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Gambian pastor absconds with worshippers’ 52 phones, money after Ibadan crusade

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Gambian pastor absconds with worshippers’ 52 phones, money after Ibadan crusade

 

A Gambian pastor in the Agbowo area of Ibadan, Oyo State, has reportedly absconded with 52 Androids and iPhones, money and other valuables after a three-day crusade.

He was said to have told his victims that he was led by God to travel from Gambia to Ibadan for the crusade.

On the last day of the crusade, the cleric claimed that the Holy Spirit directed him to tell those in attendance to submit their phones, money and other valuables.

The victims claimed that on the final day of the crusade, the pastor who had seduced them into three days of fasting and prayer, had vanished.

One of the victims, Mrs Grace Akintola, claimed that many widows attended the crusade because the pastor promised to give each of them a bag of rice and cash.

Akintola, a widow, claimed that the “man of God” additionally promised to provide the students who attended the crusade with scholarships.

“The pastor approached an Igbo lady in our area to assist him to gather widows and students and that he wanted to help us. Someone in my area invited me to the crusade. The crusader put on priest’s regalia. He even said he would buy a fully-furnished house for one of us.

“The pastor equally promised some of those who attended the crusade money, the kind of money that even politicians could not give. On the last day of the crusade, he (pastor) sold a bottle of water for us at the rate of N4,800; he said that the water had been mixed with perfume and many people paid for it,” she said.

Another victim, a student of the University of Ibadan, who pleaded anonymity, said that the pastor ordered them to fast for three days.

He said that he collected their phones so as to keep them away from the items and allow them to focus on prayers, unknown to them that it was a trick to get rid of their belongings.

“He said no phone should ring during the programme and that was why he collected all of them. In fact, he snapped at a lady who stood up and wanted to take his photograph and seized the phone from her,” he said.

According to him, on the last day of the crusade, the pastor said he wanted to go and rest at the hotel where he had lodged.

“He (pastor) later said he wanted to go and eat inside the University of Ibadan after which we didn’t know how he escaped with our belongings.

“As a man of God that he claimed to be, we respected him a lot. We didn’t know that he wanted to use the name of God to dupe us,” he said.

The pastor has been declared wanted by residents of the area, and posters with his name and picture have been circulated to track him down.

Adewale Osifeso, the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the incident in a text message.

He said an investigation had begun and that updates would be provided.

NAN

 

Gambian pastor absconds with worshippers’ 52 phones, money after Ibadan crusade

 

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It’s illegal to declare suspects wanted, Falana tackles DHQ

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It’s illegal to declare suspects wanted, Falana tackles DHQ

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has faulted the declaration of eight persons wanted by the Defence Headquarters over the killing of 17 soldiers in Okuama community of Delta State.

He said it was illegal to do so without obtaining a court order.

He stated this in a statement released on Thursday and warned the military against bungling the case of the slain soldiers.

Falana said, “The authorities of the armed forces should be made to realise that the military cannot arrest, detain, investigate and charge civilian suspects with any offence whatsoever.”

“We have also read the eight people alleged to be involved in the cruel murder of the soldiers have been declared wanted by the Defence Headquarters. It is trite law that the police and security agencies lack the power to declare any suspect wanted without a court order,” he stated.

He cited the rulings of judges in a number of cases including Benedit Peters v Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to buttress his point.

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Third Mainland Bridge will be reopened in seven days – Minister

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Third Mainland Bridge will be reopened in seven days – Minister

Minister of Works, Dave Umahi,
says the Third Mainland Bridge will be reopened in seven days time.
He announced this on Thursday during an inspection of the bridge along with members of the Senate Committee on Works.
“In seven days Nigerians will be able to ply this road,” he said.
Umahi also said the Federal Government planned to install Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) on the bridge and under it to reduce illegal sand mining around the area.
Currently, he said the lane marking was being done, adding, “When the lane marking is over, we will open the bridge but formally it will be commissioned by Mr. President when he is going to flag off the coastal road.”

The Federal Government on January 9, this year closed the 11.8km bridge in Lagos for a three-month comprehensive rehabilitation.

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Fresh grid collapse plunges Nigeria into nationwide blackout

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Fresh grid collapse plunges Nigeria into nationwide blackout

The electricity grid collapsed on Thursday, plunging the country into blackout, the second time in three months in 2024.

Data from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) showed the grid collapsed at about 4pm on Thursday, dropping from 2,984 megawatts (MW) to zero within an hour.

All the 21 plants connected to the grid stopped operations by 5pm.

Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), in a statement on Thursday, said the current power outage was due to a system failure from the national grid.

“The system collapsed at about 16:28 hours today 28 March 2024, causing the outage currently being experienced across our franchise area,” AEDC said.

“We appeal for your understanding as all stakeholders are working hard to restore normal supply.”

In a notice to its customers, the management of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) said the system collapse resulted in a loss of power supply across its network.

“We are currently working with our partners as we hope for speedy restoration of the grid. We will keep you updated as soon as the power supply is restored. Kindly bear with us,” EKEDC said.

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