News

Mohbad’s Father Drags Primeboy, Others Before Coroner

Published

4 months ago

January 23, 2024

An application seeking to call more witnesses in the bid to unravel the cause of the death of the late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba aka Mohbad, has been filed at the coroner court sitting in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State.

This was contained in a statement obtained by PUNCH Metro on Monday and signed by Monisola Odumosu of the Hillceetee Partners on behalf of the deceased’s father, Joseph Aloba.

In the application signed by Emmanuel Oroko. It was noted that the testimonies of the witnesses in the ongoing inquest would provide more factual, evidential, and better light on the circumstances leading to the death of the late singer.

The law firm said their research had shown “that there were incidents on the Third Mainland Bridge at about 2.30 am (Sunday, September 10, 2023), (which) the appropriate witnesses did not mention and which no one has related at the Coroner Inquest and in our opinion would have given away the circumstantial event that led to the death of Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba.”

The application also revealed that there were events on September 12, 2023, at the deceased’s residence, which were not mentioned by the appropriate witnesses.

According to Odumosu, the application indicated that such information would have given a better insight into the real cause of the death of the deceased, adding that recent events had shown that some probable witnesses had been subpoenaed.

It added, “These key witnesses include the driver of the car that drove the deceased, his wife, his brother, and the witnesses proposed to the honourable inquest. Furthermore, the law firm believes that the situation of the CCTV at the deceased’s residential premises not functional at the time the deceased and others came home may not be true.”

The statement added that the witnesses requested to testify before the court include, “Ayobami Fisayo aka Spending, Boluwatife Adeyemo aka Darosha and Ibrahim Owodunni aka Prime Boy; all of whom were with the deceased at the material time.”

The law firm further asserted in the application that the evidence of these witnesses would help expound and give further clarity on the ongoing inquest in no small measure to understand the reasons and events leading to the death of the deceased.

“The application would also afford the inquest to make appropriate recommendations to the appropriate authority on who is culpable in the case.

“This would meet the justice of the case if the individuals proposed to be called could give their eyewitness accounts of the events that led to the death of Mohbad,” the statement added.

A source in the family told The PUNCH on Monday that the request came on the heels of the suspension of the ongoing inquest by the coroner.

The source who craved anonymity said, “We were surprised when we found out that the coroner had stopped sitting while waiting for the result of the pathologist. A pathologist is meant to investigate the cause of the death but there is still some circumstantial evidence which had been held on to and this would unravel the real cause of the death.”

Mohbad died on September 12 at the age of 27, with circumstances surrounding his death sparking controversies on social media.

Being a former record label signee of Marlian Music owned by Naira Marley, Mohbad left the label in February 2022.

The Lagos State Police Command had on September 18, 2023, inaugurated a 13-man special investigation team to probe the death.

His death also led to the arrest of Naira Marley, and controversial Lagos socialite, Balogun Eletu, aka Sam Larry, amongst others.

The body of Mohbad was on September 21, 2023, exhumed for autopsy to unravel the cause of his death.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, had tweeted in September 2023 that an “autopsy has been concluded” and the police were “awaiting result.”

In the course of its probe, the police declared Primeboy wanted on October 4, 2023, after which he turned himself in two days after.

Meanwhile, Aloba, in November 2023, had stated that nobody should collect his son’s body for burial without his authorisation.

In an interview with The PUNCH in December 2023, Hundeyin reiterated that the command had not received the report of the autopsy conducted on Mohbad from the pathologists.

News

Invictus Games: Prince Harry, Meghan Arrive In Lagos

Published

5 mins ago

May 12, 2024

Editor

The Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, accompanied by the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan, has landed in Lagos to embark on a three-day visit to Nigeria.

According to reports, their itinerary includes a meeting with Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at Lagos House in Marina.

Recall that Prince Harry, the founder of the Invictus Games for wounded military veterans, arrived in Nigeria on Friday, continuing his efforts to promote the sporting event.

During their stay in Lagos, the royal couple attended the Dream Big Basketball clinic hosted by the Giant of Africa Foundation at Ilupeju Grammar School. Masai Ujiri, President of the Giant of Africa Foundation, praised the couple for their role in inspiring African youth through sports.

Expressing their excitement to participate in programs aimed at empowering young people in Africa, Prince Harry and Meghan emphasized the importance of such initiatives.

In Abuja, the prince’s team, adorned in yellow, engaged in an exhibition match against a team led by Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff. Despite taking an early lead with players seated on foam mats, some missing legs, Prince Harry’s team was defeated by Team CDS.

Later, the royal couple attended a reception for military families, where they were greeted by traditional dancers who showcased their talents with acrobatic performances.

News

Reign Of Terror: Again, Gunmen Strike In Enugu, Kill Four Policemen, FRSC Officials In Fresh Attack

Published

2 hours ago

May 12, 2024

Editor

There was a reign of terror at Orba and Eha-Alumona in Udenu and Nsukka Local Government Areas of Enugu State, respectively; as gunmen attacked two operatives each of the Nigeria Police Force and Federal Road Safety Corps on Saturday.

The attack came barely 24 hours after two policemen on a stop-and-search duty were attacked and killed on Friday by some gunmen in the state metropolis, less than a kilometre from the Government House.

It was gathered that the latest attack started from the Premier Junction at Eha-Alumona in Nsukka LG and proceeded to the Army checkpoint at Orba in Udenu LG around 4 pm.

The four personnel were killed in the onslaught while others escaped with various degrees of injury.

The hoodlums also attacked and set ablaze a Hilux van belonging to the traditional ruler of Egali Amalla Community in Udenu LG, Patrick Eze, popularly known as Igwe Waziri.

The monarch, who was reportedly caught, in the web of the attack, miraculously escaped unhurt.

The gunmen also burnt an FRSC van during the carnage.

Meanwhile, when our correspondent contacted the state Commissioner of Police Kanayo Uzuegbu, for his reaction to the incident, he said, “I am not aware of the incident. Please contact the Police Public Relations Officer on that.”

However, efforts to get the command’s spokesperson, Daniel Ndukwe, were unsuccessful as he neither responded to the calls nor text messages as at the time of filing this report.

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State had vowed to apprehend the assailants who killed two policemen on Friday with all the resources available to the state government.

PUNCH

News

SERAP, BudgIT, Others Drag CBN To Court Over Cybersecurity Levy

Published

3 hours ago

May 12, 2024

Editor

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project; a not-for-profit organisation, BudgIT, and 136 concerned Nigerians have filed a lawsuit against the Central Bank of Nigeria “over its failure” to withdraw the cybersecurity levy.

In what was described as an “unlawful circular,” the plaintiffs in the suit number FHC/L/CS/822/2024 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Lagos State, asked the court to determine “whether the CBN circular dated 6th May 2024, directing financial institutions to deduct from customers’ accounts a cybersecurity levy is unlawful and therefore ultra vires the CBN.”

This is contained in a statement issued by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, made available to newsmen on Sunday.

Last Monday, through a circular, the apex bank ordered all commercial, merchant, non-interest, and payment service banks, among others. operating in the country to start charging a cybersecurity levy on transactions.

The CBN noted that, in compliance with the enactment of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act 2024 and under the provision of Section 44 (2)(a) of the Act, a levy of 0.5 per cent (0.005) equivalent to a half per cent of all electronic transactions value by the business specified in the Second Schedule of the Act, is to be remitted to the National Cybersecurity Fund which shall be administered by the Office of the National Security Adviser.

“The levy shall be applied at the point of electronic transfer origination, then deducted and remitted by the financial institution. The deducted amount shall be reflected in the customer’s account with the narration, ‘Cybersecurity Levy.” the circular stated.

Although, President Bola Tinubu had directed the CBN to suspend the implementation of the controversial cybersecurity levy policy and ordered a review, the plaintiffs asked the court to determine whether the apex bank’s directive “are not in breach of sections 14(2), 44(1) and 162(1) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], and therefore unconstitutional, null, and void.”

They also demanded that the “CBN, its office, agents, privies, assigns, or any other persons acting on its instructions from enforcing the circular dated 6th May 2024, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed contemporaneously in this suit,” be restrained.

The suit filed on behalf of the plaintiffs by their lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, read in part, “The CBN circular is unlawful and an outright violation of the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and the country’s international obligations.

“Unless the reliefs sought are granted, the CBN will enforce its circular directing banks to deduct from customers’ accounts a cybersecurity levy. Millions of Nigerians with active bank accounts would suffer irreparable damage from the unlawful deduction of cybersecurity levies from their accounts.

“The provisions of the Cybercrimes Act on payment of cybersecurity levy strictly apply only to businesses listed in the Second Schedule to the Act. These provisions make no reference to bank customers, contrary to the CBN circular to all banks and other financial institutions.”

The statement noted that while the CBN’s circular “a blatant violation of Nigerians’ human rights including the right to property guaranteed under section 44 of the Nigerian Constitution and article 14 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to which Nigeria is a state party,” the Federal Government “has a legal responsibility to ensure the security and welfare of the people, as provided for under section 14(2)(b) of the Nigerian Constitution and human rights treaties to which Nigeria is a state party.”

The plaintiffs, therefore, urged the court to “grant the reliefs sought in the public interest and the interest of justice as well as to prevent arbitrariness and ensure the rule of law in the country.”

The cybersecurity levy, as ordered by the apex bank, is to be be remitted to the National Cybersecurity Fund which shall be administered by the Office of the National Security Adviser.

While disagreeing with this, the plaintiffs noted that according to Section 162 (1) of the Nigerian Constitution, the payment of “revenues collected by or on behalf of the Government of the Federation are mandatorily required to be paid into the Federation Account save the revenue excepted by the provisions of the section.”

“The National Cybersecurity Fund established by section 44(1) of the Cybercrimes Act 2015 [as amended] into which it is required to be paid the levy of 0.5% chargeable on all electronic transactions instead of the Federation Account is unconstitutional, null, and void.

“As of 30 April 2024, commercial banks in Nigeria already charge exorbitant fees for electronic transactions, including electronic transfer charges at N53.75 on any amount above N10,000; stamp duty of N50 on every transaction and account maintenance charge deducted per month,” the statement partly read.

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.