Soldiers arrest 92 Fulani herdsmen with guns, cutlasses, others in Abuja

The soldiers of the Guards Brigade of the Nigeria Army have arrested 92 Fulani herdsmen in Abuja.

Fulani Herdsmen

The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations of the Guards Brigade, Capt. Bashir Jajira, said that 36 of the suspects were arrested by the troops at a military checkpoint between the Federal Capital Territory and Nasarawa State.

The suspected herdsmen were said to have told the soldiers that they were on a mission to recover their stolen cows.

He said that 56 others who were also armed were arrested by the soldiers at a military checkpoint at Dantata, along the Abuja Airport Road.

He said that the troops recovered ‘one pump action gun, 19 cartridge dane guns, 118 cartridge ammo, 28 cutlasses, 3 jack knives, 14 sticks, 7 torch lights, certificate of occupancy, assorted charms and hard drugs.’

He said, “A group of 36 herdsmen in Diana Truck and Toyota Camry car with registration number Abu Kuje 994 FX and Niger SUL 541 XA were intercepted and arrested at 177 Guards Battalion location by Keffi checkpoint.

“During the interrogation by troops at the checkpoint, they claimed to be going to Nasarawa Local Government in Nasarawa State.”

He said that the arrested herdsmen would be handed over to the police for prosecution.

This came just as President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the deployment of military to all parts of the country currently witnessing bloody clashes between herdsmen and farmers.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, disclosed this while featuring on a breakfast programme of Channels Television, Sunrise Daily, on Monday.

The programme was monitored by one of our correspondents in Abuja.

Shehu said there was no truth in the claim that Buhari had been largely silent on the issue of the clashes.

He recalled that the President had taken the issue before the National Council of State with a view to getting state governors’ inputs to the solutions.

In the meantime, he said the government was contemplating carving out of grazing reserves for cattle rearers.

Meanwhile, no fewer than 23,000 Internally Displaced Persons in the Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State are battling with the problem of shelter as the rains set in.

The Chairman, Caretaker Committee, Agatu Local Government Area, Mr. Joseph Ngbede, stated this on Monday when Governor Samuel Ortom visited Ugbokpo, Ojantele and Ataganyi communities of the Apa Local Government Area, where the camps of the IDPs are located.

The IDPs are Benue indigenes displaced during the clashes involving Fulani herdsmen and Agatu people.

Ngbede said that only the LGEA Primary School at Ayila was standing in the over 20 villages destroyed in Agatu by herdsmen, maintaining that some of the displaced persons insisted on going to their farms to see what was left of their crops.

On the feeding of the displaced persons, the chairman said the items donated by individuals, government and non-governmental organisations as well as emergency management agencies at the state and at federal levels were being distributed to them on a daily basis.

He said those not displaced were also contributing towards the upkeep of the IDPs.

He explained that the three villages of Ocholonya, Abugbe and Odugbeho that were occupied by herdsmen had been secured by soldiers.

Meanwhile, the state’s deputy governor, Benson Abounu, has said that Agatu people have been rescued by soldiers.

Soldiers arrest 92 Fulani herdsmen with guns, cutlasses, others in Abuja

Thieves embarass Buhari, steal handset of visiting World Muslim League scribe

Barely 24 hours after President Muhammadu Buhari declared the international conference on peace and stability open in Abuja, thieves reportedly stole the handset of the Executive Secretary of the World Muslim League Saudi Arabia, Dr. Abdullahi Bin Abdul.Security agencies which are said to be hugely embarrassed by the development, are currently probing the alleged security breach which led to the theft.

President Buhari

The victim himself is said to be worried by the incident.

Investigation showed that Bin Abdul had been accorded the honour of leading the Jumat prayer at the National Mosque on Friday.

A heavy security ring was therefore formed around him and his entourage by the relevant agencies.

After the Jumat service, many dignitaries and worshippers tried to move closer to Abdul which led to the alleged security breach.

It was gathered that the Secretary of World Muslim League later discovered that his handset had been stolen.

A top source said: “Despite tight security for him, some thieves made away with the handset of the Executive Secretary of the World Muslim League.

“The theft occurred after the Jumat prayer session suggesting that there was breach of the security wall at the National Mosque. Some smart guys took advantage of the relaxed atmosphere to strike.

“This incident created an embarrassment for the cleric, diplomats and most of the dignitaries that accompanied him to the service.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “The visitor from Saudi Arabia was shocked and embarrassed. No one could explain how it happened.”

Sources told The Nation last night that the matter was being investigated.

Another source added: “All the agencies have swung into action to arrest those who perpetrated the act. They will get the brains behind the incident. I cannot confirm whether or not any arrest has been made but we will crack this case to correct any misgivings.”

It was not immediately clear if the CCTV system at the National Mosque was working as at the time of the incident.

“The security agencies will determine the efficiency of the CCTV,” the source said.

Prior to the theft on Friday, the Secretariat of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), within the premises of the mosque, was recently burgled with hard discs of some sensitive computers carted away by unknown thieves.

The development made the NSCIA to eject some tenant organizations from the main secretariat.

Thieves embarass Buhari, steal handset of visiting World Muslim League scribe

Court remands ex-Chief of Defence Staff, Badeh in prison

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has remanded a former Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, in Kuje Prison.

Alex Badeh Ibrahim Seid Mahamat

Badeh was arraigned before the court today on 10 counts of money laundering.

The arraignment was initially billed for Thursday last week, but had to be shifted because of the absence of Justice Okon Abang.

The EFCC had on Monday last week filed 10 counts of money laundering against Badeh and a firm, Iyalikam Nigeria Limited, accusing them of fraudulently removing N3.97bn from the account of the Nigerian Air Force in 2013.

Badeh was said to have allegedly perpetrated the fraud along with Iyalikam Nigeria Limited while he was the Chief of Air Staff.

The relationship between Badeh and the company was not disclosed in the charges.

The accused allegedly bought landed assets in many choice areas of Abuja with the money.

The assets allegedly include a mansion at No. 6, Ogun River Street, Off Danube Street, Maitama, Abuja, which the defendants were said to have purchased with N1.1bn.

The accused also allegedly bought a commercial plot of land at Plot 1386, Oda Crescent Cadastral Zone A07, Wuse II, Abuja, for N650m.

They were said to have paid N878m for the construction of a shopping mall at Plot 1386, Oda Crescent Cadastral Zone A07, Wuse II, Abuja, and another sum of N304m to complete the construction.

Read more:

Court remands ex-Chief of Defence Staff, Badeh in prison

Mother of three vomits cocaine at Abuja airport

Forty-eight-year-old Saidat Hassan, was on her way out of the country with a strange substance in her stomach when she suddenly became sick at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Drugs trafficking, The drugs

Before anybody could ask if she was okay, Hassan had vomited fifteen wraps of white powdery substances which later tested positive for cocaine.

According to the spokesperson for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, the incident took place at the central screening section of the departure hall during the screening of passengers on an Egypt Airline flight to Jidda, Saudi Arabia en-route Cairo.

“She was immediately apprehended by NDLEA officers, who later discovered that she had ingested 80 wraps of cocaine weighing 904 grammes,” Ofoyeju said.

It was learnt that when officials realised that what Hassan had vomited was cocaine, they placed her under observation till she excreted 65 more wraps of the drug.

The NDLEA commander at the airport, Mr. Hamisu Lawan, said that efforts were made to protect her from any harm resulting from drug ingestion.

Hassan, who told officials that she is a native of Idiroko, Ogun State, but resides in Lagos Island, explained that she is a business woman who deals in clothing materials.

She said in her statement, “I buy my goods from Ghana. I was introduced into the drug business by a friend and business partner. The drug was brought from Abidjan, Ivory Coast and we were supposed to share the proceeds equally.

“Until my arrest, I never knew that the cocaine I ingested could have led to my death in Saudi Arabia. I thank God for keeping me alive.”

Few years ago, a female drug trafficker, Ifeoma Joy, who vomited 79 wraps of cocaine at the departure hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos later died when part of the drug burst in her stomach.

Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Col. Mohammad Abdallah (retd.) expressed satisfaction with her arrest and directed that she must be duly prosecuted.

Abdallah stated “A mother of three children swallowing cocaine is the height of parental ineptitude. I am glad that she did not die from drug ingestion and she is alive to face trial. This arrest has also saved her because drug trafficking in Saudi Arabia, her final destination, is punishable by death.

“I expect the general public to draw lessons from this case that drug trafficking leads to immeasurable pain, ignominy and untimely death.”

Meanwhile, the Ondo command of the NDLEA has said that it seized 64 tons of hard drugs and 24 tons of cannabis in the last one year.

The State Commander, Mr. Mohammed Sokoto stated this while speaking at the Awareness Workshop on Psychotropic Substances organised in collaboration with the state branch of the National Association of Parent Medicine Dealers in Akure, Ondo State, on Friday.

Mother of three vomits cocaine at Abuja airport

Jonathan’s ex-ADC, seven top officers land in EFCC net

The Nigerian Army has interrogated Col. Ojogbane Adegbe, the Aide-de-Camp to former President Goodluck Jonathan, in connection with the ongoing probe into the alleged arms procurement scandal.

The PUNCH reliably gathered on Thursday that Adegbe, who was arrested on Wednesday in Lagos, was taken to the Mogadishu Cantonment, Abuja popularly referred to as Abacha Barracks, where he was interrogated by some senior military officers.

It was learnt that the former ADC and seven other serving army officers were handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission at noon on Thursday.

Investigations revealed that the former ADC was undergoing a National Defence College course in one of the military institutions in the United Kingdom.

A source said he was recalled and arrested by the personnel of the Military Police and Directorate of Military Intelligence on his arrival in Lagos on Wednesday.

The source added, “The former ADC to President Goodluck Jonathan has been picked up by the Army.

“The man was recalled from a National Defence College course he is undergoing.

“He was arrested in Lagos and taken to the Abacha Barracks in Abuja on Wednesday. He was interrogated by some senior military officers.”

Another source said Adegbe was recalled from the UK course to respond to issues relating to the ongoing investigation into arms procured under the Jonathan administration.

The source stated, “The colonel was recalled from the course to answer certain questions in relation to the ongoing investigation into arms procured under the Jonathan administration.

“He was taken to the EFCC at noon in response to the allegations. Seven other army officers had also been taken to the commission.”

The source said the arrest of the officers marked the beginning of the EFCC’s investigation into the Nigerian Army’s components of the arms procurement scandal.

When our correspondent contacted the Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Rabe Abubakar, he said he did not have the information on Adegbe’s arrest, restating the support of the military for government policies to combat the menace of corruption.

He pointed out that anybody, whose name was mentioned in connection with the ongoing probe, was not above interrogation.

He added, “I cannot say whether he is arrested or not. But any person, who is involved in the arms matters, would be arrested.

“We are in support of the policies of the FG in tackling the menace of corruption in this country. We have said we will support the ongoing investigation into the diversion of public funds. We have to corroborate our stance.

“Whosoever is involved is immaterial. I don’t have such information now but whosoever is involved, we will support the relevant agencies to do their jobs. This is something that would be beneficial to the country.”

Checks at the EFCC revealed that Adegbe was taken to the Idiagbon House Head Office of the commission by a Lt.-Col and some lawyers whose identities were not disclosed.

A top operative of the anti-graft agency told one of our correspondents on Thursday that Adegbe was still writing his statement.

The source said Adegbe was being questioned by the EFCC because his name came up among those said to have distributed some money to politicians.

“The former ADC is here. He came with a Lt.-Col, some lawyers, and maybe, those who escorted him here. He must be writing his statement,” the source added.

Investigation revealed that the EFCC had opened effective investigation into the cases against officers of the Nigerian Army.

It was further gathered that there had been redeployments of Army personnel in relation to the development.

It was gathered that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, had removed the Director of Military Intelligence, Brig.-Gen. Abubakar Sa’ad, and replaced him with Maj. Gen. Tarfa. Tarfa was Nigeria’s Defence Adviser to Mali.

When one of our correspondents contacted the acting Director of Army Information, Col. Sani Usman, he said he would get back to him and had not returned the call as of the time of filing this report.

Similarly, all attempts to get an official confirmation from the spokesperson for the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, proved abortive as his phone indicated that it was switched off.

A source in the EFCC confided in one of our correspondents at 9pm on Thursday that the former ADC was released after writing his statement.

Jonathan’s ex-ADC, seven top officers land in EFCC net

Abuja land grab: Senate vows to probe Obasanjo, Jonathan, El-Rufai, others

ABUJA — THE Senate, yesterday, vowed to probe former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan as well as ministers who served under them to correct alleged violation of the master plan of the nation’s capital city.

Jonathan vs Buhari

Addressing journalists, yesterday, Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory, Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi West), who did not exempt any former Minister of the FCT or President in the proposed probe, said as a government of change, it was prepared to send any one found guilty to Kuje Prison which he said was not far from the Federal Capital City, FCC.

Melaye, while condemning what he described as the bastardization of Abuja Masterplan, however, expressed worry over why former FCT ministers allocated green areas designed for flood drains, city buffers, recreations, urban farming, reserved land and undevelopable areas to themselves and their friends.

The probe may also be extended to former Presidents because by the law establishing the FCT, the President is the governor-general of FCT who appoints a minister to administer the city on his behalf.

Melaye said: “With this administration of change, it is no longer going to be business as usual. Permit me to remind FCT administration again by stating that this committee will not hesitate to ensure that all administrative anomalies, misappropriation of funds or misapplication of laws as the case may be, occasioned by the past administrations of FCT, are fully addressed. This is what justice demands in these circumstances; to right the wrongs.

“Therefore, the committee is worried and frowns on satanic and misleading advice and recommendation to convert very important and beautiful natural endowments or features which are very scanty like the world acclaimed Maitama Hills, popularly known as Ministers’ Hills, which could serve as a tourist attraction to the residents of FCT.

“I want to state here again that if the bourgeois of this country need a special allocation, a new district can be dedicated to them and not destroy the beauty of the city centre, a national monument like the Maitama Hills.”

Since the inception of the Federal Capital Territory from when it was a ministry to when it became Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, 16 ministers, including the present, Mohammed Bello, had so far been at the helm of affairs of the city.

During the former President Obasanjo regime, the ministers were Ibrahim Bunu, PDP, 1999-2001; Mohammed Abba Gana, PDP, 2001-2003; Mallam Nasir el- Rufai, PDP then, now APC, 2003-2007; Dr. Aliyu Modibbo Umar, PDP, 2007- 2008; Senator Muhammadu Adamu Aliero, PDP, then, now APC, 2008-2010 and Senator Bala Mohammed, PDP, 2010-2015. Before former President Obasanjo’s government, other ministers were Mobolaji Aise- Adeogun, 1976- 1979; John Jatau Kadiya, 1979-1982; Iro Dan Musa, 1982-1983; Senator Haliru Dantoro, 1983-1984; General Mamman Vatsa, 1984- 1985; Hamza Abdullahi, 1986-1989; Gado Nasko, 1989-1993; General Jeremiah Useni, now a serving Senator, 1993-1998 and General Mamman Kontagora, 1998- 1999.

Abuja land grab: Senate vows to probe Obasanjo, Jonathan, El-Rufai, others

‘Disobeying court order is highest form of corruption’ - Abuja lawyer berates Buhari

An  Abuja based legal practitioner, Godwin Ogboji, yesterday, berated the Buhari administration over alleged persistent disregard for court orders, noting that “disobeying court orders is the highest form of corruption”.

Ogboji said the principles of the separation of power envisages that the “legislature is to make law, the executive to implement while the judiciary interprets.”

“It is not in the place of any other branch of government, apart from the judiciary, to interpret and apply the law as any such attempt will be an aberration and an affront to the principle of the rule of law”, he told Sunday Vanguard in an interview.

“Considering this elementary principle of law, it is thus unfortunate that the President, the face of the executive, acting through the Department of State Services, DSS, is consciously disobeying court orders, as typified in the case of Kanu and Dasuki, who were all granted bail by competent and superior courts. This is an affront on the Constitution.

“Where the executive, which prosecutes, is dissatisfied with any court ruling, instead of disobeying the court order, it has the right of appeal to complain and, if the complaint is justifiable, surely it will get  relief. Disobedience of court order is the highest form of corruption”. .

‘Disobeying court order is highest form of corruption’ - Abuja lawyer berates Buhari

Edo Appeal Court Moves Reserved Judgment on Delta Guber Poll to Abuja

• Court disqualifies PDP, Ekwunife from Anambra central rerun election


• I’m very much in the contest, says ex-senator

By Christopher Isiguzo in Enugu and Adibe Emenyonu in Benin Cityâ

The Court of Appeal in Benin City, Edo State, has moved the reserved judgment of the Delta State governorship election petition to its headquarters in Abuja.

Ifeanyi Okowa

Earlier, the judgment had been scheduled for the Appeal Court in Benin City for Thursday but has now been moved to Abuja for undisclosed reasons.

The Front Desk Officer, Appeal Court in Benin City, confirmed the report to journalists yesterday, saying they had been communicated that the judgment would now hold in Abuja on Thursday by 10a.m.

The officer who pleaded anonymity, said: “We were asked to communicate to the affected parties that the judgment would now hold in Abuja.”

Attempt to get the reasons behind the movement from the Deputy Chief Registrar, Mrs. Ijeoma Nwobia, proved abortive.  She said she was busy and had no time to attend to journalists.

The court had last week  Thursday reserved judgment on the appeal brought before it by the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Olorogun O’ tega Emerhor; and the Labour Party (LP) candidate, Chief Great Ogboru

The Delta State governorship election petition tribunal had in October declared Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) winner of the April gubernatorial poll.

The tribunal, which ruled in favour of Okowa and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), dismissed the petition filed by Emerhor and Ogboru.

Both had approached the election petition tribunal to nullify the April 11 poll on the grounds of non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).

This came as the Enugu Division of the Court of Appeal yesterday disqualified Senator Uche Ekwunife and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from taking part in the yet-to-be scheduled rerun election for Anambra Central senatorial zone over the party’s inability to conduct a valid primary ahead of the March 28 National Assembly election.

The three-man appellate panel presided over by Justice A. D. Yahaya had on December 7, 2015, in an abridged version of its judgment in the appeal filed by the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, in which he challenged the declaration of Ekwunife as the winner of the March 28 National Assembly election for Anambra Central senatorial zone ordered INEC to conduct fresh election in the zone within 90 days.

The presiding judge who promised to make the detailed copy of the judgment available at a later date simply nullified the election without providing the reasons for its nullification.

However, a certified true copy of the judgment obtained from the court yesterday showed that of all the grounds of appeal filed by Umeh, the court simply nullified the election on the basis of the PDP’s failure to conduct a valid primaries for its aspirants, insisting that having failed to do so, the party had lost the right to take part in the coming rerun election.

However, 14 other candidates including Umeh, as well as the now Minister of Labour and Productivity, Senator Chris Ngige, are expected to take part in the process.

Part of the judgment read inter alia: “So even if there was a valid ward congress which produced the three ad hoc delegates, where is the state chairman and the state executive committee  to sit together as state special congress to conduct the primary?  After all, it is not the three ad hoc delegates alone that conduct the primary.

“So whether it was the ‘national body of PDP in Anambra State’, the ‘five-man National Assembly Electoral Committee’  or the caretaker committee that conducted the primary which produced the 11th respondent (Ekwunife) as the nominated candidate of the PDP to contest the election,  it is immaterial;  since by paragraph 25 (1) of exhibit R1, it is the state special congress that should conduct the primary for the purpose of nominating a candidate to contest election into the National Assembly.

“The 11th respondent was therefore not the product of a valid primary and was therefore not duly and legitimately nominated. That has disqualified her from contesting the election into the Anambra Central senatorial district.”

Reacting to the latest development,  Umeh said he was ready to contest the rerun election against the other 13 candidates of other parties, noting that though he would have been excited to go into a fresh contest against the PDP and its candidate with the hope of trouncing them at the poll,  the appellate court had saved Ekwunife the trouble of going into an election which she would ultimately lose.

He also advised the PDP not to disturb public peace by going ahead with its plans to conduct a fresh primary for aspirants preparatory for the rerun election, noting that nomination, withdrawal and substitution of candidates had ended since December last year. He said the only avenue open for parties to substitute at this moment is in the case of death of a candidate for the election.

“I challenged the election of Ekwunife because of the need to stop election banditry and impunity in the system. PDP’s penchant for factionalisation and going into elections with multiple candidates had become worrisome. PDP must be compelled to put its house in order. You can’t believe that PDP fielded five candidates against me in that election. I am happy that that has come to an end with this landmark judgment.

“The court has boldly stamped its authority that a political party must comply with party constitution and guidelines. By this judgment,  it is now clear that party primary is not an internal affair of a party,” he said.

He also ruled out the possibility of Senator Ngige taking part in the election, noting that the minister had since told him that he would not be part of the process.

“Ngige has made his choice early enough not to continue with the election. I can’t see him coming to gamble with this election,” Umeh said, noting however that if the APC candidate decides to take part,  he should immediately resign his position and take a plunge into the unknown.

On her part, Ekwunife noted further that because of the absence of a valid party leadership in Anambra State at the time of the primaries last December and following the court observation that she was a product of an invalid exercise, the PDP in the state had fixed January 9 for fresh primaries, observing that she was already prepared for the exercise.

“I wonder why some people will start going through the entire body of the judgment and ignore the main issue which is the enrolment order that fresh election be conducted for all the candidates. It smacks of somebody who is jittery and not ready to face the popular judgment of the people. I will soon begin my campaign and Umeh is busy looking for what to blackmail me with.

Ekwunife maintained that she beat Umeh in the last election and as such, would always beat him in any contest under platform of any political party because of her antecedents and popularity.

“I won’t join issues with Umeh whom obviously is still licking his wounds after I beat him silly in the last election. What concerns me at this moment is how to go into the election and win again so as to continue to represent my people at the Senate and not to join issues with him or his paymasters,” she said.

“My victory at the last election was an act of God and as such, I am not seeing anything as an obstacle to my re-election as my people have absolute confidence in me and that is why they voted me in at the first polls. Umeh is obviously very jittery about the re-run election because he knows he is not electable and as such will be beaten again.

“She called on her supporters and people of Anambra Central senatorial zone to disregard the speculations and allegations being made by her opponent and promised to continue to strive to guard the votes of the people in March next year re-election in the zone.”

Edo Appeal Court Moves Reserved Judgment on Delta Guber Poll to Abuja

Abuja: A Capital City In Darkness

For many who live in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, it is disappointing that there are street lights that hardly ever function. UGBOJA FELIX OJONUGWA writes that this situation has residents apprehensive especially with growing security concerns in the city.

Abuja: A Capital City In Darkness

Most times, a drive around Abuja at night makes one feel no different from being in a city without any street light poles at all. It is a vast plunge into darkness.

While a few major streets do have their lights turned on at night, 90 per cent of Abuja’s streets are only navigable if your vehicle head lamps are super sharp and radiant. And it is not uncommon to see many dilapidated taxis without a set of functioning head lamps moving around Abuja.

Many are of the opinion that the situation has not only increased the number of motor accidents at night, but has really presented criminals with a platform to rob and cause mayhem in the city. And no thanks to the national security situation, one would only wonder why city authorities can afford to maintain such level of negligence for such a long time.

Recently, the Department of State Security (DSS) discovered that the dreaded Boko Haram terrorist group have been able to establish some sleeper cells in Abuja in a bid to carry out an attack. Sleeper cells help carry out surveillance activities in the city in order to discover soft targets for attacks. It doesn’t take rocket science to understand that a city without functional street lights would create more room and freedom for terror operations.

“There are some streets here in Abuja that I have never ever seen the lights come on.” Said Maina Abdul, who lives on a street in Garki area of the city. “I wonder why the poles are still standing. On some other streets, the light would either come up once in a while or it will just be about 3 lights out of about 50 that will come on.” He added.

On a street in Zone 6, located in Wuse area of the city, Adama Judith, a banker had fallen victim many a time to criminals who lurk in the dark streets.

“I get robbed on this street at least once every week because I am always returning late from work. There is no protection for us on this street at all. We have reported to the police, but their patrol vehicles are only here once in a while. This place has become a hide out for criminals because they know that it is a dark street where the lights are never on. Even my neighbour’s car was snatched from her about a week ago by the same hoodlums.” She said.

According to other residents of the area, the situation would be far less than it was if the lights would ever come on. At least with the street lights on, they can carry out environmental vigillance themselves, but that has become very impossible.

On another street in Jabi area of the city, it has been an endless re-occurence of vehicle head-on collissions every night. According to Onobi Michael, who lives on the street, “it has been a harvest of blood on this street for the past one year.”

On Adetokunbo Ademola crescent in Wuse, motor accidents are also bound to occur every night during the weekends, especially when city night-life lovers who must be driving under the influence cannot even see anything but mere darkness at that time.

In some areas, the streets light poles are even broken and dilapidated. In fact, many residents have argued that at no time is the situation as bad as now. Gradually, many street lights in Abuja are becoming historical relics to serve as a reminder of a once functional city.

From LEADERSHIP Sunday’s findings the situation has been made worse by stoppage of payments to streetlights’ maintenance contractors. The contractors, consequently, abandoned the job since September. There are also reports about poor power supply, but even some streets with solar- powered lights are no better either.

In April this year, the publisher of DESERT HERALD newspaper, Mallam Tukur Mamu, while speaking with a LEADERSHIP reporter, raised a number of issues about the FCT administration. One of those issues include the poor state of the city street lights.

Mamu raised a concern about the person or persons that benefitted from the controversial Abuja streetlights multi-billion naira contracts over the last six years and why the nation’s capital remains in the dark despite the billions.

Mamu who clearly indicted the immediate past minister of FCT, Sen. Bala Muhammad of mis-administration asked that “We will also like to know why they only chose to rush substandard streetlights installation after losing the 2015 election which they (ministry) questionably spent N500 million on.”

Investigating more about the issue led Leadership Sunday to the office of the Director of Facility Maintenance at the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA). The treatment received by our reporter was hostile to say the least. After spending at least 10 hours a whole week waiting to see the director, our reporter was surprised when the director who wouldn’t give his name brushed him off insisting that he had nothing to say.

“You are here to ask about the state of the street lights? And so what?” Said the Director in a harsh tone while walking out of his office.

Our reporter insisted on getting answers to his questions, and the director in terse words only claimed that the street lights were not functioning because “our transformers have been vandalised by hoodlums, but we are already fixing the problem.” He said.

If there is any impression left by the Director’s reaction, it is that there is more to the issue than meets the eye.

Only recently, the new FCT Minister, Muhammad Bello, undertook a late night tour of the city and came face-to-face with the ugly situation. Like we did, he met broken down streetlights around the city.

As was expected, the minister asked for explanations, and the Executive Secretary of Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Mr Adamu Ismaila, stated that he had to adopt drastic measures in the maintenance of the streetlights on Airport and Kubwa expressways because of their priority status and security implication. He disclosed that officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were engaged for constant surveillance along the routes to keep vandals away.

Of course, the minister was given other reasons, but he expressed dissatisfaction with some of the reasons given for the non functioning status of the streetlights.

He then directed the officials of Abuja Municipal Management Council (AMMC) and the FCDA to immediately liase with the FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr Babatope Ajakaiye in order to bring all the streetlights across the city to a functional status.

The minister tasked the officials to be proactive in tackling the challenges. “Quite frankly, the city is very dark. The city was much brighter than this in the past; instead of improvement, it appears we are going backwards and this is certainly not acceptable.” He said, while also adding that “Keeping the city bright enhances its beauty, eases the job of the security agencies in securing it and also makes it easy for residents to come out in the night without any fear of being attacked.”

From LEADERSHIP Sunday’s findings, there is a high level of apprehension among the dwellers of the beautiful city about how ‘things are beginning to fall apart’. And fair enough, that is in consonance with the minister’s opinion. According to him, lighting up the city is as paramount as keeping it secure and clean.

As Abuja is thrown into darkness at night, the obvious consequences have been anything but good for the members of the city, whether they are living in the suburbs or highbrows, there is a common desire and demand for the city to have infrastructures that will also work, and it all bore down to authorities taking responsibility.

Abuja: A Capital City In Darkness

SSS ‘uncovers Boko Haram cells in Abuja’

The State Security Service has alerted of the presence of Boko Haram terrorists in the Federal Capital Territory, who, it said, are creating sleeper cells to carry out surveillance and later, attacks on the city.

DSS operatives

The Service, in a statement signed by one Tony Opuiyo on Saturday, said the development came to light following the arrests of some of the sect’s members who migrated from various conflict theaters in the North East to the FCT in order to enable them capitalize on the excitement of the yuletide season to launch attacks on the city.

“For instance, on October 29th, 2015, the duo of Muhammed Hassan Idris (a Nigerien) and Baba Abdul Maina were arrested at Panteka area of Apo, Abuja. This was followed by the arrest of Sanni Mohammed (aka Kakase) and Ahmed Umaru (aka Mallam; Mallam Hamdi Garne; Ahmed Daubi) in Lafia, Nasarawa State. Sanni, who hails from Potiskum, Yobe State, fled the area following his involvement in coordinated suicide attacks in Yobe, Plateau, Kano and Kaduna States.

“In a related development, on 19th November 2015, Mohammed Shiwar ABUBAKAR and Musa TA’ADA were arrested at Shoprite Junction, Apo, Abuja. ABUBAKAR hails from Borno State and operates as a taxi driver in Abuja. He is of an unknown address but claims that he sleeps in his Volkswagen Golf car at the Honda line, Apo mechanic village, Abuja. The Gwoza-born TA’ADA also operates under the cover of a suya seller at Apo Primary School along Kabusa Road, Abuja.

“Still, on 23rd November, 2015, one Ahmed HASSAN was arrested while carrying out surveillance on a high-profile hotel in the city. He hails from Katagum, Bauchi State. Suspect admitted using the cover of a beggar to sustain surveillance on his targets. Bulama Ali, had previously been arrested in Karu, Nasarawa State, on 22nd November, 2015,” the statement said.

The agency also said it arrested the duo of Hassan Abubakar and Mohammed Gwale at Madalla, in Suleja local government area of Niger State on December 1, following intelligence that they were planning to commence attacks in the FCT after a successful surveillance of the city.

It said before his arrest, Mr. Abubakar was working with other sect members in different parts of the country notably Borno, Yobe, Taraba and Adamawa States.

The statement said Mr. Abubakar was arrested at the home of Mohammed Gwale who claims to be a Federal Civil Servant from Niger State.

“He (Gwale) has made useful statements which are helping with further investigation,” DSS said.

The service added that so far, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects and others still at large appear to be engaging in businesses or trades as covers to infiltrate the city and its environs in their bid to conduct successful surveillance and map out soft targets for the sect’s attacks.

“The DSS’ operations are, therefore, aimed at preempting any attacks by the terrorist elements against the backdrop of the upcoming festive period and beyond,” the statement said.

“It is in this regard that the Service wishes to advise residents and all law-abiding Nigerians to remain vigilant especially at this yuletide season and promptly report to security agencies any suspicious movements and persons in the FCT and even other parts of the country.

“The Service also assures the general public that it will continue to carry out its responsibility of ensuring peace and security in Abuja and beyond?”

SSS ‘uncovers Boko Haram cells in Abuja’

Breaking: DSS arrests Dasuki again

After a prolonged siege to his Asokoro, Abuja residence, the operatives of Department of State Service  this morning arrested the former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd.).

Dasuki was taken to the DSS headquarters at Aso Drive, Asokoro, Abuja where he is expected to answer questions on the multi-billion naira arms contract he awarded while in office.

Meanwhile, more DSS operatives have stormed the ex-NSA’s  residence apparently to carry out searches of the building for documents relating to the arms contracts.

Details later….

Breaking: DSS arrests Dasuki again

Faleke, Bello’s supporters in bloody clash at Abuja APC Hqtrs

Violence erupted at the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress in Abuja on Monday as supporters of the new Kogi State governorship candidate of the party, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, and James Faleke’s loyalists engaged themselves in a bloody clash.

Faleke was the running mate of the late APC governorship candidate in the November 21 election in the state, Alhaji Abubakar Audu.

Stones, sticks and other missiles were deployed in different directions by thugs, who broke through police barricades in an attempt to force their way into the party headquarters.

As the clash raged, party leaders were holed up in a meeting behind closed doors on the crisis over the choice of a replacement for the late Audu.

Meanwhile APC has submitted Bello’s name as a replacement for the late Audu, which the Independent National Electoral Commission confirmed receiving on Monday.

Although what triggered the violence was unclear as of the time of filing this report, it was learnt that an altercation between two rival supporters led to a free-for-all.

Several vehicles were vandalised and no fewer than five persons were injured in the fracas in which the supporters dismissed the presence of security operatives to engage one another in a violent confrontation.

Some policemen rushed one of the badly injured fighters to an undisclosed health facility.

Police later called for a reinforcement to be able to bring the situation under control.

The meeting of the APC leaders with Bello and Faleke was scheduled to begin at 3pm but did not start until about 4.20pm.

Bello’s supporters arrived at the secretariat first in several buses but the security officials restricted them to the outer parameters of the main entrance gate of the party headquarters.

They entertained themselves with drumming, singing and dancing when Faleke and his entourage arrived at the scene.

As soon as Faleke and his close associates entered the party secretariat, supporters of both men struggled to outdo each other in shouting the names of their principal.

They yelled repeatedly “Sai Faleke” (only Faleke) and “Sai Bello” (only Bello).

This led to a hot exchange of words between the supporters, leading to a violent clash between them.

Kogi Election Violence

The fight, which began shortly after 3.30pm, lasted for about 45 minutes before order was restored by the police.

The meeting of the party leaders, members of the National Working Committee and the two contenders was still ongoing as of 9.30pm on Monday.

Those at the meeting included the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai; Senators Dino Melaye, Mohammed Ohiare and members of the John 0digie-Oyegun-led National Working Committee.

Others at the meeting included some members of the Kogi State House of Assembly.

An angry party leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, blamed the party leadership for the crisis.

He said, “We could have handled this better. Why didn’t we call the two men together earlier? Why would you decide on a candidate before calling a meeting of the two parties?

“If you are Faleke, how will you feel when you first read about the party’s decision in the papers before the party calls you for discussions? There should be some respect for crying out loud.”

In the meantime, INEC said on Monday that it had received the request by the APC to replace the late Audu’s name with that of Bello for the supplementary governorship election in Kogi State on Saturday.

The commission’s Deputy Director, Publicity, Mr Nick Dazang, who confirmed this in an interview with journalists, was however, silent on when the commission received the request.

Dazang said, “They (APC) have sent the name of their replacement candidate and he is the runner-up in their primary, that is Yahaya Bello, to the commission.

“The commission is committed to conducting the two elections. That is why in respect of Kogi, in spite of what happened, we came out with a public notice, which invited the APC to submit its replacement candidate for the election.”

Meanwhile, the suit filed by Wada, and his party, the PDP, seeking an order declaring them as the winners of the November 21 governorship election in the state, comes up for mention before a Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday (today).

It was learnt that the suit filed on November 27, had been assigned to Justice Gabriel Kolawole.

Our correspondent also learnt on Monday that the matter would only come up for mention and not hearing on Tuesday as it remained unclear if respondents to the suit had been served and responded to the suit.

The respondents to the suit are INEC, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and the APC.

Wada and the PDP argued in their suit that in view of the death of the APC candidate, Audu, they should be declared the winners of the election as the surviving candidate with the majority of lawful votes cast during the poll.

The plaintiffs also asked the court to compel the INEC to issue Wada with a Certificate of Return.

In a separate application, the plaintiffs also asked the court to restrain INEC from conducting the supplementary election scheduled for Saturday.

The plaintiffs, through their counsel, Chris Uche (SAN), also asked the court to issue an order of injunction restraining the APC from organising or holding a fresh primary for the purpose of substituting their candidate ahead of the supplementary or other election for the Kogi State governorship for 2015.

They also asked the court to declare that APC could not organise and hold a fresh primary for the purpose of the supplementary election in view of the “immutable statutory timeliness provided by enabling sections of the Electoral Act 2010 and the INEC timetable for the Kogi Governorship election”.

They also asked the court to hold that the APC could not lawfully nominate a candidate for the supplementary governorship election slated for the December 5 without a valid and legally cognisable primary of the APC conducted within the mandatory timeliness specified by the Electoral Act.

The case has not been assigned to any judge.

In a related development, the APC youth movement in Kogi State on Monday hailed the NWC of the party on its handling of the replacement for the late Audu.

The Chairman of the APC youth group, Mr Samuel Davies, in a media briefing in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, expressed the youths’ support for the choice of Bello, who they said was the runner-up to the late Audu during the state’s APC governorship primary.

He said, “In this scenario, the person, who came second in the validly conducted primary of the APC, should be allowed to step into the shoes of Prince Abubakar Audu to avoid legal land mines the PDP is already laying ahead of the declaration of the final election result.”

Faleke, Bello’s supporters in bloody clash at Abuja APC Hqtrs

Warning: Security Service warns Abuja residence of Boko Haram attack

The Director, Security Service of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA),  Mohammed M. Mohammed has released a warning message to residents in Abuja that the Islamic terrorists, Boko Haram is planning to attack the capital city.

The places of interest as mentioned in the circular are markets, churches, mosques and other gatherings.

The warning reads:

Forwarding of Intelligence

Intelligence reaching this office revealed that insurgents are planning to attack the Federal Capital Territory. Their main targets are worship Centres and Markets with the use of young girls as members of aid groups to carry out their planned attacks.

It is in view of the foregoing, i am directed to inform you to communicate the content of this letter to all mosques, churches, and market across the FCT for extra vigilance particularly unknown persons dressing as aid workers loitering around the worship areas and Markets.’

The Nigerian Police had made available contact numbers to report any suspicious person or movement. These are:

09063872207

09053872208

09053872209

Please give the content of this letter the widest and fastest circulation to enable our worshipers be vigilant and curb the manace of insurgency in the Territory and beyond.

Accept the assurances of the highest regards of the Honourable Minister, FCT.

Mohammed M Mohammed

Director Security Service FCTA

For. Honorable Minister, FCTA.

Warning: Security Service warns Abuja residence of Boko Haram attack

Nnamdi Kandu murdered in prison - MASSOB cries out

THE leadership of a faction for the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, weekend, alleged that Nnamdi Kanu, the promoter of Radio Biafra, detained by security operatives, may have been murdered.

Nanmdi Kanu, Radio Biafra’s Director

In a statement in Abakaliki, MASSOB factional Director of Information, Comrade Uchenna Madu, stated that  information  about Kanu’s murder was made available to the group  through some security operatives sympathetic to the Biafran cause.

“Factional MASSOB has discovered that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu detained by Nigeria has been murdered  in Abuja,”Madu said.

“Information to Biafra Intelligence Agency (BIA), through operatives  sympathetic to  the Biafran cause revealed it to us. Pro. Biafran groups may not believe it until Monday, Nov 23 when Nnamdi will be   arraign in court.

“The cause  information we are receiving from   Abuja is not healthy, we’re still waiting till Monday. Nnamdi Kanu is the arrowhead of the Biafra agitation. Nigeria should be extremely careful on Nnamdi Kanu”.

“If government extra judicially kills Nnamdi Kanu, Nigeria will experience the worst volcanic rebellion and aggression.

“We call on the Ohaneze Ndigbo, South East Govs, Igbo leaders of thought, South-East and South-South Professionals, Igbo National Assembly members, traditional /religious leaders to call Nigeria’s Presidency to order now.

“We demand that Nnamdi Kanu must appear in court on Monday, Nov  23 alive or dead. We love non-violence & wish to maintain it but Nigeria is pushing Biafrans to the wall”.

Nnamdi Kandu murdered in prison - MASSOB cries out

Senate queries approval of N63.5bn for Abuja Airport’s 2nd runway contract

ABUJA—THE Senate, yesterday, queried the N63.5 billion approved for the construction of the second Runway for the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, saying it was an attempt to ‘steal and rape’ Nigerians of the country’s common patrimony.

Senate

It, however, called on the government to urgently construct a second runway at the airport and urged it to ensure that due process and diligence was followed in the award of contracts for the construction.

These resolutions were sequel to a motion by Senator Dino Melaye, All Progressives Congress, APC, Kogi West, titled, The Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, Second Runway Contract.

The Senate, while calling on the federal government to drastically reduce what it termed the unrealistic cost, said the government must monitor the contract award process.

Presenting the motion, Senator Melaye noted that the contract for the construction of the runway was cancelled by the last administration after allegation of over inflation of contracts was established.

Melaye, who noted that the contract was awarded by the Federal Executive Council, FEC, at N64 billion after ratification by the Bureau for Public Procurement, BPP, contended that there was also  the need  for the construction of a second runway since, according to him, “the existing one is not only bad but inadequate.”

According to him, the entire Gombe Airport, with 3.6km runaway cost N8.2 billion; Jigawa Airport cost a total of N11 billion, Bauchi, N12 billion; Enugu Airport, reconstructed and expanded at N13 billion and Akwa Ibom Airport was constructed at N18.05 billion.

He expressed worry that the proposed cost of constructing just a runway at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, was astronomical, insisting that the amount was four times the cost of constructing a brand new runway in the country.

Melaye argued that the new Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport, with four lanes of 4km runway cost less than N22 billion, saying constructing a 3. 8km one-line runway for N63.5 billion would be a waste of fund considering Nigeria’s present economic situation.

He said: “The publication that the contract is already undergoing review and to be awarded at N63.5 billion as published by newspapers is another attempt to steal and rape Nigerians of our common patrimony. Further convinced by the fact that the entire Gombe Airport with 36km runway cost of N8.2 billion; Jigawa Airport cost N12 billion, Enugu Airport was constructed and expanded at 13 billion naira and Akwa Ibom Airport at N18.05 billion .

“This astronomical amount is about four times the cost of constructing a brand new airport in Nigeria. As a representative of the people, we must advise that due process  and strict adherence to Public Procurement Act be observed in the said contract of the Second  Abuja  Airport  Runaway. If this not brought to attention of the government now, there may be another fraud in the making, given the comparative analysis of cheaper cost across  the country. “

Senate President, Bukola Saraki, in his remark, tasked the government to put in motion necessary machinery to construct a better runway at the Abuja International Airport and due process should be followed in awarding the contract.

According to him, the amount bandied for constructing the second runway at the airport was unacceptable, stressing that  the Senate would do its best to ensure that there was probity in award of contracts not only in the aviation sector,   but other sectors of the economy.

The Senate President who noted that   there was the need to stop what he described as the reckless expenditures, while awarding contracts in the country, said  that it was the responsibility of the senate to perform the oversight functions in awarding these contracts.

Meanwhile, five bills passed first reading yesterday.

The bills include Prevention and Punishment of Torture Bill 2015 by Senator Biodun Olujimi, Ekiti South;  the Nigerian Biodiversity bill 2015 and Counterfeit Goods Bill 2015 by Senator Isah Misau, Bauchi Central;      National ecological agency Bill 2015 by Senator Obinna Ogba, Ebonyi Central and and Fire arms act CAP F28 LFN 2004 (repeal and re-enactment) Bill 2015, Joshua Dariye, Plateau Central.

Senate queries approval of N63.5bn for Abuja Airport’s 2nd runway contract

Nyanya bombings: Suspect pleads guilty to possessing IEDs

One of the suspected bombers of Nyanya and Kuje, both satellite towns in Abuja, on October 2, 2015, Abdulwaheed Nasiru, told a Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday that he was guilty of being in possession of 12 Improvised Explosive Devices and other materials used for making bombs.

Boko Haram, Nyanya suspects

Nasiru, 23, was the youngest among the five persons arraigned before Justice Abdulkadir Abdul-Kafarati on five counts arising from the multiple bombings, which left scores dead and many others with varying degrees of injuries.

The fourth count which Nasiru pleaded guilty to had to do with being in possession of 12 IEDs and materials used for manufacturing them.

The rest of the accused persons – Abdulazeez Muhazab (26), Ishiaka Salihu (25), Mohammed Jimoh (33) and Abdullahi Nasiru (34), however, pleaded not guilty to all the five counts preferred against them.

The accused persons were arraigned for allegedly conspiring among themselves to carry out the bombings of Kuje town and Jikoyi park in Nyanya on October 2, resulting in “the death of scores of innocent citizens and many others who sustained varying degrees of injuries as well as destroying properties “contrary to sections 17 and 2(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2013.”

The prosecution alleged in the fifth count that between August and October 2015, Jimoh and Salihu were aiding Abdulazeez Muhazab (first defendant “to store and conceal” the items suspected to be used for manufacturing of IEDs, an act punishable under section 2(g) of the law.

The accused persons, who all hailed from Kogi State, were allegedly arrested with 12 IEDs and other materials used for manufacturing the explosives in Unguwar Ebira, Karamajiji area, behind Military Cemetery, along Airport Road in Abuja, on October 6.

The materials they were allegedly arrested with included 27 pieces of detonators, aluminium powder, hexomine, hydrogen peroxide, sulphur powder, sodium azide plus nitrate, iron II oxide, soldiering wire, sugar, pH litmus paper, sodium carbonate and thermometer.

Others were chlorate, filter paper, strings, potassium chlorate, 12 ready-made IEDs and a full bag of fertilizer.

Justice Abdul-Kafarati ordered that the accused persons be moved from the police custody to Kuje prison for remand after their arraignment on Thursday.

While admitting his guilt of the fourth count during the arraignment proceedings, Nasiru said he was not the owner of the IED items but his friends.

“I’m guilty, but no be me get am, na my friend get am,” he said in pidgin English.

The charges were read and interpreted to him and the fifth accused person, Abdullahi Nasiru, (they are not related) in pidgin English.

He had earlier pleaded not guilty to the first three counts of conspiracy and the carrying out of the bombings in the separate locations.

He remained adamant that he was guilty of the charge of the possession of the IEDs and the other materials when asked if he understood the particular count.

Defence lawyer, Mr. Nurein Sulyman, jumped up from his seat and approached the dock to ask him if he truly understood what he pleaded guilty to, but he stuck to his guilty plea.

Lead prosecuting counsel and the Director, Public Prosecutions of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Diri, said he would still lead evidence to prove the guilt of all the accused persons, including Nasiru, with regard to the count he had confessed to.

Nyanya bombings: Suspect pleads guilty to possessing IEDs

Arrested Radio Biafra"s Director Get Bail

The Department of State Security (DSS) monday released the Director, Radio Biafra and Leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)  Nnamdi Kanu, who was arrested at the Golden Tulip Essential Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

Nanmdi Kanu, Radio Biafra’s Director

Kanu, who was arrested on Friday last week, was said to have been released on bail to his lawyer.

Although the bail fee was reportedly fixed at N2 million, as at press time, Kanu was yet to have met the bail conditions, which included getting a civil servant on grade16 to be his surety.

According to reports, his lawyer, Mr. Egechukwu Obetta, had decried the fact that his client was arrested for airing his opinion on seccession.

Attempts to confirm his release from the DSS spokesperson at the Lagos State Command last night, proved abortive as his two phones were switched off.

However, THISDAY had earlier gathered that Kanu was arrested following an alleged threat-filled interview he granted recently.

A senior DSS official who asked not to be named, said Kanu was arrested based on the violent undertone of an interview he recently granted journalists.

He said: “Prior to his arrest, he was not under our radar. In fact, he did not exist. However, that was to change after our attention was drawn to the interview he granted one medium.

“In that interview, he made so many threats that would jeopardise the sovereignty of Nigeria if he is allowed to actualise them.

“He also threatened to burn down Nigeria if Biafra is not allowed to secede. The violent undertone of his interview gave us cause for concern and so we picked him up.”

THISDAY also gathered that some of the events that led to his eventual arrest were painstaking intelligence gathering and covert surveillance on Kanu.

According to the source, they had mounted surveillance on him and had alerted the necessary persons, thus making it easier for them to arrest him from where he lodged.

He said: “Before we arrested him, we did our homework. So when our intelligence network signalled that he was around, we simply waited and picked him up.”

He also said measures are ongoing to ferret out information about the sponsors of the group, in a bid to round them up.

He said: “After our questioning, we will go after their sponsors because it’s not possible for this young man to be the brain behind this group. When we get the sponsors, we have gotten the group.”

Also, another senior official who craved anonymity said: “The operation was carried out on a need-to-know basis. So not all operatives were in the know because we wanted a tight and smooth execution.

“After he was picked up, his girlfriend came to the command but he was not released to her. We kept him for questioning.

“Investigations are ongoing and we would not want to jeopardise it, but note that if he is innocent, he would be released after our questioning but if not, he would be made to face the law.”

Arrested Radio Biafra"s Director Get Bail

Kidnappers seize Edo lawmaker’s daughter at Abuja airport

•Police begin manhunt for 25-year-old NYSC member taken since Wednesday

By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor & Kingsley Omonobi

Fear has gripped passengers using the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja (NAIA) following the invasion of the facility by kidnappers and other criminals posing as commercial transport operators.

Sunday Vanguard learnt that the men, who have laid siege to the airport and environs, kidnapped a National Youth Corps Service member and daughter of a serving House of Representatives member from Edo State last Wednesday.

The NYSC member, Eghonghon Jessica Edionwele, the second daughter of Chief Joe Edionwele, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party representing Esan West, Esan Central and Igueben federal constituency of Edo State has not been found.

Eghonghon, a graduate of physiotherapy from Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, is serving in Ibadan and had flown with the 4pm flight of Arik Air from Lagos to Abuja to join his father, when she was taken by her captors.

The victim reportedly boarded a vehicle from the NAIA  to the Area One residence of her father but was never taken to the house by the driver who picked from the airport.

She was feared to have boarded a commercial vehicle known as ‘One Chance’ operated by kidnappers and armed robbers, who simply railroad their victims to their hideouts and rob or kill demand heavy ransom as a condition for release.

Findings indicated that although the NYSC member landed at the NAIA at exactly 5.15pm that Wednesday, her whereabouts remained unknown while her phones were also  switched off.

The father, who spoke to Sunday Vanguard, said  her daughter was expected to arrive at her Abuja home around 6pm that Wednesday, regretting that nothing had been heard from her since then.

Sunday Vanguard learnt that although the captors of the 25-year-old had not established any contact with the family, some people had been using her Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card to withdraw money from her account.

As at last night, N30,000 had been withdrawn from Eghonghon’s account.

The FCT police, where the matter had been lodged by the family, said they were aware of the  development but declined to give further details.

The FCT Police Command spokesman, Mr. Wilson Inalegwu, said he had no further information to give on the matter, when our correspondent called him, yesterday, evening.

Kidnappers seize Edo lawmaker’s daughter at Abuja airport

Breaking: Charles Okah attempts jumping from court’s third floor

Abuja- Security operatives attached to Justice Gabriel Kolawole at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday prevented Charles Okah, the alleged mastermind of the 2010 Independence Day bombing from committing suicide in court.

HENRY OKAH

Okah, who is standing trial on charges of terrorism, had sought the permission of the judge to speak on what he termed “endless trial,” as his counsel was absent in court.

The judge granted the oral application and permitted Okah to speak for about five minutes.

Okah said: “I have been incarcerated for about five years now and I have a family to cater for. My children would grow up without feeling the warmth of their father and I am tired of this endless trial.  I really do not know what I have done to be treated this way.

“Is it not better to die than to wait and be messed up this way?” he asked.

Immediately after Okah ended his speech, he grabbed a chair in the court and quickly moved toward a window on third floor of the five-storey building and attempted to jump down.

He was immediately pulled back by security operatives, lawyers and other litigants from embarking on the action.

Consequently, Kolawole adjourned the case to Oct. 20 for continuation of trial.

Others charged in the case are Obi Nwabueze and Edmund Ebuware.

The fourth accused, Tiemkemfa Osuvwo, died in Kuje prison, while Ebuwari has been jailed for life as his case was separately decided.

However, Okah and Nwabueze have been facing long trial as a result of the introduction of numerous injunctions from both the prosecution and defence teams. (NAN)

Breaking: Charles Okah attempts jumping from court’s third floor

Photos: Faces of Boko Haram members behind Abuja explosions

Following last Friday’s multiple suicide bombings in Nyanya and Kuje areas of Abuja, which left 18 people dead and 45 injured, Boko Haram militants, claiming loyalty to Islamic State (Isis), in a statement, yesterday on Twitter, said they were behind the bombings.

Recall that sometime in March 2015, Boko Haram renamed itself Islamic State’s West Africa Province (Iswap). The leader of Isis, a militant group that controls parts of Syria and Iraq, however accepted the pledge of allegiance from Boko Haram, in May 2015.

Eventhough, the authenticity of the statement, which issued under the name Iswap, could not be verified, the group released the photos of three male suicide bombers who it said were behind Friday’s deadly attacks.

See photos:

Boko Haram claims this is one of the suicide bombers behind Abuja explosions on Friday, October 2, 2015.

Boko Haram claims this is one of the suicide bombers behind Abuja explosions on Friday, October 2, 2015.

Boko Haram claims this is one of the suicide bombers behind Abuja explosions on Friday, October 2, 2015.

Boko Haram claims this is one of the suicide bombers behind Abuja explosions on Friday, October 2, 2015.

Photos: Faces of Boko Haram members behind Abuja explosions