Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, has visited the Abeokuta residence of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to formally inform him of his presidential ambition.
This forms part of the ongoing consultation of strategic stakeholders in the country which the presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been embarking on. 

Emmanuel informed the elder statesman that he was ready to rescue and restore Nigeria, "having had sufficient private and public sector experience, with remarkable results to show for it", a statement signed by Bola Bolawole, 
the spokesperson for Udom Gabriel Emmanuel Presidential Council, said on Wednesday. 
He posited that the major issues plaguing Nigeria can be solved by focused, sincere and capable leadership and assured Obasanjo that, if given the opportunity, he will take practical steps to boost the economy and return Nigeria to her glory days.
Responding, Obasanjo appreciated the presidential aspirant for the show of respect in coming to inform him of his aspiration. 
Obasanjo said: “Knowing you the way I do and the knowledge that you possess, which you have expressed in your brief speech, I have no doubt that if you have the opportunity, you will fix the economy of Nigeria.
"Our country is complex but not a complicated country to govern. It needs the application of honesty, fairness, and justice. 
"I know that you are a man of conscience who fears God and will apply these guiding principles in your leadership. 
"You have shown what you can do for Nigeria by what you have done in your state. It is, therefore, logical that when the opportunity presents itself, you will bring what you have done in your state to bear on the larger community." 
"Your presidential bid is a fair and legitimate thing to ask for," he added.
The presidential aspirant was accompanied on the trip by a member of the National Executive Committee of the PDP, Obong Paul Ekpo, two members of the House of Representatives, Hon. Pat Ifon and Nsikak Ekong and Comrade Ini Ememobong, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information & Strategy.

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Japanese Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, and many of his Cabinet officials will be barred from entering Russia, the country announced on Wednesday.
This is said to be part of Moscow’s retaliation for Tokyo’s stance to the Ukraine conflict.

The Japanese government is accused of undertaking a “unprecedented anti-Russian campaign using irresponsible rhetoric” against Moscow, according to the ministry.
It was learnt that the foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi, and Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno are among the 63 Japanese citizens targeted by Russia’s Foreign Ministry.
The ministry’s list included executives from Japanese media companies as well as university lecturers.
Japan, along with the United States and European countries, has imposed a variety of penalties against Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine, including the freezing of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s and his subordinates’ assets.

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Operatives of the Amotekun Corps, over the weekend, arrested at least 37 suspected criminals across the 18 local government areas of Ondo State.
The arrest was made during a 24-hour joint patrol led by the Nigerian Army alongside the operatives of the local security outfit.

The patrol, which took place across the state simultaneously was part of the state government’s attempts to ensure a crime-free Eid-El-Fitri celebration in the state.
Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, the Ondo State Commander of the Amotekun Corps, informed newsmen that the patrol, which began on Friday last week, would end on Thursday, adding that the week-long exercise was aimed at ridding the state of criminal elements.
“In the last five days, we have been able to harvest a number of criminals ranging from Armed robbers, suspected kidnappers, fraudsters, “Yahoo yahoo” boys and those that are engaged in nefarious activities,” he said.
“I want to commend men of the Nigerian Army from the 32 Artillery Brigade for their huge support likewise the Nigeria Police force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, and of course, the Department of State Service, DSS, for their support towards ensuring that the holiday was crime free.”

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An American Comedian, Dave Chappelle, was on Tuesday, attacked on stage during a performance in Los Angeles, United States, according to social media posts.
Footage circulating on the social media showed Chappelle on stage performing when a man to his right rushed at him and tackled him to the floor. The man was then dragged away by security, according to a report by Hollywood Reporter.

NBC News Los Angeles reported that the LAPD had confirmed they had taken a man into custody and that he was armed with a replica gun “that can eject a knife blade” when discharged correctly.
It wasn’t immediately clear if the man tried to use the weapon. Police said that Chappelle was not injured in the incident.
Chappelle was on the receiving end of heated backlash in 2021 when his Netflix special was dubbed trans-phobic.
It was gathered that after the comedian took to the stage to perform on Tuesday, he had joked, “It was a trans man” who attacked him.
Jamie Foxx, the Hollywood actor, was among those who ran to the stage to help after the incident. Chris Rock, who was slapped by Will Smith at the Oscars, also performed at the show.
Last October, about 100 persons protested outside Netflix’s headquarters over ‘The Closer’, Chappelle’s comedy special.
They had opposed the special in which Chappelle said “gender is a fact” and that LGBT people were “too sensitive”.
Chappelle’s experience comes after Will Smith, the actor, dealt Chris Rock a slap on the stage at the 2022 Oscars.
Rock had, in a joke, mocked Jada Pinkett’s shaved head — something the actress said was due to a hair loss condition.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) later banned Smith from the Oscars for 10 years.

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Students of the University of Benin, Edo State, on Wednesday morning protested the ongoing strike by Academic Staff Union Of Universities (ASUU).

The students of the institution blocked the ever-busy Benin-Lagos Expressway, school gate and Ring Road.

The protest which caused gridlock on the highway for hours, forced many motorists to avoid the route while those going into the state capital had to divert to other roads.

The strike which was embarked on by ASUU since February has entered its 80th day.

The students, who defied the heavy downpour came out in their hundreds and were seen at the campus entrance chanting solidarity songs holding placards with inscriptions like “FG settle ASUU”, “Enough is Enough”, “End ASUU strike.”

It will be recalled that the students of the institution had also blocked the busy Benin/Lagos highway in February 2022 in solidarity with the members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

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The Indigenous People of Biafra has denied its involvement in the murder of the Nigerian Army couple in Imo State.

SaharaReporters had reported how A.M Linus, a Master Warrant Officer in the army and his Private wife, Pte Gloria Matthew, were shot and beheaded on Saturday.

After beheading the couple, the gunmen were said to have called their family members to mock them.

A gory video of the incident seen by SaharaReporters showed the gunmen putting the heads on the victims' chests after the incident.

Reacting, the Nigerian Army accused IPOB and its military wing, Eastern Security Network of carrying out the dastardly act.

But in a statement on Wednesday signed by Emma Powerful, IPOB's spokesperson, the group said it had no hands in the murder of the soldiers, an incident it described as an abominable in Igbo tradition.

“No true Igbo will hurt an in-law, how much more a married daughter (Ada) in Igbo land. Even the ancestors will avenge such wickedness.

“Before the army jumped into their jaundiced conclusion that such an abominable act was masterminded by IPOB, what investigations did they carry out to substantiate their claims? When have gunmen or criminals recruited by evil politicians in connivance with the same security agencies in their desperation to demonise IPOB, become IPOB members?” the group queried.

It added, “The compromised Nigeria security agencies particularly the Nigeria military is behind the ongoing secret genocide in Biafra land under the guise of hunting for IPOB members while the real mass murderers are on the prowl in Northern Nigeria.

“They have always looked for an occasion to attack innocent Igbo youths. Who knows the number of innocent Biafrans they will rope in in the aftermath of this abominable act and tag them the suspects?

“The Nigeria Army should leave IPOB alone because we are not unknown gunmen and those who are pursuing them. The monster they created is now after them, yet they keep pointing accusing fingers at us.

“We cannot kill our sister who is about to marry but those who killed them were those Nigerian government and its security agencies, especially the military and DSS created to demonise IPOB and ESN but your evil deeds are now hunting you.

“These agents of death some of whom we have made their identities public severally are behind the killings of these soldiers, not IPOB or ESN operatives. We are letting the world know that Nigeria Army and police are confused institutions. They are beclouded to see the truth because of their bias against us and delivering good jobs correctly.

”IPOB is, and will remain a non-violent movement. No amount of blackmail by the Nigeria Government and its compromised security agencies can make us change our resolve to restore Biafra through non-violence.”

 

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No fewer than two persons have been killed by an explosion at a flow station in the oil-producing community of Izombe in the Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State.

It was learnt that the explosion occurred in the early hours of Wednesday at the facility operated by Addax Petroleum Development Nigeria Limited.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in Imo, Micheal Abattam, said that the Commissioner of Police immediately drafted the command’s anti-bomb unit, as well as some operatives of the command to the area to prevent any breakdown of law and order.

The eyewitness explained that the victims were trying to find their way into the flow station through the entrance when the bomb exploded and killed them.

Addax Petroleum is one of the two oil companies located in the Izombe community. In recent times, the community has been a hotbed of insecurity and violence.

The most recent is the clash between some youths in the area and officials of the Nigeria Army which left many dead and several houses destroyed.

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Rocky Oil And Gas Services Ltd is seeking justice following its forceful eviction from its business premises at Plot 10 Adeola Odeku, Victoria Island Lagos by police officers on the orders of one Mrs Ngozi Areh.

 

In a letter addressed to the Inspector General of Police and Chief Judge of Lagos State, the company said police officers stormed the premises on April 14 and sealed up the place after which some items were allegedly looted. 

The letter reads partly, “Kindly use your good offices one way or the other to investigate the above-stated matter for the purpose of bringing to justice the perpetrators of the above-stated dastardly act.

 

 “On the 14th day of April 2022, on the instruction of one Mrs Ngozi Areh, the alleged owner, policemen from zone 2, Lagos authorised by one A.S.P. Oluyode Segun, the Bar Beach Police Station led by the S.O and Mrs Ngozi Areh's House Agent, one Segun Ashogbon, invaded the premises at 10 Adeola Odeku Road, Victoria Island Lagos, occupied by our client invaded and sealed up the place purportedly acting on a court order.

 

“The occupants of the said premises were driven out and the following items were forcefully removed and stolen from the property after the occupants were forcefully driven out by the armed policemen led by the S.O: 10 units of Panasonic 2Hp cassette type split Air Conditioners. 

 

“2 units of 100KVA Mikano soundproof generators. 1 unit of Siemens transformer. 400 cartons of ceramic tiles and 2 units of fireproof file cabinets (4 shelves). 3 units of 3 HP standing Air Conditioners (LG). 1 unit of fire/ burglary proof vault containing many valuable documents. 

 

“One bundle of 70mm 4 core armoured cable (500meters). 600 bags of Dangote cement.100 bags of white cement.”

 

The letter signed by Andrew Tsekiri for the Itsekiri and Associates firm noted that the invaders claimed they were acting on a purported court order whereas there is a pending action at the Lagos State High Court before Justice Abdulahi. 

According to the letter, the invaders were there with “bailiffs” who claimed they were from the Lagos High Court donning blue garbs with the Lagos High Court inscription and wearing jackets belonging to the office of the Deputy Sheriff of the Lagos High Court.

 

“When they were further challenged to produce the court order from the court or the warrant from the office of the deputy sheriff authorizing them to carry out the execution, the armed policemen in their company became fierce and warned everybody at gunpoint to keep off, or they would be dealt with.

 

“At the end of the operation, our client's items on the premises were looted, the locks were all changed and replaced and the abovestated properties were carted away purportedly to be taken to the office of the Deputy Sheriff of the Lagos High Court, with the occupants driven out of the premises into the streets.”

 

However, further enquiries from the office of the Deputy Sheriff, Lagos High Court showed that no warrant for possession was issued from the office of the deputy sheriff.

 

“That also, no bailiff of the court went to that particular address for the execution of any court order or judgement and that the said bailiffs were impostors and too that the above-stated properties stolen and other items looted were not brought to the court premises which is the usual practice 

 

“The said information received from the office of the Deputy sheriff, confirmed initial fears that we have a case of armed robbery on the instructions of Mrs Ngozi Areh, the alleged owner of the premises and armed policemen from zone 2 and the bar beach police station led by the S.O.

 

“There is a pending action at the Lagos High Court before the Hon Justice Abdulahi relating to the said premises at 10 Adeola Odeku street involving breach of contract and occupation of the said premises in which the said Mrs Areh and her company Ronfaid are parties.

 

“Further investigations revealed that while the matter was still pending, the said Mrs Areh caused her property Agent's company, Kaplan Properties Limited, to sue her company, Ronfaid over breach of contract at the magistrate court, for purported sale of the same property by the said Mrs Ngozi Areh, to her Agent's company.

 

“The purported breach relates to vacant possession and then her company, Ronfaid entered an out-of-court settlement with the said Kaplan to surrender vacant possession of the said property and then got the magistrate court to endorse the settlement as judgement of the court, consequent upon which the magistrate issued an order for possession of the said property that is the sole subject matter of the suit before the Lagos High Court and which another company, our client, Rocky Oil Limited are in occupation.

 

“The said Mrs Areh did not disclose to the Magistrate that issues of breach of contract, possession and occupation of the said premises of which herself and her company, the said Ronfaid are parties and sued before the Lagos High Court, is pending before the Lagos High Court. 

 

“The police officer who led the invasion refused to surrender the order when asked to do so and in fact claimed it was a Lagos High Court, Ikeja order.

 

“The deputy sheriff of the Lagos High Court has disowned the entire process and said only her office has powers to authorize such executions and with officers of the Lagos State Police Command authorised by the state police commissioner and not officers from zone 2 and that the bailiffs that accompanied them were fake.

 

“It is the reason the armed policemen and bailiffs refused to surrender any court order when they were challenged knowing that they were illegally authorized to throw out the occupants moreso with a fraudulently obtained magistrate court order over a matter pending at the high court resulting in the forceful occupation of the said premises, looting, vandalisation and theft of the above items by purported bailiffs of the Lagos High Court assisted by armed policemen led by the S.O of the bar beach police station, on the authorization of officers from the zone, led by the said A.S.P. Eluyode Segun

 

“Kindly use your good offices one way or the other to investigate the above-stated claims and bring to justice all the participants in this organised robbery, using the authority of the courts, the office of the deputy sheriff and fake bailiffs from the Lagos High Court and bring the perpetrators to justice and the stolen items recovered and returned to the said premises with those chased out and driven into the streets.”

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Yemi Osinbajo

Major streets in Yola, the Adamawa State capital have been taken over by hostile security operatives said to be on guard awaiting the arrival of Nigeria's Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.

Traffic has also been diverted on selected streets expected to be used by the visiting VP, thereby causing inconveniences to motorists and commuters.

Yemi Osinbajo

Vehicular traffic from around the PZ roundabout near the airport leading to the Capital flyover was diverted.

All motorists heading for the city centre from that axis have to meander to the Demsawo neighbourhood to get to their destinations.

Osinbajo, according to the Publicity Secretary of the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC), Mohammed Abdullahi, will be addressing the party's delegates to the National convention later today.

"From the Yola International Airport, the vice president and his entourage will head to the palace of the Lamido after which he will address the national delegates at the Muna Hotel.

"During the meeting with delegates, journalists would not be allowed in, kindly take note sir,” Abdullahi told SaharaReporters.

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Ikengboju Dele Gboluga, lawmaker representing Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituent in Ondo State.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) has been urged to launch an investigation into the alleged fraudulent activities of Ikengboju Dele Gboluga, the lawmaker representing Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituent in Ondo State.

Gboluga was accused of financial misappropriation and using money meant for constituency projects to start an event centre business.

Ikengboju Dele Gboluga, lawmaker representing Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituent in Ondo State.

The request was contained in an open letter addressed to ICPC by the Coordinator of a group, Ikale Development Vanguard (IDV), Ayodele Ifabonmi Clinton, and obtained by SaharaReporters on Tuesday.

Ayodele claimed that the sum of N73,750,000 approved for the Ilutitun community project under the ZIP Code: 2021ZIP1334 was for the CONSTRUCTION OF MODERN SPORT AND EVENT CENTRE and not just an event centre as built by Gboluga.

The coordinator in the letter noted that all they saw was an event centre, after a sports centre was approved.

The letter alleged that the sum of N100,000,000 approved for the Ode Irele community as requested by Gboluga was for the CONSTRUCTION OF COMMUNITY HALL under the borders community agency Code: ERGP554001266 and not the event centre.

It noted that Gboluga converted the project into an event centre so that he could turn it to his personal business venture to generate income for himself.

The letter reads in part, “It is no more news that an event centre is a source of passive income to its owners following the high demand for events hosting in Nigeria. But what is, however, strange is the construction of two ultra-modern event centres by Hon. Ikengboju Gboluga, the lawmaker representing Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency in the name of constituency projects for the people of Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency.

"He constructed one in Ode Irele community against what the federal government approved for the people and he constructed another one in Ilutitun, his home town without constructing the sports centre attached to the project.

"The questions people should ask Gboluga and his data boys are: who will be responsible to employ workers for the event centres? Gboluga or Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency? Who owns the bank account details to be credited by users of the event centres?

 

"Is there any bank account in the name of Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency, whose name was used to purchase all the assets including pieces of furniture and fittings procured for the event centres? 

"Besides the above, the public should also know that the sum of N 73,750,000 approved for the Ilutitun community project under the ZIP Code: 2021ZIP1334 was for the CONSTRUCTION OF MODERN SPORT AND EVENT CENTRE and not just an event centre as built by Gboluga. Where is the sports centre? People should ask questions. All we can see now is the event centre. What about the sports centre as approved?

"The second issue is that the sum of N100,000,000 approved for the Ode Irele community as requested by Gboluga was for the CONSTRUCTION OF COMMUNITY HALL under the borders community agency Code: ERGP554001266 and not the event centre. Although the signage reads community Hall, but a statement credited to him by his data boys said it is an event centre.

“Instead of building a community hall, Gboluga converted the project into an event centre so that he could convert it into a personal business venture to generate income for himself.

"We, by this letter, call on the ICPC to launch an investigation into the fraudulent activities of Ikengboju Dele Gboluga over all the issues raised above and among other related offences.

"The commission should investigate the motive of converting the construction of community hall in Ode Irele to an event centre. The commission should investigate why he got money for the construction of modern sport and event centre in his home town but only built an event centre there without talking about the sports centre.

"ICPC should investigate to know who owns the bank account details to be credited by users of the event centres?

"On the purchase receipt, we are aware he has already directed the contractors to go and get a new receipt, not in his name but in the name of the said contractor having got a hint of this petition. ICPC should please ask questions on the purchase receipt of all the assets bought for the two event centres to know who bought what?”

 

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Governor Kayode Fayemi

The Governor of Ekiti State, Olukayode Fayemi, has formally declared his intention to run for the 2023 presidency.

SaharaReporters had on Tuesday reported that Fayemu would on Wednesday, unveil his intention to run for the 2023 Presidency.

Governor Kayode Fayemi

This had been made known in a tweet by the state Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Akin Oyebode.

In the one-minute video tweeted by Oyebode, Fayemi unveiled his Nigeria agenda ahead of the 2023 general election.

A voice-over in the video noted, “The Nigeria of our dream is possible; a Nigeria that is responsive to the yearnings of her citizens; a Nigeria that is the pride and joy of all; a Nigeria that will be great. There is a path to Nigeria's greatness. Together, let's work on Nigeria's unfinished greatness.”

The Ekiti Governor joins the pool of other Presidential hopefuls from the APC.

The former governor of Lagos State and National Leader of the party, Bola Tinubu broke the ice in January and declared his intention to run for the presidency when he visited President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Villa, Abuja.

The Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, followed suit, and in a similar fashion, visited Buhari to inform him of his intention to run for the coveted number one position in the country.

It did not take long for others like a former governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Kalu; ex-governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha; Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State; and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, to declare their interest in the presidency on the platform of the APC.

Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo has also joined the race.

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Russia said Wednesday it will ban the entry of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and many of his Cabinet members as part of Moscow's punitive measures against Tokyo's response to the war in Ukraine.
The entry ban, announced by Russia's Foreign Ministry, Kyoto News reports, targets 63 Japanese citizens, also including Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi and Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno.

The ministry accused the Japanese government of launching an "unprecedented anti-Russian campaign with unacceptable rhetoric" against Moscow.
Executives of Japanese media organizations and university professors were also included in the list released by the ministry.
With the United States and European countries, Japan has implemented a number of sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, including freezing the assets of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his subordinates.

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A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant, Farah Dagogo, who has been in police custody since last Thursday has been taken to the hospital.

The police had arrested Dagogo on the order of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers.

Wike had asked the police to arrest the lawmaker representing Degema/Bonny Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives over activities related to cultism.

He was arrested by a team of police officers at about 6:30pm on Thursday when he went for his screening at the south-south zonal office of the PDP in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

Journalists were, however, barred by the fully armed security operatives from covering the arrest of the governorship aspirant who is a beneficiary of the Federal Government’s amnesty granted to militants in the Niger Delta.

In calling for his arrest, Wike had accused Dagogo of hiring cultists to attack the PDP secretariat in Port Harcourt.

According to him, the cultists allegedly hired by the lawmaker stormed the PDP secretariat and disrupted the screening of aspirants for various elective positions.

In a statement by his media aide, Ibrahim Lawal, Dagogo complained of stomach and chest complications before he was taken to the hospital by the police where he is now receiving treatment.

The statement on Wednesday reads, “Hon. Doctor Farah Dagogo has been taken to the hospital by the Police. He complained of stomach and chest complications. He is receiving treatment now. Update will be given as the situation goes on.”

 

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The police have detained one of its personnel, Naomi Danlami, an Abuja-based police sergeant, following suspicions that she faked her own kidnap to extort ransom from well-wishers to fund her wedding.

According to FIJ, on April 18, Danlami had announced her engagement on Facebook, but the next day, reports of her abduction were made on a Facebook group she belonged to.

However, when the policewoman’s family called her phone number, her supposed abductors said they didn’t want money but just wanted to kill her.

“Some of her friends in various social media groups started posting about raising funds for her, saying it would make her abductors free her,” a source said.

“During the fundraising exercise, there were dissenting voices who expressed doubts about the abduction story. Some of her colleagues said she had a history of criminal behaviour; they said she was not truthful, not to be trusted, and that her lifestyle was wayward.”

As efforts to secure her release intensified, Usman Baba-Alkali, the Inspector-General of Police, ordered the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) to fish out Danlami’s abductors.

When the IRT got to work, they revealed her last known location to be somewhere in Nasarawa State.

Danlami would suddenly appear on Saturday, claiming she escaped from the kidnappers’ den where she was molested.

She was reported to have insisted on returning to work as though nothing happened, to the surprise of those around her, consequently raising suspicion from the Force Headquarters.

“We all thought that if she was kidnapped and molested in addition, the first thing for her to do was go to a hospital for examination and possible treatment, not to show up at work straightaway,” said the source.

Danlami went to work, and the IRT detained her as they continued their investigation into the matter.

An audio by a policewoman who, in addition to knowing Danlami, helped with the fundraising accused her of causing her discomfort during the supposed kidnap, only to turn out it was staged.

She said, “See suffer wey I suffer. Do you know that the kidnappers called; they are not kidnappers. It is set up, this girl just set [it] up; she needs money. That girl is wicked, see the wey I just de cry since.”

The IRT eventually released Danlami on Tuesday, according to the source, but the circumstances of her release remain unknown.

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The European Union has declared its plan to place a total ban on the Russian oil embargo, banning the import of crude oil in the next six months and refined oil products by the end of 2022, New York Times reports.

This was made known by the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, who presented the broad outlines of a new, sixth package of E.U. sanctions against Russia.

“Finally, we now propose a ban on Russian oil. Let´s be clear: it will not be easy. But we simply have to work on it. We will make sure that we phase out Russian oil in an orderly fashion. To maximise pressure on Russia, while minimising the impact on our economies,” von der Leyen said in a tweet.

The move came as the United States and its allies were also trying to capitalise on Russia’s slow progress on the battlefield by escalating their efforts to weaken its military and tip the war’s balance toward Ukraine.

The United States and Britain have been sending a stream of increasingly powerful arms, and Russia’s Nordic neighbours — Finland and Sweden — are inching closer to joining NATO.

 

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Another popular Nollywood actor, David Osagie, has died hours after leaving a movie set.

According to actress, Ibiwari Etuk, who took to her official Instagram post in the early hours of Wednesday, Osagie wasn’t sick.

Another source said he only slept and never woke up.

“Good morning fam; I hate to say this but we have lost another Nollywood king, Sir David. He wasn’t sick, it just happened. How do we explain this, another loss in Nollywood? Oh Lord have mercy,” the source said.

Confirming the incident another Nollywood Actress, Ibiwari Etuk, said they were on the movie set together on Tuesday only for him to retire to his room.

She wrote, “This can’t be explained o. He filmed yesterday o; went back to rest hoping to resume shoot today but never woke up. Another king role interpreter is gone. What is this, God?”

Osagie Ogbeosamudia David is also a scriptwriter, producer and professional talent developer.

He was born on October 1, 1968 and is survived by wife and children.

 

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Pastor Leke Adeboye, son of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, on Wednesday, wrote a tribute to mark the first anniversary of the death of his elder brother, Dare.

Taking to his Instagram status, Leke uploaded the photo of Dare with the caption, “One-year remembrance, with love from Leke Adeboye.”

Dare, the third child of the revered cleric, died on May 4, 2021, in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, where he was based with his family.

Married to Temiloluwa, the deceased was father to three daughters and the Assistant Pastor in charge of Region (Youth) 35 before his death.

During the April 2022 Holy Ghost Service of the church, 80-year-old Adeboye recounted how he got over his “deep sorrow” caused by the death of Dare.

According to the octogenarian preacher, a text message from one of his spiritual daughters turned the tide following the death of his 42-year-old son in 2021.

Adeboye had also stressed that God loves him despite the loss of his son.

He had said, “When I lost my son last year (2021), then I was deeply in sorrow, I got a text (message) from one of my (spiritual) daughters that suddenly turned the tide. What she wrote was simply this: Daddy, let God carry you.”

It had earlier been reported that RCCG took disciplinary measures against Leke last month for labelling some pastors in the mission “goats.”

Leke had accused the pastors of preaching after his dad’s sermon, as all parishes of the church weren’t supposed to entertain any sermon on first Sundays after the GO’s sermon was broadcast live.

Leke subsequently apologised and craved the forgiveness of the pastors, saying his statement was not intended to insult or malign them.

Adeboye, who has been married to his wife, Folu, for over 50 years, has been RCCG’s general overseer for over 40 years. The couple birthed four biological children including Dare and Leke.

 

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The Academic Staff Union of Universities has called out the Minister of State for Education and presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, asking him to explain how he was able to raise N100million for the party's nomination form.

Speaking with journalists on Tuesday, the Chairman, ASUU Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State, Socrates Ebo, said the minister ought to be under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission or the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission as to the source of the money.

He said in serious climes, Nwajiba should be making some explanations to anti-graft agencies.

”It is a shame that a serving junior minister of education will boldly declare that he is starving university lecturers all over the nation for daring to ask that the education system in the country be improved.

“Truly, you can’t shame the shameless. Since when has demanding for the improvement of education in the country become an offence? This is a very sad low in the annals of our country. Indeed, charlatans have taken charge of our affairs.

“The Minister of Education should be educated that lecturers’ duties include: community service, teaching and research. As we speak, lecturers all over the country are engaged in research and community service.

“The strike is a last resort in the attempt to make a reason-deaf government improve facilities in our public universities, pay lecturers a living wage and stop the frittering away of the nation’s dwindling resources through IPPIS. What part of this demand is a crime?

“The minister who is putting up a show of pretending to attempt to lead the country should rather tell Nigerians how he came by a whooping sum of N100m to purchase his party’s nomination form when his legitimate salary is less than a million naira in a month.

“If this were a serious country, he should be making some explanations to ICPC and EFCC by now. Unfortunately, we are in a season of absurdities. Those who previously declared that no serious government would ever allow lecturers to go on strike are now not only forcing lecturers into strike but are also starving them on top of that. What an irony of history! It is well with Nigeria.”

ASUU embarked on a four-week warning strike on February 14.

On March 14, the union extended the industrial action by another two months to allow the government to meet all of its demands.

The academics are seeking improved welfare, revitalisation of public universities and academic autonomy among other demands.

One bone of contention for the academics is the non-payment of university revitalisation funds, which amounts to about N1.1trillion.

But the Nigerian Government has said it doesn’t have the money to pay such an amount, citing low oil prices during the current administration of Muhammadu Buhari.

The agreement was reportedly struck in 2009.

Another is the issue of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

The academics have proposed an alternative payroll system, the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS).

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Lagos State First Lady, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu has appealed to all stakeholders in the education sector to work towards resolving the prolonged strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). 

She described the situation as a ticking time bomb that must be urgently addressed and advised youths to shun ungodly, immoral and bestial acts. 

There have been recent reports about Nigerian women sleeping with animals in Dubai, UAE and Lekki, Lagos for money. 
 
Mrs Sanwo-Olu spoke at a special Eid-El-Fitr celebration hosted by the Lagos State first family and the state government held at Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja to commemorate the end of Ramadan, a statement by Olubukonla Nwonah, Assistant Director, Public Affairs Office of the Lagos First Lady said. 


“Our children need to go back to school. It is a ticking time bomb when our children sit at home doing nothing. The devil will find work for the idle hands. Our children, those in the universities, sitting down at home for two months is not a plus for us and so anytime we have the opportunity, we as parents, especially mothers, should continue speaking up.
 
“The federal universities are shut down as a result of the ASUU strike. We plead and plead that God will help us to resolve this issue. I don’t feel comfortable that the students are at home and whatever it takes, all hands must be on deck to ensure that they go back to school,” she said.    
 
Mrs Sanwo-Olu also admonished the youth to shun all ungodly, immoral, and bestial acts, just as she urged parents to pay closer attention to issues affecting their children.
 
“As we bask in the euphoria of this sacred celebration, it is also important to seize the opportunity of this spiritual exercise to admonish our children and youths to shun all ungodly, immoral, and bestial acts.
 
“As parents and guardians too, we must lead by example and pay closer attention to the totality of what concerns our children and wards. It is okay to intrude into their privacy and ensure that we guide them on the right path.
 
“More importantly, let us be their true and sincere friends so that we can earn their trust and confidence to discuss anything and everything with us. That way, we have the unique opportunity to put things right,” she said.
 
She said beyond Ramadan, it was important for people to imbibe and sustain the principles of the holy month which among others include peace, kindness, compassion, and happy co-existence.

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Nigeria's Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, has opened a new hotel, “The Azbir” in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State.

The hotel is another addition to the numerous multi-billion naira properties owned by the minister.

SaharaReporters gathered that the sprawling edifice is located along Sani Abacha Byepass, Birnin-Kebbi.

“The Azbir hotel was launched today, there were supposed to do opening ceremony, but because of the recent pressure that they got from media for the cars he gave out to people, they canceled the opening ceremony. But it’s opened already,” a source told SaharaReporters on Tuesday evening.

This is coming a few days after the minister distributed over 100 exotic cars to ruling All Progressives Congress members ahead of the party’s governorship primary in Kebbi State.

Malami had last Thursday declared interest in the Kebbi State governorship race.

Exotic vehicles such as Toyota Prado, Lexus, Toyota Hilux, and Mercedes-Benz vehicles were given to them during the weekend.

Malami, a lawyer from Kebbi State who was hardly known before 2015 when he was appointed into the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, is today one of the richest men in Nigeria.

In 2020, a series of detailed investigations carried out by SaharaReporters showed that Malami had acquired several properties whose value run into many billions of naira since being appointed into the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari as Nigeria’s chief law officer.

For example, the AGF has an underground hotel in Sokoto, three houses at Peace Estate, Abuja, a brand new state-of-the-art school in Kebbi, two houses for his sons worth N100m each and a new hotel under construction in the Jabi area of Abuja.

Malami also bought a house this year worth N150million in the Gwarimpa area of Abuja.

The newly constructed school is located at the back of NITEL in Gesse Phase 1, Birnin Kebbi, while a new house worth N600m on Ahmadu Bello Way, Nasarawa GRA, Kano, are among properties acquired by Malami since he became a minister under President Buhari.

The houses he built for his sons in Kebbi are 200 metres apart in a posh part of the city.

That is not all. Malami also built a N3billion multipurpose event centre in Kebbi State named Azbir Arena for his son in Kebbi.

The facility is said to be an entertainment centre with a plaza and kids playing section and an ongoing hotel all in one place.

This is apart from Rayhaan Hotel located on Zaria Road, opposite Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, which the AGF massively upgraded using proceeds of corruption.

Ever since SaharaReporters published a series of detailed reports exposing these illicit acquisitions, the online news medium has been a target for the AGF’s camp.

Apart from falsely claiming to have sued SaharaReporters over the expository reports he said had damaged his reputation before the world, Malami also issued a petition to the former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, on the issue to arrest the Publisher of the online newspaper, Omoyele Sowore.

Despite these questionable acquisitions, 53-year-old Malami continues to portray a saintly stance in the Buhari government whose fight against corruption has been called into serious question in recent times.

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