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Terrorism Charge: Court shifts Nnamdi Kanu’s trial till June 28

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1 month ago

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leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, has deferred the trial of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, till June 28.

The court had on March 18, slated Thursday to continue further proceedings on the treasonable felony charge the Federal Government preferred against Kanu.

However, lead counsel of the IPOB, Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, who hitherto headed the defendant’s legal team, in a statement on Wednesday, disclosed that the case would no longer proceed as earlier scheduled due to the unavailability of the trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako.

“Please be informed that we have just received communication from the Federal High Court’s Registrar, notifying us that the Court will no longer be sitting tomorrow, 26th May, 2022, on Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s case.

“According to the Registrar, this is because His lordship, Justice Binta Nyako is indisposed, and as such, the matter is now adjourned to the 28th day of June, 2022 for Ruling/Hearing.

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“We most respectfully, urge you all to maintain restraint, as you have always done. Keep your eyes on the ball, which is the freedom of Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

“Also, please note that Justice delayed is not justice denied. We are aggressively cruising to victory, it is only a matter of time.

“We profoundly appreciate your solidarity, unflinching support and prayers, which have been sustaining us thus far. Please do not relent in your prayers, we do not take it for granted.

“We shall continue to keep you all informed as events unfold”, Ejiofor stated.

It will be recalled that the court had on the last adjourned date, declined to release the embattled IPOB leader on bail pending the determination of the charge against him.

The court maintained that Kanu must explain the reason why he breached the previous bail that was given to him, before he could enjoy another favourable discretion from it.

“Until the issue of the absence of the defendant for his trial, with all the bail conditions breached, is determined, the instant application of the defendant for bail will at best be premature and it is refused.

“However, the defendant is at liberty to refile the application”, Justice Nyako held.

Nevertheless, the court adjourned to rule on an application Kanu filed to challenge the revocation of the bail the court earlier granted to him

He is equally praying the court to set aside the order it made on March 28, 2019, which not only issued a bench warrant for his arrest, but also gave FG the nod to try him in absentia.

The IPOB leader told the court that contrary to FG’s allegation that he jumped bail, he said he fled for his life after his home town at Afaraukwu Ibeku in Umuahia, Abia State, was invaded by soldiers, which he said led to the death of 28 persons.

He attached eight exhibits that included photographs, as well as an affidavit he deposed to from Isreal after he fled from the country.

VANGUARD

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Ayade sacks two monarchs in Cross River over communal land crisis

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5 hours ago

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June 28, 2022

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Cross River State Governor, Prof Ben Ayade, has ordered the dethronement of the Obol lopon of Nko, Etim Ayomobi, in Yakurr and the Clan Head of Oyadama, Ovarr Vincent Erena, in Obubra local government areas.

The directive was announced after the governor’s security meeting on the crisis that erupted over a land dispute between the two communities.

This was made known on Tuesday in a press release signed by the Deputy Chief Press Secretary to Governor, Mr Linus Obogo.

According to release, the dethronement and de-certification of the two monarchs and all other traditional rulers in the two warring communities were the result of the intractable communal clashes.

Nko and Oyadama communities have been at war over a piece of land which its ownership has now been revoked and taken over by Cross River state government for overriding public interest.

“The ownership of the disputed land has been revoked and taken over by the state government for overriding public interest.

“Additionally, government has ordered the sustenance of army operation in Nko community until those behind the shooting of the six military personnel are produced or fished out,” the statement said.

 

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‘Yahoo boys’ landlords risk 15-year jail term, says EFCC tells

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9 hours ago

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June 28, 2022

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The Economic Financial Commission Commission has warned that landlords may risk 15 years in jail for renting houses out to “Yahoo boys.”

The commission made this known ahead of its next edition of its public conversation series tagged, “ #EFCCConnect,” which has been slated to be held by 6pm on Twitter Space on Wednesday, June 29th 2022.
The commission’s Deputy Director, Legal and Prosecution, Sylvanus Tahir and Assistant Director, Legal and Prosecution, Cosmos Ugwu will be speaking on the topic, “Give your house to Yahoo boys, spend 15 years in jail” at the forum.
The EFCC had repeatedly warned house owners and commercial real estate agents against making properties available to cyber criminals and fraudsters.
The EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, earlier met with hotel owners in Ilorin, the Kwara capital,l to sensitize the hospitality business community to how to work with the commission to tame the tide of cyber crimes.
The EFCC Zonal Commander, Michael Nzekwe, expressed concern about what he described as the “cold complicity by hospitality entrepreneurs.”
He accused some of the hotel owners of working with suspected fraudsters by housing them over a long period and making internet facilities available.
The official stated that the act negates Section 3 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offenses Act, 2006.
He said, “The section provides for a prison term of between five and 15 years without option of fine for any person who permits his premises to be used for any offense under the Act.”
Nzekwe stated that the law doesn’t recognise the position that hoteliers are business people and cannot determine who a fraudster.
The EFCC had warned hoteliers to always ask their customers for means of identification and to include their occupation during the check-in procedure.

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Brazilian Returnee Arrested With Cocaine In Private Part, NDLEA Seizes London-Bound Consignment

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18 hours ago

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June 28, 2022

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Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a Brazilian returnee, Uche Benson Igwedum
Igwedum was nabbed at the arrival hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos with pellets of cocaine concealed in his private part, NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi said.
The NDLEA spokesman in a statement on Sunday noted that Igwedum was nabbed at the Lagos airport on Monday 20th June upon his arrival on Ethiopian Airlines from Sao Paulo, Brazil via Addis Ababa.
“Preliminary investigations reveal the suspect had swallowed 50 wraps of cocaine before departing Brazil and excreted 48 pellets in Addis Ababa where he handed them over to another person,” the statement read.
“He, however, claimed he was unable to excrete the remaining two wraps at the hotel room in Addis Ababa before boarding his flight but later excreted them in the aircraft restroom during the flight from Ethiopia to Lagos.”
Similarly, NDLEA operatives apprehended a drug kingpin, Onyekachi Chukwuma MacDonald, after three weeks of painstaking investigation and tracking.
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He is accused of being behind attempts to export 40 parcels of Methamphetamine popularly called Mkpuru Mmiri locally to London, United Kingdom through the NAHCO export shed of the Lagos airport.
MacDonald was arrested at Manacola Estate, Alakuko area of Lagos at the weekend, three weeks after his Mkpuru Mmiri consignment weighing 2.05 kilograms was intercepted at the airport and his freight agent, Peter Christopher Anikan arrested on 7th June.
“During his interview, the suspect said he’s from Ahiazu, Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo state and had lived in Dubai, UAE for 10 years before returning to Nigeria in 2019.
“He stated that after his return to Nigeria, he opened a phone accessories shop in Sango Otta, Ogun State but the business collapsed. He then started sending cigarettes to London and decided to conceal the illicit drug in the consignment after advice from a friend.
“Closely related is the seizure of another consignment of 2kg Mkpuru Mmiri at a courier house in Owerri, Imo state. The cargo seized on Wednesday 22nd June had ankara and lace fabrics in which two cylindrical cellophanes containing the drug heading to Hong Kong were concealed,” the statement added.
Also at the Lagos airport, NDLEA operatives on Friday 24th June intercepted 500,000 tablets of Tramadol 225mg packed in 10 cartons and labelled Tramaking imported from Karachi, Pakistan on Emirates Airline. The consignment weighing 407.60kg was seized during a joint examination with Customs and NAFDAC officials.
The same day, a Dubai, UAE-bound passenger, Alegbeleye Taiwo was arrested at the departure hall of the MMIA with 40 ampoules of pentazocine injection. The 21-year-old suspect claims he’s from Osun state.
Meanwhile, two kingpins behind the importation of two recent drug consignments from Canada concealed in vehicle containers through the Tincan seaport in Apapa, Lagos have been arrested by NDLEA operatives.
One of them, Gboyega Ayoola Elegbeji was arrested at his house, 14 Bakare Street, Idi Araba, Lagos on Wednesday 22nd June, for importing a 40ft container TRHU7874497 containing 33 parcels of cannabis indica (Colorado) weighing16.5kg.
The second suspect, Sunday Joe Oyebola, (aka Otunba) was arrested on Thursday 23rd June. He’s linked to the importation of a 40ft container MEDU4389887 containing four vehicles used to conceal 290 parcels weighing 145kg cannabis indica (Colorado) from Montreal, Canada. He had been on the run since March and had in the course of the investigation attempted to bribe officers with N10million to influence the case.
In his response, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd) commended the officers and men of the MMIA, Tincan, and Imo state Commands of the Agency for the drug seizures and arrests, especially of those who thought they could evade the long arm of the law. He encouraged them and their compatriots across other formations to intensify their efforts toward achieving set goals.
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