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Kuje: Embattled Abba Kyari Begs For Fresh Bail Over Fear Of Attack

The suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Abba Kyari, has filed a fresh application seeking bail following the recent terrorist attack on the Kuje Correctional Centre.
Naija News recalls that Kyari has been remanded in Kuje prison after his arrest by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)

NDLEA had alleged that Kyari and his men unlawfully tampered with 21.25kilograms worth of cocaine that they seized from two apprehended drug traffickers- Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwane, accusing the DCP and his men of dealing in cocaine worth 17.55kg.

It alleged that the police officers committed the offence between January 19 and 25, 2022, at the office of Inspector-General of Police (IGP) IRT, Abuja, in connivance with one ASP John Umoru (now at large), contrary to section 14(b) of the NDLEA Act, CAP N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

Kyari, who has maintained his innocence, is asking the court to grant him bail based on safety grounds.

Justice Emeka Nwite has fixed Wednesday, July 20th, to hear the bail application.

Also, three other police officers in Kyari’s team who are equally on trial over the alleged offences – ACP Sunday J. Ubia, Insp. Simon Agirigba and Insp. John Nuhu – asked the court to grant them bail on similar grounds.

However, the 3rd defendant, Bawa James, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP, did not join them in the application.

Kyari’s counsel, Ikpeazu, said his client’s new application became necessary, considering the nature of assignments he undertook while performing his duties as a police officer, Daily Sun reports.

Ikpeazu submitted that some of the inmates on remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre were people Kyari’s team at the Police IRT made their arrest possible.

Reacting, the NDLEA, through its counsel, Sunday Joseph, urged the court to refuse their new request for bail.

Kemi Nelson, APC women leader and ex-NSITF executive director, is dead

Ms Nelson, the only female member of Bola Tinubu’s influential governance advisory council in Lagos, passed on on Sunday morning, per family sources who informed Peoples Gazette. She was 66.

Family members said Ms Nelson had been unwell for a while, treating undisclosed ailments at different hospitals.

A spokesman for the ruling APC did not immediately return a request seeking comments.

Ms Nelson was appointed to NSITF by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019, a position she held until May 2021 when she was removed under unclear circumstances. Months before her removal, Mr Buhari praised her as a loyal party member and commended her work towards his administration’s success.

She was born on February 9, 1956, and schooled in Ijebu, Lagos and Ibadan; and was survived by her three children.

Outrage as Notorious Bandit Bags Traditional Title In Zamfara

THE Emir of Yandoto in Zamfara State, Alhaji Garba Marafa, has conferred the traditional title of Sarki Fulani to one of the most notorious bandits operating in Zamfara and Katsina states.

It was gathered that the emir conferred the traditional title on the bandit, Ada Aleru, on Saturday afternoon.

According to reports, the emirate decided to give the bandit the traditional title because he recently had shown his willingness to embrace peace in the emirate.

A source, who pleaded anonymity, said, “Aleru was in the forefront of the recent peace efforts in the two emirates of Yandoto and Tsafe.”

Sunday Tribune source also revealed that stakeholders and elders recently met with the bandit leader for a peace deal.

“At the end of the meeting, he (Aleru) agreed to stop attacking the communities and villages in the emirate. He has also agreed to allow people to farm,” said the source.

Thus, on their part, the emirate unanimously decided to confer the title on him with the belief that, as a prominent person in the emirate, he would help in bringing lasting peace in the communities.

Investigation by the Sunday Tribune revealed that a letter to that effect was conveyed to him and 15th July, 2022 was slated for the coronation.

VP Osinbajo Hospitalised, To Undergo Surgery

The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, said he has been booked for a surgical procedure for an injury on one of his legs.

The vice president, who announced this in a terse statement shared on his Facebook page, said he had been admitted to an undisclosed hospital for the procedure.

“I have been admitted today at the hospital for a surgical procedure on account of a recurring pain in the leg possibly sustained from an injury while playing squash,” Osinbajo wrote.

Police Recover Human Skull, Grenade Launcher, Bombs In Anambra

The Anambra Police Command, Friday, recovered a human skull, one locally-made rocket propelled granade RPG launcher, two (RPG) bombs, one single- barrel gun, empty chain of bullet, one Toyota Sienna and one Mercedes Benz jeep from criminals at Amukabia, Achalla, Awka South LGA.

Other items recovered from the suspected criminals are two cylinders, hard drugs, a police beret and a police belt.

DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, the command’s public relations officer, stated this in a statement made available to newsmen in Awka on Saturday.

According to the statement, “The recovery followed a counter-offensive operation launched against criminal elements who had on 15/7/2022 laid an ambush against a six-man police team and a civilian car-tracker who were on a recovery operation of a Toyota Sienna Space Wagon vehicle earlier snatched on gun point on 9/7/2022 at Oye-Agu Abagana.

“Four of the police operatives escaped the ambush, while two of the police operatives and the car-tracker were captured by the criminals.”

DSP Ikenga said the police operatives, during the operations, neutralized some of the armed men and destroyed three of their camps.

He added that, “Unfortunately, some of the hoodlums escaped with bullet wounds, having already murdered their captives and set their bodies ablaze.

“The remains of the two murdered police officers and the civilian tracker have been recovered and deposited in a morgue, while police operations are still ongoing in the area to track the fleeing gang members.”

Meanwhile, the state commissioner of police, CP Echeng Echeng, while condoling with the families and friends of the murdered civilian (car-tracker) and the police operatives, described the incident as a classic example of the risk and sacrifices the police ‘are exposed to in protecting the country’.

He assured Ndi Anambra that efforts were being intensified ‘towards total reclamation and domination of all the public spaces occupied by hoodlums in the state’.

Alleged Fraud: Naira Marley Lands in trouble As EFCC Presents More Evidence Against Him

The alleged fraud case involving Nigerian singer, Azeez Fashola popularly called Naira Marley resumed on Friday 15th July, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) presenting more evidence against him.
Naira Marley who appeared before Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, is standing trial on an 11-count charge bordering on credit card fraud brought against him by the anti-graft agency.

At the last court sitting on June 9, 2022, the defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo, objected to the witness’s opinion on the forensic evidence linking the defendant to credit card fraud.

He had argued that only the court could make pronouncements on the defendant’s culpability, not an investigator.

Dismissing the objection, Justice Oweibo said an investigator must be able to link the defendant to the commission of the crime.

He said: “It is the duty of the law enforcement agency or police, charging a person to court to investigate if the defendant committed the crime or not.

“The investigator must be able to link the defendant to the commission of the crime. The prosecutor must have made up his mind as to the involvement of the defendant before bringing the case to court. I do not agree that the prosecution has declared the defendant guilty.”

The judge thereafter adjourned the trial till September 26

Breaking: Court Restrains Amotekun From Osun Governorship Election Duty

The Osun Security Network, codenamed Amotekun Corps has been restrained by the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, the state capital from participating in the July 16th governorship election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was also directed by the court on Friday not to deploy Amotekun Corps for security during the election.

Amotekun was warned not to serve as either security personnel or volunteer in the guber election.

Justice Ayo Emmanuel gave the ruling a suit filed against the security outfit by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The order reads in part, “That the 1st defendant (INEC) is hereby restrained from requesting the deployment of the second defendant (AMOTEKUN) as part of the security personnel deployable for the purpose of Osun 2022 governorship election pending the determination of the originating summons filed in the suit.”

The legal adviser of the PDP in Osun, Barrister Hashim Abioye while speaking on the ruling of the court said, “With this order, it is forbidden for the INEC to make use of Amotekun as part of the security personnel to be drafted for the election.

“As I speak to you, those concerned, the INEC, police and other relevant agencies, have been appropriately served.”

How Boko Haram Terrorist Plotted Shettima’s Children Kidnap In Borno

A report has emerged amid the political hurdles in the country, unveiling how a Boko Haram kingpin, Kabiru Umar Sokoto had plotted to kidnap the children of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential running mate, Kashim Shettima.

Recall that Sokoto was arrested and convicted in January 2012 and was convicted the following year for masterminding the 2011 Christmas day car bomb attack on St. Theresa Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger which resulted in the death of about 40 people, scores injured as well as the destruction of many properties.

The terrorist was sent to life imprisonment by the Abuja federal high court in 2013 after finding him guilty of the charges read against him.

He was initially arrested at the Borno governor’s lodge in Asokoro, Abuja, on January 14, 2012, before he escaped from police custody and was re-arrested a month later in Taraba state, Naija News recalls.

A confidential security memo dated Thursday, June 14, 2012, that is just coming to light, however, unveiled a daring plot by the terrorist which was halted.

The document quoted by The Cable on Friday (today), revealed how Sokoto infiltrated the Borno governor’s lodge in a plot to kidnap Governor Shettima’s children.

The memo reportedly submitted to the presidency revealed that Shettima who had barely spent eight months as governor had received a security warning that Boko Haram was plotting to kidnap his children for ransom.

The governor acted swiftly and relocated his children, two girls and a boy to Abuja and enrolled them at Turkish and British schools in Wuse II and Gwarimpa, Naija News learned from the report.

The memo signed by a senior security official alleged that Sokoto had then disguised as a “Borno man” to gain access to the lodge where Shettima’s children were staying.

He reportedly sneaked into the lodge on the weekend of January 14, 2012, when there was less traffic. A development described as a major security breach allegedly pleaded with a guest at the lodge to help him pass the weekend as he claimed to be stranded.

The guest according to the report, had been officially allocated accommodation at the lodge for one night on the directive of Ahmed Sanda, then-permanent secretary in charge of the governor’s lodge and the Borno liaison office, both in Asokoro.

Sokoto as stated in the memo planned to whisk away Governor Shettima’s children on Monday, January 16, 2012, on their way to school before he met his waterloo and was arrested by the police after spending a night at the lodge.

The memo stated clearly that Shettima had moved the children, all below 10 years old at the time, to Abuja in December 2011 — about two weeks before the foiled kidnap.

Sokoto according to the memo, was planning then to demand a ransom of N1 billion, which was valued at $6.3 million at the time.

Naija News learnt that Shettima’s children were living at the governor’s lodge under the care of two aunties and an uncle, while Nana, their mother, frequently shuttled between Abuja and Maiduguri to run her office as the first lady.

The report faulted the fact that only one security detail was escorting the children daily which made them highly vulnerable to kidnapping.

Governor Shettima according to the memo, later became the target of the terrorists operating in the region who in later years successfully kidnapped hundreds of Chibok schoolgirls under his watch.

Source: Naijanews

Gunmen Invade Home Of Former Bauchi Governor, Adamu Muazu

The home of the former Governor of Bauchi State, Adamu Muazu, was invaded by gunmen suspected to be bandits.
Naija News reports that Muazu was a two-term Governor of Bauchi and later became the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

It was learned that the gunmen stormed Muazu’s country home in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of the state and killed his nephew, Danladi Mu’azu.

According to multiple sources, the bandits killed the former governor’s nephew and abducted the three others during the attack which occurred on Wednesday.

The three persons abducted by the gunmen include Mu’azu’s sister, Hajiya Asma’u Adamu, Malama Halima Abdullahi and a lady named Nura.

A resident of Boto, Hashimu Abubakar, told the newspaper that the gunmen had not contacted the family to negotiate a ransom for the release of the abductees.

He added that all the phones of the three kidnap victims have been switched off by the kidnappers.

Reacting to the development, the Bauchi State Police Command said efforts are ongoing to rescue the abductees and bring the perpetrators to book.

JUST IN: British-Nigerian Kemi Badenoch Gains Momentum In UK Prime Minister Race

The second round of voting for the next minister of the United Kingdom concluded with British-Nigerian, Kemi Bedenoch, scaling through with 49 votes.

This was disclosed in a tweet by Andrew Stephenson MP, Co-Chairman of the Conservative Party after the committee confirmed the result of the second ballot of the parliamentarians in the leadership contest.

Former Chief Finance Minister of the UK, Rishi Sunak, still maintains the lead with 101 votes.

Others remaining are Penny Mordaunt (83), Liz Truss (64 ) and Tom Tugendhat (32 ).

Suella Braverman was disqualified for scoring 27.

In the first round on Wednesday, Bedenoch, the country’s ex-minister for Equalities secured 40 votes; with the number adding up on Thursday, her acceptance obviously grew among the voters.

The voting process will continue till September 2, when one out of the two contestants remaining will be declared as UK prime minister on September 5.