The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • 20 suspected ESN/IPOB members arrested In Ebonyi

    The Police in Ebonyi have arrested 20 suspected hoodlums allegedly working for the proscribed Eastern Security Network, (ESN)

    It alleged the suspects were part of a gang of ESN, who invaded Ebonyi local government area Divisional Police headquarters in Ugbodo and opened fire on operatives on duty, leading to the death of an inspector and a sergeant.

    The attack was reportedly carried out on May 22, 2021 around 12noon.

    Police spokesperson, Chris Anyanwu, stated this in a statement in Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi State.

    He gave the names of the arrested suspects as Chimezie Emeh, Anthony Joseph Osilame, Peter OziokoEgbunike and Ifeanyi Okoro Emetu

    Others were: Longinus Obinna Idenyi, OgbonnayaNeankwo, H Mezie, Eze JoshueNnabuike.

    Anyanwu said the command recovered some vehicles, including Toyota Corolla LE, Toyota Camry 2.2 model, Toyota Camry (Tiny Light) and Toyota Sienna 2000 model.

    Read Also: IPOB celebrates Catalans independence, says Biafrans freedom no longer in doubt

    Others are Toyota Corolla DS, Toyota Camry Spider and a yellow Toyota mini-bus without a registration number were recovered during the operation.

    Anyanwu said since the attack, operatives of the Command’s tactical teams have been on the trail of the hoodlums.

    He revealed that acting on credible information, the hoodlums were intercepted along Ishieke road in a yellow mini-bus without a registration number.

    He said that on sighting the police team, the hoodlums opened fire but men of the Command demobilised their vehicle and arrested some of them while others escaped.

    Anyanwu said that men of the command have also arrested one Sgt Iloh Solomon Chukwubuka, personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) who hails from UfumaOrumba North LGA of Anambra State attached to FRSC Enugu Command, Nsukka unit over alleged documentation and registration of stolen cars.

  • Igbos committed to Nigerian project, Ohanaeze tells Buhari

    Igbos committed to Nigerian project, Ohanaeze tells Buhari

    The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has restated the commitment of the Igbos toward the Nigerian project.

    The group however said Igbo people seek justice and fairness and a platform where they can contribute their quota to national development.

    “I wish to reiterate and speak on behalf of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide both at home and in the diaspora that our people are committed to the Nigerian project. That we desire a country that provides a platform and an opportunity to contribute our utmost best to the growth of our fatherland.

    Read Also: 2023: Igbos in 19 northern states endorse Ngige for president

     

    “We seek justice, equity, fairness, and going by our antecedents, we are in every part of Nigeria and therefore claim to be the most federating of all Nigerian,” the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof George Obiozor, told President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday when he was hosted in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

    Buhari inaugurated the 36km dual carriageway of Owerri-Orlu road in Imo.

    He subsequently met with South-East leaders but Governors in the region were noticeably absent.

  • Group offers support for APC, Tinubu

    Group offers support for APC, Tinubu

    The Ikorodu central chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Waheed Animashaun has appreciated the founder of the Alaka Initiative group, Alhaji Abayomi Alaka, who donated pieces of chairs to the Ikorodu council party secretariat in support of the 2023 presidential aspiration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    Read Also: ‘Tinubu will get most votes from youths’

    Alaka said the group was purposely created for the APC Presidential candidate Tinubu and for the comfort of all party members.

    He promised that more support was on the way for the project.

  • Only CBT can curb malpractices in WAEC, NECO exams – Stakeholders

    Only CBT can curb malpractices in WAEC, NECO exams – Stakeholders

    Stakeholders in the education sector have said the adoption of the Computer Based Test (CBT) is the only way out of curbing examination malpractices in West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO).

    They urged the management of WAEC and NECO to take clues from Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) which has adopted CBT for conducting its examination.

    Speaking with journalists in Ibadan at the annual convention of the Association of Tutorial Schools Operators of Nigeria (ATSO), the newly elected national President of ATSO, Com Michael Shodunke, lamented that examination malpractices have become reoccurring, adding that the nation’s educational system is at risk if something urgent is not done.

    He said JAMB, through its CBT, has curbed malpractice to the barest minimum compared to what obtains in WAEC and NECO, adding that technology through CBT is the only way out of the menace.

    Read Also; WAEC boss dissociates council from state performance report

    He noted that hazard of examination malpractice to society is devastating and the nation is already feeling its negative impact.

    Speaking on ways adopted by the association to curb the menace, Shodunke said: “Within our limited capacity we’ve started programmes that will eradicate the menace and we started with a nationwide sensitization campaign telling the masses about the evil of exam malpractice.”

    “We’ve educated the youths and the masses that there is dignity in labour. That it is good to burn the midnight candles and we have them in different instances apart from that we’ve also set up different programmes to discourage the youths on exam malpractice through a program that we introduced called “The Most Brilliant Students in Nigeria.”

    The Lagos Coordinator of the association, Samson Abiona, charged the newly inaugurated members of the board of trustees and the executive members to take the body to higher grounds.

  • Chika Ike woos men, says I’ll be your paradise if…

    Chika Ike woos men, says I’ll be your paradise if…

    Actress Chikadebia Nancy Ike aka Chika Ike has made an offer to anyone who can deliver one of her greatest desires.

    Seen having a sumptuous full-course meal outside a lovely serene spot, Ike posed for a shot while at it.

    Read Also: Every Nigerian deserves a place in heaven- Toke Makinwa

    The 36-year-old businesswoman promised to offer ‘paradise’ to anyone that could bring ‘peace’ to her life.

    “Be my peace and I’ll be your paradise,” she wrote.

  • Firefighters avert gas explosion in Lagos

    Firefighters avert gas explosion in Lagos

    Men of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service have averted what would have been a gas explosion when a gas truck overturned at Peter Agha street Junction by the Memorial Arcade, Oke Afa, Isolo Lagos.

    The Nation learnt firefighters quickly quelled the inferno on Monday night by applying chemical foam from causing more damage, thereby preventing casualties.

    Read Also: Lagos promises more support to designers 

    Chief Fire Officer, Deputy Head, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Ogabi Olajide, said: “The Isolo Fire Crew raced down to rescue the situation of the 8 tonnes Liquidified Petroleum gas peddler truck, which reportedly swerved and skidded off the road causing leakage of the contents

    ”The lone accident, which does not have a record of any casualty has been cleared off the road to prevent traffic gridlock in the affected area.”

  • ​The Plug announces Mohammed as Managing Partner

    ​The Plug announces Mohammed as Managing Partner

    Entertainment firm, The Plug, has announced Tobi Mohammed, founder of the Block Party series as a Managing Partner and Chief Operating Officer.

    The announcement follows the merger of TopBoy Entertainment, founded by Tobi and The Plug founded by Asa Asika and Bizzle Osikoya.

    The merger implies the companies function as a unified entity with the same directors.

    TopBoy, a service-based agency, will bring to bear its strength in ideation, solutions and marketing for brands across a vast array of thematic areas while The Plug retains its identity as a management-based client servicing company across music, art and sports.

    The Plug also runs one of the biggest music distribution companies in Africa with some of the biggest hits to her credit.

    An award-winning entertainment and tech entrepreneur in his own right, Tobi (fondly known as Alhaji Popping) will be bringing to the fore, an extensive wealth of experience garnered from his curation of memorable youth events, execution of culture placement, strategy, content creation and advisory under the umbrella of his company, TopBoy Entertainment.

    “This partnership ratifies the long-time relationship of both management and consultancy agencies, dating back to the first year of the Mainland block party in 2018,” Tobi Mohammed said.

    “Individually, the journeys of Asa, Bizzle and I are inspirational blueprints in discovering, developing and managing highly successful talent while creatively deepening the perception and consumption of entertainment within and beyond Africa. Hence, the formalisation of our longstanding collaboration will see us harness the individual strengths of each Managing Partner across multiple ventures and create a juggernaut that will dominate the industry for many years.”

    Read Also: MI Abaga announces return of TASCK music festival

    The two other Managing Partners of The Plug also weighed in on Tobi’s addition with Bizzle affirming: “Tobi’s formal addition to the team underscores our steadfast commitment to not only providing structure and platforms for African talents to showcase their distinct originality but also to helping brands with solutions that push the boundaries of consumer experiences.

    “Tobi brings with him fresh, contagious energy geared towards fixing/solving complex individual and corporate client problems and this will translate nicely to our bottom lines as a company. He is a relatable, high-energy character that has embodied excellence across all his ventures and we look forward to a sustained partnership,” Asa commented.

    The combined talent management portfolio of all three partners boasts a wide range of highly successful African artists including Davido, Oxlade, BOJ, Focalistic, CKay, Victony, Bella Shmurda, DJ Titanium, Djs Maze & Mxtreme, to name a few.

    The Plug’s sports management vertical also features football stars Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria’s women’s national football team/FC Barcelona Femeni) and Henry Onyekuru (Nigeria’s national team/Olympiacos) as well as the 100m hurdles world record holder, Tobi Amusan.

  • DSS gets court nod to detain Tukur Mamu for 60 more days

    DSS gets court nod to detain Tukur Mamu for 60 more days

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted a prayer by the Department of State Services (DSS) to detain the former terrorists’ negotiator, Tukur Mamu, for 60 more days.
    Justice Nkeonye Maha, in a short ruling on the ex-parte motion moved by counsel for the DSS, Ahmed Magaji, granted the motion as prayed.

    The security outfit, in the motion, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1617/2022 dated and filed Sept. 12, had urged the court to grant its reliefs to enable it to conclude its investigation on Mamu, who had been leading the negotiation with the terrorists for the release of the Abuja-Kaduna train passengers kidnaped in March.

    Mamu was, on Sept. 6, arrested in Cairo, capital of Egypt, with his family members by foreign security agents.

    Mamu, who was on his way to Saudi Arabia for lesser Hajj, was detained at Cairo International Airport before being repatriated back to Nigeria.

    The DSS, on Sunday, warned Nigerians over making comments on its arrest of Mamu.

    The DSS, in a statement by its spokesman, Peter Afunaya, asked the public to leave the agency alone and allow it to concentrate on the investigations which it said the outcomes had been “mindboggling.”

    This come hours after the Islamic cleric, Sheik Gumi, to whom Mamu is an aide, had faulted the arrest of the negotiator.

    Read Also: DSS denies lawyers, family members access to Mamu

    Gumi, at a religious gathering on Friday in Kaduna, had asked the security agency to charge Mamu to court of it had any evidence against him, rather than keeping him in custody.

    Reacting in its statement, the security outfit said, “The DSS has followed, with keen observation, overzealous comments by sections of the public in view of issues relating to the arrest and investigation of Tukur Mamu.”

    “The service wishes to state that it is not distracted with some of the skewed narratives pervading the media space. Instead, it requests to be left alone to concentrate on the ongoing investigations, the outcomes of which have remained mindboggling.

    “Meanwhile, the service will cease further comments on the subject matter since the court will determine its course.

    “Consequently, the public is hereby enjoined to desist from making unguarded utterances and await the court proceedings.”(NAN)

  • Ogun Assembly suspends impeached Deputy Speaker as crisis deepens

    Ogun Assembly suspends impeached Deputy Speaker as crisis deepens

    The simmering crisis in Ogun Assembly took a new dimension on Tuesday when the impeached Deputy Speaker Oludare Kadiri was suspended.

    The Assembly said Kadiri, representing Ijebu North II State Constituency, remains suspended till further notice.

    The Nation learnt that it is alleged his petition led to the arrest and ongoing prosecution of Speaker Kunle Oluomo and two others by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.

    Apart from Dare Kadiri, his Remo North counterpart, Solomon Osho was also suspended.

    The decision was taken against the two in line with the provisions of Section 14 and 15 of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, 2017.

    The suspension followed the adoption of a resolution during a plenary presided over by Speaker Oluomo at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

    Read Also: Ogun: How party politics ignited assembly crisis

    According to the Speaker: “Order 6, Rule 19 (2) says that whereof a matter of privilege arises, it shall be taken into consideration immediately; in the note of that, I want to say that I received a resolution by an appropriate number of members of this house raising the issue of Privileges and it read thus”, Resolution 131/ OG/ 2022- suspension of some honourable members for the breach of the provision of the Legislative Houses (Power and Privileges) Act, 2017.

    ”Having found to have severally and contentiously breached the Rights and Privileges of the Ogun State House of Assembly and its Leadership, through violation of the provisions of Section 17 of Legislative Houses (Power and Privileges) Act, 2017.

    ”The following Honourable member, Hon. Oluwadamilare Kadiri (Ijebu North II State Constituency) and Solomon Osho (Remo North Constituency) are hereby suspended from the House and its activities forthwith until further notice in line with the provisions of Sections 14 and 15 of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, 2017.

    “Since this has been signed by the appropriate number of people, it requires no vote or anything, so they stand suspended”.

  • JUST IN: Buhari arrives Imo Assembly complex

    JUST IN: Buhari arrives Imo Assembly complex

    President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived Imo Assembly complex having inaugurated the three landmark projects.

    Buhari arrived the complex by 1.13 pm after inaugurating Orlu-Owerri road and first phase of Owerri-Okigwe road.

    He moved from there to the Government House.

    Details shortly..