• 

The police have arrested two Chinese for operating an illegal factory dealing in electronics waste in the Ikeja area of Lagos.

It was gathered that men of the Area ‘F’ Command invaded the factory located at No. 19 Sule Abuka Street, Opebi, Ikeja, which had no signboard, and arrested the suspects with several cartons of the waste already billed for export to China and Vietnam by air cargo.

According to a police source, the suspects, Lin Piehao, 22, and Li Ruoneng, 27, are also staying in the country with expired visas.

The source added that the arrest was made following a tip-off on the activities of the Chinese.

“We got a tip-off on their activities and we went to the factory to arrest them. We also discovered that the two brains behind the company were staying in Nigeria illegally. They came to Lagos in May and they were issued one-month visas, but they exceeded their stay and were working in Nigeria illegally,” the source added.

One of the suspects, Piehao, said, “We buy phone panels from phone repairers and scrap sellers. We remove the panels’ IC with a machine and then ship it to China and Vietnam.

“We have some Nigerian casual workers in our factory, but we gave them the rules and asked them to be discrete about what we do before they joined us.

“We actually came to Nigeria with one-month visas to explore the country and know the business we can do, but our boss in China urged us to open the factory and we have been enjoying Nigeria and do not want to go back despite the expiration of our visas.

“I don’t have a work permit; I know it is a crime to work without a work permit, but the electronics waste business is very lucrative. We do a lot to ensure that the smoke from the factory does not affect the environment in which we operate.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, said investigation into the matter was ongoing.

He stated, “We have two Chinese in our custody; they are operating the factory illegally, because they actually registered a business, but the purpose for which it was registered is different from what they are using it for now.

“They are emitting poisonous gases, polluting the environment and disturbing the neighbourhood. Investigation into the matter is ongoing

Punch

• 

JUSTICE CHUKA OBIOZOR OF THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT SITTING IN IKOYI,LAGOS, ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 6, 2019, ORDERED THE FREEZING OF THE SUM OF THREE ACCOUNTS BELONGING TO THE LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT OVER ALLEGED N9.9 BILLION FRAUD.

The funds are domiciled in First City Monument Bank, FCMB, account number 5617984012; Access Bank account number 0060949275 and Zenith Bank account number 1011691254, respectively.

Only about N300 million are now left in the three accounts. Justice Chuka Obiozor gave the order, following an ex-parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The EFCC had prayed the court to freeze the account pending the conclusion of investigation and possible prosecution of Adewale Adesanya, the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Chief of Staff to former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

The applicant, EFCC, in an affidavit deposed to by Kungmi Daniel, an operative of the Commission, stated that there was “a huge inflow of N9,927,714,443.29” from the state accounts into an FCMB bank account opened on September 17, 2018 during the administration of the immediate past governor of the state, Akinwunmi Ambode, and operated by Adesanya.

It was further stated that the schedule of the FCMB account showed how Adesanya and other signatories to the account made fraudulent transfer from the accounts of the Lagos State Government and dissipated the funds housed in the said accounts.

In his submission, counsel to the EFCC, Mohammed Abbas, said “The trend in the account is that the account always witnessed huge inflow from Lagos State Government in the above scheduled accounts managed by the respondent (Adesanya)”.

Abbas, therefore, prayed the court to grant an order to temporarily attach and take over the accounts to enable it conclude its investigations.

“There have been concerted efforts and attempts to dissipate the contents of the accounts listed in the schedule to this application.

“Without freezing the nominated accounts and temporarily forfeiting the money to the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, there is no way the fraud being perpetrated using the scheduled accounts can be stopped,” he further told the court.

Consequently, Justice Obiozor granted the prayers of the counsel to the Commission.

The Judge adjourned further proceedings to September 9, 2019.

TropicReporters

• 

The Federal Government has declared Monday, August, 12th and Tuesday, 13th, as public holidays to mark the 2019 Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Georgina Ehuriah, who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, in Abuja on Tuesday, congratulated the Muslim faithful on the occasion.

She also called on all Nigerians, at home and in the diaspora, to use the period of this year’s Eid celebration to “embrace the virtues of love, humility, peace and sacrifice as exemplified by the Holy Prophet Mohammed.”

Ehuriah urged Nigerians to shun disruptive tendencies and to join hands with the Federal Government to build a peaceful, strong and united Nigeria “so as to achieve an enviable next level of growth and development.”

The Permanent Secretary reiterated the determination of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to protect the lives and property of Nigerians, adding that security agencies under the Ministry had been directed to ensure adequate security, before, during and after the celebrations.

The statement said, “The Permanent Secretary restated government’s desire for all Nigerians to live a life of sacrifice, charity and love for one another. She wishes Nigerians a happy, peaceful and fulfilling Eid-Al-Kabir celebrations.”

• 

THE Redeem Christian Church of God, RCCG, has embarked on menstrual health education for adolescent girls.

The Church has also empowered over 1000 indigent residents at Kurudu village in Bwari Local Government Area of Abuja. OUTREACH: Representatives of PadTheGirl Campaign and Cece Yara Foundation at the distribution of sanitary pads to 1,000 indigent girls in Igbologun community in Lagos recently.

The empowerment which was part of its usual quarterly missionary work included the rendering of free medical services to the beneficiaries and distribution of items such as rice, cooked foods and clothes. Pastor in-Charge of the RCCG, The Throne Room Parish, Abuja, Tunde Benjamin said that the objective of the mission was to fulfill God’s mandate for the church when he charged them to go out and make disciples of all nations.

According to the Pastor, the first objective is for soul winning and the second one is to impact our community.

According to him, “We brought in doctors, nurses and a mobile laboratory test people, drugs, foods and clothes. This is what Jesus Christ talked about. So we are an extension of Jesus Christ here on earth. “We have to bring change, we have to impact our community, impact their lives because faith without work is dead,” he said. Some of the services rendered at the one day mission included donation of clothes, shoes, food items, sanitary pads, and free medical screening and drugs for common ailments. “Most of the beneficiaries were screened for HIV, blood sugar level, malaria, blood pressure and were also given health talks. About 200 children were dewormed during the outreach programme. ”

The assistant pastor of RCCG, the Throne Room, Emmanuel Mulero, said the initiative was part of the church’s corporate social responsibility to the society.

Mr Mulero said it was their way of giving back to the community and showing love to the people of the community. “The gospel of Jesus Christ, it deals with the spirit, soul and the body.

The body is very important and that is why we have come out here with the medical team. We have about 15 doctors, laboratory scientists and pharmacist and we are here to treat people for free. “Also we have food items, clothings and we are going to give them counseling. We are also going to have post-treatments for those people that might have very serious case.”

One of the beneficiaries, Chinyere Uchendu, said she heard about the outreach from her daughter who had called her on the phone. She thanked the church for the initiative. Mrs Uchendu, who was seen holding some of the medicines given to her after receiving consultation, said the medicine was for malaria treatment. “I have benefited a lot. I was not feeling too fine. They did test on me and they have given me drugs and the spoke to me on how to take care of my health.”

Another beneficiary, Halima Usman said that her two children were dewormed and given some medications. She thanked the organisers for remembering the community “as not everyone can afford to go to the hospital”.

The programme according to the assistant pastor, was in collaboration with the NGO arm of the church known as Community Transformation Empowerment Organisation (CTEO) which takes care of the medical bills of some of the beneficiaries who were diagnosed with chronic diseases.

Also speaking, the Programme Officer of CTEO, Miss Onifeloluwa Olokunde, explained that the reason for the outreach was to touch lives adding that they diagnosed and provide medicine to everyone according to the disease. She said that the some of health interventions included menstrual health education for adolescent girls, economic strengthening, shelter and protection, and basic tests. Also we have food items, clothings and we are going to give them counseling. We are also going to have post-treatments for those people that might have very serious case,” he said.

A beneficiary, Chinyere Uchendu, said she heard about the outreach from her daughter who had called her on the phone. She thanked the church for the initiative. Mrs Uchendu, who was seen holding some of the medicines given to her after receiving consultation, said the medicine was for malaria treatment. “I have benefited a lot. I was not feeling too fine. They did test on me and they have given me drugs and the spoke to me on how to take care of my health.” Another beneficiary, Halima Usman said that her two children were dewormed and given some medications.

She thanked the organisers for remembering the community “as not everyone can afford to go to the hospital”.

The programme according to the assistant pastor, is in collaboration with the NGO arm of the church known as Community Transformation Empowerment Organisation (CTEO) which takes care of the medical bills of some of the beneficiaries who were diagnosed with chronic diseases.

Also speaking, the Programme Officer of CTEO, Miss Onifeloluwa Olokunde, explained that the reason for the outreach was to touch lives adding that they diagnosed and provide medicine to everyone according to the disease. She said that some of health interventions included menstrual health education for adolescent girls, economic strengthening, shelter and protection, and basic tests.

• 

The police have, Monday, arrested another SaharaReporters’ journalist, Victor Ogungbero. Saharareporters journalist, Victor Ogungbero being arrested by police during

Revolutionnow protes Ogungbero is a video editor and cameraman with Sahara Reporters. This is coming barely days after the police arrested Omoyele Sowore, the convener of the #RevolutionNow movement.

Ogungbero was arrested alongside eight others during the #RevolutionNow protest in front of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. Reports say he is being held at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba, Lagos State.

Meanwhile, Some persons, including the Cross River state correspondent of the Nation newspapers, Nicholas Kalu, were on Monday, arrested at the Cultural center, Calabar venue of the #RevolutionNow protest in the state.

Vanguard gathered that the news editor, Jonathan Ugbal ,as well as the managing editor, Jeremiah Archibong of an online medium, “CrossRiverwatch” were also arrested.

Also, the #RevolutionNow protest currently going on in some states in Nigeria, met a brick rock in Rivers state as it failed to hold.

Governor Nyesom Wike had warned that the protest would not be allowed to hold in the state and ordered security operatives to ensure his order was adhered to.

Early in the morning in Port Harcourt, about 10 vans with security agencies made up of Police, Department of Security Service, DSS and the Civil Defence had condoned off Isaac Boro Park, one of the take-off points for the protests.

At about 11am, there were no protesters in sight as the entrance gates to the Isaac Park were securely locked.

Daily business activities were seen going on as usual within the vicinity of Isaac Boro Park without disruption by fully armed by security agencies.

The police also launched a stop-and-search on passers-by, especially the youths.

Vanguard

• 

Presidency on Monday stated that democracy is the winner in Nigeria.

The declaration came on Monday evening as security agents crippled the #RevolutionNow protests spearheaded by the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress in the February 2019 General Election, Mr. Omoyele Sowore.

Sowore, who also publishes the online Sahara Reporters, had called for nationwide protests tagged #RevolutionNow and scheduled for Monday (today) to protest bad governance.

Sowore was picked up in the early hours of Saturday by operatives of the Department of State Services and is being held incommunicado.

Security agents comprising variously of soldiers, Police and Operatives of the OP MESA, a joint Internal Security Operational platform made up of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, also took to the flash points in various states of the federation and prevented the #RevolutionNow protest from holding.

In states such as Lagos, Osun and Cross River, protesters were tear-gassed and journalists arrested and taken to unknown places.

Again, security agents in Lagos State not only doused protesters in tear gas, they also shot into air to scare people off.

In reaction, the Presidency gave “democracy” thumbs up, saying, “The winner is democracy in Nigeria!”

Taking to his Facebook wall on Monday evening, Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity), Mr. Femi Adesina, had posted a Press release signed by his counterpart, Shehu Garba, titled “The Winner Is Democracy In Nigeria!”

The social media release states, “Today, millions of Nigerians went about their businesses: work, seeking employment, attending schools/colleges and caring for their families. By doing so, the millions defended our country’s hard-won democratic rights – by ignoring calls on social media to join a phantom ‘revolution’.

“There were a few hundred persons today who, for their own reasons, decided to act upon the demands of a group calling itself Global Coalition for Security and Democracy in Nigeria, which went on social media to ask everyday Nigerians to overthrow the government they only elected some six months ago.

“The President is humbled by the support – not for himself, or the governing party – but for the democratic values of modern-day Nigeria through the wisdom of those millions of citizens who preferred democracy and decided not to undermine an elected government.

“Today, joining those millions of Nigerians was not only the President and governing party at Federal level, but many state governments from the opposition, trade unions, civil society organisations, media and NGOs with focus on freedom of speech. All have, rightly, united in protecting Nigeria’s young democracy and the rights of all to elect leaders and lawmakers.

“The Global Coalition for Security and Democracy in Nigeria’s attempt to incite citizens into a revolution against their own democratic rights and interests has failed – as will all attempts to take away from the people their hard-won rights and freedom to choose who leads their country.’’

• 

The Independent National Electoral Commission has said three Certificates of Return are still pending to be issued for the Oju Obi Federal Constituency of Benue State and two state constituencies in Niger and Akwa Ibom states.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman in charge of Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, who stated this in an interview with The PUNCH, said until all the issues before the Election Petitions Tribunals were resolved, the commission would continue to withdraw and re-issue Cs o R.

He said, “As of today, the commission has not issued a Certificate of Return to anybody in relation to the Oju Obi Federal Constituency in Benue State. Also as of today, INEC has not issued a Certificate of Return in relation to a state constituency in Niger State and another one in Akwa Ibom State.

“These are the three, but in relation to senatorial elections, the commission has issued all certificates of return.

“But you know, this thing is an ongoing exercise; if the Federal High Court has asked us to issue a certificate of return and we complied, and the case goes to the Court of Appeal, and the appellate court reverses it, we will withdraw and re-issue.”

Punch

• 

… recovers SUV, Apple Laptops, charm

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal Office, has arrested one Victor Idahosa for Internet fraud.

Idahosa, 24, was arrested at Cristolyte Close Diamond Estate, Lekki Ajah Lagos, following intelligence report received by the Commission about his alleged involvement in the criminal activity.

Items found on the suspect, who hails from Edo State, include one SUV, two Apple laptops, scam emails, payments slips, cashier cheques, charms and several fraudulent documents.

He will soon be charged to court.

• 

Security agents have surrounded the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, in anticipation of the #RevolutionNow protest march scheduled to hold today.

The security agents have the OP MESA vans parked around the stadium, The PUNCH can confirm.

The Operation MESA or OP MESA, as it is commonly referred to, is a joint Internal Security Operational platform made up of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force.

Punch

• 

The seven-man committee inaugurated by the Governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha, to investigate the status of the newly established tertiary institutions by the immediate past governor of the state, Rochas Okorocha, has recommended among other things, the sacking of all the vice chancellors, reactors and principal officers of the institutions.

 The Chairman of the committee, Prof. Jude Njoku, who briefed newsmen in Owerri along other committee members, said the properties of the institutions which were in the hands of the dons should be recovered by the state government.

 Njoku, who is a former VC of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri,  Said, “The appointment of all the vice chancellors, rectors, principal officers and members of governing councils of the newly established tertiary should be terminated by government appropriately and all the property belonging to those institutions recovered.

 “The governing councils of the Imo State College of Education, Ihitte Uboma and Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo, should be formally dissolved and reconstituted.”