Serving NYSC Member Cries Out For Help After Police In Anambra Brutalise Her While Conducting Illegal Search Operation

I was practically naked and had to plead with them to allow me to put on my clothes which they eventually allowed but violated my privacy as I was forced to dress up in their presence.

Officers of the Nigeria Police Force in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State have brutalised a serving member of the National Youth Service Corps while also falsifying her police statement.

The corps member, Akinlabi (other names concealed), said the harassment against her began on September 17 after men of the notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad broke into her compound while she was asleep and pointed a flashlight to her face while claiming to be looking for “yahoo boys”.

SARS is notorious for numerous rights violations of young people in the country with the intent of extorting them or incriminating them of uncommitted crimes.

Narrating her ordeal to SaharaReporters on Tuesday, Akinlabi said, “On 17th of September 2020 by 20am, a team of people broke into our compound claiming to be SARS and searching for yahoo guys broke my window net, pointed their torchlight at my face while asleep and commanded me to open the entrance door for them.

“I was scared to do as commanded because I couldn't identify who they were, rather, I shouted and ran into the passage for help.

“On getting to the passage, I saw another set of people at the window threatening to deal with me if I did not open the door. As I continued to shout for help, one of my neighbours opened her door for me and I entered her room and was shocked as they still came to the window of the woman insisting that we must open the door or they would break the door.

“Some of them later broke into an empty room by cutting off the burglary and entered the passage. The others broke the burglary of the room we were, opened the door for others to have access to the room. They started assaulting me by slapping and hitting me with cutlasses and sticks.

“At this point, I was practically naked and had to plead with them to allow me to put on my clothes which they eventually allowed but violated my privacy as I was forced to dress up in their presence. The beating continued after that and I got handcuffed like a common criminal for an offence I knew nothing about. They threatened to lock me up for 48 hours for refusing to open the door for them.

“I and another guy in the lodge were taken to their van and they asked us to stand in the rain for hours. They insisted on us giving them money for fuel before we could be released. We were released when they realised we were not ready to give any money.”

Despite reporting the incident to NYSC officials in the state, Akinlabi said her report was falsified and never shown to her.

“The following morning, I called my LGI first and my PPA principal and they both asked me to go to the police station to make a report. On getting there, one officer initially refused to take my complaint until she was informed that the DPO was aware of the incident.

“In spite of this, she insisted on writing my statement by herself and in her own way. Please note that I never wrote or signed any statement at the police station as the officer refused to allow me to do so,” she said.

Fearing for her safety and that of her family, Akinlabi called on the Inspector-General of Police, rights groups and the international community to investigate the brutal invasion of her residence and assault against her and bring the officers involved to book.

She also asked the IGP to see to it that she was duly compensated for damages done to her physically and on her properties in the process of the crime committed against her while serving her country.

#vanguard

Atiku Reacts, Dismisses US Surveillance Report

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has denied reports that he and some members of his family are under the United States of America watchlist, describing same as “recycled false allegations.”

Media reports surfaced on Monday to the effect that the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, FinCEN, an agency of the United States Department of Treasury, has flagged some transactions linked to the top politician as suspicious, in its surveillance of money movements within the international system.

Reacting to the media report, the 2019 Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in a statement signed by his media aide, Paul Ibe, said neither him nor any member of his family has breached any law, locally or internationally.

The statement reads: “My attention has been drawn to recycled and regurgitated lies about the person of Atiku Abubakar.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Atiku Abubakar is not under any US watch list, neither has he been charged, or will ever be charged by the United States Justice Department or any other in a foreign jurisdiction.

“It will be recalled that these recycled lies were re-unearthed just before the February 23, 2019 Presidential election, and to put paid to them, His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, applied for and received a US visa, whereupon he embarked on a visit to the United States on January 17, 2019. He stayed at a hotel just miles to the United States Department of Justice.

“Atiku Abubakar in the course of that trip was also received in audience, by officials of the United States Government.

“These ‘new’ reports are a desperate gambit to recast these discredited accusations. They are meant to divert the attention of Nigerians from the recent statement by the Secretary of State of the United States, Mr Mike Pompeo, announcing visa and travel bans for certain unnamed but notorious individuals.

“Moreover, the timing of this report, less than 24 hours after the Edo state gubernatorial elections, should give some thought to thinking people.

“And considering the season that we are in, more of such jaundiced stories seeking to discredit Atiku Abubakar would come. However, it needs to be reiterated that the former Vice President and every member of his family keeps a clean business portfolio that has nothing to do with government resources and in conformity with local and foreign laws of respective countries.”

#vanguard

Nigerian soldier fighting Boko Haram commits suicide after ‘false’ theft accusation, punishment

A soldier in Northeast Nigeria committed suicide, on Thursday, after he was publicly punished by his superior for alleged phone theft, his colleagues told PREMIUM TIMES.

The soldier, identified as Lance Corporal Victor Ojeamiran, was attached to the Nigerian Army 27 Task Force Brigade in Buni Gari, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State.

The 27 Task Force is one of those fighting the Boko Haram extremists in Northeast Nigeria.

Mr Ojeamiran shot himself after he personally submitted a note to his platoon sergeant for delivery to his superior officer in the Task Force, our sources said, asking not to named for fear of victimisation by the army.

The note was a protest note where the soldier tried to defend himself and prove his innocence, PREMIUM TIMES learnt.

Buni Gari is said to be about 7 km from the headquarters of the 27 Task Force Brigade in Buni Yadi, the town that also accommodates the Nigerian Army Special Forces School in Gujba local government.

What really happened

The deceased went to Damaturu, the Yobe State capital and bought a used phone, our sources said. Unknown to him, the phone was a stolen phone and belonged to a senior army officer in Damaturu.

The officer tracked the phone and found it with the soldier while he was about to return to his formation in Buni Gari, after he bought the phone.

The officer allegedly punished the soldier in public, while residents of the area shot videos of the punishment and later posted it on some social media platforms.

Mr Ojeamiran could not bear the disgrace of the video of him being publicly punished for a ‘false accusation’ and he did not have a chance to defend himself before the punishment, our sources said.

He told his colleagues, including one of our sources, that he does not know what to tell his wife and children about the video, and how he was disgraced in the eyes of the world for a crime he did not commit.

Hence, he decided to take his life after he returned to base by shooting himself on the head.

When contacted, the army spokesperson, Sagir Musa, said he is yet to be briefed on the development and he is not in Yobe at present.

When PREMIUM TIMES, on Saturday, contacted the spokesperson of the 27 Task Force, Chinonso Oteh, a lieutenant, he promised to get back to this reporter with an official position. He has ignored subsequent calls and messages to his phone since then.

However, PREMIUM TIMES has seen an internal memo by the army confirming the suicide but claiming it occurred on Sunday, September 20. In the memo, the army said an “investigation has commenced on the circumstances that led to the incident.

#premuimtimes

Nigerian Men Talk About Vasectomies

A vasectomy is a permanent contraceptive method where a male’s vas deferens is cut and tied or sealed to prevent sperm from getting to the urethra, to stop the man from ejaculating and fertilizing the female’s egg. Whew, that’s a lot of grammar. In simpler English, the tube that carries sperm from the testicles is tied up or sealed in order to prevent the sperm from reaching the penis. This procedure is mostly permanent although it may be reversed in some cases.

Men are increasingly considering vasectomies as a contraceptive method. For the most part, they do it to take the burden off their female partners who have historically been expected to use birth control methods that give them nasty side effects and some times, permanent damage. Vasectomies are generally safe and not as painful as most people think it is. I talked to 5 Nigerian men about vasectomies. They had some pretty interesting answers.

Paul, 38
I decided to get a vasectomy because we were done havings kids and no longer wanted to worry about falling pregnant. It’s less invasive for a guy to get a vasectomy than for a woman to undergo tubal ligation (tying up the fallopian tubes). It’s also way cheaper and requires much shorter recovery time. It’s not even comparable.

I had it done three years ago at my doctor’s office. It was a keyhole surgery (a minimally invasive surgery that’s carried out through a small incision in the skin) with local anaesthesia. I was chatting with the doctor the whole time while he had my balls in his hands. The procedure took all of 30 minutes. I had it done on a Friday and only took Monday off work (because its a desk job). I was cleared to return to the gym after a week.

I don’t regret it at all because it was an informed decision. Also, my wife put her body through the trials of pregnancy and childbirth. Getting a vasectomy done is such a small hit to take for the team. It’s even a bonus because you can have sexy time without condoms or fear of getting pregnant.

When people hear that I underwent the procedure, they’re generally chill about it. Except Nigerian men. They act like they’ve seen a ghost or I called their mother a witch. I can see them fighting the urge to grab their balls to ensure it’s still there. There’s no regret for me. I have two kids. I don lock shop. My team has retired my jersey. Full MVP status.

Hamza, 31
I’ve setup a vasectomy appointment for November. I don’t have any children and I’m perfectly fine with the prospect of never having one. My girlfriend is completely fine with it although I dare not tell my mother.

Ejiro, 47
I got a vasectomy six years ago. The birth of my third child was a shock to my wife and me, so we immediately decided that I would undergo a vasectomy. It wasn’t a big deal; I’m a doctor and I knew exactly what to expect. I was told it would be potentially painful but it really wasn’t. I was prescribed painkillers and I stopped taking them about ten days after the procedure.

I had it done here in the UK so it was pretty straightforward and, more importantly, free. Asides my wife, not even my close friends and family know that I underwent the procedure. Even if they did, they wouldn’t be surprised I had it done.

Now that I’ve had it done, I’ve got complete sexual freedom. I’m not bothered about whether my wife remembers to take her pills. I’m happy knowing that I’ve completed my family size. It is something I should have taken responsibility for and done a long time ago.

Sam, 32
I’m yet to get a vasectomy but my wife and I are in agreement on this, and I’ve spoken with a urologist. I’ve decided to get this done in November (that’s when our baby will be born) because my wife and I got married knowing that we’re both AS. You might think it’s a big risk but we both knew what we were getting into. Before we got married, we both wanted a child.

When she got pregnant, we took a test to confirm the genotype of the baby, and if she turned out to be SS, we would have aborted immediately. Luckily, she’s AS.

I’m a health worker, so I have experienced firsthand what women go through with birth control and family planning. I’ve seen how it messes them up in different ways like weight gain and constant bleeding. I’ve decided to take that pain off my wife and get a vasectomy done.

Ayo, 34
I’ve decided to get one. I’m married and I have 2 boys that mean the world to me. People ask if I don’t want to try again for a girl and I wonder if they will help me cater for that extra mouth in this Nigerian economy.

#nairaland

Nigeria’s Debts: How Each Nigerian Owes ₦155,000


The Debt Management Office, DMO, has announced that the total debt stock of Nigeria rose to N31 trillion as of June 2020.

It also said the debts are expected to rise this year following more debts to be sourced from international financiers.

As of March 2020, the debt was at N28.6trn comprising all debts of the Federal Government, the 36 state governments and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).


The latest debt total of N31.009trn debt is about $85.897 billion while that of March which was N28.628trn was about N79.303bn.

Cause of increase

The debt stock grew by N2.38trn or $6.59bn within the three months interval.


The additional increase was due to the $3.36bn Budget Support Loan from the International Monetary Fund IMF), new Domestic Borrowing to finance the Revised 2020 Appropriation Act, the issuance of the N162.557bn Sukuk, and Promissory Notes issued to settle Claims of Exporters.

The components of the debts are:

The multilateral debts are the highest of the stock of N16.360trn accounting for 51.97% of the total stock. The 10 agencies include IMF, World Bank Group, the African Development Bank (AfD Group, Eurobonds and Diaspora bonds.

The bilateral debts account for N3.948trn representing 12.54% of the debt stock taken from the international development agencies of China, France, Japan, India and Germany.

The third debt category is the commercial debt which is N11.168trn and represents 35.48% of the debt. This is the second largest debt after those of the multilateral agencies with Eurobonds and Diaspora bonds accounting for them.

Further rise

The debt stock will rise with the expected borrowing from the World Bank, African Development Bank and the Islamic Development Bank which were arranged to finance the 2020 Budget Appropriation.

The Nigeria Customs Service was recently given part of these funds to automate its services at the ports, to the tune of $3.1 billion.

Most of the loans are long term facilities with the repayment beginning already while the fresh loans’ repayment begin from 2022.

On the Sukuk bonds and other domestic bonds, their maturity periods are often between five and seven years for the repayment.


What you owe

The ministry of finance recently said there are plans made for the loans to be repaid. So far in the 2020 budget, over N3 trillion or a quarter of the budget is dedicated to debt servicing, for repaying the debts.

At N31 trillion, every Nigerian from the over 200 million population owes the debtors N155,000 in debt.

This debt per Nigerian will rise further when the loans from World Bank, AfDB and IsDB comes in later this year.

#dailytrust

Felix Osilama Okpoh, Wanted By FBI For $6 Million Scam Surrenders To EFCC


A Nigerian, Felix Osilama Okpoh, who is wanted by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) for his alleged involvement in a Business Email Compromise (BEC) scheme that defrauded over 70 different businesses in the United States, has turned himself in to Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Mr Okpoh, 31, who allegedly conspired with five others to defraud their American victims of over $6million, was led to the Lagos office of the EFCC by his father, retired Colonel Garuba Okpoh and his mother Justina Okpoh.

A spokesperson for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said the suspect surrendered on September 18 and that investigations into his case had since commenced.

Mr Uwujaren quoted Mr Okpoh as saying, during interrogation, that he decided to surrender himself to the Commission out of respect for his parents and his resolve to be morally upright.

The FBI accused the suspect of allegedly providing hundreds of bank accounts to Richard Izuchukwu Uzuh and other co-conspirators, Alex Afolabi Ogunshakin, Abiola Ayorinde Kayode, and Nnamdi Orson Benson, that were used to receive fraudulent wire transfers.

Bank accounts that Mr Okpoh allegedly provided to Mr Uzuh allegedly received fraudulent wire transfers from victim businesses totalling over $1million

On August 21, 2019, Mr Okpoh was indicted in the United States District Court, District of Nebraska, Omaha, Nebraska, on charges of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud. On August 22, 2019, a federal warrant was issued for his arrest.

On June 16, 2020, United States Attorney Joe Kelly and Kristi K. Johnson, Special Agent in Charge of the Omaha field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced the unsealing of indictments charging the six Nigerians for their involvement in the fraud schemes.
“The schemes included individual victims and victim businesses both in Nebraska and other states,” the U.S.

Department of Justice said in a statement announcing the indictment. “BECs are sophisticated cybercrimes involving electronic transfer payments or automated clearinghouse transfers.”

“The indictments charge the defendants with one or more of the following violations of federal law: 1) Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud, punishable by up to 20 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000; 2) Identity theft and access device fraud, each punishable by up to 10 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000.
“The Nigerian nationals charged and still at large are Richard Uzuh; Micheal Olorunyomi; Alex Ogunshakin; Felix Okpoh; Abiola Kayode and Nnamdi Benson. An indictment is a formal accusation returned by a grand jury upon establishing probable cause. The indictment is not evidence of guilt and defendants are entitled to a presumption of innocence. Two related defendants have entered pleas of guilty. Adewale Aniyeloye was sentenced in the District of Nebraska to 96 months’ imprisonment for wire fraud. Onome Ijomone received a 60-month sentence for conspiracy to commit wire fraud

#premuimtimes

Akeredolu: I Won’t Rest Until Ondo Wins Battle Against Unemployment

The Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, on Monday, commissioned a modern chocolate factory in the ancient city of Idanre in Idanre Local Government Area of the state.

The factory, though initiated by his predecessor in partnership with a United States-based firm, Spagnvola Chocolatiers, was completed by the Akeredolu led administration.

The factory, estimated to be worth #9billion, will produce 2.8 million tons of Chocolate per annum.

The governor said his dream for Ondo “is to be a state that doesn’t rely on allocation from the federation account to pay salaries and fund infrastructure before the year 2024”.


He said, “I will work to hand over a State that does not rely on allocation to pay salaries by the year 2024.

“I want to change our narrative. Enough of Ondo being tagged as a civil service state. We are a hidden wealth of Nigeria. We shall explore all our potentials.

“Let me assure all the good people of Ondo State that this factory shall run independently of politics. It shall be run in line with global best practices.


“To guarantee a constant supply of cocoa beans to the factory, the Oda Cocoa Plantation, which is over 1,744 Hectares, has been resuscitated and made functional with over 250 Cocoa farmers upscaling daily production from the farm


“I will never rest until we win the battle against unemployment in our state through industrialisation, agriculture, and technology.

“To consolidate our foothold as the number one cocoa producer in Nigeria, this administration has established a modern cocoa farm at Ijugbere Camp in Ilale, Owo on 8,400Hectatres of land with the capacity to accommodate 2,000 youths who would be resident on the farm with a minimum of four Hectares of Land per person.”


In their separate remarks, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Agriculture and Agro Business, Pastor Akin Olotu, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Investment and Development, Mr. Boye Oyewumi, said the factory was already moribund before the emergence of the current administration.

#punchng

*DOMINION MANDATE DEVOTIONAL*

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

*WHY BELIEVERS GO TO HELL (1)*

*BIBLE READING: MATTHEW 18:21-35*

*So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not everyone his brother their trespasses. Matthew 18:35(KJV)*

The greatest reason Christians will find themselves in Hell is not necessarily as a result of some very grievous sin. Unfortunately, many Christians will end up in hell, not because they committed a big sin, but because they didn’t forgive a brother or sister who hurt them.

The sin of offence is one of the most subtle sins we can have in our lives. It is all the more dangerous because we feel justified to carry the anger and offence in our hearts and refuse to let the person go as a result of the pain they have caused us. But offence cuts us off from the Holy Spirit and over time, it wraps us in a bubble of self and isolates us from the touch of the Holy Spirit totally.

Worst of all, offence shields us away from the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus because we refuse to forgive, the sins we have committed that we might have even repented of will also not be forgiven. Offence insulates us from forgiveness from above and this is why many Christians will find themselves shocked to be in hell.

In this season of repentance and eternity, look inward and think about all the people who have hurt you and whom you are upset with. Take time to call them, talk about the issue you have against them, forgive them and let it go. Where you cannot reach them anymore, ask the Holy Spirit to help you forgive and to take the pain of the hurt and offence away. No offence is worth an eternity in hell that burns with fire and brimstone, where the worms do not die and the fire does not quench. The cure for offence is to choose to walk in love, irrespective of the actions of others and not paying attention to whether they deserve it or not.

*PRAYER
Lord Jesus, I repent of the sin of offence. I ask for mercy and confess the sin of unforgiveness. I forgive everyone who has hurt me and for whom I have carried offence in my heart. Help me forgive them and take the pain and anger away in Jesus name.

Energy Commission of Nigeria Partners Gombe State to Create Energy Hub

The government of Gombe State in northern Nigeria is collaborating with the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) with the intension to snap up any opening in the national and international energy organisations and ensure that the state government achieves its policy initiatives on energy.

The Director-General of the Commission, Professor Eli

Read more here - https://www.orientenergyreview.....com/power-sector/en
#oilandgas #africa #localcontent #energy #power

Delta monarchs call for stringent measures to curb impostors

By Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

The Delta state council of traditional rulers has proffered stringent measures to curb the increasing rate of fake- self-imposed traditional rulers across the state, as a way of ensuring sanity among the rulers' council.

In a press release signed by the chairman, Delta state council of traditional rulers,

Read more here - https://orientdailynews.com/po....litics/delta-monarch