metro
Lagos mother fights off suspected ritualist attempting to abduct kids + VIDEO
A suspected ritualist, Temitayo Olafisoye, has been arrested after a failed attempt to kidnap some pupils of a private school on Omole Estate in the Ojodu area of Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro gathered that Olafisoye and an accomplice, Kayode Akinola, visited the estate on Sunday and started loitering around the school premises.
Their suspicious movement was reportedly noticed by some of the estate guards.
However, on Monday, a woman, who used her car to convey her children to the school, reportedly parked close to the premises so the pupils could disembark from the vehicle.
After parking, the woman got down to open the door for her children to alight.
Olafisoye was said to have run into the driver’s seat of the vehicle in an attempt to drive the kids away.
His plan, however, failed as the woman had switched off the car engine and held the key as she made to open the door for the kids.
Our correspondent learnt that the mother, upon observing the suspect’s action, raised the alarm, which caught the attention of the guards, who apprehended Olafisoye.
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A source revealed that the accomplice, Akinola, fled the scene after observing that their plan had failed.
The source said, “A security from the estate said the man was seen hanging around there since yesterday. The woman came down to go round to the passengers’ side to open the door for her kids.
“The man ran into the car, locked the doors, but unfortunately, the woman had turned off the car engine and alighted with the car key. She raised the alarm when the man entered her car and then security came out. He came to survey how to carry out his plan. His partner ran away.
“It happened this morning (Monday). The suspect said he and his partner came from Ibadan to kidnap children for ritual.”
A video clip showing Olafisoye kneeling while being interrogated by security guards and other residents on the estate was seen by our correspondent.
Asked why he attempted to kidnap the pupils, the suspect said, “I came from Ibadan. I used to come to Lagos to kidnap children. We will kidnap and put the children inside a vehicle and take them away.
“I have kidnapped a lot of children around Berger, Iyana Ipaja, Ikotun, Iyana Iba. I am Temitayo Olafisoye, my colleague is Kayode Akinola. We came from Apata area in Sango, Ibadan. We usually use the children for money rituals.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident, adding that the case would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yaba, for further investigation.
“The case is confirmed. The suspect is Kayode Olafisoye, and he is presently at the Ojodu Police Division. His accomplice is on the run and will eventually be arrested. The case will be transferred to the SCIID,” Hundeyin said.
PUNCH
metro
BREAKING: FEC proposes N47.9 trillion budget for 2025 fiscal year
BREAKING: FEC proposes N47.9 trillion budget for 2025 fiscal year
The federal government has unveiled a proposed budget of N47.9 trillion for the 2025 fiscal year.
Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, disclosed this to journalists on Thursday following the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu.
Bagudu revealed that the council had approved the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for 2025-2027.
READ ALSO:
- EFCC arrests ex-NCMB boss over $35m energy project fraud
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According to the minister, the government has pegged the crude oil benchmark at $75 per barrel, with an oil production target of 2.06 million barrels per day (bpd).
The budget also sets the exchange rate at N1,400 per dollar and aims for a gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 6.4%.
BREAKING: FEC proposes N47.9 trillion budget for 2025 fiscal year
metro
EFCC arrests ex-NCMB boss over $35m energy project fraud
EFCC arrests ex-NCMB boss over $35m energy project fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) told FIJ that they have arrested Timber Wabote, the former executive secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCMB), on the grounds of a failed $35 million Bayelsa refinery project fraud.
Dele Oyewale, the EFCC’s spokesperson, confirmed this to FIJ on Thursday.
“It is true,” Oyewale responded to FIJ’s inquiries.
Wabote is accused of misappropriating public funds for a refinery project that should have improved local energy production.
Vanguard reported that the NCDMB under Wabote paid $35 million to support the development of energy infrastructure in the Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa, yet there was nothing to show for it.
The EFCC picked Wabote up following the arrest of Akintoye Adeoye Akindele, the Managing Director of Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited, for alleged misappropriation, money laundering and diversion of $35 million in public funds.
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“NCDMB under the watch of Wabote allegedly paid the $35 million to Akindele to build a 2,000 barrel per day (BPD), refinery, jetty, gas plant, power plant, data centre and tank farm at Brass free trade zone (FTZ), Okpoama Community in Brass LGA of Bayelsa State,” a source with the EFCC had explained.
Since December 2020 when the payments were made, Akindele abandoned the project with little or nothing to show for the huge sum he received.
Preliminary investigations showed that Wabote’s NCDMB financed 17 different projects, including the 2,000 BPD refinery in Brass LGA.
There has been a series of public fund misappropriation cases in the energy sector in recent times.
FIJ earlier reported that members of the House of Representatives summoned three ministers to defend how over $2 billion was spent on renewable energy with not much to show for it.
A recent FIJ report also recently detailed how residents of Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa, have not had power in their homes since July due to the vandalisation of the Ahoada-Yenagoa transmission towers caused by unidentified persons.
The Bayelsa state government told FIJ it was the federal government’s responsibility to provide electricity for residents. The state has no renewable energy options reliable enough to power its capital despite the multi-million-dollar NCMB energy project.
Transparency in the energy sector has become necessary at a time when Nigerians have suffered power instability due to frequent grid collapses.
EFCC arrests ex-NCMB boss over $35m energy project fraud
metro
Court adjourns Yahaya Bello’s trial till Nov 27
Court adjourns Yahaya Bello’s trial till Nov 27
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has requested an adjournment in the new case against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, stating that the 30-day window for the previously issued summons is still active.
The commission has granted administrative bail to his co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, and asked the court for an extension of time for Bello to appear.
At the resumed hearing before Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, EFCC Counsel Jamiu Agoro noted that the court’s order from October 3rd had not yet expired.
“In that wise, we feel it will not be appropriate for us to take proceedings while that 30 days is still running. So we have discussed and agreed to come back on the 27th day of November, 2024, my lord,” he told the court.
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He also mentioned that the previously set date of November 20th was not convenient for the prosecution counsels.
Counsel to the second defendant, Aliyu Saiki, SAN, confirmed that his client had been granted administrative bail by the prosecution and had no objection to the adjournment request. The third defendant’s counsel, ZE Abass, concurred.
The prosecution counsel also requested the court to allow the notice of hearing to be pasted on the last known address of the first defendant.
After hearing from all counsels, the judge granted the EFCC’s application for adjournment and the issuance of the hearing notice.
“I have considered the application for adjournment by the complainant and issuance of hearing notice and the submission by the second and third defendants. The application is granted,” she said.
Justice Anenih then adjourned the case to November 27th for arraignment.
The former governor, alongside Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, are being prosecuted as 1st to 3rd defendants, respectively, in a fresh 16-count charge instituted against them by the EFCC.
Court adjourns Yahaya Bello’s trial till Nov 27
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