Reports in a section of the media that policemen shot and killed pro-Biafra protesters in some southeastern parts of the country has been dismissed as false by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase. A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Olabisi Kolawole, described as untrue, several false posts on Facebook and other social media, accusing police of shooting, maiming and even killing members of the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The police image maker noted that the group has taken…
Author: Wale Adebayo
Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom yesterday led Senators George Akume and Barnabas Gemade to the Presidential Villa in Abuja for a closed-door meeting with President Muhhamdu Buhari (PMB). Emerging later from the meeting, the governor told State House Correspondent that they were in the Villa to thank Buhari for finding an indigene of the state, Chief Audu Ogbeh, worthy of appointment as Minister of Agriculture. He also said part of their mission was to inform the president that Benue State had the capacity to present many of its people for appointments into other key positions just as he expressed optimism…
With the glaring absence of more than half its governor at its highly publicized national conference yesterday in Abuja, the question now on the lips of many is has the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) really gotten over its defeat at the last general elections? The conference, aimed at re-branding and re-positioning the opposition party ahead of 2019 general elections, was boycotted by not just its governors but also former President Goodluck Jonathan, his erstwhile deputy Namadi Sambo, former national chairman Adamu Mu’azu, and former Senate President David Mark. Also conspicuously absent at the one-day conference, which held at the ThisDay…
Ijaw youths have hailed President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) for a fair and even distribution of portfolios to the newly sworn-in ministers. Speaking under the aegis of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, the youth said after going through the portfolios assigned to each minister, they were confident that it would help in forging national integration that is badly needed in the country. The IYC President, Mr. Udengs Eradiri, said on Thursday said, “The new cabinet composition will help in national integration that is strongly needed at these trying times of our nation. “We urge the ministers from the Niger Delta to…
The wave of protests by Members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and a faction of the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), as well as other pro-Brafra groups, has finally reached Owerri, the Imo State capital with economic activities and vehicular movements grounded on Friday. The protesters took to the streets to condemn the continued detention of the Radio Biafra Director, Nnamdi Kanu by the Federal Government. The protests took place despite increased security measures put in place by the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, who not only condemned the agitation for Biafra, he…
With the inauguration of the Federal Executive Council and assigning of portfolios to ministers by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday said the development has signaled the commencement of economic recovery and moral revolution in the country. The party said President Buhari will deliver on his campaign promises to Nigerians. In a statement signed by its National Secretary, Alhaji Mai Mala Buni, the governing party said the meticulous allocation of portfolios to ministers is a clear indication yet that Nigerians did not waste their electoral investment in the party and President Buhari. The statement…
Amid the hue and cry of the residents of Lagos State over the increasing spate of crime, especially gridlock robberies, the Police have increased their patrols on major roads to curb the menace. It is known that the criminals who rob motorists and commuters in traffic jams are most times people who pretend to be hawkers of assorted wares. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that it is important to note that some causes of traffic robberies are the ripple effects of motorists’ indiscipline, impatience and selfishness. Investigations by the police have revealed how traffic hawkers turn to robbers…
An Ikorodu Magistrates’ Court on Thursday sentenced two women to 72 hours community service for fighting in public. The Magistrate, Mrs Olagbegi Adelabu, sentenced Rashidat Amao, 48, and Elizabeth Ajagbe, 48, after they pleaded guilty. “Having taken that you are guilty of the offence, this court hereby sentenced you to 72-hours community service and you are hereby warned from future like offences,’’ Olagbegi held. The police had arraigned the accused traders in Rofo community in Odunguyan on a one-count charge of public fighting. The Prosecutor, Cpl. Mary Ajiteru, told the court that the accused committed affray and conducted themselves in…
The Senate resolution followed a motion by Dino Melaye (APC-Kogi West) who argued that choosing a company, Remita, as the Federal Government’s electronic collection agent, violated Nigerian laws, including section 162 (1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Act, and Bank and other Financial Institutions Act, BOFIA, 2007. He said “the appointment of REMITA as an agent of operations of the Treasury Single Account negates and contravenes sections 162 91) of the 1999 Constitution which provides for maintenance of special fund to be called ‘Federation Account’ in which all revenues accruing to the Federal Government…
The Electricity Consumer Protection Forum (ECPF) today staged a protest against an increase in electricity tariff. Last month, Sam Amadi, chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, said some bills will increase by 5 percent while others will rise by as much as 40 percent, depending on the power provider and class of customer. The change in rates had been slated for mid-November. However, the ECPF has spoken against the proposed hike. According to the group, power supply as it is, is not regular, with a large percentage of electricity users having to depend on generators for power. The group…
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase, says with the passage of ‘Violence Against Persons Act’ by the National Assembly, the Nigeria Police will carry out full implementation of the Act with a view to ensure that offenders are appropriately prosecuted. Speaking on Wednesday in his office at the Force Headquarters, while playing host to officials of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development and other stakeholders in the fight against gender-based violence and violence against persons, Arase noted that already, a technical team has been put in place to look into all cultural inhibitions against proper prosecution of offenders in this regard. He also disclosed that…
Following the deplorable condition of federal roads in the Southeast geo-political zone, the Enugu State House of Assembly has declared a state of emergency on the roads. The lawmakers’ action was sequel to a motion by Chinedu Nwamba (Nsukka East), condemning the deplorable state of the roads. Nwamba said: “Residents of Enugu and its environs, for over a decade now, are faced with myriads of problems because of the deplorable condition of federal roads. “It seems the state is forgotten in the construction of new roads, rehabilitation and maintenance of federal roads. Incidentally, this trend has persisted despite promises by…
The Supreme Court has ordered the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) to halt its trial of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki. Saraki was arraigned by the Federal Government before the CCT on a 13-count charge bordering on false assets declaration while he was Kwara State Governor between 2003 and 2011. Recall that at the last hearing of the tribunal, lawyers to the embattled Senate president reportedly walked out on the tribunal following its refusal to accede to their application for stay of proceedings in Saraki’s trial. The lawyers led by Mahmud Magaji (SAN), have since denied reports that they…
The Rivers State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday described the new Minister of Transportation and the former State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi as a “misfit”, saying his appointment will not make any meaningful impact to the Rivers people. The Rivers PDP Chairman, Bro Felix Obuah, said this through a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Jerry Needam while reacting to the official swearing in of the new Ministers and assigning of portfolios to them on Wednesday by President Muhammadu Buhari. According to the State PDP chair, a ministerial slot for Rivers State given to Amaechi…
Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose has congratulated his predecessor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, on his appointment as Minister of Solid Minerals, urging him to use his position for the exploitation of the abundant solid mineral resources in the state. The governor said in a statement on Thursday by his media aide, Lere Olayinka that President Muhammadu Buhari must have considered the need for commercial exploitation of the solid minerals spread across Ekiti State before arriving at the choice of Fayemi as Solid Minerals minister. “Now that the federal government is talking about diversification of the economy, Fayemi should use his…
Barring any last minute changes, the planned meeting of the South East governors, the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and other stakeholders over the escalating agitation by secessionists, will now hold next Tuesday, in Enugu. The new changes were communicated in a press statement signed by Governor Rochas Okorocha’s Chief Press Secretary, CPS, Mr. Samuel Onwuemeodo. Recall that the meeting, which was initially slated for this weekend in Owerri, the Imo State capital, was moved to Enugu, for strategic reasons. “The expected meeting of the governors of the South-East states, the leadership of Ohanaeze and other stakeholders, initially slated for this weekend…
The newly appointed Minister of Health by President Muhammadu Buhari, Prof. Isaac Folorunso Adewole, has promised changes in the health sector that will benefit Nigerians. Adewole made the promise yesterday when he assumed duty at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja along with the Minister of State, Dr. Osagie Ehanire and Permanent Secretary, Dr. Amina Shamaki. The minister said he was not unmindful of the inter and intra professional discontent in the sector and promised to address the challenge. “There is quite a number of restructuring that we need to do. We will need to look at how to work with…
It is no longer news that President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) has appointed a new Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the person of Ibrahim Magu, following the exit of the former chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde. What might probably be news to some is the circumstances surrounding Lamorde’s exit from the anti-graft commission, which he headed for four years. According to a Presidency source, Mr. Buhari handled the removal of the former EFCC chairman with dignity and courtesy as he was informed of his exit early in the day. A source, who spoke in confidence with The NATION,…
The Nigerian government seems not to be moved by the resignation of the CEO of MTN Group, Sifiso Dabengwa on Monday over a $5.2 billion fine imposed on the company by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for failing to cut off subscribers with unregistered SIM cards, as it has insisted on the fine being paid on or before November 16. A senior federal official, who spoke under the condition of anonymity to reporters yesterday in Abuja disclosed that “The MTN Group delegation met with the Chief of Staff to the President, Malam Abba Kyari and he told them they must…
With less than one year to the governorship election in Ondo State, the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladelusi Aladetoyinbo, has insisted that an indigene of Akure must emerge as the candidate of either the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or the All Progressives Congress (APC) and subsequently the governor of the state. He warned that in the event either political parties fail to field an Akure indigene as its flag bearer, the entire people of the Akure division, which he said comprised Akure-South, Akure-North, Ifedore and Idanre local government areas, would form their own political party. The monarch, who stated this…