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Showing posts from January 5, 2021

N10.9bn Fraud: Court Jails Ex-Finbank MD, Nwosu, Three Others

Justice Lateefa A. Okunnu of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, on Tuesday, January 5, 2021, convicted and sentenced Okey Nwosu, a former Managing Director, Finbank Plc, to three years imprisonment for over 10m fraud. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had arraigned Nwosu alongside Dayo Famuroti, Agnes Ebubedike and Danjuma Ocholi on a 26-count amended charge bordering on stealing and illegal conversion to the tune of N10,934,704,402. The defendants, who perpetrated the fraud while they were directors of the bank, pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them, thereby leading to their full trial. In the course of the trial, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs , SAN, called witnesses and also tendered several documents that were admitted in evidence against the defendants. Delivering her judgment, the Judge found the defendants guilty and sentenced the first and second defendants, Nwosu and Famoroti, to three years imprisonment each. T

Sowore’s Arrest Is Poor Representation Of Nigeria To Biden – Former US Ambassador, Campbell

John Campbell A former United States of America’s Ambassador to Nigeria, John Campbell, has stated that the arrest of human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, by the Nigerian authorities is a poor representation of the country to the incoming Joe Biden’s administration. Campbell, who is now the Ralph Bunche Senior Fellow For Africa Policy Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, Washington D.C., stated this in his tweet on Tuesday. Former United States of America’s Ambassador to Nigeria, John Campbell. The former ambassador to Nigeria between 2004 and 2007, said, “The arrest of Nigerian journalist and human rights activist Omoyele Sowore is a poor representation of Nigeria to the incoming Biden administration.”  The arrest of Nigerian journalist and human rights activist Omoyele Sowore is a poor representation of Nigeria to the incoming Biden administration. https://t.co/dFB8cL0uTt — John Campbell (@JohnCampbellcfr) January 5, 2021 Sowore alongside four other activ

Iran Applies For International Arrest Warrant For Trump, Others Over Soleimani’s Death

The capital city of Iran, Tehran has applied to Interpol for an international arrest warrant for the President of the United States, Donald Trump, in connection with the murder of Iranian top general Qassem Soleimani, last year. Iran’s justice spokesman Gholam Ismaili, in a television broadcast on Tuesday, said the country has filed a red notice against Trump and other United States’ commanders. According to NAN, he also said there is constructive cooperation with its neighbouring country, Iraq, on the issue. He said, “In this regard, we have filed a ‘red notice’ at Interpol against 48 people, including Trump, US commanders, and Pentagon representatives as well as US troops in the region.” A country can use the “red notice” to request other countries to track down and arrest a person. On January 3, 2020, on Trump’s instructions, the US Army reportedly killed Soleimani, who was on a visit to Iraq with a rocket attack near Baghdad airport. The influential Iraqi militia leade

Governor Wike Knocks Buhari, Calls Proposed Ogoniland Cleanup Exercise A Sham

Rivers Governor Wike Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, says the Nigerian government has been playing politics with the Ogoni environment remediation programme recommended by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). He noted that Ogoni, having played a pivotal role in the economic development of Rivers State and the country, deserves more than what is currently being offered to the area. Rivers Governor Wike Wike stated this during the inauguration of the 16.06 km dual carriageway – Sakpenwa-Bori Highway by the Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Ifeanyichukwu Ugwuanyi in Bori, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State on Tuesday. The governor urged Ogoni people to stop believing those who use the Ogoni cleanup exercise at the turn of election year to deceive them, while questioning why the cleanup exercise never happens when elections are over. “I am not like the Federal Government. They promised you they will do Ogoni cleanup. Has it been cleaned? I promised you road,

Police Arrest ‘Side Chick’ Who Stole Lover Man’s Three-month-old Baby In Ondo

Men of the Ondo State Police Command have arrested a woman identified as Temitope Adeniyi, who allegedly stole her lover man, Wasiu Mamukuyomi’s three-month-old baby. SaharaReporters had reported how Temitope abducted the baby at the shop of Wasiu’s wife, Stella, at Oke-Bola area, Ondo town. See Also News ‘Side Chick’ Steals Lover Man’s Three-month-old Baby After Apprenticing With Wife 0 Comments 8 Hours Ago It was learnt that the man introduced his mistress to his wife as the girlfriend of one of his friends. Narrating how the incident happened, Stella said, “My husband brought the lady to me on the 3rd of December, 2020 to train her in tailoring. “On Saturday, 2nd of January, 2021, the lady came to the shop as usual. After bathing the baby girl that afternoon, she took permission from me to put the baby on her back. “I later gave her my ATM card to help me withdraw N3,000 that was transferred to my account by a customer at a nearby POS (Point of sale) stand. But s

How Police Counsel Struggled In Court To Frustrate Sowore, Others’ Bail Application

The Nigeria police again on Tuesday showed desperation at the Magistrates’ Court sitting in Wuse, Abuja, in its bid to frustrate the bail application for human rights’ activist, Omoyele Sowore, and his four colleagues who were brought for their bail hearing. The police prosecution team, led by Adama Musa, argued that it was inappropriate in law for an application for bail to be brought for more than one person. Musa asked the presiding magistrate, Mabel Segun-Bello, to jot down what he was saying and she told him ‘no’. The police prosecution went further to cite a case in 1975 and the magistrate replied that she had not been born by then. Earlier, Abubakar Marshal from the Falana & Falana Chambers, who alongside four lawyers, represented Sowore and the others, had put forth a motion for bail application. Adama objected by saying they were not ready because they had just been served. Adama argued that they did not have enough time to study the document given to them on

Nigerian Singer, Paul Okoye Narrates COVID-19 Harrowing Experience, Warns Nigerians

Nigerian popular singer, Paul Okoye, also known as Rude Boy, has narrated his experience fighting COVID-19 virus, while warning Nigerians that the virus is real. Okoye took to his verified Instagram account to announce that he had contracted coronavirus and could not wait after 10 days to get re-tested. He used the opportunity to sensitise his followers to the reality of COVID-19. He said, “Attention. Covid is real. I know as a typical Nigerian or African, it is very hard to believe. Some will say ‘experience is the best teacher’. “Oh well, the experience and the teacher has visited me and they’ve been dealing with me for more than 10 days now. It is not funny, worst sickness ever!!! You all better be careful out there. If you like, believe me, if you like, don’t believe me. “You can as well wait for your own experience by playing ignorance. Goodluck. God help us all.”  The singer also went on to share his harrowing experience battling the virus. He revealed that he would

Police Arrest 45-year-old Dad For Raping Daughter, 13, In Ogun

The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a 45-year-old man, Akanji Oluwaseyi, for allegedly defiling his 13-year-old daughter in the Obantoko area of Abeokuta. The police said the arrest of the suspect followed a complaint from the victim who reported at the Obantoko divisional headquarters that her father committed the crime on December 30. The victim narrated that she was working as an apprentice tailor, and that her father visited the place on the fateful day and asked her mistress to permit her to fetch some water for him at home. According to the police, the teenager said after she had finished fetching the water, her father, however, “suddenly grabbed her and forcefully had carnal knowledge of her.” The Ogun State Police spokesperson, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the Commissioner of Police, Edward Ajogun, had ordered the immediate transfer of the case to the anti-human trafficking and child labour unit of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for

Tinubu Can Run For President in 2023, Southeasterners Have Not Shown Interest, Says Osoba

Bola Tinubu A former governor of Ogun State, Olusegun Osoba, has said that the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, has the right to contest for president in 2023. Osoba, a chieftain of the ruling APC stated this during a television programme monitored by SaharaReporters on Tuesday. “Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as an individual has the right to put himself forward, we have not zeroed in on an individual. Zeroing in on any individual will destroy our efforts now but Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has a right to pursue his own agenda,” he said. He also revealed that the South-West must be in harmony and put its house in order to accomplish a great feat in the next presidential election. Osoba went further to disclose that there is a gentleman’s agreement in the APC that the South will produce Nigeria’s president in 2023. He, however, observed that despite that “there is so much noise from the East,” nobody has communicated with him or other leaders of the party to ind

Nigerian Government Begins Talks With China Over COVID-19 Vaccines

Illustration The Nigerian government has said it has begun discussions with the People’s Republic of China on how to have access to COVID-19 vaccines for Nigeria. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffery Onyeama, stated this on Tuesday in Abuja while briefing newsmen shortly after a bilateral meeting with the Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi. Illustration Yi is in Nigeria on a working visit. Onyeama recalled that China was of immense assistance to Nigeria at the advent of the pandemic, noting that the donation of protective equipment greatly affected the nation in the fight against COVID-19. The minister said that at this point when countries were discovering vaccines and China being one of them, Nigeria was engaging the country in the area of access to the vaccine. “We have received a lot of support from China in the area of personal protective equipment that they were very quick to provide us with and of course, with the vaccine discoveries now. “China is also one

Nigerian Government Increases Electricity Tariff Again

The Nigerian Government has increased the electricity tariff payable by power consumers across the country. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission authorised the new tariff, as the rise which differs based on different consumer classes took effect from January 1, 2021. According to The PUNCH, the NERC announced the tariff hike in its December 2020 slight review of the Multi-Year Tariff Order and Minimum Remittance Order obtained in Abuja on Tuesday. The tariff increase is taking effect just two months after the government through NERC implemented a hike in November 2020, which saw widespread opposition. The MYTO order containing the latest tariff hike, Order NERC/225/2020, was signed by the new Chairman of NERC, Sanusi Garba, and it replaces the previous Order NERC/2028/2020. While giving reasons for the new tariff hike, the commission stated it measured the 14.9 per cent inflation rate rise in November 2020 and foreign exchange of N379.4/$1 as of December 29, 2020.

Ondo Government Splashes Millions Of Naira On Cars For Deputy Speaker Despite Owing Civil Servants, Pensioners

Despite owing civil servants and pensioners for several months, the Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has presented two vehicles worth millions of naira to the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Samuel Aderoboye. According to a statement released by the governor’s media aide, Richard Olajide, the vehicles, a 2020 model of Prado SUV and a Toyota Hilux, were presented to Aderoboye at the government house, Alagabaka, Akure on Tuesday. “Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has presented the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Samuel Aderoboye, a 2020 model of Prado SUV and a Toyota Hilux,” the statement read. “The governor presented the official vehicles to the Deputy Speaker at the Government House, Alagabaka, Akure on Tuesday, January 5, 2021. “The Deputy Speaker was accompanied to the Government House by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Bamidele Oleyelogun; majority leader, Hon. Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, and other principal officers

Lagos Police Raid Night Clubs, Arrest 71 For Violating COVID-19 Protocols

The suspects were arrested in two clubs in Lagos The Lagos State Police Command has arrested 71 suspects for allegedly breaching COVID-19 safety protocols. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday. The suspects were arrested in two clubs in Lagos pulseng/LSPC Adejobi said the suspects were apprehended after the police raided two night clubs in Lekki and Surulere areas of the state at about 3am on Sunday, 3rd January, 2020. He added that 13 vehicles were impounded in the process. The statement read, “The Lagos State Police Command, premised on its vow to enforce COVID-19 orders in the state, pounced on some night clubs on 3rd January, 2021, around 3am and arrested seventy-`one (71) suspects for violating COVID-19 orders at Lekki and Surulere areas of the state respectively. “The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu, had already instructed the Taskforce, DPOs and other operational units in the c