Appeal court dismisses Melaye’s case against recall

The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal on Friday dismissed an appeal by Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye, challenging the validity of the process of his recall embarked upon by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The unanimous judgment of a three-man panel of the appeal court also dismissed the suit which Melaye had filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge the validity of the recall process.

With the Court of Appeal’s dismissal of the suit, the preconditions earlier given by the Federal High Court in Abuja for INEC to fulfill before continuing the recall had been set aside.

The appeal court’s judgment has therefore paved the way for INEC to continue the recall process which had been stalled since June 23, 2017 when Melaye commenced the suit.

The court ruled that contrary to Melaye’s contention, the 90 days provided by the 1999 Constitution for the recall process to be concluded had not run out but had been paused since July 6, 2017, when Justice Tsoho of the Federal High Court made an order halting the process.

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court in Abuja, to whom the case was later reassigned, had in his judgment delivered on September 11, 2017,  dismissed Melaye’s suit, but gave a pre-condition for INEC to continue with the recall exercise.

As the pre-condition for the process to continue INEC, ordered the electoral body to serve the senator with the recall petition and the accompanying documents, including the signatures of the about one-half of the constituents calling for his (Melaye’s) recall.

But Melaye had appealed against the Federal High Court’s judgment.

But delivering the lead judgment of the Court of Appeal on Friday, Justice Tunde Awotoye, substantially affirmed the judgment of Justice Dimgba but held that the Federal High Court ought not to have heard the case as the suit did not disclose any cause of action against INEC.

The court also dismissed the allegation of denial of fair hearing leveled against INEC by Melaye.

The court added that the powers of INEC to conduct a recall process was given by the Constitution and such the could not be taken away even by the court.

The court held, “The powers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is a statutory one given by the constitution and not even the court can take away the powers of INEC to conduct a referendum. “

Breaking: Tiwa Savage files for divorce from hubby

Popular Nigerian singer Tiwa Savage has allegedly filed for divorce from her estranged husband Tunji Balogun, a.k.a TeeBillz.

According to media reports, all attempts by the couple to resolve their differences have failed, and Tiwa has decided to formally call it quit, citing ‘unsolvable issues’ as the reason for the decision.

Tiwa-Savage-and-Tee-Billz

However, Tiwa a.k.a ‘Marvin Record First Lady’, is yet to confirm nor deny the divorce issue.

The embattled couple have not been together since their marital crisis in 2016; Teebillz made their marital issues public as he wanted to commit suicide by attempting to jump into the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos.

The duo then engaged in ‘war of words’ on the social media, as Teebillz alleged infidelity, among other accusations, on the part of his estranged wife.

Tiwa, who shares a son with Teebillz, in turn granted a 45 minutes video interview to debunk the accusations.

However, fans and industry watchers had assumed all was now well with the couple when many of their friends, colleagues and family members intervened, urging them to reconcile their differences.

Tee Billz had to testify on social media that all was now well with him, after he went through rehabilitation process in the hand of a seasoned life style coach, Lanre Olusola.

He said: “The way I handle things now is completely different from how I acted in the past.

“I do better now because I know better, and If I had gone through the experience before now, it probably wouldn’t make sense to me until I go through some challenging situations.

“But I thank God that I have been able to overcome all those through the guidance of my coach.”

However, it seems things had taken a different turn as the estranged couple who were said to be resolving issues, have finally given up on each other.

Savage signed a recording contract with Mavin Records in 2012, also signed a management and publishing deal with Roc Nation in June 2016, which she later confirmed via Instagram.

She co-wrote the track “Collard Greens & Cornbread” off Fantasia Barrino’s Grammy-nominated album, Bact to Me.

Savage was featured on Solar Plexus, a compilation album released by Mavin Records.

Her debut studio album, `Once Upon a Time,’ was released on 3 July 2013.

It was supported by the singles “Kele Kele Love’’, “Love Me (3x)”, “Without My Heart”, “Ife Wa Gbona”, “Folarin”, “Olorun Mi” and “Eminado’’.
Savage’s second studio album, `R. E. D’, was released on 19 December 2015.

It produced the singles “My Darlin’”, “African Waist” and “If I Start To Talk”.

She is a recipient of many awards including, MTV Africa Music Award, The Headies Awards, Channel O Music Award, Nigeria Music Video Award, and City Peple Entertainment Awards among others.

NAN

‘Snake girl’ accused of swallowing N36m in JAMB office breaks silence

For the first time after she was accused of turning to a snake through which she swallowed N36m from the vault in the account office of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, in Makurdi, Benue State, 16-year-old Dor, has opened a can of worms.

Philomena Chieshe, a sales clerk in JAMB office, Makurdi shocked the world penultimate weeks ago after she claimed that her housemaid connived with another JAMB staff, Joan Asen, to “spiritually” swallow N36m from the vault in her office.

In her confessional statement while being interrogated by a team of auditors, she said that Joan Asen and her accomplices confessed that they have been stealing the money “spiritually” through a mysterious snake that always sneaked into the office to swallow the money from the vault.

According to her “It was a mystery to me too. I have been saving the money in the bank, but I found it difficult to account for it. So I started saving it in a vault in the office. But each time I open the vault, I will find nothing. I became worried and surprised how the millions of Naira could be disappearing from the vault.

“I began to interrogate everybody in the house and office, and no one could agree on what might have happened to the money. I continued to press until my housemaid confessed. She said that the money disappeared “spiritually”. She said that a “mysterious snake” sneaked into the house and swallowed the money in the vault.”

However, the erstwhile housemaid, who was relieved of her job following the shocking revelation in November 2017, denied ever confessing to have turned to a snake or swallowing any money.

Dor, a native of Angantiv in Obi LGA of Nasarawa State, recalled that her ‘madam’ truly went to Plateau State for a conference last year but she did not follow her.

According to her, few days after returning home from the crusade, hosted by a popular man of God in Jos, her boss (Philomena) asked her to go that she was relocating to Abuja.

“That was towards the end of 2017. I was at home when they went for the crusade. When madam came back from Jos, she asked me to go that they were relocating to Abuja and she would not go with me.

“I came to her house in 2015 July and I did not at any point steal even her one kobo before I left last year. Maybe she was not referring to me, but I am sure she didn’t have any maid before and after me,” Dor, who now resides in Karu area of Nasarawa said when an insider directed us to her new residence.

When this reporter stormed Philomena’s family house in High Level, Makurdi on Saturday to confirm if it was Dor, who actually turned to a snake, a man we met there said she had since relocated.

“Madam Philo no dey live here again,” he said rudely.

Meanwhile, when Fabian O. Okoro, JAMB’s director of Information and Technology, was reached for update Monday morning, he did not reply our text at the time of this report.

Ex-Lagos NURTW boss, Olorunwa, paraded for alleged murder

A former Lagos NURTW boss, Rafiu Olorunwa Akanni, has been paraded by the police on suspicions of murder.

This is coming three weeks after he allegedly hired an assassin to murder one Ganiyu Ayinla, the personal assistant of chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Lagos Island,

The assassin had confessed that Olorunwa hired him to assassinate Lawal for N1.5 million and was given N500,000 as advance payment.

Opratives of the Inspector-General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team (IRT) on Thursday  arrested Olorunwa alongside the “most notorious assassin in the South-West,” Adeola Williams aka Ade Lawyer (39).

The alleged assassin, Ade Lawyer, was said to have been on police ‘Wanted List’ for five years. According to police, Ade Lawyer allegedly confessed to have assassinated many people in the past, including Hamburger, a union chairman in Oshodi Lagos, Baba Jide Dosumu aka Mados in Ebute Meta Lagos, Salawe in Ajah, Lagos, Ganiyu Asaro and four others at Badore area of Lagos. He said that at the Badore area of Lagos, he sprayed bullets into a car and killed five occupants.

He was alleged to have been arrested along with Olorunwa. Olorunwa was alleged to have hired Ade Lawyer to kill his last victim. The hunt for the men followed the murder of Ganiyu Ayinla aka Piero, Personal Assistant (PA) to Azeez Adekunle Lawal aka Kunle Poly on Lagos Island on January 23.

A police source said: “The suspect, Ade Lawyer, is a native of Isasi village, Ijebu-Ode Local Government Area of Ogun State. The IG, Ibrahim Idris, deployed IRT operatives, led by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abba Kyari, to go after the killer. “On February 14, the professional assassin, who had been on the Most Wanted List of the Nigeria Police for over five years, Adeola Williams aka Ade Lawyer, was arrested in his newly rented house in Akure, Ondo State by IRT operatives.”

JAMB: More drama as Yobe, Kogi officials blame Boko Haram, poverty for missing N8m

The last has not been heard of missing funds in the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB.

Days after a staff in Makurdi office claimed that a snake sneaked into the accounts office and swallowed N36 million cash, some other officers have given reasons why they cannot produce funds in their care.

On Thursday, the Yobe State Coordinator of JAMB, Sanusi Atose, blamed the ongoing Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria’s North-East for his inability to account for N613,000 belonging to the board.

JAMB had summoned Atose to Abuja to appear before an administrative panel led by Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede to explain the disappearance of the cash after he received registration scratch cards of that amount.

But in his explanation, the official, claimed an alleged Boko Haram attack in Yobe State left him unable to account for the money.

Premium Times quoted him as claiming that tellers, receipts and invoices were destroyed in the attack, which he said left him with no documentation for the transaction.

Oloyede, however, dismissed his claim as another disingenuous cover-up for fraud.

“Kindly go and pay government money within one week, else you will be in trouble,” the registrar told Mr. Atose.

Also appearing before the panel, Daniel Agbor, who is the Kogi State coordinator of JAMB, said he spent N7 million, which his office could not account for, on assisting other workers in his office, who he said were ravaged by poverty.

He also claimed that some of the cards sent to the state were stolen by unknown persons.

“The state of the state offices is such that we are in poverty and money is there with us,” the coordinator told the panel.

“You need the grace of God in the state offices not to steal money because money is tempting. We borrowed the money and I am not the only one, I will provide the list of everyone involved in the fraud.

“To err is human, to forgive is divine, please don’t take me to the police, please be lenient with me, sir,” he pleaded.

“If you hear that I have given up in the police cell, will you say ‘I am sorry’? My wife just gave birth to our first issue.

“Most of us are on loan, my salary is N175, 000, but when they deduct my loans, my salary remains N90,000, which is not enough for me so I borrowed from the government purse”.

Agbor told the panel that he paid N265,000 into an account allegedly on the instruction of the former registrar of the board.

“I was informed of missing scratch cards, but security personnel, the police and civil defence, invaded the office, retrieved the cards and they paid some money back.

“I informed the former registrar and he directed me to send the money to an account, which I did. I later learnt the money was transferred to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence. So that one was not calculated at all,” he said.

But the panel told him that he was in trouble.

“I will give you one week from today as we speak,” Oloyede told the coordinator.

“I want to see you pay everything in your custody, else I will hand you over to the police.

“Deduct the N265, 000 from the N7 million, then give us the account in which the former registrar gave you to send the money to.”

Another JAMB official ‘steals’ N23 million, gives strange defence

Labaran Tanko

A few days after the bizarre report that a snake ‘swallowed’ about N36 million from the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board’s vault in Benue State, another state co-ordinator of the board in Nassarawa state has come up with a rather strange story to back an alleged fraud.

This time, JAMB staffer, Labaran Tanko, said his car got burnt and in the process scratch cards worth N23 million were destroyed in the inferno.

However, not impressed, as in the case of the Benue saga, the board, reacting through its registrar, dismissed Mr. Tanko’s claims.

Few days ago, a JAMB sales clerk, Philomina Chieshe, had told JAMB registrar and his team who conducted fact-finding sessions on alleged fraud at the Board, that she could not account for N36 million she made in previous years before the abolition of scratch cards by the organisation.

In the course of interrogation, Ms. Chieshe confessed that her housemaid ”connived with another JAMB staff, Joan Asen, to “spiritually” steal (through a snake) the money from the vault in the accounts office.

In the case of Mr. Tanko, the board said after a thorough investigation, it discovered that the cards which reportedly burnt alongside Mr. Tanko’s car were used by students in Nassarawa state to register.

It said this was easy to discover through simple checks done by its officials.

Mr. Tanko, who made this confession at a session where suspects of fraud and criminality were interrogated by top officials of the board, including Registrar Ishaq Oloyede, however stood by his claim.

“I thank God that I am alive today,” Mr Tanko told the panel. “I had an accident on July 3rd 2016. I was not the one that packed the cards because I was rushed to the hospital, and they came to pack the burnt scratch cards to the office but it could not be counted. I have the serial numbers of the cards.”

Until Mr. Oloyede’s took over as registrar, JAMB candidates usually purchased scratch cards from JAMB state offices and other designated centres to gain access to the board’s website for either registration or to check their admission status.

However, new reforms introduced by Mr. Oloyede, when he assumed office in 2016, ended the use of scratch cards, replacing it with a more efficient and effective platforms.

The board also gave reasons why Mr. Tanko’s defence was untenable.

“Every (member of ) staff who has scratch cards in their possession must have the serial numbers. We found out that the cards you claimed got burnt were used despite the police report you presented to us and for JAMB, that is N23 million of government money,” the registrar said during the session.

He also said the suspect, just like the lady indicted in Benue, would be handed over to the police once the board concludes its in-house investigations.

“Those that we want to transfer have been transferred to the (board) headquarters until they account for the missing funds. But those we believe are ‘beyond us’ will be handed to the police immediately,” Mr Oloyede said.

In a separate reaction the spokesman of the board, Fabian Benjamin, he outlined steps taken by the board on the matter.

“All the suspects have been suspended by the board. In Tanko’s case, the committee has already written a report which the management have sent to the (Education) ministry. Once it is approved, it will be done,” Mr. Benjamin said.

He also said the board will monitor with careful scrutiny how staff entrusted with sensitive responsibilities handle government funds henceforth.

“The fight against corruption by the board was given a boost by the recent visit by the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu. Given the kind of commendation by Magu and the confidence reposed in the management of the Oloyede-led board, we would have no option than to continue to do more,” Mr Benjamin said.

BREAKING: Gun duel, Benue police shoot down fulani herdsman

The Benue State Command of the Nigeria police says it had engaged some herdsmen in a gun duel in Ayilamo, Logo Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue state and killed one of the herdsmen in the process.

The police said it was also able to recover an AK 47 from the herder with some rounds of ammunition.State Police Commissioner, Fatai Awoseni, who disclosed this while parading some suspects in Makurdi on Tuesday said it was also able to arrest a mole who have been feeding the herders with information that has helped them in the attacks.

Details later…….

Missing N36m: Senator Sani storms JAMB office with anti-snake venom, charmers

There was a little drama at the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, office on Tuesday as the senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, stormed the board’s office with anti-snake venom and snake charmers to recover a missing N36m allegedly stolen from the board’s vault by a mysterious snake.

Senator Sani storms JAMB office with anti-snake venom, charmers

This is following the recent startling report of a missing N36 million in JAMB vault, purportedly swallowed by a spiritual snake as confessed by an official of JAMB, Philomena Chieshe, who, failing to account for the N36m she made from the sale of JAMB scratch cards, accused her housemaid of conniving with another JAMB official, Joan Asen, to “spiritually” steal the money from the vault in the accounts office through a spiritual snake.

However, while presenting the anti-snake venom and the charmers, Senator Sani said, “The reason for my presence here is in response to the story that a snake swallowed about N36 million. It is my concern that such a huge amount of money is reported to have been swallowed by a snake. I believe the contribution I can make is to bring snake charmers from my constituency to the JAMB office to help them fish out the snake or weed out snakes from their premises.”

“If a snake can actually swallow N36 million, one day, we may wake up in this country to see that a snake has swallowed our foreign reserve or it has swallowed money that was gathered in the TSA.”

JAMB Registrar, Ishaq Oloyede, could not contain his amusement over the development.

Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer, PRO, of the board, Fabian Benjamin, said the board has heard similar startling and frivolous defence like the one given by Mrs. Chieshe over the missing fund. He however said that the board is dealing with the cases.

According to him, “There was even a case in Nasarawa when a staff claimed that on his way to come and submit the scratch card, he had an accident and the car got burnt with the scratch cards.”

“The cards have numbers and when we checked we found out that those cards were used. There was another staff that said his signature was forged. He agreed that it was his signature but he wasn’t the one that signed and did not collect the scratch cards. We have many issues like that but all of them have been queried, they appeared before the disciplinary committee, they were interrogated. A report has been written. Once that report has been approved, we will be commended for their dismissal and prosecution.”

Strange snake swallows N36 million cash in JAMB office

A mystery snake is said to have sneaked into the accounts office of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, in Makurdi, the Benue State capital and made away with N36 million cash.

Before now, JAMB candidates purchased scratch cards from JAMB state offices and other designated centers, to gain access to the Board’s website for either registration or to check their admission status but the reforms introduced by JAMB registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, recommended an end to the use of scratch cards.

A team of auditors was dispatched to different state offices of JAMB to take inventory of the sold and unsold scratch cards and recover whatever money that might have either been generated or mismanaged during the period of the sale of scratch cards.

On their visit to Makurdi office of JAMB, a sales clerk, Philomina Chieshe, told JAMB registrar and his team that she could not account for N36 million she made in previous years before the abolition of scratch cards.

In the course of interrogation, Philomena confessed that it was her housemaid that connived with another JAMB staff, Joan Asen, to “spiritually” steal the money from the vault in the accounts office.

She said: “I was one of the four sales clerks attached to JAMB office in Makurdi. My responsibility was to sell scratch cards to candidates and not involved in handling the revenues. It was the responsibility of Joan Asen and my other senior colleagues. I only remit money when am done selling the cards.

“Few months ago, there was issue of fraud in the Makurdi office. Auditors were sent from Abuja to carefully flip the record books of the office, to perhaps, ascertain the current state of affairs.

“The state Coordinator, Obilo, was not around when the audit team came. But in the course of the audit, N36 million was discovered to have been missing from the account. An investigation was launched. In the course of the investigation, it was discovered that Joan Asen, who is account staff and a lady outside JAMB have connived to steal the money.”

Philomina in her confessional statement said that Joan Asen and her accomplices confessed that they have been stealing the money “spiritually” through a mysterious snake that always sneak into the office to swallow the money from the vault.

According to her “It was a mystery to me too. I have been saving the money in the bank, but I found it difficult to account for it. So I started saving it in a vault in the office. But each time I open the vault, I will find nothing. I became worried and surprised how the millions of Naira could be disappearing from the vault. I began to interrogate everybody in the house and office, and no one could agree on what might have happened to the money. I continued to press until my housemaid confessed. She said that the money disappeared “spiritually”. She said that a “mysterious snake” sneaked into the house and swallowed the money in the vault.”

Customs Finally Arrests Oscar Okafor Over Importation Of 661 Riffles (Photos)

Nigerian Customs has finally arrested Oscar Okafor, the man that allegedly imported 661 Riffles into the country through Tincan Island Port last year.

See photos

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Missing student found dead without vital organs

Shockingly, her body was later found in a bush at Owhelogbo, with her vital organs missing.

The victim, Happiness  (instagram)

A young student of the Delta state Polytechnic Ozoro, Delta State, has been found dead, with her vital organs missing days after going out.

Instablog9ja reports that the victim, who was an ND 1 student of Science and Laboratory Technology, SLT, identified as Happiness, only celebrated her birthday on January 24, 2018.

According to the reports, Happiness later left her hostel to visit a friend at Oleh in Isoko south LGA of the state on the same day.

Her friends reportedly became worried when they were unable to reach her some days later.

Shockingly, her body was later found in a bush at Owhelogbo, with her vital organs missing.

There has been a rise in similar occurrences in the last two years, with young ladies being used for ritual after a few dates with men.

Apart from a few cases of kidnap, most of these occurrences have been caused by the desperation of young girls for quick money

ALEXIS SANCHEZ GIVEN 16-MONTH PRISON SENTENCE FOR TAX FRAUD

Spanish law states that the 29-year-old will not have to spend any time in jail and he has agreed to pay the money he owes with interest

Article continues below

Alexis Sanchez has accepted a 16-month prison sentence for committing tax fraud during his time at Barcelona, although he will not spend time in jail.

The Manchester United forward was accused of defrauding the treasury of €1 million between 2012 and 2013, relating to income from his image rights.

Sanchez has, however, reached an agreement with the prosecutor to pay the money he owes with interest.

Despite the verdict, the Chilean will not spend time in prison as he is a first offender and the sentence is less than two years - which crucially, in Spanish law, prohibits jail time.

The ex-Arsenal star is the latest football figure to be punished by Spanish prosecutors for an apparent dodging of taxes.

Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Jose Mourinho and Ricardo Carvalho have all been pursued by the authorities recently.

Barcelona star Messi was handed a 21-month jail term in 2016, but managed to exchange it for a €250,000 fine last year, while Mourinho paid to settle his and Carvalho was given a fine and a seven-month sentence.

Real Madrid forward Ronaldo, meanwhile, was accused of owing €14.7m but has protested his innocence in an ongoing case.

Alexis joined Barcelona from Udinese in 2011 and spent three years with the Catalan side, winning a Liga title as well as the Club World Cup under the guidance of Pep Guardiola.

He left to join Arsenal in 2014 and starred for Arsene Wenger's team until making the shock move to Old Trafford in January in a swap deal for Henrikh Mkhitaryan, despite it having appeared he would be joining Manchester City.

The 29-year-old has made three appearances for Mourinho's side so far, scoring his first goal for his new club in Saturday's 2-0 win over Huddersfield Town.

The Red Devils are currently 13 points behind leaders City after 26 matches and return to action on Sunday when they visit Newcastle United.

Drama as Saraki closes defence after calling ex-CCB member as only witness

Saraki in court

The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, on Tuesday, opened and closed his defence before the Code of Conduct Tribunal in respect of the three charges of false assets declaration instituted against him.

Saraki’s defence team announced that they were closing their case after calling their only witness on Tuesday.

The closing of the case was dramatic as the defence had earlier announced on Tuesday that there were four defence witnesses.

But shortly after the witness, a former member of the Code of Conduct Bureau, Dr. Ademola Adebo, gave evidence and was cross-examined by the prosecution on Tuesday, the defence team announced that they were closing their case.

A member of the defence team, Mr. Paul Usoro (SAN), who led Adebo in evidence, had announced at the beginning of the Tuesday’s proceedings that they had proposed four defence witnesses.

After the cross-examination of the witness by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), Usoro attempted to ask two re-examination questions.

The re-examination questions were objected to by the prosecution.

The tribunal sustained the objections.

Usoro was still engaging the two CCT members on the next hearing date for continuation of the defence when the lead defence counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), approached Saraki who was seated in the dock.

Agabi, after chatting with Saraki for a few seconds, returned to his seat to announce the closing of the defence’s case.

The CCT chairman, Danladi Umar, fixed February 27 for adoption of addresses.

A date for judgment would be fixed after parties adopt their addresses on February 27.

Saraki’s trial resumed on Tuesday following the December 12, 2017 judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which restored three out of the entire 18 counts earlier dismissed by the CCT led by Danladi Umar.

Following the judgment of the Court of Appeal, the CCT had issued a hearing notice inviting parties to the case to resume trial on the three charges today (Tuesday).

At the resumed hearing of the case on Tuesday, Saraki’s team called Adebo as the first defence witness.

Police fraud unit arrests 20 visa racketeers in Lagos

The Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) says it has arrested over 20 suspects who specialised in counterfeiting entry visas of some foreign countries.

Spokesman for the PSFU, Audi Lawal, said in a statement on Saturday in Lagos that the visa racketeers were arrested at several embassies of the foreign countries in Lagos.

The police spokesmanspokesman said that the suspects specialised in forgery of visa processing documents such as passports, bank statements, company letterheads and immigration stamps of several overseas countries.

Lawal said that all the supects confesssed to have committed the crimes and were charged to court for prosecution to serve as deterrent to others involved in such illegal activities.

“The Polıce Special Fraud Unit in its effort to discourage members of the public from patronising racketeers and false document makers, recently busted a cartel which specialises in counterfeiting.

“This cartel specialised in UK, Canada and Shengen visas, Nigerian passports, bank statements, various countries’ immigration stamps and letter of introduction from corporate organisations,” Lawal said.

The PSFU spokesman advised visa applicants against patronising agents using fake travel documents for processing visa at embassies in Nigeria.

He urged visa applicants to always access embassies and high commissions information through their official websites on visa application procedures.

NAN

American Embassy Catches Travelling Agent With Forge Documents

Court gavel.

Officials of the United States Consulate General office in Victoria Island, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria have apprehended a 34-year old man, Alade Julius, a travelling agent with forged documents with the intent to use it to obtain a visa for one Ifeoma Alabaraonye now at large.

A police source said that following the incident, the embassy officials sent a signal to CP Ibrahim Lamorde in charge of the Police Special Fraud Unit in Ikoyi about the development who dispatched a team led ASP Lawal Audu to the embassy to arrest the suspect.

Julius was charged before a Tinubu Magistrate Court on a two-count charge of felony to wit, forgery and uttering documents to obtain a visa.

Police Counsel, Wewe Adegbayii informed the court in charge No B/07/2018 that the accused committed the offence on 10 October, 2017 at the United States Consulate General Office at 2,Walter Carrington Crescent,Victoria Island, Lagos.

Adegbayi told the count that the accused went to the American Embassy in Lagos to summit documents comprising forged Fidelity Bank statement of account, introduction letter dated 5 October, 2017, PAFTRUST Oil and Gas Limited employment letter dated 20 April, 2015, leave memorandum dated 5 October, 2017 and a United Kingdom visit visa with counterfeit entry and exit stamp to the officials to obtain US non-immigrant Visa for Ifeoma Alabaraonye, knowing full well that all the documents were fake.

Adegbayi said that luck ran against the accused when the officials scanned the documents and discovered that it was fake, arrested him and handed him over to the police.

He said that during investigation, the accused allegedly confessed to the crime that he forged all the documents at Oluwole Market, Lagos Island.

Adegbayi said that the offences the accused commiitted were punishable under sections 409 and 363(1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the alleged crime and Chief Magistrate A.A Adefulire granted him bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Adefulire adjourned the case till 7 March, 2018 for mention and ordered that the defendant be kept at the Ikoyi Prison till he perfected the bail conditions.

Absence of EFCC’s witnesses stalls Omokore’s trial over $1.6bn crude oil scam

Olajide Omokore

The trial of an ally of the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison-Madueke and a businessman, Jide Omokore, and others for alleged diversion of $1.6 billion, being proceeds of sales of Federal Government’s crude oil, could not go on on Thursday before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court sitting  in Abuja due to the absence of witnesses billed to testify for the prosecution.

Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), who is prosecuting Omokore and other defendants on behalf of the Federal Government told the court that he regretted the failure of the two witnesses scheduled to give to testify for the prosecution in court yesterday.

The resumed trial of Omokore and his co-defendants commenced on  Wednesday, with the testimony of the fourth prosecution witness who was also cross-examined by the defence, and the matter was adjourned until Thursday for continuation of trial, only Jacobs to inform the court yesterday that the two witnesses, who were to arrive from Lagos, were not available despite earlier their earlier assurances that they would be in court for the proceedings.

He explained that one of the two witnesses was an investigative officer in the case but was recently transferred from Abuja to Lagos.

Justice Dimgba expressed worries for the failure of the witnesses to be in court and then adjourned the matter till March 1 and 2, 2018 for continuation of trial.

Recalled that Omokore, his two companies, Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited, are  facing trial alongside the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), Victor Briggs, former Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production of the NNPC, Abiye Membere, former Manager, Planning and Commercial of the NNPC and David Mbanefo. Two of Omokore’s companies, AtlantiOmokore is facing trial alongside the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, Victor Briggs, former Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production of the NNPC, Abiye Membere, former Manager, Planning and Commercial of the NNPC and  David Mbanefo are standing trial on a nine-count charge, bordering on alleged diversion of about $1.6 billion, being  part of proceeds of sales of petroleum products belonging to the Federal Government.

Nigerian banker gives birth inside plane en route New York

Dr. Hemal, Ogundipe and the baby. Mail photo

A 41-year-old Nigerian banker identified as Toyin Ogundipe, aboard an Air France flight, was delivered of a baby boy mid-air about 35,000 feet above sea level and four hours away from the destination.

The mother of two who lives in the UK  had gone into labour a week earlier than her delivery date, and was in childbirth pains and having contractions about 10 minutes apart.

The baby, who was named Jake, was delivered after a 30-minute labour, Mailonline states.

A second-year urology resident, Dr. Sij Hemal, who was also a passenger in the plane, helped with the delivery of the baby half-way through an eight-hour flight from Paris to New York.

Dr. Hemal, who spoke to Mailonline, said he was just glad everything went smoothly — and was relieved it all happened before he’d had any champagne.

He said, “We’re trained to stay calm and think clearly in emergency situations. I just tried to think ahead to what might go wrong and come up with a creative solution.”

While talking about his fear, he mentioned that his biggest fear was that the mother could die from bleeding or shock after birth.

But looking back, he insists it all went as well as it could have done.

“I thought I’d just have a drink and fall asleep. As it turned out, I’m glad I didn’t drink anything,” he said.

Dr. Hemal, who had been on vacation in New Dehli, India, was flying coach class via Paris and New York on his way back to Cleveland, Ohio, on December 17.

Coincidentally, when the flight attendants came to ask him for advice, the urologist at Cleveland Clinic’s Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute discovered he was seated next to Dr. Stefanie Ortolan, a pediatrician from France.

The pair were ushered over to Ogundipe, also in coach, who was complaining of chest pains and dizziness.

Ogundipe was in labour and having contractions about 10 minutes apart.

While the flight attendants took care of Ogundipe’s four-year-old daughter, Amy, the doctors used instruments and supplies in the flight’s medical kit to routinely check her blood pressure, oxygen rate, and pulse.

Within an hour, the contractions were coming more frequently, occurring seven, then five and finally two minutes apart.

“My initial plan was to monitor her and her vitals, but we did a cervical exam and that’s when her water broke,” he said.

“That’s when we knew we were going to deliver on the plane,” Dr. Hemal added.

See the photos below:

 

 

Federal Government Wants Supreme Court To Restore All The Charges Against Saraki In The Fresh Corruption Trial Ordered By The Court Of Appeal

The Federal Government has appealed to the Supreme Court to restore all the 18 false assets declaration and other related charges instituted against the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, but which were dismissed by the Code of Conduct Tribunal in June 2017.  In its December 12, 2017 judgment, the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal had restored three out of the 18 counts but affirmed the decision of the CCT with respect to the rest of the 15 counts on the grounds of lack of evidence.

The Federal Government has appealed to the Supreme Court to restore all the 18 false assets declaration and other related charges instituted against the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, but which were dismissed by the Code of Conduct Tribunal in June 2017.

 In its December 12, 2017 judgment, the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal had restored three out of the 18 counts but affirmed the decision of the CCT with respect to the rest of the 15 counts on the grounds of lack of evidence.

 Saraki had since filed a seven-ground notice of appeal against the part of the Court of Appeal’s judgment restoring the three counts.

 But the Federal Government on Tuesday filed a counter-appeal of 15 grounds against the part of the judgment which affirmed the dismissal of the 15 counts.

 The CCT had in its June 14, 2017 ruling on the no-case submission which Saraki filed after the prosecution concluded its case, dismissed the entire 18 counts on the grounds of lack of credible evidence.

 The Federal Government had, through its prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), appealed against the CCT ruling.

Delivering a unanimous judgment on December 12, 2017, the three-man panel of the Court of Appeal headed by Justice Tinuade Akomolafe-Wilson restored three out of the 18 dismissed charges and ordered Saraki to enter his defence before the CCT in respect of the three counts.

But the Court of Appeal affirmed the CCT’s ruling affirmed the dismissal of the rest of the 15 counts as ordered by the CCT.

 The Federal Government’s appeal has filed a cross-appeal complaining against part of the Court of Appeal’s judgment in respect of counts 1, 2, 3, 7 to 18.

 In its appeal, the prosecution led by Jacobs urged the Supreme Court to order Saraki to enter his defence in respect of all the 18 counts.

 The government asked the Supreme Court to set aside the part order of the Court of Appeal, upholding the ruling of the CCT in respect of the 15 voided counts.

 It also sought the Supreme Court’s order remitting the entire case back to the CCT for Saraki to enter his defence in respect of the entire 18 counts.

 The government faulted the Court of Appeal’s decision that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case in relation to the voided 15 counts.

 It argued that by the decision, the appellate court failed to give effect to paragraphs 11(2), 11(3) and 13 of Part 1, Fifth Schedule of the Constitution that placed the burden on every defendant answering to such charges to prove their innocence.

 The appellant stated that “the Court of Appeal misinterpreted and misapplied” paragraph 1, Fifth Schedule to the Constitution to the facts of the case when it held that once a statement contained in the Code of Conduct Form filled by a public officer is found to be untrue, he must be prosecuted for any false declaration in the form without any burden of proof on the said public officer”.

It argued that by the provision of the law, the duty of the prosecution was merely to prove that the public officer concerned made a declaration, that the declaration had  been found to be false by the officer who verified it and then, the onus or burden of proof would then shift to the defendant to prove that the declaration was not false.

 It added, “The Court of Appeal, contrary to the settled position of the law, as to what amounts to a prima facie case, wrongly considered the credibility of the witnesses of the prosecution and attached weight to evidence adduced by the prosecution.”

Bukola Saraki caught again in offshore tax haven racket“The Court of Appeal went beyond the consideration of a no-case submission in its judgment by comprehensively evaluating the evidence adduced by the prosecution and attaching weight to them.

“The Court of Appeal, while wrongly affirming the finding os the lower tribunal that the testimony of PW3 amounted to hearsay, also unjustifiably extended the scope of the finding by classifying the testimonies of other prosecution witnesses as hearsay when that was not made an issue having regards to the grounds of appeal.”

The Federal Government’s appeal also faulted the Court of Appeal decision that the evidence by PW1 and PW3, in relation to the voided counts,  amounted to documentary hearsay, and therefore inadmissible

It argued that oral testimony of the two witnesses were based on the documents recovered during the investigation, particularly from public officers and such documents, certified by those public authorities, are presumed genuine until the contrary if proved.

It also faulted the Court of Appeal’s finding that most of the prosecution’s evidence amounted to hearsay and that the necessary witnesses were not called.

 It argued that it was not enough for the appellate court to allege that the prosecution did not call a particular witness, the defence must show the relevance of the evidence of the witness to any of the ingredients of the offences charged.

The cross-appellant, in further faulting the Court of Appeal decision, contended that it was wrong for the court to hold that the prosecution did not establish a prima facie case in respect of the voided 15 counts.

It contended the prosecution adduced sufficient evidence in proof of the counts to warrant calling on the defendant to enter his defense.

DSS Reveals How Notorious Cultist Don Wanny Was Killed

 Don Wanny and his accomplices after they were killed by soldiers

A top official of the Department of State Security (DSS) on Wednesday revealed how Don Wanny, kidnap kingpin was tracked to his hideout in Enugu.

Wanny allegedly masterminded the killings of 23 worshipers on New Year’s Day, in Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers.

The source told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on condition of anonymity on Wednesday that the operation that led to his death was successful and averted further bloodshed in the state.

The informant said the decision to swoop on Wanny was taken after he ordered his men to carry out killings of innocent residents of Omoku town.

“We intercepted Wanny’s phone conversation he had with one of his lieutenants in which he ordered them to attack schools, hospitals, places of worship, marketplaces and other targets.

“The killing and maiming of innocent residents of Omoku, including specific targets were scheduled to take place on January 8.

“When we heard their plan to execute innocent citizens – which to us was the last straw – we decided to inform the Army about a joint operation to avert the killings.

“This eventually led to the joint operation at his hideout in Enugu leading to his death and that of his two gang members.

The DSS operative said that Wanny was under intense DSS surveillance for over a year.

The source said the New Year killings started after Wanny sent some of his members to assassinate his third-in-command; but failed after the target escaped his apartment with gunshot wounds.

According to the source, the killer squad later killed his wife and other close relatives and, thereafter, proceeded to kill five other persons over an existing feud with one of the gang members.

“Some of the people who were killed died from stray bullets during the operation by the murderous gang.

“It was easy to monitor Wanny because we had our agent on a constant watch that gave us in-depth knowledge of his whereabouts and activities.

“Wanny had companies that he used as fronts. He used one of these companies to front for surveillance jobs and leak repairs for a major oil company.

“We know where his family stayed; we know that his boys camped at a forest in Imo state from where they usually launched their operation.

“Wanny was always hiding in Enugu and Ogoja (Cross River). He bought a car in Imo state and took it to Enugu – as part of his plans to change his identity,” the source revealed.

The ash coloured Lexus ES330 salon car is currently parked at DSS premises in Port Harcourt.

The source said that Wanny had more than 30 active fighters and many volunteers who allegedly worked for top politicians in the state.

It said that Wanny’s accounts at First Bank and Unity Bank had been frozen and would be forfeited to the Federal Government at the end of the investigation.

“The banks are fully cooperating with an ongoing investigation which would unravel his financial transactions from the time the accounts were opened,” the source added.

It was learnt that the deceased militant leader had more than N700 million at some undisclosed banks which is currently being monitored.

Wanny and his second-in-command, Ikechukwu Adiele, and another suspected gang member, Lucky Ode were killed by security forces in Enugu and their corpses paraded at 6 Division Nigerian Army Port Harcourt on January 7.

Wanny and his gang members received amnesty from the Rivers Government in 2016 but later reneged on the terms of the amnesty deal.

EFCC Arraigns Justice Yinusa For Corruption

Yinusa Muhammad

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC on Wednesday arraigned a Federal High Court Judge, Justice Yinusa Muhammad for corruption.

Also arraigned alongside Yinusa is one Esther Agbo, a staff of Rickey Tarfa chambers.

In the five-count charge brought before Justice S. O Solebo, Justice Yinusa is alleged to have received several sums of money from senior lawyers, Joseph Nwobike and Rickey Tarfa to pervert the course of justice

He was particularly alleged to have received N1.5m from Joseph Nwobike to give a favorable ruling in a matter before him.

Justice Yinusa was also alleged to have on 5 March, 2015, received another N750,000 from Nwobike in order to give a decision in his favour.

The EFCC also alleged that Esther Agbo being a staff of Rickey Tarfa law firm offered Yinusa N1.5m to influence a matter which the chamber has before the him.

Justice Yinusa and Esther Agbo however pleaded not guilty to the charges.

As at the time of filing this report, Yinusa’s defence team are arguing their bail application.

Breaking: Muslim Cleric Arrested With Human Parts In Lagos

Commissioner Of Police, Lagos State, Imohimi Oluwole Edgal
addressing the Press while the Suspect Kayode Abdul-Fatai looks on during his arrest at his shrine in Lagos, on Tuesday.

Officers of the Lagos State Police Command on Tuesday arrested an Islamic cleric, Alfa Kayode Abdul-Fatai in Alakuko area of the State for being in illegal possession of human parts including a female private organ.

The suspect, who was arrested at No. 4, Okedumola Street, Off Obadare area of Alakuko, was said to have also been caught with female heart and a female lap discovered in his room.

While confirming the arrest, Public Relations Officer of the State Police Command, SP Chike Oti, said the Islamic cleric was arrested following a tip off and investigation by the officers in the command.

Oti said the suspect, during interrogation, revealed that the said human parts were given to him by an accomplice who has also been rounded up.

Shrine of the Suspect, Kayode Abdul-Fatai

According to Oti, the suspect and the accomplice would be charged to court at the end of investigation.

He said the Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, particularly urged members of the public to be conscious of the activities of people living within their vicinity, and report any suspicious movement to law enforcement agencies.

”The CP urges members of the public to embark on ‘Operation Know Your Neighbour’, because the Alfa was staying in a compound without his neighbours knowing what he does for a living,” Oti said

Man Sent To Prison For Eating N173,000 Food Without Money

Prison

A jobless man and ex-convict,Valentine Thomas, 30, has been arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate Court for allegedly eating food and drinking wines with his two girl friends at Victoria Crown Palace Hotel ,VCP, Victoria Island, Lagos without money in his pocket.

The arrest of the accused was ordered by the Divional Police Officer, DPO in charge of Bar Beach Division,CSP Olusegun Ajamolaya following a complaint by the management of Victoria Crown Palace Hotel represented by by Daniel Eyirisan.

The police also accused the suspect from Tiv town, Benue State, North Central Nigeria of stealing a Techno Canon C9 model valued at N56,000 belonging to his lawyer, Henry Orarotimi in Yaba.

Police alleged that the lawyer lost his phone to the accused when he begged him at Yaba bus stop as his lawyer to give him the phone to call the person who would bring money for him to perfect his bail when he was arrested on 8 August, 2017 for eating food and drinking beer worth N22,500 at Penisula Hotel, Lekki and escaped.

The accused, a resident of Pako GRA, Ogudu, was arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate Court on a three-count charge of felony to wit, obtaining food and assorted drinks valued at N173,450 and failed to pay knowing fully well that there was no money and stealing.

Police prosecutor, Cyriacus Osuji informed the court in charge No L/3/2018 that the accused, an ex-convict committed the offence at Victoria Crown Hotel, Victoria Island.

Osuji told the court that the accused went to Victoria Crown Hotel with two girl friends to eat food with chicken, snail, fish and drink bailey and Hennessy all valued at N173,450.

He said that when the hotel workers demanded for the payment of the food and drinks from the accused, he told them that he had no money on him because he was jobless, while the hotel workers invited the police to arrest him while his two girl friends managed to escape.

Osuji said that the accused also tricked his lawyer and collected a Techno phone valued N56,000 from him to call someone and escaped with the phone to sell it.

Osuji said that the offences the accused committed were punishable under sections 411, 314 and 287 of the criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the alleged crime and Senior Magistrate A.T Omoyele granted him bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Omoyele adjourned the case till 22 February, 2018 for mention and ordered that the defendant be kept at Ikoyi Prison till he perfected the bail conditions.

Pictures From Omawumi’s Traditional Wedding

Omawumi ties the knot

Delta state born singer and songwriter, Omawumi Megbele today traditionally tied the knot with her darling Tosin Yusuf and we are super excited.

The 35 year old mother of 2 legally married her hubby in January 2015. See lovely pictures from the event that took place in Warri today.

Suspects Who Allegedly Killed Jumia Dispatch Rider Docked

The suspects

The two suspected killers of Eleje Chukwuma, a dispatch rider whose body was found in a septic tank last year, have pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge of conspiracy, murder and armed-robbery filed against them.

The suspects appeared in court in continuation of the murder trial that started last year. A magistrate court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, last year remanded them in prison.

The accused persons, Sodienye Mbatumukeke (aka Jelly) and Excel Divine Naabe (aka Joker) committed the offence on March 25, 2017, at No. 1 Ada-Ede Street, Shell Location, Mgbuoba, Port Harcourt.

The charge stated that the accused persons carried offensive weapons, including a pestle, and hit the victim on the head and robbed of him an Infinix Note 3 handset valued at N67,000.

Also, they robbed him of one Gionee M6 phone valued N105,000 and IM-10 Desktop GSM dual sims phone valued N9,500; all totaling N181,000.

The trial Chief Magistrate, Andrew O. Amadi-Nna, after the case was mentioned, said the court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the matter due to the gravity of the offences committed.

He said the case file would be transferred to the Court Registrar for onward transmission to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice.
He said that the accused persons could seek bail at the State High Court.

There was no defense counsel for the accused persons. The third accused person, a female, Joy Eluwa, was not brought to court for arraignment.

Ozubulu church killings: Bishop’s father buried amidst tight security

 St Philip’s Catholic Church, Ozubulu in Anambra.

SIR Ikegwuonu Cyprian, Father of the alleged target of August 6th attack on worshippers at St Philip’s Catholic Church, Ozubulu, Ekwusigo local government area of Anambra, High Chief Aloysius Ikegwuonu was on Friday buried at the parish’s cemetery amidst tight security.

Pa Cyprian was one of the 13 victims of the attack in the church, who were killed while worshipping at the church in a morning mass.

Officiating priest at the Requiem Mass, Rev Father Don Chidolue, Episcopal Vicar of Ozubulu region who delivered the sermon said that the church decided to bury the deceased in the church, along with other victims at the church’s cemetery as martyrs.

Chidolue said Pa Ikegwuonu by virtue of the nature of his death, which occurred right inside the church was a martyr. He said 12 others who also died in the attack have also been proclaimed martyrs.

“We buried them together so that the church will not easily forget them.

“Burying them together will serve as a memorial, and anytime someone looks in there, he would remember that such an incident had happened, and some people paid the ultimate price,”‎ he said.

Chidolue said out of the 13 peoplethat were killed in the attack, nine were buried in the church’s cemetery, while four deceased persons were taken away by their relatives who insisted that their remains be interred in their ancestral home.

The priest described Pa Ikegwuonu as a very charitable personality, who like his son, Aloysius impacted in the lives of people of the community.

He described giving as one of the ways people can also attract the mercy of God but called on all present to live a worthy lifestyle that would guarantee them eternity.

The burial was conducted amidst tight security as the police command in Awka had earlier hinted that it was deploying security to the area to forestall any attack, especially as those behind the attack had sent a further threat to the community if their financial demands were not met.

Those buried alongside Pa Cyprian at the cemetery are Mrs Cecilia Ewim, Chief Hyacinth Oramadike, Mrs Geraldine Obunadike and her daughter; Miss Uchenna Obunadike.

Others are; Mrs Pauline Obetta, Mrs Rose Nwabia and little Miss Mary Cynthia Ughelu who is said to be just a year old.

Unknown gunmen had in August invaded the church, after allegedly seeking the whereabouts of Aloysius Ikegwuonu in his home, but decided to even their unhappiness on the worshippers who were beneficiaries of Ikegwuonu philanthropy, through the construction of the church.

He had however denied having any business dealings with anyone, that went awry, to warrant being killed.

Red Squad carried out Omoku massacre over Don Waney’s mother’s arrest —Suspect

One of the suspects in the New Year killing of worshippers at Omoku, Rivers State, disclosed, yesterday, that they carried out the killings to avenge the arrest and humiliation of the mother of their leader, Don Waney, coupled with the destruction of Waney’s mansion.

The suspect, Desmond Okotubo, a 32-year-old father of three and a native of Egbenma in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni (ONELGA) Local Government Area of Rivers State, who made the disclosure at the Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, said Omoku vigilante group members were their original targets and not church worshipers.

Desmond Okotubo

He added that they decided to vent their anger on the worshipers when they could not track down the vigilante group members, who, he said, were instrumental to the arrest of Don Waney’s mother and tracing of his mansion for destruction by the government.

Desmond Okotubo, who disclosed that their plan to invade Omoku was hatched in Awara town, Imo State, confessed his membership of the gang that killed the worshippers, but denied participating in the killings, saying he merely accompanied the gang to the scene without handling a gun.

He begged the Police to allow him help in fishing out all the members of the dreaded gang, who he said were up to 20.

Confession

His words: “I followed them during the killing. When Don Waney got back, he stopped at Awara, Imo State, and it was there everybody assembled before going to Omoku. I followed them to Omoku, but they did not give me a gun.

“It was Don Waney that did it. He has the “Red Squad” that do the killings. The squad’s members are from Imo and Rivers states. I know those that shot and killed those people. I know many people that belong to the gang.”

On why they carried out the act on innocent worshipers, Okotubo said: “Don Waney had a problem with the vigilante group because they arrested his mother and also destroyed his house. That is why he came back to revenge and kill those people at Omoku.”

How we got him—Police

Parading the suspect before newsmen, Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Jimoh Moshood, said Okotubo was arrested at Mpape, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, by the IGP-Intelligence Response Team, where he had escaped to on January 3, after the New Year massacre.

Moshood said: “The Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris, set-up special Police joint investigation team, comprising the IGP-Intelligence Response Team, the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, Force Department of Operations and the Rivers State Police Command to immediately unravel those behind the killings and bring them to justice.

“The IGP-Intelligence Response Team attached to the Joint Police Special Investigation Team engaged some of the suspects in their hideouts in Awara Forest, a boundary between Imo and Rivers states.

“The shootout, which lasted several hours, resulted in the death of six of the suspects, while others escaped with gunshot injuries to other locations in Rivers, Delta, Imo and Bayelsa states. The Police teams are currently on their trail.

“The IGP-Intelligence Response Team further identified Desmond Okotubo, who escaped on January 3 to Abuja. He was trailed to Mpape in Abuja, where he was arrested after serious resistance on January 9.

“He revealed to the Police how their gang leader, Don Waney, gathered them and briefed them on the night of January 31, 2017 on the mission to attack and kill the residents of Omoku town.

“Thirty of them, armed with over 20 AK-47 rifles, crossed the river from Awara to Omoku Forest and proceeded to Omoku town.”