Pregnant Female Student Commits Suicide

Residents of Apamini Annex Road, Rumuokoro community, in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, were shocked when they learnt that a teenager girl living in the neighbourhood, identified only as Abibatu, had allegedly committed suicide.

Abibatu, who was a student of one of the secondary schools in the area, was said to have taken insecticide which led to her death.

Sources told Punch that the 17-year-old was impregnated by a yet-to-be identified person.

Abibatu, who was angrily chastised by her parents on Friday, was said to have purchased the insecticide from one of the shop owners in the neighbourhood, who was not aware of her plan to kill herself.

A source from the area said Abibatu’s corpse was found on Saturday with her mouth reeking of the insecticide she had allegedly gulped.

“On Saturday morning, we heared that the girl was dead. We later learnt that she took mosquito killer. We also heard that her parents were angry with her because she got pregnant. She might have committed suicide because of the shame.

“We know her as a very calm person and we never knew she was capable of such act; we never knew she could take her own life in such a manner,” the source said.

The parents of the girl could not be reached for comments as neighbours said they (parents) were too distraught to speak on the incident.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Nnamdi Omoni, told Punch in a telephone chat that although the matter had not been reported to the police, he was aware of it.

Omoni said, “I heard that the parents chased the girl out of the house on noticing that she was pregnant. But the girl went to commit suicide.

“The parents appear to be afraid to go to the police. For now, nobody has come to report that matter. The command is not aware because there is no complaint before it.”

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Trump To Buhari: Killing Of Christians In Nigeria Must Stop

The United States President, Donald Trump, on Monday described the killing of Christians in Nigeria as a serious problem, saying the US would not accept it.

Trump also condemned the burning of churches and urged the Buhari government to ensure security in the affected areas.

He said the government of the US and that of Nigeria would work hard to resolve the problem.

Trump said this shortly before he entered into a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Oval Office in the White House, Washington DC.

“We have met before, we have a great relationship. I look forward to our discussion today again, especially as it relates to terrorism. Terrorism all over the world is a hotbed and we are going to be stopping it.

“We have had very serious problems with Christians who are being murdered in Nigeria; We are going to be working on that problem very, very hard because we cannot allow that to happen,” he said.

Trump who said his government had decimated the ISIS over the last 12 months, said Boko Haram had been terrible.

He asked Buhari how he was handling the issue of the abducted Chibok and Dapchi girls.

Buhari said his administration had not given up on the remaining Dapchi girl and the Chibok girls.

“The Chibok girls kidnap was before we came; we rescued some of them. The Dapchi girls were 106, we rescued 100, four died, and one is still in captivity. We are very grateful to the United Nations Organisation that is acting as a go-between and is helping out. We have not given up on the last Dapchi girl,” he said.

The President insisted that Libya crisis and Muammar Ghaddafi were responsible for herdsmen killings.

He said, “The problem of cattle herders is a very long historical problem. Before now, Nigerian herders were known to carry sticks and machetes and cut follies for their animals, but these ones are carrying AK-47.”

Nigeria, US to repatriate $500m looted fund –Buhari 
Later, at a joint press conference with Trump after a meeting of the two leaders at the White House, Buhari said the US and Nigeria were collaborating to repatriate over $500m stolen from Nigeria.

He said the funds were stashed away in banks across the world.

He said, “Our two governments have put the machinery in place for our respective Attorneys-General to collaborate in ensuring the return to Nigeria of over $500m looted funds stashed away in banks around the world.

“In this connection, we congratulate the US government on launching a Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative which was spearheaded by the US Department of Justice Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering.

“We hope that we could continue to count on the US support in this area.”

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Tears As Body of Female Corper Who Died In Camp Goes Home

The Family, friends and associates of a late member of the National Youth Service Corps, Eva Amadi, wept uncontrollably on Monday as the body of the deceased was conveyed from Ilorin, the Kwara State capital to her home town in Rivers State.

Amadi, who was among new corps members undergoing orientation in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, reportedly suffered a bone fracture during a morning drill on Monday, April 23 and died on Thursday.

A native of Rivers State, she attended the University of Port Harcourt where she obtained a Bachelor degree in Oil and Gas Engineering.

The Public Relations Officer of the NYSC in Kwara, Mr. Oladipo Morakinyo, in a telephone interview with The Punch, confirmed that the body of the deceased was conveyed in an NYSC ambulance from the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, where she was confirmed dead and embalmed, to Port Harcourt, capital of Rivers State.

He noted that the Federal Government, through the NYSC, bought the casket and paid the hospital and embalment bills, as well as other burial expenses.

Meanwhile, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has said that Amadi should be immortalised.

Saraki, who paid a condolence visit to the officials and corps members at the Yikpata Orientation camp, also described Amadi’s death as a sad event.

The Senate President noted that the facilities at the camp were inadequate and he pledged that efforts would be made to upgrade them.

“Please stay focused and committed. We promise that we will do our best to ensure that the future is bright. We are there thinking of you and to see how to make your life and time here very fruitful,” he told the corps members.

The Kwara State Coordinator of the NYSC, Mr. Remigus Amaefule, described the deceased as “a young lady who was full of life, intelligent, beautiful and was very active in all the camp activities”.

Also, the NYSC Director-General, Brig-Gen. Zakari Kazaure, described Amadi’s death as painful. He said that all corps members mobilised for national service were covered by a life insurance policy. He expressed optimism that the Federal Government would pay compensation to the family of the late corps member.

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Finally, National Assembly to pass 2018 budget this week?

Barring last minute changes, the National Assembly would receive the report on the 2018 budget from its joint Committee on Appropriation tomorrow (Wednesday).

Investigations indicated that the laying of the N8.612tn budget would be preparatory to its possible passage on Thursday.

A parliamentary source informed The Punch in Abuja on Monday, “We will be in May on Tuesday; that means the country will run out of the 2017 budget in a matter of weeks. Members have come under pressure; they have had to work very hard in the past days to ensure that the report is ready.

“The blame of the delay in the passage of the budget is both on the Executive and partly the legislature.”

Investigations by Punch showed that the Appropriation Bill, earlier planned for passage on April 24, failed because of “the enormous volume of work” before the various committees and particularly, the anchor Committee on Appropriation.

Last week, the Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Mr. Chris Azubuogu, confirmed that the National Assembly would take up to May to pass the budget.

Speaking on the volume of work, he had stated, “There are over 7,000 pages of work before us. So, you can appreciate what I am saying.”

However, on Monday, it was gathered that much of the work had been tidied up for the presentation of the report on Wednesday.

A source told said, “Except another thing changes, the plan is to have the report from the Appropriation Committee on Wednesday.

“The following day, being Thursday, hopefully, the budget will be passed.”

When contacted for comments, the Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Abdulrazak Namdas, refused to be categorical about the dates.

He made a general statement that this week would be devoted to the budget.

President Muhammadu Buhari had proposed a benchmark price of $45 for a barrel of crude oil, up from the $44 passed for the 2017 budget.

Investigations indicated that the driving force for the possible jack up in the benchmark price was the rise in the global price of crude.

It was learnt that lawmakers were considering a new benchmark of between $47 and $52 per barrel.

A source stated, “In November 2017, when the President brought the budget, the price of crude was $50 and above. Today, it is nearing $75, which is a good development for our budget.

“It then means that with additional funds coming in, the huge deficit of N2.005tn can also be addressed, for example.”

The N8.612tn budget is up from the N7.44tn appropriated in 2017 by N1.17tn, or a 16 percent difference.

But, it is unclear what the final figure to leave the National Assembly will be when it is passed.

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N3.9b ‘Fraud’: EFCC quizzes ex-Aviation Minister Osita Chidoka

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday interrogated a former Minister of Aviation Osita Chidoka over an alleged N3.9billion fraud in connection with the procurement and Installation of sensitive security cameras/infrastructure in five International Airports in Nigeria.

The contract was awarded to Bri and Bru Limited.

Before Chidoka was invited, the EFCC had quizzed the Managing Director of Bri and Bru Limited, the managers of the five international airports, the managing director of the Federal Airports Authority Nigeria( FAAN) and some offiicials of the ministry of aviation.

A top source told The Nation that, the ex-minister arrived at the 15 A Awolowo Road, Ikoyi Lagos office of the EFCC at about 12.30pm.

As at 6.30pm, EFCC detectives were still grilling the ex-Minister, who is a former Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).

A fact-sheet on the investigation said: “The former minister is being quizzed in a case of alleged conspiracy and diversion of public fund in the N3.9billion contract for the procurement and Installation of sensitive security cameras/ infrastructure at the five International Airports, awarded to a company named Bri and Bru Limited.

“Part of the said contract sum was allegedly fraudulently diverted to the use of the company and its cronies rather than the execution of the project under the watch of Chidoka as minister.

“In the course of investigation, it was discovered that upon awarding the contract, payments were to be made according to stages of job done and the first payment of 15 per cent was done via the company’s Heritage Bank Account and also another payment of 60 per cent was done which brought the total payment received by Bri and Bru for the execution of the project to 75 per cent or N2,865,961,323,19.

“Investigators discovered that Bri and Bru sub contracted the project to another company Surcomtec Nigeria Limited owned by one Chibuzo Obi. The total sum of $4,370,365.00 which is the equivalent of N2,400,000,000.00 was traced to Surcumtec inc Account in America ostensibly for the purchase of equipment for the project.

“From the account of the company various payments were made to the former minister and some of his family members, director of Consumer Investment Limited and his younger brother, Obinna Chidoka, who is a member of the House of Representatives.

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No Money For INEC To Prepare For 2019 Elections?

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is bracing for next year’s general elections – without cash.

The polls are 291 days away, but there is no money for INEC’.

It has a N300 billion budget which has not received attention.

The cash squeeze is likely to affect the timelines for the elections, unless the Executive and the Legislature move fast to reverse the situation.

INEC has to procure more than 800 materials for the conduct of a successful poll but none has been bought.

Some materials needed for the polls take six to seven months to procure.

INEC in January submitted over N300 billion budget to the Presidency for vetting and presentation to the National Assembly.

The cash is expected to be drawn from a special vote outside the commission’s 2018 budget, which is stuck at the National Assembly alongside those of other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

A source in INEC told The Nation: “We have submitted a budget of over N300billion for the 2019 poll but there has been no response or feedback from the Executive and the National Assembly. We have made a formal request for funds.

“We have about 291 days to the 2019 general elections, we have not bought a pin. Yet, we have to submit all our procurements to due process.

“Lack of funds is really affecting our preparation for the poll. We are behind time, going by our past schedule for the release of funds for 2011 and 2015 elections.

“For 2011 elections, INEC started drawing down the election budget in 2009 and by 2010, we had received more than 90 per cent of the funds required.”

The source added: “INEC needs to procure over 800 materials for the 2019 polls, especially some vital components of Smart Card Readers, Ballot Papers, Ballot Boxes, Result Sheets, among others.

“Some of these materials take six to seven months to procure. And if you add due process clause, they may require eight months to get.

“We need to learn from the past. Despite the fact that by 2014, INEC had made substantial progress on preparation for the 2015 poll, it still asked for a little extension of the timeline.”

The source expressed fears that the poll timetable might be affected if funds were not released on time to INEC.

The source said: “Even if we get the election budget, we have to work between 8am and 2am daily to put everything in proper shape for the poll.

“This is why we want to appeal to all those concerned with the release of the funds to assist INEC.”

According to the polls timetable, party primaries for the presidential, governorship, federal and state elections will begin on August 18 and end on October 7.

The presidential election will hold on February 16, 2019, the governorship and state assembly elections will be conducted on March 2, 2019.

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Ex-Governor’s Son Arraigned For N40million ‘Fraud’ In Lagos

Son of former Oyo State Governor Akinkunle Olunloyo, has been arraigned before an Igbosere chief Magistrates’ Court in an alleged N40 million fraud.

Olunloyo, 40, a former night club owner, was charged alongside his entertainment firm, Code Media Ltd, by the Police Special Fraud Unit, (PSFU), Lagos.

They are standing trial on a two-count charge of conspiracy and fraud before Chief Magistrate O. O. Oshin.

Prosecuting counsel Sylvester Azubuike said Olunloyo committed the offence in Lagos, “sometime in November 2014,” in connivance with accomplices, who are on the run.

He said the defendants approached a financial institution for a loan facility and “with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N40million” property of the complainant.

Olunloyo allegedly told the complainant that “the money is to facilitate the renovation of your company’s entertainment premises and hall respectively.”

According to the police, Olunloyo converted the N40million to his own use.

Azubuike said the offences contravened Sections 312(1)(b), 312(3) and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Olunloyo pleaded not guilty.

His counsel, Seyi Soremekun applied for his bail on self-recognisance or on liberal terms.

Soremekun added: “We were served with the charge this morning. The defendant has been attending meetings at the PSFU whenever required.”

Ruling, Chief Magistrate Oshin observed that the defendant is standing trial on another charge before her, and granted him N500,000 bail with one surety in the like sum.

The case continues on June 5.

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