A civil society, Revolutionary Socialist Movement (RSM), has accused the Nigerian government of being responsible for the perpetual collapse of the national power grid.

The group said that the gross embezzlement of funds meant for the upgrade of the country’s power sector by corrupt appointees and profiteers had thrown Nigerians into darkness.

The RSM in a statement made available to SaharaReporters on Tuesday lamented that despite the huge amount of money that had been pumped into the sector, the national grid was still struggling to generate 5,000 megawatts, when its installed capacity was 12,522 megawatts.

The group in the statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Salako Kayode, said, “The Revolutionary Socialist Movement (RSM) protests against the continued failure of the state and the private sector to secure electricity as a basic human right to all Nigerian citizens.

“We consider the Nigerian ruling class, which is thirsty for more and more profits, to blame for this collapse of the power sector. This is despite the huge amounts of money that are spent by different administrations to support the private sector in energy production and distribution.

“In fact, billions of naira of public funds was used to bail out the different companies in the power sector. N6billion released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) were mismanaged and the same happened with other distribution and generation companies.

“To us, the Nigerian power sector has suffered from massive corruption and manipulation by many appointees and profiteers in the last 61 years. This was possible because of the lack of accountability and transparency in the system.”

The RSM also argued that the privatization of Nigeria’s power sector has also made it difficult for Nigerians to have 24-hour electricity supply.

“That is the main reason why 43% of Nigerians don’t have access to electricity, so they are forced to rely on solar power, power banks and generators. The country ranks 171 out of 190 nations in terms of access to electricity, according to the World Bank.

“As we speak, Nigeria power plants stations can’t generate up to 5,000 megawatts, when its grid has an installed capacity of 12,522 megawatts. The organisation of this system has obviously failed; it only continues to work for the sake of the profits of those involved,” RSM stated.

Energy News AddThis :  Original Author :  Saharareporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media, has attacked the General Overseer of the Living Faith Church, popularly known as Winners Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo for describing President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration as the most corrupt in Nigeria’s history.
 
Oyedepo had while speaking during a recent programme in his church lamented the level of hardship in the country, attributing it to corruption.

He had said the N80 billion allegedly stolen by the Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, would be enough to meet the demands of the striking university lecturers, Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.

The industrial action has grounded public universities for four months.

“Everything causing heaviness to people is attached to vengeance. Many children are out of school, there is nothing to pay to get them back to school. We saw some folks in Covenant University that we had to help out to graduate. First-class students can’t get N30,000 to pay under this wicked, selfish, self-centred government,” the cleric had claimed.
 
“What a fight against corruption? You were all deceived. You can’t be in corruption and be fighting corruption. The most corrupt regime in the history of Nigeria.
 
“You heard of the Auditor General… N80 billion. All they need to get the university up and running is less than the N80 billion but they are not interested because their children are not there.
 
“Thank you, Jesus, God has a reason, the light shall be liberated. The nation shall be recused in the name of Jesus.”
 
Reacting in a tweet on Tuesday, Adesina claimed Oyedepo didn’t get his facts right as he has been blinded by hatred for Buhari.
 
“The bishop at Ota can’t even get his facts right. Blinded by hatred for PMB, he says Auditor General stole N80bn. Pity!
 
“He doesn’t know difference between Accountant General (only alleged) and Auditor General. Like OBJ said long ago, we should begin to ordain our own bishops,” he tweeted.

Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  Saharareporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

Suspected terrorists have reportedly attacked a community in Kastina State and kidnapped eight persons in the early hours of Tuesday.

According to Daily Post, the gunmen stormed Shola Quarters behind the Federal Medical Centre in the city capital, Katsina, around 4am on motorcycles.

However, no casualty was recorded during the terrorists' operation; some residents meanwhile got injured while trying to escape.

The Spokesperson of the state police command, SP Gambo Isah, also confirmed the incident.

He identified the abducted persons – all residents of Shola Quarters – as; Tanimu Adamu, Abdullahi Isiya, Isiya Rabiu, Ibrahim Adamu, Mannir Jayi and a woman who is yet to be identified.

But, Gambo noted that one of the kidnapped victims, Mannir Jayi, had escaped from the abductors' den and was helping the police with the investigations.

Insecurity Terrorism News AddThis :  Original Author :  Saharareporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe from Abia South senatorial district and Yahaya Abdullahi representing Kebbi North senatorial district have formally resigned their positions as the minority and majority leaders of the Senate respectively.
 
The announcement was made by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan while reading their resignation letters at the resumption of plenary on Tuesday.

The two principal officers resigned following their defection from the party platforms on which they were elected as senators.
 
Abaribe dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), while Abdullahi defected to PDP from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
 
“Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe decamped from the PDP to APGA. He also has resigned his position as Minority Leader of this chamber,” Lawan said.
 
Also, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi, in his resignation letter, said he left APC due to a lack of internal democracy in the party.
 
“Politics is local. I can’t continue to work for the government at the centre while my people are wallowing in abject poverty.
 
“After failing to get justice in APC, I have moved to the PDP,” Senator Abdullahi said.
 
The letter of Senator Adamu Aliero (Kebbi), announcing his defection from APC to PDP, was also read on the floor of the Senate.
 
However, Senate Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu, had recently clarified how the Senate would fill the vacant Majority and Minority Leaders’ posts following the defection of the two senators.
 
Kalu, in a statement issued in Abuja, said the posts would be filled soonest, adding that the respective party caucuses were expected to nominate replacements and convey their choices to the Senate President who would then announce the appointments.

Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  Saharareporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has sent a warning to the Christian community in the South-East about plots by the Fulani herdsmen to attack churches in the region.

The spokesperson of the group, Emma Powerful, who made this known in a statement, affirmed that the herders had already infiltrated commercial cities in the South-East.

Emma Powerful, who disclosed that the information was obtained by the M-branch of IPOB, claimed that part of the plot by the herdsmen was to disguise as Christians and worship in churches but their aim would be to attack the worshippers.

He explained that all markets in South-East were also targets of the invaders, just as he advised that the locations should be adequately protected.

He said, “Churches must introduce tighter and properly detailed security measures, and return home early. We advise Christians and other religious leaders to sit up, be at alert and be security conscious as strange seeming worshippers of non-Igbo ethnicity would infiltrate their midst to commit havoc.

“They must be on the lookout for Fulani persons that may come to join them in pretence as converted Christians; do not also be deceived into thinking that Fulani don’t speak Igbo, dress like Igbo and behave like indigenes because they do.

“So many of them were born and brought up in Igbo land and they know not just all nooks and crannies, they also understand all events and their seasons. These terrorists and bandits have flooded Biafra land especially the commercial cities like Aba, others in Abia State where Pastor (William) Kumuyi had chosen for his aborted crusade.

“They parade themselves as having converted to Christianity and are being rejected by their Muslim families in the North, which for us is “tragedy waiting to happen”.

“They now attach Christian names to their names as religious tricks to have you accept them. Examples Emmanuel Kabiru Sule, Mathew Christian Shehu, John Lewis Katsina and others.

“They tell very pathetic stories that touch the hearts of people of conscience like the Igbos, please don’t allow them they are terrorists and bandits. Christians in Biafraland should know that they are the next target and they must take absolute security precautions as their plans are deadlier than can be imagined.

“All markets leaders are advised to beef up their securities because markets, where our people stay and do business, are another important target for Fulani bandits they have encircled everywhere but they will fail and nobody should entertain fear because IPOB/ESN is waiting for them, however, be sure to take precautionary measures.

“Dangers ahead are too enormous, be ready for what is to come, Biafrans, and report suspected movements to IPOB offices around you, we must bring them down; they will not succeed.” 

Insecurity News AddThis :  Original Author :  Saharareporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

A Kano High Court has fixed July 28 for judgment in the case of a school proprietor, Abdulmalik Tanko, who was charged with the alleged kidnap and murder of Hanifa Abubakar.
 
Abubakar is a five-year-old student of the school who was reported missing after she was abducted by Tanko and subsequently found dead.  

Upon arrest, the Kano State Government slammed five counts bordering on criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, confinement and culpable homicide against Abdulmalik and his accomplices, Hashimu Isyaku, and Fatima Musa.
 
However, they all pleaded not guilty to the charges, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
 
Justice Usman Na’abba subsequently fixed the date after the Defence and Prosecution Counsel adopted their final written addresses.
 
Before closing defence, defence counsel, Hasiya Muhammad had prayed the court to consider the defendants and discharge them.
 
“We urge the court to adopt our written addresses as our oral argument in this case,” she said.
 
The prosecution counsel, Deputy Director Public Prosecution (DPP), Rabi Ahmad, in her final written addresses dated and filed June 6, prayed the court to convict and sentence the three defendants as charged.
 
Ahmad argued that the second defendant (Isyaku) is standing trial for concealing a dead body contrary to the provisions of Section 277 of the Penal Code and punishable with death under Section 274(b).
 
“We urge the court to note the content of exhibit 12 (confessional statement) of the second defendant for burying late Hanifa’s corpse,” he said.

Legal News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

The Ogun State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of two Christian worshippers at Celestial Church of Christ, Oshofa Parish at Wasimi, Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State during a vigil on Tuesday.

According to the state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, the suspected terrorists attacked the church and abducted two worshippers identified as; Oluwaseun Ajose, an Assistant Shepherd of the parish, and Dagunro Ayobami who was said to be a Sunday School Teacher.

“There was a kidnapping incident there, while they were having a vigil. Some kidnappers stormed the church and kidnapped some people. But as we are talking now, we are on their trail,” the police spokesperson told SaharaReporters on Tuesday.

The incident was also confirmed by the Shepherd of the church, Oluwatomisin Ehuwaojomo, who revealed that the abductors called him and demanded a ransom of N50million for the release of the two church workers.

He described the incident as sudden, and sought the support of the police and other security agencies in rescuing the victims.

He said, “When my Assistant Shepherd called me almost two hours after they left, the kidnappers refused to speak with me twice. But on his third attempt, they spoke with me and demanded N50million ransom.

“I told them that, I am a servant of God, nobody pays me a salary. I have spoken with the Ogun State Commissioner of Police. The command is on the matter.”

Insecurity News AddThis :  Original Author :  Saharareporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

The Nigerian Army has warned its personnel to desist from partisan politics while providing enabling and secured environment for the forthcoming 2023 general elections.

The army authorities said the military had prepared “Operation Safe Conduct” for the 2023 elections and to maintain sanity in the electoral processes.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya on Tuesday stated this while speaking at the opening of the 2nd quarter Chief of Army Staff’s conference at the command officers’ mess Asokoro Abuja.

The Army Chief said he had directed the review of Rules of Engagement and Code of Conduct for the coming Operation Safe Conduct.

Yahaya said, “At this juncture, let me hasten to remind us that the nation is currently preparing for general elections. All personnel must remain apolitical while providing enabling and secured environment for electoral processes to thrive. In this regard, I directed the review of Rules of Engagement and Code of Conduct for Operation SAFE CONDUCT and the approved guidelines would be conveyed to you soon.

“The Nigerian Army will continue to enhance its Civil- Military relations efforts and provide the necessary support in aid of the civil authority.

“Few months ago, in my First Quarter Conference closing remarks, I affirmed that the Nigerian Army remains resolute and committed to squarely confront the myriad of security challenges bedeviling the country. Accordingly, we have continued to sustain the tempo of our operation against all forms of criminalities in collaboration with our sister Services and other security agencies.

“The level of cooperation and professionalism exhibited by our sister Services and other security agencies in furtherance of this effort has been heartwarming. This has led to the achievement of several successes across various theatres of operation in the country.

“The current efforts by our foreign partners in bringing relevant and mission-oriented training to our personnel are yielding the desired results. The positive feedback on the effect of the training from RESTORE HOPE 1 and II and PROJECT STINGER in the theatres of operation since the deployment of the trainees is encouraging.

 

“Accordingly, we shall continue to devote premium attention to our training activities as this remains the best welfare for our troops and fundamental requirement for successful operations.”

Military News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

Caroline Anne Cox, a cross-Bench Member of the British House of Lords says Christians are being persecuted and killed in Nigeria.

The lawmaker disclosed this in London, United Kingdom at the Glory Conference of Dunamis International Gospel Centre.

The event held at Excel Centre London, an exhibition and international convention centre in the Custom House area of Newham, East London.

Cox, who was also a Baroness-in-Waiting to Queen Elizabeth II, is founder Chancellor of Bournemouth University.

She was the Chancellor of Liverpool Hope University from 2006-2013. Currently, she is the Honorary Vice President of the Royal College of Nursing.

The 85-year-old lawmaker also condemned the June 4 terrorists’ attack on St Francis Catholic Church in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State.

Gunmen had attacked the church located on Owa-Luwa Street in Owo, the hometown of the State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, leaving many parishioners dead and several others injured.

“As you sadly know, many Christians are being killed, just as it happened last week in Owo in Ondo State. The targeting and killing of Christians on unproven allegations continue to expand and the repression and intimidation of Christians in public continue to grow. You are a people of wonderful faith and courage, we love you, we stand with you,” Cox said.

Insecurity News AddThis :  Original Author :  Saharareporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

File photo used to illustrate story.

The Nigerian government has lost its $1.7 billion claims against JP Morgan Chase Bank over the transfer of proceeds from the sale of OPL 245 in 2011.
 
The government had sued JP Morgan on the grounds of “Quincecare duty”, alleging that the bank “ought to have known” that there was corruption and fraud in the transaction which saw Malabu sell its 100 per cent in OPL 245 to Shell and ENI for $1.1 billion.

File photo used to illustrate story.

The Malabu scandal involved the transfer of about $1.1 billion through the Nigerian government to accounts controlled by a former Nigerian Petroleum Minister, Dan Etete.
 
From accounts controlled by Etete, about half the money ($520 million) went to accounts of companies controlled by Aliyu Abubakar, popularly known in Nigeria as the owner of AA oil.
 
Anti-corruption investigators and activists suspect he fronted for top officials of the Goodluck Jonathan administration as well of officials of Shell and ENI.
 
The transaction was authorised in 2011 by ex-president Jonathan through some of his cabinet ministers and the money was payment for OPL 245, one of Nigeria’s richest oil blocks.
 
The oil resources of the OPL 245 license have remained undeveloped since the controversies began.
 
In the judgement delivered on Tuesday, the Business and Property Courts of England and Wales Commercial Court said there was no proof that Nigeria was defrauded in the deal.
 
Judge Sara Cockerill said that by the time of the 2013 payments, the bank was on notice of a risk of fraud, Bloomberg reports.
 
“There was a risk – but it was, on the evidence, no more than a possibility based on a slim foundation.
 
“The Federal Republic of Nigeria is naturally disappointed by the outcome of the judgment and will be reviewing it carefully before considering next steps.
 
“The FRN will continue its fight against fraud and corruption and to work to recover funds for the people of Nigeria.
 
“This judgment reflects our commitment to acting with high professional standards in every country we operate in, and how we are prepared to robustly defend our actions and reputation when they are called into question,” JPMorgan said in a statement.
 
The Nigerian government had earlier argued that there were enough “red flags” for JP Morgan to have halted the transfers.
 
However, the bank rejected Nigeria’s claims, maintaining that all due processes were followed and money laundering checks were done, arguing that allegations of fraud only came up after a new government took over in Nigeria.
 

Legal News AddThis :  Original Author :  Saharareporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Muhammad Bello, has sworn in the newly elected chairmen and councillors of the six area councils of the FCT.
The long awaited event took place on Tuesday inside the Cyprian Ekwensi Centre for Arts and Culture in Garki, Abuja, amid tight security.

The event was held following an order of the FCT High Court by Justice Mohammed Ibrahim, who set aside the judgment given in favour of tenure elongation for the immediate past chairmen and their councilors.
The court had consequently ordered the immediate swearing-in of the newly elected chairmen and their councillors.
Before now, specifically on May 18, 2022, residents of FCT received a judgment from the FCT High Court in Kubwa suspending the swearing-in of the elected chairmen and the councillors, which generated confusion, and prompted the legal team of the FCTA to seek redress of the judgment in court.
While delivering a fresh judgment on Tuesday, Justice Mohammed clarified that it was clear that some mistakes were made and a judgment was entered, which brought a lot of issues concerning the elongation of the tenure of the outgoing chairmen in the six area councils.
Mohammed further held that in his wisdom, he had vacated that first judgment that was given by him and thereby directed that “the area council chairmen who were elected and issued a certificate of return should be sworn into office” by the FCT Minister.
 

Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

A Federal High Court Sitting in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, has struck out a suit challenging the making and validity of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria for lack of jurisdiction and locus standi.
The apex body of Yoruba self-determination movement, Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, had in the suit questioned the composition of the constitution.

But in his ruling on Tuesday, Justice Banji Ikuewumi dismissed the suit.
The judge ruled on the case despite the fact that the Respondents in the case, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were yet to file a defence statement nor appear in court since the inception of the case.
Ikuewumi declared that INEC and AGF were not based nor situated in Ekiti State even though they carry on business in Ado Ekiti; therefore, the case ought to be instituted at the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court.
He also ruled that the six Plantifs who instituted the suit on behalf of Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide did not show sufficient proof that the 1999 constitution of Nigeria and that the conduct of Ekiti Governorship Election affected them in anyway more than it affected other 2million eligible voters in Ekiti State.
Meanwhile, a statement signed by the Communications Secretary of Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, Maxwell Adeleye, stated that the judge ruled that the six Plantiffs were not enough to represent over two million voters in the suit challenging the 1999 constitution neither were they enough to demand for the Ekiti State Governorship Election to be stopped.
Reacting to the ruling, however, lead counsel to Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, Tolu Babaleye, described the verdict as a miscarriage of justice, and vowed to appeal the judgement.
Babaleye said the judge had turned himself to a father Christmas who now strikes out a suit based on Locus Standi when the respondents had not even appeared in court since the inception of the case in April.
 The Abuja Based Constitutional Lawyer said "the case came up this morning for ruling on issue of forum and locus standi raised suo motu by the Hon. Presiding Judge."
He added, “The court came to conclusion that the six defendants cannot represent the over two million voters in Ekiti, that the Claimants have not shown how they are affected more than other Ekiti people if the election is allowed to go on and if the Constitution is invalidated as they prayed for.
"The court also held that INEC and Attorney General of the Federation are not resident in Ekiti, and as such, the Court in Ado Ekiti is not the appropriate forum for the suit to be instituted.
"Based on these reasons, the court struck out the Ilana case pending at Federal High Court Ado Ekiti this morning. I am taking immediate step to get the ruling, study it and determine the next line of action after due consultations with my Clients.
"But to be specific, we shall appeal against this ruling which, in my opinion, is a miscarriage of justice. The judge should not have turned himself to a Father Christmas, he should have transferred this matter to Abuja insted of striking it out. The struggle continues."

Elections Breaking News News AddThis :  Original Author :  saharareporters, new york Disable advertisements : 

South-East socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has said Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, would lose in the 2023 general elections if he opts for a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Igbo group also said Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, would suffer defeat if he picked his running mate from the South-South region and not the South-East.

According to a statement signed by Okechukwu Isiguzoro, its secretary-general, Ohaneze Ndigbo said the wrong choices of running mates by Atiku and Tinubu would hand Peter Obi of Labour Party victory at the 2023 presidential election.
The group claimed PDP and the APC were currently unsettled over Obi's growing popularity ahead of next year's election.
The statement reads: "There are headaches in the camps of Tinubu and Atiku, as the implications of APC's Muslim -Muslim tickets will be a regrettable doom and PDP's search for a South/South VP will be a catastrophic failure because only a South-East VP will bring fortune to PDP, possibly a South-East serving governor.
"APC and PDP's blunders in their choices for running mates will hand over a resounding victory to the Labour Party Presidential candidate Mr. Peter Obi. Those contemplating the Muslim/Muslim ticket are enemies of APC Presidential candidate Tinubu and those who are projecting the Delta Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa to Atiku Abubakar are giving away Atiku's last chance to win the 2023 Presidential election because Delta will lose both sides of the presidential and governorship elections in Delta State.
"The merging arrangements between the Labour Party and New Nigeria People's Party will strengthen the chances of Obi/ Kwankwaso occupying Aso Rock. The headache for the Labour Party is never to accept the Vice Presidential position for Obi, any arrangements that would see Obi as a running mate to Kwankwaso will end the popularity of the Labour Party. Obi is the New Nigeria's candidate and Kwakwaso is a regional champion who should serve as the running mate.”

  Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  Saharareporters, new York Disable advertisements : 

Two co-defendants of the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abba Kyari in a suit filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over alleged cocaine deal have been sentenced to two years’ imprisonment by a Federal High Court in Abuja.
The judgement, which was delivered on Tuesday by Justice Emeka Nwite, noted that having admitted to committing the offence preferred against them in counts 5, 6 and 7 by the NDLEA, Chibunna Umeibe and Emeka Ezenwanne, who are 6th and 7th defendants, “are thereby found guilty and convicted accordingly.”

Hence, the trial court sentenced them to two years imprisonment on each of counts 5, 6 and 7, stating that the terms, which shall run concurrently, would commence from the day the defendants were arrested by the NDLEA.
Recall that the two defendants, Umeibe and Ezenwanne, who are 6th and 7th defendants respectively in the matter, were arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu by the Nigerian police and handed over to the NDLEA for drug trafficking. 
During the trial they pleaded guilty to five, six and seven counts preferred against them by the anti-narcotic agency and prayed for a plea bargain before the court.
This was stated by counsel for the NDLEA, Sunday Joseph who revealed that two motions seeking a plea bargain in respect of Umeibe and Ezenwanne had been filed.
Joseph said the motions, dated June 13, were filed on June 14.
The lawyer of the two defendants, E. U. Okenyi, also concurred with Joseph’s submission.
Also, counsel for other defendants, including Kyari, did not oppose the motions.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported that Kyari and his men unlawfully tampered with 21.25kg worth of cocaine.
Umeibe and Ezenwanne were accused of conspiring with others at large to import 21.35kg of cocaine into the country.
The suspended police chief was remanded in the custody of the NDLEA after attempting to bribe an official of the agency with $61,000 to facilitate the release of seized cocaine.
Kyari had also been accused of committing wire fraud, money laundering and identity theft and is wanted by the US government.

  News AddThis :  Original Author :  Saharareporters, new York Disable advertisements : 

The Nigeria Police Force, Anambra command, has arrested a woman and three men among the “unknown gunmen” terrorising the South-East region.
The suspects were nabbed by operatives of the Neni Police Division in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State who killed one of the gunmen and arrested the four others including the woman.

In a video seen by SaharaReporters, the criminals were arrested with different guns, police shoes, a belt and a beret, Biafran flag and charms.
They reportedly engaged the police operatives who intercepted them while they were on a kidnapping operation.
In the video, one of the police officers who did not mention his name said that there was no casualty from the side of the police but that one of the gunmen was gunned down during the shootout.
The police officer said, “These are the unknown gunmen we encountered. They kidnapped someone yesterday and we went after them and in the course of exchanging fire, we were able to gun down this guy by name, Sam Olowo.

Unknown Gunmen becomes known as Security personnel arrested them including a female among them terrorizing the South East. pic.twitter.com/jvUBp8jP5I

— Mobilisingnigerians™ (@mobilisingniger) June 13, 2022
“These are the other one. They are all members of unknown gunmen that did the kidnapping and these are their arms alongside with the Biafra flag, charms, pot of charm, police shoes, belt, berate.
“These are good works done by members of Five PMF alongside the Neni Division. Operation was successful, no casualty on our side.”

The Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, has yet to officially make a statement on the arrest.

 

  News AddThis :  Original Author :  Saharareporters, new York Disable advertisements : 

There was a mild drama in the Victoria Garden City (VGC) axis of Lagos State after a man and lady believed to be his lover took to the street naked.
In a now-viral video, seen by SaharaReporters, passersby confirmed that the duo were under the influence of hard drugs.

Some residents were also seen trying to stop them and find out what went wrong but the man and his lover kept walking around naked.
Although there was no evidence of what led to their strange behaviour, another group of witnesses attributed their walking naked to a ritual.
The incident happened on Sunday night.
In a note shared by one of the witnesses, woman is from the United States of America and came to Nigeria only last October.
According to the note, the pair were said to have attempted to kill themselves under the influence of the hard drugs.
The witness added that it took the intervention of the VGC security team to rescue them and rush them to a nearby hospital.
The source said, "Dear neighbours, greetings to you, all. Yesterday on our close, at about 11 pm, the Vice-Chairman called my attention to an ugly situation whereby two adults; male and female were seen walking around the estate completely naked," it reads.
"Our estate security and management personnel accosted them and accompanied them to our close (63) where the duo purportedly resided in a BQ. As the case may be, the situation soon got out of hand when both adults slit their writs and necks in what seemed to be a suicide attempt, saying they would die and rise again in three days.
"Further investigation of their BQ apartments revealed some items such as illegal drugs and other substances. They were obviously under the influence of some substances (drug abuse).
"Thank God for the swift response of our management, security and medical team who eventually sedated the victims and took them to the hospital around 12.45am.

"Drug abuse is real. May God help our teens and let us be observant and to report anything that looks out of the ordinary within the neighbourhood. They were going into the 5th dimension ie kill themselves and rise after three days. It took about five hours to get them to the hospital on Saturday night. The girl is a full American that came in from the US in October to experience the 5th dimension with the guy.
"They got home and slit their wrists and necks and their door had to be broken down. The hospital said they were both on Colorado, Canadian Loud, aka Mkpuru Mmiri.”

  News AddThis :  Original Author :  saharareporters, new york Disable advertisements : 

The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) has commenced a one-month strike.
This was contained in a communique signed by COEASU President, Dr. Smart Olugbeko and General Secretary, Dr. Ahmed Bazza Lawan, respectively.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU – the sister lecturers’ union – has been on strike since February 2022, and the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government is still grappling with the meeting of the demands of the university lecturers.
The colleges’ union noted that the strike action suspended by the lecturers in December 2018 will be resumed immediately for four weeks in the first instance.
The lecturers asserted that NEC shall reconvene after the four weeks of strike action to re-assess the level of the government’s commitment on the issues for an appropriate decision on the way forward thenceforth.
According to the statement, the decision was made by the union after a meeting at the Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba in Delta State, on Friday, June 10, where it assessed the level of federal government’s response to its requests, following the expiration of the 21-day ultimatum issued to government on the lingering issues of the industrial concerns.
The statement read in part, “The total strike action suspended by the Union in December 2018 will be resumed immediately for four weeks in the first instance. NEC shall reconvene after the four weeks of strike action to re-assess the level of the Government’s commitment on the issues for an appropriate decision on the way forward thenceforth.
“Every Chapter Congress across the federation should convene on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, to adequately inform the Congress on the commencement of the strike action due to the festering issues and the status of inaction leading to the industrial action.
“Leadership of the Union at all levels (National, Zonal and Chapter) should embark on an emphatic media campaign towards seamless public awareness on the issues leading to the strike action.
“The strike action shall be total and all members of the academic staff in all Colleges of Education (both Federal and State) must withdraw from all statutory duties without exemption.
“All State-owned Colleges already on industrial action to press home local demands should impress on their respective Managements that the local strike shall continue in the unexpected event that their local issues remain unresolved by the end of the nationwide strike.
“Vice Presidents/Zonal Coordinators shall monitor the compliance of Chapters in their respective Zones while defaulting Chapters shall be prevented from enjoying the gains of the struggle and earn themselves other sanctions as NEC shall deem applicable based on normal Union regulations pertaining to Collective Bargaining.”

Education News AddThis :  Original Author :  saharareporters, new york Disable advertisements : 

At least 400 delegates of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State have filed a suit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the party before the Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, the state capital.
The delegates in the suit filed before Justice O.O. Oguntoyinbo of the court alleged disenfranchisement in the party’s recently concluded governorship primary election in the state where Oladipupo Adebutu emerged its candidate, and demanded nullification of the election.

The suit with number FHC/AB/CS/87/22, also has the governorship candidate, Adebutu and three other governorship aspirants including Segun Showunmi, Jimi Lawal and one Abodunrin as respondents.
According to PUNCH, the over 400 “certified delegates” alleged that they were barred from casting their votes at the election held on May 30.
The plaintiffs, Taiwo Idris, Kehinde Akala and Ayinde Monsuru, filed the suit on behalf of the over 400 delegates who emerged from the April 30 Ward Congress.
It was gathered that most of the delegates deposed to the affidavits before the court except the delegates from Ikenne, Sagamu and Remo North Local Government Areas.
According to the delegates, most of them who were barred from voting at the primaries were supporters of Jimi Lawal, one of the contestants who lost in the election.
They noted that they would have cast their votes for the aspirant but the PDP decided to make use of delegates who were not elected to vote at the primaries, describing it as a strategy to install the preferred candidate of some party leaders.
The aggrieved delegates who prayed the court to issue an order for PDP “to conduct fresh Special State Congress where indirect primary election to choose the 2023 governorship election will be held, also alleged that 400 out of the 728 elected ad hoc delegates from all the wards as well as those elected from 20 local government areas as national delegates were not allowed to participate in the election.
“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from further recognising or parading any person or group of persons not elected at the ward congresses held in Ogun State on the 30th of April, 2022 as ad hoc delegates to vote at the indirect primaries for the purpose of choosing the candidate which the 1st Defendant intends to nominate/sponsor at the 2023 Governorship election in Ogun State,” the plaintiff prayed.
However, the court granted an order for substituted service on all the parties and thereafter, fixed June 22 for the return date.
 

Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  saharareporters, new york Disable advertisements : 

Terrorists locally dubbed as bandits have abducted the wife of Usman Baffa Ibeto, the Local Government Chairman of Magama in Niger State.
The chairman, Baffa, is a top member of the ruling All Progressives Congress in the state.

According to reports, Mrs Baffa was abducted from her home in the Tunga area of Minna, the state capital on Sunday, June 12.
The abductors had yet to make contact with the family for ransom.
Just a month ago, there was a similar occurrence when the wife of the APC leader in Oyo State, Adenike Oni-Salawu, was abducted by gunmen.
In her own case, she was said to be kidnapped in front of their Aromolaran house in the Old Ife road area of Ibadan.
She reportedly alighted from her car to open the gate of the house and the gunmen rushed at her and brandished guns and other dangerous objects.

  Insecurity News AddThis :  Original Author :  saharareporters, new york Disable advertisements : 

An Abuja-based businessman identified as Hussaini Aliyu Takuma has been murdered and dumped inside a well around his farm at Jeda village in the Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The Kuje Police Divisional Headquarters, FCT, had on Saturday, exhumed the body of Hussaini, which was taken to the Kuje General Hospital for examination.

The police told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that some suspects had been apprehended and investigation was ongoing.
According to the report, a man, Hassan Takuma, of Area 7, Garki, Abuja, came to Kuje Police Station and reported that on June 2, his brother, Hussaini Aliyu Takuma, 32, of the same address, visited his farm at Jeda in Kuje but did not return home.
The police said on receipt of the complaint, detectives tracked a 20-year-old Umar Mohammed, a worker on the farm and his friend, Ibrahim Yusuf, 18, who were seen at Kabusa on their way to Kano State with 36 stolen rams and six goats.
He said during investigation, it was discovered that the animals belonged to the victim.
The police added that 28-year-old Ephraim Mbaiga, also a worker of the farm, together with all suspects connected to the matter, had been arrested.
The case file was handed over to O/C anti-kidnapping, FCT Command, on the directives of the Commissioner of Police.
The police revealed that Usman Sanu, the farm security guard and his wife had absconded and were still at large, adding that the body of the victim was exhumed in collaboration with the Federal Fire Service, while further investigation was ongoing and would be communicated to the public.
Hussaini who hails from Minna in Niger State graduated from a University in Malaysia and returned to Nigeria where he ventured into livestock.
A source who is close to the family confirmed that Hussaini  last spoke with his sister, that he was heading for his farm at Jeda village in Kuje area council, Abuja.
According to the source, "Soon after making some investigation by the police, an arrest was made and a brother to his gateman was apprehended, after series of investigation.

"The arrested brother told the police that the deceased and his gateman were having a little misunderstanding, as Hussaini was complaining of mismanagement and negligence on duty.”
"Hussaini had told them that if that continued, he might subtract a little amount from his salary. And on that fateful day, Hussaini was on the farm around 1pm. He was believed to be praying when the gateman allegedly struck him with a machete on his neck several times and also stabbed him on his stomach several times.
"Some of Hussaini's livestock was believed to have been taken by the same gateman and brother. But a number of the animals were recovered in a village around Kuje. The gateman is still at large," the source added.
Meanwhile, confirming the incident to SaharaReporters, the FCT Police Command Deputy Public Relations Officer, ASP Oduniyi Omotayo, said arrest has been made in connection with the case.
"The police swung into action deploying investigative apparatus on the complaint. Two suspects who were farm staff to the deceased were later arrested at Kabusa axis while heading for Kano,” he added.

  Insecurity News AddThis :  Original Author :  saharareporters, new york Disable advertisements :