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Alleged N2bn road contract fraud: EFCC interrogates 13 Ebonyi LG bosses

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Chairmen of the 13 local government areas of Ebonyi State are being quizzed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged road contract fraud estimated at N2bn.
Documents indicated that the anti-graft agency had invited the chairmen following a petition that the amount meant for road projects was allegedly mismanaged by the chairmen and some key aides of the State Governor, David Umahi.
A letter of invitation dated July 6, 2022, signed by the Commission’s Director of Operations, ACE I Abdulkarim Chukkol, was extended to all the Executive Chairmen, through the State’s Local Government Service Commission, (LGSC), for them to appear at the anti-graft agency’s national headquarters in Abuja on separate dates from July 15, 2022, to August 11, 2022.
The anti-graft body’s ‘Letter of Invitation,’ addressed to the Chairman, Ebonyi State Local Government Service Commission, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, a copy of which was made available to our Correspondent reads: “This commission is investigating a complaint in which they need certain clarification from your Local Government Chairmen.
“In view of the above, you are kindly requested to inform and release the under listed Local Government Chairmen to report for an interview with the undersigned through the Head, CMU. 1 as scheduled below at EFCC Headquarters 5th Floor Plot 301/302 Institutions and Research District, Jabi, Abuja by 1000 hours.”
The Local government service commission in response to the EFCC’s letter, urged the Council Chairmen to ensure strict compliance with the directive.
The forwarding letter, dated 22 July, 2022 and titled; RE: INVESTIGATION ACTIVITIES, read, “I am directed to refer to the letter with Ref. No. CR: 3000/ABJ/HQ/CMU 1/ST/DU/VOL.4/343 of 6th July, 2022 by EFCC on above subject as attached and to respectfully inform you that your presence is needed at the EFCC Headquarters, 5th Floor, Plot 301/302 Institution and Research District, Jabi, Abuja at 1000 hours. (See attached schedule).
“Please, take note of the urgent nature of the invitation letter and act accordingly for the invitation came to us today being 22nd day of July, 2022 and received by the Local Government Service Commission. Suffice to say that you make frantic efforts to honour the invitation and find attached for your guidance while noting paragraph three for its emphasis.”
The letter specified the dates on which each of the Council Chairmen is expected to be quizzed and they are said to have gone to Abuja to say what they know about the issues at stake.
The invitation also stated that the concerned Chairmen “are to come along with Certified True Copies of all documents, approvals and payments made for One Kilometer Road construction in their Local Government Areas in 2019.

“This request is made pursuant to Section 38 (1) & (2) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004.”
A Source close to the Ebony state government who spoke on an condition of anonymity has however alleged that the council Chairmen in the state were buying time by going into hiding because their tenure would soon come to an end.
Meanwhile, a Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki has nullified the recent Local Government election in the state making the matter worst for the Local government chairmen in Ebonyi state.

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Kidnappers highjack two Abuja-bound buses conveying passengers in Kogi

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***Police confirms abduction of passengers

By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja

Two buses fully loaded with Passengers travelling from the Eastern part of the country to Abuja have been highjacked and passengers abducted in Inele-Eteke Ogugu new road in Kogi east Senatorial district

The two buses belonging to God Is Good (GIG) transport and Logistics company and the ABC transport company were highjacked while heading to Abuja by Kidnappers in Kogi state.

The source further discosed that GIG bus left umuahia at 7:30 am on Saturday on its way to Abuja.

GIG motor

GIG company it was gathered has contacted security services and they are tracking them.

Meanwhile the Kogi State Police Command has confirmed the Saturday kidnap of passengers aboard two Abuja-bound buses from the Eastern part of the country on Inele-Eteke Ogugu new road in Kogi East Senatorial district of the state.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Williams Aya (SP) made the confirmation in a statement made available to newsmen on Monday in Lokoja.

Aya who could not give the number of passengers however, confirmed that two buses were involved,

The PPRO said that the state Commissioner of Police, Bethrand Onuoha, immediately directed the Divisional Police Officer, Local Vigilantes and Hunters to comb the bushes with a view to apprehending the hoodlums and rescuing the victims.

He disclosed that Onuoha further deployed the Tactical Squad consisting of Quick Response Unit, Police Mobile Force, Counter-Terrorism Unit, as well as conventional Police personnel to the area to continue with the bush combing to ensure all victims are rescued unhurt.

Our correspondent gathered on Monday that the buses, one from GIG Motors and the other from ABC Transport heading to Abuja were intercepted by the gun-wielding hoodlums on the lonely road in Kogi state.

The victims were said to have been marched into the bush by the hoodlums leaving no traces.

According to the source, the GIG bus left Umuahia at about 7:30am on Saturday enroute Abuja adding that the GIG company said they had contacted security agencies.

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Gunmen kill two royal fathers in Ekiti, another escapes by the whiskers

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One of the murdered Kings
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***Fish out killers, Oyebanji orders security agents

Tragedy has struck in Ekiti State where gunmen yet to be identified laid ambush for two first class traditional rulers and gunned them down in a gruesome manner on Monday
The unfortunate incident occured on IRELE -Oke Ako road in Ikole Local government area of Ekiti State .

The slain traditional rulers are Oba Olumojo of Imojo Ekiti, Oba Olatunde Samuel Olusola and the Elesun of Esun Ekiti, Oba David Babatunde Ogunsola.

Another traditional ruler, Oba Alara of Ara Ekiti,, Oba Adebayo Fatoba escaped being killed by the whiskers

They were said to be returning from a meeting when the gunmen opened fire on them, killing two of the traditional rulers on the spot.

Governor Biodun Oyebanji who confirmed the killing of the traditional rulers in a statement ordered security agencies to immediately fish out the killers of the two traditional rulers.

In the statement signed by his Special Adviser on media and publicity, Yinka Oyebode, Oyebanji condemned the gruesome murder of the two traditional rulers.

The statement reads thus :
” Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has condemned Monday’s dastardly attack in Oke-Ako area in Ikole Local Government, which led to the gruesome killing of two traditional rulers; and ordered security agencies in the state to fish out the killers.

“The two traditional rulers- the Onimojo of Imojo Ekiti, Oba Olatunde Samuel Olusola and the Elesun of Esun Ekiti, Oba David Babatunde Ogunsola were killed in an ambush by armed men while returning from a meeting.

“The third traditional ruler, the Alara of Ara –Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Fatoba escaped the attack.”

Oyebanji, said security agents have been despatched to the area to fish out the perpetrators of the heinous crime.

The killings were carried out barely one hour Governor Oyebanji presided over the state security council meeting in Ado-Ekiti.   

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Respite, as Nabeeha’s siblings regain freedom from the den of kidnappers

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At last, the remaining four siblings of late Nabeeha Al-Kadriyah have been set free.

It would be recalled that the sisters were kidnapped alongside their father in the Zuma 1 area of Bwari Area Council on January 2nd.

Their father was later released to give him the leeway to source for ransom. However, the failure of the family to meet their demand within a deadline issued by the kidnappers led to the killing of Nabeeha.

After the young schoolgirl was killed by his abductors, the bandits raised the ransom from N60 million to N100 million with a threat to kill all the sisters.

The gruesome killing attracted sympathy from concerned Nigerians who offered assistance to ensure the remaining sisters were not killed.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Federal Capital Territory Police, FCT command, Josephine Adeh confirmed the release00 on Sunday morning.

The PPRO indicated that they were rescued by the FCT Anti-Kidnapping squad in a concerted effort with troops of the Nigerian Army.

She said the victims were rescued around Kajuru forest in Kaduna State, Saturday night.

“The operatives successfully rescued the victims around Kajuru forest in Kaduna state at about 11:30 pm on Saturday”, she said.

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