Police arrest 427 suspected members of the dreaded ‘One Million Boys’ in Oyo

At least 427 suspected members of the dreaded “One Million Boys” have been arrested by the Oyo State Police Command in its efforts to rid the state of criminality.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abiodun Odude, disclosed this while addressing journalists on Wednesday on the achievements of the command under his leadership.

Members of “One Million Boys” and “Indomie Boys” have reportedly caused mayhems in some parts of Ibadan, the state capital, in the last few years.

Odude, who was on a courtesy visit to the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, as part of activities marking the World Press Freedom Day, said other suspects including 40 suspected armed robbers, kidnappers and others were also arrested by the command.

He said: “We have succeeded in checkmating the activities of kidnappers since I resumed office in Oyo State two months ago. We had three cases of abductions, we succeeded in liberating the victims without paying ransom and also apprehended all the hoodlums that participated in the crime.

”Also, we, in this command, were able to check activities of the two cult groups. I mean the ‘One Million Boys’ and the ‘Indomie Boys.’ Both of them are cult groups. We sent them out of the state. We arrested about 427 of their members, put them behind bars and later charged them to court. ”

While reeling out other achievements of the command since he assumed office, the police commissioner said among those rescued from their abductors included a 70-year old man and his wife who were locked up in a toilet for about a week.

“We thank God that all of them were rescued by the police. We have arrested almost all of the kidnappers and we are not resting until we pick the remaining members. They go about committing all sorts of crimes like kidnapping, armed robbery and extortion,” he stated.

Read More »

Obasanjo worried over unsuccessful prosecution of high-profile corruption cases

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday in Abuja decried the unsuccessful prosecution of high-profile corruption cases in Nigeria.
Obasanjo expressed his displeasure while delivering the inauguration lecture of the Olusegun Obasanjo Good Governance and Development Research Centre, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).
The title of the lecture is “Leadership, Governance and the Challenges of Development in Nigeria: The Way Forward.’’
He regretted that in spite efforts by successive governments, corruption still posed a daunting challenge to the progress and development of Nigeria.
“The lack of successful prosecution of high-profile corruption cases involving Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) is giving serious course for concern, both for Nigerians and the international community.
“We must take away the proceeds of illicit enrichment and remove negative role models in our society.
“I know that each arm of government has its responsibility and we must respect the separation of powers under our constitution.
“At the same time, we must have an acute and common perception of our problem and do all that is necessary to mitigate the impact of corruption in our society.’’
Obasanjo said instead of pointing accusing fingers and passing the buck, Nigerians including the Church and the Mosque should all rise against corruption.
According to him, fighting corruption is not a popular agenda, but the apparent realisation of the negative impact of corruption has promoted the fight against corruption as a measure of good governance.
The former president said the aim of fighting corruption was to correct certain wrong doings.
“The aim of fighting corruption is most importantly, to remedy the dark sides of bad governance, such as poverty, unemployment, hunger and disease; as well as improving the well-being of the citizens.
“Hence, we must pay equal attention to the economy which is the bedrock of all-round development. The beginning of getting leadership right is to make the electoral system transparent and credible to ensure that only the choices of the people are actually elected into electable political offices.
“People with integrity, vision, wisdom and purpose should be elected, not those who try to buy their way into leadership position,’’ he said.
Obasanjo said there was need to strengthen institutions saddled with responsibility of ensuring transparency and accountability in governance.
NOUN’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abdalla Adamu, who spoke, said that the institution was concerned about solving the problem of leadership and good governance in Nigeria, which informed the establishment of the centre.
Adamu said the centre was named after Obasanjo because he was a success story in democratic governance in Africa.
He said Obasanjo demonstrated strong abhorrence for corruption hence the establishment of anti-graft agencies.
Adamu said NOUN decided to immortalise Obasanjo because he resuscitated the institution in 2003, after it was abandoned in 1984.
“He introduced the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) bill.
“He also went ahead to establish Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the first of its kind in Nigeria.
“He established due process to ensure transparency and accountability, which transformed into Bureau of Public Procurement.
“He established the Financial Intelligence Unit which helped the Ministry of Justice in the recovery of stolen fund—the highest sum recovered so far was during his tenure.
“He is currently pursuing his PhD in NOUN; he is not pursuing it because he needs money or job but because he needs knowledge,’’ he said.
Adamu added that Obasanjo was one of the few presidents in Africa that went back to school after leaving office.
The Chairman of the occasion and former Ghanaian President, Mr John Mahama, said it was imperative for Nigerians to get its leadership right in order to lead Africa to greatness.
He said the West African sub-region and Africa in general was looking up to Nigeria for economic integration and development.
The Chairlady of the occasion and former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Aloma Mukhtar, urged NOUN to ensure that the good governance centre lived up to expectation.

Read More »

Buhari is being fed through veins because of his condition – Lai Mohammed

The Federal Government on Wednesday denied report that President Muhammadu Buhari was being fed through intravenous injections.

A media report had claimed that the President was so sick that he could not eat by himself and was being fed through the veins.

Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, said the report was false.

According to him, the President did not attend the FEC meeting on Wednesday because he was obeying doctors’ advice to rest well in order to recover fully.

He said: “Why the President was not at the meeting. You are also aware that the President was at his office yesterday (Tuesday), and he worked at his office yesterday. A few days before now we came out to say he’s been asked to take some rest by his doctors, and he chose today (Wednesday) to rest and not to attend the Federal Executive Council meeting.

“We want to take this opportunity to thank Nigerians who have expressed a lot of concern and sympathy, and who have been praying for him. Like we’ve always said, Mr. President will stick to his doctors’ advice so that he can recover much more quickly.”

On those Nigerians advising the President to go on another medical vacation, he said “We thank all of them for their concern, I think it shows how concerned Nigerians are about the health of the President. And all their suggestions are being taken on board.”

Speaking on the report claiming that Buhari was being fed through the veins, he added “the answer to your first question is absolute bunkum. It is absolutely untrue that he is being fed through veins. He was in the office yesterday as you all reported. And if the doctors say he should take a rest I think you’ll recover faster when you rest when you ought to rest, rather than by forcing yourself to work when you are not fit to work.

“All he is doing is he is following the doctor’s advice. Mr. President himself told the nation he has never been this sick and he is going to take it easy. He said it from day one when he came back from the UK.

“So, whatever is happening today is not any strange development, it is exactly what he said. That he’s been advised to take it easy by his doctors and that he will soon also go back for further treatment.”

Read More »

Mercy Aigbe coughing blood one week after incident -Commissioner

With civil and criminal actions being instituted against Lanre Gentry, estranged husband of Nollywood actress, Mercy Aigbe, there are indications of a tough time ahead for the hotelier who, on Tuesday, was quizzed by the Lagos State department of Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT).

Speaking to our Correspondent on the matter, visibly angry Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in Lagos State, Mrs. Lola Akande, said it was disheartening to see the state Aigbe was when she came to her office to report the case.

“She was coughing blood from her nose and mouth and she had injury on her face which the doctor said she must have an operation. I was so angry that I need to see the face of the man that did this to her, and so we invited him and he came yesterday (Tuesday) to say his own side of the story to the official in charge of domestic violence. But any man that can beat a woman to a pulp like that to the extent that she is still coughing blood one week after the incident need to have his head examined,” said Akande.

According to her, the Lagos State Government has secured a restraining order for Aigbe from any further abuse by her husband.

She commended the courage of Aigbe for voicing out her ordeal, and urged other women going through similar situation not to keep quiet about their ordeal.

“I must commend the courage of mercy, because what she did is what other women who are victims of domestic violence out there need to do, they don’t need to hide it except they want to die there.”

Adding her voice to the matter, Coordinator of DSVRT, Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, said the order henceforth prevents Mr. Gentry from getting close to his wife until further notice, assuring that the government would pursue the case to a logical conclusion.

She disclosed that Gentry, who may be charged for domestic violence, is expected to appear in court in two weeks’ time to give reasons why the restraining order should not be made perpetual.

Vivour-Adeniyi said the State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode was committed to stemming the tide of domestic violence, regardless of who the victim or the offender is, saying that Aigbe is yet another victim whose case would be treated according to the law.

“We are actually working on the case with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), we are handling both civil and criminal. The criminal aspect of the domestic violence has been reported to the DPO of Area F and we accompanied her to the station with a view to charging the criminal aspect to court. So that is being handled.

“The civil aspect which is to ensure that she is protected, that is where the restraining order comes in, which is provided by the Prevention Against Domestic Violence Law 2007. So, we approached the family court and we got a restraining order on her behalf, restraining Mr. Gentry from I think one mile from her.”

Read More »