Metro

Security Agents, NANS Protesters In A Free-for-all At APC Secretariat

Published

3 years ago

August 31, 2022

There was a show of shame on Wednesday at the All Progressives Congress national secretariat when a group of youths loyal to the Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, engaged security operatives in a free-for-all over plot to influence the election of the National Association of the Nigerian Students by some ‘elements’ allegedly sponsored by the National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu.

The fracas, which occurred on the eve of the election to swear in new NANS executives slated for Thursday, saw aggrieved students and young party members converged at the entrance of the secretariat in protest.

The protest was led by Segun Dada, one of the former aspirants who stepped down for the current APC National Youth Leader, Dayo Israel.

Dada was said to have arrived at the secretariat on the directive of the youth leader to lodge a complaint during the NWC meeting on how some elements suspected to be elements of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party plan to hijack Thursday’s NANS elections.

The young APC member and his ‘boys’, however, met a stiff resistance from the armed guards at the national secretariat.

To disperse the demonstrators, the security details shot several canisters of tear gas into the crowd; an action that led to a stampede that saw some of the students making attempt to force their way in.

The rowdiness forced the operatives to beefed up security with additional men and applied force.

A source within the secretariat told The PUNCH that the security details were acting on the directive of the APC national chairman not to grant access to the NANS members, adding that the students were attempting to disrupt a meeting of the the party’s National Working Committee, which was still in progress.

He said, “Dada’s attempt and desperation to force his way with his delegation resulted in the police using teargas on him and others, which infuriated them, leading to the situation becoming rowdy.

“The surprising thing is that Dada is not a stranger at the secretariat because he worked for some years here. But, he was not however diplomatic in handling the situation otherwise it would not have degenerated to the extent of using several canisters of teargas to disperse them.

“Yes, Dada was on genuine mission to brief the leadership on how PDP elements in APC have hijacked the election, as directed by the youth leader.

“But what we cannot understand was why he came with those hefty boys that fought the security agents. It was bad that the Chief Security Officer of the party was molested by those boys that came with Dada”.

As of the time of filing the story, the National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, could not be reached for reaction.

Wednesday’s fracas has further fuelled the alleged cold War between Tinubu and the National chairman of the party, an allegation that has been dismissed by the camp of the former governor.

Reacting to the report, Director of Media and Communications for Tinubu Campaign Organisation, Bayo Onanuga, said that he has no knowledge of the fracas and cannot report directly on it.

He, however, reiterated that his principal has no rift whatsoever with Adamu.

“I really don’t know where this rumour is coming from. I think the media is part of the problem. As far as I concerned, the candidate of the party leader has a good working relationship,” he stated.

Metro

Two Children Die In Separate Well Tragedies In Kano

Published

13 hours ago

November 5, 2025

Editor

Tragedy struck in two communities in Kano when two children lost their lives in separate well incidents.

The Kano State Fire Service confirmed the incidents in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer, ACFO Saminu Yusif Abdullahi. A copy of the statement was made available to the press on Wednesday in Kano.

According to the statement, both incidents occurred in the Dawakin Tofa and Dala local government areas of the state.

According to the statement, “The first incident took place on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at about 8:53 a.m. in Kashirmo Village, Sarkakiya, Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area. An eight-year-old girl identified as Zara’u Muhammad reportedly fell into a well while playing”.

However, residents of the area made desperate efforts to rescue the child before the arrival of firefighters, but were unsuccessful due to the depth of the well and the high level of water inside.

Metro

ICPC Arraigns Woman For Forging Marriage Certificate, Visa Fraud

Published

13 hours ago

November 5, 2025

Editor

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned one Ms. Elle Isaac Blessing Ojo before Justice Akobi of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Kubwa, for allegedly forging a marriage certificate and United Arab Emirates (UAE) passport stamps to fraudulently obtain a United Kingdom (UK) visa.

The arraignment, which took place on Tuesday, followed a four-count charge filed by the Commission under Charge No. CR/577/25 Federal Republic of Nigeria vs. Elle Isaac Blessing Ojo (F).

According to the charge sheet, the offences were committed around 2019 within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The ICPC prosecution team alleged that the defendant forged a marriage certificate with registration number 024119/2017, purportedly issued by a Nigerian marriage registry, and used it to support her UK visa application.

The Commission also accused Ms. Ojo of forging entry and exit stamps of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on her international passport, presenting them as genuine to strengthen her visa application.

These actions, according to the charge sheet, contravene Sections 363 and 366 and are punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code Laws of the Federation, which deal with forgery and the fraudulent use of forged documents.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Elle Isaac Blessing Ojo, in 2019 or thereabouts, at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did fraudulently present as genuine a forged marriage certificate purportedly emanating from Ikoyi Marriage Registry, Ikoyi-Lagos, when you had reason to believe it to be a forged document, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 366 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code Laws of the Federation.”

When the charges were read, the defendant pleaded not guilty to all four counts. She was represented by her counsel, C.A. Owo Ekele.

Lead prosecution counsel, Barrister Fatima Abdullahi of ICPC, informed the court that the Commission was ready to proceed to trial and requested a date for hearing, while the defence counsel applied for bail on liberal terms.

After listening to both sides, Justice Akobi granted bail to the defendant in the sum of ₦2 million with two sureties in like sum. One surety must be a public servant not below Grade Level 15, while the second must be a resident of Abuja with a family and possess landed property with a valid Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) within the FCT.

The second surety is also required to attach copies of his or her passport and C of O to the bail documents for verification.

Justice Akobi further ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre pending the fulfillment of the bail conditions.

In a statement on Wednesday, ICPC’s spokesperson and Director of Public Enlightenment and Education, Demola Bakare, said the Commission will continue to collaborate with relevant embassies and international partners to curb visa-related fraud and bring offenders to justice.

Metro

Abductors Kill Seminary, Free One In Edo

Published

15 hours ago

November 5, 2025

Editor

Kidnappers have killed Emmanuel Alabi a seminary of Immaculate Conception Minor, Ivianokpodi, Estako East Local Government Area, 95 days after he was abducted.

Late Alabi and two other seminaries, Japhet Jesse and Joshua Aleobua, were abducted on July 10, 2025.

In June this year, Peter Andrew, from the same Ivianokpodi seminary was abducted and killed.

Jesse escaped and regained freedom but others remained with the kidnappers.

Their plea for freedom and rescue did not yield any results even as the kidnappers placed them among their previous dead victims.

Aleobua regained freedom on November 4th but Alabi was shot dead while attempting to escape.

A statement by the Catholic Diocese of Auchi and signed by the Assistant Director of Communications, Fr. Linus Imoedemhe, was silent on how Alabi died.

The statement said Bishop of the Diocese of Auchi, Most Rev. Gabriel Dunia, expressed deep pain and sorrow over the loss of the young seminarian.

It said Bishop Dunia called on security agencies to intensify efforts toward protecting the lives and property of all citizens and cautioned political leaders against turning a blind eye on the worsening insecurity situation in the nation.

Bishop Dunia urged them to prioritize the safety and well-being of the people over political ambitions ahead of the 2027 elections.

According to the statement, “The Catholic Diocese of Auchi invites all the faithful and people of goodwill to join us in praying for the repose of the soul of Emmanuel Alabi, and for the peace, healing, and security of our people and land.

“The Diocese of Auchi remains committed to the values of faith, peace, and justice, trusting in God’s infinite mercy to bring comfort to the bereaved family, the seminary community, and all those affected by this tragedy.

“May the soul of Emmanuel Alabi, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.”