Man, 28, remanded in Niger over N50m bribe

In a release made available to journalists while parading the suspect in Minna, director of DSS in the state, Dr. Larry Obiagwu said he was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on his way to Minna to collect a bribe of the above amount to drop a story.“Tega Sampson Oghenedoro, also known as […]

In a release made available to journalists while parading the suspect in Minna, director of DSS in the state, Dr. Larry Obiagwu said he was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on his way to Minna to collect a bribe of the above amount to drop a story.
“Tega Sampson Oghenedoro, also known as Fajiro Oliver, aged 28 years, was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja when he arrived from Asaba, Delta State, on an Aero Contractors flight on his way to Minna, Niger State to collect a N50 million ransom he placed on some principal officers of Niger State as a condition to stop the publication and dissemination of a story on corrupt and fraudulent activities of the Niger State government,” Obiagwu.
The director of DSS further said the suspect, who works in the NTA, Sapele, Delta State as a producer/cameraman on grade level 08, also claimed to be the managing editor of an online blog, The Daily Voice Nigeria. He added that Oghenedoro also works in Elomboh Communications, an online news reporter owned by Daniel Elomboh, a United Kingdom-based attorney. He alleged that the suspect and two others at large – Stanley Gene and Francis Arinze – co-founded the Secret Reporters Group (SRG) with the objective of blackmailing government officials and heads of organisations for pecuniary reasons.
He explained that, in July and August, the suspect alerted top officials of the state government, threatening to expose fraudulent activities within the government circle if he was not paid N50 million. According to him, investigation on the suspect revealed that he perpetrated criminal activities using the name, Fajiro Oliver.
“Sometime in July/August, 2014, the suspect, via persistent mobile telephone calls, alerted top officials of the Niger State government that he carried out a three-month investigation on their activities, which exposed corrupt practices. He threatened to publish the story if he was not paid the sum of N50 million,” Obiagwu alleged.
The state director of DSS said the suspect released certain fake blogs considered inimical to the state government as it is aimed at causing disaffection among the people of the state.
He said, “In order to underscore the level and seriousness of his threat, the suspect released certain false and fake blogs via the social media on the internet, aimed at causing disaffection among the citizenry of the state.
“At no time did he conduct or carry out any investigation on the Niger State government, and as a staff of NTA, Sapele, Delta State, Niger State is not part of his jurisdiction.”
But speaking to journalists, Oghenedoro said he did not know anything about the alleged demand of N50 million, adding that he was only on his way to Minna to balance his story.
He said that all the conversations he had with the Secretary to the State Government and the Chief Press Secretary to the governor on the matter were recorded. He promised to make them available when needed.
Oghenedoro has, since last Monday been arraigned before a Minna Chief Migistrate’s Court V for intimidation, extortion and cheating, offences contrary to sections 293, 329, 397, 321 and 324 of the panel code.
Speaking to Sunday Trust, counsel to the accused, Mr. Gabriel Esigene wondered why his client was thrown behind bars since Monday, saying he has been making efforts to file an application for his bail to no avail as the magistrate said he was away.
Hearing on the case has been fixed for October 14, the lawyer said.