Home Blog Page 3317

Man Dies After Sex In Edo Hotel

Editorial
-
0
Man Dies After Sex In Edo Hotel
Exactly eight days after a 70-year-old man died in an hotel in Benin while allegedly making love to a married woman, a 44-year-old furniture maker, Julius Iyenakpe, has allegedly slumped in similar situation.
The father of three who hailed from Agenebode, Etsako East local government area of Edo state, died ‎on Tuesday April 1 in a hotel while allegedly making love to a woman whose identity still remains unknown.
‎According to family sources, the late Iyenakpe who was said to have commissioned his new house in the month of December last year, hurriedly left home at about 9 am on the fateful day after refusing the breakfast prepared by his wife, and ended up at Edesogie Hotel, located at No. 2, Obanor Street, off Dumez Road‎ with his unknown lover.
It was gathered that two hours after the couple who paid for one hour were yet to come out of the hotel room, the hotel attendants ‎had to open the door to the room after several calls, only to discover the lifeless body of the man and the woman was nowhere to be found.
It was further gathered that semen was seen all over the man’s body, and a packet of sex-enhancement tablet, Viagra discovered in his pocket.
‎Men of the Ugbekun police division who were called in to remove his lifeless body allegedly recovered his Toyota Pathfinder SUV, his mobile phone and a cheque of N20 million allegedly issued by one of the palm oil companies in the state.
Mrs. Iyenakpe disclosed to newsmen that when she called her husband’s phone that a woman who answered the call inquiring if she was the wife, and informed her that her husband had an accident and also asked her to report at Ugbekun police station where the news of her husband’s death was finally broken to her.
She further disclosed that she had earlier fought her husband at a hotel in the month of January when she learned that her husband took another woman there for sex.
Edo state police commissioner, Foluso Adebanjo, confirmed the death of the man to journalists on phone.
Also, the state police command spokesman, Moses Eguavoen, who was yet to be briefed on the incident‎, called the Ugbekun division DPO in the presence of newsmen who also confirmed the incident.

Court Halts FRCN’s Investigation On Sanusi

Editorial
-
0
Court Halts FRCN’s Investigation On Sanusi

A Federal High Court in Lagos has given a preservatory order restraining the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, FRCN, from investigating the suspended Central Bank Governor, Lamido Sanusi, PremiumTimes is reporting.

Justice J.T. Tsoho gave the order on Friday in a suit filed by Sanusi through his counsel, Kola Awodehin.

Friday’s order comes 24 hours after a separate court ruled that Sanusi was illegally detained and his passport illegally seized by the Department of State Security Service, SSS, after his suspension.

The court also ordered the payment of N50 million damages to Sanusi; but the SSS has appealed this judgement.

On Friday, Justice Tsoho barred the FRCN from investigating Sanusi and the Central Bank, CBN, pending the determination of the suit.

Sanusi had on March 27 refused to appear before the Council which was investigating allegations of financial recklessness against the CBN boss.

In a letter to the Executive Secretary of FRCN, Jim Obazee, to explain why his client would not honour the Council’s invitation, Awodein said the invitation was not only in bad faith, but premeditated to embarrass and disparage his client.

President Goodluck Jonathan had suspended Sanusi from office on February 21, 2014 following the recommendation by the Council, which accused the CBN, under his leadership, of financial recklessness.

The recommendations followed the Council’s review of Sanusi’s response to its report on the audited financial statement of the CBN for the year ended December 2012 and other related issues, which it described as unsatisfactory.

Following the receipt of the Council’s invitation on March 14, 2014, Mr. Sanusi said he responded two days later seeking clarification on the specific activities of the CBN the FRCN was investigating.

He said since no response was forthcoming from the Council, he did not see any need to honour the invitation, noting that he was surprised to see advertorials in newspapers and other media publicizing the invitation.

Describing the adverts as evidence of the Council’s avowed intent to act prejudicially, Sanusi said it was appalling that he was being invited after it had arrived at the “false and malicious conclusions” in its Briefing Note of June 7, 2013, on which the President relied to suspend him from office.

Criticizing the Council’s recommendation for his suspension from office along with the Deputy Governors, Sanusi noted that the opinion that, if they remained in office, they would take advantage of the information at their disposal to attack government, amounted to pre-judgment of the issues it was investigating.

He said the Council’s report lacked integrity since the FRCN neither gave him fair hearing, nor allowed him the opportunity to respond to the weighty allegations contained in the Briefing Note to the President.

Besides, he said a review of Sections 7, 8, 11, 25, 28, 58(2) and 62 of the FRC Act 2011 revealed that the Council lacked the authority and powers to conduct the investigation it was seeking to undertake.

Sanusi said he was not afraid of any objective investigation by an appropriate and impartial authority into either the activities of the CBN during his tenure, or his activities as a citizen.

He said he was, however, constrained to decline the FRC’s invitation for some compelling reasons.

He gave the reasons as bias, breach of the rules of natural justice, absence of statutory powers, violation of the rule of law, and the Council’s attempt to carry out an investigation considered prejudicial to good public administration and the special position of the CBN.
It was on that same day that Mr. Sanusi filed the suit that Justice Tsoho heard on Friday.

According to legal papers filed, Sanusi’s lawyers told the court that by virtue of the provisions of Sections 7, 8, and 62 of the FRCN Act 2011, the Council lacked the statutory powers to investigate him and the CBN.

The council, after receiving Sanusi’s court papers last Thursday halted investigations of the bank chief but said it would continue with the CBN.

Friday’s court order, however, asked the FRCN to halt the investigation of both parties.

The case was adjourned to April 11.

Military To Investigate Alleged Human Rights Violation

Editorial
-
0
Military To Investigate Alleged Human Rights Violation

The Defence Headquarters has denied claims by Amnesty International in a report released on Monday that Nigerian security forces were involved in the extra judicial killing of  scores of people, mainly civilians in the North east.

The report alleged the Nigerian troops and Boko Haram insurgents had killed more than 1,500 persons in reprisal attacks in the first quarter of this year.

In spite of the denial, the Army said security authorities will ensure that the allegations are duly investigated, with a view to taking necessary action to address any case of human right breach on the part of troops.

In the report titled: “Nigeria: More than 1,500 killed in Armed Conflict in North-Eastern Nigeria in early 2014”, the organisation said the escalation of violence in Northeast this year has developed into a situation of  armed conflict in which all parties are violating international humanitarian law.

Spokesman for the Army, Chris Olukolade, a major general, said the report is not consistent with the actual situation on ground, as measures have been put in place to ensure compliance with tenets of human right and rules of engagement by troops involved in the conduct of the mission.

Olukolade explained in a statement that apart from inculcating the necessity for observance of human rights in troops,  regular programmes have been conducted to review the human rights situation related to the conduct of the operations.

“This report is a new dimension to the well-known fact that the security operation in that part of the country was necessitated by the need to address the gross abuse of human rights being perpetrated against Nigerians by the terrorists,” he stated.

He said the claim contained in the Amnesty International report attributing gross abuses of human right of Nigerians to both the terrorists and the security forces is therefore ‘confounding’.

Police Rescues 5 Babies, 3 Pregnant Women From Suspected Ritualists

Editorial
-
0
Police Rescues 5 Babies, 3 Pregnant Women From Suspected Ritualists

The Police in Ogun said it had rescued five babies and three pregnant women from a baby-making factory in Adigbe area of Abeokuta.

Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, in the State, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said at a news conference in Abeokuta that two people had also been arrested in connection with the ‘factory’ inside a duplex at Akinremi Estate in Adigbe.

The PPRO explained that the residents of the community, who uncovered the factory, informed the police in the early hours of Thursday.

He added that the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) at Eleweran, Abeokuta, for thorough investigation.

Residents in the area allege that the building was a den for rituals and a pregnant woman victim who escaped from the place at about 8 a.m. on Thursday had narrated how she was sold to the ritualists by her sister for N100,000.

“The ritualists informed me that I could only be released after delivery since my sister had been paid,” she said.

It was further gathered that youths, suspected to be students of Moshood Abiola Polythecnic, invaded the building where they carried out a thorough search of the rooms.

Ritual items reportedly discovered in the rooms include basins full of fresh blood, coffin, effigy, scorpion, assorted charms, an international passport and identity cards of junior and senior secondary school students of Sacred Heart Catholic College, Oke-Ilewo.

Several white garments were also recovered from the building.

The resident said the irate youths set the building and the two vehicles inside it ablaze, but the timely arrival of state Fire Service officials prevented the building from being razed.

DSS Appeals Court Ruling On Lamido Sanusi

Editorial
-
0
DSS Appeals Court Ruling On Lamido Sanusi

The Department of State Services, DSS, has said that it will appeal the judgment delivered by Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on Thursday in favour of the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

Justice Buba had declared as unlawful, the seizure of Sanusi’s passport and ordered the federal government to return the document and tender a public apology to him.

The judge also awarded the sum of N50 million as damages in favour of the suspended bank chief.

Spokesperson of the DSS, Marilyn Ogar, in a statement Friday, expressed the disappointment and dissatisfaction of the Service with the judgment.

Ogar noted that in impounding Daniel’s passport, the Service acted in accordance with the law, citing Section 3(2) (b)  of Instrument SSS No. 1 of 1999 made  pursuant to Section 6 of the National Security Agencies (NSA) Act.

Section 3(2) (b) provides that: “The State Security Service is hereby empowered to impound and keep in its custody the passports or any other property of persons or organizations under investigation if considered appropriate by the Director General.  Returns of all such seizures shall be rendered to the National Security Adviser, while such passports shall be returned to the owners as soon as the investigation is concluded”.

The DSS said the judgment notwithstanding, it would continue to hold the judiciary in high esteem as critical partners in nurturing the country’s democracy and nation building.

Meanwhile, the court on Thursday further restrained the federal government through its agents or representatives from arresting or detaining Sanusi without following due process of law and from interfering with his freedom of movement.

Group Demands Investigation Of Imo First Lady Over Missing N37 Million

Editorial
-
1
Group Demands Investigation Of Imo First Lady Over Missing N37 Million

The office of the Imo State First Lady, Nkechi Okorocha, is making frenzied efforts to conceal a scandal involving millions of naira allegedly stolen by a security officer.

A police man attached to the governor’s office is alleged to have disappeared with the sum of N37 which he found in the First Lady’s office.

But a group, the Imo Transparency Initiative, ITI, has requested that the governor, Rochas Okorocha account for the stolen cash which it described as tax-payers’ money lying recklessly in the office of a woman who is not even entitled to an imprest.

The group led by Nkem Abaka, expressed dismay that funds which are far greater than the imprest of several ministries and parastatals should be found in the office of the state’s First Lady.

Abaka argued that the office of the governor’s wife is not recognized by law and has no business lodging such large amount of cash.

The group called for an investigation into the matter, saying that pointing accusing fingers at the fleeing policeman is not enough as questions should be asked over such wanton abuse of public funds.

Initial reports said N8.5 million was stolen, but there are fresh indications that the missing could be in excess of N37 million.

It was gathered that the said security officer was posted to the Government House when Ikedi Ohakim was governor of the state as an orderly government and was retained by the present government.

Given his many years as security officer in the Government House and the confidence reposted in him, there was no suspicion to his movements until the day of the incident.

The whereabouts of the said officer has remained unknown and a manhunt is underway to find him.

It was also gathered that Okorocha has since sacked all police personnel in her office.

Sun Newspapers Unveils New Publication

Editorial
-
0
Sun Newspapers Unveils New Publication

The Sun Publishing Limited, publishers of The Sun Newspapers, has unveiled a weekly pull-out publication called “Oriental News”.

The eight-page publication which was made public on Thursday at the 25th Enugu International Trade Fair, is designed for the South east region.

Unveiling the publication, the Enugu State governor, Sullivan Chime, described it as a welcome development for the zone.

Chime, who was represented by the commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Jude Akubuilo, said the government had a cordial relationship with the Sun Newspaper.

He said the government watched the growth of the Sun from inception and that it had become one of the leading papers in the country.

The governor commended the management under the leadership of Femi Adesina, urging it to maintain the tempo of achievements and innovation.

Earlier, Adesina, the managing director and editor-in-chief of the newspaper, said the magazine would enhance the development of the zone and also identify with the needs of the people, serve them and reflect their desires and passions.

“Through the Oriental News, we are delivering a magazine of local news in the immediate environment of our readers while also availing them access to national and international reports,” he said.

The MD said with the launch of Oriental News, the organisation had developed five new special pull-out inserts.

They include the Niger Delta, Chronicle, Arewa, Middle Belt Today and South West News.

Army Retirees Offer To Join Forces Against Terrorism

Editorial
-
1
Army Retirees Offer To Join Forces Against Terrorism

Retired military officers of the Nigerian Armed Forces have offered to lend their support to the fight against terrorism and other similar threats to national security.

This was conveyed by a delegation of retired senior military officers led by Michael Ekwere, a retired Air Commodore, during a courtesy visit to the Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, an Air Chief Marshal.

Ekwere said the decision of the group to act as a force multiplier for the Armed Forces in the fight against insurgency in the country, is to give back to the system that has invested so much in them while in active service.

He said that the assistance programmes which they intend to embark on would allow the Army concentrate on its core functions.

The spokesman likened his group to PAE America, a private outfit of mostly retired military personnel who are appointed to head logistics and administration departments while the military was allowed to concentrate on its core functions, adding that Nigeria had a rich repository of human resources waiting to be tapped.

The retired officers also used the opportunity to congratulate the CDS on his appointment and subsequent elevation to the rank of a 4 Star General and applauded the security forces for the successes recorded in the fight against terror.

In his response, Badeh thanked the group for the visit, promising to look into the issues raised especially on their readiness to join actively in the fight against insecurity in the country.

He stressed that he was happy at the prospects that these initiatives portend for engaging retirees and making post-service life a little more rewarding.

Suspended Chief Judge Of Rivers Sues NJC

Editorial
-
0
Suspended Chief Judge Of Rivers Sues NJC

The suspended Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Peter Agumagu, has sued the National Judicial Council, NJC, and three others over his suspension and the threat to sack him.

In a suit with registration no. FHC/ABJ/CS/253/2014 which he filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, the suspended judge is challenging NJC’s decision to suspend him.

He is also praying the court to restrain the members of an investigation panel set up to investigate the allegations against him from taking any further steps in respect of his case until the determination of the suit he filed.

Joined in the suit are Justices Babatunde Adejumo, Jubril Idris and Comwell Idahosa, chairman and members of the panel set up by the NJC to investigate allegations against the applicant.

Agumagu is asking the court for the following;

“An order of certiorari, removing to this court for the purpose of being quashed, the query and letter of suspension from office of the applicant as a judicial officer, Ref. No. NJC/S.32/RV.CCA/1/1/36 dated March 26, and written by the 1st respondent to the applicant.”

“An order of certiorari, removing to this court for the purpose of being quashed, the minutes of the decisions reached by the 1st respondent at its emergency meeting of March 26, 2014, concerning the applicant.”

Justice Adeniyi Ademola, before whom the case is pending, on Monday heard an ex-parte application by the applicant and granted him leave to serve processes on the respondents.

He adjourned to April 10 for hearing.

The NJC announced on March 27 that it would not recognise Justice Agumagu as the Chief Judge of Rivers State.

The council said it would not deal with him in that capacity and also elected to suspend him as a judge.

It equally issued Justice Agumagu a query, directing him to explain in writing within four days why he should not be removed from office as a judge for his alleged failure to abide by his oath of office to uphold the constitution and laws of the country.

Army Invades Fulani Village In Nasarawa, Kill 30

Editorial
-
0
Army Invades Fulani Village In Nasarawa, Kill 30

Residents of a Fulani settlement near Keana in Nasarawa State Thursday accused the Nigerian Army of invading their territory, killing at least 30 persons in a brutal manner.

Eyewitnesses say the killings were unprovoked and that majority of the victims were too old to flee.

Chairman of Keana local government area, Haruna Oshegba, confirmed the attack, saying that eight dead bodies were kept at the Specialist Hospital, Lafia.

“There is crisis in my council and it is a military operation but I don’t know the details. I’m trying to piece information together to know exactly what happened,” he said.

By the time reporters showed up at the hospital, a police Hilux van had about 9 dead people and another pick-up van had a dead female inside.

Meanwhile, secretary of the Fulani interest group, Muhammed Husseini, has threatened to file a case at the International Criminal Court, ICC, against the federal government.

He accused the government of complicity in the massacre of Fulanis in the state.

“I’m presently in the mortuary receiving corpses. They killed over 30 of our men for no reason. This is genocide and we will approach the International Criminal Court, ICC,” he said.

The Nigerian military is yet to respond to the allegation.

It would be recalled that the Nigerian military, barely three days ago, announced plans to deploy troops to Nasarawa, Benue, and Kaduna to counter the recent attack by Fulani herdsmen that has killed scores of civilians.

1...3,3163,3173,318...3,440Page 3,317 of 3,440