The Nation Newspaper

Tag: discovers

  • NYSC discovers 17 suspects with fake certificates

    NYSC discovers 17 suspects with fake certificates

    THE National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has discovered 17 suspects with fake certificates of exemption and exclusion.

    Its management said three of the suspects using the certificates to work in one of the financial institutions, were on the run.

    Four have been handed over to security agents for prosecution.

    The suspects are Olatunbosun Abolarin, Yusuf Adekunle, Akan Macaulay and Abdullahi (other name withheld).

    The suspects confessed to reporters at the NYSC headquarters at the weekend that they paid money ranging from N25,000; N40,000; N60,000 and N20,000 to get the fake certificates.

    Speaking at the handing over in Abuja, the NYSC Director of Certification, Alhaji Hudu Aliyu Taura, said the arrest was made possible through the cooperation of their employers, who requested verification of their certificates.

    He noted that 17 certificates were found to be fake during the verification exercise carried out by the scheme, adding that the remaining people and those on the run would soon be arrested.

    Taura said it had become necessary for employers of labour to check with the NYSC to ascertain the genuineness of certificates submitted to them by applicants

    When asked if any of the scheme’s workers was culpable in the matter, he said: “No! No NYSC staff was involved. They have mentioned the name of the person, their bank account and the amount they paid.”

  • NDLEA discovers cocaine in ceramics, buttons

    Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday discovered cocaine concealed inside ceramics meant for interior decoration and buttons.

    The discovery was made at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos when officers of the agency broke the ceramic ornaments.

    Two suspected drug traffickers, who were arrested in connection with the illegal import from Brazil, said they were involved in the shady deal because they could not resist the monetary offers made to them by their sponsors.

    The NDLEA Airport Commander, Hamza Umar, said the suspects are Ogbonna Chukwuemeka Moses, 38 and Otum Godgive Osundu, 45.

    Said he: “The suspects were found to have concealed cocaine in their luggage on their way from Brazil. Ogbonna had 1.435kg of cocaine hidden in ceramics and buttons and Otum packed 1.180kg of cocaine also in ceramics.

    They have given us useful information and investigation is in progress.”

    Ogbonna, who hails from Enugu State, lived in Brazil for two years. He said he was asked to bring samples of the ceramics and buttons to Nigeria for marketing.

    “I am married to a Brazilian woman, who is carrying my baby. I agreed to bring the drugs because I need money to take care of my expectant wife. They promised to pay me $10,000. It was a good offer and I had planned to use the money to take care of my family,” Ogbonna said.

    Otum, who lived in Brazil for five years, said he needed the money to settle down in Nigeria with his wife and four children.

    His words: “I went to Brazil in 2007 in search of greener pastures. I have tried my best, but life has been difficult. They promised to pay me N1 million and I agreed to bring the drugs. I did not imagine that I would be caught. Unfortunately, the officers broke the ceramics and found the drugs.”

    He is from Abia State.

    The Chairman/Chief Executive of the agency, Ahmadu Giade, said it is prepared to uncover the tricks barons adopt in smuggling drugs.

    “NDLEA is prepared to uncover the tricks that drug barons adopt in concealing drugs. This seizure will serve as a warning to the cartels that they are running out of tricks,” Giade added.

    The suspects will soon be charged to court.

  • Manu discovers another Isaac Success!

    Manu discovers another Isaac Success!

    Barely a week into the screening of fresh players for the 2013 World Cup-bound Golden Eaglets at the FIFA Goal Project in Abuja, coach Manu Garba has enthused that the objective of the exercise has been partly met with discovering of some budding talents.

    The exercise which took off on Monday with 30 invited players amongst others coming to try their luck out has availed the Eaglets’ coaching crew the opportunity to see new talents to boost competition for positions within the team.

    Several players have caught the eyes notably Billy Michael Auta who is built in the mould of Isaac Success and proficient in front of the goal post as well as the Golden Eaglets’ striker who was the top scorer with seven goals at the last 2013 CAN Under-17 Championship in Morocco in April.

    “I think we are on the right course with the screening of new players for the Golden Eaglets because I believe competition for positions in a team breeds excellent performance from players,” stated Garba who was on the crew that won the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in 2007.

    “My expectation at the 2013 World Cup in the UAE is nothing but victory and we are going to ensure we pick the best players for the country.”

    He further defended the rationale behind the screening of new players, revealing that Auta from Kaduna-based El-Cruizero Academy could be another real deal for the Golden Eaglets.

    “We have really identified some good players and I’m particularly impressed with Billy Auta because he is as gifted as Isaac Success,” noted Garba.

    “Some may query why we are screening new players but we know what we are looking for.

    “I’m giving opportunity to new players because it was through the same process that we discovered Success who is now the toast of many big clubs in Europe today,”he added.

    Meanwhile, Auta has described his experience at the Golden Eaglets’ screening as a real eye opener, saying he would be delighted if eventually shortlisted.

    “The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the coaches have really taking good care of us,” assured the lad who picked Super Eagles’ striker, Obafemi Martins and David Villa of Barcelona as his favourite players.“ On the pitch, we have learnt new tricks that would further help us and I would be very happy if I’m picked.”

  • Kano Hisbah discovers 20 HIV-positive widows

    Twenty widows were yesterday found to be HIV-positive during the mandatory medical check-up for participants in the proposed 1,000 mass wedding organised by Hisbah, the Shariah Implementation Agency of the Kano State Government.

    The exercise, the third to be organised by the agency, is meant to cushion the effect of divorce and single parentage in Kano State.

    The Commander-General of the Hisbah Board, Sheik Aminu Daurawa, spoke yesterday in Kano ahead of the mass wedding.

    He said each of the 44 local governments in the state would hold the wedding prayer for 21 couples while the wedding for the other 76 couples would be conducted in the state capital.

    The Hisbah chief told The Nation that the board discovered five expectant mothers among the 1,000 widows and divorcees for the mass wedding, despite the Shariah stipulations against pregnancy before wedding.

    According to him, the board has set aside N10 million to be paid as dowries to the brides, besides providing other needs for the couples.

    Daurawa explained that the affected women were detected during a medical screening conducted on prospective brides by the board in the 44 local governments.

    The Muslim cleric has also said a renowned Kano-based businessman, Alhaji Isiyaka Rabi’u, and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Sunusi Lamido Sanusi have donated N2 million and N1 million for the mass wedding.

    A chieftain of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and traditional title holder of Dan-Saran Kano, Alhaji Gambo Danpass, also donated 200 bundles of lace to the participants.

    Nigeria’s frontline GSM firm, GLO Mobile Telecommunication Company, also donated free 2,000 SIM cards for distribution to the couples.

  • Army discovers bomb factory in Kaduna

    The Army yesterday demolished a building suspected to be a bomb factory in Kawo, Kaduna, a few metres from the headquarters of the 1 Mechanised Division of the Nigerian Army.

    The house, said to belong to a chieftain of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in the Federal Capital Territory, was pulled down about 4.30 pm on Tuesday after the Army had barricaded the area. Weapons and Improvised Explosive Devices were recovered.

    Briefing reporters on the operation, the Commander of 1 Mechanised Division Internal Security Force, Brig.-Gen. Tagbo Chuks Ude, said the operation followed a tip-off by some people. The search was carried out by soldiers from the Internal Security Force of the 1 Division.

    Gen. Ude said the owner of the house, two women and five children, were arrested during the operation.

    He said: “During the operation, six AK 47 rifles, one light machine gun 27 loaded and 17 empty AK 47 magazines and 58 rounds of 9mm ammunition were recovered. Other weapons recovered included 275 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, one loaded light machine gun, nine prepared cans of Improvised Explosive Devices, one reel of firing cord and 125 pieces of detonator.”

    The Army Commander said the recovered weapons were buried inside septic tanks in the compound.

    He hailed well-meaning Nigerians, who reported the matter.

  • Plateau discovers 6000 ghost workers

    Plateau state government has discovered 6000 ghost workers on its pay role.

    Commissioner for information and Communication, Mr. Yiljap Abraham, who broke the news in an interview yesterday said: “The ghost workers were discovered after a biometric verification exercise carried out by the state government”

    The Commissioner said that after earlier committees set up by the government to determine the strength of its workforce had put the figure at between 17,000 and 18, 000 workers, the governor became alarmed that despite the fact that there had been no new employment, the figure kept rising.

    He added that the biometric exercise discovered that Plateau should not have more than 11,000 workers, meaning that the remaining were not legitimate workers.

    Yiljap said: “Between 2007 and 2011, we discovered that the figure of the civil service kept increasing despite the fact that people have been dying and have not been replaced, we have had people resigning, going on secondment and, yet we have not had any corresponding decrease.

     

  • Navy discovers mini-gun factory in Kwara

    The Navy at the weekend said it discovered a mini-gun factory in Offa, Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State.

    It arrested two suspects, Taofik Salau Toyinbo and Sunday Ogundele, said to be the manufacturer and the buyer.

    The Commandant, Navy School of Health Sciences, Offa, Navy Captain Ima Ansa, paraded the suspect at the school premises on Irra Road, Oyun Local Government.

    He said: “We arrested the man in a commercial bus coming from Irra, Oyun Local Government, to Offa. He concealed a single barrel gun in a bag. It was during investigation that he revealed to us that he bought the gun in Offa.

    “This morning (Saturday), he led us to where he bought it. When we got there, we discovered it is a mini-factory where guns are manufactured. It was there we got the other guns and apprehended the fellow.

    “The location in Offa is Ile Abiye Compound, behind Afolabi Hospital. Two suspects have been arrested: the first man and the manufacturer as well as five passengers with the driver of the 18-seater Mazda bus, with registration number XB410AFN.

    “The man arrested said he bought the gun five days ago from Offa and took it to Ile-Ife, Osun State. On getting to Ile-Ife, he discovered that the gun was malfunctioning. He was returning the product to the manufacturer when our personnel accosted the bus and apprehended him.

    “The manufacturer showed us a document, a licence to repair firearms; it expired 1990. The licence authorised him to repair firearms but not to manufacture same. But he said he repaired and manufactured firearms on demand. He said the minimum cost is N22,000 upon recognition.

    “In August, last year, there was a similar incident, when a man concealed two pistols in a laptop bag. We arrested him and handed him over to the police. Now, we are handing over the suspects, the exhibits, the bus and other passengers in the bus to the police for further investigation.”

    He explained that “because of the security situation in the country, we have strengthened security because this road is more of an access route to Osogbo (Osun State), to forestall all these things”.

    Ansa added: “We want to assure the community that the Navy, in collaboration with other security agencies, is here to ensure peace and safety of life and property within our area of responsibility.”

    Toyinbo corroborated the Naval officer’s statement.

    He said he was lincensed by the Kwara State Police Command and the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to repair locally manufactured guns.