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Drama In MKO Abiola’s Family As Police Detains Two Sons Over Robbery At Residence, Step-Mum Accused Of Ordering Arrest

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Adebisi Abiola, one of the widows of the late M.K.O. Abiola has broken her silence on the arrest of her stepsons.

Kassim and Aliu, sons of Abiola, were arrested in connection with the robbery at the late politician’s residence in Opebi, Ikeja, Lagos.

We had earlier reported how gunmen invaded the residence of the late businessman in Ikeja, Lagos, on September 2.

But on Friday, Abiola’s sons filed a N100 million suit against the police, blaming their stepmother for their ordeal.

Reacting through a statement issued by Debo Adeleke, the family’s lawyer, Abiola’s widow said the unruly conduct of her stepsons led to their arrest.

She said after the robbery incident, the police commenced investigations but rather than cooperate with the officers, Kassim and Aliu threatened to deal with them.

“On the 2nd September 2020, at about 6:00 am, some hoodlums suspected to be armed robbers broke into the residence of Late Chief MKO Abiola. The criminals broke into the bedroom of Late MKO Abiola’s wife, in the person of Chief Mrs. Adebisi Abiola and carted away valuables running into millions of naira,” the statement read.

“The victim, Chief Mrs. Adebisi Abiola, and her daughter were subsequently locked up in her room with a threat by the armed robbers that they would be eliminated if they raised an alarm. As expected, Chief Mrs. Adebisi Abiola was so petrified, bemused, and stupefied by the unfortunate armed robbery incident that she could not raise an alarm even after the robbers had escaped with their loots running into millions of naira.

“It is on record that while the policemen were interviewing the family members, Mr. Kassim Abiola conducted himself in a very rude, ungentlemanly, provocative, embarrassing and suspicious manner and all efforts by other members of the family to make him act in a responsible manner failed.

“It is further on record that Mr. Kassim Abiola did not only throw tantrums at the police but equally threatened to deal ruthlessly with one of the senior police officers whom he (Kassim) claimed to know personally to the extent of describing the said senior police officer’s car and the location where he will deal with him.

“These unguarded vituperations and violent conduct by Kassim infuriated the police and he was subsequently invited for further interrogation for demanding the reason for the presence of the policemen in his father’s house.

“It is equally noteworthy to mention here that his junior brother, Aliu Abiola joined him in his tirade of abuse against the policemen who were only trying to interview them and all other persons at the residence with a view to investigating the crime.

“The police subsequently arrested Mr. Kassim Abiola, Mr. Aliu Abiola, and seven others for further questioning regarding the investigation of the robbery incident which the police suspected to have been carried out through the active connivance of a member of the family or staff considering the ease with which such an ugly armed robbery incident was carried out.”

According to the statement, efforts were being made to secure the release of those detained in connection with the incident when they learnt that a suit had been filed against the police.

She also described the fundamental rights enforcement suit as wrong and ill-advised but said efforts would still be made to secure their release.

“Barrister Debo Adeleke discussed with the Lagos State Commissioner of Police who understandably consented to release them and efforts to release and admit the three men into an administrative bail were concluded on Friday 11th September 2020,” the statement read.

“However, to the family’s chagrin and consternation, while one of the lawyers in Barr. Debo Adeleke’s chambers in the company of Engr. Rahmon Abiola, a younger brother to late Chief MKO Abiola who is also the secretary of the Abiola family were making final efforts to perfect the bail of the trio i.e. Kassim and Aliu Abiola and Mr. Popoola, a lawyer from the law firm of Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, in the company of a woman stormed the Lagos State Police Command and informed the police of the Suit filed in court for the enforcement of the fundamental rights of Messrs. Kassim and Aliu Abiola.

“Consequent upon the above, the police could not go ahead with the planned release of the three men as scheduled for Friday, 11th September 2024.”

She described the late MKO Abiola as an icon who paid the supreme price in sacrificing his life for Nigeria, asking the public to be mindful of their comments on the issue so as not to “dishonor and disrespect the memory of the late sage”.

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Two US-Based Nigerians Bag 30-Year Jail For $3.5m Romance Scam

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Two Nigerians, Anthony Ibekie and Samuel Aniukwu, have been sentenced by a United States federal jury to a combined 30 years in prison for defrauding US citizens of $3.5 million.

The sentencing was announced in a press release made available on the US Department of Justice website on Monday.

According to the statement, Ibekie and Aniukwu deceived their victims by claiming they had received substantial inheritances that required money to be claimed. The duo would then ask the victims to send money with the promise of reimbursement once the inheritances were secured.

The statement also highlighted that the pair carried out romance scams, building online relationships with their victims to gain their trust, only to later demand money.

It read, “An undercover law enforcement investigation has resulted in federal prison sentences for two Nigerian nationals residing in the Chicago suburbs who conducted online inheritance scams and other fraud schemes.

“Using aliases, Anthony Emeka Ibekie and Samuel Aniukwu communicated with victims throughout the United States, convincing them they had received substantial inheritances and needed to send money to individuals associated with the defendants in order to claim it.

“In addition to the inheritance scam, the pair carried out an online romance scam that involved communicating with victims via social media and dating websites, building trust with the victims through a purported online romance, and convincing them to send money to a predetermined recipient. Aniukwu and Ibekie also orchestrated a ‘business email compromise’ scam that targeted corporate email accounts.

“The fraud schemes were uncovered by a covert law enforcement investigation. The scams resulted in losses to victims of at least $3.5 million.”

The statement further noted that after facing at least 14 charges, Ibekie and Aniukwu pleaded guilty to the accusations. As a result, Ibekie was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Thursday, while Aniukwu received a 10-year sentence on November 8.

The statement continued, “A federal jury earlier this year convicted Ibekie, 59, of Oswego, Ill., on all 14 counts of wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, making false statements to a bank, and passport fraud. U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger on Thursday sentenced Ibekie to 20 years in federal prison.

“Aniukwu, 50, of Romeoville, Ill., pleaded guilty last year to wire fraud and money laundering charges. Judge Seeger on Nov. 8, 2024, sentenced Aniukwu to 10 years in prison.”

Meanwhile, an accomplice of Ibekie and Aniukwu, US citizen Jennifer Gosha, is set to be sentenced on December 18 following her guilty plea.

“A third defendant, Jennifer Gosha, 52, a U.S. citizen from Oak Park, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to charges of wire fraud and making false statements to a federal agent. Gosha is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Seeger on December 18, 2024,” the statement concluded.

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JUST IN: Ebonyi Governor Suspends Health, Housing Commissioners Over “Gross Misconduct, Negligence Of Duty”

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The Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, has suspended the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Moses Ekuma, and his counterpart in Housing and Urban Development, Francis Ori.

The suspensions occurred on Monday during the State Executive Council meeting in Abakaliki, the state capital.

A statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Jude Okpor, on Tuesday morning, read, “Following cases of gross misconduct and dereliction of duties by some government officials and matters related thereto, the Chairman of Council directed the indefinite suspension of the Honourable Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development and three months suspension of the Honourable Commissioner for Health respectively.”

Reports suggest that the suspensions may be linked to the alleged theft of government property by officials in the Ministry of Health and the reported underperformance of the Housing and Urban Development commissioner, particularly regarding his poor management of the Amaeze Housing Scheme in the Ishielu Local Government Area.

It is also recalled that the governor visited the health ministry’s premises on Saturday night, where six officials were allegedly caught diverting government materials. He subsequently ordered their arrest and prosecution.

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BREAKING: Finally, Port Harcourt Refinery Begins Production

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After multiple delays, the Port Harcourt refinery has begun fuel production.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited confirmed this on Tuesday.

NNPCL spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, stated that truck loading would begin today.

“Port Harcourt Refinery begins production. Truck loading starts today, Tuesday,” Soneye said.

 

More to come…

 

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