TheNewsGuru

Tag: Abuja

  • Mobilisation begins for freed Chibok girls to meet parents

    Mobilisation begins for freed Chibok girls to meet parents

    Parents of the released 82 girls have confirmed that they were being mobilised from Chibok and environs where they live to visit their children in Abuja.

    Speaking with journalists, Chairman, Chibok Community in Abuja, Mr. Hosea Tsambido, said some Chibok representatives, who met with the Federal Government last week, were given photographs of the girls while the representatives handed over the pictures of the released girls to the parents in Chibok for identification.

    It was learnt that the concerned parents had been able to identify the girls and were therefore asked to come to Abuja to meet the girls on Friday.

    Tsambido stated, “Many of the parents have identified their children through the photos and I was told that they are coming on Friday.”

    When asked if the Federal Government would be sponsoring the trip, Tsambido said, “I don’t know. What the parents told me was that they were asked to come on Friday. I didn’t ask if the government would sponsor the trip but usually, the government sponsors such trips.”

    The father of one of the girls, Yama Pogu, said the parents had been meeting in Chibok, getting ready for the journey to Abuja.

    Pogu said although a date had not been fixed, all the parents had been mobilised.

    He said the parents had no idea if the Federal Government would sponsor their trip to Abuja but were determined to see their daughters.

    “They have mobilised us and we have started making preparations but yet to set a date for our departure. We even had a meeting today, all the parents, including those outside Chibok.

    “We have all decided that we are going; we don’t know if they would be paying for our transportation or sending vehicles for us, but we as parents have decided to look for money so that whether they pay for our transportation or not, we can pay our way to Abuja to see our daughters.”

  • Tension as Boko Haram commander swapped with Chibok girls threatens to bomb Abuja

    One of the Boko Haram commanders, who were swapped with the recently released 82 Chibok girls, has threatened to bomb Abuja in new a video obtained by international journalist, Ahmad Salkida.

    Salkida, who has close links with the insurgent group, said the video released by the Abubakar Shekau faction, featured one Shuaibu Moni, a Boko Haram commander who was one of those allegedly swapped for the girls.

    He disclosed that Moni issued threats to the Nigerian government and President Muhammadu Buhari.

    According to a report by The Nation, Salkida also claimed that the commander stated that it was not true that only five insurgents were released in exchange for the Chibok girls. He then warned of imminent bombing in Abuja.

    Moni added that there’s been no dialogue with government and that there won’t be.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that no fewer than 276 schoolgirls were abducted over three years ago, while 82 were released after negotiations involving the Swiss Government, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Federal Government on one side and the terror sect on the other.

    However, the Federal Government had on Thursday said it had no apologies or regrets whatsoever for swapping the recently released (82) Chibok girls for the suspected Boko Haram members in its (FG’s) custody.

     

  • 2 die in road accident in Abuja

    The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has confirmed the death of two persons in an accident in Abuja on Saturday.

    Mr Sunday Oghenekaro, the FRSC Sector Commander in FCT, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the incident occurred on the Gwarimpa bypass at 7 a.m., involving two Toyota Camry cars.

    According to him, three persons, comprising of two males and a female, were victims of the accident.

    He said that a male and the only female died on the spot, while the other male was critically injured.

    “The cause of the accident was speed, because if you look at the impact, one of the vehicles almost torn into shreds.

    “Our rescue team arrived in the scene about 10 minutes after the accident and was able to evacuate the bodies to Kubwa General Hospital.

    “The injured victim was, however, taken to the Federal Medical Centre in Jabi District,’’ he said.

    An eyewitness had earlier told NAN that one of the dead was a police officer with the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, but the FRSC sector commander could not immediately confirm that.

    Oghenekaro listed the items recovered at the scene to include one AK-47 rifle, mobile phones and an undisclosed amount of cash.

     

     

    NAN

  • Alleged money laundering: Police raid Senator Goje’s Abuja home

    Alleged money laundering: Police raid Senator Goje’s Abuja home

    Operatives of the Nigerian Police Force, NPF on Thursday evening invaded the home of former Gombe State Governor, Danjuma Goje, in Abuja.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Goje, who is now a Senator, is being prosecuted for money laundering.

    His trial started in 2014 and it has dragged on for almost three years.

     

    A senior police officer, who confirmed the raid to The Punch explained that it was carried out by some police teams as part of a wider probe of the senator.

    The police source said: “It is true that our men raided Senator Goje’s residence in Abuja, as part of a wider investigation. Some documents were recovered from his house, but it is too early to know the significance of the recoveries.”

    However, Police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood is yet to make any official comment as regards the raid.

    Meanwhile, in a swift reaction, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has denied participating in raiding Goje’s home in Abuja .

    The spokesman for the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said this in a message sent to newsmen on Thursday.

    His message reads: “Please disregard online reports claiming the EFCC today, April 20, raided the Abuja home of Senator Danjuma Goje. The report is false as the commission was not part of such an activity.”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Goje who was elected governor of Gombe State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP from 2003 to 2011, is currently standing trial before a Federal High Court for alleged fraud.

    He was also accused of contract inflation and spending N1bn on dictionaries for primary schools during his tenure.

    TheNewsGuru.com that the former governor, who was voted as member representing Gombe-Central senatorial district in the Upper legislative chamber on the platform of the PDP has since defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

  • FG shuts down Ponzi scheme in Abuja, arrests promoters

    In a swift reaction to stop the influx of Ponzi scheme promoters into the country, the Federal Government through the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), has sealed up the premises of Yuan Dong (YDEC) Ponzi scheme over illegal investment operations.

    This was revealed by the Head, Corporate Communications of the Commission, Mr Naif Abdussalam, in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

    Addussalam noted that the closure was carried out to end unlawful activities of the company against unsuspecting investors.

    According to Addussalam: “Investments in the scheme range from a minimum deposit of N10,000 to a maximum deposit of N240,000.

    “The investment period of the scheme is pegged at a minimum of 30 working days to a maximum period of 10 months with offer of interest rates on short and medium term basis.

    “The company promises a daily profit of N80 and N2,400 depending on the category of investment,” he said.

    Abdussalam disclosed that the commission’s investigations showed that the company also enticed its customers with payment of bonuses should they convince more investors to invest in the scheme.

    He said that the commission had established that the company’s activities also constituted a breach of the Investment and Securities Act (ISA), 2007.

    “Furthermore it was discovered that contrary to their supposed existence in over 20 locations across the country, the company only has functional offices in Asaba, Kano and Abuja.

    “The promoters of these illegal operations have been arrested by the Nigeria Police Force and are undergoing interrogation.

    “The Commission wishes to notify the investing public that the company is not licensed to carry out investments business of any type and as such its operations are illegal,” he said.

    Abdussalam advised the public to exercise due diligence and caution in the course of making investment decisions.

    He said valid licence of lawful operators could be obtained on the commission’s website by members of the public to confirm the licences of firms they intend to carry investment activities with.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that other top Ponzi schemes operating in the country include; MMM, Twinkas, AlwaysPays, DonationHub, GetHelpWorldwide, and a host of others.

    TheNewsGuru.com recalls that on 13 December, 2016 the Mavrodi Mundial Moneybox, popularly called MMM suspended all confirmed Mavros, otherwise known as money due for withdrawal for one month.

    However, regulation bodies such the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), have continually cautioned Nigerians on the dangers of investing in Ponzi schemes saying it is illegal and lacks federal government’s approval.

  • Thousands of Pro-Buhari supporters rally in Abuja

    Some supporters of the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration under the aegis of Truth and Justice Movement of Nigeria are currently marching through the streets in the Central area of the capital city.

    The rally which comprised Civil Society Organisations, Non-Governmental Organizations as well as various political groups was convened to declare support for the policies of the incumbent administration.

    Convener of the Movement, Hon. Johnson Ondoma told newsmen that the essence of the rally is to demonstrate to President Buhari their appreciation for fulfilling his promises by “defeating terrorism and corruption.”

    “The rally is important because as commoners, we express ourselves through public actions and not politicians and contractors who prefer to discuss governance in the state house and lobbies of hotels,” he said.

    Ondoma noted that despite repeated attempts to portray the Buhari administration of non performance, Nigerians know that the present administration in the last two years has achieved far better than its predecessor in the areas of anti-corruption, infrastructure and security.

    He cited the $1billion EuroBond which was oversubscribed as the beginning of good things to come.

    “Those who are sincere will acknowledge the investment in infrastructure that is now bringing improvement to roads and other critical national assets.

    “Unlike in the past when the money for these road contacts were usually shared and made to circulate round, the funds released are now actually going into getting the jobs done.

    “If people are not getting slush funds passed down to them it means they have to review their personal economic activities within the reality of an anti-corruption era.

    “There have also been several social security programmes being implemented by the government to ensure that economically disadvantaged people are not left to weather the difficulties they are facing alone.

    “$9.8 million was discovered in a safe at the house of a former Group Managing Director of NNPC, Andrew Yakubu, which he declared as gifts kept as housekeeping change.

    “$37.5 million naira property belonging to Diezani Alison-Madueke was uncovered in Banana Island, Lagos. Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed revealed that $151 million was recovered in stolen funds. The list goes on.

    “Dear compatriots, please tell me what economy can survive with this magnitude of theft and not undergo depression?

    According to Ondoma, some people are inciting Nigerians to hold Buhari responsible to the slide in the naira and the consequent recession that has touched Nigerians with economic hardship.

  • Don’t grant Fani-Kayode’s request to transfer case to Abuja, EFCC appeals judge

    Don’t grant Fani-Kayode’s request to transfer case to Abuja, EFCC appeals judge

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has called on Justice Muslim of the Federal High Court in Lagos to reject the application by former Aviation Minister and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Chief Femi Fani-Kayode seeking the transfer of his trial from Lagos to Abuja.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the EFCC is prosecuting Fani-Kayode for an alleged fraud of N4.9bn.

    Standing trial alongside Fani-Kayode on 17 counts are a former Minister of State for Finance, Nenadi Usman, an ex-Chairman of Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Mr. Yusuf Danjuma, and a company, Jointrust Dimentions Nigeria Limited.

    Fani-Kayode had, in an application filed through his lawyer, Mr. Norrison Quakers (SAN), pleaded for the transfer of his trial to Abuja for convenience and on the grounds that the cause of action leading to the charges took place in Abuja.

    Besides, the former minister also said he did not have confidence in Justice Hassan who is presiding over the case.

    According to a report by The Punch, Fani-Kayode said he was afraid that he would not get justice before Justice Hassan, because the judge was a lawyer for the EFCC until recently when he was appointed as a judge of the Federal High Court.

    Fani-Kayode recalled that it was Justice Hassan, then a senior counsel for the EFCC,who drafted, filed and signed a charge marked, FHC/L/523c/2008, leading to his trial for alleged N100m money laundering before Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia.

    However, opposing Fani-Kayode’s application, the EFCC, in a counter-affidavit, begged Justice Hassan not to grant the request to transfer the case to Abuja.

    The anti-graft commission said contrary to Fani-Kayode’s claim, part of the criminal activities alleged against him took place in Lagos.

    It added that the witnesses it intended to call in the case live in Lagos.

    “The various accounts used as an intermediate step in the scheme of the alleged fraud/offences are domiciled in Zenith Bank Plc which has its operational headquarters in Lagos,” counsel for the EFCC, Idris Mohammed, said in the counter-affidavit.

    The EFCC also contended that it was too late for the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to transfer the case to Abuja because trial had already started and one witness had already been called.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the judge is however yet to make any pronouncement on the issue.

  • Labour unions hold protests in Abuja, Lagos

    Labour unions hold protests in Abuja, Lagos

    Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC have gathered at the Unity Fountain in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, to commence the march against what they call the effect of poor governance.

    Leading the Abuja rally, President of the NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said the protest was embarked on to voice out the hardship faced by the people on almost a daily basis. He said the labour in conjunction with other stakeholders will ensure that the government of the day accedes to the yearnings of the poor in the society.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Co-convener of the Bring Back Our Girls campaign (BBOG), Mrs Aisha Yusuf who also took active part in leading the rally said the protest is meant for Nigerians to express their anger over the hardship being faced by them.

    Meanwhile, members have also converged at the National Secretariat of the NLC in Yaba marching through the streets of Lagos, to the State Government House in Alausa and the State House of Assembly, to make their demands known.

     

     

    Details later…

  • Abuja community urges prosecution of house owners without toilets

    Abuja community urges prosecution of house owners without toilets

    Kpaduma community of Asokoro Extension in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) wants the government to prosecute owners of houses without toilets to reduce open defecation.

    The community also solicits the enforcement of rules that will ensure that every house has toilets.

    Some of the community members made this appeal while speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday during the community’s monthly sanitation exercise in the area.

    Mrs Asabe Philemon, a member of the community, said: “It is worrisome that some landlords in this area would just build houses without constructing toilets.’’

    Mr Friday Gyang, another resident of the community, called on the government to enforce laws that would ensure each property owner to make provision for toilets before the tenants moved to the houses.

    “It is so sad that this is happening within the capital, not outskirts. Even houses in the villages have toilet talk more of the city,’’ he said.

    Gyang said even though there was no fixed day for monthly sanitation by the government, the community members usually embarked on environmental sanitation exercise.

    Also, Mr Innocent Okechukwu, said the exercise provided a platform for the community members to maintain and repair the roads to prevent erosion during rainy season.

    Similarly, Malam Danjuma Isa, a resident, appealed to the government to provide basic facilities such as roads, water and electricity supply in the area.

  • Soldiers beat RCCG Pastor to stupor for refusing to ‘frog jump’

    A pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Abuja, Alex Ochienu, has narrated how he was beaten by two soldiers into coma for refusing to obey their order to do frog jumps.

    The cleric alleged that he was flogged by Cpl. M. Dankwa and his colleague whose name he did not know, until he collapsed and was rushed to the Gwarimpa General Hospital.

    The civil engineer said he was supervising construction works at Paradise Estate, Life Camp, Abuja when the soldiers invaded the site with officials of the Development Control Department and assaulted him and other workers.

    Accoromg to a report by Northern City News, Ochienu lost his phone during the incident which occurred on January 17, 2017 at 3pm.

    In Ochienu’s words: “The soldiers rushed into the site and ordered everyone to frog-jump; they flogged the workers and threatened to shoot us. I tried to explain to them that I was weak because I was fasting, but Dankwa was infuriated by my explanation.

    “He kicked me in the stomach; another soldier also joined in beating me till I collapsed. When they saw that I was almost lifeless, they left and I was rushed to the hospital by the workers.”

    The cleric said he learnt the soldiers apologised to the owners of the estate “for their mistake.”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Ochienu plans to take legal action against the Development Control Department and the military for the assault.

    The Paradise Estate Project Manager, Tobias Tokbe, said he was not at the scene, but added that beside Ochienu, another worker, Bem Ali, was also brutalised by the soldiers without any reason.

    He said, “I was discussing with the development control officials at the project office when I saw some workers carrying somebody and they told me Ochienu was beaten by the soldiers that accompanied the development control officials to the site; I was livid.

    “I immediately called the development control director who said he didn’t authorise the soldiers to attack anyone. We asked the soldier why he beat up the engineer and he said Ochienu grabbed his jacket, which we know was a lie.”

    Tokbe said the riot policemen guarding the estate almost fought with the soldiers after the incident.

    When contacted, the Development Control Director, Muktar Galadima, said he was informed about the incident and “I said sorry, but I didn’t see the victim of the attack.”