JJC kids from his Previous Marriage Accept Funke Akindele as their New Mom

Looks like congrats might be in order for actress Funke Akindele who has reportedly married her boyfriend JJC in a secret ceremony in London.

A few months ago we told you the pair were engaged after we spotted her rocking an engagement ring on snapchat.



And today [Aug 24] on the occasion of the Jenifa actress’s 40th birthday, according to NAIJ, she said her I Do’s to JJC in London yesterday. After the alleged secret wedding, a dinner was held for the few family and friends who attended.

The couple who have been very secretive about even dating each other are yet to address their reported marriage, but Funke has been giving off hints by showing off an engagement ring and wedding band worn on her ring finger in recent snapchat videos.


When our Correspondent reached out to JJC's team, they confirmed that it was a surprise too for Funke, because her bae kept the plans under the cover.

"We are all in a joyous mood, she is so super excited about her new marital status. JJC three kids have also accepted her with open hands and ready to call her new Mummy!"

JJC Skillz also confirmed this after he wished Funke a happy 40th birthday and referred to her as FAB, which means Funke Akindele Bello because JJC's name is Abdulrasheed Bello.

Recall that Funke Akindele separated from her ex-husband- Kehinde Almaroof Oloyede in 2013 after just one year of marriage, and so far has succeeded in keeping her relationships from public eye.

Congrats to the latest couple in town.

Here are some photos from the wedding as shared online by Tamira Bello, one of JJC's kids:

"Your son needs to remove that nose ring" fans tell actress Bukky Wright

So earlier today, actress Bukky Wright shared some photos of herself where she posed with her son, Ojay during the 'Lagos at 50' celebration which took place last weekend.
In the photos, Ojay was spotted rocking a nose ring, an act that did not go down well with many of Bukky Wright's fans!

Check out some of their reactions below:

IPOB officialy splits; new group, TRIPOB set to burn the Biafran flag on Oct 1

In what was termed as an 'inflexible and defeatist position of IPOB led by Nnamdi Kanu', who is currently in Kuje prison, a faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), identified as The Re-branded Indigenous People of Biafra (TRIPOB), has broken out of the main group.

Chima Phillip Effiong Osuji, who is the spokesperson of the splinter group, said the decision to break away, was taken at an emergency meeting convened by some disaffected members of IPOB on Monday, August 22, 2016 in Aba, Abia state.

“It was resolved that due to the rigid and fatalistic position of the Nnamdi Kanu- led IPOB, several of us with like minds shall breakaway and form The Rebranded Indigenous People of Biafra, TRIPOB,” he stated.

The new group said that Biafra would not be a reality and on October, 1, 2016, would set ablaze the Biafra flag in Abuja, recite the national anthem and pledge to Nigeria, while the spirit and intent of Biafra will be pursued inside the Nigerian nation. 

THE FULL STATEMENT

"At an emergency meeting convened by some disaffected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Monday, August 22, 2016 in Aba, Abia state, it was resolved that due to the rigid and fatalistic position of the Nnamdi Kanu led IPOB, several of us with like minds shall breakaway and form The Rebranded Indigenous People of Biafra or TRIPOB.

"TRIPOB now sees the Biafra question from a different perspective. Biafra will now become to us a powerful metaphor for change, development and greatness of the Igbos inside a united Nigeria, where the South East axis will be a utopia from the sheer determination borne out of the Biafra metaphor.

"We believe in being a part of a united Nigeria, and a new way of thinking, where the victim mentality will no longer be acceptable.

"We have accepted the fact that the Biafra Republic is not a reality but an anachronism, and doubt that the South South region will become a part of a Biafra Republic, except by force; after a declaration of another civil war.

"That the lessons and history of the civil war will only reinforce the belief in ourselves to reach the zenith in this great country, Nigeria, where opportunities abound for every one regardless of tribe or religion, and even where such narrow sentiments exists, we will not see ourselves as victims. Never!

"In view of this new mindset, members of the TRIPOB and any new defectors will on October 1, 2016 make a public denunciation of a
Seccesionist Biafra Republic at the Eagle Square, Abuja.

"The event will also include recitation of the Pledge to Nigeria our Country, singing of the National anthem, followed by a solemn burning of the Biafra flag and unveiling a new Biafra flag representing pride, change, potential and spirit of the Igbo race which can thrive any where in the world.

"Long live the Biafra Spirit! Igbo…Kwenu!!!

"Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria! Nigeria…Kwenu!!!"

And the drama continues..

Nigeria Soldiers Ambushed Boko Haram Members Who Attacked Their Base

Troops on Operation LAFIYA DOLE stationed at Darul Jamel, on the fringes of Sambisa forest, northern parts of Borno State, yesterday(22nd August) evening successfully repelled an attempted attack on their location by remnants of Boko Haram terrorists.

The terrorists attempted to storm the troops location at about 10.00pm, but paid dearly as the troops killed several of them including two senior commanders that led the attack. 

The troops recovered 1 Light Machine Gun (LMG) with Registration number 56M-1101229, 1 AK-47 Rifle Magazine, Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) Bomb and 1 top cover of an AK-47 Rifle. Other items recovered include 395 Rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition and 15 rounds of 5.5mm by .45 ammunition.

Prior to the attack, the troops of the same unit on routine patrol earlier, had cleared an ambush staged by elements of the suspected remnants of the terrorists desperate for food near Banki Junction.

It is equally believed that the attack and ambush might not be unconnected to the fact that the terrorists were desperately targeting over 890 rescued herdsmen with their 5000 livestock being held captives by terrorists along Nigerian borders with Cameroon. 

Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman 
Acting Director Army Public Relations
 

Man Walks Out Of Jail After 25 Years As DNA Evidence Reveals He Is NOT Guilty Of Crime

A Philadelphia man walked free after 25 years behind bars as DNA evidence proved he did not rape and murder his neighbor.

Anthony Wright, 44, was 20 years old when he was convicted in the death of 77-year-old Louise Talley in the Nicetown neighborhood.

Authorities found her naked body on the floor of her home in October 1991. Talley had been raped and stabbed 10 times with a kitchen knife in the back, chest and neck.

Wright was taken into custody the following day. He was serving a term of life without parole when new DNA testing showed another man had raped Talley.

Authorities inspected sperm found inside Talley's body and found none of Wright's DNA. It was Ronnie Byrd, a former crack addict from Nicetown, who assaulted her, tests showed in 2014. 

Wright had initially told police he had taken money from Talley before killing her. He later took back his confession and said he had been coerced into giving it. The detectives, who have since retired, denied having pressured Wright to confess, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

A jury of seven women and five men deliberated for less than two hours before declaring Wright not guilty on Tuesday.

Wright walked free a few hours later, surrounded by his relatives. His father, his 28-year-old son and his two granddaughters, 1 and 8 years old, witnessed his first moments as a free man.



'I can't even put it into words right now, man,' Wright told The Philadelphia Inquirer. 'It's unbelievable. It's the greatest day of my life.'

Wright's mother has died. His 63-year-old father plans to take Wright to Florida, where he lives, before Wright goes back to Philadelphia.

This is the 344th time someone in the United States is exonerated thanks to DNA evidence according to the Innocence Project, which led Wright's defense.

Nigerian Mom in London Begs Witnesses that Saw His Son Mudered To Come Forward & Testify

The mum of Andre Aderemi has begged for any witnesses to her son's fatal stabbing in Selsdon to come forward so the family can get "closure" on the tragic incident. 

Heartbroken Yemi Hughes said she had dropped off her son just 10 minutes before he was attacked in Monks Hill last Tuesday.

This was the last time she would see her 19-year-old son before she received a call telling her he was screaming for her.

Police, paramedics and residents tried to save Mr Aderemi in Heather Way however he died as a result of multiple stab wounds.

One week on, officers will revisit the scene at 5pm in a bid to find more witnesses.

Ms Hughes said in a moving statement today: "On Tuesday, August 16 around 7:30pm I dropped my son Andre Aderemi to his friend's house on the Monks Hill estate. I never thought this would be the last time that I saw him.

"By 7:40pm he had been brutally stabbed to death. I received a call to beg me to come as he was screaming for me but by the time I arrived the paramedics were fighting to save his life.

"I never got to see him alive again, to tell him how much I love him, to see his infectious smile, to cradle my baby in my arms and tell him that I would fix and make everything better. 

"I am begging for witnesses to come forward and give their accounts so that myself and Andre's little brothers can get some closure and justice for my son's murder.

"Nobody should die the way that he did and I am devastated not only by the loss of Andre but also by the manner in which he died.

"Our lives will never be the same again so please if you know anything, no matter how small you think it is, can you pass it onto police."

Three 19-year-olds will stand trial at the Old Bailey in February charged with his murder.

Funke Akindele & JJC Are Officially Married: Checkout her Double Ring

It seems actress Funke Akindele and singer Abdul Rasheed Bello popularly known as JJC Skillz are married. Funke was spotted with a wedding band and her engagement ring on Snapchat this morning which has made a lot of people to start talking.

In another twist, the rapper on his IG page which the actress a happy birthday with a short code FAB, which could mean Funke Akindele Bello.

Below is also a personal message he sent out. If this is true, we say big congrats to her. She deserves to be happy again!


“Happy birthday @funkejenifaakindele aka FAB,”
“Many happy returns. May all your days be filled with love, and happiness. You’ll find peace in your home, work, body, mind soul. You’ll never lack. Health and wealth is your potion. Long life and prosperity. Stay blessed my best friend😘”.

Congrats to them!

Pastor and wife welcome a set of twins, after 24 years of marriage

A hearty congratulations to Rev. Godwin Ogoh of Jesus The Way and Fire Ministry, Owerri and his wife, who after 24 years of marriage, welcomed their first set of twins. They had the baby's dedication last Sunday! 

Bride-To-Be CaughtTrying To Abort Pregnancy

A special police team in Uganda last Thursday raided a notorious abortion clinic and arrested the doctor, Moses Kaweesa. The police officers (disguised in plain clothes) raided Miriam Medical Centre in Bwaise and rescued secondary school girls who were being prepared to undergo abortion.

Drama ensued when one woman identified as Joan began to cry and plead for leniency because she was about to get married. 

"Please do not arrest or expose me. I am going to get married soon but the husband-to-be is not the one responsible for the pregnancy,” Joan pleaded. "The wedding is due next Saturday," she sobbed.

One of the girls was bleeding and was immediately rushed to Mulago Hospital. Another 15-year-old, found in school uniform, is currently in police custody at Kawempe Police Station.

The doctor, who carries out the abortions, Moses Kaweesa, said, “If you arrest me, my life will be done. I get a living by helping girls abort."

Governor Ayade Sibling Arrested Over Alleged N2.4Billion Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a brother to Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State over alleged N2.4billion contract scam.

Sources at the anti-graft agency disclosed that Francis Ayade was arrested on Tuesday in connection with the scam.

Francis Ayade, MD of Leophina Nigeria Ltd and Hally Brown International Limited, was fingered in alleged shady deals involving diversion of public funds into his companies’ accounts.

“Specifically, four different allocations from the Federation Accounts were alleged to have been diverted into Hally Brown International Limited’s account owned by him,” an official told PT.

Investigations by EFCC operatives showed that Hally Brown International Limited was awarded a road construction contract to the tune of N2.4billion in 2011.

To finance the contract, Mr. Ayade allegedly took a loan of N350,000,000 (Three Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) from First Bank Plc, on behalf of Cross Rivers Rural Access and Mobility Project.

The loan was, however, unused for the contract, but transferred into the Mobility Project.

He has also been implicated in alleged suspicious transactions involving Obudu Micro Finance Bank, among other allegations.

He has been offered administrative bail but still in EFCC until he fulfills the bail conditions.

Senators Reject Buhari’s Emergency Powers Bill, Say It Will Make Him Too Powerful

The move by President Muhammadu Buhari to secure "emergency powers" to address the nation’s economic crisis may not see the light of the day, as some senators have rejected the proposed bill, saying Mr Presidency could transform himself into a tyrant and foist a dictatorship on the nation.

According to Thisday, the bill entitled, “Emergency Economy Stabilisation Bill 2016”, will be sent to the National Assembly by the president upon resumption from its summer vacation and after the Eid el Kabir holidays.

However, given the reaction of some senators to the proposed emergency powers being sought by Buhari through the bill, the legislation may be thrown out.

Several senators, who spoke to Thisday, vehemently kicked against it, saying it is “dead on arrival”.

According to the senators, who did not want to be named, some of the provisions in the bill were unnecessary, describing it as nothing more than a subtle way of avoiding counterpart funding by the Buhari administration.

According to them, if the bill is passed as proposed, the president will gradually transform himself into a dictator and draw Nigeria back to the path of military rule, which it exited 17 years ago.

They said without the so-called emergency powers at his disposal, Buhari has continued to trample on the powers of the legislature, explaining that if given further powers, he would more or less reduce the National Assembly to a rubber stamp like the kinds of legislature that exist in China and Russia.

Hence, the senators vowed to kill the bill. 

An unnamed government official had told reporters last weekend that Buhari would seek emergency powers from the National Assembly to push his planned stimulus for the economy.

The objectives of the bill will include shoring up the value of the naira, job creation, boosting foreign exchange reserves, reviving the manufacturing sector, and improving power supply.

Another Nigerian Arrested In India With Cocaine

The Police in Bengaluru, India have arrested a Nigerian for selling cocaine. They recovered cocaine worth Rs 13 lakhs from him. His visa and passport expired in 2015, but he remained in the country.

The Bengaluru police arrested the Nigerian national for allegedly indulging in drug peddling.

According to the police, 37yrs old Adinife Raphael came to India in 2010 and stayed in Mumbai. After spending two years in Mumbai and New Delhi, he settled down in Bengaluru in 2012. His visa and passport expired in 2015, but he continued to stay illegally in the country.

Later, he joined a group of drug peddlers, who procured the contraband material from suppliers in Goa. It is alleged that Raphael would supply cocaine to college students in east Bengaluru.

ARREST
The police who received a tip-off on his activities raided his home on Monday in the Bagaluru police station limits. They found out that Raphael had destroyed his passport.

Consequently, the police have registered a case against him under Narcotics, Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

Multi-Billion dollar fraud: EFCC to seize Diezani’s assets in US

*How she ‘acquired properties in associates’ names
Former Petroleum Resources Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke is likely to lose some United States properties traced to her. The EFCC is probing Mrs Alison-Madueke for over $10 billion slush funds. It has initiated a process for the seizure of the assets – in line with United States laws.

EFCC Chairman Ibrahim Magu has just returned from the United States where he discussed with the authorities how to attach the properties.

In the last one year, EFCC has traced assets and items worth $10billion to Mrs. Alison-Madueke and her business associates, Kola Aluko and Chief Jide Omokore.

The Nation learnt that some of the assets include an $18million peoperty (over N6.3billion at N350 exchange rate) in Abuja.

A top EFCC source, who spoke in confidence, said: “We have located some assets allegedly owned by Diezani and some of her business associates in the United States. We are already collaborating with the US Government to attach these assets.

“In fact, the EFCC chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, spent about one and a half weeks in the US to work with the relevant agencies to trace Diezani’s properties, some of which are believed to have been secured through business fronts like Kola Aluko.

“We have submitted relevant documents to the US authorities in order to facilitate the seizure of the assets.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “Some of these properties were acquired through some business fronts like Aluko and Omokore.

“We even have a in which houses on a street in Switzerland have been traced to an associate of Diezani.”

The EFCC is working with anti-graft agencies in Britain and the United States.

“Don’t forget that the EFCC initially secured a Mareva Injunction from Justice O.O. Oguntoyinbo to freeze some foreign accounts and seize some assets linked with Diezani’s associates in the United Kingdom,” the source said.

Accounts have been frozen in some of overseas financial institutions. They include BNP Paribas (Switzerland), LGT Bank (Switzerland), Standard Chartered Bank (London),Barclays Bank (London), Standard Energy (Voduz, Switzerland), HSBC (London), Corner Bank (Lugano, Switzerland) and Deutsche Bank (Geneva).

Section 34 (1) of the EFCC Act 2004 empowers the Commission to freeze any account suspected of being used for financial crimes.

The section stipulates that “the chairman of the commission or any officer authorised by him may, if satisfied that the money in the account of a person is made through the commission of an offence under this Act or any enactment specified under Section 6(2) (a)-(f) of this Act, apply to the court ex parte for power to issue or instruct a bank examiner or such other appropriate authority to freeze the account.”

The National Crime Agency (NCA) in the UK arrested and quizzed Mrs Alison-Madueke and four others on October 2, 2015 for alleged bribery, corruption and money laundering.

Also the EFCC has interrogated five more suspects since her interrogation.

The NCA last year obtained permission from a Westminster Magistrate’s Court to seize 27,000 pounds from Alison-Madueke and two other women.

Although NCA detectives have visited the country this year in line with the probe, it was unclear as at press time when she will be formally arraigned in court in the UK.

While the UK investigation was in progress, the EFCC uncovered another $115million poll bribery scam in which the ex-minister was implicated.

But Mrs Alison-Madueke has described allegations against her as “cold-hearted” and inhuman because she is ill.

Her statement said in part: “Coming at such a critical time in my life when I am battling cancer, this poorly executed propaganda bares on its face like tribal marks, a clearly malicious attempt to victimise an innocent woman in what appears an exaggerated plot to validate and give credibility to the anti-corruption crusade under Nigeria’s new regime.

“People who are battling cancer or those who have lost their loved ones to this medical condition understand what I am going through at this time.

“This is what makes me ponder at the cold-heartedness of those who will go any length to defame and destroy in the name of propaganda. What happened to our shared humanity?

”I have absolute regard for the law and believe that people who have breached the laws that govern societies should be made to face the wrath of the law.

“But in a civilized society, a responsible government owes its citizens absolute commitment to the principles of rule of law, equity, fairness and justice. I have been wrongfully and maliciously maligned and those behind this reckless action know it.

“I leave them to posterity, their conscience and above all the Almighty God who is the final judge of all.”

Man Commit Suicide over Non-Payment of his Salary

A 66-year-old man, Mr. John Ekue, has committed suicide in the Mende area of Maryland, Lagos State.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Ekue used a rope to hang himself by the rod of a ceiling fan in his apartment on Oki Lane around 8pm on Monday.
It was learnt that the victim, who worked as a driver for a paint company in Lagos State, killed himself over the failure of the company to pay his five-month salaries.
The victim had been facing tough times since April 2016, when he stopped going to the company, whose name was not disclosed by his family members.
The deceased, who earned N30,000 per month, reportedly became frustrated when feeding became difficult for him.His only son, identified simply as IK, a salesman, had been supporting him with his meagre wages.
A resident, Simon Davies, told PUNCH Metro on Tuesday during a visit to the area that IK had gone to buy food for the father when the incident happened.
He said, “His son had gone to buy food for him that evening. But when he returned, he saw his father’s body dangling from a rope and he raised the alarm. People went into the room to help rush him to a hospital, but he died.
“The main cause of the incident is the non-payment of his salaries by a paint company he worked for as a driver. I learnt he earned N30,000 monthly and the company owed him five months’ salaries. He stopped going there in April when the arrears were not paid. Since then, his son had been feeding him with the little he earns at a boutique where he works.”
Another resident, who identified herself simply as Ruth, said the death of Ekue’s wife two years ago compounded his frustration.
“He had been lonely since he stopped going to work. His only son, who should have been with him, had to run around to provide food for him. Aside that, his wife died about two years ago which really shook him. I was shocked when I heard he committed suicide yesterday (Monday),” she added.
A resident, Gafar Kolawole, said the police from the Anthony division came to remove the corpse and had deposited it in a mortuary.
Relatives of the deceased declined comments when our correspondent approached them to verify the cause of the death.
However, one of them, who did not give his name, said, “The police came and took an account of what happened. They should be in a position to tell you. This is sad news and you should not disturb us with questions, especially his son. You can rely on the information you got from people who are aware of the incident.”
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the suicide, adding that Ekue’s corpse had been deposited in a morgue for autopsy.
She said, “One John Ekue allegedly hanged himself with a rope tied to the ceiling fan in his room. Detectives visited, examined and photographed the scene. The corpse was removed and deposited in a morgue for autopsy.”

God has my back! Veteran Actor, Tony Umez celebrates his 50th Birthday with his family (photos)

Actor and happily married dad of three beautiful daughters, Tony Umez, clocked 50 yesterday and he is thankful to God for his everlasting blessings on him all the way.
He shared some photos on his Instagram page with this caption below:

“Happy Birthday to me. Thank youuuu God for bringing me this far. Thank You for EVERYTHING. It can ONLY be You. Continue to position me right I pray through Christ Our Lord, Amen. #IamBlessedBeyondMeasure #TooBlessedToBeStressed #GodReignsInMyLife #GodHasMyBack"

see below family Pic

She wanted to be a Bio-chemist! Girl electrocuted after writing WASCE makes 2Bs, 6Cs

Deborah Faleke, the young girl electrocuted at Fagbenro Street, Alakuko, Lagos State on May 21, two weeks after she finished writing her WASCE examination, had two distinctions and six credits in the just-released results.

Pastor Ademola Faleke, her father, disclosed yesterday that Deborah’s result was one of the best in her school.

He said: “Deborah had two distinctions and six credits out of the nine subjects she sat for in the 2016 May/June WASCE: C6, Economics; B3, Geography; C5, Civil Education, and C4 in English Language. “She also had C4 in Mathematics; B3, in Chemistry; E8, Biology; C6, Physics and F9 in Marketing.” ‘

The pastor, moved to tears while reeling out the result, said Deborah had desired to study Bio-Chemistry in one of the private universities in Ogun State before her death.


He said: “My daughter was the Senior Girl and President of the school Jet’s Club and the Secretary of its Literary and Debating Society. “I had promised her that I would do everything within my power to ensure that she achieved her education goals, but the will of God must prevail.”


Deborah had gone to stay with her cousin, Bukola Ogunbanjo, when the incident that led to her untimely death happened.

The high-tension, which belonged to Ikeja Electric, IE, fell on Deborah immediately electricity supply was restored to the area around 10a.m., on the fateful day. According to Faleke, “the management of IE visited my family once. Since then, my family had not seen or heard anything from them.”

He also said that recently the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, sent its representatives to commiserate with him and his family over the loss. However, IE’s Head of Corporate Communications, Mr. Felix Ofulue, said that the matter was being handled by its legal unit.

Again, Tyga Hit With Another Lawsuit, As $186K Is Awarded Against Him

The 26-year-old rapper, who's dating Kylie Jenner, has again been ordered by a Southern California judge to pay a six-figure sum to a landlord who he rented property from in Malibu, leaving it trashed and damaged upon his departure.

F&S Investment Properties received a judgment for $186,275.89 as compensation for property damages to the space which Tyga used for his fashion line, Egypt Last Kings Clothing, TMZ reported, citing court docs.

Kenya Artist Victoria Kimani Slay Nigeria Traditional Outfit For The First Time

Kenyan songstress Victoria Kimani had this to say after wearing a Naija outfit for the firs time:

“Yesterday was my first time wearing a Gele (this beautifully constructed head wrap) I felt regal & Royal With a hint of a migraine....But still Slayinnnn.”

Check out two more pics.

National Assembly Is Broke, says Senate Leader Ali Ndume

Leader of Nigeria's Senate, Ali Ndume, has said the National Assembly was broke and experiencing difficulties in meeting its financial obligations.

Reacting to newspaper reports that the legislature was facing financial challenges, Ndume said the situation was so worrisome that legislators were not receiving their allowances as and when due.

“I know that the whole country is in financial difficulty, not only the National Assembly. I have been in the National Assembly since 2003, but things keep getting worse. 

"I think they paid us last month’s salary on the 16th of the following month or thereabout,’’ Ndume told newsmen in Abuja.

He, however, noted that the situation was not peculiar to the legislature, adding that other arms of government, including states, were facing similar problems.

“It is not only with the National Assembly; some states have not been able to pay salaries for six months, one year.

“Some states were even asking their workers to go and farm for two days and work for the other three days in a week.

“Even in the Presidency, they have tightened their belts on their expenditure and so, it’s a general phenomenon in the country.

“We used to receive running costs or allowances quarterly but now it is monthly and it doesn’t come as and when due,’’ he said.

Millionaire Hotel owner killed by his workers, they escaped with his car & CCTV

The Nigeria Police, Niger State Command, has started investigations into the killing of the owner of Deploo Hotel and Suites, Lucky Okonkwo, who was murdered in his hotel in Suleja, Niger State.

It was learnt that 59-year-old Lucky was stabbed to death on Friday by a three-man gang, suspected to be workers at the hotel, shortly after he returned from a trip to Kaduna. He was said to be at the hotel for the purpose of supervision.

After killing the victim, the suspects took away the Closed Circuit Television decoder of the hotel, the victim’s phones and fled in his Peugeot 406 saloon car.

They also took away a file containing certain information about the hotel.

The security men at the hotel, who were the prime suspects, were reported to have fled immediately the incident happened and had since been unreachable on their telephone lines.

They were identified as Frank Anavukko, Victor Anerah and Emmanuel Adeh.

A source told Punch that the incident was discovered Saturday morning by a housekeeper who saw a pool of blood streaming out from the victim’s office. The matter was reported at the Madalla Police Division and some of the hotel workers were arrested.

Lucky, an indigene of Delta State, was said to be the immediate past Vice-President of the Nigerian Association of Technology Engineering, North-West zone.

The victim’s first son, Paul, told Punch that his father was killed around 7pm. He stated that workers at the hotel claimed not to have known when his father was murdered.

He said, “He just returned from a trip and around 7pm of that day, he went to his office. When his workers didn’t see him and they discovered he was not reachable on his telephone lines, they called my mum the following day.

“She rushed down to the hotel and met him in a pool of blood. The workers claimed they didn’t know when it happened. They said they only saw three people going into his office and the same set of people driving out in his car. They said they also saw those people with the CCTV decoder and when they queried them, they said, ‘Oga asked us to go and repair it’.

“Aside from the CCTV and the car, those men also left with his money and other valuables. We don’t really know the motivation for the murder.”

Paul said the family reported the case to the police at the Madalla division, adding that some of the workers on duty at the time had been arrested. He urged the police to speed up investigations and bring the perpetrators of the crime to book.

A source said the father of five struggled with his assailants before he was overpowered and killed.

He said, “The man was a retired PHCN worker. He was killed on Friday night. On Saturday morning, a man cleaning the hotel saw a pool of blood coming out of his office and raised the alarm. At the scene, there was a knife with which he was killed. There were also signs of struggle as the office table was broken. He had a deep knife cut in his palm, probably while he was holding the knife from piercing into him. They drove away his grey colour Peugeot 406 saloon car, with number plate KUJ-424 BB. They also made away with a file containing some information about the hotel.”

It was gathered that the case had already been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Minna. A source said the fleeing hotel guards were the prime suspects.

“One of them is already in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. How can something happen on Friday and in less than 24 hours, you have already disappeared to Port Harcourt if not that you are culpable?”

The Police Public Relations Officer, Niger State Police Command, Elkana Bala, said the police were closing in on the suspects, saying police findings showed that Lucky was killed by his workers.