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Kidnapping, Banditry: DSS Officer Testifies Against NSCDC Officials in Court.

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Mr Stephen Okolo, a Department of State Service (DSS) official, has said that the deployment of technology aided the arrest of three security personnel facing charges of kidnapping and banditry in Oyo State.

Okolo said this in his testimony before Justice N.E. Maha  of the Federal High Court in Ibadan, on Monday.

He was giving evidence as first prosecution witness (PW1) in the trial against the three officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) and one other.

The three NSCDC’s officers are, Olamide Okesola, Adedeji Adewale and Asmau Omar while the fourth defendant, Emmanuel Olatunji, is an unlicensed arms dealer.

“My lord, following the increase in the cases of kidnapping and banditry in Okeogun area of Oyo State and parts of Kwara, the DSS fashioned out how to address the issue by deploying our technical expertise, that is equipment.

“With sustained surveillance, we were able to detect, trace, and arrest  the criminals involved.

“My lord, two kingpins; one Baguda and the other Banshile, who were the most dangerous terrorists operating in that axis were identified in the process.

“The operation which led to the arrest of one Lawan Buhari, and one of the NSCDC’s  officials believed to be supplying ammunitions to the terrorists commenced in January 2023.

“Further operation led to the arrest of the other three defendants; Okesola, Olatunji and Adewale,” Okolo told the court.

The PW1 tendered before the court, a bag containing 1000 rounds of live ammunition as an exhibit collected from Buhari,.

He said the  command was able to break the chain of supply of ammunition to terrorists, which reduced the high rate of kidnapping and banditry in the areas.

In his own testimony, Lawan Buhari, the PW2, said that he received thousands of naira supplying AK47 guns and bullets to the defendants who sent same to their terror links.

“Before I was apprehended and detained at the 81 battalion barrack at Mokola, I was serving with the Operation Burst security outfit where the trio approached me to start supplying them arms,” Buhari said.

The DSS prosecution Counsel, Mr T.A. Nurudeen told the court  that the defendants were arraigned on a 15-count amended charge bordering on conspiracy, terrorism, unlawful arms dealing, aiding and abetting terrorism.

The four defendants all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Maha adjourned the suit until Feb. 11 for continuation of trial. (NAN)

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Access Bank Appoints Uche Orji as Non-Executive Director 

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Access Holdings Plc has announced the appointment of Mr Uche Orji, as an Independent Non-Executive Director of its subsidiary, Access Bank Plc.

A statement on Saturday night by the bank says the appointment took effect from Jan. 7, following the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The statement said the appointment reflected the bank’s commitment to enhancing governance practices and ensuring a diverse and experienced board.

Orji is a renowned investment banking professional, information technology entrepreneur, and finance expert, with three decades of professional and board experience.

He is the Co-founder and Partner of Titangate Capital Management, an equity firm, that invests in deep-tech, enterprise software, semi-conductors, hardware, and artificial intelligence companies.

He is also the Founder and Director of Vitesse Africa Limited, an investment advisory firm, focused on African energy, technology and infrastructure sectors.

He serves as an Executive Board member and investor in Ultrasafe AI, an artificial intelligence/IT development firm, that maintains strategic collaborations with leading technology companies.

He also sits on the Board of Private Infrastructure Development Group, London, and chairs the Risk Committee.

Previously, Orji served as the founding Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority.

He held positions as Managing Director and Senior Analyst at UBS Securities Limited New York and Managing Director and Head of European Technology/Semiconductor Equity Research at JP Morgan Securities, London.

He also served as Executive Director/Portfolio Manager at Goldman Sachs Asset Management, London.

Earlier in his career, he was an Acting Financial Controller at Diamond Bank Limited and an Audit Trainee at Arthur Andersen and Co.

He holds a Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Port-Harcourt and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School.

Commenting on the appointment, Mr Paul Usoro, the Chairman of the Bank, said Orji was appointed based on his exceptionally rich professional, academic, and corporate board experience.

He said the qualities would be invaluable to the bank as it continued to pursue its strategic objectives.

“We are confident that his addition to the Board would further enrich the quality of our decision-making process, enabling us to deliver even greater value to our customers and stakeholders,” he said.

Usoro said the appointment was made in accordance with the bank’s internal policies, which had been communicated to all relevant regulatory authorities due to its commitment to upholding highest standards of corporate governance.

He welcomed Orji to the board and expressed optimism that he would contribute to ensuring that the bank becomes one of the top five African banks in the shortest possible time. (NAN)

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NAFDAC Inaugurates Drug-free Club in FCT School

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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has inaugurated a ‘Drug-Free Safety Club’ in schools as part of its campaign for a drug-free society.

Report s that the inauguration ceremony and campaign against illicit drugs were held on Friday at Government Secondary School, Gwarinpa Estate, Abuja.

The initiative is tagged ‘Catch Them Young’.

The NAFDAC Director-General, Prof.

Mojisola Adeyeye, said the idea was to guide students against social vices.

Adeyeye, who was represented by Dr Paul Kamai, Deputy Director in charge of Narcotics in the FCT, said many social vices occur in Nigerian society today, hence the need to guide the younger generation early.

“There is a high rate of alcohol and drug abuse in society. What we are doing here is just to pass this information to the young ones and to ensure they stay clear of illicit drugs in order to be reasonable and good members of society.

“We are trying to pass the information to the young, and that is why it is tagged ‘Operation Catch Them Young’—for them to stay clear of drug and alcohol abuse.

“We do this by convincing them to take a look at those who have fallen prey to drug intake and how they behave on the streets.

“Members of this club are expected to talk to other students about the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse because hearing it from their peers will help ensure society is free from drugs.

“We are going to continue this campaign by coming to this school from time to time, and we are sure they will adopt the habit of staying drug-free,” Adeyeye said.

Mrs Ibrahim Fadilah-Tukur, the Pioneer Principal of the school, welcomed the NAFDAC team for the official flag-off of the club in schools while urging students to take ownership of the campaign against illicit drugs.

She said the safety club was a welcome idea for the school, adding that GSS Gwarinpa Estate shares the same vicinity with Gwarinpa Market, making it more porous and vulnerable to social vices.

“Already, we have clubs and societies in the school. With the introduction of the Drug-Free Safety Club, it is a good development for the students.

“Some of these students will be ambassadors for the campaign, and they will take the message to other students. They will also go out to the market square to campaign against drugs.

“My message to the students is for them to be good ambassadors of the school as well as good ambassadors of the club,” she said.

The Head Boy of the school, Victor Eugene, said some students were prone to the misuse of drugs, even as common as paracetamol at home.

He commended NAFDAC for the initiative, adding that drug abuse was becoming prevalent among youths in society.

“Any drug we see, we will confiscate. As far as this club against drugs has been inaugurated, we are like a junior NAFDAC, we will do our best,” he said.

Also, the Social Prefect of the school, Adah Victory, said her duty as Social Prefect was to enlighten students about different social activities in the school.

Victory said she would use her position to contribute to the campaign and ensure that drugs are not abused in the school.

“I can also push for this campaign through letter writing to our teachers in order to invite other schools for a programme on drug abuse,” she said. (NAN)

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Lagos Assembly confirms DSS release of lawmakers

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The Lagos State House of Assembly has confirmed that the Department of State Security (DSS) has released the detained lawmakers after hours of interrogation over the speakership crisis.

The Chairman, Ad Hoc Committee on Information, Mr Stephen Ogundipe, confirmed the development to newsmen in Lagos on Thursday.

Report says that two lawmakers, Lanre Afinni (Lagos Island 2) and Sylvester Ogunkelu, were detained on Thursday morning by DSS officials in the state.

The lawmakers were interrogated over the removal of former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, who was ousted by a majority of members on Jan. 13 and replaced by Mojisola Meranda.

They were allegedly detained for breaking into a House store where the mace was kept, enabling lawmakers to sit and impeach the former speaker.

In solidarity, Deputy Speaker Mojeed Fatai and other members stormed the DSS office to secure their colleagues’ release.

Confirming the development, Ogundipe told newsmen that all detained lawmakers had now regained their freedom.

He said the Assembly reaffirmed that Obasa’s removal was legal and constitutional, following due process.

“Today, members of the Lagos Assembly honoured an invitation from the Lagos DSS Command in Shangisha. We provided insights into the removal of the ex-speaker.

“At the DSS office, we reaffirmed our commitment to upholding constitutional governance following his removal.

“The decision followed the 1999 Constitution and the Powers and Privileges Act, which empower the Assembly to regulate its internal proceedings without interference.

“Sections 92 and 96 outline the process for electing and removing the Speaker, and we adhered to due process.

“It is public knowledge that legislative autonomy allows state assemblies to conduct their business freely within designated chambers,” he said.

Ogundipe insisted that the former speaker’s removal was democratic and met the required legal majority.

He said any challenge to this lawful action undermines the constitutional authority granted to the Assembly.

The Assembly, he emphasised, exercised its constitutional duty in the best interest of Lagos residents.

Ogundipe commended the DSS for its professionalism, especially the Lagos Command Director, for ensuring a smooth engagement.

He said the invitation allowed them to present their account of events in a professional and comfortable environment.

He also reiterated the Assembly’s commitment to legislative duties that serve people of Lagos and ensure effective governance.

Ogundipe urged all stakeholders, including the executive and the public, to respect legislative proceedings and avoid undue interference. (NAN)

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