Member representing Ohaukwu North Constituency in Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Hon. Chinedu Awo, has been accused of using thugs to attack Mr Charles Oleh Jnr, Head of Community News of Ebonyi Broadcasting Corporation, EBBC.
Also attacked were Prince Solomon Okorie, Publisher of Guide-Post International Magazine/Newspapers as well as other journalists invited to cover the sharing of Government palliatives by the Ezza-Effium Community.
The incident took place at No 9, Nise Street, off Ogwu Street in Abakaliki metropolis.
Mr Charles Oleh Jnr narrated how the lawmaker, Mr Chinedu Awo ordered his thugs to beat him up after giving the EBBC Senior reporter a push in his attempt to clarify reactions trailing the disbursed palliatives.
He said: “by the time we arrived the venue many people blocked the gate of Deeper Life Bible Church in Abakaliki, complaining bitterly that Hon. Chinedu Awo and his cronies allegedly locked the gate, not allowing them to partake in sharing of the palliatives.
“Some of them alleged that the said lawmaker, planned to divert the palliatives, to share to his immediate family instead of following the due process.
“There were mixed reactions as some supported the palliatives to be shared in Abakaliki town, whereas, majority of them insisted that the palliatives should be moved to the community where more people would benefit.
“However, immediately Mr Chinedu Awo got information that journalists were on ground, he unlocked the small gate, rushed out and started attacking us.
“When I tried to explain he pushed me and unleased his thugs who descended on me and beat me mercilessly in public.
“They destroyed my phones and inflicted injury on my body as they used two-by-two planks and stones on me. It was just by the grace of God that I escaped from being killed.”
One of the affected Journalists, Prince Solomon Okorie, the Publisher of Guide-Post International Magazine said the lawmaker threatened to kill him if he published anything with regards to the allegations by his kinsmen.
“Just a comment from Charles Oleh Junior threw the scene rowdy as the Lawmaker ordered his boys to beat him up and we all took to our heels to save our lives,”Okorie stated.
In an interview, the National President of Umuekumaenyi General Assembly, Mr Ben Orogwu who is from the area explained that the palliatives given to Ezza people in Effium Community by the State Governor, Chief David Umahi was offloaded at the scene of the attack, 9, Nise Street Abakaliki town.
He said, the agreement of the community stakeholders was that the palliatives would be sent to the hinterland to distribute to the people but expressed surprise on how the arrangement was thwarted.
“Our agreement was that, this morning, we will move the palliatives to our respective villages but the so called stakeholders led by the Honourable member representing Ohaukwu North, Chinedu Awo have not allowed us to do it as we agreed.
“We don’t know why they refused allowing us to carry the palliatives to the village, personally I’m from Wigbeke ward II, and I have not seen my own.
” The instruction was that the palliatives should be shared booth by booth so that the affected people will benefit, not the urban guerrillas who don’t know their polling units. We don’t know what they are doing inside and locked doors against us,” the President and other sources from Ezza-Effium Community petitioned.
Mr Bukola Saraki, a former Kwara State governor, was detained on Saturday, sources familiar with the development said.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has held a former president of the Nigerian Senate, Bukola Saraki, in custody over allegations of theft and money laundering.
Mr Saraki, a former Kwara State governor, was detained on Saturday, sources familiar with the development said, a situation that may trigger another episode of troubles for the politician.
As senate president between 2015 and 2019, Mr Saraki spent a considerable time facing allegations of corruption and false declaration of assets. He was acquitted by the Supreme Court in June 2018.
However, in his new case with the EFCC, Mr Saraki is to answer questions over alleged theft and laundering of public funds using a network of cronies and proxy companies.
The suspected proxies, who executed purported contracts for Kwara State under Mr Saraki, allegedly made returns, for many years, to the former governor, forming an organised a network of dirty money flow.
The funds involved were huge, running into hundreds of millions in naira and hundreds of thousands in foreign currencies at various times, sources said.
Anti-graft investigators have reportedly obtained a list of the proxy companies involved and analysed a pattern of suspicious transactions between them and Mr Sarki.
One of them has been reportedly responsible for funding Mr Saraki’s lifestyle, including paying over a hundred million to settle the bills for rent and renovation of Mr Saraki’s Maitama residence, PREMIUM TIMES’ investigation showed, based on interviews with persons familiar with the property.
Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested 55 suspected Internet fraudsters in separate operations in Enugu and Ebonyi states.
Eighteen of the suspects were arrested on Thursday at Agbani Road and Thinkers Corner areas of Enugu following intelligence on their alleged involvement in Internet fraud, while the remaining 37 suspects were apprehended on Wednesday at the Hausa Quarters, Nkaliki, Aboboriga, Abakiliki in Ebonyi State.
A statement by the Head, Media and Publicity, EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, named the suspects nabbed in Enugu to include John Kennedy, Onochie Paul, Ilojeme Chiagozie, Ilechukwu Chidiebeube, Ike Emmanuel, Otega Philip, Uzochukwu Frank and Ezinwa Chimere.
Others are Obike Nwabufo, Ikeja Eyerinsu, Chidindu Victory, Onwuagbaizu Paul, Tomizine Alamco, Great Oluwagbemiga, Kanu Ifeanyichukwu, Ebere Malachy, James Ewenike and Ilojeme Chiemela.
Items recovered from them include laptops and several mobile phones.
The statement read in part, “The remaining 37 suspects were apprehended on Wednesday, July 28, 2021, at Hausa Quarters, Nkaliki, Aguoboriga, Abakiliki, Ebonyi State.
“The suspects include Igwe Chukwudi, Ozoemena Newman, Obinna William, Eze Godwin, George Ezenwa, Onyebuchi Ebuka, Ezediegwu Innocent, Nzubechukwu Obineze, Igwe Ikenna, Ibrahim Falada, Ezra Excel, Chinedu Agu, Oscar Sogidu, Uchenna Onyenweaku, Nwoka Darlington, Ejike Prince, Anuli Obinna, Nwazunkwu Collins, Mba Rocks and Patrick Junior.
“Others are Amefula Kennedy, Ebuka Okoh, Igboke Chinonso, Ijezie Chibuike, Anthony Delight, Joseph Ahuighnwa, Innocent Chukwuebuka, Chima Ndubuisi, Benjamin Kelechi, Precious Kalu, Anthony Samuel, Christian Valentine, Chukwudi Agbom, Ekebudu Nwabueze, Okoye Arinze, Igwebuike Emeka and Chiemelie Franklin.
“Items recovered from the suspects include four vehicles – Lexus RX 350 with number plate KUJ-552-BG; Lexus IS250 with number plate EBJ-762-AAA; Mercedes Benz ML350 4matic with number plate KUJ-393- BQ; and Mercedes Benz E350 with number plate YAB-133-BL, several phones and laptops.”
The anti-graft agency said the suspects would be charged when investigations into the cases were concluded.
Staff of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, the regulatory agency overseeing EEDC, Mr Emeka Odoemelam, has openly confessed to the Abia State House of Assembly that the power company has been exploiting the people.
The NERC representative was present when the Assembly summoned EEDC over issues affecting the distribution company and power consumers in the state.
Odoemelam posited that a situation where the Honourable Members in carrying out their social responsibilities donate transformers and are still charged extra money by EEDC Is unacceptable.
“It is our duty to ensure that customers are not exploited.”
He stunned the Assembly by announcing that there is a provision in the commission’s regulations which states that once you are contributing any asset to any Distribution Company, such donation should not be entirely free.
He advised the House to always engage the distribution company anytime they want to donate transformers because there should be some compensation for a donor which is a standard practice.
”As you donate, you should demand because it is your right to be compensated on the asset you are donating and that is what the Law says”, Mr Odoemelam exposed.
Reacting to a question from Hon Emeka Okoroafor, Member representing Isuikwuato State Constituency, if the EEDC was following the capping order as reached in an agreement sometime past, Odoemelam answered in the negative.
He said that service providers have not complied to the directive of the 2020 capping order which states that certain amount of kilowatts should be given to customers.
“They have not really complied to the directives but due to the Covid 19 pandemic, the agency was limited to traveling but that in the last few months, the commission has been going round the country trying to get information from customers to determine whether the service providers were fully in compliance with that order.”
He further said the result of that tour by the commission has not been so pleasant because they have seen some level of deviations from the regulations but that the commission doesn’t just take action on the service providers without having sufficient watertight information on their infractions, hence, the reason it seems they are not fast in wielding the big stick.
Mr Odoemelam stated that last week, they were in Umuahia to take customers complaints and to look at estimates. “Once the commission is done with field works, it will get the level of non-compliance, and necessary sanctions placed on the Distribution Company.”
He added that he is from Umuahia and “I can tell the house for free that even in my house the approved capping is not followed, but the commission, like I said earlier, we will follow up this logically and where they are found wanting, they will be sanctioned accordingly”, he said.
Mr Odoemelam said the Commission was also in Enugu three weeks ago and saw EEDC taking delivery of 18,000 meters from the 40,000 allocated to the region
Abia state house of assembly under the leadership of the speaker Rt.Hon. Engr Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji condemned the mode of operations of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) in Abia State.
The house expressed displeasure with the way and manner the electricity distribution company has been conducting business in the state.
Speaker Rt.Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji stated that EEDC officials were summoned as a result of the incessant complaints of citizens concerning the activities of the electricity company in Abia.
The Speaker further said Abians are bitterly complaining about lack of prepaid metres and the ever increasing sums from estimated bills charged Abians which he described as totally unacceptable to the 7th Abia State House of Assembly.
During the session the The Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon Ifeanyi Uchendu, also queried why a large part of his immediate constituency of Ohafia South has been in total blackout for months now.
Also collaborating what the deputy speaker said ,Hon Mandela Egwuronu Obasi, Member representing Ohafia North State Constituency on his part, asked why the EEDC is indirectly extorting Abians through high billings, demanding to know if the metres claimed to be primed for distribution in the State are for commercial or residential use because the company seems to channel their claws on commercial entities for extortion.
On his own part, Hon Ginger Onwusibe, Member representing Isiala Ngwa North State Constituency asked the EEDC official the plan of the company in metering rural areas which he said should be captured in the ongoing metering program. He also wondered why someone would be expected to pay a huge amount of money for energizing a transformer even after donating it to a community but which eventually becomes the property of EEDC.
Hear him: “Why can’t your company appreciate such huge kind gestures, applaud the donor, energize the transformer then take whole possession of it”.
While responding to the plethora of issues raised by the Abia legislature, Mr Ozoezeh Onyebuchi, the Network Manager of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company stated that the company has installed over a thousand distribution substations at the cost of over N350,000,000. 00 (Three Hundred and Fifty Million Naira Only) in the last one year alone, and that installation of the substations was for the company to checkmate estimated billings. He also said EEDC has installed 16,000 meters at the cost of over N800,000,000.00 (Eight Hundred Million Naira Only) in Abia State.
He added that the company has procured 3,000 meters that are currently being programmed and that their target is to meter all the customers in the State in due course.
Mr Ozoezeh was interrupted by the Abia speaker, who obviously not impressed by the EEDC team leader’s presentation.”You just told us what was installed, even with your explanations, that is still not clear. Between the last time we met and today, what has happened? What is new? Are there Metres for continued installation to the people? And how many customers do you have in Abia State? the Speaker asked.
Responding to this Mr Ozoezeh Onyebuchi said the company has 150,000 active customers in the State and that the available 3,000 metres are to be installed as part of progress in metreing the people.Also providing answers to the questions posed by the deputy speaker’s question, the EEDC representative adduced that Ohafia as the third largest commercial city in the State cannot be overlooked.
He said the issue of Ohafia was not solely the fault of EEDC, rather, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) should be held responsible for that. He further said the greatest challenge his company is experiencing in Ohafia Local Government Area was attacks from hoodlums because the company outfield engineers have been attacked and held hostage countless times while on duty in the area.
While also reacting to the questions raised by Hon Mandela Egwuronu Obasi, Member representing Ohafia North State Constituency on his part, asked why the EEDC is indirectly extorting Abians through high billings, demanding to know if the metres claimed to be primed for distribution in the State are for commercial or residential use because the company seems to channel their claws on commercial entities for extortion.Mr Ozoezeh said the meters are standardized and that the commercial metres are billed from source. He said the procured metres are for homes.
As a follow up to the questions raised by Hon.Mandela, Rt Hon Chikwendu Kalu, Member representing Isiala Ngwa South State Constituency, asked the Network Manager if the available 3,000 Metres were from the Federal Government or from EEDC.
Ozoezeh said the metres are from the Federal Government but that it is a kind of loan which the company will pay for later. He also said that metreing has been going on in Umuahia but that it is at minimal. He informed that the company planned to storm the State with the metres later this month.
Not happy with the EEDC official’s explanations and figures bandied as number of customers they have in the State, the Speaker said, “You are saying you have 53,000 customers in Umuahia, far more than you have in Aba; you can’t tell us you have less customers in Aba than Umuahia. I think you got your records wrong”, .
Mr Ozoezeh said the company has installed over a thousand distribution substation metres in the State, and that “as a matter of fact, in Umuahia District, we have metred over 80% of all all our transformers and we are also working with some rural areas even though most of them complain of high bills but we are working with them to bring down their consumption rate and energy management.
“About donations, the EEDC representative appreciated the Honourable Members especially the Speaker ,saying they have donated and installed countless number of transformers in their constituencies and beyond. He further added that these donations depend on the need for the transformers”.
A court in the Western District of Texas on Wednesday sentenced Canada-based Nigerian, Olumide Bankole Morakinyo, to eight years in prison for conspiracy and money laundering.
He is also expected to refund $975,863 to the multiple victims of his crime.
According to the United States Attorney’s office, 38-year-old Morakinyo conspired with one Lukman Aminu to create illegal accounts for participants on the online portal of the Texas Employees Retirement System.
The court document, obtained by our correspondent, revealed that the duo used bank deposit information in the system to re-route pension payments to accounts controlled by Aminu.
With the physical debit cards of those accounts, Aminu withdrew the money and transfered or deposited the cash at Morakinyo’s directions.
“This defendant’s scheme and those like it victimise our most vulnerable citizens and cost taxpayers billions each year.
“Our office will use all of the available legal tools to identify and bring to justice those who commit cyber-enabled fraud and launder the proceeds,” U.S. Attorney Ashley Hoff said.
During the hearing, U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman also ordered that Morakinyo be supervised for three years upon completion of his jail term.
Aminu, on the other hand, was charged in a separate indictment, and was sentenced to a 51-month jail term on December 18, 2019.
The statement, titled, Nigerian Money Launderer Sentenced to Prison for Defrauding Texas Employees Retirement System, reads in part:
“For a scheme that defrauded the Texas Employees Retirement System, Olumide Bankole Morakinyo, 38, a Nigerian national residing in Canada, was sentenced today to eight years in prison and repayment of $975,863 in restitution to multiple victims for conspiracy to commit money laundering.
“This Defendant’s scheme and those like it victimize our most vulnerable citizens and cost taxpayers billions each year,” said U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff. “Our office will use all of the available legal tools to identify and bring to justice those who commit cyber-enabled fraud and launder the proceeds.”
“According to court documents, Morakinyo conspired with Lukman Shina Aminu, a resident of New Hampshire, to create unauthorized accounts for participants in the Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS) internet portal. Personally identifiable information (PII) of various ERS participants was used to make changes to their accounts in the ERS internet portal. Bank deposit information on file in the system was changed to re-route retirement payments to debit cards controlled by Aminu. Aminu, who possessed the physical debit cards, would withdraw money under instructions from Morakinyo and then transfer or deposit that money at Morakinyo’s direction.
“The debit cards were also used for cash withdrawals and to purchase money orders for personal expenses and for buying used vehicles to be shipped overseas to Nigeria and Benin for resale. With these international automobile transactions, Morakinyo and his conspirators laundered the fraud proceeds by concealing the source of the funds and making the money appear to be legitimate income.
“Today’s sentencing of Olumide Morakinyo highlights how seriously IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS CI) and our law enforcement partners take the issue of identity theft,” said IRS CI Special Agent in Charge Richard Goss of the Houston Field Office. “We will continue to pursue those criminals who prey on innocent victims, stealing their identities to promote tax and other frauds. This sentencing should send a clear message to would-be criminals, that you will be caught and you will be punished.”
“U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman also ordered that Morakinyo be placed on three years of supervised release after completing his prison term. Aminu, charged in a separate indictment, was sentenced on December 18, 2019, to 51 months in prison.
“I would like to thank the United States Attorney’s Office, IRS CI, and Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) Texas Rangers Public Integrity Unit for their partnership, dedication and hard work on this case,” stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs. “By working together, we were able hold Morakinyo accountable for his role in this fraud scheme, which caused hardship and suffering to victims in Texas and other parts of the United States.”
“The FBI, IRS CI and the DPS Texas Rangers Public Integrity Unit investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Galdo and Neeraj Gupta prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.”
Senator representing Enugu North Senatorial District of Enugu in the Red Chambers of the National Assembly, Sen Chukwuka Utazi has decried the persistent and routine killings of natives, security agents and migrant farmers in Uzo Uwani LGA lately.
The Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence lamented that recent events are turning the area into a killing field.
While appreciating the marvellous efforts of His Excellency Rt Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the Executive Governor of Enugu State, in his containment security policies in the State as a whole, has called the Local Government Chairman of Uzo Uwani LGAbtonrise to the occassioned.
In a statement made available to EverydayNews in Enugu, Senator Utazi also called on the Neighbourhood Watchmen, the Forest Guards, the Traditional Rulers and Presidents General of various Town Unions, to rise up to the occasion.
He urged all stakeholders to rise in defence of the Local Government Area and it’s various communities, from the unrelenting and marauding AK 47 wielding herdsmen littered at all the nooks and crannies of the area, bearing in mind that eternal vigilance “is the price we all must pay for the security of lives and property.”
Sen Utazi used the opportunity of the latest Herdsmen attack on the Opanda-Nimbo migrant farmers from Aku, to call on the Enugu State House of Assembly to, as a matter of urgency pass the Southern Governors Forum’s proposed anti open grazing bill into law in Enugu State, to forestall any future herders-farmers clashes in Enugu State.
He however, warned that with the insecurity in the area a bleak harvest awaits the public next year as farmers couldn’t farm this year as fear of herders’ attack pervades the whole farming communities in Uzo Uwani LGA and beyond.
Sen Chukwuka Utazi thanked the GOC 82 Division, the Enugu State Commissioner of Police, the Enugu State Director of Department of State Security, the Enugu State Commander of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence for their collaborative efforts and partnership with the Chief Security Officer of the State and Executive Governor of Enugu State, Rt Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, in trying to reduce criminality to the barest minimum in Enugu State, and beyond.
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council, OYC, has expressed outrage over the early Monday attack by Fulani herdsmen in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State.
It was reported that the attack left many people dead and others with deadly injuries.
The herdsmen were said to have waylaid the agrarian community in the early hours of the day and sent some of the natives to early graves.
OYC, in a statement by its President-General, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike and the Secretary-General, Comrade Obinna Achuonye said the attack was unacceptable.
The Igbo group said it was now time for the Military to prove its mettle.
“We woke up yet again to another orge of killings by marauding Fulani herdsmen. This is not the first time Uzo-Uwani is experiencing this kind of carnage, as we have not forgotten in a hurry how Nimbo in the area came under similar deadly attack leaving scores dead.
“Now, we have a repeat of such gruesome and dastardly killings. We are in deep pain, we are in agony over this heartbreaking report.
“This is the kind of situation that necessitated the IPOB into the formation of ESN, as they watched helplessly over the years and our people were being slaughtered,” the OYC said.
While knocking security agencies for doing little in the face of the mindless killings by Fulani herdsmen, the youth group said, “it is quite regrettable that Nigeria security agencies display weakness anytime the Fulani herdsmen are involved in crime but they become python when it comes to the ESN.
“We saw just a few days ago how the Army announced that they have smashed the camp of ESN in Amagunze Enugu State, but the same military is unable to enter the bushes and capture Fulani herdsmen who are sending our people to their graves and raping our women.”
“The time has come for the military to show their gallantry, and this Uzo-Uwani incident stands as a litmus test.
“Ndigbo are watching and running out of patience; the military must capture these killer herdsmen dead or alive, that is the only way to rebuild confidence of Nigerians in them,” Ohanaeze further stated.
Invading herdsmem have reportedly attacked a farm settlement in Uzo-Uwani Local Government of Enugu State killing many in the process.
EverydayNews reliably gathered that the herdsmem attacked Obie Aku farm camp Sunday night killing and injuring so many people.
As at Monday morning villagers were still searching for more victims around the camp said to be located in the bush
Three people that were seriously wounded include: Melly Nwodo from Umugwuocha Mgboko; Nnadi Arinze from umudikwu aloke Nua and Opia Apeh from Ogwurogwu in Uzouwani LGA.
Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area , a border Community dominated by farmers have witnessed series of attack from herds since the Nimbo massacre of April 25, 2016.
Nimbo was invaded, and scores massacred by over 500 armed Fulani herdsmen.
Soldiers have smashed a gang of gunmen who have been terrorising the Enugu metropolis in recent weeks.
The new wave of attack which started after three Hilux Vans attacked Super Market in the Onu Asata area, has caused tension and fear.
The Asata robbery was a strange one as the gunmen who operated in three Hilux Vans ended up carting away bags of rice, Carton’s of noodles and gas cylinders.
Since then Enugu has not known peace as two prominent persons have been assassinated while a police checkpoint was recently attacked and some police men killed.
Our source disclosed that the gunmen were traced to their hideout in Amagunze, Nkanu East LGA were they confronted the hoodlums.
Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), in Ijero Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Babatunde Babade, 45, has been arrested along with two others; Ilesanmi Shola, 35, and Babajide Johnson, 45, for trafficking illicit drug.
The transport union leader was caught with 52.5kilograms of skunk in Akure, the Ondo State capital following intelligence that he was conveying bags of the banned drug in his 1997 model blue Mazda car with registration number: Ekiti JER194 AE from Akure to Ekiti State.
Babatunde, popularly called BB, was taken into custody along with others soon after his arrest at about 2.p.m on Sunday, July 18, 2021 for interrogation. In his statement, he admitted he owns the vehicle used for conveying the drug.
He further stated that the car was earlier intercepted by some security agents who detained the two other suspects, his car and eight bags containing cannabis sativa while his brother who drove the vehicle fled.
He, however, claimed that following his intervention, the security agents released the suspects and his car to him after taking two of the eight bags containing the drug and sixty thousand naira (N60, 000) from him, before he later ran into NDLEA officers while on his way back to Ekiti.
Meanwhile, officers of the Benue state command of the agency have intercepted another suspected interstate drug trafficker, 29-year-old Odinaka Ugwuanyi along Apir road, Makurdi with 124,000 tablets of Tramadol, Diazepam and Exol-5, all weighing 22.55 kilograms.
The suspect arrested at about 8am on Saturday 17th July, 2021 in a commercial vehicle, said he is from Nsukka local government area of Enugu state. He however claimed another passenger he knows who sat next to him in the vehicle dropped the bag containing the drugs with him and fled upon sighting NDLEA officers.
Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) has commended the doggedness of the commanders, officers and men of the Ondo and Benue state Commands of the Agency in the ongoing offensive action against drug barons, traffickers and peddlers.
He charged them along with their colleagues in other commands to remain resolute in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities.
