The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Journalists denied access to collapsed building site in Banana Island

    Journalists denied access to collapsed building site in Banana Island

    Journalists have been barred from gaining access to the estate where the seven-storey building collapsed on Wednesday in Banana Island, Lagos State.

    Reporters who gathered from various media houses were told to wait outside the estate gate pending the time they will be attended to.

    Some of the Journalists said they were at the gate until very late on Wednesday while those who visited the estate on Wednesday morning said they have been kept outside for hours.

    Although no cogent reason was given for the development, an estate management representative said journalists and construction workers were denied access because they do not want hoodlums to gain access into the estate to forestall breakdown of law and order. 

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    “You can’t force yourself in. There are security protocols in here, we will let you in at the right time. The PRO will come and talk to you,” he said.

    Read Also : Twelve female journalists selected for WSCIJ fellowship

    However, the management provided a tent for the waiting journalists.

    Other emergency responders were allowed free access to the estate except Journalists.

  • I’m looking for girl with ‘sensible backside’ for marriage- Speed Darlington

    I’m looking for girl with ‘sensible backside’ for marriage- Speed Darlington

    Singer and social media comedian, Darlington Okoye aka Speed Darlington has an announcement for single ladies desirous of possibly getting hooked to him.

    He announced his readiness for marriage noting one feature he considers most important and which the ‘lucky’ woman he would settle with must possess was ‘nyarsh’ (butt).

    According to the US-based entertainer, he’s interested in marrying a girl with not only a nice body but who’s ‘behind’ is heavily endowed, emphasising his unfathomable love for big backside.

    He pointed out that he would willingly turn a blind eye to the woman’s excessess as long as she had a butt that made sense.

    “I’m looking for a girl to marry. If you’re a girl with a nice body, I’m heavily into nyarsh (butt).

    “I value nyarsh so much that I’m willing to do ‘eyes left’ to your bad character if the nyarsh makes sense (he closes his right eye and turns his head leftways to dramatise his point while he spoke),” the ‘Akamu’ singer added. 

    Read Also : Why entertainers settle for baby mamas – Speed Darlington

    He held his right ear while stressing the woman shouldn’t expect relocating to the US. “You are not going to America! You are not going to America!!’ he said.

    “If I wanted an American wife, I for marry black American or white American but I didn’t.

    “You will stay at home while I go to America and come back from time to time,” he stated. 

  • I’ll be pressing your necks badly this year, Adekunle Gold tells critics

    I’ll be pressing your necks badly this year, Adekunle Gold tells critics

    Afro highlife singer, Adekunle Gold has publicly announced his mission for 2023.

    In a new video, AG baby assured his haters of one thing this year, imploring them to brace up for incessant rounds of asphyxiation.

    Making known his intention for his detractors, the “Party No Dey Stop” singer said: “I just want to announce that this is the year that I’ll be pressing your necks real bad. Get ready!”

    This is coming after an ardent fan of Burna Boy on Twitter accused AG Baby of copying his ‘idol’, stating it was getting really obvious and upsetting by the day.

    The tweep, Benny claimed not only had Adekunle Gold copied Burna’s style of dressing but also his posture, smile and associating with the ‘Last Last’ singer’s pals.

    Benny claimed the ‘Sinner’ singer would soon enough take the ‘copying’ act to the next level at which point he’d start reproducing Burna Boy’s songs.

    “The Burna Boy plagiarism is really so obvious and very annoying at this point. Man can’t you just be yourself? Same posture, same glasses, same smile. Wtf?! It’s been going on for a while now and we need to speak on it.

    Read Also : Simi blasts fan for accusing Adekunle Gold of ‘copying’ Burna Boy

    “Now he’s already linking with Odg’s pals. The most annoying part of it all is that he doesn’t acknowledge that he copies Odg in anyway”, he said referring to a recent photo that captured AG Baby posing with Israel Adesanya, Usman Kamaru and others during their celebratory party at a club after Stylebender’s knockout victory over Alex Pereira.

    “Y’all really want to say this is a coincidence?! LMAOO, na to go sing Last Last remain for am,” Benny added.

  • Kaduna Council to bury 49 unclaimed corpses next week

    Kaduna Council to bury 49 unclaimed corpses next week

    Chikun Local Government Council of Kaduna State has announced its resolve to bury 49 unidentified and unclaimed corpse deposited at the mortuary of Sabon Tasha General Hospital.

    Chairman of the Local Government, Hon. Salasi Nuhu Musa, who made the announcement in a newspaper advertorial published on The Nation of Thursday 13th April, said the corpses were deposited at different times by officers and personnel of the Nigeria Police from Toll Gate Division and Kasuwan Magani Police Station.

    According to the publication, names of 25 of the 49 corpses were listed while the remaining 24 were said to have no any means of identification on them when their bodies were deposited at the mortuary. 

    In the publication, the Local Government gave a window of five days for relatives to claim the corpses, stating that, after the five days window, the corpses would be buried. 

    The chairman also said a land has already been provided by Esu Chikun (Sa Gbagyi) for the burial.

    The advert reads: “This is to notify the general public that, Chikun Local Government Council, has gotten the approval of the Kaduna State Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Local Government Affairs, to carry out burial of 49 unknown and unclaimed corpses deposited at different times at the General Hospital Sabon Tasha, Chikun Local Government Area by men of the Nigeria Police from Toll Gate Division and Kasuwa Magani Police Station.

    “The Kaduna state Ministry of Health and Kaduna State Ministry of Local Government Affairs had in their letters referenced MOH/ADM/110/VOL.III dated 30th August, 2022 and S/MLG/373/TA/28 dated 4th October, 2022 respectively, directed that a committee be set up to investigate and verify the circumstances surrounding the deposited corpses.

    “Following the directive, a nine (9) man committee was constituted to that effect on the 20th October, 2022 under the watch of security agencies. The Committee carried out a careful investigation and its findings revealed that:-

    “Forty-Nine (49) unidentified copses were deposited at the mortuary of Sabon Tasha General Hospital against the (42) earlier communicated. The Corpses need urgent befitting interment for public interest.

    “The list of the unknown corpses is as follows: Donates Ebomuche, Emmanuel Charles, Dangote, Hadiza Audu, Police, Police, Insp. Rutu Musa, Joel Simon, Idrisa Yakubu, Baba Yellow, Maria Ejeh, Abubakar Ibrahim, Chukwuka Aguezeh, Luka Samuel, Abdul Abubakar and Halikali Dalami.

    Others are “Bejamine Zaka, Bowaje Zaka, Mr. Titus, Mr. Gaius Nenji, Jimmy Begge, Aminu Begge, Rabilu Yahaya, Buba Ali and Arinze Odo.

    “The remaining twenty four (24) corpses had no any means of identification on them as at the time they were deposited at the mortuary.

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    “The Committee had rounded up its assignment on Thursday 6 April, 2023 at about 6.30pm and forwarded her report

    for onward transmission with recommendations for necessary action.

    “The Council has however gotten approval and it immediately set up a Seven (7) man Technical Committee to that effect for the final burial God’s willing to hold within the period under reference.  Already a site has been provided via His Royal Highness Esu Chikun for the exercise.

    “This publication is for public information and awareness. A window of five (5) days from the date of this publication, is hereby given for claimers to come forward if any.”

    ENDS

  • I want to see Wole Soyinka, Chimamanda Adichie debate on Live TV – Okon Lagos

    I want to see Wole Soyinka, Chimamanda Adichie debate on Live TV – Okon Lagos

    Actor Imeh Bishop Umoh aka Okon Lagos is anticipating a debate between Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka and renowned writer, Chimamanda Adichie.

    The comedian said he’d love to see Soyinka and Adichie go head-to-head in a debate on facism and the just-concluded general elections.

    Okon Lagos wished his highly anticipated debate would also be televised live, adding it’d certainly be an interesting programme to watch.

    He wrote: “Like this ehn, me I want Prof. Wole Soyinka to debate Chimamanda Adichie on FASCISM and the just concluded Nigerian (s) elections. Literary Scholar Vs Literary Scholar. Live on National TV!!!

    The post caption read: “I want… think it will be interesting!” 

    He was reacting to Daniel Bwala, a spokesman of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar, asked Soyinka to debate with the Adichie instead of the Labour Party (LP) presidential running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed.

    Read Also : Chimamanda: An open letter to the president-elect

    Soyinka challenged Baba-Ahmed to a TV debate on Nigeria’s democracy for ‘rejecting’ the victory of the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stating he’d be leading an unconstitutional government if sworn into office because the APC candidate ‘has not met requirements of the law’.

  • Waive declares for House Deputy Speakership

    Waive declares for House Deputy Speakership

    Member representing Ughelli North, Ughelli South, Udu Federal Constituency of Delta State Hon Francis Waive has declared for Deputy Speakership of the 10th National Assembly (NASS) as the race to elect principal officers gathers momentum.

    The Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Power, in a notice to the House of Reps members-Elect said his aspiration, aside overriding competence and capacity to deliver, would be driven by equity and fairness.

    His notice of intend reads: “I believe the 10th Assembly deserves a leadership sensitive to needs of members and serves all without any discrimination. I believe in the equality of members, in equal opportunities both on the floor and in committee. 

    “I offer to serve you as Deputy Speaker (if zoned to the South South), that I will be easily accessible, help our esteemed first timers quickly find their footing, and carry everyone along during our tenure.

    “Those who know me personally in the current 9th Assembly have described me as calm, cool and collected. My antecedents have always been that of service to humanity. 

    “As our induction and inauguration ceremonies draw near, I am available to interact with you personally and privately at your convenience. Just a WhatsApp message on this line and I am with you. 

    Read Also : Delta APC Reps member Waive reelected

    “And on that Inauguration Day remember to write FRANCIS as your choice for Deputy Speaker. 

    “Please accept the assurances of my utmost regards and many congratulations once again.”

    Waive was educated at Bendel State University (now Ambrose Ali University) Ekpoma, graduating with a Second-Class Upper degree in Accounting. 

    He was elected and served as President, Students Union Government of the University, preparing him for the larger society politics. 

    Before his dramatic election in February 2019, Hon. Waive served Church of the Anointing Warri Delta State, a veritable platform he deployed to dispense valued charity to neglected communities of the Niger Delta through his establishment of the Riverine Communities Health Organisation.

    His involvement includes research projects and intervention programmes in Education, Health, Water and Sanitation, etc. His social advocacy efforts include convening the free Delta Group for good governance in Delta State. 

    Widely travelled, Hon Waive has attended several training courses home and abroad. He is  married to Rita (a Guidance and Counseling Educationist) and they are blessed with children and grandchildren.

    Aside his Accounting first degree, Hon Francis E. Waive holds a Masters in Legislative Studies 2023 with Specialty in Social Researcher and Scientist, Avid Community and Rural Demographic Expert, Newspaper Columnist and Politician.

    On his rapid rising political profile, Waive, member, Member National Executive Committee (NEC) of the APC (2019 – 2022) remains Member, House Caucus, All Progressives Caucus 2019 -2023, Honourable Member, Deputy Chairman House Committee on Power 2019 – 2023, Chairman Nigeria/Niger Parliamentary Friendship Group.

    He is also Member of the House Standing Committees on Power, Banking and Finance Capital Market, Housing & Habitat, North East Development Commission, Niger Delta Development Commission, Sustainable Development Goals, Steel and Mines Development, Pilgrim, Foreign Affairs, Privatization & Commercialization, Police Affairs Host Communities.

    Waive is also Member, House Ad-Hoc Investigative Committees on Power Sector Reform, Utilization of Military Funds between 2011 and 2020, Structure and Accountability of Joint Venture Business & PSCs of NNPC Petroleum Product Subsidy Regime, Tank Farm, N19.2b Railway Rehabilitation Contract awarded to Eser Contracting Industry Company Incorporated.

    Waive served the committees on Purchase, Use and Control of Arms, Ammunition and related Hardware by Military, Paramilitary and other Law Enforcement Agencies in Nig.

    The lawmaker’s Skills/Strength are rooted in his proactive managerial ability, commitment to good governance and quest for excellent and he is personally strong as an organiser of material, men and money to achieving set goals and objectives in a given project.

    His stewardship to his constituents whose wellbeing and the nation at larges as his primary motivation for delving into a lawmaking career is saturated with several outstanding bills introduced and passed, several motions moved and approved for improvement of governance and several valuable constituency projects delivered to improve livelihoods in his constituency.

  • Presidential election: Why tribunal should not grant LP, Obi’s prayers – INEC

    Presidential election: Why tribunal should not grant LP, Obi’s prayers – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has argued the reliefs being sought in the petition by the Labour Party (LP) and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, cannot be granted by the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC).

    INEC also contended the petition by Obi and LP is “grossly incompetent, abusive, vague, nebulous, generic, general, non-specific, ambiguous, equivocal, hypothetical and academic.”

    The petitioners are seeking, among others, the nullification of the the outcome of victory of the February 25 presidential election.

    They are of the view that Tinubu “was not duly elected by the majority of the lawful votes cast at the time of the election.”

    Obi and the LP, who claimed that there was rigging in 11 States, alleged that INEC violated its own regulations when it announced the results when the totality of the polling unit results was yet to be fully scanned, uploaded and transmitted electronically as required by the Electoral Act.

    Listed as respondents in the petition are INEC, Bola Tinubu, Kashim Shettima and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    But in its response, INEC argued that the grounds on which the petition was based were defective, having regard to the vague and imprecise averments supporting the said grounds.

    INEC noted that, in relation to their claim of non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 and corrupt practices, the petitioners failed to disclose a reasonable cause of action by their failure to plead specific particulars and figures as to how the alleged non-compliance, which they claimed substantially affected the results of the election.

    Read ALso : APC, INEC to poll tribunal: Obi’s petition a waste of time

    It argued that the petitioners’ ground, hinged on their claim that Tinubu was not elected by majority of lawful votes cast, is defective owing to their failure to plead the alleged unlawful votes to be deducted and/or lawful votes to be credited to the petitioners.

    INEC argued that the petitioners’ prayer for the tribunal to declare that Obi scored majority of lawful votes cast at the election and be declared winner was equally defective in view of the petitioners’ “failure to join necessary parties and for lack of requisite particulars and pleading to support same.”

    INEC contended that it was impossible for the tribunal to return as the winner of the election having not polled the majority of the lawful votes cast at the election and /or secured one quarter of the votes cast at the election in each of at least two-thirds of all states in the federation and the FCT.

    It noted that the law required all political parties, intending to sponsor candidates in the election, to submit lists of their agents and were expected to observe the election process at their units, sign and collect result sheets on behalf of their political parties at the close of polls.

    INEC added that some of the political party agents whose names were on the list submitted to it were however absent at their polling units while some others, who were present, neglected to participate in the election process.

    The electoral umpire further stated that the petitioners (Obi and LP) did not have agents in all the polling units across country because they only submitted a list of 134, 874 polling agents, which is 41, 972 short of the 176, 846 polling units nationwide.

    It added that the petitioners were not represented in many or some of the polling units across the country.

    As against the petitioners’ contention, INEC insisted that Tinubu and Shettima were duly declared and returned elected and issued Certificates of Return, having fulfilled the requirements of the constitution to be declared winners and returned.

    It added that the Shettma was duly nominated and sponsored to contest the election as the vice presidential candidate.

    INEC prayed the court to dismiss the petition by Obi and LP.

  • JUST IN: Police officers who assaulted Rivers motorist arrive Abuja for ‘trial’

    JUST IN: Police officers who assaulted Rivers motorist arrive Abuja for ‘trial’

    The Police have revealed the identity and faces of three officers who assaulted a yet-to-be-identified man in a viral video in Rivers.

    The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, made this known on his Twitter handle on Tuesday evening.

    The Nation reports Rivers Commissioner of Police CP Okon Effiong on Monday ordered the arrest of the officers and promised to get them sanctioned for their actions.

    The officers are Adejoh Siaka and Friday Obaka, both inspectors, while the third is Ndiwa Kpuebari, a sergeant.

    The Force PRO had condemned the action of the policeman describing it as unfortunate

    Adejobi said: “Inspector Adejoh Siaka; Inspector Friday Obaka, and Sgt. Ndiwa Kpuebari from Rivers State.

    “These are the men who slapped a man on the road in Rivers. They reported at the Force Headquarters today.

    “Trial will soon commence. We will update you as soon as possible. Thanks.”

  • Buhari arrives Madinah, prays at the Prophet’s mosque

    Buhari arrives Madinah, prays at the Prophet’s mosque

    President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived in Madinah, Saudi Arabia at the commencement of an eight-day official visit.

    A statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said on arrival, Buhari was received by Deputy Governor Sa’ud Khalid Al-Faisal.

    The President visited and prayed at the Prophet’s Holy Mosque this evening and greeted Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his two companions.

    Read Also : Buhari, Tinubu, governors, others felicitate Dangote at 66

    At the entrance of the Prophet’s Holy Mosque, the President was received by a number of officials.

    Buhari left Abuja on Tuesday, leading some of his aides on an eight-day official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

  • Ekiti varsity shuts over students’ protest

    Ekiti varsity shuts over students’ protest


    The authorities of Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti have announced the closure of the institution for two weeks following a protest by the students over the N5,000 late registration fee.

    The institution announced that late payment of school fees would attract a N10,000 penalty fee but the students expressed their dissatisfaction, making the management reduce the fee to N5,000.

    However, the students rejected the N5,000 reduction and protested the decision of the university authorities.

    Read Also : Ekiti gets NAF base, Oyebanji pledges support

    The protest led to the disruption of academic activities on the university premises as the main gate was shut down.

    The Ado-Iworoko highway leading to the university was also blocked and caused heavy gridlock on the ever-busy road.

    Led by the Student Union President, Ogunsanya Dotun, the protesters were armed with placards with various inscriptions such as “No to penalty fees”; ”Enough is Enough” and “Late registration fee not for school with high fees” among others.

    A statement by the Head Directorate of Information and Corporate Affairs of the university, Mr Bode Olofinmuagun, reads: “The Vice-Chancellor, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Professor Edward Olanipekun, on behalf of the university Senate, has approved the suspension of academic activities on campus for two weeks with effect from today, April 11.
    “Parents and guardians are hereby advised to invite their children and wards home immediately.

    “Any student found wandering around the university premises does so at his/her own risk.”