News & Announcements

As part of Governor Peter Mbah’s efforts to put an end to sit-at-home protests in the state, 67 Biafra separatists were detained in various Enugu State locations and have since been remanded in prison custody.

The State Government allegedly ordered the combined security agencies to put an end to the sit-at-home movement and all Biafra agitations in the state, and five members of the group were also allegedly murdered by these agencies.

During the state’s Biafra Day commemoration events on May 29 and 30, members of the pro-Biafra movement were detained at the Eke-Obinagu and Independence Layout areas, respectively.

They were described as being between the ages of 50 and 70, and they included seven females and 60 males.

15 members of the Indigenous People of Biafra made up the separatist group, compared to 52 members of the Biafra Zionist Federation.

The 67 pro-Biafra members were secretly arraigned before an Enugu North Magistrate Court, which ordered their remand prison custody on Friday evening by Police after a security meeting with the new governor of the State, a police officer who did not want his name published.

The elderly men and women were arraigned in court at around 6:45 p.m. after the governor, who had been briefed, had approved their transportation, and the presiding magistrate had ordered their transfer to prison custody while the case file was transferred to the department of public prosecution.

“Actually they were arrested on May 29 and 30 at Eke-Obinagu and Independence Layout area of the state capital during their so-called Biafra Day commemoration.

“Five members were neutralised during the operation. Those ones are members of IPOB during a raid in their camp in Eke-Obinagu. The operation was part of measures to end sit-at-home as directed by the state governor who has given the security agencies a marching order to crush anyone that foment trouble in the state in the name of Biafra agitations, ” the source said.

The pro-Biafra members were transported to the Center on Thursday and Friday, respectively, by 7:18 pm, according to a warder at the Enugu Maximum Custodial Centre of the Nigerian Correctional Service.

“The members were documented on Saturday because they were brought in the night and were mainly old people in their 60s and even 70s. According to some of them, they had concluded their prayers for the repose of those who died during the 30 months of bloody civil war and were about to go home when police and soldiers swooped on them.

“Some had gone to show you we have finished and nobody was carrying arms or carrying any weapons. So, is our offence that we gathered to pray for those of our brothers that were brutally killed during the civil war. Instead of the government declaring a public holiday every May 30 to remember those that were killed by bullets and starvation, the government is still waging war on the Biafran. The new governor wants to show his absolute loyalty to those who imposed him on Enugu State people,” the warder said.

In the meantime, due to the state’s unauthorized sit-at-home order, Governor Mbah has threatened to close any markets, schools, or transportation facilities that don’t open for business today (Monday).

The governor of Oyo state, Governor Seyi Makinde, has broken his silence on why he fired the head of the Park Management System (PMS), Alhaji Mukaila Lamidi, aka Auxiliary, claiming that a state cannot have two governments because of the conflict of interest that resulted.

The governor revealed this on Sunday at a prayer of gratitude held at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Aremo, Ibadan, to celebrate his Omituntun 2.0.

Recall that Makinde announced the dissolution of the PMS led by the former NURTW chairman on Tuesday through his former chief of staff, Segun Ogunwuyi.

On the other side, the Oyo Police Command issued a wanted notice for Auxillary in connection with attempted murder, causing great bodily injury, selling weapons, murder, armed robbery, and kidnapping at the Oke-ogun and Ibarapa axis of the State.

The governor claimed that by dissolving PMS, he used the heavy stick because he believed that no important work could be done in an uneasy environment.

However, Makinde promised the congregation at the Thanksgiving service that the government will make all necessary changes to the PMS to guarantee that those stirring up problems were dealt with.

The governor said, “Before the last election, it wasn’t as if there is no thugs but we called them and told them the new Oyo State we want. We don’t want them to fight themselves, we don’t want fight to break from our garages every time.”

“We told them, don’t fight anybody. if we are re-elected, we shall ensure we unite you so that everyone can get what belongs to him or her for people and the government to operate in the atmosphere of peace.”

“But one of them said he can’t work with others. so I said two governments cannot operate in the state, there will only be one government.”

The governor claimed that all of his accomplishments during his first tenure required God’s help.

The improvement of people’s conditions, he said, is what matters most in Omituntun 2.0, and the government must take all reasonable steps to make this improvement painless and conducive to compliance.

A Florida woman identified as Alicia Moore, has been arrested after her car caught fire with her children inside while she was shoplifting inside a mall with another man in Oviedo.

As stated in a CNN report on Sunday, Moore was charged with aggravated child neglect and arson and remanded at the Orange County Jail.

According to the arrest report issued by the Oviedo Police Department, she parked her car in a Dillard’s parking lot around noon on May 26, leaving her two children in the car.

A loss prevention personnel watched her after shopping for about an hour with a yet-to-be-identified man, she saw her car engulfed in flames, dropped the stolen merchandise, and ran out of the store.

The two children were transported to Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital and one child suffered first-degree burns “to her face and ears after shoppers who witnessed the fire helped rescue the children from the flames.

Police said, “It is undetermined what ignited the fire, however, if Moore was not being neglectful, it is unlikely the children would have been injured.”

Sweden has created history, by officially recognizing sex as a sport and hosting the first-ever European Sex Championship.

It may sound unreal, but the Swedish Sex Federation (SSF), which is the organizer of the championship, has been functioning since 2016 and is the only organization to recognize sex as a sport.

Participants in the competition will compete for six hours each day over the course of several weeks. 

Participants will have between 45 and an hour to complete their particular matches or activities during this time.

The 16 disciplines in which competitors will compete will be judged by a panel of five judges and the general public. 

Each of the competition’s three phases must be passed through in order for participants to move on. 

Individuals of all genders and sexual orientations are eligible to enter the competition.

Beginning on June 8, 2023, the competition will take place close to Gothenburg, Sweden, and feature competitors from several European nations.

Already all the participants have sent their applications to participate in this championship.

The federation has stated that the important motive of the organization is “strong opposition to the domination of men over women.”

The 16 different disciplines include various categories like Seduction, Massages, Prelude, Oral Sex, Penetration, Endurance, best artistic communication, etc.

The president of the Swedish Federation of Sex Dragan Bratych believes that turning sex into a sport was only a matter of time. 

He says that sex may help people reach both mental and physical well-being, but doing this requires preparation.

The Swedish Sex Federation notes that sex as a sport is actually quite difficult. 

It involves the most creative participants with interesting ideas, strong emotions, imagination, physical fitness, endurance and performance.
                 

Mukaila Lamidi, also known as Auxillary, the Chairman of the disbanded Park Management System in Oyo State, informed the State Police Command on Saturday that it was impossible to declare him ‘wanted.’

According to reports, the police stormed the Auxiliary’s hideaway in the state capital of Ibadan on Tuesday morning and confiscated rifles and other hazardous weaponry. On Friday, 78 alleged hoodlums were also detained.

Following this raid, the Police Command issued a wanted notice on him for his involvement in the trafficking of firearms, armed robbery, and kidnapping, among other crimes.

Auxiliary has stated that he is dedicated to maintaining calm in the state and that he will follow the governor’s decisions regarding transport unions.

The ex-chairman who was reacting to the allegations of violence allegedly perpetrated by his boys, a few days ago in Ibadan, said from his hideout on a live radio programme that he is a peace-lover, who could not have turned the state into a theatre of war over the dissolution of the PMS by the governor.

Also speaking on the position of the state Police that declared him wanted, he insisted that such a declaration was not meant for him, querying, “When I’m not a fool, how could I have hidden or stockpiled those weapons at my residence?”
However, he warned his boys not to foment trouble or engage in any act of violence in Ibadan and other parts of the state, adding that, “No individual, no matter how highly influential he or she is, is bigger than government.”

Auxiliary, while promising to comply and cooperate with the reform and integration process of other driver unions into the PMS, pointing out that, “If the new reform doesn’t favour me, I will accept the outcome.”

A 53-year-old businessman, King Dauda, was arraigned on Friday, 2 June 2023 before a Kado Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, by the Nigeria Police Force for allegedly stealing the sum of N92,300 from a sex worker.

Dauda, of EFAB Global Estate, Life Camp, Abuja, was charged with theft. The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Prosecution Counsel, Stanley Nwafoaku, told the court that on Friday 26 May 2023 at about 9:05 a.m., Ms. Bolaji Olufumi, of Prosper Road Area 3, Abuja, reported the matter at Life Camp Police Station.

Nwafoaku said that on May 20, the defendant invited the complainant to his residence, located at EFAB Estate, and after having carnal knowledge of her, took her purse containing N92,300.

The police prosecutor, who said that all efforts by Olufumi to recover the purse and her money from the defendant proved abortive, said the offense contravenes the provisions of Sections 288 of the Penal Code Law.

The Defence Counsel, Charity Nwosu, made an oral bail application, citing Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 158 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.

Nwosu assured the court that the defendant would not jump bail if granted.

Nwafoaku, however, did not object to the bail application made by the defense counsel.

The Judge, Muhammed Wakili, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N100,000 and one surety in like sum.

Wakili said that the surety must provide a Bank Verification Number (BVN) printout, a recent passport photograph, and a valid identification card, which must be verified by the court registrar.

The judge, thereafter, adjourned the case till June 15 for further hearing.
                 

Following a train accident that claimed the lives of more than 280 passengers, President Bola Tinubu conveyed his condolences to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the people of the Republic of India.

One of the worst rail accidents in recent memory occurred on Friday when two passenger trains and a goods train crashed in the Indian city of Balasore, which is situated in the eastern state of Odisha. The catastrophe resulted in the deaths of over 280 individuals and the injuries of nearly 900 more.

Commiserating with the families of the victims, Tinubu, in a statement issued on Saturday via his twitter handle stated, “My heart goes to the families of those affected in the unfortunate and heartrending train crash in the Indian state of Odisha.

“We stand with India in brotherhood at this difficult time. The magnitude of the crash and the high casualty figure call for global support for India to adequately respond to this calamitous accident.

“I send my deepest sympathy and condolences to His Excellency Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the people of India and the families of those trapped in the crash.

Over the weekend, the Ondo state government urged Nigerians to disregard reports that Governor Rotimi Akeredolu had died.

It was widely believed that the governor, who had been ill for some time, had passed away this morning.

Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, the state’s commissioner for information and orientation, clarified the situation in a statement issued in Akure.

The statement reads “We have been inundated with calls and messages concerning the state of health of the Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON.

“We had chosen to ignore this wicked fabrication until it appeared that certain persons seek to draw political mileage from the disinformation.

“Though the Governor has been indisposed, he has been attending to state matters and delegating functions to functionaries of the Government, when necessary.

“We enjoin the members of the public to ignore the rumour. Aketi is very much alive.

However, the governor’s health has come under scrutiny from both the Social Democratic Party and the People’s Democratic Party.

The People’s Democratic Party’s Kennedy Peretei stated the governor’s location should not be a secret while Stephen Adewale, the state chairman of the SDP, argued against keeping the governor’s health problems a secret.

Adewale said that ” There are now serious doubts about Governor Akeredolu’s capacity to continue to govern the Sunshine State as his medical conditions remain shrouded in secrecy.

“It is quite disturbing that the state of the governor’s health has become a topic of state curiosity and concern.

” This situation continues to undermine the ability of the State government to fulfil its obligations and commitments, including those requiring the government to provide economic pathways to millions of people facing absolute poverty and uncertainty in the Sunshine State due to the reckless and insensitive removal of subsidy by the APC-led federal government.

“Ondo SDP call on Arakunrin to respect the good people of Ondo State who have voted for him twice by presenting his medical records to the general public.

“We strongly believe that the good people of Ondo State have the right to know about the medical conditions of Arakunrin Akeredolu.

On it’s part, the PDP’s Publicity Secretary, Kennedy Peretei, in a statement, said that ” those hiding the governor should tell the people where he is to save the state from speculation.

“As mortals, any human being can fall sick. Whether in public office or private life. Rotimi Akeredolu is employed by the people of Ondo State and maintained with taxpayers’ money. So, it is criminal and a great disservice to keep mum over his health status and his whereabouts.

” In 2010, when then-President Umar Yar’Adua was incapacitated due to ill health, Akeredolu was one of the most vociferous voices, calling for his resignation and allowing the then Vice-President to take over.

” If for whatever reason, Akeredolu can no longer discharge his official responsibilities, the most reasonable thing to do is to hand over to the Deputy Governor as required by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

“Our party joins millions of Ondo State people to pray for Akeredolu’s quick recovery, but nobody should play politics with his ill health.

Peretei added that “Nobody should ground the state beyond its present state. Let Akeredolu resign if he is no longer fit to be governor.

President Bola Tinubu’s call for the elimination of fuel subsidies has received the backing of three PDP members.

Seyi Makinde, the governor of Oyo State, Nyesom Wike, the former governor of Rivers State, and James Ibori, the former governor of Delta State, all informed the president of this when they paid him a visit on Friday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Speaking on why the trio were at the villa of the president, Makinde said, “To let him know that he has started well and he has the support of the generality of the people.”

On the subsidy issue, Makinde said, “We discussed it. It’s something that is on top of public discussion right now. We know it’s a tough decision for the people and he needs the support of everybody to see this through.”

While Wike and Makinde are PDP dissident G5 governors who worked against the party’s presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar in the February elections, PDP chieftains Ibori and Tinubu served as governors under various political platforms between 1999 and 2007.

On Monday, June 12, 2023, at the installation of the new executives of the Edo State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), youth from the 18 local government areas of Edo State will host the state’s governor, Godwin Obaseki.

By 9 am, there will be an inauguration at the Edo NYCN Secretariat in Akpakpava, Benin City.

The state governor will have the chance to engage with young people in the state during the inauguration, which ushers in the new leadership of the youth’s body, according to Johnson Matthew Ogbogho, deputy chairman of the Edo NYCN.

He said; “The new leadership of the Edo State National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) will be inaugurated on Monday, June 12, 2023, at the Council’s Secretariat in Benin City by 9 am. As part of events for the inauguration, Edo youths will be hosting the State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, bringing together youths from the 18 local government areas of the State under the same roof with their performing governor and chief executive.

“Edo youths are proud to be hosting Governor Obaseki who has recorded a milestone in promoting youth participation in governance and created several opportunities for young people to realize their fullest potential through the Edojobs initiative and other programmes. As the body that has been entrusted with the responsibility of championing the interests and welfare of the youth within the state, we understand the need to sustain a constant interface between the government and youths to sustain the gains recorded in youths’ development and address the challenges facing young people in the State. These are some of the reasons for organising the event.”

Reassuring the commitment of the new executives to pursue programmes to ensure inclusivity and better opportunities for youths in the State, Ogbogho noted, “We will continue to work tirelessly, in partnership with the government to foster unity, promote youth empowerment initiatives, and advocate for the socio-economic progress of our vibrant and dynamic youth community.”

Also, the body’s Public Relations Officer, Uwanogho John while hailing the governor for his sustained investment in education and vocational training for youths, said: “This is the first time Edo State is having a youth-driven governor who has in the past six years put young people at the forefront of his administration’s projects and policies.”

He further noted, “The government has executed numerous projects and pursued nuanced reforms to better the welfare and wellbeing of youths and this meeting will provide a fine platform for the government to showcase these projects and hear directly from its beneficiaries the impact of these projects on the people, especially the youth population.”