In a daring and brave move, a Lagos taxi driver foiled a carjacking attempt early Wednesday morning.
According to police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin, a 35-year-old male passenger disguised himself as a fare-paying customer before attacking the driver with a knife.
The incident occurred around 1:20 am, as the driver picked up the suspect in the Chevron Area of Ajah. After traveling a distance, the suspect, while seated in the front passenger seat, allegedly pulled out a knife and attempted to steal the Toyota Camry. A struggle ensued, resulting in the driver sustaining a deep cut on his hand.
He quoted the taxi driver as saying that the suspect requested that he take him to the Shrine in Agidigbi, Alausa area of Ikeja, and on conclusion on the fare, they both started the journey to the destination.
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Hundeyin said, “On getting to the Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, by 7UP Alausa Ikeja, the suspect, who was sitting beside him suddenly brought out a knife from his bag and attacked him in an attempt to snatch his Toyota Camry car.
“In the process, the driver sustained a deep knife cut on his hand while trying to struggle with the suspect.
“He quickly raised an alarm, and some good Nigerians came to his rescue, while the suspect took to his heels.
“However, after a hot chase, he was later arrested by the Anti-Crime team of the Alausa police division,” he said.
The driver, who remains unnamed, is currently receiving treatment for his injuries. The arrested suspect is in police custody, and investigations are ongoing, Hindeyin revealed.
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Lagos taxi driver fights off carjacker at knifepoint
Again, court rejects Abba Kyari’s fresh bail request
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, dismissed a fresh bail application the detained Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, filed to be released on bail, pending the conclusion of his trial.
Kyari is facing an eight-count charge bordering on drug trafficking brought against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
The NDLEA alleged that Kyari and his men, sometime between January 19 and 25, 2022, at the office of Inspector-General of Police, IRT, Abuja, in connivance with one ASP John Umoru (now at large), ACP Sunday J. Ubia, ASP Bawa James, Insp. Simon Agirigba and Insp. John Nuhu, unlawfully tampered with 21.25kilograms worth of cocaine that they seized from the two convicted drug traffickers- Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwane- even as it also accused them of dealing in cocaine worth 17.55kg.
The charge stated that this is contrary to section 14(b) of the NDLEA Act, CAP N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, the defendants
The court had, in two previous rulings, denied the defendant’s bail and ordered their remand at Kuje prison.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja also refused Kyari’s request for bail.
At today’s sitting, Justice Nwite, in a ruling, held that Kyari’s application lacked merit.
He stated that Kyari failed to establish any exceptional circumstance that would warrant the exercise of judicial discretion in his favour.
The trial judge said that the court had earlier dismissed a similar bail application that was brought before it and ordered an accelerated hearing of the case.
He said no evidence was shown to convince the court why it should depart from its earlier ruling.
Justice Nwite rejected Kyari’s application and approved that the NLDEA, proceed with the prosecution of both Kyari and his co-defendants in the matter.
Recall that the court last month granted Kyari temporary bail from prison custody to enable him to participate in his mother’s final burial rites.
The court granted him N50m bail for two weeks and two sureties in like sum.
Previously, Kyari had filed an application to challenge the charge brought against him which the court on March 22, 2023, dismissed.
Kyari, through his team of lawyers led by Mr Nureni Jimoh (SAN), argued that the charge was legally defective and premature.
He added that the NDLEA ought to have allowed police to exhaust its internal machinery before filing the applications in court.
He claimed that the Police had already commenced an investigation into allegations against him and issued an interim report.
The defendant argued that he could only be charged to court upon the conclusion of the internal investigation by the police.
Russia presses U.S. for response on prisoner swap
In a move that could signal a potential thaw in U.S.-Russia relations, Russian officials announced, on Wednesday, that they are awaiting a response from the United States on proposals for a prisoner swap.
The announcement comes amidst heightened tensions between the two countries, fueled by the ongoing war in Ukraine.
This is coming days before American reporter Evan Gershkovich was set to face trial in Russia on espionage charges.
President Vladimir Putin said in February that talks on a prisoner swap involving Gershkovich were underway, but the Kremlin has not given any details on the progress of the negotiations.
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“The ball is in the court of the United States, we are waiting for them to respond to the ideas that were presented to them,” Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the state-run TASS news agency.
“They are well-known to the relevant parts of the U.S. administration. I understand that, perhaps, something in these ideas does not suit the Americans. That’s their problem,” he added.
The closed-doors trial against Gershkovich begins on June 26 in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg. He could face up to 20 years in prison if found guilty of spying.
Washington has previously accused Moscow of detaining American citizens on dubious charges and using them as bargaining chips for the release of Russians held in the United States. It remains unclear if the latest proposals address these concerns.
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Nnamdi Kanu seeks negotiation with FG
The leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has said he would seek negotiation with the Federal Government over his ongoing trial.
Kanu, speaking through his lead counsel, Alloy Ejimakor, told the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday that he would seek the negotiation under Section 17 of the Federal High Court Act.
The Act states: “In any Proceeding In the court, the court may promote reconciliation among parties thereto and encourage and facilitate the amicable settlement thereof”.
Ejimakor had earlier moved two applications brought before the court. The first application is to move form 49 and an application objecting to the jurisdiction of the court.
Kanu’s lawyer said if the applications are denied, his client will move for the implementation of section 17 of the Federal High Court Act.
Responding, counsel to the federal government, Adegboyega Awomolo told the court that he had earlier informed the defendant that he does not have the powers to negotiate on behalf of the Federal Government.
He stated that the defendant should approach the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagnei (SAN), who has the power to negotiate on behalf of the government,
Responding to the development, the presiding judge, Justice Binta Nyako, said the court was not a solicitor but to only hear cases.
The detained IPOB leader has been in DSS custody since June 2021, after he was arrested in Kenya. Since his arrest, he has been facing terrorism-related charges levelled against him by the government.
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Ban on sachet alcoholic beverages still in force
The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Moji Adeyeye said the ban on the sale and consumption of sachet alcoholic beverages in the country is still in force.
Adeyeye said this on Wednesday at a press briefing held in Lagos and monitored by our correspondent via Zoom.
She said, “The ban on sachet alcohol is a ministerial directive and the ban still remains until the ministers respond. The meeting last week Thursday is a continuation of the discussion.
“The outcome of the meeting is that the ministers should write a memo to the Speaker (of Reps) and the House (of Reps), and the Representative of the Speaker, Prof Jake Dan-Azumi then said we should continue the discussion after the recess of the House members in July. So, the discussion continues.”
The deputy spokesman for the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, last Friday disclosed the House and NAFDAC resolved to lift the ban on the sale and consumption of sachet alcoholic beverages in the country.
Agbese said the resolution to lift the ban temporarily was arrived at after a meeting between the House Committee and NAFDAC officials, noted
He said the lifting of the ban would end when the economy fully recovers from its current strain.
On February 1, 2024, NAFDAC commenced the enforcement of the ban on the importation, manufacture, distribution, sale and use of alcoholic beverages in sachets, PET, and glass bottles of 200ml and below.
The NAFDAC DG said the decision was based on the recommendation of a high-powered committee of the Federal Ministry of Health, NAFDAC, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, and the industry represented by the Association of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Employers, Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria, in December 2018.
However, the move to enforce the ban has generated repeated protests by distillers and labour unions, who said the ban would cost 500,000 workers their jobs, and ruin N800bn investments.
Meanwhile, medical experts warned that lifting the ban on alcoholic beverages will lead to acute health complications, increased road traffic accidents, increased risk of abuse of alcohol, liver problems, heart-related problems, and cancers, among others.
NOSDRA confirms oil spill in Bayelsa
The National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency has confirmed an oil leak from the Nembe Oilfields operated by Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Limited at Nembe in Bayelsa.
Head of NOSDRA’s field Office in Yenagoa, Mr Solomon Ukponevi, confirmed the development to newsmen on Wednesday in Yenagoa.
He said that the oil firm reported the incident to the agency on Tuesday.
He explained that the Agency had deployed its officials to the spill site to ascertain the cause and volume of crude oil discharged to the environment.
On the extent of the pollution, Ukponevi said that the Joint Investigative Visit scheduled for Wednesday would determine the area among other details.
“I will not be able to provide details until staff deployed for the JIV return from the fields, but I can tell you that Aiteo has reported the spill and investigation is underway,” he said.
NAN learnt that the leak occurred on Monday at a section of the 97-kilometre Nembe Creek Trunk line (NCTL) that hitherto fed the Bonny Oil Export Terminal in Rivers.
Following persistent vandalism on the oil export line with the capacity to evacuate 180,000 barrels of crude daily, Aiteo resorted to using barges to convey crude from the Nembe fields.
The barges are used to transport crude from onshore oil wells to a Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel from which Aiteo exports the Nembe Crude blend to crude tankers.
The Management of Aiteo has yet to respond to the incident as of the time of filing this report
NAN
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PSC union asks Tinubu to sack IG
The Joint Union Congress of the Police Service Commission has called for the removal of Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, accusing him of misrepresenting facts about the recently concluded recruitment exercise.
The police and the commission’s union had been at odds over the recent recruitment exercise.
On Saturday, the police alleged that the process was marred by corruption and other irregularities. Meanwhile, the PSC accused the police of attempting to hijack the process.
Addressing journalists on Wednesday, the Chairman of the union, Adoyi Adoyi, noted that the action of the IG was capable of causing chaos which he said was against his profession.
He said, “We begin this press conference with a clarion call on the President and Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu to immediately relieve the IGP, Kayode Egbetokun of his appointment as IGP. Our concern comes from the fact that a public officer who misleads the President is causing confusion in the country and may lead to chaos which is antithetical to his duty as a police officer.
“His attitude has become only a replica of the Biblical Haman who in deceiving his principal wanted to wipe out an entire nation but for the tiny intervention of God. So we call on the president to responsibly relieve him of his duties for the following reasons.”
Adoyi also alleged that some elements within the police attempted to smuggle over 1000 names into the recruitment list.
He said, “We have been furnished with reliable information indicating that elements within the Police Force attempted to smuggle over 1,000 names into the recruitment list. This manipulation was a grave breach of the recruitment process and a calculated attempt to undermine the credibility of the entire exercise.
Adoyi described the allegations levelled by the IG against the commission as false, unfounded and spurious.
He said, “The allegations of fraud and several unwholesome acts levelled against the Police Service Commission and its staff are, to say the least, unfounded, spurious, speculative and most irresponsible, especially by the way the allegations were thrown into the public space even before official channel of communication for dealing with such a matter was explored. “
Actress Genevieve Nnaji opens, says Hollywood made her feel like a ‘commodity’
Talented Nollywood actress Genevieve Nnaji has opened up on how her first produced movie titled ‘LionHeart’ made her a ‘commodity’ in the American movie industry dubbed Hollywood.
The experienced thespian who shared her story as a panel member at the 2024 AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum/Afreximbank Annual Meetings said that she didn’t find the type of support she needed in Hollywood to do more at the time.
Genevieve stated that given what she had done with ‘LionHeart’ she felt that she was going to have an opportunity to do more in the US but that was not the case.
“For the first time, I realised I was a commodity. I thought, you know, given what I had done with Lionheart, and all of that, I was going to have an opportunity to do more. Getting there and having the kind of support, that obviously CANEX is bringing on board, but I thought I could find it in Hollywood. That was not quite the case,” she said.
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“They wanted what I had but for their benefit. It was all about their story. It was all about how, even if it was our story, I could make it more authentic to their own understanding of whatever Africa is because they did have a lot of literature in their archives.”
Genevieve also added during the panel discussion that she had the option to move to Hollywood years ago but chose to stay behind to support Nollywood’s growth.
“But I am Nollywood. I could have gone to Hollywood a long time if I wanted to. But I had a dream to build an industry in Nigeria that could rival it. That’s because I’ve always believed in that.
”I have always believed that we were capable of actually owning an industry like that, that told our story for our people. I wanted that. I respect what Hollywood is doing. I respect what Bollywood is doing and I felt like Nollywood had an equal chance at it,” she said.
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Reps hail military on anti-insurgency fight successes
The House of Representatives has lauded troops of the Nigerian Armed Forces for their sustained pressure against insurgency and terrorism in trouble spots across the country.
The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Defence, Babajimi Benson, gave the commendation in Abuja on Wednesday, saying the troops have recorded remarkable achievements in recent times.
“The successes recorded in various operations across the country underscore the bravery, professionalism, and unwavering commitment of our military personnel to safeguarding the nation,” he said in a statement issued in Abuja.
According to him, the feats are a testament to the resilience and sacrifice of the men and women in uniform, who tirelessly work to ensure the safety and security of all Nigerians.
“The recent successes of our armed forces in various operations across the country are highly commendable. These victories not only reflect the strategic prowess of our military leadership but also the dedication and bravery of our soldiers, airmen, and ratings. We owe them a debt of gratitude for their relentless efforts to protect our nation,” he added.
The lawmaker, who represents Ikorodu Federal Constituency in Lagos State, noted that the troops of the Multinational Joint Task Force have continually dealt fatal blows to terrorist groups in the Lake Chad region through a series of daring operations.
“In one such operation conducted on June 15, 2024, several terrorists were neutralized and 34 women and children were rescued from insurgents,” he said.
He continued, “In Abia State’s Ihechiowa community of Arochukwu Local Government Area, the Nigerian Army, in collaboration with other security agencies, have impressively intensified their efforts against the Indigenous People of Biafra and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network.
“Our troops raided and cleared IPOB/ESN camps in the Umudi Forest and Umuaku areas of Umunneochi Local Government Area thereby liberating the communities from the clutches of miscreants and terrorists.”
He also added that on June 15, 2024, the Nigerian Navy Ship Soroh discovered and deactivated an illegal refining site in the Isonogbene area of Brass Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, stressing that the site contained unspecified quantities of stolen crude oil and illegally refined AGO.
“The Nigerian Air Force carried out impressive airstrikes on June 17, 2024, in Katsina State, resulting in the elimination of over 80 terrorists. These strikes, along with previous ones in various parts of the North West and North East have significantly disrupted terrorist activities and enhanced the safety of several communities for their residents,” Benson added.
Accordingly, the All Progressives Congress chieftain assured the nation’s armed forces of the readiness of the parliament to provide the necessary support to enable them to succeed in their mission of safeguarding the lives and property of Nigerians.
“The House of Representatives remains committed to supporting our Armed Forces in every possible way. We understand the importance of providing adequate resources and legislative backing to ensure the effectiveness of our military operations. Rest assured, we will continue to prioritize the welfare, training, and equipment needs of our troops to maintain their operational readiness and efficiency,” he said.
JUST IN… Rivers Crisis: APC calls for state of emergency, says state at war
The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the state.
Chairman of the APC Caretaker Committee in the state, Chief Tony Okocha, made the call during a media briefing in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
He said: “Rivers State is at war. And the dramatis personae who are responsible for the mayhem that has claimed lives are known.
“The governor is helpless, the police is helpless. Therefore the APC in Rivers State is calling for a state of emergency in Rivers State as a way of taming the mayhem, the upsurge that is going on in the state. I call on the federal government to act fast in this regard.”
READ ALSO:Fubara goes after former LG bosses, orders audit of councils’ accounts
Constitutionally, the Federal Government is empowered to declare a state of emergency during a natural disaster, civil unrest, armed conflict, medical pandemic, epidemic or other biosecurity risk.
The call by Rivers State APC followed renewed hostilities between the camps of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor and godfather, Nyesom Wike, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
The current crisis came about when elected local government officials, whose tenure expired on Monday, June 17th, refused to vacate office, relying on a controversial law passed by the 27 pro-Wike members of the Rivers State House of Assembly extending their tenure by six months.
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