The Nigerian Navy has said that it set ablaze the Merchant Vessel CECELIA in accordance with extant procedure regarding seized vessels with stolen oil. The move was also informed due to serious navigational hazards, huge financial cost, and serious national security problems caused by abandoned ships, Navy’s spokesperson, Ayo-Vaughan, said in an official statement. The vessel was arrested by the Naval component of Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) on 15 August 2023 with 250,000 liters of product suspected to be illegally refined Automated Gas Oil (AGO), popularly called diesel, at Meco Jetty in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. According to, Vaughan,…
Author: Kunle Dada
A former director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Bernard Onyeuko has reportedly passed on. According to The Nation, Onyeuko died at a private hospital in Abuja on Saturday morning, after complaining of cold and was rushed to the hospital, where he later died. Onyeuko was part of those army generals compulsorily retired from the Nigerian Army after the recent appointment of new service chiefs.
Some lecturers at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka allegedly involved in sexual harassment of students have been demoted by the management of the institution. The Special Adviser to the Vice Chancellor of the University on Public Relations and Special Duties, Dr Emmanuel Ojukwu, who confirmed the demotion, debunked social media reports that students of the university recently staged a protest over sexual harassment in the university. Ojukwu, however, did not give the breakdown of the number or the identities of lecturers who were demoted. In an official released statement, Ojukwu said: “The attention of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka Management has been…
A retired President of the Benue State Customary Court of Appeal, Mrs Margaret Igbeta, has been allegedly murdered in her home located at Wantor Kwange Street in Makurdi metropolis of the state. Igbeta, 72, was found lifeless in a pool of blood Thursday night. It was gathered on Friday morning that the judge’s corpse was discovered after she was murdered by yet-to-be identified gunmen who spilled her blood all over her house. A source confirmed that the police were working to unravel the killers of the judge even as her family members were already giving useful information to effect…
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) has announced the suspension of a founding member of the party, Boniface Aniebonam and its National Publicity Secretary, Agbo Major. According to the NWC, the suspension of the duo was with immediate effect pending the outcome of investigations by the Disciplinary Committee of the party. The party in a statement signed by the Acting National Chairman, Mallam Abba Kawu Alli, said the suspension was as a result of unruly activities of the founding chairman of the party whom he alleged felt the political platform was his personal estate.…
A former prosecutor with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nkereuwem Anana, has filed a fundamental right enforcement suit against the Director-General of the Department of State Security (DSS), over alleged unlawful and continuous detention of Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, the suspended Chairman of EFCC. Bawa has been in detention since June 14, 2023, when he was arrested by the operatives of the DSS. He is asking for an order of the court mandating the immediate release of Bawa from the first and second respondents’ detention. The Plaintiff is also seeking “an order of the court granting Mr. Bawa…
The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Jos has affirmed the return of Musa Agah of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a duly elected member representing Jos North/ Bassa Federal Constituency in Plateau State. In a unanimous judgment delivered by tribunal chairman Justice William Olamide, the petition of Gwani Alkali of Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) lacks merit and was subsequently struck out as the petitioner failed in his duty to prove issues of over voting as well as lacking the locus standi to challenge the nomination and sponsorship of Musa Agah of the PDP.
A high court sitting in Apo, Justice A.A Halilu of Court 53, has declared the report of the Nigeria Bar Association Investigative Panel, Committee which led to an originating application against a legal practitioner, Chibuzo Chukwueroka Ezike before the Legal Practitioner Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) delineated No. BB/LPDC/809/2022 null, void and of no effect whatsoever. The court further declared that the report of the investigative panel which led to the originating application before the LPDC with No. BB/LPDC/809/2022 against Chibuzo Chukwueroka Ezike constitute a breach of his right to fair hearing pursuant to Section 36(2) of the Constitution of the Federal…
The arraignment proceedings initiated by the federal government against the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, along with CBN staff member Sa’adatu Yaro and her company, April1616 Investment Limited, have once again been halted. According to reports, discussions are underway for a potential plea bargain between Emefiele, the CBN staff member and the federal government. The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, had initially postponed the arraignment due to Yaro’s absence, citing her illness as confirmed by Mohammed Abubakar, counsel from the Office of the Attorney General of the federation. It was gathered that…
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama has granted N500million bail to a Lagos businessman, Akintoye Akindele. He was accused of offering N50m bribe to men of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). Justice Hamza Muazu, in a ruling on Tuesday, August 22, rejected the request by the lawyer for the prosecution, Simon Lough (SAN) to further detain the defendant to enable the police conclude their investigation. Justice Muazu agreed with the defence lawyer, Henry Eni-Otu that the offence, with which the defendant was charged, is ordinarily bailable. He, therefore, granted Akindele, the Managing Director and Chief…
The National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Umuahia, Abia State on Tuesday upheld the victory of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu at the polls. The three-man panel of the tribunal in its ruling, dismissed the petition by the candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Frank Chinasa, seeking to nullify the electoral victory of Kalu. The three judges of the panel in a unanimous judgment read by the tribunal chairman, Justice Samson Gang dismissed the Chinasa’s petition for lack of merit. Kalu represents Bende federal constituency in the lower chamber of the National Assembly It…
The presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the 2023 elections, Rabiu Kwankwaso has been accused of working against the party’s interest during the last general elections. The allegation was made by the forum of state chairmen of the party. The NNPP state chairmen claimed that Kwakwaso was making an attempt to hijack the party structures and alleged that he was using members of the NWC to perpetrate illegalities and take unconstitutional decisions. They also accused the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party of illegal dissolution of executive councils of the party in 10 states…
David Umahi of Ebonyi and Festus Keyamo of Delta have officially taken office as the Minister of Works and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, respectively. The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola, conducted the swearing-in ceremony. Following their oath-taking, President Bola Tinubu exchanged handshakes with the newly appointed ministers. The induction of the 45 confirmed ministers-designate is presently underway at the Conference Centre of the State House in Abuja. Each minister-designate was sworn in according to their respective state of origin.
The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Agency has condemned comments made by a housemate, Seyi Awolowo, on the reality television show BBNaija All-Stars 2023. Seyi had in the early hours of Sunday revealed the type of sons he would like to have and what he would teach them to do to women. Seyi in his conversation with fellow housemates, Soma and Whitemoney, said, “I gave birth to a boy first, he will fxck your daughter! And I don dey save. I get shina account for my son, miscellaneous account, I dey pay money. I get that account for son, I…
Release Bawa Now, Falana tells DSS Human rights activist, Femi Falana, SAN, has asked the Department of State Services (DSS) to release the suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa from illegal custody without any further delay. According to him, remand order issued by a Magistrate Court in the Federal Capital Territory “has become spent, invalid and illegal as no magistrate has the power under section 493 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 or section 35 of the Constitution of Nigeria to authorise the detention of a criminal suspect for 67 days…
The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has dragged online nude model and Lawyer, Ifunanya Excel Grant Esq to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee for posting nude images of herself on social media. Miss Grant, a young Lawyer that was called to Bar in 2021 became a viral internet sensation for posting nude images of herself smoking marijuana. A notice by the NBA National Publicity Secretary revealed that the NBA has filed misconduct charges against Miss Grant and former INEC REC in Adamawa State, Mr Hudu Yunusa-Ari before the LPDC. The press release stated thus; Distinguished Colleagues, In the wake of recent…
Femi Falana (SAN), a prominent human rights lawyer, has made startling allegations, asserting that Nigeria is losing approximately $9 billion worth of gold illegally each year. Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Falana shared his concerns regarding illicit gold activities and other pressing issues affecting the country. Falana expressed astonishment over the government’s appointment of Dele Alake as the Minister of Solid Minerals, suggesting that the appointment should have been for the Information Ministry. He pointed out that the implications of this choice are significant, particularly considering reports from former minister Dr. Ogah, which claim that around…
Court Of Appeal Dismisses Smart Adeyemi’s Appeal Against Ododo On Friday, the Court of Appeal in Abuja rejected Senator Smart Adeyemi‘s appeal to nullify the All Progressives Congress (APC) Kogi State governorship primary election that nominated Ahmed Usman Ododo for the November 11 poll. In its ruling, the Court of Appeal held that Adekunle Oladapo Otitoju’s argument on behalf of Senator Adeyemi lacked merit entirely and the court dismissed it. Justice Mohammed Lawal Shuaib, delivering the main verdict, stated Adeyemi’s accusations of primary election result manipulations needed stronger proof. He also rejected Adeyemi’s claim that the APC’s Appeal Committee…
Court strikes out firearm suit against former Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele A Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday struck out the firearm charges against the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. Justice Nicholas Oweibo struck out the charge for want of diligent prosecution, following the withdrawal application made by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Ministry of Justice, Mohammed Abubakar. At the last adjourned date, the DPP made an oral application to the court to withdraw the charge against Emefiele. He stated that he based the application on specific facts and circumstances that require further…
BREAKING: Court adjourns hearing of FG’s fresh N6.9bn fraud suit against Emefiele The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has adjourned the hearing of the Nigerian government’s fresh N6.9bn procurement fraud case against the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). On Thursday, August 17, 2023, authorities arraigned Emefiele in court along with a female CBN employee, Sa’adatu Yaro, and her company, April1616 Investment Limited, on 20 charges of procurement fraud, conspiracy, and conferring corrupt advantages on his associates. The offence is contrary to Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000. However, the…
Hon. Justice H. Mu’azu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has granted an interim injunction restraining Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume from taking any further action calculated to attack, harass, or threaten an Abuja cleric, Imam Ibrahim Lawal Osama. The Court made the order in SUIT NO.: FCT/HC/CV/7043/2023 MOTION NO: FCT/HC/M/12227/2023, consequent upon the motion exparte moved by the Applicants’ counsel A.L. Likko, Esq, with D.M. Jacob-Duks, Esq. Senator Ndume, representing Borno South constituency, had been accused of ordering the assault of Imam Osama, during special prayers at the Apo Legislative Quarters Zone (B) Mosque in Abuja. According…
Police operatives in Nsukka Area Command of Enugu have arrested three pranksters for making an extreme viral video wherein a lady was dehumanised, stripped naked and hair forcefully shaved. The suspects were identified as Obed Chekwube Ugwuanyi a.k.a. MC Sharp (male) 32; Chinenye Agbo a.k.a. Star Ella Ada (female) 26 and Anastasia Onu (female) 25. According to a statement by the spokesman of the command, Daniel Ndukwe (DSP) on Wednesday, “the trio and others at large are involved in the viral video wherein Chinenye was seen being beaten, her cloth torn and stripped, and her hair forcefully shaved on the…
Two persons, Falilat Oluwayemisi and Adeshina Balogun, have appeared at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court over the alleged illegal demolition of a four-storey building worth N800 million. Oluwayemisi and Balogun are facing a six-count charge of conspiracy and illegal demolition of the building belonging to a Lagos developer, Hakeem Olawuyi, NAN reports. The Prosecutor, SP Josephine Ikhayere, standing in for Insp. Ajayi Emmanuel, told the court that the defendants conspired with others still at large to commit the offence on April 1. Ikhayere said that the defendants had employed the help of thugs armed with lethal weapons to vacate the occupants…
The Federal Government Tuesday applied to withdraw the “illegal possession of firearms” case it filed against the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, at the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos. According to The Nation, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) at the Federal Ministry of Justice Mohammed Bakodo Abubakar informed Justice Nicholas Oweibo that the application resulted from subsequent investigations. However, defence counsel Joseph Daudu (SAN) opposed him, arguing that due to the disobedience of government to court’s order granting Emefiele bail, its application should not be granted. It was gathered that the government has filed fresh…
Dr. Alex Otti, the Governor of Abia State, has issued a decisive directive to halt the operations of commercial motorcyclists, commonly known as Okada, in both Umuahia, the state capital, and Aba metropolis. In a statement released by Kazie Uko, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, it was announced that effective from Monday, August 14, 2023, the operation of motorcycles for commercial purposes within the streets of Umuahia and Aba townships will be prohibited. Any motorcycle found in violation of this directive will be confiscated by security agencies. Moreover, individuals caught disregarding this order will be apprehended by…
The National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Umuahia, Monday, reserved judgment in the petition seeking to nullify the election of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and member representing Bende federal constituency, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu. Chairman of the three-man panel, Justice Samson Paul -Gang, after all parties had adopted their final written addresses, said the tribunal would later communicate the parties on a date for judgment. Kalu’s election is being challenged by both the Labour Party candidate, Chief Frank Chinasa; and his Action Alliance, AA, counterpart, Mr Ifeanyi Chukwuka Igbokwe. The LP candidate had alleged discrepancies…
National Judicial Council denies letter detailing Seniority of Judges of the High Court of Kebbi state The attention of the NUJ has been drawn to a fake letter dated 14 July 2023, purported to have emanated from the Council, and signed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman, National Judicial Council, Hon Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON. The fake letter titled “Order of Seniority of Judges of the High Court of Kebbi state and recommendation of Justice Umar Abubakar as the substantive Chief Judge of Kebbi state” addressed to the Chief Judge stating “that under section 10 of the…
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo state has clarified that he is still on a medical vacation and has not yet returned to the country. This comes in response to a video circulating on social media showing his supposed return from his medical trip. Through his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, Akeredolu disowned the video and affirmed that he is currently in Germany, focusing on his complete recovery. In a statement issued by Olatunde, it was emphasized that the governor appreciates the concern and support of the citizens of Ondo State and well-wishers both within and outside the country. The…
The need to regulate sanitation services has become expedient given the Sustainable Development Goal 6:2 to achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation in the State. This formed the thrust of the maiden meeting between the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission and the Sewage and Wastewater Dislodgers Association of Nigeria (Swadan) to reaffirm the powers given to the commission to regulate all water and wastewater activities in the public and private sectors of the state. This formed the thrust of the maiden meeting between the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission and the Sewage and Wastewater Dislodgers Association of Nigeria (Swadan)…
South Africa’s former president Jacob Zuma reported back to prison on Friday only to be swiftly released, in the latest twist over the 81-year-old’s contempt of court sentence. Zuma was ordered to report back to prison and arrived at 6:00 am (0400 GMT) at a detention facility in the eastern town of Estcourt where he was “admitted into the system”, the prison service said. But he was let go in just over an hour as part of a “remission process” aiming to address overcrowding in prison, according to Correctional Services national commissioner Makgothi Thobakgale. “Upon admission into the system he…
