FEATURES
A fan of English football club, Arsenal, has been shot dead by a security guard while celebrating the team’s victory over Manchester United, in Uganda.
Another fan was injured as the guard opened fire on a large crowd of jubilant supporters at a restaurant in Lukaya town in central Uganda, about 100km (62 miles) from the capital Kampala.
It happened towards the end of the match, which Arsenal won 2-0.
A local journalist told the BBC that the building’s manager was angered by the noise that the jubilant supporters were making and asked the guard to intervene.
However, the fans did not heed a warning to quiet down.
Witnesses told the journalist, Farish Magembe, that the owner switched off the power in the restaurant, angering the fans, who responded by making even more noise.
It was then that the guard allegedly opened fire, firing several shots.
The victim, identified as 30-year-old John Ssenyonga, died at the scene.
Another long-term Arsenal fan, Lawrence Mugejera, was taken to hospital for treatment.
Both the guard and the manager of the building are on the run after the incident, with the police looking for them.
The regional police spokesman, Twaha Kasirye, was quoted by the Daily Monitor newspaper as saying that they had recovered a gun at the scene.
“We condemn the incident and we ask anyone with information that can help the police to bring the suspect to book to speak up,” he said.
He also urged fans to control their excitement.
I Worked As A Bus Conductor For 8 Years In Lagos To Make Ends Meet – Actor, Ibrahim Chatta Reveals
AFOLABI
Nollywood actor Ibrahim Chatta has spoken about his past struggles before becoming famous.
He revealed that he worked as a bus conductor for eight years.
According to the star, he also lived in a room with 9 people, and it was difficult.
The actor opened up in an interview with his colleague, Biola Bayo, for her Talk to B podcast
He said:
“I lived in a room with 9 people and it was difficult. I do walk from Agege to Ikeja back then. I became a bus conductor later. I did it for eight years of my life. Working from Iyan Oba, Oshodi Eko, from one bus to another. I have worked so hard in life, may God crown my effort”.
Media
Tragedy struck late Thursday night as a fatal motor accident claimed the lives of five people in the General Gas Area of Akobo, Ibadan, Oyo State.
Reports indicate that the collision involved a commercial Nissan Micra carrying five passengers and a long truck.
The identities of the driver and passengers involved in the crash are yet to be confirmed.
Details surrounding the circumstances of the incident remain unclear as of the time of this report. Further updates are expected.
A 28-year-old bank official, Adewumi Bolaji Gabriel, has been arrested by the Katsina State Police Command for the alleged theft of N18 million from a customer through an ATM.
The suspect, an Assistant Operations Officer at a New Generation bank, is accused of conspiring with a friend, David Mesioye, to carry out the theft.
The spokesperson of the command, ASP Abubakar Aliyu, confirmed the arrest during a briefing at the Police Headquarters in Katsina on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
The arrest came after a complaint was filed by the victim, Okojie Herbert, who reported the theft to the authorities.
“Following the receipt of a complaint from one Okojie Hubert Erayomon, m, an Assistant Head of Operation at Bank Daura Branch, on a suspected case of fraud against one Adewumi Bolaji Gabriel, m, age 28, of Daura LGA, the Head of ATM at Bank Daura branch, Daura LGA, Katsina,” the PPRO stated.
"The suspect criminally conspired with a friend, one David Mesioye, a staff member of Bank Kafur Branch, now at large, to steal the sum of eighteen million one hundred and sixty-four thousand naira (₦18,164,000.00) from customer’s bank account.
"The suspect, Head of ATM, who was responsible for managing the bank’s ATM operations at the branch, conspired with his friend to steal the sum of N18 million from the bank. The suspects used their expertise in the bank’s operations to carry out the theft, which was discovered during an audit.
“In the course of the investigation, the suspect confessed to the commission of the offence as the following exhibits were recovered from the suspect: the sum of N10,180,000.00k from his different bank accounts. Physical cash of N366,900 and other valuables’’.
“The suspect will be charged in court upon completion of the investigation."
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has reiterated that the Islamic religion is not against the education of the girl-child.
Speaking at the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project in Bauchi, organized by the Ministry of Education with World Bank support, the Sultan called for a shift in social and cultural norms that hinder girls' education, particularly in the northeastern region.
Themed “Overcoming Social and Cultural Norms on Girl Education in the North East Zone: Roles of Traditional and Religious Leaders,” the event highlighted barriers to girl-child education.
“Islam is not against the education of the girl-child,” the Sultan stated. “The key is educating people about its importance. Educating girls equips them to better society, care for themselves, their families, and their communities, regardless of ethno-religious differences.”
The Sultan also called on northern governors to prioritize funding for education to address the issue. He noted observing children hawking during school hours and stressed the importance of ensuring all children have access to formal education.
A notorious fraudster, Bishir Abdullahi, has been arrested by the Katsina State Police Command after he was caught with 14 stolen Automated Teller Machine (ATM) debit cards and accused of defrauding his victims of over N2.7 million.
The arrest, made by an alert police officer at a Bank branch in Tudun Katsira area of Katsina, unveiled a sophisticated scheme of ATM card swapping and fraudulent withdrawals targeting unsuspecting bank customers across the State.
The spokesperson of the command, Sadiq Abubakar, paraded the suspect alongside others arrested for various crimes at the police headquarters on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
According to the PPRO, the 37-year-old suspect had used the stolen ATM cards to withdraw amounts ranging from N49,000 to N900,000 from victims’ bank accounts.
Preliminary investigations linked him to multiple incidents, with a total of N2.7 million stolen.
The Nollywood industry in 2024 had a high number of deaths as several prominent actors whose talents defined the movie industry succumbed to death.
These late Nollywood actors will forever remain in the hearts of their fans as they show unique talents, fun, and depth in their roles.
In this article, Niaja News highlights Nollywood actors who died in 2024.
1. Olofa Ina: Veteran Yoruba Nollywood actor, Deji Aderemi, better known as Olafa Ina, died on January 4, 2024, at age 73, after a long battle with cancer. His work continues to be celebrated for capturing the essence of Yoruba culture and tradition.
Olofa Ina
2. Ekpe Ethel: The Nigerian actress, passed on February 7, 2024, after a prolonged illness due to cancer.
Ekpe gained fame for her role in Basi and Company, a classic Nigerian sitcom where she showcased her comedic talent.
Ethel Ekpe
3. Jimi Solanke: The actor cum poet and playwright better known for his works on Tales by Moonlight, died on February 5, 2024, after a prolonged illness related to old age.
4. Sisi Quadri: Comic Yoruba actor, Tolani Quadri Oyebamiji, popularly known as Sisi Quadri, died on March 1, at the general hospital in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, where he was receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness
Quadri’s death coincides with the release date of a Netflix movie, Anikulapo: Rise of the Specter, where he played one of the three ghosts in the mystic epic series directed by Kunle Afolayan.
5. Mr Ibu: John Okafor, an icon in comedy who delighted fans with his humorous portrayals of everyday life, died in a hospital in Lagos State on Saturday, March 2.
The late movie star suffered a cardiac arrest following a prolonged battle with diabetes, which led to severe complications.
6. Amaechi Muonagor: At the time, Nollywood was still mourning Mr Ibu and Sisi Quadri, the death of Muonagor hit the industry.
The actor had struggled with kidney disease and appealed to Nigerians for financial help to support his treatment before he died on March 24, 2024, at the age of 62.
7. Adejumoke Ademeron: Popularly known for her role as Esther in the hit TV series Jenifa’s Diary, Adejumoke passed away on April 6, 2024, at the age of 40 due to an undisclosed illness.
8. Junior Pope: The death of Pope Odonwodo, popularly known as Junior Pope, shocked fans and colleagues, emphasising the risks actors faced during movie production.
The late thespian passed away alongside three others after their boat capsized in the Anam River in Anambra State while returning from movie locations.
9. Zulu Adigwe: The veteran Nollywood star died on April 24, two weeks after Junior Pope and three other Nollywood actors died in a boat accident in Anam River.
10: Charles Olumo: Veteran Yoruba actor, Pa Charles Olumo Sanyaolu, fondly known as Agbako, passed away at 101 on October 31st, 2024.
Renowned as the oldest actor in Nigeria’s film industry, his life and career impacted the nation’s cultural heritage.
The House of Representatives member for Oredo Constituency of Edo State, Esosa Iyawe, has said his defection from the Labour Party (LP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was in line with his political interests.
Iyawe and three other House members of the LP defected to the ruling APC citing leadership crisis.
Esosa Iyawe pointed out that he was uncomfortable with the Labour Party’s leadership crisis and numerous court cases against its leadership.
In a statement on Thursday, the first-time lawmaker in the 10th House of Representatives since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999, stated that his defection was after consulting with family and constituent members.
“I am writing to formally tender my resignation as a member of Labour Party (LP), effective immediately. This decision was reached after careful consideration of my personal convictions and the alignment of my values with the political landscape today.
“My decision to resign from LP is as a result of the party’s inability to declare who should emerge as the legitimate Caretaker Committee from the National to State levels. More so, due the incessant tussle rocking the leadership of the party and the numerous perpetual Court cases against the Leadership of the party; myself and my supporters are in a state of confusion as to the Party’s stability in leadership.
“With regards to my right to freedom of association as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended); I hereby wish to notify you of my defection from the Labour Party (LP) to the All Progressive Congress (APC) whose ideas align with my political aspirations and ideology. This is after due consultations with my family and supporters,” Iyawe said.
He, however, thanked LP for giving him the platform. He commended the party’s contribution to the nation’s democracy.
“I hereby re-emphasize my resolve to continue my service and representation to my people as this decision will certainly improve my past performance at all levels.
“I thank the leadership and fellow members of Labour Party (LP) for the support, collaboration, and opportunities provided to me during my membership. I leave with gratitude and respect for the party’s efforts and contributions to our democracy,” Iyawe added.
Probes collapse of national grid, DisCos
THE Senate has begun a probe into the activities of Generation Companies, GenCos, the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, and Distribution Companies, DisCos, for failing to deliver reliable electricity, describing the power sector as a total failure.
It also strongly criticised the power sector operators, saying they have added no significant value to the sector, and threatened to come up with legislative measures, including new laws and total repeal of the policy.
It equally noted that the privatization introduced in 2013 has plunged Nigeria deeper into darkness, leaving citizens without solutions.
The Upper directed the Senate Committee on Power, led by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, APGA, Abia South, to conduct a holistic investigation into the challenges of the sector and come up with recommendations that should cover possible reversal of the privatisation and declaration of an emergency in the power sector and report at plenary in six weeks.
The condemnation of the power sector yesterday was sequel to the presentation of a report by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, that investigated frequent national grid collapses and related issues.
In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, said in annoyance: “They have added no value at all.’’
Akpabio and other senators lampooned the power sector, especially the DisCos as they expressed anger, saying the operators had forced Nigeria more into darkness since 2013 when the policy took off, leaving the citizenry “helpless.”
Akpabio said: “Why do state governors and communities buy transformers, hand them over DisCos and still pay for installation?
“The people who took over (power sector) are just making money from those transformers and they are not adding value at all.
“Why do we hand over GenCos and the TCN can’t move what they generate? Why are DisCos not investing in transformers, or we have to pay the DisCos for transformers bought by Nigerians?
“We can make the laws, we can reverse the laws and ask the Federal Government to take back those things from them.”
Presenting the report, Senator Abaribe, who attributed the persistent grid failures to factors such as aging infrastructure, abandoned projects worth trillions of naira, regulatory inefficiencies, security lapses, lack of modern monitoring systems, such as SCADA, and inadequate financial oversight, said despite substantial investments in electricity infrastructure, the grid had suffered 105 collapses over the past decade.
He revealed the significant costs incurred during grid failures, particularly in restarting power plants.
The committee reported that each time the grid collapsed, it would cost the nation around $25million or N42billion to restart its three generating plants.
The committee recommended decisive actions by government, including making saboteurs both within and outside the system pay heavily for their culpability.
According to the report, restarting a plant after a grid collapse (known as a “black start”) is considerably more expensive than normal operations.
‘’For instance, while running costs for a plant like Azura, Delta, or Shiroro are approximately $105,000, restarting costs can reach $7 million per incident. Collectively, grid collapses cost Nigeria an estimated ¦ 42.5 billion for these three plants alone, with broader implications for the entire power sector,’’ the report said.
The report emphasised that the national grid, over 50 years old, was outdated and in urgent need of modernization to meet current operational standards.
Abaribe also noted other pressing issues, including operational inefficiencies, abandoned projects, regulatory gaps, security challenges, and the absence of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition, SCADA, systems essential for real-time monitoring and management.
“Whenever a plant is shut down, they restart the plant and to restart it which they call a black start, it cost far more that running the plant.
“While it cost $105,000 to run the plant, to restart it will cost $7m. So for anytime we have a shut down occasioned by grid collapse, three plants in Nigeria, three plants in Nigeria that supply most of our electricity, Azura, Delta and Shiroro, to restart the plant cost Nigeria $25m or ¦ 42.5bn and if we expand it yo the rest of the operating plants in Nigeria, it is actually not quantifiable.
“Aging infrastructure has been identified as a critical factor contributing to frequent grid failures. Many components of the grid are outdated and have not undergone necessary maintenance or upgrades, leading to increased vulnerability to failures,’’ Abaribe said.
In his contribution, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, APC, Edo North, who criticised the privatisation policy as flawed and exploitative, said it imposed undue financial burdens on Nigerians
He said: “The DisCos are out for profit, while they make our people suffer. I never imagined that a private person will collect money for services he did not render and Nigerians are helpless.”
He recounted a personal experience of having to purchase a transformer and pay for its installation, only for it to become the property of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, AEDC.
Oshiomhole called for a comprehensive review of the privatisation policy, in line with the administration’s “Renewed Hope Agenda.”
“After the procurement, it becomes the property of AEDC (Abuja Electricity Distribution Company).
I even had to pay money from my pocket to connect the transformer to the grid.
“We have to revisit this ill-advised privatisation and we are going to advise Mr President, in line with his Renewed Hope Agenda, to review the power sector privatisation.”
On his part, Senator Abdul Ningi, PDP, Bauchi Central, who noted that the ongoing failures in the power sector persisted due to a lack of accountability, however, argued that without sanctions for lapses, the sector’s inefficiencies would remain unaddressed.
Ningi said: “Over the years, nobody has been punished for the lapses in the power sector. Reports alone without sanctions will not allow Nigeria make any headway. The implication is that the problems will continue.”
Following series of debates, the Senate stood down the consideration of the report and gave Abaribe’s committee additional six weeks to do a holistic investigation into the issues in the power sector and report back in six weeks for further legislative actions.
The Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has lamented the carting away of an unspecified quantity of rice by some yet-to-be-identified criminals after invading the state Government’s farm in the Jangwa community of Awe Local Government Area of the state.
Sule disclosed this when he received a delegation of sons and daughters of Azara community led by His Royal Highness, Sarkin Azara, Dr. Kabiru Musa Ibrahim at the Government House, Lafia on Thursday.
A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Addra, quoted the governor as saying, “Whereas the state government is pleased with the yield recorded, it is however saddened by the level of theft recorded during the harvest.”
Sule, therefore, decried the activities of the unscrupulous elements who were stealing harvested rice from the government-owned farm in Jangwa, Awe LGA.
He described the situation as very unfortunate, noting that such magnitude of theft was happening at a time when the state was doing everything possible to bring relief to the people and boost food security in the state and beyond.
Sule used the opportunity to warn all those involved in the unwholesome practice to desist henceforth as the state government would not hesitate to deal decisively with anyone caught.
He, however, assured the state that, “We will not be deterred. We are determined that Nasarawa State, being an agricultural state, that the government must be at the forefront in agricultural activities.”
The governor further thanked the traditional rulers and people of the area for their cooperation towards the successes recorded on the farm since the government’s agricultural programme began in the area.
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Senators from the South-South geopolitical zone have endorsed the contentious Tax Reform Bills pending before the National Assembly.
In a statement signed on behalf of the group by Senator Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa West), the lawmakers have highlighted the importance of the bills in enhancing national revenue.
The statement said, “Recognising the importance of tax reforms in enhancing national revenue and fostering economic stability, we resolved to support the Tax Reforms Bills.
“This support will be anchored on a comprehensive study and thorough evaluation of the content of the Bills to ensure they align with the overall interest of Nigerians, particularly the well-being of the South-South region.
“The Caucus calls for restraint on the part of those bent on introducing sentiments, whether regional, ethnic or tribal to a national dialogue and looks forward to robust interactions and consultations as already commenced by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We remain committed to working collaboratively with our colleagues across the Senate and all stakeholders in fostering a legislative agenda that guarantees the peace, prosperity, and progress of our beloved nation.”
According to them, their support for the bills stems from a shared commitment to boosting national revenue and driving economic growth.
The senators, who cut across party lines, also expressed their unflinching support and confidence in the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio.
“After a meeting held on the 4th of December, 2024, we, the senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from the South-South geopolitical zone, met on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, to deliberate on key national issues and the role of the Senate in advancing the collective interest of the country. After extensive discussions, the following resolutions were made:
“The South-South senators unanimously agreed and passed a vote of confidence in the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to standing by him and supporting his leadership in steering the Senate toward its constitutional mandate of making laws that serve the best interests of the nation and its citizens.
“We pledge our full support to the Senate President and the leadership of the National Assembly in their efforts to ensure the effective and timely passage of legislation aimed at promoting good governance, national unity, and economic development.
The communiqué was signed by Senator Seriake Dickson (Chairman), Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe (Secretary), Senator Barinada Mpigi, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, Senator Neda Imasuen, Senator Munir Ned Nwoko, Senator Thomas Joel-Onowakpo, Senator Aniekan Bassey, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, and Senator Allwell Onyeso.
Others include Senator Ipalibo Banigo, Senator Benson Agadaga, Senator Konbowei Benson, Senator Eteng Jonah Williams, Senator Ekong Sampson, and Senator Ede Dafinone.
Dele Farotimi’s book, ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System,’ has become a bestseller on Amazon Books as the human rights advocate faces legal action over the publication.
The book is ranked 555 out of all books on the e-commerce website and is number one in elections.
The book also topped Amazon’s charts in general elections, political process, and political commentary and opinion.
Customer reviews rated the book 4.9 out of five stars.
Published on July 2, Farotimi examined how affluent Nigerians allegedly manipulated the country’s judicial system for their interests.
However, his description of the country’s legal landscape has become a subject matter in a law court.
On Wednesday, Farotimi was arraigned in a magistrate court in Ado-Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti state, for allegedly “criminally defaming” Afe Babalola, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), named in the book.
The activist pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Samson Osun, the police prosecutor, asked the court to remand Farotimi pending further investigation.
Dayo Akeredolu, counsel to Farotimi, opposed the remand request and prayed the court to admit the activist on bail under liberal terms and self-recognition.
Akeredolu’s bail application was rejected.
Abayomi Adeosun, the magistrate, ruled that Farotimi be remanded in prison custody till December 10.
Hours after the legal proceedings, Roving Heights, a bookstore, announced that its website crashed.
The bookstore said the technical glitch was caused by “unusual traffic and a spike in demand for some titles”.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has stressed the need for the people to end corruption in Nigeria before the practice does more harm to the country.
The anti-graft agency asserted that corruption has severely undermined Nigeria’s economic and social fabric, urging citizens to demonstrate the bravery necessary to expose corrupt practices.
Naija News reports that Ekere Usiere, the Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner for the Commission, emphasized this during an event in Yenagoa commemorating Anti-Corruption Day.
The Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board organized the event.
In her presentation titled From Fear To Courage: Overcoming Barriers To Whistleblowing In Nigeria, Usiere warned that without the courage to confront corruption, Nigeria faces the peril of being overwhelmed by it in the foreseeable future.
She stressed that to combat corruption effectively, the nation must adopt a mindset of courage and reject fear.
She said, “There is no gainsaying that the scourge of corruption has brought Nigeria to its knees, from economic underdevelopment to socio-political decadence. If we don’t kill corruption, corruption will definitely kill Nigeria. That is why we need an effective whistleblower mechanism as a critical tool to fight against corruption.
“To effectively blow the whistle against corruption, we, the citizens, need courage. The absence of fear is simply the definition of courage. Citizens need to overcome cultural, psychological and systemic challenges to blow the whistle against corruption and other ills bedevilling our country, Nigeria.
“This programme is therefore a timely and welcome development. The aim of this paper is to charge participants to obliterate fear from their mindset and embrace courage in order to blow the whistle against corruption. If we must fight corruption in Nigeria and reduce it to the barest minimum, then we must put on the armour of courage to surmount the fear of whistleblowing.
“If you see something, you must say something! If you hear something, you must say something.”
Earlier, the Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Felix Ogbe, commended the Anti Corruption and Transparency Unit for the excellent job done in putting the event together while reiterating his resolve to staff to protect the institution from all forms of corrupt tendencies through preventive strategies.
His words: “Today, we are marking and celebrating the International Anti-Corruption Day, with a focus on raising the consciousness of our youths to the ills of corruption and how it turns the socio-economic development of any nation.
“This is to send a strong message for extra-vigilance by all of us in combating the menace. In NCDMB, we have taken deliberate steps to curb corruption. We have provided adequate support to our ACTU members by providing a functional office and giving them a free hand to discharge their functions.
“In the area of capacity building and awareness, we have deepened our participation in the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria through capacity building training for staff, including training in corruption prevention techniques, strategies for effective workplace anti-corruption campaign, bribery and corruption risk assessment, etc.; all these underline the board stance against corruption.
“In the area of system check, we have instituted corrupt risk assessment probing major functions of the board including human resources, procurement, monitory, evaluation, planning, research and statistics, all in a bid to mitigate vulnerability to corruption across the board.”
‘You’ll Weep, You Don’t Have A Future’ – Lawmaker Tells Colleagues Who Dumped Labour Party For APC
AFOLABI
The Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, George Ibezimako Ozodinobi (LP, Anambra), has condemned the decision of some Labour Party (LP) lawmakers to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ozodinobi, who spoke shortly after the Speaker announced the defection of his colleagues during plenary on Thursday, said the defectors would weep.
He added that they don’t have a future in the new party they crossed to.
Recalls four Labour Party (LP) House of Representative members defected to the APC as announced during plenary on Thursday by the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas.
The lawmakers who defected to APC are Esosa Iyawe (Edo), Tochukwu Okere (Imo), Donatus Matthew (Kaduna), and Bassey Akiba (Cross River).
Also, a lawmaker, Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu (Delta), dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the APC.
The now-former Labour Party lawmakers cited division within their party as the main reason for their defection.
Reacting to the development, Ozodinobi raised a point of order on the floor of the House and, in his comment, expressed disappointment with his colleagues who had just left the LP.
“I will quote the Bible. When Jesus was carrying the cross to the Calvary, the woman, Veronica, was weeping. And he looked back and said, women of Israel, don’t weep for me, weep for yourself.
“I am telling those who have defected that they will continue weeping for themselves because where you have crossed over to, you don’t have a future,” he said.