A Point of Sale (POS) operator, identified as Alfa Rafiu, has been arrested in Ilorin, Kwara state capital for allegedly going on a spending spree with a sum of N280 million mistakenly sent to his bank account.

It was gathered that the suspect, a resident of the Akuji compound, Abayawo area in the Ilorin West local government area of the state, received the money in batches of several millions of Naira some weeks ago.

It was also gathered that residents of the area, especially those close to the suspects, had expressed surprise at how Rafiu had suddenly become a big spender.

Sources in the area blamed the suspect for the trouble he had put himself into, saying, “Instead of him to have drawn the attention of the bank that mistakenly transferred the huge fund to his account, he went on a speeding spree.

“Rafiu bought houses and cars and sponsored people to the lesser Hajj. Although he was generous to several people in the community, some residents were surprised about his sudden wealth as a POS operator”.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Kwara state command, Ajayi Okasanmi (SP), confirmed the incident and said that “his arrest was effected by the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCIID) from Alagbon-Close, Ikoyi, Lagos which makes it out of our jurisdiction.”

The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, yesterday reminded the Muslims to pay Zakatul Fitr in line with the practice of the Holy Prophet.

Sultan Abubakar said the stipulated practice is to give out the prescribed measurement to beneficiaries in the last two days of Ramadan and not later than before the Eid prayer.

“In the spirit of Ramadan, Muslims are reminded that Zakatul Fitr is a compulsory food-levy imposed on privileged Muslims, to be given to the less privileged in the society. The Council, therefore, appeals to all concerned to ensure that they do not only comply but also comply on time,” he said.

The Sultan felicitates the Muslim ‘Ummah and indeed the entire Muslim world on the auspicious occasion of the 1444 A.H. Eid-ul-Fitr, praying to Allah to grant everyone the opportunity to witness many more of it.

He enjoined the ummah to look out for Shawwal moon after sunset on tomorrow (Thursday).

“If the crescent is sighted by Muslims in accordance with the moon sighting and verification standards, then Friday would be declared as the 1st of Shawwal and the day of ‘Idul Fitr. However, if the crescent is not sighted that day, then Saturday, 22nd April 2023, automatically becomes the day of ‘Idul Fitr.

“In addition to the established and traditional Islamic leaders in each locality, the members of the National Moon-Sighting Committee (NMSC) can be contacted to report any credible and positive sighting of the crescent of Shawwal 1444 AH. The Council encourages all Muslims to pray fervently to Allah, especially during the concluding part of Ramadan, for the peace, security and development of Nigeria,” he said.

[Nation]

The Lagos State Parks and Garages Management Committee led by Musiliu Akinsanya popularly known as MC Oluomo has been sacked by the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN).

The court in a ruling on Tuesday by Justice Maureen Esowe held that the setting up of a parks and management committee by the Lagos State government is illegal. The court in its ruling also barred the state government from further interfering in the operations of the union’s exco.

It also ordered the reinstatement of the operations of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) in Lagos State.

According to Justice Esowe, the state government and the Police should have intervened by arresting and prosecuting those behind any fracas purportedly involving union members and not inquiring into the dispute.

Furthermore, the Judge ordered the police to refrain from intimidating the RTEAN officers, remove all barricades it imposed around their secretariat and grant them unfettered access to their offices.

A preliminary objection to the suit from the defendants was struck out by the court as it ruled that the matter was straightforward, with no serious dispute to warrant an exchange of pleadings.

Naija News understands RTEAN instituted the suit marked NICN/LA/381/2022, in October 2022 to challenge the Lagos State government for allegedly dissolving the elected executive committee of the union in the state and appointing a caretaker body, known as the Parks and Garages Administrators, headed by MC Oluomo.

The defendants in the case are the Lagos State Governor, the Attorney-General of the state, Moyosore Onigbanjo, and the Special Adviser to the governor on transportation, Sola Giwa.

The 4th-37th defendants are the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, and all the members of the caretaker committee.

In January, the union through its counsel, Elisha Kurah (SAN) argued that a state cannot interfere in the affairs of a trade union registered under the Trade Unions Act of 2004 as such matters are expected to be handled by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

However, the counsel for the state government, Adebayo Haroun contended that the government neither violated the law nor dissolved the national body’s operations in the state, but had sought to maintain law and order by creating the ad-hoc committee when violence ensued between the unions.

On his part, the counsel for the 5th to the 37th defendants, Taiwo Kupolati (SAN), said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had the power to maintain peace in the land.

According to him, “There was a crisis and the governor exercised his authority as the Chief Security Officer of the state and put up a committee to be in charge of garages for peace to reign.”

[NaijaNews]

Authorities of the Nigeria Police Force have demoted the policeman caught on video assaulting a motorist in Rivers State.

The officer, Adejoh Siaka, was demoted  from the rank of Inspector to Sergeant.

The PUNCH had reported how a gun-wielding policeman, later identified as Siaka, was seen in a viral video hitting a motorist with a stick, after which he followed with two slaps to the victim’s face, while the latter was demanding his offence.

Other gun-bearing policemen were present at the scene but none of them made any effort to restrain their colleague from further assaulting the man.

Meanwhile, a female voice heard in the back called on the man to leave the spot and join her, saying, “Come let’s go.”

Following public outcry, the police had said the case would be investigated and later unveiled the identities of the policemen involved.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said in a statement on Tuesday that Siaka’s demotion followed an orderly room trial by the Force Provost Marshal.

Adejobi said  Sergeant Ndiwa Kpuebari, who was also present at the scene but took no steps to discourage the inappropriate action, was reprimanded, while a third officer, Inspector Friday Obaka, who was later discovered to have been absent from the scene, “was discharged unconditionally at the conclusion of the proceedings.”

“In all, the three policemen will be posted out of Rivers State to other commands and formations to continue their police duties.

“The Inspector General of Police has, therefore, tasked officers and men of the Force to be diligent and uphold the lofty tenets of professional policing in the discharge of their duties with respect for the fundamental rights of all citizens in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended),” Adejobi said.

[Punch]