Metro

JUST IN: Journalist Arrested Over US-based Reverend Sister’s Petition

Published

3 weeks ago

May 23, 2024

Editor

The Enugu State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of an Abuja-based journalist, Madu Onuorah, over an allegation of defamation by a Reverend Sister based in the United States.

It was earlier gathered that policemen from Ebonyi State Police Command arrested Onuorah and handed him over to men of the Enugu State Police Command.

The PUNCH further learnt that Onuorah was arrested over a petition written by a Reverend Sister based in the United States to the Enugu State Commissioner of Police, accusing the journalist of defamation.

Confirming this, the Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, in a statement on Thursday, said Onuorah was arrested in Abuja by policemen from the Ebonyi State Police Command.

The statement read, “The Enugu State Police Command is in receipt of several publications alleging the abduction of an Abuja-based online news publisher, one Madu Onuorah “m”.

“The command wishes to state that contrary to the allegations, he was duly arrested in Abuja with the assistance of police operatives from Ebonyi State Command and the aid of intelligence, after efforts made to formally invite him failed.

“Furthermore, his arrest was following the receipt of a written petition to the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, against him over an alleged defamatory publication he made against a US-based Reverend Sister.”

Ndukwe added that the Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Kanayo Uzuegbu, has ordered the office handling the case to professionally investigate and ensure that justice prevails.

“He calls on the press family, particularly the leadership and members of the Federal Capital Territory Chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, and associates of the suspect, to exercise patience, assuring that the needful will be done in the case,” he added.

Onuorah was on Wednesday, May 22, whisked away by men of the Nigeria Police Force at about 6 pm, in Abuja.

It was gathered that about 10 fully-armed policemen stormed his residence in Lugbe, Abuja, in two Sienna buses.

He was arrested in the presence of his wife and children, who fruitlessly demanded from the police why they were arresting the head of the family.

The police have seized Onuorah’s phones, thereby completely cutting him off from communication with people, including his family members.

Metro

Breaking: Gunmen kill, abduct many in Sokoto village on Sallah Day

Published

1 hour ago

June 16, 2024

Editor

Suspected Gunmen attacked Sokoto village killing and abducting many in the early hours of Sunday.

The attackers storm Dudun Doki vilkage of Gwadabawa local government area Sokoto killing over ten people and abducted many at about 1:30 am of today Sunday.

Details later…

Metro

Two Fake EFCC Officers Sentenced To 46 Years Imprisonment

Published

3 hours ago

June 16, 2024

Editor

Justice 0.0. Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja has sentenced the duo of Ugwu Pascal Chijioke and Ibrahim Sadia Adekunle to 46 years imprisonment for impersonating operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, while executing a fake court order.

A statement from the agency on Saturday, June 15, said they were re-arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Command of the EFCC on an amended five-count charge bordering on impersonation, attempt to obtain property, possession of documents containing false pretence and unlawfully wearing the uniform of the EFCC.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Ugwu Pascal Chijioke and Ibrahim Sadia Adekunle, on or about the 12th day of May 2021 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, by false pretence and with intent to defraud, attempted to obtain property from one Oriyomi Johnson under the pretext that the “Chief Magistrate Court, Lagos State Judiciary, Mushin, Lagos” issued an Order to the effect that the property located at New Horizon Estate, Lekki- Ikate, Lagos be seized and the said apartment sealed pending the arrival of the said Oriyomi Johnson, which representation you knew to be false and committed an offence of attempt to obtain property by false pretence contrary to Sections 8(b) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section11(3) of the same Act.”

Another count reads: “That you, Ugwu Pascal Chijioke and Ibrahim Sadiq Adekunle, on or about the 12th day of May 2021 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court not being a person holding any office in or authority of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, wore a jacket bearing the official mark of the Commission, which was calculated to convey the impression that you held such authority and committed an offence of unlawfully wearing the uniform of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission contrary to Section 79(1) (b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.”

Metro

Resign Now, Tinubu Orders BPP Boss

Published

18 hours ago

June 15, 2024

Editor

President Bola Tinubu has directed the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Bureau of Public Procurement, Mr Mamman Ahmadu, to resign.

The President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, made this known in a statement on Saturday.

Ngelale said Ahmadu’s resignation is part of a larger reorganisation effort in the public procurement system to reposition the agency for greater efficiency and transparency.

He added that Tinubu directed Ahmadu to hand over to the most senior officer in the Bureau, pending the appointment of a new Director-General.

The statement added, “The President thanks Mr. Ahmadu for his services and wishes him success in his future endeavours.”