CORONER INQUEST OPENS IN SYLVESTER OROMONI’S DEATH

Sylvester Oromoni: Coroner inquest Starts — Late Sylvester Oromoni

The coroner’s inquest Into the death of Dowen College student, Sylvester Oromoni, open before Magistrate Mikail Kadiri sitting in Epe, Lagos State.

Presiding Magistrate Mikail Kadiri, urged Parties in the matter to refrain from making any public comments on the issue.

Counsel to the Oromoni family, Femi Falana(SAN), submitted that the coroner be allowed to take charge of the entire proceedings without any external influence, alleging that the legal advice exonerating some staff and students of Dowen College was leaked to the press.

Falana SAN, who said he would inform the deceased family to cooperate with the coroner’s directive, added that it is only the court that is competent to speak authoritatively on the cause of death.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, informed the court that the Chief Pathologist of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital and the Commissioner of Police were yet to oblige the deceased family with copies of all reports and statements compiled during the police investigation and medical examination on the deceased 12-year old boy.

Counsel representing the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Akingbola George, said the Legal Advice exonerating some Dowen College staff and students from any suspected crimes, was never leaked to the press as alleged by Falana, SAN.

He submitted that the Directorate of Public Prosecution forwarded the legal advice to the Police SCID at Panti and the Court as required, emphasizing that interested party should apply through the appropriate quarters for a copy.

On his part, the Chief Pathologist of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital(LASUTH), Associate Professor Sunday Shoyemi, who is a witness in the case stated that the said autopsy report had been transmitted to the coroner.

The court, thereafter, ordered the Police to make available, copies of statements compiled during its investigation to all parties while interested Counsel should make the necessary applications to get the certified true copies of relevant documents from the court.

The court said it would consider request by the Oromonis for it to inspect the school facilities including the sickbay where the the deceased was allegedly treated in November 2021 before his parents took him away.

Counsel to Dowen college, Anthony Kpokpo, informed the court that the deceased allegedly died In Delta state.

The court adjourned proceedings to January 21, 27 and 28 to enable Falana, SAN, Falana to present his witnesses’ evidence.

24 YEARS OLD FATHER ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY DEFILING 3-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER

The police in Bauchi State have arrested a man for allegedly raping his three-year-old daughter in Kirfi Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

Ahmed Wakil, the command’s spokesman, stated this in a statement he made available to journalists on Saturday in Bauchi.

He said the arrest was part of the effort to tackle criminality and other offences in the state.

“On 9/01/2022, one Maryam Abdullahi, aged 24 years, reported that her husband one, Ali Lawan, asked her to bring him a mat to lay down their daughter who was sleeping.

“She came back to the room and met the daughter lying down unconscious, sweating and vomiting through her mouth, nose and her private part was swollen,” she said.

Mr Wakil explained that a team of detectives were drafted to the scene, took the victim to the General Hospital, Kirfi, for medical attention and on examination it was found out that the girl has been raped.

He said the girl’s father, who was the suspect, was arrested and would be charged to court.

The girl (name withheld) is currently receiving treatment at the hospital.

He said apart from the rape case, the police, working with a vigilante group, arrested one Adamu Musa, 27, of Sabon Garin Batal, Tafawa Balewa LGA for kidnapping.

He said the command, acting on intelligence, also arrested one Ya’u Haruna, aged 25, for being in possession of one locally fabricated revolver, with one live ammunition.

SP Wakil also said the Commissioner of Police, Umar Sanda, has warned all criminal elements in the state and their cohorts to put an end to their unlawful activities as this police would not relent in apprehending them.

He further urged the citizens to support and provide the police with relevant information in order to re-invigorate community policing aimed at reducing crime to the barest minimum in the state. (NAN)

INSECURITY: ONDO WOMEN TAKES PROTEST TO PALACE, STREETS

In a bid to draw the attention of concerned authorities to the rising dimension of insecurity in Ondo, State some women of Akoko South-Wedt Local Government Area, have protested to the Palace Of Traditional Ruler of Olubaka of Oka-Akoko.

The women in their hundreds, brandishing brooms and Bibles, besieged the streets of Oka Akoko, Akungba Akoko and other Akoko communities in the Northern Senatorial area of the state chanting various songs to drive home their protest against the insecurity.

The protest was sequel to the recent kidnap of some teachers by bandits in Auga Akoko as well as the attack of 17 travellers on Ifira Akoko-Isua Akoko road by armed robbers among others.

Addressing the women, the Olubaka of Oka-Akoko, Yusuf Adebori Adeleye decried the state of insecurity which, he said, has forced many businesses in the area to shut down and, however, expressed the hope that the situation would soon be a thing of the past.

He charged the people to adopt communual efforts in tackling the security challenges, even as he appealed to able-bodied men to form vigilante groups that will work with local hunters and security agencies to fight crime in the area.

The royal father commended the efforts of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for the establishment of the Amotekun corps which he said has been joining forces with the existing security apparatus to fight crime in the State.

WIKE CALLS FOR REDEPLOYMENT OF DPO, NSCDC OFFICIAL OVER OIL BUNKERING

Rivers state Governor Nyesom Wike [PHOTO CREDIT: @GovWike] — Governor Nyesom Wike, Rivers State Governor

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has accused the Divisional Police Officer in-charge of the Emuoha Police Division in the State of operating an illegal refinery and demanded his redeployment from Rivers State.

The Governor made the position known in Government House, Port Harcourt, during a meeting with the State Commissioner of Police, Eboka Friday, Local Government Council Chairmen and heads of security agencies in the state.

“I can’t be governor here and the security man owns an illegal refinery. No, it is not possible.”

“The man has to go. Take him to wherever they allow bunkering.”

A statement by the Governor’s media aide, Kelvin Ebiri, said it was unfortunate and unbelievable for security officials in Nigeria to be involved in illegal bunkering.

“I’ve called you here to tell you that it’s a total war. It is either we do it or we don’t do it. We cannot allow what is going on to continue.”

“Two things; our people are dying, it’s shortening our own revenue.”

“You check from the Federation Account, Akwa Ibom and Delta states are getting more, why? “

“Because, these boys of the cartel have caused so much problems for us. So we will not allow it.”

“Now, every council chairman must go and identify where illegal refineries are taking place.”

If you identify one, you get N2 million.”

“So, go and identify as many as you can.”

“I will pay N2 million for each one, I am going to fight against this.”

“Our people are dying and we owe our people the responsibility to protect them, to save them from death they never caused.”

“So, you must, and you’re given 48 hours to go and identify all illegal refineries sites, and those who are in charge of them,” Wike said.

The Governor also accused the Civil Defence Officer in-charge of vandalisation of oil pipelines in the state of being a saboteur, and demanded his immediate redeployment from Rivers State.

Meanwhile, Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC), Ahmed Audi, has disbanded the Anti-vandal Unit of the Rivers State Command of the corps following recent allegations by the Governor of the state, Nyesom Wike.

The NSCDC Commandant General, who ordered the suspension of the head of the Anti-Vandal team and disbandment of the unit, expressed shock over the allegationsband assured the Governor of getting to the root of the matter.

A statement issued by the NSCDC’s Director of Public Relations, Olusola Odumosu, reads, “Worried by this disappointing development, the CG has ordered the suspension of the head of the anti-vandal team and the disbandment of the unit with immediate effect, pending the outcome of an independent inquiry set up to look into the weighty allegations levelled against the unit by the governor.”

“I will not tolerate any act of indiscipline, compromise or sabotage under any guise; our founding fathers have worked so hard to earn a good name for the service as a noble organization and I will not allow a few bad eggs to spoil our name, image, our credibility, and integrity.”

“We will investigate those fingered in the allegations and deal decisively with them if found guilty to serve as a deterrent to others.”

“Our moral principles are not negotiable; we are going to rejig the unit and fish out those spoiling the name of the corps, my fight against vandals, illegal oil bunkers and those stealing our collective wealth and sabotaging our economy is unflinching and we will redouble our efforts to whittle down this act of sabotage and bring to justice anyone, not in tune with our vision and mission for the service.”

PRINCE ANDREW’S LAWYER QUESTIONS ACCUSER’S MEMORIES STATUS

The Duke of York’s lawyers want to question a psychologist who treated the woman accusing him of sexual assault, claiming she may “suffer from false memories”.

Court documents show they want Virginia Giuffre’s husband, Robert, and psychologist Dr Judith Lightfoot to be examined under oath.

Ms Giuffre’s legal team want to call the prince’s former assistant.

Prince Andrew has repeatedly denied the allegations.

With a trial due to go ahead after a judge threw out the prince’s motion to dismiss the civil case, both parties are requesting help with calling witnesses overseas to give evidence.

Judge Lewis Kaplan, who is hearing the case in New York, has asked for witnesses’ evidence to be taken by lawyers by 14 July and said a trial could take place in court later this year.

Prince Andrew, 61, faces allegations by Ms Giuffre that he was one of the men who had sex with her while she was being trafficked by the late financier Jeffrey Epstein at the age of 17 – a minor under US law.

The prince’s lawyers want to question his accuser’s husband, Robert Giuffre, about their household finances and how he met his wife around 2002, according to court documents.

They also want to ask her psychologist, Dr Judith Lightfoot, about subjects they discussed at her sessions and see her doctors’ notes and medicines prescribed.

The legal team argue Ms Giuffre, now 38, “may suffer from false memories”, and also want to examine Dr Lightfoot about the “theory of false memories”.

Dr Lightfoot and Mr Giuffre, who both live in Australia, would be requested to be examined under oath in person or by videolink, the documents show.

Meanwhile, court documents show lawyers for Ms Giuffre are seeking testimony from two people in the UK.

Her legal team want Robert Olney, the prince’s former assistant, to provide a statement.

A letter submitted to the Royal Courts of Justice in London says Ms Giuffre has reason to believe Mr Olney has relevant information about Prince Andrews’s relationship with convicted child sex offender Epstein.

This is because Mr Olney’s name appears in publicly-available copies of Epstein’s phone book, her lawyers say.

Another letter seeks testimony from Shukri Walker, explaining she stated in the press that she was a potential witness to Prince Andrew’s presence at the Tramp nightclub around the time Ms Giuffre said she was abused.Media caption,Watch: Why Prince Andrew’s military titles and royal patronages meant so much

Ms Giuffre has said they visited the club in London before she was assaulted in 2001, but the court documents note the duke has denied being at Tramp on the night in question or ever having met Ms Giuffre.

“The Duke of York will continue not to undertake any public duties and is defending this case as a private citizen,” the palace said in a statement.

The developments come after Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday that Prince Andrew’s military titles and royal patronages have been returned to the Queen. (BBC)

POPULAR NIGERIAN MUSIC PRODUCER ESCAPES FATAL R

Nigerian music producer, Samuel Chukwujindu Oguachuba, popularly known as Samklef, has to his Instagram page to appreciate God for escaping a fatal road crash.

“Today God gave me and my blood @shank another chance. It couldn’t have been worse. But God liveth. Chukwujindu. That’s my name. None of my friends will die this year,” he wrote on his official Instagram page.

The music producer disclosed that his name ‘Chukwujindu’ meaning, “God liveth”, worked for him.

Samklef was reported to have escaped a fatal road crash when one of the tires of his vehicle burst on the highway, veering him off the road.

VIGILANTE COMMANDER ARRESTED FOR TORTURING POLICEWOMAN IN VIRAL VIDEO

The Anambra State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP, Tochukwu Ikenga, says the Command has arrested a commander attached to the Anambra vigilante services for torturing a policewoman in a video that went viral on Wednesday.

Ikenga disclosed that the State commissioner of Police, Echeng Echeng, upon seeing the video, directed that the vigilante commander involved in the incident be consequently arrested.

“The Commissioner of Police Anambra State Command, CP Echeng Echeng today 15/1/22 wishes to inform the general public, especially Ndi Anambra that the Commander of Anambra State Vigilantee alleged to be torturing a female police officer on 12th January 2022 at Awuda Nnobi security office, is now in custody.“

“Following as seen on a trending video on social media, where some members of the Anambra Vigilante group (AVG), were seen harassing and torturing a female in their office at Awuda Nnobi.”

“The CP ordered immediate arrest of the commander and investigation has since commenced.”

“The CP while describing the act as cowardly assures that the command is always ready in protecting the women against violence, even when the person in not of the security community.

“He also thanked the members of the public, especially Ndi Anambra on their advocacy in condemning the act and protecting the female gender.” Ikenga added

A video had surfaced on the internet, on Wednesday, showing the vigilante commander harassing and torturi a policewoman.

HUMAN PARTS VENDOR NABBED

The joint operations comprising the police, army and NSCDC in Zamfara State, have arrested a human parts vendor with the eyes and manhood recovered from him, alongside other suspects arrested for various alleged criminal activities in the State.

The State Commissioner of Police, Ayuba Elkanah, who disclosed this on Thursday during a press briefing in Gusau, the State Capital, said one Aminu Baba, a buyer of human parts was arrested and he confessed to the crime.

According to the Commissioner of Police, Aminu Baba, who is a father of 19 children, further confessed that he eats the human parts, especially the throat which is the most delicious part of the body.

Ayuba Elkanah further hinted that during interrogation, one of the suspects confessed to have been he contracted to source for human parts for the sum of five hundred thousand naira (N500,000).

The C.P lauded the concerted efforts of the sister security agencies which led to the rescue of 17 kidnapped victims and the arrest of a female Nigerien who stole her neighbour’s child.

He disclosed that military operatives deployed along Dansadau road in Maru LGA intercepted and rescued some 17 victims, who were allegedly kidnapped on December 14, 2021, in Wamba village, Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State.

According to him, the 17 rescued victims were handed over to the Zamfara state Command by the Brigade Commander 1 Brigade Nigerian Army, Gusau, and they were medically checked, debriefed by the police and thereafter handed over to the Niger State Police Command for reunion with their families.

QUEEN ELIZABETH II STRIPS PRINCE ANDREW OF MILITARY TITLES OVER SEXUAL ALLEGATIONS

Queen Elizabeth strips Prince Andrew of military tittles over sexual allegations

Queen Elizabeth II has stripped UK’s Prince Andrew of his military and royal honors, the royal family announced Thursday Evening.

According to a royal communiqué, the Queen approved the removal of honors from Prince Andrew, Duke of York.

Andrew would no longer use the title ‘His Royal Highness’ in any official capacity, according to a royal source, and his other responsibilities would be shared among other members of the Royal family. They would not return to Prince Andrew.

“The Duke of York will continue to refrain from performing any public duties and is defending this case as a private person,” the statement said, referring to Virginia Giuffre’s lawsuit accusing the Duke of York of sexually abusing her as a teenager.

The prince’s lawyer was unsuccessful in persuading US District Judge Lewis Kaplan to dismiss Giuffre’s lawsuit on Wednesday. Giuffre, 38, could sue Andrew for battering her and intentionally causing her emotional distress while the late financier Jeffrey Epstein was trafficking her, according to the judge.

More than 150 veterans signed an open letter to Queen Elizabeth on Thursday, a day after the decision, demanding that her second son’s military titles be revoked due to his relationship with disgraced late US financier Jeffrey Epstein.

“We are particularly upset and angry that Prince Andrew remains a member of the armed forces and continues to hold military titles, positions and ranks, including that of Vice Admiral of the Royal Navy,” the letter said.

“We are therefore asking that you take immediate steps to strip Prince Andrew of all his military ranks and titles and, if necessary, that he be dishonorably discharged.”

Andrew has denied Giuffre’s claims that he forced her to have sex at the London home of former Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell more than two decades ago, and that he abused her at two Epstein properties. (BBC)

EFCC NABS MAN FOR POSING AS A LAWYER

EFCC Press Release

Fake Lawyer in EFCC Net For Forgery, Impersonation

Operatives of the Lagos Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested a fake lawyer, Adekola Adekeye, whose stock-in-trade is forging documents to perpetrate fraud.

Adekeye’s travail began on Tuesday, January 11, 2022 when he came to the Lagos Command of EFCC posing as a lawyer to secure the bail of a suspected fraudster who is in the Commission’s custody.

However, nemesis caught up with Adekeye, when investigators dug in further to verify the documents he tendered to secure the bail of the suspected fraudster.

A search at his residence further unearthed several forged documents dating back to 2005, including forged Lagos State University and Kwara State College of Education documents.

He also claimed to be the owner of “A.A. Emmanuel & Co. Chambers”, which he had been using to perpetrate frauds until his arrest.

He will soon be arraigned in court.

Meanwhile, the Commission will continue to ensure that such impostors using faake personalities and documents to procure the bail of suspects are made to face the wrath of the Law.

Wilson UwujarenHead, Media & Publicity

Head, Media & Publicity

13 January.