The Harbingerngr News

A  Lagos Magistrate's Court sitting in Apapa has sentenced a trader, Goodness Umeh, to six months in prison for conspiracy to forge the emblem of a brand of motor bearing solely distributed in Nigeria by Coscharis Group of Company.  Umeh was charged before the court in 2019, for conspiracy to commit felony and forgery of the emblem of Coscharis KG and Nachi bearing packets at Trade Fair Complex Lagos and Mgbuka Market Onitsha, Anambra State but she pleaded not guilty to the charge. The police in a three count charge had alleged that Umeh was traced from Lagos to Anambra State, where she was apprehended at her shop with forged emblems of KG and Nachi packets.  At the conclusion of trial, Magistrate S. Grillo found Umeh guilty of conspiracy to commit felony and sentenced her to six months in prison with an option of fine of N300,000. The court, however, blamed the police for mishandling the forgery charge and held that the prosecution could not satisfactorily prove the case...

 A 30-year-old man, Abubakar Sani, has been arrested by the Police in Niger State for hacking his senior brother, Kabir Sani to death over the property of their father. The incident occured in Gawu-Babangida in Gurara Local Government Area of the state. It was gathered that an argument had ensued between the two brothers over a property of their father with Abubakar hitting his senior brother many times, leading to his death.  Efforts by neighbours and passers by to intervene proved abortive as Abubakar use the big stick in his hand to hit anybody who tried to intervene.  Looking from a distance, Abubakar succeeded in hitting his late brother on all parts of the body, especially on the head several time and later left in the pool of his blood. As Abubakar was trying to escape from the scene, some of the villagers pounced on him, arrested and handed him over to the Police. The almost lifeless body of late Kabir, aged 34 was immediately rushed to Federal Medical Centre,...

 A 25-year-old man simply identified as Monday, yesterday escaped being lynched after allegedly being caught with two goats allegedly stolen in Obio Ndot, Oruk Anam Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State. Monday who hails from the community but resides in Uyo, was alleged to have sneaked into the village and was  caught trying to make away with the goats. A community source said the alleged thief, an ex-convict, is noted for stealing livestock from the community to sell off in Uyo since returning from prison for similar offences. He said: “On this occasion, he was caught red-handed by youths in the community. After being given the beating of his life, petrol was being sourced to burn him alive when elders of the community intervened and called in the police, that rescued him. “This same Monday, who sells roasted pork in Uyo, had two years ago stolen two goats from the community and was caught trying to move them out on a chartered tricycle (Keke). The alleged thief, on this la...

Tragedy struck, yesterday, in Abule-Egba area of Lagos, after a mixer truck belonging to a local conglomerate with number plate, KANO MDB 531 XA, crushed a woman to death. The truck driver with an undisclosed identity was said to be heading inward Abule-Egba, beside Jubilee Bridge, when the truck had a brake failure. In his attempt to control it, it rammed into the unidentified woman. Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, Mr. Adebayo Taofiq, who confirmed the incident, said the woman was trapped under the truck. According to him, “The trapped female body was evacuated underneath the truck by officials of LASTMA and immediately handed over to policemen from Oko-Oba Police Station. “Preliminary investigations revealed that the mixer truck while on a high speed lost control as a result of a brake failure. In the driver’s bid to swerve into a drainage channel, the truck crushed a woman. “The truck driver was immediate...

 *Residents berate Lagos Fire Service for late arrival lWe didn’t come late, there was water— Lagos Fire Service  Globus Supermarket in Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos State, went up in flames, yesterday, with property worth millions of naira destroyed. One of the female staff was said to have been killed in the infeno. Other members of staff reportedly sustained injuries in the resultant stampede.  The cause of the fire remains unknown at press time, but eye witnesses said the fire started about 11 a.m. However, residents of the area faulted the delayed arrival of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service,  attributing it to why the fire was more devastating.  According to an eye witness, “When the Lagos State Fire Service arrived about noon, they used the water they had to extinguish some parts but waited for hours before continuing the operation. “They said there was no water and they were waiting for water to arrive before continuing the operation. Boys in the area...

•Pickets Labour Party's secretariats nationwide, insists Abure must go •Says it'll continue to resist illegality •LP kicks, says forcible entry into its HQ, secretariats illegal, criminal THE supremacy fight between Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and Labour Party, LP, continued yesterday, with the union picketing the headquarter and secretariats of the party nationwide, insisting the national chairman, Julius Abure, quit office.  But the party in a swift reaction, described the forcible entry of NLC members into its headquarter and secretariat illegal and criminal. Speaking when workers occupied the Labour Party headquarters in Abuja, the Deputy President of NLC Political Commission, Dr. Theophilus Ndubuaku, said the picketing was to express workers grievances towards Abure's administration of the party. He said:  "Nigeria is not the only country that has a Labour Party backed by Organised Labour. There  are so many others. "Why would our own be different, the esse...

GUNMEN suspected to be hired assassins have killed the General Overseer, Mount of Solution Redeemed Church in Ikot Ekang community, Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Prophet Elisha Asuquo and a pastor of his church, Apostle Aniekan Ibanga. It was gathered that both pastors were killed at 7p.m., last Friday within the church premises at Ikot Ekang. Sources from the area told some newsmen that the gunmen had stormed the church premises on a motorcycle when the pastors were holding a meeting and shot them dead. The gunmen reportedly fled the community through Abak-Ikot Ekpene federal highway. It was gathered that the late men of God, Elisha Asuquo and Pastor Ibanga hailed from Adiasim in Essien Udim Local Government Area and Ikot Obioikpa village, Afaha Obong Clan in Abak Local Government Area of the state. A community leader in Ikot Ekang, Bishop John Kpongkpong,  when contacted by some newsmen, described the killings as shocking. He said he was preparing for a church pr...

SEVEN dead bodies have reportedly been recovered after gunmen attacked a commuter bus, which left Zaki Biam in Benue Etate en route Maihula in Bali Local Government Area of the state. This came as Governor Agbu Kefas of the state has directed security operatives to apprehend those responsible for the attack The armed men had attacked the 18-seater bus while passing through Gamkwe village, Donga Local Government Area of the state on Wednesday. The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. David Iloyonomon confirmed this to newsmen.  Kefas directs security agencies to fish out perpetrators In a statement by Commissioner for Information and Re-orientation, Zainab Jalingo, Governor Kefas condemned the killings of some commuters, saying: “Dr. Agbu Kefas has condemned in strong terms the killing of travellers from Zaki-Biam in Benue state to Maihula in Taraba State. “The governor has also called for calm and directed security agencies, who are already working to ensure law and order in the gene...

Organised war against DNA test ...7 days after resuming work Tragedy struck in the Gbagada area of Lagos after a yet-to-be-identified woman was stabbed to death by her house help, in her apartment on 29, Kiniun-Ifa Street, Sawmill. It was not clear when the fleeing house help, identified simply as Peter, allegedly committed the murder. But the lifeless body of the woman, according to information gathered, was discovered on March 9, 2024, by her son, who came to visit. When this reporter visited the building yesterday, it was under lock and key. The deceased was said to be the only occupant in the building. There are three shops in front of the building. A resident in the area, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said: “The woman’s son, upon arriving at the compound, went straight to his mother’s apartment only to find her lifeless body on the staircase, with blood all over. “A long piece of wood suspected to be the murder weapon was also found. By then, the body has started swelli...

A Lagos Magistrates Court sitting in Apapa has sentenced a man, Nwachukwu Oliver to one year imprisonment for aiding the escape of a suspect, Abonu Anslem, who is standing trial for forgery and breach of peace. The police had charged Nwachukwu before the court in 2019, for allegedly standing as surety for Anslem but failed to produce him on several occasions to answer for his crime. One of the four count charges against the defendant reads: " That you Nwachukwu Oliver and one other now at large on September 11, 218, at Magistrate Court 10, Apapa in the Apapa Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to obstruct, prevent and pervert the course of justice by aiding the escape of one Abonu Anslem, who is standing trial for the offence of conspiracy, conduct likely to cause a breach of peace and forgery in the charge No 1/051/2018 at Magistrate Court 10, Ajegunle Apapa, Lagos and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 97 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State ...

AN ex-convict, has reportedly killed a 45 year old housewife and farmer, Kudirat Bolarinwa, after raping her in Ondo town, Ondo State. Vanguard gathered that the victim was raped and killed at Lakere, Ayeyemi area of the town. Her naked and decomposing body was discovered by the police search team in the forest, weekend. Sources said that the deceased went with the suspect to buy plantain in a farm before she was attacked, raped and killed. The deceased was declared missing after she failed to return from the farm on Friday. It was gathered that the deceased husband, Abolarinwa, led police to search for the missing wife after reporting the incident at the Enu-Owa Police Division in the area. A bag containing a small paper, said to belong to the killer was reportedly found at the scene of the crime. The source added that the paper found at the scene of the crime, indicated that the suspect was released from Segede prison on February 6, 2024. Police source said that there were signs of v...

 ...Wunmi not available for service of the court process Family of the late Afro-pop star, Mr. Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, who died on September 12, 2023, in an unusual circumstance, has fixed a date for mention of the DNA test application requested.  In a statement, Head of Aloba's legal team, Monisola Odumosu, said that all necessary legal apparatus were s in place to ensure the success of the matter.  She said: "The application is at the Family Court of the Ikorodu Magistrate Court (MKD/31/FAM/2024), Joseph Aloba v. Cynthia Aloba. The family represented by the deceased father is seeking an order of the court directing that a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) test be conducted concerning the paternity of Master Liam Aloba, an alleged son of Mr. Ilerioluwa Aloba (deceased), in a recognised and accredited government or private medical facility within Lagos State, at the expense of the applicant. "The family also sought an order directing Mrs. Omowunmi Aloba to ...

Armed hoodlums suspected to be kidnappers have attacked and killed a man yet to be identified on the Afa/Egede Road in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, when he was travelling with his family. It was gathered from sources that the gunmen attacked the family and killed the man on the spot, while his wife and daughter were whisked away. The incident reportedly happened on Sunday, in Enugu State. The spokesman of Enugu State Police command, Daniel Ndukwe, who confirmed the incident said that the manhunt for the armed hoodlums and rescue of the kidnapped victims were ongoing.

THE altar, considered a sacred place where priests offer prayers, turned into a slaughter slab at Grace of Comfort Parish of the Celestial Church of Christ, Ile-Ife in Osun State. It was not just an ordinary person that was allegedly killed on the sacred platform, but the shepherd of the church, Most Senior Evangelist Morris Fadehan by his assistant, Lekan Ogundipe, following several disagreements between them. Ogundipe was said to have laid ambush within the church premises and unleashed terror on his victim while the deceased bowed and prayed on the altar. He allegedly stabbed him in the head several times, hit a nail through his ear and nose before dragging the lifeless body out of the altar, wrapped it with clothes and set it on fire. Ogundipe while allegedly perpetrating his crime also sustained injuries on his hand while the deceased, during the struggle, scratched him severely on the face. Woman, money palava It was gathered that the church’s shepherd had on many occasions compl...

lNingi, Jarigbe open can of worms lSenior senators got N500m, I got N75m – Jarigbe lWe don’t know how much Akpabio, his deputy, Barau earn —Ningi lSenate suspends Ningi for three months lNingi resigns as chairman, Northern Senators Forum lAkpabio meets Tinubu over rumpus lSenate’s feud embarrassing, says ex-Senator lTime to revisit national priorities — Sani The sharing formula of funds for constituency projects yesterday threw the Senate into a rowdy session, as Senator Jarigbe Jarigbe, representing Cross River North, alleged that while senior senators got N500 million, others got as low as N75 million. Recall that Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central), had alleged that the 2024 budget was padded by N3 trillion. Tempers rose as the lawmakers debated Ningi’s allegation, sequel to a motion by Senator Solomon Adeola (APC, Ogun West), who said his privilege as a senator had been breached. Two former senators, George Sekibo, and Shehu Sani, in t...

*Says capping fuel prices, low electricity tariffs could cost Nigeria 3% of GDP  lWe must go into production to escape hardship — Governors lHow Nigeria can stabilize forex, overcome economic woes — Moghalu lI'm not desperate to be president — Peter Obi lNigeria’s acceptance of grains from war-torn Ukraine no sign of failure — FG   THE International Monetary Fund, IMF, has advised the Federal Government to give priority to food insecurity in the country. The IMF’s position came  on a day governors said Nigeria must go into production, if it must get the people out of the current hardship.  At the 16th Edition of the Leadership Annual Conference and Awards, the IMF made its position known in its End-of-Mission statement issued after the completion of the IMF Staff 2024 Article IV Mission to Nigeria. This is even as former Anambra State governor and 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party, LP, Mr. Peter Obi, who decried the hardship in th country, said he was ...

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, arrested 21 trucks loaded with food and non-food items heading towards N’djamena, Chad Republic, Central African Republic and Cameroon. According to EFCC’s spokesman, Dele Oyewale, the food-laden trucks were intercepted in a sting operation at major exit routes along Kalabiri/Gamboru Ngala and Bama roads, Borno State. Oyewale in a statement, said the  food items were cleverly concealed in the trucks that would have gone undetected, but for the eagle-eyed vigilance of operatives of the commission. The anti-graft agency also said the waybills covering the goods carried by the trucks indicated their destinations as N’djamena, Chad Republic, Central Africa Republic and Cameroon. The arrest of the trucks is expected to stem the tide of food insecurity occasioned by unscrupulous antics of smugglers across the country. The statement said the suspects arrested with the trucks were being profiled and would be charged to court as...

TWO persons have been killed, while another sustained machete wound in two seperate attacks by suspected armed herdsmen on Odugbo and Odejo communities in Apa and Agatu Local Government Areas of Benue state. It was gathered that the attack on Odugbo also left several others injured while some are still missing or unaccounted for. According to a source in Apa council, the armed herders, Monday evening, attacked and killed the two victims in Odugbo, in Edikwu Ukpogo and Odugbo communities. He said: “Those killed in that attack on Monday evening were Godwin Ela and Danladi Edoh, both of Odugbo. They were killed by Fulani herdsmen along Ukpogo Edikwu. “Some victims also sustained injuries and some are still missing after that attack. That is what we have been going through lately.” Meanwhile, a young woman identified as  Oduda Oloche, a native of Odejo community in Agatu LGA was also reported to have been macheted in her farm by armed herdsmen, who invaded her farm with their cattle. A...

Twenty-five-year-old Ada Eme, who’s representing Nigeria at the 71st Miss World pageant, is hoping to return home with the coveted crown after she made the top 40 finalists. The grand finale of the pageant is billed for this Saturday at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, India. Eme made the top 40 finalists out of 117 contestants following her brilliant speech during the head-to-head challenge of the competition, where she emerged one of the top five contestants alongside Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lebanon and England. The head-to-head challenge was an important part of the competition, where the contestants acted on a variety of global challenges and demonstrate Miss World’s dedication to promoting beauty with purpose. The challenge allows each contestant to clearly explain her project, ranging from environmental protection to healthcare initiatives, social justice efforts, and educational exploits. Ada Eme’s speech for the project was tagged “Health For All.” She spoke about a disea...

CORPSES of some of the killed police officers drafted from IRT Abuja, PMF 51 Oghara and Anti-Kidnapping Squad, Asaba in Delta State to rescue three missing officers in Ohoror community, have been recovered by a combined team of security agents and the local vigilantes in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state. Impeccable source said the combined team stormed the forest on Sunday and Monday before they could recover some of the corpses. It will be recalled that on January, 24, 2024, three police officers at a nipping point in Ohoror community, Ughelli North, Delta State, were detailed following a distressed call by one Moses Progress now at large, who was allegedly robbed by suspected herdsmen while performing sacrifice to the gods of the river under a bridge close to the nipping point. The three officers, all Inspectors, who responded to the distressed call, never returned till date. The alleged killing of the six officers and 15 others currently missing was confirmed by a Po...

By Adekunle Adekoya Time flies! And very fast too.  IN 2014-2015, a retired general known to us as Muhammadu Buhari was sold to us as the very personification of integrity, which meant he was a man of his words who would do exactly as he said. During the electioneering whose main objective, as we can now see, was not to make life and living better and easier for me and you but to oust Dr Goodluck Jonathan and his PDP cohorts from power, Buhari was sold to us as the next best thing to happen to humanity in Nigeria outside the scriptures. Hook, line, and sinker, the masses of Nigeria bought into the sales hype and swallowed the fake mantra of change that was promised. Eight years of two presidential terms after, Nigerians now know better, but are gnashing their teeth in that knowledge. What happened to integrity? We will probably spend the rest of each of our lives trying to fathom just what happened. Why couldn't a man keep his words? Why would someone promise during electioneering ...