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 PRESS RELEASE FORMER PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI, VP SHETTIMA, IGP ATTENDS NORTH WEST PEACE, SECURITY SUMMIT IN KATSINA The Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima, GCON, and the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, today 24th June, 2024, attended the North West Security and Peace Summit in Katsina. The critical summit brought together key stakeholders from the region, including Governors, traditional rulers, military officials, community leaders, and security experts, to address and deliberate on pressing safety issues for the security of lives and livelihood in the region. Other notable attendees include former President Muhammadu Buhari, the Sultan of Sokoto, the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and former Governor of Katsina State, Bello Masari. In his message, the Inspector General of Police highlighted the ongoing efforts of the Nigeria Police Force in maintaining law and order acro...

 Doctor who intentionally drove his family off cliff could dodge criminal charges: report The California doctor who intentionally drove his wife and children off a cliff in their Tesla will be placed into a mental health program and could avoid criminal charges altogether. San Mateo Superior Court Judge Susan Jakubowski granted radiologist Dharmesh Patel, 42, admission into a two-year psychiatric diversion program last week, and he will soon be released from jail, Pasadena Now reported.  Patel was driving with his wife and two young kids along Highway 1 in Half Moon Bay near San Francisco on Jan. 2, 2023, when he hurtled over a stretch known as Devil's Slide and crashed onto a rocky beach below. The family miraculously survived the 300-foot plunge, but Patel's wife suffered severe spinal injuries. Asserting that he was in the grip of a psychotic episode during the incident, Patel's family has continued to support him. His attorney lobbied for the mental health diversion pro...

 Supreme Court declines to hear reality star Josh Duggar's appeal of child pornography conviction The Supreme Court declined on Monday to hear reality star Josh Duggar's appeal of his child pornography conviction. The court announced it was denying Duggar's petition for certiorari in its Monday order list. The former reality star had sought to overturn his 12-year prison sentence that was handed down in December 2021. He is expected to remain in prison until 2032. A federal jury in Arkansas found Duggar, 36, guilty in 2021 on charges related to the receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography. He was sentenced in May 2022 to 151 months in prison. Duggar was later transferred from Washington County Jail in his home state of Arkansas to FCI Seagoville in Texas. Federal authorities investigated him after Little Rock Police detectives found child sexual abuse material was being shared by a computer traced to him. Investigators testified that images depicting...

 Russian official cites Islamic 'sleeper cells' as death toll in attacks on synagogues, churches climbs to 20 A Russian official pointed to Islamic "sleeper cells" after gunmen carried out coordinated attacks on synagogues and churches in two cities in the southern region of Dagestan, killing at least 20 people Sunday.  Sunday's violence in Dagestan's regional capital of Makhachkala and nearby Derbent was the latest that officials blamed on Islamic extremists in the predominantly Muslim region in the North Caucasus, as well as the deadliest in Russia since March, when gunmen opened fire at a concert in suburban Moscow, killing 145 people. The affiliate of the Islamic State group in Afghanistan that claimed responsibility for March's raid at the Crocus City concert hall quickly praised the attack in Dagestan, saying it was conducted by "brothers in the Caucasus who showed that they are still strong." Dagestan Gov. Sergei Melikov, selected by Russi...

 NYC dad outraged over plan to open homeless shelter next to son's elementary school New York City plans to open a "low-barrier" homeless shelter in a building attached to an elementary school in Lower Manhattan, meaning parents could soon find people with a criminal history or substance abuse issues next door to their kids. "You just start to wonder, what was the thought process? Who's checking boxes? Who's placing these locations within the [Department of Social Services]? Who's doing their due diligence to find out where they should go? There's not even a certain amount of feet. It's attached to the building of this elementary school," father Kenny Grant told "Fox & Friends Weekend." Grant, whose son is set to enter kindergarten at the Peck Slip School, is one of many parents outraged by the decision that came to everyone's attention last week. Despite continuous assurances, he said nothing shared about the plan has made ...

  STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE PRESIDENT TINUBU APPOINTS NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER/EXECUTIVE VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE FEDERAL COMPETITION AND CONSUMER PROTECTION COMMISSION  President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mr. Olatunji Bello as the new Chief Executive Officer/Executive Vice-Chairman of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), pending confirmation by the Senate. Mr. Bello is a lawyer, administrator, and renowned journalist. He is the former secretary to the Lagos State Government and holds a Master’s degree in International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Lagos. He studied Law at the same university and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2002. Mr. Bello began his career in journalism at the Concord Newspapers in 1985 and held the positions of Group Political Editor; Sunday Concord Editor, and Editor, National Concord.  He is a winner of the US Alfred Friendly Press Fellowship and was appointed the Chairman, Editorial Boar...

 Exodus Of Multinational Companies Clearly Symptomatic Of Governance Problem – Obi The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Mr Peter Obi, has addressed the recent exodus of multinational companies from Nigeria, highlighting that the departure of these companies is a clear indication of underlying governance issues. In a series of tweets posted today, Mr Obi noted that multinational companies leaving Nigeria reflects a lack of confidence in the country’s economic policies and regulatory environment. Mr Obi stressed that all the companies leaving the nation have highlighted similar problems including and not limited to – a harsh business climate, high energy cost, and insecurity. The LP flagbearer while questioning why these issues have not been properly addressed, noted that it is the responsibility of leadership and those in charge to urgently tackle the challenges. Obi who was former governor of Anambra State, also called for urgent reforms to stabilize the economy and ...

 A Pastor’s son is facing accusations of selling his girlfriend’s car to fund his marriage to another woman.  Blessing Manyange allegedly sold Charity Madare’s Honda Fit, which she had lent him for errands, and used the proceeds to pay the bride price for his other girlfriend, Petronella. Feeling betrayed, Charity confronted Blessing and demanded the return of everything she had given him during their relationship. Blessing’s father, Fungayi Manyange, a priest at Bethsaida Apostolic Church, met with Charity to address the issue. He promised to repay her the equivalent value of the car in instalments.” Blessing admitted to selling Charity’s vehicle, stating, “I sold Charity’s vehicle and used the money. She was disturbed when I separated from her and is now demanding every dollar she gave me, including that vehicle. She confronted my parents, and my father agreed to pay the amount equivalent to the value of the vehicle. She threatened to expose me in front of the congregation s...

 Emefiele Approved Contracts, Payments for Wife, Brother-in-law - Witness The Seventh Prosecution Witness, (PW7) in the trial of former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele on Monday, June 24, 2024 told Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Abuja, that Emefiele signed and approved contract awards and payments to April 1616 Investment Limited and Architekon Nigeria Limited, which are companies owned by Sa’adatu Ramalan Yero, a staff of the apex bank, his wife Margaret and her brother, Jonathan Omoile respectively. The witness, Agboro Michael, an  investigator with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission,  ICPC, who is a member of  inter-agency investigation team that comprise the EFCC, ICPC, Code of Conduct Bureau,  CCB, Department of State Services, DSS and the Nigeria Police Force during his cross-examination by defence counsel, Mathew Burkaa, (SAN) said that Emefiele wa...

 A 4-year-old boy safely returned to his family after a 22 hour ordeal all alone in the woods.  4-year-old Christian Ramirez was camping with his family at the Rancheria Campground near Huntington Beach, California when he wandered off. Authorities were notified of the missing child around 11 a.m. Thursday, June 20th. Fresno County Sheriff's Search and Rescue began searching the northeastern portion of the lake extensively. After rescuers had searched around 22 hours they found little Christian nestled under a tree only around 1/4 of a mile from where he went missing. Besides being hungry and tired he was in good health. Rescuers gave him a sandwich and carried him out to his thankful parents. From the very bottom of my heart, great job Fresno County. More photos below. 

 Meet Wild Thang, he was recently named the "World's Ugliest Dog." Wild Thang was crowned on Friday in the annual World's Ugliest Dog competition held annually at the Sonoma-Marin fair in Petaluma, CA. He is a born and bred L.A dog, but recently moved to Oregon with his human, Ann Lewis. Wild Thang has been a contender for years coming in second in the past, however this year he was the top dog winning a cool $5,000.  Great Job Wild Thang! Keep on being your unique looking self. One more photo below. 

 Sultan Is An Institution, Guard Him Jealously, Shettima Tells Sokoto Govt Vice President Kashim Shettima says the throne of the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III is an institution that must be jealously guarded and protected. The Vice President stated this at the North-West Peace and Security Summit in Katsina State on Monday. There have been rumours that the administration of Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State allegedly plot to depose the Sultan and some traditional rulers in the state. But Shettima, who spoke shortly after the Sultan at the Monday event, said the Sultan is not just a monarch in the North-West state but an institution that must be protected. Specifically addressing the Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, Idris Gobir, who was present at the event, the Vice President said, “In all developmental issues in this country, His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, I want to use him as a point of reference to recognise and appreciate all our royal fathers present he...

 HND holders must undergo one-year mandatory training- FG The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, has asked workers with Higher National Diploma to undergo one-year mandatory training before their conversion from Executive to Officers cadre. According to a statement on Saturday, Yemi-Esan said this at a virtual interactive session with civil servants in commemoration of the 2024 Civil Service Week with the theme, “Educate an African Fit for the 21st Century: Building Resilient Education Systems for Increased Access to Inclusive, Life-long, Quality and Relevant Learning in Africa.” The one-year mandatory training programme to bridge the gap between polytechnic awarded Higher National Diplomas and university degrees has been controversial between the National Universities Commission and the National Board for Technical Education. A bill was passed at the Ninth National Assembly in 2021 to end the dichotomy but was not signed into law by the last admini...

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE PRESIDENT TINUBU CONDOLES WITH VICE-PRESIDENT KASHIM SHETTIMA OVER THE PASSING OF MOTHER-IN-LAW President Bola Tinubu condoles with Vice-President Kashim Shettima and his family over the passing of Hajiya Maryam Abubakar Albishir, his mother-in-law. President Tinubu describes the passing of Hajiya Maryam, who is the mother of the Vice-President's wife, Hajiya Nana Shettima, as a deeply painful loss. The President not only mourns the deceased but also celebrates her legacies of philanthropy and good virtues. While praying for the repose of the soul of the late Hajiya Maryam, President Tinubu urges the family to take solace in the remarkable life the departed matriarch lived. Chief Ajuri Ngelale Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity) June 24, 2024. One more photo below.

 Sokoto Gov Planning To Depose Sultan – MURIC The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has raised an alarm over alleged plan by Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State to depose the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III. The Executive Director of MURIC, Prof. Isiaq Akintola, raised the alarm in a statement on Monday. The development is coming amid the controversy and tension over the deposition of some monarchs in Kano State. Governor Aliyu had earlier deposed 15 traditional rulers for various offences. In his statement, Akintola said Nigerian Muslims reject any thought of deposing the Sultan. Idris to chair book launch authored by Leadership Editor-in-Chief   2 brothers die in Niger boat mishap “Feelers in circulation indicate that the governor may descend on the Sultan of Sokoto any moment from now using any of the flimsy excuses used to dethrone the 15 traditional rulers whom he removed earlier. “MURIC advises the governor to look before he leaps. The Sultan’s sto...

 Retired General’s ‘Killers’ Paraded In Abuja The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) police command, on Monday, paraded killers of General Uwem Udukwere (rtd) in Abuja. The retired army general was killed by suspected armed robbers who invaded his private residence at Sunshine Estate, Abuja, in the wee hours of Saturday. The police commissioner in the FCT, CP Benneth Igweh, while parading the suspects at the command in Abuja, said two among the robbers who are now at large escaped with the deceased’s pistol. He gave the names of the suspects as Ibrahim Rabiu, Nafiu Jamil, Aliyu Abdullahi and Mohammed Nuhu, who are all residents of Apo, a satellite town of Abuja. He said the suspects were arrested after acting on credible intelligence by operatives of the FCT police command from Utako division led by CSP Victor Godfrey, who trailed the suspects to their hideout. He said the suspects, who confessed to the crime stabbed the late brigadier general with knife when he tried to resist them f...

 Court acquits ex-Lagos speaker Ikuforiji of N300m money laundering charge     A federal high court in Lagos has acquitted and discharged Adeyemi Ikuforiji, a former speaker of the Lagos state house of assembly, of a N338.8 million money laundering charge. The court on Monday also discharged Oyebode Atoyebi, a personal assistant to Ikuforiji, who was arraigned alongside the former speaker. The former speaker and his aide were arraigned on a 54-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) accused the Ikuforiji and Atoyebi of allegedly accepting cash payments of N338.8 million from the house of assembly without going through a financial institution. Ikuforiji served as the speaker of Lagos state assembly from 2005 to 2015. BACKGROUND In March 2012, Ikuforiji and Atoyebi were first arraigned before Okechukwu Okeke, a judge at the federal high court, on a 20-count charge bordering on misappropriation and money launder...

 It will take decades to end banditry in the North – Sultan of Sokoto The President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, and Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Saad Abubakar III, on Monday said it will take decades for the North-West to overcome banditry and insecurity. Abubakar spoke at the North-West Peace and Security Summit in Katsina State. “What we must do is to challenge these bandits because we all know the consequences of banditry and insurgency on our lives. “But it will take decades to get out of it if all we get out of it. We all know the consequences and the problems,” he said. The monarch expressed the readiness of traditional rulers to partner with security agencies and Northern governors to “save our region from the numerous problems” of banditry and insurgency. He believed that at the end of the summit, proposals to bring insurgency to the barest minimum for people to go about their lives and businesses would be arrived at. In the last few ye...

 Supermarkets Nigeria Limited June 21, 2024 Dear Partner, SUBJECT: NOTIFICATION OF NOVARE WUSE CENTRAL MALL STORE CLOSURE We regret to inform you that as of June 30, 2024, Retail Supermarkets Nigeria Limited will be closing its Wuse Store located in Novare Wuse Central Mall, Abuja. This decision has been made after a thorough evaluation of the store's financial situation and the current business climate. We believe this is the best course of action for our organization's long-term growth. Effective June 30, 2024, our company will no longer operate in Wuse, Abuja, and we will no longer require your services for the Novare Wuse Central Mall Store. Please note that all existing service contracts will also terminate for the store. If your services are specifically tied to the Novare Wuse Central Mall Store and if there is an outstanding balance between our companies, we will carefully review our accounting records over the next 60 days (about 2 months). We will then promptly contac...

 Ogun Allays Fear Of Cholera Outbreak Moves To Contain Spread Ogun State government has acknowledged the outbreak of cholera in the State, as it  declared its readiness to contain the spread of the disease effectively and efficiently.  It said 25 cases have been reported in seven local government areas with one death. Addressing journalists at a press conference on Monday at the Olusegun Osoba Press Centre, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta,  Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, alongside his Environment counterpart, Mr. Ola Oresanya, named the local governments as Ado-Odo/Ota, Remo North, Odeda, Sagamu, Ijebu-North, Ewekoro and Obafemi-Owode. According to Dr. Coker, her Ministry is collaborating with relevant stakeholders from the Ministries of Environment, Information and Education, Water Corporation, private hospital owners, emergency services, among others. "Emergency Operations Centre, having been activated earlier, is now in response mode, each MDA involved in the respon...

 TROOPS OF 3 DIVISION/OPERATION SAFE HAVEN ARREST NOTORIOUS GUNRUNNERS RECOVER ARMS AND AMMUNITION IN PLATEAU AND KADUNA STATES Troops of 3 Division/Operation SAFE HAVEN (OPSH) have arrested notorious gunrunners, bandits, arms couriers and recovered arms as well as ammunition in several intelligence-driven operations carried out in Plateau and Kaduna States within the last one week.   On 21 June 2024, troops conducted operation to flush out armed militias and other criminals in suspected bandit’s hideout at Pandam forest in Qua’anpan Local Government Area of Plateau State. During the operation, troops recovered 3 AK-47 rifles, 5 AK-47 magazines and 75 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition. Additionally, in a combined operation with a sister security agency on 21 June 2024, troops tracked and arrested a notorious gunrunner along Riyom-Abuja Road in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State. The suspect was arrested while on his way to supply 35 AK-47 magazines to anothe...

Widowhood Is Not a Death Sentence, Or a Justification for Wrongdoing — Anambra Commissioner, Obinabo By Izunna Okafor, Awka The Anambra State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Hon. Mrs. Ify Obinabo, has said being a widow is neither a curse and death sentence to warrant the various kinds of evil practices slammed against the widows, nor should it be seen as an excuse and justification for some women to indulge in different kinds of atrocities and illegalities, just to make ends meet. Commissioner Obinabo disclosed this in an exclusive interview with this reporter, Izunna Okafor, on the 2024 International Widows' Day and its significance. According to her, the International Widows' Day, observed annually on June 23, remains a special day to remember, celebrate, support, and encourage the widows globally, adding that widows are special class of people in the society. She hinted that widows often bear the full responsibility of providing for their families, a task...

 Morocco sends 40 tons of medical aid to Gaza Morocco has begun sending 40 tons of medical aid, which includes, surgery equipment and supplies to treat burns and fractures as well as medicine for children to Palestinians in war-torn Gaza, according to the Moroccan foreign ministry.

 Kenyan police deployment to Haiti imminent, sources say The first Kenyan police officers assigned to a mission to tackle rampant gang violence in Haiti are leaving Kenya imminently, four officers on the mission and a former police officer said, Reuters reported. Kenya volunteered last July to lead an international force to tackle violence in the Caribbean nation, where gangs control most of the capital Port-au-Prince and have carried out widespread killings, kidnappings and sexual violence. The deployment has been repeatedly delayed by court challenges at home and a deterioration of security in Haiti, which in March forced the acting prime minister to resign. Four officers, who asked not to be named because they were not authorised to speak to the media, said their weapons and personal belongings had been collected on Sunday evening to be loaded onto the plane. An initial contingent of several hundred officers will deploy before the remainder of the 1,000 officers join them, the f...

 *Government Frowns Over Illegal Sealing Of Businesses, Warehouses In Anambra*  Rose Oranye  Anambra State Government has expressed displeasure over the sealing of some importers' businesses and warehouses in the state for almost a month by some agents without proof of wrongdoing and has therefore issued a Notice of Advise to all importers/industries in the state in that regard. This was contained in a Public Notice dated  21st June, 2024, and signed by the state's Commissioner for Industry, Christian C. Udechukwu. According to the notice, "under laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, no person(s) or agency has powers to seal or close any business in Anambra State without compliance or following through with all due legal processes as are available to any accused person(s) under the law, including but not exclusive to the service of a dated letter highlighting the specific offences committed by the business owner, and fully allowing/ affording the business owner th...