Home Blog Page 1002

FCT Police arrests man for defiling 10-year-old

Ijeoma OPARA
-
0
FCT Police arrests man for defiling 10-year-old

THE Police Command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has arrested a resident of Apo, Adekola Adeshina, suspected of sexually abusing a 10-year-old girl.

In a statement by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) Josephine Adeh on Sunday, March 26, Adeshina, 48, was arrested by officials of the Apo Divisional Police Headquarters after his neighbour laid a complaint on Thursday, March 23, alleging that he had abused her 10-year-old daughter.

“The suspect, shortly after being arrested and interrogated, voluntarily elected in a written statement to have carried out the dastardly act severally,” Adeh noted.

The PRO also revealed that the child had been sent for medical examinations following the arrest while the suspect remained in detention.

“Meanwhile, the suspect remains in police custody and will be charged in court upon the conclusion of the investigation,” she noted.

Commissioner of Police (CP) Sadiq Idris Abubakar urged parents and guardians to pay better attention to their children or wards and put adequate measures in place to guard against sexual abuse.

“The Commissioner of Police equally enjoins members of the public to be vigilant and make  prompt rendition of calls/complaints through the following emergency lines: 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653, and 08028940883, while the Public Complaint Bureau (PCB) desk, could be reached on: 0902 222 2352,” Adeh noted.

NDLEA intercepts Asian-bound cocaine, meth at Lagos airport

Bankole ABE
-
0
NDLEA intercepts Asian-bound cocaine, meth at Lagos airport

THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a businessman, Molokwu Nwachukwu, for concealing 36 parcels of cocaine in different parts of his check-in bags, hand luggage and two pairs of slippers while heading to Southeast Asia.

According to the NDLEA, Nwachukwu, who frequents China, Dubai, Pakistan, and Vietnam, was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos.

This was disclosed by the spokesperson of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday, March 26.

“Molokwu was arrested at the screening point of the MMIA Terminal 2 while attempting to board his flight to Vietnam on Wednesday, March 22.

“A total of thirty-six parcels of whitish powdery substance that tested positive for Cocaine with a gross weight of 1.00 kilogram were recovered from the handles of his bags and soles of two pairs of slippers in his luggage.

Molokwu NwachukwuCredit: NDLEA
Molokwu Nwachukwu
Credit: NDLEA

“The suspect claims he travels frequently to China, Dubai, Pakistan and Vietnam, from where he imports baby wears he distributes from his Onitsha, Anambra state base,” the Agency stated.

In the same vein, NDLEA operatives at the Lagos airport have thwarted an attempt by a suspect, Chimezie Innocent Nwafor, to export 2.10 kilograms of methamphetamine to Brazil.

The anti-narcotic agency said follow-up operations led to the arrest of three more suspects linked to the consignment at Oyingbo market, Yaba, Lagos.

Chimezie Innocent NwaforCredit: NDLEA
Chimezie Innocent Nwafor
Credit: NDLEA

“They include Ifeanyi Onu, Simon Nwuzor, and Omini ThankGod Peter. The meth consignment was moulded into 25 bars of local black soup called Dudu Osun and packaged in a carton for export to Brazil.

“A similar attempt to export a cocaine consignment consisting of 300grams of raw cocaine and 200grams of phenacetin, a chemical agent used to adulterate and increase the volume of cocaine, concealed in packs of air freshener, going to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, was also foiled by NDLEA operatives attached to the SAHCO export shed at the Lagos airport on Monday March 20,” the NDLEA said.

The agency added that a a suspect, Onyeze Obiora, has already been arrested regarding the seizure.

Onyeze ObioraCredit: NDLEA
Onyeze Obiora
Credit: NDLEA

According to the NDLEA, another bid by an intending passenger to Reggio, Italy, Osasere MacDonald, to export 500grams of tramadol 225mg concealed inside a carton of indomie noodles on Tuesday, March 21 was equally frustrated by vigilant officers who seized the drugs and arrested him.

Reuters report: Army denies involvement in illegal abortions before investigative panel

Ijeoma OPARA
-
0
Reuters report: Army denies involvement in illegal abortions before investigative panel

THE Nigerian Army has refuted allegations that it forcefully aborted about 10,000 pregnancies in the North-East.

A report by Reuters had accused the Nigerian Army of engaging in the forced abortions and other human rights abuses as part of its campaign against the Boko Haram terror group.

The Army has denied the allegations before an investigative panel.

Testifying before the investigative panel, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Farouk Yahaya described the Reuters report as an attack aimed at undermining the military’s success in fighting terrorism.

“Some people are gifted in writing just like in novels, describing what they never witnessed forgetting that in the military, if you waste any ammunition, you will be court-martialled. We are not a mercenary Army, we are a professional Army.

“We are succeeding and not many are happy that we are succeeding, they cannot reverse our successes therefore they rubbish it,” he said.

Yahaya accused the media organisation of reporting falsehoods rather than documenting the efforts of the Army in fighting terrorism. He added that the Army respects human life in it’s operations.

He also denied allegations that children sired by Book Haram members were massacred by the military.

“This is laughable because even if there is stigma attached to such children, is it the Army that will stop the stigma?” he asked.

Reuters had indicted the Nigerian Army for running a secret program that has ended at least 10,000 pregnancies without the consent of the women involved who had been kidnapped, raped or forcefully married to terrorists in the North-East.

The report published in December 2022 claimed that the victims, some of who were as young as twelve years old, were deceived into taking injections that ended their pregnancies under false assurance that it was medication to restore health.

Reuters alleged that the scheme was aimed at ridding society of terrorists’ descendants and had been running secretly since 2013.

The Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) Lucky Irabor had earlier denied the claims made in the report, describing them as nonsense and untrue.

Technology will be deployed to enhance credibility of 2023 census – NOA

Ijeoma OPARA
-
0
Technology will be deployed to enhance credibility of 2023 census – NOA

THE Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) Garba Abari has said the 2023 population and housing census will be conducted with the use of technology to enhance the credibility of the process.

He disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday, March 26.

‘’This is one census that is going to be different from previous ones. To enhance the credibility of the exercise, this census is going to be digital,” Abari said.

He noted that the National Population Commission (NPC) was adequately prepared for the forthcoming census.

‘’In the house listing and numbering, the National Population Commission (NPC) has perfected the space and got the point much beyond what google has done in the mapping.

‘’In terms of specificity and the correctness of the capture of every house and hamlet in Nigeria, NPC has gone far beyond what google had done.

‘’We may not say that we are absolutely 100 per cent correct, but 99 per cent of all houses, structures within the enclave of Nigeria’s territory had been captured digitally, far beyond what google can provide in terms of specificity,” he said.

He said the absence of technology in previous demographic polls had impaired the process and resulted in unreliable data.

‘’It was looked at from the prism of one region is larger than the other; one state is bigger than another, one local government is bigger than another, one senatorial district is bigger than another.

‘’And in the process, you miss out the most important element of the programme, which is getting sufficient data for planning.

“But the 2023 census is going to be a scientific census; a digital census that responds to the reality of today, responds to the information and technological revolution; it is a census that is aimed at bringing in credible, acceptable, open and transparent force,’’ he said.

SERAP urges INEC to investigate governors over electoral violence

Mustapha USMAN
-
0
SERAP urges INEC to investigate governors over electoral violence

THE Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to urgently appoint an independent counsel to investigate allegations of electoral violence and bribery against state governors during the just concluded general elections.

The organisation, in a letter signed by its deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare on March 25, also urged the electoral body to  “promptly and effectively investigate reports of electoral violence and other electoral offences committed during the general elections, and to identify suspected perpetrators and their sponsors, and ensure their effective prosecution, regardless of their political status or affiliations”.

Oluwadare said the perpetrators of election violence and their sponsors have clearly acted in violation of constitutional provisions, international standards and the Electoral Act.

 “Section 52 of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, allows INEC to seek the appointment of an independent counsel to investigate allegations of electoral violence and other electoral offences such as bribery that may have been committed by any state governors and/or their deputies.”

SERAP further added that INEC should seek collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and other law enforcement agencies to identify any politicians and their sponsors suspected to be responsible for electoral violence and other electoral offences during the elections

Parts of the letter read: “Identifying, arresting, investigating and prosecuting those suspected of perpetrating electoral violence and other electoral offences during the 2023 general elections would act as a deterrent against electoral violence in future elections.

“We would be grateful if immediate steps are taken to implement the recommended measures within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel INEC to comply with our request in the public interest.

“Acting swiftly to address the brazen impunity and reports of electoral violence and other electoral offences during the 2023 general elections would also send a strong message to politicians that the INEC under your leadership would not tolerate any infringement of the electoral process.

“Electoral violence is a threat to fair and representative elections. It is inconsistent and incompatible with the principles of democracy, the rule of law, transparency and accountability for politicians to allegedly use violence to disrupt the electoral process.

“When politicians and their sponsors decide to engage in electoral violence and other electoral offences rather than contest fairly for people’s votes, there are possibilities that such politicians will show a disregard for democratic rules and a disposition to adopt illegal means becomes inevitable.

“If voting is as important as INEC always claims it is, now is the time to take meaningful steps and action to end impunity for electoral violence and other electoral offences during elections.

“Ending impunity for electoral violence and other electoral offences promote accountability of suspected perpetrators and their sponsors, ensure justice for victims, and ultimately advance the people’s right to vote and to participate in their own government, as well as bolster voter confidence in the electoral process.

“Identifying, investigating, naming and shaming those suspected to be involved in electoral violence and other electoral offences during the 2023 general elections will also send a powerful message to politicians and their sponsors that they will not get away with their crime against the Nigerian people.

“Electoral violence and other electoral offences reportedly committed during the 2023 general elections are contrary to the express provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, the Electoral Act and international standards.

“Electoral violence and other electoral offences undermine the ability of INEC to discharge its responsibilities under Section 153 of the Nigerian Constitution and paragraph 15(a) of the third schedule of the Constitution, and the Electoral Act 2022.

“The Nigerian Constitution provides in Section 14(1)(c) that, ‘the participation by the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.’

“Sections 121 and 127 of the Electoral Act prohibit electoral bribery and undue influence before, during and after any election. Section 145(2) provides that, ‘a prosecution under this Act shall be undertaken by legal officers of the Commission or any legal practitioner appointed by it.’ Under section 2(b), the commission ‘shall have power to promote knowledge of sound democratic election processes.’

“According to our information, the just concluded presidential and national assembly elections and governorship elections in some states witnessed widespread reports of voter suppression, voter intimidation and the destruction or theft of election materials by political party agents and thugs across all six geopolitical zones.

“According to a report by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), several polling units recorded violence and/or fighting across the country.

“These violent incidents were often focused in political strongholds of opposition or perceived opponents which suggest that the use of BVAS – which limits overvoting when properly used – has resulted in a more concerted effort to stymie citizens casting their votes in opponent’s strongholds.

“Similar incidents of intimidation were reported in all geo-political zones.

“In several states, political thugs, apparently with the support of law enforcement officials, disrupted and sent back voters intending to vote for opposition parties. Party agents were reported to be directing people who to vote for while those unwilling to do as directed were denied ballot papers and forced to leave the polling units.

“There were reports of destruction of used ballot papers and vandalization of entire polling units in some states. Violence was also used to target BVAS machines in order to disrupt the process and ensure the cancellation of results.

“According to the CDD, there are reports of vote trading in zones across the country, with both cash and goods used by all political parties in an effort to entice voters to cast their ballots at their direction. The CDD noted vote buying at polling units during the elections across the country.”

PDP rejects Ogun governorship election result

Beloved JOHN
-
0
PDP rejects Ogun governorship election result

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the result of the March 18 gubernatorial election in Ogun State.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the incumbent, Governor Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the election.

However, PDP said it observed “with concern” that the result as declared by INEC is completely at variance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 and Guidelines issued by the Commission for the conduct of the election.

The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, March 26.

Ologunagba said INEC did not consider the cancelled votes and the margin between the APC and PDP about the number of permanent voter cards collected in areas where the election did not hold.

He described the state election as a gross violation of the law.

“It is instructive for INEC to note that with the cancelled votes, the margin of lead between Mr Adedapo Abiodun of the APC and the PDP governorship Candidate, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu is not in excess of the total number of permanent voters cards (PVCs) collected in polling units where election did not hold or cancelled by INEC, citing disruption of polls.

“Whereas the number of permanent voters cards (PVCs) collected in places where elections were not held or cancelled is 33,750, the margin of lead between the two candidates as announced by INEC returning officer is 13,915, thereby invalidating the declaration and return made by INEC.

“In such circumstance, Section 24 (3) (4) of the Electoral Act, 2022 expressly mandates INEC to appoint a new date for the conduct of the polls in the polling units where the election did not hold or cancelled before any return can be made.

“The hurried declaration of the APC candidate by the INEC returning officer as the winner is. Therefore, a declaration made contrary to the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, regulations and guidelines stipulated by INEC for the election.

“In a situation such as this, the only option available to INEC is to exercise its powers under Section 65 (1) of the Electoral Act, 2022 to review the wrongful declaration and return made within seven days,” the PDP spokesperson said.

Abiodun was declared winner of the governorship election with 276,298 votes.

His closest rival, Oladipupo Adebutu, candidate of the PDP, came second with 262,383 votes.

DSS cautions politicians against inciting statements

Theophilus ADEDOKUN
-
0
DSS cautions politicians against inciting statements

THE  Department of State Service (DSS) has warned politicians against making inciting statement that can lead to anarchy.

The DSS had earlier urged dissatisfied politicians to abide by the rules of engagement and approach the courts for redress over grievances arising from the just concluded elections.

In a statement released on Saturday, March 25, by its spokesperson Peter Afunanya, the DSS noted that politicians should adopt the approach that would enhance peace, stability and security in the country.

The DSS warned that it would not tolerate attempt by persons or groups to take laws into their hands and champion anarchy.

“Those peddling fake news, hate speech and all forms of false narratives as basis to ignite violence or pit the people against the present or incoming administrations, at the Federal, State and Parliamentary levels, should stop forthwith. Those inciting violence have nothing to gain as doing so will not only consume them but also the innocent.

“It is otherwise disturbing to see respected personalities use their platforms to mislead or incite citizens. This, to say the least, does not augur well for peaceful coexistence and general order,” the statement said.

The DSS, however, reiterated its resolve to adopt necessary measures to checkmate politicians and political actors inciting violence to enable Nigerians live in a conducive environment.

The ICIR reported that All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign spokesperson, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, had accused Labour Party presidential and vice presidential candidates Peter Obi and Datti Baba-Ahmed of making incendiary comments that were capable of causing rebellion and violence.

Fintiri vs Binani: INEC promises credible supplementary poll in Adamawa

Beloved JOHN
-
0
Fintiri vs Binani: INEC promises credible supplementary poll in Adamawa

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has vowed to ensure that the supplementary election in Adamawa State is credible and seamless.

INEC Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, made the pledge on Saturday in Abuja while addressing a group of women protesting the Commission’s decision to declare the Adamawa guber election as inconclusive.

The women had stormed the INEC headquarters to protest the alleged denial of victory to the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator Aishatu Dahiru Binani in the March 18 governorship election.

Read Also:

The protesters were led by the President of the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), Hajiya Lami Lau.

INEC had earlier in the week declared the March 18 governorship election in Adamawa inconclusive.

According to the Commission, cancelled votes in the election were more than the margin of victory between the incumbent, Adamawa State governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Ahmadu Fintiri, and the runner-up, Binani of the APC.

The Commission said it will fix a new date for re-run elections in areas where the exercise did not hold on March 18.

Speaking to the protesters, INEC Commissioner for Information and Voter Education Okoye said the responsibility of the Commission as an electoral management body was to provide a platform for the people of the state to exercise their franchise.

He noted that although the platform was provided, the election was inconclusive.

“We regard our role in INEC as public trust; any individual, group or organisations with any grievance or complaint are free to come here and voice or ventilate their grievances.

“The people of Adamawa are the only ones with the right to elect their governor; those of us in the Commission and Nigerians from other states have no vote in Adamawa.

“Any individual not from Adamawa and who does not reside in the state has no vote. It is only the people of the state that will determine who their next governor will be.

“We will go back and give the state’s people the opportunity to have a conclusion relating to their governorship election.

“The Commission will go back to Adamawa and conduct a supplementary election that Nigerians and the international community will be proud of,” he said.

Ex Chief of General Staff Oladipo Diya dies at 79

Ehime ALEX
-
0
Ex Chief of General Staff Oladipo Diya dies at 79

GENERAL Oladipo Diya, former Chief of General Staff (CGS), is dead, his family disclosed on Sunday, March 26.

His death was announced in a statement issued by his son, Prince Oyesinmilola Diya.

“On behalf of the entire Diya family, both at home and abroad, we announce the passing on to Glory of our dear Husband, Father, Grandfather, and Brother, Lt. General Donaldson Oladipo Oyeyinka Diya (retd).

“Our dear Daddy passed onto glory in the early hours of 26th March 2023. Please keep us in your prayers as we mourn his demise in this period. Further announcements will be made public in due course,” the statement read.

Diya served under the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha.

He was born on April 3, 1944 at Odogbolu in Ogun State.

He joined the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna and fought during the Nigerian Civil War.

He was appointed CGS in 1993 and Vice Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council in 1994.

As CGS, Diya was second in command and the de facto vice president of Nigeria under Abacha from 1994.

1...1,0011,0021,003...3,439Page 1,002 of 3,439