What you are about to read happened to me last week, I just had to bring it here, because the more I try to wrap my head around it, the more questions comes to mind.
About a month ago I moved to another city, but considering its a totally different culture, I have just been gradually trying to settle in. So, on Tuesday Last week, I noticed a plumbing issue in my room, for which I went to seek the caretaker who lives within the compound. I later found him in one of the rooms trying to fix some things for another new tenant who I will refer to as Sandra henceforth. I laid my complaints to the man and briefly spoke with Sandra who told me aje was an undergraduate.
About an hour later, the caretaker came to my room to checkout the problem I was having, Sandra came with him, and as we were making small talks, she walked into my kitchen and pointed out that my pots and other cooking utensils were still new and unused, then i told her I haven't started cooking because I don't know my way around yet, so I haven't been to the market. She then offered to go to the market with me whenever I was ready.
The next day being Wednesday I made a list of things to buy, among which were some packaged and canned foods, for this we went to a mall. After picking the items, we had to join the queue at the payment point, while there, I remembered some things which I needed but haven't included in my list, so I handed over my ATM card to Sandra and gave her the PIN considering it was almost our turn in the queue, then went to pick those things. Now, I did this because, I didn't want a situation where after paying for the original items, I will have to join a fresh queue with the new items. Although I came back just as she was about to pay, so I was able to include the new items, we paid and left. Suffice to say that I had her pick one or two things for herself.
On getting home, I immediately went to an ATM and changed my PIN, just to be safe.
Two days later, Sandra came to my room sound 7:15pm telling me she wanted to go buy relaxer and shampoo but as its getting dark that she can't go alone, and she asked that I come with her, I obliged, as you would expect.
After buying the shampoo, we started heading home. Now, there are two possible routes home, the sandy road which was nearer and the tarred road which was farther, Sandra then insisted we take the tarred road saying she didn't want sand on her feet, but that was the route we took while going.
Just as we approached my compound, 3 guys rounded us up and told us to handover everything we had on us. I have to point out that after this whole incident, I could recall that while we were walking home, Sandra was texting on her phone and kept looking back. When one of the guys made the request, Sandra now asked them 'for what' immediately one of the guys landed her a slap and pushed her down. Then he turned to me and gave me a blow to the mouth saying I was wasting his time, then he reached for my back pocket and retrieved my wallet, then he asked me the PIN, I gave him a wrong PIN the first time and this was met with a hot slap to my face, then he asked again and i gave him the same PIN again, then he gave me a kick to the hip, I was almost paralysed, he now grabbed my throat, I had no choice than to give him the real PIN, then he left me and they ran off. Interestingly, the PIN I gave to him was the old PIN which I changed few days ago, but my intention was not to lie, in fact I meant to tell the truth, but then that PIN had stuck to my memory+ as I have been using it for the past 3 years.
Immediately they left, I made a dash for my room, with Sandra in hot pursuit, but I didn't let her come to my room with me, I called the bank Customer Service and told them to block my card, although the thieves had the wrong PIN, I felt they could still compromise the card.
The next day, Sandra was in my room and she kept trying to get me to talk about the incident of the last day, but I wasn't interested, she kept asking me, if the PIN I gave them was the right one, I mean it should be, after all that was the right PIN as far as she knew, she asked if I could recognise the guys, I said no, she asked if its possible for the card to be hacked without the PIN, I was just acting ignorant, but I've already started having my reservations about her.
Later, I decided out of curiosity to check Sandra out on Facebook, while checking the photos on her profile, I saw pictures she took and uploaded with the same guy that slapped and pushed her down while we were been robbed, I was dumbfounded to say the least.
Then it became clear to me, she set me up to be robbed. Now my questions are,
Why did she insist we take the tarred road, considering we took the sandy road while going to the Shop
How come the thieves reached straight into the pocket with my wallet?
How come they never asked for our mobile phones, naturally, that should be their first question
How come immediately I gave the guy the 'right' PIN he acceded?
Who was Sandra texting while we walked home
And, the FB picture shows she knows the guy after all.
My problem now is, should I confront Sandra d tell her I know what happened or should I just let it slide? Since that day she's been trying to cosy up to me, but the more she tries the more I become worried and wary.
Monday, 5 December 2016
Kidnapped Dangote’s Senior Strategist Murdered, Body Dumped In Gutter
A senior strategist with Dangote Industries Limited, Istifanus Bello Gurama, who was reportedly kidnapped three weeks ago, has been murdered.
Reliable sources say Gurama’s body was found in the gutter, adding that one of the kidnappers must have alerted a member of the public to where the body was.
Gurama was believed to have been kidnapped three weeks ago but news of his murder got to his family members (today) Monday.
Sources close to him told our correspondent that as a senior strategist, Gurama was in charge of negotiations and handing ransom payment to kidnappers whenever any of the expatriates in Dangote Industries was kidnapped.
The day Gurama was allegedly kidnapped, he was said to have gone, as usual, to negotiate and pay ransom money for the release of one of the expatriates. However, on getting there, the kidnappers reportedly said he was the one they were after and he was subsequently detained.
A close friend who refused to be named said Gurama showed him some of the videos of his negotiations with kidnappers.
During a visit to her on Monday, Gurama‘s wife of 20 years, Amina, was inconsolable.
She lamented, “Gurama was a lovely person, if he is not in the house one day, the children will be asking after him endlessly.
“Now, I do not know what to tell the children because he is always chatting with them on social media and phone and for three weeks since his disappearance, they have been wondering where he was because all his activities on social media ceased and the children have observed that it is quite unlike him.”
A key source in the Dangote Industries who confirmed the kidnap however reacted to the news of Gurama’s murder with surprise.
When contacted, the Head, Media of the firm, Mr. Tony Chiejina who said Gurama was very close to him, also reacted with surprise to the news of his death.
He informed our correspondent that he will make some calls and get back to her.
But he has yet to do that as at the time of going to the press.
Reliable sources say Gurama’s body was found in the gutter, adding that one of the kidnappers must have alerted a member of the public to where the body was.
Gurama was believed to have been kidnapped three weeks ago but news of his murder got to his family members (today) Monday.
Sources close to him told our correspondent that as a senior strategist, Gurama was in charge of negotiations and handing ransom payment to kidnappers whenever any of the expatriates in Dangote Industries was kidnapped.
The day Gurama was allegedly kidnapped, he was said to have gone, as usual, to negotiate and pay ransom money for the release of one of the expatriates. However, on getting there, the kidnappers reportedly said he was the one they were after and he was subsequently detained.
A close friend who refused to be named said Gurama showed him some of the videos of his negotiations with kidnappers.
During a visit to her on Monday, Gurama‘s wife of 20 years, Amina, was inconsolable.
She lamented, “Gurama was a lovely person, if he is not in the house one day, the children will be asking after him endlessly.
“Now, I do not know what to tell the children because he is always chatting with them on social media and phone and for three weeks since his disappearance, they have been wondering where he was because all his activities on social media ceased and the children have observed that it is quite unlike him.”
A key source in the Dangote Industries who confirmed the kidnap however reacted to the news of Gurama’s murder with surprise.
When contacted, the Head, Media of the firm, Mr. Tony Chiejina who said Gurama was very close to him, also reacted with surprise to the news of his death.
He informed our correspondent that he will make some calls and get back to her.
But he has yet to do that as at the time of going to the press.
Girl Dies During Scuffle With Her Boyfriend
A Nigerian girl identified as Okonikhere Joy -reportedly died on Saturday night during a quarrel with her boyfriend. According to Facebook user; May Ebute who shared the sad news -neighbours woke up to find the lady's dead body and her boyfriend missing. He was apprehended yesterday and he said, during the scuffle, he just put his hands around her neck to scare her and she stopped breathing.
Read below how it was shared by the Facebook user;
So Okonikhere joy died last night during a scuffle with her boyfriend. Neighbours woke up to find her dead body and her boyfriend missing. He was apprehended earlier today and he said, during the scuffle, he just put his hands around her neck to scare her and she stopped breathing. He said he didn't mean to kill her. How can just putting your hands around someone's neck kill them if not that the person was strangled?
Well she's dead now and no amount of ' l didn't mean to kill her' will bring her back.
I just spoke with her brother and he confirmed the news.The murderer is presently cooling off in a police cell. I wish l could find the words to express the anger l'm feeling right now. May the soul of this lady rest in peace.
May her soul RIP
Read below how it was shared by the Facebook user;
So Okonikhere joy died last night during a scuffle with her boyfriend. Neighbours woke up to find her dead body and her boyfriend missing. He was apprehended earlier today and he said, during the scuffle, he just put his hands around her neck to scare her and she stopped breathing. He said he didn't mean to kill her. How can just putting your hands around someone's neck kill them if not that the person was strangled?
Well she's dead now and no amount of ' l didn't mean to kill her' will bring her back.
I just spoke with her brother and he confirmed the news.The murderer is presently cooling off in a police cell. I wish l could find the words to express the anger l'm feeling right now. May the soul of this lady rest in peace.
May her soul RIP
Fayose Faults Buhari Christmas Bonus For Workers
Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has faulted the Federal Government’s decision to increase the workers’ Pay As You Earn, PAYE, tax, pension and National Housing Fund (NHF) deductions, which were applied on gross salary, making some of the workers to have as much 30 per cent reduction in salary.
He described the policy as obnoxious and capable of impoverishing the already pauperised workers, especially now that the country is under an economic recession. The governor said it was wicked and inhuman for any government to increase taxes on workers salary at this period of economic recession when “workers take home can no longer take them home,” adding that; “The Federal Government should stop believing that the only way it can take Nigeria out of recession is to impose obnoxious taxes that will further impoverish the people.”
Fayose and BuhariFayose and Buhari In a statement issued yesterday by the governor’s Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, he said; “If government does not have capacity to increase workers salary at this trying period, it should not also increase taxes that will cause decrement in what they earn.” Salary of Federal Government workers was reportedly reduced through increment in PAYE tax, pension, National Housing Fund, NHF, formerly based on consolidated, which were applied on gross salary.
Some of the workers had as much as 30 per cent pay cut. Reacting further, Governor Fayose said it appeared that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress, APC, federal government’s desire was to kill Nigerians with obnoxious taxes. He said; “As military head of state, Buhari used gun to deal with Nigerians, now as a civilian president, he is using economic recession to punish Nigerians and adding salt to injury by using inhuman taxes to reduce workers salary.”
“Buhari’s government increased petrol price from N87 to N145 per litre, kerosene; diesel and gas price was increased, electricity tariff was increased, N50 stamp duty was imposed on bank customers, N65 levy was imposed on every withdrawal on ATM, various bank charges introduced, custom duties increased and now workers’ PAYE tax has been increased.
He described the policy as obnoxious and capable of impoverishing the already pauperised workers, especially now that the country is under an economic recession. The governor said it was wicked and inhuman for any government to increase taxes on workers salary at this period of economic recession when “workers take home can no longer take them home,” adding that; “The Federal Government should stop believing that the only way it can take Nigeria out of recession is to impose obnoxious taxes that will further impoverish the people.”
Fayose and BuhariFayose and Buhari In a statement issued yesterday by the governor’s Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, he said; “If government does not have capacity to increase workers salary at this trying period, it should not also increase taxes that will cause decrement in what they earn.” Salary of Federal Government workers was reportedly reduced through increment in PAYE tax, pension, National Housing Fund, NHF, formerly based on consolidated, which were applied on gross salary.
Some of the workers had as much as 30 per cent pay cut. Reacting further, Governor Fayose said it appeared that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress, APC, federal government’s desire was to kill Nigerians with obnoxious taxes. He said; “As military head of state, Buhari used gun to deal with Nigerians, now as a civilian president, he is using economic recession to punish Nigerians and adding salt to injury by using inhuman taxes to reduce workers salary.”
“Buhari’s government increased petrol price from N87 to N145 per litre, kerosene; diesel and gas price was increased, electricity tariff was increased, N50 stamp duty was imposed on bank customers, N65 levy was imposed on every withdrawal on ATM, various bank charges introduced, custom duties increased and now workers’ PAYE tax has been increased.
Justice Ademola And Wife’s Absence Stalls Arraignment
Justice Adeniyi Ademola of a Federal High Court in Abuja and his wife, Olabowale, who is the Head of Service of Lagos State, were scheduled to be arraigned on Monday before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Maitama, on charges of receiving gratification, but the arraignment could not proceed because of their absence.
The defendants were absent because they had not been served with the charges.
The trial judge, Justice Jude Okeke, adjourned the matter till December 13, 2016, after the defendants’ lawyer, Mr. Jeph Njikonye, volunteered to accept service on behalf of his clients.
Lead prosecuting counsel, Mr. Segun Jegede, had told the trial judge that court bail bailiffs attempted to serve the couple with the charges but they were said to have travelled to Lagos.
He said he was going to ask the court to give an order for service on the defendants through substituted means but that was no longer necessary as the defence counsel had approached him before the proceedings commenced volunteering to accept service on behalf of the defendants.
Jegede urged the court to grant leave to serve the defendants through their lawyer on the strength of section 382(5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
Njikonye, although, expressed readiness to accept service on behalf of his clients, said he was not aware of attempts to serve the couple personally and so section 382(5) of the ACJA was not application.
The defence lawyer however submitted that the court under its inherent powers grant the leave for service.
Justice Okeke, in his ruling, said record showed that a court bailiff attempted to serve the defendants in Abuja, on December 2, but were said to have travelled to Lagos.
The defendants were absent because they had not been served with the charges.
The trial judge, Justice Jude Okeke, adjourned the matter till December 13, 2016, after the defendants’ lawyer, Mr. Jeph Njikonye, volunteered to accept service on behalf of his clients.
Lead prosecuting counsel, Mr. Segun Jegede, had told the trial judge that court bail bailiffs attempted to serve the couple with the charges but they were said to have travelled to Lagos.
He said he was going to ask the court to give an order for service on the defendants through substituted means but that was no longer necessary as the defence counsel had approached him before the proceedings commenced volunteering to accept service on behalf of the defendants.
Jegede urged the court to grant leave to serve the defendants through their lawyer on the strength of section 382(5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
Njikonye, although, expressed readiness to accept service on behalf of his clients, said he was not aware of attempts to serve the couple personally and so section 382(5) of the ACJA was not application.
The defence lawyer however submitted that the court under its inherent powers grant the leave for service.
Justice Okeke, in his ruling, said record showed that a court bailiff attempted to serve the defendants in Abuja, on December 2, but were said to have travelled to Lagos.
1.2million Nigerians To Get Soft Loan
At least 1.2 million Nigerians will be given soft loans which attract between two and three per cent interest rate as part of efforts to create jobs under government’s social investment programme.
Mr Laolu Akande, the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, in Abuja on Sunday said that government was synergizing with its enterprise agencies and the private sector to achieve the goal.
He named the agencies as the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Bank of Industry (BOI), Bank of Agriculture, the National Directorate of Employment(NDE), among others.
“About 1.2 million Nigerians are going to be given soft loans, may be at two or three per cent, loans of N20,000 to N50,000, N100,000, the traders, for people that have small businesses.
“We are going to be using co-operatives, so all these groups mentioned will be working together because we believe small and medium enterprises are very critical to the recovery and rejuvenation of the economy.
“So, we are working to design all kind of intervention financial facilities since we are not getting the kind of affordable loans in the main banking sector.
He said that government was using the intervention funds to release money to small and medium scale enterprises so that they can trade with the money at very little interest rate.
He said that the Federal Government was hoping to do more for Nigerians using the intervention fund as part of its social investment programme.
He said that the SMEDAN, BOI, Bank of Agriculture, NDE, others had been harnessed to provide such support.
Akande said that government would continue to use resources from the agencies to actively boost social investment programmes.
“We are working with these agencies to have that kind of glory of affordable loan to 1.2 million Nigerians to do trading of different kinds,’’ he added.
Mr Laolu Akande, the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, in Abuja on Sunday said that government was synergizing with its enterprise agencies and the private sector to achieve the goal.
He named the agencies as the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Bank of Industry (BOI), Bank of Agriculture, the National Directorate of Employment(NDE), among others.
“About 1.2 million Nigerians are going to be given soft loans, may be at two or three per cent, loans of N20,000 to N50,000, N100,000, the traders, for people that have small businesses.
“We are going to be using co-operatives, so all these groups mentioned will be working together because we believe small and medium enterprises are very critical to the recovery and rejuvenation of the economy.
“So, we are working to design all kind of intervention financial facilities since we are not getting the kind of affordable loans in the main banking sector.
He said that government was using the intervention funds to release money to small and medium scale enterprises so that they can trade with the money at very little interest rate.
He said that the Federal Government was hoping to do more for Nigerians using the intervention fund as part of its social investment programme.
He said that the SMEDAN, BOI, Bank of Agriculture, NDE, others had been harnessed to provide such support.
Akande said that government would continue to use resources from the agencies to actively boost social investment programmes.
“We are working with these agencies to have that kind of glory of affordable loan to 1.2 million Nigerians to do trading of different kinds,’’ he added.
Fraudsters Hack Email, Defraud Estate Agent Of N4m
Three suspected Internet fraudsters have been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly defrauding an estate agent of about N4m.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the suspects– Olisa Oyegbuka, 28; Ifeannacho Kingsley, 27; and Ujumwa Aniemena, 33–had allegedly hacked into the email of an unnamed client of the estate agent.
They allegedly sent a message from the email to the agent, demanding the transfer of funds kept for the client by the estate agent into some accounts.
The fraud was later discovered after the owner of the account received alerts and subsequently called the agent to demand explanation for the flight of funds from his account.
The case was reported to operatives of the Rapid Response Squad which launched a manhunt for the suspects.
Our correspondent gathered that the three suspects were arrested in Awka, Anambra State.
It was learnt that the suspects were part of a syndicate that specialised in hacking into email addresses and using them to send messages seeking transfer of funds in tranches to different accounts.
The estate agent, who did not want to be identified, said, “The owner of the email account is my client. I received an email giving instruction to transfer funds in my custody to an account belonging to one Emmanuel Ajinubi.
“I transferred N800,000 to the account on October 24, 2016. On October 27, 2016, there was another instruction to transfer N530,000 to the same account, which I did.
“On November 1, 2016, I transferred N720,000 to another account belonging to one Ifenancho Kingsley.
“I received further instruction the following day to pay N850,000 to the same account. The total amount transferred to the two accounts was N3, 820,000.
“On November 2, 2016, my client called me and that was when we realised that the payment instructions did not emanate from him; rather, they were from fraudsters.”
One of the suspects, Kingsley, admitted that two separate transactions of N720,000 and N850,000 were paid to his account.
He, however, explained that a family friend, Chinedu Emmanuel, had requested his account details and took his Automated Teller Machine card and Personal Identification Number to withdraw the money.
“The first alert of N720, 000 that I got on my phone was withdrawn from my account within a twinkling of an eye.
“The following day, I got another alert of N850,000. And almost instantly, there were lots of POS transactions bearing ‘Grand POS’ Asaba. Since then, I have not seen him and I don’t know the kind of job he does. As I talk to you, my ATM card is still with him,” he added.
Another suspect, Oyegbuka, said his friend, Egbuka, who was arrested by the RRS a few weeks earlier, used his (Oyegbuka) account to transfer N800,000 to another account belonging to one Tamino.
RRS investigators said efforts were on to arrest fleeing members of the gang.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, warned criminals using other states as a base to perpetrate crime in Lagos that the command would get them from their hideouts.
“The three suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for further investigations,” she added.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the suspects– Olisa Oyegbuka, 28; Ifeannacho Kingsley, 27; and Ujumwa Aniemena, 33–had allegedly hacked into the email of an unnamed client of the estate agent.
They allegedly sent a message from the email to the agent, demanding the transfer of funds kept for the client by the estate agent into some accounts.
The fraud was later discovered after the owner of the account received alerts and subsequently called the agent to demand explanation for the flight of funds from his account.
The case was reported to operatives of the Rapid Response Squad which launched a manhunt for the suspects.
Our correspondent gathered that the three suspects were arrested in Awka, Anambra State.
It was learnt that the suspects were part of a syndicate that specialised in hacking into email addresses and using them to send messages seeking transfer of funds in tranches to different accounts.
The estate agent, who did not want to be identified, said, “The owner of the email account is my client. I received an email giving instruction to transfer funds in my custody to an account belonging to one Emmanuel Ajinubi.
“I transferred N800,000 to the account on October 24, 2016. On October 27, 2016, there was another instruction to transfer N530,000 to the same account, which I did.
“On November 1, 2016, I transferred N720,000 to another account belonging to one Ifenancho Kingsley.
“I received further instruction the following day to pay N850,000 to the same account. The total amount transferred to the two accounts was N3, 820,000.
“On November 2, 2016, my client called me and that was when we realised that the payment instructions did not emanate from him; rather, they were from fraudsters.”
One of the suspects, Kingsley, admitted that two separate transactions of N720,000 and N850,000 were paid to his account.
He, however, explained that a family friend, Chinedu Emmanuel, had requested his account details and took his Automated Teller Machine card and Personal Identification Number to withdraw the money.
“The first alert of N720, 000 that I got on my phone was withdrawn from my account within a twinkling of an eye.
“The following day, I got another alert of N850,000. And almost instantly, there were lots of POS transactions bearing ‘Grand POS’ Asaba. Since then, I have not seen him and I don’t know the kind of job he does. As I talk to you, my ATM card is still with him,” he added.
Another suspect, Oyegbuka, said his friend, Egbuka, who was arrested by the RRS a few weeks earlier, used his (Oyegbuka) account to transfer N800,000 to another account belonging to one Tamino.
RRS investigators said efforts were on to arrest fleeing members of the gang.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, warned criminals using other states as a base to perpetrate crime in Lagos that the command would get them from their hideouts.
“The three suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for further investigations,” she added.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)