There was rumpus in Osun State weekend after Olawale Rasheed, the spokesperson of the Osun State governor, Ademola Adeleke was invited for probe by the Department of State Service (DSS), for allegedly sponsoring fake news against Femi, son of Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola.

The Nation recalled that an Abuja-based blogger published a news report, claiming that Femi was extorting directors of the Ministry of Marine. Subsequently, the blogger was arrested by operatives of DSS and she reportedly confessed that Rasheed sponsored the report.

Rasheed in a statement earlier the week denied the claim of giving any report to an online publisher on Oyetola’s son, noting that he would meet the investigators this weekend.

Meanwhile, in a recent development, the governor’s spokesman, Rasheed filed an originating summon for the enforcement of his rights before a Federal High Court, Osogbo against DSS and Femi Oyetola.

Adeleke’s spokesman in suit number FHC/OS/C5/89/2024 sought three reliefs which include: a restraining order on DSS from inviting, arresting, including or detaining him.

igeria-born activist Richard Taylor, who lost his son Damilola to murder in UK at only 10 years, is dead.

He died yesterday following a protracted illness, his family announced.

He was aged 75. Following the circumstances of Damilola’s death in November 2000, the father set up the Damilola Taylor Trust to campaign against knife crime and dedicated years to improving the lives of disadvantaged children.

He said he wanted his son to be remembered as a boy of hope and for his legacy to be a better life and opportunities for underprivileged young people.

Damilola was left bleeding to death in a stairwell in Peckham, South-east London, after he was attacked and slashed with a broken bottle on his way home from a library.

After three crown court trials, his two killers, brothers Ricky and Danny Preddie, were finally put behind bars.

Abia declines hosting party’s national convention

The Julius Abure led National Executive Committee has shifted the March 27,2024 national convention of the party from Abia State to Anambra State after an alleged cold shoulder from the party’s only state governor,Alex Otti.

Abure had earlier moved the convention from Edo to Abia.

Abure and his team are currently embroiled in a crisis of legitimacy with some stakeholders in the party.

The Lagos State chapter of the party joined the fray yesterday, asking Abure to quit.

Chairman of the party in the state, Rasheed Bamishe asked the embattled National Chairman to quit now.

Abure,he said should prioritise the party’s interest by giving way for a Caretaker National Chairman to organise state congresses ahead of the National Convention.

Speaking at the party secretariat in Lagos, Bamishe said all stakeholders owe it a duty to stop Abure from proceeding with the March 27 convention.

“The Labour Party which was formed by the founding fathers to be a beacon of hope for millions of Nigerians is gradually being destroyed by Barrister Abure and this should not be allowed to continue,” he said.

Bamishe added that Abure was free to create his political party and manage its business, but the Labour Party as a democratic organisation cannot function as a one-man show.

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He claimed that allegations of dishonesty, forgery, and fabrication of signatures have brought public shame and embarrassment to the Labour Party’s National Chairman.

“In a civilized clime, Barrister Abure should have exited office since the flurry of fraud cases against him became public knowledge but because of the culture of impunity in Nigeria, he is still clinging to power.

“Barrister Abure should tell the world where the National Convention of Labour Party in which he emerged as National Chairman was held.

“Barrister Abure is plotting to install himself again as the National Chairman of Labour Party through another illegal Convention and this should not be allowed to happen.”

National convention moved to Anambra

In a letter to the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the change in the venue of the convention, Abure and the LP National Secretary Labour Party, Umar Ibrahim said: “We write to kindly refer you to our letter on the above subject matter in which our National Convention rescheduled for 27th of March 2024 at the International Conference Center Umuahia, Abia State..

“We are however constrained to change the venue as a result of non-availability of the proposed venue on the scheduled date.

“We hereby inform you of the new venue for the convention as follows;

“Venue: GRAND SEASONS HOTEL NNEWI, ANAMBRA STATE.

Date: 27th of March 2024,

Time: 10 am prompt.

“We kindly request you to be present and monitor the Convention.

“Kindly accept the assurances of our esteem high regards as always.”

The Deputy National Chairman of the party, Ayo Olorunfemi, who confirmed the letter, said the change in venue was one of the issues discussed at the recent National Executive Committee meeting in Asaba, Delta State where the party ratified the programme for the convention.

He said both the NEC and state chairmen of the party endorsed the programme for the convention.

Olorunfemi said with that, the party was going ahead with the convention despite oppositions from the Nigeria Labour Congress, the House of Representatives caucus of the party and some supporters of the former Presidential candidate of the party, Peter Obi.

He said: “We have changed the venue because of security reasons. We need a place that is accessible and secure. Nnewi is a stone thrown from Onitsha and it is secure. We don’t want people who will be travelling from all over the country to pass through those dangerous zones.

“We have decided on this convention and we are going ahead with it. All the state chairmen and secretaries have taken a position.”

Sources however said Abia State Governor Otti’s refusal to host the convention necessitated the shift of venue.

A ward-winning actor Lateef Adedimeji has showered his wife, Mo Bimpe with economiums on her birthday.

He said she made him the man he is today.

Lateef, in a lengthy post on his Instagram page appreciated her, noting how not everyone is fortunate to have someone like her in this chaotic world.

He noted how he was confident, and goal-driven before his wife, but she gave him an extra touch.

Questioning which of the blessings of Allah would he deny, he further appreciated her for making his life so easy and for being his number critic.

He wrote: “Rahmah, Not many individuals are as fortunate as I am to have found someone like you in this chaotic world. Thanks to you, I am the person I am today.

“I am confident, and goal-driven, I have so much confidence in myself but you have forced me to examine myself closely and develop an affection for the image of myself that I see in the mirror.

” I am goal-driven, but you gave me more purpose and determination to reach those goals; you are my God-sent. I am a lucky child and God brought me YOU RAHMAH ADEBIMPE another lucky charm. Which of the blessings of Allah will I deny?

“Thank you for making life so easy, my number one critic, my check and Balance, my joy, and my all. Happy birthday my love, long life and prosperity in good health. I love you so much, too much baby.

“Thank you for helping me grow, thank you for making me believe in the beautiful things of life, and thank you for being who you are. Happy birthday my love. Here’s to many more years of happiness together. To forever with you my Queen”.

In a harrowing act of violence, Crocus City Hall, a renowned concert venue on the outskirts of Moscow, became the scene of a brutal terrorist attack.

The incident occurred just as the popular rock band “Picnic” was preparing to perform to a sold-out crowd.

According to Russia’s prosecutor general, at least four individuals clad in camouflage stormed the venue, unleashing chaos and fear.

The aftermath is grim. More than 60 lives have been claimed, with over 100 individuals sustaining injuries.

The terror group ISIS has purportedly taken responsibility for the attack through its affiliated news agency Amaq on Telegram, yet no evidence has been provided to substantiate this claim.

As flames engulfed the concert hall, emergency responders sprang into action, evacuating approximately 100 people from the basement and initiating rescue operations for those trapped on the roof.

The Russian Investigative Committee is treating the incident as a terrorist act and has confirmed that the death toll has risen to at least 133, with the possibility of further casualties as the search through the rubble continues.

In response to this atrocity, Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the nation, condemning the attack as a “barbaric act of terrorism” and expressing his determination to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Amidst the turmoil, President Putin has also levelled accusations against Ukraine, suggesting the neighbouring country had plans to aid the suspects’ escape, a claim that Kyiv has vehemently denied.

The swift action of Russian authorities led to the arrest of 11 individuals, including the four gunmen believed to be responsible for the attack.

The head of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) reported these developments directly to President Putin.

This tragedy has not only shaken Russia but has also caught the attention of the international community.

U.S. officials, having previously gathered intelligence on potential ISIS activities in Russia, had issued warnings against attending large gatherings.

Nollywood actress Uche Ogbodo has shed light on what she described as harsh realities lurking within the Nigerian entertainment sphere.

Speaking out against the prevalent toxicity, Ogbodo described the industry as a breeding ground for envy, wickedness, and deceit.

Sharing her thoughts on her Instagram page, Ogbodo lamented the lack of genuine love and camaraderie among industry insiders, asserting that instead of celebrating each other’s successes, individuals are consumed by jealousy and a relentless pursuit of personal gain.

Ogbodo’s assertions underscored a longstanding issue within the industry.

According to her, indeed, the entertainment realm has perpetually been a crucible of contention, with celebrities rarely displaying genuine love or support for one another.

“The Nigerian entertainment industry is so dark,” Ogbodo emphasized, “People there are wicked, vile, and envious. They won’t rejoice with those who are rejoicing because they want to be in that person’s place.”

She urged stakeholders to address the underlying issues plaguing the Nigerian entertainment landscape and foster a culture of support and solidarity.

Operatives of a neighbourhood security outfit, Oluyole Security Network have arrested a bricklayer and an operator of a commercial motorcycle otherwise called okada for allegedly raping and impregnating a 14-year-old teenager in Ibadan, Oyo.

One of the suspects, Sodeeq Ojediran, admitted forcibly sleeping with the girl.

According to TheNation report, the 30-year-old bricklayer tricked the minor to his house where he raped her.

Also explaining his complicity in the saga, the second suspect, 27-year-old Okebukola, a commercial motorcycle operator, said she met the victim in December 2023 and asked her to be his girlfriend.

“She declined my request to know her parents and I took her to my house where she spent one week with me.

“My landlord was not happy about the fact that she is a teenager. So he asked me to send her away from my house.

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“She came back to me two Sundays ago and I made love to her again.

“I didn’t ask for her hand in marriage and I did not deflower her at all, but I slept with her.

“I am an okada operator and she boarded my motorbike in Ayegun area of Ibadan.

“She was to pay N300 as fare but instead, she paid me N200. I stirred a conversation with her and collected her mobile phone number.

“Three days later, I told her to come with me to a church for prayers. But instead of taking her to a church, I took her to my house where I slept with her.

“However, I did not sleep with her every day, but she is carrying a two-month pregnancy,” he disclosed.

On her part, the victim said she stopped schooling after her father died.

She recalled that her father was the first to sleep with her when she was younger, after which she left home.

“I was in Primary 6 when my father died and I stopped going to school since then.

“My mother is the one that ruined my life because after my father was buried, everyone told my mother to use part of the cash gifts given to her by sympathisers to send me to school but she refused.

“Instead, she took me to the home of her first child from her previous marriage,” she narrated.

Baba Dee, the veteran Nigerian singer and rapper, whose real name is Dare Fasasi, has shared insights into his brother’s passing, Sound Sultan, and the illness that ultimately claimed his life during an appearance on Teju Babyface’s podcast.

The former music executive disclosed that six months before Sound Sultan’s demise, he had a premonition that his time was limited, despite receiving treatment from one of the world’s leading Hodgkin’s lymphoma hospitals.

In an emotional revelation, he recounted how his brother informed him about the doctor’s grim prognosis, saying, “This is the first time I am talking about this but everything happened very fast. He told me, ‘Dee, the doctor said I don’t have time.’

That was the first time I was hearing that kind of thing. He was okay; we were in the studio recording, and he flipped it on me. I couldn’t do anything again; I was like, ‘What is this guy saying?’

And he said again, ‘The doctor said I don’t have time.” Fasasi recounted, tears evident in his eyes.

Water producers have asked the federal government to address the increasing cost of nylon to halt further increases in the prices of sachet water.

The National President of the Association For Table Water Producers (ATWAP), Dr. Clementina Ativie, made this request during an event commemorating this year’s World Water Day, themed “Water for Peace,” held at EXPOYO in Sango, Ibadan, on Friday.

Noting that nylon is the primary material for packaging water, with no viable alternative, the water producers asked Nigerians to bear with the rapid escalation of their production costs and the consequent increase in the cost of sachet water until the government intervenes. Due to the skyrocketing cost of production, Ativie stated that over 30,000 water producers were on the verge of closing down their factories.

According to Ativie, the water producers were dismayed by the increasing cost of sachet water, which compelled Nigerians to seek alternatives that are largely not potable.

She warned that the consequences of people not being able to afford potable water were grave, especially regarding susceptibility to waterborne diseases and the proliferation of unregulated sachet water producers.

To ensure the production of potable and affordable sachet water, Ativie urged the government to address the increasing cost of nylon and provide support for water producers to prevent factory closures. On tackling unregulated producers, she called for collaboration between regulatory agencies and ATWAP, emphasizing that regulatory agencies had the primary responsibility.

Ativie remarked, “Just last month, I addressed a press conference in Lagos where ATWAP appealed to the federal government to save the water industry from total collapse by providing financial support to the association to enhance the business of our members, numbering over 30,000 water producers across the country, and to address the rapid escalation of our production costs, thereby making sachet water, popularly known as pure water, almost unaffordable for the masses.

At the same time, we appealed to Nigerians to bear with us. Suffice it to say, as an association, we have always considered the interests of Nigerians our top priority.

Packaged water producers in Nigeria understand the importance of providing affordable and safe drinking water to citizens, and we strive to do so while also grappling with rising production costs. Nylon is our primary material for packaging, and we have no viable alternatives.

Therefore, we urgently require support from the government given the economic realities to prevent factory closures by our members and the resulting job losses and waterborne diseases that would follow if the water industry were allowed to collapse.

The population explosion, coupled with human developmental activities, has further exacerbated the scarcity of potable water, leading to increased demand for groundwater abstraction and purification for specific intended uses.”

Operatives of the Kaduna State Police Command have arrested one Yakubu Saidu, a suspected bandit leader who masterminded the September 2023 attack on St. Raphael Catholic Church, Kamantan, Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of the state.

In the attack, the bandits set ablaze the priest’s house, burning a seminarian, Stephen Naaman, in the process.

The Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan said the suspect was arrested at Zangon Urban on Friday due to diligent pursuit of the case.

According to the PPRO, “In a commendable display of swift action and dedication to public safety, the Kaduna State Police Command, under the leadership of Commissioner CP Ali Audu Dabigi, psc, has successfully apprehended a notorious kidnapper, Yakubu Saidu, also known as Ismail ‘M’ who was involved in banditry, culpable homicide and mischief by fire.

“On 07 of September 2023, at approximately 2030hrs, the Officer in Charge of Fadan Kamanta, Zonkwa, alerted authorities of a distressing situation at St. Raphael Catholic Church, Kamantan, where suspected kidnappers had launched an attack.

“Despite the urgency of the situation, police operatives, in collaboration with military personnel, swiftly mobilized to the scene. Regrettably, the suspects had already set ablaze the priest’s residence before the arrival of the security personnel.