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I’LL NOT JOIN APC IN SPITE OF ITS SUPPORT FOR POWER SHIFT-WIKE Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has reiterated that he will never join the All Progressives Congress (APC), despite its governors commendable stance on zoning the presidency to the South. The governor, who described the insinuations that he will defect to the APC as speculative, maintained that he remains an unrepentant member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Governor Wike stated these at the 114th quarterly general meeting of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers in Port Harcourt, the State capital on Monday. He informed the council ahead of Saturday 's presidential election, that he will be voting for only the candidate that can guarantee the unity of the country. "I am not a member of APC and I will not be. But, they have made me to recognise that they are the heroes of this country. The governors came out to say look, for the unity of this country, presidency should go to the south. The...

Press Statement For immediate release 20-02-2023 The politically  motivated protest in Sagamu. Early this morning, a politically  motivated  violent protest took place in Sagamu, during which innocent people were attacked while banks and public infrastructures were destroyed  and razed  down by fire . We were reliably informed that some  disgruntled members of the opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), whose members and some of the party’s candidates were seen leading the demonstration. While the protests were purportedly against the “scarcity of naira notes”, the real intention of these elements became obvious with the involvement of known PDP members. It is on record that the campaign tour of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which moved through Simawa to Ogijo and back to Sagamu, where two roads were commissioned yesterday, ended without any hitch. The APC rally  was attended by tens of thousands of people at different locations, l...

Ogun Police arrest 27 suspects over destruction of banks, violence The Ogun State Police Command has arrested 27 suspects in connection with the pandemonium that broke out in Sagamu on Monday morning. The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Abimbola Oyeyemi, disclosed this on Monday, a few hours after the violence, which led to the destruction of two banks, broke out. Oyeyemi in a terse statement said normalcy has returned to the area. He said “normalcy has been restored in greater parts of Sagamu now. CP Frank Mba is personally leading police teams and some military men to tackle the situation. There had been reports of violence that broke out on Monday morning when some irate youths in Sagamu, Ogun State, went on the rampage following their inability to withdraw cash. With bonfires, the protesters barricaded the Sagamu-Benin expressway and others, preventing human and vehicular movements. Watch video and more photos below 

Contrary to the false story currently making the rounds and peddled by a dishonest individual, the suicide victim in Ogun state is NOT a client of LAPO Microfinance Bank.  INITIAL REPORT: Tragedy struck at Oke-Keesi, Itoko area of Abeokuta, Ogun State yesterday around 2pm, when a woman known as Mama Dada reportedly committed suicide by setting herself abl.azed in her rented house. According to report from her neighbours she was owing one of this microfinance institutions popularly known as ‘Gbomu le lantern’ a loan of seventy thousand naira (70k) ""She’s owing the ‘Gbomu le lantern’ the sum of 70k, because she was unable to meet up with the payment she then sent her last born fuel and also use style to discharge the small boy and she lock herself up inside the room and wet everywhere with petrol including herself and she burn herself inside"" Elder Babawale CDA secretary Her corpse has since been deposited at the State General Hospital, ijaye by the Ogun State fire ...

Court Sends Fraudster who Impersonated Nollywood Actor, Ninalowo, Two Others, to Jail in Warri Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court sitting in Warri, on Friday, February 17, 2023, convicted and sentenced three internet fraudsters, Onukwugha Favour, Lawrence David and Omoghan Destiny Igbinosa, to prison on separate one count charge of impersonation and obtaining by false  pretence.  The charge against Igbinosa reads:”That you, OMOGHAN DESTINY IGBINOSA sometime between 2021 and 2022 at Benin, Edo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did fraudulently impersonate the Identity of NINALOWO BOLANLE, a Nollywood Actor by fraudulently sending documents to one NEWON QUANON through the internet which documents you claim emanated from the said NINALOWO BOLANLE with the intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 22 (2) (b) (i) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 and punishable under section 22(2...

  A man wanted in connection with the weekend murder of a longtime Los Angeles bishop was arrested early today Monday. The suspect wanted in the shooting death of Auxiliary Bishop David O'Connell was taken into custody during an operation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Special Enforcement Bureau, the sources said. The man was identified by detectives early in the investigation through an unnamed technical means, according to the sources, and was located and detained without incident.  The man's name was not immediately released. Industry sheriff's deputies were responding to a medical emergency call when they found O’Connell, who appeared to have been shot in the upper torso. Los Angeles Archbishop José Gomez released a statement Sunday after the LASD determined it was a homicide, saying the archdiocese and parishioners were "deeply disturbed and saddened" by the news. O’Connell was born in County Cork, Ireland in 1953 and was named an au...

 Court bars INEC from using MC Oluomo to distribute election materials Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court, Lagos, has granted the prayer of the Labour Party, LP, seeking an order to bar the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from using the Chairman of the Lagos Parks and Garages, Musliu Akinsanya, better known as MC Oluomo, from distributing election materials in Lagos. The LP and five persons had sought a court order to bar MC Oluomo from participating in the distribution of electoral materials. They cited concerns over his alleged association with political violence and thuggery.

The Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA), Ministry of Education, has reminded stakeholders in the education sector that the mid-term break for the 2nd Term of the 2022/2023 Academic Session will hold from Friday, 24th February – Friday, 3rd March 2023. A statement signed by the Director-General, Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA), Mrs. Abiola Seriki-Ayeni, added that this is in line with the Harmonized Academic Calendar for 2022/2023 Session amended and approved by the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo. While noting that the announcement is subject to further directives from the Federal and State Governments Seriki-Ayeni maintained that compliance is mandatory for all schools below the tertiary level in the State. The Director-General also implored school administrators, proprietors and parents to follow the Lagos State Government’s social media handles as well as OEQA website via www.oeqalagos.com for more information and the latest development.

GRAND FINALE OF THE ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS (APC) PRESIDENTIAL RALLIES SLATED FOR TUESDAY, 21ST OF FEBRUARY, 2023 AT TESLIM BALOGUN STADIUM, SURULERE, PLANNED MOTORCADE RALLY FROM MMA II TO TESLIM BALOGUN STADIUM ENROUTE AGEGE MOTOR ROAD, LAGOS STATE.  Ahead of the upcoming Grand Finale of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Rallies holding on Tuesday, 21st February, 2023 at Teslim Balogun Stadium (TBS), Surulere, and the Motorcade Rally from the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2 (MMA2) to TBS, via the following routes;   Agege Motor Road (PWD) - Sogunle - Alasia - Ladipo - Bolade - Oshodi Underpass - Cappa - Challenge - Olorunsogo - Ojuwoye – Olosha - Idi – Oro - Moshalasi) - Ojuelegba - Barrack - Teslim Balogun Stadium (TBS), Surulere, the Lagos State Government has released travel advisory to enable Motorists plan their movement within areas that may be affected by the rallies.  Lagosians are advised to plan their journeys as the Motorcade Rally commences from 1...

*Anambra State Police Command* today 20/2/2023 wishes to declare *Mr Emeh Nnamdi Daniel* aged 26 years old  *Wanted* on the offence of *unlawful possession of a firearm, money laundering, defamation of character, fraud, and Impersonation.* Mr Nnamdi Daniel is a youth corp member with State *Code Number AN/22A/3323,* attached to Anambra State Police Command and is positively identified, involve/mentioned in an ongoing investigation in the command.  Therefore, the Command urges the general public to report to the nearest Police Station, if seen or call the Command Control Room number at *07039194332* or the PPRO at *08039334002*  if you have any information that can aid in his location for arrest, please. *Confidentiality is guaranteed* *DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, PPRO, Anamabra State Police Command* 20 February 2023. One more photo below. 

 Anambra State Police Command today 20/2/2023 have in custody one Mrs Akunna Roseline Udom aged 35 years on an alleged case of conspiracy, advance fee fraud and stealing, reported to the Command for investigation.  Mrs Roseline is a member of a notorious gang of 3-man, who specialise in defrauding members of the public. While some of her syndicate members are still at large, she confessed that her victims are mainly single young ladies, who work in cooperate offices like banks, civil service and sales girls, assuring them that her brother who is based overseas is looking for a wife. She also tells her victims that she possesses the spiritual power of cleansing their afflictions and is capable of doubling any amount given to her by the victim.  Mrs Rose a mother of five children, joined the gang early last year and since then has defrauded more than five young ladies of a total sum of Nine million and more.  The *Command*, therefore, wishes to use this medium to advis...

Court Adjourns Yahaya Bello’s Nephew, Others N3bn Fraud Trial Till April 16 The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, adjourned the N3billion fraud trial of Ali Bello, nephew of Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello and three others till April 16. Justice Obiora Egwuatu adjourned hearing in the case after ruling on the defendants’ bail applications. The court granted the defendants bail in the sum of N500million each and two sureties in like sum. The sureties must reside in Abuja, with identifiable addresses and own landed property worth N500 million within the jurisdiction of the court. They are to further provide evidence of tax payment from 2020 to 20222 and deposit the original title documents in respect of the property with the Registrar of the court.  In addition, the defendants are to deposit their international passports with the court and must obtain the permission of the court to travel outside the jurisdiction. Bello was on February 8, arraigned  buy the EFCC alongside ...

PRESIDENT BUHARI TO BRIEF SUCCESSOR ON NIGERIA-COMOROS TIES AS HE GETS AU PRAISE ON RESPECT OF TERM LIMIT   President Muhammadu Buhari says he takes the existing good neighborly relations between Nigeria and the Union of Comoro Islands to be very important, for which reason he will be briefing his incoming successor on the need to keep them.   Speaking to Azali Assoumani, the President of the Union of Comoros who just took over as the Chairperson of the African Union for the year 2023 shortly before his departure from Addis Ababa, President Buhari thanked the Island nation for being a good neighbor.   “As developing states, we have to follow through on the correct steps to achieve development. I thank you for being a good neighbor and the consistency of your friendship. I will brief my next successor from my Party on keeping this important relationship. Congratulations on your emergence as the Chairperson of the AU.”   The new AU leader, President Assoumani said he c...

 Nigeria Decides: Thabo Mbeki heads Commonwealth Observer Group calls for peaceful elections. Thabo Mbeki, the former South African President has urged the country’s political parties, candidates and their supporters to play their part in ensuring peaceful, transparent and credible elections on Saturday, 25 February 2023.  “This month’s elections will be Africa’s largest democratic exercise"  “Our mandate is to observe and assess the per-election period, activities on polling day and the post-election period. Throughout, we will consider all factors relating to the credibility of the electoral process.  We will assess whether the elections are conducted according to the standards for democratic elections to which Nigeria has committed itself … As we undertake this assessment and conduct our duties, we will be objective, independent and impartial.”. More photos below. 

The Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai has said what the Central Bank of Nigeria did regarding the naira redesign is different from what was approved by President Muhammadu Buhari. In a post on Twitter on Sunday titled, ‘NIGERIA UPDATE: ABC of Currency Redesign vs. XYZ of Cash Confiscation Explained’, El-Rufai accused the apex bank of derailing the policy objective to sabotage the elections.  He said, “Currency redesign was approved by the President and announced. Currency recoloring resulted. “Currency swap was envisaged by s.20(3) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act as approved by PMB. Swap means I take N100,000 to the bank in old notes & I receive N100,000 immediately in new notes. No more, no less. “During implementation of the cash swap, the CBN withdrew over N2 trillion from circulation but printed only N400 billion, so in effect, currency confiscation was then unilaterally and unlawfully implemented by the CBN. Trade and exchange have collapsed. Human suffering, imp...

 PRESS RELEASE IGP DECORATES NEWLY PROMOTED DIGs • Charges Officers on Entrenching Police Reforms, Declares Election Security Seminar Open in Abuja The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc(+), NPM, fdc, on Monday 20th February, 2023, decorated three newly promoted Deputy Inspectors-General of Police in his office at the Louis Edet House, Force Headquarters, Abuja. This is coming on the heels of the recently released promotions by the Police Service Commission, in which the three officers’ recommendation by the IGP was approved by the Commission. The DIGs are DIG Ali Aji Janga, psc, mni, in charge of the Department of Research and Planning, DIG Hafiz Mohammed Inuwa, mni, in charge of the Department of Training and Development, and DIG Adeleke Yinka Bode, mni, in charge of the Department of Operations. DIG Ali Janga holds a Bachelor of Laws Degree from the University of Maiduguri. A Member of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, he has attended s...