Alleged Taraba state kidnap kingpin, Hamisu Bala popularly known as Wadume, has been reportedly re-arrested and taken to the Louis Edet House Force headquarters in Abuja.
Tag: Nigeria newspaper
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#RevolutionNow: Court refuses to release Sowore
A Federal High Court in Lagos has declined to order the release of SaharaReporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore and other persons in connection with the August 5, #RevolutionNow protest.
Vacation judge, Justice Nicholas Oweibo, said he needed to first hear from the Federal Government, Department of State Services (DSS) and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).
He ordered the DSS and IGP to appear before him on September 4 to show cause why Sowore and other protesters in detention should not be immediately released.
The judge also ordered Lagos-based lawyer, Mr Olukoya Ogungbeje, who filed the ex-parte application seeking the detainees’ release, to put the IGP and DSS on notice.
Ogungbeje, who said he participated in the #RevolutionNow protest but was not arrested, filed the application on behalf of himself and other participants.
He prayed the court to declare as “unconstitutional and illegal police clampdown of the protesters and the arrest of Sowore by the DSS.”
Read Also: NLC to govt: release Sowore, others
He also sought an order for the immediate and unconditional release of those arrested and detained.
Joined as respondents in the application were the Federal Government, the DSS and the IG.
Giving reasons why the arrested persons should be immediately and unconditionally released, Ogungbeje said, “There has been a grave constitutional infraction committed by the respondents against the applicant and other persons who engaged in the peaceful protest for good governance in Nigeria.”
The lawyer said he was deprived of his constitutionally guaranteed right to peaceful assembly and association and the right to freedom of expression.
“On the 3rd of August, 2019, the convener of the protest, Mr Omoyele Sowore’s residence was forcefully invaded and put under siege; he was arrested, whisked away and detained in the detention facility of the 2nd respondent (DSS).
“Mr Omoyele Sowore has not committed any offence known to law to warrant the infringement and likely infringement of rights by the respondents.
“By engaging in the peaceful protest, the applicant and other persons have not committed any offence known to law to warrant the treatment meted out to them by the respondents and their agents,” Ogungbeje said.
He urged the court to order the immediate release of those arrested and detained.
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Wadume’s re-arrest will clear doubts, apprehension- DHQ
The Defence Headquarters has assured that the Joint Investigative Panel probing into the killings of three police detectives and a civilian in Taraba during the escape of suspected kidnap kingpin Hamisu Bala popularly known as Wadume, would ensure that justice is served on all parties involved in the matter.
Reacting to the re-arrest of Wadume in Kano by police detectives, a top military source said the re-arrest of Wadume would clear all doubts, apprehensions and the perceptions that have been created around the case.
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: ” I can tell you that the Joint Panel constituted by the Defence Headquarters would do a thorough job regarding this case. There is no cause for apprehension any more.
Read Also: How we re-arrested billionaire kidnap kingpin Wadume- Police
“I don’t want to pre-empt the work of the Panel, but I can assure you that justice will be served to all parties involved in this matter. I have confidence that the Panel will unearth the truth and clear doubts of everyone”.
However, the Nigerian Army as at the time of filing this report was yet to re-act to the re-arrest of Wadume by police detectives in Kano.
Army Spokesman Col. Sagir Musa could not be reached as sources within the Army Headquarters confirmed that he is currently out of the country.
The source added that the Army would not like to put spanners in the work of the Joint Investigative Panel by way of commenting on issues that are already before the panel.
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We only raided Ambode’s ex-Chief of staff house – Magu
The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Magu has denied that the commission raided the residence of immediate past Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode.
According to him, the ex-governor’s Chief of Staff (CoS), Olukunle Ojo was the target.
He spoke with State House correspondents during the presidential retreat for ministers-designate, permanent secretaries and other top government officials at the presidential villa, Abuja.
Read Also: We didn’t raid, only investigating Ambode – EFCC
He said that Ambode’s house was not raided contrary to media reports.
Magu, who declined more comments on the issue, said that the raid was at the premises of Ojo and not Ambode’s.
Some media reports had claimed that ex-Governor Ambode’s house in Epe was raided by the EFCC amidst protest by some residents of the area.
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Flood kills six in Jigawa
NO fewer than six people have been confirmed dead in Kirikasamma and Kafinhausa local government areas in Jigawa state and about 1000 families displaced, by a flood disaster as a result of heavy downpour on Monday.
Reports from the state indicated that hundreds of the flood victims were taking refuge in schools while several squatting with their relatives in the affected local government areas of the state.
Confirming the incident the Executive Secretary of the Jigawa state emergency management agency Alhaji Sani Yusif said “Kirikasamma, Kafin Hausa, Guri, and Kaugama, Miga, Dutse and Birninkudu local government areas where affected.
According to him, “a pregnant woman Halima Manu and two of her children, a four-year-old Aisha Manu and a two-year-old Dauda Manu were killed after their mud house collapsed on them”.
Read Also; Flood destroys 12,000 hectares of farmlands in Jigawa
Alhaji Sani Yusif added that a couple in Madici village of Kirikasamma local government were also killed, while in Kafin Hausa local government another couple was affected although the husband is responding to treatment while the bride died.
Meanwhile, in Waza village of Birninkudu local government a Bridge has collapsed and thousands of hectres of farmland destroyed by the flood.
The state deputy governor, Alhaji Umar Namadi had paid them a condolence visit and promised government’s prompt action
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Soldiers aided my escape, says Wadume
Suspected billionaire kidnap kingpin Hamisu Bala popularly known as Wadume has confessed that soldiers aided his escape on August 6 after he was arrested by police detectives.
Two of the detectives attached to the special anti-kidnap squad of the Inspector General of Police and a civilian were killed when soldiers opened fire on them.
The development sparked a public row between the Police and Soldiers with Nigerians completely appalled.
Wadume, who has since been re-arrested by police detectives in hideout in Kano, confessed in a video obtained by the Nation during interrogation that soldiers assisted him to escape.
In the 41-second video, Wadume, who spoke in Hausa, said : “I am Hamisu Bala also known as Wadume. The police came to Ibi and arrested me.
“After arresting me, they were taking away when soldiers went after them and opened fire and some policemen were killed.
“From there the soldiers took me to their headquarters and cut off the handcuffs on my hands and I ran away.
“Since I ran away, I have been hiding until now that the police arrested me.”
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Exclusive video: How I was rearrested, by suspected kidnap kingpin Wadume
Suspected Taraba state kidnap kingpin, Hamisu Bala popularly known as Wadume, has been reportedly re-arrested and taken to the Louis Edet House Force headquarters in Abuja.
“I am Hamisu Bala also known as Wadume. The police came to Ibi and arrested me.
“After arresting me, they were taking away when soldiers went after them and opened fire and some policemen were killed.
“From there the soldiers took me to their headquarters and cut off the handcuffs on my hands and I ran away.
“Since I ran away, I have been hiding until now that the police arrested me.”
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BREAKING: Suspected kidnap kingpin Wadume rearrested
Suspected Taraba state kidnap kingpin, Hamisu Bala popularly known as Wadume, has been reportedly re-arrested and taken to the Louis Edet House Force headquarters in Abuja.
Police spokesman Frank Mba is yet to respond to inquiries on the matter but there are indications that police may issue official statement in the next few hours on the breakthrough.
Wadume’s escape after an attack on his police captors by soldiers and a village mob along Ibi-Wukari road in Taraba state on August 6 sparked off massive public reactions and led to the constitution of a special investigative panel.
Read Also; Taraba Killings: Arrest of Wadume key to investigations – DHQ
The investigation panel, which is working with presidential authority, was initially scheduled to conclude its findings last week but was given two additional weeks.
Details shortly…
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Video: Protesters fume over EFCC’s ‘raid’ of Ambode’s Epe residence
Residents of Epe on Tuesday protested at the gate of the house of former governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode.
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the early hours of Tuesday were at the residence of the ex-governor.
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Traders recount losses after scavengers, miscreants clash in Lagos market
Traders at Ile Epo market in Alimoso area of Lagos State are lamenting their grief after losing goods worth millions of Naira in Sunday’s scavengers, miscreants clash in the market.
The clash which lasted for about four hours left four persons injured, makeshift structures destroyed and goods worth millions of Naira damaged.
Although normality has been restored to the area, traders went after their business and a police van was cited in the market, many of the traders were yet to get over their losses.
A yam seller, who simply identified himself as Musa, said he lost yam costing N150, 000. He said many other yam sellers also lost their yam in large quantities.
“I got to the market and began business as usual on Sunday; I don’t know what caused the fight, we all ran to different directions when the fight began and by the time I came back here, my yam was gone; I don’t understand what happened to my market.”
He noted that both Yoruba and Hausa lost their goods which will worth millions of naira.”
He begged government to help them restart their business, saying he does not know where to start from.
A trader in soap, detergents and provisions, who pleaded not to be named, said the suffering was too much. She said she lost her goods worth thousands of naira to what she knew nothing about.
“We are suffering in this market and the fight is too much. My goods were destroyed over what I knew nothing about and I was not involved, this is not fair.”
She said she just collected cooperative money to begin business again. “I saw all my soaps, detergents and provisions damaged on the floor on Sunday, I was helpless and there was nothing I could do, so also were other traders like me.”
She begged government to help them ensure peace in the market, saying they now do business in the market with fear because the fights are too much and it can happen again anytime.
“The Hausa people used to fight here before the Sunday’s fight but the Yoruba decided to retaliate to the fight on Sunday. These Hausa people will beat we Yoruba’s badly because we cannot fight. Government should please help and deliver us from them,” she said.
Another trader, Ekundayo Lateef, who sells rice and beans in the market with his mother said he could not leave his goods because they belong to his mother. He said many goods including pepper, onions, provisions, yam, gari and soaps were destroyed in the fight.
Read Also: Fire destroys 32 stalls, generators, clothes at Gatankowa market
“We lost millions of naira in this market, I don’t know what caused the fight but I saw boys turning everybody’s goods upside down and they were matching on the goods. They also destroyed about three commercial buses and a tricycle.”
He begged government to intervene and ensure peace is fully restored in the market always, saying that the fight which was between Yoruba and Hausa people in the market can resurface anytime.
“These Hausa people fear nobody, not even the police, they can start the fight again at any day and time, and we beg government to please do the needful to help us ensure peace in this market always,” he said.
A resident in the area, Ekunday Onilude, urged government as well as the market leaders to intensify efforts to avoid further reoccurrence of clash in the market.
He called for stand by security in the market, saying government is making money from the market.
He explained that there are some boys in the market who have illegal structures on a big refuse dump in the market, popularly called Oribola (in between Gotangowa and IIe Epo market), saying government should make sure there are no illegal structures in the market.
“Most of those guys come from the North as soon as there is arrival of goods; they stay and sleep in the market, they cannot be traced, they belong to no association or union, nobody can talk to them, nobody can access them and they have no regard for anybody. Something has to be done about Oribola,” he said.