News

My Appointment By Oba Of Benin As Okao Of Iguobazuwa To Foster Traditional Value’ – Obaruy

Published

3 years ago

March 17, 2021

Editor

…Says No Contention With Odionwere Title

The newly appointed traditional head /Okao of Iguobazuwa, in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State, Chief Friday Obaruyi has stated that his confirmation as the traditional leaders of Iguobazuwa was to foster the Benin traditional value and custom in the community.

He also added there was no time that his title, ‘ the Okao of Iguobazuwa ‘ was in conflict or contention with the title of the Odionwere, saying that the Okao title was given to him by the respected Benin Monarch.

Making clarification as to what led to the crisis in Iguobazuwa, Obaruyi in a chat with newsmen in Benin City, alleged that the suspended Odionwere and others had abused all traditional rites and mismanaged the fortune of Iguobazuwa.

In his words: “ On the 10th 0f October, 2019 we, the concern people of Iguobazuwa came to the palace of the Oba to report the case of mismanagement of fund, abuse of traditional process and many other atrocities being committed by one Pa Sunday Omokao who was the second in command to the late Odionwere, Pa Omorogbe Imeogbon.

“The Oba, having listened to both parties, ruled that he has committed atrocities and that he stands suspended as the second in command. In fact the man agreed before the Omo N’Oba that he has never taken the title of Odionwere and cannot be and as such he stands suspended.

“The men claiming to be the number 3, 4 Pa Sunday Omokaro, Pa Peter Idehen, Mr Edward Edoghayobare and Mr Joseph Iguaavon stand suspended and thereafter the Oba mandated me and other loyal elders that were not affected by the suspension to go and take charge. After that there were a series of protests that they were not going to allow what the palace has decreed to stand.

“I told them pointedly that it was an abomination to go against what the Oba said and they continue with the atrocities and abomination. Since then they refuse to comply with the suspension order of the palace. Someone who is on suspension went into the land of the Oba in Iguobazuwa community.

“Oba owns all the land and I challenged them. My father told me many years ago that the Oba owns all the land in Iguobazuwa that we only hold it in trust for the Oba and because of that they started castigating me.

“They went as far as installing a woman as the Osa deity in my community which has never happened before. This is the remote and immediate cause of this problem until finally by December 2020; the Oba finally conferred my title as the Okao /traditional head of Iguobazuwa community.”

News

Police Reacts To Trending Video Of Woman Feeding Baby Alcohol,Vow To Fish Out Mother [WATCH]

Published

9 hours ago

May 15, 2024

Editor

The spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has stated that the police will fish out a nursing mum filmed feeding her baby alcohol.

The disturbing video showed the woman who spoke in Yoruba, hailing her baby girl as she gulped the alcohol.

Reacting to the video, Adejobi wrote: ‘’Another assignment for us. This is too bad. We will fish her out. Thanks. @PoliceNG”

News

EFCC Arrests 13 Fake BDC Operators In Lagos

Published

13 hours ago

May 14, 2024

Editor

Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested thirteen fake bureau de change operators in Lagos.

They were arrested for operating BDC without an appropriate licence.

The suspects are: Abdulahi Musa, Garba Abdullahi, Dauda Hussaini, Jubril Musa, Abdulwaheed Iliyasu and Abubakar Mohammed.

Others are: Umar Saidu, Nurudeen AbdulAzeez, Hamidu Usman, Yusuf Isa, Musa Ishaka, Liman Makki and Idris Mohammed.

They were arrested during sting operations by EFCC’s operatives between May 10 and 13, 2024 at different parts of Lagos, following credible intelligence received by the Commission about their illicit business activities.

Also, a suspected currency racketeer, Kafayat Lateef was also arrested over for alleged involvement in the sale of the Naira notes in different denominations.

A sum of N2.1 million was recovered from her at the point of arrest. A statement by EFCC Spokesman, Dele Oyewale, said that the suspects would soon be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

News

Ex-CBN Gov, Emefiele Faces Fresh Charge Over Printing Of Naira Emefiele

Published

15 hours ago

May 14, 2024

Editor

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has preferred a fresh charge against the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, over an allegation that he illegally printed Naira notes while he held sway at the apex bank.

The anti-graft agency, in the four-count charge it entered before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, equally accused the former CBN boss of unlawfully approving the withdrawal of about N124.8billion from the consolidated revenue fund.

According to the EFCC, the defendant, acting in violation of law and “with intent to cause injury to the public,” okayed the printing of naira notes without the approval of both the former President, Muhammadu Buhari and the board of the CBN.

Emefiele, who is already facing multiple charges both in Abuja and Lagos, is expected to take his plea before trial Justice Maryann Anenih.

Specifically, the charge against him, read: “That you Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, between the 19th day of October 2022 and 5th March 2023 in Abuja, knowingly disobeyed the direction of Section 19 of the CBN Act, 2007, by approving the printing of N375,520,000.00 pieces of colour swapped N1, 000, at the total cost of N11,052, 068,062 without the recommendation of the Board of Central Bank and the strict approval of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria which conduct of yours caused injury to the public and you thereby committed an offence.

“That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, between the 19th of October 2022 and 5th March 2023 in Abuja, knowingly disobeyed the direction of Section 19 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007, by approving the printing of 172,000,000 pieces of colour swapped N500 (Five Hundred Naira) Notes, at the total cost of N4, 471,066,040 without the recommendation of the Board of Central Bank and the strict approval of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria which conduct of yours caused injury to the public and you thereby committed an offence.

“That you Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, between the 19th day of October 2022 and 5th March 2023 in Abuja, knowingly disobeyed the direction of Section 19 of the CBN Act, 2007, by approving the printing of 137,070,000 pieces of colour swapped N200 (Two Hundred Naira) Note, at the total cost of N3, 441, 005, 280 without the recommendation of the Board of Central Bank and the strict approval of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria which conduct of yours caused injury to the public and you thereby committed an offence.

“That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, on or about the 7th day of October 2020, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, knowingly disobeyed the direction of Section 80 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended), by approving the withdrawal of the total sum of N124, 860, 227, 865.16 from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation in a manner not prescribed by the National Assembly, which conduct of yours caused injury to the public and you thereby committed an offence.”

It will be recalled that President Bola Tinubu had on June 9, 2023, suspended Emefiele from office as the head of the apex bank.

He was later arrested at his Lagos residence by DSS operatives.

The former CBN boss was subsequently transferred to the custody of the EFCC, which on November 28, 2023, docked him on a six-count charge that bordered on his alleged involvement in procurement fraud.

Though Emefiele, who initially spent 151 days in custody of security agencies, was later granted bail to the tune of N300million and ordered to produce two sureties that the trial court stressed must be Abuja residents that have landed property within the Maitama District, the defendant could not perfect the conditions till December 23, 2023, when he was released from Kuje prison where he spent about 34 days.