News & Announcements

Four police officers have been reportedly killed during an attack on the convoy of Ikedi Ohakim, a former governor of Imo state.

The incident was said to have happened on Monday evening at Oriagu in Ehime Mbano LGA of Imo state.

You might also likeWoman on the run after assaulting husband and nearly chopping off his manhoodSeven women die as bus catches fire in Ogun road mishapGunmen freed 4 abducted Ondo students According to Punch, the former Imo governor escaped death by the whiskers as the gunmen bombed the backup vehicle in his convoy.

The former governor was said to have been returning from a visit alongside his two children when the incident happened.

A source close to the governor reportedly said it took the bravery of the driver for Ohakim and his children to escape.

“His excellency was the main target but his driver was smart enough to beat them because they were driving to block him,” the source said.

“Disappointed that their main target had escaped, they blocked his backup vehicle and burnt it.

The four policemen with him were burnt.”

This is not the first time a politician will be attacked in Imo state.

On May 30, 2021, Ahmed Gulak, a former political adviser to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, was killed in Owerri, the Imo capital, while on his way to the airport.

On December 16, 2022, gunmen killed Christopher Eleghu, the candidate of the Labour Party (LP) for the Onuimo constituency in the Imo state house of assembly.
Eleghu was reportedly killed in his country home.

President Muhammadu Buhari has signed Nigeria’s 2023 budget into law, his office has announced.

The budget is the last Buhari would sign as Nigeria’s president as he leaves office in May this year.

The National Assembly had earlier passed the budget totaling N21.83 trillion.

According to a statement by Femi Adesina, the president’s spokesperson:
 “Speaking at the signing of the eighth and final annual budget of this Administration, the President said the aggregate expenditures of N21.83 trillion, is an increase of N1.32 trillion over the initial Executive Proposal for a total expenditure of N20.51 trillion.”

The police in Ogun on Friday arrested two brothers, Ayomide Babatunde and Gbenga Babatunde who allegedly lured a woman and her nine-year-old son for a ritual.

The suspects were subsequently arrested following information received at the Oja Odan Divisional Police Headquarters.

According to Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, the intel revealed the brothers were negotiating to sell humans, either in parts or alive, depending on what the buyer wanted for the money ritual.

The supposed buyer, Jacob Olorunto had informed the Baale of the community, who, in turn, tipped off the police and detectives advised Olorunto to play along.

On 27th December 2022, the suspects called their supposed buyer and informed him that they had a woman and her son for sale, leading to a negotiation of N600,000 price for the two persons.

On 29th, one of the brothers, Ayomide went to Ilaro and invited his 45-year-old woman friend, Taye Oluwole, to follow him to Oja Odan with her son to celebrate New Year with his father.

The woman innocently agreed and along the road, they stopped to pick up his brother, Gbenga, the second suspect.

The suspects then took the victims to the Igbo Obe area of Oja Odan to meet Jacob Olorunto where they were rounded up by policemen and some youths at 12:30 am.

The police confirmed that the suspects have confessed to the crime.

Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Bankole, has ordered the transfer of the suspects to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation and prosecution.

Despite media reports that Rivers State, Governor, Nyesom Wike has reached an agreement with his fellow governors in the Integrity group on their choice of the presidential candidate to support, it was learned yesterday that there was no unanimity among the governors.

According to sources, due to the disagreement among the G-5 governors whose other members are Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, Wike angrily left his colleagues in London and headed for Madrid, Spain.

More importantly, the threat by the party to expel them if they move to endorse any presidential candidate other than Atiku may have jolted the recalcitrant group to pause.

Should they be expelled by their party, those seeking senatorial seats and the Oyo State governor who is seeking re-election will lose the right to be on the ballot as they will no longer be candidates of the party going into the elections.

Since, there is no provision for an independent candidate in the electoral system.

Invariably, should the party carry out its expulsion threat, all those running for positions on the platform of the PDP will cease to be candidates. And should they proceed to participate in the election, their opponents can easily file an action in court to challenge the validity of their participation in the elections.

After the expulsion, the party will write to INEC notifying the electoral body that it does not have any candidate for those positions, which will amount to removing the carpet under their feet.

There were media reports that the G-5 governors had agreed to announce their choice of Presidential candidate on January 5, 2023, but available information revealed the contrary.

However, it was revealed that the governors could not reach such a unanimous position on who among the presidential candidates to support in the February 25 presidential election, due to the various political interests of the governors.

The source maintained that while it was true that Makinde and Wike shared the same view that they should support the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu; Ikpeazu, and Ortom differed as they preferred a different candidate.

According to reliable sources, this was apparently due to the earlier deal with Makinde and Tinubu that they should support each other’s ambition in the coming elections.

The deal was that Makinde should support Tinubu’s presidential ambition and in return, Tinubu would support Makinde’s re-election bid.

The source said that Makinde had made Wike buy into the deal, but other G-5 governors with senatorial ambitions were reluctant to go with the choice of Tinubu, because of their senatorial interest.

The main grouse of Makinde was that he was replaced with the Osun State governor, Ademola Adeleke as the PDP presidential Council leader in the South-west, a position, he had earlier rejected.

Ortom, Ikpeazu, and Ugwuanyi are contesting senatorial elections in their respective states, whereas Wike has no immediate political interest except for his associates in Rivers state.

As part of their disagreement, Ortom and Ikpeazu told Wike that it was better they remain neutral as openly supporting any other presidential candidate may spell doom for them.

Ortom even suggested that they impress it that the National Chairman, Iyorcha Ayu be made to sign an undertaking to resign after the presidential election, whether the PDP wins or losses the election.

According to the source, it was because of this that Wike left London angrily for Madrid, Spain, to watch the opening of the Spanish league on Saturday.

A group known as the “Restructuring Campaign,” yesterday, Tweeted on the matter, revealing that: “G5 disagree in London.

Wike walks out as Ikpeazu and Ortom suggest they remain neutral as supporting any other candidate except their party’s candidate will spell doom for them in PDP. Ortom suggests they allow Ayu sign to resign immediately after the elections win or loss

“Wike has even abandoned them in London in anger for Madrid to watch Real Madrid opening League match. The center can no longer hold.”

It was reported that the PDP was considering expelling members of the G-5 Governors if they go ahead and announce their support for any presidential candidate other than Atiku.

A reliable source, who is a member of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, who disclosed this, had said another measure being considered by the leadership of the main opposition party was the dissolution of the party structures in the respective states of the G-5 governors and establish caretaker committees to run the affairs of the party in the five states.

According to the source who pleaded to remain anonymous, taking such action would also affect the political ambition of Makinde, who is seeking re-election as governor as well as Okezie, Ortom and Ikpeazu, who all contesting for the Senatorial seats in their respective states.

“Dissolving the party structure will also affect their loyalists who are contesting for different positions under the PDP in Abia, Rivers, Oyo, Benue, and Enugu,” the source added.

The governors elected on the platform of the PDP had in what many had described as another jamboree, on Monday, travelled to the United Kingdom for another strategic meeting.

The governors led by Wike have been calling for the resignation of the PDP’s National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, as their minimum condition for peace in the party and to join the presidential campaign council of the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku.

Wike has refused to accept his defeat at the party’s presidential primary in good faith.

Since he lost the primary and even the vice presidential slot, Wike has utilized the enormous resources at his disposal to mobilize four other governors to fabricate a crisis in the party.

The aggrieved governors have been working against their party for months since Wike failed to clinch the vice presidential running mate to Atiku Abubakar.

They have been insisting that Iyorcha Ayu, the national chairman of their party must quit for a Southerner to take his place, stating that it was the irreducible minimum for peace to reign in the party.

Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, the apex body of the Yoruba self-determination struggle, plans to launch a radio station on January 1, 2023.

The group announced on Thursday that it would officially launch Radio Ijangbara as the struggle’s broadcast radio on January 1, 2023.

This was announced by Ilana Omo Oodua in a statement signed by its Chairman and General Secretary, Wale Adeniran and Tunde Amusat, respectively.

The group revealed that the online radio station would broadcast from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

According to the statement, the radio will benefit the Yoruba self-determination struggle both within and outside of Nigeria.

The statement reads in part: “Everyone can listen to the radio through its website, www.ijangbararadio.com, and the mobile application of the radio can be downloaded via Google play store.

We are inviting all Yoruba self-determination activists to the launching and formal unveiling of Ijangbara Radio on January 1, 2023. This radio is being donated by Ilana Omo Oodua, being the apex body, to serve as the official broadcast radio of the Yoruba self-determination struggle.”

The group also announced the appointment of an Ado-Ekiti-based medical doctor, Adebayo Orire, and a former Chairman of Kajola Local Government Area of Oyo State, Alhaji Alli Oyedeji, as patrons.

The statement added, “Both Orire and Oyedeji shall work with the worldwide executive council of Ilana Omo Oodua to ensure that its aims and objectives are actualised, impeccably.

The Lagos Police Command has revealed the name and face of the officer who shot Bolanle Raheem, a Lagos-based lawyer.

Raheem was shot dead at Ajah on Christmas day.

The killer cop’s name is Drambi Vandi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP)
Hundeyin had said the suspect has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department.

He also promised that the investigation into the death of the lawyer will be “swift.”

He tweeted: “The investigation report was earlier today forwarded to the Force Headquarters, Abuja for further necessary action.

“He is ASP Dambri Vandi. He is currently at the SCID and the investigation will be swift.”

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba had recommended the suspension of Vandi
In a statement on Wednesday, Muyiwa Adejobi, spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), said the suspension was in line with the internal disciplinary measures of the NPF.

 The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has demanded that the Federal and Lagos State Governments pay the family of a slain female lawyer, Bolanle Raheem, N5 billion as compensation for the loss and pain suffered from the legal practitioner’s death.

NBA has also requested that it be allowed to monitor the trial of Assistant Superintendent of police, Drambi Vandi, who allegedly killed their colleague on Christmas Day in the Ajah axis of the state.

The lawyers’ demands were announced on Thursday through a statement released by NBA Lagos Branch member and rights activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa.

Adegboruwa disclosed that he has been appointed to lead the monitoring team for the lawyers for the case of the legal practitioner who was an expectant mother in Lagos.

He urged the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to follow the model that he adopted during the EndSARS Judicial Panel to “pay compensation to the family of Mrs. Raheem immediately since it is an established fact that her life was terminated illegally by a policeman.”

According to the statement, “The NBA Lagos in conjunction with the NBA President, Y.C. Mikyau, has decided to be part of the prosecution of the policeman as part of its efforts towards securing quick and effective justice for the family of the deceased.

“In this regard, the NBA will be partnering with the Ministry of Justice during the trial.

“Mr. Adegboruwa has in turn obtained relevant briefing from the Hon. Attorney-General of Lagos State and has secured the assurances of an accelerated prosecution once the case file is received from the police.”

“The NBA is also seeking monetary compensation for the family of Mrs. Raheem from the government of Lagos State, the Federal Government, and indeed the Nigeria Police Force and the Police Service Commission, through its Human Rights Committee.

“The NBA will seek for payment of damages not less than five billion naira in addition to the prosecution of the killer cop.”
Meanwhile, he has recommended the immediate implementation of the EndSARS Judicial Panel Report in which far-reaching recommendations were made in relation to:
“1. Psychological orientation for all police officers in the handling and use of weapons;

“2. Training for police officers on basic human rights observance and enforcement;

“3. Improving the welfare of all police officers in terms of their take-home pay, conditions of service, places of work, and residences in order to make them more conducive;

“4. Recruitment of more police officers to reduce the pressure upon the existing officers whose number is not adequate to effectively police the country.”

Adegboruwa believes it was unacceptable that the issues that led to the 5 for 5 demands of the youths and the EndSARS protests in 2020 had not been addressed despite repeated promises from the government.

He urged the government and the relevant authorities to “go beyond mere press statements of lamentations on the gruesome murder of Mrs. Raheem and to accelerate the prosecution of the killer and payment of compensation to the family of the deceased and all other victims of police brutality”.

The Nigerian troops have arrested a deputy commander of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) who allegedly killed Ahmed Gulak, a political adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The suspect, Nwagwu Chiwendu, was arrested on Tuesday during the burial of his father at Mbaise in Imo State, Nigeria’s South-east.

Mr Chiwendu was to be the IPOB’s main trainer in weapon handling, he later rose to become the second in command to Temple, who is now the leader of the group in the state.

The suspect, Mr Chiwendu, was said to have deserted the Nigerian Army, and joined IPOB’s militant wing, Eastern Security Network (ESN), on 21 January.

“He served on OPHK and thus has operational experience. He was arrested yesterday during the burial of his father at Mbaise. He is taking us to their camp tonight at Obowo.

“He confessed to killing Gulak and confirmed that his camp is responsible for kidnapping the two expatriates along Owerri-Okigwe Road and the killing of two police inspectors escorting them.

“They are the ones that also killed our soldiers in the same location and the burning of our Hilux last week. They equally participated in the attack on the INEC office in Owerri. He is currently with the police,” PRNigeria quoted a military source as saying.

Background
Mr Gulak, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, was shot dead by gunmen in Owerri, Imo State, on 30 May 2021.

The attack happened while the politician was on his way to Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri, en route to Abuja.

The police in the state would later accuse members of the IPOB and its militant wing, ESN, of being responsible for the killing of the former political adviser.

IPOB is a group leading the agitation for an independent state of Biafra which it wants to be carved out from the South-east and some parts of South-south Nigeria.

The president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide, George Obiozor, the Igbo socio-cultural organization, is dead.

Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma,  announced the development in a statement on Wednesday night.

“On behalf of the Government and people of Imo State, I, Senator Hope Uzodimma, the Executive Governor of Imo State, sorrowfully announce the passage of a great Son of Imo State and Nigeria, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, worldwide, Prof George Obiozor.

“A renowned academic, an exceptional diplomat, a statesman, and a tenacious patriot, Prof George Obiozor passed on recently after a brief illness.

“The death of this foremost Igbo leader and former Nigeria’s ambassador to the United States and the State of Israel is a big loss to Imo State, the South East, and the entire Nigeria.

“I have no doubt that both Nigeria and the international community will miss his profound intellectual contributions and wise counsel on national and global issues.

“His burial arrangements will be announced in due course by the family. May his great and gentle soul rest in peace,” the statement reads.

The development comes hours after earlier claims on Tuesday that he had died, but the organization had dismissed the reports and said he was alive at the time.

Obiozor was elected president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide in January 2021.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday that “only a few civilians” were left in the eastern frontline town of Bakhmut which has endured months of fierce fighting.

“Last year, 70,000 people lived there. Now only a few civilians are left there,” Zelensky said on Facebook.

Following months of humiliating defeats, Russian forces are now seeking to wrest control of the eastern region of Donetsk where Bakhmut has become the epicenter of fighting.

To gain control of the town once known for its vineyards and cavernous salt mines, Russia has relied on mercenaries, prison conscripts, and newly mobilized soldiers.

In Bakhmut, “there is no place that is not covered with blood. There is no hour when the terrible roar of artillery does not sound,” Zelensky said.

“Still, Bakhmut stands,” he added.

This month the president made a surprise trip to Bakhmut, describing the war-battered town as Ukraine’s frontline “fortress”.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Ukrainian army said Moscow’s forces were continuing “offensive actions” in the direction of Bakhmut.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group, has called the fight for the city the “Bakhmut meat grinder”.