EFCC grills Saraki’s wife for six hours

WIFE of the Senate President, Mrs. Toyin Saraki, visited the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s office in Abuja on Tuesday with a plethora of supporters who are lawmakers.

Mrs. Saraki was invited alongside Zainab Dankingari, the wife of a former governor of Kebbi State and daughter of the late president, Umaru Yar’Adua.

Mrs. Saraki arrived at the EFCC office by 12:36 pm and was taken into the Economic Governance Unit of the commission for interrogation and left the commission’s Idiagbon House headquarters, at Wuse 2, Abuja by 6.15pm.

Mrs. Saraki was accompanied to the EFCC headquarters by some senators, over 20 members of the House of Representatives and members of the Kwara State House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Dr. Ali Ahmad.

Some of the senators who visited the EFCC headquarters in solidarity with her are Senators Isah Sani, Dino Melaye, Abdul Abubakar, Binta Goje, Abdulahi Sabi, and Peter Nwaoboshi.

But some of the members of the National Assembly left after waiting for two hours, while others were at the commission until her release by 6:15pm.

She is expected to be at the commission to respond to questions for the second day on Wednesday.

However, the commission could not carry out the planned interrogation of Mrs. Zainab Dakingari.

Although she honoured the commission’s invitation, the operatives had to postpone her interrogation to Wednesday on health grounds.

She arrived at the commission by 3pm and was allowed to go before 4pm.

The commission had invited both women to appear before it on July 22, 2015.

It was stated that while Saraki was invited to respond to questions about contracts executed in Kwara State when her husband, Senator Bukola Saraki, was Governor from 2003 to 2011, Dakingari was needed in relation to how N2bn belonging to Kebbi State was spent.

Meanwhile, Mrs Saraki, has said that she would cooperate with any lawful inquiry in consonance with the ethos of democratic governance and expected the EFCC to carry out its responsibility with observance to the global practices of fairness, impartiality and transparency.

She said that she had ensured adherence to the stipulations of the law and observed international best standards in all her operations.

“As a citizen with the utmost respect for highest standards of transparency and democratic accountability, Her Excellency Mrs Toyin Saraki visited the EFCC today as per their invitation. Mrs Saraki made herself available to assist the commission wholeheartedly with any lawful enquiry they may have. Following today’s visit, Mrs. Saraki will continue to cooperate fully with the EFCC, and hopes for a prompt and positive resolution in satisfaction of this enquiry.

“Having placed an emphasis on the importance of accountability, transparency and diligent reporting, Mrs. Saraki maintains that she has always operated within the law and to the highest standards of global compliance in all of her activities,” she said.

Credit: PUNCH

Ooni of Ife, Oba Sijuwade, dies at 85

THE Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, reportedly passed on, on Tuesday, at 85 years and seven months. He was born on January 1, 1930.

Unconfirmed sources said the monarch, who was said to have been flown out of the country since last Friday, died in the United Kingdom.

Most top Ife indigenes and Osun State government officials contacted by The PUNCH late on Tuesday kept sealed lips but some traditional rulers in the state confirmed that Sijuwade had died.

The spokesperson for the Ooni, Chief Funmilola Olorunnisola, told one of our correspondents that, “I don’t have anything to tell you immediately.”

One Osun traditional ruler, who asked not to be quoted, confided in one of our correspondents on the phone last night that the Ife monarch had died.

He said, “The Ooni is dead. It is true. He died about two hours ago in the UK. His two oloris (wives) – Olori Moni and Olori Odun – were with him in the UK.

“He travelled out for treatment anytime he fell ill but he couldn’t make it this time. It is sad but I believe it is God’s time. There was nothing anyone could do to stop it.

“Tokunbo, his eldest child, will probably leave for the UK this evening. There is nothing we can do but we take solace in the fact that he lived well. The proper announcement will be done later,”

The traditional ruler’s account was corroborated by another monarch, who explained that the Ooni was indeed flown out of the country five days ago in an air ambulance after he slumped.

A call to the line of the monarch was not answered.

There had been fears over the health of the first class monarch since 2013 when he was taken out of the country for medical attention for over a month.

Oba Sijuwade ascended the throne in December 1980.

Born on January 1, 1930, Sijuwade became the fiftieth ruler of the ancient kingdom of Ife, popularly referred to as the cradle and source of the Yoruba, in 1980.

Though he took the name Alayeluwa Olubuse II upon his installation, he dropped “Alayeluwa” from his name a few years back, saying that only God is fit to be called “Alayeluwa.”

Alayeluwa means omniscience.

A former commissioner and indigene of Ife, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “It is true. I was with him on Wednesday. Last Thursday when we held the political summit in Ife, he supported us and sent an emissary to the summit. He slumped on Thursday and was rushed to Ibadan airport from where he was flown to Lagos in an air ambulance en route to England for treatment. He became stable by Saturday. It is sad that he relapsed and passed on.”

The flamboyant traditional ruler was crowned king on December 6, 1980 in a colourful ceremony attended by prominent traditional rulers the Emir of Kano, Oba of Benin, Amayanabo of Opobo and the Olu of Warri as well as the representatives of the Queen of England.

It was gathered that the Ife traditional council and the Osun State traditional council would meet on Wednesday.

A competent source disclosed that emissaries from the two councils would visit the Governor of Osun, Rauf Aregbesola, to officially break the news to the governor.

Credit: Punch

CONTROVERSIAL PROPHETESS, HELEN UKPABIO DOWN WITH STROKE

According to reports making the rounds, the General Overseer of Liberty Foundation Gospel Ministries Church, Helen Ukpabio, is down with paralysis.

The prophetess, who is based in Calabar, Cross River State, has been criticised many times for demonising some children, who she brands as witches. Sometimes ago, she was reportedly barred from entering the United Kingdom because of her stand on such children.

It is reported that Helen is battling with stroke, which has kept her confined to the bed. However, her camp is reportedly pointing accusing fingers at her enemies.

She is said to have spent a fortune on the ailment, which has refused to go.

16yr old kills 4yr old boy in Lagos, removes his intestines, kidney & penis (READERS' DISCRETION ADVISED)

This has got to be one of the most painful/heartbreaking news I've heard in a while. A 16-year-old boy named Tajudeen Azeez, lured his 4 year old neighbour to a primary school in the Ijaniki area of Lagos, stabbed him, strangled him and removed his intestines, his kidney and cut off his penis.

He did because a man named Osho had approached him and asked him to get him fresh human parts and would pay him N50,000. N50,000 is what a human is worth to some. N50k. Unbelievably sad!

"At first, I did not want to succumb to the temptation but it kept coming. When I woke up this morning (Monday), I saw Ibrahim at the back of the house. I told him to escort me to a primary school not too far from the house. The name of the school is Anglican Primary School, Ijanikin. He followed me to the place and on arrival there, I stabbed him with a knife from behind. He fell down and I strangled him with a rope. I then cut his stomach open with the knife. I am sorry for what I did."

He was of course caught and made to carry the deceased body.

Tajudeen has been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command according to a report by Daily Trust and is currently at the homicide section of the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID), Yaba.

According to the acting police public relations officer for the Lagos Command, Patricia Amadin, the body of the deceased has been deposited at a government mortuary. She said Tajudeen was arrested following intelligence information.

“Based on the strength of the information, the DPO and his men raced to the place. On arrival, they found the lifeless body of a four-year-old boy while the suspect was soaked in the deceased’s blood.

From close observation, it was discovered that some vital organs such as the kidney and intestine had been removed from the deceased. All the organs were kept in a black nylon bag. The suspect was promptly arrested and taken to the station,” Amadin said. She said they are now looking for the said Osho

20 months baby stolen at naming ceremony in Ogun

A 20-month-old child, Opeyemi Ogundele was reported stolen on Sunday during a naming ceremony in Abeokuta. The incident happened at Mile 2, Iyana Concord, Akorede Estate, Ilugun Inukosegba Community in Abeokuta North Local Government Area of the state.
Community members, however, besieged the residence of one Chief Olasile Ifayemi, a herbalist alleged to be the kidnapper of the child.

Elizabeth Ogundele, 26, mother of the toddler, who narrated her ordeal, said she was getting ready for her niece’s naming ceremony when she discovered her son was missing. She said that she had gone to celebrate with her brother, Olusola Osunleke on Sunday when the incident happened.

“I was helping my brother’s wife get ready for the ceremony when I noticed that my son was missing. “I searched for him in and around the house because some tenants said they saw him playing ball, but he was nowhere to be seen. “I ran outside the house into the community still searching and that was when I encountered two guys at Chief Ifayemi’s house.

“I asked if they had seen my son, they denied and started giggling, so I left.’’ Youths in the community vandalised the bungalow belonging to the alleged kidnapper. Different fetish items and human parts were discovered at the scene as angry youths were getting ready to set the bungalow ablaze.

The head of the community could not be reached as at press time as he was not available. The Commissioner of Police, Abdulmajid Ali, who confirmed the incidence, said that investigations were ongoing. “Actually a two years old boy was kidnapped yesterday, but the site that was discovered has no relationship with the boy and other human parts that were found at the site.

“Already, we have commenced investigation on the matter‎ and we will let you see what really happened when we finish our investigation. “I want to make it clear to the people of the state that I’m here to work and to reduce crime and criminality to the barest minimum. “We will not allow miscreants to continue to disturb us no matter their intention,” the police chief said.

29 people killed, many injured in fresh Borno attacks

At least 29 people were reportedly killed with many others sustained gunshot wounds when suspected members of dreaded Boko Haram sect attacked Dille community and other surrounding villages of Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.

The incident took place at about 1pm on Monday when the terrorists in large number armed with AK47 rifles and petrol bombs stormed Dille, a predominantly christian community that had witnessed series of deadly attacks in recent times.

Precisely on July 14th, 2014, suspected Boko Haram insurgents invaded the same village where they killed 14 residents, after which, they burnt down three churches including Church of Brethren in Nigeria (EYN) which has the highest number of worshippers in the area.

Also last week, another group of insurgents laid siege on Kopa Mai Kadir and Yazza villages of Askira Uba and killed 15 people before sacking the whole communities.

Residents who were lucky to escape from the attacks told our Correspondent that the insurgents invaded Dille with sophisticated weapons in a convoy of 5 Hilux vehicles and motorcycles where they wrecked havoc without confrontation as they shot at anybody on sight.
Mallam Paul Ali Dille, a resident who escaped the attack, said, the death toll would have been higher, but many residents who quickly noticed the invasion had to run out of Dille to nearby bushes for their safety as there were no security presence in the affected communities.

Reacting to the incident, a Member House of Representatives in Hawul and Askira Uba Federal Constituency of Borno state, Hon. Jubrin Satumari who hail from Dille Village said, the rate at which boko haram insurgents were terrorising his communities is worrisome, and therefore called on the new service chiefs, especially the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Tukur Buratai to step up action towards protecting lives and property of innocent citizens in the affected communities.

Satumari stated this to Journalists while confirming the killing of 29 people by insurgents in Dille yesterday. He described the recent attacks as callous, barbaric and unjustifiable and however called on security agencies in the State to step up surveillance and the people to remain very vigilant about happenings in their areas and report any suspicious persons or movements to the nearest security point or jurisdiction.

“I am much worried over the spate of killings by suspected insurgents in my constituency. I have pleaded to security authorities, particularly military to deploy troops to most of the affected villages to safeguard my people’s lives and property, but all my cries failed on deaf ears as there are no security presence in my constituency yet, but I still want to assure my people that we are doing everything possible to see that military troops are deployed immediately”, the lawmaker said.

Satumari who noted that the military authorities and other security outfits would do everything necessary to prevent the unwarranted attacks by Boko Haram from escalating, however, hailed efforts so far by President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that Nigerians were safe and secured in all parts of the country, especially in the North-East geo-political zone where the Military Command and Control Centre is now located.

Satumari said: “It was really a sad day for me to learn that there were renewed attacks in my constituency, some parts of Borno state and the north east in general by the barbaric acts of the insurgents. People are being killed in cold blood, churches, mosques, shops and residential houses were destroyed, it is very unfortunate. I pray God to grant eternal rest for the souls of those killed by insurgents and quick recovery for the injured ones”.

He however said, Boko Haram is not invincible and he have no doubt that the present administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari possesses the requisite political will and determination to decisively fight the insurgents and restore security to affected areas.

Vanguard

TOKE MAKINWA’S HUBBY WELCOMES CHILD FROM EX-LOVER

According to latest report, Toke Makinwa's husband, Maje Ayida and his ex-girlfriend, Anita Solomon have welcomed a bouncing baby boy.

The tiny feet was given birth to in a London hospital few days ago.

However, the childbirth is being made secret because of the public outcry that trailed Maje impregnating another woman whilst still married.

It was also gathered that Toke and Maje are still trying so hard to restore their young marriage.

Few days ago, Maje publicly apologised to his wife and urged the public to allow him settle the matter in private.