War of words as NLC finally splits

President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Mr. Ayuba  Wabba, and his United Labour Congress of Nigeria, ULC, counterpart, Mr. Joe Ajaero, are at each other’s throats  following the emergence  of ULC  on December 17. Ajaero, until the emergence  of ULC, was a factional President of NLC, arising from the crisis that rocked NLC in the wake of the disputed outcome of the March 2015 National Delegates Conference, NDC, in Abuja. The relationship between the  Wabba- led NLC and the  Ajaero faction had  been distrust such  that all efforts to reconcile the factions by Congress veterans  one of including immediate past governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, ended up achieving nothing. A report of the reconciliatory committee, headed  by the founding president of the  NLC,  Alhaji Hassan Sunmonu, was never implemented despite appeals from several quarters including industrial unions.

The widening gap between the factions manifested  during the failed strike to protest government withdrawal of subsidy on  Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, otherwise known as petrol. While the Ajaero faction  decided to meet government to find solution to the issue, the Wabba faction opted for a nationwide strike. In fact, when the Federal Government invited the factions for a meeting over the subsidy removal, Wabba was quoted as saying  he would not hold meeting with government alongside the Ajaero faction, forcing government to hold separate meetings with the factions. The feud between the factions climaxed on December 17, when the  Ajaero faction finally broke away from NLC to announce the formation of a new labour centre alongside some affiliates of Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, and some industrial unions that were neither affiliated to NLC nor TUC. Wabara opens fire Reacting to emergence of the ULC, Wabba  said: “Our attention has been drawn to news report in which Comrade Joe Ajaero, the General Secretary of NUEE, and Igwe Achese, President of NUPENG claimed they have formed a new labour centre called the United Labour Congress (ULC). It will be recalled that following their defeat at the March 2015 rescheduled election in their bid to lead the NLC, these Comrades have been parading themselves as ‘president, ‘ and  ‘deputy president’ of NLC respectively.. The  factional NLC President went on: “The Congress would like to assure our members across the length and breadth of the country and the general public that the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress is committed to the unity of the working class in the country notwithstanding the latest declaration by Comrade Ajaero and Achese. We shall do everything within our power to preserve the unity and coherence of the labour movement which was handed down to us by our forebears in the movement. It will be recalled that our Comrades in their ambition to lead Nigerian Workers in February, 2015, at the elections which would have concluded the 10th  delegates conference of the NLC, disrupted and scattered the ballot papers that were already casted, in the full glare of the world. “This was after delegates had voted to waive the requirement to allow Comrade Igwe Achese who has been campaigning to be President, to step down to deputy president position, and declare support for the candidacy of Joe Ajaero. At the rescheduled election held in March 2015, following the intervention of the veterans of our movement, and with the provision of adequate security, the plot of Comrades Ajaero and Achese to disrupt the elections again once it was clear that their combined forces will not deliver them the leadership of Nigerian workers they had so clamoured for, was thwarted, and the election results were successfully announced.” Wabba, while recalling the efforts by the reconciliatory committee headed  Sunmonu to reconcile the  aggrieved parties, said: “We had spent considerable time and energy working with the veterans of congress to bring our estranged comrade fully back to the congress because as they say,  ‘if you allow a crack in your wall, you invite the lizard in’. We didn’t want our class opponents to use them as the weak link to undermine the solidarity of our movement. Unfortunately, as Nigerians saw during our last national strike against the fuel price increase by the Federal Government, our comrades chose to allow themselves to be used as willing tools to undermine our collective struggle. “It is quite ironic that these comrades can’t see the contradiction between their empty rhetorics on wanting to ‘fight non-payment of salaries’ and collaboration with the state to undermine popular action of the working people and the Nigerian masses. And yet when congress was in the frontline forcing their home state government(s) to pay workers wages and halt retrenchment of thousands of workers, they were nowhere to be seen. “The congress wish to assure all our members including those of NUEE, NUPENG and others listed as having attended the alleged launch of the new centre, that the NLC will continue to provide protection for them, and will ensure that their leaders do not out of their consuming ambition to be leaders of a ‘national center’ lead them into the wilderness.” Ajaero fires back Ajaero, scathing in his reply to the  Wabba statement, said the ULC was beyond Ajaero and Achese, as it  clearly brought together men and women   determined to create a platform that would offer Nigerians and workers a renewed hope in the portends of the labour movement. “We have clearly gone beyond the issues of the well-acknowledged duplicitous Delegates’ Conference of 2015 and the subsequent reconciliation efforts scuttled by the desires of Ayuba to continue sitting on the collective desires of Nigerian workers and their Unions to reform the movement repositioning it to serve Nigerian workers and masses better”, the ULC leader said. He added: “His (Wabara) insistence and fixation on this shows a complete naivety of the traditions and workings of the trade union movement. Anyway, this is a demonstration of utter desperation and the frustration of a drowning man who has refused to understand that you do not trifle with workers’ interests and hope to bind them to yourself by the use of force. The laws of the land are very clear on where the powers of each union resides. It is the Unions that affiliates with the centres and not individual workers. The unions have taken their decision to leave and that is how it stands. “It is important that we remind you that there is a natural law guaranteed in our constitution and various statutes which allows us that freedom of choice to decide who we can or cannot associate with. This natural law is fundamental and transcends our laws and statutes but fortunately in this case has been given vent by our various statutes. It is this same guarantee that protects all of us especially workers from rabid slavery in the hands of desperate despots bent on holding them captive forever. This is what allows individuals to freely choose and that is why a man or woman who is a Catholic or Anglican today would chose to become a Pentecostal tomorrow and nobody can do anything about it. It is also what allows Politicians to move from one party to another as you must have observed in the case of the PDP and APC. When one construct becomes obsolete and no longer in a position to deliver on its promises to its publics, individuals leave. That is what has happened in this case, Nigerian workers have freely chosen to move on so that you can preserve your NLC. Remember that it was part of your pleadings in the Court.” Continuing, Ajaero reminded Wabba that ULC was “more concerned with uniting Nigerian workers with the traditions and Ideology upon which the trade union movement is founded”. He explained: “You may not understand the centrality of this statement as it defines our emergence and our determination. We are not wholly interested in the characters and personalities involved but in ensuring that we create a platform that is continually able to protect the interest and desires of Nigerian workers and peoples. It is paradoxical though that a man who has done everything to undermine unity within the movement debasing our various traditions and truncated democratic organs in his union for purely selfish reasons would begin to preach democracy. Any man that extended his tenure in total perversion of his Union’s constitution cannot be trusted with anything talk less of democracy and that explains the conundrum which your usurpation of the Labour House has created within the movement. “We advise Ayuba to instead of embarking on a futile mission outside of his capacities and capabilities to rather concentrate on dousing the fires within his NLC which is what we think should bother him more. When our attention was drawn to this, we had truly thought that he was focusing on solving the internal schisms which his style of leadership has created for those who still share the same umbrella with him. This is our comradely advice. “Our assurance to all Nigerian workers and peoples is that we are determined to protect their interests within the context of creative and sensible engagements both with our social partners and other stakeholders. The vision which we have crafted for ourselves and the historic journey which we have embarked upon cannot be threatened by puny tantrums from the mouth of an individual who has foisted massive deprivation upon Nigerian workers and masses.”  

Develop your zone, don’t wait for FG, Obasanjo tells S-East govs, Ndigbo

ENUGU— Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, asked Ndigbo and their governors to take their destiny in their hands by developing the South-East geographical zone instead of waiting for the government. Obasanjo Obasanjo said there was no need for the governors to wait for the Federal Government to develop South-East when they already had the instruments already. Obasanjo noted that economy and security were two sides of the same coin, adding that none could be achieved without the other. He also asked Igbo elders to intervene in the on-going agitation for Biafra Republic to bring the situation under control. Obasanjo described the Igbo stock as unique people, saying their entrepreneurial and communal efforts were driven with the spirit of adventure. He spoke as the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu asked President Muhammadu Buhari to obey an earlier court order compelling the Federal Government to release the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu. Ekweremadu further lamented that the South-East zone was not represented at the apex level of either the military or the police. On the rule of law and fundamental human rights as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution as amended, Ekweremadu insisted that Kanu must have his day in court and if court orders his release, he must be released. Both Obasanjo and Ekweremadu spoke, yesterday at the South East Economic and Security Summit in Enugu. Among those who attended the summit included former Secretary of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme; Chief Pascal Dozie; Mbazulike Amaechi; Ben Akabueze; Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika (retd), among other dignitaries. President Muhammadu Buhari was expected as a guest during the summit but he neither attended nor sent any representative. Develop your zone, don’t wait for FG, Obasanjo tells S-East govs, Ndigbo According to Obasanjo, the aim of the summit was on how the industrious people of the zone could do things for themselves other than relying on government’s intervention. Obasanjo said: “Insecurity in any part of the country affects the other. The instruments of doing the jobs are already with you. “The South-East had been known from time for entrepreneurship, community effort services and their spirit of adventure. The papa Okafor has been there in my village right from when I was growing up and nobody has taken those traits away from the Igboman, but how do we use it to achieve economic prosperity and security? “You can’t have security when the economy of your people is not well taken care of and you can’t have security without economic prosperity. What we need to do here is to harness what we have. “The people of the South-East are extremely unique and need to be harnessed. We should work together and that is the purpose of this summit.” The former president told the gathering to look in the ways of their fertile agricultural land, the Aba industrial cluster, and other minerals both on the surface and beneath the earth to grow their economy. “Whatever we can do for ourselves, let us do it for ourselves. If I could go to Maiduguri when Boko Haram was raging and I had to try to reach out to them in the interest of the country, I don’t think I have to be eulogized for being part of the initiative of South-East summit. “Security is all inclusive. If there is no security in any part of the country, there is no security in the entire country. All the governors have spoken. I am delighted. They said ‘we have things we can do if given the instrument’. You have the instruments already. Obasanjo lists traits of Ndigbo “We knew South-East for enterprise, entrepreneurial ability, communal interest and spirit of adventure. Nobody can take it away from them. What can we do with it in area of economy and security? The symbiotic relationship between economy and security has been mentioned by the governors and the chairman. You cannot have good economy when the security of your people is not taken care of. If security is not taken care of, the economy will diminish. What we have, how can we use it? “The people of South-East are extremely unique. That uniqueness of the South-East must be used to your advantage,” Obasanjo said. On agitation for a sovereign state of Biafra On the agitation for a sovereign state of Biafra, Obasanjo attributed the situation to youth restiveness, caused by challenges facing the young people of the zone and asked: “But should we leave them with the agitation, should we leave them as elders? “There should be agitation by the youths but should we leave them with the agitation? There is this saying that where youths are cutting trees in the forest, the elders should caution them because they are the people who know where the tree will fall,” he addeed. Citing the Aba-made shoes and Ebonyi rice as examples, Obasanjo described the potentials of the South-East region as legendary, saying that the South-East could be the food basket of the nation. He, however, described the challenge of youth restiveness in the region as understandable as the agitators had education and skills and yet they do not have jobs. I’m not at war with Buhari In his speech, Ekweremadu stressed that he was not at war with President Muhammadu Buhari, citing recent meetings he had had with the President. Ekweremadu further called for the restructuring of the country, noting that if Nigeria’s democracy should thrive, the citizens should be ready to subject themselves to the basic rules of law. He said: “So long as we have unified economic structure, it cannot work. It is also important that all parts of the country are represented in the affairs of government. As we talk now, nobody from the South-East is among the security chiefs in Nigeria. “On human rights, the issue of liberty is an inalienable right. If court says release somebody, please do that. No matter the offence allegedly committed by Nnamdi Kanu, he should be released from detention.” The Chairman of the planning committee of the summit and former Minister of Power, Prof. Bath Nnaji, said the essence of the summit was to brainstorm on how the private sector could work with the public sector to achieve infrastructure influx into the South East. Nnaji said the areas they are looking at to work on include gas pipelines, railway, sustainable agriculture, among other areas. Anyaoku calls for restructuring of Nigeria Earlier, Emeka Anyaoku, former Secretary General of Commonwealth and Chairman of the occasion, reiterated his call for the restructuring of Nigeria to have fewer and effective federating units for this country to have stability and faster pace of development. “There is no need for Federal Government to periodically bail out any of the 36 non-viable units from dire financial conditions,” he said.

NSCDC staff arrested for job scam

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Thursday December 22, arraigned a Deputy Suprintendent in the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) before Honourable Justice Dije Abdu Aboki of the Kano State High Court on a one count charge of Obtaining by False Pretense.
The accused person, Joshua Dan-Dauraa allegedly obtained the sum of N450,000 (Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira Only) from the complainant under the pretext of securing a job for the complainant at the (NSCDC).

The charge read that "you Joshua Dan-Daura sometimes in March, 2013 at Kano within the Judicial Division of the Kano High Court with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N450,000 ( Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira Only) from one Yahaya Ibrahim Musa by falsely representing that you would help him secure a job with the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, a representation you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offense contrary to section 320 of the Penal Code and punishable under section 322 of the same Law.

The accused person pleaded not guilty to the one count charge. Prosecution counsel, Musa Isah asked the court for a trial date in view of the plea of the accused person. However the defence counsel moved a bail application praying the court to admit his client to bail pending the determination of the case.

Justice Aboki granted the accused person bail in the sum of N500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira Only) and one surety who shall be a resident of Kano with a landed property within the jurisdiction. The case has been adjourned to January 25, 2017 for the commencement of trial.

James Ibori reportedly released from UK prison

Former Delta state governor, James Ibori, has reportedly been released from UK prison. According to Vanguard, the former governor's media aide, Tony Elumenor confirmed his release from prison.

Ibori reportedly completed his 13 years jail term yesterday. On February 27th 2012, Ibori pleaded guilty to 10 counts of money laundering, fraud, conspiracy to defraud, and other offenses in a London court. He also pleaded guilty to stealing over $250 million public funds while he was governor from 1999-2007. There have been rumors that he will be coming back to Nigeria within this month.

Man’s parents reconcile after 11 years of separation

Parents of an Instagram user, @tobbiestouch, who were separated for 11 years and went through a bitter divorce have reunited again at their son’s home.

When his parents separated in 2005 and made it official by 2010, Tobbie said his life changed in so many ways. First, he lost his peace as his parents fought often like ‘cat and rat’, then he had to begin doing menial jobs to support himself.

He also learnt hairdressing by watching YouTube videos and with the income earned from it he put himself through school and went on to become a successful hairdresser.

This success is what brought his parents back together eventually. According to the post he shared on Instagram, his parents united again after he took them to go see his new house, during which they were able to resolve their differences and are now back together.

He calls their reunion ‘the best 30th birthday gift God gave him that money cannot buy.’ Congrats to them.

#TeenTech Coding Project: Singleclick Nigeria provides free coding training across public secondary schools in Enugu.

Singleclick Nigeria in collaboration with PPSMB (Post Primary School Management Board), Enugu have started a free coding program for public secondary schools in Enugu. The program is to introduce over 20,000 students in the state to the concepts of computer science and computational thinking. In its pilot phase, students in 7 selected schools will learn coding using scratch and web development using HTML and CSS.

This will expose the students to powerful tools that could give them creative problem solving skills and make them critical thinkers, with the relevant skills to solve local issues of sustainable development and as well provide employment both for themselves and those around them in the future.

The project is themed #TeenTech and it is in consolidation with Enugu State Oganiru Economic Submit to provide underprivileged students in public schools the requisite tech skills to take advantage of many technology tools for sustainable development.

The Chairman of PPSMB, through the Director, Science and Technology Dept., expressed his excitement at the project and how they are working tirelessly to put Enugu in the forefront of everything technology in Nigeria and Africa, and also reform the education sector in the state.

For continuity and sustainability of the project, the first ever coding club in South East was formed by the students and the head of Computer studies at Uwani Boys Secondary School, Enugu after the two days training at the school. The club is to enable students meet once every week in the computer lab to code and build web and mobile apps.

PPSMB, the collaborating partners was set up by the Government of Enugu State of Nigeria to Supervise, Manage and control all the state government owned Secondary Schools in Enugu State. The Board controls 291 schools spread across the seventeen (17) Local Government Areas of the state, with students population of about 150, 000 made up of 60, 000 males and 90, 000 females as at 2014/2015 academic session.

Though other schools will follow suite, but the pilot phase is for the under listed selected schools which are;
Uwani Boys Secondary School, Enugu
Queens School, Enugu
Nike Grammar School, Nike, Enugu
Annunciation Secondary School, Enugu
CSS Iva Valley, Enugu
Girls Sec School, Enugu
Trans Ekulu Girls Secondary School, Enugu

Nigerian writer and filmmaker, Onyeka Nwelue, kicks off a new political party

Nigerian writer and filmmaker, Onyeka Nwelue, whose debut documentary film, The House of Nwapa premiered in the US at Harvard University recently, yesterday shared this on his Facebook as he kicks off a new political party with young people in Nigeria. The political party he says is called #ProgressParty.

Nwelue has been an Assistant Visiting Professor of African Stuides & Literature at Manipur University in India and he is 28 years old and is currently a Research Fellow at Ohio University's Center for International Studies in Athens, Ohio, where he is to curate AthenaCinemaAfrica, a series of film screenings of African films.

He splits his between the United States and Nigeria.

Death in NYSC Camp: My daughter nursed no ailment – Father of deceased

Osogbo— Mr. Olawale Oladepo, a retired Sanitary Inspector and the father of late Ifedolapo Oladepo, a youth corps member, who died in Kano while undergoing orientation at the National Youth Service Camp, NYSC camp, insisted that the untimely death of his daughter was allegedly caused by negligence of the NYSC. Late Ifedolapo Oladepo According to him, Dolapo nursed no ailment before she departed home for Kano at about 6am on Thursday, November 24, and called at regular intervals along the journey till she got to Kano around 1:00am the following day and headed straight for the NYSC Orientation Camp with two other friends. He wondered how a person, who participated actively and appeared so radiant in all the pictures she sent home could, according to the medical certificate of the cause of her death issued by Gwazo General Hospital have died of kidney infection. He attributed the death to negligence and lackadaisical attitude of the NYSC, adding that the Corps should come out with a vivid account of what happened to his daughter between 8:00am on Monday that she reported to the camp clinic and the time she passed on at 4:am the second morning. “The death certificate issued by the Gwazo General Hospital, Kano said she had sepsis that led to kidney infection. I wonder if truly she had kidney infection, did the camp have proper medical facilities to have kept her, and why taking her to the General Hospital with no facilities to treat such ailments?” Conditions for exhuming the body The father of Ifedolapo Oladepo, the corps member from Osun State who died recently at the camp of the National Youth Service Corps in Kano State, Mr. Olawale Oladepo, has said that the Federal Government must meet certain conditions before the family would allow the remains of her daughter to be exhumed for post-mortem autopsy. President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered an independent investigation into the controversial death of the 26-year-old first class graduate in Transport Management from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho. To this end, the Minister for Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung, had said that Ifedolapo’s remains would be exhumed for autopsy. The family also said they have never been in any communication with anyone on the matter. The family contended that it will only consider such option after all avenues such as listening to the preceding conversations of Dolapo through communication network had been explored. Addressing newsmen in Osogbo yesterday, the father of the deceased, Mr Olawale Oladepo asked the Federal Government to explore all avenues, including the conversations of the deceased with members of the family before her death. Mr Oladepo, accompanied by other members of the family and concerned friends of the deceased, gave graphic account of what transpired between his daughter and other members of the family before her death. He also urged President Muhammad Buhari to caution the Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Comrade Solomon Dalung against making inflammatory statement that could further aggravate the agony of parents and family members over the untimely death of Dolapo. The Minister, who was said to have exonerated the NYSC of culpability in the death of Ifedolapo was said to have given an indication that the remains of Ifedolapo will be exhumed for autopsy to confirm the cause of the death while in NYSC orientation camp. While appreciating the efforts of President Muhammad Buhari at making sure a reliable investigation is conducted into the circumstances that led to the death of his daughter, Mr Oladepo pledged his cooperation with the panel. He also appreciated the Governor of Osun State, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, members of the National Assembly, members of the Osun State House of Assembly and the media for their interest in the circumstances that led to the death of his daughter. Corps member father’s account According to the late corps member’s father; ‘’Dolapo nursed no ailment. She was always hale and hearty. I took her to the motor park to board a bus bound for Kano and the bus departed at 6am on Thursday November 24. ‘’After a brief father-daughter talk at the park, the bus departed at 9am. She called at regular intervals along the journey till she got to Kano around 1am the following morning. ‘’At dawn of 25th, she headed straight for the NYSC Orientation Camp with two other friends she journeyed with from Osogbo. ‘’After much ordeals of registering at the camp, she called me in the afternoon to keep me abreast of developments. ‘’At 6:30am the following morning (Saturday, 26th November, 2016), she called again as usual. She reported that they were woken up by 4am and that they had finished the morning drill after which they would go for another parade and the opening ceremony later. ‘’On that Saturday, she sent home all the pictures taken with funfair with some of her friends and she looked hale and hearty that day according to the pictures as she participated in all the activities of the day. ‘’I now wonder if a person who had kidney infection as claimed by the NYSC could participate and be so radiant in all the pictures she sent. ‘’On Saturday, 27th, she reported there were no activities. Her mother even called her that Sunday to send her NYSC state code number and she did not complain of any ailment. It was on Monday she called her elder sister complaining that she felt sick and was not being attended to because they thought she was trying to avoid the day’s drill. ‘’The sister started conversations with the medical personnel on duty and begged them to attend to her. The sister’s battery went flat so she called an uncle who is a consultant. The uncle asked what she was given, they told him Placebo. ‘’After some persuasion, they agreed to give her medications. Some times later, when her sister’s phone came on, she told her they administered some drugs on her and shortly after, her speech slurred, the tongue twisted and she could not talk properly. ‘’There were visible patches of blood under her skin and rashes all over her body. She took the picture of the hand to testify to this and she sent it home. When her sister called again, the medical personnel on duty told her she reacted to the drugs given and that they had given her hydro cortisone to counter the reactions and that after one hour, if her situation did not improve, they would transfer her to a teaching hospital after much plea from the sister asking them to transfer her to the teaching hospital. ‘’The battery of the deceased phone later went off. When the younger sister called her around 4pm of that same day, she answered the phone but complaining she has not been taken to any health institution requesting that we should come by air to take her back home. ‘’It was then the sister called Ilorin and when they said the plane had departed and another wouldn’t be available till Wednesday, she travelled to Ibadan to catch the night bus to Kano. It was on their way that the sister was called around 4am on Tuesday, that she had passed on. Request for NYSC’s story ‘’My request to NYSC is to give the family and the entire world a vivid account of what happened to my daughter between 8am on Monday that she reported to the camp clinic and the time she passed on at 4am the second morning as reported by them. ‘’The doctor on duty at the Gwazo General Hospital, Kano said she had Sepsis that led to kidney infection. I wonder if truly she had kidney infection, did the Camp have proper medical facilities to have kept her; and why taking her to the General Hospital with no facilities to treat such ailments? ‘’Hence, by implication, whatever ailment may have developed when she got to camp could not have resulted to death if she had been promptly attended to and taken care of. However, she died out of negligence and lackadaisical attitude of the NYSC ‘’Lest I forget, the NYSC may now tell me what the relationship is between the second hand knickers she was alleged to have worn, the rashes on her body, the twisted tongue, the blood patches on her skin, the fingers and toes that turned black, the slurred speech and the kidney infection that they claimed she had. ‘’Until they give answers to these questions, we have little to talk about. This is not in a way to indict anybody but to bring out the truth of the whole scenario. ‘’Apparently, she was not taken to any tertiary hospital until she died, according to the medical certificate of the cause of death issued by Gwazo General Hospital and I quote; “She died as I’m aware or informed on the 29th of November, 2016 at 4am and that the cause of death was Septic shock and kidney injury”. According to the father; ‘’I’m worried about this report that she had Urinary Tract Infection leading to kidney injury. Thus, I wish to state for the umpteenth time that the cause of death as claimed by NYSC is simply contradictory! ‘’May I also recall that as she conversed with me and the sister the twisted tongue showed because her speech was slurred. We have strong cause to believe their accounts were mere fabrications. ‘’People don’t mind calling white black just to cover up. All we are saying is, the NYSC negligence sent our daughter to her early grave.’’

Army school commandant found dead In Ibadan just 3 weeks after he was promoted to a higher rank

The Commandant of Command Secondary School, Ibadan, Col. Anthony Okeyim, was on Monday found dead in his apartment which was located within the school premises. His death is suspected to be a homicide. There are 2 different reports about how he was killed. One report says he was strangled to death by some assassins in front of his official quarter in the school premises, while another version says his throat was slit.

The school which is located in Bode Igbo area of Ibadan is a large, fenced property that fenced but is largely surrounded by thick forests.
There have been several complaints in the past of encroachment on the land by some trespassers.
Confirming the murder, the Oyo State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Adekunle Ajisebutu, said that the Police was treating the case as a Homicide. He said:
“I can confirm to you that the deceased was found dead in front of his apartment around 6.30am on Monday. We are treating it as a case of suspected murder. “The State Commissioner of Police, Samuel Adegbuyi, visited the school immediately the case was reported.
“Police investigation had begun and the investigating team is working with Military Police investigating team. We have also beefed up security around the area,” Ajisebutu said.
A friend of the late army officer said Col. Okeyim was promoted just three weeks ago and was looking forward to be fully decorated with his new rank.
He said:
“It is a pity that such a gentleman who was committed to his duty as a military officer and school commandant could be killed in gruesome manner inside a military formation.
“There are posts mounted by infantry soldiers from the gate of the school and visitors are not allowed inside except if they have a genuine mission.
“If the school commandant could be killed in such manner, how safe are the civilian staff and pupils who live in the school?
“Tony was only recently promoted to the rank of brigadier in the Army and he was waiting to be decorated before he was killed.
“I pray that investigation into the murder will not be an incomplete one.”

Woman Trying To Sell Her Three Children Arrested In Enugu

Odinaka Ali, a 25 year old woman from Ezilo, in Ishielu Local Goverment of Area of Ebonyi state has been arrested for trying to sell her three children.

According to Desk officer of National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, (NAPTIP) in Ebonyi State, Florence Onwa, the lady was arrested by the police after they received a tip-off from a waitress whom she had contacted to look for a trafficker who could buy her children because she could no longer take care of them after her husband abandoned them eight months ago.


The woman has however denied trying to sell her children stating that her arrest was a total frame up and that all she did was to ask the waitress for assistance in paying her house rent. Narrating what happened, she said, “My husband is from Amaekpo Ohafia, Abia State. I and my husband had issues before and we later reconciled. We did not have any problem when he abandoned us in April this year”. When I stayed few weeks I did not see him, I started doing menial jobs with my little children to enable me feed them. I kept doing this till it became so difficult for me to continue it and I decided to return to my village”. I didn’t want to sell my children at the initial time because I passed through caesarian operation before giving birth to all of them. I met a girl who sells food in a restaurant and narrated my problem to her and she promised to assist me. l met the girl before, so she asked me to come to her and wait for a woman who will enter into discussion with me.


I waited for the woman and she did not come. I did this three times and I told the girl that I will not come again”. She persuaded me to continue coming and I changed my heart. Before I could notice it, Policemen stormed the place and started asking me what I was doing there and the whereabouts of the three kids I wanted to sell”. I told the policemen that I didn’t want to sell my babies because I gave birth to them through operations. The policemen asked me to follow them to their station and I refused. They immediately invited a policewoman who came and asked me to follow them to the station, that I should obey before complain and I followed them to the station. While in the station, the girl who asked me to come to her said I told her to start looking for who will buy my children.”

Godwin Igwe, head of Child Development Department, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has called on well meaning individuals to assist the woman take care of the children.

"The three children and their mother just repatriated from the Enugu Ministry of Gender and Women Affairs to Ebonyi. The woman is from Ishielu local government area of Ebonyi State. When we interviewed her, she said she is finding it very difficult to survive let alone feed her children. She said her purported husband abandoned her and the children in April. She said it was very difficult for her to be carrying the third child of eight months old for menial jobs and she became a wanderer. So, the Enugu state government repatriated her. Her mother is late and the father is very old and has nothing doing. Her major problem is how to eke a living. She said if the government or public spirited individual can assist her, she is ready to take care of her children. If she is allowed to continue to wander in the streets, the children are at risk and if anybody approaches her for the children, she can easily release the children to the person and they will become victims of child trafficking. So, the Enugu government did not repatriate her out of malice or hatred but for safety of the children.” Mr Godwn said

Police arrest child traffickers in Abia State, rescue 4-year-old boy

Operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, based at Obehie, Abia State, on Dec. 4th, arrested one Rowland Egbe from  Imo River, Ukwa West L.G.A, Abia State.




According to a statement released on Wednesday, November 7th and signed by spokesperson of the Command, ASP Nta Ogbonnaya, the 30-year-old was arrested in connection with the abduction of a 4-year-old boy, Uzuoba Obinna, with the intention of selling him to one Mrs. Chioma Ohajinmmadu, who was also nabbed.



Mrs Ohajinmmadu, 50, of Aba, Abia State, specializes in the trafficking of children and also bought a male child from him two weeks ago. The suspects were paraded at the police Headquarters on Wednesday.

The boy was rescued and has been reunited with the parent. (Pictured) The suspects are helping the Police in their investigation to locate and rescue other children that might have been abducted.

Boko Haram: Buratai urges troops to embark on final onslaught

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has called on troops serving in the North-East to immediately embark on the final aggressive action and comprehensive sweep of the operational theatre to end the operation against the Boko Haram insurgents on a very high note. Buratai made the call in a message to the troops, on Sunday in Abuja. ADVERTISING inRead invented by Teads “In this regard, no stone should be left unturned. I, therefore, call on all officers and soldiers to buckle up and ensure that remnants of Boko Haram terrorists are completely cleared. Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai “I hope to be with you sometime this month – December, to motivate and positively influence the ongoing operations. “This is with a view to having a colourful end of year and peaceful Yuletide in the North-East and indeed Nigeria. “I urge all commanders to plan and embark on effective patrols, raids, ambushes and deliberate attacks in conjunction with other Services especially the Nigerian Air Force and Nigerian Navy, to rescue all those abducted by the terrorists. “I also wish to remind all troops that captured and surrendered Boko Haram terrorists must be treated humanely and fairly and in strict accordance with the provisions of International Humanitarian Law and Laws of Armed Conflict,” he said. Buratai, however, said that in doing that they must be prepared to enter “all fortresses, camps, dens and enclaves of the Boko Haram to completely flush them out and dominate these areas to ensure they are not reoccupied”. “I wish to reiterate that December is a month of decision. “It is either we succeed in clearing the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists or we continue to live in perpetual circle of their atrocities in the North-East. “I, hereby, want to reassure all troops that I intend to return everybody to Barracks in 2017 only leaving behind a strong, highly mobile, effective and motivated force that will continue to do the good work that we have already started,” he said. The chief of army staff also called on the troops to remain focused, disciplined, loyal, dedicated and patriotic to their duties and to Mr President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He also commended them for their sacrifice, commitment, loyalty and courage in the service of their fatherland.

Head teacher rapes 13-year-old girl as punishment for not finishing her homework

A school head teacher who defiled his 13-year-old pupil over incomplete homework has been sentenced to 25 years imprisonment will serve 25. Alex Otieno, also the proprietor of Starlet Academy in Nakuru, was convicted of the offence by a Nakuru court on Thursday, November 24th. The 36-year-old father of three was charged that he committed the offence between April 30, 2013 and July 19, 2013 at Dundori in Nakuru County.
In her testimony, the minor said that on July 19, 2013, the teacher called her to his office after he found out that she had not completed her Composition and Social Studies homework. In her testimony, the minor said on July 19, 2013, the teacher called her to his office after he found out that she did not complete her homework. She said that he raped her in his office and warned her not to tell anyone. She added that her friend and classmate asked her what happened but she was scared of telling her.
"My classmate asked me what was wrong but I was scared of telling her. I ended up telling her when we were leaving school," she added. The second witness, the classmate, narrated to court how shaken the girl was and how she kept to herself. “
"When she came from the teacher’s office, she appeared shaken but when I enquired what had happened, she refused to tell me. She disclosed what had happened when we were leaving school that evening,” she said.

The classmate added that she convinced the girl to report the issue to her mother that evening.The mother told the court that her daughter came home on July 19, 2013, scared and accompanied by her friend.
"She appeared shaken. When I enquired what had happened, her friend told her ‘si useme’. She then told me that her teacher had defiled her," said the mother.
The mother told the court that she and her daughter reported the incident to the police and completed a P3 form at the Provincial General Hospital in Nakuru with a Dr Matara. And in his testimony, the doctor told the court that the minor and her mother had visited the hospital on July 20, 2013. His examination revealed that the minor had been defiled.

Senior Resident Magistrate Judicaster Nthuku said she found the evidence presented by the prosecution to be true. The magistrate said the accused was not remorseful and the statement he posed to the minor proved that he defiled her.

The court found the sentence to be fit and fair. The accused has 14 days to appeal the sentence.

Kano court sentences two fraudsters to jail for 60 and 50 years respectively

Emmanuel Moyi a.k.a Abba Musa Bello and Victor Ali Ishaya were on Thursday November 24, 2016 convicted and sentenced to sixty years and fifty years imprisonment respectively on six count charges of offences bordering on conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretences by Justice J. K. Omotosho of Federal High Court Kano.

The prosecution of the two convicts started when EFCC received a petition from some of their victims alleging that the convicts obtained several sums of money from them under the guise that they were going to give them employment and job contracts.
The convicts succeeded in their fraudulent activity through phone calls with different GSM numbers and phony names.

By the time victims had parted with huge sums of money through different bank accounts supplied by the convicts, they realised they had being duped.

Investigations by the EFCC confirmed that those accounts were specifically opened by the convicts in order to perperate their fraudulent activities.

The convicts were arraigned on 16th may, 2016 by the EFCC. Upon arraignment, they pleaded guilty to all the charges read against them.

In view of their plea, Justice Omotosho, invited the prosecution to produce their witnesses. But the prosecution counsel N.K. Ukoha only produced one witness and urged the court to convict the defendants accordingly.

The matter was then adjourned to yesterday where Justice Omotosho convicted and sentenced Emmanuel Moyi to ten years imprisonment with option of a N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira Only) fine, on each of the six counts while the second convict was sentenced to ten years imprisonment with option of N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira Only) fine on each of count two to six.

The sentences are to run concurrently.
Posted by Linda Ikeji at 11/25/2016 04:34:00

Kidnappers of Islamic cleric, Sheikh Abdulaziz Yusuf demand N60 million ransom

Kidnappers of Islamic cleric, Sheikh Abdulaziz Yusuf, have demanded a N60 million ransom as condition for his release.
The cleric, who is the administrative secretary of the Plateau State branch of Jama'atu Nasril Islam (JNI)  was kidnapped near Kaduna alongside his driver on Wednesday evening on his way back to Jos from Kaduna State.The victim was to join Sheikh Khalid Aliyu in Jos so that the two would travel to Sokoto this morning on a condolence visit to the family of late Sultan of Sokoto. Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki.

Publicity Secretary for JNI, Abubakar Aliyu, who disclosed this on Thursday, described the incident as unfortunate and urged members of the organization to pray for the safe release of the captives.
"The unfortunate rise of kidnappings in Nigeria is very alarming, as this is the third in the series of kidnapping that has happened to the JNI" he said in a statement.
"The first was Sheikh Adam Abdullahi Idoko, JNI Vice President-General, South East, in September, 2015. The second was Engr. Muhammad Lawal Maidoki, Member JNI Central Publicity Committee, in September, 2016, and now Sheikh Abdul’Aziz Yusuf. We therefore, implore all Jumu’ah Imams to include the matter in their Khutbah for enlightenment and Du’a tomorrow Friday, 18th November, 2016 and pray fervently for the safe and unconditional release of Sheikh Abdul’Aziz Yusuf, who is over 80 years of age."

Commercial bus driver allegedly killed by trigger-happy police officer in Kaduna

A commercial bus driver identified as Saminu Bara'u popularly known as Danlami was allegedly killed by a trigger-happy police officer in Maraban Jos, Kaduna State on Tuesday November 15th. Facebook user who shared the story, calling for justice, wrote;
"The incidence occurred around 8pm of Tuesday 15th November 2016 while the victim was seated outside his residence in Maraban Jos when a team of police stormed the area in the name of patrol. Having fractured his leg and being innocent, Danlami remain seated as the police arrived.
One Police Officer nicknamed KURA (literarilly mean Hyena) ordered Danlami to stand up and run before he shoots him, which he calmly replied that he cannot run because his leg is fractured displaying his crutches. Unfortunately for Danlami, the barbaric KURA shot him to dead (the pic). Immediately after he shot Danlami, angry youths descended on KURA and were about to take jungle justice on him. It took the intervention of some respected elders and a human right activist (name with-held) to rescue him. The case has since been filed at Unguwan Sunusi Police Station and we learnt that KURA was transferred to State CID. Our fear is the usual, we don't want the case dead at arrival just because a Police Officer involved. Let us stand up for justice! Let us think of his wife and 3 kids! The State Government should do something!! The IGP should ensure KURA is brought to book!!! Keep sharing until justice is done. All we want is #Justice4Danlami......... May his soul rest in peace.

the burial of late former Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki

November 15th. Dignitaries from across the country attended the Janaza prayers led by the Chief Imam of the Sultan Bello Mosque, Alhaji Usman Bello.

Federal Government's delegation was led by Chief of Staff to the President, Alhaji Abba Kyari. Also in attendance were state governors, Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar III, among others.

Wife Of LASU Lecturer Pregnant For Her Bricklayer Lover

The wife of Lagos State University (LASU) lecturer, Mrs Kafayat Oyekunle, has revealed that she is now pregnant for her bricklayer lover, Fatai Alimi.

Alimi was arraigned in court on Thursday for allegedly snatching her from her husband, Suraju Oyekunle in Lagos, Nigeria.

The 36-year-old woman made the revelation when she went to the court to bail Alimi from custody.

She also said her decision to dump her husband and move into Alimi’s home was due to her inability to bear another child after 13 years she had lived with Oyekunle.

She revealed that after their only son was born 12 years ago, they had tried all they could to bear another child to no avail until a few months ago when she met Alimi and she immediately became pregnant for him.

Kafayat denied she was abducted and said it was a decision she took voluntarily because Oyekunle was not taking care of her.

She said since she met Alimi, things had changed in her life and she now had rest of mind.

She also revealed that her family was aware of the development and are in support of her decision.

She added that she will do everything possible to bail Alimi.

When asked to compare Alimi with Oyekunle, she said Alimi was better in everything despite his poor status in the society.

The 34-year-old Alimi was arrested and charged before a Lagos court for allegedly snatching Kafayat.
The incident happened in Igando area of Lagos, Nigeria, where Oyekunle resided with Kafayat and their only son.

Kafayat was allegedly so much in love with Alimi that she packed all her property and moved into the bricklayer’s small apartment in undisclosed place in the same Igando with their only male child.

Kafayat had married Oyegunle for 13 years and the marriage produced their only son before she met Alimi and moved out of her matrimonial home on 15 October, 2016.

P.M. EXPRESS gathered that Kafayat told her neighbours that she decided to consolidate on the new relationship by moving into Alimi’s apartment when her husband travelled.

When her husband returned from his trip and did not find his wife and son, he started making inquiries and neighbours informed him that his wife had moved into Alimi’s house as his new wife.

Oyekunle went straight and reported the matter at Igando police division who trailed Alimi and eventually arrested him at a construction site in Igando where he had gone to work.

Ogun State-born Alimi was brought to court on Thursday and charged with conduct likely to cause breach of peace by taking Kafayat and the only son produced through her marriage to Suraju, knowing full well that she was legally married.

He pleaded not guilty and the presiding Magistrate, Mr A. A. Fashola granted him bail in the sum of N25,000 with two sureties in like sum.

He was remanded in prison custody pending when he will perfect his bail condition.

The matter was adjourned till 12 December, 2016

Missing person: Leke Oworu

A father and grandfather is missing please help if you have any information to locate him. A LIB reader sent in this missing person report.
"Our dad Leke Oworu went missing on Tues 25th Oct 2016 after leaving our family home in Ogba. All efforts to locate him has not yielded anything and we are again appealing to the public to call or text 08023067181 if they've seen him or have information that will lead to locating him.
Thank yo

Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello, returns to Nigeria

The governor arrived Nigeria this evening following rumours he had died abroad, which his aides denied. He is pictured at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport..