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Court Remands Six Suspected Illegal Revenue Collectors To Prison By Amaka Chibuzo Okoye (ABS NEWS) Six suspected illegal revenue collectors who were arrested by the Anambra Internal Revenue Service, AIRS have been remanded in prison by a Chief Magistrate Court, sitting in Ugbenu, Awka North Local Government Area. Their charges border on alleged diversion of taxes, levies and other revenue against the will of the state government. In a case file with suit number MUG/AIRS/01c/2023, the Commissioner of Police accused Mr. Willie Anozie, from Ogbaru of illegal collection of taxies, levies and other revenues on 19th July, 2023, an offence punishable under section 60 and 61 of Anambra Revenue Administration Law 2010. It also accused Messrs. Obi Chigbata from Uzo-Uwani in Enugu State, Nnamdi Okoye, Chidera Okoye, Ikenna Okechukwu, all from Omor, and Moses Ikwunne from Omasi Agu all in Ayamelum Local Government of Anambra State for conspiracy to illegally collect taxes, levies and other revenue...

Fresh Details: How Anambra Clubber, Chinyere Awuda Was Molested, Beaten To Death, Dumped In A Hotel Pool July 20, 2023 A young lady simply identified as Miss Chinyere Awuda has been beaten to death and dumped in a hotel pool in Awka, Anambra the State capital. The incident happened last weekend, when some fun seekers in a club accused her of stealing their money. The lady from Nnobi, in Idemmili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, was found dead in the swimming pool of the hotel on Sunday morning, where she was dumped after being beaten to death. Sources said the young lady was at the club when trouble broke out, and a man identified as a popular clubber, Mr Gabriel Chinemere and his friends started beating her. “One of the clubbers accused her of picking money which the fun seekers were spraying on their friend who was a birthday celebrant. “Some others said she did not only pick money but went for bundles of money, which a clubber stacked by his seat side, waiting to spray ...

Ex-agitators give NDDC management team 5 days to vacate office 20th Jul 2023  The management team of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has been given a five-day ultimatum to vacate the commission or face severe consequences. The ultimatum was issued on Thursday by Niger Delta ex-agitators in a statement, stating that the team led by Dr Samuel Ogbuku is occupying their offices illegally, as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had dissolved all parastatals and agencies of the federal government, including the NDDC. The ex-agitators specifically warned that if the management failed to leave the office, they would occupy the commission and disrupt the activities of the NDDC. In a statement signed by its Chairman, Gen. Daboikiabo Alalibo, the ex-agitators under the aegis of the Coalition of Ex-agitators of Niger Delta (CEND) said it was unimaginable that the team could be operating against the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He said: “Our President gave an express order di...

Fuel hike unbearable for Nigerians, Gani Adams tells Tinubu 20th Jul 2023  The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land, Gani Adams, has faulted the hike in the prices of Premium Motor Spirit, known as petrol. According to Adams, the fuel price hike is making life difficult for Nigerians, noting that the situation is biting hard. Adams, who asked the President, Bola Tinubu, to swiftly address the attendant consequences of the subsidy removal, said that Nigerians can no longer bear the hardship they are experiencing. Adams, in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Aderemi, said such skyrocketing increase in fuel price has never happened in Nigeria’s history. According to him, there is no country in the world like Nigeria (a major producer of oil) where the citizens are groaning in pain over an insensitive increase in the prices of fuel. “We know how much we buy fuel before now. Nigeria is yet to survive the subsidy removal that led to the sudden increase in the price ...

Subsidy palliative: APC govt doesn’t treat Nigerians as human beings – Dele Farotim A lawyer and political analyst, Dele Farotimi, has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, of neglecting ordinary Nigerians in their subsidy palliative approach. In an interview with Arise Television on Thursday, Farotimi took a swipe at the ruling party over the alleged N70 billion proposed palliatives for the National Assembly members. According to him, the Federal Government budgeted N70 billion for less than 500 people and proposed what is “essentially nothing” to the masses. He argued that the measures have not adequately addressed citizens’ concerns, reflecting a disconnect between the federal government and the people emphasizing that the APC lacks the will to improve the lives of Nigerians. He said, “Nothing makes sense in Nigeria anymore. What we do now is just trying to survive. The government of the country doesn’t treat Nigerians as human beings. It is not just about treating us a...

Osun: Gov. Adeleke Dragged For Appointing Nephew Who Recently Finished NYSC As Board Chairman The Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has come under heavy criticism for appointing the son of his late elder brother and ex-governor, Isiaka Adeleke, Tunji Adeleke as a board chairman. Tunji, who graduated from Adeleke University in 2020 and served in 2022 was appointed chairman of the Local Government Service Commission. This is coming barely two weeks after Adeleke appointed the wife of his late elder brother Adenike Adeleke as a state commissioner. However, Adeleke’s appointment of his family members into key positions in the state has caused a stir on social media. A Twitter user, @Realadeshina, wrote: “Congratulations Tunji Adeleke as Osun State Chairman board of local government. This disgrace is getting too much.” @simplysnipe said “Most people didn’t know or heard of the guy before, now they know him. I’m just loving the news coming out of Osun, the second Edo State. Next now is for...

 We had chemistry but never dated – Simi clarifies relationship with Falz Popular singer, Simisola Kosoko, alias Simi, has stated that contrary to speculations, she and rapper, Falz The Bahd Guy never dated. She insisted that what they had was a working relationship, stressing that it was fans who spread the rumours that they were dating because of their sonic chemistry. The singer stated this while featuring in the interview segment of MTV Base Africa’s programme, Official Naija Top 10.

Police officer slapped by Seun Kuti promoted Mohammed Aminu, the police officer who was assaulted by Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti, has been promoted. The Police Service Commission (PSC) said in a statement on Thursday that the officer had been promoted to the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP). A statement by the PSC spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani, said Aminu, in spite of the assault, exhibited a high level of professionalism. “Inspector Mohammed Aminu, who trended on social Media where he was seen being assaulted in uniform by one Seun Kuti, was also promoted to ASP I,” Ani said. At its ongoing 21st plenary meeting, the commission approved the appointment of two Deputy Inspectors General (DIG) and the promotion of the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Muyiwa Adejobi, to the next rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP).  

Churches used to pay me N5,000 – Simi reveals why she dumped gospel music Award-winning Nigerian singer, Simisola Kosoko, simply known as Simi, has revealed that she used to be paid as low as N5,000-10,000 as performance fee when she was a gospel artiste. She said the highest she was ever paid then was N70,000. The ‘Duduke’ crooner disclosed this while featuring on the interview segment of MTV Base Africa’s programme, Official Naija Top 10. She said, “I actually used to go to a lot of churches to perform. They will pay me like N5k, N10k. Do you know the highest amount of money I actually collected when I was doing gospel [music]? N70,000. And I felt like I had arrived. I still paid a 10 per cent tithe from the money.” She said at some point she stopped singing because she wasn’t making enough money from gospel music to pay for studio sections and promotions. Simi said because of lack of finances, she got signed to a record label that she regretted signing for till today. The mother of ...

Presidential Tribunal: INEC Speaks On Deducting 2.5 Million Votes From Peter Obi’s Score The Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) has denied the allegation of deducting 2.5 million votes from the scores obtained by the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi. INEC made the denial in its final address to the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in the case by Obi and his party challenging the final outcome of the 2023 presidential election as declared by the commission. Peter Obi of the Labour Party who is challenging the victory of President Bola Tinubu in the February 25 polls before the election tribunal, had alleged through his witness before the tribunal that results from certain polling units show that a total of 2,565,269 votes were not reflected in his score, aside from his claim of non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2022. However, in their final written address dated July 14, INEC’s lead counsel, A.B. Mahmoud (SAN), said Obi fai...

LAGOS SET TO HOST CIRCULAR ECONOMY HOTSPOT 2023 Lagos State Government has concluded plans to host Lagos Circular Economy Hotspot 2023 (LCEH2023), an initiative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands that serves as a platform to foster co-creation and highlight cities and societies transition towards circular economy. Chairman, Technical Committee on Lagos Circular Economy Hotspot 2023/Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Dr. Omobolaji Gaji made this known at a Press Conference held at Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja on Thursday, to herald the event. Speaking at the briefing, Gaji stated that the LCEH 2023 event, which will hold on Wednesday, 26th and Thursday, 27th July, 2023 at Lagos Continental Hotel, will avail Lagos an opportunity to highlight how the State is transitioning towards the circular economy and how our businesses and citizens are co-creating innovations. His words: “The initiative will allow Lagos to deepen the conversation as we build on our cl...

EFCC Arraigns Land Agent for Property Fraud The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has arraigned one Danlami Bala Alafiya before Justice A.A. Isiaka of the Kaduna State High Court on a two count charge bordering on land fraud.   The defendant was arrested following a complaint  that  he fraudulently convinced the nominal complainant to swap his BMW 750 2008 Model car  for 10 plots of land valued at N 3,800, 000 situated at Unguwan Hazo, Rigachikun, Kaduna State.  After the swap, the complainant discovered that the land belonged to somebody else. Consequently, he asked for a refund but the defendant offered him another plot of land at Millennium City, Kaduna which also turned out to be fake.  One of the charges reads,  “that you, Dalhatu Mikailu ( Bala Alafiya ), sometime in April 2021 at Kaduna within the jurisdiction of the judicial division of the High Court of Justice of Kaduna State with intent to defraud forged a document titled " PROV...

Abia Lawmaker Calls For State Of Emergency As Erosion Sacks Constituents Member representing Bende North state constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Nnamdi Ibekwe, has called for a declaration of state of emergency on erosion menace ravaging the constituency. The lawmaker made the call while addressing newsmen in Umuahia over the latest erosion incident that rendered many locals homeless at Umuenyere, Alayi Community in Bende Local Government Area. He said that over five houses were washed away by the latest incident and farm lands and crops worth millions of Naira destroyed.  “Many people now live as refugees in their ancestral community”, the lawmaker lamented. Hon. Ibekwe said there are over 100 active erosion sites in the constituency alone with about 20 posing existential threat to the people. He identified Umuenyere Alayi, Oluibina Igbere, Ezi Igbere, Amekpu Item and Okafia as the epicenters of the menace. “Over five houses have been destroyed, farmlands the ...

Subsidy Removal: NEC Decides On Palliative Measures For Nigerians  Following the removal of the petrol subsidy and the recent hike in petrol prices to up to N617/litre, the National Executive Council (NEC) has agreed on palliative measures for Nigerians. The decision was reached on Thursday at a meeting held at the Council Chambers of the State House in Abuja. The meeting, which was chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, has in attendance governors of the 36 states of the Federation, the Director General of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, as well as stakeholders from the World Bank and other agencies of government. NEC also considered integrity tests on state social registers, cash transfers would be done via state social registers subject to state peculiarities. During the meeting, government officials were urged to reduce the cost of governance in their various spheres. This is even as the Federal Government initiated a six-month cash award policy for public servants. Food ite...

Manchester United signs Onana, names Fernandes captain Manchester United signed Cameroonian goalkeeper Andre Onana from Inter Milan on Thursday in a deal that could rise to £47 million ($57 million) and also named Bruno Fernandes as the club’s new captain.  Onana, who will succeed David de Gea as number one at Old Trafford, has agreed a five-year deal with the Premier League club. Meanwhile, Fernandes has taken over from England's Harry Maguire as United's captain. The defender was recently stripped of the armband.  

JAMB bans 109 candidates from writing UTME for 3 years 20th Jul 2023  The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has banned over 100 candidates from sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UMTE) for alleged forgery of result and examination malpractices in the 2023 examination. The registrar of the Board, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede disclosed this on Wednesday at an investigative hearing with the House of Representatives ad hoc committee headed by Hon. Sada Soli APC, Katsina). This is just as Miss Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma who altered her result from 249 to 362 has again openly apologised to the registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede pleading that the board temper justice with mercy and reverse the 3 years ban imposed on her. Testifying before the ad hoc committee, Prof. Oloyede informed that some of the candidates are being prosecuted and five of them standing trial at the High Court in Akure have been remanded. He also disclosed that the centre where Mmesoma registe...

 Shettima Led NEC Dumps Social Investment Register, Says It Lacks Credibility July 20, 2023 The National Economic Council (NEC) presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima, has dumped the national social register under Muhammadu Buhari’s administration for lack of credibility. The Tinubu led Presidency had proposed sharing of 8,000 to 12 million poor people in the country as part of the palliative measures aimed at stemming the effect of subsidy removal on the people. But in their meeting on Thursday, the council, instead, proposed the implementation of a cash transfer programme for states based on their social registers and a cash reward policy for public servants for six months.  

 Rivers Police parade native doctor for kidnapping A native doctor, Otamiri Chinedu, from Olakwo community in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, has been paraded by the Rivers State Police Command for kidnapping. The suspect was arrested by the local vigilante. Chinedu, during the parade, confessed that he and members of his gang collected the sum of N300,000 from their first kidnapping victim, adding that N250,000 and N500,000 were collected from their second and third victims, respectively. He, however, denied involvement in the recent kidnapping he is being accused of, which was the abduction of four law students in Etche LGA in 2022. The native doctor said he sells motor parts for a living alongside his traditional practice. He explained: “The day they accused me of kidnapping the barristers, I was not in the house that day. I went to our meeting of Water Marine Association of Native Doctors. “We went to the meeting at Abara, Etche. I was in my shop on Wednesday when ...

INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION  PRESS RELEASE  RECOGNITION OF THE YOUTH PARTY (YP) BY THE COMMISSION The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) met today, Thursday, 20th July 2023 and among other issues deliberated on the judgement delivered by the Supreme Court of Nigeria on the deregistration of the Youth Party (YP) as a political party. It will be recalled that the Youth Party (YP) was registered on 16th August 2018 by virtue of the judgement of the Federal High Court delivered on 16th October 2017. Following the Commission's decision to deregister some parties in accordance with Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the Youth Party approached the Federal High Court and secured an Order restraining the Commission from deregistering it. On appeal by the Commission, the Court of Appeal set aside the Order of the Federal High Court and on further appeal by the party, the Supreme Court set aside the deregistr...

PERIOD POVERTY: LASG DISTRIBUTES SANITARY KITS TO STUDENTS As part of the effort towards addressing the challenges of period poverty among female residents, the Lagos State Office of Sustainable Development Goals and Investment has commenced the distribution of sanitary towels to female students in secondary schools across the State. At the official distribution of the sanitary towels to Education Districts in the State under the End Period Poverty Programme held at the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, Alausa, Ikeja, the Permanent Secretary, Office of Sustainable Development Goals and Investment, Mrs. Abosede George acknowledged government shared aspiration towards ending poverty in all ramifications and promoting gender equality, She described the initiative as a crucial step towards ensuring good health and well-being among the children in the state public schools, noting that poor menstrual health and hygiene undercuts fundamental rights including the right to wor...

 Anambra Assembly Advocates For More IDP Camps  The Anambra State House of Assembly, has urged Gov. Chukwuma Soludo, to construct more permanent internally displaced persons’ (IDPs) camps to cushion the effect of flooding in the riverine areas of the state. The House resolution followed a motion, moved under Matters of Urgent Public Importance, by Mr Noble Igwe, representing Ogbaru Constituency l, at plenary on  July 18.   The lawmaker said,  "There has been a regular annual overflow of the bank of river Niger leading to flooding of the adjoining communities". Igwe expressed concern that  people are normally displaced from their homes for some months on annual basis with attendant hardship on life and health.  “The devastating effect of the flood on lives, property and activities within the affected region are enormous. “Children and aged persons have become vulnerable to threatening hazards associated with non-provision of adequate holding camps for s...

Bruno Fernandes named new Manchester United captain after Harry Maguire was stripped of the role  The Portuguese midfielder has been named the new club captain of Manchester United, replacing Harry Maguire after the England defender was stripped of the honour by coach Erik ten Hag. Fernandes has been the de facto captain since Ten Hag ended the defender’s status as an automatic choice after two matchesFernandes of last season.  On Sunday, England international Harry Maguire revealed via a post on social media that he had been stripped of the role as United captain by boss Erik ten Hag. Fernandes has scored 64 goals and made 54 assists in 185 United games since joining in January 2020 and has twice won the club’s Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award. Fernandes' first game as skipper will come on Saturday night, when United take on Arsenal in their first fixture of their pre-season tour of the United States. A club statement confirming Fernandes' new role said: The Portuguese...

Road Projects Inspection: Permanent Secretary Ministry of Works and Transportation Lauds Gov. Inuwa   The Permanent Secretary, Gombe State Ministry of Works and Transportation, Alh. Yambiu Idris Buba has lauded the giant strides of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya in infrastructural development.   He stated this while briefing newsmen after he inspected the ongoing road projects awarded by the present administration under the able leadership of Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, CON.     "we conducted an extensive inspection tour across the state to asses the progress of all ongoing road construction projects to ensure strict adherence to approved plans, quality standard as well as timely completion and  also evaluated the efficiency and effectiveness of the engineering techniques employed in the construction, he said. The Permanent Secretary, expressed satisfaction with the level and quality of work being executed at the projects sites visited.  He commended Gover...

Anambra govt seals hotel over death of lady clubber Anambra State government has sealed off Cosmila Hotel in Awka, the state capital, after news of the death of a lady, Miss Chinyere Awuda in the facility. The lady was reported to have been beaten to death by some fun seekers, who clubbed in the hotel last weekend, to celebrate the birthday of their friend. There are, however, varied accounts of Miss Awuda’s death. While some people said she was accused of picking and pocketing money being sprayed on the celebrant, others said she had stolen some money meant to be sprayed, and made to escape, before she was apprehended. While police authorities in the state confirmed that the celebrant and his friends who were accused of beating the girl to death and dumping her body in a pool have been arrested, the state commissioner for culture, tourism and entertainment, Hon Don Onyeji said the hotel has been sealed.  

Bandits flee as over 100 soldiers storm Kaduna forest 20th Jul 2023  Bandits were said to have fled from their hideouts around Kagarko, Iche, Taka-Lafiya Gidan Makeri and Janjala communities in Kaduna State after over 100 troops stormed the forest in Kagarko LGA. It had been reported that many rural communities in Kagarko Chiefdom had been under siege by bandits who abducted residents and farmers a few months ago. But the situation was said to have been contained after troops raided their hideouts and some rural communities and arrested some suspected informants. A traditional title holder in Kagarko, Suleiman Aliyu, while speaking with our reporter through telephone on Wednesday, said the troops, who drove into Kagarko town at about 11 am on Wednesday in Hilux vans, trucks and motorcycles, moved straight to Iche, Taka-Lafiya, Gidan Makeri and Janjala villages around the forest to hunt down the bandits. He said the troops moved in after they got intelligence information that some f...