Two internet romance scammers arrested!

According to a press release by The Police Special Fraud Unit (SFU), the Unit has arrested some members of internet fraud syndicate that specialized in defrauding unsuspecting wealthy foreign women who are in dire need of husbands.


The Press Release reads: 
POLICE SPECIAL FRAUD UNIT ARREST TWO INTERNET ROMANCE SCAMMERS. Suspects:

 i. Yunusa Okonkwo and
 ii. Henry Chinedu Ogu.

A petition which was received via the Unit’s e-mail from one of such victims, a US citizen resident in New Jersey alleged that sometime in April 2013, she met the 2nd suspect Henry Chinedu Ogu on a dating site and both started a relationship which lasted for months until the suspect manipulated and made her to believe that he was in trouble in Nigeria and needed some financial assistance. She further stated that she sent the sum of $350,000.00 US Dollar to the two account numbers provided by the suspect. The account numbers were Sky Bank Account Number 36204796 and Ecobank account No. 04087350 belonging to Faneece Business Services International.

Police investigation showed that the account holder is one Yunusa Okonkwo of No. A1 Giwa Road, U/Muazu Kaduna where he was subsequently arrested. His arrest led to the arrest of the principal suspect, Henry Chinedu Ogu.

Yunusa Okonkwo a 42year old from Amuri Nkanu West LGA of Enugu State, is a patent medicine dealer that runs a Bureau De Change. He confessed that he is the account holder of Faneece Business Services International and admitted that he provided his two bank accounts for the illicit transactions. He also stated that the 2nd suspect. Henry provided him with his account number where he transferred the money after converting it to Naira. The account detail is Diamond Bank account No. 0021206871 with account name Raydeus Synergy Nigeria Limited. He also added that he always deduct his commission of N2.00 per Dollar before paying in the money.

Henry Chinedu Ogu is 29years old from Amafor – Ishingwa Umuahia, Abia State. He claimed to be one of the Directors of a company called Raydeus Synergy Nigeria Limited. He confessed to the alleged crime that he sent the account details of the 1st suspect to the victim who in turn paid the sum of $295,000.00 Dollars into the account which the 1st suspect Yunusa converted to Naira before paying into his Diamond Bank. He corroborated the Complainant’s statement that they met on a dating site last year January 2013 and started communicating and exchanging e-mails. He also confessed that he deceived the victim into believing that he wanted to marry her but was stranded in Nigeria and needed financial assistance. He further admitted that he had spent all the money, that he used N9million to purchase a heavy duty generating plant which Police had recovered. Also he purchased a plot of land for N800,000.00 along Lagos – Ibadan Expressway. The cash sum of N2million was also recovered from him.

Investigation is on-going. Effort is being intensified towards the recovery of the remaining monies fraudulently obtained from the Complainant or the proceeds thereof.

Suspects will be charged to Court to serve as a deterrent to others.

Chibok missing girls, Nigerian women take to the streets!

For over two weeks since gunmen raided a school in Chibok, Borno state in northeastern Nigeria and kidnapped more than 200 teenage girls from their dormitories; 


howbeit, the Authorities appears not to be doing much on the situation as affected/ aggrieved parents, individuals and groups took to the streets in a peaceful march against the uncomfortable silence from the Authorities on the issue.  

Hundreds of people, women  dressed in red marched  to the National Assembly in Abuja on Wednesday to demand answers and "concrete and visible" action from the federal government.

An organizer of the march and former government minister, Oby Ezekwesili told news men:


"We note that efforts may be going on, but what the women have come out today to say is that we want swift effort that has results.  And the only results that we know is a swift search and rescue operation and we want to see our daughters come back alive," said Ezekwesili.

Adieu Amaka!

 One of Nigeria's foremost film producers, writer, director and a leading player in Nigeria's entertainment industry Amaka Igwe is dead.



Information revealed that she died on Monday night in Enugu (Eastern Nigeria) where she had gone, in company of her producer/marketer husband, Charles Igwe for pre-production preparations of a new Igbo soap. 

It was gathered that she suffered an asthma attack and was immediately rushed to the hospital after initial interventions had failed; She passed on before getting to the hospital.

Confirming the death to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Tuesday in Abuja, Mr. Agility Onwurah, Chairman, Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Abuja Chapter, said Amaka’s demise was a big blow to the Nollywood industry.
“Amaka had gone to Enugu in company of her husband for pre-production of a new Igbo soap when the sad incident occurred.

“She suffered an asthma attack and was immediately rushed to a hospital, but died before getting there.
“Amaka is survived by her husband of 21 years, Charles Igwe, three children, and an aged mother," the statement said.

Born Amaka Isaac-Ene, the deceased was an accomplished writer, producer, director, entrepreneur and teacher. She founded the BoB TV Expo, and was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Top Radio 90.9 FM, Amaka Igwe Studios, and the newly-launched Q Entertainment Networks.

Amaka hit national limelight as the writer and producer of the award-winning TV soap, “Checkmate” and the spin-off “Fuji House of Commotion”.

Her Nollywood projects included Rattle Snake and Violated, two critically acclaimed movies that set Amaka Igwe Studios apart in the much-criticised Nollywood industry.

Adieu Amaka, you indeed set the pace for excellence in Nollywood -Roving Informant.

Thousands languishing in Japan children's homes- Human rights group!

According to a Rights group, a shocking revelation alleged that bout 90 percent of children taken from their families in Japan end up in institutions rather than foster care.

It was gathered that just 12 percent of children who have been removed from their natural parents are placed with foster families, leaving tens of thousands of other youngsters to languish in understaffed children's homes, Human Rights Watch said.

Roving Informant hereby adds her voice in the call on International Child Right Agencies to further investigate this allegation, and intervene  accordingly for the sake of the future of these children.

Viacom buys off Channel 5 for 450 million pounds!

Confirmed reports has it that a U.S. media company Viacom Inc VIAB.O said it will buy British free-to-air TV broadcaster Channel 5 from media baron Richard Desmond for 450 million pounds to expand in the United Kingdom.

Viacom, which owns cable networks such as MTV, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central, said the channel would look to introduce more UK-created content to global audiences.

Channel 5, which broadcasts "Big Brother," was bought by Desmond's Northern & Shell media group in 2010 for 103.5 million pounds.

The sales reportedly drew interest from more than 20 potential buyers, including Viacom, Discovery Communications DISCA.O, Scripps Networks SNI.N and British Sky Broadcasting Group BSY.L.

Boko Haram, the Nigerian government and the agony of the Kanuris!

The Kanuris, under the platform of Borno, Yobe Peoples Forum, recently addressed the media and lamented the situation in the Kingdom of El-Kanemi and what they are experiencing under the current climate of Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East geopolitical zone. They alleged that the Nigerian Presidency – the imperial Presidency- the czar, is not addressing, enough, the suffering and misery of the Kanuris.

The spokesman of that platform was Air Marshall (rtd.) Al Amin Daggash. Present at the conference were Alhaji Shettima Mustapha and Alhaji Baba Gana Kingigbe. Also present was Alhaji Adamu Ciroma who is from the Bolewa tribe.
If you love your roots and you grow up in a friendly neighbourhood, nothing could be more painful and sad than to hear or read about how your people are being displaced by a senseless war, which is not of their own making.
Martin Luther wrote that “War is the greatest plague that can afflict humanity; it destroys religion, it destroys states, it destroys families. Any scourge is preferable to it ”while Pope John Paul II pleaded that” War should belong to the tragic past, in history. It should find no place on humanity’s agenda for the future”.
Although these gentlemen are largely based in Abuja, I am sure they have a way of knowing what is happening presently to their brothers and sisters in the El-Kanemi kingdom. Never have the Kanuris experienced the kind of agony they are going through now. We can’t dismiss the claim of these gentlemen as frivolous. They should know where the shoe pinches. For all their years in public service, they are not known for frivolity, flippancy or volatility.
Definitely something frightful and horrific is taking place in the El-Kanemi Kingdom right now.
These men are not ordinary Nigerians. Alhaji Baba Gana Kingibe spent his entire life in the public service and crowned it with his appointment as Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Alhaji Mustapha Shettima was a former Minister of Defence.
Alhaji Adamu Ciroma has spent more than 50 years serving Nigeria, from the editorship of New Nigeria, Governor of the Central Bank, First secretary of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN), Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Finance.
As for the Daggash family, their service to the El-Kanemi Kingdom and the nation has been striking and remarkable. The patriarch of the family, Alhaji Musa Daggash, a former Forester had his education at Oxford University in England between 1950-1951, University of Manchester, England, 1960-1961. He joined the Department of Forestry, 1958-1959 and was permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Mines and Power, permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Transport, permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Defence. He retired in 1969, and was later Chairman, Defence Industries Corporation, General Manager, Chad Basin Development Authority, member, Constituent Assembly, 1977-1978, commissioner, Local Government Service Board, Borno State, 1978.
For his distinguished service to his country, he was conferred with the national honour, Officer of the Federal Republic.
Throughout his career in the public service he was a detribalised Nigerian and untill he died, his best friend was Chief Matthew Amusan Tiamiyu,the Apena of Iperu in Ogun state. His late wife, Hajia Aishatu Laraba Daggash (1934-2010), was matron of school of Nursing in Kaduna. During the era of Chief Earnest Shonekan, she was the Minister of State in the ministry of health. Her son, Senator Muhammed Sanusi Daggash, was Minister of state for Housing and also served as Minister of National Planning. As for Air Marshal Daggash, the eldest of the Daggash family now, he joined the Air force at an early age for service and throughout his career in the Air Force, he was acknowledged as a brilliant officer.

Air Marshal Al-Amin Daggash retired as Chief of Defence staff in 1999. In the Government gazette 179 volume 85 of December 1998, he was given a GCON along with Lt. Gen. Bamaiyi, Vice- Admiral J.O. Ayinla, the chief Naval Staff, Air Marshal N.E. Eduok, Chief of Air Staff, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomasie, former Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Gidado Idris, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Gambo Jimeta, Admiral Augustus Aikhomu, former Vice-President, Rear-Admiral A.A. Madueke, Mr. Allison Ayida, Chief Olu Falae, late Dr. Nwafor Orizu, amongst others.

As far as I’m concerned, those who spoke to the media on behalf of the Kanuri’s are highly responsible. The Kanuris are never short of great leaders. These include Sir Kashim Ibrahim (1910-1990) the first Nigerian Governor of Northern region, Engr. Bunu Sheriff, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, former Governor of Borno state, late Alhaji Kam Salem,former inspector general of police, Zanna Bukar Suloma Dipcharima, former minister of transport in the first Republic, Waziri Ibrahim, Shettima Alli Munguno, Major General (rtd.) Abba Kyari , Alhaji Abba Habeeb, Alhaji Muhaamed Goni, late Brig. Zakariya Maimalari, late Col. Kur Mohammed, late Lt. Col. Abogo Largema, Hajiya Ammuna Ali, Alhaji Goni Aji, present Head of Service of the Federation, Dr. Baba-kura Kaigama, Dr. Buka Shaib, Prof. Nuhu Alkali, Ibrahim Iman and the former Military Ruler, General Sanni Abacha, among others. Even in Niger Republic, the former Prime Minister of that country Mamane Oumarou and the former President of Niger, Tandja Mamadou are both Kanuris.

The Kanuri people are an African ethnic group living largely in the lands of the former El- Kanemi and Bornu empires –  Borno and Yobe states in northeast Nigeria, southeast Niger Republic, western Chad and northern Cameroon. Some of them also live in Libya and Sudan and they are predominantly Sunni Muslims.
The Kanuris became Muslims in the 11^th century. The El-Kanemi Empire became a centre of Muslim learning and the Kanuri soon controlled all the area surrounding Lake Chad and the powerful empire reached its height in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries when they ruled much of Middle Africa. The Bolewa tribe, where the Ciromas come from in Yobe state are part of the old El-Kanemi Empire so also is the Shuwa tribe where late Major General Mohammed Shuwa came from.
During the scramble for Africa in the 19^th century, the Kanuris were divided under the rule of the British, French and German African empires.
The Shehu of Borno still maintains a ceremonial rule of the Kanuri people, based in Maiduguri, Borno state, Nigeria, but acknowledged by the five million Kanuris in neighbouring countries. The Shehu (“Sheikh”) of Borno draws his authority from a state founded before 1000 CE, the Kanem-Borno Empire. The current ruling line, the Al-Kanemi dynasty, dates back to the accession of Muhammed Al-Amin Al-Kanemi in the early 19^th century, displacing the Sayfawa dynasty which had ruled around 1300CE. The 19^th Shehu of Borno, Mustapha Umar El-Kanemi, died in February 2009 and was succeeded by the present Shehu, Alhaji Kyari Garbai.

Today the Kanuris are in bad shape and the El-Kanemi Kingdom is almost in ruins, ravaged by the Boko Haram war. Even Lake Chad, which the Kanuris regard as their best gift from God is drying up fast. The best among the Kanuris are now taking refuge elsewhere, some holed up in their homes in Abuja, sneaking out in the night with body guards, very much unsure of what will happen to them and living in perpetual fear.
Worse still, the economy of the El-kanemi Kingdom is in ruins. The economy has been rewinded by over 50years.

For those who have once lived in Maiduguri and Damaturu and for those of us who have visited those two cities, we feel today the pain of the Kanuris. Imagine places like Bunguda, Yusufari, Kurawa,Tarmua, Gujba, Jere, Mafa,Kaga, Biu, Damboa, Bama, Dikwa and other towns are no longer safe either for visit or work.

Today there are more tears than joy in the El-kanemi Kingdom. It’s sad, very sad indeed.
But in spite of the gloomy situation, I believe the Kanuris and the El-kanemi Kingdom will rise again. The Kanuris are brave warriors, very proud people. They have never been conquered before. Even the conquering Fulanis never subdued the Kanuris.

The Boko Haram war can never last forever. No war has ever lasted forever. Never. Something tells me the Kanuris will regain their lost glory very soon.

Written by Eric Teniola

Resurrection concert at the Rock cathedral - Lagos!

It was was a fun filled time at the Resurrection service today the the Rock Cathedral Lagos as parishioners and guests were treated to a mind blowing musical entertainment



 from the Don Moen, 



the Lagos orchestra and 



...the Lagos Metropolitan Choir