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Ohanaeze hosts British envoy, seeks reduced jail term for Ekweremadu The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has begged the British government to have clemency on the jailed former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu. Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, alongside a medical doctor,Obinna Obeta, were in May jailed by the UK over an  organ trafficking plot. The UK court sentenced Ekweremadu to nine years and eight months in prison; Beatrice bagged  four years and six months  while the doctor was jailed for 10 years. But on Tuesday, while receiving the British Higher Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Richard Montgomery, at its National Secretariat in Enugu, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo pleaded with the UK government to have mercy of Ekweremadu.  

 “My administration experienced hostile handover” ― Otti Dr. Alex Otti, Abia state governor, has narrated how his administration experienced a very hostile handover on May 29, 2023, when he took over governance from his predecessor, Okezie Ikpeazu. Otti, while inaugurating a judicial panel of inquiry to recover government properties and funds allegedly looted during previous administrations in the state, lamented that the situation made it difficult for him to hit the ground running. He stated this at Abia Government House, Umuahia while also claiming that he assumed office blindly and below ground zero, alleging that he had discovered that the reason for non-cooperation may have arisen from mischief from those who are in the custody of public properties and funds. He said; “Let me reveal that this administration experienced a very hostile handover situation which made it very difficult for us to hit the ground running on the 29th of May, as we had anticipated. We, therefore, assum...

I’m Working Day And Night To Solve Nigeria’s Challenges, Tinubu Says In Sallah Message As Nigerians join their counterparts from across the world to celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir festivities, President Bola Tinubu has assured citizens that he is “working day and night” to solve the myriads of challenges facing the country. Tinubu, in a statement he personally signed on Tuesday, said that the decisions taken so far by his administration will “reform our economy and remove all impediments to growth”. “At the moment, our country is going through some challenges, especially with our struggling economy and simmering security challenges,” the President stated. “While I acknowledge all of these, I want to assure you that they are not insurmountable. I am working day and night with my team, fleshing out solutions. We have started with the decisions taken so far, to reform our economy and remove all impediments to growth. “As we embrace the present challenges, we must face the future with vigour a...

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE PRESIDENT TINUBU RECEIVES TUMULTUOUS WELCOME UPON RETURN TO LAGOS  President Bola Tinubu has expressed his profound gratitude to Nigerians for the overwhelming reception accorded him in Lagos on Tuesday, conveying his best wishes to all Nigerians during the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.   The President received a tumultuous welcome from a massive crowd of Nigerians upon his return to Lagos, following his seven-day trip abroad.   He had traveled to Paris, France to attend the summit on ''A New Global Financing Pact'' and had also made a brief private visit to London, United Kingdom.  As President Tinubu's convoy made its way from Ikeja to his private residence in Bourdillon, Ikoyi, Lagosians lined the road from Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), enthusiastically waving and expressing their joy.   This marks the President's first visit to Lagos since his inauguration as Nigeria's 16th President on May 29, 2023....

Subsidy removal: Poor Nigerians will hit 101million without palliatives, says W’Bank The World Bank has stated that Nigeria has one of the highest inflation rates, which pushed an estimated four million people into poverty between January and May 2023. This was disclosed during the launch of the June 2023 edition of the Nigeria Development Update on Tuesday in Abuja. The Washington-based lender also said about 7.1 million poor Nigerians would become poor if the Federal Government failed to compensate or provide palliatives for them, following the removal of fuel subsidy. According to World Bank data, 89.8 million Nigerian were poor as of the beginning of this year. The lender noted that additional four million Nigerians became poor between January and May this year, raising the figure to 93.8million. Latest projection means the number of poor Nigerians will rise to 100.9 million if the government fails to compensate vulnerable citizens for fuel subsidy removal. The World Bank Nigeria D...

WHY I DONATED N10M, BUS TO BENUE FA - EDEH The newly elected Chairman of the Benue State Football Association (BAFA), Barrister Paul Edeh, has said he donated the sum of N10m to the association to ensure that the new board takes-off on a sound financial footing. The frontline promoter of female football in Nigeria also donated a brand-new Sienna bus to the football association. It will be recalled that during his inauguration as the new Chairman of BAFA, Edeh had promised to boost the association with the now redeemed N10m pledge and a bus to ease transportation challenges. The highly celebrated football administrator and president of Ratels Sports Development Foundation (RSDF) also led the new board on a courtesy visit to the Benue State governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia. During the visit, the FA chairman informed the governor who was represented by his deputy, Barrister Sam Ode, that after its inaugural meeting, the new board considered it necessary to pay him a courtesy call and inti...

Two Jailed for Internet Fraud in Abuja The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Abuja Zonal Command on June 26, 2023 secured the conviction one Adegbayi Tunde Yusuf. He was prosecuted on one count of fraud before Justice A.Y. Shafa of the FCT High Court Gwagwalada-Abuja. The charge reads, “that you, Adegbayi Tunde Yusuf sometime in 2023 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court committed the offence of cheating by personation when you pretended to be one Fillipo Marrazzo, an Italian citizen which you were not, created a fake Facebook account and benefitted the sum of $200 (Two Hundred United States Dollars) from your victim, Sonia Marina, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 321 and punishable under Section 324 of the Penal Code Act, Laws of the Federation, 2004”. He pleaded guilty to the charge. Following his plea, Justice Shafa convicted and sentenced Adegbayi to one month imprisonment with an option of N200, 000 (Two Hundred Thousand Na...

BENUE: BODY OF A SEVERELY MALNOURISHED WOMAN FOUND ALONG MAKURDI-ALIADE ROAD 27th June, 2023 The body of a severely malnourished unidentified woman was found dumped along the Makurdi-Aliade Road in Benue State.  Activist Ukan Kurugh, who shared the photo on Monday, June 26, called on relevant authorities to evacuate the corpse.  The body of a badly malnourished unidentified woman is lying dead directly opposite the main entrance of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), KM 15 Makurdi-Aliade Road, Apir. I'm using this opportunity and medium to call on the relevant authorities to evacuate the remains,” he wrote.

It’s unfair to judge us for result upload glitch– INEC The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has said that Nigerians should not judge them based on the glitch experienced in the upload of the February 25 presidential election held across the country. The EU chief Observer, Barry Andrews, said public condience in INEC was severely damaged in the February 25 Felection due to the commission's operational failures and lack of transparency. Andrews said some corrective measures introduced in the March 18 governorship elections seemed to have had a positive effect but overall, trust was not restored and this led to civil societies to call for an independent audit of the entire process. The EU observation team made 6 priority recommendations. While reacting to the final report on the 2023 general elections submitted by the European Union Election Observation Mission on Monday, June 26, INEC National Commissioner, Festus Okoye, urged Nigerians not to judge the electoral em...

Leading Nigeria is one of the hardest challenges in life - Buhari Former President Muhammadu Buhari has said that leading Nigeria is one of the hardest challenges in life. In his Eid-el-Kabir message signed by his spokesperson, Garba Shehu, the former Nigerian President said leadership entails the cooperation and support of all citizens.  Buhari also appealed to Nigerians to rally around his successor. The statement partly read;  “Leading a country like Nigeria is one of the hardest challenges in life and urged Nigerians to fully support the Tinubu Administration to succeed and that leadership is a challenging task that demands the sacrifices and support of the citizens.” The former president also wished Nigerian Muslims a happy Eid and “to those on pilgrimage, Hajj Mabrur and a safe return home”.  

Governor Otti Orders Payment Of June Salaries In Abia Abia State Governor Alex Otti has directed the Accountant General of the state, Mrs Njum Onyemenam, to ensure that all verified workers in the state civil service receive their salary for June before Wednesday, June 28, 2023. The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Kazie Uko, in a statement on Tuesday, cited the governor’s promise to pay the monthly salaries of civil servants in the state on or before the 28th of every month. The governor gave the directive on Monday after a meeting with the Accountant General and some other senior members of his government. Governor Otti, in his inaugural speech to the people of Abia on May 29, promised that under his watch salaries of civil servants will be paid latest on the 28th of every month. The governor expressed dissatisfaction with the distinction between the so-called “core” and “non-core” civil servants, adding that from June 2023, the state would settle all salary and pension obligat...

Sierra Leone's President Julius Maada Bio re-elected with 56.17% to serve a second term Sierra Leone's President Julius Maada Bio has today been re-elected as announced by Sierra Leone electoral commission that the president was reelected after meeting the 56.17% vote needed to qualify for the position of president after the country's General elections during the last weekend. He will now be serving a second term as the head of Sierra Leone's government.   

N525million Fraud: Court of Appeal Upholds Conviction of Internet Fraudster The Calabar Division of the Court of Appeal, on Friday, June 23, 2023 upheld the conviction of a notorious international fraudster, Scales Olatunji who was convicted for internet fraud and money laundering charges by a Federal High Court, sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.  Justice Agatha Okeke had on June 27, 2022 found Olatunji guilty of forty-five count charges of internet fraud and money laundering preferred against him by the Uyo Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Commission, EFCC and sentenced him to 235 years imprisonment, without an option of a fine.  The convict was prosecuted, following the receipt of a petition by Oslo Police District, Norway, requesting the assistance of the Commission in investigating a network of Nigerian citizens, who had serially duped some Norwegians. Investigations showed that the convict belonged to a syndicate of internet fraudsters who specialized in Busine...

Three Convicted for Internet Fraud, Forfeits N7m, Car in Ibadan An Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan has convicted and sentenced three internet fraudsters, Yusuf Nurudeen Mayowa, Alloy Wisdom Chibuzor and Muheez Adeshina Ayomide to various jail terms. Yusuf was arraigned on a one count charge “aiding the Commission of felony to wit: obtaining property by false pretences”, contrary to Sections 7(b) and 419 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000, while Chibuzor and Ayomide were arraigned on one count charge each for personation, contrary to Section 484 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000. Upon their arraignments before Justice Ladiran Akintola, they all pleaded “guilty” to the charges preferred against them by the Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Consequently, prosecution counsel, Samsuddeen Bashir and Mabas Mabur reviewed the cases and tendered several documentary evidence that were admitted and marke...

EFCC Arraigns Two for N2.9m Fraud in Maiduguri The Maiduguri Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, June 26, 2023, arraigned the duo of Rawa Gana Aisami and Sadiq Bulama Maina before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri on separate charges bordering on criminal breach of trust and misappropriation. Aisami was docked on a two-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust to the tune of N1,450,000.00 (One Million, Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira).  The defendant pleaded 'not guilty' to the charge.  In a related development, Sadiq Bulama Maina was arraigned on a one-count charge of criminal misappropriation to the tune of N1,575,303.00 (One Million, Five Hundred and Seventy-Five Three Hundred and Three Naira).” The defendant pleaded 'not guilty' to the charge preferred against him by EFCC.  Counsel for the prosecution, S.O Saka asked the court for trial dates and to remand the defendants in pris...

Police Arrest Enugu ‘Big Boys’ That Use Fake Alerts To Purchase Items Worth Millions  June 27, 2023 Police Detectives serving in the Anti-Robbery Section of the Enugu State Criminal Investigation Department, CID, have arrested one Mmesoma Linus (a.k.a Silver Money) aged 26, for using fake alerts to purchase goods worth millions. Parading the suspect at the command headquarters on Monday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe said Mmesoma was arrested on 23rd of May, 2023 at Independence layout. Ndukwe said the suspect who has been on the watch list of the Command, on the 28th of November, 2021, “issued a fake credit alert of N3,530,000.00 to an unsuspecting timber dealer (names withheld) in Nsukka Timber Market. “On the said day, after pretending to buy woods from the victim, Mmesoma sent the fake credit sum and deceived the seller to give him its cash equivalent, which he immediately made away with. The suspect confessed to the crime, while a video clip intercepte...

Boko Haram eliminates own top leader, others over attempt to form faction 27th Jun 2023  Members of the Boko Haram sect, popularly known as ‘Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihād’, terrorists group have eliminated one of its Amir Jaysh (Leader), Abou Hassana, over alleged rebellion accusations. It was gathered that Abou Hassana was eliminated along with three of his accused accomplice in front of other fighters at the Mandara Mountain in Gwoza Local Government area of Borno State. Gwoza was once under the total control of Boko Haram after the terrorists Group slaughtered about 100 civilians in a day a few years ago. Zagazola Makama, a Counter-Insurgency Expert and Security Analyst in Lake Chad understands that Ali Ngulde, The Second most High Ranking Boko Haram Leader, ordered the elimination after they were sentenced to death for their crimes. According to sources, Abou Hassana was trying to raise an independent faction within Boko Haram to spearhead his own terror campaigns...

Amotekun Commander, Akinremi Is Dead June 27, 2023 The Commander of the Amotekun Corps in Ogun State, David Akinremi is dead. Akinremi, a retired Commissioner of Police, was said to have died on Monday evening. It was gathered that Akinremi had been nursing an undisclosed ailment for quite some time until he breathed his last on Monday. Akinremi was in 2021 appointed by Governor Dapo Abiodun as the pioneer Commander of the newly established Amotekun Corps. The Amotekun Corps under his watch, worked with other security agents in their attempts to rid the State of crimes. Confirming Akinremi’s death, the Commander of the So-Safe Corps, Soji Ganzallo, described Akinremi’s death as a rude shock.  

  A Senator was beaten up abroad by Senegalese angry at the State of the country and he's here to enjoy his loot of the country's wealth.

Court remands Tochi Ephraim(TOMPA),two others to Prison. June 27, 2023 A magistrate Court sitting in Umuahia North Magisterial District has remanded a Revenue contractor Mr Tochi Ephraim popularly known as TOMPA to prison over allegations of felony. Tochi alongside Chibuzor Ihemelandu and Nwazue Azubuike were arraigned on five count charge before a magistrate court in Umuahia. “That You Tochi Ephraim, Chibuzor Ihemelandu, Nwazue Azubuike and others now at large on or about the 21st of June 2023 at the Osisioma Head bridge, Osisioma Magistrate District, conspired amongst yourselves to commit felony to with: Assault occasioning Harm/ Malicious damage and thereby committer an offence punishable under section 516A (a) Of the Criminal Code Cap 80 Vol. 3, laws of Abia State 2005.” The first count had read. PUO Reports that Tochi who was arrested last week was released by the police after the Governor of Abia State Dr Alex Otti allegedly intervened as reported by his friends. The court declin...

Buhari, Tinubu Meet In London June 27, 2023 President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has met with his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, in London, United Kingdom. The outcome of the meeting between the duo is not yet known as the details of their discussions were not made public. However, some presidential aides released pictures of the meeting on social media. Tinubu had departed Nigeria on June 20 to participate in the two-day New Global Financial Pact Summit, held in Paris, France. That was his first official trip since he took over from Buhari on May 29, 2023. The president was scheduled to return on Saturday, June 24, however, Mr. Dele Alake, the presidential spokesman in a statement explained that his principal would proceed to London, for a short private visit. Mr. Tinubu is back to currently as the presidential jet touched down at Lagos where the president is expected to join the upcoming Eid-el-Kabir festival.  

 Pandemonium In Onitsha Market As Suspected Hausa Labourer Stabs Businessman To Death June 27, 2023 There was a pandemonium in Onitsha main market, Anambra State on Tuesday evening as a labourer suspected to be from the northern part of Nigeria stabbed a business man whose identity can’t be ascertained yet to death. Media correspondent gathered that the Hausa man was contracted by the businessman to help him offload his goods in his warehouse that’s at the section of the market where they sell baking materials. Trouble started when the man was suddenly seen in the pool of his own blood by his colleagues and the Hausa man was nowhere to be found. The development irked the young persons in the area and they quickly mobilized themselves in search of the perpetrator. This forced other northerners to seek refuge at the Army barrack and the Central Police Station (CPS) over fear of reprisal attack my the angry mob. It’s not clear if the man was robbed but unconfirmed report suggests that...

𝐑𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥 The Rivers State House of Assembly today passed the Rivers State College of Health Science and Management Technology  Amendment Bill into law.  The Bill amended section 56(c) of the Principal Law and restricted the category of persons to be appointed as Provost of the College to only those with requisite academic qualifications of a doctoral degree in health sciences and allied professions.  The amendment aims to encourage professionalism, expertise, efficiency and academic excellence.  In his brief Remarks, the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, DSSRS, thanked his colleagues for their robust contributions throughout the stages of the bill. The House Adjourned Plenary to 6th July, 2023. More photos below. 

Governor Fintiri Commissions 455 Housing Units For IDPs At Labondo Governor Ahmadu Umaru  Fintiri has commissioned 454 houses meant for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Adamawa state at Labondo I Girie local government area. The project under the programme Labondo Local Integration Project was championed by United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) among others.  Speaking at the event, Governor Umaru Fintiri commended the development partners for providing the houses which was described as qualitative. He urges the two thousand and seven hundred beneficiaries of the houses and other interventions to cultivate good maintenance culture of the project for sustainability. The Governor expressed delight that the project focuses on community empowerment, sustainable housing, livelihood support, social cohesion and socio-economic development. Chansa Kapaya, UNHCR Country Representative, expressed gratitude to Governor Fintiri for providing overall leadership towards e...