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DPO’s Death: Police raid community forests, arrests six suspects in Rivers
DPO’s Death: Police raid community forests, arrests six suspects in Rivers
The Police in Rivers State had on Saturday arrested six suspects in connection with the murder of the Ahoada East Divisional Police Officer, SP Bako Angbashim.
The arrest followed the state Commissioner of Police-led raid of Odiemudie Community forests where the slain DPO was reportedly murdered.
The Police in a press statement signed by the spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, said the objective of the raid was to recover the body of murdered DPO as well as conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the community.
Iringe-Koko revealed that the six arrested suspects were apprehended within Odiemudie community, adding that a locally crafted pistol and various charms were among the items confiscated from the suspects.
She said, “The Commissioner of Police, Rivers State, CP Nwonyi Emeka Polycarp, along with his management team and tactical units, conducted an operation on Saturday, September 9, 2023, at approximately 0600hrs in Odumude Community, Ahaoda East LGA, Rivers State with the objective to recover the deceased DPO’s body and conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the community.
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“During this operation, six suspects were apprehended within the community. Among the items seized were a locally crafted pistol and various charms. These suspects and the confiscated items are currently under police custody and are undergoing interrogation at the State CID, Port Harcourt.
“As a result of these developments, the community has been evacuated by its residents.,” he said.
Iringe-Koko further disclosed that while investigation continued, a new Divisional Police Officer, SP Zuokumor Richard, had been deployed to the area with an immediate mandate of recovering the corpse of the murdered DPO as well as the recovery of the operational weapons of the criminals.
“Furthermore, a new DPO, SP Zuokumor Richard, has been assigned to the division. He is accompanied by half a unit of men from Mopol 48, one-third unit from Mopol 19, 56, and tactical teams.
Slain DPO: Rivers Youths Finger Political, Traditional leaders, seek investigation
Meanwhile, some youths of Igbu-Akoh kingdom in Ahoada East LGA of Rivers State whose paramount ruler, Eze Cassidy Ikegbidi, was suspended indefinitely by the Rivers State Governor for alleged complicity in the murder SP Bako Amgbashin, have called for a investigation of their traditional and political leaders.
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The youths said most of their elites were secretly supporting the criminals, thereby emboldening them to continue terrorising the area.
The youths who spoke through their Public Relations Officer, Ekeakita Hector Chinem, told our correspondent on Sunday that until those political and traditional leaders are scrutinised and exposed by the security agencies and government, the insecurity in the area would not abate.
He said, “Most of the paramount rulers, sons and daughters in Ekpeye should be investigated thoroughly; most of them give these boys backup and it is not just one person, they are in groups, so we want the governor to also put an eye and beam his security searchlight on them.
“Everybody in Ekpeye whose hands are involved in the death of SP Bako should be brought to book.”
The youths promised to synergise with the Police and other relevant security agencies in ensuring that the killers of the DPO are apprehended.
“We the Igbu-Akoh youths are also behind the governor, we will not also rest to make sure that whosoever that are cult members of this group have one hand or the other in the death of Bako.
“Anywhere we see them, we would call the police and other security agencies so that they can apprehend them. There will be no sleeping, no resting till all of them are brought to book,” they added
DPO’s Death: Police raid community forests, arrests six suspects in Rivers
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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.
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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
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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
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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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