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Showing posts from September 7, 2016

1 killed, 4 arrested as Hausa, Fulani clash in Lagos over a girl

Mr Fatai Owoseni, Lagos State Commissioner of Police. One person has been killed, four arrested and properties destroyed as members of the Hausa and Fulani communities in Lagos clashed on Wednesday at the Abattoir, Agege area of Lagos over a girl. The clash degenerated into a major one as the Hausa and Fulani engaged themselves in a bitter fight after a Hausa girl was said to have been beaten thoroughly by a Fulani man. The intervention of the police brought the clash to a halt, but before the police came one person had been killed as the belligerent fighters destroyed properties massively. It was gathered that a young Hausa girl was beaten mercilessly by a Fulani man, an action which did not go down well with the Hausa community. A reprisal attack from the Hausa community led to the fight as tension built in the area. Police Public Relations Officer, Dolapo Badru said the police received a distress call around 1.00pm on Wednesday of a serious fight between the Hausa-Fulani commu

Illegal operation: 104 policemen redeployed from Lagos Taskforce

Mr Fatai Owoseni, Lagos State Commissioner of Police. At least, 104 policemen attacked to the Lagos State Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit have been redeployed from the taskforce following insistence by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode that they should be removed as a result of illegal operation embarked upon by the police officer where they extorted money from women. On Tuesday, Ambode had asked the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni to redeploy the affected officers from the taskforce for allegedly embarking on an operation without the knowledge of the taskforce chairman, Yinka Egbeyemi. The affected officers included one Superintendent of Police, a Deputy Superintendent of Police while others were from Police Inspector downwards. Sources in the taskforce told PM News that 104 officers had been redeployed from the taskforce as directed by Ambode and that those affected had spent five years and above at the taskforce. But sources at the Taskforce sa

Breaking: Tompolo’s father is dead

High Chief Thomas Osen Ekpemupolo, the Tunteriwei of Gbaramatu kingdom A local newspaper in Warri, Delta State, Gbaramatu Voice, has disclosed the death of the father of Niger Delta warlord, Government Ekpemupolo a.k.a Tompolo. Gbaramatu Voice reports that Tompolo’s father High Chief Thomas Osen Ekpemupolo, the Tunteriwei of Gbaramatu kingdom died today, September 7. According to Premium Times, the Ekpemupolo family would issue a statement shortly over their patriarch’s demise. A source told the newspaper that Tompolo’s father died early in the morning at Lily Clinic, Deco road, Warri in Warri South local government area of Delta State. Chief Ekpemupolo, aged 84, was reportedly assaulted by the Nigerian army during the May 28 siege on Gbaramatu Kingdom. Later, on July 22, Tompolo in a strong worded open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari raised the alarm that the army invasion of the Kingdom had led to the brutalization of his old father by the army which led to the amputation

Eid-el-Kabir: FG declares Monday, Tuesday public holidays

Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd) The Federal Government has declared Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 12 and Sept.13 as public holidays to mark the Eid-el-Kabir. The Minister of Interior, Retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government in a statement signed by the acting Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Muhammadu Maccido. He enjoined all Muslims and Nigerians in general to support and join hands with President Muhammadu Buhari in his sustained efforts to diversify the economy and progressively accelerate the pace of economic recovery. The minister said that government was aware of the current economic challenges the nation was facing. He assured that that appropriate steps were being taken to address the challenges. The minister said that the Federal Government was working to‎ revitalise the agriculture sector and the “Youth Empowerment Scheme” in Information and Communication Technology (ICT). He said that

Family friends, sympathisers pay condolence visit to Ibru`s family

The Late Michael Ibru Family friends of late businessman, Mr Michael Ibru and other sympathisers on Wednesday visited the family of the deceased at their home in Ikoyi, Lagos to pay the last respect to the deceased. Some of them arrived at the residence of the deceased as early as 9a.m. and were received by the late Ibru `s widow, Cecilia, one of his sons, Obaro, the deceased daughter –in- law, Helena and other family members. The visitors, including Prince Lafor Olateru-Olagbegi, Mrs Kehinde Young-Harry, Mr Bolaji Arogundade, had signed the condolence register before meeting the family of the deceased to express their condolences. Olateru-Olagbegi described the late businessman as a “colossus of our era“ who had made positive impacts on the society and many Nigerians. Young-Harry, an in-law to the Ibru family, likened the passage of the deceased to the fall of an elephant, saying he had left a vacuum that would be hard to fill. Another family friend, Mr Ajibore Olumide of Halog

Security: Police, DSS urge INEC to postpone Edo governorship election

Acting Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris The Nigeria Police Force ( NPF) and the Department of State Services (DSS) on Wednesday appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission to postpone the Edo governorship election scheduled for Sept. 10, citing security threat. The Force Spokesman, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Don Awunah, made the call at a joint news conference by the police and the DSS in Abuja. He said that credible intelligence available to the agencies indicated plans by insurgent and extremist elements to attack vulnerable communities and soft targets. Awunah said that Edo was among the states being earmarked for the planned attacks by the extremists between Sept. 12 and 13 respectively. He said that while election was important, security agencies cannot allow the peace of the country to be disrupted. “We will continue to be vigilant and ensure consolidation of the successes gained in the current counter-insurgency fight. “It is in these r

Poll: Trump leads Clinton among military and veteran voters

Donald Trump, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump leads Hillary Clinton by 19 points — 55 percent to 36 percent — among voters who are currently serving or have previously served in the U.S. military, according to the latest NBC News|SurveyMonkey Weekly Election Tracking Poll. The poll was conducted online from August 29 through September 4 among 32,226 registered voters, including 3,358 who have previously served or are currently serving in the U.S. military. Despite several controversial statements regarding war veteran Sen. John McCain and Trump’s criticism of the Khan family, the GOP nominee has worked hard to secure the support of veterans and U.S. military members. On Tuesday morning, a group of 88 retired generals and admirals signed a letter backing Trump to reverse the “hollowing out” of the U.S. military. Clinton’s campaign, meanwhile, announced Wednesday that 95 retired generals and admirals have endorsed her presidential bid. Though Trump comfortably earns

Lagos begins demolition of illegal structures in Ikoyi next week

Tunji Bello, SSG Kazeem Ugbodaga The Special Committee on Clean-up of Ikoyi, Lekki, and Victoria Island inaugurated by the State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode last week is to begin demolition of illegal structures and shanties in the areas after the Sallah holiday. The committee said it would vigorously enforce the environmental sanitation and the Town Planning laws in the affected areas by next week. The Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and Chairman of the Committee, Mr Tunji Bello who disclosed this on Wednesday said this followed the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum issued to all owners of illegal structures, owners of abandoned buildings now harbouring prostitutes, shanties, street hawkers and those who had converted walkways into trading points and food courts in the affected areas. The 14 days ultimatum which expires on Sunday, 11 September, 2016 was given to the owners of such illegal structures to dismantle them voluntarily. Bello said the Committee decided to f

SSS releases wanted journalist, Ahmad Salkida

Ahmad Salkida A Nigerian journalist, Ahmad Salkida, who was taken into custody on Monday, weeks after being declared wanted by the army, has been released. Some sources told Premium Times that Mr. Salkida was released on Tuesday evening by the state security service (SSS), more than a day after he was arrested at the airport in Abuja. Mr. Salkida was declared wanted on August 14 alongside two others. The two turned themselves in the second day and were subsequently granted administrative bail. The journalist was accused of aiding Boko Haram. Authorities also raised issues about the way he was sourcing video recordings from the sect. He, however, denied the allegations when quizzed by SSS officials. Mr. Salkida was released without conditions while all documents and devices confiscated from him were returned.

Nigeria and the implications of a Donald Trump presidency [Part 2]

Femi Fani-Kayode Yet as hard as the Obama/Clinton/Kerry triumverate may try to cover it up, it appears that the message about the real situation in Buhari’s Nigeria is beginning to get across to the world. As a glaring example of this permit me to share the words of a strong Trump supporter, Republican Congressman Tom Marino, which were contained in a letter that he sent to Secretary of State John Kerry a few days ago. Nigeria’s Thisday newspaper on 4th September 2016 captured the contents of that letter as follows: “A member of the United States Congress, Tom Marino, has written a letter to Secretary of State, John Kerry, asking the US government to withhold security assistance to Nigeria until President Muhammadu Buhari demonstrates a “commitment to inclusive government and the most basic tenets of democracy: freedom to assemble and freedom of speech”. He also asked the State Department to refrain from selling warplanes and other military equipment to Nigeria until President Bu

The ex-patriot; Nigeria’s own Frankenstein

President Muhammadu Buhari Eventually, we wisp away into nothingness; into sheer inexistence; into sweet detachedness. We recoil like overstretched springs, like snails back into the shade. We are wont to believe ourselves unimportant, of no moment and without any effect on the grander scheme. Or we stop to care whether we matter or not. In any case, we opt to be the passer-by, the unconcerned neighbor, the unaffected comrade. We bare our hearts against the hardship that has so much become our lot, we bare ourselves against the cold, the hunger, the hatred,….and soon, we end up knowing too little, being too good at evasion, experts as reclusion; baring ourselves against life itself. Baring ourselves against the Nigerian delirium. “In truth, it is always possible, often urgent, to displace oneself, with the risk of becoming that passerby, that wanderer, that flaneur, that vagabond, stray dog that our fragmented contemporary society both sets in motion and paralyzes.” When Paul Ricoe

Nigerian Army arrests Niger Delta militant leader, others

The Niger Delta militants Nigerian soldiers in ‘Operation Crocodile Smile’ have arrested the leader of a militant group in the Niger Delta, Gabriel Ogbudje, of the `Otugas Fire Force’. Nigerian Army spokeman, Col. Sani Usman, disclosed on Wednesday that Ogbudje was arrested along with his accomplice, Elvis Dweller Ejus. Usman identified Ogbudje’s group, the `Otugas Fire Force’, as the perpetrators of the the attack on some oil installations in the Niger Delta and the brain behind the threat code named `Crocodile Tears’. Usman said the suspected militant was trailed and arrested by troops on Agbor-Abraka Road in Edo on Tuesday September 6. “Troops of 4 Brigade Nigerian Army have arrested a suspected national economy saboteur, Gabriel Ogbudje (an ex-militant leader), also the alleged leader of the “Otugas Fire Force’’, a militant group threatening to attack Utorogu Gas Plant. “He was alleged to be responsible for the recent act of economic sabotage perpetrated on NPDC/Shoreline ma

Three remanded for conspiracy, adultery in Kano

A Kano Magistrates’ Court sitting at Noman’s Land on Tuesday ordered the remand of three persons in prison custody for alleged conspiracy and adultery. The accused, Najari Abdulwahab, 28; Alhaji Muktar, 18 and Sa’adatu Haruna, 16 are residing at Gezawa town, Kano. The prosecutor, Insp Shuaibu Musa, told the court that the accused were arraigned for conspiracy and adultery. He said the offence contravened Sections 97, 92, 387 and 388 of the penal code. The prosecutor said the first and third accused, Abdulwahab and Sa’adatu were husband and wife. Musa said a complainant, Malam Haruna Nuhu, had on Aug. 24, reported the case at Gezawa Police Division, Kano. He said Nuhu had alleged that Abdulwahab had on Aug. 22, at about 11 p.m conspired with the second accused, Muktar to forcefully have sex with Saadatu. “Abdulwahab invited his friend, Muktar to his house situated at Gezawa, Kano on the same date, where Muktar had unlawful sexual intercourse with his wife at his presence.” He s

National Assembly to reconvene Sept. 20

The National Assembly Management on Tuesday announced the postponement of resumption date for Senate and House of Representatives from Sept. 13 to Sept. 20. Clerk to the National Assembly, Sani Omolori, in a statement, requested all lawmakers to resume sitting on the rescheduled date. The National Assembly had on July 21 proceeded on a seven-week recess to resume on Sept. 13. “This is to inform all Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members of the National Assembly that resumption date of both Houses in plenary has been rescheduled from Sept. 13, 2016 to Sept. 20, 2016. “All distinguished Senators and Honourable Members are by this notice, requested to resume sitting in plenary on Tuesday,” the statement said.

NCC raid shops selling unregistered SIM cards

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on Tuesday raided the shops of persons selling unregistered SIM cards in Wuse market, Abuja, and its environs and arrested the suspects. Mr Salisu Abdu, Head of Enforcement Unit, NCC, said during the raid that the action was to enforce regulation on SIM registration. “Today we have gone to MTN premises, now we are in Wuse market. The purpose of the exercise is to ensure unregistered SIM cards are not sold to the public. “For some time, NCC has been trying to apply the SIM regulation so that all SIMs are duly registered. “There is danger in selling unregistered SIMs, it compromises national security. We get reports that in so many locations in Abuja and across the nation unregistered SIM cards are being sold,” Abdu said. He said the commission had carried out such exercise in the past and mopped unregistered SIM cards in the markets. He said it was regrettable that in spite of the commission’s effort, unregistered SIM cards were still

Salaries: Kwara govt. to assist Local LGs

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State The Kwara Government, on Tuesday, expressed its readiness to assist the Local Governments in the state in the payment of outstanding salaries and pensions. The State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed, made this disclosure in Ilorin at an interactive session with the council chairmen and leaders of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE). According to Ahmed, such assistance will, however, be based on the need of individual local governments as well as compliance with fiscal regulations. Ahmed urged the NULGE executives to address the issue based on the specific challenges of each Local Government owing salaries. The governor, therefore, directed each Local Government chairman in need of assistance to approach the State Commissioner for Finance for help. He said the priority given to the payment of SUBEB teachers was in consonance with the provisions of the Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC), which put payment of basic

150 abandoned corpses at EKSUTH for mass burial

Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) No fewer than 150 unclaimed corpses at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) mortuary would be given mass burial, the hospital authorities had said. Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee of the hospital, Dr Kayode Ajite, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Ado-Ekiti. Ajite said that some families abandoned their relatives’ corpses in the hospital morgue, adding that the unclaimed bodies had congested the hospital’s morgue. He said that some of the corpses were accident victims and armed robbers whose families were not even aware of their whereabouts, adding that it was the reason for the proposed mass burial of the corpses. Ajite told NAN that management of the hospital would through media announcements give 14 days for owners of the corpses to collect them. According to him, corpses not collected after the period will be given mass burial. He said that some parents

Police arrest 2 for operating illegal gun factory

Nigeria Police emblem The Police in Benue on Tuesday said that two persons suspected to be operating an illegal gun factory in the state. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Moses Yamu, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Makurdi that the suspects were nabbed by the command’s “Operation Zenda”. Yamu said that the squad was on stop-and-search duty along Vandiekya-Adikpo road, when the suspects were caught, adding that one of the men had a locally-made pistol with them at the time of arrest. He explained that investigation into the arrest led to the discovery of a gun manufacturing factory at Tsar Village in Vandiekya Local Government Area. He disclosed that several locally-made weapons, including SMG, pistol frame, one single barrel and assorted guns parts, were discovered at the factory. The spokesman added that a box containing arms manufacturing tools and 12 live ammunitions were also recovered at the site. He

Wanted Boko Haram suspects arrested in Yobe

Muhammed Bulama and other boko haram terrorists Muhammed Bulama, the Boko Haram suspect on the wanted list number 105, was arrested recently by military troops in Yobe State, northeast, Nigeria. Bulama was arrested alongside 2 other suspected Boko Haram terrorists, Ardo Abba Muhammed (elder brother to Bulama as claimed) and Muhammadu Kaigama, in Azare community, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State, with the help of the local vigilantes in the town. Acting Director Army Public Relations Officer, Col. Sani Usman Kukasheka, in a statement, while confirming their arrest said they were arrested while riding on horseback and bicycle shepherding some sheep towards the market. “During preliminary investigation, the suspected terrorist personally confirmed his photograph on the wanted list and further revealed that he specialized on rearing animals for the terrorist group. “He further confessed that they came to the village to sell the animals as they had ran out of cash in their h

Impostor arraigned for N37m fraud

The EFCC has arraigned one Jules Suinner before a Lagos Federal High Court on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy to obtain money by false pretence to the tune of N37million. A statement issued by Mr Wilson Uwujaren, Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC on Tuesday in Abuja, said that Suinner and his collaborators allegedly hijacked the email address and letterhead of a company named Greenview Development Nigeria Limited. He said that they used the letterhead to write to a first generation bank to transfer the sum of N25 million to the account of ICT Aid Foundation Cooperative Society domiciled in another bank. The money, Uwajaren said in the statement, was allegedly transferred on July 14, 2015. He added that the suspected fraudsters, on July 22, 2015, allegedly wrote to Access Bank to transfer the sum of N12 million to the account of one Tee-EM Nigeria Limited domiciled with UBA. He added that the suspects, however, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to th

Kwara gov. seeks tenure extension for Offa council chairman, councillors

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara on Tuesday requested the State House of Assembly to approve the extension of the tenure of the Chairman and councillors of Offa Local Government Council. The governor made the request in his message read on the floor of the House during an emergency plenary of the House on Tuesday. The three-year tenure of the local government council expired on Friday. The governor urged the House to extend the tenure of the council till Nov. 6 to allow the local council election take place. The House invited the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Alhaji Kamaldeen Ajibade, and his counterpart in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Mohammed Tambari, to educate the House on the governor’s request. The two members of the State Executive Council in their submissions justified the governor’s request on tenure extension. They said the governor had the constitutional right to seek f

Community jubilates as army releases 3 detainees villagers

Operation Crocodile Smile in the Niger Delta The people of Akperhe Community, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta, jubilated on Tuesday following the release of the last three persons arrested by the military in the ‘Operation Crocodile Smile’. Vincent Ekeke, Henry Koko, a pregnant woman, Rachael Abbahwere and Madam Amrevweatefa Odada, septuagenarian, were arrested on Aug. 31 The military had accused them of having link with the militants, but released the septuagenarian on Sept 4. The remaining three were released from the military police custody in 3 Battalion, Effurun Nigerian Army Barrack at about 2:00 p.m. Responding, Mr Goddy Akpojotor, elder brother to Koko one of the freed detainees expressed joy at the freedom. “The three others were released to us today unconditionally. Akperhe has been in jubilation, we give glory to God,” he said.

Human right commission begins audit of prisons, detention facilities

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has commenced its 2016 audit of prisons and detention facilities in the country beginning with the prison in Awka. This is contained in a statement by Fatimah Mohammed, the commission’s Chief Information Officer, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday. Mohammed said the audit was in line with the commission’s mandate to visit prisons and other detention centers in the country, She said the audit was informed by the spate of jailbreaks across the country, adding that it would be carried out simultaneously in the 23 states and the FCT where the commission has offices. “The prison audit will examine the general condition of the prison inmates, the prison officials and prison infrastructure and make appropriate recommendations to the authorities. “The audit will particularly examine the access to justice issues and welfare of both awaiting trial inmates and convicts and make appropriate recommendations to

Oyo House swears in new member

The newly elected member representing Oorelope constituency in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Mr Balogun Lukman, was on Tuesday sworn in. The house suspended its recess to also commence the process of approving the creation of 35 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state. Balogun had emerged following the Aug. 20 by-election to fill the vacant seat of the late Mr Gideon Aremu who was killed by hoodlums in Ibadan. The new lawmaker, after swearing to an oath of office administered by the Assembly’s Speaker, Hon. Michael Adeyemo, pledged his commitment to the development of his constituency and the state. “All I believe is that God Almighty, who has given me the opportunity to be sworn in as member of this House of Assembly, will direct me accordingly. “I will continue from where my predecessor stopped and will contribute my quota positively to the development of my constituency and the state at large,” he said. The assembly also passed the bill for the further amendme

Flood kills 10-year old boy, destroys houses in Oron, Akwa Ibom

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom-Emmanuel A downpour that happened on Wednesday, which lasted for several hours, wreaked havoc and drowned a 10-year-old boy along Stadium Road in Oron, Akwa Ibom. Narrating his ordeal, father of the victim, Mr Victor Asuquo, said that the unfortunate incident happened when the torrential rain transformed into flood and enveloped every available space in the area. He expressed regrets that being a new resident of the area, it was difficult for his son to identify the drains from the road, saying this caused him (victim) to fall into the gutter. He called on the state government to open up water channel for free flow of water in the area. “When the alarm was raised that my child has falling into the flood gutter, it was too late as the water carry him far south into Ekpene Street, where he got drowned. “I am appealing to the state government to do something about the flooding problem in Oron Local Government Area, as more harm may be caused during th

American hangs self in Lagos hotel

Mr Fatai Owoseni, Lagos State Commissioner of Police. The Lagos State Police Command has confirmed the death of a 57-year old American, Charles Carlson, in a Lekki hotel on Tuesday. The American, according to a police statement, was found lifeless in his room at the Lekki Phase 1 hotel with a rope beside his body. The police described his death as ‘Sudden and Unnatural Death’ (SUD). He was said to have lodged in the hotel early in the day. While confirming the incident, the Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, Dolapo Badmos stated: “We received a situation report of sudden and unnatural death of a foreign national today at about 5.35pm. “The manager of the hotel told detectives that they noticed that he did not come out for breakfast. Telephone calls to his mobile and hotel intercom was not picked, which prompted them to call his business partner. “The door was forced open and he was found motionless as he had allegedly hung himself with a rope close to the door. Det

Life and time of Olorogun Michael Ibru

Michael Ibru Several Nigerians and the business world have mourned the demise of Olorogun Michael Ibru who died on Tuesday at the age of 85 after battling with illness for a long time. The Ibru family said he died in a US hospital in the early hours of Tuesday. His death came about five weeks after Felix, his brother, was buried. Born in 1930, Ibru was a prominent Nigerian businessman from Agbarha-Otor, Delta State. He was the head of the Ibru Organization, one of the largest conglomerates in Nigeria. As a traditional chieftain of his homeland, Ibru bored the tribal honorific Olorogun and often used it as a pre-nominal style. This title was also borne by many of the members of his large family in the same way. Ibru was born to the family of Peter Ibru, a missionary worker, who also worked at the Igbobi Orthapaedic Hospital, Lagos. After secondary school, he joined the United African Company, as a management trainee. In 1956, a few years after joining U.A.C, he dropped out of the c

Cecilia Ibru loses husband

The Late Michael Ibru Eighty-six year old Olorogun Michael Ibru is dead. Michael Ibru, husband of Cecilia Ibru, former Managing Director of Oceanic Bank, according to a family statement, died in a US hospital early Tuesday after a protracted illness. ”Ibru, the Otota of Agbarha-Otor Kingdom and an Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR), passed on in the early hours of today, after protracted illness,” the statement read. His death comes months after the burial of his younger brother and former Governor of Delta State, Felix Ibru. The Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Monday Igbuya Tuesday paid tribute to the late Olorogun Michael Onajirevbe Ibru, describing him as a modest and strong businessman. In a statement issued in Lagos by his Chief Press Ssecretary, Mr. Henry Ebireri, Igbuya consoled th family and friends of the late Ibru. He said they should be glad because he had lived a worthy and fulfilled life. He also urged members of his family to stand strong and united as