Home Blog Page 1126

Update: NCAA Debunks Claim That Dana Aircraft Crash Landed, Says It Was A Runway Excursion

By
Akinwale Kasali
-
0
Dana Air Crash in Lagos

By Akinwale Kasali

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has clarified the story which made the rounds Tuesday morning to the effect that a

Dana Aircraft, McDonald Douglas (MD-83) with registration 5N-BKI, from Abuja to Lagos crash landed at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Ikeja, Lagos State.

The NCAA said  that it did not crash but that what happened was a “Runaway Excursion.”

Mike Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, NCAA, said officials of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, NSIB, were on ground to investigate the incident.

Achimugu said: “Even the images would prove that it was a runway incursion. It is called a ‘serious incident’ and not even an accident. There was no crash landing. The statutory agency for investigating incidents like this is the NSIB and they are on ground.”

A Runway Incursion is when an aircraft or vehicle that should not be on the runway enters the runway, while a Runway Excursion is when an aircraft veers off or overruns the runway.

“Contrary to reports from various New Medium that tagged today’s mishap as Runway Incursion is wrong, rather, it was a runway excursion.”

Fmr Kogi Governor Bello Gives Reason For Evading Arraignment As NBA Disowns Protesting Lawyers

By
Ayodele Oni
-
0
Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State
Yahaya Bello

By Ayodele Oni

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has disclaimed a protest by some persons claiming to be lawyers against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in support of former Governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello.

The protesters on Monday in Abuja claimed that EFCC resorted to what they called the illegal approach in handling allegations against Yahaya Bello.

The no fewer than 500 self acclaimed legal practitioners from across the country had stormed the Supreme Court complex.

The lawyers, under the umbrella of judicial watchdogs, faulted the siege on the ex-Gov’s residence, in a bid to arrest him, inspite of a valid court order to the contrary, which had not been vacated.

However the NBA through its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Habeeb Lawal, on Tuesday clarified that the group of protesters are not lawyers.

The notice reads: “The above report refers.

“The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) is aware that some news outlets  have reported this news.

“Please be informed that while the NBA respects the rights of citizens to assemble and protest, we insist that this particular group of persons are not lawyers.

“For completeness, their supposed leader or convener Sylvanus K. Alewu is not a name known to us.”

Meanwhile, the embattled immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello said on Tuesday that he was ready to appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja to answer to the 19-count charge the  EFCC, preferred against him.

Though Bello was again absent for his arraignment, he briefed a team of lawyers who addressed the court on his behalf on Tuesday.

A member of his legal team, Mr. Adeola Adedipe, SAN, told the court that his client would have made himself available for the proceedings, but was afraid that he would be arrested.

“The defendant wants to come to court but he is afraid that there is an order of arrest hanging on his head,” Adedipe, SAN, submitted.

Consequently, he urged the court to set aside the exparte order of arrest it earlier issued against the former governor.

Adedipe, SAN, contended that as at the time the order of arrest was made, the charge had not been served on his client as required by the law.

Pandemonium In Lagos As Dana Aircraft Crash Lands In Lagos

By
Akinwale Kasali
-
0
Dana Air

By Akinwale Kasali

There was pandemonium at the Domestic Wing of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport In Lagos, when an aircraft, belonging to Dana Airline Crash landed on the Runway.

No casualty was recorded as the 83 Passengers onboard the flight were disembarked safely.

In dousing the tension, the Management of Dana Air issued a Press Statement, urging Nigerians and their numerous customers not to panic.

Though Dana Air Management failed to state the circumstances that surrounded the incident, it stated that investigation was still ongoing to ascertain what really happened.

The Statement reads; “Runway Incursion”: Dana Air regrets to inform the public of a runway incursion involving one of our aircraft, registration number 5N BKI, which was flying from Abuja to Lagos. today 23/04/24

“We are relieved to confirm that all 83 passengers and crew onboard the flight disembarked safely without injuries or scare as the crew handled the situation with utmost professionalism.

“We have also updated the AIB and NCAA on the incident and the aircraft involved has been grounded by our maintenance team for further investigation.

“We wish to thank the airport authorities, our crew for their very swift response in ensuring the safe disembarkation of all passengers following the incident and our sincere apologies and appreciation to the passengers on the affected flight for their patience and understanding.

“We wish to reassure our passengers that their safety will always be our top priority, and we are cooperating fully with the relevant authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.”

More later…..

Wike’s Wife, Suzette, Goes To Appeal Court

By
Adesina Soyooye
-
0
Justice Suzzette Eberechi and Nyesom Wike

By Adesina Soyooye

Away from the political crisis in his State, Rivers, where he is at loggerheads with a good number of who-is-who in the State, including his State Governor, Siminalaye Fubara, and all his predecessors in office, Nyesom Wike, immediate past Governor of Rivers State, and currently, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has some good news and celebration.

His wife of decades, the Honourable Justice Suzzette Eberechi Wike, nee Obuzor,  has been elevated to the Court of Appeal.

Justice Wike is one of the lucky 22 Justices  approved to proceed to the second highest  Court in the land to fill the vacancies created by deaths and retirements.

Until her elevation, Justice Wike was a Judge of the Rivers State High Court.

Born on May 24, 1972, to the Obuzor family, Ahoada West, Rivers State, she was appointed a Judge of the Rivers State High Court in February 2012. She married Wike, her Law School classmate in 1999.

Chinese Supermarket Denies Discrimination Against Nigerians; Shut By FG

By
James Orji
-
0

No Nigerian has been discriminated against or denied access to the Royal Choice, a Chinese owned supermarket in Abuja the China General Chamber of Commerce, CGCC, in Nigeria said.

The Chamber in a statement issued on Monday stated that the clarification has become necessary following reports that Nigerians are being barred from patronizing the super store.

A viral video had emerged on Monday where a resident in the nation’s capital alleged that he was stopped from entering the Chinese supermarket.

The report had angered not a few Nigerians who demanded a probe of the incident.

In response, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, on April 22, summoned the owners of the supermarket for interrogation.

The commission followed up by sealing the Chinese supermarket yesterday, as demanded by not a few Nigerians who contend that foreigners should not be allowed to discriminate against Nigerians in their own country.

Reacting in a statement yesterday, the Chamber denied any unfair practices and discrimination against Nigerians.

The statement signed by one Guangzheng said the supermarket has never discriminated against any individual, stressing that the store is situated in a residential area where all shoppers can have access.

He said: “No individual was subjected to discrimination or denied access to the estate or supermarket to purchase groceries as widely believed.

“We regret any altercation at the estate’s entrance gate between the security personnel and a customer, it does not reflect the official position of the estate management or the chamber of commerce.”

In March 2020, The Federal shut down two Chinese restaurants located in Victoria Island and Mall 33 Aboyade Cole in Lagos, for refusing to serve Nigerians.

Electricity: National Grid Collapsed 105 Times In 9yrs

By
James Orji
-
0

Faced with criticism from Nigerians over the incessant national grid collapse in the country, the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, has blamed old infrastructure in the power sector for the problem.

The problem has resulted in the grid collapse 105 times in the last nine years, the company said.

This year alone, checks from TCN indicate that the grid had collapsed no fewer than six times in the last four months.

The situation has not been well received by many Nigerians who have issued scathing remarks against power firms because of the impact of irregular power supply on their business, for those that depend on electricity for their livelihood.

Power distribution companies have also not escaped criticisms from Nigerian who complained of lack of electricity to power their homes.

Epileptic power supply has thrown many major Nigerian cities into total darkness as a result of the epileptic power supply, critics say of the sector.

Reacting the TCN said many key infrastructures in the sector have been left unattended for close to 20 years by previous administration in the country.

Speaking during a visit by the Senate Committee on Power to the headquarters of TCN Monday in Abuja, its Executive Director on Independent System Operator, Nafisatu Asabe Ali, said the grid was interconnected with the generation, distribution and transmission, that a problem from any of the parts will automatically results in grid collapse.

Ali said grid collapse has been experienced at least 105 times since 2015. Stressing that the collapses are spread across the country.

She blamed  insufficient gas supply, poor generation availability, among others for the problem.

The TCN executive director explained further that investing more in infrastructure will go a long way to turn the situation in the sector around.

She said: “The causes of grid collapse in Nigeria spread across all participants, from generation companies to transmission and distribution. From generation companies, there is the inadequacy of gas supply, improper coordination of plants and gas pipelines, poor generation availability.

“Customers can experience interruptions to their electricity Supply for three reasons such as reliability issues, where there is insufficient generation to meet consumer demand at a place and point in time; system security events and problems with the security of the network and transmission/ distribution network failures.

“There should be adequate investment in all types of capacity, as well as appropriate operational decisions so that supply and demand are in balance at any point in time.”

Meanwhile, the Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu said on Monday that power firms currently under the management of Banks and AMCON will soon be sold to technical managers for efficiency. The minister made this note during a meeting with the Senate committee on power in Abuja, the nations capital.

Controversy Over Office Of Osun’s First Lady: Gov Adeleke Says Titilola Is State’s First Lady

By
Ayodele Oni
-
0
Ademola Adeleke and his wife Titilola

By Ayodele Oni

Person behind the confusing flier arrested

Controversy over who occupies the seat of the First Lady between the two wives of Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has been laid to rest by the Governor. The Governor in a statement clarified that his first wife, Titilola is the First Lady of Osun State.

Adeleke is officially married to two women, Titilola and Ngozi Adeleke.

The governor, explained in the press statement issued  by his Chief Press Secretary, Olawale Rasheed, in reaction to a flier purportedly from the Office  Mrs Ngozi Adeleke, welcoming Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu to the state.

Mrs Tinubu is billed to visit Osun on Tuesday during which she would turn the sod of the Alternative High School For Girls at Oke D.O, Ilesha Road, Osogbo.

Adeleke pointed out that there was no conflict over who among his two wives would host the First Lady describing the flier purportedly from Mrs Ngozi Adeleke as fake.

Not long after a press statement signed by the Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr. Kolapo Alimi, which announced Mrs Tinubu’s impending visit was released to the public, two different filers by Mrs. Titilola and Ngozi Adeleke,  welcoming the wife of the president to the State went viral on the internet.

In the two filers, both women were referred to as First Lady of Osun State, raising concerns about who would receive Tinubu between the two wives of the Governor.

But providing clarification on the matter, the spokesperson for the state governor, Rasheed, said Titilola Adeleke is the First Lady and would receive Mrs Tinubu during the visit.

He further said the flier circulating purportedly from the Office of Ngozi Adeleke, was fake adding that the person behind it had been arrested.

He also said Mrs Ngozi Adeleke not authorize the flier, as the material was manufactured and shared by elements who wanted to sow discord and create an atmosphere of confusion.

The statement read, “The attention of Mr Governor has been drawn to fake news in circulation about conflict over who among the Governor’s two wives is to host the First Lady of Nigeria, Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu on her official visit to the State on Tuesday.

“For clarification, Chief (Mrs) Titilola Adeleke, the First Lady of Osun State, is officially hosting the First Lady of the Republic in line with the directive of Mr Governor. There is no confusion on this official position.

“The State Government under Governor Ademola Adeleke is set to receive the First Lady and her team in Osun State.”

34 Groups Say Leadership Failure Cause Of Ibadan Attack By O’odua Nation Agitators, Condemn Demolition Of Onititi-Abiola’s House

By
Akinwale Kasali
-
0
Yoruba Nation Agitators Invasion of Oyo State

By Akinwale Kasali

A Coalition of Pan Yoruba Groups has faulted the invasion of Oyo State Government House by O’odua Nation Agitators over alleged corruption, leadership failure and declining faith in Nigeria. The Coalition also condemned the demolition  of Onitiri-Abiola’s house by the Government of Oyo State

The Groups, in a Joint Statement signed by O’odua Peoples Congress, (OPC-Reformed), O’odua Peoples Congress,OPC-New ERA), Apapo Oodua Koya, (AOKOYA), O’odua Liberation Movement, (OLM), Oodua Revolutionary Movement, (OYM), O’odua Youth Movement, (OYM), Covenant Group, (CG), Oodua Retired Officers Union, (OROU), South West Women Congress, (SWWC), O’odua Nationalist Coalition, (ONAC), Progressive Alliance in South West, (PASW), Yoruba Liberation Command, (YOLICOM), South West Intelligence Alliance, (SWIA) and Oodua Hunters Union, (OHUN), Itsekiri Agenda for Freedom, (IAF), West Africa Yoruba Coalition Against Terrorism, (WAOCAT based in Ivory Coast), Oodua International Democratic Movement, (OIDEM),  among others, said that while condemning the methods employed by some Yoruba activists led by Dupe Onitiri-Abiola, there was nothing wrong with the demands of the group for Yoruba self-determination.

It called for fair trial of those arrested and said their desperate action was informed by the desperate and brutish state of survival under which Yoruba people have been compelled to live.

The Coalition also condemned the demolition  of Onitiri-Abiola’s house by the Government of Oyo State, and added that the action was hasty, despotic and injurious to fair hearing and International law.

The Group in a joint statement condemned what it called ‘opportunistic and self-serving defence of the Nigerian state’ by some fringe groups over the Ibadan attacks.

The coalition said that there are some 130 major self-determination groups in Yorubaland adding that it was contended that 99 percent of them have not condemned the Ibadan incidence but only disagreed with the method.

“The mission of the Ibadan actors was to demand for Oodua Republic. It is a legitimate and popular demand by poor and suffering Yoruba people who constitute 90 percent of the population. Those opposed to Oodua Republic are people benefiting from the rot in Nigeria and are less than five percent.”

They said the Ibadan incidence compared with what is going on in the North West, North East and SouthEast is a minor incidence.

The statement reads; “In the North East, North West and South East, agitators are armed with armoured vehicles, AK 47 and rocket propelled grenades. In the NE and NW the government even met with them and integrated some of them into the Nigerian Army. The youths of Yorubaland should be engaged to ensure the region does not slide into violence as seen in other parts of the country. The poverty and hopleessness in the land is real.What we need now is engagement, dialogue and not bullying, threat and intimidation.”

The Coalition said what happened in Ibadan may be a signal of greater dangers ahead.

It added that the Ibadan incidence has shown clearly that the demand for self-determination in Yorubaland is real and that it is a force and social movement that has come to stay and nothing can be done to stop the agitation unless the Government opens up window of engagement.

The groups berated the Yoruba political men for rushing to condemn the Ibadan saga while they kept quiet in the past 12 years that Fulani armed men and Boko Haram have killed 29,000 farmers including women and children in Yorubaland.

“It’s a shame on all of you so- called political leaders. Yewa was invaded by Fulani armed men. Owo was bombed. Thousands of Yoruba killed. Three prominent Yoruba Obas were killed. None of you visited their families but you have the courage to demolish the house of Mrs Onitiri-Abiola, arrest and kill Yoruba youths that staged a drama at Ibadan secretariat.”

The groups said the methods may differ, but the overwhelming demand for Yoruba nation is a reality that arms, mortal, armoured tanks, bombs, threats and bullying cannot stop’ the groups in the joint  statement signed by Rasaq Arogundade, Toafik Adeyemi and Samuel Ogunkola said.

The groups said Yoruba and Itsekiri have suffered decades of repression in  an institutional way adding that  having a Yorubaman as the President does not automatically resolve the historic justice.

“We have seen increase in fuel price,hike in electricity tariff, loss of jobs while political leaders in the South West are hoarding palliatives and increasing the suffering of the people. It is an illusion to think Yoruba people with all the horrendous and lack of consultation will support the Federal Government just because the President is Tinubu. That is shallow and naive. The Yoruba are known to be critical of themselves except for psychopaths.

The groups also added that the President has never discussed or shared his vission with millions of Yoruba people except within the narrow prism of his political party which members in Yorubaland are less than five percent of the entire population adding that the first thing former President Goodluck Jonathan did when he came to power was to meet with self determination groups including those from Yorubaland in a display of wisdom and common sense and that former President Mohammadu Buhari did exactly the same thing by meeting with armed rebels in the North through emissaries.

The groups  said that  for eight years former President Muhammadu  Buhari’s Government led to the killings, rape, murder and extermination of many Yoruba people and that the damage done in the eight years was enough for Yoruba to demand for self determination as guaranteed by International law.

“Eventhough a Yoruba person is the President, there is no forum of engagement with him. His aides are deaf and dumb to the social movements in Yorubaland while underneath, teeming population of Yoruba people have not seen any fundamental changes, not even promises apart from the fact that some detached people have been appointed to increase their personal fortunes.

“The President has the option to understand and appreciate the grievances of Yoruba non party men and women who are in the majority or he is carried away by the lucre and comfort of office listening only to Yes men and Women who are totally isolated and detached from the burning issues in their constituencies.

The groups said “If President Tinubu’s aides are genuinely representing their people in the SouthWest, they would have had information before the Ibadan invasion and would have even stopped it. Unfortunately, there is a thick layer of profiteers and racketeers around the President who live under the illusion that the eight years maximum rule of President Tinubu is the beginning and end of Yoruba future. They live by today, we live by the future of the long suffering Yoruba people.”

Police Killing Of Aba Business Man: NBA Kicks, Vows To Ensure Justice Is Served

By
The Source
-
0
Emmanuel

With the groundswell of outrage trailing the gruesome murder of an Aba businessman Emmanuel Michael Okocha by suspected operatives of the Rapid Response Squad RRS of the Nigeria Police still raging, the Aba Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association has called on the Abia State Police Commissioner CP to ensure that ,the trigger happy police Corporal and all  those involved in the dastardly act are not only fished out, but also made to face the full weight of the law.

The Source reports that the young Abiriba-born Aba business man was said to have died Friday April 19 at a medical facility in the commercial hub of Abia

He was allegedly short by one one the RRS operatives on the Aba/ Owerri road on Wednesday April 17 ,following his refusal to part with some money .

The Abia police command late on Saturday April 20 in a statement issued by its Spokesperson Chilaka Maureen ASP  confirmed the arrest of the suspected killer corporal ,promising to ensure that justice is served .

In a statement on Monday April 22 , jointly signed by nnocent Egwu and KC Okoro Chairman and Secretary respectively,and made available to the Source , the Aba NBA,regretted the  killing of Okocha ,a law  graduate ,describing it as very sad.

” We have received the shocking news of the unprovoked killing by a police officer attached to the Abayi Police Division of one Emmanuel Michael Okocha ,a law graduate at a police check point along Aba/Owerri road Aba on Wednesday April 17 2024 ,.

Information at our disposal has it that the police officer shot the deceased,point blank and in a close range for refusal to give them money .

The rate at which gun welding and trigger happy police officers shoot and kill at check points innocent and law abiding citizens of this country who they are employed and paid to safeguard and protect is alarming and condemnable in very strong terms .

We therefore called on the Commissioner of Police to ensure that the police officer and others involved are not only apprehended ,full  investigations conducted , but also ensure that  appropriate legal consequences are  effected ” the NBA stated .

The statement further noted that  the Human Rights Committee of the umbrella body of lawyers in Aba has been mandate d  to follow closely, proceedings with a view to ensuring that justice is served.

Former Presidents Call For Caution On State Police, Speaker Abass Says Current Policing System Ineffective

By
Ayodele Oni
-
0

By Ayodele Oni

Divergent views were put forward on Monday on the much talked formation of state police as a way out of insecurity in Nigeria.

This was at the National Dialogue on State Policing, organized by the House of Representatives in Abuja.

There have been debate on the proposal to decentralize the current Nigeria Police Force and empower states to create and operate their own policing system police.

The proposal for state police is part of the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution by the 10th National Assembly.

Former Nigeria’s military Head of State, General Abdulsalam Abubakar called for caution in the design and implementation of the proposed state policing, especially concerning political and state actors.

In his goodwill message, ex-President Goodluck Jonathan stated that the issue of state policing was a settled matter that is “non-negotiable,” adding that the debates should rather be on the structure and operation of the proposed security outfit.

The former president recalled how a security outfit was created in Bayelsa State to complement the federal police in tackling piracy, kidnapping and other crimes that were prevalent in the Niger Delta.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, told the audience that “Let me state categorically that the House and indeed the National Assembly does not have a fixed position. Our role is to facilitate a dialogue and generate consensus.”

He pointed out that the emerging challenges have rendered the current unitary policing system under the Nigeria Police Force ineffective, leading to calls for its decentralization by way of having state police.

The Speaker also noted that the current security architecture in Nigeria has been overstretched by the numerous security challenges.

Abbas stated: “Our mission here is simple: to deliberate the future of policing in Nigeria, reflecting on our historical context and aligning our actions with the demands of our diverse and dynamic populace and daunting contemporary security challenges that have stretched our existing system to a breaking point.

“The concept of state police involves decentralizing law enforcement functions to the state level, thereby allowing for more localized and responsive policing tailored to the unique needs of each State.

“However, Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution establishes the Nigerian Police Force as unitary police ‘for the Federation or any part thereof.’ However, as noted earlier, evolving security challenges and other institutional and structural challenges have severely affected the general effectiveness of the police.

“As you are mostly aware, this deficit has resulted in the military engaging in policing functions in all States of the Federation, including the FCT.

“In turn, this has also overstretched the armed forces and affected their effectiveness in combatting other broader security challenges, including those that threaten the territorial integrity of Nigeria.

“Some  see the current centralized structure of the police as a negation of ‘true federalism’. Several countries structured as Federations have well-established state, provincial, or regional police that exercise authority over relevant sub-national jurisdictions and collaborate on law enforcement matters with national or federal police, where both exist.

“First and foremost, it is imperative to acknowledge that the push for reforming our police forces is not merely desirable but necessary. We are at a stage where public trust in law enforcement is teetering.

“Also, the burden of policing the vast geographical expanse of our country and a rapidly expanding population warrants a reform of the current structure.

“The need for a system that maintains law and order and upholds every Nigerian’s dignity and rights cannot be overstated. Reform is essential to heal and to build – rebuilding trust, rebuilding effectiveness, and rebuilding our shared commitment to justice.”

1...1,1251,1261,127...2,903Page 1,126 of 2,903