The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command said its operatives have arrested a pregnant married woman who faked her own kidnap, demanded for N2 million as ransom from her husband.

It was gathered that when ransom was delivered, the lady shared the money with the man suspected to be her boyfriend she connived with to defraud the husband.

The FCT Commissioner of Police (CP), Benneth Igweh, disclosed this to reporters on Wednesday during the parade of suspects at the command headquarters in Abuja.

He said: “On 11/03/2024 at about 19:40hrs, one Chiedozie Ubah ‘m’ of Saburi II Dei-dei, Abuja, reported at gwa gwa division that his pregnant wife Rosemary Ubah left home to the hospital on same date for a scan but did not return home. He later received a call through his wife’s phone number telling him that his wife had been kidnapped and demanded for two (2) million naira ransom before her release.

“He transferred the sum of two (2) million naira into his wife’s account as instructed by the kidnapper. He later brought his wife to the station after her release. During interrogation, the wife freely confessed to have conspired with one man named Walter Ezeala ‘m’ living in the same street with them at Saburi to extort money from her husband.

“The said Walter was arrested and he confessed that his own share was eight hundred thousand (N800,000) naira and the lady took one million two hundred thousand naira (N1,200,000). The sum of Seven hundred and ninety three thousand five hundred naira (N793,500) cash, two (2) FCMB ATM cards and two android phone was recovered from them”.

In a similar development, Igweh narrated how operatives of the command arrested a man who faked own kidnap too to test the loyal of his girlfriend.

He said: “On 14/03/2023 at about 5:30 PM, One Akuh Chinemezeh reported at APO Divisional Headquarters that his younger brother one Pascal Akuh 28 years, called him saying he was arrested by Police and taken to SCID custody. On the strength of this, the police and suspect’s family went to SCID, IRT and FCID detention facilities, only to discover that he is not in any of the aforementioned facilities.

“With the help of a tracker using coordinates, the suspect’s vehicle was traced to an area in Wumba, Apo. Acting on this intelligence, the police operatives from Apo Division swiftly mobilised to the scene, searched the entire axis and subsequently traced the suspect to a hotel in Lokogoma later in the night and arrested the suspect.

“During interrogation, suspect confessed that he only faked his own kidnap to prank the lady he intended to marry to know if she really loves him. Suspect to be arraigned in court soon.”

The police also paraded one Alex Lorjaa, a dismissed military officer who uses military uniform to rob and attempted to kidnap his victims in Abuja.

Lorjaa during interrogation confessed that a serving military man initiated and he is supporting him.

The Commissioner of Police said: “On 17/03/2023 at about 02:30 PM, following a distress call received by Mabushi Division from the victims; one Blessing Mafulul Damia and Haliru Zakari, that some men in an unregistered Toyota Hilux trailed them while on their way home from H- Medix, Gwarimpa to Gishiri village robbed them of their valuables and attempted to kidnap them.

“Upon receipt of the information, police operatives of the division swung into action, trailed the vehicle and arrested two suspects namely;

Gabriel David Elihu ‘m’ of Apo mechanic village and (a dismissed soldier from Gombe state)

Alex Iorjaa ‘m’ of Gboko L.G.A of Benue state

A black coloured Toyota Hilux with Reg No. NBB 03 AH (Nasarawa), a jack knife, and some military accoutrements were recovered from them. Suspects will be charged to court soon”.

The CP said the police is currently investigating the matter and hunt for the serving military officer is on-going.

He reassured that the FCT Police Command, under his leadership, will do all within its power to prevent crime and criminality in all of its forms and ensure the safety of all.

A bill proposing a new structure of salaries and allowances for judicial officers in the country has passed the third reading at the House of Representatives.

President Bola Tinubu forwarded a letter along with the executive bill to the House of Representatives on Tuesday, urging swift passage of the proposed legislation.

In the letter, the president said the bill seeks to end the “prolonged stagnation” of the remuneration of judicial officers.

“The judicial office holders salaries and allowances bill seeks to prescribe salaries and allowances and fringe benefits for judicial officials to end the prolonged stagnation in their remuneration and to reflect contemporary socio-economic realities.”

Yesterday, the lower legislative chamber passed the bill after the third reading.

In the breakdown of the bill seen by TheCable, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, will receive a monthly salary of N5.4 million, amounting to N64.8 million per annum.

The breakdown of the remuneration shows that the CJN will receive a monthly basic salary of N1.1 million and N4.3 million in regular allowances.

The annual pay includes various components such as personal assistant allowance of N3.6 million, hardship allowance of N6.7 million, entertainment allowance of N6 million, utility allowance of N4 million, outfit allowance of N3.3 million, journal subscription allowance of N2 million, medical allowance of N5.3 million, long service allowance of N1.3 million, restricted or forced lifestyle allowance of N6.7 million, dual responsibility allowance of N2.9 million, and legal researchers’ allowance of N6.9 million.

The bill also proposes N61.4 million annually for justices of the Supreme Court.

The naira yesterday appreciated to N1,450 per dollar in the parallel market from N1,580 per dollar on Tuesday.
Similarly, the naira yesterday appreciated to N1,492.61 per dollar in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM) exceeding the parallel market rate by N42.61.

Data from FMDQ showed that the indicative exchange rate for NAFEM fell to N1,492.61 per dollar from N1,560.57 per dollar on Tuesday, indicating N67.9 appreciation for the naira. Consequently, the margin between the parallel market rate and NAFEM widened to N42.61 per dollar from N29.43 per dollar on Tuesday.

President Bola Tinubu, last night, promised that the sacrifices of the 16 soldiers killed last week in Okuama, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, would not be in vain.

Speaking during the breaking of Ramadan fast at State House, Abuja, with Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, and the leadership of the House, Tinubu said the deceased military personnel would be given befitting burial and national honours.

The president’s comments came as Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, yesterday, said the killers of the military men must be smoked out and treated as criminals. Diri called for concerted effort and support for the military and other security agencies to enable them to bring the killers to justice.

The governor condemned the killings and expressed his deep condolences and that of the Bayelsa State government to the families of the slain military personnel, the armed forces, and the army, in particular. He stressed that no effort should be spared to bring the perpetrators to book.

Delta State Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda, disclosed that the army was yet to grant the police access to Okuama. Abaniwonda said the area was still volatile and deserted.

Commenting on the death of the military men on national duty, Tinubu said, “In responding to distress calls, they met the end of their lives in a savage manner. Let us work to sympathise and symbolise the fact that they are worth the sacrifices they have made for Nigeria.

“We salute all our men and women in uniform, and we sympathise with them. I will soon make further pronouncements, but they must have a befitting burial and national honours.”

Advising members of the National Assembly on the rate of invitations to heads of MDAs, Tinubu said while oversight was essential to ensure transparency and accountability in governance, excessive summoning of officials could disrupt operations and hinder service delivery to citizens.

He urged lawmakers to show discretion in the exercise of their oversight functions.

The president stated, ”I have been watching various committees summoning ministers and heads of agencies. I have complained to the speaker to let the poor breathe. Let these people do the job. We are not saying that you are not influential. We are not saying you cannot do your oversight.

“But consider the primary duty of each agency, its personnel, or the responsibilities of the governor of the central bank or the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance to you and the entire nation.

“If they are distracted or disturbed, maybe we will shift parliamentary sitting all through the night. We must find a way to accommodate one another. This is an appeal to you. See if you can accept representatives in some instances or even documentations.”

The president, however, expressed confidence in the ability of the National Assembly to uphold good governance, and lauded the existing cordial relationship between the executive and the legislature. He said the harmonious working relationship had resulted in the expeditious passage of several bills to improve the welfare of Nigerians.

Tinubu urged the legislators not to forget their constituencies, saying they should take advantage of the holy month of Ramadan to show compassion and support the less privileged in society.

He told the legislators, “We are making sacrifices for the country, and we are assuring citizens that there is a very bright light at the end of the tunnel. We must have faith and, please, do not forget your constituencies and remember what they are going through.

THE Catholic Church, yesterday, tasked the Federal Government to subsidise food items and stop giving palliatives to a few individuals for selfish ends.

The church made the call through Archbishop Gabriel Leke Abegunrin, Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan, when speaking with newsmen at the Justice, Development and Peace Commission, in Ibadan.

According to the cleric, instead of giving palliatives to a few people, who will convert them to private use, it will be better if the government subsidizes the costly food items in the markets to make them affordable for the masses.

Abegunrin said: “If the food items are subsidized, it will go round and eventually reach Nigerians. We often hear of palliatives being distributed but we never see them. We hope that the social welfare package should be extended to citizens of the state.

“We would also like to see funds allocated for the good of the people to be used for the purpose and not the endless accusations and counter-accusations that our political leaders continue to engage in, in the hallowed chambers.”

Flanked by the Coordinator, JDPC, Rev Jerome Ajakaye; former Registrar, University of Ibadan, Mrs Moji Ladipo, and other clerics of the church, Archbishop Abegunrin said the economic crisis is further compounded by much distress and anxiety occasioned by the linking of Bank Verification Number, BVN and National Identification Number, NIN.
He said: “While the government may be well-intentioned, the implementation has caused much distress and anxiety. After the cashless policy and scarcity of Naira in 2023, the banking sector must not be seen again as causing pain and stress to citizens who want to have easy access to their money.”

On the rising wave of kidnapping and banditry, he said the Federal Government is just lying to Nigerians.

He said: “They once said they have identified those sponsoring banditry and they have failed to bring them to justice. Economic hardship often leads to deviant behaviours; many communities have resorted to policing their communities, especially at night.

“The government is called upon to ensure that the various security outfits in the state provide security for all and sundry. If this is lacking, individuals will resort to jungle justice as we have been witnessing in recent times.

The church made a fresh call to the government to return schools to the churches that owned them.

“The time has come for these schools to be returned. Results from many Catholic Schools throughout the nation lend credence to this. With her track record of academic excellence and wholistic education and formation of young people, the state stands to gain if and when schools are returned to their original owners.”

GUNMEN, last Sunday evening, kidnapped one Nyaknobong Etuk and his wife in front of the gate of their residence at Akpasak Estate, Mbiabong, off Oron Road, Uyo, leaving their infant twins abandoned.

It was gathered, yesterday, that the couple, natives of Oruk Anam Local Government Area of the state, went shopping along Oron Road in Uyo that Sunday and left their twin babies in the care of their house help.

It was learned that when they returned home that Sunday evening and hooted the horn of their car, but nobody came to open the gate for them, until the suspected kidnappers arrived in a mini-bus decorated with camouflage tarpaulin and ordered them out of their car.

They whisked them away in their mini bus to an unknown destination.

A family source, who spoke to newsmen in confidence, yesterday, expressed concern that the twins dedicated in the church about six months ago cried uncontrollably since the incident occurred.

The source added that the babies even refused other people cuddling or feeding them.

At press time, the suspected kidnappers have not made contact with the victims’ family for any ransom.

However, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Odiko MacDon confirmed the incident to newsmen, yesterday.

His words:“We are aware of the kidnap incident of the Director of Finance and his wife. The matter had been reported to us and the state Commissioner of Police, Waheed Ayilara, has directed the appropriate unit in the police force to investigate the matter with a view to rescuing the victims.”

Dr Richard Somiari, Director of Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre, on Wednesday said that results of an autopsy conducted on deceased singer Ilerioluwa Aloba (a.k.a Mohbad) would be ready in the next three weeks or four weeks.

Somiari gave the assurance while testifying during a corner’s inquest into the death of the singer.

The witness was cross-examined on Wednesday by defence counsel in the inquest.

Recall the musician died on Sept. 12, 2023, and was buried the following day.

He was aged 27 years.

His death generated controversies, prompting Lagos State Government to direct a coroner’s inquest into the death.

The inquest, which began on Oct. 13, 2023, is taking place at the Ikorodu Magistrates’ Court.

Somiari told the Coroner, Magistrate Adedayo Shotobi: “We expected to get the first set of autopsy results in three to four weeks and re-confirm to authenticate the cause of the death.

“We searched for multiple possibilities, to check if poison was involved in death of Mohbad since no actual cause was mentioned.”

The forensic expert assured the public of adequate security and monitoring of samples for the autopsy.

“We have a place where items are stored for safety and security of results. There is a procedure for monitoring samples moved abroad,” he said.

Also testifying, Mr Sadiq Ayobami, popularly called Spendy, said that he saw the deceased last a day before his death.

He said that both of them attended a concert at Ikorodu and returned to his house after which he left before the singer’s death.

Mrs Abiodun Kolawole, an activist representing the African Women Lawyers Association, urged the parents of the deceased to channel their grievances to the court of law in respect of the paternity of the singer’s child, instead of going through the social media.

The Coroner, Magistrate T. A. Shotobi, adjourned the case until April 15.

Shotobi directed all parties in the inquest to be present on that day.

The national average price of Premium Motor Spirit, otherwise known as petrol, increased year-on-year, YoY, by 157.57 percent to N679.36 per litre in February 2024, from N263.76 per litre recorded in the corresponding period of 2023.

However, in its latest report – ‘Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) Price Watch for February 2024’, the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, indicated that Zamfara State topped the price chart at N750.43 per litre, followed by Kebbi and Taraba States with N746.67 and N710.56 respectively.

The report stated “Kwara, Ogun and Benue States had the lowest average retail price for Premium Motor Spirit, (Petrol) at N650.00, N650.83 and N652.73 respectively. On zonal profile, the North-West zone had the highest average retail price of N701.20, while the South-West zone had the lowest price of N657.20

Similarly, in another report – ‘Automotive Gas Oil (Diesel) Price Watch for February 2024’ by NBS indicated that the average retail price for diesel increased year-on-year, YoY, by 50.20 percent to N1,257.06 per litre in February 2024, from N836.91 per litre recorded in the corresponding period of 2023.

This is even as diesel price continues to increase in many states with price ranging from N1,600 –N1,700

The report stated “On a month-on-month basis, an increase of 9.02% was recorded from N1,153.01 in the preceding month of January 2024 to an average of N1,257.06 in February 2024.

On States variation analysis, Akwa Ibom State topped the price chart with N1,525.00 per litre, while Gombe state followed with N1,500.00 and Kwara State with N1,440.00.

Furthermore, the States with the lowest prices are Adamawa State with N1,037.50, Kano State with N1,111.43 and Katsina State with N1,125.00. The Zonal representation of the average price of Automotive Gas Oil (Diesel) shows that South South Zone has the highest price of N1,343.09 while South West Zone has the lowest price N1,164.05 when compared with other Zones.

National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has linked the importation of the recently seized 23 packages of heroin at the Tin-can Island port, Lagos to the same cartel operating at the nation’s airport in Lagos.

Speaking while receiving the illicit drugs from the Tin-can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, the Tin-can NDLEA boss, Mohammed Abubakar, said the investigation had linked the drug seizure to the same cartel that brought the recently seized heroin at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

It will be recalled that the Tin-can Island Customs Command had handed over seized items, including arms and ammunition, Indian hemp and heroin to the officials for the Department of States Security, DSS and their counterpart NDLEA.

Abubakar said: “Through the effort of the Special Intelligence Unit of the NDLEA, which provided the intelligence and processed it, resulting in what you are witnessing today.

“Some of you asked whether there was any arrest, it is the work of a special syndicate in trafficking of illicit hard drugs across different nations.”

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has cleared the $7 billion foreign exchange (FX) backlog which was pending when Yemi Cardoso took over as the Governor of the apex bank.

This development was announced in a statement on Wednesday by the CBN Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Hakama Sidi Ali.

According to her, all valid claims have been settled and only those claims found to be illegitimate were not honoured.

Ali explained that the CBN employed the services of an independent auditing firm, Deloitte Consulting, to meticulously evaluate all claims and any invalid transaction have been referred to appropriate authorities for further checks.

“Any invalid transactions were referred to the relevant authorities for further investigation,” she stated.

Nigeria’s Foreign Reserve Hits $34.11 Billion, Highest In 8 Months
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s foreign reserves have recorded an increase of 2.83%, jumping to $34.11 billion as of March 7, 2024, from $33.17 billion at the beginning of the year.

The figure, which is based on the latest data released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), is the highest in eight months.

The most recent data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) shows a significant increase in external reserves, rising by $993 million in just one month and reaching the highest level in eight months.

On March 7, 2024, the external reserves totalled $34,110,027,381, which is higher than the previous month’s amount of $33,116,051,881 reported on February 8, 2024.

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The data shows that the reserves have been staying pretty consistent at around $32 to $33 billion for the past eight months. The latest record on March 7 is the highest it’s been since June 30, 2023, when the reserves hit $34,119,447,986.