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Agba Jalingo to Ben Ayade, Police: Stop harassing, intimidating me with spurious criminal charges
Citizen Agba Jalingo, the publisher of CrossRiverWatch, based in Cross River State, has called on the Nigeria Police Force to stop harassing and intimidating him with spurious criminal charges.
The investigative journalist maintained that he had always been vindicated despite serial allegations and litigations in the course of doing his work.
“For the past 25 years, I’ve been unfairly moving from one court to another in Nigeria in criminal trials for crimes I never committed. Not once have I been convicted of any crime and not once have I run away from my trial. I doubt if I even have any record of missing a court date even when I had to travel for hundreds of miles to get to court,” Jalingo said.
He said his latest travail in the hands of the police is unconnected with an exposé against Elizabeth Alami Ayade, sister-in-law to Ben Ayade, the Governor of Cross River State.
“The police have again charged me under the cybercrime act because I wrote that someone wrote the law school exams for the wife of Governor Ayade’s younger brother. I was supposed to be arraigned today 14 February at the Federal High Court 4 in Abuja,” said Jalingo.
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“My lawyers pleaded improper service of the charge on me by the police and that stalled my arraignment today and the court adjourned till March 27, 2022, to allow proper service by my lawyers and my arraignment on the adjourned date.
“I am ready to stand trial and defend myself as always. But, in what appears like desperation to satisfy their pay masters, the police have vowed to come for me. They have already invited my brother, Utsu Atsu, who stood surety for me at the police station with intention to detain him.
“They have also vowed to disregard the court and come back to arrest me from my home and lock me up till next court date.
“I am aware that the Ayades are bent on making sure I am removed from circulation before the forthcoming elections for reasons best known to them. They are using every foul means, money and the police in particular to achieve this goal.
“For me, I have never run away from law enforcement agents because I am not a criminal and it won’t be different this time. I am a law-abiding citizen and I expect the police to respect the court and leave me and my brother, Utsu Atsu, alone until March 27, when I shall be in court as the court pleases.”
CrossRiverWatch published a report revealing that the governor’s sister-in-law was responsible for the publisher’s arrest and police intimidation.
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Woman arrested in Ogun after husband commits suicide
Woman arrested in Ogun after husband commits suicide
In Ogun State, one Opeyemi Lateef has died after he ingested a poisonous substance suspected to be ‘Sniper’, the police have said.
The deceased was said to have been found by his wife, Gift Monday, rolling on the floor writhing in severe pain while he was pointing to a bottle on the floor.
The incident happened on Wednesday in the Abeokuta Area of the State.
The deceased was reportedly rushed to Royal Grace Hospital at Soyoye Rounder, Abeokuta, for medical care but was later move to the General Hospital in Ijaye, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, after it was discovered that his health continued to deteriorate.
According to Punch, he died in the latter hospital and buried at his family house in Abule Otun Lafenwa, Abeokuta, according to Islamic burial rites.
Meanwhile, the deceased wife is in police custody over the death of her husband.
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The spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident.
He said an investigation and interrogation were ongoing, and that the deceased’s wife was in their custody in connection with the case.
She said, “On 24/4/2024, at about 08.00 hrs, one Funmilayo Lateef, ‘F’, of Abule Otun reported at the station that she received a phone call from one Gift Monday, ‘F’, her brother’s wife, that her brother now deceased, Opeyemi Lateef ‘M’, drank Sniper.
“He was rushed to Royal Grace Hospital at Soyoye Rounder, Abeokuta, for medical treatment. On getting to the hospital, she found her brother admitted, and he was not responding to treatment; his condition was critical.
“Hence, the doctor referred him to the General Hospital Ijaye at Abeokuta. She stated further that it was at the General Hospital in Ijaye, Abeokuta, that he was confirmed dead. His corpse was brought home according to Islamic rites to Abule Otun at Lafenwa, Abeokuta, their family house.”
Odutola noted that the investigation and interrogation had started, as three witnesses had made statements about the deceased, pointing to the Sniper bottle when asked what was wrong with him and when they saw him in pain
Woman arrested in Ogun after husband commits suicide
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Ex-Kwara finance commissioner arraigned over alleged N1. 22bn fraud
Ex-Kwara finance commissioner arraigned over alleged N1. 22bn fraud
On Monday, the Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Ademola Banu, a former commissioner for Finance in Kwara State, before Justice Evelyn Anyadike of the Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin, for alleged money laundering and misappropriation of state funds worth N1.22 billion.
The defendant was accused to have, among other things, conspired to siphon the abovementioned sum under the administration of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed between May 2011 and May 2019 when he was the Commissioner for Finance.
Banu was to be arraigned alongside his former principal, former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed on February 23, 2024, but when the case came up, he was absent in court and had no legal representation, prompting the court to issue a bench warrant against him upon the application by counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN).
The court on the said date took the plea of the former Governor Ahmed on the 12-count charge preferred against him and his finance commissioner by the EFCC and adjourned till Monday, April 29, 2024, while ordering the prosecution to produce Banu for trial.
At the resumed sitting on Monday, the two defendants – Abdulfatah Ahmed and Ademola Banu, who were listed as first and second defendants, were present in court.
When the case was called, A. A. Ajibade, SAN announced appearance for Ahmed, Gboyega Oyewole (SAN) appeared for Banu, while the prosecution team was led by Rotimi Jacobs (SAN).
Jacobs informed the court that the second defendant, who was unavailable at the last sitting when his co-accused was arraigned, was finally in court to take his plea.
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“My Lord, at the last adjournment, the first defendant (Governor Abdulfatah) took his plea, but the second defendant (Banu) was not available in court that day, causing your Lordship to issue a bench warrant against him.
“Following the order of the court, counsel to the second defendant called me and explained that he would produce his client before the court today (Monday), which he has done. I pray the court to allow the charge to be read to him,” Jacobs said.
In response, Banu’s counsel, Oyewole, prayed the court to discharge the bench warrant earlier issued against his client, which Jacobs did not oppose.
In a short ruling, Justice Anyadike vacated the bench warrant against the second defendant, setting the stage for his arraignment. Therefore, he was ordered to enter the dock to take his plea.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.
Following his plea, his counsel, Oyewole, moved a motion for the bail of his client.
He prayed the court to grant the application on liberal terms, citing the medical conditions of the client as reasons.
Jacobs, however, did not oppose the application in view of the earlier ruling.
Justice Anyadike admitted the second defendant to bail in the sum of N20m with two sureties in like sum, who must have landed property within the jurisdiction of the court.
The judge ordered that the sum of N5m must be paid as bond into the litigation account of the Federal High Court by the defendant, which will be returned to him after the final determination of the case or forfeited to the federal government in the event the defendant jump bail.
The judge also ordered the defendant to deposit his international passport with the court, adding that the defendant must not travel without the permission of the court, but may apply to get it on medical reasons if the need arise.
Thereafter, the judge ordered the defendant to be remanded in the custody of the EFCC pending the perfection of his bail conditions.
The case was eventually adjourned to June 25 and 26, 2024, for trial.
Ex-Kwara finance commissioner arraigned over alleged N1. 22bn fraud
(Leadership)
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Six terrorists surrender to troops in Lake Chad
Six terrorists surrender to troops in Lake Chad
At least six Boko Haram terrorists have surrendered to troops of the Multinational Joint Task Force, MNJTF, in the Lake Chad region.
A statement by the Chief Military Public Information Officer, Lt-Col. Abdullahi Abubakar, said the terrorists laid down arms between 17 -27 April 2024 following offensives launched by troops of Operation Lake Sanity 2, in the Lake Chad Region panning Cameroon and Nigeria.
Abubakar said a 19-year-old Boko Haram terrorist, Alhaji Ali, surrendered to troops of 403 Amphibious Brigade (Baga) of Sector 3 in Monguno, Nigeria on 17 April 2024.
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According to him, military investigation revealed that the surrendered Boko Haram fighter had three years affiliation with the Buduma faction of the dreaded sect.
He stated that Ali hails from Masarram on Lake Chad Island and resides at Duguri and had operated with the group before growing discontent within the group.
The MNJTF urged other Boko Haram terrorists hiding in the Lake Chad islands and adjoining communities to cease hostilities and embrace peace.
“We reiterate our commitment to restoring lasting peace and stability to the Lake Chad Basin, encouraging terrorists to follow the path of those who have already surrendered.”
Six terrorists surrender to troops in Lake Chad
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