[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he National Drug Law Enforcement Agency says 22 illicit drug dealers have been convicted in the State in the recent time. The State Commander, Sule Momodu who disclosed this in Awka while speaking with journalists on the activities and success of the Command in 2017, noted that about 115 cases were pending in the Federal High Court in the state while 22 male suspects from Abia, Enugu and Anambra State respectively were convicted for their dealing in Cannabis, Sativa, Cocaine and Heroin within the timeframe.
The Commander however maintained that the Command was hoping to get more conviction before the end of 2018 as various enlightenment programs were ongoing in primary and secondary schools, tertiary institutions, churches and communities even as he advised drug dealers and their cohorts to stay away from the state as culprits would be charged to court and prosecuted
Meanwhile, the Chairman House Committee on Drugs and Narcotics, Rt. Hon Eucharia Azodo during her working visit to NDLEA, Anambra State Command commended the state government for its good work in provision of vehicles and other logistics. She observed that adequate funding was fundamental for efficient performance by the NDLEA which she described as an institution charged with the onerous responsibility of combating drugs menace nation wide.
[dropcap]S[/dropcap]muggling is not a new way of life in any part of the world. Nations down through the stream of time have had on one occasion or the other need a way(s) to curb smuggling. There is no nation through that can claim to have successfully curbed its entirely smugglers and their unpatriotic notorious acts. But in recent time, this act has become a regular feature of life in Nigeria and Nigerians in their increasing numbers have been calling on the governments and citizens to do this or that to save them from this curse that can lead to a retardation of the much needed industrialization take off. The Federal Government has set up several policies to tackle this menace. Nigeria Customs Service on its part is fighting relentlessly and endlessly towards making sure that this cankerworm eating our economy is reduced to the barest minimum.
Recently, Comptroller Mohammed, Aliyu, A, the Customs Area Controller, Seme Command, has re-stated his commitment in combating and confronting the hydra headed monster of smuggling head long that has assume a threatening dimension to the socio-economic development of Nigeria. The Comptroller while taking stocks of seizures made daily by the command disclosed that he remain undaunted to accusations from different quarters that are ignorant or not knowledgeable about customs laws “that he arrest everything that comes into Nigeria’’. He reassured genuine stakeholders that they have no course to fear unless the non-compliant ones that have skeleton in their cupboard.
Compt. Aliyu addressing Newsmen on the seizures
Highlighting further, the professional investigator who combined his investigative skill with enforcement experience to achieve the unprecedented feat restated his uncompromising stand in order not to drag his heard earned reputation and integrity to the mud.
The Customs Area Controller who has been suddenly nick named as “Mr do the right thing” for his onslaught against prohibited items insisted that he cannot stop seizing contrabands and non-compliant goods that refuse to adhere to the law of the land thereby undermining the policies of the federal government of Nigeria that the Nigeria Customs Service stand to enforce at the border.
In his narratives, the Customs Area Controller stated that the Command seized over six hundred (600x50kg) bags of rice with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of over N10m on the 26th of March, 2018 after destroying a total of over (2800x50kg) bags of expired rice the same day with a total DPV of over N49m. Another seized truck with Reg. No XE-634-MUS disguised to be empty was arrested based on intelligence and discovered to be carrying about 1,514 cartons of imported Tin tomato with a DPV of N8,175,600.00 on the 24th March 2018.
Commenting on the daily seizures that have become a recurring decimal and a routine in the command, Compt. Aliyu said that a visit to the warehouse of the command which is almost filled up to the brim, an attestation that the Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Command, is not resting on its oars in generating revenue, facilitating legitimate trade, suppressing smuggling and protecting the territorial integrity of Nigeria through due diligence in the use of effective and operational fixed scanner machines at the border command. Restating his resolute stand, the Customs Area Controller noted that he is not ready to shy away from his responsibility as far as deliberate perpetrators remain recalcitrant violators of the federal government policies.
The Customs Area Controller warned that seizure will continue to be the hall mark of the command and his enforcement officers will continue to do the needful against the unrepentant smugglers. However, the customs helmsman stressed that all his achievements is attributed to the mutual consultation and cooperation with the host communities who do share intelligence with the Command, and the cooperation of the sister security agencies who synergize and collaborate with the Nigeria Customs Service for effective border management. He disabused the mind of the public who are quick to mention Seme border to any incident of smuggling seen along Lagos metropolis. He categorically stated that any smugglers who previously before now operate through Seme route will definitely affirm that change has come to Seme. Though a trial may convince who ever doubt.
Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Customs Service, Joseph Attah, showcasing the new additional uniform introduced by the Service in Abuja on Tuesday.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Nigeria Customs Service has introduced a new uniform for its officials.The new uniform, which will be used alongside existing ones, was officially presented to the public by the Acting Deputy Comptroller-General, Tariff and Trade, lsa Talatu and the Service Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller Joseph Attah.
The new uniform has white top over the usual ash coloured trouser with a tie to match. A statement signed by Attah on Tuesday said the additional uniform is part of the ongoing reforms of the NCS aimed at giving officers additional outlook that befits a Service operating on high integrity standard.
According to the statement, “Officers and men working in offices, airport and especially during hot weather will find it easy and more comfortable to wear on duty.
“For the avoidance of doubt, this is not a change of uniform but an addition to give officers and men variety of official wears.
“The white top which can either be long or short sleeve is part of the ongoing reforms aimed at giving officers additional outlook that befits a Service operating on high integrity standard.
“While giving his nod for the official use of the new uniform, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Hameed Ali expressed the hope that the additional wear will help shore up the Service image as well as provide more comfort for operatives at certain time and in appropriate assignment to increase productivity.”
CP. Chris Ezike , Commissioner of Police in Imo State
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Commissioner of Police in Imo State, Chris Ezike, has detained three policemen attached to the Anti-Cultism Unit of the command for allegedly threatening to frame some journalists and collecting a N10,000 bribe from them on Sunday. The CP, who confirmed the development on Tuesday, said he had given the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department seven days to conclude investigation into the matter.
Ezike said the policemen would face an orderly room trial if found culpable of the allegations.He said, “The three policemen are in detention now. I have directed the DC SCIID to investigate the matter.“I have equally directed him to reach out to the complainants, because as we speak, nobody has reported the incident apart from what we saw in the media.“The Inspector General of Police is passionate about discipline and excellence. The allegation is corruption with impunity.”
It would be recalled that some policemen had arrested some journalists on Sunday in Owerri, namely Juachi Ochu, (www.profjay.com), Matthew Okache (www.voplink.com), Williams George (www.touristtv.com) and Trinity Jesam (detailing cross river) and demanded that they should part with the sum of N10,000 before getting their freedom. The victims were members of the Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria, OMPAN who attended the association’s convention in Owerri between March 30 and 31.
Voplink Media reports on Easter Sunday some OMPAN members who were on their way to board vehicle going back to their different destinations, were arrested by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad obstructed their movement.
Narrating their ordeal in the hands of the police, one of the victims had stated; “At about 10:30am on Sunday, on our way to the park to board a vehicle going to our different destinations, we were accosted by men of Special Anti-Robbery Squad. After checking our papers and every other documents, we were asked to follow them to their station (State CID) opposite IMO State Government house”
According to the arrested journalists, another thorough search was made on them and nothing incriminating was found.
“So, we asked for our release and one Inspector Uche, who happens to be the leader of the gang insisted on giving them money, probably after having a feeling that we were all in a hurry to go back to our family after a stressful and successful national convention of Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria OMPAN in Owerri.”
“We pleaded with them to let us go as we are law abiding citizens of federal republic of Nigeria but all our plead turned into deaf ears as the inspector refused to listen to us”
“Inspector Uche who is the head of the gang of SARS on operation threatened to jail the journalist and indict them with a criminal offense if they (OMPAN members) don’t give them money.
“This sound like they (corrupt SARS officers) after getting information that the Imo State chief of staff played host to journalist yesterday in a gala night at Westbrook hotel may think the Chief of Staff might have spoiled the OMPAN members with money.
“We were advised to make use of the ATM, which I was made to stay back at the station as a collateral while my colleagues go to the ATM to make withdrawals”.
“They left for the ATM and came back with some cash which was handed to the officers in the attached pictures above.”
[dropcap]P[/dropcap]olice have rearrested the last of the suspects who reportedly escaped from custody in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, last week. The suspect, Kabiru Saidu, also known as Osama, is one of six suspects who escaped from the custody of the ‘A’ division of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad.
A police source who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised to talk to journalists said that the suspect was arrested by detectives in Bauchi on Sunday night and taken to Abuja, the nation’s capital.The police source confirmed that all the suspects who broke out of jail where they were being held pending their court appearance, have been rearrested.
Saidu and the other suspects had been arrested for various crimes claiming they were being armed and funded by the Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye. Following their escape on the eve of their arraignment, the lawmaker, Senator Melaye challenged the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris to produce the escapees or face a lawsuit.
Since the re-arrest of the criminals a few days ago, the lawmaker had yet to comment on the matter during a Senate plenary last week.It is widely believed that the suspect allegedly planned and coordinated the escape, with the assistance of some police officers. His initial escape from the cell has led to the immediate removal of the then Commissioner of Police, Mr Ali Janga, by the IGP.
The police boss also changed the state Commander of Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) for negligence, dereliction of duty and gross misconduct. He also redeployed the Divisional Police Officer ‘A’ Division, Lokoja, where the suspects escaped, and other police officers implicated in the escape for the same offence.
He consequently directed the Commissioner of Police, Federal Operations at the Force Headquarters, Mr Esa Ogbu, to immediately proceed and take over as the new police boss in the north-central state.
[dropcap]P[/dropcap]resident Muhammadu Buhari has described the passing away of South-African anti-apartheid icon, Mrs. Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, as a huge loss to Africa, of a courageous woman. The President said that she was a woman of uncommon determination, steadfastness and perseverance who held aloft the torch of the struggle against institutionalized discrimination even while her ex-husband, the late Madiba, President Nelson Mandela was incarcerated.
A statement by the senior special assistant to the Presieent on media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, quoted Buhari commiserating with the family of the deceased, the government and people of South Africa on behalf of the government and people of Nigeria. He urging the South Africans to be consoled by the knowledge that the late Winnie Mandela’s contributions to ending apartheid will not be forgotten, adding that she remained a pride not only to the African woman, but all Africans.
President Buhari prayed that God will comfort all those who mourn the departed and grant her soul eternal rest.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he 66th Annual Meeting of The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has ended in Banjul, the Gambia with the election of the country’s Mr. Baboucarr Bouy as the 19th Chairman of the sub-regional organisation.His election is for three-year tenure in line with the Council’s Convention. He succeeds Dr. D. Evelyn S. Kandakai of Liberia, who was elected in March 2015.
The 66th Meeting, which was held from Monday, 19th to Friday, 23rd March 2018, was declared open by His Excellency Adama Barrow, President of the Republic of The Gambia, who was represented on the occasion by the Vice President, Her Excellency Hajia Fatoumata Tambajang.
In his keynote address, President Adama Barrow who welcomed the delegates to The Gambia, the Smiling Coast of Africa described WAEC as a unique institution within the West African sub-region and the comity of assessment boards which had consistently played prominent roles in educational reforms and development in the member countries. He expressed delight that the Council was set to conduct the maiden edition of the Gambia Basic Education Certificate Examination (GABECE) for Private Candidates in December 2018.
“That examination would offer a number of students the opportunity to further their education beyond Grade 9. The President disclosed that his government had taken over the payment of examination fees at both Basic and Secondary Education levels in The Gambia so as to expand access for all.”
He gave the assurance that the fees would be remitted promptly to WAEC to guarantee quality service delivery and assured the stakeholders that his government would fulfil its financial commitments to the Council despite the prevailing economic situation.
President Barrow decried the spate of malpractice in public examinations, adding that his government was collaborating with the Council to implement a number of measures against the evil. He then urged other member governments to maintain zero tolerance for examination fraud by relentlessly waging a war against the menace.
The Council, which is the governing board of WAEC, holds its yearly meeting in rotation among the five member countries – The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. The meeting was held in 2017 in Nigeria and it will be the turn of Serra Leone to host in 2019 and Liberia in 2020. Delegates from the five member countries who attended the five-day meeting were made up of government nominees as well as representatives of the ministries of education, universities, secondary schools and other interest groups.
At the opening of the 23rd Annual WAEC Endowment Fund Lecture entitled Development Partners/Government Partnership in Education Sector Financing: Perspectives on Respective Roles, Opportunities and Responsibilities in the Identification of Needed Improvement Interventions, the Eventual Design of Related Projects and the Provision of the Conditions for Effective Implementation: three candidates were honoured with the WAEC International Excellence Award in recognition of their outstanding performance in WASSCE for School Candidates, 2017.
They were Miss Jochebed Adwoa Sutherland (1st Prize), Miss Audrey Emefa Awuttey (2nd Prize) and Miss Rachel Amaning Kwarteng (3rd Prize). The three candidates, all Ghanaians, were selected from a total of 1,909,088 candidates who sat the examination in the five member countries.
The Augustus Bandele Oyediran Award for the Best Candidate in West Africa was also presented to Miss Jochebed Adwoa Sutherland.
[dropcap]P[/dropcap]resident Muhammadu Buhari arrives in Lagos today, Thursday, March 29, 2018, to chair the 10th Bola Tinubu Colloquium put together in celebration of the 66th birthday of the All Progressives Congress National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.The colloquium with the theme “Investing in People” is slated to hold at Eko Convention Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.
During his two-day visit to Lagos, President Buhari will, among other things, perform the official flag-off ceremony for the Lekki Port Project and inaugurate the Ikeja Bus Terminal. The President will be treated to a special dinner later on Thursday by the Lagos State Government.
According to the agenda of the Bola Tinubu Colloquium made available by Tinubu Media Office on Wednesday in Lagos, the ceremony will open with a stage play titled “iOpen Eye” and a multimedia presentation of the history of the colloquium, which began in 2008.Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi will welcome guest to the event before President Buhari will be invited to present his opening remarks.
Under the theme “Investing in People,” there will be multimedia presentation on subjects like the Federal Government Social Investment Programme to be given by the Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, and National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) by the National Coordinator of the programme, Mrs. Abimbola Adesanmi, and Food Vendor, Rosemary John Ignatius.
A school pupil and beneficiary of the NHGSFP, Muhammad Anaslshaq, will present a poem in honour of Asiwaju Tinubu.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Job Creation and Youth Employment, Mr. Afolabi Imoukhuede will give a presentation on N Power programme and job creation while the N Power – The Technology Story will be given by the Chief Solutions Architect, Softcom Limited, Omoseinde Olabayo.
Also, the North East Makeathon presentation will be led by the Special Assistant to the Vice President on Internally Displaced Persons, Brimah Mohammed while the presentation on the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme, ‘Market Moni’ will be given by the Executive Director, Bank of Industry and Coordinator, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme, Mrs. Constance Lewechukwu.
Special Assistant to the President on Social Investment will speak on the National Cash Transfer Programme. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will then be invited to make a presentation on ‘Tying the Knots,’ Linking the Philosophy to Governance and Commitment.
The Bola Tinubu Documentary will later be unfolded.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, adjourned until June 26 to enable Sen. Enyinaya Abaribe (PDP, Abia) and two others to produce leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu in court.
Abaribe, Immanuel El-Shalom, a Jewish Chief High Priest, and Tochukwu Uchendu, a Chartered Accountant, who stood surety for Kanu are to produce him in court or risk jail. The trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako, fixed the date after the court had ordered the prosecution to serve the sureties with an earlier order of court.
The order demanded the sureties to appear in court and explain the whereabouts of Kanu or show cause why they should not forfeit their N100 million bail bond. At the resumed hearing, counsel to the sureties observed that the court order had not been served to his clients to enable them to prepare their defence.
Mr Chukwuma Umeh (SAN), counsel to Abaribe whose submissions were adopted by the others urged the court to direct that an enroll order be issued and served on his client by the prosecution. He said this was in the spirit of fair hearing as enshrined in Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution. He added: “I apply that the proper thing be done, that is for a summon to be issued and served on the sureties for them to show cause why their bail bond should not be forfeited.
“The prosecution ought to have taken further steps to obtain an enroll order and serve on them.
“This is because a court order that is not served cannot be used against the sureties as it is not binding on them until it is served.” The prosecuting counsel, Mr Shuaibu Labaran, prayed the court to discountenance the submissions and proceed with the business of the day. He said the business of the day was for the sureties to show cause why they should not forfeit their bail bond.
In a brief ruling however, Justice Nyako ordered that the sureties be served with an enroll order of the court to show cause why their bail bonds should not be forfeited. Part of the ruling was that in the alternative, the sureties should produce Kanu in court or go to prison.
The prosecution had in an application asked the court to order the three sureties to produce Kanu following his failure to appear in court after he was granted bail. Kanu is facing a four-count amended charge preferred against him and four others, whose trial had since been separated from his.
Justice Nyako had in a ruling on April 25, 2017, admitted Kanu to bail after he spent over one year in detention. Abaribe and the two others entered an undertaken to produce Kanu before the court to face his trial by standing as sureties for him. Kanu had since then not attended the trial and his counsel, Mr Ifeanyi Ejiofor, insisted thatthe whereabouts of the proscribed IPOB leader remained unknown after the military attacked his home town in Abia in 2017.
•Late Briafan War hero, Col. Joseph ‘Hannibal’ Achuzia
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he burial committee for the final burial rites of the elder statesman and former warlord, Col. Joe Achuzia, has strictly warned that display of Biafran flags, placards and uniforms would not be allowed during the burial of the late warlord which commences from 9th April, 2018.
Addressing a press conference Wednesday, in Asaba, Chairman of late Col. Achuzia’s Burial Committee, Ogbueshi Ojiofor Onyia, who announced that the traditional funeral for the former war veteran would commence from the 12th of April, 2018, disclosed that prior to the date, there would be a Night of Tributes in his honour on the 9th of April at a tentative venue of the Sports Club in Enugu State.
According to the committee chairman, while the proper funeral ceremonies commence on Thursday 12th April, 2018, with a wake keep, church services and other activities will take place on Friday 13th April, saying that security was a top priority in the burial arrangement as such no form of demonstration or inciting speeches would be allowed anywhere near the burial ground.
The committee declared that as a typical traditional chief, late Achuzia would be finally laid to rest on Saturday 14th April, 2018 immediately after his body must have been revealed to those who care to see him in the morning of same Saturday.
“This would follow with the traditional Egwu Ota to mark his final journey to the great beyond. The Delta State Government is involved in the burial including the five Eastern Governors. The burial of the elder statesman is a burial of honour and peace; we therefore admonish every group that would be participating to abide by the rules and not use the occasion to propagate inciting agenda.
“Moreover, it is worthy of note to emphasize that while the Col. Achuzia’s burial is a national one, the leadership of Ndi-Igbo has already declared it an Igbo burial, as a result the Ndi-Igbo would be playing prominent role in honour of the man who entirely stood for the Igbo course.” the chairman said.
Our correspondent reports that the veteran soldier, late Col. Joe Achuzia who fought the Nigerian civil war on the side of the Biafra and one of those who initiated an end to the Biafra struggle in the interest of peace, died at the ripe age of 90 years.
Present at the press conference were members of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo as well as Ala Igbo Development Foundation, the Biafra Movement, Brotherhood of the Cross and Star and other organizations.
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