N13bn recovered cash: NASS to probe NIA’s involvement — Senator


Akure—A member of Committee on National Security and Intelligence in the National Assembly, Prince Mike Omogbehin yesterday said that his committee will probe the involvement of National Intelligence Agency , NIA, in the recovery of an equivalent of N13 billion by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, in Osborne, Lagos State.

Omogbehin however expressed regret that several funds were being discovered by the EFCC without the owners coming forward.

He spoke with newsmen in Okitipupa after presenting annual bursary and empowerment items worth millions of Naira to the people of his constituency in Idepe area of Ondo State.

“The National Assembly on resumption would look into the involvement of NIA in the recent recovered loot saga.

“There is no anti corruption war going on in the country, the war we have in Nigeria is the war by APC at targeted enemies. You can only be corrupt when you are not member of APC.

“All members of the opposition are corrupt. To say there is anti corruption war in Nigeria is an attempt to put wools in our eyes.

“We know what is happening. People are trying to sell candidate that has been rejected through security report made available to us and they are doing everything possible to dirty other people so that they can achieve their aim.

“Nigeria’ parliament will continue to say no to such inducement and pressure.

“The recent issue about American dollars, we are not talking about Yen or Naira. How can such money be kept in a place and the EFCC say there is a whistle blower.

“Who is the whistle blower? How did the whistle blower know about the money? He knows the location and does not know the owner of the money.”

Meanwhile,  the Lawmaker gave 230 students bursary award scheme, commissioned a library fully-equipped with books in Idepe High school Okitipupa, and donated two -well equipped Medical Ambulances to the Departments of Primary Health Care in Okitipupa and Irele Local Governments.

Assassination attempt : Dino Melaye accuses Gov Bello of complacency

We won’t be distracted; Police’re investigating—Govt

By Boluwaji Obahopo

Lokoja—Senator Dino Melaye, yesterday, faulted Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State’s “deafening silence” over the reported Easter eve assassination attempt on his life, claiming that the “governor’s silence speaks volumes.”


However, Governor Bello said he would not join issue with the Senator, but urged him to wait for police to do their job.

Senator Melaye, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Gideon Ayodele, described the situation as unfortunate and very strange to the socio-political culture of Kogi West Senatorial District.

According to the statement, “Senator Dino Melaye declared his resolution to continue to champion democratic causes targeted at good governance, masses empowerment and the Rule of Law.

“He promised never to relent in his fight against corruption, maladministration, impunity and nepotism. No amount of threat, blackmail, name-calling and harassment will stop him from being the voice of the voiceless.

“It is outrageous that four days after the attempt on his life, the Kogi State governor, the Chief Security Officer of the State, has neither called nor visited to know the state of affairs with him as a serving Senator from the state. The Governor’s deafening silence speaks volumes.”

Gov’s reaction

Governor Bello, in his reaction through his Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Kingsley Fanwo, said: “We do not want to join issues with Senator Dino Melaye.

“If he accused the Governor of complacency in the so-called assassination attempt, those who have been following the trend from the day his group promised to make Kogi ungovernable will not be surprised.

“The case is under investigation by the Police and making statements about it may be seen to be subjudice. We have been witnessing imaginary attacks in the state and when the Governor travelled to Kogi East, his antagonists also alleged he was attacked even when the opposite was the case.

“As a government, we believe police are capable of getting to the root of the allegation and do justice to it once and for all.

“Governor Bello is redefining leadership in Kogi State, therefore the plan of One-Day One-Trouble will not work. We are in the news for the roads we are constructing, the agriculture we are reforming, the healthcare we are making affordable and the walls of insecurity we are pulling down.”

The governor also said Dino had not called him in person to report the assassination attempt on his life to him, saying “security should never be politicised in our state. We will not be distracted.”

Nigerian, Shuaibu arrested for robbing banks in U.S.

Abdullahi Shuaibu, described by the New York Police department as an employee of the United Nations was arrested for robbing four Manhattan banks, all during his lunch hour.



Shuaibu, 53, a journalist and former staff of the News Agency of Nigeria was picked up by police on Monday and charged with robbery and attempted robbery for the crimes committed during his two-month spree.

All four banks are within walking distance of UN headquarters on First Ave. near E. 42nd St., where the Nigerian worked.

Authorities were led to the suspect after a retired police officer who works at the UN recognised him from a surveillance image previously released by the police.

In the first incident, Shuaibu walked into a Santander Bank on Madison Ave. near E. 43rd St. on Feb. 27 and told the teller he had a gun. The bank employee complied and handed him an unknown sum of money.

He hit two more banks in March, first striking out at a Bank of America on Third Ave. near E. 47th St. on the 13th.

He was also successful in robbing a Santander Bank on Third Ave. and E. 63rd St. on the 27th.

During the most recent incident on Monday, Shuaibu walked into an HSBC on Third Ave. and E. 40th St. around 2:30 p.m. and passed a note demanding cash to the teller.

The teller did not read the note and asked him for identification.

He, however, instructed the teller to read the note, keeping his hand in his jacket pocket while simulating a gun, police said.

Police arrested him later in the day when he returned to the UN.

Shuaibu was an employee of the News Agency of Nigeria and served as its UN correspondent between 2006 and 2009.

The agency, however, terminated his appointment in April 2013 following his refusal to resume work in Nigeria at the expiration of duty tour and extended period which he requested to enable him complete an academic programme.

The termination of appointment was formally conveyed to the UN.

A UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric denied that Shuaibu was a staff of the organisation.

He told NAN in New York that the suspect was also not accredited to the UN after NAN withdrew his accreditation.

Dujarric also said that the suspect only worked as a contract staff for three months in Darfur and his contract was terminated in 2012.

However, Shuaibu on his LinkedIn page, describes himself as a “communications specialist at United Nations”.

Shuaibu attended Ahmadu Bello University between 1980 and 1985, where he studied International Relations.