November 25, 2021

[GIST] BREAKING: Family Mourns As Former Information Minister, Dora Akunyili’s Husband, Chike Lies In State

[GIST] BREAKING: Family Mourns As Former Information Minister, Dora Akunyili’s Husband, Chike Lies In State

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The coffin of Dr Chike Akunyili, the late husband of former Minister of Information and Director-General of National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration Control (NAFDAC), Dora Akunyili lay in state on Thursday morning at his house in Agulu, Anambra State.  

Grieving family members were present to honour the deceased. 

A former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi was also present. 

Pontifical Requiem Mass for the deceased will come up at Madonna Catholic Church, Agulu, under Anaocha local government area of Anambra State, to be followed by interment at his country home.

This was contained in the burial arrangement released by his family, which was obtained by SaharaReporters on Wednesday.

Dr Akunyili, a medical doctor was assassinated by unknown gunmen on September 29, 2021, in Anambra State.

Burial activities had begun on Thursday, 18th November, with the Cancellation at the Knights Temple at Holy Ghost Cathedral, Enugu.

There will be a condolence visit by in-laws, friends and well-wishers on Friday, while thanksgiving service will occur at Madonna Catholic Church, Agulu on Sunday.

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[GIST] Taraba Youths Write Police Inspector-General, Demand Justice For Driver Shot Dead By Policeman

[GIST] Taraba Youths Write Police Inspector-General, Demand Justice For Driver Shot Dead By Policeman

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Taraba State Youths under the aegis of One Taraba Youth Coalition has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba over the gruesome murder of their colleague, Oliver Ezra Barawani by a police officer, Sgt Haruna Idi.

The group said Ezra was shot by Idi at a checkpoint at Jalingo Numan Road when he was driving the Chairman of Lau local government area on the 19th November, 2021. He was rushed to the hospital but died two days later. November 2021.

SaharaReporters had reported that Ezra was shot and killed by a police officer (Ida) for allegedly refusing to pay N50 bribe.

The police however denied the bribery allegation, saying Ezra was hit by accidental discharge, during a struggle with Sergeant Idi at a roadblock along Jalingo/Yola road. See Also Breaking News BREAKING: Angry Youths Protest, Demand Justice For Colleague Killed By Policeman Over N50 Bribe In Taraba 0 Comments 1 Day Ago

The Spokesperson for the Taraba police command, DSP Usman Abdullahi, said the deceased had physically engaged the officer in a fisticuff.

According to Taraba youths, Idi must be charged to court for his murderous act. 

They noted that the checkpoint where Ezra was shot is notorious for heinous activities perpetrated by criminal Policemen, adding that it should be investigated. See Also Police Nigeria Police Arrest Officer Who Shot Driver Dead Over N50 Bribe In Taraba 0 Comments 18 Hours Ago

These requests are contained in a press statement by OTYC, signed by Rt. Comr. Philip Achagwa and Chief Comr. Daniel Gelle Kwanchi Esq, which was obtained by SaharaReporters on Wednesday.

In the letter sent to Taraba Governor, Darius Ishaku and copied to others, the youths said it is the responsibility of the government to protest lives and property and ensure victims of violence get justice. 

The letter further stated, “It is under these circumstances and with heavy hearts we write you today, urging for an independent investigation by Nigeria Police Force into the unimaginable and unconscionable MURDER OF MR. OLIVER EZRA BARAWANI, which our preliminary findings indicate that while he was driving his principal, the Executive Chairman of Lau Local Government Area of the State, one Sergent Haruna Idi of the Nigeria Police Force assigned on a 'beat' at a checkpoint along Jalingo Numan road, accused the deceased of violating instructions at the checkpoint.

“Having been approached by the Police orderly attached to the Chairman. The deceased and subsequently the chairman, it is our understanding that while everything seems to have been resolved and everyone in the vehicle was boarding, Sergent Haruna Idi then shot Mr Oliver Ezra from behind on 19th November 2021 where he passed away while on admission on 21st November, 2021.

“While Oliver's murder has gone viral and the murderer was arrested and still in police custody, we find it appalling, inhumane and grossly insensitive for it to be reported that the murder of Oliver Ezra was as a result of police brutality.

“Mr. Oliver Ezra Barawani was a young graduate with a promising future. Well talented, disciplined, calm and selfless in all commitments we met with the family, friends and the chairman of Lau local government area to find their own assessment of the late Oliver Ezra Barawani. People confirmed that he was a reserved fellow, that hardly joined issues with anybody. Therefore, it is not normal for a man who is saddled with the responsibility of protecting lives and property to take human life without justification.

“Furthermore, it is on record that the act of police brutality at that particular checkpoint is too inhuman of the Nigeria Police Force.

“We knew that the Nigeria Police Force under the leadership of IG Alkali has done great exploits in the area of crime detection and control where skilled and honest officers are doing this country proud. The Nigeria Police Force have intercepted various syndicates of high-classed criminals who have proved to live above the law before; they were not arrested and brought to book, but justice was given to their victims.

“However, due to prior incident of negligence, concealment of facts and numerous conflicts, we are far from confident that true justice will be served in this case without the intervention of the Inspector General of Police, whose sincerity of propose has transformed the Nigerian Police to a world-class security outfit within the shortest possible time of his assumption to office. With the circumstances of death, we demand that the IG should direct and prosecute Sergent Haruna Idi to court. This will end the circle of crimes and police brutality. 

“Finally, the unity and strength of our dear state pride as 'Natures gift to the Nations' stands on the unshakable foundations that there will be equity and justice for everyone in Taraba state, indigene or non-indigene, resident or visitor, male or female, old or young, whatever your tribe, religion or political affiliation, justice for Oliver Ezra will be justice for all.”

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[GIST] Car Bombing Near School In Somalia Capital Kills Five, Many Students Injured

[GIST] Car Bombing Near School In Somalia Capital Kills Five, Many Students Injured

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A large explosion rocked the Somali capital during rush hour damaging a nearby school and a hospital. It is the latest attack by jihadist Al-Shabab group in the troubled country.

At least five people were killed and 23 wounded in a car bombing near a school in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu on Thursday, according to security officials. 

Many students were among those injured. The bomb went off early morning during rush hour, triggering a plume of smoke that rose from the blast site amid gunfire, AFP and Reuters report. 

Islamist group Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack, just days after an attack on Saturday that killed prominent Somali journalist Abdiaziz Mohamud Guled.

The target of the bombing was a passing United Nations convoy, the Al-Qaeda-linked group’s military spokesperson told news agency Reuters.

The explosion, which took place in the heart of the capital, was so large that walls of the nearby Mucassar primary and secondary school collapsed and cars were left mangled.

"We were shaken by the blast pressure, then deafened by the gunfire that followed," said Mohamed Hussein, a nurse at the nearby Osman Hospital, told the Reuters news agency. "Our hospital walls collapsed. Opposite us is a school that also collapsed. I do not know how many died."

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[GIST] US Courts Jails Nigerian Mechanic For Defrauding 10 Banks, To Return N48million

[GIST] US Courts Jails Nigerian Mechanic For Defrauding 10 Banks, To Return N48million

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A Nigerian man in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, United States whose lawyer said his criminal cohorts in Africa "took advantage" of him is headed to federal prison for his role in an identity theft scheme in which conspirators tricked 10 banks into sending duplicate debit and credit cards, then used them to buy merchandise for resale in Nigeria.

 

US District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan sentenced Sulemon Arowokoko, 32, to 3½ years behind bars, Nigeria Abroad reports. 

Arowokoko and another Nigerian man, Samiat Akinyemi, were indicted in 2020 on charges of conspiracy, access device fraud and aggravated identity theft.

 

Arowokoko pleaded guilty in June.

 

He admitted that he was part of a conspiracy to steal the identity of bank customers to get duplicate debit and credit cards in the customers' names. The criminal group then used the cards to buy more than $250,000 worth of gift cards, clothes, perfume, jewelry, and furniture. Arowokoko shipped some of the items back to Nigeria.

 

Assistant US Attorney Jeff Bengel said the theft ring was sophisticated. One member used personal information from a victim and contacted the person's bank to "hijack their account."

 

Once inside, the group asked for new bank cards to be issued in the person's name and sent to an address connected to the conspiracy. One of those addresses was Arowokoko's house in Pittsburgh; a second was a house where he had previously worked as a home health care aide.

From the fall of 2017 to the summer of 2019, when the US Department of Homeland Security raided Arowokoko's house, he used the cards hundreds of times to buy merchandise.

 

"This is not a case where Arowokoko strayed into criminal conduct as the result of a momentary lapse in judgment," Mr. Bengel said. "Instead, Arowokoko systematically broke the law for almost two full years."

 

The fraud caused losses to dozens of customers at numerous banks and financial institutions.

 

"The result of the fraud was a clear benefit to Arowokoko: Reselling merchandise abroad is more profitable if it is bought in the first instance with someone else’s money," Mr. Bengel said.

 

Arowokoko only stopped when federal agents caught him.

 

His lawyer, Robert Carey Jr., asked for leniency, saying Arowokoko merely used the cards but wasn't the one who duped the banks into providing them or stole people's identities.

 

He said Arowokoko was born in Nigeria in 1989 and came to the US when he was 19, first to Rhode Island and then to Pittsburgh in 2011, and is a trained mechanic and nurse with no criminal past until now.

 

 

 

Mr. Carey said the criminal operation originated in Nigeria, where American goods are in demand and fraud schemes are common, pointing out that the FBI maintains a website dedicated to Nigerian "419" schemes. The number refers to the Nigerian crimes code.

 

"Sulemon's connections in Africa took advantage of him," Mr. Carey said. "Initially, Mr. Arowokoko was sending legitimately purchased American goods to contacts in Africa. Unfortunately, the arrangement slipped into criminal activity. Mr. Arowokoko was provided with third-party credit cards that he used to make unauthorized purchases. His role in the offense was limited to entering stores and making transactions."

 

He asked for no more than 36 months for his client.

 

But the judge imposed a term of 44 months and ordered Arowokoko to pay $116,000 (approximately N48 million) in restitution.

 

Akinyemi, the other Nigerian man already indicted, pleaded guilty in September and is awaiting sentencing. 

 

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[GIST] Court Rules On Ex-Bayelsa Governor, Dickson's Suit With Anti-graft Agency, EFCC Over Undeclared Assets

[GIST] Court Rules On Ex-Bayelsa Governor, Dickson's Suit With Anti-graft Agency, EFCC Over Undeclared Assets

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A Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, has stopped the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from further investigating the former Governor of Bayelsa State and senator representing the West Senatorial district of the State, Senator Seriake Dickson, over alleged undeclared assets between 2007 and 2020.

The presiding judge, Justice Isah H. Dashien, while ruling on a suit numbered FHC/CS/81/2021, filed against the EFCC by the Registered Trustees of the Seriake Dickson Incorporated and Senator Seriake Dickson, respectively, declared that the assets were acquired with loans when the former governor was a member of House of Representatives.

Seriake Dickson

The court ruled that Dickson should not be investigated any further, having declared his assets before the Code of Conduct Bureau which issued a certificate of verification for them.

The former governor had approached the Federal High Court in Yenagoa on the 15th of November, 2021 with six prayers. The prayers included a declaration that the EFCC be bound by the judgment of the Federal High Court sitting at Yenagoa judicial division in the suit numbered FHC/YNG/CS/40/2020.

Justice Isah H. Dashien, after hearing from the counsel to the plaintiff and defendants, F.N Nwosu Esq. and C.O. Ugwu Esq, ordered that “the suit filed succeeds and judgment is hereby entered for the plaintiffs in terms of all the relief sought.”

The court ruled that the EFCC could not lawfully arrest, investigate or prosecute the former governor who declared the assets in question and for which the verifying authorities, the CCB, issued certificates of verification before he became the governor.

The judgment affirmed an earlier verdict of the Federal High Court which stated that the former governor had complied with all the constitutional requirements of the CCB in asset declaration.

It was gathered that the earlier judgment noted that in addition to the declaration of assets that the former governor while in office subjected himself to the Voluntary Assets and Income declaration scheme of the federal government (VADES) and paid taxes on the affected assets therefore the attorney general and other federal government agencies were perpetually restrained.

Recall that the former governor was in August invited by the EFCC in Abuja and interrogated over corruption allegations levelled against him, which related to assets declaration and misapplication of intervention funds.

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