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The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has asked residents of the South-East not to sit at home on Thursday, as its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu goes to court. Media and Publicity Secretary of IPOB, Emma Powerful in a statement said: “We wish to inform Biafrans, friends of Biafra and lovers of freedom that our Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will be in court tomorrow, December 2, 2021 in Abuja. “We therefore, urge Biafrans living in  Abuja and its environs to come out enmasse to solidarize with our leader. “Meanwhile, there will be no lockdown tomorrow in any part of Biafra land as a result of the court appearance.   Biafrans resident in Biafra land as well as visitors to Biafra land are free to go about their lawful businesses without fear of molestations or intimidation. “We have not asked or authorised anybody to monitor or enforce any lockdown. Again, there will be no lockdown in Biafra land for tomorrow’s court appearance of our Leader. “Only Biafrans and friends of Biafra in Abuja ...

National Population Commission Flags Off Second Pre-Test For Next Population Census In Awka.  By Njideka Okoye (ABS News). The Federal Commissioner representing Anambra State in National Population Commission,  Mr. Chidi Ezeoke has flagged off training of field functionaries for the next population and housing census.  The programme is being carried out simultanously  in the thirty six states of the federation bad Federal Capital Territory Abuja. Mr Ezeoke said that pre- tests are usually conducted before the actual census aimed at testing the census methodology, questionnaires, data collection method, manual for fieldwork among other things, noting that the objectives of the second pre-test include to critically and comprehensively assess the suitability of questionnaire, clarity of concepts, instructions and contents of census instruments. Mr. Ezeoke who commended governor Willie Obiano for his assistance called on Local Government, traditional rulers, and communit...

PRESIDENT BUHARI TO ATTEND EXPO 2020 DUBAI  President Muhammadu Buhari departs Abuja today Wednesday to attend EXPO 2020 Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). EXPO 2020 Dubai, with the theme, "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future", creates the environment for Nigeria to join over 190 countries to forge true and meaningful partnerships "to build a better future for everyone.” The Expo will provide another opportunity for the Nigerian delegation to highlight significant strides in the economy in the last six years as a basis for making the country an important destination for foreign direct investment. Aside touring the Nigerian Pavilion at the Expo on Friday, Nigeria’s National Day, the President will also receive in audience prospective investors as well as meet with His Highness, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minist...

Troops of Sector 2 Joint Task Force, North East(NE), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have again inflicted casualty on Boko Haram(BH) and Islamic State's West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in a fierce battle that ensued in  Buni Yadi in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State on Tuesday 30 November 2021.  The terrorists, who frantically attempted to gain access into Buni Yadi, mounted on gun trucks, met stiff resistance from troops of 27 Task Force Brigade and Nigerian Army Special Forces School, supported by the Nigerian Air Force Component  and personnel of the Nigerian Police, who gallantly fought and  overwhelmed the terrorists with superior firepower.  The ferrocious battle forced the criminals to  withdraw in different directions having suffered heavy losses. Several gun trucks with their occupants were taken out by the troops. Preliminary battle damage assessment revealed the precision with which Air and Land troops engaged the terrorists destroying...

Suit challenging the qualification of Anambra State Governor - Elect, Prof Charles Soludo dismissed by His Lordship, Hon Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High court. Awards cost of 2million naira against the Plaintiffs.   Anambra Election 2021: Aguata Rolls Out The Drums To Thank God for Soludo's Victory.  The people of Aguata council area have rolled out their frums in thanksgiving for the victory of their illustrious son, Professor Chukwuma Soludo at the just Constituents Governorship Election in the state. The Thanksgiving celebration led by the Transition Committee Chairman of the council area, Chief Eche Ezeibe had in attendance the traditional rulers of communities in the council  area, past chairmen of the council area and stakeholders of the area who converged on the council headquarters to thank God and acknowledge the people of the zone for their mobilization. According to the Transition Committee Chairman of Aguata Council, Chief Eche Ezeibe, the achieve...

Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, has picked holes in the planned payment of N5,000 to poor Nigerians. He described the move as a monumental scam meant to enrich a few. Bishop Kukah, who was a guest on a television programme Monday, noted that the government does not have such money to pay millions of people monthly and was only playing to the gallery to curry favour going into the election year. “I can bet with you that the government cannot pay such amount monthly. “Where do we get such amount to pay millions of people monthly? Even if such amount is available, the government will not pay. It is one of the usual promises. This is another scam coming from a government that has perfected the art of deceit.

Twenty people have been confirmed dead with seven others rescued after a boat carrying passengers capsized in Bagwai River in Bagwai Local Government Area (LGA) of Kano State. According to an eyewitness, the accident happened on Tuesday evening. It was gathered that the canoe was carrying Islamiyah schoolchildren and other passengers from Badau village to Bagwai LGA where they were expected to board a vehicle to Tofa LGA for the Maulud celebration. “The body of a woman and her baby have been found, and multiple Islamiyah students. The driver and six other passengers have also been taken to hospital,” the eyewitness said. “We have counted over 40 pairs of shoes. Right now police have arrived and fire servicemen and also local fishermen are on a rescue mission. We need assistance from anyone who can bring torchlight or can participate in the rescue effort.” The Kano State Police Command also confirmed the incident to Channels Television on Wednesday.

Unvaccinated Civil Servants Barred From Federal Secretariat, Abuja Civil servants and the general public without proof of vaccination and negative PCR tests are currently being prevented from accessing government buildings in Abuja, The PUNCH reports. The PUNCH had reported that the Boss Mustapha-led presidential steering committee on COVID-19 had announced in October that civil servants without proof of vaccination and negative PCR tests would not be allowed to access government buildings from December 1, 2021. The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria had however asked the Federal Government to extend till March next year, today’s deadline for the compulsory vaccination of civil servants, a move which the PSC had described as “impossible”. Nigeria on Wednesday had also reported three cases of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus disease.

The trial of former Niger State governor, Muazu Babangida Aliyu and two others; Tanko Beji and Umar Nasko before Justice Mikail Aliyu of the Niger state High Court, Minna continued today, December 1, 2021 with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, presenting two more witnesses. The defendants are being prosecuted for alleged criminal breach of trust and diversion of Two Billion Naira Ecological Fund. The tenth prosecuting witness, PW10, Hamisu Musa Jankaro, erstwhile Chief Accountant and later, Permanent Secretary, Government House between 2010-2016, told the court that he was instructed by the then Chief of Staff to the Niger State Government, Umar Nasko to disbursed N10 million   per withdrawal from January 2011 to December 2011, to the Second Defendant Tanko Beji, the then Director General of the Niger State PDP Campaign Organization, or his nominees who are in charge of Senatorial Districts A, B and C. 

The eleventh prosecution witness, PW11, Joanne Tolulope, in the ongoing trial of a former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, on Wednesday, December 1, 2021, told Justice Chukujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos how Fayose’s associate, Abiodun Agbele, had bought properties worth N1.3 billion within four months.   The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Command had, on Tuesday, July 2, 2019, re-arraigned Fayose on an 11-count charge bordering on money laundering and stealing to the tune of N6.9bn( Six Billion Nine Hundred Naira). Fayose was arraigned alongside one of his firms, Spotless Investment Limited, for the alleged fraud.

PRESS RELEASE POLICE ARREST 32 SUSPECTS FOR COMPLICITY IN THE ATTACK ON TRAVELLERS ON KADUNA-ABUJA HIGHWAY, RECENT KILLINGS IN NIGER MOSQUE, TRANS-BORDER CAR THEFT, OTHERS •  Recover 19 AK47 Rifles, 10 other sophisticated firearms, 453 Live Ammunition, 17 stolen cars Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force Special Tactical Squad have arrested a total of thirty-two (32) notorious suspects for their complicity in the crimes of kidnapping, armed robbery, arms smuggling, illegal possession of weapons, trading in illicit drugs, trans-border car theft, rape, amongst others. The Police team equally recovered Nineteen (19) AK47 rifles, one (1) GPMG, three (3) revolver rifles, two (2) G-3 rifles, one (1) SMG, one (1) berretta pistol, four hundred and fifty-three (453) rounds of live ammunition of different calibre, twelve (12) magazines and seventeen (17) stolen cars from the criminals during the follow-up investigations.   Notable amongst the cases is the arrest of six (6) notorious cr...

PRESS RELEASE  Vaccine Inequality Will Affect Progress in Fight Against Covid, Nigeria Warns Nigeria has warned that lack of vaccination by developing countries will provide a fertile ground for the Covid-19 virus to mutate, thus threatening the progress already recorded even in the developed countries. The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, issued the warning in Madrid, Spain, on Wednesday at the 24th General Assembly of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).  The Minister was speaking against the background of the latest mutation (Omicron) of the Covid-19 virus, which has triggered a wave of travel bans on some countries in Africa.  He said access to vaccines should be based on the principles grounded in the right of every human to enjoy the highest attainable standard of health without discrimination on the basis of race, religion, political belief, economic or any other social condition.  Alhaji Mohammed said many developed ...

ORTOM TO INTERVENE IN LAND DISPUTE BETWEEN UNIAGRIC AND HOST COMMUNITY  By Jimin Geoffrey Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has promised to wade into the boundary dispute between Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University and the host community.  Governor Ortom stated this Wednesday, December 1st, 2021 at the Benue Peoples House Makurdi during a courtesy visit on him by the Centre for Innovation in Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards, CIPESS, who were led by the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Richard Kimbir.  Governor Ortom stated that his administration will soon convene a meeting between the University management and host community to iron out the boundary issue.  He stated that if benefits which are supposed to accrue to the host community are not forthcoming, his administration will engage relevant authorities to ensure that justice is served.  The Governor congratulated the University for being selected among several other federal universit...

Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN) on Wednesday justified the State Government’s White Paper on the Judicial Panel of Inquiry (JPI) on the report of Lekki Tollgate incident, saying the State complied with the laws and the weight of evidence presented in the Judicial Panel of Inquiry to reach a decision on panel’s reports. He said the positions of the Lagos State Government as stated in the White Paper was not contrary to the panel’s findings, especially the evidence of the Pathologist, Prof. John Obafunwa, who said only three of the bodies that he conducted post mortem examination on during the EndSARS protests were from Lekki, and out of them, only one had gunshot injury. Onigbanjo spoke during a Morning Show interview programme on Arise Television on Wednesday to discuss the White Paper released by Lagos State Government on the report of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Police Brutality and the Lekki Toll Gate incident of October 2...

 MEDICAL DIRECTOR CALLS FOR END TO DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS The Medical Director of General Hospital, Ifako Ijaiye, Dr. Bamidele Mustapha, has called for urgent action to end discrimination, stigmatisation and other untoward behaviour against People Living with HIV/AIDs.  Dr. Mustapha made the call on Wednesday in his address at a programme organised by the hospital to mark the Year 2021 World AIDS Day with the theme: "End Inequalities, End AIDS, End Pandemic", explaining that AIDS is a pandemic confronted with cultural, social and gender inequalities hampering its care and management. He said: "In some cultures, it is difficult for females to go to the hospital without permission from their husbands. Some people have more money than others so they can access care more than others and females are disproportionately affected by this disease". "Today we are calling for an end to all these inequalities associated with access to HIV/AIDS d...

GOV. FINTIRI PRESENTS CARS TO ROYAL FATHERS Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri Wednesday surprised the Adamawa State council of Emirs and Chiefs when he distributed cars to the royal fathers at the Government House Yola. The Royal Fathers who were at the Government House for their regular meeting with the Governor had the privilege of being presented with official SUVs and a Hilux pilot vehicle each. The Governor commended them for their support to the administration towards maintaining peace. He noted that the vehicles are meant to ease their logistics and help them contribute more to peace building. The royal fathers that benifited include Lamido Adamawa Dr. Muhammad Barkindo Aliyu Mustafa, the Emir of Mubi Alhaji Abubakar Isa Ahmadu, the Gangwari Ganye Alhaji Umaru Adamu Sanda, the Amna Shelleng Abdullahi Isa Dasong and the Hama Batta Alhamdu Gladson Teneke. Responding on their behalf, the Lamido of Mubi expressed appreciation to the Governor for the gift promising to use the vehicles fo...