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Wike places N20m bounty on 2 criminals, orders security agents to fish them out

Published

9 months ago

February 14, 2024

Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike

Wike places N20m bounty on 2 criminals, orders security agents to fish them out

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has announced a N20 million bounty on two criminals terrorising residents of the territory.

He said they should be apprehended dead or alive.

Wike made the announcement in Abuja on Wednesday during a visit to the FCT Police Command, where 15 suspected kidnappers and one chance armed robber were arrested.

The bounty was in response to the Police Commissioner’s remarks that two other criminals were still on the run, adding that the police was on their trail.

“You said there are two criminals on the run? Let me put money on their heads. Wherever they are, send your men out there, I will give them N20 million.

“Go and fish them out, wherever they are. I want to see them dead or alive,” the minister said.

The minister, who could not hide his joy over the arrest of the criminals, commended the commissioner and his men for the wonderful job, saying “the difference is clear.”

He assured the command that he would do everything possible to provide the police with the needed equipment to fight crimes in the territory.

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“Let me assure the residents of FCT that with the support of President Bola Tinubu, we are fully prepared to take the war to the criminals.

“I trust the police, and our confidence in them is getting stronger,” he added.

Wike pointed out that information was key to winning the war against crime, as such urged residents and the police to do more on intelligence gathering.

Earlier, the Commissioner of the Police in the FCT, Mr Benneth Igweh, said that the 16 suspects were arrested in the last two days.

Igweh explained that the Mabushi Division arrested eight suspected armed robbers operating in vehicles to rob FCT residents.

“Acting on credible intelligence, the suspects who are responsible for several `one chance’ activities in the past, were trailed to the Central Area in an attempt to rob some innocent residents and were arrested.

“The suspects confessed to using toy guns and knives to scare their victims to illegally obtain from them.”

He added that police operatives of Utako Division along with the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the command, on Feb. 13, arrested seven suspected kidnappers in Pyankasa, Tudun Wada and Ketti villages in connection with the abduction of 14 people.

“They are responsible for the kidnapping of five victims in Federal Mortgage Housing Estate, Kabusa, three people at Ketti village, and Fulani resident of Alhaji Sani.

“They are also responsible for the kidnap of a woman and her security guard in Kabusa Estate, one Mr Sunday Zakwai and four others, and equally killed the District Head of the area.

“The criminals also kidnapped two staff at Defence Estate Kabusa.”

The commissioner said that N20 million cash, six AK 47 rifles, bulletproof vests and locally fabricated walkie talkie were recovered from the suspects.

Igweh said that all the suspects would be charged to court.

Wike places N20m bounty on 2 criminals, orders security agents to fish them out

metro

BREAKING: FEC proposes N47.9 trillion budget for 2025 fiscal year

Published

13 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Trends Admin

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

metro

EFCC arrests ex-NCMB boss over $35m energy project fraud

Published

13 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Trends Admin

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

metro

Court adjourns Yahaya Bello’s trial till Nov 27

Published

14 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Trends Admin

Yahaya Bello

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.