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Tag: Wanted

  • Again, Abia declares fleeing COVID-19 positive patient wanted

    The Abia State Government has again declared another suspected COVID-19 patient, Emmanuel Ononiwu, wanted.

    Ononiwu was said to have tested positive and refused to isolatate himself as requested by appropriate medical protocol.

    Recall that the state government had earlier declared a patient wanted when he fled on discovery of his status. He was later found and taken to the isolation centre for proper treatment.

    The Commissioner of Information, John Okiyi-Kalu, in a statement yesterday said Ononiwu, residing at Aba, escaped from a temporary holding facility in Aba, prior to his movement to an isolation centre, after he was informed of his status.

    All subsequent appeals made to him through his phone line; 08033484117, fell on deaf ears, as he insisted that he will not turn himself in. He had switched off his line along with that of his spouse, required to present herself for testing.

    Okiyi-Kalu stated that the last tracked location of Ononiwu was around Asa Triangle in Aba South Local Government.

    “If seen anywhere, please report to the nearest security agency or call 0700 2242 362, but do not approach him without full protection to avoid infection.

    “Enforcement teams all over the state are also advised to be on the look out and take him in as soon as he is found.

    “All those who had contact with him in the past 14 days are strongly advised to call 0700 2242 362 and submit themselves for testing.

    “We strongly advise all citizens and residents to be vigilant and take necessary measures to protect themselves.

    “Do not leave your house without wearing your face mask appropriately and ensure you maintain social distance at all times.

    “COVID-19 is real and if we take responsibility as individuals we can win the battle against the virus in our state and country.”

  • JUST IN: Nursing mother absconds after testing positive for COVID-19, Edo declares her wanted

    JUST IN: Nursing mother absconds after testing positive for COVID-19, Edo declares her wanted

    Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has declared one Mrs. Amaka Okoro, who tested positive for coronavirus disease, wanted for treatment.

    He announced this on Thursday, during a media briefing in Benin to update the state on the progress made so far to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

    According to the Governor, the COVID-19 patient is a nursing mother, who has a baby that is already coughing.

    “She lives at 2 Atoe Idubor Str, off 2nd Ugbor, Benin City. She has been unreachable since her results returned positive.” he said.

    Meanwhile, Obaseki has extended the dusk-to dawn curfew imposed in the state to check the spread of coronavirus disease for another 14 days.

    He, however, made an hour upward review of the curfew from 8pm to 6am.

    “Since my last public update about 10 days ago, I am here to inform you that we have made tremendous progress in the area of screening, testing and improved awareness of our citizens about the virus.

    “We are working closely with public and private hospitals, we have screened about 20,000 people and tested 297 citizens.

    “This increased screening and testing is the reason for the increased number of cases in the state.

    “We are aggressively pushing to screen our minimum target of about 500,000 people and test about one percent of them which is about 5,000, in the next few weeks.

    “As we increase testing, we are likely to see an astronomic rise in the number of cases in the state.

    “Of the 20,000 people, we have screened and of the 297 samples taken, we have recorded 37 confirmed cases as at today, discharged eight and lost three people.

    “It is worthy of note that late testing was a strong factor leading to fatality. That is why I’m advising that everybody go out for screening at the numerous screening centres in the state,” he said.

    Obaseki noted that the various screening centres offers free medical services, free face mask and free multivitamins .

    “I’m confident that we can beat this virus if we follow the measures put in place strictly.

    “I want to appreciate the good people of the state for their cooperation and compliance with the curfew which l imposed 10 day ago.

    “I know that the curfew has created inconveniences and loss of income to many families. However, this is the sacrifice we have to make to protect the citizens and their families.

    “We have decided to commence another round of palliative distribution to the vulnerable groups in our communities.

    “With the lessons we have learnt in the past, we have put measures in place to make sure that only the targeted people receives these items,” he added.

  • JUST IN: Abia declares fleeing COVID-19 patient wanted

    The Abia State Government on Friday declared a COVID-19 patient, Vincent Prosper wanted.

    A statement by the Information Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi-Kalu claimed that Prosper reportedly sneaked into Abia State from a-yet-to-be mentioned neighbouring state.

    According to the statement, the suspected COVID-19 patient was last seen around 153, Azikiwe Road, Aba.

    It urged anyone with useful information on Prosper’s whereabouts and those who have had contacts with him to call 0700 2242 362 or contact Commissioner for Health, Dr. Osuji immediately.

    The State Government also announced the continuous extension of ongoing lockdown in the state.

    Details shortly…

  • BREAKING: Two Nigerians wanted over ‘Italian’ Coronavirus case found

    BREAKING: Two Nigerians wanted over ‘Italian’ Coronavirus case found

    The two men declared wanted for having contact with Nigeria’s index coronavirus case have been found, the Lagos State Government has declared.

    The duo of Enwelunta Obumnore Godfrey and Salami Abiodun Sadeeq, who boarded the same flight with the Italian that tested positive to coronavirus in Lagos, were declared unreachable on Monday after all efforts by the state government to trace them proved abortive.

    Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi, said the two men were identified within 24 hours after their names were made public.

    He said this at a press briefing on Wednesday.

    “As you know, we published their names and within 24 hours, we identified them and we’ve been in touch with them.

    “I thank the media for putting those names out and for social media, it was very quick.

    “It shows that the Lagos community is responsive and very responsible because I was surprised at the speed they were identified,” he said.

    Abayomi said the Italian, who has been in isolation for about two weeks and the second index case, are doing very well.

    He added the three persons in isolation from France, England, and China have been discharged.

    “He (the Italian) has no symptom, but the test shows that he’s still secreting the virus although the level is going down significantly.

    “So if the virus secretion hits zero, we will test him one more time to be sure and he will be discharged from the hospital. The second case is doing well.

    “He hasn’t developed any major symptoms; just some minor aches and pains and he seems to be doing well and we are satisfied.

    “We will repeat his test tomorrow and we will determine what happens next based on his test,” he stated.

    The Commissioner also disclosed that a family of four children, their teacher from the United States and another man from the United Kingdom has been placed under isolation.

    “We have admitted a family of four children and their teacher who came from the United Kingdom.

    “Apparently they are in close proximity with somebody who has coronavirus infection.

    “We have had them in isolation for the past two days. The first test is negative; we will repeat the test in forty-eight hours and see what happens.

    “We also have another gentleman from the United Kingdom. So, we will run his test today and the result will define what happens,” he said.

  • JUST IN: ICPC declares serving House of Reps member wanted

    JUST IN: ICPC declares serving House of Reps member wanted

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Thursday declared wanted a member of the House of Representatives, Shehu Koko Mohammed for failure to appear before the Commission in an ongoing investigation against him.

    Rasheedat A. Okoduwa, Director, Public Enlightenment, ICPC, on behalf of the Chairman, in a statement, said “Hon. SHEHU KOKO MOHAMMED is hereby declared wanted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for his failure to appear before the Commission, for an ongoing investigation against him.

    “Hon. Mohammed, an indigene of Kebbi State, is currently serving as an Honourable Member representing the Maiyama/Koko/Besse Federal Constituency at the National Assembly. He was born on 16th June 1978 (41 years old) and is dark in complexion.

    “His current address is Wamban Koko Campaign Office, Jega Road, Maiyama, Kebbi State.

    “Anyone who has useful information on his whereabouts should report to ICPC Headquarters Abuja, any of the ICPC State Offices or the nearest police station, or call ICPC Toll-Free lines: 0803-123-0280, 0803-123-0281, 0803-123-0282, 0705-699-0190, 0705-699-0191 and 0800-CALL-ICPC (0800-2255-4272),” the statement said.

  • Ikoyi Cash: EFCC declares former NIA DG Ayodele Oke, wife wanted

    Ikoyi Cash: EFCC declares former NIA DG Ayodele Oke, wife wanted

    Nigeria’s anti-graft body, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has declared former director-general of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Ayodele Oke and his wife, Folasade, wanted.

    Oke and his wife are wanted in connection with the sum of $43,449,947 as well as £27,800 and N23,218,000 cash recovered by the EFCC from an apartment at Osborne road in Ikoyi, Lagos state, in April 2017.

    The commission had filed four charges bordering on money laundering to the tune of N13 billion against the couple.

    According to a statement from the EFCC on Sunday, the two were declared wanted following their failure to answer fraud charges filed against them.

    Justice Chukwujeku Aneke of the Federal High Court in Lagos had on February 7, 2019, issued an arrest warrant on them.

    The judge did that after an oral application by the counsel for the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo.

    President Muhammadu Buhari had on 30 October, 2017, sacked Oke based on the report of a three-man panel led by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo that investigated them.

    The Osinbajo-led panel probed Oke on the discovery of large amounts of foreign and local currencies by the EFCC in a residential apartment at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos. The amounts were linked to him.

  • JUST IN: Court stops EFCC from declaring Maina wanted

    The Federal High Court in Abuja has stopped the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission from declaring wanted, a former Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina, who was suspected of complicity in diversion of pension funds.

    The EFCC had declared him wanted after news broke in 2017 that Maina, who had been dismissed from the federal civil service in 2013 on the basis of the corruption charges leveled against him, had been reinstated.

    But in her judgment delivered on January 31, 2019, Justice Folasade Giwa-Ogunbanjo, held that the EFCC could not declare Maina wanted without first obtaining a court order.

    Delivering judgment in the suit filed by Maina on September 5, 2018, Justice Giwa-Ogunbajo ruled that the EFCC could not exercise its powers under sections 1(2)(c), 6, 7, 13 of the EFCC Act without recourse to court.

    A certified true copy of her judgment reads in part, “The plaintiff’s second prayer is a declaration that without recourse to any safeguard in sections 35, 37, 41 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), including a judicial intervention, order of court pursuant to sections 1(1), 8(1) and 42(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, the 1st defendant cannot lawfully exercise its discretion, powers and or functions under sections 1(2)(C), 6, 7, 13 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Act, 2004, ditto section 4 of the Police Act, 2004 within the confines of the law.”

  • Alleged fraud: Court declares Innoson motors chairman wanted

    Justice Mojisola Dada of the special offences court sitting in Lagos, on Thursday declared the Chairman of Innoson Motors Nigeria Ltd, Innocent Chukwuma wanted over his failure to make an appearance in court for his arraignment for the fifth time.

    Chukwuma, alias Innoson is standing trial in a matter between his company and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

    Justice Dada had declared the automobile boss wanted, granting the request of Anselem Ozioko, the lead prosecuting counsel of the EFCC.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Innoson had previously failed to make an appearance in court for his arraignment on Jan. 17, Feb. 9, March 14 and April 25.

    His failure to appear before the court for five consecutive times informed the issuance of bench warrant.

    During the proceedings of March 14, it was revealed that Innoson had petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC) over Justice Mojisola Dada, the judge trying the case.

    Ozioko in his submission seeking the declaration of Innoson wanted said: “This appears to be the fifth time this matter is coming up before your Lordship for arraignment.

    “The learned Senior Advocate of Nigeria representing the second defendant (Innoson) is still insisting on taking his application without ensuring the defendant is physically present in court.

    “The question is, where is the second defendant? Is he too big for the court? Is he too big for the Federal Republic of Nigeria? Is he too big because he has money? Where is he?

    “What my learned friends, the defence counsel are doing is contemptuous.

    “We shall be applying for an order to declare the second defendant wanted.”

    Acceding to Ozioko’s request, Justice Dada said, “The second defendant is hereby declared wanted and the case adjourned until June 22 for possible arraignment.”

    Earlier, during the proceedings, Ozioko had informed the court that the anti-graft agency will also be taking some steps to ensure Innoson’s attendance in court on the next adjourned date.

    Counsel to Innoson, George Uwechue (SAN) had requested that the court hear his application despite Justice Dada’s declaration that no application will be heard until Innoson is physically present in court.

    “At the last hearing, the court maintained its position that it will not take its pending application unless the first defendant is arraigned.

    “We were about to cite our position regarding the court’s declaration but we were interrupted by the prosecuting counsel and that interruption led to today’s proceedings.

    “Whatever we did that day, we sincerely apologize; we urge this court to allow us to continue our presentation.’’

    Prof. J. N Mbadugha, counsel to Innoson Motors Nigeria Ltd, in his submission told the court that he had an application challenging the jurisdiction of the court.

    Mbadugha informed the court that he had made an appeal at the Court of Appeal over the case.

    Justice Dada however maintained her position that the applications of the defence will not be heard until Innoson is physically present in court.

    NAN reports that Chukwuma and his company, Innoson Motors Nigeria Ltd., are to be arraigned on a four-count charge of conspiracy to obtain property by false pretences, obtaining property by false pretences, stealing and forgery.

    According to the charge sheet, the defendants committed the offences between 2009 and July 2011 in Lagos.

    The EFCC alleged that the defendants with intent to defraud; conspired to obtain by false pretences containers of motorcycle, spare parts and raw materials, property of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) from Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd, Apapa, Lagos.

    They are alleged to have fraudulently induced staff of Mitsui OSK and Maersk Line to deliver to them via their clearing agents the goods which were imported from China in the name of GTB by falsely pretending that they were authorised by the bank to clear the goods.

    The prosecution claimed that the defendants in order to facilitate the fraud forged a bill of lading numbered 598286020 of Maersk Line Limited and 11007950841 of Mutsui O.S.K Lines by knowingly putting a false GTB stamp and signature of the bank staff.

    The alleged forgery was in order that the forged documents be used or acted upon as genuine to the prejudice of any person within Lagos or elsewhere.

    The offences contravened Sections 1(1)(b), 1(3), and 8(a) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2016 and Sections 309(9), 388, 465 and 467(1)(j) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State 2003.

  • Wike places N640m bounty on 32 wanted ‘cult leaders’ in Rivers

    Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers has declared 32 cultists wanted in a state broadcast and asked the security agencies to go after them, putting a bounty of N20m each for information that could lead to their arrest.

    The total reward is N640million, N440million more than what the governor offered for the arrest of Don Wani, the kidnap kingpin and cultist, linked with the killing of 23 people in Omoku on New Year’s Day.

    The broadcast was a celebration of the killing of the criminal, whose real name was Johnson Igwedibia. He was killed by the military on Saturday at a hideout in Enugu.

    According to Wike, 32 cultists remain in 12 local government areas in the state and had reneged on the terms of amnesty offered them by his government.

    He listed them and said he wanted all of them arrested and prosecuted by the security agencies, pledging all assistance necessary.

    “Based on reliable information by the security agencies, I hereby direct them to immediately arrest and prosecute the under-mentioned persons who have either reneged on the terms of the amnesty and or refused to embrace same by continuing with cultism, kidnapping and armed robbery in the state,” the governor said.

    “The Rivers State Government will pay N20 million to any person who volunteers useful information that would lead to the arrest and prosecution of any of the afore-mentioned persons. Since 2015, we have been calling for tackling security issues devoid of political considerations in Rivers State in order to achieve maximum result,’’ he added

    Governor Wike wanted to end the era of criminals running colonies in the state as he warned them to leave the state or risk facing the death sentence.

    His government is proposing an amendment of the State Anti-kidnapping Law, which prescribed death sentence for criminals involved in cultism, robbery and kidnapping.

    Wike warned that the State Government has zero tolerance for crime and criminal activities, adding that his administration will continue to adopt measures to protect lives and property in the state.

  • Police declare BUA MD wanted for allegedly sponsoring attacks against Obaseki

    Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State was on Thursday attacked in the state.

    This was revealed by spokesperson to the governor, Robin Crusoe in a statement.

    According to Crusoe, the Managing Director of BUA’s Obu Cement Company, Yusuf Binji, has been declared wanted over the attack.

    BUA and Dangote cement have been at loggerheads over the ownership of a mining site in Okpella, Edo State.

    The state government asked that work stop on the site and on Wednesday led security officials there were two BUA staff were arrested for allegedly continuing work.

    Crusoe further quoted the police as saying that the attack on the governor was sponsored by Mr. Binji.

    Details later…

    Read the full statement below.

    The Nigeria Police have declared the Managing Director of BUA’s Obu Cement Company, Yusuf Binji, wanted over an attack on the convoy of the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki.

    Also attacked were some officials of the Edo State Government who were on the convoy of the Edo State Governor.

    According to the police, the decision to declare Mr. Binji wanted became necessary as it had earlier received intelligence that BUA International Limited is sponsoring militias in Okpella, Edo State, where the company has a cement factory and mine sites.

    These militias, the police said, were allegedly sponsored by Binji and his team to attack the convoy of the governor, cause harm and mayhem.