Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Acclaimed leader of secessionists group, IPOB Nnamdi Kanu, has been arrested.

Addressing the media at a joint media briefing of the Department of State Services and the Police, Nigeria's Justice Minister and Attorney General, Abubakar Malami, said he was 'intercepted' on Sunday 27 June.

Malami said the arrest was by the effort of intelligence services.

The Justice Minister said Kanu has been returned to Nigeria to face his 11-count charge bordering on terrorism, treasonable felony, illegal possession of firearms, among others.

Friday, June 18, 2021

Boko Haram gets new leader

The Boko Haram Islamic group has confirmed the death of Abubakar Shekau, it’s erstwhile leader and the emergence of a new one in a short video recently released to the media.

In the video, its presumed new Commander, Bakura Modu aka Sahaba enjoined members of the outlawed group to remain firm and not be discouraged by recent events.

Abubakar was reportedly killed during infighting with the rival Islamic State for West African Province (ISWAP) last month.

The ISWAP commander, Abu Musab Al-Barnawi, claimed Shekau killed himself while on the run from the group fighters.

Newsmen report that in the video released in Arabic, the new Boko Haram commander urged his faction’s commanders to remain loyal despite the loss of Shekau, who was regarded as an iconic figure in the terrorists’ ranks.

In the video, Bakura was flanked by scores of armed fighters as he addressed the camera.

He said: “Commanders of Jama’atu Ahlu Sunna Lidda’awati Wal Jihad. Be steadfast and draw your swords, spreading your jihad, decapitating the enemy.

“Don’t allow what befalls you these days to weaken your resolve on the jihad you are waging. This is because Allah has not forsaken your efforts.”

He also encouraged Boko Haram commanders to reject Barnawi.

Bakura’s faction is one of the Boko Haram elements operating in the Lake Chad area where they have access to porous borders with Chad and Niger.

However, ISWAP fighters have taken over Shekau’s stronghold in the Sambisa forest in their bid for consolidation.

DRAMA | Senator Melaye, car dealer biker over N14.5 million unpaid balance for Mercedes Benz

Senator Dino Melaye has threatened to take legal action after he was accused by a car dealer of N14.5 million debt for a Mercedes Benz he bought in 2018.

Trouble started on Thursday after the politician took to his Instagram page to flaunt his new Rolls Royce Cullinan.

“If you yab me I go ride am, if you no yab me I go ride am….kuku yab me make I continue dey ride am jare…Omo Melaye saying Let them say,” he had written in Pidgin alongside a photo of the car.

Shortly after the post, Unique Motors took to the comment section, calling out the former lawmaker and alleging that he refused to pay the balance for the 2018 vehicle he acquired.

“Sir, you still have outstanding balance to pay unique motors. All effort to reach you and Moses prove abortive. Please pay up sir,” the company had written.

Reacting, Melaye fired back at the company, accusing it of using his name to promote its business.

“No be only unique motor! If l am really owing you, you know what to do. Abi na social media you sell the imaginary car? All of una wey dey use my name promote your obscure business…God know una address ooo. But for this unique nonsense my lawyers go reach you. You dial trouble,” he wrote.

However, the company also replied the politician in a different post daring him to show evidence of full payment for the vehicle if he had truly completed the payment.

In the post accompanied with a picture of Melaye posing alongside the Mercedes Benz, the company claimed that efforts to collect the balance have so far proved abortive.

It wrote: “The imaginary car. A transaction that started in December 2018 and full payment have not being realized till 2021.

“If Dino claim he is not aware he should ask Moses his brother for clarity . We want our payment and we want our money, you can’t use your office or position to intimidate and silent us.

“He should bring out evidence of his full payment for the car, as far as we are aware N13,500,000.00 was paid and balance of N14,500,000.00 is unpaid in our book till date.

“All effort to reclaim this fund has not being successful, a case is in anti vice abuja office Wuse, Dino and his brother is aware, Moses came for settlement.

“If we are chasing clout, why did he blocked us and deleted the comment from his IG account? There are documentary evidence to back this claim, including sms and WhatsApp chat.

“Before the public or blogger carried the news, we never paid any blogger for this. A simple comment and debt reminder to Mr Dino Melaye is not bad after waiting for almost 4years since December 2018 for just a car payment that he refused to balance up.

“We don’t drag or expose our transaction online or expose our client or customer. Rather we protect them and assist as we feel this is part of our obligation as a business.

“The moment you failed to honour your agreement and responsibility and use your position and office to intimidate people and refused to pay for what you knew rightfully belong to the person, then it become imperative that we have to go after our money.

“A call to Dino and Moses was not returned, sms evidence of asking for payment and even WhatsApp chat are available.

“For a business to wait for payment of a car since 2018: Before we go online and comment you guys should know we have explore all means to retrieve this debt. We don’t chase clout, we are not in any way to tarnish his image.

“We just want to be paid for our sweat and for our car or he should bring the car back and get part of his money refunded.

“You are in custody of a car and knowing fully when you got the car without paying the rightfully owner completely, we don’t know how people sleep knowing-fully well other people sweat are in your custody unpaid.”

The ‘truth’ President Buhari told Nigerians during his television interview - Rivers governor

Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike says Presdent Muhammadu Buhari told Nigerians the truth about his administration during his recent television interview.

The governor, who make this assertion during the inauguration of nine reconstructed streets: Nzimiro, Herbert Macaulay, Amassoma, Arochukwu, Atako, Ogoja, Akure, Yola and Chinwo in Old Government Residential Area of Port Harcourt claimed that the President told Nigerians that he has nothing left to offer the country in terms of good governance.

“The President spoke to us the other day and Nigerians were happy the way he spoke to them, he told them the truth. And the truth is that whether you like it or not, I have nothing again to offer and that was the truth. And people must agree to that.”

Wike also said having become the butt of jokes on social media networks, APC is desperate to trample on freedom of expression of Nigerians.

He added that it is hypocritical for the All Progressives Congress to contemplate banning or regulating social media after using it to hoodwink Nigerians to attain power.

According to him, the APC led government has miserably failed, and wants to use its disagreement with Twitter as a false premise to suppress criticism of the administration’s appalling handling of the affairs of the nation through the dubious regulation of social media.

“You have misled the country. You told us lies through social media . The same social media that you used to take over government, the same social media you want to regulate and ban. The same social media you used to tell Nigerians lies of how former President Goodluck Jonathan did not do this, how PDP did not do that.

“Now, you want the same social media to be regulated. You don’t want freedom of speech. Now, you want to gag them. Did anybody gag you when you were using them?”

Governor Wike said the kidnap of scores of students at Federal Government Girls College, Birnin Yauri, Kebbi State on Thursday, is a further demonstration of APC gross ineptitude to guarantee safety of lives and property of Nigerians.

According to him, Nigerians are anxious for the APC to quit power and allow the more experienced Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to once again restore stability in the polity and dignity of the nation.

“You wake every morning to hear 20 people have been kidnapped; 30 people have been kidnapped and people are telling us to keep quiet. Is it when they have kidnapped your own daughter?”

The Governor also took at swipe at the presidency for berating PDP governors, who demanded for transparency and accountability in the way the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is managed and that the APC led government should be alive to its constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property.

“In Kebbi, 40 to 50 girls have been kidnapped , our young daughters. And then, you are telling me we (PDP) have not proffered solution. Which solution are you talking about? The President is the Commander in Chief of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is the president that appoints all the security heads in this country.

“No governor has the power or any role to appoint even a Commissioner of Police. And then you are telling me that we have not proffered any solution. What solution do you want us to proffer? When you have taken your oath of office that you are going to guarantee the lives and property of Nigerians.”

The governor said his administration has deliberately embarked on massive urban renewal drive aimed at restoring the Garden City status of Port Harcourt.

According to him, it is regrettable that past administrations in the State did not consider it appropriate to restore the lost glory of Port Harcourt.

Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP, Senator Walid Jubril, who inaugurated the nine streets, commended Governor Wike for transforming Port Harcourt, such that even the blind can attest to it.

Jubril said the entire board of trustees of the PDP is proud of Governor Wike’s steadfast commitment to the PDP. According to him, party stalwarts across the country, are impressed with the governor’s remarkable achievements and leadership.

“Anybody, who is from this State and is trying to go astray , I am not with him. I am with the people of this State and I will remain with you (Wike).”

The Commissioner of Works, Elloka Tasie-Amadi said the 9 streets have a combined length of 4.2km and 6.5km of drains.

He explained that the scope of work includes road expansion, construction of drainages, walkways, asphalt overlay, street lighting and road marking.

He listed some of the benefits of the reconstructed streets to include: ease of movement, reduction in travel time, reduction of vehicle wear and tear, protection and enhancement of real estate values, and improving living standards.

Voters’ registration to resume June 28 - INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission has declared its readiness to resume the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration scheduled for June 28.

This was made known on Thursday by the INEC Deputy Director of Voter Education Division, Mary Nkem, at a roadshow on the CVR organised by the commission in Abuja.

According to Nkem, the exercise would be taking place from 9 am to 3 pm from Monday to Friday, excluding weekends.

“It will involve two processes, that is, online pre-registration and physical registration.

“So, people can sit in the comfort of their homes and login details for registration.

“Then go to any of our local government or state office to capture their biometrics and photographs; or you appear physically at any designated register,” she said.

She also said that the commission would come up with the guidelines for the collection of permanent voters’ card.

At the road show were INEC staff members from the voter education and publicity department, members of the National Youth Service Corps, among others.

The road show was to create awareness and to mobilise eligible voters in Abuja for the resumption of the exercise.

“It is also to let FCT residents know those who are being targeted in the exercise; those who have turned 18 after the last registration exercise, or those who are more than 18 years but have never registered.

“This exercise is also for those who have issues with their accreditation during the past elections, those who have issues with their Permanent Voter Cards or their biometric details,” Nkem explained.

Coalition places booty on IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu

A coalition of 75 northern groups under the aegis of Northern Consensus Movement, NCM, has accused the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and the Eastern Security Network, ESN, of masterminding series of attacks against northern interests in the East and placed a N100 million booty on the head of the supreme leader of the secessionist outfits, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

The coalition promised to pay the money to anybody or group of person who can produce Kanu for the continuation of his trial in Nigeria.

Newsmen report that the groups, disclosed this at a press briefing in Abuja, the nation’s capital on Thursday evening, accusing Kanu what they called ‘hate speech’ among other crimes.

Speaking on behalf of the Coalition, Dr. Awwal Abdullahi Aliyu, urged the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and the European Union to facilitate Nnamdi Kanu’s repatriation to Nigeria to face the charges against him.

Aliyu said, “The Northern Consensus Movement, an amalgamation of more than 75 civil society groups of Northern extraction, has taken it upon ourselves, as active citizens of this country, Nigeria, to state in unequivocal terms that:

“We are declaring Nnamdi Kanu wanted for crimes against humanity and for instigating the killing of innocent Northerners in the southeast via his hate speech.

“We want him to answer for the killing and destruction of Northerners residing and undertaking lawful businesses in the southeastern part of Nigeria.

“So, we are placing a bounty of N100m as an offer to anyone who can produce him alive, hale, hearty, and uninjured to us for onward delivery to the security agencies for the continuation of his prosecution.

“We call on both the US, the UK, and the EU, a champions of democracy, rule of law, and freedoms of speech and expression to kindly and humble respect Nigeria’s sovereignty and facilitate the repatriation of Nnamdi Kanu to Nigeria so that he can face his treason, and possibly a fresh terrorism and genocide charges against innocent citizens of Nigeria.”

Boko Haram cleric confirms Abubakar Shekau’s death, urges fighters’ loyalty

A senior cleric with Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram confirmed the death of its leader and urged fighters to stay loyal in its fight against rival Islamic State militants, according to a video seen by Reuters on Friday.

Bakura Sahalaba, a cleric with the Lake Chad branch of Boko Haram, urged its men to fight on in the video, which appeared on social media after the rival Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) said Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau had died.

Three Boko Haram researchers verified its authenticity.

ISWAP had said Shekau, one of the world’s most notorious extremists, had died around 18 May after fleeing a battle with ISWAP and detonating an explosive device before he could be captured.

The regional affiliate of Islamic State, ISWAP has sought to absorb Shekau’s fighters and unify the groups which during Shekau’s tenure fought one another for control of territory in northeast Nigeria and around Lake Chad.

“The Lake Chad branch of (Boko Haram) is clearly willing to keep fighting ISWAP until it can speak directly with (Islamic State) on next steps,” said Jacob Zenn, editor of The Jamestown Foundation’s Terrorism Monitor publication.

The two groups have waged a bloody conflict in Nigeria’s northeast since their split in 2016, sparked in part by ideological disagreements over Shekau’s wanton killing of Muslim civilians.

Vincent Foucher, a Boko Haram researcher at the French National Centre for Scientific Research, said the cleric’s comment that his group believes in Islamic State is a sign that Boko Haram may be seeking a form of arbitration with them.

Nigerian security forces could also exploit a rift between the two insurgencies.

“That’s an opening for security forces to step up attacks now that they’re fighting each other… and also perhaps an opportunity to divide the ranks, to say, ‘Those of you who want to defect, defect and come to us’,” said Bulama Bukarti, a senior analyst with the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change.

Peace Corps bill to be passed soon - Doguwa

A bill for an Act to establish the Nigerian Peace Corps currently before the House of Representatives is to be passed soon, House Majority Leader, Alhaji Alhassan Doguwa, has said.

A statement by the Public Relations Officer of the Peace Corps, Mrs Millicent Umoru-Osakwuaoguwa, said that Doguwa gave the assurance during the reconstitution of the State Commands of the outfit for Jigawa, Kano and Katsina, held in Kano on Thursday.

It quoted Doguwa as pledging continous support for the Peace Corps of Nigeria and its resolve to engage youths within the ages of 18 to 45, in more productive ventures.

“We believe everything should be done to make the youths contribute positively to societal development. If they are left idle, they could be exploited for negative tendencies.

“We are committed and determined, as it is expected of us at this critical period of insecurity bedevilling our land, to ensure that the security of lives and properties is most paramount to every well meaning Nigerian,” he said.

Sen. Mas’ud Doguwa, in a remark, urged members of the Peace Corps to remain steadfast and committed to their struggle.

The Kano State government, through the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youths, Sports and Development, Mr Sa’id Magami, promised to provide the necessary support to train youths into the Corps.

Responding, the National Commandant of the Peace Corps of Nigeria, Prof. Dickson Akoh, said the Corps was one of the leading youth organisations in Africa.

Akoh urged youths to continue to be peaceful and unite toward building a prosperous country.

TOPE ALABI APOLOGISES OVER 'ONIDURO STATEMENT

TOPE ALABI APOLOGISES OVER 'ONIDURO STATEMENT.

▪︎“Let Me Acknowledge That My Mistake Was That I Externalised A Personal Message In Public; And I’m Awfully Sorry For Doing That."

Initially, I didn’t want to delve into the controversy over the gospel hit song, “Oniduro,” because I have intervened behind the scenes in concert with other stakeholders in gospel music ministry. However, I discovered that online media would not allow the dust to settle calmly.

I want to state that Tope Alabi, Adeyinka Adesioye a.k.a Alaseyori and Tolu Adelegan are all members of the same family of God and they belong to the same calling – singing ministry.

“Adeyinka is my daughter in ministry. Her Pastor asked me to pray for her because she took after me, which I did wholeheartedly.

Envy who? Never!

I love the girl so much.

She can confirm to you, sir, that we relate so well. God has given each of us the grace to go as far as His enablement could carry us. The atmosphere is wide enough for everyone to stretch her wings of gift without disturbing one another.”

"......I’m being bombarded with calls and visits by Pastors since Monday morning till now. As we speak, another group of Pastors are coming in now. I guess it is because of this same issue.

“......I have been inundated with diverse counsel from different quarters. I hardly sleep since this matter started. While I attend to Nigerian fans on phone calls and online chats in the daytime, our people in the Diaspora will engage me throughout the greater part of the night over the same matter.

".....I’m not a perfect person yet, I’m still a work in progress in the hands of God. I want people to see me as a mere mortal with my own weaknesses, human frailties and as a learner in the limitless knowledge of God.

I am who I am today only by the mercy of God and the support of millions of gospel music lovers. I have no support base elsewhere outside the awesome Nigerians who feel uncomfortable with my statement.

I see the depth of anger as the measure of their love, admiration and solid support for me and for all of us in the singing ministry.

“Let me acknowledge that my mistake was that I externalised a personal message in public; and I’m awfully sorry for doing that. My friends, colleagues and leaders in ministry who criticized me either openly or privately simply feel disappointed because of the love we share. We are too knitted in the Body of Christ to allow anything to divide us. Human factor is part of our life.

“For those who keep quiet but chose to intercede for us on their knees instead, may God honour them all. And for those who defended me even without speaking with me, I can’t appreciate them enough."

"...... Sister Tolu Adelegan is a woman I hold in high esteem. Adeyinka, like I said earlier, is my daughter in ministry, they are all valuable sisters and associates that nothing can separate us. This is a mere fog, it will fade away in no time.

“For the comic fellows who are already releasing comedy skits over the matter, I burst into laughter (she laughed again) watching some today.

What a creative people we are. Nigerians are awesome minds who will fashion out tension relieving stuff from every situation.

...I appreciate them all. The Bible says in Hebrew 12: 14 that we should pursue peace with everybody and holiness, those are the conditions for us to see God. This is the acceptable path for all of us to follow......"

Thursday, June 17, 2021

LAGOS STATE MAGISTRATE COURT DENIES BABA IJESHA BAIL

Embattled Yoruba Nollywood actor Omiyinka Olanrewaju popularly known as Baba Ijesha who was arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Yaba yesterday for alleged child molestation has been denied bail.

According to court documents and delivering a ruling in the bail application, the magistrate, P.E Nwaka, stated that the court cannot grant the actor bail because the matter is beyond its jurisdiction. The judge also explained that the case has already been filed before the high court.

Friday, June 11, 2021

Nigerians must stand against insurrectionists, killers – Bola Tinubu

As Nigeria marks Democracy Day today, the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has urged Nigerians to stand against insurrectionists and killers destroying the country’s democratic institutions.

Tinubu said this in a statement he signed on Friday titled, ‘June 12, 2021: Democracy Day Statement’ – amid secessionist agitations from the South-East and South-West.

Tinubu, a former Lagos State governor, said one of the inspiring accounts that would be written about Nigeria was how it transitioned from the darkness of authoritarian military suppression into the light of democracy and the establishment of popular government based on the sovereign will of the people.

The statement read, “On this memorable day, we mark, with respect, and honour the sacrifices that have allowed democracy to come to pass. We also celebrate in anticipation of a future in which our democratic institutions, concepts and practices take firmer root; transforming this society from what it is to what it can be.

“Through it all, our gaze has remained fixed as if it were focused on a star in the firmament. Our road has remained certain for it is the only road we can reasonably tread. We have moved toward a better Nigeria and greater democracy.”

However, Tinubu decried that Nigeria’s path to democracy had not been without peril, saying there were many who did not care about the journey of democracy.

He said, “They embark on a different trek for they hold to a different concept of governance and of the relationship of government to the people.

“They do not believe in a nation where every person therein has substantive rights, freedoms and liberties as God intended for all of his human creations regardless of the place of birth, ethnic origin, social station or religious creed. These people hate democracy and despise you for choosing democracy over them and their oppressive ways.

“They are violent and cold-hearted. They love nothing, save the destruction of the happiness and peace of others. They will not go away quietly or in consideration of the compelling logic of democratic governance.

“Instead, they set us up in hopes of laying waste to the good society we seek to build. They levy terror against us in vain, hoping that their violent impositions might cause us to lose our way. They raze villages, destroy homes assault and kill innocent people.

“They even attack important symbols of a just society including religious institutions, schools of learning and INEC [Independent National Electoral Commission] offices as if they can snuff out, through violence, mankind’s will to worship God, seek knowledge or engage in participatory governance.

“However, with all that they do, they will not succeed. In trying to pluck a democratic and just society from our hands, they are as mistaken as they are evil.”

The APC national leader added, “Despite the troubles we face, and those troubles are serious, we must stand up for democracy lest we shall find ourselves falling to oblivion. Democratic good governance offers the only reasonable solution to the challenges confronting Nigeria.

“Thus, we must stand for democracy today. We must stand for it even more tomorrow. Ask this question 10, 20, 100 years from now, the answer must remain the same: the people of Nigeria stand for democracy and stand against that which would chase democracy from our land.

“Thus, we stand against those who traffic in insurrection and violence. We stand against those whose commerce is bigotry and hatred. We contend against those who would render the people ignorant and poor.”

Tinubu urged Nigerians to use Democracy Day to remember the late Chief MKO Abiola, “whose victory in the June 12, 1993 presidential election was stolen from him.”

“Yet he remained steadfast and surrendered his own life so that we all might enjoy the democratic victory that was taken from him.

“Without his historic effort and sacrifice, this day would not be Democracy Day. It would be a downcast and disappointing one. Let us also remember all others who also sacrificed so much to bring democracy to this land.

“We best honour these people not by reciting their names but by injecting the spirit and hope of democracy into our words and deeds. In becoming better democrats, we also become better at being Nigerians,” Tinubu said.

Saturday, June 5, 2021

All Nations, Temitope Joshua, better known as Prophet TB Joshua, is dead.

Joshua reportedly died on Saturday night in Lagos after concluding a programme at his church.

TB Joshua

The church and his family have not officially announced his death. He was 57. Plans were underway for his 58th birthday. Joshua was born on June 12, 1963.

News of his demise became a trend on Twitter in the early hours of Saturday as many Nigerians took turns to mourn the late prophet.

The cause of his death was not immediately disclosed, but sources told Saharareporters he fell ill two days ago.

His body is believed to have been deposited at General Hospital in Isolo, Lagos.

TB Joshua's megachurch runs the popular Emmanuel TV television station from Lagos, followed by many Christians worldwide.

Joshua is famous across Africa, Europe and America. His YouTube channel, Emmanuel TV, had over 1,000,000 subscribers and was the world's most viewed Christian ministry on the platform before it was suspended.

He is well known for his controversial prophecies such as the Ghana terror attack, US presidential election, coronavirus and his influence in African politics. He recently predicted Nigeria would remain one despite instability in different parts of the country.

He recently wrote on his Facebook page about plans to celebrate his 58th birthday.

He said, "As things stand, you may have realised it will not be easy for me to celebrate my birthday under the present circumstances. Some of the people who want to come are troubled by the situation all over the world. We see their fear and their worry. I feel their pain; I feel their worry.

"Therefore, let us dedicate this day to prayer and fasting. Don't forget the needy. By the grace of God, more birthdays are ahead. God bless you! Emmanuel. Jesus is Lord! Happy Birthday."

On September 12 2014, a guesthouse collapsed in Lagos's SCOAN premises, killing at least 115 people, 84 of them were South Africans.