Boko Haram: US Security Chief commends military

The United State Director of Defence Intelligence Agency, Lt Gen Vincent Stewart, has commended the resilience of the Nigerian Armed Forces for defeating Boko Haram and chasing them out of their once safe haven, Sambisa forest.

Lt Gen Stewart made the remark when he visited the Nigeria Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja.

The US Director of Defence Intelligence Agency stated that he was in Nigeria to meet with the top echelon of the Nigeria Armed Forces with a view to collaborating in the areas of security and to pledge more support for the military in order to engender total stoppage of Boko Haram from operating in Nigeria territory and denying them future freedom of operation.

In his response, the CDS, General Gabriel Abayomi Olonisakin appreciated the cordial working relationship between the US and Nigeria, especially in military cooperation.

He thanked the United States for all the supports the Nigerian Military has enjoyed from them, saying the gesture has contributed immensely to the success recorded against insurgency.

General Olonisakin used the occasion to intimate the visiting US senior military officer that the Nigerian Armed Forces always uphold the tenet of human right and dignity in its operations.

He told the US Security Chief that presently, Nigerian Armed Forces has established Human Rights Desks in all its units and formations to safeguard human rights of Individual including the belligerents.

Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Monday, 23 January, 2017 arraigned Akintunde Vincent Abiodun before Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye of Lagos State High court Ikeja on amended charge bordering on forgery and obtaining money by false pretence.

The 37-year-old HND holder from Federal Polytechnic Auchi, Edo State, is said to have defrauded the victim, D. Bonnici of $267,000 (Two Hundred and Sixty Seven Thousand New Zealand Dollars by claiming to be Christopher Williams from United Kingdom.

According to the complainant, she met Akintunde in a dating site on the internet and allegedly fell in love with him. She said the accused started collecting money from her after he claimed he was in possession of gemstone worth $18,050,000 (Eighteen Million and Fifty Thousand United States Dollars), which he purportedly inherited from his father.

She further said, Akintunde hoodwinked her into believing that he was coming to New Zealand to settle down with her.

She alleged that the money she sent to the suspect was received in Malaysia and Nigeria by persons bearing Norisha, Jalan Klan, and Mohammed Haizam Bin Fauzin.  All of them claimed to be friends of Akintunde.

When the 14 charges were read to the defendant, he pleaded not guilty.

In view of the plea, the prosecuting counsel, Sesan Ola prayed the court to remand the defendant in prison custody and also for a trial date to be given.

Counsel to the defendant, O.P. Daramola however prayed the court to grant the defendant bail.

But the prosecution opposed the bail application on the grounds that the defendant had attempted to travel to the United States while on administrative bail and was similarly denied a Canadian visa

Justice Ipaye consequently dismissed the bail application while ordering the defendant be remanded in Kirikiri prison custody.

The matter was adjourned to 7 and 8 March, 2017 for trial.