Human Rights lawyers, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has decried what he described as the dangerously shrinking civil space in Nigeria, as well as rising insecurity and poverty in the land, noting that the country is in perilous times.
Speaking at the 13th Wole Soyinka Centre Media Lecture held in Lagos on Tuesday to mark the 87th birthday anniversary of Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, Falana who was chairperson of the occasion, regretted that while the country is drifting off course, the government of President Muhammadu Buhari is busy chasing shadows.
Falana wondered why, for example, the Buhari government is still looking for cattle routes in the 21st century where there are already organic beef.
“How can you be looking for grazing routes in the 21st century, where you have organic beef? It is animal husbandry,” he said. “Look at Botswana, a small country of barely two million people, but the cattle population there is 2.5 million. That country has market and everything for animal husbandry, so it’s not rocket science to produce beef and distribute.”
The rights activist noted that while the country is facing serious security and economic problems, and amid calls for electoral reforms, Buhari is appointing Lauretta Onochie as INEC commissioner.
“For me we are in very perilous times,” he said. “But we are still talking about Onochie, how to make her INEC commissioner.”
Falana said it was time serious minded people joined politics, as according to him, the politics of NGOs can no longer help the country when criminal minded people are running the parliament.
He pointed out that today’s world has moved beyond oil to knowledge economy, and that Nigeria cannot afford to continue with people who are fixated on oil.
“Nobody has time for oil again. It is knowledge economy. We have a situation today where countries that has no natural resources are ahead of the rest, while those of us that are rich in resources are poor.
“Our economy is all about people going to Abuja to share poverty. The money we make from oil, what is it? We make about $30 billion per year.
Elsie Okpocha, wife of comedian Basketmouth, has made a joke about the man that got her pregnant with her third child.
The restaurateur revealed the man’s identity in an Instagram post on Tuesday which was also her birthday.
Thanking those who sent her birthday greetings, Elsie wrote “BTW have you met the man that got me pregnant???
“His name is Bright Okpocha, most people know him as BASKETMOUTH.
“I just want to thank him for doing a good job.”
She had earlier shared a series of racy pregnancy pictures with the message “A Happy Birthday to me!!!!!
“God did finally hear one of major prayers and I can’t thank him enough.
“He has made me one of the happiest girls in the world.
“This is my TESTIMONY.
“It’s A NEW CHAPTER!!!!!!”
Confirming the challenges she had with birthing her third child, Elsie wrote in another post: “I prayed for this, endlessly
“I craved for it desperately (yea even after 2 kids, lol)
And after 3 miscarriages….
“God said it was time… His perfect time!!!
“It’s A NEW CHAPTER!!!!!!”
Basketmouth also shared his wife’s pregnancy pictures, confirming that their baby was born last month.
“Happy birthday darling dearest Elsie Okpocha. I am so blessed to have an amazon for a wife.
“Here’s wishing you the very best things in life….which starts from me.
“P.S: Thanks for updating my fatherhood licence a month ago, I am now upgraded to version 4,” he wrote.
In another post with pictures of himself whispering in his wife’s ear, the comedian wrote “Elsie Okpocha if you can remember the exact words I said that made you laugh, I’m buying you a brand new of whatever you want.”
Basketmouth, who has a child from another relationship, has two other children with his wife. They are a boy and a girl named Jason and Janelle respectively.
Top Nigerian pastors and religious leaders were absent as the founder of Synagogue Church of All Nations, Temitope Balogun Joshua, aka TB Joshua, was laid to rest on Friday.
Its reported that T.B Joshua, who was laid to rest in the church premises at Ikotun, Lagos, died a few days to his 58 birthday anniversary.
The cleric was said to have died after concluding a programme at the Synagogue Church Of All Nations on Saturday, June 5.
SCOAN had at a news conference on June 29 said that July 5 to July 11 would be dedicated for a series of Joshua’s ‘laying to rest’ activities tagged: ‘Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Prophet Joshua (1963 to 2021)’.
Among the top pastors absent are Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God; Pastor Sam Adeyemi of Daystar; Bishop David Oyedepo of the Living Faith Church also known as Winners Chapel; W.F Kumuyi of Deeper Life Church; Paul Enenche of Dunamis Church; Lazarus Mouka of the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Church.
However, some prominent Nigerians and dignitaries, including the Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu; the Aare Oona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Aare Gani Adams; Wife of the Ooni of Ife, Olori Naomi Adeyeye; a former Minister for Aviation, Mr Femi Fani-Kayode and High Chief Bibopere Ajube, attended the funeral.
Also, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was represented by the state Commissioner for Home Affairs, Mr Olarewaju Elegushi.
When the televangelist died, the Christian Association of Nigeria and many pastors were initially silent.
However, 72 hours after the death of the founder of the SCOAN, CAN issued a terse statement to condole his family and SCOAN congregation.
The condolence, which observers believed was belated, came following condemnation of its silence among Christendom and several organisations in the social media.
Critics wondered why CAN would commiserate with others but would wait for a long time before making a statement on Prophet T. B. Joshua.
Also, the absence of many of the pastors has received a mixed reaction on social media, especially Twitter.
“Oh get a grip all of you in the comments, nobody hated him, it was an issue of doctrine on salvation, apparently the deceased had his own philosophy which many thought to be contrary to bible. If you notice, I included, I haven’t seen the deceased make an altar call for repentant souls,” a tweep, @black_ash422, said.
“I sincerely don’t understand why many of them didn’t go. We are humans and not God, we should not judge others. They deserve to pay him last respects,” another tweep, @Chukwu, added.
Alleged Defamatory Publication: US Court Sanctions Mountain Of Fire Founder, Daniel Olukoya For Misleading Court, Orders Him To Pay $7,320 To Sowore
Olukoya had in the past filed three libel suits against the Publisher of SaharaReporters, Omoyele Sowore, in Nigeria and another one before the District Court of Maryland, United States.
AUnited States District Court in Maryland has ordered the founder of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, Dr Daniel Olukoya, to pay $7,320 within 30 days as part of sanctions in the suit he entered against human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, alleging defamatory publications.null
The court, in a ruling by US Magistrate Judge, Timothy Sullivan, and obtained by SaharaReporters, titled, “DKT 75 Order re – Motion for Sanctions 18-cv-02922,” added that Olukoya was also “prohibited from (1) making any use of any documents related to the U.K. Charity Commission that he produced to the Defendants after January 2, 2021; and from (2) challenging the admissibility of these documents on any basis.”
SaharaReporters had published stories involving Olukoya in September 2017 when some church members in Maryland accused him of importing religious books without paying customs duties.
It had been revealed that the church dragged some of its former pastors and members to court over monetary and property disputes.
The sued pastor and former church members had, in turn, accused the General Overseer of engaging in fraudulent activities in the US, including evasion of duties owed to US authorities.
Also joined in the suit had been the Christ the Truth Ministry, the successor of MFM Bowie.
At issue are real property described as 5506 and 5503 Church Road in Bowie, Maryland, which were acquired by MFM Bowie in 2001 and 2004, respectively. Also in contention are funds for the MFM building in Bowie.
Highlighting the Sahara Reporters publication of September 27, 2017, entitled “Former Mountain Of Fire Miracles Ministries Pastors Accuse General Overseer, Olukoya, Of Illegal Importation Of Goods In US Property Dispute,” Olukoya and the church lawyers had stated in its 49-paragraph complaint their three causes of action which were; “defamation, defamation per se and false light.”
They, therefore, claimed an award against all defendants to compensate for all economic damages sustained as a result of their tortious conduct; an award against all defendants to compensate for all presumed actual reputational damage; an award against all defendants to compensate for all presumed actual damages resulting from mental anguish and emotional distress; an award against all defendants of punitive damages; attorney’s fees and costs.
SaharaReporters had, nonetheless, in August 2020 also reported that Olukoya was considering taking another legal action against the online news publication to stop it from reporting about the United Kingdom Charity Commission scandal involving his church.
Olukoya, in a letter written by his lawyer, Ime Nya Asanga, had alleged that SaharaReporters levelled false allegations against him and the MFM board of trustees.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported how the UK Charity Commission appointed an interim manager for the MFM in August 2019.
The commission, in a statement, said the interim manager assumes these duties at the exclusion of the charity’s trustees, stating that the trustees retain control over matters relating to religious activities.
The UK charity regulator claimed it had serious concerns over MFM Chair of Trustees, Dr Daniel Olukoya, and his handling of serious incidents.
It accused Olukoya of illegally meeting a former employee of the charity alleged to have stolen between £150,000 and £190,000 of the charity’s funds in Nigeria, then entered into an agreement with the individual without consulting with other trustees.
Olukoya had in the past filed three libel suits against the Publisher of SaharaReporters, Omoyele Sowore, in Nigeria and another one before the District Court of Maryland, United States.
While all the cases in Nigeria had been dismissed, the one in the US was decided only on June 24, 2021.
While ruling on the suit, the US District Court magistrate said Olukoya should pay $7,320 within 30 days as part of sanctions in the suit he entered against Sowore while alleging defamatory publications.
The magistrate said, “Plaintiff Daniel Olukoya brought this lawsuit against the Defendants to recover for purported defamatory statements that the Defendants made about him and his church in an article published on September 27, 2017.2 See ECF No. 73. During discovery, the Defendants sought information related to the U.K. Charity Commission’s investigation of Olukoya’s church. ECF No. 72 at 1-2. When Olukoya failed to provide the requested discovery, the Defendants filed a motion to compel (ECF No. 55). Among the discovery requests at issue was a request for “[a]ll documents relating to proceedings before the U.K. Charity Commission related to Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries International.” ECF No. 55-3 at 13.
“In response to the motion to compel, Olukoya stated that he had responded to the discovery requests and that the motion to compel was therefore moot. ECF No. 59. Thereafter, the court held a telephone conference to address a related dispute (whether Olukoya would be required to produce discovery responses directed to a party whose claims had been dismissed), but otherwise treated the Defendants’ motion to compel as moot.
“Unfortunately, Olukoya’s response to the motion to compel contained a serious misrepresentation; he had not produced any “documents relating to proceedings before the U.K. Charity Commission related to Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries International.” See ECF No. 68 at 5 (noting that Olukoya produced no documents responsive to this request). And at 1 Judge Chuang referred this case to me for all discovery and related scheduling matters. ECF No. 57. 2 Other claims that Olukoya brought against the Defendants have been dismissed. ECF No. 26. Olukoya’s deposition, which was held on April 23, 2021, Olukoya testified that there were “tons and tons of documents in [his] possession” that relate to the inquiry by the U.K. Charity Commission. ECF No. 72-8 at 34.”
The magistrate added that the defendants, therefore, sought sanctions against Olukoya for his failure to produce the requested documents relating to proceedings before the U.K. Charity Commission.
The magistrate said, “The conclusion is that; for the reasons set forth above, the Defendants’ Motion for Sanctions will be granted in part and denied in part. The court will enter the following sanctions against the Defendants: Olukoya is prohibited from (1) making any use of any documents related to the U.K. Charity Commission that he produced to the Defendants after January 2, 2021; and from (2) challenging the admissibility of these documents on any basis other than Fed. R. Evid. 401 and 403.
“Olukoya will also be required to pay the Defendants’ reasonable attorney’s fees incurred in connection with his discovery failures, which total $7,320.00, within 30 days of the date of this Order. Payment should be made directly to the Defendants’ attorneys. These sanctions are entered against Olukoya pursuant to Rules 37(c) and 26(g).”
Meanwhile, in the response of Olukoya’s legal team to the court, it already admitted that the said online publications did not lead to any harm for the church.
The court papers obtained by SaharaReporters said, “Defendant Omoyele Sowore’s Request for Admissions. Responses 1. Admit that Plaintiff Daniel Olukoya did not suffer any economic harm due to the publication of the Challenged Statements. RESPONSE: Plaintiff denies this request. 2. Admit that no contract between Plaintiff Daniel Olukoya and any individual, corporation, or entity was terminated due to the publication of the Challenged Statements. RESPONSE: Plaintiff admits this request. 3. Admit that no member of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles church resigned from the Mountain of Fire and Miracles church due to the publication of the Challenged Statements.
“RESPONSE: Plaintiff denies this request. 4. Admit that Plaintiff Daniel Olukoya cannot identify a single individual who decided not to become a member of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles church due to the publication of the Challenged Statements. RESPONSE: Plaintiff denies this request. 5. Admit that Mountain of Fire and Miracles employs a public relations professional or media aide who is responsible for public relations for Mountain of Fire and Miracles. RESPONSE: Plaintiff admits this request.
“6. Admit that Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries employs a public relations professional or media aide who is responsible for public relations for Plaintiff Daniel Olukoya. RESPONSE: Plaintiff admits this request. 7. Admit that Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries maintains a website that provides information about its ministry to the public.
“RESPONSE: Plaintiff admits this request. 8. Admit that Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries maintains a YouTube page that airs Plaintiff Daniel Olukoya’s sermons. RESPONSE: Plaintiff admits this request. 9. Admit that Plaintiff Daniel Olukoya’s Facebook page identifies him as a public figure. RESPONSE: Plaintiff admits this request. 10. Admit that Plaintiff Daniel Olukoya is a public figure for purposes of this defamation action. RESPONSE: Plaintiff admits this request.”
The lawyers representing Sowore in the suit stated that they would donate the $7,320 sanction fees to be paid by Olukoya to Sowore’s ongoing court cases in Nigeria where the government dragged him to court over trumped-up charges.
“Based on Olukoya’s gamesmanship in failing to provide relevant discovery materials (particularly has failed to timely produce any documents relating to the UK Charity Commission investigation), we filed a motion asking magistrate judge Sullivan to impose discovery sanctions on Olukoya. We’re delighted to report that at the end of last week, magistrate Sullivan issued the attached decision finding that Olukoya misled the court and awarding $7,320 in attorneys’ fees against Olukoya personally.
“Olukoya is required to pay us the $7,320 in attorneys’ fees within 30 days. And Lisa and I would like to donate the $7,320 to SaharaReporters to help defray Sowore’s legal defence in Nigeria.
“That’s where things currently stand. In the next few weeks, we’ll be conducting additional limited depositions of Olukoya and Grace Ugeh, which the magistrate has permitted so that we can question each of them about documents they improperly failed to produce until after they were deposed,” one of the lawyers stated.
Alleged Defamatory Publication: US Court Sanctions Mountain Of Fire Founder, Daniel Olukoya For Misleading Court, Orders Him To Pay $7,320 To Sowore
Olukoya had in the past filed three libel suits against the Publisher of SaharaReporters, Omoyele Sowore, in Nigeria and another one before the District Court of Maryland, United States.
AUnited States District Court in Maryland has ordered the founder of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, Dr Daniel Olukoya, to pay $7,320 within 30 days as part of sanctions in the suit he entered against human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, alleging defamatory publications.null
The court, in a ruling by US Magistrate Judge, Timothy Sullivan, and obtained by SaharaReporters, titled, “DKT 75 Order re – Motion for Sanctions 18-cv-02922,” added that Olukoya was also “prohibited from (1) making any use of any documents related to the U.K. Charity Commission that he produced to the Defendants after January 2, 2021; and from (2) challenging the admissibility of these documents on any basis.”
SaharaReporters had published stories involving Olukoya in September 2017 when some church members in Maryland accused him of importing religious books without paying customs duties.
It had been revealed that the church dragged some of its former pastors and members to court over monetary and property disputes.
The sued pastor and former church members had, in turn, accused the General Overseer of engaging in fraudulent activities in the US, including evasion of duties owed to US authorities.
Also joined in the suit had been the Christ the Truth Ministry, the successor of MFM Bowie.
At issue are real property described as 5506 and 5503 Church Road in Bowie, Maryland, which were acquired by MFM Bowie in 2001 and 2004, respectively. Also in contention are funds for the MFM building in Bowie.
Highlighting the Sahara Reporters publication of September 27, 2017, entitled “Former Mountain Of Fire Miracles Ministries Pastors Accuse General Overseer, Olukoya, Of Illegal Importation Of Goods In US Property Dispute,” Olukoya and the church lawyers had stated in its 49-paragraph complaint their three causes of action which were; “defamation, defamation per se and false light.”
They, therefore, claimed an award against all defendants to compensate for all economic damages sustained as a result of their tortious conduct; an award against all defendants to compensate for all presumed actual reputational damage; an award against all defendants to compensate for all presumed actual damages resulting from mental anguish and emotional distress; an award against all defendants of punitive damages; attorney’s fees and costs.
SaharaReporters had, nonetheless, in August 2020 also reported that Olukoya was considering taking another legal action against the online news publication to stop it from reporting about the United Kingdom Charity Commission scandal involving his church.
Olukoya, in a letter written by his lawyer, Ime Nya Asanga, had alleged that SaharaReporters levelled false allegations against him and the MFM board of trustees.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported how the UK Charity Commission appointed an interim manager for the MFM in August 2019.
The commission, in a statement, said the interim manager assumes these duties at the exclusion of the charity’s trustees, stating that the trustees retain control over matters relating to religious activities.
The UK charity regulator claimed it had serious concerns over MFM Chair of Trustees, Dr Daniel Olukoya, and his handling of serious incidents.
It accused Olukoya of illegally meeting a former employee of the charity alleged to have stolen between £150,000 and £190,000 of the charity’s funds in Nigeria, then entered into an agreement with the individual without consulting with other trustees.
Olukoya had in the past filed three libel suits against the Publisher of SaharaReporters, Omoyele Sowore, in Nigeria and another one before the District Court of Maryland, United States.
While all the cases in Nigeria had been dismissed, the one in the US was decided only on June 24, 2021.
While ruling on the suit, the US District Court magistrate said Olukoya should pay $7,320 within 30 days as part of sanctions in the suit he entered against Sowore while alleging defamatory publications.
The magistrate said, “Plaintiff Daniel Olukoya brought this lawsuit against the Defendants to recover for purported defamatory statements that the Defendants made about him and his church in an article published on September 27, 2017.2 See ECF No. 73. During discovery, the Defendants sought information related to the U.K. Charity Commission’s investigation of Olukoya’s church. ECF No. 72 at 1-2. When Olukoya failed to provide the requested discovery, the Defendants filed a motion to compel (ECF No. 55). Among the discovery requests at issue was a request for “[a]ll documents relating to proceedings before the U.K. Charity Commission related to Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries International.” ECF No. 55-3 at 13.
“In response to the motion to compel, Olukoya stated that he had responded to the discovery requests and that the motion to compel was therefore moot. ECF No. 59. Thereafter, the court held a telephone conference to address a related dispute (whether Olukoya would be required to produce discovery responses directed to a party whose claims had been dismissed), but otherwise treated the Defendants’ motion to compel as moot.
“Unfortunately, Olukoya’s response to the motion to compel contained a serious misrepresentation; he had not produced any “documents relating to proceedings before the U.K. Charity Commission related to Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries International.” See ECF No. 68 at 5 (noting that Olukoya produced no documents responsive to this request). And at 1 Judge Chuang referred this case to me for all discovery and related scheduling matters. ECF No. 57. 2 Other claims that Olukoya brought against the Defendants have been dismissed. ECF No. 26. Olukoya’s deposition, which was held on April 23, 2021, Olukoya testified that there were “tons and tons of documents in [his] possession” that relate to the inquiry by the U.K. Charity Commission. ECF No. 72-8 at 34.”
The magistrate added that the defendants, therefore, sought sanctions against Olukoya for his failure to produce the requested documents relating to proceedings before the U.K. Charity Commission.
The magistrate said, “The conclusion is that; for the reasons set forth above, the Defendants’ Motion for Sanctions will be granted in part and denied in part. The court will enter the following sanctions against the Defendants: Olukoya is prohibited from (1) making any use of any documents related to the U.K. Charity Commission that he produced to the Defendants after January 2, 2021; and from (2) challenging the admissibility of these documents on any basis other than Fed. R. Evid. 401 and 403.
“Olukoya will also be required to pay the Defendants’ reasonable attorney’s fees incurred in connection with his discovery failures, which total $7,320.00, within 30 days of the date of this Order. Payment should be made directly to the Defendants’ attorneys. These sanctions are entered against Olukoya pursuant to Rules 37(c) and 26(g).”
Meanwhile, in the response of Olukoya’s legal team to the court, it already admitted that the said online publications did not lead to any harm for the church.
The court papers obtained by SaharaReporters said, “Defendant Omoyele Sowore’s Request for Admissions. Responses 1. Admit that Plaintiff Daniel Olukoya did not suffer any economic harm due to the publication of the Challenged Statements. RESPONSE: Plaintiff denies this request. 2. Admit that no contract between Plaintiff Daniel Olukoya and any individual, corporation, or entity was terminated due to the publication of the Challenged Statements. RESPONSE: Plaintiff admits this request. 3. Admit that no member of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles church resigned from the Mountain of Fire and Miracles church due to the publication of the Challenged Statements.
“RESPONSE: Plaintiff denies this request. 4. Admit that Plaintiff Daniel Olukoya cannot identify a single individual who decided not to become a member of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles church due to the publication of the Challenged Statements. RESPONSE: Plaintiff denies this request. 5. Admit that Mountain of Fire and Miracles employs a public relations professional or media aide who is responsible for public relations for Mountain of Fire and Miracles. RESPONSE: Plaintiff admits this request.
“6. Admit that Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries employs a public relations professional or media aide who is responsible for public relations for Plaintiff Daniel Olukoya. RESPONSE: Plaintiff admits this request. 7. Admit that Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries maintains a website that provides information about its ministry to the public.
“RESPONSE: Plaintiff admits this request. 8. Admit that Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries maintains a YouTube page that airs Plaintiff Daniel Olukoya’s sermons. RESPONSE: Plaintiff admits this request. 9. Admit that Plaintiff Daniel Olukoya’s Facebook page identifies him as a public figure. RESPONSE: Plaintiff admits this request. 10. Admit that Plaintiff Daniel Olukoya is a public figure for purposes of this defamation action. RESPONSE: Plaintiff admits this request.”
The lawyers representing Sowore in the suit stated that they would donate the $7,320 sanction fees to be paid by Olukoya to Sowore’s ongoing court cases in Nigeria where the government dragged him to court over trumped-up charges.
“Based on Olukoya’s gamesmanship in failing to provide relevant discovery materials (particularly has failed to timely produce any documents relating to the UK Charity Commission investigation), we filed a motion asking magistrate judge Sullivan to impose discovery sanctions on Olukoya. We’re delighted to report that at the end of last week, magistrate Sullivan issued the attached decision finding that Olukoya misled the court and awarding $7,320 in attorneys’ fees against Olukoya personally.
“Olukoya is required to pay us the $7,320 in attorneys’ fees within 30 days. And Lisa and I would like to donate the $7,320 to SaharaReporters to help defray Sowore’s legal defence in Nigeria.
“That’s where things currently stand. In the next few weeks, we’ll be conducting additional limited depositions of Olukoya and Grace Ugeh, which the magistrate has permitted so that we can question each of them about documents they improperly failed to produce until after they were deposed,” one of the lawyers stated.
Father-in-Law Of Pastor Enenche Arraigned For Alleged N24.6Million Fraud In Benue Varsity Teaching Hospital The EFCC alleged that the duo obtained the said sum from the Benue State University Teaching Hospital under the guise of purchasing a Toyota Landcruiser Prado 2018 Model which was never bought.
The Chairman of Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Professor John Ibu, who was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for alleged N24.6 million fraud, has been identified as the father of Pastor Becky Enenche, wife of Dr Paul Enenche, founder of Dunamis International Gospel Centre.
Checks by SaharaReporters revealed that Becky, who was formerly known as Rebecca Inyangbe Ibu before marriage, was born into the family of Ibu on October 23, 1970.
On June 28, the EFCC announced that its Makurdi Zonal Office arraigned Becky’s father alongside one Chief Abukenchi Suleiman and his company, ADB Motors Venters Nigeria Limited before Justice Abdu Dogo of the Federal High Court sitting in Makurdi, Benue State.
They were arraigned on charges of conspiracy and obtaining N24, 650,000 (Twenty-Four Million, Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira only) by false pretences.
The EFCC alleged that the duo obtained the said sum from the Benue State University Teaching Hospital under the guise of purchasing a Toyota Landcruiser Prado 2018 Model which was never bought.
The anti-corruption agency noted that the offence is contrary to Section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.
Count one of the charge reads: “That you, Professor John Ibu, being the Board Chairman, Benue State University Teaching Hospital, you Chief Abukenchi Suleiman, being the Managing Director ADB Motors Ventures Nigeria Ltd and you, ADB Motors Ventures Nigeria Ltd sometime in July 2019 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud conspired amongst yourselves and obtained the sum of N24,650,000 (Twenty Four Million Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira only) from the Benue State University Teaching Hospital Board for the purchase of a Toyota Landcruiser Prado 2018 Model under false pretences that you have the capacity to supply which pretence you knew was false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act”.
Count two reads: “That you, Professor John Ibu, being the Board Chairman, Benue State University Teaching Hospital sometime in July 2019 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did use your position to confer an unfair advantage to yourself by collecting a bribe, to the tune of N10, 900,000 (Ten Million Nine Hundred Thousand Naira only), from one Chief Abukenchi Suleiman of ADB Motors Ventures Nig. Ltd, on behalf of Atirogo & Sons Enterprises, paid into Access Bank account Number 0049185884, a company you’re the Managing Director and thereby committed an offence, contrary to Section 19 of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 and punishable under the same Act.”
But the defendants pleaded “not guilty” to the charges preferred against them.
Based on their pleas, prosecution counsel, George Chia-Yakua asked for a trial date and that the defendants be remanded in a correctional facility.
However, counsel for the Ibu, S. O. Vekuwu, moved a motion for the bail of his client on self-recognizance. He informed the court that his client had been on administrative bail offered by the EFCC.
DEMANDS IMMEDIATE ARREST AND PROSECUTION OF ERRING OFFICERS.
DESCRIBES THE SHOW AND USE OF FORCE ON YORUBA NATION AGITATORS BY THE HAKEEM ODUMOSU-LED POLICE COMMAND AS UNNECESSARY, UNDEMOCRATIC, INSANE AND A COMPLETE WASTE OF RESOURCES.
The Muhammadu Buhari regime has led Nigeria into a full blown dictatorship as it has become unfortunately excruciating to keep condemning its attacks on Nigerians on a daily basis. The sorrow, tears and blood government has become emboldened in its fascist tendencies with the recent events that have played out in the last one week- the abduction of Nnamdi Kanu, nocturnal attack on Sunday Igboho’s residence and the extrajudicial killings that happened there.
Today, it is unfortunate that we are penning another condemnation of violent repression of agitators, that has resulted in the killing of a 14-year old female trader by stray live bullets shot by officers led by the Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu. If people could be treated with such violence as witnessed today in broad daylight, we can only imagine the level of wanton atrocities the regime commits at dusk. LekkiTollGate Massacre comes to mind. We call for the immediate arrest and prosecution of all the officers involved in the violent repression and eventual killing.
We describe the “show of force” by the Police as very cruel, undemocratic and a complete waste of both man-hours and taxpayers’ money that could have been used to combat crimes that are on exponential rise in the State.
The level of force seen today at the protest venue would be appreciated in the prevention of crime and in attending to distress calls by residents of Lagos. Less than 10 kilometers from the protest venue is Somolu; a suburb that has become a hotbed of daylight and nighttime robberies. The show of force has not been taken there.
From Kaduna to Abuja, Ibadan and Lagos, just in the space of a week, over 10 protesting Nigerians have been killed with scores left with varying levels of injuries by security agents under the command of Buhari. The unpopular regime must immediately desist from the use of brute force in addressing rightful discontentment of Nigerians.
The AAC calls for the unity of all oppressed as we forge ahead in the struggle for liberation.
An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti on Thursday sentenced a cleric, Prophet Olakanye Oni, to life imprisonment over the circumstances that led to the death of a woman who came to him for spiritual healing.
The prosecution team led by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Ministry of Justice, Ekiti State, Mr Julius Ajibare, said that “the prophet, sometimes in March 2017, invited one Omowale Gbadamosi from Lagos to Ado Ekiti on the pretence that he (the cleric) had solution to her barrenness.
“On getting to his church at Palace of Mercy, Mathew Street, Odo Ado Area, Ado Ekiti, he collected a sum of N52,000 from the victim. He hypnotised the victim and lured her into his room. He, thereafter, spread a white cloth on her and raped her.
“The convict used white handkerchief to clean the victim’s private part and inserted a substance believed to be potash into her vagina. The victim’s vagina got decayed as a result of the substance inserted into it by the cleric and this resulted into the victim’s eventual death.”
The prosecution called six witnesses to prove the case, while the defence counsel, Chris Omokhafe, called the convict and one other person as witnesses.
In the judgment, Justice Abiodun Adesodun sentenced the cleric to life imprisonment for manslaughter.
DSS have arrested a big cat believed to be Sunday Igboho. It was reported earlier that the house of Yoruba activist, Sunday Adeyemo, better known as Sunday Igboho, located at Soka area of Ibadan in Oyo state, southwest Nigeria, was attacked around 1am on Thursday, July 1. This online news platform understands that some of those working with Sunday Igboho, have narrated how gunmen in military uniform allegedly attacked the residence of the Yoruba rights activist.
The attack in its wake, saw the destruction of at least 10 vehicles belonging to the self-styled activist, including his G-wagon, Prado SUVs, and valuable properties, furniture, and windows. It was gathered that Bullet holes were also found on the buildings in the compound while bloodstains were seen on the premises by our correspondent. Speaking to SaharaReporters, an aide to the Ighoho who said he witnessed the incident said the attackers took away jewellery and a huge amount of cash belonging to the Yoruba activist and his family. “Around 1am, we started hearing gunshots, there was pandemonium everywhere. Then we saw soldiers, they were dressed as if they were going for a battle. Before we knew what was happening, they started targeting places where people sleep in the house.
“It was God that saved me and others, they came prepared. Only God knows how they identified Igboho’s room, they went there, took his money and jewellery. Same as that of his wife and other family members.
“They even took away his cat when they didn’t see him. They claimed it might be Ighoho that turned to the cat, so they took it away.
“They shot at the cars and riddled the glasses and doors with bullets.”
Quoting report by SaharaReporters, PeakNews understands that witnesses said that the operatives also killed some of the small cats found in the house while the big one was arrested. Another person who preferred to be anonymous said: “They came around 1:30 am and started shooting. They scaled the fence and started shooting at everybody and everything they saw.
“Chief was around but the way he escaped surprised everybody. An insider must have given them information about the house and its occupants.
“They were asking for each person by name and they killed five and took away their corpses. They also whisked a lady away and wives of Igboho’s aides who live in the house.
“Those who came are soldiers and Department of State Services (DSS) operatives.
“They even killed some small cats and arrested a bigger cat, believing Igboho might have turned to the cat,”he added
Men of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested 25-year-old Adetoro Kazeem for the alleged blackmail and extortion of a woman to the tune of N7m.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.
Oyeyemi said the suspect, a resident of Paara Street, in the Alakia area of Ibadan, Oyo State, was arrested following a report by the complainant, Gloria Ogunnupebi.
He said the woman told the police at the Obalende divisional headquarters, Ijebu-Ode, that she received a message from a strange foreign number via a voice note on her WhatsApp, demanding N200,000 or he would upload her nude pictures on social media.
According to her, she sent the said amount to the suspect in order to prevent the caller from exposing her to public ridicule.
She further told the police that the suspect continued to make more financial demands, thereby extorting her to the tune of N7,363,900.
The complainant added that she decided to report when she got tired of the continuous extortion and started contemplating suicide.
Oyeyemi said following the report, the Obalende Divisional Police Officer, SP Salami Murphy, mobilised his crack detectives to go after the suspect.
The PPRO said, “The detectives embarked on intelligence and technical based investigation, and they successfully traced the suspect to his hideout in Ibadan, Oyo State, where he was apprehended.
“On interrogation, the suspect, who confessed to the crime, informed investigators that he had many OPAY accounts with different names through which he received money from his victims.”
Oyeyemi quoted the state Commissioner of Police, Edward Ajogun, to have applauded the detectives for ‘a well done job.’
He added that the CP ordered an in-depth investigation into the past activities of the suspect with a view to charging him to court as soon as possible.
Peak News 
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