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Corruption: FG files 24 charges, seizes mega assets from Abba Kyari

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• Agency uncovers shopping malls, others owned by ex-IRT commander

The Federal Government has uncovered 14 assets, including shopping malls, residential estate, polo playground, lands and farmland belonging to a former commander, Intelligence Response Team, Abba Kyari, a Deputy Commissioner of Police.

Kyari was said to have failed to disclose his ownership of the properties in different locations in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and Maiduguri, Borno State.

Over N207m and Є17,598 were also discovered in his various accounts in GTB, UBA and Sterling Bank.

In the fresh 24-count charges filed against Kyari by the Director of Prosecution and Legal Services, J. Sunday, dated August 30, 2022, the Attorney-General of the Federation stated that the suspended DCP allegedly disguised his ownership of some of the properties.

The case filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, with charge number: FHC/ABJ/CR/408/22 had as co-defendants, Mohammed Kyari and Ali Kyari, who are believed to be the beleaguered policeman’s siblings.

Also, the Federal Government filed separate 24-count charges against Kyari’s former deputy, Sunday Ubua, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, who is under suspension.

An affidavit in support of the charge deposed to by a litigation officer with the Directorate of Prosecution and Legal Services, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Stephen Kashawa, explained that Kyari, who is facing trial for dealing in cocaine, was subjected to general and financial investigation when he was transferred by the police to the NDLEA headquarters on February 14, 2022 for investigation.

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He added that the financial investigation which extended to his properties led to the filing of charges for non-disclosure and conversion of large sums of money.

The deponent further said the case was ready for trial and that all the witnesses were available to proceed to trial.

Abuja land

The Federal Government said Kyari knowingly failed to make full disclosure of his asset at plot no 1927 Blue Fountain Estate, Karsana, Abuja and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 35(3)(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, CAP N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The prosecutor also alleged that the embattled DCP did not declare his ownership of an estate at Linda Chaulker Road, Asokoro Extension; plot no. 5 titled BO/4546; plot no. 9 titled BO/1037; plot no. 10 titled CER/4319 and plot no 33 titled BO/4319, Maiduguri, Borno State.

Furthermore, the AGF said the suspended DCP, who is facing prosecution for illegal cocaine dealing alongside six others, failed to reveal his ownership of a shopping mall titled, NE/1229 and a polo playground with plot no. 270, both located in Maiduguri.

The charges also said the former IRT commander did not make full disclosure of his ownership of farmland along Abuja-Kaduna road and a plaza under construction in Guzape, Abuja.

Count 11 read, ‘’That you, DCP Abba Kyari, male, adult and you Mohammed Kyari, male, adult, on or about February 14, 2022, in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this honourable court in order to disguise the true ownership of the property situate at plot no. 33, Bama Road, GRA Extension, Maiduguri, Borno State, covered by certificate no. BO/4319 issued by Borno State Government by deposing to a false affidavit at the Federal High Court in suit no. FHC/NG/Cs/9/2022 and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under section 15(3)(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, (as amended).’’

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Maiduguri land

In an attempt to disguise the ownership of a plot of land covered by Certificate of Occupancy no: 000271 issued by Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Borno State, Kyari was alleged to have also deposed to an affidavit at the Federal High Court, Maiduguri in suit number, FHC/NG/CS/9/2022, contrary to section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.

The AGF equally accused Kyari of deposing to an affidavit to hide his ownership of plot no 9, BOTP/63 covered by the grant of right of occupancy no. BO/1087; a shopping mall at number 4, Aliyu Close along Giwa Barracks, Maiduguri, covered by Certificate of Occupancy no. NE/1229.

The charges revealed that the DCP knowingly converted N28.4 million in his GTB account number 0121075250; N65.2m in his GTB account number 0138360064; N95 million in UBA account number 1002250112 and N16.9 million in Sterling Bank account number 0072451994.

The first defendant was similarly accused of failing to declare in the NDLEA assets declaration form the sum of Є17,598 in two GTB accounts, being proceeds of unlawful activities; N2.9 million in UBA; N366, 258.77 and N88.000 in Sterling Bank.

In the charges against Ubua with number FHC/ABJ/407/22, the government revealed that he did not disclose a N100 million life insurance policy with First Bank of Nigeria Insurance Limited, including several millions stashed in different bank accounts.

The defendant was said to have converted N118.6 million using First bank account 3018154763 and $30,516.36 using Polaris Bank account 2630046721.

The ACP was accused of converting between January and March, 2022, the sum of N40.8 million in his Polaris Bank account number 1060047951, being proceeds of unlawful activities.

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The government said Ubua acquired a block of lock-up shops at Utako bus terminal, Abuja for N16.8 million and also converted N33 million and N227.5 million using First bank account number 2005502596. The defendant was further accused of converting N40.8 million and another N33.7 million.

Kyari’s deputy

Count one read, “That You, Sunday Ubua, male, adult, on or about the 14th day of February, 2022, at the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency headquarters, Port Harcourt Crescent, off Gombiya Street, Area 11, Garki, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, knowingly failed to make full disclosure of your assets in the NDLEA assets declaration firm by not disclosing your N100 million life insurance policy with First Bank of Nigeria Insurance Limited contrary to and punishable under section 35(3)(a) of the NDLEA Act, CAP N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.’’

 The NDLEA had earlier marked six residential houses and one plaza in Maiduguri belonging to the embattled former IRT commander.

The two-storey shopping plaza, Assurance Plaza, located along the Giwa Barracks Road in Maiduguri, has about 100 stores.

Six other residential houses within the Maiduguri New Government Residential Area allegedly belonging to Kyari were also marked by the NDLEA, 48 hours after a suspected drug dealer linked to the N3 billion worth of tramadol intercepted by the then Kyari-led IRT team was arrested by operatives of the NDLEA in Lagos. (The PUNCH)

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Governor’s wife sprays US dollars at wedding ceremony

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Footage of Katsina State First Lady Fatima Dikko Radda spraying dollars
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A widely circulated video on social media has stirred controversy, showing Katsina State’s First Lady, Hajiya Fatima Dikko Radda, allegedly spraying U.S. dollars at an event.

The footage, primarily shared on Instagram, has sparked criticism, with many questioning the insensitivity of such an act in a state grappling with terrorism, kidnapping, poverty, and a high number of out-of-school children.

The video, which lasts one minute and nine seconds, was shared with a caption condemning the First Lady’s actions, labeling them as reckless and immoral. Given the dire socio-economic situation in Katsina, the accompanying text expressed outrage over the act.

PRNigeria, a leading Fact-Check platform in Nigeria, conducted a thorough investigation to verify the authenticity of the claims.

Footage of Katsina State First Lady Fatima Dikko Radda spraying dollars

The fact-checking process involved analysing the video and cross-referencing it with another clip showing Fatima Radda at a separate event, where she was donating ?2 million for cervical cancer screening in the state.

The analysis revealed a strong resemblance between the First Lady in both videos, confirming her presence at the wedding.

Furthermore, PRNigeria examined the background music in the controversial video, where praise singers could be heard extolling Fatima Radda in Hausa, reinforcing that the event was a family gathering.

PRNigeria performed a reverse image search using Yandex to further validate the claim and segmented the video for detailed scrutiny.

These steps confirmed that the video was indeed from a wedding that took place on Saturday, January 25, 2025, in Katsina.

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Additional keyword searches and independent sources corroborated these findings.

Based on extensive fact-checking, PRNigeria has verified that Katsina State’s First Lady, Hajiya Fatima Dikko Radda, did spray dollars at her sibling’s wedding.

This confirmation has fueled further public discourse about the appropriateness of such actions, especially given the economic challenges faced by many citizens in the state.

The revelation has reignited debates about the display of wealth by public officials and their families, raising questions about leadership sensitivity in economically challenged regions. (By PRNigeria)

The Full Report: Fact-check: Did Katsina State’s First Lady, Fatima Radda, Spray Dollars at an Event? https://prnigeria.com/2025/02/13/katsina-first-lady-dollars/

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Anambra govt seals another church linked to Oke Ite practice in Nkpor

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The Anambra State government has taken a decisive step to combat the spread of illicit practices linked to ritualistic and fraudulent activities within religious spaces by sealing a controversial church in Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government Area.

The church, reportedly led by Pastor Onyebuchi Okocha, has been accused of engaging in activities associated with the dangerous and illegal practice known as “Oke Ite.”

This ritual, which has been tied to fraudulent schemes and human trafficking, was allegedly being conducted under the guise of religious worship.

Oke Ite, a term that refers to a concoction created by native doctors, is believed to be a form of ritual used for money rituals and other forms of spiritual manipulation. The concoction is typically prepared using human body parts, animal remains, and a mix of powerful herbs, all of which are combined in a mud pot. The practice is rooted in the belief that such rituals have the power to summon wealth or bestow significant financial rewards upon those who partake in them.

In recent years, Oke Ite has been exposed as a fraudulent practice, where unsuspecting customers, often in search of quick wealth, fall prey to native doctors and religious leaders who promise them unimaginable riches in exchange for performing ritualistic rites. Many of these practices are said to involve human sacrifice or the exploitation of vulnerable individuals, contributing to a growing problem of human trafficking and ritual killings in parts of Nigeria.

The Anambra State government, led by Governor Chukwuma Soludo, has been actively working to curb the prevalence of such fraudulent practices and restore order to the state’s religious and spiritual landscape. As part of this initiative, the government responded to reports of Oke Ite being performed in the ministry of Pastor Onyebuchi Okocha, which had raised dusts in the local community.

The closure of Pastor Okocha’s ministry in Amafor village, Nkpor, followed a thorough investigation launched by the Anambra State government.

The Special Adviser to Governor Soludo on Community Security, Ken Emeakayi, led a team of security personnel, including members of Operation Udo Ga-Achi, to the location to seal the premises.

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The government’s decision to shut down the ministry was a response to a series of public petitions and disturbing revelations that came to light regarding Pastor Okocha’s activities.

Among these was a video circulating on social media, where the pastor, also known as “Aka na Asa Uchu” (translated as “the one who does things”), openly admitted to performing Oke Ite rituals.

The video, which featured Okocha speaking candidly about his involvement in the practice, triggered public outrage and prompted the government to take immediate action.

In his address to the press, Emeakayi explained that the closure was not an act of religious persecution but rather a necessary response to the dangerous and fraudulent activities taking place in the church.

He emphasized that the state government has no intention of infringing upon the rights of individuals to practice their religion but would not tolerate any practices that promote scams, deceit, and exploitation under the guise of spirituality.

As part of the government’s response, a full forensic investigation is underway to examine the contents and potential dangers of the liquids found in the ministry.

Emeakayi stated that the government would send samples of these liquids to forensic experts to determine their composition and assess any risks they may pose to public health and safety.

One of the most concerning elements of Pastor Okocha’s practice involved the use of a body of water known as River Bethsaida.

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According to reports, the pastor had been using the river to perform rituals on individuals, which allegedly included bathing them naked.

The government has vowed to bring in environmental and health experts to examine the water and ascertain whether it poses a threat to those exposed to it. The concern over River Bethsaida stems from the possibility that the water may be contaminated with hazardous substances due to the rituals performed at the site.

While the church leader claimed that these practices were beneficial to his followers, there was no scientific evidence to support such claims. As a result, the government has made it clear that it will not tolerate any activities that put the health and well-being of the public at risk, especially when those involved are vulnerable or uninformed about the dangers.

The closure of the church has sparked mixed reactions from the local community and the wider public. Many residents of Nkpor and surrounding areas have expressed relief that the government has taken swift action to address the allegations of ritualistic practices.

Some have described the activities of Pastor Okocha as harmful, stating that they had long suspected that something was amiss but had been too afraid to speak out.

Others, however, have raised concerns about the potential negative impact on religious freedom in the region.

They argue that the state government should be cautious in its approach to policing religious practices and that the closure of the church may infringe on the rights of individuals to worship freely. They assert that there should be a clear distinction between legitimate religious practices and fraudulent activities masked as spirituality.

Nevertheless, many citizens are applauding the government’s stance against fraudulent religious practices, particularly those linked to the dangerous Oke Ite ritual. Some have called for more extensive measures to be taken to eradicate such practices, with some even urging the government to investigate other churches and ministries in the state that may be involved in similar activities.

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The sealing of the church has underscored the importance of security agencies in the fight against ritualistic practices in Anambra State.

In recent months, the government has made significant strides in addressing security concerns, especially those involving ritual killings and other forms of violent crime linked to spiritual practices.

Ken Emeakai, in his role as the Special Adviser on Community Security, has been instrumental in organizing security operations to monitor and eliminate fraudulent religious practices.

Operation Udo Ga-Achi, the task force deployed to the site, has been actively involved in ensuring that these illegal activities are promptly investigated and halted.

The government’s approach has involved a combination of law enforcement, public awareness campaigns, and community engagement to tackle the root causes of these practices.

The decision to involve forensic experts in the investigation of River Bethsaida and the liquids found at the ministry highlights the government’s commitment to using science and technology in its efforts to address spiritual and health risks. By relying on expert analysis, the government hopes to provide definitive answers about the nature of the practices and the potential dangers they pose to public health.

The sealing of Pastor Okocha’s ministry is just one of the many steps the Anambra State government plans to take in its ongoing fight against fraudulent spiritual practices and rituals. While this incident highlights the growing problem of ritualistic crime, it also serves as a reminder of the need for continued vigilance and proactive measures to ensure that the safety and well-being of citizens are not compromised by unscrupulous individuals seeking to exploit their desperation for wealth and success.

Governor Soludo has called on members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities related to ritualistic practices. He emphasized the importance of community involvement in identifying and addressing such issues before they spiral out of control. Additionally, the government has vowed to continue its support for law enforcement agencies, ensuring that they are well-equipped and well-trained to handle the complex nature of these crimes.

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In conclusion, the sealing of Pastor Onyebuchi Okocha’s ministry in Nkpor serves as a clear message that the Anambra State government is committed to rooting out fraudulent practices that exploit vulnerable individuals under the guise of religion.

The closure of the church marks a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to promote transparency, accountability, and security in religious institutions throughout the state.

Moving forward, the government will continue to monitor and investigate any further allegations of ritualistic crime to protect the people of Anambra and ensure that they are not deceived or harmed by those who seek to exploit their faith. (Geencee Blog)

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NAFDAC seizes 140 tonnes of expired drugs, uncovers warehouses in Aba

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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has uncovered two warehouses stocked with expired drugs at No. 269, Sam Mbakwe Road (formerly Faulk’s Road), Aba.

This was made known in a statement shared by the agency on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday.

According to reports, some suspects managed to remove several cartons of expired but relabeled drugs before security reinforcements arrived.

The statement said, “#AbaUpdates Two warehouses at No. 269, Sam Mbakwe Road (formerly Faulk’s Road), Aba, stocked with expired drugs, have been uncovered.

“During the raid, it was discovered that suspects had removed some cartons of expired but relabelled drugs before security reinforcements arrived.”

In a related operation at Umumeje, Umuocheala, Osisioma LGA, NAFDAC seized 140 tonnes of expired drugs. This figure does not include additional products confiscated from drug shops at the Ariaria International Market.

During the crackdown, NAFDAC officials collected 178 drug samples, which will undergo laboratory analysis to determine their composition and potential health risks.

The statement added, ‘From the warehouse at Umumeje, Umuocheala, Osisioma LGA, 140 tonnes of expired drugs were evacuated—excluding products seized from drug shops at Ariaria International Market.

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“A total of 178 drug samples collected during the operation will undergo laboratory analysis.”

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