department, the acting US Attorney, Tessa M. Gorman, announced.
 
He made his initial appearance in court on Saturday, May 15, 2021, in New York.
 
Justice Tijjani Ringim made the order sequel to an ex parte motion filed and argued by a counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ebuka Okongwu. See Also Corruption EXPOSED: How Governor Abiodun’s Aide, Abidemi Rufai, Changed Name To ‘Sandy Tang’ In Alleged $350,000 US Employment Scam 0 Comments 2 Weeks Ago
 
The EFCC joined Rufai, his firm, Omo Mayodele Global Investment, and Sterling Bank PLC as the first, second and third respondents in the suit.
 
Okongwu told the judge that it was essential for the court to grant the prayer of interim forfeiture to preserve the remaining and prevent further dissipation of the defendant’s funds in his Sterling Bank account.
 
He then furnished the judge with an affidavit sworn to by an EFCC investigator, Usman Abdulhamid, detailing the agency’s investigation of Rufai in collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
 
Justice Ringim, in a bench ruling, granted the EFCC’s order as prayed in the motion paper.
 
“I am satisfied by the averment in the affidavit deposed to by Usman Abdulhamid and the legal submission of the counsel that this application should succeed and the same is accordingly granted as prayed,” the judge held. See Also Corruption How Governor Abiodun’s Suspended Aide, Bidemi Rufai, Has Been Committing Fraud For Years—FBI 0 Comments 4 Weeks Ago
 
The judge also ordered the EFCC to publish the order within 14 days from Tuesday for any interested party to show cause why the funds and property should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
 
Justice Ringim adjourned further proceedings till December 1, 2021.

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Pelumi Olajengbesi, the lawyer representing the 12 associates of Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho has accused operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) of killing unarmed persons during the raid on Igboho's residence.

The DSS had invaded Igboho’s residence in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, killing two of his associates, whom the secret police claimed were armed.

The secret police later paraded no fewer than 12 suspects arrested during the operation, who were detained for months. Eight of them were, however, released this week.
Some of the items allegedly carted away from his house include passports, charms, guns and dollars.

But Olajengbesi, in a recent interview, stated that the two persons killed were harmless.

 
The two persons killed have been identified as Saheed Adisa, popularly called Adogan and Igboho’s maternal uncle known as Alfa.
 
On Monday, eight of the 12 detained associates of Igboho were released by the DSS after initially disobeying a court ruling on the matter. The remaining four persons are still being illegally detained by the DSS.

Olajengbesi said: “The people that SSS (State Security Service also called DSS) claimed that they killed in a gun duel, those people were actually hiding during the battle, trying to prevent themselves from being killed because any room the SSS operatives entered, they sprayed bullets.
 
“Those people were harmless, they were hiding, and they were in the dark.
 
“As a matter of fact, one of the person’s killed was because he was blind, he couldn’t see.
 
“Two persons were killed. One was blind. One was in the bathroom hiding, they got in there and sprayed bullets.”
 
One of the associates responded saying that “Alfa is the one, he could not see, those killed were hiding for safety.”

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Pelumi Olajengbesi, the lawyer representing the 12 associates of Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho has accused operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) of killing unarmed persons during the raid on Igboho's residence.

The DSS had invaded Igboho’s residence in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, killing two of his associates, whom the secret police claimed were armed.

The secret police later paraded no fewer than 12 suspects arrested during the operation, who were detained for months. Eight of them were, however, released this week.
Some of the items allegedly carted away from his house include passports, charms, guns and dollars.

But Olajengbesi, in a recent interview, stated that the two persons killed were harmless.

 
The two persons killed have been identified as Saheed Adisa, popularly called Adogan and Igboho’s maternal uncle known as Alfa.
 
On Monday, eight of the 12 detained associates of Igboho were released by the DSS after initially disobeying a court ruling on the matter. The remaining four persons are still being illegally detained by the DSS.

Olajengbesi said: “The people that SSS (State Security Service also called DSS) claimed that they killed in a gun duel, those people were actually hiding during the battle, trying to prevent themselves from being killed because any room the SSS operatives entered, they sprayed bullets.
 
“Those people were harmless, they were hiding, and they were in the dark.
 
“As a matter of fact, one of the person’s killed was because he was blind, he couldn’t see.
 
“Two persons were killed. One was blind. One was in the bathroom hiding, they got in there and sprayed bullets.”
 
One of the associates responded saying that “Alfa is the one, he could not see, those killed were hiding for safety.”

News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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