18 Soldiers On Trial For Assisting Boko Haram

Chief of Defence Staff, Vice Admiral Ola Ibrahim

Eighteen soldiers, including a lieutenant, on Monday appeared before a General Court Martial in Jos, Plateau State for aiding members of the fundamentalist Islamic sect, Boko Haram, and other insurgent groups in their activities.
The soldiers are members of the Joint Task Force code named Operation Restore Order in Borno State and the Special Task Force also known as Operation Safe Heaven in Plateau State.
The JTF and STF were deployed in the two states following the menace of insurgent groups in the country. While the JTF is also battling with Boko Haram members in Adamawa, and Yobe states, the STF has been grasping with Fulani herdsmen who, in the past 10 years had taken Plateau State by the jugular.
The soldiers are being tried under charges termed, “communication with the enemies, cowardly behaviour, murder and manslaughter.”
The General Officer Commanding the 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Ebisowei Awala, said before the inauguration of the five-member panel that the soldiers were duly investigated by the military police.
Awala described the court martial as one of the instruments conferred on him by the Armed Forces Act chapter A 20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria to address problems in the army.
He explained that any officer who wanted to succeed in the military should be disciplined and loyal, adding that these were two “essential requirements” an officer should not lack.
The GOC said, “Discipline is the foundation on which the military career rests; as a matter of fact, discipline and loyalty are two essential requirements no officer or soldier, who wants to succeed in professional soldiering, can afford to lack.
“It is the duty of superiors to observe, correct and instantly deal with negligence or any misconduct on the part of subordinates.
“When there is any breach, it is expected that appropriate disciplinary measures must be taken by commanders to forestall future occurrences.
“This way, the Nigerian Army can continue to play its constitutional role and sustain its accolade as the pride of the Nigerian nation.”
Awala said that the court martial was necessary so as to ensure that the high level of professionalism required to confront the lingering security challenges in the country, especially in the North-East was sustained.
He enjoined the parties in the court martial to discharge their duties expeditiously and with a high degree of commitment, to enable the accused persons to get justice.
According to him, justice is a three-way traffic that involves the accused, the army and the state; hence the need for fairness and equity.
“I want to implore this general court martial to ensure that no effort is spared to achieve this three-way traffic of the justice system; in this case, of the accused, the Nigerian Army and the state.
“Where a person is convicted of an offence, sentence ought to be passed. Such sentences must be humanely meted out.
“Punishment is among the means available for the maintenance of discipline in the Nigerian Army; as such the kind and amount of punishment should be adequate enough to achieve its purpose and serve as a deterrent to others.’’
He stressed that the GCM was convened to sustain a high level of professionalism required to confront the mounting security challenges in the Division’s area of responsibility.
Judge Advocate, Col. Dorothy Wilson-Ekwo, told newsmen after the convening of the GCM that the suspects would be given a fair hearing.
When the charges were read to the soldiers, they pleaded not guilty. No lawyer appeared for them.
Thereafter the court rose without announcing any adjourning date.
However one of the lawyers present, Mr. A. B. James, told journalists that he was only there as an observer.
Another court martial is also trying 14 officers and men under the 3 Armoured Division for various acts of misdemeanour.
A former Commander of the 33 Artillery Brigade in Bauchi, Brig.-Gen. Muraina Raji, was tried by a Special Court Martial at the 3 Armoured Division, Jos for his alleged role in the escape of two high-profile Boko Haram suspects.
Though he was discharged and acquitted of all the three charges, he was convicted on “special findings” by the court and sentenced to a three-month loss of seniority in his rank.

Ice Prince wins ‘Best African Act’ award at BET AWARDS 2013

Ice Prince has won the award for 'Best African Act'at the 2013 edition
of the BET Awards.
The Chocolate City rapper was awarded the coveted prize this evening
at the BET Broadcast Centre a few hours before the awards proper kicks
off at the Nokia Theatre L.A. live in Los Angeles, California.

Congrats to the Oleku crooner

Nigerian Actor Arrested For Attempting To Kidnap Monarch's Wife

A 27-year-old secondary school dropout, Ismaila Dauda, has been
arrested by the Ogun State Police Command for an alleged abduction.
Dauda, a fledgling actor, based in Ondo, was accused of attempting to
abduct the wife of the traditional ruler of Ilisan Remo in March 2013,
with the help of three others- Segun, Nurudeen and an unidentified
man.
However, Dauda said he was not aware that he was part of a gang of
kidnappers until too late.
He said, "At the time, I was not aware that it was a planned
abduction. Segun is a close friend and had borrowed my car. Because
the car was without a spare tyre and not in good condition, I offered
to drive him wherever he wanted.
"I was under the impression that Segun was in search of a suitable
school for his teaching practice as he is a student of a College of
Education," Dauda said.
Dauda, Segun and Nurudeen allegedly left Ondo, while a fourth
unidentified man was picked up at Ore. Under Segun's direction, Dauda
allegedly drove to a secondary school close to the palace of the Oba
of Ilisan in Ogun State.

At about 1pm, an elderly lady was said to have driven out of the
school compound and headed in the direction of the king's palace.
Dada said, "At the time, I was unaware that she was the king's wife.
By the time she came to where we were parked, she stopped because my
car was blocking her path. To my shock, Segun and Nurudeen rushed to
her vehicle, brandishing guns and pulled her out. Till that moment, I
had had no idea that they had guns in their possession."
Their victim was bundled into Dauda's waiting car and driven away.
Some residents, however, raised the alarm and alerted the police after
witnessing the abduction.
"It seemed Segun had stationed some spies around because while I was
driving, he received a call that the police had already begun to give
a chase behind us and that the neighbourhod vigilantes had mobilised
ahead of us to block our escape.
"Immediately, I heard that, I could no longer drive. I was so scared,
I had to drive off the road into the bush and we abandoned my car
there with the king's wife in it," Dauda recalled.
Dauda and his friends, allegedly hid in the bush till 7pm until
Segun's spies showed up and took them all to an uncompleted building
at the Ijebu-Ode end of Sagamu-Benin Expressway. The suspects were
said to have hidden there till 6.30am the following day, when a
vehicle arrived to convey them back to Ondo state.
The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi,
confirming the incident said, "The victim was rescued from the car
unhurt although some pepper had been sprayed into her eyes to prevent
her from identifying where she was to be held captive.
"All the suspects escaped from the scene. In their haste, a sim card
belonging to Dauda was left in the car.

"Dauda was tracked to his home in Ondo State but he had gone into
hiding in his hometown, Iwo. It wasn't until May 19 that Dauda
returned home and he was promptly arrested by the Fagun Police
Division and later transferred to the State Criminal Investigative
Department, Abeokuta. Investigation is on to apprehend the other
fleeing suspects."

Source: Punch

Gunmen free 175 prisoners in Akure jailbreak

There was pandemonium in the early hours of Sunday when gunmen, numbering about 30, invaded the Olokuta Medium Security Prisons in Akure, Ondo State capital, and set about 175 inmates free. The bandits, according to eyewitnesses, arrived at the prison premise, which is less than one kilometre away from the headquarters of the 32 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army, also known as Owena Barracks, around 12. 05am, shooting indiscriminately. The armed men were said to have gained entry into the prison by using dynamite to blow off a section of the walls, after a futile attempt to enter through the main entrance. A source said one of the warders was hit by the attackers’ bullets, was ordered to release the keys to the cells, and was also forced to set the inmates free. The state Comptroller of Prisons, Mr. Tunde Olayiwola, who lamented the development, described the attack as unusual. Olayiwola said, “The incident happened around 12.05am. The rumour that the attack was masterminded by the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram, is not true. “We cannot specifically identify those behind the attack, but the attack is unusual. One of our officers was injured during the attack and he is in the hospital right now receiving treatment. However, I am assuring you that those behind the attack will be brought to book.”

Burna Boy Fails To Perform @MTN's 'Ghana Meets Naija' Concert Due To His Glo Deal

Our very own dear BurnaBoy was at the much anticipated Ghana Meets Naija concert which held last night in Ghana but couldn’t perform on the MTN stage because he is a Glo Ambassador. According to reports, Burna Boy failed to perform at the ongoing Ghana meets Naija concert because his deal as a Glo ambassador doesn’t allow him perform on a competitive platform. He however spoke off stage to the audience and apologised for his inability to perform. Meanwhile, it seems this will be the first event we aint seeing Jim and Nadia coupled up. Haven't seen pictures of them together at the event just yet.

11 Burnt To Death In Ibadan Auto Crash

No fewer than 11 people were yesterday burnt to death in an auto crash which occurred at the Macmillan area, few metres before Soka bus stop on Ibadan/Lagos Expressway. It was learnt that the commercial bus was coming from Ogido in Ogun State and heading to Beere in Ibadan to attend a Wolimat programme of a family member with most of the victims dressed in a uniform made of Ankara for the occasion. According to an eyewitness, the propeller of the bus pulled out and hit the fuel tank, igniting a fire in the process. The driver of the bus in an attempt to save situation veered off the road and hit a heap of sand by the side of the road which immediately halted the bus , but while the driver of the bus and the two passengers in the front escaped, others were not so lucky as the side door of the bus was locked. The occupants were reported to have impeded one another in their panic to get out and this caused the high casualty figure. Of the 11 that died, three were children, while 13 others who sustained various degrees of burns, including the driver, were taken to the Adeoyo Hospital and UCH, Ibadan. The Assistant Corps Commander and Unit Commander Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Oluyole Ibadan/Lagos toll gate, Mr Adeoye Sanya, confirmed the incident, saying that “the FRSC was informed of the accident around 1pm that an Ibadan-bound bus from Lagos was involved in an accident. “However, I can confirm to you that the bus was badly loaded and from the report of the victims -both survivals and the dead- 13 were injured and 11 were burnt to death; the claim can be established. The driver is among the four male victims taken to the Adeoyo Hospital while nine others – seven adults and two children – were taken to the University College Hospital (UCH).” Sanya said after being informed of the development, the FRSC quickly deployed its officials to evacuate some of the victims to the hospitals. The remains of the 11 victims were taken away in sacks by the men of the FRSC in two vans with registration number FRSC 522 RS and FRSC 525 RS. Meanwhile, a middle-aged man who was among onlookers at the scene collapsed when men of the FRSC were pulling out the scarred bodies from the bus. It took the intervention of some of his colleagues who poured water on his face to revive him.

Confederations Cup Final: Brazil 3 – 0 Spain

Two goals from Fred and a stunning Neymar finish saw Brazil claim their third straight Confederations Cup title in emphatic fashion, as they brushed Spain aside 3-0 in the final on Sunday.

The tournament hosts were in supreme form inside a raucous Maracana, ripping the reigning world and European champions to shreds to end their 29-match unbeaten run, and claim the trophy for the fourth time, alongside their triumphs of 2009, 2005 and 1997.

Fred needed only 90 seconds to open the scoring, before a thumping second from Neymar moments before the break rounded off an excellent first half for Brazil.

The onslaught continued two minutes after the restart when Fred put another past a shell-shocked Spain, who showed their ineptitude at both ends when Sergio Ramos lashed a penalty wide.

Gerard Pique’s 68th minute red card ended any fleeting hopes of a comeback from la Roja, as Brazil’s win sparked wild celebrations in the stands and saw Spain lose by three goals in a competitive game for the first time since 1985.

The fans had the Maracana rocking long before kick-off, and barely two minutes in, the home side nearly blew the roof off the famous stadium when they took the lead.

Oscar delivered a ball into the box which Fred, Iker Casillas, Alvaro Arbeloa and Pique all challenged. A goalmouth scramble ensued and, despite laying on the turf, the Fluminense man reacted quickest to poke home.

Fred very nearly set Oscar up for the second within minutes when he flicked across the box from Neymar’s cross, but Chelsea’s young playmaker drilled agonisingly wide.

Paulinho then made Casillas work hard to keep the deficit at one with a cheeky lob after robbing Andres Iniesta, with the Spain keeper backpedalling to get a hand to the attempt.

Vicente Del Bosque’s side were simply struggling to cope with the tenacity and energy in Brazil’s play, which was matched every step of the way by the fervour raining down from the stands.

And Arbeloa nearly committed a fatal mistake when he flattened Neymar on the halfway line, but with the fans baying for blood, only a yellow card was issued to the defender.

Spain finally showed signs of life when Iniesta’s rasping drive forced Julio Cesar to push around the post, but it was an aberration amid Brazil’s dominance, and Casillas had to stand tall again to stop Fred from point blank range.

However, it was then the hosts’ turn to live on the edge when an outrageous goal-line clearance from David Luiz denied Pedro a sure-fire goal after Mata’s pass put him one-on-one with Cesar.

But with half-time approaching, Brazil would get their deserved second. Oscar drew the attention of the defence on the edge of the box and deftly slipped in Neymar, who unleashed an unstoppable shot into the back of the net.

And two minutes after the interval, the hosts struck again. Hulk’s fantastic diagonal ball was cleverly dummied by Neymar, leaving Fred to finish coolly into the bottom corner.

Spain were handed a glimmer of hope with a penalty after Marcelo clumsily challenged substitute Jesus Navas, but Ramos extinguished that optimism almost instantly with a wild spot-kick that flew wide.

And they were finished for good when Pique stuck out a leg in vain to bring down the onrushing Neymar, earning the Barcelona defender a straight red card as the last man.

It was party time inside the Maracana, with the irrepressible Neymar driving past defenders with ease, and substitute Jo coming close to a fourth with a powerful strike that was saved by Casillas.

Spain had a few chances to restore a little pride, but Pedro was denied excellently from close range by Cesar, who did equally well to push away a curling Villa effort with only minutes remaining.

But it just was not la Roja’s night, with the final whistle signalling what had been an inevitability for some time as the Brazil celebrations kicked off in earnest.

The question now is whether the Selecao can ride this wave of momentum all the way onto the biggest stage of them all at World Cup 2014. [Goal]