Anti-Corruption Fight - Abuja Court Sentences 21 Year Old Bus Conductor To 18 Months In Prison For Stealing Handset!

In what could be termed 'operation uproot corruption from the grass-root', an Abuja court on Tuesday August 25th, sentenced a 21 year old bus conductor to 18 months in prison for stealing a Nokia phone worth =N=11,000. 

The accused identified as Shedrach Ezekiel from Mararaba, stole the phone from the bag of one Luka Ruth at Brother Plaza, Mararaba; on getting caught, he threw the phone to his accomplice, now at large. 

Ezekiel, who was first arraigned on August 14, told the court that he committed the offence due to unemployment.  “I don’t have anybody here, I came to this town to look for job but it has not been easy for me.” he said. 

On his part, the presiding Judge, Albert Maga, said the accused failed to give the Court tangible reason(s) on why he should not be punished for the offence, adding that the sentence would serve as deterrent to other offenders of like  (criminal) minds.

Maga however gave the convict an option of =N=4, 000 fine and ordered him to pay the complainant =N=11, 000 being compensation for the stolen phone.

The Judge's reason "the sentence would serve as deterrent to other offenders of like minds", is highly commendable, and is needed if Nigeria means to combat and bring corruption to its lowest minimum. 

However, without a formal structure that provides lasting solution (like youth empowerment and positive engagement through employments, and job creation), to societal problems like this case in place, sentencing delinquents, is not  just enough to curb corruption. 

Also coming at the heels of corruption allegations up to the tune of billions of $$$ brought against some ex- top government officials, and the 'pace' taken so far to bring these accused persons to book, one can not help but wonder who the much talked about 'anti-corruption fight', is in reality aimed at. 

There is need to apply same speed employed in charging this young man, who stole a handset, due to unemployment, (cause by corruption in the corridors of power) to the cases of ex-top government officials who as we speak ignore summons, and refuse to respond to allegations brought against them. 

Bus Crash Into Building In New York!

No fewer than six people, (five people on board the vehicle and one person inside the building), were injured after a Resorts World Casino charter bus lost control and crashed into a corner of a property near Rego Park in the Queens area -New York. 

Amnesty International Faults Saudi Arabia's Justice System!

According to Amnesty International, hundreds of people have been condemned to death after being convicted in unfair trials under what has been described as 'Saudi Arabia’s deeply flawed judicial system'.

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In a journal published on Tuesday, 25th August, Amnesty International revealed that "Saudi Arabia's faulty justice system facilitates judicial executions on a mass scale". 

Below is AI's breakdown of Killings Carried Out Under The Directives Of Saudi's Justice System:

• Death sentences imposed after unfair trials lacking basic safeguards

• At least 102 executed in first six months of 2015 compared to 90 in all of 2014

• Average of one person executed every two days, most by beheading

• Almost half of executions in recent years are for non-lethal crimes

• At least 2,208 people executed between January 1985 and June 2015

• Nearly half of those executed since 1985 were foreign nationals

• Juvenile offenders, people with mental disabilities among those executed

U.N Boss Visits Nigeria!

United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at about 4.15 p.m, Sunday August 23rd, for a two-day visit. 

Chief among his visitation agenda is to discuss issues that bothers the nation  with President Muhammadu Buhari, chief among them being combating Islamist Insurgency violence.  

This came in the wake of suspected Boko Haram ambush on a convoy carrying the newly-appointed chief of army staff Maj. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai on Saturday.


With the 4th memorial only a few days away, Ban Ki-moon honoured victims of the Friday, 26th August, 2011 terror attack which the Boko-Haram sect claimed responsibility, on United Nations office in Abuja.

The U.N Chief also visited and held talks with children at Garki Junior Secondary School Abuja.

Bishop David Oyedepo Celebrates 33 years Of Marital Bliss With Wife!

The founder and presiding Bishop of Living Faith Church World Wide, aka Winners' Chapel, and Chancellor of Covenant University in Ota - Ogun state, Nigeria, Bishop David Oyedepo celebrates 33 years of marital bliss with wife....

His tweet below:

"33 years of God's abundant blessings.

Happy Wedding Anniversary to my lovely Wife".

Here's wishing you many more beautiful years together.

Police I.G Enjoins Nigerians & Medical Practitioners To Assist Persons With Gun Shot Injuries!

Worried about incessant neglects of armed robbery and  accident victims by members of the public, and consequent premature death of these victims as a result of sustained injuries, out of fear of being implicated by the Police, a situation obtained in most cases, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Solomon E. Arase, has enjoined members of the public, including medical personnel to attend to persons with gunshot injuries and accident victims, thereafter inform the Police for necessary actions.

In a statement released by the Force's Public Relations Officer, CP Emmanuel Ojukwu, in Abuja, the nation's capital, Friday August 21st, the Police High Command directed its Officers, to desist from harassing Nigerians who play the 'Good Samaritan' in this regard, instead try to get accurate accounts of what happened from them.

Doctors on Duty are not left behind, as they are equally duty bound to treat victims of gunshot wounds and further inform the Police of relevant facts. 

"The safety of Nigerians is a collaborative effort of all and sundry. Police therefore, enjoin citizens not to relent in their cooperative attitude in ensuring safety of all. While they are also to report any suspicious person or persons to the nearest Police Station". The I.G stated. 

Nigerians Called Upon To Support Fight Against Corruption!

Despite pressure on Nigeria's newly elected President, Mohammadu Buhari, to discontinue on some recent moves made against fighting corruption in the country, to instead concentrate on developmental projects by, some sect. 

An ex Nigerian Bar Association NBA Chairman, Ikeja chapter, Lagos State, Barrister Monday Ubani, while speaking to newsmen on Friday, 21st August, appealed to Nigerians to throw their weight behind President Buhari’s declaration to continue in the fight against corruption.