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 Labour Party Crisis: If not God, I would have died in court — Apapa.  The factional National Chairman of the Labour Party, LP, Mr Lamidi Apapa, who was mobbed at the Court of Appeal in Abuja, the venue of the Presidential Election Petition Court, PEPC, on Wednesday, has thanked God for saving his life. Apapa, while addressing newsmen shortly after he was released from protective custody by security operatives, said he was in court to assert himself as the Acting National Chairman of the party and to confirm the state of things on the petition the candidate of the party, Mr. Peter Obi, filed to challenge the outcome of the 2023 presidential election. He told newsmen that he had before the court began its proceedings, sensed trouble, after the Director-General of Obi campaign organizations, Mr. Akin Osuntokun, refused to vacate a chair that was reserved for chairman of the party. “I went to him and inquired to know on what capacity he was sitting on the seat. I told him that si...

Customs intercepts N1.8bn tramadol in Lagos airport.  The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA) Command intercepted 23 packets of tramadol with a duty-paid value (DPV) of N1.8 billion between January and March. Mohammed Yusuf, the Customs Area Comptroller, stated at a news conference in Lagos on Wednesday that the medicinal products were imported from India and Pakistan. Yusuf reported the seized commodities as 22 packets of tramadol (225 mg) and 12 packets of tramadol (120 mg). According to Yusuf, the above seizures were made as a result of intelligence-driven operations at the airport. He further stated that the tramadol tablets in their possession were due to be handed over to the National Drug Law and Enforcement Agency’s (NDLEA) Commander of Narcotics, Murtala Muhammed Airport Command. “In the spirit of inter-departmental cooperation, this will further strengthen our collaboration in safeguarding our youths from the use of harmful substances which can en...

 Presidential Tribunal Adjourns Obi’s Pre-Hearing Against Tinubu To May 19.  The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja on Wednesday adjourned to Friday, May 19 for continuation of pre-hearing in the petition by presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi against the President-Elect, Bola Tinubu. LP National Chairman, Julius Abure was also in court on Wednesday. The party’s factional chairman, Lamidi Apapa was also present. The Tribunal had last week adjourned the pre-hearing session on Obi and the LP’s petition till May 17 at the instance of the petitioners. On Wednesday, the justices arrived to commence the day’s proceedings and also refused to acknowledge the representation of the party aside from Obi. A mild drama, however, ensured between the two camps of the Labour Party on which group should be in court. The Tribunal refused to take an appearance for the LP as acting National Chairman of the party, Lamidi Apapa, as well as the National W...

While Hilda Baci was breaking the Guiness World Record, two Nigerian sisters attempted to break the internet with their wedding in New Orleans, LA.  Dr Elizabeth Ekpo, got married to her wife Krystle, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Pictures of the wedding were shared by a sister of the couple.  She wrote, “My baby sister Krystle got married to the love of her life, Dr. Elizabeth Ekpo, this past weekend in NOLA. I gained an additional sister Liz. I wish both of you happiness and joy forever. Congratulations. I Love you all Always .” The women, both mothers had their children witness their wedding ceremony. More photos below. 

Prince Harry, his wife Meghan Markle, and her mother were involved in a “near catastrophic” car chase after being followed by paparazzi in New York. The incident occurred after the couple attended the Women of Vision Award ceremony in New York on Tuesday night, May 16. “Last night, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Ms Ragland were involved in a near catastrophic car chase at the hands of a ring of highly aggressive paparazzi,” Reuters reported quoting Duke of Sussex’ spokesperson. “This relentless pursuit, lasting over two hours, resulted in multiple near collisions involving other drivers on the road, pedestrians and two NYPD (New York Police Department) officers,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “While being a public figure comes with a level of interest from the public, it should never come at the cost of anyone’s safety. Dissemination of these images, given the ways in which they were obtained, encourages a highly intrusive practice that is dangerous to all in involved,” the...

IGP CONDEMNS CALLOUS ATTACK ON U.S CONSULATE CONVOY IN ANAMBRA Orders Prompt, Arrest, Investigation of Culprits, Warns Non-State Actors The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, CFR, has condemned in its totality the callous attack on a United States Consulate convoy and the killing and burning beyond recognition of seven (7) persons including US Embassy local staff and Police Mobile Force Officers, and their vehicles, as well as the likely abduction of two (2) others, at Atani Osamale Road, Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, who were visiting the area to assess its proneness to erosions as part of their humanitarian efforts. The IGP, while expressing astonishment at the attack, described it as a clear indication of the attackers' and/or non-state actors' callousness and an act of wickedness to humanity, most especially to their kinsmen who have been considered to enjoy aids and palliatives from the attacked diplomats. The act is indeed evil and inhuma...

Court Jails 12 Internet Fraudsters in Benin City Justice Efe Ikponmwonba of Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, convicted and sentenced 12 internet fraudsters to prison. Those convicted are Falodun Samuel, Edward Omoruyi, Earnest Osazemwinde, Temitayo Oluwaseyi Ogunlana, Iweriebo Raphael Emmy and Philip Ayodeji Kolawale. Others are Faith Ilemobayo, Amiohu Paul, Imokhai Dickson, Peter Paul Philip, Roland Junior and Arebu Julius. They were arraigned separately by the Benin Zonal Command of the EFCC on one count charge bordering on possession of fraudulent documents and unlawful retention of proceeds of crime. Upon arraignment, all the defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges, prompting the prosecution counsel, K.U.Udus, I.K. Agwai and K.Y. Bello to pray the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly. However, counsel to the defendants pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy as they were first time offenders who have ...