To Cardinal John Onaiyekan and those that share his views that the swearing in of our President-elect should be postponed until after the Election Tribunal has delivered its judgement I say the following.
The Nigerian people have spoken and the Deep State conspiracy to stop Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from becoming President failed long ago.
We are well past that stage and you cannot stop a moving train.
Those that have hardened their hearts and that have refused to accept God's will and admonition to let Asiwaju and the Nigerian people go shall, like Pharaoh, perish before our very eyes.
Those that are filled with bitterness, hate, envy, fury and rage and that seek to pursue us into the Red Sea as we make our way to the Promise Land shall be drowned by it.
Whether they like it or not, God-willing, the President-elect SHALL be sworn in on May 29th and those that want him dead or wish him ill shall see the grave long before he does.
This is the doing of the Lord and it is marvellous in our sight.
(FFK)
A faction of the Labour Party (LP) led by Lamidi Bashir Apapa has announced pardon for the party’s presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, his running mate, Yusuf Datti-Ahmed, and other top leaders of the party for attending a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Asaba, Delta State, convened by the embattled chairman, Julius Abure.
Those pardoned alongside Obi are Prince Kennedy Ahanotu, Mrs. Ladi Illiya, Dr. Ayo Olorunfemi, Chief Innocent Okeke Agumba, Mrs. Dudu Manuga Datti-Ahmed and Abia State governor-elect, Mr Alex Otti.
The decsion to pardon them was taken at the faction’s NEC meeting in Bauchi yesterday.
The LP leaders at the meeting appealed to the judiciary to be on the part of the people by promoting acts that enhance democracy, rule of law, and fundamental human rights.
The LP faction said it believed in she rule of law, and would continue to stand with its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to successfully reclaim its stolen mandate at the presidential election petitions tribunal, adding that it would not be a party to any unlawful act to cause a change of democratic administration as anticipated by its ‘uspended’ national chairman, Julius Abure, and his cohorts.
The Labour Party faction, in a communique after the Bauchi meeting, said it rejected the attempted conversion of the party to a one-man show or regional political party by the suspended national.
The meeting sympathised with Nigerians who, the party noted, had continued to wallow in poverty, hunger, unemployment, insecurity, poor infrastructure and underdevelopment inflicted by leadership incompetence.
It reassured Nigerians that the imminent Labour Party-led federal government, when in place after the presidential election petition tribunal mandate recovery, shall change these ugly narratives for the best.
The meeting reviewed the alleged anti-party activities of some members and reaffirmed and upheld the decision of the Ogun state executive of Labour Party that earlier expelled Mr. Kehinde Shogunle, Engr. Akinpelu Shogunle, Engr. Lukmon Jagun Abiodun, Mr. Tokunbo Peters, and Bukola Shoyooye.
Also expelled by Ogun Exco are Barr. Oluwafemi Ibiayo, Feson Gbadebo, Dayo Folarin, Adeshina Shojobi, Bamjoko Ajekpe, Tuned Taiwo, Olatunde Abolade, Abosede Lamidi, Malik Olaleye, Adesegun Banmodu, Rev. Olufolabi Adebayo, over their failure to pay memberships dues for over six months thus contravening Articles 9 (3) of LP constitution 2019 as amended and thus forfeited their membership.
The Bauchi NEC meeting similarly suspended some National Working Committee (NWC) members over their contempt of the FCT High Court restraining order by participating the illegal NEC meeting convened by Abure on 18th April, 2023 in Asaba Delta State and recommended them for disciplinary committees on fraudulent and anti-party activities over the illegal governorship primaries in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi states conducted on 15th April, 2023.
The Labour Party NEC meeting evaluated the 2023 elections with a belief for room for improvement over the irregularities and network glitches noticed during presidential and national elections over the states’ elections in the 2023 general elections.
The meeting of the party was attended by members of the national working committee (NWC), State Chairmen, State Secretaries, National Assembly members-elect, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Unions Congress (TUC).
The Labour Party (LP) has described as null and void the purported national executive council meeting of the party held in Asaba Delta State on 18th April, 2023, saying the meeting was inconsistent with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court Order restraining the suspended national chairman, Julius Abure from parading himself in that capacity.
Describing the Asaba meeting as illegal is the Acting National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Lamidi Bashiru Apapa at the NEC meeting of the party in Bauchi Wednesday where he said that other national officers were also barred from parading themselves with the party.
They were the national secretary, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim; national organizing secretary, Ojukwu Clement and the national treasurer, Mrs. Oluchi Opara whom the Nigeria Police Investigation and Forensic Audit report of the petition instituted by the Ebonyi state gubernatorial candidate Oko Eze saw to the indictment of the four officers.
The four national officers were indicted of forgery, perjury and criminal conspiracy with financial malfeasance to the sum of N400, 000, 000 for which a CTC of the investigation report was obtained that the FCT High Court has on 5th April, 2023 subsequently restrained them from parading themselves as national officers of the party.
Apapa had earlier recalled that on 2nd April, 2023, the NWC ratified Barrister Julius Abure’s suspension following his ward executives ‘suspension from the party in the case of criminal infractions against him.
He said members of the party’s NWC are expected to present their working programmes for adoption in line with the policy trust and direction of the party for implementation.
The acting national chairman said: “NEC meeting is aimed at deliberating on critical issues of national importance; and to drawing far reaching resolutions that shall nib in the bud, certain disturbing issues that have become of immense concerns to us as political party, to put our dear party on the path of political stability, peace, progress and prosperity.
He said, “That the FCT High Court subsequently restrained Julius Abure, the national Secretary, Alh Umar Farouk Ibrahim, Ojukwu Clement, national organising secretary and Mrs Oluchi Okpara National Treasurer from parading themselves as national officers of the Labour Party on 5th April, 2023 and sequel to an earlier ward Exco suspension of Julius Abure on 31st March, 2023.
“That on 1st April, 2023, the NWC received the report of the ward Exco Suspension of Barr Julius Abure as member of the party due to so many infractions against him with particular reference to the FCID police Investigation Indictment by the Edo state ward and the NWC deliberated, ratified and adopted the ward exco suspension on 2nd April, 2023 by appointing an acting national chairman Alhaji Bashiru Lamidi Apapa.”
President-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said his administration would put incentives and policies in place that would make corruption unattractive for judges and other Nigerian workers.
He said with the right incentives that guarantee conducive working atmosphere and policies that make it easy for workers to acquire credit facilities for essential needs, the temptation for corruption would reduce.
A statement by the Office of the President-elect signed by Abdulaziz Abdulaziz quoted Tinubu as making the pledge on Thursday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, during the inauguration of the Magistrate Courts Complex.
The event was part of Tinubu’s two-day visit to the state to inaugurate projects executed by the Nyesom Wike administration.
Tinubu said with the right incentives that guarantee conducive working atmosphere and policies that make it easy for workers to acquire credit facilities for essential needs, the temptation for corruption would reduce.
He said: “You don’t expect your judges to live in squalor, to operate in squalor and dispense justice in squalor. This is part of the changes that are necessary. We must fight corruption but we must definitely look at the other side of the coin.
” If you don’t want your judges to be corrupt you got to pay attention to their welfare. You don’t want them to operate in hazardous conditions,” he said.
The president-elect said lack of consumer credit which could make it easy for workers to acquire property such as houses and cars make them susceptible to corruption.
He added: “If you have consumer credit that will reduce the propensity for corruption. We don’t want our judges to play foul, to compromise justice. I promise we are going to review all of these in a policy think tank.”
Tinubu also reiterated his commitment to the unity of Nigeria, promising to be fair to all.
“The unity of this country is not negotiable. That is what Wike and I are promoting jointly. I promise I will be fair to all.”
Earlier, Governor Wike said the complex contained 24 courtrooms, offices and other facilities meant to decongest the state high court complex and expand access to justice.
He said his administration considered welfare of judges and condition of courts essential for speedy justice dispensation.
Wike charged the state Judiciary to ensure proper maintenance of the edifice for which financial provision had been made.
He onc again thanked the President-elect for accepting to visit the state and commission the projects.
The ceremony was attended by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila as well as Governors Muhammad Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa), David Umahi (Ebonyi), Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq (Kwara) and Dapo Abiodun (Ogun).
Also present were former governors Bisi Akande (Osun), James Ibori (Delta), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo) and Ayo Fayose (Ekiti). Others were members of the National Assembly; Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Sunday Dare; a former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN; National Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Betta Edu; and Chief Ayiri Emami, among others.
On Wednesday, Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court in Lagos found Ume Ifechukwu Clinton guilty and gave her a one-year prison sentence.
Clinton had defrauded Axelle Mahieu, a Belgian educator and carer, of €45,000 in a well-planned online scam.
This was announced in a statement released on Thursday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC claims that Clinton was charged on February 22 of this year with three amended counts related to impersonation and possession of forged documents.
Clinton approached the prosecution for a plea deal during the hearing on Wednesday.
However, following Clinton’s admission of guilt, the EFCC’s attorney, Bilikisu Buhari, called a witness, EFCC investigative officer Damilare Adeosun, who testified against the defendant and through whom various documents were offered as evidence against him.
Adeosun, a participant in the investigation who was led in testimony by Buhari, described how the EFCC had responded to a tip from the Foundation for Investigative Journalism that Clinton had impersonated an EFCC officer to defraud Mahieu.
According to Adeosun, Mahieu was deceived into believing that Clinton was an official of the EFCC after he deceived her with an alleged EFCC ID card that she never knew was fake.
“The defendant presented himself to be a staff of EFCC and introduced her to non-existing cryptocurrency investment while assuring her that she is in safe hands,” Adeosun tells the court.
“During the course of his arrest, the fake ID card was recovered from him along with several expensive wristwatches and a bundle of cash totalling about N150,000.
“He admitted that he made the forged ID card in Owerri, for N3,000, to gain the trust of the victim.”
Adeosun added that the investigation confirmed that Clinton transferred money received from the Belgian through cryptocurrency to his own Binance account and exchanged the same through p2p, crediting the same in Naira to his bank accounts in Nigeria.
Consequently, Justice Dada declared Clinton guilty as charged.
Dada, however, sentenced him to one year in prison.
The judge further ordered the convict to restitute the €45,000 to Mahieu within three months.
The Federal Government, through the Transmission Company of Nigeria and the Market Operator, has started a huge disconnect of debtor electricity distribution businesses from the national grid. As a result, millions of electricity consumers may be left in the dark in the upcoming weeks.
According to Punch, the development happened after the Market Operator had given some of the Discos notices that they would be disconnected from the grid.
Due to inability to pay ancillary service costs, The MO, a division of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, had alerted various Discos, including producing businesses, of the disconnection plan.
It was observed that nationwide energy supplies had deteriorated considerably after MO had made his observation, with several places complaining of either poor or no supply.
In a recent statement, MO’s Executive Director, Eddy Eje, urged disobedient Discos to make the necessary payments. Abubakar Aliyu, the Minister of Power, has already intervened.
The market defaulters were expected to abide by the Market Rules with regard to payment of their outstanding invoices, posting of sufficient bank guarantees, and forwarding of their active Power Purchase Agreements, as applicable, to the MO/TCN, based on the extension of the grace period by 60 days.
Findings by The PUNCH revealed that the Discos and Gencos listed among defaulters by the Market Operators included; Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, Benin Electricity Distribution Company, Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, Ikeja Electric, Jos Electricity Distribution Company, Kaduna Electric, Kano Electricity Distribution Company, Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, APL Electric Company Aba, Ajaokuta Steel Company- a special electricity customer. The defaulting Gencos are Niger Delta Power Holding Company plants and Paras Energy.
Although the spokesperson for the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors, Sunday Oduntan declined comments on the development, a notice sent to customers by Ibadan Discos.
IBEDC Managing Director/CEO, Kingsley Achife in a statement obtained by The PUNCH stated that there would be a mass disconnection from the national grid.
According to him, the decision was a result of poor remittances by customers.
Achife said that the action may result in power outages to customers within the IBEDC franchise areas, especially locations with the highest population of defaulters.
It was gathered that the areas to be affected by the mass disconnection are Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Kwara, and parts of Niger, Ekiti and Kogi states.
Achife, “As a revenue collection arm of the electricity value chain, IBEDC sells and distributes electricity generated by the generation companies. However, the company is unable to meet its financial obligations to the electricity value chain due to poor payment and huge outstanding bills by customers.
“We appeal to our esteemed customers to pay their current and outstanding bills to enable IBEDC to meet its obligations to the Market Operator and other parties in the electricity supply industry to ensure continuous and uninterrupted power supply.
“IBEDC prioritizes the provision of reliable and excellent service to our esteemed customers but requires timely payment for the energy consumed.
“Payment for electricity is essential to ensure the sustainability of our operations, and it is a responsibility that we all share.
“We urge our customers to note that failure to pay current and outstanding electricity bills may result in disruption of power to homes, communities, and businesses connected to our network.
“We encourage all customers to pay their bills promptly to avoid any inconvenience,” Achife added.
The Kano State Pension Fund Trustees are under pressure following the seizure of several landed properties by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday.
According to a statement issued by the EFCC Spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, a judgment delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, ordered final forfeiture of the properties to the EFCC.
The Judge delivered the judgment while ruling on a motion by the EFCC seeking the final forfeiture of the properties which they suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities of the Pension Fund Trustees.
The EFCC Spokesman listed the confiscated properties to include: “168 homes located at Sheikh Ja’afar Mahmud Adam, Bandirawo City, Kano, 122 houses at Sheikh Nasiru Kabara (Amana City), Kano and 38 houses at Sheikh Khalifa Ishaq Rabiu City, Kano.
“The 168 houses at Sheikh Ja’afar Mahmud Adam Bandirawo City are made up of 55 units of 2-bedroom semi-detached houses; 51 units of three-bedroom houses; seven units of three-bedroom converted; 17 units of three-bedroom carport; three units of four-bedroom duplex; nine units of five-bedroom duplex and 22 units of three-bedroom green-roof,” he said.
He said that the 122 houses at Sheikh Nasiru Kabara, Kano include 14 units of two-bedroom semi-detached houses, 62 units of two-bedroom semi-detached houses, four units of three-bedroom converted and 13 units of three-bedroom converted.
He further listed others as three units of three-bedroom detached houses, 11 units of three-bedroom detached houses, three units of the three-bedroom carport, five units of three-bedroom carport two units of the three-bedroom green roof; three units of the four-bedroom carport and two units of four-bedroom Pergola.
“The 38 houses at Sheikh Khalifa Ishaq Rabiu City, Kano include 19 units of three-bedroom bungalow; five units of three green roof; six units of four-bedroom duplex, two units of four-bedroom BQ, one unit of four-bedroom duplex and five units of five-bedroom duplex.” Wilson said.
The Zamfara Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) has intercepted 75 drums of calcium chlorite, a water treatment chemical believed to have been diverted from the state Water Board.
Calcium chloride is used to remove undesired impurities in water.
The NSCDC Commandant in the state, Muhammed Muazu, said the 75 drums were being diverted to Kano when it was intercepted.
According to Muazu, preliminary investigation indicates that the chemicals belong to the Zamfara Water Board.
He added that the truck driver conveying the chemicals had told investigators that a director in the water board paid him to move the chemicals to Kano.
Muazu assured that a full investigation will be conducted to bring those involved to book
The Archbishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan has said he is waiting for the court to declare the actual winner of the 2023 presidential election.
Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission had on March 1 declared Bola Tinubu of the All Progressive Congress winner, after polling 8,794,726 votes while Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi of the Labour Party had 6,984,520 votes and 6,101,533 votes respectively.
The outcome of the presidential and state elections is being challenged at various tribunals.
Section 135(2) of the 1999 Constitution states that the President shall vacate his office at the expiration of a period of four years commencing from the date he took the Oath of Allegiance and the oath of office implying he has to transfer power to the president-elect.
The same applies to other political offices.
Onaiyekan in an interview with Channels Television on Thursday said there should be no swearing-in when matters challenging the outcome of an election is in court.
“There are cases in court that have not been disposed of. That is why we are in an anomalous situation. We have a president-elect whose election is being challenged and the court is handling it.
“I’m still waiting for the court to tell me who won the election. It doesn’t make much sense to be swearing in people when they are still in court.
“I think we need to review our election process, so we do have a winner who will be sworn in and whom everybody would rally around,” he said.
He added that it is a pity that it is taking longer for the court to come to its decision.
“My problem is that the whole system of our election must be properly reviewed so that it would be easier for winners to emerge according to the wishes of the people.
“It is not right to have a system that is constantly contested. We should find out why is every election being contested,” he said.
The bishop explained that many politicians are not practicing democracy, they rigged elections because “they want power by all means.”
He, however, urged the incoming government of Tinubu to pay attention to the yearnings of the Nigerian youths.
“Only those Nigerians who doesn’t want to be sincere would be looking for agenda. We are still in the same situation, any government must face those issues otherwise we can’t survive in the country. Many young boys who have energy and Nigerians are checking out of the country.
These are not the best of times for Mohammed Ataba Sani-Omolori, the former National Assembly clerk, who on Wednesday was directly confronted by his younger siblings for sitting on their father’s N7 billion estate.
The battle over the estate of the late Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, HRH Alhaji Muhammed Sani Omolori, became messier when the family met and Ataba was confronted with the allegation of sitting on their inheritance for the past 27 years.
Like a man caught in the act, Ataba reportedly became speechless in the presence of his younger siblings over his role in the alleged diversion of their late father’s fortune.
THE WHISTLER reports that Ataba was confronted with the allegation at the meeting convened by the Grand Khadi of the FCT Sharia Court of Appeal, Ibrahim Rufai Imam, on Wednesday.
Some of the former NASS Clerk’s siblings had dragged him before the Sharia Court in Gudu, Abuja, after several failed attempts to get him to surrender their share of properties left behind by the late Kogi State monarch.
THE WHISTLER reported that the Grand Khadi summoned the monarch’s children with a view to getting them to resolve the crisis out of court.
But one of the monarch’s children who narrated what transpired at the meeting to this website said the Grand Khadi’s effort did not yield the desired results, and the family is left with no option but to proceed with the lawsuit against Ataba.
No fewer than 17 members of the Omolori family including Ataba attended the meeting convened by the Grand Khadi.
Alh. Abbas Sani Omolori, who is in Ataba’s age group and spoke on behalf of some of the family members, reiterated that the former NASS clerk refused to relinquish the late monarch’s N7 billion properties more than two decades after his death.
“Some members spoke that they believe Ataba couldn’t be that wicked to steal from the family, however, a sister made clear her findings from AGIS (Abuja Geographic Information System) which show how Ataba sold the properties,” one of the monarch’s children told our correspondent.
But Ataba and some siblings siding with him were said to have maintained his earlier stance that their late father gave out some of the properties.
The family source, however, told THE WHISTLER that “documents on some of the stolen properties were presented on how he (Ataba Sani Omolori) sold them (including) one of those lands (in Katampe) that was acquired with our fathers’ company and he (Ataba) was not even a director in the company.”
The family member said when documents for one of the properties in Maitama, Abuja, were being presented, “Ataba interjected, saying that this is not the time and place for such but he was however reminded by the presenter who is the youngest brother in attendance that he (Ataba) is not the umpire, therefore he should not do the job of the Grand Khadi.”
The family source said Ataba neither directly denied nor accepted the allegation that he sold some of the properties after the late monarch passed away.
Ataba was said to have told the meeting that “there was more that many didn’t know (about the estate) and he didn’t do anything without his father’s knowledge.”
But the family source noted some of the properties “were sold by him (Ataba) years after our father passed away.”
The Grand Khadi was said to be disappointed that the family could not amicably resolve the battle as the siblings were divided into two between “those who without evidence believed him (Ataba) and those who presented facts asking for justice.”
The Grand Khadi who personally knew the late Ohinoyi told the family that if they fail to resolve the crisis, their option would be to continue with their legal battles at the upper area court.
“He however spoke about the implications of sharia on some of his observations and cautioned the family. 12 family members were selected to discuss the matter and get back in a month,” said the family source.
The late Sani Omolori who was also a businessman passed away in 1996, leaving behind a vast fortune and a family dynamic that became complicated after the alleged theft of a briefcase containing relevant documents and other valuables pertaining to his estate one week after his death.
Ataba was accused of hoarding the inheritance for himself for 27 years, while his siblings struggled to make ends meet.
According to the family source, Ataba had been unresponsive to their requests for transparency about the status of the estate and how it should be shared.
“The youngest among us at the time of our father’s passing was just five years old. Today about ten (10) of us have died, mostly in their early thirties, dying of preventable causes, if there were basic resources,” another family source had previously told THE WHISTLER.
Our correspondent made efforts to get Ataba’s reaction to the allegations but several calls put across to his phone were bounced. He equally failed to respond to a text message sent to his phone.
[THE WHISTLER]
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said troops operating in the North-East and North-West have neutralised 65 terrorists and arrested 63 logistics suppliers and informants, while 135 civilians were rescued from terrorists’ den in two weeks.
Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Musa Danmadami, disclosed this on Thursday, while briefing newsmen on the update of Armed Forces of Nigeria operations between April 20 and May 4, 2023, in Abuja.
In the North-East, he said troops of Operation Hadin Kai killed 40 terrorists and arrested 25 terrorists and eight terrorist logistics suppliers in two weeks.
He said the troops also rescued 131 abducted civilians while 510 Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists and members of their families, comprising 54 adult males, 164 adult females and 292 children surrendered to troops at different locations within the theatre of operations.
The troops recovered 16 AK-47 rifles, 15 Dane guns, six QJC 88 AA guns, one QJC 88 barrel, one SMG, two DSHKAA guns, two NSVT AA guns, one GMPG, one pump action gun, two locally made double barrel guns, one locally made short gun, 51 rounds of 12.7mm ammunition, 26 rounds of 12.7 x 108mm, 280 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 16 refilled rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 1 round of 9mm ammunition, 74 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 77 rounds of 7.62 x 51mm ammo, 182 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammunition, 15 empty cases of 7.62mm special, 14 empty cases of 155mm ammunition, 46 assorted bullets, 4 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), and 48 AK47 rifle magazines.
Other items recovered included one SMG magazine, 33 sniper rifle magazines, four extra GPMG barrels, several UXO to be used for IEDs, seven 122mm bombs, three 120mm bombs, three 105mm bombs, two 155mm bombs, one 105mm APF SDS bomb, two 36 hand grenades and eight metal pressure plates, amongst others.
Also, the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI conducted a series of armed reconnaissance missions at terrorist hideouts, enclaves and camps in support of ground operations.
He said several armed reconnaissance operations were conducted at terrorist enclaves at villages within Konduga, Bama, Mafa, Maiduguri and Damboa Local Government Areas as well as Sambisa Forest all in Borno State.
“Overhead these locations, which were observed to be active with terrorists scrambling for cover under the vegetation. Consequently, these locations were engaged with bombs and rockets and the battle damage assessment revealed that several terrorists were neutralised with their logistics and structures destroyed in the strikes,” he said.
In the North-West, he said both land and air components of Operation Hadarin Daji sustained offensive operations on terrorist enclaves, camps and hideouts within the zone. General Danmadami said the troops also neutralised 25 terrorists, arrested 30 informants, six terrorist logistics suppliers, two gunrunners and rescued four kidnap victims.
The troops also recovered 19 AK-47 rifles, one LMG, two Dane guns, three GPMG, three fabricated pistols, one Beretta pistol, one locally made revolver pistol, one double barrel gun, eight AK47 magazines, one PKT magazine, 64 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, three rounds of 9mm ammunition, six AGL bombs, 50 rounds of 7.62mm special, 60 cutlasses, one baofeng radio, two solar panels, 13 mobile phones, 38 motorcycles, 87 bags of rice, 24 cows, eight donkeys, 28 camels, 102 goats, 231 sheep, 105 wrapped cannabis, 1,035 tablets of tramadol and the sum of N89,000.00 only.
The DHQ spokesperson said all recovered items and apprehended suspects have been handed over to the relevant authorities for further action.
In the same vein, all the rescued terrorist escapees and members of their families were profiled and given medical attention, while the surrendered terrorists and members of their families were also profiled for further action.
More...
Factional leader of the Labour Party (LP), Bashiru Lamidi Apapa has dismissed with a wave of hands, the insinuations gaining ground that he is being sponsored by the President-elect, Bola Tinubu in order to destroy the party.
The denial is coming in the background of tense controversies over the leadership of the factionalized Labour Party between Lamidi Apapa and Julius Abure.
The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the LP led by Apapa, however, reiterated its commitment to pursuing, to a logical conclusion, the petition of the party before the Presidential Election Tribunal.
Bashir Lamidi Apapa who addressed members of the NEC in Bauchi on Wednesday at Sulgad Hotel, in his capacity as the Acting National Chairman, said that the Party is solidly behind the Presidential candidate, Peter Obi and will continue to support him to reclaim the mandate.
He stressed that, “Nobody is sponsoring me to destroy the LP, how can I even do such a thing to a party I helped developed over 20 years ago? I am a founding member of the LP and since I joined, I have never for once leave it for another party.”
Going down memory lane, Lamidi Apapa said, “I just laughed when it was reported that our Presidential candidate, Peter Obi was reported to have said that he does not know me. Well, he just joined us about one year ago, but, we went round for his campaigns on same plane across the country.”
Lamidi Apapa further said that there has never been a plan to withdraw the petition saying, “We believe in the mandate and we will do everything possible to reclaim it no matter how long it takes to do that.”
On the faction within the party, he said it is a normal thing in democracy stressing however that it is only a few fragments that is talking about faction because according to him, “There is no faction in the Labour Party, we are all one as you can see here. Everyone who matters in the LP is here in Bauchi for the NEC meeting.”
He stressed that the Labour Party remains the strongest and most followed political party in Nigeria today as was seen in the results of the last general elections assuring that the party will continue to grow and wax stronger.
He then advised those parading themselves as factional leaders of the party to desist from doing so having been barred by a Federal High Court in Abuja until the determination of the substantive case before the Court.
According to him, “Barr Julius Abure has since continued with grave impunity in contempt of the FCT High Court restraining order by conducting illegal National Executive Council meeting on 28th April, 2023 in Asaba, Delta state which resolutions have been declared null and void and of no consequences to the extent of its inconsistency with the FCT High Court Restraining order.”
He added that” Abure also indulged in the conduct of illegal gubernatorial primaries in Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa stated which outcomes have been declared null and void and of no consequences to the extent of its inconsistency with the FCT High Court Restraining order.”
Lamidi Apapa also called on the Presidential candidate of the party, Peter Obi to watch his words in order to create an unnecessary tension within the party stressing that what is needed now is how to collectively fight the legal battle of reclaiming the presidential mandate.
The Acting National Chairman of the LP commended the NEC members from across the country for finding it expedient to attend the meeting which he claimed was the authentic meeting unlike the one held in Asaba which he said was unconstitutional.
He said that “the recent events in our party, with the advent of the 2023 general election, propelled the Labour Party (LP) as the third most influential political party in Nigeria by reason of the gains in our electoral victory in the 2023 General
elections in Nigeria.”
According to him, “while the outcome of the 2023 presidential and national elections are commendable, we are also certainly challenging the outcome of the
presidential and some national and states elections in the presidential election
petition tribunal and other election petition tribunals in Nigeria.”
“Let me state categorically, that the Labour Party LP under my leadership is
committed lawfully to pursue the matter in the presidential election tribunal to a logical end, contrary to the wide spread speculations that I wanted to withdraw the matter from the courts.”
Lamidi Apapa assured that, “Labour Party under my leadership recognizes Mr. Peter Obi, Presidential Candidate but will not support any move by any member of our great party to undermine the unity and peace of our country. Labour Party under my leadership shall not support any
unconstitional change of Government by anyone no matter how highly placed.”
He also said that,”Labour Party under my leadership shall accept the outcome of the presidential election petition tribunal up to the Supreme Court.”
Earlier, the National Legal Adviser of the LP, Barr Akingbade Oyelekan said that the Labour Party will not be distracted by those elements who are bent in destroying the good movement for emancipation started by the party many years ago.
Akingbade Oyelekan insisted that the Lamidi Apapa led faction is the authentic leadership of the party as recognised by the Constitution of the party stressing that anything to the contrary is a nulity.
According to him, “All of us in this hall are members of the LP, nobody from the PDP, NNPP or APC, therefore, there is no faction. All we are doing is to ensure that the due process was followed and adhered to by all.”
The National Legal Adviser also stressed that the leadership of the LP under Bashiru Lamidi Apapa is ever ready to pursue the ongoing legal battle at the presidential election tribunal to its conclusion saying that there is no truth in the insinuation that the petition will be withdrawn.
He then urged members of the NEC to ensure that they remained united behind Lamidi Apapa urging them also to support him in order to take the party to greater heights in the country.
Returnee Nigerian students who were airlifted back to Nigeria from Egypt, have recounted their ordeal, alleging that some females were sexually harassed and were so broke to the extent of picking things from shops and ran away.
A returnee female student told journalists on arrival at the International Airport Abuja that they faced humiliation and slept in the open.
“We spent all the money we had. We were so hungry and thirsty. They were harassing us sexually. There was no food, no water to drink. It got to a point we picked things from shops and ran away,” the returnee female student spoke of her excruciating experience while at the border.
Another female student told the BBC Hausa Service in an interview, that their legs were swollen due to long hours of stay in the buses.
Speaking on his experience, a male student said the situation was so bad that they even had to pay money before they were allowed to urinate, and hoped the war would soon end to enable him go back to Sudan and complete just a semester to round up his programme.
The Lamidi Apapa-led faction of the Labour Party has suspended one of the Spokesperson of the party’s Presidential Campaign Council, Kenneth Okonkwo over anti-party activities.
The National Executive Council led by Apapa has suspended Okonkwo, and 11 other party executives over what it described as unruly behaviour against Alhaji Lamidi Apapa’s leadership which includes issuing a statement without the authority of the party.
The suspension was announced in a communique issued at the end of the party’s NEC meeting one of its meetings on Wednesday in Bauchi State.
The communique partly reads: “That the NEC in session also considers the action of twelve (12) of its members namely: Obiora Ifo, Kenneth Okonkwo, Pst. Mrs Adebayo Ekong, Com. P.G. Igene, Egnr. Adeola Adebanjo, Pst. Funke Awolowo, Sam Emeka Okpala, Barr. Folusho Leigh, Folakemi Collins, Com. Olubunmi Adesanya, Lanre Adenuga and Dr Olatubosun Oswald for their anti-party activities and unruly behaviour against the party leadership which include issuing statements without the authority of the party.”
“The NEC in session, therefore, suspended them from the party.”
Confirming the suspension of other members who attended the NEC meeting convened by Barr Julius Abure on 18th April 2023 in Asaba, Delta state,the party stated
“The National Executive Council also examined the anti-party activities of some of its members and resolved as follows:
“Reaffirmed and upheld the decision of the Ogun state executive of Labour Party that earlier expelled Mr. Kehinde Shogunle, Engr. Akinpelu Shogunle, Engr. Lukmon Jagun Abiodun, Mr. Tokunbo Peters, Bukola Shoyooye, Barr. Oluwafemi Ibiayo, Feson Gbadebo, Dayo Folarin, Adeshina Shojobi, Bamjoko Ajekpe, Tuned Taiwo, Olatunde Abolade, Abosede Lamidi, Malik Olaleye, Adesegun Banmodu, Rev. Olufolabi Adebayo, over their failure to pay memberships dues for over six (6) months thus contravening Articles 9 (3) of LP constitution 2019 as amended and thus forfeited their membership,” it added.
The faction, however, pardoned the Presidential candidate, Peter Obi and his vice, Datti Baba-Ahmed for attending the ‘illegal’ Asaba NEC meeting.
Others pardoned alongside Obi and Datti include Prince Kennedy Ahanotu, Mrs. Ladi Illiya, Dr. Ayo Olorunfemi, Chief Innocent Okeke Agumba, Mrs. Dudu Manuga and Abia State governor-elect, Mr Alex Otti.
The National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), has expressed concern over the revelation of the alleged presence of a carcinogenic compound (Ethylene Oxide) in Indomie instant noodles ‘special chicken flavour’.
A statement signed by the Director General/CEO of NICRAT, Prof. Usman Malami Aliyu said the institute’s review of Ethylene Oxide shows that the compound has grave consequences to human health, especially when consumed.
The Institute also commended the prompt intervention of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to carry out a comprehensive investigation to ascertain the magnitude of the situation.
“Our in-depth review of Ethylene Oxide indicated that it is a highly reactive chemical that is used as a raw material to make other compounds such as glycol ethers and polyglycol ethers, as well as a range of emulsifiers, detergents, and solvents.
“Ethylene oxide is also widely used as a fumigant for cleaning culinary goods, including spices. It is also frequently used to disinfect medical equipment, particularly those that might be harmed by heat sterilization.
“Our review, therefore, revealed that there is sufficient evidence in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of ethylene oxide, and there is strong evidence that the carcinogenicity of ethylene oxide, a direct-acting alkylating agent, operates by a genotoxic mechanism.”
The DG, therefore said NICRAT which was created by an Act in 2017 as an agency with the mandate to prevent, conduct research and treat cancers in Nigeria, is deeply worried that, if found that some brands of Indomie noodles contain ethylene oxide, then, Nigerians should expect an escalation of various forms of cancers in the months or years ahead, depending on how long people have consumed that brand.
“More worrisome, is that Nigerians should also expect an increase in cancer cases among children because Indomie noddles is a popular food among most Nigerian children.
“NICRAT’s concern is premised on the fact that cancer has claimed a lot of lives in Nigeria. In 2020 alone, 78,000 Nigerians died as a result of cancer-related complications (34,200 males and 44,699 females).
“NICRAT, therefore, advice Nigerians to obey NAFDAC’s instructions on the ban and consumption of Indomie Instant Noodles ‘Special Chicken Flavour’. We will further collaborate with NAFDAC in ensuring the safety and protection of Nigerians from cancer-causing agents.
“NICRAT, however, assures Nigerians of its commitment to take cancer prevention, research and treatment to the next level by ensuring that Nigerians are safe from all forms of cancers.”