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Showing posts from August, 2020

NUJ TELLS FFK TO PROPERLY DIRECT HIS APOLOGY TO CHARLES EYO AND PRACTITIONERS

 By:  Damian Benson The chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State chapter, Dr. Qasim Akinreti, has implored the National Executive Council (NEC) of the NUJ at the national level to set up a disciplinary committee on journalists that were asking for forgiveness while their colleague was being humiliated by former Minister of Aviation, Mr. Femi Fani Kayode in Cross River State.  The NUJ chairman who is also a lecturer at Nigerian Institute of Journalism called for this action while he was being interrogated via telephone calls by Wemimo Adewuni on Morning CrossFire, Nigeria Info 99.3 FM today, Wednesday 26 August, adding that the humiliation of a journalist is an insult to journalists in general and journalism as a profession.  Dr. Akinreti said he stood by the Daily Trust reporter, Charles Eyo, as he felt that the question he asked Fani Kayode was a probing question which is acceptable in journalism; adding that the former Minister of Aviation should have responded to

FIRE GUTS TWO BANKS ON LAGOS ISLAND

  Agosu Omoleye Firefighters battle the inferno that engulfed two banks in Victoria Island area of Lagos State. Tragedy struck in Lagos State on Wednesday when fire gutted two new generation bank buildings on Ademola Adetokunbo Street in Victoria Island. The cause of the incident is yet to be ascertained. Unconfirmed reports say a fuel tanker laden with was presumably diesel was at the premises of one of the banks to discharge its product. In the process, an explosion from a yet-to-be-identified source occurred, igniting a massive fire, which soon spread to a neighbouring bank’s building. Ad-diction Media  learned that firefighters are currently on ground to put out the blaze. Watch this space for details

VICTORY AT LAST: IGBO LADIES NOW ENTITLED TO INHERITANCE

By: Chima Patrick  Igbo women now have the right to inherit properties from their fathers - This was the decision of the Supreme Court in Lagos state recently - The apex court ruled that the age-long tradition was a discrimination against the female children The Igbo tradition that abominates the right of a female child from benefitting from her father's properties has been void by the Supreme Court. In a recent ruling, the apex court in Nigeria upheld that the Igbo age-long tradition fuels gender discrimination which violates the provisions contained in section42(1)(a) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution. It all started when a Court of Appeal in Lagos ruled that one Gladys Ada Ukeje (daughter of a late Lazarus Ogbonna Ukeje) who was sued by her mother, Chituru and brother, Enyinnaya had a right to demand a portion of her father's inheritance. Xenophobia: Nigerians are worse than South Africans - Comedian Hyenana reacts to ongoing protest in Nigeria Rejecting the verdict, Chituru

TOTALLY REPREHENSIBLE'! NUJ FIRES FFK OVER ATTACK ON COLLEAGUE.

 By: Agosu Omoleye The Nigeria Union of Journalists- NUJ has condemned the gangster-like outburst by Chief Femi Fani Kayode against the Cross River State Correspondent of the Daily Trust Newspaper, Eyo Charles who asked him a simple question which he felt was embarrassing. In his reaction, Kayode assaulted the journalist and threatened him for daring to ask such a question. In a statement by Chris Isiguzo, NUJ President, the body said; "By denigrating the journalist, Fani Kayode has exposed himself the more as an intolerant and unstable person who will not want his activities closely scrutinised by the Media." Isiguzo said; "It is instructive to remind the likes of Fani Kayode that it is the Constitutional right of Journalists to monitor and keep a check on people and institutions in power." He said; "By delving into politics and holding political office, Fani Kayode is very conversant with the watchdog role of the media." "So, for him to have embarke

REACTIONS AS APC SWEEPS ONDO LG POLLS

 By: Agosu Omoleye The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has swept to victory in the Ondo State council polls which held on Saturday. This was disclosed by the Chairman of Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC), Professor Yomi Dinakin. Announcing the results at the commission’s head office on Sunday in Akure, the state capital, Dinakin noted out of the 18 local government areas in the state, there were no elections in five councils. The five local councils include Akoko North-East, Ose, Ifedore, Odigbo and Irele.Only the APC fielded candidates in the local governments, and hence were declared winners. Similarly, the remaining 13 local government areas include: Ese Odo, Akoko South-West, Akure South, Ilaje, Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo, Okitipupa, Ondo West and Akure North.

JAMB FIXES DATE FOR POST UTME COMMENCEMENT

 By: Agosu Omoleye The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has shifted the post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) screening for the 2020 admission processes into universities, polytechnics and colleges of education till September 7. Ishaq Oloyede, the board registrar, announced the new date after a consultative virtual meeting with vice-chancellors, rectors, and provosts of tertiary institutions. He said the shift in the date of the admission process from the earlier announced August 21, was to accommodate candidates who would be taking part in this year’s school-based Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE). According to him, “the view of JAMB is that while we go on consulting at a point when it becomes necessary for the decision, we should all come together and take decisions. “Presently as you are aware, WAEC starts the Senior School Certificate Examination on Aug. 17, it will go on till Sept. 7. “Similarly, on Sept. 2 or thereabout, NABTEB will comm

BREAKING: SENATOR BURUJI KASHAMU GOES HOME

By: Agosu Omoleye Senator Buruji Kashamu is dead! Kashamu, according to sources died as a result of multiple organ failure, after contracting COVID-19. The former lawmaker was moved to First Cardiology hospital after his health condition worsened following his bout with COVID-19. A graduate of the University of Lagos, Kashamu represented Ogun East Senatorial district in the 8th National Assembly. He was the governorship candidate of the PDP in Ogun State in the 2019 general elections. Details to come.

AFUWAPE EMERGES THE BEST PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER OF THE YEAR IN LAGOS PUBLIC SERVICE

By: Seyi Fadoro The Public Affairs Officer of the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and an Associate of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, Mr. Ayodele-Ayomilelyi Afuwape, has emerged as the Lagos State Public Affairs Officer of the year, Senior Staff category for the second time consecutively.   Ayodele-Ayomilelyi who joined the service of the Lagos State Government over 10 years ago was also a one time best officer of the Ministry of Information and Strategy during the 2016 annual Public Service Week celebration.  He is a member of the Editorial Board of Alausa Alert, the official monthly publication by the State Government and the present Financial Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Lagos Information Chapel.  His recent award as the Public Affairs Officer of the year, Senior category was in recognition of his roles in projecting the image of the State Government in the cyberspace and the conventional media through issuance of features ar

EDO STATE DRAMA: WHEN YOU RIDE A TIGER TO THE MARKET.

 By: Agosu Omoleye Friedrich Nietzsche says and I quote: ”A politician divides mankind into two classes: tools and enemies." Obaseki did all he could to arrive at a divide and rule situation, he elicited supports and sympathy from various quarters and played the victim, but he was so much  carried away by the euphoria that he  forgot to cage and discard his enemies. Right now, the ghosts of the past  are back to hunt him. Godwin in his smartness decamped to APC while Obaseki is gradually been forsaken by the one's he called his own.  He has clearly forgotten the words of African elders that's says " if you ride a Tiger to the Market place, the people will be scared truly, but you may end up being the Tiger's much. Right now in the ancient Edo state, things are falling apart for the Obaseki camp. The bush meat is truly hunting the hunter. The quest for power is good but when it becomes a "do or die" the core essence of leadership is defeated and it is jus

EDO UPDATE: PMB PRESENTS IZE-IYAMU WITH THE SYMBOLIC APC FLAG

  By: Agosu Omoleye President Muhammadu Buhari presents the symbolic APC flag to the party’s governorship candidate in Edo State, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, in Abuja on August 7, 2020. President Muhammadu Buhari has endorsed Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the governorship election in Edo State. The President gave the endorsement on Friday when he received Ize-Iyamu who was led to the Presidential Villa in Abuja by the APC Caretaker Committee Chairman, Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State. He presented the party’s flag to the APC candidate in the presence of two other governors elected on the party’s platform. They are Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, and Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State. Shortly after his endorsement by the President, Ize-Iyamu briefed State House correspondents on what was discussed at the meeting which held behind closed doors. He said he was grateful for the warm reception h

BREAKING: CHAOS AS FUEL TANKER KILLS WOMAN IN FRONT OF SINAL BARRACKS LAGOS

 By: Agosu Omoleye It started like a normal working day until a loaded Fuel tanker fell right in front of the Signal Army barracks Mike 2 Lagos. In the chaotic scene that followed,  soldiers were seen battling to restore order at the scene of an early morning accident in front of the Nigerian Army Barracks. Our newsman at the scene reports that a tanker carrying fuel coming from a tank farm in nearby Satellite Town fell into a gully in front of the barracks and the driver lost control, leading to the death of the victim. Men of Lagos State Fire Service and of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency are on ground trying to salvage the situation as the fuel continues to pour ceaselessly while the army has condoned off the scene to prevent okada riders from scooping the fuel which might cause another mishap. The accident has caused traffic gridlock as those going towards CMS and Oshodi from Festac can no longer do so. A spokesperson for the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Nos

EDO STATE DRAMA: WHEN YOU RIDE A TIGER TO THE MARKET PLACE

 By: Agosu Omoleye Robert Greene in his famous book The 47 Laws of Power said in his rule number one that "NEVER outshine your Master". Friedrich Nietzsche says and I quote: ”A politician divides mankind into two classes: tools and enemies.". Both assertions played out in the Edo Drama, caused a major shake up in the Edi political landscape but interestingly the Edo people are fast learning and adjusting to what a normal governance should be. They want a total deviation from the illegalities reigning in the state. Obaseki did all he could to arrive at a divide and rule situation, he elicited supports and sympathy from various quarters and played the victim, but he was so much  carried away by the euphoria that he  forgot to cage and discard his enemies. Right now, the ghosts of the past are back to hunt him. Godwin in his smartness decamped to APC while Obaseki is gradually been forsaken by the one's he called his own. His tools are obviously working against him as t

AVIATION: FG TELLS AIRLINES TO PREPARE FOR INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS

By: Agosu Omoleye The federal government had banned international flights in March as parts of measures to check the spread of COVID-19. But on Thursday, Sani Aliyu, national coordinator of the presidential task force on COVID-19, asked the aviation authorities and airline operators to begin the process for the resumption of international flights. “For international travel, we have made recommendations to the aviation industry to commence the process for opening international airports provided all existing international and local prevention guidelines and COVID-19 are in place,” he said. Aliyu said passengers for international flights would arrive three hours before departure time. “We have modified the advice with the regards to arrival for flights: Passengers arriving at the airports for domestic flights advice to arrive at least one and a half hours before their flight, and three hours before international flights where these restart,” he said. Domestic flights resumed operation on

FRESH FEARS EMERGE AS IDIAKPINI IS SUSPECTED TO HAVE BEEN KILLED IN DETENTION

 By: Agosu Omoleye Martins Idakpini, the detained soldier arrested for criticising Chief of Army Staff and exposing the high level saboteur reigning supreme among the Army ranks in a viral video may have been killed by the army as punishment for his action, it has been gathered. We had earlier reported how the army twice denied Idakpini’s lawyer and family from seeing him in total disregard to an order of the Federal High Court and a brazen disregard to the tenets of the rule of law. Justice AI Chikere of the Abuja Federal High Court held that it was unlawful for the army to continuously deny Idakpini from seeing his lawyer and family. Top sources within the army had informed our newsmen that Buratai had vowed to deal ruthlessly with the detained soldier for his action and also treat the order of Justice Chikere with disdain. However, there are now fears that the army may have killed Idakpini, who has not been seen or heard from since he was arrested over a month ago. Human rights acti

FEMALE OFFICER GETS DISMISSED AFTER BEING RAPED BY BANDITS

 By: Agosu Omoleye The Nigerian Army has dismissed a soldier for getting pregnant after she was raped by suspected bandits on her way to Ogbomoso, Oyo State. The rape victim was charged with one count of ‘conduct prejudicial to service discipline,’ found guilty and dismissed from the regiment. She, however, declined to speak on her ordeal when contacted on the phone on Wednesday, saying, “I have not asked you to publish anything, but we are working on the appeal.” Her legal counsel, Johnson Oyewole, expressed the conviction that his client’s unlawful dismissal would be overturned and she would be recalled to continue serving her fatherland. According to an appeal to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, filed by her lawyer, the victim enlisted in the Army in March 2012 as a member of 67 Regular Recruits intake, and was serving with 56 Signal Command, Mile 2, Lagos, before the incident. The letter, which challenged the soldier’s dismissal, read, ”It is manifest that the purpo

EDO IMPEACHMENT: HEAVY POLICE PRESENCE AROUND STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY

 By: Agosu Omoleye This is coming barely 24 hours after the Deputy Speaker, Yekini Idiaye, was impeached by the state lawmakers. The member representing Orhionmwon-South constituency, Mr Roland Asoro, has since been appointed deputy speaker and was immediately administered the oath of office and oath of allegiance by the Speaker. It was gathered that police action was in a bid to prevent an attack on the complex. Apart from many security officials that blocked entrance into the complex, patrol vehicles were also stationed there. The House had earlier on Wednesday impeached Idiaye on grounds of alleged gross misconduct. But it was learnt that Idaiye was removed by seven pro-Governor Godwin Obaseki lawmakers in Government House, Benin City, for allegedly endorsing Ize-Iyamu. The pro-Obaseki lawmakers had been sitting in the Government House for over a month following the alleged fumigation of the Assembly complex over COVID-19 scare. It was learnt that 17 of the 24-member Assembly are no

INSURGENTS ALREADY PENETRATING NORTH-WESTERN NIGERIA AND FAST EXTENDING TO THE SOUTH- U.S.

By: Agosu Omoleye The United States has called on the Nigerian government to take the lead in the fight against insurgency in the country. The Commander of U.S. Special Operations Command in Africa, Major General Dagvin Anderson, gave the advice at a digital press briefing on Wednesday.  said the insurgents have started penetrating the north-western part of the country where they were already making some in-roads, adding that they were looking to expand further south into the coastal areas. Anderson said the U.S. would continue to support the Nigerian government with intelligence sharing on the activities of the terrorists. He noted that this would also include supplying constant information on the operations of the insurgents in Borno State and the North-West. The major general stated that for international efforts to yield desired results in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria, the government must take the lead. He made the remarks while responding to questions from journalists ab

LAW FIRM DRAGS MULTICHOICE TO COURT OVER POOR SERVICE, DEMANDS COMPENSATION

 By: Agosu Omoleye A law firm, Zion Chambers of Peters Ike Adonu And Co. has dragged multichoice Nigeria to court for refusal to renew its subscription after payment has been made. The law firm also accused Multichoice of outrageous billing of its customers without proper information to allow them to plan for alternatives. They demanded that the company should pay damages of N5million for barring them from accessing any programme after making the necessary payment that was required. In a petition letter dated 7th of July 2020, sent to the Managing Director of Multichoice, Nigeria by the Law Firm which a copy was made available to newsmen in Enugu on Wednesday indicates that they paid for DSTV subscription on June 30 and till date cannot access any program. The letter was titled; “Demand for Apology and Compensation For Refusal To Renew subscription after Payment Was Made’’. The petitioner also warned that they would forward the petition to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protectio

BALARABE INSTRUCTED ME TO CUT THE CUFFS ON WADUME SAYS WELDER

 By: Agosu Omoleye Wadume was allegedly freed after 10 soldiers led by Balarabe helped his escape from the custody of policemen who were conveying him from Ibi to Abuja on August 6, 2019. The 10 soldiers attached to the 93 Battalion in Takum, Taraba State, allegedly opened fire on the police vehicle, killing three policemen and two civilians, and wounding five other police officers. The Inspector-General of Police, Adamu Mohammed, had in February charged Wadume and others including the 10 soldiers with various offences bordering on murder, kidnap, gun-running, among others. But the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr, Abubakar Malami (SAN), removed the names of the soldiers as defendants after taking over the case from the police. Wadume and six others –Inspector Aliyu Dadje, who was a station officer at the police headquarters in Ibi; Auwalu Bala, aka Omo Razor; Uba Bala (aka Uba Belu);  Bashir Waziri, (aka Baba Runs); Zubairu Abdullahi (aka Basho); Hafizu Bala (aka Maiwelder); and

NIGERIAN ARMY DENIES SOLDIERS INVOLVED IN ABAKALIKI ROBBERY

 By: Agosu Omoleye The Nigerian Army says soldiers allegedly arrested for bullion van robbery in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State are not its personnel. Deputy Director, Army Public Relations in 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, said this in a statement on Wednesday in Enugu. Yusuf said this in a statement titled, ‘Re: Police Nab Soldiers, Others For Bullion Van Robbery’. He noted that the two alleged soldiers are not serving in any of Nigerian Army’s units, commands, formations or divisions. The statement read, “The attention of Headquarters 82 Division Nigerian Army has been drawn to on-line publication on the unfortunate Bullion Van Robbery incident at Abakaliki, Ebonyi State on July 29 which led to the arrest of two suspected dismissed soldiers and other gangsters involved in the act.

FIRE GUTS ECOWAS OFFICE IN ABUJA

 By: Agosu Omoleye There was a fire outbreak at the Accounts and Finance department of the Economic Community of West African States Commission secretariat, Asokoro, Abuja, on Tuesday night. It was learnt that the fire was put out by men of the Federal Fire Service shortly after. The FFS spokesperson, Ugo Huan, could not be reached on the extent of the damage.

EXTERNAL BORROWINGS: REPS SUMMONS AMAECH, PANTAMI, OTHERS FOR SCRUTINY

 By: Agosu Omoleye The House of Representatives has summoned the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed and the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami. Also summoned by the lawmakers are the Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman; and the Director-General of the Debt Management Office, Patience Oniha, over external borrowings made by Nigeria, especially from China. This is just as the Committee on Treaties, Protocols and Agreements asked the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, to appear before it again on August 17. The committee, which is investigating Nigeria’s foreign loans, when Amaechi  appeared before it on July 28, raised the alarm that the agreement signed with China might force Nigeria to cede its sovereignty to the Asian country. But the minister advised the lawmakers against the probe, saying it could make China to withhold the loan, thus thwarting rail projects that would be financed with the money. On Wednesday, a lawmaker, wh

FUEL SCARCITY LOOMS AS FILLING STATIONS INCREASE PUMP PRICE

By: Agosu Omoleye Petroleum stations across Nigeria will now sell premium motor spirit at N148.5 per liter as from this morning. According to our observations early Wednesday morning, a sizeable number of petrol stations in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, were under lock. Speaking on the condition of anonymity with a source close to the leadership of the petroleum-related unions, he said the new price became necessary following the N6 added to the purchasing price by the federal government. “So we also added N5 to the N143.8 we were selling before. Initially, we were confused as to to how much we would be selling. That was why we did not open early.”

THREE FEARED DEAD IN LAGOS AUTOCRASH

By: Agosu Omoleye The Lagos State Traffic Management, on Tuesday, said three persons died in a road accident along Iyana Dopemu road, Lagos. We gathered that the incident happened a few minutes to 7 am The Public Relations Officer of LASTMA, Olumide Filade, confirmed the incident. In a series of tweets, LASTMA said the accident occurred when an SUV rammed into a moving trailer. It said, “An accident (has) just (been) reported involving an SUV that rammed into a moving trailer on the fast lane shortly before Cement bus stop inward Iyana Dopemu with three casualties. “LASAMBUS has been contacted as well as a tow truck for evacuation. Officers are on ground controlling traffic.”

PRODUCE YOUR PRIMARY SCHOOL CERTIFICATE", PDP ATTACKS OSHIOMOLE

By: Agosu Omoleye The Peoples Democratic Party, on Monday, has asked a former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, to present his Primary School Leaving Certificate if his claims to have done to school we're to be true. The Chairman of the PDP Campaign Council for the Edo governorship election, Chief Dan Orbih, made the demand while addressing party members and supporters in the Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of the state. Orbih also urged Oshiomhole to tell Nigerians the cause of his quarrel with his successor, Governor Godwin Obaseki, whom he described as a worthy alumnus of the University of Ibadan. “They said Governor Godwin Obaseki, who graduated from the University of Ibadan, has no certificate. I challenge Adams Oshiomhole to show us his Primary 6 certificate,” Orbih stated. He urged Oshiomhole to “allow Edo people to decide who governs them. In four years, Godwin Obaseki has done more than what Oshiomhole did in eight years.” On his part, O

SENATE REPORTS UNVEILS HOW PONDEI, OTHERS SPENT N5B ON MEDICALS

By: Agosu Omoleye The Senate report on the alleged financial recklessness in the Niger Delta Development Commission has revealed how the top management of the agency shared N4.9bn among themselves in the guise of medical checkup. The document also showed that the management paid N114.9m as supplementary medical allowance to 26  staff member during the same period. It stated that both disbursements were made when the nation was under lockdown to check COVID-19 spread. The report was adopted and approved by the Senate shortly before it proceeded on its annual recess penultimate week. A copy of the document obtained by our correspondent in Abuja on Monday, indicated that the monies were paid to the individual accounts in March and April this year. The document indicated that the acting Managing Director, Daniel Pondei, and the two executive directors got N14.2m each.   The report noted that no such payment took place during the first Interim Management Committee led by Joi Nunieh. It none

INSECURITY: PRESIDENT MEETS WITH SERVICE CHIEFS

By: Agosu Omoleye The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), is currently presided over a meeting of the security council with the core intent of charging the security personnel to wake up to their statutory role of protecting the citizens against internal and external aggressions. The meeting was held inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja and had Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo in attendance. All service chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police also attended the meeting. Others are the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno; heads of the Department of State Services and National Intelligence Agency; Ministers of Justice, Police Affairs, Defence and Interior among others. The meeting came a day after the Nigeria Governors’ Forum decried what it called the nation’s worsening security situation. The governors have resolved to meet the President and the service chiefs separately on the matter.

CACOVID LAUDS UGWUANYI'S PALLIATIVE SUPPORT PROGRAMMES IN THE FACE OF COVID-19

By: Agosu Omoleye The Nigerian Private Sector Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) has commended Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, for his laudable efforts at minimizing the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the people of the state. Speaking during the handover and flag-off of CACOVID palliatives distribution in Enugu State, the State Representative of CACOVID, Mrs. Chiaka Mbagwu, disclosed that the body is proud of the mountainous steps taken so far by Gov. Ugwuanyi in keeping the people of the state safe “while feeling their pulse”. Mrs. Mbagwu explained that CACOVID is an organized Private Sector initiative in partnership with the Federal Government, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other agencies, with the sole aim of combating COVID-19 pandemic in the country. She added that Gov. Ugwuanyi administration’s commitment towards the fight against COVID-19, as well as its untiring efforts to safeguard and cushion the adverse imp