Combat Pilot’s Death: Group Alleges Foul Play, Calls For Full Inquiry | The Source Magazine

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July 16, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

The death of 24-Year Old female Fighter Pilot, Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile is generating a lot of controversy.

A Yoruba Group says it suspects foul play

The Pan Yoruba group, Apapo O’odua Koya, (AOKOYA) made up of 18 Yoruba groups, has alleged that the late Nigeria’s First Combatant Helicopter Pilot, Arotile, may have been deliberately killed.

The late NAF Combatant Pilot was, according to a statement by NAF, inadvertently killed in a vehicle accident within the Kaduna Airforce Base by a classmate of hers in the Secondary School. The classmate, excited on seeing her, was reversing his car to greet her, when he inadvertently knocked her down. He died of head injuries.

Her death has devastated Nigerians, and condolences and tributes have been like claps of thunder – From President Buhari, First Lady Aisha, Senate President, Governors. Her family is inconsolable. Her father, an Engineer, said in tears, “I spoke to my daughter by 1.00pm, by 5.00pm I was told she was in the mortuary.

But, AOKOYA, in a statement, on Wednesday, asked the international community to investigate her death. The group said the least it expects is an independent inquiry.

According to the group: “We have very strong reasons to assume that Tolulope Arotile was murdered. We are aware she had altercations with top military commanders before her death and some hated her to a hilt for her brilliance and exploit against Boko Haram and bandits”.

The group did not mention which Commander she had a problem with, and when.

AOKOYA said in the statement signed by its officials, Captain Abigo Oritsebugbemi (rtd) and its Middle Belt Coordinator, Akeem Meduna, that the story that Arotile died in a motor accident inside the Airforce base is a cock and bull story.

“We want full investigation into this suspicious death. We find it difficult to believe the story based on the information at our disposal.

“How could she have died in a traffic accident right inside the Airforce base in Kaduna?. We have made preliminary findings and all officers who spoke to us could not understand how that could have happened.

“One officer, her colleague in Kaduna, specifically said the case of murder was the strongest motive”, AOKOYA said.

At the time of her death, she was 24, and one of the youngest fighter pilots in the world. She was Nigeria’s First in the female category.

“There must be an independent enquiry for anyone to be convinced Tolulope Arotile was not murdered. Tolu was exceptional and her brilliance was a threat to the establishment.” AOKOYA said.

The group recalled that a Yoruba Chief of Airforce, Shittu Alao, was murdered in 1969s adding that Dr Ademola Adetokunbo who carried out the autopsy was also murdered.

The Commandant of Nigerian Naval School, Mrs J.O Ogundana was murdered few months ago. Her body was mutilated and packed in a ‘Ghana Must Go’ bag.

In the same manner, Dr Yomi Oniororo a 29 year old officer of the Nigerian Intelligence Agency, (NIA) was murdered in Abuja, 2002 .His body was mutilated.

Dare, a senior police officer investigating the murder of Dele Giwa was also assassinated. His senior brother is the popular journalist, Prof Olatunji Dare.

“We are taking records. At the last count, some 413 Yoruba junior and senior Yoruba officers have been murdered Many of them were killed in a ‘neat job’ that looked like an accident

Last year Tolulope completed her training in South Africa and was winged as a combat helicopter pilot.

AOKOYA said it has been reliably informed how Arotile led major onslaught against bandits and armed Islamic fundamentalist. Her sorties led to deaths of several militants and bandits.

“We have been informed that their agents and supporters marked her, and only succeeded in setting a trap for her”, AOKOYA said.

The Group added that in her last operation in the North Central States tagged “Operation GAMA AIKI”in Minna, Niger State where despite rockets fired at her, she succeeded in killing many bandits and fundamentalist.

“The Nigerian authorities are shedding crocodile tears on the murder of Arotile. We promise his murderers that the several cases of murder of Yoruba officers in the Army, Navy or Airforce are being compiled and at the right time, when Yoruba Nation emerges, the murderers will face the full weight of the law.

Earlier, Thursday, 16th July, 2020, the Northern Governors Forum expressed shock over the sudden and tragic death of Arotile.

Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, in a statement by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Macham Makut described the late Tolulope as a promising officer, who had demonstrated high sense of loyalty, patriotism and diligence in her service to Nigeria particularly in maintaining peace and security.

Lalong said the testimony of the officer’s bravery in the field of combat, especially towards stopping bandits and terrorists from inflicting more harm on Nigerians will remain indelible in the history of the Nigerian Airforce as well as in the minds of Nigerians.

The name of the person who killed her in the accident, has not yet been made public.

N34 Billion Fraud: Why FG Lost Case Against Tompolo, Others | The Source Magazine

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The Source

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July 16, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

Former Niger Delta Militant Warlord, Government Ekpemupolo, must be a happy man now, even as he is a fugitive.

His Company, Global West Vessel Specialist Limited, has just been vindicated by the Federal High Court in Lagos, as the Court dismissed the entire 40 counts bordering on alleged N34bn fraud filed by the Federal Government against it.

The other defendants in the case were a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Patrick Akpolokemi, Kime Engozu, Rex Elem, Gregory Mbonu and Warredi Enisuoh.

Three other firms – Odimiri Electrical Limited; Boloboere Property and Estate Limited; and Destre Consult Limited – were also defendants in the criminal case filed by the Anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in 2015.

Tompolo was initially joined as the first defendant in the case, but following his refusal to answer repeated court summons, Counsel to the EFCC, Festus Keyamo (SAN), had to apply to the court that Tompolo’s name be removed from the charge sheet.

In a verdict on Wednesday, on the defendants’ no-case submission, Justice Ibrahim Buba pronounced that the prosecution “failed to establish a prima facie case” against the defendants.

He, therefore, dismissed the entire 40 counts filed against the defendants by the EFCC.

In the charges, the EFCC had accused the defendants of conspiring among themselves to divert various sums of money running into over N34bn, belonging to NIMASA to their personal use.

The EFCC said they acted contrary to Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and were liable to punishment under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.

The first count of the amended 40 counts read, “That you, Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo), Patrick Akpobolokemi and Global West Vessel Specialist Limited in 2012, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit an offence, to wit: conversion of the sum of N601, 516.13 and $1,766,428.62, property of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, knowing that the said sums were proceeds of stealing and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.”

The defendants had, during their arraignment, four years ago, all pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against them.

Breaking: Security Agents Block Nunieh’s House, Stop Her From Going Out | The Source Magazine

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The Source

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July 16, 2020

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By Adesina Soyooye

The Port Hacourt home of Barrister Joi Nunieh, the former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has been taken over by dozens of Policemen.

She was billed for Abuja, Thursday morning, to appear before the House Committee probing the alleged missing N40bn from the coffers of the NDDC.

But reports from PH say she couldn’t leave for the airport as her residence had been taken over by dozens of Policemen since 4,00am Thursday. She fears she would be taken away by them, a source she desperately called, said.

Nunieh has been engaged in dirty altercation with the Minister of Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio, over what transpired at the NDDC during her tenure before her sack by the Minister.

The Minister had alleged she was sacked because she was not qualified for the job, having not participated in the NYSC programme. He also alleged insubordination and her temperament as other reasons, inviting her “four ex-husbands” as witnesses to her temperament. Nunieh, those who know her well confirm, was never married four times.

But the ex-MD had made damning allegations against Akpabio, bordering on corruption, oath taking, false allegations against Senator Nwaoboshi, and sexual harassment.

Akpabio, in a statement on Wednesday, denied the allegations, saying he had briefed his legal team on them.

More details, later.

Edo: Itse Sagay Denies Oshiomhole, Says He Headed No Committee That Rusticated Ize-Iyamu From UNIBEN | The Source Magazine

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The Source

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July 16, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

The Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption PACAC, Professor Itse Sagay, SAN, has denied being the Chairman of the committee set up by the University of Benin, UNIBEN, to investigate the acid-throwing incident involving Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the September 19 governorship election which resulted in his expulsion from the University of Benin.

It will be recalled that Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, sacked National Chairman of the APC, in a viral video, had alleged in 2016, that Ize-Iyamu, was during his University days at UNIBEN, a cultist.

At the time of the allegation, Ize-Iyamu was the Governorship candidate of the PDP.

Oshiomhole had further said the University raised a panel, chaired by Sagay to investigate the incident.

“Pastor Ize-Iyamu poured acid on a student’s private part in UNIBEN. Prof Sagay chaired the Committee set up by the University to investigate the matter, and the Committee found him guilty and expelled him. That’s why Ize-Iyamu doesn’t have a certificate,” Oshiomhole had said.

Sagay has just said that Oshiomhole lied. Je denies chairing such a Committee. He says he couldn’t recollect the incident, and that Oshiomhole may have mistaken him for someone else. He said he couldn’t remember any committee of that nature till he left as Dean of the Law Faculty in October 1986.

While saying he can’t deny whether the incident happened or not, Sagay however, admitted that Ize-Iyamu was one of his students but was still in school when he left as the Dean of the faculty.

In his words “The truth of the matter is I have no knowledge of what Oshiomhole is talking about. I won’t go as far as saying that Oshiomhole was telling a lie, but I’m telling you I cannot remember that occasion he talked about. I hope he is not confusing me with another Dean. I stopped being Dean of the Faculty of Law in October 1986. So, it could have been somebody else.

“Ize-Iyamu was in the University of Benin when I was there; he was one of my students, but I left before he finally graduated. So, I don’t remember the incident. I’m not denying it, but I don’t remember.

“Normally in such an important meeting where a student is being tried for something of that major nature, I should be able to remember. But I don’t remember at all. I cannot endorse it whilst I don’t deny it because I know I have a poor memory.

Yet, a number of people wonder why Sagay did not deny Oshiomhole’s allegation in 2016. “Sagay is a politician. When Ize-Iyamu was in the PDP, it was convenient for him to keep silent. His silence validated Oshiomhole’s claims then. Now that Ize-Iyamu is in APC, he is denying the claim. Sagay should shut-up. He has not behaved like a statesman in this particular incident”, said an angry Edo politician who pleaded anonymity.

On the governorship election, he also admonished the candidates and political parties to eschew violence and maintain a civilised approach to issues.

“They should ensure that they campaign peacefully. It is not a do –or-die affair. At the end of the day, people should still survive at the end of the election. The bitterness has been too much. People have shown that they are ready to go to any extreme without any limitation to do any injury to the other side.

“So, they should maintain peace and civilised approach to politics. They should campaign peacefully and allow the people of Edo decide who they want as their governor,” he said.

NDDC: CBN Indicts Commission, Says It Spent Over N80 bn In 6 Months | The Source Magazine

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Bayo Bernard

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July 16, 2020

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By Fola James

The contract scam rocking the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC is getting worse by the day.

It was recently revealed that the Commission mismanaged over N40 billion aside the allegation of sexual harassment against the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio by former interim managing director of the agency, Joy Nunieh has somehow put the agency on the spot.

But on Tuesday, the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, further inflicted a terrible wound on the agency following the revelation that the Commission illegal spent N81.5 billion between January and July 2020.

The breakdown of the N81.5bn, according to the House Committee on NDDC, investigating the alleged scam include community relations, N1.3bn; condolences, N122.9m; consultancy, N83m; COVID-19, N3.14bn; duty tour allowances, N486m; imprest, N790.9m; Lassa fever, N1.956bn; Legal services, N900m; maintenance, N220m; oversea travels, N85.6m; project public communication, N1.121bn; security, N744m; staffing related payments, N8.8bn; and stakeholders engagement (Feb 18 – May 31, 2020), N248m.

To make things worse for the Professor Daniel Kemebradikumo Pondei-led management, the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP also said it did not issue ‘Certificates of No Objection’ to the procurement made by the commission with the money.

The revelations were made Wednesday during the investigative hearing by the House Committee on NDDC.

Recall that Mrs Nunieh accused the minister of approving contracts without due process.

The interim management committee also shocked Nigerians when the managing director revealed during one of the hearings that a whopping N1.5 billion was spent as COVID 19 palliatives for top management staff.

Anthony Anyine, Auditor-General of the Federation, also said the NDDC had yet to present its audited account for 2019 since it was due at the end of May.

Chairman of the committee, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said the lawmakers will get to the bottom of the alleged financial scam in the agency.

The committee chairman said, “Obviously, we have grilled the BPP and they will be coming back tomorrow for finalisation of their submission. And from what we have seen, so many of the contracts so awarded were above NDDC’s approval threshold as itemised by the BPP.”

Twelve Aspirants Scale APC Hurdle as Primary Holds Monday | The Source Magazine

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The Source

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July 16, 2020

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By Ayodele Oni, Akure

All the 12 governorship aspirants of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state have been cleared to contest the Party’s primary.

The Party’s nomination Screening Appeal Committee disclosed this in its report submitted to the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led APC Caretaker/Extra-ordinary National Convention Planning Committee.

The statement by the deputy national publicity secretary of APC, Yekini Nabena has put paid to rumour that one of the aspirants was disqualified.

The primary election is due to hold on July 20.

Those cleared are Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu SAN, Joseph Olusola Iji, Odimayo Okunjemi John, Olayide Owolabi Adelami, Kekemeke Duerimini Isaacs, Olusola Oke Alex SAN.

Others are Ifeoluwa Olusola Oyedele, Olajumoke Olubusola Anifowoshe, Awodeyi Akinsehinwa Akinola, Adetula Olubukola Olarogha, Dr. Abraham Olusegen Michael, and Dr. Nathaniel O. Adojutelegan.

The statement was however silent on the mode of the primary election despite that aspirants have been going round various council areas of the state to woo delegates.

Magu: “Allegations Against Me Are Nonsense; It Is A Case Of Dog Eats Dog” | The Source Magazine

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The Source

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July 16, 2020

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By Charles Igbo

Suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, CP Ibrahim Magu, has dismissed the allegations against him as “nonsense”.

He said the charges against him were trumped-up, meant to tarnish his image and that of the EFCC.

The Nation Newspaper qoutes Magu, as soon as he was released from a 10-day detention, as saying of his experience:

“What I have gone through is a case of dog eats dog, but I see it as one of those risks of the job. But we must not give up in anyway”

Asked about the allegations against him, he was quoted as saying: “They are nonsense. They are mere trump up charges to tarnish my image and that of the EFCC. I did not steal, or divert, or convert recovered funds to private use. I read the allegations, and I was shocked.”

He maintained that the war against corruption was not personal.

Magu: “It is not a personal fight. Whether I am EFCC Chairman or not, the anti corruption war must continue.”

Thanking Nigerians who stood by him, he asked them not to give up. “They should not give up on the fight because corruption kills a nation faster than any other thing.”

Earlier, on a Channels Television programme, Politics Today, his Counsel, Tosin Ojaomo, said the things that had been published in the media against Magu were fabrications.

For instance, he said when his house was searched, nothing was found, but that publications were to the effect that huge sums of money and wrist watches were found.

He, also, picked holes in the stories, allegedly from the Panel, saying that none of the published snippets from there was true.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has, reportedly, ordered the Presidential Panel to suspend 12 Directors of the Commission, including the Secretary.

It is not yet confirmed if the Director of Operations, who was appointed to act in Magu’s stead, was affected by the suspension order.

Breaking: Magu Hires Private Security For Protection; His Lawyer Says Detention, Illegal | The Source Magazine

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The Source

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July 15, 2020

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By Gideon Njoku

Suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic Financial and Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, a Commissioner of Police, has hired private security guards to protect his family.

This was disclosed, Wednesday evening, by his Counsel, Tosin Ojaomo, while speaking on a Channels Television programme, Politics Today, anchored by Seun Okunbaloye.

He said it was wrong to have stripped Magu and his family members of security personnel, pointing out that having stepped on powerful toes in the course of his job, Magu has been left naked.

To protect his family, he had to hire private guards, his Counsel bemoaned.

He also condemned the idea of keeping Magu in detention for ten days, describing it as illegal.

Asked if he would fight for Magu to go back to EFCC, he said he would, affirming that Magu would come out of the investigation, clean.

Breaking: No Prima Facie Case Established, Yet, Against Magu; He Is Not On Trial – Femi Adesina – The Source Magazine

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The Source

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July 15, 2020

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By Charles Igbo

Presidential Spokesman, Femi Adesina, says no Prima Facie case has been established, yet, against the suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic Financial and Crimes Commission, EFCC, CP Ibrahim Magu.

Adesina was speaking on a Channels Television programme, Politics Today, anchored by Seun Okinbaloye.

Adesina, also, said that Magu was not on trial, explaining that the Presidential Panel is a fact finding Panel.

He, also, dismissed the allegation that Magu was detained in the Presidential Villa.

He revealed that the Presidential Panel has been sitting for weeks in the old Banquet Hall of the Villa and that the President asked the Panel to invite him when the Panel established some grounds to invite him. Adesina explained that the Panel did Magu a favour by inviting him to defend himself, instead of submitting their findings to the President without giving him a chance to defend himself.

Magu was released Wednesday evening after a 10-day detention.

Breaking: Magu, Released! – The Source Magazine

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The Source

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July 15, 2020

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By Adesina Soyooye

Detained suspended Acting Chairman of the EFCC, CP Ibrahim Magu, has been released from detention.

His Counsel, Tosin Ojaomo broke the news of his release, this evening.

Magu spent 10 days in the custody of the Police.

He was arrested on July the 6th, and taken before the Presidential Panel set up to investigate him.

Earlier, on Wednesday, the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Adamu, had told Magu’s Counsel that he was not in the custody of the Police, and that he should direct his bail request for his client, to the Presidential Panel.

Details, later…