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Tag: drama

  • Drama as suspect dares court to jail him over alleged death threat

    Drama as suspect dares court to jail him over alleged death threat

    There was mild drama on Tuesday at the Akungba-Akoko Division of the Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State as a suspect, Mr Segun Orungbeja, openly challenged the magistrate during his arraignment over an alleged threat to kill a man with a cutlass.

    Mr Orungbeja, who was brought before the court by the police, stunned the courtroom when Magistrate K. A. Kolawole asked what led to his arrest.

    Visibly angry, the suspect fired back, “If you want to sentence me, you can go ahead; my God is watching you.”

    The outburst briefly disrupted proceedings before order was restored.

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    Police prosecutor in the case, Inspector Ola Boboye, told the court that Orungbeja allegedly threatened to kill one Abiodun Akintunde with a cutlass.

    He accused the suspect of conduct likely to cause a breach of peace by persistently demanding money from the complainant, who reportedly owed him nothing.

    According to the charge sheet, the alleged offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 86 of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

    Defence counsel, Eniayewu B. J., pleaded for leniency and bail, urging the court to temper justice with mercy and assuring that his client would not abscond.

    In his ruling, Mr Kolawole granted the suspect bail but ordered that he be remanded pending the perfection of the bail conditions.

    The case was adjourned until February 4, 2026.

  • Logo drama

    Logo drama

    It’s an interesting drama about a state’s logo, with twists and turns that may well continue following a call for new designs by Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke after public rejection of a design unveiled on April 17.

    In a statement, the governor said, “As a listening leader, I have asked that we open the change of logo to more public input,” through a one-week contest from April 19 to April 26.  The best design would be announced on April 28, and unveiled on April 30; and the best three designers would be rewarded.

    Curiously, the statement said, “Those submitting a design are to take into account the prototype logo in terms of its contents and style.”  This condition amounts to imposing unnecessary restrictions on creativity. Defining the limits of entries, in terms of “contents and style,” defeats the essence of calling for new designs. The government’s insistence on the sanctity of the “contents and style” of the rejected design suggests that it may not want a new design but a design that looks new. 

    Details of the rejected design include a Circle, Osun River, Brown Agricultural Soil, Mountains, Ori Olokun, Rays of light (Imole in Yoruba), and Natural Resources.

    The Osun State House of Assembly, in July 2023, repealed the state Anthem, Crest and Flag Law 2012 and replaced it with a new law, which provided the context for the introduction of a new logo for the state.

    Adeleke had described the rejected logo as “a signal of rebirth,” which “meaningfully represents our historic anthem, our values, and our tradition.” He also said it was “a tool to market the state at home and abroad.”

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    Two opposition parties in the state were reported to have criticised the logo.   The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) described it as a waste of taxpayers’ money, and the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) called it “an embarrassment to us in Osun.”  The criticisms were not necessarily politically motivated. Governor Adeleke is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Indeed, the governor’s call for new designs suggests acceptance of the criticisms.

    This is not the first time that the state’s logo has created controversy. In a release signed by its state chairman, Dr Tosin Odeyemi, the NNPP presented a history of the state’s logo. The party said: “We all spoke against it when the administration of Rauf Aregbesola designed a new logo for the state and abandoned the one in use before he came into office as governor.” Osun State was created in August 1991, and Aregbesola was governor from 2010 to 2018. 

    It remains to be seen which design would be unveiled to replace the rejected logo, and whether it would be acceptable to the people. 

  • ‘Why visually-impaired people love drama’

    ‘Why visually-impaired people love drama’

    Sanmi Alegbeleye is a visually-impaired dramatist, who has formed a group with others like himself called Blind People in Action. They have produced a drama video called Ona Abayo: The Way Out. He said in an interview with Edozie Udeze that the video is one of the ways to get Nigeria out of its current political and economic quagmire. A graduate of Adekunle Ajasin University, Ondo State, he is also a script writer and composer.

    THIS popular saying is always as constant as it is true. There is ability in disability. For Sanmi Alegbeleye, a visually-impaired artist, this statement is not only true, as he and others have also proved that whatever an able-bodied person can do, they also can do. As he strolled into the corporate headquarters of The Nation Newspapers in Lagos, armed with a copy of his video with an impeccable smile hanging on his lips, he was ready to open up on a number of issues. Full of joy and hope, Alegbeleye sat down for an interview. As soon as he sat down he said, “I want to let the world know that there is practically nothing a blind man cannot achieve”.

    As he spoke, he twisted his neck, shifting his head to enable his statement sink deeper and meaningfully. “Yes”, he went on, “This is the play we produced, it is titled Ona Abayo: The Way Out. You can see it is a better life for people with disability. It is indeed blind people in action and that is why it is completely regarded as souls harvesting drama ministry, meant to strengthen us not only in faith but in all the things we are able to do”. Of course this is why he and his colleagues are seeking for help not just to promote what they do but to see how to prosper those living with disability of all forms.

    A graduate of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba, Ondo State where he studied Guidance and Counseling, Alegbeleye has chosen to use theatre to prove his mettle. He has also chosen to use theatre-drama, songs, acting, composition, all, to entertain the world and leave an endearing legacy behind. He said, “Yes I am a visually-impaired person. What I have here now is a drama, I and others like me put together. The title of the drama is the way out of Nigeria’s problems. With the situation in Nigeria today many people only blame leaders. But this is not true. People say leaders have not directed us well. But in this play, you will see that both the led and the leader have plenty of roles to play to make Nigeria better. The drama shows clearly who and who are causing problems in Nigeria. It is on how we all can adjust to enable Nigeria work for the common good of all.

    “It is equally on how we can avoid the mistakes of the past to move on with whatever needs to change for the good of the people. We have to reorder our conducts. If Nigeria has to get better, everyone has a role to play to achieve this. This drama is instructive; it is clear on those issues. We need people, indeed, everyone to watch it to see the lessons in it. This was why it took us time and energy and money to package it well”, he said.

    Alegbeleye is comic in his nuances. He is not just punchy about his sentiments to use drama for total effect; he is bent on using it to ensure a saner, safer and happier Nigerian society. He said, “We have some able bodied people among us in terms of production. But generally the idea is to show that blind people are bright. The name of the group is Blind People in Action. The action is to work to make everyone happy. It took us a bit of time to form the group. We are four years old now and have been doing the best we can to keep it going. Majority of us stay in Ondo State. We also have our association, Nigerian Association for the Blind. It is our national body under which we work and agitate for our rights. In the group we have professionals in all fields of human endeavor”.

    Alegbeleye is asking for money to buy instruments. “We do not have money to buy instruments to play music and act our plays”, he said with the clasping of his hands. “Both concerned individuals and government at all levels can come in to assist us. We have bundles of talents to develop. Even myself if I have the opportunity I will go for a Master’s degree to be able to teach in a tertiary institution. It is part of my ambition”, he said with a smile. The voices on the tape truly proved that they are serious artists ready to move the world.

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    Alegbeleye in collaboration with Fatorisa Alex who directed the play wrote it together for the stage. “We wrote it together”, he admitted sitting up a bit as if to punch himself on the chest for a job well done. But in reality the way out for Nigeria is a cool stage drama to enlighten the people. It is not just for the lessons in it, it is also to see how effective stage works can go to fight a cause.

    Plays contain visible and invisible instructive messages orchestrated for change. Indeed dramas act as change agent when the people really attune themselves to them all. Therefore Blind People in Action have gone all out to show the way out of this myriad of problems distorting the smooth flow of a worthy society. All over the world governments make it compulsory to provide comforts and the necessary provisions to enable the disabled people to live well and function optimally. This is what Alegbeleye is imploring the society to do for them. It is proper to sponsor and encourage this set of blind artists to be of immense use to themselves and to the people.

    We can always refer to the great Steve Wonder of the USA. A multiple Grammy award winner, Wonder has got to the pinnacle of his musical career not minding that he is blind. Such hidden cases and talents abound in Nigeria and it will be sound to use this group led by Sanmi Alegbeleye to establish a legacy.

    With sound education, Alegbeleye is wired to go places. He said “I am ready to conquer the world with my talent”. Even though he had had a political appointment before now in Ondo State, he does not mind to make a go at it once more. “We have been to Abuja on several occasions to seek for attention. Now I am asking the current government to also make some of us part of the government. It won’t be a bad idea at all.”

    Blind people, for instance, have been noted to be good script writers, composers and promoters and arrangers. All they need is to be given the right opening to prove the stuff they are made. He said “When people raise money for us we can take the drama to different states to let the people see. I was board chairman of people living with disability for one year. The late governor Rotimi Akeredolu appointed me and I did it to the best of my ability. Yes at the university level at Akungba, I belonged to the drama group”, he said with finality, adjusting his bag.

  • Drama as Buhari counters Oshiomhole on Imo guber

    THERE was a mild drama yesterday at the All Progressives Congress (APC) rally at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri, the Imo State capital President Muhammadu Buhari asked party members to vote for a candidate of their choice in the governorship poll.

    The counsel ran contrary to that of the party’s National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole, who had earlier told the crowd that the party was not in alliance with any political platform.

    He told the party supporters in clear language that they should vote for the party’s standard bearer in the governorship race, Senator Hope Uzodinma.

    The Action Alliance (AA) candidate, Uche Nwosu, enjoys the backing of Governor Rochas Okorocha, who is contesting the Imo West senatorial seat on the APC ticket.

    Nwosu, who was at the APC rally, had adopted Buhari as his presidential candidate.

    President Buhari, who broke his silence on the crisis rocking the party since the party’s governorship primaries, urged APC members to vote for any candidate of their choice across party lines irrespective of inter or intraparty squabbles.

    Before coming to the Dan Anyiam Stadium, the governor had hosted the President at the Government House. Nwosu was present; Uzodinma was not. He was at the stadium, waiting for the President.

    The emergence of Uzodinma “in controversial circumstances” at the governorship primary pitted the governor against the APC national chair.

    Nwosu, who jostled for the APC ticket, defected the AA, a decision that polarised the local chapter of the APC in Imo State.

    The state chapter of AA has not only endorsed Buhari, it promised to secure one million votes for him.

    At the stadium shortly before Buhari’s address,  Oshiomhole, while presenting the APC governorship candidate, had thrown jibes at the governor, who was seen keeping himself under check.

    The party chair said: “The APC is not in alliance with any party; we are capable of delivering the President. We have come to present a new hope to Imo people; Senator Hope Uzodinma will win and restore good governance in Imo. APC will win in Imo State.”

    The mug look on the governor’s face when Oshiomhole presented the party flag to Uzodinma, betrayed his disapproval of the senator’s candidature.

    Okorocha said that the President had always demonstrated his love for the Igbo and would continue to show his love for the Igbos.

    He said: “My President, you are a man of destiny. Your victory, come 2019, has been signed and sealed. You love the Igbo. And you have always demonstrated that. You took Chuba Okadigbo and Edwin Ume Ezeoke at different times to be your running mates. It will be wrong for anybody to say that you don’t love Ndi-Igbo. Whoever says that is lying from the pit of hell.

    “Mr. President, you were forced to look elsewhere. So, it is not right that Buhari does not love Ndigbo. He shall continue to show us love. You have shown your capacity and capability in fighting corruption. There is nothing you can do to please the elite of Nigeria. Continue to work for the ordinary Nigerians while protecting the interest of the few elites.

    “Let me remind you sir, I am Owelle Rochas Okorocha, I am the founder of APC in Imo State and I am the only governor in the whole of Southeast from APC. As it stands today, those that challenged us, those that came with the Army and Police and DSS are now sitting boldly as the owners of the party. Let me say to you that, it is Iberiberism Chapter I vs I.”

    In Abia State, the Enyimba International Football Stadium, Aba, the state’s commercial hub, stood still as residents and APC supporters from the 17 local government areas, trooped out to be part of the President’s campaign.

    They defied the sit-at-home order issued yesterday by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which asked them observe a mini sit-at-home from 6am to 4pm.

    President Buhari who came in the company of former of Abia governors Orji Uzor Kalu and Ogbonnaya Onu (Minister of Science & Technology), Senator Ken Nnamani, former Ekiti governor and APC Deputy Chairman (South), Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Senator Chris Ngige, Oshiomhole, House of Representatives member (Isiukwuato/Umunneochi), Nkeiruka Onyejiocha, former Labour & Productivity minister Emeka Wogu and Senator Nkechi Nwaogu, among others.

    President Buhari vowed to continue to tackle infrastructural problems and ensure that Nigerians do their businesses without stress.

    He urged the people of Abia State to ensure victory for the APC in the forthcoming elections.

    Buhari said: “I’m impressed with all the speakers because they’ve articulated what this administration is able to do. When we came in, we approached governance with three point agenda of security, economy and fight against corruption.

    “We tried to justify these by trying our best within the time available to us from 2015 to now with the resources available to us. You can all recall that the production of 2.4 million barrel per day was cut short to half a million barrel per day. In the world market which is outside our control, the cost of petroleum per barrel went down from $40, $38, $28 per barrel.

    “It is in this context that I want you to see how this administration has been committed to development of this country. Upon all these, we are doing the roads now, we are doing the railways which was neglected and virtually killed and we are doing power which is one of the projects I’ve came here to commission today.

    “I assure you that if we get infrastructure correct; the roads, the railways and power… it all depends on who is in the government.

    “We have identified this and we are committing available resources to make sure we get the infrastructure right and we are doing as much as possible to secure the country so that we can properly manage it. I thank you for your commitment and I expect you to this time around, vote APC.”

    Oshiomhole, who could not hide his joy over the reception given to the campaign train, said that it was an indication that Abians have embraced the APC’s Change Mantra.

    He stressed that the Buhari government has done well in the southeast geo-political zone through some of the completed and ongoing developmental projects the APC government is doing in the zone.

    “I’m very happy at the testimonies I’ve heard today about what this administration has done in Igboland and Abia State in particular. You can bury the truth ten meters deep, but you cannot kill the truth”, Oshiomhole said.

    He went on: “The truth is that in this state, PDP has governed for 19 years just as they controlled the country for 16 years. In those 16 years, this part of the country that was most loyal and committed to voting PDP was abandoned and Federal dual carriage road in the zone was turned to a cassava farm.

    “No one could commute from Aba to Port Harcourt. Everything was destroyed under PDP. My message is simple, the beauty of Nigerian democracy is that if you elect by mistake, it cannot last for more than four years. The last mistake of 2015 must now be corrected in 2019.

    “What we need in leadership are men and women who can serve Nigeria as their constituency. The development literature of the Federal Government in South East is very clear. It’s not rocket science. The Ariaria International Market Power Plant is there for all to see. The basis for sustainable economy is to build durable infrastructure and President Buhari is ensuring that.”

    Uzor-Kalu lambasted the PDP-led administration in the state for what he described as total neglect of infrastructure in the state and none payment  salaries and  pensions which he said has left many people who served the state with all their hearts in perpetual poverty.

    Kalu who is the Senatorial candidate of APC for Abia North District also blasted former president Olusegun Obasanjo for his constant criticism of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “I always call the PDP administration in Abia State liars because in this state, they rumoured that I was dead and gone and I’m alive today to the glory of God. Again I call them liars because they always pay Abia civil servants on radio.

    “When I was governor, there was free education, our darling team Enyimba which was why I built this stadium became champions of Africa twice. In my days, workers and pensioners never begged for their monies.”

     

     

    “I heard a man called Olusegun Obasanjo attacking Mr. President and this man Obasanjo forgot that it was him that brought corruption to Nigeria as a president.

    “He was the first President who started thwarting democratic processes in Nigeria. My Problem with him was when he called me and some other persons to support his third tenure bid and I refused and urged others never to accept it. He turned himself into a dictator. How can someone compare Obasanjo and Buhari? Buhari wants the Judiciary to be perfectly independent.”

    The party’s governorship candidate, Dr. Uche Ogah, urged the President to disregard any information that there is another party in Abia capable of winning elections outside the APC. He declared Abia as an APC state.

    Ogah said: “Abia people have resolved to unanimously move to APC and there is no other party that can stop it. You’ll get our votes in Abia and the mistake of 2015 will never repeat. We shall be first in giving you votes. We’ve felt your love through numerous Federal Government projects here.

    “We’ve told our people that the mistakes of PDP will be corrected in Abia as we move into Government. Thank you for remembering our infrastructure in the South East. Our roads are now better and what else can we say that to appreciate and show you real love during the elections. Our people are tired of PDP.”

     

  • Drama as Melaye surrenders to Police

    AFTER eight days of a hide and seek game with the police, Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West) yesterday gave himself up in Abuja. And in a dramatic fashion too.

    The senator who apparently had locked himself up in his high brow Maitama, Abuja residence on sighting the police penultimate Friday, voluntarily threw the gate open for them yesterday to come in, and immediately fell down in front of the waiting police team.

    He looked exhausted and had to be helped into a car that took him, in a long convoy to the police headquarters.

    He had told The Cable by phone last week that he was out of town and that he would report to the police this week on returning from his trip.

    The Police were not convinced that he was not in the house.

    They vowed to keep surveillance there until he gave himself up which he did yesterday.

    Prior to his opening the gate for the police, several of his fellow federal lawmakers had driven down to the house to see and accompany him to the Force Headquarters to honour the police invitation.

    He was also helped out of the car at the police headquarters.

    At a point, some men put an inhaler to his mouth to help him breathe well.

    Sources attributed the fainting to possible asthma attack.

    Not wanting to leave anything to chance, the police took him to an undisclosed hospital for proper treatment.

    One of the sources said: “It is only someone who is alive that we can investigate. We need him to get well before we proceed with any investigation.”

    The police said in a statement last night that Melaye was responding well to treatment.

    In the statement, Police spokesman, Mr. Jimoh Moshood, said: “Senator Dino Melaye wanted by the Police for criminal conspiracy and attempted culpable homicide, committed on 19th July, 2018, when Senator Dino Melaye and his armed thugs attacked Police personnel, shot and wounded SGT Danjuma Saliu on stop and search duty along Aiyetoro Gbede, Mopa Road in Kogi State has surrendered to the Police Investigation Team on wait at his residence, today, 4th January, 2019 at about 1500hrs. “The Police Officer, Sgt. Danjuma Saliu, is yet to recover from the gunshot injury he sustained during the attack and still under intensive medical care in the hospital.

    “The Police Investigation Team had since 28th December, 2018 at about 1000hrs arrived the residence of Senator Dino Melaye with a duly obtained Warrant of Arrest to effect his arrest to answer to a case of Criminal Conspiracy and Attempted Culpable Homicide against him under investigation in the Kogi State Police Command. Senator Dino Melaye on sighting the Police Team locked up himself in the building to evade arrest. “The Warrant of Arrest was obtained after Senator Dino Melaye refused to honour Police invitation dated 23rd July, 2018, signed by the Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Police Command addressed to the Clerk, National Assembly, Abuja, inviting Senator Dino Melaye to report on 26th July, 2018 at 1100Hrs at the Kogi State Police Command, CIID, Lokoja to answer to a case of Criminal Conspiracy and Attempted Culpable Homicide against him under investigation in the Kogi State Police Command. “The Police Investigation Team cordoned off the building and continued to be in wait for eight days for Senator Dino Melaye to obey the law and surrender himself for arrest.

    “While the Police Investigation Team was waiting, Senator Dino Melaye granted an interview monitored on Television stations that he was not in Abuja. This claim eventually was discovered to be completely false as Senator Dino Melaye surrendered to the waiting Police Investigation Team today at his residence in Abuja at about 1500hrs.” The Police said Melaye was taken to Police hospital, Abuja for medical attention after his surrender and he was in stable condition. Moshood also revealed that investigation into the case of criminal conspiracy and attempted culpable homicide against him is ongoing adding that the case will be taken to court on completion of investigation.

    Melaye’s surrender came after a court rejected his bid to make the police vacate his residence. He believes the Kogi state government is behind his ordeal. Ina statement last week, Melaye alleged “a deliberate attempt by the Kogi state government to kill me, to destroy me.” He added: “I have written the inspector-general of police (IGP). My international passport is with the Nigerian police, I have a court order that it should be released to me but the IG has refused to honour the court order.

    “If the police that is supposed to maintain law and order cannot obey court order, how do they expect citizens to obey court orders? As I speak to you, my security detail has been withdrawn since April and it is all in a deliberate attempt to expose me, so that I will be killed and destroyed. “The same SARS from Kogi that shot at me are the same SARS in the photograph occupying my compound and 80 percent in mufti. I thought that recently that there was an instruction that SARS should wear uniform… I am in seven different courts and anyone that they will do will be number eight. I’m not afraid to be arraigned because my hands are clean and I know the God I serve will deliver me.”

  • Drama as NAPTIP busts underage sex workers

    Officials of National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), with help from the police, have raided a hotel in downtown Kubwa, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where underage girls were allegedly used as commercial sex workers. But the girls arrested are angry and eager to return to business. GRACE OBIKE reports

    Some things do not add up. Some information went out to the authorities that a brothel in Kubwa, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was a thriving centre for not just teenage prostitution but also child trafficking. The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) briefed its officers. The police were also informed, and together they mounted surveillance on the spot, watching the goings-on for a length of time. When they felt they had enough evidence, they swooped in, arresting some girls and patrons of the facility. They also sealed up the brothel, in accordance with the relevant laws.

    Now, you might think that the officers were on a salvage mission to rescue underage girls who were being exploited, but what the NAPTIP and police officers got was not what they expected.

    First, it looked as if they were rudely interfering in the girls’ private businesses, and that whatever the girls were up to was fine by them. They were angry at the visitors, and were making faces at them. Some of them were even overheard plotting how to beat the authorities by lying about their ages to create the impression that they were old enough to be responsible for their behaviour.

    Second, the girls did not betray any fears or shame. Some were saying they were not likely to be away for long, and will soon be back to take off where they left off.

    Prostitution, they say, is the oldest trade known to man. The FCT has its fair share of the trade. In Kubwa, a suburb of the FCT, Woman Boku, a hub of the flesh trade, is known by all.

    On September 27, NAPTIP said that they received intelligence report about a place being used for underage and exploitative prostitution. Intense surveillance was mounted by officers of the agency which led to the arrest of four suspects: Onyinyechi Osuoha, 32, Nkechi Chukwuma, 37, Sandra Chi, 32, and 27-year-old Favour James during the raid.

    NAPTIP in a joint operation with officers from the police busted the human trafficking gang and rescued 11 girls while four suspected human traffickers were also arrested. The hotel where the girls were harboured, Thales Guest House, is located at Pipeline Area in Kubwa, a suburb of Abuja.

    According to the agency, the raid was done in accordance with sections 43 and 52 of the Trafficking In Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015, which authorise NAPTIP to enter, search and seal up properties suspected to be used for human trafficking purposes.

    The agency said preliminary findings revealed that the suspects often lure the victims, who are underage girls, from various parts of the country with promises of employment in the Federal Capital Territory. However, upon their arrival at Abuja, they are put to work at the Guest House, serving the clients and thereafter introduced to prostitution, at the end of which the suspects collect the money paid to them.

    Director-General of NAPTIP, Dame Julie Okah-Donli, commended her officers for a smooth operation, while lauding the collaborative efforts of the Nigeria Police Force, which she described as a “true proof of strong partnership between the two law enforcement organisations, aimed at ridding the society of ills such as this”.

    She also sent a strong warning to operators of brothels who use underage girls as prostitutes to desist from such acts, as the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015 criminalises the sexual exploitation of minors, in any form.

    She further enjoined members of the public to report such establishments to NAPTIP, as they are not only immoral and an abuse of human rights, but also a criminal act that is punishable by law. Dame Julie Okah-Donli added that “young girls should either be in school or learn skills that will enable them be empowered as functional members of the society, not holed up in brothels to be sexually exploited by human traffickers”.

    But the girls who were rescued did not look excited about the rescue. Looking very angry as they were being taken away, the girls whispered among themselves, warning each other to inflate their ages and pretend to be older. Some confronted their mates who packed more luggage, saying, “Why you do pack plenty cloths, this arrest no pass two, three days, dem must release us and life continues.”

    One of the girls who gave her name as Emmanuelle Okoroji explained to The Nation that she came to Abuja on her own.

    “I came to Abuja on my own,” she said, “I am from Abia State and used to live in Aba. Before I left Aba in February this year, I was an SS2 student of Chinwe Unique Secondary School in Ohanku Road, Aba. I take care of myself and my family through my hustle, my father is dead, my mother is a cripple and I have four other siblings.”

    The second victim Favour James explained that she has finished her NCE and is prostituting to get enough money to return for her HND. She said, “I rounded up my ND at the Delta State polytechnic Uzoro in 2016, I came to Abuja in 2017 and am here to hustle for myself so that I can make enough money to return for my HND.”

    The girls who stared angrily at the officers that raided their place of business were taken away alongside some customers as NAPTIP sealed the establishment.

  • Drama: Mother, son jostle for Yobe federal constituency seat

    Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hajiya Khadija Ibrahim has defeated her step son, Mohammed Ibrahim to clinch the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for Damaturu/Gulani/Gujba/Tarmuwa, Yobe Federal Constituency.

    Hajia Ibrahim is the wife of former Yobe State governor, Senator Abba Bukar Ibrahim. She was a House of Representatives member before her appointment as a minister by President Ibrahim Buhari.

    Prof Abba Gambo, the returning officer, announced Hajia Ibrahim 1,295 votes to defeat Mohammed who scored only 15 votes.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that in spite of pressures mounted on Mohammed to step down for his father’s wife, he insisted on the contest.

    Two other contenders, House of Representatives member Abdullahi Kukuwa and Alhaji Ahmed Buba, stepped down for the minister while Mohammed refused.

    The minister commended Abdullahi and Ahmed for withdrawing from the race to support her.

    Senator Bukar Ibrahim, who stepped down his re-election bid against Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, did not attend any of the aspirants’ elections including the one contested by his wife and son.

  • Dance, drama light up Celebrate the Comforter in New York

    New York City was virtually lit up in white that day. Members of the Celestial Church of Christ Worldwide, clad in white, literarily brought down the roof with praise at the 2018 Celebrate the Comforter convention organised by Love of Christ Generation Church at the United Palace on Broadway, EVELYN OSAGIE reports.

    Children of God, will you shout Hallelujah… Shout Hallelujah…will you shout 10 times…,” began the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, as he called for love and unity in the church.

    He was one of the special guests at the 2018 Celebrate the Comforter convention. It was an over six-hour power-packed praise attended by former President Olusegun Obasanjo; the Chairman of Ovation Media Group, Bashorun Dele Momodu; and frontline artiste Jide Kosoko, among other dignitaries.

    It was a beautiful gathering of people – young and old – clad in stylish white robes of various fabrics and designs.

    There were music, drama and prayer ministrations, but people will not forget the thrilling songs that made them dance “like David danced”. The United Palace on Broadway, New York was virtually  lit up in white as thousands of worshippers from the two main denominations of the white garment movement, Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) Worldwide and Cherubim and Seraphim (C&S) Church Worldwide, came together in a unification service. The event was convened by Revd Mother Esther Ajayi, the General Overseer of Love of Christ Generation Church, London.

    The maiden edition was held at the Excel, London last year.

    Led by His Eminence, Prophet Adegboye Alao, Head of the C&S Worldwide and Pastor and Supreme Head of the CCC Worldwide, Rev. Emmanuel Mobiyina Oshoffa, the worshippers literarily brought the roof down with explosive praise and worship songs.

    The power-packed music ministrations were rendered by the 150-man mass choir, which comprised worshippers from C&S and CCC and notable artistes, such as Sinach, Sir Shina Peters, Lanre Teriba (Atorise), Evang. Olatunde Olomola (Baba Ara Jnr. of CCC), Lady Evang Bisi Alawiye, saxophonist Ayoide Mustapha, Bai Yewu, Esther, Muyiwa and Riversongz.

    The event was graced by church leaders from other denominations, such as Prophet Samuel Kayode Abiara of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC).

    At the event, men of God took turns to  pray for peace in Nigeria and the world.

    With the theme, Celebrate the Unity in the Holy Spirit, the essence of the celebration, according to the convener, was to bridge the gap in the body of Christ because other churches are always invited and carried along. She added that it was also to disabuse the minds of the people about white garment churches, especially “those who are hypocritical about us”.

    “The body of Christ is one, not divided” according to 1 Corinthians 12:1 to end. White garment churches are Bible believing churches and should not be discriminated against,” she said, while stating that the reason behind holding the first edition in the UK and the second edition in the United States was to ensure that the celebration of Christ got maximum world attention.

    “I am happy that our efforts to unite the Celestial Church of Christ and Cherubim and Seraphim Church have started yielding fruit. Both churches came together to proclaim the name of Jesus, evangelise, pray for peace,” Ajayi, who is also referred to as Iya-Adura, said.

    Overwhelmed with the turnout, Iya-Adura linked its success to prayer and fasting before the event, noting that the third edition would hold next year at the Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos.

    Word on the Comforter was delivered by her husband, Dr. Ademuyiwa Ajayi, while her daughter, Ola Ajayi, who is her personal assistant, was the director of programmes.

    “I have worked with some fascinating characters: from Hollywood royalty to real royalty; pop stars to politicians; presidents and prime ministers; sports heroes, superstar celebrities, captains of industry and everything in between. I have heard every sort of story, told by every type of person, but I can truly say that I have never heard a story like that of Esther Abimbola Ajayi, nor have I ever met anyone like her.

    She is embarking on a full-frontal assault on culture: releasing her book, CRAZY FAITH and much more,” said African American Pastor as he took Rev Ajayi into his Live network programme viewed across the globe.

    He added: “When you first meet Rev Esther, you are immediately struck by her energy; she has real swagger. Not in an arrogant, look-at-me kind of way, but with a self-confidence born out of a clarity of purpose and identity.  She bounds into the room like a ‘force of nature’, and her conversations are punctuated with “It is going to happen at some point!” and “God is in it.”

    Also, Comforter Bibles and other gifts were distributed to all attendees.

  • Drama over phone theft at RRS

    •Owner dialled number during interrogation

    A victim of traffic robbery has recovered  his stolen mobile phone from the police.

    Robert was fortunate to have dialled his number while policemen were interrogating the suspected robbers.

    Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) last week  arrested Tunde Raphael, 24, Samuel Kolawole (23) and Solomon Omini (32) for alleged traffic robbery.

    Drama ensued during the interrogation of the suspects in RRS Alausa Headquarter, Ikeja when a phone, Nokia Touch, allegedly owned by Kolawole, started ringing repeatedly.

    Kolawole was told to pick the call and put the phone on speaker. The caller, identified as Robert, claim the ownership of the phone, stressing that the phone was collected from him in Mile 2 by armed robbers.

    Kolawole claimed he bought the phone from a colleague with SIM card that morning for N1500.

    The phone was later handed over to Robert who reported at RRS office after calling.

    Raphael, who was arrested in Mile 2, explained how he and 19 other gang members, dispossessed motorists and commuters of their belongings on Mile 2 Bridge during traffic gridlock.

    He said the only job he had was dispossesing motorists and commuters of their belongings between 4am and 6:30a.m as well as in the night.

    He said he and his colleagues operated with toy guns, machetes, knives, hammers, rods and other weapons to dispossess commuters of phones, money, jewellery, laptops and other prized possessions.

    Police quoted him as saying: “It’s a job I have been doing now for more than a year. As soon as we approach a car, we tell the occupants to bring out their belongings. Some would cooperate with us and give us their phones and money. Some would wind up. I laugh at them because we would break that glass or use our prepared mixture chemicals to bring them down gently and we would take all that we want and leave the place.

    “We do this everyday base on the nature of the traffic. We target passers-by too. Those going to work or traders going to the market are our main target. If you are old on the job, you get good targets. I sold the phones I collect for between N3,000 and N4,000 daily.

    “Recently, we collected huge money from three occupants of a vehicle. I don’t know the precise amount. We were two, my colleague tried to abscond with the money, I chased him but he matcheted me in the head. I lost so much blood and went into a come. The cut was severe that three hospitals rejected me.”

    Raphael claimed he was  lured into the trade by the person he was assisting to sell Indian Hemp in Mile 2.

    Police spokesman, Chike Oti, a Chief Superintendent (CSP) said the suspects have been transferred to the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) for further investigations.

  • Drama as APC exco clears fetish objects from secretariat

    There was drama at the Ekiti State All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, as the Olajide Awe-led exco resumed office, two days after scores of party members invaded the place and shut it down.

    To facilitate their return, supporters of the Awe-led exco had removed a big pot of fetish objects and palm fronds placed at the gate prior to their arrival. The fetish objects were thrown to the road. They also smeared the ground with salt to ‘cleanse’ the place and neutralize the effect of the charms that had just been removed.

    Addressing a news conference shortly after regaining office, Awe said the rain that fell on the day the fetish objects were placed at the secretariat had “turned the evil on those who put it there”.

    Motorists and motorcyclists avoided the objects placed in the centre of the road.

    Following last weekend’s botched governorship primary, some party members had stormed the secretariat and declared the Awe-led exco. They also ‘installed’ a caretaker committee led by the APC Chairman in Ise/Orun Local Government, Mr. Kayode Egunjobi, to run the affairs of the party for three months.

    They accused Awe of collecting a bribe of N75 million from Governor Ayo Fayose, to bungle the May 5 primary. They also accused the party leadership of favouring a particular aspirant and embezzling party funds.

    Awe said the action of those who invaded the secretariat and ‘sacked’ the duly-elected exco constituted a breach of party constitution and gross indiscipline. He said he and his exco went to the APC National Secretariat in Abuja to brief the leaders at the centre on the crisis, adding that a Disciplinary Committee has been set up to investigate those directly and remotely linked with the ‘coup’.

    He said his exco also met with the Chairman of the Ekiti Governorship Primary Electoral Committee, Governor Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State on the modalities for the conduct of a fresh primary.

    In a related development, some leaders of the Ekiti APC have kicked against the use of direct primary for the conduct of the rescheduled primary slated for Friday.

    In a letter addressed to Al-Makura, dated May 9, a copy of which was made available to our reporter on Wednesday, they said the use of direct primary was against the principle of fairness and justice to change the rules in the middle of the game.

    The letter was also copied the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and the National Working Committee (NWC).