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Tag: prosecute

  • Ekitigate: APC urges AGF to prosecute Fayose, others

    Ekitigate: APC urges AGF to prosecute Fayose, others

    THE All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, to prosecute senior Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) officials implicated in the alleged use of the military to rig last year’s Ekiti State governorship poll in favour of PDP.

    In an audio file secretly recorded by Capt. Sagir Koli, some senior PDP chieftains were allegedly heard planning how to rig the poll for their party.

    The APC, in a petition to the AGF, identified the PDP officers as Governor Ayo Fayose, ex-Minister of State for Defence Musiliu Obanikoro, ex-Minister of Police Affairs Jelili Adesiyan, Senator Iyiola Omisore and former Commanding Officer of 32 Artillery Regiment, Akure, Brig.-Gen. Aliyu Momoh.

    In the petition by Ekiti APC Chairman Olajide Awe, the party said the reminder became imperative in the light of the  military’s investigatation of the culpability or otherwise of their men and officers in the matter.

    The petition, Awe said, was informed by failure of the Office of the Minister of Justice to act on its earlier petition of February 13, demanding the probe into the audio tape detailing acts of treason by some PDP leaders in cahoots with some military officers.

    In the letter to the office of the former Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, copies of which were sent to former Inspector General of Police Suleiman Abba and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Awe prayed them to prosecute persons involved in conspiring and perpetrating acts to unseat former Governor Kayode Fayemi in a manner other than that envisaged by the constitution.

    He added that although it was not clear whether the military took its action unilaterally or at the prompting of the AGF, it was imperative that other security institutions accused of complicity should also be compelled to investigate the roles of their officers and men in the Ekiti electoral fiasco.

    Awe, in the earlier petition, drew the AGF’s attention to an audio recording by Capt Koli, which was released to the public, capturing the voices of Fayose, Momoh,  Omisore,  Adesiyan, Obanikoro and others at a meeting where they strategised to rig the June 21, 2014 governorship election in favour of the PDP candidate (Fayose).

    Awe pointed out that the import of the audio tape was the revelation of the criminal acts that were planned and perpetrated by these men.

    He said during the meeting, strategies and plans to intimidate voters to perform electoral fraud were hatched to take over control of the government in a manner contrary to the provisions of the constitution and other relevant statutes.

    The party urged the minister to investigate the matter to bring persons involved to justice, warning that failure to act would compel the party to approach the court to seek an Order of Mandamus compelling the attorney general to so act.

  • Customs boss vows to prosecute corrupt officers, others

    Customs boss vows to prosecute corrupt officers, others

    THE Comptroller-General of Customs (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), has vowed to prosecute corrupt officers, importers and clearing agents involve in shady deals at the nation’s seaports.

    He warned that the era of cutting corners and denting the image of the service has ended, stressing that officers, importers and clearing agents must “key into the anti-corruption crusade of President Muhammadu Buhari Administration”.

    Addressing over 2,000 Customs officers and other operators at the Apapa Command  in Lagos yesterday, Ali said he was in town to collaborate with them to boost trade facilitation programme of the Federal Government.

    The Comptroller-General said the relevant law that established the service would be applied in dealing with corrupt officials, operators and others that might try to bend the rules governing genuine cargo clearance procedure from the ports.

    Assuring importers and clearing agents of the zero-tolerance for corruption of the Buhari administration, he urge them to always make proper declaration to save the service the unnecessary  need of subjecting their cargos to 100 per cent  examination.

    Customs Act, Ali said, stipulates five years jail terms without option of fine for anybody that engages in false documentation, under-declaration and release of containers without due process.

    The retired military officer said petitions against Customs officers that demand for bribe or involved in other questionable deals should be directed to his office through the following e-mail addresses: CGC@customs.gov.ng and Complaints@customs.gov.ng

    The Customs boss, who visited the Lagos ports for the first time since his appointment, added that the service would review some key promotions, postings and welfare packages of  Customs officers to end corrupt practices at the ports.

     

  • Abia NSCDC to prosecute 14 suspected pipeline vandals

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Abia State will prosecute 14 persons for suspected pipeline vandalism. The vandals were arrested within the week.

    Parading four new suspects: Peter Ugochukwu, 28, Uzoma Anyim, 48, Winner Onwuegbu, 28, and Udoka Nwokorie, 27, Corps Commandant Dr Benito Eze said the vandals would be arraigned after investigations.

    Eze worried that pipeline vandalism had increased since the Port Harcourt Refinery resumed the pumping of petroleum products.

    He noted that in August, the command arrested about 18 suspects on the Osisioma pipeline highway.

    “Between the second week of August till date, 18 suspected vandals have been arrested along Osisioma area of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipeline highway.”

    The commandant said about six trucks, jerry cans, eight cars and buses, which were confiscated during the period, were parked at their Isiala Ngwa field office.

    He warned oil marketers against patronising vandals because the command was also on the trail of buyers.

    One of the suspects, Nwokorie, from Umudiawa-Ofeiyi-Ohuhu in Umuahia South Local Government Area, said he was arrested when he came home to see his sick parents.

    Nwokorie, who claimed to be a student of the Ebonyi State University (EBSU), said he was arrested during a raid.

  • Customs chief vows to prosecute smugglers

    Customs chief vows to prosecute smugglers

    The Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)  Col. Hameed Ali (rtd)  has vowed to arrest and prosecute any one caught in the act of smuggling, promising that under his watch, all avenues of revenue leakages will be blocked.

    A statement endorsed by NCS Deputy Public Relations Officer, Mr. Joseph Attah, explained that the Customs chief gave the commitment during his maiden meeting with officers and men of the NCS at the Customs Headquarters in Abuja.

    The CG said every act of economic sabotage including false declarations, deliberate misapplication of tariff, undervaluation and concealment shall be dealt with decisively.

    Ali called on all stakeholders to support Customs in order to achieve its mandate towards the Federal Government’s resolve to secure the nation, boost the economy and create job opportunities for the youths.

    The NCS has raked in N37,836million from seizures of banned products in its eighth and nineth week of operations.

    The items which were impounded from different locations along the Southwestern borders of the country.

    “The war against smugglers of frozen poultry products into the country tagged Operation Hawk Descend has continued to yield massive results as the Service has recorded seizures of the banned products worth N37,836million in eight  and nineth week of its operations,” he explained.

  • Lagos to prosecute owners of stray animals

    To keep Lagos State safe, the  government would prosecute the owners of stray animals.

    In a statement by the  Ministry of Agriculture, signed by its Assistant Director, Press and Public Relations, Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, the government said it would no longer fold its arms and allow the menace to persist.

    It said: “In spite of the government’s concern and awareness campaign on the danger posed by these stray animals in the society, the menace is still on the rise. Apart from causing accidents on our roads, these stray animals could also spread contagious diseases such as anthrax, rabies, tuberculosis and other ailments that could lead to death.”

    Also, the statement reiterated that the state government was sending Agric-Marshals to local government areas and local council development areas as part of its stray animal control policy to end to the menace.

    “The state government expressed concern and would no longer tolerate the culture of releasing cattle at night on major roads and highways in the metropolis” the statement warned.

    It urged residents not to panic but move to a safe place when they meet stray animals, such as cows, horses, dogs, pigs, rams, goats, and monkeys. Residents, according to the statement, are enjoined to cooperate with the authorities to rid the state of stray animals while owners of such animals are also advised to take adequate care of them to avoid confiscations.

    Residents are, however, advised to call any of the following dedicated lines for immediate response if accosted with any of these stray animals; 08077775657, 08057761762, 07033348402 and 08023934920.

    “Together, we can make Lagos a safe place if we all say no to stray animal on our road, and safe lives,’’ the statement added.

  • Prosecute corrupt public servants, Buhari urged

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to prosecute all corrupt public servants.

    NLC President Comrade Ayuba Wabba told The Nation that over half of the states defaulted in the payment of salaries to their workerss underscored the extent to which the political elite had run the country aground.

    He said: “Workers and the Nigerian people in general are expectant that President Buhari will have the magic wand to turn our country around and safe us from our political elites, who have taken maladministration and bad governance to new height.

    “As organised labour, we are waiting to engage the President as he unfolds his programme. We await his promise to throw open the identities of public officers who participated in the massive looting of our commonwealth, which the President had put at a conservative $150 billion over the last decade alone.’’

    Wabba added that NLC was awaiting the arrest and persecution of the former Minister, who was alleged to have stolen $6 billion, adding that Labour would protest the massive corruption and bad governance of the past administration and push for all the stolen wealth be recovered and those involved sanctioned.

    He said the fight against corruption must begin from somewhere, adding that the anti-corruption agencies and the National Assembly must support the government’s plan to deal with corruption.

    Wabba said: “The feeling and perception of Nigerians is that our anti-corruption agencies are either overwhelmed or do not have the requisite edge to respond to the renewed assault on our collective conscience by those taking advantage of their position to steal and loot our commonwealth without any qualms.”

    He lamented that corruption cases being handled by the anti-corruption agencies are taking too long –some having gone on for as long as seven to nine years – are often thrown out, not for lack of merit or points of law but on mere technicalities.

    “For Nigerians to regain confidence in our anti-corruption agencies and the judicial process, high profile corruption cases need to be more diligently and competently handled and dispensed with more quickly and timely at the level of the courts. The NLC believes that the National Assembly has a key role to play in ensuring that justice is not only done but truly seen to have been done,” Wabba said.

    According to him, one of the most credible ways of doing this is by strengthening the anti-corruption laws so that people who steal the nation’s collective wealth can be brought to justice far much quicker than is presently done.

    He argued that corruption would reduce once people know that there is no hiding place for those who perpetuate it and that corrupt enrichment will not necessarily buy them freedom from the long arm of the law.

    “Conviction of perpetrators of corrupt practices is how corruption is being tackled in other climes where they have fought it and brought it to a standstill,” the NLC President insisted.

     

  • ‘We’ll prosecute customers who tamper with meters’

    The Ikeja Electric (formerly Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company) and Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) is working with the Nigeria Police and other security agencies to arrest and prosecute electricity consumers who tamper with their meters.

    The prosecution applies to analog and prepaid meter users, the firms said, adding that this became necessary following reports that many consumers were bypassing meters and connecting to the cables from the electricity poles. The bypass of meters distorts reading of the meters and makes such fraudulent customers pay less than their consumption.

    The two firms in interviews with The Nation said they were transiting from a fine of N50,000 imposed on perpetrators of such crimes to prosecution in a court to provide more punitive measures and further deter other consumers from engaging in the crime.

    The Head, Communications and Strategy, Ikeja Electric, Pekun Adeyanju, said the firm was working with the police and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps ( NSCDC) to detect and arrest consumers who bypass meters to charge them to court.

    He said: “When we realised that customers have not been coming to our various business units for vending, we asked our marketing officials to visit their homes. It was at that point we discovered that they have tempered with the meters by passing them.

    “They bypass meters by not connecting the two wires from the pole to their meters. The wire they don’t connect to the meters is the one that takes care of heavy appliances such as pumping machine, pressing iron, air- conditioner and others.  At the end of the month, such a customer will pay less because the prepaid meter has been tampered with. Some people have been caught, paraded and reprimanded. Now, we want to start arresting and prosecuting them, and leave out the option of fine of N50,000 earlier imposed on them.’’

    Also, the spokesman, Eko DISCO, Godwin Idemudia, said the firm would take people who bypass meters to court. He said bypassing of meters by customers is a criminal offence which his organisation is not ready to take lightly.

    According to him, his company will use two methods or approaches to curb bypass of meters among customers in its jurisdiction.

    He said: “One of the methods has to do with the use of security operatives like police and the company’s officials, who would go out to see meters that have been tampered with and take their pictures. The second one is technological, by this; we are deploying smart meters that would give us signals in the office when they are being tampered with by criminals. Local electricians are aiding criminals who bypass meters and we are ready to deal with them.”

  • Military to prosecute 350 Boko Haram suspects

    Military to prosecute 350 Boko Haram suspects

    Three hundred and fifty suspected members of Boko Haram  are to go on trial for alleged terrorism,the Nigerian Army announced yesterday.

    The suspects are among the 504 Boko Haram members currently in detention,according to the Army Chief of Administration,Major General Adamu Abubakar.

    Gen.Abubakar said in Abuja that two Joint Investigation Teams, set up by the defence headquarters to investigate, screen and categorize suspected insurgents in detention established prima facie cases against  the 350.

    Their file cases have already been  forwarded to the office of the Attorney General of the Federation/Justice Minister.

    Speaking on the recent allegations against the military in a report by human rights organisation, Amnesty International,  Abubakar said the report was unnecessary as no new facts have been unearthed by the group to warrant a repeat of its allegations.

    He said: “For the avoidance of doubts, the Amnesty International allegations of human rights abuse and extra judicial killing of civilians are a rehash of the same allegations made in 2011”.

  • Violence: Ekiti APC asks NHRC to prosecute Fayose

    Violence: Ekiti APC asks NHRC to prosecute Fayose

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti Sate wants  the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to prosecute Governor  Ayodele Fayose, for allegedly promoting violence and intimidation of  its members and supporters in the state.

    The party, in a petition submitted  to NHRC’s Executive Secretary, Prof Bem Angwe yesterday, accused Fayose of sponsoring political violence with the aid of  thugs.

    The thugs,the APC alleged in the petition, physically attacked  and intimidated members of the opposition.

    Ekiti  APC’s Secretary, Omotosho Ayodele, who led  the APC delegation said : “While all Nigerians are busy praying for peace, what we have in Ekiti State is a clear departure from that.”

    “As the commission is clamouring for violence-free polls, it is unfortunate the person, who is supposed to be the Chief Security Officer in Ekiti State, is the person unleashing violence in the state,” he said.

    He  said the PDP boys are always on the streets, macheting and  scaring people as well as  damaging vehicles and houses. He said the situation has persisted  regardless  of many  petitions they had written to the police.

    He said:”Governor Fayose does his things with impunity and nobody challenges him. With what we have seen so far, we can no longer guarantee violence-free elections in Ekiti State. The activities of Fayose are undermining the peace pact signed by our presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and President Goodluck Jonathan.

    “On January 21,2015  Fayose’s thugs and members of the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC), dressed in army and police uniforms  and backed by policemen attached to the Government House, ransacked and vandalized the APC Secretariat in Ado-Ekiti, while the security guards on duty were physically assaulted.

    “On January 24th, Adeleke Samsom, a student’s union leader who attended the APC presidential rally in Ado-Ekiti with his colleagues, was violently attacked by Fayose’s thugs. He sustained life threatening injuries on his head.”

    Receiving the petition,Angwe  vowed that the commission  was prepared to bring to book those promoting  violence and hate speech during and after the coming  elections in the country.

    “The commission is home for all Nigerians irrespective of religion, ethnicity and political affiliation. I want to commend you for taking this cause of action and not to take the law into your hands. Your allegations are against a sitting governor which has conse

  • Prosecute Igbemo violence suspects, says Ekiti APC

    Prosecute Igbemo violence suspects, says Ekiti APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has urged the police to prosecute the suspected thugs, who allegedly unleashed terror on Igbemo-Ekiti community last Thursday.

    APC’s Publicity Secretary Taiwo Olatubosun, in a statement, said after APC members complained at the Igbemo police post and later at Iworoko Police Station, the victims were later re-invited to the Police Headquarters in Ado-Ekiti where they were arrested.

    He said the perpetrators of the violence rushed to the Police Headquarters to  complain that they were signage officials, who were prevented from carrying out their lawful duties.

    His words: “Our members were attacked and their houses destroyed. The attackers fired gunshots at them from Thursday night till early Friday morning. The abducted Igbemo citizens were dumped at the Special Anti- Robbery Squad detention cell since the wee hours of the morning and were only temporarily released Friday evening.

    “The thugs suspected to be working for Fayose were the first to rush to the State Headquarters to lodge a false complaint against them that they were on signage duty when Igbemo people attacked them.

    “One of the thugs who did most of the shooting with a pump action gun was seen in pictures with a bandage feigning head injury.

    “The victims who were released were rearrested on Saturday on the orders of the commissioner of police who said their houses should be searched because there was a complaint of gunrunning against them. We wonder the connection between signage officials and the petition against perceived opponents for gun running.

    “The people who languished in detention are the same people whose property and houses were vandalised and who were traumatised in the all-night shooting while the thugs who attacked them have turned the complainants and moving about freely. This is double jeopardy and injustice.”