The Nation Newspaper

Tag: killing

  • Police parade man, 80, for allegedly killing mum, 100

    Police parade man, 80, for allegedly killing mum, 100

    •Grandson also paraded 

    An 80-year-old man, Kwacha Manu and his son, Likita, 40, have been paraded by Niger State Police Command for their alleged involvement in the death of their 100-year-old mother and grandmother, Inne Kaiyo.

    The incident occurred at Marke Gada Maje in Rijau Local Government.

    Manu allegedly killed his mother for purportedly killing Likita’s daughter, Magajiya, through witchcraft.

    The Nation learnt that following the death of Magajiya, 17, her grandfather, Manu, who could not bear the loss, allegedly used sticks to flog his mother to death.

    Sources alleged that Inne used witchcraft to kill people in her extended family.

    Magajiya is said to be the ninth person to die in “unnatural circumstances” in the family.

    Manu, who admitted to have flogged his mother, claimed he only flogged her on the legs, “which couldn’t have killed her.”

    He alleged: “After killing my granddaughter, I could not just let her go free. So I used a dry stick to cane her on the legs, asking her why she killed her great grandchild, who took care of me, unlike her, who did nothing for me.”

    Asked how they knew his mother was responsible for the girl’s death, Manu said: “We knew through my late granddaughter, Magajiya, when she was ill. She cried and begged her great grandmother, Inne, to release her soul. We all begged my mother to release her, but she refused. I’m aware that my mother was a witch.”

    Likita said he was not in the village when the incident occurred.

    His words: “I don’t know why the police arrested me. Besides losing my daughter, my two other children are ill. I’ve not even seen the body of my late child.”

    Police spokesman Abigail Unaeze said father and son were nabbed for homicide and had confessed.

    He added that they would soon be arraigned.

  • Killing Nigerians with semantics

    Killing Nigerians with semantics

    More than any other country, Nigeria lives true to the idiomatic expression, “The devil is in the detail”. Things are not always what they seem, nor do words in these parts mean exactly what many presume them to mean. Two recent very public examples typify this peculiarly Nigerian culture, a culture that distorts semantic, the meaning of words. In the first example, one that Nigerians can connect with, albeit bewilderingly, is the $5.5bn loan the federal government has indicated to the National Assembly it plans to take. Astounded by public outcry suggesting that the country’s debt profile was beginning to rise unmanageably to the crisis level it was before ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo extricated the country from it, the Finance minister, Kemi Adeosun, has explained that a part of the debt is actually not a debt. Great.

    She is testing not only the people’s knowledge of simple economics, she is trying their patience as well. Hear her: “Let me explain the $5.5 billion borrowing because there have been some misrepresentations in the media in the last few weeks. The first component of $2.5 billion represents new external borrowing provided for in the 2017 Appropriation Act to part finance the deficit in that budget. The borrowing will enable the country to bridge the gap in the 2017 Budget currently facing liquidity problem to finance some capital projects. For the second component, we are refinancing existing domestic debt with the $3 billion external borrowing. This is purely a portfolio restructuring activity that will not result in an increase in the public debt. What we are simply doing is moving that debt from owing naira to owing dollars, but because it’s an external borrowing, we have to go back to the National Assembly for approval. We are not actually asking for $5.5 billion of new money. It’s $2.5 billion, which is in the 2017 Budget. The $3 billion is to refinance the debt that we inherited.”

    The minister does not say the entire $5.5bn does not constitute borrowing, only that the country’s debt stock would not rise as a result of it. She thinks the misrepresentation in the media has to do with their conviction that the debt stock, on which the people are worryingly fixated, would rise to intolerable, unmanageable level. However, according to her, what will change is not the debt stock but the identity of the country’s creditors. A full $3bn of the loan would move from being naira-denominated to being dollar-denominated. The reason for this shuffling, according her, is that domestic debt carries a higher interest cost. In any case, Mrs Adeosun concluded, Nigeria’s debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is a healthy and even beguiling 17.8 percent compared with the United Kingdom’s 89.3 percent and Germany’s 68.3 percent.

    Regardless of the semantic of the debt, it is still a debt, whether portfolio restructured or not. And, by the way, do Nigerians not even prefer and have reconciled themselves with domestic debt than they have done with external debt of which they live in mortal dread? In all her explanations, Mrs Adesoun never stopped describing the $3bn as a loan, even if she muffles the horror the people felt about the remaining $2.5bn loan component. When she is through with her semantic flip-flop, and can successfully gloss over the $2.5bn component of the loan and glide over the $3bn portfolio restructured component, she should still attempt a further explanation to convince Nigerian nitwits why it was necessary in the first instance for Chief Obasanjo to help the country exit the Paris Club of creditors to national acclaim.

    The Finance minister is hopeful that the cognoscenti in the National Assembly, not given to the hysteria that befuddles the mob on the streets and the halfwits in the media, would do what is right and accent to the loan request. Perhaps they will, probably after arm-twisting the executive to part with a few concessions. But whether they do or not, whether the government gets its loan lollypops or not, it will not be the last time the Buhari presidency will hanker after loans. The government has a one-track mind that is seemingly fed by shortcuts, and it is in a hurry to deliver some tangible and impactful infrastructural projects before the next polls. Until it is forced to develop an original developmental paradigm, the Buhari presidency will not be deterred by what his enthusiastic aides consider as the unenlightened protestations of the people.

    Given its deftness for indulging in semantic boondoggles, it is not surprising, alleges Isa Misau, a senator from Bauchi,  that the same APC government, has become embroiled in another confusing terminological inexactitude in the donation of two vehicles by the police to the president’s wife’s convoy. While Mrs Buhari insists she still uses her own private vehicles, but without denying the existence of the ‘donations’, the police said the donations were to help transport the police security men attached to her convoy. The vehicles, alas, exist, and they are attached to the president’s wife’s entourage. So, where is the confusion? Ah, possibly in insinuations that she was the direct beneficiary. Well, this government works in mysterious ways.

    Had the president simply acknowledged the existence of the first lady office and allocated a fair amount of vehicles to her convoy for her safety and comfort, her security detail would not need to solicit for vehicle donations. But, of course, the times are a-changing now. Meanwhile, to cure everyone of the semantic fustian unleashed by the police, let the two jeeps be returned to the police. If the president cannot transport his wife’s security detail, let them walk.

  • Xenophobia : Zuma seeks end to killing of Nigerians

    Xenophobia : Zuma seeks end to killing of Nigerians

    •South African leader urges stronger ties with Nigeria

    South African President Jacob Zuma has condemned the xenophobic attack on Nigerians residing in South Africa.

    Zuma, who spoke in Owerri, the Imo State capital, during a two-day private visit, said: “A South African must not kill a Nigerian and a Nigerian must also not kill a South African.”

    He argued that the relationship between Nigeria and South Africa as the largest economies on the continent should be stronger than any other for the sake of the African sub region.

    He said: “Every country in Africa should unite as a people to fight for the common course of economic and political emancipation of Africa.”

    Zuma stressed that Africans are one people divided by colonial borders.

    According to him, “Africans must come together to address African problems. We are the same people. We cannot succeed if we handle problems as individuals. We need to recognise that we are one.”

    Zuma, who spoke after he was honoured with Imo Merit Award and after signing of MoU between his education foundation and Rochas Foundation, said: “Nigeria is a country among countries in the continent of Africa and globally. What Nigeria says you must note determines the lots of many.”

    He added: “I am an ordinary freedom fighter belonging to the African National Congress (ANC). But in 1994, I felt I have been part of those who have made oppressed people of South Africa to accomplish an important mission of liberating themselves. But political freedom without economic freedom is not enough freedom. That is why in our era, we have a government that will begin to make economic laws, because if the economic power is not there, there is very little you can do for the poor and the oppressed.”

    The South African president added that he was passionate about the school established by the governor and saw the children from all over Africa.

    Zuma emphasised that African continent needs more than political freedom to develop and be at par with other continents of the world.

    He noted that the gap in the development index between Africa and the West was created by the colonialists, who plundered the region’s resources.

    Decorating the visiting President with the Imo Merit Award, Okorocha stated: “This afternoon, I speak with mixed emotions for a great son of this land Africa, who has toiled and who has been directed by God all his life to get to the point where he is today. To some people, he’s a dogged fighter, to most people in South Africa, he is a freedom fighter and to me, one of the reasons I present this accolade is that he remains one of the most misunderstood persons in Africa.”

  • Driver in court for ‘killing’ septuagenarian

    The police in Lagos have arraigned a 27-year-old driver for alleged reckless driving, resulting in the death of a septuagenarian.

    The accused, Abuduljamin Jubril, is facing a two-count charge of reckless driving and causing death at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court

    The prosecutor, Godwin Awase, told the court that the accused drove a DAF diesel truck in a reckless manner and caused the death of a 72-year-old man, Mr. Rafiu Ajala.

    He said the accused committed the offences on September 24 at Kola bus stop on Lagos – Abeokuta Expressway.

    “The accused drove the vehicle on a highway without regard for other road users; he lost control and rammed into the victim, who wanted to board a bus.

    “The victim died on his way to hospital,” Awase said.

    He told the court that “the accused drove the vehicle without a driver’s licence.”

    The prosecutor said the offences contravened Section 20 of Road Traffic Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2012.

    The accused, who lives at Medile in Kano pleaded not guilty.

    The Magistrate, Mr. J.A Adigun, granted the accused N100,000 bail with two sureties.

    He adjourned the case till October 23 for mention

  • NCRIB President: Insurance penalties, fines killing

    NCRIB President: Insurance penalties, fines killing

    •Bows out next week

    The flurry of penalties and fines being levied on brokers two years ago was killing and disincentive to our business, outgoing President of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), Kayode Okunoren, has said.

    Okunoren made this known during his Valedictory Press briefing at the NCRIB House, Yaba, Lagos.

    He said the Council, under his tenure, was able to seek concession for members with the regulatory authorities, especially NAICOM and the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) through constructive dialogue.

    He said they have surmounted almost all the obstacles and further positioned the Council on a pedestal of greater respect and reckoning in the comity of other professionals in Nigeria.

    He said: “Although it was not a bed of roses, yet the Council recorded some modest feats in the last two years. We were able to also add value to members. It is a pride for any member to belong to the NCRIB, because of the added value members are getting from the Council. Through this value addition we have been able to douse the negative views and a flurry of ill feelings that were the lot of many members about two years ago. We have given value in terms of training and information sharing, leading to facilitation of business through public bids.

    “We have further the frontiers of relationships with international insurance bodies, especially BIBA and the African Insurance Forum (AIF) with the consequential benefits in form of better training and exposure for members. We have realized that for the industry to continue to be relevant, its members must continually learn and unlearn and have the required exposure to deliver value to their clients.

    “Our image has also been boosted  with our corporate visibility project during the period. We realized the need to inch up the image of brokers and pull down several noxious beliefs about their practice. Today, the corporate visibility project has been warmly received by all members and through it the corporate reputation of the Council and its members have been improved significantly”, he added.

  • Buhari’s aide: corruption, inefficiency killing judiciary

    Buhari’s aide: corruption, inefficiency killing judiciary

    A case filed at the Supreme Court 10 years ago is yet to be assigned a date for hearing, a presidential aide said yesterday.

    The Special Assistant to the President on Prosecutions, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, who filed the case, believes the delay is dues to corruption and inefficiency.

    Obono-Obla said lawyers and litigants “pay through their noses” to have cases assigned or court papers served.

    The judiciary, he said, is averse to reform and should learn from the Kenyan example, where every stakeholder worked towards an efficient justice system.

    Obono-Obla, in a statement, said: “Why is the judicial system in Nigeria adverse to change? Look at Kenya and how it has reformed its own system.

    “See how effective and efficient the judiciary in Kenya is. See how audacious, bold, courageous and fearless judges in Kenya are.

    “See how an election petition was heard with dispatch, just three weeks after it was filed!  See how lawyers work together with the bench to deliver a landmark judgment.

    “In Nigeria, lawyers would devise all manners of legal maneuverings steeped in crass legal technicalities to frustrate justice. The judgment would be leaked several weeks before delivery.” According to him, the appellate courts are chaotic and have refused to adopt technology despite increased funding.

    “Before I was given an appointment while in law practice, I have appeals I have filed in the Court of Appeal for the past six years but till now, have not been heard. I also have several appeals I filed in the Supreme Court since 2007 and  till now, no date have been given for hearing of these appeals!

    ”To obtain a court ruling, you must pay through your nose; to obtain a certified true copy of judgment, you must pay through nose; to cause a court bailiff to serve a court process, you must pay through your nose.

    “To get a case to be assigned after filing, you must pay through your nose! Even in the Supreme Court to get an appeal to be assigned for hearing, you must pay through your nose.

    ”The registries in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court are a study in chaos, disorderliness and confusion. They have refused to embrace Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to organise their registry in line with international best practices,” he said.

    Obono-Obla  said judges hate progressive and forwarding lawyers, who do not parley with them to institutionalise corruption.

    He said the Kenyan judiciary was notorious for corruption and underhand dealings but was reformed with the cooperation of stakeholders.

    He said efforts to reform the judiciary had been frustrated by judges and lawyers.

    “The judicial system is just not working! Looking at how judges are frustrating trial of corrupt politicians despite the provisions of Administrations of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 (ACJA.) Section 396 (3) say matters must be heard day-to-day but judges are not enforcing it.

    “This government increased the budgetary allocation of the judiciary for the first time in 50 years, yet no reciprocation on the part of judges to reform the system! They are not interested! Otherwise, why would the judiciary allow it registry system to still remain the way it was one hundred years ago?

    “Why is it not possible to get a ruling or judgment as soon it is delivered? Why can’t we use ICT in filing of court processes? Why are appeals delayed in the Court of Appeal? The Court of Appeal is just a court of review; no evidence is adduced at that stage, so what is responsible for the delay?” Obono-Obla said.

    He also faulted judges’ appointment, saying it was not based on merit.

    “The appointment of judges is a lesson or study in corruption and nepotism! To be eligible to be appointed a judge, you must be well-connected; you must be a crony or lackey of a senior judicial officer or a relative or son or daughter of a senior judicial officer!

    “You must be seen to be a plaint or conformist or yes man! You must be ready to hobnob or kowtow to influential senior lawyers!

    “No wonder the recent survey carried out by the UNODC and National Bureau on Statistics named the judiciary and the police as the most corrupt public institutions in Nigeria,” Obono-Obla said.

  • Three remanded for ‘killing don’ in Rivers

    A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has ordered the remand in prison custody of three persons for allegedly kidnapping and killing a lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Dr. Eeba Lebarile.

    The suspects are: Christopher Kinanee, the deceased’s gateman, 41; Lebari Robert Tambari, ex-police officer, who was the victim’s cousin, 48; and Ibrahim Useni, a foreigner from the Republic of Benin, 27.

    The suspects were arrested between December 2015 and early this month.

    Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris, through his Special Monitoring Unit in the state, led by Ben Igwe, a deputy commissioner of police, investigated the killing.

    Two other Benin Republic nationals allegedly involved in the crime are at large.

    The IGP charged the suspects with conspiracy, kidnapping and murder.

    The police lawyer, who is prosecuting for the IGP, Mr. Okon Monday Umana, told the court the suspects committed an offence punishable under sections 324,319(1), 516(1) of the Criminal Code Cap 37, Volume 2, Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999 and sections, 1(1) (2)(a) of Rivers State kidnap (prohibitions) amendment law No.5 of 2015.

    The Chief Magistrate, Andrew Jaja, ordered that the charge be read out to them, but they were not allowed to take plea.

    He said the court lacked power to entertain the charge, being a capital offence punishable with maximum sentence.

    Jaja ordered that the original case file be duplicated and handed over to the court registrar, to forward same to the Office of the State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

    He adjourned the case till September 28 for report of DPP advice.

    Dr. Lebari of the Department of Management, Faculty of Management Sciences, University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), was reportedly kidnapped from his Mercyland Estate home on East West Road, in Obio/Akpor Local Government, on October 17, 2015.

    His abductors allegedly called his younger brother, who is overseas, to demand N1.5 million ransom.

    The decayed body of the victim was recovered from a shallow grave in his house.

    The first accused (guard, who allegedly sold the victim’s galaxy phone, showed the police where the deceased was buried.

    Investigations are on to unravel the mystery behind his kidnap and death.

  • Police arrest four for ‘killing’ farmer in Ondo

    Police arrest four for ‘killing’ farmer in Ondo

    The Ondo State Police Command yesterday said it arrested four suspects over the recent killings by suspected Fulani herdsmen in the state.

    The suspects are said to be Fulani herdsmen.

    It gave their names as: Ibrahim Yusuff (19), Soja (20) Halti (20) and Musa (25).

    Police spokesman Femi Joseph, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said another suspect, identified simply as Dere, is on the run.

    Joseph said the command was on his trail.

    Their arrest followed the alleged killing of Omowole Orimisan by suspected Fulani herdsmen on his farm at Ore in Odigbo Local Government Area.

    Joseph said the wife of the deceased, Mrs Abiodun Orimisan, reported the killing of her husband last weekend.

    It was learnt that the suspects allegedly attacked Orimisan on his farm after he “challenged” them for destroying his farm.

    He was allegedly killed during the argument with the herdsmen.

    The residents were said to have protested the killing with a threat to take laws into their hands if incessant killing of farmers in the area did not stop.

    Joseph said the command immediately started investigation into the killing and arrested the four suspects promptly.

    He assured the residents that the suspects will be prosecuted as soon as investigation was concluded, adding that the police would arrest other suspects in the killing.

    The leader of Ikale in Ore town, Chief Owoleye Obilana said the excesses of herdsmen in the community needed to be addressed.

    He urged the government and security agents to be up to the task.

     

     

  • APC condemns Anambra Church Killings

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) commiserated with the Catholic Church in Nigeria, the government and people of Anambra State over the attack on St. Phillips Catholic Church in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, which led to the death of scores of worshipers.

     The party in a statement condemned the barbarism displayed by the callous attackers who gunned down defenceless people while they worshiped.

     It called on security agencies to ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are promptly apprehended and brought to justice.

     The Party also called on security agents in Anambra as well as other parts of the country to provide adequate security in places of worship to forestall a repeat of this unfortunate incident.

  • Ritual killing of girl in Bayelsa hotel sparks violence

    Ritual killing of girl in Bayelsa hotel sparks violence

    Youths from Biogbolo Epie, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, went berserk Monday following gruesome murder of a young girl identified as Faith in De New Wapo Hotel located in their area.

    It was gathered that tension caused by the activities of the group of aggrieved indigenes forced traders to close their business premises on the affected street and other adjoining streets of Ebis and Green Villa.

    The angry protesters, who were reportedly carrying weapons, chased suspected non-indigenes and vowed to avenge the killing of their kinswoman.

    It was, however, learnt that a detachment of the policemen was sent to the area by the Commissioner of Police, Asuquo Amba to maintain the peace.

    It was gathered that the suspect identified as a former tenant to the victim’s father, lured the girl into his hotel room on Friday.

    There were, however, different versions of what transpired in the hotel room where the suspect inflicted injuries on the victim.

    One of the narrative said on getting to the room, the deceased girl resisted all the attempts by the fleeing man to have sex with her.

    Provoked by the girl’s behaviour, the suspect reportedly went violent, stabbed the victim three times on her chest and fled.

    But another account said the suspect died Monday, two days after she was attacked by the suspect.

    According to the version, the suspect drugged his victim and cut off her breasts in a desperate attempt to use her for ritual.

    It was, however, learnt that a police van took the victim to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), where she died on Monday morning.

    “The victim lived around the area. Her killing sparked protest by indigenes who carried various weapons. They attacked one guy and chased a lot of people on sight. The whole Green Villa street was closed down”, a source who spoke in confidence said.

    Confirming the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Asuquo Amba, warned people against taking laws into their own hands.

    He said the police had interrogated eyewitnesses adding that efforts were being made to arrest the fleeing suspect.

    He further confirmed that the victim died Monday explaining that the incident was initially handled by the police as assault occasioned by harm.

    He said: “Initially it was treated purely as a case of assault occasioned by harm but now that the girl has died we are now treating a case of murder against one suspect.

    “Though the suspect name sounds as if it is from one area, people should not take laws into their own hands because we don’t know who he is.

    “We have definite picture of the suspect, eyewitness’s account in the hotel that have given us a strong clue.

    “We are in the process of ensuring that the suspect is arrested because after committing the crime he ran away. I know some people are associating to ritual purposes but we cannot conclude”.