I’ll not abandon Suntai, says Ishaku

                   

                                              Mr.-Darius-Ishaku

Taraba State Governor, Darius Dickson Ishaku Monday, said he will not abandon his predecessor, Danbaba Danfulani Suntai, who has been recuperating from the multiple injuries he suffered in a plane crash in 2012.
Ishaku spoke in a release signed by former Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Emmanuel Bello, while reacting to social media reports that he (Ishaku) has “forsaken Suntai, leaving him to rot away in a desolate place.”
According to the said reports, which have gone viral on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, Suntai is said to have even suffered a stroke recently, with no one around to help him out. And that Governor Bindow of neighbouring Adamawa State had to pick Suntai’s bill by flying him out of the country”
Ishaku said the story is not true but a mischief.
“That is a flat lie, because Suntai is in Jalingo and has not skipped town for months now. And he doesn’t have to, because his health is not bad. In fact, Suntai is stronger now.”
The picture painted by the contentious story is that of an ex-governor left by all and allowed to suffer the crisis of loneliness and neglect.
Many who read the report have continued to heap insults on Ishaku and an amorphous group called “cabal” who reportedly featured Ishaku in the election.
The report further accused Ishaku and the cabal of using Suntai and now deserting him.
The statement reads: “First, Governor Ishaku has not deserted Suntai. He has continued to pledge his loyalty to the ideals and legacy of the Suntai years.
“Even in his inaugural speech, Ishaku recommitted himself to all the five points agenda of the Suntai era which basically were good governance, democracy and propriety in public life. He went on to pay a glowing tribute to the Suntai years as the foundation of the making of a modern Taraba.
“Again, the funny news had said Suntai was not at the inauguration which they say is an evidence of their comic accusation. But we make haste to say that it is really a non-issue because the inauguration was a symbolic affair. But even then, Governor Ishaku ensured that the essence of Suntai was felt at the well-attended event. In any case, the Acting Governor of the state, Alhaji Sani Abubakar Danladi, who is one and the same thing with Suntai did the handing over ceremony. Where is the abandonment there?
“We want to inform all and sundry that governor Ishaku is footing the medical bills of Suntai. The former governor’s condition has improved tremendously and he is surrounded by many friends and family members.
“Therefore, Suntai is too big to be deserted by anyone. A man who has left sterling accomplishments in the Taraba firmament is not your day to day politician who can be forgotten so soon.
“Suntai continues to be the darling of all and sundry both in Taraba and elsewhere. His dreams, struggles and exemplary lifestyle have remained the template for which many would continue to take their bearings from.”

LOL.................................................

The member representing Ekiti South-West constituency 1 in the state Assembly,Hon. Onigiobi has commended the state governor for turning Ekiti state into a small London through stomach infrastructure-News.

MMIA police arrest man with fake euro notes

 

The Murtala Mohammed International Airport Police Command has arrested a 45-year old man, Lawrence Agbe, for allegedly being in possession of 1.25 million fake Euros.
Mr Fredrick Lakanu, the Commissioner of Police in the command, disclosed this in Lagos on Monday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria.
Lakanu said the suspect, who resides at No.5, Itogbe Street, Orile-Agege, Lagos, was arrested on June 25 at about 6pm.
“In the course of investigation, a search warrant was executed by a team of police detectives from Domestic Airport Division at the suspect’s printing press in Agege, Lagos, where over 2,000 police statement forms were recovered.
“On further interrogation, the suspect mentioned one Steve residing in Abuja now at large, as the owner of the said Euro notes,” Lakanu said.
He said that the suspect had since been charged to court.

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Lakanu also disclosed that more than 30 motorcycles were recently impounded, while 35 airport touts were arrested and charged to court for unlawful entry and touting.
The commissioner said these were evidence that the airports had been secured to guarantee the safety of passengers, airport community and airline operators.
Lakanu appealed to members of the public for their cooperation to enable the police check activities of undesirable elements at the airports.

Police arraign 115 street gang members in Kaduna

The kaduna State Police Command, on Monday said it had arraigned 115 street gang members, locally known as “Yan Sara-Suka” for allegedly terrorising communities in the state.
The command’s spokesman, DSP Zubairu Abubakar told the News Agency of Nigeria in Kaduna that the arraignment followed massive raid of the gangs’ hideouts across the state.
NAN reports that Governor Nasiru El-Rufa’i recently directed the police to rid the state of the terror gangs that had killed and maimed several people in the state.
Abubakar said 38 of those arraigned before various courts in the state were facing charges of criminal conspiracy and terrorism, 32 for possession of hard drugs and 45 for terrorism and culpable homicide.
He said the arrest of the suspects was facilitated by the cooperation of communities, especially in areas such as Rigasa.
The police spokesman said special patrols were continuing in areas notorious for criminal activities in the state.
“Kaduna is now very calm, and we need the cooperation of the general public to make the state safer for all.
“The police will not allow any miscreant to cause unrest in the society. Such person will be arrested and prosecuted instantly.”

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Abubakar appealed to the general public to be law abiding and continue to support the police and other security agencies to discharge their duties more effectively.

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APC, PDP disagree over Ondo residence card

 

Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko

The All Progressives Congress has faulted the Ondo State residence card scheme.

The Ondo State chapter of the party accused Governor Olusegun Mimiko of exploiting unpaid civil servants and residents of the state to the tune of N2,000 as a condition to obtain the card.

The residence card, otherwise known as Kaadi Igbe Ayo, is a social security card inaugurated by Mimiko last week.

In a statement issued on Sunday by its Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Adesanya, the APC claimed that over N5bn had been spent on the scheme without corresponding benefits to the people.

The party said, “This card is a duplication of effort and a waste of resources as the card carries almost the same information as the National Identity Card and the National Driving Licence.

“The governor should know that what the people of Ondo State desire are: better life, good road network, job opportunities for the youths, revamping of our moribund industries, accountability, urbanisation of our towns and villages, provision of potable water, affordable and accessible health care services, prompt payment of salaries and entitlements of workers and pensioners.

“Governor Mimiko and his team should realise that in countries where residency card is operational, it is the benefit attached to the card that really matters, not the card itself.”

But the Ondo State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, defended the scheme in a statement last week, saying that it was initiated to advance the state.

He said, “The advantages of the card include the facilitation of efficient record keeping. It aids anti-corruption in the public service to enhance a higher level of qualitative and quantitative service delivery.

“It will also facilitate the systematic development of a database for efficient security and surveillance purpose as well as facilitating the use and management of government facilities such as public transportation, among others.”

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I collected N3.5m reluctantly —Kidnap suspect

 

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A kidnap suspect, Vincent Ibor, said he collected reluctantly the sum of N3.5m after an abduction deal in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State.

Ibor, who hails from Akamkpa Local Government Area of the state, said he was lured into the kidnap deal and threatened with gun after attending a birthday party.

The 25-year-old suspect is currently in police custody with two other accomplices, Justice Ajodo (21) and Stanley Obi (20), who he alleged lured him into the crime.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Hogan Bassey, said the three suspects had on October 9, 2014, kidnapped one Chief Samuel Onyeka at the Ikot-Ishie axis of Calabar.

He said, “Chief Samuel Onyeka was rescued by the anti-kidnapping personnel and anti-robbery squad of the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department on October 19 (2014). Some of the key suspects were arrested and are awaiting trial.”

Narrating how he was lured into kidnapping, Ibor said he was threatened by Stanley Obi who invited him to the birthday party.

He said, “I was forced into kidnapping by my friends. They said if I did not get involved, they would kill me. I was called to attend a birthday party with them and they were drinking during the event.

“The venue was at one joint along Parliamentary Extension area of Calabar. When I got there, we started drinking with some girls in our midst. It is the first time I got myself involved in it.

“After some time, my friends came and directed me to drive one vehicle to Mirage Hotel area along the Murtala Mohammed Highway. I collected the keys and immediately my friends entered the car. On our way to Mirage, Stanley Obi brought out a gun and instructed that I drive straight to Anantigha in Calabar South.

“I obeyed him, but insisted that they must tell me what was going on. I drove to Anantigha where someone was abducted and that was how I became involved. My greatest regret was ever going to that birthday party.

“At the end of the kidnap, Stanley insisted that I must collect the money given to me, he said if I did not collect, I was likely to implicate them. So, I reluctantly collected N3.5m.”

In his sober state, Stanley Obi, who is from Anambra State, regretted his actions, saying, “The truth is that nobody should allow himself to be deceived by anyone.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer also disclosed that three other key suspects involved in the kidnap of the senior Pastor of Winners Chapel in Calabar penultimate Saturday, Mr. Seyi Adekunle, had been arrested and added that they were providing useful information that would lead to the arrest of other culprits.

Bassey further said that eight other kidnappers who were involved in the abduction of a Polish national, Mr. Maciej Jaszek, had been arrested and were being prosecuted.

Bassey said Jaszek, who was kidnapped by gunmen on October 25, 2014 by Stanbic IBTC Bank, along Marian Road in Calabar, was rescued by the police anti-kidnapping detectives without paying a ransom.

Only last week, the Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade, sent an executive bill to the House of Assembly, seeking death penalty for convicted kidnappers in the state.

The state Police Commissioner, Mr. Henry Fadairo, said if passed into law, the spate of kidnapping might reduce.

Fuel scarcity persists as banks deny marketers credit

The scarcity of refined petroleum products, especially petrol, may continue across the country for the unforeseeable future because marketers have stopped importing the product due to the reluctance of the banks to provide them with credit.

It was also learnt that as of May 29, 2015, the amount being owed all the oil marketers by the Federal Government was N291.7bn.

Our correspondent gathered that the refusal of the banks to provide credit to the marketers had adversely affected the business of some of them, as many were already contemplating leaving the venture.

Sources in the sector, who spoke with our correspondent in Abuja on Sunday, said that the refusal of the banks to provide additional loans to the marketers could be due to the Federal Government’s delay in paying the huge subsidy debt being owed the fuel importers.

Although they admitted that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation was currently the sole importer of petrol, the quantity of fuel being consumed in the country was so high that the NNPC might not be able to handle it solely.

“Banks are refusing to give some marketers loans to import petrol and they are hoping that the present administration will intervene, particularly by paying the huge subsidy debt, because the NNPC alone may not be able to shoulder all the fuel need of Nigeria,” an official at the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, said.

Confirming this, the Executive Secretary, Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association, Mr. Olufemi Adewole, told our correspondent that members of the group were not importing petrol again, because the banks had yet to open credit lines to them.

He said, “We are still being owed, and as of May 29, the total debt owed all marketers was N291.7bn. Banks have yet to fully reopen credit lines to all our members, hence we have not been importing as much as we should.

“At DAPPMA, what I can tell you is that since the tanker drivers called off their strike, we have not resumed importation. Our money is still outstanding and, in fact, banks have not fully opened their credit lines to us.

“Meanwhile, we are aware that the NNPC has been coming up with a lot of statements and we still can’t say whether it has products or not. But on our own part, we have not been paid and we have not been importing as much as we should.”

Last week, the NNPC said it had enough stock of petrol to service the country for 25 days at a national consumption rate of 40 million litres per day, adding that it had stepped up product distribution to petroleum marketers and its retail outlets across the country.

Despite these assurances, the scarcity of petrol has continued in Abuja, Lagos and other parts of the country.

Diamond League: Okagbare targets long jump in Lausanne

Blessing Okagbare

Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare is set to compete in her first long jump event of the year at the Lausanne leg of the IAAF Diamond League on Thursday.

Okagbare on Saturday ran her season best of 10.80secs to win silver in the women’s 100m event at the Paris leg of the League behind Jamaica’s Shelley-Ann Fraser-Pryce but will compete in the long jump in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The Lausanne Diamond League is mostly made up of field events with a few track events.

Okagbare has been silent in the long jump since her 7.00m jump at the World Championships in Monaco in 2013.

She will be competing in the event against the United States of America’s Tianna Bartoletta, who has a season best of 7.12m, which she jumped at the Eugene leg of the Diamond League in June.

The other contenders for the top spot in the event are USA’s Deloach Janay, who has season best of 6.95m, Russia’s Klishna Darya, with a season best of 6.95m, and Germany’s Moguenara Sosthene with a season best of 6.80m.

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Others are Canada’s Nettey Christabel, who has a season best of 6.99m, Great Britain’s Proctor Shara and Ugen Lorraine with season bests of 6.95 and 6.96 respectively.

Switzerland’s Pusterla Irene, with 6.45m, and Serbia’s Spanovic Ivana, with 6.80m, complete the list.

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Borno residents caution FG against dialogue with Boko Haram

Some residents of Borno on Monday cautioned the Federal Government against rushing into dialogue with the Boko Haram insurgents as a way of ending their violent campaign.
Those who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria in Maiduguri on Monday advised government to concentrate on military action against the insurgents.
Shieikh Musa Usman, a Maiduguri based Islamic scholar, advised government to equip the military with the necessary weapons to face the insurgents rather than considering dialogue option.
Usman said, “We heard in the media that government was considering a dialogue option with the insurgents following the recent spate of attacks in the North east.
“Why should government dialogue with individuals who are only interested in killing and maiming innocent people?
“Is government saying that it cannot continue with the current anti insurgency war or what?
“Why must we be talking about dialogue when our neighbours are already dislodging the insurgents from their countries?.”
Usman urged government to copy from the recent actions of the Chadian and Nigerien Governments in dislodging the insurgents from their countries.
Malam Goni Yahuza, another scholar said that negotiating with the insurgents was a sign of weakness.
“I do not support the idea of dialogue with Boko Haram because there is nothing to dialogue about.
“In the first place, I do not think that the group has something to talk about apart from violence”, Yahuza said.
He added that government must deploy all resources available in ending the insurgency within a reasonable time.

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“I believe that the Nigerian military has all its takes to crush the insurgents, what they need is proper motivation for the task.
“Government must strive hard to ensure that it puts an end to the insurgency in a short while,” Yahuza said.
Alhaji Mohammed Mala, a businessman, commended the gallant efforts of the Nigeria military in fighting insurgents and urged them to do more.

Ikorodu bank robbers arrested

 

Four members of the robbery gang, which unleashed terror on two commercial banks in the Ipakodo, Ikorodu area of Lagos two weeks ago, have been arrested by the police.

Our correspondent learnt that the suspected robbers were arrested from Okitipupa, Ondo State, and Ikorodu, Lagos State, while three Sport Utility Vehicles allegedly bought from the proceeds of the robbery were recovered.

The suspects’ names were given as Monday Akpan, Bright Agbojule, the third identified simply as Jafaru, and one Baba Ibeji.

On Wednesday, June 24, the gang, which was reportedly led by a woman, had stormed the Ebute-Ipakodo branches of the First Bank and Zenith Bank at about 8.30am, and carted away millions of naira.

The robbers, who overwhelmed policemen from the Ipakodo division, were said to have carted away about N60m from the Zenith Bank’s strong room, while N20m were stolen from the bank’s ATM room.

The suspects, who dared policemen to confront them, later escaped in two speedboats at the Ipakodo jetty, Ikorodu.

Four persons, including a bank customer, who were hit by bullets during the one-hour operation, were taken to the General Hospital, Ikorodu.

PUNCH Metro gathered that four members of the gang were arrested by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, in an operation involving a former SARS commander, SP Abba Kyari, and an officer, DSP James Okeke.

PUNCH Metro gathered that one of the suspected robbers, a week after the operation, had headed for the Okitipupa area, Ondo State, with a Lexus bought with the proceeds of the robbery.

A police source told PUNCH Metro that the suspect was arrested by soldiers, who were on a stop-and-search exercise in Ondo State.

It was learnt that the suspect was also found with bundles of new N1,000 notes with bank seals.

The police source said the arrest was the break that the police needed, adding that the suspect later led policemen to arrest other members of the gang.

He said, “The soldiers were on a stop-and-search and they found the suspect, identified only as Baba Ibeji, while on his way to his home town in Okitipupa, Ondo State.

“During a search, they found bundles of new N1,000 notes with bank seals in his bag.

“The soldiers, who were also aware of the bank robbery in Lagos, smelt a rat and contacted the Lagos State Police Command on the development.

“The former CP, Kayode Aderanti, immediately contacted experienced hands in SARS for the interview of the suspect. The suspect gave the contacts and names of other suspects. The operatives subsequently mobilised more officers to Ikorodu and made some arrests.

“Three suspects were picked up by the police in Ikorodu. Two of them had bought Sport Utility Vehicles with the proceeds. All of them had bought plots of land with their loots. Three vehicles have been recovered for now.”

Our correspondent learnt that the suspects would be paraded on Monday (today) at the state command headquarters, Ikeja.

It was learnt that efforts were still being intensified to get other members of the gang, which reportedly numbered about 15.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, confirmed the arrests in a text message.

He said, “The Commissioner of Police, Kayode Aderanti, will parade the suspects on Monday, as he hands over to the new CP, Fatai Owoseni, at the command headquarters.”