Category: News

Update: Identities of Notorious inmates freed During Kuje Prison Attack revealed

 

There are fresh indications revealing that the gunmen who attacked the Kuje Medium Security Prison reportedly freed over 90 percent of the inmates.
According to Daily Sun, the heavily armed gunmen invaded the correctional centre around 10.30pm.

The gunmen who bombarded the facility and successfully operated for about one hour unhindered, reportedly freed Boko Haram inmates at the correctional centre.

It was gathered that other inmates used the opportunity of the attack to escape from the Kuje Prison.

 

A prison staff, who confirmed the attack in a chat with Daily Sun, revealed that after the attack not more than 30 out of the over 1, 000 inmates were found at the correctional centre.

The staff said some of the attackers came from the back of the prison yard, while others arrived with trucks used to evacuate the targeted inmates.

Confirming the attack, the spokesman to the prison service, Umar Abubakar said an armed squad of the service in collaboration with other security agencies responded to the attack.

Abubakar in a statement released in the early hours of Wednesday said calm has returned to the area.

The statement was titled, “Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje attacked by gunmen.”

It reads, “I wish to confirm that at about 2200hrs, some yet-to-be-identified gunmen attacked the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje, in the Federal Capital Territory.

“However, men of the Armed Squad of the Nigerian Correctional Service and other security agencies attached to the Custodial Centre have responded and calm has been restored to the facility and the situation is under control.

“Other details will be made available soon.”

 

BREAKING: OPEC Sec-General, Muhammad Barkindo Is Dead

 

The Secretary-General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Muhammad Sanusi Barkindo has died.

The outgoing Sec-Gen died at about 11p.m on Tuesday at the aged 63.

Mele Kyari, group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, announced his death.

In a post on Twitter, Kyari wrote: “We lost our esteemed Dr Muhammad Sanusi Barkindo. He died at about 11pm yesterday 5th July 2022.

 

“Certainly a great loss to his immediate family, the NNPC, our country Nigeria, the OPEC and the global energy community. Burial arrangements will be announced shortly.”

Barkindo’s tenure as OPEC Secretary General was due to end on July 31, Naija News reports.

His death came few hours after President Muhammadu Buhari celebrated him for his good service.

Buhari had on Tuesday said: “You have indeed been a worthy ambassador of our country.

“We are proud of your achievements before and during your appointment at OPEC and the proud legacies you will leave behind.

“Your time in charge of the affairs of OPEC has been a very challenging one for the global oil industry.”

 

BREAKING: Inmates Escape As Kuje Prison Under Heavy Bombardment

 

The Kuje Correctional Center is said to be under heavy bombardment by unidentified gunmen.

A source who spoke to THE WHISTLER on telephone said “they are unleashing bombs.

“We don’t know who is carrying out the attack but we can hear heavy sounds bearing the hallmark of bombs.

“Everywhere is under lock and key.”

This is coming few hours after the advanced team of President Muhammadu Buhari came under heavy attacks by terrorists, according to a statement by the president’s special assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, on Tuesday evening.

A source confirmed to our Correspondent that the first explosion, which she said was likely a high capacity bomb, went off around 10.25pm.

She further confirmed that soon after the second and third blasts went off, sporadic gunshots followed.

It was gathered that there was a security report, which alerted the prison officials that the center which is a Medium Prison would be attacked.

Attempts to speak with the Public Relations Officer of the prison, Francis Enobore, proved abortive as his phone rang out unanswered.

But a source in the prison said the attack was carried out from the back of the building and is still going on as of press time.

“The attack is still going on as we speak and the inmates are escaping. I can’t report any casualty but I can confirm some inmates are leaving because the back is now open and exposed.”

 

Obama Calls For More Access To Abortion In US

 

Former United States president, Barack Obama has stated that increased access to abortion is one of the signs that the American democracy was growing.

He lamented on Tuesday that there is still work to do in areas of abortion rights, gun control and LGBTQ rights, among others.

He wrote on his official Facebook page:

“If we want democracy to flourish, we will have to fight for it. We’ll have to nurture it. And we will have to demonstrate its value, again and again, in improving the lives of ordinary people.

“That includes looking at the shortcomings of our own democracies—not the ideal, but the reality of our own democracies. From advocating for increased abortion access to protecting LGBTQ+ rights to tackling gun violence and so much more, we have a lot of work to do. Only then will we be able to tell a better story of what democracy can be, and must be, in this rapidly changing world.”

The former president’s remark is believed to be his opinion pointing towards the country’s independence Day celebration on July 4 .

Also, his remarks comes after the US Supreme Court removed abortion from list of federal rights.

The Supreme Court verdict drew outrage from a number of US citizens but was hailed by several churches.

US president Joe Biden described the verdict as being against the constitutional right of Americans.

 

JUST IN: Winner To Get N100m Prize As Big Brother Naija Season 7 Begins July 23

 

Multichoice Nigeria has announced that season 7 of the Big Brother Naija reality TV show will commence on July 23, 2022.

The winner of this season will walk away with N100 million prize at the end of the show.

The anchor, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, also confirmed the news in a tweet: ¡°Yes, we are back, season 7 is finally here, we can¡¯t wait for you guys to see all the amazing stuff coming this season. Trust me if you think you know Big Brother, this season is about to take things up another notch.¡±

Recall that the grand prize in the sixth edition of the BBNaija show was N90m, which was won by Ikechukwu Hazel Onyeze, popularly known as Whitemoney.

 

ICPC: Buratai Denies Links To N175,706,500, $220,965, G-Wagon, Other Properties

 

A former Chief of Army Staff and Nigeria’s Ambassador to Benin Republic, Tukur Buratai has denied links to monies and properties recently seized in Abuja by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Recall that the ICPC had raided a property in the Wuse 2 area of the federal capital territory (FCT) where it recovered money and other items from the property including N175,706,500, $220,965, a G-Wagon, 2022 editions of BMW and Mercedes-Benz cars and customised mobile phones.

It also recovered several designer wristwatches, including three Rolexes, and some property documents.

Following the raids, reports had emerged claiming Buratai is the owner on the property and the seized items but the agency in a statement stated that the property is owned by the owner of K Salam Construction Company, a military contractor called Kabiru Sallau.

Speaking to newsmen on Monday, Buratai’s legal adviser, Ugochukwu Osuagwu, said reports linking the former army chief to the properties are filled with mischief, baseless and concocted.

He said: “Lieutenant General T.Y. Buratai has no relationship with the said properties nor does he have any relationship with the said K Salam Construction Company Nigeria Limited. These are fabricated lies to criminally defame the image of Lieutenant General T.Y. Buratai.

 

“First, ICPC, in a press release on June 24, 2022, denied any involvement of Lieutenant General T.Y. Buratai with their investigation of the Wuse 2 property.

“Secondly, Corporate Affairs Commission, in a letter dated Monday, 27 June 2022 and signed by A.G. Abubakar clearly exonerated Lieutenant General T.Y. Buratai with any relationship with the said K Salam Construction Company Nigeria Limited. Messrs. Muhammed Ahmed Sallau and Sallau Kabiru are the owners of the said company.

“Thirdly, a check on the FRSC website on the number plate: ABJ98BH attached to the Mercedes-Benz is false; checks show that the said plate number belongs to a Toyota Corolla custom colour.

“We, therefore, use this medium to urge restraint on those who are trying to politicise what is purely a matter being investigated.

“With ICPC having cleared the air on this subject matter, it will be preposterous to now try to politicise the matter.”

 

JUST IN: Lagos Govt shuts Redeemers School over drowning of pupil

 

The Lagos State Ministry of Education on Monday evening said it has shut the Redeemers Nursery and Primary School, Ogba.

The government said the school will remain closed, pending an administrative investigation of its operations and procedures as well as the conduct of its officials ¨C in line with schools¡¯ safety standards and guidelines.

This was contained in a statement signed by Mrs Folasade Adefisayo, the Commissioner for Education in the state.

The investigation is sequel to the recent death of Chidera Eze, a five-year-old pupil, who is suspected to have drowned during a swimming lesson while in the custody of the school. The police are investigating the matter.

¡°A preliminary probe by the Office of Education Quality Assurance of the Ministry has shown that the Redeemers Nursery and Primary School, Ogba, is yet to conclude its registration and is, therefore, not yet an approved school.

¡°The Ministry is concerned about the safety of the pupils, hence the need for intervention. The school will remain closed until all the required approval processes are concluded. Parents are advised to note the closure and wait for the conclusion of the administrative investigation,¡± the Lagos government said.

 

FG Cancels Training Contract For Ex-Niger Delta Militants

 

The Federal Government has revoked the training contract awarded to Express Concern International (ECN) to train former Niger Delta militants.

The Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Col.Milland Dikio (retd), made this known in a statement on Sunday signed by his spokesman, Neotabase Egbe.

Dikio stated the federal government decided to revoke the training contract for former Niger Delta agitators over breach of the agreement.

He said the termination followed an allegation by a group, Concerned Indigenes of Oil Mineral Producing States Forum (CIOMPSF), that the company diverted funds it received from the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

Dikio asserted that contracts are not awarded to just anybody who submits a proposal, but to serious contractors, who have the capacity to deliver their contractual obligations.

He said the amnesty office had also activated its internal mechanism to retrieve the money it paid to the firm through a performance bond provided by the company.

 

Dikio said each job awarded was secured by a performance bond provided by the benefitting firm that enabled the amnesty office to recover its money in an event of default by a contractor.

He said, “The attention of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has been drawn to reports that a contractor, Express Concerns International Limited, has diverted money paid to them to train 90 ex-agitators in the agriculture value chain.

“Indeed, the PAP had contracted Express Concerns International Limited to train its beneficiaries. But the contract was terminated via a letter dated June 14th, 2022 because the contractor breached the terms of the agreement.

“Contracts are not awarded to just anybody who submits a proposal, but to serious contractors, who have the capacity to deliver their contractual obligations.

“However, each job awarded by PAP has an insurance bond that ensures the scheme recovers its money in the event of default by contractors. Consequently, the PAP wrote to the guaranteeing firm/insurance company for the recovery of the mobilization fee paid to the company.

“While the management of the PAP acknowledges the interests shown by various stakeholders in the affairs of PAP, let it be known that deliberate measures were put in place to reform contractual processes and block all loopholes that could be capitalized upon to dupe the programme.

“We want to further assure all stakeholders that PAP’s contracts are designed for the benefits of the programme’s beneficiaries and not for the enrichment of any contractor.”

Suspected EEDC Vandal Electrocuted In Anambra

 

A yet-to-be-identified vandal was electrocuted in the early hours of Sunday for allegedly vandalising Umuezerimpi 500KVA Distribution Substation.

The property belongs to the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC), located at Umuatuegwu Okija, Anambra State, THE WHISTLER gathered.

Mr. Emeka Ezeh, head, Corporate Communications, EEDC, Enugu, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

Ezeh said the deceased was not operating alone, as other members of his gang took to their heels immediately after he was electrocuted, leaving behind his lifeless body and their tools at the scene of the incident.

Ezeh said the report was lodged at the Okija Police Division.

“The tools used by the electrocuted vandal and his fleeing colleagues were also recovered and his corpse deposited at the Okija General Hospital Mortuary,” he said.

He said, “Just imagine how this young man has cut his life short over nothing.

“It is hoped that this will serve as a deterrent to others engaging in this dastardly act.”

Eze called on members of the public to be vigilant in protecting EEDC facilities in their domains.

He said, “Let’s all join hands and ensure these very few people in our society that are bent on making life miserable for all of us are stopped.”

Fraud: Buhari Govt Replaces Acting Accountant General Of The Federation

 

The federal government of Nigeria under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari has replaced Mr. Chukwuyere N. Anamekwe as the acting Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF).

 

It was gathered that Anamekwe was replaced about two weeks ago over allegations of corruption and investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (INEC) hanging around his neck.

It was further gathered according to reports monitored on The Nation that he was replaced with a former TSA (Treasury Single Account) Director, Mr. Okolieaboh Ezeoke Sylvis.

It will be recalled that Anamekwe was appointed in an acting capacity after Ahmed Idris was suspended after his embroilment in an N80 billion fraud case leading to his subsequent arrest by the EFCC on allegations of money laundering through real estate investments in Kano and Abuja.

His replacement, Anamekwe who was appointed in May 2022, however, is also reportedly under EFCC investigation for fraud and also some other reports have that his unauthorized revelation that the government was borrowing to pay salaries landed him in more trouble.

A source privy to government operations on the matter has now disclosed that a search for a substantive Accountant General has commenced in earnest.

 

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), Mrs. Folasade Yemi-Esan has issued a circular to that effect.

The circular reads: “Commencement of the process of appointment of a substantive Accountant-General of the Federation”, the HoCSF directed permanent secretaries to forward details of eligible directors on Grade 17 to her on or before 4:00 pm on Wednesday July 6, 2022.

It added that those eligible to apply must have attained the Substantive Director (Grade 17) on or before January 1, 2020 and are not retiring from the service earlier than December 31, 2024.

Such persons must also be free of disciplinary proceedings.

There are “Those who have attained the position of Substantive Director (Grade 17) on or before January 1, 2020 and are not retiring from the service earlier than December 31, 2024 are eligible to participate in the selection process while officers undergoing disciplinary proceedings are excluded,” it added.

Exit mobile version