The Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal, on Wednesday, rejected the European Union Election Observers Mission report on the 25 February presidential election tendered by Peter Obi and the Labour Party.
The court said it rejected the report on the grounds that it was not tendered by an official of the body, which is the author and has custody of the document.
The court also rejected the 18,088 blurred results sheets tendered by the petitioners on the grounds that they are not tied to any of the polling units to which the results referred to, and which the petitioners failed to specify in their petition.
The PUNCH reports that the actual copy of the report was earlier tendered by Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party while prosecuting their petition before the tribunal.
CASE OF CONSPIRACY, CRIMINAL INTIMIDATION, CYBERSTALKING, CYBERBULLYING: CHIKE IBEZIM COMPLICIT, TO BE ARRAIGNED ONCE COURT RESUMES
Following a report from Priory Terrace Solicitors on behalf of Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, CON, against one Nnamdi Emmanuel Ibezim, Police Investigators from the Force Intelligence Bureau carried out intensive investigations into the complaint and discovered that the suspect made a false publication on his handle - @ReporteraNews on the social media platform ‘X’, formerly known as Twitter on Saturday 5th August, 2023, alleging that the complainant was involved in the drafting of a controversial verdict in the ongoing Presidential Election Petition Tribunal and that the military have been deployed to his residence to restrict movement thereby intending to cast aspersion on the person of the former Minister, contrary to Section 24 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention) Act, 2015, which has the potential to cause harm, distress, and damage to his reputation, as well as posing great threats to national security and stability of our dear country.
Further investigations to wit technical and tactical analysis into the phone number used for making the publication in question, it was discovered that it is registered to one Chike Ibezim. Armed with this intelligence, police investigators proceeded to the office address of the suspect in Maitama, Abuja, where Chike Ibezim was arrested, while Nnamdi Emmanuel Ibezim, and one Tope who it was alleged handles all social media correspondences are currently at large and have not honoured all invitations by the Nigeria Police Force.
In this wise, the Nigeria Police Force wishes to state clearly that our radar is on other individuals who are involved in this case and others alike for possible arrest and prosecution. The NPF thereby warns that cyberstalking and other cyber-related unguarded utterances are criminal and capable of heating up the polity and causing chaos.
This new trend of cyberstalking, and a massive spread of fake news should be discouraged in all manners for our collective sake, and the sake of our dear country.
ACP OLUMUYIWA ADEJOBI, mnipr, mipra, FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER, FORCE HEADQUARTERS, ABUJA
Olumekun was Lagos REC during the 2019 General Election
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has introduced a new National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, marking the conclusion of Festus Okoye’s five-year tenure.
This was communicated through INEC’s WhatsApp platform on Tuesday.
Sam Olugbadebo Olumekun was announced as Festus Okoye’s successor. Okoye’s tenure, which began on July 25, 2018, as representative of the South-East geopolitical zone in the commission, formally came to an end on July 24, 2023.
While National Commissioners and Resident Electoral Commissioners hold a five-year tenure and are eligible for a second term of five years, Okoye’s tenure was not renewed by President Bola Tinubu.
The process of appointing a new INEC Chairman and Commissioners involves nomination by the President, ratification by the Council of State, and confirmation by the Senate.
As of September 2022, Olumekun was the INEC National Commissioner in charge of the commission’s Election and Party Monitoring Committee.
In his new role, he will oversee public awareness, voter education, and the dissemination of information pertaining to electoral matters and INEC.
Protests from members of the APC have greeted the nominations of Akinjo & Oku Okang for been card-carrying members of the opposition PDP.
STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE
PRESIDENT TINUBU AMENDS NIGER DELTA DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION BOARD AND MANAGEMENT NOMINATION LIST
President Bola Tinubu has approved the immediate replacement of the NDDC's Ondo State Representative nominee, Mr. Victor Akinjo, with a new Ondo State Representative nominee, Hon. Otito Atikase.
The President has equally approved the immediate replacement of the NDDC's Cross River State Representative nominee, Mr. Asi Oku Okang, with a new Cross River State Representative, Rt. Hon. Orok Otuk Duke.
Furthermore, the immedate past Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer of the NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, is reappointed to a second term and will remain in acting capacity, pending the Senate's confirmation of his reappointment.
Finally i accept the reality of the End to a Road!
A sad reality that gives room & hope for a brighter and more fulfilling future! A reality that is SAD for my loving and adorable children but necessary for a peaceful and loveable future.
A sad reality i prayed, nutured and worked tirelessly hard never to experience for the sake of all.
A sad reality i now have to accept as i realize that my kids are much grown with better sense of understanding and knowledge of my pain & struggles regarding them!
A sad reality that screams that i wont live or be around forever and must take care of my health & mental state for the goodness of all. May God help me and reward me with all i truly deserve or punish me for all i have done wrong if that be the case.
In the end we will all live with the consequences of our actions.
Sad but real and true!
Now i have to do and be better for the sake of the same children i fought so hard never to be seperated from.
The journey thus far only makes me stronger as i come to terms with what i truly need and deserve for all my relentless hard work & efforts in life.
Heart broken but not shattered yet i stand tall as i break this sad but true news to the same world who adores my beautiful family & I. My wife & I have decided to go our separate ways and headed for an irreconcilable marriage dissolution.
Please respect our privacy and pray for us during this process as we heal and move on with our independent lives while jointly taking care of what we love most, Our children! God bless all 🙏🏾
The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has advised Nigerians to be cautious of posting indiscriminately on social media platforms as it exposes their data.
The Minister who gave the advice during a meeting with Data Protection Officers (DPOs) in Abuja noted that data privacy is not just a matter of convenience, but a fundamental human right, which is why everyone should be watchful about how they release their data and what is being used for.
According to him, as more Nigerians embrace the digital age, it is crucial that their personal and sensitive information is maintained under the eyes of confidentiality.
Government’s commitment While noting that the government is committed to ensuring that every Nigerian can trust the digital platforms that they use, knowing that their personal day will not be misused, the Minister said:
“As we mainstream the use of technology, not everyone in our society knows how to manage their data, people are coming on social media more and sharing indiscriminate messages on social media, which shouldn’t be. We will continue to push and enlighten our citizens to protect their data and we also ask you the DPOs to join us on this journey to protect the data of our citizens,” he said. Tijani noted that it is not the responsibility of the government alone to protect the data of Nigerians, adding that everyone has a duty to ensure that people around them understand the value of their data and how they can protect themselves.
Digital economy The Minister further reiterated the government’s commitment to building a digital economy with adequate provision for data security and protection.
“The digital economy is an era of growth and innovation that requires us to nurture it. The president is interested in the power of the digital economy and as we encourage the development of innovative technology, we should also prioritize the implementation of stronger data security and protection as well. “I want to emphasize that data privacy and protection conversation should go beyond technicalities, they should become values that we all hold and uphold strongly.
“As we build an inclusive and prosperous digital future by fostering a collective culture of responsible data handling, we can ensure our citizens’ personal information is managed responsibly and secured.
“As a minister, I am personally committed to this and I ask that you all join us to work towards Nigeria where everyone’s data is protected and secured,” he said.
While commending the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) under the leadership of Dr. Vincent Olatunji, the Minister said the government is also taking proactive steps to strengthen the country’s data protection framework.
According to him, the government is working with stakeholders including the national assembly to enact robust data Protection laws that are aligned with international standards.
'Yorubanisation, Lagoslisation' in Tinubu's appointments, Arewa forum raises alarm
The Arewa Economic Forum (AEF), a northern Nigeria group, has drawn the attention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to what it termed “Yorubanisation” and “Lagoslisation” of his appointments.
According to the socio-cultural pressure group, most of the persons President Tinubu has appointed into key sectors of the country are from the South-West region and Lagos State particularly.
The Chairman of the Forum, Alhaji Ibrahim Shehu Dandakata, expressed displeasure over the fact that the North, which significantly contributed to the enthronement of the Tinubu government, is being left out in the Finance and ICT sectors which are crucial to economic development.
He added that both the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and the Acting Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Folashodun Shonubi, are from the southwest.
Dandakata spoke in Abuja on Wednesday at a press conference organized by the Forum to register its discontent over the seeming nepotism in some of the President's appointments.
He said, “The Minister of Finance and the Cordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, and the Acting Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Folashodun Shonubi, are both from the southwest…the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Mr Bosun Tijani, is from the southwest and even the Chairman of Senate Committee on ICT, Senator Afolabi Salisu, and that of House of Representatives, Hon. Adedeji Olajide Odidiomo, are also from the southwest.
"We have now found that even some agencies whose chief executive officers were removed like Customs and NIMC have been replaced by people from the southwest," he said.
"There is palpable fear that more Northerners may be recommended for removal and their replacements may take a similar pattern.
"We are afraid to state that a situation whereby the appointees in crucial economic sectors are not only from the southwest but also connected to the Lagos axis suggests a deliberate 'Yorubanisation' and 'Lagoslisation' of the polity.
"In his appointments, changes and replacements, we call on the President to be wary of actions that can send a wrong signal on his true intentions or the agenda of some of his key lieutenants," the Chairman argued.
He gave the example of how the leadership of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) was changed recently, saying it is capable of setting a bad precedent.
"For example, the President last week directed the immediate past Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Engr Aliyu Abubakar Aziz, to vacate office and proceed on terminal leave and in his place he appointed Engr Bisoye Coker-Odusote as acting DG.
"But in the same directive, the President asked her to continue as substantive DG immediately after acting for three months. Many found this curious as it is actually unprecedented. If the President could not allow the most senior director in the Commission to act for some time, he should have instructed Madam Coker-Odusote to resume her four-year tenure immediately instead of making her enjoy an extra three months. This is capable of setting a bad precedent in public service appointments.
"It is not too late for Mr. President to turn the corner and do the needful in upcoming appointments and crucial decisions.”
Breaking news: dear Lagosians, the Blue Line Rail transport will commence full commercial operations from Monday September 4th, 2023. We will move passengers on return journey from Mile 2 to Marina.
Tinubu appoints Ogbuku, Ebie, Igbuya into NDDC board
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of a new Board and Management team of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), inclusive of the following Board and Management team members:
Mr. Chiedu Ebie – Chairman – Delta
Dr. Samuel Ogbuku – Managing Director/CEO – Bayelsa
Mr. Boma Iyaye – Executive Director (Finance and Admin) – Rivers
Mr. Victor Antai – Executive Director (Projects) – Akwa-Ibom
Ifedayo Abegunde – Executive Director (Corporate Services) – Ondo
Sen. Dimaro Denyanbofa – State Representative – Bayelsa
Mr. Abasi Ndikan Nkono – State Representative – Akwa Ibom
Rt. Hon. Monday Igbuya – State Representative – Delta
Chief Tony Okocha – State Representative – Rivers
Hon Patrick Aisowieren – State Representative – Edo
Mr. Kyrian Uchegbu – State Representative – Imo
Victor Kolade Akinjo – State Representative – Ondo
Chief Dimgba Eruba – State Representative – Abia
Mr. Asu Oku Okang – State Representative – Cross River
Hon. Nick Wende – Zonal Representative – North Central
Hon. Namdas Abdulrazak – Zonal Representative – North East
Sen. Dr. Ibrahim Abdullahi Gobir – Zonal Representative – North West
The President expects that the new Board and Management team will ensure a new era of successful administration in the NDDC, in line with his Renewed Hope agenda.
All of the above listed appointments take immediate effect.
Nigerian stocks attained their peak level ever on Tuesday as the all-share index, which measures the overall performance of equities climbed 0.5 per cent to 66,490.3 basis points on the back of a series of market-friendly reforms helping Africa’s largest economy restore investor confidence to its markets
Tuesday’s feat pushes a high of 66,371.2 basis points, set more than 15 years ago on 5 March, 2008, to the back seat.
Nigerian stocks have been on a rise since President Bola Tinubu introduced some of the country’s boldest reforms in decades in the early weeks of his administration, especially an abolition of costly fuel subsidies and a unification of multiple exchange rates.
They reached the summit of performance since March 1996, when official records began, hinged on buyers’ interest in the shares of big lenders – Access Holdings, Zenith, FBN Holdings and GTCO.
Demand for a good number of consumer goods stocks also helped gains, with equities adding N348 billion at the end of trade.
“We project mixed sentiments toward listed equities, with some investors’ continuing their cherry-picking activities around fundamentally sound stocks with strong potentials in terms of recently disclosed corporate actions,” said analysts at United Capital in their outlook note for the week seen by PREMIUM TIMES.
Market breadth, an indicator of investor sentiment towards trade, was positive as 34 gainers were reported compared to 32 decliners.
Market capitalisation climbed to N39.7 trillion from the N36.2 trillion reported at the previous session. The index has returned 29.7 per cent since the beginning of the year.
TOP FIVE GAINERS Flour Mills appreciated by 10 per cent to close at N33. Champion Breweries enlarged by 10 per cent to end trade at N3.19. NASCON rose to N54.10, notching up 10 per cent in the process. Dangote Sugar went up by 10 per cent to N57.45. NAHCO completed the top 5, climbing by 10 per cent to N22.10
TOP FIVE LOSERS CWG led losers, declining by 10 per cent to close at N4.05. Linkage Assurance shed 10 per cent to end trade at N0.90. Chellarams fell to N3.57, losing 9.9 per cent. Prestige slid to N0.46, recording a 9.8 per cent depreciation. UPL closed at N2.15, going down by 9.7 per cent.
TOP FIVE TRADES
Altogether, 437 million shares estimated at N7 billion were traded in 7,932 deals.
FBN Holdings was the most active stock with 55.1 million of its shares worth N911.2 million traded in 288 deals. Japaul’s shares of 33.1 million units, priced at N29.9 million, exchanged hands in 127 transactions. UBA had 30.2 million shares valued at N412.2 million traded in 506 deals. Access Holdings traded 25.4 million shares estimated at N414.4 million in 452 transactions. Transcorp traded 18.2 million shares valued at N127.7 million in 181 deals.
The crisis rocking the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has worsened with the two factions suspending themselves.
The faction loyal to former governor of Kano state, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso in a national executive committee meeting in Abuja expelled the chairman of the board of trustees Dr Boniface Aniebonam, the national Publicity secretary, Dr Agbo Major and ten states National Working Committee members for forming a parallel NWC and state Executives.
The Kwankwaso group also upheld motions to extend the tenure of the acting national chairman, Mallam Abah-Kawu Ali, and to redesign the party’s logo.
The only Governor in the party, Alhaji Abba Yusuf of Kano state said he would continue to work closely with Senator Kwankwaso in his efforts to reposition the NNPP.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says that the Kogi State November 11 governorship result will be transmitted electronically directly from polling units to its server.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kogi, Prof. Gabriel Longpet, disclosed this at a two-day media roundtable Engagement on the Kogi election Organized by the Independent Press Center, IPC in Abuja.
Prof. Longpet said the electronic transmission of the results will help to eliminate rigging, electoral fraud and other irregularities and to ensure the enthronement of credibility and transparency in the electoral process.
Longpet also assured that the issues of insecurity that characterised the 2019 governorship election have been critically analysed and dealt with, urging Koginelectorates to come out and vote as the election will be volatile free.
“Of course, we will be transmitting the Kogi election electronically. A lot of infractions do happen between the polling units and the collation centre; the transmission of the results through electronic methods will definitely prevent such issues of infractions from occurring.
“By the electoral acts, any results figures on form EC8A that appeared mutilated cannot be allowed. If results are transmitted electronically to the IREV, there will be no need for results to be hijacked in the first place, mutilated or changed.”
The state REC reiterated that the 2023 Kogi guber poll ‘will be by the poll and not by the gun”, assuring that the commission will do everything to ensure that votes count and that those who will emerge will emerge through popular votes.
“We have only one message and the message is that you come out to exercise your franchise,” he said.
A Bulldozer of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) demolished the multimillion naira duplex built on Plot 226, in Wuse Zone 6, an unapproved land.
Mr Mukhtar Gidado, Director, Department of Development Control, said that the building was illegally developed against all warnings.
Gidado said that his team had carried out extensive investigation to ascertain the original owner of the plot, given varying claims that were being put forth by the parties.
He added that investigation revealed that the developer was not the owner of the plot, adding,”that is why we had to remove the building.”
According to him, the FCT Administration will not consider the status of any defaulting developer once development rules and regulations are violated.
Gidado said: “We demolished the duplex because somebody built on someone else’s land without valid title and building plan approval.
“We allowed the building to this stage before demolishing it because we had to follow all due processes.”
The director said that the supposed owner of the building was served all the notices to stop work, saying, “but being a disobedient developer, he continued without heeding to the notices.
“After our investigation, we have ascertained the rightful allottee of the plot, so we have to remove the building.
“We are going to consult the legal department to know the next action against the developer.”
The Kano State Police Command has placed an immediate ban on all street protests in the State.
Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Usaini Gumel, in a statement on Monday, said the decision followed intelligence reports that both the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) are mobilising rented crowds in the guise of Civil Society Coalition for street protests “merely as a result of their apprehensions and to pre-empt the judgement of the election Tribunal” in the state.
“In consideration of the confirmatory intelligence reports at the disposal of this Police Command, all forms of street protests are hereby banned across all parts of the State.
“Members of the public should, therefore, note that it has come to our knowledge that both the APC and the NNPP members are currently mobilizing rented crowds in the guise of Civil Society Coalition and without clearance from the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and prior approval from the security agencies in the State.
“Both organisers, as well as the umbrella body, should note that any attempt to disrespect NLC and the Security Agencies in the State, by playing around with the fragile security situation, which the combined security agencies have been managing, is not only uncivil, criminal but also an offence against National Security.
“Checks have so far been conducted by this Police Command and It’s revealing that some members of both political parties are influencing the members of the Civil Society to embark on this decision merely as a result of their apprehensions and to pre-empt the judgement of the election Tribunal.
“Finally, this Police Command is ever grateful for the enormous support and cooperation it has been enjoying from the good people of the State for the peace, security, stability and the overall interest of all residents,” he said.
Tunji-Ojo was first elected to represent Akoko North East/Akoko North West Federal Constituency in 2019 where he chaired the House Committee on NDDC.
He was re-elected to the green chambers in 2023, a position he is resigning to take up the Minister of Interior role today.
On February 23, 2019, you gave me your mandate to represent you at the green chamber of the National Assembly in Abuja.
It was a huge confidence and trust reposed in me, and I had an unusual record of rewriting, reshaping, and redefining our stories, delivering effective and responsive representation when I toiled the length and breadth of the two local government areas of the Federal Constituency.
We rose above the attendant challenges, which used to serve as excuses for not delivering the good of the land to the people. Within the period, we changed the narratives. We rewrote the history of our land so that generations unborn will not only read about it but will also benefit from it. We raised the bar for representative democracy. Evidence of this commitment is scattered across the constituency.
From the Oyinmo by-pass road to the once-dreaded Arigidi Akoko to Okeagbe Akoko road to the forgotten Ase road to the Auga road and other roads, over 100 km of road projects were facilitated.
Several industrial boreholes were installed, and transformers were provided to all the communities for the use of our people. Our enterprising market women were empowered with grants to support their businesses, and our students enjoyed bursary provision to support their education. The agricultural and health sectors, as well as security, received attention through so many intervention projects. I have always held the belief that it is Akoko that will develop Akoko, and my actions have proved that postulation to be true.
In the midst of this, I did not forget the core legislative duties. In four years, I drafted bills and ensured they were passed by the National Assembly to change the economic and administrative landscape of our country.
You proved to me that hard work is the most important virtue if we are to achieve a society where the dividends of democracy are delivered to the people, especially at the grassroots. You rewarded me with a second term in office when you went to the polls on the 25th of February, 2023, where you returned me with over eighty percent of the votes cast. Nothing could be more humbling!
His Excellency, President 'Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), has found your son worthy to serve in the federal cabinet in his quest to deliver on his #RenewedHope promises. I consider this a thing of pride for you, for Akoko, for Ondo State, and for the young Nigerians at home and abroad.
I thank His Excellency, Asiwaju 'Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the opportunity to join his team as he leads the nation to freedom. I reaffirm my belief in his mandate, and I cannot wait to serve in the cabinet.
Today, as I bow out as your lawmaker, I thank you for your support, which I know will not droop.
While I will miss drafting bills and defending the Nigerian people on the floor of the house, I am delighted to take up this huge task ahead of me as we work towards giving back to Nigeria and Nigerians, both home and abroad.
Viewers of the popular reality television show, Big Brother Naija All-Star Edition, have shown their disdain for a comment made by one of the housemates in the competition.
The contestant while speaking in the house made a remark about hoping to have three boys. While giving reason for his choice of offspring, Seyi said, “I gave birth to a boy first. He will f*ck your daughter. I have a shina account for my son. I pay money into it. I have it for one of my guy’s sons. I have that account for a lot of my boys’ sons.
“They will f*ck your daughter. My boys will come and meet me saying, ‘Daddy, I need the Benz.’ I will give them the Benz and the keys to the girl’s house. They will go and run trains on people’s daughters. It’s funny to you because you think you’re tipsy. I will give birth to boys and they will Bleep people’s daughters.”
It should be known that the context of Awolowo’s comment, “run trains” is understood to mean men taking turns to have sex with a woman. Moreso, the term, “shina” in the Yoruba language translates to “philandering”.
The reality TV star’s remarks have sparked an outrage mostly on social media, X (formerly known as Twitter), with some of the users of the platform slamming Seyi for his utterance. But worthy of note is the response of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA).
In a tweet via the agency, it said, “We strongly condemn the comments made by Seyi Awolowo in the disturbing video that has surfaced. Such remarks perpetuate harmful attitudes and contribute to a culture of violence and abuse,” the agency said.
“The bystanders’ passive response in the video is also deeply concerning because it only enables such behaviour to persist. It is important for us all to actively speak up in circumstances such as this. We remain committed to addressing issues of domestic and sexual violence.”
Chike Ibezim has through Reportera insisted that his brother was abducted by men of the SSS.
BREAKING: We Neither Arrested Nnamdi Ibezim Nor His Brother Chike Ibezim — DSS affirms, amidst continuous illegal detention of Reportera MD's younger brother, Chike Victor Ibezim.
Mr Chike Ibezim was abducted on Thursday 10th August 2023 following a defamaton petition filed to the Director-General of DSS by Babatunde Fashola (SAN) against Reportera based on a News Report published on Sunday 6th August 2023.
In the background of the video was a viral song by Nigerian artistes Pheelz and BNXN, Finesse .
The song connotes going all out for what you want regardless of what it costs.
Caicedo, who joined Brighton for £4m in February 2021, has agreed an eight-year contract at Stamford Bridge and the Blues have an option of a further year.
The additional £15m in payments is based mostly on appearances and Brighton expect to receive the entire £115m (a British Record fee) within a short period of time.
West African military chiefs will meet on Saturday following a summit that ordered the deployment of a "standby force" in the effort to resolve the Niger crisis, regional military sources said.
NSIB COMMENCES INVESTIGATION INTO AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING A JABIRU J430 AIRCRAFT IN LAGOS
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has been notified and commenced investigation into an accident involving a Jabiru J430, a light single airplane with Nationality and Registration Marks 5N-CCQ operated by Air First Hospitality & Tours, which occurred around a little after 1500hrs local time on August 1, 2023.
The aircraft was on a test flight within Lagos with two passengers onboard, before it crashed around Oba Akran area of Lagos State with no fatalities.
The aircraft caught fire on impact but the spread was contained by the rainfall at the time of impact.
The two souls on board were taken to the hospital.
The NSIB, hereby, solicits information from the general public in form of pictures, video or recording evidences to assist in conducting a comprehensive investigation.
The Bureau can be reached through info@aib.gov.ng and NSIB_Nigeria on its social media platforms. The Bureau can also be reached on its emergency line +234-807-709-0909.
The NSIB is a multimodal investigation agency charged with the mandate to investigate transportation accidents and serious incidents in Nigeria with the aim of identifying the probable causes and proffer safety recommendations that can prevent reoccurrence.
Organised Labour may reconsider its planned nationwide protest scheduled to commence on Wednesday.
NLC Secretary, Emma Ugbaja, says the measures announced by President Tinubu are not the best but Labour would go back to the different unions they represent to consult with the hope of reaching a consensus on the next line of action.
The Kano State Censorship Board says it has revoked all operational licences of all actors and actresses including directors and producers in its filmmaking industry, Kannywood.
The head of the board, Abba El-Mustapha, said the decision aims to sanitise the industry and ensure proper documentation.
El-Mustapha said all celebrities and producers must renew their licences to operate in the state.
“We have cancelled all licences of all guilds in the industry for proper documentation and to have effective plans that will address some of the problems in the industry.
“We have about 13 guilds; we have revoked all their licences, enabling us to sanitise the industry. Before a license is issued to any person, we must be satisfied with the person.
“The decision also affects all the singers and other entertainers in the Kannywood industry; they must renew their licences, and we are going to fetch out the bad eggs among them”, El-Mustapha told Freedom Radio on Saturday.
The move has been criticised by many as a deliberate plan to punish, through stringent policies, celebrities who campaigned against the ruling party in the state, New Nigeria People Party, NNPP, in the just concluded general elections.
During the build-up to the elections, Kannywood was divided along political party lines, with the new head of the board, El-Mustapha, a member of the NNPP.
Other stakeholders are affiliated with the All Progressives Congress, APC and the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.
In January, Kannywood stars including Ali Nuhu, Adam Zango, Sadiq Sani, Rabiu Daushe, and several others, officially endorsed the candidature of the presidential candidate of the APC), Bola Tinubu and Nasir Gawuna, the governorship candidate of the APC in the state.
Zango, who initially supported the NNPP’s presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, eventually switched to Tinubu’s camp during APC’s campaign rally at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.
Some of the practitioners in the industry have alleged political persecution after their studios, vehicles and houses were attacked and burnt in the state after the NNPP won the governorship election.
Reacting to retribution allegations, the state’s Commissioner for Information, Halilu Dantiye, said the board was not to fight any group, but rather ensure that rules and regulations are adhered to.
“The censorship board was not established to persecute any group of people or persons. It’s meant to correct the wrongdoing in the film industry’’, Dantiye said.
NDLEA arrests artistes’ manager, businessman who sell drugs at Lekki, Lagos Island clubs
Intercepts their consignments hidden in coffee tins, duvets at MMIA; uncovers UK, Oman, Dubai-bound drugs in body cream bottles, vehicle engine
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested a Lekki-based artistes’ manager and his Ikoyi businessman accomplice who specialize in distributing illicit drugs to fun seekers at VIP night clubs and lounges in Lekki and Island axis of Lagos state.
Their arrest followed an intelligence about a shipment of Colorado, a synthetic strong strain of cannabis coming for them from Los Angeles, United States. Oseni Abdulraheem Ayodeji Babatunde (aka Papalampa) was the first to be arrested in his house at No. 3 Ope Daniel Taiwo Street, off Chisco Bus-Stop, Lekki area of Lagos when the consignment arrived on Sunday 23rd July.
During preliminary interview with the suspect, he confessed he started the illicit trade three years ago and has been selling to patrons of clubs and lounges in Lekki and Lagos Island, some of which he identified as Quilox, Silver Fox, DNA and Hot box. Oseni said beside the drug business, he also organizes shows for artistes around Lagos and outside Nigeria.
A total of ten (10) parcels of Colorado weighing 2.50kg concealed inside large tins of coffee and duvets linked to Oseni were intercepted by NDLEA operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja. During a follow up search of his residence, operatives recovered some quantities of the same substance, a digital weighing scale and other paraphernalia.
An Ikoyi based businessman, Nnadi Kingsley Ikenna also linked to the shipment was away in South Africa when the consignment arrived. While operatives maintained surveillance around his 18 Okotie Eboh Close, Ikoyi residence, they also set their dragnet for him at the airport. He eventually arrived into the waiting arms of NDLEA officers on Thursday 27th July when he returned to the country on a Kenya Airlines flight at the Lagos airport. Kingsley, in his statement accepted ownership of a part of the consignment.
In the same vein, NDLEA operatives attached to the NAHCO export shed of the MMIA intercepted a cargo going to Nairobi, Kenya. A search of the consignment revealed that various quantities of MDMA (Ecstasy) popularly known as ‘Molly’ and Rohypnol were concealed in a bag consisting of foodstuff. An agent, Onydem Chinwe Florence who presented it for export was arrested.
Also, an attempt by another suspect, Igboma Ifeanyi to export quantities of Loud, a variant of Cannabis, Tramadol and Rohypnol all weighing 7.8kg concealed in 66 bottles of skin lightening lotion was thwarted by vigilant operatives who intercepted him while preparing to board an Ethiopian airline flight to Muscat, Oman at the Lagos airport.
Another suspect, Ekpenisi Wisdom Pious was equally arrested while trying to board an Ethiopian airline flight to Oman with 6.00kg skunk hidden in a bag of food stuff. A follow up operation led to the arrest of a staff of Toprano Hotel, Ikeja, Ibigbami Temitope Oluwatobi who was fingered in the drug trafficking scheme. A consignment of 5.70kg codeine syrup going to the United Kingdom was on Thursday 27th July seized from a 51-year-old widow, Adewunmi Taiwo Atinuke by NDLEA operatives at the SAHCO export shed of the MMIA Ikeja.
Equally, a consignment of 8.5kg skunk well concealed in a vehicle engine block going to Dubai, UAE was on Tuesday 18th July intercepted by NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI, attached to courier companies in Lagos.
At the Apapa seaport in Lagos, another container load of nitrous oxide popularly known as laughing gas, linked to a 30-year-old businessman, Stephen Eze, was seized on Tuesday 25th July. Two containers of the same substance imported from China by the suspect was earlier seized on 13th July at the Apapa port. The third shipment was intercepted during a joint examination of the container marked SUDU7431605 containing 8,336 cannisters of Nitrous Oxide and pressure release Nozzles.
In Ondo state, two suspects: Francis Diamond, 26, and Adekunle Damilola, 26, were arrested in Ita Ogbolu forest with 247.5kg cannabis while a Golf Car conveying the same substance weighing 308kg was intercepted at Airport Junction along Akure-Ogbese Road on Wednesday 26th July with a suspect Farouk Umar, 38, arrested. A 32-year-old suspect, Chukwuma Nnaji was also arrested with 47kg skunk in a warehouse at Onuogba Eke, Ishielu LGA, Enugu state on Saturday 29th July, while 12kg of the same substance was recovered from a lock up shop during the raid.
A grandpa, Boniface Ogwurlobi, 62, and Chimezie Onyenjuru were arrested at Uli town Ihila LGA, Anambra state with a total of 49.415kg cannabis sativa, 127.7grams of methamphetamine and 15grams of cocaine during a raid operation on Friday 28th July, while men of 9th Brigade, Nigerian Army transferred three suspects: Olasande Olutosin, Oleh Chiagozie and Obamuro Baiyeri arrested with 2,608.3kg cannabis sativa and the truck conveying the substance to the Lagos state Command of NDLEA on Tuesday 25th July.
In Ogun state, operatives on Thursday 26th July uncovered another skuchies factory in Sagamu where a suspect Femi Isiaka was arrested. Recovered from the factory include: 37kg Cannabis; 195 pills of Tramadol; 5,000 tabs of Diazepam; 216 tabs of Rophynol 216; 204 litres of skuchies; four fridges; four gas cylinders and one industrial cooker among other items.
No fewer than 156,380 pills of Tramadol and other opioids were seized from two suspects: Abdulrazak Bala and Lawal Salisu when they were arrested along Gwagwalada - Abaji road in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, on Saturday 29th July.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) commended the officers and men of the MMIA, Apapa, Enugu, Anambra, Ondo, Lagos, FCT and Ogun Commands as well as those of DOGI for their resilience and commitment. He charged them and their counterparts in other Commands to remain undaunted by the various machinations of drug cartels and barons who are daily frustrated and desperate due to the continued heat on them and their criminal trade.
Femi Babafemi Director, Media and Advocacy NDLEA Headquarters Abuja Sunday 30th July 2023
Thousands of passengers have been stranded after the collapse of the Olodo bridge in Ibadan, the Oyo state Capital.
The bridge, which connects the city to the town of Iwo and Osun West Senatorial District in Osun state, collapsed after heavy rains that fell on Sunday leading to flooding in the area.
This has caused a major disruption to travel through the Iwo Road Axis to Other parts of Ibadan, Oyo and Osun States with Thousands of people unable to reach their destinations.
Traffic Officials are currently working to divert the traffic on the major highway which could be days or even weeks before it is repaired.
The Oyo and Osun State Governments had signed an agreement for the reconstruction and Expansion of the road in 2022 under the Seyi Makinde and Gboyega Oyetola Administration.
The Project is currently ongoing on the Stretch of road which is expected to ease travel and Commerce between Several parts of Oyo and Osun States.
6,921.5kg skunk; destroys 33 hectares of cannabis farms in Ondo, Edo; intercepts another Colorado shipment from Canada
It was a rude shock to a notorious drug kingpin who specializes in sponsoring young Nigerians to traffick Class A drugs to Europe especially Italy, when operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, stormed his hotel room in Okota area of Lagos late on Friday 21st July when he was preparing a recruited courier to swallow 93 pellets of cocaine meant for distribution in Italy.
The 48-year-old drug kingpin, Charles Uwagbale, had recruited Uju Dominic, 35, from his base in Italy with a deal to come to Nigeria, ingest 100 pellets of cocaine on Friday 21st July and return to Italy on Saturday 22nd July. True to plan, upon the arrival in Nigeria, the mule was lodged in Golden Heaven Hotel located at Enoma street off Ago-Palace way, Okota, Isolo, Lagos where Uwagbale brought 93 wraps of the Class A drug for him to swallow at about 23:45pm Friday night.
They were in the process when NDLEA operatives who have been on their trail following credible intelligence stormed their hotel room, arrested both and recovered the drug exhibits with a total weight of 1.427 kilograms. Operatives of the Lagos state Command of the Agency who made the arrest and seizure had on Thursday 20th July raided Akala in Mushin area of the state where they recovered 37.5kg cannabis from the home of a fleeing suspect.
Meanwhile, attempts to smuggle 98 cartons containing Five Million One Hundred and Twenty Two Thousand Nine Hundred (5, 122, 900) pills of Tramadol 225mg with an estimated street value of about Three Billion Seven Hundred Million Naira (N3.7billion) only into Nigeria through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja, have been thwarted through the robust synergy between men of the Nigeria Customs Service and NDLEA officers at the airport as well as those at the DHL cargo warehouse. Preliminary findings revealed that the consignments were imported from India and Pakistan, while some of the seized consignments had Freetown, Sierra Leone as final destination.
In the same vein, NDLEA operatives in Bauchi state have recovered a total of Six Million Two Hundred and Sixty-Five and Eighty (6,265,080) pills of opioids from three suspects: Emmanuel Onyebuchi, 32; Uche Iyida, 33; and Chinedu Ezeanyim, 32 following their arrest alongside a truck driver and his assistant at Shopping Complex, Maiduguri Bye-Pass, Bauchi town on Wednesday 19th July and the subsequent follow up search of the residence of Iyida on Friday 21st July.
No fewer than Nine Hundred and Ninety-Nine Five Hundred (999,500) tablets of Exol-5 were also recovered by operatives from a shop close to the market at Hong Road, Gombi, Adamawa state on Friday 21st July, while 46,000 capsules of tramadol were seized from a suspect, Paul Ajaegbu, 36, along Owerri - Aba road, Imo state on Monday 17th July. Same suspect had earlier been arrested, precisely on 9th February 2023, for the same offence.
In Ondo state, NDLEA operatives in their numbers stormed the Ofosu forest where they destroyed 29 hectares of cannabis farms on Thursday 20th July. The quartet of Osamezu George Chukwuemeka, 51, who owns the farm; his wife Kate Osamezu, 43; Agboola Wasiu, 37 and Mustapha Sanni, were arrested during the operation, while 118.5kg processed cannabis was recovered from the farm. In another raid of the warehouse of a suspect at Elegbeka, Ose LGA, not less than 107 jumbo bags of the same illicit substance weighing 1,132.5kg were recovered on Monday 17th July.
While operatives in Sokoto state arrested a suspect, Charles Nwankwo, 50, with 610kg of cannabis in Tamaje area of Sokoto on Friday 21st July, their counterparts in Yobe also same day nabbed a fleeing suspect Shaibu Musa, 29, in Dawasa while he was offering them a bribe of N500,000 following the seizure of 36kg skunk in his house on Wednesday 19th July.
In Edo state, operatives on Monday 17th July raided the Utese forest Ovia North East LGA where they arrested Victor Asukwo Jack, with 59 bags of processed cannabis sativa weighing 640kg. His two cannabis farms measuring 1.489895 hectares and 2.445295 hectares were destroyed. Also, Endurance Chukwuma, 50, was arrested with seven bags of processed cannabis sativa weighing 68kg, while his cannabis farm measuring 0.254324 hectares was destroyed.
A total of 273kg cannabis was earlier intercepted in a Toyota Sienna Vehicle marked RBC 451 CM on Wednesday 19th July at Ogida, Benin City, and a suspect, Lucky Oriakhi, 41, arrested while operatives also seized 48,380 pills of tramadol in a commercial bus marked KAK 66 XA along Ewohimi road, heading to Kabba, Kogi state and arrested the driver, Ibrahim John. In Nasarawa, two suspects: Abubakar Suleiman, 30 and Shehu Garba (aka Shagari), 29 were arrested along Keffi - Akwanga road on Tuesday 18th July in a Peugeot J5 vehicle loaded with 1,608.4 kilograms of cannabis sativa. The consignment was loaded in Edo state and meant for distribution in Bauchi state.
While a total of 1,556.1kg of cannabis was recovered from two suspects: Jonathan Nuhu, 54 and Mohammed Abubakar, 18, following their arrest at Wudil area of Kano State on Thursday 20th July, 76kg of same substance was seized from Yakubu Muhammad, 32, on Monday 17th July along Okene/Lokoja highway in a trailer coming from Port Harcourt to Kano. In the same vein, operatives in Ogun state on Wednesday 19th July, recovered 810 parcels of cannabis weighing 604kg from the house of one Adetunji Abiodun.
Fresh bid to smuggle into Nigeria, another consignment of Colorado, a synthetic variant of cannabis, through the Tincan port in Apapa Lagos was again on Friday 21st July frustrated by NDLEA officers who discovered a total of 323 parcels of the illicit substance weighing 161.5kg concealed in one of the four used vehicles in a container marked MEDU 7519460 coming from Montreal, Canada, during a joint examination of the shipment.
At least, three suspects are currently in NDLEA custody over the shipment while a bribe of N20 million converted to $22,900 offered operatives by the importers agents has also been recovered and documented as evidence.
Impressed by the volume of arrests and seizures made by officers and men of MMIA, Lagos, Bauchi, Adamawa, Ondo, Sokoto, Yobe, Edo, Imo, Kano, Kogi, Ogun, Nasarawa and Tincan Commands in the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) commended them for jobs well done while he urged them and their counterparts across the country to continue the synergy with other security agencies and stakeholders in the fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.
Femi Babafemi Director, Media & Advocacy NDLEA National Headquarters Abuja Sunday 23rd July 2023
Politics › Issued Determined So Far By The Tribunal by chokekachy(op): 4:35pm On Sep 06, 2023
