Lagos police arrest 2 university students for faking their kidnap, demand $20,000 ransom from father
AFOLABIThe Lagos State Police Command has arrested two undergraduate friends, who faked their kidnap to extort their parents.
The suspects are 21-year-old Balogun Ayodele, a 200-level student at Lagos State University of Education, Ijanikin, and Okuomo Dennis, also 21 years old and a student at the National Institute of Information Technology, Lagos.
The Police said the suspects came out of hiding after staying in the bush for a week without payment of ransom by their parents.
Vanguard gathered that Dennis mooted the idea of staging Ayodele’s kidnap in order to extort his father, who is a driver at an unnamed company.
On February 2, 2024, Ayodele reportedly disappeared from home and thereafter used his phone to send his father a text demanding $20,000 ransom for his release.
The instruction was that payment should be made to a Bitcoin wallet address sent.
His devastated father was said to have approached management of his company for assistance but the latter insisted that the matter should be reported to the Police.
Meanwhile, Ayodele, according to spokesman for the Lagos State Police Command, Benjamin Hudenyin, was kept in one of the rooms in Dennis’ father’s hotel.
He said: “Dennis’ father is a hotelier and has a room permanently reserved for his son, Dennis. That was where Ayodele hid. He successfully avoided detection since nobody checks in there. When the ransom wasn’t forthcoming, they decided to take Ayodele to a nearby bush, stripped him naked, and took pictures of him lying on the ground. They sent the pictures to his father, threatening harm if the money wasn’t paid.
“Later, they sent messages to Ayodele’s father mentioning names of other members of his family, which further escalated the fear. When Ayodele’s father reached out to his son’s friend, Dennis, he denied knowing anything about his friend’s disappearance.
“Since this approach wasn’t working, on March 11, 2024, Dennis decided to fake his own disappearance, with the hope that his father would pay. They made it look like the same kidnappers, who abducted Ayodele came for Dennis.
“The two families were desperate. The students repeated the same tactic, taking pictures of Dennis naked and demanding $80,000 initially. But when there was no response, they increased it to $100,000. By then, Dennis couldn’t stay in his father’s hotel anymore. He and Ayodele stayed in a nearby bush for five days.
“However, two days after they went to the bush, they tried another ploy. They went to Ayodele’s father’s company, took pictures of the building and sent them to Ayodele’s father, threatening to come and get him. Ayodele’s father was terrified and reported the matter to the company’s management, which issued an alert to all staff.
“Meanwhile, all this information was provided to the Lagos State Police Command, thereby prompting diligent investigation.
“They decided to come out of hiding on March 16, 2024, when they could not get any money. They went back to Dennis’ father’s hotel and claimed they had escaped from the kidnappers’ den. They quickly called Ayodele’s father, who rushed there immediately.
“Ayodele was taken to the hospital for treatment as his father believed he was kidnapped. They were arrested after they turned themselves in. During investigation, they confessed to the crime.”
A Lagos Federal High Court has convicted and sentenced a convict, Mrs. Odeyemi Omolara, to another 15 years imprisonment for drug trafficking.
The convict, Omolara, who is currently serving a 25-year jail-term, was sentenced to another 15 years by Justice Deinde Dipeolu, on Tuesday.
However, Justice Dipeolu said the new 15 years jail-term shall run concurrently with the ongoing 25 years sentence handed down on the convict since June 2017 by Justice Hadiza Rabiu-Shagari (now a judge of Appeal Court)
The convict was formerly sentenced to 25 years jail in June 2017, after confessing to have committed the offence of illegal export of 1.595 Kilogrames of cocaine to Saudi-Arabia.
She was given the fresh jail-term, after she pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy and unlawful possession of the banned substance, after the prosecutor, Mr. Abu Ibrahim had reviewed the facts of the four counts charge, made against her by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.
Meanwhile, following the sentencing of Odeyemi Omolara, who is the first defendant in the four-count charge, the trial of Mrs. Funmilola Arike Ogbuaya (a.k.a Ariket), who had pleaded not guilty to the charges commenced before the court.
At the commencement of trial, yesterday, NDLEA called five prosecution witnesses to testify in support of it’s case against Ariket.
Sixteen state governors have submitted reports expressing their supports for establishing state police to the National Economic Council.
They also recommended changes to the constitution to allow for the creation of state police.
The reports were amongst documentations received at the 140th NEC meeting presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja on Thursday.
Special Adviser to the Vice President on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, revealed this in a statement he signed Thursday titled, ‘NEC endorses take-off of $617M i-DICE programme across states.’
According to the statement, NEC is still awaiting reports from 20 states. It expressed confidence that others would support.
NEC was established by the provisions of section 153(1) and Paragraphs 18 & 19 of part I of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). Its membership comprises the 36 state governors, the Governor of the Central Bank and other co-opted government officials.
Chaired by the Vice President, NEC meets monthly to execute its mandate of “advising the President concerning the economic affairs of the Federation, and in particular on measures necessary for the coordination of the economic planning efforts or economic programmes of the various Governments of the Federation.”
Disclosing discussions at Thursday’s NEC, the Vice-President’s spokesman, Nkwocha said, the “Secretary to NEC (Mr Nebeolisa Anako) made a presentation on submissions by states on the state policing initiative. Reports have been received by 16 states on the establishment of State police. 20 states have yet to send in report. All states across the country expressed their support for the establishment of state police for the following reasons.
“States made presentations in support of the creation of state police. States recommended changes in the constitution and the current policing structure to enable the operationalisation of the initiative.”
However, no details were given about the specific states. The Vice President’s spokesperson had affirmed that the total number would be presented at the next NEC meeting even as “the compilation is still going on”.
This comes weeks after the Federal and state governments, on February 16, 2024, resolved to develop modalities to create state police to tackle the country’s security crisis.
Abduction wave
The nation has been wracked by waves of abductions, attacks by suspected bandits and other violent crimes, reviving calls for the establishment of a multi-level policing system, including state police.
Bandits have in recent times 495 persons in Kaduna, Sokoto and Borno states.
On March 7, over 280 pupils and teachers of Government Secondary School and LEA primary School at Kuriga, Kaduna State, were kidnaped.
The terrorists reportedly invaded Kuriga in Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna, shooting at their targets before whisking away the pupils and teachers from both schools.
A day earlier, the United Nations confirmed the abduction of at least 200 internally displaced persons from their camp in Ngala Local Government Area of Borno State.
The UN resident and humanitarian coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Fall, in a statement said the abductees, including women, boys and girls, were captured while fetching firewood. Fall added that the terrorists released some older women and children below 10 years.
On March 9, bandits reportedly kidnapped no fewer than 15 Tsangaya students at Gidan Bakuso area of Gada Local Government Area in Sokoto State.
On March. 14, at least 17 Nigerian soldiers were killed while on a peace-keeping mission to douse clashes between Okuoma and Okoloba communities in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.
On February 20, bandits kidnapped over 26 travellers along the Gusau-Sokoto highway. They were said to have blocked the road around Kwaren Kirya village under Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State and abducted travellers from a Toyota 18-seater bus and a Volkswagen golf vehicle.
At President Tinubu’s meeting with the governors last February, the Federal Government and states agreed to recruit a yet-to-be-disclosed number of forest rangers and invest in more training to “keep our forests and our borders safe,” said the Information Minister, Mohammed Idris, when he briefed State House Correspondents after a meeting between Tinubu and the 36 state governors.
“The Federal Government and the state governments are mulling the possibility of setting up state police,” said Idris, adding that “this is still going to be further discussed.”
He explained, “A lot of work must be done in that direction. But if our government and the state governments agree to the necessity of having state police, this is a significant shift.”
“Like I said, more work needs to be done in that direction. A lot of meetings will have to happen between the federal government and subnationals to see the modalities of achieving this,” Idris noted.
On February 20, 2024, a bill proposing the creation of state police successfully passed the second reading at the House of Representatives.
The legislation titled, ‘A bill for an Act to alter the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to provide for the establishment of State Police and related matters,’ was slated for a second reading before the end of this week.
Backed by 13 House members, the bill gained the majority’s favour in the Green Chamber, with many lawmakers arguing that the security challenges take preeminence over concerns about political victimisation by state governors.
Meanwhile, the Presidency has said although President Bola Tinubu has given his nod for the creation of state police outfits and forest guards, Governors would ultimately determine the success of both moves.
It also said it expects the re-opening of the Nigeria-Niger border to fight the illegal influx of arms roaming the Sahel from the conflict in Libya.
Speaking exclusively with our correspondent on the issue, a presidency official who did not want to be named said, “The President told the state governors to discuss it further at the state level. A committee was set up for that. We have not heard from the committee yet. Don’t also forget that simultaneously, the national assembly is considering inserting state policing in the constitution. So, there is a consensus around state policing.
“As for the forest guards, work is going on with it. There are existing forest guards in several states, but they are under the states’ ministries of agriculture. The goal now is to strengthen their capacity by arming them properly and recruiting more people.
“Still, it all falls in the hands of states to strengthen the forest guards. That is where we are now.”
Another Presidency official who spoke on condition of anonymity said the opening of the Nigeria-Niger border was part of efforts to stall the proliferation of the small arms and light weapons non-state actors use for their enterprise.
“What I know is this: some people have linked our security problems to the situation in Libya. The Libya conflict has led to the flow of arms to Nigeria. We share a long border with Niger. And many arms are flowing into the country.
“Our borders with our Sahelian neighbours are largely ungoverned. So, there are many arms in the hands of this bandit.
“We had to make peace with Niger because of this. It was an attempt to appease Niger. We share the same border. If we are not at peace with them, they may ignore the arms flowing in. Even the food shortage we are talking about, many goods come from Niger to Nigeria. We exacerbated things when we shut the border,” the official said.
In a similar development, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, in a communique its issued at the conclusion of its virtual meeting, and signed by its Chairman, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq, dated Wednesday and made available to the press on Thursday, emphasised the importance of incorporating State policing as a crucial amendment in the ongoing 1999 Constitutional Amendment process to address a fundamental flaw in the national security framework.
The communique read in part “The Forum commiserated with the Governor of Delta State, H.E Sheriff Oborevwori, over the communal clash between Okuama in the Ughelli South Local Government Area and Okolaba in the Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, and which led to the death of many including 16 military personnel. While condemning the heinous act, members observed a minute of silence for the souls of the departed.
“Members reviewed the progress of the National Minimum Wage Committee and ongoing multi- stakeholder engagements towards agreeing on a fair minimum wage.
“Members urged the NMWC to consider the current realities, individual State peculiarities and consequential impact on the capacity of the government as well as private sector employers to pay. Members also emphasized the need for proposals to be data- driven and evidence-based.
“The Forum highlighted the need for State policing as a critical amendment in the ongoing 1999 Constitutional Amendment proceedings to correct a fundamental flaw in the national security architecture.”
The debate for creating state police in Nigeria primarily stems from the centralised nature of the Nigerian Police Force, which many security pundits perceive as inadequate for addressing the unique security challenges across the country’s diverse regions.
Proponents argue that the outfit would bring law enforcement closer to the communities they serve, enhance the effectiveness of policing, and allow for more localised control over security matters.
However, opponents fear that state police could lead to the abuse of power, particularly in states with strong political control, potentially exacerbating regional tensions and undermining national unity.
Says attack on party HQ act of lawlessness
Abure, a pathological liar—NLC’s Political Commission
The National Chairman of Labour Party, Comrade Julious Abure, has accused the Joe Ajaero-led Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and those they led to besiege the party’s national secretariat of stealing funds meant for payment of staff salaries, among other valuables during Wednesday’s attack.
Abure, who spoke for the first time since the picketing of the party’s secretariat, described the action of the labour leaders as a shame and act of rascality. In a statement signed on his behalf by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, in Abuja, yesterday, Abure said, “What we saw was a show of shame, a show of rascality, an abuse of office and an abuse of the law of the land.
“Nigeria Labour Congress is subject to the law. NLC under Joe Ajaero is not above the law and the law precludes Ajaero and the leadership of NLC to take laws into their hands, where they besieged the office, broke the fence, destroyed the gates, unlawfully took possession of the secretariat and destroyed properties worth millions of naira.
“Properties stolen, including monies, made for the payment of salaries and other official purposes. This is unfortunate. It is becoming unbecoming.
“I must state today that the leadership of NLC under Joe Ajaero is on the path of destroying the successes we recorded in the 2023 general election.”
Abure, a pathological liar—NLC’s Political Commission
Reacting to Abure’s allegation, Acting Chairman of NLC’s Political Commission, Professor Theophilus Udubuaku, among others , said, “Abure should be reminded, since he is now suffering from selective amnesia that it took the picketing by Ajaero-led NLC to drive Lamidi Apapa away from the LP headquarters before he moved in.
“Talking about lies, it speaks much about who Abure really is when he claims that billions of naira were stolen when the picketing was conducted in the presence of scores of policemen, DSS officers and pressmen. These lies alone define Abure as a man who is grossly irresponsible.”
“We would like the Nigerian media to appreciate the fact that NLC is not interested in a media war with a man who thinks he can successfully transform himself into a sole administrator of LP.
“The press is expected to do its duty and fact-check the comments from Abure and his men and call them out as liars.
Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba, Gani Adams, yesterday, backed calls for the country to return to a parliamentary system of government, insisting that the presidential system is too expensive and it breeds corruption across all sectors of government.
Adams, who is the Chief Promoter of the Olokun Festival Foundation, OFF, also lamented the country’s security challenges, saying bandits and kidnappers are on the prowl daily.
Addressing newsmen at the 12th edition of the Eledumare Festival in Lagos, Adams, represented by Asoju Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Chief Yinka Oguntimehin, said the country’s present structure cannot take it anywhere.
His words: “As we celebrate the Eledumare festival, I also make a case for a complete overhaul of the structure of this country. I make a case for a parliamentary system of government, where the region will be allowed to function and prosper accordingly. Today in Nigeria, the country is faced with various challenges including economic, political and structural. The security challenges are also very alarming. Just last week about 16 soldiers of the Nigerian Army were murdered in Delta State. Bandits and kidnappers are daily on the prowl. The situation is becoming very unbearable.
“As far as I am concerned, I know for a fact that the present structure cannot help us in fulfilling the dreams of the country. The current system is very expensive, and it breeds corruption across all sectors of the government. So, I hope that if Nigeria is restructured along regional lines, we will be able to secure the future of our country and set a new path for a prosperous nation.
“Going forward, I hope that in the coming years, the Eledumare festival and all other festivals we celebrate annually will continue to attract more prospects in the future. Apart from the spiritual blessing expected by celebrating the Eledumare festival, I also believe that this festival will provide special grace, rewards and better opportunities for all our members to seek the face of the highest God.
The Black Princess of Ghana have been crowned champions of the women’s football tournament at the 13th African Games holding in Accra.
At the end of 120 minutes of football, the Black Princesses edged the Falconets 2-1.
Loveth Edeh had put the Falconets in the lead in the 21st minute.
With 12 minutes left on the clock, Ghana got a leveler through Tracy Twum.
Mukarama Abdullai, in the 99th minute of extra-time, popped up to score the winner as her low shot on the edge of the box beat the Falconets keeper.
The loss means the Falconets relinquished their reign as African Games champions.
The Court of Appeal has ordered the police authorities to pay a cumulative sum of N80 million to the Shi’ites, followers of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky (H), for attacking them while on religious procession on August 19, 2021, in the state.
The three-member panel of Justices of the Sokoto Division of the court, in a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Danjuma, held that the appeal succeeded and hereby allowed
The court faulted the judgment of the trial court delivered on May 17, 2022 and agreed with the submission of the appellants’ counsel, led by Chief M.D. Abubakar that the trial judge, in his judgment, rather than relying on uncontroverted facts in the appellants’ various affidavits, opted unjustifiably to form opinions, raised doubts and went on to resolve them against the appellants in an action for enforcement of fundamental rights involving lives.
Members of the Shiites had, on August 19, 2021, embarked on the Ashura procession to commemorate the killing of Imam Hussaini bn Ali bn Abi Talib (AS), the grandson of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAWA).
While the procession was about to end, the officers of the Nigerian Police were alleged to have attacked the procession around the Mabera area of Sokoto, Sokoto State.
Four mourners were said to have been killed and numerous others were injured in the incident.
The Shiites alleged that Hassan Abubakar, Imrana Umar, Bello Muhammad and Haidar Musa Bodinga were among those who were killed by the police.
After the incident, a fundamental rights suit was instituted before Justice James Omotosho at Federal High Court, Sokoto division where the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioner of Police in the state were sued as 1st amd 2nd defendants.
However, Justice Omotosho delivered a judgement in favour of the police.
Dissatisfied with the judgment, the appellants filed an appeal marked: CA/S/131/2022 on May 30, 2023.
The 10 appellants, who filed the appeal on behalf of the entire Shia Muslim Community in Sokoto, include Prof. Shehu Maigadi, Mal. Sidi Mannir Mainasara, Mal. Sa’adu Shehu, Abuzar Daniya, Mubarak Jega, Mustapha Shinkafi, Aliyu Abubakar Appel, Nazir Shehu, Mustapha Yusuf and Zayyanu Ladan.
In the judgement delivered on March 18, 2024, but its certified true copy made available to newsmen on Thursday in Abuja, the Appeal Court declared that the vicious attack by the police officers against the Ashura mourners in Sokoto City on August 19, 2021, that is, opening fire and shooting on Shiites sporadically, using live ammunition, resulting in the deaths of Hassan Abubakar, Imrana Umar Bello Muhammad, Haidar Musa Bodinga, and fatal wounds to Abuzar Yahaya Daniya and others, is deliberate, unwarranted, inhuman, unconscionable, and unlawful, and that the same violates Section 33 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended.
The court, therefore, ordered the police to pay compensation of N10 million for each of the four mourners killed and also pay N2 million to each of the five mourners whose personal dignity was violated by the fatal bullet wounds inflicted on them by the police.
The appellate court also ordered police to pay the Shi’a Muslim community in Sokoto State the sum of N30 million for the degrading and inhuman treatment of firing live ammunition at them during the Ashura procession in Sokoto on August 19, 2021.
Other members of the panel of justices include Justice Muhammed Shu’aibu and Justice Ebiowei Tobi.
The Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, presided over by Justice Akintayo Aluko, has convicted and sentenced two men, Umar Muhammed and Ibrahim Musa to 12 months imprisonment for breaking into the Federal Government’s warehouse, located at the Nigerian Customs Service, Ikeja, Lagos.
Justice Aluko slammed the jail terms after the prosecutor, Mr Michael Osong, reviewed the facts of the charge against them.
It would be recalled that the duo were arraigned before Justice Aluko on March 14, on the charge bordering on unlawful access to the warehouse and wilful destruction of seized vehicles parked in the warehouse.
While the suspects were being arraigned, Osong hinted to the judge that the convicts illegally entered the warehouse between December 2023 and January 2024.
The prosecutor informed the court that the convicts, after entering the warehouse, unlawfully destroyed some seized vehicles packed in the warehouse, and as well destroyed some cables and wires in the warehouse.
The lawyer told Justice Aluko that the offence contravened Section 133(1) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and was punishable under the same Section of the same Act.
The duo pleaded guilty to the charge, prompting Justice Aluko to adjourn for a review of facts and sentencing.
During the resumption of the review of facts on Thursday, Osong called a witness, Usman Maigari, an Assistant Superintendent of Customs (ASC) attached to the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Ikeja, Lagos.
In his testimony, Maigari hinted to the court as to how the convicts illegally entered the warehouse and burgled the place.
The witness further tendered the convicts’ confessional statements, parts of the vehicles, the cables, and wires vandalized by the convicts, which were admitted as exhibits by the court.
Osong urged the court to sentence the duo based on their plea, exhibits tendered, and in accordance with the Sections of the Acts they were charged with.
But the convict’s counsel, Mr Henry Orarotimi, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing the convict, adding that the convicts are first-time offenders without any record of previous conviction.
Orarotimi particularly urged Justice Aluko to grant them a fine option or non-custodial sentence in lieu of the jail term.
In his judgment, Justice Aluko sentenced the convicts to 12 months imprisonment on each of the counts but held that the sentences should run concurrently.
The judge equally directed the convicts to pay the sum of N100,000.00 each in lieu of the jail term.
The charge reads: “That you, Umar Muhammad, Male, Adult of Garbula, Biu Local Government Area of Borno State and Ibrahim Musa, Male, Adult of Ijebu Mushin in Ogun State, between December 2023 and January 2024 in the Nigeria Customs Service Government warehouse, Ikeja, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria did obtain access to the Nigeria Customs Service Government warehouse, Ikeja without lawful authority and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 133(1) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and punishable under the same Section of the same Act.
“That you, Umar Muhammad, Male, Adult of Garbula, Biu Local Government Area, Bornu State and Ibrahim Musa, Male, Adult of Ijebu Mushin in Ogun State between December 2023 and January 2024 in the Nigeria Customs Service Government Warehouse in the Nigeria Customs Service Government warehouse, Ikeja, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria did willfully destroy seized vehicles parked in the Government warehouse and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 133(3) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and punishable under the same Section of the same Act.”
Chrisland School Trial: Witness Admits Agege Stadium Lacked Emergency Facilities During Inter-House Sports
AFOLABIThe cross-examination of a deputy director from the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Mr Yakubu Abisogun, in the trial of the Principal and some staff members of Chrisland School Opebi, over the death of Whitney Adeniran, a 12-year-old student of the school, continued on Thursday before Justice Oyindamola Ogala of the State High Court, Ikeja.
While answering questions under cross-examination, from one of the defence counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Olukayode Enitan, the witness testified that Agege Stadium where Chrisland School held its inter-house sports competition was owned by the Lagos State Government.
The witness also admitted that the stadium as rented out to the school lacked emergency facilities in case of any accident or emergency. According to him, “there was no need for it”.
On the 9th of February, 2023, Chrisland School, Opebi, Lagos, organized an Inter-house Sports at the Agege Sports Stadium for its students and during the Inter-house Sports, one of the students, Whitney Omodesola Adeniran, aged 12 years was said to have been electrocuted. A doctor who examined her shortly after she was rushed to a nearby hospital, said she was brought in dead.
Through the office of the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, the Lagos State Government filed a criminal charge against the school, the principal and other defendants, disclosing that they all negligently killed Whitney Adeniran by not ensuring her safety.
At the resumed hearing of the case, the third prosecution witness, Mr Abisogun continued his testimony.
The witness was asked if it was part of the work of the Sports Commission to establish and make sure that there are proper medical facilities to treat emergencies, and he responded, “No.”
He was also asked to read an Official Gazette of Lagos State No 9 volume 50 which was admitted as exhibit. He said the Sports Commission was created by the law of Lagos State, and added that law No. 4 states the function of the commission to include that it shall establish and maintain clean fields and premises for holding sports competitions, matches etc.
He also confirmed that the stadium is covered by an executive order that’s contained in the Safeguard Policy of the Lagos State Government, as a recreation centre but maintained that he was not aware that people paid money for usage of the stadium.
After his evidence, Justice Ogala adjourned further cross-examination of the witness to April 18, 2024.
…Says killers of slain soldiers’ll not go unpunished
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday told the leadership of the 10th Senate that the integrity of the National Assembly remains intact in the thick of allegations of budget padding over the last few weeks.
He said his administration will always encourage cooperation between the executive and judiciary for the advancement of the nation.
Tinubu said this when he hosted the leadership of the Senate to a dinner on Thursday to break the Ramadan fast at the State House, Abuja.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, disclosed this in a statement released in the early hours of Friday titled ‘President Tinubu: We will not allow anyone to undermine our security; killers of soldiers in Delta State will face certain justice.’
Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central, PDP) had alleged that the Tinubu-led government is implementing a budget other than the one approved on January 1, 2024.
Ningi, who chaired the Northern Senators’ Forum and Senate Committee on Population, had contended in a BBC Hausa Service interview that a N25tn budget was debated and passed, not the N28.7tn that is currently being implemented.
He maintained that N3.7tn could not be accounted for in the 2024 budget.
However, at plenary on March 12, the Senate suspended Senator Ningi for three months over this claim.
Reacting to the allegations for the first time in public, Tinubu said, “I know the arithmetic of the budget and the numbers that I brought to the National Assembly, and I know what numbers came back.
“I appreciate all of you for the expeditious handling of the budget. Thank you very much.
“Those who are talking about malicious embellishment in the budget; they did not understand the arithmetic and did not refer to the baseline of what I brought. But your integrity is intact.”
Tinubu thanked the lawmakers, adding that Nigerians are at the “turning corner” of the economic challenges.
“The natural challenge we are facing will be over. On the current economic difficulty, we are about turning the corner.
“Our revenue has improved. All we have to do is to control expenditures and manage ourselves better.
“Light is at the end of the tunnel, and Nigerians will soon smile again,” the President affirmed.
Tinubu also thanked members of the National Assembly for the speedy attention given to the Student Loan Amendment Bill, urging more tolerance, forgiveness, and charity during Ramadan.
He said the perpetrators of the killing of soldiers in Delta State will face certain justice, warning that his administration will not tolerate attacks on the military and security infrastructure.
The President also affirmed that the military would continue to enjoy the support of his administration in neutralising security threats across the country.
“Our armed forces are working hard, and we will not allow attackers to undermine the integrity and value of our armed forces and its leadership.
“We will continue to encourage and fight for our sovereignty, our individual rights to exist, and we will succeed in banishing poverty from our land,’’ the President stated.
In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, thanked the President for hosting the lawmakers, noting that regular interactions would enhance understanding and productive governance.
“We bring you greetings from the 10th senate. We bring you assurances of continuous collaboration because we believe strongly that for us to have two brothers from the National Assembly as President and Vice-President, and even the Chief of Staff as our member, we have no option but to work with you, and to do everything possible for this administration to succeed,’’ said Akpabio.
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Formerly dominated by men, the Nigerian banking industry is gradually being overtaken by female banking gurus as the number of women leading the major banks in the country has increased in recent years.
Nigeria currently has 25 major banks with the number of female bank chief executives soaring from just one in 2019 to 10 in 2024, representing 36 per cent of Nigerian major banks’ chief executive officers.
Before 2019, the banking industry had been largely dominated by men with a sprinkle of the female gender who had also made their mark in the industry. The likes of Cecilia Ibru, former managing director/chief executive officer of defunct Oceanic Bank, said to be the first female bank CEO, was one in a million among male bank CEOs. Ibru became the MD/CEO of Oceanic Bank in 1997, but on August 13, 2009 she was one of the five bank CEOs who were dismissed. Then, more female bank CEOs came into the industry as turnaround managers after the 2009 shake-up in the sector. Funke Osibodu led Union Bank while Suzanne Iroche was also appointed by the CBN in 2009 as turnaround MD/CEO of FinBank Plc. They both served their banks until 2012 when they successfully completed their assignments.
Other women who presided as CEOs of banks include Bola Adesola, MD/ CEO of Standard Chartered Bank Limited, Nigeria, who in 2011 was appointed by the bank as the first Nigerian, and first female CEO of the bank. In 2012, Sola David-Borha was anointed as chief executive of Stanbic IBTC and served until 2017.
The latest addition of Dame Adaora Umeoji as the group chief executive of Zenith Bank further extends the list, which has been on the rise since 2021. Besides the managing director of Unity Bank, Mrs. Tomi Somefun, who has stood tall in the midst of men since 2015, the banking industry rarely had female representation at the CEO level. At least 10 of the 26 commercial banks in the country are currently being led by women.
However, the list has consistently grown with the additions of Miriam Olusanya, Yemisi Edun, and Halima Buba, among others.
Speaking on the development, MD/CEO of Arthur Steven Asset Management Limited, Olatunde Amolegbe, said the transition into an equal gender industry is a welcome development.
According to him, the female gender has proven themselves as support cast in the finance industry for a long time and it is time they take the reins eventually.
“My personal belief is that the natural trait of fairness, probity, and sense of responsibility will stand them in good stead to make a positive impact in the industry, as did their predecessors such as Mrs. Kuforiji-Olubi who led UBA sometimes in the 80s. I support this transition 100 percent,” he said.
On how women have been able to take their place in the male-dominated banking industry, Amolegbe said, “I would like to put it down to a coincidence of succession planning and, in some cases, possibly deliberate institutional policy to uplift and empower the fair gender. It could very well be that these two scenarios just happen to be playing out at about the same time.”
The vice president of Highcap Securities Limited, David Adnori, said, “Businesses are not bound by whether the head is male or female; they are bound by performance. All the female CEOs appointed are highly qualified and with experience in their field.”
He added that “we are having more women who are educated and occupying high places.”
According to Adnori, while progress has been made in recent years, women still face numerous challenges and barriers to advancement in many industries. Employers have a crucial role to play in creating an environment that empowers and supports women to thrive professionally.
1 Miriam Olusanya, MD, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank)
Miriam Olusanya made history as the MD of Guaranty Trust Bank, becoming the first woman to ascend to this prestigious position in the bank on June 2021. Graduating with a degree in Pharmacy from the University of Ibadan and later acquiring a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Liverpool, Olusanya’s academic prowess laid the foundation for her remarkable career. Joining GTB as an executive trainee in 1998, she steadily climbed the ranks, culminating in her recent appointment as managing director. Prior to assuming this pivotal role, she served as an executive director at the bank, showcasing her leadership acumen and strategic vision. Olusanya’s appointment marks a significant milestone for GTB, heralding a new era of diversity and excellence at the helm of one of Nigeria’s foremost financial institutions.
- Yemisi Edun, MD, First City Monument Bank (FCMB)
Yemisi Edun was appointed MD in July 2021. She has a background in finance and extensive experience in the banking sector.
Edun has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills and strategic vision in steering FCMB towards growth and innovation. Known for her commitment to excellence and integrity, she has played a pivotal role in positioning FCMB as a leading player in the Nigerian banking industry. Edun’s leadership has been marked by a focus on customer satisfaction, employee development, and community engagement, making her a respected figure in the Nigerian business community.
- Halima Buba, MD/CEO, SunTrust Bank
Halima Buba was appointed the MD/CEO of SunTrust Bank in January 2012. Halima Buba, a seasoned banker with over 22 years of cognate experience obtained from working in All Sstates Trust Bank, Zenith Bank, Inland Bank Plc, Oceanic Bank Plc, and Ecobank Nigeria Limited, is one of the few women to have attained that height as an MD in the industry.
Prior to her appointment to suntrust bank ltd as md/ceo, halima was a co-founder and former executive director in Taj Consortium, an organization of young dynamic technocrats and financial advisory experts.
She was also a member of the Board of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) as a non-executive director and a director on the Board of Adamawa Homes and Savings Ltd.
She holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Business Management from the University of Maiduguri and an MBA from the same University.
4 Ireti Samuel-Ogbu, MD, Citibank Nigeria
Ireti Samuel-Ogbu was appointed in September 2020. It is the first time a woman has been appointed to the lender’s top post after 36 years of operating in Africa’s largest economy.
She had served as managing director of payments and receivables, treasury and trade solutions for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa at the lender’s office in London.
5 Mrs. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, MD/CEO, Fidelity Bank
Mrs Onyeali-Ikpe assumed the office on January 1, 2021
She has been an integral part of the transformation team at Fidelity Bank in the last six years. She was formerly executive director, Lagos and South West, overseeing the bank’s business in the six states that make up the South West region of the bank. She led the transformation of the directorate to profitability and sustained its impressive year-on-year growth, across key performance metrics, including contributing over 28% of the Bank’s PBT, deposits, and loans.
She is a consummate professional with over 30 years’ experience across various banks, including Standard Chartered Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, and Citizens International Bank Limited.
- Tomi Somefun, MD, Unity Bank
Tomi Somefun was appointed as MD in August 2015.
She obtained a B.Ed. in English Language in 1981 from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife in Osun State, and is an alumna of Harvard Business School and the University of Columbia Business School, New York.
Somefun began her professional career with Peat Marwick and Co. and later moved to Arthur Andersen (now KPMG) before becoming an executive director at Unity Bank Plc.
- Kafilat Araoye, Pioneer MD, Lotus Bank
Kafilat Araoye was appointed MD since May 2021.
She holds a first degree in History from the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University (1985), and an M.Sc. in Industrial Relations & Personnel Management from the University of Lagos (1987), graduating as the best student in her class. She also holds Islamic Finance certifications issued by Ethica Institute of Islamic Finance, the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment/Bahrain Institute of Banking & Finance, as well as the Islamic Research & Training Institute.
She has attended various executive management courses at the Cranfield School of Management (UK), Lagos Business School, Institute of Management Development (Switzerland), INSEAD (France), and Ross Business School, University of Michigan (USA).
- Bukola Smith, MD, FSDH Merchant Bank
Bukola Smith heads FSDH Merchant Bank, leveraging her B.Sc. in Economics and an MBA from Alliance Manchester Business School.
Her expertise in investment banking fosters FSDH’s growth, while her mentorship supports aspiring female leaders in the finance sector. She became the MD of FSDH Merchant Bank in April 2021 and still serves in this capacity.
- Yetunde Bolanle Oni, MD, Union Bank
Yetunde Bolanle Oni recently assumed the role of MD/CEO of Union Bank in January 2024, marking a significant milestone in the bank’s leadership. With degrees in Economics and Business Administration, including executive training at Oxford University, her appointment is poised to shape Union Bank’s strategic direction.
- Dr. Adaora Umeoji, GCEO, Zenith Bank
Dr. Adaora Umeoji’s appointment as group managing director/chief executive of Zenith Bank becomes effective June 1, 2024. Umeoji’s appointment makes her the first female to take up the position.
Before her appointment, Umeoji has been the deputy managing director of the bank since October 28, 2016, and has close to 30 years of cognate banking experience, of which 26 years have been with Zenith Bank.
Umeoji is an alumna of the prestigious Harvard Business School where she attended the Advanced Management Programme (AMP) and an alumna of Columbia Business School with a Certificate in the Global Banking Programme.
She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from the University of Jos, a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, and a First-Class honours in Law from Baze University, Abuja. She holds a Master of Laws from the University of Salford, United Kingdom, a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Calabar, and a doctorate in business administration from Apollos University, USA.
She also attended the executive programme in Strategic Management, and has a Certificate in Leading Global Business, all from Harvard Business School, USA.
Analysts said the increasing presence of female MDs within Nigerian banks highlights the acknowledgment of women’s capabilities and their significant role in driving the country’s economic progress. This trend, according to them, signifies a progressive movement towards gender equality and inclusivity in corporate governance, marking a departure from conventional patriarchal norms towards a more balanced and diverse leadership landscape.
For six days, hundreds of women and children from Okuama community, Ewu Kingdom, in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, who fled their homes in fear of their lives as Nigerian Army troops began demolishing the community following the killing of 16 soldiers last Friday, have been stranded in the forests without food.
This is even as a young man from one of the warring communities, suspected to be a militant, dared the Federal Government to declare him wanted in a viral video yesterday, saying the soldiers were killed because they allowed commanding persons to use them to oppress the people of Okuama.
At the coastal town of Igbomotoru in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, the siege imposed by troops on the manhunt for a militant leader suspected to have masterminded the killings is pushing the community towards starvation. It could trigger a humanitarian crisis if it persisted.
Some days ago, the Okuama women cried out that they fled into the forests when soldiers allegedly opened fire on the villagers in the town hall after the community refused their attempt to take away the community leaders.
As of yesterday, Okuama is out of bounds as only the military could enter in and out of the town. The place is deserted, the state governor, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori confirmed he could not visit the place because of the situation.
Vanguard learned that the neighboring communities to the abandoned Okuama refused to accept the fleeing residents as refugees in their homelands because of the persecution by soldiers, who come around searching for the perpetrators of the heinous crime.
Because of how they escaped into the forests, the women could not take food items with them, and they could not return to the community either, as soldiers had taken over the town.
One indigene of a bordering community in the Ewu Kingdom said the situation of the victims of the military onslaught on culprits of the Okuama killings was pitiable.
“Hunger is taking a toll on them, especially the children they are carrying. This is a humanitarian crisis, and the government has to open a refugee camp for these people and provide them with food.
“Soldiers molest innocent people in neighboring communities of Okuama in Ughelli South Local Government Area. As I am speaking with you, soldiers are still in the Orere community in the Ewu kingdom, molesting innocent people in the search for perpetrators.
“The fact is that neighboring communities of Okuama in the Ewu Kingdom are not receiving fleeing indigenes of Okuama, who are mostly women and children, for fear of harassment and molestation by the military.
“As we speak, neighboring communities are living in fear because the military has set up drones watching over all communities”.
A resident of the Orere community said that people in neighboring communities have had sleepless nights over the presence of soldiers in their domains.
“We are having sleepless nights over what happened at Okuama because the military is after the perpetrators fleeing from the scene of the incident. To be candid, nobody is happy over what happened to the soldiers at Okuama.
“But, the issue has degenerated, and we are all affected. They would come to your community, brutalizing innocent people over their onslaught of fleeing perpetrators.
“I want to use this medium to call on the federal government to consider setting up refugee camps for women and children displaced from the Okuama community, which nobody wants to accommodate because of the fear of the rampaging soldiers in neighboring communities.
“This is a clarion call on the Federal Government to save these victims. The government should set up Internally Displaced Persons, IDP, camps to accommodate these vulnerable victims so they can be identified and avoid the harassment of neighboring communities.
“I want to conclude by saying that nobody supports the killing of soldiers at Okuama, and the federal government should do something to save these innocent victims”.
Some concerned indigenes of Igbomotuoru, who spoke to Vanguard, called on the relevant authorities to prevail on the troops to relax restrictions on free movement in and out of the community to allow the people to pick up the pieces of their lives.
Igbomotoru has been under military lockdown since last Sunday by troops in pursuit of militants allegedly behind the killing of some soldiers in Okuama, Ughelli South local government area of Delta State.
Many lives were reportedly lost during the Sunday morning invasion of Igbomotoru, with houses used by the militants razed.
According to local sources, the usually lively community is now a show of its old self; shops are shut down, and many of the natives who fled their homes are still taking refuge in the forest, while some relocated to other communities before the present lockdown in the area.
People cannot come into the community with goods and foodstuffs, and those trapped cannot leave the area.
It was, however, learned that the few persons in the community, especially the old, who could not run away are being denied access to their farms and fishing traps, a development informed sources said could trigger famine, as the people are facing hunger caused by restriction in movement.
Many are disturbed that five days after the invasion, no government official has visited the area to sympathize with the people or send relief materials to ameliorate their sufferings.
Access to food and water in the area is diminishing due to the military blockade, a source lamented, noting that the people may be compelled to source water from the polluted river.
“If two sachets of water are being sold for N50 in Yenagoa, you can imagine what it will cost at Igbomotoru where people are not allowed in and out. You can imagine what the local people are going through,” our source added.
A man who abandoned his wife in the village and escaped with two kids told our correspondent from his hideout that he trekked all through the day and night backing one of his kids and carrying the other on his shoulder through the forest to neighboring Tebideba, but that they were denied stay by the people for fear that soldiers may also invade their community.
“I trekked for one and half days through the thick of the forest, running away from the invading soldiers with one child strapped on my back and another lifted on my shoulder. I left my wife behind in that moment of confusion.
“When we got to Tebideba, I thought relief had come, but we were denied a stay by the people who said they did not want to have an issue with the military. Understating their fear, given the tense situation in the area, we had to return to the forest and continue our search for succor until we saw somebody paddling a canoe and pleading for assistance.
“The Good Samaritan paddled us to the boundary with the Sangana community, and there we got another lift through a local canoe to Sangana, from where we boarded a boat and left. You can imagine carrying two kids for one and a half days trekking through the thick forest, using the sun as a guide.
“It was just by the grace of God that we escaped. My worry now is about my wife, particularly, as I have been unable to reach her on the phone since I fled the town.”
Lamenting the plight of the people, an environmentalist, Alagoa Morris, who is also from the Southern Ijaw local government area, urged the authorities to protect the law-abiding people of the community, saying, “With the restriction in Igbomotoru, a situation where nobody is allowed to go about, our people’s traditional means of livelihood – ‘fishing and farming’ the people may die of hunger, if not by a bullet.”
“The federal and state authorities should step in and save the lives of law-abiding Nigerians in the community. Even in the ongoing war in Gaza, humanitarian workers are going in with drugs, food, and water, while criminals should pay for their crimes. The innocent citizens should enjoy the protection of the law.”
Also, a community leader and former councilor who represented Igbomotoru in the Southern Ijaw legislative council, Hon Ayebatari Easterday, said: “Although I am not at Igbomotoru, whatever information I am giving is not an eyewitness account of what has befallen my people but I have people who give me a report on daily basis.”
“I have been their representative as a councilor; they have confidence in me; they send the daily occurrence of the invasion of the community by armed soldiers. As of this morning, nobody living in the community can travel out, and nobody outside can also travel to the community.
“When I got the first report, I intended to go home and see how my people can be saved and how I can counsel them on ways of relating with the government, and particularly the security agencies. Several lives have been lost, but my appeal to everybody is to remain calm.
“As of yesterday, I talked to some government functionaries, and they said the government is on top of the matter to see how peace can return. Several people cannot be accounted for, and many people who ran into the forest are yet to be seen.
“They could have died of hunger in the forest. The children with no parents to cater to them may also die of starvation in the community.
“Our mothers are now helpless in the community and cannot go to their farms, and you know the source of livelihood in our communities is fishing and farming. They do not even have access to food anymore.
“Those who have shops cannot open not to talk of people coming to buy. When you cannot go fishing and farming- the only source of money to buy food to feed the family, these are some of the predicaments my people are passing through.
“The soldiers could have acted out provocation, but the beginning of every action determines the end. They should put their legs in the shoes of the community. Some of the victims are people who committed no offense.
“My candid appeal to the government headed by Senator Douye Diri and assisted by his capable deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo is to ensure that relief materials are timely sent to the people.
“These our brothers and sisters have no food to eat and water to drink, and you know that we live in an environment where the water is so polluted that they do not drink from it.
“These people have been helpless and could be forced to drink from the polluted river where they defecate, where the polluted oil flows, and also there could be another incident of unhealthy living for the people of the area.”
In the viral video, the militant claimed that Okuama and Okoloba communities were having a land dispute but some Ijaw people empowered by the federal government used the army to escort and carry out their crude oil business but decided to betray their brothers.
He disclosed they used soldiers to ‘carry’ three people and slaughtered them, adding, “The day the soldiers were killed, they came to carry our community leaders, and the youth knew that once the community leaders were captured, they would be powerless.”
From his explanation, they killed the soldiers to stop them from taking away the community leaders and making the youths ineffective.
“That is why the action took place – some people said the soldiers came for peacekeeping. Point of correction – no army came for peacekeeping. They are fighting in support of somebody (names withheld) who ordered them to do so.
“This is my last video; my father is a retired army captain; he died last year, and I have lost over six of my friends and relatives in Nigeria.
“So if you like, take the matter to the next level. If they like, let the Federal Government declare me wanted, I am proud of it. You people are saying show my face; if I show my face, what will you do to me.”
PHOTOS: Gospel singer, Theophilus Sunday legally ties the knot with his Jamaican partner, Ashlee White
AFOLABIGospel singer Theophilus Sunday has once again taken netizens by surprise as it is revealed that he is legally married to his Jamaican partner, Ashlee White.
Recall that the music minister trended on social media a few days ago after it was discovered that he is engaged to be married to Ashlee, a US-based realtor.
Many expressed surprise by the news as they never suspected that he had a woman in his life, while others acknowledged that they expected him to get married at some point.
Well, while netizens are still reeling over news of his engagement, it has been announced that he and his partner are already legally married. They quietly got married in Abuja in January 2024.
See more photos below,
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Popular filmmaker and clergyman, Evangelist Mike Bamiloye has told husbands the right step they should take if their wives are not submissive.
He spoke in a lengthy post on his Instagram page.
According to him, when a woman chooses to be arrogant, proud, and unsubmissive to her husband, she has broken the commandment of the Lord, which demands her to respect her husband and be submissive to him.
He stated that there is no way a woman who lives in perpetual disobedience to the laws of God can make heaven no matter how spiritual she may look before people.
He urged men to keep holding on to the Lord, noting that he has seen women becoming completely transformed and highly submissive to the man and becoming helpful in his ministry.
He added that he has seen such a woman becoming a royal gem in the hand of her husband, after a long time of struggles in a contentious marriage.
He further admonished the men to keep praying for their wives, loving them, and keep playing their own spiritual roles of a Godly man.
Bamiloye said: “When a woman chooses to be arrogant, proud, and unsubmissive to her husband, she has broken the commandment of the Lord, which demanded from her to respect her husband and be submissive to him, as the Head, just as the Church does to Christ.
“When a woman chooses to punish a man by denying him access to her body, when the Bible says a wife should not do so in I Corinthians 7, she has broken the Commandment of the Lord and sinned against God.
“When a woman is trying to be the head of the home when God says it is the spiritual role of the man, but trying to take over the control of the home, demanding that whatever she says must be done, turning the husband into a puppet; such woman has flagrantly discarded the law of the Most High God by disrespecting and dishonouring her husband.
“Now, when a woman lives like this, be on the Lord’s side. Such is definitely working for the devil, no matter how dedicated she may be to the service of the Lord. Even some Pastors’ wives are in this category. They believe their husbands are hooked and caged; they believe the man would never do anything to tarnish the name of the Lord or allow any scandal to their long-term ministry, SO HE DARE NOT CRY OUT, therefore, they maltreat the men at home and call the shot at home while the man calls the shot in the church. Some ministers of God are crying inside their hearts while they smile at their church congregations.
“There is no way a woman who lives in perpetual disobedience to the laws of god can make heaven, however spiritual she may look before people.
“What is my last word to the men who are in the cage of contentious women, keep holding on to the Lord. I have seen such women becoming completely transformed and highly submissive to the man and becoming helpful in his ministry. I have seen such woman becoming a royal gem in the hand of her husband, after a long time of struggles in a contentious marriage. God can do it. Let the woman become your prayer point. Keep loving her. Keep playing your own spiritual roles of a Godly man: love her, cherish and honour her, and keep praying for her. So that you don’t lose your soul. May the Lord heal such a marriage.”