Crime / Drugs / Law / News

Abba Kyari pleads not guilty to drug trafficking

Suspended DCP Abba Kyari  on Monday pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charge filed against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Kyari told Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja, on Monday, following his arraignment, alongside six others, on allegations bordering on drug trafficking.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that while Kyari pleaded not guilty to counts one, two, three, four and eight levelled against him, the other four police officers, who are defendants in the trial, also pleaded not guilty to counts one, two, three and four filed against them.

But Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, who are 6th and 7th defendants respectively, pleaded guilty to counts five, six and seven preferred against them. Although their names were also mentioned in counts three and four where allegations bordering on conspiracy were leveled against Kyari and others, they were not asked to take a plea on these two counts.

The four members of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/57/2022 include ACP Sunday J. Ubia, ASP Bawa James, Insp. Simon Agirigba and Insp. John Nuhu.

Umeibe and Ezenwanne are the two alleged drug traffickers that were arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu.

Shortly after taking their plea, the NDLEA lawyer, Joseph Sunday, Director, Prosecution and Legal Services, prayed the court for a trial date for the 1st to 5th defendants

Sunday also urged the court to grant a leave to review the charges against  Umeibe and Ezenwanne who pleaded guilty for the charges against them.

“We hope to file our proof of evidence latest tomorrow (Tuesday),” he said.

Kanu Agabi, SAN, who led a delegation of Senior Advocates of Nigeria that appeared for Kyari and Ubia,  however informed that a bail application had been filed in respect of his clients.

The NDLEA’s lawyer, Joseph Sunday, Director, Prosecution and Legal Services, who confirmed being served with the bail application, said a counter affidavit had been filed in its opposition.

The NDLEA, in the …

Foreign / News

Ukraine is Europe’s ‘fastest growing refugee’ crisis since WWII

The number of people fleeing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has topped 1.5 million, making it Europe’s fastest growing refugee crisis since World War II, the United Nations said on Sunday.

“More than 1.5 million refugees from Ukraine have crossed into neighbouring countries in 10 days,” the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grande tweeted.

The UN described the outflow as “the fastest growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II”. On Saturday it had reported that nearly 1.37 million refugees had fled.

The director-general of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, also expressed grave concern at the worsening humanitarian situation.

“@WHO has confirmed several attacks on health care in #Ukraine, causing multiple deaths and injuries. Additional reports are being investigated,” Tedros tweeted.

“Attacks on healthcare facilities or workers breach medical neutrality and are violations of international humanitarian law.”

The WHO said on Sunday it had deployed staff to Moldova, Poland and Romania “to scale up (the) response capacities of its country offices, including operations, engagement with partners and support to the (Ukrainian) government for the health response”.

The body said it had also mobilised logistics to set up an operational hub in neighbouring Poland and help secure land corridors “to facilitate rapid movement of supplies to affected populations”.

It added a second shipment of health supplies was on its way to Poland, following a first shipment on Thursday that included trauma and emergency health supplies.

The WHO had earlier condemned a slew of verified reports of attacks on health care in Ukraine.

UN officials said they expected the wave of refugees to intensify further as the Russian army pressed its offensive, particularly toward the Ukranian capital Kyiv.

Since Russia invaded on February 24, a total of 922,400 people have fled Ukraine to Poland, Polish border guards said on Sunday.

Hungary, Moldova, Romanian and Slovakia have also seen Ukrainian refugees arrive.…

Church / Foreign / News

Primate Ayodele to Putin: The war will end but you won’t go scot-free

The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has warned the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, following the invasion of Ukraine that happened a week ago.

The man of God revealed this in a statement released by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, in the early hours of Friday.

Ayodele made it known that Putin will not go scot-free because he has resisted God’s warning to put an end to the crisis.

It would be recalled that Primate Ayodele warned the president few days after the invasion that he should end the war because he foresees an assassination attempt on his life. Unfortunately, Putin has not put an end to the war, causing more destruction in Ukraine as against the warnings sent to him by the man of God.

In this fresh warning, Primate Ayodele noted that plans to assassinate President Putin is underway because he didn’t listen to God.

He also revealed that a Russian soldier will be used to execute the plans.

He said: “President Vladimir Putin of Russia has gone against God’s warnings.

“I warned him to put an end to the invasion of Ukraine but he didn’t listen.

“Just like pharaoh whose heart was hardened against God’s children but perished, Putin will not go scot-free.

“I still insist that this war will not lead to Third World War.

“It will come to an end but President Putin will not go scot-free.

“A Russian soldier will be used to execute the plans to take his life.”…

Foreign / News / politics

Ukraine War: 427 stranded Nigerians arrive Abuja

No fewer than 427 Nigerians based in the troubled Ukraine arrived Nnamdi Azikwe International airport, Abuja Friday morning.

They arrived en route Romania on Maxi air.

It was gathered that the Federal Government will give each of them $100.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday approved over $5m to effect the immediate evacuation of stranded Nigerians in Ukraine which has been over week invaded by Russia.…

News / Travel

House of Reps delegation jets out to ‘witness’ evacuation of Nigerians fleeing Ukraine

The delegation left the country in order to “witness” the evacuation of Nigerians fleeing Ukraine in the wake of Russia’s attack. This comes a day after the National Assembly approved the request of President Muhammadu Buhari for the release of $8.5 million for the evacuation. The delegation is due to witness the evacuation to be carried out by Air Peace and Max Air in Poland, Romania and Ukraine border. They, however, did not wait for any of the airlines for the trip.

The delegation boarded a Turkish Airlines flight.

The trip followed a resolution passed by the House of Representatives over the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.…

Foreign / News / Security

Mutinous Russian troops argue about orders to bomb civilian areas

Russian soldiers taking part in the invasion of Ukraine are in “complete disarray”, according to voice recordings obtained by a British intelligence company.

The intercepted radio messages indicate that troops are refusing to obey central command orders to shell Ukrainian towns and are complaining about running out of supplies of food and fuel.

The recordings are among around 24 hours of material obtained by intelligence firm ShadowBreak since the invasion of Ukraine began last week.

In one of the eavesdropped conversations, listened to by The Telegraph, a soldier reportedly sounded as though he was crying. In another, a soldier was heard losing his temper when asking when food or fuel would arrive.

He said: “We’ve been here for three days! When the hell is it going to be ready?”

A third message revealed a tense exchange in which the same soldier had to remind a colleague speaking from a command centre that they could not use artillery on an area until civilians – who were labelled “the goods” – had left.

ShadowBreak’s founder Samuel Cardillo, 26, told The Telegraph he had been sent the messages by amateurs listening in with antennas.

He said: “What we have found is that the Russian operatives are operating in complete disarray.

“They have no clue where they are going and how to really communicate with each other properly.

“There were periods where we heard them (Russian soldiers) crying in combat, a period where they were insulting each other – obviously not a sign of great morale.”

Cardillo said that some of the messages were also “proof of war crimes” because they revealed order to fire missiles into urban areas.

Other video recordings are said to show Russian soldiers retreating back into Russia after becoming frustrated, whilst a text message sent by a soldier to his mother is alleged to have said: “The only thing I want right now is to kill myself.”

In a further sign that morale may be poor, a senior US defense official told the New York Times on Tuesday that …

Drugs / Foreign / News

Abba Kyari: FG begins US extradition process as Malami files case

Nigeria has approved the request by the United States for the extradition of suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari.

A grand jury, last April 29, filed an indictment against Kyari with the approval of the US District Court for Central District of California.

A Deputy Clerk of the court issued a warrant of arrest for him.

Kyari is wanted to stand trial for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering and identity theft. He was accused of conspiring with a United Arab Emirates-based Nigerian, Ramon Abbas, aka Hushpuppi, to commit the crime.

On Wednesday, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), filed an application before the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja for Kyari’s extradition.

The application, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/249/2022, was filed under the Extradition Act.

The AGF said the application followed a request by the Diplomatic Representative of the US Embassy in Abuja.

It is “for the surrender of Abba Alhaji Kyari, who is a subject in a superseding three counts indictment”.

Kyari and five other police officers are undergoing interrogation by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over a cocaine deal.

Last week, a court endorsed further 14-day detention for the suspects.

In the affidavit filed in support of the extradition application, the AGF stated that he was satisfied that provision is made by the laws of the US such that so long as Kyari has not had a reasonable opportunity of returning to Nigeria, he will not be detained or tried for any offence committed before his surrender other than the extradition offence which can be proved by the fact on which his surrender is sought.

He added that he was satisfied that the offence in respect of which Kyari’s surrender is sought is not political nor is it trivial.

The AGF also expressed satisfaction that the request for the surrender of Kyari was not made to persecute or punish him on account of his race, religion, nationality or political opinions but in good faith and the interest …

Business / Crime / Law / News

Two Bankers withdraw customer’s N47.4m with their own ATMs

A Kano State High Court presided over by Justice Maryam Sabo has granted bail on stringent conditions to two bankers: Nuhu Demba and Mohammed Abdullahi Musa, who allegedly conspired and stole the sum of N47,452,055.45 from the account of one Mailafia Mohammed.

The case, being handled by the Economic and Financial Crimes, was reported via a petition by the victim and complainant.

The petitioner alleged that on February 6, 2021, he was attacked in his house by armed men who took away his mobile phone.

Mohammed said on February 8, 2021, he reported the incident to the branch of his bank where he maintains a savings account and was advised to continue using his account as nothing would happen. He further alleged that on February 18, 2021, he went to withdraw money and was informed that there was no money in the account.

He subsequently requested for his account statement and discovered that N47,452,055.45 was fraudulently withdrawn from it through the use of Automated Teller Machine cards.

The EFCC said investigation revealed that Musa and Demba stole the said monies from the complainant’s account through ATM and Point of Sale withdrawals.

It said the defendants perpetrated the fraud by using their positions to obtain ATM cards without going through due process and without the knowledge of the account holder.

Upon arraignment on February 10, 2022, they pleaded not guilty and the matter was adjourned to February 14, 2022 for ruling on the bail application.

Justice Sabo granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N10 million each, out of which a cash sum of N5 million shall be deposited in the court’s registry.

They are also to provide one surety each with landed property within the jurisdiction of the court worth N15 million.

The matter has been adjourned till March 23, 2022 for the commencement of trial.…

News / politics

Osun Primary: Jagaban ‘house of commotion’

The gloves have been worn and the fight for who controls the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State promises to be bloody, literally.

The mud fight may have already been brought to the doorstep of National Leader of the party and presidential hopeful, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

If something is not urgently done to pull the combatants back from the brink, the center might hold no longer, both for Tinubu’s political family and his presidential ambition.

Sources close to the first layer of Tinubu’s political lieutenants told The Guardian that the maverick politician might face stiffer opposition to his presidential ambition from his supposed loyalists more than people outside his political caucus. Specifically, it was learnt that some of his core loyalists do not see him as “politically fit to govern the country apart from his rumored health challenges.”

And the seeming crack in the “Bourdillon school of politics” is said to be the chief reason many beneficiaries of his magnanimity are also gunning for the presidency or supporting another aspirant against their supposed leader.

It was gathered that while some governors in the country are planning to “retire” Tinubu from active politics by 2023, some other ‘enemies within’ are working round the clock to whittle down his political influence and stop his bid for the presidency.

But sources close to the former Lagos State governor said the gang-up against him is not new and expressed confidence that Tinubu will clinch the party’s presidential ticket and become Nigeria’s president by 2023.

One of them said: “Go and check the records, many politicians that worked against him in the past later came back to be his friend, and he was magnanimous enough to welcome them back with open arms. Those working against him now will soon know that they are political featherweights.”

Sources said the open vituperation by Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, against Tinubu in a video that has gone viral is mere child’s play compared to what would be coming out from his “loyalists” in the …

Foreign / Military / News / politics

Russia rebels accuse Ukrainian Forces of offensive shellings

Pro-Russia rebels in Ukraine have accused government forces of shelling a village on Friday while Russian media reported more infantry and tank units were returning to their bases in contrast to Western fears of an imminent Russian invasion.

For a second consecutive day, pro-Russian separatists who have been at war with Ukraine for years said they had come under mortar and artillery fire from Ukrainian forces, according to the Interfax news agency.

Ukrainian government forces and Russian-backed rebels in the country’s east traded fresh accusations of shelling and other ceasefire violations on Friday, escalating tensions amid fears of a Russian invasion. Kyiv and the rebels blamed each other for the escalation after artillery and mortar attacks Thursday, prompting fears that Russia, which has massed over 100,000 troops near Ukrane’s borders, could get involved. The Kremlin said on Thursday it was “deeply concerned” with the flare-up in Ukraine and was watching the situation closely.

The United States said Russia was looking for a pretext for war.

Kyiv and the pro-Russian separatists have been facing off for eight years, and a ceasefire between them is routinely violated, but the intensity of fighting increased notably this week.

U.S. President Joe Biden Thursday said Russia is preparing a pretext to justify a possible attack on Ukraine, whose ambition to one day join the NATO military alliance has angered Moscow.

In Europe’s biggest security crisis in decades, Russia has massed troops, tanks, and heavy weapons on Ukraine’s borders and demanded assurances that Kyiv never joins NATO, something the Ukrainian government has refused to do.

Even so, Russia says it has no intention to invade Ukraine and accuses the West of hysteria over its military build-up, saying some of its troops have returned to bases.

Interfax news agency cited Russia’s defense ministry as saying on Friday that several Russian mechanized infantry units had returned to their bases in the regions of Dagestan and Chechnya after completing drills in Crimea.

Interfax also cited the ministry as saying that a train loaded with tanks had departed to an …

News / politics

Osinbajo advocates for strategy to transform Africainnovation based society

Africa into knowledge-based and innovation-led society.

Osinbajo made the call through the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Maryam Katagum, who represented him at the maiden edition of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) Young CEOs Summit.

He identified Africa’s vibrant human resources as its greatest hope for development.

“Young people make up the bulk of Africa’s population with an estimated 75 per cent of the continent’s population below the age of 35 years. “From a demographic point of view, this calls for a paradigm shift towards the recognition and support of young people to harness their potential.

“Therefore, to accelerate Africa’s transition to an innovation-led, knowledge-based economy, our human resources must be empowered with requisite skills.

“Greater emphasis must be placed on innovation, including appropriate adaptation of technology,’’ Katagum said on behalf of Osinbajo.

She emphasized the need to promote creativity and innovative technologies to process the continent’s abundant resources locally in addition to creating more wealth and jobs for the continent.

She said there was the need to develop internal capacities and marketing of new or improved products and services through engagement with end users.

Following this, VP disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology had been rebranded to meet future technology demands.

“This will create new opportunities for value-added employment and the nation’s GDP will improve as a result of innovation and technological development,’’ Katagum added.

She expressed hope that Africa would continue to develop capacities to take advantage of relevant technologies to facilitate e-commerce and leadership excellence.

“Leaders are expected to think creatively and facilitate the creative work of others, but traditional approaches to developing leaders have not fully addressed this need.

“A key problem with regards to developing creative and innovative leadership capacity is the low leverage on technology.

“Young leaders must explore and leverage on technology means such as e-mentoring, multisource feedback, social media, and succession planning programs,’’ she said.

She also reiterated that the FG’s commitment to create an enabling environment to facilitate the actualization of innovative …

LGBTQ / News

Hisbah Board denies arresting youths for allegedly engaging in same sex marriages

The Kano State Hisbah Board has denied arresting 78 youngsters for allegedly engaging in same sex marriages at the White House Restaurant in Nasarawa GRA, Kano.

The Commander-General of the board, Dr Harun Ibn-Sina, however, said that the 47 young men and 31 under-aged girls were apprehended for engaging in illicit acts, following a tip-off by a good Samaritan.

“The young men and women were found in compromising positions using drugs, while preparations (by them) were in top gear for the commencement of a birthday party”, a statement issued by the board on Wednesday quoted Ibn-Sina  as saying.

He described youths as the leaders of tomorrow and urged their parents and guardians to be more vigilant due to the high level of moral decadence in the society. He also said that the board had commenced investigation into the incident and would invite parents, guardians of those arrested for necessary action. The statement also stated that Hisbah board has reaffirmed its dedication to sanitise Kano State, and rid it of all forms of vices.…

Entertainment / Foreign / Music / News

Trey Songz sued $20M over anal sex rape

According to the suit filed by the lady with alias Jane Doe, she had a consensual sexual relationship with Trey before the alleged rape on March 24, 2016.

Doe said Trey invited her to a house party in L.A., where he invited her upstairs for what she believed would be consensual sex. She claimed in the court document obtained by TMZ that “Trey repeatedly asked her if he could “get that a**” on the way upstairs … to which she says she repeatedly told him “no” and to stop asking.” “Trey’s demeanor changed upon entering the bedroom. She says he threw her to the ground, ripped her pants off, pinned her down face first and forced his penis into her anus without her consent.”

She claimed that she begged the music star to stop and tried struggling with him but was overpowered.

Doe said someone entered the room and left almost immediately as the music star continued to rape her.

She claimed she left the house after Trey finished raping her and was taken to the hospital by the Uber driver who felt she was distressed.

The music star has been accused of rape and sexual assault by several women.

The latest was a basketballer, Dylan Gonzalez who accused the singer of rape and “unbearable PTSD.”

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Awards / Music / News

Afrobeats hall of fame induction ceremony slated for February 26, 2022

This epoch-making induction ceremony to honor the artistry and the contributions made by those who have played major roles in the dissemination and creation of the art of African music — scheduled for February 26, 2022, at The Amore Garden, off freedom way, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos — will showcase the African pride of the entertainment industry in celebration of the historic and cultural significance of African music.

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News / Oil & Gas

PMS: NNPC begins 24-hour operations in depots, retail outlets

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited says it has started 24-hour operations in its depots and retail outlets to restore normal supply and distribution of Premium Motor Spirit across the country.

The NNPC made this known in a statement issued on Tuesday and obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos.

The statement said: “NNPC Limited wish to reassure Nigerians that it has put adequate measures in place to accelerate nationwide distribution of PMS earlier disrupted by the quarantine of methanol blended petrol.

“The quarantine was a necessary step to safeguard our customers from the potential impact of this PMS grade on vehicles and machineries.

“In order to accelerate distribution across the country, we have commenced 24-hour operations at our depots and retail outlets.”

According to the statement, as part of NNPC’s strategic restocking, over 2.3 billion liters of PMS is scheduled for delivery between now and end of February 2022, which will restore sufficiency level above the national target of 30 days.

It said the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, Depot Owners and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria and Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria had also commenced 24-hour loading and dispensing activities in some of their designated outlets.

The statement said NNPC monitoring team was collaborating with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and other security agencies to ensure smooth distribution of PMS nationwide. “NNPC implores Nigerians to avoid panic buying as there is sufficient volume of PMS in-country and effort is being made to accelerate distribution to all filling stations,” it said.…

Football / News / Sports

DeMar DeRozan stays hot, leads Bulls over Spurs

DeMar DeRozan poured in 40 points and continued his historic scoring run as the Chicago Bulls outlasted the visiting San Antonio Spurs 120-109 on Monday to win their fourth straight game.

The Bulls trailed by six points entering the fourth quarter but then DeRozan took charge, scoring 11 of Chicago’s next 13 points to give the Bulls the lead. The Bulls never trailed again, as DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic dominated the stretch.

San Antonio had two huge turnovers on successive possessions down by four points in the final 1:53 to hamper its comeback attempt.

 

DeRozan has scored 30 or more points in seven consecutive games (improving on a career-high) and established a franchise record with his sixth straight game of at least 35 points, supplanting the mark set by Michael Jordan in the 1996-97 campaign.

 

Vucevic added 25 points and 16 rebounds in the win, with Coby White scoring 24 points and Ayo Dosunmu hitting for 12. Chicago got just 12 points from its bench but shot 52.3 percent from the floor and earned a 58-41 edge on the boards.

 

Lonnie Walker IV led San Antonio with 21 points off the bench. Doug McDermott and Dejounte Murray added 19 points each – Murray also had 11 assists — and Keldon Johnson and Jakob Poeltl scored 13 apiece for the Spurs.

 

The Bulls led 29-27 after a back-and-forth first period as Vucevic (12 points) and White (11) combined for all but six of Chicago’s points.

 

San Antonio swept to the front at 34-29 by scoring the first five points of the second period, after which there were nine lead changes and five tied scores before DeRozan’s two free throws with 48.1 seconds left in the quarter gave the Bulls a 59-57 advantage at the break.

 

White led all scorers with 16 points in the half with DeRozan and Vucevic adding 15 each for Chicago over the first 24 minutes of play. McDermott paced the Spurs with 14 points while Walker IV had 11 and Murray …

Crime / Drugs / Fraud / News

Abba Kyari: Police unravel identities of suspected drug barons, NDLEA collaborators

The Force Headquarters on Monday unraveled the identities of the suspected drug barons who allegedly colluded with Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari and four others to ferry illicit drugs into the country.

Abba Kyari and four of his team members were declared wanted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on Monday.

The suspects had been arrested by the police and handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation. The Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said in a statement in Abuja that some NDLEA officials were allegedly involved in the drug deal. He said that the police had carried out discreet investigation when it received a request from the NDLEA on February 10.

Adejobi said: “In line with standard administrative procedure of the Force, the Inspector General of Police ordered a high-level, discreet, and in-house investigation into the allegations.

“The interim investigations report revealed that two international drug couriers identified as Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus, both males, were arrested at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, on January 19.

“The suspects were arrested upon their arrival from Addis Ababa aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight ET917.

“The arrest led to the recovery of substantial quantity of powdery substance suspected to be cocaine from the two narcotic couriers.

“The operation which was intelligence-driven, was undertaken by a Unit of the Police Intelligence Response Team.”

Adejobi said the case and the two suspects were subsequently transferred to the NDLEA on January 25.

He said the findings of the in-house investigation ordered by the I-G, Usman Baba, established reasonable grounds for strong suspicion that the IRT officers involved in the operation could have been involved in some underhand and unprofessional dealings.

The Police spokesman said the finding showed that the officers were allegedly involved in official corruption, which compromised ethical standards in their dealings with the suspects and exhibits recovered.

He added: “Beyond this, the Police investigation also established that the international narcotics cartel involved in this case have strong ties with some officers of the National Drug Law …

Crime / Fraud / News

EFCC secures final forfeiture of N3.07b landed properties owned by top military officer

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has secured the final forfeiture of 20 landed properties valued at over N3,007,000,000 belonging to a top military officer but controlled through proxies, including late General Aminu Maude, Hon. Hassan Nalaraba and Tanimu Abdullahi Yunusu as well as companies such as Atlasfield Integrated Services Nigeria Limited, Marhaba Events Place, Aflac Plastics and Atlasfield Gas Plant Limited.Marhaba Events Place, Aflac Plastics and Atlasfield Gas Plant Limited.

Justice N. E. Maha of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja granted the forfeiture Order in a ruling on Monday.

It followed an application by the counsel to the EFCC, Cosmos Ugwu and Musa Isah.

The Court had in May 2020 ordered the interim forfeiture of the properties following an ex parte application by the Commission, alleging that the assets were proceeds of unlawful activities. The court, having considered the application vis-a-vis Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, more particularly sub-sections 1 and 3 thereof granted the prayers of the Commission for an interim forfeiture and directed the publication of notices, alerting anyone with interest in the properties to show cause why they should not be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

In the absence of any contestation, the court on Monday ordered the final forfeiture of the properties.

The forfeited properties, situated on lands valued at over N3,007,000,000, are located in different parts of Kano, Katsina, Calabar (Cross River State) and Kaduna.

They included Fuel Stations, Event Centers, Plazas, Block Industries, Truck Assembly Plant, Polythene Production factory and table water factory.

Some of the properties include undeveloped plot located at Rake, Adjacent to Dara Orthopedic Hospital, Kano, valued at N300 million; 117 hectares of land located at Adiabo, Oduapani LG, covered by Certificated of Occupancy No. OD/23/2011 dated 21/2/ 2011 in Calabar, Cross River State, valued at N386 million; Truck Assembly at Ring Road, adjacent to AA Affa Filling Station, Kano, valued at N206 million; and Marhaba Event Centre, Guda Abdulahi Road Farm Centre, Kano valued at N250 …

Movies / News

Yul Edochie ask Reps not to blame Nollywood for rituals

Following the accusation implied by the House of Representatives who recently tasked Adedayo Thomas, the executive director, National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) “to rise to the mandate of the agency as the clearinghouse for all movies produced in the country” to stop portraying ritual killings in a good light in their movies following the spike in ritual killings being experienced in the country. The veteran actor has now responded to the lawmakers via an Instagram post faulting the allegations.

Edochie said in his post that the portrayal of rituals in their movies only mirrors the reality on the ground within the country, in order to draw attention to the vices. He then continued to insist that the lawmakers who have true power are the ones who can bring about lasting change in the country.

“Nollywood is only showing what happens in society. Nigerians are wallowing in extreme poverty. A hungry man is an angry man, fix the country and crime will go away. Don’t blame Nollywood.” he said in the post.

He then urged the lawmakers to face their jobs of bringing lasting change through policy rather than criticising Nollywood efforts.

…
Crime / Entertainment / News

Kodak black sustains gunshot injury at Justin bieber’s super bowl party

Rapper Kodak Black was among three other individuals who were wounded in a shooting outside the premises of a Los Angeles lounge during an unofficial after-party for Justin Bieber to mark the Super Bowl on Friday night. Witnesses at the scene and the Los Angeles Police Department disclosed multiple rounds were fired at Kodak Black and the all-male victims aged–19, 24, and 60 who were involved in an altercation before the shooting. It’s been reported that another person was injured during the altercation.

Two of the victims were transported from the lounge to a local hospital by medical personnel. The third was later moved to a hospital after leaving the crime scene. Reports claim Kodak Black has sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot injury to his leg while the other victims are in stable conditions.

Several suspects remain at large with Los Angeles Police Department identifying the perpetrator(s) as black males who fled the scene southwards. Police are refusing to divulge further information that could hinder leads.

Sources close to the artiste claim Kodak was in town for Super Bowl weekend and related business, attending Bieber’s party to make merry until he stepped outside (Lil Baby and Gunna present) attempting to help a member of his crew who got jumped by an unidentified assailant before shots were fired.

Meanwhile, Justin Bieber had just performed at his concert and attended the afterparty with his wife, Hailey Bieber, just down the street in Los Angeles which was bubbling with parties customary in the lead-up to the Super Bowl, which will be hosted on Sunday. The after-party guest list included Drake, Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Kendall Jenner, and Khloe Kardashian.

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