By Mateen Badru

A 47-year-old man, Frederick, has lost his life for standing up to a school bus driver in Lagos who allegedly defiled his seven-year-old daughter.

He died in the school premises in a scuffle with the driver, known as Jacob.

Frederick had gone to meet the school’s management in company of his widow and their daughter to narrate their daughter’s experience with Jacob and to ask for immediate action.

After he died in the scuffle, Jacob absconded from the scene, leading to a manhunt by the police.

Spokesman of the police in Lagos State, SP Benjamin Hundeyin confirmed the incident and said the police were on the trail of the driver and would not relent until he is brought to book.

Frederick’s widow had told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that her daughter narrated to her how Jacob had been taking her to his house at Ajuwon in Ogun to molest her.

She said she narrated the same report to her deceased husband after which, he called the school and he was asked to come so that the matter could be settled.

“On Wednesday, Feb. 1, my daughter told me that her school bus driver had been taking her to his house at Ajuwon, on the pretext that he needed to drop something at home and that she should follow him.

“When they entered the house, the driver would ask my daughter to sit on his lap; to raise her school uniform and to kiss him on his mouth.

“I told my husband what our daughter said on Monday, Feb. 6 and he immediately called the school to lodge a complaint and said he was also reporting the allegation to the police.

“He was told to come to the school first so we went there on Tuesday, Feb. 7 and we met the school owner, the driver and some of the teachers.

“The school owner after listening to us; confronted the driver, saying that he had returned late with the school bus the previous week and when asked, he said he had gone to drop something at home.

“He was later asked about the allegations levelled against him, but he denied. My daughter was then asked and she narrated the same experience she told us at home.

“The driver couldn’t say anything other than to query: `me’? `me’?, `me’?

“My husband who was visibly angry went to the driver and shouted at him to question why he had molested his daughter.

“My husband angrily slapped the driver and they started fighting during which he pushed my husband on his chest. He fell and efforts to revive him were abortive.

“We rushed him to a hospital, where he was confirmed dead,’’ the widow said.

She added that Jacob absconded after the incident and she subsequently reported the matter at Iju Police Station.

The school’s director, declined to speak on the matter saying that he was assisting the police in hunting for Jacob, the school bus driver that absconded. (NAN) (www.nanenws.ng)

Edited by Alli Hakeem

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Unity Advocacy Group (UAG), a civil society organisation, has cautioned politicians against dragging the military into politics.

The group in a statement by its Convener, Ifeanyi Aigbedion, on Sunday in Abuja, condemned a purported tweet by Chief Femi Fani-Kayode which alleged that some military officers met with a presidential candidate in Abuja

Aigbedion alleged that in the tweet, Fani-Kayode insinuated that such meeting could disrupt the elections, destabilise the country, set Nigeria on fire and incite chaos.

He added that the allegation was capable of causing more tension in the country in view of the already politically charged atmosphere.

The UAG convener said they were deeply concerned about underground plots by some disgruntled elements to derail the nation’s march to a stable democracy.

“We are concerned the more, of attempts to draw the Armed forces of Nigeria into the political arena. This is capable of setting the nation on fire.

“A close observation reveals that the Armed forces under Gen Lucky Irabor has subordinated itself to democratic tenets and will never align with anyone to draw the country backward.

“UAG is not here to defend anyone, or any of the political parties, but to advise politicians to allow the will of God prevail in the ongoing political process. They must learn how to give and take.

“From our observation, the military, already engaged in various operations aimed at restoration of peace, will continue to support the growth of our nascent democracy.

“Drawing them into the political arena is a disservice and must stop,” he added. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

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By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Defence Headquarters has dismissed as malicious propaganda, the report peddled by some unscrupulous elements of plot by some military officers to disrupt the forthcoming general elections.

The Acting Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, said this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

The defence spokesman added that the Armed Forces of Nigeria was dismayed that even politically exposed persons had denigrated themselves into joining the agents of destabilisation.

He said that the unscrupulous elements claimed that some military officers met with a Presidential candidate with the aim of disrupting the general elections and setting the country on fire.

According to him, the purveyors of the wicked and very malicious propaganda also indicated that a so-called Thursday meeting is plotting a Coup d’etat to establish unconstitutional order.

The Defence spokesman said those who made the false claims were agents of destabilisation and violence seeking to heighten tension in the polity and would be made to face the wrath of the law.

“It needs to be stated that the Armed Forces of Nigeria is a professional military that is loyal to the constitution of the Federal Republic and will never be part of any evil plot against our democracy.

“Besides, the Military remains apolitical and neutral in the current political process and will not engage in the alleged shenanigans.

“The Armed Forces of Nigeria will never be part of any ignoble plot to truncate our hard-earned democracy,” he said.

Gusau said the military high command would ensure that those who fabricated and spread the unfounded report were invited by appropriate law enforcement agencies to substantiate their claims.

“The general public is advised to disregard such information and go about their normal activities,” he added. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

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By Ifeanyi Olannye

Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta and Vice-Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has commiserated with the Delta Police Command and families of police officers killed by gunmen in Anambra.

The State Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, who briefed newsmen on the issue on Saturday in Asaba, said the officers were ambushed and killed around 1.30p.m on Friday on Ihiala-Orlu Road enroute Umuahia while on official duty.

He gave the names of the killed officers as  Inspectors Lucky Aleh; Celestine Nwadiokwu and Jude Obuh who were  attached to the Explosives Ordinance Disposal (EOD) Unit in Government House, Asaba.

He said the late officers would be greatly missed for their contributions to the peace and development of Delta.

Aniagwu described the unfortunate killing of the officers as barbaric and unacceptable in a country seeking to be united again for peace and development.

“We bring you the sad news of our very gallant officers who have helped us in maintaining peace in our state attached to the Explosives Ordinance Disposal EOD Unit in Government House, Asaba.

“The officers met their untimely death while they were proceeding as advanced team for the PDP National Campaign Rally in Abia.

“Unfortunately this particular team veered off from the convoy and took another route different from where the convoy was taking.

“They were ambushed along the Ihiala-Orlu Road enroute Umuahia by non-state actors who eventually killed three of them in police  uniform while the one on mufti escaped.

“We have recovered their corpse and we have also reached out to their families,” he said.

He said that some accounts of the unfortunate incident trending on social media was untrue.

He said that the state government delayed announcing their untimely death because efforts were being made to reach out to their families before making the announcement.

Aniagwu called on security agencies in the country to fish out the killers and bring them to book so that Nigerians can once again live peacefully in any part of the country.

“What is happening in parts of this country today, particularly in the South East, is not  healthy for our development as a country because the elections are very very close.

“The security we are asking for are not just for the purpose of the elections. It is also something that everybody wants. We should be able to have security at every given time; that way, we would have development.

“We must also plead with our brothers and sisters who may have taken guns on the account of what they see as agitation to know that the best way to help our people is to allow peace to reign,” he said.

According to him, that way, development will take place in the South East.

“Our people in the South East are very, very industrious, they are commerce oriented and have developed love for one another over the years.

“We will plead with these our brothers to allow this kind of love that permeated the atmosphere in the time past in the South East, to continue to pervade that environment.

“That way, they are able to ensure that government will bring development to them and also able to ensure that private sector investments would thrive,” he said.

According to him, it is unfortunate that these our gallant officers, just like many others have also lost their lives in the past, have lost their lives on account of the activities of individuals who describe themselves today as ‘unknown gunmen’.

“We are pleading with them to sheath their swords and begin to allow that love of which the people of the South East have been known for over the years, so that as a people, we will continue to coexist.

“We pray the good Lord Almighty to accept the souls of these our loved ones, three of them that have passed on due to no fault of theirs.

“We also pray that God gives their families the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss; even as we seek justice on their behalf, both as a government, as a state and as a people,” he said.

He asked their immediate families to take heart.

“Only God understands situations like this and we know that God will not allow them die in vain because it was in the course of duty and service to our dear country.

“But even if it was not in the course of duty, nobody deserves to die the way these brothers have been killed.

“As a government in Delta, we will be with their families in this their trying moments.

“We will also take steps to seek justice on their behalf by impressing it upon security agencies to take steps to unravel those who have caused  this pain that is in our heart today,” Aniagwu said.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

IO/AO/IAA

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Edited by Angela Okisor/Isaac Aregbesola

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Niger Delta Peace Advocate, a civil society group, has drummed support for the Interim Administrator, of Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), retired Maj.-Gen. Barry Ndiomu led Special Investigative Panel on Oil Theft/Losses in Nigeria.

The group made this known in a statement by its Chairman, Ebitimi Kurowei and the Publicity Secretary, Ekpe Ekere, on Friday in Abuja.

The National security Adviser (NSA), retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno, had in December 2022, inaugurated an 11-man special investigative panel to probe oil theft in the Niger Delta region chaired by Ndiomu.

The group condemned what it described as “media campaign of calumny and character assassination against the person and office of the Interim Administrator of PAP, by some faceless groups and individuals”.

According to them, ordinarily, silence would have been a sufficient response to the relentless yet futile attempts at discrediting Gen. Ndiomu and his good works at PAP.

“However, the barrage of attacks against the hardworking Interim Administrator have recently become more organised, intense and desperate, thus demanding a retort from well-meaning groups and individuals who truly understand how the PAP functions generally and how it presently functions under the leadership of Ndiomu.

“In one of the most recent installments of mischief makers’ hysterical attempt to discredit Ndiomu, a so-called group of Niger Delta elders, wrote a petition to NSA, whose office supervises the PAP, seeking the removal of Ndiomu as PAP Interim Administrator.

“The group cited distraction by his related role as chairman of the Special Investigative Panel on Oil Theft/Losses in Nigeria.

“Knowing what those distractors stand for and what their ultimate goal is, it is very easy to either dismiss their laughable and unfounded allegations against Ndiomu or tear them down by setting the record straight. And we have decided to do the latter,” it said.

The group said that when President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Ndiomu as the Interim Administrator of PAP in September 2022, it was with a task to wind down the programme due to the many controversies surrounding it.

It said that the Federal Government later had a rethink following some stakeholders intervention initiated by Ndiomu and allowed the programme to continue under strict conditions.

It commended Ndiomu for his leadership qualities, forthright assessment of the situation and courageous willingness to carry out needed reforms.

According to the group, one of those conditions leading to the decision to retain PAP was that its database, which was compromised over the years, had to be cleaned up.

The group added that the internal and external audits of PAP’s database in September 2022, uncovered monumental fraud in the payment of stipends, saying an individual was receiving stipends meant for 33 persons through fraudulent means in a particular case.

According to them, Ndiomu also initiated plans to renegotiate existing contracts with its vendors and ordered the immediate verification process of all delegates and was able to save over NI.5billion.

“As a well-meaning group, we recognise Ndiomu’s efforts to clean up the ex-agitators’ database.

“We are certain that, although his efforts at sanitising the PAP have generated disquiet in some quarters and are causing panic among those who want the status quo to be retained for their selfish interests, those with nothing to hide have nothing to worry about.

“We, therefore, completely support Ndiomu ‘s decision to only pay contractors whose works have been completed and verified.

“We strongly advise that, rather than sponsor propaganda in the media to manipulate Ndiomu, contractors should focus on ensuring that they have all evidence of completed work as a requirement for payment,” they added.

The group however, commended President Buhari for his insistence on transparency at all interventionist agencies in the Niger Delta and for finding Ndiomu worthy of the enormous task of re-assessing, redirecting and implementing a holistic review of the PAP.

“We also call on the NSA, Gen. Monguno to disregard and dismiss all petitions against Ndiomu and continue to effectively supervise the programme in line with the present administration’s policy on accountability.

“While we urge Ndiomu not to be distracted and assure him of the support of legitimate elders and people of the Niger Delta, we call on his detractors to work with him to enable Ndiomu to deliver on the much-needed reforms of the programme.

“The current state of agitation and rancour augurs ill for the image of the Niger Delta as a region and the peace-building component of the PAP.

“Finally, we are confident that Ndiomu can accomplish his tasks as chairman of the Special Investigative Panel on Oil Theft/Losses in Nigeria, as well as the Interim Administrator of PAP, given his track record in service,” they added. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

By Isaac Aregbesola

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has resolved to improve its collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) in areas of capacity building and advocacy to check tax fraud.

EFCC Spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, in a statement quoted the Commission’s Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, as making  the pledge in Abuja, when the CITN President, Chief Adesina Adedayo, paid him a courtesy visit.

Bawa urged CITN to set up a technical committee that would come up with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which would provide the blueprint for the collaboration between the institutions.

“We are open to work with you. Let us set up a technical committee that will come up with an MoU. I thank you for your proposal of collaboration and I am telling you here that we are willing to do that,” he said.

On the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering, SCUML, the EFCC boss stated that it was the future of anti-corruption and financial crimes enforcement in Nigeria.

“It is an avenue, where all the gate-keepers that are assisting public sector fraudsters and private sector fraudsters to launder their proceeds of crime are now obliged by law to submit those records for analysis and subsequent investigation where needed.

“Take a look at the real estate; take a look at the auto industry and dealers in precious stones. So, you can imagine a situation whereby it will be practically impossible to purchase a car without the law enforcement knowing, or own a house without us knowing the source of your income,” he said.

Bawa appealed to CITN as a critical stakeholder, to educate its members to be in compliance with the laws regulating the activities of SCUML.

“You can hardly think of any economic crime that is bigger than tax fraud. It is part of our civic responsibility to ensure that we are paying our taxes.

“I think the government has done tremendously well, the last time the Federal Inland Revenue Service was addressing a conference, they mentioned trillions of Naira that they have collected thus far in the last year,” he said.

Earlier, the CITN President said the visit to the EFCC was in furtherance of their objective to “continually establish and strengthen alliances with strategic stakeholders in the areas of collaboration, capacity building and advocacy.”

Adedayo said the Institute was ready to work with the EFCC  in identifying and dealing with vulnerabilities for tax fraud.

He appealed to the Commission to assist CITN to ensure the enforcement of the requirement of CITN certification for tax consultants seeking registration with SCUML.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

By Abbas Bamalli

Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State has constituted an 11-member Commission of Inquiry to investigate the recent killing of no fewer than 40 volunteers (Yan-Sakai) by terrorists.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that recently, over 40 volunteers were ambushed and killed by terrorists in Bakori and Kanakara Local Government Areas of the state.

The constitution of the commission was disclosed in a statement issued to newsmen on Friday in Katsina by the Director-General, New Media to the Governor, Malam Al-Amin Isa.

According to him, The commission was constituted by the governor in the exercise of powers conferred on him by the provision of section 5 (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

It was also done in compliance with Section (2) of the Commission of Inquiry Law CAP 29 Laws of Katsina State of Nigeria 1991 (as amended) and all the powers enabling him in that behalf.

Isa said: “He has constituted and appointed a Commission of Inquiry to be known as (The Bakori/Kankara LGAs Banditry Attacks and Killings Judicial Commission of Inquiry), with the terms of reference hereafter stated:

“The Commission shall with all convenient speed, inquire into, investigate, and determine the actual cause or causes of the recent banditry killings and attacks in Bakori and Kankara communities.

“Inquire into, investigate, and determine the actual lives and properties lost in the ambush and to ascertain the persons directly affected by the incident.”

Other terms of references, he mentioned were to identify groups and or individuals directly connected or involved in the disturbance and to ascertain the roles played by such groups or individuals in instigating, aiding, and or abetting the incident.

According to him, the commission should also make specific recommendations as to the appropriate action to be taken on those found to be responsible for the disturbances.

It will also suggest necessary assistance/aids to be required by the victims of the attack and families of the deceased.

Isa added: “And also, the commission is to make suggestions on lawful approaches to self-defense by citizens.

“Make general or specific recommendations on long and short term measures to forestall similar future occurrences of such incidents in the State.

“The Commission shall have full powers and authority to hold hearings in public and or incamera and to receive oral or written evidence as the case may be.

“The Executive Governor directs that any five members of the Commission, one of whom shall be the Chairman, shall constitute its quorum.

“The Commission shall hold its first meeting in Katsina on 13th Day of February 2023 and thereafter at such a place or places and upon such dates as the Chairman may determine.”

According to Isa, Justice A.B Abdullahi, the Judge of Katsina State High Court was appointed as the Chairman of the commission.

He pointed out that the commission was to submit its report to the Executive Governor in Katsina within three weeks after the date of inauguration or within such extended period as the Governor allows in writing. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani