DSS: Ifeanyi ubah arrested over N11b fuel theft

The State Security Service (SSS) has arrested the managing director of Capital Oil and Gas Limited, Ifeanyi Ubah, over alleged “economic sabotage”.

It said Ubah was detained in connection with missing petroleum products.

“The arrest was sequel to Ubah’s engagement in acts of economic sabotage which include stealing, diversion and illegal sale of petroleum products stored in his tank farm by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC),” the SSS said in a statement yesterday.

“So far, it has been established that the products stolen amount to over N11bn.

“There is no doubt that Ubah’s acts have the capacity to negatively impact on national economy.”

The fuel products, belonging to NNPC Retail, which was stored in the Capital Oil’s storage facilities in Lagos under a throughput arrangement, went missing under controversial circumstances.

In March, the Capital Oil and Gas boss reportedly visited the SSS office in Abuja, where he was held for days.

The Group Managing Director of the NNPC, MaikantiBaru, had said the corporation was committed to using all measures to fully recover the full value of the missing products.

Last month, four top NNPC officials were retired over the scandal.

In a statementby Tony Opuiyo, the SSS saidUbah had further engaged “in other activities inimical to national security and public order”.

“In furtherance of his gimmicks to undermine the government and people of Nigeria, he has incited members of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), a critical player in the downstream sub-sector of the Petroleum Industry, to refuse/stop the lifting of products,” it said.

“This is part of his plans to curry their sentiments and cause them to embark on strike and also stage protests in his favour with the ulterior motive of arm-twisting the NNPC to abandon the cause of recovering the stolen products.

“The implication of this on law and order is, in fact, a common knowledge. It is consequent upon this that the Service arrested and will prosecute him forthwith.”

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Southern Kaduna killers will face God’s wrath, says Emir

Emir of Jema’a, Alhaji Muhammadu Isa Muhammadu, has stated those responsible for killings in southern part of Kaduna will face God’s wrath.
The Emir stated this at his palace in Kafanchan yesterday when he received Kafanchan Peace Forum, a voluntary group working for genuine reconciliation among people of the troubled areas of Southern Kaduna.
The Emir who received the forum, which consists of Muslim and Christians from different tribes of Southern Kaduna with excitement, hopedKafanchan and the entire zone return to old days of peaceful communities.
The Emir said: “Kafanchan used to be a very peaceful and hospitable town where people from different walks of life enjoyed to work and live.
“All of a sudden, we don’t know what happened that people start killing one another. We don’t know the people doing this but we condemn it
“All those killing will face God’s judgment and wrath because no religion preaches killing of fellow human beings.
“So, we must hold ourselves together irrespective of our ethno-religious background and work together for peace.”
He went on: “We must realise it is we people of faiths that are killing ourselves.
“When you inquiry about people who have been killed, they are either Christians or Muslims.
“So, we must stop these killings and put an end to this indigene/settler dichotomy, because no one group can displace the other.”
He expressed support for the forum, urging it to take the peace efforts very seriously.

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Two grandmums held with cocaine at Lagos Airport

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have foiled attempts by two grandmothers to unlawfully export narcotic drugs to New York, United States and Medina, Saudi Arabia.

The suspects allegedly ingested 108 wraps of substances that tested positive for heroin and cocaine during outward screening of passengers at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos.

60-year-old Adebayo Ebunoluwa Mercy ingested 83 wraps of heroin weighing 1.105kg on her way to the United States.

AmoduAyisat Grace, 59, also ingested 25 wraps of cocaine weighing 275 grammes on her way to Saudi Arabia.

They blamed their involvement in drug trafficking on financial hardship.

NDLEA preliminary investigation revealed it is the first time a grandmother of 60 years will ingest a whopping 83 wraps of narcotics.

The second suspect was going to Saudi Arabia where drug trafficking attracts capital punishment.

Her timely arrest saved her from the ordeals of painful and ignoble death in a foreign country.

NDLEA commander at the Lagos airport, Ahmadu Garba, said: “Adebayo Ebunoluwa Mercy was arrested while boarding a Virgin Atlantic flight to New York while Amodu Grace was caught trying to board an Ethiopian airline flight on her way to Medina, Saudi Arabia. The cases are under investigation”.

Adebayo, who sells provision at Ikorodu, Lagos said drug trafficking was an afterthought.

“I am a divorcee selling provision for survival. Things became rough and tough for me when I lost my capital due to family problems.

“It has been my dream to travel to the United States in search of greener pastures.

“My involvement in drug trafficking was an afterthought. My intention when I got my visa last year was to go and work to take care of my needs without being a burden to anyone. Everything changed suddenly when I met an old friend at a party.

“They took care of my travel expenses and gave me $3,000 with a promise to assist me secure a job in the United States.

“It was few hours to my journey that they brought the drugs for me to swallow.

“They said that it was my contribution for the kindness and money spent on my trip but it turned out to be my biggest mistake,” the indigene of Kogi State said.

Amodu told investigators as a Muslim she was glad to travel to Saudi Arabia but her journey terminated at the NDLEA office.

“I was happy when they offered to sponsor my trip to Saudi Arabia but I never knew it will end in my detention.

“I sell fufu (staple food from cassava) to take care of my four children as a widow and this has been very challenging.

“They enticed me with a visit to Saudi Arabia and a handsome reward and I fell for trick.

“I only swallowed 25 wraps of the drug. Unfortunately I could not get to Saudi Arabia because of my arrest.”

NDLEA chairman Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd.) said it is shocking and shameful for grandmothers to be involved in drug trafficking.

“This move by drug cartels to recruit grandmothers as mules is very disturbing, shocking and shameful.

“A situation where grandmothers have become a bad influence on their children and grandchildren is highly regrettable,” he stated.

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Ibadan Expressway crash, 26 dead and burnt in Ashes

•Baby survives after dad throws him out of burning vehicle

Twenty-six travellers were burnt to death yesterday at the Ibadan end of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway when two commercial buses collided and caught fire immediately.

Eleven others were injured while a baby escaped unhurt.

His father was said to have thrown him out of one of the vehicles apparently after realizing that he (father) had a little chance of getting out of the fire.

An eye witness told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the baby “escaped death because his father threw him out through the window of the bus.”

The two buses were said to have collided when one was trying to overtake another vehicle.

Time was about 7:00 am at a portion where there was diversion caused by road rehabilitation.

Once the vehicles collided, they burst into flames, leaving most of the passengers trapped.

The victims were burnt beyond recognition.

Personnel of the Nigeria Police and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) who rushed to the scene evacuated the dead to the Adeoyo Hospital, Yemetu, Ibadan for autopsy while the injured were taken to the University College Hospital (UCH) and Ibadan Central Hospital for treatment.

Many passers-by wept on seeing the charred bodies.

The commissioner of Police, Abiodun Odude visited the scene.

Confirming the accident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Oyo State, SP Adekunle Ajisebutu, said 26 people died in the accident while 11 were injured.

“The fatal motor accident occurred at about 7.00am on Saturday along the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway by Quarry.

“The two commercial buses involved had a head on collision and burst into flames. As a result, 26 people died while 11 others including three children were injured.

“Corpses of the dead have been deposited at the Adeoyo General Hospital, Yemetu, Ibadan, for autopsy while the injured have been taken to Ibadan Central Hospital and UCH Ibadan for medical attention.” Ajisebutu said.

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