News

Military debunks reports of detaining civilian in TRADOC

Published

1 month ago

October 19, 2024

By Francesca Hangeior

The Headquarters Training and Doctrine Command Nigerian Army (TRADOC NA), has denied allegation of illegal detention of a civilian by the command’s Military Police (MP) in Minna Military Cantonment.

The Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations for TRADOC, Lt.-Col. Sani Uba, dismissed the allegation in a statement on Friday.

Uba said the allegation published by an online medium on Wednesday had alleged that some officers of TRADOC connived, arrested and detained a civilian on the ‘Orders of the Commander’, over suspicion that he wanted to defraud a food vendor.

He said it was important to address the misinformation that sought to undermine the integrity of both TRADOC NA, its leadership and the entire personnel of the command.

“It is essential to set the records straight as to what transpired between Miss Lynda Moses (one of the food vendors in TRADOC Officers Mess) and the man Deekae Sunday Kiaka (a dismissed NAF personnel) of the Nigerian Airforce Base in Minna.

“Investigation revealed that Miss Lynda Moses had reported a case to the Military Police (MP) in Minna Military Cantonment sometimes in September 2024 of theft against one fake Sgt Deekae Sunday of the NAF Base in Minna.

“She alleged that the sum of N1.1 million was withdrawn from her First Bank Account.
“On receipt of the case, the MP was able to arrest the suspect on Oct. 6 since the offence was committed in Minna Cantonment when the suspect visited the victim at her business place.

“Upon investigation it was discovered that the accused was a dismissed personnel of the NAF Minna.

“Investigation further revealed that the accused has been impersonating as a serving ‘Sgt’ in the NAF whereas had since been dismissed from the NAF over a similar fraudulent crime in the past,” he said.

Uba said that the suspect further confessed that he came to TRADOC officers’ Mess to see Miss Lynda Moses where he requested for her mobile phone to play game, to keep himself busy while Lynda was attending to her customers at her sales point in TRADOC Mess.

According to him, during interrogation, the suspect pleaded that the matter should be resolved by MP in Minna Military Cantonment and should not be taken to Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

He added that the suspect also signed an undertaking to refund the stolen money while the MP asked him to get a surety to perfect the undertaking.

According to Uba, the accused requested that his cellphone should be given to him to call someone (who turned out to be another of his fiancé), one Miss Chiwendu Nnadozie, a reporter with Daily Independent in Niger.

“When Miss Chinwendu Nnadozie was invited at MP office in the Cantonment, she introduced herself as fiance to the accused and accepted to stand as a surety to the accused.

“The acceptance of Nnadozie confirmed that the accused was double dealing in terms of marriage, promised to marry the two ladies at the same time.

“These allegations represent a calculated attempt by a felon to deliberately tarnish the good reputation of TRADOC NA and its leadership,” he added.

The spokesman said it was expected that the media outlet (Independent Nigeria) to have thoroughly verified the claims before publication as well as adhering to journalism ethics.

According to him, this unprofessional conduct could be a huge disappointment to journalism profession.

He assured that the case would be handed over to the police for possible prosecution on completion of the ongoing MP investigation.

“As we work together towards achieving the security, peace and development of our beloved nation, we expect all personnel of TRADOC to maintain discipline and sustain their unalloyed commitment in achieving the objectives of the command.

News

BREAKING: Finland Police Nab Simon Ekpa, 4 Others Over Terror-related Activities

Published

2 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Naijablitznews

The Central Criminal Police in Finland has announced the arrest of Finnish-Nigerian separatist agitator, Simon Ekpa and four other individuals over terror-related activities.

According to a tabloid in Finland, Ekpa, the self-declared Prime Minister of Biafra Republic Government In-Exile, was remanded in custody by the district court of Päijät-Häme on suspicion of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent.

In a Thursday statement published on its website, the Central Criminal Police in Finland said it arrested five persons on suspicion of terrorist crimes.

The police said the main suspect was arrested “on suspicion of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent”, while four others were arrested “for financing a terrorist crime”.

The police added: “Claims will be heard in Päijät-Häme district court today, November 21.”

The statement reads, “The detention demands are related to the preliminary investigation, in which a Finnish citizen of Nigerian background, born in the 1980s, is suspected of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent.

“The police suspect that the man has promoted his efforts from Finland by means that have led to violence against civilians and authorities as well as other crimes in the region of South-Eastern Nigeria.”

The statement quoted the head of the investigation, Crime Commissioner Otto Hiltunen from the Central Crime Police as saying that “the man has carried out this activity, among other things, on his social media channels”.

“Four other persons are suspected of financing the aforementioned activity. All five suspects of the crime have been arrested during the beginning of the week.

“International cooperation has been carried out during the preliminary investigation,” the statement added.

News

SAD! Gunmen kill lawyer in Benue

Published

2 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Naijablitznews

A lawyer, Mike Ofikwu, has been shot dead by gunmen in Otukpo town, Benue State.

The incident reportedly occurred on Wednesday night at his residence on Otukpa Street, Otukpo.

A source close to the deceased, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the lawyer was ambushed by two armed men while waiting for his gate to be opened.

“Two armed men had laid an ambush for him. As he was waiting for his people to open the gate, the assailants emerged from hiding and shot him at a close range,” the source said.

The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital, but medical personnel pronounced him dead on arrival.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, Catherine Anene, said an investigation was underway to apprehend those responsible for the attack.

“This incident is confirmed, and investigations are ongoing. I commiserate with his family and friends and assure them that justice will be served,” Anene said in a brief statement.

News

HoR Rejects Bill Seeking 6 years single tenure for President, Governors

Published

2 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives moved against a bill, seeking to amend the 1999 constitution to provide for a single term of six years for the Offices of the President, State Governors and Local Government Areas Chairmen.

The piece of legislation which was sponsored by Rep Ikenga Ugochinyere and 33 other lawmakers, seeks zonal rotation of presidential and governorship seats, as well as holding of the elections in one day.

Naijablitznews.com reports that the bill was read for the first time on July 17, 2024 on the floor of the House and was read for the second time on Thursday November 21, 2024, by the clerk of the House, but it didn’t scale through as members voted against the bill.

The proposed legislation seeks to alter Sections 76, 116, 132, 136, and some others of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

According to the general principles of the bill, “these amendments was to ensure inclusive governance and to curb wastages occasioned by four year periodic elections.

“The bill among others seeks amendment of Section 132 of the Principal Act by inserting a new subsection (2), deleting the extant subsection (4) and renumbering the entire section accordingly to provide that an election to the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be rotated between the North and the South regions of the country every six years.

“Other amendments include, Section 76 of the Principal Act is altered by inserting a new subsection (3) as follows; (3) For the Purposes of Section (1) of this section, all elections into the offices of President, Governors, National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly shall hold simultaneously on the same date to be determined by the Independent National Electoral Commission in consultation with the National Assembly and in accordance with the Electoral Act.

“Section 116 of the Principal Act is amended by inserting a new a subsection (3) as follows; < For the purposes of subsection (1) of this section, all elections into the offices of President, Governors, National Assembly, State Houses of Assembly and Local Government Councils shall be held simultaneously on the same date to be determined by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in consultation with the National Assembly and in accordance with the Electoral Act.

“Section 132 of the Principal Act is amended by inserting a new é subsection (2), deleting the extant subsection (4) and renumbering the entire section accordingly: An election to the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be rotated between the North and the South regions of the Country every six years. Provided that where it is the turn of the North or South to present a candidate for election into the office of President, it shall be rotated among the three geo-political zones that constitutes the regions. The extant subsection (2) becomes subsection (3) The extant subsection (3) becomes subsection (4) The extant subsection (4) is hereby deleted The extant subsection (5) remains subsection (5).

“Section 136 of the Principal Act is amended by deleting the a extant subsections 1 & 2 and replacing them with new subsections I, 2 and 3 as follows: If a person duly elected as President dies before taking and subscribing the Oath of Allegiance and oath of office. or is for any reason whatsoever unable to be sworn in, the person elected with him as First Vice President shall be sworn in as President and he shall appoint a new First Vice President with the approval by a simple majority of the National Assembly at a joint sitting.

“A person who was sworn in as Governor to complete the term for which another person was elected as Governor shall not be elected to such office for another term. The Principal Act is altered by inserting a new Section 188 immediately after the extant 187 and immediately before the extant 188 and renumbering accordingly as follows; 188(1) Notwithstanding any other provision, the Governor shall present a mid-term account of stewardship performance report to the State House of Assembly at the end of the third year of the six-year term. The State House of Assembly shall determine by a resolution supported by not less than two-third majority of members whether the Governor bas by the account of stewardship report justified his continuous stay in office.

“Where, upon the consideration of the mid-term report under subsection (1) of this section, the State House of Assembly is not satisfied with the performance of the Governor for the period he has been in office, the State House of Assembly shall pass a vote of no confidence on the Governor. The State House of Assembly shall immediately commence the process for the impeachment of the Governor from office.”

When the Bill was read and put to vote by the Speaker of the House, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, who presided over the plenary session and the nays had it.