A Kwara State High Court has released one of the suspected killers of Onikoro of Koro, Oba Peter Aremu on bail on health condition.
The suspect, Olowofela Oyebanji, is the second defendant among others who were arraigned before Magistrate Monisola Kamson for the alleged offences of culpable homicide.
Oyebanji’s counsel, Udeh, during their arraignment at the magistrate court, disclosed that his client’s application for bail at the high court has been granted.
He said Oyebanji could not physically appear in court because he was on admission at a Lagos State hospital.
Udeh, however, promised to ensure his presence at the next adjourned date while Magistrate Monisola Kamson who presided over the matter adjourned till August 9th, 2024.
The prosecutor, Abdullah Sanni, had applied to substitute the police report to add another suspect, Saliu Murtala, who was just arrested, bringing the total number of suspects in connection with the case to 14.
Other suspects, Godwin Jacob, Adefalolu Ayodele, Tewasie Francis, Babatunde Samuel, Godwin Joseph, one Issa, Miracle Solomon, Abraham Kehinde, Muhammed Bello, Muhammed Muhammed, Ahmadu Umaru and Muhammed Dankai of different address in Ekiti State, have been remanded.
TVN recalls that one Aremu Simon Adeyemi reported the case at Eruku Police Division and the suspects were subsequently dragged to court for the alleged offences of criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, kidnapping and giving false information.
Adeyemi, through the police report, narrated how the suspects pointed guns at him, ordering him to follow them when he challenged them after noticing their movement around his grandson.
He said his grandson escaped through the backdoor while the suspects proceeded to kill the monarch and kidnapped his wife and one other person identified as Mercy.
Adeyemi added that he was later released while the deceased wife and Mercy were held hostage.
High court grants bail to suspected killer of Koro monarch in Kwara
High court grants bail to suspected killer of Koro monarch in Kwara
Ndume: Nigerian Senate becoming puppet in Tinubu’s administration – Atiku
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar says that Tinubu’s administration has turned the National Assembly, especially the Senate into a ‘Puppet’.
This is in light of the recent removal of Senator Ali Ndume as senate whip and his suspension from the All Progressives Congress, APC on Wednesday.
Atiku who condemned the action, in a statement via his Official X handle said members of the Senate should not be reprimanded for performing their statutory duty of calling the executive to order.
According to the former vice president, “the legislative arm of government was conceived as a means of protecting the people from the authoritarian tendencies of wielders of state powers, making sure that the executive does not go overboard in the application of its powers”.
He pointed out that the current administration of President Bola Tinubu has become an anathema to the general principle of democracy as providing primary protection for the people against executive excesses.
The statement reads in part, “Regrettably, however, the democracy in Nigeria in the current administration of President Bola Tinubu has become an anathema to that general principle of democracy as providing primary protection for the people against executive excesses.
“This ugly tendency is being manifested by the steady posturing of our National Assembly, especially the Senate, of taking a reverse course in its core function and becoming a puppet in the hands of the President.
“It is uncharitable that whenever members of the Senate stand on the floor of the red chamber to perform their statutory duty of calling the executive to order, they are immediately reprimanded for doing so”.
The PDP chieftain also recalled when Senator Abdul Ningi spoke about the incident of budget padding in the 2024 Appropriation bill, rather than calling for a thorough investigation into the observation, the reaction of the Senate was to hand him a suspension.
“When Senator Abdul Ningi called the attention of the country to the incident of budget padding in the 2024 Appropriation bill, rather than calling for a thorough investigation into the observation, the reaction of the Senate was to hand him a suspension. Today, the people of Nigeria are victims of an ambiguous budget framework upon which appropriations for the current fiscal year are hinged in the face of a multiplicity of appropriations.
”Only yesterday, Senator Ali Ndume called for the President to wake up to his responsibilities and provide succour to address the biting hunger and poverty in the country. Ironically, the response of the Senate to his patriotic warning is to relieve him of his principal office as the Chief Whip of the Senate”, he wrote.
“Also, despite persistent solicitations that the government put its priorities on cancelling the excruciating hardship in the land and suspend the idea of spending scarce resources on the purchase of new aircraft for the presidential fleet, the Senate took a stand against the people and ignored the voices of altruism by decorating the President with controversial purchases of an aircraft and a yacht amidst the worst material conditions of the average citizen in the history of our country”.
Atiku also called for an end to the unholy alliance between the executive and the legislature which may lead to a dictatorship that will worsen the lot of the people.
Ndume: Nigerian Senate becoming puppet in Tinubu’s administration – Atiku
NUC approves post-graduate programmes for Ajayi Crowther University
The National Universities Commission has approved the establishment of full-time mode for PhD, Post-Graduate and Masters programmes in Finance for Ajayi Crowther University.
The commission also approved PhD programme in Accounting, Masters and PhD programmes in Architecture, Post-Graduate Diploma in Education, as well as Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology.
The approval was contained in two separate letters from the commission which were made available by the university’s management.
The letters were signed by Acting Director, Academic Planning, NUC, Abubakar Girei, on behalf of the Acting Executive Secretary of the commission.
The letter stated that the approval was given after a resource verification team of experts visited the University to assess the human and material resources available for the establishment of the programmes.
It also said that the approval was given with effect from the 2023/2024 academic session.
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Reps to cut salaries by 50% for 6 months to fight hardship
The House of Representatives has resolved to slash their salaries by 50% as a way to support the Federal Government addressing the economic hardship in the country.
The House reached this resolution sequel to the adoption of a motion moved on the floor of the House by Hon. Ibrahim Isiaka (APC– Ogun State) during plenary in Abuja.
The salary cut is to last for six months and will amount to N648 million
The lawmakers, however, appealed to Nigerians to exercise more patience with President Bola Tinubu’s led administration in addressing challenges and hardships faced by citizens.
READ ALSO:Sowore drags Tinubu over alleged purchase of $100m presidential jet amid economic hardship
The House further mandated its Committee on Appropriation, Humanitarian Affairs, Finance and Budget to ensure compliance.
High cost of foodstuffs and other commodities in the markets, across the country, have been on the rise, causing frustration among the citizenry.
The situation has already prompted calls for the youths to embark on a nation-wide protest.
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Ex-Niger Delta agitators mobilise protest against East-West road neglect
Ex-agitators in the Niger Delta region are gearing up for a massive protest against the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, for allegedly abandoning the East-West road project.
One of the leaders of ex-agitators in the Niger Delta, Osaanya B. Osaanya, said in a statement he issued on Thursday, that all was set to storm the road for what he described as the mother-of-all protest.
Osaanya said hundreds of youths had agreed to partake in the protest, which he said would last for days to call the Federal Government’s attention to the urgency of fixing the road.
He described the road as a death trap saying that commuters and drivers spend days at a particular deplorable section of the road before getting to their destination.
Osaanya said trucks and other vehicles were trapped on the road between Bayelsa and Rivers State and wondered why Umahi would maintain deaf ears despite the outcries of the people.
He blamed the development on the minister saying he engaged inexperienced contractors to work on the road.
He said: “The problem we are facing on the East-West Road is caused by Dave Umahi, the Minister of Works. How on earth will he carve out the most disturbing spot that needs more urgent attention to a sub-standard contractor?
“Or is the Minister intentionally suffering the people of the Niger Delta? We will bring the protest to the doorstep of the Minister and the President so that President Tinubu will know what we are going through”.
Osaanya called on all the relevant groups and leaders of the Niger Delta such as the Ijaw National Congress, INC, Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, the Movement for the Survival of Ijaw Ethnic Nationality, MOSIEND, the Ijaw Elders Forum, Dr Goodluck Jonathan and others to join the protest.
He further urged E.K Clark, the Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, whom he said had started the protest as well as former Governor Seriake Dickson and Rivers State Governor, Siminialayi Fubara, to identify with the demonstration.
He said: “We can’t continue to live like this as a people. This is the major road connecting all of us in the Niger Delta, where the bulk of the resources used in constructing mega roads in other parts of the country come from.
“Why should we always be on our knees to go for what we rightly deserve. This coming protest is another sad reminder of how we have been marginalized and neglected as a people”.
Ex-Niger Delta agitators mobilise protest against East-West road neglect
Delta enrolls 560 hospitals for health insurance
The Delta State Contributory Health Commission has stated that over 560 public and private hospitals have been enlisted under the state health insurance services.
The Director-General of the Commission, Dr. Isaac Akpoveta, disclosed this on Thursday while speaking with journalists in Asaba, the Delta State.
Akpoveta also disclosed that the state government through the scheme pays for over 300 caesarean sections monthly for women across the state.
He stated, “If you do cesarean section in a private hospital, you will pay N300, 000 to N500, 000 then multiply it by 300 for every month.
“The state government through the scheme augments the medical bills of over 2 million persons who registered under the scheme across the state.
” Since we started operations in January 2017 till date, we have enrolled quite over 35 percent of Deltans into the scheme which is the highest of any state in the country.
According to him, Delta state is number one in every parameter of health insurance in the country.
“I can tell you that we cover the bills of over 300 cesarean sections monthly at a cost of over N500,000 but it has been a silent activity of the government that people are not aware of,” Akpoveta noted.
He also disclosed that the state has continued to ensure children under the age of 0-5 years old under the scheme receive medical care at no cost, stating that, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori is passionate and committed to ensuring vulnerable persons are protected.
” I am glad that you mentioned that the yearly premium of N7,000 for health insurance is little compared to the huge financial burden on medical care but this is possible because the government has been subsidizing.
“In 2016, when we did the accrual determination of how much should cover an individual healthcare in a year; it was about 18, 000. By now, it would be higher but the government of Delta State under Sheriff Oborevwori believes in taking care of its people”, he noted.
During the facility tour of the complex, Akpoveta posited that the facilities available were a testament to the investment put in place to ensure the smooth running of the scheme.
While emphasising the commitment of the state government to continuously deliver quality healthcare to residents, he called on well-meaning Deltans to support the scheme by adopting and buying health insurance fees for indigents across the state.
Earlier, the Chairman of Asaba Correspondent Chapel, Mr. Ifeanyi Olannye, lauded the Government for its bid to provide quality healthcare at little cost to Delta, saying that with the economic realities for today; a fee of N7, 000 for medical services for a year is unbelievable.
UK appoints Mark Smithson, country director, UK-Nigeria trade, investment relations
The United Kingdom (UK) has appointed Mark Smithson as the country director for the UK’s department for business and trade (DBT) in Nigeria.
This was disclosed in a statement on Thursday from the UK foreign, commonwealth and development office,
Smithson takes over from Chim Chalemera who recently concluded a 3-year posting in that role.
“Mark is an experienced civil servant having undertaken a wide variety of roles both in the UK and overseas,” the office said.
READ ALSO:Court dismisses Emefiele’s bid to get medicals in UK
“In this new role, he will lead on the UK-Nigeria’s trade and investment relations to deliver an increased high value inward investment and greater exports into the UK and Nigeria as well as support market access and trade policy priorities.”
Smithson expressed joy in taking up the new role, adding that Nigeria is a country of huge importance to the UK and the world.
“Our historical, cultural, people to people and business ties are deep and ever growing,” he said.
“I am delighted to take up this new role as the DBT’s country director and I look forward to forging partnerships with the Nigerian government, the private sector and the UK supply chain and to seize the opportunities this great country and our unique partnership offer to deliver a more prosperous future to both our countries.”
By: Babajide Okeowo
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Appeal Court upholds Diri’s re-election as Bayelsa governor
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has upheld the re-election of Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri.
A three-man panel of the appeal court, in a unanimous decision, dismissed an appeal that was brought before it by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Timipre Sylva.
The Court maintained that the appeal was incompetent and constituted an abuse of court process.
The court asserted that it found no reason to dislodge the earlier judgement of the Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which declined to nullify the outcome of the gubernatorial poll that was held in the state on November 11, 2023.
Recall that the Justice Adekunle Adeleye-led three-member tribunal had on May 27, dismissed as lacking in merit, the petition that was filed against governor Diri’s re-election by the APC and its candidate.
The tribunal affirmed that the petitioners failed to adduce any credible evidence to substantiate any of the allegations they raised against the outcome of the governorship poll.
It then struck out as incompetent, all the additional proof of evidence as well as statements on oath of some of the witnesses that testified for the petitioners.
The tribunal stated that the law expressly provided that an election petition must be filed not later than 21 days after the result of an election was declared.
It held that such a petition must at the time it was filed, be accompanied with written statements of all the intended witnesses.
The tribunal held that APC and Sylva’s decision to file their additional proof of evidence and statement on oath of witnesses, long after they had filed the petition, was “tantamount to a surreptitious attempt to amend the case of the petitioners.”
Also, the tribunal dismissed the allegation that the deputy governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, tendered forged University Degree Certificate and NYSC Exemption Certificate, to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in aid of his qualification to contest the election.
It held that the allegation was a pre-election matter that ought to be litigated before the Federal High Court, adding that the matter had become statute barred since the petitioners failed to challenge the genuineness of the certificates, 14 days after it was submitted to INEC.
More so, it held that the issue of Ewhrudjakpo’s educational qualification was previously determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.
The tribunal said it took judicial notice of the fact that the 3rd Respondent, Ewhrudjakpo, is a legal practitioner, saying it was satisfied that he was eminently qualified to contest the election.
READ ALSO:Tribunal sacks Douye Diri as Bayelsa gov, orders fresh election
Meanwhile, the tribunal noted that whereas Sylva and his party prayed it to declare that they were the valid winners of the governorship election, they equally applied for the same election to be declared invalid.
It held that prayers of the petitioners were contradictory, adding that Sylva and APC did not tender any electoral material to show that any irregularity occured during the election.
It held that the petitioners were unable to discharge the burden of proof that was placed on them by the law, stressing that they failed to show, polling units by polling units, the particulars of the non compliance they alleged and how it substantially affected the outcome of the election.
The tribunal Chairman, Justice Adeleye, who read the lead judgement, further held that some of the allegations in the petition contained elements of criminality that ought to have been proved beyond reasonable doubt.
The tribunal upheld preliminary objections the Respondents filed to challenge the competence of the election.
Recall that INEC had declared that Diri of the PDP garnered a total of 175, 196 votes to defeat his closest rival, Sylva of the APC who polled 110, 108 votes.
Dissatisfied with the outcome of the election, Sylva, who served as governor of the state from 2008 to 2012, and the immediate past Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, approached the tribunal, alleging that results of the election in three Local Government Areas, LGAs, were wrongly excluded by INEC.
He told the tribunal that whereas election held in Southern Ijaw, Ogbia and Nembe LGAs, however, the electoral body voided polling unit results that were forwarded for collation.
Sylva insisted that contrary to INEC’s position that election did not hold in the affected LGAs, its officials supervised the election and sent results from the various polling units to the collation center.
According to him, had it been that results from the three LGAs, which he described as his strongholds, were included, he would have won the gubernatorial contest.
Arguing that governor Diri did not secure the highest number of valid votes cast at the election, Sylva insisted that the election was invalid by reason of non compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act.
It was equally his position that governor Diri and his deputy were not qualified at the time the election was held.
He prayed the tribunal to invalidate the Certificate of Return INEC issued to Diri.
While dismissing the petition, the tribunal declined to set aside the result of the election as announced by INEC.
The tribunal said it was satisfied with evidence from INEC that election did not hold in the disputed LGAs.
It held that the petitioners did not tender any Voters Register, Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, machine, or called witnesses to establish that results from the said LGAs were excluded during the collation process.
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Council Polls: Kogi SIEC Chairman denies alleged partisanship
Ahead of the October 19th Local Government election in Kogi State, the Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission, KOSIEC), Mamman Nda Eri has debunked the allegations making the rounds that over 50 percent of the Commissioners are card-carrying members of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC.
Eri made the clarification on Thursday when members of the federated chapel, Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Lokoja.
The Kogi SIEC Chairman described the allegations raised by the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP, as false, baseless and lacking any iota of truth.
“The report is false and unfounded. None of the SIEC Commissioner’s are members of the APC. We remain committed to conducting a free, fair and credible Local Government election come 19th October 2024 in Kogi State, he insisted.
” When I was appointed, I warned my people that if they are wearing the clothes of any political parties, they should go and drop them. I told them we are referees and we must be unbiased in the discharge of our duties. Kogites should disregard the information as it is not true.
Speaking on the allegations that the Commission has concluded plans to screen or disqualify political party candidates ahead of the council election, Eri said, “The Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission has no power to screen or disqualify any candidate vying for political positions. The only thing we do is verification and documentation. Even with the verification, we have no power to disqualify, we can only advise the party”.
Eri acknowledged that party candidates are to pay for forms for the local government election slated for October in the state.
Explaining further, he said, “It is true party candidates are to pay for forms in respect of the forthcoming election. For SIEC, there is an avenue that we have explored. Last time that we had an election, we overlooked it although it was published in our election guidelines that in the case of a Councillorship election, candidates make deposits of N100,000 to the Commission and for the position of Chairmanship, Candidates are to deposit N250,000 to the Commission.
“It is not just peculiar to Kogi State alone. Go and confirm. Kogi State is one of the few States where aspiring candidates pay for forms. In Zamfara State, their Chairmanship form goes for N3,000,000. That of Councillorship goes for N1,000,000.
“Why we did it for free of charge in the last Local Government election election was because of the Covid-19. We felt that everybody is coming out of that stress so we should not stress anybody. At that time, it was N50,000 for Councillorship and N100,000 for Chairmanship. Almost all political parties came to pick forms and at the end of the day, we had to go and print more because it was free.
” At the end of the day, about 50 percent of the forms we gave out were not returned to us. The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) raised the issue at the stakeholders meeting held recently in which we have been able to clear the air for their understanding”.
“For the avoidance of doubt. Only the candidate that emerged from the Primary and presented by the political party is allowed to pay for the form and not all the aspirants during the party primaries. All we are expected to do is to do a verification and documentation of the information provided”.
Responding, the Chairman of the Federated Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Kogi State, Mike Abu expressed optimism that the commission will conduct a free, fair and credible election that will meet global standards.
“This commission has done it before and we are confident that they will do it again. The People of Kogi State are looking forward to acceptable polls that will reflect their wishes,” he added.
Abu called on political parties to collaborate with the commission for a hitch-free exercise in Kogi State.
It could be recalled that the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP, in Kogi State Mohammed Kabir Abdullahi rejected the planned sale of forms by SIEC, accusing the electoral body of partisanship and planning to disqualify some political parties candidates vying for various positions in the state.
Council Polls: Kogi SIEC Chairman denies alleged partisanship
Count Niger youths out of planned nationwide protest – Governor Bago
Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State has assured Nigerians that the youth of Niger State will not participate in the planned nationwide strike set for August 1 to 10, 2024.
The scheduled protest is to point out the severe hunger and economic hardship currently afflicting the country, according to the organisers.
During a town hall meeting in Minna on Thursday, Governor Bago stated the peaceful nature of the youth in Niger State and their disinterest in joining the national protest.
He called on the youth to abandon the idea, stating, “We, as youths of Niger State, have distanced ourselves from the nationwide protest because we are peaceful and want peace and tranquillity.”
Bago urged those planning the protest to seek alternative solutions through dialogue and communication.
“You can start demonstrations but you cannot end demonstrations. To youths who are agitating for this protest, let us end these agitations, let us communicate and dialogue on the best way forward,” he advised.
In a bid to alleviate the economic hardship, the governor announced the release of 50,000 metric tonnes of grains to be sold at 50 percent of their current price.
He also instructed security agencies to ensure the directive was followed precisely.
“We have over 100,000 metric tonnes of food in our reserves, out of which we will be releasing 50,000 metric tonnes to be sold at 50 percent of its present price. Before the end of the year, we will slash food prices by 90 percent,” he assured.
The governor reiterated his support for local government autonomy and urged local government chairmen to improve their administration, noting that many have failed to pay salaries for a year.
He also pointed out Niger State’s financial independence from the Federation Account Allocation Committee, FAAC, saying, “I do not need FAAC in Niger State. The roads I am building and the projects I have undertaken are not being done by FAAC.
“We are producing, and that is the secret behind what we are doing. There are people who have invested in Niger State for the next five years.”
Bago explained that the food being distributed at a 50 percent subsidy was initially intended for export but has been redirected to meet the needs of Nigerlites due to the current hardship.
Supporting the governor’s stance, the Emir of Bida and Chairman of the Council of Traditional Rulers of Niger State, Abubakar Yahaya, urged the youth not to be tempted to join the nationwide protest, stating that protests are not the solution.
The Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, also encouraged the youth to refrain from participating in the protest and assured them of state-organized programs for youth engagement.
Count Niger youths out of planned nationwide protest – Governor Bago