When Teebillz shared his suicide note this morning on IG while pouring his heart out about the demise of his marriage to Tiwa Savage, many of us thought/hoped he was just talking, but he wasn't. Tunji 'Teebillz' Balogun tried to commit suicide this morning by jumping off the Lekki- Ikoyi toll bridge and this is fact!
According to an eye-witness named Chukwuma Ani, who witnessed the incident and was one of the men who pulled Teebillz off the bridge, he told LIB exclusively that around past 9 this morning while driving on the Lekki-Ikoyi toll bridge, a car hit his own from behind, damaging his car. He said he came out of the car and approached the driver of the vehicle that hit his. He didn't know who the man was (it was Teebillz) but he said he berated him for hitting his car and asked the man to come out and assess the damage caused to his car. The man looked at him and told him to leave...that he was there for a reason. That he was planning to commit suicide and Chukwuma Ani would hear about it later...
Not knowing who the guy was or understanding why he was talking suicide, Mr Ani said he kept insisting that the driver must come down from his car and see the damage he had caused to his car. He said he noticed alcohol on the floor of the driver's car so thought the man was drunk. He said while shouting and berating the driver for hitting his car, the guy just suddenly drove his car with speed to the front.
Ani said he got into his own car and gave chase and was surprised to see the driver of the car parking his car in the middle of the bridge as other cars drove past. He said he parked in front of the driver and approached the man again, telling him that he couldn't even apologize for hitting his car and was instead trying to drive off. He said as he was berating the man, he (Teebillz) got down from his car and walked to the bridge railing.
He said he stood there wondering what the driver was trying to do and it was at that point that two other cars approached them. He said as he was trying to figure out who the new comers were, Teebillz had moved to the bridge railing and was trying to jump. Mr. Ani said a light skinned guy came out from the first car and began running towards Teebillz screaming and that was when he realized what was going on..
"I thought I was watching a movie" Ani told LIB "the man held the railing and tried to jump over it and that was when the yellow man held him and started shouting for help. The two of them nearly fell into the water. I quickly joined the yellow man to pull the guy out and while we were struggling with him, one PSquare twin (Peter Okoye) and Banky W joined us to pull the man out " Ani said
LIB called Peter Okoye to confirm he was there but he refused to say anything "Even if I was there, I can't say anything about it" he said.
We hear Teebillz is doing okay now and is surrounded by family and friends. People need to take depression seriously in Nigeria - a lot of people are so depressed and struggling and don't usually have anywhere to turn to for help. Let's always lend a helping hand. Hope Teebillz gets better
ABUJA—President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered security chiefs to hunt down those who perpetrated the attack on Ukpabi Nimbo community in Uzo-Uwani local government area of Enugu State on Monday. President Buhari gave the order, yesterday, in an address delivered on his behalf by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, at the public presentation of a book, entitled “Who will Love My Country: Ideas for Building the Nigeria of our Dream”, written by Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, in Abuja. The President’s words: “Before making my remarks about the book, let me use this platform to condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the attack perpetrated on the Ukpabi Nimbo community in Uzo-Uwani area of Enugu State on Monday. I deeply sympathise with all those who lost dear ones, as well as those who lost their properties in the attack. President Buhari “I have directed the Chief of Defence Staff and the Inspector-General of Police to secure all communities under attacks by herdsmen, and to go after all the groups terrorizing innocent people all over the country. This government will not allow these attacks to continue,” he stated. Police corporal led attack, indigenes tell IGP The people of Nimbo in Uzo-Uwani Local Government yesterday told Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Solomon Arase, that policemen who were officially posted to protect them from the Fulani herdsmen disappeared shortly before the attackers arrived and killed over 20 people. Spokesperson of the community, Dr George Ajogwu, who made this known, told Arase that the Fulani attackers were led by a police corporal serving at Adani Police Station in the local government. President Buhari receives in audience Enugu State Governor H.E. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as he condoles with People of Enugu State in Statehouse on 27th April 2016 According to him, it was, however, the arrival of another police team from the Area Commander’s office that minimised the level of destruction as the new team challenged the attackers frontally. Ajogwu’s account of the incident was, however, disputed by the transition committee chairman of the local government, Cornell Onwubuya, who disrupted the speaker, leading to an uproar. However, Ajogwu, who insisted that he must be allowed to speak as he was a member of the community, said: “What happened was that the policemen posted to the community left, despite the fact that we pleaded with them to stay till those who would relieve them arrived. But they did not listen to us. “Immediately they moved out that morning, the Fulani herdsmen struck. If the policemen had listened to us, the incident would have been nipped in the bud. It was only the Area Commander’s men from Nsukka that responded. “I am from this community; what happened affected us. The situation is unbelievable. We cannot say exactly the number of people that died but the death toll is above 20. The Fulani herdsmen had been attacking us on regular basis. “Annually, we lose two or three people to the Fulani attackers. I am very happy that the IGP is here to witness what the Fulani herdsmen have done to us. On yearly basis, we bury people killed by Fulani herdsmen. “We do not go to the farms again. We have been crying to the police to help us. The Fulani herdsmen rape our wives in our farms. “Ralph Ojombo went to the farm when the corporal came with the same Alhaji that attacked our people earlier before now. The corporal is serving at Adani Police Station. The youth were there when he came with the Fulani herdsmen and started shooting at the young boys. What saved most of them was that they ran away. Some of the youths asked him whether he was part of the Fulani herdsmen; he ordered them to shut up their dirty mouths.” It’s pathetic — Arase Responding, the IGP, Solomon Arase said: “The incident is very depressing and pathetic. I am not happy about it. The death of one person diminishes humanity. I am concerned about the number of people that died. Even the death of one person means a lot to the entire country. That is why I decided to come and have an on-the-spot assessment of the situation. Most of the stories we have out there were at variance with what is on the ground. Thank God. “I have been discussing with Senator Chuka Utazi (who represents Enugu North and is from Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area) and the local government chairman (Cornell Onwubuya) even before the incident. We are looking for the panacea to the problem. “Now that I am here, I am able to see what has happened. We should be able to find solutions to the problems. I can assure Nigerians that no Nigerian who snuffed life out of a fellow Nigerian will got scot-free. We will make sure that we catch the perpetrators of the crime and prosecute them.” Commenting on the police corporal who allegedly led the Fulani attack, Arase said, “The police corporal that was mentioned as conniving with the herdsmen, I have ordered that he should be put in custody. The police have zero tolerance for any police officer that conspires with any criminal.” Also responding to the claims that more dead bodies were still in the bushes and farms, Arase directed the Enugu State Police Commissioner, Ekechukwu Nwodibo who was present to send the homicide squad from Enugu to join the search parties in a bid to recover all of them. He then promised that a police station would be built at Nkpunato Nkpologwu, near Nimbo to reduce crimes in the area. Death toll still unknown, says Sen. Utazi Earlier, Senator Utazi told the IGP that “the communities in Uzo- Uwani have suffered untold hardship for years in the hands of Fulani herdsmen,” adding that the herdsmen and their cattle destroyed farmlands and crops as well as “raped women and kidnapped people along Nsukka-Adani-Onitsha highway.” Utazi further said that the death toll of Monday’s attack was yet to be known as two corpses were recovered Tuesday following the stench oozing from them. He then appealed to the IGP to ensure thorough investigation into the matter as well as the prosecution of the offenders. The IGP later visited the palace of the traditional ruler of Nimbo, Igwe John Akor, who lamented the problems being encountered by the people of the area in the hands of Fulani herdsmen who “molest innocent people, rape women, kidnap and rob people at intervals,” and appealed to him to provide security for his subjects. Akor praised the efforts of the policemen who were on ground on the day of the incident and asked Arase to provide more patrol teams to save the people from being kidnapped and robbed. Ugwuanyi convenes monarchs, other stakeholders Following his visit to troubled Ukpabi Nimbo community, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, yesterday, summoned an emergency meeting with traditional rulers, presidents-general of town unions and leaders of the neighbourhood watch groups in all communities in the state. A reliable source disclosed that the meeting which is part of series of action plans of the state government to find a lasting solution to the menace of the Fulani herdsmen in the state is scheduled to hold next Monday, May 2, at Old Governor’s Lodge, Enugu at 1pm. The source also revealed that the governor was determined to put an end to the inhuman acts of the herdsmen which have consumed the lives and property of innocent citizens of the state as well as threatened the peace and security of the state and the nation at large. It could be recalled that Governor Ugwuanyi had while addressing the people of Nimbo community called for peace, fasting and prayers for the intervention of God, assuring them and the people of the state that he will do everything possible within his constitutional powers to end the incessant menace posed by the herdsmen in the state. The governor also disclosed that when he got a security report on Sunday that the attack will take place in the community, he immediately summoned an emergency meeting of the State Security Council which met on Sunday night till the early hours of Monday, shortly before the herdsmen struck, regretting that the sad incident eventually occurred after all assurances given to him by security operatives that the attack will not happen. The scheduled meeting, according to the source, is expected to map out the best strategies that would promote peace and end the attacks from the herdsmen. Monarch warns Meantime, the Chairman of South East Traditional Rulers Council, Eze Eberechi Dick, has called on the Federal Government to immediately intervene and halt the violent rampage by herdsmen across the country. Eze Dick warned that the ugly incident was taking a frightening dimension and demanded an immediate intervention by the Federal Government, adding that there was an urgent need for President Muhammadu Buhari to curb the dangerous incident. It’s barbaric, says Gov Okorocha Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, has described the recent massacre of innocent citizens in Enugu State, as “very unfortunate, senseless and barbaric”, and demanded that “those behind the killings should be made to face the law”. The Governor, who made his feelings known while addressing traditional rulers yesterday in Owerri, also appealed passionately to President Muhammadu Buhari to “intervene as a matter of urgency in the repeated killings in the South-East by Fulani herdsmen, to forestall future occurrence”. He charged the traditional rulers in the state to take absolute control of security in their various autonomous communities and to also ensure peaceful co-existence between their people and settlers. Enugu CAN calls for self-defence But the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, yesterday expressed outrage over the killing of 46 natives of Nimbo community in Enugu State by Fulani herdsmen. Addressing journalists , secretary of the religious body in Enugu State, Apostle Dr. Joseph Ajujungwa, said the wanton destruction of lives and properties by the herdsmen could no longer be taken for granted. Expressing shock that security operatives could not nip the attack in the bud despite having prior information, Ajujungwa called on South-East communities to rise up and defend themselves against such attacks. S’East APC warns The South East Leadership Caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has also condemned the activities of Fulani herdsmen in the zone. Zonal spokesman of the party, Osita Okechukwu in a statement issued Wednesday in Abuja said “It is painful that while the Federal Government of Nigeria is doing everything possible to contain the Boko Haram insurgency; another virus in the name of herdsmen is dislocating the security architecture of our dear country. “Yesterday it was Agatu in Benue State, today it is Ukpabio Nimbo in Enugu State. It must stop”, he stated. We won’t retaliate —IPOB The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB yesterday said it will neither retaliate nor encourage the retaliation of the of the cold-blooded murder of Nimbo people in Uzo Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, because it is not in their character to unleash violence on people. It also said it will not play into the hands of blood thirsty dictators who have unleashed their kinsmen now on rampage against innocent Nigerians who allowed them to destroy their farms, crops, rape their women and subsequently kill them in the name of taking care of the herds. IPOB in a statement signed by its Media and Publicity Officer, Mr. Emma Powerful, said that they have concluded their action on the killing in Nimbo, by informing the world that they will not retaliate the cold blooded murder of innocent people of Enugu State. “It is not in our character, neither will we play into the hands of blood thirsty dictators who send their kinsmen on rampage as a forerunner to their evil agenda to subjugate our people. We remain a peace loving, focused and well disciplined mass movement totally committed to freedom.” Ngwu calls for thorough Police investigation A member of the House of Representatives and Chairman, House Committee on Women Affairs & Social Development, Princess Stella Ngwu, yesterday, called on the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase and other security agents to immediately embark on a holistic investigation of the circumstances that led to the massacre of defenceless people of Ukpabi/Nimbo in Enugu state by Fulani herdsmen. Princess Ngwu, who represents the area in the Federal House said in a statement that the “senseless killing of human beings and wanton destruction of properties were premeditated and unprovoked and should be totally condemned. “I am pained by the sad event. I commiserate with the victims of the attack, families and relations of those killed and the entire people of Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area. I also urge the people of the affected area to be calm and law-abiding, as every necessary step shall be taken to track the perpetrators and bring them to face the law. “I am using this opportunity to call on the Inspector-General of Police and other relevant security agents and stake holders to immediately embark on a holistic investigation of the situation with a view to bringing the culprits to book and forestalling future occurrence.” I did not call Buhari on Military— Ugwuanyi Meanwhile, Governor Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has denied making calls to President Muhammadu Buhari, just as he lauded the President’s order that the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Abayomi Olonisakin and the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Solomon Arase should as as matter of urgency go after the suspected herdsmen. According to him, reports in online media that he made such a call to the President was not only baseless, but unfounded. In a statement by the Commissioner of Information, Dr. Godwin Udeghele and made available to Vanguard, yesterday, in Abuja, the governor urged the public to disregard such reports which he said cannot be substantiated” The statement read in part: “The attention of the Enugu State Government has been drawn to reports in online media and facebook that Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi was responsible for a call to President Muhammadu Buhari who refused to draft Military men to the state following killing of unarmed Nigerians in Uzo-Uwani Council of Enugu State, by persons suspected to be armed herdsmen. “The Government of Enugu wants to put it categorically clear that such a statement was never made and there was no time a call was made to the president or any one in the presidency.” “The government describes such media reports as baseless and unfounded which must be disregarded by the public as the need for such a call did not arise. “We are happy that President Muhammadu Buhari through his Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Muhammed has finally announced that as matter of urgency, the service chiefs should go after the suspected herdsmen. “President Buhari said yesterday that he has also asked the Chief of Defence Staff and the Inspector General of Police to secure all the communities under attacks by suspected herdsmen and go after the groups terrorising innocent people all over the country. “The Enugu state government is particularly happy that the President has asked that those behind the dastardly act be fished out and it is a welcome development as that had been the prayer of the state government. “Recall that on the receipt of a call by the chairman of Uzo-Uwani Council by 7pm on Sunday, April 24, the Governor immediately summoned an Emergency security Council meeting by 10pm and in attendance were the Garrison Commander who represented the GOC; the State Commissioner of Poiice, the State Director, DSS and others during which far reaching decisions were taken and they mobilized the same night and the troops were already at Uzo-Uwani. “Our prayer is that the action of the federal government would finally lay to rest these actions of suspected Herdsmen. “We urge the public to disregard the media reports as they cannot be substantiated. “The government of Enugu state wish to call on the people of the state to remain calm and go about their normal businesses.”
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/04
The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has filed another application to disqualify Danladi Umar, the chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, from continuing to preside over his trial. Bukola and Saraki Danladi Umar Danladi Umar, chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, however, ordered security operatives attached to Saraki to leave the courtroom, even as the tribunal warned against posting clips of its proceeding on social media. Ajibola Oluyede, a counsel to Saraki, who is being tried for alleged false and anticipatory assets declaration, filed the application shortly after the trial resumed yesterday. He said the tribunal chairman still had a serious corruption case against him with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and premised his application on Section 36(1) of the constitution, which addressed the issue of biases and the rules of natural justice. Oluyede had unsuccessfully moved a similar application last week, which resulted in a heated exchange between him and Umar. After reading his motion, Oluyede called the attention of the court to a letter written to the Attorney-General by the EFCC chairman in February 2015, which was part of his exhibits against Umar. Oluyede read out paragraph four of the letter: “There are indications that the tribunal chairman might have demanded and collected money from the complainant through his said personal assistant. “However, efforts made to recover the telephone handset used by Justice Umar proved abortive, as he claimed that he had lost the telephone in 2012. “This has made it impossible to subject it to independent scientific analysis, with a view to corroborating the allegation. In the same vein, the complainant could also not make available his telephone set for analysis on the grounds that he had lost it. “Justice Umar also admitted that he met privately with the complainant in his chamber at the tribunal. This is a most unethical and highly suspicious conduct on his part.” Justice Umar had initially declined to entertain the motion, but prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, urged him to admit the application so that it can be argued. The letter cited is a 2014 petition sent to the EFCC, in which Rasheed Taiwo, a retired Customs official, claimed to have been pressured by Mr. Umar for a N10 million bribe. The EFCC has repeatedly said it had no evidence to prosecute Umar over the matter. Umar orders Saraki’s security out of tribunal As proceedings continued, chairman of the tribunal ordered security operatives attached to Saraki to leave the courtroom. He gave the order shortly after counsel to the prosecution, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), and counsel for the defence, Kanu Agabi, announced their appearances. The CCT judge said his order was for the safety of all those present at the tribunal. “We have observed that some armed security agents are at the tribunal. We want such security men to stay outside. They should stay outside of the court hall not inside. It is for the protection of us here,” he said. Umar also warned against the recording of proceedings of the tribunal, adding that he was ready to make the trial open to all Nigerians, if parties to the case filed an application for it to broadcast. Nobody’ ll assassinate you, Agabi tells Umar Speaking afterwards, Agabi, Saraki’s lead counsel, urged the judge not to nurse fears because nobody would assassinate him. He said: “My prayer is for peace and understanding. By God’s grace, you are in that post to be instrumental. I believe harmony and love will prevail. That is why I always urge you not to be angry because anger is not of God, but of the devil. “Generations to come will adore you if you are humble and humane. Nobody will assassinate you, but you should be an advocate for peace.” 19 political parties ask Umar to step down Meanwhile, the leadership of 19 political registered parties, yesterday, called on the chairman of the tribunal to step down from the ongoing trial of the Senate President, arguing that recent events indicated that he was an interested party in the matter. Annoyed by what they described as witch-hunt, the parties noted that Justice Umar would not be impartial or unbiased in this case, given the circumstances of his relationship with the EFCC. Besides, the parties also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to direct an immediate investigation to unravel the circumstances which led to the EFFC issuing the letter of clearance to Justice Umar over his alleged involvement in N10 million bribery scandal. Addressing newsmen in Abuja, National Chairman of Labour Party, LP, Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, who read the text of the media briefing on behalf of the parties, said Justice Umar had failed to demonstrate a dispassion required of anyone sitting in judgment over others. The political parties are Labour Party, LP; Action Alliance, AA; National Conscience Party, NCP; Democratic Peoples Party, DPP; African Democratic Congress, ADC; Democratic Party of Nigeria, DPN, and MPPP, among others. The parties noted: “We believe his continued stay on the bench while this defendant is appearing before the tribunal supports the conspiracy theory that there is an agenda to convict Dr. Saraki by all means.” The political parties which said they were not against the trail of the Senate President, added, however, that, “President Buhari needs to act now, not to stop Saraki’s trial but to ensure that the process of fighting corruption does not end up being even more corrupt than the corruption it seeks to eliminate.”Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com
Managing Director of a leading Nigerian commercial bank has been detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for allegedly helping former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Allison-Madueke to launder $115 million cash. Nigerian ex-petroleum resources minister Diezani Alison-Madueke The bank chief executive was taken into EFCC custody three days ago for presiding over the receipt of such huge cash and helping to distribute it to beneficiaries two days to the last general elections. The bank CEO is said to have violated extant law by not reporting the receipt and warehousing of the cash to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, as required by law. Diezani is said to have summoned the bank chief to her Abuja home and told him to prepare to receive foreign currency running into billions of Naira from four companies and to convert it to Naira and pay them to designated beneficiaries on her behalf. A day after the instruction from her, four companies stormed the bank with various amounts of cash and were promptly received by the bank. A breakdown of the funds given by the EFCC shows that Actus Integrated paid in $17,884, Northern Base Gas Company, $60m; Midwestern Oil and Gas, $9.5m; and Laitan Adesanya, $1.35million. Diezani on her part, allegedly lodged $26 million cash into the same account same day. It was learned that shortly after paying in the cash, Diezani’s son, Ugonna, approached the detained MD and furnished him with the list of beneficiaries of the cash as instructed by his mother. Vanguard was told that although the detained bank chief complained that he would not have enough time to cash in Naira to effect the immediate distribution of the money as instructed by the then minister, she asked him to use every available cash to pay the beneficiaries and use the Dollar as collateral. A top official of the commission confirmed to Vanguard last night that the man had made useful confessions to operatives. The source did not, however, say when the bank official would be charged to court or if he would refund the money to the government. Diezani could not be reached for comments last night.Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com
