Headline

DSS, Prison Officials clash over re-arrest of Ex CBN Gov. Emefiele

Published

9 months ago

July 25, 2023

There was pandemonium at the premises of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday, following an attempt by the Department of State Security Service to rearrest former governor of Central Bank Godwin Emefiele.

FELLOW PRESS reports that Emefiele was charged by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation under the Ministry of Justice.

He is standing trial before Justice Nicholas Oweibo, on a two-counts charge of illegal possession of firearms

He had pleaded not guilty to charge and was granted bail in the sum of N20 million with one surety in like sum.

The court had adjourned the case until Nov. 14 for trial and had ordered a remand of the defendant in the correctional service pending perfection of his bail.

Meanwhile, after the case was adjourned, the defendant remained in the courtroom several hours after the case ended.

It was gathered by newsmen who equally waited all the time in court ‘s premises, that the defendant may likely be re-arrested by the DSS.

The environment of the court was filled with armed men of the DSS, who were seen waiting with guns at the entrance to the courtroom where the defendant was arraigned.

Meanwhile, when a top official of the Nigerian Correctional centre made attempt to take the defendant into custodybof the correctional seevice as ordered by the court, officials of the DSS resisted the move.

Officiala of the DSS were seen pushing him off and ordering all journalists to move out of the viccinity while brandishing their guns.

All visitors to the court were seen running for safety.

At press time, the defendant is still inside the courtroom and it is unclear what the situation will be going forward

Headline

Fagbemi warns against obstructing EFCC from performing its lawful duty

Published

5 days ago

April 18, 2024

Fellow Press

The Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN has warned against obstructing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from carrying out its lawful duty .

Fagbemi’s warning is contained in a statement in Abuja.

“This is a matter of very grave concern, it is now beyond doubt that the EFCC is given power by the law to invite any person of interest to interact with them in the course of their investigations into any matter, regardless of status.

“Therefore, the least that we can all do when invited, is not to put any obstruction in the way of EFCC, but to honourably answer their invitation.

“A situation where public officials who are themselves subject of protection by law enforcement agents will set up a stratagem of obstruction to the civil and commendable efforts of the EFCC to perform its duty is to say the least, insufferably disquieting’’.

He added that running away from the law will not resolve issues at stake but only exacerbate them.

“Nigeria has a vibrant judicial system that is capable of protecting everyone who follows the rule of law in seeking protection.

“I therefore encourage anyone who has been invited by the EFCC or any other agency to immediately toe the path of decency and civility by honouring such invitation instead of embarking on a temporising self-help and escapism.

“This can only put our country in bad light before the rest of the world’’.

He said institutions of state should be allowed to function effectively and efficiently.

“I stand for the rule of law and will promptly call EFCC, and indeed any other agency to order when there is an indication of any transgressions of the fundamental rights of any Nigerian by any of the agencies’’.

NAN reports that the EFCC had on Wednesday warned members of the public that it was a criminal offence to obstruct officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties.

Section 38(2)(a(b) of the EFCC Establishment Act makes it an offence to prevent officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties. Culprits risk a jail term of not less than five years.

The warning , the EFCC said, became necessary against the background of the increasing tendency by persons and groups under investigation by the Commission to take the laws into their hands by recruiting thugs to obstruct lawful operations of the EFCC.

On several occasions, the anti graft agency said, operatives of the Commission have had to exercise utmost restraint in the face of such provocation to avoid a breakdown of law and order.

Headline

Unknown Gunmen Abduct Channelstv Reporter In Port-harcourt

Published

2 weeks ago

April 12, 2024

Ifunaya Emeka

Some unknown gunmen have kidnapped Joshua Rogers, the ChannelsTV reporter in Port-Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

Politics Nigeria learnt that Rogers was picked up close to his residence at Rumuosi in Port Harcourt and to an unknown destination by the gunmen around 9pm on Thursday, April 11.

The reporter was driving his official ChannelsTV branded car when the hoodlums accosted, pointed a gun at him and took him away in the same vehicle.

Rogers was said to be returning from his official assignment in Government House after a trip to Andoni for a government event when the incident happened.

Already, the gunmen were said to have contacted his wife and demanded a N30million ransom for bis release.

His cameraman confirmed the incident and appealed to his abductors to set him free unconditionally.