EFCC arrest 4 INEC officials over illegal diversion of N84m

The Sokoto Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) has arrested four officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in the state for an alleged breach of trust and criminal diversion of Ad Hoc staff allowance to the tune of N84, 696,000.

The arrested suspects were: Hassan Sidi Aliyu Administrative Secretary, Hussain Jafar Head of Operations, Abdullahi Yusuf Abubakar State Accountant and Abdulmumin Usman all of the Independent National a Electoral Commission, (INEC) in Zamfara state.

The petitioner, one Abdullahi Nasiru, who wrote on behalf of all presiding officers that worked for INEC during the 2019 Presidential and Gubernatorial elections in Zamfara State, alleged that the Adhoc staff were denied payment of their N6,000 movement allowance each for the two elections.

He further alleged that what the Commission paid to them was different from what other states paid their Adhoc staff.

The Commission allegedly paid its staff the sum of N9,000 (Nine Thousand Naira) in Zamfara while other states like Sokoto State, the commission paid N12,000 (Twelve Thousand Naira ).

Investigation by the EFCC revealed that none of the 10,500 presiding officers who participated in the elections were paid their entitlements commutatively put at N84, 696,000 (Eighty Four Million, Six Hundred and Ninety Six Thousand Naira).

Effort is being made by the Commission to recover the money criminally diverted by the 3 INEC heads of department and Electoral Officers of the 14 Local governments in Zamfara State.

The suspects would be arraigned in court as soon as investigation is completed.

“I’m broken and in serious pain, i am taking a break” – Newly engaged Princess Shyngle deletes all IG posts

Not up to one month after reports made the rounds that she’s engaged, Gambian curvy actress Princess Shyngle has had fans wondering whether there’s trouble in paradise as she revealed she’s taking a break from Instagram because she’s “broken and in serious pain” and “needs time to heal“.

The actress announced her engagement about two weeks ago and only days ago, she filmed herself shopping with her fiancé behind the camera – she also revealed he was the one sponsoring the shopping spree.

But on Wednesday morning, October 2, the actress deleted every single post she ever put up on Instagram and put up one post to reveal shes taking a break to heal.

“I’m going through some real life issues right now,” she told her fans and asked them to pray for her.

Why we sealed off Gov Emmanuel’s church —Police

The Police in Akwa Ibom said they shut down the Quo Iboe Church on No.112, Ikot Ekpene Road, on Sunday, to prevent further clash among members.

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, is reported to be a worshipper in the parish.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Zaki Ahmed, said this while speaking with newsmen on Monday in Uyo.

Ahmed said there was clash among the worshippers on Sunday during which many worshippers sustained injuries.

He also said that the Police sealed off the church when information reached them that one of the factions in the dispute was coming to foment trouble that might result in breakdown of law and order.

An aide to Governor Emmanuel, who pleaded for anonymity, had confirmed the closure of the Church.

He said: “Yes, I saw something like that this morning [Sunday] when I was passing along Ikot-Ekpene road.

“I saw the Police gather in about three vans and worshippers in large numbers, he said.

Nigeriaireporter gathered that the Police arrived the church premises at about 6 a.m. and barricaded the entrance, preventing worshippers from entry.

Three suspected kidnappers burnt to death in Abuja

Angry Mob Monday morning burnt to death three suspected kidnappers at Dutse Alhaji area in Abuja, Nigerianireporter reports.

The suspects were three young men and a female victim, who has been rushed to Kubwa General Hospital for treatment.

At the scene of the incident, a Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) officer, Mr Aminu Umar, told Nigerianireporter that the incident happened at about 8:00a.m. when a lady inside moving vehicle was heard screaming for help.

“The lady was suddenly pushed out of the vehicle while screaming. A motorist, who saw what had happened, pulled over in front of the vehicle and blocked it under the Dutse Bridge.

“From there, Okada riders (motorcyclists) surrounded the vehicle and told them to come out.

“They asked them if the vehicle was one chance (kidnappers) and the next thing, they started beating them and eventually put fire on them and the vehicle,” he said.

Mr Sylvanus Ekpenyong, Route Commander, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) said that his men were alerted of the event by some people while on duty at Dutse.

“We were at Dutse junction and we got information that there was traffic building up before the Dutse Bridge because a vehicle was on fire.

We rushed down there to clear the road only to see three dead burnt bodies and a burnt vehicle.

“When we made inquiries from eye witnesses, they said it was one chance (kidnappers).

“So we are here to ensure free traffic flow of vehicles but we don’t know the exact group of people who burnt them,” he said.

An eye witness who is also a motorcyclist, Mr Aliyu Mohammed said that angry motorcyclists attacked and burnt the suspects because it was obvious they were kidnappers as described by the victim.

Mohammed said that it was the normal tactics of kidnappers operating in Abuja to push victims out of their moving vehicle after carrying out their illegal act.

He, however, said that the incident of today would serve as a warning to all those involved in such activities within the territory.

Nigeriaireporter also reports that security agents were on ground to ensure the bodies of the suspects were evacuated to a nearby mortuary as they ensured peace and free flow of vehicles in the area.

Borno Govt releases N824.5 million to pay gratuity of 1,000 retirees

The Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, on Sunday approved the release of N825 million to clear 50 per cent of arrears of gratuities to 1000 retired civil servants, a government statement said.

The approval is the second of such payments to retirees since the state government and workers’ union agreed to a piecemeal payment of the backlog of gratuities.

The governor’s spokesperson, Isa Gusau, said in a statement that the latest approval targets payment of gratuities to the second group of “1,000 former civil servants who retired at intermediate ranks between 2013 to date.‎

Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum

“This is coming two months after the governor had in July 2019 released gratuities to the first batch of 1,684 low ranking ex-workers that retired from 2013 to June 2019.”

He said the fund had already been transferred to various bank accounts provided by each of the 1,000 retirees.

“As directed by the Governor, this payment, to continue steadily, covers 50% of each of the 1,000 retired worker’s entire gratuity. The balance of 50% will surely be paid in another phase.”

He said the list of those paid will be made public this week. He advised any of them unable to confirm payment to file a complaint through the union of pensioners in the state to the office of the head of the service, which coordinates the payments.

Mr. Gusau said, “with the negotiated modality of payment, gratuities of retired workers, which had accumulated, will eventually be cleared.”

He said, however, that payments of monthly pensions to the retired workers in Borno State have largely been regular in the last eight years.

“Both gratuity and pensions are government-controlled schemes meant to serve as livelihoods for salaried employees after their retirement. Gratuity is an end of service lump sum employers are expected to pay retirees or their dependents s as gratitude for many years of a lifetime put into work. Pension, on the other hand, is fixed contributory sum paid monthly to retired workers in place of salaries they were used to getting, ” Mr. Gusau takes the pain to explain.

‎”In August 2019, ‎Governor Zulum had approved the payment of 2018 outstanding leave grants to‎ 9,898 workers in the state; also approved payment of gratuities to families of 185 deceased pensioners and granted compassionate releases to families of 236 pensioners who also passed on.”

Before Governor Zulum assumed office on May 29, the labor union said Borno State government owed retired workers and serving civil servants gratuity and arrears of unpaid leave grants in excess of N20 billion.

EFCC re-arrest Nigerian senator for alleged N3.1bn fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, re-arraigned former Governor of Benue, Gabriel Suswam, on a nine-count charge bordering on money laundering at the Federal High Court Abuja.

Mr Suswam, a serving senator, was re-arraigned before Justice Okon Abang alongside Omadachi Oklobia who was the Commissioner of Finance in Benue when he was governor.

The two men pleaded not guilty to all charges and were granted bail based on terms earlier granted by Justice Ahmed Mohammed after they were arraigned before him in 2015.

Justice Abang asked counsel in the matter to cooperate with the court warning that he would not entertain any frivolous applications for adjournment.

Mr Abang took over the trial of Mr Suswam, following the withdrawal of Justice Mohammed from the trial.

Mr Mohammed had cited a publication by Sahara Reporters which accused him of having been compromised to give Mr Suswam a soft landing as his reason to withdraw from the case.

Mr Suswam had challenged the jurisdiction of the court presided over by Justice Abang to handle the matter.

His counsel, Chinelo Ugbozor, had argued on his behalf that the matter had already commenced in another court and four witnesses had been called.

However, counsel to the EFCC, O.A Atolagbe, maintained that a judge could not be compelled to handle a matter.

Mr Atolagbe reminded the court that since it was the second time Justice Mohammed was withdrawing from the case, he could not be compelled to hear it.

The EFCC is prosecuting Messrs Suswam and Oklobia on nine counts of money laundering bordering on the alleged diversion of N3.1 billion from the proceeds of the sale of shares owned by the Benue government since 2015.

The matter has been adjourned until October 29, 30 and 31.

FSARS officer faces disciplinary panel for indecent dressing

Inspector Michael Olubode

The Police inspector faces internal disciplinary procedure for being inappropriately dressed while on duty.

The Nigerian Police Force has announced that a member of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) is under investigation for inappropriate dressing.

A picture of Michael Olubode, an inspector, dressed in a sleeveless undershirt and an official FSARS jacket trended on Twitter last week for the wrong reasons.

Many Nigerians on social media criticised his appearance and likened it to that of armed robbers and other criminals he's supposed to protect citizens against.

In a short statement on Monday, September 30, 2019, the Police Force said he's already facing internal disciplinary procedure for being inappropriately dressed while on duty.

Many SARS officers have faced the ire of the Nigerian public for how they dress on duty, and more importantly, their conduct with citizens.

This weekend, a software developer, Toni Astro, alleged that he was arrested and beaten by some FSARS officers who wrongly accused him of being an internet fraudster.

He was only released after he was forced to withdraw money from his bank account and pay for his freedom. Four officers have been arrested in connection to the incident.

His allegation led to a resurgence in the criticism of the police unit which has been notorious for the past couple of years for several misconducts including harassment, extortion and, sometimes, extra-judicial murder of innocent Nigerians. 

Since the outcry against FSARS commenced in 2017, the unit has been reorganised three different times, with the last reorganisation this year rolling back on the one earlier enforced in 2018.

The Senate also passed a Police Reform Bill in April, but it was rejected by the House of Representatives which noted that some of the reforms were in violation of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).