A student of Nnamdi Azikwe University, Awka, Anambra State in sixth year, studying Industrial Physics has been arrested for alleged internet fraud by the operatives of Special Anti-Robbery Squad,SARS, at a border town, Ugwuoba, Enugu State.
The suspect, Umeokeke Cyprian Uche, who hails from Aku Village in Ezinifite, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State,24,male, has been using his facebook account to defraud unsuspecting members of the public under the pretense that he is a Reverend Father domicile in Maiduguri, seeking alms to rehabilitate displaced victims of Boko-Haram in the area.
The scammer, who uploaded a picture garbed in a Rev. Father regalia on his facebook account used the scheme to swindle the public of colossal funds.
He was apprehended following a tip-off by a victim who feigned he was going along with his antics.
Premised on the complaint from the victim, SARS activated a sting operation and arrested the fraudster in the middle of the act at the verge of obtaining money from his prey.
Police Spokesman, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, DSP, confirmed the arrest saying, “He(suspect) used a pseudo name, Rev. Fr. Uche Philip to obtain monies from the public under the pretense that he runs an orphanage home in Maiduguri. He usually post prayers and ask people to send money into an account, indicating that material assistance will not be feasible given the volatile insecurity situation in the state triggered by Boko-Haram.
“He claimed he started the act in January 2014 but luck ran out on him following the compliant. Our operatives trailed him to Awka at his hideout and he has confessed to the crime.”
Internet Fraudster Disguising As Rev. Father Nabbed In Enugu
NSC: 15% Kickbacks, Coercion, Immigration Violations, etc. – By Dr. Rashid A. Balogun
When a lion is over-protective of its immediate environment all living beings will be at alert but when an individual is overly protective of his duty that is temporal in nature as if it is for life, shouldn’t others be at alert and be skeptical? No, this write up is not about moral lesson rather its about exercise of civic duty as a concerned citizen of Nigeria.
Latest Corruption Scandal (NSC Must Come Clean)
Hypothetically speaking, if a new local Chief was installed and after such appointment, the Chief then forms a private company away from his Chieftancy duties. And the Chief’s private company’s main objective is to earn 15% revenue from the pay of those the Chief managed as his official duties. Based on this fact alone, what do we call that Chief? Is this action not called kickback? If the readers agreed that this action of revenue clawback for the benefit of the Chief is wrong, should it be a crime? Who do we blame? This writer says both the Chief and the individual that appointed the Chief ought to be blamed and prosecuted for abuse of power in exercise of fiduciary duties.
The above scenario is not really a fiction, but a deduction from allegations in an expose about Solomon Ogba, Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) boss. Mr. Ogba was imposed by two former Sports Ministers, the last being Bolaji Abdullahi whom against all odds, including full knowledge of gross negligent actions of Ogba’s AFN accompanied by large scale failures at the London Olympics Games appointed him.
The key allegation against Mr. Ogba (AFN Boss) concerns his establishing a company for the purposes of representing athletes in the manager’s capacity for a fee of 15% plus costs and those athletes were (are) members of AFN selected team. That entity has an address in Lagos, Nigeria and Silver Springs, Maryland, USA. Upon reviewing a copy of such contract and application materials filed with the IAAF, Commodore Nesiama, the Technical Director of AFN was listed as a party of such entity. The entity is known as Soloo Sports Management & Marketing, LLC. A former athlete revealed this expose after his investigation. (www.sportswithenee.com/2014/06/athletics-bosses-in-nigeria-abuse-of-office/)
Let’s be clear here, Solomon Ogba or Commodore Nesiama may not know that others were using their names, but the fact that the allegations were not rebutted then objective commentaries can be advanced by anyone.
As if these allegations are true, the problem for Commodore Nesiama is that, as one of the top members of the country’s military, he cannot have outside interest, that includes operating a USA bank account via a USA business. Away from moral ground, the Commodore must publicly dissociate himself from such entity to avoid bringing the military to disrepute, which is a serious offense under the military code of conduct. Frankly, this writer will simply ask him to resign his post as an AFN Board member to avoid future complications.
As for Solomon Ogba, this matter is more serious because other acts that accompanied these allegations, though circumstantial, but render the whole scenarios probable and highly believable. Mr. Ogba dissociating with the entity will not be enough considering the mountain of issues that he must exonerate himself from, such as:
Bringing about 10 American athletes to earn monies from Nigeria national trials at Calabar (do these people have a work visa in Nigeria? Did ‘Soloo’, allegedly owned by Mr. Ogba earned 15% of those individuals payment from AFN? Did Soloo reports those 15% earning to Nigeria and USA tax authorities as revenues? When did Nigeria national trials become American national trials?
Solomon Ogba aided and abetted violations of Nigeria’s Immigration rules according to media reports on the intention of those American athletes upon entry to Nigeria;
Solomon Ogba is now bent on using those Americans to compete for Nigeria during the Commonwealth Games later next month so that he can earn more 15% from them;
Any fund disbursed by NSC to any athlete will automatically be reduced by Mr. Ogba personal 15% charge;
Another allegation that only those that signed the ‘Soloo’ contract are allowed to represent Nigeria is even more damaging because based on the list published, this allegation appears truthful.
Clearly, as for AFN leader these allegations are not just morally wrong, but the fact that coercion is implied, kickbacks are alleged, favoritism is insinuated, immigration law was contravened and Nigeria’s sovereignty is for sale. The readers should note that this writing brings to light the consequences of the allegations against the leaders of AFN with the hope that those involved or allegedly involved should have a rethink of their actions and simply walk away than face even more embarrassment and criminal charges.
Way Forward
Former NSC Chairman cannot convince anyone that he lacked knowledge of these events because he initiated the first act. He wasted scarce resources on useless trip to London to advertise that the National Sports Festival is open followed by hiring two individuals illegally from abroad to destroy Nigeria’s sports even further and now AFN followed suit by bringing even more aliens illegally. This writer would like to know whether Bolaji Abdullahi also signed a contract with those two Americans that they must pay a fee of 15% to him? Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) must intervene as soon as possible.
NSC power may be limited to only dissociate with AFN, which can be enforced beginning even before the Commonwealth Games. Otherwise, Nigeria’s athletics team will be made of mercenaries from other countries, some of whom were former drug cheats and will be disgraced by UK authorities because they lacked ties to Nigeria either by birth, citizenship or otherwise, essentially fraud.
I rest
Dr. Rashid A. Balogun, CPA, LLB(Hons.), LLM(London)
Newspaper apologizes to FCT Minister over false story
PRESS RELEASE
A weekly newspaper, NEWSDAY, has apologized to the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed and his children over a false and libelous story which the newspaper reproduced from an online medium called pointblanknews.com against them. The baseless report claimed that two children of the Minister had stashed away N35 billion in Unity Bank and UBA as well as an offshore account. But in the letter of retraction and apology signed by the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper, Chief Edet Isong, the management of the newspaper said it regretted the embarrassment the false story caused the minister and his children. The letter dated June 19, 2014 read:
“On behalf of the Management of Newsday Newspapers Limited, I write in respect of our publication of May 5 – Sunday – May 11, 2014 on alleged stashing of N350 billion in Nigerian and foreign accounts by children of the FCT Minister.
“We wish to state that we have since discovered that the story which was lifted from an online medium pointblanknews.com was not true and had caused you (the Hon. Minister) embarrassment. We regret the indiscretion and sincerely apologize for our errors.
“Sir, we wish to inform you that NEWSDAY NEWSPAPER did not publish the said story with an intention of embarrassing the Hon. Minister or disparaging his good name or the image of his family. We have no reason to do so. We will continue to hold you in very high esteem in view of your laudable strides in the transformation of the FCT under your Administration. We shall equally continue to support and highlight your legacies.
“Please kindly accept sincere apologies and forgive us.”
The publisher said his reporters lifted the false story from pointblanknews.com believing that it was a factual report only to discover later that the report was totally fabricated.
NOSIKE OGBUENYI
Special Assistant (Media) to the Hon. Minister of FCT
FG Stopped Flight of Borno, Yobe States Pilgrims to Lesser Hajj
The Federal Government had stopped about 300 intending Pilgrim from
Borno and Yobe from flying to Saudi Arabia through Maiduguri
International Airport. The order came this morning when the Pilgrims
had finished boarding and just about to take up. From all indications,
all commercial flights were banned from coming to Maiduguri by this
order.
The Secretary to the Borno State Government Ambassador Baba Ahmed
Jidda had while briefing the intending Pilgrims on why the flight
could not take up, called on the them to see this as an act God and
urge them to pray for peace for their States in particular and the
country in general.
The SSG said the Borno State Government was surprised by the sudden
stoppage of flight and it’s doing all it could to resolve the matter
with the Federal Government.
A Max Air flight chartered by Sky Net had no option than to move the
passengers from Maiduguri to Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport,
Kano.
This order also came on the same day Ahzan Air had completed its
arrangement to launch its daily commercial flight operation on the
Maiduguri -Kano- Abuja route.
Randy Pastor Impregnates Wife’s Niece, Female Members
Says: ‘It’s directive from Holy Spirit’
An Enugu-based clergy simply identified as Timothy is currently in the
eye of the storm after he was allegedly accused of putting his wife’s
niece and other female members in the family way. The clergy who is
also facing accusation of trafficking members of his church reportedly
runs a ministry known as Vineyard Ministry of the Holy Trinity.
The church located at Umudikwere, Iheowere Nsukka area of the state,
had known no peace as his wife, Veronica, asked the Anti Child
Trafficking Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the
State Police Command to investigate her husband’s activities.
According to Ebere Amaraizu, spokesperson for Enugu State Police
Command, in a release, Veronica had reported to law enforcement agents
about her husband’s activities which she claimed ranges from
impregnating many female members of the church, including their
daughters.
The woman reportedly informed law enforcement agents that her husband
often carries out these activities she described as heinous acts on
the pretext that he was carrying out the directive of the Holy Spirit.
More confounding revelations were scooped as security agent’s
commenced investigations after picking up the ‘man of God.’ The
disturbed wife, it was said, also informed the security officers that
Timothy started the practice by putting her own niece, who had come to
assist her after she was delivered of a baby, in the family way.
She claimed that when she confronted her husband on the illicit
affair, he told her that he was executing a directive of the Holy
Spirit.
According to her, the clergy continued in the affair even after she
advised against it until her niece was put in the family way. “It is
not only my niece that he has put in the family way.
He has impregnated many church members,” Veronica was quoted as
saying. She was said to have expressed shock over her husband’s
attitude as, according to her, he used to be a God-fearing man when
they were in their former church.
“When we newly married, he was God-fearing, but soon after we started
our ministry, he became a different person. After he impregnated my
niece who came to stay with us and claimed it was a directive from
God, he went ahead to impregnate several female members of the church
including some of their daughters,” Veronica was quoted as saying.
Two of Timothy’s victims actually corroborated Veronica’s allegations
against her husband, saying that they have since moved into Timothy’s
vast compound. One, who gave her name as Callista Omeje, reportedly
confessed to having left her husband and moved into Pastor Timothy’s
house.
Callista, a mother of 10 kids from her first marriage, was reported to
have confirmed that she moved into Timothy’s house as his mistress
because the man informed her that it was God’s directive for her to do
so.
She also confirmed to law enforcement agents that she had a
stillbirth for Timothy. Callista also alleged that she allowed her own
daughter to be put in the family way by the clergy on similar
prophecies, in obedience to Timothy’s revelations.
Also speaking, another victim, Assumpta Odo, a mother of eight
children, reportedly confirmed that she was Timothy’s lover and wife.
According to Enugu police, Assumpta also revealed that one of her
daughters was also carrying Timothy’s baby. The police said she
claimed she allowed Pastor Timothy into her life in order to carry out
God’s instructions.
In his statement, Timothy claimed he had five wives and 13 children
and some other mistresses courtesy of the prophetic direction to do
the will of God.
The state police spokesperson claimed that Timothy confirmed that
Veronica used to be his wife, but that they had been separated,
saying: “She is a fallen wife looking for what to hang upon.”
He reportedly claimed that he never had any amorous affair with any
woman without the consent of their husbands and without hearing from
the Holy Spirit, describing his acts as purely spiritual.
Amaraizu said that the police are still investigating the matter and
expressed hope that in no distant time, investigations would be over
as, according to him, Timothy was helping the police operatives in
understanding the activities of his ministry and his relationship with
members.
APC Crying Wolf On Ekiti Guber Election – PDP chieftain
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, Hon Deborah Alo has described the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a party of bad losers, who only applaud elections that the win and castigate the ones that they lose.
Deborah Alo, who said this in a statement issued in Ado-Ekiti on Saturday, said “no court can upturn the last Saturday victory of the PDP and its candidate, Dr Ayodele Fayose because it was ordained by God.”
She described the APC’s decision to head for the Tribunal to challenge the election result as a ploy to give the party members false hope so as to keep them together till the 2015 elections, adding that; “The APC leaders should rather tell their members the truth instead of deceiving them with a court case that will lead them to nowhere.”
Deborah Alo commended Ekiti people for rejecting monetary inducement from the APC and voting according to their conscience.
She congratulated the Governor-Elect, Dr Ayodele Fayose, his deputy, Dr Olubunmi Olusola-Eleka and the entire members of the PDP in the State, saying the landslide victory recorded by the PDP was an affirmation of the party’s acceptability in the State.
“Fayemi never won any election in Ekiti State and that was further affirmed last Saturday, with his inability to win any of the 16 local councils.
“Instead of the APC people to embark on self examination, they are shamelessly going to the Tribunal to challenge deployment of soldiers to Ekiti during the election as if the soldiers and other security agents knew before Saturday, those who will vote for or against the APC.”
NDLEA To Prosecute Staff, 4 Others Over Drug Trafficking – Giade
PRESS RELEASE
The Honourable Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement (NDLEA), Ahmadu Giade said a staff of the Agency Ibidayin Godwin attached to the Anambra State command will be prosecuted for allegedly aiding and abetting a suspected drug trafficker Adetoye Taiwa in smuggling 3kg of methamphetamine to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The seizure was made at the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Shed by NDLEA operatives.
According to Giade, the Agency will remain transparent in its operations and will spare no one found to be involved in drug trafficking. The indictment of Godwin is in line with our policy of follow-up operation on every arrest and seizure made.
“I have institutionalized a culture of transparency in the NDLEA. Anybody indicted must be thoroughly investigated no matter how highly placed and if found guilty the law will take its course. The Agency will continue to provide a level playing field for all. No stone must be left unturned in the quest for a drug-free society. We must bring every culprit to justice by turning our investigative search light in all directions” Giade stated.
NDLEA Commander at the Lagos Airport Mr. Hamza Umar said that more arrests have been made and investigation is ongoing. In his words, “we apprehended on Adetoye Taiwo who is a clearing and forwarding agent with 3kg of methamphetamine meant for export to Malaysia. In the process of investigation, he indicted Ibidayin Godwin an officer of the NDLEA working at the Anambra State command. We have also arrested three others Taiwo Ososanya, Fatai Olawale Akera and Alhaji Yusuf Olayemi Bankole who are being quizzed by our investigators”.
According to the Agency, the suspects will soon be charged to court following the establishment of a prima facie case of conspiracy, unlawful possession and exportation of narcotics.
Ofoyeju Mitchell
Head, Public Affairs
In Memory Of My Friend, Sulaiman Bisalla – By Imam Imam
There are days that will stay with us for the rest of our lives. Some
are good while some are everything but. I have vivid memories of both.
In the same vein, there are people who you come across in life and the
memories of your times together will never erase from your mind—for
good or for bad.
For Sulaiman Bisalla, the Managing Editor of NEW TELEGRAPH newspaper
who was killed in last Wednesday’s bomb blast in Abuja, I will cherish
the moments I have shared with him forever. As I write this, few hours
after taking part in the Islamic burial rites to finally wish him good
bye, my heart is heavy from the sadness of his passage.
It is not everyday one comes across persons who are as humble or
gentle as Bisalla. I still remember the first time I met him. It was
just before the 2011 general election. Even though we were meeting for
the first time, our reputations had preceded the meeting. Both of us
were then Political Editors, Bisalla with Abuja-based DAILY TRUST
while I was with THISDAY. Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio,
had gathered editors from the leading newspapers in the country to
give his government’s side of the story following skirmishes between
his supporters and those of the governorship candidate of the then
Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), James Akpandoedehe.
Akpabio had felt that most of the stories about the various clashes
between PDP and ACN supporters in national newspapers had portrayed
Akpandoedehe as the victim. He wanted us to visit the scenes of the
clashes and talk to the ‘real’ victims for us to judge for ourselves.
I had my reservations about all that was said by the government and
its spin doctors. I felt I could not arrive at a fair decision so long
as I did not hear from the other side. I never hesitated in sharing my
misgivings to Bisalla. The first thing he did was to give me the phone
number of Akpandoedehe, and an appointment was booked for a future
interview in Lagos.
I never knew that first meeting would bring me close to a man who I
later came to respect for his integrity, commitment to duty and
open-mindedness. As a man of very few words, one of Bisalla’s greatest
attributes was his ability to listen carefully before taking a
decision. Once you are his friend, he will always be there as only a
true friend could. He had a way about him that made just about
everybody to like him. He was genuine and sincere.
When I heard of his death about two hours after the blast, I was
gutted. In the midst of my anger tears swelled up as I tried to be
strong and hold them back. I couldn’t. Though a Muslim who believes
all things are ordained by Allah, I tried to search for reasons why my
friend had to die the way he did, especially because he had such a
young family and is at the beginning of a new career and a new phase
in his life. Why did it have to come to this? No one really knows why.
All I could say was that things happen and we have no control over
them.
Bisalla’s death made me question the wisdom in the saying that those
who live by the sword, die by the sword. Bisalla died a violent death
even when he was not a violent person. He never believed in violence,
yet agents of violence became the reason of his death.
As night fell and the reality of what really happened on that fateful
day sank in, I, like virtually all Nigerians, have continued to ask
why do we have to keep bearing the brunt of the activities of
terrorists in our midst. We keep wondering whether our security
agencies have the competence to end the massacre of innocent persons
whose lives are taken away almost as frequent as the terrorists want.
We have watched in pain how our students, hawkers, labourers, women
and their children, drivers of taxicabs and their passengers got
killed or maimed.
It won’t be out of place to say that we need a change of strategy from
our security agencies. The killings have continued for too long, and
as one politician pointed out recently, we are running out of excuses.
The same way we need more men in the armed forces of Nigeria, we need
better equipment that are of global and modern standards to be used by
the armed forces. The same way we need volunteers to come forward with
information about the activities of deviant persons in their
localities, is the same way we need to use local intelligence to help
secure our towns and villages.
Three years into his tenure, the spate of killings underscore the
enormity of the task facing President Goodluck Jonathan. While it is
convenient, as we have seen from institutions like the ruling party,
to now mischievously blame the opposition for the deaths all over the
land, we must not loose sight of larger problems like unemployment and
poverty bedeviling our country. In addition to economic decline among
vast majority of the populace, there is increased inequality among the
citizenry, a situation that fuels dissent and provides breeding ground
for would-be terrorists.
Bisalla was a reporter who reported diligently on all issues affecting
the nation. When necessary, he had given his thoughts on how the
problem of insecurity could be tackled in the country. He was a
devoted friend who cared for the well-being of all persons. In the
short but eventful years I came to know him, I have learned many
things from him. He was one of a kind and he will be greatly missed.
To me, the biggest lesson however, is in the fact that losing a close
friend at a young age makes one to take stock of his own life. As
Madame de Stael aptly stated, “we understand death for the first time
when he puts his hand upon one whom we love.” I now know the real
meaning of death.
May paradise be Bisalla’s final abode, amen.
*Imam is the Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs to the
Speaker of the House of Representatives
KNSG Willing To Forge Closer Relationship With Lebanon For Mutual Profit – Kwankwaso
Kano state government has expressed readiness to promote cooperation
with the Lebanese government in the sectors of commerce and other
areas of human and economic development.
The state governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso said this while receiving the
Consul, Lebanese Embassy in Nigeria, Mr. Khalil A. Muselman who
visited him at the Government House, Kano on Friday.
Governor Kwankwaso noted that that since the early 19th century,
Lebanese businessmen have been playing important roles in the economy
of the state and the nation as a whole, adding his administration will
welcome more of their contribution in moving the state to the next
level of development.
“Kano has huge human and material potentials for development and we
will welcome support from your government and any other friendly
countries toward improving the economy of our state and making life
better for our citizens”, the governor maintained.
On his part, the Charge de Affairs in the Lebanese Embassy in Nigeria,
Mr. Khalil A. Muselman said his was in the state to commiserate with
the people on the demise of the erstwhile Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado
Bayero and to congratulate the new Emir, Malam Muhammad Sunusi II.
The envoy also congratulated the people of Kano over what he described
as “the great achievements brought to the state by the administration
of Governor Kwankwaso” in the areas of education, rods and electricity
among others, which he noted, are important of the economic
development of the state and Nigeria as a whole.
The history of the Nigerian Lebanese communities in Nigeria dates back
to 1885 when Ilyas Khoury, immigrated to Nigeria on a business
adventure, while in 1912, Seman Naoum became the first Lebanese to
permanently settle in Kano city.
Since then, the population of the Lebanese community especially in
Kano had significantly increased with many of them graduating from
ordinary traders in agricultural products and European good to being
key players in the industrial sector, a move that significantly
transformed the economy of the ancient commercial city of Northern
Ever since Nigeria formally opened a diplomatic mission in Beirut in
1973, relations between both countries has witnessed great progress
especially where there are convergence of interests in terms of
eradication of colonialism, apartheid, support for the promotion of
new world economic order, peaceful settlement of the Arab – Israeli
crisis and more recently, reformation of the United Nations Security
Kano Set To Commence Students Exchange With 17 Southern States – Kwankwaso
Kano state government has commenced discussion with the governments of
17 Southern states of the federation on how starting a student
exchange programme with the states with a view to enhancing national
unity and brotherhood, Kano state governor, Rabi’u Kwankwaso has
The move, he further explained, “is aimed at fostering unity among
Nigerians, promoting religious understanding as well as exposing
youths to diverse cultures, environments and socio-economic
activities.”
Gov. Kwankwaso who announced this while receiving his Edo state
counterpart, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole who visited him at the
Government House, Kano, yesterday, Wednesday, said the idea is still
on the drawing board but if accepted by the 17 states, will go a long
way in ensuring peaceful coexistence and tolerance. “Irrespective of
our differences, we must learn to live together as one if we want our
country to prosper”, he stressed.
He explained that under the proposal, each of the 17 Southern states
will send 20 youths to secondary schools in Kano, while Kano will in
return equal number to each of the state. He added that details of the
arrangement will be publicised as soon as all the parties involved
reach an agreement on the proposal.
Governor Kwankwaso then praised as Gov. Oshiomhole as the first
governor to respond to the proposal which further proves his
detribalised disposition for always making concerted effort to
strengthen unity among Nigerians.
On his part, the Edo state governor expressed happiness that Kwankwaso
is symbolising the the APC dream by embarking upon developmental
projects that would stand the test of time and impact on lives of the
people positively.
He said the investment of the Kwankwaso administration in education is
exciting, noting that at the moment, there are about 400 students
sponsored by the government of Kano state to pursue various degree
programmes in private universities in Edo state.
