Wike denies inviting EFCC, ICPC to probe Bello

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has debunked a recent online media report claiming he had invited the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to probe the immediate past FCT Minister, Muhammad Bello, in relation to certain irregularities in the award of contracts.

A now viral report alleged that Wike wrote to the anti-graft agencies to investigate the former minister over his involvement in sharp practices regarding the contract of various ongoing projects in the FCT.

In a statement by The Director of Press in the FCT Ministry in the Office of the Minister, Anthony Ogunleye, on Saturday, the minister described the report as baseless and without merit.

“We categorically and unequivocally state that these reports are entirely baseless and without any merit whatsoever,” the statement read in part.

It noted though the Wike had during routine inspections of various projects within the FCT, expressed concern over irregularities observed in the procurement and execution of certain projects, he never authorised an invitation by the anti-graft agencies to investigate Bello.

“The FCT Minister, during his routine inspections of various projects within the FCT, has indeed expressed concerns and frustrations regarding irregularities observed in the procurement and execution of certain projects, amongst other observations which he very publicly expressed.”

Odukoya laid to rest in Lagos

The remains of the Senior Pastor of The Fountain of Life Church, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya were on Saturday buried in Lagos.

Before the interment, a funeral service held at the church’s headquarters had in attendance a large crowd of mourners, including dignitaries such as Dolapo, the wife of the immediate past Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo; Pastor Paul Adefarasin; Bishop Stephen Adegbite; Rev. Sam Adeyemi; and Peterson Okopi.

Pastor Odukoya died on August 7 in the United States of America.

In his sermon at the event, Bishop David Abioye of the Living Faith Ministries (Winners Chapel) extolled Pastor Odukoya’s legacies, while commiserating with the church members on the demise of the cleric.

He told the attendees that life is about impact, asking them to maximise their time on earth.

According to him, every man must taste death but what matters in the end are the legacies people leave behind.

After the service, Odukoya was buried in a private ceremony attended by family members and close associates.

Tinubu’s legal team explains why copies of PEPT judgement had its watermark

The Tinubu Presidential Legal Team (TPLT) has tried to clarify the controversy over its watermarked copies of the Presidential Elections Petition Tribunal (PEPT) judgement.

The watermarked copy has stirred up debate on social media, with some alleging a sinister move.

But in response, TPLT coordinator Babatunde Ogala explained in a statement on Saturday that they watermarked their copy of the judgement after collection from the Court of Appeal before circulating the scanned copies to members of their team.

The statement reads in part: “After the delivery of judgement in the three election petitions by the Court of Appeal on September 6, 2023, the Court directed its registry to make physical copies of same available on September 7, 2023.

“Accordingly, the Tinubu Presidential Legal Team applied for a Certified True Copy of the said judgement and paid the prescribed fee.”

“In fact, the representative of the PDP collected the first copy that was made available by the registry.”

“On collecting our own copy, we immediately scanned and watermarked it with the inscription “Tinubu Presidential Legal Team ‘TPLT’” before circulating the scanned soft copies to the lawyers in our team.

Police arrest six-man gang in Bayelsa over ‘theft’

The officers of the state intelligence bureau (CID) of Bayelsa police command have arrested a suspected six-man gang of criminals for theft.

In a statement on Saturday, Asinim Butswat, the spokesperson of the command, said the gang specialises in using tricycles – disguised as drivers of these commercial vehicles – to steal mobile phones from passengers.

The spokesperson said the suspects’ names are Daniel Patrick, Oyinmi Gideon, Abdulmalik Sa’adu, Ebenezer Samuel, David Ebikabowei and John Okon.

He said the culprits were arrested at different locations within Yenagoa, the capital, adding that four commercial tricycles, and different types of mobile phones were recovered from the six-man gang.

“The suspects’ modus operandi is to drive in pairs, one claiming to be a driver and the other a passenger. When they pick a genuine passenger, the driver distracts the unsuspecting passenger by haggling over transport fares,” he said.

“The other partner then steals the phone from the unsuspecting passenger. Consequently, they would sell the stolen phones to one Abubakar Mallam, alias Danmallam, Ibrahim Ahmed and Iliya Isiaka at a give-away price.”

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