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  • Lagos boat mishap: LASWA recovers remaining missing bodies

    The Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) on Thursday said the bodies of the remaining two victims of the Tuesday boat mishap had been recovered.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the unfortunate incident that involved two passenger speed-boats occurred at Irewe community in Ojo, near Lagos late Tuesday.

    A total of 13 out of the 18 persengers involved in the accident were rescued alive while three were confirmed dead and two declared missing.

    The General Manager of LASWA, Mr Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, told NAN on Thursday in Lagos, that the bodies of the last two victims, a young adult and a youth were recovered at 8:30 am on Thursday.

    Emmanuel condemned the reckless disregard to safety regulations by some boat operators.

    He said the authority would not relent on its efforts to ensure full compliance with safety regulations by boat operators to make the waterways safe.

    The LAWSA boss had in a statement on Tuesday, said that 13 people were rescued alive in the incident, three others were confirmed dead while rescue operation for the remaining two victims had continued.

    He said that the head-on collition which occurred at about 6:10 pm, involved two passenger speed-boats along the creek in Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State.

    Read Also: LASWA yet to recover 2 bodies in Lagos boat mishap

    Emmanuel said that there were 10 passengers in the boat from Ojo Jetty and eight passengers in the other from Irewe community when the incident occurred.

    He said that the search and rescue operation was by relevant state agencies and the local community who were the first responders.

    The general manager said that preliminary investigations by LASWA and LASEMA revealed that the incident was caused by reckless driving and over-speeding on the part of the boat captains.

    He said that further investigations would be carried out by the authority and those found wanting would be sanctioned accordingly.

    Boat accidents have become rampant on sea routes in Lagos, Nigeria’s crowded economic hub with the June 29 incident claiming 17 lives.

    The 20-passenger capacity unmarked boat with a 60″ Hp engine capsised after being hit by severe waves mid-sea en route Egbin Jetty in Ijede, Ikorodu at about 11:00pm with only three survivors.

    Investigations carried out by LASWA on the tragedy revealed that the accident was caused by poor visibility and the fact that the passengers had no life jackets .

    Also, on Feb. 2, three people died and 17 others were rescued as a passenger boat capsised at Bayeku area of Ikorodu.

  • We’re ready to die defending our land – Anambra community

    People of Odumodu in Umunya, Oyi local government area of Anambra state on Thursday said their traditional ruler, Igwe Kris Onyekwuluje should be held responsible for any calamity on any of their leaders.

    The locals had alleged the monarch’s high-handedness including land-grabbing, indiscriminate harassment, brutality and arrest of members of the community.

    The traditional ruler, while refuting the allegations, had raised alarm over plots by some members of the community, mostly from the Odumodu quarters to kill him.

    He alleged that his life had been threatened seven times by his traducers who had resorted to calumny to tarnish his “hard-earned” reputation.

    But speaking on Thursday through the Secretary, Odumodu Ebenabo Improvement Union, Sunday Esedo, the community said the monarch was being economical with the truth.

    They said rather than the alleged plot to kill him, it was the monarch that was hunting for their lives.

    He said they were ready to put their lives on the line than allow the monarch forcefully take their inheritance from them.

    He said, “We’re here to address the allegations raised by the monarch that we’ve been planning to assassinate him.

    “We want to let the whole world know that His Royal Highness is not asserting the obvious. Nobody in Odumodu has ever planned to kill him which he knows too well.

    Read Also: Why we reversed appointments made by Ajimobi- Makinde

    “He moves around with security. The DSS men, the police are all in his convoy. All members of the vigilante sleep in his palace.

    “Personally, I’ve been receiving threat messages on plans to attack me. I want to tell the whole world that if anything happens to me or any member of the executive, the Igwe should be held accountable.

    “We’re ready to die. Let him kill all of us before snatching our lands from us.”

    Esedo disclosed that the monarch had in 2015, made similar allegation against the entire Odumodu community which led to the arrest of the former chairman and five of his executives.

    According to him, they were at the Oyi division police station on Wednesday at the instance of the DPO where they were arrested and detained for three hours, but not before they were issued with arrest and arraignment notice.

    He said it took the intervention of the Deputy Commissioner of Police before they were released after they had protested.

  • Why we reversed appointments made by Ajimobi- Makinde

    Governor Seyi Makinde on Thursday gave a hint as to why his administration reversed the appointments of 17 Permanent Secretaries made at the twilight of Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s administration.

    The governor said the decision became imperative because of the revelations that due diligence was not followed in the appointments.

    He recalled that when he came on board, he had to set up machinery to review the appointment and why it was done ‘hastily’ only to discover that a lot of irregularities were involved in the process that led to the appointments of the Permanent Secretaries.

    Although 15 people were shortlisted, only 14 took the oath of office and oath of allegiance as Permanent Secretaries administered on them by the Director of Cabinet, Mr Fatai Omokemi.

    There are five women and nine men on the list of the new appointees.

    The names of the new Permanent Secretaries include, Mrs Olubunmi Oni, Mr Fatai Oladeinde, Mrs Adejoke Eyitayo, Mrs Sadiat Oloko and Mr Joel Ajagbe.

    Read Also;  Makinde to swear in 15 new Perm Secs

    Others are, Mr Olayinka Alli, Mrs Abosede Abioye, Mr Adebowale Balogun, Mr Ademola Ajibola and Dr Mufutau Ayoola.

    It also includes Dr Mercy Popoola, Mr Akin Funilayo, Mr Adeyanju B. A and Mr Gafar Bello (Accountant-General).

    The event got emotional when the Governor announced Ajagbe who was said to have climbed all the rungs of the civil service ladder but never appointed as Permanent Secretary as the case of Alli who was mandated to retire three days after he was appointed Perm Sec.

    While enjoining the new appointees to be diligent in the discharge of their duties, Makinde noted that all the appointees are worthy of the positions adding that his government is not interested in witch-hunting of any individual.

  • Police arraign three suspected cultists in Lagos

    Three suspected members of a secret cult, the Klensman confraternity, were on Thursday brought before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

    Rasheed Jamiu, 29; Nsikan Ekong, 25, and Olaitan Ismail, 25, were arraigned by the police on a two-count charge of conspiracy and membership of an unlawful society.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Ishola Samuel alleged that the defendants committed the offences on August 3, 2018, at Agric in Ikorodu, Lagos.

    Read Also; Police arrest woman assaulting kid in viral video

    The defendants, Samuel said, were arrested by policemen while fighting.

    According to him, the offences contravened Sections 42 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
    Jamiu, Ekong and Ismail pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate A.I. Abina (Mrs) granted each defendant N200,000 bail with one surety each in the like sum.
    The sureties must be gainfully employed and possess evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
    The case continues on September 4.

  • Sustain resistance to unpatriotic agenda-Ortom

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has urged Nigerians to continue to resist the unpatriotic agenda being put forward by a particular group of people.

    He spoke on Wednesday night at the third Conference of Tiv Gospel Ministers, which started at the New Covenant Christian College International, Adaka, near Makurdi.

    The Governor noted that a group of people who have publicly announced their conquest and occupation agenda for lands in all parts of the country were camouflaging their plans in various ways the latest of which he said is the move to amend the country’s maritime laws.

    He urged all patriotic Nigerians to resist the initiative, which he insisted was targeted at conferring undue advantage on those whose intention remains conquest of land.

    Read Also: Police arrest woman assaulting kid in viral video

    Ortom reiterated his call on the people of the state to serve God truthfully so that they could reap the benefits stated in Job 36: 11 and avoid the consequences of disobedience.

    The Tor Tiv, Professor James Ayatse, urged Tiv Christians to emulate the unity of the Trinity by coming together and partnering irrespective of denomination to fulfill God’s agenda for the land.

    The royal father disclosed that God elevated him for the particular purpose of calling the Tiv people to return to God so that He could achieve His purpose for their lives.

    He urged Christians in the state to take advantage of the opportunity that God has provided in the current dispensation by giving them both Tor Tiv and Governor who are believers.

    Guest preacher, Reverend Joe Olaiya, enjoined Christians to evangelise with the confidence that Jesus Christ paid the full price for sin and secured all authority in heaven and earth to back them up.

    Chairman of the Central Planning Committee of the conference which has the theme “The Divine Mandate,” Reverend Thomas Shikaan, stressed for the participants to fulfill their mandate they must look away from their deficiencies and focus on Christ who he said is their sufficiency.

    The conference, which started on Wednesday, will end on Saturday.

  • ‘Ajinomoto safe for human consumption’

    Contrary to recent reports warning against consumption of canned foods, Ajinomoto is not a poisonous or harmful chemical found in tin and sachet tomatoes as sweetener and preservative.

    The West African Seasoning Company Limited, makers of Ajinomoto, made this clarification in a rejoinder to dispel “inaccuracies, malicious information and misconception it (a recent negative online report) conveys about our Ajinomoto brand.”

    According to the company, the online report is not only malicious and erroneous.

    It queried the competence of the leader of the training team from where the report was generated, asking if the purported trainer has the requisite scientific jurisdiction on such a topic.

    “Ajinomoto is the first monosodium glutamate seasoning discovered since 1909.

    “We do not compromise the quality of our product and wish to emphasize again that our product is very safe, contrary to the malicious report.

    “It is highly unprofessional to mention and position a brand in such a bad light because it will be de-marketing the product,” Francisca Ikediashi, corporate communications officer, West African Seasoning Company Ltd, said.

    The company’s consultant, Prof Sanni Abiodun of the Microbiology Department of the University of Ibadan, described monosodium glutamate as the water-soluble sodium salt of glutamate, a non-essential and naturally occurring amino acid.

    “It is not a sweetener, colourant, or a preservative. Glutamate is one of the most abundant amino acids in nature.

    “It is usually synthesised in the human body, becoming components of body tissues and it is present in several protein-rich foods.

    “Free glutamate is abundantly present in foods such as milk, meat, fish, chicken, tomato (246 mg/100g), onion (118 mg/100g), human breast milk (19 mg/100g, dawadawa (965 mg/100g0, iru (1,700 mg/100g) etc.

    “Cooking of meats and fishes, aging of meat and ripening of tomatoes liberates the naturally occurring glutamate into free form.

    Read Also: Ajinomoto reiterates commitment to healthy living

    “Monosodium glutamate is consumed globally as a food flavour enhancer where it is applied in processed foods such as snacks, convenience foods, soups, condiments, instant noodles and seasoning blends.

    “Just in a similar manner as the glutamate that is naturally present in foods, monosodium glutamate, being a natural product is rapidly and completely metabolised in the gut.

    “Information about the production, metabolism and self-limiting nature of monosodium glutamate leaves no doubt about its safety as a food additive.

    “The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) designated it as generally recognised as safe (GRAS) ingredient and FAO/WHO has not specified an acceptable daily intake (ADI) for it. It remains a safe food additive till date,” Abiodun said.

  • Actress Toyin Abraham welcomes baby boy

    Nollywood actress, Toyin Abraham has welcomed a baby boy.

    The news of her delivery came after pictures of her wedding to colleague, Kolawole Ajeyemi, surfaced on social media platforms.

    The 34-year-old filmmaker was previously married to Nigerian actor, Adeniyi Johnson, from 2013 to 2015.

    Abraham had initially left her over three million fans on Instagram shocked days ago by deleting all of her posts on the platform.

    The Auchi born actress started her acting career in 2003 and had since then produced and directed many movies.

    Friends and colleagues have congratulated her on the birth of her son by posting photos from her baby shower.

    Actress, Iyabo Ojo wrote, “this is the Lord’s doing and it is marvelous in our sight.”

    Read Also: Toyin Abraham remarries, exchanges vow with actor

    Another Nollywood actress, Nkechi Blessing, who couldn’t contain her excitement wrote a very lengthy caption congratulating her friend.

    “…Mrs Oluwatoyin Abosede Kolawole Ajeyemi is now a proud mother of a bouncing baby boy. My joy knows no bound right now.

    “And to the man that brought this much happiness and everything laughter to your life, uncle may your star continue to shine forever,” she wrote.

  • Breaking: Makinde to swear in 15 new Perm Secs

    The Executive Chamber of the Oyo State Governor’s Office is agog with finishing touches as Governor Seyi Makinde is set to swear in 15 new Permanent Secretaries.

    The names of the new PS which surfaced early this morning was said to be a surprise to the state workforce, especially the affected workers.

    Read Also: My administration will patronise indigenous contractors – Makinde

    It would be recalled that the new administration had upon inauguration reversed the appointments of some permanent secretaries by the last administration.

    The swearing in of the new Perm sects, it was gathered would precede the swearing in of the 14 commissioners to serve in Makinde’s cabinet.

    Details shortly….

  • Nigeria-born boxers that represented other countries

    Boxing is a passionate sport in Nigeria. It is one sport people love, and they actually practice.

    Nigerians still remember Bash Ali and his exploits in the early 2000s but the country, blessed with various potentials, still have some persons who are excellent but did not fight for the country.

    The Nation looks at a few of them, and their exploits for their “adopted” lands:

    · David Dejiro Defiagbon

    Nicknamed “The Dream”, Defiagbon fought for Canada and won the heavyweight silver medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics.

    Born in Sapele, Nigeria, Defiagbon won gold in the welterweight (– 67 kg) at the 1990 Commonwealth Games.

    As a light-middleweight, he won a bronze medal in the 1991 All-Africa Games in Cairo.

    In 1992 in Barcelona at the Summer Olympics he represented Nigeria and was eliminated in the first round of the light middleweight division (7 to 8 against Raúl Márquez).

    He went on to fight for Canada for whom he won the heavyweight silver medal (limit 201 lbs) at the 1996 Summer Olympics beating Nate Jones, losing to Félix Savón.

    · Anthony Joshua

    Anthony Joshua

    Anthony Oluwafemi Joshua is not the only Nigerian-born world heavyweight boxing champion to have represented another country.

    Joshua’s Nigerian background can be specifically traced back to Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State.

    He is a former unified world heavyweight champion having held the WBA (Super), IBF and WBO titles between 2016 and 2019.

    AJ, as he is popularly called, represented England at the 2011 World Championships as an amateur in the super-heavyweight division, winning a silver medal. He also represented Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics, winning gold.

    In 2017, his victorious fight against Wladimir Klitschko was named Fight of the Year by The Ring and the Boxing Writers Association of America.

    · Henry Akinwande

    Henry Akinwande was born of Nigerian parents in London, England and started his career as an Amateur boxer. He represented Great Britain in the heavyweight division at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea.

    Akinwande made his professional debut in 1989 against Carlton Headley in London and impressively claimed victory in his first 18 bouts. He has total fights of 55, he won 50 (30 KO), lost 4 and Drew 1.

    · Herbert Okechukwu Maduagwu (Herbie Hide)

    Okechukwu is a former professional boxer who fought for England. He held the WBO heavyweight title twice. He is best known for his victories over Michael Bentt and Tony Tucker.

    Herbert was born on 27th August 1971 to Nigerian parents in Amauzari, Imo State in Nigeria but he moved to England as a young boy.

    He has fought for most of his career at heavyweight but later decided to take a step down to cruiserweight.

    He is known as The Dancing Destroyer and has had a successful career, rising to domestic success at a very young age for a heavyweight. Hide has twice won the lesser regarded (at the time) WBO heavyweight title.

    His career began in 1989 with a second round win and he racked up a total of 25 successive wins, all but one inside the distance. His level of opposition was respectable and included fighters such as Jeff Lampkin and James Pritchard.

    Read Also: Nigeria-born football stars who never played for Super Eagles

    At 25-0 (24 KOs), Hide challenged Michael Bentt for the WBO heavyweight title in March 1994 at Millwall Football Stadium, Millwall, London.

    The inexperienced Bentt had won the title by knocking out the heavily favoured Tommy Morrison in one round. The fight made headlines after the two boxers scuffled and threw punches at a pre-fight meeting, whilst in the bout itself, Hide outboxed and knocked out Bentt in 7 rounds (who was then hospitalised and never fought again).

    A year later, Hide defended his title against former undisputed champion Riddick Bowe.

    Hide impressed with his courage, repeatedly picking himself off the canvas, before he was knocked out in the sixth round.

    After his loss to Bowe, Hide fought twice in 1996, winning both by KO against Michael Murray and Frankie Swindell before earning another shot at the now-vacant WBO title in June 1997 against 38-year-old one-time IBF title holder Tony Tucker, despite Tucker losing three of his previous five fights.

    Hide knocked out the overweight Tucker in two rounds. Hide defended his WBO title twice in 1998 with quick stoppages of late replacement cruiserweight club fighter Damon Reed and German Willi Fischer.

    In June 1999, Hide faced Ukrainian Vitali Klitschko, only the second world ranked fighter he had actually faced after Riddick Bowe. Hide, favoured to win at the time, was knocked out in two rounds.

    Hide never featured as a main contender at heavyweight again, his only mildly notable wins coming against Joseph Chingangu (who also knocked Hide out in one of Hide’s many comebacks) and Alexander Vasiliev.

    In 2006, Hide stepped down a weight division to a more natural weight division at cruiserweight. Since then he has won fourteen successive fights, most of which took place in Germany. Hide defeated Mikhail Nasyrov in December 2007 to win the WBC International cruiserweight title.

    His total fights was 53, won 49(43 KO) and lost 4.

    · Ikemefuna Ibeabuchi

    Charles Ikemefula Ibeabuchi was clearly one of the best boxers with Nigerian heritage but his career has been enmeshed with crime and controversy.

    Perhaps Ibeabuchi nicknamed ‘The President’ would have been better off as a military officer in the Nigerian army, a career he wanted to take up until he watched a heavyweight fight between James ‘Busta’ Douglas and Mike Tyson which the former won by a knockout in 1990.

    That fight was the inspiration he needed to launch a career in the rings first as an amateur fighter before the leap to professional boxing.

    Of note was his victory at amateur category over fellow Nigeria’s Duncan Dokiwari who won bronze at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

    Ibeabuchi emigrated to United States and moved to the Dallas area with his mother in 1993 and made his professional debut at heavyweight with a second round knockout of Ismael Garcia on October 13, 1994.

    After winning 16 straight fights from the start of his career, he made a big jump in competition and fought undefeated prospect David Tua for the WBC International Heavyweight title on June 7, 1997. Tua was 27-0 and considered by many analysts to be ‘the next Mike Tyson’. But Ibeabuchi defeated Tua in one of the fiercest heavyweight bouts in history.

    His total fights was 20, won 20 (15 KO) and lost 0.

  • Gunman captured after shooting six Philadelphia officers

    Police in the U.S. city of Philadelphia arrested a suspect early Thursday after an hour-long standoff that left six officers with gunshot injuries that were not life-threatening.

    A spokesman said after police took the suspect into custody, officers worked to clear the house in the city’s Nicetown neighborhood where the gunman had barricaded himself.

    The situation began Wednesday when an officer went to the address to serve a warrant.

    Two police officers were trapped inside the house with the gunman for more than four hours before being safely evacuated.

    Authorities attempted to communicate with the gunman, including making multiple phone calls, but said that while he did answer the calls, he did not say anything.

    The police spokesman said all six officers who sustained gunshot wounds had been released from local hospitals by late Wednesday. One other officer was admitted for treatment of injuries that came in a vehicle crash related to the barricade around the scene.
    The shooting prompted a lockdown at the nearby Temple University Health Sciences Center Campus, which issued a warning via Twitter. (VOA)