Evesworld Blog

The Force headquarters said it has sealed off the Sharks Stadium in Port Harcourt, the venue of the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party. It was learnt that policemen stormed the venue of the convention around 4am on Wednesday. The Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Donald Awunah, disclosed this during a programme on Channels Television titled, ‘Sunrise Daily’. Awunah said the primary responsibility of the police was to protect life and prevent crisis. He added that due to the tension surrounding the convention and the conflicting court rulings, the police thought it best to seal off the venue. He said, “The warring parties need to follow due process to end their crisis through the courts and as a law enforcement agency what do you do? You ensure that there is a superior court order. It is not about taking sides. “If in the next one hour or two, we get another court order, we will take action. We are there for every Nigerian but when you a

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has intensified its probe of the immediate past Governor of Ebonyi State, Martin Elechi, over some alleged fraudulent contracts approved by his government. Earlier in the year, the EFCC had received a series of petitions against Elechi’s government, causing the commission to invite the ex-governor and his son, Nnanna. In continuation of the probe, the EFCC arrested a former Commissioner for Public Utilities in the state, Mr. Benjamin Okah, for his alleged role in a $12m contract awarded to a United States-based firm, Califco Group, in 2012. The EFCC said in a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Wilson uwujaren, that the state government paid $10.8m to the firm in 2012 as mobilisation fee but the project was abandoned.  The anti-graft agency said Okah allegedly received N83m as gratification through two of his companies. The statement read, “The EFCC on Monday arrested a former Commissioner for Public Utilities

Two policemen were killed on Tuesday at Hawan Kibo along the Jos-Abuja Road after armed robbers attacked a bullion van belonging to the Central Bank of Nigeria. Our correspondent gathered that the bullion van and the policemen had left Jos in the early hours of Tuesday en route to Abuja. It was learnt that after a military checkpoint along Hawan Kibo, the robbers, who were in military uniforms, emerged from a bush and engaged the police team in a shootout. PUNCH Metro learnt that during the exchange of gunfire, two policemen were killed. One of the deceased policemen was identified as Sergeant Anthony Jawa, of the Police Mobile Force, Unit 8, Jos. The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Tyopev Terna, who confirmed the incident, said he had yet to receive the full report from the Riyom Police Division. He said, “Some policemen were killed, but we do not have their number yet.” Our correspondent learnt that the CBN bullion van had been taken to t

Six suspected burglars have been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command in the Ikoyi area of the state. Our correspondent learnt that the suspects were sharing their loot when they were arrested by police operatives. PUNCH Metro gathered that the men, identified as Friday Eze, Stanley Ejiofor, Femi Miracle, Raphael Ijoha, Emmanuel Omojuwa and Daniel Thomas, were arrested by men of the Ikoyi Police Division on Tuesday, August 9. The police said the gang, which was notorious for breaking into houses and stealing valuables, had other members who escaped arrest. Our correspondent learnt that around 10pm, the gang members allegedly burgled some houses on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, and drove away in a car to a junction in the area to share the loot. A source said operatives, who were on patrol, observed the suspects sharing the stolen items in the car and arrested them. He said, “They are notorious in the Ikoyi area for burglary. They don’t rob to avoid r

Four persons have reportedly died in Ibara Housing Estate, Abeokuta, Ogun State, after drinking a local liquor, popularly called ogogoro. Our correspondent learnt that the seller of the liquor, Salako Taloju, who also worked as a gateman, was arrested by policemen from the Ibara Police Station on Tuesday. PUNCH Metro learnt that Taloju was drunk at the time of arrest. He was said to have told the police that the victims were residents of the area and he did not poison the liquor. The deceased were identified only as Baba Imeko, Baba Onwenue and Easy , while the fourth victim’s name had yet to be ascertained. Our correspondent gathered that three of the victims died on Monday when they all took the liquor, while the fourth victim died on Tuesday. It was gathered that Taloju, who had been selling the liquor for over 20 years, resisted arrest, claiming that he was innocent. Taloju, who spoke incoherently to journalists, said, “We were friends and we

Two residents have been electrocuted after a spark from an electric pole ignited a fire on Shogbamu Street, in the Bariga area of Lagos State. A 78-year-old grandmother, identified only as Obasanya, was reported to have also passed out during the incident which occurred around 5am on Tuesday. PUNCH Metro learnt that the fire, which destroyed property and goods worth at millions of naira, affected two houses and burnt five shops. A witness, who did not identify himself, said the electrocuted residents, who he identified as Emeka and Moshood, were rushed to a general hospital for treatment. He said, “Power had been fluctuating that morning. But around 5am, power suddenly went off and there was a spark on the pole. “One of the cables fell on the roof of a house at the backyard and the fire started from there. A woman, who had gone out to urinate, saw the fire and raised the alarm, which created confusion. “While some residents fought the fire, others

An 80-year-old woman, Kuburat Ayinde, has been arrested by the police after she was caught with a dead baby boy in the Oshodi under bridge area of Lagos State. The woman had allegedly abducted the baby alive from Abeokuta, Ogun State, and strapped him to her back. The infant, however, died before she arrived in Lagos. The octogenarian was arrested on Sunday.   PUNCH Metro gathered that Ayinde wanted to board a bus to Ikorodu from Oshodi at about 2pm on Sunday when a commuter noticed that she was fidgety. The man and other passers-by were said to have asked her about the whereabouts of the baby’s mother, but she could not give a convincing reply. It was learnt that the baby was discovered to be dead after the octogenarian was forced to remove him from her back. A witness, Tunde Aruna, told PUNCH Metro that Ayinde would have been mobbed but for her old age and the intervention of some elderly people. He said, “The woman alighted from a bus en route fr