Gunmen kidnap Central Bank Governor’s wife ...demand N1.5bn ransom

CBN governor, Emefiele

The wife of the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Margaret Emefiele, was abducted by gunmen on Thursday. She was one of about six people abducted on Benin-Agbor Road.

A family source said late yesterday that efforts were underway to secure Mrs. Emefiele’s release, as well as the others, within the shortest period possible.

“Yes, I can confirm to you that she was kidnapped, but we’re making diligent efforts to ensure her release and also the other people,” the source said.

The confirmation corroborates earlier reports by Sahara Reporters, an online news portal. Sahara Reporters had said on Friday evening that Mrs. Emefiele was kidnapped along Benin-Agbor Road on Thursday after gunmen chased her police detail into the bush. The medium also said a ransom of N1.5 billion has been demanded by her abductors, who have since reached out to her family.

But the family source declined to confirm this, saying the details are not necessary and could actually complicate rescue efforts.

“We’re all Nigerians and I think I’ve done very well by confirming this report to you,” the source said. “Please join me in praying for her timely release as we do our best to appeal to those keeping her and ensure that she’s released in one piece.”

Police Spokesman, Don Awunah, could not be reached by journalists for comments on the status of the rescue operations, as his number indicated it was switched off for several hours before press time.

The victim’s husband, Godwin Emefiele, has been in charge of the CBN since 2014.

Mrs. Emefiele is the latest victim in a string of abductions that have seen many public figures seized within the last one year.

In September 2015, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Olu Falae, was kidnapped in his farm in Ondo State.

A former senator, Iyabo Anisulowo, was also kidnapped in her home state of Ogun in April this year.

The two have since regained freedom after spending days in captivity, but the circumstances under which they were released remained unclear.

While the police claimed to have rescued them, the victims said they parted with huge sums as ransom.

Comments

Omagbemi frees Angels, Queens for Fed Cup final

Super Falcons’ Head Coach, Florence Omagbemi, has elected to release players of Rivers Angels and Bayelsa Queens in the Senior Women National Team camp for Sunday’s potentially explosive women Federation Cup final between both teams in Lagos. Omagbemi The member of FIFA Technical Study said the ladies would be allowed to leave the team’s camp in Abuja to travel to Lagos for the big clash, which starts at 1pm at the Teslim Balogun Stadium on Sunday. That decision has freed Angels’ half dozen of goalkeeper Ibubeleye Whyte, defenders Osinachi Ohale, Ugo Njoku and Gladys Akpa and midfielders Chioma Wogu and Glory Iroka to be part of the glamour event, to be attended by the Governors of Lagos, Anambra, Nasarawa, Bayelsa and Rivers States. Bayelsa Queens’ duo of goalkeeper Alaba Jonathan and playmaker Osarenoma Igbinovia will also be on duty. The involvement of the Super Falcons’ stars will certainly boost the quality of the final match, and ensure the two teams do not miss their Falco...

Supreme Court doesn’t need 21 justices – CJN

The acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, has said appointing more judges or increasing the number of courtrooms are not the solutions to the problem of delayed justice dispensation in the country. The acting CJN said the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court would remain congested so long as the number of appeals proceeding there from the high courts was not regulated. Justice Onnoghen also argued that it was erroneous to believe that delay at the Supreme Court was as a result of not having up to 21 Justices prescribed by the constitution. He noted hat even the United States of America, with a higher population, had only nine Supreme Court Justices. He argued that the current 17 Justices on the Supreme Court bench were just enough for the country, if the number of appeals proceeding to the appellate and apex courts was regulated. Justice Onnoghen made this argument on Monday in Lagos while inaugurating the newly refurbished building of the Lagos Division o...

Trump ex-aide Paul Manafort 'offered to help Putin'

US President Donald Trump's one-time campaign chairman secretly worked for a Russian billionaire to assist President Vladimir Putin, the Associated Press (AP) news agency reports. Paul Manafort is said to have proposed a strategy to nullify anti-Russian opposition across former Soviet republics a decade ago. AP says documents and interviews support its claims about Mr Manafort. Mr Manafort has insisted that he never worked for Russian interests. He worked as Mr Trump's unpaid campaign chairman from March until August last year, including the period during which the flamboyant New York billionaire clinched the Republican nomination. He resigned after AP revealed that he had co-ordinated a secret Washington lobbying operation on behalf of Ukraine's ruling pro-Russian political party until 2014. Newly obtained business records link Mr Manafort more directly to Mr Putin's interests in the region, AP says. Donald Trump unpaid Campaign Chairman It ...

Welcome to EagleWatch

Search This Blog