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Singer Inetimi Alfred Odom aka Timaya, has cried out over the current suffering and hardship in the country.
According to him, even though the economic hardship is a global phenomenon, it’s more severe in Nigeria than anywhere else.
Timaya spoke in a recent interview with Channels Television.
“Things are really hard. I feel it for people because if people are not happy, I can’t be happy, too. I pay bills. I help a lot of people. So I understand what people are going through. I’m also feeling it [the hardship],” he lamented.
“My staff’s salaries and upkeep for family members have drastically increased because of the high cost of living.
“You don’t expect things to be normal. Even politicians are crying, too, not to talk of me. The only way you can meet up with the current economic demands is if you’re earning in dollars. If you’re earning forex and you convert it to naira, that’s how you can ball.
“Even in America right now, things are still hard there because they’re earning in dollars and spending in dollars. It’s hard everywhere. The world is hard right now, but Nigeria is harder.”
Timaya also spoke on the effects of the current economic hardship on the entertainment industry.
“Currently, you need a lot of money to promote music. Before, we didn’t even bother about shooting music videos. Even if we were shooting a video, it cost just N1.5 million.
“Now, just to shoot one video: 100 million, 50 million, 60 million. And when you shoot the video, to promote it, you need more millions. That’s why booking fees for artists now are expensive,”he said
No fewer than forty-three suspects who were arrested for internet fraud in Awka, Anambra State, and Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, have been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to the charges against them.
The suspects were arraigned before Justice Evelyn Anyadike of the Federal High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State by Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The suspects were arrested in Abakaliki and Awka following credible intelligence linking them to online criminal activities. Upon arrest, investigations revealed that the convicts impersonated foreign nationals using several social media accounts and duped unsuspecting victims.
They were prosecuted on one-count separate charges each, bordering on personation, retention of proceeds of crime, possession of fraudulent documents and obtaining by false pretence.
They pleaded “guilty” when the charges were read to them separately. In view of their pleas, counsel to the EFCC, Michael Ikechukwu Ani prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
However, the defence counsel; Ifeanyi Michael Odoh, James Nwatarali, Bernard Okeke and O. C. Abalu prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, adding that the convicts who are first-time offenders, have become remorseful.
After listening to both sides, Justice Anyadike sentenced the convicts to eight months imprisonment each with an option of fine of N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) each except for Nwankwo, Izuchukwu, Eyinna and Ikechukwu who were given two months Community Service, which will be supervised by the Deputy Court Registrar.
Furthermore, the court ordered that items recovered from the convicts which include mobile phones and laptops be auctioned and proceeds paid into the account of the Federal Government.
The convicts are; Momoh Victor Abdulkareem, Paul Emmanuel, Adibe Henry, Okoroafor Abuchi Gospel, Ikechukwu Ezra, Oduu Emmanuel Eyinna, Obasi Chibuike, Chimaobi Ogbonna, Nwankwo Emmanuel Ikechukwu, Aluma Chetachukwu Israel, Emeka Umendu, Ebuka Uka, Chikaodili Michael, Oramulu Nwabufor Michael, Obiajulu Philip Sorpuluchukwu, Iwu Ikedichukwu Emmanuel, Akachukwu Temple Odo, Ifeanyi Samuel, Kyrian Chikodili Ugwu and Nathaniel Oforbuike Nwoba.
Others include; Chimezie Stephen Obianaso, Kingsley Chukwuebuka Mmadu, Ebuka Eric Uka, Simon Uchenna, Godswill Francis Blessed, Donatus Chinwendu Anya, Aluma Ogochukwu Michael, Nwankwo Stephen Chijioke, Emmanuel Chijioke Okogwu, Ariwodo Ezemdi Lucious, Chidiebere Uwa, Okeke Joshua Okechukwu, Chinemelu Clinton Ugwu, Tochukwu Sunday Ewa, Iburu Nelson Onyeoma, Nwoko Samuel, Nwokwu Victor Izuchukwu, Benjamin Obiajulu, Kelechi John, Moses Chukwuka Ugwueke, Obinna Christian, Ubagu Daniel Chukwuebuka And Chukwu Emmanuel Nnamdi.
The charge against Ikechukwu Ezra read: “That you, Ikechukwu Ezra, sometime in 2024, in Enugu, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, fraudulently impersonated the identity of Shirley Fang, a male foreigner and citizen of United Kingdom, through a fake Whatsapp account, via your Redmi 12C with IMEI 861906061467102, with intent to obtain money from unsuspecting foreign nations and in order to gain advantage of yourself and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (3) (a) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (4) of the same Act”.
The charge against Paul Emmanuel reads: “That you, Paul Emmanuel, sometime in the year 2024 at Enugu, Enugu State within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, fraudulently impersonated one Chen Dong from China by means of your Tecno 8i phone with IMEI number 353030167612761 via fake google account with the intent to gain advantage of yourself from unsuspecting foreign nationals and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) and (ii) of the Cybercrime (Prevention, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended 2024) and punishable under 22 (2) (b) (iv) of the same Act”.
I Made False Allegations Against You And I Regret It, Please Forgive Me - Halima Abubakar Begs Apostle Johnson Suleman
AFOLABI
Halima Abubakar, the popular Nollywood actor, has come out to apologize to Nigerian cleric, Apostle Johnson Suleman of Omega Fire Ministries for defaming him.
Abubakar admitted to spreading falsehood against Suleman and causing him pain via social media.
The drama between Halima Abubakar and Apostle Suleman started in 2022 when the actress became bedridden following her altercation with the clergyman.
While sick, the actress’s family took to social media to call out the clergyman to stay away from her.
But, many alleged that the actress was battling an autoimmune disease which she debunked by sharing her medical report.
However, Halima Abubakar sought the apology of Apostle Suleman in a letter sent to the clergyman.
She also expressed deep regrets for tarnishing his image, hoping her letter could repair the damage to an extent.
The letter reads: “I admit that I made false allegations against you and also regret my action and the damage I caused to you, your wife, Dr Lizzy Suleman, your family and the leaders of the Omega Fire Ministry.
“With this letter, I humbly ask for forgiveness, recognising that my apology cannot undo the harm, pain and distress I caused and I ask you to find a place in your heart to forgive me as I was not thinking right then.
“I’m truly sorry for all the hurts and distress I caused you, your family and ministry.”
Gabriel Ogbechie, the Group Managing Director, Rainoil Ltd, has asked Nigerians to prepare to pay full market prices for petroleum products as a result of the full deregulation of the downstream sector.
After President Bola Tinubu announced that subsidy was gone, the pump price of petrol rose from N198 to N545 per litre and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) regulated pump prices at its outlets nationwide.
But two weeks ago, NNPCL exited its middleman role, forcing the pump price of fuel to sell between N998 and N1,250 per litre.
While appearing on Channels Television’s Business Morning on Tuesday, Ogbechie lauded Tinubu’s decision on the removal of fuel subsidy, saying that it allowed for healthy competition in the downstream sector.
“President Tinubu did the right thing by saying the subsidy was gone. He removed the subsidy and then we saw the price of petrol slide upwards.
“At some point, I think the government had to intervene to calm things down and then NNPCL went back to fixing the prices of petroleum products.
“But in October, we saw the government now saying such would not be allowed anymore, directing marketers to source their products and fix prices.
“I also don’t believe that the exchange rate has been floated. Every day you go to the market, it is now a willing buyer, willing seller situation.”
When asked if prices of petrol at the pump would continue to rise, he said; “The key thing is that deregulation is here to stay. Petrol is anything between N1000 and n1060 per litre towards the coast, and maybe N1300 as you go further north.
“As long as the price of crude oil keeps changing, as long as the exchange rate keeps changing, prices of petrol too will keep changing.
“If we see a massive drop in the price of crude oil, the price of petrol will also drop. If we see a drop or devaluation in the price of the exchange rate, there will also be a drop in the price of petrol.
“Nobody can exactly tell you what will happen in the next six months. But Nigerians should just be ready to pay the market-determined prices for petroleum products.”
Salaudeen Abdulbaki, a domestic staff in a private estate, has confessed to bolting away with his employer’s Range Rover jeep, as a way of punishing him.
The suspect, who was arrested in his hideout in the Jabi area of Abuja, was about to sell the vehicle for N30 million when he was arrested.
The suspect, who was paraded at the Headquarters of Zone 2, Police Command, Onikan, Lagos, allegedly bolted with the unregistered vehicle four months after working as a domestic staff for one Chief Olasode Martins, in a private estate in Lagos.
According to him: “Before I started working with my employer as a domestic staff, he promised to invest in my future. He asked me what my salary was at my former place of work. I told him that I was paid N70,000 from the two jobs I was doing then. He said he would pay me N50,000.
“The first month, he paid me N50,000. He paid me N40,000 the second month and thereafter, he started treating me like a slave. I resigned my appointment the fourth month and left. I came back three days later with the plan to steal the car,” he confessed.
The Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Zone 2 Police Command, Adegoke Fayoade, while briefing newsmen on the arrest on Tuesday, said the suspect was arrested based on a petition that was written by one Chief Olasode Martins on July 11, 2024, against some criminal syndicates who he claimed entered into his premises and carted away his white Range Rover SUV.
The AIG, who was represented by the Zonal Public Relations Officer, Ummar Ayuba, said based on the strength of the petition, he directed the Anti-Piracy Unit for discreet investigation and report.
“A team of police investigators from the Zonal Anti-Piracy Unit swung into action through technology driven policing, which revealed that it was the domestic staff, one Salaudeen Abdulbaki, who served the petitioner for barely four months and resigned who sent his friend one Mohammed Jamiu five days after he left; to the estate.
“The suspect, having been acquainted with his boss’ daily itinerary, constructively opened the gate and carted away the complainant’s vehicle knowing that the SUV was unregistered.
“Subsequently, the suspect, Salaudeen Abdulbaki was arrested in connection to the crime at his hideout in Jabi, Abuja and the exhibit, Range Rover SUV was recovered.
“He confessed to have masterminded the whole act with his syndicate and also admitted to be the person that called the estate security guards on the day of the incident with a new SIM card he had specifically gotten for the operation, impersonating his boss to allow easy passage of the vehicle after which the SIM card was destroyed before moving the SUV to Zuba for a month before moving it to Abuja where it was recovered,” he said.
The Probate Registry of the Lagos High Court has summoned Christian Chukwuka Wigwe to appear within eight days to resolve a legal dispute concerning the estate of the late Herbert Wigwe, former CEO of Access Bank.
Christian, claiming to be a cousin of the deceased, is challenging the provisions of Herbert Wigwe’s will and the distribution of his assets.
The court has directed him to present his case in person or through legal representation, as outlined in the summons issued in Probate Form 7.
The court’s directive requires Christian to declare his interest in the estate or provide reasons for opposing the probate process, which involves validating the will.
The case brings attention to a contentious matter over the allocation of Herbert Wigwe’s significant estate, given his prominent status in the banking industry.
According to the Probate Registry, Christian can still contest the probate proceedings even if he holds no direct claim to the assets, by filing a summons to seek further court directives.
“Be aware that failure to respond may result in the court proceeding to grant probate or administration of the estate, despite any caveat you have filed,” stated the registry, as reported by The Nation.
This legal case adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing controversies within the Wigwe family regarding control of the late banker’s assets.
Christian has previously filed an Affidavit of Truth, accusing Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Herbert’s former business partner, of taking indirect control of his assets and guardianship of his children.
In court documents dated October 7, 2024, Christian alleged that Aig-Imoukhuede assumed control of the estate without proper accountability, contrary to Herbert Wigwe’s expressed wishes in his will.
Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede and Herbert Wigwe were long-time friends and co-founders of Access Bank.
Both men left their roles as Executive Directors at GTBank to acquire and grow Access Bank in the early 2000s. Herbert succeeded Aigboje as Group CEO in 2010, following a Central Bank of Nigeria policy requiring CEOs to step down after serving for 10 years.
Under Herbert’s leadership, Access Bank expanded significantly across Africa, acquiring Diamond Bank and several banks in Kenya and South Africa.
Reports from an online publication indicated that Herbert Wigwe’s parents had also filed a caveat at the Probate Registry, contesting the terms of his will.
The caveat was reportedly lodged under the guidance of Pastor Shyngle, with Christian Chukwuka Wigwe supporting the move through an affidavit.
However, Pastor Shyngle has denied any involvement in a dispute over his late son’s property. In a statement issued by Emeka Wigwe on behalf of the family, the claims were refuted, with the family asserting that they had never sought a percentage of Herbert’s estate.
A coalition of opposition lawmakers has raised concerns about an alleged attempt by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a group backing the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, to obtain a court injunction or ruling aimed at halting the constitutional monthly allocation for local governments in Rivers State.
The spokesman of the coalition, Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, stated this on Tuesday in a statement he made available to DAILY POST.
Ugochinyere represents the Ideato South/North Federal Constituency of Imo State.
According to him, the opposition obtained credible evidence from a source that the above-mentioned group, working with some anti-democratic forces, has filed a legal process at the Federal High Court seeking an injunction or judgment to withhold monthly funds allocated to the local governments in Rivers State.
The statement read: “The APC and Pro-Wike group, as I am speaking, is filing a suit at the Federal High Court to help them seize the statutory sovereign allocation of the entire Rivers State LGAs, knowing fully well that no court in Nigeria has declared the election of the LGA chairmen invalid. But still, they want to stop the constitutional allocation of revenue to an arm of government that is constitutionally mandated.
“This is the second of such cases by the Wike group to bring about constitutional disorder. They have a pending case seeking to seize the entire Rivers allocation/LGA funds they filed, and now they are using the Wike-APC faction to file another suit seeking an order to stop the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee, the Accountant General of the Federation, the Minister of Finance, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Attorney-General of Rivers State, and the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission.
The lawmaker stated that the Wike group is still reeling from the outcome of the just-concluded Rivers State LGA election, which was held in compliance with the Supreme Court judgment that mandated the election. The pro-Wike group, who claimed to be working for President Tinubu, wanted to stop it at all costs.
Ugochinyere added that their intelligence includes reports of boasting by some pro-Wike supporters that the case, before the close of business today or tomorrow, will be assigned to the usual judges who always deliver swift ex-parte orders or judgments in favor of the Wike camp.
He warned that the opposition is closely monitoring the development and will not hesitate to alert the Nigerian people.
He stated that the LGA allocation is a statutory, constitutional, and sovereign fund for an arm of government that cannot be hijacked, especially with the existence of valid LGA leadership.
He urged the FCT Minister’s camp to accept defeat and abandon their alleged plan to undermine the people of Rivers State. He also urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene and not allow unscrupulous elements to lead the nation into anarchy and tarnish democracy under his watch.
“The APC and Pro-Wike group, as I am speaking, is filing a suit at the Federal High Court to help them seize the allocation of the entire Rivers State, knowing fully well that no court in Nigeria has declared the election of the LGA chairmen invalid, but still they want to stop the constitutional allocation of revenue to an arm of government that is constitutionally mandated.
“The people of Rivers State have elected their council chairmen and councillors in line with the recent ruling of the Supreme Court to democratize all LGAs in Nigeria, and any attempt to truncate democracy in Rivers would be resisted by the people.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu cannot afford to fold his arms and watch as the Wike group plots to reverse democracy in Rivers State and undermine the peace and stability of the country. I hope the case doesn’t go to those who like to issue orders for the Pro-Wike group in seconds.
“We are watching closely. The judiciary should quit granting any frivolous requests from the Wike group related to the LG polls in Rivers to help save the image of the judiciary, which their desperation is undermining.”
Nasiru Buba, the husband of Tasleem, a married woman, who was accused of having alleged illicit affairs with a Jigawa State Commissioner for Special Duties, Auwalu Sankara, has cried out to the Jigawa and Kano governors to save his marriage before it collapses.
To this end, Nasiru Buba appealed to the two governors of Kano and Jigawa States not to yield to pressure mounted on them to interfere in the case in the name of killing it.
Speaking to newsmen Tuesday in Kano, Nasiru Buba expressed concern that the actions of Hisbah and the subsequent redirection of the case to the AIG Zone One office for investigation—where the police have had it in custody for almost two weeks—speak volumes of alleged moves to kill the case.
“Let me say categorically that this case has been with the police in Kano for the last two weeks, and they have effectively investigated it. Hisbah is also aware of the case; therefore, all I need is for the governors of Jigawa and Kano to help me ensure that justice is done in this matter.”
Nasiru Buba, in the same vein, accused the legal counsel of his wife of lying against him, claiming that he had divorced his wife a long time ago and that he has been maltreating her, including firing gunshots in the course of their disagreements.
He said, “This lawyer has seriously lied against me because, in the first place, Tasleem is still my wife, and she lives in my house. In the second place, I don’t have a gun, let alone firing it during our disagreements.”
The husband urged his wife’s counsel to immediately withdraw his allegations against him and put the record straight; otherwise, he will seek redress to clear his name.
He noted in dismay that, “The lawyer lied that I divorced my wife two years ago, but our recent pictures showing myself and her in my house celebrating Eid Kabeer debunk that insinuation. The car she was caught with is also my personal car, which I bought not less than two weeks ago. So what is he talking about?”
Ex-Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has frowned at the principle of regionalism, describing it as the underlying cause of Nigeria’s ongoing challenges.
According to him, where a leader comes from is irrelevant as long as they can bring in their skills and do well in governance.
Speaking on Tuesday, October 22, in Abeokuta during a visit by the League of Northern Democrats, Obasanjo lamented that the regionalism adopted at independence in 1960 continues to hinder the nation’s progress.
Addressing the group led by former Kano State governor Ibrahim Shekarau, Obasanjo emphasized that a leader’s origin should not matter, but rather their contributions to national development and governance.
“Where a leader hails from does not matter. Rather, what he brings to the table in terms of development and governance should matter,” Obasanjo said.
The former president also urged the group to adopt a more inclusive name, suggesting they become a "National League of Democrats" rather than a regional group focused on the North. He argued that Nigeria’s fixation on regional divisions—whether North, East, or West—has perpetuated the country’s problems.
“One of the things that led us to where we are today, and we haven’t gotten out of, is regionalism. Whenever I hear ‘North’, ‘East’ or ‘West’, I get frightened,” Obasanjo said.
While acknowledging the group's concerns about Nigeria’s political landscape, Obasanjo stressed the importance of correcting these wrongs with a national outlook.
Controversial Nigerian comedian, Oluwaseyitan Aletile aka Seyi Law has stated that he prefers to have a sidechic instead of a second wife.
He stated this during a recent episode of Hip TV programme, Trending, where he shared some of his personal preferences.
The host, Pascal asked, “Would you rather have a side chick or marry another wife?”
Seyi Law replied, “Ah! Side chick [laughs].”
On the three words that best describe him, the comedian said, “Integrity, grace and happy.”
He urged viewers to emulate his character by loving their families and being compassionate.
Seyi Law is married to his wife, Stacey Aletile.
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The Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) has voiced its support for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in its fight against corruption.
This is coming as the Supreme Court reserved ruling on the suit against the EFCC by 19 other governors over the constitutionality of its establishment.
Chairman of the forum and governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, expressed this commitment at the 2024 National Cybercrime Summit held in Abuja.
The summit was organised by the EFCC in collaboration with the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme, RoLAC, and the European Union
The summit is with the theme: “Alternative to Cybercrime: Optimising Cyber Skills for National Development,” focused on enhancing digital skills as a strategy to combat cybercrime.
The NGF chairman called for synergy on cyber-security in the country to enhance national development.
Abdulrazaq emphasised the need for a shift in the public perception of crimes.
He expressed delight at the efforts of the EFCC, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in educating young Nigerians on issues related to crime, drug abuse, and patriotism.
“You have our full support in this endeavor. I am impressed with what the EFCC, NDLEA, and NOA are doing in the new media and our basic schools to dissuade young people from engaging in crimes, drug abuse, and to promote patriotism.
”This effort should be elevated so that we can achieve a national consensus on the behaviors that form the foundation of our cultural legacy as Nigerians.
“We also commend the EFCC for organising this summi. I am confident that, after this gathering, we will be better informed and more motivated to improve the public’s perception of cybercrime,”he said.
In the same vein, Gov. Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, in a chat with newsmen, expressed readiness to support the commission in its anti-corruption crusade in Zamfara and the country as a whole.
Lawal said that he was not afraid of the EFCC’s investigation, and would give the commission the required assistance.
According to him, people elected to positions of leadership should be accountable and transparent.
As part of efforts to fast-track justice delivery in Lagos State, a bill to significantly reduce litigation time at the Magistrate and High Courts has been sent to the State House Of Assembly for approval.
The Attorney General of Lagos & Commissioner For Justice, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Lawal Pedro said when passed, the bill will ensure that civil cases last not more than two years in courts and tenancy matters no more than 6 months.
Pedro disclosed this at a Press Conference held at the Ministry of Justice Conference Room, Alausa, Ikeja, on Tuesday to commemorate his first year in office and to set the stage for the upcoming Strategic Stakeholders Meeting of his ministry scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday.
Other innovations the Lagos State Ministry of Justice has introduced include the establishment of the State’s Criminal Information System, to capture photographs, and biometrics and identify the cases of all inmates in the Correctional Centres in Lagos State, as well as the establishment of the Lis Pendens Registry on land matters to serve as a repository of information of land disputes in the courts, reduce incidents of third-party interests as well as enhance confidence in real-estate investment within the State.”
The AG says all of the innovations will ultimately aid economic growth and protect investors.
The Lagos State Ministry of Justice held its Justice Reform Summit from May 27th to 28th, 2024.
The Summit culminated in a series of impactful recommendations presented by the diverse speakers and discussants in attendance.
Following the reception of these recommendations and with the approval of Governor Sanwo-Olu, an implementation committee tasked with developing an action plan to operationalise these recommendations was soon constituted.
One of the foremost areas of focus for the committee was the Administration of Civil Justice for Economic Growth and Investment Protection.
Recognising that delays in justice delivery can significantly hinder economic progress, the committee emphasized the necessity of reducing the time of conclusion of cases in the Magistrate and High Courts.
To this end, a Bill for the enactment of the Administration of Civil Justice Law has been forwarded to the House of Assembly for the legislative process.
If the Bill is passed into Law, it is expected that litigation in trial courts should not last more than 18 to 24 months and tenancy matters between 3 to 6 months.
In the Criminal Justice System, delays in DPP legal advice and prosecution have been addressed.
In addition, the Lagos State Criminal Information System has been established to capture photographs, biometrics and identify the cases of all inmates in the Correctional Centres in Lagos State.
Another innovation introduced is the Bill for the establishment of the LIS Pendens Registry. The Registry aims to serve as a repository of information on land disputes in our courts to prevent instances of purchase of land subject to litigation by unsuspecting purchasers without notice. This initiative will not only reduce incidents of third-party interests arising from ongoing court cases but also enhance confidence in real-estate investment within the State.
Another Bill being proposed is the Customary Marriage and Dissolution Registry for the registration of customary marriages and dissolution of customary marriages. This will give the people of Lagos State opportunity to have customary marriage certificates and certificates of dissolution of customary marriages.
Controversial crossdresser, Idris Okuneye, widely known as Bobrisky, was detained in a female cell at the Force Criminal Investigation Department Annex in Alagbon, Lagos State.
A source close to the police facility, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, confirmed to Punch that Okuneye spent the night in the female cell due to his controversial lifestyle and the absence of other female detainees at the time of his detention.
The source said, “Bobrisky was brought to the FCID, Alagbon, around 10 p.m. on Monday. Immigration arrested him at the Seme Border and brought him for safekeeping. He is in detention at the FCID, Alagbon. He was arrested on Sunday, detained overnight, and taken to the FCID, Alagbon.
“We have a lot of cells in Alagbon; and when you are having a case like that, you have to look for the right place to guarantee the safety and security of the person being detained.
“Everybody is conscious of the fact that Bobrisky could be gay and nobody wants to be part of a scandal. If you put him among males, anything can happen and you cannot put him among females. So, they gave him a cell alone and the cell is around the female section and they didn’t have any female inmate around that cell.”
Confirming Okuneye’s detention, the spokesperson for the FCID, Lagos, Mayegun Aminat, during a conversation with Punch, on Tuesday, said, “He is detained at the FCID, Alagbon. He is with us and we are to get a remand to keep him in custody today.”
Naija News learnt that further directives were being awaited regarding Okuneye’s case as he was taken to the FCID for safekeeping following his arrest by officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service during his attempt to exit the country through the Seme border.
The source said Okuneye’s attempt to exit the country through the Seme border indicated that he knew security agencies were after him.
“From what we gathered, he was trying to escape from the country, but we also think that maybe he is on the blacklist and for him to go to the Seme border, maybe he is aware that they are looking for him,” the source said.
A former presidential candidate of the African Renaissance Party, Alhaji Yahaya Ndu, has voiced strong criticism against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu‘s economic policies, labelling them as “thoughtless” and harmful to the economic stability of Nigeria.
In an interview with PUNCH, Ndu accused the current administration of driving numerous Nigerians into extreme poverty through these policies.
Further intensifying his critique, Ndu characterized President Tinubu’s leadership style as a “civilian dictatorship,” underscoring a significant discontent with the governance approach in the country.
He advocated for a mass participatory method to tackle the nation’s challenges, stressing that democracy should extend beyond the electoral process to include active citizen engagement.
Highlighting a notable disconnection between the government and the populace, Ndu pointed out that the combined votes secured by Tinubu, along with other major candidates like Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, and Rabi’u Kwankwaso in the recent elections did not even constitute 20 percent of Nigeria’s total population.
Ndu said, “People said that President Tinubu is just in power a little over a year and that he should be given the opportunity to turn things around, but when they said this thing, I got worried because we are supposed to be practising party democracy and his party has been in power since 2015. The President was the leader of APC. So many of the top functionaries of the party were nominated by him or tutored by him.
“For instance, the current Chief of Staff was then Speaker of the House of Representatives and so on. In any case, when he came on board, he said he was coming to continue from where Buhari stopped. The point I was trying to make is that it is dishonest to say that he just met the trouble, and he is trying to fix it because he has always been part of the team led by Buhari since 2015.”
Ndu explained that party democracy means that you are collectively responsible for the actions of your party, insisting that the President’s henchmen should better stop pulling the wool over the eyes of Nigerians by saying he just came on board because he has always been there.
He further stated, “In any case, I am not even surprised that he is not able to handle the situation because shortly before the election I stated in a press conference that it is either he does not have the solutions or that he is not patriotic. If he had the solutions all along he would have given the solutions to his party to implement even before coming to be President and if he didn’t have the solutions that meant he didn’t have them, if he had them and he refused to put them on board for his party to implement, that means he was not patriotic. You don’t get the solution simply because you became President.
“In any case, even during the electioneering campaign to become President he consistently refused to answer any question. Remember even when he went to Chatham House, when questions were put to him, he delegated others around him like Nasir el-Rufai to answer the questions for him. During rallies when he was supposed to address people on his programmes he was holding broom and dancing.
“So, I am not surprised that things are getting worse under him, but I am not blaming him as a person, I am blaming all of us for agreeing to be so fooled, not just by him but by the whole polity we are operating. If you put all the votes that Tinubu had in the election, whether rigged or unrigged, together and add that one of Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar and Rabi’u Kwankwaso, they don’t come up to 20 per cent of the population of the people of Nigeria; and if you said as for those who voted, it is still an extremely negligible percentage. Democracy is supposed to be about mass participation.
“The solution to our problems can be found in a mass participatory approach, in other words, if we are trying to involve programmes for technological advancement, you must create a system that will outsource all our engineers, all our technologists whether at home or in diaspora to contribute together, to collate and marshall out what should be our technological advancement blueprint, likewise for health. Our medical doctors, our pharmacists, and all those in the health industry should put their heads together. Thank God for information technology; they don’t need to leave their bases to be able to reason together.
“This is the process we need to undertake to move this country forward. Nobody should pretend to be more Nigerian than the other. And nobody has any monopoly on knowledge. When all of us come together and work as one that is only when we can move this country forward.”
On fuel subsidy, Ndu stated that the removal of subsidies on Premium Motor Spirit was the worst decision of the Tinubu administration.
He said, “To start with, even if it was supposed to be the best decision, it was removed in the most wrong possible way.
“You remember that he removed the fuel subsidy even before he had a cabinet during his swearing-in that more than anything is the most eloquent, graphic explanation that this was a civilian dictatorship, and if I were in his position, if I think that the best decision is to remove the fuel subsidy the most common thing or the basics thing my administration would have done is to, first of all, encourage all those young boys and girls who are operating what our country prefers to call illegal refineries who we send our Air Force, soldiers and Navy to destroy their refineries; my administration will encourage them, regulate their products, make sure that they don’t pollute the environment, help them to get the crude oil at the cheapest possible price and suffocate everywhere with properly refined oil; incidentally information reaching us now says that Libya, as of this moment is selling one litre of PMS at N52.
“If Libya, an African nation can be selling PMS at N52 a litre and we are selling our own officially at more than a thousand naira a litre, something is wrong with us.
“Everybody knows that it was a terrible decision, even he and his administration have realized that it was a terrible decision and that is why they are now talking about CNG, which if they realised that they were doing something terrible would have come before the removal of subsidies the way it was done.”