News

Enugu moves to control activities of herders as Assembly passes Public Ranch Management Agency Bill

Published

2 weeks ago

May 8, 2024

Advocate News Nigeria

• Herdsmen

Enugu State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed the Public Ranch Agency Bill which authorises the state government to set up an agency to manage both government and privately owned ranches in the state.

Speaking before the passage of the bill, the member representing Igbo-Eze North Constituency II, Clifford Obe, argued that the legislation would end the farmers/ herders crisis in the state.

Obe said the farmers/herders crisis was responsible for the low agricultural output in the market.

According to him, many farmers have been driven out of their farms, which has resulted in the increase in crime and rural/ urban migration

“The bill will help people not to be afraid. It will make it a must for herders to register whenever they enter into any community. It will reduce crime and how cattle mess up our city and rural communities because there would be an agency on ground to guide the herders.

“Above all, the state government would be able to collect tax from the herders, who before now didn’t pay any tax”, Obe added.

Also contributing, Okechukwu Aneke, representing Udi South Constituency, noted that there is no need for people to be afraid of the bill, adding that herders are not only Fulani.

Aneke stressed that the herders have come to stay, urging the people to learn how to co-exist with them, as the herders have come to stay.

The lawmaker reiterated that the bill wants to control the herders, adding that those invading and attacking communities in the state are not real herders.

“This agency, when established, will have a designated area where the cattle and their herders will be stationed. Any herder, who is found in our bush and not in the designated place, should be treated as an intruder and a kidnapper”, Aneke said.

Another lawmaker, Chima Obieze, regretted that people condemning the bill are arguing about what they don’t know, saying there is nothing on the bill for people to shout about.

Obieze asked the public not to discourage people from other parts of the country from coming to Enugu to do business.

While stressing that the herders, who are mostly nomadics should come to the state, pointing out however that they must operate in accordance with extant laws.

Harrison Ogara, who represents Igboeze South state constituency, while noting that the bill would guarantee peace between farmers and herders, asked the executive arm of the government to be strategic in its implementation.

In his remark, the Speaker, Chief Uche Ugwu, assured the people of the state that the Assembly would not pass a bill capable of truncating the peace in the state.

News

Alleged N6bn laundering: Fidelity bank staff testifies against Mompha

Published

2 hours ago

May 20, 2024

Advocate News Nigeria

A Fidelity Bank compliance officer, Mr Ezekoli Ozoemenam, on Monday testified against a social media celebrity, Ismaila Mustapha (alias Mompha) charged with six billion Naira money laundering.

Ozoemenam, the fourth prosecution witness, was led in evidence by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel, Mr Suleiman Suleiman.

The witness testified about the package of an account of the bank allegedly linked to Mompha.

The witness said that EFCC requested the account’s opening package and he responded to it.

“This is the Fidelity Bank opening package of the account that I sent to EFCC.

“It was printed from a perfectly working computer,” he said.

The prosecution, thereafter, tendered the document and prayed the court to admit it in evidence.

Defence counsel, Mr Kolawole Salami, told the court that he reserved his objection to the tendering of the document in evidence.

During cross-examination of the witness, Salami asked the witness whether he knew the branch of the bank in which the account was opened.

Salami also asked the witness if he was working at the bank’s headquarters at the time the account was opened in 2016.

The witness replied in the negative, adding that he was not at the headquarters.

“As at the time the account was opened, I was not at the headquarters.

“I was part of the internal control, and I moved from branch to branch, but I cannot remember which branch I was at, when the account was opened.

“Anomalies in bank accounts are reported to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and not EFCC but I do not know if the account was ever reported to NFIU.

“I cannot speak to the nature of the transactions conducted through the account as I am not the relationship manager,” the witness said.

Counsel to EFCC, thereafter, appealed to the court for a witness summons to compel appearance of EFCC’s next witness.

The counsel said that he needed the witness summons because the witness complained of feeling unsafe and receiving threats to his life.

Justice Mojisola Dada, however, said that it was the duty of prosecution to ensure appearance of its witnesses in court.

Dada said: “There is no special cause placed before the court to warrant a witness summons.

“I do not know what position he is occupying that will make him feel threatened.

“If EFCC cannot secure his protection, how does a witness summons guarantee his protection?” the judge asked.

Mompha is currently at large. His trial in absentia started on June 3, 2023 when a compliance officer with Access Bank testified against him.

The court, on Sept. 21 2022, ordered commencement of Mompha’s trial in absentia after he failed to appear before it severally.

EFCC had, on Jan. 22, 2022, arraigned Mustapha alongside his company, Ismalob Global Investment Ltd., on eight counts bordering on six billion Naira laundering.

The court, on June 22, 2022, issued a bench warrant for his arrest following his absence in court.

The court also revoked bail it granted the defendant.

The social media celebrity was equally absent in court on June 26, 2022.

On July 10, EFCC accused him of flouting the court’s order by travelling to Dubai with a new international passport.

The charges against Mompha include conspiracy to launder money obtained through unlawful activities and laundering of money obtained through unlawful activities.

The others are retention of proceeds of criminal conduct, use of property derived from an unlawful act, possession of a document containing false pretences, and failure to disclose assets.

The judge adjourned the case until July 1 for continuation of trial.

News

Lagos seals 840 event centres over safety violations in one year

Published

3 hours ago

May 20, 2024

Advocate News Nigeria

Over 840 event centres and social facilities in Lagos state have been shut down in the last one year, over safety infractions and non-compliance with extant laws.

The commissioner for special duties and intergovernmental relations, Gbenga Oyerinde, during the ministerial press briefing to mark Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s first year in the second term, said the ministry is working in line with the THEMES Plus agenda to mitigate risks and protect life and property.

According to him, the Lagos State Safety Commission carried out enforcement action at 840 facilities, including event centres, clubs, lounges and hotels, and construction sites for safety infractions. He added that about 7,819 facilities were inspected to ensure safety, and another 5,220 were issued with fire safety compliance certificates.

The commission also carried out about 365 environmental safety advocacy initiatives.

The commissioner also said the Fire and Rescue Service rescued 376 victims during the period under review. Property worth N152.22 billion was preserved, with 82 casualties and N25.37 billion in property lost.

He added: “In line with efforts to bolster infrastructure, three new fire stations are nearing completion in Ijegun-Egba, Satellite Town, and Ijede, while an ultramodern workshop at the Alausa headquarters is nearly finished to cater to the agency’s fleet maintenance needs.

“Additionally, land spaces have been identified for the development of additional fire stations in Ibeju, Lekki, and Ifako Ijaiye.

“The Fire and Rescue Service is also sustaining its focus on enhancing fire mitigation and emergency response strategies, aligning with the THEMES Plus Agenda. Key statistics from the year’s emergency calls show 2,537 incidents, including 1,627 fire calls, 191 rescue calls, 93 salvage calls, and four explosions, alongside 607 false alarms.

“This highlights the critical need for increased awareness of fire safety measures to combat the impact of negligence and non-compliance with safety codes.”

Also during the year under review, he said the welfare of personnel received a boost, with special allowances approved for firefighters, including uniform maintenance, shift allowances, hazard allowance, and provision of personal protective equipment.

News

Bandits spotted flying drone at unknown location

Published

3 hours ago

May 20, 2024

Advocate News Nigeria

Bandits spotted flying drone at unknown location

The bandits operating the drone

A group of bandits has demonstrated skills and expertise on drone operation.

In a video posted by ZagazOla Makama, a counter-insurgency expert, at least five bandits were seen sitting on the floor.

One of bandits was seen operating a drone while the others watched it navigate through the air.

Laughing and excited as the operator maneuvered the device, one of the bandits could be heard saying, “There is something that holds it (the drone) there in the air.”

Later they spoke in chorus, albeit in a manner that appeared to reveal their utter conviction and satisfaction with the display.

The video, however, elicited reactions from X Users, who expressed a wide range of opinions, with many raising concern about the level of insecurity in the country.

An X Use, @angel_abaji, said: “This is very bad to the fight against bandits.”

@realadnantweet: “There’s is conspiracy theories behind kidnapping & banditry in Northern Nigeria.

Rumour is going round that those criminal elements are being sponsored by the powerful men in order to divert the public attention from the illegal mining of rich mineral deposits in those regions.”

@mr_stitch01: “This is because they are sponsored by high profile rich elites.”

@igwedip: “How are they even getting these drones??”

@Godmvde: “Bokoharam members have long been using drones to track the movement of Nigerian soldiers, this isnt news. The Nigerian terrorism industry will keep on growing as long as it keeps getting its needed financial, logistical and military support from the government.”

@Aminpac: “How sure are we these ones are Bandits?”

@oil_shaeikh: “How did you just profile them as bandits?
Please explain.
Or has any nomad in the bush turned into bandit?”

@carliid: “Now the government may try to ban or seriously regulate use of drones instead of coming up with more sophisticated means of tracking them. We really need to wake up.”

@legenduryjrini: “The Army should be the ones using drones just like the war in Ukrainian, But in my country is the other way round, Is it a crime to be a Nigerian, There was peace in the country just like Ghana, They should share the country for God sake.”

@Gracepikin001: “This is because they are being coached and integrated by other external extremes, they are having constant contacts with other groups that have used and experimented with drone surveillance. This is a big problem for the military as they will be spotted before hand.” (Daily Trust)