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Pelosi Re-elected Speaker After Tough Time With Trump

By
Bayo Bernard
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Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi gestures towards the members as she addresses the first session of the 117th Congress on the heels of taking her oath of office after she was re-elected Speaker on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, January 3, 2021. (Photo by ERIN SCOTT / POOL / AFP) (Photo by ERIN SCOTT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

No nonsense Speaker of the United states of America, USA Congress Nancy Pelosi has been re-elected into her position after garnering 216 votes to defeat House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, her closes rival who got 209 votes.

Pelosi has been  a thorn in the flesh of the outgoing President Donald Trump whose tenure ends by January 20. President-elect Joe Biden is expected to take over from Trump who defeated former First Lady Hilary Clinton, to succeed Barak Obama in 2016

The US speaker had, in a letter after the swearing in of the 117th Congress, said her country is facing a trying time, urging her colleagues to rise up to the occasion to make the country great again.

The congress has been convened “during a time of extraordinary difficulty,” she said citing the COVID 19 which has killed thousands of Americans.

According to her “Each of our communities has been drastically affected by the pandemic and economic crisis: 350,000 tragic deaths, over 20 million infections, millions without jobs — a toll almost beyond comprehension,” she said. “Thank you for your generosity of spirit and patriotism to take on this challenge For The People.”

“I am enormously grateful for the trust that Members have placed in me,” she added. “I am confident that the Speaker’s election today will show a united Democratic Caucus ready to meet the challenges ahead.”

Her election marked the fourth non-consecutive term to lead the House of Representatives, even though the Democratic Party which she belongs has witnessed its majority control in the lower house shrunk in the last few years.

Pelosi has been in charge of House Democrats for 17 years. She is the first woman to be speaker, leading the House from 2006 to 2011, and since the Democrats took back the House in 2018.

“It gives (me) great pride to serve as speaker of the most diverse House of Representatives in the history of our country,” said Pelosi after her re-election.

Community Urges Gov Akeredolu To Check Activities Of Land Grabbers |The Source

By
Ayodele Oni
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Rotimi Akeredolu - Ondo Communal Clash

By Ayodele Oni

Tension has gripped the entire Igbosanyin community, in Akure South  Local  Government  area of Ondo state following moves by some landlords to forcefully hijack already sold lands from owners.

People of the community, located at Chief Ajayi Ekekumo Layout, Alagbaka Extension, Akure,  now sleep with an eye closed following activities of land grabbers.

They have appealed to the state government to urgently wade in to avert another loss of life and properties.

It was gathered that the current crisis rocking the community is similar to that of Isinigbo and Ode Communities where lives and properties including the monarch palace, were destroyed last month.

Already, a petition has been forwarded to Governor Akeredolu to wade into the activities of the land grabbers.

The crisis has to do with the Elekumo Family and the occupants who had already paid for the land several years ago with both laying claim to the land.

It was gathered that some members of Elekumo family have started to resell the land in the community, where houses have been built, claiming that they sold the land in error and in cheaper prices to the current occupants.

A Solicitor, John Olowookere, to one of the Occupants, Mr. Paul  Omoh in the petition, noted that unless immediate action is taken to call the erring family members to order, his client and other land owners in the community may be pushed to take laws into their hand resulting into bloodbath as n

“Our client and other parties to the dispute cannot continue to fold their hands in perpetuity and allow their sweat of many years to be destroyed before them unlawfully, while the matter is still before a court of competent jurisdiction.

“The affected owners of the land on the disputed land hereby passionately appeal and call on the Governor to take note of the foregoing with a view to rise to the occasion to avert another communal crisis in the state”, he added.

Atiku Sells Shares At INTEL For $100 Million |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

Former Vice President of Nigeria and Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, at the 2019 Election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has sold his shares in Integrated Logistic Services (INTELS) Nigeria Limited for $100m.

This disclosure was made by INTELS’  Spokesman, Tommaso Ruffinoni, over the weekend.

Ruffinoni said Atiku is no longer a shareholder of the country’s largest logistics company.

Atiku is said to have sold his shares to Orleal Investment Group, the parent company of INTELs, for over $100 million in a deal that spanned two years.

Ruffinoni added that Orleal Investment Group paid Atiku $60 million, $29 million $24.1 million in three installments.

The deal began in December 2018, and was concluded last year.

He also noted that said Atiku left the company with his two sons, Adamu Atiku Abubakar and Aminu Atiku Abubakar in December 2020.

It would, however, be recalled that INTELs had over the years been at loggerheads with the Federal  Government , resulting in the cancellation of its 17-year-old contract with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) for pilotage monitoring.

The NPA had accused INTELS of owing the Federal  Government a revenue of $307.675 million (N115.775 billion) as of July 31, 2020.

However, INTELS  had denied owing NPA to the tune of $145.8 million, insisting that NPA owes it over $750 million, giving a possible recourse to litigation to resolve the dispute.

Nigeria Will Go Into Extinction In Three Years Time – Gani Adams |The Source

By
The Source
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By Akinwale Kasali

The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams has dropped another bombshell that has become the center of discuss in different quarters.

The Yoruba Generalissimo said that in the next three years, Nigeria, as a country, will no longer exist.

Adams warned that unless Nigeria returns to true federalism or regionalism, the country may break up within the next three years.

The Coordinator of the Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, said that the current situation where the Federal  Government, allegedly, favours some regions, while ignoring the interests and necessities of other regions, would lead to the breakup.

In his words, “Before I became the Aare Ona Kakanfo, I don’t do anything without spiritual investigation. Quote me, Nigeria will not move forward if we don’t go back to true federalism or regionalism. If we don’t go back to regionalism within three years, Nigeria will break,” he said in excerpts of a media interview posted on his Instagram page on Sunday.

Adams cited the Federal Government’s recent rescue of over 300 schoolboys kidnapped from a gove1rnment secondary school in the northern Nigerian state of Katsina, through the alleged payment of a ransom to their abductors.

He said on the flip side, the traditional ruler of Ifon in the southern state of Ondo, Oba Israel Adeusi, who was the Olufon of Ifon, was killed by unknown gunmen and “nothing” was done about it.

Recall that Oba Adeusi was disembarking from Akure after attending a meeting in the state capital when he was killed along the Benin-Owo Highway on November 27.

His suspected killers were said to have been arrested by the recently established Ondo Security Network Agency, popularly known as Amotekun Corps, on December 2, 2020.

Adams stressed further that insecurity in the country has continued to worsen because “a few elites” who the current system of government favours, were against the restructuring of the country.

He added that, “344 students (Kankara schoolboys) were kidnapped, we now paid the ransom for each one. A PhD holder was killed in Igangan, an Oba was killed in ifon, but nothing happened.

“Our policing is supposed to be in four layers – federal police, regional police, state police and local government police. [But] we’ve remained as one layer of policing and that’s the problem.

“Unfortunately, few elites in Nigeria do not want Nigeria to return back to regionalism, but if we fail to do so, the nation will surely go into Extinction”.

Marriage Scandal: FCMB Break Silence, Says No Evidence To Link Adam Nuru To The Death Of Thomas

By
Bayo Bernard
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By Akinwale Kasali
The call for the sack of First City Monument Bank, FCMB, Group Managing Director, GMD, Adam Nuru, by different quarters to the Central Bank of Nigeria has taken a new twist as FCMB have released another statement, exonerating its GMD of any wrong doing.
Diran Olojo, FCMB spokesperson had earlier said that the Organization is monitoring the development and will soon come out with its findings on Friday, has revealed that there is no evidence to link the Bank’s Managing Director, Nuru, with death of Tunde Thomas as being speculated.
Olojo speaking through Rafiu Mohammed said it is unfortunate that people could come up with unsubstantiated claims which the deceased never raised when he was alive.
“Assuming there was a DNA report that said there was indeed an affair between them and the children belonged to the MD, that’s evidence. But so far, there’s none. Also, has any evidence established his (Thomas’s) death was caused by our MD? Anyone can suffer cardiac arrest,” he said, to dismiss the allegations in the social media.
 Nuru, according to him,  the fact that Tunde Thomas  impregnated another lady and was on the verge of remarrying before his death showed that he had already moved on from what transpired during his marriage to Moyo.
“It’s mere allegation with no evidence or fact to back it up. That’s the issue. But if they come up with evidence, we will respond. Also, the petition is going through the CBN, does the apex bank settle personal or marital issues?
“The person in question has died. When he was alive, he didn’t take up the matter himself but when he died, some people are claiming to be fighting for him”, he said.

FCMB: Deceased Friends Deny Paternity Report |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

Some persons who regard themselves as friends of late Tunde Thomas, have described the viral report of allege marital scandal between his wife and Managing director of the First City Monument Bank, FCMB, Adam Nuhu as false.

In a statement, released on Sunday, the friends of the deceased said, the report was capable of destroying the memory of the Tunde, said to have died after learning that his two children were fathered by the FCMB boss.

The statement reads in part: “While this is a personal matter, the tragedy of the death of Mr Tunde Thomas, and the allegations of  unethical conduct, require the Bank’s Board to conduct a review of what transpired.” It asked its shareholders to bear with it while investigations were on.

Meanwhile a family source who pleaded anonymity disclosed that in December, 2017, Moyo and Tunde had differences leading to their separation and eventual relocation of Moyo to the USA.

“It is important to note that the divorce process was never thought of, or initiated, by Moyo. And to the best of our knowledge, no divorce papers were ever served on Moyo. This means that they were still legally married. In the opinion of Moyo and her family, the channel for reconciliation was still open  until Tunde’s unfortunate demise.

“Tunde is the father of the 2 children and Moyo never told him he was not their father. Moyo and Tunde clearly worked to ensure the differences they had did not affect the relationship they respectively have with the two children.

“Tunde paid a visit to the USA to visit the children in June 2018. He met them and interacted with them unhindered. This was after his recovery from the stroke he had earlier that year. He was in touch constantly with the children, calling and having fatherly conversations with them, even at odd hours, at least twice every month from December, 2017.

“The last of such calls took place on Thanksgiving Day on 26th November, 2020. You will agree that this does not paint the picture of a man who had been told he was not the father of his children as was maliciously stated in the petition and is being circulated on social media.

It is very sad that a group of people have decided to take the differences between a married couple and misrepresent it into a sensational story. It is unfair to have the pictures of his young children splashed all over the internet.

“Tunde had a mild stroke in 2018. By the grace of God, he was able to fully recover from this and carried on with his life. He was obviously doing well at his job and was in another relationship with a lady who was pregnant before his death.

“Why he had a cardiac arrest that led to his eventual death almost 2 years after remains a mystery that only God can provide answers to. We can begin to postulate on possible reasons, but we would rather not, to preserve the fond memories of Tunde.”

“Tunde has now gone to be with his maker. We do wish his family and friends, including his pregnant girlfriend, the fortitude to bear the unfortunate loss. He has now been laid to rest and we implore all to allow those grieving his loss, including Moyo and his children, to do so in peace. May Tunde’s soul rest in perfect peace.”

Kaduna S*x Party: Property Owner, Loses Pregnancy, Goes To Court |The Source

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Kaduna Sex Party

By Adesina Soyooye

Aisha Mercy Yakubu, the proprietor of the property pulled down by the Kaduna State Government for allegedly using it for a nude party slated, allegedly for December 27, says she neither owns a hotel, nor a guest house. And she said her property was never billed to host any nude party.

She said that what she owned was a restaurant, Asher Kings and Queens Restaurant, located at Sabon Tasha, Kaduna.

She said that not only was her Restaurant demolished, she lost everything therein, and cash to the value of over N30million. She also said she was detained by the Police, bribe taken from her for bail, and another N20,000 taken from her to track the owner of the phone number put on the leaflet announcing the nude party.

The Kaduna state Government demolished the property, giving the impression that it was a hotel, and that it was billed to be used to host “a sex party.”  But in a statement she issued on 2nd January, 2021, Yakubu told her story, and said she would proceed to Court to seek justice.

Entitled The Story of the Asher Kings and Queens Restaurant, she revealed:

“The Asher Kings and Queens Restaurant is a  34 sitting-capacity- at -a -time restaurant, located at #75 Kachia Road,Sabon Tasha,Kaduna State, registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, with the registration number BN2463851 on 5th December,2016, under the COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1990 Food Production and Processing Services.

“The Restaurant is a one-storey building structure, with a VIP Lounge section, where premium customers relax to watch football league games in a cozy environment, with all the comfort; airconditioners and light music.

“Whilst the ground floor is where the kitchen and serving spot is, also with chairs and tables for customers to sit and eat their food as required.

“We hire/rent the VIP section for light events, of not more than 26 customers.

“On the 27th December,2020, a customer hired the VIP Lounge for a 15-man Reunion/Clothing line promo, to appreciate his customers for their good patronage of his brands.

“Before the event proper commenced, a friend of mine and I noticed an unusual  movement around the main gate to the restaurant, as it was half opened to avoid a  crowded environment.

“We approached the main gate, and on getting there, I saw two truck load of heavily armed officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

“I asked the team leader what was going on, but he ignored my question and said he will explain to me when we get to the Police Station, Sabon Tasha Division.

“When we arrived the Police station, my customer, who accompanied me to the station, enquired what the matter was and the Police showed us a poster on a GSM phone belonging to one of the officers, by name Inspector Felix. It was a poster of an event titled; KADUNA SEX PARTY, which the Police claimed the venue for the supposed “sex party” was scheduled to hold at my restaurant, even though with no address of where it will take place on the poster.

“I denied knowledge of that event as there was nothing of that sort taking place at the restaurant, and I wouldn’t stoop so low to entertain such illicit activity at my place, but the Police refused to believe me, and had my friend and two of my staff detained for one night, one day, until the customer that had earlier hired the place for usage on that fateful day was also arrested the next day.

“They were released after paying a “bail fee” of #100,000 to Inspector Felix and one other lady Officer,fair in complexion.

“I noticed how incompetent the NPF were, i suggested to the them to call the number on the supppsed “Kaduna Sex Party” poster, which they immediately put a call through and a name came out using the True Caller App as MARVELLOUS AKPAN.

“The Police asked me to pay a fee of #20,000 for them to do their job of tracking the user of the phone number, which I immediately paid them so that they will swing into action.

“Marvellous Akpan was arrested the next. He was interrogated, and he obliged to owning the phone number on the poster and printing of the poster which was posted on Social Media, assisted by a friend of his named Noah and one other guy.

“On further interrogation, Mr Marvellous Akpan confessed to the Police that he doesn’t know me and has never been to my restaurant nor has any knowledge of its address.

“Mr Chimeze,who had hired the place was released, summarily, after the successful arrest of Mr Akpan.

“The next day, 31st December, while at the other Branch of my restaurant, at Court Road,Sabon Tasha, Kaduna, a friend of mine called me, asked me to go to the main Restaurant and see what was going on. I immediately went and saw a combined team of Police men,Soldiers,KASTLEA and Vigilante groups guarded a Pay loader to demolished my restaurant. No prior notice was served to me before the demolition, there was no any form of communication between I and the Kaduna State Property Development Agency (KASUPDA) which came to demolish the building structure.

“Even when they arrived the location, the main entrance to the main Restaurant and the restaurant was under lock and key. There was no any form of communication to me!

“I watched them pull down the building without allowing me remove any item before the demolition. As a result of the trauma, I lost my one month old pregnancy.

I also incurred the following loses;

  1. cooking utensils 2.furniture 3.Electric appliances
  2. Chillers
  3. Deep freezers
  4. Bemarrings out door catering utensils
  5. Cash,et al worth over #32 million, as the place was abruptly vandalised after the demolition.

” I plan to seek legal redress for defamation of my character and the loss of my properties in the building.”

Prof Ibidapo-Obe, Former UNILAG VC, Dies Of COVID-19 |The Source

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Professor Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe

By Adesina Soyooye

An academic of great repute, and a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe, is dead.

The Professor of Systems Engineering, and an accomplished University Administrator died Sunday, January 3, 2021, allegedly, of complications from COVID-19 at a private hospital in Lagos.

Born on July 5, 1949, the late Professor was, also, a former President of the Nigeria Academy of Science.

An old boy of Igbobi Grammer School, and Igbobi College, Professor Ibidapo-Obe was the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos from 2000-2007. He died aged 71 years.

Ekiti Police Command Nabs Four Suspects Over Fake Kidnap |The Source

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Nigeria Police Force

By Ayodele Oni

The Rapid Response Squad, (RRS) of Ekiti State  Police Command has arrested and detained a suspect who faked his kidnap.

A statement by the Command’s  spokesman, Sunday Abutu, over the weekend stated that: “On the 31/12/2020 at about 1830hrs, one Mrs Aladejana Aderonke came to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) Office and reported that her cousin, one Adelusi Adeweye, was kidnapped on the same date along Ado – iyin Ekiti Road.

“She further narrated that the Kidnappers were calling through the GSM number of the supposed victim and were demanding for the sum of two hundred and fifty thousand naira (#250,000) as ransom.

“Upon receipt of the report, the RRS swung into action by deploying a special team for thorough investigation for possible arrest of the culprits.

“In the process, four suspects, Yusuf Hassan, Yakubu Usani, Agboola Damilola, including the faked victim Adelusi Adeweye, were arrested at about 2200hrs inside the bush between Iworoko and Ifaki Ekiti.

“During interrogation, the four suspects arrested confessed to have conspired and faked the kidnapping of Adelusi Adeweye in order to get some money from the family members for the New  Year.

“Investigation is ongoing for further findings. As soon as it is concluded, the suspects arrested shall be charged to Court for prosecution.”

The State Commissioner of Police, Tunde Mobayo called on the members of the public to be wary of the people around their various Communities and promptly report any criminal case or suspected person or group of persons found in their neighborhood to the nearest Police Station for timely action.

Sowore On Hunger Strike; Falana Set To Sue Nigeria Police |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

#RevolutionNow Converner and Publisher of Sahara Reporters, an online news medium, Omoyele Sowore, has embarked on hunger strike since his arrest on New Year’s Day by the Nigeria Police.

The 2019 Presidential Candidate at the Polls for Action Alliance Congress, AAC, has, however. asked his Lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN,  to sue the Nigeria Police for torture.

Falana disclosed that Sowore is ready to sue the Police as he was badly beaten and subjected to dehumanising conditions in contravention of the Anti-Torture Act.

“Since Mr Sowore’s fundamental right to dignity has been recklessly violated by the police we have his instructions to press for charges against all the officers who subjected him to physical and mental torture in contravention of the letter and spirit of the provisions of the Anti Torture Act of 2017,” he said.

He said from indications, the Nigeria Police Force is waiting for “orders from above” before releasing Sowore.

“Order from above” is a common term used in Nigeria to refer to a superior authority.

He further stated that the Nigeria Police are holding Sowore for alleged breach of COVID-19 protocols, but had denied him bail for two consecutive days even though the law says such offences are bailable.

Falana further stated that his client had pointedly told the police that he had not breached COVID-19 protocols.

The activist said, “Mr Sowore who was covering an event at the time of his arrest has maintained that he did not breach any of the COVID-19 regulations. He has been detained indefinitely on the basis of orders “from above.”

The lawyer said his client had been tortured and locked up in a detention facility along with armed robbery suspects.

Falana added, “The police officers who arrested Mr Omoyele Sowore at Abuja on January 31, 2020, subjected him to severe beating and left him with bruises all over his body. As if that was not enough he has been locked up in the midst of armed robbery suspects at a notorious detention facility called abattoir maintained by the disbanded Special Anti Robbery Squad in Abuja.”

“The physical torture to Mr Sowore was prolonged by the refusal of the police to provide him with medical attention. Although Mr Sowore’s injuries are being treated by his personal physician, the police authorities have refused the application of the detainee for bail even though the alleged offence of breaching COVID-19 regulations is ‘bailable”.

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