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Police Nab Notorious Kidnap Gang, Parade Suspects

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Police Nab Notorious Kidnap Gang, Parade Suspects

 

The Nigerian Police, On Monday, at the Police Headquarters in Abuja, Paraded a gang of six kidnappers that were allegedly responsibly for several high profile kidnappings in Kaduna and other States across the country.

Force Public Relations Officer, Don Awunah, said the arrest of the suspects was a result of the efforts of the force under Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, who had ordered that no criminal enterprise flourishes in the country undetected.

Awunah narrated how the “vicious and very notorious kidnap gang” was arrested by men of the IGP Intelligence Response Team, IRT, on January 1, 2017 after sustained surveillance.

He said the gang had terrorised Kaduna and its neighbouring States, and were “responsible for the kidnap of several important personalities in the recent past.

The paraded suspects are Dominic Nwakpa aka Alhaji, Ifeanyi Chukwu, Balat Paul, Ibrahim Samuel aka IB, Jatau Peter, Clinton Abere and Afini Paul – Younger sister to the driver of the gang and also owner of the house where kidnapped victims are kept.

The Force spokesman narrated that “the gang was smashed with the arrest of Dominic Nwakpa, A.K.A ALHAJI, who is the gang leader, in Lagos state, while four other principal suspects and members of the gang, namely Balat Paul, driver of the gang, Ibrahim Samuel aka “IB” and Jatau Peter – a dismissed Policeman were arrested on the 1st January, 2017 in their hideouts at Dan Hassan Road Ungwa Boro Kaduna.”

He added that Afini Paul “a female member who cooks for the gang and the victims, rented the house at Yusuf Patrick close, Mararaba Rido, Kaduna where victims are kept before ransom money is collected, was arrested at their hideout in Kaduna.

“Ifeanyi Chukwu the 2nd in command of the gang was arrested in a Hotel at the Ogbor Hill area of (Aba) Abia State,” and he confessed to be among the gang that “kidnapped a former Minister of State for foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bagudu Hirse on the 20th November, 2016 in GRA, Kaduna and collected ransom before he was released,” Awunah stated.

Chukwu also confessed of having participated in many other kidnappings within and outside Kaduna, Abia, Imo, Rivers, and Delta States.

The Force PRO also stated that “The same gang confessed to the kidnap of Dr. Abdulmalik Durunguwa and his wife in their residence at different intervals in Kaduna. Ransom was also collected by the gang from the family of the victims before they were released.

“A Member of Kaduna State House of Assembly Hon. Ibrahim Samaila was also kidnapped by the gang on 26/8/2016 at Abakpa area of Kaduna State and an undisclosed ransom money was collected by the gang before his release,” he added.

Awunah said that the last suspect Clinton Abere was trailed and arrested in a Hotel in Lagos on January 6 after he tried to escape by jumping out of the window of his hotel room on sighting policemen.

“He is currently receiving treatment at Police Hospital from injury he sustained in the process of attempting to escape arrest,” he said, before adding that “All the seven suspects … confessed and admitted to the various criminal roles they played in the commission of the crimes (and) will be arraigned in court on completion of investigation.

Items recovered from the suspects include: 2 English made Pump Action Guns, 131 rounds of AK 47 ammunition, Police Camouflage uniform, two Military face caps, 2 Operational vehicles, among others.

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In a related development, the Force PRO told journalists that two other suspects were arrested for “criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, kidnapping, unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.”

They are: Maisamari Dan Katsina and Bulus Jatau, a Dismissed Police man.

1 Pump Action gun, 1 Berretta Pistol, 4 English Revolver pistols, 50 rounds of 9mm live ammunition and 1 expended, 31 live cartridges, 1 fake firearm license, 1 Golf car, 1 Prado Jeep, 1 Toyota cricket, 1 Toyota corolla and 1 set of camouflage Police uniform was recovered from the suspects.

“Effort is being intensified to arrest the remaining members of this notorious gang at large. They will be charged to court on completion of investigation,” Awunah stated.

The Force spokesman reiterated the resolve of the IGP as well as that of the entire Police Force “to work assiduously to further reduce the rate of crime and criminality across the Country, especially kidnap for ransom and other violent crimes.”

He urged Nigerians “to always be law abiding, volunteer useful information to the Police in their localities and see themselves as stakeholders with the Force in making the country safer.”

Adamawa: Police Explains Encounter With Armed Herdsmen

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Adamawa: Police Explains Encounter With Armed Herdsmen

 

By Musa Isa Ahmed Yola

The Nigerian Police Command in Adamawa has said about 400 yet to be identified armed Fulani herdsmen invaded Gidan Dadi and Karlahi villages of Demsa Local Government of the state last Saturday killing scores of residents, including police officers.

The attack happened few hours after a government delegation led by the Adamawa state deputy governor delivered relief materials to the community over attacks by unknown Fulani gunmen in August, 2016.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Othman Abubakar said, “About 400 fulani militia overrun the villages  killing 3 officers, 2 other officers are missing and 4 riffles belonging to the police force are also missing.”

He added that “the police killed several of the Fulani militia but they were able to leave with the corpses of their men.”

The Adamawa state government has condemned the attacks on Kwayine, Gidan Dadi and Karlahi villages in Demsa local government as, “unfortunate, unwarranted and totally unacceptable.”

In a statement issued by the Adamawa state commissioner of Information and strategy, Ahmad Sajoh, the government said the action of the herdsmen was ’’capable of derailing the peace process initiated by the state government.”

Governor Muhammadu Jibrilla has directed security agencies to deploy more security personnel to the area to ensure that the security of lives and properties in the area is “adequately guaranteed.”

Some residents of the three villages who spoke to press men said, several people were killed and their houses burnt down. Residents blamed the repeated attacks on their communities on the state government’s failure to act decisively and in good time.

They said government had sufficient information on the alleged perpetrators since they had met with them and even paid compensation.

However, while delivering relief materials to Kodomun community last Saturday, the deputy governor, Martins Babale,  said government’s action  was guided by the recommendations of the Joshua Atiku led panel of inquiry into the crisis.

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Multiple Bomb Attacks Hit Borno State

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Multiple Bomb Attacks Hit Borno State

 

 

The battle against the Boko Haram insurgency in the North Eastern region of Nigeria may be far from over as the insurgents seem to have upped the scale of suicide attacks in Borno State.

Multiple explosions were reported in Maiduguri, the Borno State Capital and its environs Sunday night.

Local sources told reporters that a suicide bomber attacked a Civilian Joint Task Force, CJTF, check point around Muna garage while another set of bombers attacked Kalleri ward.

The Daily Trust Newspaper quoted one Alhaji Mala, a resident of Kalleri that three people were killed Sunday night by the bombers.

“They would knock on our doors when we open, they quickly grabbed people and detonated IEDs,” Mala was quoted as saying.

Similarly, a Nigerian army officer and five soldiers were killed on Saturday evening in an attack by suspected Boko Haram militants on the 27 Taskforce Brigade of the Nigeria Army in Buni Yadi, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State.

A military source told journalists that some of the affected soldiers have spent over 20 years in active service, adding that the slain captain had just been posted to the Brigade before the attack.

The source also said that the casualty on the side of Boko Haram could not be ascertained because most of them fled with bullet wounds and many copses were seen scattered in the bush.

Spokesman of the Brigade, George Okupe, confirmed that there was indeed an attack, but he could not confirm the casualty figure, saying that the army authorities were on the trail of the militants and details were not available.

Recall that the Nigerian military had on Christmas eve 2016 announced the capture of the Sambisa Forest, and with it, the end of the insurgency.

It also said that leader of the terrorist group, Abubakar Shekau, had escaped during the operation, leaving behind his flag and Quran, which the army said it later recovered and would present to President Muhammadu Buhari.

But two days after, Shekau appeared in a video posted on the internet by the insurgent group, urging President Buhari and the Military to stop lying to Nigerians.

The Boko Haram leader said that the group were safe and had not be destroyed as claimed by the army, vowing that the fight to establish an Islamic caliphate in the whole of Northern Nigeria would continue.

Justice Okon Abang Transferred Out Of Abuja, Others Too

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Justice Okon Abang Transferred Out Of Abuja, Others Too

 

Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has been transferred out of the federal capital territory as part of a redeployment exercise initiated by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta.

Abang became popular in recent times for delivering several controversial judgements, among which was ordering the removal of the Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, for alleged tax fraud.

He was also the Judge at the centre of the leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, having ruled that the party’s national convention during which Ali Modu-Sheriff was removed as the PDP national chairman, was illegal, and that the former Borno State governor remained the authentic chairman of the party.

Also affected by the redeployment exercise was Justice Mohammed Liman of the Port Harcourt division of the federal high court.

Justice Liman on his part has consistently delivered series of favourable judgements for the Ahmed Makarfi-led faction of the PDP.

Recall that justice Liman was among the judges fingered by the Department of State Services, DSS, for corruption. His residence was also raided by the DSS but the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, got wind of the operation and stormed the place and prevented the Judge from being whisked away.

According to the redeployment letter, dated December 21, 2016 and addressed to “All Judges of Federal High Courts”, Justice Abang was redeployed from Abuja to Asaba Division, Delta State, while Justice Liman was redeployed from Port Harcourt to Enugu Division.

The Chief Judge of the federal high court explained that the reshuffling became necessary “in view of the fact some divisions are currently short of judges following the recent developments in the court.

He further stated that the “affected judges are expected to resume in their new divisions by January 30, 2017,” but “shall continue with the hearing of criminal cases currently before them.”

Other judges affected by the exercise include Justice A.O. Faji – Asaba to Lagos; Justice Mallong Hoommuk – Port Harcourt to Lafia; Justice S. Saidu – Lagos to Port Harcourt; Justice B.O. Quadri – Port Harcourt to Abuja and Justice R. M. Aikawa – Sokoto to Lagos.

Others are, Justice Saleh Idrissa – Kano to Sokoto; Justice J.K. Omotosho – Kano to Port Harcourt; Justice H.I.O. Oshomah – Lafia to Port Harcourt and Justice K.K. Dagat – Lagos to Kano.

Akufo-Addo Apologises For Plagiarising Clinton, Bush

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Akufo-Addo Apologises For Plagiarising Clinton, Bush

Ghana’s newly sworn in President, Nana Akufo-Addo, has apologized for plagiarizing the speeches of two former American Presidents.

Akufo-Addo, had during his inaugural speech on Saturday used lines that were purportedly lifted from two separated speeches by ex-president Bill Clinton and his successor, George Bush.

Video clips of the plagiarized speech quickly went viral on the social media.

The plagiarized part of the speech delivered by Akufo-Addo read: “Though our challenges are fearsome, so are our strengths. Ghanaians have been a restless, questing, hopeful people, and we must bring to our task today the vision and will of those who came before us”.

Analysts say the only difference between this part of the Ghanaian president’s speech and the one delivered by Bill Clinton during his inaugural speech was the replacement of ‘Americans’ with ‘Ghanaians’.

Another portion of Akufo-Addo’s speech read, “I ask you to be citizens; citizens, not spectators; citizens, not subjects; responsible citizens building your communities and our nation. Let us work until the work is done”.

This was later found to be lifted from George Bush’s 2001 inaugural speech.

However Eugene Arhin, the president’s communication director, later issued an “unreserved” apology “for the non-acknowledgement of this quote to the original author. It was a complete oversight, and never deliberate.”

Unconfirmed reports say the aide that was responsible for writing Akufo-Addo’s speech was subsequently removed, but there is no concrete evidence supporting this report.

A similar incident had occurred in Nigeria after President Muhammadu Buhari was also accused of plagiarizing the one of the speeches delivered by President Barack Obama.

President Buhari delivered the speech during the launch of the “Change Begins With Me” reorientation campaign.

The Presidency later apologized for the error and said that the staff that wrote the speech would be redeployed out of the state house. Nobody knows whether this has been done.

Recall that the wife of the current president-elect of the United States of America, Melania Trum, was also involved in a plagiarism scandal after she lifted words from a speech from current US First Lady, Michelle Obama.

African Leaders Meet In Abuja Over Crisis In The Gambia

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African Leaders Meet In Abuja Over Crisis In The Gambia

 

President Muhammadu Buhari will host some African leaders in Abuja on Monday in his capacity as the mediator in the current crisis rocking The Gambia following the refusal of President Yahya Jammeh to accept the presidential election which held in the country in December.

The Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, had mandated President Buhari to lead a mediation team that will work towards a peaceful handover of power in The Gambia on January 19, as well as to ensure the safety of the President-elect, Adama Barrow.

The immediate past President of Ghana, John Mahama was also appointed by ECOWAS as the Co-Mediator in the crisis.

A statement by President Buhari’s Media aide, Garba Shehu, said that the meeting in Abuja is sequel to the one previously held in Accra on the sidelines of the inauguration of Ghana’s new President.

At the meeting in Accra, the African sub-regional leaders expressed their readiness to continue to toe the path of dialogue with the leaders of The Gambia.

Shehu stated that the Presidents of Liberia and Senegal, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and Macky Sall, as well as the Vice President of Sierra-Leone, Victor Bockarie Foh, and ex Ghanaian President, Mahama are expected at the meeting.

Herdsmen/ Farmers’ Clash: Adamawa Sues For Peace

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Herdsmen/ Farmers’ Clash: Adamawa Sues For Peace

 

By Musa Isa Ahmed

Kwahine, a community in Demsa Local Government Area of Adamawa State was thrown into chaos on Saturday when armed herdsmen reportedly attacked the village killing at least three persons and destroying properties worth millions of naira.

Kodomun, another community in the area was similarly attacked last August.

The latest attack occurred around 3 pm on Saturday shortly after a delegation of the Adamawa state government delivered relief materials to Kodomun community in Demsa local government of Adamawa state.

The number of casualties is yet to be determined as both the Police Public Relations Officer and the state commissioner of Information were unavailable for comment as at the time of filing this report, but eye witnesses said at least three persons lost their lives.

Earlier in the day, a state government delegation led by the Deputy Governor of Adamawa state,  Martins Babale delivered relief items and financial donations of N10 million and about 797 bags of rice to Kodomun community in Demsa local government area, as compensations following attacks on the community by a group of unknown armed herdsmen in the area which claimed over 30 lives and loss of properties worth millions of naira in August of 2016.

The incessant clash between the Kodomun community and the Fulani herdsmen has led to reprisal attacks that resulted in the loss of about 47 cows by the herdsmen.

Presenting the relief materials to the people of  Kodomun, Governor Umar Jibrilla, represented by his deputy  said, “the assistance is part of the peace building Mechanism put in place by government towards finding a lasting solutions to the crisis.”

“Government is going to implement the recommendations of the white paper on the report of the commission of enquiry and punish accordingly those involved in perpetrating the crisis.

“I urge you to be your brother’s keepers by imbibing the spirit of forgiveness and forge ahead for the progress of the area and the state at large”.

He revealed that the  state government will soon constitute a Peace and  Reconciliation Committee to be saddled with responsibility of reconciling aggrieved people in the area.

The Adamawa state government has already paid N4.7 million as compensation to Fulani herdsmen over the loss of 47 heads of cow in the clash.

Mallam Ahmed Sajoh, the Adamawa State Commissioner of Information speaking with newsmen shortly after the presentation of  797 bags of Rice and N10million to the Kodomun community said, “the payment to the aggrieved herdsmen is to forestall the breakdown of law and order.”

“They said they lost 47 cows, so we said okay, we are going to compensate them with N100, 000 per cow and about N4.7million was given to them.”

Sajoh noted that, “the state government’s action should not initiate a very dangerous precedent, so we now looked at it and said this are the kinds of things that can result in an escalation of violence and uprising, and loss of lives and properties, and we took prompt actions to pacify the communities that are involved.”

The relief materials were received by the paramount ruler of Demsa, Alhamdu Teneke.

Chairman of the affected community, Pius Raymond, also appealed to government to beef up security in the area, as pockets of attacks are still recorded in the area.

He also called on the state government to rehabilitate houses destroyed as a results of the attacks.

State Government To Blame For Akwa Ibom Church Building Collapse

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State Government To Blame For Akwa Ibom Church Building Collapse

 

The Akwa Ibom State government has been blamed for the church building collapse that occurred in the state in December 2016.

Head of the Town Planning Department, of the Uyo City Capital Development Authority, UCCDA, Effiong Akpan, made this known during a hearing into the cause of the incident that claimed 26 lives.

Akpan disclosed that the collapsed building belonging to Reigners Bible Church, Uyo, had been severally marked for demolition but that the state government refused to make funds available for the demolition to be carried out.

“We marked ‘X’ on the structure on March 6, 2013; it was covered by paint; we did the same on July 16, 2014; March 1, 2016; July 20, 2016, and Aug 16, 2016,” he said.

“The developer ignored all the markings by covering them with paint.”

Akpan told the commission of inquiry that his office later issued a 21-day ultimatum to remove the property “failing which the authority will remove the structure and cost born by the developer.”

He explained that the developer had used heavy pillars for the construction and his office did not have the capacity to remove the heavy pillars and roofing used for the construction.

“We needed cranes, excavators, bulldozers, money, security coverage and vehicles to carry out the demolition.

“On May 4, 2015, we requested for funds and security coverage for the demolition; the money was approved by His Excellency but we never access the money.

“The then Accountant-General did not release the money for us to embark on the demolition,” Akpan said.

According to him, the UCCDA had once demolished the church structure at foundation level and warned the developer to desist from erecting any structure on the site.

He explained that the land and the entire area where the church was built had since 2002 been mapped out by the government as conservation area as it lies on the hilly side of Uyo ravine which is prone to landslide.

Akpan said that all the churches and event centres built along that axis of the road were illegal, since the soil could not hold any structure.

He said that the UCCDA needed back up from security agencies to embark on the demolition because its employees had been molested and harassed when they first tried to demolish the building.

He also said that the owners of the Church threatened to liaise with the government to dismiss any of the authority’s employees who made attempt to embarrass workers on the church site.

Ini Ekpo, counsel to the founder of church, said that if the claim by the UCCDA boss was true,  then the state government should be held responsible for the collapse.

He said: “UCCDA gave the developer of Reigners’ Bible Church 21 days to demolish the building, but after 21 days, government did not facilitate the demolition.

“UCCDA has clearly said if it had the money, the building would have been demolished and lives would have been saved.

“Since the government did not provide the funds to facilitate the demolition, if negligence is found anywhere, then government will not go scot-free.”

The hearing was adjourned to January 9.

Akufo-Addo Sworn In As Ghana’s President

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Akufo-Addo Sworn In As Ghana’s President

Nana Akufo-Addo has been sworn in as Ghana’s new president after beating incumbent leader John Mahama in last month’s election.

Heads of states from across Africa and thousands of guests and dignitaries watched him take the oath of office at a ceremony in the capital, Accra on Saturday.

Akufo-Addo, a 72-year-old former human rights lawyer, promised free high school education and more factories.

But critics have questioned the viability of his ambitions.

The new president who is from the New Patriotic Party, was elected on his third attempt to reach the post, after a campaign dominated by the country’s faltering economy.

Outgone President John Mahama and former leaders Jerry Rawlings and John Kufuor were present at the ceremony in the capital’s Independence Square.

Major roads in and around the area were cordoned off.

Akufo-Addo also promised to build a factory in each of Ghana’s more than 200 districts. He had vowed to revive the country’s economy, saying that “there are brighter days ahead”.

Former President Mahama had in a farewell speech before the Ghanaian parliament on December 31, 2016 said he wished Akufo-Addo the best as he assumes office.

“I stand here today, Mr Speaker, holding the baton of leadership prepared to pass it on with pride, goodwill and determination to Nana Akufo-Addo,” he said.

An economic slump under Mahama led to an International Monetary Fund bail-out.

But he defended his record, saying that his government had been up against “strong headwinds” that caused growth to slow, public sector debt to rise and the country’s currency, the cedi, to fall.

Ghana has been a multi-party democracy since the end of military rule in 1992 and the transition is seen as reinforcing its reputation for the peaceful transfer of power between administrations.

In a post on his social media handle on a Friday, president Muhammadu Buhari said he was looking forward to Akufo-Addo’s inauguration.

He also commended Mahama “for his maturity and statesmanship”, adding that “Ghana has once again set a great example.”

Court Orders Forfeiture Of Diezani’s $153.3 Million

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Court Orders Forfeiture Of Diezani’s $153.3 Million

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A federal high court in Lagos has ordered the temporary forfeiture of $153.3 million belonging to the former minister of petroleum resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

The order was following an ex parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The anti-graft agency alleges that the said amount was stolen from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, and stashed in three banks in Nigeria, in US dollars and Naira.

A breakdown of the money shows that N23.4 billion was kept in Sterling Bank Plc; N9.08 billion in First Bank Plc and $5m in Access Bank Plc.

Justice Muslim Hassan, also ordered Sterling Bank and any other interested party to appear before him within the next 14 days to provide reasons why the money should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

According to an affidavit by Moses Awolusi, an EFCC investigator, the anti-graft agency uncovered during its investigations how the former minister in connivance with the Managing Director of Fidelity Bank, Nnamdi Okonkwo, connived to move $153,310,000 from NNPC to Okonkwo for Alison-Madueke.

Awolusi in the affidavit stated that the former oil minister directed Okonkwo to ensure that the money was “neither credited into any known account nor captured in any transaction platforms” of Fidelity Bank.

He added that two former Group Executive Directors of Finance and Account of NNPC, B.O.N. Otti and Stanley Lawson, also aided Alison-Madueke to move the cash from NNPC, Abuja, to the headquarters of Fidelity Bank in Lagos.

In a bid to conceal the source of the money, Okonkwo instructed the Country Head of Fidelity Bank, Martin Izuogbe, to take $113,310,000 cash out of the money to the Executive Director, Commercial and Institutional Bank, Sterling Bank Plc, Lanre Adesanya, to keep.

The EFCC investigator stated that the remaining $40 million was taken in cash to the Executive Director, Public Sector Accountant, First Bank, Dauda Lawal, to keep.

According to him, out of the $113,310,000 handed over to Adesanya, $108,310,000 was invested in an off balance sheet investment using Sterling Asset Management Trustees Limited, and was subsequently converted into N23.4 billion and saved in Sterling Bank.

Awolusi said the EFCC had recovered the N23.4 billion in draft and had registered it as an exhibit marked, EFCC 01; while another $5 million out of the money kept with the Managing Director of Access Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe, was recovered in draft and had been registered as an exhibit marked, EFCC 02.

He further stated that First Bank’s Executive Director, Mr. Lawal had similarly converted the $40m kept with him to N9,080,000,000, but the money had also been recovered that in draft and registered as Exhibit EFCC 03.

Counsel to EFCC lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, prayed the trial judge to order the temporary forfeiture of the funds to the Federal Government while the other defendants joined in the case should be summoned to explain the source.

Justice Hassan granted the order and adjourned till January 24, 2016.

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