Metro
Abia Security Trust Fund Visits LSSTF to Understudy Activities
A delegate of the Abia State Security Trust Fund (ASSTF) led by the Executive Secretary, Barr. (Mrs.) Cleo Nkolika Ubani, has paid a working visit to the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) in a bid to exchange ideas and draw more inspiration for a profitable venture, the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP) learnt.
It would be recalled that LSSTF is the pioneer security trust fund in the nation, having been established in 2007.
The team, it was further disclosed, was on the visit to understudy the activities of its Lagos State counterparts.
A major highlight of the visit was a training session where both Trust Funds gave brief histories and reasons for the establishment of their Security Trust Funds.
The LSSTF took ASSTF through the rudiments and roles of the secretariat and the Board of Trustees as well as the various kinds of security interventions embarked upon by the Fund, and its impact on general security in the State, which has made it the safest state in Nigeria.
In his address, the Executive Secretary/CEO of LSSTF, Dr. Abdurrazaq Balogun, emphasized the Fund’s strongest feature, which is embedded in the acronym, PART (Prudent, Accountability, Resourcefulness and Trust), in addition to maintenance, which is why its assets remain functional for upwards of 12 years.
“Here in LSSTF, we deliberately maintain a lean workforce to ensure that the majority of resources raised are directed towards providing support to security agencies operating in the State, and so we advise that you take that into consideration,” Balogun said.
Dr. Balogun also pointed out areas of the ASSTF amended laws that may be detrimental to their operations while stating that the success of any Fund can be attributed to the high caliber of individuals appointed by Mr. Governor as members of the Board of Trustees.
“These individuals are not only influential but accomplished in their various endeavours, and view their roles as an opportunity to give back to the State. They leverage on their positions and industry connections to reach out to colleagues and partners for contributions to sustain the activities of the STF,” he said.
The host STF took their guests on a tour of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) where the Permanent Secretary of the Agency, Dr. Oluwafemi Damilola Oke-Osanyitolu showed them round the Command and Control Centre towards having a firsthand experience of the various units of the agency, their functions and impact of their activities in the State.
The Abia delegates were also visited EPAIL (Equipment and Protective Applications International Limited) a security manufacturing company on a tour of its facility and its operations.
In their separate responses, members of the Board of the Trustee of the ASSTF, commended the Fund for its efforts thus far in facilitating safety and security in Lagos State. They noted that they are also stakeholders and beneficiaries of improved security as they have their businesses in Lagos. They promised to replicate the LSSTF model in Abia.
In her remarks, the ES of ASSTF, Barr. (Mrs.) Ubani thanked the Dr. Balogun for the warm reception and the ‘Lagos hospitality’.
“The training sessions and visitations were indeed insightful and informative. Even as we return to Abia, I will continue to reach out the LSSTF for support from time to time and look forward to receiving LSSTF on its follow-up working visit to Abia State,” she concluded.
Other members of the delegate were three members of the Board of Trustees of the ASSTF – Mr. Johnson Chukwu, MD – Cowry Asset Management Limited; Mrs. Ngozi Ekeoma, MD – Nepal Group; and Mrs. Nkechi Obi, MD – Techno Oil.
Others were Bar. Eke Okezie, Bar. Linda Phillip Onuoha and Mr Hope Nwaogwugwu.
An unconfirmed number of children have reportedly lost their lives in a stampede that occurred during a children’s carnival in Ibadan, the state capital, on Wednesday.
It was gathered that over 30 children lost their lives, with many others injured during the incident.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, confirmed that the stampede occurred at a private children’s funfair at Basorun Islamic High School after which the government swiftly mobilised a rapid response team.
The commissioner noted that victims had been swiftly transported to various hospitals within the Ibadan metropolis for medical attention.
While appreciating the Commissioner for Health, Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, for immediately activating all available response teams to assist at the scene, Oyelade said, “The state government will do all it can to support the victims of this tragic incident during this difficult period.
“The government was not involved in any planning, nor was the Ministry of Health asked to provide logistics for the private children’s end-of-year funfair.”
Oyelade, however, emphasised the importance of proper coordination when organising events of such magnitude, particularly those involving children and the elderly.
The commissioner indicated that they were awaiting a detailed report from the Commissioner of Police to clarify the total number of victims involved in this unfortunate incident.
“Parents who are concerned about the whereabouts of their children are urged to check the following medical facilities in Ibadan, where affected children have been taken for proper medical care, with valid means of identification:Patnas Hospital, Basorun; Western Hospital, Basorun; Ringroad State Hospital; Molly Specialist Hospital; and the University College Hospital, Ibadan.”
He extended the government’s deepest sympathies to the families affected by this tragedy, urging the public to remain calm as relevant information is gathered and necessary support arranged for the victims.
A businessman, Kehinde Balogun, has told a Mapo Grade A Customary Court in Ibadan to put an end to his 14-year-old marriage with his estranged wife Stella, on the grounds of adultery.
Balogun, a father of three, said with regrets that if he had known that Stella would bring him such an embarrassment, he would not have exchanged marital vows with her.
“My lord, I became completely frustrated when I found out that Stella was having extra-marital affairs with my plumber and I made her realise this.
“Then, she decided to move out of my house, packing my belongings with her and abandoning our three children,” Balogun said.
During cross examination, the petitioner said his wife did not catch him on their matrimonial bed with any woman.
He also denied sending her photographs to anybody.
However, Stella denied any wrong doing, stating that one of her friends had told lies against her.
“That friend of mine had told Balogun that I’ve been sleeping around and he consequently began to react to me negatively.
“He turned me into a punching bag and stopped sleeping in the house.
“Later on, Balogun started sending my photographs to his woman-friend.
“My lord, he has remarried with my three children in his care and they are not properly catered for,” Stella told the court.
Delivering judgment, the court’s President, Mrs. S.M. Akintayo, pronounced the marriage dissolved on the ground that both Balogun and Stella were no longer willing to continue with the union.
Akintayo granted an order restraining Stella from harassing, disturbing, threatening and interfering with Balogun’s private life henceforth.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has carried out its largest single-day operation against cryptocurrency and romance scam networks, arresting 792 suspects in Lagos.
The EFCC Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwujaren, disclosed during a press briefing that the operation, conducted at a seven-storey building known as the Big Leaf Building at No. 7, Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, led to the apprehension of 193 foreign nationals, including 148 Chinese, 40 Filipinos, two individuals from Kharzartan, one Pakistani, and one Indonesian.
He said the raid followed months of surveillance and intelligence gathering on the syndicate’s activities.
Uwujaren described the building as designed to mimic a corporate financial headquarters, was allegedly used to train Nigerian recruits in romance and investment scams.
The official said the investigators found the building equipped with high-end desktop computers, and over 500 SIM cards were recovered from just one floor.
He stated that the syndicate reportedly recruited Nigerian youths with advanced computer skills, training them for two weeks on impersonation techniques to target victims in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe.
Uwujaren explained that the recruits created fake online profiles to lure victims through platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Telegram. Once trust was established, victims were directed to a fraudulent investment platform, ‘www.yooto.com’, where activation fees started at $35.
He revealed that the Nigerian recruits were unaware of the full scope of the operation.
“They worked under the supervision of foreign syndicate members and were paid either in cash or through personal accounts without formal employment contracts.
He noted that after securing victims, the recruits were cut off from the operation while the foreign kingpins completed the scams.
The director pointed out that the recovered items included desktop computers, mobile phones, laptops, and vehicles.
He revealed that the EFCC has obtained statements from the suspects and screened their devices, noting that all suspects are being detained under a valid remand warrant, with plans to arraign them in court soon.
Uwujaren highlighted the international nature of the crime, stressing the role of foreign nationals in exploiting Nigeria’s reputation and contributing to global fraud.
“This operation shows that the notion that Nigerians are solely behind these frauds is incorrect. Foreigners are leveraging our unfortunate reputation to establish criminal enterprises,” he said.
“The EFCC is collaborating with foreign partners to ensure that the arrested individuals face justice.
“There will be no hiding places for criminals in Nigeria,” he added.
