The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Buhari knows those causing unrest in Nigeria, says Falana

    Activist lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) yesterday said President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration knows those causing unrest in the country and should go after them.

    Falana spoke at the Coalition for Revolution’s (CORE’s) working consultative assembly, with the theme: Democracy, State Repression and The State of Insecurity in Nigeria, at the Lagos Centre, Oregun, Ikeja.

    The event, which was billed to start at 11 a.m, did not hold due to police disruption.

    It was learnt that policemen barricaded the venue and arrested three participants.

    Condemning the alleged arrest as well as that of Omoyele Sowore and other #RevolutionNow protesters, Falana said the Federal Government should deploy security forces to tackle terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other crimes that breach public peace, and not protesters.

    The lawyer said it was the struggle by democracy agitators that culminated in the democracy the current administration was turning into a rickety civil rule.

    He said the agitators would not allow it.

    Falana said: “Our right to assembly and associate peacefully in the country is constitutional. I want to assure you that we are going to ensure that all the rights of Nigerian people that we have fought for and won will not be allowed to be eroded by any regime in this country.

    “When we were told that we will not be allowed to meet, my mind went back 30 years ago when we had the Buhari, Ibrahim Babangida and other juntas. We defeated the regimes, and I want to assure you all that any other dictator will not be allowed to raise their head again in Nigeria.

    Read Also: #RevolutionNow: 90-day detention must be challenged, says Falana

    “I heard that about three persons have been arrested. But I want to assure you that after the programme, I will demand for their release because they have not committed any offence. I want to assure you that all those who were arrested and charged during the #RevolutionNow for unlawful assembly and breaching the peace will be given adequate defence at the court of law.

    “We fought and defeated dictatorship under discredited and corrupt military rulers. It was the struggle that we waged that culminated in democracy which the ruling party has turned into a rickety civil rule. We are, therefore, not going to allow the emergence of any form of dictatorship in the country.

    “The President Buhari administration knows those breaching the peace of the country: terrorist, armed robbers, coup plotters and others.

    “Those who went to the street to protest in exercise of their right to assembly and complain against injustice, corruption and maladministration in the country cannot be said to have breached the law of the country.

    “Therefore, the man (Sowore) who was arrested and detained before the protest will be adequately defended at the law court. This is because he has committed no offence.”

    The lawyer reminded the gathering how Nigerians fought for their rights, even under the colonial era.

    He recalled how nationalists, like the late Chief Anthony Enahoro, chaired lectures organised on the need for a revolution.

    “So, let the authority in Abuja know that the call for revolution is not new in Nigeria. Political leaders in this country have over time called for revolution and they have never been arrested and prosecuted. If there is a mistake now, such must be corrected. This country belongs to all of us.

    “Before today, they claimed that we must not engage in any activity on the street. We are trying to gather inside the hall, they claimed that we cannot do that. But because of our resolve, we won.

    “Revolution is not a dinner party. It is a serious, rigorous and consistent battle for the soul of a country like Nigeria. Therefore, what we have done is a mere declaration of our resolve.

    “The struggle is going to be in pains and it will require time. But I believe that we have started and there is no going back. What we have done is to challenge the Nigerian people to appreciate the enormity of crisis of underdevelopment that is confronting the country.

    “We do not have a revolution yet in Nigeria, but there is revolutionary pressure in Nigeria. We must seize the advantage of the moment and mobilise Nigerians on the need for revolution: tell them that it will come sooner than later…”

    Also at the event were Femi Aborisade, Seun Kuti, Martin Onovo, former governorship candidate for the National Conscience Party (NCP) Funsho Awe and former student unionist Lanre Legacy.

    Onovo said: “We understand how herdsmen have become the greatest threat overtaking Boko Haram. The government has failed and the leader of the government must resign. There is no democracy in Nigeria,” he said.

    Awe said there was need to correct the bad things noticed in the country, adding that the time was right for a revolution.

    For Kuti, the movement was fighting for the collective interest of Nigerians and the country’s future.

    Aborishade said: “The failure of government to provide employment violates the dictates of the constitution. President Buhari is criminalising the rights of the people. If they say that I am a terrorist for asking for free medical care for the masses, free education for all, then, I am guilty for that and will like to be prosecuted.

    “I demand that Sowore and others be released by the government. Nigeria has been turned to prison. We will ensure that the citizens enjoy the tenets of democracy. The law is taller than the President. I refuse to live in any society that is governed by the whims and caprices of the President and not the constitution. We reject enslavement.”

    But the police denied obstructing the gathering or arresting anyone.

    They said they were at the venue to maintain the peace.

    Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in charge of Operations Mohammed Ali told The Nation on phone that it was normal to deploy policemen to avoid any breakdown of law and order.

    “It is not true that the police disrupted their gathering. They were billed to have a press conference and they did. There was no disruption whatsoever, and I do not have information of any arrest there,” he said.

  • Driver held for ‘robbing man of vehicle, phones valued at N3.3m’

    An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Monday remanded a 33-year-old driver, Nureni Kazeem, at the Kirikiri Prisons for alleged robbery and illegal possession of firearm.

    Kazeem, a resident at Meiran, Lagos, is facing charges bordering on conspiracy, robbery and possession of a pistol illegally before Magistrate S. K. Matepo.

    She did not take his plea.

    The magistrate ordered that he be remanded in prison pending the receipt of legal advice from the state Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

    Prosecuting Sergeant Innocent Odugbo had told the court that the defendant and others at large committed the offences on February 13 at Meiran, Lagos.

    According to him, Kazeem unlawfully had in his possession a pistol with which he robbed Olufemi Essenyi of his Lexus Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) valued at N3million and two phones worth N300,000,  totalling N3.3million.

    He said the complainant came down from his SUV to open his gate when the defendant and others swooped on him.

    Read Also: Commercial driver held for allegedly stealing Evans’ exhibits

    He alleged that they pointed a gun at him, ordered him to surrender his car key and phones and threatened to shoot him if he refused to comply.

    Kazeem said the defendant and his accomplices forcefully collected the complainant’s car, phones and drove away.

    He said the complainant lodged a complaint at the police station, which led to the arrest of the defendant after investigation by the police.

    The case was adjourned till September 19.

  • Developer charged with defrauding 251 people of N65m remanded 

    A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday remanded a developer, Alabi Tesleem Idowu, who allegedly defrauded 251 prospective accommodation seekers of over N65 million.

    Justice Nicholas Oweibo made the order following Idowu’s arrangement on a 251-count charge of obtaining under false pretence.

    The Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) Ikoyi, Lagos, alleged that the defendant perpetrated the fraud between January and June.

    He allegedly obtained money from 251 accommodation seekers for a room self-contained and a room and parlour self-contained apartments in a renovated building at Karimu Street, Alapere, Ketu, Lagos.

    Among those allegedly scammed by the developer and the sum received from them, according to the prosecutor, are: Mohammed Akeem, N400,000.00; Philip Obinna, N320,000.00; Folorunsho Ridwan N835,000.00; Mrs. Owodunni Dorcas Adetutu, N240,000.00; Abdulraham Hamed, N170.000.00; Folakemi Amosun, N220,000.00; Theresa Amazi, N175, 000.00; Samson Emmanuel, N195, 000.00; Salau Wasiu, N180,000.00; Khadyat Sanusi, N140,000.00; Ishola Matthew,  N240,000.00.

    Read Also: Startimes marketer allegedly defrauds customers of N2.1m 

    Others are: Michael Bashoru, N150.000.00; Akinshola Samuel, N100, 000.00; Olaleye Bisola, N260.000.00; Emmanuel Agbakwuru, N270, 000.00; Ayedun Oluwatobi, N200,000.00 and several others.

    The offences, according to the prosecutor, Mr. Chukwu Agwu, contravened sections 1(2) and 1(3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty.

    Agwu prayed the court to remand him in prison custody pending the filing, hearing and determination of his bail application.

    He said the defendant had been in police custody since he was arrested, following a court order obtained to prevent him from truncating police investigation of the alleged scam.

    But the defendant’s counsel, Mr. Jilji Jinrin, opposed him.

    Jinrin told the court that he was just served with the charge and that he needed a short adjournment to file his client’s bail application.

    In a bench ruling, Justice Oweibo remanded Idowu in prison custody, pending the hearing and determination of his bail application.

    He adjourned till September 3, for hearing of the bail application.

  • Why I impersonated DSP, by suspect

    A sacked Inspector of Police, Hassan Abubakar, arrested in Anambra State, on Monday gave reasons for alleged impersonation as a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP).

    The 35-year-old man was arrested impersonating as a DSP, along with a member of his gang, Ismaila Ahmed, 37, at Ihiala by operatives of the state Special

    Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

    The suspect, an indigene of Otukpo in Benue State, told reporters that he was forced to go into crime out of frustration after he was dismissed from the Nigeria Police Force in 2015 for ‘misfiring.’

    Abubakar, who was paraded at the police headquarters alongside other 85 suspected cultists, said he had to resort to the crime to fend for his family after waiting for his reinstatement following his dismissal.

    He said: “I was dismissed by the police as an inspector for misfiring. I was on a special duty from R15, 42 Squadron, Zamfara State, to Lagos along Lekki peninsula, near Maroko Police Division.

    Read Also: Two arrested for impersonating Osinbajo, Buhari’s wife

    “There was information that robbers were coming towards our direction and we stopped the vehicle, but they refused and were on high speed.

    “By the time we knew it, they had shot one of my inspectors and I returned the fire. The vehicle somersaulted three times and the police recovered three pistols in the vehicle.

    “Finally, it was discovered that one of occupants was the son of the former governor of River State, Peter Odili.

    “When the police dismissed me, I waited to be reinstated and since then I have nothing to do and I have five children. I have to be wearing police uniform to escort motors.

    “Whenever I see escorts, I will follow them to get money to feed my family.”

    Abubakar said luck, however, ran against him when Godwin Abba sold a Toyota Corolla car to him and transferred N800,000,00 from his Ecobank account to his Fidelity Bank account, without knowing that the car was stolen and had a tracker.

    “Since I cannot drive, I have to engage a driver. I wore police uniform so that the Customs will not disturb us since there was no duty paid on the motor.

    “I used the uniform to influence security operatives to pass us.

    I was arrested along Ihiala Road after my explanation. Nobody wanted to hear or listen to me. I know who sold the car to me and I can identify him.”

    He called on the police to thoroughly investigate the case, insisting that he had never handled rifles since he was dismissed from the Police Force.

  • Civil Defence parades 21 suspected oil thieves

    The Rivers State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Muktar Lawal, has paraded 21 suspected oil thieves arrested across the state.

    He said a barge, two trucks and two buses used to convey the stolen crude oil and illegally-refined petroleum products had been impounded.

    Lawal spoke yesterday in Port Harcourt while parading the suspects before reporters and displaying the seized items.

    He reiterated his commitment to ensure the protection of the critical national assets in the state.

    Said he: “On August 17, at 0400hrs, the anti-vandal patrol team of NSCDC, Rivers State Command, arrested six suspects and two open-bodied trucks, belonging to Dangote Company, along Eleme Refinery Road, Port Harcourt. The trucks were loaded with a product suspected to be illegally-refined AGO (diesel), concealed in unquantifiable polythene bags, hidden beneath bags of salt.

    “On August 18, at 0100HRS, a J5 bus, loaded with suspected AGO, concealed in 30 50-litre jerry cans, was also impounded along Abonema Wharf Road, Port Harcourt. Nobody was arrested, as the suspects fled on sighting the anti-vandal team.

    Read Also: NSCDC arrests fake eye doctor

    “Also on August 18, at 0210hrs,  three suspects and a Sienna bus, with registration number BDG 906 FB, fully loaded with product suspected to be illegally-refined AGO, concealed in nylon bags, were also arrested along UTC Junction, Port Harcourt.

    “At 1400hrs on August 18, a barge with six compartments, four filled with suspected crude oil, was seized at a creek within Deutsch Island, Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State. The barge is currently at the NSCDC Jetty in Ogbogoro-Port Harcourt.”

    Lawal said in view of the strong synergy developed between the NSCDC and other security agencies in Rivers in fighting oil theft in the state, 11 suspects were handed over to the Corps by Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) and the Nigerian Army, on the grounds of illegal dealing in oil business in Rivers.

    Rivers commandant of NSCDC added that the arrested suspects were currently being interrogated.

    He said they would be charged to court for possible prosecution, as soon as the investigations were concluded.

  • ‘I didn’t release suspected cult financier on Obiano’s order’

    Anambra State Police Commissioner John Abang on Monday denied releasing a market leader, Emeka Agummadu, on the orders of Governor Willie Obiano as being alleged.

    Agummadu, aka Baby Awka, is one of the market leaders in the state arrested alongside three others for alleged sponsorship of cult related killings.

    He was, however, released by the police 24 hours later, allegedly on Obiano’s order.

    Answering questions from reporters yesterday, Abang debunked the allegation that the command released the market leader following the intervention of the governor.

    Read Also: Armed policemen to intensify patrol on UI campus

    He also refuted payment of N15million by the suspect to secure his bail, just as he denied knowledge of his membership of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

    The police boss said: “Why will the governor ask me to release him when it is a bailable offence that doesn’t need money to secure?

    “Fifteen million Naira is a lot of money and nobody paid any money for his release.

    “I don’t know him as an APGA member but a suspected cultist. He has made statement to the police and we’re still investigating.”

    He said the suspects would be arraigned after investigation.

  • Suspected Internet fraudsters evade EFCC raid in Ekiti

    Suspected Internet fraudsters, otherwise called Yahoo boys, have gone underground in some major towns in Ekiti State.

    This followed massive crackdown by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The anti-graft agency had carried out not fewer than four massive raids on the hideouts of the Yahoo boys in some residential areas of Ado-Ekiti and tertiary institutions.

    In the last few months, about 80 suspects have been arrested in locations in Ekiti and taken to the EFCC zonal office in Ibadan, Oyo State, in a raid code-named “Operation Cyber Storm.”

    The Nation investigation yesterday showed that many of the Yahoo boys in Ado-Ekiti and Ikere-Ekiti have started fleeing the state to avoid being arrested by the anti-graft agency.

    Our reporter gathered that many of them no longer parade the streets of Ado-Ekiti, Ikere-Ekiti and other parts of the state with their posh cars, blaring out music.

    A visit to hotels, night clubs, pubs and other fun spots patronised by the Yahoo boys revealed that many of them are on the run to escape arrest.

    Read Also: EFCC arrests 29 suspected internet fraudsters in Oyo

    Unlike before, the hotels and fun spots located at Adebayo, Ilawe Road, Poly Road and GRA were no longer patronised by the Yahoo boys.

    A security source said: “This is not the best of time for these Yahoo boys. Many of them have fled the state following massive raids carried out by the EFCC.

    “The fear of those yet to be arrested is that they don’t know when the EFCC operatives will storm the state again.

    “The Yahoo boys and their girlfriends know that they are being monitored and tracked by security agents, and the best approach is to either go underground or flee, to escape arrest.”

    A worker in one of the hotels patronised by the Yahoo boys said: “It is true that most of them no longer come to our place to have fun with their colleagues and girlfriends.

    “The last raid carried out in this place is still fresh in their memories and I believe this may have been the reason why they no longer come here for fun. This has brought economic and social activities to a standstill.”

    A resident, Tope Adaraniwon, urged the EFCC not to relent in ridding the state of the menace of Internet scam, which he said was against the Ekiti core values of integrity and hard work.

    He said: “This is a welcome development because these boys have constituted themselves to tin gods, who cannot be touched. But it is no longer business as usual.

    “You must work hard in a legitimate and godly way to earn your wealth and not by fraudulent and foul means and still having the effrontery to display the ill-gotten wealth.”

    The first EFCC raid in Ekiti State happened on July 10. Over 30 suspects were arrested and taken to the zonal office in Ibadan.

    The EFCC operatives, in another raid carried out on August 7, nabbed four students of the Ekiti State University (EKSU), for alleged involvement in cybercrime.

    They were picked up by the EFCC operatives at the school gate and their hostels, and taken out of the state to face interrogation.

    The latest EFCC clamp down was recorded last Friday at the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti where some students were arrested for alleged involvement in Internet scam.

  • Welder arraigned for ‘stealing’

    A 25-year-old welder, Sesan Olaloye, was yesterday brought before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, charged with stealing machines valued at N12 million.

    Olaloye, a resident of Ojokoro, Lagos, however, pleaded innocent to the two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing preferred against him.

    Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ezekiel Ayorinde said the defendant committed the offences last month at Ojokoro, Lagos.

    He alleged that the defendant and others at large stole the machines, belonging to Mrs. Modinat Eketunde, at night.

    Read Also: Woman arraigned over alleged N22.9b received from ex-NSA Dasuki

    “The defendant and others stole four colour printing machines, two side sealing machines, two folding machines and one sliding machine, all valued at N12 million.

    Read Also:

    “Weeks later, the defendant came again to steal more machines, but luck was against him as he was apprehended by neighbours, while his accomplices escaped.

    “He was handed over to the police,” the prosecutor told the court.

    The alleged offences contravene sections 287(5) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    Magistrate B. O. Osunsanmi granted the defendant N1 million bail with two sureties as part of the bail condition.

    She said the sureties should be employed and show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    The case continues on September 30.

  • Suspected thugs ‘assault’ woman for refusing forcible eviction 

    A woman identified as Mrs. Nike Olowo was on Monday assaulted by thugs allegedly sent by the new owner of her house, to evict her.

    The incident occurred at 1, Owokoniran Street, off Liasu Road, Council in Ikotun area of Lagos State.

    It was gathered that the woman had requested to be given two weeks so that she could get another accommodation and move out, but the new owner would have none of it.

    A neighbour alleged that the thugs tried to remove the door, which she resisted and they descended on her.

    Read Also: Man arrested for alleged human trafficking

    “It happened this morning (Monday). The thugs were sent by the man who bought the house to evict her. They did not give any prior notice. The landlord sold the house and the new owner just showed up and asked them to vacate the premises.

    “She pleaded for two weeks so that she could get another place and move out, but was denied that opportunity.

    “The thugs showed up with a directive to evict her by force and they pulled her door, which she resisted. They then beat her up and almost blinded her,” the source said.

    The Nation learnt that the woman reported the case at Idimu Police Division and one of the suspects was arrested, while the others fled.

  • Man accused of stealing N190,000

    32-year-old man, Sunday Idikwo, on Monday appeared at an Ikorodu Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, accused of stealing N190,000 belonging to a hotel.

    Idikwo, whose address was not provided, is facing a one-count charge of stealing, to which he pleaded not guilty.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Mary Ajiteru told the court that the defendant committed the offence on August 16, at 1, Olatunji Shokefun Street, Igbogbo, Ikorodu.

    Read Also: Court remands 23-yr-old man in prison for stealing biscuits

    She alleged that the defendant stole the N190,000 belonging to Shokis Hotel, an offence that contravened Section 287 of Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

    Magistrate Mrs. C.K. Tunji-Careena admitted the defendant to N50, 000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    She adjourned the case till September 12 for mention.