Oduduwa News

It was another busy week of battle of wits between operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA and drug traffickers who tried to either import into Nigeria or export to the United Kingdom and Italy illicit drugs including cocaine, heroin and cannabis weighing 37.3kilograms; all of which were intercepted and seized in five different bids while seven persons were arrested.

The first attempt to bring into Nigeria 76 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.150kg was made by Agudozie Peter Ihie on 25th May, 2021, but was arrested during inward security clearance of passengers on Qatar airline from Kenya, at the E-arrival hall of Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

At the point of arrest, he was found in possession 36 pellets of cocaine concealed in his pants. While under observation, he excreted additional 40 pellets. During preliminary interrogation, he confessed to have swallowed the drugs in Nairobi but became pressed during the transit period in Doha and excreted some wraps onboard the aircraft en route Lagos.

Barely two hours after the arrest of Agudozie Peter Ihie for cocaine ingestion, NDLEA operatives at the SAHCO export shed of the Lagos airport also intercepted 4.2 kilograms of heroin bound for Italy. Two freight forwarders have been arrested in connection to the seizure. During preliminary interview, one of the suspects stated that the consignment belongs to one of his customers based in Italy, and that it was sent to him from Benin, Edo state through a transport company.

On the 26th May, 2021, during inward security clearance of passengers on Qatar airline from Doha, NDLEA operatives at the E-arrival hall of the airport also arrested one Nnakaihe Ikechukwu (a.k.a Peprah Livinus) with 600 grams of cocaine. The illicit drug was cleverly concealed inside Ankara dress buttons.

The suspect who hails from Imo state however fraudulently obtained a Ghanaian passport using Peprah Livinus as his name. He is suspected to be a member of some of the illicit drug trafficking groups with multiple passports bearing different names in order to evade detection by security agencies.

On the same date, NDLEA operatives at the NAHCO export shed of MMIA intercepted 30.150 kg of Cannabis Sativa heading to Manchester in the United Kingdom via British Airways and arrested one Anyanwu Chika who is a cargo bag stitcher in connection to the bid. The drug was neatly concealed inside 30 pieces of bankus palm nut cream tin (banga soup) after emptying the real content.
In his confessional statement, he admitted to have been contracted by one of his customers based in Manchester and had negotiated with him for the sum of one million naira but was paid only seven hundred thousand naira.

On Thursday, 3rd of June, 2021, operatives equally intercepted 11 parcels of heroin weighing 1.2kg concealed in eleven packs of Indomie noodles at SAHCO export shed of the Lagos airport. The drug was to go with Ethiopian Airline to Malaysia via Addis-Ababa. A freight agent and an errand boy for the owner of the exhibit have been arrested in connection to the foiled bid.

Reacting to the latest arrests and seizures at the MMIA, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) commended the Commander, Ahmadu Garba, officers and men of the airport Command for their tenacity and commitment to the mandate of ridding the nation of illicit drugs. He charged them to remain unrelenting and always watch out for the disingenuous modes of concealment traffickers employ to beat detection.

The Synagogue Church Of All Nations (SCOAN) has provided an insight into the last moments of its founder, Temitope Joshua, who passed on Saturday.

ODUDUWA NEWS earlier reported that Mr Joshua, popularly known as Prophet T.B. Joshua, born June 12, 1963, died on Saturday at 57.

He was to clock 58 in about a week’s time.

In its statement posted on its website announcing his death, the church said Mr Joshua still spoke during the ‘Emmanuel TV Partners Meeting’ on Saturday.

Emmanuel TV is a cable television station owned by the church. It focuses on the church’s activities and that of Mr Joshua.

He spoke on the TV programme about how life is designed to have things happen at their different time, the church said.

The message was apparently referring to Ecclesiastes chapter 3 which dwells on the seasonal nature of life.

The church said Mr Joshua spent his moments on earth in the service of God.

“On Saturday June 5, 2021, Prophet TB Joshua spoke during the Emmanuel TV Partners Meeting: “Time for everything – time to come here for prayer and time to return home after the service.”

Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN receives the news of the death of Pastor Temitope Balogun Joshua with a heavy heart.

Governor Akeredolu says the renowned man of God was a blessing to humanity and a great Ambassador of the Sunshine State whose Ministry was noted for charity.

“Undoubtedly, Pastor Joshua’s demise came as a rude shock. The pains are not mere emotional flashes; they are indeed piercing. The Ondo-born Pastor and Televangelist was a philanthropist whose exit will be sorely missed by many.

“Pastor Joshua was committed to giving and was more often, inexorably imbued with calmness while lifting the downtrodden. As a televangelist, he did not just win souls for Christ, he was passionate about changing lives.

“He demonstrated timelessly, an alluring service to humanity and compassion by assisting not only his home local government, Akoko North West. Other adjoining local governments in Akoko land benefitted from his large heart of benevolence.

“Of significant note too, Pastor Joshua never hesitated to assist in whatever manner the Ondo State Government desired such.To us in Ondo State, we consider this a personal loss. He was a pride to the Sunshine State

“Not only Africa is hit hard; this is a great global knock as his Pastor TB Joshua’s ministry attracted an immeasurable foreign followership. Christendom has lost a giant.

“The reality of the finality of death, truly hurts the heart. But for TB Joshua, he had played his own part of the endless life orchestra; he has departed. We must take solace in his good deeds he while here. He is now a Heaven’s gain. The people have lost a committed giver. We shall continue to remember his contributions to the development of our State.”

While commiserating with the immediate family, the entire membership of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, Governor Akeredolu expresses his heart-felt condolences to the Zaki of Arigidi Akoko, Oba Yisa Olanipekun and the entire community over the loss of a great son of the soil.

The Governor prays God to grant the late man of God an eternal rest in His bosom and comfort grieving family members, friends and associates.

The Oyo State Speaker, Debo Ogundoyin has confirmed killing of five people in fresh attacks by bandits in Igangan, Ibarapa area of Oyo State.

This was contained in a statement made available today as gotten by ODUDUWA NEWS which reads in part:

” Early this morning I received distressed calls of fresh attack on our people in Igangan, Ibarapa North Local Government by bandits and suspected criminal herders in which about 5 residents were allegedly killed, some injured and properties burnt.

“I condemned this unfortunate attack and sympathy with the families who lost their loved ones and properties. I also appreciate the security personnel, vigilantes, Amotekun corps, our local hunters and brave men that rose in the middle of the night to combat the bandits and safe lives of our people.

“These murderers are not tired and It is our collective responsibility to protect our lives, women, children and our communities from these evil doers.

“While assuring my continuous support to every adoptable security measures and strategies, I’m also calling on all security agencies- the Nigerian Police, Operation Burst, Amotekun Corps, Vigilante Groups, Local Hunters, Community Leaders within and around Ibarapaland for an urgent security meeting.

“If this insecurity persist, it means we have not done enough. All of us.

“It is not time to sleep…let us all stay awake”.

A consultant anatomic and forensic pathologist, Prof. John Obafunwa on Saturday told the Lagos state judicial panel on restitution for victims of SARS related abuses and other matters, that the coroners office conducted post mortem autopsies on 99 bodies between the October 20 and 27.

Prof Obafunwa made this disclosure while testifying with a view to assist the panel in its investigation of the October 20 Lekki toll gate shootings.

The pathologist, who was involved in coroner services through the office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Lagos State, said the 99 bodies were picked up from different locations by officers of the Lagos State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit, LASEHMU.

Of these 99 bodies, the pathologist said that only three were identified as victims of the Lekki shootings.

He proceeded to speak to the post mortem report and the cause of death of each of the three victims, all male.

The witness also played a video evidence detailing the extent of injury suffered by the deceased and the cause of death.

According to the witness, the first body of an unknown victim simply identified as number 005, EndSARS/Yaba/2020 and brought in from Lekki bridge, on October 24 by the Lagos state government agency showed a fracture, a laceration on the left side of the skull and a body that was already decomposing.

The pathologist gave the cause of death as “a result of bleeding into the chest cavity, following a blunt force trauma to the chest.”

According to the witness, the second body , “041 unknown identity”, was said to have died at about 1.45am on October 21; he was taken to Reddington hospital Lekki in an unconscious state as a result of open skull fracture, an attempt to revive him failed and he was pronounced dead after which he was taken to LASUTH on November 1 for post mortem.

“X-ray conducted prior to touching the body showed no bullet or pellets in the body,” the witness said. “The x-ray revealed multiple skull fracture. Autopsy showed there was a ragged laceration running from the left side to the right side of the skull, further exploration of the wound showed bleeding into the scalp, multiple fracture of the skull, bleeding into the brain tissue. In the chest, there was bruises of the anterior, fracture of the left rib.

“Generally the internal organs were pale and it suggested there was severe blood loss. Hypertensive heart disease, upon examination under the microscope and samples for DNA, death was as a result of skull and brain injury which was due to blunt force trauma.”

The third case, identified as “062 unknown identity”, was also said to have died at Lekki tollgate. The body was said to have been taken to the General Hospital Yaba and autopsy was conducted on November 2. Cause of death was said to be severe blood loss as a result of disruption of major blood vessel, caused as a result of gun shot injury.

Counsel to some of the #EndSars Protesters, Olumide Fusika, however faulted the testimony that only three of the 99 bodies were related to the Lekki shootings.

He made an application that the witness be required to produce details of all 99 bodies to enable him fully conduct his cross examination of the pathologist.

Counsel to the Lagos State Government, Olukayode Enitan objected to the granting of the application.

He noted that the summons which commanded the attendance of the witness at the panel required him to give reports of incidents of October 20, which occurred at the Lekki toll gate with a view to assisting the panel.

For him, anything outside this will amounted to inviting the panel to go beyond its terms of reference and the instruments setting it up and this will be tantamount to acting ultra vires. He urged the panel to refuse the application.

After taking submissions from other lawyers in the matter, the panel chairman, Justice Doris Okuwobi noted that though it would take a lot of the panel’s time to sit through looking at 96 more bodies, she would bow to the majority decision of the lawyers.

The panel then ordered the pathologist, Prof Obafunwa to produce the records and autopsy reports of the remaining 96 bodies.

Further proceedings on the matter were adjourned to June 19.

The erstwhile Minister of Aviation, Fani-Kayode has recounted his claim that TB Josuha has not died.

He confirmed the death of Pastor TB Joshua’s just after he has debunked the report.

This was contained in a statement made available today via his social media platform as read in part.

“The passing of my dearest brother Prophet TB Joshua saddens me deeply. At 3.00am this morning I was told by one of his daughters that this was fake news and I tweeted as much. Sadly I was misled. Five minutes ago the same person called me back and confirmed the story. @GazetteNGR was right and I am in shock and pain”.

Former aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode has debunked report of the death of Prophet TB Joshua, confirmed the claim to be fake.

“The story that is being peddled around by some fake news merchants that my dearest friend and brother, Prophet T.B. Joshua of SCOAN, is dead is FALSE!

“It is FAKE NEWS in its most hideous form. The Prophet is alive and well and he shall live long and prosper. Glory hallelujah!”.

Meanwhile, an official statement is still being awaited from the church Synagogue Church of All Nations and his family to either debunk or confirm the news, ODUDUWA NEWS will keep you posted as events unfold.