NDLEA Arrests 178, Convicts 68 In Benue

 

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Benue state has arrested 178 suspects and convicted 68 persons who are now serving various jail terms over drug trafficking related issue in the state in the last one year.
State Commander of the Agency, Mrs. Florence Ezeonye who disclosed this in her address to mark this year’s United Nations International day against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking maintained that the command, in the year under review, arrested 178 suspects from different locations of the state comprising of 164 males and 14 females.
While noting that five cases were still pending in court, the state NDLEA boss explained further that the Agency seized 6, 085.9074 kg substance believed to be Cannabis Sativa, 350.392kg psychotropic substances and 1.4gramme of Cocaine while one Cannabis farm was destroyed and a total of drug substances weighing 6, 436.300kg was still in store awaiting destruction.
She explained further that 81 clients were counseled and released to their families while 26 were rehabilitated and seven others were still undergoing rehabilitation just as she regretted the escalating trend in the abuse of psychotropic substances and Cocaine which before now was not recorded in the state.
The NDLEA boss posited that cannabis sativa farms were mostly found in six local government areas of Gboko, Vandekiya, Buruku, Logo, Guma and Katsina Ala local government areas of the state.
Ezeonye expressed worry over the escalating spate of drug abuse among youths especially the abuse of the illicit gin known as Ogogoro, cannabis and cocaine in the state.
She averred that violent crimes are most prevalent among youths and are committed by those who take drugs even as she appealed to parents and guardians as well as stakeholders to pay attention to their wards and act swiftly as soon as they suspect that they were involved in drug abuse.
Ezeonye also enjoined the state government to assist in establishing a standard rehabilitation centre for the benefit of the citizens as the makeshift facility being used presently can only accommodate 20 people at a time because pressure from parents whose wards are drug victims continues to weigh down on the small facility.

Lagos Community Seeks Takeover Of Land Acquired From Government

 

 

A community in Badagry division of Lagos State, Apa Kingdom, is requesting for takeover of lands acquired by the state government in its territory, which has not been put into use since the acquisition.
The traditional ruler of the community, Alapa of Egun Awori, Apa Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oba Oyekan Adekambi Ilufemiloye Ajose (JP), in a statement said the lands in question are needed by the kingdom for community development scheme.
The statement was contained in a Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) signed between the royal father and the Implementation Committee set up by the monarch and headed by a royal Prince, Ademola Bankole.
The 16-member committee, which was inaugurated in 2014, was mandated to put in place new town development schemes from Apa Kingdom and to implement the Blue Print for the kingdom’s development.
The monarch reasoned that, “for our community to strive and contribute its quota to the general development of the state, solid physical and infrastructural commitments must be in place to usher the economic development that will make Apa prosper and create many growth opportunity for our people.”
The committee was therefore mandated to design a new town development scheme that will be the envy of other communities in Lagos State and make Apa Kingdom the crest of the centre of excellence.
“This is what Apa Kingdom should be. After all, Apa was where the white man put his faith when he sought refuge from hostilities in the colonial times. It is not disputable that Apa was the first door through which the foreign traders/merchants came in the colonial era, to what is now Lagos State,” the monarch reminded.
He expressed excitement that, “Apa kingdom that was only good for agricultural purposes now appears to be good for everything,” mentioning, sea seaport, airport, University, agricultural town, hospitality town and technology town.
“The implementation Committee should let the whole world know that a disappointment has become a blessing where a situation that has once occurred seemed without promise now reoccurs with much promise.
“Our Kingdom is now good for convergence of security villages around it like the Nigerian army Reece Battalion, Nigerian Army Artillery Unit at Topo, Badagry, and the other numerous border enforcement units or posts in addition to the Nigerian Police formations to ensure adequate security in addition to the splendor for all concerned,” Oba Alapa of Egun Awori, Apa Kingdom stated.
The royal father therefore expressed optimism that, “the state government would not put any impediment on our path when we have provided solid plans for the use of acquired land to which we seek excision to execute these schemes.”

Sex Scandal: ROMPING LAWMAKERS ON TRIAL

 

 

The United States of America, USA Ambassador to Nigeria, James F Entwistle wrote to Yakubu Doga­ra, Speaker of the House of Representatives alleging that Samuel Ikon, (Akwa Ibom), Mohammed Gololo( Bauchi) and Mark Gbillah( Benue) engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior while attending the Leader­ship Visitor Programme in the USA in April this year.

He said Gololo grabbed a Housekeeper in his hotel room and solicited for sex, while the other two asked a car park attendant to assist in procuring the services of prosti­tutes. The Lawmakers have since denied the allegation, while Dogara requested for more evidence, even as he set up a committee to investigate it.
The Visa of the lawmakers had since been cancelled by the US authorities. Barring the huge interest the scandal has generated, new evidence suggests that the 10 lawmakers on the trip were interrogated before they re­turned to Nigeria in April. Those who were interrogated included the deputy chairman of the House Committee on Media and Pub­lic affairs, Jonathan Gaza Gbewfi; chairman of the committee on Diaspora Affairs, Rita Orji, Ayo Omidiran, Nkole Ndukwe and Damburam Abubakar. Sunday Sun learnt that the claim by the affected lawmakers that they only learnt about the allegation on their return to Nigeria is false.
It was further learnt that the US State De­partment is in possession of more than just verbal evidence against the three men. Ikon, who said he almost could not make the trip because of a crippling Malaria/ Typhoid ail­ment, added in a tint of melodrama that, apart from being an elder in his church for over a decade, he does not have the physical strength for sex.
Ikon has also promised to make the evidence available, and wondered why the US govern­ment did not give him fair hearing before con­cluding that he was involved in the sex scandal. His colleague, Gbillah, while also denying said “ For my colleagues who don’t know me and Nigerians out there, I want to categorically state here, for any avoidance of doubt that no such incident occurred. I want my colleagues and the nation to understand that though we are in the eye of the storm, we shall carry this cross, and courageously too.”
He continues: “ I only have eyes for my wife. I have never cheated on her. I wish she were in this chamber to testify to this. I went on this trip with my wife, and my baby. I travel everywhere I go with my wife and baby”. Amidst the row generated by the sex scandal, many Nigerians and groups have called for proper investigation of the incident and if they are found culpable, they should be punished. In its own reaction, a Non- Governmental Organization, the Center for Children’s’ Health Education, Orientation and Protection, CEE- HOPE urged the govern­ment to take the allegations seriously and not sweep it under the carpet. In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Betty Abbah, the group described the alleged acts of the lawmak­ers as an international embarrassment. “These allegations cast a very dark cloud of moral bankruptcy, not only on the three fingered law­makers, not only on the National Assembly, but also on our national integrity.
“Why should supposed role models, who should represent us in the ideally hallowed chamber, be cast in the moulds of touts lack­ing in sexual discipline? What examples are they showing to the younger generation?” , the group queried. The president of Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Mr Malachy Ugwumadu , described the scandal “ as one too many”. Another Lawyer and rights activist, Mr Jiti Ogunye dismissed the threat of legal action by the errant legislators. “ The allegation of at­tempt of moral dalliance and consummation of prostitution in the US leveled against the mem­bers of the House of Representatives is very disturbing.
“Our legislators are globally notorious for earning more than they deserve paradoxically, in a country where the people are living in largely below the poverty line.” The National Publicity Secretary of the Pan Yoruba Socio-cultural group, Afenifere Yinka Odumakin urged the House to suspend the lawmakers to serve as a deterrent to those of them who can­not “ Zip up”. In the same vein, the Presidential candidate of the United Nigeria Party, UPP, Chief Chekwas Okorie expressed dismay at the development, adding that “their action is a dis­service to the country”.
He said: “ I hope it is not true. When a law­maker or government official for that matter travels out of the country, he is like an Ambas­sador of the country, and any deed or misdeed from him counts. They may not see it as a hei­nous crime here, but out there, their perception of what constitutes a sex offence is different from ours. This is why our people should tread cautiously when abroad.” Okorie who was the founder of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, called for a thorough investigation of the case, insisting that how it is handled will go a long way in laundering the battered image of the country. A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress , and pioneer chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Lagos, chief Olo­runfunmi Bashorun also expressed disappoint­ment over the allegation against the lawmakers. In his view, “ As honourable members, the least the people expect from them is good conduct and decorum, especially when they are outside the shores of the country. The carry the burden, hopes and expectations of the people they rep­resent wherever they go, and getting embroiled in embarrassing situations is unnecessary, avoidable and sad.” He urged the authorities to involve relevant security agencies to probe and unearth the truth of the matter, and if found guity, they should be punished. The constitu­ents of the lawmakers ,according to him should be sensitized to launch a recall process, if they are found guilty.
Sex drive
Sex, like eros, from which it draws its pro­found psychological and spiritual power, is di­amonic: it reminds us of our intrinsic capacity to be involuntarily taken over, to be possessed; to surrender control. This capacity to experi­ence the diamonic quality of sex or eros is an essential and centering part of being human. It reminds us that we are first, and foremost, as Sigmund Freud pointed out, passionate crea­tures, motivated and driven by primitive, irra­tional forces operating just below the surface of civilization and rationality far more powerful than our puny little egos. It is a constant re­minder of our irrationality; of our inescapable physical embodiment. It is humbling to our spiritual hubris. And it is dangerous. At some deeper level , sexuality is intimately linked with mortality; with birth and death. This close psychological connection between sex and death can also be found reflected in the French reference to sexual orgasm and it’s immedi­ate aftermath as la petit mort, the little death. Sexuality is inherently different for men and women. Most men tend to see sex as some­thing they can never get enough of, and seek, at some primal level, to disseminate their seed as widely as possible. Most women see sex as secondary in importance to intimacy, physi­cal closeness, and commitment. In Victorian Vienna, there was widespread repression and dissociation of sexual feelings, and impulses, which as Freud discovered resulted in neurotic symptoms. The world is now far more sexu­ally liberated, having been through the “sexual revolution” during the mid twentieth century. Yet, sexual problems like compulsive promis­cuity, sex addiction, sexual perversions, sexual sadism, or masochism disorders have been with us in our post Freudian sexual liberation, and have raked in incalculable damage. Sexting is the art of sending sexually explicit messages via text. Over time, it has like its triplets in sex and sexuality claimed its own victims. Indeed, a high school female teacher in the Woodhav­en- Brownstown school district, of America had to resign on june 10, 2016, amid charges that she had sexted with two students and inap­propriately touched one of them.
Sex Scandals in Nigeria
Sex scandals are often common in churches, Colleges and universities, corporate organiza­tions, military and para- military formations and nondescript places like Nollywood, and football clubs. In one of the celebrated cases, the founder and General overseer of the Em­bassy of Blessed kingdom of God for All Na­tions Pastor Sunday Adelaja was accused of having sex with female members. He was said to have had affairs with no fewer than 20 wom­en in his church. The pastor was said to have confessed publicly and repented. According to one Apostle Toff Ulissis, a clergyman said to be providing spiritual care for him, Adelaja was urged to, “seek psychiatric help”.
When sex scandals hit Kenyan parliament
In kenya, at least 10 members of parlia­ment have been alleged to have sexually as­saulted women. In one incident, the accused was forced to marry his accuser. Kiambu Sena­tor Kimani Wamatangi was in May last year accused of rape. According to the woman’s sworn affidavit at Nairobi Children’s Court, the incident occurred while she was working as a house help for the senator and she was impregnated in the process. There was also the case involving the Imenti Central MP, Gideon Mwiti, who was in March last year accused of rape. A woman alleged that the MP lured her to his office to discuss some public relations busi­ness deal before raping her. According to the woman, Mwiti postponed their meeting at his office in Westlands, Nairobi until 10pm. The woman, who is married, claimed she was then subjected to an involuntary HIV test before she was beaten and raped. The matter is still under investigation, even as the MP has denied it, and even offered to help with the investigations.
Worst sex offenders in history.
What constitutes a sex crime differs by cul­ture and legal jurisdiction. Most of the time, what comes to mind when one thinks of sexual predators are men. A female elementary school teacher, Jenniffer Rice, became fixated on one 11 year old pupil, and eventually had illicit sex with him after kidnapping him. She was sen­tenced to 25 years in jail. There was also the case of Sarah Hopkins who bagged 12 years in prison for sexting, rape and sodomy of a neigh­bour’s child over a period of 8 months. One of the most frightening women sex offenders was Ashley Jessup. She was sentenced to life in prison on the charge of two accounts of rap­ing a child under 13 years of age, of endanger­ing children, and pandering sexually – oriented matter involving a minor. Jessup had created a sex tape of her performing oral sex on her 10 month old son and fondling his genitals on her boyfriend’s request. Her boyfriend and she en­joyed exchanging sexually explicit images and video through emails and he wanted one of her with her son.
Understanding the sexual behaviours of homo sapiens is complex, and evolutionary, according to psychologists. The days ahead will show if the lawmakers are innocent or guilty as charged.

W FKumuyi: Nigeria Will Soon Bounce Back

 

 

The General Superintendent (GS) of Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Kumuyi, is optimistic that things would soon turnaround for good in Nigeria.
Kumuyi stated this while speaking to newsmen as he arrived the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at the weekend for a crusade tagged ‘Night of Extraordinary Wonders’ organised by the Deeper Life Bible Church at the National Stadium, Abuja yesterday.
He said: “I do not think we (Nigerians) should lose hope; there is God in heaven who answers prayers, there is Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour who wants the best for everyone of us; and there are some of us who are praying and we believe that God answers prayers and so we are not going to lose hope in our country. Things are going to turn around.”
The cleric assured people in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, about God’s mighty visitation and touch upon their lives during the one-day crusade.
“It will bring blessings to the people of the Federal Capital Territory and the country at large”, he stated.
The man of God said that there was need for dialogue that would bring the various groups in the country; their demands and expectations to the the  table instead of throwing ‘stones’ at one another.
On the call for the country to be restructured, Kumuyi said restructuring should not be such that will break the country into fragments where visas will be required for citizens to enter the various geopolitical zones but as a way to strengthen the unity of the country.
He therefore recommended due consultations via referendum or panel to peacefully resolve crisis and to keep the nation as an entity.
Regarding Anchor University, the Church proposes to establish, Kumuyi said the Church has been on it and also officials of the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) had visited the proposed campus for inspection for eventual take-off of the institution.

 

APC delegates turn PVCs into ATM cards On June 8, 20163

Harvest time: :47 amIn News, Politics by AbiodunComments By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor The approach to the APC governorship primaries has become a harvest of sorts for accredited delegates of the party. A majority of the delegates Vanguard learned are simply smiling to the bank on a weekly basis as they milk the major aspirants. Not all the aspirants are complaining, though. One of the leading aspirants who had been an official of the branches of the Federal Government reportedly conceived the weekly handout of N5,000 per delegate to woo delegates to himself a few weeks ago. His effort has since been adopted by another delegate who is said to have the support of a big man in the outgoing state administration. That aspirant was said to have simply upped the game by increasing the weekly handout to N10,000 per delegate. INEC PVCs “It is what we have to do to keep our delegates,” a source close to the N10,000 paying aspirant said. However, before the delegates are paid, they are made to show their PVC cards which in the eyes of some have now become cash producing ATM cards. At a meeting with APC delegates from Edo North last Sunday, a very senior political office holder from Edo North who has been alleged to be sponsoring the Godwin Obaseki campaign was said to have urged the delegates not to shy away from collecting the N5,000 being doled out by the rival aspirant. He, however, told them to return to the Obaseki campaign which he said would give them more. The prominent Edo politician, however, charged them not to mortgage the state to those who he said were not prepared for governance. At the same function in the residence of Rep. Philip Shuaibu, Governor Adams Oshiomhole was quoted to have urged the delegates to appreciate the sacrifice made by the state commissioner for works, Mr. Osarodion Ogie, who is Obaseki’s campaign manager. Oshiomhole urged the delegates drawn from the three Etsako local government areas to laud Ogie, who he said sacrificed his governorship aspiration in consideration of Obaseki following pleas by him, Oshiomhole.

PMB, Denied The Report That He Is Medicaly Down

I can't fall sick like anyone else – Buhari On June 6, 20166:49 pm In News by johnabayomi2Comments *President not sick-Adesina, Media Adviser By Levinus Nwabughiogu ABUJA – President Muhammadu Buhari, Monday, said like every human, he can fall ill. The President made the admittance at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International airport, Abuja enroute London, United Kingdom for medical attention on his ear. Recall that the State House had on Sunday night announced that the President was ill and needed to see his Doctors in a London hospital to attend to his ear. While departing Nigeria, the President who spoke to Journalists said he had also communicated the National Assembly about his trip. President Buhari departs Abuja for London on a 10-day vacation He said: “I have already told Nigerians that I am going for 10 days to get my ear checked. The National Assembly knows, they have been formally informed. On how to calm the tension of a President falling sick the President answered “is there anybody that doesn’t fall sick?” But on another breath, the president special adviser on media and publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina who accompanied the president to the airport denied that the president was not sick. He said that the president was taking 10 days off and would see his doctors abroad. “The buzz going round town is that the President is “ill”, but “ill” will be a misnomer. It should not be the right word to use. “The President is going for a 10 day rest and during that period he will see specialists who will look at his ear because he has been treating that ear locally for sometime. “Nigerian physicians have looked at it and now they have said you are going to UK, now that you will be there let specialists look at the ear. They have treated it locally so it is not a question of whether the President is ill. If he is ill, it presupposes that there are certain things that he cannot do. “Till the very last minute that he is traveling, the President performed the duties and functions of his office as the President. “So illness is not the issue but as a human being, yes, he can rest. He has been President for one full year. You know that in February, he took 5 days leave. He is taking another 10 days now that means 15 days leave in one year. “You and I take more than that. So, it is natural that the President as a human being is taking 10 days rest but he is not ill. “We need to underscore that. Rather than going into a frenzy, I will urged Nigerians to just show goodwill and patriotism. They should pray for him and wish him well. Things about health, life and death are in the hands of God. But I believe that all is well with out President and God will take care of him and take care of the country”, Adesina said.

President Muhammadu Buhari Message To Muslims As Ramadan Commences

 

As the Muslims commence Ramadan fast, President Muhammadu Buhari has enjoined Muslims faithful to use the holy month as an opportunity to seek forgiveness, get closer to Allah through worship and good deeds.
This is contained in a message signed By his Special Media Assistant, Mallam Garba Shehu. It says the month of Ramadan is a time of spiritual reawakening which demands not only abstainance from food and drinks but also all wrong doing.
The statement adds that the president is disturbed why people hike food prices during the month of Ramadan. He therefore urged Muslim traders, business people, civil servants and politicians to use the period to seek forgiveness by avoiding wrong practices for personal gains at the expenses of others.
The statement further noted that the President wants religion to serve as a moral restraint from bad practices saying those who steal national resources are merely paying lip service to religion.
The government, it notes, is working towards bringing relief to their lives through palliative measures and faithful implementation of the 2016 national budget.

Kenya police 'ready to use lethal force' against protesters

 

Nairobi's police chief has warned opposition supporters not to take part in Monday's protest in the Kenyan capital "if you value your life".

Japheth Koome said police were prepared to use lethal force if necessary.
Opposition politician James Orengo said the rally would go ahead as there was no legal justification for banning it.
The opposition has been protesting every Monday for several weeks about the electoral commission, which it says is biased.
"No demonstration. That's the message. If you have nothing else to do, sleep. It will not be allowed," Mr. Koome told the BBC.

"That's why I'm questioning those who have intentions of demonstrating tomorrow. Don't come, then you start talking about police brutality. Life is dear! Please, if you value your life, don't attempt it that way. You will be dealt with firmly."
At least three people died in western Kenya during similar protests.
Police said two people were shot dead in self defence.
A third person died from a head injury after falling over while running from tear gas.
Last month, there were complaints of police brutality as officers were pictured assaulting demonstrators in Nairobi.
The opposition Cord alliance wants the current members of the electoral commission to resign ahead of next year's presidential election.
Cord is complaining that they are biased in favour of the governing Jubilee coalition and wants it replaced by a neutral body.
Deputy President William Ruto told the BBC's Focus on Africa TV last month that Monday's protests were illegal, on the basis that police were not given adequate warning.

National Assembly Issues Bench Warrant On 8 Oil Companies

The National Assembly joint Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) on Tuesday, issued bench warrant on seven oil companies operating for failing to appear at its public hearing.

The committee had invited all oil companies operating in the Niger Delta region to defend themselves over alleged non-remittance of statutory funds to NDDC for development of the region.
Chairman of Senate Committee on NDDC, Mr Peter Nwaoboshi, gave the directive for the issuance of the bench warrant when the companies failed to attend the committee’s interactive meeting.
The affected companies are Continental Oil and Gas Ltd, Conoil Oil Producing Limited, Niger Delta Petroleum Resources and Allied Energy Plc.
Others are Sheba Petroleum Exploration and Production, Newcross E& P, Pan-ocean Oil Corporation and Atlas Petroleum Development Company.
Nwaoboshi said that the committee was carrying out doing its patriotic duty for the country.
He and other members of the committee, however, accused the management of NDDC of not keeping accurate financial records of remittances from oil companies.
They exonerated the acting Managing Director of the commission, Mrs Ibim Semenitari on grounds that she was still new on the job.
The joint committee expressed displeasure at the commission’s negligence of its responsibilities, especially with failure to meet willing oil companies for reconciliation of accounts and records.
They said that the money was required for development of the area.
Representatives of some of the oil companies present at the meeting claimed that they had made effort to reach the management of the commission to reconcile their accounts and settle outstanding commitments, to no avail.
The representative of Oriental Energy Resources specifically told the committee that it had made several efforts to meet with the NDDC since December, 2015.
Chief Technical Adviser of the company, Mr Goni Sheikh, said that had written letters to the commission in the past six months, informing it of its readiness to pay 1 million dollars to it.
“NDDC has not given the company the opportunity to do so,’’ he said, adding that the company paid 18 million dollars to the commission in 2014 but had an outstanding of 1 million dollars.
Shiekh pleaded with the committee to intervene by making NDDC to schedule a meeting to enable them to reconcile the records.
In his remark, a member of the committee, Rep. Uzoma Nkem-Abonta, suggested that the committee should carry out forensic auditing of NDDC’s account.
He said that there were discrepancies in the financial records provided by NDDC and that the commission should be made to account for all the remittances from the oil companies.
“We need to do proper reconciliation of NDDC account. There could be secret account in which oil companies paid money to NDDC and they go into private pockets.
“The impression is that the companies are not paying; I am not even sure that the ones paid by oil companies are in safe hands.
“Before now the impression is that the companies were not paying, but today, we have seen that the reverse is the case.
“We should discontinue the revenue collection for NDDC and investigate their account,” he said.

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Troops end search for Niger Delta Avengers in Gbaramatu kingdom

The Nigerian Military have vacated Oporoza community in Gbaramatu kingdom of Delta state after a one-week search for members of the Niger Delta Avengers in the community. It is believed that members of the militant group were hiding in the area.
The militants have in recent times carried out a number of attacks on Oil installations in the Niger Delta region.