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Author: Adejayan Gbenga Gsong

  • Ondo adopts O’dua anthem

    Ondo adopts O’dua anthem

    The Ondo State Executive Council has approved the adoption of the O’dua Anthem which projects the virtues, tradition and culture of the Yoruba tribe.

    The state Governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, who made the announcement at the commencement of the State Executive Council meeting said the anthem would henceforth be rendered immediately after the National Anthem at state functions.

    The anthem was rendered by the cultural troupe of the State Ministry of Culture and Tourism and chorused by all members of the cabinet which was dissolved by Akeredolu.

    The Yoruba Anthem was coined and composed by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo as a cultural symbol of Yorubas at home and abroad and as a call to reawaken their hearts to the rich values of the tribe.

    Ondo State is the second state in the Southwest to adopt the O’dua anthem after Osun State.

    Governor Akeredolu, shortly before the dissolution of the Executive Council disclosed that governors in the region will soon meet to ensure that other states in the Southwest that are yet to adopt the anthem are also made to follow the path of Osun and Ondo.

  • Police parades 17 year old female cultist, 12 other suspects in Cross River

    Police parades 17 year old female cultist, 12 other suspects in Cross River

    A teenage student of Community Secondary School, Ikot Ewa, in Akpabuyo local government area of Cross River State and 12 other alleged criminals have been arrested and paraded by Police in the State.

    Parading the suspects on Friday, the Commissioner of Police in Cross River State, CP Sikiri Kayode Akande said on 11/02/2021 at about 1420hrs, one CSP Eni Aharanwa, the Coordinator of joint Border Patrol, South-South Zone 7, Calabar, handed over Promise Idorenyin, a 17-year-old female and Okon Effiong, 38 years old male suspected cultists to the Police.

    He said “The 17-year-old SS 11 Student of Community Secondary School, Ikot Ewa, Akpabuyo, had in her school bag, a locally made double barrel pistol which was discovered by the Principle of her School.

    The young suspect allegedly admitted that the said firearm was given to her by her boyfriend of Abasi Effiom Village in Akpabuyo

    On the arrest of three suspected vandals and the recovery of electrical installations, the Commissioner said on 29th of January, Emmanuel Enok ‘M’ aged 20, Augustine Okpaya Ogabor ‘m’ aged 23 years and Billya Surag ‘m; aged 20 years were arrested by youths of the community after they had successfully cut an armoured cable measuring approximately twenty-five (25) feet from a transformer.

    Commissioner explained that on 11th of February 2021 at about 1700hrs, while acting on credible intelligence, the operatives from the Department of Operations while on routine stop and search along Odukpani-Calabar Highway, apprehended three suspects, namely: Etim Etim Bassey ‘m’ Edidiong Sunday ‘m’, Okon Asuquo Okon ‘m?

    “Upon search, Fifty-seven (57) rounds of 7.6MM live ammunition were recovered from their possession and investigations have commenced to unravel their source and possibly arrest other accomplices.

    On the rescue of kidnap victims, the Commissioner said on February, 17th 2021, at about 1705hrs combined teams of Operatives cordoned a hideout of one notorious kidnapper and cultist popularly known as Romans ‘m’ at No. 24C School Road, Satellite Town, Calabar and rescued one Endurance Aniedi Egbara,

    “During the process four (4) suspects sustained various degrees of gunshot injuries in an attempt to evade arrest. They were confirmed dead in the Hospital. Items recovered from them include: Three (3) locally made pistols with three live cartridges, charms, amulets, two bottles of concoction, one pack substance suspected to be cocaine, one Itel Phone, three (3) sim cards, Documents of a vehicle with Registration No. CAL 932 TC used by the kidnappers. Investigation is ongoing

    On the arrest of another suspected cultist, murderer and kidnapper, CP Akande said on 18 February 2021, at about 0949hts, one Edet Ekpo Eyo m’ aged 38yrs was arrested through credible information by the Anti-Cultism/kidnapping Squad (ACKS).

    The suspect has been on the Police and State Government wanted list for several cases of Murder, Armed Robbery, Kidnapping, and Cultism. He confessed to being a member of AXE Men Confraternity and has made some useful information that will help the Police on the cause of investigation, the CP said.

    “In a bid to restore peace and social order at Marina Resort Calabar, major Stakeholders and Youths in the area were engaged in meaningful discussions by the Command, on the need to shun violence, confrontation, bitterness and rather embrace dialogue as a Veritable tool for conflict resolution which is Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in resolving the said dispute.

    “This is one amongst other conflict management meetings settled in the State The CP said the quest for human and technological means of policing has come to the limelight in addressing crimes/criminalities globally, nationally and internally, Cross River State inclusive.

    “It is on the above, the Command adopted new security strategies with the introduction of electronic devices, (Drone), proactive intelligence-led policing taking cognizance of the geographical location of the State” he stated.

  • Jakande refused to be President, says Tinubu

    Jakande refused to be President, says Tinubu

    The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has claimed that the late Lateef Jakande, the first civilian governor of Lagos State, turned down the chance to become Nigeria’s president.

    He described the late Jakande as the most progressive individual who lived.

    Tinubu revealed these on Friday during the eighth-day Fidau for the deceased at his Ilupeju residence.

    “Jakande refused to become president. He said ‘I don’t want to be president in the midst of chaos’.

    “We are lucky to draw from his fountain of wisdom and knowledge.

    “We can’t beat his records because he is already a martyr but we will pursue our dreams and mission with our vision,” Tinubu said.

    Jakande passed away last Thursday morning in Lagos at the age of 91.

  • Court declines suit seeking arrest, trial of Ohanaeze Ndigbo leaders

    Court declines suit seeking arrest, trial of Ohanaeze Ndigbo leaders

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit that sought the arrest, probe and prosecution of the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof George Obiozor and other leaders of the group over alleged contempt.

    In a ruling on Friday, Justice Inyang Ekwo held that the applicant -The Registered Trustees of Ohanaeze Indigbo General Assembly, led by Barrister Onuorah Basil Onyeachonam – failed to show that Obiozor and others committed any offence known to law to warrant their arrest, investigation and prosecution.

    Justice Ekwo said, after a thorough evaluation of the processes filed by the applicant, he found that it failed to establish a prima facie case to warrant the grant of the reliefs sought.

    The Onyeachonam-led Ohanaeze Indigbo General Assembly had, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/56/2021 claimed that Obiozor and other leaders of the Ohanaeze Indigbo, who emerged from the recently conducted election, were in contempt by allegedly running an illegal organisation.

    The applicant, in the suit which had the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) as respondents, claimed that while it was duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), the group with a similar name, led by Obiozor and others was unregistered.

    It then filed an ex-parte application for leave to apply for the issuance of an order of mandamus, compelling the IGP and the AGF “to arrest, investigate and commence criminal proceedings” against Obiozor and others for allegedly running an illegal and/or unregistered association known as Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

    The applicant said its resorted to the court was because of the failure of the respondents to act on its letters to them on January 15, 2021 for the arrest and prosecution of Obiozor and others.

    In the ruling on Friday, Justice Ekwo said: “The prayer here is for leave to compel the first and second respondents (IGP and AGF) to arrest, investigate and commence criminal proceedings against Prof. George Obiozor, Obi Nwali, Okey Egbuche, Beatrice Eze, Bartholomew Okeke and Ogbonna for running an illegal and/or unregistered association known as Ohanaeze Ndigbo similar to that of the Applicant which has been registered under Part C of the CAMA by the CAC.

    “In my opinion, where such prayer is sought, it must be demonstrated with concrete evidence that those sought to be arrested, investigated and prosecuted have committed criminal offence(s) known to law.

    “This is the because the power given to the Attorney-General of the Federation in Section 174 (1) of the 1999 Constitution and the power given to the Inspector General of the Police in Section 4 of the Police Act are to not intended to be used in vacuo or without a cause.

    “The onus is on the applicant to show that the statute underlying their allegation creates a criminal offence which the first and second respondents are obligated to enforce by the power of arrest, investigation and prosecution.

    “In the end, I am unable to see any justifiable cause in this application. I think this application, without more, is frivolous and I am unable to lend the judicial powers of this court to encourage such litigations.

    “I make an order dismissing this case for lacking in merit. This is the order of the court.”

  • Police arrest 4 for gang-raping teenager in Lagos

    Police arrest 4 for gang-raping teenager in Lagos

    Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command attached to Ejigbo Division on 16th February 2021, at about 10 pm arrested four suspects for gang-raping a teenager in Ejigbo area of Lagos.

    The suspects identified as Jimoh Kamoru, 16, Lukman Basit, 16, Aleshinloye Sunday, 16, and Ifeoluwa Alabi 16 were arrested after the victim’s mother Tawa Abbey reported the case to the police.

    According to the victim’s mother, Tawa Abbey, who resides at No 200, Mafo Bus Stop, Idimu Road, Ejigbo, “my daughter (name withheld) went to buy food at Lafenwa Street, Ejigbo when a group of boys attacked her with a dangerous weapon”.

    “They threatened to kill her and forcefully had carnal knowledge of her in a room at No 33, Alhaji Obe Street Ejigbo”.

    Sequel to the incident report, the Divisional Police Officer, Ejigbo Division, mobilised his men to the scene where four of the boys were arrested.

    Some of the items recovered from them including cutlasses and substances suspected to be Indian hemp.

    Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Hakeem Odumosu, has ordered the Divisional Police Officer to go after the fleeing members of the group and intensify efforts in getting Ejigbo area rid of bad boys who are fond of attacking and gang-raping innocent ladies and causing pains to them.

    He also directed that the matter be transferred to the Gender Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba for discreet Investigation and prosecution, while he assured the general public of justice in the case.

    Odumosu also emphasized the command’s zeal to work with governmental agencies and interest groups in fighting against all sorts of social vices particularly rape, defilement, and domestic violence.

  • Rivers gets new police commissioner

    Rivers gets new police commissioner

    Mr Friday Eboka has been appointed the new commissioner of police in Rivers.

    The command’s spokesman, SP Nnamdi Omoni, disclosed this in a statement in Port Harcourt on Friday.

    The spokesman said Eboka would be the command’s 42 commissioners of police.

    The new CP replaces newly promoted Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Joseph Mukan who has been redeployed to Zone 8 Headquarters as zonal commander.

    Prior to his appointment, Eboka was the Commissioner of Police, Railway Police Command in Lagos.

    Eboka, who hails from Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of Delta holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science from the University of Nigeria (UNN), Nsukka, Enugu State.

    The statement described Eboka as a “versatile police officer with impeccable track record in crime fighting.”

  • BREAKING: Abducted Kagara students reportedly released to Sheikh Gumi after meeting with Bandits

    BREAKING: Abducted Kagara students reportedly released to Sheikh Gumi after meeting with Bandits

    Some group of bandits in Niger State forests have listed their demands for peace deal during a reconciliation meeting with Islamic scholar, Sheik Ahmad Gumi.

    Sheikh Gumi visited Tagina forest and met with bandits group leader, Dogo Gide and his fighters on Thursday for safe release of the abducted persons.

    But the bandits didn’t allow their conversations recorded.

    Gumi came under intense criticism last week after advocating for amnesty for the criminals carrying out kidnappings and banditry in the different parts of Northern Nigeria.

    In a recent interview with BBC Hausa, Gumi indicted the Nigerian military in the violence crimes in the region. He said the bandits he met were willing to lay down their arms but that the military top brass were deliberately escalating the violence.

    He said; “Everyone has witnessed it that we negotiated with these people and they promised to drop their weapons and stop these activities, and I even promised to meet the president about the matter. But why will the army bomb their place?”

    But the military denied his claims.

    His visit to Tagina forest came after kidnappers abducted students, staff and their families From the Government Science College Kagara in Niger State on Wednesday.

    Multiple reports said gunmen started attacked the school around 2:00 am on Wednesday, beginning with sporadic gunshots. A students was killed during the attack.

    Meanwhile, 27 students of Government Science College, in Kagara, that were kidnapped within the school premises may have been released by their abductors late in the evening on Thursday, to the foremost Islamic scholar based in Kaduna State, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi and others after much persuasion by the Islamic cleric.

    Sources in the community disclosed that students have been taken to some undisclosed public health facilities for medical checkup in Minna, the state capital in order to ascertain their health status and treatment shortly after they were set free.

    It was further learnt that the students gained their freedom after Sheikh Ahmad Gumi had met and dialogued with the leader of the bandits identified as Dogo Gide in conjunction with some of his members after what seems to be a long hours before the two parties could reach a truce.

    The foremost Islamic scholar had earlier visited the Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello at the Government House in Minna, some few hours after the incident had occurred on Wednesday and held a closed-door meeting with the governor in his office, alongside members of his entourage.

    Recall that the State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello while reacting to the incident vowed never to negotiate with bandits.

    Bello stated that Niger was experiencing infiltration of criminals from neighbouring Benin Republic, adding: “The bandits are Fulani that has no one to control them, even their parents.”

    Reiterating that he would not have anything to do with hoodlums who have never kept to terms of the agreement, the governor recalled that he once reluctantly negotiated with bandits that never yielded any positive result.

    “To be honest, even when the process of negotiation was being advised, I agreed to it. I have attended one meeting where the bandits were there and I cannot imagine myself as a governor and chief security officer of a state sitting down and negotiating with them,” Bello said.

  • Customs targets N1.465tr revenue

    Customs targets N1.465tr revenue

    The Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) on Thursday told the Senate that agency plans to generate N1.465 trillion into the Federation Account this year.

    Ali spoke in Abuja when he appeared before the Senator Francis Alimikhena-led Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff to defend the 2021 Budget of the agency.

    According to him, when compared with the 2020 revenue target, the 2021 revenue target is higher by N85 billion or 5.80 per cent.

    He said NCS has proposed to spend N242.45 billion for the 2021 fiscal year.

    He added that the funds would be sourced from its seven per cent cost of collection for 2021 which is N96 94 billion; 60 per cent Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme (CISS) put at N47.01 billion; two per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) share of NCS which is N07.40 billion; outstanding liabilities of N91.10 billion, amounting to N242.45 billion.

    He said the expected income would be used as follows: Personnel cost – N99.72 billion, representing 41.13 per cent; Overhead cost is N19.53 billion, representing 8.06 per cent and Capital cost, N123.20 billion, representing 50.81 per cent.

    The Senate Committee however decried concessioning of import duties collection by the NCS.

    It insisted that there is nowhere in the world where such an essential service is being outsourced to private firms.

    It said it was unacceptable to entrust such an assignment to foreign firms rather than engaging Nigerians or its staff.

    Senator Alimikhena threatened that the Senate will not pass the Customs budget, especially the capital component if it fails to forward details of its capital projects for 2021 to the Committee before Monday.

    It also mandated the agency to make available its staff nominal roll, personnel cost and over N30 billion for ongoing projects still unaccounted for.

    He added that money appropriated especially for recruitment must be utilized and accounted for.

    Speaking further, Committee asked the Customs Service not to execute its proposed 171 new projects when it has 338 old and uncompleted projects.

    It said that old projects must not be abandoned in line with the position of President Muhammadu Buhari that old projects must be completed before embarking on new ones.

    The Committee directed Ali to appear before it on Monday with all the required documents.

  • Anambra 2021: Former CBN gov, Soludo declares governorship ambition

    Anambra 2021: Former CBN gov, Soludo declares governorship ambition

    The former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Chukwuma Soludo, has declared his intention to run for the governorship of Anambra State in the November 6 poll.

    Mr Soludo would be running on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

    Declaring his ambition on Thursday in Awka, Mr Soludo said he has been a party man since 2013 and would be a better party man if APGA offered him the governorship ticket.

    He promised to achieve victory for the party, hoping to leverage his international connections to transform the state.

    He said having served the global community, he was now poised to serve and develop Anambra.

    The former CBN governor assessed the performance of Governor Willie Obiano’s administration in Anambra and described the governor as one of the best in the country.

    He rated the governor high on infrastructure development and regular payment of workers’ salaries in the face of dwindling finances.

    He said Anambra has experienced steady prosperity under APGA.

    “I granted an interview where they asked if I still stand by what I said in 2017 that ‘if Anambra is not broken, why mend it’ and I told them that Anambra is more sound now.

    “In 2010, the Federal Bureau of Statistics conducted a survey and said the poverty rate in Anambra was 53 per cent.

    “In 2020, it conducted another survey and said the poverty rate had gone down to 14.7 per cent, what else can you use to measure good governance?

    “Anambra is doing well under Obiano, and my mission is to continue and complete all the legacy projects of the governor,” Mr Soludo said.

    Chinedu Obidigwe, a federal lawmaker representing Anambra East and West Federal Constituency, thanked Mr Soludo for accepting the call to join the governorship race and promised to support him.

    Mr Obidigwe said Mr Soludo has paid his dues as a party man and a technocrat, and called on APGA to allow him to fly its flag as a sure way to victory.

    The event was attended by APGA chieftains in the state, including the state chairman of the party, Nobert Obi.

  • Fani-Kayode meets Sunday Igboho in Ibadan (PHOTOS)

    Fani-Kayode meets Sunday Igboho in Ibadan (PHOTOS)

    Former minister of aviation Femi Fani-Kayode on Thursday met with Chief Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho at his Ibadan residence.

    Fani-Kayode made the meeting public on his Twitter handle saying: “I had a wonderful lunch and a very fruitful and productive meeting with my friend and brother Chief Sunday Adeyemo (aka Sunday Igboho) in his beautiful Ibadan home today.

    “He is truly impressive and very passionate. May God be with him, his family and his entire household.”

    See the tweet:

    Fani-Kayode, who had a closed-door meeting with Sunday Igboho for more than three hours, noted that if the government had been alive to its responsibility, people like Sunday Igboho won’t emerge to show bravery and resist the continuous killings, raping and destruction of farmlands by suspected herders, especially in the Southwest.

    The former Minister, who described Igboho as a freedom fighter, said the whole of the Yoruba nation is solidly behind him and his mission to rid the South West of killer herdsmen.

    He declared Igboho is not against any particular tribe, ethnic or people.

    Fani-Kayode said “A good friend of mine, the Governor of Bauchi state, Bala Mohammed, we served together as ministers, he said a few days ago that herdsmen should be given the right to carry AK47.

    “Now, I disagree with that but that was his opinion and like I told him, he is entitled to his opinions and he can voice it.

    “If you go by that principle, then it makes absolute sense that if Fulanis are allowed to carry AK-47 to defend their cows and their lives if they feel threatened, then it is also logical for members of the local communities, farmers and each and every one of us should also have that right to defend ourselves against killer herdsmen and against those that are coming to kill us and rape our women.

    “So, I am totally and completely behind that and I will like that very much. Why not? We are responsible and decent people, the Americans have that right, it is enshrined in their constitution and if it is also that we could carry arms, perhaps we won’t have the kind of atrocities that are being committed throughout the country and not just throughout the South, even in the North itself, I must tell you, it is unbelievable what is going in terms of these killers killing members of the local population.

    “Perhaps that is one way to solve the problem but the best way is for the government itself to rise up and do something about it. That is what we are paying them for, that is what they are there to do, let’s hope they do it and so we don’t have to do it ourselves.”

    He also aligned with the call of Minister of Defence on the people to defend themselves against banditry and killings saying the likes of Sunday Igboho have proved that the people can stand up for themselves.

    Speaking on his visit, he said: “My purpose is to come and stand side by side, shoulder by shoulder with someone I have immense respect for.

    “He has shown the world and most importantly, he has shown Yoruba people that we are not cowards, we are not people who can be pushed around, we are not people who can be pillaged, killed and raped, and those that perpetrate this crime feels at ease in our land.

    “So, I have come to express my appreciation and solidarity with somebody that I believe has done the right thing without violating any laws in this country because that is very important. I don’t believe he has done that.

    “I believe it is right and proper for every Yoruba leader to show appreciation for the lives he has saved and for his pursuits of people that have been committing crimes, that is the first purpose.

    “The second purpose is also to let him also let him know that his message of peace and unity, that is to say, he has nothing Fulani people but he has everything against criminals that comes to our forest in this part of the country to come and kill, those are his enemies, those are the people that are our collective enemies and that is what he is fighting against and there is nothing unlawful in that.”

    While appreciating the visitor, Sunday Igboho said: “I don’t have anything to say for now, my Uncle (Fani-Kayode) has said everything for me.

    “What we want in Yorubaland is peace. We don’t want banditry, we don’t want herdsmen to continue to kill our people, we want our people to be free.

    “My message to my people in Yorubaland is that they must try to defend themselves. Don’t let anyone come to your farm or your home to come and kill you, you must try to defend yourself which was what the minister said too.”

    Fani-Kayode has been at the centre of a defection controversy lately.

    Having visited some All Progressive Congress (APC) governors recently, Fani-Kayode was announced to have defected to the ruling APC.

    Fani-Kayode however tweeted that he is still a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).