The trial of the suspects accused of the murder of a popular Ilorin hotelier, Adeniyi Ojo, resumed today, at the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin.
The suspects were charged before Justice Haleema Saleeman for the murder of the Managing Director of Water View Hotel .
The case initially began at the magistrate court before the new development.
The suspects, Joy Adama Joseph, 22, and her friend, Favour David, 23, however, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them in court.
At a point, the trial judge told the suspects who wept profusely while in the dock, “to stop crying and speak up for me to be able to take proper record of your plea.”
The charge sheet slammed the suspects with culpable homicide, punishable by death under sections 97 and 221 of the Penal Code.
The sheet also accused them of conspiring to rob the deceased of his Infinix handset among other valuables while armed with knives.
The Attorney General of Kwara State, Ibrahim Sulyman and Issa Zakari, a Chief state counsel, represent the state in the matter.
The suspects were represented by Barrister John Mayokun Dada.
The trial judge, Justice Saleeman, however adjourned the case until April 17, 2024.
The immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, was on Wednesday, spotted at the National Secretariat of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Abuja.
According to reports from Tribune Online, El-Rufai, a prominent figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC), engaged in what was described as a consultation visit with the National Chairman of the SDP, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam.
This visit comes as a significant development, given El-Rufai’s political stature and his association with the ruling APC.
During the meeting, Gabam hailed El-Rufai as a friend and a leader with a noteworthy political track record, emphasizing the need for transformative leaders like him in Nigeria’s political landscape.
This commendation has fueled speculation about potential political realignments and El-Rufai’s aspirations for the 2027 general elections.
A source that spoke with the platform stated that Gabam appreciated him and his entourage for the visit, saying that “it’s time for all stakeholders in the country to put aside ethnic, regional and political differences to move the country forward more especially at this period when the country is facing serious challenges ranging from hunger, insecurity, joblessness, kidnapping, inflation among others.”
The source hinted that Mallam El-Rufai was received by the members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.
El-Rufai has been paying consultation visits to some notable politicians across political parties in recent times.
Some secondary schools in Abia state have been delisted by the West African Examination Council (WAEC).
WAEC also barred the schools from participating in the regional body’s exams for involving in examination malpractice.
Commissioner for Education, Professor Uche Eme Uche, who disclosed this during a press briefing in Umuahia, the state capital, said that the state had just been informed by the exam body about the ugly development.
Although she failed to disclose the affected schools, the commissioner stated that most of the schools affected were private schools.
The commissioner, who frowned at any act capable of tarnishing the image of the state, said the operational licences of the affected schools would be withdrawn as a deterrent to others.
She explained that the state supported the action by WAEC as it would help halt the bastardization and lowering of academic standards in schools by some dubious operators.
Professor Uche said that the state had previously shut down some of the affected schools due to their unwholesome practices, regretting that instead of heeding the warnings, they continued to cut corners.
Speaking earlier, the commissioner for information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed that the governor of the state, Dr. Alex had approved the immediate renovation of 170 primary and 51 public secondary schools across the state.
He said ten primary and three secondary schools would be selected from each of the 17 Local Government Areas in the state.
The renovation, according to him, is to give a facelift to public schools in the state and make them conducive and attractive for learning.
He explained that this was in addition to the six model schools currently being established in the three senatorial districts.
The government spokesman further disclosed that the governor had also approved the disbursement of N62 million in bursaries to Abia law undergraduates in different tertiary institutions across the country.
This, he said, was to assist them following the increase in their fees and cost of training amid the biting economic hardship.
On the schools’ renovation, the commissioner for education said each of the benefiting schools would have staff quarters, a Head teacher’ house, and a caretaker’s house to ensure water-tight security of the school property.
The gesture, according to her, is a demonstration of the high premium that the Otti-led administration attaches to education as the cornerstone of any society.
She said that the state government had resolved to revive and promote education in the state, adding that the renovation will be done in phases until all public schools in the state have received a facelift.
A dismissed soldier, Gabriel David Elihu, of Apo Mechanic Village, alongside one Alex Iorjaa of Gboko L.G.A of Benue State, have been arrested by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), for armed robbery and kidnapping in Abuja.
FCT Police Commissioner, CP Ben Igweh, made this known during a media briefing on Wednesday, March 20, 2024.
According to the CP, the suspects were arrested on March 17, after receiving a distress call at about 02:30pm, through the Mabushi Division from two victims; Blessing Mafulul Damia and Haliru Zakari, that some men in an unregistered Toyota Hilux trailed them while on their way home from a medical store in Gwarimpa to Gishiri village, robbed them of their valuables and attempted to kidnap them.
“Upon receipt of the information, Police operatives of the Division swung into action, trailed the vehicle and arrested the two suspects Elihu and Iorjaa. A black coloured Toyota Hilux with Reg No. NBB 03 AH (Nasarawa), a jackknife, and some military accoutrements were recovered from them. Suspects will be charged to court soon,” the CP stated.
Mr Ibu And Herbert Wigwe’s Demise Was As A Result of Foundational Curse – Apostle Johnson Suleman (Video)
AFOLABIPopular clergyman, Apostle Johnson Suleman has revealed what killed late actor John Okafor aka Mr Ibu and billionaire, Herbert Wigwe.
According to him, the two popular people died as a result of generational curse.
The senior pastor and general overseer of Omega Fire Ministries International stated this during a church service.
He noted some curious patterns that have followed the death of Mr Ibu and that of Herbert Wigwe.
Apostle Johnson Suleman spoke on how Mr Ibu’s grand father and father died from poisoning and similar fate had occurred to Mr Ibu.
Also, he pointed out that Herbert Wigwe’s elder brother died of accident, the sister died of same while returning from honeymoon and he, Herbert, met similar fate.
The pastor maintained that foundational curses exist.
Watch him speak below:
Media
“Mr. Ibu's dea*th and Herbert Wigwe’s dea*th were as a result of foundational curse.”
— X-Daily (@X_Dailly) March 20, 2024
— Apostle Johnson Suleman exposed the cause of Mr. Ibu and Herbert Wigwe's death. Family patterns. pic.twitter.com/kKqUPagRVy
Renowned lslamic cleric, Sheik Ahmad Gumi, says if found guilty of terrorism, Mallam Tukur Mamu, a Kaduna-based publisher, should be punished.
Mamu, the lead negotiator between bandits and families of passengers kidnapped from a Kaduna-bound train in March 2022, was picked up on his way to Saudi Arabia for lesser Hajj with his family members.
Since he was arrested in Cairo, capital of Egypt, in September 2022, he has been in the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS.
Mamu, alongside 14 others, were listed as terrorist financiers on Wednesday.
Featuring on Twitter spaces organised by Daily Trust on Wednesday, Gumi said the security agencies had no right to label anyone a terrorist financier since the case was before the court.
He said such pronouncement ought to be made by the court, not security agencies.
According to him, what happened between Mamu and the security agency was a clear case of misunderstanding, stressing that he did not want to comment on it at the moment since the case was before the court.
He reiterated, “Who declares someone a terrorist financer? Is it the court of law or a security agency? Security agency has no right to declare anyone a terrorist financer. The case is already in court, so why are they judging him on the pages of the newspaper? Once a case is in court, you allow the court to decide.”
The cleric said God has a way of testing a believer, pointing out that his arrest was God’s way of testing his faith and prayed that he would overcome it.
He suggested that Mamu should be taken to court to face trial, keeping him in custody despite being a family man was just to intimidate him, saying that the intimidation is also terrorism.
“Arresting people unjustly is also terrorism; just like the terrorists do by going to somebody’s house to kidnap him,” he stressed.
DSS had arraigned Mamu before a Federal High Court in Abuja on a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism financing, among others, but he pleaded not guilty.
Oluremi Tinubu, wife of President Bola Tinubu, has berated Nigerians abroad who have taken on jobs they couldn’t do in Nigeria.
The First Lady stated this during an interview with Arise News on Thursday March 21.
The former senator, while encouraging Nigerians to help each other amid the economic crisis, queried those who “japa” to take on work they couldn’t do in Nigeria.
“Nigerians we can help each other.
“It’s not that the government will begin to give food to everybody.
“It is for people God has blessed to help the poor,” she said.
She added, “Even those people saying they are going to Japa, they go there. What work are they going to do?
“Work that you refused to do at home where you have loved ones, you end up going to do that.
“Even with all their education, they are driving cabs but won’t drive cabs here.”
‘This World Is Temporary, No Point Crying Over Herbert’s Death’ — Access Bank Ex-CEO’s Father
AFOLABIShyngle Wigwe, the father of deceased Access Bank CEO Herbert Wigwe, has explained why well-wishers and loved ones of the ex-bank boss shouldn’t cry over his death.
Mr. Wigwe said this while receiving leaders of the Ohaneze Ndi’Igbo, emphasizing that there was no point crying as everybody would eventually die someday.
The clergyman, who said that he was happy that God gave him Herbert, however, said that Herbert was not dead but had been promoted to a greater realm.
He said, “As a child of God, I’m happy with the gift of God in the person of Herbert, that gift he gave to me for 57 years, gave so much joy, and when it pleased him to take Herbert, yes he called Herbert home.”
“Naturally, one would be sad. I tell you today Herbert is not dead, indeed he has been promoted to another realm. When people come to see me crying, when you look around, there is hardly anybody who is likely to live here for another 70 years. I would want to go to that same place Herbert has gone to.
We are just crossing over; this is like a normal market that we go to, everybody goes and buys and goes back home, we are in transit here, this is a temporary place.
And here in this place, one thing we know is that death has no respect for anybody…One thing is definite, everyone of us here will go, and so there’s no point crying, and what is important is where you are going to.”
Pregnant Wife Fakes Her Own Kidnapping With Boyfriend, Extorts N2 Million From Husband In Abuja
AFOLABIThe Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command said its operatives have arrested a pregnant married woman who faked her own kidnap, demanded for N2 million as ransom from her husband.
It was gathered that when ransom was delivered, the lady shared the money with the man suspected to be her boyfriend she connived with to defraud the husband.
The FCT Commissioner of Police (CP), Benneth Igweh, disclosed this to reporters on Wednesday during the parade of suspects at the command headquarters in Abuja.
He said: “On 11/03/2024 at about 19:40hrs, one Chiedozie Ubah ‘m’ of Saburi II Dei-dei, Abuja, reported at gwa gwa division that his pregnant wife Rosemary Ubah left home to the hospital on same date for a scan but did not return home. He later received a call through his wife’s phone number telling him that his wife had been kidnapped and demanded for two (2) million naira ransom before her release.
“He transferred the sum of two (2) million naira into his wife’s account as instructed by the kidnapper. He later brought his wife to the station after her release. During interrogation, the wife freely confessed to have conspired with one man named Walter Ezeala ‘m’ living in the same street with them at Saburi to extort money from her husband.
“The said Walter was arrested and he confessed that his own share was eight hundred thousand (N800,000) naira and the lady took one million two hundred thousand naira (N1,200,000). The sum of Seven hundred and ninety three thousand five hundred naira (N793,500) cash, two (2) FCMB ATM cards and two android phone was recovered from them”.
In a similar development, Igweh narrated how operatives of the command arrested a man who faked own kidnap too to test the loyal of his girlfriend.
He said: “On 14/03/2023 at about 5:30 PM, One Akuh Chinemezeh reported at APO Divisional Headquarters that his younger brother one Pascal Akuh 28 years, called him saying he was arrested by Police and taken to SCID custody. On the strength of this, the police and suspect’s family went to SCID, IRT and FCID detention facilities, only to discover that he is not in any of the aforementioned facilities.
“With the help of a tracker using coordinates, the suspect’s vehicle was traced to an area in Wumba, Apo. Acting on this intelligence, the police operatives from Apo Division swiftly mobilised to the scene, searched the entire axis and subsequently traced the suspect to a hotel in Lokogoma later in the night and arrested the suspect.
“During interrogation, suspect confessed that he only faked his own kidnap to prank the lady he intended to marry to know if she really loves him. Suspect to be arraigned in court soon.”
The police also paraded one Alex Lorjaa, a dismissed military officer who uses military uniform to rob and attempted to kidnap his victims in Abuja.
Lorjaa during interrogation confessed that a serving military man initiated and he is supporting him.
The Commissioner of Police said: “On 17/03/2023 at about 02:30 PM, following a distress call received by Mabushi Division from the victims; one Blessing Mafulul Damia and Haliru Zakari, that some men in an unregistered Toyota Hilux trailed them while on their way home from H- Medix, Gwarimpa to Gishiri village robbed them of their valuables and attempted to kidnap them.
“Upon receipt of the information, police operatives of the division swung into action, trailed the vehicle and arrested two suspects namely;
Gabriel David Elihu ‘m’ of Apo mechanic village and (a dismissed soldier from Gombe state)
Alex Iorjaa ‘m’ of Gboko L.G.A of Benue state
A black coloured Toyota Hilux with Reg No. NBB 03 AH (Nasarawa), a jack knife, and some military accoutrements were recovered from them. Suspects will be charged to court soon”.
The CP said the police is currently investigating the matter and hunt for the serving military officer is on-going.
He reassured that the FCT Police Command, under his leadership, will do all within its power to prevent crime and criminality in all of its forms and ensure the safety of all.
The naira yesterday appreciated to N1,450 per dollar in the parallel market from N1,580 per dollar on Tuesday.
Similarly, the naira yesterday appreciated to N1,492.61 per dollar in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM) exceeding the parallel market rate by N42.61.
Data from FMDQ showed that the indicative exchange rate for NAFEM fell to N1,492.61 per dollar from N1,560.57 per dollar on Tuesday, indicating N67.9 appreciation for the naira. Consequently, the margin between the parallel market rate and NAFEM widened to N42.61 per dollar from N29.43 per dollar on Tuesday.
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Hardship: Subsidies Food Items, Palliatives Not Reaching Nigerians - Catholic Church tells FG
AFOLABITHE Catholic Church, yesterday, tasked the Federal Government to subsidise food items and stop giving palliatives to a few individuals for selfish ends.
The church made the call through Archbishop Gabriel Leke Abegunrin, Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan, when speaking with newsmen at the Justice, Development and Peace Commission, in Ibadan.
According to the cleric, instead of giving palliatives to a few people, who will convert them to private use, it will be better if the government subsidizes the costly food items in the markets to make them affordable for the masses.
Abegunrin said: “If the food items are subsidized, it will go round and eventually reach Nigerians. We often hear of palliatives being distributed but we never see them. We hope that the social welfare package should be extended to citizens of the state.
“We would also like to see funds allocated for the good of the people to be used for the purpose and not the endless accusations and counter-accusations that our political leaders continue to engage in, in the hallowed chambers.”
Flanked by the Coordinator, JDPC, Rev Jerome Ajakaye; former Registrar, University of Ibadan, Mrs Moji Ladipo, and other clerics of the church, Archbishop Abegunrin said the economic crisis is further compounded by much distress and anxiety occasioned by the linking of Bank Verification Number, BVN and National Identification Number, NIN.
He said: “While the government may be well-intentioned, the implementation has caused much distress and anxiety. After the cashless policy and scarcity of Naira in 2023, the banking sector must not be seen again as causing pain and stress to citizens who want to have easy access to their money.”
On the rising wave of kidnapping and banditry, he said the Federal Government is just lying to Nigerians.
He said: “They once said they have identified those sponsoring banditry and they have failed to bring them to justice. Economic hardship often leads to deviant behaviours; many communities have resorted to policing their communities, especially at night.
“The government is called upon to ensure that the various security outfits in the state provide security for all and sundry. If this is lacking, individuals will resort to jungle justice as we have been witnessing in recent times.
The church made a fresh call to the government to return schools to the churches that owned them.
“The time has come for these schools to be returned. Results from many Catholic Schools throughout the nation lend credence to this. With her track record of academic excellence and wholistic education and formation of young people, the state stands to gain if and when schools are returned to their original owners.”
GUNMEN, last Sunday evening, kidnapped one Nyaknobong Etuk and his wife in front of the gate of their residence at Akpasak Estate, Mbiabong, off Oron Road, Uyo, leaving their infant twins abandoned.
It was gathered, yesterday, that the couple, natives of Oruk Anam Local Government Area of the state, went shopping along Oron Road in Uyo that Sunday and left their twin babies in the care of their house help.
It was learned that when they returned home that Sunday evening and hooted the horn of their car, but nobody came to open the gate for them, until the suspected kidnappers arrived in a mini-bus decorated with camouflage tarpaulin and ordered them out of their car.
They whisked them away in their mini bus to an unknown destination.
A family source, who spoke to newsmen in confidence, yesterday, expressed concern that the twins dedicated in the church about six months ago cried uncontrollably since the incident occurred.
The source added that the babies even refused other people cuddling or feeding them.
At press time, the suspected kidnappers have not made contact with the victims’ family for any ransom.
However, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Odiko MacDon confirmed the incident to newsmen, yesterday.
His words:“We are aware of the kidnap incident of the Director of Finance and his wife. The matter had been reported to us and the state Commissioner of Police, Waheed Ayilara, has directed the appropriate unit in the police force to investigate the matter with a view to rescuing the victims.”
Dr Richard Somiari, Director of Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre, on Wednesday said that results of an autopsy conducted on deceased singer Ilerioluwa Aloba (a.k.a Mohbad) would be ready in the next three weeks or four weeks.
Somiari gave the assurance while testifying during a corner’s inquest into the death of the singer.
The witness was cross-examined on Wednesday by defence counsel in the inquest.
Recall the musician died on Sept. 12, 2023, and was buried the following day.
He was aged 27 years.
His death generated controversies, prompting Lagos State Government to direct a coroner’s inquest into the death.
The inquest, which began on Oct. 13, 2023, is taking place at the Ikorodu Magistrates’ Court.
Somiari told the Coroner, Magistrate Adedayo Shotobi: “We expected to get the first set of autopsy results in three to four weeks and re-confirm to authenticate the cause of the death.
“We searched for multiple possibilities, to check if poison was involved in death of Mohbad since no actual cause was mentioned.”
The forensic expert assured the public of adequate security and monitoring of samples for the autopsy.
“We have a place where items are stored for safety and security of results. There is a procedure for monitoring samples moved abroad,” he said.
Also testifying, Mr Sadiq Ayobami, popularly called Spendy, said that he saw the deceased last a day before his death.
He said that both of them attended a concert at Ikorodu and returned to his house after which he left before the singer’s death.
Mrs Abiodun Kolawole, an activist representing the African Women Lawyers Association, urged the parents of the deceased to channel their grievances to the court of law in respect of the paternity of the singer’s child, instead of going through the social media.
The Coroner, Magistrate T. A. Shotobi, adjourned the case until April 15.
Shotobi directed all parties in the inquest to be present on that day.
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has linked the importation of the recently seized 23 packages of heroin at the Tin-can Island port, Lagos to the same cartel operating at the nation’s airport in Lagos.
Speaking while receiving the illicit drugs from the Tin-can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, the Tin-can NDLEA boss, Mohammed Abubakar, said the investigation had linked the drug seizure to the same cartel that brought the recently seized heroin at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
It will be recalled that the Tin-can Island Customs Command had handed over seized items, including arms and ammunition, Indian hemp and heroin to the officials for the Department of States Security, DSS and their counterpart NDLEA.
Abubakar said: “Through the effort of the Special Intelligence Unit of the NDLEA, which provided the intelligence and processed it, resulting in what you are witnessing today.
“Some of you asked whether there was any arrest, it is the work of a special syndicate in trafficking of illicit hard drugs across different nations.”