EFCC Freezes Accounts Of Jonathan's Men

President Muhammadu Buhari's war on corruption appears to be gathering momentum as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has frozen the bank accounts of some of former President Goodluck Jonathan's associates. The move is reportedly to prevent the movement of alleged looted funds out of those accounts.

A source close to the government of the day told Sunday Punch that the move became necessary given the mind-boggling theft of public resources by the affected people.

The frozen accounts according to Sunday Punch are Keketobou Foundation run by Jonathan's Special Adviser on Niger Delta and coordinator of the Amnesty Program, Mr Kingsley Kuku, Mieka Divers Ltd and Global West Vessels Ltd operated by former warlord Government Ekpemukpolo, aka Tompolo, Maritime University, Okerenkoko, the contract of which is being handled by Mr Kime Engozi. Other accounts linked to Mr Engozi are reportedly flagged also.

The account of NIMASA Technical College, Okoloba and accounts linked to former Director General of NIMASA, Dr Patrick Akpobolokemi are also reported to have been frozen by the anti corruption agency.

Some of the affected individuals are already being investigated by the EFCC.

See Sunday Punch for more.

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Fleeing Cattle Rustlers Leave 97 Cows, 41 Sheep Behind

The 31 Artillery Brigade, Minna last Thursday arrested a cattle rustler and recovered 97 cows and 41 sheep in an operation in Sarkin Pawa, Munya local government area of Niger State.

Army spokesperson, Minna, Capt Njideka Agwu disclosed this on Saturday during a chat with newsmen in Minna.

She said that a suspect, Abubakar Hassan was arrested on Thursday in an operation led by the Commanding Officer, 313 Artillery Regiment, Minna, Lt Col
Adamu Yakubu.

According to Capt Agwu, the rest of the rustlers ran away upon sighting the soldiers, leaving behind, 97 cows and 41 sheep. She said that the suspect and the exhibits were handed over to the local government chairmen with the DPO Sarkin Pawa Division, Council Secretary and village head as witnesses. 

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Army Destroys 2000 Cartons Of Boko Haram Fish

The Nigeria Army, 7 Division on Friday in Maiduguri burnt over 2000 cartons of smoked fish and meat seized from Boko Haram insurgents.

According to Col Tukur Gusau, spokesman, 7 Division, Nigerian Army, Maiduguri, the fish which has an estimated market value of 50 million naira was seized from the insurgents at various locations in Borno State.

While supervising the burning of the fish at the outskirts of Maiduguri, Col Gusau said the products were stolen from fishermen and traders in the state. He noted that the militants usually sold the goods at ridiculously low prices to fund their terrorist activities.

Col Gusau said that with their supply channels cut off, Boko Haram insurgents have now resorted to the use of donkeys for their terror attacks.

He also asked the public to continue to support the military with useful information about the insurgents, noting that the end of Boko Haram was in sight.

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DSS Sacks 45 Directors

The Department of State Services, DSS has announced the dismissal of 45 directors of the agency, including the immediate past spokesperson and Deputy Director, Ms Marylin Ogar.

Marylin Ogar was demoted and transferred to the north east two months ago following President Buhari's nullification of the promotion exercise done in the twilight of the Jonathan administration.

Her travails may not be unconnected with her perceived partisanship in the run up to the last general elections.

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Buhari, Osinbajo Make Assets Public

President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo have declared their assets to the public. While Buhari has less than N30,000,000.00 in his account, Osinbajo declared that he had N94m, $900,000 and £19,000 in his bank accounts at the time he was sworn into office.

The documents showed that President Buhari has seven houses, two of them mud houses. Two of the houses are in Kaduna, three in his native Daura and one each in Kano and Abuja. Of the three houses in Daura, two are mud houses, one inherited from his late sister and the other from his late father. He also has one undeveloped plot of land each in Portharcourt and Kano.

The president also owns a ranch and farmlands. He has 270 cattle, five horses, 25 sheep, some birds and a number of economic trees.

Buhari is said to also have a fleet of cars, two of which he bought by himself. The rest were given to him by well wishers and the Federal Government for being a former head of state.

According to the assets declaration documents, Vice President Osinbajo has four houses, three in Lagos and one in England.

Of the Vice President's Lagos houses, one is his 4-bedroom residence in Victoria Garden City. The second is a 3-bedroom flat at 2 Mosley Road, Ikoyi while the third is a  2-bedroom flat at RCCG Redemption Camp along Lagos - Ibadan expressway.

Osinbajo also has a 2 bedroom house in Bedford, England. He also has shareholdings in seven companies including MTN Nigeria and the law firm, Simmons Cooper.

Osinbajo's cars include one Toyota Prado, one Infinity SUV and a Mercedes Benz.

It is believed that the assets declaration documents will be placed at the disposal of the public as soon as the Code of Conduct Bureau is done with the verification.

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Inmates Escape From Sokoto Remand Home

Thirteen inmates have escaped from the Sokoto Remand Home. The head of the remand center, Alhaji Dahiru Lawal told newsmen on Thursday that the inmates escape was due to the poor state of the facilities at the home.

Lawal said that in the last couple of years, many inmates have escaped from the juvenile prison.

He spoke in Sokoto while receiving gifts for the centre from an NGO, Housewives Development Initiative. He appealed to the Sokoto state government to carry out a comprehensive repair of the dilapidated infrastructure at the center which serves as a reformatory facility for convicted juveniles.

He stressed that urgent repairs were needed at the home to enable the workers carry out their duties effectively.

According to Lawal, the inmates that escaped recently bored a hole under the window of their cell. He said that seven of the thirteen escapees were rearrested while two others later turned themselves in. The remaining four are still at large.

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Nigerian Businessman Dies Selling Kidney In Malaysia

A 28 year-old Nigerian identified as Chukwudi has died in Malaysia after selling one of his kidneys.

News sources have it that the  Nigerian businessman had sold his organ to a kidney patient for six million naira. In what has become a popular business for many young Nigerians in Malaysia, Chukwudi had decided to make some quick money by cashing in on the trend.

Although the recipient of Chukwudi's kidney had a successful transplant, the young Nigerian developed complications from which he died after the surgery.

A Malaysia based Nigerian businessman who knew the deceased said he tried to dissuade him from going ahead with the deal, but he was too far bent on pocketing the six million naira on offer.

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