To avoid the escape of Babalakin who is the Chairman of Bi-Courteney Group, the concessionaire company that manages the Lagos airport(MMA2) and the dilapidated Lagos-Ibadan expressway,the lawyer turned businessman was again invited to the Abuja office of the EFCC last Wednesday, May 9 2012 where he was detained from 10am till about 5pm local time during which his travel documents were retrieved from him.

A top member of the team investigating the businessman told ireports-ng.com that”we invited him because we have gotten to a critical point of blocking all loopholes in the investigation and filing charges against the accused. Yes, he was detained for some hours because he was relying on some contacts in the presidency and didn’t want to cooperate. We needed to get his international travel passport as well as take his photograph for forensic purposes but he initially refused to cooperate.It is a standard practice to write the offence of such people on a piece of paper which they will hold on their chest while we take their photographs just as it was done in the Ibori picture released to the press by London police but he took offence. He eventually submitted himself for the photo session when it dawned on him he was going to sleep in the cell.”

Justifying while Babalakin was invited for another round of interrogation, our source who is very close to the agency’s chief executive, Ibrahim Lamorde disclosed that “we reviewed his past statements and felt like asking him more questions based on legal advice from our legal team that will prosecute the case.”

The source who claimed he was not mandated to speak on record on the case because of the enormous pressure from the National Security Adviser, NSA, General Andrew Owoeye Azazi on his boss,Lamorde to drop the case assured that the EFCC boss was ready to damn all consequences, prove a point and “file the matter in court any moment from now.”

ireports-ng.com had in an exclusive report on February 22, 2012 broken the news on the arrest and detention of Babalakin. According to the report then, “Babalakin was arrested in Lagos on Saturday and detained at the agency’s facility located off Awolowo road, Ikoyi, Lagos where he was interrogated till the following day, Sunday. A source in the team of operatives that quizzed Babalakin said the lawyer turned businessman was interrogated for allegedly providing his company bank accounts through which Ibori transferred over N1.6 billion to offshore accounts.

“The funds were said to have been moved from Delta state government accounts through companies owned by Babalakin under the guise of purchasing a jet which was never bought. The senior lawyer turned businessman is the Chairman of Bi-Courteny Aviation which owns the terminal two of the Lagos airport, Ikeja.

“The latest information linking Babalakin to funds stolen by Ibori was said to have been provided by the Met Police in London which wants more evidence to prosecute Ibori over money laundering charges in a Southwark court. Ibori’s wife,Nkoyo; his sister,Christie; his mistress, Udoamaka and lawyer have already been convicted and serving various jail terms in the UK.

“Though Babalakin has been granted administrative bail on Sunday, there are indications that he may be invited for further questioning if the Met Police that needs his statement is not satisfied with the information already obtained from him.”

The latest development has therefore confirmed that initial report on the case.

A resident told ireports-ng.com on the phone that the assailants came on a motorbike, fired sporadic gunshots that made residents run for cover. The source said the armed men only left the area after ensuring that their targets were confirmed dead.

Multiple sources which later spoke to our correspondent in Kano confirmed that the attack at the Tukuntawa quarters , which is located in the Sharada Industrial Area in the state capital took place shortly before the commencement of the curfew imposed on motorbikes in the state.

The armed men were said to have escaped on motorbikes soon after killing their victims and the arrival of security operatives invited to the scene.

Security men attached to the Joint Security Task Force in the state have since cordoned off the area while all abandoned security check points have been immediately restored.

An airport source told ireports-ng.com a few minutes ago that the bomb was discovered after passengers who just arrived the airport had cpmpleted their arrival formalities, headed to the baggage reclaim section and retrieved their bags,leaving a particular bag untouched.

This immediately created a panic while officials of the police anti-bomb squad attached to the airport terminal were alerted at about 10pm local time.

After scanning the bag with their equipment, the security agents which immediately cordoned off the area concluded that the luggage was laden with explosives and went ahead to defuse it before doing great damage.

She told the  House of Representatives Ad-Hoc committee probing the near collapse of Capital Market that Oteh was covering up her low understanding of the capital market with her rough ride even as she insisted that she legally remains the DG of NSE.

Oteh had on Monday while addressing the Committee reeled out how Onyiuke’s financial recklessness contributed in no small measure to the near crash of the market. She said the report of the Risk and Disciplinary committee showed how the ex-NSE boss spent a whooping N180 million to buy Rolex wrist watches, N1.3 billion on foreign trips among others.

Meanwhile, the stage appears set again for another round of war between the mudslinging SEC DG and House of Reps panel as the Chairman of the newly constituted panel, Hon Ibrahim Tukur El-Sudi today accused Oteh of arrogance and trying to sabotage the work of the new panel. He therefore summoned her to appear before it tomorrow  or face arrest.

El-Sudi was reacting to a letter by Oteh requesting the committee to allow her respond to their questions in writing rather than appear before it today adding that she needed to attend the National Economic Management Team(NEMT)meeting chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan.

”I write to inform you that I am unable to attended the public hearing today because I will be attending the National Economic Management Team meeting chaired by the President, His Excellency Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan(GCFR)”, she had stated in her letter.
 But the committee chairman dismissed the letter insisting that Oteh must appear before it and clear some grey areas regarding her handling of the recovery effort of the market. He  claimed that the DG’s letter had an aura of arrogance, an affront he said would not be permitted.

“Arunma Oteh is hereby ordered to appear before this committee by 10am tomorrow. she should come with all relevant materials, otherwise we will invoke relevant provisions”, El-Sudi had declared.

While trying to explain her role in the poor shape of the capital market, Onyiuke accused Oteh of willfully engaging in baseless allegations just to cover up her inefficiency. Although she admitted that her regime bought some wrist watches she said that they were used for the long service award organized by NSE.

His words:”Last week, they succeed in killing three Journalist. Last night, they killed Olaitan. Let me be clear they cannot kill my fighting spirit. We submitted a petition to the Commissioner of Police in which we informed him of the meetings held at the residence of the godfather where they took a critical evaluation of the forthcoming election and they agreed it is impossible for them to win.

” They also resolved at the meeting presided over by the godfather to intimidate my person and if possible to eliminate me. At that meeting, they said they will kill under the guise of armed robbery, many of my personal staff and key leaders to pretend as if they are victim of kidnapping. I also informed the police they resolved that weeks before the election, they will detonate bombs in parts of the state in order to scare people away from going to vote. What is our crime. Our crime is that we have mobilised our people, we have deployed public resources for the public good and the godfather is angry. We have no apology for the stand we have taken and we will not slow down. The blood of this young men will fire me on to fight and defeat the godfather. There is no going back. They have killed my son. They have killed my brother, they have killed my people but they cannot kill my spirit. I ask you the police if they do not find the killers, if they do not do proper investigation on the killing of those Journalists and of Olaitan last night, as the Governor of Edo State, I will convert the leadership of my people to find solution to security. They must not fight like coward. They should stand.

“Last night like coward, they shot Olaitan in the chest, head and belly to make sure he never survives. Why will a man in his eighties seat over the death of young children? Why will an old man who has children and grand children supervise the killings of young people?, why will Airhiavbere who wishes to rule Edo State instigate tribalism. I want to serve them notice I have the capacity and the men if they do not behave, we can stop them from coming to Edo State. Let me say I have not come to cry today the blood of those young men will whet my appetite for justice because their plan is to postpone again for the second time our campaign. Tomorrow we will go ahead because Olaitan in his lifetime was a fighter. We met in the field of struggle not on the dinning table. I ask you not to be afraid, not to be intimidated. Don’t give up.

“If anything, we should be more resolved. The godfather is finished nobody can rescue him. Any old man that kill will have death awaiting him. Every old man that kills will have death awaiting his children. Every old man that kills will be in perpetual hell fire as revealed in the holy document. In the name of politics, these people are bringing violence to our community. They are killing, they are maiming and they are planning more. You will recall in 2007, we lost three young men who were killed. At the state house of assembly, they planted a bomb which was meant to killed ACN members in the House but thank God that bomb did not explode. You also recalled they used matchet and shelltox to kill and attack ACN lawmakers. In all of these, the Police has not done justice. Those who tried to kill those Honourable members, nothing has happened to them.

“Those who plotted the killing of those Journalists are busy paying condolence visit. It is not how long I live that matters but what I should be remembered for. We will fight and not give up. I want to send a warning to Chief Anenih if he does not change his ways he will not be able to live in any parts of Edo State. I want to serve notice to Airhiavbere, Dan Orbih that if they insist on violence, violence will consume them. They have engaged in series of acts of provocation. They decided to go and locate Airhiavbere office in clear violation of all rules regulating partisan contest and electioneering. This afternoon, don’t join me to cry. We will not cry. Rather we will be resolute that the godfather is dead, he cannot be resurrected. All the evil plan he is planning will befall him and his family. We will not plot evil.

“All my life, I have never killed. I will not be desperate. Those who are bathing in the blood of innocent people will not go scot free. I am giving the Police 14 days from today to produce the killers of Olaitan and to establish those responsible for the killing of those Journalists. If they do not do that as the Chief Security Officer of this state, I reserve all my options. This country will either fail or stand. Nobody can intimidate me. Even out of power I was not intimidated, he should repent. I ask you to go home and not take laws into your hands. Resist the temptation to fight them today. We are giving the police today. They must produce those killers. They will not die in vain. Go back peacefully. They do evil at night but we do good at night. Nobody has monopoly of evil and violence. Go back home peacefully, tomorrow mobilize we will still do the rally as planned. Every week, they will create a situation where we will postpone our rally. The best tribute we can give to Olaitan is not to give up, it is not to surrender. We have already conquered, them we will consolidate. Anenih belongs to the past whether he likes it or not. Airhiavbere is not in this world. Dan Orbih is a failed guy. We will not dance naked with them. They do not have monopoly of violence.”

Tony Anenih

Olaitan Oyerinde

Oyerinde, 44, was shot dead by four gunmen who invaded his house located in Ugbor area, Benin City around 1 a.m.

Shortly after they stormed the compound, they bounded the security guard while two of them forced their way through the front door and made straight for his bedroom.

On recognising that it was Mr. Oyerinde’s brother-in-law who was actually sleeping on the bed, they immediately left him and went for the wife, Funke, asking her to lead them to the husband who, unknown to them, was sleeping in the living room.

On sighting him, they instantly fired four shots, one to the head, chest, abdomen and hip, killing Oyerinde instantly. The gunmen later fled without taking anything from the house.

The killing of Mr. Oyerinde is coming exactly six days after Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s convoy was attacked along Warrake-Auchi road, by a truck that curiously veered off its track and headed straight for the staff car, missing it by the whiskers. Three journalists were killed while others including security details, sustained various degree of injuries.

Curiously, at about 2.45am the following day, the home of the Information Commissioner, Mr Louis Odion, was invaded by four gunmen who also missed him because he opted to pass the night in a friend’s house located in another part of the city. A member of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon Johnson Oghuma was also similarly attacked by gunmen recently. Oghuma who represents Etsako Central had his car riddled with bullets as he was on his way to Fugar, his hometown.

Odion had at a press briefing last Sunday, raised fears that top government functionaries were being targeted for elimination.

Oyerinde who read Mass Communication at the University of Lagos, was seconded from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to work for the comrade governor in November 2007. He is survived by his wife, Funke, four children, an aged father and an mother.

This sequence of sordid events coming each time on the eve of the flag off of Governor Oshiomhole’s campaign, raises grave concern and therefore demands thorough investigation by the security forces.

Narrating how the late labour leader was killed, his gateman, Alli Alhadi, said the assailants were four in number with three of them scaling the fence of the compound to gain access while the fourth person stayed on guard outside.

He said he had come out of his gate house to urinate when suddenly the invaders grabbed him from behind and used his wife’s head tie to bind him before pushing him back into the gate house.

Alhadi further explained that the assailants had easy access through the second gate within the premises because it was not locked on the fateful night.

The assailants, who smashed the window in Olaitan’s room, reportedly left the premises with keys to three cars belonging to the family as well as mobile handsets.

Olaitan who hails from Osun State was Deputy National Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and was on secondment at Edo State Government House.

Sources said he had indicated his willingness to return to NLC to assume duty as National Secretary but was told to stay until after the gubernatorial election in July.

The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olayinka Balogun said “we are in the field already to know who are the perpetrators. We are working”, when he was contacted on the phone.

Several masses based groups including the Save Nigeria Group,SNG have been mobilizing across the country to stage a massive protest against Mr Jonathan’s refusal to act on a report submitted to him by the House of Representatives on the outcome of the probe of the fuel subsidy regime which largely indicted a number of Jonathan’s ministers and friends for massive looting of the nation’s treasury under the guise of subsidy regime. SNG has also given the government a two week ultimatum to act on the report or face mass revolt.

Adoke’s job saving statement reads as follows:
 
1.      The attention of the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has been drawn to recent calls by some groups and well meaning Nigerians for the prosecution of those allegedly indicted in the Report of the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy Regime.

2.      It is pertinent to reiterate government’s position as aptly captured by Mr. President’s initial reaction to the Report of the Fuel Subsidy probe to the effect that any person found wanting will be prosecuted irrespective of the person’s standing in the society. Nigerians must however appreciate that in discharging this onerous responsibility, Government must be guided by the dictates of the rule of law and due process as required of any democratically elected and responsible government.  In this regard, the need to ensure that thorough investigations are carried out by relevant law enforcement agencies cannot be overemphasized.
3.      This is more so, as the exercise carried out by the House of Representatives is mainly fact-finding. I also wish to point out that the Report of the Ad-Hoc Committee and the Resolutions adopted by the House of Representatives is yet to be transmitted to the Executive arm of government. Nevertheless, when the report and accompanying resolutions are received, the relevant law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies will commence the tedious process of sieving through the report, with a view to assembling all the essential ingredients required to sustain criminal charges that may be filed as a result of such investigations.

4.      I therefore call on Nigerians who are understandably concerned about the revelations arising from the Fuel Subsidy Probe to be patient and exercise restraint while these difficult, but essential processes are carried out by appropriate agencies. As Attorney General of the Federation, I swore to uphold the Constitution and I am therefore not oblivious of the constitutional responsibility placed on my shoulders to ensure that those who contravene our laws are held accountable through the legal process.

5.      However, experience has shown that whenever our law enforcement agencies are stampeded to arraign suspects, the end result is usually the discharge of such suspects by the courts ostensibly for want of evidence. Nigerians must therefore allow our law enforcement agencies to conduct painstaking investigations that will ultimately satisfy the standard of proof required in criminal cases.
 6.     The foregoing notwithstanding, we must accept that the allegations contained in the Subsidy Probe Report deserve serious action on the part of all those with oversight responsibility over the agencies and persons concerned. Aware of this responsibility, Mr. President had as far back as 2010 ordered a forensic audit of the accounts of the NNPC with a view to sanitizing the oil sector. Since then, other processes have been put in place to enhance accountability and transparency levels in the oil sector even before the commencement of fuel subsidy probe.

7.      I therefore humbly urge Nigerians to have faith in the processes being undertaken and to patiently wait for the outcome of the investigations and subsequent prosecutions that may flow from the fuel subsidy probe conducted by the House of Representatives and the on-going probe by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In this respect, I wish to observe that the ultimatum being given by some groups and the threat to embark on demonstrations and strike actions will only compound the problem and divert attention, as well as, the energy that would otherwise have been channeled into productive use by law enforcement agencies.
8.      I thank you for your understanding.

MR. MOHAMMED BELLO ADOKE, SAN, CFR
Honourable Attorney General of the Federation
 and Minister of Justice

Another 29 people were injured, said Nigerian military spokesman Col Dahiru Abdussalam.

The market in Potiskum, Yobe state, was set on fire by gunmen armed with explosives.

Police say the attack may be in revenge for the killing by traders of a man who had earlier tried to steal cattle.

The joint taskforce, a combined operation between Nigeria’s army and police, is pursuing the “unidentified gunmen”, Col Abdussalam said.

“A group of gunmen armed with around 20 explosives and assault rifles attacked the Potiskum cattle market,” police spokesman Toyin Gbadegesin told the AFP news agency.

“They threw explosives and shot indiscriminately, setting fire to the market, killing lots of livestock and wounding many people, mostly cattle dealers,” he said.

A gang of men locked the gate of Potiskum’s fenced cattle market, trapping many traders and livestock inside, residents told the BBC.

The market – a bustling trading hub, with cattle on sale from neighbouring Chad, Cameroon and Niger – was razed to the ground late on Wednesday and many animals were also burned to death, residents say.

Witnesses say they saw several bodies being removed from the market.

Correspondents say the attack does not appear to be the work of the radical Islamist group Boko Haram, which has carried out deadly bombings and shootings across northern Nigeria, including Potiskum, in the past 20 months.

Cattle raids are common in the north of Nigeria.

The Jalingo attack which killed at least three policemen is coming barely 24 hours after gunmen suspected to be operatives of the militant Islamic sect, Boko haram attacked Christian Worshippers at the Bayero university, Kano where about 20 people are now feared dead.

Though the police commissioner, Sule survived the attack, a nearby market and the state ministry of finance were badly affected by the blast.

A police spokesman in the state said ” a bomber on a motorcycle rammed into the police rider”

Bodies were lying around Bayero University campus where Christian worshippers were holding a service.

A bomb squad and military units are searching for the gunmen.

No group has said it launched the attack, but the violent Islamist Boko Haram group is active in Kano. It has recently attacked churches.

Nigeria’s central government has struggled to contain the militant group, which operates mainly in the predominantly Muslim north, but has also struck as far south as the capital, Abuja.

Sunday’s attack took place in one of the lecture theatres used as a place of worship by Christians.

A witness told AFP news agency the attackers had first thrown in explosives and fired shots, “causing a stampede among worshippers”.

“They now pursued them, shooting them with guns. They also attacked another service at the sporting complex.”

Another witness spoke of “pandemonium”, and said he had seen two men shooting indiscriminately.

Mohammed Suleiman, a history lecturer at the university, said security guards had to run for their lives when the violence broke out.

“For over 30 minutes a series of bomb explosions and gun shots took over the old campus, around the academic blocks,” he told Reuters news agency.

Officials have confirmed seven deaths so far, but warn that up to 20 were killed as bodies were lying around and being taken to hospitals.

“I counted at least 15 dead bodies. I think they were being taken to the Amino Kano teaching hospital,” a witness told the agency.

He added that he had seen many more people being treated for injuries. Security officials and doctors at local hospitals also say at least 15 people were killed.

Kano state police spokesman Ibrahim Idris said that by the time police arrived, the attackers had “disappeared into the neighbourhood”. A manhunt is under way.

Boko Haram carried out a bombing in Kano in January that killed more than 180 people, its deadliest attack to date.

BBC © 2012