Metro

Danger As Bandits Vandalise Makurdi Power Pylon

Published

2 years ago

September 1, 2023

A sight of a dangling tower, one of which carries the 33 KV transmission line of the Jos Electricity Distribution Company, JED, to Makurdi from its transmission hub in Apir, sends instant fears to the beholder.

The reason is not far-fetched; the implication of having the tower crash down when the lines are energised is better imagined.

The death toll and properties that could go up in flames might be beyond comprehension. But this scary consequence was certainly not taken into account by the vandals who tampered with four of the 33KV towers in the Genabe axis on the outskirts of Makurdi town, positioned directly opposite Makurdi Correctional Centre and near the Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority, LBRBDA, Headquarters in Makurdi.

One of the towers that has remained energised is almost collapsing as parts of the angle bars used to fortify its base have all been removed by vandals.

The gigantic tower was left dangling to the point of collapsing on the busy Makurdi-Aliade road in what looked like a devastating disaster waiting to happen. Findings indicated that the vandals also tampered with three other towers on that stretch, leaving them at the mercy of strong winds that could easily get them crashing down.

While no Genabe community member was ready to speak on how such a very important installation was vandalised by criminals, it is generally agreed by all those who expressed shock at the level of destruction of the towers that it could not have been done by people from outside.

That much was said by Mr. James Luger, a commercial bus driver who claimed that he plies the road on a regular basis. He said, “Those who did this couldn’t have come from outside; this immediate community should be held responsible for this act. How can anyone in his right senses decide to vandalise a tower like this? Maybe they do not know that if these towers come down today, several people who live around them might not survive it. The community must take steps to ensure that those behind this are arrested and handed over to the police because they are loosening the towers to sell the metals to buyers of scrap metal and, by so doing, endangering the lives of hundreds of people, including those locked up at the Correctional Services. Luckily, the JED officials have come to take urgent steps to save the towers from collapsing, but the community people must show responsibility by ensuring that they preserve their lives and property by being vigilant to arrest the vandals who, for the peanuts they sell scrap metal for, want to wipe out the community.”

On his part, the Managing Director of JED, Engr. Abdu Bello Mohammed, who led a team from Jos to assess the damage done to the important power installations, expressed shock at the state of the towers after being tampered with by criminals. Mohammed who spoke on the importance of the towers to the residents of Makurdi town and the dangers of having them vandalised to the point of having them crash down, described the installation as a double-circuit 33KV tower. He said: “One is feeding GRA, Wadata/town, Wurukum, and High Level. And the second is feeding the entire North Bank area of Makurdi town up to Gbajimba in Guma Local Government Area, LGA. Then the Industrial Layout and Ankpa Quarters axis. Four of the towers were vandalised, and one is already twisted. If the affected towers come down, two-thirds of Makurdi town will be in darkness. Besides, if the towers come down while energised, anyone who comes in contact with them and the lines will be killed on the spot. In fact, everyone living in this neighbourhood will be endangered, as will road users and travellers on the Makurdi-Aliade road.

“I had to come here to see things for myself because these towers are very important to us as a company and our consumers as well. It carries two circuits of 33 KV lines, and if it collapses, that means the two circuits will be out of supply. And you can imagine the number of customers that will be out. What happened here is a case of vandalism. I initially thought it was a natural occurrence, but when I came here, I discovered it was an act of vandalism, which is most unfortunate. We also discovered that, apart from this one that is almost coming down, some others have been tampered with. So we are going to inspect the entire route length of this 33KV feeder to make sure that the tower members are returned to their normal positions so that there won’t be any twists like this again.

“In view of what happened here, my advice to the communities where we have our towers is that they should take ownership of the infrastructure. If the lines go out, they will be the first to be impacted. Apart from endangering their lives, they will not enjoy supply, and economic activities in the community will be badly affected. Imagine that there is no power supply and the tower falls on individuals, cars, or buildings; the damage will be great. Then, if it has power and falls, the consequences can only be imagined. That is one more reason why this must not be allowed to continue. The vandals targeting these installations must be stopped on their tracks because they are exposing innocent Nigerians to danger.”

Metro

Accountant Jailed 15 Years For Defrauding Oyo Job Applicants

Published

11 hours ago

August 7, 2025

Editor

A serving accountant in the Oyo State Health Management Board, Wahab Olabanji, has been sentenced to a total jail term of 15 years following his conviction for fraudulently collecting various sums of money from unsuspecting victims with the promise of giving them employment.

Wahab, who until his trial was the Chief Executive Officer (Accounts) on Grade Level 14 at the state Hospital Management Board, was accused of collecting the money from applicants who applied for the last recruitments into the board and the state Teaching Service Commission.

The Chairman of Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency, Justice Eni Esan (retd.), disclosed this in a statement in Ibadan, the state capital, on Tuesday.

She said Olabanji was convicted on a 30-count charge of official corruption, obtaining money under false pretence and conversion, to which he was sentenced to six months imprisonment with an option of N50,000 on each count of the charge.

Esan said, “The man was convicted on a 30-count charge of official corruption, obtaining money under false pretence and conversion. However, after a rigorous 17-month trial, the court delivered its judgement on Friday, August 1, 2025, in which the defendant was found guilty on all the 30 counts and he was sentenced to imprisonment for six months with an option of N50,000 fine on each count of the charge.

“The court also ordered the defendant to pay all sums fraudulently obtained from his victims within three months to remedy the wrong suffered by the victims due to the corrupt and fraudulent actions of the defendant.”

She reiterated OYACA’s commitment to zero tolerance for corruption in the public service of the state.

Metro

Tragedy Adverted As Tanker With 50,000 Litres Of Diesel Skids Off Road In Oyo

Published

13 hours ago

August 7, 2025

Editor

A tanker carrying 50,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil skidded off the road on Wednesday evening at Jin-Jofes Filling Station, Iwo Road in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Eyewitnesses told PUNCH Online on Thursday that the incident occurred around 8 pm as a result of brake failure while the driver was attempting to navigate a bend.

One of the eyewitnesses, Ajadi Oyekunle, said, “I was heading home when the incident happened. It could have been disastrous, but the immediate arrival of the state Fire Service averted an explosion.”

Another witness, Bisola Ogungbade, said, “It happened during rush hour when everyone was trying to get home. Thankfully, both the driver and the motor boy were rescued alive. The motor boy sustained a minor injury to his shoulder and was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.”

Confirming the incident, the Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Service, Maroof Akinwande, said the report was received at exactly 20:07 hrs on Wednesday via a phone call from one Adisa Kazeem.

“Our officers, led by ACFS Adeniyi Adesina, were promptly deployed to the scene. On arrival, they found a DAF trailer tanker with registration number LAGOS: T17 657 LA, carrying 50,000 litres of AGO, had skidded off the road into a nearby gutter, and its contents were spilling.

“The firefighters quickly applied a chemical foam compound to blanket the spillage and neutralise the flammability of the content to prevent a possible fire outbreak.

“The driver and motor boy were rescued alive, though the latter sustained a minor shoulder injury and was taken to the nearest hospital. The situation has been brought under control, and normal activities have resumed on the road”, Akinwande added.

He also confirmed that operatives of the Nigerian Police Force from the Akobo Division and the Amotekun Corps were present to provide security during the operation.

The firefighters reportedly returned to the station around 4:12 am on Thursday.

Metro

Court Orders TSTV CEO To Pay ₦938m, $1.42m In Debt Case

Published

1 day ago

August 7, 2025

Editor

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja has ordered Telcom Satellites Limited, and its Chief Executive Officer, Bright Echefu, to pay a former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), a total of ₦938 million and US$1.42 million, along with post-judgment interest at the rate of 10 per cent per annum until the debt is fully cleared.

Justice Bello Kawu made the order on July 7, 2025, while delivering judgment in the suit filed by Turaki against the TSTV and its CEO.

A certified true copy of the judgment was sighted on Wednesday by The PUNCH.

Turaki, the claimant in the suit marked FCT/HC/CV/332/23, sued TSTV and Echefu, as the 1st and 2nd defendants respectively, over unpaid debts.

In a writ of summons supported by a 27-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Turaki, he stated that TSTV, a company duly incorporated under the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020, presented itself as an indigenous cable satellite television provider rendering media and telecommunication services to him.

He said the 1st defendant (TSTV) operated from its head office located at Plot 859, Idu Industrial Area, Idu in Abuja.

According to Turaki, the 2nd defendant, Echefu, who is the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of TSTV and its alter ego, personally obtained loans from him under false pretences.

Turaki said he became aware of the defendants in 2018 through a close friend and associate who had been approached by Echefu to convince him to invest in TSTV.

He noted that after about two months of due diligence and negotiations with Echefu, he declined the invitation to invest in TSTV as the terms presented were not acceptable to the 1st defendant.

He said that following the failed investment proposal, Echefu continued to mount pressure on him to invest in TSTV.

“Unrelenting in his efforts, the 2nd defendant wrote a letter conveying several propositions to me to come on board, including acquiring 35% of the shares of the 1st defendant and assuming its chairmanship,” he said.

According to Turaki, this proposal was made in a letter dated November 13, 2019.
He added that after persistent persuasion from Echefu and his collaborators, he agreed to serve as Chairman of TSTV and acquire 50% of its shares for the sum of ₦800 million.

He added that this decision was based on representations by Echefu that TSTV was a viable and profitable cable satellite company.

“The 1st defendant, as a result, deceived me into acquiring 50% of its shares for ₦800 million, even though the company was moribund,” Turaki stated.

He further said that after assuming the position of Chairman and investing in the company, Echefu again exerted pressure on him to assist in raising additional funds for TSTV’s operations.

Turaki said that under pressure from Echefu, he introduced him to Tudu Ventures Nigeria Limited, which lent the defendants the following sums: ₦1.2 billion, ₦800 million, US$1.6 million and US$500,000.

The defendants allegedly failed to repay the loans, prompting Tudu Ventures to file a separate suit (FCT/HC/CV/1588/21) to recover the funds. Partial judgment was entered against the defendants on November 22, 2022.

Turaki said he also personally granted loans to Echefu at his request, amounting to ₦138 million, US$1.35 million, and an additional US$70,000.

“The defendants, via a letter dated January 5, 2021, acknowledged receipt of $1.28 million and ₦138 million as part of the loans advanced to them,” the claimant said.

He added that the defendants later approached him again, stating that the $1.28 million was insufficient for its intended purpose and requested an additional $70,000, which he also provided, bringing the total loan to $1.35 million.

Turaki said Echefu once more approached him for a further loan of $70,000 to meet financial obligations, which was also granted.

“That the 2nd Defendant again approached me to advance a further loan of the sum of USS70,000, to enable them settle some financial exigencies, which was also advanced to the defendants”.

According to him, the defendants, through a payment proposal signed by Echefu for settling Tudu Ventures’ loans, his own loans, and the equity investment, agreed to repay $1.35 million, $70,000, and ₦138 million.

He added that Echefu’s Counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo, (SAN), via a letter dated November 22, 2022 agreed to pay the sum of N200,000,000 on or before July 15, 2022, through the said counsel as a demonstration of the 2nd Defendant’s good faith and commitment to liquidating his Indebtedness to him which the 2nd Defendant failed to keep.

Turaki said he later instructed his lawyers, N.A. Saidu Legal Consult issued a demand letter to Echefu seeking repayment, but no response was received.

He emphasised that, given the efforts made and the lack of response from the defendants, it became clear to him that the defendants had no intention of repaying the loans which Echefu personally obtained and which are now overdue.

He, therefore, urged the court to compel the defendants to repay the outstanding loans with post-judgment interest of 10 per cent annually until the debt is fully liquidated.

In his judgment, Justice Kawu granted all the reliefs sought by Turaki.

He held, “An order of this Honourable Court directing the 1st and 2nd defendants, jointly and severally, to pay the claimant the sum of ₦138,000,000 (One Hundred and Thirty-Eight Million Naira) being the total loan advanced, now due and unpaid.

“An order directing the 1st and 2nd defendants, jointly and severally, to pay the claimant the sum of US$1,350,000 (One Million, Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand US Dollars) being the total loan advanced, now due and unpaid.

“An order directing the 1st and 2nd defendants, jointly and severally, to pay the claimant the sum of US$70,000 (Seventy Thousand US Dollars) being the total loan advanced, now due and unpaid.

“An order directing the 2nd defendant to pay the claimant the sum of ₦800,000,000 (Eight Hundred Million Naira) being the total sum paid for 50% equity in the 1st defendant, despite knowing the company was moribund.

“An order awarding post-judgment interest at 10 per cent per annum on the total judgment sum from the date of the judgment until full satisfaction of the debt, and such further orders as the court may deem fit.”
(PUNCH)