Trump will deal with terrorism in Nigeria – Group

Nigerians in the diaspora have expressed the hope that US President-elect, Mr Donald Trump, will help end terrorism in Africa, even as they identified the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) as a group that must be curtailed by the incoming American government.
The Nigerians based in the United States of America who spoke through More Voices Against Terrorism however condemned a statement issued by the US State Department that criticised the Nigerian Police handling of the Shiites sectarian clashes with security agencies and recently the killing of officers going about their businesses.
A statement on Monday by Angela Bala, More Voices Against Terrorism’s Head of Administration said the group is “hopeful that the incoming administration of President-elect, Mr Donald Trump, which shown remarkable understanding of radical Islam would put the IMN on the terror list and compel Iran to stop exporting its evil to the African continent.

“Even as we await such positive development, we urge the State Department to withdraw its offensive statements in favour of IMN and to desist from further issuing such,” it demanded.
The Group described the State Department’s statement as in Nigeria Police as alarming. It said it was disturbing that the US openly castigated the Federal Government while tactically supporting the outlawed IMN.
Continuing, “Much as the statement postured to have addressed both sides to the Kano clash that left several Nigerians dead, we find it absurd that the US State Department spoke of the IMN without acknowledging its ties with terrorism or its relationship with Iran that is known to be a state sponsor of terrorism.
“As a body in the US, More Voices Against Terrorism is very aware that the entire members and leadership of the IMN would have been hauled before a law court if they try a tenth of what they do in Nigeria on a daily basis yet the United States has decided to imbue them with more confidence to delude them that the world is in support of the crimes they are committing.

“This can only end badly for the entire human race same way a delay in designating Boko Haram as a terror group is haunting the world today.
“It is worrisome that the same country that readily incinerates school children and wedding parties with drone fired Hellfire Missiles whenever its marines as much as come under fire in other sovereign nations is now the one questioning the right of Nigeria’s security forces to deal with known terrorists.
“It should be placed on record that any administration that gives credence to terrorism above the rights of overwhelming segment of humanity, comprising of women and children who are the worst hit by terrorism all over the world, is to return the human race to the nasty state of nature where life is crude, nasty and brutish.
“That the US designates Iran as state sponsor of terrorism and turns around to support Iranian puppets in Nigeria betrays a deficit in thinking that can only lead to the worrisome conclusion that the long term plan is to replicate the kind of confusing proxies’ wars ongoing in Syria overthere in Nigeria. We warn that the outcome of such attempts would be calamitous as the IMN terrorists would eventually ply their wares on US soil and in other condoning countries within the shortest time possible.
“We urge a stop to the duplicity of the State Department. Its double standard is confirmed by the highly repulsive and condemnable act in which its statements are issued and distributed through the IMN spokesman in Nigeria. This is simply unfair, unjust and a very biased position against Nigerians that have been hit hard by IMN activities,” the group stated.

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How N27m found in justice Ngwuta’s bathroom disappeared – FG lawyer narrates

Counsel to the Federal Government, Charles Adeogun Philips, on Monday told an Abuja Federal High Court that N27m in cash was found at the residence of a Supreme Court Justice, Sylvester Ngwuta, but it “completely disappeared.”
According to Philip, the large sum was allegedly found in Ngwuta’s bathroom but the judge later ordered that the money be removed.
Philips made the claim while arguing against the bail application by Ngwuta’s lawyer, Kanu Agabi, SAN.

Alleging that the apex court judge gave the order for the money to be removed on October 9, the Federal Government’s lawyer informed the court that Ngwuta attempted to conceal evidence.
Philips claimed that Ngwuta first instructed a witness to “go and get rid of those cars,” adding that the second instruction was “go to my bathroom you will find two bags.
“The bags contained 27m in cash”, and that “they were moved from the location.
”There are sufficient grounds that the defendant will interfere with potential prosecution witnesses and with evidence.

“We object to bail being granted because we are of the opinion that the defendant may conceal or destroy evidence.”
The Federal Government’s counsel urged the court not to grant the accused judge bail because he possessed multiple identities, and could jump bail because he once left the country with false identification.
Agabi, hwever, prayed the court to grant his client bail in liberal terms and self recognition, stressing that the offence Ngwuta was standing trial for was bailable.
Justice John Tsoho after listening to the argument of both lawyers adjourned the matter for an hour to deliver a ruling.
Earlier, the apex court justice had pleaded not guilty to the 16-count charges preferred against him by the Federal Government.
Recall that the Department of State Services, DSS, had on October 8, arrested Ngwuta alongside some judges over alleged corrupt practices.

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How I stole over N5m from bank – Cleaner

A 29-year-old man, Peter Oko, who worked as a cleaner in Diamond bank in Nasarawa State, has narrated how he stole N5.675 million.
Oko was attached to the New Nyanya branch of the bank.
The state Commissioner of Police, CP, Abubakar Bello, told the Punch that the crime was reported to the police in October, 2016, by the bank.

According to him, the matter was then transferred from Karu Divisional Police Headquarters to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, SCIID, Lafia, for investigations.
In his confession, the suspect blamed the economic situation for his action, stating that he had never been involved in a criminal act before now.
Oko said: “As a cleaner, I knew where all the keys were kept. I single-handedly carried out the operation because I have been working as a cleaner in the bank for the past 10 years and my eyes had been on one of the keys to the vault, where the bank used to keep all its money.
“As a cleaner, my attention was not only on the keys, but on how I will carry out the operation successfully without being caught by either the security or any staff of the bank.

“I stole the money without the knowledge of the bank workers.
“As a cleaner, I knew where all the secret files were kept and where the bank kept its keys where you can have access to dollars, Nigerian currency and all other currencies.
“The devil of economy recession pushed me into the crime; I have never committed a criminal act before, luck ran out on me and I was caught in the process after I hid the stolen money in a carton.”
The money was, however, recovered by the police and the suspect has been charged to court.

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Baby abandoned near refuse dump in Akwa Ibom cries to death [PHOTO]

Residents of Ikot Ekpene Road in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state capital were weekend thrown into shock over the death of a baby girl found abandoned in biscuit carton.
A passerby, identified as Okon Isaac, who was on his way to a filling station along the area on Saturday, was said to have heard the cry of the baby.
Isaac reportedly traced the cry of the baby until he found her neatly dressed and abandoned near a refuse dump and alerted residents.

According to reports, the child purportedly cried herself to death.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Murtala Mani, who confirmed the report to newsmen, said the police was aware of the situation and had contacted the Ministry of Environment for necessary action.

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