Keyamo Petitions Prisons over Attempt to Sodomise Charles Okah

Mr Charles Okah

Lagos lawyer, Festus keyamo, has written a petition to the Comptroller General of Nigeria Prisons, over allegations of acts of sodomy taking place in Kuje Prison, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

In the petition dated Tuesday, Keyamo complained that his client, Mr Charles Okah, elder brother of jailed Henry Okah, was almost raped by some prison officials on the pretext that they wanted to confirm if he had stuffed some substance in his anus.

Finally, Nigeria’s Mali Troops Arrive, Storm Borno

Nigerian troops

Over 100 troops of the Nigeria Peacekeeping contingent that were involved in the United Nations backed war effort in Northern Mali arrived Wednesday for onward deployment to Borno State to enforce the state of emergency rule in the state.

The troops’ deployment to the action areas in some states of the North East where the Special Forces of the Joint Task Force are dislodging the Boko Haram insurgents is in line with the stated reason of the Federal Government for withdrawing some of its troops from Mali.

INEC withdraws ACN, ANPP, CPC Certificates

Attahiru Jega

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Wednesday said that it has approved the application by three political parties – the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) – to merge into one, to be known as the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a statement signed by the Secretary of the commission, Alhaji Abduallhi Kaugama, INEC said, “On considering the application, the Commission found that the applicant-parties have met all statutory requirements for the merger, and has accordingly granted their request”.

Fire Guts Muoka Foam Company in Lagos

A mysterious fire outbreak yesterday night gutted the warehouse of Mouka Foam Manufacturing Company,  along Ladipo Oluwole Street, Off Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja, Lagos. When contacted, the Spokesperson, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), South-west Zone, Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, confirmed the incident. He said his  agency had mobilised firefighters from both the state and federal fire service to put out the fire, adding that there was no casualty.

How 42 Boko Haram Suspects were Rounded up in Lagos

Joint Task Force 

A two-week raid carried out by a Joint Task Force led by operatives of the Nigerian Army, 81 Division Headquarters, Lagos, may have once again saved residents in Lagos and Ogun States from possible attacks by terrorists, THISDAY investigations revealed Tuesday.

The joint raid had led to the arrest of 42 members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect who were dislodged from the North-east by military purge carried out under emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States and had migrated to Lagos and Ogun States to regroup and plant terrorist cells.

FEATURES: Going Beyond Security Service

Ekhomu, Gbadebo, Mrs. Victoria Ekhomu

Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that with the security challenge in the country, more efforts are geared towards professionalism by private security providers

Before now, an issue of security in Nigeria was treated with levity. But not anymore.   With frequent attacks by members of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram and   pockets of violence everywhere, many individuals and parastatals have started to tow the line of hiring private security personnel to meet the need of securing their property.

FINALLY, INEC Registers APC

INEC logo

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved the application by three political parties – the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) – to merge into one, to be known as the All Progressives Congress.

Police Nab Suspected Ritualists with Human Eyes in Jos

 Police Headquarters

A man suspected to have killed a herdsboy named Goltona Salihu for ritual purpose has been arrested with two human eyeballs believed to have been those of the late herds-boy. The suspect, Tacha Tali, who was paraded by the Police along with three other, was said to have confessed to the crime during investigation.

Plateau Police Recover Baby from Buyers

Plateau State Command of the Nigeria Police on Wednesday paraded four women suspected to have passed an eight-month-old baby among themselves in a serial sale starting with the baby's grandmother, who sold the baby to the first buyer. While the baby's grandmother, Mrs Kate Anwacha sold the baby for N200,000 to the first buyer named Eucharia Anyeagbu, she in turn sold the baby for N330,000 to a second buyer, Rita Madubuko, who also sold the baby at N500,000 to one Grace Nnadozie.

APGA CRISIS: Obi, Umeh Finally Reconcile Two Years Later

Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi

After about two years in the political trenches over the soul of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi and the National Chairman of the party, Chief Victor Umeh, Monday at the Government House in Awka, finally chose the path of peace to reconcile their differences and bury the hatchet.

While Obi and Umeh were reconciling their differences, the factional National Chairman of the party, Mr. Maxi Okwu, and some members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), headed to the Federal High Court, Awka, praying the court to uphold the April convention of the party held in Awka.

Lagos Finance Commissioner Resigns to Take up First Bank Job

First Bank of Nigeria Plc

The Lagos State Government Monday announced the resignation of its Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Tokunbo Abiru, to take up an appointment as the Executive Director of First Bank of Nigeria Plc and a Board member of FBN Holdings Plc.

Abiru’s resignation, which was formally tendered Monday, but would take effect from August 1, was contained in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media to Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Mr. Hakeem Bello.

Kalu Threatens to Sue Fashola over Forced Relocation of Igbos

Former Governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu

Former Governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, has  given the Lagos State Government a seven-day ultimatum to apologise to the 67 persons of Igbo ethnic nationality allegedly deported from Lagos to Onitsha in Anambra State or he would head to court to defend their interest.

Kalu  said there was no law in the country, which empowers a state or governor to deport any Nigerian to any part of the country.BIn a statement made available Monday, Kalu said there was right to freedom of movement for every Nigerian as enshrined in Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution.

Finally, INEC to Decide APC’s Fate Thursday

ACN National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will on Thursday give its verdict on the request by leading opposition parties to coalesce and be registered as the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) had teamed up to form the coalition on whose platform they would challenge the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 elections.

Police Arrest Nurse for Setting House help Ablaze

Policemen attached to Bode Thomas Division,  weekend arrested a nurse, Mrs. Nkese Iroakazi, for allegedly setting her 11-year-old house help, Ita Bassey-Eno ablaze at their residence at Adeniran Ogunsanya Street, Surulere, Lagos.

The victim who was accused of allegedly stealing a piece of meat from the pot of soup, is currently receiving treatment at the Burns and Trauma centre of the Gbadaga General hospital, where doctors are battling to save her life.

Three Kids Die, Eight Injured in Stampede over Sallah Gift

Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko

At least three kids were killed and eight people injured following a stampede at the residence of Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko, in Sokoto as a throng of people scrambled for Sallah gifts being distributed by the governor.

checks Monday revealed that the incident occurred at about 9pm on Sunday when a large number of youths, who formed three queues to collect clothing materials for Sallah festivities, began struggling to get the largesse, which the governor usually distributes before the Sallah festivities.

During the scrambling by the crowd, three underage children slumped and died as a result of suffocation while several teenagers were injured and are currently receiving treatment at the Specialist Hospital, Sokoto.

Terrorism: FG Begins Trial of Lebanese

Federal High Court

The federal government Monday commenced the trial of three Lebanese charged with terrorism-related offences. At the commencement of the trial before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, the prosecutors also filed fresh charges related to money-laundering and illegal importation of goods, among other crimes, against the accused persons.

Monday, the prosecution called three witnesses, who were mainly officials of the Department of State Security Service (DSS), to testify in the case. The Lebanese - Mustapha Fawaz (49), Abdallah Thahini (48) and Talal Ahmad Roda (51) - were charged with their companies – Amigo Supermarket and Wonderland Amusement Park Resort.

Before the commencement of the trial Monday, the accused persons were re-arraigned on a 16-count amended charge, to which they pleaded not guilty.

Among the charges against them were that they conspired and engaged in unlawful importation of prohibited firearms between 1988 and 2008 in Kano.

NEITI: $10.9 billion Lost to Crude Oil Theft in 2 Years

Mr. Ledum Mitee

The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) Monday painted a worrisome picture of the effects of oil theft on Nigerian economy, saying the nation has lost over 136 million barrels of crude oil estimated at $10.9 billion through pilfering and sabotage from 2009 to 2011.

According to the organisation, in addition to the total amount of products and revenue lost to crude oil theft by the country in the upstream sector, about 10 million barrels of products, valued at $894 million, were also lost to pipeline vandalism in the downstream sector within the period under consideration.

SLUM TO SCHOOL 1000 VOICES CAMPAIGN!! THE FUTURE BEGINS HERE!

The Slum2school project, a volunteer based charitable organization driven by young social reformers to provide scholarship and psychosocial support for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC’s) in some of the major slums in Nigeria and across Africa,  has announced the launch of its annual fund raising campaign for 2013 tagged #1000 Voices.

The campaign is geared towards enrolling 1000 kids in 3 communities namely Makoko and Aiyetoru in Yaba Local Government and Emina community, a remote island in Epe.

EXCLUSIVE: ARREST OF SUSPECTED ARMED ROBBER

LAGOS CP, UMAR MANKO

On 27/7/2013 about 0200hrs, policemen attached to Area N’ Command Headquarters, Ijede responded to a distress call, trailed and arrested one Dayo Olarewaju ‘m’ of no fixed address and rescued one Bosede Adisa ‘f’ at Ewu-Elepe Town Ikorodu. The suspect with others at large allegedly  disposed Adisa Stephen ‘m’ of his Mitsubishi Montero Jeep with reg. No. AKD 457 AZ at gun point at Lucky Fibre Ikorodu and drove away with his wife Bosede Adisa ‘f’. The victim and the suspect are receiving medical attention at a hospital within Ijede while effort is on to arrest the fleeing members of the gang. The case is under investigation at State Criminal Investigation Department Yaba.

EXCLUSIVE: Fire Guts Shops in Ebute Meta

On 27/7/2013 about 0130hrs, fire gutted a shop at Herbert Macaulay Way by Market Street, Ebute-Metta. The fire was put out by neighbours, police team and fire service personnel mobilized to the scene. No life was lost. Cause of fire and value of property destroyed are yet to be ascertained. The incident is under investigation at Denton Division.

EXCLUSIVE: Motorist Kills Pedestrian in Lagos

LAGOS CP, UMAR MANKO

On 26/7/2013 about 1530hrs a Toyota Previa Space Bus with reg. No. AGL 422 AE driven by one Christopher Fapolunda ‘m’ of No.7, Obalenge Street, Ijegun Road, Ikotun, hit a yet to be identified male pedestrian along Ile-Iwe/Egbe Road, Ikotun. Victim was rushed to General Hospital Isolo where he later died. The corpse has been deposited at the hospital mortuary for autopsy. The matter is under investigation at Ikotun Division.

EXCLUSIVE: Police Arrest Suspect for Abducting 5-Year Pupil

Lagos PRO, Ngozi Braide

On 26/7/2013 about 1735hrs policemen attached to Okokomaiko Division arrested one Basira ‘f’ other name and address yet unknown for allegedly abducting one Destiny ‘m’ 5years old, a pupil of Sulaful Nursery and Primary school, Okokomaiko. The case is under investigation at Okokomaiko Division.

EXCLUSIVE: Fashola Calls on Security Agencies to Synergize

FASHOLA

Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, on Monday urged all security agencies in the state to work in harmony in securing the lives and property of people. Fashola said this while declaring open the stakeholders’ forum on Critical Infrastructures, organised by the Lagos State command of the Nigeria Security of Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The Governor, represented by the Senior Special Adviser on Security, Major.Babtunde Panox (Rtd)  said that irrespective of the law establishing each security agency, they all should synergise in securing the state.

EXCLUSIVE: Lagos Police Arrest Armed Robber, Recover Arms and Ammunition

Lagos PRO, Ngozi Braide

On 26/7/2013 at about 3pm, policemen attached to Okokomaiko Division responded
to a distress call at Eddy Hotel situated along Akuberu Road Okokomaiko and
arrested one Ahmed Akeem ‘m’ of no fixed address with three locally made pistols
 and five cartridges. One Oja ‘m’, Sunny ‘m’ and other members of gang escaped
on sighting the police. Effort is on to track down the fleeing members of the gang.
The case is under investigation at State Criminal Investigation Department Yaba.