Man, 25, stabbed to death over girlfriend

A twenty-five year-old man, Matthew Iyede, has been stabbed to death by three friends over an alleged disagreement over a girlfriend at Eku, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State.

It was gathered that the incident occurred on Sunday morning at a popular drinking bar, Blue Sea Restaurant and Bar, in Eku, near Delta State University Abraka.

Eyewitnesses told our correspondent that the victim died immediately, following multiple stabs he sustained on his chest.

The Summons discovered that the late Matthew was ambushed by armed youths alleged to have been led by one Ese Uku. Ese was alleged to have warned the victim to steer clear of the girl whom Matthew had reportedly been dating for long.

 The victim’s relative, Victor Iyede, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on the phone. Victor claimed that his brother was killed over a girl he had been dating.

Victor said, “Matthew was stabbed at a plaza closer to Eku Town hall. He was stabbed over a girl. Those involved are at large. Their names have been submitted to the police.”

 The spokesman of the Delta State Police Commander, SP Celestina Kalu, confirmed the incident when contacted. She said two of the suspects had been arrested by the police in Abraka.

 “The vigilante group, in collaboration with the Police, arrested two suspects in respect of the case. The names of the suspects are Kevwe Edward (21 years old) and Lucky Grant (19 years old). The suspects will be transferred to SCIIDC for discreet investigation and diligent prosecution,” Kalu said.

 She added that Matthew’s corpse has been deposited at the Eku General hospital pending further investigation by the police.

Unity schools: FG releases admission list

The Federal Government has released the admission list of successful candidates into the Federal Unity Colleges for the 2016/2017 academic year.

The government also announced September 19 2016 as resumption date for all Unity Schools in the country.

The Deputy Director (Press and Public Relations) in the Ministry of Education, Ben Bem Goong, made the announcement in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday.

He quoted the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, as saying that the list has been posted online via www.fmeinterviewtest.com.

According to him, candidates who took part in the National Common Entrance Examination should check their names on that website.

An analysis of the results, Goong said, indicated that a total of 89,231, candidates took part in the examination, out of which 46,869 met the cut off mark.

EFCC to arraign Jonathan’s ex-aide, lawyer for $15.6m

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday filed a 17-count of alleged $15.6m fraud against a former aide of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, before a Federal High Court in Lagos.

Also listed as defendants in the charge, filed before Justice Abdulazeez Anka, is a legal practitioner, Amajuoyi Briggs, and one Demola Bolodeoku.

The EFCC is seeking to arraigned them alongside five companies, namely: Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited; Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Limited; Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Limited; Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited and Globus Integrated Services Limited.

The 17 counts pressed against Dudafa, who was then Special Assistant to Jonathan on Domestic Affairs, and others bordered on conspiracy and money laundering.

The EFCC accused them of conspiring among themselves to conceal various sums of money totaling $15.6m, which the anti-grant agency claimed the defendants “ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act.”

The EFCC alleged that the defendants committed the offence between November 13, 2013 and May 28, 2015 in connivance with one Sombre Omeibi, now at large, using seven accounts domiciled with Skye Bank Plc.

The offences, the EFCC, prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, said were contrary to section 18(a) and 15(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012, and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

However, the proposed arraignment of the defendants on Thursday could not hold as Oyedepo said Dudafa and the companies had yet to be served.

He informed the court that Dudafa had refused to accept the charge sheet on August 12 when the EFCC attempted to serve him in the prison custody.

He urged the court to grant him an order to properly serve the charge sheet on the accused.

He also urged the court to order the second defendant, Brigg, to accept service on behalf of the five companies, which he claimed were incorporated by the lawyer but with fictitious addresses.

He told the judge that Brigg had stated in the statement he made to the EFCC that he was the one who incorporated the companies and he was their appointed secretary.

He said, “The first defendant is a private individual, and under Section 123 of the ACJA, we are to serve him personally. We went to the prison on August 12, 2016, to serve him the charge but he refused service.

“We have charged him in a related case before Justice (Mohammed) Idris, though he was granted bail but an issue cropped up.

“I also need court order on the service of the fourth, fifth, sixth and eighth defendants; the companies were opportune to know who and who is their directors.

“In the course of investigation, we came to know that the chambers of the second defendant incorporated those companies, and in his wisdom, he inserted the addresses that are not available.

“I urged the court to allow us to serve the charge of the companies on the second accused person, being the brain behind them.”

But Brigg’s lawyer, T. J. Onyeieke, opposed Oyedepo’s prayer that his client should accept service on behalf of the companies, contending that Brigg was not a director in any of the companies.

Besides, he said Oyedepo could not make such an application orally and urged the court to turn the prayer down.

In a short ruling, Justice Anka granted the prosecution an order to serve the charge sheet on Dudafa in the prison custody.

He, however, adjourned till September 8, 2016, to rule on Oyedepo’s application to serve the companies through Brigg.

Nicki Minaj, Meek Mill: Celebrity couple move into Beverly Hills mansion

Nicki Minaj and Meek Mill are definitely still going strong! Though their relationship seems to have had its up and down, the duo have reportedly moved into a Beverly Hills mansion.

Nicki Minaj's and Meek Mill's new home (TMZ) 

According to TMZ, the new crib costs $30,000 a month.  The gossip site reports the luxury property includes nine bedrooms, eight bathrooms, and a five-car garage.

They claim only Nicki's name is on the lease but Meek lives there too and recently shared a photo of himself at the property's drive way.

The pair have had a roller coaster of a relationship with speculations of an upcoming split between the two but with this recent turn of events, it's obvious she is still very much in love with Meek.

The 33-yr-old rapper took to her Instagram page on May 6, 2016 to gush about Meek as he turned 29, as well as flaunting the sweet gifts she got him for his birthday.

Back at the tail end of June, the Super Bass singer made it clear she was still with Meek in Instagram snaps taken inside a recording studio, with the two of them hugging.

In Ebonyi, Police prevent jail break attempt in Abakaliki

The Police in Ebonyi state this morning prevented an attempted jailbreak as Abakaliki prison inmates staged a riot inside the prison.

EGT quoted security sources as saying that at least two people, who are believed to be prison officials were killed by inmates in the fracas.

Another source said that police has blocked off all roads leading to the correctional facility even as it fired shots at the inmates in a battle to recover a firearm allegedly seized from one of the prison officials.

The prison is located beside the police headquarters leading to prompt intervention from the police.

Already the Commander of Military cantonment and the commissioner of Police have visited the area and are directing the operations to restore sanity to the prison.

The Police spokesman George Okafor when contacted said the command was still working hard to resolve the crisis.

He, however, refused to confirm if anybody is dead or not.

Yobe Govt liquidates civil servants’ loans with GTB

The Yobe state government has liquidated N500 million loan obtained by civil servants from Guaranty Trust Bank, Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, said this at a pre-retirement workshop for retiring civil servants.

He said the government supported the civil servants and the Nigerian Labour Congress because they could not settle the loans obtained from Guaranty Trust Bank.

“A bail out of over N500 million was made available by the state government to liquidate the loan to make life more meaningful to o those who are retirees among the civil servants,” he said.

Gaidam also announced the approval of N50 million monthly for payment of gratuity to retired civil servants in the state.

The governor said the basis of the workshop was to prepare retirees towards a fulfilling and rewarding life after retirement.

He said government acknowledged and appreciates the enormous contributions made by civil servants to the development of the state.

The governor lamented that “retirees often find it difficult if not impossible to adjust to the realities of life after retirement and in most cases find themselves in serious dilemma.”

Nasarawa releases N60m for pension, gratuity payment

The Nasarawa State Government has released over N60 million for the payment of backlog of pensions and gratuities to pensioners in the state.

Mr Muazu Adamu-Gosho, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Budget and Planning, on Thursday said that the money was for payment to retired workers in the state and local governments.

Adamu-Gosho said that data to ascertain the accurate number of pensioners in the state had been taken to facilitate monthly payment of pensions, while gratuities would be paid in arrears in view of paucity of funds.

According to him, over 120 pensioners, who retired before 2011, have been captured for payment of their gratuities.

Alhaji Adokwe Ladan, the Chairman of the pensioners in the state, commended the state government for the release of money for the payment of their gratuities.

Ladan, however, appealed to the state government to sustain the tempo as most pensioners had suffered untold hardship due to non-payment of their gratuities.

(NAN)

In Abuja, Man bags Five Months Jail Term for Stealing cock

A Kado Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, on Thursday sentenced a 25-year-old man, Sunday Ogboji, to five months in prison for stealing a cock worth N4, 000.

The Judge, Alhaji Mohammed Ado, however, gave Ogboji, who is a technician, an option of N6, 000 fine for the two-count charges of criminal trespass and theft and warned him to desist from crimes.

Ado also ordered the convict, who resides at Kado Village, Abuja, to pay N4, 000 as restitution to the nominal complainant.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Augustine Urom, told the court that Inspector Simon Aliyu of same address with the convict reported the matter at the Life Camp Police Station, Abuja, on Aug. 14.

Urom said the complainant reported that on Aug. 8, he saw the convict stealing one of his birds valued at N4, 000.

The prosecutor said that when Ogboji was arrested and interrogated by the police, he admitted stealing the cock and eating it.

Urom said that the offences committed contravened Sections 348 and 288 of the Penal Code.

The convict pleaded guilty to the offences and prayed the court to temper justice with mercy.

Ogboji said that he did not know what possessed him to steal the cock although he had not eaten meat for a long time.

He promised to be of good behaviour in future.

Ikpeazu wins first appeal

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has won the first appeal delivered by the Court of Appeal in Abuja with respect to the judgments of the Federal High Court in Abuja June 27 removing him from office.

Ikpeazu’s appeal was with respect to the ruling delivered by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja on July 8 in which the judge insisted that he had jurisdiction to hear a motion for stay of execution of his earlier judgments delivered on June 27 even after the appeals against the judgments had been entered.

The Justice Helen Ogunwumiju-led five-man bench unanimously agreed in their judgment that Justice Abang erroneously assumed jurisdiction to hear the motion and adjourned it till a later date.

Justice Philomina Ekpe, who read the lead judgment, held that what Justice Abang ought to have done in line with time-honoured doctrine of “stari decisis” was to have transferred the motion to the Court of Appeal for determination.

She also held that the Justice Abang wrongly interpreted the provisions of Order 4(10) and (11) of the Court of Appeal rules when he held that the said provisions were only applicable to an interlocutory ruling of the lower court and when a final judgment in a suit had been delivered.

She also held that Justice Abang lacked jurisdictions to interpret the provisions of the Court of Appeal being the rules of a superior court.

In her contribution, Justice Ogunwumiju, held that the trial judge “deliberately stood the law on its head” by justifying his jurisdiction to hear the motion when appeal has been entered.