The Nation Newspaper

Tag: culprits

  • Troops arrest culprits in Benue raid

    A patrol team of 72 Special Forces Battalion Makurdi yesterday raided a suspected militia camp at Tomatar community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State and arrested one suspected militia.

    Col. Sagir Musa, the Deputy Director, Public Relations, 82 Division of the Nigeria Army, broke the news in a statement he signed and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu.

    Col. Musa said that the troops raided the camp at about 6am following a tip-off.

    According to him, during the operation, one militia was wounded, another neutralised and one arrested.

    The army spokesperson said the troop recovered two AK 47 rifles, 250 round of 7.62 mm ammunition and three machetes.

    He said that the arrested people were  being interrogated by the Military Police.

    Col. Musa warned members of the public, especially, communities on the fringes of Benue and Nasarawa states to be more vigilant and report any suspicious movement to the security outpost nearer to them.

     

  • Culprits of South Africa killings arraigned

    Culprits of South Africa killings arraigned

    The South Africans responsible for the attack on Nigerians in Durban and other areas were, on Monday, arraigned at a South African Court.

    A statement by the Nigeria Consulate in South Africa confirmed this to the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

    The statement said consular officers in Johannesburg and the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria were in Durban to witness the court proceeding.

    With the latest development, Dabiri-Erewa appealed to Nigerians in the affected areas to remain calm and await the outcome of the judicial proceedings.

    A statement by her media aide, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, condemned the death of Mr Ebuka Okori (27), a Nigerian, from Anambra State, in the hands of two members of the South African Police Service (SAPS), on January 19.

    According to Nigeria’s consulate-general in South Africa, the late Okori was killed in Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal Province, South Africa, on Friday.

    The statement reads: “We condemn the barbaric acts and call on the South African authorities to intervene and end this ugly trend.

    “We also call on Nigerians to continue to be law abiding, as we work towards getting justice for the deceased’s family.”

    The consulate added that investigation is on to unravel the cause of the death of another Nigerian in Rustenburg, North West Province, on January 20.

    Dabiri-Erewa reiterated her appeal to Nigerians in South Africa to remain calm and shun acts capable of tarnishing the country’s image.

  • Lalong: culprits in Bassa attacks ‘ll be punished

    Lalong: culprits in Bassa attacks ‘ll be punished

    plateau State Governor Simon Lalong has warned troublemakers, saying culprits in the Ancha Bassa Local Government attacks will be punished, to act as a deterrent to others.

    He spoke yesterday at the Government House, Jos while addressing Fulani communities under the aegis of Miyetti Allah and Irigwe people of Bassa Council.

    Lalong urged the people to shun violence.

    He said: “I advise citizens to live peacefully with one another.”

    The governor, who prayed for the repose of the souls of those who died, enjoined the indigenes to embrace peace.

    He urged security operatives to be on the alert.

    The Director-General, Peace Building Agency, Mr. Joseph Lengmang, condemned the incident, describing it as a setback.

    He said the meeting created an avenue for an honest interactive session, to find a solution to the Bassa skirmish.

    The Fulani spokesman, Muhammad Nura Abdullahi, who is the state chairman of Miyetti Allah and Sunday Abdul, president, Irigwe Development Association, decried the attack. They agreed to prevent a recurrence.

    The men hailed the government for its efforts to solve the crisis.

  • Loot recovery: Why FG refused to name culprits

    Loot recovery: Why FG refused to name culprits

    •Respect for alternative dispute resolution
    •Endless litigation will complicate recovery

    SEVEN factors were cited last night for the inability of the federal government to name the treasury looters from whom it said it had recovered N78billion, $185,119,584.61, 3,508,355.46 Pounds Sterling and 11, 250 Euros (Eleven thousand, two hundred and fifty Euros) of the money over the last one year.
    These include the need to recover more funds from other looters; avoiding a web of litigations which may drag on for many years and make recovery difficult; and respect for the spirit of alternative dispute resolution as the situation in some foreign jurisdictions.
    The rest, according to a well placed source, are: avoiding allegation that government was out to blackmail looters if it opted for the name and shame option; curtailing possible backlash of political and ethnic biases against the government since the looting appears one-sided; some of those who made refund were victims of circumstances without knowing the sources of the funds; and ensuring fairness and equity by separating the chaff from the wheat.
    “Our ultimate objective is to recover looted funds or illegally taken away from the treasury for doing nothing. We have received cooperation from suspects who accounted for the recovered funds,” said the source.
    “The fact that we have gone far in making huge recovery suggests that this quiet option is good and reliable. We will continue to apply this method to recover more funds.
    “If we go ahead to name and shame, others who want to refund might not do so. In fact, the decency with which we have tried many high-profile suspects has encouraged others to make voluntary refund.
    “The list is much more than what you might have read in newspapers in the past few months. Most of those making refunds actually admitted that they did not know the source(s) of such.”
    The top source also cited some legal reasons for not releasing the names of looters.
    The source said the wheel of justice is slow and might be hijacked for selfish reasons by suspects.
    “For instance, if we go ahead to publish names, some of the suspected looters will go to court with frivolous applications that the federal government is trying to blackmail them. They will use such suits to distract the attention of the government.
    “Some of the suspects also opted for alternative dispute resolution by returning looted funds and it confers a responsibility on the government to respect such obligation.
    “If we push ahead to recover looted funds through the court, we might not be able to get to this recovery level.”
    Asked if some of the looters would not be tried, the source added: “Each case will be treated on its merit.
    “Some suspects are already on trial, others might follow suit based on circumstances of the fraud and the weight of allegations against them.
    “The trial will however take note of alternative dispute resolution as in other jurisdictions.”
    It was also learnt that the government was worried about the likely backlash of political and ethnic biases against the government in releasing the names of the looters.
    “The government is being careful in handling the release of the looters. In some cases, the list appears one sided and before you know it, they will come up with ethnic and religious biases.
    “We are already experiencing this when some suspects have started reading imputations to even ordinary invitation by anti-graft agencies.
    “We do not want this government distracted, we don’t want the anti-graft derailed on the altar of politics.”
    The source however claimed that the government was being careful in ensuring fairness and equity in not naming the looters.
    The source said: “Some of these suspects did not know the source(s) of the looted funds shared to them. For instance, most newspapers were not told where the money came from.
    “Look at the case of a publisher whose newspapers office was burnt. There was a proclamation by the government to assist the newspaper but the source of the funds landed the medium in trouble.”
    It was also learnt that not all the suspected looters will face trial.
    The trial of any looter will be determined by circumstances behind the remittance of such funds, refund rate and cooperation with security agencies.
    The Federal Government was said, last night, to be considering every case on its merit because there were “victims of circumstances.”
    Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed yesterday released the details of funds recovered from some former public officers, beneficiaries of looted funds, and politicians of various cadres in accordance with the pledge of President Muhammadu Buhari to make the loot recovery public

  • Agatu killings: Minister urges IGP to fish out culprits

    Agatu killings: Minister urges IGP to fish out culprits

    Rtd. Lt Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, Minister of Interior, has urged Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Solomon Arase, to fish out and prosecute the culprits of the recent killings in Agatu, Benue.

    Dambazau made the appeal in a statement issued on his behalf by his Press Secretary, Mr Osaigbovo Ehisienmen, and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Monday.

    Dambazau decried the incessant attacks on innocent Nigerians in Agatu and other communities in Benue, by unknown gunmen, calling on the Inspector-General of Police to investigate the matter.

    “The perpetrators of this dastardly act are unwittingly testing the will and capabilities of government securities,’’ he said.

    The minister expressed his condolence to the government and people of Benue State over the incident and pledged government’s resolve to ensure the security of lives and property in the country.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that incessant clashes between suspected herdsmen and communities in Agatu, had led to the killing of innocent Nigerians and destruction of property.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Armsgate: Try culprits for terrorism

    SIR: In the light of recent revelations on how our treasury was looted for private gains rather than being efficiently and effectively utilized to crush the Boko Haram insurgency, the federal government has a responsibility to the spirit of our heroes who lost their lives in the battle, their loved ones as well as the Nigerian population, to ensure that the looters are not only tried for corruption, they must also face the music as accomplices/sympathizers of the Boko Haram sect that has brought grief, tears and tragedies upon innocent Nigerians.

    Former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Sabundu Badeh, speaking at his pulling out ceremony in Abuja in July, lamented that under-funding had seriously hampered the operations of the armed forces in the fight against Boko Haram under his leadership. Similarly, the late National Security Adviser, Gen. Owoye Azazi, once held that the rise of Boko Haram is not unconnected with intrigues in the former ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Another major revelation that shows that the last administration definitely had a hand in fanning the embers of insurgency in the country was made by Dr. Stephen Davis, the renowned Australian negotiator drafted in to facilitate the release of the Chibok girls. Davis noted that the Central Bank of Nigeria is not ignorant about the funding of Boko Haram; it is in fact a major player in the process.

    Today, the immediate past National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) is battling it out with the anti-graft agency – the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He is accused of spending $2 billion on ‘phantom contracts’ to purchase 12 helicopters, 4 fighter jets, bombs and other ammunitions for the military as well as misappropriating $300 million and £5.5 million allocated for the purchase of ammunitions, security and other intelligence equipment to strengthen the armed forces in the fight against Boko Haram. Several beneficiaries of this sleazy act have been identified.

    Importantly, individuals who have played one part or the other in sabotaging the efforts of the armed forces in its fight against Boko Haram, those who have also lent support aimed at facilitating the movement of arms and ammunitions for the operations of Boko Haram, all clearly constitute sympathizers of Boko Haram and justice must be done in the end in order for the present administration to etch itself in gold in Nigeria’s history. As promised by President Muhammadu Buhari in his inaugural address on May 29, Nigerians are anxiously awaiting the sociological study and its report aimed at unravelling the circumstances around Boko Haram in its entirety.

     

    • Ishola Ebenezer,

    University of Lagos.

  • Armsgate: Culprits should face terrorism charges

    Armsgate: Culprits should face terrorism charges

    SIR: Nigerians yet again received the shock of their lives from the revelations emanating from the purchase of arms meant to prosecute the ongoing war against insurgency in the North-east. The insensitivity, high level corruption and lack of respect for the sanctity of human life by some highly placed individuals was once again exposed, when the office of the National Security Adviser was allegedly turned into a ‘father Christmas grotto’ where funds meant for counter-terrorism and national security were dolled out to private individuals, politicians and corporate bodies to campaign for the re-election bid of former President, Goodluck Jonathan.

    It is disheartening, unfortunate and worrisome that even after the former president made a proclamation that his ambition wasn’t worth the life of any Nigerian, he allegedly authorized the diversion of security funds to prosecute his campaign. That the funds that would have been used to procure arms and other equipments to put an end to the activities of Boko Haram, halt the killing of innocent women and children and prevent the untimely deaths of our gallant soldiers was so diverted goes on to expose his hypocrisy, moral bankruptcy, inhumanity and desperation for power.

    Its been alleged that an individual got a whooping N4.6billion to consult a spiritualist on behalf of the PDP presidential campaign organization; another allegedly got about N2.1billion for publicity on behalf of his media organization, amidst other several amounts that were dolled out to PDP members from the office of the National Security Adviser. The questions begging for answers are; even if such funds were meant to legitimately prosecute a task or a contract for the presidential campaign organization, must the office of NSA be turned and used by the PDP for funds disbursement? Even if the said funds weren’t the same meant for arms procurement, when did the NSA transform into a cashier for politicians and their campaign organization? What manner and how much of spiritual help does a presidential campaign organization really needs with such a huge amount while many of the PDP controlled states were facing challenges of payment of their worker’s salaries and the nation was under intense economic crisis?

    Now that the truth is gradually coming out and individuals who fed fat on the funds meant to fight insurgency are gradually being exposed and are under investigation, there is need for all hands to be on deck to ensure that the right thing is done within the ambit of the rule of law and constitution of the land. Gone were the days when impunity reigned supreme in our polity and certain class of people were high up above the law and hence carry out all sorts of criminal and despicable atrocities against Nigeria and Nigerians. All indicted should be properly prosecuted in the law court and made to face the full wrath of the law. The culprits must answer for every single life lost and blood shed by Boko Haram in the north-east and elsewhere in this country. It should be noted that diverting or sharing money meant to fight terrorism is tantamount to terrorism itself. Hence, the need for all involved and indicted to be tried and prosecuted as terrorists. This heinous crime and attrocity against the people of the north-east and Nigerians in general must not be allowed to go unpunished.

     

    • Hussain Obaro,

    Ilorin-Kwara State

  • N636b debt: Protesters urge Okowa to name culprits

    N636b debt: Protesters urge Okowa to name culprits

    There was a protest yesterday in Warri, Delta State,  following

    the alleged N637 billion debt profile former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan allegedly left behind.

    Governor Ifeanyi Okowa recently spoke on the huge debt his successor left behind.

    The governor urged the residents to prepare for hard times.

    But the protesters, under the auspices of Graduates of the Niger Delta (GAND), slammed Okowa for allegedly revealing half-truth about the state’s debt profile and those behind it.

    GAND’s President Progress Omo-Agege said Okowa and his kinsmen, Prince Sam Obi, who was acting governor for three months, should be investigated with previous administrations to ascertain those behind the huge debt profile.

    The spokesman claimed that under Obi – who was in office between November 2010, when Uduaghan was sacked by an Appeal Court, and January 2011, when an election was held – the state incurred about N100 billion debt.

    He urged Okowa to make more revelations on the true financial record of Delta State.

    Omo-Agege said the group’s interest was to ensure that the state’s misappropriated funds were refunded without shielding anyone.

    The group, which comprises various ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta, urged President Muhammudu Buhari “to beam his anti-corruption searchlight on Delta State to ensure that those behind the debt are brought to book”.

    It said the governor was being economical with the truth when he blamed Uduaghan for the debt profile.

     

     

     

     

  • We’ve identified culprits in Rivers’ killings, says IGP

    Police chief Suleiman Abba has said some suspects in the killings in Rivers State have been identified.

    But the Inspector-General did not name the culprits.

    The IGP said three suspects were arrested in Enugu in connection with the blast that took place during the presidential and National Assembly elections.

    Suleiman spoke in Abuja yesterday during a meeting with Commissioners of Police as part of preparations for the elections.

    He said more men would be deployed in Rivers and others during the elections.

    On the unrest in Rivers, Abba said: “Let me confirm to you that arrests have been made and there are also suspects identified with the incidents in Rivers, including those that were committed as far back as during the period of campaigns.

    “We have identified culprits or those suspected to have been involved or being the master mind of these offences. We have not made it public because we are using all other avenues. Our intelligence and operatives are out there to arrest them. Where we don’t get them immediately, perhaps, after a little while, we will exploit other avenues, including declaring them wanted.”

    On the deployment of more personnel, the IGP said: “The purpose of our meeting includes strengthening our deployment to Rivers and other states where we feel we really need to strengthen the deployments to prevent lawlessness. It is not only in Rivers; there are also two or three other states that we will strengthen our deployment from senior officers down to other officers so that we take charge and make sure those incidents are not recorded anymore.”

    Suleiman spoke also on the bombing during the presidential election in Enugu. He said: “We have arrested three suspects in connection with the case and our investigation has gone to a very advanced stage and we were able to identify the factory where those Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were manufactured and I think that alone is a big success and investigation is ongoing.”

    He praised policemen for what he described as their display of professionalism, impartiality and non-partisanship during the presidential and National Assembly elections.

    Abba noted that 124 suspects were arrested for various electoral offences, adding that some have been charged to court.

    His words: “So far, we have 124 incidents of electoral offences that we have investigated and quite a number of them have been charged to court already while others will still require INEC’s intervention.”

    On the alleged threat against the Igbo by the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, the IGP said since the traditional ruler has denied the allegation, he was not in any position to state otherwise.

    The Inspector-General said: “On the issue of Oba of Lagos making statement about who electorate or voters should vote for in this election, I saw it in the media and I tried all my best to verify whether that statement was made and so far, what I have been able to gather is the fact that the Oba himself denied it.

    “And if he denied it, who am I to say otherwise? However, if for any reason that it becomes a subject of further efforts to confirm if he did it or not, I think we will leave that to the future but for now, this is what I have.”

    Northerners in Rivers yesterday criticised the continued killing of leaders and supporters of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state, describing those perpetrating the act as wicked and callous.

     

    The group under the aegis Northern Community Association of Nigeria, Rivers State chapter, said the killing of nine APC leaders and supporters in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government few days to the governorship and State House of Assembly elections called for concern.

    The leader of the group, Alhaji Jauro Atiku, spoke during a victory party organised by the leaders of Northern community to celebrate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s victory in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.

    Atiku urged his members to maintain peace and vote for the APC governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside and all APC candidates for State House of Assembly elections on Saturday.

  • Building collapse: COREN to discipline culprits

    THE Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) has begun preliminary investigations to ascertain the involvement of registered engineers in the collapse of a building at Maitama in Abuja on August 27.

    Two persons believed to be labourers died when parts of a building under construction at Maitama, Abuja collapsed.

    The deceased were erecting beams when the building collapsed.

    The Registrar of COREN, Engr. Kamila Maliki,said the council would use the opportunity to establish whether the actual design of the building was carried out by a professional or not.

    He said: “If any engineering personnel is found culpable, they would be sent to Registered Engineering Disciplinary Tribunal for prosecution.”