FEATURES
A 42-year-old driver, Ifeanyi Okafor, has been arrested by the Edo State Police Command, with 11 wraps of Indian hemp and other illicit drugs in the state.
Parading the suspect on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, the state Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye, said he was arrested by Operation Safer Highway while on stop and search along the Benin-Lagos Road on his way to deliver the drugs to someone in Onitsha, Anambra State.
“The police intercepted Okafor’s vehicle and when a search was conducted on the vehicle, three well-conceived substances later found to be Indian hemp and other drugs were recovered from him,” the CP stated.
"But upon thorough search of the vehicle, another eight wraps were found concealed inside the vehicle spare tyre bringing the total recovered drugs to 11 wraps.”
"The driver of the vehicle one Ifeanyi Okafor was arrested and he has confessed that he was asked to deliver the items to someone in the Easter part of the country
In an interview with journalists, the suspect who hails from Anambra State, said he was not aware of the content of the waybill.
“The items were given to me as a waybill to be delivered to someone at Onitsha. The owner told me it was clothes and shoes inside the waybill," he said.
“But on getting to Edo State, I discovered it was drugs when the police arrested my vehicle.”
Media personality Denrele Edun has revealed that he was a cage dancer before hitting fame.
He spoke during an interview on Arise News TV while talking about his media journey.
He recounted his days dancing at the African Shrine, where he hustled to make ends meet while still a student.
Denrele reminisced about being a backup dancer for the African Shrine on weekends and also performing with the Iroko band.
Looking back on his struggles, he noted that May 21st would mark his third decade in the entertainment industry, tracing his professional start back to 1994.
In his words, “I used to dance in the shrine. I used to be in the cage, yes, I used to be one of the cage dancers. I did everything to hustle at that time. And I was still in Unilag at that time. So I was a backup dancer every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at the African Shrine and I was a cage dancer. Also, I used to dance for the Iroko band which was headlined by Dr Ola Balogun, one of the pioneers of filmmaking. Come May 21st I will be marking 3 decades in the Entertainment Industry. I started professionally in 1994, on a TV soap opera. My first paycheck was N150”.
Nigeria's First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has revealed how Nigerians could tackle the hardship and hunger in the country.
She urged Nigerians to go into farming.
She said agriculture still held the key to bettering the lot of citizens.
The wife of the President said the Commander in Chief was making the right decisions to build a Nigeria that is more respected in the long run.
She also admonished Nigerians to be more accountable as a people as regards resources.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu gave the advice when she received the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed in her office at the Presidential Villa, Abuja Wednesday.
The First Lady noted that the various interventions of the Renewed Hope Initiative, RHI, especially in the areas of Agriculture, Empowerment, Education, Health and Social Welfare are to complement the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
“The President has made the right decisions. These decisions will help us build a Nigeria that is more respected. We should be more accountable as a people as regards our resources”.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu said there is a need to inspire the youth to think appropriately about the nation.
“We have to inspire them to think Nigeria first before any State”.
She explained that this necessitated her, through the Renewed Hope Initiative, RHI organise the #ONE NIGERIA/Unity Fabric.
“Youth between 15 years to 25 years will design the fabric depicting Nigeria and not just their State or tribe. The prize money is huge”.
On the Issue of IDPs, Senator Oluremi Tinubu said the RHI has commenced the monthly Food Outreach Program to the IDPs and Persons with Disabilities.
“I am not being deterred. I will continue to do all I can for the people”.
In her remarks earlier, the Deputy Secretary General of the UN Amina Mohammed, explained that the Organisation is looking forward to the country committing more funds to Youth, Women and Girls.
The eyes of a young boy have been plucked out by suspected ritualists in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
Details of the incident are still sketchy at the time of filing this report but it was gathered that the victim was herding animals in the bush when the unknown assailants ambushed him and forcefully gouged out his eyes.
The boy is currently admitted in a specialist hospital in Gombe State.
It was further gathered that the suspects were arrested.
A media aide to the Adamawa State Governor, Emmanuel Phillip Tumba, who confirmed the incident in a Facebook post on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, described the attack as an unspeakable act of violence and cruelty.
He called on relevant authorities to ensure that the perpetrators of the heinous crime are brought to justice swiftly.
“A distressing incident occurred in Alkaleri LGA of Bauchi State, where a young boy who was tending to his flock was viciously attacked by a gang of ritualists. They brutally gouged out his eyes and abandoned him in the wilderness,” he wrote.
"The perpetrators of this heinous act have been captured and are currently in the custody of law enforcement. It is imperative that these malevolent individuals face the harshest consequences of the legal system without any leniency.
"The incident serves as a grim reminder of the dangers that exist in the world we live in. The sheer brutality of the attack on the innocent young boy, who was only tending to his flock, is a stark depiction of the darkness that lurks within our society.
"The fact that there are individuals out there who are willing to harm and mutilate others for their own sick rituals is a chilling realization. It is a stark reminder that there are those who are capable of unspeakable acts of violence and cruelty, existing in a world that we often like to believe is safe and just.
"The perpetrators of this heinous crime must be brought to justice swiftly and face the full consequences of their actions. It is imperative that the law punish them severely, sending a clear message that such acts of violence and evil will not be tolerated.
"As we grapple with the chilling reality of the strange and dark world we live in, it is crucial that we remain vigilant and work towards creating a safer and more just society for all.
“Let us stand united against such acts of violence and cruelty, and strive towards a world where such horrors are nothing but a distant memory.”
A young Nigerian girl who is just 12 years old, has been arrested in Ondo.
The girl simply identified as Wumi was arrested for allegedly stabbing her 54-year-old adopted mother to death.
The decomposing body of her mother, Florence Adelayi, was found inside her residence at Premier Estate, Okunbadejo Street along Oda Road in Akure.
She was believed to have been locked inside to bleed to death after being stabbed several times on the back.
A knife which was suspected to have been used for the crime was found at the scene.
The teenager was the only person living with the deceased when the incident occurred.
It was the offensive smell from the apartment that made neighbours raise the alarm and policemen were invited and broke into the apartment.
Neighbours said they thought she travelled when they did not see her for days and her gate was locked.
One of the neighbours said: “We woke up to see some strange black flies coming out of her compound on Sunday morning. But we could not access the compound because the gate was locked from the outside. There was no sign of anybody at home. So, we put calls across to her family members. No one can say what was responsible for her death. The best people can do is to speculate.”
Another source said: “The deceased came home with the girl from the office on Wednesday, greeted us and drove into her compound. That was the last time we saw her.
“The woman had been going through a lot to cope with the mental challenge of the girl, which gave her many sleepless nights.
“She had spent more than N1.5 million on the girl’s illness and refused to take her back to her parents because she would be lonely since she had no child. So, she had been avoiding most of her relatives and friends advising her to return the girl.”
It was gathered that the deceased adopted the suspect as a daughter but became mentally unstable in September last year.
The suspect was said to have been seen wandering around the area for days.
It was that the suspect was apprehended at the Pelebe area and taken to the police station for questioning.
The remains of the victim have been deposited at the morgue of the University of Medical Science (UNIMED), Akure.
Ondo Police spokesman, SP Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, could not be reached for comments.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command apprehended a pregnant woman identified as Mrs. Rosemary Ubah for purportedly colluding with Walter Ezeala to stage her own abduction.
The FCT Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igweh disclosed this on Wednesday while parading the suspects at the Command’s headquarters.
Igweh explained that the two suspects were nabbed on March 11 after Rosemary’s husband, Chiedozie Ubah, reported to Gwagwa Police Division that his pregnant wife who left home for a scan, failed to return.
He said Chiedozie later received a call through his wife’s phone number telling him that she has been kidnapped.
The caller demanded N2 million ransom for her release.
“He transferred the sum of two (2) million naira into his wife’s account as instructed by the kidnapper. He later brought his wife to the station after her release.
“During interrogation, the wife freely confessed to having conspired with one man named Walter Ezeala ‘m’ living in the same street with them at Saburi to extort money from her husband.
“The said Walter was arrested and he confessed that his own share was eight hundred thousand (N800,000) naira and the lady took one million two hundred thousand naira (N1,200,000).
“The sum of Seven hundred and ninety three thousand five hundred naira (N793,500) cash, two (2) FCMB ATM cards and two android phones was recovered from them. Suspects will be charged to court soon.”
VIDEO: Properties Worth Millions Of Naira Destroyed As Fire Razes Three Buildings In Idumota, Lagos
AFOLABIProperties worth millions of naira have been destroyed as fire gutted three buildings in the Docemo area of Idumota, Lagos State.
In a statement via its official X handle, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service said it received a distress call about the fire incident around 7:40 am, and emergency services swiftly mobilized.
It stated that upon arrival at the scene, it was discovered that the fire had gutted three buildings, including two two-storey structures and one three-storey building, adding that firefighting efforts were underway.
According to the statement issued by its Director, Margaret Adeseye, the service said that the cause of the fire has yet to be determined, and investigations are ongoing.
The service also revealed that casualties have not been confirmed at this time.
The post reads: “The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service have been alerted to a Fire emergency at the intersection of Nanadi Azikwe and Docemo in Idumota, Lagos. At 07:41 hours, the call was received, and emergency services swiftly mobilized.
“Upon arrival at 07:58 hours, it was discovered that the fire encompassed three buildings, including two 2-storey structures and one three-storey building.
“Currently, Firefighting efforts are underway at the scene. The Fire stations at Ebute Elefun, Ilupeju and Alausa have deployed resources to mitigate the situation effectively as firefighting operations are ongoing.
“The cause of the Fire is yet to be determined, and investigations are ongoing. Casualties have not been confirmed at this time.
“We urge residents to cooperate with emergency personnel and avoid the area for their safety.
“Further updates will be provided as the situation unfolds.”
Media
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service have been alerted to a Fire emergency at the intersection of Nanadi Azikwe and Docemo in Idumota, Lagos. At 07:41 hours, the call was received, and emergency services swiftly mobilized.
— Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (@LagosRescue) March 20, 2024
Upon arrival at 07:58 hours, it was discovered that pic.twitter.com/Dxl7Y4gENB
VIDEO: Emergency responders battle to put out a 4-storey building which was engulfed by fire at Dosunmu in Lagos Island pic.twitter.com/9rKra1DgCE
— TVC News (@tvcnewsng) March 20, 2024
This is according to the annual World Happiness Report published on Wednesday, March 20.
Fiinland's Nordic neighbours Sweden, Denmark and Iceland also retained their places in the top 10.
Rising unhappiness, especially among young people, has seen other Western countries drop down the index, with the United States and Germany dropping out of the top 20 for the first time since the report's first edition more than a decade ago.
The United States and Germany came in 23rd and 24th respectively. In turn, Costa Rica and Kuwait entered the top 20 at 12 and 13, while Eastern European countries Serbia, Bulgaria and Latvia reported the biggest increases in happiness.
Afghanistan, plagued by a humanitarian catastrophe since the Taliban regained control in 2020, remained in last place.
The survey asks people in 143 countries and territories to evaluate their lives on a scale from zero to 10, taking into account factors such as GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity and corruption.
Its release coincides with the International Day of Happiness on March 20.
The report noted that the happiest countries no longer included any of the world's largest countries.
“In the top 10 countries, only the Netherlands and Australia have populations over 15 million. In the whole of the top 20, only Canada and the UK have populations over 30 million,” the report states.
Previous research into well-being often found happiness to be highest in childhood and early teens, before falling in middle age and then rising again upon retirement.
However, the report found that in some countries, today's younger generations were more likely than older age groups to report loneliness.
"Youth, especially in North America, are experiencing a mid-life crisis today," said University of Oxford economics professor and report editor Jan-Emmanuel De Neve.
He associated the increasing unhappiness among Western youth with a range of factors including the negative aspects of social media, increased polarization over social issues, and economic inequality that made it harder for young people to afford their own homes than in the past.
Where does Nigeria stand
Nigeria ranked 102 in the happiness index. [See full list]
Nigeria ranked 102 in the happiness index. [See full list]
Nigeria ranked 102nd happiest nation in the world with 4.881 points, according to the latest edition of the World Happiness Report released Wednesday.
This represents a drop of seven places from 95th in the 2023 report by Sustainable Development Solutions.
The rise was especially distinct among the old and in Sub-Saharan Africa, reflecting inequalities in “income, education, health care, social acceptance, trust, and the presence of supportive social environments at the family, community and national levels,” the authors said.
Nigerian singer, Kizz Daniel has announced N5 million prize for a challenge on his new song, ‘Showa’.
He made the announcement on his Instagram page.
According to him, the winner of the #SHOWACHALLENGE will be decided by the majority of followers.
Kizz Daniel added that the female winner of the contest would receive N4 million while the male winner would receive N1 million, sparking online excitement.
He posted a video of BBNaija reality TV stars Saga and Modella demonstrating their acting abilities as they took on the music challenge”.
The nostalgic single ‘Showa’ is a deep love ballad from Kizz Daniel’s latest EP album ‘TZA’, which is creating waves on music streaming platforms.
The video showed Saga and Modella expressing their love for one another while wearing several attractive attire and switching between them in sync to the music.
Kizz Daniel captioned the video: “5m for the best duo on this challenge – 4m for the woman, 1m for the man. Y’all be the Judge #SHOWACHALLENGE BY @sagadeolu & @apet_modella”.
Social Media Is A Place Where You Don't Need Formal Training to Know How to be a Fool - Comedian AY Makun
AFOLABIComedian AY Makun has spoken about the bad side of social media.
According to him, social media is now a place where people do not need formal training on how to be a fool.
AY said social media is now a place where people do not care about how others feel.
His post reads
''Social media is now the new king Kong, where feelings are now more important than objective facts. If a foolish person comes out and says something that unlocks the feeling of an audience, he or she gets praised. But if a wise person comes and says something that is contrary to how people want to feel, he or she gets persecuted.
Social media is a place where you don't need formal training to know how to be a fool. You just have to be born foolish and be free enough to express your foolishness. It's a place that gives you confidence even in your ignorance. It is the only place where you can freely express the nothingness of your not knowing close anything before your interferences.
The funny part is that a lot of people carry their ignorance with a lot of class and a lot of confidence based on what they see or feel. But we must also understand that each community is entitled to have a fool or a community of fools that recognizes and accepts the foolishness of others as a brand to submit to. Such foolishness does not stop you from being a man or woman. It does not even stop you from not having fans and followers cut across the strata of different foolish endeavors.
Having said that, more foolish people will continue to evaluate their performances in the space by creating sensationalism and negative viral content for the entertainment pleasures of their different audiences. But as long as foolish individuals do not care about the stress, pain, anxiety, loneliness, and depression they bring you, the more it is also very important for them to enjoy the consequences of their actions."
More...
On Tuesday, Zenith Bank Plc announced the appointment of Dame Adaora Umeoji as the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (GMD/CEO), effective from June 2024.
She is the first female to lead the bank.
Her appointment is, however, subject to the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Umeoji will take over from the current GMD, Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, whose time in office expires on May 31.
Here are things to know about Adaora Umeoji
1. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Jos,
2. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, and first-class honours in Law from Baze University Abuja.
3. She’s a Master of Laws graduate from the University of Salford, United Kingdom.
4. She also bagged a Master in Business Administration from the University of Calabar.
5. Umeoji joined Zenith Bank in 1998, and since joining the bank, she headed the marketing group Maitama branch and went on to be the deputy zonal head of the Abuja Zone.
6. She then became executive director in charge of Abuja and Middle Belt Zones of the Bank.
7. She was appointed to the board on October 9, 2012.
8. She is an alumnus of Harvard Business School.
9. She attended the strategic thinking and management program at Wharton Business School, USA.
10. She holds a certificate in Economics for Business from the prestigious MIT Management Sloan School and a Certificate in Leading Global Businesses from Harvard Business School, USA.
11. She is a fellow of professional bodies including the Chartered Bankers Institute of London, the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, the Institute of Credit Administration, the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Nigeria, the Institute of Chartered Meditators & Conciliators, and the Institute of Chartered Secretaries & Administrators of Nigeria, among others.
12. Beyond banking, Umeoji founded the Catholic Bankers Association of Nigeria (CBAN), a platform she uses to promote ethical banking and service to humanity.
13. She is a peace advocate of the United Nations (UN-POLAC), and a Lady of the Order of Knights of St. John International (KSJI).
14. She was recently awarded a Papal Knight of the Order of St. Sylvester by His Holiness Pope Francis.
15. In 2022, the Federal Government honoured her with Officer of the Order of Nigeria as a recognition of her contributions to nation-building.
Nigerian actress Doris Ogala has said no right thinking family will allow their son marry a babymama.
She spoke while warning people against comparing themselves to reality star, Queen Atang who recently got married to longtime lover.
According to her, babymamas are witches.
She noted that no reasonable mother and sister would allow or watch their sons and brothers marry a witch (Baby Mamas).
She wrote: “All the baby mama witches have crawled out of their covens.. Abeg no mother or sister will allow their son or brother to marry a witch. ALL OF YOU WITCHES SHOULD NOT COMPARE YOURSELVES TO BBN QUEEN. See witches ooo”.
Seventh Day Adventist Church Loses Bid To Stop Conduct Of Elections, Examinations On Saturdays
AFOLABIJustice James Kolawole Omotoso of the Federal High Court in Abuja has thrown out a lawsuit brought against the Federal Government, aiming to prohibit the conduct of elections and examinations on Saturdays in Nigeria.
The suit instituted by the Seventh Day Adventist Church of Nigeria was thrown out by the Judge on ground of being frivolous, vexatious, irritating and baseless.
The church had claimed that Saturday is its Sabbath day of worship and that fundamental rights of its members are being brutally breached by the conduct of elections and examinations on Saturdays.
The plaintiff then sought order of the Court to prohibit the Federal Government of Nigeria from further conducting elections and examinations on the Sabbath day so as to stop disruption of their rights to worship.
However, Justice Omotoso, in his judgment on Wednesday, held that the fundamental rights being claimed by the church were not at large and cannot be curtailed by government policy.
Besides, the Judge held that the Seventh Day Adventist Church is in the minority in Nigeria and cannot impose its doctrine on the majority of other religious denominations in the country.
Details later...
A nurse treating patients at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, has died due to an outbreak of Lassa fever.
A source at the hospital said the nurse, Ewogu Nkechi, died last weekend and was buried immediately based on Lassa fever control protocol.
She had been attached to the emergency department of AE-FUTHA since December 2019. She was a graduate of Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, and hailed from the Ikwo Local Government Area of the State.
When contacted for his reaction, the Commissioner for Health in Ebonyi State, Dr. Moses Ekuma, confirmed the outbreak of Lassa fever in the state, saying the state epidemiologist and other health personnel are on top of the outbreak.
“Actually, there is an outbreak of Lassa Fever. It is not only in Ebonyi State. It affected other places more especially those areas that are prone to the outbreak. The state epidemiologist and other health team are on top of it to ensure its prevention and control,” he said.