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We killed victims to rescue abducted injured officer —Customs

Published

3 years ago

May 14, 2021

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The Nigerian Customs Service has explained the reason why its men shot and killed some residents of Iseyin on Thursday.

Residents said five persons were shot dead while some were injured when Customs men opened fire on some vehicles suspected to be loaded with foreign rice on Thursday

But the NCS in a statement on Friday claimed some rice smugglers hired hoodlums to attack its officers on lawful duty and injured some of its officers in the process.

The statement, which was signed by Theophilus Duniya on behalf of Ag. Controller, F O U Zone ‘A’, said one of its injured officers was abducted by the hoodlums with his rifle, and his colleagues in the process of rescuing him fired at the hoodlums, and three of them were killed.

The statement read, “At about 1500 hours of Thursday, 13th May, 2021 some daredevil smugglers mobilized themselves with the help of some thugs; attacked a patrol team serving with Federal Operations Unit Zone A, who were on lawful duty at Iseyin.

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“The officers who were on routine patrol intercepted two Nissan Pathfinder SUV vehicles fully loaded with smuggled foreign parboiled rice at Iseyin.

“Sequel to the interception, the officers were attacked by a mob who were mobilised by the smugglers. The mob attacked the officers with dangerous weapons which led to the infliction of serious injuries on two officers.

“In an attempt to abduct one of the officers that was brutally attacked; who sustained deep cuts on his head and other parts of his body.

“The assailants had taken the injured officer with his rifle before his team members whom acted in self defence, shot at his suspected abductors leading to the death of three of them before he was rescued and taken for immediate medical attention.”

The agency explained further that its officers were able to successfully evacuate the intercepted smuggled rice, while the injured officers are currently receiving treatment.

“The Acting Controller of the Unit, DC Usman Yahaya, is sad about the avoidable incident and urges community leaders and parents to call their wards and youths to order.

READ Lagos dispatch rider took baby with mother’s consent — Police

” He laments the criminality of obstructing and attacking officers on lawful duty, describing it as a Venture that yields no good for all including the Service,” it added.

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JUST IN: Tinubu appoints Jim Ovia as chairman of education loan fund

Published

1 hour ago

April 26, 2024

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President Bola Tinubu has appointed Jim Ovia as the chairman of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesperson, announced the appointment of Ovia, chairman of Zenith Bank, in a statement on Friday.

More to follow…

READ Customs seizes contraband worth N2.8bn in Owerri, arrests 13 suspects

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ICPC detains TETFund boss ‘over questionable N7.6bn project’

Published

6 hours ago

April 26, 2024

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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has detained Sonny Echono, executive secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

Demola Bakare, ICPC spokesperson, confirmed the development on Friday.

Bakare said that Echono was invited by the anti-graft agency on Thursday.

“The executive secretary of TETFund is here with us. He has been invited for questioning. He is still in custody. He was invited yesterday.” Bakare said.

“He was invited on Thursday. He has not been released. He’s still with us. Investigation is still ongoing.”

It was earlier reported that TETfund awarded two contracts to Fides Et Ratio Academy and Pole Global Marketing (PGM) within two months at the cost of N3.8 billion respectively without the approval of the federal executive council (FEC), which is required for the contract size.

The contract was to provide capacity building course and learning management systems to about 2 million students across higher institutions in the country.

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In a rejoinder, TETFund said it did not award N7.6 billion contracts to two companies without due process.

The agency said it was wrong to say they were contracts, whereas they were ICT projects implemented under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) which doesn’t require competitive bidding in public procurement.

TETFund further said its disbursement guidelines were approved by the president on the recommendation of the “Fund’s Board of Trustees and concurrence of the Honourable Minister of Education in line with the TETFund Act 2011″.

In an interview with TheCable, Echono said there was no form of irregularity in the N7.6 billion project.

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American school writes EFCC, seeks to refund $760k of Yahaya Bello’s children fees

Published

7 hours ago

April 26, 2024

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The American International School of Abuja (AISA) has asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to provide “authentic banking details” for the refund of fees paid for the children of Yahaya Bello, immediate-past governor of Kogi state.

It will be recalled that Bello had àllegedly paid $720,000 in advance as fees for five of his children from the coffers of the Kogi state government.

The children are in grade level 2 to 8 at the school.

On April 17, EFCC operatives laid siege on Bello’s residence in Abuja in attempt to arrest him over an alleged N80.2 billion fraud.

While the operatives were at the house, Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi, arrived at the property and reportedly whisked Bello away.

In a letter addressed to the Lagos zonal commander of the EFCC, the school said the sum of $845,852 has been paid in tuition “since the 7th of September 2021 to date”.

READ Again, Customs men raid Ibadan market for imported rice

AISA said the sum to be refunded is $760,910, because it had deducted educational services already rendered.

“Please forward to us an official written request, with the authentic banking details of the EFCC, for the refund of the above-mentioned funds as previously indicated as part of your investigation into the alleged money laundering activities by the Bello family,” the letter reads.

“Since the 7th September 2021 to date, $845,852.84 (Eight Hundred and Forty Five Thousand, Eight Hundred and Fifty Two US Dollars and eighty four cents) in tuition and other fees has been deposited into our Bank account.

“We have calculated the net amount to be transferred and refunded to the State, after deducting the educational services rendered as $760,910.84. (Seven Hundred and Sixty Thousand, Nine Hundred and Ten US Dollars and Eighty Four cents).

“No further additional fees are expected in respect of tuition as the students’ fees have now been settled until they graduate from ASIA.”

READ Customs intercepts N308m canabis, arrests suspects

The school said it will draw the attention of the anti-graft agency if there are any further deposits by the Bello family.

In a statement signed by Greg Hughes, AISA also said “Ali Bello contacted the school on Friday 13 August 2021 requesting to pay the family school fees in advance until the students graduate from High School”.

The EFCC has since declared Bello wanted, with the NIS placing the ex-governor on a wanted list.