₦airaland Forum

A woman simply identified as Carol and her daughter, Favour have been reported dead with three others seriously injured as fire on Saturday razed down building in Eku Community, Ethiope-East Local Government Area of Delta State.

Property including a commercial shop in the building and a caravan within the area were also engulfed by the inferno.

Details as to the cause of to fire are still sketchy at the time of filing this report.

An eyewitness who craved anonymity said the fire started when Carol, a kerosene dealer was selling the product to a customer when suddenly a gallon went aflame and spread to other gallons of kerosene in the shop.

The eyewitness said the fire enveloped Carol who was with her daughter, Favour at the time and burnt her to death instantly.

The eyewitness added that Favour died on her as she was being rushed to the hospital for medical treatments.

The eyewitness said the fire may have resulted from adulterated kerosene.

The incident has thrown residents of the area in shock as sympathizers were seen searching for other occupants of the building who may have been trapped under the wreckages.

When contacted, the Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Adeyinka Adeleke confirmed the report, noting that, “Only one person died.”

CP Adeleke said, “the fire started as a result of a woman selling adulterated kerosene and fuel in the house.”




See more here https://thickmatch.com/mother-daughter-die-others-injured-fire-razes-building-delta-community/

The President of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Paul Usoro, has declared that judges are afraid of performing their duties as expected due to fear and intimidation from the executive arm of government.

Usoro lamented over the “intimidation of judges by members of the executive arm and security operatives”, stressing that judges now “operate under an oppressive and pervasive climate of fear and insecurity.”

He made the disclosure while speaking at NBA’s National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting, held at the association’s secretariat in Abuja.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria said: “Our Judges are threatened, intimidated and blackmailed mostly by the executive arms of government and their agencies both at the federal and state levels.

“Our judges cannot deliver justice under a climate of fear and intimidation. Justice thrives where and when there is an independent judiciary. There can be no such independence when there is no security of tenure for our Judges. There can be no independence of the judiciary when our judges are intimidated, threatened and blackmailed by state agencies and their officials.

“There can be no independence of the judiciary when our judges are actively coerced by state officials to think and reason only in the manner that those officials and, presumably, government want them to think.

“My dear colleagues, as you would observe, I have given you three illustrative instances of the insecurity that pervades our land from the three NBA Nigerian Zones – East, West and North – and that, by itself, makes the point that no part of our country is safe.

“No region is safe, and no tribe is safe. No one indeed is safe. And yet, we have governments in place, at the federal, state and local government levels and the primary business of governments is the protection of lives and property. Indeed, without security of lives and property, everything else grinds to a halt.”



See more here https://thickmatch.com/buhari-govt-made-judges-afraid-performing-duties-nba-presiden/

Balarabe Musa, Chairman of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP, and former Governor of Kaduna State, has adduced two reasons why former presidents and heads of state were absent at the June 12 Democracy Day celebration in Abuja.

Obasanjo, however, claimed that he was not invited for the national event.

Reacting to their absence, Musa said the former presidents may have been frightened by the way President Muhammadu Buhari went about the celebrations and what he said few days to the event.

The elder statesman stated that the former leaders could be afraid that they might be indicted if Buhari had decided to investigate circumstances surrounding the June 12, 1993 election.

Speaking with Vanguard, Musa said: “Well, it could be for two reasons. First, President Buhari may have threatened them though he does not have the capacity to carry it out.

“For instance, if he takes the recognition of June 12, further by investigating it, they could be afraid because they may be involved in the annulment. It was a military affair and most of them held sensitive positions then that could implicate them.

“Secondly, two days before June 12, celebration, President Buhari made a very vital statement. He said his government would name and shame all those behind the disabling level of corruption, stealing and waste of resources.”



See more here https://thickmatch.com/obasanjoibbjonathan-absent-june-12-celebration-balarabe-musa/

The Coalition of United Political Parties CUPP, has lambasted the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, for “sacrificing competence” by withdrawing the appointment of Festus Adedayo as his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity hours after the appointment was announced.

Adedayo, who has spoken on the cancellation of his appointment, was removed after supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) kicked against it.

Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, CUPP spokesman, in a statement on Friday, condemned how Buhari government kitchen members, supporters and social media warriors allegedly on the payroll of the ruling APC and the presidency opposed the appointment.

“Their grouse was that the celebrated columnist has many times penned pieces that were critical of President MUHAMMADU Buhari who is the head of the Executive Arm of government and cannot be allowed to work with the head of the parliament who is a stooge of the Buhari government,” he said.

“It is surprising, to say the least, that the head of another arm of govt/Senate President Ahmed Lawan succumbed to the pressure from Aso Rock and quickly withdrew Dr. Adedayo’s nomination just for not been a stooge of the Executive arm of government.

“Opposition political parties view this development as primitive, show of intolerance and sacrifice of competence on the altar of Halleluyah politics.

“Senator Lawan has, by this singular act, proved Nigerians right that the Senate under his leadership will be an annex of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led executive arm of government.

“The CUPP hereby declares the Senate President as Buhari’s boy over his decision to sack his aide for refusing to pledge loyalty to the President.

“Senator Ahmed Lawan has, with this decision, left no one in doubt that the Ninth Senate under his leadership is an extension of Buhari Aso Rock bedroom. That is his mission and he will go to any length to achieve this.



See more here https://thickmatch.com/lawan-fire-sacking-festus-adedayo-hours-appointment/

The Super Falcons have landed in Grenoble, where they will take on former champions Germany in a round of 16 tie of the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup on Saturday,

The fitness update ahead of the meeting at the Stade des Alpes which will be pleasing to the ears of Super Falcons fans is that Barcelona striker Asisat Oshoala is 'definitely fit' to start against the Germans.

The former Arsenal and Liverpool striker had to play through the pain barrier in the final group match vs France before she was substituted in the 85th minute.

On Wednesday, Oshoala had a gym session with the rest of her teammates but was excused from the training session on grass, but the following day she participated in full training.

With Ngozi Ebere (red card) and Rita Chikwelu (accumulated bookings) suspended for tomorrow's game, manager Thomas Dennerby will be forced to make at least two changes to the starting line-up.

Evelyn Nwabuoku could replace Ohale Osinachi in central defence while the Vaxjo DFF star could take up the left-back role.




See more here https://thickmatch.com/oshoala-fit-start-vs-germany-dennerby-forced-make-two-changes/

A former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, Thursday told the Federal High Court in Abuja that the N400m alleged money laundering was paid to him by former President, Goodluck Jonathan.

He, therefore, denied that it was given to him by the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd).

Metuh explained that Jonathan paid him the money to execute some National assignment for the Federal Government.

Giving evidence on behalf of his company, Dextra Investment Ltd which is the second defendant in the suit and the account where the N400m was paid into, the ex-spokesperson of the PDP told Justice Okon Abang that he could not consider the money for act of any unlawful purpose because it came from the then president.

Metuh recalled that he held a meeting with Jonathan where various issues and challenges facing the country were discussed and, it was on the basis that Jonathan made the N400m available to him to carry out the national assignment.

Further, that the money could not have been for an unlawful purpose because he was helping and contributing to stabilizing the then government because then-president Jonathan was elected on the PDP platform.

Metuh specifically dismissed allegations that the money was channelled to him through Dasuki. “I did not receive any money from Col. Sambo Dasuki. Dasuki represents one of the finest and most brilliant military officers ever produced in the Nigerian military. He has had a distinguished career, served a lot of government and finally served as National Security Adviser for this country, under former president Jonathan.

“Up till May 29, 2015, no individual or group had ever questioned Dasiki’s integrity not to talk of been charged or arrested for any unlawful act. I am not aware of any criminal charge against Dasuki or any unlawful act until we lost government in 2015.

“As I am talking on oath before this court now, I can say categorically that Dasuki has not been interrogated, charged or convicted for any act relating to me and my company.

“The N400m was paid into my account by the then president and I did not conceal or disguise the money and it was not transferred out of jurisdiction”.

It was on this premise, he also urged the court to take a look into the list of disbursement carried out in cash and in cheques.

Metuh also dismissed the insinuation that the N400 million was meant to fund the PDP. He, however, disclosed that at the period under review, the PDP was rich to the tune of N33bn, with N12bn generated from sales of nomination forms and N21bn raked from fundraising.

But Justice Abang adjourned the matter to June 24, 25 and 26 for further cross-examination.




See more here https://thickmatch.com/ex-president-jonathan-not-dasuki-gave-n400m-metuh-tells-court/

A 28-year-old woman, Toriola Suliat on Wednesday told her husband, Toriola Lateef, that she would only consent to his request for the dissolution of their marriage if he returns her virginity and good health, as she was two years ago before the union.

Suliat stated her conditions before an Iseyin Grade C Customary Court, where the husband had gone seeking for the dissolution of the marriage over “frequent public embarrassment.”

He told the Court that Suliat was in the habit of harassing him at his work place and social functions attended by his friends and relatives.

The husband said he had to move out of their matrimonial home due to the unbearable development.

Responding, Suliat said she was charmed by Toriola before she agreed to marry him.

“Ideally I will not marry this type of human being, if not for the charm he used on me.

“I was looking for charm to help my business grow and he told me that he will need to get some hairs from my private part and also make love to me, that was how I found myself married to him.

“When I got to his house, my business boomed and he also made lot of money too and we got it renewed twice but now my health is deteriorating and he now moved out of the house.

“He must look for a way to return my virginity and my health, before he can say he wants to leave me.”

Ruling on the matter, the President of the Court, Chief Raheem Adelodun, said the case would be put on hold until the health condition of Suliat improves.

He ordered the families of the estranged couple to seek urgent medical help for Suliat and update the Court every 15 days.


https://thickmatch.com/return-virginity-want-dissolution-wife-tells-husband/

lalasticlala mynd44

Prof. Francis Ezeonu, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Imo State, has said post-election review is for self-appraisal and to chart a way forward.

The REC stated that some of the ad-hoc staff derailed in the performance of their assigned duties and mandates, which he said, prompted certain actions to ensure a credible election in 2019.

Ezeonu said this at the INEC Review of the 2019 General Elections in Owerri on Wednesday.

He said the one-day review was an appraisal of what happened during the 2019 general elections in the bid to identify the challenges, successes and how far INEC’s planned actions for the election were met.

“This post-election review is a self and critical appraisal for a way forward in 2023. We want to see where we did well and where we missed it to make amends.

“The people that were at the field, our ad-hoc staff and the stakeholders have to share experiences and discuss the way forward,” he said.

“There were some unfortunate hiccups during the 2019 election. You know INEC alone cannot carry out the election. We have to mobilize other people. We had issues where people employed as ad-hoc staff compromised.

“The final decision on the way forward will be a collective decision that will be communicated for implementation,” he said.

Ezeonu attributed part of Nigeria’s electoral challenges to attitudinal problem as money appeared to be behind all that some Nigerians cared for in terms of the election.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the one-day review meeting involved discussions by groups which handled the general preparation for the 2019 general elections, voter registration process and PVC collection.

Other areas included recruitment, training and deployment of election personnel, election day processes, transportation (movement of men and materials) and reverse logistics which involved retrieval of field assets.




See more here https://thickmatch.com/ad-hoc-staff-compromised-2019-elections-inec-rec/

lalasticlala mynd44

Luis Enrique has stepped down from his role as Spain manager and will be replaced by assistant manager Robert Moreno.


Enrique, the former Barcelona manager, has been in charge of Spain less than a year but has missed their last three internationals amid personal issues.

Spain announced Enrique's absence from the Euro 2020 European Champions qualifier with Malta back in March, citing "an urgent family matter".

A statement said: “The RFEF confirms that our national team coach, Luis Enrique Martinez, will be absent from this evening’s game due to a family matter of the utmost urgency. We ask that his privacy be respected at this time.”

He also missed the recent qualifiers against Faroe Islands and Sweden, and Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales confirmed the managerial changes on Wednesday afternoon.
Enrique became Spain coach last July after the team's exit from the 2018 World Cup to hosts Russia under interim coach Fernando Hierro after Julen Lopetegui was sacked on the eve of the tournament for negotiating a move to Real Madrid.

The boss took charge of Spain's UEFA Nations League campaign, where they failed to reach the semi-finals, and began their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign but flew home hours before their second game away to Malta in March for personal reasons


See more here https://thickmatch.com/breaking-luis-enrique-steps-spain-manager-due-personal-reasons/

A National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Mr. Johnson Onyilo, who had been serving in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, has committed suicide.

It was gathered that Onyilo, a 2018 Batch B Stream 1 corps member, was until his death serving in Ibadan North West Local Government area of the state. He was said to have committed suicide and died on Friday.

Our correspondent gathered on Wednesday that Onyilo, who graduated from the department of Accounting at the University of Jos, Plateau state, is a native of Makurdi in Benue state.

We were further informed that Onyilo was living with his sister in Ibadan.

His place of primary assignment (PPA) was ISON Dugbe, Ibadan.

The rationale behind his action had not be revealed as at the time of filing this report.

But, the Public Relations Officer of NYSC in the state, Mrs. Christy Olatoye, who confirmed the incident, however added that the deceased was yet to be buried.

Olatoye, who said that the deceased was living with her sister in Ibadan before his death, said that the deceased would be buried in Benue state next week.

His mobilisation details according to Olatoye is; “Onyilo Johnson. OY/18B/2337. JOS/2018/055264. PPA ISON Dugbe. Next of Kin: Onyilo Blessing. Relationship: Sister.”

Olatoye said, “Yes, you are correct. He was living with her sister in Ibadan.

“He was serving in Ibadan North West Local Government Area. But, he has not been buried, he will be buried in Benue state next week.

“Onyilo Johnson. OY/18B/2337. JOS/2018/055264. PPA ISON Dugbe. Next of Kin: Onyilo Blessing. Relationship: Sister.”



See more here https://thickmatch.com/nysc-corps-member-commits-suicide-ibadan/

A socio-cultural organization in Rivers State, the Ikwerre Youth Movement, IYM, has called on the 2019 vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Peter Obi, to apologise to former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.

The youths pointed out that if Obi could not condemn former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha’s statement that Igbo presidency does not exist, then he should apologise for attacking Amaechi over a similar comment.

The former Minister had said that for Igbo to be successful in their quest for 2023 presidency, they must play national politics.
Reacting, Obi said Amaechi lacked political relevance in Rivers, adding that the former Rivers State Governor cannot determine the fortune of the South-East in the 2023 presidential race.

However, Okorocha had, after his inauguration into the National Assembly, advised leaders of South-East to reach out to other regions if they must produce a President in 2023.

In their reaction to the development, Chairman of IYM in Emohua, Sir Lucky Worlu, urged Obi to condemn Okorocha on the statement or apologise to their son, Amaechi, immediately.

Worlu maintained that what Amaechi said was the true position on how the South-Eastern region would produce a President in the next four years, urging Ohanaeze Ndigbo to commence consultations early.



See more here https://thickmatch.com/2023-presidency-apologise-amaechi-now-ikwere-youths-charge-peter-obi/

2023: You Can’t Stop Tinubu or any Yoruba Man from Becoming President, Salvador Tells Afenifere

By Segun James




As the battle to stop the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu from pursuing his ambition to contest the 2023 presidential election continues, a leader of the party in Lagos State, Alhaji Moshood Salvador, has said that those fighting Tinubu and any other Yoruba leaders from contesting are fighting a lost battle.

He condemned the leaders of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, the Afenifere, saying if it is the wish of God for a Yoruba man to be the next president of Nigeria, the group cannot stop him.

Salvador, a former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, said it was wrong for any Yoruba leader or elder to oppose a Yoruba man from becoming the president, adding that such action amounted to treason against the people.

Addressing journalists yesterday against the backdrop of the statement reportedly made by a leader of the Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, that the 2023 presidency should be ceded to the South-east, and that Tinubu would be day-dreaming if he thought he would contest or be the president in 2023, Salvador said rather than speaking on the 2023 presidency which is a premature discussion, the elders should proffer solutions on issues affecting the country and the Yoruba race in particular, which was the reason for setting up the Afenifere in the first place.

He said any Yoruba leader opposing the aspiration of a fellow Yoruba man or South westerner is not worth being called a Yoruba leader. According to him, it was the same set of Yoruba leaders who supported the opposition against their son, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo in the last general election.

He said the argument of Adebanjo that the South-east has never produced a president was false, noting that it is on record that the first President of Nigeria, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, was from the region. He described the posture of the Yoruba leaders as “rabble-rousing, inciting, offensive, illogical and terrible”.

Salvador stated that no Yoruba leader has empowered the people more than Tinubu, saying it was Tinubu who brought the South-west to the “centre of governance.”

He reiterated that it is the people and not the Afenifere leaders that would decide who becomes the President. “These leaders forget that Nigeria is practicing party politics and in a party politics, any candidate can emerge.

“It is left for the party and the presidential candidate to reach out to other tribes for support. It is the people who now decide who becomes the president not an individual or group of people,” he added.

https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/06/05/2023-you-cant-stop-tinubu-or-any-yoruba-man-from-becoming-president-salvador-tells-afenifere/amp/

Nigerians on social media have reacted after the sum of £211,000,000 that belonged to a former Nigeria Head of State, General Sani Abacha, was seized from a Jersey bank account. The money was put in accounts held in Jersey by Doraville Properties Corporation, a British Virgin Islands company and is now being held by the government until authorities in Jersey, the US and Nigeria come to an agreement on how it should be distributed.

“In restraining the funds at the request of the United States of America, through whose banking system the funds were laundered prior to arriving here, and in achieving the payment of the bulk of the funds into the Civil Asset Recovery Fund, Jersey has once again demonstrated its commitment to tackling international financial crime and money laundering,” Attorney General Robert MacRae said.

@BBoason, “Abacha is Nigeria’s arguably most prolific sovereign wealth fund reserves manager. With very uncommon foresight, he helped the country squirrel away millions of different currencies now useful for these hard times. Can we declare a national #AbachaDay? Abacha actually did more with little. With low crude oil prices, he helped Nigeria keep record millions abroad in secret accounts. I challenge any of his predecessors to match his record. It was Traders’ money initially, wasn’t it?

@enonnyok, “No wonder the family is not talking. Nigerian government left all that for them to enjoy. Shame to Nigerian government.”‏

@NekkaSmith, “Abacha a man without stain in the eyes of Buhari”.‏

@Usihol, “This is just a tip of an ice berg. Abacha loot everyday for more than 15 years now. The money is there. After all, Abacha wife ones busted that they will never be poor like Dangote, Africa richest man. Can you imagine? They have finished our beloved country Nigeria.”

@Mefoh, “Best President ever. Had greatest economic achievements in Nigeria. Stole the funds unheard of. All these with Crude oil at $15 per barrel.”

@Wyzeman789, “When will this Abacha’s looted fund be fully recovered?‏

@obichiechuks, “It’s mind blowing that we are still recovering monies linked to the late Nigerian head of State many years after his death. One wonders what Nigeria could have become had the monies been wisely spent.”‏
See more reactions here https://thickmatch.com/abacha-loot-nigerians-react-another-211m-seized-bank-account-channel-islands/