Some gunmen on Tuesday morning, at 2 am, stormed the residence of retired Air Vice-Marshal Mohammed Maisaka at Makarfi Road, Rigasa in Rivers State.
When DAILYPOST visited the residence around 1.00 pm on Tuesday, everywhere remained calm, as few people were seeing discussing in groups.
A source told DAILYPOST that: “How they gained entrance into the compound, went straight to the boys quarter remain a mystery.
“They didn’t break the gate, as it remained closed. They went to the boys’ quarter where they first picked his physiotherapist, who is also a Nigerian Airforce Personnel.”
He said the gunmen believed that as a physiotherapist to Maisaka, who was paralyzed from a medical condition for about three years and in rehabilitation, he should know where he is being kept.
Due to fear, he led them to the room, where they shot both of them dead.
The sister pleaded with gunmen to also kill her, but they responded, “we did not come for you.”
The Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Muhammad Jalige, confirmed the incident, adding that the deceased’s gateman suffered injuries in the attack.
With the current story making the round about seasoned businesswoman Princess Toyin Kolade, Iyalaje Oodua, the head honcho of Fisolak Global Resource over an alleged fraud case relating to her client, the business woman has distanced herself from the said case, claiming she has been exonerated in the past but the Police Special Fraud Unit, SFU over the years.
The report claimed that she and her company is currently enmeshed in some fraudulent act but to set the records straight, she averred that; she was contacted by the said foreign national to clear some goods for them which she did and got paid for the services her company rendered.
The said Indian nationals who supposedly got loans from the bank at no point involved Princess Toyin in their dealings and whatever transpired between the Indian nationals and the bank is not in anyway her concern. As we speak, the Indians forfeited their properties and other valuables which the bank sold to recover their debt they have also left the country.
The philanthropist also disclosed that; “I am never a fraudulent nor dubious person and those who know me well can attest to the fact. I have been audited and exonerated by the Police Special Fraud Unit whom after thorough investigation found out that the issue had nothing to do with me. They wrote to me and my company in person and pleaded. The case ended more than 5 years ago. It was recently revisited and they are still attaching me and my company to the legal process which should originally not be so. I am just clearing agent who only worked for the accused and got paid. I keep records and I have the documents still intact till date for records purpose. So the unnecessary clamor for my detractors to exploit this avenue to make disparaging comments and unfound assertions about me is uncalled for. The said story is being syndicated by an individual with questionable character who feels intimidated by my numerous achievements ever since I was conferred with the title as Iyalaje Oodua by the Ooni Of Ife.”
“The more they throw their punches it won’t still get to me. I know the person behind it and I pray they heal very fast and come to bear in mind that who God has blessed no man can curse. I am a moving train and I am not intimidated nor perturbed by the lingering rumors. They are all lies from the pit of hell. I am not a fraudster. I work hard for my money. I have instructed my lawyer to take a legal action against those responsible for the inclusion of my name in this issue when the court finally exonerate me.”
Thorough findings further confirmed that the mischievous report flying about town was just concocted based on the unavoidable absence of her lawyer, Barr. Olapade Awowole, who couldn’t make it to the court on Thursday, 4th of November.
However, the legal counsel, Awowole had reiterated his determination to attend the court proceeding tomorrow, 9th of November to get his client’s name off the mess.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has given a close view into the crimes committed by Ex-Pensions boss, Abdulrasheed Maina.
The anti-graft commission, in a statement made available to POLITICS NIGERIA on Monday evening, disclosed that huge sums of Money were discovered in accounts linked to Maina coupled with several choice properties scattered all over Abuja and Dubai.
Below is a list of these assets believed to have been acquired with stolen funds;
Cash deposits of N300million, N500million and N1.5billion in Two Nigerian Banks accounts
Property in Abuja paid for with $1.4 million Cash
50 cars in Dubai
Plush Villa in Dubai
$2 million property in Jabi, Abuja
Colster Logistics, belonging to Maina received inflow of $400,000 in Cash
Kangolo Dynamic, another company belonging to Maina with over N500 million found in its account. The company has never carried out any service or contract.
Several Choice Properties in America and the United Arab Emirates
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has sentenced ex-pension boss, Abdulrasheed Maina, to eight years imprisonment having convicted him of stealing monies belonging to pensioners.
Justice Okong Abang sentenced Maina on all the 12-count charge instituted against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission but noted that the jail terms would run concurrently.
“The fact of this case portrays the national decadence of the society we live in. It is unpleasant, immoral and dirty.
“Over 2.1 billion naira of pensioners funds was stolen; it is a clear case that the convict is inhumane. Some have suffered and died while waiting for their rewards on earth.
“Whereas the convict was feeding fat on their sweat, buying choice properties, driving bullet proof cars and living in affluence beyond his legitimate earnings.
“Dishonesty is an endemic disease in this country that requires urgent treatment to get at its roots,” he said.
The judge also observed that the financial institutions that Maina used to commit the fraud ought to have been arraigned in court as well.
“This is case where Fidelity Bank and UBA should have been arraigned. The license of Fidelity Bank and UBA ought to have been withdrawn, they have benefitted from the defendants illegal transaction.
“UBA and Fidelity Banks provided the channel in which the defendant defrauded pensioners fund worth 2.1 billion just to shore up deposits.
“It is inhumane that the defendant used family members as a shield to defraud pensioners, some who have died,” he said.
Justice Abang held that the failure of the respective banks to probe the validity of the accounts left much to be desired.
“The bank failed to carry due diligence to carry out investigation on the real owner of the account,” he said.
He observed that without conducting requisite customer due diligence, the banks aided Maina to contravene the Money Laundering Act.
“I find the first defendant guilty in Count 1, 5, 8 and accordingly convicted.
He also convicted Maina on Count 2, 6, 9 which stated that he opened about 5 anonymous accounts with UBA and Fidelity Banks, thereby violating the money laundering Act.
The judge said that about N171,099,000 was paid in cash to a UBA account and the source of the funds was unknown.
“It is my view that the it is the pensioners funds that the defendant stole,” he said.
The term of imprisonment for the counts is not less than 2 years or not more than 3 years.
On Count 3, 7, 10, Maina was accused of taking about N1.5 billion from the accounts when he knew that they formed part of the proceeds of unlawful acts.
“Defendant is guilty and according convicted in count 3,7,10,” he said adding that jail term ranges from 7 to 14 years.
“It is clear that the first defendant is the buyer and the payment was made above the statutory threshold of 5 million naira and this has not been challenged by the first defendant counsel,” the judge held.
“In conclusion and the evidence left, it is my firm view that the prosecution has proved their case beyond reasonable doubt.
A federal high court in Lagos has summoned a lawyer Mr.O. Awowole to show cause why he should not be Sanctioned for failing to present a defendant, Princess Oluwatoyin Kolade,that he allegedly undertook to produce in court.
Justice peter Lifu ordered Awowole to appear on Tuesday, November 9, following Kolade’s failure to honour a hearing notice for his arraignment last Thursday on an alleged $32 million fraud charge.
The lawyer was also absent when the matter marked: FHC/L/407C/2019 was called.
Kolade, a top society lady is one of 11 people facing a 10 count charge of $32 million fraud referred against them by the office of the attorney general of the federation (OAGF)
The defendants include four Indian men – Prem Garg, Devashish Garg, Bhagwan Singh Rawat and mukul Tyagi and two britons – Marcus Wade and Andrew fairies, said to be at large.
The others apart from Kolade are metal Africa steel products LTD, wilben trade LTD, Fisolak Global resources Ltd and Kannu Aditya India Ltd.
At the commencement of proceedings, a deputy director from the federal ministry of Justice,Mr Akutah Pius,reminded the court that when he applied for a bench warrant for the defendant’s arrest, Awowole Undertook to produce Kolade in court.
He said the counsel not only failed to dos o, neither he nor Kolade were present in court.
Pius prayed for an adjournment to enable the defendants to appear arguing that Awowole should face the consequences of his action.
He further prayed the court to renew a bench warrant issued for the defendants by justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo who handled the case before her transfer to the Court’s Abeokuta Division.
Responding to the judge’s query as to why the prosecution failed to produce the other defendants, despite an arrest warrant and an extradition order, Pius explained the Federal Government was collaborating with Interpol on that, adding that extradition was challenging and takes time.
He stated that his intention was to arraign the defendants that resides in Lagos while the extradition process was ongoing for those abroad.
Pius also applied that since counsel to the 3rd, 4th and 9th defendants, Mr Dele Belgore, SAN, was present the court should appoint him as a special bailiff to serve the charge on his clients.
Belgore countered that his instruction was only to file a motion challenging the jurisdiction of the court from entertaining the charge and to discharge the warrant of arrest earlier issued by the court.
Justice Lifu disagreed with the silk, adding “if they briefed you, where are they? Did they brief you from the sky?”
The judge In a short ruling, ordered that Awowole should appear on Tuesday to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against him
The judge also set the two motions filed by Belgore down for hearing.
The impeached Deputy Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly Hon Amara Iwuanyanwu has been reinstated to his position.
His reinstatement comes less than a week after he was impeached under tight security after a resolution for his removal was signed by 18 out of the 27 lawmakers.
Earlier today, the Speaker of the State Assembly, Mr. Paul Emeziem has been impeached on charges including disorderly conduct, abuse of office and tyranny.
He was replaced by Hon Kennedy Ibe who represents Obowo State Constituency, while Hon. Iwuanyanwu resumed his initial position as the Deputy Speaker.
The move in the Assembly comes after the House of Assembly recalled six suspended members who were controversially suspended on July 8 for “unparliamentary conduct”.
It was learned that the lawmakers were recalled by the Impeached Speaker after they reached an agreement with the House of Assembly leadership.
The lawmakers included Kennedy Ibe (Obowo); Onyemaechi Njoku (Ihitte Uboma); Uche Ogbuagu (Ikeduru); Anyadike Nwosu (Ezinihitte Mbaise); Philip Ejiogu, (Owerri North), and Dominic Ezerioha (Oru West).
Lawmakers in the Imo State House of Assembly have impeached the Speaker, Paul Emeziem.
He was impeached on Monday during a plenary session at the State House of Assembly in Owerri the Imo state capital by 19 lawmakers
The 19 lawmakers out of the total 27 lawmakers signed a letter which was read on the floor of the house.
According to the lawmakers, the Speaker was impeached on allegations of gross misconduct, forgery, abuse of office, and high-handedness.
Meanwhile, the member representing Obowo State constituency Kennedy Ibe has emerged as the new Speaker of the House.
At least three persons have been reported dead and many others injured during a massive explosion at the Kubwa village market in Abuja.
The explosion, which happened around 7:00 pm on Friday evening, was caused by adulterated kerosene from a tanker near the main market.
It was learned that properties worth millions of naira were destroyed during the explosion which consumed two shops and other roadside stores.
According to the acting Director, Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency, Florence Wenegieme, three persons have been confirmed dead and scores injured in the explosion.
She stated the injured victims have been taken to the Kubwa General Hospital for urgent medical treatment.
Wenegieme, however, lamented that hoodlums had taken over the scene and obstructed the firefighters from doing their work.
She said, “The incident happened not quite long. I can’t tell you the cause but I can tell you that three persons have died but we are yet to take out the corpses because hoodlums have taken over the place, they also did not allow our men to do their jobs. They have parked somewhere waiting for the police to come.”
As of the time of filing this report, security operatives had blocked the access points to the explosion site and also dispersed people who had gathered at the scene.
A top staff of the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Engr. Musa, who was declared missing by his family has been reportedly found dead at a Lagos canal.
The family of Engr Musa had declared him missing last week Sunday when he could not be found after he was last seen on Saturday.
A human corpse was recovered from the Iyana Ipaja canal that runs down from the Oko Oba abattoir, but the family of the MMA staff is yet to identify the corpse.
A source who was at the scene of the incident and spoke with Vanguard claimed that the remains were that of the missing Musa’s corpse.
The source who spoke on the condition of anonymity claimed that, “The family has been looking for him since Sunday but discovered his remains yesterday at the Lagos Canal in Iyana Ipaja.
“Musa was a strict man and he did not believe in eye service.”
It was also disclosed that a nail was found on the head of the deceased, while both hands were tied behind him, which could be a case of assassination.
In another development, six people who were kidnapped by gunmen on Tuesday morning from the University of Abuja Senior Staff Quarters have been rescued and reunited with their families.
In a short statement signed by the FCT Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Josephine Adeh, on Friday, the victims were rescued through a joint operation with other security agencies.
Adeh also disclosed that the suspected kidnappers have been arrested and would be charged to court soon.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has declared three days of mourning for victims of the Ikoyi building collapse.
Naija News reports that the governor made the declaration in a statement on Thursday signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso.
The governor also directed that official engagements are cancelled during the mourning period and all flags are to be flown at half-mast in public and private buildings.
Sanwo-Olu, however, commiserated with Lagosians who lost their loved ones in the unfortunate incident, praying for speedy recovery for the survivors.
The statement reads. “Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has declared three days of mourning over the Ikoyi building collapse, which occurred on Monday. No fewer than 32 persons are believed to have died in the incident.
“All flags are to be flown at half-mast in public and private buildings and official engagements cancelled during the mourning period.
“The Lagos State Government, once again, commiserates with all those who lost their loved ones in the unfortunate incident.”
The governor disclosed that family members had submitted 19 names of those still missing, asking other family members to visit the scene and drop the needed information.
Sanwo-Olu added that the ongoing corona inquest on the bodies evacuated from the site was expected to be concluded today (Friday), after which families would be invited to identify them.
“Yesterday (Wednesday), we opened a register for people that have missing persons or loved ones whom they believed must have been at the site before the collapse.
“As I speak here, it is only 19 names of missing persons that have been registered. Some of them have pictures, others do not. This list would help us to get information on manifest of those at the site.
“As of this afternoon, we have recovered a total of 32 bodies. We are conducting a corona inquest on the bodies and by tomorrow (Friday), we hope the exercise would have been concluded. That is the deadline we gave to the corona, so that the families can come and identify the bodies recovered so far.”
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