FEATURES
A 37-year-old suspected ritualist arrested by police detectives in Ondo state, Yusuf Adinohi, has confessed that he took to the business of selling human skulls to save his sick mother.
Adinohi, who was paraded by the state police command in Akure, was arrested in Isua-Akoko area of the state for being in possession of eight human skulls.
He was said to be coming from Okene in Kogi State and heading to Osogbo in Osun state when he was arrested by security officers at about 11 am at Agbasi Locust checkpoint in Ase area of Isua Akoko, Ondo state.
A team of security operatives in the state, reportedly intercepted a commercial vehicle marked, LKJ 148 AJ, driven by one Kabiru Abubakar with four passengers.
“Upon investigation, the suspect admitted being the owner of the eight dry skulls and said that he was going to Osogbo to deliver the human skulls to another herbalist.
The suspect reportedly named his customers who buy the human skulls from him and their locations
In an interview with newsmen, at the police headquarters in Akure, the suspect said that he has sold seven human skulls at N35,000 each and has made N245,000 from the illicit business.
According to him “ This will be my third time in this business. On the first trip, I sold four, the second time, I sold three and this latest one eight human skulls.
“For the skull, I usually buy it from my friend, Ismaila who usually gets them from burial grounds.
“Before I ventured into this business, I was buying and selling palm oil and cashew nuts, but it was not fetching me much money.
“My mother has been sick, we took her to one hospital in Lokoja and the doctor said we need N2 million for her treatment. So I had no choice but to venture into skull business. My intention was to leave the business once I gathered the money to settle my mother’s medical bills.
“So far, from the seven that I had sold, I’ve made N245,000. I actually sold them to different people.
“I met the buyers on Facebook. He told me that he’s a herbalist.
Speaking, the state police commissioner, Abayomi Oladipo, said that the suspect was apprehended during stop and search security operations at Isua Akoko.
The suspect further confessed that the human skulls were usually handed over to him by one, Imaila living at Oboroke in Okene, and that each head is being sold for between N30,000 and N35,000.
Oladipo said the suspect would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID for further investigations.
A retired military officer, General Ishola Williams, said the immunity clause in the 1999 Constitution empowers politicians to be corrupt.
Williams stated this in an interview on Channels Television on Friday.
According to him, acts the law shields politicians from arrest and prosecution for fraudulent offences while in office.
He said the 1999 Constitution is corruption-prone because it provides immunity for crooks once they assume elective offices and “immunity gives room for impunity”.
“That constitution is corruption-prone. Why is it corruption-prone? Immunity is equivalent to impunity.
“So, any constitution that has immunity is creating institution for impunity because you bring a crook into government and you say: ‘Oh, this crook because he has come into government, he is now a saint, so anything he does, leave him until he leaves.
“What then happens? The governors become kleptocrats and demigods in their states, approve any amount they like and nobody audits them. If you ask accountants, they will tell you that everybody is auditable except God, but not in Nigeria.”
According to Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution, no civil or criminal proceedings can be instituted against the President, Vice President, the 36 state governors and their deputies. The section also states that they can’t be arrested or imprisoned.
He said politicians since 1999 have been blaming General Abdulsalami Abubakar for the 1999 Constitution but politicians themselves don’t want to correctly amend the constitution because “of the powers that it gives them, and the greed and the selfishness.”
“If not for corrupt government officials, by now Nigeria should be competing with South Africa because we have the brain power.”
He said Nigeria should develop a tailor-made economic solution like the Asians, and not blindly follow the economic template of the West.
General Ishola said the leaders of the First Republic were selfless and sacrificial unlike the “characterless” ones in government at the moment.
Speaking on why he resigned after the June 12, 1993 annulment, the retired General said, “coups are not necessary.”
“The case of coup or no coup in the Nigerian setting, any military officer in his right sense knows that it doesn’t work because it is temporary in nature and that is the mistakes that those boys in other West African nations like Mali and co have been making.
“The only person who only understood this was Abdulsalami Abubakar. He was there within 11 months and he handed over power because he knew that it (the military) can’t solve the problem of Nigeria,” he said.
“After the civil war, I reflected about why we fought the civil war and I couldn’t find any cogent reason except that two lieutenant colonels got us into the war – one was smart and the other was not, one was prepared, political ambitious, the other one was just following his career,” he added.
General Ishola urged civil society organisation to organise conferences and promote awareness about followership responsibilities to get good governance and demand accountability from leaders.
According to him, “the followership of Nigeria has the greatest responsibility”.
“I believe that the military was wrong at that time. But the interesting thing is the followership. Look at every country in Africa, whenever the military takes over, people go into the streets and rejoice.
“Nobody has been able to ask that question why the people rejoice whenever the military takes over. It is because the followers choose the wrong leaders and the leaders take advantage of the irresponsibility of the followers,” he said.
The naira depreciated in the parallel section of the foreign exchange (FX) market on Friday.
At the Lagos street market, currency traders, also known as bureau de change (BDC) operators, said the naira depreciated to N1,485 against the dollar.
The black market traders put the buying price of the dollar at N1,460 and the selling price at N1,485 — leaving a profit margin of N25.
This represents N5 or 0.34 percent depreciation compared to the N1,480/$ reported on May 10.
At the FMDQ Exchange, a platform that oversees official foreign exchange (FX) trading in Nigeria, the local currency depreciated by 0.44 percent or N6.48 to N1,482.72/$ on Friday — from N1,476.24/$ on May 13.
The dollar traded as high as N1,490/$ and as low as N1,390 during trading hours.
The daily FX market turnover stood at $183.47 million.
At the current FX rates, the gap between the official window and the parallel market is N2.28.
On June 5 Fitch Ratings, a global rating agency, projected naira will end the year at N1,450 to a dollar.
Gaimin Nonyane, director, Middle-East and Africa sovereigns, at Fitch Ratings, said despite the volatility experienced by the naira since its floating in June 2023, there are expectations that the fluctuation will reduce by the third quarter (Q3) of 2024.
Nonyane projected a gradual depreciation of the naira in 2025, adding that this depends largely on the foreign exchange reform’s momentum.
Colombian singer Shakira Mebarak has expressed her admiration for Afrofusion star Burna Boy and the Afrobeats genre.
Shakira, 47, shared her thoughts during a recent cover shoot with Rolling Stone, where she discussed her lifestyle recommendations and musical influences.
Afrobeats has emerged as one of Africa’s most significant cultural exports in recent years.
In 2023, the genre reached global prominence, with top Nigerian artists like Wizkid, Davido, and Burna Boy hosting some of the most successful concerts worldwide.
During the interview, the “Waka Waka” hitmaker described her music style as “eclectic, honest, and real,” noting her particular fondness for Afrobeats.
Shakira singled out Burna Boy as her favorite artist, stating that she listens to his songs frequently.
Shakira also mentioned her appreciation for Tyla, the rising South African singer.
“If I could explain my taste of music in three words I would say eclectic, honest, and real. In my car, whether I am driving at night, I love anything Afrobeats. I like Tyla, I like Burna Boy, anything Afrobeats but I love Burna very great,” she said.
Shakira made her recording debut with Sony Music Colombia at the age of 13. She began to gain fame in Hispanic countries with her albums ‘Pies Descalzos’ in 1995 and ‘Dónde Están los Ladrones?’ in 1998.
Her single ‘Whenever, Wherever’ broke into the English-language market with her fifth album, ‘Laundry Service,’ in 2001, selling over 13 million copies worldwide.
The Colombian star married Gerard Piqué, a former FC Barcelona defender, in 2011, and they have two children together.
In June 2022, Shakira and the ex-footballer announced their breakup in a joint statement.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued a public warning regarding the risks associated with investing in Davido’s cryptocurrency, $Davido.
The commission cautioned that the digital asset poses significant financial risks to investors.
Recently, Nigerian music star Davido launched $Davido, a new cryptocurrency coin, in collaboration with Phantom and Solana.
The coin gained rapid popularity initially, attracting early investors who reportedly made profits.
However, shortly after its launch, $Davido experienced a sharp decline in value, resulting in substantial losses for many investors.
Responding to these developments, the SEC released a statement asserting that $Davido does not fall under its regulatory oversight as an investment product or a recognized asset class.
The commission emphasized that individuals who choose to invest in the meme coin do so at their own risk.
“The attention of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Nigeria (“SEC”) has been drawn to a meme coin known as “$Davido” allegedly linked to the popular Nigerian singer, David Adedeji Adeleke AKA Davido,” the statement reads.
“Generally, meme coins are cryptocurrencies inspired by memes and internet jokes. They are often envisaged as a fun, light-hearted cryptocurrencies promoted through a social media community and sometimes through celebrity endorsements.
“Meme coins are also NOT intended to serve as a medium of exchange accepted by the public as payment for goods and services, or as digital representation of capital market products such as shares, debentures, units of collective investment schemes, derivatives contracts, commodities or other kinds of financial instruments or investments.
“The general public is HEREBY ADVISED that meme coins lack fundamental value and are purely speculative. The general public is further WARNED that investing in meme coins, including $Davido, is highly risky and should be done with a full understanding of the associated risk.
“Capital Market Operators are by this Notice warned not to associate with instruments that fall outside the SEC’s regulatory purview. Such instruments should not in any manner be distributed or monitored through any capital market mechanism.
“PLEASE NOTE that the Commission does not recognize $Davido as an investment product or investable asset class under its regulatory purview, as such individuals who patronize it, do so at their peril.
“The Commission will continue to monitor developments within the ecosystem and will not relent in deploying its regulatory powers as and when required.”
‘I Needed N6m For Heart Operation’ — Man Arrested In Abuja With 7 Pump Action Rifles Confesses
AFOLABI
…As Suspect Confessed Attempting To Sell Company Car For N5m
A suspected gunrunner, Ikechukwu Didi, 54, has confessed to joining a criminal syndicate to raise N6m for a heart operation.
Didi disclosed this in an interview with THE WHISTLER after he was paraded by the FCT Police Command among 14 others, on Thursday, in Abuja.
He was arrested on June 7, by the anti-car theft unit of the FCT police with the unlawful possession of seven pump-action rifles and over 1000 rounds of live cartridges.
The FCT Commissioner of Police, Ben Igweh said operatives of the command apprehended Didi after a crime syndicate on its watch list, upon arrest, identified him as their supplier of arms and ammunition.
Speaking to THE WHISTLER Didi admitted to the unlawful possession of the weapons which he said were delivered to him by an individual, whom he had identified to the police.
The FCT CP acknowledged the information, noting that police operatives were on a trail of other members of the syndicate, based on the information provided.
However, Didi told THE WHISTLER that he had only been recruited into the criminal group, and it was his first time taking delivery of the weapons. “They just connected me newly,” he said.
He added, “I do not know the people sending the weapon; I only have a name which I have told the police. I also do not know the people I am sending it to and what they are using it for.” he said.
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The resident of Dutse Alhaji, a suburb in the FCT said his heart condition pushed him into crime without evaluating the consequences.
“I have been sick and the hospital said they will carry out an operation and it will cost N6m,” he revealed.
When asked about the agreed amount he was to receive if he had delivered the weapon, he said it was not discussed.
He also said that he had yet to raise a dime for his ailment.
He provided documents from the Gwagwalada Teaching Hospital which he said he had been visiting following a diagnosis of his heart condition in 2020.
The management of Eclath Human Resources in Jabi, Abuja, where the culprit works, had reported a case of a stolen vehicle to the police, after Udeke was sent to refill the vehicle with fuel.
Weeks after trailing the suspects, the anti-car theft unit of the FCT command tracked Udeke’s phone to Lagos State, and the car was subsequently recovered.
Speaking to THE WHISTLER in an interview, Udeke said he had been chased out by his landlord for his inability to pay his N350,000 rent when he decided to rob the company of its vehicle and sell it for the sum of N5m.
“Before then, I had written to the company asking for assistance,” he said, noting that his request did not yield any positive result.
Interestingly, Udeke had just worked with his company for three months, earning N70,000 when he decided to hatch his plans.
The new father of twins said on the day he ran away with the vehicle, he had received a call that his belongings had been thrown out of his apartment.
Rather than purchase the fuel, he had decided to use the company’s vehicle to take his family to a safe place.
“I decided to sell the vehicle. When I got to Lagos, they were pricing the vehicle N2m and it was not okay for me. So, I decided to take my family to Enugu and also park the car there while I returned to Lagos. It was in Lagos that I was arrested,” he narrated.
When asked how much he intended to sell the vehicle, Udeke said, “I wanted to sell it, like N5m.”
The suspect said it was his first time taking the belongings of others, hence the choice to park the vehicle in his country home. He advised others to be patient and shun all forms of criminal activities.
Meanwhile, Udeke’s vehicle was among four vehicles and one Hilux recovered by the police recently.
According to the FCT Police CP, criminal elements now resort to the use of anti-tracker devices to prevent security operatives from trailing them.
The Command had recovered two of such devices from the suspects paraded on Thursday.
According to them, there is a transborder car theft syndicate specialised in stealing vehicles from Abuja and neighbouring states and selling them to people in Niger Republic.
The CP warned, “I will still warn the criminals that it is not business as usual. We are focused, determined and eager, we have all it takes: intelligence, security and intelligence to get you.
“So, since they have reached the issue of using a jammer to do their act, we will use an anti-jammer to equally trace them.
“I want to appeal to residents of FCT when you see something, you say something, and we will do something.”
SRC: TheWhistler
One Temitope Adetanju has been arrested by the operatives of the Ogun State Police Command for inserting a piece of firewood into the private part of a 12-year-old girl.
Adetanju, who happens to be the girl’s guardian, had assaulted her for allegedly stealing biscuits, Milo, and ‘Mr. Fruit’.
According to the state Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, the incident happened on Tuesday in the Isewo Obada Oko area of Ewekoro Local Government Area of the state.
Upon receiving a report about the incident, she said the Divisional Police Officer in the area deployed the division’s juvenile officer to the scene of the incident to arrest the suspect.
“The incident occurred on 11/06/24 at about 1100hrs. The Divisional Police Officer received information that a 12-year-old girl from Isewo Obada Oko was severely beaten and had a piece of firewood inserted into her private part by her guardian, one Temitope Adetanju, a 25-year-old woman residing at the same address.
“On receipt of the distress report, the Divisional Police Officer deployed the Officer in Charge of Juvenile Welfare Center, to apprehend the suspect. Upon her arrest, it was discovered that the victim had stolen items including biscuits worth N200, Milo worth N150, and Mr. Fruit worth N300,” Odutola told Punch on Friday.
The suspect has since confessed to committing the crime, Odutola said, adding that investigation is going on.
“The suspect admitted to committing the crime, and the investigation is ongoing,” the PPRO informed.
Africa’s richest person, Aliko Dangote, says local and foreign mafia tried several times to sabotage his $19 billion refinery from coming to fruition.
This is as he said he has repaid about $2.4 billion of the $5.5 billion borrowed to build the refinery.
According to him, several entities did everything to sabotage the 650,000 barrels per day facility.
He spoke on Wednesday at the Afreximbank annual meetings (AAN) and AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum in Nassau, The Bahamas.
Dangote said he was aware that resistance would always exist, but he did not anticipate it being so harsh.
“Well, I knew that there would be a fight. But I didn’t know that the mafia in oil, they are stronger than the mafia in drugs. I can tell you that. Yes, it’s a fact. The local and foreign mafia tried several times to sabotage the refinery from coming to fruition,” he said.
The businessman, who tagged himself a fighter throughout his life, said the mafias had tried several times to defeat him.
“But I’m a person that has been fighting all my life. You know, so I think it’s part of my life to fight,” he said.
On if he was receiving enough crude oil as feed-stock for his refinery from the international oil companies (IOCs), Dangote said: “In a system where for 35 years people are used to counting good money, and all of a sudden they see that the days of counting that money have come to an end, you don’t expect them to pray for you. Of course, you expect them to fight back.
Linda Ikeji advises women to focus on achieving financial independence rather than relying on men for support.
She stressed that wealth is not limited to men alone, noting that she personally chooses to work towards financial freedom rather than depending on a man.
Highlighting the importance of fearlessness, strength, determination, and grace, Linda Ikeji encouraged women to take charge of their own destinies by pursuing their dreams, building their businesses, and breaking barriers.
She also advised women to aim for financial success equal to or even greater than that of their partners, urging them to step up and take control of their own financial futures.
Taking to her Instagram post, Kinda Ikeji wrote :
“Dear young lady, I hear you! If that’s how you see life and want to live life, it’s your choice! To each his own. As for me, I’d rather be as rich as those men who must pay me for being beautiful. Being rich is not the birthright of men alone. I’d rather be their contemporary than waiting for their handouts.
“I know many believe it’s a man’s world; maybe it is, but with fearlessness, strength, determination, and grace, women can dominate and thrive in it. So, instead of waiting for men’s charity, I’d rather start early to fight for my dreams, build my business(es), break boundaries, and if God allows, shatter tables.”
The Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has shared photos of her 70th birthday celebration online.
Okonjo, in the post via her X handle, described yesterday as one of the happiest days of her life.
While expressing appreciation to WTO Ambassadors, staff and members for their outpouring of love, the former Minister of Finance noted that she had never received as many flower bouquets from all over the world as she got today.
She wrote, “I don’t normally do personal tweets, but today is an exception! It has been one of the happiest days of my life – my 70th birthday! So much outpouring of love from everywhere!! I want to thank all WTO Ambassadors, WTO staff, friends and family! I’ve never received so many bouquets of flowers from all over the world, as I have today! Along with good wishes and prayers. I consider myself blessed to have a loving husband, family, friends and well wishers! All Glory and Thanks to God!”
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The House of Representatives member representing Ifelodun/Boripe/Odo-Otin federal constituency in Osun State, Hon. Olusoji Adetunji, was allegedly harassed by his constituents during a recent visit to his hometown.
A viral social media video shows the lawmaker and his group being attacked by residents who allege he neglected their welfare, even though they had given him substantial electoral support.
It was observed in the video that locals surrounded him, screaming and calling for the representative to be beaten.
One woman cautioned the man filming against recording the incident. However, the person behind the camera insisted on filming, insulting the representative and other politicians.
See video below:
Media
An Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti on Thursday sentenced the cleric of a church at Omuo Ekiti in the Ekiti East Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Pastor Enoch, to life imprisonment for raping a minor.
The victim said to be the daughter of one of the church members, was raped by the pastor during one of her visits to the cleric’s residence.
The young girl was said to be a frequent visitor to the mission house to help the pastor’s wife with house chores and as well support the young children in their school assignments.
The Ekiti State Director of Public Prosecutions, Julius Ajibade, who prosecuted the case, said, “It was during one of the minor’s visits to the mission house that the defendant (pastor) sedated her with a bottle of Fanta. The girl slept off after taking the drink only to wake up and find out that she was bleeding profusely from her private parts.
“The defendant was arrested and charged to court. He was charged with the offence of rape contrary to Section 2 of the Gender–Based Violence (Prohibition) Law, 2019.”
The DPP called four witnesses and tendered two exhibits to prove his case.
The defendant spoke through his counsel, Adeyinka Opaleke, who gave evidence in his defence as he called only one other witness.
In his judgment, Justice Olusegun Ogunyemi held that “the prosecution proved the offence of rape against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt.”
The judge consequently convicted the defendant and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
The Nigeria Police Force has arrested three men behind the proliferation of fake websites for JAMB registration, falsifying fake JAMB Admission Letters, System Interference and schemes operating phishing websites to defraud unsuspecting JAMB candidates.
Confirming their arrest to newsmen, the spokesperson of the Police force, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the suspects identified as Effa Leonard Mpama, Ibang Ernest Jerome and Eshiet Odotukana Benson, all male of ages 34, 38 and 38 respectively and others at large, belong to a syndicate who intentionally and knowingly conspired and procured amongst themselves services that enabled them to illegally access JAMB restricted Central Admission Processing System (CAPS) and e-facility respectively, and proceeded to alter and delete other candidates' previous admission letters and inputted fake details resulting in inauthentic admission letter which were acted upon as genuine to secure admissions into tertiary institutions and mobilization for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, thus compromising the entire JAMB admission process with its attendant consequences.
‘’Upon arrest the suspects revealed their various degrees of involvement in the conspiracy, corroborating the already available overwhelming evidence. The duo of Effa Leonard Mpama and Ibang Ernest Jerome and others at large collect personal details of the prospective candidates and forward same to Mr. Eshiet Odotukana Benson who gets CAPS links from Daniel and Chris; Messrs. Daniel and Chris still at large are working in the JAMB Computer Based Test (CBT) Centers domiciled in FAN and UNICAL respectively in Calabar, Cross River State. '
In more developments, digital Forensic analysis led to the recovery of 4 fake domains, websites and 2 principal threat actors of a syndicate in Imọ State behind the creation of the fake domains and other associated websites operated by them. Similarly, the third suspect, Mr Eshiet, who has access to the CAPS links unlike the duo above, proceeds to any CBT centre and opens the jamb e-facility with a login detail of a candidate with previous admission and thereafter superimposes the new details collected to create a fake admission letter.'' Adejobi said
He stated that the offences are contrary to sections 8, 13 and 27 of the Cybercrimes Act, 2015 as amended
While strongly warning against all sorts of criminal partnerships that promote illegal activities of this nature and others engaging in similar activities, Adejobi mentioned that the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, applauded the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Center led by CP Uche Ifeanyi Henry as he reaffirms the commitment of the Force to leveraging on emerging technological advancements to protect the citizens of Nigeria both physically and digital space.
The suspects will be charged in court upon the conclusion of the investigation.
The Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo, on Wednesday, June 12, said governors and other elected officials should earn minimum wage to reflect the current reality of Nigeria.
He stated that the country was facing a dire financial crisis.
The governor spoke at a special edition of The Platform.
According to him, Nigeria’s economic woes are worsened by the extravagant lifestyles of government officials, which are sustained at the expense of the nation’s wealth.
He said: “Let’s come clean and straight with Nigerians. Nigeria is very poor and broke but the lifestyle of government and government officials does not show it, especially with the obscene flamboyance in public display."
He continued: "The poor are hungry and impatient, let’s not annoy them more with our insensitivity. In this case, I agree with reverend father Mbaka, who said elected governors should also earn minimum wage. I agree that we should be paid that so that we can feel that as well.
“In Anambra, I have not received a kobo as salary since I assumed office. I have donated my salary to the state.
“It is symbolic. It is not much. I think generally, the system is in denial. There must be some signalling, it is just the symbolism of this.”
Soludo urged his colleagues and other elected officials to cut wasteful spending.
“That is why I proposed reinventing the new code of conduct for public officers. For the federal government, the actual projected revenue comes to about N6,160 per Nigerian, per month.
“For the states, except Lagos and a few states, most states have revenues amounting to less than N3,000 per resident, per month.
“It is from this shares per citizen that we are expected to provide all the infrastructure, debt service, pay salaries and pensions, build schools, and provide everything.
“For each of our wasteful spending, let’s be conscious of how many citizens share that we are squandering. Once we lose this consciousness about the public trust we bear, the society dies irredeemably,” he said.