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Kidnappers Demand N200m Ransom For 6 Foreigners

Gunmen, who abducted six foreigners off the Bayelsa coastline, on Wednesday demanded for a ransom of N200 million for their freedom.

A Russian, three Ukrainians and two Indian sailors were abducted on Sunday when their vessel was attacked off the coastline.

The Police Public Relations Officer of Bayelsa Command, Mr Fidelis Odunna, confirmed the development in a telephone interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa.

Odunna said that the Police Anti Kidnapping Squad was already trailing the suspects to secure the victims' freedom.

“We have already dispatched our men to track down the kidnappers.

``Contact has been established with them and they are asking for N200 million,” he said.

NAN recalls that Gov. Seriake Dickson recently signed into Law a bill prescribing death penalty for Kidnapping in Bayelsa

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3 In Court Over Alleged Forgery, Theft Of N1.5m

Three persons, including two bankers, were on Wednesday docked before a Yaba Magistrates’ Court for alleged forgery and theft of N1.5million.

The accused: Kelechi Amechi, 35, Rita Kpaakpa, 29 and Lawrence Amechi,42, are each facing a three-count charge of conspiracy to steal, stealing and forgery.

The accused persons, who reside at No. 32 Kunle Ajayi St., Ketu, and No. 21a, Fakunle St.,Ogba, respectively pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Police prosecutor, ASP. Ade Adeola said the offence was committed on Nov. 4. and 14, 2011 within the premises of the FBN micro finance bank, Ogba branch.

He said Rita Kpaakpa and Kelechi Amadi, who were at the time, employees of the bank, conspired to obtain the sum of N1.5million from one Mr Omotayo Afolabi, under the pretext facilitating his transactions.

He said the duo, on the same date forged the signature of one Mr Vincent Akabueze, on a guarantors form for a loan request of one Nosiru Bamidele.

``The accused obtained the total sum of N1.5millon, from one Mr Omotayo Afolabi, under the pretext of securing the money as a processing fee.

“They also filled a guarantors' form on behalf of one Nosiru Bamidele and unlawfully used Mr Vincent Akabueze as the guarantor and forged his signature for a the loan request", Adeola said.

The prosecutor said that Amadi and Kpaapka on Nov. 14 2011, again allegedly forged the signature of one Mr Femi Awoyinka on another guarantor's form for a loan request of Lawrence Amechi.

Adeola said the offences contravened the provisions of sections 285, 363 and 409 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State.

Magistrate P.A Ojo granted the accused bail in the sum of N500,000 each and two sureties each in like sum.

She adjourned the case to March. 8 for further hearing. (NAN)

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CNPP Asks Aliyu To Dump PDP For APC

Barely 72 hours after the Governor of Niger State Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu disclosed that President Goodluck Jonathan signed a term pact with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors, the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) in Niger state has asked him to dump the party and join the newly formed All Progressives Congress (APC).

The CNPP, rising from its regular meeting, yesterday, in Minna also endorsed the merger arrangement to form APC and advised all the states chapters of CNPP to endorse the emergence of the party as a common front for all progressives.

The meeting presided over by the Chairman, Ibrahim Isah, resolved in the communiqué read to Journalists by the secretary Aliyu Mohammed, that Governor Aliyu was too progressive minded with his bluntness to be in PDP.

The resolution read in part “motion for the endorsement of the merger initiatives being promoted by leaders of opposition parties to form APC  and invitation  to the Chief servant of Niger state Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu to join his fellow progressive Governors to ensure a safe delivery of truly progressive party in the making, have been agreed upon.”

 According to the group, because of the performance of Governor Aliyu, it would support him on the platform of the new APC to actualise his political goals in the state as the Governor has the capacity to deliver satisfactorily.

“The CNPP Niger state therefore called on the facilitators of the emerging mega party, APC, to, as a matter of emergency, invite the leadership of other political parties to a roundtable in order to make the party a successful alternative to the PDP in 2015” the CNPP’s resolution read.

He said ahead of the CNPP possible alliance with the New APC the body has set up candidates searching committee to prop up credible candidates for the 2015 general elections in the state.

While passing a vote of confidence on the leadership of the CNPP, the 15 political parties making up the CNPP in the state said they would continue to conduct regular assessment of governments’ performance in the state at all levels.

 

 

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2013 Budget Ultimatum: Senate Under Pressure To Back Down – Investigation

There are strong indications that the Senate has come under a deluge of pressures from the presidency and some interest groups to moderate its stance on the 2013 budget. Going by its subsisting plans, the Senate was expected to commence the process of ...

Continue Reading2013 Budget Ultimatum: Senate Under Pressure To Back Down – Investigation