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Police reiterate ban on protests as court rules today

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The Kano State Police Command has reminded residents that the ban on public protests, processions and unlawful gatherings is still in force.

This is contained in a statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Haruna, a copy of which was made available to According Online Thursday.

According to Haruna, the reminder was necessary as the Federal High Court sitting in Kano will today (Thursday) be presiding over sensitive matters on the emirship tussle.

“Members of the general public are called upon to remain patriotic and to shun any attempt by enemies of the peace from using them to cause violence as the lives of everyone are sacred and the priority of the Police to protect them including their property.

While the Police remain committed to the prevention and detection of all forms of crime, miscreants and the general public are hereby warned to note the following.

“Police alongside all law enforcement agencies in the state are strictly enforcing the total ban placed by Kano State Government on public protests, processions, and related unlawful gatherings and further committed to the preservation of law and orders.

“Accordingly, violators, including their sponsors, will be promptly identified and sanctioned according to the law of the land.

The police spokesperson further said, “There shall be adequate security deployments of security personnel embarking on the enforcement duties and to ensure no breakdown of law and order.

“Patriotic residents are called upon to note and cooperate with the large number of security personnel they will be coming across. They are expected to provide them with actionable information and intelligence to preserve the peace and detect, arrest, investigate and prosecute the deviants.

He said, “For the avoidance of doubt, all non-state actors, including vigilantes, hunters, and alike, are to clear from participating under the guise of providing security to any section of the community.

Ogun monarch, Towulade of Akinale is dead

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The Towulade of Akinale in Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State, Oba Olufemi Ogunleye, is dead.

Dr Kunle Adesina, on behalf of the family, in a statement issued on Thursday, confirmed the passage of the royal father, who died at 79.

The statement read, “With gratitude to God, the entire Ogunleye Family of Akinale and Delesolu Compound, Ago-Owu, Owu Kingdom Abeokuta, hereby announce the passing unto glory of our illustrious son, father and grandfather, His Royal Highness Oba (Dr.) Olufemi Okesooto lyanda Adewunmi Ogunleye, Towulade 1 of Akinale, Owu Kingdom Abeokuta.

“This solemn announcement marks the beginning of the celebration of a life well spent in selfless service to humanity in several sectors.

“It also kick-starts a list of activities to highlight the remarkable milestones in his life itinerary, starting from the lowly surroundings of Delesolu, Awaye and Oloosii compounds in Owu Abeokuta to the very heights. Of local and international journalism, public relations practice, as well as an impactful approach to royalty and law scholarship,

“With a deep sense of joy plus pride in the realisation of what Oba Ogunleye meant or represented to many people and organisations across the world, we promise to consult widely with all concerned, both high and low, in lining up a programme of events to mark and celebrate stages and stations in the life of this dignifyingly delightful Owu personage.

“A programme of events in this direction will be released as soon as possible.

“He is survived by his wife, Olori Olanike Ogunleye, children and grandchildren, among whom is Mr Bamidele Ogunleye of the Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation (OGBC), Abeokuta”.

The Bobajiroro of Akinale, Chief Ganiyu Lasisi, said that the passage of the royal father has thrown all the residents of the town into great mourning.

Lasisi said, “His passage is unexpected, it is a great loss that has thrown all of us into sorrow because he was indeed a very loving father, a leader who wanted the best for his people. We have really suffered a devastating loss in Akinale and we pray that God will grant all of us the fortitude to bear the loss”.

Oba Ogunleye, a seasoned journalist retired as the General Manager, Public Relations of the defunct Nigeria Airways.

N4bn school feeding program benefits 25,000 pupils in Kaduna

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The Kaduna State government, on Thursday, gave the assurance that “almajiri children in the state would be given qualitative educational opportunities.”

Also, the government said about 25,000 school pupils spread across the 23 local councils of the state have already benefited from the school feeding programme, which cost the government N4 billion.

The assurance came from the Special Assistant to Governor Uba Sani on the school feeding programme, Dr. Fauziya Buhari-Ado, in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja.

According to the statement, Buhari-Ado spoke while hosting some Islamic and underprivileged school pupils as part of the Eid el-Kabir Sallah celebration held at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua bilingual primary school situated in Maraban Gonda, Sabongari local council of Kaduna state.

She stated that the “government decided to fete the pupils who combine both Western and Islamic education as part of an ongoing effort to ensure that children of the less privileged have access to quality education in the state.”

Fauziya further stated that the school feeding programme, which so far cost the state government over N4 billion has boosted school enrolment and retention as well as stimulated the local economy in the state.

She said already,” No fewer than 25,000 school pupils spread across the 23 local councils of the state are already benefiting from the school feeding programme.”

Fauziya also revealed that the event, which witnessed the slaughtering of the sacrificial ram, special Eid lunch, cutting of cake and distribution of free gifts, provided her the opportunity to interact with the pupils who were initially out-of-school children in the state.

An official of one of the Islamic schools, AbdulHamid Ahmed described the school feeding initiative as, “a welcome development since it has created the enabling environment for vulnerable children to have equal opportunities to acquire education in the state.

He acknowledged that the school feeding programme has impacted positively in a tremendous way by increasing school enrolment in his school.

The village head of Filin Malawa, Magaji Datiya, however, thanked Governor Sani’s led administration for the kind gesture.

Obi condemns rape, murder of 22-year-old UNIBEN graduate

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A former Anambra State Governor and presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has condemned the recent rape and murder of 22-year-old Adekolure Glory in Benin, Edo State.

“I was horrified by the dastardly act against a 22-year-old Nigerian lady named Adekolure Idowu Glory, who was beaten, raped and killed by yet-to-be identified criminals, who eventually left her corpse close to her family’s home in the Iyowa community, Benin, Edo State,” Obi said.

According Online reported on Tuesday that Glory, a recent graduate from the University of Benin, had returned to her school for final clearance when she met her untimely end. She was said to have left home for the institution for her clearance on June 13, 2024, but returned lifeless.

A social media user, who tweets from @softbaba24, claimed the deceased, who was his younger sister, was returning home from school when the incident happened. He claimed she was beaten, raped, and killed in the Iyowa community area of Benin and her remains were dropped close to their house.

In a series of posts on X.com on Monday, the user sought help from Nigerians, particularly the police to unravel the mystery surrounding her death.

Reacting on Thursday via X, Obi lamented the rising tide of violence and sexual assault in the country, stating, “It is very painful that crimes and violence have not only continued to multiply in our society, but have taken a new dimension of fatal sexual assault on our women.”

The former governor called on all Nigerians to raise their voices against this “ugly development” and insisted that the perpetrators must face justice. “We must all raise our voices in condemning this ugly development in our society. Insecurity, crime and violence, in any form, must not be allowed to be fostered,” he said.

Obi added that his call is in alignment with the International Day Against Sexual Violence in Conflict, a day dedicated to standing against all forms of sexual assault.

“It is a day to stand against all forms of sexual assault in our society and insist that such offenders are brought to face the law,” he added.

The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate urged security agencies to investigate Glory’s killing and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.

“I urge the security agencies to investigate the killing of this young lady and ensure that those behind the dastardly act face the law. We must continue to work towards building a safe and secure society for all,” he said.

Obi further expressed condolences to Glory’s family and prayed for the repose of her soul.

“May God grant eternal rest to Adekolure Idowu Glory, and grant her family the fortitude to bear this sad loss,” he added.

Leicester city appoint former Nottingham Forest coach, Steve Cooper 

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A former Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper has been appointed by Leicester City as it new manager on a three-year contract.

According to a statement from Sky sports’ website today, Cooper replaces Enzo Maresca, who left to join Chelsea earlier this summer, at the King Power Stadium after the club carried out a thorough due diligence and spoke to several candidates including Graham Potter.

The statement added, “Cooper had been out of work since being sacked by Nottingham Forest – Leicester’s East Midlands rivals – last December, as the club languished in 17th place in the Premier League after a run of just one win in 13 games.

“Before that, the 44-year-old guided Forest back into the top flight for the first time in 23 years and then kept them there.”

Speaking to Leicester’s official website, Cooper said, “I am really excited and proud to be appointed Leicester City’s first-team manager.

“This is a fantastic club with a rich history and passionate supporters. I am excited to work with such a talented squad and I’m looking forward to the challenge of achieving our shared ambitions in the Premier League.”

“The Leicester job will not be without its challenges for Cooper, with the Foxes facing a possible points deduction and potentially needing to sell players to comply with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules,” the statement added.

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Court remands 11 persons over alleged cultism, robbery in Lagos

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The Chief Magistrate Court, Yaba, Lagos State has remanded 11 persons for allegedly belonging to a secret society, conspiring to commit armed robbery, and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.
The 11 suspects were on Wednesday arraigned by the Lagos State Police Command before Magistrate O.Y Adefope.
They include: Bamidele Bakare, Muriana Anuoluwapo, Sheriff Alausa, Emmanuel David, Godwin Asado, Abdullahi Taoheed, Olorunwa Ayeniran, Taoheed Alade, Abdullahi Isa, Bolaji Oseni, and Tobi Adedayo
The suspects were charged with three counts of conspiracy to commit a felony and belonging to a secret society, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.
The charges alleged that on May 25, 2024, the 11 suspects, with intent to disrupt law and order in the inhabitants of Itire, Surulere, and Amuwo Odofin, unlawfully belonged and managed a secret society known as the Eiye Confraternity, whereby they organised and disrupted law and order in the inhabitants of the areas of Lagos.
READ ALSO: Simon Ekpa gives Nigerian govt condition for peace in South-East
More so, one locally made single-barrelled cut-to-size gun, two live cartridges, and 14 9MM Beretta pistol ammunition, which they used for their unlawful activities, were found in their possession.
It was gathered that inhabitants of Itire, Surulere, and Amuwo Odofin reported a series of robberies and criminal activities, leading to the investigation into this robbery. Consequently, a tactical team assigned to Amuwo Odofin raided the suspects’ hideout and discovered the ammunition, arresting them on May 27, 2024.
Prosecutor Haruna Magaji informed the court that the alleged offences were committed on May 25, 2024.
He stated that the alleged offences contravened and are punishable under Section 328, Section 2(3)(a)(b)(d)(e) of the Unlawful Society and Cultism Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2021, and Section 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.
The defendants’ pleas were not taken in court. Adefope ordered that the defendants be remanded pending further hearing. However, the case was further adjourned to September 25, 2024.
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PDP mocks APC over alleged plot to instigate crisis, forcefully take over Rivers

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday ridiculed the All Progressives Congress (APC) to quit thoughts on taking over Rivers State.
The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, who stated this in a statement asserted that APC’s plot to instigate a crisis in order to truncate the will of Rivers people has not only been exposed, but has failed.
No fewer than 25 Rivers State lawmakers had defected from the PDP to the APC which sparked off heated crisis in the state as the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, was said to be on the line to be impeached.
However, a Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, the state capital, had declared that the 25 lawmaker led by Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule are still members of the PDP.
The statement, however, reads: “The attention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to yet another hallucinating press conference by the Rivers State Caretaker Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Tony Okocha wherein he again fantasized that the WILL of the people of Rivers State as expressed in the governorship election which produced Governor Siminalayi Fubara can be upturned by the imagination of the APC.
“This reckless outburst by Tony Okocha further exposes the sinister plot by the APC in Rivers State which has been seeking for ways to instigate crisis, forcefully overthrow a democratic Order and impose an anti-democratic regime in Rivers State in clear violation of Section 1 sub-section 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
“The use of the word “war” by Mr. Okocha in his thoughtless statement clearly shows an evil intention which has been firmly resisted and will continue to be resisted by the people of Rivers State.
READ ALSO: Rivers Crisis: APC calls for state of emergency, says state at war
“The APC in Rivers State should note that its malevolent scheme to instigate crisis and forcefully take over the State has failed. Rivers State is a stronghold of the PDP and the people are solidly behind the Government of the PDP in the State.
“The PDP calls on the Federal Government and indeed the national leadership of the APC to, as a matter of urgency, rein-in and caution Mr. Tony Okocha to stop being an agent of destabilization and a threat to democracy in Nigeria.
“Our Party demands that the Inspector General of Police immediately invite the Rivers State APC Caretaker Chairman and hold him personally liable for his utterances which constitute a clear and present danger to the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria and to peace and tranquility in Rivers State.
“The international community should also take note of the reckless outburst of this individual whose action and utterances are capable of negatively affecting the overall security of the country.
“The PDP for the umpteenth time warns the APC to perish the thought of forcefully taking over Rivers State as its attempts to undermine the WILL of the people will always come to naught.
“The PDP charges the people of Rivers State to remain calm and continue to work together in their solidarity with the PDP administration in the delivery of democracy dividends in the State.”
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Japan seeks 60 million tourists per year

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Japan’s tourism chief said Thursday its ambitious goal of luring 60 million foreign tourists a year — more than double the current level — is well within reach, despite surging overtourism concerns.

Last year, Japan attracted over 25 million tourists from abroad, in part buoyed by the lifting of pandemic-era border restrictions in countries such as South Korea, Singapore, and the United States.

Ichiro Takahashi, head of Japan’s tourism agency, acknowledged the previously announced target of 60 million remains “tough”, but stressed it is within the realm of possibility.

“It is a figure that we can very much achieve by making the right efforts”, Takahashi told a briefing in Tokyo.

“There are still many little-known places in Japan that are left unexplored by tourists from overseas — I believe Japan has infinite tourism resources,” Takahashi said.

Over three million foreign tourists visited Japan for a third consecutive month in May, according to government statistics released Wednesday.

However, an influx of tourists to Japan has reignited concerns over overtourism in recent months, with local residents complaining of their sometimes unruly behaviour and etiquette breaches.

The city of Himeji, in western Japan, was among the latest local governments to express frustrations.

The municipality famous for Himeji Castle is mulling making the World Heritage site’s admission fees for overseas tourists four times as expensive as those for local residents, local media reported.

“A wooden structure will be worn out and become more brittle after many people climb up and down”, mayor Hideyasu Kiyomoto told Japanese media, stressing the need to “curb overtourism”.

Local citizens using the castle as a community hub shouldn’t be charged the same amount as “people who only come here once in around 10 years for sightseeing purposes”, he said.

Another flashpoint around overtourism is Mount Fuji, where a new, crowd-control gate was erected Monday along its popular trail.

The measure followed a rare step taken last month by an exasperated Japanese town to deliberately block a view of the volcano with a large black barrier, in a bid to deter photo-hungry tourists.

AFP

Imo holds LG elections September 21

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The Chairman of Imo State Independent Electoral Commission, Charles Ejiogu, on Wednesday, said the local government election will take place on September 21, across 305 wards and 4,758 polling units in the state.

He stated this during the stakeholders meeting held in Owerri, Imo State.

He said “We have gathered the stakeholders to show our determination to deepen democratic governance at the grassroots level in Imo State. It has to be on record that following Nigeria’s return to constitutional governance in 1999, the forthcoming Local Government Council elections into the offices of Council Chairmen, Vice Chairmen and Councilors, will be the fifth having had elections in 1999, 2004, 2010, and 2018 respectively at the third tier”.

“Pursuant to its establishment Law No 14 of 2000 as amended, the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission is charged with the task of conducting and supervising a free, transparent, and credible local government council elections in Imo State.”

“To this end, the commission has scheduled to conduct the much expected Council elections into the 305 Registration Areas/Wards and in all the 4,758 polling units in the 27 Local Government Area Councils of Imo State, come Saturday 21 September 2024.”

He called on the Imo electorate to take advantage of the election to perform their constitutional duty.

“We have released the Election Guidelines and Time Table as part of the activities that will ultimately usher in the emergence of 27 democratically Council Chairmen, their Deputies, and 305 Councilors, in line with our announcement of 24th May 2024.

“Arrangements for the recruitment of Ad-hoc personnel are in top gear and this will include field and internal Ad-hoc personnel.”

“We are liaising with other democratic institutions such as the Independent National Electoral Commission and we are satisfied with their level of support so far, even as we look forward to more of such support. The security agencies have also assured us of their readiness to render necessary assistance. The voluntary agencies are not left out in this regard and we cannot take anyone of them for granted.”

He said ISIEC will not shirk its mandated duty of observing the primaries as duly stipulated in the Electoral Act as amended.

Traditional Rulers, Presidents General, Opinion Leaders, Women and Youth Groups, Market Associations, Trade Groups, Civil Society Organizations, Media, Clergy, and Faith-Based Organisations, Political Leaders, among others were present at the meeting.

Simon Ekpa gives Nigerian govt condition for peace in South-East

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The self-styled Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government In-Exile (BRIGE), Simon Ekpa, has told the Nigerian government what must be done for peace to reign in the South-East region of the country.
Ekpa called on the Nigerian government to dismantle and withdraw all checkpoints in South-East if it is really desirous of peace to return to the region.
Ekpa who made the call while speaking in an interactive X space session on Wednesday, said the recurring crisis in the South-East region should be blamed on the Nigerian government’s militarization of the region.
The Finland-based Ekpa went further to clarify what he termed the misrepresentation of the Biafran agitation, saying the only thing Biafrans want is lasting peace in their region and to achieve this, the Nigerian government should demilitarise the South-East.
The region has been wrought with violent attacks and kidnappings which has led to loss of lives and property. Ekpa and his supporters have continued to declare sit-at-home days in the area, accompanied with attacks on security agencies within the region.
“We are against the Nigerian state for militarising Biafra. Those claiming we are violent should blame the Nigerian state,” Ekpa said.
‘They brought violence while we defend ourselves. We demand to withdraw the military and dismantle all checkpoints in Biafra territory,” Ekpa said.

BRGIE, Prime Minister Simon Ekpa disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday while speaking in an X space.According to him, the Nigerian government should be blamed for the crisis in the southeast because it militarised the region.
— Simon Ekpa (@simon_ekpa) June 20, 2024

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