A 58-year old man identified as Mallam Aminu Ado, has been arrested by men of the Nigeria Police for impersonating the widow of the late Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, in a bid to swindle unsuspecting Nigerians.
Spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force, DCP Frank Mba, who paraded him before newsmen on Monday, June 22, said after the death of the former chief of staff, Ado who is also known as Al Amin Yerima, went on to impersonate the widow and reached out to prominent Nigerians asking for donations to enable him organize special prayers for the soul of the departed. “In the course of doing that some of the prominent Nigerians became suspicious and reached out to us. He has been cooperative with the investigation and held back no facts. He is 58 years old. He had also had a stint with EFCC in 2019. He was charged to an Abuja High Court and was convicted and imprisoned for three months as a result of the plea bargain he successfully initiated by his lawyers,” Mba said
According to Mba, Ado had an app on his phone that changed his voice to a woman’s voice, which he used to perpetuate the criminal act.
When he was arrested, Ado claimed he was a family friend and was trying to organize a prayer for the soul of the departed. He however could not explain why he had to pretend to be a woman to solicit for assistance. He admitted he did it without the consent of the family.
Among those he contacted so he could swindle were the Plateau state governor, Simon Lalong; the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; and the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed.
He told the police that he knew these people very well as he was a politician and they have been talking. “I am a politician and I have the ambition of being governor of Kano State 2023 insha allah,” he confidently said.
David Guillod, the Hollywood executive producer of “Extraction” and “Atomic Blonde” has been charged with multiple counts of rape, sexual assault, and kidnap of four women in California.
The 53-year-old who ran Primary Wave Entertainment, a talent agency, surrendered to police Monday morning in Santa Barbara, near Los Angeles after a three-year investigation. He is now in custody at the Santa Barbara County Jail, with bail set at $3 million.
The charges stem from alleged encounters in 2012, 2014 and 2015 with four unidentified women accusers, ranging in age from 27 to 41, in Los Angeles County and in Santa Barbara County, according to the complaint filed by Santa Barbara District Attorney Joyce Dudley.
He faces a total of 11 felony charges for the incidents spanning back to 2012, and a maximum sentence of 21 years to life in prison, Santa Barbara prosecutors said.
“Charges were filed after extensive investigations were conducted by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department and the Los Angeles Police Department, while working in conjunction with the District Attorneys of Santa Barbara County and Los Angeles County,” Dudley’s statement said.
“After reviewing all the evidence, the Santa Barbara County District Attorney requested jurisdiction from the District Attorney of Los Angeles to prosecute Counts 4-11 in Santa Barbara.”
Santa Barbara prosecutors did not name the accusers on the charge sheet, but actress Jessica Barth, a leading voice in the #MeToo movement, accused him of drugging and sexually assaulting her in 2012 when he was working as her manager in Los Angeles.
His attorney, Philip K. Cohen said in ‘a statement that Guillod maintains his innocence, and that he has evidence contradicting the allegations.
“Mr. Guillod has been vilified for eight years without being afforded the opportunity to examine under oath his accusers,” his statement said. “Justice is rarely swift and often does not come easy; but Mr. Guillod very much looks forward to clearing his name in the appropriate forum.”
Guillod was charged with four counts in connection with the first alleged encounter, on May 21, 2012, in Los Angeles County, in which he is accused of sexual penetration of an unconscious or unaware victim, sexual penetration of a drugged victim, oral copulation of an intoxicated victim, and oral copulation of an unconscious or unaware victim.
In the second alleged encounter on December 14, 2014, in Santa Barbara County, he faces three charges, including kidnapping for rape, rape of a drugged victim, and rape of an unconscious person.
In the third alleged encounter, between Jan. 30 and Jan. 31, 2015, in Los Angeles County, he is charged with rape of a drugged person and rape of an unconscious person.
In the fourth alleged encounter, also between Jan. 30 and Jan. 31, 2015, in Los Angeles County, he is charged with rape of a drugged person and rape of an unconscious person.
The date for his arraignment has not yet been set.
Miss Kadijah, a 5 year old female has been raped to death by a close family relative in Freetown. Her father, Mr Bockarie Bayo who lives in the United States made this known to the public via online. His words: “The Autopsy result is out. Kadijah’s cause of death is RAPE. Kadijah was raped in Freetown, and died afterwards. An important part of us, is no more. Kadijah received her United States Passport last year, and we were looking forward to her smooth transition to the US, where she had hoped to continue her education, and in the future, become a medical Doctor, since that was all, she was talking about. At age Five, Kadijah was very smart and outspoken, and thus became, a center of attraction among her peers, and she will forever be remembered. Her passing has once again, reminded us about the downside of Procastination. Most times, we plan so much about the future, without leaving room for that less than a second, terrible circumstance. As we mourn her passing with faith and pain, we are also expecting #Justice For Kadijah. Until her death, Kadijah was a dual Citizen of Sierra Leone 🇸🇱 and the United States of America 🇺🇸, and we are more than convinced that, both systems cannot fail us at the same time, in getting Justice for her. JUSTICEFORKADIJAH
Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye of an Igbosere High Court in Lagos on Friday discharged and acquitted Niyi Oyelami who was charged with defiling a nine-year-old daughter of his neighbour.
Oyelami was charged by Lagos State on a count charge of defiling a minor, to which he pleaded not guilty.
Delivering the judgment during a virtual court proceedings, the judge found the defendant not guilty as charged.
Justice Ipaye said that the testimony of the two prosecution witnesses failed to establish that the accused actually committed the offence.
She said the prosecution failed to prove the case beyond every reasonable doubt.
Ipaye also said that the failure of the prosecution to provide eyewitnesses and the victim to give evidence as whether it was the defendant who actually ruptured the hymen was fatal to its case.
She said that the second prosecution witness, a doctor gave evidence that a lot of time had past before the victim was brought for medical examination.
The judge said that the doctor ascertained that the victim’s hymen was actually ruptured but could not ascertain whether it was the defendant who actually ruptured the hymen.
“Failure of the prosecution to call vital witnesses to give evidence in a defilement case is fatal to the prosecution’s case.
“The prosecutrix (victim) and the complainant failed to testify in this case.
“Also, the manner in which the medical examination was conducted in this case can not be relied upon.
“We have a DNA laboratory in Lagos State and crime scene investigation of such offence must be forensically investigated.
“I must conclude that the prosecution has failed to prove its case beyond every reasonable doubt, I hereby discharge and acquit you, Niyi Oyelami,”Ipaye said.
The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that the prosecution, Ms Bisi Bello had told the court that the defendant committed the offence on May 2, 2015, in Abule Egba area of Lagos.
She said that the defendant had unlawful sexual knowledge of a nine-year-old daughter of his neighbour.
She said that the offence contravened Section 137 of Lagos State, 2011.
The defence counsel, Mr Femi Adenitire, had urged the court to discharge and acquit the defendant, contending that the prosecution could not tender the birth certificate of the girl to establish whether she was actually a minor.
He also contended that the prosecution failed to produce the victim to give evidence “which is vital to the prosecution’s case.”
The Ogun State Government on Friday announced the suspension of re-opening of religious centres in view of the increase in a number of positive cases of COVID-19. The State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, said the state recorded 270 cases which represent 85 per cent in just fourteen days.
Abiodun, however, added that 315 patients have been treated and discharged out of 586 positive cases with 16 fatalities recorded. He submitted that the government would continue to review the situation, engagement with stakeholders in containing the virus. The governor noted that community transmission is on the increase, despite the effort of government in creating awareness on the danger posed by the virus. He said, ” In my last briefing, we were considering a tentative date of Friday, 19th June 2020 to further ease the restrictions and allow the gradual opening of places of worship on Fridays and Sundays. Towards this end, we have had robust engagements with the religious leaders – Christian Association of Nigeria and the League of Imams and Alfas. ” I must thank them for their forthrightness, cooperation and even appreciation that the curve of the spread of the pandemic is worsening and that places of worship represent most potent fertile grounds for the spread of the deadly virus. “As a responsible Administration, we choose life and the wellbeing of our citizens and are therefore constrained to take the painful but necessary decision to maintain the current regime of eased lockdown in the meantime.
The Florida man accused of killing Black Lives Matter activist Oluwatoyin Salau has reportedly admitted to killing her and another woman.
He made this admission to his mother during a phone call. He also revealed how he killed Toyin.
49-year-old Aaron Glee Jr. was arrested after the bodies of Toyin and another woman, identified as 75-year-old Victoria Sims, were found in a home he rented in Tallahassee.
Aaron tried to flee after the murders, but police were able to capture him on a bus in Orlando by Sunday, June 14th.
Aaron’s mother, Sandra Cutliff, revealed to the Daily Mail her son called her Sunday and confessed to the killings. She told the publication that her son said he met Toyin on a bus and invited her to his house so she could shower. He told his mother Toyin asked him for drugs after her shower and when he refused, she allegedly bit him and called him a “n*gger” and this sent him into a rage.
Sandra Cutliff said: “He told me that after she got out of the shower she wanted ‘molly’. He told her he wasn’t going to buy it. He said she called him a f—ass n—-r and bit him. That’s what triggered him off.”
It’s reported Aaron strangled Toyin to death.
He also admitted to his mother that he killed Victoria Sims last week after she called him a “slob.” He became enraged and killed her.
Aaron and Victoria have known each other for years. 75-year-old Victoria is a long-time volunteer for AARP Florida and member of Tallahassee Heights United Methodist Church. She was friends with Aaron and helped him look after himself and get government services, Cutliff told Daily Mail. She said Aaron referred to Sims as “Miss Vicky” and his “white grandmother” and would sometimes cook for her.
Cutliff said her son confessed to her that sometime after the first alleged murder, Sims came to his house to check on him. That was when she called him a slob and he killed her.
Salau was last seen on June 6, and Sims on June 11. Days before Salau was found dead, she tweeted about being sexually assaulted by a man who posed as a church member.
Police have not said whether or not Aaron is the same man Salau accused of molesting her before she disappeared. Cutliff said her son did not sexually assault Salau and does not have a vehicle. It has also emerged that Aaron was arrested two weeks ago on May 30 for aggravated battery causing bodily harm and released on a $2,500 bond two days later.
His mother told Daily Mail that the arrest occurred after Aaron attacked a woman at a bus stop when she called him the n-word.
Cutliff, 67, said her son suffered from mental health problems and had been on a downward spiral into a psychotic break over the past few weeks.
Prison records show Aaron has an extensive criminal history dating back to 1989, including convictions for robbery, grand theft auto, credit card fraud, throwing a “deadly missile” at a building and forging bills.
The crisis in the All Progressives Congress (APC) has gotten messier, as a Federal High Court in Abuja has extended an earlier order directing Victor Giadom to act as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the next two weeks following the suspension of the party’s National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole from office.
Extension of the order came after Mr Giadom took over the leadership of the party and also dismissed the party’s announcement of former Oyo governor, Abiola Ajimobi as acting chairman.
Justice Samiru Umar Bature who gave the order on June 16, said Giadom can act as APC’s National Chairman unhindered “unless otherwise decided by the National Executive Committee of the 4th defendant (APC).”
The motion marked FCT/HC/M/6447/2020 read in part;
“Upon listening to Wole Afolabi, Esq. counsel to the plaintiff /applicant praying this honourable court to extend the lifespan of the order of this court made on the 16th of march 2020 as per a motion ex-parte, with motion No: FCT/HC/CV/6447/2020 , praying this Honourable Court for the following orders: *An interim order of this honourable Court allowing Chief Victor Giadom (present Acting National Secretary) to pilot the affairs of the 4th defendant as Acting Chairman and to preside at all meetings of the National Executive Committee pending the decision of the National Executive committee of the 4th defendant fixed for 17th March, 2020 or any other subsequent adjourned date pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice. *An interim order of this honourable court restraining the 4th defendant and its officers or anyone purporting to act as an officer of the 4th defendant from preventing or in any way disturbing Chief Victor Giadom (present Acting National Secretary) from functioning as the Acting Chairman (unless otherwise decided by the National Executive Committee of the 4th defendant) pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice “Consequently and in line with Rule No.5 of the COVID 19 Practice Directions of the FCT High Court, 2020, the order of this court made on the 16th day of March, 2020 is hereby extended for a period of two (2) weeks. “Application is a hereby granted as prayed.”
Justice Bature had on March 16, 2020 ordered that Giadom should assume the position of the party’s Acting National Chairman, while Comrade Mustapha Salihu who claimed to be the APC’s National Vice Chairman (North East) can act as the party’s Secretary.
Oshiomhole however obtained an order ex-parte on the same March 16, 2020 stopping the execution of the March 4, 2020 order by Justice Senchi which suspended him.
Following the court of appeal’s ruling on Oshiomhole’s suspension, a lawyer to the plaintiff in the suit by Salihu, Wole Afolabi returned to Justice Bature’s court for an extension of the earlier orders which was granted.
The orders bore a stamp which indicated that they were released by the court on June 18, 2020. The order made in respect of Salihu was on a motion marked:FCT/HC/M/7707/2020, and it read;
“Upon careful consideration of the motion ex-parte with motion No. M/7707/2020 and the accompanying affidavit of Ohiniva Ugwu, and upon listening to Wole Afolabi Esq., counsel for the plaintiff/applicant, praying this honourable court for the following orders: *An interim order of this honourable court permitting the applicant (Comrade Mustapha Sallhu) who is the present National Vice Chairman (North East) of the 4th defendant (the All Progressives Congress) to act as the National Secretary of the 4th defendant pending the decision of a validly convened National Executive Committee or pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice already filed (whichever comes first).
The police in Ebonyi have arrested a former Commissioner for Border Peace and Conflict Resolution in the state, Donatus Ajah, on allegations of murder.
Ajah is being accused of complicity in the death of a 46-year-old man identified as Azubuike Inya. The deceased was allegedly killed by hoodlums who inflicted machete wounds on him that led to his death.
According to the police, both Mr. Ajah and the late Mr. Inya are from Amankwo village in Nkpoghoro community in the Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. Investigations revealed that the killing was occasioned by an intra-communal crisis involving the two factions of Amankwo village.
One of the factions is said to be led by Mr. Ajah while another faction is led by one Ifeanyi Obila. The two groups have constantly clashed in the community as they battled for supremacy and control of the community.
According to reports, on May 23, some hoodlums attacked a pub in the village and inflicted machete wounds on anyone in sight. Inya heard of the attack and immediately ran there to stop the bloodshed. His plea on the attackers fell on deaf ears as they turned to him and inflicted deep machete wounds on him which led to his death.
Family members of the deceased insist that the hoodlums were from the camp of the former Commissioner.
Spokesperson of the state police command, Loveth Odah, who confirmed Ajah’s arrest, said
“Yes he is in our custody. We are still investigating the matter,”
The senior management and the Board of Directors of the Jabi Lake Mall Development Company have expressed shock and disappointment over what they described as the unauthorised Naira Marley concert that took place in the outdoor parking last weekend, THISDAY reports. Our correspondent gathered that the board has condemned this illegal action in the strongest terms, clarifying that the event took against express instructions given to the property manager, Broll , not to host any special events without their consent , during this COVID -19 pandemic period.
It was learnt that at a recent virtual meeting, the Jabi Mall management team had been reminded to continue the excellent work of ensuring a safe environment for both its tenants and customers as part of compliance with the NCDC guidelines and the FCTA regulations.
According to a source close to the shareholders, “Jabi Lake Mall was built in 2015 with the vision of creating a beautiful lakeside property that allowed the residents of Abuja to shop, relax, network and have fun. The mall was also designed to invigorate the local economy and provide a safe and comfortable location for retailers to sell their goods. “As is typical for large properties like this, the shareholders selected a property manager who was paid to manage the property – Broll Property Services. Broll is one of Africa’s leading commercial property services company with operations in Angola, Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Swaziland, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia. They are well known in the industry and we selected them on the basis of their stellar reputation,” the source explained. The source disclosed that the shareholders have made special efforts during this COVID-19 pandemic period and donated to help support the building of isolation and treatment centres as well as in the education sector. According to him, the shareholders were shocked to learn that a middle-level employee of Broll Management Company, for unknown reasons ignored express directives and the laws and regulations of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This employee, it was learnt, took the illegal decision to host the event on the property without informing their superiors at Broll, and the shareholders only found out about this concert after the fact via social media. “This event should never have happened and an independent investigation has been launched to gather all the facts,” he said. Our correspondent has confirmed that the shareholders have moved swiftly and called an emergency meeting on Sunday and summoned the management company for a meeting on Monday. “Depending on the outcome of the investigation, Broll is likely to be fired as property manager unless it dismisses all its staff that are involved and cooperates fully with the prosecution. Shareholders intend to cooperate fully with FCT in taking all legal actions against the event organizers and sponsors,” the source said.
Shareholders of Jabi Lake Mall are fully cooperating with the FCT Ministry and support any and all governmental action against all those who orchestrated this irresponsible that has marred the reputation of the Mall that has to date fully ensured a safe and healthy business environment for both the tenants and customers. Shareholders main concern at this time is for the tenants — survival of their businesses and the employees’ welfare —as well as the comfort and convenience of their customers. Knowing that Jabi Lake Mall has pharmacies, grocery stores, food outlets and other essential services, they are working hard to get these stores reopened so the residents of Abuja are not inconvenienced. Knowing that the current financial climate has already been a blow to businesses, they are working hard to get the mall reopened so that these businesses can continue to service their customers, generate revenue, pay their staff and pay their taxes,” the source added
Nigeria as a geographical entity is one of the most populated countries of the world, and the most populated in Africa. Accordingly, the country is blessed with some of the most promising resources both natural and man-made, and thus got a name for itself, “the giant of Africa”.
However, notwithstanding its numerous and gigantic endowments, the country, Nigeria has in the past years not progressed or moved forward in such a pace as is required of an acclaimed giant of Africa because of the corruption cankerworm that has eaten deep into it fabrics. This is pathetic for the country because it shows that the arms of government are not functional.
Corruption is defined by the oxford dictionary, 8th edition as the dishonest or illegal behavior, especially of people in authority. Also, Stephen D. Morris, a professor of politics explained political corruption to be the illegitimate use of public power to benefit a private interest. From the foregoing, it can be said that corruption is a dishonest behavior which could be the acquisition of resources which could be from the public for private gains and uses.
This cankerworm runs at varying degrees through all the sectors of the country ranging from public, private, political, social and civil etcetera.
EFFECTS OF CORRUPTON.
There are many consequences of corruption some of which are enlisted in this article: (1). Stagnant governance: due to the quest for personal aggrandizement and gains, all the resources and allocations which are required for the smooth running of the country are siphoned into individual purses, leaving the country with nothing for its development. Also, all the parastatals or arms of government which should in a corruption free country help in checkmating one another, in order to ensure the smooth running of the government, take bribes and thus overlook the non functionality of one another. For instances, over the years, there have been times when people alleged that the executive arm of government did promise the national assembly some money in order to coerce them into passing into law, executive favorable bills at the detriment of the masses. With this, there is the no way the government will not be stagnant.
(2). Economic meltdown: it is a known fact that it is only a progressive society that goes on to attain a buoyant economic state; and for one to be progressive, it has to be corruption free. A country like Nigeria which has depended on crude oil for years, is expected to have multiple refineries where it would by itself refine its oil in order to enhance production and to reduce the cost of transporting it outside to refine but the reverse is the cases. This is not because there are no allocations for the project but because it perishes on the way without any one asking questions.
Furthermore, a country which is known widely for its corrupt practices cannot attract foreign investors who help in building a nation’s economy.
(3). Civil/political unrest: whenever the masses perceive non transparency in the system, they will definitely look for a way to register their dissatisfaction; and this could come in the forms of bombings, riots, mass protests and civil disobedience. This is seen in the daily happenings in the country as there are increase in the record of riots and death.
(4). Hardship/poverty: poverty is usually the most pronounced consequence of a corrupt society. This is as a result of the prevalent mindset of personal satisfaction as opposed to public benefit. Thus leaving the masses to wallow in abject poverty. Statistics has shown that 95% of corrupt countries of the world, have the highest pronounced numbers of poor people.
(5). Negative perception by the international community: recently, there has been increase in the cases of travel ban placement on some countries on the basis of corruption. This is not a welcome development, because, it limits the tentacles of what those countries can achieve and gain from the international community.
Definitely, there cannot be effects without causes thus, there are various causes of corruption and of its alarming increase in Nigeria and the world.
CAUSES OF CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA.
(1). Lack of visionary and strong-willed leaders: One of the known causes of corruption in Nigeria is the lack of value oriented, strong willed leaders because, where the vision is not clear, omission sets in the form of corruption. Accordingly, where the Leaders are corrupt, the pillars of democracy will be weakened.
In Nigeria, the national assembly signs billions of naira into budgets on yearly basis but because there are no clearly mapped out ways of expending the money, and clearly mapped out ways of check mating how it is spent, they end up in people’s pockets and we end up where we were at the end of the day. This heading does not only concern government leaders, because this explains why our private sectors suffer this pandemic. Because, if the head is sick, the body will follow suit.
(2). Mass illiteracy: one thing that comes with enlightenment is self awareness. It makes one to be conscious of the happenings around him, thus lightening the spirit and urge to question some things in the society and to try and change them. However, a society where the masses are blinded by illiteracy, they do not even understand what happens not even to question it, and this makes the few educated opportunists in the position of authority to siphon the resources without fear.
(3). High ethnic tendencies: in a country like Nigeria with ethnic conscious people, it is usually the case that people from the same ethnic group have the urge to share the sense of belonging above and over the national interest of the country. This being the case, they tend to favor their fellow ethnic man over others as is evident in the lopsided political appointments. Also, even when they see their ethnic man perpetuating some corrupt practices, they turn blind eye to the act and this in turn encourages corruption.
(4). Failed judicial system: there is a saying that “the court is the last hope of an ordinary man”. This saying no matter how sweet it sounds has proven to be false and this is glaring in the way judicial officers go about collecting bribes, and turning blind eyes to the different levels of corruption, while the powerless masses are deprived of their fortune. Assuming the courts are strict on perpetrators charged with embezzlement and other corrupt practices offences, and at the same time meting out severe and adequate punishments to guilty persons, Nigeria would have been a corruption free society; but the reverse is the case, and people knowing how the system works do go ahead with their unscrupulous activities.
(5). Hunger for personal gains and enrichment has driven many Nigerians into corruption, they are always on the lookout for opportunities to fatten their purses in dishonest ways.
6). Poverty: poverty seems to be at the same time a cause and an effect of corruption. Nigeria being an underdeveloped nation which comes with its consequential hardship, has made many lives miserable and thus, many people are out on the streets looking for a means of survival. Any opportunity that comes their way is happily welcomed while its moral implication is being thrown to the ground.
Welcome to Annawe Ayuba’s Blog 