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  • Body of missing 80-year old woman found in Taraba

    The body of an eighty year old woman, Hannatu Kefas, who had been missing for several days, has been recovered.

    Her corpse, which had decomposed, was discovered at her farmland on Saturday and buried there immediately.

    An in-law to the deceased, Khadimoh Dani Ishaku, told reporters that the octogenarian, a peasant farmer, had left home for her farm in Kodei village, Karmi Lamido local government area of Taraba state.

    He said Hannatu Kefas was murdered by unidentified ritualists.

    “The woman was murdered closed to a popular bar joint known as Forest Parliament in Angwan Giwa Tafadi in Karim Lamido where miscreants are used to carrying out evil activities.

    Ishaku also alleged that the private organs of the deceased, including eyes, had been removed.

    But police spokesman, David Missal who confirmed the report to The Nation, said the incident was still been investigated so he cannot say “miscreants or ritualists” were behind Hannatu’s death.

    Misal called for the interrogation of those saying the octogenarian was murdered and her body parts were removed.

    He said: “The woman had been missing for several days. The family did not report to us (police).

    “Now, her body has been discovered at her farm. The body was so terribly decomposed that they were not able to park the remains.

    READ ALSO: Our raw deal with killer soldiers in Taraba

    “They just dug a grave there and buried her. So, how did they notice that her private parts were removed when everything about her had decayed?

    “No autopsy has been done to establish injuries or any cause of death.

    “So, why are they trying to mislead people, or do they know something about her death?

    “In fact I want anyone saying her private parts have been removed to be interrogated. It points to the fact that such a person has knowledge of the woman’s death.”

    The locals said the “mysterious death” of Hannatu is one among five other similar death cases.

    They called for security to probe, arrest and punish the perpetrators.

  • Ogun tops list of South African returnees

    Ogun State has the highest number of the 187 returnees evacuated from South Africa last week.

    The Federal Government did a profile of the recent victims of xenophobic attacks in South Africa who had willingly accepted to return to the country.

    The profile showed that the first batch of the 187 returnees are from 16 states of the federation.

    Chairman of the Nigerian Diaspora Commission, (NIDCOM) Abike Dabiri-Erewa, appealed to state governments to support then returnees.

    Already, letters of appeal have been sent to the states to solicit for their interventions.

    Bank of Industry (BOI) and some telecommunication companies have also provided some support.

    NIDCOM boss who gave an update on the returnees at a press conference on Tuesday said that among the returnees were over 30 children and a widow who has four children.

    She also revealed that from the profiling, Ogun State has the highest number of 30, followed by Imo State with 28 while Kogi and Benue have the least number of one each.

    The states of returnees are – Abia – 7, Anambra 13, Benue 1, Delta 15, Ebonyi 2, Edo 13, Ekiti 6 and Enugu 7.

    Others are Imo 28, Kogi 1, Kwara 3, Lagos 7, Ogun 30, Osun 6, Ondo 6 and Oyo 23.

    She said that her commission was already communicating with every state listed.

    She added that information had already been sent to the states but they will take the final decision.

    According to her, the widow with four children is from Ondo State.

    Ondo State government, she said. is already trying to ensure the children are back in school.

    The NIDCOM chair said the states are expected to have their representatives on ground to receive their indigenes.

    She said: “We have profiled them according to their states and we expect the governors to take responsibility for their citizens that have returned.

    “I am going to stress one thing, those who returned are not criminals. In fact they are very hardworking Nigerians and have lost everything they have ever worked for in South Africa.

    “So their only crime is being black and being Nigerian. We had father’s separated from their children, we have a widow with four children who just had to come back home. They are already offers for scholarships for her children.”

    The NIDCOM CEO said those that return already for SIM card and air time that will last about two months and some money for transportation.

    According to Dabiri-Erewa , the returnees are already being profiled to get soft loans from the Bank of Industry (BOI).

    “As I speak with you now the bank of industry has their contacts and will be calling them to come for the soft loans. Those are the immediate plans for them. But as they settled in we are going to profile them and do a need assessment because somebody might want to trade and you are saying go and do hairdressing. There is also a number for just the returnees to reach the bank of industry.

    Dabiri-Erewa added that a lot of people have also offered counseling, entrepreneurship training which the commission was compiling and the returnees will also be contacted and link up with these offers.

    She commended President Muhammadu Buhari for giving the instructions that Nigerians should be evacuated from South Africa, the minister of foreign affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama for showing leadership and the chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema for immediately offering to evacuate the volunteer returnees, the Nigerian Consul General in South Africa who opened his doors for the returnees to sleep and later got them a hotel and treated them good, Airtel for the phones and airtime, MTN for supporting the returnees with airtime, data among others.

    She called on other Nigerians and corporate bodies to follow suit.”

    Dabiri-Erewa said another set of 319 are expected back Tuesday evening and will be warmly welcome as directed by President Buhari.

    She said the list containing details of the returnees will be forwarded to the various states to ensure proper reintegration.

    She added: “This is the time to show ourselves love and unity, it doesn’t matter what part of Nigeria you come from, we are one united Nigeria and the love and unity, the sense of togetherness was very prominent in this case, where we were being externally attacked.”

    Dabiri-Erewa assured that any Nigerian anywhere in the world, the government under President Buhari is determined that you will be protected.

    “Any Nigerian anywhere in the world be hardworking, be law abiding and whether you are abroad or home be rest assured that government protection and welfare is guaranteed anywhere in the world.”

    On the issue of compensation, she said it was a policy issue that will be decided by the minister of foreign affairs.

  • Court dissolves 10-year marriage over threat to life

    A Mapo Customary Court in Ibadan, on Monday dissolved a 10-year marriage between Kamardeen Babatunde and his wife, Iyabo, over threat to life and stealing.

    The Court’s President, Chief Ademola Odunade, in his judgment, held that since there was no more love lost between the couple, dissolution of the marriage remained the only available option left for the court.

    He however, awarded custody of the only child of the marriage to Babatunde and advised them to maintain peace wherever they came across each other.

    Earlier, Babatunde had filed for divorce, saying he was no longer interested in continuing with the marriage.

    He alleged that his wife was looking for every available opportunity to kill him.

    Babatunde had tendered before the court, the knife with which his wife allegedly wanted to stab him with, before he overpowered her.

    “My 10 years of marriage to Iyabo has been miserable due to countless troubles and lack of rest of mind I have suffered in the relationship.

    “If she is not fighting with me over minor issues, Iyabo would be threatening to inflict injuries on me.

    “At the climax of the crisis, Iyabo woke me up recently in the night and showed me a knife that she was ready to stab me to death for not allowing her to have her ways in the house.

    “However, I stylishly averted the tragedy by calming her down and collecting the knife from her,’’ he said.

    According to him, she also put poison in the drinking water at home but there was no casualty because no one took the water.

    “Iyabo regularly steals my money from the safe in the living room,” Babatunde said.

    The defendant, who did not contest the application for dissolution of their marriage, however, denied Babatunde’s allegations.

    Iyabo, a Fashion Designer, told the court that her husband was a drunk “and misbehaves anytime he is under the influence of alcohol’’.

  • Xenophobia: Ramaphosa apologies to Buhari

    South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday apologised to President Muhammadu Buhari over xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.

    Many Nigerians had lost their lives and properties due to the increasing xenophobic attacks in the country.

    Two Special envoys from South Africa delivered Ramaphosa’s message to Buhari during a closed door meeting in Aso Rock.

    One of the special envoy, Jeff Radebe briefed State House correspondents at the end of the meeting.

  • Four in police net over alleged murder

    Four persons have been reportedly arrested over the murder of a woman, her daughter and her grandson.

    The victims were identified as Mrs. Alice Omorogbe aged 52; Mrs. Blessing Efe aged 25, and her six months old baby boy.

    They were killed last week Thursday at their residence at Iguadolor Community in Ovia North East local government area of Edo State.

    A two-year-old daughter of late Blessing identified as Gift Efe was spared as he was seen in the apartment where the three mutilated bodies of victims were discovered.

    Among those arrested is Pa Iguma Amasowomwan, the Deputy Odionwere (Assistant village head) of the community.

    Sources in the community said Pa Iguma was picked by operatives of Ogida Divisional Headquarters following allegations of complicity leveled against him by the deceased’s family.

    He was interrogated at the Anti-Cult unit of police headquarters in Benin City.

    READ ALSO: Police arrest farmer for alleged murder of business partner

    Eldest son of Odionwere of Iguadolor Community, Mr Enaruna Omorogbe said the victims were wife and children of his late brother.

    He said the Okaighele (youth leader) of Iguadolor Community, one Perrick Egbon, of recently threatened to eliminate his late brother’s wife for having the gut to report him to some elders in the community for using bulldozer to demolish her uncompleted building.

    Egbon who denied the allegations appealed to the police and relevant authorities to unravel and prosecute the killers.

    He said he travelled out of town and did not even know the victims.

    “All what they are saying are allegations. It is not true that I killed those people.

    “The world will soon know the truth about the incident and I call on the police to investigate the matter.”

    Spokesman for Edo Police Command, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, could not be reached for comments.

  • Ten-year-old boy dies after eating contaminated burger

    A 10-year-old boy who was left paralysed after eating an E coli contaminated beef patty from Lidl, has died.

    Nolan Moittie was taken to hospital on Saturday when his heart stopped, according to Le Parisien.

    The child died shortly afterwards.

    Nolan was one of around 15 French children who fell ill after being infected with the E coli strain in 2011.

    Regional authorities said the group had eaten steak haché, a chopped steak dish popular in France.

    The group had eaten infected patties from Lidl, the German supermarket.

    Children were particularly badly affected by the E coli strain.

    The patties were produced by suppliers SEB-CERF, a now closed company, under the brand “Steaks Country”, according to The Local.

    READ ALSO: Man drags NBC, NAFDAC, NCPC to court over contaminated products

    The product was withdrawn after the outbreak.

    Nolan, then 23-months-old, developed neurological sequelae, a condition which affects the nervous system.

    He went on to lose the use of 80 per cent of his body.

    The toddler had initially been hospitalised for pain, before suffering a heart attack while admitted and falling into a coma.

    Florence Rault, the family’s lawyer, said the child and his family had suffered through “a real ordeal.”

    Other children who contracted the infection were left with kidney damage.

    Guy Lamorlette, SEB-CERF’s founder and former company manager, was jailed for three years over the contamination, for failing to carry out adequate product checks.

    (www.newsnow.co.uk)

  • EFCC nabs bank employee for allegedly stealing N137M

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan zonal office, has arrested one Kehinde Olumide Agbabiaka, a sales agent of Fidelity Bank Plc.

    His arrest was sequel to a petition jointly penned by the bank’s Regional Security Officer and the Cluster Control and Compliance Manager, in which it was alleged that the suspect suppressed, diverted and stole a total sum of N137,000,000 (One Hundred and Thirty-Seven Million Naira) from personal and corporate accounts of a customer in Ibadan.

    Filed on August 20, 2019, the petition alleged that Agbabiaka committed the offence between January 2017 and July 2019.

    The suspect, who was the account officer attached to the customer, was said to be visiting the business premises of the victim weekly to collect cash with the understanding that he would remit same to his accounts domiciled in the bank’s Challenge, Ibadan branch.

    But, instead of depositing the money, Agbabiaka was said to have at different times remitted only a portion and on many occasions diverted the whole sum to personal use.

    Read Also: Police arrest ‘fake’ EFCC official in Lagos

    In order to cover its criminal acts, the suspect, according to the petition, would rather issue fictitious bank slips to deceive the customer that he truly deposited the sums.

    This continued until the customer reviewed the statement of his account and reconciled same with the cash collection register. It was then they discovered Agbabiaka’s fraudulent deeds, prompting the bank to put up the petition.

    So far, the EFCC investigators have established a prima facie case of diversion and stealing against the suspect.

    Further investigations also revealed that he had used the suppressed sums to build houses, purchase cars, invest in fixed deposits and insurance policies. He also gave part of the loot to people as friendly loans.

    Some of the items have been recovered and registered as exhibits while the suspect is said to be awaiting been charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

  • Yes, Ondo council Chairman bought four tyres but did not commission it!

    Claim: Media publication says Ondo state local government Chairman inaugurated four tyres of a refurbished hummer bus.

    MISLEADING: The Chairman did indeed buy tyres for a vehicle they were refurbishing which was posted on his Facebook page. However, the tyres were never commissioned or inaugurated.

    Full Text:

    On Monday, 9th September, a media report said the Chairman of Okitipupa local government council, Omo’ba Abayomi Adesanya inaugurated (commissioned) four tyres. The tyres were said to be used to refurbish a Toyota Hummer Bus.

    “The Chairman of Okitipupa LG, Omo’ba Abayomi Adesanya has purchased (4) brand new tyre of maxxix brand for the refurbished Toyota Hummer bus that has been abandoned for 7 years. Omo’ba is working, Okitipupa LG is moving”, he wrote on Facebook.

    The influential nature of Abayomi Adesanya is undeniable; he was the pioneer spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state. This is perhaps one of the reasons the statement is facing heavy criticism in the media.

    When the news surfaced, the consensus from the majority of public response questioned the relevance of the post, as this would not ordinarily be considered as noteworthy. The people were of the opinion that buying tyres was not an achievement that should be publicized.

    It is standard practise for politicians in Nigeria to publicise their achievements, even when it is mediocre. Did you know that ‘VIP’ or ‘ultramodern toilets’ have been commissioned by politicians in the past and even added to the national budget? However, Nigerians are becoming more vocal on the ludicrousness of such projects.

    Verification

    The Nation did in fact confirm that the quote above originated from a Facebook page with the name “Omo’ba Adesanya Okitipupa LG”.

    The Chairman, Omo’ba Abayomi Adesanya when contacted on phone described it as publicity gone awry; adding, he bought the tyres as part of his activities in the council. He said that he never commissioned any tyres but admitted that he brought the tyres for a vehicle they were refurbishing.

    Interestingly, turns out the facebook page is managed by Abayomi Adesanya’s media aide. And according to Omo’ba, the aide in question posted the pictures on Facebook without briefing him; apparently he did so just to keep the people abreast of what he was doing.

    Regardless, we checked the post and it did not state anything about him commissioning or inaugurating tyres; nor were there any images to corroborate this claim. It only states that the Chairman purchased tyres.

    Conclusion

    This post is misleading because although the event happened (purchase of tyres and a post on Facebook celebrating it), the primary claim (commissioning of tyres) is not entirely true. The Chairman did indeed buy tyres for a vehicle they were refurbishing which was posted on his Facebook page; however, the tyres were never commissioned or inaugurated.

    This fact-check was done by a Dubawa Fact-checking Fellow in collaboration with The Nation Newspaper.

  • Buhari decries attack on Saudi’s oil refinery plants

    President Muhammadu Buhari has said the Federal Republic of Nigeria stands in solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, following drone attacks on the refinery plants at Khurais and Abqaiq on Sunday.

    In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the President also recalled that Nigeria had experienced similar attacks in the past.

    “We in Nigeria once experienced attacks on our own oil facilities. Those who sought, by doing so, to undermine governments of the day did not succeed then – nor at any time.

    READ ALSO: Why we invested in refinery, by Dangote

    “The identities of those who sent the drones to attack the Saudi refineries, and from where, may not yet be known.

    “Still, these attacks similarly represent economic warfare aimed at damaging a government, but, in reality, always and only damaging innocent citizens’ livelihoods: those with no place, nor cause, to be harmed,” the President said.

    “The attackers of Saudi Arabia will win no friends in the international community for their actions – whoever they may be, and however certain they be in their cause,” the Nigerian leader added

  • Kano set up tax tribunal to resolve disputes

    Kano State Governor Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje said his administration would explore avenue provided by the Tax Appeal Tribunal to ensure quick resolution of tax matters in the State.

    He stated this on Monday while declaring open a one-day Stakeholders’ Forum organized by the Tax Appeal Tribunal Northwest Zone, held at Tahir Guest Palace.

    Ganduje represented by his Deputy Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna noted that the need for timely and correct payment of tax by all taxpayers is a civic responsibility that should be encouraged at all levels.

    “It is clear that all over the world, taxes, levies and charges constitute the most sustainable sources of revenue to Government for executing development projects. Where they are not paid, Government has to resolve to legal options of filling cases against defaulters at the tax appeal tribunal for adjudication.

    “So, as Government uses revenue from tax sources to execute major programmes and projects in the areas of education, health, skills development, agriculture and infrastructure for the wellbeing of the good people of Kano, a high sense of responsibility is develop “.

    The Governor said Kano State Government had taken full advantage of the jurisdiction factions of the Northwest panel of the Tax Appeal Tribunal.

    “Out of the thirteen cases inherited by the Tribunal after its inauguration on November 5th 2019, records have shown that eleven of the cases came from Kano State Government. Out of the eleven, nine cases have been amicably resolved and settled “.

    In strengthening this substantial progress achieved by the State on tax appeal tribunal, Ganduje said it will further encouraged the State Internal Revenue Service and Local Government revenue committees to present all unresolved revenue cases to the tribunal.

    READ ALSO: Three rustlers held, 1,000 cows recovered in Kano

    The Governor however called on the Stakeholders to actively participate in the interaction to utilise the opportunity provided, adding that the State through its Internal revenue service would embark on sensitization campaign to create awareness on the tax appeal tribunal.

    Earlier, the Chairman Tax Appeal Tribunal, Northwest Zone Barrister Umar M. Adamu explained that the forum aims at bringing together taxpayers, tax authorities and tax practitioners from the three tiers of Government to discuss issues pertaining tax and tax tribunal.

    Umar explained that Tax Appeal Tribunal was created by law under section 59 of the Federal Inland Revenue Service establishment act of 2007 which serves as disputes resolutions mechanism between the taxpayers and tax authorities.

    “When it comes to rendering its judgement, all what the tribunal is care about are the substances of the cases before it,” he assured.

    During the one day Stakeholders Forum, Professor Kabiru Isa Dandago of Bayero University Kano presented a paper on’ Mission and Vision of Tax Appeal Tribunal.