Another Colonel, family members regain freedom after paying N10m ransom to gunmen
Kidnapped retired Colonel, Mr. Rabiu Garba Yandoto and his two children have finally regained their freedom after the payment of N10 million ransom.
This was disclosed by the retired soldier who revealed that the bandits were given the sum of N10 million instead of the N5 million earlier agreed on.
“After the collection of the N10 million ransom, the bandits took me and my children to a place near Faskari town in Katsina State and asked us to find our way out,“ he said in a telephone conversation.
According to him, it was very terrible being in the bandits’ den, pointing out that he was full of thanks to Almighty God because they were not killed by the bandits.
Colonel Yandoto further stated that it could be possible that his abduction was politically motivated, stressing that though there was no evidence to prove that, it cannot be ruled out.
Yandoto and his two children were abducted by bandits along Gusau-Tsafe road when they were returning to their country home last Friday.
The prosecutor, PC Olapeju Durodola, told the court that the defendant and others now at large committed the offences on Nov. 30, 2024, at Mufu Lanihun, at Yidi Agugu in Ibadan.
She said that the defendant allegedly
added a substance to her boyfriend’s drink, one Waris Olamilekan, to make him lose consciousness.
According to her, the defendant stole the money after adding the substance in the complainant’s drink.
Durodola said the offences contravened Sections 390(9) and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Olabisi Ogunkanmi, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N2 million with two sureties in like sum.
Ogunkanmi said one of the sureties must be a property owner within the court’s jurisdiction, while the second surety must be a blood relation to the defendant.
She, thereafter, adjourned the matter until May 26 for hearing.(NAN)
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Supreme Court nullifies Rivers Local Govt elections conducted by Gov Fubara
Supreme Court nullifies Rivers Local Govt elections conducted by Gov Fubara
The Supreme Court on Friday, nullified the Local Government election in Rivers, which was conducted on Oct. 5, 2024.
A five-member panel of the apex court unanimously held that the election was conducted in violation of relevant laws.
Justice Jamilu Tukur, in the lead judgment, agreed with the appellant, the All Progressives Congress (APC), that conditions precedent were not complied with before the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) held the election.
Justice Tukur held that there was no evidence that the voters’ registration continued until 90 days before the election and that the requisite notices were issued as required by law.(NAN)
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Akpabio harassing me because I refused his s3xual advances – Senator Natasha alleges
Akpabio harassing me because I refused his s3xual advances – Senator Natasha alleges
The Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment, reigniting a heated public dispute.
Speaking on ARISE TV on Friday, Akpoti-Uduaghan revealed her allegations, which follow a previous confrontation with Akpabio over the unauthorized change of her Senate seat.
The controversial seat change sparked a tense argument between the two, leading to Akpoti-Uduaghan being referred to the Senate’s Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for disciplinary review.
Chaired by Senator Neda Imaseun (LP, Edo South), the committee was given two weeks to present its findings after lawmakers revisited the matter. They emphasised the importance of adhering to parliamentary rules and maintaining decorum.
Adding fuel to the fire, Akpoti-Uduaghan has filed a N100.3 billion fundamental human rights lawsuit against Akpabio. During her interview, she claimed to have evidence supporting her allegations, including screenshots of WhatsApp conversations between her and Akpabio.
She also stated that her husband is a witness to the events, and she challenged the Department of State Services (DSS) to examine the conversations for further details, as Akpabio frequently contacted her via the messaging platform.
She said: “My issue with Akpabio started on 8th of December, 2023 when myself and my husband visited Akwa Ibom for Senator Akpabio’s birthday. Akpabio was showing me around his house and was holding my hands with my husband following behind us when he said, he wants me to come and be spending special moments in his house. My husband heard him and later told me not to travel abroad alone or be with the Senate President alone.
“In February, I wanted to move a motion for the investigation on the ills of the corrupt practice in a Ajaokuta steel company. I listed that motion five times. It was the sixth time that it was listed on the order paper that was approved. Many senators can testify to that.
“Before the motion made the order paper, I went to the Senate President in his office, and I said, Senate President,’ you know how important this Ajaokuta Steel Company is to me, you know how important it is to my people and to Nigerians. I’ve noticed that you have stepped down this motion’. As a matter of fact, a number of senators told me to see him and plead with him so that he would take it. I was like, ‘sir, please, why can’t you take this motion? It’s very important’ Then, it was listed the third time and stepped down.
“He then said, ‘Natasha, I’m the Chief presiding officer of the Senate, you can enjoy a whole lot if you take care of me. Make me happy’. At that point, I said, ‘Sir, I’ll pretend that I didn’t hear this’. He said, ‘well, the ball is in your court’. I left his office
“My case is a case of a student being punished by a lecturer for refusing to sleep with him.”
Akpabio has not yet responded to the allegation, which is currently trending online.