09022021 - Afenifere, ACF, MBF, PANDEF back Soyinka

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2021—7
Violence rages as Osun warring communities
fight on
By Shina Abubakar
OSOGBO—Houses were burnt,
yesterday, in the communal
clash between Erin-Osun and Ilobu
communities in Osun State despite
the imposition of 24-hour curfew by
the state government.
It was gathered that the curfew
imposed on the towns was effective
at major roads accessible to security
operatives while there are issues of
attacks in the inner parts of the
communities
According to Olurin of Erin-Osun,
Chief Olawuyi Adeleke, the Ilobus
have been threatening to set a bank
and a higher institution in the
community on fire.
He said: “The area in dispute is
called Apata Gboore area. They
started the killings. They killed a
native of our town, who was a
Man to die by
hanging for
robbery in
A-Ibom
By Chioma Onuegbu
UYO—A 40-year-old man
identified as Christopher
Archibong has been sentenced to
death by hanging for armed
robbery by a state High Court
sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Archibong was convicted,
yesterday, on a two-count charge
of armed robbery and conspiracy
to commit armed robbery.
While delivering his judgment,
Justice Okon Okon submitted
that Archibong was guilty of
robbing one Bassey Isaac Akpan,
a 43-year-old public servant in his
residence, Nung Uyo Idoro, Uyo
on April 26, 2017.
Justice Okon held that the
offence committed by Archibong
was punishable under Sections 6
(b) and 1 (2) (a) of the Robbery
and Firearms (Special Provisions)
Act Laws of the Federation of
Nigeria, 2004.
He said Archibong be hanged
by the neck until he is dead and
prayed God to have mercy upon
his soul.
Earlier, the Police Investigation
Officer, Sergeant Ntuen
Christopher of ‘D’ Division, Itam,
said the accused confessed to the
crime and even took the Police to
where he kept his locally made
pistol and two cartridges on top
of his house’s ceiling.
commercial driver and burnt him
inside his bus in Ilobu. Their actions
caused the crisis. They damaged
cars and other property. As at today
(Monday) we have recorded four
casualties.
“There is little peace this morning
in the area. They brought the police
and soldiers. They are even
threatening to burn a new
generation bank sited in our
community. They have burned a lot
of houses and planning to burn our
palace.
“We are not leaving the land for
anybody, the government has
gazetted the land that it is our land.
I appeal to those that are still
holding weapons to drop them and
embrace peace.”
However, the Jagun of Ilobu, who
is also the Legal Adviser to Ilobu
Descendants Union, Chief Goke
By Gabriel
Enogholase
BENIN— A 61-year-old
woman, Mrs Stella Omoigui,
has demanded N50 million
compensation for her 11year-old
son, Osasu Omoigui, who was
reportedly hit by a stray bullet in
his genital during #EndSARS
protest.
Omoigui, a petty trader,
yesterday, told the Edo State Judicial
Panel of Inquiry for victims of SARS
and related abuses in Benin that
her 11-year-old son was hit by stray
bullets from the police officers who
were dispersing the #EndSARS
protesters when running an errand
for her.
She said the incident happened
along Old Sapele Road, Benin City,
when she asked the said Osasu, a
primary three pupil of Maria
Christian Academy to go and give
his father ripe plantain.
She said her son was later treated
and discharged from the University
of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH
She said ever since the incident,
she has been spending her little
resources on him.
Omoigui said the little Osasu can
only pass out urine through a fixed
pipe on his abdomen, a situation
that has forced him to always be on
wrappers instead of trousers.
She said the condition has also
forced him to stop going to school.
She, however, pleaded with the
panel to grant her son N50 million
as compensation for the pains being
suffered and also take care of his
medical bills.
On the part of little Osasu, he said
Property destroyed.
Ogunsola, said the Erin-Osun
residents started the crisis.
He said three Ilobu indigenes had
been killed while one person is
critically ill at the Osun State
University Teaching Hospital,
Osogbo, adding that over 100
houses were also destroyed in the
community.
He said: “On Saturday, February
6, 2021, around 1:30 pm, Erin Osun
people mobilised gunmen to the
land and destroyed about 100
houses belonging to Ilobu people.
Our people, who were returning
from Aro and Ara villages were shot.
They have been admitted in
UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital.
"Three of them are dead, one in
critical condition. That was how it
escalated. They mobilised to Aro
junction and were shooting our
people. So, our people used
everything at their disposal to defend
themselves.
“Everything is calm now. We did
not start the crisis, it is Erin that
always start the crisis, but if they do
not start it, we won’t react."
Meanwhile, Commissioner of
Police, Olawale Olokode, said the
police had intensified patrol of the
areas but said only a dead body was
found in the communities.
#EndSARS: Mother of boy hit by stray bullet in scrotum
demands N50m compensation
he would like to be a medical doctor
when he grows up.
“I want to be a medical doctor.
Please, the government and every
spirited individual should help me,”
he said.
Touched by the condition of the
11-year- old Osasu, chairman,
Judicial Panel of Inquiry, Justice Ada
Ehigiamusoe (retd) said the child’s
condition must be treated with
prompt attention.
“I have a medical doctor in my
team, looking at this boy of about
11 years old, he is unable to dress
properly like a normal human being,
we found him to be wrapped in
wrappers and the medical doctor in
my team examined him and found
that he is badly damaged in his
genital region and we have
reviewed that this calls for an
emergency intervention.
“We will do the necessary things
that will be required of us just like
the state government has always
done, that matters of this nature be
treated promptly. If you recall, we
have similar matters of about two of
deaf and dumb and promptly, the
state government intervened.
“They did not even wait for us to
make our final recommendations.
So, I am sure with this, look at the
condition of the boy, so pathetic, and
it is not the police, it is a stray bullet.
“It is one of those things, the
consequences of that protest, we
can’t lay our hands on anybody but
we will try our best to make the
adequate recommendations."
Justice Ehigiamusoe also led
panel members to raise money for
him immediately.
Gunmen abduct couple in Delta’s
varsity community
By Perez Brisibe
A
businessman and his wife,
identified as Ojo and Alice,
were reportedly abducted at the
Erho axis along the old Abraka/
Eku road, Abraka in Ethiope East
Local Government Area of Delta
State on Sunday.
While details of the incident
were still sketchy at press time,
sources said the couple were
heading home when they were
ambushed at a bad spot along the
road by hoodlums, who took
them to an unknown destination.
Though efforts to speak with the
state Police Public Relations
Officer, Onome Onovwakpoyeya,
were fruitless, but a source at the
Abraka police station confirmed
the incident when contacted.
The source, who spoke on
condition of anonymity, said the
hoodlums also went away with the
Venza car belonging to the
couple.
“The husband owns a popular
boutique in Abraka and was on
his way home with his family
when the hoodlums struck, but
efforts are currently being put in
place to ensure that they are
rescued unhurt and the culprits
brought to book,” the source
added.
Hearing on final
forfeiture of
Patience
Jonathan’s
$5.8m, N2.4bn
fixed for April
13
By Onozure Dania
LAGOS—A Federal High
Court sitting in Lagos,
yesterday, fixed April 13 for the
hearing of final forfeiture of
$5,781,173; $55 million and
N2.4 billion, allegedly
acquired by former First Lady,
Dame Patience Jonathan.
Justice Chuka Obiozor
adjourned till April 13 after
counsel to the parties
appeared before the court over
the matter.
The Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission, EFCC,
had sometimes in 2017
commenced the hearing of the
suit against Mrs Jonathan
alongside LA Wari Furniture
and Bathes before Justice
Mojisola Olatoregun, who
retired from the Bench in 2019.
The monies were said to be
warehoused by Skye Bank Plc
and Ecobank Plc respectively.
Justice Olatoregun had on
April 26, 2017, ordered the
temporary forfeiture of the
monies, sequel to an ex-parte
application by EFCC, the order
which was affirmed by both
Court of Appeal and Supreme
Court.
However, midway to the
conclusion of hearing on the
final forfeiture on the said
money, Justice Olatoregun
retired from the Bench, the
development compelled the
Chief Registrar of the court to
re-assign the matter to Justice
Obiozor for hearing.
At the resumed hearing of
the matter, yesterday, EFCC’s
counsel, Mr Abass
Muhammad, narrated to
Justice Obiozor how far the
matter had gone.
Abass said: “This matter is a
suit instituted before your
learned brother, Justice
Olatoregun now retired, where
we prayed for the final
forfeiture of the sum of
$5.781,173, 55 million USD,
warehoused in Skye Bank Plc
and N2. 421, 953, 502. 78
billion, the property of LA Wari
Furniture and Bathes in
Ecobank Plc.
“It was instituted and an
interim order was granted on
April 24, 2017, upon which it
went up to Supreme Court and
application for its final
forfeiture was moved but the
trial judge didn’t deliver
judgment before retiring.
“It was upon that fact that the
file was transferred to the
registry where it was
reassigned to this court.”
Mr Kolawole Salami, who
stood-in for Patience
Jonathan’s counsel, Mr
Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN),
conceded to the submission of
the EFCC’s counsel.
With the consent of parties
and court’s convenience, the
matter was adjourned till April
13 for the commencement of the
hearing of all applications on
the matter.