The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has raided and sealed a factory allegedly producing counterfeit cosmetic products in Lagos.
According to a statement on X.com on Tuesday, NAFDAC officers stormed the illegal factory at Benue Plaza, Trade Fair Complex, Lagos State.
During the raid, officers discovered a stash of unregistered chemicals, packaging materials, and expired products being repackaged for sale.
The operation uncovered over 1,200 cartons of fake cosmetic products, including popular brands.
Further investigation revealed that the factory was using mini-mixing containers, unlabelled chemicals, batch coding materials, and thinners to produce counterfeit products.
The street value of the confiscated items was estimated to be around ₦50 million.
The statement read, “NAFDAC has shut down an illegal factory producing counterfeit cosmetic products at Benue Plaza, Trade Fair Complex in Lagos State.
“NAFDAC officers raided the location, discovering various unregistered chemicals and packaging materials, along with expired products being revalidated for sale.
“The operation also led to the seizure of over 1,200 cartons of fake cosmetic products.
“Items including mini-mixing containers, unlabelled chemicals, batch coding materials, and thinners were confiscated and moved to the NAFDAC office for further investigation.
“The Agency estimates the street value of the confiscated items to be around ₦50 million.
“NAFDAC urges the public to be cautious when purchasing cosmetic products and to report any suspicious activities to the nearest NAFDAC office.”
No fewer than five people lost their lives last Sunday when the rear tyre of the vehicle they were travelling in suddenly burst, causing it to somersault at Shuwarin village in Kiyawa Local Government Area of Jigawa State.
The spokesman of the Jigawa State Police Command, DSP Lawan Shiisu Adam, who confirmed the tragic incident in a statement on Tuesday, said it occurred on Sunday, 15th September 2024, at the premises of Dantata & Sawoe, when the vehicle’s rear tyre burst, leading to the accident.
According to the statement, the passengers who died at the scene included Suleiman Sani, male, aged 24, from Dutse, and Hassan Salisu, male, aged 20, from Kiyawa LGA. Also killed were Khalid Ibrahim, male, aged 19, Rabiu Salihu, male, aged 25, and Shehu Mohammed, male, aged 28, all from Chinade town, Azare LGA.
Additionally, 12 passengers sustained varying degrees of injuries and are currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Jigawa.
Upon receiving the report, police officers swiftly arrived at the scene, transporting the injured and deceased to Rashid Shekoni Teaching Hospital in Dutse. The doctor on duty confirmed the deaths, while the driver and the injured passengers were treated and admitted.
The deceased were later released to their relatives for burial, while an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident commenced.
“In another incident, on 10th September 2024, at approximately 12:00 hrs, the Command received information that a high-tension cable along Ubba road in Kaugama LGA had been vandalised by hoodlums.
“Following the report, patrol teams along the Hadejia to Kano and Hadejia to Nguru highways were dispatched to the scene.
“Based on credible intelligence, gallant officers from Guri Divisional Police Headquarters arrested Babangida Abubakar, male, from Hadejia LGA, residing in Nguru LGA, Yobe State, in connection with the crime.
“During interrogation at the Divisional Crime Branch, the suspect confessed to the offence and identified Abdullahi Isma’il, male, from Nguru LGA, Yobe State, as the recipient of the stolen cables.
“Isma’il, a scrap metal and cable dealer in the Nguru market, was subsequently arrested. Investigations revealed that the principal suspect had previously been convicted of a similar offence.
“The case remains under investigation, and upon completion, the suspects will be charged to court.”
“On 13th September 2024, at approximately 21:00 hrs, one Alhassan Haladu, male, from Takur Adu’a Quarters, Dutse LGA, reported to Dutse Divisional Police Headquarters that his TVS motorcycle, parked in front of his house around 20:00 hrs, had been stolen by thieves.
“Upon receiving the report, a patrol team from Dutse Division was alerted. The team, while patrolling Laraba village in Dutse LGA, intercepted one Abubakar Aminu, male, aged 22, from Fariruwa village, Takai LGA, Kano State, with the stolen motorcycle.
“During interrogation at the Divisional Crime Branch, the suspect confessed to dismantling the motorcycle’s security features and pushing it a short distance from where it was originally parked before making off with it.
“The recovered motorcycle was returned to its rightful owner.
“The suspect will be charged in court following the conclusion of the investigation. Meanwhile, the suspected motorcycle thieves remain in police custody, along with the recovered bikes.”
The New Nigeria Peoples Party has instructed six suspended state executives to appear before the National Disciplinary Committee.
On September 6, the NNPP’s National Working Committee announced the dissolution of the executive committees for five state chapters of the party.
This decision affects the states of Taraba, Gombe, Benue, Oyo, and Bauchi.
In a statement issued by the NNPP National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, following their emergency NWC meeting on Tuesday night, the party explained that the decision was made to reposition the party, among other reasons.
The statement read in part, “Further to the recent dissolution of state executives in five states, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) initiated a process to investigate the activities of certain members for various offences.
“The NNPP National Working Committee (NWC) concluded an emergency meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, to announce this decision.
“The decision to probe some former executive committee members and other party members is a routine step for a dynamic political party committed to making necessary changes for development and achieving its goals.”
The Publicity Secretary announced that all those affected have been notified of the decision and will be required to appear before the party’s National Disciplinary Committee.
It continued, “Those suspended for three months (in the first instance) are Mrs. Ayobami Idowu Adekunle, Alhaji Rasheed Adebisi Olopoeniyan, Mr. Demola Oke, Mr Kilamuwaiye Badmus, Mr Oyesola Ololade, Mr Olayiwola Musibau, Mr Tunde Adedapo, and Ms Riike Olanira.
“The NWC of our party has therefore deemed it fit and proper to investigate some of the erstwhile members of the recently dissolved Oyo state executive committee, as well as some from the South West leadership of the party.
“The issues are generally tied to offences against the party and anti-party activities. Of course, no serious leadership would condone such an attitude as those alleged to have been perpetrated by these suspended members of the party.
“All those affected have been informed of the decision and will be expected to appear before the party’s National Disciplinary Committee.
“This is in line with Article 45.6.2 of the party constitution, which states that nothing in this Article shall prevent the National Working Committee from suspending a member of the party against whom an accusation has been levied and/or disciplinary proceedings are pending.”
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, met with Senator Adolphus Wabara-led Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP on Tuesday night.
In August, the BoT had written to Wike, seeking a meeting to resolve the lingering crisis in the party, especially in Rivers state, days after meeting with the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
However, journalists were barred from the meeting, which is ongoing as of the time of filing the report.
More to come…
Olugbenga Ige
Olugbenga is a fine-grained journalist with over nine years of experience. He loves the smell of a good lead and has a penchant for finding out interesting good reports.
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The Bauchi State Police Command says it arrested a dismissed officer of the Nigerian army, Aliyu Adamu, for defrauding three persons to the tune of N250,000
Bauchi Police Public Relations Officer Ahmed Wakili, in a statement on Tuesday, disclosed that the suspect received the sum of money from his victims with a promise to help them secure employment in the army.
He added that after the victims realised that there was no job for them, they reported to the police which prompted the arrest of the suspect.
Wakili stated, “L/Cpl Aliyu Adamu from Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State has been arrested on charges of impersonation, cheating, criminal misappropriation, and criminal breach of trust.
“This arrest follows complaints from three individuals who reported that Adamu collected a total sum of N250,000 from them, promising to secure jobs for them in the Nigerian Army. However, they were not invited to the Nigerian Army depot for training as promised.”
The PPRO stressed that the suspect, upon interrogation, confessed to have been dismissed from the service of the Nigerian army some months ago for misconduct and also admitted to have collected money from the victims.
He added that the suspect would be arraigned in court upon conclusion of an ongoing investigation while urging the public to be mindful of fraudulent persons.
“The suspect admitted to having been dismissed as a Lance Corporal from the Nigerian Army a few months ago for being absent without official leave for a year. Furthermore, he confessed to using the money collected from the victims for personal purposes.
The Bauchi State Police Command, under the leadership of Commissioner of Police, Auwal Musa Mohammed, urges the public to remain vigilant against individuals who exploit others by offering fraudulent job opportunities. The suspect will be charged in court upon the completion of the investigation.
“We encourage the public to report any suspicious activities to the appropriate authorities to prevent falling victim to similar fraudulent schemes in the future,” Wakili stated.
Earlier in May 2024, men of the Rivers State Police Command arrested 13 persons, including three soldiers for alleged armed robbery, hijacking of food trucks and diverting them to other locations.
The police also arrested an operative of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The Nigeria Police Force, led by Inspector-General Kayode Egbetokun, has dismantled a notorious gunrunning syndicate and arrested over 2,700 suspects in connection with various criminal activities within the past month.
The arrests, which include armed robbers, kidnappers, and murder suspects, mark a significant boost in the force’s efforts to combat violent crimes nationwide under the IGP’s intensified crime-fighting strategies, says an NPF statement.
This major crackdown on crime was disclosed on Tuesday by the Force spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, via a press release on X.
It read, “The Nigeria Police Force, under the leadership of the 22nd Indigenous Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, NPM, remains relentless in its effort towards ensuring that the perpetrators of heinous crimes across the country are brought to book.”
In a month, multiple suspects linked to violent crimes have been arrested, and numerous criminal activities addressed.
“Over the last month, the Nigeria Police Force recorded the arrest of 295-armed robbery suspects, 186 kidnappers, 271 murder/homicide suspects, and 71 suspects for the unlawful possession of firearms.
“Also arresting 199 suspects for sexual-related offences, 143 suspects for cultism, and 1575 suspects arrested for other various crimes. The Force also recovered 185 firearms and a total number of 4087 ammunition of various calibres, 111 vehicles were recovered, and 129 kidnapped victims rescued,” it added.
Ammunitions exhibited
The police strike a major blow against a gunrunning syndicate in northern Nigeria.
It further read, “In more recent events, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have made an outstanding breakthrough in the fight against several types of violent crimes across the country, one of which is the dismantling and arrest of a gunrunning syndicate operating in the Bauchi-Plateau region.
“The suspects, identified as Taimako Mato ‘m’, John Danladi ‘m’, Mohammed Munkail ‘m’, Manasseh William ‘m’ and Muhammadu Haddi ‘m’, were arrested with 1 PKT Machine Gun, 40 rounds of 37.2mm and 95 rounds of 62mm cartridge ammunition. The leader of the syndicate, Taimako Mato, was a weapon-handling instructor at a Boko Haram camp, who procures these prohibited weapons and passes them on to the other members of the syndicate to sell to various buyers.”
The police assure the public of their commitment to maintaining law and order through innovative strategies.
“The Inspector General of Police once again reassures members of the public of the Police Force’s dedication to protecting lives and property. To this effect, the IGP has emplaced several strategies and tactics aimed at combating various forms of crimes in all spheres. The IGP hereby calls for citizens’ full support in actualizing this goal and establishing a utopia in our dear country.”
The police continue their pursuit of justice with professionalism and adherence to the law.
“The Nigeria Police Force will not relent in the pursuit of ensuring crimes and criminalities are brought to its lowest in accordance with the Rule of Law and upholding the highest standards of professionalism in carrying out extant duties of protection of lives and properties,” it concluded.
In April 2024, NPF stated that 1,346 suspects had been arrested for various offences, including murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, gun running, and rape, nationwide.
The police also said they recovered and seized 143 firearms, 741 ammunition, 72 stolen vehicles and have rescued 461 kidnapped victims across the country.
Gunrunning, or the illegal trafficking and smuggling of firearms, is a pervasive issue contributing to violence and insecurity in many regions, including Nigeria.
Criminal groups, insurgents, and militant organisations often rely on these illicit networks to obtain weapons, fueling conflicts and violent crimes such as armed robbery, kidnapping, and terrorism.
In Nigeria, gunrunning has been closely linked to insurgent activities, particularly in the northern regions, where groups like Boko Haram and bandits have used smuggled arms to sustain their operations.
The Deputy National Treasurer of the All Progressives Congress, Omorode Osifo, has stated that the party’s candidate in Saturday’s Edo State governorship election, Senator Monday Okpebholo, is a more compassionate and competent candidate for the office of Governor than the PDP alternative.
Osifo made this statement on Tuesday during the APC Educational Grants and Women Empowerment Day programme held in Benin, Edo State capital.
Osifo, who praised the former governor of the state, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, for bringing immense development to the state, noted that Okpebholo shares similar character traits with Oshiomhole and thus deserves the opportunity to govern the state.
She said, “People say that when they see him and Oshiomhole, they look alike because of their heights. Oshiomhole did great things, and we believe that Okpebholo will achieve even greater things than Oshiomhole.
“Okpebholo is a more compassionate and competent candidate for the office of Governor than the PDP alternative.”
She stressed that Edo State needs someone compassionate and can relate to the people, rather than someone indifferent to their concerns.
She added, “We are confident because we have a strong candidate. We have a governor who will go out there and perform wonders. He is someone who genuinely cares for the people. We know his background and he is eager to help. “We need a person who the masses can relate to, and we have found that person. We must ensure he wins. Everywhere we go, people are hailing APC,” Osifo said.
Regarding the education grants and empowerment, she mentioned that it would assist beneficiaries in meeting their children’s educational needs.
She added, “We have an incoming governor who has stated that education is one of his key agendas, and we decided to support him to become governor.”
Meanwhile, Okpebholo reiterated his commitment to employing over 5,000 teachers to address the shortfalls in the state’s educational sector.
He also assured the people of Edo of his plans to revamp the physical infrastructure of schools in the state and promised to provide soft loans to market women to help grow their businesses.
The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, on Tuesday, said the Federal Government is making choices that may seem tough now for a better future for Nigerians.
Bagudu made this statement at the High-Level Advisory Council meeting to support women and girls, organised in collaboration with the Development Research and Projects Centre in Abuja.
In 2023, President Muhammadu Buhari launched the advisory council to focus on driving inclusivity and women’s economic empowerment, particularly regarding economic access, sustainable livelihoods, and education for women and girls.
Speaking at the meeting, Bagudu, who commended Nigerian women for their hard work and resilience, noted that one of President Tinubu’s agendas, the Renewed Hope agenda, is women’s inclusiveness and empowerment.
He said the core of the Renewed Hope agenda is inclusivity.
“Across the country, we have hardworking women. In particular, women who are able, willing, and wake up as early as 2 a.m. to participate in a trade, go to the farm, smoke fish, or roast something by the roadside. Tragically, however, some do not know this story; or a woman carries a calabash, walking nine kilometres to a market. This story of our very resilient and hardworking populace needs to be told, and they need to be supported.
“It is for us to imagine, to be innovative, to create, and to ensure that we support them by linking their efforts, opportunities, and returns. Only then can we have an equitable and prosperous society. We are not playing the blame game for what has happened in the past. We are confronting our reality. We are not where we want to be; we want prosperity to be equitably shared. We want to reward effort and provide opportunities.
“We are making choices that may seem tough now, but we believe they will lead to a better future for our young people, our women, and our men,” he stated.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, called for actionable plans for women’s empowerment and inclusiveness.
“One of the reasons this meeting was called is that we are already tired of talking with no action. We are fed up with policies upon policies and no results. So, I am not interested in any more policies. I am interested in solving our problems.
“This high-ranking committee that we have gathered today is to follow new narratives so that these women will start receiving what they deserve immediately. We are moving towards developing women, including providing machines for bitter leaf, which we have placed in markets, and partnering with the Nigerian Traders Association to manage these machines.
“We are calling on non-governmental organisations to change their priorities. We are calling on the media to change their priorities. One of the things this meeting will do for us is to start examining these issues, putting checks in place, and ensuring the right actions are taken. If we don’t do this, we are wasting our time. If we channel our priorities correctly, we will find that we are part of the problem, not just the government, governors, or the president,” she emphasised.
For her part, the Executive Director of the dRPC, Dr Judith-Ann Walker, commended Kennedy-Ohanenye for demonstrating a commitment to leveraging existing consultative institutions and structures to address the problems, challenges, and barriers faced by many women in Nigeria.
“The dRPC has been working towards the domestication of the Women’s Economic Empowerment Policy in Nigeria, and we thank the Minister and the staff of the Ministry for supporting us in this process.
“As we discuss and move into the sessions, I would like to emphasise that there is a lot of conversation about practical aspects and strategies for implementing the WEE policy and empowering women in Nigeria. We support the Minister’s vision.
“As an organisation working in this space, we endorse the fact that policies should capture and represent practical actions that empower women, both in this space and in their communities,” Walker said.
The leadership of the Labour Party on Tuesday knocked the Chairman of the newly installed caretaker committee, Senator Nenadi Usman, for stating that they were inaugurated as a quick intervention to rescue the party from being deregistered.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja.
While describing the statement as ludicrous, unsubstantiated, and a pack of lies, Ifoh explained that the party has fully abided by the electoral laws guiding political platforms and, therefore, cannot be deregistered by INEC.
The concern comes barely two weeks after the Labour Party presidential flag bearer in 2023, Peter Obi; Abia State Governor, Alex Otti and some party stakeholders set up a 29-man caretaker committee
The committee, headed by Usman, a former minister, was saddled with a mandate to conduct an expanded election to birth new executives at the ward, local government, state, and national levels.
But the decision didn’t sit well with the Abure-led NWC, which described it as a null and illegal arrangement.
The party further warned Otti to stick to governance and stop meddling in the party’s affairs.
Reacting on Tuesday, Ifoh stated that Usman and the party leaders backing the committee ‘mischievously leveraged on INEC’s misinformed and erroneous disposition’ that the tenure of the current executives has expired.
He said, “It is paradoxical that some of these leaders who were victims of INEC’s mismanagement of the 2023 general election are now the ones quoting INEC to victimise the leadership of the Labour Party. As earlier stated, the September 4 stakeholders’ meeting held in Umuahia is unconstitutional and illegal as the party’s constitution clearly states all the organs of the party, of which the stakeholder is not one.
“Senator Nenadi’s claim that the stakeholders saved the party from being deregistered by the INEC is equally preposterous. This is because the existence of the Labour Party is not under any threat. Perhaps, Nenadi Usman is unaware that Appeal Courts both in Edo state and FCT have affirmed Julius Abure as the rightful national chairman.
“We wish to remind Senator Usman that even the Supreme Court, in several judgments, had ruled that issues regarding delegates at a National Convention or how the convention is planned and executed by a political party are outside the jurisdiction of any court of the land being the internal affairs of such a party.”
Continuing, the spokesman said the Abure-led National Working Committee was aware of the shenanigans and efforts by Usman and her alleged co-travellers to pressure the INEC to cave into their demands, stressing that INEC as an institution is bound to respect the laws of the land.
Ifoh also appealed to aggrieved members and factions of the party to come together and work for the victory of the party and Nigerians ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“We are also aware of their desperate moves to shop for courts in Abia state that will be willing to illegally carry out their bidding. We advise the stakeholders to stop dissipating energy in forum-shopping particularly with a court that lacks territorial jurisdiction.
“It is laughable because both INEC and Labour Party have their headquarters in Abuja, and the stakeholders are shopping for a court in Aba, where they hope to get political patronage. We urge them to seek proper counsel.
“Finally, we urge Senator Usman and her co-travelers to retrace their steps for the interest of the party and Nigerians as 2027 is fast approaching. We want to remind them that factionalising the party will help no one’s interest.”
Efforts to get the reactions of Usman and the caretaker committee secretary, Darlington Nwokocha, were unsuccessful.
As of the time of filing the story, they didn’t return any of the calls made.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has assured President Bola Tinubu of the Parliament’s readiness to mobilise the required support to complement the efforts of the Federal Government in the mitigation, prevention and tackling of disasters.
He also commended the Tinubu-led Federal Government for its timely intervention in the deadly floods that affected Maiduguri, the Borno State capital and other states, as a result of devastating rainfall that occasioned the overflow from the Alau Dam.
Akpabio gave the commendation in Government House, Maiduguri during the President’s condolence visit to Borno State and the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Ibn Umar Garba Al Amin El-Kanemi in Maiduguri on Monday.
Recall that Tinubu made a detour from a trip to attend the United Nations General Assembly Annual event held in New York, flew into the country and the same day led a powerful delegation to Maiduguri to commiserate with the governments and people of the flood-affected states over the unfortunate disaster.
“I regard this as a display of love, compassion and commitment to the safety and welfare of Nigerians,” Akpabio remarked.
Assuring the President of the resolve of the National Assembly to collaborate with the Executive, Akpabio said “On resumption, the National Assembly will mobilise to support the intervention purse and complement the efforts of the Federal Government, State Governments, NNPCL, NEMA, and other interventionist agencies.”
Senator Akpabio also promised to “add verve to the Special Disaster Intervention Fund when established” and expressed gratitude to President Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NNPCL, NEMA, the Armed Forces and other stakeholders for their swift and strong interventions in addressing the flood disaster. The National Assembly is committed to supporting all endeavours of governments at Federal and sub-nationals aimed at renewing the hopes of Nigerians”, he assured.
“Most importantly, the President’s announcement to set up a Special Disaster Intervention Fund from FAAC allocations to assist in future unforeseen natural disasters demonstrates an unrelenting commitment to good governance and transformative leadership.
He equally commended Governor Babagana Zulum for his proactiveness in handling the disaster and attending to the needs of the victims.
