Holyfield Donates $3m Health Equipment To Lagos

Evander Holyfield is in Lagos. The former Heavyweight boxing champion who arrived today announced the donation of health equipment worth $3m to the Lagos State government.

Known to be a  five-time world cruiserweight, and heavyweight boxing champion he arrived to have a ‘fight’ with former Lagos State Governor and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The exhibition boxing match is part of activities marking the Golden Jubilee anniversary of  Lagos State.

3 people killed, properties destroyed as Lagos festival turns bloody In Ibeju Lekki

                   

Tragedy struck on Saturday during a festival in Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos State, where a police inspector and two others were killed.


It was gathered that the clash started when some youths from Ilagbo community and Oriyanrin town fought at Kilajolu festival at Ilagbo.

According to the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, the clash strayed at a masquerade festival between two youths from different communities.


Some youths from Oriyanrin town were alleged to have caused trouble at the festival and the elders of Ilagbo community sent them away.

Out of annoyance, the Oriyanrin youths who were sent away laid ambush for some Ilagbo youths who were returning from the festival and hacked one Ismaela to death.

The late Ismaela’s brother identified as Matanle, who went to evacuate the remains of his brother was also hacked to death by the Oriyanrin youths this led to Ilagbo youths’ retaliation.

They attacked Oriyanrin community and burned down houses, vehicles and other property worth millions of naira. An elderly woman who suffered stroke and was unable to take to her heels also lost her life.


A resident, Mr Moriu Made described the incident as unfortunate, disclosing that he could not run when the youths from Ilagbo invaded the community because of his deteriorating health.

“They burnt my house and my younger brother’s house. Some other residents’ houses were also burnt. I don’t know where to start from.

“I am the only person left in the community as you can see and I have not eaten for three days. Government should please provide adequate security for us.”

Another resident, 102-year-old man was also left in the deserted community.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni however warned the residents on communal clashes during a visit to the community.

“We will make sure there is no reprisal attacks in the community but you the traditional heads need to dialogue and find lasting solution to these attacks and meet with your people regularly to brainstorm on how to move the community forward or you voice out if you are not capable.


“The elders in this community should be ashamed of themselves. The police helped you to settle clashes but you killed an inspector that was trying to broker peace.

“If you are not careful, we will accuse you of using policemen and your community members for rituals and this will discourage investors from your community and your children will suffer too.

“Nothing stops you from organizing vigilante with the police. Instead, your children go behind the back to kill policemen. Policemen also have families.

“You know the solution but if you don’t want peace to reign, we will handle it with force.

“You need to give us assurance that you are ready to defend your community because the security starts with you.

“You will never see police carry guns in civilized countries except in a community where hoodlums are rampant.

“You should establish cordial relationship with investors to enjoy corporate social responsibility not kill.

“Every religious leader has a role to play. If you don’t put a stop to this craze now, it will spread. You should continue to utilize the same wisdom you have always used in keeping the community calm.

“We keep doing our best in chasing militants away from your community but you are starting an internal fight instead of joining hands with us to combat them.” he said.

Owoseni stated further that a boy was killed by youths from Oriyanrin community and his brother who went to rescue him was also hacked to death.

“When the brother was attacked, it was at that point that a distress call got to the police and our men were deployed to the community to restore normalcy.

” We have had discussion with the community leaders to help us with information on how to arrest the culprits who caused the carnage so that fleeing residents can return.

“Meanwhile, two persons have been arrested in connection with the carnage.” the CP added.

Lionel Messi, Father Lose Appeal As Spain Supreme Court Confirms Jail Term

 
   
Lionel Messi and his father lost appeals in Spain’s Supreme Court today over a 21-month prison sentence in a tax fraud case. Messi will be paying a fine of £1.75 million.
The Ballon d’Or winner, who was found guilty by a Barcelona court last July for breaching tax offences of around £3.5million from 2007 to 2009, lost the case as his sentence remains for 21 months.
The Argentina captain is however unlikely to be spending time in jail as a sentence under two years for non-violent crime can be served as probation, according to the Spanish law.
Messi’s father Jorge, whose sentence was reduced to 15 months, will be required to pay £1.3million. Jorge had claimed that he was told by a legal adviser that the practice was legal.

The Barcelona star and his father were accused of using shell companies to avoid paying taxes by the Barcelona court.
The club had released a statement that they will give all their support their star player Leo Messi and his father.

Boxing Legend Evander Holyfield Visits Gov Ambode

Are you ready for the #RumbleInLagos Exhibition Boxing Bout? May 25th, Live in Lagos. The Boxing bout will be between Asiwaju Bola Tinubu - Jagaban Vs Evander Holyfield.

The referee for the event is Prof Wole Soyinka. 

Chelsea Cancel Sunday's Premier League Title Parade Following Manchester Arena Attack

Chelsea have cancelled their Premier League victory parade which was due to take place on Sunday . The Premier League champions were due to show off their trophy in an open-top bus on Sunday, the day after they face Arsenal in the FA Cup final, but are now cancelling the event over security concerns in the wake of the Manchester Arena attack.

The club said in a statement that they feel it would be 'inappropriate' for the celebration to take place as they offered their 'heartfelt condolences' to those affected by Monday night's attack.

Chelsea's players will also wear black armbands in Saturday's FA Cup final and the club will make a donation to a fund supporting the victims.

I Gave My Wife N5m, Car, N100,000 Monthly Allowance To Quit Our Marriage-Husband

   

A businessman, Augustine Anyia today urged an Agege Customary Court to dissolve his seven-year-old marriage to his wife, Nneka, due to lack of care, lesbianism and threat to his life.
Augustine, a father of two, resides at No. 11/13, Kolawole Adekunle St., Ajah, Lagos.
“My wife is quarrelsome and quick to violence, especially when she demands for money or anything and l don’t respond to on time,” he said.
The petitioner told the court that he married the respondent after six months of courtship on his return from the United States.

“There has been no peace of mind in this marriage: She is a party freak and does not have any iota of respect for me,’’ he said.
Augustine also alleged that the respondent engages in lesbianism with her friends.
“I see all sorts of pictures of naked women with my wife sent to my phone by her friends and informing me about their acts of lesbianism and asking me to stay away from her,’’ he said.
The petitioner told the court that on two different occasions, he moved out of his house due to threats to his life.
“Whenever we have any misunderstanding, she always threatens to kill me.
“The stress is unbearable; there is no longer peace of mind in this loveless marriage,” he said.
The petitioner also alleged that his wife reported him at a police station and when he was summoned, the respondent demanded to be paid off by her husband as she was fed up with the marriage.
“My wife demanded for a sum of N5 million, a car, N100,000 monthly allowance for the children and to be responsible for the children’s school fees.
“ l agreed to these and I gave her all that she requested for,’’ he said.
She moved out of the house sometimes in October 2016 and had refused me access to the children till date.
The petitioner, who described his wife as “a troublesome and mischievous person” pleaded with the court to dissolve the marriage because he was no longer interested in the union.
He also prayed the court to grant him access to his two children.
The respondent was, however, not present during the proceedings in court
The court’s President, Mr Philip Williams, adjourned the case till June 22 for further hearing.

6 persons burnt to death in a fatal accident in Kano (photos)

                                    

Six persons were burnt to death in a fatal accident at Bebeji Local Government Area in Kano State yesterday, May 23rd.
The terrible accident involved a motorcycle carrying gallons of petrol and a Golf car. The six persons involved in the accident were burnt to death.

Full Details Of Christ Embassy pastor, Rev. Sunday Olisa in 4 abortion Scandal With 16 Years Old maid

           
A Serving Minister at Believers Love World Ministry popularly known as Christ Embassy Church, Rev. Sunday Olisa has landed in trouble over alleged sexual molestation of his 16 – year old house maid which resulted in four pregnancies and abortions.
The 16-years old orphan (name withheld) is lying critically ill with heavy bleeding coming from her private after she was induced with uncompleted abortion by his benefactor who is a minister at Christ Embassy Church Egbe branch in Lagos.
The incident happened at 6 Dolamo Street in Agodo Egbe in ikotun area where the pastor, Sunday Olisa reside with the victim and family.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the police at Area M Idimu Command have started manhunt for the cleric after he reportedly escaped mob action from the residents over the incident.
The victim who is in a hospital bed narrated her ordeal to P.M.EXPRESS how he started living with Olisa through her uncle, George Aguba.
She said her Mother was from Mali and married her father who was from Kwale in Delta State.
She said they were three sibling and their parents died when she was 10 and their uncle decided to take them back to Kwale before Olisa offered to assist and took her to his house.
She said ” when i was 10, Olisa will call me inside his bedroom where nobody was around and drugged me and raped me severally”.
She said it had continued and when she attempted to report to the leaders of the church, they shut her up and told her to endure and not complain because Olisa was sponsoring her education.
He said Olisa have taken her to different hospitals whenever he impregnated her for abortions and it has been like for the past six years.
She said she was frustrated and her movement regimented and was not allowed to meet her relations including her uncle, George.
On why he was in the hospital, the helpless victim, said Olisa impregnated her and wanted to cover it up and took her to a doctor where they carried out an abortion and brought her home.
She said after the abortion which was the 4th, she started having heavy bleed and she became afraid and came out from and street and raised alarm before she collapsed and taken to a Hospital where the doctors have been battling to save her life.
She said the doctor said the abortion was not completed which caused the heavy bleeding coming from her private.
She said she does not know her fate if she survive and discharged from the Hospital because he has no contact again with his uncle who did not know what she was passing through.
When our reporter went to the resident where Olisa lives, the residents confirmed the incident and rained curses on Olisa.
At the Area M. Command who is handling the matter, the Area Commander, ACP Austines Akika was not around to comment on the matter.
However, Police sources confirmed the incident and told P.M.EXPRESS that the matter is being investigated by a team of Police led by Female DSP Agatha Eze.
P.M.EXPRESS gathered that there is no officials response from the Church but some of the members expressed shock over the matter and was helping the police in their investigations.

Anambra based DJ Raw made a sad Facebook post before he died

                         

This is sad, Anambra based DJ, Raymond Akaolisa aka DJ Raw working with Odenigbo99.1FM in Obosi, Anambra State is dead!

He died on Saturday, May 20, 2017, after battling an undisclosed illness for weeks.

On Wednesday, May 17, 2017, he shared heartbreaking photos from his sick bed accusing all his radio friends/fans of not checking up on him to know his whereabouts after he was being rushed from one hospital to another.

In his last words, he advised that friends check on their loved ones to know how they are faring.

Read the full heartbreaking post below..

'For almost two weeks I have been hospitalized from one hospital to the other .all my radio friends/fans .nobody cares to ask or know where I have been all this while.I woke up this morning from the hospital bed and started crying I know you want to know y I'm crying( so if I hadn't make it until today I will now become a history.)pls check on your friends at all times you never can tell when they are in trouble.'

Photos of him in his hospital bed below..

                    

" Set up a 12-member burial committee for her burial to give her a befitting burial"-Fan writes open leter to committee in charge of Moji Olaiya burial

                            
Kindly read open letter as sent in by a Fan of the late actress, Moji Olaiya.

On Moji Olaiya's Death...
You can hardly check any online news media without you reading about how one colleague or government has refused to help in Moji Olaiya's burial, it's somewhat disheartening and I ask why let this drag for long.
Thank God for the social media where we can create our alter ego, the picture perfect façade of ourselves. Where the industry people have not only taken the make believe world out of the industry to their own "perfect" world. So u set up a 12-member burial committee for her burial...to give her a befitting burial?

Would the befitting burial help in raising the 2-month old baby she left, would it secure the future of her children? Would it make the family to feel the impact of her death less?
You asked your colleagues to contribute and they refused...in a world where "thy self" is the most important thing. How does the contribution benefit or glorify them? Would there be opportunity to take picture with her family while they smilingly give a cheque of 100k and post on social media, so the blogs could post a screaming headline of how so and so gave a cheque?
The money billing business sef, would it all go down the drain to give Moji Olaiya an Industry worthy befitting burial or would most of it go into setting a trust fund for Moji's daughters? Who befitting burial epp?
The people in the committee, hope this is not a form of publicity stunt, a service to humanity kind of thing...in the showbiz world, its anything for publicity. After the burial, would the committee still stand to see to the welfare of her children? How much has each committee member given? Abi na only your time...
Please, just cut your coat according to your size. If your people are not ready to help, Let Moji Olaiya sleep, let her family have time to heal and do not create unnecessary animosity amongst them and her colleagues...this is highly unnecessary.

Seun Egbegbe welcomes baby girl with girlfriend (Photo)

                     
             

Imprisoned movie Producer, Seun Egbegbe has welcomed a baby girl with his girlfriend, Onyenike. Pictured above is the adorable baby.
Happy new mum Oyenike took to Instagram to share the news and captioned the photo she shared;

“Alhamdulillah for our new born baby girl”.

Seun Egbegbe, her babydaddy, has spent more than 100 days in jail following his inability to meet his bail condition after he was arrested for defrauding some Bureau De Change operatives at Gbagada in Lagos on 24th of February.
                     
Recall that Seun Egbegbe, and his accomplice Oyekan Ayomide have been in police custody since February 2nd. On 24th of February, Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo of the Federal High Court in Lagos granted them a bail of N5 million with two sureties each in a sum of N2.5million. That is four sureties altogether.According to her, one of the sureties must be a civil servant who has attained level 16 while the other surety must be a land owner in any part of Lagos metropolis. The landowner must submit Certificate of Ownership of the landed property and while the civil servant must submit his passport to the court.
The four sureties must swear to an affidavit while the house and office addresses and telephone number will be verified by the court.
They are yet to fulfill their bail conditions as no one is yet to come forward as surety due to the strict nature of the bail conditions, as it was gathered that no one wants to sign the undertaken on his behalf.
               

Lagos CEO 'Mr Stainless' Who Duped His Ex-Girlfriends and Others Arrested

According to those who know him, he is Mr. Stainless, The CEO, but Olaogun Tunde is a complete fraud. 

Everything about him is fraud. 34yrs old Olaogun, a microbiologist, a dismissed civil servant, was two weeks ago arrested by the officials of Rapid Response Squad. 

How did it all happen?

The officers acted on phone report to RRS Control Room of a fraud by one Mr Kelvin Oyenuga over the supply of 25 units of HP laptop to the Lagos State Ministry of Works, Alausa, through Olaogun Tunde.

Olaogun, through connections was linked up with Oyenuga for the supply of 25 laptops amounting to N4, 625,000:00. In making a N2.5m payment before delivery, Olaogun initiated a fake online transfer from a Keystone Bank to Oyenuga’s GTB account. He immediately showed a fake debit alert on his phone to Oyenuga. On delivery, the same day, he issued another dud cheque of N2.125m.

For more than two months, Olaogun employed one trick or the other to buy time for himself while he offered to a Lagos Island computer dealer, the 25 laptops he bought from Oyenuga at N150,000:00 each, a N35,000:00 short of the initial buying price.

To settle the case Oyenuga, Olaogun had requested RRS officers follow him to Lagos Island to retrieve the 25 laptops from the buyer. According to him, “I had an understanding with him. We retrieve the laptops. Once my LPO is ready, I would pay off the buyer”.

By the second day of investigation into the case, three fresh cases of fraud initiated by Olaogun Tunde had surfaced. The complaints were microfinance banks, who the suspect had used a Fake Bank Statements to secure loans amounting to N3.7m.

Coincidentally, a day later, two ex-girlfriends of Olaogun were at RRS’s headquarters. 

They alleged that the suspect took N750,000:00 in October, 2016 and N500,000:00 in April 2017 from them to help them get a Toyota Matrix and a Nigerian used car. And, as typical of him, Olaogun had regaled them with endless stories – no car, no money.

His latest girlfriend whose red Toyota Corolla he borrowed for his fraudulent transactions, Dunni Anifowoshe, 29, disclosed that the suspect was dismissed from the Lagos State Ministry of Environment, Alausa, in 2015.

Olaogun, while explaining the circumstance said he used the name of his Ministry to facilitate the procurement of vehicles at Affordable Cars without the knowledge of the State Government. When he couldn’t pay for the cars, it became a crisis that cost him his job.

Before Olaogun Tunde case was transferred to the State CID, Panti, Yaba, two other microfinance banks had filed in fresh petition of N1.5 million and N4 million respectively against him.

Blogger Arrested For Defrauding UK Based Activist To The Tune Of N2.2m [Pictured]

A blogger has been arrested for defrauding a UK based activist, Philip Agbese to the tune of N2.2m. 

The blogger, Apeh Peterhot allegedly opened a Facebook pseudo account in the name of Queen Ann Ochoga and used it to defraud Philip.

Philip then went on to use a pregnant woman’s account details where the said money were allegedly paid.

 He had told the woman he was having problems with his BVN.

The pregnant woman however turned herself in to the police when she suspected foul play. Apeh 

went on the run, but was apprehended yesterday afternoon following a coordinated operation of civilians and undercover policemen.

He is currently being held at Idimu Police Station, Area M, Alimoso Division of Lagos

Female "weed" seller in Sapele celebrates birthday in style (photos)

                              

A lady identified as Omeh who sells drugs including marijuana ('weed') in Sapele area of Delta state celebrated her birthday yesterday in style.
According to reports, the lady who is very popular in her area - marked her special day by getting high with friends at Richard Continental Hotel before moving to London Royal Hotel along Shell Road in Sapele for another round of party...

Seattle Seahawks Icon Cortez Kennedy Dies At 48

Cortez Kennedy, an icon with the Seattle Seahawks who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012, has died at age 48, the Orlando (Florida) Police Department also confirms.

Orlando police confirmed that they are investigating the former defensive tackle's death but said "there is nothing suspicious to report" at this time.

Kennedy died alone, according to police.

Late Actor Prince Uche to be buried on June 9th

 

 

Actor Prince James Uche who died on March 8th, will be buried on June 9th at his hometown in Item, Bende Local government area of Abia state. According to Nollywood Producer, Emeka Torino Ojukwu who is a member of his burial planning committee, a service of songs will be held on June 8th and a day after, he would be interred.

Torino told LIB that the family has not been able to access his account where donations were made before he died because the actor died without a will.


Efforts are now being made to get an order from a High Court in Lagos so they can access his account.

His remains is still in a mortuary in Lagos and would be transported to his home state sometime next week.

Prince Uche who died from Diabetes, Blindness, BP and kidney disease, is survived by his wife and three sons.

Manchester Arena Attacker Was Born In Manchester

The terrorist who killed 22 people by detonating a suicide bomb at Manchester Arena has been named Salman Abedi.

Abedi was born in Manchester in 1994 and is the second youngest of four children. He grew up in the Whalley Range area, close to a local girls' high school.

It is the same school of twins and former star pupils, Zahra and Salma Halane, both formerly aspiring medical students, who left their homes and moved to Syria in 2015.

Abedi was reportedly a student at Salford University.


Dr Sam Grogan, the university’s Pro-Vice Chancellor Student Experience, said: “All at the University of Salford are shocked and saddened by the events of last night. Our thoughts are with all those involved, their families and their friends.

“We have provided, and continue to provide, support to all students and staff who have been affected.”

The suspect was named by US security services in Washington, who said he had been identified by British authorities.

School friends have revealed that Abedi was a keen Manchester United fan.

Abedi's former school friend Leon Hall told MailOnline he saw the killer last year and said he had grown a beard.

Hall, 26, and Abedi lived close to each other in a row of run down terraced houses in the Moss Side area of Manchester.

They later ended up living next door to each other in a nearby street and went to the same school.

People living on the red-bricked semi-detached street said they knew little about those who reside at the address.

Those living close to Abedi told Mail Online he was recently heard “chanting Islamic prayers loudly in the street” outside his home.

His mum and dad Samia Tabbal, 50, and security officer father, Ramadan Abedi, apparently initially lived in London, before moving to Fallowfield, Manchester, at least 10 years ago.

They are believed to have fled to London before moving to south Manchester before Abedi was born in 1994.

Abedi reportedly lived at an address in Elsmore Road, Fallowfield, which police raided yesterday, ordering shocked residents indoors as they carried out a controlled explosion.

This Nigerian lady returned N860k transferred to her account by mistake

The pretty girl above named Zinny Adajiugo Ife Nkili took to her Facebook to share how she returned N860,000 mistakenly transferred to her account.

She said she received a credit alert of N860k, and after a while the person called her and was begging her to return the money that he did it in error.
She wrote:

               

Super Eagles player Ahmed Musa’s wedding-Photos

 

Super Eagles player and Leicester City Star, Ahmed Musa’s wedding to his new new wife Juliet Ejue, was held yesterday, just few months after it was reported that he was enmeshed in a divorce and infidelity scandal with his ex-wife Jamila.
According to sources, the couple who have been dating for two years now, decided to seal their relationship after Ahmed got divorced.
Here are more photos from the wedding ceremony, shared by  Musa’s teammate and friend Juwon Oshinawa.
                       
                                        

Oby Ezekwesili's Son Graduates From Yale University

Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili's son, Chuba Ezekwesili recently graduated with a masters degree from Yale university. Congrats to the young man!

Manchester Bombing..More Than 24 Hours On, Families Still Searching For Missing Mothers, Sons & Daughters

Desperate families were still searching last night for loved ones who disappeared in the chaos of the Manchester bomb blast, including teenagers and schoolchildren. Some of their parents were at the lobby where the suicide bomb was detonated and have also been using social media to look for their loved ones.

Pictured are: (top row from left) Olivia Campbell, who has since been confirmed dead, Liam Curry and Chloe Rutherford, Laura MacIntyre and Eilidh Macleod; (middle row from left) Wendy Fawell, Nell Jones, Marcin and Angelika Klis, Martyn Hett; (bottom row from left) Courtney Boyle, Martyn Hett, Philip Tron.

Ariana Grande arrives Florida after Manchester bomb attack

                             
A seemingly ‘depressed’ American singer, Ariana Grande, has been pictured for the first time in her hometown,  Boca Raton, Florida, after the Manchester bomb attack that left 22 people dead, with the youngest victim being just 8-years-old.
The incident which occurred inside the Manchester Arena moments after concertgoers started to leave the venue of the Ariana Grande concert, left 119 people injured, making the UK government to raise its threat level to “critical”, the highest level for the first time in a decade.

                           
Ariana was pictured with her mother Joan on Tuesday afternoon and her boyfriend, Mac Miller, who she shared a lengthy embrace and kiss with before entering an SUV, which reporters claimed took her to a family member’s home in a gated community.
More photos below;
                            

                                 

                        

                        

                                       

                           

Masquerader, Followers Gunned Down In Kogi

A masquerader and three of his followers have been killed in Okene , Kogi State, by yet-to-be identified people.

A Punch correspondent gathered that the killings occurred on Tuesday at Idare district, in the Okene Local Government Area of the state.

According to some eyewitnesses, they were gunned down by two men on a motorcycle during the Eche-Anee festival which is normally celebrated annually by the people of Kogi Central.

One of the eyewitnesses, who pleaded not to be named, told a Punch correspondent that immediately the masquerader and three of his followers were gunned down, other people at the scene took to their heels.


Meanwhile, the state government said it had banned the festival to avoid further tragedy.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the state Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, warned that any masquerader, caught on the streets would be arrested, along with its followers and those managing the masquerader.

However, effort to confirm the attack from the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. William Aya, proved abortive.

But sources close to the  Kogi State Police Command confirmed the incident, saying the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Wilson Inalegwu, was on top of the situation.

Billionaire Ifeanyi Ubah’s diversion of N11b Petrol punishable by death – DSS

The Department of State Services has accused businessman and owner of Capital Oil & Gas Ltd., Ifeanyi Ubah, of diverting about 80 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (commonly called petrol), kept in his custody by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

The agency stated that Ubah shunned NNPC’s repeated demands for the product estimated to be worth N11bn in order to cause artificial scarcity of the product.

It stated that Ubah’s action could plunge Nigeria into widespread scarcity of PMS and economic chaos. According to DSS, the act amounted to economic sabotage punishable by death.

These were stated in a counter-affidavit and written submission filed by the DSS in opposition to an application by Ubah, asking a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Jabi, Abuja, to set aside an order for his detention for 14 days.

Justice Yusuf Halilu had granted the order to the DSS on May 10, 2017, allowing the agency to keep the suspect in custody for 14 days pending the completion of an ongoing criminal investigation against him.

The DSS’s lawyer, Mr. G. Agbadua, told Justice Halilu on Tuesday that Ubah was plotting to plunge the nation into economic and social crisis by creating artificial scarcity of petroleum product.

The DSS’ counter-affidavit deposed to by one of the agency’s operatives, Mr. Safwan Bello, stated, “The respondent (Ubah) was arrested on reasonable suspicion of his involvement in the commission of crime. He converted PMS, belonging to the NNPC, kept in the custody of his tank farm, to his personal use.

“The respondent refused to return the PMS to the NNPC after repeated demands. The PMS is worth over N11bn. The action of the respondent is affecting the distribution of petroleum products to the populace.

“The action of the respondent is sabotage of NNPC’s activities as it relates to the distribution of petroleum products. If not for the urgent steps taken by the Federal Government, the action of the respondent would have plunged the country into widespread scarcity with its attendant effect on the economy.

“Petroleum is the lifeblood of the Nigerian economy. NNPC is a major stakeholder in the petroleum industry in Nigeria. An attack on the Nigerian economy is an economic threat to national security dimension.

“The Nigerian populace will suffer untold hardship if NNPC is unable to discharge its statutory responsibilities, including distribution of petroleum products as well as generating revenue for the country.

“The action of the respondent, if not checked, is capable of undermining the NNPC in the discharge of its duties. Investigation into the activities of the respondent is yet to be completed. A premature released of the respondent will adversely impact on the investigation, which is nearing completion.”

Agbadua stated in a written address, which he adopted during the Tuesday’s hearing, that the alleged diversion of the petroleum product by Ubah was not only stealing, but an attempt to cripple the nation’s economy.

He stated that the act was punishable by death under the Petroleum Production and Distribution (Anti-Sabotage) Act, 2004.

He stated, “The action of the respondent (Ubah) to sabotage the distribution of petroleum products is a capital offence under the Petroleum Production and Distribution (Anti-Sabotage) Act, 2004.

“The act of the respondent was capable of plunging the country into chaos as a result of scarcity of product had the NNPC not taken a proactive step to forestall such situation. This clearly brings the action of the respondent under the provision of the Petroleum Production and Distribution (Anti-Sabotage) Act, 2004.

“The punishment of sabotage under this Act attracts death penalty. It is clear that the respondent was arrested for the conversion of the property of the NNPC. It is not just ordinary stealing, it is stealing of the lifeblood of the nation.

“Oil is the major source of revenue of the Federal Government. Stealing of the revenue is a crime against the economic interest of Nigeria and therefore, falls within the purview of economic threat of national security dimension.”

Agbadua stated that the gravity of the alleged offence informed why a diligent investigation was required to ensure prompt prosecution of the respondent.

He added that this was why the DSS sought the permission of the court to detain Ubah pending the conclusion of investigation.

Justice Halilu adjourned until May 25 for ruling.