News & Announcements

Ovie Omo-Agege, the deputy president of the Senate, has been removed from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State due to alleged anti-party activity and other unspecified offenses.

Omo-Agege was expelled by the Delta APC, according to a letter dated March 31, 2023 that The PUNCH was able to secure on Monday.

Recall that Sheriff Oborevwori, a candidate for the People’s Democratic Party, defeated Omo-Agege, the APC’s candidate for governor of Delta State.

The returned Governor-elect of the PDP, Oborevwori, received 360,234 votes, lagging Omo-Agege by 120,005 votes, who received 240,229 votes.

Omo-Agege was expelled as a party member by the executive committee of the Orogun ward and Ughelli North Local Government chapter, according to the expulsion letter signed by the chairman, Ulebor Isaac, on behalf of the State Executive Committee of the Delta APC and secretary, Inana Michael, along with 23 other party members.

The letter reads, “The State Executive Committee of All Progressives Congress Delta State in a meeting held on the 31st March, 2023 at the State Secretariat, Asaba, after due deliberation of the Notice of Resolution of Expulsion of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege as a member of the party by the executive committee of the Orogun ward and Ughelli North local government chapter dated 20th March, 2023.

“And in accordance to the provision of Article 21.2 (1)(II)(VII) 21.3 and 21.5(g) of the constitution 2022 (as amended) we unanimously resolved and adopted the expulsion of Senator Ovie Omo Agege as a member of the party.

The letter further reads, “Consequently Senator Ovie Omo-Agege hereby stands expelled as a member of the party with immediate effect for various offences committed and acts of anti-party activities and gross misconduct that has brought shame and ridicule to the image of the party in the state which affected the party in the just concluded elections.”

Another charge leveled against the troubled Deputy Senate President was that he didn’t work hard enough in the state to win support for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the incoming president, but rather for himself.

Peoples Democratic Party and All Progressives Congress supporters clashed on Monday in Port Harcourt, and one person was hurt as a result of a stray bullet.

Previously, a few PDP supporters protested in front of the INEC’s Port Harcourt office on Aba Road.

The demonstrators asked that all political parties jointly examine electoral documents.

The APC, led by Tonye Cole, its candidate for governor, had announced last Friday that the party would storm the INEC office on Monday to demand the release of Certified True Copies of the documents used for the March 18 governorship election so that the party could begin the election petition tribunal process.

While the PDP protests continued, Cole arrived at the GRA area of Aba Road with the state APC chairman, Emeka Beke, and other party leaders. Cole was on his way to the INEC office when the protesters spotted him, according to our reporter who was on the scene.

The protesting youths ran in his direction and hurled water sachets and stones at him.

Cole was instantly protected by the security personnel assigned to him and hurried into the car, but the demonstrators kept throwing sachets of water his way.

The Nigerian Army’s 6 Division, the Nigerian Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and other soldiers quickly arrived to disperse the demonstrators with shots fired into the air.

However, a witness claimed to have seen one of Cole’s security guards fire the shot that struck one of the demonstrators as they moved closer to him.

Before being dragged and taken to the hospital by friends, the victim was lying on the ground bleeding heavily from a gunshot wound to his leg.

The APC supporters present fled for safety when Cole’s security removed him from the area after determining that the PDP supporters outnumbered them.

The conflict is currently centered at the GRA Intersection in Port Harcourt, which is close to the INEC office.

But, anti-riot police officers, troops, and NSCDC personnel are demonstrating their force in an effort to stop additional violence.

Rotimi Akeredolu, the governor of Ondo State, has started his official annual break.

The yearly vacation, which will be the first installment of his 2023 annual leave, is rumored to continue for 15 working days.

This was said in a statement made on Monday by Richard Olatunde, his chief press secretary.

In the announcement, it was revealed that the governor had addressed a letter to the state House of Assembly on this.

The statement read, ” In a letter transmitted to the state House of Assembly and addressed to the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Bamidele Oleyelogun, Governor Akeredolu said the leave will commence from Monday, 3rd to Tuesday, 25th April, 2023, both days inclusive.

“While Governor Akeredolu is away on vacation, the Deputy Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa will perform the functions of the office of the Governor.  The governor will resume for duties on Wednesday, 26th April, 2023.”

Former President Goodluck Jonathan was given the African Democracy and Peace Icon Award in Rwanda.

The former president and other notable African leaders were honored during the inaugural African Heritage Concert and Awards, which took place on Saturday, April 1, in Kigali, Rwanda.

Ambassador Suleiman San, the High Commissioner of Nigeria to Rwanda, was also present.

The event was designed to recognize and honor African greats who have distinguished themselves in their various fields of endeavor and have made sustainable global impacts in taming the image of Africa, according to a news release issued on Monday by the organizers, Heritage Times.

Ex-President Jonathan reportedly made a call to African leaders who are privileged to hold public posts to become servants of the people and not convert themselves into the “bosses of the people” in a press release signed by Chairman of Heritage Times, Mr. Moses Siasia.

Jonathan was quoted saying, “When you are called the executive president, our duty is to run our country properly, not to dehumanise human beings and make their lives difficult. What you should think is when you leave office, what will the world remember for? Will the world remember you for killing people? Will the world remember you for jailing people, or will the world remember you for destroying their systems?

“What people will remember you for is what should guide our decisions, and I believe if every leader should begin to think that when you leave office, one day you will be remembered one way or the other, positively or negatively.”

Faith Ugochi, a Port Harcourt-based prophetess and the founder of Christ Power Adoration Ministries, as well as the celebrity couple Igho Ubiribo and Danielle Allen have been declared wanted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for allegedly trafficking drugs and enlisting young girls in their illegal enterprise.

Femi Babafemi, the agency’s spokesperson, revealed this in a statement on Sunday.

He claimed that the suspects act as arrowheads for an international gang based in Los Angeles, California.

Babafemi claims that on November 16, 2022, NDLEA agents at the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, intercepted a shipment of 32.70 kg of Loud, a potent variety of cannabis hidden in cartons of used clothing, exposing the cartel’s illegal activities.

He mentioned that Ifeanyi Oguguo, a freight agent, had been detained right away, and that Chikodi Favour, Obiyom Chiamaka, Nnochiri Chidinma, and Edward Omatseye had all been detained as a result of additional inquiry (aka Montana).

According to Babafemi, “The 15-year-old Favour was the first sales girl to be arrested at a fuel station in the Ajah area of Lagos. She thereafter led the operatives to a duplex accommodation around the Ikate area of Lekki, which was later discovered to be a rented apartment by the criminal group purposely for four young girls that the syndicate uses for marketing and distribution of illicit drugs.

“Another girl, Shalom, who is a fresh graduate of Agricultural Science from Rivers State University of Science and Technology, was picked from the house alongside Favour.

“During their preliminary interviews, it was learnt that the syndicate rented another building used as drugs warehouse inside Richmond Estate, Lekki. By the time operatives located the house, it was discovered that other members of the syndicate had broken into the store and carted away bags of illicit substances. However, some illicit drugs paraphernalia including sealing machine, bloating machine and packaging bags were recovered from the warehouse.”

He continued, saying that a subsequent operation resulted in the capture of Edward Omatseye at his home in the Lekki area, and that Omatseye had admitted to working for Igho and his wife, Danielle, who are known to be the main criminal organization’s leaders.

Babafemi furthet stated, “Investigation was able to establish that Favour and Shalom were recruited as sales girls in the illicit drug trade by Prophetess Faith Ugochi of Christ Power Adoration Ministries, using her church platform to recruit teenage girls brought to her for help, on behalf of the celebrity couple, Igho Ubiribo (aka Tiny) and Danielle Allen (aka Dani), who are the owners of the business, while Edward Omatseye (aka Montana) coordinates the illicit drug trade activities for them in Nigeria, with Nnochiri Chidinma as representative of Ben Cargo Limited, a freight company responsible for the shipment of illicit consignments into the country.

“While Chidinma and Omatseye (aka Montana) have already been charged to court and are currently facing trial at the Federal High Court, Lagos alongside Ben Cargo Limited, a freight company which had been linked to two previous drug seizures and also involved in the current case, several attempts to get Prophetess Faith Ugochi, Igho Ubiribo and Danielle Allen to submit themselves for questioning have proved abortive.

“Curiously, they hurriedly moved all funds traced to their company Lasgidi Backwood Limited, where all proceeds from the sales of illicit drugs were deposited into a private account of one Victor Imagoro. The agency has since blocked the sum of N80m traced to the account and obtained a court order to seize all properties including a fuel station linked to the suspects in Lagos and Port Harcourt.

“The NDLEA has further sought and obtained an order of the Federal High Court Lagos to declare wanted the celebrity couple Ubiribo Igho and Danielle Allen, as the arrowheads of the illicit trade as well as Prophetess Faith Ugochi, who recruits teenage girls as sales representatives for the duo.”

A High Court in Ifo, Ogun State, has granted bail to singer Habeeb Okikiola, better known as Portable.

According to reports, Portable was taken into jail by police on Friday, March 31, 2023, following a confrontation with them at his pub, during which one of them allegedly sustained injuries.

Following that, the singer was presented in court on Monday.

Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Force’s public relations officer, had previously stated that the artist will be charged with more than six offenses.

It was learned that Portable had been given bail in the amount of N300,000 and was required to provide two sureties who owned landed properties close to the court.

The charges against portable read, “That you, Badmus Habeebat Okikiola, M, A.KA Portable, and others now at large on the 28th day of March, 2023 at 11am at Odogwu Bar, Oke-Osa, Ilogbo, Ifo in the Ifo Magisterial District did willfully cause or inflict physical injury on one Inspector Hammed Moshood ‘m’ with your elbow on his nose which caused blood to gush out from his nose and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 4 (1) of the Violence against persons & Prohibition Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2017.

“That you, Badmus Okikiola A.KA Portable on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did resist to be arrested by Inspector Hammed Moshood ‘m’, ASP Gregory Iyoha ‘m’, ASP Kunle Badmus ‘m’ after serving you with Police Invitation Letter on the 20 day of January, 2023 for the offences you committed when they were about to discharge their duty with warrant of arrest on you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 197 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.

Adodo Destiny, the attorney for Portable, had asked the judge to release the defendant on bail.

In a judgement on his attorney’s request for bail, Magistrate A.S. Shoneye stated that the offenses were bailable and granted him bail with a bond of N300,000 and two sureties who had to live within the court’s territorial jurisdiction.

Nonetheless, the court decided that the defendant should go to the Ilaro Correctional Facility while his bail conditions were being satisfied.

Pope Francis presided over mass in St Peter’s Square Sunday, as he kicked off events leading to Easter, just a day after leaving the hospital following a bout of bronchitis.

The 86-year-old admitted to the hospital on Wednesday with breathing difficulties sparked concerns that he may not be well enough to attend a series of rites in the most important week in the Christian calendar.

But Francis had promised to be present, and he waved briefly to some 30,000 people as he rode in his popemobile through the square, adorned with over 35,000 plants and flowers.

He looked serious as he followed the procession through St Peter’s Square of religious figures, including red-robed cardinals, carrying large palm leaves and olive branches.

Palm Sunday marks the arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem before his crucifixion. Easter Sunday, which this year is on April 9, celebrates his resurrection from the dead.

As a smiling Francis had left Rome’s Gemelli hospital Saturday after a three-night stay, he quipped to well-wishers who asked how he was “I am still alive!”

The head of the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics has suffered from increasing health issues over the past few years, including knee problems that have forced him to use a wheelchair and walking stick.

Francis was expected to remain seated throughout the mass, while a cardinal conducted the ceremony at the altar.

The Vatican said this was an arrangement adopted prior to the pope’s latest illness, as he is no longer able to stand for long periods.

Francis felt unwell Wednesday following a general audience in St Peter’s Square, but his condition improved after he was given antibiotics.

The hospitalization was his second since 2021, when he underwent colon surgery, also at Gemelli.

His increasing health issues over the past year have sparked widespread concern, including speculation that he might choose to retire rather than stay in the job for life.

Francis marked 10 years as the head of the worldwide Catholic Church earlier this month.

He has pushed through major governance reforms and sought to forge a more open, compassionate Church, although he has faced internal opposition, particularly from conservatives.

The British passport office employees started a five-week strike as the civil service conflict over jobs, pay, pensions, and conditions grew more acrimonious.

In a worsening of the protracted dispute, more than 1,000 Public and Commercial Services union members left eight locations, according to PCS General Secretary Mark Serwotka on Monday.

Picket lines will be set up in front of the offices in Glasgow, Durham, Liverpool, Southport, Peterborough, London, Belfast, and Newport, Wales, according to Serwotka.

A strike fund will support individuals participating, according to the union.

Serwotka had written to the administration requesting immediate negotiations in an effort to settle the conflict.

After talks with the unions that represent teachers and health workers were held, he accused ministers of treating their own staff differently from other members of the public sector.

With a nationwide walkout of more than 130,000 civil servants scheduled for April 28, the union is ratcheting up strikes.

More than 2.7 million applications have already been processed this year, according to the Home Office’s report.

It also stated that the bulk of regular applications—over 99.7%—were delivered to clients well before this deadline and were processed within 10 weeks.

But, there are presently no plans to alter the official advice, which specifies that getting a passport can take up to 10 weeks.

Tramadol tablets totalling 10,386 kg that were being brought into Nigeria from India by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency were also found mixed in with boxes of candy.in Kadun

In a statement released on Sunday, the director of media and advocacy at the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, claimed that the 225mg-specified drug was discovered in 720 cartons of two containers with the tracking numbers TRHU 4758549 and TRHU 6936803 during a joint examination with other security agencies on March 31, 2023.

This occurred at the same time as agents from the Directorate of Operations and General Investigations, NDLEA, stopped a shipment of 1.5kg of cocaine that was being shipped to London, United Kingdom, but was actually a box containing hair care, shampoo, hair rollers, and burners.

On March 27, NDLEA agents raided Dan Wata village in Kaduna’s Soba Local Government Area. Abdurrashid Musa, 33, was taken into custody with 142.8kg of cannabis, but the main suspect, Ibro Danwata, is still at large.

Babafemi also mentioned the arrest of Shamsu Abdullahi (aka Waja), 35, who had abandoned 80,000 Diazepam tablets weighing 13.4kg and eluded capture the day before, during a follow-up operation at Rigasa Kaduna.

In the meantime, on March 31, it was discovered that 63 bags of cannabis sativa totaling 600kg were hidden in a home in the Okpe village of the Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State.

“In Cross River State, 12,000 pills of Tramadol 225mg were seized from a female passenger, Talatu Adamu, 46, when NDLEA officers intercepted the commercial bus she was travelling in along Ogoja/Katsina-Ala Road on March 27.

“Also, a suspect, Abraham Alaigwu, was arrested at Slaughter, Trans/Amadi area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State with 91.7kg of cannabis on March 30, while 228kg of the same substance was seized from Ayodele Osuya, 35, in a Toyota Camry car around Quarter Guard area of Akure, Ondo State.”

Donald Trump is scheduled to go to New York on Monday for his historic criminal arraignment, entering the presidency and the United States into unknown and perhaps explosive territory.

A grand jury last week indicted the 76-year-old millionaire on several counts relating to hush money given to an adult film star during the 2016 election.

The first serving or former US president to be accused with a felony is the provocateur from the Republican Party who has already declared his candidacy for president in 2024.

Trump will leave his Florida home of Mar-a-Lago and fly to his previous operational headquarters in New York on Monday, according to his advisors.

Trump will leave his Florida home of Mar-a-Lago and fly to New York on Monday, according to his aides, where he previously had a base of operations.

He will be fingerprinted and photographed there as part of his arraignment, which is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon. This will probably result in one of the most well-known mugshots of the modern era.

Trump, who will address the nation in a speech from Florida on Tuesday at 8:15 p.m. (00:15 GMT Wednesday), called the legal proceedings a “witch hunt” and “political persecution,” and he attacked the judge chosen to preside over them.

It remains to be seen if the infamously unpredictable Trump would stick to the plan or find a way to turn things around.