The police in Kaduna have found a locally made pistol at the scene where a lecturer with the Kaduna Polytechnic  killed his wife and himself.

Journalists were told that the former Principal Lecturer with the Department of Languages, Kaduna Polytechnic, name withheld, Killed himself in his residence at Kigo road ,Kaduna.

He shot his wife, a part time lecturer at the Department of Languages Kaduna State University (KASU) before shooting himself, also.

The wife was said to be receiving treatment at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna. The corpse of the man has been deposited at the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital’s mortuary.

The police Public Relations Officer, in Kaduna, ASP Muhammad Jalige said, a locally made pistol was recovered from the scene, while investigation has commenced

barristerng.

• Warns America Against Another Terrorist Attack/

By Collins Nkwocha/

The fact is that Primate Babatunde Ayodele is one of the best prophets in the world and this is not debatable, what stuns many about his prophecies is that he gives them even years earlier.

That’s how you ascertain a prophet that has a real leader of the spirit; not one that reads events to give prophecies when certain things have been made explicit.

Ayodele said that Ebola was going to resurface in DR Congo, he also prophesied that Donald Trump will not be impeached when they wanted to impeach him, but he maintained the fact that Trump will not be re-elected if he contests again.

He went ahead to mention Joe Biden as the “chosen one” that can defeat Donald Trump in the US presidential election, a prophesy he made a year before Joe Biden emerged as the flag bearer of the Democrats; they all happened exactly the way he said them.

What other forms of assessment or evaluation does a prophet need, if not for the fulfilment of his prophecies to indicate that they are truly divine revelations.

Many call him a fake prophet, a political prophet, and a prophet of doom, when he gave the prophecy that Senator Douye Diri was going to be the governor of Bayelsa State, based on the initial outcome of the election, many thought that his prophecy had failed, until David Lyon of APC was replaced with Douye Diri before he was sworn in.

During the Supreme Court affirmed his victory and sealed a fulfilled prophecy from Ayodele.

Before Boris Johnson became the Prime Minister of Britain, Ayodele prophesied it since 2016, before Umahi defected to APC, Ayodele said it immediately he got elected under the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Ayodele said it that Umahi will dump the party for APC, the protest by Nigerian youths against police brutality and bad governance, the Air Force helicopter that was shot down by Boko-Haram, the coming of Coronavirus pandemic since 2017.

The prophecy that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration will bring so much hardship, suffering and hunger to Nigerians, didn’t they all happened? Nigerians are groaning and praying for this administration to end because it has brought total hardship on the masses.

In his recent prophecies, he said that the vaccine for coronavirus pandemic would be discovered between May and June next year, but the pandemic will not go into extinction, he also warned Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, Benedict Ayada and Tambuwal of Cross River and the Sokoto States respectively not to defect to APC because it will stunt their political career.

He also warned PDP to be careful of a friend that will later become an enemy, he said that the world should pray against a plane crash that would involve personalities in the world, he further said that there would be new sickness that will trouble World Health Organisation (WHO).

The prophet said that Nigeria should pray against serial killings that would eclipse the nation by next year, he said that Buhari’s administration would face greater challenges as banks like Ecobank, Sterling Bank, Polaris Bank, Unity Bank will experience serious financial crisis and they will sack their staff.

He said that GTBank would engage in a financial project that will put them into huge debt.

He warned America of an imminent terrorist attack. It can be recalled that the al-Qaeda network masterminded the 2001 terrorist attack on America through Osama Bin Laden.

He is imploring America to be very careful and pray against it. He advised the Nigerian government to invest and concentrate more on agriculture in order to alleviate the suffering in the country.

He warned Senator Ahmed Tinubu that if he contests 2023 election, he would be disgraced. It is very explicit that Primate Ayodele is a prophet that has prophecies for people in every sphere of life because he warned the Super Eagles that if they don’t get early goal between the 1st and the 25th minutes of their match against Sierra Leone, they will not win the match, everyone knows that Nigeria played a barren draw.

theleadnewsreport

By Chibuike Nwabuko

Abuja (Sundiata Post) – International Society for Civil Liberties & Rule of Law (Intersociety) has given an update on the Army massacre operations in Obigbo, alleging that the number of slain defenseless Igbo citizens of Obigbo residency and environs in Rivers State has now risen to at least 60 with between 90 and 100 others shot and deadly injured.

Intersociety further alleges that all the surviving victims being held alive by the Army and the Police are strongly believed to be undergoing torture and other harsh detention conditions.

The group therefore called for international intervention to stop the atrocious Army operations. Adding that the Nigerian Government and Nyesom Wike led Government of Rivers State must be prevailed upon to immediately withdraw the killer soldiers deployed to Obigbo and environs and all those currently held by the Army and the Nigeria Police Force in Rivers State and neighboring Abia State must be freed unconditionally or put on fair trial.

These were the position of Intersociety in a statement signed by its Principal Officers namely: Emeka Umeagbalasi (Board Chair), Chinwe Umeche Esq; Obianuju Igboeli, Esq.; Ndidiamaka Bernard, Esq; and Comrade Sam Kamanyaoku.

The statement reads in full:

The Int’l Society for Civil Liberties & Rule of Law is deeply sad, worried and dismayed over the continuation of Army massacre operations in Obigbo and global silence trailing same. With our latest updates, the number of slain defenseless Igbo citizens of Obigbo residency and environs in Rivers State has now risen to at least 60 with between 90 and 100 others shot and deadly injured. Dozens have also been permanently disappeared and 200-300 others militarily abducted and held in custodies only known to the Nigerian Army. The Nigeria Police Force, Rivers State Command is also strongly believed to be holding not less than 100 persons. All the surviving victims being held alive by the Army and the Police are strongly believed to be undergoing torture and other harsh detention conditions. There are also no credible pieces of evidence showing that the sick and the injured detainees are receiving adequate medical treatments, raising serious fears of some dying in Army or Police custody or both.

We therefore strongly call for international intervention to stop the atrocious Army operations. The Nigerian Government and Nyesom Wike led Government of Rivers State must be prevailed upon to immediately withdraw the killer soldiers deployed to Obigbo and environs and all those currently held by the Army and the Nigeria Police Force in Rivers State and neighboring Abia State must be freed unconditionally or put on fair trial. The Obigbo massacre must not only be thoroughly investigated but also the perpetrators of the dastardly act including Major Gen Olu Irefin (GOC, 6 Division, Port Harcourt), Brig Gen SB Kumupayi (Commander, 14 Brigade, Ohafia) and Gov Nyesom Wike must be fished out at appropriate time and place and put on local and international trial for mass murder and crimes against property well as crimes against humanity.

We also wish to state boldly and factually that what is going on in Obigbo is far more devastating and three times murderous than the 20th night of Oct 2020 Lekki Tollgate Army shootings and killings targeted at gathered unarmed and defenseless protesters in Lagos State. In other words, the number of unarmed and defenseless citizens killed so far at Obigbo in Rivers State is at least three times higher than that of Lekki Tollgate in Lagos State.

While the Lekki Tollgate killings took the lives of about 20 persons, the number of persons so far killed in Obigbo has risen to at least 60, out of which 30 have been verified bodily or by names.

On the other hand, while the number of those shot and deadly injured in the Lekki Tollgate shootings is about 30, the number of those shot and deadly injured at Obigbo has risen to between 90 and 100, out of which 50 names have so far been identified. The ongoing Obigbo Army massacre has also resulted in permanent disappearances of dozens and 200-300 Army abductions. Unlike the Lekki Tollgate Army massacre where ‘ethnic cleansing’ was never intended even though a good number, if not majority of the dead activists were Igbo citizens; in Obigbo, the Army massacre there was and still is a full blown ‘ethnic cleansing’.

Apart from the fact that 98% of the dead and the shot and deadly injured victims in Obigbo are citizens of Igbo Nation, using “IPOB death code”, the Nigerian Army and other killer squads loyal to the Rivers State Government headed by Gov Nyeson Wike have also applied instant death and abduction code against every citizen with Igbo name or identity. In other words, any citizen with Igbo name or identity caught during their house breaking and house-to-house search and violence is instantly labeled “IPOB member” and either killed or abducted.

Therefore, going by our earlier promise of keeping the global community with verified updates over the ongoing Nigerian Army-Gov Nyesom Wike massacre operations in Obigbo, Rivers State; Intersociety has updated and verified 30 of the dead victims and 50 names of the shot and deadly injured in the massacre. We had in our first statement of 6th Nov 2020, released names of eight slain citizens and three unidentified others as well as 22 names of the shot and deadly injured others and made a promise to launch a detailed investigation into the massacre.

The Obigbo Army massacre, now bearing semblance of ‘ethnic cleansing’ and still ongoing, had occurred since 21st Oct 2020 following a curfew and thoughtless order issued same date by Gov Nyesom Wike, which the heavily Muslim controlled and secularity challenged Nigerian Army cashed in to levy human and property war targeting members of the Judeo-Christian Igbo population residing in the area; by killing them at will and looting and destroying their properties. Homes and areas occupied by Igbo natives have been targeted and are still being targeted by soldiers and-any person with Igbo identity is instantly made to run the high risk of losing his or her life or liberty and property.

The soldiers had In keeping with their new “IPOB death code”, abducted and presumably killed scores of unarmed and defenseless Igbo citizens living in the area-with multiple dozens, if not hundreds still held in the custodies of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army located in Port Harcourt and Elele as well as its neighboring Asa-Ukwa military facilities in Abia State. They have been held in such facilities for past 28 days or since 21st Oct without being released or handed over to the Nigeria Police Force as required by law. Hundreds of homes have been broken into and still being broken into-with their Igbo occupants abducted at ungodly hours and their properties razed or destroyed or vandalized or burnt. It is credibly estimated that the Nigerian Army is presently holding not less than 200-300 of the arrested.

For instance, the areas affected by the Army massacre in Obigbo and environs are Obigbo Expressway (surrounded with armored tanks since 21st Oct till date), Old Aba Road (under siege since 21st Oct), Obigbo Roundabout (under siege since 21st Oct), Mbabo Camp (under siege since 21st Oct), Ehi Road/Umunchi (under siege since 23rd Oct), Kom Kom Area (under siege since 24th Oct), Ohafia/Abiriba Quarters (under siege since 26th-27th Oct and 11th-12th Nov and Obeama Area (under siege since 29th-31st Oct ), etc. Terrified witnesses including passersby are also alleging the dumping and drowning of scores of slain corpses inside ‘Imo Gate’ and ‘Mmiri Nwanyi’ Rivers. Some claimed to have sighted some floating corpses at ‘Mmiri Nwanyi River on 29th and 31st Oct and ‘Imo Gate River Banks’ on 7th and 8th Nov 2020. The witnesses were unable to photo or video the ‘floating corpses’ owing to heavy presence of soldiers guarding the areas for possible destruction of evidence or erasing traces.

Timber Road area has been under Army terror since 28th Oct. A Jewish Shabbat Mission in the area was attacked and dozens of its worshippers and officials abducted with scores killed. Umusonye/School Road and Vacation Areas have also been under Army siege, forcing several, if not many of their residents to flee. At Okpulo Area, residents including Shabbat religionists were attacked on 6th Nov and on 8th Nov, the Shabbat Mission in the Area was demolished; likewise terrorization of residents of Ikwere-Ngwo Area and violent attacks on their houses including demolition of another Shabbat Mission in the Area. Houses and residents of Okoloma-Afam have been under heavy military terrorization since 12th and 14th Nov 2020.

Along Tap Junction, at least four defenseless citizens were shot dead and scores injured by soldiers in the evening of 11th Nov. This is according to eyewitnesses’ accounts. At Mbano Camp same evening of 11th Nov 2020, three persons were shot dead and at Obigbo Express Junction, two more persons were shot dead and at Ohafia and Abiriba Junction same date and time, witnesses said “between 15 and 20 persons” were shot dead following indiscriminate shootings in different terminal directions by soldiers. While some of the corpses particularly those that felled off the road or street or inside gutters are abandoned to decompose, soldiers made away with others.

The heavy presence of soldiers also made it very difficult for relations of the slain to pick up their relatives’ bodies. Late Queen Nwazuo was among those shot and killed by military’s rain of bullets fired in different terminal directions. She was shot dead in front of her shop around noon of 23rd Oct 2020. She was killed at Umunchi Junction, Ehi Road in Obigbo. Among those abducted in their sleep by soldiers are Aneke Sunday and Onyema Christopher Onyeiro. While Citizen Aneke Sunday was abducted in his sleep around 2am in his residence around Market Road, Obigbo, Citizen Onyema Christopher Onyeiro and scores of his co residents were abducted around 11pm on 17th Nov 2020 at Isaiah Eletuo Street, Obigbo

In all these, the Government of Rivers State and authorities of the Nigerian Army (who have refused to speak and maintained silence of the graveyard on the massacre) are stopping at nothing to ensure that the truth concerning the massacre never sees the light of the day. Gov Wike apart from going about denying that “no killings took place at Obigbo”, has also been trying to divert the public attention by urging ‘all to condemn the killing of soldiers, police personnel and burning of police stations at Obigbo rather than wasting time seeking to investigate without evidence the Oyigbo incident”. Attempts by the NBA fact-finding committee to investigate the massacre have also been strongly resisted by the Gov and Government of Rivers State.

Updated Slain Victims Of Obigbo Army Massacre: Their identities are: (1) Pastor Igwe (slain husband of Mrs. Amara Igwe), (2) Queen Nwazuo (slain fiancée of Mr. Monday Bakor), (3) Okoro Peter and (4) Mr. Chinwendu (the two were shot at close range and killed instantly by soldiers including busting the brain box and fluids of Late Chnwendu on 24th Oct 2020 few meters away from Gov Wike’s convoy during his visit to Obigbo), (5) Jude Egejuru (died from gunshot injuries), (6) Clifford Okeke, (7) Cornelius Anya, (8) Udeme Ossy Monday, (9) Edochie Steven, (10) Ebere, (11) Wisdom, (12) Chizy (missing and presumed dead), (13) Michael Nkama (believe to have died from gunshot injuries) and (14) Chinonso Joshua (died from gunshot injuries), (15) Godwin Samuel Umahi, (17) Sunday Umahi, (18) Queen Eze, (19) Darlington, (20) Chinonso Udoh (missing and presumed dead), (21) Kufre Sandy (missing and presumed dead), (22) Justice (shot dead in front of his residence), (23) Martins (missing and presumed dead), (24) Ebite Orjinta (Ihite-Uboma, Imo State), (25) Sunday Aneke (missing and presumed dead), (26) a young nursing mother (died from gunshot injuries) and (27) her newborn baby of one month, 3 weeks and two days (yet to locate her relatives), (28) a yet-to-be identified dead citizen, (29) second yet-to-be-identified citizen and (30) third yet-to-be-identified dead citizen. The three slain bodies were shot and left to decompose along an Obigbo Street in a verified video footage.

Updated Injured Victims Of Obigbo Army Massacre: Among the deadly injured are: (1) Chukwuma Chinonso, (2) Nwoke Okwudiri Nwonye, (3) Uche Ogbonna, (4) Chikaodi Agwu, (5) Michael Okwudiri, (6) John Emeka, (7) Agwu Enyi, (8) Obichukwu Chibuike, (9) Izuchukwu Igwe, (10) Eluu Chukwuemeka, (11) Arinze Joshua, (12) Nwakama Izuegbe, (13) Destiny Okorie, (14) Israel Asoh, (15) Emeka Heart, (16) Victor Heart, (17) Orji Amaoji, (18) Paschal, (19) Obasi Emela, (20) Chiwuzu Orjinta, (21) Sylvester Odoche, (22) Elochukwu Emeka, (23)Nwakama Uzuegbu, (24) David Godwin, (25) Chima Iwuala, (26) Theresa David, (27) Ozara Ede Anyanwu, (28) Nnamdi Udorji, (29) Obasi Emerem, (30) Sunday Okoegwu, (31) Ozuen Christian, (32) Chima Ogbona, (33) Samuel Obasi, (34) Solomon Ukezu, (35) Ndubuisi Azunna, (36) Victoria Ndubuisi, (37) Ubong Umoh, (38) Tochukwu Nicholas, (39) Anthony Obi, (40) Udorji Anayo, (41) Etim Ubong, (42) Chisom Nnamdi, (43) Eric Angel, (44) Peter Ajah, (45) Uzochukwu, (46) Godwin, (47) Emeka, (48) Arinze, (49) Mike Ujam and (50) Ugwuanyi Ogbuu.

Signed:

Principal Officers: Emeka Umeagbalasi (Board Chair), Chinwe Umeche, Esq., (Head of Democracy), Obianuju Igboeli, Esq., (Head of Civil Liberties), Ndidiamaka Bernard, Esq., (Head of Int’l Justice & Human Rights) and Comrade Sam Kamanyaoku (Head of Field Data Collection & Documentation)

sundiatapost

As members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) continue their 10-month old strike, the Federal Government has commenced the process of registering a rival union.

Sen Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, dropped this on Thursday in Abuja when the leadership of Congress of University Academics (CONUA), led by its National Coordinator, Dr Niyi Sunmonu, paid him a courtesy visit.

CONUA’s membership is drawn from university lecturers opposed to ASUU. Ngige regretted the long strike by ASUU, saying that it had negatively affected the educational development of the country.

“We are receiving you in audience formally today in this ministry. We have the right to receive associations of persons that are workers, whether we have registered them or not, just as you have the right to apply for registration which is the lawful thing to do. “We have the right to receive and hold meetings with you. The journey to have you registered has just started.

“You have done the right thing by applying and this ministry has also done the right thing by processing your registration.

“The review of your application for registration is ongoing. I have put up a committee to look into that review. I will ask the committee to wind up its work. “We are giving them four weeks from today to turn in their report to the ministry. “Part of our job here is to register unions; it is also part of our job to make sure that unions that are not functional are helped,”

Ngige said. He, however, commended the university lecturers for initiating the process to register the union. Earlier, Sunmonu had said that CONUA was enjoying large followeship with many universities registering more members by the day since it came on board in February 2018. He said that CONUA was established due to irreconcilable differences between its members and ASUU.

“CONUA members are not members of ASUU and we are not ready to be part of ASUU due to irreconcilable differences and modes of operation.

“ASUU no longer represent our interest and aspirations. CONUA fits to be described as a group of people who are independent academics and who have decided to come together to form a union committed to the advancement of education in Nigeria.

” Sunmonu condemned the prolonged strike in the university system, and urged unions to choose to engage the government constructively rather than down tools every time, considering the negative effect of that on the educational system. He said that CONUA, if finally registered, would always constructively engage the government.

“The government cannot see what we see and we will not see what the government sees, but when we have our mind made up in a constructive manner, we will come to a reasonable agreement to further progress our universities and for the advancement of the nation.

“We want to ensure a seamless and uninterrupted academic calendar in the university system. “This strike has done more damage than good. As academics and researchers, we are supposed to have evaluated the effect of the strike on our institutions, especially on our collective psychic.

“From the preliminary report that we have, the strike has done more harm than good to our universities. Nigerian Universities should rank comfortably with any other university in any part of the world.”

On Integrated Payroll Personnel Information System(IPPIS), he said that CONUA members were keen on registering in spite of series of threats. He appealed to the minister to provide a conducive environment for its members to undergo the registration process without any encumbrances. The  Federal Government will be meeting with ASUU on Friday over the protracted strike.

Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/11/asuu-fg-soon-to-register-rival-union-ngige/

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has traced the anger of his Ebonyi State counterpart, David Umahi, against the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the point Peter Obi was chosen as the Presidential Running Mate to the party’s 2019 Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Wike, who spoke in a live television programme, also advised Umahi not to allow his quest to become president of Nigeria, destroy the South-East politically.

He said: “When we had the 2018 convention that produced our Presidential Candidate then, the Waziri of Adamawa, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, as presidential candidate, he consulted widely, and came up with Peter Obi, to be his Vice, Umahi was livid because he wanted to produce or he wanted to be Vice-President.

“You don’t choose who would be the Vice-Presidential candidate of anybody. Umahi was livid. What disturbs me, why do you think that if anything comes to South-East it must be you? Why do you think so?”

Wike said while no one would deny Umahi the right to pursue his political aspiration, which he said was the primary reason for his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), he should be mindful of the political future of the South-Eastern region.

He said Umahi had shown himself as an ungrateful man for insisting that he left PDP to protest the injustice the party meted to the South-Eastern region since 1999.

Wike said Umahi could not talk of injustice when he singlehandedly installed his two younger brothers as the Zonal Vice-Chairman of PDP and the Deputy State Chairman of the party.

He said: “If he believes in equity and justice, will he be doing such? It is because he has planted these people that the State House of Assembly had such effrontery to give the National Working Committee (NWC) ultimatum to zone the presidency to the East. Where does such a thing happen? No other party has done any zoning. You can imagine the level of selfishness. ”

He also described as untrue the claim by Umahi that he made PDP in the southeast zone as the only financier of all of its activities.

He said such a claim suggested that other governors of Anambra, Abia, and Enugu states were not doing anything to ensure the success of the party in the zone.

He described the allegation as spurious saying evidence abound that Secondus was elected at the National Convention of the PDP.

The governor accused his Ebonyi State counterpart of being treacherous explaining that when the caucus of the party decided that Kingsley Chinda should be elected Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Umahi told his State Reps to work against it.

Wike further stated that when PDP loyal members tried to rescue the party from the destructive tendencies of Modi Sheriff, Umahi was one of those who was frolicking with him.

“We fought and won and Modi Sheriff left. I can say that I am one of those who made sure that PDP never died. I feel comfortable with my performance in my State. Rivers people are comfortable with me too.

“For the first time before PDP left office, they (South East) have never had Chief of Army Staff. They have had Senate Presidents. They have had national Chairman of the Party; they have had Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

“They have had Minister of Finance. Now, tell me what APC has given to the people of South-East since 2015, Minister of Labour, Minister of Science and Technology, and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

“Three Senators from his state said they have seen the need for South-East to produce a president. However, it is not the way our governor is going about. This is not a personal thing. Your ambition should not destroy the entire South East.” (The Nation)

The deceased lecturer, Engr. Waliu Mufutau

Fresh facts have emerged as to how yet unknown suspected assassins gunned down a senior lecturer at an Ogun State-owned ICT Polytechnic, Engr. Waliu mufutau, on Wednesday.

Engr. Waliu Mufutau,until his death, following gunshot injuries, was Head of Department of Electrical/Electronics Engineering at the Dauda Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, Itori, Ewekoro Local Government Area of the state.

The deceased lecturer was reportedly trailed to Itori axis of the LagosAbeokuta Expressway by gunmen in an unmarked vehicle and shot dead at close range.

The deceased lecturer, Engr. Waliu Mufutau

Mufutau was said to have died in his car afterwards while his assailants left without removing any items from him or his car.

The lecturer was said to be returning from a conference when he met his gruesome end in the hands of suspected assassins.

However, police authorities in the state on Thursday confirmed that the suspected assassins of the lecturer, used an unregistered Lexus Jeep to waylay him and thereafter blocked his car before they opened fire on him.

In a press statement, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, said  the Command has observed with great concern the reckless usage of unregistered vehicles and motorcycles in the territory and the rate at which they are being used to carry out heinous crimes. 

Said the PPRO: “In view of this, the Command hereby warns that anybody caught driving an unregistered car or motorcycle will be dealt with and the car or motorcycle will be impounded while the owner will be prosecuted.”

According to him, Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers throughout the state have been directed to clamp down on those plying the roads with unregistered vehicles and motorcycles, as well as vehicles with tinted glasses without permit.

Giving an update in respect of the incident, Oyeyemi, said the Command is treating it as a case of “assassination,” stressing that detectives from the Homicide section have been dispatched to the area to investigate the matter and unravel those behind it.

“Operatives from the Homicide section of the Ogun State Police Command, Eleweran, Abeokuta, have been mobilised to the scene and are working on every available clue to unravel the motive of the killing and the perpetrators, he added.

Also on Thursday, authorities of the Dauda Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, Itori straightened the narrative on the incident, saying the incident occurred few minutes after the decreased drove off from the institution’s premises after close of work on Wednesday

According to a statement signed by the Polytechnic’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Yinka Adegbite, the late lecturer closed from work on the day of the incident and was waylaid around the Itori axis of the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway and shot in his car. 

Registrar, Bayo Ogundimu

The statement read, “the late Engineer Mufutau, who until his death was the head of Eletrical/Electronics Engineering was on his way home from work on Tuesday around 5pm when he was attacked by gun men just before Wasinmi on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway. 

The statement continued “Mufutau was said to have spotted the men, who were said to be in Mobile Police uniform ahead of his car and probably, suspecting that they were dangerous, stopped his car and put the gear in reverse motion but was overrun by the gunmen who shot him several times in his car”.

The statement added that by the time some passersby and some members of staff of the Institution got to the scene, Mufutau had been severely injured from the gun shot.

The Police were contacted immediately and the lecturer was rushed to the State General Hospital, Ijaye, where he was pronounced dead. 

“The matter is now in the hands of the Police and we await the outcome of their investigation”, Adegbite said in the statement, which he ostensibly signed on behalf of the Polytechnic’s Ag. Rector, Mr Kehinde Job-Olatunji  and Registrar, Mr Bayo Ogundimu.

In clear violation of extant law, Fashola’s ministry paid over ₦4.6 billion into personal accounts of directors, staff in four months

Between September and December 2019, a princely ₦4.6 billion was illegally paid into the private accounts of some directors and employees of the then ministry of power, works and housing, data obtained by PREMIUM TIMES have shown.

Although the power ministry, in response to an FOI request by this newspaper, claimed that only N157 million was paid to 127 staff members within the period under review, records in the possession of this newspaper have proven the ministry’s claim to be untrue.

The ministry of power is now a standalone ministry and it is now led by Saleh Mamman. But at the time the allocation for the payments was made in 2019, the omnibus ministry of works, power and housing was headed by Babatunde Fashola.

Our records, some obtained from the Open Treasury Portal, show that the sum of N4.6 billion (exactly ₦4,608,394,262.22) was paid in 654 tranches into the accounts of 21 private individual accounts. Two-thirds of that amount went to two men: Ogueri Ugochukwu Pascal and Olasehinde Micah.  

While Mr Pascal was paid ₦1.6 billion (₦1,642,407,539.93) in 306 tranches, Mr Micah was paid ₦1.4 billion (₦1,417,921,892.59) in 34 tranches.

Most of the payments that summed up to ₦4.6 billion came with little, sometimes vague, details.

A striking example is contained in the data published on the open treasury portal on October 26, last year. Mr Pascal was paid a total of ₦159 million for such things as “zonal revenue tour,” “disbursement of funds for right of way,” “verification exercise,” “quarterly budget implementation,” each in the six geopolitical zones, as well as to conduct the “2019 senior staff promotion exercise,” and for “junior staff promotion in the housing sector.”

Also, a total payment of ₦134 million was made to Adebowale Adebayo Kamoru as “six months allowances to the NHP staff” in each of the six geopolitical zones.

PREMIUM TIMES could not identify the identity of Messrs Pascal and Kamoru. Online searches for their names yielded little details other than the filings of payments made to their accounts on the treasury portal. The news ministry of power claimed they are not its staff members. The works and housing ministry did not respond to our request for clarification.

The data on the portal further revealed that Mr Kamoru, alongside five other zonal directors of the national housing programme (NHP) under the ministry of works and housing were paid, in October alone, a sum of ₦44.6 million These officials were each paid different amounts totalling ₦44.6 million “to embark on quarterly budget implementation in the six geopolitical zones.”

Below is a summary of the payments and their beneficiaries.

They include Onwubalili Oyinlola Adunola, a project coordinator of the ministry of works and housing; Nwaimo Obi Valentine, the north-central zonal director of the programme; Uzodinma Lucy Iquo; Oko-Jaja Emmanuel Daminabo, the south-south zonal director; and Waziri Mshella Micah, also a zonal director.

Power ministry’s response

The ministry claimed that, despite contrary evidence, that only N157 million was paid to 127 staff members.

The 127 staffers were cut down from the longlist of 142 persons it sent to this medium, 10 of whom were on PREMIUM TIMES’ initial list of 21. It said six others were not its staff members and gave no information about the remaining five.

In the ministry’s list of 142, it said 15 of them, to whom it said a total of N465 million was paid, are not its staff members.ADVERTISEMENT

“This may be due to the fact that the ministry has been separated from the ministry of works and housing,” the letter dated October 14 and signed by the ministry’s director of finance, Adewumi Omotayo, read.

PREMIUM TIMES’ FOI request acknowledged by the works and housing ministry on October 28 seeking comments on the said personnel has not been replied. Mr Fashola’s spokesperson, Hakeem Bello, also directed all inquiries to the power ministry.

What N157 million was used for

A review of the ministry’s N157 million paid to 127 staffers showed that a total of N141.3 million as duty tour allowance to 97 staffers, with the highest amount of N28.78 million going to one Nwachukwu Chiemeka Ogbonna. How a single staff member will receive almost N29million in duty tour allowance in four months remains unclear.

Another N3.3 million was paid as “open pocket expense” to 20 personnel, the ministry’s response showed. Ajanaku Waidi got N337,000 of this amount.

Likewise, N7.2 million was paid to four personnel to purchase office equipment. They include: Adikwu Ogbe Friday, N745,789; Agbawa Ogueri George, N1.1 million; Ahmed Yaro Nafisa, N583,200; Olutayo Andrew Bukola, N4.8 million.

An advance payment (imprest) of N382,400 was also paid to three employees (Akanbi Iyabo, Akinyemi Adefunke and Alawode Felicia).

Other payments include N4.6 million for “printing of document FEC memos”; N476,600 as payment for union matter; and N530,600 as (four months) salary to Bobai Rifkatu, a domestic attendant in the ministry (or commissionaire as described by the ministry). Although the ministry said its staff members who benefited are from level 12 to 17.

Financial contravention

The ministry’s payments of monies into private accounts violates chapter 7, section 701 of the financial regulation of the country.

Agencies are compelled by the provision “to operate only three bank accounts as follows: salary account, overhead cost account and revenue account” as “no other bank account shall be allowed without the express approval of the Accountant-General.” 

Section 713 of the same chapter also says under no condition should personal money be paid into the government’s bank account “nor shall any public money be paid into a private bank account.” 

“An officer who pays public money into a private account is deemed to have done so with fraudulent intention,” the section reads.

Opaque transparency

The Nigerian government launched the open treasury portal in December 2019, as part of a move towards increasing transparency in government spending. It, however, did not take off until 2020, although the daily update of the portal remained sluggish as of March.

The portal aims to provide a comprehensive space for the collation of data by all ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) on budget implementation, financial records, as well as transactions above certain thresholds.

But a series of discrepancies on the portal has raised concerns among accountability advocates. 

In June, a civic advocacy group, BudgIT, said, between January and July 2019, it discovered that large sums were paid into personal accounts, including several records with vague descriptions and other discrepancies on the portal.

For one, PREMIUM TIMES also observed that in the same month, ₦13.5 million was paid to “Jauro Aishatu Audu” for “capacity building.”

“Over 2,900 payments to individuals were recorded at an aggregate value of ₦51 billion,” the group said. “A few examples include, ₦2.04 billion , ₦2.04 billion and ₦1 billion paid into personal accounts on the 21st of June 2019 without any payment description along with another ₦68 million payment for “Ogunsuyi” and ₦15.8 million for “international” on other dates.

“In the same 2019, we also discovered payment records without descriptions or beneficiary information. At least 5,000 payment records valued at ₦278 billion were without descriptions and 275 payment records with a value of ₦43 billion were without beneficiary name.

“These inconspicuous payments cannot be assessed or traced by citizens and interested parties, thereby defeating the purpose of the platform to foster transparency.”

This is the first part of a series of reports on how the nation’s ministries are breaching the law to make payments into private accounts of their employees and other private individuals.

Premiumtimesng

International Cable News Network (CNN) has reacted to the Federal Government’s stance that it should be sanctioned over its report on the October 20 shooting incident at the Lekki Toll Gate, saying it stands by its report.

Addressing the press at the fortified Army Resource Center, Mambilla Barracks, Abuja, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed on Thursday described as jaundiced the CNN report that the military shot at peaceful protesters.

“CNN relied heavily on unverified and possibly-doctored videos, as well as information sourced from questionable sources, to reach its conclusion.

“This should earn CNN a serious sanction for irresponsible reporting,” Lai Mohammed said.

However, in a swift reaction on Thursday, a company spokesperson said CNN stands by its investigation.

“Our reporting was carefully and meticulously researched, and we stand by it,” the spokesperson said via email.

According to CNN, the report was based on testimony from dozens of witnesses, and photos and video obtained and geolocated by CNN.

It painted a picture of how members of the Nigerian army and the police shot at the crowd, killing at least one person and wounding dozens more.

CNN said it verified photos and videos acquired from multiple eyewitnesses and protesters using timestamps and other data from the video files.

Video footage shows soldiers who appear to be shooting in the direction of protesters. And accounts from eyewitnesses established that after the army withdrew, a second round of shooting happened later in the evening.

Prior to publishing the report, CNN said it tried multiple times to elicit comment from the Nigerian army and police.

A Lagos State police spokesman declined to comment because of an ongoing investigation, while a statement from the Lagos State government said that there would be no comment while a judicial tribunal was underway.

CNN also said it included comments from army representative Brigadier Ahmed Taiwo, testifying before the tribunal. He denied that soldiers would shoot at Nigerian citizens.

According to CNN, “the investigation was broadcast and published on Wednesday and cast doubt on Nigerian authorities’ shifting and changing statements over what happened at the protest at the Lekki toll gate in Lagos.

“The CNN report included evidence that bullet casings from the scene matched those used by the Nigerian army when shooting live rounds, according to current and former Nigerian military officials.

“Two ballistics experts also confirmed with CNN that the shape of the bullet casings indicate they used live rounds, which contradicts the army’s claim they fired blanks.”

As part of efforts to ease crime reportage for members of the public, the Nigeria police force has unveiled a cybercrime reporting web portal.

In a statement on Thursday, the police said the portal will enable prompt investigation, arrest and prosecution of perpetrators of cybercrime and other related offences.

According to the police, victims or complainants can now report internet-related criminal activities online, at any time and from any part of the world — the portal can be accessed here.

“The cases are promptly attended to by the cybercrime unit of the force domiciled with the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB), Force Headquarters, Abuja and the newly created Cybercrime Unit at the INTERPOL Annex, Alagbon Close, Ikoyi, Lagos,” the statement read.

“The new portal will provide updates on achievements being recorded by the Nigeria Police and will, among other things, avail the citizens knowledge of basic cyber-related issues such as emerging cybercrime trends, the modus operandi of the cyber crooks and offer tips on how citizens could make themselves less vulnerable within the cyberspace.”

The force urged potential users of the portal to ensure that only correct and accurate information “devoid of deliberate falsehood, misrepresentation and misinformation” are provided when filing complaints.

Meanwhile, the police also said three suspects have been arrested by the cybercrime unit in Abuja.

The suspects — “Onwuka Emmanuel Chidiebere a.k.a. Ceeceeboss, Ikechukwu Ohanedozie a.k.a. Dozzy and Onuegwu Ifeanyi a.k.a SSGToolz” — were arrested following intelligence report received from the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) cybercrime directorate in Singapore on global attacks by Nigerian cyber gangs who engage in mass email phishing campaigns.

“Findings so far reveal that of the three suspects, Onuegwu Ifeanyi a.k.a SSGToolz specializes in creating, designing, selling of phishing links and hosting malwares on website used by the gang for phishing and hacking purposes,” the police said.

“He collects charges running into several millions of naira from other fraudsters he mentors and improves their phishing capabilities.

“Onwuka Emmanuel Chidiebere a.k.a Ceeceeboss TMT, a graduate of Business Administration from Imo State University specialises in business email compromise and hacking.

“A comprehensive forensic analysis reveals that he had in his laptop-computer over 50,000 email accounts and websites, including passwords of various individuals and corporate entities across the world.

“He recruited the third suspect Ikechukwu Ohanedozie a.k.a Dozzy, a medical student of Imo State University, into the gang. Ikechukwu Ohanedozie sorts and profiles e-mail accounts to determine financial strengths of prospective victims and passes on information obtained therefrom to Onwuka Emmanuel Chidiebere.”

The force added that all the suspects will be charged to court on conclusion of investigation and prosecuted in line with the Cybercrime Act, 2015.