Attempted Rape: Police Insist On Investigating Ogun Commissioner Despite Victim Withdrawing Case

Police in Ogun have said they would proceed with investigation into the sexual harassment allegations against the Commissioner for Environment Abiodun Abudu-Balogun.

Ogun police spokesperson Abimbola Oyeyemi disclosed that the Commissioner of Police Edward Ajogun had ordered that the case be transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department at the Police headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta, the state capital. 

Oyeyemi said despite that the victim’s family had officially withdrawn the case against the commissioner, the command would go ahead with the case.

He said, “The father of the victim has no loco standing for him to tell the police that he’s no longer pressing charges against the Commissioner because he is not our complainant.

“He is not the person that was directly involved in the case. The victim is his daughter and even the daughter herself cannot withdraw the case because she is underage.

“Secondly, the case is an offense committed against the state, so they are no longer complainants, it is the Commissioner of Police versus the suspect (Abudu-Balogun).

“They are just witnesses in the case. So the police are going on with investigations to confirm the authenticity of the claims.

“The CP has directed that the case should be transferred to the State CID for proper investigations, so their position is immaterial.”

The police spokesperson assured that the case would be taken to court once the police confirm the incident actually happened.

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FCMB DNA Scandal: "I'm Innocent" - Late Tunde's Wife, Moyo Thomas Responds to Allegations

Moyo Thomas, the lady in the sex scandal story involving the Managing Director of First City Monument Bank, Nuhu Adams, has spoken on the incident that was alleged to have led to the death of her husband, Tunde Thomas.

The response, signed by Adetunji Iromini, on behalf of the family, said in part: 

“This is quite unfortunate in many ways. It does not augur well for the memory of the departed soul especially as we are all grieving the loss of Tunde, who was buried on Wednesday 30th December, 2020. The pictures of the children are being posted in the social media, without care.

“There would not have been any need to respond to issues raised in the petition but for the sake of posterity, the memory of Tunde and for the sake of his children. Like any marriage, there were differences between Moyo and Tunde leading to their separation and eventual relocation of Moyo to the USA in December, 2017.

“It is important to note that the divorce process was never thought of or initiated by Moyo. And to the best of our knowledge, no divorce papers were ever served on Moyo. This means that they were still legally married. In the opinion of Moyo and her family, the channel for reconciliation was still open up until Tunde’s unfortunate demise.

“Tunde is the father of the 2 children and Moyo never told him he was not their father. Moyo and Tunde clearly worked to ensure the differences they had did not affect the relationship they respectively have with the two children.

“Tunde paid a visit to the USA to visit the children in June 2018. He met them and interacted with them unhindered. This was after his recovery from the stroke he had earlier that year. He was in touch constantly with the children, calling and having fatherly conversations with them, even at odd hours, at least twice every month from December, 2017.

“The last of such calls took place on Thanksgiving Day on 26th November, 2020. You will agree that this does not paint the picture of a man who had been told he was not the father of his children as was maliciously stated in the petition and is being circulated on social media.

“It is very sad that a group of people have decided to take the differences between a married couple and misrepresent it into a sensational story. It is unfair to have the pictures of his young children splashed all over the internet.

“Tunde had a mild stroke in 2018. By the grace of God, he was able to fully recover from this and carried on with his life. He was obviously doing well at his job and was in another relationship with a lady who was pregnant before his death.

“Why he had a cardiac arrest that led to his eventual death almost 2 years after remains a mystery that only God can provide answers to. We can begin to postulate on possible reasons, but we would rather not, to preserve the fond memories of Tunde.

“Tunde has now gone to be with his maker. We do wish his family and friends, including his pregnant girlfriend, the fortitude to bear the unfortunate loss. He has now been laid to rest and we implore all to allow those grieving his loss, including Moyo and his children, to do so in peace. May Tunde’s soul rest in perfect peace. Amen.”

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We Celebrated Christmas, New Year Without 'Rain Of Bombs'- Lai Mohammed

The Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed has lauded the Armed Forces and other security agencies for their patriotism and commitment to the anti-terror war despite criticism about their performances by some Nigerians and international bodies.

He said the combined efforts of the security agencies, Nigeria just celebrated another Christmas and New Year without 'rain of bombs'.

In his words:

"It is sad that we have forgotten where we were in terms of the state of insecurity just a few years back. Let me mention some instances that will put things in a better perspective".

" Thanks to our security agencies, we have just celebrated another Christmas and New Year without a rain of bombs. Few would remember that in 2010, 2011 and 2012, Christmas eve or Christmas Day attacks left hundreds dead or injured". 

"What about the attack on the UN Complex in Abuja in August 2011; the bombing of media houses in Abuja and Kaduna in April 2012 and the killing of about 40 students in Mubi, Adamawa State, in October 2012?"

"Have we forgotten that over 80 towns and villages were attacked and razed, with casualties, by Boko Haram in Borno State alone? Have we forgotten the constant attacks on military and security formations like Giwa Barracks (Maiduguri), Mohammed Kur Barracks (Bama), Monguno Barracks (Monguno), Airforce Base (Maiduguri), New Prison (Maiduguri) and numerous police stations?".

" The fact that these attacks and bombings have stopped is a testimony to the progress we have made in tackling terrorism which, by the way, is not like conventional warfare". 

"The stoppage of the attacks didn't happen by accident. It is therefore mischievous for anyone to discountenance the progress we have made in tackling insecurity, in building and upgrading infrastructure and in diversifying the economy, among others".

" The federal government rejects this characterization of Nigeria as a 'failing' state, which is a combination of the wishful thinking of naysayers and the evil machinations of those who don't wish Nigeria well".

" The federal government has sustained the fight against terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements across the country especially in the North East and the North West Regions. The recent swift response and rescue of the 344 kidnapped Kankara schools boys in Katsina State from bandits attest to this". 

"The President has continued to provide all the necessary platforms on land, air and sea to support the fight against criminals and terrorists in the country".

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JUST IN: Court remands Sowore, others

Sowore and four other activists who were arrested at Gudu junction in Abuja were arraigned on three counts of unlawful assembly, criminal conspiracy and inciting public disturbance.

The police lawyer, J. C. Idachaba, told the court that Mr Sowore and other activists were arrested for disturbing the peace of the nation.

When the charges were read, the activists were asked to take plea and they answered not guilty, saying all allegations against them were false.

Mr Idachaba told the court that the police would need more time to investigate, hence the defendants be remanded in custody or prison until the conclusion of investigation.

This was, however, countered by the lawyer representing the defendants from the Femi Falana Chambers, identified as Barrister Marshal.

Mr Marshal said all the defendants are entitled to bail and should be granted in the interest of justice. He then asked the magistrate to grant Mr Sowore and others bail.

After arguments between the two parties, Mrs Maibel asked the defendants’ counsel to formally apply for their bail.

 

The magistrate said she would sit on Tuesday so that the defendants bail could be filed formally.

In her ruling, she said all the charges are bailable, except if the defendants are deemed likely to evade trial or commit the same offence. She asked that the formal bail application should he brought before here at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday.

While the magistrate said the defendants should be taken to the Wuse police station, the telephone number of the DPO in Wuse could not be reached.

She later ordered that Mr Sowore and others should remanded in Kuje Prison pending the hearing of their bail application.

Culled from Premium Times 

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Amotekun drives out herdsmen from Oyo forest reserves

The Amotekun security outfit in Oyo State has driven out two groups of herdsmen from two forest reserves in the state.

The Chairman of Amotekun in Oyo State, Gen Kunle Togun, in a statement on Saturday signed by the Media Officer of the security outfit Mrs.  Ayolola Adedoja said the operation was carried out with the aid of some hunters at the Opara Forest Reserve in the Oke Ogun area of the state.

He said, ” On the 24th of December some herdsmen were seen at the Opara Forest Reserve in the Oke Ogun area of Oyo State. The attention of the chairman of Amotekun Corps, Gen Kunle Togun ( retd) was drawn to it and Amotekun corps swung into action

” The Amotekun corps with the assistance of one Prophet Ojoawo, who is the head of the hunters in the state with 40 hunters drove out the herdsmen out of the forest reserve around 2am and they were escorted out of the Saki West to the Orelope Local Government Area of the Oyo State.

“The herdsmen were handed over to the Amotekun corps members at the Orelope who also led them out of their territory and handed them to their members at Olorunsogo in Igbeti area. Amotekun corps at Igbeti made sure they were escorted out of the Oyo State boundary.

 

Mr. Togun said the herdsmen were interrogated and they said one ‘Baale'(village head) in the area invited them to the state and proved this by showing a letter of invitation purportedly written by the ‘Baale.’

“Also, another set of the herdsmen were sighted at OYSADEP Forest Reserves. They too produced evidence of invitation by one of the Oyo Obas and they too were also driven out of the forest and of the state boundary.”

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Alleged Paternity Scandal: FCMB to probe MD as many demand his sack

More than 1,200 people have signed a petition accusing Adam Nuru of an illicit affair that led to the death of the spouse of the bank's former employee.

Over 1400 people (as of press time) have signed a petition asking the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to sack the managing director of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Adam Nuru.

The petition alleged that the bank chieftain was responsible for the demise of Tunde Thomas.

Mr Thomas was said to have died of depression on December 16, 2020.

According to the petition, the FCMB MD allegedly had an affair with his staff, Moyo Thomas, who was the deceased’s wife, resulting in two children.

It alleged that Moyo had informed her husband that she was leaving Nigeria for the United States with the kids only to call him upon arrival that the children do not belong to him.

The petition claimed the news initially caused Mr Thomas to be down with a stroke but later recovered and thereafter met another lady whom he planned to marry.

Mr Thomas was, however, said to have suffered a cardiac arrest after returning from work about two days before his introduction to his already pregnant girlfriend.

The petition

Here is an excerpt of the petition posted on change.org:

“Tunde Thomas died recently like about a week or 2 from Depression.

“Apparently, kids from his marriage to Moyo Thomas belong to his wife’s boss (Adam Nuru, the current MD of FCMB).

“Moyo Thomas left Tunde to go to America with the kids. She told him kids were not his when she got to America. He was later down with a stroke but recovered.

“Apparently, Tunde met someone else he was going to remarry but apparently didn’t recover from the first Marriage issues.

“Tunde was just made director for the MFB he works for. Got back from work last week and had a cardiac arrest 2 days before introduction to a pregnant new girlfriend.

“This is a case of gross misconduct based on ethical grounds and unjustifiable economic oppression by the elites (Adam Nuru) against the less privileged in the society.

“The MD has been doing everything possible to sweep this case under the carpet. We implore the Central Bank of Nigeria as the apex regulator and the board of FCMB to investigate this for the integrity of the bank and Nigerian banking industry.

“This is a case too many, while I agree that this is not the full story, the barest minimum will be an investigation of this unethical conduct by the current MD of FCMB Bank Adam Nuru.”

An Akure-based human rights lawyer, Bolanle Cole, has also begun his own Twitter campaign to compel the CBN and FCMB to sack the bank chieftain.

In a Twitter thread on Friday, Mr Cole called out Mr Nuru and lampooned the FCMB boss for allowing the ‘unprofessional romance’ to happen.

He gave the bank two weeks from 30 December to sack Mr Nuru or else witness a campaign of a boycott by customers.

When PREMIUM TIMES contacted FCMB’s spokesman, Diran Olojo, he said the bank was reviewing the matter.

He said, ‘‘We are aware of several stories circulating across several media platforms about our bank’s Managing Director Adam Nuru, a former employee Ms Moyo Thomas and her deceased husband, Mr. Tunde Thomas.

“While this is a personal matter, the tragedy of the death of Mr. Tunde Thomas and the allegations of unethical conduct, require the bank’s board to conduct a review of what transpired, any violations of our code of ethics, and the adequacy of these code of conduct ethics. This will be done immediately.

“We enjoin all our stakeholders to bear with us as we conduct this review and to please respect the various families involved.”

PREMIUM TIMES 

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Omoyele Sowore arrested again after leading a #CrossoverWithProtest in Abuja.

The Nigerian police have again arrested the publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, for leading a protest in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Mr Sowore and some activists were arrested at the #CrossoverWithProtest, a planned procession across the country on New Year eve.

Some of the protesters who escaped arrest confirmed that Mr Sowore was whisked away in one of the seven vans of the Nigerian police mobilised to the protest ground at Gudu junction in Abuja.

Earlier on Thursday, Mr Sowore, on Twitter, charged Nigerians to hold a crossover protest by picking up a candle and a placard showing their grievances against the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Frank Mba, police spokesperson, did not respond to calls for his comment for this report.

This is not the first time Mr Sowore will be arrested by the Buhari administration. He was detained for over 100 days in 2019 for calling for a #RevolutionNowProtest. For most of the period, he was detained despite being granted bail by the court.

While that protest called for better governance in Nigeria, the security agencies accused him of planning to overthrow the government of Mr Buhari.

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