The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian news

  • FBI 77: EFCC mounts surveillance for 10 indicted Southeasterners

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has mounted surveillance for 10 of the 78 Nigerians from the Southeast, allegedly involved in the $3 billion scam.

    Head of the Enugu Zonal Office Usman Imam stated this yesterday while addressing reporters on activities of the commission in the last eight months.

    The US Department of Justice had indicted 80 persons, including 78 Nigerians, in the multi-billion dollar fraud.

    Imam said the anti-graft agency was working with the scoop at its disposal and had placed surveillance on the suspects. He assured the people that the suspects would be arrested and prosecuted “to prove to the world that such crime does not represent our values”.

    Read Also: EFCC urges FBI cybercrimes suspects to surrender

    He said: “There is a mutual treaty between Nigeria and the USA. We will arrest them and if need be extradite them to the USA.”

    Imam added that the alleged offence was multi jurisdictional “because the stages leading to the crime was either initiated in Nigeria or the proceeds brought to the country”.

    According to him, it was unacceptable to see parents enjoying ill-gotten wealth of their children, who they knew had no serious means of livelihood.

    “Such also applies to the clergy and traditional rulers who rather than question suspiciously acquired wealth, not only attribute it to God, but bestow titles on such individuals. We assure Nigerians of our commitment to ensuring a better Nigeria so we warn looters and fraudsters about the consequences of their actions,” Imam added.

  • Akpabio suspends payment for contracts by NDDC

    The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, has suspended payments for contracts executed by the last management of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    He lamented that NDDC had failed to live up to its responsibilities in the last 20 years.

    Akpabio said it was disheartening that NDDC was paying over N200 million as rent yearly and incurred a debt of over N2 trillion.

    He noted that payments made for jobs executed in the last one month would be subjected to forensic analysis and audit to determine if they were genuine, and records of the commission looked into to checkmate asset stripping.

    The minister said reports showed that NDDC failed the people, as there were no legacy projects executed.

    He spoke when he addressed the Interim Management Team of the commission, led by Mrs. Ekwagaga Enyia, at his conference room in Abuja.

    Read Also: Ukwa West thanks Buhari for appointing Nwogu to NDDC board

    Minister of State Festus Keyamo, who gave a preamble for the meeting, said the NDDC had failed in terms of commensurability of projects and funds accruable to the commission over the years.

    He said: “Let us be clear on this, it will not be business as usual; it will be business unusual as the present leadership would not tolerate persistent underdevelopment of the region. We have become a laughing stock as people now say we (Niger Deltans) are the ones responsible for the underdevelopment of the region.

    “The NDDC is seen as a conduit for empowering the pockets of politicians and hangers on. We will not do things the way we used to do it. The minister will exercise the powers of the President, not just to supervise the NDDC, but to control its affairs.”

    Akpabio lamented that with over N2 trillion debt profile, NDDC could have been declared bankrupt if it were a private business organisation.

    “We will change the modus operandi of the NDDC because it has become a thing of shame that for over 20 years, NDDC could not complete its headquarters. It is disheartening NDDC has been paying over N200 million every year as rent.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari is keen on leaving legacy projects on ground for the Niger Delta people. His focus is clear on that and we will not allow anybody to stand on our way. If you are not prepared for transformation, it is better you quit. It is shameful that in the nine states of the Niger Delta, NDDC failed to have one legacy project, such as a specialist hospital.”

  • PDP’s Wada picks ticket in Kogi

    Musa Wada has won the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primaries in Kogi State.

    Musa, a younger brother of former Governor Idris Wada, polled 748 votes to clinch the party’s ticket. He was closely followed by Abubakar Mohammed Ibrahim, son of former Governor Ibrahim Idris, who polled 710 votes.

    Idris Wada came third with 345 votes, while Senator Dino Melaye polled 70 votes to come fourth.

    Others are Aminu Suleiman (55 votes); Victor Adoji (54 votes); Erico Joseph (42 votes); AVM Saliu Atawodi (11 votes); Emmanuel Omebije (nine votes); Mohammed Shuaibi (four votes); Bayo Michael (two votes) and Jabiru Haruna (none).

    The primary ended abruptly in the early hours of yesterday following the invasion of the Lokoja Confluence Stadium venue by gunmen.

    Delegates had completed voting and sorting of ballots under way, when gunmen stormed the venue about 1.45am.

    Read Also: Results of Kogi PDP primary totally unacceptable – Dino Melaye

    Votes in eight of the 10 boxes had been sorted and counted. The  Governor Umar Fintiri-led panel later called a meeting of all 13 aspirants, and it was agreed that sorting and counting should continue.

    The PDP has accused Governor Yahaya Bello and the All Progressives Congress (APC) of sponsoring the attack.

    The gunmen came into the venue, and shot sporadically, killing one.

    At a news conference in Abuja yesterday, PDP spokesman Kola Ologbondiyan said violence would not save the governor and his party from defeat on November 16.

    The party said PDP and the people of Kogi State were firm in their resolve to use democratic means to confront and vanquish APC’s “evil plots” ahead of the election.

    Ologbondiyan said: “It is clear to all that Governor Yahaya Bello has become chaotic in the face of his rejection by the people, as well as the soaring popularity of PDP in Kogi State, and has resorted to violence in a failed desperate attempt to prevent our party from presenting a candidate…

    “…the PDP had a peaceful, decent, clean, clear, credible and transparent process in the conduct of our primaries.

    “Accredited delegates had voted and the balloting had been concluded in an orderly manner before the vicious attack by the gunmen, who were shouting pro-Bello mantra and accompanied by known APC faces.

    “The PDP only pities Bello and the APC because our processes are still intact, and nothing can sway our resolve and the people’s will to kick them out of office in November.”

    Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West) has rejected the result, describing it as “totally unacceptable”.

    Melaye, on his Twitter page, expressed his dissatisfaction with the conduct and outcome of the election. He said: “It is ridiculous to declare a final result of PDP governorship primary election when my votes sorted out in eight of 10 ballot boxes are missing, only to declare votes in two ballot boxes as my votes. Totally unacceptable.”

  • Tribunal dismisses Ndoma-Egba’s petition

    The election petition tribunal in Calabar, Cross River State, has dismissed the petition by the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Cross River State Central Senatorial District elections, Victor Ndoma-Egba.

    Ndoma-Egba is challenging the victory of Sandy Onor, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Justice Vincent Agbata said the petitioner’s argument that he was unlawfully excluded by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the February 23 election was not valid because INEC acted within the law in obeying the order of a Federal High Court  in delisting the petitioner as a candidate of APC.

    Read Also: Women, youth groups back NDDC appointees in Cross River

    He noted that APC, which was in crisis at the time, had several pre-election litigation, one of which gave rise to the exclusion of their candidates, which the tribunal averred as a lawful act since there was no superior order of the court to the lower court which ordered the exclusion.

    The tribunal also viewed the petition as a pre-election matter, because the exclusion happened before the election.

    Ndoma-Egba vowed to appeal the decision.

  • Diri wins as Dickson seeks support

    Senator Douye Diri (Bayelsa Central) has won the governorship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State.

    Of 1,244 accredited voters, Diri scored 561 votes to defeat his closest rival and former Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Ndutimi Alaibe, who polled 365 votes.

    Keniebi Okoko, a businessman and philanthropist came third with 142 votes in the election, which was contested by 21 aspirants.

    About 16 votes were declared invalid following multiple voting and other infractions.

    Diri belongs to the Restoration Caucus, led by Governor Seriake Dickson. Diri’s election reinforces Dickson’s assertion that his caucus remains a dominant force in PDP and the state.

    The election was adjudged free, fair and credible, besides pockets of violence during accreditation.

    Returning Officer and Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku said Diri satisfied all conditions in the party’s constitution, having scored the highest votes cast.

    A breakdown of accredited delegates according to their local governments showed that 196 were from Southern Ijaw; 169 from Yenagoa; 164 from Sagbama and 150 from Ogbia.

    Others are Nembe (151); Ekeremor (148); Kolokuma-Opokuma (141) and Brass (125).

    Read Also: UPDATED: David Lyon wins APC primary in Bayelsa

    Arrangements for voting began about 11 pm following the arrival of Ishaku, his committee members and observers from the National Independent Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan, who arrived at the Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre venue of the primaries, was given a thunderous ovation by delegates. After exchanging pleasantries with the electoral committee, Jonathan sat in the row allocated to Ogbia, his local government area.

    The committee also distorted the alphabetical order of voting to allow Jonathan the privilege of voting first.

    He led delegates from Ogbia to vote first instead of Brass, which should have come first.

    Dickson was also given a privileged treatment after Jonathan, as he was asked to lead Sagbama delegates followed by his deputy, who led Nembe delegates.

    The Restoration Governorship Election Primary Committee has congratulated Diri on his victory.

    Committee’s Head of Media and Publicity Daniel Iworiso-Markson said in a statement that Diri’s victory was a stamp of his acceptance by delegates.

    Iworiso-Markson hailed the Ishaku-led committee for the peaceful, transparent and credible process, which he said had become a reference point.

    He praised aspirants for their maturity and show of sportsmanship, saying it was the beauty of democracy and proof that PDP was a party of matured minds.

    He said: “We must put our differences aside and work together to deliver victory for the party on November 16. Now that we have a flagbearer, let us rally round him…”

    Dickson has appealed to defeated aspirants to support Diri.

    In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Fidelis Soriwei, he said Diri had demonstrated character, capability, courage and the thirst for public service.

    The governor said Diri worked closely with him as his principal executive secretary for years before leaving for the National Assembly.

    Dickson noted that his closeness to Diri afforded him the opportunity to assess and discover him as a man of proven character, high intelligence and competence.

    He reiterated that Diri had demonstrated over the years that he was a genuine believer of the ideals of restoration.

    The governor, who praised other aspirants for their sportsmanship and maturity, urged them to ensure the sustenance of PDP’s dominance Bayelsa politics by working with Diri to ensure his victory on November 16.

  • Bayelsa primaries: Lyon is APC candidate

    Oil magnate and businessman David Lyon has won the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries in Bayelsa State.

    The results, announced by Senator Emmanuel Ocheja, the Collation officer,  showed that Lyon polled 42,138 votes to defeat five aspirants.

    Mrs. Desiye Nsirim came second with 1,533 votes, while Ebitimi Amgbare was third with 633 votes.

    Senator Heineken Lokpobiri scored 571 votes to come fourth while Prof. Ongoebi Etebu and Preye Aganaba got 564 and 354 votes.

    Ocheja said he was standing in for the Returning officer and Yobe State Governor, Ibrahim Gaidam, who was absent.

    Read Also: PDP will retain power in Bayelsa, Diri assures

    He said six aspirants contested the election conducted through direct primaries, and ratified by the National Executive Committee (NEC).

    Former Minister of State for Agriculture Lokpobiri has rejected the result. The senator said he would get details of what transpired, insisting he and his team never participated in any primaries.

    Lokpobiri said there was no way he would be defeated by Lyon, adding that many members supported him.

    He wondered why the primary was held in a hotel, saying members gathered at the secretariat in Yenagoa waiting for the committee members to arrive.

    The aspirant queried why a result was purportedly declared by someone other than the Returning officer, who chaired the committee.

    He hoped the national leadership would look into the development and ensure a credible process to throw up a popular candidate for APC.

  • Seven family members die in Lagos  

    An electrician, Mr. Kazeem Owojori, his wife, Aminat, their children Aliyah, Faridaus, Taye, Kehinde and a family friend, Wasiliat, died in their sleep on Wednesday in Lagos.

    The bodies were discovered about 7am at 19, Raneem Olawora Street, Mafoluku in Oshodi, Lagos Mainland.

    Aminat’s mother slumped and died when she heard the news.

    It was gathered that the family might have choked after inhaling a chemical substance that was still strongly felt at the time the door to their one-room apartment was forced open by neighbours.

    Initially, there were suspicions that they might have suffered from food poisoning from the rice they ate before going to bed, a position that was dismissed after two of their neighbours disclosed that they also ate the rice.

    The neighbours who ate the meal said to have been prepared by Aminat were identified as the landlord’s grandchild Farida and one Iyawo.

    Some residents expressed fears that someone might have killed them. They cursed those responsible for the alleged murder.

    Read Also: Family of four dies of alleged food poisoning

    While Kazeem, Faridaus, Taye and Wasiliat were already dead at the time neighbours forced the door open, Aminat, Aliyah and Kehinde were said to be unconscious and were rushed to a private hospital.

    But Aminat and her eldest daughter, Aliyah, passed on, leaving only Kehinde, the woman’s youngest child, as survivor.

    It was learnt that their neighbours became suspicious when Mr. Owojori, alias Cool Money, did not turn up for the early morning prayer at the mosque called Subh.

    Residents said the man was a devout Muslim who never missed prayers, adding that his wife was an early riser because she usually prepared her children for school before going to her shop.

    But when neither the man nor his wife was seen, the neighbours reportedly called them without a response, prompting them to peep through the window.

    The Nation gathered that the neighbours saw them all lying down, but they did not respond when their names were called.

    Narrating how they discovered the bodies, a neighbour, Aina Adeleke, said: “Immediately we forced the door open, we found the seven of them lying down as if they were asleep. On closer look, we discovered that Cool Money was dead, Wasiliat had foaming substance in her mouth, while the bodies of Faridous and Taiwo (one of the twins) were very cold and stiff as if they had died several hours ago.

    “As soon as we discovered that Mrs. Owojori, Kehinde and Aliyah were still breathing, we rushed them to hospital. Unfortunately, only Kehinde, one of the twins, survived. Aliyah and her mother died in hospital.

    “I cannot say what happened to them, but we found out that they ate rice last night. Only God knows what happened to the family.”

    At the time The Nation visited the house, the premises had been cordoned off by the police and sealed by health officials from Oshodi Local Government.

    Spokesman Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent, said: “We will investigate the cause of the death.”

  • Police arraign manager for allegedly stealing N8m

    The police on Wednesday arraigned a restaurant manager, Nosa Okupoji, at an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly stealing N8 million from his employer.

    Okupoji, 25, whose address was not given, is charged with two counts of theft and breach of the peace.

    Prosecuting Corporal Godspower Ehizoba told the court that the defendant committed the alleged offence between December 2018 and August 2019, at about 8am and 9:30pm at 18B, Emmanuel Abimbola Cole Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    Read Also: Banker accused of stealing customers’ N11m

    He alleged that the defendant stole N8 million from a restaurant, Delta Pot Cuisine.

    Ehizoba said the offence contravened sections 168 (d) and 287 (7) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    Okupoji pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate M. F. Onamusi admitted the defendant to N1million bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    She said one of the sureties must be related to the defendant and must be employed.

    Onamusi adjourned the case till October 8.

  • EFCC arrests 48 yahoo boys

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kaduna Zonal Office, said it has arrested 48 Internet fraudsters and secured conviction of 23.

    It said N198,727,241.5million and $48,000 US were recovered in cash and draft from January to date.

    Addressing a news conference yesterday at the anti-graft agency’s office, the Zonal Head, Mailafia Yakubu, said the commission has collaborated with the Federal Bureau for Investigation (FBI).

    Read Also: Kwara lawyer remains suspect in N20m property scam, says EFCC

    He said: “The collaboration between the commission and FBI has led to the recovery of $314,000 (Three hundred and fourteen thousand USD and about N373, 000,000 (Three hundred and seventy three million naira) from computer related fraud. Perpetrators have been traced and recovery made, while N373million has been traced to commercial banks.

    “The zonal office from January to date received 345 petitions, 286 were considered for investigations, 52 forwarded to legal and prosecution department, 56 cases in court, recovered N198,727,241.5million and $48,000 in cash and draft.

    “The recent joint operation conducted by the commission has yielded tremendous success, while some of the suspects have been arrested, prosecuted and convicted. One of the suspects linked to FBI wanted list was arrested in Kaduna.”

  • Abductors kill dog after missing target

    Suspected kidnappers have killed a dog at the home of their target after they discovered that she was not at home.

    The abductors were said to have overpowered a security personnel on night duty identified as Abubakar Aminu and ordered him to lead them to their target, Mrs. Emily Owie.

    Family sources said the gunmen killed the dog out of frustration and tied up the guard.

    The husband of the lucky woman, Mr. Parry Owie, told reporters that he was yet to come to terms why his wife was targeted.

    Read Also: Police nab 1,154 suspected kidnappers in 8 months

    He said his wife had been a victim of several kidnap attempts and robbery attacks, which made her to lose a 12- week-old pregnancy.

    Owie said his wife was first kidnapped in 2010 alongside their three months old baby and her younger sister after which he paid N3million ransom.

    He said his wife was abducted again in 2014 near a supermarket at Ugbor in Benin City when she went for shopping, adding that she spent three days in captivity.

    He said she was released after payment of ransom.

    Owie said he and his family had gone underground for fear of being attacked or kidnapped.

    He said the matter has been reported at the anti- kidnapping section of the Edo State Police Command for investigation.