metro
Super TV CEO’s murder: How I discovered victim’s corpse — Witness
The security guard at the apartment where Usifo Ataga, Super TV Chief Executive Officer, was allegedly murdered, on Tuesday said he was the person who discovered the corpse of the victim.
The security guard, Abubakar Mohammed, said this while testifying before a Lagos High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square.
Mohammed gave evidence as the second prosecution witness in the trial of an undergraduate, Chidinma Ojukwu (first defendant), and two others, for Ataga’s murder.
Ojukwu is facing trial along with her sister, Chioma Egbuchu, and one Adedapo Quadri.
At the resumed hearing, the witness narrated to the court how the defendant lodged at the apartment where he worked as security man on Sunday June 13.
According to him, his employer, Nkechi Mogbo, informed him of a client who had contacted her for an apartment.
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He said when the defendant showed up, he took her to inspect the place and later gave her the keys to the apartment when his employer gave him the instructions to do so.
Mohammed further narrated how Usifo Ataga (victim) came to the apartment later in the night the same June 13.
The witness said the victim drove in, in a dark coloured Range Rover SUV and was allowed into the premises when the defendant came out of the gate and said “he is my person”.
He also said that the defendant and the victim went out that night and came back at about 11:30p.m.
“The defendant asked me to open the gate so that the victim would park his vehicle inside the premises which I did.
“On Tuesday night by 8p.m., the defendant came out and entered an Uber car and went out. I stayed outside till 12a.m, waiting for her to return but she didn’t, so I went to bed.
“On Wednesday, the vehicle that collects refuse came so I told the cleaner (named Confidence) to bring out all the dustbin from the apartment.
“Confidence came back and told me that the door at the defendant’s apartment was open, I went there, called out the man (victim) but there was no answer.
“I tried to push the door but something was blocking it, I peeped through the narrow opening and saw the victim’s dead body on the floor.
“My employer called me talking about another client whose rent had expired, I then told her about the incident,” the witness narrated.
The witness also narrated how his employer informed the police and how he was taken to the police station to make his statements.
He also told the court that while the defendant was at the apartment, she called him one night with a new number and not the private number she usually called with.
Mohammed said when the body was discovered, he stored that particular number on his phone and checked it on WhatsApp.
The witness said he discovered that the profile picture on that phone was the defendant’s own, he screen shot the picture.
According to him, he changed his own profile picture and sent a WhatsApp message to the defendant, after which the defendant removed her profile picture.
Mohammed said he gave the information to his employer.
He also narrated how the defendant called him with a private number asking him about the victim’s car.
Mohammed said: “Immediately I noticed she was the one calling, I asked why she had not returned since she went out, she answered that she went for a meeting and would be back”.
Mohammed was led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Adeyinka Adeyemi, who is the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
However, due to time, the Judge, Justice Yetunde Adesanya, adjourned the case until Wednesday for cross examination.
NAN reports that the three defendants were arraigned on Oct. 12 on nine counts preferred against them by Lagos State Government.
Ojukwu and Quadri are facing the first to eight counts bordering on conspiracy, murder, stabbing, forgery, making of bank statements and stealing.
The third defendant, Egbuchu, is facing the ninth count of stealing iPhone 7 belonging to the late Ataga.
The first and second defendants were alleged to have conspired and murdered Ataga on June 15, 2021, by stabbing him severally with a knife on the neck and chest.
The alleged murder took place at No. 19, Adewale Oshin St., Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
The duo were also accused of committing forgery by procuring and making bank account statements purported to have been made by the deceased.
The Eagle
metro
NURTW scribe felicitates Nigerians on Xmas, urges caution
NURTW scribe felicitates Nigerians on Xmas, urges caution
The General Secretary of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Comrade Kayode Agbeyangi, has enjoined Nigerians to imbibe the virtues of peace, love and compassion as taught through the birth of Jesus Christ.
He stated this in his Christmas and end of the year goodwill message to felicitate members of the union and Nigerians in general.
Agbeyangi urged Nigerians to use the festive season to reflect on the values of love, compassion, and sacrifice that Jesus Christ embodied.
“This period is not for merry making alone; we should also spare time to reflect on the birth and life of Jesus Christ.
“His birth teaches humility, love compassion and sacrifice. As Nigerians, we must show love to our fellow county men. We must love our country. As Nigerians, we must be ready to make sacrifices for the nation.”
The NURTW scribe also used the opportunity to appeal to members of the union and other road users to always exercise caution and adhere to all safety protocols while travelling during the festive season.
“As we celebrate, let us not forget the importance of road safety. The roads can be treacherous, especially during the festive season.
“I urge our members and all road users to drive safely, avoid overspending, overtaking at dangerous bends and overloading, and be courteous to other road users,” he stated.
He also advised drivers that all their vehicle papers should be up to date to avoid embarrassment from law enforcement officers on the highways.
Comrade Agbeyangi prayed for a peaceful and joyous celebration, and wished members of the union and Nigerians, a happy prosperous New Year.
metro
Why we displayed ‘Jesus Christ is not God’ banner at Lekki mosque -Imam
Why we displayed ‘Jesus Christ is not God’ banner at Lekki mosque -Imam
The Chief Imam of Lekki Central Mosque in Lagos, Ridwanullah Jamiu, has said the “Jesus Christ is Not God” banner placed on the fence of the mosque was not intended to provoke anybody. The banner became a source of controversy after a picture of it was shared on social media, with many calling it an…
The Chief Imam of Lekki Central Mosque in Lagos, Ridwanullah Jamiu, has said the “Jesus Christ is Not God” banner placed on the fence of the mosque was not intended to provoke anybody.
The banner became a source of controversy after a picture of it was shared on social media, with many calling it an attack on the Christian faith.
Addressing his congregation, Jamiu said the banner was displayed to educate Muslims.
He said, “When you come to Lekki Central Mosque, at least you should learn something. You pass by the banners outside, you look here and there, you learn something because Islam treasures knowledge.”
The Imam said all the banners displayed outside the mosque contain Quran and Hadith verses.
He said after a photo of one of the banners went viral, he “received calls from the government, local government, and area command appealing to us to please remove the banners because of the festive period.”
He said the display of the banners was not to provoke anyone, noting that there’s a difference between propagation of Islam and provocation.
“It was not placed there just yesterday. It has been there for about two months or thereabout. We are peace loving people, we don’t provoke anyone. We only propagate our name,” he said.
Jamiu further stated that nobody can monopolise Jesus because Muslims also have what they believe about him as backed by the Quran which calls him Isah.
“If you don’t believe in Jesus, you are not a Muslim. We are Muslims and anything we believe must be in consonant with the Quran and the Quran says Jesus Christ is not God, he’s a messenger of God. We quoted this verse in the banner. Is there anything wrong if we paste what we believe on our territory to educate our congregation? It’s a verse of the Quran. This is freedom of religion, freedom of speech,” he said.
On the removal of the banner, Jamiu said he received multiple calls ascribing the gesture as cowardice.
“It is not cowardice. We removed it to let peace reign, to obey our government because we are peace-loving people and also because we know it’s a festive period, people may think it was actually calculated to enrage others. We are going to modify it and put it back. We are not cowards,” he said.
The banner has since been replaced with another which says “A
llah is the lord of Jesus.”
Why we displayed ‘Jesus Christ is not God’ banner at Lekki mosque -Imam
metro
CBN fines bank found hoarding cash N150m
CBN fines bank found hoarding cash N150m
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has imposed a N150 million fine on a commercial bank for failing to dispense cash through its Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).
This action follows an unannounced inspection by the apex bank, which uncovered deliberate cash hoarding and ATM manipulation by the erring bank.
Sources within the CBN revealed that the sanctioned bank was caught disabling its ATMs, thereby denying customers access to their funds while prioritizing cash disbursements to select VIP clients.
A staff member of the CBN stressed that the apex bank would not tolerate such practices.
“The Bank will not spare any Deposit Money Bank (DMB) caught in the act of hoarding cash or found favoring VIP customers over other customers,” the official stated.
To this end, the CBN has intensified spot checks on banks nationwide, exposing various illicit cash-handling practices by some unscrupulous financial institutions.
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For now, the CBN is imposing financial penalties on defaulting banks. However, according to the official, the next phase of enforcement will include publicly naming and shaming offending banks and prosecuting implicated bank officials.
“This fine is just the beginning. The CBN is determined to hold banks accountable for any actions that undermine public trust and the integrity of the banking system,” the official added.
Despite the ongoing challenges, the CBN has reiterated its commitment to promoting cashless banking in the country.
Another senior official disclosed that the apex bank’s management is intensifying efforts to encourage the use of electronic channels for transactions.
“The frustration faced by account holders is undermining our push for a cashless economy. We are doubling down on initiatives to restore public confidence in electronic banking solutions,” the official said.
CBN fines bank found hoarding cash N150m
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