Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Wednesday 11th August 2021
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 11/08/21
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Late Super TV Boss’ Family Accuse Lagos Police Commissioner, Odumosu Of Bungling Prosecution Of Prime Suspect, Chidinma, Others
The family of Usifo Ataga, the late Super TV CEO have accused the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Hakeem Odumosu of complicity in an alleged attempt to protect his killers.
The prosecution of Chidinma Ojukwu, the 21-year-old prime suspect in the murder case of the Super TV CEO has commenced and the family are afraid one of the killers has been granted bail already.
The family revealed that one Babalola Disu who was arraigned for allegedly preventing the police from performing their duties is “highly suspected to have carried out the murder.”
Their suspicion is premised on the information they have that Disu’s apartment was opposite Usifo’s in the short rental apartment where the latter was killed.
They also said they were shocked to hear that Chidinma was arraigned in court, saying they were not informed by the police before the arraignment of the prime suspect.
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Police Took Murder Suspect, Chidinma Away Without Handcuffs In Uber Ride—Late Super TV Boss’ Family
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According to them, Chidinma was reportedly moved to the prison from court without handcuffs in an Uber ride.
“We were shocked to read from the media that she was arraigned in court. The Lagos State Police Command didn’t inform us at all,” a family source told SaharaReporters.
“The other defendants, including the man claiming to be Chidinma’s father wasn’t her father but her sugar daddy. So the police lied about that.
“We were also shocked that Chidinma reportedly left the court premises without handcuffs in an Uber ride.
“One Disu who was granted bail to the tune of N1m is highly suspected to have carried out the murder. His apartment was opposite Usifo’s in the short rental apartment.
“And he reportedly asked that carpenter of Airbnb (Air Bed and Breakfast) should be called to fix his door, only to be told it was Usifo’s door that was broken.
“The Lagos State Police Commissioner is also complicit in bungling this case, we don’t really understand him.”
Chidinma, a 21-year-old Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos, was arrested by the police on June 23, 2021.
She was said to have been in a romantic relationship with 50-year-old Usifo for about four months before the incident.
Usifo was found dead with multiple stab wounds on June 16 at an apartment on Adebowale Oshin Street, Lekki Phase I where he had checked in with Chidinma.
She was consequently arrested on June 23 in Yaba and paraded at the Lagos State Police Command headquarters in Ikeja.
She confessed to stabbing Usifo with a knife under the influence of alcohol and withdrawing N380,000 from the victim’s account with his ATM card. She, however, backtracked later in a video, claiming she acted in self defence.
Usifo was buried on July 30 in a low-key ceremony attended by his family members, including his wife, and friends.
The police had also filed a criminal charge against Mr Onoh Ojukwu, father of Chidinma, and four others.
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Usifo Ataga’s Murder: Court Tries Chidinma’s Dad, Four Others For ‘Obstructing Police Duties’
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Ojukwu and the four others were arraigned by the police on Monday before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court for obstruction of justice and failing to report a crime to the law enforcement agencies.
Disu, 42, was charged with obstructing the police from performing their duties and failing to report a crime to the police.
The other defendants – Jessica Egbochi, 28; Abayomi Olutayo, 23; and Ifeoluwa Olowu, 23, were accused of receiving stolen items.
All the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charge.
But Usifo’s family have alleged that Disu had a prominent role to play in the murder of Usifo beyond failing to “report a crime to the police”.
The prosecution counsel, Cyril Ajiofor, informed the court that Ojukwu prevented the police from arresting his daughter, Chidinma, while the second defendant, Disu, failed to report Ataga’s death to the police
According to Ajiofor, the other three defendants dishonestly received a MacBook valued at N2.5 million and an iPhone 7 worth N150,000 belonging to the deceased.
However, the Usifo family are gutted that Chief Magistrate Adeola Adedayo granted Disu and other defendants N1 million bail each with two sureties each in the like sum.
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Nigerian Pastor Remanded In Prison For Allegedly Fleeing Without Paying Bills After Spending Six Months In Hotel
A pastor, Eli Dilli has allegedly absconded with N518,000 hotel bill in Yola, Adamawa state.
Dilli, who is the district pastor of Lutheran Church of Christ (LCCN), Jalingo, Taraba state was said to have lodged at Tufini Hotel, Yola, Adamawa state, but allegedly absconded without settling bills to the tune N518,000.
The cleric, as gathered, dropped the name of Adamawa State governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, to win the confidence of the hotelier.
He was said to have lodged in the hotel between November 2018 and April 2019, spanning a period of six months.
During the period, the clergyman incurred a bill of N518,000, covering accommodation and feeding.
The pastor, however, fled without settling his bills, according to the manager of hotel, James Joshua.
He was arrested on March 8, 2021 and charged to Upper Area Court I on Tuesday, August 10, 2021.
At the hearing, the First Information Report (FIR) containing the charge bordering on cheating as filed by the prosecutor, Sergeant Sawe Nicholas, was read to the defendant and he pleaded “not guilty”.
In his ruling, the judge, Aliyu Bawuro, ordered that the cleric be remanded in prison custody until April 16, 2021 when the prosecution team will present their witnesses.
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How 24 Family Members Died In One Day In Sokoto
The death of 24 family members in Danzanke village of Bargaja ward of Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State has been confirmed by Sokoto State Commissioner for Health, Dr Ali Inname.
It was learnt that the family members died after eating a poisonous substance in their food on Monday.
Ali confirmed the deaths on Tuesday in a statement, stating that the incident was caused by the use of a chemical like fertiliser as seasoning for their food.
The poisonous substance is popularly called Gishirin Lalle in Hausa.
”Regrettably, the entire family who ate the meal lost their lives, except two female members, who merely tasted the food and are currently responding to treatment, with very good chances of survival.
”Attempts to save the lives of all the affected people by providing the needed medical care proved abortive,” the health commissioner said.
According to Ali, it is important for the public to know that the incident was preventable and not contagious.
“Food stores should be secured to prevent access to flies, while cooked food and water sources should be secured,” he said.
”Wells should have covers to prevent contamination from faces of surface water after rainfall, the water should be boiled before use, especially in rural areas.
”Report to health facility or isolation camp in your area early when you observe any unusual symptoms or unusual condition.”
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Ex-Bayelsa Governor, Seriake Dickson Speaks After Tuesday’s Grilling By Anti-graft Agency, EFCC Over Fraud Allegations
A former Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Seriake Dickson has described the petition against him as frivolous after he was grilled by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
SaharaReporters learnt that Dickson, a senator representating Bayelsa West, presented himself to the EFCC on Tuesday following an invitation by the agency over allegations bordering on abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds during his eight-year period as governor of Bayelsa State.
Dickson was the governor of the state between 2012 and 2020.
But in a statement on Tuesday, Dickson said he declared his assets several times to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) before he became a governor.
Dickson said, “About two weeks ago I received an invitation from the EFCC to clarify some issues relating to assets declarations as alleged by an NGO.
“On account of our busy schedule at the time, I wrote to inform them and we agreed to reschedule the interview for today.
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BREAKING: Nigeria’s Anti-graft Agency, EFCC Grills EX-Bayelsa Governor, Seriake Dickson Over Corruption Allegations
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“As a law-abiding citizen and with a life long commitment to supporting law enforcement and security agencies, I honoured the invitation today as rescheduled. I understand that the subject matter of the inquiry relates to investments of my family trust, which I incorporated while being a member of the House of Reps to hold my family assets and investments which were made between 1996 and 2012 before I became Governor.
“I understand that there is a petition from an NGO alleging that these investments (largely buildings, plots, farms, etc in my village, Orua, Yenagoa, and two buy-to-let houses in the UK) were not declared. I have a duty to clarify these issues with the investigating authorities who by law have the responsibility to inquire into these matters.
“However, for the avoidance of doubts, let me state that my family investments, Seriake Dickson Trust Incorporated were made between 1996 and 2012 before I became Governor.
‘These investments were funded by loans and advances and repaid from salaries, allowances, savings and others. One of them is still on mortgage and I have made these documents available to the EFCC.
“These investments were declared in my assets declaration form at the House of Reps in 2011; my Governorship form in 2012, 2016, 2020 after I left office and the Senate Assets declaration form this year.
“I went beyond these declarations and wrote several letters to the appropriate agencies, copies of which have been made available to the EFCC. My trust and I subscribed to the federal government Voluntary Assets Income AND Declaration Scheme (VAIDES) and also paid the necessary taxes.
“As a result of blackmail from some quarters, the Trust and I went to the Federal High Court where there is a subsisting judgement declaring that no Nigerian law is breached by a public officer who takes loans and other verifiable avenues to make investments for his family provided these are declared.
“It should be on record that I have since resigned from the Trust Administration since 2011 before I became Governor.
“My solicitors and those of the trust have written to the EFCC to clarify these issues with the accompanying documents.
“However on getting to the commission, the investigating team came up with a new allegation of diversion of flood funds in 2012 totaling N17.5 billion. The petition further alleged that the money was used for my re-election in 2019. The fact is that there was no such donation about the 2012 flood in Bayelsa.
“Curiously, there was no mention of donor or where the money came from. There was also no re-election for governorship in Bayelsa in 2019 which are clear proofs that the petition was totally frivolous.
“The commission after looking into these allegations have since asked me to return home on self recognition. I have authorised this statement to be released for the avoidance of any misinformation.”
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E2%80%94-nigerian-navy How We Killed Six Suspected IPOB Members In Anambra During Gun Duel— Nigerian Navy
Nigerian Navy
The Nigerian Navy says six suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) were killed during a gun battle at Awkuzu in Anambra state on Monday, August 9.
Commander Officer of Naval Outpost in Onitsha, Adekunle Okeniyi, in a statement also described as false the alleged killing of two of its personnel during the incident.
Nigerian Navy
Okeniyi said the pro-Biafra group attacked the troops but were repelled.
The statement read, “The attention of the Naval Outpost, Onitsha has been drawn to some false publications that on the 9th August 2001, two naval personnel were killed at Awkuzu during a gun duel with suspected Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Anambra state.
“The Naval Outpost Onitsha clearly refutes this fake news and wishes to state categorically that none of our own personnel suffered any casualty during the gun duel.
“Rather, the troops fought gallantly and were able to repel the attack which resulted in the loss of six suspected IPOB members while others suffered serious injury.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Naval Outpost Onitsha calls for an immediate halt to the circulation of this fake news and wishes to advise the general public to disregard this fake news.”
IPOB had on July 30 ordered sit-at-home in the South-East every Monday, until Nnamdi Kanu, its leader, is released from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
The proscribed group had said the lockdown tagged ‘Ghost Monday’ would also affect schools and marketplaces.
The sit-at-home was observed in the South-East on Monday and IPOB has announced that the directive will stand till Kanu is released.
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E2%80%94late-super-tv-boss Police Took Murder Suspect, Chidinma Away Without Handcuffs In Uber Ride—Late Super TV Boss’ Family
Family members of the murdered of Super TV Chief Executive Officer, Usifo Ataga, have said they were not informed by the police that 21-year-old Chidinma Ojukwu, the prime suspect in the murder case would be arraigned in court.
The police on Monday arraigned Chidinma before a Magistrate Court in Yaba, Lagos state.
“We were shocked to read from the media that she was arraigned in court. The Lagos State Police Command didn’t inform us at all,” a family source told SaharaReporters.
“The other defendants including the man claiming to be Chidinma’s father wasn’t her father but her sugar daddy. So the police lied about that.
“We were also shocked that Chidinma reportedly left the court premises without handcuffs in an Uber ride.”
Chidinma, a 21-year-old Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos, was arrested by the police on June 23, 2021.
She was said to have been in a romantic relationship with 50-year-old Usifo for about four months before the incident.
Usifo was found dead with multiple stab wounds on June 16 at an apartment on Adebowale Oshin Street, Lekki Phase I where he had checked in with Chidinma.
She was consequently arrested on June 23 in in Yaba and paraded at the Lagos State Police Command headquarters in Ikeja.
She confessed to stabbing Usifo with a knife under the influence of alcohol and withdrawing N380,000 from the victim’s account with his ATM card. She, however, backtracked later in a video, claiming she acted in self defence.
Usifo was buried on July 30 in a low-key ceremony attended by his family members, including his wife, and friends.
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E2%80%94ohanaeze-counters-ipob Sit-At-Home, Crippling South-East Economy Not The Best Way To Support Kanu—Ohanaeze Counters IPOB
File photo used to illustrate story.
The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has urged the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to suspend its sit-at-home directive issued to the South-East residents to demand the release of its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
Ohanaeze appealed to the separatist group to explore other means to show solidarity for Kanu, The Punch reports.
File photo used to illustrate story.
The sit-at-home order declared by IPOB is to be observed every Monday to protest the incarceration of the leader.
Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since June, but only appeared briefly before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja for terrorism-related charges.
The July 26 trial has been adjourned till October 21, 2021 as the secret police failed to bring the secessionist leader to court.
IPOB then commanded a sit-at-home in the South-East which turned bloody on Monday as hoodlums wreaked havoc in Anambra and Imo states, killing at least four policemen and four other persons.
Many were injured and vehicles were also burnt while banks, markets, schools, and other public places were shut down as people stayed indoors out of fear of being assailed outside.
Reacting, the National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze, Chief Alex Ogbonnia, in a chat with The Punch on Tuesday, condemned the killings and attacks on the people of the South-East on Monday.
“We are sad that we lost yet other lives to the process. Violence is not to be celebrated in any way at all. We have always urged them (IPOB) to thread on the side of caution because we believe that dialogue and deliberations are better ways of achieving results,” he said.
Ogbonnia said shutting down the socio-economic activities of the region was not the best way for IPOB to show support for Kanu.
He said, “Ohanaeze’s position is that it should not continue. It is not necessary destroying the socio-economic activities of the South-East. There are other ways of expressing support for Nnamdi Kanu short of shutting down the socio-economic activities of the South-East.
“We are aware that people from Cameroon, people from other parts of Nigeria are in the South-East for commercial purposes. This disruption is not good for the development of the South-East, it is adding hardship to the people.
“Even yesterday (Monday), many people didn’t take the NECO examination because of the sit-at-home order. We have appealed to IPOB to reconsider its position and rather have a collective deliberation and come to a consensus on how to further press its demands short of disrupting economic activities.”
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Guinea Confirms West Africa’s First Case Of Deadly, Ebola-like Marburg Virus
Guinea has confirmed a case of Marburg virus disease, the World Health Organisation has said.
It was identified as the first recorded case in West Africa of the virus that is related to Ebola and, like COVID-19, passed from animal hosts to humans.
The virus, which is carried by bats and has a fatality rate of up to 88 percent, was found in samples taken from a patient who died on August 2 in southern Gueckedou prefecture, the WHO said late on Monday, AFP and AlJazeera report.
Previous outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in South Africa, Angola, Kenya, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
But this is the first time the virus has been detected in West Africa.
The disease begins suddenly, with a high fever, severe headache and discomfort.
“The potential for the Marburg virus to spread far and wide means we need to stop it in its tracks,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa.
The discovery came just two months after the WHO declared an end to Guinea’s second outbreak of Ebola, which started last year and killed 12 people.
In Geneva, the WHO said it considered the threat “high” at the national and regional level, but “low” globally.
“We are working with the health authorities to implement a swift response that builds on Guinea’s past experience and expertise in managing Ebola, which is transmitted in a similar way,” Moeti said.
The Guinean government confirmed the Marburg case in a statement.
The Marburg virus is usually associated with exposure to caves or mines housing colonies of Rousettus bats.
Once caught by a human, it is spread through contact with bodily fluids of infected people, or with contaminated surfaces and materials, according to the WHO.
“We applaud the alertness and the quick investigative action by Guinea’s health workers,” Moeti said.
The case was detected in a village in a forested region close to the borders of Sierra Leone and Liberia.
The man’s symptoms dated back to July 25, the WHO said.
After being treated initially at a local clinic and tested for malaria, the patient died “in the community”, the WHO said.
Post-mortem samples then tested negative for Ebola, but positive for Marburg.
Ten WHO experts, including epidemiologists and socio-anthropologists, are already in the field to support national health authorities.
The emergency response includes risk assessment, disease surveillance, community mobilisation and screening, clinical care, infection control and logistical support, WHO said.
Cross-border surveillance has also been stepped up so that possible cases can be quickly detected, it said.
Three family members of the deceased and a healthcare worker have been identified as high-risk close contacts and are being monitored, while investigations are under way to identify the source of the infection and any other possible contacts, the WHO said.
Fatality rates have ranged from 24 percent to 88 percent in previous outbreaks, depending on the virus strain and case management, the WHO said.
Although there are no approved vaccines or antiviral treatments, oral or intravenous rehydration and treatment of specific symptoms improve survival rates, it said.
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Ogun Police Arrest College Worker For Allegedly Raping Student In File Room
The Ogun State Police Command has arrested an administrative staff member of the state’s College of Health Technology, Olawale Jamiu for allegedly raping a student.
This was disclosed by the command’s spokesperson, Abimbola Oyeyemi, in a statement sent to SaharaReporters on Tuesday.
According to the statement, the victim had gone to the office of 39-year-old Jamiu to collect her school file when he dragged her into the file room and forcibly had s** with her.
The victim subsequently reported the incident to her guardian, who in turn complained to the school management.
Jamiu, it was stated, initially denied the allegations but confessed to the crime upon being confronted with the apologetic message he sent to the victim after the alleged act.
The statement by Oyeyemi partly read, “An administrative staff member of college of health technology, Olawale Jamiu has been arrested by men of Ogun state police command for having unlawful carnal knowledge of a student of the college (name withheld).
”The 39-year-old randy college staff member was arrested following a report lodged at Ilese Ijebu divisional headquarters by the management of the college. They reported that the victim was raped when she went to collect her school file from the office of the suspect. On getting there, the suspect dragged the victim into the file room and forcefully had s** with her. The victim there and then reported the incident to her guardian who in turn reported to the authority of the school.
”Upon the report, the DPO (Divisional Police Officer), Ilese division, CSP Amuda Ajibola quickly detailed his detectives to the college where the suspect was promptly arrested.
“On interrogation, the suspect who initially denied the allegation was dumbfounded when confronted with the apologetic message he sent to the victim after his devilish act.
“The victim has been taken to the state hospital, Ijebu-Ode for medical treatment.
“Meanwhile, the commissioner of police, Edward Awolowo Ajogun has ordered the immediate transfer of the suspect to the anti-human trafficking and child labour unit of the state Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for further investigation and diligent prosecution.”
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BREAKING: Nigeria’s Ruling All Progressives Congress Party Suspends Caretaker Chairman For Criticising Buhari
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has suspended a chapter chairman for openly criticising Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari.
Chairman of the APC in Yola South, Suleiman Adamu, was on Tuesday suspended after a viral audio, in which he allegedly criticised President Buhari and pledged allegiance to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, surfaced.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari
REUTERS/SHANNON STAPLETON
A press release issued by the Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, Mohammed Abdullahi, states that the APC was disturbed by the audio.
In the audio, Adamu allegedly wished that Buhari was killed by coronavirus.
Adamu allegedly spoke at a reconciliation meeting chaired by former Adamawa state governor, Jibrilla Bindow.
The release, sighted by SaharaReporters, reads in part, “As a party, we came across an audio clip that is widely circulating in the social media which emanates from the Stakeholders meeting of our party in Yola South Local Government Area.
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Adamawa All Progressives Congress’ Chieftain Wishes Buhari Dead In Leaked Audio
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“In light of the above, we had an emergency SWC meeting today (10/08/2021) where the audio clip was replayed, digested and deliberated upon.
“At the end it was observed that some of the words/remarks in the audio clip were most unfortunate and require further investigation.
“Consequently, a 7-man disciplinary committee has been set up by the SWC to investigate the issues in the audio clip and make appropriate recommendations for action.
“In order to ensure unhindered investigation and fair hearing, the SWC has resolved that the APC Caretaker Chairman, Yola South Local Government (Alh. Suleiman Adamu) who is a member of the State Executive Committee be suspended pending the outcome of the investigation by the 7-man disciplinary committee.
“Meanwhile, the APC Local Government Vice Chairman (Alh. Adamu Majekano) is mandated to take over as Acting Chairman, Yola South.
“Finally, we urge our Stakeholders at all levels not to allow unpleasant comments/remarks during party meetings of any nature.”
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