Metro

Youths Protest INEC’s Alleged Refusal To Conduct Bye-election In Akwa Ibom

Published

3 years ago

December 7, 2022

Youths of Oron Union in Oron Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State had stormed the premises of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, along Udom Udoma Avenue Uyo in protest of what they described as ‘delay or tactical refusal’ by the commission to conduct a bye-election to fill the vacant office of the federal constituency.

The position was left vacant after the demise of Nse Ekpenyong
a former House of Representatives Member for the Oron Federal Constituency who died on April 23, eight months ago and his seat declared vacant on June 30 by the Speaker during his internment.

The youths of the area in a protest on Wednesday lamented that the absence of representation had deprived them of many benefits and rights from the National Assembly accusing the electoral umpire of nonchalance in conducting a bye-election in the area.

Displaying placards with various inscriptions such as “INEC sabotaging our constitutional benefits for 8 months of no representation, ‘Oron Federal Constituency deserves a Representative from National Assembly in Abuja, ‘We need a voice at the National Assembly,” among others, the youths urged the INEC National Chairman, Prof Yakubu Mahmood to ensure that the bye-election is conducted immediately in the federal Constituency.

The youths described the federal constituency as the largest in Nigeria with the highest oil producing communities in the Niger Delta.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, the International president of the group, Mr John Bassey flanked by the secretary, Maxi Mkpo recalled that INEC sometime in January conducted bye-elections for six constituencies in four states of the federation and wondered why Akwa Ibom would be different.

He enumerated the constituencies and states the bye-elections were conducted to include: Akure North/Akure South Federal Constituency, Ondo State; Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency, Plateau State; Pankshin South State Constituency, Plateau State; Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency, Cross River State; Akpabuyo State Constituency, Cross River State; Ngor-Okpala State Constituency, Imo State.

The statement read in parts, “Today, we are gathered here to send a very strong signal to the Chairman of National Electoral Commission INEC Prof, Mahmood Yakubu over this perceived cruel disenfranchisement and broad daylight robbery of our constitutionally and democratically given right to representation at the green Chambers of the National Assembly, Abuja.

“INEC has technically avoided any process that could be initiated for the conduct of a bye-election in our federal constituency. As a people, we are deliberately being denied our right to representation as obtained in the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria.

”It is about eight (8) good months since the unfortunate departure of our Late MP in April 23rd, this year and the subsequent declaration of the seat vacant by the speaker followed by his internment on 30th June 2022. Hence, we are bitterly worried over what could be the justification for INEC not to facilitate the process of conducting a bye-election to fill the vacant seat.

“Recall, an indigene of Mbo LGA, Mr. Emmanuel Inyang, on October 12th 2022 embarked on a one-man protest to the Uyo office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over what he described as ‘unnecessary delay’ by the Commission to fill in replacement, for vacant seats in the National Assembly. This press conference is to re-emphasize and state our points of anger categorically and unequivocally to INEC about the looming dangers of its seeming refusal to conduct the bye-election and the many disadvantages of such an undemocratic delay to the Oro people.

“Our point is very clear and straightforward, we are calling on INEC to fast-track the processes of conducting a bye-election for this mega and oil-rich constituency to avert any future breakdown of law and order within the already volatile elections season and Niger Delta region.”

He also called on members of the parliament representing other federal constituencies within the state to join hands in solidarity in condemning such acts during sessions.

He added that further delay by the commission to accede to their request before the end of December 2022 will leave them with no option but to occupy the state headquarters of INEC from the first of January 2023 until the needful is done.

However, the Head of Operations of INEC in Akwa Ibom, Vincent Ogene addressing the youths assured them that the issue will be addressed.

Ogene commended the youths for their orderly and peaceful conduct nothing that the commission at the national level will give a directive on what is to be done.

Metro

EFCC Raids Obasanjo’s Hotel, Arrests Suspected Internet Fraudsters At Pool Party

Published

1 hour ago

August 10, 2025

Editor

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have reportedly stormed the Green Legacy Hotel, located within the premises of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Ogun State, and arrested some youths suspected to be internet fraudsters.

The PUNCH gathered that EFCC operatives carried out the raid in the early hours of Sunday during a pool party at the premises of the library.

This came barely five days after operatives of the Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the commission arrested a suspected internet fraudster with two locally-made pistols in a raid at K-Hotel in Itori, Ewekoro area of the state.

The suspect, according to the anti-graft agency, was among the 55 others arrested during the raid carried out on Wednesday.

A viral video of the Sunday raid at the Obasanjo Library showed youths scampering for safety as the sound of gunshots filled the air.

The operatives reportedly arrested a number of youths and seized “more than 20 luxury cars and other valuable items.”

Sources said the operation was carried out by the EFCC operatives from the Lagos Directorate.

An X user, A.Ayomide, in a post said, “Literally left my house past midnight to go to OOPL, got there and the crowd was too much. I don’t like the settings, my guy doesn’t like the settings, so we were just at the car park.

“Left around 1:30, 20 minutes later I get home and I’m getting calls that EFCC is raiding OOPL.”

The Managing Director of OOPL Ventures, Vitalis Ortese, confirmed the incident, but he did not provide details.

“Yes, they did. There was an incident this morning. We will find out and we will let you know,” he told our correspondent.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the Lagos zonal command of EFCC, Ayo Oyewole, said he was not aware of the operation but promised to get back to our correspondent.

Also contacted, the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, promised to confirm and get back to our correspondent.

Metro

Police Arrest Three Over Murder Of FCT Radio Station Worker

Published

1 hour ago

August 10, 2025

Editor

Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command have arrested three suspects in connection with the murder of a staff member of Liberty Radio identified as Azubuko Nwakama.

Nwakama was attacked and robbed at Panteka Market, Mpape, Abuja in June 2024 and subsequently died.

In a statement on Sunday, the command’s spokesman, Josephine Adeh disclosed that following the incident, detectives were deployed to investigate the matter.

She added that three suspects: Mutari Lawal, 32, from Kano State; Dan’Asabe Ibrahim, 22, from Zamfara State; and Danjuma Ibrahim, 18, of no fixed address in Mpape, were tracked down following over a year of investigation.

Adeh said efforts to trace the stolen phone initially failed as it remained switched off for more than a year.

She added that the breakthrough came on August 2, 2025, when a phone, a Redmi 13C, stolen from the deceased was powered on and tracked to Lawal, who was arrested.

Adeh said, “Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, attached to Mpape Division, have arrested three suspects in connection with the murder of Mr. Azubuko Nwakama, a staff member of Liberty Radio, who was attacked and robbed on 14th June 2024 at Panteka Market, Mpape, Abuja.

“Following the incident in June 2024, detectives from the Mpape Division immediately launched a comprehensive investigation.

“The suspects had dispossessed the victim of his mobile phone and other valuables. Despite extensive tracking efforts, the device remained switched off, making it difficult to trace.

“The investigation team remained on the case for over a year, closely monitoring possible digital traces linked to the stolen phone.

“The breakthrough came on 2nd August 2025, when the victim’s phone, a Redmi 13C, was switched on. It was immediately tracked to one Mutari Lawal, 32 yrs, from Kano State, who was promptly arrested.”

Adeh said Lawal confessed to the crime, adding that he had taken the phone to Kano, kept it off for a year, and switched it on in August 2025 to erase data before returning to Abuja.

“During interrogation, Mutari confessed to attacking and stabbing the deceased before making away with his valuables.

“He named his accomplices as Dan’Asabe Ibrahim, 22yrs, from Zamfara State, and Danjuma Ibrahim 18yrs, both of no fixed address in Mpape, with whom he carried out the crime.

“He further disclosed that he took the stolen phone to Kano, kept it switched off for a year, and only powered it on in August 2025 to wipe data, insert his SIM card, and return to Abuja, ” Adeh said.

FCT Commissioner of Police, Ajao Adewale, commended the officers for their persistence and warned criminal elements to desist or face the law.
(PUNCH)

Metro

NDLEA Arrests Wanted Lagos Pastor For Cross-border Drug Trafficking

Published

1 hour ago

August 10, 2025

Editor

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested the founder and General Overseer of The Turn of Mercy Church, Adefolusho Olasele, also known as Abbas Ajakaiye, over his alleged role in multiple shipments of illicit drugs from Ghana to Nigeria.

Olasele, who had been on the run for months, was apprehended on Sunday, August 3, 2025, at his church in Okun Ajah, Lekki, Lagos.

A statement on Sunday by the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said operatives waited until the end of the Sunday service before arresting him as he stepped out of the premises.

According to him, the pastor fled to Ghana in June to evade arrest after operatives linked him to two cannabis seizures — 200kg recovered at Okun Ajah Beach on June 4 and 700kg found in his delivery van on July 6.

“After months of fleeing abroad to evade arrest, the founder and General Overseer of The Turn of Mercy Church, Prophet Adefolusho Aanu Olasele (alias Abbas Ajakaiye) has been arrested for masterminding multiple shipments of illicit drugs into Nigeria.

“Prophet Adefolusho was arrested at his church located in Okun Ajah, Ogombo road, Lekki area of Lagos on Sunday, 3rd August 2025 by NDLEA officers who waited for him since morning to conclude the Sunday worship service in the evening before moving in on him the moment he stepped out of the church premises.

“The arrest came after he had evaded arrest twice and fled to Ghana to hide since June, when operatives started trailing him following the seizure of two shipments of Ghana Loud, a strain of cannabis linked to him. The first seizure of 200kg of the psychoactive substance was made at Okun Ajah beach on 4th June 2025, while another consignment of 700kg of the same substance was recovered from his delivery van on 6th July 2025,” the statement read.

In his statement, Babafemi claimed the pastor confessed to ferrying the consignments via waterways from Ghana.

He said, “In his statement, he admitted ferrying the illicit consignments through the waterways from Ghana into Nigeria, adding that he had fled to the West African country to hide after he escaped arrest twice in the recent past.”

In a separate operation in Lagos on Thursday, August 7, Babafemi said NDLEA operatives raided an apartment at Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, where they arrested Benjamin Ukoh and recovered 32 pouches of Canadian Loud, weighing 15.63kg.

“In Nasarawa State, NDLEA operatives on Saturday, August 9, recovered a large consignment of skunk, a strain of cannabis weighing 3,093 kilograms from the trio of Emmanuel Asoquo Johnny, 51; Okem Raphael, 33, and Chekwube Odo, 25, at New Karu area of the state.

“While 29-year-old Nura Yahaya was nabbed at Geza area of Kumbotso Kano State with 639 blocks of skunk weighing 359kg on Friday 8th August, another suspect Umar Adamu Umar, 27, was taken into custody on Wednesday 6th August by NDLEA officers after seizing 9kg of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis from him along Zaria-Kano road, Kano, ” the statement added.

In Gombe State, Babafemi stated that a raid on an uncompleted building in Tudun Wadan Pantami on Friday, August 8, led to the recovery of 550,266 opioid pills and the arrest of Usama Isah.

“The following day, Saturday 9th August, another suspect, Ibrahim Adamu, 23, was arrested by NDLEA officers along Potiskum road, Bajoga with 50,000 capsules of tramadol”, he added.

In Edo State, a Toyota Hiace bus travelling from Onitsha to Isanlu, Kogi, was intercepted at Ewu junction on Wednesday, August 6, with 23,940 tramadol capsules, 1,100 tablets, and 400 pentazocine ampoules. The driver, Taiye Jethro, was arrested.

Commending the officers involved, NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd), urged personnel nationwide to maintain a balanced approach to drug control operations.