Police arrest Kenny Martins again

The Chairman of the Police Equipment Foundation, Chief Kenny Martins, was on Tuesday arrested in Abuja by the police.

He was arrested about 4.30 pm within the premises of the Abuja Magistrate’s Court located at Zone 2, Wuse District of Abuja where he had taken refuge since morning when news of the impending arrest got to him.

For over seven hours, plain-clothed policemen had laid siege on the court while Martins refused to come out because he was aware the police were waiting outside.

He had been wanted by the police for allegedly defrauding an American Company known as Calvary Security Group of $97.5m.

He was taken to the Force Criminal Investigation Department at Area 10, Garki, Abuja.

The policemen, who claimed to be acting on the orders of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, and numbering about 500, blocked all the exits from where their target could escape.

The Abuja High Court had on April 10, also quashed the warrant of arrest issued by the police for Martins’ arrest.

It was, however, a cat and mouse game as Martins vowed not to leave the court room while the Police also vowed not to leave the court premises until he came out to be picked up.

However, at about 5pm, the police lost their temper and forced their way into the court room and forcefully took him away in an 18-seater Toyota bus with registration No, DL 787ABC.

He was taken to the CID section where a team of detectives had been waiting for him for interrogation on the alleged $97.5m scam.

Attempts by Chief Magistrate Sunday Ochimana earlier in the day to know the mission of the policemen were frustrated twice as they turned back the court registrar sent by the magistrate.

The policemen insisted that they were acting on the orders of the IG.

The Chief Magistrate who was apparently embarrassed by the Police siege attempted to reach Okiro on phone but the Police chief did not pick the calls.

Ekiti electoral commissioner declared wanted

Ekiti electoral commissioner... wanted:
From BOLU-OLU ESHO, DURO ADESEKO Ado-Ekiti
Wednesday, April 29, 2009

The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, on Tuesday in Abuja declared the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Ekiti State, Mrs. Olusola Adebayo wanted, threatening to arrest her if she failed to show up in the next 24 hours.

“We have not been able to get across to Adebayo because she has remained consistently incommunicado,’’ Okiro told a news conference he jointly addressed with the Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili and INEC Chairman Maurice Iwu.

The Federal Government said it received a letter on Tuesday purportedly written by Adebayo, which claimed that she had resigned in protest against the conduct of the re-run governorship elections in the state.

While the government has rejected the resignation, Okiro ordered the REC to report to the nearest police station or INEC within 24 hours or face arrest.
“She has been given 24 hours to report and if she fails, she will be declared wanted,’’ he said.
A copy of the letter of resignation, purportedly signed by Adebayo, which was circulated to journalists at the briefing was dated April 28 and addressed to President Umaru Yar’Adua.
It read: “It is with heavy heart that I am writing to inform you of my resignation as the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Ekiti State.

“In accordance with the rule of law, the ongoing election in Ekiti State was supposed to be the election that will enhance the image of INEC, electoral process in our dear country Nigeria and the whole black race.
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Nigeria Experienced Solar Eclipse

Today, Wednesday March 29 2006, Nigeria experienced total eclipse in Saki area of Oyo state. A large number of people, including the state governor of Oyo state turned out to view the beauty of Nature at the stadium.

The last time Nigeria had this experience was in 2001 and before this, a total eclipse was recorded in 1959. Other state expected to have this exerience today are Kwara, Niger and sokoto states.

Solar Eclipse, is a natural phenomenon where the moon comes between the sun and the earth.