FEATURES
There was rumpus in Osun State weekend after Olawale Rasheed, the spokesperson of the Osun State governor, Ademola Adeleke was invited for probe by the Department of State Service (DSS), for allegedly sponsoring fake news against Femi, son of Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola.
The Nation recalled that an Abuja-based blogger published a news report, claiming that Femi was extorting directors of the Ministry of Marine. Subsequently, the blogger was arrested by operatives of DSS and she reportedly confessed that Rasheed sponsored the report.
Rasheed in a statement earlier the week denied the claim of giving any report to an online publisher on Oyetola’s son, noting that he would meet the investigators this weekend.
Meanwhile, in a recent development, the governor’s spokesman, Rasheed filed an originating summon for the enforcement of his rights before a Federal High Court, Osogbo against DSS and Femi Oyetola.
Adeleke’s spokesman in suit number FHC/OS/C5/89/2024 sought three reliefs which include: a restraining order on DSS from inviting, arresting, including or detaining him.
igeria-born activist Richard Taylor, who lost his son Damilola to murder in UK at only 10 years, is dead.
He died yesterday following a protracted illness, his family announced.
He was aged 75. Following the circumstances of Damilola’s death in November 2000, the father set up the Damilola Taylor Trust to campaign against knife crime and dedicated years to improving the lives of disadvantaged children.
He said he wanted his son to be remembered as a boy of hope and for his legacy to be a better life and opportunities for underprivileged young people.
Damilola was left bleeding to death in a stairwell in Peckham, South-east London, after he was attacked and slashed with a broken bottle on his way home from a library.
After three crown court trials, his two killers, brothers Ricky and Danny Preddie, were finally put behind bars.
A ward-winning actor Lateef Adedimeji has showered his wife, Mo Bimpe with economiums on her birthday.
He said she made him the man he is today.
Lateef, in a lengthy post on his Instagram page appreciated her, noting how not everyone is fortunate to have someone like her in this chaotic world.
He noted how he was confident, and goal-driven before his wife, but she gave him an extra touch.
Questioning which of the blessings of Allah would he deny, he further appreciated her for making his life so easy and for being his number critic.
He wrote: “Rahmah, Not many individuals are as fortunate as I am to have found someone like you in this chaotic world. Thanks to you, I am the person I am today.
“I am confident, and goal-driven, I have so much confidence in myself but you have forced me to examine myself closely and develop an affection for the image of myself that I see in the mirror.
” I am goal-driven, but you gave me more purpose and determination to reach those goals; you are my God-sent. I am a lucky child and God brought me YOU RAHMAH ADEBIMPE another lucky charm. Which of the blessings of Allah will I deny?
“Thank you for making life so easy, my number one critic, my check and Balance, my joy, and my all. Happy birthday my love, long life and prosperity in good health. I love you so much, too much baby.
“Thank you for helping me grow, thank you for making me believe in the beautiful things of life, and thank you for being who you are. Happy birthday my love. Here’s to many more years of happiness together. To forever with you my Queen”.
In a harrowing act of violence, Crocus City Hall, a renowned concert venue on the outskirts of Moscow, became the scene of a brutal terrorist attack.
The incident occurred just as the popular rock band “Picnic” was preparing to perform to a sold-out crowd.
According to Russia’s prosecutor general, at least four individuals clad in camouflage stormed the venue, unleashing chaos and fear.
The aftermath is grim. More than 60 lives have been claimed, with over 100 individuals sustaining injuries.
The terror group ISIS has purportedly taken responsibility for the attack through its affiliated news agency Amaq on Telegram, yet no evidence has been provided to substantiate this claim.
As flames engulfed the concert hall, emergency responders sprang into action, evacuating approximately 100 people from the basement and initiating rescue operations for those trapped on the roof.
The Russian Investigative Committee is treating the incident as a terrorist act and has confirmed that the death toll has risen to at least 133, with the possibility of further casualties as the search through the rubble continues.
In response to this atrocity, Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the nation, condemning the attack as a “barbaric act of terrorism” and expressing his determination to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Amidst the turmoil, President Putin has also levelled accusations against Ukraine, suggesting the neighbouring country had plans to aid the suspects’ escape, a claim that Kyiv has vehemently denied.
The swift action of Russian authorities led to the arrest of 11 individuals, including the four gunmen believed to be responsible for the attack.
The head of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) reported these developments directly to President Putin.
This tragedy has not only shaken Russia but has also caught the attention of the international community.
U.S. officials, having previously gathered intelligence on potential ISIS activities in Russia, had issued warnings against attending large gatherings.
Nollywood actress Uche Ogbodo has shed light on what she described as harsh realities lurking within the Nigerian entertainment sphere.
Speaking out against the prevalent toxicity, Ogbodo described the industry as a breeding ground for envy, wickedness, and deceit.
Sharing her thoughts on her Instagram page, Ogbodo lamented the lack of genuine love and camaraderie among industry insiders, asserting that instead of celebrating each other’s successes, individuals are consumed by jealousy and a relentless pursuit of personal gain.
Ogbodo’s assertions underscored a longstanding issue within the industry.
According to her, indeed, the entertainment realm has perpetually been a crucible of contention, with celebrities rarely displaying genuine love or support for one another.
“The Nigerian entertainment industry is so dark,” Ogbodo emphasized, “People there are wicked, vile, and envious. They won’t rejoice with those who are rejoicing because they want to be in that person’s place.”
She urged stakeholders to address the underlying issues plaguing the Nigerian entertainment landscape and foster a culture of support and solidarity.
Operatives of a neighbourhood security outfit, Oluyole Security Network have arrested a bricklayer and an operator of a commercial motorcycle otherwise called okada for allegedly raping and impregnating a 14-year-old teenager in Ibadan, Oyo.
One of the suspects, Sodeeq Ojediran, admitted forcibly sleeping with the girl.
According to TheNation report, the 30-year-old bricklayer tricked the minor to his house where he raped her.
Also explaining his complicity in the saga, the second suspect, 27-year-old Okebukola, a commercial motorcycle operator, said she met the victim in December 2023 and asked her to be his girlfriend.
“She declined my request to know her parents and I took her to my house where she spent one week with me.
“My landlord was not happy about the fact that she is a teenager. So he asked me to send her away from my house.
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“She came back to me two Sundays ago and I made love to her again.
“I didn’t ask for her hand in marriage and I did not deflower her at all, but I slept with her.
“I am an okada operator and she boarded my motorbike in Ayegun area of Ibadan.
“She was to pay N300 as fare but instead, she paid me N200. I stirred a conversation with her and collected her mobile phone number.
“Three days later, I told her to come with me to a church for prayers. But instead of taking her to a church, I took her to my house where I slept with her.
“However, I did not sleep with her every day, but she is carrying a two-month pregnancy,” he disclosed.
On her part, the victim said she stopped schooling after her father died.
She recalled that her father was the first to sleep with her when she was younger, after which she left home.
“I was in Primary 6 when my father died and I stopped going to school since then.
“My mother is the one that ruined my life because after my father was buried, everyone told my mother to use part of the cash gifts given to her by sympathisers to send me to school but she refused.
“Instead, she took me to the home of her first child from her previous marriage,” she narrated.
Baba Dee, the veteran Nigerian singer and rapper, whose real name is Dare Fasasi, has shared insights into his brother’s passing, Sound Sultan, and the illness that ultimately claimed his life during an appearance on Teju Babyface’s podcast.
The former music executive disclosed that six months before Sound Sultan’s demise, he had a premonition that his time was limited, despite receiving treatment from one of the world’s leading Hodgkin’s lymphoma hospitals.
In an emotional revelation, he recounted how his brother informed him about the doctor’s grim prognosis, saying, “This is the first time I am talking about this but everything happened very fast. He told me, ‘Dee, the doctor said I don’t have time.’
That was the first time I was hearing that kind of thing. He was okay; we were in the studio recording, and he flipped it on me. I couldn’t do anything again; I was like, ‘What is this guy saying?’
And he said again, ‘The doctor said I don’t have time.” Fasasi recounted, tears evident in his eyes.
Water producers have asked the federal government to address the increasing cost of nylon to halt further increases in the prices of sachet water.
The National President of the Association For Table Water Producers (ATWAP), Dr. Clementina Ativie, made this request during an event commemorating this year’s World Water Day, themed “Water for Peace,” held at EXPOYO in Sango, Ibadan, on Friday.
Noting that nylon is the primary material for packaging water, with no viable alternative, the water producers asked Nigerians to bear with the rapid escalation of their production costs and the consequent increase in the cost of sachet water until the government intervenes. Due to the skyrocketing cost of production, Ativie stated that over 30,000 water producers were on the verge of closing down their factories.
According to Ativie, the water producers were dismayed by the increasing cost of sachet water, which compelled Nigerians to seek alternatives that are largely not potable.
She warned that the consequences of people not being able to afford potable water were grave, especially regarding susceptibility to waterborne diseases and the proliferation of unregulated sachet water producers.
To ensure the production of potable and affordable sachet water, Ativie urged the government to address the increasing cost of nylon and provide support for water producers to prevent factory closures. On tackling unregulated producers, she called for collaboration between regulatory agencies and ATWAP, emphasizing that regulatory agencies had the primary responsibility.
Ativie remarked, “Just last month, I addressed a press conference in Lagos where ATWAP appealed to the federal government to save the water industry from total collapse by providing financial support to the association to enhance the business of our members, numbering over 30,000 water producers across the country, and to address the rapid escalation of our production costs, thereby making sachet water, popularly known as pure water, almost unaffordable for the masses.
At the same time, we appealed to Nigerians to bear with us. Suffice it to say, as an association, we have always considered the interests of Nigerians our top priority.
Packaged water producers in Nigeria understand the importance of providing affordable and safe drinking water to citizens, and we strive to do so while also grappling with rising production costs. Nylon is our primary material for packaging, and we have no viable alternatives.
Therefore, we urgently require support from the government given the economic realities to prevent factory closures by our members and the resulting job losses and waterborne diseases that would follow if the water industry were allowed to collapse.
The population explosion, coupled with human developmental activities, has further exacerbated the scarcity of potable water, leading to increased demand for groundwater abstraction and purification for specific intended uses.”
Popular actress Sharon Ooja has tied the knot in a civil way with her lover, who she fondly called ‘Odogwu Silencer’.
She announced she has exchanged vows with her beloved in a private civil ceremony.
In a heartfelt post on Saturday, Ooja expressed joy and gratitude, sharing intimate details of her journey to marital bliss.
“A few months ago I said yes to my odogwu silencer as I call him as he came and silenced the noise, my Igbo king civil ceremony done and dusted ink dried yes I’m fully a mrs as I type this … he brought the calm…I’ll say yes a thousand times to your kindness and good heart… yes a thousand times to the discipline and structure you bring… yes a thousand times to your absolute love and protection you are my best friend bro bro our inside joke !! … dear husband
“This is fully the hand of God !!I prayed for this and God gave me fully. Thank you Jesus for this gift of love the testimony is complete You did it Jesus take Your glory …counting down to our church blessing and traditional wedding proudly a mrs,” she wrote.
Fans and colleagues flooded the post with congratulatory messages for the newlyweds.
[TheNation]
Operatives of the Kaduna State Police Command have arrested one Yakubu Saidu, a suspected bandit leader who masterminded the September 2023 attack on St. Raphael Catholic Church, Kamantan, Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of the state.
In the attack, the bandits set ablaze the priest’s house, burning a seminarian, Stephen Naaman, in the process.
The Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan said the suspect was arrested at Zangon Urban on Friday due to diligent pursuit of the case.
According to the PPRO, “In a commendable display of swift action and dedication to public safety, the Kaduna State Police Command, under the leadership of Commissioner CP Ali Audu Dabigi, psc, has successfully apprehended a notorious kidnapper, Yakubu Saidu, also known as Ismail ‘M’ who was involved in banditry, culpable homicide and mischief by fire.
“On 07 of September 2023, at approximately 2030hrs, the Officer in Charge of Fadan Kamanta, Zonkwa, alerted authorities of a distressing situation at St. Raphael Catholic Church, Kamantan, where suspected kidnappers had launched an attack.
“Despite the urgency of the situation, police operatives, in collaboration with military personnel, swiftly mobilized to the scene. Regrettably, the suspects had already set ablaze the priest’s residence before the arrival of the security personnel.
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The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) yesterday said it has secured the conviction of one Abubakar Sadiq Aremu for four years imprisonment for cheating and forgery of its annual return receipts.
In a statement , the commission pointed out that the convict was accused of uploading forged receipts to pay a company’s annual return on the CAC portal.
Aremu, was reportedly arraigned on March 21, 2023, before Upper Area Court Mpape Abuja, and pleaded guilty to the offense and was, therefore, sentenced by the presiding judge.
Reacting to the judgment, the Registrar-General/Chief Executive, CAC, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, described the development as a milestone achievement for the commission.
He said the victory represented a major boost to his efforts to stem the activities of criminals trying to circumvent established processes and procedures in CAC.
The CAC boss, further emphasised that the commission was ready to go after anyone trying to flout its rules to strengthen the system for the benefit of the economy.
Separately, Magaji said the commission was prepared to work with stakeholders to ensure that issues related to the regulation of entities are seamlessly implemented.
During a familiarisation session with customers/stakeholders in Abuja, he said under his watch that the commission will continuously engage with software vendors to improve areas that require urgent attention to make the Companies Registration Portal (CRP) perform optimally.
He said, “This will resolve problems associated with delays in service delivery. The commission has also initiated reviewing our operational checklist to bring it up to speed with international best practices.
“This will go a long way in simplifying our processes and also reduce the time cycle for our services and product delivery.
“We are also reorganising the call center to make it a response center that will attend to customer complaints and inquiries within 24 hours.”
Magaji said, “This will also address the anxiety of resolving issues promptly and addressing the overall expectations of customers and stakeholders.
“I will be engaging and collaborating with all of you continuously to get inputs and suggestions that will ensure a good experience in service delivery as we move forward on this journey.”
On Saturday, the World Institute for Peace issued a seven-day ultimatum to the federal government, demanding that security agents arrest and interrogate Sheik Ahmad Gumi to ascertain the extent of his involvement in the ongoing insecurity plaguing the country.
The group’s chairman, Lamina Kamiludeen, in a statement in Osogbo on Saturday, queried incessant outbursts of Gumi against the Nigerian Military and other security agents whenever they take action against bandits and terrorists.
At different times in the past, Sheik Gumi has made controversial remarks about military campaigns against insurgence and banditry in the north.
On Wednesday, while speaking on “When will there be an end to Nigeria’s recurring abductions?” organised by Daily Trust via X space, Gumi said, “To them (military) they are fighting a war. Honestly, the military has been very hard on them, the Air Force is killing their families.”
Kamiludeen, who asked the Federal Government if he was above the law, said inflammatory statements by the cleric not only undermined the efforts of the security forces but would also embolden perpetrators of the crime to continue creating security challenges across the country.
The release further read partly, “His continuous criticism and condemnation of the efforts of the security forces send signals that Gumi may be among the sponsors of the insecurity in Nigeria. Nigeria security agents must take immediate action to question Sheik Gumi regarding his involvement in the ongoing insecurity in the country.
“His actions constitute a threat to national security and must be addressed with urgency. Or is Gumi above the law? Action must the taken to prove that no one is above the law of the land.”
Smugglers Attacked Nigerian Customs Office In Kebbi, Damaged Vehicles, Carted Away Seized Foodstuffs
AFOLABIAuthorities have confirmed that the office of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) in the Yauri Local Government Area of Kebbi State was attacked by hoodlums.
During the attack which occurred on Thursday night, one officer was injured and property including vehicles were damaged, according to a statement by the Command's spokesman Mohammed Salisu.
The statement partly read: “During the late hours of Thursday, March 21, 2024, at about 2310 hours, the combined team of Yauri outstation and surveillance were informed of a suspected smuggling activity at Yauri Waterside.
"Upon arriving at the scene, 41 bags of foreign parboiled rice were seized, secured, and taken to the outstation," he said.
The statement noted that afterwards, "a mob attack was launched by the aggrieved smugglers by way of mobilising hoodlums to attack the outpost.
“Upon sighting the mob, the management contacted the command and other sister agencies for reinforcement, which helped in containing the situation.
“Amid the attack, the OIC sustained a hand injury; 1 AK-47 rifle was carted away but retrieved shortly; and 29 out of 41 bags of the seized rice were taken away by the attackers.
“The mob went further to vandalise the OIC personal vehicle, the outstation Air Conditioner, chairs, tables, windows, doors, and other essentials put in place to support the operations of the outstation.”
The spokesman said that the Kebbi State Governor, Dr Nasir Idris, has intervened to douse tension, after he hosted the Customs Area Controller on the way forward.
Meanwhile, normalcy has since been restored.
“The Customs Area Controller, Iheanacho Ojike, has been in touch with the Commissioner of Police, and so far, some arrests have been made and an investigation was launched in view of arresting and prosecuting the criminals,” he added.
Revealed: Widow Of Major Shaffa, Who Was Killed In Okuama Attack Is Pregnant, Has Two Small Children To Cater For
AFOLABIAccording to findings by Vanguard , it has been revealed that the late Major Salisu Danjuma Shaffa had spent only three weeks in his new Area of Responsibility (AR) before his untimely death on Thursday, March 14, 2024.
Shaffa was among officers and soldiers from the 181 Amphibious Battalion of the military Joint Task Force, JTF, Bomadi Division, including the Commanding Officer, Lt. Col Ali, another Major, one Captain and 12 others, who were ambushed and killed during a rescue mission to Okuama to release a hostage.
The hostage was identified as Anthony Aboh from neighbouring Okoloba community in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State who Okuama youths had held over a lingering land dispute.
Sources said Shaffa, who was a University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) alumnus, hailed from Shaffa town in Hawul Local Government Area of Borno South represented by Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (Senate).
He is survived by two children, a wife said to be pregnant and heavy, and two small children.
Meanwhile, Sunday Vanguard learnt that the father of the deceased (Danjuma Shaffa) also died as a retired Major of the Nigerian Army some years ago in Borno State.
A family friend, Alhaji Idris Mamman Durkwa, told our correspondent that the “late Shaffa, before paying the ultimate sacrifice, penultimate Thursday, had two children “while the wife is pregnant and is expecting delivery soon.”
Durkwa, a former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2019 general elections in Borno State, prayed “Allah (God) to grant Aljannatul Firdaus to the soul of the deceased officer and all officers and soldiers killed during the ambush”.
He called on proper investigation of the incident, saying anyone found wanting must face the full wrath of the law to serve as a deterrent.
A brother of the slain Army officer, Mallam Hussain Danjuma, who formally announced the death in a social media post, said, “With a heavy heart and total submission to the will of Allah, I inform the sudden death of our beloved brother Major SD SHAFFA.
“We pray that Allah will forgive and grant him eternal rest in this Holy month of Ramadan.
“May your soul rest in peace, dearest brother as you will be remembered”.
Another family member, Alhaji Ibrahim Mohammed, said, “May Allah have mercy on Major Salisu Danjuma Shaffa. May Allah lighten his grave, Amen”.
Amos Bwala, a friend of Shaffa, on his part, wrote on his Facebook page: “Innalillahi wainnailaihir rajiun. May Almighty Allah forgive our good friend and brother, Major Salisu Danjuma Shaffa, who was ambushed n Delta State rabbi fagfirlahu warahamhu.”
Buba Ali, another friend, in an emotionally laden voice said, “The loss of the Nigerian soldiers in Delta State is unfortunate and terrible. We lost a gallant brother from Borno, Major Salisu Danjuma Shaffa. May their souls rest in peace.”
In a related development, Ndume and Dr Midala Usman Balami, member representing Hawul/Askira-Uba Federal Constituency, have called on the authorities to immediately fish out the masterminds of the killings just as they strongly condemned the incident.
According to a statement signed by Ndume’s spokesman, Junaid Maiva, the senator “has been deeply saddened by the tragic demise of Major Salisu Danjuma Shaffa, whom he described as a brave military officer”.
The Senate Whip went on: “Major Shaffa, whose recent deployment led him to Delta State, met his untimely end in a devastating ambush alongside fellow military officers and soldiers following a successful mission.
“The news of his passing has cast a pall of sorrow over Senator Ndume and the entire nation.
“Senator Ndume paid tribute to the late Major Shaffa, extolling him as a genuine patriot who epitomized the highest ideals of service and sacrifice.
“The senator urged Major Shaffa’s family, friends, and constituents in southern Borno to take comfort in the knowledge that their beloved relative lived a life dedicated to serving humanity and defending the nation’s sovereignty.
“On behalf of myself, my family, and the constituents of southern Borno, we stand in solidarity with the family and friends of the late military officer”.
Balami, in a statement he personally signed said, “It is with immense sadness that I convey my heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Major Danjuma Shaffa and the gallant soldiers, who lost their lives while on peacekeeping mission in Delta State. This death is a great loss to the Nigeria Army and the entire nation.
“Major Danjuma Shaffa was a patriotic soldier who dedicated his life to the service of our country. He was a role model and inspiration to many, and his death has left a deep void in our hearts.
“We condemn this senseless act of violence and call on the relevant authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice. The sacrifices of our soldiers will not be in vain, and we will continue to support our brave men and women in uniform who work tirelessly to protect our nation’s peace and security.
“Once again, I extend my sympathies on behalf of the people of Askira-Uba/Hawul Federal Constituency and pray for the repose of Major Danjuma Shaffa’s soul and all the deceased patriots.”