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WOMEN AFFAIRS COMMISSIONER, OBINABO, REACTS TO THE NEWS OF THE DEATH OF SEPTUGENARIAN WHOSE ORGANS WERE HARVESTED FOR RITUALS By Chidinma Ikeanyionwu  Anambra State Women and Social Welfare Commissioner, Hon Ify Obinabo has reassured of her commitment in bringing to book the perpetuators of Late Charity Okoli  She made this known in her office in Awka when the news of the death of Septugenarian Whose Organs were Harvested for Ritual purposes broke out.  Reacting, Hon Obinabo expressed sadness over the death of the 72 year old woman and vowed to use everything within her power to bring justice to the deceased.  She went further to urge everyone especially Umunze women who has gone on a peaceful protest to give the court some time to follow the law and make their judgment even as she explained that she will not relent until others involved in the dastardly act is apprehended and arraigned before the special court in Awka. The women and social welfare boss also used the...

We Recorded Over 12.9 million Cyberattacks On Presidential Poll, Says FG The Federal Government has revealed not less than 12.9 million cyberattacks from within and outside the country were recorded during the just-concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections.  The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Pantami, who disclosed this said on elections day alone over 6.9 million attacks were recorded.  He announced the attacks were successfully blocked owing to the sophisticated infrastructure on grounds by different agencies of government charged with the responsibility of protecting the nation’s cyberspace.  Pantami commended President Muhammadu Buhari for providing the enabling environment for agencies of government to perform their assignments without let or hindrances.   

Court Orders Lagos State Government, Nigeria Police To Pay N5 Million As Compensation To Uber Driver Assaulted During 2021 EndSARS Anniversary A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, ordered the Lagos State Government and the Nigeria Police to pay the sum of 5 Million Naira as compensation to Adedotun Clement, the Uber driver who was publicly attacked, assaulted and humiliated by officials of the Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Agency and the Nigeria Police Force during the first anniversary of EndSARS in 2021. During the first anniversary of the EndSARS protest on 20th October, 2021, Mr Clement was carrying a passenger from the Island to the Mainland part of Lagos, when he encountered the protest at the Lekki Toll Gate which was disrupted by officials of Lagos State and the police. Following the pandemonium that ensued after policemen and the officers of the Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Agency fired tear-gas canisters to disperse the peaceful protesters an...

Ex-Imo Deputy governor to stay in prison till Wednesday 14 March 2023  The Ex-Imo state Deputy Governor, Gerald Irona, who was remanded in Owerri correctional centre, last Thursday, could not appear in Owerri high court on Tuesday, due to his matter was not enlisted. The Imo state Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, legal adviser, Kissinger Ikeokwo, made this known to newsmen in Owerri. According to Ikeokwo, ” The arraignment will now take place on Wednesday. We hurriedly filed on Friday and when we got to the court on Tuesday we discovered that the arraignment will no longer take place today. The matter was not enlisted in court for the day. The case file has not been to the court. He will now be arraigned on Wednesday.” It should be recalled the Imo state police command charged Irona to court on three-count charges which bordered on alleged felony, illegal possession of government properties, and, alleged utterances to make Imo state ungovernable. According to the three count charge, ...

400-level UNIBEN student shot dead 14 March 2023  A 400-level Computer Engineering student of the University of Benin, Destiny Osasenaga has been killed by suspected gunmen in Benin, Edo State. The deceased was abducted at his residence in the Uwelu area of Benin by gunmen suspected to be secret cult members in the presence of his father and other family members. The gunmen were said to be in search of the deceased elder brother who they said had offended one of their gang members and subsequently declared him wanted. The source quoted by Punch added, “When they could not find their target, they abducted the deceased, put him in a Mercedez Benz GLK Jeep and zoomed off to a bush path along Benin-Akure Road by Oluku community. “The deceased was beaten to death by the gunmen and dumped at a refuse site by the roadside,” the source added. Following the murder, one Kenneth Ediagbony was arrested in Port Harcourt by the police in his hideout as the principal suspect. When contacted, Edo ...

In a world where technological innovation is constantly evolving, Nigeria has recognized the need to keep up with the pace. That's why the Investment in the Digital and Creative Enterprises (IDice) program was born, after almost five years of groundwork and collaboration between government and private sector partners.  The program is set to support young entrepreneurs in digital tech and creative industries to unlock their potential and create job opportunities. At the launch of the program, I couldn't help but celebrate the remarkable strides already taken by Nigerian digital entrepreneurs. With over $1 billion in funding secured by 180 startups, Nigeria is now Africa's best-funded country with approximately 30% of funded ventures on the continent.  With the IDice program, we aim to take this success even further. Thanks to the support of partners such as the African Development Bank, Agence Française de Développement, and The Islamic Development Bank, we have raised over ...

How Ex-Minister Wakil, Others Shared N450m 2015 Election Bribe Cash- EFCC Witness A Federal High Court, sitting in Maiduguri, Borno State on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 heard how a former minister of power, Mohammed Wakil and others shared a sum of N450million meant to influence the outcome of the 2015 presidential election in Borno State. The Maiduguri Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had on Tuesday, June 18, 2019 re-arraigned Wakil alongside Garba Abacha, Ibrahim Shehu Birma, Dr. Abubakar Ali Kullima and Engr. Muhammad Baba Kachalla. They are alleged to have received the said sum from the $115million disbursed by a former minister of petroleum resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke to influence the outcome of the 2015 presidential election. They pleaded “not guilty” to the charges. At the resumed trial today, counsel for the prosecution, Mukhtar Ali Ahmed led the third prosecution witness, PW3, Dauda Umar, in evidence. He narrated how the sum of N450,000,00...

REMARKS BY THE CHAIRMAN, INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC), PROF. MAHMOOD YAKUBU, AT A MEETING OF THE INTER-AGENCY CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE ON ELECTION SECURITY, HELD AT THE INEC CONFERENCE ROOM, ABUJA, ON TUESDAY 14TH MARCH 2023 1. Exactly three weeks ago, we met to review security arrangements for the Presidential and National Assembly elections. Today, we are reviewing our preparations for the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections holding on Saturday 18th March 2023. As I welcome you to this meeting, I wish to express the Commission’s appreciation to the security agencies and other members of ICCES for the professionalism of personnel and the generally peaceful conduct of the elections. We look forward to improved performance in the elections holding this weekend. 2. The Governorship elections will hold in 28 States of the Federation. As you are aware, Governorship elections in eight States (Anambra, Bayelsa, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Kogi, Ondo and Osun States) ar...

NIGERIAN ARMY DONATES 60 BED HOSPITAL WARD TO KISHI COMMUNITY The people of Kishi in Irepo Local Government of Oyo state were today full of joy and accolades for the Nigerian Army (NA) as the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya commissioned an ultra modern 60 bed hospital ward at the General Hospital, Kishi. The health facility constructed and fully equipped by the NA,  contains female and male wards, Children ward, Labour Room, Doctors' offices, Nurse station as well as a reception.  Speaking at the commissioning, the COAS described the project as one of his special Intervention Civil Military Cooperation projects aimed at winning the hearts and minds of Nigerians by complementing existing infrastructures. He added that the Nigerian Army belongs to Nigerians and as such they must partner in ensuring that Nigeria is safe and secured. He expressed gratitude to the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Mohammadu Buhari for his unflin...

 *FEDERAL MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES* *PRESS RELEASE*  WATER MINISTER SIGNS MOU WITH HEALTH MINISTER ON THE ROLL OUT OF HEALTHWASH PROGRAMME TOWARDS ENDING OPEN DEFECATION The Hon. Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Sulieman H. Adamu FNSE, FAEng has signed an MOU with the Dr Osagie Ehanire Honourable Minister of Health towards a collaborative programme for Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Federal health Insituitions  across the country. The signing took place at the Conference Room of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources GARKI Abuja on 13th March, 2023. Speaking at the event the Water Minister noted that the WASH Poverty Diagnostic Report released in 2017 which showed the deplorable state of WASH services in the country and the urgent need to change the narrative.  The report which was released at the early years of this administration triggered many  subsequent sectorial interventions to address the shortcoming. Some of these initiatives include, deve...

" Each year is an absolute GIFT, & man...to make it to 90?!...This is the day that you dream about, but never really believe would be a possibility. So, to have finally met this number in person...all I can say is...Thank u GOD! I'm here to stay & play! YOLO-SO-KOKO P.S. Hope to see all-a-y'awl at my 90th bday concert at the Hollywood Bowl - 7/28 & 7/29!"-Quincy Jones. One more photo below.   

Ogun police arrest tenant for allegedly killing her landlord by grabbing his manhood Men of the Ogun state police on Saturday , March 11, arrested a 33-year-old woman, Ifeoma Ossai, for allegedly k!lling her 50-year-old landlord, Monday Surulere Oladele, over a minor squabble. Ifeoma was arrested following a report lodged at the Nigeria Police Divisional Headquarters Sango Ota by Mr Olaleye Taiwo, who reported that his brother, Monday Oladele had a quarrel with his tenant over the non payment of electricity bill. A statement released by the spokesperson of the state police command, SP Abimbola Oyeyemi, states that the Police PRO disclosed that Ifeoma grabbed the deceased’s private parts and dragged him along with it, causing the landlord to fall to the ground. He said the victim of this assault was rushed in an unconscious state to the Ota General Hospital, where the doctor on duty confirmed him d€ad. Oyeyemi mentioned that when the DPO Sango Ota Division, CSP Saleh Dahiru, received th...

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES FOR NIGERIAN ARMY DIRECT SHORT SERVICE COMMISSION COURSE 27/2023 SELECTION BOARD FROM 21 - 31 MARCH 2023 1. The Nigerian Army hereby informs the general public that the Selection Board for Direct Short Service Commission (DSSC) Course 27/2023 will hold at Nigerian Defence Academy (old site), Kaduna State from 21 - 31 March 2023. The list of shortlisted candidates is available at Nigerian Army recruitment website https://recruitment.army.mil.ng. 2. Candidates are to report to the Selection Board venue on 21 March 2023 with the following: a. Writing materials including ruler and eraser. b. Two pairs of plain white short sleeve vests. c. Two pairs of navy blue shorts. d. Canvas shoes/trainers and white socks. e. Toiletries. f. Set of cutleries including plates and drinking cups. g. Beddings to include blankets, bedspreads and pillow cases etc. h. Four copies of full size colour photographs at standing position in suit. 4. Each candidate will be r...

Gunmen Kidnap Rivers State House Of Assembly Candidate With Days To Elections  Some yet-to-be-identified armed men on Tuesday morning kidnapped Chukwudi Ogbonna, the Accord Party candidate for the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area Constituency in the Rivers State House of Assembly. This is coming barely four days to the State House of Assembly which is fixed for the March 18 election.  

I’ll Expose Ex-govs Who Looted Kaduna Resources — El-Rufai Kaduna—Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State has threatened to expose former governors of the state who allegedly looted and stashed the state funds in United Arab Emirate, UAE, and other metropolitan capitals of Europe and America where they acquired properties.  According to him, one of the former governors was allegedly indicted in a missing N500 million contract to reconstruct the popular WAFF  Road, claiming nothing was done on the road until he became Governor and turned the road into a dual carriage way.  The governor during an interview with Kaduna State Media Corporation, Hausa Service, alleged that “They looted the money, the person they gave the WAFF road contract is dead…..:”  He however singled out former Vice President Namadi Sambo who as Governor of the state, started a 300 bed specialist hospital in Kaduna but could not complete the project due to the political exigencies that made the Vice ...

Federal High Court Reserves Ruling On Bail Application Of Rivers Reps Member March 14, 2023 Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has reserved judgement in the bail application on the money laundering case against Member Representing  Port Harcourt Federal Constituency 2  Mr.Chinyere Igwe. The lawmaker  was alleged to have on the 24th of February, 2023 seen in  possession of  the sum of four hundred and ninety-eight thousand US Dollars. When the matter was called, Principals prosecuting counsel from the Attorney General office of Rivers State  applied to take over the prosecution from the police, which was not opposed by the defendant counsel but insisted to move the motion for the bail application.   Presiding Judge, Justice Stephen Daylop-Pam ruled that the principal prosecutor from the Ministry of Justice takes over the case and reserved judgement on the bail application. Justice Daylop-Pam also adjourned to the 4th of May 2023 for the substan...

MARCH 18 GUBER ELECTIONS: IGP EXTENDS ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO COMMANDS/FORMATIONS FOR EFFECTIVE ELECTION SECURITY MANAGEMENT Orders Continuous Mop-Up of Illicit Arms/Ammunition as Police Recovers 182 Illicit Arms in 1 Month The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, CFR, has extended additional human and logistic support to Commands and Formations across the country for effective election security management during the forthcoming gubernatorial and state houses of assembly elections scheduled for Saturday 18th March, 2023. The additional support includes the deployment of personnel, operational vehicles, non-lethal weapons, personal protective equipment (body armor), anti-riot equipment etc.  In the same vein, the IGP has ordered the continuous mop-up of illicit arms and ammunition across the nation as part of efforts of the Force, as the lead agency in internal security management, to curb the trafficking of illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) within the country...

 Police declare Reps member wanted, place N1m bounty 14 March 2023    The police have declared a member of the House of Representatives, Bauchi Federal Constituency, Yakubu Shehu, wanted. Yakubu is being wanted in connection with a case of criminal conspiracy, causing grievous hurt, inciting disturbance of public peace, and culpable homicide. This was contained in a gazette citing CRO Form 5 issued from the Office of the Inspector General of Police. The security agency is asking anyone with useful information about his whereabouts to contact them, promising a N1m as a bounty on the lawmaker.

Nigerians to pay N1, 000.00 NIN fee for passports 14 March 2023  Nigerians applying for passports will be charged N1000 in Nigeria for the verification of their National Identification Number. The National Identity Management Commission disclosed this in a statement signed by its Head, Corporate Communications, Kayode Adegoke, on Monday. According to the commission, the fee is to improve the quality of service, accuracy, and speed of passport services through timely verification of NIN. It stated that it agreed on this framework with the Nigerian Immigration Service. NIMC said, “This new arrangement is in furtherance of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy’s directive to streamline passport application, renewal, and issuance processes. “Consequently, a NIN Verification fee would be charged for each Nigerian passport application for this service.” It added, “NIMC and NIS have agreed on a revised applicant journey that will significantly improve the speed of pas...

 EFCC Arrests 21 Alleged Yahoo Boys in Abuja The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, today, March 14, 2023 arrested 21 suspected internet fraudsters. The suspects include Joseph Boniface, Emmaneul Okwara, Elijah Iwebie, Moses Hassan, Abdulrahman Lawal, Azu Chidubem Eugene, Abdullahi Adebola and Elijah Simon. Others are Terfa Lincoln, David Kome, Chukwudah Martinez, Adie Matthew, Canice Agabi, Abbas Aminu, Damilare James and Christopher Simon. Also arrested include Mohammed Abdulhamid, Ifeanyi Bosah, Ayuba Aminu, Godwin Terkura and Victor Ademola. They were nabbed in the Lugbe and Kubwa suburbs of Abuja, following actionable intelligence on their alleged internet-related fraud activities More than 25 high-end mobile phones, 3 laptops and Mercedes CLA250 and C300 cars were recovered from the suspects. They will be charged to court as soon as the investigations are concluded. More photos below.