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Alleged 44.8b fraud: Resign, submit to EFCC probe, Huriwa tells Edu


The embattled Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, has been advised to resign or excuse herself from duty for some time so she can submit herself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigations.
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This is following the Federal Government’s ongoing 44.8 Billion Fraud investigation in NSIPA as it concerns the public fund she allegedly warehoused in a private individual’s bank account.

Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) made this advice, premising on the strength of the public sector financial regulations of 2009, which prohibits the payment of public funds to the account of a private individual.

Specifically, HURIWA said it would be a double standard if the president suspended his appointee heading the social investment coordinating office for the allegations of paying public funds worth over N34 billion as alleged by EFCC into private accounts, but only for the cabinet-level minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to be going about the public space seeking justification for also directing that public fund be paid into a private account no matter the status of that account holder.
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It called on the President and the EFCC to use a universal yardstick in the enforcement of the anti-graft laws since the law shouldn’t be made to be afraid of certain individuals because they are senior national figures in the ruling All Progressives Congress.

“We are not Accusing the minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation of committing any infractions, but based on the media statements that her office has issued so far, the attempt to convince Nigerians that it is lawful to keep public fund in private account is just like the polemic promoted by one erstwhile civilian governor of Kano State in the second Republic,” HURIWA said.

“It is incongruous and indeed puerile to say that on one hand, the EFCC arrested one official of the same government over allegations of payments of public funds into private accounts but on the same breath, a cabinet level minister is inundating the public space with her submission that keeping public money in private account of someone heading a certain portfolio, is appropriate.
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“This sounds illogical and fallacious and by the way, if as the Minister argued that under a certain civil service rule, public funds can be kept under private accounts, why then does the financial regulations Act governing public service in Nigeria say the exact opposite?”

It recalled that the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, has cried out to Nigerians over what she described as “disgruntled elements” trying to stain her hard earned integrity following the Federal Government ongoing 44.8 Billion Fraud investigation in NSIPA.

The minister said these elements have been trying to link her to a phantom fraud and are behind this latest misadventure by displaying on social media a memo from the ministry to the Accountant-General of the Federation approving for payment, of the sum of N585,189,500.00 Renewed Hope Grant for Vulnerable Groups, (GVGs), for four states, which is currently being circulated in the social media.
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In a statement by her Special Assistant on Media, Rasheed Zubair, she explains; “For the avoidance of doubt, the said N585,198,500.00 was approved, and it is meant for the implementation of grants to vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun, and Lagos states.

“We must, however, note that GVG was first launched in Kogi state where recipients testified. Akwa Ibom and Cross River were launched in December 2023, Kogi in November, and others will be launched in the coming weeks.

“The general public is invited to note that the Renewed Hope Grant for Vulnerable Groups is one of the social intervention schemes of the federal government, which is being implemented by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.”

In response to the allegations, Edu urged Nigerians to discountence these allegations claiming that some sponsored disgruntled elements in the past few days have been trying to smear her image and stain her integrity following the Federal Government ongoing probe of 44.8 Billion Fraud in NSIPA.
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Metro

Gunmen shoot Osun civil servant dead after robbing him

Plice SP Tochukwu Ikenga

Some yet-to-be-identified gunmen have killed a civil servant identified as Afolabi Adeleke in Osun State.

The incident, it was gathered, happened at the victim’s residence in Ipetumodu in Ife North Local Government Area of the state.

The gunmen reportedly stormed Adeleke’s house in the wee hours on Thursday night, robbed him of his mobile phone and money and shot him thereafter.

The Acting Public Relations Officer of the Osun State Police Command, Emmanuel Giwa-Alade, confirmed the incident on Friday, saying the victim died before he was rushed to a hospital.

Giwa-Alade disclosed that the gunmen killed Adeleke, who was a worker at the Ife North Local Government Secretariat before his tragic murder, with a dane gun. 

He said the moment the men of the underworld left the environment, neighbours who heard the gunshot reported the matter to the police.

According to him, the moment a team of police officers arrived at the scene, Adeleke was rushed to a hospital but he was declared dead on arrival by a doctor on duty. 

Giwa-Alade assured members of the public that the perpetrators would be arrested. 

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Metro

Lagos women arrested for selling newborn twins

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested two women, Ujunwa Una and Chinelo Igbechionwu, for conspiracy and child sales.

The suspects, both female, were apprehended by patrol officers from the Ojodu Division stationed at Berger bus stop, an entry point into Lagos.

Police spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident in a statement released on Friday.

The arrest, which took place on September 9, 2024, was made possible after a Good Samaritan tipped off the police about the women’s movements.

When questioned, the suspects were found travelling with two newborn baby girls, estimated to be just six days old, on their way from Abia State.

It was also revealed that the suspects were en route to deliver the babies to a nurse in Lagos State, whom the mother of the babies promised to link them up with only after they had arrived in Lagos.

The suspects admitted to receiving ₦150,000 as payment for transporting the babies to Lagos.

The Lagos State Police Command has since transferred the case to its Gender Unit, which is responsible for child protection and related issues, while the two infants have been placed under the care of a motherless babies’ home, where they are receiving medical evaluation and proper care.

Hundeyin added that investigations are ongoing to apprehend the other parties involved in the crime, including the babies’ mother and the nurse awaiting their delivery.

The two suspects, Una and Igbechionwu, were arraigned in court on Thursday, where they faced charges of child trafficking and conspiracy.

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Metro

Teen Kills her Mother, Invites Friend to see Corpse

According to prosecutors, when a 14-year-old Mississippi girl frantically messaged her friend to come over to help with an “emergency” one afternoon this past March, the friend had no idea what she’d witness next.

“Are you squeamish around dead bodies?” 14-year-old Carly Gregg allegedly asked the friend when she answered the front door, according to Mississippi state prosecutor Kathryn White Newman, in footage broadcast by CourtTV, who spoke at the now-15-year-old’s murder trial. Local WAPT and WJTV also reported on Newman’s opening statements in the trial, which began Monday.

According to Newman, moments later, Gregg led her friend to her bedroom, where her mother was dead on the floor from three gunshots, CourtTV and WAPT reported. Newman told the courtroom that Gregg’s mother was searching her daughter’s bedroom for vape pens, WLBT also reported.

Gregg faces murder and attempted murder charges, according to The Clarion LedgerWLBT, and WJTV, as prosecutors allege the young girl used her mother’s own gun to shoot her dead inside the family’s Brandon, Miss., home before calling her friend to the house.

Later, the teenager is accused by prosecutors of lying in wait an apparent ambush designed to shoot and kill her stepdad, Heath Smylie, when he arrived home, WLBT, WJTV, and The Clarion Ledger reported.

Newman laid out the prosecution’s case to jurors on Monday, according to video from the courtroom shared by Court TV. Newman alleged the teenager arrived home with her mother, a math teacher at Northwest Rankin High School, where Gregg was a student. Gregg went straight into her parents’ bedroom to retrieve a .357 Magnum pistol from beneath their mattress, Newman alleged. Hiding the gun behind her back, Gregg went to her own bedroom and confronted her mother, fatally shooting her three times, Newman said, according to The Clarion Ledger, WLBT, and WJTV.

Ashley Smylie
Ashley Smylie. Northwest Rankin High School 

At a preliminary hearing in April that was recorded and released by the blog Jackson Jambalaya, Rankin County investigator Zachary Cotton said there’s home security footage that shows Gregg’s allegedly nonchalant behavior before and after the shooting.

Cotton alleged that one video shows the teenager returning to the kitchen after allegedly killing her mother, where the suspect is seen then texting from a phone. The investigation allegedly found that the teen was messaging her stepfather asking when he would be home, according to Cotton. 

Cotton alleged in court that between killing her mother and attempting to shoot her stepfather, Gregg was seen in another video “singing to her dog” before texting her friend to come to the house.

Carly Madison Gregg,15, right, listens as defense attorney Bridget Renea Todd, addresses Rankin County Circuit Court Judge Dewey Arthur during a hearing regarding Gregg's competency to stand trial and her mental health
Defense attorney Bridget Renea Todd and Carly Madison Gregg. Barbara Gauntt/Clarion Ledger / USA TODAY NETWORK

When her stepfather arrived home, prosecutors allege Gregg attempted to shoot him and then fled through the family’s backyard after they scuffled over the weapon, WJTV, WLBT, and CourtTV reported.

She was arrested near the house soon after, WAPT, WLBT, and WJTV reported.

Gregg faces two life sentences if she’s convicted in the murder and attempted murder, according to The Clarion Ledger, WAPT, and CourtTV. The outlets report the teenager rejected the state’s plea deal of 40 years in prison and that her defense team entered a plea of insanity.

Credit: People Magazine

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Ex-Senator Abbo denies 32-sex tape claims, threatens lawsuit against accuser

A former senator representing Adamawa North, Elisha Abbo, has denied claims of creating 32 sex tapes with a lady named Wange David and is threatening legal action.

David claimed in a recent interview to have made 32 sex tapes with Abbo and accused him of leaking a particular clip that has been making the rounds on the internet, accusing the former Senator of attempting to ruin her marriage.

However, Abbo, through his lawyer, Odiyowvi Osusu, denied the allegations, saying, “Our client has been made aware of a series of videos published on social media and online media platforms to deliberately and maliciously malign his person.”

Wange “falsely and maliciously used defamatory words” against Abbo, according to Abbo’s counsel, by explicitly accusing him of sexual exploitation, publishing and distributing intimate videos, the spread of revenge porn, and blackmail.

Abbo’s counsel, however, demanded that Wange publish a public retraction and apology on national TV and in three national newspapers within 72 hours of receiving the letter.

According to the counsel, failure to comply with this demand will result in legal action being taken against Wange.

Abbo’s counsel stated, “These videos have not only caused significant reputational damage to our client but are also misleading to the public. The statements and claims made in these videos are factually incorrect and have resulted in unnecessary harrn to our client’s personal and professional reputation.

“We have been instructed by our client to make a demand, and we hereby formally request that within 72 hours of receiving this letter, you publish or air an unequivocal public retraction and apology on national TV and in three national newspapers.

“The terms of this retraction must be approved by our firm, and we expect you to revert to us within 24 hours of receipt of this letter.

“You shall also be expected to circulate the retraction and apology on the same platforms wherein your interviews were circulated.

“Save and except we receive a satisfactory reply from you within the timelines as stipulated above.”

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Nigeria Police Bust Fake Job Syndicate in Rivers

The Rivers Police Command has busted a job racketeering syndicate that allegedly specialises in advertising non-existent employment vacancies to defraud unsuspecting job seekers.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Olatunji Disu, disclosed this at a news conference in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

Disu said that operatives from the command successfuly rescued 16 victims held by the gang during a raid of its hideout.

He said that the syndicate was uncovered when officers from the Octopus Strike Force responded to a distress call from concerned residents, who suspected a hostage situation.

“Police operatives acted swiftly and raided a compound in Igwuruta, Ikwerre Local Government Area, arresting one Chukwudi Okoli, who had been posing as an employee of Ojoseansel International Global Limited.

“During the operation, one Amiye Joseph and 15 other victims, comprising 13 males and two females, were rescued and taken to the station.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that each of the victims had paid between N650,000 and N850,000 to the fraudulent company,” Disu said.

He further alleged that the company had “falsely promised the victims jobs in the oil and gas industry, with salaries purportedly paid in US dollars.

“The fraudsters operated by randomly selecting phone numbers and contacting potential victims, introducing them to fake job opportunities.

“They would then invite the victims to Port Harcourt for bogus interviews.

“Investigators further discovered that after extorting large sums of money, the victims were detained in a facility, where they were closely monitored,” Disu said.

He further disclosed that the company also allegedly subjected its victims to training sessions in its hideouts.

He alleged that the victims were taught how to deceive their friends into believing in fraudulent job offers, with the promise of earning 450 US dollars per week.

He said that items recovered from the gang’s operational base included mobile cellphones, laptops, television sets, generators, industrial fans, and office furniture.

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Zamfara boat mishap: Nine bodies recovered so far

Nine bodies have been recovered so far from the boat mishap in Zamfara State

A total number of nine bodies have been recovered so far from the boat mishap in Zamfara State.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed this in a post it shared on its X account on Tuesday morning.

“On Saturday, September 14, 2024, a tragic boat accident occurred in Mashayar yandaga, (old market site) Gummi Township, within the Gummi Local Government Area (LGA) of Zamfara State,” NEMA wrote.

“An assessment of the incident was conducted on Monday, September 16, 2024, following reports of the disaster.

“The boat which was carrying over 40 passengers, mostly farmers and crew men capsized as a result of overload and high river current.

“Local divers and fishermen managed to rescue five persons alive. Sadly, nine bodies have been recovered so far as search and rescue operations continue.”

The agency added that many individuals including men, women and children remain unaccounted for.

According to the post, the assessment was carried out by officials from NEMA, the Zamfara Emergency Management Agency (ZEMA), local government authorities, community leaders, the Red Cross and other stakeholders.

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