A former managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC Timi Alaibe has denied having an amorous relationship with the wife of the late Micheal Usifo Ataga, the chief executive officer of Super TV, who was killed last week by his girl friend in Lagos.
Ataga was stabbed to death by Chidinma Ojukwu, a 300 level student of UNILAG who have now been arrested by the police and, has already confessed to the crime.
An online report, not The Source had claimed that Alaibe, a PDP governorship aspirant in the 2020 governorship election in Bayelsa state, who lost his wife, Alaere few years ago, is having an affair with the wife of the deceased.
The former NDDC boss has now denied the report, which he said is from the pit of hell. According to him he never met the wife of the late Super TV boss, neither is any love affair existing between both of them. According to him, the report that both have a love child, is also not only true, but an attempt by the pedlars of the said report to tarnish his hard earned image.
Alaibe said in a statement, on Sunday, that his initial “reaction was to ignore this nonsense, but in the past 24 hours, I have been bombarded with telephone calls and messages from friends within and outside the country. Why? In the early hours of Saturday night, someone had sent me an anonymous, demonic-sounding social media post linking me with the wife of Michael Usifo Ataga, the late chief executive officer of Super TV.
“The insane, unknown writer of the unthinkable falsehood stated that Ataga’s wife left the husband to be my mistress; and that the late Ataga had physically confronted me; and that the woman is a household name among my friends. The writer added that the woman is also my “official mistress” in “social circle and class.” The writer went ahead to state that I already have a child from the woman whose DNA matches mine.
Some people were out to destroy his reputation, he said, noting that “I do not understand why a human being with blood in his veins would sit down and conceive such destructive lies just to rubbish not only my person, but to smear the integrity of the woman in question.
“Up till this moment, I do not know the woman called Mrs. Brenda Ataga; not to talk of having any relationship with her. I wonder why the husband to someone I have never met would confront me about his wife; or how a woman I do not even know would have a child for me!
“This is utter rubbish because I have never had any business with this woman or the late husband at whatever level. That is the truth as God knows it.
He has a strong warning for those behind the attempt to smear his image.
Alaibe said “I am warning whoever is behind this devil-driven, destructive agenda to stop it. Don’t ever think you are hidden. God is watching you. Circulating ruinous falsehood in the social media about innocent persons just to rope them into a crime or dent their image will do you no good. I challenge the person behind this tar-brush to make public any verifiable evidence to corroborate this falsehood. My conscience is clear.”
The main opposition Party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is in trouble. The year, 2021 has not been a good year for it. It is losing its members, especially, high profile members, including State Governors.
On Sunday, June 26, the Party lost Zamfara State to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
After a long dilly-dallying and strong speculations, Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle finally dumped the PDP for the APC.
Even though the Governor has not publicly announced it, but it is official. Making the announcement of his defection to the APC, on Sunday, was the Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Digital and New Media, Bashir Ahmad. He welcomed the Governor to the APC in two short sentences on his Facebook.
He wrote: “Zamfara is back home. Welcome Matallawe.”
Indeed Zamfara State was roundly won by the APC during the 2019 Governorship election, but 24 hours to the swearing-in of the Governor, the Supreme Court disqualified him over Party squabbles. The Apex Court, also, disqualified all other APC elected members, from the National Assembly to the State House of Assembly, and ordered that the runners-up in the election be sworn-in as duly elected. That was how Matallawe became Governor. He became an accidental Governor.
It was an excited, and humbled Matallawe who, months after he was sworn into office, asked Allah to punish him if he ever abandons the PDP. “May Allah punish me if I ever abandon PDP”, he swore, to the applause of Party supporters.
But like most politicians, he has quickly forgotten his request from Allah.
The Governor’s journey to dumping the PDP for the APC, began many months ago. Pointing accusing fingers at a South-south PDP Governor, he said he was being suffocated in the party as the South-south Governor wanted to control his state for him. He accused him of being autocratic and vowed to leave the Party if he continued.
Last month when the speculations continued, he said he was still “exploring.”Apparently, the exploration came to an end the day a number of APC Governors, led by its Interim National Chairman, Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Bunu, visited him. He gave them a firm yes, as an answer, a source told this Magazine last week.
The Governor is likely, this Magazine gathered, to publicly announce his new Party on Tuesday. What is not known is if the State’s National and House of Assembly members would join him, as well as members of his Cabinet.
Within one month, the PDP has lost two State Governors to the APC. The first was the Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade who also cited interference from a South-south Governor.
Earlier before the defection of Ayade, Ebonyi State Governor, Engr Dave Umahi, had, also, dumped the party for the APC.
Aside from the Governors, a number of high profile members of the party had dumped it for the APC.
The latest, on Friday, was Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, the Senator representing Delta North in the Senate.
Prince Kassim Afegbua, an estranged PDP member, and a former Commissioner for Information, Edo State, under former Governor Adams Oshiomhole, in his reaction to the defections, asked for the sack of the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, allegeging that he has killed the party, literally.
A source told this Magazine that PDP plans to go to Court to sack Matallawe using as a peg, the Supreme Court judgement which declared that the APC had no candidate in the 2019 Governorship election.
The Presidency has again assured that the Board of the Niger/Delta Development Commission, (NDDC) will be reconstituted before the end of next month.
The reassurance is contained in the speech read by President Mohamadu Buhari when he received in audience, members of Ijaw National Council, (INC)led by its President, Prof Benjamin Okaba, and Elders of the Niger/Delta at the weekend in Abuja.
President Buhari pointed out that “a contentious issue that has been a subject of discourse amongst the Ijaw people of recent has been the need for the Niger Delta Development Commission to live up to its billing by delivering the required succour to the people of the region.
“Based on the mismanagement that had previously be-devilled the NDDC, a forensic audit was set up and the result is expected by the end of July, 2021.
“I want to assure you that as soon as the forensic audit report is submitted and accepted, the NDDC Board would be inaugurated.
“However, I would like to implore you that the Ijaw National Congress should play a more active role in making sure that the mismanagement that occurred in the past is not repeated.”
On efforts by the present administration to develop the Ijaw speaking area of the country, the president disclosed that “I am particularly happy to note your call for promoting ownership of modular refineries by the Ijaw people and I will urge you to interphase with your sons who are involved in the processes of establishing these refineries, especially the Honourable Minister of State Petroleum Resources to actualize this quest.
“Like you well know, completion of the East-West Road is top on my infrastructure agenda and I will look to its speedy conclusion.
“Again, the occasional disturbance by youths in some communities along the route to construction work would require your close attention and guidance.
“Furthermore, we have made considerable progress with the construction of the Bonny to Port Harcourt Bridge.
“I am very happy with the recent affirmation of your belief in a United Nigeria and while I thank you for standing with me, I will also implore you to use your leverage in making sure that we keep working together to keep this country a united, indivisible entity, so that we can tackle our problems together and overcome our challenges together.
“I particularly note your ten point demand to the Federal Government in your inaugural speech and assure you that this administration is frontally addressing them.
“I am equally concerned about the rate of environmental degradation in the Niger Delta and as you are aware the HydroCarbon Pollution Remediation Project has started work with remediation efforts in Ogoni land and I have directed the Minister of Environment to ensure that the projects are implemented with a high percentage of local content and inclusion of the surrounding communities.
“Similarly, the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, under the same ministry of Environment is working to make sure that oil spills are reduced and new ones prevented.
“As you are also aware, all the responsible agencies of government have been directed to ensure that they enforce compliance by the International Oil Companies to international best practices.
“In addressing your call for immediate restructuring, the National Assembly whose responsibility it is to ensure that our constitution responds to the call for a restructured Nigeria, has already concluded regional consultations and as soon as they finalise the process, necessary action would not be delayed on my part.
“In the same vein, your call for creation of two additional states and more local government areas for the Ijaw people is a legislative matter, which should naturally be handled by the National Assembly and seeking concurrence at the state levels.
“I completely agree with your call to allocate operational licenses for marginal fields to Ijaw people. However, like you know, the process of granting licenses is guided by laid down rules and regulations, most of which even favour local content and local contractors. I see no reason why they should not be granted such licenses if they qualify.
“On the issue of fair and balanced appointments to reflect federal character principles, I re-affirm that this has always been my focus and would continue to be because I have always seen Nigeria as a country where everyone should be given equal opportunities.”
After days of agonising silence, the family of Michael Usifo Ataga, the murdered CEO of Super TV, and son of Professor Ataga, retired Director General of NIFOR has finally spoken.
In its first reaction to the horrific murder of their son, husband and father, the family asked the Police to do an in-depth, thorough, investigation in order to unmask the brains behind the murder of their son and husband and father.
Ataga was murdered in a most cruel manner, allegedly, by a girl he started to date, just five months ago. The girl, a 300 level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos, Chidinma Adaora Ojukwu, is under Police Custody, and has, publicly, confessed to the crime.
She said both were under the influence of drug and alcohol, and that he stabbed Ataga three times. But she could not explain why she also stole Ataga’s I-phone and ATM card with which she withdrew, according to her, the sum of ₦380,000.
But Ataga’s family in its reaction through the law firm of Rickey Tarfa, SAN, said that the arrest of Chidinma does not in anyway close the case. It is instead the beginning. The family believes Chidinma had accomplices. The family, thus, implored the Police to go beyond her arrest, and get to the root of the heinous crime.
The Ataga family, also, warned the Media against publishing false stories meant to libel and scandalise its late son and his wife, Brenda, and warned that any more of such libelous publications would be met with a law suit.
The family’s statement came 24 hours after a friend of the late Ataga, in an angry, emotional, and well articulated write-up titled: “Who Will Speak For Usifo Ataga”, revealed a couple of troubling points to emphasise that Chidinma couldn’t have acted alone.
For instance, he revealed that Ataga’s two hands were tied behind him, his mouth gagged to stop anybody from hearing his screams, and that he was stabbed multiple times.
He also revealed that the murder scene was spluttered with blood on the walls, the floor, and everywhere, indicating there were struggles which he doubted Chidinma was capable of doing alone.
In the Statement by Ataga’s family, entitled: Libelous Publications In Respect Of Murder Of Michael Usifo Ataga: Demand For Restraint By Social Media Publications/Persons’ from the family’s Solicitors, Rickey Tarfa & Co., and signed by Olufemi Jolawo, SAN, on behalf of the Law Firm, the family asked that the Police be allowed to do its job in the matter at hand without any distractions or interference. The statement deplored what it called libelous publications against Utaka and his wife, Brenda.
Part of the Statement reads:
“We hereby admonish the publishers of these stories to employ whatever shreds of decency and decorum they can find in themselves to desist from their false and misleading stories and let the investigating authorities carry out effective investigation in the hope of apprehending the perpetrators of this heinous crime and their accomplices.
“Yes, we know that Chidinma Adaora Ojukwu has been arrested, and yes, we know that investigation is continuing.
“Our client is, however, convinces that there is much more to this than is already apparent from the Police Investigation.
“It has become apparent, even to the most undiscerning reader that from the variety and inherent malice in most of the said publications, that they are planted to embarrass and malign Usifo Ataga, Brenda Atiga and the family, and to serve as a smokescreen to enable the perpetrators of the heinous crime cover their tracks.
“Our client appreciates the efforts of the Law Enforcement Agencies in their investigations, so far, and will not descend into particulars with respect to any of the said false narratives so as not to inadvertently aid the perpetrators of the murder in covering their tracks.
“Our client, at this juncture, requests that the well meaning public allow the family to mourn their departed son, father and husband with some privacy and decency.
“Our client, also, feels very strongly about the unbridled activities of bloggers on the social media space with respect to this incident and firmly demand that the said bloggers cease and desist from peddling falsehood aimed at maligning the deceased, wife and children.
“The family will not be intimidated by these bloggers’ activities and insist that the Police be allowed to do their work.
“Our client hereby demand that the false publications and the several ordinarily unrelated stories and pictures of the late Michael Usifo Ataga and Brenda Ataga be pulled down with immediate effect failing which our client shall take prompt and appropriate action to seek redress for the apparent instances of libel and slander as appropriate.”
Mourning Ataga, and disclosing a few things about his friend, Douglas Aniemena in the write-up revealed:
“Finally, we have an arrest in the ongoing saga of the murder of Usifo Ataga, and we also have a ‘confession’. An apprehended suspect has spoken, and, in a nutshell, she tells the World that it was a crime of passion. The same crime of passion angle that was rushed, planted, and disseminated via the social media by person(s) unknown, barely hours after the news broke. In whose interest is it if we all accept this as a crime of passion?
Chidinma Adaora Ojukwu
“The culprit, Chidinma Adaora Ojukwu, an innocent looking, soft spoken 21-year-old University of Lagos female undergraduate, spoke to the assembled press in a calm and measured tone, stating that basically, they had a drug fuelled sex tryst that got out of hand when he tried to rape her, hitting her head against the wall and she grabbed a knife and stabbed him twice. She also stated that she stole his money afterwards, using his ATM card and pin number that he had freely given her prior, asking her to take any amount she wanted but that she had declined telling him that it was not what she wanted. She also admitted to ‘helping’ herself with some money from his account after killing him and that she only stole N380,000 as opposed to N5m that was transferred from his account, and when asked why she stole from him, she answered that she needed the money for her school fees.
“The Police have since also released a statement saying amongst other things, that the suspect CONSPIRED WITH OTHERS, NOW AT LARGE, and allegedly murdered one Michael Usifo Ataga. The short service apartment where the alleged murder was committed was secretly booked by the suspect on the 13th of June 2021 and that she left the apartment after the deed had been done on the 15th of June 2021. A fake Driver’s license bearing Mary Johnson with the suspect’s photograph, was found amongst her belongings at her home, as well as a blood-stained cloth, ostensibly worn on the day of the murder. The suspect confessed to using a kitchen knife to stab the deceased and that she took away the evidence, the blood-stained knife and discarded it in a dustbin by her house. She also admitted stealing his iPhone.
“The owner/manager of the service apartment said that the suspect called to book using a USA WhatsApp number and claimed that she had just arrived in the Country and was at the Airport and needed a place quiet to quarantine and that her Passport was held at the airport because of Covid. After taking the apartment, the suspect called the Manager/Owner and security guard a few times and all the time, she made sure to block her number, including after committing the murder, to extend her stay and ask them not to disturb the room, and again to enquire from her if the deceased’s vehicle had been taken away, unaware that the said Owner/Manager was already helping the Police. Days after the incident, no one could describe her because according to the Owner/Manager and all her staff, she always wore face masks. The Security guard at the premises stated that the suspect had come to the gate to receive delivery from a delivery man who later told him after the suspect had taken her delivery, that it was drugs.
“All parties involved in this ugly incident have now spoken, barring Usifo Ataga, who is no more. The dead can not talk, so it is with Usifo. Who will speak for Usifo Ataga? I pray the facts of the case speak for him, especially as we consider that no amount of chicanery, sophistry, blatant lies and/or conjectures can defeat the evidence of solid facts.
What are the facts that we know? Usifo died a horrific death. He was not stabbed 2 or even 5 times; he was stabbed multiple times. His hands were bound tightly, and the marks were still all over his wrists, accompanied with evidence of torture and assault even as his corpse lay in the morgue. And no one in the entire building heard his screams because he was gagged. Let that sink in, he was bound, gagged and tortured! The now viral video of the room with the deceased lying on the floor, shows a room with blood-stained walls and floor, evidence of a ferocious struggle. One person could never have carried these out!
“She claims that Usifo Ataga tried to rape her. How preposterous can one really get? The truth is that the allegation of an attempted rape is such an easy and convenient one for any woman alone in a room with a man to make. Even if both of them are alive, without CCTV, how does the man conclusively prove that he didn’t make such an attempt? The credibility of those involved and circumstances around the case must come into play in search of the truth. A man you claim to have been sleeping with and that you were so eager to sleep with him that you eagerly booked an apartment yourself and came to expressly sleep with him, not for a few hours but for days on end, and that he had already slept with you twice, tried to rape you and hit your head against the wall with no evidence of head bruises, even as you left the apartment that same day? Come on, the story doesn’t add up. This is the same woman it has now come to the fore that at least on one occassion, 3 to 4 years ago, was arrested for blackmailing a married man and using an innocent security man’s back account to collect the money. She must have been at most, 18 years old then, if not younger! She is clearly a pathological liar, remorseless, calm and assured, and didn’t start today.
“She said they did drugs, The toxicology reports are not out yet, but if any drug is found in Usifo’s system, then it makes this dastardly act even worse, he must have been surreptitiously drugged!
“In this day of bank transfers, whoever gives you their Bank card and pin number, when they can easily transfer any amount to you, if indeed he gave her his card and said take anything you want, as she claimed? Did he also give her his BVN? How did she obtain it? Usifo Ataga’s company had some substantial amount of money in an Escrow account, and the first attempt was to try and move the money. Was this done before or after Usifo Ataga had been killed? Then someone sent in instructions trying to change his Banking security details, and that flagged up the account and the account was promptly blocked. She claimed that she wanted money for school fees, did she need a billion Naira for her school fees? The fact was that because these funds were in an Escrow account, torture Usifo Ataga all you wanted then, he simply could not, and was not able to move even a dime from the money even if he wanted to! Then, his money in another account was now moved to his account that they had his ATM card and then went on siphoning his funds. The speed and sophistication of these dealings were alarming.
“The facts in a nutshell tell us that, this incident was neither an accident, nor a drug fuelled sexcapade gone wrong! It was a premeditated, well set up conspiracy to murder. One person, however strong could not have tied and gagged Usifo Ataga and then carried out all that was done, talkless of this woman. The police who have more evidence than I have stated here, have explicitly stated as such. Those still pandering to these salacious slants of these social media stories are just unnecessarily muddying the waters. This is as clear a case of conspiratorial homicide as you will ever get given the circumstances.
“And just as Abel’s blood cried out for vengeance from the ground, as the good Scripture says, and in the absence of anyone speaking for Usifo Ataga, may Usifo’s blood shed so callously all over that apartment floor and walls by cowards, speak volumes on his behalf.”
Meanwhile, according to reports, the prime suspect, Chidinma, says she does not want to die. Regretting her horrendous action, she asked for forgiveness, and said her parents divorced when she was only two years old.
However, not a few Nigerians say it is too early for Chidinma to ask for forgiveness and demand that she comes clean with what transpired on the day Ataga was killed, and reveal those who helped her carry out the heinous crime.
The Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), Okitipupa, Ondo State, has declared compulsory two weeks semester break. Armed rapists have made the University their base, terrorising students, and raping them on campus.
The high point assault on the students happened when hoodlums invaded the students’ hostels and raped four female students.
Sensing that the security apparatus at the University has been compromised, the students of the institution embarked on protests to call the authority’s attention to their plight.
The students lamented incessant robberies in their hostels, threats to their lives and properties, and the rape of female students by hoodlums suspected to be coming from neighbourhood.
It was learnt that what the students described as a peaceful protest, led to the partial blockage of the Okitipupa-Igbokoda road. This caused an unprecedented traffic grid.
President, Students Union Government of the institution, Damilola Okunomo confirmed the rape of the female students.
According to him, the students were tired of the level of insecurity in the area as hoodlums rob them of their valuables like phones, laptops, gadgets and rape female students at gunpoint.
Mr Okunomo added that four female students were raped two weeks ago, alleging that the Institution’s management was not doing enough on the security of lives and properties of students.
“We are tired of this insecurity, armed hoodlums usually come to our off-campus hostels, rob students at gunpoint, and also rape our female students.
“The school Management is not to doing enough as we are the ones securing ourselves by working as vigilantes most times, the situation is terrible.
“We urge the school management to do its best in securing us and complete all the uncompleted hostel accommodations in our campus as this will also guarantee our security.”
Reacting, Dean of Students Affairs of OAUSTECH, Mr Ilemobayo Oguntimehin, explained that the School’s Management was doing its best to secure the lives and properties of the students.
Taking a hard look at the threat and danger posed to the country by illicit drugs, which include :terrorism, insurgency, rape, armed robbery and other heinous and social vices, President Muhammadu Buhari, on Saturday, said drug abuse and trafficking are worse than insurgency, banditry kidnapping. He said it posed more dangers to the stability of the country than anything else.
Making this assertion at the launch of War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, an initiative of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), to mark the United Nations Day Against Drugs Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking (2021), in Abuja, Buhari who was Special Guest of Honour at the launch, also charged the NDLEA to intensify efforts at ridding the vast forests of the Southwest and South-South regions of the country of criminal elements, who had made the places their hideouts, from where they launch criminal onslaughts as well as the farming of marijuana.
Speaking emphatically on the danger the menace of abuse of drugs and illicit substances as well as drug trafficking posed to Nigeria, the President, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Boss Mustapha, noted illicit drugs are targeting three generations for destruction.
“The war against drugs is a war that must be fought by all. It is, therefore, my pleasure, to declare, on behalf of the good people of Nigeria, a War Against Drug Abuse (WADA), not just as a slogan, but a call for civil action for all Nigerians to take an active part in this war.
“Let me say that this war is more deadly than the insurgency we have in the Northeastern part of the country or the acts of banditry in the Northwest or the acts of kidnapping that transcends all the geopolitical zones of this country, because it is a war that is destroying three generations because I’ve seen clips of where grandparents are on drugs, parents are on drugs, and by extension, their wards, their children are on drugs.
“So this is a war that is targeting three generations in a stretch. So it is more deadly than even the security challenges that we are having in this country and I believe strongly that every effort must be put in place to ensure that we deal with the issues of substance abuse and trafficking and manufacture so that we can get to the root cause as ably elucidated by our keynote speaker this afternoon.
“I believe strongly, with every bit of conviction, that if we are able to deal with the issues of drug abuse, substantial, our security challenges will drastically reduce as we walk towards a drug-free, Nigeria.
“I once again implore all Nigerians from every strata of life; our traditional institutions, our religious leaders, our local leadership at every level, to be very vigilant and to support this cause and the war against drug that has declared on this day, the 26th of June they 2021,” the President said.
President Buhari tasked the NDLEA to swing into action by descending on specific isolated forests in different parts of the country, especially in the Southwest and South-South regions of the country to dislodge criminal elements engaged in the plantation of cannabis in these forests, as well as using same places as launching grounds for their criminal activities.
“I am directing the NDLEA to develop a robust risk-communication and community engagement strategy that will not only disseminate the four pillars of the plan to responsible entities but also deal with destroying production sites and laboratories, break the supply chain, discourage drug use and prosecute offenders as well as traffickers, rehabilitate addicts and enforcement of relevant laws.
“I want to, particularly, draw the attention of the agency to the fact that the use of many of our forests as criminal hideouts is because large swathes of cannabis plantations are hidden deep within those forests, especially in the Southwest and the South-South.
“You may, therefore, need to drive these criminal elements from such hideouts because they use it for the growth of these plants and also as a repository for criminal elements to conclude and plan their adventures on our people.
“On this United Nations anti-drug day, I call on all families, schools, civil society organisations, professional associations, religious organisations, the academia, community leaders and individuals to work for the common good in order to rid their communities of drug use and trafficking.
“As your President, I will continue to address underlying causes of drug abuse, including poverty reduction, for which my pledge for lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10 years and strengthened by the recently developed National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy signposts my unwavering commitment.
“Finally, I would like to appreciate our stakeholders and international collaborators, especially the European Union, and the United Nations Office for Drugs and Control, for their unwavering support to our drug control efforts, including the development of our roadmap.
“Also appreciated are the members of the inter-ministerial committee on drug control, civil society organisations, the academia, for their contributions and efforts to our National Drug Control initiatives”, he said.
The Chairman of the NDLEA, Buba Marwa, revealed that the value of cash and drugs seized in the past five months since he came on board as Boss of the Drug Enforcement Agency at over N90 billion, with over 2,180 traffickers arrested, including five drug barons controlling different cartels across Nigeria.
He also revealed that a record 2.05 million kilograms of drugs have been intercepted and seized across the country; and 2,100 drug offenders prosecuted with 500 jailed by courts.
“While the statistics are impressive, we wouldn’t deceive ourselves that we have succeeded in cleaning the Augean Stable in five months. We have only made a head start. We need to sustain the momentum. We need to win the drug war. We cannot afford to be complacent,” he said.
Marwa said according to statistics, Nigerians are the highest users of cannabis worldwide, adding that revelations from kidnapped victims have collaborated the facts that illicit substances are enablers of insecurity currently plaguing the country.
“It is not difficult to conclude that drugs have been catalysts of terrorism, kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery and various violent conflicts that are currently Nigeria’s albatross.
“The enormity of the danger of drug abuse calls for an urgent need to nip the problem in the bud. This is the reason we have redoubled our efforts in the past five months with the Maxim of Offensive Action”, he said.
The NDLEA boss stressed: “Today, it is a glaring fact that Nigerian youths are involved in drug abuse. Over the years, an undesirable subculture had flourished whereby adolescents and young adults wantonly indulged in the abuse of illicit substances.
“They not only became addicted to conventional substances such as cannabis and prescription opioids, such as tramadol and codeine, they also experiment with dangerous mixtures leading to novel psychotropic substances such as ‘monkey tail’ and ‘skoochies’
“In the context of that warped reality, they also normalised the smoking of cannabis as we have seen in some popular music videos and on social media. “High” became part of their social media.
“So, it wasn’t surprising when research began to give us bleak statistics. The National Drug Survey 2019, for example, indicated that cannabis is the most commonly abused substance by an estimated 10.6 million Nigerians, some of whom started smoking as early as 19 years of age.
“The Global Drug Survey 2019, also, cited cannabis as the most abused substance with West Africa having the highest abuse prevalence. The World Health Organisation on substance abuse also stated unequivocally that cannabis is the most widely used illicit substance in Africa, with the highest prevalence, between 5.2% and 13.5%, found in West Africa.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, West Africa, by implication, means Nigeria.
He linked the successes recorded by the agency so far to the resolution by officers and men of the NDLEA to clean up Nigeria and make the country drug free”, he said.
He also said “and in this campaign, we are tackling the scourge of drug abuse and trafficking on all fronts. In addition to the arrest and prosecution of drug offenders, we have worked out intensive drug abuse awareness and sensitization programmes targeting different groups, with an emphasis on youths.
“In this regard, my administration has thrown the door open to all for partnership in the fight against abuse of illicit substances. It is to this end that we have set up a Special Purpose Committee to involve stakeholders in the cause”, he said.
Lending his voice, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, urged the President to give nod to the appointment of 10,000 for NDLEA which he said was currently “understaffed”, “underfunded”, and “ill-equipped”.
Gbajabiamila, represented by Hon. Francis Agwu, Chairman, House Committee on Drugs and Narcotics, said the NDLEA is using weapons used during the civil war, stressing the need to fight the menace of drugs abuse in the country as all crimes were enabled by narcotics drugs addiction.
He said the National Assembly was working to amend the Police Trust Fund Act to ensure that other policing agencies like NDLEA benefitted from the pool, adding that efforts would be made to guarantee accelerated endorsement of Mr President after its amendment.
“If the surge in crimes must be minimised, then we must fight narcotics drugs addiction,” he said.
Senate President Ahmed Lawan, who was represented by Senator Ezekiah Dimka, Chairman, Senate Committee on Narcotics Drugs, underscored the need for individual and collective responsibilities to achieve success.
The United Nations General Assembly Antonio Guterres, lamented that the world drug problem remains an urgent challenge that threatens to exacerbate damage impact and to hinder a healthy recovery.
Represented by the Country Representative, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Oliver Stolpe, he urged law enforcement agents to go after the criminals at the upper level of the drug trafficking chain who reap the highest profit and wreck the greatest havoc.
Guterres said, the 2021 world drug report of UN, shows that death and crime attributed to disorders have nearly doubled over the past decade. He said while new HIV/AIDS infections among adults have declined worldwide but not among people who inject drugs which account for 10 percent of new infections in 2019.
He said international cooperation has helped to limit the proliferation of new psychoactive substances but the problem is shifting to poorer regions where control systems are weaker, drug sales continue to rise and non-medical use of pharmaceuticals such as Tramadol and Codeine is expanding.
He added that drug trafficking and organized crime fuel and perpetuate circles of violence and conflicts. Armed groups and terrorists profit from the illicit drugs trade and the economic fall out of the COVID-19 pandemic has left millions of people even more vulnerable to drug crime and illicit drug cultivation.
Disparities in the access to essential control medicines in low and medical-income countries have further heightened the pandemic. For example, medical practitioners in West and Central Africa in 2019 had four doses of pain medication every day for one million inhabitants while in North America in the same the doses was nearly 32,000.
He said investing in balanced prevention as well as drug use and drug use disorders produce solid returns in the form of saved lives, healthier populations, improved workforce participation and safety and reduced criminal justice cost.
Armed suspected kidnappers have abducted another traditional ruler in Ekiti state.
The Eleda of Eda Ile, in Ekiti East Local government area of Ekiti State, Oba Benjamin Oso, was reportedly whisked away on Friday.
Oba Oso was said to have been kidnapped in the presence of his wife while working at their farm at Eda Ile.
His kidnap brings to three the number of Traditional Rulers that have been victims of kidnap in the state.
Barely two months ago, the Obaadu of Ilemeso, in Oye local government, Oba David Oyewumi, was abducted by unknown gunmen, inside his Palace.
He was let off the hook after ransom was paid to his abductors, who are still at large.
A Community source told journalists in Ado Ekiti on Saturday, that the Monarch and his wife would have been kidnapped, but for pleas by the Traditional ruler.
“The Oba and his wife went to farm and were accosted by these gunmen.
“The two would have been kidnapped, but the Monarch begged the bandits to free his wife, which they agreed.”
The Commander of the Ekiti State Security Network, Amotekun, Brig-Gen. Joe Komolafe, confirmed the abduction.
Akomolafe said security outfits in Ekiti, including police, soldiers, Amotekun corps, local hunters and Vigilante groups, are already in the forests searching for the Monarch.
You just wish it didn’t happen. The tragedy of a Chief Executive Officer and his girlfriend. In the crazy modern age we are forced to live in, the men call their girlfriends by names ranging from side chics, to side kicks to handbags. There is, also, a category called runsgirls.
But this particular girlfriend was from hell. A devil’s gift to mankind. Every parent’s nightmare.
Young and attractive, innocence written all over her face, this young lady is not your everyday beauty. She is a “Slay Queen”. That’s another name her type is called. She is the fatal enchantress who put a stop to the fake and deceptive life of a high-flying, rich Chief Executive Officer of Super TV. She is the one who wiped the smile off the face of another young woman, the legal owner of the super-stud who ended badly. She is the one who broke another woman’s heart. And made her children fatherless. And she is the one who has reduced the lives of her own parents and siblings to an unending nightmare. And brought shame to all who loved her.
She has stigmatised her family, perhaps,forever. In the process, she has destroyed and wasted her own life. The fast life – booze, drugs, s*x – is gone. From now on, she would live a life of agony, and regret, and shame, and pain.
Her name is Chidinma Adaora Ojukwu. Good names. At 21, she had her life before her. She was a 300 level student of the University of Lagos. She was there to read, to study, so as to become somebody in future, and help her family and the society. When you look at her, she looked all that. A responsible daughter. Sweet looking. She was reading Mass Communication, a good course. But she hit her family below the belt, and became, according to the Police, and judging by her public confession, a cold blooded murderer. And a common thief.
Chidinma Adaora Ojukwu
Chidinma stole from the dead. She stole while watching the blood-oozing dead body of the man she had just drank with, smoked with, and had s*x with. She watched his blood flow in rivulets. She couldn’t be bothered. She stole her dead lover blind. Of I-phone. Of ATM card. After she stole his life, forever.
The victim was a 49-year old, good looking guy. Rich. Had a beautiful home in an area exclusive for the rich – Banana Island, Lagos. Upwardly mobile. He was the Chief Executive Officer of Super TV. So he was a Media owner, or part owner. The one whose media outfit exposed evil. The one whose outfit preached against the use of drugs by the young. The one who appeared prim and proper. But was all rotten inside, if his girlfriend is to be believed. From her story, he lived a double life. A deceitful life.
At home, he was a good father to his children. But would be at the center of the destruction of the life of, perhaps, his children’s mate. He lived a life of drugs, booze and s*x. And those, ultimately, took his life. So his side chic said publicly.
His name was Michael Usifo Ataga. The one now in the mortuary, killed by a girl he met barely five months ago.
How did Ataga allow his glittering life to come to this shattering and shameful end? How did Chidinma’s promising life come to this disgraceful end? A life that would, having confessed to being a killer, now be spent in jail or worse, meet with a brutish end in the gallows?
According to Chidinma, he and Ataga met five months ago. And the dating game started. A game that, I guess, was meant to change her life for the better – or, would that not be why she would date a married man 28 years older than she is? She wanted money. A glittering life. A fantasy life as a student. No hassles over school fees, pocket money, change in wardrobe. Good make-up. Good wigs. Good perfumes.
But she is not an innocent, deprived student. Her look of innocence is deceptive. She lived on the fast lane. High flying. A life of booze, drugs and s*x. She knew those to follow. Her type. Her circle. Not the male students, her age, in school. Before them, she was an introvert. A friend, she said, introduced her to her type of man. A man who would trust her to get a comfortable place for a get-away for two. Pure heaven. But it went awry on June 14, 2021 when the devil in them surfaced.
According to Chidinma, both she and Ataga were high on drugs and alcohol. She called what they smoked skay and loud. This modern generation will kill us. They smoke all sorts. And drink all sorts. With all sorts of weird names. So they were high on those, and things got out of hand. She stabbed him to death, in a most horrendous manner.
The reason she killed him is where she lost me. She said he wanted more s*x and she refused because she didn’t like the first one. What’s that? I mean, the way she told the story, it was as if Ataga wanted to take advantage of an innocent girl. She presents herself as the victim. But, perish that thought. Was having s*x with him not part of the ‘get-away’ package? In any case, even if the man wanted it rough, was that a reason to kill him? Why not walk away? Oh, okay, I remember. She said Ataga locked the door, and hid the key. Story-story!
Without prejudice to Police investigations, this girl told a cock and bull story. It is a story James Hadley Chase, the master story-teller, would ask his character to “tell to the Marines.”
I would say Chidinma went to the apartment prepared. Beneath her innocent look is a devilish heart. She had a well laid out plan. And, propelled by drugs and booze, she had no fears, no qualms carrying out her blood- cuddling mission.
She had a fake driver’s licence. That’s criminal.She had a foreign phone number? Why? She said she generated it? For what purpose? It will be nice to know in which name Ataga knew her. And, which name and phone number she used to book for the Service apartment that turned a murder apartment. Who would patronise that apartment again? She has exposed the place for what it is – no security, not even CCTV cameras.
Again, without prejudice to Police investigations, I am tempted to categorise Chidinma as a cold- blooded murderer. Her action may have been aided by drugs and booze, but it was not an accident. She had the presence of mind to steal his victim’s I-phone (the craze of our youths), and his ATM card. She had the presence of mind to change her clothes and, using the man’s ATM, withdrew, according to her, the sum of N380,000. Could be more.
But, this is the same girl who said she rejected Ataga’s earlier offer to her of his ATM card, disclosed the pin number to her, and asked her to go and withdraw as much money as she wanted. She said the offer was made when she accused Ataga of not taking care of her needs. Her response to Ataga’s offer: “That’s not what I mean.”
Dear readers, tell me, what else did this girl need? She said she rejected s*x. She said she rejected the offer of an ATM Card and the opportunity to withdraw hundreds of thousands of money. Did she want a marriage proposal?
Big mistake.
Most of these guys don’t usually marry their side chics. They are what they are – side chics. Their wives are the inside chics. They know what they do with the side chics – drugs, booze, wild s*x – and would hardly want to do those with the mother of their children.
It is difficult to imagine how this deceptively innocent side chic managed to subdue Ataga who, reportedly, was an amateur boxer. What type of strength did she have after smoking and boozing? Afterall, according to her, Ataga smoked and drank too.
Not a few people suspect two scenarios. One: that she drugged her victim, made him weak, tortured him, and forced him to release his ATM card and pin number. Or, two: That Chidinma did not act alone. That she had help from one or more people; that this was a cold blooded murder plan from day one. This, now, is Police job, for sadly, Ataga cannot tell his own side of his shameful story, his own side of betrayal and double life.
Here was a man who was married to an accomplished woman – educated, good degrees, top job, beautiful – with whom he had lovely kids. According to reports, Ataga, 49, was to clock 50, a couple of days to his violent death, and had planned to travel to Abuja to celebrate with his wife and children. They were waiting for him, obviously, with kisses, cakes and drinks and other delicacies. But, as the saying goes, Ataga wanted “one for the road” before travelling to meet his family.
He found that in a fatal 21- year old who tortured him to death, and brought untold misery to his family and friends.
Now, he is not in a position to feel the shame. The shame is left, especially, for his wife to feel, to carry, and to bear. She has joined the unenviable league of women whose husbands died in the hands and/or company of other women. Her name is Brenda.
So, tell me, what should Brenda do? Mourn this man – this husband of hers – genuinely? Or curse the day he married him? What will she tell her children, if they are not old enough to understand the shame that their father died because of booze, drugs, s*x and one “baaaaaaad” girl?
That has become Brenda’s lot, her life, a life of heartbreak and unanswered questions. Who will believe her when she says she was a good wife? Already stories are being spun around about her not-too-good relationship with her husband; about her relationship with one Izu, supposedly, Chidinma’s uncle. Stupid, unintelligent stories.
My unsolicited advice to Brenda: Don’t defend. Don’t explain. Don’t talk. Not time yet. The time for that will come. Stick to God, your children and your job.
As for both parents – Ataga and Chidinma’s? It’s your worst nightmare. According to reports, Chidinma’s father found it difficult to believe the Police when they came to arrest her. He tried to resist her arrest. He tried to protect a daughter she thought was incapable of hurting a fly. How was he to know he was living with a murderer in the house? Reports say, for putting up a resistance against his daughter’s arrest, he is in the custody of the Police. I appeal for his release. He is a broken man.
His daughter told him he was going for ‘ushering job.”
Ataga, Super TV CEO
She ended up ushering shame and stigmatisation into the family. Chidinma has, also, given “Ushering job” a bad name.
Now, when young girls tell their parents and/or relations they are off for Ushering job, there will be doubts and inner questions of: “Hmmm, who knows?”
The modern life has turned the lives of parents inside out and upside down. Parents are forced to tolerate what their parents never tolerated. A number of our mothers were fond of rummaging through our things. When they did, they asked questions on how you got what. Now, no mother would dare. Our children call us old school. They say we live in old times, archaic times. They laugh at us when we shudder at some attitudes. They would publicly, on television, discuss their s*x lives in the name of answering celebrities, and reality show stars. They would say who they had it with, and how it was. And we blush
Many parents dare not correct their children. Their teachers dare not correct them either. One group would flaunt child abuse, and read out their rights for you, atimes, just for telling them to mind the company they keep, or not to go out and stay out late.
A couple of years ago in my house, my younger sister dared ask our 10 year-old nephew to give her his very heavy school bag to check. His response: So that what?
We had a good laugh. He was lucky. My mother of the blessed memory would have given him a slap with the back of her left hand, and my father, a Headmaster, also of the blessed memory, would have given him six strokes of the cain on the buttocks.
Now, we watch, in shock, as children, in their early teenage years, smoke all sorts, video themselves, and upload same on WhatsApp and Facebook. We are helpless. This is what the new age and modernity have wrought on us. No shame. Nothing. Our youths need a complete rebirth and reorientation.
But back to Chidinma, how such a young, beautiful, innocent-looking girl ruined her life is what still beats me. She is in my prayers. But, more in my prayers are, especially, her parents, Ataga’s parents, and most, especially, Ataga’s wife and her children.
Finally, I wish Chidinma a good measure of what she put Ataga through. She should enjoy it. Why not?
Ekiti state Police Command has revealed how some students of a private Polytechnic in the state arranged and kidnapped one of their fellow students.
The Command’s Spokesman, Mr Sunday Abutu, explained in a statement at the weekend that all those linked with the kidnap have been arrested.
The statement said that “The Rapid Response Squad(RRS) of the Ekiti State Police Command has arrested a fourteen-man syndicate in connection with the abduction of one Akiode Akinyemi ‘m’, a student of Crown Polytechnic, Odo-Ekiti on 19th June, 2021 at about 1000hrs.
“It was reported that a gang of suspected kidnappers sneaked into the hostel apartment of the victim, blindfolded him and whisked him away to an unknown destination.
“After a while, the suspects, through phone calls, started demanding for ransom to be paid as the only condition for the release of Akiode Akinyemi.
“Consequently, two million two hundred thousand naira(₦2,200,000:00) was paid as ransom by the victim’s family members into eight different Bank Accounts as provided by the suspects.
“Upon the receipt of the information, the RRS Operatives swung into action and on 23rd June, 2021 at about 0400hrs, arrested a total of fourteen(14) suspects in connection with the abduction among whom are 10 students of the Institution, Odo Crown Polytechnic and four others.
“The arrested suspects are: Afolabi Olamide Lekan ‘m’, Peter Adeyemi ‘m’, Abiodun Oluwaseun ‘m’, Bamidele Emmanuel ‘m’, Adewumi Sola ‘m’, Adesuyi Adeyeye Olarewaju ‘m’, David Daniel ‘m’, Damilare Yusuf ‘m’, Olasile Hassan ‘m’, Jesse Obinna ‘m’, Mohanye Samuel ‘m’, Olugbade Timileyin ‘m’, Olamide Temilade ‘m’ and Blessing Omotuyi ‘m’.
“All the suspects arrested have confessed to committing the crime and stated that the two million two hundred thousand naira(#2,200,000:00) collected as random before releasing the victim was shared among them.
“Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Tunde Mobayo, while frowning at the act, appeals to members of the public to always partner and support the Police and other Security agencies especially in intelligence gathering that will assist in getting the Society rid of criminal elements.”
Going by public opinion, the future of the alleged murderer of Super TV CEO, Chidinma Adaora Ojukwu, seems decided
By Akinwale Kasali
To residents of No. 57 Akinwunmi Street, Alagomeji, Yaba, and its environs, who had come across Chidinma Adaora Ojukwu, she is a gentle, friendly, jovial, inquisitive, and outspoken young lady.
Some described her as a Promising Mass Communication Undergraduate of the University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, who was versatile, urbane and was helpful to her Mother in the shop, where she sold alcoholic beverages and runs a beer parlour.
She is said to be confident and easily relate with people no matter their class or personality. She possesses an innocent look that could melt the heart of the toughest man in the world.
Due to her eloquence self-esteem and good voice, many tipped her to be a broadcaster.
However, the dreams are out of her reach following the alleged murder she committed. She allegedly killed her lover, Michael Usifo Ataga, the high-flying CEO of Super TV.
The reporter visited the Department of Mass Communication at the University of Lagos to get reactions over the murder of Ataga by one of its student in the department. Her colleagues and lecturers refused to comment on the issue.
However, a lecturer in the department, who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “I know her (Chidinma). Beautiful young lady. She always stayed on her own, and looks quiet. I am shocked at this incident.”
Confirming the position of the lecturer, one of the students who is in the same department and level with Chidinma said that, “Yes, Chidinma in in my class, she is even in our group chats”
The young undergraduate confirmed that she is a 300-level part-time student of Mass Communication, UNILAG.
One of the classmates, who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “Yes, she (Chidinma) is a 300-level part-time student of Mass Communication.
She is a very easy going person who never talked much or mingled with people in her class. So, this is surprising.”
In a chat with Nonye Oguama, the spokesperson for UNILAG, on phone, imploring to get the reaction of the institution on the development, she did not confirm to this news medium whether Chidinma was truly a student of the institution or not.
Sadly, there is deceit, greed, lack of contentment and killer instinct behind that innocent look.
These were confirmed on Wednesday, June 23, 2021, when a team of Policemen stormed the residence of her Parents where she also lived, to enforce her arrest for the murder of Ataga.
Her father went blank, with the mother dumbfounded. He defended his daughter, claiming that his daughter couldn’t do such, thus shielding and obstructing the Police from effecting her arrest, forcing the Police to arrest Chidinma along with her father.
The father claimed that she had told him and the mother that she was going for an Ushering job overnight on the fateful day she Murdered Ataga.
The naivety of her father came to play following her revelation at the Lagos State Police Command, where she confessed to the crime.
Chidinma narrated how she murdered Ataga in cold blood, stabbing him multiple times, leading to his death.
Speaking to newsmen having been paraded at the Lagos State Police Command after her arrest at her Alagomeji, Yaba residence where she stays with her parents, she said she met the late Ataga about five months ago.
“On a Sunday, June 13, he asked that I get a place where we can stay. I checked online and sent to him, he asked me to go check it out which I did and paid.
“On Monday, June 14, we were together drinking, smoking and I also went to get food.
“On Tuesday, June 15, he was making advances at me and I resisted, so he became violent and later had his way. In the afternoon he ordered for smoke, ate and we became high because I also smoked with him even though I was still angry for the first one he did.
“So, I was on my own, watching a movie on the couch. He came at me again and I said no because I wasn’t happy with him.
“I told him that he doesn’t help me but only plays me around, he kept trying to make advances and I was resisting so I had to defend myself.
“At some point, he hit my head on the wall and was choking me. I tried escaping but the door was locked so he pulled me back.
“I grabbed a knife from the kitchen and stabbed him twice in the neck and threw the knife on the bed. He then tried reaching for the knife so I picked it again and stabbed him the third time.” she said.
After killings Ataga, it was gathered that she took his Automated Teller Machine, ATM, Card and made withdrawal of some substantial amount.
But Ojukwu said she only withdrew N380,000 from Ataga’s account after she had escaped and not N5 million as gathered from information of close associates of the deceased.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, while addressing newsmen at the state Command, Ikeja, said the Ojukwu hurriedly changed her clothes and left the appartment.
Odumosu said that Ataga’s body was discovered in a pool of blood when it was time to clean the apartment on Wednesday, June 16, when the door had to be broken into
Odumosu said the suspect escaped with the victim’s Automated Teller Machine(ATM) card which was used in withdrawing some money from his account.
Odumosu added that he deemed it necessary to brief members of the public the update on the investigation as there had been fake reports in circulation as regards the incident.
Odumosu further urged members of the public to utilise the social media positively and not for fake report which damages the image of the country.
It would be recalled that this news medium had reported that families and close associates and concerned friends first reported that he was missing, after several efforts to reach him proved abortive, until his lifeless body was found in the pool of his own blood.
