Two of Nigerian Army Explosive Ordinance Device Personnel Attached To 143 Battalion, Were Arrested At Yola Park With Unauthorized Military Items

                                                                           Catche of Arms

In a statement signed by the Army Spokesman, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, stated that, It has come to the knowledge of the Nigerian Army that while concerted efforts are being made to finally clear all remnants of Boko Haram terrorists in the North East in particular and the country generally, some unscrupulous elements in the society have been thwarting that effort for pecuniary gains. They engage in all manners of illegal commercial activities such as trading and smuggling especially during late hours, all aimed at sustaining terrorism and insurgency. This is more prevalent in some towns and villages within the North East especially in Borno and Yobe States. The unpatriotic and selfish elements have clandestinely been aiding the terrorists with logistics and other supplies, through smuggling and other forms of illicit trading, thus sustaining them, while the merchants of death make money out of it.

Consequently, the Nigerian military and indeed the Nigerian Army is highly concerned with these unpatriotic acts. The Nigerian Army is therefore taking some drastic steps to curtail this illicit trading with the terrorists. From now on, some markets identified to be engaging in this illegal trade with the adversary in Borno and Yobe States will be closed. Any breach of that would be dealt with accordingly. The General Officers Commanding and other commanders have been directed accordingly. We implore for public’s kind support and understanding as we take these drastic measures to enable us decisively deal with the terrorists and saboteurs.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Nigerian Army has been recording tremendous successes in the fight against terrorists and insurgency as follows:
Troops of 7 Brigade Quick Reaction Force (QRF), Multinational Joint Task Force, yesterday inflicted casualties on Boko Haram terrorists, thus causing a major setback to the insurgents. This feat was achieved when the troops staged an ambush against the terrorists at Kekeno, Kukawa Local Government Area. During the operation, the gallant troops killed 5 suspected Boko Haram terrorists, recovered one Toyota Buffalo vehicle, 3 AK-47 rifles, 2 knives, a horse and other locally fabricated weapons. The insurgents were believed to be on a retaliatory mission following the killing of a suspected Boko Haram Ameer during an ambush by our troops at Kekeno.

In another development, troops of 118 Task Force Battalion patrolling Mile 90-Kekeno general area, have killed one suspected Boko Haram terrorist and captured 2 other insurgents. Similarly, troops of Army Headquarters Special Forces on patrol to Yale came across Boko Haram terrorists camp at Bulagana, cleared the camp and rescued 40 civilians held hostage. Unfortunately, 1 soldier sustained gunshot wounds during the operation. He has since been evacuated and is responding to treatment.

In the same vein, 151 Task Force Battalion of 21 Brigade while on patrol encountered Boko Haram terrorists at Budumri village during which they killed 25 Boko Haram terrorists and arrested 8 other terrorists. The troops also rescued 103 civilians held hostage by the terrorists. They also recovered 1 Golf car and quite a number of motorcycles and bicycles. The troops also cleared terrorists camp at Bolungu village. The same unit also rescued 181 persons and captured 8 Boko Haram terrorists. Among those rescued, were 18 men, 90 women and 77 children. The screening and profiling of those rescued is ongoing before their movement to IDP camps, while those arrested are being interrogated.

Unfortunately, despite these successes, a crop of black sheep amongst us are bend on tarnishing the image of the Nigerian Army. Last Sunday 7th February 2016, two of our Explosive Ordinance Device personnel attached to 143 Battalion, 13NA/ 70/10183 Sapper Eric Nwokorie and 13NA/70/10263 Sapper Macauley Fortune were arrested at Yola park with the following unauthorised military items: 1 Smoke grenade, 2,136 live rounds of 7.62 (Special) ammunition, 50 live rounds of 7.6mm (NATO) ammunition, 5 magazines of AK 47 rifles, 2 Browning Machine Gun live rounds of ammunitions. Others include, 1 Axe, 1 Cutlass, 1 Jack knife, 9 Jungle hats, 11 pairs of Camouflage (9 Desert and 3 woodland green), 4 Military Pullovers, 1 Black beret, 1 Green beret, 1 Pair of number 7 dress, 2 General Duty belt, 12 Army T-shirts, 2 Rain Coats, 2 Water bottles, 1 Pairs of Rain boot and 5 Pairs of Desert boots.

This unfortunate incident notwithstanding, troops morale remains high as they continue to dominate the general area with aggressive raids, ambushes and patrols to clear the remnants of the terrorists hibernating in the area.
The attention of the Nigerian Army has also been drawn to a set of 250 protesting dismissed soldiers in Nigerian Union of journalists (NUJ) Secretariat, Kaduna pleading through the media to be reabsorbed back again into the Nigerian Army.

The protesting soldiers were those soldiers dismissed last week by the Nigerian Army over gross acts of indiscipline, cowardice and absence without leave. They were part of the 2,023 dismissed soldiers last year that were earlier reinstated back into the Service by the present Chief of Army Staff. However these set of soldiers (the 205) absconded for more than one week when they were told that they were to move to North East on the 6th of January 2016. They started coming back when they realised that others were moved to units other than the theatre of operations in the North East. Please note that all efforts were made to make all the reinstated soldiers comfortable and integrate them back into the system. The protesting soldiers are the few who are recalcitrant to military duties and discipline. They are simply not interested in army job but want to earn salary. No one should listen to them as they are not patriotic at all.

It should be noted that the Nigerian Army has been tolerant and patient with their acts of indiscipline and unprofessional conduct. This was based on the understanding of their circumstances and conditions. Efforts have been made to retrain them, integrate and give them sense of belonging. However the attitude of some of them has left so much to be desired and would not be tolerated anymore hence their dismissal from Service. The Nigerian Army thrives on discipline, loyalty and good conduct and if anyone could not measure up to expectation or live by those tenets, he would not be allowed to remain in the system.

Seriki House sues Ajimobi over plan to instal Olubadan-elect

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State

A NEW twist was added to the Olubadan succession saga yesterday when the Seriki lineage approached an Ibadan High Court in a bid to stop the Oyo State Governor, Senator Isiaka Ajimobi and the Olubadan-In-Council from installing the Olubadan-elect, Alhaji Saliu Adetunji, according to The Guardian.

In a motion filed by its counsel, Mr. A.G. Adeniran, the Seriki family lineage, comprising its leader, Chief Adebayo Oyediji, Chief Olalekan Adisa Fakunle, Chief Aside Abinupagun and Chief Gabriel Amoo, on behalf of themselves and the Seriki Chiefs of Ibadanland, the family prayed for an interim injunction restraining the state governor, the state Attorney-General, Chief Lekan Balogun and Chief Solomon Adabale from appointing or approving the appointment of Chief Saliu Adetunji as the new Olubadan of Ibadanland.

Other respondents listed in the case which was filed on Tuesday at the Oyo State High Court of Justice, Ibadan, were Chief Saliu Adetunji, Chief Rashidi Ladoja, a former governor of the state and Chief Eddy Oyewole.

Others were Chief Kola Daisi, Chief Owolabi Olakulehin, Chief Olufemi Olaifa and Chief Tajudeen Ajibola.

In the suit listed as No. 1/149/16 at the High Court Registry, the Serikis, among others, are seeking for the following reliefs:
• A declaration that after the death of the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade I, the first claimant (Chief Adebayo Oyediji) is the person entitled to be appointed as the next Olubadan of Ibadan;
• An order directing the state attorney-general to set the machinery in motion to appoint Chief Oyediji as the next Olubadan of Ibadan;
• A declaration that there is at present no Ekerin Olubadan, Ashipa Olubadan, Osi Olubadan, Otun Olubadan, Ekerin Balogun, Ashipa Balogun, Osi Balogun, Otun Balogun and Balogun chieftains in Ibadan;
• An order setting aside the said promotions of the third defendant;
• A declaration that there is at present no kingmaker for the Olubadan of Ibadan;
• An order of this honourable court restraining the fourth to the 11th defendants from acting as kingmakers to appoint the third defendants or any other person as the Olubadan of Ibadan; and
• An order of this honourable court restraining the third from presenting himself to the fourth to the 11th defendants, or to anybody else for appointment as the Olubadan of Ibadan.

But besides the aforementioned, the Serikis in a 21-count prayer have asked the court to restrain Chief Saliu Adetunji from presenting himself for installation as Olubadan in deference to an earlier High Court judgment of November 21, 2008 in suit No 1/421/07.

They also alleged that in defiance of a High Court judgment, the defendants have filled certain vacancies in the ensuing chieftaincies as they occurred without having any regard for the orders of injunction of the High Court restraining them from doing so.

In an interview with The Guardian, yesterday at his Monatan Residence, on the outskirt of Ibadan city, the Head of the Seriki chieftaincy family, Chief Adebayo Oyedeji, who is the Osi Seriki of Ibadan, averred that there had been surreptitious moves by certain interests to suppress his family and the various cases it had won in the past, especially at the Supreme Court, which he said, are being swept aside at the moment by the defendants.

Don’t Allow Corruption To Kill Nigeria, Acting Chairman Of EFCC Urges NBA

Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, has charged members of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, to join hands with the Commission to stamp out corruption from the Nigerian society.

He also decried the practice by some members of the NBA who have been aiding some individuals and corporate organizations to perpetrate economic and financial crimes.

Speaking during a courtesy visit by members of the NBA to his office in Abuja on Wednesday, February 10, 2016,  Magu, in his brief remark titled The NBA Must Not Allow Corruption To Kill Nigeria,  said some lawyers had been giving the body a bad name with their unprofessional conducts.

According to him,  ‘‘Society is not served when prominent members of the Bar not only take clearly tainted briefs, but even facilitate the commission of crimes by knowingly supplying the technical know-how and later, helping in the dispersal of the proceeds of crime. There are lawyers within the fold of the NBA who ought not to be among your noble ranks. Those people are not fit to be called ministers;rather, they are vandals of the temple of justice.’

The EFCC boss further stated that the input of lawyers would be needed to successfully wage the war against fraud, corruption and money laundering.

He added: “Law enforcement , just as the judiciary, encompassing the bar and the bench , is a critical link in the justice delivery system of any society.  I dare say that  even when opinions and tactics differ, the interest of the two blocs cannot but converge on the overriding interest of the people.’’

Magu, who stated that no other anti-graft agency in Nigeria had beaten the record of the EFCC in the areas of prosecutions and convictions, further described the ordinary Nigerian as the victim of  money laundering , embezzlement , diversion  of funds and frauds.

 

He, therefore, urged them to share in the vision of President Muhammau Buhari’s war against corruption, while also congratulating thebody for supporting the EFCC over the years.

Earlier, Augustine Oyarekhua Alegeh, SAN, President, NBA, expressed the reason behind the courtesy visit, saying that it was to salute the courage of Magu in the corruption war.

He also stated that the EFCC and NBA need to work in synergy for the war against corruption to be won. He disclosed that the Bar’s anti-corruption Commission had developed a Know –Your- Customer, KYC, template for lawyers, which will hopefully address concern over members accepting questionable briefs.

Army needs N526b to function effectively, Buratai tells Reps

                            General Tukur Buratai, Chief of Army Staff

The Chief of Army Staff (CoAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, yesterday described the N160 billion in the 2016 budgetary allocation to his outfit for procurement of ammunition as very negligible for the force to carry out its function effectively.

The Army chief spoke just as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, disclosed that his outfit will require the sum of N10 billion to conduct 80 re-run elections this year.

Buratai, who appeared before members of the House of Representatives Committee on Army to defend his budget, stated that his outfit was allocated the sum of N160 billion out of the N526 billion needed in the 2016 fiscal year, saying the amount allocated was grossly inadequate.

He said: “The ministry went below what we actually need minimally. This honourable House should assist to ensure that what we proposed is given to us. The significant drop is not from us but the budget office, but we will appreciate your efforts to make it up so that we can function well.

“If we can get N520 billion today, Nigerian army will not be the same again. We will make sure that our barracks are rehabilitated and troops and their family members are taken care of.”

The INEC chief, who also spoke yesterday during the budget defence before the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters in Abuja, said the amount would be used for the various logistics and other activities connected with the re-run elections to be held between now and March 19 this year.

Stating that the commission has limited time to conduct the re-run polls based on the provisions of the law and the court orders nullifying such elections, he added that after the re-run polls, the commission would wait for the outcome of the various election tribunals and court rulings before deciding on the next line of action.

A breakdown given by the former acting chairman of the commission Mrs. Amina Zakari, indicates that the commission was allocated N62.537 in 2015 out of which N18.99 billion was for personnel, N8 billion for capital projects, N2.5 billion for overhead and N28 billion was to support the 2015 elections and other bye-elections.

As for 2016, said the commission’s proposal was N45 billion from which N20.955 billion was for personnel, N19 billion for electoral recurrent, N2.260 billion for capital projects and N2.507 billion for overheads.

Chairperson of the committee, Dukku, demanded for the schedule of the various purchases to be made by the commission, saying they would visit all the state offices of the commission for members to see for themselves what are on ground.

Dukku said the committee would give the commission the needed support for it to start preparation for the 2019 elections well ahead of time.

With The Guardian 

Police accuse 17 ABUAD students of attempted bank robbery

Police on Wednesday accused 17 students of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, of an attempt to rob a branch of Wema Bank in the institution.

At the hearing on Wednesday, the police prosecutor, Mr. Samuel Osobu, informed the court of the intention to file a probable cause of action against the students, other than the six-count earlier slammed on them on Tuesday, The PUNCH reported.

This was after the court had earlier admitted the students to N300,000 bail each and one surety in like sum, who must be either a civil or public servant on the previous charge.

The prosecutor said he had forwarded the case file to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.

Osobu alleged that the students on February 7 unlawfully committed the offence of arson by burning houses belonging to ABUAD University security staff and burglary of a boutique belonging to the wife of the ABUAD founder.

He added that the students also attempted to rob the branch of Wema Bank situated on the campus.

According to him, the alleged offences contravene Section 443(a), 411(2) and 403 of the criminal code, Cap C 16, Laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria, 2016.

The plea of the accused were not taken as their counsel, Mr Peter Ogunkile, Chris Omokhafe and eight others sought for a date of adjournment pending the advice of the DPP office.

Chief Magistrate Adesoji Adegboye consequently ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody pending the outcome of the DPP advice.