Ogun Speaker explains why his convoy ignored accident victims

Monday, May 11, 2015

The Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Suraj Adekunbi, has claimed that he was not in any vehicle in his convoy when it drove past an accident scene without offering assistance.

Three people were killed on Saturday at Onipepeye Village along Siun-Owode road, Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area, in the accident that involved two commercial vehicles.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how Mr. Adekunbi’s convoy passed the scene of the accident, while rescue efforts were on residents of the area, without offering any help. The Speaker was also sighted in one of the vehicles in the convoy by their correspondent and other observers at the scene.

The lawmaker, however, claimed he was not in any of the vehicles.

‘I am a Rotarian and I know the importance of rendering assistance,” he said on Sunday. “I was not in the convoy when the accident occurred. My convoy drove past the area, and I was not in the convoy, but in another vehicle with some of my colleagues in the assembly.”

Mr. Adekunbi, however, admitted driving by the scene of the accident.

“As at the time I passed through the scene with my colleagues which include Honourable Tola Banjo, the Deputy Speaker, and Honourable Olayiwola Ojodu, we did not observe any accident. I was in Lagos when I heard of the accident,” he said, while explaining that he did not answer calls to his phone on Saturday because he did not know the identity of the caller.

The speaker said he sympathised with the victims of the accident and prayed for the repose of the souls of the departed.

Ogun Assembly Speaker ignores ghastly motor accident victims on highway

Sunday, May 10, 2015

The Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Suraj Adekunbi, on Saturday shunned victims of a ghastly motor accident which claimed three lives and injured 10 others, occurred along the Owode-Siun-Abeokuta expressway.

The crash, which occurred at Onipepeye village, along the Owode-Siun-Abeokuta dual carriageway, involved two commercial vehicles: a white Nissan Premiere, with registration number LSD 770 BZ and a green Space wagon, with registration number GGE 950CQ.

A Premium Times correspondent, who met the accident victims in company with other sympathizers, reported that Speaker Adekunbi got to the scene of the crash in his official car barely few minutes after the accident occurred, but drove past the scene even while bodies laid on bare ground and injured victims wreathed in pains.

He was in a convoy of his official cars, reportedly heading towards Lagos.

Onlookers wondered why he failed to demonstrate compassion and lend helping hands to the victims.

Witnesses say rather than stop to help in the rescue operation, the Speaker merely peeped at the accident scene through his car window and then ordered his driver to drive on.

The Speaker’s action baffled many sympathizers at the scene, who could not suppress their anger, some of whom rained abuses on him as his car drove away.

Mr. Adekunbi could not be reached to comment for this story Saturday night. He did not not answer or return multiple calls to his telephone seeking comments.

At the scene, one lucky survivor told PT that the Premiera car was heading to Sagamu from Abeokuta when the driver suddenly lost control and swerved to the other side of the dual carriageway.

It then had a head-on collision with the oncoming Space wagon car, heading to Abeokuta from Lagos.

The impact of the crash was disastrous as the two cars appeared to be over-speeding.

Three persons, including a toddler, died on the spot, while other passengers suffered various degrees of injuries.

A team of Ogun State Traffic and Compliance Control arrived the scene early enough and were seen evacuating the victims to hospital.

Businessman crushed to death during police stop-and-search

Friday, May 08, 2015

Four policemen have been arrested in Lagos for mounting an illegal checkpoint and conducting unapproved stop-and-search at the Mile 2 end of the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.

It was gathered that during the exercise, a tanker ran over a businessman, Mr. Henry Dimoji.

48-year-old Dimoji, who hailed from Imo State, and his wife were returning from a wake keep in the FESTAC Town area in a Honda car, only for them to be asked by the police to stop for a search when the incident occurred.

The policemen, reportedly attached to the Rapid Response Squad, Ikeja, had allegedly refused to allow Dimoji to park properly by the roadside, insisting that he came down to open his booth for the search. An oncoming tanker, said to be carrying diesel, hit the businessman and dragged him on the
road. The policemen were said to have avoided the tanker.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Linda had called on the officers and passersby for help, but the officers allegedly fled the scene.

It was gathered that the matter, which occurred at about 7.30pm last Thursday, April 30, was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, while the policemen had been arrested.

The truck driver and his conductor had also been arrested by the police. It was further learnt that the SCID was still searching for two policemen, who were also with the patrol team during the incident.

When PUNCH Metro visited the deceased’s residence on Okey Dimoji Drive in the Anthony Village area of Lagos, a relative, who identified himself simply as Frank, said Dimoji’s death was shocking to the family.

He said:

 “When Dimoji got to the checkpoint, the policemen asked him to park and open his booth, but they did not allow him to park properly. He told them to allow him to park when one of them brought out a gun and threatened to shoot if Dimoji disobeyed. 

He then came out of the car to talk to the officers. Hardly had he come down when the trailer approached. The trailer driver, who was probably aware of the illegal checkpoint, tried to speed past the policemen. In the process, the trailer hit Dimoji in the thigh and dragged on the road for a few metres. 

When the policemen saw this, they entered their van and fled. The wife started screaming and calling for help. It was even the trailer driver and the conductor who stopped and assisted to rush him to a hospital. 

We have been to the SCID, and the police boss assured us that justice would be done on the matter. I saw the policemen that mounted the illegal checkpoint. They do not deserve to be in the Nigeria Police Force.”

A friend of the deceased, who identified himself simply as Sola, told Punch that Dimoji still called him on Thursday to plan a media event.

“He was a very industrious man. He had huge investments in Courier services, Telecommunications, Designs and media relations. The police should fish out all the culprits and bring them to book,” he said.

Their correspondent observed a condolence register opened for the businessman, and a number of sympathisers who also visited the house. The deceased’s wife was unavailable for comment as of the time of visit.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, confirmed the incident, adding that investigations were ongoing on the matter. He said:

 “What the police are investigating is a case of a fatal accident, and the culpability of the officers in the incident. Two officers are in custody over the matter, and investigations are ongoing.”

FCT names Abuja streets after Jonathan, Sambo, Atiku, 185 others

Monday, April 27, 2015

The Federal Capital Territory have honoured eminent Nigerians and other accomplished Africans by naming major streets in Asokoro Extension, Guzape, Wupa, Wuye and Maitama Extension districts as well as expressways and roads after them.

The Federal Capital Territory Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, who disclosed this during the FCT Executive Committee meeting held at his Life Camp, Gwarinpa official Residence, on Monday, reeled out the names of the honorees as:

•  President Goodluck Jonathan, 
• Vice President Namadi Sambo, 
• former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, 
• former Senate President, late Dr. Chuba Okadigbo, 
• former Speaker of House of Representatives and Katsina State Governor-elect, Hon. Aminu Bello Masari,
• former Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Dahiru Musdapha, 
• Business moguls, Femi Otedola, Aliko Dangote and several others.

The soon-to-be commissioned Inner Southern Expressway which dissects Abuja city centre was named after President Jonathan while the longest Wuye district boulevard express road measuring 1,730 metres was named after Abubakar. Another major road in the same district was named after Sambo.

According to a statement issued by the Special Assistant  on Media to the Minister, Nosike Ogbuenyi, other prominent personalities also honoured by naming streets after them in Asokoro extension district extension include:

•  former Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi Anan, 
• South African anti-Apartheid activist, late Walter Sisulu, 
• former President of Sudan, Gaafar al-Nimeiry, 
• former Minister of State for FCT, late Prof. Miriam Ikejiani-Clark, 
• former Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi and 16 others.

Those having roads and streets named after them in Guzape district include:

•  former FCT Minister and Governor-elect of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, 
• former Inspector-General of Police, Sunday Adewusi, 
• former Science and Technology Minister, Major-Gen. Sam Momah, 
• former Special Duties Minister, late Alhaji Wada Nas, 
• former Attorney General of the Federation, late Mr. Clement Akpamgbo,
•  incumbent FCT Minister, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed and 60 others.

The Nation reports that the statement reads in part:

“Some Nigerians who had distinguished themselves in various sporting activities were also among those honoured with Abuja streets named after them. They include: 

• first Nigerian single Olympic gold medalist, Chioma Ajunwa, 

• first Nigerian footballer to have scored in FIFA senior World Cup, late Rashidi Yekini, 

• former world wrestling champion, late Power Mike Okpala, 

• first Nigerian to win World Boxing title, Dick Tiger Ihetu 

• and the youngest Nigerian to play at the African Cup of Nations, Mr. Daniel Amokachi.

They all had streets named after them in Wupa district.

Over 400 people dead, 1000 injured as nassive earthquake hit Nepal

Saturday, April 25, 2015

A magnitude-7.8 earthquake, the worst quake to have ever hit the Himalayan nation in over 80 years, shook Nepal's capital and the densely populated Kathmandu Valley today.

Rescue teams have reached the area and are searching for survivors. A police spokesman said the death toll has reached 449.

The injured were being treated outside hospitals in chaotic scenes. Residents, terrorized by a series of strong aftershocks, huddled outdoors as historic buildings in Kathmandu lay in rubble on the ground. Photos continue after the cut.

Patience Jonathan to quit as African First Ladies President

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Arrangement have been concluded for Patience Jonathan to quit her position as the President of the African Ladies Peace Mission, two months before the expiration of her tenure.

The mission comprises of wives of Presidents of all African countries.

Mrs. Jonathan was elected the mission’s President at its seventh summit held in Abuja in July 2012 and her tenure would have expired in July 2015 when a new president would have been elected. But because she will cease to be Nigeria’s President’s wife from May 29 when her husband will hand over power to the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, Mrs. Jonathan had summoned an emergency summit of the mission for May 15 for the purpose of electing her successor.

PUNCH reports that according to a copy of the invitation to members dated April 6 and personally signed by the President’s wife, she explained that she summoned the emergency summit to ensure that there would not be leadership vacuum in the organisation as it happened in 2010 when her predecessor left office without handing over.

She said her desire was to put in place a standard that would strengthen the organisation and ensure effective mechanism to guarantee seamless takeoff for the incoming leadership.

The invitation partly read, “

…Your Excellency may recall that Nigeria was re-elected President of the AFLPM at the 7th Summit in Abuja in July 2012. With the recent election in my country and a new government coming on board from May 29, 2015, it has become necessary to convene an emergency summit of the AFLPM to facilitate a smooth and formal hand over to the new Executive Committee that will pilot the affairs of the Peace Mission for the next two years. 

The Emergency Summit is proposed for Friday, May 15, 2015 at the Interim Secretariat of the African First Ladies Peace Mission, Abuja by 2pm. The Summit will, however, be preceded by the 4th meeting of the Executive Bureau by 9am, on May 15 at the same venue. The Bureau Meeting is for members of the Executive Bureau, comprising South Africa, Sudan, Cameroon, Libya and Congo Brazzaville. 

…In the light of the above, may I appeal to Your Excellency to give utmost consideration to attending the Emergency Summit in order to ensure that our organisation maintains its current momentum. 

We will deeply appreciate your kind early response to help us in planning the Summit, in view of limited time available to us.”

When contacted on the telephone by PUNCH, the Special Assistant to the President on Peace Mission, Mrs. Martha Onwuzurumba, was hesitant. She demanded to know the source of the information from their correspondent.

Mrs. Onwuzurumba who is the wife of the President’s Chaplain, Ven. Obioma Onwuzurumba, is said to be in charge of the Mission’s secretariat. She said she would not speak on the matter.

“The African First Ladies Peace Mission is not a Non-Governmental Organisation for Nigeria, so I won’t be able to answer your question,” she said.

The AFLPM, which aims at promoting peace and harmony in Africa, was established in 1995 after the United Nations’ Conference on Women in Beijing, China.

Train crushes architect while hurrying to work in Lagos

Thursday, April 09, 2015

Tragedy struck on Wednesday at Cappa, Oshodi area of Lagos State after a train crushed to death a 32-year-old man identified as Smith. Smith was said to be hurrying to his workplace around 7AM and was crossing the railway tracks when he was hit.

Eyewitnesses, who spoke with PUNCH Metro, said the deceased, a devout Muslim, who was fondly called Alfa, could have been saved if help had come his way on time.

A mechanic in the area, Biodun Adebanjo, said Smith had only recently had a baby with his wife.

He said:

 “It was around 7am when he alighted from the bus he had boarded to Cappa. His workplace is just a few kilometres away. Immediately he alighted, he started racing towards the railway tracks, apparently he was in a hurry and was oblivious of the hooting of the train. 

As he approached the tracks, an area boy wanted to grab him and stop him from crossing, but he thought he wanted to rob him and forcefully pulled himself away. By the time he realised the danger he was in, it was too late. He tried to turn back, but the train hit his right leg and slammed against his body.”

Another witness, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told our correspondent that immediately the incident occurred, symphatisers rushed to the scene and dragged him to the side of the railway tracks. He said the victim was still breathing, but in dire need of medical help.

He added that efforts to get emergency workers to come to the scene were abortive as they reportedly did not show up until 10am, about three hours after the incident.

Another witness, Austin Edi, lamented that policemen, who passed the area, merely looked and moved on.

He said, “People kept calling the emergency lines, but they just said they were coming. Policemen around the area did not even make any effort to save the victim. It was around 10am that his remains were removed by an ambulance.”

It was learnt that the victim’s colleagues also came around and later informed his relatives about the incident.

Our correspondent visited Esther Oshiyemi Street where Smith worked in a construction firm as an architect. The office was locked.

Some people around told our correspondent that the management of the company took the decision to mourn him.

A resident, Bisiriyu Oladimeji, described late Smith as a religious man, who was noted for his gentleness.

He said the information making the rounds that the victim blocked his ears with earpiece and was listening to music when the incident happened, was not true.

“I know him very well. I have not even seen him use earpiece before. He was soft-spoken and easygoing. We call him Alfa. It’s just unfortunate and nobody knows what he was thinking that blocked his mind,” he said.

It was learnt that train accident had become recurrent in the Cappa area.

A man, who declined to give his name, said no fewer than three people had died in recent times.

He said, “Just in August last year, a man was crushed to death at the same spot. Shortly after this man (Alfa) was killed this morning, another lady was almost crushed to death at the same spot.

“We were the ones who shouted and stopped her from killing herself. There have been many more like that.”

He attributed the incidents to frustration, appealing to the government to build demarcation fences and station train officials at the spot.

Bank owners disappear with customers' deposit in Kwara State

Wednesday, April 08, 2015

The victims | credits: Success Nwogu

Scores of people in Kwara State who claim to be customers of Ayonitemi Cooperative Business Finance, on Tuesday besieged the premises of the bank alleging that they had been defrauded by the firm.

The wonder bank is located at Oniyangi, near the Emir Road, Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

Many of the customers, most of them weeping, told PUNCH Metro they had lost substantial amount of money which they deposited in the finance house. They stated that they had been promised mouth watering financial offers if they made deposit in the bank.

Many of them spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid being made subject of mockery by 
people who might know them.

One of them said she received information to come on Tuesday to collect her money which she had been depositing in the bank for many months. She claimed to have invested about N1m in the bank without her husband’s knowledge and consent.

“I have been depositing money in the bank for some months. They promised that they will not disappoint us. They told us that they were from Kwara State and they had no other place to run to. So, I was convinced that this bank was real. I did not even inform my husband of my transactions with them. Unfortunately, they disappointed us and ran away.”

Some other victims claimed to have lost money ranging from N100,000 to N450,000. Some of them later descended on the office of the firm and carted away office furniture and items, including electronics.

Efforts to get the reaction of the officials of the bank proved abortive.

The Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ajayi Okesanmi, said the command had not been briefed that about the alleged fraud by the bank.

Bayelsa youths set to hold a heroic welcome reception for President Jonathan as he prepares leave Aso Rock

Sunday, April 05, 2015

The Bayelsa Development Forum (BDF), in a statement issued yesterday by the Secretary-General, Ebimo Anderson has said it is making an elaborate plan to host president Jonathan to a “heroic welcome reception” as he prepares to return to the state after losing out in the March 28th presidential election. The youths called him a hero who deserves to be honoured for turning Nigeria around.

“As Ijaw people and proud Bayelsans, even though, we are deeply pained by the loss of our son at the polls, we are grateful to God and Nigerians for entrusting one of our own with the responsibility of leading this great nation at a time when it was thought impossible that a minority from the South-South will hold the highest office in the land,” Mr. Anderson said.

“We are indeed glad that President Jonathan did not disappoint us as a nation by his sterling leadership and in the process making history,” part of the statement read.

Buhari never said he would defeat Boko Haram in two months - APC

Friday, April 03, 2015

Contrary to a statement accredited to him by CNN, promising to tackle Boko Haram in two months, the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation have described the media report as misleading and unfounded.

In a statement issued by Director of Media and Publicity of the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation, Garba Shehu on Thursday, the APC said Gen. Buhari never made such a promise... 

“His Excellency, the President-elect is still waiting to be sworn in on May 29. After the ceremony, he would need time to study the security situation and plan strategically with the security chiefs as to the way forward. Time is of essence here. Therefore, President Buhari didn’t and wouldn’t peg the decimation of terrorism from the country’s territories to just two months.

The General was unequivocal about cleansing Boko Haram from our land; he would do a good job of it by giving a final, permanent push to rid Nigeria of unscrupulous elements. 

The President-elect said that much to the world media including the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)  and Cable News Network (CNN). He never put a time-frame to when he would eliminate terrorists. It would be unfair and mischievous for someone to ascribe to him what he hasn’t said.”

''We will crush Boko Haram within two months'' - Gen. Buhari

Thursday, April 02, 2015

President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari has reassured Nigerians and the world that his administration will crush Boko Haram within two months in office. General Buhari spoke yesterday evening during an interview with CNN's Amanpour. 

He said there is insecu­rity in the north-east and in the Niger Delta regions just as he explains:

"We know how they started and where they are now and we will rapidly give attention to security in the country. And I believe we will ef­fectively deal with them in two months when we get into office."

He said the Federal Government made some mistakes in its fight against Boko Haram and his administration will address the issues. Buhari however stressed the importance of the support and assistance of Nigeria’s neighbours: Niger, Cameroon and Chad to help checkmate the mili­tants.

“We will be needing the cooperation of neighbouring countries such as Cam­eroon, Chad and Niger. There were efforts made by the President Goodluck Jonathan administration, but it was not good enough and it came rather late,” he said.

But where did the Jona­than administration go wrong. SunNews reports Buhari drew atten­tion to the poor showing of the Nigerian military in the fight against Boko Haram and explained thus:

“We expected the Federal Gov­ernment four years ago to sit down with these coun­tries and make sure they do not allow the terrorists free movement across bor­ders, training facilities and movement of weapons.

These were only done a few months ago and we have seen how Cameroon, Chad and Niger are fighting Boko Haram more than Ni­geria is doing until recently. Really we have seen enough and we have enough law enforcement to face Boko Haram squarely.”

Buhari is confident that under his government, the Nigeria Army will perform differently. He also said the performance of the military was affected by corruption in the system.

“They will… if you re­call, the Nigerian soldiers out of all ethical expecta­tions were granting inter­views to foreign journalists, saying they were being sent to fight terrorists without proper weapons. And then the National Assembly attempted to conduct a hearing to find out how much money was approved for training and weapon in the last three years but that hearing was scuttled by the administra­tion.”

Click HERE to watch the interview.

''My husband must complete his two terms'' – Patience Jonathan

Saturday, March 14, 2015

The wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, on Saturday insisted that her husband would remain in office for eight years to complete his two terms in office, despite the opposition.

PUNCH reports that Mrs. Jonathan said this during the Peoples Democratic Party women rally, under the auspices of Women for Change and Development Initiative, in Benin, Edo State.

She was accompanied by national and state leaders of the party.

Women, drawn from different support groups across the state had turned out for the event as early as 9am. They, however, began to leave the stadium at about 1.30pm, when Mrs. Jonathan arrived at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, venue of the rally.

‎Unable to bare the scorching heat, two women fainted but were later revived by a medical team provided by the party.

A mild drama ensued shortly before the ‎First Lady’s address, when two men said to be aggrieved PDP youths, tore down some banners bearing the image of the President’s wife.

They were, ho‎wever, whisked away by some security operatives at the arena.

Addressing the women, she said that the presidency had been occupied for eight years by other ‎geopolitical zone and wondered why the South South should be denied the opportunity.

She also noted that the Jonathan administration had performed creditably in various sectors, such as transport and education, and by her assessment, was satisfactory.

Mrs. Jonathan described the present administration as a gender sensitive government, which had prioritised women development through the appointment of several women in key positions, the Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme and the YouWin initiative.

She stressed that re-electing of her husband was an opportunity for Nigerian women to appreciate his good performance, adding that the opposition party was not dependable ‎and had nothing to offer.

''There is no evidence linking Boko Haram to ISIS'' - FG

Thursday, March 12, 2015

The Federal Government yesterday said it does not have any evidence yet linking Boko Haram with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

Coordinator of the National Information Centre, Mike Omeri, who spoke with reporters and other security chiefs, said it was an act of desperation by the Boko Haram sect to be identifying with the ISIS.

“It can best be described as an act of sympathy and desperation by the sect to be identifying with ISIS; it is unacceptable. 

We wish to state that there is no evidence that the IS operates in Nigeria and the latest attempt by Boko Haram to identify with the group is an act of desperation aimed at seeking attention and possible assistance from outside in the face of the crushing defeat they are suffering in the hands of the Nigerian Armed Forces and other regional collaborators. 

The fact of the matter is that Nigeria and her neighbours are pushing the insurgents away from their strongholds, capturing many of them and destroying several of their facilities,” he said.

Omeri added that the government would do everything within its powers to sustain the fight against Boko Haram while also striving to get back the remaining lost territories.

His words:

“We wish to assure Nigerians that this tempo will be sustained until every presence of Boko Haram insurgency is totally obliterated in Nigeria. The only nation that will exist in Nigeria is a united Federal Republic of Nigeria, which demands the cooperation, commitment and patriotism of all its citizens,” he said.

Pregnant woman pours hot water on neighbour for peeping

Wednesday, March 04, 2015

A pregnant woman identified as Mrs Mercy Chintua, has been arrested by the police in Enugu for pouring hot water on a neighbour.

Chintua was said to have accused the neighbour, Emmanuel Anyebe of peeping at her while she was having her bath.

The incident happened on February 23 at Akwuke, Awkunanaw in Enugu State, where Chintua resides with her husband and where she poured hot water on the victim, Anyebe.

According to Punch, it was gathered that Anyebe was about to take his own bath when Chintua poured the hot water on him.

The victim was said to have sustained severe injuries as a result of the incident, and was taken to a hospital.

In her account to the police, Chintua said she took the action to punish Anyebe who saw her nakedness after peeping at her in the bathroom.

She said, 

“On that fateful day, as I was taking my bath, Anyebe peeped at me while trying to gain access into the bathroom, and in the process, saw my nakedness.”

Chintua, who said she was angered at the invasion of her privacy, later heated a pot of water and when it became boiled, she poured the contents on Anyebe.

She added that she was sorry for the injury, explaining that it was the handiwork of the devil.

Anyebe reportedly lost consciousness as a result of the excruciating pain, and was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Anyebe also denied peeping on the woman. He said... 

 “It all happened as I wanted to enter the bathroom to take my bath, only to be stopped by Chintua, who wanted to take her bath first. “I simply left after Chintua rushed into the bathroom to take her bath before I could do same.”

He added that he went to the woman’s husband to complain about the development, after which he went back to the bathroom to have his bath when Chintua had finished having her bath.

It was while Anyebe was taking his bath that Chintua poured the hot water on him.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Enugu State Police Command, Ebere Amaraizu, said Chintua was remorseful and had blamed her action on the devil.

He added, “the suspect is with us and has been helping the police in the investigations into the incident.”

MASSOB launches Biafran currency, vehicle number plates, drivers license in Owerri

Saturday, February 28, 2015

The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has launched new Biafran currency, number plates for vehicles and drivers’ license for the people of the South East zone.

MASSOB leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, who spoke through the organisation’s Information Coordinator for Onitsha, Mr. Charles Igbokwe, said the new Biafran number plates for vehicles, drivers’ licence and new currency were launched Friday, in a colourful ceremony in Owerri, Imo
State capital.

Chief Uwazuruike explained that the idea for Biafrans to have their own vehicle number plates, drivers’ license and new currency, was aimed at encouraging Ndigbo and, indeed, Biafrans, to come together and work together to develop the South-East part of the country.

He said it is the right of all transporters and private car owners, who are from the South-East to update their vehicle licences, adding that the programme also covers drivers of commercial tricycles and motorcycles.

“Now, it is the right of all Biafrans, all transporters, private motor owners and Okada riders to avail themselves of this opportunity to update their particulars. We also use the period of the registration exercise to call on all the traditional rulers and presidents-general of town unions to help educate their people on the need to get abreast with the new Biafran currency and other programmes.”

He further disclosed that income tax was now available for everybody within the areas under the control of the MASSOB.

On the Biafran currency, the MASSOB leader said the money was already in circulation throughout the ‘Biafran states,’adding that from the time of the launch of the new currency, the money would be available in all the banks across the geo-political zone.

Woman gives birth to baby without arms in Ogun State, father runs away

Thursday, February 26, 2015

The arrival of a baby in every home heralds joy. But this was not the case for Mr. Mudashiru Sheriffdeen of Bosun Street, Ifo in the Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The wife, Taiwo, was on Tuesday delivered of a baby boy who had no arms. The baby boy weighed 3.25 kilogrammes at birth and was born around 2pm at a private hospital, Majotal Medical Clinic at the Ilogbo area of Ado/Odo-Ota Local Government Area of the state.

The mother of the baby told MetroPlus that immediately she gave birth to the baby boy, her husband took to his heels on hearing that the baby was born without arms.

Expressing her sadness, she said:

“This is my first child and I do not know why I gave birth to this kind of a baby. Immediately my husband was informed that his son had deformity, he ran away and had not come to see me. He is a commercial bus driver, and we had been married now for almost two years before God decided to answer our prayers. 

When I was pregnant, we took every steps that the doctor directed us to take, but we did not know why we came about this calamity.”

While pleading for assistance from well meaning Nigerians, Mrs Sheriffdeen said:

“I have been warned by both my husband and our landlord not to bring the child home. The hospital management has asked us to leave the hospital. Now, this child and I have nowhere to go, I don’t need this baby. I want government to adopt him.”

Boko Haram members drown in Lake Chad as they try to flee Nigeria

Sunday, February 22, 2015

A large number of terrorists have drowned in the Lake Chad as they fled the heavy bombardment by Nigerian Air force heralding the advance of Nigerian troops on mission to flush them out of Baga, the Nigerian defence headquarters has said.

In a statement issued by the Director of Defence Information, Chris Olukolade, a Major General, he said, "Not even the strategy of mining over 1500 spots with land mines on the routes leading to the town could save the terrorists from the aggressive move of advancing troops"

He added, "All the land mines were skillfully cleared one after the other. Eventually, the resistance of the terrorists collapsed and the land forces finally stormed the town in the early hours of Friday.

Many of the terrorists died while an unknown but substantial number of them fled with various degrees of injury, in the series of encounter along the routes of advance as troops headed for Baga."

Nigerian woman gang-raped in a moving car in Delhi, India

Friday, February 20, 2015

Police in Delhi today arrested four men in connection with the alleged gangrape of a Nigerian woman in a moving car, the latest in a series of sex attacks in the Indian capital.

According to AFP, the 35-year-old Nigerian woman, who has been staying in India on a tourist visa, told police the men kidnapped her after midnight outside a popular shopping mall in New Delhi’s Saket area before bundling her into a car.

They then drove for around half an hour, during which time the alleged gang rape took place, before
pushing her out of the vehicle.

The woman, who cannot be named, was finally rescued after a passerby spotted her on the side of the road in Mayur Vihar, around 20 kilometres (12 miles) away in east Delhi.

“We have received a complaint from the woman and investigations are on-going,” Delhi police spokesman Rajan Bhagat told AFP.

“We have filed a case under relevant sections.”

Bhagat said the four men arrested were Indians, and the car allegedly used had been impounded.

Local media, quoting police sources, said the victim was in an inebriated condition at the time of her rescue and had suffered minor injuries but was released from hospital by this afternoon.

Nigerian embassy officials in New Delhi were not available for comment.

The city sealed its reputation as India’s “rape capital” two years ago when a medical student died after being gang-raped on a moving bus, prompting mass protests and triggering a series of policing and legal reforms.

Last year, a driver for US-based online taxi service Uber allegedly sexually assaulted a woman passenger in New Delhi while driving her home from a dinner.

Police figures released earlier this year said 2,069 rape cases were registered in New Delhi during 2014, a 31 percent jump compared to the previous year.

Jonathan actually bribed pastors with N7bn, not N6bn - Cleric

Thursday, February 19, 2015

More facts appear to be emerging on the allegation by Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, that President Goodluck Jonathan gave pastors across the country N6bn to vote against the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), in the presidential election.

A Borno-based Pastor, Kallamu Musa-Dikwa, said on Thursday that the money that was given to pastors by the President was actually N7bn and not N6bn as alleged by Amaechi, who doubles as the Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation.

Amaechi had alleged that unnamed leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party paid N6bn to Christian clerics to campaign against Buhari and the APC.

The governor’s allegation caused a stir among the Christian clerics, with the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and the Northern State Christian Elders Forum asking Amaechi to name the church leaders, who collected the huge bribe.

But Musa-Dikwa, who is the Executive Director of the Voice of Northern Christian Movement, told journalists in Kaduna on Thursday that the said money was channelled through the Christian Association of Nigeria.

He said the CAN got the said money(N7bn) on January 26, 2015 and disbursed N3m to each State Chairmen of the CAN across the country.

Musa-Dikwa, who was an Associate Pastor with the E. Y. N. Church, Farm Centre, Dikwa Road, Maiduguri, Borno State, under Rev. Emmanuel Kwajihe between 2002 and 2004, said the CAN had started threatening Christians in the state (Borno) that they must re-elect Jonathan in the rescheduled election.

He said, “It was N7bn that was given to the CAN leadership by President Goodluck Jonathan. They(CAN) later disbursed N3m to the State Chairmen of the CAN.

“The money was handed over to the CAN Leadership on 26th January, 2015.”

“Actually, President Jonathan is using CAN President, and it was the CAN President who collected the monies and shared N3m to the CAN executives in each state.

“And some Pentecostal Bishops also collected their share. Actually, the money is not N6bn, it is N7bn. This is what I know. One of the CAN officials from Abuja told me that they have collected the money. The corruption in CAN is terrible. They are corrupting the body of Christ because of money.

“They are now threatening Christians in Borno State that they will deal with anybody, who refuses to vote for Jonathan. And the CAN officials are now campaigning that if Buhari emerges President, he will Islamise Nigeria; and that Osinbajo collected monies from Islamic world; and that the same Osinbajo will resign soon after Buhari wins to give way for Tinubu to emerge Vice President.”

Musa-Dikwa named some high-profile clerics, who had benefitted from the controversial largesse to actualise the re-election bid of Jonathan.

I can’t promise polls will hold in March and April - Jega

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Attahiru Jega, has said he cannot guarantee if elections will hold in March or not, stating that major part of it still has to do with the issue of security, which only the Military can clarify.

Jega appeared before the Senate yesterday and when asked by the Minority Leader, Senator George Akume, to give a clear assurance about the dates of the elections, Jega said:

“I think it is a very difficult question to answer. I have said consistently that there are things under the control of electoral commission and there are things that are not under the control of electoral commission. For things that are under our control, I can give definite and categorical assurances. On what is not under our control, it is futile, it is fruitless and useless to give a definite guarantee on them. I think that question should be directed appropriately. The questions of security, I will leave it, I don’t think I am competent to answer it sufficiently.”

When asked what his response would be if the security agencies requested a further delay, Jega said doing so would be illegal.

“Every Nigerian knows we want elections to hold… within a constitutional time frame.   The security agencies are (made up of) patriotic Nigerians. Let’s give them the benefit of the doubt. We should be fair also to the military. Soldiers are also patriotic Nigerians. I don’t see how anybody will contemplate any extension beyond these six weeks. There is no constitutional grounds upon which you can do that. For us, we work by the constitution, by the law. That is what is guiding us and we should all put the interest of the nation at heart. The human factor is always significant, it is always important but we believe that working together with security and other stakeholders, we should be able to prevent negative human intervention that can create problems.

“I kept saying consistently that INEC is not a security organisation. We are an election management body; so we rely a lot on security to be able to ensure that things are done well and that there is no disruption of the electoral process.

“We have been working very closely with the inter agencies consultative committee on election security and that is why for us, if the service chiefs say that we can’t guarantee security, give us more time, what is the alternative security arrangements ?

“If we consulted with the stakeholders and we cannot find an answer, what happens? We are going to use close to 700, 000 ad hoc staff. We can’t send people to the field in that kind of a situation.

“Our prayer is that in the next six weeks, there will be significant improvement in the security situation for us to hold the elections all over this country in a very secure environment.

“There are certain questions that we are not really competent to answer. Certain questions should be directed to the military; they can answer them better.”