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 FAMILY, FRIENDS CALLED ME MAD FOR BUILDING MOTORCYCLES FROM SCRATCH - BENUE MAN 18th February, 2024   Chief Executive Officer of Lubem Custom Motorcycle Company, Johnson Lubem, tells ABDULLATEEF FOWEWE about reactions to his inventions and why people are not willing to help him What inspired you to start motorcycle production? I’m Johnson Lubem, I am the CEO of the Lubem Custom Company; I am from Gboko, Benue State, and I am 31 years old. What inspired me was the fact that as a child, I didn’t have a bicycle while other kids did due to my parents’ financial circumstances. However, even as an apprentice mechanic, I had a passion for engineering and construction. I didn’t behave like a typical child, instead, I enjoyed building things, which led me to aspire to become a constructor. Unfortunately, my attempt at building a bicycle when I was young was unsuccessful because I lacked the necessary knowledge and equipment. As I grew older, I pursued a career as a motorcycle cus...

 EFCC Arraigns Ibadan Business Woman for N13m Dud Cheque  The Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned a business woman,  Oluwabiyi Peace before Justice O.A. Adeyemi of the Oyo State High Court, sitting in Ibadan for issuing a dud cheque worth N13,000,000 (Thirteen Million Naira) to a customer.  She was arraigned on Wednesday, February 14, 2024 alongside her company, Just Series Nigeria Limited on a one-count charge bordering on issuance of dishonoured cheque. The One Count Charge Reads: “That you Oluwabiyi Peace and Just Series Nigeria Limited, on or about the 29th of June, 2021 at Ibadan within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, issued First City Monument Bank Plc Cheque No. 0037862154, dated 29th of June, 2021 in the sum of (N13, 000, 000.00) Thirteen Million Naira only, made payable to Nuru Bello, which when presented for payment within three months was dishonoured on the grounds that no funds or insufficie...

 PRESS RELEASE WE WILL COLLECTIVELY FRUSTRATE ILLEGAL SALES, THEFT AT PORTS... FPRO As Police Arrest 5, Recover Diverted Goods The Nigeria Police Force has again reiterated its commitment to enforcing all laws and emplacing anti-crime strategies to curb illegal activities at our various ports and around the economic hubs in Nigeria. The commitment is geared towards stimulating the government's agenda of quick economic recovery and development in our dear county.  The commitment was re-echoed when the Eastern Port Police Command confirmed the arrest of 5 suspects in connection with the diversion of bags of wheat belonging to the United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP), and recovery of about 1,238 bags of wheat in Port-Hacourt on the 6th of February 2024.  The 1,840 bags of wheat which were to be transported from Ibeto Port Terminal, Port-Harcourt, to an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp located in Kano State were fraudulently diverted by the drivers tasked with t...

EFCC Arrests Two Chinese, One Other for Suspected Illegal Mining in Ilorin    ...... Nurse, Two others for Suspected Currency Racketeering   Operatives of the Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested two Chinese: Yang Chao, 39, and Xiao Jiang 38 for suspected illegal mining activities.   They were arrested alongside  Chidi Joseph Osuji, 48, suspected to be an accomplice in the illegal business.     Acting on intelligence, the suspects were trailed to their mining sites located at Ogunmakin and Ogere, Ogun State, where they were arrested after days of surveillance.    Preliminary investigations showed that Chao and Chidi are working as factory manager and machine operator respectively with Cruis Chemical Nigeria Limited located at Ogunmakin in Ogun State, while Jiang works with John Odiba Multibiz as an assistant manager in Ogere, Ogun State.   The suspects who operate as a cartel alle...

 EFCC Arrests Banker, POS Agent for Currency Racketeering   Operatives of the Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested a banker, Soberechukwu Inya Ewa and a Point of Sales, POS, cashier, Azubuike Mamwu Obasi for allegedly selling new naira notes to customers for commercial purposes.   The suspects were arrested in the early hours of Friday, February 15, 2024, at Ecobank, Rumuobiakani and Maddox Night club, new Government Reservation Area, GRA, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.   Preliminary investigation showed that Ewa, a banker, allegedly specialises in selling new naira notes of different denominations to POS cashiers for commercial purposes while Obasi was caught engaging in currency racketeering by charging fees for new naira notes. He was arrested while in possession of N554,600.00 (Five Hundred and Fifty Four Thousand, Six Hundred Naira)   The two suspects would soon be charged to court. More photos below...

 South African woman and her boyfriend sentenced to life imprisonment for brutal murder of her husband The High Court in Polokwane, South Africa has sentenced a widow, Tubake Sister Maesela, 44, and her boyfriend, Mmamoraba Jacob Mashiba, 41, to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of her husband, Mogokolodi Cleopass Digama, 53.  The court convicted the love-birds Maesela and Mashiba for the March 2021 brutal murder of Digama, a warrant officer based at the Apel police station in Limpopo. More photos below. 

 A Tennessee deputy and woman he had arrested  mysteriously went missing for 24 hours. They sadly recovered his squad car from the Tennessee River on Thursday. It was one of the first solo arrests he had ever made.  Rookie Deputy R.J. Leonard responded to an incident of a disturbance on a highway bridge around 9:48 p.m. on Wednesday night.  Dispatch had him en route to Meigs County jail 3 minutes later with a female suspect. It was only moments later that dispatch received a strange message they didn't understand. It has since been determined by authorities Deputy Leonard was saying "water". At the same time Deputy Leonard sent a one word message to his wife "arrest". His wife texted back, "that's great," however the message was not received by his phone. After that, Deputy Leonard never showed up at the Meigs County jail or responded to status requests initiating a search for him and his unidentied suspect. Leonard had only been on the job for 2 m...

 Illinois man arrested after tragically stabbing his girlfriend's 9-year-old daughter multiple times.  Officers in Beach Park, Illinois responded to a report of a stabbing. As they arrived on scene they found a young girl suffering from multiple stab wounds. The child was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition. During the course of the investigation, police interviewed the mother who told them she had returned home when she had gotten an alert that her daughter had not shown up at school that morning.  She told officers as she approached the home, her boyfriend Demetrius Fisher, ran from the home. When she entered the home she found her daughter suffering from the attack. Fisher was taken into custody on Thursday and charged with attempted murder. His first court appearance was on Friday. There is no report on how he has pleaded in the case or any possible motive for the attack.

 Missouri man had his friend cut off his feet in a fake farming accident. How badly does someone want an insurance payout? One Missouri man wasn't wiling to give an arm and a leg but apparently had no qualms with a couple of feet. An unamed man who is a paraplegic thought he had come up with a brilliant way to get a large payday. Back in November of 2023 in West Plains, Missouri, a call went out to first responders for a farming accident.   When they arrived on scene, sure enough the man had a tourniquet on each leg and his feet were missing. When we say missing, we mean the feet were literally missing. The man told first responders his feet had been caught in his brush hog while mowing. That was one fact that led first responders to believe that something shady was "afoot".  Another clue was the extremely clean cuts on both feet. This is not indicative of having your feet cut of by a brush hog. The first responders also wondered who had put the tourniquet on the man...

 Pennsylvania mom convicted after strangling her 11-year-old son to keep him from "experiencing financial difficulties"...  In April of 2023, Matthew Whitehead's father called 911 to his Horsham, Pennsylvania home after he discovered the master bedroom door was locked where Matthew had fallen asleep with his mother. He also reported to police the family's Toyota Highlander was missing. When officers arrived on scene and gained entry to the room they found 11-year-old Matthew sadly deceased.  The medical examiner found ligature marks on the front and rear of his neck. Matthew's face was also swollen and he had petechiae around his eyes. Matthew had been strangled by a belt while he was sleeping.  Ruth DiRienzo-Whitehead, Matthew's mom, was arrested soon after.  Police had found her SUV had been driven into the ocean in Cape May, New Jersey.  Police recovered the belt Ruth used to strangle her son in the rear of the vehicle. DiRienzo-Whitehead was found walki...

 I’m being bullied online - Lizzy Anjorin cries out Controversial Nollywood actress and businesswoman, Lizzy Anjorin, has cried out for been “subjected to bullying” by some blogs. Earlier in February, some reports claimed Anjorin stole gold in a market on Lagos Island. The film star denied the allegations, adding that the incident was a “setup” against her. A few days later, the actress was also in the news over a land-grabbing case involving Lateef Lawal, her husband. In a court document obtained by journalists, another actress, Faith Ojo listed Lateef Lawal, Anjorin’s husband, among those sued for demolishing structures on her property. Ojo is seeking N30 million in compensation and demands the defendants cover litigation costs. She also seeks a perpetual injunction against them from entering or developing the land. Ojo confirmed the allegations to be true via her Instagram page on Monday. Expressing her annoyance over the allegations in an Instagram post on Saturday, the actress...

 Feranmi Olaoye takes over from Seun Oloketuyi as BON Awards producer Popular film producer, Seun Oloketuyi has bowed out as the Chief Executive Officer of Best of Nollywood (BON) after 15 years in charge. The longest running Nigerian movie award in a statement also named Feranmi Olaoye as the acting executive producer of the awards.  The statement also disclosed that the organisers of the BON Awards have partnered with Group 8 Ltd, the media firm, for the next five editions of its awards. Group 8 LTD is a media-tech organisation “renowned for its diverse mass and new media assets, including Soundcity, Trybe TV, OnTV, and Spice TV”. BON said the collaboration will “elevate innovation in media and communications” for its events. “Simultaneously, Seun Oloketuyi, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards, is stepping down from the leadership position,” the statement reads in part. “In his place, Feranmi Olaoye has been appointed as the Acting Execu...

 Chief Imam sues Soun of Ogbomoso, council over alleged plan to sack him The Chief Imam of Ogbomoso land, Taliat Ayilara has dragged the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye and the Soun In- Council to court over alleged plans to remove him from office. The suit, marked HOG/7/2024 is to be decided at the Oyo State High Court, Ogbomoso Division. Recall that the Chief Imam was installed in November 2021 during the reign of the immediate past Soun of Ogbomoso land, Oba Jimoh Oyewumi. Ayilara had claimed that the defendants threatened to remove him as the Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomoso. Ayilara insisted that the defendants were appointed to rule under the laws and customs of Ogbomoso to the traditional titles they hold and have no power to remove him from office. He added that the Central Mosque in Ogbomoso land and other mosques and the administration of the mosques is the responsibility of the Muslim community, headed by the Chief Imam. He maintained that the appointment of Imam...

 Third Mainland bridge closed for 24-hour repair  The Third Mainland Bridge will undergo a 24-hour traffic closure, starting from midnight on Sunday, February 18, until midnight on Monday, February 19.  Mrs. Olukorede Kesha, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, revealed this information on Saturday. The closure aims to facilitate crucial repairs on a section of the bridge. “Notification of 24 hours closure of Iyana-Oworonshoki – Lagos Island bound Traffic From 12.00 a.m on Sunday February 18th to 12.00 am on Monday February, 19, 2024. She said: “The federal government through the Federal Ministry of Works wish to inform the motoring public that the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos will not be available for 24 hours for motorists from Iyana Oworonshoki- Lagos Island bound. “Traffic resumes on Monday by 12.00 a.m on this bound. “However, motorists coming out of the Island and heading towards Oworonshoki will have full access throughout the 24 hours closure. “The te...

 2Baba, Rivers prime suspect feared dead in major joint operation  A major security raid in Rivers state spearheaded by the police has reportedly led to the killing of the notorious cult leader, Gift Okpara, aka 2Baba, the prime suspect in the brutal murder of a former Divisional Police Officer, SP Bako Angbashim. The police and other security agencies were said to have coordinated a land and aerial raid simultaneously at the identified hideout of the Iceland cult leader and his gang in Idu-Ekpeye in Ahoada East local government area of the state on Saturday afternoon with 2Baba feared dead after the operation.  Angbashim was ambushed and captured by 2Baba’s  gang in Odiemudie community, Ahoada East LGA of the State in September 2023. The DPO was taken into the forest where he was killed and his body dismembered  and filmed by the cultists. A senior police source, who spoke in confidence, disclosed that 2Baba was hit many times during the raid. He said: “2Baba w...

 Hardship: Ohanaeze chieftain Isiguzoro commends Igbos for not protesting against Tinubu Okechukwu Isiguzoro, a chieftain of apex Igbo sociocultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, on Sunday, commended people of the Southeast for their calmness in abstaining from the series of protests against President Bola Tinubu over the economic hardship across the country. He said the Southeast has always suffered government neglect since the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari till now. He urged Tinubu to implement the recommendations of the 2014 Constitutional Conference amid the hardship confronting Nigeria. In a statement he signed, the factional Secretary-General of Ohanaeze said: “In the wake of nationwide uproar and agitation sparked by escalating living costs, economic distress, and famine, a resolute calmness emanates from the Old Eastern Nigeria, comprising the Southeast and South-South region “The striking serenity and resolute silence amidst the prevalent anger and upheaval...

 STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE  PRESIDENT TINUBU AND PRESIDENT LULA DA SILVA MEET AS BOTH NATIONS SEEK STRONGER TIES ACROSS SECTORS President Bola Tinubu and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Sunday, and had fruitful discussions on comprehensive strengthening of bilateral ties in all fields.  Speaking at the meeting, President Tinubu emphasized the strength of Nigeria's economic potential and influence, saying the country is witnessing a leap forward, despite some short-term reform pains, as his administration is removing all encumbrances to business. The President further explained that his administration is investing in critical sectors of the economy like healthcare, education, and agriculture to ensure the welfare of all Nigerian citizens and to create sustainable economic prosperity for future generations.  "We have a very vibrant population of young Nigerians who are trainable, dependable, and should be empowered. The ec...

Police officers of Isolo division after receiving information from residents, arrested a group of vandals who were in the habit of removing electrical fittings from buildings under renovation and recovered from them wires and tools used to carry out their activities.  The suspects, Amisu Ahmed ‘m’ aged 27 and Abdulahi Ubalawa ‘m’ aged 26 will be arraigned after investigation.  

 Erosion control team from different ministries visits Basden Memorial School, Isulo By Uzoma Ekweaga  Anambra State Commissioner for Housing, Barr. Pauly Onyeka has lauded Governor Chukwuma Soludo's plans to transform the education sector of the state for effective performance. The commissioner gave the commendation when a team of officials from the ministries of Housing and Education as well as Anambra State Erosion Watershed and Climate Change Agency went on fact-finding mission to Basden Memorial Special Education Center lsulo, Orumba South Local Government Area. The Housing commissioner represented by the Director of Building Construction and Maintenance, Mr. Samuel Ojeleke, assured the principal of the school that the State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo would respond quickly to  the erosion problem ravaging the school "This is a special school and we cannot joke with it for whatever reason," he said.  The commissioner also promised to ensure that the governor...

FATAL SHOOTING AT OGBO OGU (PHARMACEUTICAL) MARKET, NIGER BRIDGE HEAD The video circulating on social media where a young man was purportedly shot and killed by the Special Anambra State Anti-Touting Squad (SASA) has caught the attention of Anambra State Government.  The facts are as follows: 1. On Friday the 16th of February, the Special Anambra State Anti-Touting Squad (SASA) was on its usual official assignment to rid the Niger Bridge Head area of Agboros (touts) extorting money from transport operators and buyers from the surrounding markets. 2. In a bid to arrest the erring Agboros, some of them ran into the nearby Ogbo Ogu (pharmaceutical) market. 3. As SASA went after the culprits, some of the market traders launched massive acid attacks on them. Four out the seven man SASA team sustained life threatening injuries from the acid attack and doctors are battling to save their lives in the hospital. 4. As if the acid attack was not effective, the market security personnel starte...

 NDLEA intercepts large consignment of Loud concealed in loudspeakers at Lagos airport . Female lawyer, her mum, boyfriend, their herbalist, Uber driver top list of arrests in Abia, Nasarawa, Edo, Kogi, Kano, Ogun, Ondo, FCT raids  Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have intercepted a large consignment of Loud, a synthetic strong strain of cannabis, concealed in giant loudspeakers tucked in a consolidated cargo imported from New York, United States of America. When the giant wooden boxes dressed as sound speakers seized by NDLEA officers at the NAHCO import shed of the Lagos airport, were opened, the sound boxes were stuffed with sixty (60) bags of the expensive but highly sought-after psychoactive substance, Loud, weighing 33.5 kilograms.  At least, three suspects: a freight agent Akeem Afeez; logistics company manager Babalola Ayodeji Gboyega and the receiver of the consignment Taiwo Olusegun Anuoluwapo have been arrested in follow-up operati...