News
Group condemns attempt to demarket Enugu Int’l Airport, calls for investigation
… Commends FAAN for timely rebuttal
The Enugu Good Governance Group has frowned at what it described as a deliberate attempt to demarket the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, saying it was unfounded and an unhealthy rivalry taken too far.
The group, which was reacting to a report, which claimed that the runway of the airport was in disrepair and that the facility may be shut down to avert plane crash, however, commended the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, for the timely rebuttal of the fake report.
The group vented its displeasure via a statement issued by its Director of Communications, Mr. Chuks Onovo, on Wednesday.
“We wish to commend FAAN for refuting the fake news, and clarifying that the Enugu runway is in good order, and, in fact, among the best in the country.
“This claim, as FAAN has clarified, is very much untrue. We have since established that the said publication was the handiwork of unhealthy competitors in a federal setting, who are determined to demarket the Enugu airport to shore up their own fortunes.
“This is indeed a most unfortunate and irresponsible claim and disposition, especially given the fact that the Akanu Ibiam International Airport’s runway is one of the most modern and qualitative in the country now. This followed the approval and release of the sum of N10bn by the Federal Government in October 2019 for the total rehabilitation of the runway, taxi way, lead way, state-of-the art instrument landing system, Communication VSAT and Very High Frequency (VHF) radio communication, airfield lighting, among others.
“Currently, there is even an effort to build a second runway, while the collaboration between the Enugu State Government and the Federal Government that would see the former take steps to complete and operationalise the international terminal and also construct a cargo terminal at the airport is at an advanced stage.
“So, it beats imagination why a group of people would conspire to run the airport down and seek to discourage passengers and airline operators for their own selfish interests,” the statement said.
The group went further to call on the National Security Adviser, NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu to investigate the false claim with a view to bringing the culprits to book.
“Airports are both national security and economic assets, and this untruth as well as willful demarketing of the Enugu Airport qualifies for both security and economic sabotage, hence should be thoroughly investigated by the Office of the NSA with a view to fishing out and meting out justice to the culprits,” the Enugu Good Governance Group concluded.
Recall that FAAN had on Tuesday refuted the report, maintaining that there was no plan whatsoever to shut down the airport either before Christmas or in the foreseen future.
The assurance was given by the Manager of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport and Regional Manager of FAAN for the South East, Mr. Hillary Umunna, who declared that “the airport is in the best shape,” noting that regular maintenance work was always done to sustain the standard attained by the runway in August 2020.
News
Baltasar Engonga: Wife of Equatorial Guinea ANIF boss sextape with another man leaked
Wife of the sacked Director General of Equatorial Guinea’s National Financial Investigation Agency, ANIF, Baltasar Ebang Engonga, has been caught in extra-marital affairs.
Video footage emerged of Engonga’s wife having an intimacy with another man.
This was disclosed by popular social critic, Martins Ortse aka VeryDarkMan via an Instagram post on Saturday.
Sharing pictures of the Engonga’s wife from the video footage, VeryDarkMan said: “Just when I thought it was all over about this Equatorial Guinea man, the whole thing is getting more interesting. I just saw a video of his wife and another man, if you watch this video; it’s crazy. If you see how another man was na*cking his wife.”
Engonga was recently caught with about 400 sex tapes with several women during an investigation into a fraud case.
The leaked videos have continued to generate controversy via the social media space.
Reacting, First Lady Constancia Mangue Obiang expressed outrage over the scandal during a meeting with Prime Minister Manuel Osa Nsue.
Mrs Obiang called for immediate government intervention to uphold the dignity of Equatoguinean women and protect their privacy in the digital age.
Following the discovery, Engonga was relieved of his duty and subsequently arrested. He was remanded in prison on Friday.
News
Three police officers arrested for torturing student to death in Kwara
Three police officers, who allegedly beat a student of the Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, Suleiman Olayinka to death at Tanke Bridge in Ilorin, the state capital, have been arrested and detained.
The spokesperson of the state police command, DSP Ejire Adeyemi Toun, disclosed this in a statement in Ilorin on Friday.
Reports said that the incident occurred on Tuesday around 2 p.m. when the victim got off a motorcycle and was approached by three officers who then dragged him to the ground.
An eyewitness claimed that the victim had arrived to collect N1,000 he had already transferred to a Point of Sale (POS) operator, intending to give the money to the rider who brought him.
“I was with him, as soon as he got the money, the officers came out of a tricycle and dragged him to the ground. The victim kept asking what offence he had committed, but they didn’t let him speak,” the source said.
The witness further explained that the victim pleaded with the officers, informing them that he was asthmatic, but they ignored his pleas.
In a reaction on Friday, the spokesperson said, “the Kwara State police command is aware of this unfortunate incident which led to the sudden death of Suleiman Olayinka (M) 27yrs.
“A complaint of cheating and criminal breach of trust was reported against the deceased. Police detectives were immediately detailed to investigate the case.
“Meanwhile the officers involved in the incident have been identified, arrested and detained for further investigations as regards the death of the suspect.
“Further updates will be provided promptly as investigations unfold,” the statement added.
News
400 sex tapes: Equatorial Guinea’s Baltasar remanded in prison
The former Director-General of the National Financial Investigation Agency in Equatorial Guinea, Baltasar Engonga, has been remanded in Malabo’s Black Beach Prison, Saturday PUNCH has reported.
The embattled former anti-graft chief was arrested days ago for allegedly recording over 400 sex tapes involving the wives of prominent figures in the country.
This scandal surfaced during a fraud investigation into the 54-year-old economist, resulting in an impromptu search of his home and office by ANIF officials, who reportedly discovered several CDs that revealed his sexual encounters with different married women.
As the footage leaked online, causing a media uproar, Equatorial Guinea’s President, Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, dismissed Engonga.
According to Decree No. 118/2024, dated 4th November, the dismissal was due to “irregularities committed in the exercise of his functions, as well as inappropriate family and social conduct for the performance of public duties.”
A viral video surfaced on social media on Friday, showing Engonga handcuffed on both hands and legs during a court appearance.
Confirming the situation, French online blog Afrikmatin reported that Engonga, who was officially removed from his role on November 6, 2024, was subsequently chained and transferred to Malabo Central Prison.
He faces charges of corruption and embezzlement.
Additionally, online newspaper UGStandard reported that the sex tapes began circulating on social networks while Engonga was already held at Malabo’s notorious Black Beach Prison on charges of embezzling public funds, as reported by state television, TVGE.
In a fact-checking report published Wednesday, Dubawa verified that Engonga had indeed been taken into custody on corruption charges and is currently being held in Black Beach Prison.
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