₦airaland Forum

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Destiny Etiko's body count can power the whole of Ariaria international market and Faulks road.

Nollywood actress Destiny Etiko has refuted claims on some news outlets that she is a virgin.

Etiko, on her Instagram page, expressed dismay that a better title could not be rumoured about her.

Reports had been rife on Sunday that the actress revealed that she is a virgin at 33.

The now-false information startled social media users, stirring diverse reactions.

She said, “Since yesterday, I have not rested with the news calling her out as a virgin. I did not grant any interview, revealing that I am a virgin. I cannot remember granting any interview saying I am a virgin. They did not give me any better title, like soon to be a billionaire.”

“There was no written word or an interview about virginity and they are all busy with my precious name, which really shows how important and relevant I am.”

George Wade, the ex-fiancé of Nollywood actress Empress Njamah, who shared the actress’ nudes, has been arrested.

Wade had started leaking the actress’ nudes via a WhatsApp group that he created for the purpose earlier in January and stated that he had enough material to keep pushing out every day of 2023.

On Monday, the actress re-shared the video of Josh Wade being led in handcuffs by security operatives via her Instagram story and wrote, “Our God is not asleep”.

Police Arrest Actress Empress Njamah’s Ex-fiancé, Josh Wade

George Wade, the ex-fiancé of Nollywood actress Empress Njamah, who shared the actress’ nudes, has been arrested. pic.twitter.com/KHGyke4uSq

— Punch Newspapers (@MobilePunch) April 24, 2023

The biggest political mistake and miscalculation we will do as a party, the APC, is to not take Senate Presidency position, Nigeria’s number 3 to the North West. That will definitely hurt our 2027 strategy.

There is no any external alliances that will help us keep our northern stronghold in the basket than strengthening our exiting internal value networks with the position of the Senate President of the 10th assembly.

We may attempt to assuage the SE or the SS with number 3, but that is more of an emotional decision than political-strategic one. Taking such a risk will have no bearing upon future political success beyond temporary applause of the moment.

In this game, we must be real, practical and deliberate with our choices. We must stick to the facts and consolidate our bases with the strongest possible instruments of power. It is very necessary for our future political success.

Thank you
Adamu Garba

The collapse incident, which was flagged on the Physical Planning incident management platform on Sunday evening, triggered immediate preliminary enquiries that showed that officers of the States Building Control Agency had issued a number of contravention notices, stop work and seal up orders which the developer ignored and carried on construction without any recourse, whatsoever, to the authorities.

There has been no report of any casualty, while the site has been cordoned off and taken over by LASBCA.

This particular incident, like similar others, reinforces government’s repeated calls for responsible behaviour on the part of all stakeholders in the built environment.

Lagos State Government has immediately activated inquiries into the collapse to unravel the minute details and guide appropriate actions.

Mukaila Sanusi
Deputy Director, Public Affairs
23rd April, 2023

Barely 24 hours after Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu inspected and ordered the demolition of some buildings in Banana Island over defective structures as well as an unapproved plan, another five-storey building under construction on Sunday, collapsed at Ladipo Oluwole Street, GRA, Apapa of the State.

It was gathered that the building caved in following a thunder strike during the early morning downpour in Lagos.

This medium reports that a five-storey building under construction collapsed on Sunday, 23 April 2023.

Meanwhile, men of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, and other emergency responders have raced to the scene to salvage the situation.

Director Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Magret Adeseye, who confirmed the incident said there was no causality recorded in the incident.

A volunteer with the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corp in Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Council Development Area, LCDA, Asimiyu Tiamiyu who was among the early callers at the scene said no casualty was recorded in the incident.

According to him, all the workers at the site of the collapsed building had embarked on Sallah break, the reason why no one was involved in the incident.

He noted that the state government must beam a searchlight on the recurring incident of collapsed buildings which had claimed many lives and property worth billions of Naira destroyed.

As NDLEA intercepts illicit drugs in wedding gown; nabs 400-level varsity student in Bayelsa, cripple in Edo, ex-convict in Adamawa, notorious dealer in Ondo; seizes 1.2 tons of skunk in Kaduna

A widower, Ariyibi Ahmed Olaseinde and a divorcee, Akanbi Silifat Tunrayo who were going for lesser hajj in Saudi Arabia have been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos for attempting to export 14.4 kilograms of cocaine concealed in lace and ankara fabrics.

Ariyibi was intercepted on Thursday 20th April at the screening point of MMIA Terminal 2 during outward clearance of Qatar Airways passengers travelling from Lagos via Doha to Medina, Saudi Arabia. When his carry-on bag was checked, four sets of white lace material with linings of substance that tested positive to Cocaine weighing 11.50kg were discovered.

The suspect who claimed to be a widower and an advertising practitioner said his original plan was to ingest the drugs but had to change his mind after failed attempts to swallow bitter cola, which he was using to practice the process. He is expected to be paid One Million, Eight Hundred Thousand Naira (N1,800,000) upon successful delivery of the consignment in Medina, Saudi Arabia.

The previous day, Wednesday 19th April, NDLEA officers at the Terminal 2 of the airport also arrested Mrs. Silifat Tunrayo Akanbi with 2.90kg cocaine during outward clearance of Qatar Airways passengers from Lagos via Doha to Jedda, Saudi Arabia. A search of her hand luggage led to the discovery of six sheets of cocaine weighing 2.90kg concealed in ankara fabrics.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect is a divorcee and a trader who used to hawk cloths around Awoyaya area of Ajah, Lagos. Based on information in her statement, a follow up operation that lasted through the night into the early hours of Thursday 20th April was carried out, during which the person who recruited her, Alhaji Adebayo Adeola Wasiu was arrested at No 28, Olateju Street, Mushin, Lagos. Adebayo is the managing director of B&T Travel Agency.

In the same vein, NDLEA officers attached to courier companies have intercepted two drug consignments consisting of ecstasy and skunk going to United Arab Emirate. While the pills of ecstasy were concealed in a gold colour wedding gown, the skunk was hidden in a micro controller.

This is even as a 400-level Marine Engineering student at the Niger Delta University, Amassoma, Bayelsa state, Kelvin Ogenedoro has been arrested for dealing in 600grams of skunk. He was nabbed at the universitys gate in a follow up operation following the interception of the consignment in a commercial bus along Tombia-Amassoma road.

In Adamawa state, a notorious drug dealer, Sunday Ishaku Emzor (aka Lalas) who was convicted and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment in 2010 for drug offences, was on Thursday 20th April arrested for drug dealing. He was arrested at Hayin Gada, Imburu Numan LGA where he went to supply 1.650kg cannabis to an undercover operative. His Yellow Press Cub motorcycle used for supplying illicit drugs and a cash of N78,120 suspected to be proceed of the illegal business were recovered from him at the point of arrest.

On the same day in Kaduna, operatives acting on credible intelligence intercepted a truck conveying 110 bags and 200 compressed blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 1.223 tons (1,223kg) in Zaria while the truck driver, Adekunle Olanrewaju, 32, and his assistant, Tunde Jamiu, 20, were arrested.

In Edo State, a 42-year-old cripple, Lucky Aigberenmolen trading in illicit drugs on his wheelchair was arrested in a raid of drug joints in parts of the state. While Lucky was nabbed at Ekpoma, Esan West LGA with 1.3kg of Cannabis Sativa and 10 litres of Monkey Tail, another suspect, Mary David,46, was arrested at Ugbegun, Esan Central LGA with four litres of Monkey Tail and Osagiede Stephanie, 19, at Ekpoma, with various quantities of Colorado, Methamphetamine, and Molly. A 50kg cannabis stored in a bush ready for distribution was also recovered in Irrua area of the state.

While two suspects: Adeshina Olalekan and Christopher Joel, were arrested at Lektop hotel, Igbeba, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, with 39 litres of Skuchies, as well as various quantities of tramadol, and rophynol, operatives in Imo State intercepted a female suspect, Ijeoma Anyiam Loreza, 40, at Orogwe, Owerri North with 70 blocks of Cannabis Sativa weighing 30kg.

A notorious drug dealer in Okitipupa area of Ondo state, Mathew Obateru, 42, has also been taken into custody after different quantities of Cocaine, Heroin, Methamphetamine, Colorado and Loud were recovered from him. In Taraba, a suspect, Mohammed Usman was arrested on Monday 17th April in connection with the seizure of 10,009 pills of tramadol.

While commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI, Bayelsa, Adamawa, Kaduna, Edo, Ogun, Imo, Ondo and Taraba Commands of the Agency for the excellent job done in the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) charged them and their compatriots across the country to continue to raise the bar of professionalism in the daily discharge of their responsibilities.

Femi Babafemi
Director, Media & Advocacy
NDLEA Headquarters Abuja
Sunday 23rd April 2023

Kenyan police have exhumed 26 more bodies near the coastal town of Malindi, as they investigate a preacher said to have told followers to starve to death.

Dead children were among those exhumed, and police said they expected to find even more bodies.

The shallow graves are in Shakahola forest, where 15 members of the Good News International Church were rescued last week.

Preacher Paul Mackenzie Nthenge is in custody, pending a court appearance.

State broadcaster KBC described him as a "cult leader", and reported that 58 graves have so far been identified.

One of the graves is believed to contain the bodies of five members of the same family - three children and their parents.

Mr Mackenzie has denied wrongdoing, but has been refused bail. He insists that he shut down his church in 2019.

He allegedly told followers to starve themselves in order to "meet Jesus".

The Kenyan daily The Standard said pathologists will take DNA samples and conduct tests to determine whether the victims died of starvation.

Police arrested Mr Mackenzie on 15 April after discovering the bodies of four people suspected of having starved themselves to death.

Victor Kaudo of the Malindi Social Justice Centre told Citizen TV "when we are in this forest and come to an area where we see a big and tall cross, we know that means more than five people are buried there".

The preacher allegedly named three villages Nazareth, Bethlehem and Judea and baptised followers in ponds before telling them to fast, The Standard reports.

Kenya is a religious country and there have been previous cases of people being lured into dangerous, unregulated churches or cults.

We have set up tracing and counselling desks at the Malindi Sub-County Hospital for the Shakahola response.

So far 112 people have been reported missing at the tracing desk.

FLASH: Labour Party NEC suspends acting chairman, Apapa, five others

The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Labour Party has suspended the Acting National Chairman, Lamidi Apapa and five others for anti-party activities.

In a sweeping resolution, the Labour Party’s National Executive Council (NEC) has suspended key members of the National Working Committee (NWC), including Lamidi Apapa, Alhaji Salem Lawal, Prince Favour Reuben, Gbenga Daramola, Samuel Akingbade, and Mohammed Akali.

In a communique issued on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, made available to The Trent, the party’s NEC revealed that the decision comes after the session examined the anti-party activities of its members and made several recommendations.

Comrade Ansalem Eragbe, the party’s national youth leader, and Mr Abayomi Arabambe, the acting publicity secretary, were expelled from the party after being found guilty of anti-party activities.

The NEC meeting held at Orchid Hotel, Asaba, Delta State and was attended by high-profile party members, including Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Valentine Ozigbo, a 2021 Anambra gubernatorial candidate, Senator Victor Umeh and some other members-elect of the National Assembly, and representatives from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the General Secretary of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comr Barr Emma Ugboaja, and General Secretary of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Nuhu Abba Toro.

The resolution, signed by Comrade Ladi Iliya, the Labour Party’s deputy national chairman, and Prince Kennedy Ohanotu, the deputy national secretary now Acting National Youth Leader, condemned the use of thugs, ballot snatching, and writing of results witnessed during the 2023 general elections in the collation centre as a dangerous trend in the democratic process. The NEC noted that this trend might slide the country into a civilian dictatorship, which it deemed worse than a military dictatorship.

In the resolution, the NEC called on the judiciary to “do the right thing irrespective of whose ox is gored” and promote acts that enhance democracy, fundamental freedom, the rule of law, and the doctrine of separation of powers.

The party’s NEC also sympathised with Nigerians who have continued to wallow in leadership-inflicted poverty, hunger, unemployment, insecurity, poor infrastructure, and underdevelopment and reassured them that a Labour Party government would change these narratives.

In addition to the suspensions, the NEC constituted a disciplinary committee to try the erring members and make recommendations to the next NEC. The committee comprises Ladi Iliya, Rotimi Adekunle, Prince Kennedy Ahanotu, Yunusa Tanko, and Chief Tony Ezeagwu.

In line with its powers, the NEC proceeded to fill several vacant positions and extended the tenure of the current NWC for 12 months, citing the need to remain focused and reorganise the party.

Prince Kennedy Ahanotu to serve as acting national youth leader; Mr Obiorah Ifoh, acting national publicity secretary; Barrister Edun Kehinde, acting national legal adviser; Rotimi Adekunle, acting national deputy secretary; and Chief Anthony Ezeagwu, acting national vice chairman (South South).

A publicity committee was also set up with Dr Yunusa Tanko as the head and Barrister Kenneth Okonkwo, a Nollywood legend, as a member.

“The Labour Party’s NEC is taking decisive action to address the controversies and challenges facing the party, demonstrating its commitment to maintaining a strong democratic process within the country,” the communique read in part.

FINAL RESULTS TALLY ADAMAWA STATE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION:

APC: 396788
PDP: 430821✓

BREAKING: Adamawa guber: Fintiri defeats Binani to win second term



Collation of Officer of the State, Mele Lamido announced Fintiri winner after he defeated
Aishatu Dahiru of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has won his second term.

Aishatu, popularly known as Binani, was earlier illegally announced winner by the suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC.

Breakdown of the final figures below:
AA = 643
ADC = 3024
ADP = 2174
APC = 396,788
APGA = 892
APM = 606
APP = 286
LP=2732
NNPP= 4852
NRM =1272
PDP =430,861
PRP= 1188
SDP= 6870
YPP =1431
ZLP =200

PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE RESOLUTION OF THE LEADERSHIP OF KASHERE WARD OF THE ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS ON THE ALLEGATIONS OF ANTI-PARTY ACITIVITIES AGAINST SENATOR MUHAMMADU DANJUMA GOJE TODAY TUESDAY 18TH APRIL, 2023

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, members of the press, good morning!

Following the various petitions on alleged anti-party activities against Senator Muhammadu Danjuma Goje, senator representing Gombe Central district at the national assembly, the leadership of the APC at Kashere Ward, in line with existing party regulations, constituted a committee on 22nd March 2023 with the mandate to investigate the alleged infractions against the senator and recommend appropriate sanctions.

The Committee, immediately swang into action, by serving a notice of invitation to Senator Goje to answer the charges against him in the spirit of fair hearing.

In the course of its investigations, the committee has deliberated on the following allegations against Senator Goje:

i. Failure to attend the flag-off of the Gombe State APC campaign rally in Gombe which was performed by the National Chairman of our great party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu
ii. Failure to attend the Asiwaju-Kashim presidential rally in Gombe State which was attended by the President-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his VP-elect Senator Kashim Shettima

iii. Failure to attend all APC campaign rallies and tours in Gombe State, including the one in his own Gombe Central senatorial zone, Akko Federal constituency, state assembly and ward unit

iv. Hobnobbing with opposition parties and their candidates with the intent to undermine the success of the APC in Gombe State and Nigeria in general

v. Open support to opposition party candidates by hosting the NNPP Gubernatorial candidate and the PDP Akko Federal House of Representatives Candidate in his residence and offered support against the interest of his party the APC among many other instances.

vi. Making unguarded utterances and pronouncements capable of undermining the APC administration in Gombe State.

vii. Sponsoring campaign of calumny (directly and through proxies) with the intention of inciting the people against the APC administration in Gombe State

viii. Giving clear directives to his associates and proteges to work against the interest of the APC in Gombe State by ensuring only Senator Goje is elected on the APC platform (using the Goje Kawai slogan) while working towards the defeat of other APC candidates at all levels

ix. Clear anti-party activities during the last presidential, national assembly, gubernatorial and state assembly elections in which Senator Goje worked tirelessly for the failure of the APC in his polling unit in Kashere Ward (as shown in the Inec result sheets attached as exhibits here)

x. Use of violence and cause of bodily harm against APC polling agents in Kashere Ward (Yakubu Abdullahi, Mallam Adamu Shagori, Ibrahim Abdullahi, Babayo A Kawu, Ahmed Saleh, Dogido Baba Mai Gadi) through his known associates and allies (Ummaru Samuda, Alhaji Dahiru Ibrahim, Alhaji Hamza Wakili, and Safiyanu Dan Daura) during the 2023 general elections as shown in the exhibits attached.

The above allegations came on the backdrop of earlier allegations of anti-party activities in which Senator Goje was accused of surreptitious membership of the PDP which led to the appearance of his photo and name on the ballot papers of the PDP senatorial primary election in 2022.

The Committee, in the spirit of justice and fair hearing, invited Senator Goje to appear before it in order to respond to the allegations. Unfortunately, Senator Goje refused to honor the invitation of the committee, a conduct that was deemed unbecoming of a loyal party stalwart.

In line with the powers conferred on us by the APC constitution, and having deliberated on the findings of the committee, and in the overall interest of the All Progressives Congress in Gombe State and Nigeria at large, we the Party Executives at Kashere Ward reached the following resolutions:

i. That Senator Muhammadu Danjuma Goje is found guilty of charges (i) – (x) as listed above which are in breach of Article 21, Section A, subsection ii, iii, vi and vii of the APC constitution.

ii. That the Executive Council of the All Progressives Congress in Kashere Ward has decided to expel Senator Muhammadu Danjuma Goje from the All Progressives Congress for his numerous anti-party activities that are in breach of Article 21, Section A, subsection ii, iii, vi and vii of the APC constitution

iii. That Senator Muhammadu Danjuma Goje is no longer a member of the APC in Kashere ward, and by extension, in Gombe State and Nigeria

iv. That the Independent National Electoral Commission, the leadership of the APC at state, regional and national levels, as well as the leadership of the national assembly should take appropriate actions to comply with the decision of the APC Kashere Ward Exco

v. That any claim to the APC by Senator Goje in his dealings with any individual, group or organization is null and void

vi. The Party note with dismay the unfortunate acts of sabotage conducted by Senator Goje against the party on whose platform he was elected Senator for three consecutive terms

vii. The Party further restates its confidence in the leadership of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya who was just recently reelected for second term with overwhelming majority

viii. This decision was reached on the 18th day of April, 2023; and endorsed by the undersigned:

Tanimu Abdullahi( Chairman, APC Kashere Ward)
Ishiyaku Ahmed Isa ( Secretary APC Kashere Ward)

Cc:
APC Chairman, Gombe State
APC National Chairman
APC National Working Committee
Independent National Electoral Commission
Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Clerk of the National Assembly
APC Senate Caucus
Inspector-General of Police
Director-General, Department of State Security

A Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from suspending or expelling members perceived to be loyal to Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.

The order followed a ruling in a suit filed by Siminlalayi Fubara, Rivers PDP Governor-elect, and his Deputy, Dr. Ngozi Odu, alongside others.

The plaintiffs had sued the PDP and its executives over an alleged plan to suspend or expel them over their association with Wike.

Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a judgement delivered on Tuesday, held that the “fears of the applicants were well founded”, and that “suspending or expelling them would amount to the breach of their rights to freedom of association”.

The judge held that it was the power of the court to grant redress to persons, who had well-established acts that would amount to an infringement on their rights.

Candidate of the All Progressive Congress, Senator Aisha Binani has filed an ex parte motion before the Federal High Court, Abuja seeking the leave of the court for a judicial review of the administrative decision of INEC on 16th April, in respect to her declaration as winner of the Adamawa state governorship election.

The Senator is also praying for an order of the court prohibiting INEC and its agents from taking any steps toward the declaration of the winner of the election pending the determination of her application for judicial review.

Senator Binani through her lawyer Hussaini Zakariyau says a judicial review exists to enable the superior court checkmate the actions and decisions of legislative and administrative arm of Government.

Arrests Lekki businessman over illicit cargo from US; pregnant woman, cripple in Edo; female undergraduate in Ogun

Consignments of Tramadol, Rohypnol, Ecstasy (Designer drug) and Cannabis concealed in winter jackets and bottles of body cream have been intercepted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos.

The psychoactive substances were recovered at the new terminal of the airport on Friday 14th April following the arrest of a passenger, Joshia Sunday who was traveling on a Qatar Airline flight via Doha to Oman, Middle East.

A thorough search of the suspects two black bags led to the discovery of 4.80 kilograms of cannabis concealed in three winter jackets and various quantities of Tramadol, Rohypnol, Ecstasy (Designer drug) hidden in bottles of body lotion. Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect came into Nigeria from Oman on April 7, and was returning exactly a week after.

In the same vein, a Lekki Lagos based businessman, Cyril Chidiebere was on Friday 14th April arrested along with two of his freight agents: Mejabi Peter Sunday and Oyeyinka Babatunde over their involvement in the importation of twelve (12) parcels of Loud, a strain of cannabis, weighing 6.50kg, which was part of a consolidated cargo brought in from the United States of America.

The arrest and seizure followed a three-day intelligence led operation. Following the arrival of the cargo at the NAHCO import shed of the MMIA, its movement out of the airport was closely monitored in a sting operation until the actual importer, Cyril Chidiebere, was arrested in his house at Abraham Adesanya estate, Ajah, Lekki area of Lagos. Both Mejabi and Chidiebere have made useful statements to confirm that the latter has been involved in dealing on illicit drugs in the past.

Meanwhile, a pregnant woman, Rabetu Abdulrasak, 24, and a cripple, Shehu Adams have been arrested by NDLEA operatives in Agbede, Etsako West LGA, Edo state while over 14 kilograms of assorted illicit drugs including cannabis, methamphetamine, tramadol and swinol were recovered from them on Saturday 15th April.

A 22-year-old HND 1 female student of Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun state, Isoyo Iveren Susan was on Saturday 15th April arrested opposite 2nd Gate of the institution for dealing in illicit drugs. Recovered from her include 1,100ML of codeine-based cough syrup and 283grams of cannabis. This is just as operatives in Lagos arrested two suspects: Nonso Peter, 21, and Bright Chibike, 23, with 43.4kg cannabis at Ile-Epo, Abule Egba area of the state on Friday 14th April.

In Katsina state, no less than 1,730 bottles of codeine-based syrup were seized from a suspect, Bishir Saadu in Katsina metropolis on Sunday 9th April just as Muhamadu Yusuf was equally arrested same day with 8,000 capsules of tramadol inside a commercial bus along Kano - Katsina road. In the same vein, NDLEA operatives in Kaduna on Thursday 13th April raided a clandestine laboratory where mist potassium citrate was being produced in a residential apartment at 16 Sabon Gari, Zaria. The owner of the lab, Christopher Agodi was arrested and 102 cartons containing 2,448 bottles of the substance recovered. While a suspect, Salisu Abdullahi, 25, was arrested along Abuja-Kaduna road with 11.7kg cannabis concealed in two jerrycans, which he was moving from Port Harcourt to Kano, operatives also on Saturday 15th April nabbed one Atiku Abubakar, 22, on the same road with 50 blocks of cannabis weighing 28kg while travelling from Lagos to Shinkafi in Zamfara state in a commercial bus.

Similarly, anti-narcotic officers acting on a tip-off, arrested two suspects: Aminu Saudi, 45 and Abdullahi Sani, 35, at Ogbese, Ondo state, with 11 jumbo bags containing 211kg of cannabis concealed in rice chaffs. This was closely followed by the destruction of six hectares of cannabis farm in Uso forest in the state on Thursday 13th April.

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has commended the officers and men of the MMIA, Edo, Ogun, Lagos, Katsina, Kaduna and Ondo Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week. He urged them and their compatriots across the country to remain focused and continue the current drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts simultaneously.

Femi Babafemi
Director, Media & Advocacy
NDLEA Headquarters Abuja
Sunday 16th April 2023

A 34-year-old South American man from Suriname, Dadda Lorenzo Harvy Albert, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Port Harcourt, Rivers state for bringing into Nigeria 117 parcels of cocaine concealed in extra-large latex condoms factory packed inside bottles of 100ml body spray.

The suspect claimed he departed his country, Suriname, located in the North Eastern coast of South America on 2nd April for Sao Paulo, Brazil and from Sao Paulo to Nigeria on Friday 7th April, 2023 on board Qatar Airways flight in search of his long-lost Nigerian father whom he called "Omini."

In the same vein, NDLEA officers at Tincan seaport in Lagos have intercepted 110 parcels of Colorado, a strain of cannabis, weighing 55kg hidden in a container marked MSCU 4972769 from Toronto via Montreal, Canada. The illicit consignment was discovered in the container bearing five units of used vehicles, during a joint examination of the cargo by NDLEA and other port stakeholders. The seizure was part of a total of 1,559.3 kilograms (1.5 tons) of the psychoactive substance seized during interdiction operations in five states in the past week.

While two suspects: Nura Ibrahim, 40, and Habibu Sadiq, 38, were arrested with 120 blocks of cannabis weighing 148.7kg along Zaria-Kano road, Kano on Sunday 2nd April, not less than 418.5kg of the same substance and a sienna space bus used in conveying it were recovered on Thursday 6th April at a notorious drug hub, Patey, Lagos Island. A suspect, Azi Solomon was arrested same day at Ojota garage while attempting to move 23kg cannabis to another state. Similarly, two suspects: Abubakar Abdulahi and Stanley Tobias were arrested on Friday 7th April with 108,000 tablets of tramadol at Oyingbo motor park in Lagos mainland.

In Imo, NDLEA operatives on routine patrol along Owerri - Onitsha expressway intercepted a commercial bus from which a total of 37, 210 pills of opioids and 30 bottles of codeine syrup were recovered and three suspects arrested in follow up operations. A total of 40.9kg cannabis was sized from two suspects: Haruna Adamu, 32, and Salisu Ibrahim, 30, in parts of Taraba, just as 502, 840 pills of tramadol and exol-5 were recovered from a suspect, Imrana Aliyu in Wukari on Thursday 6th April while 205.6kg was recovered from the home of a fleeing suspect in Gida Dubu area of Bauchi metropolis. The Sokoto state command of the Agency also received 667.6kg cannabis seized by men of the Customs Service along Illela-Niger Republic border.

While commending the officers and men of PHIA, Tincan, Kano, Lagos, Imo, Taraba, Bauchi, and Sokoto Commands of the Agency for their vigilance and professionalism, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) urged them and their peers across the country to maintain the current momentum in their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts and even strive to exceed set targets.

Femi Babafemi
Director, Media & Advocacy
NDLEA Headquarters Abuja
Sunday 9th April 2023

I think; they should also pass a bill......that all politicians should stay in Nigeria for their medical treatment.

FASCISM ON COURSE

It would appear that a record discharge of toxic sludge from our notorious smut factory is currently clogging the streets and sewers of the Republic of Liars. It goes to prove the point that provoked the avalanche EXACTLY! The seeds of incipient fascism in the political arena have evidently matured. A climate of fear is being generated. The refusal to entertain correctlve criticism, even differing perspectives of the same position has become a badge of honour and certificate of commitment.

What is at stake, ultimately is – Truth, and at a most elementary level of social regulation: when you are party to a conflict, you do not attempt to intimidate the arbiter, attempt to dictate the outcome, or impugn, without credible cause, his or her neutrality even before hearing has commenced. That is a ground rule of just proceeding. Short of this, Truth remains permanently elusive.
​
The ensuing cacophony has been truly bewildering. It strikes me as a possible ploy to smother recent provocations by other, far more trenchant issues, such as revelations of declarations of a religious war. If so, let it be known that I have long declared war against religious fundamentalism, the nature of which justifies the butchery, kidnapping and enslavement of students in the name of religion. That aspirant’s alleged gaffe cuts no ice with me.

Far more alarming was the grotesque fantasy of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court disguised as a wheelchair, zooming off in space to a secret meeting with other parties of the conflict. On its own, that is sufficiently scary. Swiftly, followed thereafter by a television tirade of intimidation, it strikes one as more than the mere antics by the mentally deranged. The tactics are familiar: ridicule, incriminate, then intimidate. Objective: undermine the structure of justice .

Just as a reminder: this writer was not being rhetorical when he declared, on exiting prison detention: Justice is the first condition of humanity. The instigating contest – Nigerian Democracy 2023 - has witnessed much that is innovative – largely in the retrogressive vein. Violence and ethnic profiling. “Spiritual” warfare in the shape of sacrificial rams to keep “disloyal” communites under restraint – in short, intimidation yet again! Easily overlooked however are those missives of violence directed against dissenting voices, real or suspect.

Such, for instance, were the virulent attacks and threats to the musician Seun Kuti, his family and iconic music Shrine. His crime consisted of nothing more than declaring the name “Obidient” derogatory to his sense of civic dignity and activist history. Such beginnings – and instances are numerous - have culminated in the open intimidation of the Court of Last Resort, even before proceedings have begun. By the way, I do agree with Seun Kuti; ‘Obidients’ is one of the most repulsive, off-putting concoctions I ever encountered in any political arena.

Some love it however, and this is what freedom is about. Choice. Taste. Free emotions. By contrast, I have no quarrel with “Yes Daddy”. Roman Catholics are used to saying “Yes, Father”. Secularists say “Enh, Baba”. The context and content are what matters, and lies – where established - raise bothersome issues such as Integrity Deficiency. Let us remind ourselves of the following: in any adjudication, society finds it unacceptable that a party to the dispute resort to influencing tactics by extra-judicial means – such as bribery.

Intimidation and threats are merely the obverse complements of material inducement. Those who fail to appreciate this are entirely free to their existence in an illusory world.

We shall add the following pointer for this particular electoral tussle - the news may be unpleasant, but here it comes. Quite a few pundits have set out in some impressive – not necessarily persuasive - detail the- possibility that the complainants in this presidential election are not as strongly planted on the victory podium as they presume – see, for instance – Ambassador Haastrup’s fascinating analysis in Newspeak etc. April 6. Right or wrong? That is not the issue. What the nations needs to know right now is if you are planning to send assassins after such negative analysts.!

Coming to terms with an unpalatable projected eventuality – sorry – possible eventuality, counsels deep reflection, not demonization of the bearer of sour news. For the seriously committed, it requires pulling back the horns a little in order to regroup, rethink and resurge. Democracy is sometimes a long haul. Some of us have been at it for quite a while. I am well aware that the foregoing is further invitation for more nauseous bilge from the besotted. Please, be my guest. It is, after all, one of those special seasons of convergence of two seasons of self-flagellation.

Fasting makes bearers of constricted minds even more light-headed. Delusions fill the vacuum. Oh yes, could these rabid parochial minds of easy excitation also kindly stop flattering themselves that one’s energies are consecrated solely to the nation space known as `Nigeria? The whines of “silence” are relative to the reading scope and world knowledge of idle complainants as well as their grasp of the chain of continuity. I choose my methods of intervention without the permission of social media border patrols, so where you find a gap, just pick up the baton where last deposited and stop whining and belly-aching – “he stopped talking all this while, why now?” etc etc ad nauseum . Flat, easy disposable lies that gain traction by repetition.

However, even more importantly, they remain irrelevant to the rights and wrongs of ongoing material issue. Sadly, these virtue vigilantes succeed with the ignorant and susceptible – especially among the younger, confused generation. The consequence is that the nation is plagued by fake CVs compiled by all kinds of amateur commentators, still wet behind the ears, who have too few truths to build on before they are corralled into positions of No-Retreat. Nowhere has this been more evident than in the effrontery of attempts to place the present contention on the same podium as the twenty-year old anti-Abacha struggle!

This gross abuse of historic licence actually provides smug satisfaction for rookie activists. I advise them to seek out the school of survivors where pertinent lessons still exist for those with sufficient humility to LEARN before MOUTHING! Otherwise their world of false mythologies will collapse under their feet, and leave them dangling in the void.
​
May I cease this opportunity, by the way, to condemn the sanctions imposed on CHANNELS Television which anchored the performance of the LP candidate. As stated, I watched the programme keenly – saw the valiant efforts of the interviewer to ensure fair hearing. I fail to understand just where the station could be faulted, except from a disposition for injustice. To sustain that penalty is to give joy to others who turn Internet into a soakaway for their rancid emissions, yet feel that others should be silenced. If CHANNELS feels up to it, I offer myself willing to engage Mr. Datti – or any nominee of his - on its platform on this very bone of contention – one-on-one – without the malodorous intervention of media trolls, and with the same interviewer as mediator. That should be taken as a serious offer.
​
Project NIGERIA, I must confess, has become near terminally soul-searing. Do I still believe in it? I am no longer certain but - first we must rid ourselves of the tyranny of the ignorant and the opportunism of time-servers. In any case, there is not much else to engage one on a foundation of ownership stakes. There is of course, always the possibility of a Revolution, with a clarity of purpose and acceptance of all attendant risks, including costly errors. Revolutions are not however based on the impetus of speculative power entitlement.

No matter, until that moment, the structures that ensure just and equitable cohabitation must be protected from partisan appropriation - be it from material inducement, fake news, or verbal terrorism – the last being the contribution of one who is positioned to assume co-leadership of the nation, no less. Revolution is not about lining up behind the nearest available symbol. When a symbol does emerge however, we are still obliged to examine every aspect of what is fortuitously on offer, and continue to guard our freedoms every inch of the way.

Before I take myself off for – well, next port of call – the final word goes to a favourite maverick, propagated even as he matched his words by action. I suspect that in this instance we find ourselves on opposite sides of the strategic fence – that is democracy. This now coopted watchword of his formulation remains apt, applicable to all who strive for authentic social transformation: Your mummu done do!

​Ramadan Kareem. Happy Easter!
- Wole SOYINKA

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has applauded the people of Rivers State for voting for the President-elect, Bola Tinubu.

El-Rufai said the people of Rivers State made the right choice by voting for Tinubu during the just concluded presidential election.

He spoke at the commissioning of the Eneka-Igbo Etche Link Road in the Obio-Akpo Local Government Area of Rivers State on Thursday.

The governor also his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike for his role in Tinubu’s victory.

He said Wike should be commended for supporting power rotation to South despite being in a different political party.

According to El-Rufai, the people of Rivers State voted “quality over political sentiments.”

He said: “I want to on behalf of our presidential candidate and our party, thank you and the good people of Rivers State for making the right choice of voting for Bola Tinubu.

“It is the first time since the Fourth Republic started in 1999 that the PDP was unable to get 25% in Rivers State. It shows that the people of Rivers State can differentiate and they know when to vote for quality and they voted for quality over political sentiments. We want to thank you for providing that leadership, Governor Wike.

“I am here to extend our hand of fellowship to Governor Nyesom Wike and the people of Rivers State for us to continue to work together as brothers and sisters to make Nigeria a better place for everyone, no matter what religion, ethnicity, tribe, colour or creed.”

Suspected political thugs have allegedly invaded the national headquarters of the Labour Party, LP in Abuja.

The National Chairman of the Labour Party, LP, Julius Abure disclosed this on Thursday. 

According to Abure, the suspected political thugs have broken into the national headquarters of the party.

The LP national secretariat is located in Utako district near the federal capital territory office of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ).

@peterobi is A LIAR and a chronic LIAR can’t sue for defamation or libel, this is grandstanding to cover up for the “YES DADDY” phone scandal, aimed at intimidating @GazetteNGR. If at all he dare sue @GazetteNGR he will abandon the lawsuit halfway and claim he’s forgiven you guys out of benevolence. #Revolutionnow

How does a LIAR reply when he or she is told , “Liar, liar, pants on fire” they simply say, “I don't care, I don't care, I can buy another pair."
@Peterobi just completely lied about his phone call to @BishopOyedepofdn where went on seeking extraordinary help even though his top aides including @UtomiPat have all fessed up. #Revolutionnow

Ahead of the sentence of Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, following their conviction by London’s Central Criminal Court for organ trafficking, Nigeria’s former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, has written an emotional letter to the court’s Clark seeking linient sentence for the Nigerian Senator and his wife.

The UK court, otherwise known as the Old Bailey, had last month convicted Ekweremadu, his wife, and a doctor for facilitating the travel of a young man from Lagos to Britain with a view to exploiting him for his kidney.

They allegedly offered up to N3.5 million to obtain the body part for their sick daughter — an action forbidden under the Modern Slavery Act of the UK.

Sonia, a daughter of the former Deputy Senate President, is said to be down with kidney failure and requires a transplant to stay alive.

Obasanjo, in his letter dated April 3, 2023, urged the Clark of the London Central Criminal Court to use his “good office” to appeal for leniency in the sentence of the trio on compassionate grounds.

He described Ekweremadu and his wife as “God-fearing” Nigerians who have used their position in society to better humanity and continue to play visible roles in national development.

Obasanjo’s letter partly reads, “Through the lkeoha Foundation, a non-governmental organization founded by him and his wife, in 1997, he and his wife have rendered a lot of charitable activities, enhancing poor people’s access to quality education and healthcare and building their capacity to participate in mainstream social, political and economic activities of their communities. Ike Ekweremadu’s conferment with the coveted national honour of Commander of the Federal Republic, CFR, Is further testimony to his selfless service to our our country, Nigeria.

“Mr. Chief Clerk, I am very much aware of the current travails and conviction of Ike Ekweremadu and his wife in the United Kingdom resulting from their being charged with conspiring to arrange the travel of a 21-year old from Nigeria to the UK in order to harvest organs for their daughter.

“I do realise the implications of their action and I dare say, It is unpleasant and condemnable and can’t be tolerated in any sane or civilized society.

“However, it is my fervent desire that for the very warm relations between the United Kingdom and Federal Republic of Nigeria; for his position as one of the distinguished Senators in the Nigerian Parliament, and also for the sake of their daughter in question whose current health condition is in danger and requires an urgent medical attention, you will use your good offices to intervene and appeal to the court and the government of the United Kingdom to be magnanimous enough to temper Justice with mercy and let punishment that may have to come take their good character and parental instinct and care into consideration.

“I do hope Mr. and Mrs. Ekweremadu have learnt from this distressing experience of theirs to guide their future actions or inactions so they will continue to be outstanding members of their community and will continue to contribute fully to the good of the society in particular and the nation in general.”

The Plateau State Police Command has arrested the alleged killer of one Ruth Bako who was raped and killed sometime in December 2022 at the Farin Gada area of Jos North local government area of the State.

Recall that the corpse of the young woman was found near a car wash in the Farin Gada area on a Sunday morning and that discovery sparked fresh tension in the area.

Ruth was said to be returning from her workplace in the night when she was accosted, stabbed, and raped by the assailant who was paraded alongside other suspects by the Police at the Police Headquarters on Tuesday in Jos.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Alfred Alabo who stood in for the State Commissioner of Police, CP Batholomew Onyeka said, “I have called you this morning to brief you on some of our operational breakthroughs. The arrest of the killers of Miss Ruth Bako: Sequel to the killing of one Miss Ruth Bako ‘f’ of Angwan Jarawa, Farin Gada, Jos on 10/12/2022 where she was stabbed, raped and her properties carted away by an unknown person.

“Police operatives of Laranto Division of the Command led by CSP Pam Ishaya swung into action and arrested one Ephraim Emmanuel ‘m’ of Angwan Jarawa, Farin Gada, Jos with the victim’s phone. Upon interrogation, the suspect disclosed that one Friday Samson ‘m’ of the same address sold the phone to him.

“Further investigation led to the arrest of the said Friday Samson the culprit who confessed to having raped and killed the said Miss Ruth Bako. The investigation is still ongoing.”

How I did it:

However, the 29yrs old suspect, Friday Samso[/b]n, a father of two and an assistant choirmaster in a church told Vanguard, [b]“I am here because I raped and killed someone. I don’t have any reason for what I did but I did it, it is just wickedness of the heart. That day, I just wanted to sleep with her but she refused, due to wickedness, I raped and killed her.

I am a security guard at a filling station at Farin Gada. That day, I was on duty that night and I saw her passing at about 11 pm. I have never seen her before and I don’t know her but I called her and told her I wanted to sleep with her but she refused. I chased her and caught up with her. That was when I stabbed and raped her.

“She was not dead when I raped her, it is just wickedness of the heart. After I raped her, I picked up her phone and held it for one month. After that I sold it to Ephraim Emmanuel, I did not tell him where I got the phone from just that I told him that the phone is mine. The phone is a Redmi. I started working in the filling station in August 2022 and I was being paid N28,000.”

Emmanuel who bought the phone added, “I bought the phone because I know him as my choirmaster. He did not tell me he was not the owner of the phone and I did not know the story behind the phone. The Police tracked the phone to me and arrested me so I told them who sold the phone to me.”

Meanwhile, other suspects arrested included armed robbery suspects, those in illegal possession of firearms, and those for criminal conspiracy, theft, intimidation, obstruction, assault, and causing grievous hurts.

The Command assured the public that “as we continue to deal a devastating blow on criminal elements in the State, we will not relent in our efforts to get rid of repulsive and criminal-minded officers among us whose conducts are inimical to the image of the Force.

“As I speak with you, all the five police officers of ‘C’ Division who were allegedly involved in the recent killing of 17 years old innocent Ibuchim Ofezie at the Jos Terminus Main Market, have been arrested and are being investigated thoroughly by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) of the Command.”

The outgoing governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike believes Tonye Cole, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is wasting his time by demanding election documents from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Wike said the APC flagbearer in the March 18 governorship election does not need to visit television stations or the INEC office because he lost the election.

The incumbent governor said even if the governorship election is cancelled 25,000 times, Cole cannot defeat the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Siminalayi Fubara.

Recall that on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, INEC declared Fubara as the winner of the Rivers governorship election.

The PDP candidate polled 302,614 votes to defeat Cole who scored 95,274 votes to come second. But the APC candidate has rejected the result of the election, saying the mandate of the people of the state has been stolen.

Speaking at the commissioning of Government Secondary School Kpor, in Gokana Local Government Area on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, Wike slammed Cole for visiting the INEC office in the state to demand election documents.

He said, “Have you seen where a candidate will be going to INEC to say I want to go and collect CTC? What are your lawyers doing? What are your agents doing? Those are the duties of lawyers. What CTC do you want to collect? Can people see the truth of the matter? You lost the election and you lost the election. Even if you cancel the election 25,000 times in this state, you cannot win us in this state.”

He added that the APC candidate has enough time to go to TV stations to talk about the election but he doesn’t have time because he is busy fulfilling the promised he made to the people of the state.

Operatives of the Enugu Zonal Command of the EFCC, on Monday, April 3, 2023, arrested twenty one suspected internet fraudsters in the Emene and New Kenyata, axis of Enugu.

The suspects are Kenneth Arinze Godfrey, Anichukwu Emmanuel Aku, Michael Israel Chukwuemeka, Anichukwu Obinna Christian Eze Chigozie Collins, Ije Samuel Chinenye, Ngwu Peter Damian, Johnson Wisdom Kelechi, Jude Leo Nelson, Tochukwu Ononuju Nelson, David Chinecherem Ezeagu and Okonkwo Kingsley Obinna.

Others are Chukwu John Chibuzor, Ogbonna Okechukwu Precious, Benedict Oluebubu Akarekwe, Akarekwe Michael chidera, Chinedu Amuka, Chukwunonso Emmanuel Oji, Chukwunonso Mmaduabuchi Obodo, Asogwa Christopher Ejiofor and Nnadi Chukwuemeka Leonard.

They were arrested following actionable intelligence.

Item recovered from them include 32 mobile phones, 2 laptops, one iPad, and five luxury cars.

The suspects have made useful statements and will be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded.

VIDEO: Moment Portable leaves court for prison

SOURCE: Naija Twitter pic.twitter.com/oryiyc2GsJ

— The Nation Nigeria (@TheNationNews) April 3, 2023