Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Friday 12th March 2021
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 12/03/21
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Gunmen Attack Nigerian Boxing Champion Shortly After Receiving N10m Cheque From Governor
Ridwan Oyekola ‘Scorpio’
Unknown gunmen have attacked the current World Boxing Federation International Super Featherweight Champion, Ridwan Oyekola, popularly known as Scorpion, with the boxer managing a narrow escape.
According to reports, Oyekola was attacked by gunmen shortly after receiving a cheque of N10 million from the Oyo state governor, Seyi Makinde at the state Secretariat on Thursday evening.
Ridwan Oyekola ‘Scorpio’
Oyekola had defeated his counterpart from Argentina, Lucas Montesino at Ilaji Sports Resorts, Ibadan in December 2020 after which he was decorated as the World Boxing Federation (WBF) International Super Featherweight Champion.
Governor Makinde had presented the check to Oyekola for making the state proud with his victory over Montesino.
Narrating his experience, Oyekola said that it was the grace of God that made him escape death with two other occupants in his car.
“As we left the government secretariat, the venue of cheque presentation, I wanted to drop a friend that accompanied me to the event at Mokola, I just saw a vehicle and it followed us along NTA to Total garden area, and the two men were pointing guns at us to stop.
“I was shocked and swerved the car to escape them but fell into a ditch. The assailants drove off after noticing that the car had fallen off from the road.”
It was gathered that Oyekola was with another boxer, Habeeb ‘Ige’ Oladeji, the national bantamweight title holder and a friend, Adesina Sheriff, in the vehicle during the attack but none sustained serious injury except Oyekola who suffered a shock.
Confirming the incident, Oyekola’s manager and promoter, Sola Ayodele, called on the government to provide adequate security for the boxer, saying the assailants might still be on his trail.
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Nigerian Troops Kill 10 Boko Haram Terrorists In Borno
At least 10 suspected Boko Haram members died on Wednesday when troops of the Special Forces Brigade in Borno state engaged the insurgents in a gun battle at Sassaawa village, a community in the Marte Local Government Area.
SaharaReporters gathered that the raid was part of the ongoing second phase of operation Tura Takaibango.
The troops also recovered weapons, including AK-47 rifles, mortar tubes, and a machine gun, a military source said.
“The clearance onslaught was based on the directives given by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Ibrahim Attahiru when he visited the Theatre of Operation LAFIYA DOLE. During his operational visit recently to Dikwa, the COAS issued directives to troops to advance and recapture Marte and thereafter project further to clear other adjoining villages which include Sassawa, Chikun Gudu, Kerenoa, and environs.
“Following the directive, the gallant troops moved in, achieved the objective, and projected ahead. In the course of the clearance operation, troops encountered heavy fleets of the terrorists, engaged and ultimately obliterated them. In the encounter, 10 members of the sect were killed,” the source said.
The incident comes barely two days after the troops killed about 25 insurgents in Chikun Gudu and Kerenoa areas of the state.
Two soldiers however lost their lives while seven others sustained injuries during the attack.
Boko Haram and its offshoot, Islamic State West Africa Province, have killed thousands and displaced millions in North-Eastern Nigeria.
Nigerian army has repeatedly claimed that the insurgency has been largely defeated and frequently underplays any losses.
In the past months, soldiers have been targeted by the insurgents, laying in ambush on their path.
The Boko Haram insurgency has caused over 40,000 deaths and displaced millions of individuals mainly in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.
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Anambra Police Denies Alleged Cover-up Of Woman Who Beat House Help To Death
The Anambra State police command has denied alleged attempt to cover up a murder case involving a woman who was arrested for beating her house help to death.
In a statement on Thursday, the command’s spokesperson, Haruna Mohammed, described the allegation made by a human rights activist, Gwamnishu Emefiena Harrison, as false.
Haruna said the 25-year-old woman, identified as Nmesoma Okafor, was still in police custody and would be charged to court next Monday, after an autopsy had been conducted.
He said Gwanmishu should have cross-checked facts with the police in such a sensitive matter before publishing.
The statement read: “The attention of the Anambra State Police Command has been drawn to a misleading report on Instagram credited to one Gwamnishu Emefiena Harrison that police have refused to charge to court one Madam Nmesoma Okafor ‘f’ aged 25 of Nkpor in Idemili North LGA of Anambra State over alleged torture and murder of her teenage house help who died in the hospital while receiving treatment on 16th February, 2021.
“The report was absolutely false and unfounded. In fact, the suspect in question is still in police custody and will be charged to court on Monday, 15/3/2021 after conducting an autopsy.
“The command wondered why the author could not cross-check his facts with the police in a sensitive matter such as this before publishing.
“In view of the foregoing, the Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Bala Kuryas, fsi urges the public to disregard the report and further assures them that justice will be served on the matter.”
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NSCDC Arrests Two Men For Raping Minors
NSCDC
The Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Protection Unit of the Oyo State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on Thursday arraigned two suspected rapists before a Magistrate court in the state.
Speaking after the Chief Magistrate, P. O. Adetuyibi, had remanded the two suspects at Abolongo Correctional Centre, the State Commandant of the NSCDC, Iskilu Akinsanya, revealed that one of the suspects, Olalekan Joshua, a barber from Onipasan area of Odejayi, raped an eight-year-old girl in her mother’s shop on December 18, 2020 around 8 pm.
NSCDC
He said the second suspect, Olaniyi Segun, indigene of Ondo, also lured a 16-year-old girl into his apartment when the victim was sent to buy petrol from a filling station.
“Olaniyi Segun raped the victim and impregnated her in the process,” Akinsanya said.
A statement by the public relations officer of the command, Oluwole Olusegun, indicated that the Chief Magistrate, Adetuyibi, remanded the two suspects at Abolongo Correctional Service, Oyo and adjourned the case to 15/04/2021.
The state commandant, who frowned on the two incidents, warned residents indulging in such acts to desist, saying “NSCDC will not hesitate to punish any offender”.
He urged parents to take proper care of their children and encourage them to be disciplined and content with whatever they are given.
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EFCC Arraigns Three FIRS Directors, Six Other Officers for N4.5 Billion Fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday arraigned Peter Hena, a former Coordinating Director of Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, and eight other officers of the agency before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
The others are Mohammed Bello Auta (Director of Finance), Amina Sidi (Finance and Account department), Umar Aliyu Aduka (Internal Audit), Mbura Mustapha (Deputy Manager), Obi Okeke Malachy (Services Group), Obaje Napoleon Adofu (Head of Budget), Udo-Inyang Effiong Alfred (Officer II) and Benjamin Jiya (Assistant Director).
According to a statement by the Head, Media & Publicity, EFCC, Wilson Uwajaren, they were arraigned on 42 counts bordering on corruption, fraud and criminal misappropriation of funds to the tune of N4,558,160,676.9 (Four billion, five hundred and fifty-eight million, one hundred and sixty thousand, six hundred and seventy-six naira, nine kobo)
Count one of the charge reads, “That you, Peter Hena, Mohammed Bello Auta, Amina Sidi, Umar Aliyu Aduka, Mbura, Mustapha, Obi Okeke Malachy, Obaje Napoleon Adofu, Udo-Inyang Effiong Alfred and Benjamin Jiya, while being staff of the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) between January, 2017 and December 2018 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired together with the other officials of FIRS to conceal funds which are proceeds of an unlawful activities to wit: Corruption, Fraud and Criminal Misappropriation of Funds and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 18 and punishable under section 15(2) (a) and (3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 ( as amended by Act No. 1 of 2021).”
The defendants however pleaded ‘not guilty’.
In view of their plea, prosecuting counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, asked the court for a date to commence trial.
However, the defendants, through their counsel, prayed the court to grant them bail.
Justice Ojukwu granted them bail in the sum of N100 million each and sureties in like sum. The sureties who must be Nigerians residing in Abuja with landed property within the jurisdiction of the court, are also to provide evidence of tax clearance.
The judge also ruled that defendants are to deposit their travelling documents with the court and to seek the permission of the court before travelling out of the country.
The matter was adjourned till June 14, 15, 23, 24, 28, 29, 2021 for commencement of trial.
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EFCC Arrests Nigerian For N3 Million COVID-19 Relief Fraud
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have arrested a man, Collins Samuel, who fraudulently obtained $8,000 (N3 million) COVID-19 benefit from the State of Virginia, United States.
The suspect, who has been remanded in EFCC custody, was reportedly arrested in Jos, Plateau State where he fraudulently represented himself as Ashley Cooper, an American citizen affected by COVID–19 in Nigeria.
It was alleged that he obtained $8,000 in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) from Virginia, United States and reportedly redeemed the $8,000 benefit through bitcoin wallet addresses he got from various cryptocurrency traders.
Collins Samuel, an alleged fraudster who obtained $8000USD as Covid-19 benefit from the US state of Virginia, has been remanded in EFCC custody by Justice P. Mallong of the Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna, Kaduna State.— EFCC Nigeria (@officialEFCC) March 11, 2021
Samuel, who was arraigned before Justice Mallong of the Federal High Court in Kaduna, pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the one count bordering on impersonation and obtaining by false pretences.
Justice Mallong adjourned the case till March 22, for determination of bail application and trial.
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E2%80%99-jumbo-allowances-can-fix-nigeria 10 Things Nigerian Senators’ Jumbo Allowances Can Fix In Nigeria
Nigerian Senate
As Nigerians continue to demand the reduction in cost of governance by through the cutting of the allowances of political office holders, SaharaReporters takes a look at 10 things the jumbo pay of Nigerian federal lawmakers can fix in the country.
After the senators succeeded in keeping their pay and allowances away from Nigerians for years, a former Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Shehu Sani, in March 2018, mustered the courage to reveal the senators’ salary and allowances.
Nigerian Senate
Sani revealed in a statement that Nigerian Senators are earning N13.5million monthly as running cost. The lawmaker said the running cost was in addition to the over N750,000 monthly consolidated salary and allowances of each member of the Senate.
He himself kicked against payment of the allowances, saying Senators ought to be paid only their salaries.
“I think what we can say is that the running cost of a senator is N13.5 million every month. Though no specific instruction on what the fund should be used for, lawmakers must provide receipts to back up their expenses from the running costs.
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Nigerian Senators Receive N13.5 Million ‘Running Cost’ Every Month – Shehu Sani
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3 Years Ago
“The running cost is in addition to funds earmarked for each senator for constituency projects. But what I am saying is that money (N13.5 million per month) must be receipted for what you do with it. But what you are given to go and spend without any accountability is N750,000.00. The constituency project itself is given on a zonal basis and almost every Senator will go with a constituency fund of about N200 million, but it is not the cash that is given to you. You will be told that you have N200 million with an agency of government for which you will now submit projects equivalent to that amount. And it is that agency of government that will go and do those projects for you.
“Now, the corruption comes when the projects are not done and the money is taken. But right now, it is difficult to do that because transparency groups have come into it.
“They track every allocation made to you and where they are being used. So, it’s becoming difficult for what used to happen in the past to happen now. But I can tell you that I would love a situation where we do away with running costs, constituency projects and leaves senators and members of House of Reps with salaries,” Sani had said.
SaharaReporters details 10 areas the federal lawmakers’ jumbo pay could be reasonably expended to cut down the cost of governance.
It Can Pay Salaries Of 450 Workers
One, a senator’s N13.5million monthly allowance for running cost can pay the N30,000 minimum wage of 450 Nigerian workers.
Only yesterday, the country had been thrown into a nationwide protest when the labour leaders raised their voices over a bill which seeks to remove the minimum wage negotiations from the exclusive legislative list.
Workers across 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory staged protests to register their opposition to the bill, which they claimed, was aimed at frustrating the minimum wage negotiations and bringing non-uniformity in workers’ earnings.
It Can Pay The Salaries Of 26 Professors
Two, a senator’s N13.5million monthly allowance can pay the salaries of 26 professors in Nigerian universities. A professor currently earns between N381,695 and N501,680 monthly in federal universities, going by the Federal Government Salary Scale Structure in universities.
It Can Pay N10, 000 Bursary For 1,350 Varsity Students
Three, a senator’s N13.5million monthly allowance can go round 1,350 university students as N10,000 bursary each per semester or per session.
If the 106 senators’ allowances are summed up which makes N1.4 billion monthly, it will go round 143,100 students as bursaries – a move which if done by the Nigerian government will gladden the hearts of many parents and families.
A Senator’s Salary Can Pay For 60 Doctors In Federal Teaching Hospitals
Four, a senator’s N13.5million monthly allowance will pay the salaries of 60 doctors in Nigerian federal teaching hospitals and medical centres.
In a report done by Guardian in September 2020, of all 55 African countries, Nigerian doctors are among the least paid.
Doctors under federal government employment in Nigeria earn a gross monthly salary of between N195,000 and N220,000, while their colleagues in states earn between N150,000 and N240,000.
It Can Build A Block Of Six Classrooms
Five, a senator’s N13.5million monthly allowance will erect and finish a block of six classrooms for a modern primary school in any average location across the country.
Six, the combined N13.5million allowances of the senators at N1.4 billion monthly can buy modern equipment in selected federal and state hospitals nationwide.
Others are that the senators’ jumbo allowances can fix the rural electrification of remote communities, the building of hospitals in communities where there are none; the provision of potable water in areas where there is water crisis and the empowerment of local farmers and farms to reap more produce for the food sufficiency of the country.
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E2%80%94-group-alleges Only 17 Out Of 200 Persons Hired In Petroleum Agency Were From Oil-producing States — Group Alleges
File photo: Oil worker.
The Coalition for Good Governance and Rule of Law, an umbrella body of no fewer than 100 civil society organisations, has vowed to lead a protest against the leadership of the Petroleum Equalisation Fund Management Board.
The coalition accused Executive Secretary of the board, Ahmed Bobboi of lopsided appointments and abuse of office.
File photo: Oil worker.
It said the recently conducted recruitment exercise under the watch of Bobboi, deliberately entrenched a regime of nepotism where out of 200 persons offered employment, only 17 persons were hired from certain oil-producing states, while 173 persons came from non-oil producing states.
Ikpa Isaac, Convener/ President of the group in an open letter, asked Bobboi to toe the path of honour by resigning his position as the executive secretary of the Petroleum Equalisation Fund with immediate effect.
“We are constrained to remind you that the Petroleum Equalisation Fund as a key government parastatal in the oil sector in Nigeria ought to be circumspect in the conduct of its activities that should reflect the spirit of nationalism and a sense of belonging for all Nigerians regardless of religious or ethnic affiliations.
“The Coalition for Good Governance and Rule of Law is constrained to remind you that your actions in recent times speak volumes of an individual that is insensitive to the plurality of Nigeria that is meant to be all-encompassing and to carry everyone along in the course of our national life.
“You may wish to be reminded that the recent recruitment exercise by your organization indeed is the height of insensitivity to the national interest in Nigeria and an indication that your motives are geared towards fulfilling the whims and caprices of a section of the country and against our collective interests as a country.
“It is on record that in the recently conducted recruitment exercise under your watch, you deliberately entrenched a regime of nepotism where out of 200 persons offered employment on July 13 and 14, 2020, only 17 persons were hired from certain oil-producing states, while 173 persons came from non-oil producing states.
“This is an anomaly that indicates that your leadership is disjointed and not in tune with the peculiarities of the time that requires creating a level playing ground for all Nigerians to actualise dreams.
“We wish to remind you that you did not only abuse your office, you also failed to implement the mandate of the Nigerian people by taking sides with a certain section of the country to the detriment of other parts of the country.
“Your actions were based on favoritism and ethnicity at the expense of meritocracy which does argue well for the continued peace and unity in Nigeria. That under your watch some regions of the country were short-changed and denied their quota in the recruitment exercise is despicable and capable of setting the country on a dangerous path of disintegration.
“In all honesty, we wish to state that from the above, you do not have the moral right to continue to remain in office as the Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Equalization Fund and as such we are consequently demanding your resignation from office with immediate effect.
“We are by this letter asking you to tow the path of honour by resigning your position as the executive secretary of the Petroleum Equalisation Fund with immediate effect.”
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Police Declare Social Welfare Worker Wanted For Alleged Child Trafficking
The Anambra State Police Command has declared a social welfare worker, Sabina Izuorah, wanted for alleged child trafficking.
In a statement on Thursday, the command’s spokesperson, Haruna Mohammed, said Izuorah, who is currently at large, has been declared wanted in connection with the alleged cases of child trafficking/stealing, forgery, and perjury.
Haruna said the suspect is responsible for the trafficking of the bloodied children that were recently found locked up after being severely beaten by three women suspected to be ritualists in the Fegge Housing estate area of the state in February 2021.
He added that preliminary investigations revealed that the three children were allegedly sold to the three women by Izuora who has been on the police wanted list for child trafficking, child stealing, and forgery.
He also said she was in the habit of using forged police reports, forged authorisation letters from the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and court affidavits, to sell stolen children to her waiting customers, both within and outside Nigeria.
The statement partly read, ”Further investigations also revealed that the suspect was involved in unlawful adoptions, using forged police reports, forged authorisation letters from the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and sworn court affidavits, to sell children stolen from all parts of the country to her waiting customers, both within and outside Nigeria; including the recent attempt to smuggle out two children (a boy and a girl) allegedly stolen from Niger State since 2018.” The spokesperson added that the children recovered by the police are presently under the protective care of the Anambra State Ministry for Social Welfare, Women’s and Children’s Affairs, pending when their biological parents surface.
He said investigations are still ongoing and efforts are being intensified to apprehend other accomplices to bring them to justice.
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E2%80%94-dave-umahi Amotekun: South-East Cannot Have Joint Security Network — Dave Umahi
Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi.
The Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, has said the security challenges of the states in the South-East region are not similar, thus cannot be solved with a joint security network.
Umahi, the Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum, also said that the governors in the region were contented with the different security designs in the states because the personnel were working very well.
Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi.
He said this during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programmed on Thursday.
“What we have in South-East states in a Joint Security Committee which trains Neighbourhood Watch and the vigilante groups or other local security architectures at different states in the region. If anybody tells you that there could be security personnel contributed from different states to form joint security for this region, it is not a possibility. It is not workable even if the constitution permits it.
“Every state is peculiar and so is their security challenges. The problem is that those complaining about the lack of joint security for the South-East are not living in the region. They don’t have the knowledge of how security works in the region.
“The governors of the South-East states are comfortable with the different security architectures at various states because the personnel are working very well. There is a problem of insecurity in the region, but the issue is not peculiar to the region alone, it is a national problem.
“We are happy with what our local security personnel are doing at different states. We are not God who assures 100 per cent security but we are trying our best and this what our people want,” he said.
Umahi explained that having a combined security system will come with its deficits in terms of the arrangement of personnel from one state to another which they may not be acquainted with.
”Our local security architectures at different states know the terrain and the people very well and are given the opportunity to secure their environment and the people. That is the kind of arrangement we have in the South East,” he said.
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