TheNewsGuru

Tag: Arrest

  • Arrest hate speech makers henceforth! – Buhari oders security agents

    Arrest hate speech makers henceforth! – Buhari oders security agents

    President Muhammadu Buhari has warned Nigerian elites to stop misleading the people through their unguarded utterances.

    Buhari, who is the visitor to the University of Uyo, according to the News Agency of Nigeria, gave the warning at the 24th convocation ceremony of the institution on Saturday.

    The President, who was represented by the Director of Corporate Communications, National Universities Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Yakasai, said development and progress could not thrive in a hate-filled and divisive society.

    He said universities as home of great thinkers, should give guidance to the communities to enable the people to make informed decisions as the nation approached the 2019 general elections.

    He said that the Federal Government would not condone or tolerate incendiary remarks capable of causing fear and spread hatred among the people, from any person or group of persons.

    Buhari said that the Federal Government would continue to do its best to ensure security of lives and property in the country.

    The President said, “At this point, I want to be very clear and equivocal, that the Federal Government will never condone or tolerate incendiary remarks from any person or group of persons, which are meant to harass, intimidate, cause fear and spread hate, no matter how highly placed such a person is.

    “Law enforcement agencies should fish out people who make inciting statements, instigate civil disobedience, broadcast hate speeches or stir strife, riot and rebellion and bring them to book.

    “We should continue to live together as brothers and sisters.”

    The President called on the new graduates to look beyond leaders who had failed themselves and the nation but should choose their heroes from among those who believe in the progress of Nigeria and emulate those honest and hardworking in their professions.

    Buhari said there was a need for the curriculum of Nigerian universities to be diversified to include entrepreneurial skills to help graduates to employ themselves and others after graduation.

    The Vice-Chancellor, University of Uyo, Prof. Enefiok Essien, said 32 students from the institution graduated with first class honours in the 24th convocation.

    Essien said that 4,539 graduands convoked; 631 postgraduates, 3,678 undergraduates and 230 sub-degrees.

     

  • Alleged fraud: EFCC threatens to arrest Innoson Motors boss, Innocent Chukwuma

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has vowed to ensure that the Chairman, Innoson Motors Nigeria Limited, Innocent Chukwuma, is arrested to face fraud charges in court.
    The commission gave the assurance Wednesday, after Justice Olusola Williams of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, struck out the case of fraud the EFCC instituted against Mr Chukwuma.
    The judge struck out the case after the EFCC failed to produce Mr Chukwuma in court to face trial.
    Mr Chuwuma and his company, Innoson Motors Nigeria Limited, were to be arraigned on a four-count charge of conspiracy to obtain by false pretences, obtaining by false pretence, stealing and forgery.
    The defendants allegedly committed the offences between 2009 and July 2011 in Lagos.
    The defendants were alleged to have conspired to obtain, by false pretences, containers of motorcycles, spare parts and raw materials, property of Guaranty Trust Bank, from Mitsui OSK Lines Limited, Apapa, Lagos.
    They were also alleged to have fraudulently induced staff of Mitsui OSK and Maersk Line to deliver to them, via their clearing agents, the goods that were imported from China in the name of GTB by falsely pretending that they were authorized by the bank to clear the goods.
    The defendants were said to have forged a bill of lading numbered 598286020 of Maersk Line Limited and 11007950841 of Mussui O.S.K. Line by knowingly putting a false GTB stamp and signature of the bank staff.
    The alleged fraud was in order that the forged documents be used or acted upon as genuine to the prejudice of any person within Lagos or elsewhere.
    However, since the suit was instituted, first before Justice Mojisola Dada of the same court, the defendant has refused to appear in court to face his trial.
    In a short ruling today, Justice Williams held that it was the responsibility of the EFCC to produce him in court.
    “This court is not an investigator or a prosecutor. This court cannot waste precious judicial time prosecuting a matter that is going nowhere.
    “This is a criminal matter that can be instituted anytime the prosecution is ready. The court hereby strikes out the matter,” the judge held.
    It will be recalled that Justice Dada had, on June 22, 2018, withdrawn from presiding over the matter on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC).
    All efforts by the EFCC to arraign the defendant before Justice Dada on five consecutive occasions failed despite being declared wanted on May 23, 2018 and also issuance of a bench warrant by the court.

  • Police arrest pastor, seven women for praying naked during service

    Police arrest pastor, seven women for praying naked during service

    A group of worshipers, all said to be women, have been arrested by police in an unregistered church during what was said to be called a prayer session.
    According to sources, the arrest took place at a private owned apartment in Rukiga, northern Uganda.
    Aside from the pastor, all the worshipers who were women, were naked during the worship hours.
    The apartment was said to have belonged to the pastor, Adah Kahababo, who led the full gospel ministration.
    The police were tipped off by the husbands of these women who were angry that for almost a week their wives have been praying with Kahabab.
    The District Commissioner, Emmy Ngabirano was surprised and wanted to know why those women have to be naked before they could pray with ‘Adah Kahababo’.
    “We respect the freedom of worship but people must follow the existing laws of operating a church and one of the requirements is to have it registered. The arrested people were holding an illegal assembly in someone’s house, which they claimed to be their church where they have been praying while naked. As the security team, we shall not allow such unlawful activities as they may lead to a cult like that of Joseph Kibwetere where hundreds of people were burnt to death in a church in Kanungu District in March 2000”.

  • Jim Iyke lands in trouble over slapping Dana Air staff.

    Controversial Nollywood actor, Jim Iyke was on Monday afternoon detained at the Muritala Muhammed Airport, Lagos over slapping an employee of Dana Air.

    According to reports, the actor arrived late for his 12:15pm Abuja flight and the airline’s security operative tried to help him to meet up with the flight by searching him.

    It was gathered that Iyke refused to be searched and pushed the man away, but the man maintained that he must be searched before boarding.

    The man’s resolve was said to have infuriated Iyke, who slapped the man for ‘wasting his time.’

    Iyke was later detained by officers from the Airport Police Command.

    Dana Air’s Media and Communications Manager, Kingsley Ezenwa, said Iyke was however released, after he had apologized to the airline employee.

    Ezenwa noted that the actor eventually missed the flight, which was still on ground when the incident happened.

    The Airport’s command public relations officer, Alabi Joseph, also confirmed the occurrence adding that Iyke regained his freedom after he tendered an apology.

     

    Meanwhile, the actor fondly referred to as ‘Nollywood’s bad boy has debunked viral reports about his alleged arrest.

    Reacting over the news, Iyke in a chat with Pulseng said:“I am surprised at this news. I am presently seating at the Dana Air office about to board my flight. I missed my flight and when I got to the airport, I wanted to try and see if I could make it because the plane hadn’t gone, they even tried speaking to the pilot but it was late. They had to put me on the next flight.

    “My sister just called me to ask this same question because she said her old school friend called her and told she held about my arrest. I have been at the airport for two hours. I don’t know why people will come up with stories like this,” he said.

     

     

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Bm-_q-ChF2E/?taken-by=instablog9ja

     

     

     

  • Police speaks on arrest, detainment of Premium Times journalist

    The Nigeria Police Force on Thursday spoke about its arrest and detainment of a Security reporter with Premium Times, Samuel Ogundipe.

    The police in its reaction accused the reporter of violating the Official Secret Act and the Cyber Crime Act, adding that he was also being tried for theft of classified document.

    The Force insisted that Ogundipe’s action was “detrimental to national security,” noting that it could jeopardise peace and was capable of causing crisis in the country.

    Recall that Ogundipe was arrested on Tuesday by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad operatives over the publication of the report of Police investigation into the invasion of the National Assembly by the Department of State Services, and a Kubwa magistrate court had ordered he be remanded in Police custody till August 20.

    In a statement in Abuja on Thursday, the Force Spokesman, acting DCP Jimoh Moshood, also stated that the accused journalist had volunteered statements and he is standing trial.

    It said, “The Force is categorically stating that Ogundipe is being investigated and prosecuted for the offences of theft and unlawful possession of restricted and classified documents inimical to State/National Security that can jeopardise peace, breakdown of law and order capable of precipitating crisis in the country.

    “Ogundipe is also being investigated and prosecuted under other offences which violate Official Secret Act, Cyber Crime Act, and the Penal Code for which he has volunteered statements and is standing trial.”

    Moshood stated that Ogundipe was arraigned in court in less than 24 hours of his arrest, adding that the police “as a law abiding organization will continue to ensure that the Rule of Law and its supremacy which are essentials of democracy prevail at all times.”

    “The Nigeria Police Force and the media are veritable partners in ensuring peace, law and order in the country, but the Force will not compromise or allow an offender to go scot free or pervert the end of justice,” he added.

    A coalition of civil society groups, #OurMumuDondo, had earlier in the morning stormed the force headquarters, Abuja to demand the release of the Premium Times reporter.

    Led by popular musician, Charlie boy, the protesters insisted on the release of the reporter, noting that they would not leave until he is freed.

    The activists briefly barricaded the Shehu Shagari Way, forcing motorists to ply alternative routes.

    Presidential aspirant, Omoyele Sowore, knocked the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris for pressurizing Ogundipe to disclose his source.

    Another activist, Ralph Adebayo described the IG as “ignorant,” noting that “he has been transmitting confusion since he became the police boss, stumbling from one controversy to another.”

    The convener, Concerned Nigerians, Deji Adeyanju said the group would continue to besiege the police headquarters daily until their demand is met.

    Addressing the protesters, Moshood said the detention of the journalist was not a punishment, a claim that annoyed the campaigners who objected loudly.

    Asked why Ogundipe’s bank account was frozen,the force spokesman said,

    “It is part of investigation; We should try to educate ourselves. The Judges’ rule permit the police if an offence is committed in Abuja to go far to Lagos to get anywhere to get evidence in resolution of the matter.”

     

  • Buhari, APC planning to arrest, detain Saraki, Ekweremadu – PDP raises fresh alarm

    Nigeria’s main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday raised fresh alarm that the President Muhammadu Buhari led All Progressives Congress (APC) government is plotting to arrest Senate President, Bukola Saraki and his Deputy Ike Ekweremadu.

    The party also alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) submitted its budget for the 2019 general elections to the presidency since February 2018.

    The party made this allegation via a statement signed on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan.

    After the 2018 budget of N9.1 trillion was passed by the National Assembly in June 2018 and signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari, he sent a supplementary budget to the parliament for the next year’s polls for approval.

    However, the National Assembly went into recess last month to resume next month without attending to the supplementary budget.

    The presidency had begged the parliament to reconvene to pass the budget to allow INEC prepare for the elections but there are fears that the presidency is planning to use the opportunity to effect a change in leadership of the Senate because of the defection of the Senate President, Mr Bukola Saraki, from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the PDP.

    In the statement released today by the PDP, it has unraveled fresh facts confirming that the pressure by the Presidency for the reconvening of the Senate is out of a sinister motive and not for any emergency in the approval of the budget of INEC for the 2019 election.

    The party also said it has again uncovered a plot by the APC and the cabal in the Mr Buhari Presidency to use “compromised security agencies and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to invite, arrest and detain Senate President Bukola Saraki and Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu.”

    It alleged that the fresh plot to detain the two presiding officers is part of renewed design to keep them out of circulation, ahead of Senate resumption, so as to enable the heavily induced APC senators, who are now in the minority, to throw up two of their members as Senate President and Deputy Senate President respectively on the excuse that Saraki and Ekweremadu failed to show up for proceedings in the Senate.

    “The PDP notes that the new plot to cage Saraki and Ekweremadu, in devilish rehash of the Tuesday July 24, 2018 hostage-taking and invasion of their official residences by security agencies is coming after the August 7, 2018 failed attempt to use security forces to take control of the leadership of the Senate.

    “Apart from plots to arrest and detain Saraki and Ekweremadu, the PDP has also been made aware of plans to use the EFCC and security forces to clamp down on their family members, including their wives and siblings as well as close associate, all in the effort to weaken their resolve.

    “Moreover, investigations by the PDP further confirm that the insistence of the APC-led Federal Government on the emergency reconvening of the National Assembly, ostensibly to consider INEC’s budget for the 2019 election, is part of APC’s thicker plot to execute their premeditated ‘coup’ on the leadership of the Senate.

    “PDP was further informed that contrary to claims by the APC and the Presidency, INEC actually submitted the budget to the presidency since February 2018, only for the Presidency to submit it to the National Assembly in July when the legislature was already going on recess; with a view to enmesh it in a needless controversy.

    “Furthermore, the PDP counsels Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to stop acting saint, as Nigerians are aware that he is part and parcel of the actors behind the sordid developments playing out in the National Assembly.

    “The PDP invites Nigerians and the international community to note the activities of the APC and the Buhari Presidency, which have continued to put the unity and stability of our nation as well as our hard-earned democracy under serious stress.

    “In all, the PDP cautions the APC and power mongers at the Presidency to know that Nigerians have seen through their evil intentions and will continue to firmly resist them by standing for democracy and the unity of our nation at all times,” the statement said.

     

  • INEC chairman, Yakubu storms court, challenges order for his arrest

    The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Mahmoud Yakubu, has asked the Court of Appeal to quash the arrest order issued against him by the Federal High Court in Abuja on alleged disobedience to court orders.

    Yakubu stormed the Appeal Court and challenged the arrest order issued against him on Wednesday by Justice Stephen Pam, less than 24 hours the arrest order was made.

    In a notice of appeal he filed through his lead counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo SAN, the INEC chief claimed that Justice Pam acted in bad faith in the issuance of the arrest order because he had already filed a pending appeal against the order and the attention of the judge drawn to the appeal.

    Among others, Yakubu claimed that up till date, no order was enrolled and served on him for his personal appearance in court as required by law.

    He averred that the warrant of arrest against him was a nullity because none of the parties in the contempt case applied for issuance of bench warrant except the judge who did so on his own.

    The INEC chief maintained that he had not disobeyed any court order because he was not present before the court when the alleged order directing his personal presence was made and that Justice Pam who issued the order has no jurisdiction to punish him for the alleged disobedience of court order committed ex-facie curie (outside the court).

    Yakubu in the notice of appeal predicated on five grounds claimed that the Federal High Court Judge was wrong to be a judge of his own order allegedly not obeyed outside the face of the court.

    He maintained that he was no longer a contemnor at the Federal High Court under the strength of his appeal lodged at the Court of Appeal challenging the justification of the contempt charge against him.

    Besides, Yakubu asserted that Justice Pam committed a grave miscarriage of justice when he unilaterally struck out a motion on notice he filed on July 31 praying his court to adjourn the contempt charge against him pending the determination of his appeal on the contempt charge at the Court of Appeal.

    He insisted that the trial court breached section 36 of the 1999 constitution by striking out his motion without hearing it, thereby denying him his right to fair hearing in the determination on merit of his application.

    He, therefore, prayed the Court of Appeal for an order setting aside the entire ruling of Justice Pam delivered on August 1, during which a bench warrant for his arrest was issued.

    Yakubu also prayed for an order of the appellate court remitting the contempt charge marked FHC/ABJ/CS/854/2015 back to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment to another judge of the court for hearing and determination of the matter, on the grounds that Justice Pam had exhibited patent bias against him in his handling of the matter.

    Respondents in the notice of appeal are Ejike Oguebego and Chuks Okoye, Chairman and legal adviser respectively of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Anambra State, who instituted the contempt charge for themselves and on behalf of other members of the Executive Committee of the party in the state.

    Justice Pam had on Wednesday issued a bench warrant against the INEC chief following his failure to appear before the court on three occasions to defend himself in the contempt charge brought against him by the Anambra State PDP.

    Specifically, Yakubu was dragged before the Federal High Court for disregarding the judgment of the Supreme Court delivered in 2014 which ordered INEC to recognized Ejike Oguebego-led executive as the authentic leadership of PDP in Anambra State.

    No date has yet been fixed for hearing of the appeal.

  • Killings in Nigeria could lead to a religious war – Gowon

    Killings in Nigeria could lead to a religious war – Gowon

    Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd), has expressed serious concerns over the security situation in the country, saying that the situation if not immediately addressed, could lead to a religious war.

    Gowon spoke on Saturday at the Benue People’s House, Makurdi, when he visited Governor Samuel Ortom to commiserate with the government and the people of the state over the wanton killings and destruction of properties in the state.

    He particularly expressed worry over the killings of innocent and unarmed villagers by armed herdsmen, which had yet to be stopped by appropriate authorities.

    Gowon, who said he was disappointed at the handling of the security situation in the country, said, “Security agencies should invite and question the leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore who had threatened to unleash violence on Benue State and later justified the killings and their roles.”

    The former Head of State who said he was out of the country when two priests and 17 worshipers were killed in a church in the state during morning mass, expressed the condolences of his group, ‘Nigeria Prays’ to the governor.

    He said, “I am sad and worried at the religious dimension the killings are assuming.

    “It is worrisome to see innocent people being killed. Government should make more efforts to tackle the insecurity situation in the country before it descends into a full religious war.”

    Gowon commended Ortom and the Benue State government for the way they had so far handled the issues of killings and devastation of communities.

    He said, “For us to survive as a nation; we must learn to live together as one regardless of ethnicity or religion”

    Ortom, who was represented by his deputy, Mr Benson Abounu, thanked Gowon for commiserating with the people of the state as well as lending his voice to the call on the Federal Government to take decisive actions to end the orgy of violence.

  • NYSC Certificate Scandal: Why we are yet to arrest Adeosun —Police

    The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has explained why it is yet to apprehend nor investigate the embattled Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, over an allegation of possession of forged exemption certificate of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

    Recall that an online news outlet Premium Times recently exposed that the minister forged her exemption certificate despite graduating at the age of 22.

    Speaking with newsmen on Tuesday, spokesman of the security agency, Mr Jimoh Moshood, disclosed that no one has formally come forward to lay a complaint against her.

    According to him, police cannot start acting based on allegations on the pages of newspapers or the internet.

    “There must be a complaint, either written or verbal to us. You must write to a divisional police station or the Commissioner of Police or to the Inspector-General of Police; we have not received any complaint, so we can’t investigate it (allegation of forgery),” the spokesman said.

    Asked if the media reports of the allegation were not sufficient for the police to initiate a probe, the Mr Moshood said police detectives could not initiate an investigation based on newspaper reports.

    He insisted on a written or verbal complaint to the police, noting that this was the basis for all police investigations.

    “I have not read the report of what you said was published in newspapers. As I said, we can’t investigate the allegations until there is a verbal or written complaint against her (the finance minister),” the police explained.

    However, two non-governmental organisations had reportedly petitioned the IG to probe the allegations against Adeosun.

    Human and Environmental Development Agenda Resource Centre, and an anti-corruption group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), had challenged the minister to break her silence and respond to the allegation.

     

     

  • 2019: We’re ready for arrest, detention and death – PDP tells Buhari

    The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Monday, said members of the opposition were ready to be arrested, intimidated and even killed as the 2019 presidential election approached.

    He said this when the thirty-nine political parties met in Abuja on Monday to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to field a single presidential candidate in 2019.

    He said that the Buhari regime had been carrying on as if it had cowed every Nigerian, warning that there was no way the regime would kill all the opposing views.

    He berated the regime for its actions, adding that the government of Buhari was planning to either arrest or jail vocal members of the opposition before the 2019 general elections.

    He said, “Just last week, the APC conquest regime came up with Executive Order which all political watchers including civil society groups liken to Decree 2 of the military era.

    “We know why they are doing this on the eve of a general election because they know the people have turned their back on them, but they want to retain power at all costs including cowing us down.

    “But we cannot be cowed, if our heroes past had been cowed down we would not have democracy or a nation today.

    “We must stand up for the rule of law to prevail or posterity would judge us harshly.

    “Our leaders were fearless and united and they rescued this country from draconian regimes in the past.

    “By what we are doing today, fear has taken flight and the spirit of God has taken over, we must stand up to defend our people.

    “I, therefore, call on all of us to be strong, steadfast and courageous. Let’s chase out the APC in our lives and form a national government that will bring succour to our people.”