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Police questioned Primeboy over Mohbad’s widow’s petition -PPRO

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The Lagos State Police Command has confirmed that Ibrahim Owodunni aka Primeboy was interrogated at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba on Tuesday over a petition filed by Wunmi, the widow of the late singer, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad.

Primeboy was arrested during a scheduled visit to the SCID alongside Ayobami Fisayo aka Spending.

A source privy to the development told our correspondent that Primeboy and Spending had been asked to visit the SCID every week since the commencement of the investigation into the circumstances leading to the death of Mohbad.

Primeboy was, however, detained during Tuesday’s visit while Spending was released.

However, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, told our correspondent that the afro singer was questioned over alleged defamation of character and other allegations cited in Wunmi’s petition.

Hundeyin said, “One of the conditions under which he (Primeboy) was granted bail during the Mohbad’s case was that he would come to the state CID every Tuesday to sign just to keep an eye on him so that he wouldn’t run away. So he came in today and he took longer than usual.

“This is because Mohbad’s wife wrote a petition against him which defamation of character was part of it. He was questioned on the allegation. After the questioning, I was told that the DC asked him to go. So the SCID confirmed to me that he had left the place about five minutes ago (6:12 pm).”

Meanwhile, the source disclosed that Primeboy had yet to leave the police facility during a chat with our correspondent around 8 pm.

“It is not true. A lawyer, Emmanuel, who went to bail him is still there. The IPO has not released him,” he said.

During its probe, the police declared Primeboy wanted on October 4, 2023, after which he turned himself in two days later.

Mohbad’s father, Joseph Aloba, had filed an application in January at the coroner court sitting in the Ikorodu area of the state, seeking to call more witnesses in the bid to unravel the cause of his son’s death.

The witnesses requested to testify before the court include, Primeboy, Spending and Boluwatife Adeyemo aka Darosha; all of whom were alleged to have been with the deceased at the material time.

Mohbad died on September 12 at the age of 27, with circumstances surrounding his death sparking controversies on social media.

Being a former record label signee of Marlian Music owned by Naira Marley, Mohbad left the label in February 2022.

The state Police Command had on September 18, 2023, inaugurated a 13-man special investigation team to probe the death.

His death also led to the arrest of Naira Marley, and controversial Lagos socialite, Balogun Eletu, aka Sam Larry, amongst others.

The body of Mohbad was on September 21, 2023, exhumed for autopsy to unravel the cause of his death.

Hundeyin had tweeted in September 2023 that an “autopsy has been concluded” and the police were “awaiting result.”

Meanwhile, Aloba, in November 2023, stated that nobody should collect his son’s body for burial without his authorisation.

In an interview with According Online in December 2023, Hundeyin reiterated that the command had not received the report of the autopsy conducted on Mohbad from the pathologists.

EFCC increases charges against Fayose’s ally to 24

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has increased the charges against Abiodun Agbele, an ally of a former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, from 11 to 24.

The EFCC had in 2016 arraigned Agbele, alongside a former Minister of State for Defence, Musliu Obanikoro; Sylvan Mcnamara Limited; Lt. A.O Adewale; Tunde Oshinowo and Olalekan Ogunseye (all at large) at a Federal High Court in Abuja on 11 charges of money laundering to the tune of N1.219bn.

The money is part of N4.7bn allegedly transferred from an account belonging to the Office of the National Security Adviser in the Central Bank of Nigeria.

In the amended charges, Agbele, Sylvan Mcnamara Limited, De Privateer Limited, and Spotless Investment Limited were listed as the first to fourth defendants.

The EFCC accused Agbele of indirectly accepting N1.219bn cash through an official of Zenith Bank in Akure from Obanikoro on behalf of Fayose in June 2014 without going through a financial institution.

The EFCC said he committed an offence contrary to Section 1(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011(As Amended) and punishable under Section 1503) of the same Act.

The EFCC also accused Agbele of aiding De Privateer to commit an offence to take possession of N200m which formed part of N1.219bn, a proceed of money laundering on behalf of Ayo Fayose contrary to section Section 18(A) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 18 of the same act.

When the charges were read to him during the proceedings on Tuesday, he pleaded not guilty.

At the resumed trial, a former Central Bank of Nigeria official, Aliyu Mukadas, had while being led in evidence by counsel for the EFCC, Wahab Shittu told the court that a total sum of N4.15bn was paid to Sylvan Mcnamara Limited’s account.

At the proceedings in November 2023, a former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro while giving evidence in the court stated that Sylvan Mcnamara Ltd’s account “was created to deal with the issue of Boko Haram in Lagos, the account was created by Taiwo Kareem and was used for the purpose of disbursing funds for election.”

Mukadas stated that money was paid in trances to the company’s Diamond Bank account.

The retired CBN staff also confirmed that the National Security Adviser maintains an account with the apex bank meant to fund security operations and not elections.

He said, ” I worked with CBN for 30 years at its Abuja branch and banking services department where I retired last year.

“We effected payments to all ministries or departments. The Office of National Adviser is one of the agencies having an account with the CBN.

“The purpose of the NSA account is for security operations, not for election purposes.

“We paid N200m to Sylvan Mcnamara Limited through Diamond Bank.
We also paid N2bn, N700m, N1bn and N225m into Sylvan Mcnamara Limited.”

When asked if he knew what the money was used for, Mukadas replied that he was not aware.

During cross-examination by Agbele’s counsel, Lekan Ojo (SAN)
Mukadas confirmed to the court that the payment mandate was verified before the payments were made.

When asked if the payment mandate showed the purpose for which the funds were to be paid to the company, the retired CBN official said, “For services rendered.”

He, however, said he had no suspicion the money was for fraudulent purposes.

Another witness called by the EFCC, a former Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank, Peter Amagbo denied the bank funded the Ayo Fayose’s re-election campaign.

He said, “We did not fund election for Ekiti state. We didn’t have any meetings with my chairman and Fayose. I have never seen Agbele before. I met Fayose once as MD/CEO. My second meeting with him was an ex-governor during a friend’s father’s funeral.”

Amagbo informed the court that the bank was with the state before the emergence of Fayose and sustained that during his tenure.

He said, “We had a relationship before Fayose and it was maintained during his time. ”

When asked if he was privy to all conversations or interactions between Fayose and the bank he said, “No. The governor deals with people in their location.”

When further asked since he was not privy to the conversation between Fayose and the bank, he was not in the position to know if the bank had promised to assist Fayose.

Amagbo said, “I am the head of the management of the bank. The chairman is a part-time member of the management. He needs my approval to do that and he knows that we do not sponsor elections.”

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, however, adjourned the matter till May 2, 2024, for the continuation of trial.

EFCC arraigns three ex-bankers, one other for N15.9m fraud

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Enugu State Zonal Command, has arraigned Ogbu Ibekwem, Nwagbara Chidimma, Uwaezuoke Raymond, and Chidubem Mgbeke before Justice Mohammed Garba of the Federal High Court sitting in Enugu State.

This was disclosed in a post via the commission’s X handle on Monday.

According to the post, on February 22, 2023, Access Bank plc turned over Ibekwem, Chidimma, and Raymond, three former employees of the Nottidge branch of the bank in Onitsha, Anambra State, to the agency for embezzling N15,944,100.00.

It added that they were arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing.

One of the counts reads, “That you, Ogbu Kingsley Ibekwe and Chidubem Angela Mgbeke, sometimes in January 2023 in Onitsha, Anambra State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired among yourselves to commit felony to wit, retaining the sum of N7,996,800.00 meant for evacuation to the Central Bank of Nigeria and property of Access Bank Plc Nottidge Branch, Onitsha, which you knew or ought to have known to be proceeds of an unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21(a) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and punishable under Section 20(b)”.

Upon hearing the charges, they pleaded not guilty.

The EFCC’s attorney, Ahmad Abdullahi, asked the court to set a trial date and remand the defendants to the Enugu State Correctional Facility in light of their pleas.

The accused were placed under EFCC custody on remand until the bail application hearing.

Special counsel grilled over report that questioned Biden’s memory

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Robert Hur’s testimony before a congressional committee quickly turned into a partisan slugfest with Democrats and Republicans seizing on the contrasting behavior of Biden and Donald Trump, who has been indicted for his own mishandling of top-secret documents.

In his nearly 350-page report released in February, Hur said criminal charges against Biden were not warranted and — in a politically explosive section — described him as “a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.”

Republicans have particularly focused on Hur’s comments about Biden’s memory, hoping to reignite the age issue for the 81-year-old Democrat ahead of an expected rematch against 77-year-old Republican Trump in the November presidential election.

“My task was to determine whether the president retained or disclosed national defense information ‘willfully’ — meaning, knowingly and with the intent to do something the law forbids,” Hur told the House Judiciary Committee. “For that reason, I had to consider the president’s memory and overall mental state.

“My assessment in the report about the relevance of the president’s memory was necessary and accurate and fair,” Hur said. “I did not sanitize my explanation. Nor did I disparage the president unfairly.”

Democratic lawmakers pushed back against Hur, a 51-year-old registered Republican and career prosecutor, accusing him of making “gratuitous” remarks about Biden’s memory and injecting himself into the presidential campaign.

“Despite clearing President Biden from being prosecuted you used your report to trash and smear President Biden,” said Representative Hank Johnson, a Democrat from Georgia.

“You cannot tell me you’re so naive as to think your words would not have created a political firestorm?” said Adam Schiff, from California.

“You were not born yesterday. You understood exactly what you were doing,” Schiff said. “It was a choice. You certainly didn’t have to include that language.”

Hur, who was appointed special counsel by Biden’s attorney general, Merrick Garland, insisted that “partisan politics had no place whatsoever in my work.”

“Politics played no part,” he said.

‘Documents under his bed’ 

Representative Matt Gaetz and other Republican lawmakers meanwhile contrasted the decision not to charge Biden with the indictment of Trump.

“Biden and Trump should have been treated equally,” Gaetz said. “They weren’t. And that is the double standard that I think a lot of Americans are concerned about.”

Representative Jamie Raskin, a Democrat from Maryland, countered that the circumstances surrounding the mishandling of classified documents by Biden and Trump were not remotely comparable.

“(Biden) did not hide boxes of documents under his bed or in a bathtub,” Raskin said.

Trump has been charged in Florida by a different special counsel, Jack Smith, with hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago home after leaving the White House and obstructing the efforts of the FBI to retrieve them.

Republican and Democratic lawmakers also repeatedly played unflattering video clips during Tuesday’s hearing of Biden and Trump making verbal flubs in public appearances and interviews.

Transcripts of Biden’s interviews with Hur were released, meanwhile, which appear to give a more balanced picture of their encounter than either the president or the prosecutor gave at the time the report was released.

Whereas Hur said Biden could not remember “even within several years” when his son Beau died of brain cancer, the president in fact remembered the exact date and month, but not the year.

Biden also asked aloud at one point when Trump was elected president and twice about the dates of his vice presidency.

The rest of the transcript often shows a spirited back and forth between the special counsel and the president as they discuss the handling of classified documents while Biden was vice president.

The garrulous Biden frequently joked and digressed into detailed stories, including one about an archery contest during a visit to Mongolia and others about his Corvette car, kept in the garage where some of the documents were found.

AFP

Anambra police arrest two armed men

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Operatives of the Anambra State Police Command on Tuesday smashed a deadly insurgency gang along the Awka-Etiti Road in Idemili South Local Government Area of the state.

The spokesman for the state police command, Tochukwu Ikenga, said the police operatives, while on a joint patrol with local vigilantes in the community, accosted the gang on a yet-to-be unravelled mission while heavily armed.

He added that the joint security team chased the hoodlums until the vehicle they were driving ran into a ditch.

He said, “After a shootout, two members of the gang were arrested while four AK-47 rifles were recovered. Also recovered was one Toyota Highlander SUV with Reg. No. Lagos GGE 408 GZ.

“In a related development, another team of police officers also working with the local vigilante intercepted a Toyota Venza Car Registration number: Lagos EKY 746 JB at Neni in Anaocha LGA. The driver of the car fled on sighting the joint team. After a thorough search, 34 live cartridges were recovered from the vehicle.”

Ikenga noted that the state Commissioner of Police, Aderemi Adeoye, “who provided operational guidance to the joint team throughout both operations, has praised all personnel involved for their discipline and operational effectiveness.”

The police boss also directed the Rapid Response Squad at Awkuzu to investigate both cases that appear related.”

Ikenga added that the commissioner has vowed that the state would be made hot for any criminal gang to operate unless they are ready to meet their Waterloo.

The state police command recovered an AK47 rifle with two magazines loaded with 50 rounds of ammunition from a kidnapper’s hideout near the Awgbu community in the Orumba North LG of the state.

On Saturday, the police command intercepted a kidnap gang on Friday and rescued four men already abducted by the “dare-devil kidnappers.”

The state police spokesman disclosed that the kidnappers were taking the victims to an unknown destination before they were intercepted.

Police arrest woman for abducting three pupils in Lagos school

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Operatives of Lagos State Police Command have foiled a kidnap attempt at an undisclosed primary school in the Ijegun area of the state following the arrest of a suspected gang member.

The police rescued a kindergarten student and two pupils during the incident on Monday, March 11, 2024.

The suspects were said to have positioned their operational motorcycles close to the school premises, waiting for other members who went inside to get their targets.

The spokesperson for the state Police Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the arrest.

Hundeyin said the rescued pupils are identified as Sofiat, four years old; Israel, five years old and Mustapha, six years old, adding that they had reunited with their families.

Hundeyin said, ”At about 3.30 pm, on March 11, 2024, the headmaster of a school situated in the Ijegun area of Lagos, reported at Area ‘M’ Command, that some unknown persons invaded the school and abducted three pupils in the school premises.

“Upon the information, detectives swung into action and led a formidable team to the scene of the crime.

”Furthermore, the culprits were given a hot chase, where one Akintola Alima, a 40-year-old woman, who kidnapped the three pre-nursery children was arrested and the children were rescued.

“However, other unknown suspects escaped with an unregistered motorcycle on sighting the olice”.

He said that the suspect was in police custody, saying, “ investigation revealed that she abducted the children for criminal purposes and she had a standby motorcycle now at large, which was waiting for her to escape with the children before she was apprehended. The investigation is still ongoing.”

Xavi starts Barca teens Yamal, Cubarsi against Napoli

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Barcelona face Napoli aiming to reach the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday with Lamine Yamal and Raphinha flanking striker Robert Lewandowski.

Without key midfielders Pedri, Gavi and Frenkie de Jong, coach Xavi Hernandez chose to deploy two wide men, opting for Brazil international Raphinha over Joao Felix.

Along with Yamal, 16, who impressed in the 1-1 first-leg draw, Xavi lines up at the Olympic Stadium with a second teenager, Pau Cubarsi, 17, in the side after his superb recent performances at the heart of defence.

Four-time champions Barcelona have not reached the last eight of the competition since 2020.

Napoli, whose coach Francesco Calzona took over just a couple of days before the first leg, line up with Hamed Traore in midfield, chosen ahead of Jens Cajuste.

Amir Rahmani starts alongside Juan Jesus in defence, with Calzona opting for him instead of Leo Ostigard.

Napoli’s normal attacking trio, led by first-leg goalscorer Victor Osimhen, will be looking to take advantage of a Barcelona defence that has been shaky this season, despite three consecutive clean sheets.

Yesterday, Hernandez said his team’s injury woes are no excuse ahead of the clash with Napoli on tonight in the Champions League.

Teams:

Barcelona (4-3-3)

Marc-Andre Ter Stegen (capt); Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo, Pau Cubarsi, Joao Cancelo; Fermin Lopez, Andreas Christensen, Ilkay Gundogan; Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha

Coach: Xavi Hernandez (ESP)

Napoli (4-3-3)

Alex Meret; Giovanni Di Lorenzo (capt), Amir Rrahmani, Juan Jesus, Mario Rui; Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Stanislav Lobotka, Hamed Traore; Matteo Politano, Victor Osimhen, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

Coach: Francesco Calzona (ITA)

Referee: Danny Makkelie (NED)

AFP

German govt, group to train women in political participation

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About 300 women drawn from states in South West Nigeria are to benefit from a training programme to be sponsored by the German government in collaboration with a non-governmental organisation, Hope for Family Development Initiative in political participation by the womenfolk.

A statement signed by the HFDI Programme Manager, Adeola Falana, obtained in Osogbo, Osun State capital, on Tuesday, said women in the region still face significant disparities in political representation despite the increase in their number holding political positions across the country.

Falana said the training, tagged ‘Advancing Women’s Political Participation through Female Elected Candidates in South West Nigeria’, would be held in Osun, Oyo and Ekiti states.

She added that apart from organising capacity-building training for women aspirants, town hall meetings would also be held with community stakeholders, alongside sensitization workshops for young girls on the importance of women’s involvement in politics.

She called on stakeholders to work collectively to support women’s leadership and ensure women have an equal voice in shaping the future of our communities and nation.

The statement read, “Advancing Women’s Political Participation through Female Elected Candidates in the South West Nigeria project is a project funded by the German government and being implemented in Nigeria by Hope for Family Development Initiative (HFDI).

“The project is aimed at increasing the participation of women in political processes thereby promoting gender equality. A minimum of 100 women will be trained in campaign strategies, leadership skills, and political engagement over the project duration.

“Women’s political participation is crucial for achieving gender equality and inclusive governance. Despite progress, South West Nigeria still faces significant gender disparities in political representation.

“Empowering female elected candidates is essential for advancing women’s political participation and achieving gender equality in South West Nigeria. By addressing the barriers women face and implementing targeted strategies, we can create a more inclusive and representative political system that benefits all members of society.

“It is imperative that stakeholders at all levels work collaboratively to support women’s leadership and ensure that women have an equal voice in shaping the future of our communities and nation.”

Tinubu promises improved maritime security in Gulf of Guinea

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President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday said his administration reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to securing the Gulf of Guinea.

Tinubu said this when he received the Special Envoy of the President of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, at the State House, Abuja.

A statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, explained that Tinubu was responding to a request for a state visit from President Mbasogo, presented by his Special Presidential Envoy and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Simeon Oyono Esono Angue.

The statement is titled ‘Nigeria reaffirms commitment to enhancing maritime security in gulf of Guinea.’

Mbasogo had emphasised the need to revitalise the Nigeria-Equatorial Guinea Joint Commission.

He also harped on the importance of fostering greater cooperation in various sectors, including oil and gas, and trade.

Responding, Tinubu “reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to enhancing maritime security and safety in the Gulf of Guinea,” said Ngelale.

He highlighted the longstanding bilateral ties between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea, describing the relations as “strong and brotherly.”

The Nigerian leader recalled his previous meeting with President Mbasogo, during which they discussed strategies for enhancing economic relations, particularly in the context of ocean and marine economy, and collaborating to address the challenges posed by climate change.

Tinubu expressed confidence that the formal meetings between the two nations would lead to further strengthening of their relationship

He said, “Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea are brotherly nations, and we enjoy very longstanding mutual relations.

“I am sure when next we meet formally; the relationship between our countries will grow from strength to strength.”

Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea share a common maritime boundary linked by close exclusive economic zones.

Both countries have, in the past, established partnership primarily focused on energy cooperation, maritime security and economic diversification.

Their relationship is largely linked to their status as significant oil producers in Africa, leading to collaborative efforts in ensuring regional energy market stability.

Both countries have also joined forces to tackle maritime security threats, such as piracy, to protect their economic interests in one of the world’s most challenging maritime environments.

In April 2023, former President Muhammadu Buhari had attended the Third Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Gulf of Guinea Commission, convened by President Nana Akuffo-Ado of Ghana.

As one-time Chair of the Assembly, Buhari had championed collective efforts by Member States of the region, the Economic Community of Central African States, the Economic Community of West African States, the Gulf of Guinea Commission and their partners to address and prevent piracy.

In June, 2019, Nigeria’s 10th National Assembly passed the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act, 2019, which aims to prevent and suppress piracy, armed robbery and other unlawful acts against vessels.

FG secures $1.3bn for Kano-Niger Republic rail line

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The Federal Government, through the Minister of Transportation, Said Alkali, has reached a milestone in the funding of the Kano-Katsina-Jibiya-Maradi Railway Project, by securing $1.3bn for the ongoing project.

This was according to a statement signed by the minister’s Special Assistant, Public Affairs, Jamilu Ja’afaru, on Tuesday, in Abuja.

This achievement marks a step forward in the completion of a vital infrastructure that promises to strengthen the socio-economic bond between Nigeria and Niger Republic.

“The securing of $1.3bn for the Kano-Katsina-Jibiya-Maradi Railway Project is a significant accomplishment.

“The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Fidet Okhiria, and a senior director with the African Development Bank, Muhammad Abdulrazak, have both endorsed the project as a catalyst for positive change, fostering economic growth and regional cooperation”, the statement partly read.

The statement noted that the recent visit by the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the China Export and Credit Insurance Corporation, Tang Zhigang, and his delegation, further bolstered optimism for the rail project’s potential to lay the groundwork for future prosperity between the two nations.

“The Kano-Katsina-Jibiya-Maradi rail line is a testament to our shared history and ambition for economic advancement. It will create a lasting legacy of wealth and opportunities for Nigeria and the Niger Republic”, Alkali noted.

The statement emphasised that as the project advances, the Federal Government remains dedicated to realising a vision of progress and unity.

It also added that the Ministry of Transportation will continue to provide updates on this transformative venture, marking each achievement as we journey towards a brighter and more connected future.