2019: Donald Duke Speaks On Presidential Ambition

A former Governor of Cross River State, Mr Donald Duke, said he has not dropped his presidential ambition.

Duke stated this in a chat with NAN. He said the speculations that he has dropped his presidential aspiration were untrue.

The ex-governor said he has not officially declared for the presidency for strategic reasons.

“Sometime ago, I said I will run for the presidency of the country if the opportunity presented itself.

“Yes, my presidential ambition is still intact. I am only waiting for the opportunity to present itself to make the right move,’’ he said.

Asked on what platform he would run, since he was a member of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s inspired “Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM),” he said it was too early to decide on the matter. He, however, said he was still a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“I am still a member of the PDP, at the same time a member of the coalition which is not a political party.

“The coalition will definitely align with a political party to achieve its goals, otherwise it will make no sense.

“I can’t say yet the platform on which I will run if the opportunity presents itself. We are still watching and will take the right step at the right time,’’ he added.

On the abductions and killings in some parts of the country, Duke described the situation as disturbing.

He urged the relevant authorities to confront the problem head on for the peace and stability of the nation.

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Dino Melaye says his party, APC, has failed Nigerians

Apparently attacking the party that brought him to power, Senator Dino Melaye, has come down heavily on the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing it of failure and bad leadership. 

While speaking after he was conferred with the “Legislator of the Year 2017” at the Daily Asset Newspaper maiden annual awards and lecture in Abuja, Senator Dino Melaye took a swipe at the APC for failing to meet the expectations of Nigerians, many of whom he said, defied the odds to vote for Buhari as Nigeria’s President in the 2015 general elections.

According to Vanguard the outspoken lawmaker representing Kogi West Senatorial District, also charged Nigerians to conquer fear by rising up to ask critical questions on governance and service delivery.

He said: “If you speak the truth, you die. If you lie, you die. I, Dino Melaye has decided to speak the truth and die,” the fiery Senator wowed the audience with his vitriolic against his own party, which he likened to the Public Complaint Commission, apparently due to its penchants for blaming past administrations for its inability to deliver on some of its electioneering campaign promises.

“The APC government has become Public Complaint Commission. I say this without fear or favour. We have more complains in the APC and even in the Presidency than service rendered. We cannot as a people continue like this.

“The President said two days ago we should all embrace peace but I want to say without fear or favour that there can be no peace without justice. There is hunger in the land, there is poverty in the land, and there is unemployment in the land. A lot of decision has not been taken; yet we say we want peace. The primary objective of government is the security and welfare of the people. There is no security, there is no welfare,” he said.

Speaking further, the federal lawmaker said, “Nigeria is not only sick presently but equally suffers from regretful congenital abnormality. There is therefore a serious need for amelioration, palliation and correction. The question is: are you going to be part of that correction? I want to say that in an unjust society, silence is a crime, and every one of us here today, is the reason why Nigeria is sick.

“It is not about the leadership, it is the inability of the followership to check the leadership. Today Nigerians have become indolent, we are suffering and smiling. We are not reactionary. We are not asking questions and that is why we are where we are.

“Democracy will continue to be government of the people by the people for the people but what we have today is greedocracy which is government of the greedy by the greedy and for the greedy,“ he added.

While decrying the squalid social conditions in which the people live in, Melaye warned those in positions of authority not to forget that their failure to make the most of their offices in the interest of the people could turn out to hurt them, arguing that not even the rich would be immune from the disaster that looms in the horizon.

“2019 is around the corner again. Many of us are lackadaisical about the future. I delivered a lecture recently at the University of Lagos and some students from very wealthy homes, two of them said they didn’t care who the president of the country is and that it was none of their business because their parents were very successful. I said to them that when the poor have nothing to eat, they will start eating the rich.

“A time will come when it will be difficult to drive your expensive jeeps and cars on the streets. A time will come when it would be difficult to switch on your generator because everywhere around you is dark. Will you be the only one having light? There was no kidnapping before, and kidnapping is seen as the redistribution of both ill-gotten and legitimate wealth. People now take from the rich and they now appropriate to themselves,” he noted even as he urged the masses to be wary of the elites whom he accused of polarizing the rest of the populace.

“The elites have divided us using tribal sentiments. When you go to the hospital, there is a column for religion on your call card, a column for tribe and local government as if this will in any way facilitate your recovery. We have become too ethnic conscious. I sponsored a bill that is about to go for a second reading. The bill is saying that we should abolish state of origin and in its place; we should have state of residence. This is when we will have a true Nigeria when you will not need a Senator’s note to get job with the Central Bank of Nigeria or the NNPC,” he added.

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Nigerian Graduate Who Had Distinction Turns Bricklayer (Photos)

With over 12 million people losing their jobs under the current administration, life has become uncertain for many graduates who now resort to doing odd jobs to survive.

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I Rob Because Many People In Government Steal Our Money — Suspect

The Nigeria Police Force in Niger State has arrested two suspected armed robbers, Shehu Bida and Bello Mallam, who claimed that they went into robbery because there was recession in the country and the “government did not provide any job for people.”

The two suspects were arrested in Talba Estate, Bida town in the Bida Local Government Area of the state.

The Punch learnt that Buda, 20, and Mallam, 18, were trailed and apprehended by the police after robbing one Mohammed Mohammed of the sum of N7,400 and two handsets valued at N9,000.

The suspects confessed that they inflicted injuries on Mohammed before dispossessing him of his N7,400 and the two mobile phones.

Northern City News gathered that the hoodlums used a machete and planks to injure Mohammed on the head, for preventing them from raping his daughter.

Buda told our correspondent that he committed the crime due to the economic recession in the country.

“Many people are stealing in the country, including top government officials. People are dying of hunger and there is no job. What else do you expect me to do other than stealing?

“If am discharged by the police, I will still go back to rob people. The country is in a bad situation,” the suspect said unrepentantly.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Muhammad Abubakar, told Northern City News on Tuesday, that the operatives recovered from the suspects the machete.

The police said the suspects would be charged to court at the end of investigation.

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VP Osinbajo: TI’s corruption rating call to work harder

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday took an optimistic look at the poor rating of Nigeria on the recently-released Transparency International (TI) Corruption Perceptions Index 2017.

He said in Abuja that the rating was not a setback for Nigeria, but an encouragement for the country to work harder and plug loopholes.

The Transparency International’s report released on February 21, scored Nigeria 27 per cent and ranked it 148th out of the 180 countries assessed.

The organisation said Nigeria’s latest result was worse than that of 2016 wherein the country was ranked 136th with a score of 28 per cent.

In the 2017 rankings, Nigeria shares the 148th spot with Comoros and Guinea.

But the Vice-President said Nigeria’s rating dropped because the country had a low score in “just one out of the nine internationally-recognised indexes” used by the organisation.

He said while the index scored Nigeria low on the Economist Intelligence Unit Country Risk Service, with a decline from 37 points to 20 points, the country either remained stable or improved on its scores for all the other eight indexes used in the CPI ranking.

Osinbajo said this at a one-day ‘Dialogue of Organs of Government on Reform of Justice Sector and Campaign Against Corruption’ which was held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday.

The Vice-President was represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff, State House, Mr. Ade Ipaye, at the event, which was jointly organised by the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption and the Federal Ministry of Justice.

Speaking at the event, various representatives of the three arms of government pledged to collaborate with one another in the fight against corruption.

The speakers included, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki; the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara; the Chief of Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen; the Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), and PACAC Chairman, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN).

Speaking for the three arms of government on Tuesday, Osinbajo said the government was not discouraged by the TI’s report.

He insisted that “real progress” was being made in the nation’s fight against corruption, noting that perception, which the TI’s report was all about, could sometimes lag behind reality.

He however added that sometimes too, perception could be stronger than reality, hence the need “to keep up the fight, until the full effect of our efforts can be clearly seen and perceived.”

“In that regard, the ranking of Nigeria by the 2017 Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index released on February 21, 2018 should not in any way be seen as a setback, but rather as an opportunity to continue building on the many successes that have already been recorded by this government in all key sectors,” he said.

Although, he expressed his reservations about the reports of some international organisations about Nigeria, he said there was the need for the country to remain tolerant to criticisms and address the issues raised in the reports.

Based on that, Osinbajo said, “Government is therefore not discouraged by the recent CPI report. By government, I speak for the three arms. We are encouraged to work harder, to close ranks and bring development to our people.

“We recognise that democracy strongly relies on the tripod of the executive, legislature and the judiciary. The primary focus of the government and democracy is the people, and not power struggles among those of us in power.”

To corroborate his reservations about some reports critical of government, he highlighted some developments in Nigeria under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

He also said that despite up to 60 per cent drop in revenue, the government had, “by stopping grand corruption, made the highest capital spending in the history of Nigeria, in the sum of N1.3tn in 2017.”

Osinbajo said for the first time, the government was taking on “game-changing infrastructure projects,” including building the Lagos-Kano standard gauge rail line.

He added that government was “daily increasing power supply” adding, “once we conclude some strategic transmission projects, we would see a truly appreciable improvement in domestic and industrial power supply.”

According to him, as of September 2017, the administration had given a total support, comprising excess crude account loan and budget support facility amounting to about N876. 3bn.

“If we add the Paris club refunds, we will have disbursed N1.91tn to states, outside of their regular monthly allocations,” he said.

He also recalled that Amnesty International, a global organisation concerned with the protection of human rights, had recently failed to substantiate its allegations of rights violations against the Nigerian security forces.

He said, “Just last year, an Amnesty International Report was released, which suggested a range of abuses by Nigeria’s security forces on the civilian populace. Government set up a high-powered enquiry headed by a distinguished Justice of the Court of Appeal.

“The panel actually invited Amnesty International to substantiate its claims so that remedial measures could be taken, but the organisation was not forthcoming on providing proof for many of its allegations against the armed forces.

“As a country, we must therefore not be afraid or intolerant of criticism, rather we must take a constructive and collaborative approach to addressing the structural issues, especially knowledge gaps, thrown up by these reports and indexes.”

Saraki, who was represented by Senator David Umar, while lamenting the scourge of corruption, said, “there is no gainsaying the negative impact of corruption on our economy, government, health, youths, social welfare, employment, education, businesses and so on.”

He expressed concerns about the TI’s report, which he said, deemed Nigeria “to have performed poorer than our 136th position in the 2016 rankings to 148th in 2017.”

Also pledging the support of the judiciary to the fight against corruption, the CJN, who was represented by the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, said for the fight to be successful “we have to fight the culture of impunity.”

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How To Pray Like A Real Man!

“Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.” – (1 Timothy 2:8) In Bill’s new book, Simple Skills for Every Man: Success in Relationships, Work and Walk with God, he shares the true secret of success in life and love, including talking with the God who created men!

During my years as a lead pastor, I looked for ways to help men shine. I believe men have everything they need inside to be successful in their purpose and influential in their families. I also find many men get bored with prayer. The main reason is that we don’t know how to listen to God in prayer. 

Any man who hears from the God of creation, author of salvation and inventor of risk will look at prayer as an adventure rather than a boring duty. So, how do we learn to listen to the God who created us as relational beings? 

Here is one skill that has transformed my prayer life, as well as men I have mentored.

Listening Skill: God, you go first.
Often men feel their minds wander when they try to pray. Periodically, begin your time of prayer with the statement, “God, you go first today.” Then assume any thought that comes to mind is something God wants to talk with you about. Don’t worry about whether the thoughts are positive, negative or neutral.

I fought this for a long time. I would set aside time to pray and then I would get flooded with thoughts that were ugly, dark and focused on areas of my life I wanted to ignore. I assumed this was Satan or his cadre of demons trying to distract me from praying as I should. Then I became a dad. I noticed that when my kids approached me, I was eager to bring up issues I knew were holding them back that they were trying to ignore. I started a habit with them that went something like this:

“Dad, can I talk with you?”
“Sure, I’d love to.”
“Can I spend go to dinner at my friend Bob’s Friday?”
“Well, I’ve noticed you have been lazy about cleaning your room lately and you’ve been mean to your brothers. Are you going to act that way at Bob’s house?”
“No, dad. I wouldn’t do that.”
“Is there a reason you act that way at our house but wouldn’t act that way at their house?”
“I see your point dad. I am sorry and I will work hard this week at being better at home. If I do that, would it be okay if I go to Bob’s?”
“If you follow through, I don’t see a problem.”

God is a much better Dad than I am. If I can figure out as a dad that there are issues I need to bring up with my kids, certainly God wants to bring up issues with us. It makes sense then to willingly open ourselves up to the process.

Once you pray, “God you go first,” use the thoughts that come to mind to form points of conversation with God. Confess the sins that come to mind. Talk over the decisions that confront you. Admit to the fears that are holding you back. Agonize over the people you love who have real needs. Celebrate the victories. Report the areas that make you angry. Let every thought become a reason to talk with God as it gives God the opportunity to be in charge of your prayer time. Keep this going until things go silent. At that point, you can bring up whatever you would like and see where that conversation leads. 

By letting God go first, you forge a friendship with the powerful God who created you and wants the best for you and you are giving Him permission to speak wisdom into your life.

[written by Pam and Bill Farrel]

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Lady Arrested Among Suspected Killers of Nigerian Lawmaker

Some suspects have been arrested in connection with the abducting and murdering of Taraba state lawmaker, Hosea Ibi and Mr Chidebere, who was later released.

Honourable Hosea Ibi was abducted by gunmen on December 31st, 2017, and later found dead by the roadside in Takum LGA of the state on Monday, January 15th. He was said to have been killed by the kidnappers after a ransom of N35 million was paid.

The suspects were arrested by troops of 23 Brgd deployed to Wukari on EX AYEM AKPATUMA and a team of Department of State Service from Jalingo.

The suspects are Jaka Ejukun (24years), Peter Isaga (33years) and Arachukwu Bedforth (21years).

A raid was again carried out on Sunday 25 February 2018 by the combined team of own troops and Department of State Services in Gbise, Kastina Ala LGA, leading to even more arrests. 

The suspects; Isaiah Suwe (23 years) a Tiv by tribe from Lessel Ushongo LGA of Benue State, Amadu Barnarbas Torva (aka Atamanin) (23 years) from Gbise Kastina Ala LGA of Benue State, Aondi Teroo (21 years), Nengenen Mbaawuaga Damian (22 years), Aondoase Kayitor (18 years) and Ternenge Tersoo (19 years), were arrested during the raid.

Altogether a total of 9 persons have been arrested in connection to the murder of the Taraba lawmaker.

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Buhari’s Son, Yusuf Returns To Nigeria After Treatment Abroad

President Muhammadu Buhari’s only son, Yusuf Buhari, who was involved in a ghastly motorbike accident last December, returned to the country om Monday after undergoing further treatment overseas.

Although it could not be ascertained where Yusuf had gone for treatment, ThisDay gathered that Yusuf, who arrived the country Monday night, was in a better shape and is expected to resume a normal life.

At the time of his accident, a statement by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media and Publicity, had said Yusuf was allegedly drag racing with his friend, when the accident happened on December 26.

According to the statement, “Yusuf broke a limb and sustained an injury to the head as a result. He has undergone surgery at a clinic in Abuja. He is in a stable condition.”

He had first undergone successful emergency surgery at the Cedarcrest Hospitals, Abuja, carried out by a team of neurosurgeons and orthopaedic surgeons.

As Yusuf’s health improved, he was transferred from the intensive care unit of the hospital to the ward, following which he was certified stable and discharged.

But sources in the presidency disclosed that shortly after he was discharged from Cedarcrest, he departed the country quietly due to the sensitivity surrounding his treatment abroad.

When contacted on his return, the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the President, Mr. Femi Adesina, declined to comment on the issue.

Adesina, who sounded irritable, said: “The boy has a right to his private life. We can’t be talking about him and his movement.”

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Pastor Narrowly Escapes Death In A Horrific Accident

Pastor Prince Winner, who presides over the Godswill Deliverance and Fire Ministry, Niger State, reportedly escaped death by whiskers on Saturday, after his car fell off a bridge into a river along Kaduna road.

According to the man of God, he was returning from a program when the incident occurred.

Thankfully, all occupants came out alive.

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Face of Top Banker Arraigned for Allegedly Stealing N700M from Customers’ Account

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal Office, on Monday, February 26, 2018, arraigned one Nsa Ayi before Justice Mojisola Dada of the State High Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos on an 11-count charge bordering on fraudulent false accounting to the tune of N700,000,000.00 (Seven Hundred Million Naira), an offence contrary to Section 335(a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria.

The defendant, a former Relationship Officer, Coronation Merchant Bank, allegedly connived with unknown parties to move funds using customers’ electronic instructions meant for investment in the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) Bonds, Treasury Bills and Fixed Deposits.

The defendant was also said to have altered instructions and falsified signatures of customers to transfer money into various accounts outside the bank.

The money was allegedly transferred in tranches into the defendant’s Guaranty Trust Bank account No. 0001600855 as well as his Zenith Bank account No. 1002771899.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Nsa Ayi, on or about 4th day of February, 2015, being an employee of Coronation Merchant Bank, in Lagos within the Lagos Judicial Division with intent to defraud, falsified account No. 1990000158 belonging to African Alliance Insurance Plc in possession of your employer by debiting the said account to the tune of N172, 076, 712.33, using an instruction which you purported to have been issued by the said African Alliance Insurance Plc.”

Another count reads: “That you, Nsa Ayi, on or about 13th day of January, 2014, being an employee of Coronation Merchant Bank, in Lagos within the Lagos Judicial Division with intent to defraud, falsified account No. 2990001176 belonging to Ogunjemiyo E. Mascot in possession of your employer by debiting the said account to the tune of N4, 277, 000.00, using an instruction which you purported to have been issued by Ogunjemiyo E. Mascot.”

He however, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him. In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, Nnemeka Omewa, asked the court for a trial date and also prayed the court to remand the defendant in prison custody.

The defence counsel, B.A. Ayeni, informed the court of a pending application for bail on behalf of his client. However, in his response, the prosecution counsel, Omewa, opposed the bail application, saying that “he is a flight-risk who had plans to relocate with his entire family to the United States of America last year, if not for the timely response in arresting him by the EFCC.”

Omewa further informed the court that there was no document showing that the defendant’s son was critically ill to warrant him being flown abroad for treatment.

“My Lord, the defendant’s health is very much okay, as he was well fed in the EFCC custody,” the prosecution counsel added.

After listening to both parties, Justice Dada ruled that if the defendant’s son was truly ill and needed medical treatment abroad, the defendant should not be pleading with the court to allow him travel out with his entire family only to treat his son.

“I, therefore, conclude that the defendant is a flight-risk as put before the court by the prosecution.

“There is no guarantee of him coming back to Nigeria, if he had travelled out with his family, despite booking for return tickets,” Justice Dada held.

Consequently, Justice Dada adjourned the case to March 6, 26, 29 and April 16 and 27, 2018 for commencement of trial and remanded the defendant in Kirikiri prison pending the hearing of his bail application.

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Buhari Rejects Peace Corps Bill in New Letter to House of Reps

As the Nigerian Peace Corps battles the Police to vacate its national secretariat, the legality of the organisation have run into trouble as the President has rejected its establishment bill. 

In a letter which speaker of the house of representatives, Yakubu Dogara, read during the plenary session at the National Assembly on Tuesday, President Muhammadu Buhari rejected the proposed Peace Corps of Nigeria establishment bill.

Recall that lawmakers of the National Assembly passed the bill in 2015, after a prolonged battle involving the organisation and the nation’s security agencies.

According to The Cable, the president who conveyed his rejection of the bill in the letter, cited security concerns and financial burden of funding the organisation by the government as his reasons for rejection of the bill.

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CONFESSION: I used part of NIMASA fund to build hotel in Delta State – Calistus Obi

A former acting Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Calistus Obi, who is being tried for an alleged fraud of N136m, told the court on Monday that part of the money was channelled into the building of his hotel in Delta State.

He, however, said he had refunded the sum after being arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Obi said this before the Federal High Court in Lagos, where he is standing trial alongside Alu Dismas, who was a personal assistant to his (Obi’s) predecessor, Patrick Akpobolokemi.

The other defendants in the charge are two firms – Grand Pact Limited and Global Sea Investment.

Obi, who is the first defendant, was fielding questions from the EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, on Monday.

Answering questions as to what became of the N136m, Obi said, “I used part of the money to build my hotel constructed by Seastroke International. But the money has since been refunded to the EFCC.

“The hotel is located somewhere in Asaba, Delta State. I can’t recollect the address now. The building is completed and is already functioning. The title documents of the hotel is being processed but I have the Certificate of Occupancy and I can produce it before the court.”

His lawyer, Wale Akoni (SAN), however, raised an objection to the prosecutor’s enquiry about the title documents of the hotel, which he contended was not a subject before the court.

Akoni said, “My Lord, I am opposed to this line of questioning by the prosecution’s lawyer. The ownership of the hotel is not an issue in these proceedings. The prosecution is only trying to device a means of seizing the title documents through the back door.”

In his response, the EFCC lawyer, Oyedepo, urged the court to allow him to continue with his enquiry about the hotel, saying the witness had already admitted deploying part of the allegedly diverted money to building it.

“The witness has admitted that part of the funds allegedly diverted by him was used in building the hotel that is now functioning. At the end of this case, the law, as it stands today, empowers My Lord to forfeit property acquired with proceeds of unlawful activity.

“Section 30 of the EFCC Act empowers the court to forfeit proceeds of unlawful activity. I urge the court to allow us ask questions that will lead to the recovery of the title documents so that it can form part of the court’s record,” Oyedepo said.

In a bench ruling, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun dismissed Akoni’s objections, holding that “the questions asked on the title documents are in order and the issue of the EFCC trying to forcefully seize it does not arise.”

Meanwhile, the second defendant, Dismas, burst into tears in the open court on Monday after the judge revoked the bail granted him and sent him back to the prison custody.

The judge’s decision followed Dismas’ lateness to court.

Justice Olatoregun said it was not the first time that Dismas, who walked in at about 10.35am on Monday, would come late to court or be absent, stressing that the court could not wait for an accused person.

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INEC Chairman Insists: Presidential Election Will Hold First

The Independent National Electoral Commission says it is standing by its decision to hold the 2019 presidential and National Assembly elections on the same day while the governorship and state legislative elections will come next.

The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said this at the quarterly consultative meeting with the media in Abuja on Monday.

INEC had announced last year that the presidential and National Assembly elections would hold on February 16, 2019 while the governorship, state assembly and area council elections in the Federal Capital Territory would take place on March 2, 2019.

The National Assembly, however, opposed the sequence of the election and amended the Electoral Act such that the National Assembly election would hold first while the presidential election would come last.

The bill has since been transmitted to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent.

However, the INEC boss said the commission would continue to prepare for elections based on its own schedule since it could not make plans based on speculation.

When asked if the electoral body would challenge the matter in court, the INEC boss said when the time comes the commission would take a decision.

Yakubu said, “There are many ‘ifs’ but here, we deal with certainty. As far as the commission is concerned, there is no legal lacuna at the moment. What we have done is on the basis of the existing law and nothing has changed.

“If the bill is accented to, we will look at the provisions and inform Nigerians on the next step. But as far as the commission is concerned at the moment, we are operating under the existing law and we have issued a timetable for the activities accordingly.

“If something happens tomorrow, we will examine it and proceed accordingly.”

The INEC boss said the budget for the 2019 elections had been drafted based on its own sequence and timetable.

He said the proposal would soon be transmitted to the National Assembly for approval.

“Right now, the draft is on my table based on the current schedule of activities. Thereafter, we will submit it to the approving authorities,” Yakubu said.

When asked what had happened to the 205 INEC officials that were suspended after being indicted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for allegedly receiving bribes during the 2015 elections, Yakubu said he was still waiting for the EFCC to take action.

He noted that most of the officials had not been prosecuted by the anti-graft agency, adding that he had written to the EFCC to act quickly.

Yakubu added, “The interdiction (of 205 officials) was based on the interim report we received from the EFCC. An interdicted person is placed on half pay until the person’s innocence or guilt is established.”

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Female Billionaire Shagaya in legal battle with EFCC over frozen N1.9B

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday urged the Federal High Court in Lagos not to unfreeze a Unity Bank account with a balance of N1,902,673,399.93 belonging to a business woman, Hajiya Bola Shagaya.

The anti-graft agency claimed that the N1.9bn was the balance of a total of N3,305,150,000, which Shagaya received as “founder fees” on behalf of an organisation, “Women for Change” being spearheaded by a former First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan.

The EFCC claimed that the N3.3bn was realised through Shagaya’s “fraudulent activities in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation,” where she allegedly “influenced the fraudulent allocation of Dual Purpose Kerosene to Index Petrolube Africa Limited, with the aid of the former First Lady, Mrs. Dame Patience Jonathan.”

According to the EFCC, the N3.3bn was paid by the Index Petrolube Africa Limited and its sister company, Autodex Nigeria Limited.

The two companies, it said, belong to one Honourable Ezeani ThankGod, adding that the reason for the N3.3bn payment was to “fraudulently facilitate Dual Purpose Kerosene to ThankGod’s company, Index Petrolube Africa Limited.”

The anti-graft agency claimed that out of the N3.3bn, Shagaya had “paid a cumulative sum of N1,212,000,000 to the former First Lady, Mrs. Dame Patience Jonathan, through her ‘Women for Change Initiative’ account domiciled in Diamond Bank, to which the former First Lady is the sole signatory.”

It said after paying N1.2bn to Patience, Shagaya kept the balance of N1.9bn for herself by “warehousing” same in her personal bank account in Unity Bank.

The EFCC said it was on this basis that it secured an order of Justice Muslim Hassan of the Federal High Court in Lagos on December 29, 2016 to freeze the account.

It, therefore, begged Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo of the same court not to unfreeze Shagaya’s account, so that Shagaya would not “use this honourable court as a shield against criminal investigations and prosecution.”

These were contained in a counter-affidavit filed by the EFCC in response to an originating summons filed by Shagaya, urging the court to give her access to her Unity Bank account, which had been frozen since December 29, 2016.

Shagaya, through her lawyer, Mr. Napoleon Emeaso-Nwachukwu, contended that she was not given a fair hearing before Justice Muslim Hassan made the freezing order.

She urged Justice Oguntoyinbo to set Justice Hassan’s order aside by declaring it unconstitutional, null and void “as same violates the applicant’s right to own movable property as guaranteed by Section 44(1)(k) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.”

In a 19-paragraph affidavit deposed to by one Sulaiman Aliu, Shagaya expressed concern that the ex parte freezing order made by Justice Hassan appeared, otherwise, to be final as the judge “did not give any return date for further proceedings and did not avail the applicant, who was the respondent therein and owner of the attached properties, a hearing.”

She said there was no criminal charge against her before and after the freezing order was made to justify her being denied access to her account by the EFCC.

She added, “The order of this honourable court made on the 29th of December, 2016 by Honourable Justice M.S. Hassan deprived the applicant of her property without recourse to laid-down procedure and due process of law.

“The ex parte order made to last pending the determination of an investigation, which is devoid of a time certain and indefinite in nature, is oppressive and a violation of the applicant’s rights to fair hearing, presumption of innocence and right to her property.”

She said since “the unlawful freezing of the applicant’s account by the respondent, the applicant has not been able to transact with that account due to her inability to access same and this has caused her business losses and opportunities.”

She said it would be in the best interest of justice to grant her access to her account.

But the EFCC, in opposition, argued that Justice Oguntoyinbo lacked the power to sit as an appellate court over Justice Hassan’s decision, describing Shagaya’s originating summons as an abuse of court processes.

It accused Shagaya of filing the originating summons “so as to impede the proper dispensation of justice and thus avoiding criminal investigations and possible prosecution.”

After entertaining arguments from the EFCC’s lawyer, Idris Mohammed, and Shagaya’s lawyer, Emeaso-Nwachukwu, on Monday, Justice Oguntoyinbo adjourned till May 17, 2018 for judgment.

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What Does It Mean To Have Abundant Life?

God’s Design for Abundant Living 
God created us to have an insatiable thirst as we live in this world. When sin entered the world, so did discontentment with life. God desires for us to seek more out of life. The problem is we displace our desire for more because of our discontentment.

The purpose of the tension we feel with what we want and what we have is to point us to God and to eternity. We’re meant to desire more of God.

“O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water” (Psalm 63:1).

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6).

God wants us to have a life of abundance. But in God’s economy, it never has to do with acquiring worldly possessions that will one day vanish. Instead, it’s all about what’s eternal.

What Some Get Wrong about Abundant Living 
Instead of desiring more of God, some seek to fill our need for more with what the world can give – material possessions, fame, achievement, recognition, popularity, and accomplishments. Then we read John 10:10, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly,” and we misuse it to read that God will give us an abundance of those worldly pursuits we crave.

What Is an Abundant Life? 
Jesus came so that we can have life because He is the embodiment of life. He said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). This life means eternal life in heaven. Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we now have a way to be reconciled with God and have eternal life with Him in heaven.

Nonetheless, Jesus not only gives us the promise of eternal life in heaven, He also gives us an abundant life here on earth. But His abundance has nothing to do with worldly pursuits and everything to do with those attributes that make us more like Him and that we can carry with us into heaven.

How We Can Have an Abundant Life in a Broken, Fallen World 
Jesus gives us the fruit of the Spirit, and this is the abundant life. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).

Jesus wants us to have the best life possible in a world that is sometimes unbearable – a world full of cruelty, injustice, sadness, and pain. He knows that the only way that is possible is for us to take on His character of a life where inwardly we are satisfied because we know who we are through Him, who He is through God the Father, and where we are going – to heaven.

Our lives can be falling apart all around us, and we can still have an abundant life. The abundant life is a state of being from within, not a result of external circumstances. It is the result of the pruning God does to make us more like Him, and it is what we will take to heaven with us (1 Corinthians 3:11-15). An abundant life is a life that keeps on giving.

Which is Better – Abundance or an Abundant Life? 
At first look, we might be tempted to say, “What? I rather have a life of abundance so I can have the stuff I want and be happy!” But when you’re in a state of crisis, what’s worth more – a life full of fear, anxiousness, and tension, or a life full of tranquility and the fruit of the spirit? I think we’d agree that you can’t put a price tag on love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.

An abundant life comes from following God’s ways, pursuing holiness, and seeking to be more like Him. “This God — His way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him” (Psalm 18:30). As a result, others see the abundant life in you and are led to Jesus through your example: “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

God created us to want more. But which kind of “more” will we seek? Abundance in worldly pursuits or an abundant life? The more we desire God, the more abundant our life will be.

Always Remember 
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. – John 10:10

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. – Matthew 6:33

[written by Brenda Rodgers]

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Seriously? Ex-Chief of Army Staff, Minimah Returns Stolen N1.7B

Former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Kenneth Minimah (retd) has refunded about N1.7billion to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Gen. Minimah was the Army Chief from January 2014 to July 2015, before he was dropped alongside others by President Buhari. 

The refund followed extensive investigation by the anti-graft agency on the report and recommendations of the Presidential Committee on Audit of Defence Equipment Procurement (CADEP).

CADEP had uncovered “irregularities” in the procurement and award of contracts in the Army and suspicious transactions in the accounts of the Defence Industry Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) during Gen. Minimah’s tenure.

Revealing details of the matter, a top source, who spoke in confidence to The Nation said: “We have interrogated Gen. Minimah and he has started refunding some funds. So far, he has refunded about N1.7billion in two tranches to the EFCC.

“So far, he has cooperated with us and we are hopeful that he will still make more refunds, in line with some contracts awarded by the Army.

“But we are likely to arraign another Chief of Army Staff and some ex-military officers in court soon following the conclusion of a comprehensive investigation on them. We are expecting relevant advice from our legal unit.”

The CADEP panel had observed that a company was registered on November 17, 2014 and awarded $125,179,299.10 on the same day.

The report said in part: “The Nigerian Army, between April and August 2014, entered into four contract agreements with Societe D’Equipmenteux Internationale (SEI Nig Ltd) for procurement of Cobra Armoured Personnel Carriers, Shilka Self-Propelled Artillery Guns, Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs) as well as various ammunition and spares funded by the ONSA.

“The contracts for the Cobra APCs and Shilka Guns were not executed as they were not funded. However, the costs for procurement of the AFVs; ammunition and spares were $398,550,000.00 and $484,765,000.00 respectively totalling $883,315,000.00.

“In November 2014, the ONSA awarded contract to Conella Services Limited for procurement of 72 various arms and ammunition that included MRAP vehicles and Mi-17 helicopter at the cost of $125,179,299.10.

“The Committee observed that the company was registered in Nigeria on 17 November 2014 and awarded the contract on the same date while the EUC for the procurement was issued a day later, on 18 November 2014. Furthermore, the ONSA paid $36,996,530.00 and N2,209,582,296.00 to the vendor between November 2014 and 15 April 2015. However, the Nigerian Army denied receipt of any procurement from Conella Services Ltd.

“Similarly, the Committee tried in vain to reach officials of the company to confirm execution of the contract. There is, therefore, the need for further investigation of Conella Services Ltd.

“The committee observed that SEI and its two associated companies, APC Axial Ltd and HK-Sawki Nig Ltd, were incorporated in May 2014 with two Nigerien brothers, Hima Aboubakar and Ousmane Hima Massy, as the only directors.

“Between May 2014 and March 2015, the ONSA mandated CBN to release various sums totalling $386,954,000.00 to SEI and the two associated companies for ‘procurement of technical equipment’, without tying the money to particular items of procurement.

“Thus, the allotment of the fund was left at the discretion of the vendor without input or consultation with ONSA or the Nigerian Army.

“Furthermore, some of the funds transferred preceded the formalisation of SEI contracts with the Nigerian Army. There was also no evidence of any contract to justify the payments made by ONSA to the SEI associate companies. Consequently, it had been difficult for the ONSA, the Nigerian Army and SEI to reconcile the accounts vis-a-vis the equipment delivered.”

The panel also uncovered that 42 units of Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) which were rejected by Iraq were later sold to Nigeria to fight Boko Haram insurgents.

It claimed that some of the APCs were either expired or unsuitable, leading to loss of lives.

It added: “The Committee observed that one of the new equipment SEI procured for the Nigerian Army from Ukraine was BTR-4E APC.

“However, according to the Ukraine’s State Enterprise Lviv Armour Repair Plant, the designers of the equipment, some of the products sold to Nigeria in 2014 were actually among 42 units designed for Iraq which subsequently rejected them due to poor performance rating.”

“The Nigerian Army did not also undertake the mandatory pre-shipment inspections provided for in the contract agreements. Instead, the NA deployed an Infantry officer, who lacked the technical knowledge to assess the capabilities and shortcomings of the equipment, to oversee the shipment of the items for the Nigerian Army from Ukraine.

“Additionally, the two weeks training availed the technicians and operators was inadequate for them to comprehend the technical workings of the newly introduced equipment.

“The Committee’s interactions with the field operators revealed that although the platforms and ammunition procured by SEI were deployed for the NE operations, some of them were aged or expired, lacked spares and prone to breakdown without immediate recovery equipment.

“Therefore, failure to carry out pre-shipment inspection and inadequate training resulted in procurement of some unreliable equipment that reduced the capacity of the Nigerian Army in the North East Operations and resulted in the loss of lives and equipment.”

On some payments to SEI on T-72 Tanks, the panel said the company made about $93,000,000.00 profit without paying the mandatory 5 per cent Withholding Tax(WHT).

It said: “SEI submitted a document to the Committee reconciling the items it delivered to the Nigerian Army vis-a-vis the payments made to it by ONSA.”

According to SEI, the total value of the contracts it executed amounted to $909,065,824.00 and not the $883,315,000.00 reflected in the two contract agreements it signed with Nigerian Army. “Furthermore, SEI claimed that it delivered goods worth $697,718,168.00 whereas only $198,289,672.00 was paid to it by ONSA.

“However, the Committee established from ONSA payment mandates to CBN that $386,954,000.00 were actually paid to the contractor.

“Additionally, SEI quoted the unit cost of refurbished T-72 Main Battle Tanks as $2,240,000.00. However, the Committee confirmed from court documents filed by SEI against one of its vendors, Dolarian Capital Inc of the US, that SEI paid only $85,000.00 for a unit of the T-72 tanks.

“Thus, from the refurbished T-72 Tanks transaction alone, SEI would have made a profit of about $93,000,000.00 for the 43 units it delivered to the Nigerian Army. Moreover, there was no evidence that SEI paid the mandatory 5% WHT.”

On suspicious transactions in DICON’s accounts, the CADEP report also implicated Gen. Minimah.

It added: The Nigerian Army awarded seven contracts to DICON for the procurement of Igirigi and Spartan APCs , arms and ammunition amounting to N4, 329’985, 000

“The committee discovered that suspicious transactions to the tune of N845,600,000 and $3,450,619 were made from DICON’s domiciliary and Naira accounts with Fidelity Bank accounts 5250020197 and 5030040885. Out of this amount, the then DG DICON, Maj.-Gen. E.R, Chioba (retd) personally withdrew N81m and $131,740 in cash from the accounts. The sums of N764,600,00 and $3,318,879.17 were also transferred to the accounts of Lava Trade , 7×7 Limited and Oranto Petroleum Limited.

“The explanations offered by Gen. Chioba that the transfers were payments for services and foreign exchange were unconvincing as there was no evidence if formal business relationship between DICON and these companies.

“Consequently, the committee opines that the poor procurement process associated with DICON contracts contravened financial regulations, encouraged illegal withdrawals leading to wastage of public funds, diminished the capacity of the Nigerian Army in the campaign against terror and served as a conduit for misappropriation of entrusted funds.

“The committee is of the view that Lt. Gen. A. O. Ihejirika, Lt.-Gen. KTJ Minimah (retd), Maj.-Gen. A.I Muraina(retd), Maj.-Gen. U. Buzugbe (retd) and Maj.-Gen. E.R. Chioba(retd) are to be held accountable.”

“The Committee also noted that between 3 September 2014 and 30 April 2015, NIMASA funded accounts of the Joint Task Force Operation Pulo Shield with various sums totalling N8,542,586,798.58 purportedly to enhance operations of the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta. Neither the need assessment that warranted the release of funds nor the details of the expenditure were made available to the Committee.

“However, analyses of the accounts of the Joint Task Force showed that transfers totalling N6,277,698,885.13 were made to some companies for unknown purposes.

A source in Oranto Petroleum Limited said it never had any business link with the Army either during Gen. Ihejirika’s tenure or his successor Gen. Minimah’s.

The source said: “Oranto Petroleum Limited did not receive any funds from the Nigerian Army under any guise between 2013 and 2015.”

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How Pastor Disarmed Two Armed Robbers With Bare Hands In Rivers

A Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Movement Pastor has narrated how he forcefully collected two guns from armed robbers that came to rob at his compound on the 21st February, 2018, in Rivers state with his bare hands.

According to a statement issued by the church, Pastor Stanley B. Kagbara of Okogbe branch of Mbiama Autonomous community, Rivers State, after declaring himself a Chosen three consecutive times and calling on God, power came over him and he overpowered the armed robbers and collected their their guns when they attempted shooting at him.

The statement further revealed that God made public show of the armed robbers, as their guns refused to answer them. He pounced at them and arrested one of them, handed him over to Ahoada divisional Police headquarters after which the rest of the armed robbers ran away.

The Police Area Commander commended the pastor for that bravery act and said he has never seen such before, adding that this is the hand of God in action. He thanked God immensely.

The pictures were taken at the Police station where one of the armed robbers was detained.

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President Buhari Postpones FEC Meeting

The meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) will not hold on Wednesday, February 28, according to a statement by media and publicity adviser, Femi Adesina.

On why the FEC meeting was postponed, he wrote: 

“The meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) will not hold on Wednesday, February 28, 2018.

This is due to the participation of President Muhammadu Buhari and a significant number of ministers at the High-Level Meeting of the International Conference on Lake Chad Basin, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, for the better part of that day.”

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Woman All Smiles After Huge Tumor Was Surgically Removed From Her Arm

The relieved woman couldn’t contain her excitement after undergoing a successful surgery to remove a big tumor on her hand. According to reports, the woman who had 10lb Lipoma tumor – spent almost 10 years hiding the huge tumor under her clothes.

The woman was thrilled after the three-hour surgery which saw the abnormal growth removed.

According to Africa Mercy, the woman said after the surgery; 

“I am so thrilled to be out of surgery and I can barely believe it… my arm is so light!”

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Married Man Kills Four Children, Maid, Self Over His Wife’s Infidelity

Dear men, it’s possible for anyone to mistakenly get married to a promiscuous lady, even though you are careful. But once you discover the TRUTH, take a break immediately and make sure your wife goes through proper Deliverance to free her from whatever spirit is making her live in sexual immorality without the fear of God.

An adulterous wife can destroy you or destroy herself, kill you or kill herself, or kill both of you. Unless she’s delivered, the end will be a disaster. Be warned!

Tragedy struck on Saturday on Ntueke Street, Awada Obosi, in the Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, as a 47-year-old man, Stephen Nnadiogo, killed his four children, maid and took his own life.

Nnadiogo reportedly stabbed the victims to death with a knife and committed suicide.

The four children were aged between two and 10, while the housemaid, Ogechi, was said to be 18-year-old. All the victims hailed from Isu Njaba, Imo State.

It was learnt that Nnadiogo and his wife, 32-year-old Chika, had endured a strained marital relationship as he accused the wife of infidelity.

Chika reportedly told her husband that she did not bear the children for him whenever they had disagreements.

According to The Punch, a witness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Chika was at her medicine shop around 8.45pm when all hell broke loose.

He said, “Whenever the couple had issues, the woman would say that he was not the biological father of their kids.

“She said that she engaged in extra marital affairs because her husband was impotent. The man would in turn call her a prostitute and a randy woman who could not be satisfied by one man.

“On Saturday, as the wife left their house for her medicine store in the evening, with their four children left behind, her husband called the children one after the other. He observed their face closely and thereafter began to stab them with a knife.”

The source said after killing all his children, Nnadiogo chased the housemaid around his apartment and killed her.

“He hid himself in one of the rooms in the four-storeyed building where they lived and took his own life by taking poison.

“Before he killed himself, he said ‘let her (Chika) now go and stay with the biological father of her children‘,” the source added.

The Awada Divisional Police Officer, Mr. Martin Mbajunwa, confirmed the incident, noting that investigation was ongoing.

“The corpses of the victims have been deposited in a morgue,” he added.

The PPRO added, “We have taken custody of the woman and she has made statements. We have cordoned off the scene and we are awaiting the autopsy report.

“As soon as we conclude the investigations, we will let the public know. When the police got to the place, the man had taken poison. He was still alive, but unconscious. He could not talk. We recovered the knife he used to stab the victims to death. The family lived on the last floor of a four-storeyed building. Before we could move him downstairs, he had died.”

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6 Benefits of A Silent Retreat With God

“Silence in prayer is often not something we orchestrate; rather, it is a gift that can come upon us quite unexpectedly. Instead of rushing to fill the gap, we learn to embrace the gift as the better part of our time of prayer.” 

– Quotes by Wesley and Stacey Campbell

Dear intercessors,
In learning about prayer, silence contemplation is a special dimension that very few of us have fully grasped. Most of us are not skilled in beholding God. One of the reasons for this is because we have been influenced by the noise and busyness of our present-day life style. And in the midst of a whirlwind of activity that we have so often misunderstood as important or necessary, we have missed the beauty and necessity of learning the discipline of silence before God. We so often miss out on the life of contemplation, one of beholding the beauty of Jesus.

“Be still, and know that I am God” – (Psalm 46:10).
“In silent contemplation, a supernatural drawing occurs. Having come to the end of words, we simply stare in silence at the person of God. One of the most apt, and most beautiful, descriptions of the essence of contemplation that I have heard comes from a simple farmer: ‘Think of the wonderful description given by that unlettered farm laborer at Ars who used to remain for hours in stillness and silence gazing at the tabernacle and when the Cure d’Ars asked him what he did there, simply replied: I LOOK AT HIM, AND HE LOOKS AT ME.’”

The Benefits of Silent Contemplation in Prayer 
“From time to time you will begin to touch the state of inward silence. What shall be your response to such an experience? But what shall you do? Nothing! Simply yield to the inward drawing. Yield to the wooing of your spirit. Your spirit is drawing you deeper within.”

There are so many benefits of retreating before God in silent contemplation. Here are some of them:

God fights on our behalf when we are silent – 

We are too weak to fight our enemies ourselves. We will be wounded, but in times of temptation if we remain in faith in God’s presence, He will give us His strength.

“The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent” – (Exodus 14:14).

We find God in a deeper dimension – 

In silent prayer, we develop the art of looking at God.

“’You will seek me and find me when you seek for me with all your heart. I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord” – (Jeremiah 29:13-14).

We grow in the art of meditating on Scripture – 

Exodus 34:6-7 is filled with the divine attributes of God. I encourage you to meditate on these verses for a long period of time.

“And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, ‘The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin’” – (Exodus 34:6-7).

We learn to shut out external activity – 

We learn the art of external simplicity and inwardly learn to dwell in God’s presence.

“One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to meditate in His temple” – (Psalm 27:4).

We learn to meditate on God’s nature – 

It is good to start with meditating on one aspect of God’s nature in a single verse of Scripture. For example, meditate on God’s holiness adorning His house for endless days as found in the following verse:

“Your statutes stand firm; holiness adorns your house for endless days, O Lord” – (Psalm 93:5).

We grow in our love relationship with God – 

Wee learn to live out the first commandment to love God with all our heart, soul, and strength.

“He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself” – (Luke 10:27).

I pray that each one of us will learn the secret of silent contemplation and have personal retreats with God. This is where we take the time to commune with God heart-to-heart and spirit-to-spirit. It will not happen by chance, but we must give time for this and understand its’ value. We should do this regularly for shorter times, and occasionally for longer retreats.

We are in a time when we must find our refuge in God and see the world from His vantage point. Intimacy and stillness before the Lord is going to be key to living a successful and joyful life in this hour. It’s time to realize that it’s all about a wedding at the end of the age and we are Jesus’ Bride. You are the Bride of Christ. This is a day of preparation and transition into what really matters for eternity. We must lean upon our beloved in all that we do. We are not complete until we find our center in God.

[written by Debbie Przybylski]

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Tears of Joy As Pregnant Woman Gives Birth After She Was Rescued From Kidnappers In Lagos

A lucky woman has given birth successfully after she was rescued from her kidnappers by men of the Federal Road Safety Corps.

FRSC team on Sunday morning rescued the pregnant woman from suspected kidnappers in Badagry, Lagos.

NAN reports that the Corps Public Education Officer, Mr Bisi Kazeem, said in a statement on Sunday that the woman gave birth to a baby boy immediately after she was rescued.

“At about 7:30 a.m. on Sunday Feb. 25, 2018, a team from the Badagry Unit of FRSC led by Assistant Route Commander, Peace Danboyi, accosted a vehicle with registration number KTU 356 CE at AP Filling station before Aradagun Bus stop in Badagry, Lagos.

“In the vehicle were two suspected kidnappers (male) and a pregnant woman who was their victim.

“The pregnant woman, who had body injuries, was rescued to Ola-Oki Hospital, Ibereko, where she immediately gave birth to a baby boy,’’ he said.

Kazeem said it took the prompt intervention of soldiers to rescue the suspects from a mob that had attempted to attack the suspected kidnappers.

“The soldiers arrested and handed them over to the police in Badagry, while Corps Marshal of FRSC, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, has expressed appreciation to the gallant officers and commended them for their bravery,’’ he said.

The statement also said that Oyeyemi assured the public that his men would always be on roads to ensure safe traffic and security of lives by cooperating with other law enforcement agencies.

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