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  • Oshiomhole to Kogi aspirants: no refund of money

    All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole has dashed the hope of a possible refund of money to aspirants, who sought the party’s ticket for the governorship election in Kogi State but lost

    Oshiomhole said the party was not about to change its tradition by refunding their money even though the party has not received any request for any refund.

    He spoke with reporters after holding a meeting with the 16 aspirants who purchased the party’s nomination form to contest the primary.

    The party’s NWC has named three-man appeal committees for the primaries conducted in Kogi and Bayelsa.

    Kogi’s Indirect Primary Appeal Committee members include Senator Abdulahi Umar Yandoma (chairman), Hajia Amina Muhammed (secretary) and Tony McFoy (member).

    Members of Bayelsa Direct Primary Appeal Committee are Shuaibu Aruwa (chairman), Edith Newman Amadi (secretary) and Abdul Malik El-Yakub (member).

    According to the party’s chairman, it was not the first time the party was conducting primaries and has a tradition, which has to be maintained.

    Read Also: APC will rule Nigeria beyond 2023, says Oshiomhole

    Of the 16 aspirants that bought the nomination and expression of interest form at the cost of N22.5 million, seven of them were not cleared to participate in the exercise for various reasons. Nine others, including Governor Yahaya Bello, were cleared.

    At the end of the primary conducted by a committee led by Jigawa State Governor Badaru Abubakar, Bello was declared winner and the APC governorship candidate for the November 16 governorship election.

    Asked whether the party was considering refunding money to some of the aspirants, Oshiomhole said: “Our party is guided by rules. If there are issues that we need to discuss, those are APC issues and not meant for the press. We are not doing an election for the first time. We have traditions and we don’t have any application before us.”

    Oshiomhole added: “This afternoon, we had extensive conversation as APC family to talk through issues arising from the Kogi State governorship primary, which was conducted last week.

    “I am sure that you know some of those who participated or attempted to participate in the process. They are men and women who, by any criteria, can be said to be fit and proper persons to govern a state. But as you know, in democracy, if you have 16 angels, as we had, seeking the mandate of the people to produce just one person as governor, it means that 15 angels will not get it.

    “So, winning or losing a primary is not a statement of your integrity, your capacity, your capability or your intellect. It is simply a fact that once you have more than one candidate and you have only one vacancy, only one person will win.”

    The APC Chairman announced that all those who lost out in the process have assured the party that they will not challenge the outcome of the exercise in court, but will work for the success of the party during the election.

    All the governorship aspirants that bought nomination form, including those cleared and those not cleared, except Admiral Usman Jibrin attended the meeting.

  • Zamfara govt reinstates 556 teachers left out of payroll

    Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara has approved the reinstatement of 556 teachers recruited by the immediate past administration but left out on the state’s payroll.

    This was contained in a press statement signed by Yusuf Idris, the Director-General of Press Affairs and made available to journalists in Gusau on Friday.

    He said that the governor had directed the state Head of Service to immediately commence payment their salaries effective from September.

    Matawalle commended the affected teaches for their patience over the situation and urged them to be of good conduct as they join the state civil service.

    He said that their absorption was part of his administration’s policy of listening to and addressing reasonable and genuine complaints that affect the wellbeing of the peoples.

    Read Also: Court sentences teenager to 8 weeks in prison for traffic violation

    The 556 teachers had during the week, complained to the governor on their plight, where he immediately directed the Head of Service, Alhaji Kabiru Balarabe to verify the genuineness of their complaints and report back to him.

    After the Head of Service findings showed that the complaint was genuine, the governor approved their full absorption into the civil service with immediate effect.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that last month, the governor also approved the reinstatement of 1,040 out of the 1,400 workers also employed by Yari administration but were not captured on the payroll for over 18 months.

    The affected workers had sought for redress at the National Industrial Court in Kano which ruled in their favour.

  • PHOTOS: Trailer crashes into River in Bayelsa

    Residents in some communities in Ogbia, the Local Government Area of former President Goodluck Jonathan, have been rendered stranded following the collapse of a major bridge in their area.

    It was gathered that the only bridge connecting Emeyal and Kolo and Jonathan’s Otuoke community collapsed and cut off the area.

    Residents watch an articulated vehicle laden with crushed rock, which crashes an access bridge and falls into the river at Elebele community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa on Thursday
    An articulated vehicle laden with crushed rock crashes an access bridge and falls into the river at Elebele community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa on Thursday
    Residents watch an articulated vehicle laden with crushed rock, which crashes an access bridge and falls into the river at Elebele community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa on Thursday

  • BREAKING: Xenophobia: Relations with South Africa must change – Gbajabiamila

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives has declared that the old arrangement that made it possible for South Africans to maim and kill Nigerians must be revoked.

    The speaker spoke while addressing a world conference in response to the xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.

    Gbajabiamila, who spoke from a prepared speech and with the full compliment of the House leadership members further said: “We do not intend to speak many words .

    “The time for speaking has long passed, and the time for action has arrived upon us with a fierce urgency demanding nothing less than our total commitment to revoking the old arrangements that have made such abominations against our people possible.

    “Nigerians have long travelled far and wide in search of knowledge, of experience and prosperity.

    “As we have travelled, we have opened also our borders to those who will seek their greener pastures here.

    Read Also:  Buhari, Gbajabiamila meet in Aso Rock

    “In Africa, we have demonstrated our commitment to the brotherhood of nations, sacrificing life, labour and wealth to achieve peace and restore freedom from Sierra Leone to Liberia, Sao Tome to South Africa.

    “We have sought nothing in return, we have made no claims to the land and resources of our brothers.

    “Our commitment has always has been to the advancement of Africa, to freedom in all our lands and prosperity for all our peoples.

    “Yet today and too many a time, we are called to stand as pallbearers, bringing home to burial the bodies of our brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers, our children, savaged and decimated. What is their offence? That they dared to dream of glory and profit beyond our borders, and having dreamt, they endeavoured to make real the visions of their heart.”

    ” We did not provoke, nor do we deserve the violence that has been visited on our people in South Africa. We reject entirely the obvious attempt to change the true narrative of events by casting the recently organised acts of violence as merely internecine conflict between gangs fighting for turf.

    “Unless it is the position of South African government that all Nigerians living in South Africa are gangsters and criminals, we demand that they reject these claims without equivocation.

    “The vile images of violent devastation and death randomly visited on innocent people seeking their way in the world, strikes at our heart, causing pain that words alone cannot express. Let no one add insult to our grief.”

    Details shortly…

  • BREAKING: Buhari, Gbajabiamila meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday met behind closed doors with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.

    Gbajabiamila’s car drove to the forecourt of the Presidential Villa around 11.22am

    The meeting started at the President’s office around 11.30am.

    Discussion at the meeting may not be unconnected with the killings of Nigerians in South Africa and other national issues.

    Read Also: Buhari mourns Robert Mugabe

    Some members of the House of Representatives had urged Gbajabiamila to cut short the recess for the lawmakers over xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.

    They want the lower chamber of the National Assembly to give legislative backing to the executive arm of government toward protecting Nigerians in South Africa.

    The meeting with the President was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

     

     

  • Court sentences teenager to 8 weeks in prison for traffic violation

    A Magistrates’ Court in Minna on Friday sentenced an 18-year-old, Yusuf Mohammed, to eight weeks in prison for violating traffic rules.

    The police charged Mohammed with four counts of dangerous driving, failing to obey traffic rules, driving without plate number and driving without side mirror.

    In her ruling, Magistrate Mariam Kings, sentenced Muhammed after he pleaded guilty to the crime and begged the court for leniency.

    Read Also; Man arraigned for stealing N157,000

    Kings, however gave the convict an option to pay a fine of N8,000.

    Ealier, the Prosecution Counsel, Insp. Aliyu Yakubu, told the court that the convict rode on an unregistered motorcycle and beat the traffic lights.

    The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of sections 35, 18, 36 and 54 of the road traffic regulations.

  • Mixed reactions as Nicki Minaj quits music

    Fans of American rapper and singer, Nicki Minaj have reacted with shocks to announcement of her retirement from music.

    The versatile singer took to twitter on Thursday, September 5, 2019 to announce her retirement from the music scene.

    “I’ve decided to retire & have my family. I know u guys are happy now. To my fans, keep reppin me, do it til da death of me. In de box, – cuz ain’t nobody checkin me. Love you for Life”, she tweeted.

    However, the singer’s sudden decision to quit music is not welcomed by her fanbase worldwide.

    Fans reactions were:

    @domcorona tweeted, “Nicki stop this. This ain’t funny, I’m not prepared for this”.

    @bbonquiqui wrote, ” Dear God, if you hear God, make this tweet disappear when you see it. Take away this thought from her when it interferes. We love her too much, to retire”.

    Read Also: Nicki Minaj set to marry childhood friend Kenneth Petty

    @violetisgreen tweeted, “I really hope Nicki can do both tho. I am so happy for her starting a family”.

    The ‘MEGATRON’ Rapstress had reportedly gotten a marriage license with boyfriend, Michael Petty last month, and gone ahead to change her Twitter handle to “Mrs Petty’. The both had since shared photos of each other across social media.

    At the Queen Radio show last month, Nicki had revealed her excitement in anticipation to her marriage. “We filed for a marriage license, and I had to travel, so when I came back it had expired, we were given 90 days, so we had to renew it again”.

    “Before the 90 days is over, yes, I’ll be married. I’m very happy about that, because my baby makes me happy. I have to work on my album, so I don’t want to do the big wedding now. I’ll be married before my album comes out, but will have my big wedding after my album comes out”.

  • Man, 51, jailed for using expired ATM card to buy drinks, fried meat

    A 51-year old man, Ikidi Innocent, has been jailed by an Oredo Magistrate Court for using expired Union Bank ATM card to buy drinks and fried meat.

    Ikidi was said to have committed the offence on June 27, 2019.

    He was said to have tricked one Blessing John and Dorothy Amaka to buy meat and beer for his consumption.

    Ikidi was arraigned on three count charges of cheating and obtaining by false pretence.

    He pleaded guilty to the charges.

    Read Also; Police parade 72 suspects in Imo

    Police Prosecutor, ASP Patrick Agbonifo, informed the court that the convict bought fried meat worth N1500, stout beer worth N9000, origin bitters worth N300, and other alcoholic drinks worth N3,430.

    ASP Agbonifo said the offences were punishable under sections 516, 421 and 419 of the Criminal Code cap 48 Vol ii laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria now applicable in Edo State.

    Presiding Magistrate, Ivie Akhere, sentenced the accused to three months imprisonment without an option of fine.

  • Tribunal affirms Oduah’s election

    The Anambra State election petition tribunal has affirmed the election of Senator Stella Oduah (Anambra North).

    The Independent National Electoral Commisison (INEC) declared Senator Oduah winner of the February 23 election. She contested on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    But candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Chinedu Emeka challenged Oduah’s victory. He sad Oduah was not qualified to contest the election because she did not possess the required academic qualifications.

    According to him, Oduah was still a member of APGA by the time of the election. The former deputy governor also alleged that the election did not comply with the Electoral Act.

    But Justice Esther Haruna. said the petitioner failed to prove his allegations beyond reasonable doubt and therefore said Oduah was validly elected

    The tribunal also affirmed the election of Valentine Ayika of the PDP, representing Anaocha, Njikoka and Dunukofia Federal Constituencies.

    Read Also: PDP sweeps NASS tribunal victory in A’Ibom

    Ayika’s election was challenged by APGA candidate, Dozie Nwankwo.

    The election petition tribunal in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State Capital, has dismissed a petition by the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Abakaliki/Izzi Federal Constituency, Uchenna Nshi, against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Sylvester Ogbaga.

    Nshi approached the tribunal to declare Ogbaga’s election as invalid because, according to him, it was fraught with corrupt practices, voter intimidation, violence, non-compliance to the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and unlawful alteration of results in favour of Ogbaga.

    He urged the court to set aside the results of polling units, wards and local governments as declared by the first respondent (INEC).

    Tribunal chairman Justice Sika Aprioku held that the petition lacked merit as the petitioner failed to bring preponderance of evidence to prove his case.

    The tribunal also held that the allegations of corrupt practices, non-compliance with Electoral Act 2010 as amended, and guidelines for the election was not substantiated by the petitioner, even as he did not prove to the court how they affected the outcome of the election.

    Justice Aprioku said the testimonies of the petitioner’s witnesses amounted to hearsay as they confirmed during cross examination that they were not present at the polling units where the infractions happened and accordingly, are unreliable and cannot be attached any probative value.

    The tribunal awarded N150,000 cost each in favour of the first and second respondents while N20,000 cost was awarded in favour of the third respondent.

    Ogbaga described the judgment as the reaffirmation of INEC’s verdict.

  • BREAKING: Robert Mugabe is dead

    Former President of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe is dead.

    He died in Singapore aged 95, as confirmed on twitter by current President Emmerson Mnangagwa

    According to Mnangagwa: “It is with the utmost sadness that I announce the passing on of Zimbabwe’s founding father and former President, Cde Robert Mugabe.

    “Cde Mugabe was an icon of liberation, a pan-Africanist who dedicated his life to the emancipation and empowerment of his people. His contribution to the history of our nation and continent will never be forgotten. May his soul rest in eternal peace.”

    Mugabe had led Zimbabwe in 1980 and again in 2017, before ultimately being booted after a military coup. His early years in power was praised for broadening access to health and education for the black majority – but his later years were marked by rights abuses and corruption.

    ZimLive first reported the death of the dictator who led the country during the two spells.