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Tag: Nigeria

  • One dies as Police, cultists clash in Delta

    A yet- to -be identified man has reportedly died in a gun duel between policemen and suspected cultists at Express Junction in Udu council area of Delta state.

    The incident occurred on Tuesday evening.

    It was gathered that Policemen from Ovwian/Aladja Division had gone to the area to put an end to a clash among rival cult groups.

    However, a suspected cultists from one of the groups allegedly opened fire on the team of uniformed security men, leading to an exchange of bullets.

    Read Also: Police arraign lawyer for threatening to kill Kashamu

    It was learnt that one of the suspects was gunned down by the Police while others fled the scene.

    Delta Commissioner of Police, Mr Adeyinka Adeleke, confirmed the development.

    He said: “Cultists clashed with Police and one was shot dead. The person is a cultist.”

    Udu council boss, Hon. Jite Brown, had only last week announced the imposition of a dusk to dawn curfew due to the incessant criminal activities threatening the peace and security in parts of the local government area.

  • Police exonerate reps member of rape allegation

    The Imo State Police Command on exonerated a member of the House of Representatives representing Ohaji/Egbema Oguta and Oru West Federal Constituency, Hon. Uju Kingsley Chima of the rape allegation levelled against him by one Mrs. Nkeiruka Cynthia Kamalu.

    The Command dismissed Kamalu’s allegations against Hon. Uju as false and baseless.

    It stated this in a statement signed by Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Orlando Ikeokwu, which was obtained by The Nation.

    The statement reads: “The attention of the command has been drawn to the news making the rounds in some media, dailies and other social platform in which one Nkeiruka Cynthia Kamalu claimed that she was raped by one Hon. Uju Kingsley Chima and as such claimed she was unlawfully arrested, tortured and detained.

    “The command wish to state that on 6/5/2019 the command received a report of a case of advanced fee fraud, conspiracy, child trafficking, forgery and threat to life against one Nkeiru Cynthia Kamalu ‘f’ 40 years of Plot 4, Ademola Close By Ire-Akari Estate, Ago, Lagos State.

    Read Also; ‘Lawmaker raped me, promised to give me N20m if my husband divorced me’

    “The command arrested two suspects namely -(1) Nkeiruka Cynthia Kamalu ’f’ and (ii) Emeka Muoneka ’m’. Both of the suspects made confessional statements as to the offence committed. For the purpose of clarity, the said Nkeiruka Cynthia Kamalu ’f’ called Hon. Kingsley Uju Chima claiming to be pregnant for him and as such blackmailed him into sending her various sums of money. She later claimed to have given birth to twins and one died of which she sent him picture of a baby boy.

    However, in the course of the investigation, the following were discovered.

    “That she was never in Canada as she claimed.

    “That she forged Canadian visa which she snapped and sent to Hon. Kingsley Uju Chima to trick him into sending money.

    “That Emeka Muoneka ‘m’ took her to Nnewi in Anambra State where she bought a three-day old baby boy at the sum of N1,800,000.

    “That she installed a software in her phone in which she used to call Hon. Kingsley Uju Chia, to ensure that a foreign number appears whenever she calls.

    “That both Nkeiruka Cynthia Kamalu and Emeka Muoneka led operatives to Nnewi, Anambra State where they bought a three-day old baby, for the purpose of deceiving Hon. Kingsley Uju Chima and blackmail him into sending money to her.

    In view of the above findings, the command said she was charged to court for the offence, adding that there was no time she was victimized, torturer detained.

    Read Also: One dies as Police, cultists clash in Delta

    The command therefore urged members of the public to discharge the allegations as “they are false and baseless.”

    On September 11, 2019, Kamalu, a businesswoman, filed a fundamental rights suit marked FHC/L/CS/1458/19 alleging “intimidation, mounting surveillance and or illegal oral invitation threat of life and annihilation of property,” against the lawmaker.

    She alleged that she was raped by Chima, on August 9, 2015, while she was married to a United States-based doctor.

    “I lodged the case first at New Owerri Police Station wherein he influenced it and I wrote a Petition to the Inspector-General of Police, Force State Quarters, Abuja. The petition was assigned to Zone 9 Police Command, Umuahia, Abia State.

    According to her, the police persuaded her to settle with the lawmaker and soon after, they resumed an incestuous relationship

    Mrs Kamalu claimed that afterwards, the lawmaker offered to pay her N20 million if she was divorced by her husband, Mr Gabriel Igbibi. Her husband subsequently left her and her new resumed relationship also failed, she said.

    She further alleged that the lawmaker caused her to be arrested in Lagos on 27th day of May, 2019 by SARS and that she was tortured and detained for seven days, after which she was arraigned on a fictitious N40 million theft charge.

  • Kogi gov poll: PDP will struggle to get 25 percent votes – Adeyemi

    The Director-General of the Governorship Campaign Committee of the All Progressives Congress in Kogi State, Sen. Smart Adeyemi has declared the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) will struggle to secure 25 per cent votes in the November poll.

    He said PDP has no candidate yet since its governorship primaries is still being disputed in court.

    He also said more than 15,000 defectors from PDP and other parties will be received by the APC in Kogi State in the next few days.

    Adeyemi, who gave insights into the preparation for the poll, said even if PDP’s candidate, Engr. Musa Wada survives the court hurdles against him, he cannot defeat the incumbent Governor Yahaya Bello of the APC.

    Adeyemi said: “PDP cannot defeat APC in the forthcoming governorship poll in Kogi State. The main opposition party in the state will strive to secure 25 per cent of the votes.

    “In any case, PDP has no candidate because about 35 leaders of PDP are in court to seek the nullification of the results of their party’s governorship primaries. Even ex-Governor Ibrahim Idris who should be the backbone of the party’s campaign has rejected any offer from the party.

    “PDP is in disarray in Kogi State, it is too weak to win the governorship poll. But we are interested in PDP resolving its dispute to enable Governor Yahaya Bello to win in a free and fair poll.

    Read Also; Kogi NPC Chairman resigns

    “APC wants a candidate to compete with at the poll. We are fully on ground, it will be difficult for PDP to defeat APC candidate, Governor Yahaya Bello.

    Adeyemi said although more than 15,000 defectors from PDP and other parties will defect to APC in the next few days, the party will not make any commitment to anybody.

    “As the election is fast approaching, APC is receiving more defectors on daily basis. We are not going to make personal commitment to any defector. We will not promise anyone slots of being a commissioner or Special Adviser or other personal gains.

    “We will accept people to join our party on the basis of vision, needs and aspirations of the masses. We want those who are committed to the ideals of the APC.”

    Meanwhile, the APC has appointed three Deputy Directors-General for its campaign committee.

    They are Hon. Haruna Isa(Kogi West District); Hon. Abubakar S. Adagu Danguruma(Kogi Central District); and Hon. Idoko Musa Haruna(Kogi East District).

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed Kogi governorship poll for November 16.

    Although 22 candidates are jostling for the governorship seat the battle appears to be between APC candidate and his opponent in PDP.

  • El-Rufai’s son public school enrolment, deceptive game for 2023 – Shehu Sani

    Senator who represented Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the eight National Assembly, Shehu Sani has reacted to the action of the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who recently took his six-year-old son Abubakar to a public school for his primary education.

    Sani said the governor’s intention was to deceive people outside the locality who may not know the level of decay in public schools in the State saying, it was designed to score political goals ahead of 2023 political dispensation.

    He, however, described the move as a badly written Kennywood or Nollywood script, designed for the media preparatory for 2023.

    Addressing newsmen in Kaduna, he said, the governor’s action, “was simply a 2023 political stunt set up for the media and people who reside outside Kaduna because those who reside here know what public primary school look like in the state.

    According to him, “It is not because I have a political difference with him, no, but whoever lives in Kaduna State knew that what the governor did with his son been enrolled into public school was just a comedy.

    “Though, it was a badly written Kennywood or Nollywood script, but as far as am concerned that was a bad and poorly written script for the media preparatory for 2023 and nothing else.

    “He would have done better by upgrading schools in Kaduna. You cannot spend N195M in a particular school and then take your son and the media to that school and think you have done anything different.

    Read Also; El-Rufai enrols son in public primary school

    “Let me tell you, we had a governor in this state, Balarabe Musa who has never lived in the government house during his reign and all the while he was a governor he lived in his private house and I also know that the children of former governor Ahmed Makarfi attended this same Capital School.

    “I also know that other public officials’ children go to that school too. So if you are not been cony, deceptive and comical, you would have allowed all your children to enrol into public schools. Public school doesn’t mean primary schools alone, there are public secondary schools and public universities.

    “He is not new in this kind of drama. It was the same person who was moving around Kaduna-Abuja road with cameras that he was chasing kidnappers. So, this is a new script but as far as am concerned, that is comedy sinnce we are in an era in this state of using public utilities, public hospitals and now public schools.

    “So it is also in order that public officials, both elected and appointed should also patronise public toilets in Kaduna. That is the highest form of patriotism and selfless service. You should use what the masses are using which is public toilets.” He said.

  • FRSC debunks report of fresh recruitment

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has dismissed as unfounded reports making the rounds that it has commenced fresh recruitment and replacement.

    A statement signed by Corps Public Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem, the Corps had recently concluded the training and redeployment of all commissioned Staff.

    According to the FRSC spokesperson, “the attention of the Federal Road Safety Corps has been drawn to a link circulated online that the Corps is carrying out another recruitment and replacement exercise, this is totally false.

    “The Corps had recently concluded training of its personnel who have been commissioned as fulltime staff and deployed to various formations across the states of the Federation, including FCT”.

    Read Also: Accidents: FRSC urges states to establish traffic management agencies

    The statement added that, “by this disclaimer, the general public have been warned to desist from patronising these online fraudsters who are bent on duping unsuspecting members of the public.

    “Members of the public will be duly informed immediately the Corps commences recruitment into its services through appropriate media platforms including its social media handles”.

  • BREAKING: Sowore sets to be released, meets bail condition

    Convener of #RevolutionNow protest Omoyele Sowore may be released from the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS) any moment from now.

    His lawyer, Femi Falana, has been spotted at the headquarters of the DSS in Abuja to effect the release.

    A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday ordered his release, directing the publisher of Sahara Reporters to deposit his passport at the court’s registry.

    Read Also; Court orders DSS to release Sowore to Falana

    “I am currently at their headquarters. Having complied with the condition given by the court, I am here for Sowore’s release,” Falana told Punch correspondent on the telephone at about 4pm on Wednesday.

    An “affidavit of compliance with court order” deposed to by a lawyer in Falana’s law firm, Mr. Marshal Abubakar has been filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja as confirmation of the submission of Sowore’s to the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court.

    Details shortly…

  • Singer Teni makes acting debut in ‘Dear Affy’

    Fast-rising Nigerian sensational singer Teniola Apata, a.k.a Teni-The Entertainer has made acting debut in a romantic movie, `Dear Affy’

    The star-studded movie, directed by Samuel Olatunji, is set to hit cinemas on the next Valentine’s Day, February 2020.

    Although the role of the singer and now actress, in the new movie is yet to be revealed, she made her debut alongside BBNaija 2019 Pepper Dem star, Sir Dee.

    Dear Affy also stars Nollywood icons Chiwetalu Agu, Jide Kosoko, Toyin Abraham, Chinedu Ikedieze, Odunlade Adekola, and Hafeez Oyetoro .

    Other casts included Mawuli Gavor, Charles Inojie, Kehinde Bankole, Bimbo Ademoye, Bimbo Akintola and Ali Nuhu , among others.

    The plot of Dear Affy tells the story of a female art enthusiast who wants to marry the man she loves but got her dream of a blissful married life dashed as she ‘accidentally’ got pregnant.

    She then embarks on a challenging mission to locate who the father of the unborn baby is since she and her fiance have chosen celibacy while courting.

    Read Also: Burna Boy shine at ‘African Giant’ listening party

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Teni, the younger sister of Nigerian singer Niniola,, came to limelight after releasing the hit singles “Askamaya”, “Case” and “Uyo Meyo”.

    “Askamaya” was ranked 15th on MTV Base’s year-end list of the Top 20 Hottest Naija Tracks of 2018.

    She had earlier released her debut single “Amen” while signed to Shizzi’s Magic Fingers Records and gained some prominence after releasing the single “Fargin”.

    Teni won Rookie of the Year at the 2018 Headies Awards, and Most Promising Act to Watch at the 2018 Nigeria Entertainment Awards

    She also won Best New Artist at the 2018 Soundcity MVP Awards Festival, and ‘NotJustOk’ ranked her eighth on their list of the 10 Hottest Artists In Nigeria, among other accolades

  • Only democracy acceptable in Ghana, Africa – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has declared that democracy is the only form of government acceptable in Ghana and Africa.

    He made the remark following the announcement of the interception of an attempted plot against the authorities in Ghana.

    In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity), Mallam Garba Shehu, the President said “Nigeria and Ghana are leading partners in ECOWAS and Transparency International, and Afrobarometer’s Africa Index 2019 attested that both countries have recorded exceptional advances in fighting corruption.

    “When you take on powerful and corrupt vested interests successfully, sometimes they seek to push back. As the saying goes, ‘if you fight corruption, corruption will fight back’.

    Read Also; Buhari congratulates Anglican Primate-Elect, Archbishop Ndukuba

    “The only acceptable form of governance in our region in this 21st century is through democratic elections.

    “It is the only way to install – and the only way to change – an administration. The days of coups and government without votes are over.

    “All Africans hold the nation of Ghana in the highest esteem as the first post-colonial country to gain independence, and the first African country to hold multi-party elections by universal suffrage. Ghana is the first, true African democracy.

    “We in Nigeria hold out – as always – our hands in support and friendship to our brothers and sisters in Ghana,” he said.

  • JUST IN: P&ID scandal: Court admits ex-director Petroleum Resources to N10m bail

    Justice O.A. Adeniyi of the FCT High Court, sitting in Apo, Abuja, on Wednesday, admitted Grace Taiga, former director, Legal Services in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, in the multiple fraud involving P&ID in Suleja Prison to bail in the sum of N10 million.

    Justice Adeniyi on Sept. 21,remanded Taiga in the Nigerian Correctional Service in Suleja, Niger State.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alleged that Taiga, a former director, Legal Services in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, was a key actor in the fraudulent Gas Supply and Processing Agreement (GSPA) between the Federal Government and P&ID.

    She was alleged to have used her position to administer undue favours to the company.

    She was arraigned on eight-count amended charges, bordering on accepting bribes and other related crimes.

    Justice Adeniyi ordered the defendant to produce two sureties who must not below the Cadre of a Director in the Federal Ministry.

    Earlier, Defence counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, prayed the court to admit his client to bail on grounds of health challenges.

    He informed the court that Taiga is a 62-year old woman who has various health challenges, varying from hypertension to Diabetes.

    He also told the court that she is a lawyer with 42 years post call who has never been in any firm of trouble all through her years of practice.

    Read Also: $9.6b award: Fed Govt raises 13 points against P&ID, exposes trick clause in MoU

    Objecting to the bail application made by Olaonipekun, Prosecution counsel, Bala Sanga, stated that the ailments bothering Taiga, are common in the society and can be adequately managed in the prison.

    Sanga also stated that the defense counsel had no concrete evidence or proof to back up his claims.

    The accused pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

  • Police arraign lawyer for threatening to kill Kashamu

    30-year-old lawyer, Bayo Adedokun, on Wednesday appeared in an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly threatening to kill Sen. Buruji Kashamu and Alhaji Muniru Ogunleyetwo over land disagreement.

    Adedokun, whose address was not given, is charged with four counts of conspiracy, attempted murder and conduct likely to cause breach of the peace.

    He, however, pleaded not guilty.

    The Prosecution Counsel, Insp. Steven Molo, told the court that the defendant committed the offence in August at Ogombo village in Eti-Osa area of Lagos.

    Molo alleged that the defendant hired 10 thugs to kill the complainants claiming that a portion of land they were occupying belonged to his family.

    Read Also: Police kill two suspected kidnappers, destroy camp in Bauchi

    He said the defendant conducted himself in a manner likely to cause breach of the peace.

    The offence, he said, contravenes the provisions of sections 56(a), 168(d), 230(1) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    Magistrate O.O. Oshin admitted the defendant to bail on self recogintion and ordered him to deposit his certificate of Call to Bar to the court.

    Oshin adjourned the case until Nov. 14 for mention.

     

    (NAN)