The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Mr. Joe Aniku Michael Ohiani as Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC).

 

The nominee's confirmation followed the consideration of the Committee on Works.

This was disclosed by the Special Assistant (Press) to the Senate President, Dr. Ezrel Tabiowo in a statement on Wednesday.

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Adamu Aliero (PDP - Kebbi Central), in his presentation, said Ohiani was asked questions on the mandate of ICRC, and how he would apply the knowledge and experience gathered over time to enhance the workings of the Commission.

 

The lawmaker informed his colleagues that, "the nominee responded intelligently and provided satisfactory answers to all questions asked."

 

The panel, in its recommendation, stated that "after careful and diligent assessment of the nominee's extensive resume, performance during the screening exercise, knowledge, experience and character, the Committee considers him suitable for confirmation as the Director-General of the Infrastructure Regulatory Commission."

 

The nominee was confirmed, thereafter, by the upper chamber. 

 

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The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has alleged a former senator who represented Rivers South-East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Magnus Abe connived with Governor Nyesom Wike to destroy the party through needless litigations.
The APC in Rivers State has been torn into two factions as a result of the battle for the control of party structure in the state between Abe and the former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.

The party was barred from fielding candidates for the 2019 general elections in the state as the result of the crisis.
However, in 2022, Amaechi’s faction outmaneuvered Abe to take over the structure of the party in the state.
The Supreme Court in March recognised Isaac Ogbobula, a loyalist to the immediate past Minister of Transportation, as the authentic caretaker committee leader of the party.
Abe’s loyalists have been dumping the party for the Social Democratic Party (SDP) over the court ruling.
Chris Finebone, the spokesperson of APC in a statement on Wednesday said the former Senator and his supporters had, by their actions and utterances, long ceased to be functional members of the party.
He also blamed them for the exclusion of the party in the ballot in 2019.
The statement read, “However, it has also come to our notice that a few persons that are loyal to Senator Magnus Abe have also resigned recently. These are individuals who have, for the past couple of years, spoken and acted in every way to destroy the APC in Rivers State. Led by Abe, these persons tried all they could to factionalize our Party in the State. They connived endlessly with the governor of Rivers State and used some elements in the State Judiciary to frustrate and destroy our Party through needless litigations.
“The culmination of their evil machinations was the exclusion of Rivers APC from the ballot in 2019. Evidence exists how Senator Abe and his lieutenants broke into celebration the day the Party was excluded by the court from participating in that election due to their litigation.
“After the 2019 unfortunate development, Abe continued to receive support from outside the State and persisted in undermining Rivers APC through every imaginable means principally through frivolous litigation executed through his proxies. At a time, they attacked and completely destroyed the then Rivers APC Secretariat at Forces Avenue, Old GRA, Port Harcourt. Recently, they also hired hoodlums and attempted to destroy the present Secretariat of the party.
“Tired of Abe's antics, majority of his supporters openly joined the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State while others found their way back to the mainstream of the Party. However, it recently came to our attention that Senator Abe and the few persons still with him had concluded plans to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on whose platform Abe will run for governor, hence their persistent hype to the effect that Abe will be on the ballot come 2023.
“In what appears to be a carefully planned exit plan, close associates of Abe started resigning from the APC and making heavy weather of their exit in the social media as part of their exit plan as though they have been functional members of the Party, just to hoodwink the public.
“This press conference is essentially to explain to you and the public that Rivers APC considers the formal exit of Abe and his associates from the APC as good riddance. We liken it to a successful excision of a debilitating cancer from the body. Rivers APC can now heave a sigh of relief from the sustained destabilizing onslaught by Senator Abe. We wish him well as he joins the SDP. We pray that he takes everything he exhibited in APC particularly his nuisance value to his new party so that the world would see him for who he truly is.
“We make bold to state without an iota of doubt that Senator Abe and his supporters had, by their actions and utterances, long ceased to be functional members of APC. They shunned and refused to participate in the Membership Revalidation exercise that was carried out nationwide by the Party. They also abstained from other legitimate activities of the Party, making their recent purported resignation a mere formality and part of their face-saving exit strategy aimed at deceiving the public.
“We appreciate your understanding that there is no blanket exit or exodus of well-meaning members of Rivers APC. We believe that you and the public would appreciate that our Party is, by far, better off without Abe and his motley supporters.
“Be informed that an ongoing process of reconciliation led by the Party Special Contact Committee is proceeding apace. The outcome of the good job the Committee is undertaking will be concluded early enough for us to consolidate and kick off campaigns in September.

“Rivers APC is glad to, once again, emphasize that we were very careful to ensure that the Party conformed to the Electoral Act 2022, Party rules and regulations, and the Nigerian Constitution all through the various congresses and primaries that culminated in the emergence of the governorship Candidate for our dear Party, Arc. Tonye Patrick Cole, mni In spite of being an established and successful Entrepreneur and Philanthropist, he recently attended the University of Oxford and, on graduation, was inducted into the prestigious Transformational Leadership Fellowship of Oxford University's Blavatnik School of Government. Hope you all would agree that he is well-equipped for the task ahead to redeem, recover and turnaround our beloved Rivers State.”
 

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An Afro-Italian of Nigerian descent, Victoria Oluboyo, was on Monday elected as the first Black African city councillor in Parma, Italy.
Olufemi Iyanda, a Nigerian in diaspora made this known in a post on his Facebook page, noting that some years ago, when Nigerian names are mentioned, especially in Parma city, they were usually connected with prostitution and drug selling.

He said “Some years ago, when Nigerian names are mentioned, especially in Parma city, they are usually connected with prostitution and drug selling. However with serious and concerted efforts by the Nigerian community, to which Victoria is a member, the narrative was changed.
“First, Nigerian missionaries headed by Apostle and Bishop (Mrs) Adenitire are the first to get involved in rehabilitation and resettlement of trafficked and prostitution victims, through their charity organisation, Festival of Praise and Care, in collaboration with the Parma municipality.
“We equally raised awareness and encouraged Nigerians in voluntary association and community development initiatives that today have placed Nigerians in enviable positions, not only in Parma but across the region.
“We are glad that Victoria made us proud through her relentlessness and commitment to issues that bother on female rights and emancipation cum political activism that culminate in her success story today. Five years ago, she tried but failed but today, God has crowned her efforts with success.
“While we wish her success, this is a clarion call on Nigerians resident in Italy to get more involved in community development activities and voluntary services and we are sure a better tomorrow and a promising future await our children born in the land," he added.
 

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Nigeria's National grid has collapsed for the sixth time this year.

 

The Eko Electricity Distribution Company on Wednesday on its Twitter page announced the collapse of the grid which occurred at about 11:27 am.

“Dear Customers, we regret to inform you of a system collapse on the National grid at precisely 11:27 am today, Wednesday July 20th.

 

“We are in talks with the Transmission Company of Nigeria to ascertain the cause of the collapse and a possible restoration timeline.

 

“We will keep you updated on the situation,” the power company announced.

 

The current collapse brings the total to six times this year.

 

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The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) has approved an extension of the union’s ongoing industrial action by three weeks.

The union’s NEC reached the decision at a meeting held at the Federal College of Education, Kano, Kano State, on Tuesday.

This is coming amid nationwide protest planned to be held on July 26 and 27 by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) over the five months’ ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

According to a report by Daily Post, COEASU’s National President, Smart Olugbeko, said that the union’s action was based on a number of major issues surrounding their demands which the government had not met.

COEASU resumed its suspended strike on June 10 over the government’s failure to resolve some their demands including non-release of N15 billion approved out of the N456,599,691, and N18billion Revitalisation Fund for both Federal and State Colleges of Education contrary to repeated promises of the FG.

Others are; non-implementation of 2014 Needs assessment report, nonpayment of outstanding promotion arrears from 2016 to date, nonpayment of responsibility allowance to Librarian in Colleges of Education.

Olugbeko said that the union decided to extend the strike because of some unresolved issues including modalities for the disbursement of the revitalization fund which is yet to be agreed upon as the committee of stakeholders, including the Unions, which is to take the responsibility is expected to be convened by the Federal Government within the next few weeks.

The union’s national president further noted that the government’s sincerity towards meaningful collective bargaining could not be ascertained until August 2 when the renegotiation would start properly.

Olugbeko said that, “While empathetically acknowledging the appeal of critical stakeholders expecting the strike action to be suspended, NEC painstakingly submitted that the timing must be properly calculated based on the foregoing reservations in order to consolidate on the gains of the struggle.

“Therefore, NEC unanimously resolved that the strike action should continue for the next three weeks within which the Union hopes that the foregoing reservations should have been addressed.

“NEC noted with satisfaction that steady progress is being made towards the amendment of the COE Establishment Act which would subdue most of the challenges bedeviling the system.

“While condemning the inaction of the Government until the festering issues snowballed into the on-going industrial action, NEC commended the impressive level of compliance of Chapters to the struggle and noted with satisfaction that the national strike action has achieved the following improvements.

“The Federal Government has inaugurated the renegotiation team for the FGN-COEASU 2010 Agreement.

“The release of N15 billion revitalization fund for both Federal and State Colleges of Education has been revalidated and approved by the Federal Government.

“NEC however strongly condemned the oppressive actions of the following: Provost of Akwa Ibom State College of Education, Afaha Nsit, for truncating the national warning strike action in the College, ordering the arrest and suspension of some Chapter Executive Council members; and Governments of Oyo, Benue, Plateau and Ebonyi States for the unwarranted enforcement of “no work, no pay” without prior meaningful engagement in collective bargaining despite the Union’s long predisposition to alternative dispute resolution.

“NEC charged the National Secretariat to sustain ongoing efforts to address the plights of the affected members.

“NEC also welcomed the on-going mobilization by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) for a “national protest to get our children back to school” in solidarity with the struggle of Trade Unions in the nation’s tertiary institutions. While applauding the Labour Centre for this promising intervention, NEC posited that the strike action should be sustained and charged Chapters to participate in the mass protest.”

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Nyesom Wike

Members of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State have accused Governor Nyesom Wike of making several moves to stop the party’s governorship candidate, Tonye Cole, from participating in the 2023 general elections.
A former Rivers State Accountant General and Wike’s stooge, Fubara Siminialayi is the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Nyesom Wike
Speaking to SaharaReporters, a member of the APC alleged the Rivers State Government filed a nine-count charge of stealing, conspiracy and cheating against Cole and others in order to stop him from being on the ballot paper.
Recalled Wike in 2015 set up a seven-man panel to probe his predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi over an alleged withdrawal of N96 billion from the state’s treasury during the latter’s tenure as governor.
The panel headed by Justice George Omekeji also investigated issues surrounding the “sale of assets” by the former governor.
The listed valuable assets are Omoku Gas Turbine, Afam Gas Turbine, Trans Amadi Gas Turbine, Eleme Gas Turbine, Olympia Hotel, and the contract award for the execution of Mono Rail Project.
The panel submitted its report in 2015, while Amaechi has insisted that he is not guilty of fraud.
However, on May 27, 2022, the Supreme Court dismissed an application by the immediate past Transportation Minister, challenging the probe.
Weeks after the judgment, Wike directed the the state Attorney-General, Zaccheus Adangor, to file criminal charges against the Ameachi, as well as Sahara Energy, a firm indicted in the deals.
The firm is co-founded by Cole, the governorship candidate of the APC.
“As we are talking, the Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike is putting finishing touches to his relentless vicious desperate plot to again stop the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Rivers State, Arc. Tonye Cole, from participating in the  2023 governorship elections in the state,” a top APC official in Rivers told SaharaReporters.
“Like in 2019, Governor Wike’s devious plans is to use the judiciary again, starting from the Rivers State High Court to remove Cole from the ballot in the 2023 governorship elections. This, according to our intel is the main reason Governor Wike directed the Rivers State Attorney-General to file a nine-count charge of stealing, conspiracy and cheating against Amaechi; Rivers All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Candidate, Tonye Cole; Dr. Chamberlain Peterside (Amaechi’s Commissioner for Finance); Sir Augustine Wokocha (Amaechi’s Commissioner of Power); Sahara Energy Resources Limited; NG Powers-HPS Limited and Cenpropsaroten Management Limited.
“The charges were filed against Cole and the other defendants on June 20, 2022. The matter is before Justice David Gbasam of the Rivers State High Court.
“With the next adjourned court date billed for this Thursday, July 21, Governor Wike has been bragging to people in his close circle that Tonye Cole will be convicted by the Rivers State judiciary sooner than later.
“And that would bar Cole from participating in the governorship elections. According to our sources in the government, Governor Wike is boasting and bragging that he has control of the judiciary and judges in Rivers State and Nigeria and that they will always do his bidding and deliver judgments that he wants them to do.
“Governor Wike’s precise words are that the judiciary and judges in Rivers State and in this country are in his pocket. That he (Wike) can do and undo with the judiciary in Nigeria. He brags that he will use the judiciary to stop Tonye Cole and that Cole won’t even be on the ballot for the elections. Wike says that his influence, reach and hold on the judiciary and judges in Nigeria go far beyond Rivers State.
“And he’s quick to cite as examples how he won the VAT case against the Federal Government in a Federal High Court and his winning of the 17 oil wells case against Imo State in the Supreme Court.”
Another APC member alleged the governor had offered eye-popping state patronage to some appointees during Ameachi’s tenure to testify against Cole.
He said, “Furthermore, to achieve his plot of convicting Tonye Cole in the Rivers State High Court, Governor Wike has, painstakingly, drawn out an extensive and extremely expensive plot to induce  former appointees who served in the administration of his predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi, to come and testify in court against Tonye Cole and the other Defendants.
“Wike wants to use these ex-appointees who served in government during Amaechi’s time as governor, as prosecution witnesses to build a strong case against Tonye Cole and the other defendants, especially to hoodwink members of the public into believing that Rivers State money was stolen by Tonye Cole and the other Defendants.
“For Wike, it is principally about the optics, to build public opinion and perception against Tonye Cole and the other Defendants. So, the trick is when members of the public see past government appointees, who were appointed by one of the Defendants, coming to court to testify against Tonye Cole and the other Defendants that would ostensibly make the story of fraud and corruption somehow credible.
“These former appointees of Amaechi will be acting as prosecution witnesses against the government they served in. But it is all a carefully plotted ruse to deceive the court and members of the public. These former government officials would be lying to the court as they will be told what to say, how to say it and given doctored and made-up documents to present to the court and the public.
“Governor Wike is making promises to these former appointees who he wants to act as prosecution witnesses against Tonye Cole and the other defendants. Former Amaechi Commissioners, Special Advisers and Assistants are being promised mouth-watering homogenous sums of money and enormous government patronage to give false testimony against Tonye Cole and the other defendants.”
Calls put across by SaharaReporters to Special Assistant to Governor Wike on Media, Kelvin Ebiri, were not picked nor returned.
A text message also sent to his line was not reply as at the time of this report.

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Personnel of the Kano State Hisbah Board have forcefully shaved off the hair of a male resident, describing his haircut as “unIslamic.”

In a trending video on social media, the officials were seen stopping the young man along a road and shaving off his hair before they let him go.

The 20 seconds video, which SaharaReporters saw on Wednesday, showed a young man who was dressed in blue kaftan overall and was seen being shaved along the road.

Although SaharaReporters cannot independently verify the video and where it was shot and time, it is coming a year after a young man identified as Muhammad Ikbal, claimed he stopped praying and going to the mosque after Kano Hisbah officials shaved off his long hair for being ‘unIslamic.”

The Kano Hisbah Command has been at loggerheads with residents in recent times because of its perceived draconian regulations and laws.

Only in June, the Kano State Hisbah said it was going to regulate the social media in the state.

Ismail Na’abba Afakallah, the Executive Director of KSCB, had disclosed this in an interview with newsmen.

He had said that the decision was because the film industry, social media, especially Tik Tok, had influenced people to engage in immoral and indecent acts.

“Our board and Hisbah have set up a Committee that will provide a system that will tackle this menace. It is not only Kannywood stars that are engaged in most of the immoral acts on Tik Tok, most of the people abusing it aren’t in the industry.

“It is a global challenge. People see it as a free world where they can do whatever they like. And we cannot allow that because it would spoil the moral upbringing of our children.

“We are concerned with influential Tik Tokers too who aren’t filmmakers because they spoil our children’s character and moral upbringing. We can’t accept you to go wayward. The platform has become a harbinger of marriage failures, waywardness among other factors.”

“They’re now misusing the privilege and disseminating negative information. You will see mature girls every now and then dancing irresponsibly and exhibiting all forms of indecency on social media, especially Tik Tok and Instagram,”he had said.

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Some members of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo's team are still furious about the outcome of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary, SaharaReporters has gathered.
Osinbajo lost in the primary election to former Lagos governor, Bola Tinubu who won the ticket.

Before the primary, which was concluded in June, there were speculations over the relationship between the duo.
Considering that Osinbajo served during the Tinubu administration when the latter was governor of Lagos, many believed he shouldn’t have indicated an interest in contesting the presidency with his former boss.

See Also Sahara Reporters 2023: Redeemed Church Debunks Report Pastor Adeboye Met Tinubu Over APC's Muslim-Muslim Ticket, Endorsed Him For President 0 Comments 1 Week Ago
In May, Tinubu claimed he nominated Osinbajo as President Muhammadu Buhari’s running mate in 2015 as part of the political bargaining that led to the formation of the APC.
However, SaharaReporters learnt on Wednesday that members of the Vice President’s camp were not happy over the recent meeting between Tinubu and the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye.
Daily Post, ThisDay and some other media platforms had reported that Bola Tinubu met with Pastor Adeboye on Sunday at the Redemption Camp, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Tinubu’s meeting with Adeboye was said to have been centred around his decision to settle for a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
It was also reported that Tinubu’s wife, Senator Oluremi, who is a deputy pastor with RCCG, among others, was part of the meeting. 
Tinubu, a Muslim, had announced a fellow Muslim, Kashim Shettima, a former Borno governor as his running mate. This has been condemned by many Christians and some Muslims. 
But the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) on Tuesday issued a disclaimer, saying that its General Overseer, Pastor Adeboye will not endorse any candidate for the 2023 general elections, asking the public to disregard the reports. 
But the disclaimer did not deny that there was a meeting as it carefully left out whether there was a meeting between Adeboye and Tinubu or not. 
The statement from the Church said: "It has come to our notice that some news outlets are reporting that a meeting Between Pastor E.A. Adeboye: The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God Worldwide and the former Governor of Lagos State Mr Bola Ahmed Tinubu was held few days back at the Redemption Camp where our esteemed father in the Lord was said to have supported the preferred candidature of the Party the Former Governor is a member of.

"This is to inform the general public that 1) Pastor E.A. Adeboye is under the authority of God, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), and as such will not speak on behalf of Christians on issues regarding policies.

"2) Pastor E.A. Adeboye and the RCCG have not and will not endorse any candidate for the 2023 General elections in Nigeria.

"3) The news reported by Daily Post is false. Daily Post and other News Outlets should desist from spreading false information about Pastor E.A. Adeboye and the RCCG as it defeats the code and ethics of Journalism and the full weight of the law will be employed if such happens in future.

"God bless you."
It was learnt that the church had accused Tinubu's camp of leaking information about the meeting to the media, saying it did not come from them. 
A source privy to the happenings on Wednesday also told SaharaReporters that indeed Osinbajo's camp was still furious about the APC presidential primary election he lost to Tinubu and was not happy about the recent meeting between the former Lagos governor and the leader of Osinbajo's church, Adeboye. 
"They are not happy that Pastor Adeboye met with Tinubu secretly. According to the Osinbajo camp, it was Tinubu’s media team that first leaked the secret meeting between Tinubu and Pastor Adeboye to ThisDay newspaper where some of them used to work as journalists," the source said. 


Another source noted that "Tinubu's camp strategically chose ThisDay to leak the information so it will not be linked to them". 
"Tinubu has media houses like The Nation and TVC but leaking it through them would have made it obvious it came from them so they chose ThisDay where some members of his team used to work and have contacts," the source said. 

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The Court of Appeal, sitting in Akure, Ondo State, on Wednesday affirmed the Osun State governor-elect, Ademola Adeleke, as the rightful Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in the just-concluded election.
The court affirmed Adeleke as PDP’s governorship candidate while dismissing a suit by Dotun Babayemi, a governorship aspirant, against the governor-elect.

SaharaReporters had reported that Babayemi earlier filed a case against Adeleke before a Federal High Court in Osogbo, seeking to declare him as the PDP’s governorship candidate in the just-concluded governorship election in the state.
On March 8, 2021, two factions of the party conducted separate governorship primaries featuring Adeleke and Babayemi.
But, the PDP National Working Committee, NWC, had backed the faction that produced Adeleke.
In a list of candidates later released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Adeleke was recognised as the duly-elected candidate to fly the PDP’s flag in the state’s governorship election.
In a judgment delivered on May 18, the judge, Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel, held that the primary election conducted at the WOCDIF Centre, Osogbo, on March 8, which produced Babayemi was null and void.
Dissatisfied with the ruling, Babayemi filed a suit at the Court of Appeal in Akure, challenging the judgment of the lower court.
He sought to be declared the winner of the PDP governorship primary election.
However, the Court of Appeal, in its judgment on Wednesday, upheld the verdict of the High Court and consequently dismissed Babayemi’s appeal.
Adeleke was declared the winner of the Saturday, July 16 poll, garnering 403, 371 votes to defeat Mr Adegboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress, who polled 375, 027 votes.
On Wednesday morning, he received his certificate of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission.

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The alleged mastermind of the killing of 14 wedding guests on Sunday, who is also the Commander of the Imo State South-East’s Ebube-Agu Security outfit, popularly called Ogwu Mozambique, has gone into hiding as a Biafra group declared him wanted, SaharaReporters has learnt.

Reliably sources told SaharaReporters on Wednesday, that an “autopilot” group of gunmen led by Simon Ekpa, had raised a squad to get him at all cost to pay for the gruesome killing of the innocent youths, and several other atrocious killings the government had used him to commit in and around Imo State.

SaharaReporters had reported that 14 youths of Otulu community who were returning from traditional marriage ceremony from a neighbouring community - Awo-amma in Oru West Local Government Area of Imo State were killed by operatives of Ebube-Agu Security outfit led by Ogwu Mozambique, State Commander of the outfit.
Governor Hope Uzodimma has since absolved the outfit of the killings, saying that the Nigerian secret police, the Department of State Services (DSS) carried out the killings.
The DSS has also in damage control efforts, claimed that the victims were killed during a shootout with the criminals in their camp.
Meanwhile, unverified report claimed that Ogwu Mozambique was on revenge killing using the Ebubeagu outfit as he allegedly vowed to bury his brother killed by unknown gunmen about three weeks ago with the heads of 100 youths from the area.
The report attached a picture he took with Governor Hope Uzodimma, alleging that the he was a local drugs peddler before he quit and joined the state government which appointed him commander of Ebubeagu in Oru West and East.
Although efforts of the SaharaReporters to ascertain the credibility of the report were not successful, a source told SaharaReporters that Mozambique had gone into hiding.
"I have seen this (the report). The Ogwu Mozambique has already gone underground because Simon Ekpa’s boys are looking for him now," a top source said.

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The African Action Congress (AAC) has urged the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) to mobilise Nigerians massively and protest until the government meets the demands of the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and reopen schools across the country.

The party made the charge in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Femi Adeyeye, while expressing its full support for NLC’s planned protest against the ongoing strike by ASUU.

ASUU has been on strike since February 14, 2022, over the federal government’s failure to meet its demands and agreements signed in 2009.

The NLC has announced 2-day nationwide protest holding on “Tuesday, July 26, 2022, and Wednesday, July 27, 2022, in all the states of the Federation and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, adding that “Take-off point is the NLC State Secretariats and the Labour House, Abuja. You are requested to immediately convene the meetings of your SAC to disseminate this information and to fully mobilise workers in the states for this very important protest for good governance,”

In its statement on Wednesday, AAC said, “Our party, the African Action Congress seizes this medium to express its total support for the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) protest over the prolonged strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). We consider the call for action long overdue, as no serious country should shut the door to research, learning and innovation for over 5 months.

“The Buhari regime has shown a serious level of irresponsibility and infidelity towards the demands of the striking workers and it is proper for students, parents, members of civil society, and workers to join the actions geared towards reopening our citadels of learning.

“The African Action Congress (AAC) assures Nigerian students, academic and non-academic workers that there shall be a new dawn in the educational sector, when we get to power, come 2023. Our programs for education are all-encompassing. We have maintained that oil is a lazy man resource.

“The most underrated and untapped resources in Nigeria are Nigerians, especially the youthful demography. Among many other programs of actions, we shall invest massively in education, reorder the system of delivery, rejig the curriculum to make it fit for innovations and not just for the services industry. The days of ASUU strikes are numbered. President Buhari can’t give what he does not have.”

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The Nigeria Police Force’s Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Muyiwa Adejobi, has been accused of abuse of power.

Three commuters identified as Samuel Oluwatosin Ige, Ayomide Taiwo and Temitope Yusuf Akinigan accused Adejobi of ordering their arrest in Ibadan, Oyo State on Monday after a disagreement while stuck in traffic, FIJ reports.

“My friends and I, three of us, were going to Akala Road because a friend of mine got married on Saturday. We were making arrangements to return most of the instruments and the rented equipment we used to various destinations. In the process of doing this, there was huge traffic congestion along Olusoji and Akala Road. There was a big truck on the road that got faulty, hence the traffic,” Ige said.

“People were creating space while others drove ahead. They would give space and those who could drive would drive. It was a usual traffic issue that would stop drivers and cars on the road. We got to the place where we were to manoeuvre around the faulty truck in order to get to the main road in Akala.

“On getting to that point, we saw a car that was not ready to give us a sign as we approached. We told the driver of the car to give us a chance to go so that he could have some space to move on as well. But he ignored us.”

The friends turned off their car engine because of the gridlock caused by the other car. They considered it a normal disagreement that happened on the road. At some point, they considered leaving the car on the road to return later but ditched the idea.

“We never even got into any argument or any fight. Nobody was ready to give way for the other. We wound our windows up and remained in the car looking at each other. The man in the other car came down from the car, brought out his phone and said that he would teach us a lesson. We did not know who he was,” added Ige.

“Onlookers tried to dissuade the unknown man from calling the police to make an arrest but police officers arrived about 15 minutes after the phone call to round the three friends up.

“They took us to Kuola Police Station around Apata. Adejobi later came to the station, wrote a statement and asked the DPO to lock us up. In all honesty, the DPO told us to beg him and ask to have everything settled. As an omoluabi, we did as instructed. We prostrated ourselves and apologised to the man but he did not acknowledge our apology. He left us there and we stayed in jail overnight.”

The police charged all three friends to court on Tuesday.

“We are just leaving the court. The magistrate attended to our case and we have been granted bail. I just feel bad that a public figure such as the PRO, who should protect us, stood against us yesterday. I was so embarrassed we slept inside a cell till daybreak when we could have resolved this matter.”

He said that they were charged with obstruction of traffic.

The friends will be in court on July 25 and September 27.

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The Department of State Services in Imo State on Tuesday said an exchange of fierce gunfire between a joint security team and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN), on Sunday resulted in the death of seven youths in the state.

This is coming amidst the outrage generated by the killings and the call for the disbandment of the South-East Ebube-Agu security outfit in Imo who massacred the 14 unarmed wedding guests in Otulu community in Oru East Council Area of the state on Sunday evening.

SaharaReporters had reported on Tuesday that Governor Hope Uzodinma also absorbed his Ebubeagu security outfit while briefing journalists after a security meeting.

He had said that operatives of the Nigeria secret police, DSS, stormed a camp and killed the gunmen.

He had also vowed to sustain the killings noting that no amount of blackmail would stop him from killing them.

SaharaReporters had reported on Monday that the victims were returning from Awo-Omamma after traditional marriage ceremony of one of their own when the Ebubeagu operatives opened fire on them.

However, in damage control efforts, the DSS in a statement made available to journalists in Owerri, Imo State capital, insisted that the victims killed on Sunday were members of ESN and not guests coming from a wedding ceremony.

The Imo DSS said, “Following the arrest of Chinonso Mmerem (aka Network), a member of IPOB militant wing, ESN, a sting operation was conducted by a joint security team on July 17, to arrest members of the criminal gang terrorising Awo-Omama and other parts of the state.

“In course of the operation, the elements opened fire on the security forces which was consequently repelled with superior firepower leading to the neutralisation of about seven (7) members of the criminal group in the hideout used as their camp.

“The elements were gathered at the above location planning for the armed enforcement of the illegal Monday sit-at-home order in Awo-Omamma and other parts of the state which informed the operation to neutralise their plan.

“At this juncture, it is pertinent to inform that the elements gathered to plan their nefarious operations and not attend a traditional marriage as being speculated by members of the outlawed group.”

While being paraded Tuesday evening Chinonso Mmerem Mmerem confessed that the victims killed on Sunday were members of ESN killed at their camp.

He said, "I led the DSS to the ESN camp at Awomama, I was caught a week ago by the security agents, on Sunday I led them to the camp where they were having meetings against Monday for the sit-at-home.

“Some of the members were shot, including “One man” squad who is our leader at Awomama. Although he did not die, he escaped with bullet wounds and his phone was retrieved by the DSS.” 

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Following the criticisms that trailed the Muslim/Muslim ticket of the Presidential Candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, the APC leader’s camp has gone to hire some Christians bishops to attend the formal unveiling of his Vice Presidential candidate, Senator Kashim Shettima.

The bishops who were in their robes were sighted at the event which is currently taking place at Shehu Musa Yar,adu Centre Abuja.

The incident that caused stir at the entrance of the event as crowd taunted them and shouted "The bishops are here."

Meanwhile the so-called bishops could not get seats at the main hall of the as they were seen being ushered to the gallery which served as overflow.

Recall that many Nigerians have continued to express disappointment in the choice of a Muslim-Muslim pairing ticket by the APC flag bearer for the 2023 general elections.

They described the action as an attempt to trample on the religious rights of Nigerians.

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The All Progressives Congress, APC, on Wednesday unveiled a former Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima as its 2023 presidential running mate at an event in Abuja.

Former Personal Assistant on New Media to President Muhammadu Buhari, Bashir Ahmad, disclosed this via a tweet.

“Our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), unveils Senator Kashim Shettima as the running mate of our presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he tweeted.

SaharaReporters had reported that Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, had been fuming over the decision of Tinubu to pick Shettima as his running mate.

Following the criticisms that trailed the Muslim/Muslim ticket of the Presidential Candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), the APC leader’s camp has gone to hire some Christians bishops to attend the formal unveiling of his Vice Presidential candidae, Shettima.

The bishops who were in their robes were sighted at the event which is currently taking place at Shehu Musa Yar,adu Centre Abuja.

The incident that caused stir at the entrance of the event as crowd taunted them and shouted "The bishops are here."

Meanwhile the so-called bishops could not get seats at the main hall of the as they were seen being ushered to the gallery which served as overflow.

As at time of this report Tinubu and Shettima have arrived at the venue of event.

Recall that many Nigerians have continued to express disappointment in the choice of a Muslim-Muslim pairing ticket by the APC flag bearer for the 2023 general elections.

They described the action as an attempt to trample on the religious rights of Nigerians.

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The Osun State Governor-elect, Senator Ademola Adeleke on Wednesday received his certificate of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The certificate presentation to Adeleke by the INEC National Commissioner, Supervising Osun, Ogun and Oyo states, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, was preceded by the presentation to the deputy governor-elect, Prince Kola Adewusi.

Adeleke was declared the winner of the Saturday, July 16 poll, garnering 403,371 votes to defeat Governor Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress, who polled 375,027 votes.

The presentation came about 24 hours after SaharaReporters reported that Nigerian singer, David Adeleke, popularly called Davido disclosed on social media that his uncle, Senator Adeleke had not received the certificate.

In his acceptance speech after receiving the certificate at a brief ceremony held at Osun INEC head office in Osogbo, Adeleke dedicated his victory at the poll to the memory of his late elder brother, Senator Isiaka Adeleke and the people of Osun State.

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Nigeria's national female football team, Super Falcon players, have reportedly boycotted training on due to unpaid bonuses ahead of their #WAFCON2022 third-place match against the Copper Queens of Zambia in Morocco.

President Muhammadu Buhari had on Tuesday, commended the “resilience and professionalism” displayed by Nigeria’s Super Falcons against the Moroccan female national football team in the second semi-final of the African Women’s Cup of Nations.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, had stated this in a release, titled “Thanks for the gallant display, President Buhari to Super Falcons.”

According to Adesina, President Buhari is encouraged by the doggedness, resilience and professionalism of the girls, who despite playing with two players down before a home crowd showed their quality and class.

SaharaReporters gathered on Wednesday that “the female national team players failed to show up for their training to protest the non-payment of some of their entitlements.” 

Some of the players also confirmed that they had not received any match bonuses since the African Women’s Cup of Nations qualification matches.

“We’ve not been paid for the last WAFCON qualifiers.” One of the players said to sports journalist, Ojora Babatunde, on Tuesday.

All efforts to get the reaction of the Nigerian Football Federation president, Amaju Pinnick on this claim were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

He failed to respond to several calls and messages sent to him as of press time.

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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has advised Nigerians to avoid non-essential travel to locations where Marburg virus (MVD) has been reported.

NCDC which asserted that Nigeria is at moderate risk of the importation and impact body of the virus also advised Nigerians to avoid direct contact with blood, saliva, vomit, urine, and other bodily fluids of people with suspected or confirmed Marburg virus.

This was contained in a statement released on Wednesday by the Director General of NCDC , Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, noting that the advice is based on the organisation’s assessment following the outbreak in Ghana.

The Marburg virus causes a rare, highly infectious disease and severe haemorrhagic fever in humans and non-human primates just like the Ebola virus.

Dr Adetifa said, “Based on available data, the overall risk of both importation of the disease and its potential impact on the Nigerian population is said to be moderate as assessed by NCDC experts and partners given the following;

“The proximity (same region), high traffic from Ghana and countries that share borders with Ghana, the incubation period of 21 days of the virus, heightened surveillance at point of entry, Nigeria’s capacity to respond to the outbreak in country and the fact that persons with MVD transmit the virus when they become symptomatic unlike for SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19 that can also be transmitted by infected persons without symptoms.”

According to him, there was currently, no case of Marburg virus in Nigeria, adding that several measures are being put in place to prevent an outbreak of the disease in-country.

“NCDC is on high alert, Nigeria has the capacity to test for the virus presently at the National Reference Laboratory in Abuja and the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital laboratory Centre for Human and Zoonotic Virology,” Adetifa disclosed.

He said diagnostic capacity could be scaled up to other laboratories if required as Nigeria had the resources (human, technical and laboratory) for prompt identification and management in the event of a single imported case. Noting that the risk of importation may be further reduced as the current situation in Ghana is under control as reported by Ghana Health Service.

He explained that the point of entry surveillance had been heightened, trained rapid response teams are on standby to be deployed in the event of an outbreak and the NCDC’s Incident Coordination Centre (ICC) is on alert mode.

He said the NCDC is also amplifying risk communication efforts and continues to work with states and partners to strengthen preparedness activities which include– review of risk communication protocols, plans and messages in the event of an outbreak.

He advised Nigerians to avoid non-essential travel to locations where the outbreak is reported for the moment, and also avoid direct contact with blood, saliva, vomit, urine, and other bodily fluids of people with suspected or confirmed Marburg virus.

The outbreak in Ghana is the second incidence of the virus in West Africa following the previous incidence in Guinea in August 2021.

The disease was first discovered in 1967 following outbreaks in Marburg and Frankfurt in Germany, and Belgrade, Serbia.

Since then, outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in some African countries.

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Youths in Imo State, who are protesting the gruesome killings of 14 wedding guests in Awo-Omamma in Oru West Council Area, have blocked the Owerri-Onitsha federal road, while demanding that all the perpetrators must be brought to justice.

The protesters were drawn from Awo Omamma, Mgbidi, Amiri and other neighbouring communities who joined the youths of Otulu community in Oru East to protest the high-handedness and extrajudicial killings of the youths by Ebubeagu, South-East security outfit.

SaharaReporters had reported that the Ebubeagu opportunists opened fire and killed 14 wedding guests returning to their community Otulu on Sunday evening.

'Ebubeagu' is a vigilante outfit set up by the Imo State government which reports to the government and largely, not answerable to the Imo State Police Command.

SaharaReporters learnt that the protesters brandished placards with various inscriptions such as "Ebubeagu is a criminal gang", "Say no to Ebubeagu", "We demand justice for the killing of our brothers", "Uzodinma stop killing our people" and several others.

They however, insisted that the people killed were innocent and that the government should regulate the activities of the Ebubeagu outfit.

In a video of the protests seen by SaharaReporters on Wednesday, a protester, who identified himself only as Amanfo, said, "The entire Oru nation is here gathered - Oru East and Oru West - we are on a daily basis terrorised by operatives of Ebubeagu to the extent that we no longer sleep with our eyes closed. These innocent young men slain by Ebubeagu are a witness to what we have had to endure for too long. Their excesses are now beyond us, and we call on the government to put an end to this harassment and terrorism in our land."

The protesting communities were seen blocking the Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) of the Nigerian Army and several military patrol vehicles to stage the protest which reportedly lasted for hours on the Owerri-Onitsha expressway.

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A human rights lawyer and activist, Chief Malcolm Omirhobo, has replied a faith-based group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), saying he will not withdraw his pending cases against the Arabic writing on naira notes and the Nigerian Army logo.

SaharaReporters earlier reported that MURIC knocked Chief Malcolm Omirhobo, a Nigerian lawyer who appeared in courts like a “Juju” priest and told Malcolm to withdraw suits against hijab use, Arabic writing on naira notes and the Nigerian Army logo.

Omirhobo, therefore, said he would not withdraw the cases because they are not hate-inspired against Islam and Muslims as MURIC would want Muslims to believe, but they are public interest suits for the benefit of a secular, progressive one Nigeria state.

Speaking with SaharaReporters, he said, "I have seen and read the recent publication of MURIC through its founder and chairman, board of trustees, Prof Ishad Akintola, asking me to drop three of my suits, upholding Section 10 of the Nigerian constitution on the secularity of Nigeria as a proof that I am not a hater of Islam and Muslims and that I am not a religious bigot.

“The three suits, referred to are those challenging the Arabic Inscriptions on the Naira note, the Army logo and the approval of the Inspector general of police approval Hijab as official dress code for female muslim police officers.

"I will not drop the aforesaid suits because they are not hate-inspired against Islam and Muslims as Muric would want Muslims to believe but to the contrary the suits are patriotic public interest suits for the benefit of a secular progressive one Nigeria state.

"On my dress code to the Supreme Court and the Federal High Court, I don't see how that concerns Muric. Dressing in my religious attire is my fundamental right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion which is imbued in as long as I have not infringed on anybody's right or space and as long as I have not violated any known law in Nigeria, nobody can take my right from me; not the court or even the President of Nigeria.

"MURIC is a Defendant in the aforementioned suits which are sub judice so I wonder why it prefers media trial of the suits instead of trial at the court of law.

"Muric has lodged a petition against me on my alleged misconduct at the Supreme Court to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee; so what more does MURIC want? 

I advise Muric to preach love and not hate. Stop inciting Muslims against Nigerians of other religions in the already heated polity. Stop her bigotry. Be civil, courteous and law abiding.”

 

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