Tragedy struck at Umuobom in the Ideato South Local Government Area of Imo State as one Sunday Agwim allegedly murdered his mother, Mrs Christiana Agwim.
The police spokesperson in the state, Orlando Ikeokwu, told Southern City News that the 47-year-old suspect had been arrested for killing his mother.
He said, “We received intelligence from one Jude Mbionwu, a security coordinator at Umuobom, who revealed that one Sunday Agwim, 47, killed his mother, one Christiana Agwim, 62, hitting a hammer and a machete on her head and completely grounded the head into powder beyond recognition with the hammer.
“The scene was immediately visited and the suspect was arrested and exhibits recovered. The corpse was not taken to the mortuary because of the damage to the head; rather, coroners’ forms were completed and a doctor from the UTH Nnewi, Anambra State, conducted an autopsy on the corpse to enable the burial to take place.
“In his confessional statement, the suspect stated that he never knew what came upon him.”
The police spokesperson added that the suspect would be charged at the end of the investigation.
A 25-year-old cobbler, Olamide Babayemi, has been arrested for raping a 22-year-old Microbiology graduate and sharing the victim’s nude video with his friends.
Babayemi was alleged to have invited the victim, whom he claimed was his girlfriend, to come and collect the phone she asked him to buy in Mowe, Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The suspect was reported to have soaked the victim’s clothes in the water when she got to the agreed location and used his phone to record her nudeness before sending the video to some of his friends.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, disclosed this on Sunday in a statement.
Oyeyemi said Babayemi was arrested by men of the command on January 4, 2020, for the alleged crime.
The PPRO said the suspect also attempted to kill the victim after raping and filming her in a nude posture in order to cover up his crime.
Oyeyemi said the suspect was arrested following a report by the victim at the Redemption Camp Police Station in Mowe.
The PPRO stated, “The victim came to the Redemption Camp Police Station and reported that she gave the sum of N18,000 to the cobbler, whom she had known for quite some time, to buy a mobile telephone for her.
“She explained further that the cobbler, who refused to either buy the phone or refund her money, suddenly called her on January 2 to come to the Greenland Estate in Mowe to collect the phone.
“On getting there, the suspect forcefully removed all her clothes and raped her.
“The victim stated further that after he had forcefully had carnal knowledge of her, the suspect soaked her clothes in water and used his phone to record her nudeness, which he started sending to some of his friends.
“When he realised that the victim might report him to the police, he made an attempt to snuff life out of her, but she was lucky when the suspect’s mother called him on the phone to come and meet her at the gate of the estate, which gave her the opportunity to escape.
“On the strength of the report, the DPO, Redemption Camp Police Station, CSP Chris Amanyi, mobilised detectives to go after the suspect, who had taken to his heels, and he was eventually apprehended on January 4, 2020, when his mother brought him to the station.
“On interrogation, the suspect, who claimed to be the victim’s boyfriend, confessed that he committed the crime, but blamed the girl for calling it quits with him after she graduated from the university.
“When asked for the reasons behind recording the nude video of the victim, he said he did so to prevent her from reporting him to the police.”
The PPRO added that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Kenneth Ebrimson, had ordered the immediate transfer of the suspect to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for further investigation and prosecution.
A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday adjourned until Feb. 11, the continuation of the trial of the president of the Nigerian Bar Association, Paul Usoro, charged with N1.4billion fraud.
Usoro is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission before Justice Rilwan Aikawa on 10 counts.
Usoro was first arraigned before Justice Muslim Hassan in December 2018 but the case was re-assigned to Justice Rilwan Aikawa.
He had pleaded not guilty to the charges before Hassan.
He also maintained his not guilty plea before Aikawa and was granted bail.
The continuation of the trial which was earlier fixed for Monday has now been further adjourned to Feb. 11, as Justice Aikawa did not sit.
The trial will resume on the next date.
Also mentioned in the charge, is the incumbent governor of Akwa Ibom State, Emmanuel Udom, who is described as being “currently constitutionally immune from prosecution”.
Others mentioned are, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Finance, Nsikan Nkan; Accountant-General of Akwa Ibom State, Mfon Udomah; the Akwa Ibom Attorney-General, Uwemedimo Nwoko, and Margaret Ukpe.
The aforementioned names were described in the charge as being at large.
In the charge marked FHC/418c/18, the anti-graft agency alleged that the defendant committed the offence on May 14, 2016.
Usoro was alleged to have conspired with others, to commit the offence within the jurisdiction of the court.
The commission said that the N1.4billion belonged to the Akwa Ibom State Government.
The defendant was alleged to have conspired to convert the said sum, which he reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activity.
The prosecution said that the unlawful activity included criminal breach of trust which contravened the provisions of section 15 (2), 15(3), and 18 (A) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has frozen the bank accounts of ex-lawmaker, Shehu Sani, according to his spokesman.
This is just as the former Kaduna-Central lawmaker’s detention has entered the 14th day.
In a statement on Sunday, Suleiman Ahmed, Senior Special Adviser to Sani, said the EFCC was not being sincere over the investigation of his principal.
The EFCC had on December 30, 2019, arrested Sani for allegedly collecting $24, 000 (N8.6m) from Sani Dauda, owner of ASD Motors who was under investigation by the EFCC.
The money, according to the EFCC, was handed to the former lawmaker after promising Dauda that he would use the money to bribe the acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu,
Although the former lawmaker denied the allegation, the anti-graft agency insisted he had questions to answer.
The commission also alleged that Sani collected money from someone with the promise to use it to bribe the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Muhammad, an allegation both Sani and the CJN have denied.
In the statement, Sani’s aide accused the EFCC of bias in his principal’s case.
He said Sani, who is a fierce critic of the President, Maj.Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), was being persecuted and subsequently berated the acting EFCC spokesman, Tony Orilade, for trying to deceive Nigerians on the issue.
Ahmed said, “Mr Orilade, what is the connection between allegations of extortion of $25,000 and then searching his residence, blocking his accounts and forcing him to declare his assets?
“What can you say on the allegation that the accuser of Shehu Sani can neither read nor write; that it was the EFCC that guided him on what to say?
“We have it on record that Shehu Sani’s accuser has no pending case with the Supreme Court, how did he give Shehu Sani bribe to give the CJN?
“We have it on record that Shehu Sani’s accuser has no pending or ongoing case with the EFCC, how did he give Shehu Sani bribe to give the EFCC or its chairman?
“It is not enough posting statement about Shehu Sani. If you have any evidence or fact, why not post it now?”
The National Film and Video Censors Board has ordered cinemas nationwide to stop showing a recently released movie, titled, Sugar Rush.
The NVFCB, Executive Director, Addedayo Thomas, however, told The PUNCH that the movie was not suspended because of some scenes found to portray the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission as an incompetent organisation.
The film, which has reportedly grossed about N160m since its release on December 25, 2019, was directed by Kayode Kasum, and largely publicised by singer Bankole Wellington aka Banky W and wife, Adesua.
The movie was, however, removed from cinemas by the NFVCB, the Federal Government agency responsible for classifying movies and giving approval for release.
The film centres on three sisters who accidentally discover $800,000 (N288m) in the house of a corrupt man.
According to some online critics, the comedy-drama also shows failed attempts by the EFCC to recover the money, depicting the EFCC operatives as incompetent and clumsy.
Several online reports suggest that the poor portrayal of the EFCC in the comedy was one of the reasons it was pulled out of cinemas.
Confirming the suspension of the movie, Banky W said he was optimistic that it would return to the theatres.
He wrote on Twitter, “Thank you all so much for the support that our film Sugar Rush has received. Unfortunately, due to issues that are way beyond our control, Sugar Rush has been suspended from playing in cinemas.
“We’re hoping the issues will be resolved quickly, so we can resume screening as soon as possible.”
In a subsequent tweet, the musician said the NFVCB was already looking to resolve it.
The Executive Director of the NFVCB, however, told The PUNCH during an interview that the movie was not suspended because of pressure from the EFCC.
He added, “The movie was given temporary approval in December. They had told us that they wanted to release it on Christmas Day and they were thus given a temporary approval pending the approval of a permanent one.
“The temporary one lapsed before they could complete the process of getting the permanent one.
“The matter has nothing to do with the EFCC as is being reported on social media.”
Thomas said the movie had not just significantly increased box office revenues within a short period but had improved our cinematic culture which is sine qua non for attracting the investment Nigeria desires.
“I am currently working with the distributor, producer, director and key actors to grant final approval for the resumed exhibition at cinemas,” he said.
Tragedy struck at Umuobom in the Ideato South Local Government Area of Imo State as one Sunday Agwim allegedly murdered his mother, Mrs Christiana Agwim.
The police spokesperson in the state, Orlando Ikeokwu, told Southern City News that the 47-year-old suspect had been arrested for killing his mother.
He said, “We received intelligence from one Jude Mbionwu, a security coordinator at Umuobom, who revealed that one Sunday Agwim, 47, killed his mother, one Christiana Agwim, 62, hitting a hammer and a machete on her head and completely grounded the head into powder beyond recognition with the hammer.
“The scene was immediately visited and the suspect was arrested and exhibits recovered. The corpse was not taken to the mortuary because of the damage to the head; rather, coroners’ forms were completed and a doctor from the UTH Nnewi, Anambra State, conducted an autopsy on the corpse to enable the burial to take place.
“In his confessional statement, the suspect stated that he never knew what came upon him.”
The police spokesperson added that the suspect would be charged at the end of the investigation.
The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has signed the finance bill into law.
He made this known via his Twitter handle on Monday.
“I am pleased to announce that this morning I signed into law the Finance Bill, 2019,” he tweeted.
He said the Finance Bill would support the implementation of the 2020 Appropriation Bill.
He added, “This is the first time, since the return of democracy in 1999, that a Federal Budget is being accompanied by the passage of a Finance Bill specially designed to support its implementation, and to create a truly enabling environment for business and investment by the private sector.
“I thank the leadership and members of the Ninth National Assembly for the hard work and support that have gone into the passage of the landmark Deep Offshore and Inland Basin PSC Amendment Bill, and the Finance Bill; both vital to the successful implementation of the 2020 Budget.”
We introduced the Bill alongside the 2020 Budget, to:
-Reform Nigeria’s tax laws to align with global best practices; -Support MSMEs in line with our Ease of Doing Business Reforms; -Incentivize investments in infrastructure and capital markets; -Raise Government revenues.
I thank the leadership and members of the Ninth National Assembly for the hard work and support that have gone into the passage of the landmark Deep Offshore and Inland Basin PSC Amendment Bill, and the Finance Bill; both vital to the successful implementation of the 2020 Budget.
A 2-year-old girl was allegedly strangled to death by a 16-year-old housemaid yesterday January 11, for reportedly refusing to wear her clothes after having her bath.
Facebook user, Somack Aju Mbaise who shared the story said the incident occurred at Ihechiowa Street off MCC Rd in Owerri, Imo State.
She wrote:
What a wicked world ?
Somkenechukwu 2yrs old was strangled yesterday by their maid,a 16yr old girl because the little girl refused to wear her clothes after taking a bath.
This happened at Ihechiowa Street off MCC Rd Owerri.
……………………………………………….
You see why I will always go for adults? Try nonsense with me, and rot in jail!
But may evil like this be far from me and my household!
Protests erupted across Iran for a second day on Sunday, increasing pressure on the Islamic Republic’s leadership after it admitted its military shot down a Ukrainian airliner by accident, despite days of denials that Iranian forces were to blame.
“They are lying that our enemy is America, our enemy is right here,” one group of protesters chanted outside a university in Tehran, according to a video posted on Twitter.
Other posts showed demonstrators outside a second university and a group of protesters marching to Tehran’s Azadi (Freedom) Square, as well as protests in other cities.
Some state-affiliated media carried reports of the university protests, which followed demonstrations on Saturday sparked by Iran’s admission that its military mistakenly shot down the plane on Wednesday, killing all 176 aboard, at a time when Tehran feared U.S. airstrikes.
The Ukraine International Airlines plane was downed minutes after taking off from Tehran bound for Kyiv on Wednesday. Many on board were Iranians with dual citizenship, while 57 were holders of Canadian passports.
Residents of the capital told Reuters that police were out in force on Sunday. Some protesters in Azadi Square first called on officers there to join them, then turned their anger on the authorities, chanting anti-government slogans including “Down with the dictator” – a reference to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to social media posts and Iranian media reports.
The semi-official ILNA news agency said police moved to disperse the protesters, who it said numbered as many as 3,000. Videos posted online showed demonstrators running from police who used batons and teargas.
Reuters could not authenticate the videos.
Public anger boiled up following days of denials by the military that it was to blame for the crash, issued even as Canada and the United States said it appeared that Iranian air defences had shot down the airliner, probably in error.
“Apologise and resign,” Iran’s moderate Etemad daily wrote in a banner headline on Sunday, saying the “people’s demand” was that those responsible for mishandling the crisis quit.
The latest unrest adds to mounting pressure on the Iranian authorities, who are struggling to keep the crippled economy afloat under stringent U.S. sanctions.
Demonstrations against a hike in fuel prices turned political last year, sparking the bloodiest crackdown in the 40-year history of the Islamic Republic. About 1,500 people were killed during less than two weeks of unrest that started on Nov. 15, three Iranian Interior Ministry officials told Reuters, although international rights groups put the figure much lower and Iran called the report “fake news.”
After saying on Saturday that he was “inspired” by the courage of the demonstrators, U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on Twitter on Sunday: “To the leaders of Iran – DO NOT KILL YOUR PROTESTERS. Thousands have already been killed or imprisoned by you, and the World is watching. More importantly, the USA is watching. Turn your internet back on and let reporters roam free!”
Later on Sunday, Trump said on Twitter he did not care if Iran agrees to negotiate with the United States, after a senior adviser suggested the Islamic Republic would have no choice but to agree to talks.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani apologized for what he said was a “disastrous mistake”. But a top Revolutionary Guards commander added to public anger when he said he had told the authorities on the same day as the crash that an Iranian missile had brought down the plane. The Guards’ top commander, Hossein Salami, said that “we are more upset than anyone over the incident,” state media reported. Another commander said Iran did not intend to conceal the cause.
But others said Iran’s enemies, a term usually used to refer to Washington and its allies, were exploiting the incident.
“Iran’s enemies want to take revenge on the Guards for a military mistake,” said Ali Shirazi, Khamenei’s representative to the Quds Force, the elite overseas Guards unit that Soleimani headed, state media reported.
Iranian officials sought to portray the plane disaster as a second blow to a nation mourning after Soleimani’s death.
FILE PHOTO: A woman holds a picture of newlyweds, victims of the crash of the Boeing 737-800 plane, flight PS 752, as people gather to show their sympathy in Tehran, Iran January 11, 2020. Nazanin Tabatabaee/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY/File Photo
A survey by the Washington-based Pew Research Centre has listed Nigeria as one of the strongholds of United States President, Donald Trump.
This is as the survey found that support for President Trump remains largely negative around the world.
The Centre discovered that across the 33 countries surveyed a median of 64 per cent said they do not have confidence in Trump to do the right thing.
Only 29 per cent expressed confidence in the US president.
“Trump has a base of strong support in the Philippines, Israel, Kenya, Nigeria, and India,” the survey found.
Trump received more negative ratings than Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel received the highest ratings of the five world leaders polled – 46 per cent expressed confidence in her leadership of world affairs – beating out France’s Emmanuel Macron.
The survey, which polled nearly 37,000 people, found anti-Trump sentiment strongest in Western Europe, where Trump has upended relationships with traditional U.S. allies.
In Germany, Sweden, France, Spain, and the Netherlands roughly three-in-four lack confidence in Trump.
Mexicans also overwhelmingly oppose the president.
The survey was notably conducted from May to October 2019, before Trump was impeached by the House in December and before he ordered the killing of the Iranian military commander, Qasem Soleimani.
Trump’s foreign policies, including moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, increasing import tariffs and pulling out of the Paris climate accords are largely opposed.
Of all the president’s policies, his direct negotiations with North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un are the most popular garnering a 41 per cent approval rating.
Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has claimed that some of the people currently in government should be in jail for their past misdemeanours and...
The Guards’ top commander, Hossein Salami, said that “we are more upset than anyone over the incident,” state media reported. Another commander said Iran did not intend to conceal the cause.
