The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian news

  • Joshua tipped to reclaim titles

    ANTHONY Joshua has been tipped as a strong favourite with bookmakers to regain the WBA, WBO, IBO and IBF heavyweight titles which he lost to Ruiz, when they meet in a purpose-built arena in Diriyah, on the outskirts of the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh. But Ruiz will not be taking anything lightly.

    “I don’t underestimate any fighter,” Ruiz said. “I know AJ’s going to come stronger and more focused but inside the gym, as Mike Tyson says, everyone has a plan until they get hit.

    “I’m sure everybody was trying to look for an excuse and the reason why he didn’t perform and why he lost. I think it was down to the style. Styles make fights and I’ve been calling AJ out for a while. I knew his style was perfect for me and that’s why I plan to do the same thing.”

    Ruiz has been showing off some of his many purchases since becoming world champion, including a new home, but he insists that is not a sign that he has lost focus on his career.

     

  • Court forfeits Diezani’s N14.4bn jewellery to Fed Govt

    A Federal High Court in Lagos has permanently forfeited to the Federal Government some jewellery valued at $40 million (about N14.4 billion) recovered from the home of a former Petroleum Resources Minister, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke.

    The jewellery, categorised into 33 sets, include “419 expensive bangles, 315 expensive rings, 304 expensive earrings, 267 expensive necklaces, 189 expensive wristwatches and 174 expensive necklaces and earrings”.

    The rest are: 78 expensive bracelets, 77 expensive brooches and 74 expensive pendants.

    Justice Nicholas Oweibo made the final forfeiture order while delivering judgment in a motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    He held that Mrs. Allison-Madueke, rather than show why the property should not be finally forfeited, only filed a motion to set aside and discharge the July 5, 2019 interim order of forfeiture.

    “The deponent in the affidavit of the motion is not the owner of the property sought to be forfeited and the deponent did not state in the affidavit where he got the information from.

    “On the whole and in the view of the respondent’s failure to show cause why the property should not be finally forfeited, the order of final forfeiture is hereby granted. The property is hereby finally forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”

    During hearing, EFCC prosecutor Rotimi Oyedepo told the judge that the court was empowered to make such forfeiture order under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offence Act 2006, because “the respondent’s known and provable lawful income is far less than the property sought to be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria”.

    Read Also: Diezani paid $865,300 cash for jewellery, EFCC tells court

    He supported his application with, among others, an affidavit deposed to by an EFCC investigator, Rufai Zaki.

    Zaki recalled that Alison-Madueke was appointed Minister of Petroleum Resources on April 12, 2010.

    He said EFCC’s findings revealed that the former minister started acquiring the jewellery in 2012 from Bukola Oyewumi of Trinket Box Bespoke Jewellery at Ikeja City Mall in Alausa, Ikeja, the Lagos State capital.

    The investigator said the commission was in possession of details of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) account through which Alison-Madueke received her salary as a minister.

    “The respondent did not utilise her salary or any part of her legitimate income to acquire the assets sought to be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria,” Zaki said.

    The EFCC operative averred that a “damning intelligence report” received by the commission led to a search of Alison-Madueke’s house at 10 Fredrick Chiluba Close, Asokoro, Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    Zaki said the EFCC invited Oyewumi and she made a statement that she started selling jewellery to Diezani in 2012.

    According to him, Oyewumi also made available to the EFCC the invoices issued on the sale of the jewellery in which ‘Aunty D’ was written as the buyer.

    He said the EFCC also discovered that apart from Oyewumi, the former minister also bought jewellery from Minal Ratanani of Bella Vista Apartment, Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos.

    Zaki also said Ratanani admitted during questioning that Alison-Madueke bought jewellery worth $865,300.00 from her over a period and that the former minister paid cash.

  • Man throws four months old son into Niger River

    A 20-year-old man, Mustapha Aliyu has been arrested for throwing his four months old son into river Uti in Borgu local government area of Niger state.

    The Corpse of the baby is yet to be found.

    The Suspect, who was arrested by the Niger state Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), said he took the step because the mother of the baby refused to accept the baby and left him in his custody.

    Mustapha, an indigene of Kebbi state who resides in Tamaniya village near Kainji in Borgu local government of the state was paraded by the NSCDC on Tuesday in Minna.

    Confessing to the crime to newsmen in Minna, Mustapha said the baby was his son but he was not married to the mother.

    Read Also: Sorrow, tears on federal road in Rivers

    He attributed his reason for throwing his son into the river as due to depression saying it was the work of the devil.

    “I couldn’t take care of the baby alone. I was not happy that the mother left him with me. I do not even know what got into me. It is the devil handwork.”

    During the parade, the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, George Edem said that the corpse of the baby is yet to be found.

    According to him, Mustapha was arrested based on a tip-off from concerned neighbours adding that the suspect had confessed to have committed the offence.

    Edem said that the suspect had been handed over to the police for prosecution.

  • Xenophobia: First batch of 320 to arrive Lagos on Wednesday

    The first batch of the Nigerian returnees from South Africa will be airlifted from Johannesburg to Lagos by 9 a.m. on Wednesday, it was learnt.

    According to the Nigeria Consul General in Johannesburg, Godwin Adama, the first batch is made up of 320 passengers.

    Air Peace would commence evacuation of over 600 Nigerians who had registered to come back home following the series of attacks on foreign nationals and their businesses in South Africa.

    “The first flight leaves by 0900 hrs on Wednesday with about 320 passengers and the second batch will leave on Thursday all things being equal.

    “We have over 600 who had indicated interest all things being equal without any hitches, the plane will take off by 0900 hrs on Wednesday.

    “The manifest for the first flight is ready and we are working on the next flight,” he said.

    President Muhammadu Buhari had also on Monday ordered for the immediate evacuation of all Nigerians who are willing to return home from South Africa following the xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals.

    Buhari gave the instruction when he received the Report of the Special Envoy to South Africa, Amb Ahmed Abubakar, Director-General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), at the Presidential Villa, Abuja

    The Chairman of Air Peace Mr Allen Onyema, had last week volunteered to send aircraft to evacuate Nigerians who wish to return home free of charge.

    “Air Peace is willing to support the Nigerian Government’s efforts in this matter by deploying our B777 aircraft to evacuate Nigerians back home,” Onyema said.

    Read Also: Xenophobia: What are Nigeria’s legal options?

    The Chairman of the Air Peace had also stressed that the flight is free for the returnees.
    Onyema said the airline decided to set the record straight following an email from a Nigerian in South Africa that unauthorised persons were illegally collecting 1,000 dollar from each Nigerian that wanted to take advantage of that flight.

    He noted that the development was unfortunate, stressing that the evacuation was free because the airline was concerned about the safety of Nigerians following the attacks.

    He said: “We have not designated or recruited any agent in South Africa to collect money on behalf of Air Peace.

    “So nobody should pay money to anyone or group of persons posing as Air Peace agent or staff.

    “Any Nigerian who has paid money for repatriation to Nigeria with Air Peace should request for a refund and report to appropriate authorities

     

     

  • Man kills brother, steals motorcycle

    Operatives of Ekiti Police Command have arrested a 24- year-old man, Ebenezer Olorunleke, who allegedly killed his brother with three other gangs and stole his motorbike alongside other items.

    The State Police Commissioner, Mr Asuquo Amba, while addressing newsmen during a parade, said the suspect, who hailed from Jege in Kogi State killed his brother with the aid of a knife and long screwdriver on August 29, 2019 and fled.

    The commissioner said the suspect and three others invaded his brother’s home at Abe Cocoa area of Okeila and stabbed him to death and stole his red coloured Bajaj motorbike with registration number ADK 100 UJ.

    Items recovered from the suspect, whose accomplices are still at large are a long screwdriver, knife and Bajaj motorcycle.

    “They hit him in the stomach and pierced his intestine when his wife and children were not at home. He had confessed to have committed the offence”, he said.

    Another police source revealed that the attackers allegedly drove a long nail into the deceased’s skull while struggling to rob him.

    Recounting on how his brother was killed, Olorunleke said what his friends who allegedly killed his brother wanted to do was to help him collect money from him, describing his brother as a stingy individual.

    “I did not follow them inside the room, but upon realising that my brother had been stabbed and was shouting, I rushed in and wanted to rescue him but he bit me and chopped off my finger.

    Read Also; Dialogue: Masari frees six arrested bandits

    “The guys later came to my house to attack me. They wanted to sell the machine, I resisted it. I was thinking of coming to the police to report when I was arrested with the machine”, he said.

    The Commissioner said the command has set up operation PUFF Adder and had rejigged its Special Anti Robbery Squad(SARS) to be able make Ekiti safe for all and sundry.

    He said the efforts of state command is to ensure that proliferation of light arms is checkmated in the state.

    “Those apprehended are genuine suspects and they will be tried and we are also sure of conviction”, the CP assured.

    Amba added that the wide network of communication with sister agencies and local hunters had helped the police in extending its tentacles and fortify its intelligence gathering mechanism.

  • We’ll continue to treat insurgents as bandits – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari said remnants of Boko Haram in the North-east region of the country are bandits, and they will continue to be treated as such.

    The President spoke Tuesday at State House, Abuja, while receiving Mr. Peter Maurer, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

    Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Chief Femi Adesina, said “Boko Haram has been degraded, but its members are still a nuisance around Lake Chad and surrounding islands.

    “That is why we are cooperating with Chad, Cameroon, Niger Republic, and other countries. We are also using the Air Force quite effectively. They are bandits, and we will continue to treat them as such.” he said

    The President said the government was concentrating on repairing damaged infrastructure, rehabilitation of internally displaced persons, securing their communities, so that they can return home.

    He applauded the support of the ICRC and other humanitarian organizations, noting: “The situation of the displaced persons is very pathetic. Some children don’t know where their parents are, neither do they know where they come from.

    “We are focusing on education and healthcare, along with rebuilding of infrastructure. The agency formerly under the leadership of Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd) and now headed by Major-General Paul Tarfa (retd) is quietly making an impression. We are dedicating lots of resources to the area.”

    Read Also; Buhari, Red Cross President meet in Aso Rock

    President Buhari disclosed that great progress has equally been made in disabusing the minds of people that the insurgency was religious.

    “How can you kill people, and say ‘God is great.’ It’s either you don’t know that God, or you don’t know what you are talking about. God is God of justice. And the people have understood the message well, so recruiting is now difficult for the insurgents,” the President said.

    Mr Maurer said Nigeria was the 5th largest operation of ICRC worldwide, and the organization would continue to render humanitarian action to people affected by violence.

    On the recent killing of two officials in the North-east, he said: “We are shaken by the killing of our staff, but not discouraged. Humanitarian assistance should continue, and we applaud the hospitality of Nigeria.”

    The ICRC President said relationship will be further strengthened with Nigeria, submitting that “the more we see activity from Nigerian authorities, the easier it is for us to add here and there.”

  • Mugabe’s burial postponed indefinitely

    The burial of the late former President, of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe slated for Sunday, has been postponed indefinitely, Zimlive reports.

    Family members of the deceased ex-president confirmed the development.

    According to Mugabe’s nephew, Leo Mugabe, Mugabe was a chief and he would be given a traditional burial.

    Read Also: Echoes of Mugabe’s death in foreign hospital

    He said, “Mugabe was a chief and he will be buried in accordance with tradition. The chiefs have not told us where he will be buried, so it is not clear yet. I also don’t know” .

    Mugabe died on Friday at the age of 95 in Singapore, where he was receiving medical treatment.

  • Shoprite, MTN, Multichoice resume business

    Business activities have resumed at various firms owned by South African nationals in Lagos. Our correspondents who went to Lekki, Surulere, Mushin, Agege, Ogba, Ikeja, among others, observed that many of the outlets opened for business.

    At the Shoprite centre in Lekki, business went on as it did before the reprisal attacks following the xenophobic attacks on African residents in South Africa. Nigerians were among those targeted.

    Some Multichoice offices at Agege were, however, not open for business.

    PEP at Ogba is back with customers engaging in shopping.

    At Bode Thomas in Surulere, the DSTV was also open for business; a staff also confirmed they resumeed work nationwide on Sunday.

    Read Also: SA: looting a la carte

    He said some branches reopened on Saturday, but stressed that by Sunday morning all branches had reopened.

    Although the office was looking well set and activities going on smoothly, the workers told our reporter that hoodlums last week went away with some television sets and damaged some valuables.

    “Those hoodlums entered, scattered the whole place, damaged our air conditioner outside, forcefully removed one of the television on the slab and smashed it on the floor. We all ran for our lives. The police later came and chased them away.

    “We are back now, activities have commenced, you are safe here,” he said.

    Our reporter observed that the PEP shop and the two MTN offices on Bode Thomas Road were not open. The hoodlums looted the place and damaged things in the shops.

    At Shoprite in Surulere, activities have reopened, but our reporter observed that some shops were still locked.

    A guard said activities resumed yesterday.

    He said only three shops were affected inlast week crisis.

    “Those boys destroyed a shop thatsells clothes and the woman that owns the shop just loaded her shop with new clothingbefore the incident.

    The other shops sell different brands of phones, while thethird deals in different electronics,” he said.

    He said those people that did not open their shops were either still scared of the incident or did not get the information that normalcy has been restored.

    “Police are here, they have been here since morning, they only moved to the side of the mall shortly because of the intensity of the sun. This place is safe,” he said.

    At Mushin in Lagos, the DSTV office wasopened.

    One of the workers told our reporter that activities resumed on Monday.

  • Nigerians not yet fed up with corruption-ex-Kenya anti-graft chief

    Nigerians are not yet tired of corruption, which is why it is still being tolerated, former Director of the Kenyan Anti-Corruption Agency, Prof Patrick Lumumba has declared.

    Speaking at the 49th annual conference of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) in Abuja on Tuesday, Lumumba said: “the day Nigerians become tired of corrupt practices, the actions that would follow would put an end to graft.”

    He lamented that in a society where people celebrate those that fraudulently enrich themselves, corruption will continue to thrive.

    Prof Lumumba maintained that “corruption is a crime against humanity. Experiences have demonstrated that if a people in a country are sufficiently fed up they will rise up.

    “If we think that the international community will solve our problems, then we have shown that we are incapable of solving them.

    “Sometimes, I think Nigerians and many Africans are not fed up. Because the day we are fed up, things will begin to change.

    “But as long as we celebrate thieves, as long as we celebrate money no matter how they are got, everybody will want to have the money and they don’t care about how it is got. The day we begin to get angry, the country will change in one month.”

    President Muhammadu Buhari, while declaring the conference open, said that government has recognised the damaging effect of corruption on the economy and is doing everything to address the issue.

    Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Buhari noted that corruption and impunity grow when accountability is disregarded and people get away with all manner of questionable things and accountants are unable to check them.

    Read Also; JUST IN: Ekiti Tribunal sacks Senate spokesperson, declares Olujimi

    He said his administration’s fight against corruption “is a struggle for nation building and the future generation.”

    According to the President: “If we do not slay corruption with the passion it deserves, we will not get the result that we need.

    “On our part, we will continue to provide the desired leadership and I am certain and optimistic that the glorious day we all long for will not be long in coming.

    “Corruption, our greatest enemy will certainly fight back, but we must continue to fight to effect a change to our value system.”

  • Shiites have right to practice faith – Falana

    Activist-lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) on Tuesday said Shiite members have the right to practice their religion.

    He recalled that the Federal government clarified IMN’s proscription to the effect that the fundamental right of the Shiites to freedom of religion has not been abrogated.

    “To the extent that the Shiites are observing a religious rite, it is callous and highhanded on the part of the Sunnis in government to authorise the police to massacre them.

    Read Also; Police arrest four Shi’ites protesters in Kaduna

    “It is unacceptable to kill religious worshippers by officials of the federal and state governments that are currently negotiating and bribing bandits and kidnappers,” Falana said.