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Tag: suspects

  • N62.3b NSITF fraud: Suspects offer minister $4m bribe to stop probe

    I Determined to stop the ongoing probe of a fraud in the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund(NSITF), some suspects have offered the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, a $4m bribe.

    The bribe was to be paid in two tranches, but the minister, who rejected the offer, has vowed to ensure the ongoing cleansing of the NSITF.

    He said in one day alone about N5billion was withdrawn from the NSITF’s account under questionable circumstances.

    Some labour leaders have been implicated in the NSITF fraud.

    Some of the labour leaders were said to be behind the nomination of a few members of the new board.

    The NSITF accounts in First Bank of Nigeria and other banks had recorded a total turnover of over N62, 358,401,927 between 2012 and 2015 from the Employee Compensation Scheme contributions.

    Of the N62.3b, the Federal Government contributed N13, 600,000,000; N48, 758,401,927.80 was contributed by the private sector.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a former NSITF Managing Director Umar Munir Abubakar, and four others for alleged diversion of N18billion of the money.

    The others are Deputy General Manager (Finance) Henry Ekhasomi Sambo; General Manager (Legal) Adebayo Adebowale Aderibigbe; Chief Richard U. Uche and Aderemi Adegboyega.

    The EFCC has also grilled and detained a former Chairman of the Fund, Dr. Ngozi Olojeme, for alleged diversion of $48,485,127 from the agency’s accounts.

    Apart from those on trial, some officials of the NSITF had been sent on compulsory leave to enable a nine-man Administrative Panel of Inquiry examine the challenges in NSITF.

    Those suspended are General Manager (Social Security) Ishmael Agaka; Deputy General Manager  (Internal Audit) Zwalda Ponkap; General Manager (Information) Catherine Ugbe; and General Manager (Compensation) Dr. Kelly Nwagha.

    Amid the trial and inquiry, an attempt was made to bribe the minister.

    A source said: “In the attempt to stop the administrative probe, some of those implicated sent an emissary to the minister to forget the past and gloss over the fraud which borders on diversion of PAYEE, pension funds and other remittances.

    “They offered a $4million bribe cash to be paid in two tranches to halt the inquiry and spare the suspects. They were really desperate to cover up.

    “The minister rejected the bait and told the front of the suspects that he would never be part of any under-the-table deal to cover up the looting of workers’ entitlements.

    “The desperation made the minister to be suspicious that there was more to the fraud in the system than meet the eye. We believe the administrative inquiry will assist the government to uncover the rot in NSITF.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “Actually, the ongoing probe of NSITF delayed the inauguration of the new board of the agency headed by Comrade Frank Kokori.

    “In fact, going by the latest revelations, some labour leaders have been fingered in the scam. These leaders were discovered to have influenced the nomination of one or two members of the board in order to cover up their tracks.

    “Some members of the new board need security checks in the light of the revelations from the investigation by the EFCC.

    “There is no way the new board can be inaugurated in the present circumstances in NSITF. We need to clean up the system for the new board to have a better take-off.”

    “The suspects are trying to fight back by rushing to the House of Representatives to raise dust, but the minister has sent a detailed report to the House on the depth of the large scale fraud in NSITF.”

    Ngige, who confirmed the bribe offer, said: “We will do our best to get to the roots of the scandal in NSITF; we will not allow any cover-up.

    “The administration of President Muhammadu Buuhari is committed to the anti-corruption campaign. We will leave no stone unturned to rid the system of bad eggs. We will allow the nine-man panel to do a thorough investigation.

    “Do you know that in one day alone, about N5billion was withdrawn from the account of NSITF for questionable purpose? The fraud we are looking into was perpetrated between 2011 and 2015.”

    During the inauguration of the panel, headed by Director of Finance and Accounts of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Ishaya A. Awotu, the minister said it would look into the financial state of the NSITF with a view to purging it of “negative trails inflicted on it by its last board and management”.

    Other members include: Mrs. P.O Odusanya from the office of the Auditor General of the Federation, Mr. S.U. Ukut from the National Salary Income and Wages Commission, Millicent Ikeotuonye from the Budget Office of the Federation and Eze Osuagwu, representing the Organised Private Sector.

    There were also representative of the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, Ibrahim Jilbia, who is director of Skills Acquisition and Certification as well as Mrs. D.E  Ajiboye, director, Social Security and Cooperative Development – both from the Ministry of labour and Employment.”

     

  • NDLEA arrests drug suspects

    Officials of Abia State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested three drug suspects on the premises of a primary school in Aba.

    The Commander, Dele Akingbade, said officials seized drugs weighing 800 grammes and a locally-made double barrel.

    Akingbade named the suspects as Charles Kelechi, 29, Osuji Uchechukwu, 22 and Obioha Lord Jenkins, 26.

    He said the arrests proved that “our men are determined to crack down on the activities of drug peddlers.”

    The NDLEA boss said that the suspects were being detained and questioned at their office in Aba.

  • Police parade 16 suspects

    Police parade 16 suspects

    Kano State Police Command yesterday paraded 16 suspected criminals for robbery and kidnapping.

    Spokesman Magaji Musa Majiya said the suspects, who robbed residents of Kurna Asabe, Tudun Bujuwa and Tudun Fulani, were led by an ex-convict, Auwalu Isa of Tudun Fulani quarters.

    He said Isa had just been released from prison for robbery after serving four years.

    Other suspects, Ukasha Ibrahim, Shehu Rabiu, Samshudeen Abdullah, Abubakar Abdullahi, Bashir Isa, among others, were arrested at flashpoints for attacking people and stealing  their belongings.

    Magaji said suspected kidnappers led by Jabir Usman Sule and Bashir Aminu of Cherinchi Gabas Dorayi quarters were nabbed for allegedly abducting a four-year old boy, demanding N2 million ransom from his father.

  • Oyo-born twins, 473 Boko Haram suspects freed

    Oyo-born twins, 473 Boko Haram suspects freed

    A Federal High Court convened at the Wawa Cantonment, Kainji, Niger State, has ordered the release of  475 Boko Haram suspects among them Oyo state-boen twins.

    The court, which is handling the trial of about 1,000 suspects held in the cantonment in relation to the Boko Haram crisis, ordered that those released should be sent to their state governments for proper rehabilitation. Media aide to Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF),m Abubakar Malami (SAN) stated this in a statement yesterday.

    Mr. Salihu Othman Isah said the court ordered the release of the Boko Haram suspects at its sitting on Friday.

    Isah said the suspects were arrested at different states and detained at Wawa Cantonment.

    He said their release was upon a motion ex-parte filed by the prosecution pursuant to Section 35 (4) of the Constitution.

    Isah said the prosecution sought their release because it could not charge them with any offence due to lack of sufficient evidence against them.

    He said they were detained based on the information that they belonged to the terrorist group Boko Haram.

    Part of the statement reads: “The court also directed states to provide for the released persons, rehabilitation at any appropriate centre provided by the states before being released to their families.

    “Those suspects who suffer from mental or other health challenges  are to be provided with necessary medical assistance at appropriate medical facilities.

    “The states are also to provide appropriate training in the manner and for the period that the state deemed appropriate and reasonable.

    “Among the list of the group released was a pathetic case of a female suspect, Lubabatu Yakubu who was arrested in 2014, two days after marriage and divorced by her Boko Haram husband.

    “Also freed was a young mother, with her three months old baby, Mariam Mohammed, said to be a Shua Arab from Borno State

    “She was said to have been lured into the Boko Haram sect and taken to Sambisa forest by her elder brother and married off to his friend at eleven years old.

    “Taye Hamza and Kehinde Hamza are identical twins from Oyo State. They were based in Bauchi State. They were among the lucky ones released.

    “The twins who were said to be motor mechanics, were arrested in 2010 by the DSS at their workshop in Bauchi State for servicing a vehicle belonging to a Boko Haram member.

    “A 35 year old, Haruna Yahaya who was earlier sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for participating in the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls from Chibok, Borno State on Monday, was on Friday handed additional 15 years jail term.

    “On Friday, the court sentenced him to additional 15 years imprisonment for being a mastermind of the said abduction.”

  • Falana seeks Attorneys General’s probe for failing to arraign murder suspects

    Falana seeks Attorneys General’s probe for failing to arraign murder suspects

    Activists Lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has requested the Nigerian Bar Association to investigate Attorneys General, who refused to prosecute murder suspects connected with the death of over 1,632 people between 1999 and 2017.

    The request was contained in a letter dated February 16 written to NBA President, Abubakar Mahmud.

    Falana said he made the request having confirmed that the rate of killings in the country has been on the ascendancy due to the refusal of several state Attorneys-General to prosecute murder suspects due to political pressure or sheer negligence of duty.

    Hailing the NBA leadership for deeming it fit to conduct an inquiry into the reckless killing of unarmed people in Benue State, he said it was disturbing that the NBA has failed to monitor the prosecution of the scores of murder  suspects arrested by the police or indicted  by the judicial and administrative panels of inquiry set up by the federal and state governments to probe violent civil disturbances in the country.

    Falana contended that since culpable homicide or murder is a state offence, the Attorneys-General of states ought to have ensured that the suspects arrested by the security agencies were prosecuted in line with the powers conferred on them by section 211 of the Constitution.

    “Having failed to prosecute the murder suspects, the Chief Law Officers of the states have breached their Oaths of Office and subverted the Rule of Law. It may interest you to know that some Attorneys-General have a penchant for terminating murder charges by filing nolle prosequi.

    “In order to put an end to the culture of impunity in the country, we are compelled to request the NBA to investigate the refusal of the Attorneys-General to prosecute the criminal elements who have engaged in the reckless killing of innocent citizens in several states of the federation,” the activist said.

    He said unless the NBA is prepared to sanction Attorneys-General, who fail or refuse to prosecute the murder suspects, the reckless killing of people by killer squads and armed bandits will continue unabated.

    Falana listed some of what he described as acts of negligence on the part of the prosecutorial authorities.

    He said: “Between 1999 and 2007, an official squad was fingered in the unlawful elimination of not less than 70 people in Gombe State. The murder charges filed against the suspects by  the police were struck out by the courts at the instance of the state government. The late Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan, who demanded for the prosecution of the culprits was charged with  giving false information to the police by the state government.

    “The members of an official squad which killed some politicians and students in Ekiti State from 2003-2006 were arrested by the police and charged with murder at the High Court sitting at Ado Ekiti…”

  • Police nab seven robbery suspects

    Police nab seven robbery suspects

    Sokoto State Police Command has arrested seven suspected robbers in operations in Bodinga and Yabo local governments.

    The suspects were members of two gangs terrorising residents.

    In the first operation, three persons were arrested, while in the second patrol, four suspects were nabbed.

    The command said it recovered from the suspects two locally- made pistols, one AK47 rifle with two live cartridges, a machete, sticks and a knife.

    Police spokesperson Cordelia Nweke said the gang, which had been terrorising the area in the last five years, was led by Ahmed Abubakar, said to be from Kwara State.

    She said they were arrested on February 8 after storming the home of Alhaji Bello of Saketa village and robbing him of unspecified huge amount.

     

  • Four robbery suspects killed in Delta

    Four suspected robbers were yesterday killed during a shootout with men of the Delta State Police Command in Sapele.

    The Nation learnt that the suspects, who had been on the wanted list, were accosted at a popular brothel in Sapele, following a tip-off.

    Although their identities could not be ascertained last night, a police source told The Nation in Warri that they were members of a notorious gang led by a man simply called Ahmed and had been terrorising Sapele and its environs.

    The source said the suspects had earlier robbed residents and retired to the brothel. He said luck, however, ran out on them when men of the anti-robbery squad received a tip-off about their whereabouts.

    Police spokesman Andrew Aniamaka confirmed the incident.

  • Police arrest 130 over Benue mayhem

    Police arrest 130 over Benue mayhem

    No fewer than 130 suspects are now in Police custody  over the recent threat to peace in Benue State.

    The detainees include those being held for killings in parts of the state   and attacks on residents of Makurdi, the state capital.

    “The number of those arrested is high. The number is not necessarily restricted to a certain category,” Police Deputy Inspector General (Operations) Habila Joshak said yesterday on the phone.

    Joshak is assisting Inspector General Ibrahim Idris to co-ordinate police operations to contain the recent mayhem in the state.

    He had been contacted to assess the security situation in the state, two weeks after the burial of 73 victims of Fulani herdsmen attacks.

    President Muhammadu Buhari subsequently directed Idris to move to the state to stop the security challenge.

    Joshak said: “There were attempts to cause security challenges in the city of Makurdi, around the Wadata area.

    “Some houses were attacked and cars vandalised, so, those involved were also rounded up. About 130 have been arrested altogether over the disturbances in the city.

    “In the areas earlier affected by the violent crisis, some arrests have been made.”

    He said relative peace has now returned to the state and more police personnel deployed to keep  trouble makers away.

    Continuing, the DIG said: “Assessing the performance of security officers or the situation on ground is based largely on the perception of the citizens themselves.

    “You may be thinking that you are succeeding or doing something significant in the security template and people may be thinking otherwise.

    “On the other hand, you may assume that you have not done so much because of limited time and number of activities while what you have done may be of extremely significant impact to the people.

    “However, we have been able to stop some of the nefarious activities that were going on in some local governments, particularly in Guma and Logo as well as Agatu area of Benue state.

    “Beyond that, our coming has assisted in coordinating activities by analyzing and assessing threats from one location to another. The IGP is coordinating and making a lot of inputs. He has convened several stakeholders meetings in both Benue and Nassarawa states.”

    Joshak said the massive deployment of more personnel has also assisted the police in bringing the situation under control.

    His words: “We have done massive deployment of personnel. Outside the normal presence on ground, the reinforcement at the Nassarawa state end is eight units; each unit comprises 63 policemen.

    “In Benue state, there are 10 additional units. Outside the ten units, we have a highly specialized unit that was trained in Belarus, with the military who formed the initial action plan and those who actually started the conduct of the action against Boko Haram in the Northeast.

    “They can be said to be a counter-terrorism unit but they are more than that, having done some highly specialized training with the military in Belarus. They can be airlifted and dropped to repel anywhere. Their duty is to go in, fight and come back.”

    He acknowledged  the contribution of the people of the state in making the job of the police easier.

    “We are succeeding in what we call confidence-building in all the local government areas that had (security) challenges,” he said.

    “Members of the public in these areas are cooperating effectively with us. We are also engaging the youths who also assist us in understanding the terrain towards identifying where to patrol and where to do deployments.

    “They are also participating effectively in monitoring and gathering of intelligence as to possibility or sighting of insurgents or armed people who may be trying to advance into any community.

    “Since we came, things have largely been quiet but we have come in contact with armed militia men. They tried to make an incursion in one position that is motorized by our sister outfit.

    “They were warded off but not without exchange (of fire). Some of our people have been redeployed to that place. You can call those people militia. They entered a community (in Guma local government area) and set the community ablaze.

    “Our operation is ongoing and it is fully on course.

    “The good news is that a lot of communities have keyed in into our efforts for security and confidence-building and we are seeing results. Our area of concentration is the safety of lives and property, including dealing with the marauding gangs. We are putting an effective check on such illegality.”

    The DIG was optimistic that people who were displaced by the mayhem would soon return home.

    “People want to really feel safe before returning home but I can assure you that some of the internally-displaced persons are finding adequate confidence for going back to their villages.

    “We still have some work to do by ensuring that anybody found to be illegally armed is not spared. This is because it is illegitimate for anybody, except those licensed or authorized, to carry arms.

    “The Commissioner of Police here has drawn up standard operating procedures and points where people are searched for illegal arms before passing through. We are also checking to endure that nobody carries arms in the name of self-help because such will not help the community or the society at large. We engage the people and the state government and we discuss meaningfully on a steady, regular basis.

    “The state government has been cooperative and local governments have keyed in completely into our efforts.”

  • Customs rakes in N5.9b, arrests 179 suspects

    Customs rakes in N5.9b, arrests 179 suspects

    The Nigeria Customs Service ( NCS ), Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’ Ikeja, Lagos,  generated N5.9billion from its anti-smuggling operations last year, and arrested 179 suspects.

    Speaking with The Nation yesterday,  its Area Controller, Mohammed Uba Garba, said the unit intercepted contraband with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of  N4,004,258,331.52 between January and December last year.

    The unit recovered  N1,956,022,531.65 from duty payments and demand notices on  goods imported through seaports, airports and land borders.

    “In 2017, we arrested 179 suspects in connection to these 1,046 different seizures comprising foreign parboiled rice, frozen poultry products, vegetable oil, smuggled vehicles, Indian hemp, arms, fake pharmaceutical/medicaments and various general merchandise.

    ” In spite of the challenges we faced last year, we happy to say that we recorded the highest seizures and revenue so far in the history of Federal Operations, Ikeja, ” he said.

    Mohammed attributed the feat to the leadership provided by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali, and his management team for their efforts in recognising hard work and putting square begs in square holes.

    Without the Management motivation and necessary logistic support, he said, “we won’t have achieved this feat within this period.”

    The Controller also commanded the commitment and diligence of his officers and men for thwarting the antics of some dare devil smugglers who used different methods to deceive the service.

    Mohammed urged his officers to be professional and diligent in carrying out their responsibilities.

    “All hands must be on deck in the fight against these economic saboteurs who mean no good for the economy. We appreciate the efforts of all security and sister agencies like the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police, NDLEA,NAFDAC, SON and their cooperation towards winning the war against smuggling within our area of operation,” he said.

  • Ibadan clash: Police to charge suspects to court soon

    Ibadan clash: Police to charge suspects to court soon

    Oyo State Police Commissioner Abiodun Odude yesterday warned various youth groups terrorising Ibadan, the state capital, to embrace peace or face the wrath of the law.

    The police chief said the 18 suspects arrested for disturbing public peace in Ibadan, the state capital, would soon be charged to court.

    On Tuesday and Wednesday, suspected louts and other hoodlums from Foko and Itamaya launched what they called Operation No Mercy against their rival groups at Oke-Ado in Ibadan.

    In the melee, several persons were injured from gunshots, machete cuts, stabbing with knives and broken bottles.

    Property estimated at millions of naira were also destroyed.

    Odude spoke yesterday when he visited the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso I, at his Popoyemoja palace, after inspecting the affected areas, such as Oke-Ado, Foko, Apena, Gege, Isale Osi, Born Photo, Oopoyeosa and Popoyemoja.

    The police chief warned parents to caution their children against affray.

    Oba Adetunji prayed for God’s protection for policemen in the discharge of their duties.

    The frontline monarch said he had been briefed on the fracas and summoned the family heads (mogajis) of the affected communities and their environs to an emergency meeting with a view to finding a lasting solution to incessant mayhem in volatile areas of the city.

    According to him, the number of suspects arrested in connection with the mayhem has risen from 14 to 18, saying: “We are screening them and we will charge them to court.”

    The crisis reportedly commenced on Tuesday night and lasted till Wednesday morning before police restored normalcy to the area.

    According to accounts, the hoodlums burgled some homes, destroyed some shops and other property estimated at millions of naira.

    Oba Adetunji said weapons, such as guns, cutlasses, cudgels and broken bottles were reportedly used during the fight.

    Odude said: “It was just a breach of the peace. The ‘Area Boys’ tried to be funny with themselves. But we thank God, they did not kill anybody, and they did not even kill one another.

    “We have been on this matter for three days, persistently, day and night. The ‘Area Boys’ would just come out, attack one another and withdraw. We have been on their necks.

    “We have visited the scenes to see what is going on and see if we can identify the leaders, talk to them and make sure we keep this town as peaceful as possible. We are not going to give any of these boys a chance. Anyone of them we get, we’ll deal with him according to the law.

    “Residents of the affected areas and other parts of Oyo State should just live peacefully. We are on top of the situation.

    “But parents should appeal to their children not to get involved in crimes, irrespective of the situation. Unemployment is not an excuse for going into crimes. If children get involved in crimes, it can lead to something bigger than this.”