The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced that the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron, is yet to be detected in Nigeria.
“While Omicron variant has so far not been detected in Nigeria, a number of cases have now been reported in the UK, Israel, Botswana, Hong Kong, Germany, Belgium, Italy and counting,” the NCDC Director-General, Ifedayo Adetifa, said in a statement on Monday.
“No death has been attributed to this new variant yet, but 126 genomes of this variant have been detected globally and published on GISAID, which is a global mechanism for sharing sequencing data.”
Adetifa added that the Ministry of Health and NCDC were aware of reports of this new COVID-19 variant – the B.1.1.529 lineage.
The variant has now been designated a variant of concern and named; Omicron by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
“Howbeit, we are monitoring emerging evidence on this new variant and its implication to inform Nigeria’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” NCDC boss added.
“But given the high number of mutations present in this Omicron variant and the exponential rise in COVID-19 cases observed in South Africa, the virus is considered highly transmissible and may also present an increased risk of reinfection compared to other variants of concern.”
The Nigerian government has enhanced surveillance at airports and other points of entry and mandated compulsory COVID-19 PCR testing at those places to ensure compliance with current travel guidance.
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Timothy Adegoke, the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) MBA student who was found dead at the Hilton Hotel and Resorts, Ile-Ife, Osun State, was said to be planning to relocate abroad before he was killed.
Bola Adegoke, the widow of the deceased revealed this on Monday, noting that her late husband was planning to relocate his family abroad over the rising insecurity in Nigeria.
Speaking with FIJ, she said, “He said he would relocate me, his children and his parents abroad while he would remain in the country. His parents sent him to school from the proceeds of farming, and he stopped them from going to the farm.”
“My husband had always used the hotel. So, they had been monitoring him. They were 16 in the hotel that night, and he was the only one they killed. I heard the hotel owner only uses people with good luck. We attend a white-garment church, and we had been told my husband had good luck.” See AlsoNewsI’m Being Hunted For Demanding Justice – Brother Of Slain OAU Master’s Student, Adegoke0 Comments13 Hours Ago
The mother of three children noted that getting justice for her husband could prevent such incidents in the future, especially at a time the country is faced with insecurity of all kinds.
“Although we have accepted our cross, I want justice. People must use hotels. If you travelled down to this place, you would still want to be lodged in a hotel in the evening. Ensuring justice in this case will discourage those who have plans to kill other people right now,” she said.
A police source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, had said a team from Abuja arrived at the Osun Police Command on November 25 to work out modalities on how to transfer the investigation to Abuja.
“I can confirm to you that the Force Headquarters, under the instruction of the IGP, has ordered the transfer of the case to Abuja. Rahmon Adegoke, the owner of the hotel, has also been transported to the Force Headquarters where investigations would continue,” he had said.
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The Nigerian Army personnel and some gunmen are having a heavy shootout at Mgbidi and Akata in the Oru West Local Government Area of Imo State.
The Sun reports that a source from the area explained that the gun battle started as early as 6am on Tuesday when the gunmen allegedly enforcing the partial lockdown order of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) barricaded the roads, ordering people to go back to their houses.
However, the source said they were later confronted by the military who responded swiftly to counter their order.
As at the time of this report, it is not clear if there was any casualty on both sides.
Recall that IPOB yesterday urged people in the South-East to pray fervently for peace in the zone, unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu, and restoration of a Biafra nation.
Although a statement by the spokesperson of the group, Emma Powerful did not order a sit-at-home, it urged the people to lock up their shops temporarily during the duration of the prayers and open shortly after.
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Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the lawyer to Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, has frowned at the Department of State Services, for granting access to a visitor to see Kanu in custody without the strict adherence to court guidelines.
Ejiofor, in an update he gave on Kanu on Monday which was obtained by SaharaReporters, lambasted the DSS for “throwing caution to the wind” and allowing a serving senator, Orji Uzor Kalu, access “even before the time scheduled for the formal visit and without his lawyers being present during the visit.”
Nnamdi KanuAFP
The lawyer said, “Our yesterday’s routine visit to our Client - Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was hugely insightful, following the successful twist in our introduced methodology. Though it may appear complex before some observers, it was very extant in the circumstance of this case.
“Meaningful interventions were reviewed, and legal steps we are exploring to continue to checkmate the aggressors within the ambit of legal inhibitions were thoroughly x-rayed.
“Kudos were given to deserving members of our Legal team who have remained outstanding in the discharge of their professional duties, as well as everyone of us who have remained relentless and resolute.
“We can at best describe what transpired yesterday between a visitor whom the detaining authority ostensibly aided to violate the court-ordered guideline for visiting our Client as bizarre and unusual.
“The DSS is not oblivious of the terms of the court's guideline which they have consistently maintained in the past that it must be obeyed to the letter, and through which position they had denied many friends and Attorneys of our Client, access to him.
“However, caution was thrown to the wind yesterday and instead of insisting on this full compliance with the existing guideline, the DSS for reasons best known to them allowed a visitor access to our Client even before the time scheduled for the formal visit and without his lawyers being present during the visit.
“It is of serious concern that the visit was conducted without strict adherence to the court ordered guideline, but more condescending that the visit later became a subject of political gimmicks. If we Our client's Attorneys, his flesh and blood brothers, and his wife will visit him in due compliance with the court ordered guideline, how can the DSS authorise a visit from any other person in gross violation of this guideline?
“There is more to it than meets the eyes, which the DSS is now under a compelling duty to explain to us. Granted that his name appeared among the list submitted at the 11th hour alongside the names of the lawyers scheduled for the visit, but hurriedly proceeding to conduct the visit without us being present in line with the requirement of the guideline left us with many unanswered questions.
“We have initiated a formal process towards ensuring a thorough investigation of what transpired yesterday, and we shall not hesitate to formally address the world on this subject if there is any attempt to sweep our petition under the carpet.
“The Order of the court and terms as laid down guideline, to regulate visits to our Client is to ensure his maximum protection from persons who may wish to secretly seize the opportunity to hurt or intimidate him into accepting a false narrative outside the dungeon where he is being illegally detained, and they could achieve this through threats and/or coercion. Hence, the need for the presence of his lawyers before granting any audience.
“We may not wish to speak further on this subject or even discuss our Client’s position on this visit pending the outcome of investigation on the DSS authorised violation of the court ordered guideline.
“In as much as we have unequivocally demanded for an immediate investigation, we are not by any means insinuating that visitors of our client’s choice are not permitted or restrained from visiting him henceforth, but our position is that every visit to our Client must conform with the already set out guideline by the court.
“We shall keep you all updated as we navigate through this turbulent path, but just note that victory and nothing less than victory is our goal, and it shall surely end in VICTORY UmuChineke.”
SaharaReporters on Monday reported that Kalu, the Chief Whip of the Senate and former Governor of Abia State said he visited Kanu in the DSS custody.
Kalu had revealed that his meeting with the pro-Biafra separatist leader was based on his encouragement that he should consider certain consequences of his actions "for the sake of Igbo people."
“This afternoon, I visited my brother, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in DSS custody, Abuja. I met him in good health and care and we discussed as ‘Umunne’.
"In 2001 when I was Governor, I made his father Eze Israel Okwu Kanu, the traditional ruler of Akwara Ukwu and since then the family has been very close to me.
“I understand that Nnamdi has an insane amount of people rooting for his back home and I encouraged him to consider the consequences of certain actions and utterances for the sake of the same people.
“Even though, my ideology and his ideology are totally different, God has made us brothers and we can’t run away from each other. I owe him and Nigerians good counseling,” Kalu had said.
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Hundreds of federal civil servants especially in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, are rushing to hospitals and designated centres to take the COVID-19 vaccines ahead of December 1 deadline to bar them from offices.
According to Daily Trust, this is the wake of the ravaging effect of another COVID-19 variant named Omicron, which puts the world on red alert as many countries contemplate closing their borders and restricting movements.
The federal government had months ago announced that workers who were yet to receive the COVID-19 vaccine will be denied access into government offices from tomorrow, December 1, 2021.
Daily Trust observed in Abuja that hundreds of civil servants were in a last-minute rush to get the jab as many centres recorded a high influx of civil servants.
An anonymous source at the Federal Secretariat vaccination centre said many people were rushing to be vaccinated.
“So far, we have been able to vaccinate dozens of civil servants and their family members with the Astrazeneca and Modena today. Also, we have been able to administer the second round of the COVID-19 vaccine to many people today. The second jab is administered eight weeks after the first jab,” the health worker said.
Also, the Director Communication, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHoCSF), Malam Abdulganiyu Aminu, said they could not be specific on the actual number of civil servants vaccinated, especially for the fact that the exercise was ongoing.
In an interview, he said, “But reports reaching us from the various vaccination centres are encouraging. Many civil servants are responding to the call to get vaccinated.”
The Executive Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaibu, had said that as of November 26, a total of 6,242,224 Nigerians had received the first dose of COVID-19.
He also said 3,487,298 Nigerians had received their second dose and therefore fully vaccinated.
This meant only 1.7 per cent of the total population target of 111,776,503 has been vaccinated.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, gave the order in a circular with ref. no: HCSF/3065/Vol.1/107 dated November 26, 2021.
She recalled that as part of the measures to curtail the spread of the COVID-19 Pandemic, officers on GL 12 and below were directed to work from home.
She, however, said President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the Vaccine Mandate Policy, which would require all federal government employees to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
Also, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19, Mr Boss Mustapha, had announced that all federal workers would be barred from office from December 1, unless they showed proofs of their vaccination against the coronavirus.
On Monday, some of the federal workers expressed mixed feelings about the development.
While some of them said it was good that the government made the COVID-19 vaccination mandatory in the interest of the nation, few others said it violated their fundamental rights.
“I am happy that the government has made it mandatory for workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19,” a worker with the ministry of power, said.
“It is sad that we don’t trust our government because from the look of things, millions of Nigerians are not willing to take the jab and this is dangerous.
“Look at how the variant is mutating. Look at the Omicron that is ravaging the world. Government must deploy all the resources it has to ensure that all Nigerians are vaccinated not only civil servants. The civil servants are a fraction of the over 200m people in the country. It is saddening that up till now less than 2 per cent have been vaccinated. We are sitting on a time bomb,” he said.
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Argentine footballer, Lionel Messi, has won the 2021 Ballon d’Or -- the award for the best soccer player on the planet within a particular year.
Messi defeated closest rival, Robert Lewandoski to win the prize for a record seventh time.
The former Barcelona superstar, who moved to Paris Saint Germain earlier this year, won the award after leading Argentina to the Copa America title.
The star-studded event, which was held at the Chatelet Theatre in Paris, France, on Monday evening, saw Italian and Chelsea of London midfielder, Jorginho, emerging third on the log.
Messi now has two more Ballon d’Or award than Cristiano Ronaldo, who finished a distant sixth in this year's contest.
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Olugbade Adegoke, the immediate elder brother of the slain Master’s student of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Timothy, has raised the alarm that he's being hunted for demanding justice for the death of his sibling.
It was earlier reported that the student died in controversial circumstances when he lodged at Hiltons Hotels and Resorts, Ile-Ife, to sit for an examination.
He was subsequently buried by the hotel management in a shallow grave without the knowledge of his family or the police.
The owner of the hotel, Dr Ramon Adedoyin, and five others have been arrested for complicity in the case while his son, Raheem, who is the Managing Director of the hotel, is at large after a suspect confessed that he supervised the hurried burial of the deceased student.
An autopsy result into the cause of the death of the student is still being expected as of press time even as the case has been transferred to Abuja.
“During the autopsy last week Monday at LAUTECH Hospital, these people also came for me that I had to hide. What do they stand to gain? I know they want to end the case abruptly but I know that God is behind the just.”
He urged the Nigeria Police Force to declare Adedoyin’s son, Raheem, wanted for, “supervising the hasty and clandestine burial” of Timothy.
The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa) has scored President Muhammadu Buhari's human rights’ record low over the alleged killings of members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN and the 2020 #EndSARS protesters.
The CDD Executive Director, Idayat Hassan, stated this in Abuja on Monday during the formal launching of “Democracy Watch Reports.”
She said civil and political rights had deteriorated in the past five years under the regime of Buhari like his predecessors.
Idayat said, “Some of the interventions have been reactive more than preventive in the war against graft in this country. But what is very worrying as part of our findings and report particularly on the issue of human rights is that in these 22 years so far, we have seen the deterioration of human rights which is like the basis of democracy.
“In the last 22 years, we have seen that from one administration to the other, there have been flagrant human rights violations especially extra judicial killings. As an example, you find that during the administration of Olusegun Obasanjo, we had Odi Massacre in Zaki Biam.
“During the Yar'Adua administration, we had the killing of Boko Haram leader and the most recent one is the killing of IMN, IPOB and the EndSARS protesters. So for each administration, there has been a deterioration.”
The report also identified political influence in corruption investigations and prosecutions as a major obstacle that had undermined the fight against corruption in the country.
The center therefore recommended that politicians should be required to publicly disclose their sources of income to foster accountability and develop public trust.
The center added that the Presidency and the National Assembly must strengthen their supervision over ministries, departments, and agencies and collaborate to reinforce their legal and administrative mandate.
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The Nigerian government has accused the Eastern Security Network, the militia wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) of abducting and murdering two policemen.
A statement on Monday by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, stated that the culprits behind the “killings, who videotaped their heinous act and circulated such will be apprehended and brought to justice.”
Lai Mohammed
He described the abduction of three policemen and the killing of two of them, “in the most horrific, barbaric and cannibalistic manner, as an unacceptable attack against the state."
The minister listed the victims as ASP Francis Idoko (AP No.154945); Inspector Emmanuel Akubo (AP No.222336) and Inspector Rufai Adamu (AP.No.285009).
“They were abducted by members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), acting on the instructions of their leader, Chinonso Okafor, aka TEMPLE, on 27 November 2021.
”Inspectors Akubo and Adamu were killed, their decapitated bodies videotaped and circulated widely. The leader of the ESN team that killed the two officers is one ‘GENTLE’.
“Okafor, the most influential commander of ESN in charge of Imo and the Anambra States, as well as ‘Gentle’ and all those who perpetrated the abhorrent act, will be made to face swift and sure justice,” he said.
The minister stressed that the targeting and killing of security agents, under any guise, was a direct attack on Nigeria and would not be tolerated.
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The lawmaker, representing Ohaukwu North constituency in the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Chinedu Awo, has been attacked by gunmen on his way to his hometown Effium Community in the Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the state.
The Ebonyi State Police Command’s spokesman, DSP Loveth Odah, told journalists in Abakaliki on Monday that two police personnel were also abducted during the attack.
File Photo
The policemen were in the company of the lawmaker, when they were abducted on Sunday.
The spokesperson noted that on November 28, 2021, at about 2pm, Awo accompanied police operatives who were returning from investigation activities in connection with the three missing engineers, abducted in the same area on November 3.
“Awo accompanied the operatives to enable him to dialogue with the warriors at Igbuduoke village in Effium/Ezza clan ‘the warring community’ in Ohaukwu Local Government Area; they were ambushed by armed Ezza warriors numbering over 60.
“The operatives gallantly fought back, resulting in heavy casualties on the side of the attackers.
“However, DSP Bruno Chukwu and two others sustained bullet wounds and are currently in hospital responding to treatment. The two police officers by name; Sergeant Donatus Osugwu, and Sergeant Thaddeus Ugoeze, are suspected to have been abducted by the hoodlums,” Odah explained.
She explained that the Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi, Mr Aliyu Garba, had led a team on reinforcement at the scene.
“They have cordoned the forest and searched the village but could not see the missing officers or the perpetrators. Efforts are in top gear to ensure the perpetrators are tracked down and arrested,” she said.
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A Federal High Court in Lagos State on Monday heard how N1.5billion was allegedly diverted from the National Maritime Administration Safety Agency (NIMASA) between 2013 and 2015 during the tenure of the agency's then Director-General, Patrick Akpobolokemi.
A former personal assistant in the agency, Ekene Nwakuche, made the allegation during the continuation of Akpobolokemi's fraud trial before Justice Ayokunle Faji.
Nwakuche, the 11th prosecution witness, was led in evidence by the counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Rotimi Oyedepo.
Nwakuche, relying on documents tendered by the EFCC in support the allegation, narrated several transactions he alleged he was instructed to carry out by the then NIMASA Director of Intelligence Gathering, Captain Bala Agaba, in relation to the fraud.
Agaba is serving a seven-year jail term for misappropriating NIMASA funds and breach of trust.
The court was shown documents for request and approval of funds on intelligence gathering, which were allegedly diverted.
The witness testified that on December 23, 2013, a Committee on Intelligence Gathering unlawfully paid N1.billion to companies owned by NIMASA directors.
The companies included; Ake Integrated Nigeria Limited, YCCE Limited, Global Seal International Limited, Cofa Fada, Gidago Nig Limited and Alkenzo Nig Limited.
According to him, the firms were used by the directors to divert the N1.5billion.
Nwakuche alleged that the firms were used to change dollars as against the purpose stated in the proposal and approval of procuring security support on ISPS.
The witness testified that he delivered the money after it was converted by the companies brought by the second defendant Agaba and some other directors to the second defendant.
According to the EFCC, Akpobolokemi, Agaba and the other defendants were co-conspirators.
Justice Faji adjourned further trial to 30th of November, 2021.
One of charges reads, "That you, Patrick Akpobolokemi, Captain Ezekiel Bala Agaba and Captain Warredi Enisuot, on or about the 20th day of December, 2013 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this court did conspire amongst yourselves to commit an offence, to wit: Conversion of the sum of N1,151,214,000 property of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, which sum you reasonably ought to have known form part of proceeds of your unlawful act.”
The defendants pleaded not guilty.
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A popular disk jockey in Ondo State, Adedoyin Olowu, widely known as DJ Donnieyen, has been killed by gangsters.
SaharaReporters learnt that Olowu was gunned down by youths wielding various dangerous weapons in broad daylight at the Ilaje section of the state last Thursday.
The incident has not only sent panic across the coastal area of the state but also other communities where tensions have been rising lately.
Cult clashes in Ilaje and Okitipupa areas of Ondo have left a handful of deaths over the last one week, sources told SaharaReporters.
Despite several reports of the activities of cult gangs made to the police and other law enforcement agencies in the state, killings of this kind appear to be on the rise especially in the two communities earlier mentioned.
Friends and fans have been paying tribute to the deceased disk jockey on his social media pages following his gruesome murder by yet-to-be-identified persons.
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The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that the recently discovered and heavily mutated Omicron COVID-19 variant is likely to spread internationally.
The organisation said on Monday, that the new variant poses a very high risk of infection surges that could have “severe consequences” in some places.
BBC
Reuters reports that no Omicron-linked deaths had yet been reported, though further research was needed to assess its potential to resist vaccines and immunity induced by previous infections.
Anticipating increased case numbers as the variant, first reported last week spreads, the United Nations agency urged its 194 member-states to accelerate vaccination of high-priority groups.
“Omicron has an unprecedented number of spike mutations, some of which are concerning for their potential impact on the trajectory of the pandemic,” the WHO said.
“The overall global risk is assessed as very high.”
The WHO Director-General Tedros, Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said Omicron’s emergence showed how “perilous and precarious” the situation was.
“Omicron demonstrates just why the world needs a new accord on pandemics,” he told the start of an assembly of health ministers expected to launch negotiations on such an agreement.”
The new global deal, expected by May 2024, would cover issues such as sharing of data and genome sequences of emerging viruses, and of any potential vaccines derived from research.
Also, Scientist Richard Hatchett, CEO of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), a foundation that funds vaccine development, said Omicron’s emergence had fulfilled predictions that transmission of the virus in areas with low vaccination rates would speed its evolution.
“The inequity that has characterised the global response has now come home to roost,” he told the talks, noting that Botswana and South Africa had fully vaccinated less than a quarter of their populations.
Recall that Omicron was first reported on November 24 from South Africa, where infections have risen steeply.
It has since spread to more than a dozen countries, many of which have imposed travel restrictions to try to seal themselves off. Japan on Monday joined Israel in saying it would close its borders completely to foreigners.
The WHO reiterated that, pending further advice, countries should use a “risk-based approach to adjust international travel measures”, while acknowledging that a rise in coronavirus cases might lead to higher morbidity and mortality rates.
“The impact on vulnerable populations would be substantial, particularly in countries with low vaccination coverage,” it added.
Meanwhile, in vaccinated persons, “COVID-19 cases and infections are expected, albeit in a small and predictable proportion.”
Overall, there were “considerable uncertainties in the magnitude of immune escape potential of Omicron”, and more data was expected in coming weeks.
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Chiemeka Arinze, a co-defendant in the trial of suspected kidnap kingpin, Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike, alias Evans, died of HIV complications.
Arinze died in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service, other known as prison.
Arinze before his death was standing trial alongside Evans, Joseph Emeka, and Udeme Upong, over the attempted kidnap of the Chairman of the Young Shall Grow Motors, Chief Vincent Obianodo, before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of an Ikeja Special Offences Court.
The suspects are facing seven counts of murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, attempt to kidnap, among others.
It was learnt that Arinze, said to have been ill, died last Friday, November 26, 2021.
A source from a Kirikiri Correctional Centre, however, told the Nation that Arinze died as a result of Cardiopulmonary arrest.
The source said Arinze had been sick for some time before he was rushed from the Kirikiri Custodial Centre to a General Hospital, where he died.
The medical records from Ajeromi General Hospital, Ajegunle signed by Dr. Salisu B. E. indicated that the deceased, 45, was suffering from complicated “Advanced HIV.”
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A 38-year-old Nigerian man, Kizito Chukwujekwu, residing in Morrow, Georgia, was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison for his involvement in a conspiracy to commit bank fraud in the United States.
This was announced by the Acting United States Attorney, John J. Farley in a statement last Wednesday.
File photo used to illustrate story.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between June of 2016 and August of 2017, Chukwujekwu and others opened at least 10 bank accounts at banks in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Georgia using other persons’ identification information. Chukwujekwu or his co-conspirators then deposited fraudulent checks into those accounts.
After the money was credited to the accounts but before the bank determined the check was false, one of Chukwujekwu’s accomplices withdrew money from the bank accounts. During the scheme, the conspirators deposited fraudulent checks worth more than $119,000 (N67,830,000) and withdrew more than $69,000 (N39,330,000).
Chukwujekwu previously pleaded guilty on July 13, 2021. In addition to his sentence, he was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $69,168.25.
On January 3, 2020, Chinedu Ihejiere, a co-conspirator was sentenced to 25 months in prison for participating in the same scheme.
“Financial fraud schemes cause real damage to their victims,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “We work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify those who are responsible for committing bank fraud and other fraud offences. As this case demonstrates, those who come to New Hampshire to commit fraud schemes will be prosecuted aggressively and will find themselves in federal prison.”
“Fueled by nothing more than pure and simple greed, Kizito Chukwujekwu and his co-conspirators stole tens of thousands of dollars from people they figured would never miss it. However, he was clearly wrong,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “This case demonstrates how the FBI, and our partners won’t stand for criminals who seek to enrich themselves at the expense of innocent Americans.”
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A lawyer, Festus Ogun, says the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and Other Matters wasn’t “illegal and a waste of time” as claimed by Festus Keyamo, Minister of State for Labour and Employment.
Keyamo had made the comment on Sunday during an interview on Channels Television.
The minister in the cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari said the Lagos State Government, which set up the judicial panel, lacks the power to probe the conduct of police and military officers.
Keyamo said by the virtue of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), only the Nigerian government can investigate the military and police.
Reacting, Ogun said while the Lagos State Government cannot make laws to control, discipline or regulate security officers of the Nigerian government, it has the constitutional powers to set up panels to investigate human rights abuses and the conduct of federal officers like the police and army.
He said, “With due respect, the position of the learned Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) is grossly misconceived, suspiciously misleading and does not reflect the true position of the law. The Lagos EndSARS panel was constituted within the ambits of law and its investigative powers are neither overreaching nor beyond the scope of the 1999 Constitution.
“First, Section 1 of the Tribunal of Inquiry Law, Cap T7, Laws of Lagos State, 2015, confers power on the Governor of Lagos State to constitute the judicial panel to investigate 'any matter in respect of which in the opinion an inquiry would be for the public welfare'. Instructively, it is settled law that the Federal Government lacks the power and authority to constitute judicial panels or any tribunal whatsoever for state governments. With a clear understanding that the Federal Government lacks the constitutional vires to constitute tribunal for states, the National Economic Council, NEC, last year directed the immediate establishment of State-based Judicial Panels of Inquiry to investigate complaints of police brutality or related extrajudicial killings with a view to delivering justice for all victims of the dissolved Special Anti-Robbery Squads (SARS) and other police units.
“In the popular case of Fawehinmi v. Babangida (2003) 3 NWLR (Pt.808) 604, the Supreme Court succinctly held that: "The National Assembly cannot enact a general Law for the establishment of tribunals of inquiry for, and applicable in, the Federation of Nigeria. The power to enact such a Law has become a residual matter for the States in respect of which the Houses of Assembly can legislate for their respective States by virtue of Section 4(7)(a) of the 1999 Constitution. Although the Tribunals of Inquiry Act is an 'existing law,' its application is limited and has no general application". Flowing from the decision of Supreme Court, it is clear like crystal that the Federal Government of Nigeria can only set up Tribunal for the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and not for States of the federation.
“It is not in doubt that matters relating to the police and other security agencies established by law are on the exclusive legislative list. It is equally not a subject of controversy that Section 21 of the Tribunal of Inquiry Law of Lagos State empowers the Governor to exercise his powers under the Law in respect of matters within the legislative competence of the state. My only question is whether issues of human rights are within the legislative competence of state governments and whether the panels so constituted can look into the atrocities and human rights violations committed by the police and other security agencies?
“In AG Abia State v. AG Federation (2006) 16 NWLR (Pt. 1005) 265, the Supreme Court clarified that matters not included in the exclusive and concurrent lists are residual and are meant for the State, not the Federal, to legislate upon. Human rights related matters are neither on the exclusive or concurrent lists, therefore, they are within the legislative competence of Lagos state. Thus, the Lagos State government can validly make laws in respect of human rights and constitute panels to investigate cases of human rights violations recorded within the state.
“While the Lagos State Government cannot make laws to control, discipline or regulate security officers of the Federal Government, it has the constitutional powers to set up panels to investigate human rights abuses and in any case where the conducts of federal officers like the police and army come under checks or scrutiny, the panels so constituted have the powers in law and equity to investigate them and make valid recommendations.
“There is a fundamental difference between the Lagos State government legislating over matters on officers of the Federal Government and a case where officers of the Federal Government who committed heinous crimes against humanity in Lagos State become subject of a Panel of Inquiry set up by the Lagos State Government. Those that perpetrated the massacre cannot use the law as a shield from being answerable for their crimes.
“Meanwhile, it is a rude shock that the learned silk just discovered his alleged 'illegality' of the Panel over a year since it was constituted up till the point that it submitted its reports. This sudden attack on the legal validity of the panel is strange and quite suspicious. One wonders if the Honourable Minister would have maintained the same position if the Panel reports and recommendations absolved the Federal Government of any wrongdoing. I daresay that the opinion of the Honourable Minister is calculated to discredit the valid reports of the panel. Too late! The truth is in the open and no attempt to thwart the genuine efforts of the EndSARS panel will succeed.
“I find it self-immolating that the same Federal Government that directed that the panel be set up and submitted itself to its jurisdiction is coming forward to challenge the constitutionality of the panel. It shows a great level of dissimulation and double-standard. Why is the Federal Government blowing hot and cold? Why is the Federal Government approbating and reprobating? It is illegal and immoral for the Federal Government to submit to the jurisdiction of the Panel and later retract when the verdict is 'unfavorable'.
“In the light of the foregoing, I call on well-meaning Nigerians to disregard the views of Mr. Keyamo as it is grossly misleading, made in bad faith and calculated to distract the incontrovertible fact that Nigeria is currently ruled by merchants of death.”
#EndSARSLegalNewsAddThis : Original Author : saharareporters, new york Disable advertisements :
A cleric of the Christ Apostolic Church (New Glory of God Parish), Ogbomosho, Oyo State, Solomon Samuel, has absconded with money meant for the treatment of his ailing wife, Olayinka.
The pastor was said to have used the ATM card of his 39-year-old wife to clear the money in her account and also collected funds raised by family members for the treatment before disappearing.
SaharaReporters learnt that efforts to locate Samuel by family members since September 2021 had been futile as his mobile number remained unreachable.
Speaking with SaharaReporters, a family member narrated, “About eight months ago, there was a misunderstanding between Pastor Samuel and his wife over N2,000 he took from where she kept it inside their house.
"The money was given to her by a client to purchase an item to make a dress but the pastor took the money and spent it. After the wife asked him to refund the money, it led to serious argument between them. He thereafter placed a curse on her, saying that a sickness that would take her life would come upon her soon.
"After two months, the wife developed a disease in her mouth that saw blood dripping from her gum. Despite this sickness, Pastor Samuel refused to take her to the hospital for treatment.
"His wife gave him her ATM card to withdraw some money from her account for them to go hospital; the pastor collected the money and spent it on a different thing.
"When the bleeding became persistent, the woman was advised by a doctor to go to University College Hospital in Ibadan for treatment. It was there it was discovered that she had cancer of the mouth.
"The families of the wife and the pastor summoned him to a meeting to confirm why he had not taken her to hospital all the while but he gave them no concrete reason.
"After serious prodding from both families, Pastor Samuel confessed to being behind his wife's predicament. He promised to reverse the curse he placed on her during that meeting but he never did.
"His whereabouts has remained unknown since that period. We went to his house in Ogbomosho but he is no more there. His family members also said that they don't know his whereabouts. We are appealing to all members of Christ Apostolic Church worldwide to save the woman from Pastor Samuel," a family member told SaharaReporters on Monday.
Olayinka, who has three children for Pastor Samuel, has been unable to eat for the past five months, her family revealed.
She is said to be constantly on drip and receives at least three pints of blood every week due to the constant bleeding from her mouth -- a development the family says has drained their already lean pockets.
"We spend close to N100,000 every week on her treatment for the past four months but the bleeding has not stopped.
"She needs to go for a treatment in Lagos that costs N1.6million but we don't have that type of money. We are afraid for her life, she does not deserve to suffer this way. Pastor Samuel must be arrested and made to answer for her condition," one of her relations added.
An aunt of the accused, who asked not to be named, disclosed that they were working with Olayinka's family members to locate the fleeing cleric and also raise funds for her treatment.
"We are all working together to locate Samuel. Wherever he is, he must be fished out to answer for the suffering of his wife," the elderly woman said.
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Some angry youths on Saturday denied some politicians travelling in convoy with their orderlies access to a road in their community.
A source told SaharaReporters that the incident happened along Sapele Road, Benin City, Edo State and that the politicians tried to bypass bad roads and through the community as an alternative route.
Footage seen by SaharaReporters on Sunday revealed that the youths obstructed the road with wooden benches, containers and other objects.
When the security operatives alighted from their vans with sirens barring, the youths stood their ground.
One of the youths said, “Make una shoot the gun. Shoot the gun!”
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The trial of Chidinma Ojukwu, the prime suspect in the murder of Super TV Chief Executive Officer, Usifo Ataga, before a Lagos High Court, sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), was stalled on Monday due to a prosecution witness' lack of composure.
Chidinma Ojukwu, a 300-level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos, (first defendant), and two others are on trial over Ataga’s murder.
Chidinma is standing trial alongside her sister, Chioma Egbuchu, and one Adedapo Quadri.
At the resumed hearing of the matter today, the prosecution lawyer, Yusuf Sule, asked the court to adjourn the trial till Tuesday, November 30, saying their witness had just arrived at the court from Asaba, Delta State that morning (Monday).
Sule said, “We would be asking for an adjournment for tomorrow on the grounds that the witness we are calling just came in from Asaba this morning and he is not really composed.”
According to a video of the BBC Pidgin seen by SaharaReporters, Chidinma was taken back to the white bus that conveyed her to the court as the reporter said the witnneses were not in court.
She arrived at the court around 10 am but was led back to the vehicle a few minutes after her arrival.
The first defendant’s counsel, Onwuka Egwu, did not object to the application of the prosecution.
The second defendant’s counsel Babatunde Busari, said though he was not opposed the application, the prosecution team could have called other witnesses.
The third defendant's counsel O. A. Ogunsanya said they would oblige the prosecution’s adjournment for the sake of justice.
Subsequently, Justice Yetunde Adesanya granted the oral application for adjournment and adjourned the case till Tuesday, November 30 for continuation of trial.
At the last adjourned date, a businessman, Ifeoluwa Oluwo, had narrated to the Court how he bought the late Ataga’s laptop for N495,000 from Chidinma.
The three defendants were arraigned on October 12 on nine counts preferred against them by Lagos State Government.
Ojukwu and Quadri are facing the first to eight counts bordering on conspiracy, murder, stabbing, forgery, making of bank statements and stealing.
The third defendant, Egbuchu, is facing the ninth count of stealing a phone belonging to the late Ataga.
The first and second defendants were alleged to have conspired and murdered Ataga on June 15, by stabbing him several times in the neck and chest with a knife.
The alleged murder took place at 19, Adewale Oshin Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
Chidinma and Quadri were also accused of committing forgery by procuring and making bank account statements purported to have been made by the deceased.
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China has rejected allegations that it may take over Uganda's sole international airport if the country fails to service a $200 million loan for the expansion of the facility.
Reuters reports that a parliamentary probe last month concluded that China had imposed onerous conditions on the loan, including potential forfeiture of the airport in case of default, sparking public outrage.
The Chinese embassy in Uganda, however, said on Sunday that, "The malicious allegation that 'Uganda surrenders key assets for China cash' has no factual basis and is ill-intended only to distort the good relations that China enjoys with developing countries including Uganda."
It added that, "Not a single project in Africa has ever been confiscated by China because of failing to pay Chinese loans."
China has been accused by Western countries of luring poor countries into "debt traps" which they are unable to repay. Cash-strapped borrowers have been pushed to stake sovereign assets such as airports and seaports to access credit.
The Uganda loan was said to have been secured in 2015 from China's Exim Bank, one of the many credit lines Uganda has acquired from China over the last 15 years to fund infrastructure projects including roads and power plants.
The loan agreement has not been made public.
Lawmaker Joel Ssenyonyi, who chairs the committee that conducted the parliamentary probe, said it gives Exim Bank approval powers over the airport's annual budgets and that the loan terms allow China to "grab" the airport in case of default.
It was gathered that revenues from the airport's operations are to be deposited in an escrow account where all withdrawals have to be sanctioned by Exim Bank, Ssenyonyi told Reuters on Monday, citing the agreement.
Meanwhile, Ssenyonyi further said that the agreement also requires any dispute arbitration or court proceedings to take place in China under Chinese law.
"So Uganda is locked out entirely, the contract is one-sided," Ssenyonyi said.
A Ugandan attempt this year to renegotiate the loan terms had been rebuffed by Exim Bank, Senyonyi said, citing disclosures to the committee by the Finance Minister, Matia Kasaija.
But Reuters also reports that the Finance Minister, Kasaija declined to comment.
There have been fears that the Muhammadu Buhari-led government has made similar deals with China for the loans secured from the Asian country.
The House of Representatives Committee on Treaties, Protocols and Agreements in July 2020 expressed fears that Nigerian government ministries were signing off the country’s sovereignty in Chinese loan agreements.
The Committee stated this while the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi made a presentation on the $500 million Chinese loan for the Abuja-Kaduna railway and others.
Chairman of the Committee, Nicholas Ossai, cited a part of the Galaxy Backbone $400 million loan to build and operate the National Information and Communication Technology Infrastructure Backbone as one of such agreements.
Reading out part of the agreement, he said, “The borrower hereby irrevocably waives any immunity on the grounds of sovereign or otherwise for itself or its property in connection with any arbitration proceeding pursuant to Article 8(5), thereof with the enforcement of any arbitral award pursuant thereto, except for the military assets and diplomatic assets.”
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Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers on Monday returned to the Abuja-Kaduna highway, abducting dozens of travellers.
The attack occurred between Akilbu and Rijana villages along the expressway.
Confirming the attack, Senator Shehu Sani, a former Kaduna State senator who represented Kaduna Central in the 8th Senate said the security officers refused to engage the kidnappers.
“Some travellers have been kidnapped along Kaduna-Abuja Road an hour ago. The bandits operated between Akilbu and Rijana villages unchallenged. The road is deserted,” he posted on Twitter.
Passengers on the Abuja-Kaduna highway have been targeted by gunmen recently, with several persons abducted and some killed.
Sagir Hamida, a Zamfara governorship aspirant in the 2019 election, was recently killed by gunmen along the highway.
Several other travellers were also kidnapped during the attack.
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