Sahara Reporters Latest News Sunday 7th July 2019
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 07/07/19
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target=_blank>Nigeria Survives Cameroon Scare To Progress To Quarter Final
The Super Eagles of Nigeria survived a half time shock to come out victorious against the Indomitable Lion of Cameroon in a keenly contested match at the 2019 Total African Cup of Nations.
Odion Ighalo put in a man-of-the-match performance to deny Cameroon the win after heading into half time with a 2-1 lead over Nigeria.
Ighalo scored a brace with Alex Iwobi scoring the winning goal to send Nigeria to the Quarter Finals of the competition.
Ighalo opened the score line after 18 minutes of play by sending the ball inside the net from 18 yards.
Nigeria could not hold on to the lead as Cameroon scored two quick goals in three minutes to claim a temporary lead.
Stephane Bahoken was put through on goal after getting to the end of a cross from Christian Bassogog.
The Indomitable Lions would not be stopped as Bahoken played Clinton N’Jie through on goal. N’jie beat off challenge from Omeruo to slot in past Daniel Akpeyi.
Nigeria came back into life in the second half of the match.
Ighalo grabbed his second goal of the day after pouncing on a chested ball from Ahmed Musa in the 63 minute to beat Andre Onana.
Iwobi scored the winning goal for Nigeria after receiving a through pass from Ighalo. He left Onana with no option of saving the ball.
Nigeria would face the winner between Egypt and South Africa in the Quarter Final match on Wednesday 10th of July at the Cairo International Stadium.
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target=_blank>N136m Fraud: Court Denies Convicted Ex Air Chief Tony Omenyi Bail
Tony Omenyi in court.
Tony Omenyi in court.
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed the application brought before it by Tony Omenyi, a former Air Vice Marshal of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), seeking for post conviction bail pending appeal.Justice Nnamdi Dimgba had on February 28, 2019 sentenced Omenyi to seven years imprisonment after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), proved its money laundering charges against him.He was accused of laundering N136 million.Dissatisfied with the judgment, Omenyi appealed the seven-year conviction and filed application for bail on medical grounds pending the hearing and determination of his appeal before justice Taiwo O. Taiwo on June 10, 2019.Ruling on the bail application on Wednesday, Justice Taiwo held that the application lacks merit and dismissed it. Justice Taiwi said: “I do not see how I can exercise my discretion in favour of the applicant on medical grounds. I therefore come to the conclusion that there are no enough materials placed before me on which my discretion can reasonably be exercised in favour of the applicant. The application lacks merit and same is accordingly dismissed.”I have perused the medical report and I cannot see where the medical doctor recommended special treatment for the applicant that will warrant his being released on medical grounds.The judge also held that the applicant could not choose his doctor except the sickness requires a specialized medical practitioner that cannot be readily provided by the prison authorities or any government hospital. Omenyi and his company, Huzee Nigeria Limited, through which he received the money from the contractor, was convicted each on three count charges.The charges involve the N136m which Omenyi, as the then Managing Director of Aeronautical Engineering and Technical Services Limited, a subsidiary company of Nigerian Air Force, was said to have received from a contractor with NAF.The sum of N62m recovered from Omenyi by the EFCC was ordered to be forfeited to the Federal Government.
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target=_blank>EFCC Details How Fani-Kayode, Others Used 108 Bank Cheques To Perpetrate Alleged N4.9bn Fraud
Femi Fani-Kayode
Femi Fani-Kayode
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has tendered as evidence 108 bank cheques used by Femi Fani-Kayode, the former Minister of Aviation, to allegedly launder money during the 2015 general election.
The anti-graft agency tendered the cheques before Justice Rilwan Aikawa, on Thursday during the hearing of the alleged N4.9 billion fraud, at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The bank cheques were alleged to have been used by Fani-Kayode, Nenadi Esther Usman, a former Minister of Finance and Danjuma Yusuf, one time Chairman of Association of Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON, alongside a company, Joint Trust Dimensions Limited.
The trio and company are being accused of fraud to the tune of N4.9 billion, by the anti-graft agency.
They are specifically standing trial on a 17 counts charge of conspiracy, unlawful retention of proceeds of theft and money laundering.
Particularly, Fani-Kayode who held sway as the Director of Publicity of the former president of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign organisation for the 2015 election, was accused of conspiring with others to, directly and indirectly, retain various sums which the EFCC claimed they ought to have reasonably known were proceeds of crime.
According to one of the counts, Fani-Kayode and others were alleged to have conspired amongst themselves to, “indirectly retain the sum of N1,500, 000,000.00 which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: stealing.”
The defendants were equally accused by the EFCC of indirectly retaining N300m, N400m and N800m, all proceeds of corruption.
The former aviation minister was accused of directly using parts of the money at various times, including a N250,650,000.00, which he allegedly used between March 20 and 25, 2015.
The EFCC said he made cash transactions in the sum of N24m to one Olubode Oke, said to still be at large, on February 12, 2015 “to Paste Poster Co of 125, Lewis Street, Lagos Island.”
Fani-Kayode and Oke were said to have effected the transaction without going through any financial institution, an act the EFCC claimed was contrary to sections 1(a) and 16(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012, and punishable under Section 16(2)(b) of the same Act.
But the defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against them by the Commission.
When the matter came up on Thursday, an investigator with the EFCC, Shuaibu Shehu, while being led-in-evidence by the prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, tendered 108 bank cheques, which he told the court were recovered in the course of his investigation into the matter.
Justice Aikawa accordingly marked the cheques as exhibit 11(1-108).
When the prosecutor asked Shehu who the beneficiary of the cheques were, he (Shehu) responded, saying,103 of the cheques showed the names of the second defendant (Fani-Kayode).
The witness added that the cheques were drawn from the second defendant’s account with a new generation bank.
Shehu noted that, “100 cheques were of cash withdrawal, 96 of the cheques were withdrawn from the account of the second defendant.
“One of the cheques is N2 million, N5,0100 million, N5.650 million and N3.5050 million. All were drawn from second defendant’s account.”
The witness further told the judge that, “The second defendant issued a cheque of N22 million in favour of one Onigbinde on March 16, 2015, another cheque of N20, 340 million in favour of one Ojeifo Sofia on February, 2015, another cheque of N10 million for Jariley Limited on January 30, 2015.
“The second defendant, Fani-Kayode withdrew the sum of N5.650 million, N5.1 million, N2 million and N3.555 million respectively.
Shehu informed Justice Aikawa that Jointrust Dimension Limited, the fourth defendant in the charge, issued cheques of N393 million, N250 million, N240 million with instructions that the money be paid into the second defendant’s account in the new generation bank.
The cheques for the money were marked as exhibits 11civ, 11 cv, 11cvi.
It was equally the contention of the prosecution witness that he deduced from the bank’s record that the monies that were in Jointrust Limited’s account which were N300 million, N400 million and 800 million were from the Ministry of External Affairs’s Research Library account and Research Capital Accounts.
Immediately after the conclusion of Shehu’s evidence-in-chief, the EFCC’s lawyer made move(s) to tender in evidence all the Ministry of External Affairs’ Statement of Accounts, account documents package and certificate of identification for admissibility.
However, Oyedepo’s intention was objected to by the defendants’ counsel.
While asking Justice Aikawa to reject the documents, Usman’s lawyer, Yussuf and K. C. Nwofor who stood for Jointrust Limited, told the court that the documents were not legible.
Fani-kayode’s lawyer, Norrison Quakers (SAN) prayed the court to reject the documents as it failed to meet the current provision of Section 84 of the Evidence Act.
The Senior Advocate contended that the current law is that a computer generated exhibit can only be admitted by the person that worked on it.
Quakers insisted that the only person who can tender the exhibit is Eyituoyo Mogbetern, the new generation bank’s Compliance Officer, adding that the witness (Shehu) is not in position to tender the documents as he is not a staff of the bank.
The Quakers further argued that the documents sought to be tendered are not qualified to be called ‘public documents’ as there is nothing on its face to show that it was forwarded to the EFCC.
While urging Justice Aikawa to reject the documents and mark same as rejected, Quakers cited a Court of Appeal decision in Jubrin Vs FRN, 2018, Law Pavilion Electronic Law Report and other authorities.
Responding, Oyedepo stated that, “I submit that the witness being Investigation Officer can tender documents recovered by him in the course of his investigation, Obot Vs State, as regard the roles of an I. O. to tender documents recovered during investigation.”
Oyedepo insisted that there is a presumption of regularity in favour of the Certified True Copy of public documents and that in compliance with Section 84 of the Evidence Act, one of the option open to parties who are seeking to tender a public documents is issuance of certificate of compliance.
In urging the court to admit the documents, the prosecutor cited the case of Babani Eleya Vs fRN, 2016, LPELR and a Supreme Court’s decision on the case of Dawodu Vs FRN, LPELR, 43637.
On the issue of eligibility raised by the counsel to the first, third and fourth defendants, Oyedepo said: “admissibility is one, ascription of probative value is another”.
The Commission’s lawyer thereafter asked the judge to discountenance the counsel’s submission on legibility.
After listening to submissions of parties, Justice Aikawa adjourned the matter untill October 29, 2019 for ruling on the documents sought to be tendered and continuation of trial.
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target=_blank>Odinkalu Calls For Review Of CCTV Footage Of Nigerian Strangled In South Africa
Elizabeth Ndubuisi at the conference of the African Insurance Organisation (AIO)
Former chairman of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, has called for the review of the video footage of a Nigerian woman said to have died of strangulation in a hotel in South Africa.
The deceased, Elizabeth Ndubuisi, died on June 13 at Kempton Park, Gauteng Province. She is said to be the Deputy Director-General of Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN).
She was in South Africa to attend the conference of the African Insurance Organisation (AIO).
She was later found dead in her room at Emperor’s Palace Casino, Hotel and Convention Centre, Johannesburg.
Elizabeth Ndubuisi at the conference of the African Insurance Organisation (AIO)
Her death has sparked outrage on social media after a report dated June 27, 2019, and signed by the Director-General of the Department of Health, Republic of South Africa, stated that she died of “unnatural causes consistent with strangulation”.
Prof. Odinkalu and several other Nigerians have petitioned the Nigerian government through the chairman/chief executive officer of Nigerian Diaspora Commission, (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, who promised to follow up on the case.
Friends and family members said on a website set up in her memory that she was murdered and even accused the South African government and the hotel management of not doing enough to bring her alleged killers to justice.
It was alleged that the hotel had failed to provide CCTV footage to the police which would assist in the investigation.
Tweeting on Saturday, Odinkalu renewed his call for review of the video footage of the victim’s hotel room.
According to him ” She traveled from #Nigeria to South Africa for the conference of the #Africa Insurance Organisation & ended up strangled in her hotel room at @EmperorsPalace. 26 days later, @nidcom_gov, the CCTV footage has still not been examined.
Abike Dabiri-Erewa, executive chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), said CCTV footage showed no one entered the deceased’s room despite the autopsy report that her death was unnatural.
“Update on Ndubisi. Our CG in SA along with the deceased’s brother are on the sad incident. Cctv showed no one entered the room. Autopsy showed she died of unnatural cause. An officer from the HC detailed on the case, working with SA police. Will keep you updated,” Dabiri-Erewa tweeted.
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target=_blank>Federal Road Safety In Ondo Starts Enforcement Of Number Plates For Motorcycle, Tricycle Operators
The Federal Road Safety Corps said it would begin a clamp down on commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators without number plate and drivers license in Ondo state.Rotimi Adeleye, the Commander of FRSC who spoke on Friday in Akure explained that the move was to curb high crime rates in the state.Adeleye said the Federal Road Safety Corps will, as from August 1, 2019, enforce the number plate and licence on the owners of tricycles in the state. He stated that the clampdown became necessary in order to reduce road crashes associated with motorcycles and tricycles.According to him, the enforcement would improve the existing National Drivers and Vehicles Database. “The issue of drivers license is not an issue of recent thing, it has been on existence and it is a way of ascertain the authenticity of the riders.”Having number plate and drivers license is show that the commercial rider are certified to ride on highway.”The reason why we have a lot of crashes cause by commercial rider is because of lack of information and expertise.”What we are doing now is to sensitive and give public enlightenment because we still have one month window now but by August 1, any okada rider or tricycles without properly registered and anybody riding it without drivers license will be penalised.”
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target=_blank>I Believe Busola Dakolo, Says Apostle Chris Omatsola, Biodun Fatoyinbo’s Friend
Chris Omatsola
Chris Omatsola, Biodun Fatoyinbo, and Busola Dakolo
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Apostle Chris Omatsola, a Lagos based cleric has said that the decision of the founder of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly, Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo, to step down over the rape allegation against him is the right thing to do.He said he believed Busola Dakolo’s story and urged Fatoyinbo to retrace his step. Omatsola, who is the head of Zionwealth Church, Lekki, Lagos, in an interview with Saturday Punch said, “I went to see him (Fatoyinbo) and we discussed for over two hours. What he suggested to me then is what he is doing right now. Stepping down is the right thing to do.“Honestly, I believe Busola’s story. She cannot come out to lie against him. What for? Is it for money or fame?“Busola and her husband, Timi Dakolo, are already famous and have money. I believe she did it for conscience’s sake and to help other people.“I advise that he (Fatoyinbo) should get himself together and push up again; it is not the end of life and (his) ministry. He should not sink into depression. He should get things right with God.“He has taken the right step by stepping down so that it does not appear like he took the allegation lightly or that he mocks Christianity. “I do not support rape or violence in any form and I believe her story. I pray that God will heal her heart and wound.”?
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target=_blank>Four Escape Death As Tanker Overturns On Lagos–Ibadan Expressway
The Ogun Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Saturday said that four persons sustained various degrees of injury when a tanker overturned at Ogere on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.Mr Clement Oladele, the Ogun Sector Commandant of FRSC, said in Ogun, that the accident happened at about 6.50 a.m.Oladele explained that the tanker which was burnt beyond recognition was heading from Lagos to Ibadan when it lost control due to dangerous driving and excessive speeding.He said that four persons sustained various degrees of injury in the accident that involved another vehicle, a Mitsubishi car with registration number DKA 653 ZP.“The victims who had parts of their bodies burnt were rescued and taken to Victory Hospital, Ogere, for medical attention,’’ he said.Oladele remarked that the FRSC officers and personnel of other sister agencies had already cleared the obstruction, to ease free flow of traffic on the expressway. The FRSC boss, however, advised motorists to drive cautiously and adhere to all traffic rules and regulation that prohibit overtaking at diversion points and construction zones, to avoid crashes.NAN.
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target=_blank>Buhari, You May Mean Well, But Time Is Running Out By Fredrick Nwabufo
Fredrick Nwabufo
Fredrick Nwabufo
One flaw that detracts from President Buhari’s strengths is tardiness; especially, his dilatory response to matters of importance. This is where an appreciable weakness of the president lies. And most times, the response or actions that follow the intermissions cannot justify the gnawing wait. For example, why wait until July to reappoint the same aides when that could have been done a day after the inauguration of the government?
Why this accustomed lethargy?
It has been four months since the re-election of President Buhari, and it has been months of no direction for the country. This is reminiscent of 2015, when the president did not appoint ministers until after six months. The injury inflicted on the economy by this passivity is still fresh. This is the reason I am startled why no lessons have been learnt.
A report by Reuters says a deal, which will result in a significant investment in Nigeria’s oil refineries, between the country and Saudi Arabia, is being stymied because of this “big political void”.
It said: “Nigerian politics often move at a glacial pace. Buhari took six months to swear in a cabinet after the 2015 election – a delay critics contend contributed to the slow response to low oil prices that pushed Nigeria into a recession in 2016.”
“But some investors said they had hoped that as the incumbent, he would move more quickly. Senegal’s Macky Sall and South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa both appointed ministers within days of being sworn in as president this year.”
We cannot spurn the place of ministers or rationalise the president’s “hold-up” in constituting a cabinet. Civil servants here are known to have extremely circumscribed power of approval over government projects; this implies that contractors cannot get paid; cannot be “mobilised” to site, and the progress of some projects will be impeded. And besides Saudi Arabia, other investors have reportedly expressed angst over the “void”.
As I said in a previous essay, this uneasy wait could be the result of intense lobbying in “high places” or a consequence of sheer accidie in making the important decision of appointing persons to the cabinet. And there is the speculation that most of the old guards may return because they are angling and sparing no quarter in scheming to have another round at retailed power, and President Buhari seems satisfied with their performance. So, why the wait?
I had expected President Buhari to glean some lessons from his mistakes in the past and action corrections. But here is a reprise of the past; a plus-ca-change.
In a media chat on NTA, the president when asked if he would be more “ruthless” in his second term, said: “Those who call me ‘Baba-go-slow’ will see whether I am slow or fast.”
Ironically, Mr President those who call you ‘Baba-go-slow’ are having the longest laugh.
I wish that President Buhari succeed, and I wish he leaves the office with Nigeria better than it was in 2015. But he must understand that time is of the essence. Lost time cannot be regained. He has just three years and three months left in his term. And there is a lot of work to be done.
So far, there is nothing to smile about. There is no improvement in power supply; there is no appreciable growth in the economy; there are no visible reforms in transport, education or health; no legacy projects; there is the insecurity of eclipsing proportions across the country and Nigerians are still very much divided.
The past four and half years have been spent on needless controversies effectuated largely by certain policies and government’s insensitivity.
President Buhari, I know, may mean well, but all his good intentions will go unnoticed if he does not work like a man who just got a new job.
Mr President, your time is running out.
@FredrickNwabufo
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Dear Buhari, Don’t End Up Making Jonathan, Obasanjo, IBB Look Like Heroes By Your Failure By Fredrick Nwabufo
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target=_blank>Nigerian Security Agents Daily Molesting Women Seeking Food In Jos IDP Camps, Says Lawmaker
Dachung Musa Bagos, member representing Jos South, East Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives has called for the immediate relocation of internally displaced persons in Jos, Plateau State to save them from abuse they face in the camp.
Bagos made the call while supporting a motion for the immediate resettlement and investigation of funds disbursed for that purpose in the house.
He said, “Many internally displaced persons, some of them in my constituency have faced one or two challenges, especially the women.
“You’ll find out that a lot of women in the camps are being molested on a daily basis just for them to be able to get a meal.
“They are either molested by security agencies or hoodlums within the community. With this motion that has been brought forth, it is something we need to look at as a house to urge the Federal Government to relocate all the internally displaced persons back to their houses.”
He also called for immediate investigation into N10 billion approved by the federal government for the resettlement of IDPs.
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REVEALED: Gang-Rape, Confiscation, Impunity Foisted On Majidun By Military Men?
Majidun Community
Road to Majidun
An investigation into the activities of the military has revealed over 300 cases of atrocities perpetrated by the naval officials deployed to various locations in Majidun community in Lagos State. to protect either goods or citizens of the community. Almost half of those results in either personal gains or ethical lapses, SaharaReporters Investigation has found.
Many cases involve breaking into shops and people’s homes with guns and other ammunition for robbery. They displace people from their homes and prevent shop owners and businesses like ferry operators, farmers, fishers and sand diggers from carrying out their operations in Majidun community, Ikorodu, Lagos State.
Some cases involve s** scandals. Take for instance five randy Naval officers gang-raped a 24-year-old lady in this community. Most of these Naval officers are even living in rent-free apartments owned by some helpless widows. These officers were sent to the community to secure the lives and property of the residents of the community and arrest those involved in oil bunkering. The officers, however, have constituted themselves into a menace that needs urgent solution.
Yet, despite these abuses in the community, there have not been efforts on the part of the relevant authorities to punish erring officers for the myriads of atrocities they often perpetrate in the community. Most of the residents now live in fear.
Some of these officers found to have been involved in adulterous relationships with the married women of the community members, a violation of the military’s code of conduct, have been secretly transferred from this community with public knowledge and allowed to go quietly. According to some of the residents of Majidun who spoke with SaharaReporters, In some cases, the naval officers carry out the dastardly acts with the support of the Generals who ought to have brought them to their senses.
Residents said the officers had turned their community to a hotbed of violent s** because their women are now s** toys with whom the officers have s** without compunction even in broad daylight. Take for instance the case of a 24-year old lady who was raped by five naval officers and even beaten after the evil act.
The Military has kept mum, influential Nigerians and politicians to whom these series of atrocities have been reported have made no efforts to see that justice is done. Even the request of the residents that the menacing and life-threatening Naval officers packing from the community have not been met.
Nobody knows what often prompts these Navy Officers to go on raiding, beating and stealing foods from the shops of the residents living in the community. Are they underpaid? Is it just a deliberate show of power? The residents keep wondering what often informs the naval officers’ act of wickedness.
Whatever the reason for the misbehavior, three things are clear; The military hasn’t corrected it, no panel has been set up to look into the victimization of the residents of Majidun community.No disciplinary committee has able set up to ensure that the abused find emotional closure by punishing their abusers. This reality makes the residents of Majidun keep living in perpetual fear.
WHERE IS MAJIDUN?
Road to Majidun
Majidun is a small, sleepy community is located in the west of the region of Ikorodu. The major occupation of the residents is fishing for the reason that they live in a riverine. By cause of the deepness of the river, canoes, boats, and ferries have access to pave their way on the river either for fishing or to transport goods that link other neighboring community to places like Mawere, Oke-Tapa, Isawo, and Arepo.
Baale of Majidun land, Chief Olusegun Omoyele said: “Their forefathers and ancestors established the community several years back which indeed the descendants continue to live in with pride. This place was filled with trees and bush before.”
It was a bright sunny day in the community, the atmosphere was free from rain. The cloud looks like mash potatoes. Some market women were seen selling their goods on a roughly tattered wooden ‘counter’ while a few were hawking cold sachet water popularly known as ‘pure water’ and soft drink.
Catching a glimpse of children in twos’, slightly covered with sands on their body as a result of rolling a spoilt motorbike tyre on the street with amusement written all over their faces as they chased each other up the street.
Getting to the Baale’s house, a middle-aged man which is in his early 50’s with a fringe of grey-white hair around his balding approached me with a grin, indeed, Chief Olusegun Omoyele.
Discussing how the whole incident of the Majidun boys who are believed to be involved in oil bunkering.
He said “When people started bursting pipes of petroleum in Arepo, which is about 40 km from Majidun, particularly a substance that can be sold to get money. Though, Majidun boys never vandalize pipes because there are none of the petroleum pipes that pass through the community. Why they are actually involved in that incidence years back is because of the river that passes through the community.”
Whenever they are transporting the vandalized petroleum over the river, he continued further, “The boys sometimes approach those people transporting the petroleum over our ‘own’ river that passes through our land and eventually tax the ferry drivers for their own share. This actually developed because there is no Job and they have nothing to feed on. These ferries pass this river to Ebute Meta and other places even to Lagos Island and as far as Epe.”
“At a time, some other boys at the other part of the communities started selling fuel in our area because this is a point where you can get a vehicle and it’s actually like a centre where it can be transported to various parts of the state. The boys partner with those guys that are transporting the fuel just to earn a living but they have never involved in bunkering.
“Actually, one of the things that counted against them is that they have ferry here that do transport and they can be seen.
“It got to a time that we stopped them not to join the guys to transport again because of fire incidents that always occur at the site of extraction or collating the kegs of petroleum. As at that moment, they stopped but to be sincere, the boys don’t have something that they will feed on.”
HOW THE NAVY OFFICER ARRIVED IN MAJIDUN
According to the letter that the Baale and community members wrote to the former Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola dated 29th November 2014, it read that: “On the 5th October 2014, Over 200 Naval officers invaded the entire community of Majidun with the impression and believe that they are on special surveillance to effect the arrest of some petroleum bunkers within and around the community.
“On the arrival of these naval officers into the community, we thought their operation will only cover and limited to the dwelling area of the suspects since there is no pipeline within or around Majidun community but to our greatest surprise, the whole community was encompassed to the extent that movement for the people in the community was unlawfully restrained and restricted, churches and mosques were taken over, people were sent packing from their houses, market and schools were closed down”
They send our people parking, the Baale of Majidun start his own story as I dragged my chair closer to him for the ease of conversation. “They live in our houses and make some of our people not to have a place to live. They came here on October 5, 2014, they live in our residence, use our Television, power without paying any amount.”
Discussing how the Naval officers have been deliberately creating problems and not willing to be helpful in any area to the community at large. He explained how the community is under the yoke of oppression from those sent to ensure peace and tranquillity.
“Naval officers have been terrorizing the community a lot. There have been several cases in past months, one of those cases was the case of a naval officer who got drunk and started shooting sporadically in the air and on sight. Some of the bullets shot hit three people and they were admitted at Lagos University Teaching Hospital LUTH, neither the naval officers nor the military as a whole did take care of them during all this time they are on the sick bed rather, it was the community members that rallied round in support of them. One of the boys who was shot is even in the community right now, he is currently handicap and he can’t do anything.
“Several months ago, they raided the community and also vandalized so many properties because one of the officers was in a shop playing the locally named ‘baba Ijebu’ lotto and his phone got missing, whether he misplaced his phone or the phone got stolen we don’t know. Of that reason, his naval officers’ friend and he started chasing all the boys. We wrote to some senators and those who are representing us at the House of Assembly as at that time that they should come to our aid but none of them show up. We even told them that these people are selling fuels here, what will you do? How can you help us?
Lagos State House Of Assembly Not Responding To the Community Agitation
After all these incidents, the community at large were invited and we all went to the House of Assembly through our representatives. When we got there, the lady who was raped by this debaucher was present too but they didn’t allow us in because they were in their chamber and it was the chairman of the committee that interviewed us. Actually, they didn’t allow us to take in our recording gadgets. After all the talk, we were told that they can’t do anything.
“There was another incidence that happened in the community. Some of the naval officers got drunk and they started shooting everywhere in the environment.
“What really happened was that some of the naval officers went to smoke with few of these boys and they try to exploit them but they resisted and these naval officers went to reinforce themselves and started shooting in the air. They maimed and demolish part of some houses of people. We called on the police but they could not come. They started chasing those boys all over the place, when they cannot identify the boys that beat up the navy office, The officers started vandalizing the place again. They broke some windscreens of some vehicles and destroyed houses.
“They are the alpha and the Omega of the community because whenever there is a fight in the community, they are the ones the wife will report to and in turn come back to discipline the husband. The community members are really in bondage. Do you know that their staying in the community does not allow the policemen in? They have sealed everywhere. Naval officers do what they like and if they need money, they will start exploiting people in the community unnecessarily.
“When the house they are living is leaking, they move to another house and remove the iron sheet to replace the one that is leaking. The funny part is that they have started selling our containers, the one they seized and meant for the women who struggled to raise the money to build this container. There is no way these ladies can feed right now as their source of income has been put in shortage.
“One of the things that baffled me is that the people who killed the soldiers, fought the police at the other community was given amnesty after a year or thereabout and my people who do not have hands in killing any soldiers and do not participate, only involve in selling’s’ are the one who does not have amnesty. Some of our boys were killed because they are part of the police officers who confronted the bunkers just because they know the terrain before deploying the naval officers.”
“So, it gets to a point when the naval officers came because they have to go and stop the boys from vandalizing the pipes. After the cubing, they decided to come to our community and stay or make the place like a harbor to them. They are afraid to stay at the war front in the area and they resolve to stay in the community because they found comfort here.
“During election when I was on air, they came to the community to raid and vandalize everywhere. That was the governorship election in 2015.
“Up till now they blocked our roads and people could not work and they do not have jobs they do not allow our people to move freely and even to go to river and this stops all the domestic jobs and trade that our people really ventured into in back then are not been allowed to do it.
“When you talk, the naval officers will start attacking us even with the young guys that they do not have ammunition but, they have to succumb because they don’t have anything to fight back.
“There is one of their commanders that came to fight me in my office when I told him that how can the dredgers be allowed into the community without notifying the community members this or tell us what they are going to do to the community as a kind of social services to the community.
“He said we cannot stop them. So, when our boys mobilize themselves to stop them coming to our river, they started arresting our boys and of course, they don’t carry guns they have to succumb to them.
“If they want our market to be closed for a whole day, it will be closed because of the fear they have put into people in the community. We live on their mercy, even if you are coming with your vehicle and your light is on, you must off it and failure to do so, they will beat you. You see them going with the boys, putting their clothes and cap somewhere and started smoking with the boys. If not for now that we have stopped them, if a husband and a wife have a misunderstanding, they will come all over from their base to beat the husband up.”“We are just pleading for them to leave the community because we are part of the country. They assault and do lots of immoral things. When one of the radio stations picked it up that they saw some navy officers smoking with the boys, they picked it up and started beating and causing unrest in the community thinking we are the one that reported them. We told them that they might be a reporter or probably someone called them that day to inform them.”
STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH
One of the residents of the community who spoke under the condition of anonymity said, “They collected my house and the shop I used to sell goods before. Right now, I’m using a room for a shop and this is so disheartening. My own house is being used where the officers sleep. I can’t enjoy my sleep because they bring in different kind of ladies and during the night I suffer for their sake.
“I was told by the officers to be sleeping in one of the rooms in the house which is the down part because it has a storey building. How can I build a house and I will get punished in the same house? These naval officers are really frustrating my life and the lives of people in this community.”
Speaking further she said, “When they first came into the community, everyone run for their lives. My male child was hospitalized for several months just because of the way he was beaten up. When the naval officers came, they begin to intimidate people with guns and some kind of ammunition.
“As I was about running away from my house I got captured but, the officers that caught me saw the way I was shaking and one of them said I should be freed to go. Not so long, another person came to pick me up but when the commander saw me again, he ordered him to return me back to where I was seated. In fact, by now I would have been dead.
“After they had packed all the boys, they accompanied me to my house to ransack, they look nooks and crannies of the room, with a fine tooth comb and saw that no man was there. I have been in a state of inflicting trauma because I told them that my husband has been dead for years. Shortly, they allowed me to move out from the house not knowing that there is one of my sons upstairs that have hidden himself, when he heard a low, heavy continuous sound outside the house and listening to how I have been shouting at, he decided to jump through the window but as he was about doing that, they caught him.
“They beat the hell out of him, he was given an axe and the same officers instructed him to break all the shops that were closed to check if there might be the availability of fuel. Eventually, he landed on the hospital bed treating the wounded region on his body for six weeks.
“After that day, I moved to one of my children’s apartment who lives in Ebute-Metta I concluded in my mind that when the maters die down, then I will come back to the community. Just before the naval officers came to our community, I had lost two sons which make me be in grievance and in deep thought. The shock is really in me and that’s why my daughter said I should be coming so that it won’t really affect me emotionally. During my stay in my daughter place, I was told that the military men have collected my house. All the goods of my children have been carted away. They stole so many clothes of my sons, this is the period of Ileya in 2015.
Majidun Community
“After some months that the beaten and harassment of people have been reduced, I returned to the community. The shop you’re in right now is a room before, I use to rent it out for people as a result of that, it serves as a source of income for me.
“The most painful thing is that they do not take care of my house, not only mine but the rest of the houses they have seized. When there is rainfall, we won’t be able to sleep again. We must pack our mattress to one side because of the water that will be coming from the top of the house down to our bed.
“As you are looking at me, I’m a widow. Right now the naval officers are the one selling the petroleum that they deployed them to come and protect the community from and send away the bunkers. As we are using the power together in the house, we are the one footing the bills.
“As I’m talking to you, apart from selling the petroleum which they have a place where they stored it, they are also selling containers of people who they chased forcefully from the area they used to sell things to feed themselves. If you tell them you want a container right now and you have 50k, you will definitely get one.
“My container was among the tens of containers seized by the military men. On that fateful day, I can still remember that it was about Ileya festival and due to that, I borrowed money from my friends and some relatives just to stock goods into the shop to sell the following day as you all know that there will be swift in the market sale.
“I woke to the news that the naval officers have put a barricade along the roads where it leads to my shop and the other, I couldn’t even believe my eyes. I was so sad not because of anything but because the money I used in stocking the shop wasn’t really my own.
“They break the shop, pack lots of items as they feed themselves with it. Well, there’s nothing I can do because they are military men and it’s not only my container alone that were seized but so many other people too who are using that as a source of income to feed themselves, send their children to school and to sustain their lives.
“I was passing along that area one day and I noticed that my container wasn’t seen at the place it was before. Before this time, I do hope that one day I will be able to get my container from these officers.
“So, I rushed to meet the Baale of the community to inform him that I can’t see my container again, he said we should go to the place together and on getting there, we met some of the naval officers and we asked them how my container got missing. They said, “they are the one that removed the container because is no more good.
“Baale now asked them that the container is in what exactly location? One of the officers answered and said: “anything that they do here, nobody can dare ask them”. I later found out that the container was sold.”
Speaking further she said my container was sold to a welder and I can never see it again. Whenever the naval officers want to sell any container, people will be invited from outside the community, most especially the welders that can piece and dismantle the containers. While coming, all their equipment to disassemble the containers will be with them. They do this so that the owner of the container will not be able to have any traces of it ever again.
This is what they have been doing and we are sick and tired of them.
CRIME
Military
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SaharaReporters, New York
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