Agony of unpaid retirees

Many Federal Government retirees deprived of their entitlements for many years are still expecting their names to be listed on the payroll for monthly stipends, three months after a new pension administration took over;

Many of the Federal Government retirees under the defined benefits scheme have continued to groan in pain because of haphazard payment or non-payment of their entitlements for many years.

Recently, some of the aggrieved retirees who wrote a petition to the Federal Government complained that the inability to earn their monthly stipends had continued to send many of their members to early grave.

According to the petition, which was signed by the Chairman, Concerned Federal Retirees, Mr. David Adodo, and made available to our correspondent, payment of pensions to several old citizens who served the country meritoriously in their prime had been stopped.

Over the years, the major problems that the Federal Government pensioners had continued to encounter under the Defined Benefits Scheme include non-payment of gratuity and pensions, non-payment of arrears, omission and delisting of retirees’ names from payroll.

Families of deceased retirees have also continued to encounter delay and suffer non-payment of entitlements of their breadwinners.

Adodo said many genuine retirees whose names were deliberately removed from payroll in 2010 up till now have not been reinstated.

According to him, the concerned pensioners had filled complaint forms several times and sent them to government departments in charge of their pensions without positive result.

He also worried that despite the fact that majority of the retirees had travelled to Abuja on several occasions on this subject; their situations have remained the same.

Adodo worried that it was painful that series of verification exercises were conducted in the past to punish pensioners as they did not solve their lingering problems.

Pensioners, he observed, went through a lot of hardship while many of them spent more than two weeks before they could be verified.

Adodo said, “We have advised that after the verification, pensioners should be paid immediately in order to justify the result of the exercise. For your information, previous exercises conducted have not favoured pensioners.”

The concerned pensioners’ chairman said he travelled recently to Abuja and submitted pensioners complaints and petitions to the offices of the Minister of Finance, Speaker of House of Representatives and Head of Civil Service of the Federation.

He is unhappy that the retirees are not getting response from those offices.

After a recent visit to the new Director-General of the PTAD, he said, the new leadership of the pension directorate assured him that the pensioners were going to be paid their entitlements.

“Old men and women are dying and we are not getting any response and the attitude is unacceptable, we need prompt payment and they should be ready to defend us,” he said.

According to him, some of the unpaid retirees said they had been receiving some calls from the PTAD to do verification for them on phone with promises that they would be paid their pensions.

Adodo stressed that early intervention by the Federal Government will save the retirees from their predicaments and prevent them from early death.

Some of the unpaid retirees who spoke to our correspondent also pleaded with the Federal Government to promptly respond to their plight and pay their entitlements.

Mrs. Aishatu Yusuf, 80, retired from the Ministry of Agriculture in 1999. She said she had never been paid a dime since she left active service. This, she said, had subjected her to severe hardship. According to her, she had travelled to the pension offices in charge of her payment in Abuja several times but had yet to get any result.

Mrs. Bisolay Oyawale, was retired from the Ministry of Information in 2006 and had not been paid her pension since then.

“Life has not been easy, I have been living by the grace of God,” she said.

Mr. Fasemo Joseph, 73, is a Federal Government retiree who left service in 2002. He complained of haphazard and short payment of his monthly pensions.

“I had to stop my children from attending school because I could not pay their school fees anymore. I cannot fight; I am only begging the government to pay me my pensions,” he said.

Mr. Idowu Alaka, 57, retired from the service of the Federal Government in 2006.

According to him, he was paid his gratuity in 2007, but had not been placed on monthly payroll since then.

Despite different legislative reforms introduced in many years aimed at correcting the abnormalities in the Federal Government Pension Scheme, the retirees under the defined benefits scheme have continued to encounter hardship.

While those appointed to administer the scheme had allegedly continued to steal funds meant for the payment of the retirees, economic recession sometimes affects the funding of the scheme by the government.

Despite the rate of inflation which also increases the cost of living, many pensioners are either not paid or paid ridiculously low amounts.

With the recent increase in the price of Petrol Motor Spirit to N145 per litre, it is absurd to see that many Federal Government retirees still earn below N1, 000 a month, according to some stakeholders.

Prior to 2002, the Federal Government used to release money to some State Governments quarterly to settle their pension commitments. However, since the payment of federal share of pension which used to be the duty of the state governments was transferred to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, payment problem has worsened for the retirees.

In 2010, there was another reform in the pension scheme of Federal Government workers when a former Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Oladapo Afolabi, inaugurated the Pension Reform Task Team as a new body in charge of pension payment.

The PRTT which was headed by Abudulrasheed Maina employed a different approach in addressing the lingering challenges.

Despite measures the PRTT introduced, pensioners’ sufferings did not subside. This made the Federal Government to dissolve it and returned the management of the pension scheme back to the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation in 2012.

In 2013, a new body known as the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate was set up. It derived its legality from section 30 sub-section (2) (a) of the Pension Reform Act 2004 (PRA).

Ms. Nellie Mayshack was appointed as the Executive Secretary/ Director-General of the new office.

After more than two years of PTAD’s operations, the problems of the retirees did not end.

In March, Mayshak was placed on suspension by the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun.

A director from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation was immediately appointed as Acting Executive Secretary/Director General.

While there were allegations that the suspension was as a result of scam running into billions of naira, a statement signed by the Director Corporate Services, PTAD, Atiku Saleh, stated that the details on the issues relating to the suspension were yet to be made available.

Unpaid retirees have however continued to look up to PTAD to defend their cause before the Federal Government.

They want the verification exercises done and also want immediate commencement of the payment of their monthly stipends and arrears.

Meanwhile, Head, Corporate Communications, PTAD, Theodora Amechi, stated that the directorate has paid benefits and entitlements to over 500 Next-of-Kin of deceased parastatals pensioners under the universities and Colleges of Education.

This, she added, was after a validation exercise which took place in the six geo-political zones in the country recently.

“During the validation exercise, PTAD updated the data of NoKs previously verified by the National Pension Commission between 2008 and 2012 during the parastatals pensioners’ verification exercise phase one,” she said.

According to her, this payment was in fulfilment of the promise by PTAD management that all NoKs would be paid their entitlements.

She said payments have been made to NoKs of the various agencies confirmed in letters signed by the chief executive officers of these institutions or their immediate delegates.

Amechi said that PTAD was working hard to ensure all qualified NoKs were paid their due entitlements.

Culled from PUNCH.       

FBI: Woman robbed Wyoming bank to return to prison

A woman who was recently released from prison in Oregon robbed a bank in Wyoming only to throw the cash up in the air outside the building and sit down to wait for police, authorities said Friday.

Investigators say 59-year-old Linda Patricia Thompson told them she wanted to go back to prison.

Thompson said she had suffered facial fractures after strangers beat her at a Cheyenne park last weekend.

She said she couldn't get a room at a homeless shelter and decided to rob the bank Wednesday because she could no longer stay on the streets, court records say.

She faces a detention hearing Tuesday on a bank robbery charge and doesn't have an attorney yet.

FBI Special Agent Tory Smith said in court documents that Thompson entered a US Bank branch in Cheyenne and handed a teller a cardboard note that said, "I have a gun. Give me all your money."

The teller turned over thousands of dollars.

Outside, Thompson threw money into the air and even offered some to people passing by, Smith stated. He added that Cheyenne police Lt. Nathan Busek said he found Thompson with a large sum of money when he arrived at the bank.

"Lt. Busek asked Thompson what was going on, and Thompson replied, 'I just robbed the bank, I want to go back to prison,'" Smith wrote.

Thompson had been serving time at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville, Oregon, for a second-degree robbery conviction in Union County until her release in June, Betty Bernt, communications manager with the Oregon Department of Corrections, said Friday.

Thompson told investigators then that she didn't want to be released and advised the Oregon state parole office that she would not do well on parole.

An attempt to reach Thompson's parole officer for comment wasn't successful on Friday.

Culled from Yahoo

Former NFL Player Antonio Armstrong And His Wife Were Fatally Shot By 16-Year-Old Son

In the early morning hours on Friday (July 29), a call came into a local Houston police department that former Miami Dolphins linebacker, Antonio Armstrong, and his wife, Dawn Armstrong, were fatally shot by their 16-year-old son.

According to the New York Daily News, the teenager called 911 around 1:30 a.m., to confess his actions. He was then arrested once authorities arrived on the scene, and found a gun with the note, “I’ve been watching you.” The motive is still unclear. The married pair also had their two other children inside the home, a son, 20, and a teenage daughter. Reports state they were unharmed.

Dawn Armstrong’s cousin, Vaun Lee, told local news reporters that she’s stunned by the occurrence. “There was nothing that even could possibly have justified this situation,” she said. “This doesn’t even make sense. It makes no sense.” Those that were close to the Armstrongs described them as “the all-American family.”

Antonio Armstrong was in critical condition when he was transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital, but was pronounced dead a few hours later, the Houston Chronicle states.

An investigation is underway, revealing that the teenager might be charged as an adult.

Yahoo News

Alleged paedophile beaten by teen vigilante mob in Russia later knifed to death

A teenage Russian vigilante lynch mob beat and knifed a suspected paedophile to death, the day after they filmed themselves mercilessly beating the man, say police. A violent film uploaded to YouTube shows a teenage gang, some of them masked, beating the man the day before he was killed.

Police say the man, said to have been 47, had arranged to meet a 13-year-old girl telling her beforehand that he wanted sex during a social media chat. The girl then arrived with a gang of her friends where they attacked the alleged paedophile leaving him pleading for mercy in long grass near Efremovo, in the Tula Oblast region, which borders Moscow's southern edge.

The 10-strong gang are seen jumping up and down on the man in front of their friends with blood pouring from his nose. The posse are heard giggling as the kicks and punches intensify as he writhes in extreme physical pain.

The crowd is then seen walking away from the scene in a triumphant manner with cheers and laughing audible. It would seem that the alleged paedophile survived this assault, but the Daily Mail reported that another group of youths, aged between 16-17, met him next day on 26 July armed with a gun and knife.After this second meeting, the man is believed to have died due to knife wounds with his body showing signs of "signs of a violent death". The newspaper also reported that he had a porn video involving underage girls, his online friends' list contained girls in their early teens, and that he had offered children alcohol and "gifts".

"The mother of the 13-year-old did not pay attention to her complaints about the man," it was said. According to reports from Russia the three teenagers were detained on suspicion "deliberate infliction of grave bodily harm causing death" which could result in 15 years in jail.

In June a horrific video of an alleged Mexican rapist being kicked to death by a furious vigilante mob surfaced online. The dead man was suspected of the abduction and then sexual abuse of a four-year-old girl in Nuevo Laredo, in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas which borders the US.

https://youtu.be/3AMVHd4xBiQ

‘It is True That I Steal But…’ - Boy Chained By Pastor Father Speaks

A nine-year-old boy, Korede Taiwo, who was chained by his father for months, has narrated his heart-rending experience to Punch, revealing the reason behind his act of stealing.

Korede’s father, Francis Taiwo, was said to be the pastor in charge of Key of Joy Celestial Church of Christ, Ajibawo area in Atan Ota, Ado-Odo Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Korede told Punch correspondent that he would not want to live with his father and step-mother again. He also named his father as the core reason for his stealing.

He said, ‘‘I was not fed regularly when I was chained. My father and my step-mother only fed me twice a day. Some days, I was not given any food. I want to go back to school because I want to be a doctor in the future. I also do not want to go back to my father’s house.’’

It was further gathered that Korede allegedly always stole and usually ran away from home.

These acts, made his father to believe he was ‘possessed’ and he started chaining him since January in an attempt to cast out the supposed ‘spirit’ in him.

Sometime in May, Francis was said to have taken Korede to a river with the chain on his neck for a deliverance bath.

Speaking further, Korede admitted that he stole many times in the neighbourhood and also stole a pot of soup in his father’s house.

He said, ‘‘It is true that I stole a pot of soup and bowl of eba in our house. I also stole in the neighbourhood. My father’s inability to give money to my step-mother for the upkeep of the family caused it. But I promised not to go back to my old ways.’’

Korede added that he was a pupil in Onse Community Primary School near Ajibawo, before he was withdrawn recently.

‘‘I still want to return to school. I want to be a medical doctor, ’’ he said.

The face of the Father of Korede Taiwo who was chained for months by his pastor dad. This is pastor Francis Taiwo, 40,m,. He was arrested this morning with the help of members of his church

Police, NSCDC Revealed Why Ogun Church Chained 9-year-old Boy For Weeks

A nine-year-old boy who was chained in Ogun State for weeks before his rescue on Friday, was given the horrifying punishment for allegedly stealing, police and the Nigeria Civil Defence Corps have said.

The NSCDC had said in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday that its personnel rescued Taiwo Korede from the Celestial Church of Christ (Key of Joy Parish, Ajiwo) at Ajibawo in Ado Odo/Ota local government area of Ogun State.

The statement said Korede was rescued while in chains, and that the case had been transferred to the appropriate authority for further investigation.

Three photographs, including one showing an emaciated Korede in chains, were attached to the one-paragraph statement the NSCDC sent to this newspaper.

Police later told PREMIUM TIMES that Korede was chained by the neck to a heavy log of wood in a room for “more than a month”.

The spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Muyiwa Adejobi, said the boy was chained by his own father, a pastor in the church, who is currently on the run.

But Mr. Adejobi said the rescue operation was carried out by “police detectives” following a tip off from a neighbour in the community.

“The police operatives of the Command attached to Onipanu Division, Otta, on Friday, 23rd July, rescued one Korede Taiwo, M, 9, from where he had been chained on his neck to a heavy log of wood in a room by his biological father Pastor Taiwo Francis, m, of THE KEY OF JOY CELESTIAL CHURCH, Ajibawo area, via Atan Otta, in Ado Odo Otta Local Government Area of Ogun State for more than a month,” he said.

He said the child’s step-mother, Kehinde Taiwo, who has been arrested by the police, accused the boy of stealing.

The claim that police rescued the boy could not be verified. The NSCDC was first to provide details and photos of the boy in captivity and after his rescue.

In what seemed an attempt to counter the police’s claim, the NSCDC released more details and photos of the rescue later on Saturday.

A statement by the NSCDC’s Ogun State PRO, Kareem Olanrewaju, said Korede was chained for repeatedly stealing soup prepared by his step mother.

“She reported to the Father who took step by chaining his hand and legs. This situation was on like that until a Good Samaritan informed NSCDC officials on surveillance patrol of critical infrastructure in the area, they immediately swung into action and ensure the boy was immediately rescued,” the corps said.

He said church members, led by the step-mother, Kehinde, had attempted to stop NSCDC officials from rescuing the boy.

“According to the information from officer in charge of Ado-Odo NSCDC Division who led the rescue operation, the boy had been chained for two weeks at the very Celestial Church of Christ (Key of Joy Parish) the boy was tired and pale, he was not able to talk when he was initially rescued. On getting to the church there was serious resistance by members led by the pastor’s wife Kehinde, but Civil defence Corps men insisted, and they were able to force their way into the church premises. The boy was actually under lock and key. They quickly took him to the office for necessary entries and documentation and proceeded to the General Hospital, Ota.

“The boy was bath and one Dr. Akintunde asked NSCDC officials who took him there to give him lucosade boost, they then called on welder to cut the chains so as to enable them administer treatment. Before NSCDC left the hospital, he has been responding to treatment as he has started talking. However, the Hospital Medical Director one Dr. Osinbajo who came later assures the Corps that the boy will get necessary medical attention needed.

“Meanwhile, the Corps has since liaised with the police at Atan, who promised to continue with the investigation and do all necessary things needed.”

Culled from 247nigerianews

N1.2bn deals: EFCC freezes Obanikoro daughter’s account

Eniola Akinkuotu, Abuja

"The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has frozen an account linked to Shalewa Obanikoro, the daughter of a former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro.

According to EFCC investigators, about N1.2bn passed through the account which belongs to an oil firm.

Shalewa, who is a signatory to the account, was said to have personally mandated Fidelity Bank to transfer N800m from the account to another account within the bank.

A source in the anti-graft agency on Tuesday said, “We have frozen an account in which Obanikoro’s daughter is a signatory. She specifically mandated the bank to transfer N800m from the account to another account.

“We discovered that money was paid into the account at various times. The money came in N50m, N20m, N30m and various sums.

“She said the money was for oil and gas transactions. So, we have frozen the account as investigations continue. We want to know where the funds came from. At least N1.2bn has passed through the account.”

The EFCC was said to have made the discovery of Shalewa’s transactions when it was investigating the N4.7bn allegedly paid into the account of Obanikoro’s two sons – Babajide and Gbolahan.

The money, which was paid into the Diamond Bank of Sylvan McNamara, was allegedly shared among Obanikoro, the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose; and the then governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore.

While Omisore is in detention for allegedly receiving N1.3bn, five properties, allegedly belonging to Fayose, have been seized while his three Zenith Bank accounts have been frozen.

A house belonging to Obanikoro’s two sons in Ikoyi, Lagos, has also been seized. Obanikoro and his sons have, however, remained in the United States for the last 14 months.

The anti-graft agency had, last week, quizzed Shalewa and seized her passport to prevent her from travelling to the US.

“We seized her passport because we were told that she was planning on travelling soon. We had to prevent her from travelling since she is part of the investigation,” a detective said.

Apart from the N4.7bn arms scam rocking the Obanikoro family, MOB Integrated Services Ltd, a company headed by Obanikoro’s second son, Gbolahan, was implicated by the Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede-led Presidential Committee on Verification and Reconciliation in 2012 over an alleged petroleum subsidy fraud.

The company was said to have made three transactions valued at N5,393,592,906.62. However, investigations revealed that the company only made one transaction valued at N3,261,263,992.52 verified as legitimate.

The difference of over N2bn was allegedly embezzled as MOB did not make the needed oil supply.

However, sources at the commission told our correspondent that after Obanikoro was appointed the Minister of State for Defence, the case was mysteriously suspended indefinitely.

The oil business linked to Obanikoro’s daughter has therefore opened a new dimension to the subsidy fraud case.

A source at the EFCC said, “Obanikoro’s case is very easy to investigate because unlike other politicians, he used his children to carry out most of his alleged crimes. Out of his four children, we have seen suspicious transactions in the accounts of three of them. There is no way these young guys will have billions in their accounts if they were not fronting for their father.”

Meanwhile, the EFCC on Tuesday grilled a former Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Doyin Okupe, for receiving N100m from the embattled former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).

The EFCC, however, discovered that N15m was also transferred to Okupe from the account of Destra Investment Limited, a company owned by the immediate past National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, who is on trial for allegedly receiving N400m from Dasuki.

Ironically, Okupe is one of the defence witnesses in the case against Metuh.

A source at the EFCC said, “Okupe came again as usual and we grilled him over the funds he has openly confessed to receiving from Dasuki. He claims to have spent all the money but we keep making fresh discoveries.

“He received about N15m from Destra Investment Limited, owned by Metuh. Okupe is also one of Metuh’s defence witnesses. Okupe had appeared before the Federal High Court to defend Metuh and yet he (Okupe) has confessed to receiving money from Dasuki and he also collected N15m from Metuh.

“When we confronted him with evidence, he was shocked and could not respond.”

Okupe had, on May 19, 2016, told Justice Okon Abang that Metuh received N400m from Jonathan but argued that the fund could not have emanated from the ONSA.

While defending Metuh, Okupe had said, “I am surprised to hear that the Office of the National Security Adviser was used to distribute money for Jonathan’s presidential campaign. However, the President could also use his tremendous goodwill to source funds to assist his party or help to execute special programmes.

“Besides, as the candidate for election, the President has immense capacity to raise funds as a candidate. He did not use any government establishment as his pseudo-sponsor.”

It was learnt that Okupe risked being charged with conspiracy alongside Metuh depending on the outcome of investigations.

An EFCC investigator added, “With this new revelation, it is possible that Okupe knew that Metuh’s N400m emanated from the ONSA but went to court to defend Metuh in order to cover his tracks, having received N15m. We are still investigating the matter.”

.Culled from PUNCH.      

Alex Ekubo Pens a Letter To His Future Wife

To Whom it may Concern;

Dear Future Wife,

I'm writing you this letter, from the deepest part of my Heart, the part that is reserved for Joh-loff Rice & goat meat, so pls feel special. Consider this a pointer or heads-up & act accordingly.

1. You MUST love our Lord Jesus Christ, with all sincerity, in deeds & in purpose.#JesusIsBae

2. i'm filled with Simple Complexities & Complex Simplicities... #DealOrNoDeal?

3. I'm NOT here to pay for your Ex's mistake, i was not there when you both were "doing" so pls don't punish me. #InnocentMe

4. I'm a huge kisser, key word HUGE.😘

5. Pls forgive me for all i'll say when i'm hungry I Love FOOD i really do.😍

6.I love play i don't take myself too serious, you shouldn't too (nobody cares) there are more important things going on in the World.

7. Hope you love to travel, because i am Ajala the Traveler.✈️

8. Pls be beauty with Brains, i take God beg you, because beauty fades, but an intelligent wife is forever.👩🏽

9. Pls pls pls pls come with factory fitted sense of humor. (Nothing is that serious)

10. Lastly, you must acknowledge the AlexxEkubo Wives Association Worldwide (A.W.A) they'v been my support structure holding me down all the while you were forming "Baddest girl ever liveth" they were here voting & encouraging my ministry, don't come & put sand-sand in their garri. 😕 Hope with these few points of mine i've been able to convince you & not confuse you. See you at the Altar 💍👫

Sincerely yours,

Best Husband Ever Liveth 👑 -

Chinese lovers fight during arraignment for arson

Samson Folarin

"There was a mild drama at the Ebute-Meta Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday after two Chinese lovers – Zhen Zhen, female (47) and Leo Jian Feng, male (41) – engaged in fisticuffs on the court premises.

They assaulted each other shortly after their handcuffs were removed by the police.

It took the intervention of court officials to stop the duo from injuring each other.

They were later called to the dock to answer to charges of alleged arson.

PUNCH Metro was told that the duo had checked into the Ernest Hotel in Ikeja on July 4.

They were alleged to have set the facility on fire while smoking some substance.

They were subsequently arrested after firefighters of the Lagos State Fire Service put out the inferno.

The suspects were arraigned on two counts of arson.

The charge read in part, “That you, Zhen Zhen and Leo Jian Feng, both Chinese, on July 5, 2016, at about 2am at Bamishele Street, off Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: arson.

“That you did willfully and unlawfully set fire to burn part of the Ernest Hotel on Bamishele Street, off Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos, valued at N17,864,900, property of one Ernest Uwanyerem.”

The police prosecutor, Sergeant Olatunde Kehinde, said the offence was punishable under sections 409 and 339 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The prosecutor announced the presence of the Investigating Police Officer, Ernest Nwanyanwu of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department; a representative of the hotel, Muhammed Shubero; and a representative of the Chinese embassy.

The magistrate, M.O. Ope-Agbe, called the representative of the hotel to explain what transpired on the day of the incident.

According to Shubero, the lovers lodged in the hotel on July 4 after necessary documentation.

He said, “Around 2am on July 5, one of the hotel attendants smelt cigarette from their room. She went there and warned them that smoking was prohibited in that arena. However, they ignored her.

“In the morning, the attendant and a security guard called me that the hotel was on fire. By the time I got there, there was nothing left of the hotel.”

Shubero said the hotel attendant and the security guard were ready to testify in court.

However, the Chinese couple, who spoke through an interpreter, denied being responsible for the fire that burnt the hotel.

Feng, in his defence, said he never smoked in the facility.

He said, “It is true that I stayed in the hotel, but I did not smoke. I was not around when the hotel was on fire.”

Zhen, who also denied smoking, said she had slept off , but suddenly woke up to discover that the hotel was on fire and she ran for her life.

The representative of the Chinese embassy told the court that he had gone to the police to get the details of the case when he was told it was being taken to court.

The magistrate, Ope-Agbe, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N2m each with two sureties each in like sum.

She said, “One of the sureties must be a Nigerian and the other a Chinese. They must be responsible sureties with evidence of tax payments to the Lagos State Government.”

The case was adjourned till July 22, 2016, for mention."

Culled from PUNCH.       

Police arrest Lagos pastor for N3m land fraud

Afeez Hanafi

"The Lagos State Police Command has arrested the pastor of a church in the Ayobo area of the state, Gabriel Olakitan, for allegedly defrauding a businessman of N3m.

It was learnt that the 64-year-old suspect had sold a parcel of land in the area to the businessman and issued him a receipt to that effect.

The land was said to have been handed over to the pastor by one Bayo, who is based in London, to sell for N2.9m.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the pastor, after collecting N3m from Cornelius, only paid N1m into Bayo’s account.

Trouble started when Bayo came to Nigeria sometime in 2014 and reportedly stopped workers hired by Cornelius to clear weeds on the land for construction.

The case was reported at the Area M Command, Idimu, where an agreement was said to have been reached that the pastor would repay Cornelius in installment.

But the sexagenarian did not keep to the agreement, and was re-arrested on July 7, 2016, by the police from the Ayobo division.

Cornelius told the police that all efforts to claim the possession of the land or get his money back had been futile.

He said, “Gabriel (Olakitan) acted as an agent to Bayo. I paid him N3m for one and half plots of land in March 2013, but I was unable to take the possession of the land. I later discovered that he only remitted N1m into Bayo’s account.

“The case was reported to the police and all the parties were invited. But Bayo did not show up. We wanted to start clearing the weeds on the land when Bayo brought some policemen to stop us.”

The pastor reportedly confessed to the fraud, saying he had spent part of the N3m to settle a land case in Ogun State.

“I am a pastor and a land agent. It is true I collected N3m for the land – N2.9m for the land and N100,000 to process the receipt. I only remitted N1m to the owner, Bayo, through his wife. I know what I did is wrong and is against the law. I will try my best to pay the remaining N1.9m to the owner of the land so that the buyer can take the possession,” he added.

A police prosecutor, Inspector E. Ayomide, brought Olakitan before an Ogba Magistrate’s Court on two counts bordering on fraud.

The charge read, “That you, Gabriel Olakitan, sometime in March 2013, at about 10am on Ibidapo Street, Ipaja-Ayobo, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did unlawfully obtain the sum of N3m from one Oke Cornelius, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 312 (a) (b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2011.

“That you, on the same date, time and place, in the aforementioned magisterial district, did fraudulently convert the sum to your personal use, property of one Oke Cornelius, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 278 (b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2011.”

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge before the presiding magistrate, Mrs. O.J. Awope.

The magistrate granted him bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case till August 12, 2016."

Culled from PUNCH.       

Police nab man for killing daughter

Etim Ekpimah, Uyo

"The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested one Joseph James for killing his four years old daughter, Glory James, and throwing her corpse into a stream.

Joseph,30, from Ibiaku Ikot Udom in the Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area was said to have taken the girl to the stream in the night when the mother was away.

The Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Murtala Mani, said on Wednesday that when he (Joseph) got to the stream, he killed the girl and threw her corpse into the water.

Mani, who said this through the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Cordelia Nwawe, said the suspect had owned up to the crime.

“The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested a young man who strangled his daughter and threw her corpse into a stream. Investigation is ongoing,” she said.

Joseph, however, said, “I was sleeping and woke up around 4am. Something told me to take my daughter to the stream, where I killed her. I did not know what really happened.”

He told our correspondent that he was in his house when his mother brought people into his house, who beat him up and handed him over to the police.

Others who were also arrested by the police include Victor Andang from Urue Offong Oruko LGA, for killing his 60 years old uncle, Rev. Esin Andang, and removing his intestine.

Victor was said to have asked his uncle for something which later led to an argument.

Victor said he did not intend to kill his uncle, but could not tell what got into him which made him to murder his uncle.

Four persons – Emmanuel Ikot, Bright Okwong, Ubong Osung and Okon Osu, from Eyo Abasi in the Oron LGA – were also apprehended by some youths in Uko Ntighe in the Mbo LGA and handed over to the police.

They were allegedly found with a skull while looking for a buyer at the rate of N3,000."

Culled from PUNCH.       

Why family fed day-old baby to dog

Olaide Oyelude, Katsina

"A family of five has been arrested by the police in Katsina state for allegedly feeding a day old baby boy to a dog as meal.

It was gathered that the incident happened at Saika village in the Batsari Local Government Area of the state.

The police gave the names of the suspects as Wosila Halilu (15), who is the mother of the baby; Wosila’s step brothers, Muhammadu Bello (45), Musa Bello (35), Umar Bello (27); and her mother, Faiza Umar (30).

It was gathered that a 27-year-old farmer, Musa Garba, alleged to have impregnated Wosila, was equally arrested for allegedly raping her.

Police sources revealed that trouble started for the family when Wosila gave birth to the baby boy after being allegedly impregnated by the farmer.

Wosila reportedly told the police and the family that the farmer lured her to his farm and allegedly raped her.

The sources added that Wosila’s pregnancy and the subsequent delivery of the baby boy were said to have been viewed as capable of bringing shame to the five-member family since she was unmarried.

It was gathered that Wosila’s mother and the stepbrothers held a meeting where it was decided that the baby boy should be fed as a meal to a dog.

The village head of Saika, known as Dakacin Seika, reported the incident to the police, leading to the arrest of the family members and the farmer.

They were arraigned before a Katsina Magistrate’s Court on three counts bordering on culpable homicide, criminal conspiracy and rape.

The police said the offences contravened sections 235, 387 and 85 of the Penal code.

The presiding magistrate, Nura Ladan, ordered further investigation into the incident and directed that the suspects be remanded in police custody.

The case was adjourned till August 8, 2016."

Culled from PUNCH.       

Anambra police kill suspected female robber, four others

Tony Okafor

"The Anambra State Special Anti-Robbery Squad on Wednesday killed a female suspected robber and four others in a gun duel.

The female suspect, identified as Commander, was described as the kingpin of the five-man gang.

The suspects were said to be a notorious robbery and car-snatching syndicate. They were killed along Nnebis Road in Asaba, Delta State.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Ali Okechukwu, explained that the Delta State Police Command had arrested and handed over one Obisma to the Anambra Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

The PPRO said the culprit named other members and confessed to series of armed robbery and vehicle-snatching operations in and outside the state.

Okechukwu said. “Obisma led our operatives to Asaba for the arrest of his accomplices and recovery of their operational weapons.”

The PPRO said the policemen were attacked by the gang members upon arrival at the robbers’ den in Asaba.

He said during the shootout that ensued, some of the suspects were gunned down.

The PPRO said, “Some, who sustained bullet injuries during the operations, are still receiving treatment in a hospital. Efforts are on to arrest other fleeing gang members.”

Culled from PUNCH.       

Infant Found Alive in Car with Parents Dead Beside Her in Apparent Murder-Suicide: Police

"Virginia police are investigating what they believe was a murder-suicide in which a man allegedly fatally shot a woman in a car in front of their infant baby, PEOPLE confirms.

On Saturday morning, Virginia State Police arrived at a road near Mappsville on Saturday and found Elizabeth Jensen, 20, and Jonan Gonzalez-Funes, 27, dead in an apparent murder-suicide, according to a police statement from the Accomack County Sheriff's Office obtained by PEOPLE.

The couple's infant child was in the car at the time. Police said the baby was "determined to be in good health." It is unclear how long the child had been in the vehicle.

Police said they believe Gonzales-Funes, of Bloxom, fatally shot Jensen, of Sanford, before turning the gun on himself.

"Custody of the child has been turned over to the other family members," police said in the statement.

Gonzales-Funes was a correctional officer with the sheriff's office, to the statement.

A friend of Jensen told

WAVY-TV that Jensen enjoyed horseback riding.

"She always had a smile on her face, always laughing and having a good time," Alyssa Behr said of Jensen, who went by her middle name, Madison.

A friend of Gonzales-Funes described him as "quiet."

"I didn't think he was ever capable of something like that, he seemed like an alright dude," J.C. Snead told the station.

The investigation is ongoing and autopsy results are pending, police said"

Culled from Yahoo

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Drunken man stabs sleeping uncle to death

Samson Folarin

"A launderer, Monday Eze, has stabbed his 55-year-old uncle, Ebere Akpu, to death in the Orile Agege area of Lagos State.

PUNCH Metro gathered that Eze and Akpu had an argument over a minor issue on Sunday around 11pm.

After the disagreement, the suspect was said to have gone to a pub, where he became drunk.

While Akpu slept, the suspect allegedly stabbed him in different parts of his body.

Our correspondent gathered that Akpu died on Omotoye Estate where policemen from the Elere division recovered his corpse around 1am on Monday.

It was learnt that Akpu and Eze, who were married with children, hailed from Ebonyi State.

While the suspect had lived for more than 15 years in Lagos, the uncle, Eze, had lived for a few years.

Both men were said to be putting up with another relative, identified as James, who had a laundry on Omotoye Estate where the incident happened.

PUNCH Metro, in a visit to the estate on Monday, saw bloodstains on the road and in James’ laundry.

A trader, who did not give his name, said Eze was in the habit of making trouble when drunk.

She said, “I have known him for more than 15 years now. He makes trouble with everybody, especially when he is drunk. He would sometime strip and start misbehaving.

“When Ebere (Akpu) newly arrived from the village, I particularly advised him against arguing with Eze. I never knew Eze would kill him.”

A family member, who did not give his name, said Eze and the deceased had had a disagreement on Sunday.

Although he did not reveal the cause of the disagreement, he explained that the suspect felt slighted and decided to revenge.

He said, “Ebere sold bags; he didn’t have anything to do with the laundry where this incident happened, except that he kept his wares there. But Monday (Eze) lived there.

“Ebere was there to pass the night and he had washed the shirt and jean trousers he intended to wear on Monday for his business.

“They had a minor disagreement, which led to an argument. Ebere thought that was the end, but Monday stabbed him while he was asleep.”

The suspect was said to have fled as the victim staggered out, seeking help.

He was reportedly taken in a tricycle to a private hospital in the area by a resident.

However, when he was rejected due to the severity of the injuries, he was dumped on the road.

A resident, who did not want to be identified, said he saw Eze in a pool of blood on the road.

“I fled at the sight of the body on the road. I later called a security man to join me to identify and probably rescue him. When we got there, he was dead. The security guard identified him as one of the launderer’s family members,” he added.

Policemen from the Elere division were said to have removed the corpse and took it to their station.

It was learnt that the suspect later submitted himself to the police.

A relative told PUNCH Metro that the police put the corpse in front of the suspect at the station.

“He was in handcuffs. He looked round and saw a lot of family members and burst into tears. He said he never knew Ebere was dead. But we have decided that the matter is now between him and the government,” he said.

Another family member said the suspect was the third in the family to be held for murder.

“There is a curse on the family; it is not ordinary,” he added.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the incident, adding that the case had been transferred to the State Department of Criminal Investigation, Yaba.

She said, “Around 11pm, one Ebere Akpu was assaulted by one Monday Eze with a machete. The victim died on the way to a hospital.

“His corpse has been deposited at the Mainland Hospital, Yaba, Lagos for autopsy. The suspect has been arrested and the case transferred to the SDCI.”

Culled from PUNCH.       

CNN Is Launching A Multi Platform Operation in Nigeria

CNN Is Launching A Multi Platform Operation in Nigeria

"CNN is establishing a multi-platform operation in Lagos, Nigeria. Launching specifically in Lagos, the operation is designed to increase news coverage of Africa and give the network a strong digital presence on the continent.

According to Deborah Rayner, an SVP for news gathering at CNN International, Nigerian native Stephanie Busari will lead the operation. “This is a truly integrated role, and one that underlines CNN’s commitment to both Nigeria and Africa as a whole,” Rayner began. “Stephanie will work across our platforms on both news and feature content.  In particular, she will head CNN’s Africa content across digital – responding to breaking news and managing our Africa features projects.  She will also be central to CNN International’s coverage of the continent on television.”

Busari, serving as supervising producer and first responder for all platforms, says she’s proud to be a part of the expansion. “To return to Nigeria at such an important time in the country’s history is a proud and exciting moment for me,” Busari said. “This is such a vibrant country, full of possibilities, and as well as my broader remit looking at Africa as a whole this role will be about putting the many sides of Nigeria itself into sharper relief for the world.”

Busari has been instrumental in some of Africa’s most important stories since she began working for the network in 2008, most notably on the coverage of the Missing Chibok girls."

Culled from Yahoo

Guard arrested for raping pupil on school premises

Afeez Hanafi

"The police have arrested a security guard of a public school in Lagos, Adeniyi Primary School, Itire, for allegedly raping an eight-year-old pupil.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the 40-year-old suspect, Friday Oshoba, aka Mopol, committed the alleged crime while the primary 2 pupil, Mercy (pseudonym), was waiting for her sister to pick her up after the school closed around 2pm.

Oshoba was said to have persuaded her to follow him to a deserted spot within the school and removed her underwear. He reportedly raped her afterwards.

It was gathered that a class five pupil, identified only as Bukola, who was sent on an errand by a schoolteacher, caught the guard in the act and reported to the teacher.

Our correspondent learnt that Mercy, on getting home, recounted the incident to her parents. An uncle of the girl followed her to the school the following day and reported the matter to the head teacher.

The head teacher was said to have invited policemen from the Itire division, leading to Oshoba’s arrest.

Mercy, in her statements to the police, said, “I was in the school on May 11 at about 2pm when Mopol (Oshoba) called me to a place on the school premises. He removed my underwear and put his thing (manhood) inside my bum-bum. Bukola, who is in primary five, saw us and reported to her teacher. I also told my daddy when I got home.”

The suspect, an indigene of Ekpoma, Edo State, denied raping the girl, saying he did not know her name. Oshoba was, however, silent in his statement on whether he took Mercy to any spot as alleged.

He said, “The girl is one of our pupils in Adeniyi Primary School.

“I did not know her name, but I know she is in Primary two. I did not do anything with her. I was married, but my wife left me and I don’t have any child.”

However, a social worker at the Mirabel Centre, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, where medical examinations were carried out on the victim, said Mercy had bruises in her private parts.

The worker, who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said, “The result of the test conducted on the girl shows that she had bruises and fresh lacerations on her hymen. These suggest that the suspect forcefully penetrated her private parts as she claimed.”

Oshoba was subsequently brought before an Apapa Magistrate’s Court by a police prosecutor, Francisca Job, on one count of rape.

The charge read, “That you, Friday Oshoba, on May 11, 2016, at about 2pm, at Adeniyi Primary School, Itire, Lagos State, in the Apapa Magisterial District, did defile an eight-year-old girl… thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.”

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge. The presiding magistrate, Mrs. A.O. Adegbite, admitted him to bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.

The case was adjourned till July 27, 2016."

Culled from PUNCH.       

My Russian sex Allegation story, by Pastor Sunday Adelaja

*Blames accusation on conspiracy by former church  members

Pastor Sunday Adelaja, a Nigerian, is the founder of the Embassy of God Church in Ukraine, one of the biggest churches in Eastern Europe. Adelaja, in this interview, speaks on the many controversies dogging him, including the most recent one alleging he had sexual relationship with 20 women in Russia.  

What would you say ignited sexual accusation leveled against you in Ukraine?

First of all, the media is making too much noise about it. I was said to have confessed to some people in Russia about having sexual relationship with 20 women but I have not been to Russia in the last 10 years. It’s part of a conspiracy by some former members of my church leadership who, after hearing that I was leaving for Africa, decided to take advantage of the vacuum to gain for themselves temporary benefits. This is nothing new really. In the Bible, Paul spoke of  similar situation. He warned that when he departed from his congregation, the wolves will come in sheep’s clothing to take over. To attain that goal, they are ready to do anything.

How were you able to scale the controversy and the other ones you were enmeshed in?

Just being focused on what I have to do. Jesus said by their fruits you shall know them. I just keep on bearing fruits, kingdom fruits. Secondly, I don’t see controversy as a bad thing. I see it as a propeller of destiny. To me crisis is just a traffic light on the path of destiny. So if you really believe in God and your heart is pure, all things will work out for good at the end of the day. Just be focused on what you are called to do.

Did you ever think of becoming a pastor when you were growing up?

I didn’t. The first thinking I had was when I was 16years old,  I attended a camp meeting in the Anglican Church, where I met a young man in his 30s who, after  finishing his master’s degree in England, came back to Nigeria and became an Anglican priest. He was so charming and charismatic that I wanted to be like him. Soon after that, I forgot about it until I got saved at the age of 19. At the same age, while  in Russia, I had an encounter with the Lord; that was when I  got the confirmation that I am called to be a minister. But that did not happen until years later.

How do you compare worshiping here with worshipping in your base, Ukraine?

First of all, whenever  I come to Nigeria, my mission is not to start a church. I come for national transformation. I am more interested in changing Nigeria than starting a church. I already have a thriving church in Ukraine. My greatest achievement in Ukraine is not that I was able to start the church, but that God was able to use me to impose kingdom values on the society. It could be that I will eventually have a church in Nigeria, but God has to speak to me specifically on that.

You spoke like you may ultimately have a  church in Nigeria. What makes you believe such a church will be accepted here?

Like I said earlier, my focus is not to establish a church in Nigeria. Church is not my focus, the kingdom is my focus. That is the mandate of God for me; to teach the Nigerian churches how to practically apply kingdom principles in order to bring change and transformation to our society.

We have many pastors who have been accused of sacrilege in Nigeria. What is your view about them?

When people fail, sin or make mistakes in life, especially when they are pastors, you must first of all think of how to help them and restore them, rather than seeking to destroy them further. Jesus said they that are without sin should cast the first stone. But when we know that we are all fallible, we have to extend mercy to others rather than passing judgment. This does not just pertain to pastors or ministers, all men must be treated with some amount of understanding.

What is your biblical definition of miracle?

Miracle is something that is beyond the ability and capacity of man. It is a solution that requires supernatural intervention. Differentiate between wealth and religion. Religion is the act of discovering and worshiping God while wealth, in particular material wealth, is a resource that God gives to those who know the laws of wealth creation. Wealth  should be used to advance the cause of God on  earth. Wealth therefore is a tool to pleasing God. It is a tool to be used to accomplish God’s intentions on earth.

When you eventually relocate to Nigeria, will you retain your church in Ukraine?

When I relocate to Nigeria, even though I will remain the Senior Pastor of The Embassy of God Church in Ukraine, I will not be involved in the day-to-day running of the church. I intend to face the work in Nigeria squarely and visit Ukraine occasionally.We have over 400 churches in Ukraine, and each one of them is independent. They have their own names, buildings, budgets and pastors. While each is led by a Senior Pastor, we have a  board that oversees the network of the Embassy of God Church. It is that  board that will  manage the churches when I am gone."

Culled from Vanguard

‘How I was duped of N400,000 after Etisalat SIM swap’

An information technology expert, Wale Ibironke, who lost N400,000 to a SIM swap fraud accused Etisalat of complicity in the act. BAYO AKINLOYE reports

In May, an information technology expert, Wale Ibironke, woke up with the mind to send some money to his sister. But before he would do that he planned to visit any of the customer care centres of one of Nigeria’s leading telecommunication companies, Etisalat.

Ibironke wanted to lodge a complaint about his phone line.

What happened after his visit to an Etisalat centre at Ikeja City Mall, in Lagos, was a messy SIM swap fraud that led to Ibironke’s bank account being cleaned out.

Ibironke, who considers himself as a shrewd IT expert thought he understood the risks of online banking. But to his chagrin, by the end of that day, he would become one of the latest victims of a growing menace in the country – SIM swap fraud.

He said, “My official phone line stopped working on May 12 this year at about 3.30 pm. Initially, I had thought it was a network issue and that the signal on my phone would come up again. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. When I realised that a couple of my colleagues had network service on their lines on Friday (the following day) I decided to visit the Etisalat Experience Centre at Ikeja City Mall (Shoprite) on May 14. The Etisalat worker who checked my phone line to find out what was wrong with it told me that my phone’s SIM card was damaged. He told me that since it was damaged, the card would have to be replaced.”

But Ibironke could not authorise the replacement of the SIM card because it was a corporate post-paid line. He was told by the Etisalat representative to get authorisation from his organisation’s account officer. Ibironke then realised that he would have to wait till he got to his office on Monday for the authorisation to be done. Before Monday however, great damage had been done.

“On May 14, I got an alert that N200,000 had been withdrawn from my Diamond Bank account. I got the alert because I receive bank alerts on my second phone number and not the one I took to Etisalat for repairs. I was helpless. Around 12am the next day, my phone beeped again with another bank alert that another transfer of N100,000 from my account had gone to a UBA (United Bank for Africa) account.  By 9.30 am, I got another alert indicating that N100,000 had left my account for a UBA account. It was obvious that my Etisalat line which I took for repairs had been swapped,” Ibironke told SUNDAY PUNCH.

But how did he know his phone line had been swapped? “Etisalat officials admitted that my line was swapped (by their staff at the centre?) without being authorised to do so. They said it was not their fault; that the unauthorised swap was carried out by one of their third-party suppliers (contractors that they outsourced some of their services to),” Ibironke stated.

Within 24 hours his GTBank account had also been depleted with a paltry N500 left. According to the officials of GTBank whom he contacted later, the withdrawals were made through a *737* short code service from Ibironke’s Etisalat line.

“I immediately sent an email to my account officer and the human resources officer of my organisation to inform them,” he said.

The matter had since been reported to the Special Fraud Unit, the Nigerian Communications Commission and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

“Ten days after my complaint to Etisalat about my stolen money, they requested that my complaint should be made formally through my company. On June 6, in a sinister move they (Etisalat representatives) requested for a meeting with me and some of my colleagues by sending the mail to a different email address from the ones we had been using earlier, thus delaying my company’s response to them.

“The meeting eventually held –a telephone conference involving two of my colleagues and Etisalat representatives; Manager, Corporate Sales, Abideen Ojomu; Property and Litigation Department, Anthony Emioma; and Head of Enterprise Sales, Olayiwola Akinwunmi,” Ibironke said.

Speaking further with SUNDAY PUNCH, he said, “It was at that meeting that they informed my colleagues and I that an unauthorised SIM swap was done by a third party agent of theirs but they wouldn’t be responsible for whatever happened to my bank account. So we requested that they respond to us officially which they haven’t done as I speak to you today (July 14). We have sent several emails to them requesting for an official response but Etisalat has refused to respond to us.”

Shortly after, another meeting was called by Etisalat. This time, one of the telecommunication company’s directors, Eric Uwaoma, was at the meeting. Ibironke’s request that Etisalat identified the person who swapped his line was ignored. At that meeting, Uwaoma reportedly offered to compensate Ibironke with N400,000 worth of airtime.

“I declined and he promised to get back to me which he hasn’t done as I speak. On June 27, after we had sent another email to Etisalat complaining of their apathy towards the SIM swap fraud. They requested, again, for another meeting which was attended by Ojomu and Akinwunmi, where they basically also offered airtime as compensation. Again, I declined. They left with a promise to revert to us. They haven’t done that to date,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Public Relations Manager of Etisalat Nigeria, Chineze Amanfo, absolved the company of any wrongdoing. Amanfo told SUNDAY PUNCH that the telecommunication firm did not provide the financial service that led to Ibironke’s bank account being compromised.

“We have conducted an internal investigation into the issues raised by Wale Ibironke concerning his telephone number, and we confirm that a SIM swap was performed on the line after the requester provided our customer agent with the prescribed SIM replacement information.

“The service carried out using the short code *737* is a financial service provided by the customer’s bank and Etisalat is not responsible for the security of the service and the transactions carried out using the short code. Etisalat only provides its network for the service to operate. We are of the view that Mr Ibironke should take up this issue with his bank for an investigation on how his account was compromised,” Amanfo said.

In the United Kingdom and South Africa, SIM swap fraud has become a cause for concern as hackers infiltrate subscribers’ SIM cards, to steal large sum of money from their bank accounts. In 2015 alone, the UK lost a total of £755 million to fraud involving “payment cards, remote banking and cheques”, according to Financial Fraud Action UK’s latest report.

Though Nigeria does not have statistics on frauds perpetrated through the platforms highlighted by FFA-UK, daily anecdotes and social media conversations reveal that many Nigerians have been caught in the web of SIM swap fraud.

This year, one Adetoke Oluwo posted on social media that she was duped of N400,000 following an unauthorised SIM swap.

She said, “I feel it is necessary I share my story so as to shed light on the way fraudsters dupe unsuspecting Nigerians and also to expose the shady Airtel employee who aided them. My purse with other documents and identity cards were stolen last year April and as usual, I got an affidavit for it. This year January, I got a call from Airtel in Ibadan concerning a SIM swap I wanted to do in Ibadan (I work and live in Lagos). I immediately informed them that it was a fraud when they told me someone presented to them one of the ID cards that was stolen.

“I immediately went to Airtel office at Ikeja City Mall to report and told them to flag and fortify the security on my SIM card as my Airtel line is connected to all my bank accounts. The Airtel employee said they would do something about it,” Oluwo said in her post.

That assurance only lasted a few days when her mobile phone beeped to alert her of bank withdrawals of N400,000 from her account.

Like Ibironke, Oluwo’s request that the telecoms firm should identify its worker who swapped her SIM card fell on deaf ears.

One month after, Oluwo had cause to smile – but not due to Airtel’s sympathy or its professional responsibility.

“Airtel officials till now did absolutely nothing about my stolen money even though they admitted the scam of N400,000. They neither replied a letter from my lawyer nor reached out to me after my meeting with them last month (February).

“I am presently in London for a course and would want to focus on it till I am back home to do the needful regarding Airtel. The good news is that GTB has refunded the N400,000 even though the fault was Airtel’s,” she said.

Would Ibironke also have a cause to smile soon? Nobody knows. However, the ICT expert has said that he is determined to get his money back.

“I recalled that the guy who attended to me asked if I was sure of the last time the line worked and made a face. I asked if anything was wrong and he shook his head, advising me to send an email to my account officer. A thousand and one questions raced through my mind; what if they had used the line to commit other serious crimes like kidnapping? Wouldn’t the police arrest me as a suspect or an accomplice?” he said."

Culled from PUNCH.       

The truth about Dbanj’s marriage

"Is popular pop singer, Dbanj married or not? Ever since social media went agog with the news that Dbanj had finally quit bachelorhood, this question has become the most asked among fans of the Kokomaster as he is fondly called.

Penultimate week, bloggers went to town with news that the pop singer got married to Lineo Kilgrow, who is reportedly an undergraduate of the University of Abuja.

To some, the news is a big deal while to others, it is an attempt by Dbanj to attract more attention to himself and ultimately, his music.

Even though fans are eager for Dbanj to divulge the true details, Sunday Scoop can authoritatively reveal that contrary to what is being reported in the entertainment circles, Dbanj did not have a court wedding.  What took place was a formal introduction ceremony as it is customary between a groom’s family and that of his bride-to-be.

It was learnt that Dbanj pleaded with his bride’s parents for the introduction to be hosted at his father’s house in Lagos because he did not want it to be an all-comers affair. Luckily, they were in support of his suggestion, a source told Sunday Scoop.

The introduction was witnessed by only close family members of the couple. The Kokomaster was unhappy the news leaked but was again comforted by the knowledge that bloggers got many of the facts wrong. According to his camp, he did not get married at Onigbongbo Registry, Ikeja, neither did the couple have a traditional introduction in Jos, Plateau State.

A source close to Dbanj told Sunday Scoop that Dbanj chose not to react to the news making the rounds.

“Dbanj has given so much information about himself to the public and he deserves to keep some things private and this is one of those things. He is not worried about losing female fans, he just wants his marriage and the impending white wedding off public radar,” the source said."

Culled from PUNCH.       

Police say man used brain preserving fluid to soak marijuana

A central Pennsylvania man was charged Thursday after police say he sprayed fluid used to embalm a human brain on marijuana that he then smoked.

State police in Carlisle charged 26-year-old Joshua Lee Long with abuse of a corpse and conspiracy.

Court records indicate Long's aunt contacted detectives on June 21 after finding a human brain in a department store bag under a porch while cleaning out a trailer.

Long allegedly told her during a phone conversation from the Cumberland County jail that he used the formaldehyde-soaked pot to get high.

"The defendant related that he knew it was illegal to have the brain and that he and (another man) would spray the embalming fluid on 'weed' to get high," wrote Trooper John Boardman, the investigator.

Court records indicate a coroner concluded the brain was real and that Long supposedly named it Freddy.
The coroners who examined the brain believe it was most likely a stolen teaching specimen, according to the arrest affidavit.

Long remains in jail, and court records did not list a lawyer for him.

WOMAN RAISES OVER $93K FOR COLLEGE KID WHO RIDES HIS BIKE 6 HOURS TO SCHOOL

When it comes to education, 19-year-old Fred Barley let nothing stand in his way not even being homeless. It is said that Fred traveled 6 hours from Conyers, Georgia to Barnesville where he attends Gordon College on a bike! He was found asleep in a tent on campus while he waited to be housed on campus.

Well one kind hearted woman was extremely moved by Fred’s story and decided to go the extra mile for him. She began a Facebook page to get his story out as well as gather donations for his schooling.“Thanks for taking the time to find out how you can help Fred. Here’s the story of how this page came about – From the Facebook post of Casey Blaney:

I have no idea how these types of things still happen in 2016 but listen to this heart-rending encounter I had today. I was notified by a friend of a situation that was being posted on our community facebook page, here in Georgia. We have a nice little college called Gordon College, here, and they have dorms, etc. This past weekend, a 19 year old Gordon student was found sleeping in a tent, hidden in the bushes with only a box of cereal to eat. He rode a little boys 20″ bicycle 6 hours in the heat of the day – with 2 duffel bags of all he owned and 2 gallons of water – from Conyers, to get to Gordon because he said he thought it would be the safest place for him to sleep in a tent, until he could get in the dorms on July 18th.

The campus police found him and told him to come out with his hands up and then realized there was something wrong; they asked him what the real story was and he told them. He was homeless and this would be his second semester at Gordon. The campus police found out this kid is wanting to be a biology major a was truly homeless and hungry. They took him to a local motel and several officers paid for him 2 nights there. He had nothing but 2 duffel bags, a little bike, a box of cereal and 2 gallon jugs to put water in.”

She then goes on to talk about how she went out of her way to find Fred at the motel he was staying at in order to further assist him via the GoFundMe page she had also created for him. She realized that his stay at the motel was only for two days and he still had a whole week before he would be able to move on campus. So out of the kindness of her heart she paid for him to stay until the 18th and found him a job… but that still wasn’t enough for her.

“I thought that helping find him a job, giving him some money and paying for his motel was going to be it for me. I just couldn’t stop thinking about how lonely and rejected he must feel. How he must be questioning IF he was going to be able to finish college, eat, and make life work. Then I thought — geez, this kid just rode a 20″ little boys bike 6 hours in 100 degree weather….he’s determined. But, I started feeling horrible that he was sitting alone in a motel room with no one….it was KILLING Cole and me. We went back and just sat and talked to him. Then we took him to get a few shorts and t-shirts for his new job and shared some laughs. We just dropped him off a bit ago, back at his motel room.”

Unfortunately Casey has been sent to Hawaii on a military assignment and is no longer able to assist young Fred the way she wished to, which is the reason behind her creating the GoFundMe page to begin with.

“I got the most gut-wrenching text from him where he asked if he could spend time with our family – that he just felt a connection to us – he said he just needed to feel like he was connected to someone. I cried…and I cried. How could this happen to this kid?! I hated to tell him that we were leaving for Hawaii in a few weeks, for a long time. (Military assignment)

So, if you live in this area, and you have room in your heart for someone that needs family…please invite him to dinner a few times a month. Please take time to cheer him on and tell him he can do this. Please pray for him. Please share some life with him. If you want to help him with clothes, shoes, food gift-cards, anything on your heart. Please let me know and I’ll get it to him. He’s worth it. I promise.

His needs list for clothes and College can be found on the Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/successforfred/”

The goal was set for $80k but has since surpassed it and is now at $93, 175!!!! We need more good in this world, so if you’d like to donate, just click the link below!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/successforfred/