Police Nabbed Three Over sale of minor for N400,000

At least, three members of a suspected child trafficking syndicate have been arrested by the Akwa State Police Command for allegedly selling a 12-year-old boy (name withheld) for N400,000 in Ibesikpo in the state.

The state Commissioner of Police, Waheed Ayilara, announced this in a statement following a press conference at the police headquarters in Uyo on Monday.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the suspects were arrested at about 2 pm on May 9, 2024.

Ayilara stated that the trio of Michael Edet, Umem Moses, and Ability Tom were apprehended in their hideouts in the state by operatives of the command following credible intelligence about the syndicates.

The suspects allegedly kidnapped the victim, who was selling groundnuts along Oron Road in Akwa Ibom State, and transported him to the Ovum Community, Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State, where he was sold to another suspect identified as Loveth Nwankwo for the stated amount.

yilara said, “On May 9, 2024, at about 2:30 p.m., acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the command arrested one Michael Emmanuel Edet ‘M’, one Ability Henry Tom ‘F, and one Uwem udoh Moses ‘F’ from their hideouts within Ibesikpo and Aka Etinan Road for stealing a child (name withheld) ‘M’ 12 years while he was hawking groundnuts along the Oron Road and was taken to Ovum community and sold out for the sum of N400,000 to one Loveth Nwankwo.

“Further investigation led to the arrest of the said Loveth Nwankwo in Abia State. Suspects confessed to the crime and promised to help arrest other fleeing members of their syndicate. The victim was rescued and with others. The investigation is still ongoing. The above suspects and others will have their day in court.”

He assured the state’s residents that the command would continue to confront criminals directly and prevent any breakdown of law and order.

“We urge Akwa Ibom people to continue cooperating with the police through intelligence sharing so that together we can fight and successfully defeat crime and criminal elements in the state,” Ayilara added.

Estranged Husband Drags Diezani To Court

A former Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Alison Madueke, has filed a petition in the Lagos State High Court, seeking a legal declaration to end his marriage to Diezani and requesting that she stop using his last name.

He is asking the court to order the former Minister of Petroleum Resources to revert to her maiden name, Agama.

This was contained in Madueke’s petition for jactitation of marriage (declaration that a marital union has ended).

The ex-Chief of Naval Staff argues that Diezani’s ongoing use of his name despite their marriage being legally over is damaging to his reputation and could lead to unintended consequences, including mistaken liability, particularly given the corruption allegations against her.

Madueke is a former military governor of Anambra and Imo states. He married Diezani on June 30, 1999, under the Marriage Act.

The petitioner, Madueke, noted that Diezani had previously filed for divorce at the Nassarawa State High Court in Mararaba Gurku in November 2021, citing an irreconcilable breakdown of their marriage, seeking to end their union formally.

He said he did not oppose the suit, resulting in the court’s dissolution of the marriage, yet Diezani persists in using his surname, despite the formal termination of their marital union.

He stated, “On the 13th day of April 2022, judgment was delivered in Suit No. NSD/MG345/2021 by Hon. Justice A.A. Ozegya dissolving the marriage between the petitioner and the respondent on the ground that the marriage has broken down irretrievably.

“The said dissolution of marriage has now become absolute by the operation of law.

“Even though the marriage has been dissolved and is now legally finalised, the respondent continues to use the petitioner’s first name (Alison) and surname (Madueke) as her own without any justification or consent from the petitioner.

“It is now more than two-years that the respondent continues to use the name of the petitioner to his embarrassment.”

Madueke revealed that he directed his legal representatives to serve Diezani a formal request on December 14, 2023, demanding that she cease using his surname and revert to her maiden name, Agama.

However, despite this legal notice, Diezani has failed to respond and continues to use his name.

The petition further read, “The respondent has continued to hold out herself as the wife of the petitioner even when the marriage has been dissolved.

“The respondent is undergoing criminal trials in both Nigeria and the United Kingdom. The charge in Nigeria is Suit No. FUC/ABI/CR/208/2010.

“The respondent faces public allegations of corruption and financial misconduct, for which trials are ongoing for both.

“The persistent portrayal of the respondent as the spouse of the petitioner is creating embarrassment, a misleading impression and tarnishing the reputation, integrity, and public image of the petitioner.

“The respondent’s continued use of the petitioner’s first and surname falsely suggests to the public a continuing relationship between the parties though same has since legally ended.

“The respondent’s continued use of the petitioner’s first and family names poses a significant risk of legal and financial harm to the petitioner.

“The petitioner seeks the intervention of this Honourable Court to prevent the respondent from further using his first name and surname, thereby safeguarding his image, personality, and reputation.”

Madueke sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining Diezani from further using his names following the dissolution of their marriage.

He also prayed for a perpetual injunction restraining the respondent from further asserting, by words or conduct, the existence of marriage between them.

He is seeking a court order that compels Diezani to revert to her maiden name and to publicly announce in a national newspaper, both in Nigeria and the UK, that she has ceased using his surname.

Diezani has held several significant positions in the Nigerian government, including Minister of Transportation, Minister of Mines and Steel Development, and Minister of Petroleum Resources.

She was also the first female President of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, elected in November 2014.

Diezani was accused by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of embezzling $2.5bn from the Nigerian government during her tenure from 2010 to 2015 under President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

Corruption allegations have led to her arrest and legal proceedings in both Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

Breaking: Group writes US Ambassador to Nigeria over Kano Emirates Tussle

…calls for urgent sanctions against Kano Governor, other top functionaries

The Save Kano Coalition, an amalgamation of civil society organisations in Kano State, has petitioned the United States Ambassador to Nigeria over the Kano Emirates tussle.

The petition dated June 28, 2024, appealed to the ambassador to “order and deter the Abba Yusuf-led recalcitrant” Kano State Government from further undermining the institutions of democracy in the state.

The group warned that if urgent steps are not taken now, it could have “unimaginable consequences” for the peace, law, order, and socio-economic well-being of the state in the near future.

“This has become necessary as the governor, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf and his Party, the NNPP have turned Kano into a banana republic and a laughing stock in the eyes of the outside world. The rule of law has become the biggest casualty as the governor who has already subjugated the legislative arm of government, now interpretes judgements of the Court to conform with his vicious, malicious and vindictive intentions,” the coalition said in a statement signed by its Convener, Comr. Ibrahim Musa.

“The Kano Emirate Council which the governor is working overtime to convert to an appendage of his political Party is a revered traditional insitution with age-long values, culture, customs and traditions that is cherished, held in high esteem and guided jealously by subjects of the Emirate Council and outsiders alike.

“Today, the ancient city sits on edge as a result of the division and enmity which governor Yusuf and his godfather, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso have imported into Kano politics. The disregard for due process in running the affaim of the State has become so alarming that we can no longer pretend that all is well with our dear State and if the American government and her international allies who are the custodians of democracy, civil and human rights decides to turn a deaf ear ir and a blind eye to happenings in the Stant, Stair, it’s in only a matter of time before the time-bomb being planted in the State by Governor Yusuf explode in our faces. A conflagration in Kano State will be a threat will be a threat to the peace and stability of Nigeria and the whole of Africa and whatever can be done to pass this message to the government before it becomes too late must be done now.”

The group pointed out that the actions of Governor Abba Yusuf, who is being influenced by his godfather, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, to target perceived political enemies have the potential to fuel extremism and worsen the current security challenges in Northern Nigeria and the country as a whole.

SKC called for strict sanctions against the Governor Abba Yusuf-led government in Kano State until he stops disregarding court orders and ends all anti-democratic practices.

The coalition demanded that the Kano State government be excluded from receiving grants and partnerships from international organisations, development agencies, and donor agencies.

“The actions, decisions and policies The government have the potential of brewing estremism and of the compound the current security challenges being experienced in Northern Nigeria in particular and Nigeria as at large. With the governor’s penchant for disobeying the Orders of of the Coun, the people are already being tempted to resort to self-help and taking laws into their own hands. This could also lead to open confrontation between over noverzealous supporters of the governor and his Party on the one hand, and the law enforcement agencies on the other hand as their neutrality is being mad seen as working against the interest of the ruling government in the State to be

“We call for stringent sanctions against the governor Abba Yusuf-led government in Kano State until he ceases to disobey Court Orders and bring a halt to all anti-democratic practices. We equally demand that travel ban and Visa restrictions be placed on the governor and top members of his cabinet. We call for the Kano government to be blacklisted from grants and partnership by international organisations and development and or donor agencies whose interests can no longe be guaranteed in the volatile environment which the government has created with their own hands,” the statement added.