A near-fatal incident was averted on Wednesday after the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, and his family escaped being killed in a fire incident at his official residence in Abuja.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, who insinuated that the incident was an assassination attempt.
Ifoh stated that though the LP National Chairman and his family did not sustain any serious injury, the victims were rushed to a private health facility for medical treatment.
The statement read, “The National Chairman of the Labour Party, Barrister Julius Abure, early this morning allegedly escaped an assassination attempt on him at his Abuja residence. His residence was also gutted by a mysterious fire which started a few minutes after 1 am while Abure and the members of his family were asleep.
“According to a member of the family, who narrated the incident, the family was woken up by neighbours and seurity men living in the compound who raised the alarm. The entire family was trapped as the inferno had reached the staircase, making it impossible for Abure and his family to escape.
“However, it took divine intervention for the national chairman and his family to escape after neighbours and security men gallantly pulled down one of the windows upstairs, making way for the family to escape.
“Men of the fire service arrived shortly after Abure and his family were evacuated.
“Abure and his family were rushed to a private hospital where they are presently receiving treatment. Their condition is however stable.”
The Abure and the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress have been embroiled in tussle for the control of Labour Party.
The NLC, under the leadership of Joe Ajaero, had recently picked LP state offices nationwide in an attempt to force Abure out.
Abure alleged that the NLC members vandalised and carted away party property during the protest.
Gospel artiste Nathaniel Bassey has petitioned Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun to investigate and prosecute four individuals who falsely accused him of being the father of Mercy Chinwo’s child.
Bassey’s legal representatives submitted the petition on April 1, 2024, alleging criminal defamation and cyberstalking against the individuals identified as Okoronkwo Ejike, Kingsley Ibeh, Terrence Ekot, and Dj Spoiltkid.
Last week, these four social media users alleged that Bassey fathered the child of fellow popular gospel singer Mercy Chinwo, leading to the spread of the false accusation on X (formerly Twitter).
Bassey’s legal team stressed the severity of the matter, highlighting how such baseless accusations not only damage Bassey’s reputation but also have far-reaching consequences on both personal and professional fronts.
The petition read, “Our client is a gospel music minister whose songs and ministrations have impacted the lives of so many from different walks of life across the globe.
“On Friday, the 29th day of March 2024, Mercy Chinwo Blessed, another popular gospel music minister, and her husband posted pictures of their son and themselves on different social media platforms.
“However, our client was disheartened, saddened, and grossly disturbed to find that the above-mentioned suspects, as mischief makers with a criminal intent to destroy the image and character of our client, had made different social media posts of defamatory matter, calling our client ‘the father of minister Mercy Chinwo Blessed’s son,’ a woman who is married to another man.
“The post by Mr. Okoronkwo Ejike has since gone viral on the platform. In reaction to the post, Mr. Kingsley Ibeh commented on Mr. Okoronkwo’s post with a picture of our client with the caption ‘The real father of the baby.
“In a post on the platform “X” formerly known as Twitter, “Dj SpoiltKid” a verified X user, quoted the statement by Okoronkwo Ejike along with a screenshot of the post and added, ‘When are we doing a DNA test?’
“In another post, Mr. Terrence Ekot, on the platform “X” made a post thus: ‘Take a look at the stunning resemblance of mercy chinwo’s son and Nathaniel Bassey. Though the duo has been working together on several projects in the past..what do you have to say?” (sic).
The lawyers argued that the social media posts by the four individuals amounted to character assassination.
They said the actions violated Sections 373 and 375 of the Criminal Code Act, along with Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act.
“The consequences of making such statements on social media have been known to tarnish the reputations of individuals, render marriages unstable, and many never recover from them. International reputation is an asset—both for the individual and for the nation—and it takes time to acquire.
“Consequently, we urge you to use your good offices to, in the interest of justice, investigate this matter, arrest, and bring the suspect to justice, which will serve as a deterrent to others,” the petition added.
The Department of State Services, on Wednesday, obtained a court order to detain a Nigerian, Emmanuel Osase, who is accused of being a member of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja said the DSS could detain the suspect for 60 days.
The order followed an ex parte application, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/409/2024, taken before the judge by a DSS lawyer, A. A. Ugee.
Ugee told the court that the matter was brought pursuant to Section 66(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
He prayed the court for an order enabling the applicant to detain the suspect for 60 days pending the conclusion of investigation.
Ruling, Justice Ekwo, a vacation judge, granted the application.
He said, “Upon studying the averments in the affidavit, I hereby grant the relief as prayed. “
The judge subsequently adjourned till June 3 for further proceedings.
Osase, who was arrested on March 11, was accused of propagating ISIS messages, opposing the democratic system of government in Nigeria, and calling for terrorist attacks on Nigeria and its symbols of sovereignty.
In a March 27, 2024 affidavit, Ahmad Abubakar of the DSS Legal Service Department, Abuja, said the suspect needed to be detained because his release would jeopardise the DSS investigation.
He said, “The respondent was arrested by a team of personnel from the applicant’s office for alleged membership and propagation of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria terrorist messages, including opposition to the democratic system of government and the call for staging terrorist attacks against the Nigerian state and its symbols of sovereignty.”
Abubakar stated that Osase was jailed for five years for terrorism-related offences in France and was deported after the completion of his sentence.
Abubakar added, “Preliminary investigation revealed that the respondent, who is an ex-convict, still engages in terrorist activities which previously led to his conviction in France.
“The respondent appears not to have renounced his terrorist ideologies, as he continues to engage with the proscribed pro-ISIS online media group known as ‘al-Alawn Media Foundation,’ whose main objective is the creation and dissemination of terrorist content and the promotion of terrorist attacks against the democratic systems of Nigeria and the Western governments, including their interests across the globe.
“The respondent, who was born in the Federal Capital Territory, left Nigeria for France and never returned to Nigeria until his deportation after completion of a five-year jail term in France for acts of terrorism and attempt to join the Islamic State (IS) linked terrorist group, Friqat Al-Ghuraba (group of foreigners) in Syria.
“The respondent at the point of arrest, formatted his mobile device to factory settings upon sighting security agents ostensibly to wipe out any suspicious contents on the device and cover up his nefarious activities.
“The activities of the respondent constitute a potent threat to national security and corporate existence of Nigeria.
“The release of the respondent at this time would jeopardise the investigation, as investigation has assumed a wider dimension.
“There is a need for a thorough investigation of the suspect to ensure that he does not pose any security threat to Nigeria or the world at large
“The respondent is helping with vital information that will lead to the arrest of other members who are still at large.”
The Nigeria Police Force announced that its officers will cease the practice of torturing suspects upon their arrest and detention.
The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi stated this in an interview on Channels Television on Tuesday.
His comment comes after the report of arrest of some suspected killers of the Divisional Police Officer in Rivers State.
According to the Force spokesperson, the police are now conscious of the provisions of the Anti-torture Act 2017 and conducting professional interviews.
Adejobi said the police do not need to torture anybody to get needed information, noting that though it may take them time to get information from suspects, they will surely get the information.
He said, “We don’t torture in the police again. That era has gone. We are actually carrying out what we call interview and interrogation sessions in a professional way to get them.
“We are conscious of the provisions Anti-torture Act of 2017. We don’t need to torture anybody. It may take us time to get information from them but we will surely get information from them.”
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has warned that he will surprise those who consider his honest decision to implement the presidential peace pact as a sign of weakness.
Governor Fubara said he had been inundated with several comments in the media about the implementation of the peace initiative, and had chosen to be silent out of maturity and wisdom.
But, he said, it was important to put the records straight for clarity, and explained that when President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu intervened in the political crisis that engulfed the State on October 30, 2023, the agreement that was accepted was a political solution.
Governor Fubara said, he had since then commenced implementation of the agreement, solely because of his respect for President Tinubu, but cautioned that it appears that other political actors have taken his humility and compliance as a sign of weakness.
The Governor said: "Let me say it here for record purposes: What is happening here in our dear State is somebody who has respect for an elder.
"Mr. President invited all the parties to Abuja, and came out with a resolution that we should go and implement. That resolution, I am implementing it. It is not a constitutional implementation. It is a political solution to a problem.
"And I am doing it because of the respect I have for Mr President. But, let me say it here, if that action that I have accepted to take would be seen as a weakness, I will surprise them. I want this message to go to them."
Governor Fubara, who had received members of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) from the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State on a solidarity rally at Government House Gate, in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, said their large number further goes to prove the nature of the organic support his Administration has continued to enjoy from the people of the State.
"Some days ago, somebody said we are busy renting crowd for thanksgiving. But what I have seen here today, it's not different from what is happening at those thanksgiving rallies. People are just appreciating God and good governance."
Governor Fubara stated that he was mindful of the legacy he would bequeath after his tenure, adding "It should also be about the lives that have been touched genuinely; about the policies implemented without any inducement to better the lives of the people and the society."
The Governor urged the people to continue to support his Administration, show understanding over actions taken, and obey the rules in a peaceful manner.
"When you are doing what is right, I will stand by you. Nobody, whether full or half is going to intimidate you. Brace up, I say brace up, because the next step, it will be fire for fire in Rivers State. Everything will be implemented."
Governor Fubara said that already, local government workers have started receiving ₦30,000.00 minimum wage with promotion to be implemented beginning from April's salary payment.
He also promised to set in motion plans to finalise modalities for the implementation of the Consolidated Salary Scale for Grade Level 17, and regular payment of benefits to the local government service retirees.
"For our people, the great and wonderful people of Rivers State, we will continue to lead you with the fear of God.
"Maturity is not about age, maturity is in the person. It is what defines the character of a person. I choose not to respond to people that I assumed are matured, but are obviously immature in attitude.
"I will continue to be mature, not minding my age, but I will not, for any reason, allow myself or anybody who is working with me in this Administration to be messed with, maltreated or abused in the cause of administering this governance."
Signed Nelson Chukwudi Chief Press Secretary to the Rivers State Governor
Pursuant to the avowed resolve of his administration to remain open, transparent and consistently accountable to the people, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State on Saturday, 25 March, held a well-attended townhall meeting with citizens and residents of the state. It was, once again, a time for the governor to render account of his stewardship, almost 10 months after the people gave him their mandate to preside over the affairs of the state.
Typically, Governor Sani was open, blunt and convivial as he interfaced with the people with utmost humility. It was open and participatory governance in full display and the attendees relished every moment of the very crucial meeting. It was therefore with shock that most persons who attended the townhall meeting, received snippets of false narratives that began making the rounds a few hours after, especially to the effect that Governor Sani castigated his predecessor in office, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, at the event. Nothing could be further from the truth. Anyone who was present at the townhall meeting will easily attest to the fact that Governor Sani did not even mention the name of Mallam El Rufai at the meeting. I dare also repudiate in totality, insinuations that at the townhall meeting, subliminal attempts were made by the governor to “expose” or disparage his predecessor. Nothing of such happened.
The general understanding was (and still is) that the townhall meeting was summoned by Governor Sani to personally and compassionately communicate some inevitable policy and programme’s adjustments that his administration had resolved to make in the face of rapidly changing and challenging events. The governor, being the custodian of the sacred mandate of the people, rightly called the meeting, in line with international best practice, to unveil the policy adjustments and to secure their buy-in and of course to take home immediate feedbacks that could further help guide the new direction of the administration.
For starters, it will not be far from the truth to assert that the townhall meeting was triggered by recent events in the state, particularly the unfortunate abduction of 137 school children from the Kuriga community in Chikun Local Government Area of the state. The sad occurrence momentarily placed Kaduna State on not just national but global spotlight. Thankfully, the children have since been safely rescued and returned to the comfort of their respective homes.
Undoubtedly, for Sani and most other right-thinking citizens and residents of Kaduna State, the impetuous and even audacious abduction of such a sizable number of innocent children from their schools by rampaging bandits, among other things, completely changed the dynamics of the administration, going forward. The very discerning and sensitive Sani did not need any special prompting to understand that, for now, the overwhelming consensus is that sustainable safety and security across Kaduna State be accorded huge priority by the government, even as the governor pursues other noble goals.
“The safety and security of our citizens is our topmost priority. The abduction of the Kuriga school children was hurtful and nightmarish. Their return has gladdened our hearts. All praises to Almighty God. The return of the Kuriga school children is a pointer to the fact that when we work collectively, success is guaranteed. The President, National Security Adviser and the Nigerian Army all stood up to be counted. I spent sleepless nights with the NSA finetuning strategies and directing operations. The good people of Kaduna State, and indeed Nigerians from all walks of life prayed ceaselessly for the safe return of the school children,” the governor recalled at the townhall meeting.
Governor Sani then proceeded to unveil a number of urgent measures his administration was putting in place to stave off future attacks, abductions and to generally downgrade the activities of criminal elements that have for so long terrorised the state. “Even as we continue to give the traumatised Kuriga school children all the medical, psychosocial and other support they need. We shall, without delay, commence the implementation of our Safe School Project. We shall merge schools in conflict prone areas with those in safe areas. We shall fence our schools, erect watch towers and draft security personnel to protect the schools and children,” he told the hundreds of attendees at the townhall meeting. The governor was resolute about the urgency of reworking several dilapidated and insecure schools across communities in all the local government areas of the state.
Governor Sani said his administration will be deploying formal and vocational education as potent weapons to curb poverty and insecurity in the state. Education, the governor noted, is a leveler and a tool for economic liberation. “We are determined to decisively address the skills deficits of our people with the construction of Vocational and Technology Skills City in Rigachikun, Samarun Kataf and Soba. We want to reposition our citizens to become competitive in a fast changing and complex world. We want our citizens to have the requisite skills to fill positions in the business concerns we have attracted to the state. We slashed the fees in our tertiary institutions to lessen the burden on parents and ensure that our children continue with their education uninterrupted,” he said.
Aside massively rehabilitating and constructing classrooms in primary and secondary schools across the state, the administration, Sani said, is raising the quality of the state’s teachers through sustained training and retraining. In partnership with Google, Kaduna State is training 5,000 women and girls in Data Science, Artificial Intelligence and Applied Digital Technology, the governor revealed.
To the delight of the attendees, the governor disclosed that the state is strengthening collaboration with security agencies and fashioning more effective strategies to checkmate and degrade the evil elements laying siege on communities in the state. He revealed that Kaduna is closely and intentionally engaging with neighbouring states to develop joint strategies and carry out joint operations against criminal elements that have been crisscrossing states in the North-west of the country, wreaking havoc and subjecting mostly rural communities to untold hardship. He announced that his administration is meticulously putting in place long-lasting and measurable kinetic and non-kinetic options that would deepen safety and security in all parts of Kaduna State.
The governor also told the audience that with full support of the state government, the nation’s Armed Forces have set up Forward Operation Bases in strategic locations across the state.
At the townhall meeting, Sani reiterated his often-held position that opening up the rural communities in the state and linking them to empowerment opportunities and urban economies would drastically downgrade and possibly decimate banditry in Kaduna State. “We have embarked on massive infrastructural development in the rural areas, while carrying out infrastructure upgrades in the urban areas. I have performed the groundbreaking for the construction of 22 roads across the local governments of Kaduna State. About 832 kilometres of roads are currently under construction,” he said.
Considering the cost implications of the enormous and urgent tasks his administration must necessarily undertake, especially in the bid to secure the state for actual development to commence, Governor Sani was very open about the current financial standing of the state. Kaduna State, the governor disclosed, was contending with huge debt burden, stemming largely from deductions from inherited loans. The financial situation, he said, has become so dire that the state is currently unable to pay salaries.
It could be recalled that in May 2023, while handing-over to Senator Uba Sani, the departing governor, El Rufai openly revealed that he was bequeathing a domestic debt of N80.60 billion and a foreign debt of $577.32 million to his successor. El-Rufai was however quick to add that he left N5 billion and $2.05 million in the state’s treasury.
At the March 25th townhall meeting, Governor Sani confirmed that the state is now deeply burdened by an inherited debt portfolio of $587 million, N85 billion and 115 contractual liabilities. The huge debt burden, the governor said, was eating deep into the state’s monthly Federal Allocation of fund, hence the difficulty in paying salaries to the state’s workers in the month of March. He lamented that due to the rise in the exchange rate, Kaduna State is now paying back almost triple of the debts that were inherited.
He explained that N7 billion out of the N10 billion Federal Allocation due to the state in the month of March was deducted to service the debt. The state was left with N3 billion, an amount which is not enough to pay salaries, as the state’s monthly salary bill stands at N5.2 billion. Even Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) is not spared as a popular bank in Nigeria deducts N1 billion every month from the state’s IGR.
In an emotion-laden voice, Sani told the townhall meeting attendees that in his bid to navigate round the debilitating effect of the debt on the smooth running of Kaduna State, he approached President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to help facilitate a reprieve of sorts. He said that a very sympathetic President Tinubu reminded him that Kaduna’s debt was a foreign loan and that there was little or nothing the Federal Government could do. Usually, the Federal Government only functions as guarantor of foreign loans procured by state governments.
Sani however said that despite the humongous debt burden on the state government, he was yet to borrow a single kobo in the last nine months of his administration. He said that in almost 10 months, he has continued to meet all monetary obligations of the administrations with funds he inherited. Evidently, with the huge deductions and exchange rate differentials, it has been very difficult retaining funds in the coffers of the state government.
The governor assured the people that the debt burden not withstanding, his administration remained resolute in steering Kaduna State towards progress and sustainable development. “Despite the huge debt burden inherited from the previous administration, we remain resolute in steering Kaduna State towards progress and sustainable development. We have conducted a thorough assessment of our situation and are sharpening our focus accordingly. I am actually glad to inform you that, despite the huge inherited debts, till date, we have not borrowed a single kobo,” he said.
He also informed the people that on his part, he has been very prudent with the state’s funds. Sani reminded the attendees that he announced that he was taking 50 per cent salary cut the very day he assumed office and that similarly all his commissioners and political aides have all taken huge salary cuts. He noted that most of his commissioners and aides are now much poorer than they were before they took up their respective appointments.
No commissioner in my administration attends any government-funded foreign trip. The few that have had to travel out of compulsion, travelled on Economy Class tickets. As governor, I have not used government funds to buy First Class tickets when I travel. I travel on Business Class or on Economy Class on a number of times that I have had to travel out on official assignments. I have not procured new official cars for commissioners or any of my political aides since I assumed office,” Governor Sani told the audience.
While answering questions from the attendees, Governor Sani bemoaned the actions of contractors engaged by the previous administration to undertake a number of urban renewal projects in the state. “It is a shame that many of the contractors who have been reasonably mobilized have abandoned the jobs they ought to be completing by now. Some of them are even coming to me to be paid more money. I don’t have problem with paying people but I will only pay those who have worked. They must return to site and complete the jobs that they were paid to do,” he said.
Interestingly, the governor had lots of good news to share at the town hall meeting. Chief among these is the fact that his administration has been attracting Direct Foreign Investments and has also been firming up collaborations with reputable organisations and agencies. For one, the very remarkable Qatar Sanabil Project has in such a short period began helping to change the face of Kaduna for good.
According to the governor, under the Qatar Sanabil Project, a Mass Housing Project for the Less Privileged is being undertaken. Apart from houses, there will also be clinics, shops, poultry farms, and farmlands for rainy season and irrigation farming. The flagship project under the Qatar Sanabil Project however is the Kaduna Economic City. When completed, the Economic City will provide world class infrastructure and make Kaduna a reference point in modern accommodation, adequate security and conducive atmosphere for business activities. Through a Public – Private Partnership, Nurus Siraj and Kaduna State Government are developing a 3319 hectares layout at Ungwan Dosa New Extension, Kaduna to provide houses for the people.
He further informed that the Qatar Charity recently carried out an extensive, state – wide free eye surgery for Kaduna citizens; that Zipline has been delivering on-demand medical commodities via drones where needed in due time, saving lives, reducing cost of inventory and serving health facilities across Kaduna State; that the 300 – bed Kaduna ultra – modern Specialist Hospital, a Kaduna State – Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) joint project is nearing completion and that Pfizer is committing $1 million into the Kaduna health sector to help in the distribution of health commodities, especially vaccines and blood.
“We have attracted and still attracting investors and partners. Kaduna State Government has a long standing partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). This relationship has over the years yielded positive outcomes in the state particularly in addressing the issues of maternal and child mortality, malnutrition, water and sanitation, amongst others. Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation supported the Kaduna State Government in the development of the Kaduna Agricultural Sector Strategy for Achieving Food Systems and Improving Nutrition. We are currently pursuing a collaborative partnership with GAVI to eliminate Zero-vaccination dose children in the State,” Governor Uba Sani disclosed.
Still on education, Governor Sani said aside the establishment of several skills and vocational cities to address skill deficits in the state, his government in collaboration with Kuwait was working to reduce out-of-school children in Kaduna State by 200,000, adding that the four-year programme, which will start in may or June 2024, is a $62 million project that will build 102 new schools in the state and renovate 170 existing ones within a span of four years.
At the town hall meeting, prominent citizens of the state including former Chief of Defence Staff, General Martin Luther Agwai (rtd), and the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmad Nuhu Bamali, among other persons, expressed optimism and confidence in the administration of Governor Sani in spite of the challenging times. Agwai, in particular applauded the decision of the governor to make sustained safety and security of every part of the state a top priority.
It is a huge shame that some persons attempted to diminish the essence and beauty of the town hall meeting by resorting to the politicisation of some comments or revelations made by Governor Sani at the event, in the very best interest of Kaduna State. There was really no basis for this cheap political shenanigan. Contrary to the false tale that some persons are trying to put out (but failing woefully at it) Governor Sani never said he was not aware of the loans Kaduna State government obtained. He could not have. In fact, as a senator, he played a leading role in facilitating the loan from the World Bank. He did that in the best interest of the people of the state and he has never ever regretted doing this. However, for the sake of probity and accountability, especially in an era of open governance, the governor needed to give the people an update on the status of the loan and other debts he inherited. Fortunately, Sani is well aware that Kaduna State is way bigger than himself and his predecessor. The people have the right to know and to be well-informed. No wonder the leadership of labour unions in the state, after listening very carefully to the governor at the town hall meeting, resolved not to pressurise the administration any more to pay out wage award to workers.
Even more noteworthy is the fact that the town hall meeting served as a veritable platform for the governor and all concerned citizens of Kaduna State to rob minds on ways to actualise and even accelerate the security, economic and over-all development agenda of Sani’s administration.
Turkish club Trabzonspor have been ordered to play six home matches behind closed doors after violent scenes marred a league game with rivals Fenerbahce last month, the country’s football federation (TFF) said Wednesday.
Two Fenerbahce players, Dutch defender Jayden Oosterwolde and goalkeeper Irfan Can Egribayat, were also fined and handed one-match bans by the TFF’s discipinary board.
Oosterwolde was punished for kicking a Trabzonspor fan who had run onto the pitch with his face covered.
A group of Trabzonspor fans invaded the pitch after the final whistle of the 3-2 home defeat on March 17.
The attacks took place as the Fenerbahce players and coaching staff celebrated their victory, goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic being punched in the face.
The Black Sea team must also pay two fines totalling 3.1 million Turkish lira ($97,000).
Nigerian international Bright Osayi-Samuel escaped punishment after punching a fan on the pitch.
His actions “did not meet the threshold for a violation of disciplinary rules,” the board said.
FIFA boss Gianni Infantino called the scenes “totally unacceptable”.
It is not the first time violence has affected the Turkish Super Lig this season.
The championship was suspended for a week in December after a referee was attacked during a match between Ankaragucu and Rizespor.
Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca, alongside other men, attacked referee Halil Umut Meler on the pitch after the match, injuring the official.
A number of Fenerbahce trips to Trabzon in recent times have also been marred by violence.
A 2016 game against Trabzonspor was abandoned in the closing minutes after an assistant referee was attacked by a home supporter.
The year before that the Fenerbahce team bus came under attack from a gunman en route to the airport on the way back from the neighbouring Black Sea city of Rize, leaving the driver seriously injured.
In 2014 a match between Trabzonspor and Fenerbahce was called off at half-time after the Istanbul club’s players were pelted with objects thrown onto the pitch by home fans.
Trabzonspor, who won the Turkish title two years ago, also found themselves in the spotlight in 2015 when the club president locked the referee and his assistants inside the stadium overnight in protest at the decision not to award his team a penalty.
They were eventually released in the early hours of the following morning after a phone call from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Ali Ciroma, former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), is dead.
Ciroma passed away at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri, Borno State capital.
Ibrahim Ciroma, a family member, who is also the Secretary of the Borno State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, announced his death in a statement on Tuesday evening.
The statement reads, “It is with deep sorrow that I announce the death of Comrade Ali Ciroma, former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress.
“The sad event occurred this evening (Tuesday, April 2) at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.
“The burial for the repose of the deceased will be held tomorrow Wednesday 4pm at the residence of the deceased No.7A along Galadima Road near Muhammadu Shuwa Memorial Hospital (Nursing Home), Maiduguri.”
The deceased served as the president of the NLC from 1984 to 1988 until he was ousted by the military administration of Gen Ibrahim Babangida, which disbanded the union.
However, during the Abacha regime, he was reinstated into the realm of unionism, being appointed as the Sole Administrator of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers.
Omoyele Sowore, presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), says Nigerian youths prefer being aides to old politicians instead of aspiring for top positions in the country.
Sowore spoke on Tuesday in an interview on Channels Television, while reacting to the swearing-in of Bassirou Faye as Senegal’s fifth president.
The 44-year-old Faye was sworn in on Tuesday at an exhibition centre in Diamniadio near Dakar, the capital of Senegal.
Faye defeated Amadou Ba, Senegal’s former prime minister, and won 54 percent of the votes cast in the March 24 presidential election.
Wike kicks as secondus, Sekibo other top Rivers’ politicians declare support for Fubara Prior to the election, Faye was detained alongside Ousmane Sanko, his political mentor, who was accused of “defamation” among other offences.
They were released 10 days before the presidential election.
Speaking on the development, Sowore said Africans should not jubilate too soon over the election of Faye but wait to see the implications of his policies and programmes.
The AAC presidential candidate said the election of Faye has shown Nigerians the possibility of electing young and vibrant people.
He added that he has not seen the “clear aspirations” of young Nigerians to become the top leaders of their country.
“The question is: what are our young people doing? Our young people are doing what I call ‘tag along’. They are more interested in becoming special assistants to governors or senators,” he said.
“I’m not seeing that clear aspiration of our young people to go and become the leaders of our country.
“Most of the time, it is these young people who are pulling down the few young people who are courageous enough to say it is time to turn the corner.”
Sowore added that Nigerian youths should not hide their youthfulness under old people “who have no idea of how to even operate a phone”.
He urged Nigerian youths to “take power”, saying that power cannot be given through constitutional amendments.
Controversial social media activist VeryDarkMan has revealed his next line of action if crossdresser, Bobrisky is not arrested soon.
He had previously called for Bobrisky's arrest but was instead arrested and kept in custody for day.
He had claimed that some powerful politicians are Bobrisky's gay partners.
Following calls for the arrest of crossdressers in the country, the Force Police Public Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, recently explained in an interview that the force cannot arrest transvestites because crossdressing is not a crime in Nigeria.
He said the force cannot act on the allegations that some crossdressers are gay which is a natural crime because there has not been enough evidence to prosecute them.
Reacting in a video message shared via his Instagram page, VeryDarkMan vowed to become a crossdresser and use the female restroom if popular crossdressers like Bobrisky are not arrested.
He claimed his recent arrest was connected to his call for Bobrisky’s arrest and claims that he was being protected by gay politicians.
He said, “When I came out of detention, I read somewhere that it was Tonto Dikeh who detained me. She can never detain me, I don’t care about her connection. The truth is that I was detained for the video I made calling for Bobrisky’s arrest and my claims that he was being protected by gay lawmakers. My detention is just a little sacrifice. They will still arrest me for my subsequent videos.
“Since the police say crossdressing is legal, I wll soon start crossdressing. I will give them one week after I drop my petition against Bobrisky. If Bobrisky is not arrested, I will become a crossdresser and use the female restroom.”
Nigerian businessmen, Aliko Dangote, Mike Adenuga, Abdulsamad Rabiu and Femi Otedola have been listed in the list of Forbes top richest Nigerians in 2024.
The three Nigerians are the President/Chief Executive of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote; BUA Group Chairman, Abdul Samad Rabiu, and Globacom boss, Mike Adenuga.
The figure was a reduction of $3.2bn from $28.5bn recorded by the business moguls in 2023.
A breakdown shows that the fortune of the founder of Dangote’s group reduced slightly from $14.2bn in 2023 to $13.4bn.
The wealth of the chairman of BUA group also reduced marginally to $5.2bn in 2024 from $8.2bn in 2023 while Adenuga’s fortune increased from $6.1bn to $6.7 billion within one year.
Meanwhile, Nigerian business magnate, Otedola, was listed as a new entrant to the billionaire list with a total net worth of $1.4bn
On the list, Dangote,ranked at number 144, was described as the richest man in Africa and the richest Black man in the world.
His business empire, Dangote Group, is one of the largest private-sector employers in Nigeria as well as the most valuable conglomerate in West Africa.
Adenuga, ranked at number 409 n the Forbes list, is a Nigerian billionaire businessman, his company Globacom is Nigeria’s second-largest telecom operator and also has presence in Ghana and Benin Republic.
He owns stakes in the oil exploration firm, Conoil.
Forbes estimated his net worth at $6.7bn in 2024.
Rabiu is a Nigerian billionaire businessman and philanthropist, the founder and chairman of BUA Group, a Nigerian conglomerate concentrating on manufacturing, infrastructure and agriculture and producing a revenue in excess of $2.5bn and was ranked at number 581 in the Forbes list.
While, Otedola is a Nigerian businessman and philanthropist and the current executive chairman of Geregu Power Plc
He is ranked at number 2,152 with a networth of $1.4bn
He is the founder of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited, and the owner of a number of other businesses across shipping, real estate and finance.
He has recently invested in power generation as part of the liberalisation of the sector in Nigeria.
African leaders have been asked to emulate the new Senegalese President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye by declaring their assets publicly.
The call was made by a civil society organization, The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education, CHRICED, in a statement released on Tuesday to mark Faye’s inauguration as President.
DAILY POST reports that Faye, 44, won the March 24, 2024 presidential election in Senegal to become the youngest democratically elected President in West Africa.
As candidate of the opposition African Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity, PASTEF, Faye scored 54.3 per cent of the votes to defeat other contestants, including his main rival from the governing coalition, Amadou Ba, a former prime minister.
Already, Faye has made his assets known to the public in a publication titled ‘Heritage Declaration of the Candidate Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye’.
The publication, posted on his Facebook page, contained all his assets and liabilities since October 2007.
Faye said he owned only one house built on 200 m2 of land in Mermoz allocated by the tax union (a family home since 2021) and built from 2017 to 2021, partly with his own funds and partly with loans settled.
He also disclosed that he has two vehicles – a Focus 2012 acquired second-hand in 2019 worth 6,500,000 FCFA and a Ford Explorer Platinum acquired second-hand in 2022 worth 19,000,000 FCFA.
Faye also listed undeveloped plots of land among his assets, including a 80 m/40 plot acquired in 2017 worth 3,000,000 FCFA and a 4.3ha agricultural land acquired in 2022 worth 15,050,000 FCFA.
In the publication, Faye added that he has money in two bank accounts as of March 19, 2024. One of the accounts has 3,276,046 FCFA, while the other has a total sum of 786,782 FCFA.
In the document, Faye went further to declare his liabilities, which include a 30,000,000 FCFA loan taken on September 5, 2022, an 8,000,000 FCFA payroll loan taken on August 22, 2022, and a 10,000,000 FCFA loan from a friend.
In a statement by its Executive Director, Comrade Ibrahim Zikirullahi, on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education, CHRICED, commended Faye for publicly declaring his assets.
CHRICED also noted that Faye’s action should be emulated by other African leaders, as it underscores a commitment to transparency and accountability.
“CHRICED is pleased to see President Faye’s commendable start in publicly declaring his assets. This is a crucial step that demonstrates his commitment to the welfare of the people.
“Transparency and accountability are fundamental principles of effective governance, and any government official, whether elected or appointed, who chooses not to disclose their assets publicly raises suspicions about their intentions.
“It is important for leaders to lead by example and show that they have nothing to hide. By openly declaring his assets, President Faye is setting a positive precedent for other government officials to follow.
“This move not only builds trust with the public but also helps to prevent corruption and unethical behavior.
“Transparency in asset declaration can help to prevent conflicts of interest and ensure that government officials are acting in the best interests of the people they serve. It also allows for greater scrutiny and oversight, which is essential for holding leaders accountable for their actions.
“We commend President Faye of Senegal for his commitment to transparency and accountability, and we hope that other ECOWAS leaders will follow his example in order to promote good governance and uphold the trust of the people,” CHRICED said.
CHRICED, in the same vein, urged Faye to rededicate his administration to transparent, accountable and responsible leadership, with the rule of law and respect for the rights and freedoms of Senegalese people as the “immutable central value”.
Noting that Senegal recently discovered oil in commercial quantities, which is expected to grow the country’s revenue, CHRICED advised Faye to prioritize national interest and the well-being of Senegalese people in contract negotiations and revenue management structures for the anticipated oil revenue, to avoid going the way of nations like Nigeria, where abundant oil resources had failed to manifest in better living conditions for citizens.
Observing that “to many citizens and residents of West Africa, ECOWAS is considered a club of presidents for their own protection and preservation”, CHRICED further noted that Faye’s emergence presents a new opportunity for the voice of young Africans in the governance and administration of the ECOWAS Commission.
Further setting an agenda for the new Senegalese leader, the civil society organisation urged him to work towards the revival of ECOWAS.
“The regional body, which was initially conceived for the promotion of free movement of residents and economic partnership, has been a victim of poor leadership in the sub-region as successive ECOWAS Presidents struggle with legitimacy and other internal political challenges of their own and the demand of the office of the presidency of ECOWAS.
“As a result, the ‘community of people’ promised through the reforms of the ECOWAS Commission has remained elusive while the region continues to struggle with corruption, lack of accountability, poverty, mass unemployment, widespread inequality, and, most recently, insecurity that poses severe threats to democracy in the region.
“We hope that President Faye will mobilize the necessary will to influence and steer ECOWAS towards the original vision of the regional body and the needs of citizens and residents of the region,” it stated.
