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  • UPDATED: 17 days after celebrating birthday Oba Oniru dies at 82

    Lagos State Government mourned the passing away of a first-class monarch in the state, the Oniru of Iruland, Oba Idowu Abiodun Oniru.

    Oniru died in in the early hour of today in Lagos after a brief illness.

    He was 82.

    The monarch’s 82nd birthday was celebrated last September 6 at the palace.

    He was survived by wives, children among are former Lagos State Commissioner for Waterfront Adesegun Oniru, On-Air personality Tolu Demuren (a.k.a Toolz), grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

    Tweeting via his twitter handle @jidesanwoolu, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu commiserated with the royal family.

    He tweeted: “On behalf of the government and people of Lagos, I commiserate with the Oniru Royal Family on the transition of HRH Oba Idowu Oniru who joined his forebears. His service to the state and country at large will remain his enduring legacy. Adieu.”

    Former Lagos State Deputy Governor Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule described the late Oniru as a great monarch.

    Read Also: Oba Oniru celebrates 80th birthday in style

    Dr Adebule said he was a peace-loving monarch.

    “He was always bringing people together to live in peace and harmony. He demonstrated a great passion for the development of Lagos State. He was indeed a peace-maker,” she said.

    The Waziri Nupe, Senator Isa Mohammed also condoled with the royal family.

    Senator Mohammed prayed to God to grant the family of the late monarch the strength to bear the loss.

    “My family and I wish to commiserate with you and the entire Oniru Royal family on the passing away of Oba Abiodun Idowu Oniru, the 14th Oniru of Iruland, Victoria Island, Lagos. May Allah grant him peaceful repose, mercy, forgiveness, eternal rest and reward him with Al-Jannah Firdaus. May Allah also be with you and the children and grant you the strength and fortitude to bear this great loss,” he said.

    The Chairman of Iru-Victoria Island Local Council Development Area (LCDA) Princess Rasheedat Abiodun Adu described the late monarch as a great father.

    Princess Adu said the late Oba Oniru’s reign brought greater development to Iruland and environs.

    “Kabiyesi’s reign ushered in unprecedented political and socio-economic development to Iruland and beyond. The late monarch’s demonstration of integrity is matchless,” she said.

    Wife of former Chairman of Iru-Victoria LCDA Chief. Funmilayo Daramola said the late Oniru was a great monarch.

    Chief Daramola, the Alaje Wura of Iruland said: “Kabiyesi was truly a great person. He was a nice man who was after the development of the community and Lagos state as a whole. He sacrificed a lot to ensure Iru-Victoria Island is developed,” she said.

    Oba Oniru succeeded his father in 1995.

    He was born on September 6, 1937, the 12th of the 15 children of the long-reigning Oba Yesufu Oniru, who died at the age 120.

    The late Oba Oniru attended St David’s Primary School and Araromi Baptist School on Lagos Island and then went to Eko Boys High School for his secondary education.

    In 1965, he left Nigeria to study civil engineering at the British Institute of Engineering Technology in Slough. He returned to Nigeria in 1968, to join his father run the family business.

  • Ex-Zimbabwean President Mugabe died of cancer, says Mnangagwa

    Zimbabwen President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, said on Monday that former President Robert Mugabe died of advanced cancer and had already been taken off chemotherapy.

    Mnangagwa told supporters of the ruling party ZANU-PF in New York that Mugabe had to be taken off the chemotherapy because it was no longer effective.

    Mnangagwa is in the U.S. for the 74th session of the UN General Assembly.

    Mugabe died in Singapore on Sept. 6, and his body was brought home on Sept. 11.

    A funeral service attended by regional leaders was held at the National Heroes Acre on Sept. 14, now lying in state at his home in Harare while a mausoleum was built for him at the national shrine.

    However, a family source said they were now in charge of the funeral.

  • ‘Sowore may assume status of Prisoner of Conscience’

    The Network of International Human Rights Organisations and Coalitions say it may soon adopt detained Publisher of Sahara Reporters, Mr Omoyele Sowore, as a “Prisoner of Conscience”.

    The Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC) said on Monday in Lagos that it was working with renowned rights groups across the world to ensure that Sowore was adopted as a Prisoner of Conscience
    unless the Federal Government releases the activist without further delay.

    They also expressed shock that the Nigerian authorities were making frivolous charges against Sowore who had been in custody since Aug. 5.

    The group also called for the release of Olawale Bakare, a member of #RevolutionNow arrested in Osogbo, Osun, on Aug. 5, Publisher of Cross River Watch, Mr Agba Jalingo and Ekanem Ekpo. The last two were arrested by the police and have yet to be taken to court.

    “The continued detention of Sowore is an embarrassment to Nigeria as a country. Everywhere we visit across the world, people are asking questions about Sowore’s detention.

    “Many people do not understand the logic of laying charges of treason against Sowore simply because he used the word revolution.

    “His incarceration continues to put a question mark on the credibility of the Nigerian government. Democracy dies when the culture of debate and the tradition of protest are lost,” the group said in a statement by CSNAC Chairman, Mr Olanrewaju Suraju,

    Read Also: FG charges Sowore with money laundering, treasonable felony

    CSNAC said the Nigerian government had beyond imaginations embarrassed itself by charging Sowore for “insulting the President”.

    “It is even more ridiculous that he is being charged for insulting Mr President and also for money laundering where money was legitimately transferred through the financial institutions.

    “These are frivolous charges aimed at seeking justification for his illegal arrest and continuous detention.”

    CSNAC said from indications, the Nigerian government was desperate to press charges against Sowore and ensure he is jailed at all cost.

    Suraju said Sowore was being hunted in part, due to series of publications in Sahara Reporters that consistently exposed corrupt practices in this and previous governments.

    “Sowore is obviously a victim of vengeance. Corrupt politicians and security chiefs whose dirty deals have consistently been exposed by Sahara Reporters are looking for ways to settle scores. They think by
    bringing down Sowore, Sahara Reporters will die.

    “Its an illusion to think by keeping Sowore in jail, Sahara Reporters would be off the global network. This is a mistake because Sahara Reporters has assumed the status of an independent entity,” he said.

    CSNAC also dismissed the charge of money laundering by the Department of State Security, (DSS), saying it was an attempt to blackmail Sahara Reporters and its publisher.

    Sowore was arrested on Aug. 5 in Lagos and the Federal Government obtained an ex-parte order granting his detention for 45 days.

    After keeping him for almost two months, he was charged for insulting President Mohammadu Buhari during a life programme on AriseTV. The government also accused him of treason.

    He was also charged for transferring the sun of $19,975 from his personal account to Sahara Reporters.

  • How you can earn up to 75k a month from Branch

    Do you know about Branch app? Do you know you can borrow and earn monthly with your Branch App?

    Not only will you have extra cash to pay off your loan, but you’ll also be helping your friends and neighbours access quick, stress-free loans. Does this sound interesting to you? If your answer is yes, then keep reading.

    The Branch referral feature is one of the best in the country and it is open to everyone who is a user of the Branch app.

    Here’s how simple it is. Tell someone – anyone – about Branch app, if they take a loan using your referral code and pay back, you automatically get a N1500 bonus which will be used to pay off your own loan. Even more amazing, they will also get N500!

    You don’t have to do anything stressful and it won’t take you more than a few clicks. Simply share your referral code with as many people as possible and with each person that takes a loan using your code and pays back, you get N1500 every time. In other words, if, for example, 50 people take loans using your referral code and all 50 of them pay back those loans, you get a total of N75,000 in free money.

    Here is how to go about it:

    • Open the Branch app and click on the menu
    • Click on “earn 1500” to view your unique referral code
    • Click on “invite friends” to share with friends (or anyone sef)
    • Select any of the apps on your phone that you want to share the code from
    • Select the contacts you want to share with and share with them
    • Ask your friend to enter your unique code before they repay (this is very important o!)
    • Once they repay their loan as scheduled, you will receive N1500 in your bonus account which will be applied to your next loan.

    Super simple isn’t it? It’s just as simple for your friends or anyone you refer too – plus they get N500 once they repay their loans too! They don’t have to do too much either. Here’s what they need to do:

    • They’ll click on the link in the invite message that you share with them
    • They’ll download the app, register and apply for a loan
    • If their loan is approved, they will receive the loan amount in their account in minutes
    • Now, they just have to go to the menu and click “promotions”
    • They’ll enter the unique code that came in the invite message you sent to them before their repayment date
    • Once they repay, they will receive N500 in their bonus account which will be applied to their next loan.

    This is a huge opportunity, isn’t it? Your friend gets a loan that they can use to solve everyday problems, to start a business or to grow their inventory. They don’t need to run helter-skelter or come to you anymore when they need money.

    You, on the other hand, get a bonus on your loan, which means you pay less (or maybe even nothing at all). Everybody wins!

    We know how things can be, but we are here for you, one small loan at a time.

    Branch is an app that lets you access loans for your personal and business needs using just your Android phone, BVN (to verify your identity) and phone number. You don’t need to fill any forms or collateral. Also, Branch just passed 10 million downloads making it the most downloaded lending app in the world, so you’re in good hands.

    Get the Branch app now and start telling your friends!

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Update: 14 Osun kidnap victims rescued

    Fourteen kidnap victims at Ajeokun Junction, between Otan Ile and Imesi Ile in Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State have been rescued by the police and local vigilante.

    The Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Abiodun Ige, said all the victims abducted on Sunday evening by unknown gunmen were rescued unhurt.

    The victims were passengers of a commercial bus travelling from Osogbo to Abuja via Imesi/Otan-Ile road.

    The victims were allegedly ambushed at Ajeokun Junction between Otan Ile and Imesi Ile before 14 of the 18 passengers were whisked into the bush.

    Poor condition of the road made it difficult for the driver of the bus to escape from the bandits, according to an eye witness account.

    Read Also: Police bust ‘child-sale’ syndicate in Lagos

    Also, the Osun State Coordinator of Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Chief Aladesawe Adedeji, confirmed that the 14 victims had been rescued.

    He disclosed that the joint team of OPC, vigilante group, the police, the Department of State Security made frantic effort to rescue the victims unhurt after gun duel with the bandits.

    However, the police spokesperson in the state, Folasade Odoro, disclosed that some of bandits escaped into the bush with bullet wounds while one vigilante sustained a minor injury from the gun battle between the security men and the bandits.

  • Protests trail Adamawa PDP council primaries

    Complaints of imposition of candidates and other infractions on Monday marked the conduct of the chairmanship and councillorship primaries of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of local council elections scheduled for the 21 LGAs of the state in November this year.

    Violence was alleged in some areas, with one Mahmud Othman, an aspirant from Maiha LGA in the northern zone of the state, saying that in most of the local government areas in the zone, “the primaries to elect local government chairmanship and councillorship candidates were greeted with gun shots,” sending people to all directions.

    He reiterated that similar problems were recorded in the other four local government areas that make up the senatorial zone: Madagali, Michika, Mubi North and Mubi South, “because of imposition of government favoured candidates and the disqualification of the people’s preferred ones.”

    A party member in Ganye Local Government Area, Michael Gwangwaso, alleged a free for all in the area over imposition of aspirants.

    He said, “They wanted to cheat us. The party primary was not conducted in a transparent manner. They wanted to impose their unpopular candidates on us.”

    In Numan LGA, members of Concerned Citizens of Numan Town, a PDP sub-group, protested against ‘wrongful disqualification’ of some aspirants by the party’s screening committee.

    Read Also; I will stay in PDP to seek justice, says Alaibe

    The group members who took their protest to the state capital, Yola, addressed a press conference, accusing the party’s screening committee of showing favouratism. Their spokesman, Mr Vidiyabo Pagiel, who read the text of the briefing, said, “Why are some councillorship candidates cleared by the committee despite the allegations raised against them that they are still civil servants on government payroll.”

    Attempts to get comments from PDP officials largely failed as they would not respond to phone calls nor were they available in their offices.

    The Secretary of the party, Abdullahi Prambe, however later said on phone that he was in Abuja. He offered that stakeholders of the party who had issues over the primaries could table such issues with the appeal committee constituted for that purpose.

    The situation in the PDP is a marked contrast from what applied in the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), which was on Monday afternoon celebrating peaceful primaries as it released names of 18 candidates for the November chairmanship election, leaving out three LGAs from where results had not arrived Yola when the party held a press briefing.

  • JUST IN: Tribunal sacks Benue Assembly deputy speaker

    The National/State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Makurdi, Benue State has nullified the election of Chris Adaji of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the 2019 Ohimini State Constituency election.

    Chairman of the Tribunal Justice R. O. Odudu, who delivered the lead judgment, held that the margin with which Adaji led Musa Alechenu Ohimini of All Progressives Congress (APC) is less than the number of votes cancelled.

    According to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declaration, Adaji led with 397 votes and the Tribunal finds the margin is less than the 1, 056 votes cancelled in the two polling units of Igbanomaje and Odega.

    According to the decision of the court, INEC ought not to have made final declaration without ordering for a rerun in the affected polling units other than declare an inconclusive poll.

    Justice Odudu held that the declaration and return of Adaji without a rerun in Otega and Ogadagba ward is invalid by reason of non-substantial compliance with Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).

    Read Also: I will stay in PDP to seek justice, says Alaibe

    The court therefore, issued an order for withdrawer of certificate of return issued to Adaji and an order directing INEC to conduct rerun election in the two polling units where elections were cancelled within 90 days.

    Vincent Tortsugh, who appeared for the petitioners, described the decision of the Tribunal as “reasonable,” adding that “we didn’t expect anything other than this.”

    The APC candidate, Musa Ohimini Alechenu described the decision as a testimony of the wishes of the people.

    He said by the decision, the judiciary has reaffirmed that it remains the hope of the people.

    “I want to appreciate the Tribunal for the good job done. Let me appreciate the people of Ohimini for standing behind me during the period of the legal struggle,” Alechenu said while insisting that he will win the rerun ballot.

    Adaji’s counsel, Ken Ikonne said he will consult his client before taking any further decision.

  • Defections loom as Bayelsa PDP plots to retain running mate

    Mass defection looms in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bayelsa State, following a plot by the party to retain Senator Lawrence Erwujakpor as the running mate to its governorship candidate, Senator Douye Diri.

    The nomination of Eweujakpor, who hails from Dickson’s Sagbama Local Government Area, has kept the PDP on edge ahead of the November 16 governorship election with many party members kicking against it.

    Governor Seriake Dickson lived up to his promise to convene stakeholders meeting to review the controversies surrounding the running mate and explore possibility of substituting Ewrujakpor’s name before the September 23 deadline of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for candidate substitution.

    Party members were, however, in dilemma that despite holding the meeting, the stakeholders made no public statement on the running mate crisis.

    Besides, it was observed that many key PDP stakeholders failed to attend the meeting, which appointed Dr. Nimibofa Ayawei as Director-General of the Senator Douye Diri Governorship Campaign Organization.

    Dr. Ayawei, who is Chairman of the Bayelsa State Internal Revenue Board, was a frontline aspirant of the PDP in the last gubernatorial primaries which produced Senator DIri as the party’s candidate for the November 16 election in the state.

    A statement by the State Secretary of the PDP, Chief Godspower Keku, said that Dr. Ayawei’s appointment was part of the key resolutions of a meeting of the Gubernatorial Campaign Advisory Council of the State Chapter of the PDP.

    Though the stakeholders maintained sealed lips on Diri’s running mate, it was gathered that the governorship candidate briefed the stakeholders on the issue.

    Read Also:  Shekarau, others in fresh trouble over N950m PDP fund

    A party stakeholder said Diri was under intense pressure of some powerful forces to insist on Ewrujakpor adding that while addressing the stakeholders, the candidate said there was no need to substitute his running mate.

    The source, who spoke in confidence said: “Most of the party members are waiting for the decision to be made public. If the party leadership fails to make it public and the name remains till the expiration of September 23 deadline, there will be mass exodus in the PDP.

    “The only way to save the party is to move the running mate to Bayelsa East. We need their votes in the election. People are not happy at the development and they have communicated their grievances. We are asking the governor and other party leaders to save the PDP”.

    Following the emergence of Diri as the candidate, some party leaders abandoned the PDP with their supporters and aligned with the APC.

    A member of the House of Assembly representing Southern Ijaw Constituency 2, Target Sekiibo recently moved to the APC with his supporters.

    Also, Gabriel Jonah, the younger brother to the state’s Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd), led thousands of his supporters in Nembe Local Government under a political movement, the Otita Force, to the APC.

    Similarly, a grassroots mobiliser and Dickson’s Special Adviser on Urban Crime Management, Abednego Don-Evarada dumped the party in Ogbia with his supporters to the APC.

    Following the running mate crisis, Dickson sacked his aide, Hellen Bob, who had reportedly pitched tent with the APC.

    The source added: “Many people are warming up to leave the party but they are waiting for last decision of the party leadership on this running mate palaver. Some PDP lawmakers have traveled to Abuja to meet with the leadership of the APC and negotiate their ways out of the PDP. We are still begging the party leadership to listen to the voices of its members and resolve this issue”.

  • UPDATED: Shekarau, others in fresh trouble over N950m PDP fund

    The Federal High Court sitting in Kano on Monday, struck out the no-case submission filed by the former governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau, challenging his alleged N950 million money laundering trial.

    The EFCC, arraigned Shekarau on May 24, 2018, alongside former Foreign Affairs Minister, , Aminu Wali and one Mansur Ahmad on six counts bordering on conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of N950 million.

    Delivering his ruling, Justice Lewis Allagoa, held that the EFCC has made out a prima facie case against the defendants, warranting that they must defend themselves.

    “I have considered evidence by the prosecution against the defendants, it is sufficient that they have case to answer and defend themselves,” he said.

    Allagoa adjourned the case until Nov.18 and Nov. 19, for defence to open its case.

    Earlier, Counsel to Shekarau and two others, Mr Dauda Abdulrahman, and Mr Abdul Adamu, on July 9 filed a no-case submission.

    Adamu said EFCC failed to present a prima facie case to warrant the defendants entering defence and urged the court to discharge his clients.

    Read Also: Shekarau brings rare virtues to the Senate

    Counsel to the EFCC, Mr Johnson Ojogbane, had earlier told the court that the defendants, between March 26 and March 27, 2015, conspired among themselves and received the said amount without going through financial institutions.

    He said that the money was issued to the defendants by the Peoples Democratic Party and former petroleum minister, Diezani Allison-Madueke.

    The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under Section 16 (2)(b) of the same Act and Section 15(1) of money laundering Act.

    The defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    NAN reports that the defendants were earlier granted bail in the sum of N100 million each with two reliable sureties in like sum and during the course of trial, the prosecution called four witnesses and closed its case on May 8.

  • Edo to invest N2.1bn Azura Power Proceeds in Benin Industrial Park

    The anchor investor in the Benin Enterprise and Industrial Park would soon be moving into the facility, as the Edo State Government has finalised plans to invest the N2.1 billion that will accrue from its divestment of 50 per cent of its equity in the Edo-Azura Power Project, into the park.

    In a statement, Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said the N2.1bn would go a long way in building the needed infrastructure for the park to come on stream.

    According to him, “The state government is going to divest 50 per cent of its equity in Edo Azura Power project. We will be investing the proceeds into the Benin Enterprise and Industrial Park project as we prepare to have the Anchor investor settle down to business.

    “The state government will be providing the needed infrastructure for the project, including access roads and other needed structures to ensure the smooth take-off of the facility.

    Read Also; Obaseki reassures on kidnapping, other crimes

    “We disclosed earlier that we have an anchor investor for the park. With the funds we now have, we have all that is needed to effectively kick-off. Nothing is going to be left to chance. As is characteristic of the governor, this is a masterstroke as we now have funds to begin the project. We expect other investors to cash-in on opportunities in the new industrial corridor.”

    He noted that the N2.1bn would be instrumental in ensuring that the state government meets its obligations to investors, by deploying the fund in constructing the access roads, clearing the environment as well as other physical structures to drive investment.

    He added that the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for the Enterprise and Industrial Park is being conducted by the Federal Ministry of Environment, which would pave the way for the anchor investor to move into the facility.