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Tag: Nigerian Newspapers

  • Malabu: don’t use us as excuse not to give account, Abacha family tells Adoke

    The family of the former military head of state, Gen. Sani Abachi Monday hit back at the former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, over his claims that the Abachas went to court because they have sympathizer in government.

    The former first family stated that they were not the one in court over OPL 245 but the legal entity MALABU OIL and GAS LTD.

    The Abachas in a statement urged the former Attorney General of the Federation not to use the name of their family as an excuse for his inability to give account of his stewardship.

    A statement issued by Mohammed Sani Abacha, the family said it won’t have respond to the “baseless allegation” but for the falsehood.

    The said allegation was contained in his book “Burden of Service – Reminiscences of Nigeria’s Former Attorney General”.

    The Abacha family accused the former Chief Law Officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of embarking on cheap falsehood.

    In blaming the Abacha family, Adoke alleged that; “the Abacha family decided to go to court and make claims on the OPL 245 otherwise known as Malabu because the Abacha family has sympathizers in the Muhammadu Buhari Government.”

    Responding to the allegation, Mohammed stated, “The Abacha family is not in court over OPL 245 but the legal entity MALABU OIL and GAS LTD is in Court over OPL 245 as distinct and separate from the Abacha family. How cheaper can it get for a former Chief Law officer to think and say that for Malabu Oil and Gas Ltd to seek justice through the constitutional, legal and Judicial process requires the Abacha family having influence or sympathizers in Muhammadu Buhari’s Government and a conducive political environment.”

    “This is not only unfortunate, but a manifest reflection of the kind of justice system over which Mohammed Adoke SAN presided as the Minister of Justice, influence peddling and sympathizers for Justice to reign. The Abachas are citizens of Nigeria and have rights like any other Nigerians but no influence or sympathizers in Buhari’s Government as a requirement for them to seek justice in court through the legal process.”

    He further pointed out that the company, Malabu Oil and Gas Ltd has consistently engaged the legal judicial process to seek redress under previous administration.

    Read Also: Adoke has case to answer on Malabu Oil Block scandal, says EFCC

    “For example, Malabu went to court in suit no. FHC/ABJ/CS/420/2003 against the Federal Government of Nigeria over the revocation of the license of OPL 245 during the administration of President Obasanjo and which case ended in an out of court settlement at the Court of Appeal in Appeal No. CA/A/99/M/06 in which OPL245 was restored to Malabu Oil and Gas Ltd by the administration of President Obasanjo.”

    “It was under the Administration of President Jonathan in which Adoke SAN served as the Attorney General and Minister of Justice that the said out of court settlement was actualized through the restoration of the license OPL245 to Malabu under the hand of the then Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources after the legal advice of Adoke SAN.”

    “The Abacha family and/or Malabu Oil and Gas Ltd has always engaged the constitutional legal process in seeking redress and does not need any political sympathizers or conducive political environment to seek justice. Malabu is presently in court not because of any sympathizer(s) in Government. It has no such sympathizers and does not need one like the Adoke’s sense of justice of influence peddling would want the world to believe.”

    “It is therefore unfortunate and totally false for Adoke SAN, a former Chief Law Officer of the Federation to have been quoted or credited as saying that:

    “For the eight years that president Obasanjo was in power, the Abacha’s never came out to make a claim to OPL245. They never tried it under President Yar’adua. Under President Jonathan, they never came out boldly to assert any claim.”

    The statement further added, “It will be recalled that in 2010 Alhaji Mohammed Sani Abacha instituted an action at the Federal High Court, Abuja in suit NO. FHC/ABJ/CS57/2010 before Hon. Justice Kolawole asserting his 50% ownership shares in Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd.

    “It was during the pendency of this action that the purported re-allocation of Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd to Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company, and Nigeria Agip Exploration (NAE) was carried out under the watch of Mohammed Adoke (SAN) in 2011.

    “Also, Mohammed Sani Abacha asserted his ownership of 50% before the House of Representatives Committee on Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd in 2014. The report of the committee confirmed Mohammed Abacha’s 50% ownership in Malabu Oil and Gas Ltd.

    “It will also be recalled that when the report was challenged at the Federal High Court Abuja before Hon. Justice A. R. Mohammed, Alhaji Mohammed Sani Abacha instructed the law firm of R.O. Atabo & Co. to file an application for him and Pecos Energy Ltd to participate in the case as interveners in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/816/2014.

    “After the unauthorized alteration on the shareholding structure as well as Directors of Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd was carried out at the Corporate Affairs Commission, I instructed the law firm of R.O. Atabo & Co. to write a petition to Corporate Affairs Commission informing her of such alterations.

    “Again, when the shares of Mohammed Sani Abacha was completely wiped out by filing of form CO2 by Barrister Ademola at the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja during the pendency of his case before Hon. Justice Gabriel Kolawole (now a Justice of the Court of Appeal), Mohammed Sani Abacha through his Counsel wrote petition to the Director General of the Corporate Affairs Commission after which the share structure was reversed and the matter referred to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for investigation. Notwithstanding the reversal of the share structure, Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd was purportedly sold and re-allocated to Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company, Shell Nigeria Ultra Deep (SNUD) and Nigeria Agip Exploration (NAE) under questionable circumstances for a consideration of $1.3billion.

    “Furthermore, the sum of Eight Hundred and One Million Five Hundred and Forty Thousand US Dollars ($801,540,000) was transferred from the Federal Government Escrow Account to Key Stone Bank and First Bank of Nigeria Plc accounts controlled by Dan Etete who is neither a shareholder nor Director of Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd and without appropriation of the funds by the National Assembly – all these happened when Mohammed Adoke SAN was holding office as the Attorney General of the Federation – a legal practitioner who has been conferred with the highest honour in the legal profession by the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee to uphold the rule of law and the ethics of the legal profession.

    “The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) provides that all monies accruing to the Government of the Federation shall be appropriated by the National Assembly,” the statement said adding that there is no shred of evidence that the sum of $801,540,000 was appropriated by the National Assembly with a directive that same be paid to a private account control by Dan Etete.

    “The sum was never considered during any of the budget proceedings of the National Assembly. It will be recalled that after the transfer of the funds, the money disappeared into various accounts of private individuals and companies to the knowledge and supervision of Mohammed Adoke SAN

    “From the above, it can be seen that Adoke (SAN) is allergic to the truth, which does not surprise us as this attitude appears to be in his makeup. Only truth heals and he needs that healing,” the statement added.

  • Report: 43% of Nigerians buy smartphone based on social media campaigns

    A new study by the Research and Intelligence Unit of the omni-media group, RED | For Africa, indicates that about 43 per cent of Nigerians with active social media accounts have been influenced to buy smartphones based on brand focused online marketing campaigns.

    The research study was undertaken by RED | For Africa to analyze and give insight into the impact and effectiveness of social media marketing campaigns in influencing consumer choices and driving sales of phone devices in Nigeria.

    Speaking on the study, Head of Research and Intelligence, Isime Esene, said, “People do not buy things by chance, and even for technology brands that provide both functional and social value, consumers need products that will not disappoint, fail, or crash when they are needed.

    “As a rapidly growing sector in Nigeria, marketing technology devices and properties on social media is an important business activity for all major brands in the industry. But if it is to be done effectively, it is important to understand what exactly drives the choices and decisions for targeted consumers,” he added.

    Mr. Esene explained that the research data is designed to help smartphone brands position themselves to understand their customers better, and also improve their bottom-line. More research reports are expected to be released, covering contemporary issues and topics in media and communication, church culture, politics, and governance.

    Read Also: Five ways to increase your social media followership

    The research report is built on an extensive survey conducted with 1,007 respondents between ages 18 – 60 years across Nigeria, and further supported by three focus group discussions to assess buying decisions and major interests of smartphone product consumers.

    A sizeable number of the participants (83 percent) are resident in Lagos, with others covering Oyo, Kano, FCT Abuja, Enugu and Osun state. Also, the age division between participants is 18-25 years (61.07 percent); 26-35 years (26.42 percent); 36–40 years (8.15 percent); 41-50 years (2.78 percent) and 51-60 years (2.68 percent).

    Results from the research study indicate that while 78.57 per cent of respondents between ages 26 to 35 years have been exposed to communication materials from social media mobile phone campaigns, more than half (60.38 percent) of respondents, say they have never been influenced to buy a phone by a social media campaign.

    Likewise, only 42.7 percent of those aged 18–25 years have previously bought a mobile because they were convinced of its value by a social media campaign.

    The report said top three priorities for those looking to buy a smartphone are Features & Specifications, Price, and Brand Reputation. Although the price consideration is really high among those who earn less than N100,000 monthly.

    Also, about 52 per cent of the respondents say they “probably would” be influenced to buy a phone due to a social media campaign, 13.7 per cent say they “definitely would not”.

    “Social media campaigns appear to be effective for increasing awareness, but cannot be fully dependable in driving action for those who want to buy phones. This assertion was further supported by brand managers in surveyed phone wholesale stores. To drive action, messaging for phone campaigns on social media should focus more on the phone features and price indication, depending on the target customers and selected platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and others),” the report added.

  • The Best FIFA Awards: Klopp wins Men’s coach of the year

    Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp on Monday night won the men’s coach of the year at the Best FIFA Football Awards in Milan.

    Klopp  was one of three Premier League bosses to be nominated for the award, alongside Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola and Tottenham’s Mauricio Pochettino.

    Liverpool beat Tottenham Hotsports in the UEFA Champions League final in June and came second in the Premier League in 2018/2019.

    The Reds have also won all six league matches at the start of 2019/2020.

    “It is great, nobody expected this 20, 10, five, four years ago that I would be standing here,” Klopp said upon receiving his award.

    Read Also: Klopp relieved to end Cup finals losing streak

    “We know what an incredible job you Mauricio Pochettino did and what Pep did. I have to say thank you to my outstanding club Liverpool FC.

    “To the owners thank you, they gave me an incredible team. I have to thank my team – as a coach you can only be as good as your team is. I’m really proud of being manager of such an incredible bunch of players.

    “This is an individual prize, I don’t 100% understand individual prizes, I’m here for a lot of people.”

    BBCSports

  • Photos: Buhari speaks at UNGA-74 climate change summit

    President Muhammadu Buhari speaking at the unga74 during the climate change summit in new york. photo; sunday aghaeze. sept 23rd, 2019.

     

    PRESIDENT BUHARI SPEAKS AT THE UNGA74 CLIMATE CHANGE SUMMIT 0A. R-L; Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, Netherland Prime Minister, H.E Mark Rutte, Bank of England Governor, Mr Mark Joseph Carney and Chief Executive Officer of Wills Towers Waston, Mr. John Haley during the UNGA74 Climate Change Summit 2019 in New York. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. SEPT 23 2019.
    PRESIDENT BUHARI SPEAKS AT THE UNGA74 CLIMATE CHANGE SUMMIT 1. R-L; Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, Netherland Prime Minister, H.E Mark Rutte, Bank of England Governor, Mr Mark Joseph Carney and Chief Executive Officer of Wills Towers Waston, Mr. John Haley during the UNGA74 Climate Change Summit 2019 in New York. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. SEPT 23 2019.
    PRESIDENT BUHARI SPEAKS AT THE UNGA74 CLIMATE CHANGE SUMMIT 3. R-L; Fiji Prime Minister, H.E. Frank Bainimarama, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and Netherland Prime Minister, H.E Mark Rutte during the UNGA74 Climate Change Summit 2019 in New York. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. SEPT 23 2019.
    PRESIDENT BUHARI SPEAKS AT THE UNGA74 CLIMATE CHANGE SUMMIT 4. R-L; Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, Netherland Prime Minister, H.E Mark Rutte, Bank of England Governor, Mr Mark Joseph Carney during the UNGA74 Climate Change Summit 2019 in New York. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. SEPT 23 2019.
    PRESIDENT BUHARI SPEAKS AT THE UNGA74 CLIMATE CHANGE SUMMIT 6. R-L; Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, Netherland Prime Minister, H.E Mark Rutte and Bank of England Governor, Mr Mark Joseph Carney during the UNGA74 Climate Change Summit 2019 in New York. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. SEPT 23 2019.
    PRESIDENT BUHARI SPEAKS AT THE UNGA74 CLIMATE CHANGE SUMMIT 6. R-L; Fiji Prime Minister, H.E. Frank Bainimarama, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, Netherland Prime Minister, H.E Mark Rutte and Bank of England Governor, Mr Mark Joseph Carney during the UNGA74 Climate Change Summit 2019 in New York. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. SEPT 23 2019.

  • Free commercial activity begins on Lagos-Ibadan speed train

    Commercial activity may begin on the Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge latest November, the  Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi has said.

    Amaechi spoke on Monday when he and the Minister of State for Transportation Gbemi Saraki, led other stakeholders on tour of the project.

    He said the federal government will also begin a free trial service between Lagos and Ibadan for commuters.

    He said: ”Our ambition is that by November we should begin trial of train services between Lagos and Ibadan for free.”

    He admitted however that the pace of the project had been slow, adding that there is need for the contractor to increase the pace of the project.

    ”They (Contractor) need to increase their speed. They reduce their speed within the period that the government dissolved the last cabinet.

    “Now, that we are back, my colleague, the Minister of State, and I resolve to decide to push back the pressure to ensure they stick to the completion timelines,” Amaechi said.

    Read Also: Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge: A spanner in the works?

    The minister disclosed that the double lane speed tracks had been laid up to kilometre 155, adding that where the project is recording challenge now is the completion of the stations, which according to him was impeded because the cabinet was not in place.

    “The tracks are no longer the problem, the problem now, is how to get them to finish the stations on time.

    According to him, CCECC had promised to complete all the minor stations in three months, but unfortunately, six months after they are yet to be completed.

    The minister added that  he will continue to put pressure on the contractor to ensure that all the minor stations were completed in due course.

    “We know that by January next year, they are going to finish both the minor and major stations so that we can move on,” Amaechi said.

    Speaking on the Railway University and the manufacturing factory projects, Amaechi said while the Ministry of Transportation has secured a date for the ground breaking ceremony for the factory, from the Vice President, it is waiting for the President to return from the UNGA to give a date for the ground breaking ceremony for the University of Transportation project.

    He also said the government is waiting on the Chinese government and the China Eximbank for the loan for Ibadan-Kano standard gauge line.

    He said the Federal Government is ready with its own counterpart funding, but will require the Chinaexim bank to grant the facility for the project to begin.

    Saraki expressed happiness that the Ministry of Transportation is delivering on the vision of President Muhammadu Buhari to make the train the backbone of the nation’s economy.

    She said once the speed train fully come on stream it would be able to unlock the huge potentials of the sector to create jobs for the teeming Nigerian youths.

    Saraki, who supervises the Maritime sector of the Transportation Ministry, said she is determined to work with other stakeholders to unlock the potentials and opportunities of the maritime sector.

  • Tight security as military interrogates suspected killers of Cdr. Ogundana

    Security has been tightened around the Jaji Military Cantonment, as the military authorities commenced interrogation of the suspected killers of Commander Olowayemisi Ogundana.

    Ogundana was the Commandant of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Secondary School until she was gruesomely murdered and her dismembered body dumped in a shallow well at Ungwan Loya, close to the cantonment.

    A source close to the military cantonment told The Nation that, hers was the second case of murder at the college in the last two months.

    Though, Kaduna State Police Command and AFCSC, where Commander worked have kept information on the incident away from the media, The Nation gathered authoritatively that the suspects held in connection to the murder were under serious interrogation.

    Read Also: Senior Naval Officer murdered in Kaduna military cantonment

    The serious handling of the interrogation and the tight security of the barracks, The Nation learnt was due to the fact that, Commander Ogundana’s murder was the second in the series.

    A source in the cantonment told our correspondent that the authorities were quizzing the suspected killers of Ogundana, one Simon Bernard who happened to be a staff of the college and his accomplice, as to whether they equally have hands in the murder of the other Officer too.

    According the source: “About two months ago, a Major who was on Senior Course at the AFCSC was also found dead in his room.

    “The Major was suspected to have been murdered the day they were supposed to proceed on a foreign study tour.

    “That is why they are interrogating them thoroughly to get to the root of the matter.

    “Presently, Simon Bernard who happened to be a staff of the college where Commander Ogundana was the Commandant has confessed killing her.”

    The suspect was said to have confessed that he killed the Commandant and took the body to Ungwan Loya village in Jaji at about 1:00am on 15 September 2019.

  • ‘Sowore may assume status of Prisoner of Conscience’

    The Network of International Human Rights Organisations and Coalitions say it may soon adopt detained Publisher of Sahara Reporters, Mr Omoyele Sowore, as a “Prisoner of Conscience”.

    The Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC) said on Monday in Lagos that it was working with renowned rights groups across the world to ensure that Sowore was adopted as a Prisoner of Conscience
    unless the Federal Government releases the activist without further delay.

    They also expressed shock that the Nigerian authorities were making frivolous charges against Sowore who had been in custody since Aug. 5.

    The group also called for the release of Olawale Bakare, a member of #RevolutionNow arrested in Osogbo, Osun, on Aug. 5, Publisher of Cross River Watch, Mr Agba Jalingo and Ekanem Ekpo. The last two were arrested by the police and have yet to be taken to court.

    “The continued detention of Sowore is an embarrassment to Nigeria as a country. Everywhere we visit across the world, people are asking questions about Sowore’s detention.

    “Many people do not understand the logic of laying charges of treason against Sowore simply because he used the word revolution.

    “His incarceration continues to put a question mark on the credibility of the Nigerian government. Democracy dies when the culture of debate and the tradition of protest are lost,” the group said in a statement by CSNAC Chairman, Mr Olanrewaju Suraju,

    Read Also: FG charges Sowore with money laundering, treasonable felony

    CSNAC said the Nigerian government had beyond imaginations embarrassed itself by charging Sowore for “insulting the President”.

    “It is even more ridiculous that he is being charged for insulting Mr President and also for money laundering where money was legitimately transferred through the financial institutions.

    “These are frivolous charges aimed at seeking justification for his illegal arrest and continuous detention.”

    CSNAC said from indications, the Nigerian government was desperate to press charges against Sowore and ensure he is jailed at all cost.

    Suraju said Sowore was being hunted in part, due to series of publications in Sahara Reporters that consistently exposed corrupt practices in this and previous governments.

    “Sowore is obviously a victim of vengeance. Corrupt politicians and security chiefs whose dirty deals have consistently been exposed by Sahara Reporters are looking for ways to settle scores. They think by
    bringing down Sowore, Sahara Reporters will die.

    “Its an illusion to think by keeping Sowore in jail, Sahara Reporters would be off the global network. This is a mistake because Sahara Reporters has assumed the status of an independent entity,” he said.

    CSNAC also dismissed the charge of money laundering by the Department of State Security, (DSS), saying it was an attempt to blackmail Sahara Reporters and its publisher.

    Sowore was arrested on Aug. 5 in Lagos and the Federal Government obtained an ex-parte order granting his detention for 45 days.

    After keeping him for almost two months, he was charged for insulting President Mohammadu Buhari during a life programme on AriseTV. The government also accused him of treason.

    He was also charged for transferring the sun of $19,975 from his personal account to Sahara Reporters.

  • How you can earn up to 75k a month from Branch

    Do you know about Branch app? Do you know you can borrow and earn monthly with your Branch App?

    Not only will you have extra cash to pay off your loan, but you’ll also be helping your friends and neighbours access quick, stress-free loans. Does this sound interesting to you? If your answer is yes, then keep reading.

    The Branch referral feature is one of the best in the country and it is open to everyone who is a user of the Branch app.

    Here’s how simple it is. Tell someone – anyone – about Branch app, if they take a loan using your referral code and pay back, you automatically get a N1500 bonus which will be used to pay off your own loan. Even more amazing, they will also get N500!

    You don’t have to do anything stressful and it won’t take you more than a few clicks. Simply share your referral code with as many people as possible and with each person that takes a loan using your code and pays back, you get N1500 every time. In other words, if, for example, 50 people take loans using your referral code and all 50 of them pay back those loans, you get a total of N75,000 in free money.

    Here is how to go about it:

    • Open the Branch app and click on the menu
    • Click on “earn 1500” to view your unique referral code
    • Click on “invite friends” to share with friends (or anyone sef)
    • Select any of the apps on your phone that you want to share the code from
    • Select the contacts you want to share with and share with them
    • Ask your friend to enter your unique code before they repay (this is very important o!)
    • Once they repay their loan as scheduled, you will receive N1500 in your bonus account which will be applied to your next loan.

    Super simple isn’t it? It’s just as simple for your friends or anyone you refer too – plus they get N500 once they repay their loans too! They don’t have to do too much either. Here’s what they need to do:

    • They’ll click on the link in the invite message that you share with them
    • They’ll download the app, register and apply for a loan
    • If their loan is approved, they will receive the loan amount in their account in minutes
    • Now, they just have to go to the menu and click “promotions”
    • They’ll enter the unique code that came in the invite message you sent to them before their repayment date
    • Once they repay, they will receive N500 in their bonus account which will be applied to their next loan.

    This is a huge opportunity, isn’t it? Your friend gets a loan that they can use to solve everyday problems, to start a business or to grow their inventory. They don’t need to run helter-skelter or come to you anymore when they need money.

    You, on the other hand, get a bonus on your loan, which means you pay less (or maybe even nothing at all). Everybody wins!

    We know how things can be, but we are here for you, one small loan at a time.

    Branch is an app that lets you access loans for your personal and business needs using just your Android phone, BVN (to verify your identity) and phone number. You don’t need to fill any forms or collateral. Also, Branch just passed 10 million downloads making it the most downloaded lending app in the world, so you’re in good hands.

    Get the Branch app now and start telling your friends!

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Update: 14 Osun kidnap victims rescued

    Fourteen kidnap victims at Ajeokun Junction, between Otan Ile and Imesi Ile in Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State have been rescued by the police and local vigilante.

    The Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Abiodun Ige, said all the victims abducted on Sunday evening by unknown gunmen were rescued unhurt.

    The victims were passengers of a commercial bus travelling from Osogbo to Abuja via Imesi/Otan-Ile road.

    The victims were allegedly ambushed at Ajeokun Junction between Otan Ile and Imesi Ile before 14 of the 18 passengers were whisked into the bush.

    Poor condition of the road made it difficult for the driver of the bus to escape from the bandits, according to an eye witness account.

    Read Also: Police bust ‘child-sale’ syndicate in Lagos

    Also, the Osun State Coordinator of Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Chief Aladesawe Adedeji, confirmed that the 14 victims had been rescued.

    He disclosed that the joint team of OPC, vigilante group, the police, the Department of State Security made frantic effort to rescue the victims unhurt after gun duel with the bandits.

    However, the police spokesperson in the state, Folasade Odoro, disclosed that some of bandits escaped into the bush with bullet wounds while one vigilante sustained a minor injury from the gun battle between the security men and the bandits.

  • ‘I stole baby because I wanted male child’

    THE 39-year-old suspect blamed it on her hunger for a male child. Police in Ekiti State picked up Mercy Momoh accusing her of stealing a two-month-old baby in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

    Momoh, who hails from Edo State, was arrested on Saturday at her residence located at Odo-Aremu area, along old Governor’s Office in the state capital.

    The baby was stolen from his mother, Mrs Funmilayo Sunday on Friday around 1pm at the State Secretariat.

    It was gathered that the suspect tricked the baby’s mother into following her to the State Secretariat ostensibly to collect some relief materials being given by government to flood victims.

    The suspect, on getting there, sent the baby’s mother to buy phone airtime for her, and then ran away with the baby before his mother returned.

    Police command spokesperson, Caleb Ikechukwu confirmed the suspect was arrested on Saturday, adding that investigation was ongoing.

    Read Also: Obaseki reassures on kidnapping, other crimes

    He said, “It is confirmed that the woman who stole two-month-old baby has been arrested by the operatives of the Ekiti police command.

    “She was apprehended through intelligence made available to the police and would be prosecuted after conclusion of investigation.

    “Investigation is still on going. More details will come to reveal what really transpired.”

    “We call on members of the public to be careful when dealing with strangers. The suspect was apparently nice to the victim, that was why she got the baby easily. Citizens should not be carried away by kind strangers,” Ikechukwu said.

    A source said the police were informed of the incident by the baby’s mother on the same day, at about 4.30pm.

    Police detectives moved in,  tracing the suspect to her residence, where she was arrested around 11pm.

    According to her, the suspect confessed that she stole the baby because of her dire need of a male child.

    The suspect claimed that due to her inability to bear a male child, her husband got married to another woman and may likely throw her out of the house.

    The source added that the Commissioner of Police, Amba Asuquo, has directed that the matter to be thoroughly investigated.