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Tag: Popular Nigeria Newspapers

  • Court restrains NBA from suspending Ikorodu branch chairman

    An Ikeja High Court on Friday restrained the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) from suspending the Chairman of its Ikorodu Branch, Bayo Akinlade.

    Justice Babajide Candide-Johnson granted an injunction restraining the NBA from taking such a step against Akinlade.

    Justice Candide-Johnson granted the injunction while ruling in a motion exparte filed by Mr Femi Falana (SAN), counsel to Akinlade.

    Other defendants in the matter are the registered trustees of the NBA and the acting Chairman of the Ikorodu Branch of the NBA, Ezekiel Ogbaide.

    In the motion exparte before the court, the applicant had sought among others, an order of interim injunction restraining the defendants from acting on his purported suspension as the Chairman of the branch on March 28 pending the determination of the motion on notice.

    Justice Candide-Johnson in his ruling said “I hold that this present case is covered by the case law of 7up Bottling Company vs Abiola and Sons Nigeria Limited.

    Read Also: Court remands Inspector charged with murdering Kolade Johnson

    “The motion exparte dated April 2 succeeds, the interim injunction is hereby granted as order as prayed.

    “The lifespan of the interim injunction granted this Friday, April 5, 2019 shall operate until midnight of April 12, 2019.

    “Substantial hearing of the motion on notice is fixed for Tuesday April 16, 2019″, the trial judge ruled.

    Akinlade was suspended on March 28 during the National Executive Council (NEC) Meeting of the NBA.

    He was alleged to have flouted an order from the national body of the NBA to halt the March 15 bye-election of the branch.

  • Anambra most wanted criminal suspect remanded

    Most wanted criminal suspect in Anambra state, Ikechukwu Udensi (alias IKANDA), has been remanded in Onitsha prison till Thursday, May 30.

    This followed his arraignment on Friday before Chief Magistrate, Chioma Amuche of Magistrate Court Two Onitsha over his involvement in the murder of an Onitsha-based businessman late Ndubuisi Nwokolo.

    The suspect was accused of committing the crime on June 2018 in accomplice with five others at large including Tochukwu Aneke, Eze Okwuchukwu and Ebuka Udensi.

    Counsel to the complainant, Chief Barr Charles Okafor, lauded the Nigerian Police Force for the arrest as well as ensuring his prosecution for murder case.

    He said: “We are looking upon the judiciary to deliver justice in this case. The Magistrate Court Onitsha has no jurisdiction to try the case presided over by Magistrate Chioma Amuche.

    “The only thing she has power to do is to remand the accused person; after which we are coming back on 30th May 2019 for compliance.

    “The compliance is to ensure that the case file is forwarded to Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for which the case would be referred to Onitsha High Court which has powers and jurisdiction to entertain murder cases.”

    Chairman of Ogalonye Bright Street Line, Main Market Onitsha, Mr. Francis Maduka, demanded justice to put an end to this kind of atrocity in the state.

    He said: “Every right thinking person in Anambra state understood that IKANDA was declared wanted for many killing atrocities he has committed in Onitsha.

    Read Also: NEPAD trains 500 Anambra youths

    “Although he has those backing him up, he takes the state as though it was his personal property; that’s why he killed the deceased.”

    Present at the court were the mother, father and wife of the deceased (Ndubuisi Nwokolo), former chairman, Onitsha Market Amalgamated Traders Association (OMATA), Chief Godwin Okeke.

    There were protesters outside the courtroom, demanding fierce justice against IKANDA who allegedly killed one of their own.

  • 7 interesting facts about Florence Ajimobi at 60

    One look at Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, wife of Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, brings warmth to the heart and rightly so.

    She is a woman with unique qualities and impeccable character worthy of emulation. As she celebrates her 60th birthday today, these are seven things noteworthy about her.

    1. Although she was born in Benin City on the 5th of April 1959, she is of mixed ancestry. She hails from the renowned Hajaig family of Lebanon and grew up in Ibadan in Oyo state.

    2. She possesses a degree in Secretarial Studies and Management from The Polytechnic Ibadan as well as a Doctoral degree in a management science. She was on Monday 1st of April 2019 inducted as a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Resources Management and Politics (CIPRMP) based in Ghana.

    Read Also: Florence Ajimobi at 59: When noise is not music

    3. She is the biological mother of five; four daughters and a son. In 2012, she adopted twin boys, Oluwaseyifunmi and Oluwaseunfunmi making her a mother of seven.

    4. She is the Yèyé Ààré of Ibaanland. This title was conferred on her on the 16th of December 2016 by Oba Saliu Adetunji, the Olubadan of Ibadanland.

    5. She is passionate about humanity. Florence Ajimobi is the founder of several humanitarian projects such as Access to Basic medical Care (ABC) foundation, Ajumose Food Basket, Educate A Rural Child project among many others.

    6. She is also a philanthropist. She has donated a fully equipped ICT center to Ajayi Crowther University and is known for donating gift items and cash particularly to orphanages within Oyo state.

    7. Her desire is to become a pastor at 60. She stated this wish at the August edition of Women Intercessory Network Prayer Rally in 2017. As she clocks 60 today, we do hope her wish comes true.

  • Court remands Inspector charged with murdering Kolade Johnson

    An Ebute Meta Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, on Friday remanded till May 6, a dismissed Police Inspector, Olalekan Ogunyemi, charged with murdering a football fan, Kolade Johnson.

    Magistrate A.O. Salawu remanded Ogunyemi at Ikoyi Prisons, pending advice from Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

    The court’s order was sequel an application by the police.

    Ogunyemi, 45, of No. 17, Alhaji Ede Street, Igando, was docked on a one-count charge of murder.

    Prosecuting Inspector Kehinde Olatunde told the court that the defendant committed the offence on March 31, at about 5:10pm, at Onipetesi Estate, Idi-Mangoro, Lagos.

    He alleged that Ogunyemi, who served in the Anti Cultism Unit of Lagos State Police Command, shot Johnson, a 36-year-old father of one, to death, with his Ak47 rifle.

    Read Also:  Police Inspector who killed Kolade Johnson dismissed

    The offences, the prosecutor said contravened Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    Olatunde informed the court that he had a remand application order by the police to remand the defendant for the next 30 days.

    The plea of the defendant was not taken by the court, because magistrates’ court don’t have jurisdiction to try a charge of murder.

    But the defendant’s counsel, Sola Adeyemi, opposed the 30-day remand request.

    Adeyemi prayed the court to instead remand the defendant for the next 14 days.

    In a bench ruling, Magistrate Salawu upheld the prosecutor’s application and adjourned till May 6.

  • Okorocha inaugurates boards, parastatals

    Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha on Friday inaugurated members of 38 Boards and parastatals, few weeks to the end of his administration.

    The Imo governor who was represented at the event by the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Mark Uchendu, allayed the fears of members of the Board over possible dissolution by the incoming government.

    He said that the tenure of the offices of the Board members is clearly stated in the different laws establishing them, assuring that it cannot be dissolved until the expiration of the time.

    Read Also: Oshiomhole behind my predicament, says Okorocha

    He urged them to deploy their wealth of experience to ensure that they bring the desired results in their respective Boards and parastatals.

    The governor also explained that the inauguration of the Boards which were constituted early January was delayed by the general elections.

    Responding on behalf of the Board members, Hon Daniel Nwafor, commended the governor for the honour, while describing it as a call to duty.

  • Nigeria in final stage of MIPDOC contest

    Nigerian media company, Salt and Truth, has secured their way into the final round of this year’s Mipdoc competition, making them the biggest content market in the world.

    MIPDOC is a global pitch competition where producers, writers and developers from around the world speak to a carefully chosen panel on their projects and ideas in the hope of commission.

    Among thousands of entries round the globe, five finalists were shortlisted including the Nigeria’s young and vibrants mind of the Salt and Truth, the only Africans and the youngest on the list.

    Founded by John Adewusi and Jola Ayeye, Salt and Truth is a story-driven production company whose chosen mandate is to create rich, authentic, Nigerian stories and African stories for global audience.

    “The team is confident that our works would earn us a good point and further place us on a larger platforms across continents. We foster the success of the productions and Misson for Nigerian stories.

    “The project we are working is titled, ‘House girls.’ It about the underage domestic helpers in Nigeria,” the team said.

    Other finalists are from Germany, France, Norway and Italy.

    The annual event, held in Cannes, South of France, is where all the major networks buy, sell and distribute shows with representatives from all over the world.

  • Pension assets stand at N8.906 trn – PenCom

    The National Pension Commission ( PenCom ), says the country’s total pension assets stand at N8.906 trillion as at February ending as against N9 trillion reported in the media.

    Mr Peter Aghahowa, PenCom’s Head of Corporate Communications Department, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.

    Aghahowa was reacting to the April 4 media reports that the pension assets had hit N9 trillion.

    He said, “The country’s Pension Assets stood at N8.906 trillion and yet to reach N9 trillion as stipulated.”

    “It would be recalled that sometime in February, the House of Representatives mandated the committee to commence investigations into the activities of PenCom.

    “This is since April 2017, over an allegation of violation of the Act establishing the commission and N9trn pension fund.

    Read Also: Pension scam: Reps summons Emefiele over N33bn deductions

    “In the April 4 reports, Johnson Agbonayinma, the Chairman of House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating the activities of the nation’s Pension Administrators, threatened to issue a bench warrant on the administrators should they fail to appear before it.

    “But unfortunately, the administrators and other stakeholders deliberately did not appear at the Public hearing which was meant to elicit the needed information for the investigation.”

    Aghahowa further confirmed that the house had called the commission for public hearing in February and that it responded.

    He however, said the commission was deeply concerned about the recent media reports,” Aghahowa said.

  • Residents nab ‘kidnap’ syndicate operating in Taxi

    Residents of Bariga have arrested members of a suspected kidnap and robbery syndicate operating in a taxi.

    The suspects including an old man said to be the driver were arrested on Wednesday after one of the victims identified their operational vehicle, a dark green Toyota Camry.

    It was gathered that the victim, a woman, had boarded the taxi on Tuesday on her way to work but was diverted towards Badagry Expressway where her hands, legs and mouth were tied.

    The gang comprising four men, allegedly dispossessed her of her phone, N20,000 and other valuables before pushing her out of the vehicle inside a bush, to find her way.

    Luck however ran out of the gang on Wednesday when the said victim saw them and raised alarm.

    According to a resident, Alhaji Kolade Awofeso, one of the suspects fled but the mob was able to apprehend three.

    “The remaining three were taken to Bariga Police Station including the elderly man (driver). Surprisingly at the Bariga Police Station, the suspects were familiar with the policemen.

    “They surprisingly asked the elderly man about the stolen items collected from the victim. He responded that he has handed them over to one Mama who turned out to be the owner of the vehicle used for the unbridled kidnapping and robbing,” said Awofeso.

    Meanwhile, armed robbers last weekend attacked a photojournalist with Security Express Magazine Oluwasegun Falola at his 17, Bajulaye Street Shomolu residence.

    According to the victim, the robbers attacked his residence around 3am on Saturday, while he was asleep and hit his head with a cutlass after he told them he did not have money.

    Read Also: Police restrict night operation of Okada in Badagry

    The robbers, he said demanded his Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card, laptop, three telephones, video camera, computer hard drive and other valuables before exiting his apartment.

    Falola said they also locked him inside his apartment so he would not be able to come out or raise alarm, adding that he had to break his window to seek help from nearby De-Bajo Hospital since he was bleeding.

    But the victim’s plight was worsened after he realised that the robbers had withdrawn the only N50,000 he had which he planned to use in offsetting his medical bills.

    He said he was still at a loss as to how the robbers were able to access his account without his pin, adding that he had reported the case at the Alade Police Station in Shomolu.

    Police spokesman Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP) confirmed that two of the kidnap suspects were in custody and investigation was ongoing.

  • Tribunal orders PDM to serve Buhari petition through APC

    The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal has permitted the candidate of the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM), Mr Aminchi Habu to serve his petition on President Muhammadu Buhari through his party, the All Progressives Congress, (APC).

    Habu is challenging the declaration of Buhari as the winner of the Feb. 23 presidential on the grounds that the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) excluded the name of his party from the ballot paper.

    Justice Abdul Aboki, who headed the three-man panel of justices of the Court of Appeal of the Tribunal made the order allowing substituted service in a ruling on an exparte application brought by the petitioners.

    Counsel to the petitioners, Mr Aliyu Lemu said the ex parte application arose due to his inability to effect personal service of the petition and other processes on the president because of security and protocol surrounding his office.

    The petition has the president, INEC and the APC as respondents.

    Habu and his party want the tribunal to, among other prayers, declare the victory of Buhari and the APC at the Feb. 23 presidential election null and void.

    He said this was based on the grounds that the name of his party and logo were unlawfully omitted from the ballot papers by INEC thereby denying him the opportunity of contesting in the election.

    He claimed that he and his party had spent a lot of money on campaigns and they felt cheated by INEC.

    He prayed the court to declare that he was validly nominated by his party but unlawfully excluded by INEC from the election into the office of president.

    In his statement on oath, Habu said that he purchased the presidential form of PDM at the rate of N5 million after which he visited the 36 states of the federation to seek the support of party members.

    He said after he emerged winner of the primaries, PDM forwarded his name to INEC, adding that INEC without any lawful cause wrongfully excluded his name, his party and logo from the ballot paper.

    He said they were also excluded from all other electoral materials and documents used for the Feb. 23 presidential election.

    Read Also: Buhari salutes Oshiohmole for building strong, unified party

    He claimed that by unlawfully and wrongfully excluding them, INEC caused immeasurable losses in resources and electoral fortunes.

    Justice Aboki, in his ruling, said that the panel had carefully considered the ex parte application and had resolved that it would be in the interest of justice if the application was granted.

    He consequently ordered that the petition and other processes be served on Buhari through the office of the National Legal Adviser of the APC at it’s National Headquarters, 40 Blantyre Street, Off Adetokunbo Ademola Street, Wuse II, Abuja.

  • NLC resolves 11 years old agric union dispute

    The eleven-year-old crisis that has fractured the nation’s argic sector union has finally been laid to rest with both factions agreeing to adopt one union and work together for their common good under a new name.

    The Agric sector union has been factionalised into Agricultural and Allied Employees Union of Nigeria (AAEUN) and Agricultural and Allied Workers Union of Nigeria (AAWUN), with both claiming to be the recognised union in the sector.

    The crisis led the Registrar of Trade unions domicile in the Ministry of Labour and Employment withdrawing their certificate of registration when all efforts to resolve the crisis failed.

    Read Also: NLC tasks African leaders on challenges of climate change

    At its last National Delegates Conference, the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) put in place a conciliatory committee headed by the Deputy President of Congress, Comrade Najeem Yasin to resolve the crisis.

    Comrade Yasin told newsmen that after series of meetings, both contending factions resolved the dispute and adopt a new name, while a 33 man caretaker committee headed by Comrade Simon Anchaver to run the affair of the new body for six months before elections is conducted.

    He said the new union will now be called Nigeria Union of Agriculture and Allied Employees, adding that similar caretaker committees are to be put in place at all levels of the union and positions shared at an agreed formula among the two unions.