Murdered banker: Court fixes October 2 for adoption of final written addresses

An Ikeja High Court in Lagos State has fixed October 2 for adoption of final written addresses in the trial of Akolade Arowolo, charged with the alleged murder of his wife, Titilayo.

Justice Lateefat Okunnu on Tuesday directed the prosecution and defence to file and serve the processes before the next adjournment date.
Arowolo, 31, was charged to court for allegedly stabbing his wife, a banker, to death.
He was arraigned on December 21, 2011 on a one-count charge of murder and had pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The accused, was thereafter, remanded in Ikoyi Prisons.
The Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions alleged that the accused murdered Titilayo on June 24, 2011 in their residence at 8, Akindeinde Street, Isolo, Lagos State.
The prosecution, led by Olabisi Ogungbesan, had closed its case against the accused on November 19, 2012 after calling 12 witnesses.
The deceased relatives, including her father, George Oyakhire, and her step-mother, Adetoun, had testified that the Arowolo’s marriage was characterised by domestic violence.
Another witness, Prof. John Obafunwa, a Consultant Pathologist and Chief Medical Examiner of Lagos State, had also testified that Titilayo was stabbed 76 times.
However, Arowolo, who testified before the court on May 22, blamed his in-laws for the trouble in his marriage.
He had denied the allegation that he murdered his wife.
He had claimed that Titilayo died after accidentally falling on a knife she was using to stab him during a quarrel on his birthday.

Ombatse Saga: NYSC evacuates corps members

The National Youth Service Corps has evacuated corps members serving in areas affected by the recent communal crisis in Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, an official has said.
Olabanji Bolanle, the Coordinator of the scheme in the state, told newsmen on Monday in Lafia that the affected corps members were now taking refuge at the various NYSC lodges in Lafia, the state capital.
Bolanle said that the corps members would remain in such lodges until the restoration of normalcy in the affected areas.
“There is, however, no palliative measure in place for them to cushion the difficulty associated with their new environment, having hurriedly left their places of abode without any thing on them,” she said.
The coordinator also ruled out the possibility of re-deploying the corps members to relatively more peaceful areas, but assured them of safety in their temporary places of abode.
It will be recalled that the state police command had confirmed three persons killed and property worth millions of naira destroyed in the mayhem.

Ombatse: 50 more feared killed in Nasarawa

No fewer than 50 persons were feared killed in a fresh attack by the Ombatse cult group in Obi town, Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State at the weekend.
According to an eyewitness account, many houses have been set ablaze, while many residents, including women and children, have fled their homes to take refuge in nearby villages.
Many of them were seen trekking over 30 kilometres to Lafia, the state capital.
Meanwhile, tension is very high in Obi, Tudun Adabu, Daddere and other villages around the area.
Sunday Sun correspondent who visited the area reports that soldiers in 11 vehicles had been deployed in Obi to maintain law and order.
The Sun.

PDP crisis: Court fixes September

Justice Elvis Chukwu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed September 20 for further hearing in the suit brought  by a factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, seeking to restrain the faction of the party led by Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Barage from parading themselves as national officers of the party.

The Tukur-led PDP had asked the court to grant an order of status quo pending the hearing of the suit he brought seeking to restrain the Abubakar Baraje’s faction from parading themselves as the recognized faction of the party.
Delivering ruling, the presiding judge, Justice Elvis Chukwu, held that he did not observe any tardiness on the part of the Baraje faction as claimed by the Bamanga Tukur-led faction.
The court however consolidated the application challenging its jurisdiction and the substantive suit.
The court also held that it did not notice any negligence on the part of the Baraje faction in filing its processes and entering an appearance against the position of the Tukur side.
The court later adjourned till September 20 for hearing of the substantive suit.
The Baraje faction had however prayed the court to strike out the suit brought by Tukur on the ground that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain same.
It will recalled that Tukur and 11 national officers of the PDP had last week Friday through an ex parte motion asked the court to stop Baraje, Dr. Sam Jaja, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar from parading themselves as the national executives of the party.
The court then ordered the Tukur faction to put the Baraje group on notice and fixed September 13 to hear the suit.
Counsel to Baraje’s faction, Ahmed Raji (SAN), informed the court that they have filed a preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction to hear the suit.
In the preliminary objection, the Baraje group submitted that the subject matter of the suit has to do with domestic affairs of the PDP and that the suit should have been brought before a state or Federal Capital Territory High Court, instead of the Federal High Court.
Raji further argued that the action is incompetent and the court lacks the jurisdiction to hear, it adding that the subject matter revolves around the domestic affairs of Peoples Democratic Party.
He added that it is only in matters within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal High Court under Section 251 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) that can be competently entertained in the Federal High Court.
According to him, the subject matter herein is not cognizable under Section 251of the 1999 Constitution and the court does not have the jurisdiction to entertain it.
He however  asked the court for an order striking out the suit in its entirety for lack of jurisdiction.
Raji further prayed the court to first hear and determine the issue of jurisdiction before entertaining the substantive suit.
But counsel to Tukur group, Tochukwu Onwugbufor (SAN), asked the court to grant an interim order directing the two parties to maintain the status quo.

PDP crisis: Jonathan, IBB, Ahmadu Ali in secret meeting

Determined to find a solution to the crisis rocking his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday went into a secret meeting with former Military President, retired General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, and a former National Chairman of the party, Dr. Ahmadu Ali.

The meeting was held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The meeting, which lasted for about an hour, was held at House 7.
Journalists were barred from getting close to the venue.
Prior to this, close allies of Jonathan – Governors Godswil Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State and Gabriel Suswam of Benue State – had met with the President.
There was no briefing after the secret meeting but sources said it was a preparatory to a crucial meeting scheduled for Tuesday night with the aggrieved seven governors that have joined the ‘New PDP’, said to be the brainchild of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Babangida and some elders of the party have been mediating between the warring factions.
At the ruling party’s last convention, Abubakar and Governors Babangida Aliyu, Rotimi Amaechi, Rabiu Kwakwanso, Abdulfatai Ahmed, Sule Lamido, Magartakada Wamakko and Muritala Nyako had walked out of the convention.
However, about an hour later, they announced a parallel National Executive Committee under the chairmanship of the party’s former PDP Acting National Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje.

PDP crisis: Jonathan, four aggrieved governors in crucial meeting

President Goodluck Jonathan is now in a crucial peace talks with four of the aggrieved governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, The Eagle Online reported on Tuesday evening.

The meeting is holding at the First Lady’s Conference Room of the State House in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The four governors, who are part of those that formed the new PDP, are Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Muritala Nyako (Adamawa), Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Magartakada Wamakko (Sokoto).
Also, two of President Jonathan’s loyalists, Governors Liyel Imoke and Ibrahim Dakwambo of Cross Rivers and Gombe State, are attending the meeting.
Earlier in the day, the President had met with former military President, retired General Ibrahim Babangida, and a former National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Ahmadu Ali.
The meeting, it was gathered, focused on how to resolve the lingering crisis rocking the ruling party.
Prior to entering the meeting with Babangida and Ali, Jonathan had also met with his inner caucus, the trio of Governors Godswill Akpabio, Emmanuel Uduaghan and Gabriel Suswam of Akwa Ibom, Delta and Benue States.
However, Governors Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State and Rabiu Kwakwanso of Kano State, both of who now belong to the new PDP, are absent at the meeting described by party sources as “very crucial” to resolving the lingering crisis.

Female UNILAG Graduate, Chioma, Caught Leading Robbery Operation In Lagos

Cases of ladies leading deadly robbery gang is fast becoming a trend in Nigeria, with Lagos taking the lead. It seems prostitution is no longer paying some wayward ladies as much as they expect, hence the decision to take to the dangerous trade of armed robbery.

This is the case of Chioma Ezekwesiri, a Law graduate from the University of Lagos.
Chioma, who leads a 7-man robbery gang, was arrested with her gang members during an operation by SARS operatives after they received a distressed call from Bolatito Hotel in the Ijaiye area of Lagos.

According to police report, Chioma and her boys stormed the hotel after receiving tips that a customer who just sold 8 million naira worth of fertilizer was staying at the hotel.

The Special Anti-Robbery Squad team immediately surrounded the hotel and searched all its occupants. In the process, 2 guns and 12 live ammunition were found on the robbery suspects.

35yrs old Chioma and her gang members have been remanded in prison. The are: Amadi Igwe, 41;
Raymond Chukwuka, 24; Ignatius Okeredi, 27; Michael Madu, 52; Okechukwu Jerome, 28

Four die in Gombe auto crashes

The Federal Road Safety Commission on Sunday said four persons died while 12 were injured in two auto crashes in Gombe State.
The first accident occurred at Dukku Motor Park where three people died while 11 others sustained injuries.
Kuteb Galadima, FRSC Sector Commander, Gombe State Command, told newsmen that the incident occurred on Saturday night.
Galadima said three people died instantly while the 11 injured persons were evacuated to the Federal Medical Centre, Gombe for medical treatment.
According to the commander, the accident involved a fuel-laden tanker, which allegedly had brake failure, thereby crushing three tricycles and a Honda Accord car.
He said the commission would continue to collaborate with other security agencies in the state to reduce the problem of car crashes.
An eyewitness, Malam Sani Bukar, told the News Agency of Nigeria that the accidents occurred at about 8pm on Saturday when the tanker lost control and crashed into cars and tricycles.
Malam Umaru Balanga, another witness, said the tanker driver hit the traffic barrier at the Federal Collage of Education Roundabout before crushing two cars, three tricycles and some shops at Dukku Park.
NAN recalled that the second accident took place on Friday night.
It involved a tanker at Gombe Central Roundabout where one person died while another sustained injuries.

Atiku, others are nothing without PDP – Jonathan

Obasanjo, Mark, Tambuwal absent at post-convention dinner President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday night said members of the Peoples Democratic Party who formed the New PDP are nothing without the party.
Jonathan, who spoke at a post-National Special Convention of the PDP in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said it was glaring to those who broke away from the PDP that they could not survive without the party, hence their decision to call themselves the New PDP.
He said: “Even those that are aggrieved call themselves the New PDP, meaning they know without PDP they are nothing.”
Among those who broke away from the PDP to form a parallel National Executive Council are former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; a former Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; a former National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Kawu Baraje; a former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja; and seven governors elected on the platform of the party.
The dinner was well attended by party members and elders, including Vice President Namadi Sambo; the Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih; and four former National Chairmen – Senator Banabas Gemade, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor and Chief Ezekwesili Nwodo.
However, three key figures of the ruling party were conspicuously absent.
Those absent included former President Olusegun Obasanjo; the President of the Senate, David Mark; and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal.
Jonathan, in his brief remarks, said his government would do everything possible to keep the PDP together.
On the crisis rocking the party, he expressed optimism that the ongoing reconciliatory effort by party elders and governors would resolve the crisis.
The President said: “Without PDP, it is like saying Nigeria has not started because PDP is the only party that has come to give that political leadership in this country.
“Even the opposition, whenever we are having convention, they don’t sleep because they know that without PDP there will be no democracy in Nigeria.
“PDP has been able to show that stability.
“We will do our best as the leaders of the party now, by your grace, to keep PDP one and to keep Nigeria one.
“That some of us have grievances is normal and has been happening.
“We will do everything possible to make sure that the party grows stronger.
“In any human institution, there must be disagreements.
“What happened (the factionalisation of PDP) is a minor disagreement that can be solved.
“For those who have issues, we thank the elders and governors who have meeting and listening to them.
“We are committed to resolving our differences.
“Even those that are aggrieved call themselves the new PDP, meaning they know without PDP they are nothing.
“PDP is intact.
“That we have some disagreements is normal.
“PDP is intact and will remain intact.
“We will make sure that the party remains one.
“Those who left will rejoin us.”
Earlier, the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, had told the President: “The House is full.
“It is a family dinner.
“The biggest family dinner.
“All your former chairmen are here.
“They stand by you come rain, come shine.
“This is your party.
“There is only one PDP and 90 per cent of Nigerians are with you.
“Majority of Nigerians are happy with your leadership.
“They like you and they love you.
“Those that are not here are those on the wrong path.”
Also speaking on behalf of the governors, the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Obong Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, said the country would not break up under Jonathan’s administration, noting that he has survived major challenges in the recent past.
Akpabio said: “We want Nigerians to challenge us on performance not on the pages of newspapers.
“We want to assure you there is no faction in the PDP.
“What we are seeing today is just a storm in the tea cup.
“If you want to step out of the party, you are free.
“This is the only party you can leave and return and become a national party chairman.
“The people are not with those who do not respect constituted authority.
“Those who do not respect authority will not get authority.
“Struggling your way through with might and propaganda will not give the presidency.”
On his part, the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, harped on loyalty to the party and discipline.
Tukur said: “We must learn to accept change in order to build on democratic principles.
“Our party cannot be relevant to the people only once in four years, when votes are needed, but at every time in order to improve their lot.
“Dialogue and reconciliation should be encouraged but our politics should be based on issues rather than personalities.”

OBJ, IBB to Jonathan: You must not run in 2015

More details have emerged on why there has been so much unease in the Presidency after the meeting President Goodluck Jonathan called on September 1, 2013 to douse the tension that trailed the formation of a parallel National Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party under the leadership of Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje.
The Presidency is said to be bothered by the positions of a former military President, retired General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, and former President Olusegun Obasanjo that Jonathan should not seek re-election in 2015.
The meeting, which had in attendance governors loyal to Jonathan, some governors elected on the platform of the PDP but who are now with the Baraje-led faction and some members of the National Executive Committee of the party under the leadership of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, was said to have been tense because of the positions taken by Babangida and Obasanjo.
The two former leaders were said to have told Jonathan that unless he wanted the country to breakup, he should never give seeking re-election a thought.
Their argument was hinged on the fact that at the time he took up the leadership of the country, it was the turn of the North to have produced the president.
But beyond that, they argued that Jonathan failed to manage the political end of his presidency well as those he ought to have courted he did not owing to ill advice from some of his kinsmen, especially Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark.
The source told The Eagle Online: “Their contention was that if Jonathan had managed things well by effectively reaching out to the North instead of giving the impression that he was running a government for largely Ijaw people with the ill-advice of people like Clark, the situation would have been different.
“Rather, they see him as fighting virtually everyone to please a cabal largely made up of people of his own ethnic stock.
“More so, they are of the opinion that the country has not been more divided than now.
“They also believe that Jonathan has lost grip of the PDP, which was a dangerous development to the polity as it was the ruling party in power at the centre and in most states of the federation.”
According to Obasanjo and Babangida, if they could risk their lives to keep the country one by fighting in the civil war, then they are ready to sacrifice more to ensure the country remains one.
The Eagle Online had exclusively reported a part of the meeting where Obasanjo and Babangida told Jonathan that the country had not been more divided that under his watch (http://theeagleonline.com.ng/news/babangida-obasanjo-to-jonathan-nigeria-has-not-been-more-divided-than-under-your-government/).
Among those who attended the meeting were 16 governors loyal to the President, Tukur, Clark and some of the governors now with Baraje.
A follow-up meeting could not hold as the dissenting governors insisted that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar must be invited.
The Presidency turned down the proposal.
Another reconciliation meeting spearheaded by Obasanjo, Babangida and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, also failed to resolve the matter.
However, on Sunday night, Anenih told Jonathan to declare his interest in the 2015 race between now and October 2013.

Wande Coal picks latest 4matic Mecedez Benz

Nigeria’s hip hop star, Wande Coal, has just taken delivery of a 4matic GL 450 Mercedes Benz.
Coal, few days ago, expressed his joy at the acquisition on his Twitter page.
His latest acquisition is coming after he dumped Don Jazzy’s Mavin Records to start his own record label.
The Mushin, Lagos State born act is reportedly said to have been cruising around with his new black SUV.

Police begin search for abducted Archbishop of Anglican Communion

The Police Command in Rivers State said on Saturday that its detectives had commenced search for Bishop Ignatius Kattey, the Archbishop of Niger Delta North of the Anglican Communion.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Angela Agabe, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Port Harcourt that Kattey was abducted with his wife, Beatrice, on September 6.
Agabe said the bishop and his wife were abducted at 10.30pm at Eleme, in Eleme Local Government Area, on their way to Port Harcourt.
She said the kidnappers abandoned the wife in her husband’s car and fled with the bishop into the bush.
She added: As we speak, detectives and our Anti-kidnap Unit are on top of the case.
“They have commenced serious search to free the bishop unharmed.
“No group has claimed responsibility and no ransom demand has been made.”
Agabe urged the people to give police useful information that would assist it fight crime in the state.

Three Police officers killed by Robbers in Sokoto

Suspected armed robbers have killed three policemen at Tureta, Tureta Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The police officers were killed on September 4.
The Public Relations Officer of the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Al-Mustapha Sani, confirmed the incident on Friday.
Sani said: “There was a report of an armed robbery by a gang of hoodlums from the neighbouring Zamfara, numbering between 15 and 30.
“They operated at Dorawa Village, about three kilometres from Tureta town, the headquarters of the local government.
“Upon receiving information about the attack by the hoodlums, who were on motorcycles, a combined team of police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and vigilantes was organised the following morning.
“The armed robbers, who had fled into a forest, laid ambush at Kuruwa Village, about 20 km away from Tureta town, and there was a gun duel ensued.”
Sani said that two of the police officers died on the spot while the other officer did on the way to the Tureta General Hospital.
He assured the people of the state that the command was on top of the situation, adding that investigation on how to track the fleeing hoodlums had commenced.
He said: “We are also collaborating with our colleagues in Zamfara with a view to trailing the hoodlums.
“However, no arrest has been made.”
He appealed to people of the state to sustain their support for the police through supply of useful information and intelligent reports.
The Chairman of the local government, Alhaji Ibrahim Dansarki, said that one of the victims from Kano State had been buried in Sokoto according to Islamic rites.
Dansarki said: “This was done in line with the directive from his family.
“The remains of the other victim from Tsafe in Zamfara and the police constable from Jigawa had also been conveyed to their various families in their hometowns.”
Dansarki appealed to people of the area to report suspected persons or movements to the police for appropriate action.

Police arrest two over killing of sisters

The Police Command in Jigawa State said it has arrested two persons in connection with the killing of two sisters over alleged witchcraft in Gwaram Local Government Area of the state.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Abdu Jinjiri, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Dutse, the state capital, that investigation was ongoing to determine the level of involvement of the accused in the allegation
The police spokesman said the command would not tolerate any extrajudicial killing in the state, adding that if the suspects were found guilty, they would be prosecuted.
Two sisters were allegedly killed on Wednesday by some irate youths.
The sisters, according to the youths of Kila village, Gwaram, were alleged to have killed one Abubakar Sule through witchcraft.

Boko Haram kills 20, razes schools, houses, clinic

Members of dreaded sect, Boko Haram, have struck again in Borno State.
This time around, they killed no fewer than 20 persons.
They also razed a local government headquarters, two primary schools, residential houses and a clinic.
The attacks were carried out in two villages that cut across two local government areas in Borno State.
The affected villages were Gajiram, the headquarters of Nganzai Local Government Area, and Bulabulin Ngawra in Konduga Local Government Area.
The sect members set ablaze the secretariat of Nganzai Local Government Area.