Month: October 2021

Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and former Lagos governor Bola Tinubu said his visit to President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday was devoid of political talks.

Mr Buhari hosted Mr Tinubu at his official residence, State House, Abuja.

Speaking to journalists after the closed door meeting, Mr Tinubu dismissed the insinuation that he was in the presidential villa to discuss politics with the president.

He, however, stated that his Sunday’s mission to the seat of power was to thank President Buhari for visiting him when he was recovering from a surgery at his residence in London

He said, ”I came only to thank, first of all, the president for his visit to my residence in London when I was ……after the surgery, and wishing me well, lifting my spirit.

Indeed, what an exceptional leader will do.

”That’s what I came for and to welcome him back from the trip from Saudi Arabia

”No politics, just a courtesy call, thanking him in a big way, that’s all.”

President Buhari had on August 13 visited the APC chieftain in London.

The president, who had stayed back in London after attending the Global Education Summit on Financing Global Partnership for Education (GPE 2021-2025), paid Mr Tinubu what had been described in some quarters as ”surprise and unexpected visit”.

Still on Sunday, the president also received a briefing from the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Awwal Gambo, at the Presidential Villa.

”I’m here to seek the blessings of Mr President for him to honour the Nigerian Naval in commissioning the indigenously built Boat 3, which is one of the three we are building by the Nigerian Naval dockyard staff in Lagos comes December this year,” he said after the meeting.

He stated that the president’s response was to the invitation was positive

” Yes, the response is positive because it makes us proud as a nation that we can build something from scratch to finish by our own shipyard.

”So, it’s a pride to us,” he added.

(NAN)

Months after the death of spokesperson of Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, his widow, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin has gave birth to bouncing twins – a boy and a girl – at a United States of America hospital on Wednesday, October 27, 2021. 

The cheering news was posted on her Facebook account on Sunday.

According to the release, the mother and the babies are in excellent health condition.

It reads: “The “miracle” birth fulfilled the wishes of the late Odumakin towards the end of his sojourn on earth to have another baby to be named after him.

“The couple got married in 1997, had their first baby girl in 2000 and the second, a boy, in 2003. While the girl was named after Joe, the boy was named Abraham after the late Afenifere leader, Pa Abraham Adesanya.

“The twins are coming 18 years after the last childbirth.

“After he survived a three-day coma in 2020 and a few months before he succumbed to the illness that eventually but unexpectedly claimed his life, YO, as he is fondly called, developed a strong desire for him and his wife to have another baby.

“Thank God Joe did not dither or procrastinate as she took in just about the time YO took ill and never recovered. 

“It was good news that Joe conceived but YO never got to hear the news of his wishes coming to pass as he did not make it out of the ventilator.

“He had, however, prophetically left words concerning what the baby or babies should be called if his wishes materialised.

“YO was so accurate in his predictions that they could be twins (and their sex) that he gave the names of the babies and told his wife how he would raise them.

“While many may interpret this to mean that YO had premonition about his death, it was only a strong desire expressed by him to have babies that he would dot over and who would possibly step into his “aluta” shoes.

“It’s a dream come true!”

Notable Islamic Scholars across the lenght and breadth of Nigeria on Saturday graced the reception of the new Grand Mufti, Sheik Daood Imran Molaasan, in Iwo, Osun State.

The coveted Islamic title was bestowed on Molaasan by the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdurasheed Adewale Akanbi, amidst controversy.

The Oluwo who has been championing the installation process of the revered seat was absent from the reception apparently because of a court order restraining him from going on with the installation.

The league of Imams and Alfas had approached the court to obtain a court injunction restraining the Oluwo from installing Molaasan as the Grand Mufti of Yorubaland, saying he lacks the power to do the turban.

Speaking at the reception organised by the Muslim community of Iwoland and Jama’at Ta’awunil Muslimeen, Molaasan commended his members and the Muslim community for the reception.

He explained that the installation and turban had been done by the Oluwo when he was appointed as the Grand Mufti.

Molaasan, who is the national president of Jama’atu Ta’awunul Mumineen, promised to use the new position to facilitate discussions among scholars to find solutions to religious disunity and disharmony among Muslims.

‘One of our programmes is to re-orientate our people about what Islam is. We are going to call both Sunni and Sufi scholars to discuss ways on how to end disunity among Muslims,’ he said.

He bemoaned the division within Muslim groups and promised to use his new position to correct the anomalies and unite Muslims.

The event which was attended by the Waziri of Yorubaland, Sheik Yaqoob Muhammad Abdulbaqi, Muslim scholars from Oyo, Ogun, Kwara and Lagos was held at the residence of the new Grand Mufti in Iwo.

After the reception, the Muslim community went to the palace where the monarch prayed for them and advised them to remain united.

As unsubstantiated report of reinstatement of super police cop, Abba Kyari continues to gather momentum on social media, sources from the force who spoke to the Punch faulted the report adding that, the suspended police boss is still on suspension which was premised on his indictment by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI.

Kyari, a deputy commissioner of police had been under investigation for allegedly fraternising with a suspected Internet fraudster, Abbas Ramon, commonly known as Hushpuppi.

The FBI alleged that Kyari connived with Hushpuppi to defraud a Qatari businessman of $1.1 million.

While speaking with State House correspondent in Abuja, on Thursday, the IGP said Kyari had been queried, adding that the police were working closely with the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Attorney General of the Federation to discharge the appropriate sanction on Kyari.

He also explained that the panel constituted to investigate the case had submitted its report to the SGF, Boss Mustapha, for vetting and advice on the findings.

According to him, the police had only recently received feedback from the SGF and were contemplating their next step.

The IG said, “I have not received any extradition request formally. But I have read from other places that there was an extradition request. I’ve not seen it and that is one.

“Two, when this issue of Kyari started, we took our own action by constituting a panel to look at the allegations that were made against the senior officer.

“The allegations were based on fraternising with Hushpuppi and even receiving some series of instructions on extrajudicial torture and so on. We looked into all these allegations via the committee that was set up by the DIG and we submitted our report to the SGF on the findings of our investigation.

“We just received the legal advice from the office of the Attorney General on what to do next in terms of asking the officer to account for what we have gathered in the course of our investigation.”

The force spokesman, Frank Mba, could not be reached for comment on Saturday.

The Federal Government has warned Nigerians to be wary of fraudulent messages making the rounds over the purported payment of N80,000 to beneficiaries of the Survival Fund Scheme.

A statement issued in Abuja, on Saturday, by the Project Delivery Office (PDO) of the Scheme, said that the news of such payment was the handiwork of fraudsters seeking to scam unsuspecting members of the public.

It stressed that the Steering Committee of the MSMEs Survival Fund and the Guaranteed Off Take Stimulus Scheme headed by the Hon Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment, Amb. Maryam Katagum, was unaware of the fraudulent collation of account details.

“The attention of the Steering Committee of the MSMEs Survival Fund and the Guaranteed Off Take Stimulus Scheme has been drawn to an ongoing fraudulent social media campaign requesting individuals to drop their account details on a WhatsApp platform to access N80,000 as stipends under the Payroll Support scheme.

“The notice requesting the public or individuals to disclose their account details on a WhatsApp platform is fraudulent and should be disregarded by all and sundry, as this message is not from the project delivery office of the scheme.

“The procedure for the implementation of all tracks of the survival fund and guaranteed off-take stimulus scheme does not require public display of account details to individuals or groups.

“It is also pertinent to note that under no track of the scheme are beneficiaries given the sum of N80,000 either in instalments or in whole.“The amount given to beneficiaries remain N30,000 and N50,000 for Payroll Support; N30,000 for Artisans and Transport Grants; N50,000 for the General MSMEs Grant; and N100,000 per MSME for the guaranteed off-take stimulus scheme.

“The steering committee wishes to state that the purported scheme is not known to the government, hence the general public is enjoined to disregard any message(s) from any individual or group requesting them to submit account details,” the statement said.

The statement pointed out that the steering committee had established lines of communication with the general public and beneficiaries, including prospective ones, and will deploy same in providing updates to all stakeholders. (NAN)

Chairman of the Economics and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has reacted to the inavasion of residence of Supreme Court Judge, Justice Mary Odili by security agents last night.

There were reports flying on the social media that the anti-graft agency was behind the raid but the commission later issued a statement to deny being responsible.

Speaking on Channels Television on Saturday, Bawa said the attempt to link the EFCC to the raid is the work of mischief-makers.

He said such persons were trying to severe the relationship between the commission and the judiciary.

Bawa said, “I think they are just mischief makers trying to link anything to the EFCC of this nature. We were never there, none of our operatives was there. It’s not from EFCC, it’s not an EFCC thing.

“And I’ve called all the non-security and re-enforcement agencies in the country and they also denied that anybody has been sent to the house to carry out any search or arrest.

“In fact, it came to my knowledge when a very senior lawyer called the director of legal. We were having a meeting in the evening, and he asked to give the phone to the director of operations that we were also having a meeting together with.

“And when I came back, because I had just stepped out, they said that this is what is going on and we just laughed because we understand that there are a lot of people that want to put us at loggerheads with the judiciary.

“And you know that in the work that we do, the judiciary is our biggest partner, and of course they are just trying to cause problem where there is no problem.”

Peter Odili, the judge’s husband, is a former governor of Rivers State.

He has been under the radar in recent times over alleged corruption when he governed Rivers.

An NCE graduate, Idris Shuaib, who was a resident of Ankara Wooro Compound, in Gwanara, Baruten local government area of Kwara State has hanged self over impotence.

Idris, 22, was found dangling on a cashew tree in his father’s farm after a bottled up depression following his inability to sleep with ladies.

A Neighbour,young woman who craved anonymity told Saturday Vanguard that Idris once had a girlfriend some years back when he was in school.

“In fact, himself and the lady used to come to the village, and people thought that the relationship would lead to marriage.

“But all of a sudden, we didn’t see the lady again, and people thought maybe they had quarrels, and since then no lady was seen with him.

“He must have known the challenge personally and it was like he was not able to find solution to it, because he had been prevented from killing himself through poison a few times by his friends,but this time around he was discreet about it and nobody was around to stop him.”

One of Late Idris Shuaib’s uncles who also pleaded not to be mentioned confirmed the incident in an interview with journalists on Friday

According to him,” Idris left home very early on Thursday telling his father that he wanted to go to the farm as his usual routine, not knowing that he had fatal motive this time around.

“It was when it was getting late in the day that he didn’t return home like he used to do that,we traced him to the farm only to find him dead, hanging on the cashew tree.”

NSCDC spokesman in Kwara State Babawale Zaid Afolabi who confirmed the incident said the corpse had been recovered from the cashew tree and taken to University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital for autopsy while investigation into the incident has commenced.

He said,”We have recovered the remains of Idris Shuaibu from the Cashew tree, on his father’s farm and taken it to the hospital for autopsy while investigation into the incident has commenced.

“We were told that the deceased hanged himself inside his father’s farm located at Gwanara- Munduro road with the aid of rope and one jerry can

“ On Thursday 28th October, 2021, the NSCDC office in Gwanara, Baruten local government area got a report about one Idris Shuaib, 22 who allegedly committed suicide in the farm, citing his inability to copulate with women”.

The Federal Government through the Nigerian Correctional Service, has released more details on the identities of inmates who escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Oyo.

Recall that facility was attacked by some yet to be identified gunmen on October 22 and hundreds of inmates were set free.

The data of those who escaped from the prison were released by the NcS on Friday.

A note beside the data read, “Names and faces of wanted persons who escaped from the Oyo Custodial Centre on Friday 22nd October, 2021.

“Please note that these persons are dangerous! Kindly contact the nearest police station or security agency close to you when you sight any of these persons. Note: It is a crime punishable under the law to render any form of assistance to these persons.”

The Public Relations Officer of the NcS, Oyo State Command, Olanrewaju Anjorin, confirmed the release of the data when Punch correspondent contacted him early Saturday morning.


He said, “Yes, it was released by the Nigerian Correctional Service; the data of those who escaped from Oyo Custodial Centre.”


 
The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, who visited the facility to assess the damage done to it last Sunday, had vowed that all the fleeing inmates would be brought back dead or alive.

He said their data were being forwarded to the Interpol and border posts all over the work to stop them from going into other countries.

Two acclaimed herbalists, Ajisafe Toheeb and Ogundayo Usman, and twenty four suspected internet fraudsters, yahoo Boys, were arrested by operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, at Soka area of Ibadan, Oyo State, over their alleged involvement in offences bordering on internet fraud.

Four of the arrested suspects claimed to be students of a foremost private university in the metropolis.

According to the EFCC Director of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, 22 of the suspects had been indicted by investigation.

He gave the names of the suspects as Soyinka Emmanuel Oluwafemi, Olaoti Fawaz, Omoke Ogbonaya, Okhiria Alex, Olamilekan Ibrahim, Olagoke Olalekan, Adeniran Ibrahim Adesina, Olasupo Temitayo Ayomide, Adeniran Basit, Ogunsetan Gbolahan Oluwasegun, Balogun Salam Omolade and Olamilekan Ibrahim.

Others were Ilesanmi Mayowa, Amao Emmanuel Abiodun, Olakanmi Babatunde Abdulrahmon, Olasile Jide, Dauda Sodiq, Hammed Ayomide Rasheed, Sodiq Olaide, Idris Damilola Yusuf, Abdulramon Mubarak and Ogunbiyi Segun.

Uwujaren stated: “They were arrested following verified intelligence on their alleged involvement in cyber fraud

“Items recovered from them included cars, mobile phones, television sets, PlayStation 5, laptops, among others.”

He added that the investigation was still ongoing.