Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Wednesday 10th February 2021
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 10/02/21
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10 Feared Dead, Two Injured In Ebonyi Auto Crash
File photo used to illustrate story.
Ten persons have been feared dead with two others seriously injured in a fatal auto crash that occurred at the Afikpo-AryaraguIsiagu-Okigwe Highway in the Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State on Monday.
An eyewitness, Jeremiah Aja, told Punch that the accident occurred when a bus belonging to the Abia Line Network travelling to Afikpo from Umuahia lost control due to excessive speeding and killed almost all the passengers on board.
File photo used to illustrate story.
Aja, who said he witnessed the incident while working on his farm, narrated that the bus was moving at a high speed and could not negotiate the bend.
He said, “The driver could not negotiate a bend due to the excessive speed and he lost control and the bus somersaulted multiple times inside the bush; we were able to rescue two persons before the bus caught fire and we ran away.
“It took the prompt intervention of the Chairman of Ivo Local Government Council, Chief Onyebuchi Ogbadu, who brought water tankers and extinguished the fire.
“The police and officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps quickly moved the two rescued persons to a nearby hospital, where they are now being treated.
“Over 10 bodies burnt beyond recognition have been evacuated to the mortuary by the FRSC officials.”
Ebonyi State Police Command has confirmed the incident. The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Loveth Odah, however, stated that she had yet to be fully briefed on the cause of the accident and the number of casualties.
Odah said, “We have received information about the fatal accident, which happened today (Monday) along the Afikpo-(Aryaragu) Ishiagu-Okigwe Highway, but the Divisional Police Officer is currently at the scene of the crash.
“He will give us a clear picture of the incident, but for now, I can’t confirm to you the actual number of casualties or the cause of the accident.”
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Bandits Kill 23 In Fresh Attacks On Kaduna Communities
Bandits on Tuesday killed 23 persons in fresh attacks across five local government areas of Kaduna State.
The deadly attacks took place in Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Chikun, Igabi and Kauru local councils.
Samuel Aruwan, the state Commissioner for Security and Internal Affairs, confirmed the killings in a statement on Tuesday.
Aruwan said the government received reports from security agencies that bandits attacked communities in Kaduna, including border areas, leading to the death of 23 people.
The statement read, “Following the security situation across the state within the last 24 hours, the Kaduna state government has received reports from security agencies of the killing of 23 citizens in different attacks on soft targets in Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Chikun, Igabi and Kauru local government areas,” he said.
“The attacks on soft targets in these local government areas occurred around Kaduna state’s boundaries with neighbouring states.
“In Birnin Gwari LGA, 10 citizens were killed by bandits in an attack on Ungwan Gajere, Kutemeshi ward. They are: Abdu Hasan, Sufyanu Musa, Faisal Zubairu, Abdullahi Hasan, Ali Abdu, Rabiu Aliyu, Zubairu Yau, Bukar Yusuf, Mamman Ibrahim and Dankande Musa.”
He listed those who sustained injuries as Baushi Alu, Rabe Sani, and Usama Sani.
“In Igabi local government area, bandits shot dead one Dayyabu Yahuza between Sarkin Baka and Dankyawai village, near Gidan Kurmi,” the commissioner added.
“In Giwa local government area, armed bandits invaded Janbaba village. One Yakubu Sule was shot dead.
“In Kishisho village, Kauru local government area, gunmen suspected to be from a neighbouring state killed five persons listed as: Danlami Sunday, Abbas Abou, Sati Yakubu, Shaba John, and John Francis.
“In Chikun local government area, five citizens were killed by bandits in Gwagwada-Kasaya village in Kunai ward. They are Habila Ibrahim, Samaila Audu, John Musa, Birnin Aboki, Ali Aboki.
“Similarly, in Agwa, Chikun LGA, one Bitrus Joseph was shot dead in an attack by bandits. Also, in Chikun local government area, one bandit was killed near Bugai, when members of the community repelled an attack.”
According to the statement, Governor Nasir El-Rufai, expressed sadness over the attacks and sent his condolences to the families of the victims.
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NDLEA Recovers Illicit Drugs Worth N3 Billion In Kogi
The Kogi State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has claimed it recovered illicit drugs worth over N3 billion in the state.
The State Commander of NDLEA, Alfred Adewumi, disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists in Lokoja.
Adewumi stated that the total weight of the illicit drug exhibit recovered within the period of January 1, 2020 to December 2020 was 313,368.759 kg and worth over N3 billion.
According to him, his men also arrested 174 suspects comprising 162 male and 12 female during the period under review.
He added that the command was able to secure 15 convictions while 17 other cases were pending in court, stressing that assets traced to drugs were seized.
“The command carried out intense advocacy and sensitisation to traditional rulers and opinion influencers, enjoining them to speak out against drug abuse.
“Supportive parenting and monitoring of children’s behaviour can be a strong factor in lowering the rates of drug dealing and abuse, especially among youths,” he said.
On Monday, the United Kingdom Border Force of Europe and International, had commended the NDLEA for its remarkable strides in recent times.
A statement by the NDLEA said UK Border Force Regional Operations Manager, West Africa, Kris Hawksfield, gave the commendation during his visit to the new Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Buba Marwa, at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
Marwa appreciated the UK Border Force for the technical support it had rendered to the agency in the last four years, saying, “We look forward to a more robust technical assistance.”
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E2%80%94-businessman How Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital Is Hiding Employee With N6.6million Fraud Case— Businessman
A businessman, Tonye Fyncountry, has accused the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital in Yaba of covering up a fraud allegedly committed by one of its employees, Oluwafunmilayo Ademiluyi.
According to him, Oluwafunmilayo had stood as the guarantor of Gbogboade Ademiluyi, her husband and the Managing Director and CEO of A GoodKing Sons Global Limited, who requested for a supply of 33, 000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) worth N6.6 million for a period of three weeks on credit after which payment would be made.
He said at the time, his company, D.C Oil and Gas, had no capital to fund the project but was encouraged by Ademiluyi to obtain a loan and make the supply with promises of making payments.
Fyncountry, however, said for months now, he has been unable to get the Ademiluyis to pay, after they claimed that the diesel supplied was stolen.
He said Oluwafunmilayo, a guarantor of her husband, has been evading arrest by policemen from Onikan Zone 2 where he (Fyncountry) had gone to make a formal complaint about the case.
He said, “Whenever the police officers from Onikan Zone 2 visit the hospital to effect the arrest of Oluwafunmilayo, other staff members always claim she is not on seat. I have an inside source that tells me she has been reporting to work since December 2020.
“The woman works with the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital in Yaba. I have taken a copy of her ID card to the medical director of the hospital and the MD confirmed it. We’ve sent invitations from Zone 2 police station to her office more than 10 times, she refused to show up but she is reporting to the office.
“She was on leave in October but resumed in November 2020. Maybe someone hinted to her that they’ve been looking for her at the police station, she claimed she needed sick leave and that was the period someone at the hospital died, maybe from COVID-19, so she was given sick leave for three weeks, but resumed in December.
“When she resumed, the medical director told her that letters had been coming from Onikan and that they had been screenshotting them and sending to her but all she said was that Alagbon had settled it. They all believe Alagbon had taken care of it but no, this family has refused to pay me my money.
“She resumes to the office every day, they call her Olori. She’s a matron so they hide her. My truck has been seized by the bank where I obtained the loan from. My driver went there to start the truck but it has developed a fault. The truck alone is N17 million, the interest on it is going up. I have used the truck as collateral. They seized it instead of locking my wife up. This thing has caused me sleepless nights, it has become a problem for me.
“This woman has a support system at that Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital. The police entered her section, DJ 1, and the employees claimed the woman was not there, which was a lie. I have been going to the place for months.”
Fyncountry also alleged attempts by officers at Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, FCIID, Alagbon in Lagos State to shield the suspects.
According to him, over 30 notifications have been sent from the FCIID to the Zone 2 police station for a transfer of the case file.
“We now have a court order; the order is from the chief judge of the high court that the medical director should release the woman, and that she had partaken in a fraud with her husband,” he said.
Fyncountry said the family deceived him with the story that the diesel was for operations at a quarry owned by the family at Epe and the primary customers were Chinese engineers.
He said the Ademiluyis also said the Ooni of Ife was the owner of the quarry, assuring him of getting paid within two weeks.
He said, “But rather than take us to the quarry, they took us to a place, Cross Country, in Ibeju Lekki. We asked them ‘where is this place?’ They said they didn’t have a service tank that could contain 33, 000 litres of diesel and that they rented that one.
“My manager told me that there was a man that came there in the morning to ask for the waybill so he could make payment immediately. He brought out a cheque and wrote N7.5 million on that cheque. He asked them which name he should put on the cheque and they said A GoodKing Sons. That means they sold the fuel at a profit and lied to me.
“My manager told me what happened. I took a picture of the cheque. I didn’t know something like this would happen but I just took it. The cheque was a closed cheque but it was not dated. We went to the Cross Country place with the police but the tank was empty.”
According to him, Oluwafunmilayo and her husband alleged that the management of Cross Country stole all the fuel in the tank.
He said he was convinced to do business with A GoodKing Sons company when the MD, Gbogboade, told him that the Ooni of Ife owned the quarry and that projects awarded to the Chinese engineers by the Ooni would consume a lot of diesel.
Fyncountry said he was overjoyed and willing to do the business but currently regretting his decision.
He said he had also visited the branch of Access Bank that issued the reference to Ademiluyi to challenge the officers that signed the letter.
“I have gone to Access Bank to challenge them, I asked how they could possibly issue a reference letter to people they didn’t know. Those who signed the letter, I approached them and asked them why they haven’t apprehended Ademiluyi because this offence attracts punishment but they were just giving me excuses,” he said.
He called on the Federal Ministry of Health to stop Oluwafunmilayo Ademiluyi from going to her workplace as she has a case to answer.
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E2%80%94-wto Okonjo-Iweala Set To Be Appointed As DG Next Week — WTO
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
The World Trade Organisation has said former Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, is set to be appointed as its first female and first African Director General by next week.
This was contained in a statement posted on the organisation’s website on Tuesday titled, ‘WTO General Council to consider appointment of next Director-General’.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
The body announced that it would hold a special meeting of its General Council on Monday, February 15 to consider the appointment of the next WTO director-general.
The statement added, “The WTO’s General Council will hold a special meeting on 15 February at 15:00 Geneva time to consider the appointment of the next Director-General. The meeting will take place in virtual format.”
The development comes after US President Joe Biden’s administration on Friday backed Okonjo-Iweala to lead WTO, clearing a path for her to become the body’s first female and first African leader.
This marks another sharp split with former president Donald Trump who opposed the candidacy of Nigeria’s first female finance minister who was backed by many other countries.
The US Trade Representative in a statement on Friday cited Okonjo-Iweala’s “wealth of knowledge in economics and international diplomacy” and said she had “proven experience managing a large international organisation”.
USTR also noted that South Korea’s trade minister, Yoo Myung-hee, major opposition to Okonjo-Iweala had abandoned her bid to head the WTO.
The process to name a successor for Roberto Azevedo, who stepped down last August, has been deadlocked for months.
Key WTO ambassadors had supported Okonjo-Iweala in October as the best pick to lead the organisation, but without the support of the United States, the process was left at a standstill since the director-general is normally chosen by consensus among all 164 member states.
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EFCC To Arraign Ex-Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah, Over Alleged N9.4billion Fraud
Stella Oduah
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission will, on February 22, arraign a former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, at the Federal High Court, Abuja, for alleged financial impropriety totalling more than N9.4billion fraud.
Justice Inyang Ekwo fixed the date on Tuesday because the former minister had yet to be served with the court processes.
Stella Oduah
SaharaReporters had in September 2017 uncovered how Oduah bought a $1.2million home in London, disguising it in the robes of a foreign-registered company in an effort to avoid detection.
The transaction, which had been kept secret, was blown open when Mrs. Oduah decided to rent out the house and engaged the services of a shady real estate company, Daniel Ford and Company Ltd, for that purpose.
SaharaReporters had also reported in February 2018 that the EFCC had commenced investigation of Oduah, over her involvement in the N9.4billion contract for supply of security equipment to 22 airports across the country.
Oduah, now a Senator, was interrogated at the Abuja office of EFCC on Monday over allegations made by a United States based firm, Psybernetix Limited, that she hijacked a contract meant for the firm for a company she had interest in.
Oduah, who currently represents Anambra North Senatorial District at the National Assembly, is facing the fraud charge alongside eight others in a suit with number: FHC/ABJ/CR/316/20.
Although the arraignment was scheduled for the day’s sitting, the case could not proceed because the lawmaker was not in court.
Counsel for the EFCC, Dr Hassan Liman, SAN, told the court that the ex-minister had not been served with the court processes.
The lawyer, therefore, prayed for an adjournment to enable the anti-graft agency to serve the lawmaker.
“My lord, the matter has been set out today for arraignment but I have been informed by the commission that the first defendant (Oduah) has yet to be served.
“In view of that, my lord, may I humbly apply for a very short date,” he said.
Justice Ekwo held that it was the duty of the prosecution to produce defendants in court.
The judge then adjourned the matter until February 22 for defendants to take their plea.
The anti-corruption agency is alleging that Oduah misappropriated public funds while serving as minister.
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E2%80%99-leader-behind-kankara-schoolboys-abduction EXCLUSIVE: How Zamfara Govt Paid Bandits’ Leader Behind Kankara Schoolboys Abduction, Auwalun Millions Of Naira To ‘Repent’
Auwalun Daudawa, the leader of the gang of bandits that abducted over 300 schoolboys in the Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State who surrendered some weapons and ‘repented’ on Monday, was paid millions of naira to surrender, SaharaReporters has gathered.
Though Auwalun, while speaking after he took an oath of repentance in Gusau, Zamfara State capital, claimed he was not given a kobo, sources familiar with the negotiation between the top commander of the and the state government, said he was paid millions of naira as compensation for some of his gang members killed by security operatives.
“He claimed many of his boys were killed by security operatives and asked the government to compensate him so that he can have money to take care of the family members of those killed.
“He also requested for money to buy cows for his boys to keep them busy,” the source said.
Auwalun and six of his lieutenants had on Monday surrendered 20 AK 47 rifles, ammunition and a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launcher to the Zamfara State government.
“We have voluntarily repented. I was convinced by the state government approaches on peace reconciliation with armed bandits. I learnt from those who repented before me that there was no single plan by the governments through use of security agencies to harm me and my boys, therefore, we are now back for normal lives like other peace-loving Nigerians,” he had said.
Auwalun Daudawa and his gang on December 11, 2020 invaded Government Science Secondary School, Kankara around 11 pm, shooting indiscriminately to scare residents.
The operation led to the disappearance of over 344 students.
The abduction happened when President Muhammadu Buhari was visiting his home state of Katsina.
After their release on December 17, 2020, Bello Matawalle, governor of Zamfara, said the schoolboys were rescued with the help of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and that no ransom was paid.
Katsina State governor, Aminu Bello Masari, also said insinuations that ransom was paid for the release of the boys from their abductors were false.
However, in a leaked telephone conversation between Auwalun and a former caretaker chairman of the Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina state, Haruna Musa Mota, the bandits commander admitted the group collected N30m from the state government.
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EXCLUSIVE: Katsina Government Paid Us N30m Ransom For Release Of Kankara Schoolboys — Bandits Leader, Awulu
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When told by Mota that some government officials claimed N800 million was given to the group, he exclaimed and said, “You said what? N800m? How many millions again? Who said that? So, they paid N30 million and claimed N800m, now they have stopped cattle rearing.”
Responding, the former council boss said, “I will send you the speech and I will advise you speak out so citizens will know you did what you did for peace and what they paid you was N30 million. This is not fair at all, they call us thieves while they are the real thieves. We want peace but this governor has no integrity.”
Mota was arrested a few days later over alleged ties with the bandits.
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Court Remands Ex-council Boss Who Exposed Masari’s Payment Of N30m To Bandits Over Kankara Students’ Abduction
The police have brought five charges against a former caretaker chairman of Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State, Haruna Musa Mota, currently being remanded at the Katsina Correctional Centre for his alleged role in last December’s abduction of 344 students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara.
The charges include alleged criminal breach of trust by an agent; inciting disturbance; aiding and abetting of armed robbery; kidnapping and terrorism.
According to the police First Information Report containing the charges, Mota was arrested on February 3, 2021 based on credible intelligence on his alleged links with bandits over the abductions.
It read, “On January 30, 2021, at about 0800 hours, as a member of Katsina State Fulani/farmers reconciliation committee entrusted with the mandate of negotiating between bandits/kidnappers/robbers in Katsina State, you breached the trust by deliberately using your Samsung GSM Phone with MTN Number: 08032981919 in calling one well-known armed bandits’ commander residing in Zamfara forest, Zamfara State who masterminded the kidnapping of the students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, sometime in December 2020, instigating him with unverified information regarding the release of said students.
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EXCLUSIVE: Katsina Government Paid Us N30m Ransom For Release Of Kankara Schoolboys — Bandits Leader, Awulu
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“As a result of this information to the commander of the armed bandits by you, he informed his gang who are now rising against the government and people of Katsina State, threatening to continue terrorising them for the money to be released to them. All these are contrary to sections 298,78 and 47 of the penal code law of Katsina State, 2019.”
The two police prosecutors on the case, Isa Litti and EM Garuba, however, told the court where Mota was last arraigned on Monday that investigation was still in progress on the case.
The prosecutors requested a new date for the case to be mentioned.
The presiding Chief Magistrate, Hjaiya Aminat Ibrahim, granted the request and adjourned the case till March 25, 2021, for mention.
She also directed that the Certified True Copy of the FIR be released to Mota’s counsel, Ahmed Danbaba, as requested by him.
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Ex-Council Boss Who Exposed Governor Masari’s Payment Of N30m To Bandits Despite ‘Claiming He Paid 800m’ Arrested
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Ibrahim directed that Mota be remanded at the correctional centre till March 25, 2021, when the case comes up before her for mention.
An audio recording had resurfaced recently where Mota was heard discussing with a commander of a banditry group, Auwalu, over last December abduction of over 300 students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara.
The former LGA chairman told the bandits commander that Governor Masari claimed he paid the group N800 million to secure the freedom of the students which Auwalu refuted, stating that the governor had paid N30 million only.
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Plot Thickens To Sanction Makinde, Olujimi, Others In South-West PDP
Some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to the Chairman of the party in the South-West and former governor of Ekiti State, Eddy Olafeso and Ayodele Fayose respectively, met in Lagos on Tuesday to discuss the way forward for the party.
SaharaReporters learnt that the meeting was centred on how to outsmart the governor of Oyo State and the lawmaker representing Ekiti South Senatorial District, Senator Abiodun Olujimi, who have positioned themselves as the leaders of the party.
A source close to SaharaReporters and privy to what was discussed at the meeting, told our correspondent that none of the attendees was bold enough to talk to the media.
The source noted that there were moves to sanction Makinde, Olujimi, and other party chieftains who do not belong to the Fayose-led faction.
But the Ogun State chairman of the party, Dr. Sikirulai Ogundele, who spoke noted that the leaders of Fayose faction would meet some stakeholders of the party in Ondo State on Wednesday, February 10, 2021.
The source said, “None of the members of Fayose faction who attended the closed-door meeting in Lagos were ready to disclose what was discussed. However, the Ogun State Chairman, Dr. Sikirulai Olawale Ogundele, simply said ‘we the leaders of Fayose faction are meeting Ondo State stakeholders tomorrow Wednesday, 10th February, 2021. I am sure the whole process is to tell the so-called leaders like Makinde and Olujimi that they are paperweight in the PDP’.
“He also condemned the activities of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, who he said is profiting materially from the South-West crisis and advised him to live a life of a statesman.”
The disagreement between Makinde and Fayose over who should be the leader of the PDP in the South-West has led to divisions among party members in the zone.
A faction believes that Makinde, as the only PDP governor in the South-West, is naturally the leader of the party in the region, while the Fayose-led faction is of the opinion that no governor should have power over the party structure in another state.
Speaking on the issue, a member of the House of Representatives representing Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency of Osun State, Wole Oke, once noted, “By convention and practices of the PDP, Makinde, who is the only PDP governor in the South-West is the leader of the zone and no loyal, committed member of the PDP family should challenge the noble arrangement in the overall interest of the party, except for selfish interests.”
And because of that, the Uche Secondus-led National Working Committee of the PDP appointed Makinde to lead reconciliation efforts in the zone.
However, Makinde’s peace efforts, especially in Ekiti State, were ignored by Fayose and his supporters, who saw the former governor as their leader.
Therefore, Fayose’s supporters and those of Senator Olujimi held parallel congresses and elected separate state executives.
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E2%80%99s-residence-seek-financial-assistance Hundreds Of Beggars Storm Jigawa Governor’s Residence, Seek Financial Assistance
Hundreds of beggars have besieged the residence of Jigawa State Governor, Mohammed Abubakar, in his hometown in Babura.
According to Vanguard, Badaru was in Babura to revalidate his All Progressives Congress’ membership for the ongoing nationwide registration exercise.
The beggars were seen in their hundreds without facemasks, waiting for the usual handouts given to them whenever the governor visited his hometown.
It was further gathered that the beggars waited for over seven hours to see him.
On his arrival, they waved and hailed the governor as he entered the house with his guests.
Trouble however started when they lost their patience after waiting outside for hours and did not get any handouts. Instead, they were allegedly harassed by security operatives who prevented them from gaining access to the residence.
They refused to leave and later dislodged the security men stationed at the entrance of the governor’s residence.
One of the beggars, Malamai Larai Hamisu, said they were at the governor’s residence to seek his assistance.
She said they were financially handicapped due to abject poverty bedevilling the community, adding that they were harassed and abused by the security personnel attached to the gate of the residence.
She said, “We want to lodge a complaint with the governor about the ravaging poverty and other social vices attributed to economic hardship. We also want to complain about the untold hardship faced by the underprivileged which means they cannot afford three square meals a day.”
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