DSS seizes Emefiele’s passport, plans home, office search

The Department of State Services has confiscated the passport of the suspended Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, The PUNCH has learnt. The service, it was also learnt, may search Emefiele’s home and office this week.

Following his suspension on Friday as a result of the ongoing investigation of his office and the planned reforms in the financial sector, the service arrested Emefiele in Lagos and flew him to Abuja in a private jet on Saturday. The spokesperson for the service, Peter Afunanya, in a statement said Emefiele had been taken into custody and was under investigation. However, a source in the DSS on Sunday said it was standard procedure for his travel document to be seized pending the conclusion of the ongoing investigation. The source added that the office and residence of the suspended apex bank governor would be searched. The source said, “Of course, Emefiele’s travel document would be confiscated as part of the standard process pending the conclusion of our investigation. Also, as part of the investigation, his house and office would be searched for documents that can aid the ongoing investigation on his management of the CBN.” Our correspondent had reported that other top directors of the CBN might also be invited or arrested for questioning over their roles in the administration of the apex bank. It was learnt that the DSS might revisit the criminal charges it earlier filed against Emefiele which borders on terrorism financing and fraud. The secret police similarly accused the suspended CBN box of mismanaging the CBN subsidiary, Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending and the Anchor Borrowers Programme. The DSS spokesman, Afunanya, could not be reached for comment on Sunday as calls to his line indicated that he was unreachable. He had yet to respond to a text message on the detention of Emefiele as of the time of filing this report. Meanwhile, human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has said the DSS lacked constitutional power to investigate and prosecute Emefiele. Falana in a message sent to one of our correspondents said Emefiele should be transferred to the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission who according to him, posses the legal right to prosecute Emefiele. DSS seizes Emefiele’s passport, plans home, office search 12th June 2023 CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele Solomon Odeniyi and Deborah Tolu-Kolawole The Department of State Services has confiscated the passport of the suspended Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, The PUNCH has learnt. The service, it was also learnt, may search Emefiele’s home and office this week. Following his suspension on Friday as a result of the ongoing investigation of his office and the planned reforms in the financial sector, the service arrested Emefiele in Lagos and flew him to Abuja in a private jet on Saturday. The spokesperson for the service, Peter Afunanya, in a statement said Emefiele had been taken into custody and was under investigation. However, a source in the DSS on Sunday said it was standard procedure for his travel document to be seized pending the conclusion of the ongoing investigation. The source added that the office and residence of the suspended apex bank governor would be searched. The source said, “Of course, Emefiele’s travel document would be confiscated as part of the standard process pending the conclusion of our investigation. Also, as part of the investigation, his house and office would be searched for documents that can aid the ongoing investigation on his management of the CBN.” Our correspondent had reported that other top directors of the CBN might also be invited or arrested for questioning over their roles in the administration of the apex bank. It was learnt that the DSS might revisit the criminal charges it earlier filed against Emefiele which borders on terrorism financing and fraud. Related News The secret police similarly accused the suspended CBN box of mismanaging the CBN subsidiary, Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending and the Anchor Borrowers Programme. The DSS spokesman, Afunanya, could not be reached for comment on Sunday as calls to his line indicated that he was unreachable. He had yet to respond to a text message on the detention of Emefiele as of the time of filing this report. Meanwhile, human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has said the DSS lacked constitutional power to investigate and prosecute Emefiele. Falana in a message sent to one of our correspondents said Emefiele should be transferred to the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission who according to him, posses the legal right to prosecute Emefiele. “A few months ago, the State Security Service levelled grave allegations of terrorism financing, money laundering, and other economic crimes against Godwin Emefiele, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. At the material time, the attempt by the SSS to arrest, investigate, and prosecute Mr. Emefiele was frustrated by the erstwhile Buhari administration. “However, following the suspension of Mr. Emefiele as the Governor of the CBN by President Bola Tinubu, the SSS quizzed him in Lagos and flew him to Abuja yesterday. According to media reports, the investigation of the suspect by the SSS has commenced. Even though the SSS which initially denied the arrest has since turned around to admit that Mr. Emefiele is in its custody. “In the case of Dr. Bukola SarakI v. Federal Republic of Nigeria (2018) 16 NWLR (pt. 1646) 433-434, the Supreme Court ruled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission lacks the vires to investigate and prosecute the appellant for the breach of the provisions of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. It was for that principal reason that Senator Saraki was freed by the apex court. “In line with the principle of law enunciated by the apex court in Saraki’s case the SSS lacks the power to investigate and prosecute Mr. Emefiele in respect of allegations of money laundering and other economic crimes. Therefore, after investigating the alleged involvement of Emefiele in terrorism financing the SSS should transfer him to the EFCC for the purpose of investigating

Bandits kill 50 in Sokoto, 31 in Zamfara 5th June 2023

Over 50 persons were reportedly killed in the Gwadabawa and Tangaza local government areas of Sokoto State as gunmen suspected to be bandits struck on Saturday evening. This was as 31 villagers were killed by bandits in Janbako and Sakida villages, Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State also on Saturday afternoon.

Over 50 persons were reportedly killed in the Gwadabawa and Tangaza local government areas of Sokoto State as gunmen suspected to be bandits struck on Saturday evening. This was as 31 villagers were killed by bandits in Janbako and Sakida villages, Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State also on Saturday afternoon. The Sokoto State Command of the Nigeria Police Force, on Sunday, confirmed the bandits’ attack in the two local government areas in the state. The command’s spokesperson, ASP Ahmad Rufa’i, promised to provide The PUNCH with details of the deadly attacks, saying the police were on top of the situation. A villager in the Gwadabawa LGA, who spoke anonymously, said two attacked villages are the most populous in the area. The villager said, “Some of the bandits were already in the town, unknown to residents of the affected communities, before others arrived in the evening to strike. “The operation started after evening prayer, where they attacked the two villages simultaneously. “In Bilingawa, not less than 18 people were killed during the attack on Saturday evening. “After killing them, they set their corpses and those of their animals on fire, ensuring that most of them were burnt beyond recognition.” In the Tangaza LGA, no fewer than 37 persons were allegedly killed and several others injured in attacks on three communities According to a resident of the area, the affected communities include the Raka, Raka Dutse, and Filin Gawa communities. A former Chairman of the LGA, Bashar Kalenjeni, said 18 persons were killed at Raka, 17 at Filin Gawa, and two at Raka Dutse. “We wanted to bury them in the night, but the bandits came back and dispersed us. As of this morning, the deceased are still there, unburied,” Kalenjeni said. According to him, the “offence” of the villagers was their “refusal to pay levies imposed on their communities.” “But the villagers refused to succumb and because of that, they attacked them, killing 37 persons while several others sustained varying degrees of gunshot injury and are currently receiving treatment at General Hospital, Gwadabawa. “There are others who are still unaccounted for,” the former chairman disclosed, adding, “Right now, we are waiting for security operatives to lead us to the villages in order to bury the dead ones.” Meanwhile, in Zamfara State, a resident, Mallam Abubakar Mohammed, told The PUNCH on the phone that the bandits, who came in their large numbers, attacked two communities on Saturday afternoon. According to him, the bandits invaded Janbako village around 2.30pm on Saturday where they killed 28 people and injured several others. They later moved to Sakida village the same day where they again killed three and also injured many people. Mohammed said, “We just finished afternoon prayer when we heard gunshots and everybody ran Helter skelter for safety”. “The bandits shot sporadically immediately they arrived at our village as a result of which they were able to kill 28 people and injured several others. “They later moved to Sakida village very close to our village where they also launched an attack, killing three on the spot and also injured several others. “As I am talking to you now, the people of the two communities have fled to other places.” All efforts to speak to the newly posted police public relations Officer SP Yazid Abubakar proved abortive, as he did not pick up the phone calls after several attempts.

It’s official! Sweden declares sex as sport, set to organise European Sex Championship

Sweden has officially declared sex as a sport and is all set to host its first-ever sex competition next week. The people participating in the sex competition will engage in sex sessions which can go up to six hours daily. Advertisement

The winners of the sex competition will be decided by a panel of judges and the audience will also influence the final decisions. The European Sex Championship which will start on 8 June and span over a period of six weeks with participants engaging in sexual activities from 45 minutes to 1 hour daily, depending upon the duration of their matches. The report claims that the audience will also influence the decision of the sex competitions and will notice several aspects of the sexual activity. The final decision on the winners will be arrived at after considering the factors like the chemistry between the couple, knowledge about sex, endurance level, etc. More points for knowledge of ‘Kamasutra’ Notably, the knowledge of ‘Kamasutra,’ the Sanskrit scripture on sex and eroticism, will also play a role in the decision making and the participants will get points on the basis of their knowledge regarding the knowledge of ‘Kamasutra.’ Moreover, the championship has encouraged people from different sexual orientations and affirms its respect for diversity. The organizers of the sex competition believe that sexual orientation can play a significant role in the competition and influence the outcome of the matches. Expressing their excitement over the event, the organizers of the sex competition said that the incorporation of sexual orientation as a part of sporting tactics will be a groundbreaking development among European countries. Social media is filled with diverse reactions from users over the announcement of sex competition with people supporting the move to remove the inhibitions related to sex while others have expressed skepticism.

Withdraw your petition against Tinubu, LP faction tells Obi

The Lamidi Apapa faction of Labour Party on Friday told the presidential candidate of the party, Peter Obi, to step down his case at the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal over what they described as “lack of seriousness”. According to the faction, the advice became necessary following the incident which happened at the Tribunal on Thursday where the court stepped down hearing in the petition filed by Obi and the LP against the election of President Bola Tinubu.

Speaking on fuel subsidy removal, the LP faction knocked the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria for rejecting new pump price of petrol. They insisted that the position of the LP on removal of fuel subsidy during the campaign has not changed, saying “we cannot reverse that position because it was not our candidate that won the presidential election.” The factional National Publicity Secretary of the LP, Abayomi Arabambi, raised these issues during a press conference in Abuja. He told journalists that Obi has not been able to provide any concrete evidence to back this claims since PEPT began sitting. Arabambi alleged that Obi went to court to challenge the victory of Tinubu because he (Obi) and his co-travellers had different motives as against the wishes of the Nigerian masses who freely offered their supports to LP. He said, “We have followed with keen interest the shameful developments and approach by the so-called legal team assembled by Peter Obi challenging the outcome of the February 25 presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission and we have, like many Nigerians, come to the conclusion that Obi is not only taking Nigerians for a ride but would continue to waste the hard earned resources donated by Nigerians for this purpose to even enrich himself the more. “All of you here who have been following this case can recall that the day we had altercation in court with (Julius) Abure’s group, that INEC announced that Peter Obi could not pay for CTC form EC08 and other documents. That now compelled them to only present 30 per cent of the materials they would need for the hearing at Election Petition Tribunal. “How would any right thinking person go to election tribunal with only 30 per cent of documents where none of all them would be accepted or agreed to be tendered by other political parties? “Three days ago, they said two of their counsels were sick and yesterday (Thursday), they could not even file a single process with the array of SANs with Obi. This is what we have been saying that they are just trying to hoodwink the public, deceiving the Obidients and giving them false hope that they have something at the tribunal. “It’s evident from the attitude displayed by them when they wrote a letter to INEC that Obi could not pay N1.5 million. Who are they deceiving? Counsel were sick? “That’s why we have consistently maintained that Obi is not serious. He came in to the party with nothing. He didn’t fund the election, he didn’t fund the party, he didn’t do anything for the party. He only came to mess of the entire process and to deceive Nigerians that he has something to offer to them. “Labour Party is thereby calling on him to step down his selfish ambition and stop messing up the party if he has nothing serious to present to the tribunal.” The Lamidi Apapa faction of Labour Party on Friday told the presidential candidate of the party, Peter Obi, to step down his case at the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal over what they described as “lack of seriousness”. According to the faction, the advice became necessary following the incident which happened at the Tribunal on Thursday where the court stepped down hearing in the petition filed by Obi and the LP against the election of President Bola Tinubu. Speaking on fuel subsidy removal, the LP faction knocked the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria for rejecting new pump price of petrol. They insisted that the position of the LP on removal of fuel subsidy during the campaign has not changed, saying “we cannot reverse that position because it was not our candidate that won the presidential election.” The factional National Publicity Secretary of the LP, Abayomi Arabambi, raised these issues during a press conference in Abuja. He told journalists that Obi has not been able to provide any concrete evidence to back this claims since PEPT began sitting. Arabambi alleged that Obi went to court to challenge the victory of Tinubu because he (Obi) and his co-travellers had different motives as against the wishes of the Nigerian masses who freely offered their supports to LP. He said, “We have followed with keen interest the shameful developments and approach by the so-called legal team assembled by Peter Obi challenging the outcome of the February 25 presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission and we have, like many Nigerians, come to the conclusion that Obi is not only taking Nigerians for a ride but would continue to waste the hard earned resources donated by Nigerians for this purpose to even enrich himself the more. “All of you here who have been following this case can recall that the day we had altercation in court with (Julius) Abure’s group, that INEC announced that Peter Obi could not pay for CTC form EC08 and other documents. That now compelled them to only present 30 per cent of the materials they would need for the hearing at Election Petition Tribunal. Related News “How would any right thinking person go to election tribunal with only 30 per cent of documents where none of all them would be accepted or agreed to be tendered by other political parties? “Three days ago, they said two of their counsels were sick and yesterday (Thursday), they could not even file a single process with the array of SANs with Obi. This is what we have been saying that they are just trying to hoodwink the public, deceiving the Obidients and giving them false hope that they have something at the tribunal. “It’s evident from the attitude displayed by them when they wrote a letter to INEC that Obi could not pay N1.5 million. Who are they deceiving? Counsel were sick? “That’s why we have consistently maintained that Obi is not serious. He came in to the party with nothing. He didn’t fund the election, he didn’t fund the party, he didn’t do anything for the party. He only came to mess of the entire process and to deceive Nigerians that he has something to offer to them. “Labour Party is thereby calling on him to step down his selfish ambition and stop messing up the party if he has nothing serious to present to the tribunal.” Fuel subsidy Arabambi said, “Whatever we have agreed on during our campaign, and as a party that promote peace, equity and justice in Nigeria, then we can’t be found approbating and reprobating at the same time. Our position is that, once Obi has said he would remove fuel subsidy from his first day in office, the same organized labour who stood on that position must not be seen working in cross purpose on the same thing that Tinubu, Atiku and even Obi said they were going to do. “Obi said subsidy was an organized crime that must be stopped. The NLC can’t call for any strike. If they do, it is obvious that they are just being mischievous for a reason best known to them or maybe they have something against the President that they should come out open to tell Nigerians. That is our position as Labour Party

NDLEA arrests baron in Lagos hotel over N567m seized drug

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on Thursday arrested a drug baron, Charles Ezeh, following the recovery of a consignment of methamphetamine weighing 30.10kg with a street value of N567m.

The illicit drug consignment concealed in powdered custard containers as part of a consolidated cargo going to London, United Kingdom, was intercepted at the Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos, on Tuesday The spokesperson for the agency, Femi Babafemi, revealed this in a statement made available to journalists on Sunday. Babafemi said the interception was followed by a series of follow-up operations that led to the arrest of a freight agent, Nwobodo Chidiebere, a female suspect, Chioma Akuta, and ultimately the drug lord behind the shipment, Ezeh, who was arrested at Sotel Suites, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos. Babafemi said, “Ezeh claims he is a businessman and deals in articles in Onitsha, Anambra State, but investigation revealed that he lived with his wife and children in London until December 10, 2022, when he fled to Nigeria after his involvement in a drug-related offence in the UK. “Though he claimed to have been living in hotels since his return to Nigeria last December, operatives were, however, able to locate his mansion at No. 1, Hawawu Abikan Street, Lekki, on Friday, May 19, where a search was conducted and his travel and property documents among others were recovered.” Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives in Adamawa on May 15, arrested a 32-year-old notorious drug dealer, Ikechukwu Uzoma, in the Mubi area of the state, with 1kg of skunk. Babafemi noted that Ikechukwu had twice been arrested in the past, and convicted for the same offence, and he was in 2017 sentenced to six months imprisonment and in 2019, was again sent to two years in jail. “In the same vein, a trans-border trafficker, Faisal Mohammed, 27, was on Wednesday, May 17, arrested in Mubi following the interception of a truck from Onitsha, Anambra State, where a total of 2,376 sachets of tramadol comprising 23,760 pills were found concealed in three blue rubber Jerrycans which were hidden underneath the body part of the trailer. The suspect admitted the opioid was to be taken to Cameroon,” he added. In Oyo State, two suspects, Osas Susan, 35, and Thomas Biodun, 23, were arrested at Igbon, Gambari in the Ogbomoso North Local Government Area with 2.13kg cannabis while Idris Muhammed, 55, was nabbed with 4,500 pills of tramadol when a commercial bus conveying him and other passengers was stopped and searched along Lagos-Ibadan expressway. Similarly, Bulus Mikah, 63, was arrested at Kafanchan, Kaduna state with over 5kg opioids including tramadol, diazepam, rohypnol and exol-5, just as a total of 965kg cannabis was seized from Shehu Muhammadu Dandare, 25, at Maraban Jos, in Igabi local government area of the state. Babafemi further noted that, while 552kg cannabis was recovered from a warehouse in a bush when operatives stormed and destroyed 1.5 hectares of cannabis farm in Uhodoua forest, the Esan South-East Local Government Area of Edo State, 10 suspects were arrested with a total of 5.587kg cannabis sativa, 144.4grams of methamphetamine and 48, 260 capsules of tramadol in different parts of Onitsha, Anambra State on Friday, May 19. He added, “In Kwara, two suspects Mohammed Isa, 47 and Mohammed Haman, 36, were arrested on Friday, May 19, along Ilorin-Lagos road in a commercial bus on their way to Maiduguri, Borno State with 6kg cannabis, 50grams of methamphetamine and 20 pieces of military camouflage caps and uniforms. “The same day, operatives in Jigawa state nabbed one Ibrahim Abdullahi, 53, with 120kg cannabis at Sara town in Gwaram LGA. “Not less than 628 bottles of new psychoactive substance, skuchies was recovered when operatives raided a drug joint at Idanre where four suspects were arrested. The suspects include Olamide Olusola, 26, Abiodun Tijjani, 21, Fatope Temidayo, 29, Agba Obi, 30, and Olafisoye Festus, 26. “In the same vein, a suspect, Kayode Hakeem, 22, was arrested at Hawan Dawaki, Kano with 293 blocks of cannabis weighing 211.6kg.”

Gov Abiodun mourns death of Subomi Balogun says demise colossal loss

The governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, has mourned the death of the Olori Omo Oba of Ijebuland and Founder of FCMB Group, Otunba Subomi Balogun. Balogun, a foremost banker, lawyer and entrepreneur, was reported to have died at the age of 89, in a London hospital after an illness Mourning the passing of the business mogul and philanthropist, the governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, described the death of Balogun as a colossal loss, not only to Ogun State, but Nigeria and the business world. Advertisement

He noted that the late Olori Omo Oba of Ijebuland was one of the foremost entrepreneurs who took banking to an enviable level in the country. Abiodun added that apart from being a business magnate, Chief Subomi Balogun was a devoted Christian, a loving father and husband as well as lover of Ijebuland. The governor said the contributions of the late banker to the socio-economic development of Ijebuland and Ogun State was humongous and beneficial to numerous people and entities. According to the statement, the vacuum created by the demise of Balogun will be difficult to fill, pointing out that his love for humanity and dedication to the service of God was worth emulation. While commiserating with the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Adetona and the entire people of Ijebu on the passing of the renowned entrepreneur, Abiodun equally condoled the immediate family left behind by him. He emphasized that the death of Olori Omo Oba of Ijebuland is a loss of another illustrious sons of Ogun state, declaring that his philanthropic gestures and good sense of fashion and traditions will be sorely missed. While praying for the repose of the soul of the deceased, the governor urged his family members not to grief, but find solace in the fact that Chief Subomi Balogun lived a life of industry, service to God and humanity.

EFCC chairman demanded $2m bribe from me, I’ve proof – Matawalle

Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State has accused the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, of demanding $2 million bribe from him.

He made the allegation amid the growing rift between the governor and the anti-graft agency. In a statement on Wednesday, Matawalle called for Bawa’s resignation, saying he had questions to answer on corruption. Advertisement But the EFCC Chairman responded that he had nothing to hide and asked Matawalle to petition appropriate authorities if he had any evidence against him. In an interview with BBC Hausa, Matawalle insisted that Bawa could not be trusted. “It is not just to always blame governors. It is not only governors who have treasury, the federal government also has. What does the EFCC boss do to them? As he is claiming he has evidence on governors, let him show to the world evidence of those at the federal level. “If he exits office, people will surely know he is not an honest person. I have evidence against him. Let him vacate office, I am telling you within 10 seconds probably more than 200 people will bring evidences of bribe he collected from them. He knows what he requested from me but I declined. “He requested a bribe of $2 million from me and I have evidence of this. He knows the house we met, he invited me and told me the conditions. He told me governors were going to his office but I did not. If I don’t have evidence, I won’t say this.” Contacted for reaction, Wilson Uwujaren, spokesman of the anti-graft agency, said he had not seen the story so he could not responded. Told it was on BBC Hausa where Matawalle spoke, he said he could not speak Hausa and asked that the story link be sent for a response, but he had not responded at the time of filing this report. Source: Daily Trust