“Unprovoked Killing Of Soldiers In Abia Portray SE As Region Without Human Feelings” – Uzodimma Mourns

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May 30, 2024

Hope Uzodimma - Imo State Governor — Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State.:

The Governor of Imo State and Chairman, South East Governors Forum, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has condemned in very strong terms the killing of soldiers who were on lawful duty in Aba, Abia State by hoodlums masquerading as members of the Independent Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).

The soldiers were ambushed and then killed by the gang of criminals who claimed to be enforcing a sit at home order in the South East.

Governor Uzodimma who addressed the media on Thursday in Government House Owerri had condemned the dastardly act which he said occured without provocation.

Governor Uzodimma urged the security agencies to “go all out and ensure that those behind it are caught and brought to book.”

He bemoaned what happened as “unfortunate, without any reason as innocent people doing their lawful duty were gunned down.”

He said the unfortunate situation was a major setback on the peace process which the Governors of the South East have been pursuing vigorously by engaging the Federal government, security agencies and other critical stakeholders on how best to resolve the problem of insecurity in the South East.

Governor Uzodimma regretted that the action will erroneously portray the people of South East in bad light “as if we don’t have sympathy for human lives or that the peace process being pursued is not appreciated.”

The Governor seized the opportunity to condole with the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Toured Lagbaja, the Nigeria Army and the families of the soldiers who lost their loved ones in the unfortunate incident.

However, he reiterated the resolve of the leadership of the people of South East in general and the Governors in particular, not to leave any stone unturned to ensure that the needed peace to develop the region is achieved.

Governor Uzodimma repeated the call on the security agencies to do their job without hindrance and to ensure that those behind the dastardly act are fished out so as to serve as deterrent to others.

On the activities of the perpetrators of the killing, the Governor who described them as criminals said they were propelled by the memory of the past that is still hunting them, noting that, “we should find courage and appreciate the fact that a lot of work had gone into the peace process.”

He maintained that the South East region in general and Imo State in particular crave for peace and advised the people to come out and go about their businesses “without fear of any molestation by anybody.”

He insisted that his government is doing her best in the area of security “and God is supporting and helping us.”

Kano Royal Crisis: Lawyers Involved In Conflicting Judicial Pronouncements Should Be Punished – Group

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Suleiman Anyalewechi

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May 30, 2024

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By Suleiman Anyalewechi.

An Advocacy Group, Save the Poor and Needy Charity Initiative SPANCI, on Thursday, May 30, 2024, beckoned on the Chief Justice of Nigeria to act swiftly to save the Judiciary from self destructing.

Its call is coming against the backdrop of the conflicting and partisan pronouncements emanating from courts of equal jurisdiction on the festering struggle for the Emirship of the Kano Emirate .

Justices Mohammed Liman and S A Amobeda of the Federal High Courts Kano have seen their separate pro- Emir Ado Bayero rulings upturned by a Kano State High Court presided over by Justice Amina Adamu Aliyu in favour of the Kano State Government back Emir Muhammad Sanusi in the last few days.

The contradictory rulings have equally led to the Kano Emirate, for the first time in recent memory, play host to two Emirs, a development that has since raised the political temperature of the commercial hub of Northern Nigeria to near boiling point .

Although, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola, has since summoned the heads of the Federal and State high courts of Kano to Abuja over the development, SPANCI President, Ezekiel Bello, said the Nigerian Chief Justice must urgently halt the ugly trend.

In a statement issued and made available to the media ,the Advocacy body, insisted that the conflicting rulings represent a new low for the courts, as well as being inimical to the justice system, the legal profession, the rule of law and democracy.

“SPANCI frowns at this show of shame by our Judiciary .This is gross abuse of power and office that must be immediately investigated and punishable actions taken by my lord the Chief Justice of Nigeria CJN who is the head of the national judicial council NJC.

“This is a serious judicial perversion ,recklessness,and rascality which if not addressed has come to stay and will be repeated in future as precedent and antecedent to our justice system.

“The two courts have equal jurisdiction on the matter . They are courts of coordinate jurisdiction to each other ,.The state high court earlier granted an order favouring Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi .

“But in a turn of events ,Emir Ado Bayero who has been removed for a very long time also went to get what l will call a tackling, conflicting ,and jeopardizing order from the Federal high court to attack the initial order by the kano State high court in favour of Emir Sanusi which has caused tension in Kano State, as well as portraying our Judiciary as being corrupt.

“It is wrong to get the order of a Court to attack the order of the same Court of competent jurisdiction. The lawyers involved should be punished to avoid a repeat of this in the future.

“I think this has a political undertone. We hereby humbly appeal to our lord, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, to act in his capacity as the Head of the Judiciary Arm of Government in the country, to save the face and name of our courts, and prevent them from setting this bad record for our justice system and its stakeholders.”Comrade Bello pleaded.

NELFUND Says Over 60,000 Students Have Applied For Loan, 30,000 Successful

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Akinwale Kasali

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May 30, 2024

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By Akinwale Kasali

Exactly a year after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced Education Loan Fund for Nigerian Students in Tertiary Institutions, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND has revealed that over 60,000 have applied for the fund.

It added that 30,000 applications have been successfully processed.

NELFUND also said so far, 90 percent of Federal Universities have submitted their students’ data to its dashboard, adding that 10 percent of Federal institutions were yet to submit theirs.

Besides, the students loan agency declared that its portal for submission of data from state owned tertiary Institutions will begin in three weeks time.

To this end, it appealed to State Institutions to begin the submission of data of their students for onward processing.

Edo INEC Office Flooding: Commission Says Election On Course

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Ayodele Oni

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May 30, 2024

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By Ayodele Oni

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured Nigerians that September governorship election in Edo state will go as scheduled, despite the flood incident which ravaged the commission’s office in Benin city.

The commission promised that it would replace all facilities damaged by flood in its Edo headquarters office, before the poll.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu gave the assurance on Thursday in Benin, when he visited the state for on the spot assessment of the impacts of last week flooding on the state office.

Yakubu also assured Edo people that in spite the setback caused by the flood, INEC would continue with the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in the state.

“We are here basically to see for ourselves what happened to our facilities following the unexpected torrential rainfall and the flooding that occurred. Equally importantly for us to come and meet with you who are the staff in the Edo office.

“We thank God no life was lost. We thank God no injuries. But we want to assure you that in spite of the extensive damage, we have recovered to do the continuous voter registration exercise and we will recover to conduct the governorship election in September.

“We have three months and three weeks to the election today. So whatever we have lost in terms of critical equipment, whatever support facilities we need to replace, whatever office furniture and facilities we need to replace, we will do so.”

He said the commission would salvage some of the equipment that can be reclaimed, then mobilized resources from neighbouring states to replace the shortfalls for the successful conduct of the state election.

Yakubu, who was accompanied by some INEC national commissioners; Federal Controller, Federal Ministry of Works in Edo, Hassan Babatunde, said he came with a team that would help to assess the level of loss to the flood and way forward.

“We are also accompanied by the director of ICT because of what happened to some of the critical facilities for the election.

“Whatever we need for the forthcoming Edo governorship election we will make sure that we provide these facilities.

“Fortunately for us this is an off-cycle election so we can rely on our resources from the neighboring states for the election.

“It is only in a general election that each state office must be self-sufficient, but here we will call for additional resources from the neighboring states to ensure that there are no issues with the election.

“The present commission has a lot of experience in handling the Edo governorship election. For me personally this is going to be my third governorship election in Edo.

“We conducted the 2016 election. We conducted the September 2020 election and by God’s grace we are approaching the September 2024 election. So the CVR which is ongoing will not be affected.

“Whatever issues and challenges there, we will listen to the REC and its team and we will continue to respond.”

Otti Backs IPÖB On Sit-at-home Order, Says They Have A Right To Mourn Victims Of Genocide

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The Source

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May 30, 2024

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By Gideon Njoku

In Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, promoters of the sit-at-home order against May 29, 30, 31 have a supporter.

Speaking on the sit-at-home order declared by IPÖB in the South-east against the 29, 30, 31st of May to mourn the dead of the Igbo who were killed and/or starved to death during the Civil War, Otti said they have the right to mourn their own in any way they thought appropriate.

On how it would affect students taking their West African Examination Council, WAEC, exams, Otti said his Government had taken care of that, by having discussions with all involved.

The Governor made it clear that his Government has no intention to start a conflict with the promoters of sit-at-home order, but preferred to engage them diplomatically.

The Governor expressed his views through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma.

Otti: ”Government is in touch with all the schools affected to see what could be done so that WAEC exams are not disrupted. We are in touch with schools on how to handle the situation.

”We are not interested in unnecessary confrontation with the people who are appealing for sit- at-home in honour of their dead ones.

“They have every right to mourn their own, especially going by the history of that war.

”It’s something we shouldn’t politicize. It was an emotional period when we remember the genocidal onslaught. We don’t have any interest in confronting those who are asking people to observe that moment of honour for those who were victims of the genocidal war.

”It’s something we are handling with wisdom and diplomacy. We are engaging with all the actors that are involved. We are putting measures in place that the Government may not want to make public.

”The most important thing is to see what we can do to ensure that students write their exams. There are things we don’t want to disclose. But be assured that we are putting measures in place to ensure there is peace in Abia State.’’

NAHCON To Intending Pilgrims: “Cígarëtte, Kolanüts, Drügs Remain Prohibited In Saudi Arabia”

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Ayodele Oni

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May 30, 2024

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By Ayodele Oni

As the airlift of Muslims to Mecca continues, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has tasked State Pilgrims Welfare Boards to collaborate with the National Drüg Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to curb smuggling of prohibited items into Saudi Arabia.

The Executive Chairman of NAHCON, Malam Jalal Arabi, made the call in a statement issued by the Commission’s Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Mrs Fatima Usara, on Thursday in Abuja.

Arabi emphasized the need for State authorities to work with other related agencies in ensuring that persons planning to smuggle prohibited items into Saudi Arabia are apprehended.

This, according to him, will guard against embarrassment on Nigeria, as it causes delay during screening of pilgrims in both countries.

Arabi said “intending pilgrims for the 2024 Hajj have been cautioned against travelling with illícit drügs, kolanüts and Cígarëtte into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

“Pilgrims have been reminded that as a nation deeply rooted in religious and cultural heritage, Saudi Arabia holds strict laws against drug trafficking, penalty for which is death.

“NAHCON wishes to remind pilgrims that the purpose of the trip to Saudi Arabia is for worship, therefore they should not be distracted by acts that will violate the sanctity of their Hajj.

“Hajj period is a time for spiritual reflection and prayers that should be approached with respect for the laws and customs of the host country.”

The NAHCON boss also warned intending pilgrims to beware of being used as conduit for any illicit trade without their knowledge.

He added that “pilgrims have also been advised to be extra vigilant over their bags at the airport to avoid implantation of prohibited items in their luggage unawares.”

He urged pilgrims to uphold their honour and dignity and that of the country, saying “any individual caught smuggling prohibited items not only brings shame upon themselves but also tarnishes the reputation of the nation.”

Rivers Crisis Escalates As Court Declares Seat Of 24 Lawmakers Vacant

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Akinwale Kasali

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May 30, 2024

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By Akinwale Kasali

The crisis rocking the Rivers State House of Assembly is yet to abate as a Rivers State High Court Sitting in Port Harcourt, has granted an order of interlocutory injunction restraining Martin Amaewhule and 24 other Lawmakers from parading, and holding themselves as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Justice C.N Wali, who presided over the case issued an interlocutory injunction against Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the State Attorney General of Rivers State, and the Chief Judge of Rivers State, who are the 26th to 28th defendants in the suit.

They are restrained from dealing with, interfacing, or accepting any resolution, bill, or other actions from Amaewhule and the 24 others.

Justice Wali, ruling on a suit filed by the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Victor Oko-Jumbo, Sokari Goodboy and Orubienimigha Adolphus-Timothy as claimants, restrained Amaewhule and the 24 others from sitting in the auditorium of the House of Assembly quarters, or at any other place to carry out any legislative functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The court also declared the seats of Amaewhule and the 24 others vacant pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

The matter was adjourned to 1st July 2024 for a motion hearing.

It would be recalled that Amaewhule and 24 Other Lawmakers had announced their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the wake of the battle of supremacy between Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike and Governor Fubara.

The 25 Lawmakers are loyal to Wike which was why they defected.

The order reads in part: “An Order of Interlocutory Injunction is granted restraining the 1st to 25th Defendants from parading and holding out themselves as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and/or meeting/ sitting at the Auditorium of the House of Assembly Quarters located at Off Aba Road, Port Harcourt or at any other place whatsoever to purport to carry out the legislative business of the Rivers State House of Assembly, their legislative seats having been declared vacant pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

“An Order of Interlocutory Injunction is hereby made restraining the 26th to 28th Defendants from dealing with, interfacing, accepting any resolutions, bills and/or howsoever interacting with the 1st to 25th Defendants in their purported capacities as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, their legislative seats having been declared vacant with effect from 13th December, 2023 pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.”

The case was, thereafter, adjourned to 1st July, 2024 for mention.

Other lawmakers affected by the order are Hon. Dumle Maol, Hon. Major Jack, Hon. Franklin Uchenna Nwabochi, Hon. Christopher Kagbang Ofiks, Hon. Azeru Opara, Hon. Enemi Alabo George, Hon. Granville Tekenari Wellington, Hon. Ngbar Bernard, Hon. John Dominic Iderima, Hon. Queen Uwuma Tony Williams, Hon. Loolo Isaiah Opuende amd Hon, Abbey Peter.

Others are Hon. Igwe – Obey Aforii, Hon. Justina Emeji, Hon. Ignatius Onwuka Defendants, Hon. Chimezie Nwankwo, Hon. Lemchi Prince Nyeche, Hon. Barile Nwakoh 20. Hon. Emilia Lucky Amadi, Hon. Nkemjika Ezekwe, Hon. Davios Arnold Oxobiriari, Hon. Nwankwo Sylvanus, Hon. Gerald Oforii and Hon. Wami Solomon.

Three Storey Building Collapses Besides Oba Akiolu’s Palace

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Akinwale Kasali

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May 30, 2024

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Building Collapsed in Lagos Near Oba Akiolu Palace

By Akinwale Kasali

Disaster has once again rocked Lagos State, following the collapse of a three storey building in the Lagos Island Local Government Area.

This is coming less than a week after a Mosque caved in and collapsed, leaving five people dead with several others injured.

Occupants of the building were reported to have been trapped under rubbles of the structure sited on 15, Iga Idungaran Close, Lagos Island.

The said building is just few meters away from the Palace of the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Osuolale Akiolu.

The building collapsed around 12:30pm, leading to panic and fear among residents of the area.

The spokesperson for the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Nosa Okunbor, in a statement made available to newsmen, said that the Permanent Secretary, LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, led the search and rescue operations at the scene.

At the time of filing in this report, the number of casualties was yet to be ascertained, as there has not been any record of life lost so far.

Details Later…..

Fmr Presidents Of Kenya, Liberia To Attend Goodluck Jonathan Democracy Dialogue

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Ayodele Oni

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May 30, 2024

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By Ayodele Oni

The immediate past Presidents of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta Liberian’s George Weah, and the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar are among dignitaries expected to grace this year’s Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF) Democracy Dialogue.

The dialogue, which holds in Benin city, Edo state, has as chief hosts Governor Godwin Obaseki and former president Goodluck Jonathan.

Other personalities expected at the annual event with the theme ‘Functional Education, Effective Political Leadership as a Panacea to Africa’s Growth and Development,’ are former Vice President of Zambia, Dr. Nevers Mumba and the head of the UNDP Sub-Regional Hub for West and Central Africa, Njoya Tikum.

Expected as a keynote speaker is Prof. Olubayi, a seasoned educationist, Chief Academic Officer at Maarifa Education, a Kenya based Pan-African company that owns private universities across Africa and former Vice Chancellor of the International University of East Africa (IUEA) in Uganda.

In a statement by the Executive Director, GJF, Ms Ann Iyonu, disclosed that this year’s Dialogue, is the third in the series.

Iyonu added that the event scheduled to hold on June 13, is designed to “bring together a cross-section of key political leaders, policymakers, and experts from across the continent.

“They will be examining the critical role of education and effective political leadership recruitment in the actualisation of the development aspirations of African nations.”

She explained that this year’s Dialogue follows the 2023 edition which explored the interface between democracy and development.

Supreme Court To Hear FG’s Suit Seeking Autonomy For LGs June 13, Gives States Seven Days To File Defence

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Ayodele Oni

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May 30, 2024

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By Ayodele Oni

The Supreme Court has fixed June 13 for hearing in the suit filed by the Attorney General of the federation, Lateef Fagbemi seeking full autonomy for the 774 local councils in the country.

The apex court also ordered the 36 state governors to file within seven days their respective defence in the suit.

It also mandated the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF), who filed the suit on behalf of the federal government to reply to the governors processes within two days upon receipt.

A seven member panel of Justices of the apex court, led by Justice Garba Lawal on Thursday, issued the orders while ruling on an application filed by the AGF, seeking abridgement of time in the filing and exchange of processes in the matter.

Fagbemi, while arguing the application requested the court to order the governors to file their defense within five days in view of the urgency and importance of the matter.

However, the Chairman, Body of Attorneys General of the states of the federation, Ben Odoh, who is also the Attorney General of Ebony state did not object to the request for abridgement of time, but requested that they be given 15 days as against the five days proposed by the AGF.

Justice Lawal, in his ruling said, the decision of the court to give 7 days was predicated on the national importance and urgency of the suit and the non objection from the Attorneys General of the 36 states of the federation.

The Supreme Court held that filing of all processes and exchanging of same must be completed within the time and subsequently fixed June 13, 2024 for hearing of the suit.

At Thursday’s proceedings, the Attorneys General of Borno, Kano, Kogi, Niger, Ogun, Osun , Oyo and Sokoto states were absent in court and not represented by any lawyer despite been served with hearing notice.

Justice Lawal ordered that the eight states that were not in attendance at Thursday’s proceedings must be served with fresh hearing notice against the next adjourned date of June 13, 2024 for hearing of the matter.