Articles by "PUNISHMENT"
2015: Obasanjo’s plot against Jonathan
The lingering feud between President Goodluck Jonathan and his estranged godfather, former President Olusegun Obasanjo may have taken an irretrievable dive for the worst, Sunday Sun learnt over the weekend. The misunderstanding, which began soon after the election of Jonathan in 2011, and gradually built up has emphatically positioned Obasanjo as the rallying point of the opposition.
The rift has been largely attributed to alleged sidelining of Obasanjo in the affairs of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the government. But
pro government sources insisted it was the inability of the former president to dictate the tone of Jonathan’s government, control, and ultimately draft in another protégé to take over from him in 2015 that nurtured and sustained it. To show his disenchantment with the scheme of things, Obasanjo resigned his chairmanship of the party’s Board of Trustees (BOT) in 2012, and has since then openly aligned with opponents of Jonathan’s administration. His associates within the party especially in the three geo-political zones of the North have since teamed up with him leading to
Large scale defections from the party to the budding All Progressives Congress (APC).Although the former president is yet to join the APC, there are clear indications that he may likely do that as soon as some conditions before the party were met. The prime condition is to be given the capacity to influence the selection of the presidential candidate of the party, while the candidate in turn picks his running mate, unfettered. The leadership of the APC, at the moment is not settled on the demand especially as it would obfuscate the vision and streamlined objective of wresting power from the PDP.
The leadership hierarchy is also wary of the impact it would have on the collective leadership arrangement presently in place and ipso factor whittle down the influence of notable leaders who envisioned and founded the parties and the merger arrangements. Although Obasanjo’s romance with the top-echelon of the party is deepening with each passing moment, the body language of the leaders is yet to indicate he would be given that latitude. Although the APC is desperate to clinch power next year, it is a bit careful not to go into crises before its convention, especially when so many political heavyweights are jockeying to fly the party’s banner.
A party source confided in Sunday Sun that, “The matter has never been brought up formally at any meeting of any organ of the party.”
The source, however, acknowledged the demand, but described it as “mere rumour.” As the battle to remove the obstacles in the APC before the former president rages, there are indications that Jonathan’s planned declaration to run for president in April may prove to be the oyster. In a bid to stop Jonathan from what he considers an impossible mission, Obasanjo has accelerated moves to railroad influential political and ex-military heavyweights in the North into his project.
The swansong on his lips is that Jonathan’s re-en-try into the race would heat up ethno religious passions and lead to the disintegration of the country. He insists the presidential slot should go to the North, and to demonstrate his sincerity, he says he would give a free hand to them to pick someone “who is good for the job.”Obasanjo’s plot, however, wobbled when the Presidency quickly moved to counter it. The counter move led to the cessation of hostilities against Jonathan from a good number of the northern leaders including former military leaders, Gen Ibrahim Babangida (retd), Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd), and the Chairman of the Northern Governors
Forum, Babangida Aliyu. Indeed, the rapprochement necessitated the recent reshuffle in the Federal cabinet with each of them having nominees amongst the incoming ministers. Unfazed about the development, Obasanjo is trudging on with an iron cast determination to frustrate Jonathan’s re-election bid. Part of his new plan is to accentuate criticisms of the government of Jonathan, throw up the warts and engender anti-Jonathan sentiment across the nation. Upon Jonathan’s formal declaration, he will most likely dump the PDP and lead the presidential campaign of the APC, especially in the South-west and North where the party has its stronghold. An aide to the president told Sunday Sun that government has been aware of the plot.
He said; “It is not new. It began when the Secretary to the Government of the Federation was to be appointed. He was in far-away China and he insisted the appointment must wait until he returned. There is nothing in his new offensive.” Sunday Sun learnt that the North, which Obasanjo is banking on to stop Jonathan, has been infiltrated by Jonathan elements, and may not likely vote enbloc. While some Northern leaders prefer to remain passive and watch the unfolding events, others are singing different tunes. This has greatly reduced apprehension in the camp of Jonathan as he prepares to recontest.
EFCC Arrests Barrister Ayodele Owoka For Attempting To Bribe Operatives
Barr. Owoka
by: niyi
A legal practitioner, Barrister Ayodele Owoka has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over allegations of bribery.
Owoka, 47, was arrested on Thursday, February 27, 2014 at the Commission’s office in Ikoyi, Lagos as he attempted to bribe a team of operatives investigating a case of contract inflation, abuse of office, stealing, embezzlement and misappropriation of funds at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State.
Upon his arrest, the suspect confessed that he offered the operatives N1.2 Million which was allegedly given to him by the Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. O. A. Omotosho, to bribe the team to soft pedal on their investigations.
Ayodele confessed that Omotosho gave him a total sum of N1.5 Million but that he kept N300,000 for his personal use and offered the operatives the balance of N1.2Million as bribe.
Confirming the arrest, EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren said that the suspect would soon be arraigned.
Yoruba crime and what they cost the Zoological justice system ::|:: Arowolo: Long walk to justice
by Arukaino Umukoro
Titilayo and Akolade and Arowolos’ residence where the murder took place
Following the sentencing of Akolade Arowolo for killing his banker wife, ARUKAINO UMUKORO visited their former residence and family
IT took almost six hours of an autopsy, which was covered in a 17-page report, the evidence of over 20 witnesses, over 20 court appearances, 32 months, and a two-and-a-half hour judgment to unravel the mystery behind the death of a banker, Titilayo Arowolo (nee Oyakhire).
The autopsy report summarised the cause of death as “multiple thoraco-abdominal injuries and multiple sharp and blunt force trauma.”
On Friday, February 21, a Lagos High Court in Ikeja sentenced to death by hanging 32-year-old Akolade Arowolo for the murder of his wife, Titilayo, who he repeatedly stabbed to death at their residence at No. 8, Akindehinde Street, Isolo, Lagos, on June 24, 2011.
Akolade was arraigned for murder on December 21, 2011.
When our correspondent visited the Isolo residence of the Arowolos on Thursday, it was quiet.
“My heart goes out to their little daughter. If they kill him, who would be left to take care of the daughter?” one of the neighbours, who pleaded anonymity, queried.
Another neighbour, who also pleaded not to be named, said he was surprised that Akolade carried out such dastardly act, adding that he never imagined such a thing would happen.
“He liked to socialise sometimes. So, he might have been under the influence of something to have committed such an act. It was unexpected,” the neighbour said.
Another tenant was said to have moved into the Arowolos’ former apartment a few months ago. However, he was not available for comments.
People in the neighbourhood were also not willing to talk about the incident.
It was difficult to convince witnesses to take the stand in the case because of the way society views such cases, said Mr. Nelson Ekoh, lawyer of the deceased’s family.
He said, “Nobody wants to be involved, not knowing that the same thing can happen to someone close to them. In that case, who would come out as witnesses for them?”
Wearied from the emotional toil the case had taken on him, including the media scrutiny on his family during the over two-year trial, Mr. George Oyakhire, the father of the deceased, said he did not want to say anything further than what he had already said about the case. For him and his family, they had borne the pain for too long in the public. It seemed like, after the sentencing, it was a time for them to grieve privately.
A week ago, he told The PUNCH that he would not rejoice over the death penalty handed to his son-in-law. “The Bible says that you should not rejoice at the downfall of your enemy. I feel bad about all this because this was a boy I assisted in every way I could. He even said when giving evidence in court that we were close and this is very true. I assisted him when he needed me and even though he was jobless; my daughter (Titilayo) also helped him.
“I am happy the judge berated Akolade’s parents for telling lies in court. They even claimed that she committed suicide. I am happy that my daughter has been vindicated. I have also been vindicated because I told the whole truth in court. I leave everything to God,” he said while quoting from the scriptures.
The clincher to Akolade’s sentencing was the testimony of the forensic pathologist, Prof. John Obafunwa, who testified that there were at least 76 stab wounds found on the deceased’s body. During the ruling, Justice Lateefat Okunnu said, “All these injuries could not have been self-inflicted. Even if you try to injure yourself to that extent, at a point you would have dropped the knife.”
However, Olanrewaju Ajanaju, Akolade’s lawyer, stated that the defence counsel may explore other options.
He said, “In a matter like this, the court that ruled is a court of first instance. All we need do is look at the judgment very well. If there is going to be any reaction from us, you would get to know. I don’t think there is any need for us to pre-empt whatever we want to do. If we can explore other avenues, why would we neglect to do that? You heard the pronouncement. If you were in my shoes, would you leave it like that?”
Despite the conviction, there is no closure for the Oyakhire family yet as it would take a while before life returns to normal for them, noted Ekoh. “You can never close anything that has to do with murder. For one, they (Akolade and Titilayo) had a child together and seeing that child would always remind one of what the mother went through,” he said.
Ekoh also claimed that the police may have bungled the case were it not for the incontrovertible evidence.
He said, “There were attempts to bungle the investigations at the start. For example, we gave the police Akolade’s three phones that were recovered from the crime scene and asked for the call logs. They couldn’t produce it. We wrote the Ministry of Justice. The photo at the crime scene got to the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions a day to the trial and they were incomplete. At a time, we had to rely on the pictures taken by private photographer I took to the crime scene.
“Also, at the crime scene, two blood stained knives were discovered and a hammer. One of the knives was stuck to the deceased. But when the pathologist called for the killer weapon when they took the corpse to the morgue, they only gave him one knife. But there were two knives involved, one with a regular straight blade, the other with jagged edges, and a hammer. In a report, the pathologist said a blunt object was used.”
However, the Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Police Command, Ngozi Braide, told SUNDAY PUNCH that she could not confirm Ekoh’s claim. She also noted that the investigators that worked on the case in the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba, had either retired or been reposted. Braide added that the case had been decided by a high court already.
“It was clear, we investigated, charged him and he was convicted. I don’t want to comment further on this matter. The case has been decided by the court.”
She noted that the sentencing showed that the police was working. “Most times people are not patient with us. But we are always for justice, no matter how long it takes, justice would be done,” she said.
Akolade and Titilayo Arowolo got married in 2008 and the marriage was blessed with a daughter, Olamide. But the marriage was fraught with problems ranging from accusations of alleged infidelity to domestic violence. Titilayo, who was an employee of Skye Bank, Marina, was said to have moved out of her husband’s house on several occasions due to their many disagreements before the fatal incident on June 24, 2011.
That incident has since left two families broken and a five-year-old daughter, Olamide, who would not grow up knowing her biological parents. Oyakhire said Olamide was too young to be told the truth about her parents and that she was doing fine.
He said, “She is just about five years old and cannot be told of what has happened. However, when she is mature and begins to ask questions, we will tell her everything that happened.”
Deputy Director in the Anambra State Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs. Sabina Izuora, has been arrested for alleged child trafficking.
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| Mrs Bassey Gabriel (left) and Mrs Izuora with the babies in Awka ...yesterday |
Also being held is the proprietress of the Umunna Motherless Babies’ Home in Onitsha South Local Government.
She was arrested with another suspect, Mrs. Bassey Gabriel, from Calabar in Cross River State, following the discovery of a three-day-old and a three-month-old babies in their possession.
Police spokesman Emeka Chukwuemeka told reporters yesterday in Awka that the police were tipped off by terminus workers in Onitsha.
The Nation learnt that Mrs. Izuora had been in the business for sometime. Although she claimed she had done it only once.
One of the babies at the home has been missing since December. He is yet to be found.
The third suspect, Nkolo Anthony, is a sister to Mrs. Gabriel’s sister.
Mrs. Izuora told The Nation that she paid N150,000 to the facilitator of the babies in Calabar, who also works in the Cross River State Ministry of Women Affairs.
Cynthia Osokogu’s murder: Defendants had it all planned – Witness tells court
A prosecution witness on Thursday told a Lagos High Court at Igbosere, that the alleged murderers of face book lover, Cynthia Osokogu, had it all planned, a few days before she was killed.
The prosecution witness, Joseph Edo, told the court how Olisaeloka Ezike (second defendant), went to Agboju Market at the instance of Okumo Nwabufo (first defendant) and purchased a chain and a cellotape, which they used in ‘killing’ Cynthia.
Led in Evidence by the state Attorney-General, Ade Ipaye, Edo told the court: “it is the defendants’ stock-in-trade to invite women to hotels, drug and rape them.’’
He told the court which was presided over by Justice Olabisi Akinlade, that Okumo and Ezike had it in mind to kill Cynthia on her arrival in Lagos.
“From my investigation, I discovered that the first defendant sent the second defendant to Agboju Market to buy the instruments they used for the operation, a few days before Cynthia was killed.
“The second defendant (Ezike), after getting the items and while still at the market, used his phone to snap them and forwarded the picture to the first defendant (Nwabufo).
“He equally sent Nwabufo a text message from his phone asking if this was the chain and cellotape you asked me to buy.
“Nwabufo replied Ezike that it will be okay for the job, the messages are all in their phones,’’ Edo said.
The witness also told the court that he discovered that the third defendant, Orji Osita, who is a pharmacist, aided the primary suspects to commit the crime by supplying them the Rohypnol used in subduing the deceased, before they carried out the killing.
He said the fourth defendant, Nonso Ezike, dishonestly received Cynthia’s Blackberry cell phone from his elder brother, who is the second defendant.
“It was discovered that it was not the first phone he (Nonso) bought from the second defendant and he has knowledge of the first and second defendants stock-in-trade.
“They specialise in bringing ladies into hotel rooms, enticing them with one or two things and then rape them,’’ Edo said.
Earlier, Justice Akinlade admitted in evidence the confessional statements and video evidence made at the Festac Police Station on Aug. 20, 2012 by Nwabufo and Ezike, admitting the murder.
In a ruling delivered on the admissibility of the statements made by the first and second defendants, after they alleged that their statements were gotten under duress, Justice Akinlade held that their allegations before the court were concocted as there was no evidence to buttress their claims.
Akinlade added that from her examination of the confessional statements, the handwritings of the defendant did not show they were under torture to write them.
“The defendants were questioned in an open place and were also asked by the Area Commander if they made their statements voluntarily, which they attested in the affirmative.
“Moreover, from the video evidence, the defendants looked well and untortured.
“It was when the Area Commander realised their narration was the same that he requested for a cameraman to video them,” she said.
She added that the prosecution had proven its case in the trial-within-trial to determine the admissibility of the confessional statements made by the first and second defendants.
“I hereby admit the confessional statements and video evidence made by the defendants and tendered by the prosecution as exhibits’’ Akinlade held.
Akinlade adjourned the case till March 13, for continuation of trial. (NAN)
Bayelsa, Delta communities give oil firm 7-days ultimatum over spill
WARRI—IJAW communities at Agge, along River Ramos, between Ekeremo in Bayelsa State and Bururtu in Delta State, have issued a seven –day ultimatum to a Delta State-based oil servicing firm, within which to send relief materials, medications and pay adequate compensation to victims of oil spill that occurred last December.
The spill occurred when a barge allegedly carrying about 4,000 litres of crude oil sank in the river, polluting the environment, damaging fishing gears and causing death of aquatic lives and posing health hazard to the communities.
The barge is said to belong to Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production based at Okpai in Ndokwa axis of Delta State.
A Joint Investigation Visit, JIV, by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, led by the Warri Zonal Office Director, Mr. Akindele, met with representatives of the communities to assess the damage and recommended adequate compensation.
A community representative, Mr. Mitchell Suwa, applauded NOSDRA for its prompt action, saying “now we know that they are working.”
Yobe massacre: Names of students who lost their lives
43 students were killed. Hostels, classrooms and more than 40 houses were burnt during the attack.
The attackers reportedly hurled explosives into student hostels, sprayed gunfire into rooms and hacked some students to death. Others were burned alive.
Adamu Garba, who teaches at a secondary school attached to the college, said the attackers first set ablaze the college administrative block and then moved to the hostels, where they locked students in and started firebombing the buildings.
At one hostel, he said, “students were trying to climb out of the windows and they were slaughtered like sheep by the terrorists who slit their throats. Others who ran were gunned down”. He said students who could not escape were burned alive.
Many of the students are still unaccounted for. Below are the names of 24 students confirmed dead.
Sale Mamiski, Musa Muhammad, Sani A. Audu, Usman Faltu, Garba Jibo, Hussani Mari, Mailam Ali, Goni Ali Babamai, Ali Ayuba, Peter John, Abba Mohammed, Aliyu Yala, Abba Adam, Hamidu Bala, Suleiman Lawan Guji, Abbas Ibrahim, Inusa Ali, Rukaya Gaji, Usman Saleh Idris, Auwal Adam, Usman Abba Kaku, Musa Yalti Buba, Sadisu Dauda, Aisha Audu Goni
N1bn Fraud Charge: Ajudua To Know Fate On March 3
An Ikeja High Court on Thursday fixed March 3 for its ruling on an application filed by Fred Ajudua.
Ajudua, in the application, is asking the court to quash the N1 billion fraud charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye fixed the date after hearing arguments from both the EFCC and Ajudua’s counsel on whether the charge should be dismissed.
Ajudua is being prosecuted for defrauding a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi, of about $5.9 million (about N1 billion).
Moving the preliminary notice of objection, Ajudua’s counsel, Mr Olalekan Ojo, said the 14-count charge against his client was made under a repealed law.
Ojo said the defendant was charged under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act of 1995 as amended by Act No.62 of 1999.
“It is my submission that a charge made under a repealed law is fundamentally defective and liable to be quashed.
“There is no legally convincing charge before Your Lordship that will allow the court to exercise any form of jurisdiction on this matter,’’ he said.
Ojo said that Bamaiyi, in his petition to the EFCC, had disclosed self-confession to various crimes including conspiracy, aiding and abetting, money laundering and corrupting of public officers.
“As a court with zero tolerance for illegality and corruption, Your Lordship has the inherent power to refer this admitted violation of the money laundering legislation to the appropriate authorities for investigation and possible prosecution,’’ he said.
Responding, the EFCC’s counsel, Mr Seidu Atteh, urged the court to dismiss the application and ask Ajudua to take his plea.
Atteh argued that Section 6 of the Interpretation Act conferred validity on the charge against the defendant.
He said: “Substantive Law is governed by the law in force as at the time the offence was committed.
“The repeal of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act of 1995 as amended by Act No.62 of 1999 does not affect the offence that was committed then.’’
In the charge, the EFCC accused Ajudua of conspiring with others (now at large) to perpetrate the fraud between November 2004 and June 2005.
According to the EFCC, the defendant defrauded Bamaiyi while they were remanded at the Kirikiri Prison in Lagos.
The commission said Ajudua obtained the money from Bamaiyi, claiming that it represented the professional fees charged by Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), to handle his case.
Ajudua was also alleged to have claimed that the money would help to facilitate Bamaiyi’s release from prison. (NAN)
Ajudua, in the application, is asking the court to quash the N1 billion fraud charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye fixed the date after hearing arguments from both the EFCC and Ajudua’s counsel on whether the charge should be dismissed.
Ajudua is being prosecuted for defrauding a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi, of about $5.9 million (about N1 billion).
Moving the preliminary notice of objection, Ajudua’s counsel, Mr Olalekan Ojo, said the 14-count charge against his client was made under a repealed law.
Ojo said the defendant was charged under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act of 1995 as amended by Act No.62 of 1999.
“It is my submission that a charge made under a repealed law is fundamentally defective and liable to be quashed.
“There is no legally convincing charge before Your Lordship that will allow the court to exercise any form of jurisdiction on this matter,’’ he said.
Ojo said that Bamaiyi, in his petition to the EFCC, had disclosed self-confession to various crimes including conspiracy, aiding and abetting, money laundering and corrupting of public officers.
“As a court with zero tolerance for illegality and corruption, Your Lordship has the inherent power to refer this admitted violation of the money laundering legislation to the appropriate authorities for investigation and possible prosecution,’’ he said.
Responding, the EFCC’s counsel, Mr Seidu Atteh, urged the court to dismiss the application and ask Ajudua to take his plea.
Atteh argued that Section 6 of the Interpretation Act conferred validity on the charge against the defendant.
He said: “Substantive Law is governed by the law in force as at the time the offence was committed.
“The repeal of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act of 1995 as amended by Act No.62 of 1999 does not affect the offence that was committed then.’’
In the charge, the EFCC accused Ajudua of conspiring with others (now at large) to perpetrate the fraud between November 2004 and June 2005.
According to the EFCC, the defendant defrauded Bamaiyi while they were remanded at the Kirikiri Prison in Lagos.
The commission said Ajudua obtained the money from Bamaiyi, claiming that it represented the professional fees charged by Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), to handle his case.
Ajudua was also alleged to have claimed that the money would help to facilitate Bamaiyi’s release from prison. (NAN)
While T.A Orji is busy chasing Senate seat that will never happen, hoodlums are active kidnapping two market women and baby in Abia.
by GEORGE OPARA Gunmen and Kidnappers appear to be on the prowl again in Abia State as they have kidnapped two market women and a six-month old baby boy.
They perpetrated their nefarious act by feigning to be operators of taxi cabs and motorcyclists Aba, the commercial nucleus of the state, and Umuahia, the state capital.
Yesterday, two women travelling to Uzuakoli market in Bende Local Government Area of the state were kidnapped and taken to an unknown destination.
Their families are now in agony, misery and guessing where the destination was.
One of the women, simply identified as Mrs. Nkechi, was said to be a nursing mother of an eightmonth old baby.
She trades in garri and other allied food stuff and was going to the local market for stock, not knowing she was to be a victim of kidnappers posing as motorists.
Reliable sources disclosed that though the women live in Umuahia, they hailed from Ebonyi State.
Eyewitness accounts disclosed that the kidnap suspects were seen speeding towards the Umuahia/ Aba/Enugu expressway after their operation.
Also, on Monday, some gunmen reportedly abducted a six- month old baby boy at Amapu Umuaja village in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of Abia State.
It was gathered that at about 9.30pm on the day of the incident when most villagers had gone to bed, two gunmen on a motorcycle stormed the compound of the victim’s parents, broke into their house and forcefully snatched the baby from his mother, Mrs. Peace Chikezie.
The whereabouts of the baby is unknown.
After snatching the baby from the mother, the gunmen reportedly fled, and in an apparent move to stop the woman from alerting other villagers, they forcefully collected her mobile phone.
It was after the hoodlums had fled with the baby that the mother raised the alarm and a search team was set to comb the entire neighbourhood to see if the marauders could be apprehended, but all to no avail.
Nobody in the area was able to adduce reason for the baby’s abduction, but there was a general belief that ritual for money making could be the motivating factor.
Some villagers who spoke to our correspondent described the incident as barbaric and satanic, stressing that this was the first time such would be happening in the community.
Abia State Police Public Relations Officer, Geoffrey Ogbonna, could not be a reached as at the time of filing this report.
However, a senior police officer who would not want his name in print confirmed the incident. He said the matter had been reported at the Umuoba Divisional Police Headquarters for proper investigation, adding that police were already on top of the matter to recover the child and also apprehend the hoodlums.
Video: CBN Governor’s removal: Lagos Chamber of Commerce DG faults action
Director General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Muda Yusuf gives his opinion on the suspension of CBN Governor, sanusi Lamido. He says the action of the president could create serious troubles for the economy and that the government faces an uphill task to convince people the action was not politically motivated
Trailer crushes police officer to death
The police officer died on the spot
A mobile policeman in uniform was on Wednesday crushed to death by a trailer at the gate of the main branch of First Bank,
near Bichi road, in Jos.
Witnesses say the police officer died on the spot as the vehicle smashed part of his head.
The trailer was coming from the Plateau State House is Assembly.
A witness, Ladi Emmanuel, told PREMIUM TIMES that the police officer was on a motorcycle going to his place of assignment.
Sources say that the victim attempted to overtake the trailer at a bend.
The victim was immediately rushed to the Plateau State specialist hospital but was confirmed dead on arrival.
The driver of the vehicle was arrested by the police and taken away from the scene for further interrogation.
The incident created vehicular traffic within the area, which houses several major business including the Jos branch of the Central Bank.
Meanwhile, colleagues of the victims who were on duty within the vicinity molested other road users.
The Plateau State government had in early 2012 banned the use of motorcycles within Jos metropolis.
However, some uniformed officials, including the police and security officers in charge of enforcing the ban, have continued to defy the directive, riding their motorcycles in the prohibited areas.
UK soldier’s killers bag life, 45-year jail terms
by Al-Jazeera
A man convicted of murdering the British soldier Lee Rigby in a street in London is to spend the rest of his life behind bars, while his fellow killer was jailed for a minimum of 45 years.
Michael Adebolajo, 29, was handed a full life sentence on Wednesday, while Michael Adebowale, 22, his accomplice, received a minimum term of 45 years.
The defendants were found guilty of Rigby’s murder on December 19, but their sentencing was delayed because the judge wanted to wait for clarification about Britain’s position on life sentences.
The country’s Court of Appeal last week said domestic laws on whole-life prison sentences were compatible with European human rights laws, even though the European Union disagrees.
Adebolajo and Adebowale deliberately hit Rigby with a car, stabbed him multiple times and tried to cut his head off in broad daylight outside an army base in the London suburb of Woolwich last May.
Jurors on the case watched mobile phone footage of Adebolajo with his hands covered in blood, attributing the attack to “an eye for an eye”, in a video taken from the attack in May of 2013.
They also saw a video of Adebolajo’s police interview, during which he said, “between us we decided that the soldier is the most fair target because he joins the army with kind of the understanding that your life is at risk when you join the army. So we sat in wait and it just so happened that he was the soldier that we spotted first.”
Adebolajo was detained by Kenyan police in Mombasa before being deported to the UK in 2010. He was accused of seeking training with the al-Qaeda-linked group al-Shabab in Somalia.
Rigby’s family attended the court for Wednesday’s sentencing.
A small group of protesters from the group the English Defence League scuffled with police outside.
Michael Okolin, a Policeman attacks wife of 18 years with a cutlass over missing N70, 000 By Wale Odunsi.
Vanguard reports that the incident happened at their home, 4, Abukareem Close, Afromedia Estate, Lagos State.
Narrating the incident, the Delta-state born Okoli said he kept the N70,000 at home before he went to work only to find out upon his return that the money was no longer there.
He said when he asked Felicia about the money, she was rude and started abusing him, asking him whether he was sure he kept any money at home at all.
Okoli, an elder in a Celestial Church of Christ parish at Afromedia and a spy policeman, said he did not know what came over him while carrying out the attack.
Nearby residents say, it was not the first time Okoli was attacking his wife, Felicia with cutlass. He admitted he cut off one of Felicia’s fingers during a quarrel before the current incident.
The couple got married 18 years ago and are blessed with four children, two boys and two girls, the eldest being 17.
[HORRID, HOSTAGES & MODERN SLAVERY], Okorocha has gone too far. He has turned to pressuring Imo married women into serving as political prostitutes. God knows what next now that even married women are forced to support Islamization of Imo state people. ::|:: Imo APC women use their brooms to sweep foot-prints of PDP out of Dan Anyiam stadium.
We just got this report from the Government House, Owerri. It Is Not Funny but true!
See pictures
As early as 7.00a.m. on Monday, February 24, 2014, thousands of Imo women stormed the streets of Owerri to protest against the PDP and its leaders over the provocative statements they had made during their party’s rally last weekend, with the women saying that the PDP leaders had come to provoke Imo people.
The women who were chanting war songs with their brooms also went to the Dan Anyiam Stadium where the PDP rally was held and swept the stadium claiming that they had swept away the foot-prints of the PDP leaders and members who were there last weekend.
As they swept the stadium, they were heaping curses on the PDP accusing the party of mismanaging the resources of the state for 12 years, and with nothing to show for it.
From the stadium, the women marched along the major streets of Owerri including wetheral, Okigwe and Mbaise roads. But before leaving the stadium, the leader of the women, Chief Mrs. Josephine Udorji said the PDP leaders came to remind Imo people about the scars they left on their bodies when they governed the state for 12 years, expressing surprise that the president could attend such a rally to receive those who have no electoral value again.
Other women leaders, who addressed the crowd included Mrs. Getrude Oduka and Mrs. Tina Adike and they said that they allowed the PDP rally to hold because the president came, and said that they would not allow such again.
The women also marched to the Government House to register their solidarity to the Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha where, Chief Uche Nwosu, the Honourable Commissioner of Lands and Urban Development addressed them and told them that Imo people know who is who and would speak loudly and clearly in 2015. He thanked the women for their unflinching support.
Jane Amucha
for: SSA, Media
Boko Haram: Don’t Blame Shettima, Borno Students Tell President Jonathan
BEVERLY HILLS, February 25, (THEWILL) - Borno State Students, under the umbrella of the National Union of Borno State Students (NUBOSS), Tuesday called on President Goodluck Jonathan to stop blaming the state governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, for the escalation of the Boko Haram insurgency in the state.
Calling on the President to pay a visit to the state in order to appreciate what the people are going through, the students said
the president would only understand the frustration of Governor Shettima “if he pays a visit to Bama, Gwoza, Konduga or any other parts of the state where the insurgents have wreaked wanton havoc.”
Making the call at a media briefing in Maiduguri, the state capital, the National Chairman of NUBOSS. Comrade Isah Mohammed Biu, said though President Jonathan has denied the rumour of a plan to replace Shettima with a military administrator, there won’t be such call in the first instance President Jonathan had visited the affected parts of the state.
The students therefore said the Federal Government, rather than Governor Shettima, should take responsibility for the escalation of the crisis, saying with the declaration of emergency rule in the state, “ the security of the state automatically shifted to the Federal Government.”
Butcher Charged With Child Rape
He is alleged to have defiled his customer's child and is facing a two-count charge of child defilement and attempt to escape from police custody.
The Prosecutor, Insp Rachael Williams, told the court that Adeleke committed the offences on Jan.19 at Tinubu Market, Gowon Estate, Iyana Ipaja, Lagos. Williams said that the accused defiled the 14-year-old, when she was sent to the market by her mother.
“The accused told the girl that her mother kept meat in his freezer, and asked her to go and take it. “When the girl wanted to open the freezer, the accused used a handkerchief to cover her mouth to prevent her from shouting while he raped her,” Williams said.
She added that the accused attempted to escape from the police custody when he was arrested. She said that the offence contravened Sections 21 and 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The accused, however pleaded not guilty. The Magistrate, Mr Tajudeen Elias, granted him bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum, and adjourned the case till March 17 for mention
N100 Bribe: Court Sentences Police Sergeant to Death
A High Court sitting in Port Harcourt on Monday sentenced a police sergeant, Clement Indyel, to death for killing two persons while engaging in a fight with a bus driver over a N100 bribe.
Two other persons identified as Ali Bello and Auwalu Kwale, bagged life imprisonment each for their involvement in the crime.Justice Biobele Georgewill, who delivered judgement on the matter, said Indyel and the two others conspired to murder Chinyeaka Kamalu and Ugochukwu Harcourt.
Georgewill, who recalled that the convicts were charged with felony, conspiracy and murder, said they (convicts) attacked the victims, who were passengers.
He added that the report of the autopsy conducted on the victims revealed that they (victims) sustained gunshot injuries that led to their death.
The trial judge maintained that the injuries sustained by the victims were as a result of the bullets from the AK-47 rifles used by the policemen.
According to Justice Georgewill, the incident that led to the sudden demise of Kamalu and Harcourt occurred on January 17, 2010 in Port Harcourt.
“The result of the autopsy conducted on the remains of the victims, which was tendered in court, showed that the wound sustained by them was bullet wound from AK47 rifles used by the officers.
“The only way the souls of the victims can rest in peace for their unjust murder by police officers who were meant to protect them is to allow the law to take its course,” he said.
Sister to the late Kamalu, Mrs. Chinyere Ideoha, expressed delight over the ruling of the court, even as she added that the judgement could not bring back her dead sister to life.
Man Sold His 5-Month-Old Daughter To Ritualists, You’ll Not Believe How Much He Was Paid
Christopher was said to have been reported to the police by his wife, Florence after he gave her some part of the N200,000 he was paid for selling his daughter to the ritualists in Lagos..
It was gathered that in October 2013, Christopher’s wife, Florence David had given birth to their baby girl but was taken away from her after her husband deceived her that they could not take care of the child due to their poor living condition.
The husband however handed the baby over to a woman identified as Grace (surname withheld).
DSP Celestina Kalu, Police spokesperson in the state, confirmed that the suspect has been arrested and would be charged to court after investigations have been completed
Make them to, you selfish leader-looter ::|:: Jonathan Calls On Boko Haram To Surrender
President Goodluck Jonathan made the call at an international seminar on the Imperatives of Observance of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Norms in Internal Security holding at the National Defence College, Abuja.
The president also recalled the directives to the service chiefs to ensure that relevant human rights are emphasised in the training of members of the armed forces in the fight against insurgency.
He however expressed regret that the Boko Haram sect does not feel obliged to basic tenets of human rights, describing them as “brutal and removed from modern civilization,” killing innocent citizens at will.
He said the military was called in to support and restore normalcy but regretted that sometimes such engagements have had negative effects.
He however said that government will do all it can to ensure that any allegation of human rights abuse on the part of security operatives will be appropriately addressed.