KOGI : DIRECTOR COMMITS SUICIDE AFTER NON-PAYMENT OF 11 MONTHS SALARY

Edward Soje,54, a director in the Kogi State civil service, was found dangling on a tree on Saturday, a week after he was declared missing.

The 54-year-old late director allegedly decided to take his life barely 10 days that his wife gave birth to a set of male triplets in a private hospital in Abuja after 17 years of childlessness.
Soje, who hailed from the Ogori/Magongo Local Government Area of Kogi State, was a Grade Level 16 Officer in the State Teaching Service Commission and was owed 11 months’ salary arrears as of the time he took his life.

He was said to have earlier travelled to Abuja and left a suicide note for his wife, which read thus “Psalm 121:3 says God will not suffer your foot to be moved. He that keepeth you will not slumber. Amen. You and the three boys, God Almighty will keep you prosperous. Amen. I love you.”

Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, William Aya, said the dangling body of Soje was found on a tree behind the barracks at about 5.55 pm on October 16.
Aya said  the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Area ‘D’ division received the information about the incident from the military intelligence office in the barracks.

He said, “Policemen moved to the scene, removed the corpse and took it to the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre in Lokoja. Investigation is ongoing.”

Aya added that nothing was found on the deceased to assist in tracing his address and family.
However, our correspondent gathered that a search party organised by his relations and friends, found his corpse at the morgue of the hospital on October 20.

Family sources said  Soje had, before the incident, been going through a lot of financial crisis due to the non-payment of his salary for 11 months by the Kogi State Government.
He was among thousands of workers being owed between two and 21 months’ salary arrears by the government.

Soje was said to have sold his only car and a three-bedroom bungalow he was building at the Otokiti area of Lokoja at a point in order to meet his financial obligations to his family.
He was said to have sold the uncompleted building for N1.5 million in April to meet an urgent family obligation.

According to sources, Soje’s financial woes became compounded when the wife gave birth to a set of triplets through Caesarian section in a private hospital in Abuja on October 7.
The deceased remained in the hospital to look after his  wife and children until Oct. 13, a day before the naming ceremony when he decided to return to Lokoja.

On getting to Lokoja, Soje was said to have gone straight to his bank to collect the remaining N30,000 in his account and thereafter informed his bankers in writing about his decision to close the account and  left for the hospital in Abuja, where he handed over the N30, 000 to his wife.

A source added that Soje and his wife were joined by two pastors and a few relatives to perform a brief naming ceremony for the triplets in the hospital.
He later left the hospital on the pretext that he wanted to pick a few things from the wife’s apartment in Abuja with a promise to come back quickly.

But Soje did not come back for hours and did not pick any of the numerous calls made to his telephone,  a development which forced the wife to send somebody to the house to ascertain what was happening to him.



When the door was opened, the people were surprised to see Soje’s telephone placed on a suicide note on the table in the sitting room while he was nowhere to be found.

When the wife was informed, she quickly contacted some people to begin a search for him in Abuja while relations and friends in Lokoja were also informed of the development.

Efforts made to locate him did not yield result until relatives decided to visit hospitals in Lokoja. The decision paid off eventually on Friday, October 20, when the corpse of Soje was found in the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja.

A member of the family said the management of the hospital explained to them that Soje’s corpse was brought in by the police, who found it dangling on a tree.

A family member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the late Soje as a “very quiet and lovable human being.”

PHOTOS: NIGERIAN CELEBS BATTERED BY ABUSIVE PARTNERS

The issue of domestic violence has been a trend in homes for many years but now receiving serious attention from human rights activists, the government and international bodies in recent times.

Nigerian celebrities are also not left out of this saga, as many have started revealing the hell in which they’ve lived in and trauma they had experienced from their abusive partners. Some of these celebrities include:

Monalisa Chinda

The ever glowing Nollywood actress who seemed to have had it all green, opened up in 2014 and revealed that she was a victim of domestic abuse in her former marriage, which consequently led to its crash. She however remarried her present heartthrob, Tonye Victor. Monalisa Chinda, Fathia Balogun, Emmanuella Ike, Muma Gee, Tiwa Savage, Foluke Daramola, Precious Jones, Tonto Dikeh, Mercy Aigbe and Chika Ike Fathia Balogun Fathia and Saidi Balogun were a power couple, not only in the Yoruba scene but in the movie industry generally. Unfortunately, their marriage did not last as it hit the rocks. It was riddled and characterized with stories of domestic violence.


 Emmanuella Ike

 The beautiful wife of popular Nollywood actor, Emeka Ike has also been a victim of domestic abuse. Emmanuella accused her husband of physically abusing her for the first time in 2014 and again in 2015.  She finally dragged him to court, filing for a divorce which was finalized this year. Emeka was however granted custody of the four children the marriage produced by the jury in charge of the case.

 Muma Gee

 Beautiful looking singer, Muma Gee was not also left out in the emotional strain that comes with domestic abuse. After six years of marriage, she called it quits with Prince Eke. The singer said she decided to end her long suffering and torture by filing for a divorce against the Nollywood actor, who she claimed used to beat her. She went ahead to put some pictures of her bruises on social media as evidence of the torture she went through.

Tiwa Savage
When the news of Tiwa Savage’s marriage having its own share of domestic violence issue broke out, it was almost impossible to believe. Barely two years after marriage to Tee Billz, the music diva revealed that her husband has been hitting her before and after her marriage. Rumour however has it that the two may be on their way to having a reunion.

 Foluke Daramola

 Busty Nollywood actress, Foluke Daramola, who owns an NGO that caters for rape victims in Africa, has also had her share in the agonizing experience of domestic abuse. The actress revealed that she was raped when she was a teenager and was also a victim of domestic abuse in her first marriage to Tunde Shobowale.

Precious Jones
Wife of Nigerian rapper, 2Shotz also has a story to tell on domestic abuse. Precious, in a leaked chat with a friend, revealed the series of abuses she went through in the hands of her husband. Recall that Beverly Osu, who was once in a relationship with the rapper also accused him of assault and domestic violence, which was greeted by defense statements by Precious who was just newly wedded to the rapper.

Tonto Dikeh
 Has also voiced her predicaments out for public knowledge. According to her, her husband Oladunni Churchill physically assaulted her on numerous occasions in their marriage. She revealed in an interview amidst tears how she was battered by her ex- husband. She went ahead to say that she stayed put in the marriage because she loved her husband and didn’t want to quit the marriage just like that. Churchill however debunked all these claims and clearly stated that marrying Tonto was a mistake in the first place. She currently has custody of their son.

Mercy Aigbe

The news of the assault of Nigerian screen goddess, Mercy Aigbe was received with shock. The actress has allegedly been enduring domestic violence for a long time until things got worse, earlier this year. The couple was reportedly in a nasty fight that left the actress with severe injuries and a fractured skull. The actress released images and videos of the assault and her husband claimed it was a behind-the-scene image from a movie set. Mercy has however secured a restraining order from the court, ordering Mr Gentry not to come within one mile of Mercy Aigbe’s location at all times. They were married for seven years and the union produced a son. While it was Mercy’s second marriage, it is her husband’s third marriage.

Chika Ike

Chika’s announcement of her finalized divorce received lots of backlash on social media on her failed marriage. This was due to speculations that she was not a loyal wife and that she got married for money. According to her, her ex-husband, known as Mr Ebireri physically assaulted her for years and one of the many fights resulted in a miscarriage. She revealed that the last straw that broke the camel’s back was when he threw a glass jug to her face during a heated argument. She dodged it and it shattered on the wall. She then decided to leave the marriage. She has since moved on with her life and claims she has found love again.

Source: Vanguard

PHOTOS: DR.OLUSEGUN MIMIKO'S DAUGHTER WEDDING

 Dr Olusegun Mimiko has proved his worth politically and also in the social circuit, when he gave out the hand of his daughter, Miss Bibitayo,out in marriage to Mr. Adetola Adesanya,  on Thursday October 19, 2017 in Ondo town.

 Leading the pack of distinguished guests were the Governors of Ondo State, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, River State, Barr. Nyesom Wike, Bayelsa State, Siriake Dickson and their Ekiti State counterpart, Dr Ayodele Fayose.

Other dignitaries who graced the occasion were the Speaker, Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Bamidele Oleyelogun, his deputy, Hon. Iroju Ogundeji and other members of the House. Also, the former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Aranse, and past Commissioners in the state, especially those who served during Mimiko’s administration were present.
Among the  traditional rulers from various parts of the southwest region at the  occasion was the Ooni of Ile-Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.
Advising the couple to allow Christ to reign in their marital life, Ogunwusi equally stressed the need for them to love each other and never give room for a third party for any form of interference and respect each other.

KIDNAPPERS ABDUCT CLERIC : DEMAND N100M FROM CHURCH IN ONDO

Some gunmen have kidnapped the Chaplain to the Bishop of the African Church, Ondo Central Diocese, Reverend David Ayeola.


A top official of the church, who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said the kidnappers had demanded N100m from the church.

He said, “This happened between 6am and 7am on Thursday. The Bishop of the African Church, Ondo Central Diocese and his team consisting of his wife, the chaplain and the driver were travelling from Ekiti State where the bishop hails from to Abeokuta where we are having our national convention when they were waylaid.

“The team fled into the bush, but the gunmen chased them and took the chaplain who just finished his seminary.


“They contacted the headquarters of the church at Akure and demanded N100m. They have been negotiating and it appears they are not ready to back down on their demand.”
A source at the church said special prayers were offered by all  members of the church at the national convention which ended on Friday.

“The bishop that escaped cannot talk right now because he is afraid for his life. We are still praying for the quick release of the priest,” he added.

The Ekiti State Police Public Relations Officer, Adeyemi Ademola, confirmed the incident, saying the police were making efforts to rescue the cleric.

(SUNDAY PUNCH)

COURT ORDERS CBN AND BANKS TO FREEZE ACCOUNTS WITHOUT BVN

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria and the 19 commercial banks in the country to disclose all accounts without BVN  in their custody and the balances in such accounts.
The court ordered the banks to disclose the details of all such accounts, their owners and their proceeds in their affidavit of compliance deposed to by their Chief Compliance Officers.

It also made an interim order directing the banks to freeze all the said accounts by stopping “all outward payments, operations or transactions” pending the hearing of the substantive application seeking the forfeiture of the balances in the accounts to the Federal Government.

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba had made the orders on October 17, 2017 upon an ex parte motion filed on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Attorney General of the Federation.
Named as defendants are Access Bank Plc, Citi Bank Nigeria, Diamond Bank Plc, Ecobank Nigeria, Fidelity Bank of Nigeria Plc, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, First City Monument Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and Heritage Bank Plc.

Other banks are Keystone Bank, Skye Bank Plc, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc, Unity Bank Plc, Wema Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc and the CBN.
A copy of the enrolled order, made available to journalists on Saturday, showed that the ex parte motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/911/2017, was moved on behalf of the applicants by A. D. Tyoden.
The title of the ex parte application indicated that the accounts without BVN allegedly had insufficient Know Customer Guidelines, contrary to the directive of the CBN and Section 3 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended).

The title reads, ‘In the matter of an application seeking an interim order directing all the money deposit banks (commercial banks) to disclose/declare all individual and corporate accounts in their custody not covered by Bank Verification Numbers and for an interim order of forfeiture of the monies therein being accounts with insufficient Know Customer Guidelines contrary to the directive of the CBN and Section 3 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended).’
Granting the ex parte motion, the court ordered banks to file before the court separate affidavits deposed to by their Chief Compliance Officers, disclosing the accounts of  individuals, corporate bodies and government agencies in their custody without BVN.

The court directed that the order be equally served on the Central Bank of Nigeria.
It furthered ordered the banks to advertise the accounts without BVN in a widely circulated national newspaper as notice to those who might have any interest in any of the accounts.
The court also made an interim order appointing a Bank Examiner from the CBN to examine the books of “any bank that fails to comply with the order of the honourable court to file affidavit of disclosure.”
Justice Dimgba adjourned until November 16 for the hearing of the substantive application seeking the forfeiture of the proceeds of the accounts without BVN.
The court order read in part, “That an order is hereby made freezing the said accounts by stopping all outward payments, operations or transactions (including any bill of exchange) in respect of the accounts pending the hearing and determination of the substantive application.

“That an order is hereby made directing the 1st to 19th defendant banks to disclose any investments made with funds from these accounts without BVN in any products including fixed/term deposits and their liquidation and interest incurred, bank acceptances, commercial papers and any other relevant information related to the transaction made on the accounts.
“That an interim order is hereby made directing the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigeria Interbank Settlement Systems to validate the information contained in the affidavit of compliance/disclosure filed by the respective 19 banks within seven days from the date of service on the Central Bank and NIBSS.
“That an interim order is hereby made appointing a Bank Examiner from the Central Bank of Nigeria to examine the books of any bank that fails to comply with the order of the honourable court to file affidavit of disclosure.

“That an interim order is hereby made granting leave to the applicants or any officer authorised by them to advertise the accounts without BVN disclosed by the bank in a widely circulated national newspaper as notice to any person or body corporate or financial institution who may have any interest in any of the said accounts to claim ownership of same within 14 days of the publication of the order and show cause why the proceeds in the account should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
When contacted, the spokesman for the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Isaac Okorafor, however, said he was not aware of the case and could therefore not speak on it.

THE TRUTH ABOUT AMINU ATIKU AND HIS ESTRANGED WIFE

Aminu Atiku, son of former Vice President, Abubakar Atiku, is making news following the strife between him and his ex-wife, Ummi Fatimo Bolori.

It was learnt that both of them were divorced in 2011 and their children (Amira and Amir) were initially with Fatimo, with an arrangement that the children would be spending vacation with their father. During one of the school holidays in 2013, Aminu requested that they are released to him for a vacation abroad, after which he refused to let the kids return to their mother.

Mr. Abubakar and Ms. Bolori have been in a legal battle over the custody of their children for some time now, to which an order was made over the custody of 8-year-old Amir, whom he was alleged to have taken away from the custody of his estranged wife. Aminu disobeyed the court order and he was remanded at transit cell, while the case was stepped down pending when he produces the boy.

 Atiku’s son was released after the 8year old boy was produced in court. Although lawyer to Atiku’s son, informed the court that the parties were making plans to settle the matter out of court, Bolori’s lawyer denied ever receiving any information to settle out of court.


Meanwhile, his ex-wife (Fatimo) was granted custody of the boy for 10 days. The court said after the 10 days, it would decide a permanent residence for the boy and his eight-year-old sister. The court, however, adjourned the case till November 1, for the determination of the full custody of the two children.

KIDNAPPER EVANS CHANGED HIS PLEA TO 'NOT GUILTY'

Suspected kidnap kingpin, Evans has pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of conspiracy and Kidnapping of one Dunu Donatus an offence allegedly committed in February  2017.



Evans had earlier pleaded guilty to the two-count charge at his arraignment on August 30, 2017. The court reconvened at 11.45am today and the amended charges have been read to all six defendants and they all pleaded “not guilty”.



The Prosecution has indicated their readiness to proceed with the trial. They have three witnesses in court to testify.



The suspect was arraigned alongside five others; Uche Amadi, Ogechi Izechuwku, Okechukwu Nwachukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi and Victor Chukwunonso.



Following the plea of all six defendants, the Attorney General of Lagos State, Adeniji Kazeem, who led the prosecution, asked for a trial date and for all defendants to be remanded in prison custody.

With this, the Lagos State Government has amended the charges it filed against Evans and the five others. The Director of Public Prosecution, DPP Lagos State, Titilayo Shitta-Bey told Justice Hakeem Oshodi that the amendment relates only to the punishment section for the second charge.


The DPP also submitted that there is no material change in the nature of the offence which still remains conspiracy and the kidnap of one Dunu Donatus.