Customs officers kill trader during negotiation over contraband

A mob went on the rampage on Wednesday after some officers of the Nigeria Customs Service allegedly killed a trader, Samuel Apase, at the Badagry Roundabout, Lagos State.

Correspondent learnt that the officers had intercepted Apase in the Muwo area of Badagry and seized a Toyota Camry, which he allegedly used to smuggle some bags of rice and frozen foods from Seme.

The officers reportedly took the vehicle away while Apase boarded a motorcycle to trail them.

He was said to have caught up with the officers at the Badagry Roundabout and pleaded to pay some money to get the car and the goods released.

Our correspondent gathered that an altercation ensued while Apase was negotiating with the officers, who reportedly got enraged and opened fire on him.

It was learnt that a trader, who sold barbecued meat (suya) in the area, and a passerby, were hit by stray bullets in the process.

Some Good Samaritans were said to have rushed the injured victims to the Badagry General Hospital for treatment while Apase’s corpse was deposited in the hospital’s morgue.

An eyewitness, Adeleke Adesiji, said some hoodlums around the scene of the incident went on the rampage and smashed the windscreen of a patrol van used by the officers.

Adesiji added that the officers later fled the scene with their vehicle and the seized car.

He said, “The officers chased Apase with their vehicle to Muwo, where they collected the car from him. After they had left with the car, he followed them to the Badagry Roundabout and tried to ‘settle’ them so that he could have the car back.

“I think their negotiation went awry and they started arguing with each other. They shot him and he died on the spot. A mallam, who sells ‘suya’ and another man were hit by stray bullets. They have been taken to the hospital. A mob vandalised the windscreen of the customs’ vehicle.”

A resident, Oluwaseun Babalola, blamed Apase’s death on the customs officers’ recklessness, saying the deceased was not confrontational.

He said, “The officers were unprofessional in the way they handled the matter. If they perceived his (Apase’s) attempt to get his goods and car back as bribery, the best thing was to arrest him. He was not armed; so why did they pull their triggers?”

A trader, who identified herself as Olaide, said the shooting caused panic in the neighbourhood.

But the NCS spokesperson, Badagry Command, Taopeng Selchang, said some hoodlums attacked the officers and injured the patrol van’s driver while the seized goods from Apase were being taken away.

He said the officers only shot into the air to disperse the hoodlums, adding that he could not confirm whether there were casualties or not.

He said, “We seized contraband of about 64 cartons of frozen food products from the suspect and a quantity of rice. The suspect was intercepted along Muwo and while the officers were moving the contraband, some hoodlums ambushed them at the roundabout with cutlasses and other weapons. They attacked the officers with machetes. They also smashed the windscreen and the wing mirrors of the vehicle.

“One of the hoodlums was struggling with an officer to dispossess him of his rifle when other officers shot into the air to disperse the hoodlums and ensure that the seized goods get to the command’s headquarters; there was pandemonium thereafter.  The officers were only interested in bringing the contraband to the command, so they are not in a position to know whether somebody was killed or not.”

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Buhari sends food, drugs to Bama IDPs’ camp

President Muhammadu Buhari has asked that food and drugs be delivered to the Bama Internally Displaced Persons’ camp in Borno State.

A report which was disputed by the Borno State Government claimed that about 200 children were killed by malnutrition in a month at the Bama camp that was recently liberated from the Boko Haram insurgents.

Based on the report, President Buhari dispatched a team, led by his Special Adviser on Social Investment, Hajiya Maryam Uwais, to Bama with drugs and food items.

Uwais, in her address to the IDPs, acknowledged the enormity of the challenges they faced and assured them that President Muhammadu Buhari was concerned and committed to addressing their plight.

She said, “We are here to see for ourselves the situation on the ground here and to report back to the president, the Federal Government would continue to lead the efforts towards helping you as well as other internally displaced persons until you are finally resettled back to your communities.”

Uwais commended the military for their dedication to securing and caring for the displaced persons, while acknowledging that “this is a crisis situation”,.

She said the federal government would work with the State government, the international community, local partners and civil society groups to ensure that all the needs of the inhabitants of the Bama camp, and the several others like it, were speedily met.

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Kunle Afoyalan Lands Film Mentorship Deal With Sahara Group

President Alexander Lukashenko Makes His Citizens Go Naked To Work (Photo)

Dozens of people in Belarus are posting pictures and videos of themselves naked and scantily-clad at work after their president suffered an unfortunate slip of the tongue.

Alexander Lukashenko, 61, (pictured above), mixed up his words during a speech on new technology. He said:

“Innovations, IT-technologies, privatisation – it is all clear. We’ve conquered all of them. But everything is very simply, one should get undressed and work.”

Employees shared videos of themselves singing in tribute to the faux pas, created a raunchy flashmob event on social media and posed naked with various items to protect their modesty.

Pic shows: the people who are in the “undress and work” trend. People have been posting pictures of themselves naked and scantily-clad at work – in tribute to their president’s slip of the tongue.

It comes after the Belorussian President, Alexander Lukashenko, 61, mixed up his words during a speech on new technology. “Innovations, IT-technologies, privatisation – it is all clear. We’ve conquered all of them. But everything is very simply, one should get undressed and work,” he said.

The president had actually wanted to tell people to “develop themselves” – however the phrase sounds very similar to “get undressed” in Russian. What many described as a “Freudian slip” instantly went viral on local internet forums and triggered a saucy flashmob event on social media.

Dozens of people posted pictures of themselves at work including naked and semi-naked businessmen and women at their desks. A female assistant in an electronics store posted a picture of herself with only a keyboard protecting her modesty.

And a joiner uploaded an alarming picture of himself working in the nude with a circular saw in front of his groin. Other images included a bikini-clad brunette chopping wood with an axe, a rock band posing naked but for their instruments, and a young and rather nicely tanned woman gardening in nothing but tiny shorts.

Tattoo artists, radio hosts, journalists and even construction workers were soon stripping off at work to join in the fun. All of the participants of the flashmob posted their photos online, with the hash tag 043getnakedandgotowork, where they instantly went viral.

Netizen ‘baliphotowedding84’ said: “Hahaha, love these pics!”, while ‘This boy TV’ added: “I love the power of words over swords any day.” Belarus is a landlocked country bordered by Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. Russian is the main language, spoken by 72 percent of the population, while Belarusian, the official first language, is spoken by fewer than 12 percent.

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Going Naked Is Not A Sin – Mama G

Nollywood actress, Patience Ozokwor known popularly as Mama G has confirmed what most fans and viewers have speculated on for a while during an interview with Encomium.

Revealing the dirty secret in the movies industry, the actress turned evangelist revealed that movie producers have sex with upcoming actresses who are desperate to get movie roles. She added that the scandal is responsible for the declining quality of the industry.

“Things are not working the way they ought to because producers are messing up. Some go as far as sleeping with young girls before giving them roles”.

She added: “I have never played an obscene role. If the movie does not have any message, if it doesn’t teach morals, I wouldn’t pick it up; it is of no use to me.

“Let me tell you, going naked is not a sin, it is your choice. You pull off your dress and you start walking, we will class you where naked people belong. That is just it. God does not force people.

“He would plead with you, He would call you and we are the ones that are stiffening our necks”.

 

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Arsenal reject Alexis approach from Juventus

The Serie A champions are the latest club to signal their interest in the Chilean but Arsene Wenger has ruled out a sale despite concerns the player is unsettled

Arsenal have rejected an approach from Juventus for Alexis Sanchez, according to the Daily Mail.

The Italian giants are the latest club to signal their interest in the Chile international but Arsene Wenger is not entertaining the notion of selling as Alexis remains key to his plans.

The two-time Copa America winner has grown unsettled at the Emirates Stadium over a lack of a credible title challenge since his arrival two years ago but Juventus has now turned their attentions elsewhere.

A move for former Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez is now being weighed up after scoring 30 goals during his debut season at Bayer Leverkusen.

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I’m ready to return N400m ‘Dasuki cash’, says Metuh

A former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party( PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, yesterday offered to refund the N400million he got from the Office of the National Security Adviser( ONSA) during the tenure of former National Security Adviser( NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki.

He said he had been in talks with the Ministry of Justice, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other bodies on how to refund the money and resolve the issue.

The cash was part of the $2.1billion that was meant for arms purchase. The cash which was managed by ONSA, was allegedly diverted.

After many months in and out of detention and court, Metuh decided to repay the money which was illegally remitted into the account of his firm, Desra Nigeria Limited.

The ex-PDP spokesman made the announcement in a statement through his lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN).

He said although the cash was released to him by former President Goodluck Jonathan, he did not know the source as at the time.

He said since the EFCC presented in court a document on the source of the money, he had made up his mind to willingly refund the N400million.

He said with the development, he will continue to support the anti-corruption campaign of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, which is necessary to ensure probity in Nigeria

The statement said: “In the light of the circumstances regarding the case of our client, Chief Olisa Metuh, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), we want to explain the reasons for our client’s proposal to refund the N400 million released to him by former President Goodluck Jonathan, and which was expended on a project approved by the ex-President on national issues relating to his Presidency and the Federal Government at that time.

“We want to restate that at the time the money was released to him after his presentation to the ex-President, our client had no knowledge of the source, a fact that is now obvious from the evidence of the prosecution and defence witnesses.

“Our client had every cause to believe that the money was from the ex-President to whom he made presentation, received directives and rendered report and accounts accordingly.

“When the matter first came up and Chief Metuh was invited to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in December 2015, he requested to know the source of the money and expressed his readiness to make refunds if it was from government coffers, not minding that the money had been expended as directed by the former President.

“Officials at ONSA never got back to him as they promised, until his arrest by the EFCC in January 2016.

“ It was however while in court that a document was brought regarding the source of the money and since then, our client has made manifest his willingness to refund the money and has indeed approached his family, friends and associates to mobilise funds to refund the entire N400 million to the government regardless of the fact that the money had been expended based on the directives of the former President and that part of the money had been recovered from one of the prosecution witnesses.”

Metuh said he had started discussions with the EFCC and the Ministry of Justice to resolve the case and move on.

The statement added: “ We want to confirm that since then, we have been in talks with the Ministry of Justice, the EFCC and other necessary bodies on how to refund the money and resolve the issue.

“Our client occupied no government office. His commitment and dedication to his official duties have been confirmed by even prosecution witnesses. In this whole saga, he has been an unfortunate victim of circumstances. His refunding the money therefore goes to show his support for the anti-corruption war as well as serve as a testament to his sincerity, integrity and honesty in this matter.

“ There is no doubt that the prosecution has considerably embarked on some expenses in the course of this case. It is hoped that by not discounting the sum already recovered, whatever cost so far incurred would have been defrayed. By this, a critical objective of recovery of funds would no doubt be achieved.”

He pledged to lend his support to the anti-graft war of the Buhari administration in order to ensure probity in the country.

The statement said: “It is pertinent to restate our client’s continued support for the anti-corruption campaign, which is necessary to ensure probity in the affairs of Nigeria to the extent that it is conducted within the rule of law.

“ Finally, it is our client’s prayer that this nation shall come through this difficult time by the grace of the Almighty God.”

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Istanbul bombers ‘from Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan’

The three suicide bombers in the deadly gun and bomb attack on Istanbul’s international airport were from Russia, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, a Turkish government official has said.
The official gave no further details beyond confirming the attackers’ nationalities and declined to be named because details of the investigation have not yet been released.

Forensics teams had been struggling to identify the bombers from their limited remains, officials said earlier.

The three bombers opened fire to create panic outside, before two of them got inside the terminal building and blew themselves up.

The third detonated his explosives at the entrance. At least 43 people, including 19 foreigners, were killed, and further 239 others were wounded.

Turkish police also rounded up 13 suspects over the airport attack, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported.

Police carried out simultaneous raids at 16 addresses in Istanbul on Tuesday night, Anadolu reported, adding that three of the suspects were foreigners.

The raids against suspected Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) cells were launched in Istanbul and the Aegean coastal city of Izmir.

Dawn raids

Turkish authorities and US officials believe ISIL, also known as ISIS, was responsible for the gun and bomb attack on Europe’s third-busiest airport, the deadliest in a series of suicide bombings in Turkey this year.

Counterterrorism police led by special forces officers carried out raids in several low-income neighbourhoods of Istanbul – including Pendik, Basaksehir and Sultanbeyli – Anadolu said, without citing its sources.

Nine suspected fighters, thought to have been in contact with ISIL members in Syria, were arrested in dawn raids in four districts of Izmir, the news agency said.

It said they were accused of financing, recruiting and providing logistical support to the hardline group.

Turkey is part of a US-led military coalition against ISIL and home to around three million refugees fleeing the five-year civil war in neighbouring Syria.

ISIL has established a self-declared caliphate in parts of both Syria and Iraq, and declared war on all non-Muslims and on Muslims who do not accept its version of Islam. It has claimed responsibility for similar attacks in Belgium and France in the past year.

Al Jazeera’s Reza Sayah, reporting from Istanbul, said that the attack “does bear all the hallmarks of ISIL”, but added Turkish and international officials had not yet provided evidence “connecting the dots”.

“This kind of reaction in the past has not been able to stop attacks,” he said. “Moving forward, as far as the Turkish population is concerned, they want to see an improvement in intelligence gathering.”

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Mavins Singer Di’ja Welcomes Baby Boy as Hubby Gets Promotion

Marvin Record singer Di’ja, has gotten many talking and all thanks to her record label crew who stood by her all along without giving a clue to her whereabout.

Some months back, it went viral that the pretty singer was married to one Rotimi but many saw it as a mere rumour as she was later seen at various gigs both within and outside the country and many were confused if it was true.

Suddenly the singer got missing in the industry and many thought she was cooking up some good sounds until she finally admitted to just welcoming a baby boy for her hubby.

Who says female celebrity marriages don’t survive as Di’ja has set the pace for others to follow. Aside putting to bed, her hubby has also been promoted at his place of work as the Chairman of the company.

In her thankful message, she wrote, “So Thankful to the Almighty for an amazing journey. Thank you to my family and amazing friends for your ongoing support.

“Thank you to my Mavin family who are forever providing me with guidance and last but not least my amazing fans for their undying love, well wishes and badASS encouragement. I could not be DI’JA without you.”

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Yoruba elders fume over attacks on South-West

YORUBA elders on the banner of the Yoruba Unity Forum, YUF, have decried what they termed as unprovoked attacks on Yoruba land, warning that ‘’enough is enough.’’

The umbrella body of Yoruba socio-cultural organisations was piqued by the recurring incidents of criminal activities of terrorists, militants, oil thieves, kidnappers, armed robbers and Fulani herdsmen in the region, which had claimed many lives and destroyed properties worth millions of naira in recent times.

In a statement by Rt Rev Emmanuel Gbonigi (chairman) and Senator Anthony Adefuye (secretary), the elders said they were compelled to aver again that the murderous activities of the criminals were stressing the peace” stability and corporate existence of the country.

Vowing that the attacks would not go unpunished, they said they would not allow the South-West to become a theatre for the prosecution.

The statement read in part: ‘’Nigeria is at,the precipice, threats of insecurity to life and property is no longer the exclusive preserve of any particular community. The peace and quiet in the South-west in the last few weeks has again come under attack in spite of the ongoing criminal activities of armed Fulani herdsmen in the region.

‘’The attacks this time is coming from an unlikely foe, the Niger Delta Militants. The despicable criminality by this group against innocent citizens of Igbolomu and Ishawo areas of Ikorodu In Lagos shall not go unpunished. The South-west, people are peaceful, accommodating, hospitable, and are gratified neighbours.”

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