Police arrest man who has been impersonating soldier for over four years

military uniforms, Walkie-Talkie radios

*10 military uniforms recovered from him

Samuel Johnson was arrested on September 17, 2012, proudly decked out in full military uniform.

When his home was searched, three police Walkie-Talkie radios, 10 pairs of military uniforms, four pairs of military boots and six military belts.

The wannabe soldier had been parading himself as a serving member of the Nigerian Army, Ojo Cantonment.

Preliminary investigations by police detectives revealed that the suspect was not a serving soldier, as believed by his neighbours and some of his friends.

Singing like a bird after he realized he was in a deep jam, Johnson confessed that he bought the military uniform from a serving soldier, attached to the Nigerian Army Intelligence, Ojo barrack.

He further confessed that he had been pretending to be a serving soldier for over four years.

NDLEA teams up with Austria to assess drug control strategies in Nigeria

A team of the International Narcotic Control Board (INCB) from Vienna, Austria is meeting with officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Lagos to assess drug control strategies in the country.

NDLEA Chairman, Mr. Ahmadu Giade, while receiving the INCB delegation headed by Dr Galina Korchagina, Vice President of the Board stated that the visit will strengthen the good working relationship between both Agencies.

Dr Galina said that “INCB ensues that adequate drug supplies are available for medical and scientific uses and that leakages from licit sources to illicit traffic do not occur. Nigeria is a crucial country in drug control in the West Africa sub-region and INCB is willing to collaborate with your country in drug control”.

According to Giade, “the visit provides an interactive forum for INCB and NDLEA to appraise Nigeria's position in the control of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. This covers Nigeria’s efforts in the regulation of precursors, suppression of demand for drugs as well as progress recorded in the areas of supply reduction, research, treatment and rehabilitation”.

Areas of mutual interest include the country’s efforts at strengthening or updating legislation and policy on drug control, administrative and institutional framework, compliance with treaty-based reporting and other drug preventive efforts. The NDLEA boss added that Nigeria has recorded steady and commendable progress in drug control over the years, and is working hard to sustain or even surpass its record.

The delegation is expected to visit some of the NDLEA’s formation to have first-hand information in assessing the country’s current position. It will also visit National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) that regulates licit drug supplies. The last time an INCB Delegation visited the country on a similar mission was in 1997.

Osokogu: Oxpharm management dissociates self from murder of businessman, Cynthia

CP, Lagos, Umar Manko

Fresh controversy appears to be churning up following police claim over a businessman who was killed by kidnappers in Lagos State recently.

The management of Oxpharm specialties LTD has vehemently denied that Mr. Oddi Nweze, the businessman who was killed by kidnappers in Lagos was abducted in front of its Satellite branch outlet.

The Pharmacy Company’s insistence sharply contradicted the Lagos State Police Command assertion that the deceased was going there-pharmacy- to purchase some drugs for the child of his female companion when he was abducted.

In a press release made available to the Nigerian Compass by the Managing Director of the pharmacy stores, Mr. Ike Ugwu, explained that the incident happened not too far from the pharmacy.

Ugwu kicked against police statement that it happened in front of their company, stressing that their pharmacy is situated in old Ojo Road by Ijegun Road junction, Satellite Town.

"The unfortunate victim of the incident did not enter nor bought any item from our pharmacy on that fateful day prior to the incident,” states Ugwu. “It is pertinent to state that there are numerous other businesses in and around the popular junction where the incident took place. Our staff heard sporadic gunshots at about 9pm as they were about closing for the day. They ran out to see a jeep, which ran into a ditch in front of the next building, which is between our pharmacy and Oando filling station. They like other passersby and witnesses raised the alarm on seeing that the driver of the jeep had been shot inside the vehicle. After that, they immediately closed shop for the day."

He further stated that since the incident took place, none of his staff or customers had been called for questioning and no policeman had invited or asked them about the incident.

Ugwu added: "It is therefore preposterous and unthinkable for anybody to associate our reputable pharmacy with this dastardly act. We state unequivocally that the unfortunate victim did not enter, attempt to enter to buy any item from our pharmacy immediately or prior to the incident!”

On Cynthia Osokogu's issue, Ugwu said, "the inference to the pathetic and unfortunate case of Cynthia and the attempt to rope our pharmacists in a murder case they know nothing about and did not participate in has been left to the law court to judge.

"In as much as we condemn it in its entirety, criminal acts of any sort, we are forced to state that the reference to our pharmacy is a deliberate attempt to tarnish our image and reputation built over the years by associating us with crime we know nothing about.

"While we commend the police for stating that they already have some suspects in their custody, we will not hesitate to call for caution on the issue of peddling names of reputable companies like ours unnecessarily in such a criminal matter.”

The Area commander in charge of Area 'E' command FESTAC, where the case is currently being investigated, Mr. Dan Okoro, was quoted as saying that the police was focusing their searchlight on Oxpharm, because the police could not comprehend the coincidence in the kidnap of the deceased in front of their outlet in Satellite Town.

Okoro mused: "It's an issue that I cannot just place. First it was in their store that the drug that was used on Cynthia was purchased in FESTAC and now Mr. Nweze was abducted in front of their branch at Satellite town. It’s in focus, we are thinking about that. Why must it be Oxpharm again?”

JFT kills two Boko Haram members, injures 10

A raid of the Boko Haram sect’s hideout by the joint operation of the Military, Police and State Security Services on Sunday in Kaduna State, yielded fruits, as two of the sect members were said to have been killed, while 10 were injured.

The raid which was said to have been meticulously planned was carried out at about 2am.

But before the task force struck, they stealthily evacuated those living around the sect’s base.

When the sect members knew the JTF were upon them, they opened fire.

There was a protracted gun battle, leading to the escape of the leader of the camp. The man, identified as Hussaini, fled, leaving his wife behind.

Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State, Mr. Adefemi Adenaike, confirmed the incident, adding that the situation was under control.

Juliana Francis’s opinion….we hear of killings everyday of Boko Haram members…we hear of arrest everyday…on the pages of news paper…but we’ve not seen nor heard of a trial and conviction…who is kidding who here?

IG now Doctor of Letters

Abubakar

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, on Saturday was awarded the Honorary Degree of Doctor (Honoraries Causa) of Letters by the University of Ilorin, Kwara State.

Abubakar, who had once served in the state, as a commissioner of police, was apparently bestowed the honour due to his discipline and performance, when he was the Police Commissioner in the state.

As he receives the degree amidst thunderous clapping, Abubakar was urged intensify his war campaign against corruption in the Nigeria Police Force.

He was also implored not to spare anybody found guilty of corruption in the NPF, no matter the persons rank or position.