News & Announcements

The Federal Road Safety Commission has encouraged road users to look into alternate routes after a fuel-laden tanker that fell and spilled its contents around the Ibafo region of Ogun State in the early hours of Sunday caused a significant traffic jam.

The commission advises drivers entering and leaving Lagos to use routes like Ikorodu through Sagamu, Ijebu-Ode, and Epe for vehicles headed to Lagos, and Abeokuta through Sagamu Interchange for vehicles headed to Ibadan.

The Corps Public Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem, said in a statement on Sunday that the content had been successfully trans-loaded and that members of the state fire service had moved on to refill their water tank while ensuring that the commission and other pertinent agencies were keeping an eye on the issue.

He blamed certain impatient drivers who opted to drive against the flow of traffic, interfering with the free flow of traffic on all accessible exit routes, for the jam.

The statement partly read, “A road traffic crash involving a loaded Tanker occurred in the early hours of today under the Ibafo pedestrian bridge on the outward Lagos section of the expressways. FRSC and other agencies have been on top of the situation since the occurrence of the crash.

“The contents of the fallen Tanker have been successfully trans-loaded into another and men of Ogun State Fire Service have proceeded to refill their water tank.

“Unfortunately, some inpatient drivers who choose to drive against the flow of traffic from all available exit points have done so, thereby causing traffic jams not only for the outward Lagos section where the RTC occurred alone but also, the inward Lagos section as well.”

It had previously been reported by a source within the Corps that the driver’s weariness and loss of control were to blame for the accident.

A FRSC representative also affirmed that no lives were lost in the collision.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has freed 58 hostages who were being kept captive in the Udulu Forest, Gegu LGA of Kogi State, bordering Sardauna Forest, Nasarawa State, and other kidnappers’ hideouts in nearby areas.

SP Josephine Adeh, spokesperson of the command said that, “The bandits/Kidnappers on sighting the security team coordinated by the Police fired at the security team which resulted in a shootout.

“The bandits were overpowered and escaped with various degrees of bullet injuries leaving behind their victims.

“The rescue is part of efforts by the Command leadership, in a sustained joint operation with other security agencies with vigilantes and hunters from the various local communities, to combat violent crimes in the FCT, rescue victims and bring perpetrators to book.

“The Commissioner of Police, FCT Police Command, CP  Haruna Garba has vowed that effort will be sustained to prevent any further threats to safety and security of residents.

“The Command would also not relent in ensuring the rescue of any resident held hostage by criminals, and as well bring the perpetrators to book.

“The CP called for the cooperation of residents, especially in being security conscious and giving credible information to the Police.

However, Tama Jonathan was hurt during the rescue effort and tragically passed away there and then.

“His remains have subsequently been released to his family for burial.

“The other 58 rescued victims are being stabilised in the hospital and would be reunited with their families.

“The CP urged residents to be vigilant, and make  prompt rendition of complaints through the following emergency lines: 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653, and 08028940883, while the Public Complaint Bureau (PCB) desk, could be reached on: 0902 222 2352”

8,852 kilograms of Canadian loud, an imported synthetic cannabis strain, were found along Eleko Road in the Lekki neighborhood of Lagos by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

This was revealed in a statement released on Sunday by the director of media and advocacy at NDLEA, Femi Babafemi.

He said that the seizure was made after agency agents confronted armed individuals transporting the illicit narcotics in a 30-minute gunfight.

He claims that the CIA ambushed the traffickers Thursday who were transferring the shipment piled onto two trucks based on intelligence.

Babafemi said, “When the suspects who were escorted by armed men were flagged down, rather than stop, they escaped and abandoned the drugs. But they were later overpowered by the operatives in an exchange of gunfire that lasted 30 minutes.

“While one of the trucks painted red has 149 jumbo bags weighing 6,548kg, the second one with blue colour has 53 big bags with a weight of 2,304kg, bringing the total number of bags to 202 and gross weight of both to 8,852 kilograms. Meanwhile, operatives are already on the trail of the drug lord who shipped the illicit consignment into the country.”

According to him, on the same day, NDLEA agents stopped a Toyota Sienna driven by Mukaila Idowu at the Otedola Bridge carrying 88.3 kg of skunk, and on the following day, Joseph Friday was detained at lyana Ira in Lagos with 58.7 kg of cannabis sativa hidden inside his Toyota Camry with the license plate FST 587FH.

“Meanwhile, NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, attached to courier firms, intercepted blocks of compressed brown methamphetamine packaged as soap bars weighing 1.54 kilograms going to Australia.

“The seizure at a courier house in Lagos on Tuesday, May 2, was a follow-up operation to an earlier interception of 3.389kg of the same substance on February 23, 2023. A suspected drug courier, Paul Adetigbe who delivered the previous parcel was eventually arrested with the latest consignment,” Babafemi said.

He further mentioned that between May 3 and May 5, the agency made drug recoveries and arrested several individuals in the states of Ogun, Adamawa, Edo, Anambra, and Kogi.

Kayode Ajulo, a constitutional lawyer, has written to King Charles III, requesting for a Prerogative of Mercy for former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, following their conviction by a British court.

Ajulo made the plea in a letter to King Charles III and made available to newsmen  on Saturday.

Ike, his wife and doctor, Obinna Obeta were sentenced to 9 years, 4 years and 10 years, respectively, in prison by an Old Bailey Court for violating British laws on kidney donation and transplant.

“Your Majesty, though invigorated by your coronation I witnessed the same with mixed emotions.”

He described the chronicle of Ekweremadu and his wife was a sad one that left a bitter taste in the mouth.

He said their action was a “desperate” move by parents in their quest to save the life of their daughter Sonia”.

Ajulo said the lady in question was in dire need of a kidney transplant but unfortunately, her parents their doctor went about the mission in the most unsavoury of ways.

He explained that Ekweremadu may have chosen to not publicly advertise for a kidney donor to avoid swindlers who could take undue advantage of his daughter’s ailment.

There is “no turning back” on the petition for a gubernatorial election that Chief Kenneth Gbagi, the Social Democratic Party’s candidate for governor in the state, submitted before the State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, according to the Delta State Chapter of the party.

This was stated in a three-point resolution that the SDP’s newly-established 12-member Caretaker Committee in Delta State, led by Mrs. Esther Ikule, approved at the conclusion of its inaugural meeting, which took place on Saturday at the party’s Delta Central Secretariat on the Warri-Sapele Road.

The Caretaker Committee gave Chief Kenneth Gbagi, the party’s candidate for governor of Delta State, a vote of confidence in the resolution, which was jointly signed by Mrs. Ikule and Mr. Enebraye Kembigha, the positions of Chairman and Secretary, and guaranteed that the committee would support Gbagi in pursuing his mandate at the Governorship Election Tribunal until justice was served in the case.

The resolution read partly, “At no time did the SDP executive in Delta State before it was dissolved by the NWC on May 2, 2023, met, discuss, and agreed to write a letter dissociating the SDP in Delta with the election petition filed by Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi.”

“Therefore, any purported letter signed by the former Chairman, Mr Oke Idawene, is not authorised. It is fake, it is null and void and of no effect whatsoever.”

The Delta SDP Caretaker Committee thanked Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, the party’s national chairman, and the NWC “for the excellent leadership, direction and support in steering the Delta State Chapter of the party to overcome the current challenges.”

The party’s National Vice Chairman, South-South, Fred Owotorufa, had earlier urged the newly established 12-member SDP Delta Caretaker Committee to “re-organise and re-position the party in the State and also recruit fresh members, especially youths, in all Wards and Local Governments across the state.”

The National Working Committee Vice Chairman stated that the inauguration followed the dissolution of the party’s Delta State Executive, led by Mr. Oke Idawene, last Tuesday “following its inability to resolve the protracted crisis within the party in the state.”

Owotorufa said that, in accordance with the SDP Constitution and Electoral Act 2022, the Caretaker Committee has 90 days to complete its task after which the party’s State Congress will be held to elect a new Executive Council.

He said that the NWC had chosen the new members of the Caretaker Committee based on their “wide experience, competence, character, and good team spirit.”

He tasked the members of the caretaker committee with cooperating “to plant the party positively in the consciousness of Delta State and Nigerians.”

In addition, he advised the committee members to constantly reach a consensus on issues and to stick with their plans, warning against any factions in their work.

“Party interest must be supreme. Loyalty to the Party and the Governorship Candidate/Leader must be uppermost. Eschew bitterness at all times. Do not work in isolation or at cross-purposes. Avoid undercutting one another. Together, you should strive to grow the party and also, grow with the party,” he stated.

Owotorufa enjoined the Caretaker Committee members to “embark on aggressive membership recruitment into the party, especially youth and women,” saying that this must be daily, and continuous.

“It must be at all levels of the Unit, Ward, LGA and the state. Come to every nook and cranny – the marketplaces, schools, buses, eateries, workplaces, business environments, the church and mosque,” he emphasised.

The President-elect, Senator Bola Tinubu, congratulated Prince Charles on becoming King of England and expressed excitement for future interactions with the British government.

This was stated in his letter of congratulations to the newly crowned King in Abuja as President-elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He observed that as Charles was crowned the new British King, going by the title of King Charles III, the splendor of the British monarchy and its rich tradition once more came to the fore and the world essentially came to a halt.

“By way of this letter, therefore, I convey to you my warmest congratulations on your coronation,” Tinubu said.

He spoke It was touching that Charles’ ascension to the throne occurred after the iconic Queen Elizabeth II’s 70-year reign, whose passing in September 2022 put the entire world in mourning given her tumultuous reign.

“Bearing your unique place in history as the first King to be inaugurated in Britain since 1937, I trust that you will follow in the glorious footsteps of your late mother and even surpass her achievements in United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.

“Particularly remarkable about you is your love for the environment, importantly your lifelong crusade for sustainability and biodiversity,” Tinubu said.

He expressed the hope that the newly crowned King would continue to support these activities while keeping a sympathetic eye on the predicament and suffering of the underprivileged in Africa and beyond.

In the interests of the two nations, he further expressed the hope that the excellent bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Britain will endure and even grow stronger during his administration.

“I look forward to further engagements with you and the opportunity of a meeting in the nearest future as both of us had earlier indicated in discussions with mutual friends and associates.

“Once again, I rejoice with you on your coronation and pray that God Almighty grant you strength and wisdom.
“And make your reign successful for the benefit of not only the people of the Great Britain, but for the entire world.

“Please rest assured of my highest regards always,” the Nigerian President-elect said.

Hajiya Turai, a former first lady of Nigeria, claimed that her late husband, Umaru Yar’Adua, never desired nor was anxious for the office of president.

She continued by saying that her late husband had little interest in politics and that he only ended up as president by chance.

From 2007 until 2010, the late Yar’Adua presided over Nigeria. On May 29, 2007, he took the oath of office after being declared the victor of the April 21, 2007, presidential election. On May 5, 2010, he passed away.

This was said by Turai on Saturday, the 13th anniversary of her husband’s passing, while speaking to the BBC Hausa Service.

She said, “His life ambition was to be a teacher, come home from school, sit with his family and crack jokes till another day. He never wanted politics or governance but as Allah willed, he joined politics and became President.

“Although he was a President, at that time, his lifestyle hadn’t changed. He never borrowed expensive life and remained simple and an easygoing person.”

Turai, who also spoke on how much she has missed him said, “I think about Yar’Adua every day, anniversary or no anniversary. I think about him and miss him every single day.

“But I am happy on such anniversary days because the country talks about him, and people across the country come together to say good things about him and pray for him. That truly gladdens my heart.”

She recounted the day the late President died saying, “I held his hands and told him I was stepping out for iftar and he nodded. A few minutes later, I was called back and I met him dead.

“I regretted that day. I blamed myself for going to iftar. I still think I should have stayed. But I thank the Almighty Allah for honouring me with Yar’Adua as a husband. It is the biggest privilege of my life and I am forever grateful to have spent a reasonable part of my life with him,” she said.

Ademola Adeleke, the governor of Osun State, denied rumors on Saturday that he intended to demote employees and pay them half of their monthly salaries.

According to a statement from the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the state’s present government has not and will not demote employees or implement a half-salary system.

The statement read, “Osun State Government under Governor Ademola Adeleke has not and will not demote any worker. There is also no plan to introduce half salary. Additionally, we declare that the content of the said story and all the references to a supposed worker are mere fabrications to undermine the very strong bond between Governor Adeleke and Osun workers, both in the formal and informal sectors.

“The bond of partnership between this administration and the workers was further cemented at the May 1st workers day celebration where labour leaders praised the extraordinary commitment of Governor Adeleke to workers’ welfare. The May Day event also saw confirmation by all stakeholders that Governor Adeleke was the first Governor in Osun state to have workers’ welfare as the first item on his governance agenda.

“Members of the public and the labour movement also acknowledged that the present administration has been clearing the mess and the evil fallouts of years of maladministration by the APC in Osun state. Part of that acclaimed step is the template adopted to clear years of half salary and pensions owed Osun workers.”

Even though a copy of the statement was sent to him, the spokesperson for the Osun All Progressives Congress, Kola Olabisi, had not yet responded to the accusations as of the time this article was filed.

Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, the commissioner for education in Anambra State, praised Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma’s performance on the Joint Admission Matriculation Board’s 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and called it “excellent and very outstanding.”

According to Chuma-Udeh, the state’s performance has once again shown how much emphasis the administration of Prof. Chukwuma Soludo places on the Anambra state’s educational system.

This is in accordance with a statement released on Saturday by the Ministry in Awka.

With an overall score of 362, Mmesoma, a student at the Anglican Girls Secondary School, Nnewi, won the title of top student overall in the 2023 UTME.

The following is a breakdown of her score: 98 English 89 Physics Chemistry 81 and Biology 94.

“This excellent feat has brought joy and celebration to her school and the state, as her teachers, parent and fellow students were thrown into a euphoric and exhilarating mood following this outstanding academic performance.

“This outstanding performance of Ejikeme has indeed brought joy and happiness to every Ndi-Anambra.”

The government also promised to “monitor her academic progression as she pursues whatever career she desires.”

“We are proud of her and grateful to Governor Soludo for giving top priority to education in the state,” Chuma-Udeh added.

25-year-old Sonia, daughter of a former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, said she felt guilty that her parents are jailed because of her over an organ-harvesting plot suit in the United Kingdom.

Recall that 60-year-old Ekweremadu was on Friday sentenced to a total of nine years and eight months imprisonment, while his 56-year-old wife, Beatrice, was sentenced to four years and six months imprisonment for plotting to harvest a 21-year-old Lagos street trader, David Nwamini’s kidney.

The third accomplice, a medical doctor, Dr Obinna Obeta, was jailed for 10 years. 

Ekweremadu, and his wife Beatrice, wanted a new kidney for Sonia.

Speaking with BBC after the court judgment on Friday, Sonia said she felt guilty about the whole situation.

“I don’t think it will ever be the same again. And obviously, I feel guilty because I feel like all these have happened because of me,” she said while holding back tears.

On how her parents have handled their current reality, Sonia, who admitted that she can’t speak about what they truly feel, said they are “quite calm.”

“They are quite calm, surprisingly. But I can’t really speak about what they are feeling. This is just from an outside perspective of me seeing them. They are okay, they are just neutral,” Sonia said.

On what she has learnt over the whole saga, Sonia said, “Life is just some dynamic. Like you’re one day in your house chilling and the next day your whole life is turned around, upside down.”

She added, “It’s sad. It’s been really hard to wrap my head around it. I understand the conviction.

Personally, I disagree with it; however, that’s from a very biased perspective as their daughter, and I would obviously back my parents.

“However, the law has taken its course, and we just have to now move forward as a family.”

Asked about what she would be doing next, Sonia said, “My main focus is to try to help, specifically people with kidney conditions. This is just to show them they don’t need to be scared.

“I will continue to support my parents and siblings as well.”