MAN
GETS TWO-MONTH JAIL TERM FOR STEALING N170
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Karmo Grade I Area Court, Abuja, on Tuesday
sentenced one Wisdom Gabriel, 22, to two months imprisonment for stealing N 170
at a chemist’s shop in old Karmo Market.
The judge,
Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq, however, gave the convict N5,000 option of fine. The
judge said that the sentence would serve as deterrent to others that may be
tempted to commit similar crime.
Gabriel who
resides at Aiko Estate, Life Camp Gwarinpa, pleaded with the judge to tamper
justice with mercy.
He was found guilty on a count charge of stealing a box containing N170.
He was found guilty on a count charge of stealing a box containing N170.
The
convict told the court that satan pushed him into the crime.
Earlier, the
prosecutor, Zannah Dalhatu, told the court that one Helen Atusu of old Karmo
arrested and brought the convict to Karmo Police Station, on March 24, 2017.
Dalhatu said that the
complainant said that on the same date, the convict broke into her chemist’s
shop at old Karmo Market and made away with her box containing N170.
She raised an alarm
which led to the arrest of the convict with the help of one chukwuma Eze. The
prosecutor said that the offence is punishable under Section 287 of the Penal
Code.
KEMI OLUNLOYO TO REMAIN IN PRISON AS MAGISTRATE’S ABSENCE STALLS
BAIL HEARING
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he absence of a Magistrate Alatuwo
Fubara of the Magistrates’ Court in Port Harcourt on Thursday stalled the
hearing on bail application for journalist and blogger, Kemi Olunloyo,
and Port Harcourt-based publisher, Samuel Walson.
Olunloyo and Walson were arrested
for purportedly publishing materials believed to have defamed a frontline
cleric, Pastor David Ibiyeomie, of the Salvation Ministries in Port Harcourt.
Though they were expected to
appear in court on Thursday morning, it was gathered that the absence of
Fubara, who was expected to preside over the matter, forced them to stay back
in prison custody.
The magistrate was said to have
been unable to come to the court due to ill health.
GRANDFATHER CUTS OFF BABY’S PENIS DURING CIRCUMCISION
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59-year-old man, Mr Ziworitin Keke, has
allegedly cut off part of the genitals of his eight-month-old grandson while
circumcising the boy at Ondewari, a coastal settlement in Bayelsa.
The
baby is currently receiving medical care at the Federal Medical Centre,
Yenagoa, the Bayelsa capital.
It
was learnt that Keke, a well known ‘specialist’ in circumcision in the area,
almost “chopped off half of the baby’s genitals.”
The
father of the infant, Mr Joseph Michael, said his wife took the infant to a
health centre following the incident.
“After
cutting off my boy’s penis, the man, who is married to my son’s grandmother,
told my wife to leave the child with him for at least three weeks so that he
could treat him very well.
“But
my wife refused because the boy was bleeding and she rushed him to the health
centre at Korokorosei, a neigbouring community to us,” he said.
He
explained that they were referred to the Federal Medical Centre Yenagoa for
specialised medical care, adding that he was in financial distress as he could
not afford the cost of treatment.
Michael
urged public spirited individuals to come to his aid to save the life of his
son.
Reacting
to the incident, Mr Alagoa Morris, a human rights activist, said that the
incident would have been avoided if government had provided health facilities
to rural communities.
“My
first concern is with the baby going through the terrifying pain. The man who
performed the circumcision is a renowned traditional circumcision expert in the
community and even beyond.
“He
has successfully carried out the service at no cost to parents for many years
including two older brothers of the victim.
“This
must have been a mistake. More than 1,000 circumcisions have been performed by
him without any complication.
“So,
calls for his arrest are misplaced. A lot of residents in the community have no
access to medical facilities and they believe and resort to traditional
medicine men, traditional birth attendants inclusive.
“It
is imperative for the state and local governments to join forces and make
orthodox medical service available to rural dwellers in the coastlines and
riversides. Only then will the people have a choice,” Alagoa said.
Meanwhile,
the International Federation of Women Lawyers in Bayelsa has called for the
arrest and prosecution of Keke.
Mrs
Dise Ogbise-Erhisere, Chairperson of FIDA in the state, who made the call after
visiting the victim at the medical centre, said they had petitioned the office
of the commissioner of police on the matter.
NDLEA
ARRESTS POLICE INSPECTOR CONVEYING DRUGS BY STAFF BUS
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The NDLEA Commander, Muhammad Idris Bello, while parading the suspects, indicated that the police officer and two other accomplices were arrested along Lokoja-Okene road on their way from Okpeila.
He said his patrol team had earlier allowed him a free pass but perceived the smell of weeds and decided to pursue the bus and arrested them. After a thorough search, the exhibits were found.
According
to him, another suspect, who is a dismissed military officer, Umar Shehu, was
arrested with 44kg of the banned substance. Bello said he was dismissed from
the Nigerian Army because of mutiny in Maiduguri when they refused to fight
Boko Haram. Also paraded was one Aminat Iredia, arrested alongside her
four-year-old child, with 32.4kg.
The commander indicated that drug peddlers were fond of
using the ploy of carrying little children to draw sympathy so that by the time
they were arrested, they could be left off the hook. “We have sent for their
people to come and take away the boy because he is innocent. He has nothing to
do with NDLEA.”
SOLDIER ALLEGEDLY BEATS FACTIONAL ISLAMIC
CLERIC IN IWO, SCUTTLES RECONCILIATION EFFORTS
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risis broke out in Iwo town in Osun
State, as a soldier is reported to have beaten and battered the Chief Imam of
the Federal Prison, Ile-Ife in Osun State, Malam Muritala Akanbi Tadese, just
as the crises rocking the renowned Islamic Movement, Jama’at Ta’awunnil
Muslimeen became messier.
The soldier, Corporal Muritala Ibrahim,
according to the report gathered in Osun State, is said to be serving in
Maiduguri, Borno State.
He had come as bodyguard of the
factional President of the organisation, Malam Daood Molaasan to the venue of a
reconciliation meeting held at the Islahudeen Government Middle School, Oke-Afo
in Iwo, Osun State.
Report gathered from a member of the
sect, who prefered not to be mentioned that an argument ensued between the two
factions of the group during the meeting and the Soldier attacked the Chief
Imam of the Ile-Ife Prison with his military belt and battered the Muslim
cleric to the extent that the Imam was bleeding from the nose.
The meeting was deadlock, as a result of
the incident and the matter was reported at the Divisional Police Headquarters
in Iwo.
The Soldier was later arrested by the
police and he was detained for interrogation while the injured Imam was rushed
to the hospital for medical treatment.
When contacted, the Commissioner of
Police in the state, Mr Fimihan Adeoye, confirmed the arrest of the soldier
over the incident.
He said the matter was under
investigation to establish whether he was really a military personnel and the
reason for his action which eventually scuttled the efforts of the police to
resolve the crises.
The Commissioner of Police, who spoke
through the spokesperson for the police in the state, Folasade Odoro said “the
Osun State Police Command was trying to resolve the crises rocking the Jama’at
Ta’awunnil Muslimeen and we Are very careful about this matter because
religious matters are very sensitive.
“It was the police command that advised
the parties to meet and resolve the crises amicably among themselves but we
were surprised that someone who claimed to be a military personnel went there
and assaulted one of the Muslim cleric who was part of the meeting.
“We are trying to establish the true
identity of that Soldier so as to know whether he is a real soldier or not. If
he is a real soldier, then, we shall inform the Army authority for necessary
actions,” CP Adeoye said.
The factional president of the Jama’at
Ta’awunnil Muslimeen, Dr. Shafi’I Abdul Azeez Bello, described the action of
the soldier as barbaric and urged the Nigerian Army and the Army Commission to
investigate his action and punish him appropriately so as not to erode the
confidence of the citizenry in the Nigerian Army.
Dr. Shafi’I said: “It was very
unfortunate that someone that is in best position to protect us as citizens of
this country could harass assault, brutalised and battered an Imam like a
common criminal or like a worthless fowl. We urge the Army authority in this
country to investigate this matter dispassionately and punish this Soldier
appropriately so as to prevent the reoccurrence of such ugly experience”.
But Malam Molaasan said it was not the
soldier that battered the Imam, claiming that the cleric sustained the injury
when a fight ensued at the meeting. He said the Soldier only dealt with the
person that attempted to fight him.
“They (Dr. Shafi’I faction) also brought
their security men. One of the security men from their side attempted to fight
the soldier.
“The soldier whipped him just twice.
Then, the Imam started recording what happened with his phone and he was
prevented from recording it.
“The soldier was not the one that
attacked the imam. We were also surprised to see blood coming out from his
nose,” he said.
Meanwhile, the State Governor, Mr Rauf
Aregbesola, had set up a special committee to resolve the matter and ensure
peace among the members of the organisation.
The reconciliation committee set up by
the governor is headed by Amir Hajj in the state, Malam Sikirulah Hassan.
In a chat with newsmen in the state,
Bosede Sodiq, a top official of the Department of State Service in Osun State
who also requested that he should not be named, said the DSS was worried over
the situation in the Jama’at Ta’awunnil Muslimeen and that the crises must be
nipped in the bud so as not to degenerate further.
“When you consider the influence of
Jama’at Ta’awunnil Muslimeen, you will realise that the current trend is
dangerous. We don’t want it to go out of hand.
“The group has 55 branches and it is
spreading very fast with strong influence on most of the politicians in the
state.
“So, we are concerned with the current
situation,” the source said"
ISTANBUL
ATTACK: ISIS CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY FOR NIGHTCLUB SHOOTING
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"In continuation of the blessed operations which ISIS
carries out against Turkey, a soldier of the brave caliphate attacked one of
the most popular nightclubs while Christians were celebrating their
holiday," a statement posted to Twitter reads.
The claim, which comes a day and a half after the attack,
cannot independently be verified by CNN -- ISIS did not provide sufficient
evidence to prove that the attacker carried out the attack on its behalf.
It adds that "the apostate government of Turkey should
know that the blood of Muslims who get killed by Turkey's planes and artillery
will set afire inside their country."
The statement did not contain any information about the
attacker.
The Kurdistan Worker's Party, or PKK, earlier issued a
statement distancing itself from the attack, which took place during the early
hours of January 1.
"No Kurdish forces have anything to do with this
attack," the statement read. "The Kurdish freedom fight is also the
fight for democratization of Turkey. That's why we won't target innocent and
civilian people."
Turkish
authorities continue to hunt for the man they believe is responsible for the
bloody attack, which also saw 69 people hospitalized, including one American.
A handful of the injured were in
critical condition. As of Monday, 46 were still being treated, according to the
Istanbul governor's office.
The victims hailed from 14 countries, according to
Turkey's semi-official news agency Anadolu, including India, Morocco, Jordan,
Canada, Russia, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
The suspected shooter, who stormed the Reina nightclub soon
after the clock struck midnight, appears to have evaded the tight security that
blanketed Turkey's largest city over the New Year. Yet, authorities are
confident that they will apprehend him soon.
"There is strong coordination and we will find him, no
delay," Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told reporters gathered
outside an Istanbul hospital, where he had been visiting people injured in the
attack.
Footage of the attacker shooting a security guard and police
officer at the entrance of the nightclub has emerged, lending credence to
Turkish authorities' claim that he carried out the attack alone.
A security official showed the entrance to CNN, confirming
that it was the site of the video.
Despite no group yet claiming responsibility, Turkish
authorities quickly characterized the attack as the work of terrorists.
"We are face to face with a terror attack,"
Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu told reporters Sunday morning, adding,
"the efforts to locate the terrorist are ongoing. Security forces have
begun the necessary operations. God willing soon (the attacker) will be
apprehended."
World leaders condemned the shooting and US officials also
called it a terrorist attack, making it the first of 2017.
NEW YEAR’S ATTACK ON ISTANBUL NIGHT CLUB- SEARCH CONTINUES
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manhunt continues across Turkey this hour as
police search for a gunman wielding a said Kalashnikov rifle entered a city
nightclub killing 39 people and injuring 69.
Foreigners were among
the fatalities, including an 18-year-old Israeli woman and a Belgian national,
according to the two countries’ respective foreign ministries. Close to 70
others were injured in what authorities described as a terror attack.
President Recep
Tayyip Erdogan vehemently condemned “the terror attack in Istanbul’s Ortakoy
neighborhood in the first hours of 2017” and offered condolences for those who
lost their lives, including “foreign guests.”
The attacker, armed
with a long-barreled weapon, killed a policeman and a civilian outside
Istanbul’s popular Reina club at around 1:15 a.m. before entering and firing on
people partying inside, Gov. Vasip Sahin said.
“Unfortunately
(he) rained bullets in a very cruel and merciless way on innocent people who
were there to celebrate New Year’s and have fun,” Sahin told reporters.
There was no
immediate claim of responsibility for the attack and authorities did not name
any suspects. The bloodiest attacks that Turkey endured in 2016 were the work
of the Islamic State group or Kurdish militants.
Turkey is a member of
NATO and a partner in the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State group.
The country is also facing renewed conflict with Kurdish rebels in the
southeast, and across the border in Syria and Iraq.
Interior Minister
Suleyman Soylu said the attacker has not been identified and is still at large.
“Our security forces have started the necessary operations. God willing he will
be caught in a short period of time,” he said.
Private NTV news
channel said the assailant entered the upscale nightclub, on the shores of the
Bosporus, on the European side of the city, dressed in a Santa Claus outfit.
The minister said the lone attacker was believed to have left the club wearing
different clothing.
Security camera
footage obtained by AP from Haberturk newspaper, shows the male assailant
dressed in black and carrying a backpack as he shoots down a police officer
outside the Reina nightclub.
Footage taken by a
different camera shows him inside the venue wearing different clothes and a
Santa Claus hat.
Turkey’s Minister of
Family and Social Policies Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya said citizens of Saudi
Arabia, Morocco, Lebanon, Libya were among those hurt in the attack. Lebanon’s
Foreign Ministry said three Lebanese citizens were wounded.
At least 15 of the
dead were foreign nationals, according to Turkey’s interior minister. Five of
the victims were identified as Turkish nationals while authorities were still
trying to identify the rest.
At least 69 people
were being treated in hospitals, four in serious condition, Soylu said,
describing the attack as a “massacre, a truly inhumane savagery.” He said three
or four of the Turkish victims may have been employees at the nightclub,
Some customers
reportedly jumped into the waters of the Bosporus to escape the attack.
Mehmet Dag, 22, was
passing by the club and saw the suspect shoot at a police officer and a
bystander. He said the suspect then targeted security, gunning them down and
entering the club. “Once he went in, we don’t know what happened. There were
gun sounds, and after two minutes the sound of an explosion.”
The nightclub area
remained sealed off on Sunday morning.
Heavily armed police
blocked the snowy street in front of the nightclub where the entrance was
covered with blue plastic sheeting below a Turkish flag. Police patrolled the
Asian side of the Bosporus on the other side of the club.
Crime scene
investigators were seen inside the club searching through piles of mingled
chairs, tables and pieces of clothing left behind during the panic among the
guests.
And there were
emotional scenes in front of a city morgue where those shot dead were brought
for identification. Some relatives cried out and fell to the ground as they
apparently learned the fate of their loved ones.
Major attacks carried
out by IS or Kurdish militants killed more than 180 people in Istanbul and
Ankara alone in 2016.
On Dec. 10, a double
bomb attack outside a soccer stadium near the Reina nightclub killed 45 people
and wounded some 150 others. The attack was claimed by Turkey-based Kurdish
militant group, the Kurdish Freedom Falcons.
“Turkey continues its
combat against terror and is absolutely determined to do whatever is necessary
in the region to ensure its citizens safety and peace,” said President Erdogan
in a written statement Sunday.
The nightclub attack
drew quick condemnation from the West and Russia.
Russian President
Vladimir Putin sent his Turkish counterpart a a telegram of condolences, saying
“it is hard to imagine a more cynical crime than killing innocent people during
New Year celebrations.”
“However, terrorists
don’t share moral values. Our common duty is to combat terrorists’ aggression,”
Putin said.
The White House
condemned what it called a “horrific terrorist attack” and offered U.S. help to
Turkey.
An estimated 600
people were celebrating inside the club that is often frequented by famous
locals, including singers, actors and sports stars. Several shocked revelers
were seen fleeing the scene after the attack and the music fell silent.
The prime minister’s
office issued a media blackout on the events and asked media to refrain from
broadcasting and publishing anything that may cause “fear in the public, panic
and disorder and which may serve the aims of terrorist organizations.”
Security measures had
been heightened in major Turkish cities, with police barring traffic leading up
to key squares in Istanbul and the capital Ankara. In Istanbul, 17,000 police
officers were put on duty, some disguised as Santa Claus and others as street
vendors, Turkey’s Anadolu news agency reported.
THREE
IN PRISON FOR STEALING IN CHURCH
A Jos Magistrates’
Court on Wednesday sentenced three men to 22 months imprisonment for stealing
from a church.
Magistrate Helen
Danboyi convicted Mathew Daniel, 38; Monday Garba, 32; and Peter Chris, 38, of
a three-count charge of conspiracy, theft and mischief, following their guilty
plea.
Danboyi sentenced
Daniel to four months jail term with an option of N1,000 fine; Garba, six
months with an option of N1,500 fine; and Chris, the ring leader, 12 months
with no fine option.
The prosecutor, Cpl.
Yange Terzungwe, had told the court that the three men stole items valued at
N281,360 from the Grace and Light Ministry in Dong Kasa.
He said that the
crime took place on October 1.
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