Photo: Tortured boy rescued from kidnappers’ den in Ogun state

A young boy (pictured left) was recused from a house in Ota, Ogun state just as he was about to be killed for ritual. Below is the full story from Punch

Fate smiled on an unidentified young boy hawking on Alhaji Jamiu Sulaimon Street in Itele, Ota area of Ogun State on Tuesday evening as he was rescued from kidnappers in the area, just as he was about to be killed.

No 3, Alhaji Jamiu Sulaimon, where the boy was rescued is unarguably one of the most beautiful houses on the street but no one could have imagined the horror discovered behind its high walls.

When a Punch correspondent visited the scene on Wednesday morning, a police patrol vehicle was stationed in front of the compound to ward off curious residents and looters.

Upon gaining access to the house, it did not take long for the correspondent to notice a spatter of blood on the walls of almost all the toilets in the house. One particular toilet had more heavy smears of blood on its walls and door.

A resident of the street, Abdulateef Isa, told the Punch correspondent that the rescued boy used to hawk belts on the street.

Isa said, 

“The boy is Igbo, he sells belts and he is known by many in this area even though we don’t really know his name. He was hawking with his friend yesterday (Tuesday) before this whole issue came to light. His friend, who is also an Igbo boy, knew when he was called into the compound but when he waited for more than 30 minutes and his friend had not come out, he raised the alarm.”

A police officer from the Itele Police Division said residents of the area came to the station to report on Tuesday evening that a boy who went into a compound to sell had gone missing.

“Our divisional police officer instantly issued a search warrant and detached a team to the compound. When we got there, a large number of residents had gathered and we had to be strategic in controlling them for us to gain access.

“We got there and met a young man who said he was the brother of the owner of the house. He started opening each of the rooms, acting calm and repeating that, ‘See for yourself, each room is empty.’

“But our DPO insisted that she perceived an odour that was abnormal. She asked one of us to climb through a window and check the corner of a toilet. And there was the boy, covered in blood. He was even too weak to shout.

“From the look of things, the kidnappers had already attempted to kill the boy but hurriedly abandoned him and fled because the victim’s friend raised the alarm. The man we arrested must have been given order to stay behind and divert suspicion.”

The boy was said to have been blinded in one eye as caked blood covered one of his eye sockets. There was a bloody deep gash on his neck also, which was suspected to have come from an attempt to slaughter him.

The Punch correspondent learnt that the boy was immediately rushed to the hospital while the man found in the house was arrested. The agent in charge of the house was also later arrested.

Few minutes after the police left the compound, the residents set the house ablaze and every valuable in the house was destroyed.

A four-bedroom bungalow, painted in and out with fancy paint, it was clear the house was built by a wealthy person.

Residents said the house was completed about three years ago.

“The generator in this house runs all day long,” one resident said. “The men we see coming in and going out of the house keep to themselves. All we know is that so many people come into the house. Nobody has gone missing on this street before, so nobody had any reason to suspect anything,” Mr. Olusegun Adio, who lives a few houses down the street, said.

One of the leaders of the community, Alhaji Isa Jimoh, who notified the police about the missing boy, said he never had any inkling that kidnappers could be operating a den in the area.

Jimoh, who lives about seven houses away from the horror house, said, 

“I have no idea who owns that house and I have no idea when it was built. The short time it was built from start to finish, I was not around then.

“When I got report that a child who was hawking and called inside the compound never came out, I had to inform the police because I realised it was not the duty of residents to storm the place.

“The first time the police came, the place was under lock and key. They went back to their office and when they came back, they broke the gate, arrested a man inside there and discovered the boy almost dead on the floor of one of the toilets.”

Jimoh said no one had ever been missing in the area, which was why they probably did not suspect any criminal activity in the house.

Spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, said the suspects arrested in the case have been transferred to the Department of Criminal Investigation, Eleweran, Abeokuta.

He said, 

 “Our men from the Itele Division moved in as soon as they got a report about the house suspected to be used by kidnappers and succeeded in rescuing the boy alive even though he was in bad shape.

“The boy will pull through as he is currently receiving treatment in a hospital. In the meantime, the Comissioner of Police, Mr. Ikemefuna Okoye, has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the case. Efforts are being made to apprehend other accomplices who fled the house. This is just an evidence of our determination to stamp out criminality in this state.”

Culled from Punch

Photo: Tortured boy rescued from kidnappers’ den in Ogun state

A young boy (pictured left) was recused from a house in Ota, Ogun state just as he was about to be killed for ritual. Below is the full story from Punch

Fate smiled on an unidentified young boy hawking on Alhaji Jamiu Sulaimon Street in Itele, Ota area of Ogun State on Tuesday evening as he was rescued from kidnappers in the area, just as he was about to be killed.

No 3, Alhaji Jamiu Sulaimon, where the boy was rescued is unarguably one of the most beautiful houses on the street but no one could have imagined the horror discovered behind its high walls.

When a Punch correspondent visited the scene on Wednesday morning, a police patrol vehicle was stationed in front of the compound to ward off curious residents and looters.

Upon gaining access to the house, it did not take long for the correspondent to notice a spatter of blood on the walls of almost all the toilets in the house. One particular toilet had more heavy smears of blood on its walls and door.

A resident of the street, Abdulateef Isa, told the Punch correspondent that the rescued boy used to hawk belts on the street.

Isa said, 

“The boy is Igbo, he sells belts and he is known by many in this area even though we don’t really know his name. He was hawking with his friend yesterday (Tuesday) before this whole issue came to light. His friend, who is also an Igbo boy, knew when he was called into the compound but when he waited for more than 30 minutes and his friend had not come out, he raised the alarm.”

A police officer from the Itele Police Division said residents of the area came to the station to report on Tuesday evening that a boy who went into a compound to sell had gone missing.

“Our divisional police officer instantly issued a search warrant and detached a team to the compound. When we got there, a large number of residents had gathered and we had to be strategic in controlling them for us to gain access.

“We got there and met a young man who said he was the brother of the owner of the house. He started opening each of the rooms, acting calm and repeating that, ‘See for yourself, each room is empty.’

“But our DPO insisted that she perceived an odour that was abnormal. She asked one of us to climb through a window and check the corner of a toilet. And there was the boy, covered in blood. He was even too weak to shout.

“From the look of things, the kidnappers had already attempted to kill the boy but hurriedly abandoned him and fled because the victim’s friend raised the alarm. The man we arrested must have been given order to stay behind and divert suspicion.”

The boy was said to have been blinded in one eye as caked blood covered one of his eye sockets. There was a bloody deep gash on his neck also, which was suspected to have come from an attempt to slaughter him.

The Punch correspondent learnt that the boy was immediately rushed to the hospital while the man found in the house was arrested. The agent in charge of the house was also later arrested.

Few minutes after the police left the compound, the residents set the house ablaze and every valuable in the house was destroyed.

A four-bedroom bungalow, painted in and out with fancy paint, it was clear the house was built by a wealthy person.

Residents said the house was completed about three years ago.

“The generator in this house runs all day long,” one resident said. “The men we see coming in and going out of the house keep to themselves. All we know is that so many people come into the house. Nobody has gone missing on this street before, so nobody had any reason to suspect anything,” Mr. Olusegun Adio, who lives a few houses down the street, said.

One of the leaders of the community, Alhaji Isa Jimoh, who notified the police about the missing boy, said he never had any inkling that kidnappers could be operating a den in the area.

Jimoh, who lives about seven houses away from the horror house, said, 

“I have no idea who owns that house and I have no idea when it was built. The short time it was built from start to finish, I was not around then.

“When I got report that a child who was hawking and called inside the compound never came out, I had to inform the police because I realised it was not the duty of residents to storm the place.

“The first time the police came, the place was under lock and key. They went back to their office and when they came back, they broke the gate, arrested a man inside there and discovered the boy almost dead on the floor of one of the toilets.”

Jimoh said no one had ever been missing in the area, which was why they probably did not suspect any criminal activity in the house.

Spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, said the suspects arrested in the case have been transferred to the Department of Criminal Investigation, Eleweran, Abeokuta.

He said, 

 “Our men from the Itele Division moved in as soon as they got a report about the house suspected to be used by kidnappers and succeeded in rescuing the boy alive even though he was in bad shape.

“The boy will pull through as he is currently receiving treatment in a hospital. In the meantime, the Comissioner of Police, Mr. Ikemefuna Okoye, has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the case. Efforts are being made to apprehend other accomplices who fled the house. This is just an evidence of our determination to stamp out criminality in this state.”

Culled from Punch

Intrigues behind Njodi’s emergence as UNIMAID’s VC

ON Tuesday June 3, Prof. Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, assumed office as the ninth vice chancellor of the University of Maiduguri, (UNIMAID) succeeding Prof. Mala Mohammed Daura, whose tenure expired on Monday, June 2, thanks to the intervention of the supervising Minister of Education, Mr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, who spearheaded the resolution of the protracted disagreement between the Pro-Chancellor/Chairman and members of the Governing Council of the university, over Daura’ successor.
   At a meeting, which the minister convened in Abuja barely three weeks ago, between the Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of Governing Council, Mallam Lawan Bukar Marguba; principal officers of the university and some top officials of the ministry to resolve the stalemate that trailed Njodi’s appointment at a special council meeting at Kanem Suites, Abuja, on May 20, Wike, a lawyer was reported to have directed Marguba, who has been stoutly opposed Njodi’s emergence to respect the decision of the majority of the council members who voted to appoint Njodi. Marguba was also advised to go to court, if he held anything against the new vice chancellor.
  Shortly after the meeting with the minister, the council in a two-paragraph statement in Abuja, signed by the school’s Registrar, Babagana Muhammad Aji affirmed the Njodi’s appointment.
  The statement said the appointment of Njodi, a professor of Physical and Health Education, and immediate past deputy vice chancellor (Academic Services) of the university takes effect from June 3, for a non-renewable period of five years.
   The statement further stated that the appointment was “duly certified” by the Governing Council of the university at a special meeting it held on May 20th, 2014, having emerged the overall winner out of the 11 candidates interviewed for the position.
   The minister’s intervention came on the heels of steps taken by the Federal Character Commission (FCC), which has been actively involved in the selection process and the eventual certification of the newly appointed university helmsman.
   The commission’s stamp of approval was contained in a Certificate of Compliance with Ref FCC/099/S.5E/19/11/267, dated May 23rd, 2014. The letter addressed to the University of Maiduguri entitled, “Authority to Issue Letter of Appointment to Prof. Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi as the Vice Chancellor of University of Maiduguri.”
   According to the document, “On no account shall the name of the approved candidate be substituted/replaced, altered without prior written consent of the commission.”
 Marguba has been in serious disagreement with his other council members since the commencement of the selection process in April. The acrimony stirred up fresh debate about the “indigenisation” of the appointment of vice chancellors for federal universities.
  Though the current leadership of the National Universities Commission (NUC) and even the one before it has been working towards eradicating it from the Nigerian university system, the trend, it appears, would continue to haunt the nation for some time to come.
 The process of appointing a new vice chancellor for the school began well, but when it was apparent that the candidate anointed by the powers that be was far from the clinching the coveted office, things began to get awry.
  In line with the legal requirements of the laws establishing the university, the council on January 23rd this year advertised the position of the vice chancellor, thus marking the beginning of the process of selecting a new helmsman.
  The law also requires the university to constitute a search team and a selection board from its statutory organs, made up of the Governing Council, the Senate and the Congregation. Members of the search team and selection board were elected accordingly. Legally, the process leading up to the selection of a vice chancellor is a joint task executed majorly by the Governing Council and the Senate of the institution.
  The joint council and Senate selection Board comprises two external members of the council, appointed by the Federal Government; two professors from the Senate, who are not members of the council, with the Pro-Chancellor as the chairman.
   Accordingly, Dr. Paul Attah and Chief Innocent Oparadike, a journalist, both of whom are representing public interest in the council were elected as external members on the Joint Selections Board, while profs. B. R. Badejo and Abdulrahman Tahir represented the Senate of the university and Marguba chaired the panel as stipulated by law.
  Over a period of three days from April 22 to 24, the Joint Council and Senate Selections Board met and successfully interviewed all 11 applicants. Both the Education Ministry and FCC sent in representatives to observe the process. They were Mrs. Oluwatofunmi E. Akamo, a deputy director while Mr. Haruna Mamuda Gadam stood in for FCC.
   At the end of the three-day exercise, the board recommended three top candidates for final selection in order of their performance at the interview.
  On the score sheet, Njodi amassed 90.1 per cent and was followed by professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isa Hussaini Marte who scored 71.2 per cent. Prof. Abubakar Kundiri of the Faculty of Agriculture came third with 69.5 percent.
  At a special meeting of the council convened on April 25th to consider the report of the exercise, Marguba, who had signed the final report of the selection suddenly, aborted the meeting claiming to be in receipt of an anonymous petition against one of the applicants, apparently, the candidate with the highest scores.
  Against convention, he held on to the report and ordered that a summary, without the scores be presented to council members, on the excuse that he was going to investigate the anonymous petition. Of course members objected and sensing that he would not have his way, he allegedly decided to unilaterally announce the adjournment of the special meeting with no decision reached by the council.
   Not long, some groups including the University of Maiduguri Alumni Association, Concerned Stakeholders and Concerned Professionals of Borno State petitioned President Goodluck alleging corruption and forgery in the selection process.
  In their petition to the minister, signed by one Prof. Shettima Dala, the UNIMAID Alumni Association alleged that bribery, perjury and corruption have tainted the performance of the council. They further alleged that the Federal Government’s nominees on the council had compromised their positions and as such, were promoting the emergence of a candidate with questionable credentials.
   The association therefore, demanded for a transparent selection process; immediate disqualification of one of the candidates “involved in illegal promotion and forgery,” in the petition, which was addressed to Jonathan.
  On their part, the Concerned Stakeholders of Borno State called for the “prosecution of the compromised members of the governing council.” Their real intentions were, however, unfolded as they both made a case for Marte, the first runner up, who they described as “the most qualified candidate for the position.”
   Njodi, who obviously was the target of the groups denied the allegations of forgery and sundry crimes leveled against him by the groups, saying that the groups were doing that as a ploy to sully his image and question his high scores.
   But at the resumption of the special council meeting at the same venue in Abuja on May 6, the report of the board was presented and adopted, but not without Marguba coming up with a written petition on alleged irregularity against Njodi in his elevation from reader to professor.
  Even though most council members were not convinced about the authenticity of the documents, a very reliable source confided in The Guardian that they decided to give it the benefit of the doubt, in order to have a credible selection process that would not be faulted anywhere.
  Consequently, council members resolved to constitute a special panel to investigate the allegations, and it was to submit its findings on May 20th, 2014. Members of the panel were Alhaji Abubakar Adamu Waziri, Prof. Alhaji Maina Gimba, Dr. Ahmadu Brono and Mrs. O. E. Akamo.
  But while the panel was investigating the allegations at the university, Marguba called them to say that he had received a letter that the police was also investigating the same matter as such they should stop the process. Waziri who chaired the investigation panel declined insisting that the police could go ahead with their investigations, as theirs was an internal thing.
  Besides, he insisted the chairman had no powers to stop the work of an investigative committee set up by the council.
 A document obtained by The Guardian on some of the resolutions of the May 20th special council meeting informed that, “The Report of the council committee found out that all allegations made against Prof. Njodi were false and baseless. Council therefore, cleared Prof. Njodi of all the allegations against him.”
   However, in spite of Njodi’s clearance by the council, Marguba strangely tried to scuttle the meeting again, insisting that investigation was inconclusive as the police was still investigating Njodi.
  But the outgoing VC, on receipt of his own copy of the police letter, sought legal opinion from the university’s external solicitors, who said the police investigation should not affect the council’s work, and that the police could take whatever course they liked latter, but that council had the powers to do what they were doing.
  Though Daura made this legal advice available to the relevant authorities, Marguba told members that he would not participate in the special meeting for the conclusion of the appointment of vice chancellor because of the police investigation. He said the council could go ahead, but without him. He then left the meeting, despite pleas from members urging him to stay and conclude the process.
  In view of the above, Council, in accordance with the University of Maiduguri decree No 83 of September 28, 1979, Schedule 3, Article 6 (as amended), having formed a quorum, and mindful of its responsibility decided to act in accordance with the laid down rules and regulations by nominating a chairman in the person of Oparadike to serve as acting chairman and continue with the meeting.
  The council relying on powers conferred on it by Decree 11 of 1993 as amended by the University Miscellaneous Act (2003), after having cleared Prof. Njodi of all allegations, went ahead to confirm his appointment with effect from June 3, 2014, after which Marguba went ahead to issue a statement dissociating himself from the outcome of the special meeting and describing the selection by some members of the council as “totally wrong and unacceptable.”
 According to Marguba, he and some members of the council had objected to the consideration of the report of the selection board, which had recommended the appointment of Prof. Njodi as VC, due to the police investigation and the alleged absence of the inputs of the school’s registrar.
  He noted that the Borno State Police Command had written to him, demanding that the process of selecting a new VC be halted as it was investigating allegations of illegal promotions of Njodi, adding, “As a law-abiding citizen, I had no option but to comply with the police order and instructed an earlier set up by the council to investigate the allegation to stay action in the interest of peace and tranquility.
 “However, the panel refused to comply with my directive and went ahead with their activities and submitted their report to the council’s special meeting, which held on May 20, 2014,” adding that despite his objection and walk out on the meeting on that day, other members of the council proceeded to announce that Prof. Njodi had been selected as the VC for UNIMAID.
  Marguba in his statement added that, “If the police investigations were not completed before the end of Daura’s tenure, an acting vice chancellor would be appointed for the university.”
  However, the ministerial order penultimate weekend effectively annulled that position hence Njodi’s confirmation.
  The university on its part quickly denounced Narguba insisting that he had no powers to unilaterally annul the decision of the council in respect of the May 20 selection of Prof. Njodi as the new VC, which was in line with extant laws, regulations and due process of the university.
  A statement by the University’s spokesman, Mr. Ahmed Mohammed said the constitution and functions of the university and its constituent bodies, including the Governing Council, were contained in the University of Maiduguri Act CAP U10 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
   He said the clarification had become necessary to clear the air on the purported unilateral cancellation of the appointment of Prof. Njodi as the new Vice Chancellor of the university as approved by the Governing Council at its Special meeting on May 20, 2014 by the Pro-Chancellor.

Intrigues behind Njodi’s emergence as UNIMAID’s VC

ON Tuesday June 3, Prof. Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, assumed office as the ninth vice chancellor of the University of Maiduguri, (UNIMAID) succeeding Prof. Mala Mohammed Daura, whose tenure expired on Monday, June 2, thanks to the intervention of the supervising Minister of Education, Mr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, who spearheaded the resolution of the protracted disagreement between the Pro-Chancellor/Chairman and members of the Governing Council of the university, over Daura’ successor.
   At a meeting, which the minister convened in Abuja barely three weeks ago, between the Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of Governing Council, Mallam Lawan Bukar Marguba; principal officers of the university and some top officials of the ministry to resolve the stalemate that trailed Njodi’s appointment at a special council meeting at Kanem Suites, Abuja, on May 20, Wike, a lawyer was reported to have directed Marguba, who has been stoutly opposed Njodi’s emergence to respect the decision of the majority of the council members who voted to appoint Njodi. Marguba was also advised to go to court, if he held anything against the new vice chancellor.
  Shortly after the meeting with the minister, the council in a two-paragraph statement in Abuja, signed by the school’s Registrar, Babagana Muhammad Aji affirmed the Njodi’s appointment.
  The statement said the appointment of Njodi, a professor of Physical and Health Education, and immediate past deputy vice chancellor (Academic Services) of the university takes effect from June 3, for a non-renewable period of five years.
   The statement further stated that the appointment was “duly certified” by the Governing Council of the university at a special meeting it held on May 20th, 2014, having emerged the overall winner out of the 11 candidates interviewed for the position.
   The minister’s intervention came on the heels of steps taken by the Federal Character Commission (FCC), which has been actively involved in the selection process and the eventual certification of the newly appointed university helmsman.
   The commission’s stamp of approval was contained in a Certificate of Compliance with Ref FCC/099/S.5E/19/11/267, dated May 23rd, 2014. The letter addressed to the University of Maiduguri entitled, “Authority to Issue Letter of Appointment to Prof. Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi as the Vice Chancellor of University of Maiduguri.”
   According to the document, “On no account shall the name of the approved candidate be substituted/replaced, altered without prior written consent of the commission.”
 Marguba has been in serious disagreement with his other council members since the commencement of the selection process in April. The acrimony stirred up fresh debate about the “indigenisation” of the appointment of vice chancellors for federal universities.
  Though the current leadership of the National Universities Commission (NUC) and even the one before it has been working towards eradicating it from the Nigerian university system, the trend, it appears, would continue to haunt the nation for some time to come.
 The process of appointing a new vice chancellor for the school began well, but when it was apparent that the candidate anointed by the powers that be was far from the clinching the coveted office, things began to get awry.
  In line with the legal requirements of the laws establishing the university, the council on January 23rd this year advertised the position of the vice chancellor, thus marking the beginning of the process of selecting a new helmsman.
  The law also requires the university to constitute a search team and a selection board from its statutory organs, made up of the Governing Council, the Senate and the Congregation. Members of the search team and selection board were elected accordingly. Legally, the process leading up to the selection of a vice chancellor is a joint task executed majorly by the Governing Council and the Senate of the institution.
  The joint council and Senate selection Board comprises two external members of the council, appointed by the Federal Government; two professors from the Senate, who are not members of the council, with the Pro-Chancellor as the chairman.
   Accordingly, Dr. Paul Attah and Chief Innocent Oparadike, a journalist, both of whom are representing public interest in the council were elected as external members on the Joint Selections Board, while profs. B. R. Badejo and Abdulrahman Tahir represented the Senate of the university and Marguba chaired the panel as stipulated by law.
  Over a period of three days from April 22 to 24, the Joint Council and Senate Selections Board met and successfully interviewed all 11 applicants. Both the Education Ministry and FCC sent in representatives to observe the process. They were Mrs. Oluwatofunmi E. Akamo, a deputy director while Mr. Haruna Mamuda Gadam stood in for FCC.
   At the end of the three-day exercise, the board recommended three top candidates for final selection in order of their performance at the interview.
  On the score sheet, Njodi amassed 90.1 per cent and was followed by professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isa Hussaini Marte who scored 71.2 per cent. Prof. Abubakar Kundiri of the Faculty of Agriculture came third with 69.5 percent.
  At a special meeting of the council convened on April 25th to consider the report of the exercise, Marguba, who had signed the final report of the selection suddenly, aborted the meeting claiming to be in receipt of an anonymous petition against one of the applicants, apparently, the candidate with the highest scores.
  Against convention, he held on to the report and ordered that a summary, without the scores be presented to council members, on the excuse that he was going to investigate the anonymous petition. Of course members objected and sensing that he would not have his way, he allegedly decided to unilaterally announce the adjournment of the special meeting with no decision reached by the council.
   Not long, some groups including the University of Maiduguri Alumni Association, Concerned Stakeholders and Concerned Professionals of Borno State petitioned President Goodluck alleging corruption and forgery in the selection process.
  In their petition to the minister, signed by one Prof. Shettima Dala, the UNIMAID Alumni Association alleged that bribery, perjury and corruption have tainted the performance of the council. They further alleged that the Federal Government’s nominees on the council had compromised their positions and as such, were promoting the emergence of a candidate with questionable credentials.
   The association therefore, demanded for a transparent selection process; immediate disqualification of one of the candidates “involved in illegal promotion and forgery,” in the petition, which was addressed to Jonathan.
  On their part, the Concerned Stakeholders of Borno State called for the “prosecution of the compromised members of the governing council.” Their real intentions were, however, unfolded as they both made a case for Marte, the first runner up, who they described as “the most qualified candidate for the position.”
   Njodi, who obviously was the target of the groups denied the allegations of forgery and sundry crimes leveled against him by the groups, saying that the groups were doing that as a ploy to sully his image and question his high scores.
   But at the resumption of the special council meeting at the same venue in Abuja on May 6, the report of the board was presented and adopted, but not without Marguba coming up with a written petition on alleged irregularity against Njodi in his elevation from reader to professor.
  Even though most council members were not convinced about the authenticity of the documents, a very reliable source confided in The Guardian that they decided to give it the benefit of the doubt, in order to have a credible selection process that would not be faulted anywhere.
  Consequently, council members resolved to constitute a special panel to investigate the allegations, and it was to submit its findings on May 20th, 2014. Members of the panel were Alhaji Abubakar Adamu Waziri, Prof. Alhaji Maina Gimba, Dr. Ahmadu Brono and Mrs. O. E. Akamo.
  But while the panel was investigating the allegations at the university, Marguba called them to say that he had received a letter that the police was also investigating the same matter as such they should stop the process. Waziri who chaired the investigation panel declined insisting that the police could go ahead with their investigations, as theirs was an internal thing.
  Besides, he insisted the chairman had no powers to stop the work of an investigative committee set up by the council.
 A document obtained by The Guardian on some of the resolutions of the May 20th special council meeting informed that, “The Report of the council committee found out that all allegations made against Prof. Njodi were false and baseless. Council therefore, cleared Prof. Njodi of all the allegations against him.”
   However, in spite of Njodi’s clearance by the council, Marguba strangely tried to scuttle the meeting again, insisting that investigation was inconclusive as the police was still investigating Njodi.
  But the outgoing VC, on receipt of his own copy of the police letter, sought legal opinion from the university’s external solicitors, who said the police investigation should not affect the council’s work, and that the police could take whatever course they liked latter, but that council had the powers to do what they were doing.
  Though Daura made this legal advice available to the relevant authorities, Marguba told members that he would not participate in the special meeting for the conclusion of the appointment of vice chancellor because of the police investigation. He said the council could go ahead, but without him. He then left the meeting, despite pleas from members urging him to stay and conclude the process.
  In view of the above, Council, in accordance with the University of Maiduguri decree No 83 of September 28, 1979, Schedule 3, Article 6 (as amended), having formed a quorum, and mindful of its responsibility decided to act in accordance with the laid down rules and regulations by nominating a chairman in the person of Oparadike to serve as acting chairman and continue with the meeting.
  The council relying on powers conferred on it by Decree 11 of 1993 as amended by the University Miscellaneous Act (2003), after having cleared Prof. Njodi of all allegations, went ahead to confirm his appointment with effect from June 3, 2014, after which Marguba went ahead to issue a statement dissociating himself from the outcome of the special meeting and describing the selection by some members of the council as “totally wrong and unacceptable.”
 According to Marguba, he and some members of the council had objected to the consideration of the report of the selection board, which had recommended the appointment of Prof. Njodi as VC, due to the police investigation and the alleged absence of the inputs of the school’s registrar.
  He noted that the Borno State Police Command had written to him, demanding that the process of selecting a new VC be halted as it was investigating allegations of illegal promotions of Njodi, adding, “As a law-abiding citizen, I had no option but to comply with the police order and instructed an earlier set up by the council to investigate the allegation to stay action in the interest of peace and tranquility.
 “However, the panel refused to comply with my directive and went ahead with their activities and submitted their report to the council’s special meeting, which held on May 20, 2014,” adding that despite his objection and walk out on the meeting on that day, other members of the council proceeded to announce that Prof. Njodi had been selected as the VC for UNIMAID.
  Marguba in his statement added that, “If the police investigations were not completed before the end of Daura’s tenure, an acting vice chancellor would be appointed for the university.”
  However, the ministerial order penultimate weekend effectively annulled that position hence Njodi’s confirmation.
  The university on its part quickly denounced Narguba insisting that he had no powers to unilaterally annul the decision of the council in respect of the May 20 selection of Prof. Njodi as the new VC, which was in line with extant laws, regulations and due process of the university.
  A statement by the University’s spokesman, Mr. Ahmed Mohammed said the constitution and functions of the university and its constituent bodies, including the Governing Council, were contained in the University of Maiduguri Act CAP U10 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
   He said the clarification had become necessary to clear the air on the purported unilateral cancellation of the appointment of Prof. Njodi as the new Vice Chancellor of the university as approved by the Governing Council at its Special meeting on May 20, 2014 by the Pro-Chancellor.

WOW! P-square's Peter Okoye acquires N35 Million 2014 Bentley GT! [Photos]

WOW! P-square's Peter Okoye acquires N35 Million 2014 Bentley GT! [Photos]

Ukraine crisis: Russia alarmed over US-Nato military moves

Moscow has voiced concern over an “unprecedented” increase in US and Nato military activity near Russian borders, amid an escalating crisis in Ukraine.

In a phone call, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu also urged his US counterpart Chuck Hagel to “turn down the rhetoric” over Ukraine.

The US said it had deployed extra troops in eastern Europe to reassure its Nato allies.

It has imposed new sanctions on Russia over its “intervention in Ukraine”.

The sanctions target seven Russian individuals and 17 companies which Washington says are linked to President Vladimir Putin’s “inner circle”.

In other developments on Monday:

Hennadiy Kernes, the mayor of Ukraine’s eastern city of Kharkiv, was shot and critically wounded Pro-Russian separatists seized a local government building in Kostyantynivka, a town in the eastern Donetsk region In Donetsk itself, pro-Russian activists armed with clubs and chains attacked a pro-unity rally; a number of people were injured.

In a statement, Mr Shoigu said he had a “candid” hour-long phone call with his American counterpart.

He stressed that US and Nato military activity in eastern Europe was accompanied by “provocative” statements about the need to “contain” Russia.

Mr Shoigu also announced that Russian troops had returned to their “permanent positions” after conducting military exercises on the border with Ukraine.

But he did not say whether the overall number of Russian troops deployed in the region – said to be around 40,000 – had been reduced.

Meanwhile, Mr Hagel warned that Russia’s continued aggression would result in more diplomatic and economic pressure.

He also called on Moscow to help secure the release of seven military observers linked to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe seized by pro-Russian gunmen in the town of Sloviansk last week.

The Russian ambassador to the OSCE, Andrei Kelin, earlier said Moscow was taking “steps” to secure the observers’ release.

Separatists were also continuing to detain about 40 people in the town of Sloviansk, including the observers, journalists, pro-Kiev activists and three members of Ukraine’s security service, officials in Kiev said.

Ukraine crisis: Russia alarmed over US-Nato military moves

Moscow has voiced concern over an “unprecedented” increase in US and Nato military activity near Russian borders, amid an escalating crisis in Ukraine.

In a phone call, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu also urged his US counterpart Chuck Hagel to “turn down the rhetoric” over Ukraine.

The US said it had deployed extra troops in eastern Europe to reassure its Nato allies.

It has imposed new sanctions on Russia over its “intervention in Ukraine”.

The sanctions target seven Russian individuals and 17 companies which Washington says are linked to President Vladimir Putin’s “inner circle”.

In other developments on Monday:

Hennadiy Kernes, the mayor of Ukraine’s eastern city of Kharkiv, was shot and critically wounded Pro-Russian separatists seized a local government building in Kostyantynivka, a town in the eastern Donetsk region In Donetsk itself, pro-Russian activists armed with clubs and chains attacked a pro-unity rally; a number of people were injured.

In a statement, Mr Shoigu said he had a “candid” hour-long phone call with his American counterpart.

He stressed that US and Nato military activity in eastern Europe was accompanied by “provocative” statements about the need to “contain” Russia.

Mr Shoigu also announced that Russian troops had returned to their “permanent positions” after conducting military exercises on the border with Ukraine.

But he did not say whether the overall number of Russian troops deployed in the region – said to be around 40,000 – had been reduced.

Meanwhile, Mr Hagel warned that Russia’s continued aggression would result in more diplomatic and economic pressure.

He also called on Moscow to help secure the release of seven military observers linked to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe seized by pro-Russian gunmen in the town of Sloviansk last week.

The Russian ambassador to the OSCE, Andrei Kelin, earlier said Moscow was taking “steps” to secure the observers’ release.

Separatists were also continuing to detain about 40 people in the town of Sloviansk, including the observers, journalists, pro-Kiev activists and three members of Ukraine’s security service, officials in Kiev said.

Pastor’s daughter who converted to Islam set to wed the lawyer who handled her case

Charity Uzoechina, the daughter of Pastor Raymond Uzoechina of the Redeemed Christian Church of God who converted to the Islamic faith in Feb. 2013 will soon tie the knot, Premium times reports.

 

Her marriage announcement was made known by the Executive Director of Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, Ishaq Akintola, whose organization has kept tab on the convert for months.

 

According to reports, Charity who has since changed her name to Aishat is getting married to the Islamic lawyer, Barrister Tijani, who handled her case during her conversion.

 

Her conversion was so contentious that she sort a sharia court injunction to be accommodated in the palace of the Etsu Nupe of Bida, Niger state, for fear that her parents and her Christian fellows would attack her. Her parents at the time accused the Etsu Nupe of abducting her and forcing her to denounce her Christian faith. Aishat however stated categorically that it was a voluntary decision and was in no way forced by anyone

"I joined Islam purely on my own terms. I love the character of Muslims that I have related with, particularly the way they behave. You know Muslims believe in God,” Miss Uzoechina said at the time.

She would be getting married on Friday May 2nd.

Pastor’s daughter who converted to Islam set to wed the lawyer who handled her case

Charity Uzoechina, the daughter of Pastor Raymond Uzoechina of the Redeemed Christian Church of God who converted to the Islamic faith in Feb. 2013 will soon tie the knot, Premium times reports.

 

Her marriage announcement was made known by the Executive Director of Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, Ishaq Akintola, whose organization has kept tab on the convert for months.

 

According to reports, Charity who has since changed her name to Aishat is getting married to the Islamic lawyer, Barrister Tijani, who handled her case during her conversion.

 

Her conversion was so contentious that she sort a sharia court injunction to be accommodated in the palace of the Etsu Nupe of Bida, Niger state, for fear that her parents and her Christian fellows would attack her. Her parents at the time accused the Etsu Nupe of abducting her and forcing her to denounce her Christian faith. Aishat however stated categorically that it was a voluntary decision and was in no way forced by anyone

"I joined Islam purely on my own terms. I love the character of Muslims that I have related with, particularly the way they behave. You know Muslims believe in God,” Miss Uzoechina said at the time.

She would be getting married on Friday May 2nd.

The PSquare Brothers Party Together After Reconciliation

The three brothers, Peter, Paul and Jude were photographed separately but at the same event with Sarah Ofili last night. This will be their first public appearance since the reports of their fall out and reconciliation. The brothers attended the Ibiza House Party, Piccolo Mondo which was hosted by Sarah Ofili.

The PSquare Brothers Party Together After Reconciliation

The three brothers, Peter, Paul and Jude were photographed separately but at the same event with Sarah Ofili last night. This will be their first public appearance since the reports of their fall out and reconciliation. The brothers attended the Ibiza House Party, Piccolo Mondo which was hosted by Sarah Ofili.

Teacher stabbed to death at Leeds school by 15 year old student

Ann Maguire, 61, is the first teacher to be killed in the classroom of a British school. She was stabbed in the neck in front of pupils at the Corpus Christie Catholic College school in Leeds.

BBC reports that the Spanish teacher was taken to the hospital following the attack but was later pronounced dead. A 15-year-old boy was later arrested for her murder and is in custody.

A pupil at the scene told the BBC that children were seen screaming and running from a classroom following the attack. Continue...

From BBC

Ch Supt Paul Money of West Yorkshire Police said the victim received a number of stab wounds and a knife was recovered from the scene. He said the 15-year-old pupil was detained by other teaching staff and arrested in connection with the stabbing.

"The incident itself was over very quickly and no other pupils or staff were threatened or injured. However this has clearly been a very traumatic situation for those involved," Mr Money said.

He said the attack was an "unprecedented event" and schools in Leeds were "generally very safe places" to work and study.

Some pupils at the school today said the boy who allegedly stabbed the teacher was ‘strange’ and ‘depressed’, Daily Mail UK reports. Pupil Jacob Hill, 16, from Leeds, said: 'He had gone through stages of depression and used to be on anti-depressants.'

West Yorkshire Police Chief Superintendent Paul Money said tonight: ‘The alarm was raised by the students in the school, some of whom witnessed the offence.‘A 61-year-old member of staff was treated by paramedics at the scene then taken to hospital but she tragically died.

‘A 15-year-old pupil at the school was detained by teaching staff immediately after this incident occurred and was taken into custody in Leeds.’

He described the incident as unprecedented and said staff he had spoken to were in shock. He also confirmed the victim suffered a number of stab wounds and a knife was recovered from the scene.

Teacher stabbed to death at Leeds school by 15 year old student

Ann Maguire, 61, is the first teacher to be killed in the classroom of a British school. She was stabbed in the neck in front of pupils at the Corpus Christie Catholic College school in Leeds.

BBC reports that the Spanish teacher was taken to the hospital following the attack but was later pronounced dead. A 15-year-old boy was later arrested for her murder and is in custody.

A pupil at the scene told the BBC that children were seen screaming and running from a classroom following the attack. Continue...

From BBC

Ch Supt Paul Money of West Yorkshire Police said the victim received a number of stab wounds and a knife was recovered from the scene. He said the 15-year-old pupil was detained by other teaching staff and arrested in connection with the stabbing.

"The incident itself was over very quickly and no other pupils or staff were threatened or injured. However this has clearly been a very traumatic situation for those involved," Mr Money said.

He said the attack was an "unprecedented event" and schools in Leeds were "generally very safe places" to work and study.

Some pupils at the school today said the boy who allegedly stabbed the teacher was ‘strange’ and ‘depressed’, Daily Mail UK reports. Pupil Jacob Hill, 16, from Leeds, said: 'He had gone through stages of depression and used to be on anti-depressants.'

West Yorkshire Police Chief Superintendent Paul Money said tonight: ‘The alarm was raised by the students in the school, some of whom witnessed the offence.‘A 61-year-old member of staff was treated by paramedics at the scene then taken to hospital but she tragically died.

‘A 15-year-old pupil at the school was detained by teaching staff immediately after this incident occurred and was taken into custody in Leeds.’

He described the incident as unprecedented and said staff he had spoken to were in shock. He also confirmed the victim suffered a number of stab wounds and a knife was recovered from the scene.

Photos: P-Square’s Younger Sister, Mary Okoye Engaged To Nollywood Actor

It’s indeed the season of love and proposals for the Okoye’s. Peter and Paul are already married, Jude just got engaged and now, their younger sister, Mary Okoye is now engaged to Nollywood actor Emma Emordi. We learnt he popped the question over the weekend.