Category: News

Imo Catholic priest, Rev Fr Kingsley Eze, and another man, Uchenna Newman, were abducted by gunmen at Orieama junction in Isiala Mbano LGA on Thursday night. The priest and Newman, traveling in a Volvo jeep, were kidnapped after the gunmen robbed shop owners at the junction. Concerned parishioners and locals express fear over the incident, urging authorities to intervene. This marks the third kidnapping in the area within weeks, raising security concerns. The police spokesperson, Henry Okoye, is yet to comment on the situation.

Nasarawa State House of Assembly appoints Danladi Jatau from Kokona West Constituency as the new Speaker, while Mohammed Oyanki from Doma North Constituency assumes the role of Deputy Speaker. This decision comes after the removal of former Speaker Ibrahim Abdullahi on Tuesday by the Appeal Court in Abuja. Jatau, an APC member, and Oyanki, a PDP member, join forces to lead the assembly for continued harmony. Further details to follow.

Ukandi Odey, Jos

The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Plateau State chapter, Hon Chris Hassan, has disclosed that he has written to the National Judicial Council of Nigeria to seek a review of the of the Judgements of the Appeal Court in respect of appeals arising from the verdicts of the elections petitions that sat in Plateau State.

Saying that he could not have afforded not to take such a step, Hassan insisted that the Peoples Democratic Party has the best and most entrenched ‘structures’ of all the political parties in Nigeria, and the court and the justices were misled into taking the wrong decisions and arrive at verdicts that did not truly bear justice.

Hassan noted that the PDP in Plateau complied with the Justice Gang court order that invalidated the state congresses of 2020. He said in compliance with the Justice Gang Court order, the Plateau State PDP held a fresh congress on September 25, 2021, after which the major contender for the Party chairmanship who was the petitioner in the suit that won the 2020 Justice Gang Court order for fresh congress, Bitrus Kaze, accepted the outcome and congratulated the winners.

Hassan narrated that thence forth, not even Kaze or any other member of the Party has gone to Court to challenge, in part or whole, the conduct and outcome of that congress, and to that extent, there is no court order burdening that congress. He therefore wondered how the Appeal Court relied on a non-existing court order to cite and plead “disobedience” of Court order and give a verdict that is actually standing on nothing.

Hassan said it also became necessary to petition the NJC because Plateau State was singled out for peculiar treatment as the judiciary curiously adopted a dedicated panel to handle all the thirty seven (37) cases related to Plateau, while it was flexible in the manner it assigned the cases from other states to various panels simultaneously.

The Appeal Court dedicated panel, relying of the contentious claim of “no structure”, upturned the victories of all the PDP National Assembly members, State House of Assembly members, and even invoked the same ground to invalidate the election of Governor Mutfwang which is now before the Supreme Court for superior advocacy and adjudication.

By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

Some unknown gunmen were said to have attacked the residence of Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in charge of Kogi State, Dr. Gabriel Longpet Hale.

The Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi in a press Statement said the armed men engaged the security personnel in a gun battle for over 30 minutes until reinforcement arrived. While no lives were lost, property was destroyed in the gun battle.

He also disclosed that a team of combined security personnel have been deployed to protect the residence.

According to the statement, the incidence occured at about 3am on Friday morning as the invaders who are heavily armed attacked the resident of Dr. Gabriel Longpet.

It reads :”In the early hours of today, Friday 1st December 2023, around 3.30am, gunmen attacked the residence of our Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Lokoja, Kogi State.”

It was gathered that the armed men engaged the security personnel in a gun battle for over 30 minutes until reinforcement arrived.

While no lives were lost, property was destroyed in the ensuing gun battle. A team of combined security personnel have been deployed to protect the residence.This incident occurred a day after a mob besieged our state office.

“We call for a thorough investigation and enhanced security protection for our personnel and assets in Kogi State.”

The Oyo State Government has formally announced the presentation of staff of office and coronation of the new Aseyin of Iseyin, Ọba Sefiu Olawale Oyebola, Adeyeri III, Ajirotutu I and the Soun of Ogbomoso, Ọba Afolabi Ghandi Laoye, Orumogege III.

In a statement signed by the Commissioner for information and civic orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, the Aseyin coronation will be on December 14, 2023 while that of Soun will be on December 19, 2023.

The state government has set up a coronation committee headed by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi, including the commissioner for local government and chieftaincy matters, Mr Segun Olayiwola, the commissioner for culture and tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun, the commissioner for information and civic orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade and the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Security, Retired Commissioner of Police Sunday Odukoya as members of the committee.

The committee has been holding meetings with coronation committees from the two palaces over the past few weeks and had undertaken inspections of the venues for the events.

“All is now set for the big events”, the Government representatives said.

“The state government hereby seizes this opportunity to enjoin members of the public to show full support for the success of the events”.

By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

Youth groups in Kogi State across major political parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party, have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies to ignore what the described as the anti-democratic tendencies of the Social Democratic Party and its Governorship candidate, Muritala Yakubu, and concentrate on delivering on their mandates.

The youths, who staged a peaceful protest at the INEC office in Lokoja, the state capital, said it was normal in election tribunals cases to ask for inspection of election materials but that a situation in which INEC officials would continue to be intimidated in line with the alleged sinister motives of the SDP and its candidate would be resisted.

They commended INEC on the credible conduct of the election, and asked the SDP to toe the path of integrity and accept the wishes of the people, which they demonstrated with their votes on November 11, 2023.

The various speakers at the protest held by over a thousand youths of the State, described the threat by SDP and Muritala Ajaka to burn down INEC as a threat to democracy.

The PDP Youth Leader for Kabba Bunu Local Government Area, Oluwakayode Emmanuel, said, “For the first time in the history of Kogi State, we had a very peaceful and orderly election that was violence-free.

“We want to commend our Governorship Candidate, Sen. Dino Melaye who accepted the outcome of the election and said he was not going to challenge the process at the Tribunal.

“We were therefore taken aback by Muritala Ajaka whose party has no structure in the State but is threatening to cause crisis by trying to intimidate INEC.

“We are calling on INEC not succumb to any intimation by the SDP. The election was the freest and most credible we have ever witnessed in the State. We are also using this medium to call on security agencies to call Muritala Ajaka to order, not create crisis in Kogi State.”

Also, Rt. Hon Bello Hassan, former Majority Leader, Kogi State House of Assembly, urged the security agencies, the Presidency and other authorities to call the SDP Governorship Candidate to order, noting that it was becoming obvious that he wants to cause a breakdown of law and order in the State.

“We are using this medium to ask President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call Alhaji Muritala Ajaka to order. He cannot be above the law. The Kogi election was without mincing words, the best we have ever had.

“The people of Kogi State have spoken and no amount of threat to democracy, wanting to disrupt the activities of INEC, will change the results. The people of the State will resist any attempt to undermine their wishes and aspirations as displayed by voting for the APC,” he stated.

Another protester, who identified himself as Jimoh Suleiman, said, “People should be allowed to go about their lawful business. We are at peace in Kogi State except for the present crisis Muritala Ajaka is trying to create.

“For the first time, we had a peaceful and orderly election deviod of violence. INEC and security agencies did there best,” he said, wondering why Muritala Ajaka and his sponsors were trying to undermine INEC and security agencies for alleged dubious motives.

On his part, Comr. Richard Otitoleke, described the threat by the SDP as a threat to democracy.

“No one is above the law. We are worried that for a party that is structureless, with no visible presence in the State to threaten to burn down INEC and undermine the credibility of Commission, it is an anomaly that must not be allowed to stand.

“The Kogi election has been won and lost, we call on the SDP to take a cue from the PDP and not heighten tension in the State. INEC has conducted the best election ever in the State,” he said.

Adding their voices, Adams Ahmed and Amb Gege Hussaini said the State had been peaceful after the election, adding that the afterthought by the SDP to want to discredit INEC was uncalled for.

By Muhammad Ibrahim,Sokoto

Winners emerged from the just concluded Raffle Draw of the WinWithTheKing BUA Cement Promo which was held at the Abuja Continental Hotel, FCT on Thursday, November 30, 2023. The ecstatic Star Prize Winners went home with brand new MG5 2023 Saloon Car.

The first winners that carted away MG5 2023 saloon cars are Itesa Solomon (Engineer) – Ikorodu, Lagos State, Zainal Abidin Muhammed (Trader) -Sokoto North, Sokoto State, Humphrey E. Nwobodo (Electrician) – Udi, Enugu State and Shuaib Abdulwahab (Bricklayer) – Lokoja, Kogi State

The raffle draw also saw the emergence of 12 consolation prize winners who won N1 million each and these are Haruna Falalu (Blockmaker) – Kubua, Kaduna State, Ugochukwu Ezeh Martha (Civil Servant) – Anambra State, Hashimu Adamu (Bricklayer) – Kastina State and Farouk Oladipupo (Bricklayer) – Ede, Osun State

Others are Nuuman Aliyu (Carpenter) – Gidan Dare, Sokoto State, Amoko Igbekele Femi (Block Molder) – Ondo State, Muhammad Yan Ruwa (Labourer/Cleaner) – FCT Abuja and Muhammad Tajuddin Isah (Tiler) – Layin Sarki, Kaduna State

The Corporate Affairs Manager, Sokoto branch, Alhaji Sada Sulaiman who gave the information also said other progressive programmes are being planned by BUA Cement as part of its innovative corporate affairs activities.

The Jigawa State Government has granted approval for the recruitment of 1,124 health workers who were previously engaged as casual workers through the J-Health program.

This decision was communicated in a statement by Alhaji Sagir Musa, the Commissioner for Information, Youths, Sports, and Culture, on Friday in Dutse.

During its meeting on Thursday, the State Executive Council sanctioned the employment of 1,124 health workers in permanent and pensionable positions. This move aligns with the commitment of Governor Umar Namadi’s administration to improve access to affordable healthcare services across the state.

The council also approved a sum of N959.2 million for the payment of salaries and allowances to the 1,124 health workers. The beneficiaries encompass 924 J-Health workers, including 200 medical personnel, 40 medical doctors, 30 pharmacists, 20 nurses, 20 biological lab scientists, 15 community health workers, 10 dental therapists, 10 physiotherapists, five medical imaging specialists, 40 certified nurses and midwives, 10 science laboratory technicians, and other relevant professionals.

These health workers are set to be deployed to 281 primary health facilities across the state. The confirmation of the ad hoc status for the 924 J-Health workers is contingent on an examination to be conducted by the state Ministry of Health. Additionally, the council endorsed the engagement of 1,000 indigenes who studied health-related courses into the J-Health scheme to replace those who secured permanent employment.

By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

The officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, and with operatives of security personnel have discovered an illegal oil refining hideout in Mabushi, opposite Mobile filling station on Ahmmadu Bello way in Abuja.

The Director, Department of Development Control, FCTA, Mukhtar Galadima on Thursday after the operation told journalists that the illegal refining site was discovered during the continuation of the city cleaning exercise.

Galadima said that, about three to four plots of land designated for commercial purposes have been converted to an area where oil and diesel are being adulterated and circulated to other parts of the city.

He also explained that the city sanitation task force will look into the provision of the law and make necessary recommendations to the FCT Administration for further actions on the plots used for the activity.

He said there was no arrest, but items used in carrying out the illegal refining have been impounded.

Galadima said, “During the continuation of our city sanitation exercise in Mabushi opposite Mobile filling station on Ahmmadu way, we discovered an illegal refining site where oil and diesel are being adulterated, we have done what is necessary by moving the items to Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps.”

“From what we have seen so far, about three or four pilot of lands designated for commercial purposes have been converted for unapproved activities, which we believe the owners are fully aware of the consequences.

“We are going to look at the provision of the law and make necessary recommendations to the FCT Administration.”

He said the administration will continue to go tough on activities being carried out without government approval, especially revocation of the titles.

Collaborating, Head, operations FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Service (DRTS), Deborah Osho said the city management team during the exercise also discovered that most of the areas in the Nation’s capital have been converted to illegal car mart and motor parks.

Nigerian singer D’banj, also known as Dapo Oyebanjo, has been absolved of rape and N-Power fraud accusations by both the Nigeria Police Force and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Exclusive documents obtained by our correspondent reveal that in separate clearance reports, the police and the anti-graft agency concluded their investigations, exonerating the artist from the allegations.

According to an affidavit presented by Toheeb Lawal of the Abuja-based law firm Law Corridor, before the District Court of Abuja, the reports from the police investigation and ICPC clearance were marked as exhibits A and B. The legal practitioner asserted that both entities cleared D’banj of the rape and fraud accusations.

In 2020, D’banj faced allegations of rape, prompting an investigation ordered by the Inspector General of Police. A report dated November 14, 2023, signed by ACP YY Abubakar of the Special Enquiry Bureau at the Force Criminal Investigations Department stated that the investigation found no evidence to support the claim. The complainant later voluntarily withdrew the petition.

Additionally, in 2022, the ICPC accused D’banj of diverting funds related to the N-Power Programme. However, after investigating the matter, the ICPC clarified that there was no prima facie case of fraud against him. The commission stated that D’banj was not under investigation for any fraud-related offense.

D’banj’s lawyer, in a deposition filed before the Chief District Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja, emphasized that the singer was never a government official, had no access to government funds, and supported the N-Power campaign for free, without receiving any payment from anyone or the government.