News & Announcements

Two trains have crashed between Andover and Salisbury, prompting a major emergency service response.
The trains collided in Wiltshire on the South Western Railway line this evening. People in the area have reported a large emergency service presence at the scene.

Wiltshire Police tweeted shortly before 8 pm: “We are currently at the scene of a train crash involving two trains between Andover and Salisbury.
“We are responding with the fire and ambulance service at the site close to Grateley. “Will update as soon as we have more information.”
*Courtesy: mirror.co.uk

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Saturday condemned Friday’s raid of the Abuja residence of the former Governor of Rivers State, Peter Odili and his wife, Justice Mary Odili of the Supreme Court.
NBA President Mr. Olumide Akpata demanded that those responsible for the act be brought to book.

Akpata, in a statement, noted that the security team which carried out the raid was linked by some to the AGF’s office, but that the minister had denounced the operatives.
Akpata said he would convene an emergency meeting of the NBA National Executive Committee solely to discuss the issue and take a definitive stand on behalf of the NBA.

He also pledged to lead a delegation to the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami, SAN, and the relevant heads of security agencies to seek further clarification on the incident circumstances of this incident.
The statement reads: “The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) received with grave concern the news of the unlawful siege on the Abuja residence of a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Honourable Justice Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili, last night by officers of one or more of the Nigerian security agencies.

“Almost 24 hours later, information concerning the basis of the siege remains hazy and the subject of speculation, apart from reports that the invasion was pursuant to a search warrant issued by a Magistrate Court in Abuja, which search warrant has now been revoked.
“The Honourable AGF under whose office the team that purportedly carried out the raid is allegedly domiciled has also reportedly denounced the team, which implies that the residence of the second most senior judicial officer in Nigeria was raided by rogue security agencies. The grave implications of this possibility leave a lot to be desired.”

He said when viewed in the context of a similar raid on the premises of Supreme Court Justices in 2016, the NBA interpreted last night’s incident as part of an orchestrated affront on the Judiciary, designed to intimidate and ridicule the Judiciary.
The NBA, he vowed, “will no longer allow this to continue.”
Akpata added: “In case the law enforcement agencies have not learned their lessons, events like this do nothing but erode the independence of sacred democratic institutions like the Judiciary, undermine the rule of law in Nigeria and set the country back in the quest to instill confidence in citizens of Nigeria, Nigerian businesses, and foreign investors that Nigeria operates a democracy with an independent Judiciary.

“I have spoken with My Lord, Peter-Odili JSC and I am happy to report that she is alive and well. Beyond that, however, it is my pledge to Nigerians that the NBA will get to the root of this matter.

“In line with the aims and objectives of the NBA to protect and defend the independence of the Judiciary and the Rule of Law, we will convene an emergency meeting of the NBA National Executive Committee solely to discuss this issue and take a definitive stand on behalf of the NBA.
“I will also lead a delegation to the Honourable AGF Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN and the relevant heads of security agencies to seek further clarification on the circumstances of this incident.

“The NBA will ensure that all those responsible for this unfortunate incident are brought to book. We must do all that is required to safeguard the independence of our Judiciary and indeed protect our hard-won democracy.

 Justice Abimbola Awogboro of a Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the interim forfeiture of a vessel, MV Chayaneenre, to the Federal Government, for allegedly being used to smuggle 32.9kg of cocaine into the country.

The judge also ordered the detention of 29 crew members of the vessel. The crew members comprised of 21Thailand nationals and seven Nigerians.
The crew members ordered to be detained by the court alongside the vessel Master, Tanahan Krilerk, are Hansoongnern Mr. Boonlert; Paopinta Mr. Worrapat; Somboonying Mr. Weerapart; Kantaprom Mr. Marut; Amsri Mr. Ukrit; Booncharoen Mr. Jakkarn; Pala Mr. Theerayut; Autchapong Mr. Wuttipon; Mauhuittanpradit Mr. Suwanchai; Langkapin Mr. Bularit; Petto Mr. Uthen; Truwan Mr. Somiit; Chittrong Mr. Noppon; Jaisuk Mr. Panudet; Putitiek Mr. Thamimarong; Thaworn Mr. Amnaet; Thanatlueal Mr. Worakan; Seedawong Mr. Sirisak; Timiasan Mr. Prayong Nonthing; Thammarat; Chaiyarin Mr. Praditsak; all Thailand nationals. Others are: Kayode Buletiri; Adekunle Osamo; Ogunfadeke Gbenga; Cosmos Anah; Ekundayo Nurudeen; Ilesanmi Ayo and Stephen Osabeye, who are Nigerians. The court orders were sequel to the granting of an ex-parte motion filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) through its Director of Legal Services, J. N. Sunday.

The orders, according to Justice Awogboro, will subsist till November 25, 2021, when the NDLEA is expected to come up with a report of its investigation.
In urging the court to make the order in the suit marked FHC/L/ CS/1518/2021, the NDLEA’s lawyer told the judge that the application was brought pursuant to Sections 3(1)(a) (c), 32(c), 33, 34, 36 and 41(b)(iii) of the NDLEA Act Cap N30 LFN 2004; Sections 44(2)(k), 35(1)(c) and 6(6)(b) of the Constitution and under the Inherent jurisdiction of the court. The lawyer alleged that the Vessel, MV Chayaneenre, was used as an instrument to unlawfully transport and import 32.9 kilograms of cocaine into Nigeria on the 13th October 2021 at Apapa Port, Lagos.

He added that the NDLEA had seized the illicit drug and is still investigating the case in conjunction with Interpol and other foreign collaborators.

Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, the widow of the late spokesperson of Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, was delivered of bouncing twins – a boy and a girl – at a United States of America hospital on Wednesday, October 27, 2021.
The mother and the babies are in excellent health condition.

The “miracle” birth fulfilled the wishes of the late Odumakin towards the end of his sojourn on earth to have another baby to be named after him.
The couple got married in 1997, had their first baby girl in 2000, and the second, a boy, in 2003. While the girl was named after Joe, the boy was named Abraham after the late Afenifere leader, Pa Abraham Adesanya. According to a statement signed by Dr. Joe Okei Odumakin, the twins are coming 18 years after the last childbirth.

 After he survived a three-day coma in 2020 and a few months before he succumbed to the illness that eventually but unexpectedly claimed his life, YO, as he is fondly called, developed a strong desire for him and his wife to have another baby.

Thank God Joe did not dither or procrastinate as she took in just about the time YO took ill and never recovered.
It was good news that Joe conceived but YO never got to hear the news of his wishes coming to pass as he did not make it out of the ventilator.
He had, however, prophetically left words concerning what the baby or babies should be called if his wishes materialized.
YO was so accurate in his predictions that they could be twins (and their sex) that he gave the names of the babies and told his wife how he would raise them.

 While many may interpret this to mean that YO had a premonition about his death, it was only a strong desire expressed by him to have babies that he would dot over and who would possibly step into his “aluta” shoes.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  recently elected new national officials of the party  which are as follows
National Chairman – Iyorchia Ayu Deputy National Chairman (North) – Umar Damagum (Contested)
Deputy National Chairman (South) – Taofeek Arapaja (Contested)
National Secretary – Samuel Anyanwu (Unopposed)
National Treasurer – Ahmed Mohammed (Unopposed)
National Organising Secretary – Umar Bature (Unopposed)
National Financial Secretary – Daniel Woyegikuro (Unopposed)
National Women’s Leader – Professor Stella Effah-Attoe (Unopposed)
National Youth Leader – Muhammed Suleiman (Contested)
National Legal Adviser – Kamaldeen Ajibade (Unopposed)
National Publicity Secretary – Debo Ologunagba (Unopposed)
National Auditor – Okechuckwu Daniel (Unopposed)
Deputy National Secretary – Setoji Kosheodo (Unopposed)
Deputy National Treasurer – Ndubisi David (Unopposed)
Deputy National Publicity Secretary – Ibrahim Abdullahi (Unopposed)
Deputy National Organising Secretary – Ighoyota Amori (Unopposed)
Deputy National Financial Secretary – Adamu Kamale (Unopposed)
Deputy National Women’s Leader – Hajara Wanka (Unopposed)
Deputy National Youth Leader – Timothy Osadolor (Unopposed)
Deputy National Legal Adviser – Okechukwu Osuoha (Unopposed)
Deputy National Auditor – Abdulrahman Mohammed (Unopposed).

A former presidential candidate, publisher, and journalist, Dele Momodu, has joined Nigeria’s main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party.

M omodu announced this in a statement on Friday.

H e explained that his decision was to contribute meaningfully to the development of the country.

T he former presidential candidate complained that the achievements recorded under the PDP administration “have been diluted, wasted, or diminished by the present APC government.”

He said, “I have consulted widely. And it is clear to me that given the dangerous and disastrous drift that our nation has experienced in the past six years, the only party from which amends can be made to rectify our situation is the People’s Democratic Party.

“This accords with my vehement opposition to the policies and practices of the All Progressive Congress and its leadership, which has denuded our country of everything we hold dear – national unity, cohesion, security, economic prosperity, educational advancement, social infrastructure, and above all, our cherished moral values.

“ For these reasons, I am happy to declare that I am now a full-fledged participating member of the great and patriotic Peoples Democratic Party.

“ It is deeply saddening and regrettable that some of the biggest and landmark achievements recorded under the PDP administration have been diluted, wasted, or diminished by the present APC government.”

The United Nations (UN) has pledged continuous partnership with the Nigerian Army in tackling security challenges in the country and the Sahel region.

The Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Central Africa, Mr Mahamat Saled, made the pledge when he paid a courtesy call on the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, on Thursday, in Abuja.
The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
Saled commended the efforts of the army in stemming the security challenges and activities of insurgents in Nigeria and, by extension, the Sahel region.

The UN envoy said it was crucial to adopt a regional approach and provide antidotes to terrorism and other contemporary security challenges bedevilling West Africa and the Sahel region.
He added that most of the current security challenges confronting West African states were a spillover of the Libyan crises, assuring the Nigerian army of partnership in the quest to curb the proliferation of arms and in profiling terrorism financers.

The envoy was accompanied on the visit by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in West Africa and the Sahel, Mr Francois Luncemy Fall.
In his response, the COAS, Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya said that many countries across the globe were currently confronted with terrorism and other security challenges peculiar to each nation.

Yahaya stated that the Nigerian Army, in conjunction with sister services and other security agencies, was making steady progress in the fight against insurgency, adding that they would not relent in ensuring the end of the menace in Nigeria.
He also emphasised the need for partnership in the areas of terrorism victims’ support, profiling of terrorism financiers, arms proliferation control and technological support.

Mark Zuckerberg, the Chief Executive Officer of Facebook, has announced the social media giant will change the name of its holding company to Meta, in a rebrand that comes as the company faces a series of public relations crises.

 Facebook CEO made the announcement at Facebook’s annual conference Thursday, where he outlined his vision for the metaverse – a digital world built over our own, comprising virtual reality headsets and augmented reality. 

“We believe the metaverse will be the successor of the mobile internet,” Zuckerberg said.

According to the announcement, the new holding company Meta will encompass Facebook, its largest subsidiary, as well as apps such as Instagram, WhatsApp and the virtual reality brand Oculus.  Facebook has invested $10bn in its metaverse project in 2021 – double what it spends on safety and security on the platform. In recent earnings reports, the company announced its virtual reality segment had grown so substantially it would now report its revenue separately, dividing its products into two categories.

Those categories include a “family of apps” including Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp, and the “reality labs” products including AR and VR as well as any related hardware.
In a presentation from his home, Zuckerberg outlined his vision of the metaverse as a digital world in which users will feel they are with one another and have a “sense of presence” despite being far apart.
 The platform would allow users to customize their avatars and digital spaces, decorating a digital office with pictures, videos and even books. “When I send my parents a video with my kids, they’re going to feel like they’re right in the moment with us not peering through a little window,” he said.
The presentation imagined users inviting friends over virtually, two people attending a concert together despite being across the world from one another, and colleagues making work presentations remotely.
“We believe the metaverse will be the successor to the mobile internet. We’ll be able to feel present – like we’re right there with people no matter how far apart we actually are,” he said. “We’ll be able to express ourselves in new joyful, completely immersive ways.

“The best way to understand the metaverse is to experience it yourself,” Zuckerberg added, though adding “it doesn’t fully exist yet”.

The Police Command in Imo State has confirmed the arrest of some of its personnel for allegedly extorting N60,000 from a traveller, Mr. Victor Agunwah.
Although the command did not disclose the identity of the officers involved, it said in a statement issued in Owerri on Wednesday that the erring officers would face an orderly room trial.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Agunwah had lodged a complaint to the Police Commissioner in the state, Rabiu Hussaini, against the officers who allegedly extorted N60,000 from him through Point Of Sale (POS) recently.
The victim also alleged that the officers assaulted him and other occupants of his vehicle before intimidating him into transferring the money to one of them through POS.
The police commissioner, in the statement, said that the suspects had been arrested and detained at the police headquarters for necessary disciplinary action.

“The Imo State Police command has commenced investigations into a report making the rounds online where police personnel were alleged to have extorted N60,000 from one Victor Aguwah traveling from Sam Mbakwe Airport to his home town in Mbaise. “The CP, while condemning the incident, confirmed that the police officers have been identified, arrested, and detained at the State Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Department (SCIID), where they will be made to face disciplinary action.
“The command has established contact with the victim through his cell phone and he is currently cooperating with the command in seeing that he gets justice.

“The CP, while commending the good people of Imo State, assured them of the command’s commitment, under his watch, to ensure that no police officer found in corrupt practices is spared.

“He assured all and sundry of making the outcome of the investigation and trial public.”

The Nigerian Correctional Service, on Wednesday, released the names and images of 122 inmates who escaped from the Abolongo Custodial Centre in Oyo State. The inmates had escaped the correctional centre on Friday, October 22, 2021, after unidentified gunmen attacked the facility.

The Federal Government had enlisted the help of Interpol in recapturing the fleeing inmates when the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola visited the facility after the incident. As of Monday, October 24, 463 inmates had been recaptured with more than 300 still at large.
However, it is unclear if the names and images released are the remaining inmates who are still at large.