LAND GRABBING; Anambra community VS Nigeria Police… National Assembly adjourns till February 13, 2018.

Further hearing at the House of Reps on the allegation of land grabbing instituted by Atani people of Anambra state against the Nigeria Police has been adjourned to 13^th February, 2018.

The Anambra community, headquarters of Ogbaru Local Government Area led by its traditional ruler HRH Igwe Azuka Ngoddy had petitioned the House of Representative to check what they called “unwarranted expansion and encroachment on community land by Nigeria Police beyond the portion allocated to them.

According to those who attended the hearing yesterday, when the matter came up, the Inspector General of Police was represented by an Assistant Commissioner of Police with a team of lawyers while Igwe Ngoddy led some of his Chiefs to the hallowed chambers.

         A cross section of Atani Chiefs and stakeholders during the hearing yesterday

During the hearing, the Nigerian Police had relied and tendered a survey plan of the said landed property which was discountenanced and dismissed by the committee  for not being duly signed and stamped.

The Committee was also said to have queried the fact that the survey plan presented by the Police neither had a registration number of the surveyor who prepared it nor beacon numbers and a GPRS of the survey plan.

According to our source, the Committee then directed the Police to stop further development of the said land and produce the surveyor at the next hearing or risk the arrest of the DPO of the Divisional headquarters of Nigeria Police at Atani.

Recall that the Nigeria Police and the people of Atani had been in a bitter face-off for some time now over the land the community allocated to it freely.

While the people are alleging that the Nigeria Police is on a wild encroachment and expansion spree, the Police is saying there is nothing like that.   

Blessing Egbe seeks 1000 cast for new epic series

                   Blessing with Ufuoma Mcdermot at the premiere of The Women in Lagos

Over 1000 actors are being sought for a new epic film series by one of Nigeria’s prolific film producers, Blessing Egbe.

This call for audition comes just a few weeks after The Women her last film was released on DVD after a successful cinema run across Nigeria.  

The new series according to Egbe who also gave the world the blockbuster film Lekki Wives, is in need of 18 lead actors, 40 majors, 30 supporting artistes and over 900 background actors who will be expected to light up the screens when the series eventually shows.

It was gathered that audition date is Feb 10, 2018 and time is 9a.m.

Venue for this special audition is Hotel by White House in Value county estate, Ogidan bus stop sangotedo, after Lagos Business School and after Blenco supermarket, the bus stop is to the left if coming from Ajah on the Lekki- Epe Expressway

Delectable Egbe said “prospective artistes should come for the audition well prepared, armed and ready with their respective monologues because only the best will be good enough”.

A call to 08050317289 will explain further. 

Ray Mike Nwachukwu, the man who gave the world the song Time na Money for burial

Ray Mike Nwachukwu, the man who gave the world the song Time na Money for burial

The funeral ceremony of Ray Mike Nwachukwu, the man who composed and recorded the music Time na money has been announced.

Nwachukwu died at a Lagos hospital on January 16, 2018 at the age of 71.

According to a burial announcement signed by FRCN,  Nwachukwu will be buried  after a requiem mass at St Dominics Catholic Church Yaba, Lagos while reception follows at his residence Taylor Drive Yaba

While alive, Ray Mike Nwachukwu was a very creative soul who worked variously as a print journalist. He also delved into radio and television, advertising , artiste management and  music production.

Nwachukwu an Ndokwa Delta state born creative genius attended Government College Ughelli.

He rose to national prominence between late 70s and the 80s when  he was senior producer at foremost advertising company LINTAS Advertising and produced most of the commercials, jingles and voice-overs of that era in Nigeria.

Ray-Mike also set up a record studio and label ARR-EM, which produced the music which Mike Okri later made more popular in a production of Laolu Akins.

Before his death, he presented a high life music programme on Classic FM.

Atani , Prof Ben Nwabueze’s home town battles Nigeria Police over land …House of Reps schedule hearing for 30th January, 2018.

There is a bitter face off between Atani people of Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra state and the Nigeria Police as you are reading this.

Atani is home town of renowned Professor of Law, Ben Nwabueze.

The bone of contention according to ECD findings is the “wild and wide encroachment on community land by the Nigerian Police” to which it had donated a piece of land where it built its station years ago.

The station became a Divisional Headquarters since the creation of Ogbaru LGA.

The people started crying out over the wide encroachment on community land by Nigeria Police who they claim started expanding beyond their allocation erecting walls and fences without recourse to any one.

All efforts by the traditional institution and indeed major stakeholders to correct this encroachment are being rebuffed according to sources.

A petition has since gone to the House of Reps to check this Police illegal encroachment as presented by Hon Chukwuka Onyema, member representing the area at the Federal House of Representative.

A public hearing has been set for 30^th January in Abuja and concerned citizens and stakeholders

are advised to witness it and make contributions.

An elder of the community who did not want his name mentioned told ECD that, “Nigeria Police is also laying claims to the lands around and opposite their station and we don’t like it. We want the Federal Government to check this unwarranted expansion and cause the IGP to call his men to order.”

Said another resident “ It is very funny for the Nigeria Police to now be showing Atani people where their land begins and ends brandishing  a survey plan of 2013. Why this is funny is that their barracks and quarters is decrepit and in ruin but they are busy erecting walls and fences beyond the original plan.”  

By Fred Iwenjora

IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT GANI ADAMS

 Otunba Gani Adams was born on April 30, 1970 in Arigidi-Akoko.

The nature of his father's job caused him to attend many schools . His father was a transporter.

"I attended Army Primary School, Akure after before being taken to Elusu, my mother's hometown

where I attended St Thomas Primary School. Three years after, I was brought to Lagos when my father relocated and I attended Municipal Primary School but now called Adeniji- Adele Primary School. After my primary education, I attended Ansarudeen Secondary School and it was there I joined the struggle in 1993 after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

 I am the founder of the Oodua Youth Movement and one of the nine people that founded the OPC on August 25, 1994 at number 110, Palm Avenue, Mushin, Lagos. Can you mention the names of other OPC founding members? Tony Igburidi, Dr. Frederick Fasehun, Olumide Adeniji, Silas Alani, Ibrahim Atanda, Alhaji Ibrahim Abobanawo, Mrs. Idowu Adebowale and Evangelist Adekunle Adesokan. I had established a company before joining the struggle. Later, I continued my education at Lagos State University where I did a diploma course in international relations and strategic studies after which I got a degree in political science in 2015

As at the last count, he has 52 titles

Yoruba biggest title; I consulted widely including 23 Yoruba traditional rulers before accepting….Gani Adams

Adams with Alaafin Of Oyo

Facts have started to emerge of all that happened behind the scenes before National Coordinator of Oodua Peoples Congress Otunba Gani Adams accepted the title of Aare Ona Kakanfo…Generalissimo of Yoruba land.

In a recent interview, Adams said he engaged in many consultations beginning first from getting his wife’s blessing after her days of vehement opposition to it.

According to the OPC Chieftain, “when I began consultations, my wife was frightened by the negative myths surrounding the Aare Ona Kakanfo, but she consulted and, from the results she got, after a week, she gave me the go ahead. That is the first port of call when anything wants to happen to you, you must consult your wife. Within a week, she gave me her blessing.

“ I also discussed with some of my close aides before I threw it open. I went to the leaders of the OPC, consulted and all of them gave me their nod. They did not express any fears about the title. I also went to Chief Ayo Adebanjo, an elder who stands by the Yoruba. He gave me the nod; I tried reaching Pa Reuben Fasoranti but could not reach him. I called Chief Olu Falae who told me he would pray and call back in three days. On the third day, he told me I was worth the title and gave me the go ahead.
 I also spoke with my friend, Yinka Odumakin, who urged me to consult spiritually, but I told him I had done that. I also spoke to Dr. Joe Okei Odumakin and also to the leaders of the Yoruba in the cause of the Yoruba Summit; they gave me the go ahead. I also consulted my royal father, the Zaki of Arigidi, the Owa Ajero, the Orangun of Ila. I consulted more than 23 traditional rulers in Yoruba land including the Alake of Egba land and they gave me their blessings before I went back to the Alaafin of Oyo.

CONFESSIONS OF A KILLER ; I only got N5,000 from the killing of Hector, Gulder Ultimate Search champion

Late Hector Oluwaseun Jobarthe

Ismail Adeyemi, the man who pulled the trigger that killed the 2006 Gulder Ultimate Search winner Hector Jobarteh has confessed to the crime adding that he only got a white phone which his brother sold for N7,000 and took N2,000 as commission.

He also said that when they opened the bag they snatched, it only contained children canvas, flowers, boxers and other personal effects

According to the 49 years old man who was hired from Ibadan to participate in a robbery in which the GUS champion was killed “My brother took N2000 leaving me with N5,000

According to the Lagos state Police Commissioner Imohimi Edgal “The suspect led operatives to Sango Gasoline, Ijoko, where his operational revolver pistol with nine rounds of live ammunition was recovered. The suspect and others earlier arrested will soon be charged to court.”

In the confession of suspect who said he hailed from Osun state disclosed that a member of his robbery gang in Ibadan, introduced him to the leader of the gang that stormed late Hector’s house.

Said he “We were four that carried out the operation. Keke led the gang. He did not tell me where we were going. He only spoke with Nonso a member of my gang in Ibadan, who introduced me to him. “I was the only Yoruba man among them. Others were Igbo. We parked our operational vehicle at a filling station close to the street where we were going to operate. Later, a black-complexioned lady came and spoke with Keke in Igbo Language. “She stayed with us for a while before leaving. Few minutes later, she called Keke on the phone to inform him that the vehicle in which our target was, was approaching. After the call the car drove past us into the street. But we lost sight of it before we could turn. “Keke approached a woman on the street and demanded to know the exact compound the car drove into. He lied to the woman that the vehicle in question broke our side mirror and drove off. “The woman pointed down the street. Keke took time to check each compound until he saw the vehicle inside one of the compounds. He approached a lady in the compound and requested for the exact apartment of owner of the vehicle. “The lady only pointed upstairs, but refused to go with Keke. At that point, Keke pointed a gun at her and ordered her to lead him upstairs. When he got there, he called two of us to join him. But when I went upstairs, I discovered he had shot an old man for refusing to cooperate with him.

Continuing, Ismail said “At that point, a young man rushed out of the room. He was coming towards his father, but Keke thought he was approaching him and, in defence, shot him (Jobarteh). “Thereafter, we went inside and collected the bags that the returnee came with and left the scene. We drove to a hideout in Ijaye, where we opened the bag and discovered it contained just children canvass, flowers, boxers and personal effects. “I only got a white phone from the items, which I gave to my brother to sell. He sold it for N7,000, out of which I gave him N2,000. So, I got only N5,000 from that operation. “The intention was never to kill the wrong man. He was mistaken for the real target. The plan was to attack the man that was returning from abroad and shoot him if he puts up any resistance. Even when Keke shot the old man, I was quarrelling with him and he almost shot me in the process. “I am a member of a robbery gang. We operate sometimes in Lagos, but mainly in Ibadan. I brought two guns from Ibadan for this operation. We were all armed on that day, but I never fired a shot.”